Video and Audio Systems for Anastasia Baptist Church

The Christian Life Center, a 15,000-square-foot sanctuary holding up to 1,200 worshipers, at Anastasia Baptist Church in St. Augustine, Florida, featuring new video and lighting systems sourced through Guitar Center Professional.

— Working with GC Pro Affiliate AV integrator Sound System Engineering, GC Pro continues assisting the church in refining its media systems and enhancing its ability to communicate its message —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, April 14, 2016 — The St. Augustine Lighthouse has been a beacon for Florida mariners since it was built in 1874. Similarly, the Anastasia Baptist Church, also located in what is the oldest city in the United States, describes itself as “a spiritual lighthouse” for its members. Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts, has been a partner with Anastasia Church for the last three years, helping it keep its message clear and articulate.

The church’s main campus houses its Christian Life Center, a 15,000-square-foot sanctuary holding up to 1,200 worshipers. To enhance the worship experience in the sanctuary, Eli Higginbotham, the church’s Technical Director, again sought GC Pro’s help, and GC Pro responded. Jeff Aldrich, GC Pro Account Manager of North Florida at GC Pro’s Jacksonville office, recommended a new video system consisting of four Sony EVIH100V HD cameras, a Sony RMBR300 EVI BRC PTZ VISCA remote control unit, and a Roland V-40HD multi-format video switcher integrated into the churches existing video platform. The project also saw two 80-inch Sharp LCD monitors installed in the main sanctuary as well as 60-inch Sony monitors in two classrooms on the campus. In addition, a second, smaller sanctuary that seats 600 for more traditional worship services, had a JBL CWT128 8-inch 2-way loudspeaker system suspended above the orchestra area. Sound System Engineering (SSE) was the approved GC Pro AV system integration Affiliate that assisted in the systems’ design and performed the installation.

To illustrate the church’s 2016 sermon theme around mountains, the church suggested a custom LED lighting strip that would outline a mountain background lining the rear of the stage in the Christian Life Center. Lighting was addressed in a unique way for this systems upgrade: the installation of a 400-foot run of Aspect LED RGBW strip lighting tape to line the mountaintops that were designed and built by Doug Brown, Florida School of the Arts Technical Director.

“The church wanted to enhance their media capabilities and the overall worship experience,” Aldrich explains. “We’ve been working with them for the past two years, helping them do exactly that for all of their AVL needs.” Each and every component of the systems that GC Pro recommended was tailored to the church’s specific needs. For instance, the 180-degree dispersion pattern of the JBL CWT128 was what Aldrich calls “a phenomenal fit” with its programmable wave pattern. “One speaker for the entire choir and orchestra monitoring system,” he says.

The smaller sanctuary at Anastasia Baptist Church in St. Augustine, Florida, which seats 600 for more traditional worship services, featuring a JBL CWT128 8-inch 2-way loudspeaker system sourced through Guitar Center Professional.

Higginbotham notes that the relationship between himself and Aldrich goes back nearly a decade, to a time when Higginbotham worked as a manager for several Guitar Center store locations in the Southeast. “Jeff was one of my reps, and he was one of the best, so it was natural for us to continue this relationship when I came to the church,” he explains. Higginbotham says Aldrich’s astuteness is characteristic of GC Pro’s approach to dealing with clients, starting with the installation of new video cameras at the church two years ago, the results of which he described as “spectacular.” “They took care of everything then just as Jeff did with this most recent project, including sourcing the electrical contractor for the new lighting,” he says. “The great thing about working with GC Pro is, you never have to go anywhere else. They have it all.”

And as good as the technology has been for the church, it was the reaffirmation of the relationship that will be most enduring, and of the most benefit to the client. “The intangibility of a trusting relationship is really what GC Pro customers are experiencing,” says Aldrich. “I’ll always be there for them, and that means that GC Pro, with its huge depth of resources and its pricing power, will always be there for them. No one else offers that level of support.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Installations, System Upgrades at Chicago-Area Restaurants

Red Star Cocktail Lounge in Chicago’s south side, featuring sound and lighting design from Guitar Center Professional in collaboration with GC Pro affiliate Accutronics.

