The roadshows allow UK and Irish dealers and end-users the opportunity to check out the latest products from the companies in the Harman Group, including AKG mics, Crown amps, dbx DSP and BSS venue-management systems, JBL loudspeakers, Soundcraft digital consoles, and Lexicon signal processing. Harman will also have some of their product specialists on hand to give presentations on how to get the best out of the new equipment, and to engage in detailed question-and-answer sessions afterwards.
This year, AKG specialists from Vienna will be introducing the company's new D5 and C5 handheld microphones, and demonstrating the on-stage wireless use of their new Micromic range of miniature instrument and vocal microphones, and the IVM4 in-ear monitoring systems, while European JBL product specialist Mark Bailey will be showing attendees the latest JBL loudspeaker systems, from affordable PRX portable PAs right up to VRX 'constant curvature' line arrays and Vertec systems for installed sound applications.
Similarly, Crown's specialists will be demonstrating a range of amps from those suitable for driving sound systems in bars and small venues right up to the recently introduced CDi range, which are designed for use in stadiums and large-scale sound reinforcement environments. The surround-compatible reverbs of the latest MX range of affordable Lexicon reverbs and the DSP capabilities of the dbx 4800-series live sound processors will be demonstrated through the various JBL PA systems, and the sound for the whole event will be routed and controlled by a BSS Soundweb London venue-management system.
The front-of-house console will be a digital Soundcraft Vi6, on which the company's engineers will also be giving demonstrations and answering questions. Throughout the various presentations, Harman's digital interconnection protocol, HiQnet, will be in use.
Each day will follow the same timetable, with the various product presentations and Q&A sessions running from 11am to 4pm, with short breaks and refreshments provided throughout the day. In the evening, Harman's PA specialists, together with representatives from tour-sound and AV solutions company AdLib, will be running the Harman PA School, at which attendees will be shown how to set up a complete PA system for a variety of different applications, including miking up the roadshow's 'house band', U2 covers outfit Elevation.
Dealers and installers who have attended the day's events are welcome to stay on for the PA School, and this part of the event is also open to any end-users who can only attend in the evening. Students at the Liverpool and Guildford events, and local band members on all three nights, are encouraged to bring their own instruments, as there will be a 'hands-on' opportunity for them to have their own gear set up by the experts. The doors to the PA School open at 6pm, and free drinks and pizza are provided for those attending; the event itself starts at 7pm.
(Jim Evans)
