Sound

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Beyerdynamic's 'line array microphone'-based desktop conferencing solution, Revoluto, promised at ISE in Brussels at the start of the year (see L&SI February 2006) was still in the prototype stages and only partially operational. "September" was the new touted launch date.

Each station contains 14 capsules, but the unit is no larger than conventional gooseneck models. Revoluto is also a networked system, enabling up to 1,400 stations to operate from one control unit, distributed around multiple rooms or buildings and PC-configurable into precise scheduled sessions - all of which thinking has arisen from Beyerdynamic's acquisition of Interkom, the German conferencing technology manufacturer and, by sheer coincidence, neighbour of Sennheiser.

New products actually on the beyerdynamic stand included the Opus 89 dynamic microphone, and the expansion of the Tourgroup series of m

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Meyer Sound were showing M'elodie, its new high-power curvilinear array loudspeaker, and the latest addition to the MILO family of self-powered loudspeakers. M'elodie has a smaller footprint than the MICA, making it ideal for fixed installation in venues that might otherwise have seemed too small for a line array solution. Also announced was the news that the company's MAPP Online Pro acoustical prediction software is now available directly from the website, making it accessible to all.

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UK manufacturer Audient has been tinkering with its ONE loudspeaker control solution, contributing to the general trend towards cutting down set-up times and generally making it easier and more intuitive to navigate around PA systems - a bit like the way digital recording packages help you navigate around your session.

"We now have control software so you can run every parameter in the box from a PC, using a really slick user interface," explained Audient-LA Audio product specialist Ross McFarlane. "You can do that to control a single unit, already built into the box, or with an optional network card you can do it for up to 100 units. It looks and behaves much like a Pro Tools plug-in, so it's really easy to understand."

It also allows you to store and recall banks of programs, so with multiple units in comparable systems it's possible to transfer data from one en

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Following the reissue in 1993 of the Celestion Blue, Celestion now extends the range with the new 50W Celestion Gold, designed for players wanting the legendary 'Blue' tone with greater power handling capability. Celestion has developed a new range of bass guitar drivers encompassing 10", 12" and 15" Ceramic and Neodymium models in 'clean' (Orange Label) and 'rock' (Green Label) varieties. Green Label 10", 12" and 15" speakers feature heavier cones, multi-roll surrounds and longer voice coils

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Italian manufacturer 18 Sound had 11 new products on display, with a significant emphasis on neodymium transducers - the secret ingredient behind the push towards ever more lightweight enclosures across the industry. A new family of compression drivers begins with the ND1460A, featuring an aluminium dome and polyethylene suspension; titanium is available too, with a patented new coating treatment.

"These lines are available for distribution as 18 Sound," said the company's Giacomo Previ, "but the main focus of the company is OEMs - they give us the specifications and we deliver. We do see a trend towards high quality neodymium transducers with very high power at an acceptable price and low in weight, so to meet that demand we've developed a new magnet structure. Portability is more and more important, and you can save 7k-8k on an 18" with these drivers - 16k less fo

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Community Professional Loudspeakers showed the complete range of its iBOX large format systems, the first models of which were introduced at Frankfurt last year. Complementing iBOX was the new iLF218, a high-efficiency, dual 18" subwoofer, and the M-Class M12 stage monitor system. Community's R-Series and WET Series loudspeakers were also on display.

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RSS by Roland introduced the S-4000 Digital Snake series, which offers a world free of the inherent signal degradation, hums and buzzes of analogue cabling. Using Roland's proprietary Ethernet Audio Communication system (REAC), the S-4000 system is based on 100Base-TX, and transfers via Cat-5e cable. Up to 40 channels of 24bit/96kHz audio plus MIDI and remote control data can be transferred in one cable. The S-4000 system includes a 40-input modular rack (the S-4000S-3208) to accept both mic and line level inputs onstage, with XR-1 pre-amps provided for each input channel and 24bit/96kHz AD/DA conversion. The S-4000H front-of-house unit again offers 24bit/96kHz conversion and has 32 analogue outputs for the desk, and eight inputs. Optional extras include the S-420P external power supply unit and the S-4000-HUB, a dedicated REAC switching hub.

RSS also had two solid-state audio recordin

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Bosch extended its EVAC horn loudspeaker range with a new 50W, high-SPL model. The LBC 3484/00, is designed for use in public address and voice alarm applications that require a high level of sound pressure, such as industrial sites and sports grounds. A new TÜV-approved version of Praesideo PA, Bosch's digital public address and emergency sound system, was also launched.

Bosch also showcased its Wireless Discussion System, which employs advanced wireless technology and complements Bosch's Digital Congress Network (DCN) Next Generation system. It comprises two main elements - a Wireless Access Point (WAP) unit and three types of wireless Discussion Units.

