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Asia - Nexo has announced the formation of a new Nexo ASIA office, situated in Hong Kong and headed by new recruit Nicolas Kirsch. As the new Sales Manager Asia, Nicolas Kirsch will manage Nexo's commercial and marketing activities in the Asia region, supporting distributors in China, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea,Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

Among Kirsch's key responsibilities will be the provision of technical and expert support for systems design and custom solutions, for which he is eminently well qualified, having previously worked as an Audio-Visual consultant for Ove Arup & Partners in Hong Kong, in a technical support role for ACE Hong Kong, and as a freelance sound engineer for several rental companies in Hong Kong and France.

Nexo Asia ca be contacted at GPO Box 806, Hong Kong, SAR, China. Tel: +852 9096 3472.

(L

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UK - Adamson introduces the next generation of its proprietary venue design software, the Y-Axis Shooter 2.5.5. The easily interpreted software package is extremely precise in providing computer generated predictions of Adamson Line Arrays in customized venues. Along with the original architecture and the ability to create complex listening areas in multiple floor designs, Adamson software engineers have added useful configuration elements.

One such addition is the rigging plot window, for specific horizontal or vertical views of the load points and alternate reference locations. Originally conceived with the intention to further the schematic ability of the user to implement Adamson arrays effectively, Shooter 2.5.5 is now more versatile, offering the capability to include bothY-Axis and Spektrix subwoofer capacity in the vertical window illustration of the array, and apply it

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Germany - In its combined roles as one of the world's leading 'boutique' amplifier manufacturers and as German distributor for Nexo, Camco GmbH is anticipating more traffic than ever before on its stand at the ProLight&Sound expo in Frankfurt in March, the company reports.

Alongside its successful Vortex Series and Tecton Series of amplifiers, Camco will be showing its new DSP Module, which allows both Tecton and Vortex models to become a UCA, or Universal Controller Amp. Full parametric EQs, delays, IIR-filters, X-over and limiters are naturally selected and controlled via the multithreading Camco WinCai remote control application. The new UCA module is fully integrated with Camco's amplifiers, and data exchange is achieved via internal interfaces, say the company.

In addition to freely programmable controller software, 'parameter sets' can be downloaded into the UCA from an

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USA - Corteo is the title of a new Cirque du Soleil touring production that vividly portrays the funeral of a circus clown as a festive parade with a carnival-like atmosphere.

Processions - on stage and careening above it - are woven throughout the story, a theme that prompted placement of an elongated open stage down the middle of the oval Grand Chapiteau tent. The resulting split auditorium - with two facing audiences of about 1,000 each - dictated dual mirror-image audio systems. The task was assigned to veteran sound designer Jonathan Deans, and his response to the challenge was a technological tour-de-force comprising 38 self-powered Meyer Sound loudspeakers per side with mixing and control from a common LCS Audio CueConsole.

"I simply could not have accomplished my design for Corteo without the LCS console and the Meyer Sound loudspeakers," Deans

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USA - Loud Technologies Inc, owner of leading pro audio brands including EAW, Mackie, SIA and TAPCO, has announced that its common stock will begin trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market as of Wednesday 1 March, at the market open under the symbol LTEC.

"This NASDAQ Capital Market listing is an important step in our program to enhance Loud's visibility in the financial community," said chairman and CEO Jamie Engen. "As a leader in the rapidly growing professional audio industry, we believe that Loud is on the right track as we continue to implement our strategy to increase revenue, improve margins, and build value for our shareholders."

(Lee Baldock)

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Italy - Outline's products have been increasingly used at events of worldwide importance - including the Rome and London Live 8 concerts last summer. Now, the Northern Italian manufacturer's loudspeaker systems have made a considerable contribution to the sound reinforcement for the Winter Olympic Games in Turin.

Outline provided 40 Butterfly CDH 483 Hi-Pack systems flown on either side of a maxi-screen in the Piazza San Carlo, backed up by 18 floor-stacked Victor Live subwoofers. Amplification and control hardware consisted of 36 Outline T6.5 digital power amps and 2 Genius 26 processors respectively.

In the famous Piazza Castello - re-christened 'Medal Plaza' for the occasion - 18 Outline HARD 212 SP stage monitors were chosen for the large rotating stage - one of the largest ever seen - which hosted artists including Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Lou Reed, Duran Duran, J

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Europe - Multiple BRIT award winner James Blunt is in the middle of his latest and biggest European tour, with Skan PA Hire supplying a Midas Heritage 2000 for front of house and a Heritage 3000 for monitors.

