Heil Sound
Encyclopedia
Heil Sound, Ltd. is an American
manufacturer of professional audio equipment based in Fairview Heights, Illinois
. The company was founded by Bob Heil
in 1966, and is well-known for inventions in live sound, the Heil Talk Box
and a variety of high-quality microphones and headsets for use in commercial and amateur radio
. Heil Sound is also the only manufacturer to be invited to exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
.
, and amateur radio
aficionado Bob Heil
in Fairview Heights, Illinois
.
and opened Ye Olde Music Shop, one of the country's first pro audio stores where he also sold Hammond organ
s. He would also fix the organs on stage before a performance for the musicians. Noticing that the PA
systems were small, did not produce full range sound and could not project into a large crowd, Bob Heil started creating very large PA systems. Heil Sound began managing the sound in several venues around St. Louis, from auditoriums to bowling alleys.
The company experienced it's first breakthrough on February 2, 1970, when Bob Heil and his sound team successfully created a new and innovative sound system for The Grateful Dead at the Fox Theater in St. Louis after the Dead's former sound engineer Augustus Owsley Stanley III was incarcerated. Heil Sound then accompanied the band on tour, later accompanying The Who
, The James Gang, Jeff Beck
, ZZ Top
, Humble Pie
, Seals & Croft, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
, Leslie West
, J. Geils
, Ike and Tina Turner, and Chuck Berry
.
In all cases Heil's engineering allowed the bands to create massive sound projection on stage without feedback
, an historically important innovation for the time. Even as of 1965, large sounds systems were relatively weak and primitive; in 1965 The Beatles
had played New York
's Shea Stadium
using only a Shure
Vocalmaster PA system plugged into the baseball park's announcement system. Heil Sound's setups created a new template for touring rock musicians.
to be placed on the market. Heil Sound created the first one to be used on Joe Walsh
’s Barnstorm Tour. The product became a signature sound for Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton
and Bon Jovi
. Heil Sound later sold the rights to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., where it continues to be a popular product.
Heil Sound entered the amateur radio
market, ostensibly working to fix problems in the industry involving poorly transmitted and received audio. Bob Heil applied science he had learned from Paul Klipsch, Don Leslie, Martin Wick, and the Bell Labs
Fletcher-Munson curves to develop lines of radio headsets and components.
In 1982 Heil Sound introduced their HC Series elements, specifically the HC-4 and HC-5, which allowed the non-DSP
transmitters of the time to produce different transmit responses by selecting the right microphone element. The most recent is the HC-6, which is used in many of their current microphone models. Heil Sound is currently the largest manufacturer of microphones and audio products for the amateur radio industry, with over 100 dealers worldwide.
Heil Sound was also an early installer of large satellite dishes for radio.
On May 24, 2011 Bob Heil became host of a new netcast show on Leo Laporte
’s TwiT.tv network called “HamNation”. The show focuses on subject matter for the ham radio enthusiast. Bob’s first guest was rock star, friend and avid amateur radio operator, Joe Walsh
, who also wrote the theme music.
. The company became one of the first to design and install custom home theater systems and nationally, with over 3,000 audio/video systems in use.
and TOOL
, Joe Barresi
, Converge
, and Unearthed.
. Bob Heil was also named the Innovator of the Year at the Parnelli Awards in 2007. In 1989 Heil Sound was named "USA Satellite Dealer of the Year" by the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association
in Las Vegas.
Other products include a variety of gear bags, microphone connector and connecting cables, headset adapters, and microphone drum set packages.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer of professional audio equipment based in Fairview Heights, Illinois
Fairview Heights, Illinois
Fairview Heights is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,078 at the 2010 census. Fairview Heights is a dominant shopping center for Southwestern Illinois and includes numerous shopping plazas and the St...
. The company was founded by Bob Heil
Bob Heil
Bob Heil is an American sound and radio engineer most well-known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems. He founded the company Heil Sound in 1966, which went on to create unique touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who...
in 1966, and is well-known for inventions in live sound, the Heil Talk Box
Talk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
and a variety of high-quality microphones and headsets for use in commercial and amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
. Heil Sound is also the only manufacturer to be invited to exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
.
