Category: Articles

Thanks for visiting the Articles area. To see how other people are using Technomad products, scroll down, or select one of the many articles on the sidebar at the right.
>> For Product information click here.

Technomad to Introduce Loudspeaker Yokes for Secure Outdoor Audio Installations at Infocomm 2008

BOSTON, May 5, 2008– Technomad Associates, LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and Turnkey PA systems for the commercial pro audio market since 1995, will introduce new mounting yokes to address challenging outdoor loudspeaker installations for audio contractors and installers at the upcoming Infocomm 2008 convention (June 18-20, Booth C3613, Las Vegas Convention Center).The yokes will initially be available as accessories with Technomad Berlin and Noho C loudspeakers, two of the company’s more popular loudspeakers for outdoor PA systems in stadiums, theme parks, and other open air venues.

The new mounting yokes are essentially U shaped arms that give the contractor more flexibility for outdoor loudspeaker installations. The mounting yokes improve loudspeaker support on round surfaces such as outdoor poles and columns to provide a more secure installation than traditional mounting brackets. Flexibility is further enhanced when the yokes are used with Allen Products PoleStarÆ all-weather pole and column adapters, available as accessories through Technomad. Together, the Technomad mounting yokes and PoleStar adapters can maximize audio coverage by allowing the contractor to more accurately tilt or position the loudspeakers at the best angle.

Technomad will also show its Vienna 16 and Paris 616 loudspeakers, now available and shipping in new Version8 models. Technomad Vienna 16 and Paris 616 loudspeakers are part of the company’s MP Series, a range of weatherproof loudspeakers designed for permanent installation, indoors and outdoors. The Version8 models add compression drivers that provide an added 3dB of maximum continuous SPL and an added 10dB of dynamic range, ensuring voice intelligibility and musical output at all volume levels, with improved audio quality in the mid-to-upper frequency range.

Technomad Vienna 16 and Paris 616 loudspeakers are also available as part of the company’s Turnkey PA Systems, a full range of complete, pre-integrated, fixed or mobile audio solutions featuring Technomad loudspeakers, cables, mounting brackets, a dynamic microphone with cable, and a 6RU rack enclosure featuring a two-channel amplifier, six-channel mixer, and additional rack space for other equipment including CD players and power conditioners. These easy-to-install, user-friendly systems contain everything needed for rugged, high-quality outdoor sound. Visitors to the Technomad booth at Infocomm can learn more about the Turnkey PA Systems through various product and literature displays.

Technomad – LOUD AND CLEAR

All weather Noho C loudspeakers from Technomad Associates LLC provide full audio coverage for outdoor fields, the company says. Two units were recently mounted on a pair of light poles directly behind the visitor’s bleachers of the Mount Si High School football field on Sinoqualmmie, Wash. A two- channel 550-watt amplifier powers the loudspeakers from the press box on the opposite side of the field and a line for a single microphone is run through protective cabling. Noho C loudspeakers are available separately or as part of a turnkey public-address system.

This article originally appeared in the January issue of Athletic Business.

The College Of San Mateo Overhauls Its Athletic Facilities’ Audio Systems

Below is an excerpt from a feature story in the March issue of Systems Contractor News.

The San Mateo Community College District, College of San Mateo, Skyline College, and the Canada College recently updated the sound systems for several of their sports facilities. Some of the prior systems were around 30 years old or just non-existent, in the case of several outdoor fields.

For all the systems installed, Technomad Vienna and Noho loudspeakers were used. “We found out about Technomad from Lloyd McKinney Associates, and they brought us some to test out,” said Jim Petromilli (Director of Instructional Technology at San Mateo Community College District). “We were impressed with the sound quality and how rugged they were. We worked with them to design a first installation and had nothing but accolades about the sound quality, so we just moved forward and have been very pleased with them.”

REFERENCE LINK

http://systemscontractor.com/articles/publish/article_1961.shtml

Henderson State University Installs Technomad

Henderson State University in Arkansas has installed eight Technomad weatherproof outdoor loudspeakers at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, home of the Henderson State Reddies, a Division II football team. The new loudspeakers, first used at the September 20 home opener, replaced antiquated horn system and improved voice and music intelligibility at the 10,000-seat stadium.

The university purchased six Technomad Berlin 15/H Install loudspeakers and two Technomad Paris 616 loudspeakers. It also purchased two PA racks filled with new mixers, amplifiers, signal processors and other equipment. Four of the Berlin 15/H Install loudspeakers are installed on the press box above the home bleachers, with the other two on poles next to the visitor bleachers. The Paris 616 loudspeakers are installed lengthwise on the ceiling of the press box overhang to provide a direct audio source to the expensive alumni seats underneath. Henderson State University purchased all the equipment and products through Troxell Communications.

