UK - One of London's flagship cultural venues Riverside Studios has undergone a major technical refurbishment program facilitated by a UK Arts Council grant. Featuring as a key element, a new Logic Systems sound rig has been supplied and commissioned by theatre sound specialist Orbital Sound.

Orbital's head of sales collaborated with Riverside's technical manager, Barbara Egervary, to supply a system that met her specifications to augment the theatres capacity to host a variety of advanced productions, including an expanding repertoire of international work. The system supplied by Orbital comprises four Logic System LS15 Tops and two Logic System B1Subs, which is run through a 24-channel Allen & Heath FOH mixing console with BSS EQ and speaker management.

The Logic LS range is designed and built from the ground up for installation use and delivers a large sound from a small bo

UK - Baldwin Boxall Communications is well-known for being at the forefront of the emergency voice communication market. As such the company acted quickly upon learning about the new Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) by providing disabled refuge systems from September 2001 - some three years prior to the DDA coming into effect in October 2004.Listening to input from leading outside sources and from their own research, Baldwin Boxall developed Vigil CommuniCare and then, more recently, Vigil CommuniCare Advance.

Vigil CommuniCare Advance is a disabled refuge system which is easy to install and use, says the manufacturer. The special features of the CommuniCare Advance include raised luminescent script, Braille and a built-in induction loop - making it suitable for the majority of applications. Upon occupation of the specified area, a single button press on the unit is all that

Singapore - Logic System Asia Pacific is a newly-formed joint venture established between the UK loudspeaker manufacturer and James Yeung and Lawrence Tay, owners and directors of Singapore distribution company Electro Systems. The new, independent company has warehousing, stock, infrastructure and logistics based in Singapore, where the company is registered.

The announcement comes after months of speculation, in which Logic System's loudspeakers have become increasingly visible in Indonesia, Singapore and China thanks to the combined efforts of Yeung and Tay.

The new company will handle all distribution business for Logic System products in the Asia Pacific region including China, forming a dealer network and managing that to maximise Logic System's presence in the area. Logic's MD Chris Scott comments "This is a strategic move based on months of planning with Lawrence

Denmark - Following the introduction of a new series of System 6000 stereo plug-ins for Pro Tools HD, TC Electronic has announced that it will be taking over worldwide distribution of all its TDM plug-ins going forward. Effective immediately, distribution of Master X3 will switch from Digidesign to TC Electronic and TC Tools will be discontinued.

With the four new TDM plug-ins from System 6000, some of the most sophisticated dynamics, reverbs and effects processing algorithms for mixing and mastering will be available for the Pro Tools platform. TC Electronic expects VSS3 to ship in October 2005, MD3 to ship late November 2005, and DVR2 and NonLin2 to ship during the first months of 2006. Master X3 is a mastering plug-in for Pro Tools that is the virtual incarnation of the TC Electronic Finaliser. It supports Pro Tools 24 Mix and HD and can operate at sample rates up to 96kHz.

USA - Digigram, owner and supplier of the EtherSound technology, revealed at this week's AES convention in New York the specifications of Gigabit-EtherSound that will include 512 audio channels over a single cable (256 channels in each direction) as well as a bandwidth of 100 Mbit/s for control and IP data transport, while maintaining all current EtherSound features including the ultra-low latency of only 125 microseconds.

Digigram will be showcasing the technology for the first time at the next Systems Integration Expo (formerly NSCA) and Prolight+Sound trade shows in March 2006. A technology upgrade will then be made available to all EtherSound licensees in the second quarter of 2006.

EtherSound business development manager Jimmy Kawalek is enthusiastic about the evolution: "We are thrilled about the possibilities that Gigabit-EtherSound will offer. Imagine how quickly

UK - Cambridgeshire based flightcase manufacturer 5 Star has taken delivery of its second CNC Machining Centre. Again, 5 Star chose the Thermwood Corp of Indiana, USA to supply the CNC Machining Centre, which joins the company's already installed Thermwood Model 40 which has been in use for over six years. Thermwood was chosen for its reliability, ease of use and excellent after sales support.

