UK - The Live Floor Show, back for a second series on BBC Scotland with new host Dara O'Briain, is a blend of comedy, music and entertainment recorded in front of a live audience that goes out on Saturday nights. Glasgow-based audio specialists Sound Acoustics were approached to provide the sound requirements, and having invested in a Nexo Geo system last year (supplied by Fuzion), the company’s Tommy Gorman was keen to put it through its paces in a TV recording studio environment.

"Essentially what we're providing is the PA for the audience, so it's like a mini-concert set-up," explained Tommy. "We're flying six Geo S805s with two CD12 subs per side driven by Camco Vortex 6 amplifiers with control from Nexo's NX241 digital controller. It's one of the cleanest-sounding PA systems I've heard, and of course its size gives it a huge advantage in a situation lik

Germany - ProLight&Sound 2003: Italy-based connector manufacturer Link introduced the LKS 19-pin lighting connector range (including a new rubber locking ring) and the LKS Spider connector for break-ins and break-outs. Also new were the SB Gold 48, 56 and 64-channel stage boxes, featuring gold-plated contacts for audio distribution. Additions to the company's Eurocable range included the Eurocable Cat 5E cables specifically designed for live applications, and a Eurocable range of High Definition TV coaxial cables, plus the new 16 amp Y chord rubber splitter for clean and efficient distribution.

UK - Hayden Laboratories has announced the new DN-D4000, double CD/MP3 player. The DN-D4000 has offers playback of CDR/RW discs and also has MP3 playback. MP3 is now an essential music source for cutting-edge DJs and installations alike, permeating all areas of entertainment and leisure from clubs and bars to corporate installations and mobile DJs, right through to general retail.

The DN-D4000’s features include VBR and CBR support, folder/file search and ID3-Tag display - showing artist, album and track title. It is also playlist compatible in m3u form. The machine’s CD function offers text display for artist and track names for discs containing CD Text information. Most popular CD-R/RW burning software now offers the ability to add CD Text.

The DN-D4000 also offers two seamless loops per CD drive - by using the start points (A-1 or A-2) two seamless loops may be

Turkey - Istanbul based Park Audio & Lighting, ARX's Turkish distributor, has been busy recently installing ARX’s ZX and ZR Series power amplifiers as well as ARX signal processing into a number of five star hotels throughout Turkey as part of a series of system installations and upgrades. Park's managing director, Oktay Karasoglu, advises that ARX's ZX 3200 high current low impedance power amplifier has been especially popular for powering dance club subwoofer systems, an arduous application, given that some of the clubs are open for up to 12 hours at a time.

In Antalya, the Kremlin Palas Hotel Resort installed ARX EQ60 graphic equalizers and DI 6S line adapters, and eight ZX3200 and ZR 850 power amplifiers. Also in Antalya the Topkapi Palas Hotel Resort installed EQ60s, DI 6Ss and ZX3200 and ZR 850 power amplifiers. Finally, in Bodrum the Beach Club Hotel installed four

UK - If you want confirmation of how tough the market is, then look no further than the latest findings from industry analysts, Plimsoll Publishing Ltd. Their latest report confirms that zero growth, sliding profits and escalating debts have pushed over a third of the UK audio industry to the brink of failure.

Plimsoll's annual financial health-check of the top 268 companies in the UK sound equipment industry reveals that consolidation will be essential as supply is currently outstripping demand. Plimsoll 'rates' every company in the industry based on its overall financial strength. Ratings are given as Strong, Good, Mediocre, Caution or Danger. Alarmingly, 48% of companies rated have now deteriorated in overall financial strength from last year's ratings. Perhaps even more disturbing is that 58 companies are experiencing their second year with a 'Danger' rating. For these compa

UK - Autograph Sales has hosted the first Meyer Sound SIM System II FFT Analyzer course to be held in the UK for five years. A total of 10 students, comprised of freelancer engineers, rental company and venue technical personnel and audio designers, attended the five-day full-time course at the Radlett Centre in Hertfordshire under the instruction of Meyer's director of education Mauricio 'Magu' Ramirez.

"The course includes a significant audio theory element, without which it's pretty impossible to optimise or even measure a sound system," says Mike Mann, technical manager at Autograph Sales. "It also includes hands-on time learning the routines and sequences for measuring and adjusting systems in live situations. There's a lot to learn over the five days, as it's the mostintensive training course Meyer offers.

