MARTIN VIPERS AT MISS SA PAGEANT - ENTERTAINMENT, PRESENTATION & LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
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ENTERTAINMENT, PRESENTATION & LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
FIRST QUARTER 2013 • VOLUME 21 NUMBER 1
MARTIN VIPERS AT MISS SA PAGEANT
UPFRONT
IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS
I
ENTERTAINMENT, PRESENTATION & LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
sat in on the PROMAG interview with Dr Joseph edge through YouTube opened doors of opportunity
Kramer – The Founder of Kramer Electronics – for him and his career.
First Quarter 2013/ Volume 21 Number 1
and was spellbound. Yossi, as he is known, has Our cover story features the Miss South Africa
the vision of a predatory bird: he monitors the big pageant where talent as well as beauty is rewarded.
promag is published quarterly by picture, but can zoom in on minute detail in a heart- Marilyn Ramos walked away with the much-coveted
Electrosonic SA and distributed to the beat. Here is a man highly educated in the field of crown as well as the responsibility of representing
professional audio, video and lighting Endocrine Pharmacology, but through circumstances her country. Keeping it local, you can follow the
industry. © Promag and Electrosonic SA. switched careers and ended up revolutionising the story of how lighting companies, Stage Effects and
All rights reserved. Trademarks are the Audio Visual industry through sheer attitude, deter- Ultra Events helped the gifted UK electronic dance
mination and will. music group “The Prodigy” shine. The band rocked
property of their respective owners.
When he did not have cash to buy a timer and Johannesburg and Cape Town crowds with their
Advertising, editorial and subscriptions performances during the Synergy Festival 2012.
light meter needed to further his hobby of photog-
Managing Editor Terry Bourquin raphy, he studied electronics, built his own meter … Crestron Integrator Kobus Bosch and his HFX Sys-
011 770 9800 or terry@electrosonic.co.za and that was where it all started! He is adamant that tems Project team entered their “Sedibeng Breweries
Editor Khuboni Communications the word “cannot” has no place in his vocabulary, or – Heineken South Africa” installation for the presti-
Design and production Greig Stewart in his life. gious Crestron Integration Awards. The competition
Dr Kramer’s main passion is to constantly Re- was tough, with over 50 entries of remarkable AV
Cover image Miss SA, Marilyn Ramos, by
search and Develop new products and as a result System integration projects from all over the world.
Bruce Schwartz.
Kramer Electronics launches three new products We are delighted to announce that HFX won Cre-
Printing Seriti Printing – 012 333 9757 every week! While most of us consciously steer clear stron’s “Highly Commended for Best DigitalMedia™
of problems, Dr Kramer seeks them out so that he Install” award at ISE 2013 in Amsterdam. Congrat-
Electrosonic SA can find solutions. His mind-set and philosophy has ulations to the whole team, what an achievement!
JOHANNESBURG – Electrosonic SA altered my perspective forever. Sharing his wisdom, More details on the installation inside.
33 Lily Avenue, Northcliff, Johannesburg life story, his vision, interests and dreams was a As Dr Kramer said: “In business, and in life, there
soul-enriching experience. are no short cuts and no miracles, you have to work
PO Box 73515, Fairland, 2030
In this issue we bring a part of his life to you, ac- hard: blood sweat and tears”. I interpret it this way:
Tel: 011 770-9800 / Fax: 011 782-3123 companied by “soul” photos taken by Dr Kramer on We are born with talent and potential. “Greatness”
www.electrosonic.co.za his many journeys with his lovely wife, Hannah. is attained by applying that innate talent, as well as
e-mail: sales@electrosonic.co.za The focus on talent and greatness continues in hard work and the right attitude. Greatness can be
24 hour AV Systems Support this issue with Johannesburg-based Christopher achieved by anyone who is willing. Just ask the great
Bolton who is a genius in lighting design. Read how people featured in this issue how they succeeded.
0861 AVHELP / 0861 28 43 57
this creative man’s willingness to share his knowl- – Managing Editor: Terry
24 hour Lighting Technical Support
0860 MARTIN / 0860 62 78 46
DURBAN – Electrosonic SA KZN Contents
2
Units 5/6, 80 Rinaldo Road, Durban North
Diary
PO Box 401130, Redhill, 4071 Shows and events worldwide – Decorex SA 2013, NABSHOW, prolight+sound, LIGHTFAIR
Tel: 031 533-0900 / Fax: 031 533-0920 International 2013, InfoComm13 and GRANDDESIGNS LIVE Home
& Garden Show ...
Useful Links
ADB Lighting - www.adblighting.com
Compulite - www.compulite.com
3 News
Harman buys Martin Professional, Martin Professional visits SA, The
Prodigy Rocks, M2PC desk at Hexagon, MAC 401s make an impact,
Crestron South Africa - www.crestron.co.za Chris Bolton – SA’s ShowDesigner Genius and more …
10
CM Lodestar - www.cmrigging.com
Mac Viper the star of the Miss SA Pageant
Electron - www.electron.gr The Miss South Africa Pageant is BIG, and provided the ideal big-stage opportunity to
Elite Screens - www.elitescreens.com showcase Martin Professional’s new Mac Viper …
InfoComm (ICIA) - www.infocomm.org
Kramer - www.kramerelectronics.com
Litec - www.litectruss.com
12 Dr Joseph Kramer: In his own words
Kramer is a well-known name in the pro AV industry, but the story
of how a pharmacist and keen photographer became one of the in-
Martin Professional - www.martin.com dustry’s main players is not so well known …
NEC Displays - www.nec-displays.co.za
PLASA - www.plasa.org
Robert Juliat - www.robertjuliat.com
16 New Products
Crestron AMP-2210HT, HD-XSP and ASPIRE_IC8; Kramer C-DGK6, KDS-MP1, VP-425, VP-
771; Sierra Video Ponderosa; Elite Screen Evanesce Series; Galaxy Pro Video Wall Controller;
Screen International - www.screenint.com NEC Interactive Projector …
Sierra Video - www.sierravideo.com
SIM2 - www.sim2.com
24 Tutorial
A key aspect of the transition from analogue to digital is wireless connectivity …
first quarter 2013 – promag 1
FEATURE
UPFRONT
DIARY – UPCOMING EVENTS AND SHOWS
Decorex SA 2013 NABSHOW
21-24 March 2013, Durban Exhibition Centre 8-11 April 2013
25-28 April, CTICC, Cape Town Las Vegas, USA
www.decorex.co.za www.nabshow.com
The ultimate South African roundup of the latest trends in décor for con- After more than 80 years the NAB Show is still the essential destination for
sumers and trade alike. Since its inception in 1994 Decorex SA has grown ex- broadcasting professionals who share a passion for bringing content to life on
tensively and attracts more than 100 000 visitors annually. any platform.
prolight+sound LIGHTFAIR International 2013
10-13 April 2013 23-25 April 2013
Frankfurt am Main, Germany Philadelphia, USA
www.prolight-sound.com www.lightfair.com
‘prolight+sound’ brings together all the technologies and services for the LFI is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade
events and entertainment industries, presented in several different product show and conference. LIGHTFAIR International blends continuing education
groups. courses with innovative products and cutting-edge technology.