The move is part of the company's ongoing investment programme, and follows an exceptionally busy period over the last 12 months. "Six years ago, we took delivery of our first CNC system from Thermwood, and this was seen as a big step at the time!" says 5 Star works director, Keith Sykes. "Since then, the move to our new factory five years ago and investment into other CNC systems has continued. With the growth over the last few months, we didn't hesitate in purchasing anoth

USA - Furman Sound has developed a new 20-amp regulator that delivers a stable 120 volts of AC power to protect equipment from problems caused by AC line voltage irregularities. Furman says that the AR-20 II is the only 20-amp voltage regulator that also filters and purifies AC power, assuring that electronic equipment performs at optimum levels while also providing full protection from spikes and surges with Furman's exclusive SMP+ technology.

"Voltage irregularities like sags, brownouts, and overvoltages are commonplace in AC lines and can cause sensitive electronic equipment to malfunction or sustain damage," said Dave Keller, executive vice president of Furman Sound. "In addition, electrical noise on the line prevents equipment from achieving optimal performance. The AR-20 II not only protects electronics from damaging power, but also filters out the noise usi

Ibiza - Recognizing the achievements of DJs and all involved in the nightlife industries, the 8th edition of the annual DJ Awards was a sensational success. Sponsored by Motorola and held at Pacha on Mediterranean party island of Ibiza, the ceremony on 29 September 2005 saw winners of 21 categories presented with the characteristic kryptonite awards.

After previous success at the DJ Awards with the CDJ-1000 series of CD decks, this year Pioneer's award covered a wider range of equipment. Pioneer was again honoured to receive the best Technology award, but this time for its overall contribution to DJ culture during the year. This year, Pioneer has further elevated the concept of the mix with a new high-end, professional series of digital DJ booth solutions, say the company. Recognized by the DJ Awards, these include the amazing DJM-1000 mixer and EFX-1000 effects unit, as well as

Czech Republic - Headliners at this year's Masters of Rock Festival in Vizovice were American metal outfit Korn. 25,000 punters attended the two day event where the sound reinforcement was based around an L-Acoustics system.

The sound equipment consisted of a turnkey L-Acoustics system, comprising 24 V-Dosc, 6 dV-Dosc, 20 SB218 subs, 12 115XTHiQ wedges with 2 dV-SUB for drumfill. High Lite Touring, the L-Acoustics dV-Dosc provider in the Czech Republic, rented the system from the local L-Acoustics V-Dosc partner, T Servis.

(Jim Evans)

Denmark - DPA Microphones has launched two new instrument mics, which offer musicians "flexibility and quality at an affordable price point, whether live or in the studio". The 4090 and 4091 mics feature an omnidirectional condenser capsule in a lightweight aluminium housing with a 3-pin XLR connector.

The DPA 4090 and 4091 microphones are housed in a 19mm anodised black aluminium barrel casing which tapers down to the 5.4 mm capsule. The mics, which are a total length of 12 cm, fit neatly into the mic clip included.

"Studio and live sound users who wish to experience DPA's quality and open, natural sound at an affordable price can now do so with the new 4090 and 4091 microphones," says Craig Parrish, sales and marketing manager at DPA. "The price level will mean that every studio and rental company will be able to own a pair."

For the 4090 caps

Slovakia - Bratislava-based Centron Slovakia S.R.O, led by managing director Radoslav Bako took over the distribution of RTS/Telex systems in the region earlier this year, and the recent addition of two internationally respected TV broadcasters to the Centron reference list underlines the standing of the firm within Slovakia.

One of Slovakia's leading broadcasters, TV Markiza, which is also based in Bratislava, commissioned Centron to install a customised system for the TV series Big Brother, with a view to establishing an easy-to-use, reliable and modularly expandable system of wireless communication for the production team. The broadcasters opted for a system from RTS/Telex: a Zeus digital matrix with 24 ports and a generous supply of peripherals, including KP-32 keypanels and a BTR-700 wireless intercom system.

TV JOJ also opted for a Cronus and were so impressed with the r

UK - Sennheiser UK held a champagne reception for its staff in High Wycombe to celebrate the company's 60th birthday. What began in June 1945 in a former university laboratory with a team of only seven and a great deal of pioneering spirit has now become a global corporation with a workforce of more than 1,600.

Managing director Paul Whiting told staff that despite increased competition both nationally and from overseas, they had continued to grow to record levels. He added, "Without the dedication of the Sennheiser team over the years, this would not have been possible. Thanks are due to everyone connected with the company both past and present, and for as long as we maintain our solid customer focus we will be assured of the company's continued success for many years to come."