History
Heil Sound was founded in 1966 by inventor, organistOrganist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, and amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
aficionado Bob Heil
Bob Heil
Bob Heil is an American sound and radio engineer most well-known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems. He founded the company Heil Sound in 1966, which went on to create unique touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who...
in Fairview Heights, Illinois
Fairview Heights, Illinois
Fairview Heights is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,078 at the 2010 census. Fairview Heights is a dominant shopping center for Southwestern Illinois and includes numerous shopping plazas and the St...
.
Sound system design
Starting in 1966 Bob Heil came back to his home town of Marissa, IllinoisMarissa, Illinois
Marissa is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Marissa is located at ....
and opened Ye Olde Music Shop, one of the country's first pro audio stores where he also sold Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
s. He would also fix the organs on stage before a performance for the musicians. Noticing that the PA
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
systems were small, did not produce full range sound and could not project into a large crowd, Bob Heil started creating very large PA systems. Heil Sound began managing the sound in several venues around St. Louis, from auditoriums to bowling alleys.
The company experienced it's first breakthrough on February 2, 1970, when Bob Heil and his sound team successfully created a new and innovative sound system for The Grateful Dead at the Fox Theater in St. Louis after the Dead's former sound engineer Augustus Owsley Stanley III was incarcerated. Heil Sound then accompanied the band on tour, later accompanying The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, The James Gang, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
, Seals & Croft, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bachman–Turner Overdrive is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that had a series of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles...
, Leslie West
Leslie West
Leslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
, J. Geils
J. Geils
John Geils popularly known as J. Geils, is an American blues-rock lead guitarist, singer and founder of The J. Geils Band; he has also recorded with several jazz musicians. Born in New York, he grew up in Far Hills, New Jersey where he graduated from Bernards High School.Since 1982, Geils has...
, Ike and Tina Turner, and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
.
In all cases Heil's engineering allowed the bands to create massive sound projection on stage without feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
, an historically important innovation for the time. Even as of 1965, large sounds systems were relatively weak and primitive; in 1965 The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
had played New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
using only a Shure
Shure
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
Vocalmaster PA system plugged into the baseball park's announcement system. Heil Sound's setups created a new template for touring rock musicians.
Heil Talk Box
In 1973 Bob Heil invented the Heil Talk Box, which was the very first high-powered Talk BoxTalk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
to be placed on the market. Heil Sound created the first one to be used on Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
’s Barnstorm Tour. The product became a signature sound for Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
and Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
. Heil Sound later sold the rights to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., where it continues to be a popular product.
Amateur radio
Around 1980 many of the large acts Heil Sound was famous for working with were no longer touring. According to Heil, "Punk rock was the direction that music was going, and there was no challenge for me in that, so I quit [touring]." Heil began listening again to ham radio, and after realizing that the sound quality was still "mushy with no articulation," began working on microphones.Heil Sound entered the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
market, ostensibly working to fix problems in the industry involving poorly transmitted and received audio. Bob Heil applied science he had learned from Paul Klipsch, Don Leslie, Martin Wick, and the Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
Fletcher-Munson curves to develop lines of radio headsets and components.
In 1982 Heil Sound introduced their HC Series elements, specifically the HC-4 and HC-5, which allowed the non-DSP
DSP
- Computing :* Digital signal processing, the study and implementation of signals in digital computing and their processing methods* Digital signal processor, a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing...
transmitters of the time to produce different transmit responses by selecting the right microphone element. The most recent is the HC-6, which is used in many of their current microphone models. Heil Sound is currently the largest manufacturer of microphones and audio products for the amateur radio industry, with over 100 dealers worldwide.
Heil Sound was also an early installer of large satellite dishes for radio.
On May 24, 2011 Bob Heil became host of a new netcast show on Leo Laporte
Leo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
’s TwiT.tv network called “HamNation”. The show focuses on subject matter for the ham radio enthusiast. Bob’s first guest was rock star, friend and avid amateur radio operator, Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, who also wrote the theme music.
Home theaters
In the late 1980s, Heil Sound entered the home theater movement then becoming popular in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The company became one of the first to design and install custom home theater systems and nationally, with over 3,000 audio/video systems in use.
