Day one of NAB started with a 9AM press event at the Yamaha Commercial Audio (CA) booth where we got our first up-close look at the new CL Series digital audio console. This console is targeted squarely at the church market, as well as mid-level touring and rental houses. While I had seen numerous photos of the board since its release a few weeks ago, I was frankly surprised at what a great looking board the new CL is when seen in person. The classy layout and finish of the CL Series board are a far cry from the modest-looking Yamaha M7CL, and the flat-out ugly LS9.
Kevin Kimmel, mixer product manager with Yamaha Commercial Audio, describes the difference between the three models in the new CL Series saying the largest model, the CL5, has a integrated meter bridge. The smaller frames, the CL3 and CL1 have a meter bridge that attaches with thumb screws. Other than that the only difference is input capability and fader count. The CL5 accepts 72 mono and eight stereo inputs with 34 configurable faders, including the eight-fader Centralogic section. The CL3 takes 64 mono and eight stereo inputs, with 26 configurable faders, including the eight-fader Centralogic section. The smaller CL1 offers 48 mono and eight stereo inputs, with 18 user-configurable faders, including the eight-fader Centralogic section.
The CL3 and CL5 have a nifty shelf for an iPad or other tablet computer. Kimmel says some beta engineers have done EQ'ing on the iPad, using it as an additional another screen.
Larry Italia, vice president and general manager, with Yamaha CA added that the company believes digital audio networking is the next big thing in digital mixing due to the growing use of digital networks for lighting control, data transfer, security etc. This will require that professional-level digital audio networking be able to co-exist in those environments. Therefore the new CL Series will be Dante-ready, but cards for other networks will be available.
For recording, Italia also revealed that the new CL Series will include a copy of Steinberg Nuendo Live, a full-featured recording and editing software program from Yamaha CA's sister company, Steinberg Media Technologies.
Our next stop was to Black Magic Design, where were surprised to learn about the launch of the company's new Digital Cinema Camera. With a list price of just $2,995 (plus lens), the new Black Magic Design Digital Cinema Camera will be sure to have many in the industry scratching their heads. The new camera offers a wider dynamic range than most shoulder-mounted digital cameras, plus it comes with Black Magic Design's color correction program, DaVinci Resolove Version Nine --- all that's needed to create a digital cinema look, according to the company. It comes with a Thunderbolt connection, plus standard audio connections, and touch-screen driven controls for accessing settings and adding metadata.
Christie Digital introduces a new projector for small, and medium-sized churches, the LX501 3LCD projector offering 5,000 lumens, lens memory, a new hybrid air filter with a 20,000-hour life span, and additional network capability including wireless. The new LX501 also features lower power consumption while in stand-by mode, and greater ease of set up when stacking projectors.
Alcorn-McBride released its new Digital Media Manager, which has been used in the church market as a digital signage application, but with front-of-house and back-of-house (staff, volunteers, performers etc) applications. We hope to profile an Orlando-based church later this year using this product.
The company also launched a new product called Show Touch for iPad. The $99 app can be used as a scene trigger for a wide range of performing arts-related applications including lighting cues, audio scenes, projection screen controls, and more.
Riedel Communications is celebrating their 25th anniversary, and their 10th year in the United States while at NAB. At the press event, the company revealed new icon-based set-up and operation of its 1100 Series Intercoms. This will aid in speed and accuracy of the set-up process.
A series of new cards for the company's Smart Rack chassis includes a RF over fiber option. This card is designed to take wireless microphone signals, and/or wireless in-ear monitoring signals and transmit them over long distances.
Riedel's MediorNet, the company's fiber-based intercom and audio routing network system also received a new upgrade, including higher quality conversions.
At the DPA Microphone press conference, we finally got our first look at the new d:Facto vocal mic, DPA's first hand-held vocal mic for live-sound applications. At the press event, we learned that the d:Facto is in fact a modular system, not just your standard hand-held microphone. The capsule is removable from the handle, and may be used by Wisycom wireless systems. DPA says additional wireless companies are planning to accommodate the unit in the future. Interestingly, the microphone element within the capsule can actually be replaced depending on the application. A DPA 4018 supercardioid element comes standard, but other elements from DPA's Modular Series can be used in the new d:Facto handheld. The 4011 element offers cardioid pick-up, and the 4006 is an omni element.
The new Roland V-800HD switcher was attracting a lot attention in the Roland booth. The 16-input, eight channel multi-format switcher with internal broadcast-quality scalers. The company says TV-800HD is HDCP-compatible, and also features a built-in multi-viewer output for use with an HDMI monitor. Inputs can be 3G/HD/SD-SDI, DVI-A/DVI-D/HDMI, RGB, component, or composite formats, plus the unit an additional two channels for using still images coming from a USB memory stick or frame grab.
The company's M-480 digital mixing console also received a new software upgrade: version 1.5.
At the Sony booth we learned about some more interesting new products not discussed at preshow press conference (www.churchproduction.com/nab2012preshow). The company’s new NEX-FS700 4K camcorder offers a 35-mm CMOS sensor and can shoot 1080p at up to 240 frames per second. At $10,000 for the body, it’s less than other 4k camcorders on the market.
However, the company's new NXCam HXR-NX30 mini camcorder was what caught our eye. The unit comes standard with several fun and functional features. Sony's gyroscope-based Balanced Optical SteadyShot technology means the camera is very forgiving of shaky hands or cheap tripods churches often find themselves using. We had a chance to try it out, and the results are impressive.
The tiny camera also includes an integrated video projector built into the back of the LCD monitor. Sony says it'll project a 100-inch image on any white surface.
Panasonic has two additional products beyond those revealed at yesterday's pres conference (www.churchproduction.com/nab2012preshow). The AW-HE120 pan-tilt-zoom camera offers production-level picture quality from its ENG-level processing in a fixed-lense format for only $8,900. According to John Rhodes, product line manager, switchers and camera Systems for Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, the AW-HE120 is being used by television stations and networks for studio work. Rhodes says CNBC is using the unit for their new broadcast set on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
We also got more detail about Panasonic's new PT-DZ21K Series projectors. According to Product Marketing Manager, Scott Wellington, these are the smallest and lightest 20,000-lumen three-chip DLP projectors ever produced. At 98 pounds without lens, the unit offers 10,000:1 contrast ratio plus the option of Geometry Management which offers an impressive array of warping, edge-blending and masking.
Our first day of NAB ended at the Shure booth where we saw the new FP Series wireless microphone system designed for portable and camera-top applications. Based on Shure's mid-priced SLX Series wireless technology, the new FP Series has a list price starting at just over $600. The FP Series wireless will be available this coming Summer.
Shure also showed a series of new intercom headsets with street prices expected to be from $149 to under $300.
The aisles were packed, exhibitors were happy, and attendees seemed pleased with the array of new products and problem-solving tools for churches on display.
After nine hours on the show floor, with appointments nearly every half hour, we were exhausted and ready for sustenance. Please check back later in the week for more updates from NAB Show 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
