UK - K.M.E will be showing its newest innovations at PLASA 2005. This year's highlights say the company are its; Line Array, Remote Control Module V.2.0 and Individualized PA systems CA 4 and CA 8.

As an innovation in the fields of installation and system integration in networks K.M.E. will show the follow-up of the TCP/IP remote control module, the RCM V2.0 an optional accessory for active speakers QSA 200 and QSA 500 D. Improvements and new features have been developed for the RCM V2.0 with both, hardware and software reengineered extensively.

The hardware part was completed by a PowerOverEthernet circuit, which gives the user a redundant power supply for maximum safety within the installation. An automatic speaker impedance control system was included to complete the remote diagnosis feature. An integrated three-port Ethernet switch minimizes cabling complexity and the need

UK - More than half a million people in the UK music and entertainment industry at serious risk of hearing damage are to receive protection under revised UK regulations that come into force next April.

The new statutory limits lower acceptable noise levels by five decibels. Employers will be required to take action to limit staff exposure to excessive noise and also provide adequate protection from hearing damage.

In order to help organizations meet this challenge with the correct information and the best practical advice, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is holding Sound Off - Noise Reduction at Work at the Earls Court Conference Centre in London. This two-day event, on October 11 and 12, is managed by CMP Information and supported by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID).

Lawrence

UK - International Audio Group (IAG) has today announced the appointment of Costa Lakoumentas to the newly established role of president, IAG Professional Division. Bernard Chang, chairman of IAG made the announcement in advance of the PLASA Show, which takes place at Earls Court, London, from 11-14 September.

Most recently from Tannoy North America where he served as VP of market development, Lakoumentas was also involved in product and technology planning activities for Tannoy UK as well as Tannoy's parent TC Group. Prior to that he spent several years at Mackie in product and market development roles including VP of business development.

In his new role, Lakoumentas will oversee worldwide product development, marketing and sales activities related to the Professional division. IAG owns several pro audio brands including Wharfedale Pro, Wharfedale Systems, Quad Industrial an

UK - RCF has introduced its new MQ50C, a compact designed, limited depth, lightweight ceiling speaker. This two-way ceiling monitor loudspeaker is ideal for use in any PA system, background/foreground music systems, where high quality sound reproduction is required says the company. The woofer is a high-excursion, PP coated paper -cone rubber surround design, mounted in a turned enclosure.

The fabric dome tweeter is loaded on a constant Q wave guide to provide natural, smooth sound reproduction on a wide dispersion angle.

Installation of the MQ50C is fast and efficient, using the built in rotating hooks. No additional brackets or rings or other supports are required. Because of its lightweight construction the speaker can be mounted as a conventional ceiling speaker.

Connections are made to four polar loop s through Euroblock male and female connectors to easily offer parall

UK - Bosch Security Systems has announced the full availability of the latest version of its proven, EVAC-compliant Plena Voice Alarm System. The system now includes additional 19" remote control panels, a dedicated fireman's panel, remote control kits for customized solutions and a new inductive-loop amplifier for hearing-aid user assistance in public address areas.

The remote control panel and, if required, remote control panel extensions, enable the Plena voice alarm system to be located in a fire-resistant cabinet or other secure location. Each panel duplicates the controls and indicators on the Plena central controller and routers (used in a multiple-zone application - up to 60 zones), including the built-in emergency microphone.

The new remote control panels allow control from a distance of up to 1000m with connection through standard shielded Cat 5 cabling and RJ45

UK - S-Cluster has recently been successful in securing a series of major orders. The systems are to be installed throughout the German Railway network after a pilot project was conducted by Tramway Operator SSB in Stuttgart earlier this year. SSB were so impressed that it is due to update its complete audio communication system to S-Cluster technology in 2006.

One of the very first S-Cluster installations was the Metro system in Athens, which was completed just in time for the Olympic Games. S-Cluster encoders and output boxes are now in action, streaming train times, background music and security alerts to stations via a fibre optic network. S-Cluster system can also stream audio using Mpeg 4s and aptX over a standard IP Network (TCP-IP).

