JoeCo - Latest News

Latest News

Reviews

Interviews

Testimonials

Videos

Positive start to 2012 for JoeCo

27th March 2012 – BlackBox Recorder increases international profile.

Positive start to 2012 for JoeCo

An increasing number of BlackBox Recorders and Players can be found on the road, on location and in the TV studio with some of the world’s leading artists and engineers. JoeCo reports that over the last six months BlackBoxes have travelled to the Australian jungle and toured in the US and Europe with artists including George Michael, Cee Lo Green, Coldplay, Flogging Molly, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Train, Two Door Cinema Club and Wishbone Ash. The BlackBox Recorder also made a visit to the recent Grammy Awards as well as receiving an accolade of its own in the form of a coveted TEC Award.

A BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorder was used at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles by broadcast engineer Tom Holmes, who then continued to put the 64-channel live audio recorder through its paces at the Univision Premios Award Show in Miami, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the NBA All Star Game in Orlando and BET Rip the Runway in New York. “I have been looking for a simple low cost recording unit that works with MADI for some time”, said Holmes. “The Denali Summit truck I use at the Grammys has tons of MADI i/o and it was a great opportunity to check out the BBR’s features. I connected it to an available 64-channel MADI stream and routed 64 of my console’s inputs. I routed the same 64 channels back to a second input, or an insert return on the console. I plugged a small drive into the BBR, and started recording. This allowed me to play back rehearsals and tweak settings when there was a bit of time in the schedule. It took about two minutes to plug it in, figure it out and start recording.”

British rock band Wishbone Ash set off on their current European tour with a 24-channel BlackBox Recorder included in drummer Joe Crabtree’s stage rack. “We want to release live albums, as that's what many of the audience at a gig want to buy”, says Crabtree. “There are many potential disadvantages to recording a single gig for a live album, but the beauty of the BlackBox Recorder is that it has a permanent place in our touring rig and it's extremely easy to record a multi-track of every single show. Our plan is to record each gig on the tour and pick good performances of the songs we want to include on the next live CD.”

2011 finished on a high note for JoeCo with a total of eight BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorders used on the George Michael Symphonica Tour to capture 2 x 256 channels of audio in what is potentially one of the largest live recording projects to date. Four BBR64-MADI recorders formed part of the regular front-of-house setup, connected to the main DiGiCo SD7 desk, with shows recorded onto sets of 1TB Glyph hard drives. The BlackBoxes were also used in Virtual Soundcheck mode for system set-ups and replaying material from previous shows to help balance and EQ the PA system at each venue. At the Royal Opera House in London, four further units were connected to an additional DiGiCo console, generating broadcast mixes for the show.

“We chose the BlackBox Recorder because it focuses on recording as its primary function, rather than other systems I have used that are software packages that try and do it all” said Andy “Baggy” Robinson, Head of Audio. “You can be recording a show from scratch within 20 minutes and most of that time has been spent plugging in the cables.” FOH engineer Gary Bradshaw added: “The BlackBoxes had no problem in recording all 256 channels over the length of the show. During the rehearsal period we would record an entire session of three or more hours, with all 256 channels in record without any problems. I don’t know of any other system that is capable of doing that.”

The BlackBox Recorder also headed “down under” with Sound Supervisor Rob Ashard for audio capture on Granada/ITV’s "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” reality TV series, filmed in Australia. Two recorders were used to cover radio mics on the “meet and greet”, where celebrities meet each other and at the cave where they spent their first night. “The villa setup involved a rack of Lectronsonic Venue receivers fed straight into the Joeco's balanced inputs, with code and 48K coming from a red Lockit box”, explained Ashard. “This part of the show was covered by PSC that all jam to the Lockit timecode just before the shoot. The Cave OB involved another pair of Venue receivers feeding through the JoeCo to a Yamaha 03D mixer, where a mix was done to a bunch of XD video recorders, and also back to a JoeCo track. Tracks were named accordingly so that the identity of the BWAVS was always clear. All went well and Post were happy too!”

Since its release in 2009, the BlackBox Recorder has won a series of international awards from industry press, readers and trade associations. 2012 saw the recorder voted Winner of the Recording Devices category at the 27th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards. JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull said: “We were absolutely thrilled to have received this recognition following a year that saw some significant additions to the BlackBox family. As always, we greatly appreciate the input and feedback we receive from professionals who are using our BlackBoxes for a range of live performance, broadcast and other audio acquisition purposes. It’s this kind of feedback that helps us keep delivering recording hardware that meets a broad range of audio capture requirements.”

