Yorkville Sound Synergy Array Series Loudspeaker System

Wow! The new Yorkville Sound Synergy Array Series Loudspeaker System looks to be quite a revolutionary speaker system available for a variety of venues and applications. Check out the video below to discover all the potential of this new speaker system. Made in Canada by Yorkville Sound...



*** Double click on the window to view the full screen video ***

Take a look at this video by Doug Jones of Danley Sound Labs as he explains about the new Synergy Horn technology...

Current Sound System At My Old High School SCI&TS Auditorium

Recently, I was able to go back to my old high school Sarnia Collegiate and Technical School (SCI&TS) to get a look current sound system installed in the auditorium. I arranged to meet up with the Head of the Drama Department, Mr. Dan White. He allowed me to come in so that I could take some pictures of the current sound system to compare it to what used to be there back in the mid 80s when I attended my school.

The auditorium has changed quite a bit since my time there. The gear has also changed drastically.

Back in my school days, we had a pretty basic sound system to use which was located in a small box room that was on the third floor overlooking the balcony level of the auditorium. The gear consisted of a Yamaha 1204 mixing console, a Yamaha dual 31 band EQ, a Yamaha single 31 band EQ, 2x Yamaha power amps, 1 pair of JBL speakers for mains and 1 pair of Yamaha speakers for foldback monitors.

Here are pictures to illustrate:

This is the original Yamaha MC1204 Mixing

This the original rack unit with Yamaha graphic EQs and power amps

Now compare some pics of the current setup at my old high school. 

They relocated the mix area to main floor of auditorium under the balcony at centre line:

They have a new, Presonus digital mixing console:

They have two racks with all the power amps, signal processors, and wireless mic receivers:

(Furman, Shure, Yorkville Sound, Yamaha, DOD, Aphex)

There is a left - right hang of Yorkville Sound loudspeakers:

There is a newly added centre cluster hang of Yamaha loudspeakers:

There is even Yorkville subwoofers mounted underneath the stage! (never had those when I was there!):

Here is a view looking from Front Of House towards the stage:

It was so great to go back to the auditorium where I learned to be a theatre technician and learned how to mix sound on an analog mixing console. I left feeling very nostalgic for the rest of the day...

On a side note: My old high school is actually on the chopping block this year to be closed by the board of education. They want to close it down and send all the students to another high school after it gets renovated and expanded. There are some local people trying to stop it from happening because, SCI&TS high school is the oldest school in our city with the most character and the most amenities. We are all hoping that the school doesn't end up closing down but, the board is still set on their idea. More to follow......

Yorkville Sound Factory Tour: VIDEO

Here in Canada, Yorkville Sound is a Canadian company that has been manufacturing instrument amplifiers, mixing consoles, loudspeakers, power amplifiers and lighting systems for over 50 years!
Have you ever wondered about the how Yorkville Sound gear is manufactured?

Check out the excellent factory tour video of the Yorkville Sound facility in Pickering, Ontario, just east of Toronto, Ontario.




Check out all the products by Yorkville Sound and Traynor Amplification on the web site:
http://www.yorkville.com/

Yorkville Sound Returns Production Of YX Series Loudspeakers To Canada

Way to go, Yorkville Sound !!!

Thank you for bringing back manufacturing of your YX Series of loudspeakers home to Canada from overseas! Even better that you are able to do this while being able to sell your products at the cost level of production done oversees. This will keep the Yorkville Sound factory in Canada active while workers maintain their steady jobs. KUDOS!!!

The Yorkvile YX Series of loudspeakers is a cost effective product line with excellent sound and build quality at a great price point. All current "made in Canada" built products are shipping now. Yorkville has plans to bring back more YX series models in 2014 and the future.

