Integrator chooses all-in-one Technomad Turnkey PA System to reproduce high-quality voice and music indoors at Virginia school

BOSTON, APRIL 2, 2012 —  Woodberry Forest School, situated on the banks of the Rapidan River near Charlottesville, Virginia, is an historic boy’s prep school situated on 1200 acres of land that once belonged to General William Madison, the brother of President James Madison.  Using Technomad advanced audio solutions, the school has upgraded sound systems in two athletic facilities in alignment with campus-wide building preservation efforts.

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Onyx AudioVisual, a Virginia-based IT consulting company with expertise in audio/video, network infrastructure and lighting, designed and integrated the new sound systems.  The company chose a Technomad Turnkey PA System to bring multiple loudspeakers and all required signal processing systems together into a single, integrated solution.

The complete system, deployed in a 70-volt configuration to accommodate lengthy cable runs across four zones, reproduces intelligible voice and high-quality music over long distances for athletic meets, games and other activities in both areas.  The installations include 11 Technomad Vernal loudspeakers in the pool area and 10 in the Reily Wrestling Room, delivering high-fidelity sound and broad audio dispersion from a compact form factor.

Onyx AudioVisual also chose Technomad for its rugged, weatherproof loudspeaker designs.  The project required environmentally tough loudspeakers that could withstand the humidity and moisture associated with indoor pool environments.

Bart Cardea, sales director for Onyx AudioVisual, said his team balanced perfect audio detail inside the pool area and the wrestling room to achieve pristine athletic event sound.   The upgrades substantially improve sound quality around the galleries, bleachers, pool and mats to help spectators follow the action during events.

“The sound needed to be excellent quality for sports writers, fans and athletes,” said Cardea.  “We needed to preserve the historic integrity of the areas, while delivering state-of-the-art sound technology.  We chose Technomad because of their reputation for superior sound, easy setup and environmental durability.  They exceeded our specifications for sound while meeting the environmental challenges we faced.”

Cardea added that the Technomad Turnkey PA System design established a new central audio headend from which all cable runs originate.  Technomad Turnkey PA Systems include a pre-wired amplifier, six-channel mixer, cables, connectors and open rack space for audio source equipment — all delivered in a compact, durable equipment rack.

ABOUT TECHNOMAD

Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks.  The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems.  Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

Sustainable process improves quality while significantly reducing costs and carbon footprint

BOSTON, March 12, 2012 – Technomad redefines sustainable AV with a new cleantech partnership that brings solar technology to its already-green plastic loudspeaker manufacturing process.  The move slices production costs up to 30 percent while reducing the company’s carbon footprint — and introduces a revolutionary process to the professional audio and AV space.

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Technomad has long been associated with sustainable manufacturing, producing durable, weatherproof MilSpec loudspeakers using recycled plastic.  As a result, Technomad loudspeakers are often specified into AV projects with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements.

Technomad recently teamed up with LightManufacturing LLC, which developed a unique-patent-pending method of molding plastic with solar heat.  The company’s unique Solar Rotational Molding (SRM™) systems eliminate greenhouse gasses associated with traditional rotational molding while reducing manufacturing costs — an unusual combination in a world that equates ‘green’ with unaffordable.

LightManufacturing now molds most of Technomad’s popular Vienna and Vernal loudspeakers at its California facility, with larger models to follow.

“Technomad is the first company in the professional audio industry to take advantage of solar thermal energy,” said Rodger von Kries, vice president of Technomad.  “We’ve always worked on the cutting edge of green manufacturing, being the first company to use 100 percent recycled plastic to make loudspeaker cabinets.  The LightManufacturing partnership brings new advantages by reducing our costs while benefitting the environment.”

LightManufacturing’s SRM process uses heliostats – computer-controlled mirrors – to concentrate heat from the sun onto a mold and melt the plastic inside.  The sun’s thermal energy is used directly, avoiding the costs of making electricity with photovoltaic panels.  The process delivers higher quality parts at a lower cost than traditional rotational molding, with typical savings of 10 to 30 percent.  The nearly silent SRM systems use no natural gas or external AC power, and the hardware costs less than traditional rotational molding systems.

“This partnership shows that the solar molding process can deliver high-quality, reduced-cost parts for manufacturers right out of the gate,” said Mark Severy, a consultant at LightManufacturing.  “Technomad came to us with a 15 year history of making world-class products.  We met their requirements for outstanding quality, lower cost — and zero carbon emissions.”