Frankfurt preview for new BLACKBOX BBR64-DANTE RECORDER

20th March 2012 – JoeCo introduces latest BlackBox development at Prolight + Sound 2012.

Frankfurt preview for new BLACKBOX BBR64-DANTE RECORDER

JoeCo introduces the latest product in its BlackBox range of multi-channel live audio recorders and players in the form of the new BLACKBOX BBR64-DANTE RECORDER that can record or replay 64 channels.

The BBR64-DANTE is the result of JoeCo’s collaboration with Audinate, creators of the award-winning Dante™ digital media networking solution. The original BBR-DANTE system was released in 2011 and was able to record up to 32 channels of audio from a Dante network. The new BBR64-DANTE now doubles that track count to 64, while still occupying just one rack unit of space. The BBR64-DANTE Recorder connects to any Dante-enabled network device from a range of console and converter manufacturers. In addition to recording 64 channels at standard sample rates, it can also record 8 channels of analogue alongside 56 channels of Dante for capturing audience and ambience. Higher sample rate recording (88.2kHz and 96kHz) is also possible at a reduced track count.

As with all other BlackBox Recorders, audio is recorded in Broadcast WAV format to an external USB2 (FAT32 formatted) drive and can be instantly imported into any Mac- or PC-based Digital Audio Workstation for re-purposing. The BBR64-DANTE will also continue to offer all the standard BlackBox Recorder safety features, such as “Safe ‘n’ Sound Record Recovery” as well as providing hi-resolution metering and headphone monitoring of individual/pairs of channels via internal PFL bus.

Audinate is leading the way networks are connected by transporting high-quality media over standard IT networks. Its Dante products deliver a no-hassle, self-configuring, true plug-and-play digital audio network that uses standard Internet Protocols. Dante offers a market leading solution today, while taking the risk out of future developments by providing a migration path to upgrade to new standards such as the IEEE Audio Video Bridging (“AVB”).

JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull said: “We are delighted to be showing the new 64-channel BBR64-DANTE Recorder at Frankfurt. Having successfully launched the 64-channel MADI product last year, we have been able to incorporate much of that core technology to create the BBR64-DANTE - it’s a completely different machine internally. Continuing support from our friends at Audinate has made this possible in a remarkably short time.”

"The BBR64-DANTE Recorder provides a high channel recording solution for 64 channels of networked audio," said Dave Anderson, Director of Sales at Audinate. ”The BBR64-DANTE Recorder can interoperate directly with all Dante products on the network using standard off the shelf network switches, eliminating the need for expensive audio routers."

Visit JoeCo at Prolight + Sound, Frankfurt, Hall 8.0, Stand G22.

JoeCo welcomes more international distributors

19th March 2012 – New appointments in France, Argentina and Estonia.

JoeCo welcomes more international distributors

JoeCo Limited has recently appointed new distributors in Argentina, Estonia and France. These latest additions to the BlackBox manufacturer’s international network bring the total number of territories currently represented to nearly 50.

In France, distribution of the BlackBox Recorder and Player series is now handled by SCV Audio. The Paris-based distributor represents a wide range of market-leading audio brands with applications in installation, live performance/touring, studios, clubs and bars.

Coverage of the Americas has been extended with the new appointment of an Argentinian distributor, ARS Technologies. The company adds the BlackBox family to a range of high-end pro audio brands. Estonia is also newly represented by Tallinn-based ProMedia Inc. The distributor currently works with a number of prominent pro audio, video, lighting and hi-fi manufacturers.

JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull said: “We are very pleased to welcome SCV Audio, ARS Technologies and ProMedia Inc. It’s great to see both new territories coming on board and established companies added to our international network. We very much look forward to working with all our new distributors.”

For details of all JoeCo distributors, please visit the Sales area of the website.

TEC and Readers' Choice Award successes for JoeCo

24th January 2012 – BlackBox Recorder voted best live recording device.

TEC and Readers' Choice Award successes for JoeCo

The BlackBox Recorder (v2.1) has been named Winner of the Recording Devices category at the 27th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards. The awards are presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio in recognition of outstanding achievement in the professional audio industry. Winners were announced at a special event held during the 2012 NAMM Show, following several weeks of voting by industry professionals.

Also at NAMM, the results of the Third Annual Pro Sound Web and Live Sound International Readers’ Choice Awards were announced, with JoeCo achieving a second consecutive win in the Live Recording Hardware category, this time for the new BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorder. The results followed six weeks of voting by thousands of Live Sound International magazine and Pro Sound Web readers.

