Arbiter Plc has supplied installer John Fearon of Eclipse Lighting & Sound with a variety of equipment, including JBL loudspeakers, for installations in the latest two Revolution Vodka Bars. The fast-expanding, award-winning brand has recently opened new sites in Northampton and Clapham. The Revolution concept - vodka, dancing, food - doubtless leading to plenty of lively political debate - and the very best sound throughout the evening, was launched in 1995. The latest two venues are part of a group of 27 owned by Manchester-based Inventive Leisure, all of which have had sound systems installed by Rochdale-based Eclipse.

Clapham and Northampton were as sonically challenging as their predecessors, according to John Fearon. As with all new projects, the installer has to understand and interpret the client's requirements, and provide a scheme offering superior audio quality - on budget.

Digigram, an innovator in digital audio network solutions, has completed its acquisition of French-based Innova Son, a pioneer in the design of digital audio mixing consoles. Innova Son consoles are used for sound reinforcement in live performance such as concerts, broadcast television, theatrical presentations, religious services, and corporate events.

The deal completes a move made by Digigram when it acquired a 44.76% stake in Innova Son in January 2001. Digigram now owns 100 percent of Innova Son, but says the company will preserve its own identity and commercial autonomy within the Digigram group. Innova Son products will continue to be distributed by the company's established network, while Digigram will provide sales support in markets that the company has yet to penetrate. Innova Son’s current management remains in place, with Philippe Royer as managing director in charge

Sennheiser UK contributed to the recent success of Europe’s biggest music and performing arts festival by exclusively sponsoring the Glastonbury 2002 New Bands Stage. Alongside sound company Southwest Audio Ltd and production company Reality Check, Sennheiser helped deliver a professionally specified stage featuring both evolution series wireless and cabled microphones and wireless in-ear-monitor systems.

A comprehensive on-site technical support centre was also set-up to provide call-out cover for the large amount of kit in use on various stages throughout the festival site, as well as to provide technical back-up to the numerous Sennheiser endorsees on the bill; these included Starsailor, The White Stripes, Faithless, Lostprophets and Haven. The technical back-up was provided by Sennheiser chief engineer Andy Lillywhite and service engineer Sam Davison, who came equipped with

Danmarks Radio, Denmark's national broadcaster, has purchased 16 channels of new Lectrosonics wireless microphone systems and active antenna splitters from Lectrosonics representative Dansk P.A. Center A/S.

The UDR300 studio receivers and UM300B belt-pack transmitters are the European versions of the well-known and proven 200 Series system that has been the preferred wireless in Hollywood and with American broadcasters for many years. The unmatched quality was a key issue, along with the sophisticated computer control software with RF site scanning and walk test measurements. The systems are to be used on mobile production carts in TV production, in studio and on location. All 16 channels are designed to work in the 800-820 MHz in two 8-channel sets or in adjacent studios together as 16 channels.

(Lee Baldock)

The recent launch of Attack of the Clones, the latest chapter in the Star Wars story, saw two notable firsts for a UK film premier, a live performance by the Royal Philharmonic in Leicester Square, and a pair of PM1D’s used in a unique audio experiment. "There were two major considerations for this event," explained live engineer Dave Bracey, "the concert must be relayed a full 360° around the Square which means we have to be acutely sensitive to the local neighbourhood; and secondly the whole thing must go in, fit-up, be played and cleared in under a day."

Duplicating the sound system for rehearsals away from the site was fairly straight forward, having two PM1Ds one at the rehearsal site, one in Leicester Square, simplified things further, as Bracey explained. "I rehearsed with the orchestra live; this is a 50-piece orchestra and when you add in the ef

The renowned Albany Theatre in Deptford, south-east London, has recently undergone a complete technical refurbishment.

Opened on its present site in 1982, The Albany established a formidable reputation for itself in the 1980s as a thriving community theatre with the backing of some big names. But as the years passed, lack of funding took its toll and the theatre fell into disrepair, its equipment failed or was removed, and eventually, in 2000, it succumbed to darkness.

Since then, an energetic campaign to bring it back to life has seen the birth of a three-phase refurbishment programme, most of which is now complete. Thus, the Albany opened its doors again in March, boasting a fully refurbished interior, revamped flying grid and brand new sound, lighting, comms and patching systems with names such as Meyer Sound, XTA Electronics, MC2, Yamaha, ETC and Strand in the rig.