Microphones
Heil Sound mics are different from others in the amateur radio industry by using large diaphragms to increase articulation and the dynamic range. The large diaphgragms also reduce distortion. Various Heil Sound mics can be used for broadcast, recording and live sound applications, and Heil Sound has worked in the studio with Adam JonesAdam Jones (musician)
Adam Thomas Jones is a three time Grammy Award-winning Welsh-American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Grammy-Award winning band Tool. Jones has been rated the 75th Greatest Guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone and placed 9th in Guitar World's Top...
and TOOL
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, Joe Barresi
Joe Barresi
Joe Barresi is an American record engineer and producer who has worked with bands such as Kyuss, The Melvins, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Tomahawk, L7, The Jesus Lizard, Parkway Drive and Bad Religion.-Biography:...
, Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
, and Unearthed.
Awards
Heil Sound is also the only manufacturer to be invited to exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. Bob Heil was also named the Innovator of the Year at the Parnelli Awards in 2007. In 1989 Heil Sound was named "USA Satellite Dealer of the Year" by the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association
The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association is the national trade organization representing the consumer satellite industry in the United States, including the two largest service providers, DirecTV and DISH Network, manufacturers, installers, and distributors of satellite...
in Las Vegas.
Current products
| Microphones | Notes |
|---|---|
| PR Series | Includes the PR 20, PR 22, PR 28, PR 30, PR 31BW, PR 35, PR 40, and PR 48 models. |
| Heil PR-781 | Dynamic Cardioid microphone designed for use with most makes of Elite transceivers of Kenwood, Yaesu Yaesu is a neighborhood in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan, located north of Ginza, west of Nihonbashi and Kyōbashi, and adjacent to the east side of Tokyo Station. The Yaesu exit, which faces Nihonbashi, is recent and primarily provides access to the Shinkansen platforms.-History:... , Ten Tec and iCOM. This model is an upgrade of the PR 780, which was developed to work with iCOM's iC 7800 radio. |
| RC Series | Includes the RC 22 and the RC 35 wireless capsules. |
| Handi Mic Series | The Handi Mic is a ultra-compact hand microphone that comes with either the HC-4, iC or Pro element. |
| HM-12 | The new HM-12 is designed specifically for amateur radio communications, and to work with the vast majority of low impedance transmitters. |
| Gold Elite | The Gold Elite is designed for amateur radio communications and contains two distinctly different high performance dynamic elements. |
| The Fin | Intended for live sound, recording, and broadcast applications. Similar to the Heil PR 20 the Fin is illuminated from the inside providing a very unique look when plugged into a phantom power source. |
| Heritage Studio | Designed for recording studios and commercial broadcast applications. Similar to the PR 20. |
| Heil iCM | Designed specifically for owners of earlier iCOM transceivers that exhibit low gain in the microphone amplifier stage. It was developed in collaboration with iCOM. |
| Headsets | |
| Pro Set (PS) Series | The headphones include phase reversal technology, and include the Pro Set 4, Pro Set 5, and Pro Set iC, all with different features. |
| Pro Set Elite Series | The newer Pro Set Elite headsets are intended for commercial sportscasters, podcasters and ham radio oerpators. Comes in two versions; the Pro Set Elite 6 and the Pro Set Elite iC. |
| Pro Set Media Pro | The Pro Set Media pro is intended for computer use, containing a condensor microphone element to meet the requirements of computer sound card inputs. |
| Pro Set Micro Single/Dual Side | A lightweight, high performance headset. |
| Pro Set Plus | The highest quality Heil headset, equipped for outside use. |
| Traveler Dual/Single Side | Can interface between 100 different radio models, cell phones, computers, and more. |
| Shock Mounts | |
| SM-1 | Works with the PR 20 and similar sizes |
| SM-2 | Works with the PR 30, PR 40, and similar sizes |
| Booms | |
| HB-1 | All steel mic boom. |
| PL2T | Removable top for easy microphone installation |
| SB-2 | Intended for small spaces |
| Other | |
| CB-1 PTT | Microphone base with push to talk switch. |
| Heilwire | For making connections to microphones and other devices, such as for connecting microphones, foot switches, keyer paddles, and/or other data or control devices. The wire reduces capacitive coupling between the control lines and the sensitive AC audio signals residing inside the shield, resulting in significant reduction of the possibility of hum pickup or RFI issues. |
Other products include a variety of gear bags, microphone connector and connecting cables, headset adapters, and microphone drum set packages.
External links
- Heil Sound Blog
- Heil Sound on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Heil Sound on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Heil Sound on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Heil Sound on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...