UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL INTRODUCES THE MX-450

New entry-level model for the custom channel solves a common installation problem by offering full macro editing directly on its brilliant color LCD screen. No PC or internet connection is required.

Harrison, NY – August - 2008 –Universal Remote Control^®, Inc. (URC), the pioneer in control technology, introduces the Complete Control MX-450, an attractive new home theater remote with a vivid color LCD screen that custom installers can program and set up in minutes without a PC or internet connection. URC’s exclusive, revolutionary MacroEdit£ firmware enables full macro editing on the MX-450’s screen.

    “Many installers do not have laptops with them on the job site,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, director of marketing for URC. “In order to expedite some smaller projects, they often utilize remotes that program ‘standalone,’ meaning they don’t require a PC—but installers often get frustrated trying to program macros on them. The MX-450 enables installers to program and, more importantly, edit macros right on its beautiful screen. It’s the best of all worlds for an entry-level or secondary-room home theater installation.”

    Macro programming, which delivers a specific sequence of commands to a variety of components, is usually irksome on standalone remotes, which don’t provide instant feedback. Installers always have faced the challenging task of programming macros on such devices without being able to modify their work on the fly. If one step is wrong in the macro (for example, if a delay is too short), the entire macro must be deleted and completely re-programmed. With the MX-450’s MacroEdit on-screen setup, the installer can see the macro steps clearly displayed on the remote’s screen, and can fine-tune, re-order, adjust delays and add steps to macros without deleting his or her previous work.

    The MX-450 can be set up and installed more rapidly than any other standalone programmed remote. There is no programming manual for the MX-450; all the information installers need is available on-screen in the form of programming tips and step-by-step instructions that simplify the setup process. Experienced installers can bypass the tips and instructions completely for even faster setup.

    The MX-450’s virtues go far beyond installer convenience. A dazzling, stylish entry-level remote control offering that is a compelling addition to any custom dealer’s arsenal, the MX-450 provides a cutting-edge form factor, extraordinary functionality and a beautiful two-inch color LCD display (176 x 220 pixels) that delivers bright, engaging color graphics for all home theater activities. Labels for every button are customizable, and channel logos are available for up to 48 of the client’s favorite TV channels. The MX-450 features LED backlighting of its LCD screen and all buttons, making it easy to read every button even in complete darkness.

    The MX-450 is the new base model in URC’s growing color lineup of Complete Control professional remotes, which also includes two other new models introduced at CEDIA—the MX-6000 and MX-880—as well as the existing MX-3000, MX-980 and MX-810 models. “Because of GPS, cell phones and MP3 players, consumers now expect vibrant color screens on all handheld electronics,” said Sienkiewicz. “Our professional remotes are following suit, giving our dealers yet another attractive selling point.”

    The MX-450, which can control up to 18 devices, requires four AA batteries; to extend battery life, URC’s unique PowerSaver£ circuitry enables the color LCD screen to operate at maximum efficiency. The MX-450 can serve as an infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) remote; a URC RF Base Station is required for RF function.

The MX-450 is now available for an MSRP of $249 US
http://www.universalremote.com

Lauren Simmen
Caster Communications Inc.,
155 Main St., Wakefield,
RI 02879 United States

    ReQuest, the leader in digital media servers for residential and commercial custom installations, has released NetSync for iTunes Macintosh version 1.01, a program that until now had been available only for Windows operating systems.

    Ballston Spa, NY — ReQuest, the leader in digital media servers for residential and commercial custom installations, has released NetSync for iTunes Macintosh version 1.01, a program that until now had been available only for Windows operating systems. NetSync for iTunes Macintosh, designed to work with all ReQuest servers installed with Serious Play software (version 4.6.2 or later), will seamlessly sync with iTunes and multiple iPods, and iPhones.

    The NetSync for iTunes program built on ReQuest’s patented NetSync technology, allows multiple iTunes libraries to be synchronized into one master collection stored on a ReQuest server. Once NetSync for iTunes is installed and connected to a ReQuest music server on a home network, users can easily sync songs, playlists, and music metadata between the Mac iTunes library and the ReQuest music server. Users can create playlists and manage their music within iTunes on the Mac, then use NetSync for iTunes Macintosh to easily sync changes and playlists to the ReQuest distributed audio server. Media and playlists created on ReQuest servers can also be added to local iTunes libraries and be ready for automatic synchronization with the user’s iPod® or iPhone®.

