Behind the Rack

Behind the Rack is the AV industry podcast where Pro AV, broadcast, and live production come to life. Hosted by Hugo Chevrette, Franco Caruso, and Vincent Simoneau, each episode dives into the latest audio, video, and broadcast technology trends, while sharing real-world experiences from integrators, tech specialists, and industry leaders. From new product launches and system integration tips to AV industry trends, audio solutions, and video workflows , the hosts keep the conversations casual, practical, and easy to follow. Expect honest insights, a few rants, and plenty of useful takeaways that go beyond what you’ll find in spec sheets or trade show booths. Whether you’re an AV integrator, dealer, broadcast engineer, or just passionate about pro audio and video technology , Behind the Rack helps you stay connected, learn something new, and see what’s really happening behind the rack.

Behind the Rack is a technology podcast hosted by Vincent, with 21 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Vincent hosts Behind the Rack, a technology show with 21 episodes published.

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  Episode #19

  Ep.19 - How Battery-Powered Speakers Are Changing Weddings, DJing, and Live Events

  Sep 3, 202646 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail Battery-powered speakers now handle wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours, DJ monitoring, and PA fills — all without amps, cables, or dedicated power. The short version: Vince, Hugo, and Franco spend this episode unpacking how far battery-powered speakers have come — from a shower-speaker punchline to standard gear for mobile DJs and AV pros. Franco explains how one speaker now covers an entire wedding timeline, Hugo shares his own wedding experience with one, and they dig into charging myths, swappable batteries, weatherproofing, wireless control vs. wireless audio, and the models SFM carries: Electro-Voice Everse, QSC CB10, Avante Audio AS8, and Alpha Theta Wave 8. No power amp. No snake cable. No tripping hazard. Just a speaker you charge, carry, and place — with app-based control for volume and EQ from across the room. The conversation covers real deployment scenarios: isolated ceremony locations with no power, moving a single speaker from ceremony to cocktail hour in minutes, using belt packs instead of Bluetooth for more reliable transmission across long halls, and why IP-rated covers make these viable for outdoor and remote venues. Who this episode is for: mobile DJs, event producers, AV integrators, and anyone curious how pro audio gear has gone cordless. FAQ: Are battery-powered speakers loud enough for a wedding or corporate event? An 8" speaker covers roughly 50–80 people; pairing two 12" models comfortably handles 100–150. How long does the battery last? Rated 6–12 hours depending on model and volume — most events only use a fraction of that per charge. Can the battery be swapped out mid-event? Yes, models like the EV Everse have a removable battery pack secured by thumbscrews. What's the real difference between wireless audio and wireless control? Wireless audio (Bluetooth) transmits the sound itself; wireless control (via app) adjusts volume/EQ remotely — they can operate independently on separate devices. Are they safe to use outdoors? Most include an IP-rated rear cover (commonly IP54/IP55) to protect electronics from rain when not wired in. Key takeaway: Battery-powered speakers have gone from a novelty to core pro-AV kit — saving labor, setup time, and eliminating cable risk across nearly any event type. Tags: battery-powered speakers, Electro-Voice Everse, QSC CB10, Avante Audio, Alpha Theta Wave 8, mobile DJ gear, wedding audio, pro audio, Behind the Rack

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  Episode #18

  Ep.18 - Should DJs Take Requests? | CDJ-1500X Explained

  Aug 19, 20261 hourS1

  Send us Fan Mail Every DJ has an opinion on requests — and Alpha Theta's new CoBeat feature is forcing the industry to rethink how they're handled. Franco, Hugo, and Vince use the CDJ-1500X's new CoBeat feature as the jumping-off point for a much bigger conversation: should DJs take requests at all? They set the record straight on what CoBeat does (spoiler: it can be fully enabled or disabled, and audiences never get unrestricted access to a library), then get into their own request stories — from wedding "do-not-play lists" to the club DJs who won't touch a request with a ten-foot pole. Along the way: why a QR code beats a paper request binder, how a club DJ could use CoBeat as a private testing ground for new tracks, why the CDJ-1500X's redesigned front-loading USB port is also cutting down liquid-damage repairs, and a few monetization ideas — tip jars, paid shout-outs, membership-gated requests — that nobody in the industry is talking about yet. In this episode: Mobile DJ vs. restaurant DJ vs. club DJ: three very different takes on requests Handling pushy requests and "do-not-play" lists What CoBeat really lets audiences (and DJs) do CDJ-1500X vs. CDJ-3000X, feature by feature Monetizing requests, tips, and shout-outs Whether CoBeat is coming to other Alpha Theta units

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  Episode #17

  Ep.17 — Genelec on Truthful Sound: Coaxial Drivers, Calibration & Aural ID Explainedenelec

  Jul 29, 20261h 6mS1

  Send us Fan Mail Eric Horstmann from Genelec joins Behind the Rack in Montreal — recorded during Genelec's Immersive Audio World Tour — for a deep dive into what makes a speaker "truthful." We cover coaxial driver design, why Genelec calibrates every unit in an anechoic chamber, how the GLM software and autocal process work, and Genelec's new Aural ID binaural/HRTF technology for personalized headphone monitoring. Topics include: what "neutral" sound really means, coaxial vs. traditional driver design, room calibration with GLM, calibration presets for different listening positions, the 9320 monitor controller, Aural ID pricing and how it compares to Sony's 360 Reality Audio VME, Genelec's sustainability practices (recycled aluminum, geothermal-powered manufacturing in Finland, decades-long repairability), and where immersive audio is realistically headed for everyday listeners. Hosted by Vince, Hugo, and Franco from SFM (a Midwich Group company). #Genelec #ImmersiveAudio #StudioMonitors #ProAudio

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  Episode #15

  Ep.15 - NDI, SRT & IP Video Workflows with BirdDog's Monty Bennett & Christian Frink

  Jun 11, 20261h 1mS1

  <p>Send us Fan Mail</p><p>BirdDog VP of Sales Monty Bennett and Product Manager Christian Frink join us in-studio to break down the state of IP video in professional AV — covering every format integrators and production professionals encounter today.</p><p>We go deep on NDI High Bandwidth, HX2, and HX3 — what the differences actually mean in practice, why HX3 changed the game, and how network infrastructure choices either unlock or sabotage NDI deployments. We also get into SRT's rising adoption, the role of SDI in a world moving to IP, BirdDog's new X-series cameras, NDIKVM via Play Pro...

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  Episode #14

  Ep.14 - The Death of the AV Rack? Randy Blanchard on 33 Years in Pro AV

  May 28, 20261h 9mS1

  <p>Send us Fan Mail</p><p>From projection TVs that weighed 260 lbs to AI-generated install guides — Randy Blanchard has seen every chapter of pro AV. In Episode 14 of Behind the Rack, the industry veteran joins host Vince Lavigne to unpack why the AV rack is disappearing, why networking skills are now non-negotiable for integrators, and where AI, video walls on substrate, and decentralized AV are taking the industry next. Recorded in Dorval, Quebec at SFM | Midwich, this conversation spans three decades of AV evolution: from analog distributed antenna systems and Crestron-stuffed racks to Dante audio networks, PoE everything, and co...

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