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The soothing purple tones and warmth of welcome at Funktion One proved a calm oasis amidst the chaos of the show. The sound system demonstration was equally reviving. After four years of collaboration with XTA Electronics, Funktion One had something to shout about with the launch of their self-powered enclosures. The Resolution 2 bi-amplified 3-way fully horn-loaded enclosure will house the new A4 2-channel amplifier, whilst the more powerful A6 will power the company's F218 and Infrabass enclosures. The self-powered enclosures will also power a slave unit. Two new stage monitors were also launched at the show, the M12 and M15.

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XTA, who achieved record sales figures in 2005, unveiled the DP4 Series, its flexible new offerings for speaker system control. The DP446, DP444, DP424 and the renamed DP448 offer sound companies either 2 or 4 inputs, with either 4, 6 or 8 outputs. "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," says XTA's Guy Lewis, "Anyone can fit the processing to their way of working, without committing to unwanted ins or outs."

The company's versatile filter set, built into all units, has been a major success for XTA. "Having a vast choice of filter types helps shape sound beyond most of the problems encountered in difficult environments and venues," says Lewis.

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The Ampetronic booth had new products on display including the new CD1 Compact Loop Driver for small areas and one-to-one communications. The ILD1000G proudly claims to be the benchmark for high performance induction loop drivers.

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d&b audiotechnik unveiled the latest addition to its stage monitor range, the M4, along with the large-scale J-Series range, and the latest software additions to the d&b Remote network. The M4 is a 2-way high performance stage monitor with an integrated 15"/1.3" exit coaxial driver with a CD horn and passive crossover network. In its standard 50° x 70° dispersion configuration it provides a defined coverage area and, when used upright, serves as a powerful PA system. The M4 can be operated in 2-way active mode by changing the d&b D12 amplifier's configuration without any modifications to the loudspeaker.

The new J-Series is designed for large-scale applications, and as was ably demonstrated, is very quick to rig. The J8 and J12 produce a dispersion pattern of 80° and 120° respectively, using the same driver complement, vertical directivity, size, weight and ri

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Canary Islands - Loro Parque, located in Tenerife, one of Spain's Canary Islands, has long been a major attraction for the local population and the vast quantity of tourists the island sees each year. The sun-kissed venue plays host to one of the largest wildlife collections in Spain and has recently expanded to accommodate an exciting new attraction - Orca Ocean. The new attraction's 3000 capacity viewing area's reinforcement system is powered exclusively by Lab.gruppen C Series installation-dedicated amplifiers.

Estudio Audio Visual (EAV), a leading designer and supplier of sound and vision systems throughout the Canary Islands, created the extensive distributed sound reinforcement system in association with the world famous SeaWorld of Florida in the United States. EAV worked very closely with audio, video and show producers at SeaWorld in developing the installation. Five C

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New Zealand - Soundcraft mixing consoles have recently come up trumps across a range of applications for customers of Jands Electronics New Zealand (the Soundcraft distributors). In the past few months Soundcraft desks have found their way into houses of worship, concert touring, broadcast - and a prestigious opera house.

In the sound reinforcement sector, the contemporary City Impact Church in Auckland is now using a Soundcraft MH2 for its services, while PA Sound, a rental company which specialises in large church events, has added a GB8 to its inventory.

Meanwhile, another Auckland-based company, College Hill Productions, recently used a 32-channel GB8 on the Dave Dobbyn You Got Heart tour, in conjunction with their new JBL VRX line array speaker system. Chris Tate, sound engineer and director of College Hill Productions, toured with the desk and gave it the thumbs-u

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ProLight & Sound Frankfurt introduced a new business initiative from the closely allied loudspeaker brands of EM Acoustics and G9 which culminated in the launch of the highly cost effective of G Series range. Martin Capp from Global 9 was on-hand to offer the first showing of the new G9 G series products which include four full-range loudspeaker cabinets and two subwoofers, as well as a range of plastic corner fitting cabinets with supporting subs. The G9-Mask corner speakers operate a clever mounting system where the brackets incorporate the audio connections. The brackets can be preassembled with all wiring prior to mounting which limits the risk of damage during installation of multiple speaker clusters.

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As well as announcing the appointment of their new marketing communications manager, Remi Oudinot, Digigram showcased their new EtherSound product range which included the EtherSound-enabled sound card, which can transmit and receive up to 64 EtherSound channels, and therefore connect computer based audio applications to the EtherSound network.

Other news from EtherSound was that Richmond Sound Design has become an EtherSound licensee, and will incorporate EtherSound technologies in future products. German manufacturer Klein+Hummel has also acquired a license and will work towards enabling its studio monitor systems, PA systems, and installed sound products to network via EtherSound.