    ReQuest’s new NetSync for iTunes Macintosh program is fully compatible with Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard and is available as a download from the ReQuest web site. It is also bundled free with all ReQuest servers now shipping, and can be used on an unlimited number of Mac computers in a home.

To view a demo visit http://request.com/products/netsyncforitunes.asp?showcontent=nsfitmac#

About ReQuest
    ReQuest, Inc.’s home-entertainment systems have set the standard for high-end digital media storage, management, playback, and system integration since 1998. The Company’s award-winning media servers are the accepted leaders in cutting-edge technology. ReQuest has received numerous accolades for having the best service in the consumer electronics industry, with an installed base of more than 30,000 units. ReQuest was ranked by Inc. magazine as one of the top 500 fastest-growing private businesses in America for two years in a row. For more information, visit www.request.com

Media Contacts
Lucette Nicoll / Chet Murray
Nicoll Public Relations, Inc.
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The 2008 event: The “Grande Utopia”, third generation, comes out. Like the two previous models, it launches a major technological innovation that marks a break with the norm: the Electro-Magnetic motor woofer, the EM. Such a considerable advance in the bass that it gives it its complete name: Grande Utopia EM.

La nouvelle Grande Utopia en vidéo.

    The Grande Utopias are not only loudspeakers that have had a great impact on their generation. It’s also a concept that is full part of “The Spirit Sound”: tradition, pleasure, innovation, the best in the world. A new Grande Utopia is not conceivable without major innovation, able to establish itself as a long-lasting technological milestone. The one of 1995 launched the “W” technology, but not only. The one of 2002 brought the pure Beryllium tweeter, but also numerous other innovations. The outstanding idea lies in the fact that almost all innovations were taken back by the Grande Utopia EM, which tends to prove their merits. Being a reference is not being a fad.

Bigger than ever
The 2008 Grande Utopia had to be immediately visually identifiable. Keeping its imposing aspect of a reference loudspeaker, without being massive. To reach our first goal, we kept the Focus Time structure and the separate blocks for each driver, the true aesthetic signature of the Grande Utopia. To lighten the shape, the delimitation between the blocks is more important (the cabinets seem to be suspended in the air). The chosen design main line was simplifying the object in the extreme and eliminating what could be aesthetically superfluous. Handed over to Pineau & Le Porcher agency, with which Focal-JMlab has been collaborating since 2003, the Grande Utopia EM’s design is all purity and clarity - obvious. That’s a truly amazing feat for a loudspeaker that now reaches 783/4” (2m) high and weighs 573.2lb (260kg)... Firstly available in an integral black lacquer version, the Grande Utopia EM will be suggested later in different finishes.

Electro-Magnetic EM
    The expected great technological step in the bass is reached with the 153/4” (40cm) woofer with an electro-magnetic motor. The principle: the permanent magnet is replaced by an electro-magnet. Thus the magnet force can become endless – or flexible. Just one figure: the woofer Force Factor of the previous Grande Utopia Be reached the respectable figure of 18.5T.m, it now goes to 34T.m, that’s to say an 83% progress. A figure that foretells a spate of others: the field in the air gap reaches 1.75T, the efficiency 97dB/1W/1m, that’s to say a sensitivity superior to 100dB for 2.83V.  These figures can make you wonder concerning the dynamic bandwidth but moreover when we combine them to its resonance frequency: 23.8Hz, that’s to say an almost “unusually” low value, considering the reached efficiency. Because, so far, we had to choose between the two: high efficiency or ability to go down in the low frequencies, until we reached the right proportioning, and that was an acceptable compromise.
    The choice of the EM technology is the clear consequence of the absence of any compromise: we wanted a superlative woofer, which was not possible with the classic magnet technologies. We called on an ancient technology that had been dropped out because it was too complex, able to reach extreme performance: the electromagnet. A technology that we improved thanks to the simulation software of the magnetic motors and high-performance modern materials. In the end, the electro-magnet uses no less than 15.4lb (7kg) of copper, for a 48.5lb (22kg) motor and a total weight of 52.9lb (24kg). A “monster”, in the literal meaning of the word, which manufacturing costs cannot be compared to a standard magnet and are only conceivable on exceptional loudspeakers.
    The electro-magnet power supply is external and has a signal recognition system. It offers above all an adjustment of the power supply tension on 6 levels (for a delivered power from 9W to 90W). So that’s the choice of a complete sound range for the bass, deep and round, or punchy with a “live” sound, and 4  intermediate levels to program a flexible bass sound. These adjustments permit to ensure a control of the bass without precedent, keeping control of the speaker / listening room coupling (making the over-voltage coefficient vary but also the efficiency on a +/-3dB scale).