Oliver Driver, a partner in Audio Alliance North,

USA - This year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony featured over 50 Audio-Technica mics, assuring the audio at this momentous event was a worthy tribute to the legendary musicians being honoured. The presentation was held on 10 March, at the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom in midtown Manhattan, and the 2003 performer inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were AC/DC, The Clash, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, The Police and the Righteous Brothers. As in years past, the spectacular performances became the focus of the occasion.

A-T’s new Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, which is rapidly gaining favour with a wide range of artists, featured in a number of frontline vocal performances. Gwen Stefani, John Mayer, Steven Tyler, Paul Schaffer and the Righteous Brothers all used A-T’s 5000 Series wireless systems. Paul Simon’s vocals feature

Germany - Andy Schindlbeck, the head of the Perkam-Radldorf-based events and entertainment company Schindlbeck Veranstaltungstechnik GmbH, has finalized the acquisition of three complete Dynacord Cobra-4 systems. He explains: "With this equipment, I can guarantee a completely balanced and homogeneous sound for virtually all sound reinforcement applications," adding: "the sound performance is powerful yet the handling is child’s-play."

Schindlbeck first encountered this system extension to the compact line array system at the Telex EVI Audio in-house exhibition (or ‘Hausmesse’) at the end of January 2003. Four weeks later he was the owner of the brand-new sound tool, and three weeks on from that he is able to tell us something of his first experiences with the new system: "I’ve used the system now around 20 times and each time I ha

France - Digigram, an innovator in digital audio network solutions, has hired Miranda Hageman as sales and communications director. "With a number of new products and new technologies to come, Miranda will help us to accelerate our move into new market segments and broaden our international scope," said Digigram managing director Philippe Delacroix. "Her sales and communications experience will be very valuable assets as we continue to look for new OEMs and partners."

Dutch native Hageman spent more than a decade in various roles with Maycom Systems Europe, Maycom Automation Systems and Electronic Data Systems, all headquartered in the Netherlands. Among others, she was involved in the product and sales strategy for Maycom's award winning Easycorder in 1999. Hageman graduated from Utrecht Business School with a degree in marketing, which she complemented wit

UK - Entec Sound installed a large d&b system - including the new long-throw C3 speakers - into London’s Royal Albert Hall for last week’s six-night Teenage Cancer Trust event. This was the first time the C3 has been used in this high profile venue. The TCT shows, featuring some of the UK’s top bands and performing artists, were organized by Harvey Goldsmith and a hand-picked production team. The aim was to raise funds and awareness for the charity, which is greatly supported by Roger Daltrey.

Entec’s innovative system design was a collaboration between their own Tristan Johnson and d&b’s Ralph Zuleeg. The pair designed and flew the PA and set up the system, before leaving the running and day-to-day tweaking to Entec’s crew chief Ritchie Gibson. Johnson explains that the RAH was the ideal venue to put the C3 through it’s paces in terms o

USA - Stanton has introduced its new SMX-401 three-channel DJ mixer, a completely redesigned 10" professional mixer which Stanton say boasts a wide range of intuitive controls, high quality sound and components including Penny & Giles crossfader.

The SMX-401 has three phono inputs, six line inputs and two mic inputs with independent EQ. Each channel sports Gain control, bright input LED meters, a three-band EQ with full Kill capability, as well as Pan knobs. A full-featured Cue section includes PFL, Cue Pan, and dual headphone outputs for tag-team mixing.

Professional DJs will appreciate the SMX-401s three-band Kill switches for channels 1 and 3, conveniently located next to the P&G crossfader. For creative mixing, the SMX-401 also offers an Effects loop with ¼" Send and Return jacks.

The mixer is rounded off with professional balanced Master outputs, separate Boo

Denmark - The new D-PAC MP-152 utilizes the latest developments in transducer and cabinet design to provide a compact and easy-to-handle multi-purpose box. The low profile (37cm) of the cabinet makes it ideal for use as a wedge, and it can be configured for either passive operation or bi-amped through a DSP, where D-PAC audio recommends the Ashly 4.24C (4-in/8-out) for outstanding price/performance ratio. The exceptional low weight (20kg) is accomplished through the use of neodymium drivers, and the carefully selected crossover point ensures a point source reproduction with the advantage of a true horn-loaded compression driver, giving controlled and non-beaming dispersion, eliminating hotspots that are a typical cause of feedback. The high SPL is reached by use of a special 15" driver with interleaved voice coil for improved heat dissipation and double demodulation rings for

USA - Creative Studio Solutions Inc (CSS) of Denver, Colorado, has been chosen to design, build and install Entercom’s new suite of broadcast studios at its new facility at The Denver Technology Center. Entercom currently operates four broadcast radio stations in the Denver area. CSS will design and install a total of 12 new studios for Entercom - four on-air studios, four production studios, three news studios, and a live room.

