Sound

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UK - Glastonbury's Pyramid stage may seem an unlikely setting for an hour-long excerpt of The Valkyrie from Wagner's Ring, but the performance, conducted by English National Opera's music director Paul Daniel, not only received rave reviews but also held the full attention of a completely rapt festival audience. SSE Hire's new DiGiCo D5 FMX digital mixing system was chosen by ENO for this landmark recital.

"When this project was brought to Philip Ashley [sound manager at ENO] we were asked if it was possible to achieve," says Chris Coxhead - project sound designer for ENO. "We had one fairly major problem to solve and that was that we would only have 10 minutes to sound check the singers and orchestra, which is a very limited amount of time, specially for something that size and that exposed. But Philip and I thought about it and decided that as long as we kept i

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Greece - It wasn't an outcome many had predicted at the start of the tournament, but on the evening of the 4 July, 2004, when the referee, Dr Merk, blew the final whistle putting the issue beyond doubt, football fans all over Europe had to adjust to a new reality: Greece were the new European champions and worthy champions at that!

The focus of national rejoicing was the venerable Panathinaikos Stadium - a place of historic importance, for it was there in 1896 that the first Olympic Games of the new era were held. To ensure that the music and the speeches could still be heard clearly, the Greek Football Association hired sound and touring company Audiocontrol to provide sound reinforcement, by no means an easy task, firstly because the team lead by Renos Papapaschos had very little time to set the entire system up, and secondly because the stadium with its reverberant marble sur

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Canada - Sightsound Consulting, an audio/video systems design firm in Hamilton, Ontario, was able to provide the Empire Theatre with the capability to preset both music or movie performances with the optimum sound system, using the Symetrix SymNet Audio Matrix. The Empire, a classic 700-seat venue built in 1938, re-opened in 2003 after an extensive 18-month renovation, intending to host premium concerts and to show surround-sound cinema presentations. Arthur Skdura, principal of Sightsound, says the venue needed a single system that was optimized for both music and film sound applications, without interfering with the Theatre's restored interior. As a solution the Symetrix MH-3 SymNet system.

SymNet's flexible programming ability allowed Skdura to create master programs for each specific application, with customized sub-program pages allowing the SymNet to adapt to any type of e

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UK - Peavey has revealed that, for the first time, it has been unable to meet demand for its popular Messenger Series, due to the unprecedented success of the Corby manufactured enclosures, which were launched in March 2003. However, with some new initiatives introduced, Peavey has been able to announce that deliveries are back on track. "This has been part of my learning curve," admits the company's new MD, Clive Roberts. "I was beginning to grow increasingly concerned about the delivery times we were offering, and I know our sales manager, Dawn Richards, was too. Moreover, I know a lot of dealers were unhappy with the situation then and for that I apologize unreservedly. It certainly wasn't our aim to damage dealer relationships. "The good news," says Roberts, "is that today our production levels of the Messenger Series have trebled and we now have

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Greece - Bose Professional Systems Division has installed the company's loudspeakers at several of the Olympic stadia in Greece, including the main Olympic Stadium in Athens, where the opening ceremony will herald the start of the Games on 13 August 2004. Bose has been involved in nine projects in all, all of which were completed within the very tight deadlines imposed by the Olympic Committee.

The Bose system designers made use of Bose's tools and technologies that during the planning stages: using the Bose Modeler design software for all venues, and the proprietary technology of the Bose Auditioner audio demonstrator for the main Olympic Stadium in Athens, the company's Greek distributor, Audio Group Greece BV, was able to produce an accurate acoustic model of the space so that key sound parameters could be predicted. For the Olympic Stadium, the use of the Auditioner audio de

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UK - Carlsbro Electronics has appointed Peter Ward as the latest addition to its sales team. Ward has taken over from John Roberts as the sales manager for the northern region and brings with him many years' experience from the music industry, having worked for Academy of Sound Leeds for three years, the last year as sales manager, and as a gigging musician. Ward is now the main point of contact at Carlsbro for all northern retailers.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK / Australia - Vision Systems has announced that it is to acquire voice response system manufacturer Ampekko. Headquartered in Tolworth, UK, Ampekko is a privately-owned company, founded in 2000. Ampekko designs and manufactures the Millbank range of voice evacuation, alarm and public address systems, which provide a voice response solution to certain triggered security and safety events, including fire alarms. Ampekko acquired Millbank from Federal Signal Ltd in May 2003.