ABOUT LIGHT MANUFACTURING

LightManufacturing LLC’s unique process re-invents rotational molding and other plastic molding processes through the use of heliostats and solar thermal energy.  The company works with equipment builders, plastic molders, large-scale end-users of plastic components, governments and NGOs to create sustainable and economically-competitive manufacturing solutions. Please call 415-796-6475 or e-mail newclient@lightmanufacturingllc.com for more information.

ABOUT TECHNOMAD

Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers  — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks.  The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems.  Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

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Weatherproof loudspeakers power soothing background music and high-energy musical entertainment, with the durability to survive the harsh local climate

BOSTON, January 30, 2012 — Systems integration firm Axxentos of Fort Lauderdale, Florida turned to Technomad upon evaluating the outdoor audio needs of Club Med Sandpiper in nearby Port St. Lucie.  The new outdoor audio systems, featuring 14 Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers, comprise part of a property-wide renovation alongside indoor AV upgrades and general construction projects.

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Club Med Sandpiper’s 400-square-mile resort property exists in southern Florida’s sweltering climate, requiring durable outdoor audio systems that can withstand the year-round heat, humidity and moisture.  The resort also required high-quality loudspeakers that could power full-range, high-volume audio over long distances, and reproduce soothing background music at clearly audible levels.

“I’ve learned what gear can survive in harsh environments over the years, and from all the outdoor installations I have done, only one company reliably endures the elements — and that is Technomad,” said Olivier De Kegel, owner and president of Axxentos.  “They also produce great sounding audio.”

The external pool system proved the biggest challenge as De Kegel had little guidance from the resort, other than that management wanted a nice-sounding background music system during the afternoon and a louder system in the evenings.  He installed two Technomad Berlin loudspeakers, the largest loudspeaker in the company’s range, to take care of both requests with one system.  The Berlins accommodate every activity from Bingo to full-blown nightclub-style events.

Axxentos installed a 70-volt infrastructure to accommodate long cable runs from a new central audio headend to various areas, including the bar.  Ten Technomad Vernal 70-volt loudspeakers power the bar zone, delivering music and entertainment to guests enjoying daytime activities and the nightlife.

Two Technomad Noho loudspeakers also welcome guests with high-energy music audio at the entrance as they check in, with lower-volume background music playing in between arrivals.

“The resort wanted a system they could easily manipulate at the welcome area to balance loud and soft audio, and the Nohos offer power that is closer to the Berlin but compact enough for installation at the entrance,” said De Kegel.

Elsewhere, Axxentos installed AV systems in new conference rooms, built a mobile DJ unit and renovated a large theater system, merging existing equipment with some new components.  But the outdoor audio systems remain the crown jewel of the resort upgrades.

“This was my largest installation to date, with some interesting upgrades and unique challenges,” said De Kegel.  “They went from being fully analog to a more digital, centralized model.  There won’t be any dull nights with the high-quality audio systems they have, and the durability of the Technomads ensure they won’t have to replace the outdoor systems every two years.”

ABOUT TECHNOMAD

Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks.  The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems.  Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

BOSTON, January 5, 2012 — Two illustrious high school stadiums in the Tacoma Public Schools system enjoyed vastly improved sound for the 2011 football season, thanks to comprehensive distributed audio system upgrades at both locations.

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Lynwood, Washington-based systems integration firm Electrocom managed the upgrades, installing Technomad advanced audio loudspeakers and high-powered amplifiers among other components at Stadium High School and Lincoln High School.  Electrocom handpicked the systems to replace aging horn components that were in disrepair and bleeding into adjacent neighborhoods — prompting a flurry of complaints.

The stadiums’ long, rich histories are evident in their grandeur:  large, bowl-shaped venue designs with concrete bleachers and expansive sideline space.  This made sound improvements — especially even, venue-wide coverage — unusually challenging.

“These are not typical press box installations where we mount and blast away,” said Matt Wright, project manager at Electrocom.  “We positioned narrow-dispersion loudspeakers at multiple points, with enough SPL, or sound pressure, to cover the distance of the field in some cases.  We also needed a wireless amplifier solution at each stadium to remain under budget.  It would have been expensive and complicated to run wires the length of the field and trench into the concrete.”

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Technomad PowerChiton4 high-power amplifiers provide the wireless solution for pole-mounted loudspeakers on the visitor sidelines at each stadium.  The IP66-rated amplifiers offer a waterproof design for outdoor audio, and a compact, modular form factor for greater proximity to loudspeakers.  The 1600-watt amplifiers also pack plenty of power for loud stadium environments.