InfoComm13 GRANDDESIGNS LIVE Home & Garden Show
12-14 June 2013 24–26 May 2013
Orlando, Florida, USA Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate, Johannesburg
www.infocommshow.org www.granddesignslive.co.za
InfoComm13 is the one show where you can have it all – every technology sol- Grand Designs Live South Africa is a home, decor, garden and design show that
ution required to guild-critical AV and information communications systems from gives homeowners inspiration for every aspect of the home. More than 300 ex-
more than 925 exhibitors and innovators.. hibitors across seven different sections will be in attendance.
2 promag – first quarter 2013
FEATURE
NEWS
MARTIN PROFESSIONAL VISITS SOUTH AFRICA
Left to right: Peter Dahlin, Lourie Coetzee and
Christian Engsted
Left to right: Bruce Genricks, Christian Engsted, Bruce Schwartz, Peter Dahlin and Eugene Coetzee
Above: Just some of the Gobos of the MAC VIPER. Above right: VIPERS in action. MAC VIPERS (top) and MAC AURAS (bottom)
Peter Dahlin – Martin Professional’s Area Sales some wining & dining, and lots of laughter Christian sights and make the customary visit to a wine farm.
Manager for South Africa is no stranger to our land. was treated to a show staged by Electrosonic. The Bruce Schwartz commented “It was very exciting to
Since accepting his appointment three years ago ‘stars’ of the show were the Plasa2011 award-win- welcome Christian through our doors for the very
Martin’s product sales and service has grown im- ning MAC Aura and the new show-stopping MAC first time. He got a great feel for the South African
mensely. Viper. After the show Christian and key clients en- market and this insight will no doubt improve our
The situation had grown to such an extent that joyed traditional South African “Boerie Rolls” and reach in the market”.
Christian Engsted – the CEO of Martin – decided to beer under clear African skies. Electrosonic would like to thank Peter and Chris-
come see for himself how things were on the Christian, Peter, Bruce Genricks and Bruce tian for taking the time to visit. Hopefully next time
ground. Schwartz spent some time in Cape Town and in they will be able to spend a bit more time in our
Squeezed in between visits to key clients, awe- spite of a crazy schedule still managed to see some wonderful country.
MARTIN PROFESSIONAL MAC 401s IN DEMAND IN SOUTH AFRICA
Initially, after it’s SA launch, the MAC 401 Dual warehouse in Venlo, The Netherlands. During the Ampere Staging, Bass Mechanics, Selby’s Pro-
Wash got off to a slow start, but when Elec- long wait for the container ship to arrive, further duction, Hire Zone, Events Production Hub, Intello
trosonic and Martin Professional decided to put names appeared on the waiting list for extra units, Acoustics, J-Sound Productions, Madame Zin-
together an irresistible offer on this powerful but Electrosonic managed to satisfy the demand. gara, Theatre on the Bay, Montecasino Theatre,
unit, it turned out to be an inspired tactic. Soon We wish the following new MAC 401 owners the Pure Sound Staging, Quattro Productions, Stage
after announcing the special on the units, they best with their purchases and look forward to see- Effects, The Fugard Theatre, Olive Convention
were literally all sold before they left Martin’s ing them in action at many, many shows: Center and Xtreme Productions.
first quarter 2013 – promag 3
NEWS MEDIATECH MAKING ITS MARK IN 2013 MediaTech 2013 promises to be bigger and better than previous years Mediatech Africa 2013 will put an astounding vari- makes for an unparalleled 3 day experience. credited “GEN111 Essentials of AV Technology” ety of products and services on show at the Coca- Director, Simon Robinson sees Mediatech as a course that provides in-depth explanations of the Cola Dome in Johannesburg, and visitors will be great opportunity to engage with the local market science and technology for basic audio-visual sys- provided with an excellent opportunity to view cut- stating: “The exhibition provides a valuable platform tem integration. ting-edge merchandise and view the latest in tech- for local distributors and the industry at large. We “The Screen Africa Technology and Production nology trends. Mediatech has earned its position as are also very excited about the number of interna- Conference” will prove to be another highlight for Africa’s largest and most successful advanced tech- tional manufacturing executives and media who attendees who will gain insight into the latest tech- nology trade show by providing a platform for AV, will be attending the show.” nological trends in the broadcast and film sector. live entertainment, broadcast and media industries Along with a spread of training courses and pre- Brought together and presented by industry pro- to interact with product suppliers and customers. sentations available at the show, the Southern fessionals, the conference will teach people to make Visitors are invited into an exciting interactive African Communications Industries Association (SA- optimal use of technology, allowing them to inject hub of activity with exposure to over 800 brands and CIA) will be hosting 2 essential courses for the ben- even more creative content into their productions. a rare opportunity to meet and network with key in- efit of AV and broadcast technology specialists. Overall the trade show is set to be a pivotal dustry players. There is plenty to look forward to this Driving an initiative to raise the bar of professional meeting place for anyone in the world of media and year in AV system integration, film and broadcast, standards in the South African industry, SACIA will entertainment technology, inspiring forward think- production and post-production, satellite and signal deliver an “Internet Protocol & Network Essentials ing and interaction through establishing a dynamic, as well as live event and studio technology. Unique for Broadcast Engineers” course focused on the engaging environment. Be a part of the action from access to technology workshops, live outdoor sound broadcast market and run in association with the In- 17 – 19 July at the Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate, Jo- demos, international speakers as well as “The Screen ternational Association of Broadcast Manufacturers hannesburg: register at www.mediatech.co.za be- Africa Technology and Production Conference” (IABM). They will also be running an InfoComm ac- fore the 7th July and avoid paying R50 at the door. 4 promag – first quarter 2013
