UK - Pro Audio Stash (PAS) has launched an innovative new captive nut design - the Threaded Rack Rail Clip Nut. This is set to become the much-anticipated alternative to traditional cage nuts, suggests the company.

The PAS Clip Nuts contain a threaded extrusion which simply and neatly slides over the square rack rails and clips closed - saving masses of time as well as the potential of pain, bruises, stabbings - not to mention the complete and utter frustration that anyone attempting to grapple aged nuts into place will be familiar with.

Once in place, the retaining bolt is then screwed through the Clip Nut in a civilised manner to secure the rack device or panel into place.

Currently PAS's Threaded Rack Rail Clip Nuts are available as standard in black or silver, and with M6, M5 or 10/32 threaded holes.

PAS's Rob Platt syas: "Quite simply, it's the nuts! We have been

UK - The Cloud Electronics DCM-1e is a new addition to the popular DCM-1 range of eight-zone digital mixer and accessories from Cloud Electronics Ltd. With the addition of an ethernet port and web control interface the new DCM-1e this allows on/off-site management and configuration by mobile device, touch-screen, PC or third party control interface solutions.

In addition to providing eight zones of independent music source, independent level control and independent paging by zone the Cloud Electronics DCM-1e provides a host of remote input / control options via a comprehensive range of wall input plates and remote controls.

(Jim Evans)

UK - DPA Microphones' award-winning d:facto II vocal microphone will be on show at PLASA Focus this week.

With the launch of the d:facto II vocal microphone, DPA has broadened its product range for the live stage by introducing a high quality vocal microphone that gives users unlimited possibilities for their performance.

This latest addition to the DPA condenser microphone range brings true studio sound to the live stage by offering an extraordinarily natural sound, superior gain before feedback and extreme SPL handling. In addition to use with the new wired DPA handle, the d:facto II provides singers and engineers with the added benefit of a state-of-the-art adapter system that allows for seamless integration with many professional wireless systems.

"The launch of the d:facto II vocal microphone is a major step for DPA as it means that we now have a microphone for eve

Germany - A record-breaking 113,000 visitors from 142 countries attended this year's Musikmesse and Prolight+Sound expos in Frankfurt. This statistic spelt success not only for the show but also for Christie, who returned to Hall 9 as exhibitors in their own right after a break last year.

Pride of place went to the Nitro moving yoke series. The company welcomed existing and new customers to hourly presentations given by Christie field application engineer, Jan Walter, in which he compared a Christie YK100 single arm projection yoke (specifically designed for Christie M Series and Christie LX1500 projectors) to a standard moving light.

A further eye-catcher was Christie's 10m wide projection mapping demonstration, using five Roadster HD20K-J. With the growing popularity of 3D mapping, this attracted much attention and demonstrated the value of this high brightness projector, wi

USA - Community Professional Loudspeakers is introducing the new Commercial Design Series, a comprehensive family of ceiling, surface mount and pendant loudspeakers designed to meet the needs of installations requiring high performance at a competitive price. Commercial Design models offer a choice of 4.5-inch, 6.5-inch and 8-inch driver sizes, and deliver Community's legendary sonic quality, exceptional speech intelligibility and proven reliability.

The Commercial Design Series was designed to complement Community's Distributed Design family of high-performance ceiling, surface mount and pendant loudspeakers in a combined installation. For this reason, Commercial Design utilizes many of the same technologies as Distributed Design, including real compression drivers and Tru-Phase phase plugs for high output and low distortion. Commercial Design ceiling models also incorporate la

The Netherlands - Lighthouse of Holland has made available for download a demo version of Martin Professional's ShowDesigner (MSD) lighting and set design software package.

The demo version can be used without the need for a Martin One-Key and is available at www.martinshowdesigner.com.

The MSD demo version contains a ready-to-use scene that matches Martin's M-PC training show file. After a simple registration, the user gets a license immediately. Connection to the MSD demo version can be made via a Martin M-PC or LightJockey as well as Artnet.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - GLP German Light Products launched a number of new products at the recent PLS exhibition in Frankfurt, along with treating visitors to a sneak preview of some upcoming product releases.

Reporting a busy attendance from all four days, distributors and customers alike gave a great response to the new showings, in what was definitely an upbeat environment.