— GC Pro brought its sourcing acumen and pricing power together with a trusted installation and integration partner from its Affiliates Program to provide the owner of The Island Sports Bar & Grill and the new Red Star restaurant and lounge with the kind of sound and lighting that helps set them apart —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, April 11, 2016 — Adam Shorter thought he needed a few speakers for his new Red Star restaurant and lounge on Chicago’s storied South Side. What he ended up with was a sound and lighting design for both Red Star Cocktail Lounge and his existing Island Sports Bar & Grill that puts both venues miles ahead of the competition, done on time and within budget, thanks to the resources of Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts.

“Adam came into the Chicago Guitar Center store looking for help with his new bar, Red Star, which was then under construction,” recalls Ryan Nigh, GC Pro Account Manager based in Chicago. “He needed a sound system very quickly and was going to just purchase a few speakers when the store associate told him about Guitar Center Professional and our installation services. We scheduled a meeting with Adam, brought in Accutronics, one of our long-time Affiliate partners, and together we designed a custom PA solution that we were ready to install in less than a week.”

Mike Love, Owner of Accutronics, says Shorter appreciated the nuance he was able to bring to the project. “We want the sound to be great but not to interfere with the look of the venue, so we did things like using the JBL Control 60 series pendant speakers that are suspended instead of attaching speakers to the wall on brackets,” he explains, noting that the system is powered by Crown XLS amplifiers and controlled through a dbx® Driverack, all supplied through GC Pro. “GC Pro was able to get every piece of equipment we needed to the job site on time or even ahead of schedule, so that we were able to make Mr. Shorter’s grand opening date in early December.”

In fact, the project was going so well that Shorter asked GC Pro and Accutronics to upgrade the lighting in his other venue, the Island Sports Bar & Grill, in Blue Island, also on Cook County’s South Side, including fixtures from American DJ, Chauvet and Elation.

Shorter says he was extremely pleased with how GC Pro and Accutronics approached his venues’ needs. “They were responsive, always there, and they took the time to explain in detail everything they were recommending, so I never felt like I was out of the loop,” says Shorter. “And the results are fantastic. When I start getting ready to open my third location later this year, I’ll be doing that with GC Pro. I couldn’t imagine not using them again. That’s how good this experience was.”

“By using GC Pro services, both of his clubs have a professional setup that was designed specifically for the space, and both locations were completed before Christmas,” says Nigh. “What I really appreciated is that he embraced the idea of a first-rate sound system for Red Star. We put a VRX sub, which is JBL’s touring sub, in the ceiling, so it’s a sound system that really stands out in terms of quality. In a lot of ways he is the perfect customer, because he understands quality. And that makes GC Pro the perfect vendor for him, because quality is all we know.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Stoneworks Entertainment Upgrades Live Sound Speakers

— GC Pro recommends dBTechnologies DVA T4, offering the right solution in terms of vocal clarity and ease of setup —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, April 7, 2016 — Stoneworks Entertainment is a Pflugerville, Texas-based event production company that provides live sound, lighting and other services for corporate events, performing venues, weddings and anywhere top-quality music and entertainment is needed. Recent upgrades were implemented with the help of Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts. Stoneworks co-owner Six Sanchez had been wanting to upgrade the speakers in their tour sound PA, and an e-mail from GC Pro Account Manager Sean Robertson set the wheels in motion.

“Not too long ago I received a courtesy e-mail from Sean thanking me for a past purchase and asking if there was anything else he could help me with,” said Sanchez. “Sean is great when it comes to this kind of follow up, and as a matter of fact I had been interested in upgrading to line array speakers. However, I didn’t know if I could afford them or work with them.”

Sanchez had a number of requirements, the foremost being speakers that would excel in vocal reproduction. He also wanted speakers that would be easy to set up and have the high-power handling and flexibility to cover every live sound situation he’d encounter, from outdoor shows to small clubs. He also plays guitar and sings in Texas Unlimited, one of the state’s top regional bands for concerts, parties and events, and he wanted line arrays that Texas Unlimited could add to its tour sound system on bigger dates.

