INTERVIEW Lectrosonics’ 50th Anniversary

“I’VE BEEN HERE FOR ONE THIRD OF THE COMPANY’S HISTORY, WHICH IS CRAZY, BUT I THINK, THIS YEAR, THE INDUSTRY IS POISED FOR A BIG RECOVERY AND I THINK IT’LL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR US HERE AT LECTROSONICS, TOO.”

KARL WINKLER

Lectrosonics

“SINCE THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE SET OUT TO MAKE THE BEST PRODUCTS AND SUPPORT THEM WITH THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE POSSIBLE.”

Below: Some of the early Lectrosonics team. First establishing itself as a voice projector manufacturer and in TV news, Lectrosonics has come a long way since its 1971 industry debut. Inhabiting an energetic attitude and passion for audio, the company is now well respected in various markets worldwide, including: film, music, TV, theatre and sports. Located in the city of Rio Rancho, in the heart of New Mexico, Lectrosonics’ focus on quality and innovation has allowed it not only to survive, but to overcome and thrive during a year that celebrated 50 years of business and proved one of the most difficult for the industry. Karl Winkler, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Lectrosonics explained how the company approached the challenges of the past year: “During the first wave of COVID-19 back in March 2020, we had to shut down our factory, which then led to our leadership team developing a set of goals and plans to operate safely. “From there, we developed a good plan of how to deal with certain problems that may arise, but, in terms of business, we saw a huge decline in the middle of March. Obviously, with all live events coming to a halt, that impacted us massively, but we then saw gradual increases in business in the months to follow, but, after the summer, things crashed again. “However, because of the procedures we put in place, we didn’t fall into a trap. We learned to work from home, took online courses and worked on establishing new online connections with our customers. I also have to give our president a lot of credit for being extremely humanitarian and caring so much about the staff. The entire leadership team cut their salaries in half, we were doing everything possible to preserve the company and make sure we kept working. We’re still operating today as a result of that, and this also meant that we avoided any long-term damage.”

Celebrating a 50-year anniversary in the midst of a global pandemic wasn’t something that the company could foreshadow, but, for Lectrosonics, the past year has highlighted its successes and incredible achievements as a business. Beginning its journey back in the early 70s, Lectrosonics was established by two business associates, Tom Gilmer and Paul Auxter, who saw a gap in the market and an opportunity to make audio products of their own. The company started off by developing voice projectors, with some of the very first models deployed to the Albuquerque Police Department. The product line consisted of several over-the-shoulder portable PA systems and lectern PA systems used by teachers, public speakers and auctioneers, all designed and built at the company’s HQ. The philosophy and business plan was simple; ‘to build the best product we know how to make, and support it with the best service we can possibly provide’ - and this philosophy remains intact today. “Since the beginning, we have set out to make the best products and support them with the best customer service possible,” explained Karl. “We’ve always strived really high with our product’s quality and we’re also privately held, which means we’re not beholden to the vagaries of the stock market. We have a family feel and an informal culture, which I think is very unique in our industry, too.”

Above: The Lectrosonics team working on some early prototypes. As the company began to grow and develop further, it launched its very first wireless microphone in 1975, using a design commissioned from another manufacturer. Soon after, the company began investing in its own engineering resources to improve the performance, and the final design was completed and marketed under the Freedomike trademark. Wireless microphones were readily accepted in existing markets and the product group became key to the growth of the company. During the 80s, Lectrosonics found success in the broadcast market with its plug-in transmitter and compact receiver for electronic news gathering and documentary production. Around the same time, the company’s engineering team had begun working on audio processing equipment targeted at the installed sound market. The first product was the MAP - or Modular Audio Processor system - consisting of a card cage design with a variety of automatic mixing, signal processing and logic control modules. The current ASPEN Series audio processors have been installed all over the world in courtrooms, boardrooms, and many other AV installations. By the late 80s, the company had developed a very highquality portable wireless system. The CR185 was the first portable receiver only a little bigger than a deck of cards, and it became a revolutionary product for the company. Karl furthered: “This product was high-quality wireless. There was portable wireless around at the time, low grade stuff, but we were different. We’re still in the portable wireless business today, it’s still at the core of what we do, and I think that goes to show how great our products were and still are. “When we launched the CR185, news organisations across the US ate it up! We really couldn’t build enough of them at the time, as they were so in demand and it totally changed the speed at which news teams could get their information. Long gone were the days of mile-long cable, they could just walk in and do the job as easily as possible.”