"This is great news," commented John Midgley, managing director of beyerdynamic. "The system has already proven itself to b

USA - The Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk is currently undergoing a complete audio system retrofit from Sound Image of Escondido, California. Using the Harman Pro HiQnet System Architect configuration and control software, the 6,000-seat amphitheatre represents the first multi-brand HiQnet installation in North America. Additional Harman HiQnet installations are now operational at the Hong Kong Stadium in Hong Kong and the Stade due Suisse in Berne, Switzerland.

Located in Universal City, California, the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk has been a state-of-the-art indoor venue since 1982. The amphitheatre has long been known for its sightlines and outstanding acoustics, a reputation that has been upheld and enhanced with the recent installation.

To date, Sound Image has installed 42 Crown I-Tech 800 amplifiers outfitted with HiQnet technology, along with 24

Italy - When it comes to Jazz, Italy is a very special country. Gil Evans, elsewhere known only to Jazz aficionados was a superstar here, and Keith Jarrett, the master of almost claustrophobic Chamber Jazz, is filling stadia and other giant open air spaces.

It started ten years ago in the Arena di Verona, the place of monumental opera works like Aida or Nabucco, that Italian rental company BH Audio together with Fichtner Tontechnik from Germany joined forces to provide crew and equipment for a breath-taking concert of Jarrett's trio.

Ever since whenever the American pianist along with Gary Peacock on bass and drummer Jack de Johnette perform in Italy it's the same sound team that are used to reproduce their subtle interpretation of Jazz standards. This year was no exception when in July they took to the stage at the Arena Flegrea in Naples.

A d&b audiotechnik sound system, s

Australia / Hungary - ARX Systems, the Australian manufacturer of professional audio equipment, has announced the appointment of Budapest-based RMS Audio KFT as its new distributor for Hungary. ARX's managing director Colin Park said: "Following discussions with Tibor Kiss from RMS at the Frankfurt Pro Light & Sound exhibition earlier in the year, we feel RMS Audio offers ARX the opportunity to team up with a very professional and driven distribution company to promote and develop ARX's products in the Hungarian market."

Along with ARX, RMS Audio also represent Martin Audio in Hungary.

(Lee Baldock)

USA - Audio Products International Corp, manufacturer of the world famous Energy, Mirage and Athena Technologies brands, has announced its entry into the professional and commercial sound markets under the brand Energy Pro.

The first products created under the new brand will be launched on booth 636 at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) Show in New York City, 7-10 October 2005. On show at AES will be a comprehensive line of studio monitors, focussed on the recording, post production, project studio and broadcast markets. Stereo, surround, passive, active, analogue and digitally controlled systems are all featured and API has used its considerable R&D resources to design in digital compatibility and upgrade paths for this advanced range.

To manage the business unit, API has employed the services of industry veteran Bill Calma, well known as the man who established Tannoy in No

UK - Wigwam has invested in 20 channels of Klark Teknik DN9340 Helix EQ for touring use by art-rockers Franz Ferdinand. The band from Glasgow debuted the new units at selected festival appearances this summer, before heading off to start an autumn tour in the USA.

The KT Helix system, which was specified by FF's monitor engineer Tilda Bruynooghe with full STS (solo tracking system) and wireless tablet control, will be used with a Midas Heritage 3000 console. Wigwam's Chris Hill confirms that the Helix system was chosen primarily because of the wireless control, which allows instant and simultaneous online control of up to 64 channels of EQ from a tablet computer. "This frees the engineer from the traditional side-of-stage monitor world position, and that's especially useful during initial system equalization. Tilda can take her tablet and set up the system from anywhere on

UK - The 2005 PLASA Show opened its doors at 10 o'clock this morning, and the crowds streamed in to the show floor, which looks better and brighter than ever. Sunday at PLASA is DJ day, of course, and the annual Gemini DJ competition will once again prove a big draw for budding mix artists, with the contest taking place in the DJ lounge at the rear of the hall, and the final taking place at 4.30pm. There's plenty more going on as part of DJ Sunday, supported by iDJ magazine, offering all kinds of opportunities to learn about the art and practice of DJing.

Appropriately for DJ Sunday, seminars today include a session on Digital Turntablism and Mixing, chaired by David Eserin, editor of the Technoscan section of DJ Magazine, the session features world-renowned DJs Chris Liebing and Jonathan Lisle, and Eitan Zilkha of Sapphires. Following the session, Jonathan Lisle will be perform

UK - One of the highlight product launches of the PLASA Show was made yesterday on the Allen & Heath stand as the company launched its digital live mixing console, the iLive. Developed for live sound applications, iLive's 'ground up' design features an extremely flexible architecture with large-scale audio distribution and control. iLive is designed to bring an analogue feel to digital mixing and draws on the company's extensive experience in live sound and digital technology, say the company.