Both engineers - Mike Hornby at front of house and Mick Brown on stage - are long time Midas users and felt that the desks were the natural choice for an organic, musical show of this nature.

"I particularly like the H3000 for the EQ and gain and it's perfect for a show like this, which is very musical with everything played live," says Brown. "We also rely heavily on the service provided by Skan - the support they give us is first class."

At front of house, Brown's comments are echoed by Hornby. "We've kept everything as simple and natural as possible," he says. "The idea is to give the whole show a kind of retro, almost seventies fee

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France - An elegant sound reinforcement solution has been delivered to the Théâtre Municipal in Coutances (TMC), Normandy, comprising Nexo's Geo S tangent-array system and CAMCO amplification.

The installation has been completed by Normandy-based audio-visual specialists A-Tech, after a lengthy selection process. After auditioning products from four different manufacturers, the Nexo Geo S system was the personal choice of the theatre's technical director. "The cabinets are so compact, and the power-to-size ratio is just excellent," explained Jean-Marie Roussel of A-Tech.

The TMC has one level of seating, with quite a marked rake. To ensure even coverage throughout the audience area, which can accommodate 800 people, A-Tech has installed left and right hangs of seven Geo S805s plus 1x Geo S830 downfill box. For subbass, there are three CD12 units on each side

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UK - In late February, Community UK held an outdoor demonstration and seminar at Love Street Stadium, home of St Mirren FC in Paisley. The stadium was hired for the day to enable Community to effectively demonstrate the company's range of high power and long-throw, all-weather systems, and is part of a series of such days being held at various locations throughout the year for the benefit of installers and audio consultants.

Community UK staff were on hand, not only for presenting the product and answering questions, but also advising on system design and projects.

Commenting on the day, Stuart Cunningham, general manager of Community UK Said: "The human ear remains the most critical instrument in evaluating how a loudspeaker performs, and hearing it in an appropriate environment is essential. Half way through the event, the Scottish weather also obliged with a hail-storm

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UK - Cadac's flagship analogue console scores a full house in the Best SoundDesign category. All the nominations for the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Sound Designfeatured a Cadac J-Type Live Sound Production Console, reports Cadac Electronics Plc, demonstrating the J-Type's enduring position as the console of choice for leading sound designers around the world for major productions.

The nominees included Paul Arditti for Billy Elliot The Musical, Christopher Shutt for Coram Boy and, on Guys and Dolls, Terry Jardine and Chris Full, with Paul Arditti scooping up the Best Sound Design Award at yesterday's gala presentation.

Managing director Bob Thomas believes that more than 75% of the current Broadway and West End shows feature a Cadac analogue console, reflecting Cadac's continuing supremacy in sound quality, reliability and bullet-proof performance,

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UK - The Theatrical Guild (TTG) is delighted to announce that it is exhibiting for the second year running at the forthcoming ABTT Theatre Show 14th-15th June 2006.

The Theatrical Guild is the only registered charity in the UK providing help and support to anyone who works or has worked Backstage or Front of House, be it general staff or management.

Offering an extremely valuable service, TTG gives financial aid to those who are unable to work due to illness, accidents or to those who have retired.

Karen Nichols, Chief Administrator, explained: "We found exhibiting at The ABTT Theatre Show enormously worthwhile. It gave us the opportunity to meet with theatre professionals from around the country. It was invaluable meeting face to face and being able to let them know that The Theatrical Guild exists and explain how our charity can make a dramatic difference should they

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UK - Theatre sound specialist Orbital has announced a new addition to the market of software-based sound playback and control systems. The programme has been designed help automate and perfect not only theatrical shows but live events in general, and is already in use on the Little Britain and Mighty Boosh national tours.

The key difference with CSC to other systems is the use of a modular workspace, and a much more "hands on" approach to constructing a show. Designs are constructed around "real" objects - wave playback is similar to using traditional MiniDisc machines and CD players, and levels can all be changed at the touch of a button.