advanced technology trade show
SCREENAFRICA
technology
+ production
CONFERENCE
NEWS SEDIBENG BREWERY RAISES THE BAR by Tim Sandham Digital Media at its best Heineken, Amstel and Windhoek are known and tic fibre ports. In effect we piggybacked on the ex- tional, as the Brewery runs 7 days a week. Working marketed as premium beers, and Sedibeng Brewery isting Brewery single mode data network.” in a brewery might sound like a lot of fun to most where these beverages are produced regards itself Rupert Denoon of Electrosonic, who assisted drinking men (and women), but it is less fun than it as a premium facility. This not only includes the with the design, added “This is the first single mode might seem, because a modern brewery is a noisy high-tech brewery plant, but also state of the art au- Digital media system install in Sub-Saharan Africa. environment with extreme temperature and hu- dio-visual and digital media equipment. It has the capability to send full HD signals, RS232 midity variations. In 2010 Promag reported on the Sedibeng Brew- control, IR control and LAN up to 10 km”. The Sedibeng project is so exceptional that HFX ery’s desire to install “a stable, yet easy-to-use au- Kobus incorporated a bit of dazzle at the Fer- Systems received a “Highly Commended” award in dio visual control system for their new administra- mentation area where a Martin Moving Head dis- the “Best DigitalMedia™ Install” category at the tion building which would allow for high definition play with gobos of the beer logos lights up when Crestron Integration Awards in Amsterdam in Jan- video and data to be distributed to designated the AV is activated by visitors. uary 2013. Congratulations to all concerned! zones and which would also simplify boardroom op- It is worth noting that a job of this nature is not This is not the end of the story; Sedibeng Brew- erations”. This desire was satisfied by Kobus Bosch a simple undertaking: a huge number of man hours eries are planning further improvements to their AV of HFX Systems who installed the very first Crestron and a large amount of skilled Human Resources are systems. Phase three requires Kobus and HFX Sys- Digital Media system in South Africa. required. Many hours were spent on planning, de- tems to utilize the current infrastructure to extract Since 2010 and the completion of Phase 1 neither sign, discussion and on-site visits. and display production data in designated areas; Sedibeng nor HFX have been idle. The end of 2012 Documentation and compliance took up more and, supply, install and program HD display panels saw the successful completion of Phase 2. Known time, before the nuts and bolts of installation and in dust and moisture protected cabinets. as The Heineken Experience it is a visitor’s infor- programming could proceed (see table for exact “The nice thing about Crestron is that it is future mation system that gives historical, brew process, breakdown). It must also be noted that the instal- upgradable,” said Kobus: “four years down the line safety, fermentation, bottling and packaging infor- lation proceeded while the brewery was opera- we are still adding value because Crestron allows mation in attractive Audio-Visual format at various you the expandability to push the boundaries and points throughout the plant. the scope for expansion has now increased beyond The brewery is a huge site and the challenge was Job Hours the original specification”. to get a perfect HD signal from the Crestron System Design, project planning, site meetings . . . 65 Kobus’s award-winning team is sure to rise to the where the video clips are situated on an Alcorn Preparation of documentation, challenge. Promag will keep you posted. McBride bin loop player, to the various points of dis- safety and environmental compliancy . . . . 14 play – some of which are over 2km away. Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 MAIN EQUIPMENT LIST: “Copper was not even considered as an option Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Control Processors due to the distances and other restrictions,” said TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408 1 x Crestron AV 2 Control processor Kobus “so we opted to utilise spare Single Mode op- 4 x Crestron MP2E Control processors 6 promag – first quarter 2013
FEATURE
NEWS
A very proud team indeed: (Above, left to right) Rupert Denoon (Product Manager – Crestron SA), Kobus Bosch (HFX Systems) and Eugene Coetzee (AV
Systems Manager – Electrosonic SA). Above right: Kobus Bosch from HFX Systems receiving the “Highly Commended for the Best DigitalMedia™ Install” from
Crestron International’s VP of Sales & Marketing, Robin van Meeuwen.
Digital Media Matrix’s with input/output cards 1 x Crestron DMCO-6666 SM Fiber output card 4 x Crestron CNX-B8B Keypads
1 x Crestron DM 8x8 Digital Media Matrix Receiver units 1 x Crestron TPS-4L Wall-mount Touch panel
3 x Crestron DMC-HD Hi Definition input cards 6 x Crestron DM-RMC100F Room control modules 2 x Crestron TPS-6L Wall-mount Touch panels
2 x Crestron DMC-CAT input cards 2 x Crestron DM-TX 201 modules 4 x Crestron TPMC 4 SM Wall-mount Touch panels
3 x Crestron DMC-DVI input cards 7 x Crestron DMC-S2 Fiber receiver cards Lighting control
2 x Crestron DMCO-11 MM Fiber output cards 7 x Crestron DMCI Card interface units 2 x Crestron Din – 4DimU4
1 x Crestron DM 16x16 Digital Media Matrix Video processors Control interfaces
5 x Crestron DMC-SDI input cards 1 x Crestron DVHD Video processor 6 x Crestron STCom
2 x Crestron DMC-DVI input cards Keypads and Touch panels 1 x Crestron DMX 512BI DMX control interface
HARMAN BUYS MARTIN PROFESSIONAL – BUSINESS AS USUAL IN SA
Danish based Schouw & Co., parent company of
Martin Professional, has entered into an agreement
with the global infotainment and audio company
HARMAN International Industries to sell Martin to
HARMAN. The transaction is subject to customary
closing conditions, including regulatory approvals,
and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013.
Through this combination of two worldwide in-
dustry leaders, HARMAN and Martin are convinced
that their comprehensive offering of audio, lighting
and video solutions for the live stage and events, as
well as permanent venues and installations, will
provide new, exciting opportunities and will take
customer satisfaction to even higher levels.