A delighted Joe Bull said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have received this recognition in a year that has seen some significant additions to the BlackBox family. As always we greatly appreciate the input we receive from our professional users and that helps us keep delivering recording hardware that meets a broad range of audio capture requirements. So it's extremely gratifying to have received such positive feedback on our latest developments. We would like to thank everyone who helped us achieve these great accolades."

NAMM preview for JoeCo BlackBox App

17th January 2012 – Control and monitor the BlackBox Recorder or Player from your iPad.

NAMM preview for JoeCo BlackBox App

JoeCo heads to NAMM with a preview of a brand new BlackBox App for remotely controlling and monitoring its range of BlackBox Recorders and Players. Designed for use on the iPad, the BlackBox App will provide full high resolution metering on all channels and a range of transport controls for remote operation. It will also enable the BlackBox menu and set-up options to be remotely controlled.

JoeCo's Joe Bull explains: "We want to offer users a remote monitoring and control interface that allows them maximum flexibility with the positioning of the BlackBox hardware at a venue, or on location, and that also enables the BlackBox to be operated without moving from the FOH console. Providing high resolution metering, especially for 64-channel versions of the BlackBox Recorder, is of great benefit to engineers who need to monitor critical levels during a recording and, as usual, we have had input from our professional users in order to deliver software that meets the needs of busy live engineers and sound recordists. We expect the BlackBox App itself will be free of charge, but it will require some chargeable hardware to transmit and receive the data between the BlackBox and the iPad."

The JoeCo BlackBox App is scheduled for release later in 2012.
Visit JoeCo in Hall A, Booth 6598

ISE exhibitor debut for JoeCo

10th January 2012 – JoeCo will exhibit for the first time at Integrated Systems Europe 2012.

ISE exhibitor debut for JoeCo

JoeCo will exhibit for the first time at Integrated Systems Europe 2012. On show will be the latest versions of the BlackBox manufacturer's 1U range of multi-track audio players and recorders, including the BlackBox Player that provides 24-channel synchronous audio playback for theatres, installations, themed entertainment and the BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorder that records up to 64-channels of MADI data as BWAV files directly to USB2 drives for instant re-purposing.

JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull said: "We are pleased to have the opportunity of adding ISE to our show calendar. The installation market is a rapidly developing area for us and our current product range is ideally suited to a wide range of recording and playback applications in a variety of venues."

Visit JoeCo on stand 3D134

JoeCo BlackBox Recorders capture George Michael Symphonica Tour

16th December 2011 – Multiple BBR64-MADI recorders used to capture a record number of live audio channels...

JoeCo BlackBox Recorders capture George Michael Symphonica Tour

A total of eight BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorders were used on the recent George Michael Symphonica Tour to capture 2 x 256-channels of audio in what is potentially one of the largest live recording projects to date.

A rack containing four BBR-MADI recorders formed part of the regular front-of-house setup, connected to the main DiGiCo SD7 desk. FOH engineer Gary Bradshaw was responsible for recording the shows onto sets of four 1TB Glyph hard drives, each set having the capacity to hold material from eight shows. In addition to their nightly recording function, and the additional capture of sound checks, the BlackBoxes were also used in Virtual Soundcheck mode for system set-ups, replaying material from previous shows to help balance and EQ the PA system at each venue.

"The BlackBoxes had no problem in recording all 256 channels over the length of the show," said Bradshaw. "During the rehearsal period we would record an entire session of three or more hours, with all 256 channels in record without any problems. I don't know of any other system that is capable of doing that." He added: "The Symphonica Tour has been unusual in that the majority of shows were in large indoor arenas, but in amongst these were one or two much smaller opera houses. The acoustics of these two types of venue are completely different, so for the show at the Royal Opera House in London for example, I used recordings from the Prague Opera House to help EQ the PA system."

At the Royal Opera House, four further BBR-MADI units were connected to an additional DiGiCo console generating broadcast mixes for this particular show. As well as running an extra 256-channel record, the BlackBox Recorders also acted as a playback engine for making adjustments to the broadcast mix.

"We chose the BlackBox Recorder because it focuses on recording as its primary function, rather than other systems I have used that are software packages that try and do it all" said Andy "Baggy" Robinson, Head of Audio. "The BBR64-MADI is a box that takes a Madi signal, you press record and you have your content captured. You can be recording a show from scratch within 20 minutes and most of that time has been spent plugging in the cables."

Image used by kind permission.

The BlackBox BBR64-MADI Recorders were supplied by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. and JoeCo Limited.

www.wigwamacoustics.co.uk

JoeCo BlackBox Recorders used on "I'm a Celebrity, 2011"

13th December 2011 – BBRs capture celebrity audio on jungle reality TV series.