The heart of the system is the iDR-64, a 19" rack-mounting modular mix engine providing 64 channels into 32 mixes, which can be assigned as auxes, groups, matrix and main outputs. The iDR-64 is a stand-alone mixer comprising the 8-channel audio interface cards, DSP processing, and communication ports. The unit is controlled via an Ethernet network and can be connected to a variety of

UK - The winners of the PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night during a well-attended awards ceremony hosted by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths on the main show floor at Earls Court. The Awards, which focus on the best design and development work going on across the industry, came at the end of a day that reaffirmed PLASA's reputation as a forging ground for future innovations.

The Awards, which are judged by a panel of professionals, attracted 66 nominations, leading to eight technical awards and an additional award for environmental impact.

The winning products were:

  • Artistic Licence's Visual Patch is going to prove the ultimate time saver for converged lighting and video applications. It creates an on-screen geographic map of two or three-dimensional pixel array, whilst automatically also assigning DMX512 start addresses. Described by the judges as anot

UK - Midas and Klark Teknik have launched Midas Consoles Middle East in conjunction with Nicholas Kyvernitis, owner of NMK Electronics. NMK was one of the first pro audio companies to be established in the region and is a long-term dealer of Midas and Klark Teknik products. From October, Midas Consoles Middle East will become the official distribution channel for Midas and Klark Teknik products throughout the region, with a head office in Dubai as well as branches in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

The move to develop a structure to concentrate exclusively on Midas and Klark Teknik follows the success of Midas Consoles Holland, set up in 2004. "This proved to us that customers like being able to deal directly with the factory," says Midas sales and marketing director David Cooper. "It increases their confidence in the brand, and from our point of view we get much better in

UK - Digital mixing for live sound applications took further significant steps forward at PLASA 2005 with a number of new products and technologies unveiled, news of leading players working together and confirmation of further developments coming to fruition over the winter months.

Allen & Heath has entered the digital mixer domain with the launch of the iLive digital mixing console system. Developed for live sound applications, iLive's 'ground up' design features a flexible architecture with large-scale audio distribution and control. iLive is designed "to bring an analogue feel to digital mixing and draws on the company's extensive experience in live sound and digital technology".

The heart of the system is the iDR-64, a 19" rack-mounting modular mix engine providing 64 channels into 32 mixes, which can be assigned as auxes, groups, matrix and main outputs. Th

UK - Newly formed pro audio distributor Amber Sound exhibited at PLASA 2005 - the first tradeshow for the fledgling company, formed in May this year by Graham Paddon.

A variety of products were on show, including Aviom's personal monitor and digital snake system, available exclusively through Amber Sound in the UK. Other brands demonstrated included Clear-Com, Meyer Sound, Lexicon and K & M.

Amber Sound's first trading quarter has been a noteworthy one including the sale of a complete Clear-Com FreeSpeak system to one of Europe's largest scientific research centres, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, as well as a Party line system to UK defence and security company QinetiQ. The company has also supplied classical and contemporary music rental specialist, RNSS with an Australian Monitor paging system for installation in London's Royal Festival Halls.

Meanwhile the capital's cele

UK - Following the January 2005 launch of Harman Pro Group's HiQnet communications protocol for professional audio systems, the Group introduced at PLASA 2005, HiQnet System Architect configuration and control software for HiQnet audio systems.

HiQnet System Architect is a Windows-based application that provides audio professionals with an intuitive, unified platform for system design and operation of all audio devices in the signal chain from microphone to speaker'.

HiQnet System Architect has been developed in close cooperation with audio professionals to provide an intuitive, robust front-end to the industry's most sophisticated, highest performing audio system, explained Rick Kreifeldt, vice president, Harman Pro Group, system development and integration group. System Architect is versatile and eminently configurable to needs and applications of audio professionals in a va

UK - Digidesign hosted a press reception during this week's PLASA Show in London to thank customers for giving their Venue live sound environment such an auspicious first year out in the field. Helping them were some familiar sound engineers on the touring circuit, including Robbie Allen (Manic Street Preachers), Matt West (monitors, The Cure) and Simon Honywill, the guiding hand at the desk behind a thousand large-scale spectaculars.