Each member of staff was presented with a limited edition 340 page book commemorating the

UK - Launched at PLASA this year, Audio-Technica's re-engineered UniPoint range of full-line, miniaturized, condenser installation-sound microphones, now features unique Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) shielding. The new UniPoint range, comprising gooseneck, hanging, boundary and handheld models, enables improved standards of audio reinforcement in the increasingly hostile RF environments associated with commercial and industrial AV installations.

The original full-line miniaturized, condenser installation-sound microphones, UniPoint remains a market leader within the commercial audio and AV integrator sectors. Comprising over 30 different models, UniPoint is designed for the widest range of applications, in corporate, institutional, civic and religious installations, including sound reinforcement, broadcast and recording. Audio-Technica's proprietary UniGuard shielding est

France - L-Acoustics reports that the summer of 2005 has been a very busy one for the company's sound systems which have been used on hundreds of recorded events around the globe. Coldplay started their world tour in June. The sound equipment included 64 V-DOSC(r), 24 dV-DOSC, 24 ARCS, 24 115FM and 32 SB218. The service provider is Tourtech from the UK. Jamiroquai has been touring since July and will continue worldwide until December. Britannia Row Productions (UK) and For Music (Austria) are providing standard system will consist in 32 V-DOSC, 9 dV-DOSC and 11 ARCS.

Van Morrison is currently touring around the world (and until end of October), using the services of Northern Ireland rental company Production House with a dV-DOSC/ARCS-based sound system.

Agora provided a 104 box V-DOSC system for the Italian leg of Live8 which was held in Circus Maximus in Rome with an audience

UK - Audio-visual artists Hexstatic provided one of the highlights of the Lord Mayor's Thames Festival this year, taking their live set out into the middle of the River Thames. PSL Music was called in to equip a floating pontoon with sound systems, projection and a huge 45m x 25m spray screen, enabling an audience of many thousand to watch the show from the riverside.

Pod Bluman of PSL Music, who has been actively involved in guerilla projection for the last few years, supervised the technical aspects of the event, which involved projection of Hexstatic imagery onto the arc-shaped water screen. The screen used water pumped from the Thames itself to provide a screen for the projection, creating eerie and atmospheric visuals floating above the dark river.

Stuart Warren-Hill and Robin Brunson, aka Hexstatic, who have made an international name for themselves as AV performers, del

Spain - With the development of three major commissions in the last few months, the Barcelona- and Madrid-based audiovisual service company Unitecnic, part of the Mediapro group, has become the year's most successful RTS / Telex distribution partner in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Eumóvil is a production company with one of the largest fleets of outside broadcast vans in Spain; just under thirty Eumóvil truck can be on the road at any one time, gathering news from all over Spain. The nerve centre of each of the three newest outside broadcast vehicles - which will be utilised at the 2006 World Cup Finals in germany - comprises a system from RTS / Telex - whether an 96 x 96 Advanced Digital Audio Matrix (ADAM), as is the case in two of the vans, or a Cronus.

España Directo is a flourishing Spanish news production company that now communicates by means of RTS / Telex KP-3

UK - London's latest major live music club KOKO picked up the Best Live Venue Award at this year's British Dance and Entertainment (BEDA) Awards at the recent awards dinner, held in the Birmingham NEC Metropole Hotel.

The 1500 capacity venue in Camden Town features an integrated Harman Pro audio reinforcement system, incorporating JBL, Crown, BSS, and dbx brands, and providing all speaker cabinets and arrays, signal control, processing and amplification throughout. At the heart of the system is a 28 kW front of house JBL Vertec Line Array system.

Famous throughout the 1980s as The Camden Palace, the venue was reopened by the Mint Group in September last year as KOKO, after undergoing a major refurbishment, which saw the former Victorian vaudeville theatre restored to its full former glory and lavish style.

A major part of the work involved designing an integrated sound syste

USA - Home court to the NBA's Detroit Pistons and WNBA's Shock, the 22,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan has been considered one of the best-marketed facilities in the US since opening in August of 1988 and is one of the country's top-grossing arenas of its size. The facility has been voted 'Arena of the Year' eight times by Performance magazine and presented with the same honour by Pollstar magazine on two occasions.

KLA Laboratories of nearby Dearborn has served as the Palace's sole audio systems contractor from its inception and recently undertook a revamp of the 17-year-old sound system. Working closely with the Harman Pro Group, KLA recommended that a full Harman system be specified - JBL loudspeakers, over 150,000 watts of Crown power, and a 32-mono-/4-stereo-channel Soundcraft Series FIVE mixing console.