The Technomad Berlin and Paris loudspeakers blend exceptionally well, to the point that it sounds like one enormous loudspeaker covering the entire stadium, said Jim Wilhelm, multimedia specialist for Henderson State University. We positioned the four Berlins on the press box so the middle two are pointing straight ahead and the far left and right loudspeakers are at a 45-degree angle. I wanted to ensure that those seated in the far upper corners are hearing the same quality as those at dead center. And, while the Berlins are still audible from under the press box, the Paris loudspeakers provide a more personal audio source for the alumni who pay for those seats.

This story initially appeared in the February 18 issue of Sound & Communications.

Technomad Loudspeakers Installed in Multiple Sports Venues Across San Mateo Community College District

Three campuses standardize on Technomad loudspeakers for indoor gymnasiums and outdoor stadiums

BOSTON, April 29, 2008 – Technomad Associates, LLC today announced that San Mateo Community College District in California has standardized on Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers on its three Bay Area campuses. Skyline College in San Bruno; Canada College in Redwood City; and the College of San Mateo are home to multiple indoor and outdoor venues now using Technomad Vienna 16 and Noho C loudspeakers for live sports and event coverage, with additional venues to follow as the district moves closer to completing a multi-year, multi-venue upgrade project that covers everything from field surfaces to bleachers to PA systems.

This is an ongoing project with one facility upgrade after another, and we have found the Technomad loudspeakers to be highly versatile with excellent audio quality both indoors and outdoors, said Jim Petromilli, Director of Instructional Technology at the San Mateo Community College District. Outdoors, the weatherproof design is ideal for our three campuses, all of which have very distinct microclimates that can include high heat, heavy rains, and rust from bay moisture. We have also found that the Technomad Vienna loudspeakers perform exceptionally well in our gymnasium at Skyline College for basketball, graduations and other events, and we are planning a similar installation in a second gymnasium.

The outdoor Technomad installations as integrated by Petromilli and his team include: five Noho C loudspeakers for Bulldog Stadium, the football stadium at College of San Mateo, with a sixth Noho C assigned to a nearby track and field area; nine Noho C loudspeakers for three baseball diamonds; two soccer fields, each with two Noho C loudspeakers; and three Vienna 16 loudspeakers for a new softball field that opens this spring.

Lloyd F. McKinney Associates of Hayward, California, procured the loudspeakers from Technomad for all venues, citing the weatherproof design as ideal to handle the different weather elements of the three campuses. The company also led the systems integration project for the gymnasium at Skyline College, home of the Skyline College Trojans, due to the height and complexity of the loudspeaker installations and system wiring. Twelve Technomad Vienna 16 loudspeakers were mounted onto concrete beams or steel structures in the gymnasium, with quad amps to drive selected speaker banks depending on the event. Each side of the gym features five Vienna 16 loudspeakers, with every other one facing the opposite direction to maximize coverage. The final two Vienna 16 loudspeakers were installed on a steel structure above the main basketball hoop, aiming down toward the center of the auditorium.

According to Rick McKinney, Vice President of Lloyd F. McKinney Associates, Petromilli and his team requested an indoor demo after experiencing the high audio quality of the initial outdoor Technomad installation at Bulldog Stadium, adding that the wide horizontal coverage pattern of the Viennas and Nohos allows the colleges to cover wide bleacher areas without hot spots.

Indoor reverb is always challenging in a gymnasium since you’re dealing with hardwood floors, concrete in bleachers and other acoustical challenges, said McKinney. The Vienna 16 loudspeakers provide plenty of power and voice intelligibility for Skyline College events, with a smooth and even audio dispersion throughout the bleachers. In fact, the two Viennas above the main basketball hoop cover the entire gym quite well on their own, but the additional speaker banks give Skyline College plenty of flexibility to orient the sound system to meet different requirements depending on the event.

According to Petromilli, the Skyline College gymnasium is the crown jewel of the district-wide sports facilities upgrade a complete remodel of an existing facility that adds a video projection system and free Wi-Fi in addition to the new floors, bleachers, and PA system.

The Technomads replaced a poor audio system that produced a massive echo, he said. It was difficult to hear in certain areas and we received many complaints. The Technomads bring a huge improvement in voice intelligibility, and the audio quality has improved our attendance in a very competitive market. The PA system has become part of the events at Skyline College, with music and additional entertainment for attendees to create an enjoyable experience.

The Noho C loudspeakers at Bulldog Stadium replaced aging horn systems that produced highly distorted, unintelligible audio. Three Noho C loudspeakers are installed on a press box facade at the 50-yard line, with two more mounted on light poles at the opposite side of the field.

“We opted for multiple loudspeakers that produce high quality audio at a lower level so we could achieve even distribution through the crowd,” said Petromilli. “This is also very important during track events; with so many events on the field, the participants can clearly hear their events being called. This includes the separate area where shot-put, javelin, and other events are held. And during football season, music is a more integral part of the experience, especially during warm-ups. The Technomads provide a pleasant musical output in addition to clear voice reproduction. We literally have people from visiting teams all over southern California knocking on our press box door complimenting us on our sound system, music, and overall presentation.”