This transaction will create a One-Stop-Shop for From left: Christian Engsted (Martin), Blake Augsburger (HARMAN), Jens Bjerg Sørensen (Schouw & Co.)
the professional entertainment market. Adding Mar-
tin to HARMAN’s USD $4.4 billion organization and develop our business relationship with our cus- trosonic welcomed the new development: “These
combining two of the largest R&D budgets in the tomers and partners across the globe.” are two of the most respected manufacturers in live
audio and entertainment lighting industry will en- Martin Professional will continue as an inde- entertainment and their combined knowledge and
able the companies to grow and improve the light- pendent business unit within the HARMAN Profes- experience can only be good for the industry. We are
ing and video offering to the benefit of all existing sional Division, with the existing points of contact. excited by this development and the benefits that
and new customers. The existing channels of distribution of Martin Pro- we believe this change in ownership will bring to
Recent visitor to South Africa, Christian Engsted, fessional (Electrosonic SA cc) and Harman product our region.”
CEO of Martin Professional commented: “We very (Wild and Marr Pty Ltd), will remain exactly the For more information and the full document,
much look forward to exploring the mutual benefits same in South Africa. please refer to the official press release from Har-
this change in ownership offers and continuing to Bruce Genricks, Managing Member of Elec- man on www.harman.com or www.martin.com.
first quarter 2013 – promag 7
NEWS
FEATURE
TAKING THE M2PC FOR A TEST DRIVE IN PMB
Marcus Henning, theatre technician at the Hexa- not looking the same as programmed earlier –
gon Theatre at the University of KZN’s Pieter- but for the first time tracking worked seam-
maritzburg Campus, gives his impressions of lessly. The M2PC did not put a foot wrong, I
the M2PC Lighting Control system. could jump around the memory stack at will,
and each time the state on stage was correct. I
I’ve been interested in getting an M2PC system programmed the entire show with the house-
for some time but experience has taught me lights on and all it took was to return to cue 2
that demo rooms usually don’t have your gear and remove them: once updated, no more house
mix in them and because there is no actual lights except where they were required as part
show to program for during the demo you’re left of the show.
a bit up in the air. So I borrowed my colleague In particular I loved the fade curve facility
Evan’s demo M2PC Lighting Control to check it which allows one to shape how the dimmers be-
out in a real-life situation: an upcoming show in have. The automated chase window is also an
the Hexagon Theatre. extremely useful feature.
On the Sunday before the show I set up the When I got stuck, the You Tube videos demon-
desk parameters on my laptop, using the free PC strating common procedures that Evan had sup-
interface. This involved inputting into the pro- up and running - programming on the fly. plied were a great help. I also consulted the PDF
gramme what fixtures I have in the theatre and By 10h30am the ‘tech’ rehearsal was over, the manual, but found the videos more helpful.
patching the addresses, ie. generic dimmers and in- show was programmed (yes, that’s really all the The M2PC has the feel of a large desk without
telligent lights. This can be time-consuming de- time I was given) and ready for the run-through at the large desk cost. Out of the box the M2PC has all
pending on the number of fixtures – but in my case 11h00am. Adjusting cues throughout the run the features I need in the Hexagon Theatre with the
it took about 20 minutes. The good news is: this is through was easy, it was simply a matter of select- possibility of expansion if my needs change. I’m still
the most onerous task. Once that is done, creating ing the fixture and the parameter, and adjust them. raving about this desk after my short trial on the
groups of channels and fixtures is a breeze. Adding point cues or deleting extra cues is just as demo desk. I feel I have barely scratched the surface
On the Monday morning before the technical re- easy. of this desk's capability and look forward to exper-
hearsal, I put up the desk, loaded my basic setup My previous experiences with tracking had all imenting and expanding a lot more when my desk
from a flash drive onto the system. By 9h00am I was gone horribly wrong, with states that were returned is delivered. I can’t wait for it to arrive!
THE PRODIGY ROCKS CAPE TOWN AND JOHANNESBURG
Everybody in the Place – The Synergy Festival featuring The Prodigy was the place to be
UK electronic dance band The Prodigy are famous tastic platform for the festival and for the main act. operating the local acts. This time the rig consisted
for their loud, bright and in your face shows and on The Main stage rig was based on 40 x Martin of 40 x Martin MAC 101s, 22 x Martin MAC 600
their tour to South Africa they showed no signs of MAC 101s, 6 x Martin Atomic strobes (with Atomic Washes, 12 x Martin Atomic strobes (with Atomic
stopping. The tour at the beginning of December Colors), 6 x Audience Blinders, 18 x 1k Par Cans, 2 Colors). Theo also added 8 of his newly acquired
was on a smaller scale than usual, but they made x Jem ZR33 Smoke machines, 16 x Robin 600 Wash Martin Viper Profiles and 12 x Robin 600E Beams.
full use of the equipment they had at their dis- and 8 x Robe 575 Spots. Everything was controlled As before everything was controlled off a Hog Desk.
posal. off a Hog Desk. For the capacity crowd rocking The result was an explosion of light and sound that
The prodigy headlined the Synergy Festival 2012 away under the stars it was an experience of a life- energized the Johannesburg crowd.
with the first of two legs set at the picturesque Thee- time. If you’ve never done a Cape Town Festival, With South Africa drawing more and more top
waterskloof Dam just outside Franschoek in the then put it on your bucket list! acts to our shores it is great to see the effort and
Western Cape. Before the event two days of gale The second leg of the Synergy Festival was a one professionalism that local lighting companies inject
force winds wreaked havoc on the load in, but night show at the Riversands Farm north of Johan- into productions to allow these big names to shine.
Costa Champanis, Yasheen Abdullah and the Ultra nesburg. All lighting kit was supplied by Theo Pa- – Contributors: Costa Champanis and Theo Papen-
Events Crew pulled through and delivered a fan- penfuss of Stage Effects, with Ni-Lou Breytenbach fuss
8 promag – first quarter 2013NEWS
CHRIS BOLTON: SA’S SHOWDESIGNER™ GENIUS by Bruce Schwartz
Chris Bolton’s designs for (clockwise from top right): the Audi Silver Arrow Awards, the SA Sports Awards and the African Cup of Nations draw.
