Australia - Silently interfacing -10dB unbalanced consumer electronics with +4 dB.Balanced professional equipment has always been a problem. Hum and noise generated by a mismatch at this point will be amplified throughout the studio, broadcast or live sound system.

ARX has introduced the Balance 8, an 8 channel audio balancer and level optimizer specifically designed to handle this critical task.

ARX's proprietary balancing circuits take the -10dB levels from CD players, cassette and tape players, DAT recorders, digital 8 track recorders, and effortlessly transform them into the balanced signals that all professional audio systems expect. Inputs are unbalanced RCA connectors, and outputs are industry standard balanced 3 pin XLR type.

Pairs of Gain Mode switches on the front panel let you select unity gain through the Balance 8, using it as a balancer only, or as a level opti

Austria - Situated in the midst of the picture-book Austrian Tirol is Walchsee, where the five star Hotel Seehof recently underwent a complete audio upgrade. Independently run by the Münsterer family, the requirement was for an audio system which offered simple and flexible functionality - requirements which have been met with a combination of QSC loudspeakers and amplification.

Where the need for flexibility was particularly manifest was in the hotel's seminar area. This space is used alternatively as a single, large hall, or divided with a mobile partition wall as two smaller seminar rooms for presentations. With a single button push, each configuration can be adapted and audio optimised for speech intelligibility as necessary, with the DSP controlling eight QSC AD-S52 speakers and a QSC CX254 4-channel power amp.

The Hotel Seehof's events area is known as the 'Tenne', and

UK - The Hurlingham Club in London provided the perfect setting for those attending PLASA's AGM and Members Lunch on Tuesday 6 June. Over 180 members and special guests were there to enjoy the day, learn more about the Association's achievements over the last 12 months and meet with industry colleagues.

Adrian Brooks, vice-chairman of PLASA, reflected on how PLASA - originally known as BADEM - first found a role delivering a trade show for discotheque equipment manufacturers, and on the remarkable growth of the PLASA Show and the Association since that fledgling start 30 years ago. He went on to reflect how the continued success of the Show had allowed the organisation to focus on initiatives intended to develop the industry further. Ambitious projects such as the National Rigging Certificate and qualifications for the PA/VA sector are central to PLASA's commitment to raise prof

UK - Flight case specialist 5 Star recently supplied the Sound Division Group with a number of custom cases to house a selection of new plasma screens - purchased to keep up with an increased demand due the World Cup 2006.

5 Star supplied Tour Grade plasma trunks for the NEC 50" and 42" model screens to the north London based AV company. The cases feature special compartments for the screen mounting brackets and accompanying speakers which are detached from the screens when the systems are de-rigged - keeping everything self-contained within the trunk.

The trunks are finished in navy blue laminate, complete with the Sound Division Group's corporate logo screen printed on the sides. They were turned round very quickly to meet the start of the World Cup.

"Demand for plasma screen hire has exploded since the World Cup started, so it's been an incredibly busy time

The Netherlands - Allen & Heath's Dutch distributor, TM Audio, recently completed a huge audio installation in a new multi-function venue, installing a variety of Allen & Heath products to manage all the sound requirements, from mixing consoles to audio distribution and processing.

Situated in Purmerend near Amsterdam, the new venue, P3, was commissioned to host a variety of international and national cultural events, including music concerts, theatre, and dance performances, as well as provide facilities for rehearsals.

"P3's modern architecture and advanced technical facilities qualify it as one of the leading venues in Holland; as such, it required audio equipment to match," says TM Audio's project manager, Jaap Pronk. "The fact that Allen & Heath's product portfolio is so varied, meant we were able to exclusively install A&H kit. P3 can provide high quality

Germany - Over 4,000 guests flocked to the Ostseehalle in Kiel on Saturday the 6th May to attend the Bacardi Bat Club Party, one of the most popular disco events in northern Germany. This year, its appeal was further enhanced by an exciting combination of DJ sounds and live music.

To ensure even coverage throughout the almost 5,000 sq.m hall, which has provided the setting for numerous TV broadcasts as well as musical events, the team of sound specialists led by Hannes Sellugga opted for a Dynacord Cobra system.

Two Cobra Subs and six Cobra Tops were flown each side of the stage and a further cluster of four Cobra Subs stacked in front of it. The system was powered by Dynacord L2400 and Dynacord L1600 amps, with the Dynacord CL 1600 preferred for the nearfills and monitors. Control of the main PA, nearfills and monitors was provided by the Klark Teknik DN360.

