Sound

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Japan - The final live show by Kyosuke Himuro, one of Japan's most successful pop singers, was an emotional experience for 50,000 Japanese pop fans, being the very last time that they would see the singer/songwriter on stage. Thanks to L-Acoustics KS28 subwoofers, the sold-out Tokyo Dome show was a fitting end to a distinguished live career.

The series of shows billed as Kyosuke Himuro Last Gigs concluded at the Tokyo Dome, with the main audio system supplied by Japanese rental companies Hibino Sound and Tokyo Sanko, who supplied a K1 systems with the new L-Acoustics KS28 subwoofers for the tour.

"Hibino had to deliver every breath of Kyosuke Himuro's performance perfectly, as it was an experience which none of the audience would ever have again," says Takayuki Ozaki, managing director of L-Acoustics Japanese distributor Bestec Audio, who had introduced KS28 to Akitsugu Ke

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Sint Maarten - APG has announced the appointment of Genesis Music Group as a new Uniline partner in the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. Genesis Music Group joins a network of committed pro AV companies who are able to offer differentiating solutions while answering the most stringent expectations. With this new addition, APG can now count on a network of 26 partners worldwide.

Commenting on the agreement, Genesis Music Group CEO and chief engineer Bertaux Fleming, aka M. Rude, enthused, "We are extremely proud to become a Uniline partner. I was introduced to the brand in 2010 during a trip to Paris, and when I heard the APG system I was immediately sold. I was stunned by the sound quality that was coming out from these small boxes."

M. Rude praised in particular the professionalism and great relationship developed with the APG team. "Performance wasn't our only criteria,

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UK - Kew the Music is a programme of music events that takes place over six nights at the historic Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, south-west London. This year's event witnessed headliners The Corrs, Simply Red, Will Young, Jools Holland, Bjorn Again and Gypsy Kings play to over 40,000 people during the week.

Kew wished to deliver the greenest, most fuel-efficient event possible and promoters Kilimanjaro Live engaged Cardiff-based 11th Hour Events to meet their stringent demands. At the main stage itself, 11th Hour provided power for: lighting, sound, video screens and working lights. In addition, the company supplied power to the backstage area, artist facilities, concessions, caterers, hospitality areas and toilets as well exit/safety lighting.

Architectural lighting of the trees in the gardens completed a comprehensive installation. Meeting the environmental demands of

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USA - ATK Audiotek Corp. recently provided an EAW Adaptive sound reinforcement system for ESPN's 24th Annual ESPY Awards, held at the Microsoft Theatre (formerly the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live), in Los Angeles.

Valencia, California-based ATK Audiotek has provided sound reinforcement systems and support for the ESPY awards since the premier athletic award show debuted in 1993. This was their first time out with the Anna system.

"Because on-the-air coverage requires more theatre visibility than is typical, we were interested in using a more compact array like Anna," explains ATK's vice president of special events, Mikael Stewart. "The system had to be discreet, in addition to providing high quality sound and excellent coverage."

Anna arrays, which hang straight, could be trimmed at 32 feet to keep the stage open for television broadcast purposes, while still covering every

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Mexico - Leading Mexican sound rental company Tecnoson Espectaculos has delivered one of the best international events in the Life in Color party roster, using a large Nexo STM modular line array system for the Mexico City show.

Life in Color is a high-profile global event series, hosted in many different cities in the USA and Europe. Its stage show combines the best international DJs with acrobatics, circus acts, pyrotechnics and special effects. What started life as a college tradition has been transformed into a worldwide live spectacular, with audiences growing every year along with production values.

The event returned to Mexico City, to the indoor venue of Expo Bancomer Sante Fe, where 5000 people joined the festival atmosphere to see Dutch producer and DJ Nicky Romero headline with his fellow countrymen Vicetone. Considered a leading star of the EDM and progressive

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USA - At the 141st AES Convention this week, Sennheiser and Neumann will highlight a wide range of new and legacy microphones for various recording applications. Recently introduced models will include the Collectors' Edition U 47 fet and versatile TLM 107 from Neumann, as well as the new MK 4 digital and the upcoming AMBEO VR Mic from Sennheiser. The topic of VR and AR also takes centre stage at the AES's AVAR Conference, which Sennheiser will be involved with.