Christopher Bolton is a Johannesburg lighting de- Chis spent endless hours with Marco Westveer can be steep. Often when software designers try to
signer who, does not shy away from asking ques- and Stefan Montanus (Chris claims they are com- make products user-friendly, their own intentions
tions, expanding his knowledge or applying his plete “legends”) and gave them feedback on how can be overlooked, but MSD 5 is as user-friendly as
skills. Chris, like most lighting designers, often feels he experienced their software and how he felt it possible. Lighthouse turned to Chris and his vast
that he has either too few “toys”, or too little time needed to progress. He also had some “real world” knowledge of MSD and asked him to do a series of
to express his full creativity. However, in this day and questions for them. Some could be answered and videos on how to get going. With access to an in-
age computers are an ever-present as well as a key some not, but the point is that Lighthouse was house post-production studio, it was not long before
aspect in Entertainment lighting design, presenting keen to listen to what this young man had to say, Chris had churned out a series of slick, well-planned,
designers with boundless opportunities. and they took note. how-to videos. These were then posted on You-
In today’s lighting industry it is very difficult to ex- That was the start of a long and constructive re- Tube and now serve as an essential starting place
press a lighting concept to a client who might never lationship between Chris and the Lighthouse team. for anyone wanting to use Martin MSD 5 Software.
have seen a show. This is where 3D Lighting Visu- Over the years with “millions” of e-mails and long So successful were these videos and Chris’s ability
alization software can give a Lighting Designer an discussions on the Martin Showdesigner forum to convey his knowledge to others that Lighthouse
edge. 3D Visualization gives a designer the freedom Chris and a few other users started structuring the asked him to represent Lighthouse at the PLASA
to try different ideas and/or save valuable pro- way they wanted the software to be developed. 2011 and Frankfurt Messe Show in 2012. Chris
gramming time whether they are sitting in the com- While many companies don’t take feedback from grabbed this opportunity with both hands, and al-
fort of their home or on an airplane. end-users seriously, Lighthouse were the complete though it’s a long day on a trade show stand, it was
Lighting control desks have grown in leaps and opposite. Their software has grown exponentially a great opportunity to meet other users and to im-
bounds over the years and now resemble Jumbo Jet over the years and today it is probably one of the part some of his “uber-knowledge”.
cockpits with all their buttons and screens. A few best Stage Lighting Visualizer packages on the mar- Chris missed the chance to go to PLASA in 2012
years back though, there was none of that, which ket. Chris believes the key to its success is because, as he welcomed his first little bundle of joy, Isabella
brings us back to the inimitable Chris Bolton and “… it comes with the best support structure one to the world in early September 2012. When not
2003 when John ‘JR’ Roughley (another South can get: direct contact with the guys who actually spending all hours of the night rendering away,
African 3D Visualization whizz) introduced him to a write the programme”. Chris can be found operating some of the shows he
3D Visualization package called Martin Showde- With the release of MSD 5 in 2008, and the in- has designed. Otherwise you’ll find him wherever
signer (MSD) v4.4. The software tickled his fancy no troduction of proper 3D Fly-through and unsur- the fish are, rod in hand dreaming about that “4000
end, but he had so many questions that shortly af- passed Real Time Visualization, it changed the way moving light rig I’m going to operate one day”.
ter purchasing the package he decided that it would people think of Visualization. Today the software of- • Take a look at Chris’s videos on Martin’s YouTube
be worth his while to visit Lighthouse in fers many variants with varying degrees of func- channel:
Nieuwegein, Holland to meet the people who had tionality and pricing according to user needs. The www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9vORIXtE8w
conceived this brilliant package. In 2004 he set off idea is that anybody who wants to make a start with www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnRRwPAAWCo
for the small town near Utrecht where he was 3D Lighting Rendering can do so, and as they www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-RnOBplFsE
warmly received by Gerald and Kathinka van Ton- progress they can upgrade very quickly and simply. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlAz62zGt6w
geren - the proprietors of Lighthouse. As with most CAD packages the learning curve www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHBe5QvatWs
first quarter 2013 – promag 9COVER STORY
NEW MAC VIPER by Tim Sandham
THE STAR OF THE MISS SA PAGEANT
The winner is announced: Marilyn Ramos about to claim her Miss South Africa 2012 title
I
n an age where programmes featuring Kar- Apart from them ten other Miss South Africa’s have Mac Viper. Launched in 2012, it is the follow-up to
dashians, Playboy Bunnies, and manufactured had top 3 finishes. Whether people care or not, six the reliable Mac 2000 – the industry workhorse
Idols are screened daily on pay television it was of the twelve 2012 finalists are graduates, three which has been the backbone of the live shows of
a fair question when a December newspaper have professional careers and only 3 are full time top-flight artists like Madonna.
headline asked: Miss SA ... does anyone still models. Former Queens Cindy Nell, Jo-Ann Strauss, The Mac Viper is smaller, lighter, brighter and
care? The answer is a resounding YES! At the very Basetsane Makgalemele, Suzette vd Merwe and more advanced than its predecessor: just the thing
least the participants cared and each of them has Amy Kleynhans have seized the opportunity offered to get a show director excited!
friends, fans and relatives who cared. Besides, if ma- by the title and made their marks as public figures Bruce said: “It was important for us to get the
jor companies like Volvo, Sun International and and as members of the business community. new product onto a prestigious gig as soon as pos-
Nashua get involved as sponsors you bet someone Disregarding naysayers, the Miss South Africa sible and get as much mileage out of it as possible”.
cares. Pageant is BIG and every year the show director So Electrosonic approached Dreamsets, the event
The Miss SA Pageant stretches back to 1956 goes flat out to create a bigger and more glamorous technical supplier to Miss SA, and offered them the
when winner Norma Vorster took the first title. spectacle than the year before. Electrosonic’s Bruce use of six Mac Vipers. “A real world application is al-
Since then both Penny Coelen (1958) and Anneline Schwartz realised that it was the ideal big-stage op- ways better than a demo room or warehouse test ”
Kriel (1974) went on to also be crowned Miss World. portunity to showcase Martin Professional’s new added Bruce.