It also gave them the opportunity to swap road tales with Digidesign's own resident sound technicians, Robert Scovil and Ian Nelson, who have worked with some of the world's top bands.During the conference Digidesign VP of sales and marketing, Christopher Bock, talked of the company's achievements during the year, and Venue's high profile appearance at events such as Live8 in Paris, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and supporting acts such as Nine Inch

UK - Martin Audio announced a number of new additions to its [product portfolio at PLASA 2005. On preview were the W8LMD and WMX, two versatile cabinets designed to further augment the established range of Martin Audio Line Array products. Also on debut at Earls Court was a new series of ceiling speakers.

The W8LMD is a mini, wide-dispersion vertically arrayable enclosure - designed to be used individually and in small quantities for short to medium throw (<30m) applications or as a downfill element for the W8LM. With its 20° vertical dispersion, fewer cabinets cover the same area as a conventional line array element, yet still benefit from the smooth, predictable coverage of a vertically-coupled system, says Martin.

The WMX is a compact, flown/groundstack sub-woofer featuring the company's Hybrid loading. Primarily intended for use with the W8LM, it shares the same cabinet w

UK - Expanding on its Control Contractor line of installation speakers, JBL Professional introduced the Control 300 Series large format in-ceiling loudspeakers, including seven new models, at PLASA 2005. The line consists of six full-range point-source coax designs featuring 8" and 12" drivers, multiple power levels and transformer options, plus a 12" in-ceiling subwoofer.

Through the use of Constant Coverage waveguide design, claims JBL, the Control 300 models feature "exceptionally broadband pattern control, ensuring remarkably consistent sound throughout the listening space". The 8" model goes a step further with the addition of a 12" diameter waveguide, providing the pattern control of a 12" horn from an 8" driver.

The Control 300 models were designed to be easier to install than most large format ceiling speakers. The new EZ-Ra

Ibiza - Pioneer reports a string of successes for its DJ products on the Mediterranean party island of Ibiza - a platform for the world's finest DJ talent. Clubbing lifestyle leaders are integrating the latest Pioneer equipment into their installations - including its "revolutionary" new digital 1000 series - the DJM-1000 mixer and EFX-1000 effects unit - and the world's first DVD/CD turntable - the DVJ-X1.

The DJM-1000 six-channel digital mixer (boasting an impressive three-band master isolator and choice of rotaries or faders) has been a breakthrough this year, say Pioneer. Installed at the party capitals of Cafe Mambo, Manumission, Pacha, and Space, the DJM-1000 seems to be the mixer of choice on the island. Providing a 24-bit/96kHz digital sampling rate and a 32-bit/96kHz digital sound processor, the DJM-1000 offers excellent connectivity and control, and can digit

UK - Harman Pro UK has supplied Sound Division with an integrated audio solution including JBL speakers, BSS routing and processing, dbx zoning and Crown amplification for the impressive new Albannach venue in Trafalgar Square, one of London's most famous locations. The contemporary Scottish restaurant, bar, cocktail lounge and social space is top quality, independently-owned venture. Occupying a prime spot of London real estate, its breathtaking views include Nelson's column, the National Gallery and other historical landmarks. Albannach is at the very heart of the bustling and buzzing metropolis.

The venue is divided into three distinct areas - the bright and open main lounge bar on the ground floor as you walk in, featuring large windows, lots of natural light and the stunning urban views. The mezzanine restaurant area above the rear portion of main lounge bar is a cosier and

USA - System Integration software developer D-Tools Inc has appointed Bill Johnson as director of business development. Johnson is charged with representing the interests of participating manufacturers in D-Tools' product database that populates their engineering and business management software suite.

D-Tools is the industry's leading provider of software solutions for audio/video and control system design, installation, job costing, project management and billing for designers and systems integrators for both residential and commercial applications.

"Johnson's role will be to develop programs that offer its manufacturer members of our Manufacturer Vantage Point program greater market visibility and measurable returns," said VP of sales and marketing, Matt Rubenstein. "He brings a good understanding of the unique issues manufacturers are most concerned with his

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