Sound

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The established audiovisual systems installer and music and media production company tsg - home of the Candy Rock programming arm, has recently employed Neil Law as sales manager for its pubs, bars and restaurant division. This is part of the ongoing strategic expansion at tsg, which will see other key positions filled by experienced and respected industry people during the coming weeks. Law has a wealth of experience from his previous roles at both Tascam and Tannoy. "tsg was a key account for Tannoy so I know the company very well. I was impressed with its competitive stance and to be invited to join such a dynamic and rapidly growing professional team was too good an opportunity to miss."

(Ruth Rossington)

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Marantz Professional has introduced two handy new pocket guides covering both Installation and Professional Audio product lines. The two A6 size guides include useful product overviews and feature lists. Full product specifications are available on the Marantz website or in A4 hard copy from Marantz Professional Europe Sales or the extensive network of appointed professional dealers.

(Ruth Rossington)

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BSS Audio USA has recently appointed Denny McLane as regional sales manager. McLane reports directly to sales and marketing director Paul Freudenberg, who made the announcement.

Based in the Los Angeles area, McLane is currently responsible for overseeing the BSS-related activities of eight independent manufacturers’ rep firms that predominantly cover states west of the Mississippi River. He is also being called upon to provide personal support for consultants, contractors and end users, as well as conduct product training, particularly with regard to the Soundweb range.

Prior to joining the company, McLane spent nearly four years as the director of sales and marketing for Level Control Systems (LCS), which followed four years as a product manager for Aphex Systems. From 1981 through 1994, he owned and operated Sound Techniques, a regional sound company focusing on SR systems

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Audio production company Britannia Row recently supplied the sound system for the after-show party at the premiere of Disney Monsters Inc in London. Commissioned by event design and production company AD Design, the event was hosted at Planet 2000 - a venue featuring disused railway arches and sidings - and attended by 1200 people.

Utilizing a selection of its extensive Turbosound stock, Britannia Row distributed the sound system throughout six arches, as well as the main area and the foyer. All the equipment was linked via BSS Sound Web, using the ducking system for announcements from Capital Radio DJs. Two each of Turbosound’s TQ-440 enclosures were flown in two arches, four in two others, whilst two Floodlight systems, and four QLight TQ-425SP units were distributed in the ‘Monster’s Headquarters’, along with two flown TQ-440SPs which were used for delay.

B

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Atomic Kitten’s monitor engineer Ben Booker has specified the new dbx IEM in-ear monitoring processors for the band’s current sold-out UK tour. Booker’s decision came after submitting a demo model to rigorous testing. Sound supplier for the tour is Liverpool-based AdLib Audio, who’ve purchased the processors from dbx’s UK distributors Arbiter Pro Audio.

A major reason Booker chose the dbx was to save lots of rack space. The product features include Lexicon reverb settings, 4-band stereo limiter/compressor, 5-band parametric EQ, 4-band crossover, MIDI control, updateable software and many more - all of which devices would normally occupy three or four spaces in an external processing rack.

The processors are inserted into the monitor desk desk, and used to reduce the bottom end on the girls’ vocals. The dbx’s reverb is utilised to add ambience

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Pop music icon Neil Diamond is back out on tour again with Maryland Sound Industries – this time with a sound reinforcement system boasting the world’s first all-digital signal path between its microphones and loudspeakers. One of the key components in achieving this distinction was the use of Crown’s new IQ-PIP USP2/CN CobraNet module.

Each of the 70 Crown Macro-Tech 5000/5002VZ house amplifiers on the tour is equipped with its own USP2/CN card. This allows digital audio signals sent from the Yamaha PM1D front-of-house console through a CobraNet converter and BSS ProSys PS-8810C to be fed directly into the amplifiers on Cat 5 Ethernet lines and switches. All of the processing for the production’s JBL VerTec line-array loudspeakers - including crossover, delay and EQ - is performed via the Crown modules.

Using a laptop, the PS-8810C DSP system is wirelessly ca

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Symetrix has recently signed an affiliation agreement with Peak Audio Inc (a division of Cirrus Logic) that would permit the incorporation of CobraNet technology into current and future Symetrix products, such as the SymNet Audio Matrix hardware system. CobraNet is fast becoming the standard for digital audio and control signal distribution over 100MBit Ethernet cable. The SymNet Designer 1.1 unit integrates this efficient protocol into the SymNet system.