10 promag – first quarter 2013COVER STORY
Vivid Vipers said Bruce “but with the Vipers a theatrical quality
The Miss SA Pageant is televised live and this means with slow transitions was made possible”.
that stage lighting has to compete with television This meant a very stylish production in a Sun City
lighting. Beams and washes tend to fade into in- Superbowl that was done up in banquet style with
significance as a result of all the TV Lighting. This is fabulous chandeliers overhead. Mauritz who has
where the ‘brighter’ characteristic of the Mac Viper been involved in seven Miss SA pageants added:
comes in. Mauritz Jacobs of Dreamsets wasn’t hard “The set was better than previously; with no LED
to convince. screens it had a clean stylish appearance”. The or-
“Lighting designers like new toys,” laughed ganisers had a whole week to set up and pro-
Bruce “and the Viper’s gobos can make a show gramme the show – a rarity for live events.
look new and stand out from other shows”. The fact Apart from the six Vipers there were also 32
that the show was televised live also meant that Martin Mac 101s. Bruce gets very excited about
lighting and set designers all over the country could these little marvels “When I first saw them I
see the effect of the Vipers. laughed, because they looked like mobile disco toys,
Mauritz who collaborated with his Dreamsets but I’ve had to eat my words” he conceded.
colleagues on the set design from the get-go said The 101s have the advantage of size, speed and
“The main objective was to project gobos on the price point and have been used by artists like James
floor, but our 700 Spots couldn’t cope. In this respect Blunt, Enrique Iglesias and more recently by The
the Vipers were great because of their very bright Prodigy because of their narrow beams and light-
output”. ning fast movement. “It was great to see them
Another test that the six Mac Vipers passed suc- among the beautiful sets at the Miss SA Pageant”
cessfully was the relatively subdued nature of the So … does anyone still care about Miss SA? Hell
pageant. “Most big shows are rock ‘n roll type yeah, every single lighting designer in the country
shows with lots of quick movements and flashes,” wants to work that gig!
first quarter 2013 – promag 11FEATURE
DR KRAMER: IN H
Dr Joseph Kramer’s name is well known in the pro AV industry, but the story of how a pha
light meter – created Kramer Electronics is not so well
A passion for life – and photography: Hannah
photographs, taken in So
D
r Joseph Kramer, founder of Kramer money, so someone said, ‘Make it yourself’. I took
Electronics, and his wife, Hannah, re- courses in electronics to understand the basics and
cently visited the country as a guest then went further and made my own timer and light
of Bruce Genricks – managing mem- meter.
ber of Electrosonic SA. In an inter- Next I started developing my own amplifiers which
view with Promag Dr Kramer talks about se- are today collectors’ items in the hi-fi world. 35 years
crets to success – including his ‘rabbit survival later people are still asking me for those amplifiers. So
technology. And Hannah Kramer reveals her se- as a student I designed and built stereo systems and
cret to staying happily married. loud speakers – which kept me happy and financially
Promag: You spent 12 years studying to be a Phar- independent; but at the time, I never thought of mak-
macologist, why did you switch to electronics? ing it my profession.
Dr Kramer: To continue in my field of Endocrine Phar- Promag: So the thought only came to you when you
macology I would have had to leave Israel, something were faced with the possibility of having to leave Is-
I was not prepared to do, so I joined an audio com- rael?
pany as one of their chief engineers. Dr Kramer: Yes, my research ended in 1979 and then Promag: But not in audio, in video?
Promag: Any regrets? I took the job in the audio company and stayed for a Dr Kramer: That’s right. At that time video was just
Dr Kramer: No, I’m not sorry, I learnt a lot and I learnt year and a half before going it alone. at the beginning.
to think methodically, and that helps me a lot today. Promag: What made you want to go into business on
But I still consult with people about fertility problems your own?
relating to hormones – as that was my field of re-
search. I’m still being quoted in medical journals even
“
Video was a new field,
Dr Kramer: I decided what I wanted to do with my
life, and I made the decision to go in a bigger direc-
now for a discovery I made in 1976 that shocked the and there were opportunities. tion. Video was a new field, and there were opportu-
world. nities. I decided to look for a problem with this new
Promag: So how did you get into electronics?
I decided to look for a problem with technology, and then find the solution.
Dr Kramer: While a student I did photography as a this new technology, and then find the The problem I came up with was generation loss;
hobby and developed my own pictures, for which I solution. at the time you edited video by copying and pasting
needed a timer, so I was counting ‘1, 2, 3…’ I went to and it led to terrible generation loss. The next step was
the shop and a timer cost $50, but I didn’t have the
” to get myself a customer. I found a guy in Israel and
12 promag – first quarter 2013FEATURE FEATURE
HIS OWN WORDS
armacist and keen photographer – whose introduction to electronics was building his own
known. By Angus Douglas. Photographs by Dr Kramer.
and Joseph Kramer, and a selection of Dr Kramer’s
outh Africa and Tanzania
the products you sent them? I developed more products along the way and got
Dr Kramer: Yes they did and I felt encouraged to carry more confidence that I was doing the right thing. Ten
on. But at a certain point I started getting bigger and years later I went to them and said, ‘Hey you’ve got
bigger orders and couldn’t finance it. So I went to the to help me manage this place, it’s becoming big and
bank to ask for credit. Even though I had a letter of complicated.’ So they joined me to pull the wagon, not
credit from a top Belgian bank for $30 000, my bank on the technological side, but in finance, administra-
refused me a loan. I was choking with orders and I tion and so on.
couldn’t deliver on them. Fortunately I found partners Promag: You make it sound easy.
who were willing to invest in the business. Dr Kramer: It wasn’t. I made mistakes and I had to
Promag: Were they involved in the day-to-day run- look in the mirror and own up to them. But I also
ning of it? learnt to analyse my mistakes and fix them. In busi-
Dr Kramer: No, they just put the money in and for- ness, and in life, there are no short cuts and no mira-
got about it. It was pennies compared to what the cles, you have to work hard: blood, sweat and tears.
company is worth today, but it helped me. That’s how Promag: Surely success is not just about hard work?
a guy in Belgium (both are still friends of mine) and I I got going at first, and after the sales from Belgium, Dr Kramer: In everything I’ve done, whether it’s med-
said to them, ‘if I developed this product would you I got orders from Germany, the UK, the US and the icine, photography or electronics – I dig into it all the
use it?’ they both said yes. business started growing and growing. way down until I know everything there is to know
I was poor, and needed to support my wife, Hannah, about the subject, from then on it’s just a game.
and our two young children. So I built my own table, Promag: A game: I thought this was about blood,
bought four chairs, rented a place, and brought my os-
cilloscope and soldering iron from home.
