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EA STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT™ ORIGINAL SCORE MIXED AND MASTERED ON ATC LOUDSPEAKERS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 2015: John Rodd snuck out of the house.  The year was 1977, long before he would become a prominent music recording, mixing and mastering engineer in the film, gaming, and music industries, with credits including Breaking Bad, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Lincoln Lawyer, World of Warcraft, Elysium, Batman: Bad Blood, Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed; and Eric Clapton among countless others.

He was eleven years old at the time, and the occasion was arguably worthy of so great an infraction: the original Star Wars film was playing in the theater and he wasn’t going to be the only kid in class to miss it!  Now, decades later, Rodd is a part of the Star Wars universe by mixing and mastering Gordy Haab’s original score for EA Star Wars: Battlefront™.  Like many of the scores he records, mixes and masters, Rodd relied on his ATC SCM150ASL Pro reference monitors to inform his decisions with transparency and truthfulness

Players of EA Star Wars: Battlefront™ hear Haab’s original score throughout most of the game, but the game also segues in and out of parts of John Williams’ legendary Star Wars film scores.  Rodd had to make sure that Gordy’s original score would fit with the older film scores from both a technical standpoint and, more importantly, from an emotional standpoint. “To fit within the Star Wars universe, Gordy’s music had to sound lush and huge, exciting and dramatic,” Rodd said.  “The recordings took place at Abbey Road’s largest studio, and part of my task was always striking the perfect balance between the room mics and the spot mics. If only the room mics were utilized then the music would sound too far away. The spot mics add presence and detail, but if they become too loud, the recording loses its grandeur and falls out of balance. It loses its depth.”

Rodd emphasized that his cinematic and gaming work takes a different mindset compared with that of a classical recording that is meant to stand on its own.  It has to effectively coexist with dialog and sound effects, which require different considerations.  “I had to think about the big picture for EA Star Wars: Battlefront™,” he said. “Clarity is paramount. A lot of my work involves tiny surgical adjustments to clear away frequencies that are masking or diminishing important elements. Getting the right balance of clarity and size is difficult, and it requires profoundly accurate monitoring.”

He continued, “I find that my ATC 150s are very revealing and honest. ATC is legendary for its midrange quality, and I rely on my ATC 150s to help make all the tiny sonic decisions that add up to a compelling mix. They’re brutally honest, which is a good thing! If something actually sounds glorious, then it will sound glorious on my 150s. If something is slightly amiss, it will sound wrong on my 150s. There’s no guessing; ATC gives me the whole picture. Moreover, that truthfulness guarantees that a great sound in my studio will translate well to any other system. As a result, I’m able to work with 100% confidence.”

ABOUT TRANSAUDIO GROUP
TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio.  Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.

www.transaudiogroup.com

ATC SCM150ASL Pro

New Sonicscoop Feature: Inside Adele’s “25”: How Tom Elmhirst Mixed a Masterpiece

“The ATC SCM 50’s and an ATC SCM 1-15 subwoofer have been my main monitoring for three years now. They’re the best I’ve had.” Tom Elmhirst, SonicScoop, December 2015.

Read the feature in full here at sonicscoop.

Omar Hakim selects SCM50ASL Pro for personal studio after ATC factory visit

“To finally be able to monitor music with this level of accuracy and detail is an incredible experience for me. The SCM50ASL Pros are definitely taking my work to the next level.”
– Omar Hakim, 2015 (musician/producer/arranger/composer).

NEW JERSEY, USA: specialist British loudspeaker drive unit and complete sound reproduction system manufacturer ATC is proud to announce that Omar Hakim has installed a pair of SCM50ASL Pro threeway active monitors in his personal studio — The OH-Zone — sited at his New Jersey home, having had a guided tour of the ATC factory facilities in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK…

According to his official website, Omar Hakim is: “Widely acclaimed for his versatility, technical prowess, and groove [and] is one of the most successful session drummers of the past forty years.” Yet the acclaimed American jazz, jazz fusion, and pop music drummer, producer, arranger, and composer certainly needs not blow his own trumpet too loudly, so-to-speak, for his association with top-tier acts as varied as Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, Weather Report, Sting, Daft Punk, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Kate Bush, Dire Straits, and Journey surely speaks louder than words.