The team re

The Sheraton Frankfurt recently added a new chapter to its 27-year history, following the completion of a €50 million renovation and redecoration programme. As an elegant five-star hotel with bright, spacious areas, it offers the latest technical equipment, large conference and banqueting facilities, direct access to Frankfurt Airport via a footbridge, close proximity to the ICE terminal and metro connections to Frankfurt’s city centre.

As Europe’s largest airport hotel, it has over 1,000 guest rooms. Not only has the interior design of the lobby changed completely, but also its location. Gone are the relatively dark charms of former days, now replaced by a bright and modern lobby six times larger. The floors are Italian porcelain tiles, extravagant Venetian plaster decorates the walls and the staircase is constructed of marble and glass. In the new ‘Glass House&rsqu

This year’s Philip Morris Jazz Weekend took place in the Dutch city of Bergen Op Zoom in late May. During the five-day show, national and international stars of the jazz scene performed in four different venues. Among these were Phil Mason’s New Orleans All Stars with Christine Tyrell, Arie Kuit Quartet, Trio Johan Clement featuring Madeleine Bell, Miss Lulu White’s Red Hot Creole Jazz band and many more.

The main stage was the 1,000-capacity jazz tent, which was equipped with four stacks of HK Audio R-Series plus DFC amp racks, supplied by Triple A. For monitors, a total of seven HK Audio SM 112 II, two VT 115 Xs and an SM 212 for drum fill were used. Toon Dekkers, owner of Triple A, commented: "We have been working with HK Audio material for several years and we are again and again enthusiastic about the versatility of R-Series. Some people consider R-Series as

When David Bowie’s production manager, Nick Belshaw, turned his attention towards Europe and the summer season he thought of his old colleague, Dick Hayes at Entec in London. "When Nick first called he explained that the show Bowie is taking to the festivals of Europe was quite complex," explained Hayes, "so his sound engineer Pablo Wheeler had asked Belshaw to secure him a Yamaha PM1D."

Such is the size and scope of Bowie’s repertoire, that Wheeler was looking at 56 mic lines and a further 24 line inputs. "This show controller required the ability to follow an artist with a huge song list, and a penchant for chopping and changing his set list at the drop of a hat. At first, I thought I’d rent a PM1D for him," Hayes explained, "but then on reflection I realised this is a desk being spec’d more and more."

Hayes had harbou

Mike Charman has joined the Autograph Sales team as Clear-Com product specialist. Charman brings to the company a wide range of engineering skills, matched with familiarity within the field of broadcast and communication sales. His experience includes 15 years of working with innovative products such as AVS standard converters and Tekniche and Leitch broadcast systems.

Mike’s arrival coincides with an exciting period for Clear-Com, with a vast range of new wireless communications products soon to be available in the UK. The imminent licensing of the Q700 range, a programmable frequency agile UHF wireless intercom system, will be welcomed by communications users. The system has already attracted interest from across the UK, andenquiries have been coming in from broadcast users, as far a field as Aberdeen, to regional theatres, as well as numerous lighting and sound rental companie

Now here’s a thing: the ‘It’ girl Sophie Ellis Bextor, diva of the dancefloor with her Julie Andrews voice and lounge lush livery, sidles off stage at the end of song six and we’re treated to a guitar solo.

And not just any solo, this was raunchy, rocky, postured and powerful. Frankly, this caught the crowd completely unawares, even though there had been a clue it was coming: the opening number Sparkle was similarly endowed with a power pop melody and a thickly textured rhythm section, more Sweet’s Suicide than Siren of Style. What to think?

The audience didn’t seem to mind: here we had a mixture of sub-teens, mainly self-conscious girls still wearing LED flashing antenna from the S Club gig a fortnight earlier (these disappeared very quickly once the grown up audience arrived and they realised how uncool this made them look); a fair contingency o

Sennheiser UK is marking the 25th PLASA Show with the UK launch of several new products and ranges. The Sennheiser SKM 5000N Neumann-capsuled wireless microphone, the MKE Platinum ‘invisible’ miniature lavalier mic and the evolution eW550 touring twin wireless receiver are among major attractions for the live sound industry. The company will also be showing the Lab.gruppen range of power amplification for the first time, including the latest Iron Power and Ferrite Power ranges. Alongside all of which there will be the full range of Sennheiser and Neumann live and studio microphones, Sennheiser headsets, including the new HD280 pro DJ headphone, and D.A.S Audio sound reinforcement products and Mindprint signal processors. Sennheiser will also be unveiling an entire new innovative audio installation brand and new Sennheiser conferencing products at the show.