The setting-up

Germany - The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany kicked off in spectacular fashion on 9 June at Munich's Allianz Arena Stadium. Kicking off the four-week tournament of the most popular sport in the world, the opening ceremony included Brazilian star Pele - World Cup winner in 1958, 1962 and 1970; German supermodel Claudia Schiffer, and an address by German Federal President Horst Köhler. The event captivated over 60,000 spectators inside Allianz Arena Stadium and a worldwide television audience of 1.5 billion viewers.

Frankfurt-based Sirius Showequipment AG was contracted to provide sound reinforcement services for this high-profile event. Sirius Showequipment, in conjunction with regional sound company Crystal Sound, chose a 48-channel AKG WMS 4000 wireless microphone system to support the full spectrum of musical guests from traditional Bavarian folk performances to contemporary hip

UK - British Telecom's Group Communications department has purchased a 32-channel GL4800 multi-purpose console and 14-channel MixWizard compact mixer to manage its corporate communications programme.

The department runs all of BT's senior management events within BT Centre, with two areas of operation - a broadcast TV studio and a 170 seat auditorium. The TV studio is used for corporate communications, with approximately 40 pieces to camera taking place every month. These webcasts are broadcast across the BT Intranet/network - accessed by 80,000 desktops - and live links are provided to TV/radio broadcasters and business press when there is breaking news concerning BT.

The new GL4800 desk has been installed in the TV studio, replacing an older Allen & Heath GL4 desk, which was originally installed in 1996. BT also purchased a WZ314:4:2, which is used as part of a portable loca

The Netherlands - With five shows performing in over 20 countries each year, Holiday On Ice is one of the most international and long-running quality entertainment productions around. Holiday On Ice is a part of Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group, Europe's leading live-entertainment production company. Based in the Netherlands, Stage Entertainment attracts combined annual audiences of around ten million people to its ice shows, theatre productions, musicals and special events.

The latest Holiday on Ice show in production is Romanza, with this season's performances scheduled in Germany, Korea and France. The central theme of the Romanza show are the world's most famous love stories, from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" to Puccini's "Madame Butterfly". Artistic director Frank Wentink, choreochrapher Jamie Isley and their creative team

Spain - DPA Microphones has supplied a quantity of mics to Radiotelevisión's Catalonia facility in Sant Cugat, Barcelona, for its two new digital studios. The order, supplied by DPA's Spanish distributor SeeSound, includes 18 DPA 4011 cardioid mics, chosen for their high sound quality and versatility, which are being used largely for acoustic instruments as well as crowd ambience.

Radiotelevisión - one of Spain's leading audiovisual companies and programme makers - has also purchased 24 DPA 4060 miniature omnidirectional which it is using together with some 4066 miniature omnidirectional headband mics for producing news programmes and documentaries. The company is also finding that DPA's 4088 cardioid headband mics are ideal for its sports broadcasts such as the UEFA Champions League.

The final weapon in Radiotelevisión's DPA armoury is a 3530-A kit comprising a factory-mat

Argentina - D.A.S. Audio's Aero linear array system continues to conquer new frontiers, this time in Argentina where French singer Manu Chao sold out two concerts (on 17 and 19 March, at Jujuy and Mendoza respectively). Chao demonstrated once more that he is a force to be reckoned with in Latin America, where he is committed to the struggle for prosperity and equality.

Some 6,500 people attended each performance, for which a D.A.S. Audio sound reinforcement system was provided by Argentina's Merino Technical Productions. The company set up a PA system of 24 Aero 28 speakers with two CA-215 enclosures stacked at ground level for the Jujuy concert, which took place at the Old Jujuy Station. At Mendoza's Pacific Stadium, regardless of the poor acoustic, the main PA system (which consisted of 32 Aero CA-28 speakers with four CA-215 and 12 Compact 218 Sub for low-end reinforcement) d

UK - Audio-Technica Ltd is pleased to announce the availability of its ATH-PRO700 professional monitor headphones. Designed with DJs and other audio professionals in mind, these headphones offer the highest level of sonic accuracy, combined with maximum comfort for hours of listening in a variety of environments.