"CobraNet is a forward-thinking technology that falls right in line with the Symetrix commitment to innovation," noted Jim Latimer, director of sales. "Our customers will benefit from CobraNet's improved efficiency and lower cabling costs. With CobraNet, our customers will be able to easily design and assemble sophisticated systems with SymNet's user interface.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Tascam has added a new mid-market MiniDisc recorder/player to its range. The MD-350 builds on Tascam’s success in the market with its 300 series MD recorder/players, offering professional standards of audio interconnectivity, as well as improved sound quality, with high resolution ADA conversion and ATRAC version 4.5 compression.

This extensively equipped MD recorder provides for advances in performance and ease of operation in numerous professional sound applications, but particularly in broadcast sound, sound installation and sound design and FX roles. A new MDLP (MiniDisc Long Play) function, providing a 320-minute record or playback time, is included in no less that four record/playback modes, offering stereo, mono and 2x and 4x operation. Both balanced XLR and unbalanced phone analogue I/Os are provided, featuring 20-bit AD and DA conversion, for improved signal resolution.

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RCI Custom has signed a significant development and maintenance contract with software provider Stardraw.com to create a new, web-based tool for the design and production of custom control and connection panels. PanelBuilder will be hosted on the RCI Custom website and allows registered users to design, specify and purchase custom panels.

Managing director of Stardraw, David Snipp, explained the background to the deal: "RCI had long been aware of the capabilities of applications like Stardraw Audio, but it was a trade show conversation that made them realise Stardraw.com could develop an affordable custom solution. PanelBuilder is based on proven techniques seen in Stardraw applications for years, but it exploits leading-edge software and internet technology."

PanelBuilder is resident on the web server and works from within a browser, so there’s nothing to download or

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The famous Paris site where the legendary Jim Morrison said farewell to the world has been converted into a discotheque by Sir Terence Conran. The former Whisky-A-Go-Go, underneath his celebrated restaurant Alcazar, had been empty for some time, and when it was excavated for the refit, artworks from the legendary Doors frontman were found. The site has now reopened as the Wagg - with the sound and lighting specified and administered by fabric of London, and featuring exclusively Martin Audio sound reinforcement and amplification.

Technical consultant, Dave Parry of Most Technical, who last year turned famous London club fabric (where he is resident) over to Martin Audio sound reinforcement, with the use of Blackline and Wavefront components, this time opted for the EM architectural range. Sound over the main basement dancefloor - a long tri-domed corridor - is delivered through a distr

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Acoustic Dimensions has promoted several members of its team. Stuart Reynolds, who joined the company in 1988, has been made a senior consultant. His background includes athletic facility experience as sports video director of the University of Oregon and Stanford University Athletic Departments, and as a project installation manager for both Webb Electronics and Sports Tech/Montage (now Pinnacle Systems).

Stuart’s employment background gives him a mix of video engineering and system operational experience in sports video broadcast; computer integration, and software/database development skills in the digital video analysis and editing realm; and facility/system design and integration. He has provided video design for Dodger's Stadium, Los Angeles, CA; Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH; Meadowlands Racetrack, Continental Arena, and Giants Stadium, Meadowlands, NJ; The Potter's

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Sennheiser's interpretive Guideport System has had its first North American use at Mexico's El Rey Mayan Educational Theme Park. Centered on one of the Yucatan Peninsula's most interesting archeological sites, the site features actors portraying scenes from daily Mayan life, providing glimpses of religion, science, craft, trade, and palace life. El Rey also features a spectacular light and sound show every evening set against the backdrop of the Mayan ruins.

The Sennheiser Guideport System brings state-of-the-art interpretive technology to El Rey, providing personalized information to each visitor. Operating from a centrally-located PC, the Guideport System tracks each visitor through remote sensors and plays location-specific recordings through a wireless headphone system. Users can select the language and level of expertise to match their own and are free to experience the exhibits i

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Yamaha Commercial Audio and UK dealer Marquee Audio, have confirmed sales of a pair of Yamaha PM1D digital consoles to leading pro-rental production company, Britannia Row. The London-based company placed the order on the eve of the Frankfurt Musikmesse, while for the Yamaha dealers it represents their ninth and tenth sales of the premium desk.