Equally important, the speakers had to be easy to transport and set up. “I don’t have a 20-person crew – I have a two-man crew, one of them being me!” Sanchez was concerned that even though he liked the clarity of line arrays compared to conventional trap box speakers, most of the line arrays he’d seen were labor-intensive to rig and required a lot of cabling.

After going over the available options, Robertson felt that the dBTechnologies DVA T4 powered three-way line array module would be perfect for Sanchez’s needs. He notes, “A three-way loudspeaker like the DVA T4 is ideal for vocal reproduction because the vocal range falls right in the part of the frequency spectrum that is handled by the midrange driver, and the crossover points for the drivers are outside the vocal range. In a two-way speaker, however, the crossover point between the woofer and high-frequency driver falls right in the middle of the vocal range and can affect vocal clarity. A good three-way loudspeaker can deliver vocals with superior purity and incredible focus.”

The dBTechnologies DVA T4 line arrays are designed to make setup simple. Four DVA T4s can be mounted in a single DTF-4 professional flight case. Stoneworks purchased eight DVA T4 arrays and two DTF-4 cases, along with casters and covers for the cases, two dBTechnologies DVA S30N dual-18-inch 3,000-watt powered subwoofers and a number of Live Wire, RapcoHorizon and ProCo cables.

“We leave the DVA T4s in the cases and leave the line arrays all daisy-chained and wired together,” Sanchez said, “so all we have to do is roll the case into place, rig the cases to a fly bar, run one cable from the mixer and connect one power cable.” Depending on the venue, Sanchez can either fly the case or stack it, and either ground-stack or fly the subwoofers.

The DVA T4 and DVZ S30N feature built-in Digipro® Class D amplification with sophisticated DSP and sound-tailoring capabilities. “Not having to carry heavy racks of amplifiers is a big plus – I remember the backbreaking days of amps that weighted one pound per watt!” noted Sanchez. “But even more importantly, the speakers’ and subwoofers’ DSP and programmable crossover points make it really easy for us to dial in the optimum sound for any venue.” The DVA T4 offers eight system presets for high- and low-mid frequency correction and the DVZS30N provides crossover and delay presets plus continuously variable crossover adjustment.

“We were able to offer really attractive pricing for Six,” Robertson pointed out, “and work with dBTechnologies to deliver all the products quickly, in time for a particular gig Six really wanted to use the dBTechnologies line for. In fact, Six was able to upgrade to better subwoofers than what he originally thought he needed because we were able to put together a great package for him that fit within his budget.”

Sanchez concluded, “I couldn’t be happier with the sound we can provide to our clients now that we’ve stepped up to high-quality line arrays. Sean at GC Pro was able to take my idea of the sound I wanted to hear – clear, powerful vocals in any indoor and outdoor venue – and translate that into the recommendation of speakers that not only match but exceed my requirements.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

GC Pro Appoints Jessica R. Sullivan as Nat'l Sales Mgr

Jessica Sullivan, GC Pro National Sales Manager

— A veteran of the M.I./pro audio industry with a rich background in sales and marketing, Sullivan joins GC Pro management team —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, April 4, 2016 — Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts, has appointed Jessica R. (Jess) Sullivan to the position of National Sales Manager. The announcement was made by Bradley Johnson, GC Pro Director, and reflects the division’s ongoing efforts to assemble the strongest leadership team possible. In her new position, Sullivan will be responsible for the overall management of the GC Pro Account Managers, developing/growing their overall sales figures through effective management of their clients’ needs. She will also form a working partnership with the Retail Store Managers, District Managers, and Regional Vice Presidents to ensure the success of each Account Manager.

Sullivan is a veteran in sales and marketing and the M.I./pro audio market sectors, having spent 14 years working with numerous manufacturers. She has particular expertise in B2B integrated sales, digital marketing and business development. Her previous positions include Online Marketing Manager at Line 6; Director of Advertising Sales for NewBay Media (Guitar Player, Bass Player, Keyboard, EQ); Director of Business Development for Premier Guitar; Director of Marketing at Musicians Institute; and more.