Getting its official launch at the show was the Impression X4S fixture, which is the 'small' version of the Impression X4. Featuring the same 15 Watt RGBW LED's that are used in the Impression X4 - just seven instead of 19, it has the same homogenous output, the same stunning 7 to 50 degree zoom range and the same pixel pattern capability, but all in a smaller body which is just 12 inches high and weighs just 12 lbs. It offers all the things you have always wanted in a small moving LED washlight, but could never get i

Denmark - Martin Professional's compact Jem AF-1 fan has been a touring industry staple for well over a decade. Now improvements in digital electronics have made this industry-standard fan more responsive and even more versatile.

With the new Jem AF-1 Mkll, advances in control, rotation, speed range and increment adjustment have raised the bar for quality, performance and durability. Speed control response is instantaneous, minimum fan speed has been lowered and motor noise at low speeds has also been reduced.

Fully DMX controllable or via a hand-held remote, the AF-1 Mkll is the ideal fan for a large variety of indoor or outdoor applications from touring and stage to theme parks, cruise ships and much more. Also featuring an all new design, the AF-1 Mkll can be installed from a truss or used floor standing.

(Jim Evans)

UK - ETC is showing a range of new and updated products at this week's PLASA Focus in Leeds:

The Source Four LED Studio HD is designed to perform in a high definition production world where people (with varying flesh tones) need to look their best. The fixture combines exceptional light output with an ultra-flexible, variable white light (2700K-6500K), for more accurate colour rendition on camera, and uses the colour technology of ETC's Selador x7 Color System for a more spectrally complete white light that can be finely tuned to the on screen talent.

Source Four Mini is the tiniest Source Four ever, and is designed for small-scale installations, like low ceiling venues or puppet theatres, as well as museums, shops, theatre lobbies and restaurants, or those which need an extremely low-profile fixture that can easily blend into an architectural or artistic design.

The new ES1

USA - Chauvet is gearing up for PLASA Focus Orlando, scheduled for 15-16 May. Built with TRUSST, backed by Chauvet, booth 501 will house a selection of fixtures including Chauvet Professional Legend 230SR Beam moving yoke, Nexus 4x4 tour-ready wash light, Ovation series of theatrical luminaires, PVP S5 high-definition video panel, MVP Ta8 Curve modular video panel, wash lights from the COLORado Series and more. Additionally, Chauvet will present on 16 May the seminar How to Blend LED with Traditional Fixtures.

Chauvet Professional Legend 230SR Beam is a compact, lightweight, intensely bright moving head beam, built for touring, live events, television sets or clubs.

Nexus 4x4 is both a bold eye-candy and a tour-ready wash light that uses RGB COB LED technology, combined with a reflector that delivers a soft and visually pleasing light.

Ovation F-165WW and Ovation E-19

USA - QSC Audio Products has announced the addition of the S8T, S10T and S12 loudspeakers to the AcousticDesign Series line of premium surface mount loudspeakers. Suited for a wide variety of foreground/background sound reinforcement applications, these new models feature both constant voltage (70/100V) and low impedance operating modes and offer an elegant design combined with rugged durability that are perfect for spaces which require high quality distributed audio.

Ease-of-installation is the driving principle behind this next generation of small format, surface mount surround loudspeakers. The patent pending X-Mount (included with every loudspeaker) enables the loudspeakers to be quickly and securely deployed either vertically or horizontally from a flat surface. Knurled surfaces on the X-Mount's pivot points allow the loudspeaker deployment angle to lock in place in 7.5-deg

Denmark - DPA Microphones has now turned its attention to the installation market with the launch of two new microphones that "give AV installers and conference organisers the clear, transparent and precise sound they demand".

At the top end of the range DPA is offering podium microphones that incorporate the modular capsules from the d:dicate Recording Microphones (formerly known as Reference Standard), which are noted for their exceptional linear frequency responses, high SPL and superior gain before feedback. These new podium microphones combine the capsules with newly introduced modular active booms to complete their modular nature. A number of different capsules are available and by choosing the exact capsule and boom combination, DPA customers can access the exact microphone for their needs.

Christian Poulsen, CEO of DPA Microphones, says, "Given the flexi

UK - Allen & Heath has released an interim firmware update for its iLive range of digital mixing systems, v1.91, containing a series of presets created by renowned sound engineer and regular iLive user, Ben Booker.

