TEMPE, AZ (12.12.23) – Mobile Solutions is proud to announce it has added legendary audio recording and mastering engineer Bob Katz as a headlining instructor for the 2024 MasterTech Expo, scheduled for March 3-6 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Ariz. Katz will be instructing high fidelity “Music Recording and Production” Seminars 1 and 2, as well as conducting sound demonstrations during the event.

“This is a true first, and we couldn’t be more thrilled than to have Bob on board for the 2024 MasterTech Expo as a headlining instructor,” said Bryan Schmitt, Mobile Solutions founder/CEO/president. “Bob’s exclusive session is scheduled to be conducted once during the show. Seating is limited to 165 attendees, and unlike some classes that repeat on the second day, this session is a one-time opportunity and will surely sell out quickly.”

During his sessions, Katz will reveal the truth behind the artifice, since so many recordings are manipulated during mixing and mastering. He will demonstrate some of the processes that engineers use to create depth and dimension from recordings that otherwise would sound dry and lifeless. Using mixes and masters that he has produced, he will explain how some attributes were captured in the recording and others synthesized in the mixing and mastering. He will demonstrate the necessity of having accurate monitoring in order to zero in on mixing and mastering decisions, that way, we will be better able to assess the final performance of systems we build and tune. Katz will explain sonic properties described by words such as “fat”, “thin”, “edgy”, “tight”, “spacious”, and “focused”. He will also cover loudness and level setting in mixing and mastering to explain why some recordings and streams sound louder than others.

“Chances are, you already know Bob and his work,” Schmitt continued. “If you’ve ever competed in a car audio sound quality contest, used one of the sanctioned competition CDs, or have your own copy of his published works, Bob has already contributed to your enjoyment or your understanding of your craft.”

Since 1972, Bob has been recording, mixing and mastering audio for recorded media (records, tapes, CDs and files for streaming), as well as television and film productions. Formerly the chief engineer for audiophile label Chesky Records, he has mastered CDs for labels including EMI, BMG, Virgin, Warner (WEA), Sony Music, Walt Disney, Boa, Arbors, Apple Jazz, Laser’s Edge, Sage Arts, and many others, including three GRAMMY-winning recordings. Katz has also invented and patented audio hardware and software, contributed to accepted recording standards, and designed, built and retrofitted recording studios. Additionally, he has written two books regarded as required reading for anyone producing, mixing, or mastering recordings.

The 2024 MasterTech Expo is scheduled for March 3-6 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Ariz. To learn more and register for the event of the year, please visit www.MasterTechExpo.com.

12VOLT NEWS (12.06 23) – The Holiday Season is an opportunity for 12volt retailers to create a unique in-store experience for members of their local communities. Holiday themed exterior store front lighting and in showroom displays can bring smiles to customers faces. Making social media posts of Holidays themed images can draw store traffic. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales activity in 2023 set online sales records. Proactive 12volt retailers can spotlight the advantages of shopping and making Christmas gift purchases locally.

This Sound of Tr-State location is definitely lighted for Christmas. Drivers headed down to the road will see the Christmas lights from blocks away during the day… and even further away in the dark of nights. One of the best the exterior Holiday lighting presentations the 12volt Central Studios staff has ever seen.

Custom Audio in Erie PA is located in a strip center along a busy local street. Window graphics, signage and lighting grabs eyeballs from the street. With daylight savings time it is dark during evening drive time and into the night.

Team Nutz in Pittsburgh is located on a very busy local main street. The 2-story building with lighting plus the area in front of store spotlighting the Holiday season with Santa and more adds to visibility.

The Christmas tree in the showroom at Interstate Electronics Inc is definitely decked to the Holiday Max. Check out the Kenwood Christmas wrapping paper. Fred Orpen, GM of the Hazlet NJ based company stated “We have been displaying a Christmas tree in our showroom for years. Our customers smile when they see the tree and all get the Holiday Season spirit. The Kenwood Holiday wrapping paper is new this year and a very nice tough from Kenwood and our local Progressive rep Morris Hartman.”

Audio Edge in Nederland TX has a nicely Christmas decorated sales counter. Chris Hulin stated “Our customers comment on our Christmas feel in the showroom. We have several bikes on the showroom floor and the red and green LED lights add even more the the overall Holiday feel.”

The MaxPro HQ lobby in Whiteville NC is a nice touch for a business to add when their dealers and customers arrive for a meeting.

The massive Abt Electronics store in Glenview IL offers appliances, electronics, mobiles electronics and so much more. The huge lobby area and hallways are filled with Christmas decorations and lights. A Tesla vehicle is spotlighted at the entrance to let customers know Abt can add aftermarket products to EVs.

