 |
(1)The Eagles Tour System, 1979 in USA The First installation of TAD TD-4001+TL1601 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let me introduce Mr. Shozo Kinoshita who is presiding over
Rey Audio Ltd.,.
I think this will help you understand the Geijutsu Audio which
he is advocating and the works created through Rey Audio. Shozo
was born in Oobu, Aichi prefecture, in 1946. He was fascinated
by building a crystal radio at five years old. And he has been
impressed by sound and its world up to now since then.
He cannot satisfy himself unless he stands at the top of whatever
he participates. His character as such made him develop "TAD
TD-4001," compression driver in 1979. His idea is not that
maniac as you usually expect. He rather thinks that thing which
many people accept is genuine. As developing TD-4001, avoiding
to accomplish the high-end responsibilities by adopting beryllium
which he had been strongly attached and tried making practicable,
instead he worked very hard on "overwhelming playback energy"
in mid-range where anybody can feel better. He has strongly believed
that real dramatic scene of sound world would appear in that way.
Development of the TAD were accomplished cooperated with Bart
Locanthi (1919- 1994), the leading expert in the US pro-audio
industry. He made excellent achievements in the fields of speaker,
amplifier, and digital audio while establishing the speaker simulation
technology by using computer around 1950. He also once was the
president in Audio Engineering Society as one of top engineers
in the US. Shozo and Bart introduced TAD in the US pro-audio industry.
And people recognized the real value in it soon after it was introduced.
It spreaded out studios and concert sound systems in the US. This
popularity reached to Japan, and some industry people went to
purchase it over the US after he heard its reputation. Of course,
they believed it was made in US.
People heard the sound first in the west coast at the concert
of the big artists like the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, and Neil
Young. The …@ Eagles system was designed based Shozo's idea and
built by North West Sound. Its astounding low sound under 30 Hz,
130 dB at 30 m away shocked the people in the SR industry and
they had to realize the importance of the lower sound. It is no
doubt the TAD made the trend of the system thereafter.
On the studio monitor, it was about to go more complex system
with 3 - 4 way, built in multi-amplifiers and EQ's. But after
TAD appeared with its remarkable performance, it made people recognize
the 2 way system again. The …A is Electric Lady Studio in NY around
1979. It was just the moment that we had a strong presentiment
of the recurrence of 2 way system. And the amazement in the US
of those day was embodied by that monitor. The …B is the noteworthy
KenDun Studio in west coast. The monitors here used be 3 way,
but it changed to 2 way after TAD introduced. And Tom Hidley (1931~)
was there, who brought the Rey Audio definitive influences later.
|
|
(1)The Eagles Tour System, 1979 in USA The First installation of TAD TD-4001+TL1601 |
In 1984, Shozo established Rey Audio wishing more liberalized
and creative activities. Cooperating with Tom Hidley at the same
time, Kinoshita Monitor were installed one after another into
the studios designed by him. Tom Hidley is admired by engineers
all around the world. Not only he made more than 600 studios but
also he's been famous as an inventor of the modern studio with
the sound trap. After he was active as a jazz player and recording
engineer, he established WestLake Audio designing studio monitor
and studio itself. Then after EastLake Audio, he currently is
a president of Tom Hidley Design, and devoted himself to designing
studio only after he met with Shozo. This is showing how much
he relies on the technology behind the Kinoshita Monitor. Kinoshita
Monitor is always highly evaluated and its status has been assured
by many studio engineers and musicians, and it even becomes legend,
which is especially in overseas because it easily offered the
best environment by Tom Hidley. Now it is used as many studios
as 18 countries.
 |
Shozo Kinoshita (right) Tom Hidley (center) Masterfonics |
By the time established Rey Audio, everything was going to
digital. And there were rash of studio building and refurbishing.
Rey Audio then one after another accomplished its monitor performance
higher and more powerful. Followed vertical twin development in
1984 and it gained firm status by utilizing 20 Hz Monitor RM-7V
in 1986.
About the same time, Kinoshita monitor were spreading out almost
80% of newly installed monitors in Japan. Then the problem along
with the studio acoustics were brought up. There were many installation
cases in acoustic environment were seen in Japan and those were
not always sufficient as you thought. Then Shozo started researching
architecture from the point of acoustics and made the most out
of his knowledge of sound, and flung himself into acoustic design
of studios and listening rooms. Above all, Hitokuchizaka Studio
is known as one of leading studios in Japan with its design and
sound quality.
Good sound should not be monopoly
only of the audio maniac. Emotion that moving and touching when
music is created, and infinity when it touches soul is for nobody
else. Audio is understandable to everybody and it is the art with
full of charm.
Shozo wants everybody to know
about it. So he made much more effort to build the concert system.
Surprisingly it began with the Eagles' concert at Budokan in 1979.
The sound people listened there at the time still remain fresh
in their mind and they even start talking enthusiastically about
it. This was the debut of TAD and Kinoshita as a sound designer
in pro-audio industry in Japan. Since then, he flung himself into
the huge concert for Off Course 10 days at Budokan in 1985, Tomita-Nagaoka
in 1986, Live Under the Sky 1987-88, Japan Splash 1987-92, Fukuoka
Dome Opening in 1993, and on the other hand many tour systems
for a many famous Japanese musician, Hibari Misora, Chiyoko Shimakura,
Miyuki Nakajima, Princes Princes, Chage & Asuka.
 |
Selected Live Under the Sky '87 and '88 was the first show which adopted the nation's first outdoor flying system planned by Shozo. 8 tons of system including speakers and amplifiers on each side were hang by cranes. |
 |
Completed setup of Reggae Japan Splash '92 Sound
System. No doubt about that monster size!! 20 ME1800Vs. 72 sets
of RB3 + RH6 or RH1. Speaker weight 20 tons. Max Power Amplifier
output 80 kW. Yokosuka Portland. 100,000 audiences enjoyed the best sound. |
This Kinoshita Monitor's unique sound quality made him decide
to develop the amplifier exclusive for his speaker. Shozo cooperated
with JMF in France developed the power amplifier and gave them
Kinoshita-JMF brand in 1990. The amplifier which is designed for
the speaker by Shozo who knows it well enough is proud of its
ever-changing driving power.
Shozo has been active in the professional audio field through
TAD and Rey Audio. But he is not thinking that the professional
audio needs special sound quality for it. He rather thinks that
the most natural and rich expressive quality of sound should give
the best result. So he has been single-mindedly pursuing the good
sound he believes. That is why Shozo could gain the many professional
people's support. Therefore it is natural that enthusiastic music
lovers have an earnest desire for his products. It was considerably
welcomed when KM1V, near field monitor was announced in addition
to a large monitor in the beginning. Pre-amplifier MSP-1, on the
other hand, in addition to power amplifier was manufactured as
an ultimate amplifier and became what music fans has been yearning
for.
|
|
|