Booker has toured as a monitor and FOH engineer with many artists, including Scissor Sisters, Spiritualized and PJ Harvey, and won Monitor Engineer of the Year at the Total Production Awards in 2009. He has also produced, mixed and mastered various recording projects and mixed on stage sound and broadcast mixes on numerous TV and Radio shows, including MTV Awards and BBC Live Lounge.

Booker has extensive operating experience of iLive and has written his suggested presets for Dynamic EQ and Multiband compressors based on years of touring with the system.

"The Dyn EQ and Multi BD compressor are both creative and controlling in use. They are the Swiss knife off

UK / USA ETC has introduced the Selador Desire D40XTI luminaire. It has the same colour mixing system that Selador luminaires are known for. Using the x7 Color System - which combines up to seven LED colours in one unit - the D40XTI has the most flexible colour rendering possible, says the company.

The D40XTI features the Selador family's professional-quality dimming capabilities. The D40XTI can fade to black smoothly, without the telltale steps demonstrated by other LEDs.

"The D40XTI was designed with the installer in mind," explains Jim Uphoff, ETC fixtures product manager. "It can be set up in minutes with a few simple connections. It has just two cables: one for power and one for both data in and thru. The DMX/RDM cable simply plugs into an included data board, and the power cord can be permanently wired to a junction box."

A tough, rugged luminaire,

USA - With less than two weeks until the doors open at PLASA Focus: Orlando 2013, taking place at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, on 15-16 May, 2013, exhibitors have been busy releasing details about the products they will have on display at their booths.

Robe Lighting will introduce four new additions to the Robin Series; the Robin Pointe, Robin MiniMe, Robin Cyclone and Robin CycFX. The Robin Pointe is a new dynamic beam, spot and wash fixture which features include a 5 to 20 degree zoom with full focus control, variable frost, two separate prism effects, a rotating and static gobo wheel, and built-in color wheel. The RobinMiniMe is an effects lighting luminaire with the addition of full video output, driven by a 20,000 hour lifetime source. The Robin Cyclone is an innovative effects moving head product that has an integrated fan in the center of the head surrounded by a ri

USA - Visitors to PLASA Focus Orlando will be the first in the US to get an up-close look at the newest members of Martin Professional's award-winning MAC Viper Family, as well as the first fixtures in Martin's all-new range of affordable effect lights - RUSH.

Join Martin May 15-16 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort Booth 321 to check out these latest Martin innovations, network with industry professionals and enjoy a relaxing chat with Martin personnel.

A host of other Martin lighting products and control solutions will also be on display.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Audica Professional has announced it is expanding its MICROseries audio system capabilities with the launch of the MULTIzone. Applications include retail outlets, bars and restaurants, hotels, education facilities, museums, visitor centres and other public spaces requiring independent zone input and output control.

The MULTIzone is a four-zone control mixer with six music inputs, plus a microphone input for paging. Each of the four outputs can be independently configured to provide music from any one of the inputs plus the paging microphone and the relative levels are set by front panel controls. The music is automatically ducked to allow for announcements to be heard clearly. Up to 7 MULTIzone units can be linked for systems of up to 28 zones.

Zone outputs are individually switchable for flat response or Audica loudspeaker EQ, allowing for systems using Audica or any oth

USA - Elation will be showing a spread of new products at PLASA Focus: Orlando next week.

EZ6 LED Video Panel is a high-resolution 22.7" x 22.7" indoor video display panel, powered by premium Tri-Color 3528 SMD LEDs, that delivers a 6mm pixel pitch, 1,800-nit brightness and 960 Hz refresh rate, allowing it to produce sharp, clear high-definition graphics, text, logos and images. Yet it is also very affordably priced, light weight and easy to assemble, making it a suitable choice for nightclubs, concert venues, live stages and exhibit halls..

The smallest and fastest LED moving head ever created by Elation, the Rayzor 7 delivers "unsurpassed brightness for its size (11 lbs., 9.25" x 5.5" x 12.5"), a razor-sharp 7° beam angle, smooth Quad-Color RGBW color-mixing, and new high-speed 3-phase motor technology that makes its eye-popping beams litera

UK - After last week's PLASA Focus event in Leeds, Peavey Commercial Audio have been delighted with the reaction to the Digitool range of multiprocessors which were shipping the day following the show.

