Sound

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UK / Germany - Trantec will showcase its entire range of advanced radio products at this year's Frankfurt ProLight&Sound exhibition. Making its European debut is the Trantec S6001 which, the company says, carries on where the award-winning S5000 left off. It features many of the benefits of the internationally acclaimed S6000 rack system, but in a compact, single-channel unit.

Using the same receiver technology currently employed in the S6000, the S6001 can operate from 798MHz to 865MHz. It can operate from user defined frequency sets programmed via a USB port, or custom programmed to individual frequencies via the data wheel on the front panel. The unit displays all the standard information through a latest generation vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), giving high visual clarity in all environments.

Trantec will also be showcasing its new 4.16 - a low cost radio mic system.

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UK - Public address and voice alarm specialist Millbank Electronics (now owned by Ampekko Ltd) has de-centralized its UK distributor network and appointed nine new distributors nationwide. The strategic decision to broaden the network across the UK was agreed with Millbank's long-standing UK distributor RW Salt. Featuring as a part of the on-going policy at Millbank to expand its market potential, provide enhanced end user support and technical back up, the new network comprises organizations that are traditional PA/VA specialists as well as companies that focus on allied niche markets.

In the North East, Canford Audio will represent Millbank and push the brand into studio and related marketplaces, whilst Blaydon Communications will service the traditional PA/VA sector in this region. RW Salt will handle Manchester's environs, whilst Ansabac will look after the Birmingham area a

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UK - The Square is a new nightclub venue in Daventry, Northamptonshire, owned by Lord Maurice Fermoy. Fermoy, who aims to bring a touch of class to a night out, has opened the new venue as phase one of a two-part experience, with phase two due for completion during Spring 2004.

Installer for the venue, Complete Light and Sound Services (CLASS), have utilized Digita and Mini Sub loudspeakers from Italian manufacturer Outline for this prestigious venue. The Mini Subs have been placed in custom-built cabinets and the system is powered by QSC, with Behringer processing, with the main club mixer the popular and reliable Allen & Heath Xone 6:2.

The decision to use the Outline range for this installation was reached by the combination of the past experience of William Yeo and Richard Alldred. The lighting system for the venue, which has also been installed by CLASS, includes products

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Australia - ARX Systems has announced the release of the new ARX Afterburner II multi-mode compressor/limiter, designed for use in the most demanding professional audio dynamics control applications. The Afterburner II can be used in three different modes of operation: In two-channel mode, it performs as two independent compressor/limiters, with 'industry standard' variable Threshold, Ratio and Output gain; In stereo mode, ARX's new Adaptive Stereo Link circuitry provides increased stereo imaging accuracy when linking both channels as a stereo pair; A single front panel switch puts the Afterburner into its alternative Mono mode - setting it up as a single-channel, dual band compressor/limiter, with separate dynamics control of both low and high frequencies, opening up a whole new range of gain control techniques.

In any mode, the Afterburner II also features true analogue comput

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UK - Following the successful introduction of the new WHISEworks-NTM filter in the Omnidrive Compact Plus - used with great success on the recent David Bowie tour by Adlib Audio - BSS has announced a firmware upgrade for its Minidrive FDS-334 and FDS-336 units, which includes the new filters.

The new firmware, available as a free download via the BSS website, includes the new 36dB and 52dB slope filters, which use a notching design to provide a faster roll-off than equivalent order Linkwitz-Riley designs, allowing speaker drivers to be powered to their optimum bandwidth. Jerry Wing of top UK sound company Britannia Row Productions, is calling the new filter "the biggest step forward in digital crossover technology since Linkwitz-Riley."

The new firmware also includes updates to allow Minidrive to be included in the new release of the SB2 control suite, which is avai

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UK - Andrew Diey, leading UK composer, sound designer and owner of Alchemy Audio Lab, is behind some of DPA Microphones' more unusual applications. His work on films, TV programmes and video games has involved the use of DPA 4011 cardioid microphones and IMK4061 miniature microphone kits to record Challenger 2 tanks, Ferraris, V8 Dodges, modified Japanese cars and the loud transients of an artillery crack. His latest project was to record the sound of Harrier Jump Jets for a second series of British TV programme, Building the Ultimate, for Granada/Channel 5.

