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Tag: EQ

  • AtlasIED Helps Security Integrators Expand into the Digital Audio Market with New Atmosphere System

    AtlasIED Helps Security Integrators Expand into the Digital Audio Market with New Atmosphere System

    PHOENIX, Ariz. — AtlasIED is blazing a trail for security integrators interested in adding digital audio solutions to their product portfolios. Introduced last year, AtlasIED’s innovative Atmosphere™ digital audio platform is a complete, turnkey audio system designed and engineered for quick, easy deployment in a wide range of commercial environments, with capabilities particularly beneficial for the distribution of high-performance music, scheduled notifications, and messaging in restaurants, bars, hotels, school campuses, houses of worship, and retail establishments.

    Includes Everything an Integrator Needs to Succeed

    Comprising a range of advanced signal processors, amplifiers, plug-and-play controllers and accessory plates, simple to configure software, an intuitive mobile interface for convenient operation, and multi-patented built-in intelligence, Atmosphere includes everything an integrator needs to break into and prosper in the commercial audio market, while still providing their customers life safety features through high-priority input options built into the platform.

    Modular, scalable, versatile, and incorporating a full suite of revolutionary technologies, Atmosphere can serve the digital audio needs of the smallest cocktail lounge to the largest banquet hall. The family of components has been designed to work seamlessly together, minimizing training time and installation, configuration, and programming headaches for security integrators, and reducing the learning curve for end-users. Because Atmosphere™ is compatible with AtlasIED’s line of loudspeakers (or any standard loudspeaker), the same speakers used for mass communications applications can be used to deliver music.

    AtlasIED Atmosphere bar
    AtlasIED Atmosphere digital audio platform being used in a bar

    “From its inception, Atmosphere was developed to simplify the design, configuration, and installation of a digital audio system so that any integrator, no matter how new or experienced with commercial audio solutions, can deploy a high-performance system,” says John Ivey, president at AtlasIED. “Atmosphere™ represents our continued commitment to helping integrators strengthen, refine, and grow their businesses. While Atmosphere™ is advanced in its capabilities, it sets a new standard for its ease of integration in a wide variety of commercial environments.”

    Automation Features Streamline Configuration and Control

    Through Atmosphere, AtlasIED offers security integrators an opportunity to deliver a high-quality music and messaging distribution system but without the common installation and configuration hassles of other digital audio systems. Equipped with built-in intelligence and advanced technologies, the Atmosphere™ digital signal processors (two models are available) handle many functions automatically. For example, through data collected and transmitted by an Atmosphere ambient noise sensor, the DSP comes to recognize patterns like the need to raise the volume at a bar during happy hour to compensate for high levels of ambient noise. Unlike systems that rely on external microphones to monitor the environment, Atmosphere™ uses artificial intelligence to analyze and respond to the predictable behaviors of its users, such as consistent commands issued from an Atmosphere volume controller, as well as data sent from an Atmosphere™ ambient noise sensor to the DSP.

    The volume level isn’t the only setting that Atmosphere adjusts automatically. Messages uploaded to the DSP as WAV files can be dispatched according to pre-programmed schedules based on priority or when triggered by an Atmosphere™ input device, such as a volume/source/zone selector. And should an emergency arise, the alarm tied into Atmosphere’s™ high-priority input mutes background music and other messaging or tones so that announcements concerning an evacuation, lockdown, severe weather or other situation can play through the speakers.

    Intuitive Programming Software Simplifies Setup and Service

    No matter a commercial establishment’s audio needs, security integrators can satisfy them quickly and conveniently through Atmosphere’s simple, intuitive programming software. The software guides integrators through the configuration process and provides ample opportunity for customization. Daily schedules can be created for the delivery of music and messages. Speakers can be grouped into distinct audio zones, enabling audio to play in only pre-specified areas. Last but not least, pre-loaded EQ files enable speakers to be easily tuned for the specific application and environment.

    Plus, integrators can configure the system to authorize end-users to make minor adjustments via a mobile interface directly from their personal devices; for example, allowing managers to modify the schedule of outgoing messages while staff members are only able to adjust the volume. This minimizes post-installation on-site changes and lengthy end-user training for integrators. Additionally, should any wall-plate accessory of an Atmosphere™ system accidentally break, there’s no need to spend excessive time in the field to reprogram the replacement product. Instead, the system “self-heals,” instantly recognizing the newly installed wall-plate and loading into it all of the original customized settings automatically. Integrators can have the system back up and running in seconds, dramatically reducing time and manpower typically required to service a digital audio system.