“It took me a while to find the right person for this position, and I’m glad I waited,” states Bradley Johnson. “Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge in several areas within sales and the industry overall. Her can-do attitude, analytic mind and idea generation are just some of the masterful skills she brings to this position. I’m thrilled to have Jess be a part of the GC Pro team and look forward to her contributions in taking us to the next level as the professional choice for all AVL needs in the industry and the business verticals we serve.”

Sullivan remarks, “I’m excited to join the team at GC Professional and add to their existing foundation of being client-focused and serving multiple business verticals. Throughout my time in the industry, my motto has always been if I can fix things and help people, then I’m in the right place. I’ve been fortunate enough to live this motto throughout my career in this industry, from advising over 200 clients on what the right marketing strategy was for them, to tackling issues on improving student acquisition and experience. Now at GC Pro, I have the opportunity to work with over 50 Account Managers nationwide to take their abilities to the next level while implementing strategies to increase the customer experience. With these exciting initiatives in front of me, GC Pro offers me an opportunity to do what I do best, and for me, that makes it the right place.”

“We are extremely happy to have Jessica join our team,” adds Larry Gerber, Vice President of Services and Business Development at Guitar Center, Inc. “With her experience and aptitude we look forward to her leading our Guitar Center Professional division to new heights as we continue our quest to be the premier audio, video and lighting solution experience in the nation.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Calvary Community Church Chooses the Right Console

The Avid® VENUE | S6L console setup at FOH at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA.

— GC Pro helps Calvary Community Church find exactly the audio mixing platform they needed to handle live FOH mixing and recording —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, March 31, 2016 — Launched in 1976 in a Hungry Tiger restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California, the Calvary Community Church moved into its 235,000-square-foot building on a 17-acre site in nearby Westlake Village in 1999 and have kept on growing ever since, now seeing an attendance of about 3,500 people each Sunday. One of the hallmarks of the church’s success has been careful management of capital costs, something that extends to its AV systems infrastructure. And just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, the road to replacing major sound and video platforms at the church began with the decision to replace its aging FOH console last year. For that, they enlisted the aid of Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the business-to-business (B2B) division of Guitar Center providing highly customized service for professional accounts, which was brought into the decision process at a point when the church leaders thought they had already come to a final decision.

“The console they had decided upon was a fantastic desk, but it also would have made it difficult to achieve all of their goals for the new console,” explains Neil Penninger, the Account Executive based at GC Pro’s Los Angeles location. “Part of what they were looking to do was increase the I/O count and facilitate recording directly to a Pro Tools system. The interface on the console they were considering would have made that complicated.”

Instead, Penninger recommended an Avid® VENUE | S6L, a modular system with onboard industry-standard plug-ins and Pro Tools integration. “We arranged for Avid to come out and put on a special semi-private demo — one of the first in Southern California for this console,” says Penninger. “The church leaders were all very impressed.” He pointed out how this console allowed them to have 64 channels of Pro Tools recording and playback and put it all on a single strand of AVB-networked Ethernet cable. “The console is also very user-friendly to operate, which is important to a church that often brings in outside acts with their own FOH engineers to run sound,” he says.

John King, the Pastor for Worship Arts at Calvary Community Church, says what GC Pro was also able to do was offer a better long-range strategic solution for them. “We’ve been using two of the consoles by the manufacturer of the first console we had been considering, because we were familiar with its operation,” he recalls. “But what Neil showed us is that the Avid was a platform that would continue to evolve, that it was an ecosystem that would be with us for five or ten years because it would be more upgradable. That kind of thinking is important for a church because of the need to spend so carefully.”

King says they’re looking forward to working with GC Pro over the next several years. “Every sale isn’t just a transaction — it’s the building block for a bigger, long-term relationship that benefits all of us,” says Penninger. “That’s what we do at GC Pro — build relationships.”

For more information, please visit www.gcpro.com.

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About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center
Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.