During the 2000s, Lectrosonics began establishing itself in other industries and installations around the world. Its products proved not only perfect for the broadcast fields, but theatres, stadia and live touring began reaping the benefits of its wireless microphones and digital hybrid technology. “It was a combination of things that allowed us to branch out and start excelling in these other industries,” began Karl. “For one thing, we made a very unique product, the TM400. The idea behind this was that we’d take our digital hybrid technology and make it into a wireless sound system calibration tool for touring companies, consultants etc. to use. Before that, wireless wasn’t really commonly used because of the way it processed the sound. But, with the digital hybrid platform and the TM400, it gave system designers the ability to set up their test microphones wirelessly.” The TM400 system was designed to provide the ideal link between calibrated test microphones and measurement equipment. By using a radio link, long cables are eliminated, saving time and providing opportunities for additional measurements to increase accuracy. The microphone can even be moved around in the venue while the audience is present - something that is impossible with a cabled measurement microphone. “Once you’ve set up a stadium or theatre sound system, you still need to measure and calibrate the whole thing, and, at Lectrosonics, we made it possible to do that wirelessly, which really put us on the map. We also hit it big in the theatre market with our SSM transmitter in 2016. It’s an extremely discreet transmitter that’s really easy to hide, so that got us into the Broadway theatrical market in a big way.” The SSM is ideal in theatre, or any other installation where concealment in costuming is required. In spite of its tiny size, the transmitter offers an extensive feature set and performance. Frequencies are selectable in 100 kHz or 25 kHz steps across a maximum tuning range of 76.7 MHz, yielding a total of 3,072 available frequencies across three standard frequency blocks. The servo bias input also accepts mic or line level signals with a wide range of gain adjustment in 1 dB steps. Accurate LED indications on the keypad allow precise gain adjustments to be made for the maximum signal to noise ratio and minimum distortion, and the limiter in the preamp can cleanly handle signal peaks over 30 dB above full modulation, allowing the input gain to be set high enough to achieve the maximum signal to noise ratio, yet provide protection against input overload. “It took a number of years for us to really get there and establish ourselves in these fields, but now we’re on a tonne of tours, Broadway shows and stadium sound system alignments,” added Karl. “I think the launch of both the TM400 and the SSM were revolutionary for the company, and that shows in the number of installations we are now part of worldwide.” More recently, the company has introduced more digital wireless microphone products including the D Squared line. Designed to be ideal for installations and live events where high-quality audio and reliability are required, it utilises Lectrosonics’ fourth-generation digital architecture for excellent flexibility, ultra-fast setup, studio-quality audio, and ultra-low latency. With product innovations at the core of the company, it’s no surprise that, going forward, this will still be at the forefront. “We’re currently in the middle of a transition to all digital products,” explained Karl. “I would say that this Above & Below: Lectrosonics’ iconic products, including the DCHR reciever and the SMWB transmitter.

Above & Below: Lectrosonics’ set up in Polar Park, Massachusetts.

An early shot of Lectrosonics’ HQ.

transition will probably take the next five years. Looking even further than that, it’s difficult to say where we’ll be, but I think we’ll maintain our focus on quality and important niches where we know we’ll thrive. “What is difficult, though, is that these niches are becoming more and more competitive, which means we have to work twice as hard to stand out as a company and develop our product line even further. However, I feel very grateful to be part of a company with such a unique culture and product line. I’ve been here for one third of the company’s history, which is crazy, but I think, this year, the industry is poised for a big recovery and I think it’ll be a great year for us here at Lectrosonics, too.” As fans flock back to their favourite stadiums and theatres fill up the empty chairs, companies like Lectrosonics can breathe a sigh of relief after one of the most turbulent business years for audio manufacturers worldwide. Looking back over its 50 years of business, the company has not only innovated its product line, but it has influenced and inspired sound system designers with the launch of its wireless technology and revolutionaries in the stadium, theatre and live touring markets. There may be no inperson anniversary parties this year, but Lectrosonics’ legacy lives on in its impressive product line and permanent installations projects.