Diey had already used his DPA mics as music composer and sound designer for the programme's first series to record machines such as tanks and submarines. This time, together with his assistant Pete Trickett, he set up a pair of 4011s to capture the sound of the famous jet fighter, at one point tracking a Harrier in flight wi

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The Netherlands - With the purchase of a new GEO T rig by PA Geluid in Nijmegen, Nexo's new tangent-array technology is now available on the rental market in The Netherlands. PA Geluid is a well-respected sound reinforcement rental company, with a particularly strong reputation in theatre.

Owner Paul Achterberg first bought into the Nexo GEO technology in 2002, ordering 24 GEO S full-range cabinets with four CD18 sub-bass units from Nexo's Dutch distributor, Iemke Roos. Over the last 18 months, this system has built up an exceptional track record working in theatre in Holland.Achterberg and PA Geluid were asked to provide a system for a major metal festival, Metalbash at de Maaspoort at Den Bosch, headlined by Machinehead, whose front-of-house engineer was demanding 115dB at the desk. This was the cue for Achterberg to order Nexo's new GEO T full-range high-output loudspeakers,

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UK - It was almost standing room only at the five seminar sessions organized by The Institute of Sound & Communications Engineers (ISCE) on Tuesday 24 February at the Watford Moat House Hotel. The seminar programme ran alongside a table-top exhibition with over 20 invited companies having a unique opportunity to present their products and services to the technical specifiers and users in the sound contracting industry. The organizers report good feedback from exhibitors, with Jon Doar of CIE-Audio saying there was positive feedback from delegates and customers, and adding "roll on the next event!"

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Allen & Heath has announced a change in the production of its Xone:02 pro scratch mixer. In place of the custom-made VCA faders that have been used since the mixer's launch in November 2001, Penny & Giles faders will now be fitted as standard as opposed to an optional extra.

"Allen & Heath is renowned worldwide for its top-end Xone series of DJ and club mixers and our design philosophy is always focussed on providing the best quality products on the market," commented sales director, Bob Goleniowski. "The fader is the most important part of a scratch mixer and Penny & Giles' impressive reputation in this field has made their fader very popular with our customers."

Although it looks like a two channel mixer, the Xone:02's pair of dual stereo channels and dual mic channel allow up to four stereo and two mono sources to be mixed simultaneously with indep

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UK - Autograph Sound Recording, the world-renowned sound design and theatre rental specialist, has been invited to work on the brand new West End musical Jailhouse Rock. Based on the classic 1957 Elvis film of the same name, this energetic show will no doubt have London's Piccadilly Theatre 'all shook up'!

Autograph's award winning Simon Baker, recently honoured as LDI's sound designer of the year, was chosen to design the show by production company Theatre Partners after their collaboration on 125th Street. Simon is working with the unusual situation of the entire cast being actor/musicians, who play all their own instruments live with no orchestral backup, resulting in a much more complex and intuitive system design.

Autograph have supplied a Cadac F-Type mixing console, as well as three additional digital Yamaha D1000 desks, one for foldback, one to pre-mix al

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UK - Young musician Kelly Stanley won Medway Council's Sound Generation Concert, held in Chatham this month, and walked away with the first prize of a Soundcraft GigRac, the latest in professional audio mixing consoles.

The Sound Generation concert, which was organized to generate awareness of the Council's road safety SAFE (Stop Accidents For Ever) campaign, attracted a large audience under the Chatham centre flyover, as the bands blasted out their music on a Sunday afternoon.

Kelly Stanley, the youngest finalist in the competition at just 13, demonstrated her ability with a stunning mix of feminine rock and acoustic ballads. In a fiercely contested afternoon all six finalists produced outstanding performances with sets consisting of original music. The other finalists included bands PKFY, Seven Story Down, CCTV and Delayed Experience and rapper 'Richie D'.

Medway Council'

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UK - One of the leading UK generator suppliers, Powerent - part of the Longville Group - has had a busy couple of years providing silent power to some major film productions. The company's list of credits include this winter's box office success Love Actually staring Hugh Grant. Powerent's silent 1000kW and 500kW generators were used to power an impressive reproduction of a Heathrow departure lounge in Shepperton Studios. Simultaneously in the same studio, Powerent also provided power for period drama Complete Female Stage Beauty starring Rupert Everett and Claire Danes, due to be released later this year.

The latest Harry Potter film utilized a super silent generator with fuel tank to supply extra power for a set being filmed in St Pancras Chambers in London. The Victorian Gothic building, which was being used for some interior shots was unable to supply sufficien

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UK / Germany - Leading British PA/VA manufacturer Millbank will exhibit its extensive range of cutting-edge CENELEC and BS5839 pt8 compliant products at Frankfurt ProLight&Sound 2004. Since Millbank was acquired by Ampekko Ltd in 2003, further investment has expanded the company's product portfolio, and it will showcase a range of new products designed specifically for PA applications.

