OLD LYME, Conn. – May 19, 2010 – Late during the evening of May 17, 2010, only a few days after his 98th birthday, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser, audio pioneer and founder of today’s Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, passed away. The audio industry has lost a huge figure, not only in terms of his technical expertise but also in terms of his humanity.

Through his company Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser had a crucial influence on the development of sound transmission technologies and was instrumental in forging many ground-breaking developments in electroacoustics and transmission technologies. Under his guidance the first shotgun microphones and open headphones were created and he oversaw important developments in wireless radio and infra-red transmission. It was completely natural for Fritz Sennheiser to give his developers the “creative and technical freedom� they required. His humanity also shone through when – considering the significant workload involved in running an expanding company – he took time to share his knowledge with students, inspiring them with an enthusiasm for audio technology. In 1982 he retired from the management of the company, handing over to his son, Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Jörg Sennheiser. more

NATICK, MA, May 19, 2010 — Genelec, the leader in active monitoring technology for more than three decades, announces its new 9000A Stereo Volume Control. Visually designed to appear as a miniature version of Genelec’s 5040A Active Subwoofer, the 9000A provides convenient volume control for all Genelec monitors/loudspeakers. The volume control input and output have 3.5-mm stereo male and female connectors, providing immediate connectivity with most computers and laptops, MP3 players and game stations.

The connecting cable on 9000A is Y-shaped. Past 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) from the control knob, the single cable splits into two 1-meter (3 feet 3 inch) cables, one for audio input, one for audio output. A converter cable converting 2 x RCA to 3.5-mm stereo (female) is necessary for audio equipment with RCA outputs. A converter cable converting 3.5-mm stereo (male) to 2 x XLR (male) is necessary to use the 9000A with Genelec monitors having XLR output. These cables can be easily obtained from any authorized Genelec dealer. The 9000A is available in three colors: black, silver and white. more

— Popular Internet radio stream equips its new mobile studio with Audio-Technica mics for live music capture, in-studio performances and voiceovers —

STOW, OH, May 18, 2010 — Audio-Technica, a world leader for microphone solutions for over 45 years, was recently selected as microphone of choice employed by the new mobile studio for the Folk Alley live streaming web radio program from Kent, Ohio-based WKSU-FM. Audio-Technica microphones are used for announcement/voiceover applications, live music broadcast and in-studio guests/performances in the mobile broadcast vehicle, which has been up and running since August 1, 2009, and was part of the team for the National Public Radio (NPR) stream from the 50th Anniversary Newport Folk Festival later that month. more

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 2010: Almost two years after John McBride’s Blackbird Studio in Nashville purchased 1608 serial number 001, API president Larry Droppa recently traveled to Los Angeles to congratulate film and television composer William Anderson on his purchase of the 100th API 1608 console. Built to the exacting standards of API’s revered 1604 console, the 1608 puts API’s coveted sound and discrete analog circuitry into a modern mixer that is perfectly suited to work with digital recording platforms, at a price that is within reach for project studio owners.

Anderson, owner of Anderson Scores, is a full-time film and television composer with over two hundred projects to his name, including nearly one thousand episodes of animated programming. His music can be heard on commercials, comedies, dramas, features, games, radio and CD. He was honored at the 2009 ASCAP 25th Annual Film and Television Awards for his theme and music for Fox’s The Moment of Truth. He will use his API 1608 together with Pro Tools to both track and mix a wide spectrum of genres, from orchestral music to hip-hop to oblique electronic etudes. more

MONTREAL: CBC/RADIO-CANADA Audio Postproduction has selected the Sonnox Restore suites for use on the full range of its multifaceted programming.

Jean Diamant, CBC Supervising Technician – TV Technical Production, reports, “We added Sonnox Restore Suites to the CBC/Radio-Canada Montreal audio postproduction software inventory because they have an intuitive interface, a wide range of parameters and the ability to process quickly as AudioSuite plug-ins. They also complement our other restoration products.”

Since much of CBC/Radio-Canada’s programming originates in location recording environments, it is often accompanied by extraneous noise from many sources including: air and ground traffic, indigenous wildlife and weather. It is critical that these recordings be as clear as possible both for interpreters translating the original material, and for enhanced listener comprehension. CBC/Radio-Canada also maintains an extensive library of pre-recorded and historical material, which requires repair for improved clarity. more

Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada, May 2010: This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of the classic Sennheiser MD 421-U large diaphragm, cardioid, dynamic microphone. The venerable MD 421, which is still in production as the MD 421 II, has been one of Sennheiser’s best-selling dynamic microphones for decades thanks to its durability, versatility, and ability to handle high sound pressure levels. Offering exemplary performance on voices, but equally effective on a wide range of acoustic and amplified instruments, the MD 421 continues to be an essential component of any microphone collection in the studio or on the road.

The MD 421 has been improved over the years with upgrades to the housing, output connector, basket, and capsule assembly. A limited-production MD 421 Special Edition that recaptured the full-bodied performance of the microphone’s original design was introduced in 2003 to commemorate the 90th birthday of Sennheiser founder, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser. The MD 421 II continues the tradition of the MD 421 while upgrading the original design in order to take advantage of improved production techniques and materials. more