For
the last four years the Power House range of powered mixers had
dominated the small to medium PA market and was the first choice
for small bands and solo/duo musicians. Studiomasters studio mixers
were selling well and so the strategy was now to develop the sound
reinforcement sector by introducing power amplifiers (once again),
speaker systems and up date the powered mixers.
Up
date is probably the wrong word to describe the new powered
mixers design brief. With the huge sales of the Power
House alot of useful user information was collected
on how to improve on an already good product. Part of the list
looked something like this: More power (as usual!), better EQ,
rack mountable, an easy to use effects processor with lots of
programs. All these features were successfully included especially
the effects processor that was completely revised, sported a
bright blue 16 character display, included MIDI
control and power user memories. Combination stereo/mic channels
were fitted allowing the user more choice of what they could
connect. Studiomaster has always thought ahead on how to make
a product more flexible with a view to future requirements and
so added an optional crossover port. So, when 700 Watts was
not enough power you could add a crossover which filtered the
internal amplifiers for just high frequency signals allowing
an additional bass amplifier to be connected. The new Power
House Vision was launched in March 94 securing Studiomaster
as number 1 in powered mixers.
The
power amplifier for the Vision was based around a new modular
bi-polar design which meant they could easily be adapted to
other products and hence the D series of amplifiers
began. Named the 700D it produced 350 Watts per channel and
was housed in a 2 unit rack mounting chassis.
To
complement the new powered mixers and amplifiers, a range of
compact 2 way speakers was designed to complete the package.
The KMX range comprised two models, 1 x 12"
and HF unit and a 1x15" and HF unit. The KMX range was
short lived mainly due the colour scheme - light grey cabinet
with off white grill. Unfortunately black is the default colour
for speakers and was superseded with the KMX Vision
range. This added a dedicated bass unit to the range and featured
up rated speakers improving sound quality and reliability. In
fact the speaker chassis were a development on the Fane speakers
used in the Valve Lead Master guitar amplifier ten years previously.
Up
date is probably the wrong word to describe the new powered
mixers design brief. With the huge sales of the Power
House alot of useful user information was collected
on how to improve on an already good product. Part of the list
looked something like this: More power (as usual!), better EQ,
rack mountable, an easy to use effects processor with lots of
programs. All these features were successfully included especially
the effects processor that was completely revised, sported a
bright blue 16 character display, included MIDI
control and power user memories. Combination stereo/mic channels
were fitted allowing the user more choice of what they could
connect. Studiomaster has always thought ahead on how to make
a product more flexible with a view to future requirements and
so added an optional crossover port. So, when 700 Watts was
not enough power you could add a crossover which filtered the
internal amplifiers for just high frequency signals allowing
an additional bass amplifier to be connected. The new Power
House Vision was launched in March 94 securing Studiomaster
as number 1 in powered mixers.
The
power amplifier for the Vision was based around a new modular
bi-polar design which meant they could easily be adapted to
other products and hence the D series of amplifiers
began. Named the 700D it produced 350 Watts per channel and
was housed in a 2 unit rack mounting chassis.
To
complement the new powered mixers and amplifiers, a range of
compact 2 way speakers was designed to complete the package.
The KMX range comprised two models, 1 x 12"
and HF unit and a 1x15" and HF unit. The KMX range was
short lived mainly due the colour scheme - light grey cabinet
with off white grill. Unfortunately black is the default colour
for speakers and was superseded with the KMX Vision
range. This added a dedicated bass unit to the range and featured
up rated speakers improving sound quality and reliability. In
fact the speaker chassis were a development on the Fane speakers
used in the Valve Lead Master guitar amplifier ten years previously.