{"id":59291,"date":"2025-01-17T18:20:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T18:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/?p=59291"},"modified":"2025-01-17T18:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T18:26:11","slug":"directout-prodigy-jonas-brothers-world-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/2025\/01\/17\/directout-prodigy-jonas-brothers-world-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"DirectOut Prodigy chosen for Jonas Brothers world tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\"Overhead<\/p>\n

The Jonas Brothers’ FOH Engineer Adam Robinson and Systems Engineer Cameron Manes discuss choosing DirectOut\u2019s PRODIGY.MP for the band\u2019s latest world tour.<\/h2>\n

Selected as part of an upgrade to the tour system, the team credit the PRODIGY.MP for notable improvements to both the audio quality and their workflow, as well as meeting their requirements for format conversion, SRC and redundancy. Adam Robinson,<\/strong> Front of House Engineer,<\/em> and Cameron Manes,<\/strong> Systems Engineer,<\/em> explain…<\/p>\n

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Future-proof, scalable and expandable<\/h2>\n

\u201cIn the past we were using different system processors, but it felt like it was colouring our sound,” Manes<\/strong> recalls. “We wanted a new solution that gave us the flexibility we were looking for without affecting the signal. We also needed a way to future-proof our system and respond to the growing demands of the production throughout the tour, whilst retaining the clarity we were looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Self-confessed geeks, both Robinson<\/strong> and Manes<\/strong> were excited by the opportunity to expand control of their audio system, and to experiment with the level of control offered by DirectOut and their globcon control software.<\/p>\n

Working hand-in-hand with long-term vendor partner, Clair Global<\/em>, their investigations proved a complete success: the rental company was happy to help them try different cards, which can easily swapped thanks to the PRODIGY Series’ modular design.<\/p>\n

Manes<\/strong> is using globcon and a Stream Deck interface to control multiple PRODIGY devices and his playback system, as well as using the PRODIGY.MP to control their Smaart<\/em> acoustic test and measurement software.<\/p>\n

“PRODIGY has become my Smaart<\/em> interface,” he says. “I no longer have a separate Smaart<\/em> computer, and that means that I can route all my wireless mics wherever I want. We’re running quite a few wireless mics for system measurement and tuning – with the PRODIGY I can route that to our Front of House console, which makes it visible to Adam at the console, and on Smaart<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The DirectOut PRODIGY Series<\/a> are cutting-edge, modular 2U audio devices with modular I\/O slots.<\/p>\n

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Analogue, MADI & AVB<\/h2>\n

When doing one off performances or fly-ins, the team sometimes find the supplied sound systems to be somewhat lacking, with not enough energy in the front fills or stage thrust loudspeakers than the team needs. To counter this, an extra feed MADI can be easily sent from the PRODIGY to the Front of House (FOH) console – this then gets passed to the stage rack, where it can be split between additional, strategically placed speakers.<\/p>\n

“We have two additional PRODIGY.MP, one on either side of the stage,” expands Manes<\/strong>. “They send AES signals directly from the FOH PRODIGY.MP to our d&b amplifiers.”<\/p>\n

“Should there be any issues, I also have the signal in analogue, whilst our primary transport is AVB. A lot of manufacturers are integrating AVB<\/a> into their products now, so we have transitioned to that format for our networking.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen I first started playing with automation, I was a little apprehensive, but PRODIGY has quickly become the most reliable part of the entire audio system. Whatever I ask it to do, it does it, and exactly how I want it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron Manes (Jonas Brothers\u00b4 systems engineer)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"StreamAdding custom interfaces with globcon software<\/h2>\n

With the PRODIGY acting as a central hub, the team can easily incorporate hardware, software and loudspeaker systems from a number of different brands in a reliable and flexible manner, with a range of format conversion options and on-board sample rate conversion (SRC).<\/p>\n

The user interface is also entirely customizable: once programed, it can show as much or as little information as required by the user.<\/p>\n

DirectOut’s globcon software provides further customisation, with both Robinson<\/strong> and Manes<\/strong> able to view and edit any part of their system simultaneously, which has vastly improved the show’s workflow. Manes\u2019<\/strong> interface layout is streamlined to displays only what he needs, while Robinson\u2019s<\/strong> screen just has the system EQ visible as a quick reference.<\/p>\n

\u201cCameron has given me an \u2018All\u2019 page, so I can just make a quick EQ change to the whole system if needed,\u201d Robinson<\/strong> says. \u201cIt’s great that we can both interact with the system, making changes at the same time, even to the same EQ. If I add a filter and Cameron adds a filter, we’ll both see them, it\u2019s really flexible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 \u201cI\u2019m the type of person that only wants to see the things that are relevant to me at any given time,\u201d Manes<\/strong> continues. \u201cWith globcon, you can create floating objects and configure a page where everything that\u2019s relevant to you can be right at your fingertips. I have also integrated a Stream Deck<\/em> for tactile control of my scripts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"DirectOut<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Manes<\/strong> has written scripts that send OSC commands to automate functions throughout the show, including switching from work-mode, to being ready for the audience to enter. With a single push of a button on his Stream Deck<\/em>, Manes<\/strong> can switch to the correct music playlist, start the audio, un-mute the correct loudspeakers in the system, and bring music to the correct level with a gentle fade-up – functionality that has really made using the PRODIGY interface accessible and useful to his workflow.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy scripts are executed seamlessly,\u201d Manes<\/strong> concludes. \u201cWhen I first started playing with automation, I was a little apprehensive, but PRODIGY has quickly become the most reliable part of the entire audio system. Whatever I ask it to do, it does it, and exactly how I want it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

See the full range of DirectOut pro audio devices<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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