StudioLive now in stock!

10 outta 15 ain't bad! To us it has felt like a long wait...but the highly anticipated StudioLive16.4.2 has finally arrived. And it's a perfect 10.

15 have landed in Australia, and we're rapt to know that 10 of those are (as at lunchtime today) sitting in stock ready for action. You can see more on the product here, or our orignal blog post here, or if you'd like to delve deeper - check out the Presonus StudioLive blog here.
Actually, that Presonus blog is pretty cool - you'll see both articles and youtube clips on how to use StudioLive for monitor mixing, FOH, and in the studio with Apple Logic.

and for a late-breaking news flash on expandability and connectivity, go here.

May 21st - Rode University
We had a great night. Here are some pics, and we've also put a highlights reel together for Factory Sound TV.

Above is the view from inside the fishbowl...where we had Event Opal monitors cranking. And below looking from the outside at the great spread of Rode microphones.


We had a terrific turnout, and all who came were rewarded with beer, nibblies, a free Rode PopShield, and the chance to ask as many questions to the experts as they needed.




Here's to the next chance for a gathering - any excuse will do.

Anyway, here's our YouTube clip from the night...


www.factorysound.com

Rode University on Tour

The Rode University Tour bus is just about to land at Factory Sound.
We're eagarly awaiting Thursday 21st May 2009, with the welcome mat rolled out from 5.30 - 7.00pm, at Factory Sound.

Anyone who registers prior to coming will be able to claim a free Rode PopShield. In case you haven't registered yet, send an email off to us (to the infopool address) and we'll pop you on the list. We are closing registrations at 5pm on Wed 20th May - that'll give us the day to organise some nibblies and drinks for all!

Apart from having every Rode microphone, Event Opal studio monitors, Presonus studio gear - including soundcards and their all-new StudioLive digital console on show, we're also hosting Craig and James from Rode. Craig has been the Australian representative for Rode Microphones for as long as we can remember, and James represents both Event and Presonus in Australia. They'll be ready for all your questions.

And, it almost goes without saying, there will be cracking specials for anyone who buys up on the night. We'll have lots of stock - so take advantage!

www.factorysound.com

Event Opal now in stock

Seems so long ago that we first started writing about Event Opal powered studio monitors...
When we heard the very first pair every built, it was way back at the end of July, when the Aussie dollar was just about buying a whole $USD! We traveled to sunny Las Vegas, and after some serious jetlag, missed planes and a few quiet drinks (along with some rowdy ones), got to hear just how impressive the Opals are.

You can too - just come into Factory Sound and bring your reference CD. And if you haven't already jumped on the number 112 tram or hopped in your car on the way here, take some time to check out the pic from our hotel window back in Vegas... it was taken during Rehab, which happens on Sundays at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Beer & Bulls**t in Vegas

First of all, let's not let the title of this musing get in the way of a great story. Tone, Dean and I went to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada last week. We were taken over there by the good people at Event Electronics (now owned by Peter Freedman, who is already famous the world over for his Rode microphones), to witness the launch of their brand new studio monitor - Opal.

 

We understand they'll be built right here in Australia (at the Rode factory), and the demo we saw was nothing short of gobsmacking. If you want to catch part of the presentation we saw (not the demo), then have a peek here.

No doubt we'll be publishing heaps on this event over the next weeks and months, because it was a trip that has left indelible memories on all of us. 

But this post is about beer & bulls**t in Las Vegas. It can happen anywhere. Try clothes shopping in Vegas "oh honey, that looks great on you" etc... Tone and I decided to sit and grab a pitcher of beer each while Dean was playing the slots at the airport.

So, we're faced with a small selection of tapped beers at the little 'bar and grill' at McCarran International. Budweiser, Bud Light, and a couple of beers we'd not yet had a go at. One was a stout, and we thought 40+ degrees Celsius was simply too hot for a stout. So we asked about the fourth beer on tap. "We've never had a #$%^ before, what's it like?"

"Oh, sure...have you ever had Stella Artois? It's just like that"

"Great...2 big ones please, and don't hold back on the froth"

What a crock. It tasted very similar to (yes, we've had many beers in this life) Carlton Draught served out of the dreg-i-est pipes imaginable, with a couple of tabs of artificial sweetner chucked in each pitcher for good measure. 

So what's the point?

We simply can't imagine saying it with a straight face. What happened to "I don't know man, I haven't tried it." How about cutting out the bulls**t and giving it to us straight. If you know about it, then talk about it...if you don't know, then say so. That's what we do, so it's what we expect. At least I suffered no ill effects from the hotdog he served up.

And while we're at it, hats off to Peter Freedman. He took us 3 simple blokes from Factory Sound all the way to deep in the heart of  bulls**t-ville Nevada, and through all the smoke and mirrors allowed his new Event Opal monitors speak for themselves. Sure his presentation was snappy, and the surrounds intoxicating (very intoxicating). But the fact remains that when we finally heard the speakers we'd flown halfway around the world to hear, we were all smiles after hearing sounds in songs we'd never heard before.

No Bulls**t.

Onya Opal, and congratulations to Peter and your team. We look forward to getting some Opal love in store before we kiss 2008 goodnight.