Technomad LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and audio systems since 1995, announces that Chattanooga Sound, a sound contractor based in Chattanooga, Tenn., has installed two Berlin weatherproof loudspeakers on a new soccer field for the Tennessee State Soccer Association in the nearby town of Cleveland.
The Berlin is the most powerful loudspeaker Technomad offers, offering unmatched projection, fidelity and power in an all-environment, IP56-compliant design.According to Charlie Rhodes, president of Chattanooga Sound, the soccer association approached him to procure and design the end-to-end system after discovering Technomad online.The Berlins are mounted on opposite sideline poles, one pointing in each direction toward the field to cover the entire venue.
Technomad Berlin loudspeakers are mounted on opposite poles at either side of the soccer field bleachers to project voice and music onto the field and to all spectators
“The Berlins offer a very high SPL and a two-inch driver that makes a world of difference when projecting spoken word over long distances,” said Rhodes.“These are full-range loudspeakers that reproduce lows, mids and highs very well, and the two-inch driver helps project the mids and highs for that extra distance.The musical reproduction is also outstanding, although voice is the most important aspect of this system.”
Rhodes first came across Technomad about five years ago when he replaced an audio system at Rock City, a 15-acre tourist destination outside of Chattanooga that was forced to continually replace outdoor loudspeakers adversely affected by inclement weather, high heat and humidity.Rhodes installed more than 20 Technomad Vernal loudspeakers at Rock City that continue to operate after four-plus years of unprotected use.
“Like Rock City, the Berlins for this project will be sitting out in the open, and in this part of the state we get all kinds of weather with temperatures that range from near zero to more than 100 degrees,” said Rhodes.“The bonus is that the weatherproof design in no way compromises the sound quality.”
The Technomad Berlins offer very high SPL and a two-inch driver to enable clear projection of spoken word over long distances
The end-to-end system designed by Rhodes also features an Ashly line mixer, dbx processor, Shure wireless microphones and a Denon CD player.The system was installed by local volunteers with Rhodes on hand to consult and set audio and EQ levels.
BOSTON, March 24, 2009 – Technomad Associates, LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and audio systems since 1995, announced that Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, used eight Technomad loudspeakers to provide live coverage of the Fortune Cup professional cricket matches to 20,000 spectators.The Fortune Cup took place in late 2008, comprising three cricket matches between the West Indies and Pakistan over the course of one day.Bint Al Jazeera Electronics, a professional AV and lighting company based in the United Arab Emirates, installed six Technomad Berlin and two Noho C loudspeakers to ensure even audio coverage throughout the large open-air stadium, allowing announcers to clearly reach every spectator in the stadium.
According to Shrini N Iyer of Bint Al Jazeera Electronics, the chief engineer Mr Yunis Philabous of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club was determined to eliminate all echo from the venue during the matches, an issue that had an adverse effect on the sound quality and audio coverage during previous events.Even audio coverage and durability were also significant considerations in choosing a sound system for the event.
Six Technomad Berlin and two Noho C loudspeakers were installed on a temporary basis to ensure even audio coverage throughout the large open-air stadium, allowing announcers to clearly reach every spectator
“The chief engineer of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club was determined to eliminate all echo from the venue during the matches, an issue that had an adverse effect on the sound quality and audio coverage during previous events,” said Iyer.“The wide, even audio patterns of the Technomad loudspeakers across a wide frequency band helped eliminate hot spots.With careful loudspeaker placement, unwanted reverberation in the venue was minimized – a significant improvement over prior years.”
The Technomad Berlin loudspeakers, renowned for their unparalleled projection, fidelity, and power, covered the main seating areas and field surface.The Noho C loudspeakers served two purposes, acting as performance monitors and also providing a direct audio source to the VIP section. All eight loudspeakers were positioned atop tripods seven feet above ground level to ensure an even audio pattern, allowing every spectator to clearly comprehend speech from the announcers.In addition to voice, the Technomad loudspeakers powered instruments for a live band performing between events, providing a robust musical output for the crowd to enjoy.
