UK - A variant of Sy40, the Sy48 is a compact lightweight digital mixing console. Extremely versatile, the Sy48 is equally at home mixing front of house or monitors on tour to theatres or houses of worship.

With mixing for 64 channels and input and output resources as follows: up to 48 local inputs (32 mic + 16 line) with an optional stage box giving up to 48 input on stage plus 16 mic/line local inputs. Also available is an LEM (Local External Mix box) giving up to 64 local mic inputs, 16 local line inputs - for busses / inserts, 16 local line outputs - for busses / inserts, up to 48 processed or non-processed analogue digital or Ethersound outputs, with the flexibility of movable I/O cards between local and distant (stage box) slots. There are 32 buses - freely assignable as mai

UK - In recent years the groundwork has been laid for dramatic changes to the way the UK will have to manage the several million tonnes of special or hazardous waste it generates each year.

The implications of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations - which are currently being finalized and come into effect in August next year - are only just beginning to be understood, though it's too early to say exactly how the government will implement this directive. So too, the RoHS (Restriction of use of Certain Hazardous Substances) directives which follow 11 months later in July 2006.

These two heavyweights come in on the back of other existing legislation, all of which has been designed to ensure that EU countries meet some fairly ambitious targets for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment.

In anticipation of the new legislation, specialist

UK - During the forthcoming 2004 PLASA Show at Earls Court, you will find Shure DJ record needlz and microphones being demonstrated by UK leading DJ's and Beatboxers, on the IDJ stand M100.

The following are the full details of who will be playing and when:

Sunday 12th September

10am - Margaret Dygas (Rescue Recordings)

11am - Gideon Jackson (Rescue Recordings)

12pm - Shlomo (shlo.co.uk) & DJ Nonames (Foreign Beggars)

1pm - Manipulate & Blood 1 (Surgical Cutz)

2pm - DJ Decoy

3pm - The Scratch Technician

4pm - BCEE (Rubik Records, BBC 1Xtra) & Lee Jackson (2turntables.co.uk)

5pm - Benny Lightyearz (Roc Records) & Koobs (Human Beatbox) & DJ Cor Blimey (Freight Corp/Zebra Traffic)

Monday 13th September

12pm Richard Grey (Rescue Recordings)

1pm Kleo (Rescue Recordings)

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

featured content

Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

UK - Based in Cheshire, VME has over 15 years experience in concert, film, video, broadcast, corporate and theatre production and is the UK distributor for Kling & Freitag loudspeakers and a main dealer for Sennheiser UK.

VME supplied the comms system used on the Sky Sports coverage for the Zurich Premiership, the Heineken Cup and the Parker Pen Cup and the BBC coverage of the RBS 6 Nations. Unknown to most, mics on the referee and other match officials provide the commentary team with more 'inside information' on decisions made during the game, and enable the referee and officials to communicate with each other. The system consists of four Sennheiser SK50 radio belt-packs, for the referee, touchline judges, 4th match official in the dugout and a 4-wire communication link from the 3rd match official in the TV outside broadcast truck, all mixed on a Rane 1U digital mixer. The mix

Europe - Fresh from the Athens Olympic Games' Telmaco production team, Vangelis Ziakas has joined lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc. as the new southern European sales manager.

Ziakas has eight years of involvement in the light and sound industry. For the last three of those years, he was product manager of High End Systems equipment for Telmaco S.A. in Greece. "I am really interested in High End Systems' digital lighting technology," says Ziakas, "as I believe that is a big 'revolution' for the lighting industry. I will do my best to promote it, and I am certain that my previous experience as well as my knowledge will help."

Based in Athens, Ziakas' territory includes Greece, Turkey, Italy, Serbia, Monaco and more. High End Systems' Tony Magana is handing over this territory to Ziakas. Magana will work out of the HES Europe office in London until

UK - Community Professional Loudspeakers has again extended its speaker range and is showing innovative new lines at PLASA 2004 on stand CC10. Making their debut are the CLOUD 4 and 6, which are a complete self-contained co-axial, bass-reflex loudspeaker systems. These high output packages utilize a unique and effective cooling system called Air Gap Technology (AGT).

Also on show will be the I/O 5 and I/O 8 systems - ideal for the audio professionals looking for compact, high performance speakers for a wide variety of applications, including small clubs, karaoke, playback systems and monitoring. Both models are full range designs providing high power handling, high sensitivity, and wide dynamic capability.

The M12 stage monitor system is a compact, high style, no-compromise solution to the demands of high performance monitoring. At 10 ½" high, the Community M12 offers cl

UK - Star Rigging was pivotal in ensuring Wembley arena could play host to four sell-out concerts as part of Madonna's Re-Invention tour. A Madonna concert was always going to be a spectacular production, so when production director Chris Lamb, Madonna and her team planned the 2004 Re-Invention tour, it was no surprise that the result was a complex, physically huge, highly technical production.