IAL2: The pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter that goes up and down
The inverted dome tweeter of the Grande Utopia Be had already demonstrated the superiority of pure Beryllium in high frequencies thanks to its unequalled mechanical qualities in terms of lightness, rigidity and damping, reached simultaneously.
    Our other obsession, that started with Electra 1000 Be and its IAL technology (Infinite Acoustic Loading), has been to make the tweeter go as low as possible to obtain the ultimate full-range driver. In that way, this approach is close to the EM woofer: how to go high and go deep down with a very high efficiency? How to make these fundamentally opposed principles coexist? By reconsidering the tweeter design.
    We started from the IAL model with the only imperative to go even further in all fields. The principle is based on a tweeter designed like any other driver, the back of the dome is totally cleared up, to be loaded by a tuned cavity. Double advantage: control precisely its Thiele & Small parameters to get extended response in the bass and reduce the resonance frequency. Here is the key point: this frequency must be relegated to the lowest possible frequency, so that it won’t interfere with the sound rendering. Over-voltage, distortion, aggressiveness and ringing are the most obvious signs of an insufficiently low resonance frequency. Going from 1280Hz to the Grande Utopia Be’s 528Hz, the accomplished progress is clear, with a significant safety margin compared to the tweeter bandwidth, from 2.2kHz to 40kHz.
    Problem: the efficiency increase implied an inescapable rise of the magnetic mass as well as its volume, which is incompatible with our will to clear up the back of the dome.
    We cannot increase the magnet width. But we can increase the length. So we set a streamlined tube, in a turbine shape, made of 5 sections of Neodymium for the IAL2. As a result, the magnetic field in the air gap reaches 2.15T and the efficiency increases by 1.5dB.
    We can notice that the Focus Ring of the previous Grande Utopia Be has disappeared: that’s the only device that was dropped out in the long series of decisive technological steps that were taken back from the first Grande Utopia. This system, made of Samarium-Cobalt magnet (chosen for its high Curie point with little sensitivity when temperature rises) boosted by a Neodymium magnet, had no more essential purpose. The IAL2 structure, all in length with its dome, but also its entirely cleared-off voice coil and the increased mass of the magnet and the polar parts have outshined the Focus Ring. Unless it’s now a natural Focus Ring - simple. It’s a tradition of Utopia to eliminate a problem at its source.

Adjustable Focus Time, a little craziness makes the Utopias move forward
    The very structured shape of the Grande Utopia EM immediately evokes a kind of spine. Could we arti-culate it so that shape and function are in adequacy? In other words, could we go through the original Focus Time system by suggesting a mechanical adjustment to optimize the Sweet Spot according to the listening distance? Articulating a 573.2lb (260kg) loudspeaker could have been considered as an unacceptable argument at least and without doubt as inconceivable. But too irresistible not to be tried! Thanks to a system of endless screws operated by a handle (covered by a seamless Chapal leather, the best in Made in France luxury) placed in the back body of the tweeter compartment, the 4 upper enclosures of the Grande Utopia EM can spread out. In the end, the use is simple, the handling is soft and here comes the indefinable satisfaction of having tried and achieved the impossible.

OPC+: The exceptional becomes personal
    A reproach that could be leveled against the previous Grande Utopia models was their absence of adjustments that could make one fear that their unconventional potential could be damaged by non-optimal acoustics. And that the perfect compromise could not easily be found knowing that the size of the rooms from a country to another, the furniture and decoration, can considerably fluctuate. Without even taking into consideration any personal choice
    Since the beginning, this notion of refined personalization of sound, without distorting the signal integrity, has been integrated to the project. The Grande Utopia EM then offers a great variety of adjustments, in the infra-bass, bass, midrange and treble registers, that’s to say a total of 1458 possible combinations.
    A figure that can alarm, except that it is part of a logical and long-experimented approach. Thus, an adaptation for a very big room with very clear acoustics for example, comes to a very precise, typical combina-tion of the extreme bass to the treble adjustments, as detailed in the supplied table. A sharp optimization around the typical values can be set by the installer on site.
    Extremely sophisticated (4 way configuration, added to the numerous adjustments) and divided in 3 sections in the loudspeaker, this crossover needs 16 hours of assembly and is only made of quality components chosen during comparative listening tests, without taking into consideration fashion or price, up to the internal wiring that was specially taken care of.