“
I made mistakes and … had to fix
sweat and tears?
Dr Kramer: It is, but who said you can’t put blood,
Promag: Did Hannah not encourage you to stick with them. In business, and in life, there are sweat and tears into a game.
a secure job? Promag: That sounds like rugby. Okay, so what gives
Dr Kramer: I consulted her about starting my own
no short cuts and no miracles, you you the most enjoyment about your work?
business as the decision would affect all of us. She have to work hard: blood, sweat and Dr Kramer: I appointed a CEO recently to take care of
said, “Go ahead I’m behind you”. So Kramer Elec- tears. the running of the business, as it was taking me away
tronics is all her fault. (Laughs) from the thing I love – research and development; new
Promag: Did your friends in Israel and Belgium like
” products; new developments. That gives me a kick.
first quarter 2013 – promag 13COVER STORY
FEATURE FEATURE
Around the world: Dr Kramer’s photographs, taken in Tanzania, Chile, Russia and Belgium
Promag: So you enjoy sitting in your laboratory the new technologies, and lectures to bring in a tweens. A pro means you don’t have to be the best,
dreaming up and developing new products? fresh look about something new that’s not neces- you have to give the best you can, that’s enough. It’s
Dr Kramer: No, I like to travel around, listen, get sarily connected to our business. People have to a bilateral game, you give us the best and we’ll give
ideas, come back, and implement them. And that’s have other things besides work in their lives. you the best; and we do a lot for them.
what we like to do – wake up in the morning with The great thing is that it’s like a family reunion, Promag: You mean you take personal care and in-
an idea and a month later we have a new product they hug each other, kiss each other; they’re even terest in the people who work for you?
that the world is raving about. nice to me. And that’s what I like – the family spirit Dr Kramer: Yes, my door is always open, you come
That gives me a kick. And what gives me a big- of Kramer, we are friends, not only business col- in and just say ‘Hi Yossi, do you have two minutes
ger kick is when I’m sitting at a trade show and a leagues. We know each other’s families; it’s a much for me?’ If they have financial or legal problems I
competitor walks over and looks at the new wall, deeper commitment than just buying and selling. will get a company lawyer or accountant to help
slaps his forehead, and says, ‘Why didn’t I think of The best thing is that since they know each other them. I’ll even help them with personal and medical
that?’ so well they are actually exchanging a lot of valu- problems.
Promag: Kramer Electronics is famous for its prod- able information among themselves. They teach Promag: So loyalty counts for something?
uct development. each other about all sorts of interesting tricks they Dr Kramer: Yes, I had someone working for us, up
Dr Kramer: Yes it’s called the rabbit survival tech- discover, and this is because there is no competition to just a few months ago, and he was 94. He arrived
nology. between them. when the company started. He said, ‘I’m 63 – in two
Promag: Rabbit? Each is allocated his own space, his own ‘house’, years you’ll fire me and put me on pension.’ I said,
Dr Kramer: A rabbit has no sharp teeth or claws, and they share information from other people in the ‘it depends on you – if you work well I don’t have
and it can’t even run fast; but it can reproduce. family. I don’t know of other companies who work age restrictions’. So at 65 he said he wanted to stay,
(Laughs). And that’s what we are doing, by the that way. then 70 was his next stop, then 80 his next stop and
time they knock off our machine we already have a Promag: So what do you expect from your ‘family’? then at 90 he said he wanted to continue. I said to
new one to the market. We have 3 new products Dr Kramer: My world is divided into two types of him, ‘hundred is your last stop’.
every week – that’s over 150 new products a year people – the zeros and the pros, there are no in-be- He was our icon – he worked faster than three
– it puts a lot of pressure on our R&D team. young men – he could put a machine together in the
Promag: What about patents? speed of light. There is a Jewish blessing that says,
Dr Kramer: We sometimes sue to protect our de-
signs, but you can’t 100% protect yourself, there’s
“
My world is divided into two types
‘May you live to 120’. Moses lived to 120; the bless-
ing from God was that when he died at 120 his ears
always someone to knock you off; so we’re on fast of people – the zeros and the pros, and eyes were in perfect order. Live like Moses, it’s
forward and using rabbit technology. good enough – the last 20 years you can have fun
Promag: Your annual conferences are well known
there are no in-betweens. A pro in your life. (Laughs)
in the industry – you seem to have found a way to means you don’t have to be the Promag: Tell us about your passion for photogra-
combine business and pleasure. best, you have to give the best you phy.
Dr Kramer: Yes, we always meet in a nice place, the Dr Kramer: It’s a way of balancing my soul, it’s a
can, that’s enough.
last one was in Italy, the previous one was in Bu- creative outlet. I have an active website, with about
dapest, and the next one is … I’ll let it be a surprise
for those who don’t know. We have updates on all ” 2 000 people participating in my forums; I’ve writ-
ten 760 articles on photography – test reports,
14 promag – first quarter 2013FEATURE
news, essays; mostly in Hebrew, but I’ve had some Promag: But you’ve also broken new ground in the electronic boxes. Together with my wife Hannah
of them translated. field of digiscoping – combining a digital camera we did it. They’ve all grown up happy kids, not
Promag: I believe you’re the resident photographer with an optical telescope to record distant images. touching drugs; and doing what they feel is their
at Kramer Electronics. Dr Kramer: With digiscoping you can count the calling. This is my biggest achievement.
