FRONT of HOUSE

11/18/2025

SAD NEWS: Audio Engineer Nick Labas, R.I.P. ....
https://fohonline.com/newsroom/news/in-memoriam-nick-labas-1996-2025/

11/16/2025

BIG PRO AUDIO NEWS... APOGEE ACQUIRED!
https://fohonline.com/newsroom/news/apogee-electronics-acquired-by-parent-company-of-manley-labs/

11/11/2025

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Inside DiGiCo’s Quantum 112 Flypack Mixer

DiGiCo’s Sam North offers this brief tour of the Quantum 112 — DiGiCo's smallest and newest addition to its Quantum Range. The company’s first true flypack m...

10/29/2025

AUDIO ARCHAEOLOGY
1957 -- beyer M 160 ribbon microphone
One of the longest-running microphones still in production, the beyerdynamic M 160 began as a unique offering in the world of ribbon microphones. The M 160’s breakthrough design employs two aluminum ribbons in a vertical array just 0.0002 inches apart. Each ribbon is less than one twelve-thousandth of an inch thick and is much shorter than conventional ribbons.
-- These low-mass, high-inertia ribbons accurately reproduce transients to create a highly detailed and transparent sonic image. Its true hypercardioid pattern provides -24 dB of attenuation at 110 degrees off-axis, suppressing lateral interference and allowing high levels of gain before feedback.
-- For this reason, famed producer-engineer Eddie Kramer recorded Jimi Hendrix’s vocals and amplifier with this beyerdynamic classic, thereby cutting the amount of drum and bass bleed into Jimi’s live signal. Likewise, Andy Johns reached for the M160 to obtain John Bonham’s massive drum tone for Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.”
-- This is but a small sampling of the variety of the M 160's use throughout music history. Currently only offered with an XLR-male termination, the microphone was originally equipped with a Tuchel connector (shown in lower photo).

10/29/2025

Coolest Shure Microphones Swag Ever...
'70s Shure Zippo Lighter!

10/27/2025

In Memoriam: Tim “Poppa Smurf” Lawrence, 1943-2025
https://fohonline.com/newsroom/news/in-memoriam-tim-poppa-smurf-lawrence-1943-2025/

10/25/2025

The SM57... The Rarest Shure Mic Ever???
A couple years ago, I got a call from some guy who read something of mine that recommended using a Shure SM57 to capture a snare drum. Evidently he then called around to a half-dozen chain music stores that carry pro audio, asking if they had an SM57 available, as all he could find online was the SM57-LC version. Each one checked their stock and sadly, all reported that they too, only carried the "SM57-LC" version.
--- Anyway, this guy called me to ask whether the SM57-LC version would be an OK substitution on snare. He was amazed when I told him that the "LC" suffix was merely a Shure product code to indicate that the mic shipped "Less Cable" — meaning no XLR cord included! --George Petersen

10/14/2025

Video of The Week: BASSBOSS Sublim8
https://fohonline.com/fohtv/video-of-the-week-bassboss-sublim8/
BASSBOSS announces the launch of the Sublim8, a bold new loudspeaker that delivers the company’s signature power and precision in a sleek, column-style form factor. Designed for portable or fixed installs, Sublim8 employs a three-way active design with a long-excursion 18-inch subwoofer, dual 8-inch mid-bass drivers, and a 3-inch high-frequency compression driver with 4,000 watts of onboard power. For more info, visit www.bassboss.com.

10/06/2025

NEUTRIK celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! Congrats!
https://fohonline.com/articles/milestones/neutrik-50-years-of-making-connections/

09/29/2025

PRODUCTION EXCELLENCE…
The Eartec Company was founded in 1961, and today offers a full line of professional wired and wireless hands-free intercom headset solutions. The latest is the PRO16-SX Switching Wireless Communication System (shown below), where crews of up to 16 (no base / beltpack required!) can communicate simultaneously via Eartec’s exclusive Switching Pattern, with group-leader-switching between two separate groups.More info at: www.eartec.com

09/05/2025

… FRONT OF HOUSE does it again!!!
The September issue is packed with awesomeness:
• THE LUMINEERS' “Automatic 2025” world tour;
• ELVIS COSTELLO’s Radio Soul Tour;
• EARTH, WIND & FIRE’s Summer Tour 2025;
• Broadway’s JUST IN TIME hit musical;
• FOH legend DAVID MORGAN on 40 years with James Taylor, Paul Simon, Cher, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac and others;
• RIKKI FARR on 13 road years with Bob Marley and more…-- Read it FREE here: https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=851620. Snag a FREE subscription at: fohonline.com/subscribe-to-foh/

08/26/2025

The Parnelli Awards' Board of Advisors announces that Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon and The Kevin Cronin Band) will host the 24th Annual FOH/PLSN Parnelli Awards on Saturday, January 24th at the Hilton Anaheim hotel. The Parnellis are held in conjunction with the NAMM Show.
https://fohonline.com/featured/kevin-cronin-to-host-the-parnelli-awards/