A full complement of classic recording microphones will also be on display: From Neumann, this will be the U87 Ai, TLM 67, KM 184 and several other recording staples. Recording microphones from Sennheiser will include the recently introduced MK 8 multi-pattern microphone, as well as classic models from the MKH range, which can be turned into digital microphones using the MZD 8000 digital module.

The booth will also

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USA - At AES in Los Angeles this week, Cadac is launching a new addition to its CDC series digital console line. The CDC seven builds still further on the heritage of the flagship CDC eight and success of the medium format CDC six, offering all of the power and operational simplicity of the CDC six with the enhanced production capabilities of an expanded dual 23.5", 16:9 hi-def touch screen, 36-fader control surface.

The new CDC seven maintains all of the feel and familiarity of the CDC six, with its major ergonomic advance in user operation and resulting minimal learning curve. Scaling up operational flexibility, the CDC seven doubles up on both the large format LCD touch screen, with its associated encoders, and the physical fader count; also expanding the number of inputs to 96. The new console retains the CDC six's 56 busses; 48 of them configurable.

"We were extremely

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USA - San Diego-based rock/roots/reggae outfit Slightly Stoopid recently wrapped up its summertime tour of North America. Billed as the Return of the Red Eye Summer Tour - with support from SOJA and Fortunate Youth, as well as other acts on select dates - the tour carried a full L-Acoustics K2 system supplied by Miami-based Beach Sound. This was the first time that K2 had been carried by the band, which was touring in continued support of its 2015 album, Meanwhile . . . Back at the Lab.

"The K2 rig was somewhat new to me, but it far surpassed my expectations," notes FOH Engineer James Wisner. "For example, at Red Rocks, where you're basically shooting a rig up a mountain, I have always experienced high frequency loss at the top. This year, K2 not only made it up the mountain but evenly spread the mix everywhere. That was one of the things I noticed every day; no matter

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Australia - Gearhouse Broadcast's event communications division has covered comms requirements for some of Australia's biggest live events in 2016, relying on Clear-Com products to get the job done quickly and reliably.

Their FreeSpeak II wireless, HelixNet partyline and Eclipse digital matrix systems have formed the backbone of major events like Hillsong Conference and the Queensland and Victorian Schools Spectaculars, ensuring these massive gigs and their live broadcasts run without a hitch.

Taking over Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena and most of its neighbouring venues in Olympic Park, Hillsong Conference was a four-day gathering of more than 30,000 faithful, with all of the production requirements of a massive arena show. Gearhouse Broadcast supplied and operated the comms system, which used 50 FreeSpeak II 1.9GHz beltpacks, one HMS-4X HelixNet main station running 12 HBP-2X

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Kenya - Leading professional AV provider in East Africa, Sound Creations, recently installed a new audio system at Oshwal Community Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, selecting an Allen & Heath Qu-32 digital mixing system from distributor, PAXT.

Opened in 1984, the centre offers the Oshwal society a venue for religious and social gatherings, and can accommodate approximately 4,000 people. The Centre was in need of an upgrade to its audio equipment, selecting the Qu-32 together with an AR2412 and AR84 remote IO racks, providing more outputs and easier set-up facilities than its incumbent analogue mixer. The centre also invested in other kit to enhance audio quality, including Shure wireless mics and KRK monitor speakers.

As well as the IO increase, the Centre's decision to install the Qu mixer was also influenced by the mixer's ability to function with either an analogue or digital

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UK - This spring saw Jeff Lynne's ELO return to the stage, performing a series of shows in arenas around the UK, including four nights at London's The O2. Fittingly - for the band has drawn musicians from Gary Barlow's band to complement Lynne and long-time ELO pianist Richard Tandy - Gary Bradshaw and Steve Lutley, who have both worked extensively with Barlow and Take That, sit at the FOH and monitor positions respectively, each working with a DiGiCo SD7.

In fact, the whole 'machine', as crew chief Onno Ooms describes it, is the same as for Take That, with the SD7s and the rest of the tour's audio requirements supplied by Newbury-based rental company Skan PA. "I'm using an SD7 because I wouldn't use anything else," says Gary Bradshaw. "On a tour this size there's nothing better. I've used the SD7 a lot, so I know it inside out and I set it up the same every time, which makes

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UK - Distributor CUK Audio continues to develop and strengthen its sales force with the recruitment of Rob Duerden who is to manage the newly created installed sound sales channel.