CSC presents the designer with tools to create a show, with whatever equipment they desire to use. Full MIDI support is provided, including a standard MIDI command module, a Show Control Module (MSC, MMC and

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USA - Veteran sound system designer Alexander 'Thorny' Yuill-Thornton II, has returned to Meyer Sound to join in the company's effort to develop digital products. Thorny, best known for his work with Luciano Pavarotti and The Three Tenors, played an integral role in product development during his first stint at Meyer Sound, from 1980 - 86, when he was responsible for mechanical engineering on classic products including the UPA-1, MSL-3, MSL-10 and UPM-1 and -2. In addition to his opera work (which includes stadium productions of Aida), Thorny has also been involved with sound systems used for the Academy Awards, the Grammys, and on Broadway shows.

"It feels like a homecoming," says Thorny. "John Meyer and I have a long-standing collaborative relationship and we share the same vision of excellence and innovation in sound reinforcement design. I'm very please

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UK / Germany - Leading UK-based amplifier manufacturer MC2 Audio is expanding its lightweight (switchmode) E Series with the introduction of the E4-75 power amplifier. This latest addition of the E4-75 power amplifier to the highly successful E Series further underscores MC2 Audio's ongoing commitment to providing high quality, high performance solutions to the fixed installation and touring sound markets, the company says. The product will be shown at the ProLight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt (29 March - 1 April).

Designed for use in a wide variety of applications, including touring monitor racks, the E4-75 is a 4-channel amplifier capable of producing 750W/channel into 4 or 8 ohms; it has automatic impedance sensing and changes the power accordingly. Inputs are via four XLR sockets, which can be linked to the next channel via a rear panel switch providing greater flexibility

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UK - SPS has recently adopted an account-team organisational structure. "In doing this, it is our goal to better support our clients; to work more efficiently; and to improve the way we communicate," said MD Robin Coles.

The new structure will see an account director head-up each account team - supported by a team of account managers, project managers and technical crew. The teams are responsible for a shortlist of key clients with whom close working relationships can be developed and built upon. Closer working relationships will allow teams to better anticipate client needs, to be proactive, and to provide cost effective, intelligent solutions.

"It's a very positive, customer focussed move that will also benefit all of our people. Everyone is very excited about the changes to our way of working, and the advantages it offers at many levels," said Coles.

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USA / Germany - The forthcoming NSCA and Frankfurt exhibitions will be the first chance for British manufacturer XTA to show the world its flexible new offering for speaker system control.

XTA's Guy Lewis is spreading the news: "With hundreds of our 4 in, 8 out processors now driving audio systems worldwide, we are completing the family, and really giving every sound company and installer a flexible choice of how they structure their drive processing and speaker systems.

"If a 4 in, 8 out format is not perfect for your world, we can now offer either 2 or 4 inputs, with either 4, 6 or 8 outputs - plenty to choose from."

Lewis is referring to the new DP446, DP444, DP424 and the renamed DP448. "It does not matter if it is an LCR system, a two-way monitor rack, four-way front-of-house system or four-channel EQ front-end. Anyone can fit the processing to their

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Hungary - On the southern fringe of Budapest sits the city's new Palace of Arts. The new complex, among the largest of its kind in Europe, has transformed the cultural life of Hungary's capital city since opening last spring with its 1,700-seat philharmonic concert hall, 450-seat Festival Theatre multi-purpose auditorium, and arts museum incorporating the Hungarian national music library.

A sound reinforcement system comprising more than 20 Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers was installed in the Festival Theatre. The venue posed several aesthetic, acoustical, and logistical challenges to the system design, such as the unusually large and adjustable stage opening - measuring more than 18 meters wide - which allows seamless integration of the audience area and the stage area, when necessary, and the movable ceiling panels above the audience, which open to add volume to the hall

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UK - A.C. Lighting's Audio division has supplied a Nexo GEO S line-array speaker system to Sound2light Productions, which offers a UK-wide full event production service, including lighting and sound design, hire and consultancy for events of any size ranging from small shows to large concerts.

Sound2light director Mark Rivkin was looking to increase their existing hire stock inventory with a permanent PA system that would give the company access to much larger-scale client events ranging from indoor theatre shows to outdoor rock concerts. After auditioning many different systems he contacted the Audio division of A.C. Lighting to discuss the Nexo GEO line array speaker system.

After providing a quote for a GEO S system, A.C. audio sales manager Peter Butler arranged for a demonstration at company's Northern offices to enable Mark to hear its capabilities in a suitable controll

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UK - The design chic of Blue Microphones is now available with USB connectivity for desktop recording applications. The new Snowball USB microphone is available from UK distributor Shuttlesound.