JoeCo BlackBox Recorders used on "I'm a Celebrity"

Two Joeco BLACKBOX RECORDERS were used in Australia on Granada/ITV's "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, 2011" to cover radio mics on the "meet and greet" in the villa, where the celebrities meet each other along with Ant and Dec, and at the cave where they spent their first night.

IAC Sound Supervisor Rob Ashard explained: "The Villa setup was simply a rack of Lectronsonic Venue receivers removed from the show's studio, as this was a couple of days before transmission. They were fed straight into the Joeco's balanced inputs, with code and 48K coming from a red Lockit box. This part of the show is covered by PSC that all jam to the Lockit timecode just before the shoot. They each cover two or three celebrities, so can't record any clean. The multi-track cover is useful at the edit for pulling out clean mics.

The overnight Cave OB was a little more involved, with another pair of Venue receivers feeding through the JoeCo and on to a Yamaha 03D mixer, where a mix was done to a bunch of XD video recorders, and also back to a JoeCo track. An ISO stream mix was also done off the desk's Aux 1, as the group could theoretically split inside and outside the cave. The ISO mix also went to its own track, as well as to VT. Inside and outside, Sennheiser 416 FX mics also went into XTA preamps at the cave, down a multi and through the JoeCo to the 03D.

Hard drives used included a 320GB LaCie D2 Quadra drive, a 320GB Rugged powered by a USB2 power supply and a 1TB Seagate Expansion. The drives came back to base with the tapes and were copied into the post drives.

Tracks were named accordingly, with the song title being "Meet and Greet" or "Cave", so that the identity of all the BWAVS was clear. The cave recording went through midnight, so that machine was stopped just afterwards and the drive changed and brought back to base. At this point the machine creates a new Day Folder to record into. All went well and Post were happy too!"

The BLACKBOX RECORDERS used on "I'm a Celebrity" were supplied by Rob Ashard and Meredith Broadcast Audio.

www.meredith.tv

JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDER receives TEC Award nomination

25th October 2011 – BBR nominated for outstanding technical achievement in 27th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards.

JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDER receives TEC Award nomination

The BLACKBOX RECORDER (v2.1) has received a nomination for outstanding technical achievement in the Recording Devices Category of the 27th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards. The awards are presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio in recognition of outstanding achievement in the professional audio industry.

Voting takes place during November and is open to members of various professional organizations and qualified subscribers to leading pro audio publications. The award winners will be announced during a special ceremony held on 20th January 2012 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, USA.

"We are extremely honoured to be included among this year's nominees," said a delighted Joe Bull. "Having just returned from a hugely successful AES Convention in New York, it’s really great to be recognized by the TEC Foundation in this way".

www.techfoundation.com

Mega Audio to represent JoeCo in Germany and Austria

21st October 2011 – Bingen-based distributor adds BlackBox range to pro audio and live sound portfolio.

Mega Audio to represent JoeCo in Germany and Austria

JoeCo Limited has appointed Mega Audio GmbH as its new distributor for Germany and Austria. The Bingen-based distribution company adds the BlackBox Recorder/Player range to an established portfolio of pro audio and live sound products.

This latest addition to JoeCo’s international distributor network follows the recent launches of the BlackBox BBR64-MADI and BBR-DANTE Recorder versions, which have increased the product’s live multi-channel audio capturing capabilities from 24 channels to up to 64 channels in the compact 1 rack unit format.

"We are delighted to welcome Mega Audio on board," said JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull. "Burkhard Elsner and his team have many years of experience in our key market sectors and we are looking forward to building a strong working relationship that will enable us to take the brand forward in Germany and Austria."

"We have been looking around for quite some time to find a high quality live sound recorder which complements our portfolio of professional live sound and studio products," said Mega Audio Managing Director Burkhard Elsner. "I am delighted that JoeCo have appointed us as their distributor for Austria and Germany. The BBRs are great machines which will enjoy a favourable standing in our markets and we are already experiencing a high demand from our clients."

JoeCo announces new Canadian distribution

19th October 2011 – Full Scale AV adds territory to North American portfolio.

JoeCo announces new Canadian distribution

JoeCo Limited has announced that, following two very successful years distributing the BlackBox Recorder in the US, Nashville-based Full Scale AV will now also distribute the JoeCo product range in Canada.

