HornAudio system

 

Horn Audio sounds like magic
Sounds like magic
Discover the Magic of Sound and Music

Discover the Magic of Sound and Music

Welcome to Horn Audio

where music sounds like magic. My name is Marcel, and in this video, I want to hear from you about what you would like to know about sound and music.

How it began

For the past 40 years, I’ve been involved in music and performing in theaters. I’ve been a part of making LP’s, CD’s, and you can also find the music I’m talking about on Spotify and other streaming services with my band Rapalje.

From a young age, sound and music were very important to me. I would listen to the first records and recordings of the musicians I liked with headphones, trying to understand the magic behind the sounds that I loved. This passion led me to become a musician and eventually form the band Rapalje.

The main reason I make music is because it connects people. It creates a language that everyone speaks and understands, and music has the power to bring people together. With the many performances of Rapalje, I’ve had a lot of experience with sound, of course.

In search of good sound

Sound has to be good, and I know a lot about the sound of an acoustic musical instrument as it is intended. With Rapalje, we’ve developed our own chanters, flutes, and especially singing.

Through performing at festivals, theaters, and venues, we discovered the importance of sound and how to best reproduce it. Our goal as musicians has always been to not let the sound system take away from the music and instruments themselves. However, reproducing that live sound in a sound system can be challenging, and I’ve made it my mission to bridge that gap as much as possible.

In these videos, I want to give you the opportunity to enjoy music the way I did when I first walked into an Irish pub O’Ceallaigh in Groningen and saw the musicians playing and singing around me, and being able to participate in that myself. Not everyone has this luxury at home, but a good sound system can bring that experience quite close.

Music connects

It’s been important to me for a long time that people can enjoy the sounds as the musicians intended and to connect people through music. I started the band and we play Celtic music, as it’s a language that many people around the world understand.

Do you have a question?

So if you have a question or want to know something about sound, write it in the comments and I will read them all and I will try to make a video with the answer. I can give examples of how sound works, what makes a good sound system, how sound is produced from the musician through a microphone in a studio to your ears at home, and show you different ways to connect sound

Collaborating for Excellence: The Making of HornAudio’s “Sim” Subwoofer

Collaborating for Excellence: The Making of HornAudio’s “Sim” Subwoofer

At HornAudio, we believe in the power of collaboration to create something truly special. That’s why we are excited to partner with Ynse Heegstra, a social working place and my neighbour’s greenhouse to create our latest subwoofer, the “Sim.” In this blog post, we’ll take you behind the scenes of the making of the “Sim” subwoofer and show you the different stages of production, from the initial CNC cut to the final assembly.

CNC Cut by Ynse Heegstra

The first step in crafting the “Sim” subwoofer was to create the wooden parts. We partnered with Ynse Heegstra, who used his CNC machine to cut the wood to the precise measurements we needed. This step was essential in ensuring that the final product has the perfect shape and size.

hornaudio sim subwoofer first production glue and assembly

Assembly at a Social Working Place

After the wood was cut, it was time to assemble the pieces of the speaker. We teamed up with a social working place, where the team members carefully put the speaker together, ensuring that each piece fit perfectly.

The social working place is a non-profit organization that provides training and employment opportunities to individuals who may have difficulty finding work due to various challenges. The team members at the social working place were highly motivated and dedicated to ensuring that the “Sim” subwoofer was assembled to the highest standards.

Working with the social working place not only helped us to create a high-quality product, but it also helped to make a positive impact in the community. By providing training and employment opportunities, we are helping to break down barriers and build a more inclusive society. We are proud to be able to support such an important cause, and we look forward to continuing to work with the social working place in the future.

hornaudio sim subwoofer first production paint it black

Painting

After the speaker was assembled, it was time to give it a final touch of paint. I painted the speaker black at my neighbour’s greenhouse. At HornAudio we use a paint called “Warnex”. This step helped to give the speaker a sleek and professional look, and also helped to protect the wood from any damage.

Final Assembly

The final step in creating the “Sim” subwoofer was to add the 4-inch bass loudspeaker and wireless streaming amplifier. I did this step at my kitchen table, carefully connecting all the wires and ensuring that everything was working properly. This step was important for ensuring that the final product would have the best sound quality possible.

hornaudio sim subwoofer first production with wireless streaming amplifier

Conclusion

Creating the “Sim” subwoofer was a journey that involved the efforts and expertise of many different people. From Ynse Heegstra’s CNC cut wood, to the assembly at a social working place, to the painting and final assembly by me, Marcel from HornAudio, we are proud to have created a high-quality subwoofer that will add amazing bass and deep sound to the “Pixi” magical loudspeakers. And this is just the first of a series of 3 subs: “Sim”, “Sala” and “Bim”.