The 12volt Central Studios staff will continue to spotlight proactive 12volt retailers working to create the Holiday in-store experience for members of their respective communities.

Visit instagram.com/12voltnews for more.

OMAHA, NE (12.11.23) – The12VDashboard Inc. hires Tom Kolar as the Director of Sales for the next season of growth in 2023/2024. “We are excited to have added Tom and his skill set to The12VDashboard Inc. team to help drive our success to the next level”, said Brian Hampson the CEO of The12VDashboard Inc.

Tom has worked in the 12-volt industry for over 30 years in the distribution channels in the Midwest as National Sales Manager and most recently as VP of Sales and Marketing. This newly formed position at The12VDashboard Inc. will utilize Tom’s background in the 12V industry along with his customer relations skills, being advantageous to the growth and development of this new exciting venture.

“I am excited to help take this product to the next level with our team, with the new enhancements and the plans for the future, we have the best look-up tool in the industry! At a time in our industry, when qualified staff resources continue to be a major problem, this sales tool aids in the process with any size store no matter the experience level; it is a much-needed opportunity for dealers to add to the toolbox for their stores,” Kolar said.

“The12VDashboard Inc. based out of Omaha, Nebraska is an existing business that provides a comprehensive online solution for 12v retailers. Our primary offering is an online lookup tool that enables retailers to easily identify aftermarket items that fit specific vehicles. Unlike existing solutions, our tool boasts an easy-to-use interface with a minimal learning curve for end users. This ensures that retailers can quickly identify compatible parts, speaker fitments, tips and tricks, known vehicle obstacles like ANC Mics and offer solutions to their customers without any hassle. By saving time for retailers, our tool enables them to focus on delivering exceptional service and building strong customer relationships,” said Brian Hampson, CEO of the 12 V Dashboard Inc. and Owner of Stereo West Autotoys in Omaha, Nebraska.

Contact Information: For more information on the 12 V Dashboard contact Tom Kolar at: 1-531-777-0877 or email at tkolar@the12vdashboard.com

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (12.11.23) – You’d expect to see a car at a racing show. But have you ever seen one suspended from the ceiling over a booth?

Visitors experienced a never-seen-before booth design with a captivating display in the BILSTEIN booth at this year’s 2023 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show on Dec 7-9th at the Indiana Convention Center.

As part of their 150th anniversary celebration, BILSTEIN Motorsport displayed a suspended dirt racing late model series vehicle proudly equipped with AS2-R shocks on all four corners, showcasing BILSTEIN’s commitment to pushing the limits both on and off the track.

Located in the Yellow Hall, BILSTEIN Motorsport featured their latest innovations and state-of-the-art shock technology, including their all new AS3 shock, which allows for zero rod (nitrogen) pressure when the shock rebounds providing better traction and consistent grip on the track.

Additionally, BILSTEIN displayed the AS2-R ESCV (End Stop Control Valve) shock. These feature an internal bump stop on compression, which provides precise tuning of the bump stop and eliminates the bounce, adding full compliance to the tire.

BILSTEIN also showed off their latest off-road UTV shocks, the Black Hawk Powersports systems (front and rear).

Other featured products included the SG2, AS2, AS2-R, XVA, SNS2-BV and M 9200 (Bypass).

“As we celebrate 150 years, we invite you to be part of the next chapter in our legacy,” said Aaron Morey, Director of Motorsports. “Fasten your seatbelts – the future of motorsport is here, and it’s draped in BILSTEIN excellence.” 

Visit bilstein.com for more.

HOLLY HILL, FL (12.08.23) – Metra Electronics is honored to formally announce a partnership with ACV GmbH of Germany in 2024 and its new role as master distributor for the EU Marketplace. Metra’s brand of radio replacement products, including installation kits and fascias, wiring harnesses, antenna products, and more, will now be stocked and distributed by ACV GmbH.

A vendor of vehicle-specific product solutions that does business around the globe, ACV GmbH is headquartered in Erkelenz, a town located in the industrial region that comprises Düsseldorf, Cologne and Aachen. It is an enterprise that has been specializing in technical car accessories for decades. They now also provide product development services for custom-tailored, individual solutions in compliance with client specifications based on OEM standards and standardized products for the aftermarket. The business has earned a reputation for expeditious service and excellent, uncomplicated support services.

As a long-term partner of Metra, ACV GmbH will provide the manufacturer with logistical advantages to facilitate outreach and product fulfillment to dealers across Europe and surrounding countries. “Our team is very excited about the advancement of our relationship with ACV GmbH. We look forward to expanding our brand presence and growing mutual business within the European marketplace,” says Maurice Soto, Metra’s Director of International Sales. Any retailers or custom integrators who would like more information on this partnership may contact their Metra Representative.