The announcement follows the recent launches of the BBR64-MADI and BBR-DANTE BlackBox Recorder versions, which have increased the product range's live multi-channel audio capturing capabilities from 24 channels to up to 64 channels in the compact 1 rack unit format.

"Over the past two years we have established a very successful relationship with Full Scale AV, who have done an excellent job in introducing the BlackBox into a sophisticated and well informed marketplace," said JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull. "With the introduction of new BlackBox versions and an expanding focus on disparate market sectors, we now look forward to building on this relationship and developing our business in Canada."

"We are very excited to bring the new BlackBox models to the Canadian market," said Ted Bahas, CEO of Full Scale AV and Tech Rep Marketing. "Based on the broad acceptance the BlackBox Recorder has enjoyed in the States, we think it is going to be a hit in Canada. We also think the new MADI and Dante™ versions set the standard for live recording."

JoeCo announces latest BLACKBOX RECORDER software update

18th October 2011 – Latest version gives users greater working efficiency.

JoeCo announces latest BLACKBOX RECORDER software update

JoeCo has announced a major software update for its award-winning BLACKBOX RECORDER series. Version 2.2 contains a number of features designed to give the user greater working efficiency and includes many benefits inherited from the development of the BLACKBOX BBR64-MADI and Dante Recorders. These include enhancements to the underlying bespoke operating system alongside improved methods of displaying critical information to the user whilst maintaining the conceptual simplicity of the user interface.

Simple interface changes, from clarifying clock sources to flashing the transport controls while an operation is pending, provide a much slicker user experience, imparting more information to the user with greater speed and clarity. The Pre Fade Listen system, introduced in the BBR64-MADI development, now allows more rapid sweep through the channels with a quick return to "mix" output.

It’s also faster to enter record and to finalize the Broadcast WAV files thus created; timecode reading is quicker and more accurate; master/slave performance has been enhanced and further support has been added for particular drive types. Additionally, the software now runs background checks on the drive to create a more accurate map of free space to further speed entering record.

The Player software add-on has taken advantage of improvements to triggering and now also supports v0 BWF files, which some older DAWs still produce. These and more enhancements are encapsulated in an upgraded field update manager.

"With reliability and speed key to the BlackBox, we are constantly working to ensure that our users can achieve maximum working efficiency from their recorder" said Joe Bull, JoeCo’s Managing Director. "Having worked hard to develop the new BBR64-MADI and Dante systems, we like to share the benefits of these developments with our existing customers wherever possible"

The new software update can be downloaded free of charge from the End User area of the website.

BLACKBOX goes live at the Royal Festival Hall

17th October 2011 – BBR adds backing tracks to London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Video Game Heroes concert.

BLACKBOX goes live at the Royal Festival Hall

A BLACKBOX RECORDER was used to add electronic tracks to a recent live performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The Video Game Heroes concert was part of the Vision Sound Music Festival - the UK’s first festival of music for visuals.

The tracks were prepared for the live performance by project programmer Chris White, who was also responsible for making sure that they were triggered on cue during the actual performance. The BLACKBOX was situated by the monitor console, with feeds from the recorder going into the console. From there, click tracks were sent to the conductor Andrew Skeet and other relevant performers, while backing track stems went to the FOH desk to be mixed with the orchestral channels.

"We discussed various options and settled on using a hard disk machine, as the idea of running on a laptop was too scary!" said Chris. "The things that I immediately liked about the BLACKBOX were the fact that the screen was so bright and simple (as it was dark during the performance) and the fact that the unit was so compact! We were initially going to have a lot of stems running on separate tracks but were worried about the number of inputs on the Royal Festival Hall's FOH desk (the orchestra were close mic'd so the desks were pretty full!). So we decided to keep it simple and for most items we only had a few stereo stems (main backing/percussion/bass) plus click. The backing tracks themselves were stored in the session folder on my Glyph drive and came up in the order they were to be played. I then triggered each track manually on cue from Andrew. It all ran beautifully on the day and the concert went very well."

Tracks performed at the concert were also separately recorded for an album, which is due for release shortly: www.lpo.co.uk/heroes.

BLACKBOX BBR-DANTE RECORDER now shipping!

1 September 2011 – New live audio recorder version marks successful collaboration between JoeCo and Audinate

BLACKBOX BBR-DANTE RECORDER now shipping!

JoeCo is now shipping the eagerly awaited BBR-DANTE™ version of the BLACKBOX RECORDER. This latest addition to the multi-channel live audio recorder family is the successful result of a collaboration, announced during 2010, between JoeCo and Audinate, creators of the award-winning Dante™ digital media networking solution.