EtherSound mounted its 'Proof of Performance Gigabit Demonstration', featuring multiple control programs running on ES-Giga's dedicated 100Mbps data channel, as well as multi-channel digital audio transp

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Innovations on the Neutrik stand included the EMC-XLR cable connector, a 3-pole male/female XLR cable connector with capacitive cable shield - shell connection to avoid RF-interference and LF-noise. A hands-on experiment with a mobile phone was proof of the pudding enough. The new OpticalCon, a hybrid fibre optic connector system will be shipping in six months. The OpticalCon is a solid and dust-protected fibre optic connector system with a robust metal housing, push-pull locking mechanism, and automatic sealing covers.

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Spanish audio manufacturer Vieta, big in consumer markets, introduced the So Line, a remarkable design for table-top monitoring without cables. Battery powered, the omnidirectional 'So Cubes' use 16-channel wireless transmitters specified by Garwood, and the sleek look of the product marks it out for a huge range of private or public applications where style matters.

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Meanwhile, Asia's leading RF manufacturer made its step into the digital realm. Mipro's single-channel ACT-81 and dual-channel ACT-82 are described as "true digital wireless systems", and promise CD audio quality thanks to new proprietary DSP algorithms and digital modulation RF technology. Signal security is bolstered by 128-bit encryption, while a new sub-band algorithm has been developed to tackle compander noise.

Otherwise, all the expected advantages of going digital are laid out: no HF saturation or distortion with high SPL input.; built-in selectable mic capsule sounds, modelled on leading brands; more resistance to interference and, in that sense, better sound quality than analogue. Plus, naturally, PC software for control and monitoring of large scale systems.

The use of wireless is on the increase almost everywhere you look, pointed out Eugene Chen, VP of internat

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German manufacturer Fohhn Audio introduced a range of DSP-controlled active, lightweight speakers for fixed installations and mobile applications. The self-powered compact speakers in the 12"/1"CD, 12"/2"CD and 15"/2"CD class can be operated remotely, are network-compatible and are equipped with fully programmable 10-band EQs, delays and dynamic processors. Parameters are easily configured via the 4-line LCD display or a laptop and can be saved as presets. The speakers are equipped with digital stereo amplifiers (2 x 1000W/8ohm) and can be connected to other passive Fohhn Tops or a passive Sub.

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There's a new lease of life for flat-panel loudspeakers: Layered Sound is a new venture by Canadian concert pianist and inventor Shelley Katz, who has developed a combination of conventional and NXT-style distributed mode loudspeakers (DMLs). "He was in search of the perfect digital piano," revealed Ian Gair, well-known for many years at Fane Acoustics and now Layered Sound's executive for Commercial Audio. "Having found that the speaker output was the real problem, he identified NXT speakers as the potential equivalent of the piano soundboard - but it only worked when he combined them with conventional ones. One set deals with the direct onset of sound, the other handles the early reflections that provide clarity and depth."

One PhD later, funding was secured and Layered Sound went into business. Obviously, digital pianos aside, all of the previously identified app

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JBL showed several new products including the new VT4887ADP three-way line array element and VT4881ADP powered subwoofer, which features JBL's newly-developed Ultra Long Excursion 460mm (18") woofer with 2000W continuous (AES), 8000W peak power handling capacity, the model 2269. Using the company's patented Differential Drive dual voice-coil loudspeaker technology, the 2269 provides high output capabilities with an "extremely advantageous" power-to-weight ratio and is used in JBL's two newest Vertec subwoofers, the VT4881ADP compact powered unit and VT4880A full-size passive. Adding to the VRX portable line array series, JBL is introducing the VRX915M two-way, 15" floor monitor designed for live performance. The company was also showcasing its Venue Performance (VP) Series of powered loudspeaker systems.

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Sound Projects introduced the baby of the family, the Gluon, which is an extremely small speaker system with high acoustical output. It is designed as infill- or spot monitor. Also introduced was a new fly-able self-powered sub-low system: the SP18, which will make any small system sound big. Sound Projects' Dreamline Line-array system in a prefab housing was introduced at the show. Each Dreamline is individually configured by Sound Projects to match the location parameters. Its low weight of around 100 kg (depending on configuration), makes the Dreamline compliant with most standard theatre rigging points.

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Tannoy was showing two new Precision monitors - Precision 6iDP and 8iDP. These intelligent active monitoring systems combine the Tannoy Dual Concentric and WideBand technology with the latest digital processing from TC Electronic. In the V-Series loudspeaker range, Tannoy has announced active versions of various models under the 'PowerV' banner. The in-ceiling range of loudspeakers is being extended with four new compact high performance models.
  1. New DSP Control Installation Amplifiers from Crown
  2. VDC supplies Soundworks' new ICON console
  3. Iconyx Array Systems at Infocomm
  4. Blitz gets charismatic
  5. Focus chooses Alcons
  6. Christie/AVC's optical adventures in Athens
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