UK-based Navigator Systems has added a low-cost rental management software package called RentalDesk to their product range. Launched at PLASA, RentalDesk has been designed for the Small Business Enterprise which requires asset tracking but cannot justify the expense of larger and costlier systems. Commenting on RentalDesk’s debut at PLASA, Navigator’s David Rose told us: "The response to RentalDesk at PLASA was overwhelming. We had more serious enquiries on the first day than at the whole show last year."

Rose continued: "This is by no means a replacement for our larger systems, but a move to address the needs of smaller businesses which are looking to improve their operations, but don’t have the large amount of capital needed for new systems. During tougher economic times, those companies that have cut costs and become more efficient have a better cha

Liverpool-based Ad Lib Audio is the first UK hire company to purchase JBL’s new VerTec line array system. The deal was sealed between Ad Lib and JBL’s UK distributors, Arbiter Pro Audio, at PLASA. The initial order of 16 boxes will go into Ad Lib’s hire stock. The line array is already booked out for a series of events and shows over the upcoming months.

Ad Lib has a reputation for producing some of the country’s most talented live sound engineers working with some of the highest profile international acts. "We are widening our target markets all the time," explains Dockerty. "VerTec looks and sounds excellent and is also popular among American engineers." Ad Lib researched their line array decision carefully. First they heard and saw the VerTec system in action at Arbiter’s demonstration days at the Hammersmith Apollo in May. They then

Martin Audio has increased its range of MA power amplifiers with the addition at PLASA of the MA900 (2 x 450W into 4 ohms), MA1400 (2 x 700W into 4 ohms) and the MA200Q (4 x 200W into 4 ohms). These models have been designed to meet the increasing demands of both the rental and installation markets, whilst remaining cost efficient.

By utilizing a conventional power supply with a toroidal transformer, in conjunction with the latest semiconductor technology and proprietary copper cooling, these fully featured amplifiers offer excellent sonic performance in a compact 2U package. They are capable of delivering maximum power into all impedances, including a two ohm load. The amplifiers have several new features specifically designed to make the products easier to use: these include a multiple position gain switch, to meet the demands for a flexible gain structure in the system; a removable

Lamba plc gave a PLASA Show debut to the PSS range of amplification from France, having recently acquired the distribution rights for the UK. The products’ innovative chassis design is matched by a cooling system, which blows fresh air directly towards the power transistors, allowing greater cooling and a more uniform temperature to the output stage.

PSS’ high headroom, dual transformer supplies independent power to both channels, providing extra power for the musical transients. This technology reduces background noise and results in an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Meanwhile, new exclusive component placement design on the PCB creates the highest quality sound this type of amplifier can deliver. PSS amplifiers are equipped with high-grade components, including stainless steel encased bipolar power transistors for optimum cooling, extensive circuitry protection, 1% prec

Audio Engineering, the UK-based designer and manufacturer of Micron wireless microphone and communications systems, launched several new models in its 700 Series at IBC 2001 in Amsterdam. The new Micron 700 Series models - the TX700 belt pack transmitter, TX703 hand-held transmitter, SDR770 small diversity receiver and MR700 monitoring receiver - now feature tough, but lightweight, one-piece aluminium cases, with a unique design of quick-access battery compartment. Available with a choice of switching bandwidths to suit individual applications, and with up to 100 frequencies, the 700 Series now includes a 32-frequency entry-level system - comprising a matching TX700 transmitter and SDR770 receiver.

Also launched at IBC as part of the revised 700 Series was the Micron MDR762 twin diversity receiver, a mains-powered 1U rack-mounting system incorporating two audio channels, and aimed at s

A new organization representing professional audio and lighting rental companies has been established in The Netherlands. PRESA - Production Rental Equipment Services Association - like fellow organizations ESTA and PSA, has been set up to promote safe working conditions, high technical standards and regular contact between professional rental companies.

Behind the new association are Ampco Pro Rental, Flashlight, Focus Show Equipment, Improve and R&R Show Equipment, all well established companies in the entertainment industry. Chairman Antoinette Wijffels told PLASA Media: "We have finally managed to create a platform where members can exchange ideas, and one which we hope will lead to an even more professional attitude towards clients. We can now also negotiate on important matters at government level, which, as individual companies, was not possible before."