In particular, a sophisticated new digital voice store will be displayed. As a compact and easy-to-install unit, the DVS increases the flexibility and potential of the legendary Millbank VA range. The new VxLINK also making its international debut is designed to enhance any complex systems' design. As another simple to install product from Millbank, it effectively augments the potential of the Millbank PA range.

In addition, Millbank's other products will be showcased, including VeriFIRE and Jus

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Gambia - The New Covenant Worship Centre, part of Abiding Word Ministries (AWM) in Serrekunda, the Gambia, has undergone an upgrade of its audio equipment to meet increasing technical demands. Headed by Pastor Francis Forbes, a well-known national figure, the church is heavily involved in TV and radio broadcast and music production, beyond the capabilities of the existing sound system.

Tim Kemp, director of Hull, UK-based installers Euronis Ltd, was responsible for the specification and installation of the system. The PA was refurbished with Crown amplifiers, Peavey loudspeakers, Alesis outboard devices, Sennheiser mics and a 32-channel Allen & Heath GL2200 mixing console.

The GL2200/32 was chosen for its suitability as a multi-role mixer. Its main function is for live sound reinforcement during services and concerts where the audio requirements include wired and wireless mi

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Germany - EVI has announced that Frauke Jungbluth took over the position of export manager, Western Europe, for Dynacord. Jungbluth's previous experience includes eight years as a sales manager with another company in the pro audio sector. She gained her first experience of audio in 1986, when she worked as a marketing assistant for Electro-Voice.

EVI also announces that Christian Gress is taking over additional responsibilities. Having taken on the position of sales manager for Midas Venice at the beginning of last year, he will now take on the role of export sales manager, Western Europe, for both Electro-Voice and Midas Venice.

Gress, who acquired his knowledge of the industry and its products as a sound engineer, has been a member of the EVI Audio team since mid 2001. Of his new role, he says: "I see in our current products enormous potential for Electro-Voice in ever

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USA - The United Nations building in New York City became one of the first venues in the US to use the recently launched Midas Verona 8-bus mixing console for its sound reinforcement needs in addition to the new ElectroVoice Plasma powered speaker line for main FOH stacks and delays. New York Audio Service was asked to provide sound reinforcement services for an all-star line-up of jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Terri Lyne Carrington, Nestor Torres and Buster Williams, who performed a special concert for the 'Culture of Peace' benefit at the UN last month.

New York Audio Service founder David Gibson remarked: "The Midas Verona is extremely user-friendly and straightforward. I spent a day with it in the shop, and had no trouble at all in familiarising myself with the board. I actually ran the entire show off the matrix busses, and only used 16-17 of th

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Australia / Germany - This year, Australian manufacturer ARX Systems celebrates 21 years designing and manufacturing innovative pro audio products with the release of several new additions to their product ranges, which will be on show at Frankfurt's ProLight&Sound exhibition (31 March-3 April). ARX managing director Colin Park says the company is particularly excited about the release of the new Audiobox Series of precision tools for audio professionals.

The Audiobox Series offers a complete range of precision tools designed to perform essential professional audio functions in compact, flexible packages. Initial models being released are microphone pre-amps, three types of direct box/interface unit, a headphone amplifier, transformer splitter and isolation units, and a -10 / +4dB level adapter and balancer.

Also on show for the first time is the new Afterburner II Dual mode

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USA - Loud Technologies has announced that its new Tapco by Mackie brand will use this year's NAB convention in Las Vegas (17-22 April) to show its new family of affordable, high-performance studio monitors, which have been conceived and engineered by the same design team behind the award-winning line of Mackie HR series studio monitors.

The 8-inch Tapco S8 and 5.25" Tapco S5 are both two-way, bi-amplified monitors with dual high-precision internal amplifiers that deliver a total of 120W RMS (60W for the woofer and 60W for the tweeter). Both models benefit from the same 1" waveguide-loaded silk-dome tweeter that provides smooth, non-fatiguing high end, say Tapco manufacturer, Loud Technologies.

Rear panel controls on the S5 and S8 allow for acoustic tailoring with low-frequency boost and high frequency cut/boost switches. Inputs include 0.25" TRS/XLR balanced an

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Israel - Kramer has introduced the VA-256 audio delay which, the company says, is designed to solve one of the biggest problems in the presentation market - matching audio to video with no delay. With today's fixed resolution monitors and projectors based on technologies such as plasma and LCD, there is a lot of scaling going on to match incoming signal resolutions to those of the displays. That processing can slow down the throughput of the video signal and lead to audio and video sync problems.