Wright adds that Technomad loudspeakers provide exceptional audio quality and are among the best at containing audio within the confines of a stadium or similar venue.  “The end users are very happy with the audio quality,” he said.  “The Technomad systems have improved intelligibility and increased audio isolation from the neighbors at both stadiums.”

Electrocom installed Berlin 9040 and 6040 narrow-dispersion loudspeakers at both stadiums.   All Stadium High School loudspeakers mount to four large steel light poles — two above and behind the home side bleachers, and two above and behind the visitor side.  Each home side pole supports two Berlin 9040 loudspeakers aimed toward the front row at a steep angle to cover the audience.  One Berlin 6040 aims outward to cover the field.

One visitor-side pole supports two Berlin 9040 loudspeakers powered by a Technomad PowerChiton4 amplifier and RF solution to cover one end of the bleachers.  A second pole supports two Berlin 9040 loudspeakers and a PowerChiton4 for the near bleachers; and a single Berlin 6040 with a dedicated PowerChiton4 amplifier to cover an extension of the bleacher away from the cluster.  Allen PoleStar mounting hardware supports all loudspeakers.

A mix of Berlin 6040 and 9040 loudspeakers cover the Lincoln High School field from three locations behind the home bleachers, including the end zones for audio during track and field events.  Berlin 6040s and PowerChiton4 amplifiers cover the visitor side from the front corners of the bleachers.

“These are among the largest stadiums we’ve done and there were plenty of challenges,” said Wright.  “Technomad loudspeakers provide high-quality audio, high-frequency intelligibility and strong SPL along with a weatherproof design.  And the PowerChiton amplifiers provided a way to get audio to difficult places without being cost-prohibitive.”

ABOUT TECHNOMAD

Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers  — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks.  The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems.  Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

Technomad Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers and PowerChiton amplifiers deliver intelligible voice to three outdoor zones on campus

Western Washington University‘s sprawling campus in scenic Bellingham stretches 215 acres, with nearly 15,000 students walking the grounds during the fall and spring semesters.  The university gives prominence to campus safety, recently upgrading its fire alarm system in 47 buildings and adding a mass notification system to improve audio quality and long-distance coverage.

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Mills Electric Co., a Bellingham-based electrical and systems contractor serving the commercial and industrial markets, installed the multi-zone audio system in conjunction with Western Washington University support staff.  Technomad Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers exclusively power three outdoor zones at campus-designated “gathering areas.”

Technomad PowerChiton high-power waterproof amplifier modules drive live and pre-recorded messages to the loudspeakers for campus-wide broadcast.  The project also marries all indoor/outdoor PA points and associated pan/tilt/zoom cameras to an existing Edwards EST-3 campus-wide fire alarm system, programmed and upgraded by Performance System Integration, an Edwards EST Life Safety and Communications Strategic Partner.

The complete system ties to a central network infrastructure, enabling administration, campus police and other offices to deliver voice notifications to any single location, multiple zones, or every PA point in an “all-call” scenario.

Cory Kovacevich, a service and project manager at Mills Electric Co., notes that the Technomad loudspeakers produce intelligible voice over long distances, ensuring that students, staff and visitors hear emergency notifications loud and clear.  Each gathering area includes two Technomad Berlin 90×40 loudspeakers, mounted between 20 and 90 feet from the ground depending on the location.  Weatherproof construction ensures long-term durability and protection from the outdoor elements in rainy northwest Washington.

Kovacevich adds that the PowerChiton modules deliver 500 watts of clean power to each Berlin loudspeaker in a simple, easy-to-install package.  Though IP66-rated and designed for permanent outdoor installation, Kovacevich installed the PowerChitons indoors at the central audio headend for easier accessibility.

“The PowerChitons come in small, non-metallic enclosures and take up minimal space, which is important because we have limited room to add equipment,” says Kovacevich.  “The PowerChitons tie directly to the fire alarm system, and are mounted next to the fire alarm panels.  This keeps everything but the loudspeakers and cameras in one building.”

Kovacevich notes that the overall system represents a major upgrade for the campus, enabling text-to-speech translation and remote access to make announcements over the system from off campus — in addition to video integration, multi-zone capability and superior audio quality.

“The Berlins put out some serious sound,” says Kovacevich.  “We had recently broadcast a test message from the rooftop and saw people more than 100 yards away stop, turn around and look directly toward the loudspeakers.   The university is very happy with the power, sound quality and clarity of the voice.”

ABOUT TECHNOMAD

Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers  — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks.  The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems.  Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.