When ever-present US rock band Journey’s longtime drummer, Dean Castronovo, was arrested during their 2015 North American summer tour they turned to Omar Hakim to capably walk in his percussive shoes at arguably the shortest notice in high-flying touring history — less than 24 hours! However, when reclusive English singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, and record producer Kate Bush ventured out on stage as a headliner late last year for the first time in 35 years for a sold-out string of no fewer than 22 ‘intimate’ theatrical shows at London’s Eventim Apollo theatre — the admired, albeit renamed venue where her only concert CD to date, Live At Hammersmith Odeon, was recorded way back in 1979, it was with Omar Hakim holding down the perfect beat throughout those career-spanning shows… shows that indirectly led the demonstrably in-demand drummer to ATC, as it happens.

“I didn’t become aware of ATC until I began working with Kate Bush,” begins Omar Hakim himself, before adding: “Her engineer was the great producer/engineer Greg Walsh, who set up a control room space at the rehearsal location during pre-production for the London shows. That’s where I heard ATCs for the first time — SCM100ASL Pros, I believe. I was immediately blown away with
what I was hearing. That was the first time that I had ever heard a speaker reproduce audio like that! Then I had the pleasure of doing some show prep at Kate’s personal studio, where I think she had SCM150ASL Pros — fantastic!”

So when it came to upgrading the main monitoring at The OH-Zone, his own personal studio back home across the pond in New Jersey, it was an ATC done deal as far as Omar Hakim was concerned: “I was thinking of getting SCM25A Pros — until I heard the SCM50ASL Pros at the ATC factory, having had the pleasure of getting a factory tour and sitting with Managing Director Billy
Woodman to audition several ATC models. I decided to go with the SCM50ASL Pros because I could hear the difference in the low-end response. I also knew that for my purpose of tracking live drums and small rhythm sections they were the right choice for me! To finally be able to monitor music with this level of accuracy and detail is an incredible experience for me. The SCM50ASL
Pros are definitely taking my work to the next level.”

Not that Omar Hakim has ever been short of session work, mind — most recently recording drums for the Grammy® award-winning Random Access Memories album by breakthrough French electronic duo Daft Punk, as well as recording, mixing, and producing his third critically-acclaimed solo album, We Are One, at The OH-Zone. The Trio of OZ, the band he formed with wife Rachel Z in 2010, are currently working on their second album, all set for release on his OZmosis Media Group label in 2016: “I’ve recorded and mixed three albums there, and I also do lots of sessions for clients around the world that send me tracks to put drums on.”

Omar Hakim has plans to build a new home and studio, so his beloved SCM50ASL Pros will definitely be making the move, too: “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for technology and the thought, ingenuity, and commitment needed to bring it to the world. Billy Woodman and the crew at ATC are craftsman of the highest order. From the beautiful wood cabinetry to the speaker components and electronics, ATC speakers are simply amazing!”

SCM50ASL Pro

Omar Hakim

ATC are Double Award Winners at the 2015 What Hi-Fi Awards

SCM11 Wins Unprecedented 9th Award

For the ninth year, the SCM11 has won the What Hi-Fi award for best standmount loudspeaker between £800 & £1200.  This makes the SCM11 the most heavily decorated loudspeaker in the history of the What Hi-Fi awards, with it’s first award coming way back in 2005, the first year the SCM11 was released.

Here is what the What Hi-Fi awards team thought of the SCM11: “ATC has struck gold again. These are the most talented standmounters anywhere near this price”  

SCM19 Wins Best Standmount Loudspeaker £1200+

On top of the SCM11’s ninth awrd, the SCM19 has won the award for best stand mount loudspeaker over £1200.

Here is what the What Hi-Fi awards team thought of the SCM19: “If you value insight and honesty above all else, these speakers are a terrific buy”

For further information, visit the What Hi-Fi Website.  Alternatively, the special awards issue of the What Hi-Fi magazine is available now.

N.B. What Hi-Fi? Award and 5 star logos ® Haymarket Media Group Ltd.

Review: Positive Feedback Online Review the New SCM40A

The new SCM40A active 3-way hi-fi loudspeaker has been reviewed by U.S. based online magazine, Positive Feedback Online.

Here’s just a little of what reviewer, Larry Cox had to say:

“vocals have a clarity, immediacy and “speed” that few other cone driver brands have.” 

“ATC combine much of the dynamic characteristics of horn drivers, while leaving behind the shouty, cupped hands sound.”

And in summary:  “I like the place the 40A plays in the ATC line. It’s an angel’s balance of the somewhat kinder, gentler domestic line with a slice of the precision of their studio line. Absolutely recommended.” 

To read the review in full, please visit Positive Feedback Online

ATC SCM45A Pro Recieves TEC Award Nomination

In recognition of its innovative features and outstanding performance, ATC’s SCM45A has been nominated in the Studio Monitor Category of the 31st annual TEC Awards (2016).

