Van Hailing

12/02/2015

Can't make it into Queens? No worries - we've got most of NYC covered with our brand new delivery van at a special introductory rate for all of December!

For rentals or sales orders of $100 or more going to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Manhattan confirmed by 3pm the business day before, we're offering:

  • FREE delivery for orders delivering to Manhattan
  • $20 Curbside Delivery and $40 Inside Delivery for Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx 

Looks Like We Made It!

10/20/2015

We'll keep this one short and sweet! If you're seeing this, we're safely ensconced at our new digs* at:

35-10 36th Avenue
Second Floor
Long Island City, Queens
11106

Come see our new spacious office with more stock, more demos, more rental inventory, free parking, bike storage area, video studio, and the same great service! You can even grab a FREE new Gotham hooded sweatshirt while supplies last - available exclusively at the Long Island City shop! It's easily accessible by car or subway (N/Q to 36th Ave or the M/R to 36th St)! Or if you can't come by, let us know and you can try out our brand-new delivery van!

Our phone number remains (212) 629-9430, but remember to send all mail to and make all returns and pick-ups at the above address from now on! We look forward to seeing you!

*or things have gone so badly that no one remembered to turn this email off, in which case you should come console us.

Gunther Kortwich, R.I.P.

10/16/2015

I was saddened to hear about Gunther Kortwich's passing.

I met Gunther when I was working on a TV pilot in Berlin. The producer of the show, Piet Lessnick, told me that every sound person working in Berlin needs to visit Gunther's shop Kortwich Filmtontechnik. Being a foreigner that in theory was taking work away from his customers, I was nervous walking into his shop, but of course he gave me a warm welcome that instantly made me feel like I had a home away from home.

We talked a bit about the job, but instead of talking tech, he asked me who the caterer was. When I told him who it was (MovieCat, if I remember) he smiled broadly, eyes beaming, and declared "Ah well! Then it will be a good job! If there's good food, it will be a good job!"

I learned a lot from my brief encounter with him, not just about the secret to determining a good job, or even the German pronunciation of WD-40*, but the way a sound shop should be - welcoming and accommodating to everyone in the production sound community, which was something Jim and I kept in mind when opening Gotham Sound in 2002.

Later, crew members told me about how Gunther was Wim Wender's longtime sound mixer, and how he was the inspiration for the sound mixer protagonist in Wender's Lisbon Story, portrayed by Rudiger Volger!

So, thank you for your warmth and kindness, Herr Kortwich. I trust that catering is amazing wherever you are!

- Peter Schneider

*If you're ever in Germany looking for WD-40, ask for it by name: Vay-Day-Fourtzig!

Sound Moves

10/12/2015

It's true! Starting Monday, October 26th, the New York office will be located on the second floor of 35-10 36th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens (near Kaufman-Astoria Studios and just two or three short subway stops from Manhattan). We'll miss Midtown, but the new space will offer all sorts of additional accommodations:

  • More Room

    new-gotham-google-map.jpg

    ​
    10,000 square feet to play in means more items in stock and available to demo.
     
  • Loading Dock
    Making your drop-offs and pick-ups easier.
     
  • Delivery Van
    Can't make it to the store to pick-up or drop-off? We'll have a vehicle for just those occasions.
     
  • Dedicated TV Studio
    More demos, interviews, livestreams, and video content.

Call or email us if you have any questions or concerns. We will be open as usual at 330 West 38th Street up to and including Friday, October 23rd and then be back up and ready for business at 35-10 36th Avenue at 9am on Monday, October 26th.

We're super stoked to have you see the new location, but, of course, we still have to get the shop from here to there, which is where you could give us a hand...

fire-sale.jpg

PAY WHAT YOU WANT FOR WHAT WE DON'T
​

...the syntax might have gotten away from us on that one, but you get the idea! Starting today, drop by the 38th Street office during business hours to reap the benefits of our moving fire sale! Whatever you buy, we don't have to heft anywhere - you'll never find a more motivating incentive for great deals!

Who's Down with FCC?

10/02/2015

The dreaded FCC auction looms ever closer, when we'll get to see exactly what parts of our precious wireless spectrum will remain usable by the film, television, and broadcast industries. Lectrosonics Technical Representative Howard Kaufman gives a current view of the situation in the video above and we wrote up a summary when the FCC adopted the relevant reports, but here's some quick tips for making your kit future-resistant:

  • Buy wideband wireless systems, such as the Lectrosonics L-Series and SSM Transmitter. You'll need access to as much spectrum as possible, especially if your kit travels widely. It looks likely that the spectrum will remain clearer under 600 mHz, so we recommend sticking to Blocks A1 and B1. B1 might be especially useful, since there's a good possibility of some spectrum being permitted around TV channel 37 (608 to 614 MHz).
     
  • Get a part 74 license. I know we say it a lot, but it's still good advice. Many of the protections will be in place only for licensed users and unlicensed users are likely to have to deal with interference in crowded markets, such as New York. Local 695 has a good guide to getting yourself a license here.

Stay tuned for more updates as we have them and feel free to contact us with questions.

Chasing Our Retail

09/24/2015

Gotham Sound New York is hiring!

We're looking for an energetic sound person to join our sales team. This is a great opportunity to help customers find the right gear for their kit. Job entails communicating with customers to get them what they want when they need it. We are looking for people with a love for sound and knowledge of the gear.

If you're interested in hearing more, please inquire at [email protected]. Rate depends on experience.

Reading the FCC Tea Leaves

08/07/2015

Yesterday's FCC meeting had two items of particular import to wireless microphone users:

  1. Public Notice on the incentive auction for wireless spectrum.

  2. Report and Order 14-165 concerning unlicensed (Part 15) and licensed (Part 74) wireless mic operation in the TV and 600 MHz bands

A third item, Report and Order 14-166, concerning other spectrum bands that wireless mics can operate in, was deleted from the agenda, and was adopted prior to the FCC meeting.

More about the auction and our best guess as to how this will affect licensed and unlicensed wireless microphone operators below the jump.

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