Al Siniscal

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Al Siniscal
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BornJuly 6, 1941
St. Louis, Missouri
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationWashington University, (BS Engineering, MBA)
OccupationAudio Engineer, Sound Systems Designer and Entrepreneur
AwardsParnelli Lifetime Achievement Award for Audio Innovation, 2010

Albert V. Siniscal (born July 6, 1941) is an American audio engineer, sound systems designer and entrepreneur. He founded A-1 Audio, a sound reinforcement company based in Hollywood, California.[1] He received the 2010 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award for Audio Innovation.[2]

Early life and education

Siniscal was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Chaminade High School. In 1959, he received a scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He joined the USAF ROTC program and later served as a First Lieutenant in the USAF Missiles and Space Systems Division.[3]

Career

Early work

After working for Esso International (now ExxonMobil) in New York City, Siniscal was called to active duty at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, where he was assigned to the Minuteman Missile program. During off-duty time, he worked on electronic projects including amplifier cards and recording consoles. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1969, he moved to Hollywood, California to pursue work in professional audio systems.[1]

Siniscal began building consoles and speakers, developing systems that integrated amplifiers directly into loudspeaker enclosures.[4] In 1971, he authored an article on bi-amplification and tri-amplification in Recording Engineer/Producer magazine.[5]

In 1972, Siniscal presented a technical paper titled "High-Intensity, Modular Tri- and Quad-Amplification Loudspeaker Systems" at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention in Munich, Germany, and repeated the presentation at the US AES Convention in Los Angeles, California. The paper was later referenced in historical reviews of professional audio power amplifiers and loudspeaker systems.[6][7]

A-1 Audio

Siniscal founded A-1 Audio, which operated from a 20,000 sq.ft. building in Hollywood.[8][9] By 1974, he had developed the VIP system (Vertical Integrated Power), featuring tri-amplified, self-powered enclosures.[10] A-1 Audio provided sound systems for Las Vegas showroom performers including Paul Anka, Wayne Newton, Barry Manilow, and Engelbert Humperdinck.[11][12][7][13]

Siniscal's touring system designs were featured in the October 1978 issue of Recording Engineer/Producer magazine in an article about The Doobie Brothers' touring system.[10] As concert tours required more portable systems, Siniscal developed methods for packaging complete sound reinforcement systems into two tractor-trailer trucks.[14]

In January 1980, A-1 Audio provided the sound system for Frank Sinatra's concert at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium, which set a Guinness World Record[15] for largest one-man concert attendance by a solo performer with 175,000 attendees.[16]

During the 1980s, A-1 Audio provided sound systems for Broadway productions including "Starlight Express" and theater productions including "The Wiz." The company also provided sound systems for Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to Dodger Stadium and the 1988 Depeche Mode "Concert for the Masses" at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.[1] In 1985, A-1 Audio was nominated for a TEC Award in the Sound Reinforcement Company category.[17]

In 1989, Siniscal worked with sound designer Martin Levan to supply sound systems for "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber," a touring concert that played in more than 30 US cities in 1990.[18]

In late 1992, A-1 Audio acquired the US assets, staff, and clients of Tasco Sound Ltd, a U.K. company, which included sound and lighting systems for concert tours, thereby increasing its inventory of rental equipment.[19][9]

In 1999, A-1 Audio was acquired by Production Resource Group (PRG), where Siniscal remained as a consultant.[20] He later founded A1 Entertainment Services in Las Vegas and worked on installations including the concert hall at the Aladdin Resort & Casino (now Planet Hollywood).[1]

Siniscal is a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in Nevada and California.[21]

Recognition

In 2010, Siniscal received the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award for Audio Innovation.[22] He is also profiled in the NAMM Oral History Program.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Staff, F. O. H. (2010-09-08). "Parnelli Audio Innovator Al Siniscal". FOH | Front of House Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  2. ↑ "2010 Parnelli Winners". Parnelli Awards. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  3. ↑ Staff, F. O. H. (2010-06-09). "Al Siniscal to Receive Parnelli Audio Innovator Award". FOH | Front of House Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  4. ↑ Artaud, Alex (January–February 2003). "Small Venues, Foolproof Sound". WorldRadioHistory.com. SRO Magazine. pp. 10–12.
  5. ↑ "Bi- and Tri-Amplification" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. March–April 1971. pp. 27–29.
  6. ↑ Kennedy, David K. (2026-01-04). "The History of P.A. Power Amps, Part 1". FOH | Front of House Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kennedy, David K. (2025-05-29). "The History of P.A. Loudspeakers, Part 3". FOH | Front of House Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  8. ↑ Ryder, Tony (June 1984). "A-1 Behind the Scenes" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Studio Sound & Broadcast Engineering Magazine. pp. 62–66.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Daley, Dan (October 1996). A I Audio Shows LA. Is Key To Success. Pro Sound News Magazine. pp. 32–34.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 King, Stan; Marich, Robert (October 1978). "The Doobie Brothers Concert Sound" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 56–68.
  11. ↑ Maloney, Patrick (June 1981). "Sound Reinforcement for Barry Manilow" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 74–87.
  12. ↑ Scheirman, David (April 1985). "Engelbert Humperdinck at Harra's Tahoe" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 52–66.
  13. ↑ Carr, Robert (October 1984). "Application and Utilization of Click Tracks" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 158–167.
  14. ↑ Anthony, Bob (February 1985). "A-1 Audio's Two-Truck Tour" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Studio Sound & Broadcast Engineering Magazine. pp. 74–76.
  15. ↑ "Greatest Concert Attendance". Internet Archive. Guinness Book of World Records. 1981.
  16. ↑ Maloney, Pat (August 1980). "Frank Sinatra... Singing in the Rain" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 80–95.
  17. ↑ "The 1985 TEC Award Nominees" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Mix Magazine. October 1985. pp. 110–111.
  18. ↑ Scheirman, David (April 1991). "Quality Theater Sound" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. pp. 48–52.
  19. ↑ "A-1 Audio Buys Tasco US Assets" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Mix Magazine. January 1993. p. 12.
  20. ↑ "PRG Buys A-1 Audio" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. Mix Magazine. May 1999. p. 12.
  21. ↑ Romanello, Linda (August 1998). "Delivering A-1 Audio, and Making No Excuses". WorldRadioHistory.com. Pro Sound News Magazine. pp. 20–21.
  22. ↑ Mitchell, Kevin M. (2021-01-15). "Parnelli Moments to Remember". FOH | Front of House Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-17.

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