"Orders specifically for this product have been fantastic," commented Mark Coombes sales manager for Peavey Commercial Audio. "We knew the range would be a hit for us there but the response has been even better than we could ever have hoped."

The Digitool is now available in the following models: the MX16, featuring eight inputs and eight outputs; the MX32, featuring 16 inputs and 16 outputs; and the LIVE, featuring eight balanced XLR inputs and outputs for live-sound FOH applications. These all-new Digitool processors feature an updated, more powerful DSP engine, full-colour LCD screen, enhanced front-panel navigation, individual input and output mutes, and

UK - Following a period of extensive testing and strong customer feedback the all new Armordillo will show case at the Safety & Health show.

Steve Marshall, chief designer for Dirty Rigger notes: "The Armordillo project was 100% customer driven with their need to have a comfortable all day work glove with excellent grip and flexibility but with a high level of slash and cut resistance.

"We worked within a number of diverse industry sectors including event crewing, rigging, and overhead installation. This ensured that the feedback reflected the true use that these gloves would be exposed to.

"We chose Armourtex flexible shields in key risk areas, with a full Kevlar inner glove to ensure optimum protection and, very importantly, excellent grip. To ensure strength & durability Coats polyester thread was selected to stitch the whole Armordillo into a superb high e

China - Wireless Solution Sweden AB will be showing its growing line of G4S products during PALM Expo, June 7-10 2013 at the New China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing.

The W-DMX G4S software platform includes an improved adaptive frequency hopping algorithm that improves the plug and play use in crowded radio spectrum situations and better avoids interference from Wi-Fi, DECT Phones, Intercom and more. The adaptive frequency hopping technology has been granted a patent in the USA and patent pending in the EU.

G4S also has a new Invisi-Wire MK2 with support for wireless software updates, which will make it possible to perform wireless software updates to all your receivers, with an easy connection to your transmitters with all receivers updated at the same time.

Another new feature is W-DMX Slot In, a new module that makes it easy to retrofit for the market and is

UK - Brewing came to Brick Lane before 1680 with water drawn from wells deep within the London clay. Today, the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane is host to concoctions of a different kind as it hosts the annual ABTT trade show 2013 on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June. Nestled amongst the array of exhibitors and their paraphernalia visitors will discover the calm and tranquillity of the d&b audiotechnik stand. No clutter, simple visual eye candy and, perhaps surprisingly, no sound.

So what is the special ingredient in the d&b cauldron this year? To calm the stormy seas of a constantly variable acoustic environment comes the ArrayCalc V7, a sophisticated yet easy to use acoustic simulation tool that has been developed for both point source and line array setups as well as those projects that combine both into a single hybrid sound reinforcement system.

"This is the plannin

USA - WATCHOUT Premium Partner, Show Sage, will be exhibiting at PLASA Focus: Orlando - booth 209, Wyndham Orlando Resort, Florida, 15-16 May 2013.

The major release for Dataton in 2013 is WATCHPAX. Combining all the show-timeline, control and image-manipulation of the company's successful Dataton WATCHOUT software with a compact embedded computer, WATCHPAX is now shipping.

Dataton WIRETAG, which plugs directly into the WATCHPAX media-player module allows direct integration of a WATCHOUT show with Dataton's PICKUP audio guide system. Simply point and click at the WIRETAG with a PICKUP audio guide, and you jump straight into the show soundtrack at the correct point in the show.

Jim Testa, President, Show Sage, adds, "The North American market for Dataton's products is in very robust health and we are very excited by the attention WATCHPAX is getting from customers, curre

UK - Following on from the success of the Dynamic Compression dance floor range, Le Mark has introduced Sonata, a matt-black-topped addition to their already established Compression flooring collection.

This 6mm foam-backed performance vinyl floor provides a lightly textured surface with point elastic shock absorption for dynamic dance routines and ballet pointe work, suitable for all types of contemporary dance.

Le Mark's Dave Cartwright said, "The Compression floor range has already been used on some of the UK's highest profile dance productions. Earlier this year, Dynamic Compression was commissioned for Sky1's primetime series of Got To Dance.

"For this application the floor was installed directly over an existing concrete floor, providing a roll-out covering where the shows contestants could practice their high impact and varied dynamic dance routines.&

Latest Issue. . .