"Ampekko's range of voice response solutions complements the future strategy and growth plans of VFS by broadening our product portfolio and providing an early warning response solution, with applicability in both fire and security applications" said David Lloyd, CEO of Vison Fire & Security, a division of Vision Systems. "Ampekko has a strong product offering but an immature channel to market

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UK - The town hall in the city of Haslach in Baden-Württemberg has a reputation among sound specialists for being a difficult venue, with an enormous reverberation time. This made the task entrusted to the team from Badensound of handling the sound reinforcement for the Eric Burdon concert on 18 July, 2004, particularly tricky. Johannes Moeck, MD of the Renchen-based company, said: "I know the hall only too well. Even when the audience is over a thousand strong and the place is packed to the rafters, it seems to make scant difference to the reverberation time. We had to come up with an answer."

The answer was the Dynacord Cobra-4, a system that has proved its value time and again in concert halls throughout Europe, and the gig by ex-Animals legend Eric Burdon was acclaimed by critics and public alike. Moeck recalls: "Before the concert, I sat down with the soundm

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USA - DJ icon Sasha specified the new Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer for a tour of America, which coincided with the US launch of his new mix CD entitled 'Involver', released on Global Underground. Sasha embarked on a tour of major clubs and Virgin Megastores to promote the album, which hit the US Billboard electronic music chart at number one as soon as it was released on 22 June.

Speaking during the tour to Allen & Heath USA's artist relations manager, Nick McGeachin, Sasha commented: "I'm just using CDs on the tour. I hook up the Fireworks audio interface module to the auxiliaries on the mixer to bring in some cool effects, like sweeps and delays. I also love working the filters on the Xone mixers. The Fireworks integrates with the Allen & Heath mixers beautifully and it gives my DJ sets that extra element."

Sasha continues: "Xone DJ mixers have become an integ

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UK - SSE Hire has purchased five dual-channel Audio-Technica 5000 Artist Elite Series wireless mic systems - the first A-T wireless systems it has purchased - for use on this summer's major festival stages. The systems, each comprising an AEW-R5200, true diversity, frequency-agile, dual-channel receiver and two AEW-T5400 cardioid condenser capsuled handheld transmitters, are the latest addition to the company's considerable radio mic inventory. The inaugural purchase of A-T wireless technology follows extensive use of the AT4054 capacitor microphone - of which the AEW-T5400 capsule is a development - which has proved extremely popular with artists and sound engineers alike.

Chris Beale, group technical director, SSE Hire, whose responsibilities include designing the systems configurations for all of the PAs that the company ships out, is enthusiastic about the performance of th

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Australia - Haycom Staging, the Australia-based audio-visual and multimedia event production company, has recently invested in 10 units of ARX's new EQ260 dual channel graphic equalizer to add to its already extensive ARX inventory of over 60 EQ60s. Established for over 28 years, Haycom specializes in providing presentation solutions to Australia's top 100 blue chip companies, including Telstra and the National Australia Bank. Supplied by Roger Clapton at ARX Dealer CC's Light & Sound Pty Ltd the EQ 260s have been put into service at Haycom's Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane Offices.

The new EQ 260 comprises two ultra low noise 1/3rd Octave EQ channels featuring 30 new extended resolution long-throw, centre-grounding faders, switchable to either ±15dB or ±6dB, for the ideal combination of high fader resolution and maximum cut and boost. A protective dust and moisture cover is als

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UK - Substantial number of ElectroVoice X-Line and XLC loudspeaker systems were provided by Britannia Row for the 80,000 people who attended the huge open-air concert, staged in the centre of The mall in London, to mark the passage of the Olympic flame through the city on its way to Athens. Britain's five-time gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave carried the Olympic Torch down its final stretch, the highlight of a major television broadcast which also featured concert performances from Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, James Brown, Will Young and Ozzie Osborne amongst others.

Sound designer Derrick Zieba found himself back in The Mall, where he scored memorable success with the Queen's Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. "The X-Line arrays were suspended from 10m smart masts, erected in terrible weather with high gusting winds as the guys tried to hang half a ton of PA,"

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Germany - The Kölnarena, Germany's largest multifunctional events forum, has installed a state-of-the-art digital announcement system manufactured by Interalia, the leading manufacturer of digital voice announcement solutions. Specified and installed by Germany-based electronic-acoustic company, Laauser & Vohl, the Trouncer system is one of a number of Interalia's products being installed by Laauser & Vohl at locations throughout Germany.