Here is a list of the now "made in Canada" models available:

YX12C: 200-watt Program (400-watt peak) 12-inch passive loudspeaker
YX15C: 300-watt Program (600-watt peak) 15-inch passive loudspeaker
YX15PC: 300-watt Program (600-watt peak) 15-inch active loudspeaker
YX18SC: 400-watt Program (800-watt peak) 18-inch passive loudspeaker

In my own opinion, Yorkville Sound tends to get look past by many professional sound engineers. Yorkville Sound makes some excellent products for the Canadian sound market for a reasonable cost. The YX Series of loudspeakers is an excellent choice for small, independant sound contractors and local bands alike at a reasonable cost. 

Plus, the Two Year "Even-If-You_Break_It" warranty is just amazing! If you buy Yorkville Sound, you will be covered if and when something goes wrong with your gear. Also, it is nice to know that if you require service on your gear, it only has to ship to the factory for repair here in Canada.

I really enjoy using Yorkville Sound gear that is "Made In Canada"!

Powered Mixer Versus Rack full of gear

Working as a freelance sound tech, there are times when I work a gig where a full rack of sound gear and large mixer are just not necessary. These are the kind of gigs I would make use of a simple powered mixer.

A typical powered mixer is an all-in-one box that houses a mixer, power amplifier, graphic EQ(s), and effects processor. Most powered mixers have 2 pair of amplifier outputs on the back panel for hookup to passive speakers and stage monitors. Since everything is built into the box, all you need to do is connect the speakers, microphones and line level sources to the unit and you are ready to rock.

Most powered mixers have two channels of amplification built-in with a way to route the signals in different ways depending upon your setup. For example, you could setup the outputs of your powered mixer for standard left -right stereo setup with the main speakers. 

Or you could setup the outputs for split operation sending one amplifier output to the main speakers and one output to the monitor speakers. This will allow independant control of the main mix and monitor mixes separately. Power ratings for these powered mixers can be anything from 200 watts up to 1200 watts usually at a 4 ohm rating. For many gigs, there is plenty of power to spare onboard.

The input channels on a powered mixer usually consist of a selection of mono microphone inputs along with one of two stereo line level inputs. Each channel strip typically has controls for gain level, channel EQ, a monitor output, EFX send, and channel level all on rotary controls.

One or two graphic EQs are onboard which can be routed to feed the main and monitors outputs for basic EQ control. These EQs are typically the 5 - 10 band variety covering a number or standard frequencies for broad adjustments.

Most powered mixers these days are fitted with one EFX processor with a number standard effects like reverbs, delays, choruses, and such. For the most part, only one effect at a time can be routed to the mix via the effect send control on the input channels.

Another feature that most powered mixers have onboard are connectors to patch the main mix and monitor feeds to an external amplifier or powered loudspeakers. This feature allows you to use the powered mixer like a passive mixer bypassing the amplifier outputs.

Powered mixers are available in two main types. A box mixer or a desktop mixer. 

The box mixers are compact enough to setup right on stage or on top of instrument amps. Some of the new box, powered mixers are designed with an angle back allowing them to be set on the stage floor and tilted back just like a stage wedge monitor speaker. This saves space on stage

A desktop, powered mixer is of similar design to a regular passive mixer just with the addition of the power amplifiers. This kind of mixer usually has a little bit more capability to it because, it has more space for more channel inputs and other controls but, does the same job as a box mixer.

Whatever type of powered mixer you choose, you will have an easy to use and setup centre piece to your portable sound system at your next gig.

Below are some pictures of a few typical powered mixers that are available on the sound market:

Yamaha EMX512 Powered Mixer: (box style)

Mackie PPM 1008 Powered Mixer: (box style)

Allen & Heath PA-12CP Powered Mixer: (desktop style)

Yorkville Sound m-810 Powered Mixer: (box style)

Here is a good example of how one powered mixer can replace a rack case of sound gear:

For part 2 of this post, I will discuss a number of ways you can use a powered mixer in live situations.
Coming soon!

UPDATE! Click here for the link to Part 2 of this article: The Many Uses Of Powered Mixers
http://ronbehro.blogspot.ca/2015/02/the-many-uses-of-powered-mixer.html