“Clear audio with minimal echo is essential to ensure that the audience hears all public broadcasts during the game, including information on appropriate public conduct and warnings against abusive behavior that required for all international games,” said Mr. Dilawar Mani, CEO for Abu Dhabi Cricket Club.“The loudspeakers also worked to our satisfaction for the “end of match awards” while announcing the winners and special awards, as well as for conducting interviews with players.”
Iyer added that the durability of the Technomad loudspeakers were on display between the second and third matches, when extremely heavy winds dislodged many of the loudspeakers from their tripods.“Our team found all of the loudspeakers on the ground after the high wind speeds earlier in the day, a common weather occurrence in this region,” he said.“The rugged design protected the loudspeakers, and they all worked flawlessly once remounted.When we first evaluated the stadium, its audio requirements and potential climate challenges, it became clear quickly that Technomad was the only choice for the job.”
Other recent Bint Al Jazeera projects in the Middle East featuring Technomad loudspeakers include the American International School in Abu Dhabi, the Burjuman Center in Dubai, and the Danant Resort in Ruwais.The company’s website can be accessed at http://www.hifi10.com/.
We must thank the consumer electronics (PCs included) people who have developed cost-effective technologies that us pro audio folks can benefit from. Case in point is the advent of portable digital audio players (MP3 players). In the pro audio world, there is a number of manufactures that have developed and bring to market cost-effective digital or solid state audio recorders/players which have gained acceptance in many applications for field recording broadcast, sound reinforcement, and public address systems. It is not unusual now to hear these devices in use in many public spaces such as department stores, where a customer can press a call button on a pillar, which triggers a pre-produced announcement over the PA system alerting staff that “a customer requires service in the sports department,” or an announcement at the airport reminding us that the airport is a non- smoking environment.
There are many environments where a message has to be communicated to the masses either by immediate command through the push of a button, or triggered by a third-party control or by some internal scheduler. There is a number of fruitful choices from a number of manufacturers (TOA, Nel-Tech Labs, Raicom, TASCAM, Stop & Listen, etc.) that have developed products for common commercial audio applications. A recent addition to this arena of digital audio players is the Schedulon from Technomad (check out http://www.technomad. com). Yes, the folks who bring us military/ weatherproof-grade loudspeakers.
The Technomad Schedulon a rackmount (1U) MP3 player/recorder with a built-in scheduler that can be used in a variety of pro audio and commercial security applications.
The Schedulon is a rackmount (1U) MP3 player/recorder with a built-in scheduler. With the use of a web browser or by navigating via a front panel knob and display, the Schedulon offers the ability to upload audio files, schedule playback of audio files, and automate playback of audio files. The unit utilizes flash-RAM memory, which makes this unit more dependable than a PC-based solution. Although the unit has an onboard clock, audio files can also be triggered by an external clock server.
The Schedulon can record audio from its stereo line-in jacks  audio is encoded as high-quality (192 kbps) MP3 sound files and assigned to any desired knob location for playback. The better option is to upload the audio file using the browser application or to upload files to Schedulon’s USB memory drive from your computer.
The applications for the Schedulon and many similar units are numerous: repeat messaging at airports, department stores, malls, training facility scheduling (schools, airports, hospitals), corporate audio (no CDs to misplace), training, sports facilities (load team music or special effects for instant playback), automatic safety announcements, theme park audio, sound effects, pool-side music or DJ applications, and much more. Upon evaluation, it did not take much time to connect the unit and navigate through the browser.
Once connected and logged to the unit, you will discover six tabs (Status, Settings, Control, MP3 Upload, Knob Set, Scheduler) allowing you to view and enter values via drop-down selection. All but the Status tabs permit entering and adjustments to the unit. Without the use of a computer, you can navigate through the functions with the front knob and display, but this makes it taxing.
Different play modes can be assigned to each knob position: play forever/unit stopped by user (for sirens); play once, then stop automatically (for songs like the national anthem); and play while button held in (for sound effects). The fact that each knob position can store a different audio file AND play behavior is unique in the marketplace, I believe. The evaluation unit had 50 or so preloaded audio files, most of which, to no surprise, had military applications. One surprise that happened when I logged on was that the unit announced its IP address, which could inadvertently be announced over the PA system for all to hear.
Generally, the unit worked to expectation, and can be recommended for applications as previously noted.