Representing the latest in Audio-Technica transducer technology, the ATH-PRO700 headphones incorporate a neodymium magnet system and combine rugged construction with a stylish look. Their closed-back, dynamic circumaural design provides excellent isolation in loud listening environments - ideal for privately auditioning tracks. With an ability to handle extremely high SPLs, the headphones deliver outstanding sound reproduction with 53mm diameter drivers and extended bass frequency response.

The padded, easily adjustable headband ensures a comfortable, secure fit throu

Australia - When designing sound reinforcement systems for churches, there are two priorities that are of equal importance: high intelligibility and aesthetic unobtrusiveness. The latter is especially true in historic church buildings, where the architecture is often extremely valuable.

Sydney-based church specialist Clare Communications has good experience at designing such installations and takes full advantage of Turbosound's TCS and Impact series, which the company says combine high quality acoustics with a small, discreet enclosure and are specifically designed to fulfil the twin requirements.

Clare has recently worked with Matt Donovan from Audio Telex, Turbosound's Australian distributor, to design and install new systems into two very different Catholic churches in Australia - the Mosman church in Sydney and St Aloysius Catholic church in Cronulla.

The Mosman church

UK - Roland Systems Group has appointed Total Audio Solutions of Bromsgrove as a main supplier and servicing centre for its Digital Snake products. Adding to an already extensive product range including Neumann, Genelec and Sony broadcast, it was agreed that Digital Snake made an ideal partner for the company's studio and broadcast solutions.

Product manager for Roland Systems Group, Neal Tomlinson, commented: "We feel that the expertise and background offered by Total Audio allows us a great opportunity to expand further into the live, broadcast and installation market."

64 channels of RSS by Roland Digital Snake is being used at T in the Park to connect the Pet Sounds Arena Stage to the BBC mixing truck. 64 channels of RSS by Roland Digital Snake, supplied by Total Audio Solutions Ltd. Using two 32 x 8 stage units and two front-of-house units, the whole system will

Germany - Meyer Sound brought its long-running worldwide professional training program to Hamburg, Germany, recently with a successful seminar on the SIM 3 audio analyzer and its source independent measurement system. The four-day interactive event, titled 'SIM 3 Training and System Design', drew 40 audio professionals from varied backgrounds, including the touring, theatre and AV installation markets. The intensive sessions were presented in English by Mauricio 'Magu' Ramirez, Meyer Sound's engaging senior seminar technical instructor.

Seminar logistics were coordinated by Meyer Sound's German office and the event's co-host, Klaus Rahe of Procon Event Engineering, a leading sound rental firm based in Hamburg. The actual site for the sessions was a studio at CINETEC, a local television production facility.

The SIM 3 Training and System Design seminar is an in-depth, intensive

UK - West London-based Entec Sound and Light is supplying cult US thrash metallers Tool with full lighting and sound production and crew for their current European tour, supporting their newly launched '10,000 Days' album. Entec's ability to offer an integrated sound and lighting package helped them win the competitive bid for the tour - their first with the band - via tour manager Craig Duffy. The tour is being project managed for Entec by Noreen O'Riordan (lighting) and Dick Hayes (sound).

LD Breck Haggerty has worked with Tool since 1998 - initially as lighting crew chief before graduating to the design hot seat. His main lighting consideration for this tour was designing something floor-based and optimised for easy rigging and de-rigging. The concept is that this toured to festivals throughout the summer, enabling them to have as much of their show as possible with a minimum

UK - Shure's UHF-R wireless system, distributed in the UK by Shure Distribution UK, carried away this year's prestigious 2006 NSCA Expo Innovations in Technology Product Award, in the audio category. Spanning seven product categories, three finalists for each were chosen out of more that 100 entries by an independent voting committee. Attendees of the 2006 NSCA Expo then cast their votes for one winning company per category.

The Shure's UHF-R wireless attracted award winning votes from NSCA members because of its unique set of features. The system offers superior RF performance and rock-solid reliability, as well as unparalleled control even in large, networked systems. With 2,400 selectable frequencies across a 60MHz bandwidth, UHF-R allows up to 40 preset compatible systems to be operated per band: up to 108 systems can be put to work using multiple bands. Shure say of the sys

Germany / USA - Telex Communications Holdings Inc of Minneapolis has announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, which will see Bosch acquire Telex for an aggregate purchase price of $420 million. Upon closing of the merger, the surviving company's name will be Telex Communications Holdings Inc, with headquarters remaining in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Telex - a leading manufacturer and supplier of professional audio, wireless, life safety and communication equipment- achieved sales of $308 million in 2005, and has nearly 2,000 employees at 14 locations in nine countries. The company is home to well-known brands such as Electro-Voice, Dynacord, Midas, Klark Teknik, Telex and RTS. If the merger is consummated, Telex will be assigned to, and come under the leadership of, the Bosch Security Systems division.