    Components Comprising Atmosphere Suite

    Products currently comprising the Atmosphere digital audio platform include two varieties of digital signal processors (6-input/4 output AZM4 and 10 input/8 output AZM8); two amplifiers (400-watt AZA404 and 800-watt AZ804); six different plug-and-play accessories, including wall-mounted audio controllers (single- and multi-zone options) and remote audio inputs (RCA, Bluetooth, and XLR sources); and an ambient noise sensor. As many as 16 accessories can be daisy-chained to the AZM4 and the AZM8 DSPs. Boasting a clean, modern, industrial design, the components of Atmosphere™ complement the aesthetics of most commercial environments.

    ISC West 2021 attendees can see Atmosphere and other AtlasIED communications, security, and audio solutions at Booth 7054.

  • Oaks Christian School Mixes It Up With A DiGiCo S21

    Oaks Christian School Mixes It Up With A DiGiCo S21

    WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – Established in 2000, Oaks Christian School (OCS) in Westlake Village has quickly flourished over the past two decades to become one of the most sought-after private, day and boarding schools serving grades 5 -12 in Los Angeles County. With a number of the school’s events now being held outdoors on its 25-acre Conejo Valley campus per current health and safety protocols, OCS recently purchased a portable sound reinforcement system that is being piloted via an S21 digital mixing console from DiGiCo.

    David Alexander is Oaks Christian School’s Technical Director as well as the Facility Manager for the Bedrosian Pavilion, the campus’ 30,000-square-foot multipurpose performing arts center that opened in 2007. “We have a large-format desk as our mainstage console at the pavilion, but it’s far too big to move quickly and deploy easily as an outdoor desk for mid-size events,” he says. “We needed something that would be much more portable, but also wanted something that would sound great without requiring additional outboard gear. The DiGiCo S21 was perfect.”

    OCS typically pairs its new S21 with either two or four stacks of JBL line arrays, each featuring two self-powered VRX932LAP full range cabs and a single VRX918SP subwoofer. “Our new rig is designed to fill the gap for any and all outdoor events, including High School worship events—we are doing them on a grade-level-only basis for now to keep our students and faculty appropriately distanced—and Admissions events, like our Family Tour Day and Open House. Eventually, when we are cleared, the new system will also be supporting games for our athletics department, including football, soccer, basketball and volleyball, as well as any performing arts events that may start up outside.”

    Oaks Christian School Audio Engineer and Production Technician Jonathan Hagberg is most often the one who is tasked with running the new DiGiCo/JBL setup for the school, which boasts an enrollment of nearly 1,500 students between the fifth and twelfth grades. “I’m really enjoying the S21,” he says. “We used it to record our Middle School Talent Show, as well as deployed it with two stacks of the VRX cabs for a Junior class Chapel out on the football field, and it was a champ! For the Chapel, we had more than 100 Juniors and their advisors socially distanced, and the system very effectively covered about 80 yards of the football field with plenty of volume and clarity. Splaying the speakers, I used the S21’s onboard EQ and delay processing to shape and tame the slap-back echo from both the concrete walls of our basketball gym nearby and the metallic reflections of the stadium seating. Everything sounded great with absolutely no feedback or mud.”

    Running the S21 as a standalone desk, Hagberg says he’s particularly pleased with the console’s onboard dynamics. “I have found that the S21’s reverbs are very controlled and intuitive, and within minutes of starting on the console, I was able to dial in a really lovely wood room reverb that reminded me of some of my favorite vintage reverbs that I’ve used in the recording studio,” he shares. “I also had a very big ‘whoa!’ moment when I turned the DiGiTubes on and cranked them a bit on the vocal channels. The warmth they added was both noticeable and very pleasant to listen to. We have a young soprano vocalist here at the school that can often really stress tube emulations and create unpleasant harmonic distortions in the 4-6kHz range, but on the S21, I was able to use the DiGiTubes to add a ton of low-end body and warmth to her voice without noticing any harshness or brittle distortion. I was very impressed.”

    True to the academic mindset, Hagberg views the new desk as yet another learning tool that will come in handy for educational purposes at OCS. “I anticipate training coworkers and students, especially in the worship leadership class, on the console,” he says. “The S21 has the ability to toggle on and off more complex and advanced features—such as multiband compression, dynamic/active EQ, and so on—and I think that’s quite useful. It enables me to run shows at a high level of complexity when needed while also allowing me to train students on the basics of signal flow and processing before throwing more intense audio concepts at them. For those that find they really enjoy learning about mixing sound, our new DiGiCo will give them the opportunity to learn on the best.”

    For more info on Oaks Christian School, visit www.oakschristian.org.