Brit Row director Bryan Grant told us: "We first ran these consoles in anger with The Manics last autumn, followed by the MTV EMA Awards and then the BRITS. Our engineers were impressed by them and visiting technicians also gave them a very positive response. In fact, everyone who tried them was surprised at how quickly they could get up to speed mixing on them - and I have to say how damn good they sounded" Grant also implied an ongoing commitment to the PM1D, remarking: "We think they are the future and I think this initial orde

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Eskimo Noise, set up by Neil Johannessen in 1987, achieved a reputation as a leading sound company in the dance music industry, not only for audio hire, but also for production design and installation. The company’s clients included Radio 1, Nike, Budweiser, London Mardi Gras and Marco Pierre White, to name but a few.

In the meantime Systems Etc, founded by Bernard Mani in 1996, was busy working in the London’s burgeoning club/bar scene, providing this new market with state-of-the-art fully integrated audio-visual systems. Systems Etc has also more recently been supporting live events for artists including: Ed Harcourt, Starsailor and the Honeyz, at venues such as Alexandra Palace, Hanover Grand and numerous other funky showcases across the uk.

In late November 2001 Eskimo Noise was forced into voluntary liquidation "due to an unforeseen accountancy error" - and

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The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, is the proud owner of a brand new sound and lighting system for its in-house theatre, installed by Live Business International. The massive teaching hospital has a 330-seat theatre deep within its bowels, which has been used over the years for student lectures, as well as plays and Student Union performances. The hospital’s Trustees wanted to make much more use of the theatre, but the ancient sound and lighting system, with no component less than 25 years old, was a major stumbling block.

Live Business won the tender for the contract to design and install a completely new sound and lighting system for the theatre in time for a pantomime run. Live Business International director Roland Hemming designed the installation, which besides being high quality, required a great deal of flexibility to cope with the very different types of

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Hand Held Audio, specialists in wireless and in-ear technology for over a decade, are to launch a new website which goes live on 1st May. www.handheldaudio.co.uk is designed to bring wireless technology to a broader market with all of the benefits of the experience accumulated by Hand Held Audio at the high end of the market.

Founder member and director of Hand Held Audio, Mick Shepherd, is pleased with the new development. "We've been specialists in the high end touring and, more recently, corporate markets right from the very beginning and will continue to be so," he said, "but we hope that the website will enable us to reach a new sector of the market where we have never before had a presence, and yet for whom wireless and in-ear technology is becoming increasingly available. We'd like to pass on the benefits of our experience, our buying power and our considerable te

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Jamiroquai ended their world tour at Wembley Arena at the beginning of March: the huge energy of Jay Kay was equally matched in ability by an impressive Funktion-One sound system with XTA digital processing at its core.

Funktion One’s John Newsham explains the set-up: "We used a main left and right system which was 15 self-powered F218 bass per side and five wide by three deep Resolution 5s per side, with downfills. The system used the new self-powered Res 5s, with each powered box running an unpowered slave." The side hangs for the bleacher areas alongside the stage were covered by four Res 4s and two Res 18s per side, conventionally powered. Front fills and out fills consisted of Resolution 2s. Flown delays were six Res 5s per side and ground delays six F218 powered bins in the middle behind the mix risers and two Res 2 skeletal high packs.

Control for the entire sy

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Sonohouse has been appointed as the new distributor for Celestion products in France. Founded in 1973 by Jean-Louis Beart, Sonohouse is located in Ivry sur Seine, in Paris. Currently handling distribution of products like GEM Sound, Boost and BST, Sonohouse has its main strength in the club market. Its appointment as Celestion's representative in France is a reflection of the company's new drive into professional audio.

"Although Sonohouse's current strength is in the DJ and club sector, I can see a huge amount of potential for our relationship," explains David Jackson, Celestion's export manager. "Sonohouse has an excellent sales team and nationwide network, and have impressed us with their connections and level of support from the industry."

One such contact is Gerald Kaas, whose consultancy Akoustik is providing marketing advice and support. "The big poten

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Celestion's CXi range has won praise for its role in 'Evita' at the Theatre Royal Glasgow, one of its first excursions into mainstream theatre. The production, in February, was the Scottish amateur premiere, staged by the Orpheus Club, one of Scotland's oldest amateur operatic societies.