To accommodate th

Glenn Beckley's sound design for the touring production of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers features no less than five types of JF Series loudspeakers from EAW, supplied by Stage Electrics of Bristol, UK. In line with current practice, Beckley has split the distributed system so that different enclosures handle the band and vocals, and he selected the JF590 to give a rounded sound to the show's small orchestra.

"It's a nice speaker for listening to music," he commented, "and its fairly wide horizontal dispersion is ideal for a system that doesn't contain huge arrays." The four JF590s are configured as two stereo pairs and are supplemented by the same number of SB330 single 18" subwoofers, feeding the stalls and balcony areas respectively. The cabinets are flown or ground-stacked as required, displaying the versatility of the JF Series. The JF260z is a rec

Hayden Laboratories, the exclusive UK distributor for Denon products, has announced a special edition of chrome fascias for two of its most popular Denon DJ products - the DN-X400 mixer and the DN-1800 twin-CD player. 100 chrome fascias versions of each product are now available. The idea behind the move is to satisfy the current trend for chrome equipment for these entry-level professional products, in the fashion-conscious environment of the professional DJ.

The stylish chrome fascias are constructed from a laser-cut panel that retains the engineering quality, aesthetic integrity and rugged build for which Denon is known.

(Lee Baldock)

Belgian rental company DEE Sound & Light has increased its stock of Midas consoles with the addition of a 48-input Heritage 3000, supplied by Ampco Belgium. This latest purchase brings DEE's Midas inventory up to seven consoles, making it the company's principal console brand.

DEE's André Schneider explained that the reasons for investing in Midas were manifold, although one of the principal motivations was compatibility with other key suppliers. "We work very closely with Ampco Holland so it was important that we invest in the same equipment. We are both part of the Synco Network with Renkus Heinz, and it made sense to carry that through with the consoles as well. Plus of course Midas is a fantastic product. Our very first Midas console was a custom-built XL2, followed by a 24-channel XL200, both of which are still going strong. In fact, the XL2 is currently out on a world tour

In the Pantheon of award shows, the Classical Brits is a relative newcomer. That said, it’s a worthy show, recognising as it does young talent, the new, the great, and the good in the firmament of Classical music. Like its popular music forebear the Brit Awards, Classical Brits is also a highly challenging environment for live sound, composed as it is of a multiplicity of musical style and dynamics, it’s a rare day when you¹ll hear the light froth of the Opera Babes juxtaposed with the heavy artillery of a Russell Watson vocal broadside.

Strange then that Richard Sharratt, the man charged with delivering this unlikely mix to the listeners should try out a new console on the very singular recommendation of a colleague. This is after all, a one-off live show, not a heavily rehearsed concert season, as Sharratt explained: "Yes, it was my first time using the PM1D but I&r

The Guardian Hay literature and arts festival was last year described by Bill Clinton as "the Woodstock of the mind". In early June, this year’s Hay Festival returned to Hay on Wye, a tiny market town in the Black Mountains of the Welsh Marches - a town with 1,300 people but no less than 39 bookshops. XTA Electronics’ digital processing was deep at the heart of a sound system that presented readings and lectures by day and live bands by night.

Leading figures from the worlds of literature, music and the arts attract 50,000 visitors from all over the UK, Europe and America for 10 days a year, to join in what festival director Peter Florence calls ‘a market of ideas’. The music programme included Macy Gray, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Afro Celt Sound System and Bob Geldof, while new ideas and writing were presented by Maya Angelou, Paolo Coelho, Ian McEwan,

Lars Brogaard and David Bryson, production manager and wireless guru respectively, have asked wireless specialists Hand Held Audio to organize the licensing of their extensive radio systems for the current Rod Stewart UK tour. The tour requires 27 clear frequencies for each show, split between 13 in-ear systems, six backline systems for guitars and eight radio mics for vocals and brass.

Fortunately, the AKG IVM in-ear systems and radio mics and the Samson guitar systems all have frequency agility. Without that capability it would be impossible to get the same equipment onto clear channels in venues as diverse as Hyde Park, The Manchester Evening News Arena, Glastonbury Festival and Stormont Castle in Belfast. In order to have the widest possible selection of frequencies the production also has a total of three sets of AKG antennaverters for the vocal and brass systems. This rare beast

Tascam is exhibiting in force at the PLASA Show, demonstrating its rapidly expanding range of DJ products, including new ranges of high quality scratch and install mixers, alongside the company’s market leading X-9 digital performance DJ mixer.

