The Netherlands - In the centre of Utrecht, in the multicultural Lombok neighbourhood, the biggest Mosque in Holland has been built, offering a variety of areas where high intelligible sound was required.

Not only because of its size but also the area where the Mosque is built is unique in Holland and perhaps even in Europe, within a five minutes' walk from the Utrecht Central Station.

In the Mosque, open to all religions, visitors not only find the three praying levels but also a silence area for other religions, a splittable conference room, offices and educational rooms.

The mosque has been designed by architect Ishak

UK - Getsoundandlighting.com - an industry-supported web portal providing instant access to three vital needs of rental and production service companies - has launched today.

Getsoundandlighting.com addresses the three most common needs as requested by rental hire and production companies, by providing a one-stop platform for instantly-searchable nationwide production services and hire stock, as well as an online brokerage for all used equipment, including audio, video and special effects as well as lighting.

The new website features three sections:

Used Equipment - Offering a brokerage for all used equipment, including audio, projection, special effects, as well as lighting, Getsoundandlighting.com enables companies to sell excess used stock and also purchase from the listings available on the site.

Nationwide Hire - For those times when existing hire stock needs

USA - At InfoComm 2016, d&b audiotechnik will introduce its software plug-in for the Q-SYS platform from QSC, LLC enabling the comprehensive control and monitoring of d&b amplifiers and loudspeakers from any Q-SYS Core.

The detailed control interoperability enabled by this dedicated software module, means d&b amplifiers can now be integrated easily as part of a Q-SYS DSP network system. Integrators can provide Power on/off, Mute, Gain, Preset Recall and other amplifier controls from any Q-SYS user control interface (UCI) hosted on any number of control devices and - vice versa - can read extensive status information from the d&b loudspeaker system. This allows system designers to achieve high performance d&b quality in installation applications requiring detailed, customized remote control features. Extensive integration with Q-SYS also allows the status logging of all audio c

France - L-Acoustics has announced the launch of the Kiva II, a new ultra-compact modular line source, adding 6dB of max SPL versus its predecessor, maximized amplifier density with 16 ohm impedance and a new rugged enclosure material

Despite its ultra-compact format, the Kiva II features the L-Acoustics Wavefront Sculpture Technology (WST), giving it a long throw capability and allowing even SPL from the front to the back of the audience. Its coplanar transducer arrangement and new K-shaped coplanar transducer configuration generates a symmetric horizontal coverage of 100° without secondary lobes over the entire frequency range.

The Kiva II will be on display during Infocomm16 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre at L-Acoustics booth number C12116 from 8-10 June, 2016.

"This new Kiva II keeps the elegance of its predecessor but that's where the comparison ends," exp

UK - Bose Professional reports that the F1 Model 812 Passive Flexible Array loudspeaker is now shipping. This new passive loudspeaker, along with a powered model introduced in 2015, are the first loudspeakers offering FLEX array technology.

The ability to configure the array into four different shapes lets installers focus sound to target listening areas, offering exceptional power and clarity for a wide range of applications and venues. The passive F1 loudspeaker is ideal for permanent installations in sports bars, live music venues, clubs, schools, houses of worship and any small to medium size venue requiring a high performance loudspeaker solution.

Engineered with an array of eight Bose proprietary 2.25-inch drivers, 100-degree horizontal waveguides, a high-powered 12-inch woofer and a lower crossover point, F1 Model 812 passive loudspeakers deliver high SPL performanc

UK - Former X Factor winners Little Mix are currently promoting their third album, Get Weird, with a major tour of Europe, Oceania and Asia. Playing largely arenas and summer festival dates, a pair of DiGiCo consoles are adding some black magic to the mix.

Kicking off at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena on 13 March, demand for tickets saw a number of shows added to the UK arena leg, which ran through to mid-April. In mid-May the tour moved to Australia and Asia, returning to Europe for further headline and festival shows.

Monitor engineer Craig Pryde has used DiGiCo consoles since 2008 and has worked with Little Mix since they won the X Factor three years later. "The SD10 sounds great. It's extremely flexible in its set up and having so many output busses available makes it really easy to provide all the extra mixes required for this kind of show, including underst

USA - C3 Church offers it members three campuses to choose from in the San Diego area. In an effort to keep the quality of their sound reinforcement above reproach, they recently contracted Sound Image to design and install an Adamson S10 system at their Central Campus worship centre.

"When they bought the building they opted to rent a system to get a better handle on what worked best in the space," explains Brandon Rinas, sales engineer for Sound Image. "The room is very wide, not very deep and has a low ceiling, so they definitely needed something that could provide focused energy. At the same time the church was interested in stereo coverage with every seat getting the same audio experience."

The review/demonstration process was fairly rigorous with the church evaluating a number of sound reinforcement systems before making a decision. Fortunately, James Hurley, the new

USA - Peavey Commercial Audio, a division of Peavey Electronics, has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Joe Kurta as chief technical officer.