Federal Signal’s contract to supply advanced voice alarm (VA) equipment for London’s prestigious Canary Wharf development has passed two major milestones. The company has delivered a new VeriFire voice alarm system to Citigroup’s European head offices at Canary Wharf. System acceptance has also been received for a 14-rack VeriFire installation in the HSBC building. This is the latest contract for Federal Signal in its long association with Siemens Building Technologies, which manufacture, supply and install life safety systems for Canary Wharf Contractors Ltd.

Sound and light are working together at the Bose Factory Store in Ashford, Kent, thanks to a state-of-the-art lighting control system from iLight Ltd. With the aim of creating a stimulating in-store experience for customers, the shop is sub-divided into different ‘retail experiences’ to demonstrate the high quality sound and home cinema products. Connected into the audio and AV systems, the iLight system is installed throughout the store as an integral part of the ambience control.

Comprising a mix of seven source controllers, one universal interface and a single two-button stainless steel control panel, the iLight solution is designed to be simple to use. The audio demonstrations and lighting within each retail area are selected via a Crestron touch screen that is connected to the iLight system. The sales executive selects a product on the touch panel and the general light

Wireless performance and IEM specialists Hand Held Audio have purchased 14 of the new dbx in-ear monitoring processors from the Arbiter group PLC. Hand Held’s services include hire sales and consultancy in this precise area of audio. The dbx IEM Processor is new to the market and offers a whole range of effects and processing facilities integrated into a single 1U unit - saving both rack space and programming time. The Hand Held units have gone immediately into action on a large European touring production.

Hand Held’s Nick Bruce-Smith comments: "The dbx offers all the functionality needed, and the brand has a great reputation as a processor manufacturer." Product features include Lexicon reverb settings, four-band stereo limiter/compressor, five-band parametric EQ, four-band crossover, MIDI control, updatable software and many more - all the devices that would no

Martin Audio took advantage of PLASA to expand its Blackline range. The new Blackline F8 is a versatile, two-way passive system designed for applications where high output is required from an ultra-compact enclosure. It features a long-excursion 200mm (8") low frequency driver and a 25mm (1") HF compression driver mounted on a 90º x 50º horn. The horn is user-rotatable to allow the F8’s multi-angled enclosure to be used in either its vertical or horizontal orientation. Special attention has been given to the high excursion requirement of the LF driver. This enables the sound balance of the speaker to remain consistent throughout a range of power outputs. Where extra low frequency is required, sub-bass systems such as the Blackline S12 or S15 may be added.

The Blackline F10 is a 2-way passive system, designed to provide high quality club sound and stage monitoring from

The very latest DAS Audio sound reinforcement system was specified for the European premier of the hit Broadway musical Songs For A New World. The new production, which had a nine-day run at The Old Fire Station Theatre during the recent ‘Oxford Festival of Theatre’, was sound designed by Giles Sutton, who specified the new DAS Compact 1 three-way, self powered cabs.

Sutton, who this year graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts with a BA Honours in Sound Technology, previously sound designed the show in a highly successful student production at LIPA, where it played to packed houses for a week. He was therefore already familiar with the level of reinforcement he was going to need for the seven voices on stage and four-piece electric band in the pit.

Having worked with the DAS house system in LIPA’s Paul McCartney Auditorium, Giles contacte

Terme Olimia is a new theme park situated next to the Sotla River, which forms the border between Slovenia and Croatia. The complex comprises a hotel, apartment block, village, sports park, pool complex, nature camp and the Aqualuna Water Park. All the entertainment and announcements throughout the complex are broadcast through a combination of 36 Martin Audio Contractor C115s, distributed undercover throughout the restaurant and café bar areas, and 16 custom-weatherproofed ICT 300s, which are found in most of the zones in the park. The sound installation was undertaken by KSL Studio, Martin Audio’s Slovenian distributor.