The winners will be determined by online voting via Mix, Pro Sound News, Pro Audio Review, and Electronic Musician and via professional audio and sound production organizations. The winners will be announced at the 2016 Winter NAMM show, held from 21st – 24th January 2016 at the Anaheim Convention Centre, California.

Review: SCM40A from ToneAudio

 The August edition of online magazine, ToneAudio features a review of the new SCM40A 3-way active loudspeaker.

Here is just a taster of what reviewers, Mark Marcantonio and Jeff Dorgay had to say:

“The mid range is the money zone in speakers, and never is this truer than with the SCM40As. The soft dome is a revelation, especially with acoustic guitars. The romantic Mexican string style in “Puesta Del Sol” by Sean Harkness combines mellow richness with clarity. This accuracy is a hallmark of ATC.”

“If you’re tired of the cable and equipment hassle, I can’t suggest a better pair of active speakers than the ATC SCM40As. They produce sound well beyond what their price tag suggests, especially considering that you will eliminate at least a few thousand dollars in speaker cables and power amplifiers.”

You can read the review in full on page 139 of the latest digital edition of the magazine here.

Please also visit the ToneAudio website here.

UK Dealer Event at The Audiobarn with ATC & Chord Electronics

As Autumn starts to turn and the days get colder, Essex based dealer, The Audiobarn are holding an event to blast those blues away (or should that be blast those blues out!)

All day on the Saturday 14th November, The Audiobarn will be demonstrating what can be achieved with a simple system comprised of Chord Electronics DAC and a pair of active ATC Loudspeakers.   On demo will be:

• Chord Hugo TT
• Chord DAVE
• ATC SCM40A
• ATC SCM100A
• Chord CPA3000
• Melco Audio Server

Complimentary drinks and a buffet lunch will be laid on.  Prize draw and ‘deals on the day’ T.B.C!

Colin Pratt from Chord Electronics and Ben Lilly from ATC will be on hand to answer any product questions attendees may have, as well as discuss audio and hi-fi in general.

We look forward to seeing you at this open day.

For more information please visit The Audiobarn website.
Alternatively, you can call Jack at The Audiobarn on: 01279 454 860

Review: ATC SCM11 & SIACD “knock over” Jonathan Margolis of the Financial Times

The Financial Times have reviewed an SCM11 and SIACD system as part of their regular, “How To Spend It” feature.

Here is what they thought of the combination of the all-in-one player/amplifier and loudspeakers:
“You can hear the attention to detail. Listening to the SCM11 speakers, the astonishing clarity, separation and bass heft quite knocked me over. Wiring my Mac into the SIACD music centre and using the (superb) new Tidal high-quality streaming service, I played my sister-in-law, Louise Wener (who sang in the Britpop band Sleeper), some of her own songs and she grew quite emotional. “lt’s the first time I’ve heard those tracks properly since 1995,” she said. “It’s like being back in the studio.” Which is, of course, exactly what ATC had in mind.”  Jonathan Margolis, September 2015.

To read the review in full, please visit the FT website here.

CDA Pro-Audio Expands into Larger Singapore Showroom

SINGAPORE:  Reflecting a growth in market share and demand for the brands it represents, ATC distributor CDA Pro-Audio has moved its Singapore-based showroom to a larger 140 sq-m facility based at Bendemeer Road, #01-01.  The showroom has been designed to encourage both audio professionals and and Hi-Fi enthusiasts to relax and audition new products in a comfortable yet professional environment.

Representing brands including ATC, CEDAR, Prism Sound, Maselec, Trident, Tonelux, Penny & Giles, SADiE, and MicW amongst others, CDA-Pro Audio already has dedicated offices across Australia and Asia.  The new Singapore facility, located in a central business district is only minutes’ walk from the Boon Keng MRT station.  Having been purpose-designed, the showroom offers high floor-to-ceiling windows for an abundance of natural light plus a modular-style layout for maximum flexibility.

According to Joel Chia, CDA-Pro Audio Singapore general manager, the concept for the facility was to have the demo area, “feel like a living room or lounge where people can freely relax and not be intimidated by aggressive sales people.  We try to relate to customers discover what solutions suit the customers’ needs, rather than simply push product”.

Prize Draw with ATC at the California Audio Show

The 2015 California Audio Show starts tomorrow on Friday 14th August and runs through Sunday 16th, at the Westin Hotel, San Francisco Airport.