The BBR-DANTE is designed to record / replay up to 32 channels of audio data from a Dante network. Developed to solve the inherent problems of working with computer-based systems in a live performance environment, it provides engineers with a computer-free, high-quality solution for multi-channel live audio capture. Able to record up to 32 channels of audio at 44.1kHz and 48kHz directly to Broadcast WAV files on an external USB2 (FAT32 formatted) drive, the BBR-DANTE also accommodates higher sample rate recording (88.2kHZ and 96kHz) at a reduced track count.

The recorder connects to any Dante-enabled network device from a range of console and converter manufacturers. Designed to support standard network components and switches, it can also record 8 channels of analogue (balanced line in) alongside 24 channels of Dante for capturing audience and ambience. Individual channels, or pairs of channels can be monitored on an internal PFL bus providing both hi-resolution metering and headphone output. A number of standard BlackBox Recorder safety features are also included, such as the Safe’n’Sound Record Recovery, which will recover files even if the power fails in the middle of a recording.

Dante delivers a no-hassle, self configuring, true plug-and-play digital media networking that uses standard internet protocols. Audinate’s patented Dante offers a market leading solution today, while future-proofing implementations by providing a migration path to upgrade to new emerging A/V standards such as the IEEE Audio Video Bridging ("AVB").

Commenting on the success of the collaboration, JoeCo’s Managing Director Joe Bull said: "The Dante enabled system is a great addition to the BlackBox range. We are delighted to have been able to combine this exciting Dante technology with the robust, computer free solution that the BLACKBOX RECORDER provides."

"JoeCo's ability to design this product while maintaining their attention to detail, and rapidly getting the new BBR-DANTE to market has been extraordinary," remarked John McMahon, VP of Sales, Marketing and Support at Audinate. "Based on early market feedback, we are confident the BBR-DANTE Recorder is going to be an extremely popular product."

JoeCo ships BLACKBOX BBR64-MADI RECORDER

18 August 2011 – New version records 64 channels of MADI data, while still occupying just one unit of rack space!

JoeCo ships BLACKBOX BBR64-MADI RECORDER

JoeCo Limited is now shipping the new BBR64-MADI version of the BLACKBOX RECORDER. Designed for audio acquisition and capturing live performance, the recorder enables multi-channel audio to be captured directly to a USB2 drive, in Broadcast WAV format, without the need for a computer.

Based on the tried and tested BLACKBOX RECORDER design, the BBR64-MADI records / replays up to 64 channels of MADI data while still occupying just one unit of rack space! The recorder can capture the full 64 channels at standard sample rates, with double sample rate MADI recording (up to 96kHz) also accommodated. The unit sports both coaxial and optical MADI connections for interfacing with any MADI equipped console or other equipment. Additionally, it caters for 56-channel legacy MADI and can record a further 8 channels of analogue (balanced line in) for capturing the audience reaction or general ambience.

The BBR64-MADI will lock to or generate word clock, as well as locking to the received MADI data stream. The MADI input can be echoed direct to the output to ease system integration. Individual channels, or pairs of channels can be monitored on a PFL bus providing both hi-resolution metering and headphone monitoring.

Designed for both ease of use and convenience in the live recording environment, the BBR64-MADI also includes a number of BLACKBOX RECORDER "standard" safety features, such as the Safe 'n' Sound Record Recovery that will recover files even if the power fails during recording.

Recording is a picnic for JoeCo

6 June 2011 – BlackBox Recorders capture all-star line up at HASTE picnic concert

Recording is a picnic for JoeCo

A BBR1D digital BlackBox Recorder was on hand at front of house, with Procol Harum FOH engineer Graham Ewins, to capture an all-star line up at the recent Picnic Concert by the Chapel on the Lake, held at Wintershall, Bramley, Surrey in aid of the HASTE charity. The black tie event, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Peter Hutley, featured music from the famous Band Du Lac with guest appearances from Eric Clapton, Roger Taylor, Gary Brooker, Jeff Beck, Lulu, Paul Carrack, Georgie Fame, Danielle De Niese, Kiki Dee, Fabbagirls, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and others.

The Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour (HASTE) aims to facilitate the prevention, early detection and treatment of heart disease and strokes.

Prolight + Sound preview for JoeCo BBR64-MADI

5 April 2011 – New MADI-enabled version of BlackBox Recorder to be unveiled at Frankfurt

Prolight + Sound preview for JoeCo BBR64-MADI

JoeCo moves to Hall 8.0 this year for Prolight + Sound at Frankfurt (6th-9th April 2011). The company will preview the new MADI-enabled BlackBox Recorder (BBR64-MADI), latest addition to the multi award-winning live audio recorder series. The BBR64-MADI is capable of capturing the full 56 or 64 channels of a 48kHz MADI data stream as mono Broadcast WAV files to an external USB2 drive in 1U of rack space.