Dr Kramer: Yes, I take pictures of our products; hairs on the eyelash of an eagle 100 meters away; Promag: What are your impressions so far of this
backgrounds for stands at trade shows; calen- it’s a technique I’m trying to master. I took pictures country?
dars…all sorts of things. If people need a shot we of the moon; you almost see the steps of the as- Dr Kramer: This is my first time in South Africa, and
can put the new product in my light box at work tronauts. my second time in Africa. (I went on safari to Tan-
and three minutes later the whole world knows There’s nothing special about it, it’s just very zania with a group of photographers; that was a
about it. But they are technical photographs, and technical; but in Israel I’m a pioneer of digiscoping real kick). You have an absolutely beautiful country:
not as exciting as conveying the feeling of a sunset. because my countrymen lack patience; you need pa- big, beautiful, rich and interesting. After Kruger I
Promag: You’ve written about the difference be- tience to do it. You use an extremely long focal plan to come back here…if I see lions. (Laughs)
tween ‘clicking’ and ‘taking a picture’. length and if you touch the telescope it blurs. Like Promag: I don’t know how it works in Israel, but in
Dr Kramer: With digital photography a lot of peo- many things in life you need patience. South Africa it’s customary for women to have the
ple have lost the border between them. Clicking is Promag: Of all your achievements, which makes last word, so Mrs Kramer can you tell us the secret
not taking a picture. There is a distinction between you most proud? to Yossi’s success?
documentary photography and art. The first has Dr Kramer: My family. My biggest challenge has Hannah Kramer: Yossi is very talented. He’s also re-
nothing of the photographer’s personality, their been to raise four children; to nurture them into re- ally hard-working and focussed, and takes every-
special contribution. sponsible adults who are happy in their lives; who thing very seriously. He doesn’t do anything without
The second is about the sensitive eye showing have respect for themselves and the people around thinking, checking and learning the basics. If he
linkages of things that are seemingly unrelated. them; and who understand the world. And to do all goes into something, like photography for example,
Like a painter takes a brush and creates something that without forcing them and being brutal to them. he goes into every aspect of it, the technical side,
that wasn’t there before, an art photographer will That’s a much bigger challenge than just making the basics, everything. He has a gift for seeing all the
see something interesting and capture it so that the details and the whole picture, and this allows him
audience sees things they haven’t seen before. to make the right decisions. He has a vision for
Promag: Can the artist ignore photographic tech-
nique?
“
Like a painter takes a brush and
where he needs to go, and is able to follow the path
to get there.
Dr Kramer: No, it’s the opposite; you must study creates something that wasn’t there Promag: And the secret to your long and happy
photography all the way down and know the rules, marriage?
then you can break them. The famous French pho-
before, an art photographer will see Hannah Kramer: First of all I think we are lucky
tographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, talked of the ‘de- something interesting and capture it and blessed. But there is also hard work. The
cisive moment’, when you link your eye, head and so that the audience sees things Catholics say, ‘Till death us do part’. That was our
heart on the same axis and click the shutter. There’s approach, and family for us is very, very important
they haven’t seen before.
art in it and I’m happy to create something; show – we put a lot of work into it. Like Yossi says, if you
my views on something and hopefully get into peo-
ple’s souls. ” work you get results; blood, sweat and tears, and
lots of smiles and love.
first quarter 2013 – promag 15NEW PRODUCTS
CRESTRON HD-XSP 7.1 PROFESSIONAL SURROUND SOUND PROCESSOR
Provides a true 7.1 surround sound processor that's cost-effective with advanced features for easy system integration.
The HD-XSP from Crestron® answers the call for a loudness, and balance. stereo or mono signal, perfect for feeding a remote
truly professional surround sound solution that's • Mix Input – This balanced stereo input is de- listening zone, an assistive listening system, or a
simple and affordable to implement. The HD-XSP signed to connect to the output of a microphone recording device.
provides the features and performance necessary to mixer or teleconferencing codec. This input by- For teleconferencing and Web streaming appli-
enable high-definition 7.1 channel audio for virtu- passes all internal signal processing and sur- cations, the HD-XSP serves as a cost-effective sur-
ally any commercial environment round sound decoding, mixing with the main round sound downmixer to allow participants at the
The HD-XSP is also useful for many residential ap- program signal at the Front Left/Right and/or far end to experience the full audio presentation. Si-
plications, providing a cost-effective, compact sur- Downmix outputs. multaneously, it mixes the incoming signal from
round sound processor that's well suited for inte- • HDMI Output – An HDMI output is included to the far end with the local surround sound audio and
gration as part of a total home automation and pass the HDMI input signal through to a display sends it to the local room speakers.
entertainment system. device. The HDMI output passes Full HD 1080p60
video and WUXGA computer signals with HDCP, KEY FEATURES:
Complete connectivity Deep Color, and 3D. It also passes audio with the • True 7.1 surround sound processing for
The HD-XSP includes: option to select either a straight pass-through commercial and residential applications
• HDMI® Input – The HDMI input provides the es- from the HDMI input or a stereo downmix of the • All of the needed features and perform-
sential interface for handling high-definition 7.1 main surround signal. It can even pass CEC sig- ance – none of the complexity or cost
digital surround sound and HDCP protected con- nals from a control system to control the display • DTS-HD Master Audio™, Dolby® TrueHD, and
tent. It can also handle DisplayPort Multimode device. Dolby Digital® Plus decoding
signals using an appropriate adapter. Easy HDMI Each HDMI, SPDIF, and stereo input includes an in- • HDMI®, SPDIF (optical and coaxial), and
input expansion is possible using a Crestron HD- put compensation adjustment to match the average stereo analogue inputs
MD8X1 switcher. CEC signals can even be passed level between sources. Each of these inputs also in- • Source input compensation and 80 ms lip
through from a control system to control the cludes up to 80 ms of lip-sync delay. sync adjustment per input
source device right through the HDMI connec- • Balanced analogue 7.1 surround sound line
tion. Easy Integration outputs
• SPDIF Inputs – A combination of one optical and Via its HDMI input and output, the HD-XSP provides • DSP with 9-band graphic or parametric EQ,
two coaxial SPDIF digital audio inputs provides an ideal solution for adding surround sound pro- delay, crossover and compression
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• Stereo Analogue Inputs – Two stereo audio in- Presentation System or any DM® Switcher. It can speaker or subwoofer
puts are included to handle analogue signals even be located remotely and interfaced using a DM • High-definition 3D video pass-thru via
from line-level sources such as laptop computers, transmitter and/or receiver. Or, via its SPDIF or ana- HDMI
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• Surround Sound Outputs – A total of eight room Audio System to provide surround sound pro- • Balanced stereo mix input
balanced line-level outputs are provided to drive cessing for a single room zone. • Built-in noise generator
a multichannel power amplifier feeding up to Via its Mix input and Downmix output, the HD- • Advanced HDCP management for trouble-
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can be configured to work with systems up to 7.1 just don't address. The Mix input allows the signal • QuickSwitch HD® switching technology
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vice. It includes controls for volume, bass, treble,
16 promag – first quarter 2013You can also read
