NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA, January 20, 2005 -- In an installation that complements the natural acoustics of one of the Washington, D.C. area’s favorite indoor performance halls, The Barns at Wolf Trap has been completely revamped with an entire Harman Professional sound solution. The new audio package comprises 10 JBL VERTEC® VT4887 compact line array elements, four VT4881 subwoofers and Crown CTS amplifiers. BSS Omnidrive Compact Plus signal processing and AKG microphones complement existing Soundcraft consoles.

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The science and stratum of The Barns’ 300-year-old wood interior is well-suited for live performances and the new JBL VERTEC system fulfills its need for a prominent, but transparent, sound system. “I’ve always engineered live shows at the Barns as if I was setting up high-quality monitoring in a recording studio,” explains Bob Grimes, long-time Production Manager at The Barns. “I don’t want the audience to be aware of the PA, and VERTEC comes closest to that ideal. When you close your eyes, the imaging is just amazing, and the performer seems firmly anchored on the stage.”

Thanks to the BSS Soundweb technology used in the new system, Grimes and company can now hear full-frequency audio much more clearly than before. “You can really tell the difference with BSS’ new software, especially with the subwoofer crossover.”

Additionally, the Soundcraft console gives Grimes more flexibility when mixing and recording the performances. “The Soundcraft board allows us to route the signal path in a variety of different configurations, which gives us a distinct advantage,” Grimes said. “We record many of The Barns’ performances and several CDs have been produced by multi-tracking directly from the console outputs.”

Several highlights from these live recordings were recently compiled on Wolf Trap’s first self-produced audio CD, Raise the Roof – A Retrospective: Live from The Barns at Wolf Trap. The CD and contains sixteen live tracks epitomizing The Barns at Wolf Trap concert experience. Recorded from 1991 – 2004, Raise the Roof includes performances by Nils Lofgren, Tom Paxton, Chris Smither, BeauSoleil, Eddie From Ohio, Fighting Gravity, The Iguanas, Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women, Roomful of Blues, Cravin’ Dogs, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, SGG&L, The Grandsons, John McCutcheon, Deanna Bogart Band, and The Nighthawks.

“Prestigious venues like The Barns at Wolf Trap have unique needs when it comes to their permanent system needs,” noted Ted Leamy, Director of Engineered Sound Marketing for JBL Professional. “Such installations must ensure that whatever sound reinforcement solutions are settled upon must be very flexible. Bob Grimes and the rest of the venue production team know exactly what they’re trying to achieve, and JBL is honored to be included in the equipment specified for this sound system upgrade. All of us at the Harman Professional companies are pleased to see the project results turning out so positively.”

The historic charm and acoustical magic of The Barns at Wolf Trap have been praised by music fans and critics alike throughout its 24-year history as one of the most remarkable performing arts venues in the country. The Washington Post recently declared that, “The Barns continue to be one of the best places anywhere to see and hear live music,” and USA Today has commended The Barns for being “One of the 10 great places to see cabaret…the setting, in two 18th century barns…on rolling countryside in Northern Virginia, is one of a kind.” In a feature story published in The Washington Post on November 21, 2003, Richard Harrington wrote, “The smaller Barns [at] Wolf Trap has been a much more utilized site for live recordings [as compared to the Filene Center] since its opening in 1981. Musicians love the acoustics of the 300-year-old wood interior.”
In total, more than 5,000 different musicians and performers have been presented at The Barns, including such notables as Lyle Lovett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tony Bennett, Denyce Graves, Harry Connick, Jr., Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, The Count Basie Orchestra, Stephane Grappelli, Shirley Horn, Béla Fleck, The Kingston Trio, Judy Collins, Vince Gill, Maureen McGovern, the Dixie Chicks, and Branford Marsalis.

Wolf Trap is home to two performance venues, the Filene Center – at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and The Barns at Wolf Trap; the Wolf Trap Opera Company, one of America’s outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers; and Wolf Trap’s education programs, which include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, scholarships, master classes, and internships. The Barns of Wolf Trap, a 382-seat theater built from two restored 18th century barns, are owned and operated by the Foundation, and feature performances during the fall, winter, and spring, in addition to housing the Wolf Trap Opera Company during the summer months. The Foundation’s activities are principally operated from the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. Located in Vienna, Virginia, the Center is a national, arts-in-education resource center for children, parents, educators, and performing artists. Visit the Wolf Trap Web site at www.wolftrap.org for more information. Terrence D. Jones is president and CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

About JBL Professional:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Professional website at www.jblpro.com.

About the Harman Pro Group:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, the Harman Pro Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), (NYSE: HAR), a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR. Harman Pro Group companies include AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, dbx, Crown International, DigiTech, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer.

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