The unit is expected to support both coaxial and optical MADI connectivity and can either accept an external word clock or be self clocking from the MADI data stream.

Joe Bull, Managing Director of JoeCo, said, "We have been working on producing a MADI interface for the BlackBox for some time and we're delighted that we've been able to squeeze such a large track count into such a small footprint. Space is always at a premium and achieving a full MADI recorder in 1 rack space has been quite a challenge. We were determined to keep the core advantages of the BlackBox Recorder, such as its simplicity and the instant upload of the recorded files into a digital workstation."

The BBR64-MADI is expected to be available by the summer.

The upcoming Dante-enabled version of the BlackBox Recorder will also be on show in Frankfurt, alongside existing digital and analogue variants.

The BlackBox Recorder captures audio in Broadcast WAV format, without requiring a computer. Audio is recorded directly onto a removable USB2 disk drive and can be instantly imported into any Mac- or PC-based Digital Audio Workstation for editing, remixing and re-purposing.

The recently-released BLACKBOX PLAYER also makes an appearance. Specifically designed to replay backing tracks or multiple surround stems for live shows, the Player can simultaneously replay 24 channels of high quality audio at up to 24bit/96kHz.

Visit JoeCo in Hall 8.0, Stand G26.

JoeCo appoints more new distributors

4 April 2011 – New representation for the BlackBox Recorder in China, Czech Republic, Russia and UK

New representation for the BlackBox Recorder in China, Czech Republic, Russia and UK

As word spreads about the latest additions to the award-winning BlackBox Recorder and new BlackBox Player series, JoeCo has added China, Czech Republic and Russia to a growing list of international distributors.

In China, Hong Kong and Macau, JoeCo is now represented by Kowloon-based Tones Tailor Ltd., distributor of several leading pro audio mixer, amplifier, microphone and loudspeaker brands.

In the Czech Republic, Alephant Technologies International (ALTEI) will add JoeCo to an established range of audio-visual and hi-fi brands. The company is based in Prague.

JoeCo has also appointed Moscow-based Avallon Ltd. as the distributor for Russia. Avallon already distribute a range of quality live performance products, for which the BlackBox range will be a perfect complement.

In the UK, London-based company MSL Professional Ltd. has been newly appointed as exclusive distributor, adding JoeCo to a growing portfolio of brands that focus on music creation, live performance, recording and broadcast.

JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull says: "We are delighted to welcome all our new distributors on board. These companies have a wealth of experience in various market sectors and we look forward to further developing our international business during 2011"

JoeCo appoints MSL Professional Ltd. for the UK

1 April 2011 – London-based distribution company MSL Professional Ltd. adds BlackBox Recorder and BlackBox Player series to developing portfolio.

JoeCo appoints MSL Professional Ltd. for the UK

JoeCo has appointed MSL Professional Ltd. as exclusive distributor for the UK. The West London-based distribution company adds the award-winning BlackBox Recorder and new BlackBox Player series to a developing portfolio of select brands.

"We are delighted to welcome MSL Professional on board," says JoeCo Managing Director Joe Bull. "Simon Lowther and his team have many years of experience in this industry, especially in the market sectors on which we are focussing. With Simon’s professionalism and enthusiasm we look forward to forging a very successful working partnership over the coming months."

MSL Professional Company Director Simon Lowther comments: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity of representing this award-winning brand in the UK. The JoeCo product range will perfectly complement some of the other brands in our growing portfolio and we look forward to working closely with retailers and end users to offer the best possible support to both existing and new BlackBox customers."

JoeCo appoints BYZ Inc. for Brazil

22 March 2011 – BLACKBOX RECORDER heads into Latin American market.

JoeCo appoints BYZ Inc. for Brazil

JoeCo Ltd has recently appointed BYZ Inc. as its exclusive distribution partner for the Brazilian market. The Florida-based company has been active in the MI, pro audio and broadcast markets since 2003 and currently acts as a hub for international companies seeking strategic partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to helping JoeCo expand its business in Brazil, BYZ will also act as a fulfilment house for other Latin American territories as needed.

"We are delighted to be represented by BYZ in such an important emerging market as Brazil", says Joe Bull, Managing Director of JoeCo Limited. "We have known Adinaldo Neves for some time and he will be the perfect partner to grow the JoeCo brand in the territory."