The Snowball USB Mic matches Blue's styling with high quality, versatility and ease of use. The mic's universal driver and plug-and-play USB compatibility allows for quick and easy recording into laptop or DAW, while its dual-capsule design and three-position switch dial in the desired sound for many applications, say Shuttlesound.

The Snowball's versatility is achieved by a unique dual-capsule design, with one capsule tailored for a cardioid pattern and the other for an omni-directional pattern. The three-position switch on the back of the mic lets the user change between the capsules. The first position activates the cardioid pattern capsule with a neutral sonic signature, ideal for

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Italy - EtherSound is the primary audio distribution and control network for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Turin. Gary Hardesty, director of Sound Media Fusion, designed the complex audio system, which serves multiple live audience areas and broadcast production feeds simultaneously. "EtherSound's low latency, audio quality and flexible functionality make it my choice for digital audio networking in these demanding special event productions," he says.

Hardesty is no stranger to the unique challenges of special events that combine live performance and worldwide broadcast: he has worked on the Super Bowl as well as previous Olympics. A pioneer in the use of digital audio distribution for special events, Hardesty was among the first sound designers to distribute audio in digital rather than analogue format, using CobraNet. This yea

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New Zealand - Celebrated Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has given much to the world. However, at the age of 70, he made the decision to conclude his performing career with a farewell tour. With a career spanning more than four decades (including a record 40 years with a single record label, Decca), the master tenor chose to step down and devote his attentions to his family, who are accompanying him on his world tour.

The global tour included five shows in Australia and New Zealand, with a sold-out concert before 15,000 fans at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium. Performing with Pavarotti was acclaimed Italian tenor Simona Todora, accompanied by the 66-piece Auckland Philharmonia, conducted by Leone Magiera.

Reproducing Pavarotti's oversize voice properly requires that no compromise be made in either the sound system or the technicians. Grammy-winning, former Decca Records engin

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UK - Loud Technologies Inc has announced the recent appointment of industry veteran and FoH engineer Moray McMillin to the position of UK pro audio sales manager. McMillin will look after all UK-related sales for EAW and, along with Bob Harrison, EAW Commercial.

The appointment follows Steve Badham's move to the position of EAW ASG (Application Support Group) for Europe, replacing James Bamlett, who has moved to Kuala Lumpur to support EAW and Loud Technologies in Asia."

Loud Technologies' Martin Warr says that McMillin's FoH pedigree reads like "a Who's Who of rock and roll". In over three decades of international touring, the last nine of which have been spent with UK rockers, Deep Purple, McMillin has worked with the likes of White Snake, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd, and (just to prove that it's not all about the

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Canada - A Soundcraft 48-channel MH3 has been commissioned by the progressive Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, BC, Canada. The console completes another stage of ongoing upgrades to the technical infrastructure in the 2,300-seat -seat auditorium. The desk was selected by technical director of Randall Paul - himself an experienced sound engineer and the man responsible for all the AV communications technology on the 100,000sq.ft campus.

The desk was supplied by Genesis Communication Inc in Edmonton, Alberta, a leading systems integration firm in Canada, with the assistance of Lance Spratt, Genesis' senior systems consultant for houses of worship. "Our needs were driven primarily by features - but we really needed a competitive price point to meet the budget that had been approved," said Paul.

The MH3, says Paul, met the criteria for a console with the operational fl

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Canada / Finland / Norway - Following a worldwide review of Rycote's distributor network, the company has appointed a number of new distributors for its microphone windshields, shock mounts and accessories.

From 1 March 2006 Sennheiser Nordic has been appointed as exclusive distributor in Finland and Norway. Rycote's USA distributor - Redding Audio - will also now be taking on exclusive distribution in Canada.

According to Rycote managing director, Vivienne Dyer: "We wanted to ensure our product range was maintaining a high profile and our products were truly available on a worldwide basis. Accordingly, we have felt it necessary to make several new appointments and are confident this will help improve our product accessibility."

Among the latest on-going product developments and enhancements are the company's new zip-less windjammers: these work on a drawstring des

  1. Tannoy Precision reference monitors at Frankfurt
  2. Digidesign provides mix for medals
  3. Community focus on Frankfurt
  4. Leisuretec Distribution for Vestax Corporation
  5. Yamaha PM5D tours with David Gray
  6. Shure announces Personal Audio Business Unit
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