CSS’s CEO and chief engineer Andrew Rosenberg says that this project is exciting for him and his staff. "There is nothing better than getting involved in the studio design process from the ground up. We are honored that an organization with Entercom’s reputation for excellence has chosen CSS to do this project."

CSS is primarily utilizing Wheatstone technology and its related products for this project. CSS will also be using

UK - Scream Studios, the rehearsal and recording facility group, is taking an all-EV approach for its prime showcase studios in south-east England. Scream, which began in 1991, expanded from its original site in Carshalton to a second operation in Croydon, and its latest location is in Brighton.

The recently-opened Brighton complex, which houses seven rehearsal rooms, also has a 100-capacity showcase room, linked to a recording studio and video editing suite. This has been equipped with an Electro-Voice RX sound reinforcement system "that can take the loudest of the loud" according to owner Aide Aires.

The new room has already been used by a wide variety of artists, from the 40-piece Carnival Collective, to Status Quo and Gary Moore. Apart from a highly individual design scheme, which features an 8ft tank with floating droids and cyborgs, the room uses two EV RX112/7

UK - AutoPatch Europe is offering transmitter/receiver modules to provide point-to-point transmission of signals including Y/C with stereo audio (up to 300m), composite video (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) with stereo audio (up to 300m), RGBHV (up to 100m), for cost-effective routing and distribution of video and stereo audio throughout a facility. In addition, there is a modular CAT5 Matrix System, up to 32 inputs x 32 outputs, providing true flexibility in a CAT5 installation.

CAT5 cabling with RJ-45 connectors provides a convenient and cost effective alternative to coaxial cable: CAT5 is lighter, more flexible, and a fraction of the cost of coaxial video cable. The result is an all-in-one solution for routing and distributing professional quality video and audio that reduces installation and cable costs in less rack space, say AutoPatch.

(Lee Baldock)

Spain - LA Audio has appointed a new distributor in Spain, Lexon SA, taking over the responsibilities of sales and marketing the LA Audio brand in this territory. Lexon was established in 1977 with offices in Sarriá, Barcelona, and Santibáñez de Béjar, Madrid. Its primary business is the import and distribution of professional audio and video products for fixed installations, rental companies, contractors, consultants and engineering companies. Lexon also supplies specific products to the broadcast sector, as well recording and post-production in studios. It operates in the whole of the Spanish territory, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, with over 1,300 regular customers. Other than LA Audio, Lexon distribute BSS, Cedar, Schoeps and many other recognized brand names.

Eva Thullen, assistant manager of Lexon, says: "We are very happy about taking the LA Audio li

UK - Trantec has appointed Rob Piddington as UK sales manager. He will have overall responsibility for UK sales, concentrating primarily on the pro-audio sector of the market place (hire and broadcast). Rob’s vast experience in the Radio Microphone sales arena, having worked previously with Sennheiser UK for over 10 years, will be invaluable to Trantec, according to general manager Tony Reid. "We are all very excited about Rob joining us, as we see this as the beginning of a new era for Trantec. It also coincides nicely with the launch of our new S6000 system."

(Ruth Rossington)

Ireland - The selective heats for this year's competition to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest were held in the style of 'Pop Idol' and 'Fame Academy' with contestants being gradually voted out of the competition by TV viewers across the country.

Mickey Joe Harte, who performed with an AKG WMS40 handheld radio microphone won the overall competition with a landslide victory of 1.3 million votes - and that from a population of just over 3 million! The WMS40 was provided by Declan Reynolds of Reynolds of Raphoe in County Donegal who said: "We used the WMS40, even though we had many other far more expensive radio mic systems available to us. The WMS40 was not only the simplest system to set up, but also the performance totally belies the low price tag. This performs as well as most radio mic systems costing three times as much money, and was immaculate on the nig

UK - The eighth annual HMV Football Extravaganza kicked off this year at the Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, raising £339,000 for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. Canegreen Commercial was the sound consultant for the event, providing expertise and PA equipment for production company Zafer Associates.

