Quick Tip: “Focus Mode”
If you broadcast in stereo your beltpack can be set to stereo or focus. In focus mode left & right are summed to mono (in both ears) & your beltpack up/down toggle crossfades between the “Left” and “Right” channels, so you can set your own mix between the two channels. The most standard use of this feature would also take advantage of another feature- “LOOP OUT”- which is an active patch through. Either or both channels can be fed from one transmitter to the next (use balanced 1/4″ or 1/4″trs – xlrm cables.) For this application, you feed input I of xmitter A with the channel output of your track or click or a general overall monitor mix. Connect the Channel I Loop Out of xmitter A to the input I of xmitter B. Then again from Loop I of B to Input I of C. Now all your transmitters Left channels are broadcasting the same thing. {Note that since it’s active, each unit must be on for the next to receive signal.}

To this add a feed for each musician to their transmitter’s input II. (Channel outs for any mono sources, aux mixes for mixdowns.)

With the transmitters set to broadcast in stereo(not mono) & the beltpacks set to focus(not stereo) your musicians can adjust their own relative levels using the external buttons on their belt pack. (They don’t have to flip open the cover & mess with dialogs, they can do it blind with one hand as needed.)

Note that Sennheiser has a lot of options available to make larger setups easier (a pc and an ethernet switch lets you control multiple transmitters at the same time, an option all remote antennae system doubles as ac & ground distro.) While we only have 4 units at this time, if you are considering a larger array let us know in advance so we can make the appropriate arrangements!

Look for some words on our New Nord Stage 2 next week sometime, I’ll check it out after we get it back from Esperanza Spalding’s show at Webster Hall tomorrow night!

The D28 is a beautiful dreadnaught guitar, the natural finish Sitka Spruce top sings clean & clear & looks gorgeous. Rent it the next time you need a real strong, clear & bright toned beauty.

After a closing out 2011 with visits from various American & international Luminaries, Chick Corea (with Return to Forever & with Gary Burton- also check him out playing Lenny’s drums during a RtF session break in studio 4 last summer!) Sting, Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Broadway shows including American Idiot & Porgy & Bess, and of course Producer extraordinaire Charles Cermele has us busy with a slew of A-list talent he brings to town for his Lincoln Center American Songbook series- Artists like LaChanze, Michael Cerveris, Ozomatli & of course the incomparable Jonatha Brooke!

As our guys stop to try to catch their breath, we bust out the whips and put them back to work! Fresh paint, new artwork, a new welcome at our entryway, a new mural being planned as well as our relentless efforts to keep our inventory up-to-date with all the gear you need for your show to dazzle & inspire.

Come on in & say hi!

Carroll music percussion department supports a wide range of percussion needs, from Orchestral, Classical, Opera, Chamber, Jazz, Rock, Pop and Folk musics to movie props, photo shoots, and sound Effects.

2) Types of configurations you support – (i.e. from a single drum set to a Latin Big Band, etc)?

Carroll’s provides top of the line drum sets for the hottest R&B acts, as well as vintage drums for veteran Jazz players. Latin players can choose from our wide selection of congas, bongos, timbales, cowbells, maracas, shakers and other percussion items. We even have a selection of gear from local manufacturers including bells from the Bronx’s own JCR percussion.

Classical players can come to our shop and personally select instruments for their rehearsals and gigs in order to get the right sound. Our clients regularly use our gear for performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, among many other venues. We have hundreds of instruments to choose from, including timpani, concert snare and bass drums, orchestral bells, vibraphones, marimbas and xylophones.

Contemporary composers can come in to find that perfect sound for their new works. Our inventory boasts an eclectic collection of odd and non-traditional sounds including ribbon crashers, clay pots, waterphones, lion’s roars, train whistles and bird calls. We even have a set of chromatically tuned bicycle horns.

3) Some (well known) clients that you service – or recent jobs, etc?

We have worked with the New York Philharmonic, Jay – Z, Steve Schick, Sean Lennon, New York Opera, Steve Nelson, Les Percussion De Strasburg, Richie “Gajata” Garcia, Brian Blades, and numerous Broadway shows.

4) What makes Carroll an excellent choice for percussion Rentals?

We have a large selection to choose from with several brands and generations of instruments to fit your exact needs. If you know exactly what you want we can get it for you.

5) What locations do you service?

Local cartage is available to the Tri- State region. International shipping is available as well.

6) Who is your ideal client (this for my knowledge – not to be included in article)?
Someone who knows exactly what they want and when they want it.

7) What types of events require percussion rentals?

Events that frequently need percussion rentals include orchestral performances and rehearsals, chamber music concerts, jazz, pop and rock concerts in venues ranging from small clubs to 30,000 seat arenas, outdoor music festivals, all types of recording sessions, on- and off-Broadway productions, parades, weddings, bar mitzvahs, rooftop parties, photo/film shoots, educational programming and more!