Located in Cologne, the impressive Kölnarena is surrounded on all sides by a glass façade. The 83,700 square meter building has a capacity for over 18,000 visitors and offers a full programme of entertainment throughout the year including concerts, shows, sports spectaculars and television productions in addition to providing a venue for meetings, congresses and conferences. Interalia's Trouncer system is used within the Kölnarena centre as

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UK - Pro audio distributor Autograph Sales has supplied a wide range of equipment to some of the UK's leading education centres, including Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire, which specializes in music and drama performance. The company first supplied and installed an extensive sound and communications system three years ago, including various Meyer loudspeakers, AKG radio mics, a Clear-Com comms system and an HSA Rolltop desk, which houses an Allen & Heath GL3300 mixing console. A further quantity of AKG radio mics was added in the summer of 2001.

Director of music, Chris Thompson, returned to Autograph Sales in June 2004 in order to extend his radio mic system. Autograph Sales' Graham Paddon came up with a solution - a custom-built rack unit, to include a Yamaha 01V96 digital mixer, a Tascam CD and cassette recorder and eight Sennheiser 300 G2 radio mics, as well as additional mul

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UK - As the UK's only free performing arts and technology school, The BRIT School is dedicated to education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible. The school caters for students in the 14 - 19 year age range who are specifically seeking a career in the performing arts. Funded by the British Record Industry Trust and the Department for Education and Skills, the school also has a number of major industry sponsors and prides itself on producing top quality graduates, many of whom go on to become key players in the industry.

When the need for a new sound system arose, well-known sound designer Derrick Zieba was asked to make an assessment. "We were really fortunate to have the input of a leading professional like Derrick," said Andrew Smith, the School's technical manager. "He was so

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UK - Welsh contractor AB Acoustics recently carried out a complete multimedia fit-out at The Banc, just outside Newport, South Wales, with the essential audio power tools supplied by Fuzion plc. Confronted with a tight budget, AB Acoustics' Rob Ashton needed to achieve the best result for the 350-capacity all-day venue. The sound system was configured for dual operation as a background music system during the daylight hours, giving way to a more punchy sound after dark - particularly on the weekend nights when a DJ takes over.

Ashton distributed 12 Work Studio 5 two-way full-range loudspeakers, around the venue - finished in white and powered by Work SV series amplifiers. All were supplied by Fuzion plc, and Rob Ashton confirms that he used a similar combination recently to drive the Taff Bar at Cardiff University.

"I have been using Work products for the past three years

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Korea - The popularity of Solid State Logic's C100 digital production console continues to grow in the Far East with news that Korean broadcasters MBC and KBS have both placed orders for the console. State broadcaster KBS (Korean Broadcast Systems) is installing its C100 in its prestigious concert hall in Seoul, which regularly hosts classical, folk, pop and Korean traditional music concerts. The hall already features an SSL XL 9000 K Series console, which is used to provide live, high quality recordings of concert hall events for both stereo and surround productions. These are being released on CD and DVD Audio and/or SACD.

The 32-frame C100 console will primarily be used in conjunction with the XL 9000 K Series console. It is equipped with 128 channels of DSP and 48 microphone inputs, analogue, AES/EBU and MADI I/O. KBS is also planning to add a C-SB Remote Microphone Stagebox

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UK - The Corn Exchange in Cambridge has just upgraded its Front-of-House sound to an Opus AT1000 Array Technology system, supplied by Real Time Audio. When Colin Farrell first joined The Corn Exchange as head of sound he upgraded from the existing Bose loudspeakers to a small Martin theatre system, which covered the theatre's basic needs. Then, about five years ago, Real Time Audio, who were doing the sound for Joe Longthorne playing at the theatre, brought in their Opus system.

"That was when I first heard how a system could really sound", recalls Farrell. "At first I took no notice of these large blue boxes being wheeled in but as soon as Richard from Real Time fired up the system I instantly knew this was something really special."