The assembled 1,400-strong audience were there to raise money for the music industry’s favourite charity, the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. In the process they honoured the career of Tony Adams MBE, and bid for a host of football memorabilia, hospitality and media packages. Canegreen Commercial’s Andrew Frengley designed the sound system and controlled proceedings as the stage manager for the event: "This is the fourth successive year we have worked with Zafer on this event. It is a relatively straightforward system for us to put in place now as

USA - In rock and roll, there is no substitute for reliability. After years of searching for dependable digital cable for its oceanic research, the US Government found the solution in TMB’s ProPlex, a unique product with its roots in concert touring.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies marine mammals worldwide using a custom towed hydrophone array spanning over three miles. Previously, expedition scientists could not find good data cable that was also rugged enough to withstand the constant use in rough seas and extreme temperatures. Chief scientist Jay Barlow explains: "We are using a new hydrophone array this year, made in our own lab using modified ProPlex CAT5 cable from TMB (thanks to TMB’s OEM sales department). We've towed this one for over 1,000 miles now, and results are excellent: flow noise is less than with arrays we

UK - Allen & Heath has released a valve board as an option for the recently launched and highly successful Xone:V6 DJ/Club mixer. The Xone:V6 valve board consists of a high quality double-sided fibreglass PCB carrying six premium grade double triode valves in cathode-follower configuration.

Each valve becomes an integral part of its corresponding channel's pre-amplifier, adding the classic valve sound and ‘warmth’ to any signals that run through it, say the company. Careful circuit design ensures that noise and headroom are not compromised and enhances the even harmonics associated with thermionic valve technology.

Installation of the board is simple - the outer casing of the Xone:V6 is removed and the valve board ‘plugged’ in without further modification. The Xone:V6 mixer has been enthusiastically received by DJs and clubs worldwide and commended for

Australia - ARX Systems has released the new EQ 260 dual channel 1/3rd octave graphic equaliser. Following in the steps of the EQ 60, the EQ 260 is ideal for all critical Sound Reinforcement, Installation and Broadcast applications.

Each channel on the satin grey front panel features 30 of ARX’s new extended resolution long-throw, centre grounding sliders, switchable to either ±15dB or ±6dB, for the ideal combination of high fader resolution and maximum cut and boost. Additionally, there is a gain level control with up to +10 dB of gain; a Clip LED to indicate circuit overload, a sweepable 20-200Hz High Pass filter, and an In/Out hardwire bypass switch with optional transformer output.

The EQ 260 boasts a signal-to-noise ratio of 95dB un-weighted, a dynamic range of 120dB and Distortion lower than .004% at 100Hz, 1kHz and 10kHz.

(Lee Baldock)

Spain - KV2’s Spanish distributor Letusa has staged the first ‘live’ demonstration of KV2’s much anticipated ES Series at the Pro Audio 2003 exhibition in Madrid. Letusa were first introduced to KV2 at this year’s NAMM show and were appointed distributor for Spain and Portugal at ProLight+Sound in Frankfurt. "We are very proud of having Letusa as the first KV2 Audio distributor in Europe, as their enthusiasm and support to us has been incredible since the first meeting at the NAMM Show," says Alex Pagliani, sales director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at KV2 Audio.

Under the rules of the ‘shoot out’ each company had three 12-minute segments throughout the day, with no time allowed to tweak the boxes. Fortunately, KV2’s ‘Audio Twins’ were on hand in the shape of Andy Austin Brown and Jonathan Reece-Farren.

UK - Phil Anderson at Wave AV has put Wharfedale Force 1LT loudspeakers at the heart of a sound system blueprint for newly restored, authentic country-style pubs which are part of an expanding investment programme undertaken by Hall & Woodhouse.

These sites are located all along the South Coast/M4 corridor, from Somerset to Dorset and across to Sussex. All the pubs share the design concept, the same food and drink menus, and are equipped with identical entertainment systems, which only change in respect of the quantity of equipment used.

Wave AV's template for the sound uses typically a dozen Wharfedale Force 1LT wall-mounted cabinets in 100V line mode, controlled by a Cloud 46/50 integrated zone mixer/amplifer. Remote level control is accessible from the bar via Cloud RSL-6 plates. A Rolec PHD1 hard-disk music system is at the heart of the system as the musical source.

Wave

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