The unit we evaluated did not offer any contact closure or RS232 port for interconnectivity to other control systems. The audio outputs are unbalanced (not-so-pro audio), and the device’s “current time” is found at the Status tab; however, the current time should also be at the Scheduler tab for ease of reference during programming. Additionally, the unit data port is found in the front panel, something I would not expect if this unit is to be driven by external IP-based timer or clock. Projects or systems requiring additional features may not find this unit appropriate, but overall, the Schedulon is a good performer and is basic in operation and functionality.
Devy Breda, CET, CTS, is an Audio Visual Systems Designer at Mulvey & Banani A/V, a division of Mulvey & Banani International Inc. ( http://www.mbii.com ).
Manufacturer’s Comment
The announcement of IP address can be turned off as an option. The unit can have sounds triggered by CGI commands via Ethernet/LAN, and the unit can automatically synch itself to an external time server
These are two different things. Both use the network. The time-server synch is critical if you need things to happen exactly on time, for years at a time. The Data Port (Ethernet port) can be located on the rear if requested at time of order. – Technomad LLP
This review appeared in the December 2008 issue of Professional Sound.
Solid scheduling-enabled audio player and recorder that fits the simplicity bill.
By John McJunkin
Technomad, manufacturer of military-oriented audio equipment (particularly PA systems) has introduced its Schedulon scheduling-enabled audio player/recorder. This device is nearly identical to Technomad’s SuperConductor, which is the purely military version of the device. As a manufacturer of military-grade technology, Technomad is known to make its products figuratively bulletproof, and the Schedulon was developed with this notion in mind. It records to and plays back from RAM, so there are no moving hard-disk parts to cause problems. It’s distinguished from similar computer-based solutions by the fact that it is a standalone device, immune to viruses or operating system crashes or hang-ups. I’ve always been a great believer in over-engineering, which helps avoid embarrassment and, more importantly, the potential loss of clients that can be caused by equipment failures. The Schedulon very much appeals to my sensibilities in this regard.
The military recognizes that much of its equipment is destined to be operated by 18-year-olds who have little experience with technology, so simplicity is the key word. The Schedulon’s 1RU front and rear panels very clearly fit that bill. There are just five features on the front panel: From left to right, there’s an LCD display, a data-input knob, a removable thumb-drive access panel, an RJ-45 Ethernet port, and a large bat-handle power switch. The LCD displays 32 characters on two lines, and it is very reminiscent of the old-school Yamaha processors and synthesizers. The data-entry knob is of the large variety colloquially described as “chicken-head”; it spins continuously for data input and can also be depressed as a pushbutton switch. It doesn’t get much simpler than a single knob and a basic LCD display for control and feedback.
The Technomad Schedulon automatic mp3 player and recorder, adapted from Technomad military technology
The rear panel is also simple. From left to right, you’ll find a fuse holder, the unit’s integrated AC power cord, a Neutrik 1/4in. TRS output jack, a second RJ-45 Ethernet port, and two stereo RCA pairs representing audio in and rec in. Again, the Schedulon sports a very straightforward, no-nonsense design, which is right in line with the requirements you’d expect from the military.
The Schedulon is essentially designed to do one thing: automatically play audio at prescheduled times or immediately under human control if desired. There are obviously numerous applications for such a device. In an educational setting, specifically a school, the Schedulon can be used to play tones or recorded speech intended to alert students that class begins in 10 minutes, again 5 minutes later, and then a final alert 1 minute prior to the start of each class hour. The minimum time resolution of the scheduling is 1 minute, so countdowns that update every minute are possible. Additionally, emergency messages can be delivered, alerting students of a fire or other dangers. For numerous applications, the ability to play hourly chimes to indicate the time is nice, particularly since a specific number of chime strokes can be played or even a pleasant voice can announce that it’s 10 o’clock, for example. Up to 100 scheduled playback events can be programmed into the system. In military settings, the device can be used to play Reveille in the morning, Taps at dusk, and other military-oriented sounds. As a matter of fact, the device ships from Technomad with quite a number of military sounds, including alarm sirens and bugle calls. Among other applications, the Schedulon would also be useful in subways, airports, hospitals, or other public buildings, even to provide BGM. For that matter, this system would be useful for any application in which you would otherwise use a flash-drive-based recording/playback system.