Audio was specified and provided by Glasgow sound rental company, BSF. "The Theatre Royal has been hiring Celestion from us on a trial basis with a view to purchasing the system," explained Alan Beatty of BSF. "For 'Evita', they asked us to provide a system of the highest quality which would be invisible to the audience." This provided a challenge for the BSF team. The Theatre Royal has listed building status, which prevents any alterations to its interior: the sound engineers were not allowed to hang or fly equipment, or even to touch the walls, the PA system had to fit in with the

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It’s been water, water everywhere recently for D J Willrich Ltd (DJW), as the Hampshire-based AV and multi-media specialists have recently completed work on the saltwater Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset and the freshwater Lakeside Aquarium at Newby Bridge on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Working within a deadline of just three weeks, DJW installed in the Bournemouth Oceanarium three Sony plasma displays, three touch screen quiz-based interactives and, with the help of strobe lighting and Bose speakers, the sound of a rainforest thunderstorm that automatically comes to life every 20 minutes.

Visitors to the Lake District are obviously used to it raining more frequently there since DJW’s thunderstorm sound simulation at the Lakeside Aquarium proved to be so popular that it now runs every three minutes! In addition to this, DJW has also installed two Sony plasma displays,

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Back in 2000, funding proposals for a £10.4m all-seater stadium at Bournemouth AFC’s Dean Court HQ were drawn up as part of a 15-year business plan. With help from Bournemouth Borough Council, supplemented by a record £3m package from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, the Club were well on their way to reaching the scaled-down first phase of the targeted £5.5m-£6.5m. The shortfall of around £2m was made up by Cherries supporters and thus the first phase of the new Fitness First Stadium, with the construction of three new stands - and rotation through 90° of the playing surface - was unveiled earlier this season.

With Barr Construction undertaking the building construction, it was left to turnstile and gate specialists, Swift Tate Security Technology Ltd, to offer a turnkey solution by specifying a fully-featured public address/voice alarm system. And with 23 years&rsquo

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Peterborough-based Pearce Hire has invested in a new L-Acoustics speaker system, Camco amplifiers and a range of processing equipment, to increase the quality and flexibility of its PA package for clients.

The first outing for the system came in February at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge, where a conventional stereo configuration PA was installed by Pearce Hire’s crew for a Courtney Pine concert. This was followed by the New College Nottingham annual awards ceremony hosted at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, where the L-Acoustics system was flown for the first time. Pearce Hire supplied the full sound and lighting spec for the awards, and liaised closely with set designers and video screen suppliers, Hawk AV.

MD Shaun Pearce said: "The new system has superb acoustic reproduction that belies its physical size. This awards show has highlighted its ability to handle speech

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BSS Audio has released a new processor for the expanding install market, aimed particularly at integrated system solutions. The ProSys PS-8810 is a fixed-path digital processor, with eight inputs and ten outputs that each has a dedicated processing path which includes EQ filters, gates, compressors, auto-mixers and delays, as well as other processing objects.

With its fixed-path design, system installers need only configure the routing matrix and decide which of the processing objects will be utilized. Once these are established, the set-ups may be stored as presets and recalled via the PC, contact closure or the 8810’s own internal events scheduler. All functions of the PS-8810 are set-up and controlled from a PC running IQ-WIN software, the control suite that can control a variety of types of audio equipment.

The real strength of this new DSP, however, is that it is the firs

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The Barbican London’s landmark performing arts venue has a new technical production facility - it is now the only live venue in the UK currently offering a permanent broadcast facility. The Barbican BBC digital broadcast system is a joint venture between the BBC and the Barbican. The aim is to produce high quality, cost-effective broadcast material embracing a rich diversity of performance genres. This will feed the new digital channels and also ensure the Barbican keeps pace with cutting edge production technologies.

The new facility also greatly enhances the Barbican as a venue for corporate events and conference industries. Very easy transmission between the Barbican’s numerous different auditoria and spaces, and instant live relay of images from auditorium to screen, are just two advantages. Others include a vastly improved video show relay.

Simon Prior, the Barbican

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