ProAudio Review - July 2008 - (Page 33)

JBL COMPANY MILESTONES 1902 - James B. Lansing born in Illinois. 1927 - Lansing Manufacturing Company founded in Los Angeles. 1934 - Douglas Shearer of MGM heads team which designs first practical loudspeaker system for motion picture use. Lansing builds components for the system. 1937 - Shearer system awarded citation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences. 1941 - Lansing Manufacturing Company acquired by Altec Service Company. 1943 - Lansing develops improved manufacturing methods, including flat wire milling and highspeed winding of ribbon wire voice coils. 1943 - Lansing designs 604 Duplex loudspeaker. 1944 - Lansing and Hilliard redefine the state of the art for the motion picture theater with the A4, dubbed Voice of the Theatre. 1946 - Lansing founds a new company, James B. Lansing Sound, Incorporated, to pursue new directions in transducer and sound system design. 1947 - JBL introduces the D-130 15-inch loudspeaker, which was the first known use of a four-inch flat-wire voice coil in a cone transducer. 1949 - James. B. Lansing dies; William Thomas becomes company president. 1954 - JBL introduces the model 375 highfrequency compression driver. This was the first commercially available 4” diaphragm driver and afforded flat response to 9 kHz. 1954 - JBL introduces a family of acoustic lenses, developed by Bart Locanthi. 1954 - Model 075 high-efficiency, high-frequency ring radiator introduced. 1955 - Leo Fender of musical instrument fame incorporates the model D-130 into his famous guitar amplifiers, signaling JBL’s entry into the music reinforcement field. 1958 - JBL introduces the Paragon stereophonic loudspeaker system, incorporating a cylindrical reflecting principle for superior stereophonic imaging in the home. 1962 - JBL introduces the first two-way studio monitor using a high-frequency compression driver with acoustical lens. 1965 - JBL introduces the-”T-circuit” output configuration for high performance solid state amplifiers. 1968 - JBL introduces the 4310 three-way bookshelf monitor. This system -lives on through the models 4311 and 4312. 1969 - Sidney Harman acquires JBL from William Thomas. The company embarks on a period of accelerated international growth through the Harman distribution companies. 1969 - The L-100, a consumer version of the 4311, is introduced, eventually reaching sales of 125,000 pairs during the decade of the seventies. 1969 - JBL transducers power Woodstock and other major rock festivals. 1973 - JBL introduces the expanded line of 4300series monitors, including the industry’s first fourway designs. 1975 - JBL introduces Model 4682 “Strongbox” Line Array. 1976 - JBL’s monitors rank first in the US recording industry survey conducted by Billboard. 1977 - JBL moves to new location in Northridge, California. 1979 - JBL introduces patented diamond surround diaphragm technology for high frequency resonance control. 1979 - JBL develops SFG Symmetrical Field Geometry magnet structures. 1980 - JBL introduces patented Bi-Radial Constant-Coverage horn technology. 1981 - Bi-Radial monitors introduced. Building on the acoustical concept of flat power response, the 4400-series monitors quickly gain acceptance by the recording industry. THE LINE-ARRAY BREAKTHROUGH Fast-forward to the late-1990s and JBL Professional’s continuing R&D for the concertsound and arena markets resulted in a breakthrough in line-array technology for live performance. “Following on from the packaged systems we developed in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and leveraging JBL’s newest, most advanced dualvoice coil transducers,” recalls David Scheirman, VP of Tour Sound, “our VerTec system was first revealed in 2000, as specified for use during the Democratic National Convention at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.” The system’s public launch took place at the Wiltern Theater [midtown Los Angeles] during the Fall 113th AES Convention later that same year. “VerTec systems are based on the acoustical science of JBL’s Vertical Technology,” continues Scheirman. “Trapezoidal cabinetry and lightweight, neodymium-based components combine to offer a very high power-to-weight ratio. Our Differential Drive low-frequency drivers with neodymium magnets contribute to the system’s lighter weight. Mid-range cone transducers provide significantly higher output than competitive devices with dual-voice coils, neodymium magnets and massive heat sinks. JBL also developed the industry’s lightest, most powerful, compact, high-frequency driver for the VerTec system.” From the outset JBL’s VerTec line-array concept attracted a lot of attention, since the revolutionary design provided consistent LF, MF, and HF performance with high output and optimum power/weight ratios. “We gradually expanded the line to include smaller-sized components and subwoofer cabinets,” Scheirman continues. “And we also now have powered options using JBL Drive Pack technology, which we developed in cooperation with Crown International and dbx Professional, our sister brands.” (Other Harman brands include AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, Lexicon Pro, Soundcraft and Studer.) JBL’s DrivePack incorporates Crown’s exclusive BCA (Balanced Current Amplifier) technology and Class I circuitry with temperaturecompensated modulation; each unit includes an auto-sensing universal power supply and a fan-free, passive, cooling design. Optional network input modules link the powered speaker systems to Harman Pro’s HiQnet System Architect software. “And with the development of HiQnet, the Harman-innovated communications protocol,” Gander says, “our active components can be controlled and monitored remotely using standard IT-based technology that is becoming increasingly important for some of our customers, including the ability to carry digitized audio via Ethernet connections.” Co-developed and shared by engineers from all the brands within the Harman Pro group, the powerful HiQnet communications protocol and System Architect software benefits from years of combined experience. “In addition to our dual voice coil/Differential-Drive and neodymium magnet technologies utilized within the VerTec Series, we also developed patented rigging schemes for the cabinets, which we build from a new-generation of lightweight composite materials” concludes Gander. Capitalizing on this extensive design and material-science experience, JBL Professional developed the Precision Directivity/PD Series and JBL continues on page 34 ® The JBL Professional Marketing Team (from left to right): Mark Gander, VP Marketing; Jon Sager, Director of Market Development, Installed Sound; Rick Kamlet, Sr., Director of Commercial/Installed Sound Marketing; Peter Chaikin, Director of Recording & Broadcast Marketing; Simon Jones, Director of Portable P.A. Marketing; Chuck Goodsell, Director of Cinema Marketing; and David Scheirman, VP Tour Sound. July 2008 | ProAudio Review | 33

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - July 2008

ProAudio Review - July 2008 Contents Publisher's Page: Inside Broadcast Production Studio News and New Products Steinberg Nuendo 4 Digital Audio Workstation Developments & Trends: Digital Audio Workstation I/O JZ Microphones Black Hole BH-1 Apple Logic Studio Behind The Scenes: JBL Professional – A 60-Year Legacy Broadcast News and New Products WLOY: Real World Facilities For An On-Campus Radio Station Post News and New Products Hot Gear InfoComm 08 Chandler Limited TG1 Abbey Road/EMI Series Limiter/Compressor Live News and New Products Cerwin-Vega! Professional Active Series CVA-28 and CVA-118 Speakers QSC Audio Model GX5 Power Amplifier From The Road: A Week In The Life — Gear Essentials Contracting News and New Products Taming The Driving Factor — Drums UpSampler: sE Instrument Reflection Filter Buyer’s Guide: Live Sound Amplifiers Single Slice: Roger Powell “Fallout Shelter”

ProAudio Review - July 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.