Farrell continues, "That started my determination that one day we'd have Opus at The Corn Exchange. At this venue we c

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USA - Evanescence, currently touring in support of their best-selling debut album Fallen, have switched to Audio-Technica microphones and wireless systems, say A-T. "We switched mid-tour to Audio-Technica, and we're glad we did," says Josh Swart, who mixes monitors for Evanescence, teamed with FOH mixer Eddie Mapp. "These are all beautiful-sounding microphones," Swart says, singling out the AE2500 as "one of the few microphones in the world that you can just put up there with virtually no EQ and it sounds phenomenal as is."

On tour Evanescence are using the highly acclaimed AEW-5255 Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, with AEW-T5400 transmitter, for vocalist Amy Lee. Drums are mic'ed employing an AE2500 on the kick, an AE5100 for the ride cymbals, a pair of AT4050s on overheads, an ATM23HE on the snare, and ATM35s for the toms. The guitar

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France - Digigram, the innovative developer of digital audio network solutions, has achieved ISO 9001: 2000 certification delivered by BVQI, France, underlining the company's commitment to customer satisfaction. The certification, for Digigram's headquarters in Montbonnot, France, recognizes that the definition, design, production, and distribution of Digigram's products, as well as after-sales service, technical support, and customer training conform to the requirements of the ISO 9001: 2000 standard.

This standard specifies the necessary components of a quality management system, and the audit process ensures that organizations have the necessary systems in place to continuously improve the level of quality offered by the organization. A growing number of business and government organizations conduct business only with companies that attain this certification.

Digigram manag

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Australia / Singapore - ARX Systems has appointed Robert Yeo as its new Singapore-based regional sales director. A well-known industry veteran, Yeo has been involved with all sectors of the region's pro audio industry for many years. ARX managing director Colin Park comments: "Over the years ARX has developed a major presence in the South East Asian pro audio community as a product solution provider, and with Robert joining the ARX team, this can only be enhanced further."

"Robert's brief is to develop new partners and markets amongst the installers, contractors, production companies and broadcasters in Singapore, Malaysia and the surrounding region for our existing product ranges and of course the exciting new products ARX is releasing through into 2005."

Robert Yeo can be contacted at the e-mail address below.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Event Sound & Light was formed in July 2003 from a merger of two companies, Concept Sound Services and Galiath Entertainment. In selecting a new sound system for its hire operations, the company turned to KV2 Audio, for its flexibility and audio quality. Paul Galley of Event S&L explains: "We had to take into account the wide variety of shows and corporate events that we do."

Galley's friend Gareth Jones of Villa Audio suggested that they hear a new sound system that had just been presented to him. "To say that he was excited would be a vast understatement," said Galley. "Anyway, when we got there we were not disappointed. We immediately took into account its size, efficiency and versatility. To obtain such an acutely high definition of sound with such impact, authority and power was a really enjoyable experience." Added to this, the system al

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UK / USA - Audio Network and SoundStorm have announced the launch of an enhanced on-line service to grant producers of film, television programmes and other audio-visual productions instant licenses to use their award-winning music and sound. The transatlantic partnership allows professional users as well as home users instant access to the same high quality sound resources used by many of the world's largest production companies and broadcasters from just £2 ($3) per sound.

The team has spent the last two years categorizing and digitizing over 50,000 SoundStorm sound effects from the vaults of the seven-times Oscar-nominated Hollywood sound design team. At the same time, 100 leading composers have written and recorded over 6,000 new music tracks for the Audio Network music library covering almost every conceivable style and genre. Sounds and music from Hippo to Hip-Hop can no

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UK - Manchester based rental-company Audile took on the challenge of the Dance tent at this year's Glastonbury 2004. With a capacity of 8,000 the tent (more like a hanger) attracted some of Glastonbury's favorite artists including the Scissor Sisters, Kosheen and Sister Sledge.

Audile's MD, Rob Ashworth stated: "We'd heard great things about the Aztec from other users, and wanted to try it for ourselves in a testing situation. We found the sound quality and functionality to be impeccable - the combination of Aztec, Funktion-One Resolution-5 speakers and XTA drive really is exceptional. More importantly, though, we were able to gauge the reaction of a stream of engineers to the board - we had some concerns about its rider friendliness, but I'm pleased to say that these were laid to rest by our guest's reactions. I think we'll be seeing Aztec taking its place on riders alongs

  1. Stardraw and Digigram's EtherSound partnership
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  3. Serato & Rane launch Scratch LIVE Forum
  4. Rane: new features for Drag Net V4
  5. Sennheiser lines up for the Olympics
  6. Behringer announces availability of Europower
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