In addition to scheduled automatic playback, immediate manual playback is easily accomplished by the Schedulon, which would be useful in the case of an emergency or other situation that necessitates immediate, spontaneous playback of certain messages or alerts. The unit allows a maximum of 99 slots for audio. The maximum length of the audio is determined by the size of the removable flash thumb drive. The unit ships from the factory with a 1GB drive, but larger drives can be installed. The unit compresses audio into .mp3 files, with resolution ranging from 32kbps to 320kbps. Audio is recorded by the unit at 192kbps, which is difficult to distinguish from CD quality by most listeners without the benefit of an A-B comparison. At the nominally standard rate of 128kbps, hundreds of songs could be stored on a system with a 1GB thumb drive. Technomad says that a future version of the system will support the recording and playback of uncompressed 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV audio. The unit’s thumb drive is upgraded very easily by removing the front access panel, pulling the original drive out, and replacing it with the new one. Also, all system parameters, scheduling, and audio are stored on the thumb drive, so it can be transferred into another Schedulon unit — in effect cloning the original.
In line with the military aversion to computer viruses, complete control of all system parameters can be accomplished from the front panel, but computer control via Ethernet is indeed an option; this is the only way that externally recorded .mp3 files can be introduced to the Schedulon. It’s possible that the system would be loaded with all desired audio files and then installed with the intention of only front-panel control. On the other hand, since the system can be controlled remotely via IP, it is beneficial to maintain a network connection — particularly if you’re practicing good network security. Password protection prevents a malicious user from making changes, both from the front panel and via the network. Another major benefit to maintaining a network connection to the unit is that it can connect to a time server, keeping its internal clock precisely correct at all times. On a related note, the Schedulon has an optional backup battery available, which is again in line with the military notion of ongoing technology performance regardless of external circumstances. I discovered this battery feature when I jokingly flipped on the power switch before the unit was plugged in. Imagine my surprise when it fired up.
Among other advantages over similar audio-streaming-over-IP solutions is a network interruption that will not halt playback of critical audio from the Schedulon, since all the audio is stored internally. Additionally, IP bandwidth is not expended by audio streaming. I was prepared to announce that my only criticism of the unit was the somewhat unorthodox 1/4in. TRS audio output. I would normally expect Euro-style or barrier strips or a stereo pair of 1/4in. TRS jacks. As it transpires, however, I was shipped a beta unit. The production version will actually have stereo RCA pairs for input and output, which is a little more orthodox.
In spite of these minor inconveniences, this unit is very solid and would be a great choice for any application in which good-quality scheduled audio playback is necessary. I’d recommend taking a look at it.
John McJunkin is the principal of Avalon Podcasting in Chandler, Ariz. He has consulted in the development of studios and installations, and he provides high-quality podcast-production services.
Technomad announced that C.I.C. Electronics, a Technomad dealer located in South Korea, installed a variety of Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers throughout Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. C.I.C. Electronics, a global supplier of professional audio and public address systems selected Technomad loudspeakers for their outstanding audio quality and projection, weatherproof design, and durability.
Jamsil Baseball Stadium, built in 1982, seats 30,265 people and is home to both the Doosan Bears and LG Twins, both professional teams of the KBO Baseball League. C.I.C. installed Technomad Berlin, Paris616 and Vernal-15 loudspeakers in various areas depending on the amount of power required for each specific location. The Technomad Berlin, part of the company’s AS Series of loudspeakers, is the largest of the three models. TheBerlin offers unparalleled projection, fidelity, and power to disperse intelligible voice and music throughout the stadium while maintaining an even pattern.
The Technomad Paris 616 and Vernal-15 models, part of the company’s MP Series of loudspeakers, offer more compact designs for all-environment installations, distributed systems, and sound reinforcement applications. Like the Berlin, both the Paris and Vernal offer unmatched fidelity as well as very broad dispersion to ensure that clear audio is hitting the most difficult-to-reach areas within the stadium.
Jamsil Baseball Stadium comprises part of the Jamsil Sports Complex along with nearby Seoul Olympic Stadium, and was host to baseball events during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
