The Latin Grammy Awards in Florida

MIAMI, FLORIDA: At the 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, Mike Stewart, of ATK Audiotek Corporation in Burbank, California, enjoyed his first hands-on experience with the brand new INNOVASON Sy80 digital live sound console. The Sy80 features 80 faders, 48 mix buses, 80 inputs and up to 80 outputs, more than enough capacity to handle such a complex music awards show.

Stewart has used INNOVASON's Grand Live consoles on many previous telecast awards shows and music specials, and is enthusiastic about the enhanced abilities of the new Sy80, and comments, "I liked using the console." Of particular note, he says, "the expansion to 80 channels and the fader configuration. I used about 35 or 40 inputs for production."

The Sy80 offers a dedicated fader for each channel, with no layering, with each supporting a comprehensive array of digital signal processing options, including a four-band parametric equalizer, gate, compressor and delay. All processing is available at all times with no limitations or added audio delay.

Stewart adds, "The good things about the Sy80 are the fader expansion and the creation of matrix and group assigns. They're a great advancement from the Grand Live Series."

INNOVASON's unique XFAD facility introduces the concept of fader expansion to digital live sound consoles, allowing the desk to be configured most efficiently for each particular application. Faders designated as inputs may be configured as mono, stereo or multiple XFAD expanded faders. An unlimited number of inputs, such as a group of drum channels, may be assigned and "stacked" beneath a single fader for control by that fader. Faders may be designated elsewhere on the console where the relative levels of those individual inputs may be displayed and controlled when selected.

The fader configuration system allows users to define the function of each and every fader on the console surface. For example, faders configured to control mix busses may be designated as mono, stereo or LCR, auxiliary or matrix masters, audio subgroups, or VCA group masters. A virtually unlimited number of VCA groups may be created.

Broadcast from Miami in early September by CBS, the Latin Grammys show this year attracted an audience of over five million, an increase of over 20% from the previous year. The evening's major winner was Colombian rocker Juanes, who took home five awards, including Album of the Year, Record and Song of the Year, and Best Rock Song. Cuban musician Paquito D'Rivera and Mexican performer Joan Sebastian each won two Latin Grammys

INNOVASON is distributed exclusively in the United States by Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. It joins a list of distinguished audio brands that Sennheiser distributes including Neumann Microphones, Turbosound Loudspeakers and Chevin Research Amplifiers.