Visit metraonline.com for more.

NEW YORK, NY (12.08.23) – SiriusXM has announced that will.i.am, global music artist, producer, TV star/host, Futurist, future-caster, creative innovator, popthropologist, philanthropist and STEAM education activist, will launch an exclusive SiriusXM show, will.i.am Presents the FYI Show. The show is set to launch in January 2024 on SiriusXM’s The 10s Spot (channel 11), available to listeners in their cars and on the SiriusXM app.

will.i.am Presents the FYI Show will be hosted by will.i.am, showcasing the latest in AI innovation and AI-powered interactive projects. Each week the show will take listeners on a deep dive into the intersection of pop culture, music, entertainment, world news, and technology, featuring thought-provoking conversations, hilarious games, the hottest new music, and interviews with the brightest stars making culture happen today.

The interactive show will be driven through will.i.am’s FYI app – an AI-powered communication and creative collaboration tool designed to help Focus Your Ideas.

Listeners can keep the movement going by joining the Show Project on FYI, giving the audience access to episode content, bonus materials, discussions with other listeners and engagement with AI.

A special preview of the new show was recorded with will.i.am in front of a live audience this week at the SiriusXM Miami studios. Subscribers will be able to tune into this content in car and on the app upon show launch in January. Photos from the event can be found HERE.

“The FYI Show is a celebration of creators, innovators, and their dreams,” said will.i.am. “Episodes delve into AI-powered projects, exploring the What and the How, while also understanding the passion behind them. At FYI, we provide the right tools, infusing AI to help materialize dreams. An amazing journey awaits us!”

“will.i.am is an extraordinary talent who has been at the nexus of entertainment and technology for some time,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “SiriusXM offers an ideal platform for him to combine these passions and create a cutting-edge show that can showcase his renowned creativity, his insights into trends and much more.”   

Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM streaming for free. Click here to sign up and experience all that SiriusXM has to offer. See Offer Details.

RINGWOOD, IL (12.07.23) – Race Sport Lighting, a leading innovator in automotive lighting solutions, proudly announces the release of their latest product, the HOODKIT2 (PN# 1007752) LED Knight Rider Scanning Hood Brow DRL Flex Cool White Kit. This revolutionary lighting kit is designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal and visibility of cars and jeeps, providing a modern and stylish touch on any vehicle. The highly flexible light contours along the bottom of the hood lid and is very similar to some modern cars on the road. This comes months after the successful launch of their nationwide popular HOODKIT1 which is longer, in length, for Trucks and larger SUV’s.

“We are thrilled to introduce the HOODKIT2 LED Knight Rider Scanning Hood Brow DRL Flex Cool White Kit to the market to fit on cars, Jeeps, and smaller SUVs. The HOODKIT1 for trucks and larger SUVs launched over the summer has quickly grown in popularity and risen on our top-ranking product list nationwide. It was logical that we would launch a smaller version that fits up on smaller-width vehicles. We have already moved much of our opening production, as dealers had this product on pre-order for a few months now.” said Steve Jergensen, President at Race Sport Lighting.

3 Key Features of the HOODKIT2:

1.       Knight Rider Scanning Effect: The HOODKIT2 features a distinctive Knight Rider scanning effect upon ignition before the final transition into a solid daytime running light while running. This attention-grabbing feature adds a touch of sophistication and modernity to the vehicle’s appearance.

2.       DRL Flex Cool White Technology: Equipped with cutting-edge Daytime Running Light (DRL) Flex Cool White technology, the HOODKIT2 ensures optimal visibility and safety on the road. The cool white illumination not only enhances the vehicle’s presence and safety during the day but also contributes to a sleek and contemporary look.

3.       Weather-Resistant Construction: Built to withstand various weather conditions, the HOODKIT2 is constructed with durable silicone materials that ensure long-lasting performance. Whether driving through rain, snow, article sub-temps in the northern hemisphere, or intense heat in the southern hemisphere, users can count on durability.

The HOODKIT2 LED Knight Rider Scanning Hood Brow DRL Flex Kit is now in stock and shipping from their Ringwood, IL warehouse to distributors and dealers near you. Resellers are encouraged to stock the HOODKIT1 and HOODKIT2 to universally service all small to larger body-width vehicles seeking to add safety and modern light effects.

Visit www.racesportinc.com for more.

BOCA RATON, FL (12.07.23) – In most AUDI vehicles from 2009-2019, ZZ2 integrates wireless CarPlay & Android Auto, front and rear cameras and more. Additionally, we offer a factory handle camera which retains the factory trunk appearance.

With our AUDI ZZPLAY line we offer wireless CarPlay and Android Auto solutions, bringing your vehicle up to date with one of the most desirable features in the market.

You can access the most relevant apps from your phone like iMessage, Spotify, Waze, WhatsApp, Google Maps and more, directly from factory controls. In addition to mirroring your smartphone, the ZZPLAY lineup includes USB audio and video playback, as well as a YouTube app.

Features:
Wireless CarPlay
Wireless Android Auto
SmartPhone Mirroring
USB A/V Playback
Front View Camera input
Rear View Camera input (w/ Dynamic Parking Lines)
Plug and Play

Please CLICK HERE to access the Audi section on the ZZ-2 website and get a full compatibility list.

12VOLT NEWS (12.06.23) – The Holiday Season is an opportunity for 12volt retailers to create a unique in-store experience for members of their local communities. Holiday themed exterior store front lighting and in showroom displays can bring smiles to customers faces. Making social media posts of Holidays themed images can draw store traffic. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales activity in 2023 set online sales records. Proactive 12volt retailers can spotlight the advantages of shopping and making Christmas gift purchases locally.

Custom Audio in Erie PA is located in a strip center along a busy local street. Window graphics, signage and lighting grabs eyeballs from the street. With daylight savings time it is dark during evening drive time and into the night.

Team Nutz in Pittsburgh is located on a very busy local main street. The 2-story building with lighting plus the area in front of store spotlighting the Holiday season with Santa and more adds to visibility. This past Sunday Ed Nuttall and wife Nina attended 2 Holiday themed events in the Team Nutz Excursion. The first event was a Tow Truck Parade with over 50 area Tow Trucks picking up and delivering Toys For Tots gifts. The evening event concentrated on close local businesses presenting a Holiday event that drew hundreds to the area. At both events the loaded Team Nutz Excursion was blasting Christmas music from speakers mounted on top of the vehicle. That evening the Team Nutz crew handed out over 300 customized lighted Team Nutz lanyards.

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The 12volt Central Studios is on the road to Showcase 2023 in-store experiences….with the 12voltSTP Tool.

The entire showroom at Ricky Smith’s Audio in Lafayette LA has a Holiday theme and is a Toys For Tots drop of center. See the feature article as the Monday December 4th feature @12voltnews.com.

The massive Abt Electronics store in Glenview IL offers appliances, electronics, mobiles electronics and so much more. The huge lobby area and hallways are filled with Christmas decorations and lights. A Tesla vehicle is spotlighted at the entrance to let customers know Abt can add aftermarket products to EVs.

Sound Hounds in Caldwell ID has one wall of of the company’s showroom decked with a Holiday theme and spotlighting KICKER products.

Intense Kustom Audio in Brentwood NY has spotlighted products in several areas of the showroom with a Holiday theme.

The 12volt Central Studios staff will continue to spotlight proactive 12volt retailers working to create the Holiday in-store experience for members of their respective communities.

Visit instagram.com/12voltnews for more.

NEW YORK, NY (12.06.23) – Pandora revealed its highly anticipated annual list of Artists To Watch, The Pandora Ten. For almost a decade, the streaming platform has forecasted the next crop of artists set to make the biggest waves in the coming year, and Pandora’s genre-spanning predictions showcase the diversity of emerging talent on deck to make an impact across the globe in 2024.

Through an advanced analysis of listener data and programmers’ insights, past artists whose future stardom Pandora has anticipated include Post Malone and Alessia Cara in 2016; Lizzo and Dua Lipa in 2017; H.E.R. and Ashley McBryde in 2018; Summer Walker and Rauw Alejandro in 2019; Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch and Tones & I in 2020; The Kid LAROI and Tate McRae in 2021; PinkPantheress in 2022; and Kim Petras and Coco Jones in 2023. Now, Pandora turns its focus to the promising talents who are poised to leave an indelible mark on the music landscape next year.

“As fans continue to explore a wide array of new artists from a diversity of genres, the prediction process has grown to be more and more exciting for us,” said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Music Programming, SiriusXM Pandora. “We’re able to narrow down the list of talent that’s up next by carefully looking at our listeners’ preferences coupled with insights from our expert curation team and artist relations team. We can’t wait to see where the careers of these 10 artists will go in the upcoming year!”

Here is the next Pandora Ten, the artists to watch in 2024 and beyond. Listen to all of them HERE.

charlieonnafriday (Pop)

Cooper Alan (Country)

Electric Callboy (Metal)

GONZY (Latin)

Kenya Grace (Dance)

Natalie Layne (Christian)

Reneé Rapp (Pop)

Scar Lip (Hip-Hop)

Tyla (Afropop)

Vacations (Rock)

Along with The Pandora Ten, Pandora highlights emerging artists across various genres such as Country, Latin and R&B.