All-out maximization
    Almost every technologies taken from the previous Grande Utopias have been kept. To begin with, the “W” sandwich cone technology, the signature of the first Grande. But a third generation “W”, thanks to the new laser machines that permit an extremely precise cut-out of the cones, perfectly straight and round. Or not exactly straight or round depending on the cases in order to better control the cone fractionation.
    A precious tool that permits a significant evolution of the “W” characteristics. The Power Flower midrange drivers, designed to limit the magnetic leaks, are maintained. But everything’s new since the arrival of the third generation “W”, the spider, the surround and the moving voice coil in order to gain in efficiency. Necessary evolution for a midrange that should not be stuck between a woofer and a treble in clear progress.
    Same thing for the 11” (27cm) mid-bass with Multiferrite, re-designed to bring more dynamics and linearity, as well as clearly improved efficiency.
    That’s the same for the Gamma structure (the idea of a stable – then heavy mechanical reference) that was re-defined. With the collaboration of a company specialized in measures, some vibratory cartographies of the loudspeaker panels were determined to reinforce or modify the structure wherever a weak point showed.
Evolution or revolution, the Grande Utopia EM is positioning somewhere between the two. It’s part of a   mythical, traditional series, which more than ever confirms Focal’s position as a major actor in our industry.

Les produits Focal jMlab sont distribué au Canada par:
Plurison Inc.
313, rue Marion
Le Gardeur QC J5Z 4W8 Canada
Tél.: (450) 585-0098, sans frais 1 866 271-5689
Site web:  www.plurison.com

http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/desautels/13082008/104628.shtml

Ce pourcentage est établi à partir des ventes enregistrées par Nielsen SoundScan (voir tableau 2^★ pour les 15 meilleures ventes actuelles).

Le classique ne pèse plus très fort dans la balance. Ça représente probablement 50% de moins si on retire les Lefevre, Dubeau et Lemieux des ventes ! Le jazz et le blues ne représentent pas grand-chose.

La country et le western vendent plus que le classique, le jazz et le blues réunis.

Le pop et le rock totalisent 64% des ventes. Le Hip hop agonise. Que penser de l’urbain ?

Répartition des ventes de CD québécois^1,2 selon le genre musical de l'enregistrement, Québec, 2007

Country et western    5,7 %

Enfants / jeunesse³    0,4 %

Humour    4,3 %

Hip hop / rap    0,6 %

Jazz et blues⁴    1,8 %

Musique actuelle et contemporaine:

Musique classique et opéra    3,8 %

Musiques du monde⁵    1,7 %

Musique traditionnelle⁶    2,2 %

Pop⁷    57,8 %

Rock⁸    16,4 %

Urbain / électronique / dance⁹    3,0 %

Trames sonores    0,5 %

Autres    1,6 %

Total 100%
____________
Part des disques de Noël    2,4 %

Source des données: Nielsen SoundScan inc., ^© Nielsen SoundScan inc., 2001. Tous droits réservés.
Compilation: Association québécoise de l'industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo et Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec.

5 juin 2008
Ventes classiques selon Nielsen (Source CRIA). Plus de Lefevre, Dubeau & Co

Tableau 2^★.


 

Montréal, le 14 août 2008 - Pour ceux qui n’ont pas encore eu la chance de voir le grand succès de l’été, L’Esquire Show Bar – la revue offre de  nouvelles représentations supplémentaires le vendredi 5 septembre à 20 heures, le dimanche 7 septembre à 15 heures et les vendredi et samedi 12 et 13 septembre à 20 heures. Les billets pour ces supplémentaires sont présentement en vente.

    Dix-sept artistes « live » sur scène pour faire revivre cette musique incomparable : Sylvie Desgroseilliers, Michael Dozier, Franck Julien et Andrew Leader, entourés de quatre choristes-danseurs, dont Brigitte Désy et Safiya Ricketts… sans compter « deux bêtes de scène » qui ont bien connu la scène de l’Esquire Show Bar, les « performers » Skipper Dean et Jimmy Dooley.  Tous ces artistes sont accompagnés par sept musiciens, dont trois cuivres, sous la direction musicale de Marco Tessier.