Live and studio production products will include the SX-1 digital audio production environment, the full range of GigaStudio PC sample software, the DM-24 digital recording console and MX-2424 24-track HD recorder/ editor - featuring a new ‘Theatre Play’ mode. Also on the stand will be the new Tannoy Ellipse 8 monitoring system, as well as the full 5.1 surround sound configuration of the highly successful Reveal monitor. Guest appearances from top UK garage DJs DreemTeem among others are lined up.

PLASA sees the European trade launch of the Tascam DJ ‘Super Analog Series’ XS-3, XS-4, and XS-8 scratch mixers; progr

Cadac is focusing on the importance of sound economics at this year's PLASA. On show will be the latest version of Cadac's advanced Sound Automation Manager (SAM) for Windows, and a brand new compact addition to Cadac's line-up - the S-Type Live Show Console, details of which won’t be revealed until 8 September.

Cadac is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of its successful J-Type Live Production Console - regarded as the industry benchmark for major musical productions and tours. On show will be the latest J-Type module developments, reflecting the console's continuing evolution over the past decade, keeping it at the forefront of sound reinforcement functionality.

During the show, the company will be running a series of high profile ‘teach-ins’ across a variety of live sound topics. These will include guest presentations from leading industry experts on audio t

Wharfedale has launched three new product series to add to its comprehensive loudspeaker portfolio.

Wharfedale have launched a range of trapezoidal enclosures designed to meet the requirements of high output, near field reproduction. The two-way ported, compact Programme 50, 52 and 60 foreground/background systems provide a wide frequency range, coupled with high power handling in an attractive, acoustically-efficient enclosure. The series offers four different versions, with black or white paint finish options (and with 70V/100V line transformer versions depending on markets).

The Programme 50 features a 5.5" woofer and 3/4" titanium driver, the Programme 52 features a pair of woofers and 3/4" titanium driver while the Programme 60 features two 6.5" woofers and a 1" titanium compression driver/horn, with 60° x 60° coverage. The HF horn/driver combination g

As part of a short two-date tour of the UK, SRD Group of Tonbridge supplied a GAE Director sound system to Randy Crawford for her performances at the 2000-seat Fairfield Halls in Croydon, London, produced by Backbeat Music Promotions.

When asked about the choice of system, Stuart Roberts of SRD commented that the GAE Director system was chosen for its exceptional clarity and tight dispersion. Eight stacks of Director, driven by QSC Powerlight amplifiers, were used to provide even coverage throughout the stalls area, the circle being in-filled by the venue’s existing Meyer system. Other equipment provided included five ways of Shure PSM-700 in-ear monitoring, two channels of Shure Premier Beta 87 radio mics, a Midas XL3 front of house desk and a Soundcraft SM-24 for the monitors. Wedge monitors were GAE 152M.

(Ruth Rossington)

Smart Sound Direct has announced the availability of the PS802 amplifier from SoundTech. Despite being the smallest in the three-model PS line, the 1U PS802 digital amp is by far the most popular. Weighing in at just 7kg the PS802 employs highly efficient on-board PowerSource SwitchMode power supplies (thereby eliminating the need for bulky mains transformers) and Class-H output circuits, resulting in an amp that’s 20% more energy-efficient.

Despite its diminutive dimensions, with outputs of 800W bridged mono into 8 ohms and 400W per channel into 4 ohms (at 0.05% total harmonic distortion), the PS802 still retains plenty of punch and power, resulting in exceptional performance for an amp of its size and weight. With a unique speaker protection system to guard against DC faults, on/off transient peaks and under/over voltage situations, plus dual Vari-Speed cooling fans, XLRs and 1

Wembley-based recording facility Phoenix Sound has installed an AMS Neve VR60 console in its main Phoenix One control room. The desk complements an AMS Neve Capricorn digital console, featuring fully automated mixing and reset facilities, which has now been operating in the Capricorn Room since February 2002.

The VR60, purchased in June 2002 in collaboration with Mark Derksen of Markant Recording Studios in Holland, has provided Phoenix Sound with the framework to offer traditional recording and mixing facilities in Phoenix One. A further collaboration with Andrew Walton of K&A Productions means that the studio now has a comprehensive microphone collection. Phoenix Sound’s managing director, Peter Fielder, says: "Ever since we opened, back in October 2001, it very quickly became clear that Phoenix One being operational was what the punters wanted. Having achieved the first s

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