8) Any specific gear worth mentioning?

Our lineup contains a great collection of antique, vintage and rare gear. We still have some of the original Carroll Sound collection — sound effects like the squeaky door, wind machine, marching machine and a telephone ringer. We have a collection of vintage drums which includes a set of Slingerland Radio Kings, Gretsch Round Badge, Ludwig 60’s, Slingerland 70’s and some Leedy Ludwig drums from the 20’s- 40’s.

Some newer selections in our inventory include a full line of Zildjian K, Sabian HHX Evolution and HHX Legacy cymbals, a full set of Maple DW custom and Pearl Reference series drums, a brand-new Adams xylophone as well as a Musser M7055 vibraphone with a collapsible “Moto” frame for easy and safe transport. Our beautiful 4.6-octave Marimba ONE marimba is also worthy of mention. We regularly work directly with manufacturers such as Pearl, Adams, Sabian, DW and Yamaha (to name a few) in order to continue to update our inventory and carry the latest in percussion innovations.

For the modern percussionist using electronic innovations, we have also worked with our Tech Department to bring a variety of electronic instruments to our collection, including a brand new set of Roland V-Drums, SPD-20 and SPD-S pads, and a Roland Handsonic unit.

Not to mention, our inventory boasts the world’s largest collection of Almglocken (chromatically tuned cowbells)!

9) How does pricing work – do you have packages or is everything custom built to order?

Drum sets are usually a package deal but almost every order is custom built to suit each clients needs.

NPR’s Anastasia Tsioulcas gave the performance high praise: closing with “…around me were shimmering gongs, triangles and a glockenspiel, while I could hear the echoes of other percussionists in the canyon-like hollow below. The effect was just magical, and a magnificent way to end the longest day of the year.”

Congratulations to all involved, and thanks to Brenna at Miller Theatre (responsible for this production of Inuksuit) for this video:

Our backline inventory is so extensive we had to rent additional space in Staten Island to store the over flow. We have all the latest keyboards, amps and specialty items from Hammond b-3’s to trek 2 pedals, some of our recent purchases include a Roland rd 700 GX, Korg M-3 with radius, Fender deluxe reissue amps, Ampeg SVT VR heads and cabinets, as well as Aguilar Bass rigs with 750 heads with 810 and 410 cabinets.

Carroll’s audio equipment rental department services the major northeastern hubs. Our staff will advance your event, work your event and mix your event. We are a full service company so one phone call takes care of all your audio and backline needs. The process is super simple, we will assign you a manager and tech to walk you through your entire event.

Total piano and Organ Rentals is a sister company to Carroll’s, and has a vast inventory of acoustic pianos, everything from Yamaha upright pianos to Steinway 9’ grand pianos. We also rent a Yamaha 7’4” disklavier. We will deliver, tune and pick up your piano any day at any time. Not many backline companies offer acoustic grand pianos in their inventory but we do, because we know our customers want one-stop shopping for their backline and audio needs. Carroll’s also offers staging, music stands, orchestra chairs, sound baffles, extension cords, projection screens and pipe and drape.

Our facility has two large lounges with wi fi and flat screen TV’s along with a production office for production staff. We take great pride in making sure our facility is spotless so that our clients can be as comfortable as possible. All of our offices are within 20 feet of the production office, so if you need anything we are at your finger tips. Each of our rehearsal rooms comes with the following gear: bass amp, guitar amp, complete set of drums, acoustic grand piano, (note studio #3 and #4 comes with Yamaha 7’4” grand pianos), complete audio package, chairs, music stands, production tables. We are open seven days a week. We are the only rental company in New York City where the owners answer the phones personally. Kevin and Tim Curry have been running Carroll’s since 1982, both graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with degrees in accounting. We have spent a lifetime taking care of the Carroll customers, and no job is too small. Our motto is “take care of your client and your client will take care of you!”. Carroll’s is widely known as the most aggressive company in the northeast when it comes to putting rental packages together, we will try and work within your budget to accomplish your vision.

Yamaha designed the XS specifically for players, particularly those who want the highest quality piano sounds and expression, the S-90 XS is a performer’s dream, letting you quickly and conveniently create your own custom Performances, with the amazingly easy Performance Creator feature. Simply start with a Voice and add Layers and or Splits – then save your customized Performance.

The “secondary” features read like a what’s what in current production needs as well: “DAW Remote function,” 2 usb ports (one for connecting to a computer, one for attaching an external hard drive or thumb drive,) Mic input with gain knob, record audio to the internal memory or an attached usb storage device (but not multi track,) audio playback from attached storage (even if you didn’t record it using the S-90! 44.1kHz/16bit/stereo wav files.)