Imogene Heap sings her hauntingly beautiful tale of a spacegirl travelling the universe while Foo Fighters rock out on the roof. I can hear the music a mile away as I walk up to the AVID Atmos booth in the new building at Anaheim’s convention center. Welcome to NAMM 2018.
There is a crowd around the S6 checking out the Atmos music mix of the Foo Fighters video “Sky is a Neighborhood” which was mixed as a Native Atmos Music Mix. It was sonically fabulous, the front LCR clear and defined and instrumentation overhead and in a halo all across the JBL Atmos rig. It was interesting to have musical instruments above your head in a music mix but not sure if It was pleasant or more like a peyote trip with music. We tend to get locked into a paradigm and often the status quo alone keeps us from evolving into a better way of doing things. Like Dialogue in the center channel only or studio monitors in soffits vs. freestanding. Some ideas are better, some worse. Only time will tell!
The Sky Is A Neighborhood
On the flip side, AVID’s presentation of Imogene Heap singing “Magic Me” for Dolby’s “Escape” video was also mixed in Atmos format, yet had music everywhere. However, being for film/video it is not restricted by the confines of music in only stereo or Left and Right speakers only. Without dialogue, the sound effects and music were panned across the LCR, Surrounds and Overheads, creating a soundscape which was quite immersive even on the floor of a convention center. Imogene Heap is a amazing talent and the overall piece was very well crafted as story: a piece of music and a production but in the end categorized as a short film or video. If you get a chance it is worth seeing and hearing it in an Atmos environment. AVID will be playing it again at NAB in April at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Imogene Heap | Dolby Escape
AVID’s S6 JBL Atmos System quantized by ZR Acoustics on the LCR.
Coming Soon! ZR Monitoring Packages for entry level systems including a pair of SR24’s, an ultra clear DA converter and a pair of monitors by……To Be Announced in the next 2 weeks! See DHDI’s site and Mix Magazine’s press releases for more information. Or just call us at 310-581-2331 or info@deltahdesign.com for more info.
One of our favorite ZR Live! artists, AEB opened for the Ronnie Montrose Tribute at the Observatory on Anaheim Saturday nite. I was at the TEC awards watching CJ Vanston rock the band out, and was unable to see her play live, but heard it was quite the scene.
David Royer gave me a dissertation on microphone design and the new MA-1000 by Mojave. It’s his re-envisioning of the legendary Telefunken 251. At ZR Live! we’ve used it on a variety of instruments including, but not limited to, Vibraphones, Tabla, Sitar, Ukelele and of course Vocals. If you haven’t heard it, check it out. Alan Meyerson bought 4 of them before they were even available for sale.
Ableton Rocked the party scene Friday nite with a Fresh Oxygen Bar, Classic American Roadsters and of course a DJ rigged out ala’ Ableton du jour.
Neumann/Sennheiser is re-releasing the legendary U67 and according to sources already has a waiting list for them even before they’re available. Welcome back Thom Salisbury to the retail side of Sennheiser and thanks to John Ruest for his support and microphone advice on ZR Live!
Rich at BURL Audio releases an LP! Real vinyl recorded at Paradise Studios in Santa Cruz!
Tommy Vicari tells stories of working with Prince at the start of his career, going to Prince’s apartment and taking him out to dinner to avoid sitting around in his messy pad! Call Tommy to hear it yourselves. Great stories!
Dan Goetz visits AVID Atmos and ready for ZR Phase II of his composer’s studio in Tarzana.
Jeremy Stappard joins Roland Pro focusing on large accounts such as GC Pro and Musician’s Institute. Congrats Jeremy!