The move, which comes in the wake of the recent appointment of Steve Barton to manage the MI/Retail sales channel, is part of a larger corporate restructure which sees the establishment of four, distinct business sectors (MI, Installed Sound, Live and AV/Conferencing), each headed up by an experienced professional.

"Rob's appointment is a key part of the development of our brand portfolio which has seen the business being positioned into four clearly defined channels," explained CUK Audio MD Stuart Thomson. "The best way to serve those four areas was to put in place skilled channel managers who are naturally proficient in sales and account management, but who are also technical experts in their

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USA - With over four million tickets sold to concerts that have taken place in 35 countries, The Australian Pink Floyd Show has amazed millions of concertgoers with an uncanny replication of the classic UK band's legendary live show. Employing a lavish collection of visual aids (including lasers, inflatables and 3D stereoscopic projection), the group's live shows recreate the look, feel and sound of Pink Floyd's later world tours.

For over 120 shows this year, the touring ensemble has had DiGiCo SD consoles on tour with it for the first time since it began touring in 1988. For the current North American run, Milwaukee-based Clearwing Productions has been supplying an SD5 for front of house and an SD10 at monitors. Both desks share an SD-Rack and are connected via an Optocore network, creating an efficient and robust DiGiCo audio ecosystem that crewmembers have been very, very

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USA - At this week's AES convention in Los Angeles, Sensaphonics founder and president, Dr. Michael Santucci, Au.D., will be joining legendary sound engineer Mark Frink for their presentation, IEM Fundamentals & Safe Sound. The session will take place Saturday, 1 October at 12 Noon on the Live Sound Events stage.

With their complimentary perspectives as audiologist and engineer, Santucci and Frink bring a powerful combination of knowledge and perspective on hearing health and touring sound. The information presented at this session, when properly implemented, will help engineers create a stage environment that is conducive to both high-impact, high resolution monitoring and long-term hearing wellness.

Dr. Michael Santucci is an internationally acclaimed audiologist and hearing conservation expert. He is co-chair of the AES Technical Committee on Hearing and Hearing

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USA - Describing itself as "a real-life community on the move," Old Fort Church, Old Fort, OH completed its new building in time for Easter services in 2016. The church's 300-seat worship centre features modern video and lighting systems and a high-performance audio system with Community I Series loudspeakers.

Old Fort Church holds two worship services each Sunday. The first is a "blended experience" with a mix of traditional and contemporary worship styles. The second is a "modern experience" featuring videos and contemporary Christian music led by a praise band.

According to worship arts leader Mike Sooy, music plays a very important part in both services, and great sound was therefore a priority for the new facility. "We wanted to take things to the next level," he said. Sooy also emphasized the importance of speech clarity. "If they can't hear the message," he continue

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France - Yamaha's flagship Rivage PM10 digital mixing console has been an increasingly common sight at festivals during the 2016 summer season, as it is adopted by audio rental companies around the world. In France, the Festival de Radio France in Montpellier featured a PM10 mixing two weeks of wide-ranging jazz performances.

Taking place in mid-July, Festival de Radio France features many different styles of music in venues throughout Montpellier. The 1800-seat open air Amphithé

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China - Taiwanese rock superstars Mayday are on the road in Asia with a large production including 56 axes of Kinesys automation - provided by rental and technical production specialist B'IN Live, who are headquartered in Taiwan with bases in China and Hong Kong.

The epic lighting, visual and set design was created by Leroy Bennet and Seven Designs from Los Angeles - well known for their imagination and style as well as interesting and provocative designs.

B'IN Live - formed in 2014 with the amalgamation of six high level technical specialist companies into a super-production company - provides full technical infrastructures and services, incorporating sound, lighting, video, rigging, automation, set and scenic plus staging and power.

Technical director and production manager for this Just Rock It tour is B'IN Live's Jeffrey Soon and he is co-ordinating all the shows o

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China - Back in 2012, Ultra Worldwide, producers of the award-winning Ultra Music Festival in Miami, launched a new event concept appropriately named Road to Ultra.