L’Esquire Show Bar – la revue : les critiques sont unanimes :
    « Tous ceux qui aiment la musique, qui en vivent, qui en font, tous ceux qui ont vécu les années ’50, ’60 et ’70, mais aussi tous ceux qui vivent aujourd’hui devraient aller voir ce spectacle. Car l’Esquire Show Bar n’a rien d’un hommage charmant, et tout d’un véritable spectacle où la musique est souveraine. »
        - Marie-Christine Blais, La Presse

« En principe, la revue mise sur pied par Michael Dozier est un hommage à la salle mythique de la rue Stanley. […] En réalité, ce n’est pas un hommage. Jeudi, on ne recréait pas l’Esquire. On y était. […] Vous avez la revue la plus authentique qui soit. »
        — Philippe  Rezzonico, Le Journal de Montréal

« The show is a stunner. […] With so many killer vocalists on stage. (…) Let’s hope it never loses its wonderful, joyous edge.  »
        — Bernard Perusse, The Gazette

« Un pur délice! »
        — Rebecca McKonnen, Le TJ 18 heures, Radio-Canada

« Un spectacle incontournable qui va vous mettre du « pep » dans le soulier! »
        — Alexandra Diaz, Le TVA 17 heures, TVA

« Chaque numéro est un grand bonheur! »
        — Catherine Perrin,  C’est bien meilleur le matin, Radio-Canada

« On a vraiment l’impression de retourner à l’époque de l’Esquire Show Bar. […] Vraiment une réussite. Ça vous met le  sourire au cœur. »
        — Lise Villeneuve, Désautels, Radio-Canada

Un spectacle extraordinaire! Je vous conseille fortement d’aller voir Esquire Show Bar. C’est un incontournable de l’été! Garrochez-vous, allez vous acheter des tickets! »
        — Jasmin Roy, 98,5

    Le concept de ce méga-spectacle est signé Michael Dozier et Michel Gaumont. La mise en scène est assurée par Gilles Cormier et les chorégraphies sont signées Don Jordan. Une production de ScénoVision et des Productions Phoebus.

Billets en vente au Théâtre Corona (514) 931-2088 ou Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir
Réseau Admission (514) 790-1245.

Sorel-Tracy, le mardi 13 août 2008 – Après l’immense succès remporté par l’événement «Un piano dans la rue» l’an dernier, les AlexandreS présenteront la deuxième édition de ce spectacle sous les étoiles le vendredi 22 août prochain, à 20 heures.

    Cette année encore, trois musiciens exceptionnels contribueront à l’épanouissement culturel de la région de Sorel-Tracy en offrant ce concert extérieur gratuit devant le 8630, rue des Muguets (secteur Tracy). Cette production unique en son genre mettra en vedette cette année le guitariste sorelois Alexandre Éthier (fondateur du groupe Forestare, gagnant d’un Prix Félix), le pianiste et promoteur de l’événement Alexandre Vovan ainsi que le jeune chanteur populaire Alexandre Désilets (Prix Granby, Prix « Ma Première Place des Arts », Prix Félix-Leclerc). Aussi, encore une fois cet été, en plus d’une célébration de la musique, l’événement se veut un hommage rendu à l’homme d’affaires Denis Allard, dont il souligne le deuxième anniversaire de décès, et ce, dans un secteur qu’il a presque entièrement développé.

    Pour l’occasion, les AlexandreS présenteront, d’une façon bien particulière, des chefs-d’œuvre du répertoire classique parmi lesquels figurent des pièces de Rachmaninov, de Chopin, de Bach, de Debussy et de Williams. De plus, les trois compères joindront leurs talents dans un arrangement classique d’une des chansons d’Alexandre Désilets.

    Tout comme l’an dernier, l’animation du spectacle sera assurée par André Champagne (CJSO) à qui se joindra en tant que co-animateur cette année Monsieur Simon Durivage, animateur à la télé de Radio-Canada. Georges Nicholson, personnalité connue du domaine de la musique classique, contribuera également à l’événement. Il est tout aussi important de mentionner que cette deuxième édition de l’événement a été rendue possible grâce à nos partenaires : Lussier Cabinet d’assurances, la Ville de Sorel-Tracy, le CIT Sorel-Varennes, Boulevard Musique, le député Louis Plamondon, Page Cournoyer et le Festival de musique classique du Bas-Richelieu, ainsi qu’à plusieurs autres commanditaires.

    Un piano dans la rue, c’est le rendez-vous incontournable de l’été à Sorel-Tracy, le vendredi 22 août 2008,  20 heures, devant le 8630, rue des Muguets à Sorel-Tracy. Emmenez vos chaises et votre parapluie (le concert aura lieu beau temps, mauvais temps) !

Infos : (450) 743-8554 ou Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir