Some of the sections of the site are reserved for SynAudCon Members only. If you want to read more, consider joining the SynAudCon Community for an annual fee of $55. Read more about the benefits of membership.

Some of the sections of the site are reserved for SynAudCon Members only. If you want to read more, consider joining the SynAudCon Community for an annual fee of $55. Read more about the benefits of membership.

Some of the sections of the site are reserved for SynAudCon Members only. If you want to read more, consider joining the SynAudCon Community for an annual fee of $55. Read more about the benefits of membership.

Some of the sections of the site are reserved for SynAudCon Members only. If you want to read more, consider joining the SynAudCon Community for an annual fee of $55. Read more about the benefits of membership.

By Dr. Eugene Patronis

George Gamow was a famous nuclear physicist and cosmologist who once wrote an entertaining and humorous series of books for the layman in which many of the mysteries of modern science were explained in simple terms. In one of these books Professor Gamow introduced a magical character termed a Maxwellian Demon who had the ability to perform everyday chores on an atomic scale. We will make use of such a character at times in this article while affectionately referring to him as Max. Max is quite industrious and has brought about the four situations depicted in Fig. 1. Read more »

What is included with a SynAudCon Membership?

Your SynAudCon Membership includes:

Community Presence - Your “Member Profile” that will be listed in our searchable directory of industry professionals.  Through your Member Profile you may present yourself to the SynAudCon community by listing your contact information, affiliations, and certifications.
Email Discussion Group – Collaborate with some of the industry’s finest. Converse and share ideas, discuss topics, issues and solution. Our Discussion Group provides and excellent platform for synergy!
Blogs – You will have an opportunity to learn through our blogs. The blogs provide a platform for experienced audio professionals to share concepts and insights within the community.
SynAudCon Library - Our on-line library includes nearly four decades of audio resources. You may download past SynAudCon publications. The IR Exchange allows our members to share room measurements for collaboration and discussion.

How do I manage my member profile?

You manage every aspect of your presence in our Community via your Dashboard. Each and every time you login, you will be immediately taken to your Dashboard.

Are the SynAudCon Articles now available to everyone?

Yes, SynAudCon articles are now public. Other aspects of the SynAudCon site are only for the SynAudCon community.

Does the SynAudCon Membership still include monthly electronic newsletters?

The monthly electronic newsletter has been replaced by dynamic content that includes blogs. We suggest that you subscribe to the RSS feed to be notified of new content. An announcement will also be sent to our members to inform them of our latest blogs. Pat will post to his technical blog on a regular basis, providing a more consistent and efficient stream of information than provided by a monthly publication. We feel that this is more consistent with how people utilize the web as an information resource.

How is the web-based training categorized?

We will have three levels – 100, 200, 300. The level represents the hierarchy of the topics. The name beside the level represents the name of the course.  Each course is made up of several lessons.

Tell me about the courses.

We presently offer Level 100 – Principles of Audio. It consists of  16 lessons and equals to 10-12 hours of in-person seminar lecture. After each lesson, you will have an option to take a quiz. Each quiz has about 15-20 questions. The questions required that you have a good understanding of the principles that are taught. After completing the 16 lessons and quizzes, you will have an option to take a test.  The test is approximately 75 questions. With a passing score, you will receive a certificate of completion and CEU’s.

We are constantly developing new material. We will roll out additional training as production progresses.

May I share the video content I purchase with others?

Purchased web-based training content is intended to be viewed by the person who purchased it and by that person ONLY. Web-based courses content CANNOT be shared. Sharing purchased SynAudCon web-based training is a violation of the terms and conditions of this site. All actions are logged, and this policy will be strictly enforced. We appreciate your cooperation in this as it allows us to actively develop new material and keep the price low for everyone.

Are the web-based courses transferable?

No, the courses are not transferable.

Is there a time limit on watching the web-based training?

You will have a period of 90 days from the day that you purchased the course.

Are your online courses approved for CEU’s (Continuing Education Units)?

The Level 100 – Principles of Audio content is approved for CEU’s. You will be required to pass a test associated with the Course before a CEU certificate is issued.

Will I receive a certificate?

After passing the test you have the option to download a certificate of completion. The certificate will include the information that you will need for the Continuing Education Units.

How do I ask questions regarding the Level 100 training?

We have created a Support Forum for Level 100 training. You may post your questions there. We will make every effort to answer questions within 24-hours.

Is there phone support for Level 100 training?

No. All support is through the Level 100 forum. This will allow us to build a strong, efficient support resource.

I am scheduling a flight, what are the class times?

The class starts at 8:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm each day. The doors to the classroom are open at 8:00 am. Typically, we do not end early on the last day.

What does the seminar fee include?

The fee includes the instruction, class materials (full color manual, support CD, and certificate of completion), beverage service, and lunch. You are responsible for your breakfast, dinner and overnight accommodations.

How do I register?

You may register online, call 800.796.2831, or mail a check payable to

Synergetic Audio Concepts,
8780 Rufing Road,
Greenville IN 47124.

My company uses purchase orders, what is the best way to register?

Please call (812-923-0174) or email me (bbrown@synaudcon.com) your purchase order information. I will register you for the class and send you the required paperwork.

Will I get a confirmation after registering online?

You will receive an immediate confirmation and a credit card receipt if you sign up online. I will email you a confirmation receipt if the registration is processed by phone or USPS. If you do not get it, check your SPAM filter. The message will be coming from bbrown@synaudcon.com

I will send another email about a week before the class with last minute reminders. It is very important that you read this. It will contain information about “what to bring”, location, times, special events etc.

Who provides lunch?

SynAudCon provides all-day beverage service and a sit-down lunch each day. At times we choose a buffet-style lunch. We like to encourage “synergy” among the seminar attendees. If you need a special diet, tell me on the first morning. The hotels are usually very good at accommodating us in this regard.

What should I bring?

There are different requirements for the different classes. .

Sound Reinforcement for Technicians: Bring a notebook computer if you would like to take part in the “Audio Click Rule” exercises (Windows). For you Mac users, the Audio Click Rule will work if you have Windows installed on your computer. Please bring a pair of headphones or ear buds. Many of the demos are done with a personal hearing system. We will provide you with your own wireless receiver, but you will need a pair of headphones or ear buds to use with it. Anything that works on a PC sound card or IPod will do. The required plug size is 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve.

Syn-Aud-Con Digital: A computer (Windows OS) is needed for the Hands On exercises. I will send you a note 2 weeks before the class with the details.

What is the difference between an workshop and a seminar?

I agree, it is a little confusing. A seminar is a regularly scheduled event. A workshop is a one-time event. We occasionally repeat a workshop if there is a high interest. Don’t count on it as most of the time they are one-time events.

What determines the topic of the workshops?

The topics presented at these events are usually on new technologies or topics that are often misunderstood.

Who presents at the workshops?

Our goal is to get the “best of the best” in that particular field. We are very fortunate to work in an “synergetic minded” industry. We are always amazed at the instructor’s willingness to share what took them a lifetime to learn.

Why did we choose this location?

Sweetwater has a beautiful facility with a state-of-art lecture hall. Each seat has a headphone jack which will be great for listening demos. It also has a couple of small rooms next to the auditorium that will allow us to demonstrate some of the concepts we will be presenting. We are grateful for Sweetwater’s synergetic attitude and their willingness to host the workshop.

Why did we choose Don’s Guest House Hotel:

First of all, it was highly recommended by Sweetwater. We will occupy the entire hotel. With the free breakfast and dinner, there will always be someone in the restaurant of like mind. Once again, we encourage synergy outside of the workshop hours.

Who Attends?

Workshops are attended by anyone with an interest in those particular topics. This includes contractors, consultants and serious amateurs.

What is a “Synergy Room?”

This is a room with round tables and light refreshments. The goal is to mix and mingle with other people in the industry. Since the workshops normally draw very talented individuals, we like to provide a means for them to interact.

Will there be time to keep up with my office work?

The evening events are optional. Everyone knows how important it is to keep those customers happy. I would encourage you to come with a open schedule. Many times it is the information that you pick up in the evenings that is the most valuable.

Horns are often used in loudspeaker systems for a variety of reasons. One may be to provide increased acoustical loading to the driver attached to the horn. This helps to increase the sensitivity/efficiency. Another may be to provide some control over the radiation pattern of the driver attached to the horn. It is this directivity control aspect upon which we will focus our attention for this article.
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