Following rehearsals in March and 45 US dates the tour has crossed the 'pond', with promoters Solo selling out 17 European dates in seven venues. Star Rigging's Phil Broad and Steve Armstrong were contracted as tour riggers throughout Europe joining Dano Rowley and Jimmy Vaughn. Phil's role included accommodating the complex rigging into each of the Arena venues.

The production includes 130 rigging points and 160 motors, carrying five moving video screens (the largest of which is seven

UK - Continuing with its major re-investment programme, corporate event specialists, Dimension Audio, has purchased its first line array system - keeping continuity with the d&b audiotechnik brand which already features heavily in its inventory.

Dimension has purchased six Q1 tops and six subs, along with six D12 digital amplifiers, purpose designed to power the system. "It was time we moved into line array technology, and it will enable us to quote more competitively on larger projects," explained general manager Mark Boden. "This is a discrete line array system and ultra compact - ideal for our corporate work," added project manager, Dave Rondeau. "If we need to extend the system we can simply sub-hire in."

Dimension made the decision following a system demonstration. Aside from its sonic attributes - making it deal for playback in the corporate

Germany / UK - Element Lab's Versa Tube has made its entertainment debut on the German touring production of Saturday Night Fever, currently playing Circus Krone in Munich. The project is the result of a highly successful collaboration between Element Labs Europe, based in Germany and headed by Claas Ernst, and UK partner Projected Image Digital. Element Labs Europe supplied 120m of the units to the production's main lighting equipment contractor, Showconcept. Control was through a PixelMAD media server control system specified by UK-based lighting designer Andy Voller.

The Versa Tube - already popular for architectural applications - is integrated into Saturday Night Fever's eye-catching set, designed by Walter Schwab. The units are used as powerful, dynamic and - at times - subtle effects, particularly prominently during the show's hi-energy 'disco' sequences. <

USA - Clay Paky America has announced the appointment of Giovanni Zucchinali as technical product manager. The Italian-born Zucchinali is no stranger to the Clay Paky range of products, having worked in Clay Paky's R&D department for six years and as service/product manager for seven. After a brief spell with another moving light manufacturer, Zucchinali has returned to the Clay Paky family to take a prominent role in Clay Paky's new American office. An Electronic Engineering graduate from Bergamo University, Zucchinali won the 1996 LDI award for Best Lighting Show.

"This is a great opportunity, as well as a challenge, both personally and professionally," says Zucchinali. "Living in a new country is, of course, a great experience. However, helping to raise Clay Paky's profile and status in the United States is a matter of professional pride. It is something that

USA - Reaffirming its commitment to provide systems integrators and contractors in the Canadian installed sound marketplace with professional, knowledgeable representation Biamp Systems today announced the appointment of Power Group Ltd. as its Canadian manufacturer's rep firm. Power Group Ltd. provides its customers with the industry's best performing, most versatile audio technologies. With offices located in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, the Power Group immediately assumes responsibility for Biamp sales and customer service in Canadian market.

"Now, through our relationship with Power Group, Biamp Systems is able to expand our commitment to provide quality representation to our partners in the Canadian marketplace," said Ron Camden, vice president of sales, Biamp Systems. "Having one national sales force headquartered in Toronto, enhances communications bet

UK - MP Event Trailers and ROKA will be joining forces on a stand at the Showman's Show 2004, showcasing a selection of their state of the art exhibition and hospitality trailers and mobile bar and catering units.

MP Event Trailers has made heavy investment in its hire fleet this year, producing Rainbow 18, manufactured in Holland by pan European brand, Lamboo Specials, for which MP Event Trailers is the sole UK agent. The Rainbow 18 currently offers the largest expandable internal space (plus a roof terrace) of any specialist exhibition trailer in the UK, operated by a one-touch button hydraulic system. Due to the demand for the Rainbow 18, its smaller sibling, the Rainbow 8 will be on display at the Showman's Show, reflecting the same bespoke design and marketing opportunities as the larger trailer.

ROKA is a supplier of high quality mobile bar and catering units, both for h

USA - CMX Las Vegas Studios of Nevada has purchased six Drawmer DL241 auto compressors and four Drawmer DS201 dual noise gates for use in live reinforcement. The units will become part of a concert and corporate sound system for CMX tours and events as well as outside rental. CMX Las Vegas Studios is the Nevada division of CMX Productions, one of the USA's leading sports marketing and events management companies.

According to CMX Las Vegas Studios' Troy Green, the Drawmer units were purchased initially for the CMX tours, parties and events that are thrown for and by various artists, sports stars or organizations. "We have CMX corporate and entertainment events weekly ranging from a few hundred to thousands of guests and VIPs. Drawmer not only fit the bill as the best gear available for touring and corporate use, but also to meet the riders of outside renters and events oper

Producers will be expected to pay for much of the cost of recycling electrical waste

Just waiting around the corner for UK companies are two pieces of environmental protection legislation that may just turn the electrical and electronics equipment industries on their heads.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE, yes - an unfortunate acronym that!) and the Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (RoHS) are in the final stages of a governmental consultation. They are being produced in order to implement Directives 2002/96/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

If adopted in their proposed form, the WEEE Regulations will see all those companies who manufacture, d

UK - Prolyte Products Group will introduce a complete line of electrical hoists for the entertainment market at this years PLASA show. The Prolyft Performance, a brand new hoist which will be exclusively sold by Prolyte and its distributor network, will receive its worldwide premiere with an official press launch on Sunday 12 September.