An experienced technical architect and professional audio designer, Joe rejoins the Mississippi-based company, having previously served as a systems integration specialist at the turn of the millennium. In addition, Joe has acquired a wealth of experience in key positions at leading blue chip organizations including Walt Disney Entertainment and Bank of America.

Joe is also highly experienced in Peavey's MediaMatrix brand, having formed and managed his own successful audio system and consultancy business, TechSpa. He has over 20 years' knowledge of professional audio technology, its requirements and its possibilities and the appointment is a strong indicator of Peavey's commitment to its Commercial Audio

USA - At InfoComm 2016, Clear-Com will present its latest interoperable communication product lines that enable user collaboration and instant communication. Clear-Com solutions are known for increasing effectiveness among work groups and ensuring the success of the operations and productions.

Products that make up Clear-Com's Unified Voice Communication Solution include HelixNet, Agent-IC, FreeSpeak II and the LQ Series. The product lines are fully integrated so that any operator on a wired keypanel, wired or wireless beltpack, or even a mobile app could make real-time voice calls with any other user or group of users on the network, irrespective of the type of intercom device they are using. The solution can operate over a standard IP network, effectively enabling communication to take place anywhere.

As a digital network partyline intercom platform, HelixNet now provide

Europe - Yamaha is introducing the HS-I range of powered speakers, which adds mounting points to the popular HS Series studio monitors, making the range suitable for a significantly broader range of monitoring, sound reinforcement and installation environments.

Ever since making their 1970s debut, Yamaha studio monitors have been an industry standard. With Yamaha's philosophy of sonic purity, the HS Series has continued the tradition of being one of the most trusted speakers for nearfield monitoring applications, lauded for their signature sound and superior accuracy.

The HS-I range features three models - HS5I, HS7I and HS8I - with all available in black or white finish. By adding mounting points, HS-I models speakers can be used for a much wider range of applications. With three optional bracket types available - wall, ceiling and baton - installation in studios or comme

USA - The new Meyer Sound Galileo Galaxy network platform will make its worldwide debut at InfoComm 2016 in Las Vegas. As the next generation of the Galileo processor line, Galaxy offers "the most advanced processing power and networking standards available".

Showing for the first time anywhere, the Galileo Galaxy network platform marks a quantum leap forward for the Galileo platform that was first launched in 2005. Galaxy is the first Meyer Sound loudspeaker processor to be fully networkable, with multiple units sharing 24-bit/96 kHz multi-channel audio via an AVB network. Maximum input count has been increased from six to eight for easier implementation of 7.1 systems, and a new generation of FPGA-based processing with 96 kHz floating point resolution delivers increased dynamic range, a lower noise floor, and super-low latency of 0.6ms analog in to analog out.

"GalaxyY i

USA - Sensaphonics held its first gold Circle seminar session of 2016 in Chicago recently. Designed to help audiologists better serve musicians and sound engineers, the two-day Gold Circle seminar features practical and technical class instruction at Sensaphonics headquarters, then concludes with a hands-on demo featuring a live band to teach the basics of live sound and in-ear monitors.

"As audiologists, it's important that we do more than just take ear impressions.That's what the Gold Circle seminar is all about," says Dr. Michael Santucci, Sensaphonics founder and president. "Musicians aren't like other audiology patients. They are striving to improve their on-stage performance, not necessarily their hearing. Gold Circle audiologists can show them how to do that effectively without compromising their hearing."

The new graduates of the Sensaphonics Gold Circle seminar in

USA - In today's post-rock music world where genre-bending has become the norm rather than the exception, touring companies - now more than ever - require concert sound systems that are both impactful and articulate while still being road-friendly in terms of transport and deployment. Those challenges recently influenced a decision by Special Event Services (SES) of Winston-Salem, NC to specify to a system combining L-Acoustics' K1 and K2 systems for an extensive North American outing with The Avett Brothers.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones," The Avett Brothers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop, folk, rock, indie, honkytonk and ragtime to produce a unique sound that can be a challenge to reinforce in a co

UK - d&b audiotechnik Great Britain has appointed SFL, Reading based AV supplier as an official UK sales partner, in a move which sees d&b strengthen the UK partner network.

Founded in 1990, SFL specialises in sales support, permanent installations and corporate hire, as well as offering an in-house training program for live production engineers. As AV partner for the Royal Albert Hall, SFL has a leading reputation throughout the UK and international markets, where the company's commitment to forging productive relationships results in long term added value for customers.

Gianni Abruzzese, commercial manager at d&b GB, comments, "d&b and SFL have shared a rich 20-year history. As a key user of d&b products, the expertise and experience the team brings can only be a benefit to d&b and our end users. SFL have an impressive infrastructure, with their dedicated sales, install

USA - Following on the highly successful launch of LUCIA 70 V output models during last year's InfoComm show, Lab Gruppen is set to continue its tradition of cutting edge product innovation with the unveiling of its three new LUCIA 60 W power models at InfoComm in Las Vegas: LUCIA 60/2M, LUCIA 60/2 and LUCIA 60/1-70.