Lamba launched a number of new products at PLASA from Stanton Magnetics, for whom they are the exclusive UK distributors. The RM30 is a hybrid three-channel techno/scratch mixer which will appeal to a wide cross section of DJs - each channel features gain control, slider pan and a versatile three-band EQ with complete kill. The DFX-1 is what Stanton claim to be the world’s first trackball-controlled signal processor. It features 90 effect presets which are synchronized to any audio source on-the-fly, using Stanton’s advanced BPM engine. Designed for both live and recording applications the DFX-1 has both RCA &1/4in connections. The DRM-120 provides four full channels to mix with, but there is the added enjoyment of creating effects on the fly, using the Stanton trackball or BPM-driven DSP effects. The S-250 is Stanton’s first table-top single CD player - complete with P

Soundsense, one of the leading providers of sound equipment to the broadcast industry has made a substantial investment in digital audio products, as a result of customer feedback. For the broadcast market, the company has invested in Soundcraft's compact digital on-air mixer, the RM1D, which is finding great appeal with radio broadcasters working with RSLs (Restricted Service Licences), where equipment is only required on site for up to 28 days, the maximum term of the broadcast.

"We have a large number of RSL customers," explains Derek Tallent of Soundsense. "We needed to buy more consoles, and, although we were initially looking at high-specification analogue consoles, we soon realised we could buy into the digital future with the RM1D at an attractive entry price. Although most radio, and 99% of our customers, are still analogue, we see the RM1D as a future-proof inv

Mackie Industrial, the contractor products division of Mackie Designs Inc, announced at the recent PLASA Show the introduction of its 'Mackie Central' rapid proposal development software. The Mackie Central V.1 software application is aimed at automating the proposal and documentation facets of a sound contractor's business. Written specifically for the sound contracting market, the software aims to streamline the creation of professional proposals that are routinely created by contractors for design/build and negotiated bids.

The key to the product's appeal is the fact that it includes a fully-automated drag-and-drop Quotation Builder that performs all of the calculations typically assigned to a spreadsheet. In addition, the program assembles written descriptions for each of the products in the database into a Word-compatible proposal. The product thereby provides a finished, professi

Crown Audio announces the recent availability of its powerful IQ for Windows software version 5.0. Like the previous IQ for Windows version 4.1, the new software application, which is designed for configuring, controlling and monitoring Crown IQ Systems, is available for free download from the Internet.

Compatible with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000/Professional and NT 4.+, version 5.0 features a number of enhancements that make it even easier to use. IQ System integrators now have an even greater number of graphical tools with which to design customized work surfaces foroperators, as well as the ability to create direct user controls free of confusing program elements. Fully indexed help screens are available to informatively guide users through system setup, and no programming language experience or training is required to quickly be up and running.

Receiving their UK debut at this year’s PLASA show were Proel’s new TFL218SP 2x18" subwoofer and TFL152P 1x15" full-range enclosure. The TFL218SP features twin 18" drivers with 4" voice coils delivering output up to 133dB and a frequency range down to 35Hz. Power handling is 1200W (AES), and the system has a sensitivity of 100dB @ 1W/1m.

The TFLV152P pairs a high quality 4" voice coiled 15" speaker with an HF compression driver fitted with a 3" titanium diaphragm. The TFLV152P has a frequency response of 45Hz-18kHz (+/- 6dB) and will handle 600W (AES). The two-way configuration, bi-amp/full range selectable, produces great bass output, while the compression driver/horn assembly smoothly disperses mid-frequencies over an optimum field.

Ideal used in pairs, the new systems join Proel’s TFLV flying installation series of 18mm birch-

F-Audio/F-Musiikki Oy has delivered the first Yamaha PM1D Digital Audio Mixing System in Finland to the main auditorium of Finnish National Opera. The system contains one CS1D Control Surface, 96 channel version of DSP1D DSP Unit, 224 mic inputs, 32 line inputs, 96 analogue outputs and 64 AES/EBU in/outs. "This is one of the biggest PM1D systems delivered so far," says Petri Mäntysalo of F-Audio. He continues: "The Finnish National Opera has been using a digital mixer at FOH from the early 90s, so when they started looking for a replacement to the old console, digital was their only option. This Yamaha PM1D is their 10th Yamaha Digital Mixer so far, as they already have seven 01Vs, one 03D and one DME32 in use."