Building Loudspeakers on the Road: A Musician’s Passion

Building Loudspeakers on the Road: A Musician’s Passion

Hornaudio pixi loudspeaker tinkering Hotel Zum Nachtwächter ~Lienzingen
Pixi loudspeaker soldering at Hotel “Zum Nachtwächter” Lienzingen, Germany

As a member of the Celtic folk band Rapalje, I spend a lot of time on the road, traveling from venue to venue and playing music for audiences all over the world. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience to be able to share our passion for music with so many people. But while most of my time is spent on stage, there’s another aspect of my life as a musician that I find just as rewarding: building and tinkering with equipment.

Passion for Building Loudspeakers

One of my passions is building loudspeakers, which I believe truly sound like magic. I’ve always been fascinated by the way that sound can be amplified and projected, and I’ve always been on the lookout for ways to improve the sound quality of our performances. So, I decided to start building my own speakers. I’ve spent countless hours soldering and tinkering, trying to perfect the design and get the product ready for our fans. These speakers are small enough to be easily transported on the road, but they have a big, powerful sound that can fill even the largest venues.

Hornaudio pixi loudspeaker tinkering Millbrook England 2
Making it comfortable in Millbrook, England. Our home during 3 Wishes Festival

Challenges of Building on the Road

One of the challenges of building speakers on the road is that I often find myself working in hotel rooms, which are not always the most ideal locations for soldering and other technical tasks. But I’ve learned to make it work, by being creative and resourceful with the tools and materials that I have available. I’ve had to come up with clever solutions to problems like how to ventilate the room when I’m soldering, or how to set up a work area in a small space. But, despite these challenges, I find that building and tinkering with equipment is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Rewards of Building and Tinkering

Not only do I get to create something that I’m truly passionate about, but I also get to share that passion with our fans, by providing them with speakers that truly bring the magic of music to life. Our fans have told me that they can hear a noticeable improvement in the sound quality of our performances since we started using my speakers. That’s the most satisfying thing for me, knowing that I am doing something that can make such a big difference to the experience of the people who come to see us play.

Hornaudio pixi loudspeaker tinkering Castlefest Lisse
Backstage at Castlefest Lisse

Advice for Musicians

So, if you’re a musician who loves to build and tinker, don’t let the challenges of life on the road hold you back. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can make it work, just like I do. Building and tinkering with equipment is an incredibly rewarding experience that can make a big difference to your performance and the experience of your fans. So, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and start building something amazing. It may take a bit more effort, but the satisfaction and results you’ll get from it will be worth it.

Conclusion

Building speakers is just one example of how as a musician you can combine your passion for music and your passion for building and tinkering. It’s not always easy, but with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can make it work. And not only will you have the satisfaction of creating something you’re truly passionate about, but you’ll also be able to enhance the experience of your fans. So, don’t be afraid to explore other ways to combine your passions and make a difference in your performances.

Hornaudio pixi loudspeaker tinkering Millbrook England
Precision soldering at our home during 3 Wishes Festival
Working on the new all-in-one loudspeaker!

Working on the new all-in-one loudspeaker!

Working on the new all-in-one loudspeaker!

I have spent decades exploring new ways to produce sound. And now, I am excited to announce that I am currently working on a revolutionary new all-in-one loudspeaker for HornAudio. This new system, which I like to call the “modular sound system,” has the potential to replace all current loudspeakers on the market.

Simple but Innovative

The concept behind this new system is simple yet innovative. It is a modular design that allows for easy customization and adaptability to any audio setup. The system comprises of several different modules that can be easily swapped out and replaced to suit the specific needs of the user. This means that if you need to upgrade your speaker system, you only need to replace the specific module that needs to be upgraded, rather than having to purchase a whole new speaker.

I am confident that this new modular sound system will revolutionize the audio industry and change the way we listen to music. I am excited to see the impact it will have on the audio community and I look forward to seeing it in action.

Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of this new system and I encourage you to continue exploring the wonderful world of sound

Fits Any Audio Need

This new system, which I have affectionately named the “Pixi” system, is a modular approach to loudspeaker design. In other words, it is a system that can be tailored to fit any audio needs, whether it be for a small room or a large concert hall. The beauty of this system is that it can be adjusted and customized to suit the specific needs of any space.

The system is also equipped with a user-friendly interface, making it easy for anyone to adjust and customize the sound to their liking. And, with its compact and sleek design, this modulair system can easily be integrated into any space without taking up too much room.

I believe that the “Pixi” system has the potential to revolutionize the audio industry and change the way we think about loudspeakers. It is a true testament to the power of technology and the never-ending quest for innovation in the field of audio engineering.

Revolutionizing Audio Engineering

I have always been fascinated by the power of sound and the ways in which it can be harnessed and manipulated to create beautiful and immersive experiences. And, with this modulair system, I have been able to bring my lifelong passion for audio engineering to new heights.

I am excited to see what the future holds for this system and I look forward to seeing it in action in various spaces around the world and I can’t wait to share this magic with the world.

So, stay tuned for more updates, and let’s see where this journey takes us!

Enjoy the music,

Marcel