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Other flagship desks on show in Amsterdam included Yamaha's PM5000, launched in Frankfurt; Audient's Aztec, launched last year; DiGiCo's D5 Live; and Stagetec's Aurus - again, both launched last year. However, the presence of these desks cheek by jowl with their studio counterparts illustrated the synergy between the new markets better than anything.

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Innova Son's Compact Sy80 appeared centre-stage, an 80-input, 48-buss live console based on the Sensory Compact Live chassis. It features upgraded 'Sensoft' software, and with a stage-box can be expanded to create further inputs and outputs.

Company founder Philippe Royer presided. "It's very much the result of consultation and feedback from our end users, dealers and distributors," he said. "One of the main improvements has been in the design. Beside that, it's a more rugged console for touring and there is a new suite of software functions. The user can specify the layout of his console, so it becomes a global or universal console. Each of the faders can be an input - mono, stereo or multiple; a VCA; a matrix; or an aux and so on. It is completely user-defined."

Because of this, the Sy80 is equally at home tackling FOH, monitoring, live recording and on-air duti

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Amsterdam's RAI Centre has now hosted three of the last six European AES Conventions, and while this reflects the popularity of the city among delegates, exhibitors and voyeurs alike, as a commercial rope-ladder for the high end it may be wearing a bit thin.

It was quiet, and if the exhibition is to stimulate the local markets around itself, there are other cities that need attention while Holland's well-turned soil could lay fallow for a few years. That said, portents for improvement were visible both in that very local support, and in a few promising technological breakthroughs for sound reinforcement.

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AKG

SR40/DIV, a stationary UHF diversity receiver added to the WMS 40 wireless mic system.

www.akg.com

Audio EngineeringThe Micron 700 Series wireless system goes to 16 channels, using MDR762 twin-channel diversity racks in conjunction with the new BandMaster antenna distribution and combiner systems.

www.micronwireless.co.uk

Bruel & Kjaer

Launch of 2260 Observer, a portable sound level meter and analyzer. In real-time, it analyzes in 1/1- or 1/3 octave bands, covering 8Hz-16kHz and 6.3Hz-20kHz respectively. Room reverberation measurement is an option.

www.bksv.com

DPA Microphones

Low-voltage versions of the DPA 4061 and 4066 headband mics, namel

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In addition to Innova Son, the other important console appearance was Cadac's S-Type, announced in September and now in production. It's available in 17-, 25- or 33-way frames, typically at 25 frames with 16 mono inputs; eight group, aux and matrix outputs; eight DC master faders; and a communications module.

The 4-band parametric EQ comes from the J-Type, while this desk can be expanded via buss connectors to link a number of frames together. The modules can be placed according to taste. According to Cadac's Tony Waldron, plenty of live sound people had been to visit the stand. "We've had the Dutch contingency, lots of German and Denmark contacts - all the usual customers who want to see the latest from us.

"In the last 10 years," Waldron observed, "loudspeakers have become so good that they reveal things in a live or playback mix that you couldn't hear before. P

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Audient launched the ASP008 - a compact, 1U rack mount unit, featuring eight channels of the highly acclaimed mic pre, developed originally for the ASP8024 recording console and the Aztec live sound mixer.

All channels include XLR input, 48V phantom power, switchable input impedance, 25-250Hz hi pass filter, phase reverse, as well as line input selection. Channels one and two also feature a -20dB attenuator and a high impedance Instrument/DI input, on a jack on the front panel. LEDs provide indication of signal present and overload. A digital output option is available in addition to the standard balanced analogue outputs, making the ASP008 an ideal 'front end' to any DAW or Pro Tools system.

This is the first new product to be launched by Audient since its restructure earlier this year. The company has recently relocated to new headquarters at Herriard Park in north Hampshire, UK,

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In case the show threatened to rise above a background murmer, Drawmer introduced the SP2120 Speaker Protector, a 1U processor designed to prevent excessive SPLs from a given speaker system. With a security lock and key to allow only authorized system adjustment and management, it gives engineers the power to protect the drivers and electronics in the speakers themselves, and venues the capacity to stay within local noise-level limits whoever's on the stage, in the DJ booth or in the CD rack. It wasn't needed at the RAI Centre.