F-Audio/F-Musiikki Oy will be displaying PM1D and other Yamaha Pro Audio-products at the AV2001 exhibition in Helsinki, Finland, from 24-26 October.

Theatre specialist Stagetec UK Ltd has recently completed the installation of a brand new Nexo sound system at the Orchard theatre in Dartford, complete with Crown amplification and signal processing from Sabine, all supplied by UK distributor Fuzion plc. Stagetec’s managing director Andy Stone explained that the Orchard approached them with a basic specification around which Stagetec could suggest some options. As a result, Stagetec proposed three different systems, which were modelled on the acoustical modelling package EASE to provide an indication of sound pressure levels and coverage, of which two were demo'd on site. After hearing the results of the shoot-out, Orchard's project manager, Bob Clutterham, chief electrician Andy Coleman, and stage manager Lee Edmundson decided to go with the Nexo system.

Stone said: "Apart from the obvious audio quality of the Nexo, one of

Following a disastrous fire on 28 June which virtually wiped out an entire production of Riverdance, the company is now back on tour across Europe with a brand new audio system supplied almost exclusively by Telex EVI, in particular Shuttlesound and the Klark Teknik Group. Mick O'Gorman, sound designer for Riverdance, remembers the day: "The show was due to open at the Palacido De La Comunidad in Madrid . . . somehow a fire started in the roof of the theatre and before anyone could react the whole of the roof caved in. Luckily there were no casualties, but it destroyed all of the rigging, the set, the lights, the stage, the instruments and of course the entire sound system including the desks. The only things to survive were the office and the costumes. It was heartbreaking."

The production that had arrived in Madrid in 14 trucks limped back to London in just one and a half,

Trantec has responded in the best way possible to the request from high-profile rental companies to upgrade its award-winning S5000 synthesized UHF system. The first choice for many leading event-based production houses, the S5000 has taken pride of place in their rental fleets for the last five years. But at this year’s PLASA Show visitors saw how this feedback had been processed in the form of a new S5000 beltpack - programmable from a Palm Pilot.

As Trantec marketing manager Tim Riley told us: "It was only a matter of time before we put the ideas we had been receiving into production. After all, if you don't listen to the people who are going to be using the kit before going into production, how can you expect to sell anything?" The new S5000 beltpack is powered by single AA battery, giving around eight hours of use. Gain, frequency and user name can be programmed vi

Formula Sound had an overwhelming response to their latest mixer, the PM-100 modular mixer launched at PLASA 2001. The three standard chassis versions were on display and great interest was shown in the four-channel version. The configurations of this mixer are so versatile that it is ideal for almost any requirement, live bands, audio-visual, clubs, mobile DJ.

A major new-build house of worship in Korea has had its audio communication through the various auditoria, networked via a number of 9088 Soundweb digital devices. The main 5,000-seat sanctuary at the Soo Young Ro Presbyterian Church is joined by an 1800-seat and several 800-900-seat satellite chapels, all within a single complex. The audio, powered by Crown amplification, is sent to 15 JBL VS 3215 Venue series loudspeakers, used for the primary and choir foldback system, as well as 25 Soundpower SP2121s for the balcony system and 87 MS26 under-balcony speakers, as well as four JBL 4897 subs.

The design is based around 18 Soundwebs and other BSS processing hardware. These take a live mix from the choir and floating mics used by the clergy, via a Soundcraft Series 5 console and also routes the audio from the recording studio, based on the site. There is also a video editing room, and th

In a move that more than doubles the amount of space available to house its Canadian distribution and operations centre, Middle Atlantic Products has opened its new Ottawa-based headquarters facility. In making the move to the new location, the company increased its available space from 22,000 to 50,000sq.ft, allowing it to maintain more stock on site andaffording more room for its operations staff to better serve their customers.

"The increased storage capacity allows us to ship substantially more product from available stock to our customers throughout Eastern and Central Canada," explains Neil Andison, president of Middle Atlantic Products Canada. "This will significantly cut down the lead time involved in fulfilling an order." The company has not only expanded floor space but height as well, moving from a building with 16ft ceilings to one with 28ft ceilings, fu

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