ATC will be on active demonstration in room 332 hosted by our U.S. distributor, Lone Mountain Audio and Bay Area ATC dealer, Acoustic Frontiers.

A prize draw is being held with the opportunity to win a pair of ATC SCM7v3 monitors, worth $1749!  Show attendees can enter the draw by visiting the demo room.

The system on demonstration will consist of:

• Aurender N100H music server
• DEQX PreMATE digital pre-amp with speaker / room correction and sub crossover
• ATC SCM40v2 floorstanding speakers featuring the renowned ATC midrange dome
• ATC P1 150W/Ch Dual-Mono Power Amplifier
• JL Audio E112 subwoofers

For further information:

California Audio Show

Lone Mountain Audio

Acoustic Frontiers

SCM19 Wins Outstanding Product Award from Hi-Fi Pig

Dan Worth and Dominic Marsh have both revied the SCM19 on behalf of the Hi-Fi Pig website and both found the product to offer outstanding performance.

“Recommended for being insightful, transparent, accurate, controlled and addictive.”  Dan Worth, Hi-Fi Pig July 2015.

“Recommended for: A superb performer, insightful, revealing and communicative in a highly musical natural way.”  Dominic Marsh, Hi-Fi Pig, July 2015.

You can read the SCM19 review in full on the Hi-Fi Pig Website, here.

ATC APPOINTS NEW DEALER FOR ESSEX AND HERTFORDSHIRE

ATC is very happy to announce the appointment of The Audiobarn as a new retail partner for Hi-Fi products, covering Essex, Hertfordshire and North East London.

The Audiobarn is collaboration between Jack Satchfield and Bryan Beckford – avid music and Hi-Fi enthusiasts who have set out to establish an approachable, fun and friendly Hi-Fi showroom. Located in a luxurious refurbished barn, near to Harlow and Bishops Stortford, ‘The Barn’ is the ideal place to come and relax and experience a variety of exciting Hi-Fi products in a no pressure environment. The facility has two dedicated demonstration rooms, purpose built disabled access, air conditioning, on-site parking and refreshments all located in a picturesque, country location.

Commenting on the new appointment, ATC’s Ben Lilly said, “It’s fantastic to work with partners that are as friendly and customer focused as Jack and Bryan at The Audiobarn. On top of that, their location and facilities are excellent and provide just the right environment for presenting and auditioning the finest audio products.”

The Audiobarn’s Jack Satchfield comments, “We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity of building a relationship with ATC and being able to offer our customers such a range of exciting, highly engineered Hi -Fi products.”

ATC APPOINTS RETAIL AUDIO & AV CONSULTANT FOR NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Established audio specialists BrianandTrevors will contribute great expertise and enthusiasm to the retail experience of ATC’s residential product range in the North West.

ATC is delighted to announce the appointment of audio consultant BrianandTrevors as our retail partner for ATC’s hi-fi and AV systems in North West England.

Chosen for their outstanding quality and musical accuracy by industry veterans and self-confessed audio evangelists Brian Morris and Trevor Liddle, ATC’s residential systems join a very select range of high performance brands at BrianandTrevors. Using the real-world environment of a large Victorian home in Greater Manchester, the partnership applies three decades of experience and expertise to the joy of designing and demonstrating perfectly-matched audio systems to its customers. Comfortably furnished living rooms provide a choice of authentic listening spaces for ‘by-appointment’ auditions, and are a centre of excellence for the company’s very personal approach to service, sales, installation, advice and aftercare.

Commenting on the move ATC’s Marketing Manager Ben Lilly said “BrianandTrevors will bring great knowledge and capability to ATC’s representation in the North West and will offer music lovers the perfect opportunity to experience the extraordinary fidelity of our speakers and electronics.”

Brian Morris of BrianandTrevors said “we’re excited to be dedicating our best-practice ethos to one of the world’s most respected audio brands and look forward to demonstrating how ATC’s flawless engineering can make music sound real in our customers’ homes.”

Power Sound chooses ATC SCM45A Pro for 5.1 Surround

When Paul Power, owner of Power Sound Studio in Amsterdam , heard the new ATC SCM45A in Helios’ demo room in Haarlem, he knew there was no turning back. This audio monitor proved such a big step forward that Paul found the change to be simply unavoidable. A week later Paul placed the order and three weeks later received delivery and now the control room is equipped with a 5.1 monitor system where many only dream of.

Soon a personal response from Paul Power….

ATC Professional products are distributed in the Netherlands and Belgium by Helios Pro Audio Solutions

For more information on Paul Power’s Power Sound Studios please take a look at their website