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Digigram quietly demonstrated new EtherSound control software, although, as Frank Siedel pointed out, you don't necessarily need a computer to gain the benefits of networked audio. "You can get the audio in and out of the EtherSound network just by configuring the channels and the devices themselves," he said. "Many people think network audio equals system administration and a lot of troubleshooting - just because, in most companies, everybody has network headaches every day. But EtherSound is not like this, because it can be set up without even a computer.

"But, if you want more flexibility, you can use our software. It simply tells you what equipment is connected to the network, the number of inputs and outputs, and allows you to manipulate these as a matrix. All you have to do is define channels by clicking and dragging, and of course, every configuration can be

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Singapore - Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), organizer of BroadcastAsia and CommunicAsia, has decided to cancel both 2003 events, which were scheduled to take place from June 17-20 at Suntec Singapore and Singapore Expo respectively.

Commenting on the decision, Stephen Tan, chief executive of SES commented: "Together with our exhibitors and stakeholders, we have decided not to go ahead with the shows. This is a very difficult decision borne out of necessity due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and the lack of options for a suitable time frame in which to re-schedule the events. It is also our utmost priority to safeguard the well being of our exhibitors and visitors who have shown us unwavering support all these years."

As the SARS outbreak in Asia has not stabilized, exhibitors and visitors alike had expressed concerns about their safety

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USA - Three leading electronic systems industry trade associations have announced the upcoming launch of shows in Europe and Asia intended to address the needs of their combined constituencies in those regions.

The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA/InfoComm) and the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) have formed a partnership to develop and produce joint trade exhibitions in Europe and Asia for the benefit of their respective members and industries. The three have a combined membership of over 5,000 companies and individuals that are located in over 60 countries.

The first European show will be held at the Geneva PALEXPO (a brand new exhibition facility) in Switzerland on February 3-5, 2004. A new name and brand for the show is under development, but it will have the advan

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UK - In response to the changing expectations of audiences, producers and directors, the importance of technology in contemporary theatre continues to grow at a rapid rate. Since the mid 1970s, the Association of British Theatre Technicians has supported and helped spearhead technical innovation in theatre through its annual showcase, the ABTT show, which this year runs on the 18 and 19 June in London.

Over the years the success of ABTT can be attributed as much to British engineering and ingenuity, as it can to a passion for the theatre. Many UK-based companies have exhibited at ABTT since its inception, including CCT Lighting, Lee Filters, Rosco and White Light - all have pioneered technology in theatre and augmented the potential of productions across the international stage.

Growing from a small niche event at The Donmar Warehouse, the ABTT Show now fills London’s R

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UK - Stage Electrics' Open Days provide customers and suppliers with a forum dedicated to providing hands-on demonstrations of the very latest products. The compay's recent Bristol Open Day was no exception; demonstrations from Strand, Selecon, Rosco, Martin Professional, DHA, Le Maitre, Mackie/EAW, Audio-Technica and Zero 88 offered customers a wide range of interest.

.Visitors got a glimpse into the workings of Stage Electrics' warehouse, with tours supplied by sales and marketing manager Linda Moore, who says: "Stage Electrics Open Days are a great opportunity for suppliers and customers to meet. They have proved highly successful and we are already planning more for later in the year."

Not only were customers provided an insight to the inner workings of Stage Electrics, technical manager Adrian Searle organized a Moving Light Symposium, providing hands-on experie

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Germany - This month, Germany plays host to the TiLE Conference and trade exhibition for the second year running. The 12th annual TiLE, which covers the latest trends in the location-based leisure attractions industry, is being held in Berlin at the Estrel Convention Center, from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 June 2003.

"There is no doubt that many companies which supply to venues that entertain and/or inform are finding it hard to do business," explained event organizer Richard Curtis of Andrich International. "The current economic and political situation has seen tourism and travel drop, and along with it visitor numbers to many attractions. Also, the uncertainty has meant that many investment plans are on hold. We hope that TiLE will be a catalyst to help lift the industry out of its current gloom."