"LUCIA has an exceptionally small footprint and multiple mounting options and its input flexibility provides installers with an absolutely reliable and highly-cost effective solution" notes Klas Dalbjorn of Lab Gruppen. "To further increase cost efficiencies we have introduced new 60 W power models which now produce a 30% cost reduction in lifetime running costs whilst delivering all the same features as the alternative models."

Central to LUCIA's cost efficiencies is its Energy Star certification. After 20 minutes of no signal input, the amplifiers' automatic

The Netherlands - RSB Cinemas from Wijchen is a pioneer in the concept of service cinema in the Netherlands, where personal attention and a relaxed atmosphere are of paramount importance. RSB Cinemas operates several service cinemas in the centre and south of the Netherlands. For the three halls in the newly built Cinema Roma Wijchen, RSB Cinemas chose speaker systems from Alcons.

RSB Cinemas started as a small village cinema in Wijchen near the town of Nijmegen. The service concept has now been expanded to several sites in the region such as Uden (NB) and Houten (Utrecht). The geographical expansion and constant upgrading of the rooms was mostly financed from own resources, through which a greater stability and independence can be achieved, according to the exhibitor.

"In the new Wijchen cinema the highest possible quality is pursued in every area," says branch manager Ko

USA - Two of professional audio's most respected companies have joined forces to create a standout product that is capturing imaginations and thrilling audiences. Funktion-One's F132, which features Powersoft's M-Force 10kW linear transducer, was recently deployed in the Carl Cox and Friends Arena at Ultra Miami, causing Carl Cox to proclaim its effect in combination with Vero as the "very best sonic sound experience I have ever had in that area".

The extraordinarily powerful horn-loaded bass enclosure combines each company's expertise to devastating effect. Powersoft's M-Force 10kW linear transducer supplies a huge amount of power and reliability, while Funktion-One's specially designed cone and enclosure technology results in deep, powerful low-bass frequencies.

The F132 features a single 32in driver, which gives a frequency response of 24Hz to 65Hz. Its physical size an

USA - Thrash metal, indie rock, jazz, comedy, spoken word, and more. Another Planet Entertainment (APE) does it all at Oakland Calif.'s landmark Fox Theatre, a dazzling Moorish Deco movie palace whose reincarnation as a multi-use performance space required a sound system with great flexibility and intelligibility. That's why Northern California's premier independent music promoter has installed a Meyer Sound Lyon linear sound reinforcement system in the historic, 2,800-capacity Fox.

"Intelligibility is the main thing," says Tony Leong, production manager for APE. "With the Lyon rig, we can do spoken word, heavy metal, or comedy, and the sound hits you right in your face no matter where you are. Whether you're by the back bar or in the last row of the balcony, it sounds as clear and present as it does in the front row of the orchestra. It also sounds as good at a low volume at

India - When renowned club owners Mudassar Muneer and Anand Yadav set out to build a new 500-capacity nightclub, they knew they wanted to bring the very best elements of international clubbing to Hyderabad's posh HiTechCity. With the mission of giving the city a genuinely outstanding social hub, they brought their many years of travel experience, seeking out the world's best clubbing experiences back to India.

During their research, Muneer and Yadav had been impressed by the L-Acoustics sound systems they heard, especially in the blueFROG chain's live music clubs in Mumbai and Pune, both of which were installed by Mumbai-based Munro Acoustics LLP. They asked Munro to design and install an L-Acoustics sound system at Block 22.

"The idea for Block 22 was to bring Ibiza and Vegas style chic to India, delivering a supreme aural and visual experience," says Munro specialist con

USA - The Open Control Architecture (OCA) Alliance is exhibiting in the US for the first time since ratification of OCA by the Audio Engineering Society as the AES70 standard, at InfoComm 2016.

The OCA Alliance will be demonstrating the latest technology developments on booth #C11246. The live AES70 demonstration will include products from Bosch Communications, d&b audiotechnik GmbH, Focusrite and Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG, as well as new technologies available from the OCA Alliance. Included will be software tools and hardware reference designs from OCA Alliance member companies.

The alliance also welcomes new member DeusO GmbH. Specializing in GUI and web-based interfaces for professional systems, DeusO GmbH has created interfaces for some of the AV industry's most prestigious brands. Most recently, DeusO has created OCA.js, a pure JavaScript implementation of an

Europe - Production company Showlab has worked with rap duo Madcon - known for hits such as Glow, Don't worry and Beggin both in their native Norway and across Europe - for a number of years, supplying both crew and kit. Their European tour, which kicked off earlier in the year, took advantage of a new console set up for both Front of House and monitors, with DiGiCo S21s now residing at both positions.

"I was interested in trying something new for the 2016 Madcon tour," says FOH engineer Borre Leinebo. "I first saw the DiGiCo S21 at ProLight+Sound in 2015, and I thought that it would be a great console for Madcon. Touring everything from smaller venues to larger festivals, a console with a small footprint was what we needed. Despite its small size, the S21's two touchscreens make it really easy to figure out and navigate, and the sound quality is huge."

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