Between basketball games, major concerts,

UK - Noise Control Audio (NCA) has consolidated its position as preferred supplier to the Barfly Group by installing a complete sound system at the Group's newest live music venue in Birmingham.

Officially opened on September 15, Barfly Birmingham incorporates two rooms, both of which have been equipped with Noise Control's proprietary speakers. The company was also responsible for adjusting the venue's acoustics to improve overall sound quality and for specifying and supplying all other audio equipment used throughout the club.

Steve Stavrinides, director of sales for Noise Control, says: "For this particular venue we installed our new NFA concert system, which has gone through several revamps over the past few years and has now had its final jacket fitted. Barfly Birmingham is the first club to have the new NFA Series installed as a permanent installation."

The P

UK - Clockaudio has launched the MR88 digital automatic microphone mixer which has been developed for use in conference suites, meeting rooms, courts of justice, houses of worship and general AV applications.

The MR88 is billed as an effective solution for a variety of audio installations where multiple microphones are in use together and where there is a need to eliminate the requirement of a live operator. The mixer is based on the successful MR66 and includes a number of new features which have been developed following feedback from Clockaudio clients.

The MR88 incorporates advanced DSP technology and has been designed to give outstanding performance and flexibility while maintaining simplicity of set-up and use. Eight input channels, fully adjustable for microphone and line level, can be set up to be put on to either or both of the two output channels.

Active input chann

USA - Widely regarded the birthplace of the New York City punk rock scene, CBGB & OMFUG has served as the launch pad for the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith and countless others over its nearly 32 years. Now that the legendary East Village nightclub has recently been issued an eviction notice by its landlord, the Bowery Residents' Committee, CBGB is in the midst of several months of benefit shows to drum up public support and, hopefully, a legal decision that allows the club to remain in its original location at 315 Bowery Street.

The list of artists stepping up to assist the intimate 260-capacity room is quite impressive, including many old-school acts like the Misfits, Dead Boys, Circle Jerks, and The Exploited mixed in with newer talent like Ted Leo, Thursday, Chevelle, and numerous others. As expected, all benefit shows so far have been completely sold out with

Spain - Pro3&Co supplied the sound system for the newly refurbished Casa Bonaventura Ferrer in Barcelona. Built in 1905 as a family house, this six story building was later bought by Deutsche Bank. It has now been completely restored, with the top three floors as offices. The large ground floor is now a reception area for functions, while the basement area has been transformed into a private bar and nightclub.

RCF Monitor speakers were specified for the project. In total, they used 34 MR55 and 14 MR88 in white plus 4 MSW subs. The designers had specified a lighting system that would "literally shed a new light on the building's interior" so any loudspeakers were required to blend in with the environment.

Pro3&Co's Xavi Oliver commented "We were very proud to be involved in such a prestigious project. In bringing the building back to life, the design team had set

UK - One of the UK's longest established audio product manufacturers has announced the sale of its business to new owners. Stockport-based Formula Sound - which manufactures a wide range of mixers and noise control equipment - has been acquired by London-based General Electronics Services (GES) Ltd.

The sale comes 33 years after the company was established by Tony and Sandra Cockell. However, it does not mark Tony and Sandra's exit from the business. "We are delighted to say that both Tony and Sandra are going to stay with Formula Sound and that the company is to continue unchanged," says Barry Penaligon of GES, who will now take up the position of General Manager with Formula Sound.

"Sandra and I felt it was time to bring some new blood into the company, and the plans which GES has for the future of Formula Sound form a natural continuation of all the work we h

UK - The Mach CW 115, CW 215, CW 118 and CW 218 are the last four subwoofers - and the last speakers - to be introduced in Mach's new C-Range of installation speakers. All products in Mach's C-Range are now on the market - providing "a competitive line of high-quality products for various venue sizes".

The CW series is a line of reflex loaded subwoofers which give a deep and fast bass output. Built for heavy-duty use in professional environments, the subwoofers are constructed with sturdy Baltic plywood cabinets and feature a SafeCoat coating to give optimal strength.

Like all speakers in the Mach C-Range, the CW subwoofers are designed to fit unobtrusively into any install environment and feature the same flying point principles used on the C-Range top boxes.

All four subwoofers feature: Reflex loaded, compact cabinet design; improved excursion control and lineari

Latest Issue. . .