Supplier Scene

Fred W. Gretsch Celebrates 50 Years in the Music Business

Fred W. Gretsch was recognized for his 50th anniversary with an in-store event at StreetSounds NYC on May 30th.

ZMI Named Los Cabos Drumsticks U.S. Distributor

ZimMusicInc. has been named the U.S distributor for Canadian stick manufacturer, Los Cabos Drumsticks.

West Uses DiGiGrid

Producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter and performer Joe West (Keith Urban, Emmylou Harris, Justin Timberlake) is part of the growing trend of music professionals using theDiGiGrid DLS audio interface to enhance networking and tracking and to increase their plugin count.

DiGiGrid DLS is an all-in-one processing and networking hub that bridges Pro Tools and the WavesSoundGrid system. With its built-in SoundGrid DSP server, network switch, and two DigiLink ports providing as many as 64 digital inputs and outputs, DiGiGrid DLS gives users more processing power and lets them take full advantage of their existing Pro Tools system. By providing full plugin integration inside users’ DAWs, DiGiGrid DLS lets users track, monitor, and mix while running hundreds of SoundGrid-compatible Waves and third-party plugins in real time—all with a low latency of 0.8 milliseconds.

Listen Technologies to Host Training/Certification Sessions

Listen Technologies Corporation is offering two certification courses for contractors and system integrators in Florida around the 2015 InfoComm Show – one just before the show, on Tuesday, June 16, and the other at the show, on Wednesday, June 17.
Hearing Loop Training, Level II (Tuesday, June 16, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

One-Day Integration & Commissioning of Hearing Loop Systems (Level 2) Classes
This full day (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) course will thoroughly work through all the steps to properly install various types of hearing loop systems, including: An introduction to loop system principles; Specification and design considerations of different types of loop systems, basic, advanced, and phased array; Installation, setting up, testing, and certifying a loop system to the IEC60118-4 standard.

VH1 Save The Music Foundation Chooses Kawai For KEYS+KIDS Program

VHI1 Save The Music Foundation has chosen the Kawai CS10 Digital Hybrid Piano for its annual KEYS+KIDS program. This year, twelve K-12 public school music programs have been chosen from scores of candidates to receive a grant of a CS10 valued at $10,000.00. 

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music programs in America’s public schools while raising awareness about the importance of music as a part of a child’s complete education. “A piano serves as the nucleus for many arts programs in a school, bringing together students, teachers, parents and community members for performances of all kinds” states Chino Okuizumi Feindler, compliance manager for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. “We selected the Kawai CS10 because it's the best of both worlds - acoustic sound and technologies of a digital piano! We often hear that schools don't have budgets to tune/maintain the pianos.  At the same time, we also hear that teachers want to have quality acoustic piano sound. The CS10 is a beautiful solution to these problems.”

Fishman Fluence Pickups Quickly Gaining Artist Acceptance

Since the Winter, 2014 launch of Fluence Multi-Voice pickups for electric guitar, artists have been quick to embrace the tone and features of this newest technology from Fishman.

Among the artists who are choosing Fishman Fluence pickups are Stephen Carpenter of Deftones; Joel Stroetzel of Killswitch Engage; Ryan Mendez and Ryan Key of Yellowcard; Gary Hoey; producer Andy Sneap, Mark Lewis, Jon Donais of Anthrax; Timo Somers of Blind Guardian; Lesse Lammert, Buz McGrath and Ken Susi of Unearth; Cameron Liddell and Ben Bruce of Asking Alexandria; Oli Herbert from All That Remains; and Pat O’Brien of Cannibal Corpse.

Impression Launches Custom Cymbal Program

Impression Cymbals and its exclusive North American distributor, ZimMusicInc., has announced the launch of its new Custom Cymbal Program.

The Custom Cymbal Program is accessed through the Impression Cymbals website. Once there the user can begin building the B20 cymbal of their dreams. Users can choose among rides, crashes, hi-hats, splashes, China-types, bells, or something otherwise indefinable in sizes ranging from 6" to 24". Other options include: the cymbal’s profile, bell size and profile, hammering, lathing, and a host of possible finishes. Users also have the ability to upload audio examples of the cymbal they want and Impression’s master cymbalsmith will make suggestions based on his analysis of the tracks. Once the final design and production schedule are approved, Impression will bang it out and deliver it to a local dealer within 60–90 days. Prices are based on size and complexity.

CHAUVET DJ Intimidator Rocks With Grateful Dead Legend Bill Kreutzmann

A founding member of the Grateful Dead along with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, drummer Bill Kreutzmann is still going strong after playing in all of the 2,300 live performances the band made during its lifespan. Kreutzmann showed a large appreciative crowd that he hasn’t missed a beat when he performed at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC with his red hot band Billy and the Kids.

Keeping pace with the rummer and his cohorts was a collection of fixtures from CHAUVET DJ. Lighting designer Manny Newman used four Intimidator Spot LED 350 moving fixtures, along with a collection of Rogue R1 Spots from CHAUVET DJ’s sister company CHAUVET Professional, to accent the band’s performance.

Yorkville Sound to Distribute Gibson Pro Audio Brands for Canada

Yorkville Sound announced that, effective June 1, 2015, they will be the exclusive Canadian distributor for all Gibson Pro Audio brands including Stanton Audio, KRK Systems, Cerwin-Vega loudspeakers, Neat Microphones, and Cakewalk music software.

“We at Yorkville Sound are thrilled with the addition of the Gibson Pro Audio brands to our ever-expanding catalog,” explains Jeff Cowling, vice president of sales & marketing at Yorkville Sound.  “Our experience and success in the audio industry makes these additions a natural fit for our team.”

KHS Strengthens Combo Dealer Partnerships with New Sales Structure

KHS America announced the expansion and reorganization of its Combo Sales Division and the integration of the Hohner Inc. sales effort.  Effective May 1^st, the KHS America Combo division will now have the added responsibility of managing the sales effort for all brands previously under the Hohner Inc. umbrella. This includes: Sonor Drums, Hohner Harmonicas and Accordions, Anacleto Accordions by Hohner, Hohner Airboard, Lanikai and Kohala Ukuleles, A+ and H. Jimenez Instruments, Rockwood, Green Tones, and Hohner Kids Educations Instruments. To accomplish this, KHS America has increased the number of district managers to ten and will also be implementing a new “team” approach by aligning efforts with their inside team. This reorganization does not affect the current Band & Orchestra sales team or the dealer accounts they serve.

Roland U.S. Sponsors Children’s Music Foundation Benefit Gala

Roland U.S. was the title sponsor for the recent BRIDGES benefit gala and concert in Seattle, in support of the Children’s Music Foundation (CMF). Founded in 2009, CMF was created exclusively to promote the study of music as an educational tool in our elementary schools, to support school music programs, and to promote music in education throughout the United States.  Read More...

Focusrite RedNet Connects Theater and Studio at Cedar Valley College

Cedar Valley College's Performance Hall provides theatrical entertainment, education, and cultural enrichment for both the college and the wider community it serves. The school also has a four-semester audio production program, where students learn music production in a state-of-the-art recording studio working with leading product platforms including an SSL AWS 900 digital console and Avid Pro Tools|HD. Now, the performances that the theater hosts can be recorded and mixed in real time in the studio thanks to the installation of Focusrite RedNet components serving an extensive Dante™ audio networking infrastructure. Three RedNet 4 remote-controlled Focusrite mic preamps and one RedNet 5 Pro Tools|HD interface help provide a solid digital connection between the theater and the studio, creating a synergy that enhances the usefulness of both spaces.