Prolyte has built a reputation for high quality products and from this background, Prolyte has decided to use its insight in market demands and product expertise to redefine the concept of rigging. The outcome is a sturdy, road proof line of electrical chain hoists with user-friendly features. The range comes with various options and specifications and in addition there is an assortment of controllers is available.

A worldwide network of service points sells the Prolyft Performance hoist. Apart from a regular stock, the service points can provi

UK - This September sees the introduction of a New Colour to the Supergel range of lighting filters from Rosco. "Light Relief Yellow 313" has been designed by Rick Fisher on behalf of the Light Relief Charity, the objective being threefold; to offer additional exposure to this important charity, to provide continual revenue to this important charity and to offer a new colour to this market leading range of long life, high heat resistant lighting filters.

When asked about the choice of colour Fisher said "I wanted the Light Relief yellow to be a warm late afternoon sunny colour. So many yellows look harsh or acidic when used. Light Relief yellow should be a good bridge between the pale straw shades and the ambers we use all the time", Fisher continued, "I am thrilled to be working with this wonderful initiative of Rosco's to benefit Light Relief and bring

USA - The Hollywood Bowl, summer home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1922, recently wrapped up a complete rebuild of its band shell that considerably improves the acoustics onstage while preserving its distinctive concentric ringed motif. But performers at the Bowl aren't the only ones to benefit from better sound this season thanks to the concurrent addition of a new concert reinforcement system largely comprised of 87 L-Acoustics loudspeakers driven by 40 LA Series amplifiers.

Twin arrays each consisting of ten V-Dosc cabinets, eight SB218 subwoofers, seven more V-Dosc, and a tail of six dV-Dosc flank the left and right sides of the new shell with an additional centre hang of 17 dV-Dosc flown from the apex of the structure. Furthermore, three 112XT enclosures are hung from the catwalk halo to provide nearfield coverage for the seating areas directly in front of the stag

UK - Music-lovers again converged on the Sennheiser Sounds of Summer Festival, which took place over two days at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in August. On the first day the audience listened and danced to non-stop music with an all-female line up from Flipside DJs. DJ's Emma Feline and Nomio started the event off with a mixture of Hip Hop and R'n'B, then DJ's Miss Behavin', Sophie Sugar and Sarah G played house and trance, continuing late into the night. Sennheiser also ran competitions throughout the day to add to the party atmosphere and hundreds of lucky winners took home Sennheiser headphones, T-shirts and other prizes.

On day two, the eight finalists of Sennheiser UK's Best Unsigned Artist Contest 2004 took to the stage. With well over 1,000 entrants, the competition, now in its 4th year, aims to help bands and artists who don't fall into the category of manufa

UK - On Sunday 12 September, the first day of the PLASA show at Earls Court, Pioneer promises to provide an audio-visual experience like you've never seen before! A line-up of DVJs including VJ Kreil and James Zabiela will be performing live in Pioneer's DJ Booth, offering a spectacular live performances on Pioneer's new DVJ-X1. Combining Pioneer's world-famous CD Jog Dial technology with the flexibility and capacity of DVD, the DVJ-X1 looks just like the company's own CDJ-1000MK2 CD player - and has the same functionality - with the added capacity to playback DVDs as well as CDs.

Crucially, DVJs will also be able to use the DVJ-X1 to manipulate DVD visuals in exactly the same way as they would music, so real-time digital video scratches, loops and instant cues are all possible, while the video and audio streams always stay in perfect sync, even when they're being reversed and

UK - Duran Audio will be exhibiting at this year's PLASA Show, where it will be officially launching the AXYS Intellivox DDS series and also the AXYS Target U16. Both products use the company's ground-breaking DDS (Digital Directivity Synthesis) beam-steering technology.

The electronic aiming previously available with DDC products, which can be thought of as aiming and focusing a light, allows users to aim the vertical beam onto the audience area from the acoustic centre of the array, say Duran Audio.

DDS users are offered the complete opposite; using Duran Audios DDA (Digital Directivity Analysis) software the user can define the array position and the audience area and allow the DDS algorithm to produce the best possible directivity for that array in the given location. The result is a complex dispersion pattern that "fits" the audience area, say Duran Audio. DDS

UK - PLASA Member - MEDC/Next Two Loudspeakers was pleased to introduce its new area sales manager for the United Kingdom and Eire - Tom Blackwell. Formerly employed by Sennheiser as a system consultant specializing in loudspeaker applications. Tom looks forward to working with distributors and system houses alike to realize the benefits of the Next Two range.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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