The Kramer VA-256 audio delay, from the Kramer Tools product line, complements the company's line of ProScale digital scaler/switchers. It provides a user programmable delay ranging from 10 milliseconds to 2.5 seconds in increments of 10 milliseconds. High quality anti-aliasing and output smoothing filters are employed, and the unit digitizes to 24-bit resolution at 48kHz to achieve hig

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The Netherlands - The Vakbeurs Theater Techniek show which took place in The Hague at the end of January saw the official public launch of Midas Consoles Holland, the new distribution organization for Midas and Klark Teknik products throughout the Netherlands.

Midas Consoles Holland is the brainchild of Axel Nagtegaal of Electric Audio. Electric Audio already distributed Klark Teknik in Holland, but Nagtegaal's vision was to develop a structure that would concentrate exclusively on Midas and Klark Teknik in order to maximise both brands in the Dutch market. "Midas Consoles Holland, although part of Electric Audio, operates entirely independently," explained Nagtegaal. "It has its own very distinct identity including its own dedicated logo, website and personnel, plus a fully stocked showroom and demo facility which we call the Midas Cave. MCH exists exclusively fo

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UK - PA/VA specialist Millbank Electronics has recently supplied Metronet - the company responsible for upgrading and maintaining two thirds of London's Underground network - with their new DsPAC Class D 3U mainframe amplifier.

The DsPAC was specified by Metronet to augment the original Millbank PowerPac system in Bank underground station. Situated in the heart of London's financial district, with more than 45 million passengers passing through each year, Bank is one of the most used underground station in London.

Installed and integrated by London-based contractor Qubic Transportation Systems Ltd, the DsPAC integrated seamlessly to the system, and has dramatically augmented its capacity as a contemporary VA system. Metronet's commercial asset engineer, Neil Wilkinson, commented: "The DsPAC is a superb product. It offers Metronet a powerful tool, which has seamlessly up

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UK - A new nine-screen multiplex cinema has opened at The Kassam Stadium, home to Oxford United Football Club. With two showcase screening rooms (and four of the nine screens running full digital formats), the cinema forms part of the major Ozone Leisure and Entertainment Park, developed at a cost in excess of £25 million by owner Firoz Kassam, and also featuring bingo, bowling lanes, health and fitness centre and restaurant facilities.

The Park is operated by the stadium's owners, Firoka Leisure Group, and the work was completed in just 12 weeks by designers and architects, NBDA Ltd. The audio and projection infrastructure was designed and fitted by cinema specialists, Sound Associates, who chose Cinemecanica projection and a combination of Martin Audio's purpose-designed Screen 4 and Screen 2 loudspeakers, both biamped, Martin Effect 3Rs (for surround sound) and Screen Sub 1

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The Netherlands - Since its official launch at the end of January, Midas Consoles Holland has made a number of significant console sales, including 20 Venice consoles of different types, five of the new 8-bus Veronas and a 48-channel Heritage 2000. Among the most recent sales was a 48-channel Heritage 1000 to Dutch rental company Van den Berk Stage Equipment.

Van den Berk is active in both concert touring and the festival markets, but specializes particularly in theatre tours, and required a console that would be capable of handling the demands of all three environments. Proprietor Toine Van den Berk compared several brands including a demo console from Midas Consoles Holland before making his choice. "I felt that a digital console was not an option given the still relatively complex nature of the equipment and the fact that the sound quality, in my opinion, still does not

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UK - Stage Electrics has moved its Central Stores operation. To ensure the minimum disruption to customers, the stores closed at lunchtime on Saturday and re-opened at 08:00 Monday morning - by which time 4,500 product lines were moved. "I have been planning this move for eight months," said distribution manager Darren Williams, "and it has gone like clockwork, thanks to everyone's help."

Stage Electrics Central Stores is now housed in 17,000sq.ft with 5,000 linear feet of space. The building holds 320 pallet spaces as well as the store for the expanding contracting installation arm of Stage Electrics. "This new space will allow us to work more effectively," says Dave Friend, the company's central stores manager, "and will revolutionise the way we pick and process orders ensuring we improve the service to our customers. With a Central Stores Te

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  5. GEO training seminars in Paris
  6. Shure extends Montreux Jazz Festival deal
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