Incorporating cutting-edge production values, the journey unfolded through Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Colombia, Paraguay and Chile. But the most recent addition to the portfolio - the Hong Kong edition, scheduled to take place in the noise sensitive new urban development area of West Kowloon Cultural District's Nursery Park - was to be the most challenging.

The electronic music extravaganza set out to unite fellow electronic music lovers, and attract tourism from neighbouring cities across Asia and Greater China. "We're calling all 'Ultranauts' and dance music fanatics to witness history in the making and support Hong Kong to the next level of a full-fledged edition Ultra festival in the region," said the

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UK - KV2 Audio has confirmed the UK launch of their VHD 5.0 Constant Power Point Source Array. Taking place at Production Park, Wakefield on 6 October, KV2 invites all industry professionals and users alike to experience "A Bold New Advancement in Concert Sound Reinforcement".

In an event running alongside Production Park's Production Future's networking and Recruitment Market Place event and TPI's Breakthrough Talent Awards running in the evening, the day will offer the opportunity to experience this new system in an environment mirroring its intended application.

A complete VHD 5.0 System comprising of the VHD 5.0 Mid High Module, VHD 8.10 Low Mid Expansion Modules and VHD 4.21 Active Subwoofer System can be experienced in two separate slots running between 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00.

The event follows the first successful UK event which saw the VHD 5.0 system impre

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Canada - The landmark stores of leading home furnishings retailer IKEA are located in more than 50 countries worldwide. In Canada, IKEA has 12 stores which are visited by over 25m people every year. The company has just completed a new Distribution Centre warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario to fulfill customer orders from its four Toronto area stores as well as e-commerce purchases. The new facility will also support the growth plans for IKEA Canada in new and existing markets.

At 397,000sq.ft, the Distribution Centre presented an interesting acoustic challenge for the paging system, which covers both warehousing and offices. Now complete, the system was designed by Don Friesen of Stantec and installed by Genesis Integration.

Stantec chose Community R SeriesS to meet its criteria for a robust loudspeaker that could be implemented both indoors and out, providing high intellig

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UK - Few comedians would have the sheer brass neck to have their arena show opened by a three-piece progressive jazz trio, but Amy Schumer is hardly run-of-the-mill. A multiple Emmy Award winner, Schumer has become virtually omnipresent on US television, famed for her confessional, observational, self-deprecating schtick.

In September, the Jewish stand-up princess arrived in Europe to play a string of dates with Entec Sound & Light providing a complete production package to promoter Live Nation UK. Sandwiched between appearances in Dublin, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, Schumer's UK tour played to audiences of between 2,500 and 3,500 people at the Edinburgh Playhouse and Manchester Apollo, culminating in her O2 Arena performance in front of an impressive 12,000 fans.

Standing in the wings every night was Live Nation tour co-ordinator Gordon Isaacs, whose fatefu

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Canada - Rental company Omnison has debuted Nexo's STM modular line array system against the spectacular backdrop of the International Balloon Festival at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

The annual event is one of the five biggest festivals in Quebec, a nine-day fiesta themed around the hot air balloon, and including diverse music, comedy and animation programming for its 400,000 visitors.

Omnison has a long history with Nexo products, with stock inventory of Geo T and Geo D Series systems, and over 60 cabinets of Geo S8. The company was an early adopter of the new STM Series line array in 2014, but has lately made a substantial investment in the system, supplied by Yamaha Corporation of America, adding STM mains, bass and sub modules, as well as additional RS subs, Geo S12 cabinets and many NXAMP 4x4 amplifiers.

The Montgolfieres Festival is held at an ex-military airfield

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Italy - This summer, on the Florence date of Sting's marathon Back to Bass tour, the artist and his band performed at the city's Cascine Park for an ecstatic sold-out audience, which was able to enjoy every nuance of Sting's hits, thanks to an Outline GTO audio rig supplied by Emporio On Stage and helmed by the artist's veteran FOH engineer Howard Page.

Howard Page explained, "The secret to good live sound is to know your audience, so you make a decision based on them, and with Sting I look for perfect clarity and definition, tuning the PA in a very smooth flat way - like studio monitors."

Another of Page's secrets lies in the bottom end: "I want the bass notes to be short and tight. The way to achieve this is not to bias the PA tuning towards the long end, and not have it too strong. Many larger line array sound systems have tuning which has a big boost from the bottom en

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