Adinaldo Neves, Director of Business Development and Principal of the company adds: "BYZ is renowned for its strong network and a pristine reputation acquired over almost 20 years. We have always been involved with high-quality products and offer extensive support to our partner networks. We are looking forward to our future work with JoeCo."

BLACKBOX PLAYER now shipping

4 Feb 2011 – Dedicated multi-channel playback solution for live shows now available.

BLACKBOX PLAYER now shipping

JoeCo’s new BLACKBOX PLAYER is now shipping. Able to replay 24 channels of high quality audio at up to 24bit/96kHz, the BlackBox Player is the first dedicated multi-channel playback device specifically developed to replay backing tracks or multiple surround stems for live shows. It can be triggered using time code, with a footswitch or QWERTY keyboard, or controlled via MIDI commands, giving the live engineer, installation sound designer, musical director or artist full control of the show at all times.

Audio files can be stored on a standard USB2 drive, or Flash RAM drive. Simple playlists automatically cue up the next song ready for instantaneous replay and multiple playlists can be stored ready for different shows or performances. Integrated safety features, including a built-in automated fail-over mechanism, ensure that the unit meets the all-important “show must go on” criteria.

The BlackBox Player has been specially designed to cater for a wide range of playback applications. These include multi-channel playback for solo artists or vocal groups using pre-recorded backing tracks and bands requiring additional backing such as strings and horns. It can also be used for multi-channel and surround playback applications in theatres, theme parks and cruise ships, as well as permanent installations such as museums, galleries and houses of worship. Also suitable for broadcast applications, it can be used for timed multi-language or multi-station playout and for any other playback situations that require timecode synchronization.

In addition to its availability as a stand-alone product, a BlackBox Player software upgrade is also available for purchase by BlackBox Recorder owners. This enables BBR units to have dual functionality as both a recorder and player as and when required.

BLACKBOX RECORDER scoops Readers' Choice Award

24 Jan 2011 – Recorder proves a winner in the Live Sound International and Pro Sound Web 2010 Readers’ Choice Best Product awards.

BLACKBOX RECORDER scoops Readers' Choice Award

The BlackBox Recorder has won Best Product for the Live Recording Hardware category of the 2010 Readers' Choice Awards voted for by over 10,000 readers of Live Sound International and Pro Sound Web. Following five weeks of voting, winners were announced at the recent NAMM Show in Anaheim, where a delighted Joe Bull received his award trophy.

The Readers' Choice Award is the latest in a series of accolades for the BlackBox Recorder, whose unique attributes have attracted interest from audio professionals in various fields, ranging from live performance to broadcast, film and TV sound and post production.

"We would like to thank all the readers of Live Sound International and Pro Sound Web who voted for us", says Joe Bull. "As we have developed the various BBR versions over the last couple of years, we have tried to meet the varying needs of both the industry in general and our individual customers. It’s therefore very gratifying to know that industry specialists think that we’ve got the best product for them!"

News Articles:

Positive start to 2012 for JoeCo
Frankfurt preview for new BLACKBOX BBR64-DANTE RECORDER
JoeCo welcomes more international distributors
TEC and Readers' Choice Award successes for JoeCo
NAMM preview for JoeCo BlackBox App
ISE exhibitor debut for JoeCo
JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDERS capture George Michael Symphonica Tour
JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDER used on "I'm a Celebrity, 2011"
JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDER receives TEC Award nomination
Mega Audio to represent JoeCo in Germany and Austria
JoeCo announces new Canadian distribution
JoeCo announces latest BLACKBOX RECORDER software update
BLACKBOX goes live at the Royal Festival Hall
BLACKBOX BBR-DANTE RECORDER now shipping!
JoeCo ships BLACKBOX BBR64-MADI RECORDER
Recording is a picnic for JoeCo
Prolight + Sound preview for JoeCo BBR64-MADI
JoeCo appoints more new distributors
JoeCo appoints MSL Professional Ltd. for the UK
JoeCo appoints BYZ Inc. for Brazil
BLACKBOX PLAYER now shipping
BLACKBOX RECORDER scoops Readers' Choice Award

News Archive:

Click here to visit the JoeCo News Archive

Copyright © 2012 JoeCo Ltd. All rights reserved. If you have any comments about this web site, please contact: webmaster@joeco.co.uk
The contents of this website are copyright JoeCo Limited, 2008,2009, 2010. All rights reserved.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within these pages is accurate but the company acccepts no liability for any errors or omissions that may be found.
JoeCo Limited is a limited liability company registered in England No: 06361413.