The Conference will feature a range of speakers on subjects

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Italy - For the 2004 edition of SIB (13-16 March 2004), the show’s organizers are promising a cutting-edge expo with a new image, new targets and two new sections as part of a plan drawn up in conjunction with research and consultancy company Cermes-Bocconi.

"We’ve carried out support activity for Rimini Fiera’s management on the basis of our experience in the sector of exhibitions of international importance," explains Professor Francesca Golfetto, joint director of Cermes-Bocconi. "Bearing in mind the on-going evolution of its business sectors, it’s extremely important for strict scientific surveys to be conducted on an event of SIB’s international calibre, to ensure the utmost satisfaction of its numerous clients." As a result of this plan, SIB now also has a new subtitle - the International Exhibition of Event and Entertainme

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USA - The voters were divided at this year’s Tony Awards in New York, presented earlier this week, with no one show sweeping the boards. In the technical categories, it was La Boheme’s night, with Baz Luhrmann’s stylish production of Puccini’s opera winning designer Catherine Martin a Best Scenic Design Tony and lighting designer Nigel Levings the Best Lighting Design Tony.

"It was thrilling to win," commented Levings, who was previously nominated for The King and I. The Tonys round out a successful New York award season for the Boheme design team: Levings and Martin also won the equivalent categories in New York’s Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk awards. Levings’ co-nominees were Donald Holder for Movin’ Out, Brian MacDevitt for Nine and Kenneth Posner for Hairspray, while

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Dubai - PALME, the Middle East’s professional sound, light, audio-visual and systems integration exhibition, is offering PLASA members a 25% discount off its space-only rate until 1 September 2003 (inclusive), or a 15% discount off the space-only rate thereafter.

There are strong reasons to justify attending: the Middle East continues to present the professional lighting and sound industries with significant market potential and is the world’s fastest growing tourist destination, predicted to attract 68.5 million tourists by 2020 - an annual growth rate of 7.1%, well above the world average of 4.1%.The region, and the UAE in particular, continue to invest huge sums in new, architecturally-driven initiatives which require state-of-the-art facilities to be competitive. Projects in development include the Kempinski Hotel on The Palm island (US$50 million); The Gardens s

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Germany - The Major One is Lightpower's new single-channel dimmer, dedicated to be used directly with the luminaire. It provides an ideal solution when using single units positioned remotely or over long distances with decentralized dimming and control systems. This makes the dimmer mainly suitable for exhibitions and fairs. With its address, limit, switch and level function the operation of the Major One is straightforward: the light intensity can be adjusted on the dimmer itself without an external control, and in case of a circuit break, all data will remain available.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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Belgium - When Belgium’s Minister of Culture announced that 2003 was to be the year of Jacques Brel (one of the country’s great modern singer/songwriters in the French language), plans immediately got underway to ensure that events staged to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Belgian singer’s death would attract the attention of the world.

One of the key features is an exhibition charting Brel’s life. Stan Colders of Nexus Creative People was commissioned to design the exhibition, his ideas relying heavily on theatrical techniques - lighting, video and set dressing - mixed with artefacts from Brel’s childhood. The ‘set’ incorporates the house where Brel grew up, taking the visitor on a journey from Brussels to Paris, to a recreation of his Parisian room where he wrote many of his songs. Visitors can also re-live Brel’s last co

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Positive feedback from Members to new-style Association Day

PLASA hosted its 2003 Association Day and Annual General Meeting on Friday 6 June, in the impressive surroundings of the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel, near Coventry.

The PLASA Association Day is designed to incorporate the Association's AGM into a full day's activity, offering PLASA Members an event that is both useful and enjoyable, as PLASA's managing director Matthew Giffiths outlined: "We've made a conscious effort in recent years to get away from the focus on the AGM: this meeting is a legal formality for an Association, and is itself over very quickly. The real value of the Association Day then arises from the seminars, discussions, networking and entertainment which follow - all of which is heavily subsidized by the Association and is there for members to take up."

The AGM itself provided the opport

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UK - Innovations set to have a major impact throughout the building and construction industry will be given pride of place at Interbuild 2004. New Product Zones are being introduced in four dedicated areas of the exhibition (which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from April 25-29), and each of the items featured will be automatically entered for a new product award. There will be seven categories - Best Lighting and Electrical Product, Best Interior Product, Best Exterior Product, Best On-Site Product, Energy Efficiency Award, Disability Access Award and Best Overall Product.

Steve Webb, event director for Interbuild said: "Interbuild has always been regarded within the industry as the perfect place to introduce new ideas, and we feel it is only right to give them a greater profile. That's why we have devised a scheme to promote the new products before and during the event

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USA - Entertainment Design magazine presented its annual EDDY Awards for outstanding contributions in the field of entertainment design and technology at a special 'Salute to New York Theatre' ceremony held on Friday 27 June at the John Jay College Theatre in New York. The Awards were presented in conjunction with the Broadway Lighting Master classes and the first Broadway Sound Master Classes.

The 2003 winners were set designer John Lee Beatty, projection designer Elaine McCarthy, sound designer Dan Moses Schreier, production electrician Mike LoBue, noted director Mary Zimmerman's design team (Dan Ostling, Mara Blumenfeld, T.J. Gerckens), and Theatre Projects Consultants.

Winning lighting products included City Theatrical's WDS Wireless Dimming System, Entertainment Technology's IPS Intelligent Raceway, Electronic Theatre Controls' Emphasis control system, Martin Professional

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UK - Last year £50 million was spent converting a former steelworks near Sheffield into the Magna science and exhibition space. In September, Tidy Events is intending to carve this huge space into seven zones, load in full colour lasers, sound and lighting, then add the world's top-name DJs to create a huge dance event catering for 5,000 clubbers.

Tidy has delivered its fair share of groundbreaking and unique events - from a 72-hour dance party in the depths of Wales to filling London's biggest dance club to capacity - and Magna 7 is set to be one of their most impressive yet.

The seven arenas will boast a myriad of sounds and styles and are divided into the Main Arena, the Face of Steel, Funky Bubble, Hardcore Bubble, Digital Entertainment Zone, Retail World, Chill-Out Zone, and the VIP Space Pod. This exclusive zone floats several storeys in the air and is accessed by a hig

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Switzerland - For the ninth consecutive year, US-based manufacturer Shure has been chosen as the official supplier of microphones and wireless systems for the Montreux Jazz Festival. Providing nearly 50 U2 premium wireless systems and over 1,000 additional pieces of audio equipment, such as the company's venerable SM58 and KSM studio condenser mics, Shure will take the stage at numerous festival stages including the celebrated Auditorium Stravinski, Miles Davis Hall, and Casino Barriere. In addition, Shure will also be providing 24-hour, behind-the-scenes technical support for the duration of the festival.

Faced with the challenge of accurately capturing the variety of onstage performances at Montreux, Shure Europe marketing director Ron Marchant said: "With almost a decade of experience to our credit, we've carefully tailored each venue's microphone offerings to the expres

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UK - As part of the PLASA Show relaunch, this year's event will see increased facilities dedicated to technicians with the introduction of The PLASA Production Village. This will incorporate The PLASA Crew Zone supported by Total Production magazine, and The PLASA Backstage Area, organized by the PSA (Production Services Association).

Placed on the Top Deck overlooking the main hall, the area will offer a number of facilities and services. The PLASA Crew Zone will offer a place to relax, furnished with two internet-ready computers sponsored by StageAccess.com, where visitors will be able to catch up with old friends by registering with StageAccess.com. The PLASA Backstage Area, organized by the PSA, will offer demonstrations and the opportunity for 'hands-on' use of products. Companies involved last year included Le Maitre, AC Lighting, Tomcat, Stage Technologies, TMB, Marquee

  1. Autograph to host free Meyer training days in August
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  4. ABTT 2003 - Orbital presents Trantec S6000
  5. ABTT 2003 - Doughty Lighting Hoists
  6. SBES - November 2003, London
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