"W

USA - Dolby Laboratories Inc reports that Eighth Day Sound Systems Inc, one of the largest sound reinforcement companies in the US, has purchased 40 Dolby Lake Processors to boost its concert tour work this summer. Eighth Day Sound is using Dolby Lake Processors on many of the 2006 tours it is providing with sound systems, including those for Madonna, Widespread Panic; Tool; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Slayer; Tom Jones; and Earth, Wind and Fire.

"We were blown away by the Dolby Lake Processors the first time we heard them in action," said Jack Boessneck, executive vice-president at Eighth Day Sound. "We have used Dolby's Lake Contour processors extensively on tour after tour since 2003; they had the hottest interface available and the performance was absolutely brilliant. The new Dolby Lake Processors take it to the next level with even more control and flexibi

Switzerland - For the 40th time since 1966, the Montreux Jazz Festival will present 16 days and nights of indoor and outdoor concerts. More than a quarter of a million music lovers from around the globe are expected to attend this year's festival to hear 200-plus international artists spanning the music world.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Meyer Sound's official sound sponsorship of the festival. Approximately 370 of the company's self-powered loudspeakers, supplied by six different Swiss and French hire companies, are deployed for sound reinforcement throughout the festival's venues, ranging from the gracefully arcing curvilinear arrays in the capacious 3,500-capacity Stravinski Hall down to more modest systems for the workshop rooms and press center.

"We first met Claude Nobs when John and I lived in Switzerland while he was working at the Institute for A

Germany - For a nation fixated on model building (Germany has the highest per capita concentration of model railway enthusiasts in the world), the Germans have outdone themselves for the World Cup. Accept the premise that there is just no way everyone who wants to attend the various matches of the World Cup can possibly be accommodated. Solution: place large format outdoor LED TV screens in prominent public spaces throughout German cities, then add a good quality PA system and voila, problem solved.

Except that it's not quite the same experience: yes, you can see it all, arguably better than those actually watching the match in the stadium, and yes, you have the atmosphere of possibly being amongst a large crowd who all share in the excitement . . . but it's not the stadium is itΩ

Adidas has found the ideal solution: in Berlin they have built the Adidas Arena; a scaffold

UK - The PLASA Show (Earls Court, London, 10-13 September 2006) is now welcoming nominations for the popular PLASA Awards for Innovation, which will once again form a major attraction at the event this year. At last year's show, no less than 68 nominated products covering various product areas within lighting, audio, staging and AV, were displayed on the Innovation Gallery, which is sponsored by Lighting&Sound International magazine and situated right at the entrance to Earls Court's ground floor.

Judged on the grounds of their 'Innovation' alone, the nominated products are closely assessed by a panel of expert industry practitioners, chaired by L&SI magazine's Technical Editor, James Eade. There are nine awards available in total - eight Awards for Innovation of equal standing, plus an Award for Environmental Impact, which

UK - For their current tour, Rock legends The Who requested that the cables used to mic Zak Starkey's drum kit matched the kit's chrome finish. They also wanted a strong, flexible cable for Roger Daltry's microphone - one that could withstand the rigours of his on-stage performance.

Entec, the sound company handling the European and UK leg of The Who's current European and US tour, were happy to oblige and turned to cable specialist VDC Trading for assistance. "We supplied Entec with a Van Damme Star Quad microphone cable for Roger Daltry because it is incredibly tough and is built to withstand on-stage radio interference," says VDC account manager Carl Stage. "For the drum kit, we sourced Vam Damme classic mic cable finished in grey with matching grey boots for all connectors."

The cable has already been used for a number of performances, including The Who

USA - The Infocomm show in Orlando at the beginning of June not only saw DiGiCo's renowned range of live digital mixing consoles grace their booth, but also witnessed a DiGiCo D1 in use at the Technologies For Worship Magazine Conference Quiet Stage. The Quiet Stage, a new departure for TFWM, was designed to demonstrate digital instrument and in-ear monitoring technology.

A D1 Live 56 (56 inputs, eight analogue outputs and an Aviom Card) plus stage rack with a DiGiCo digital snake between the two that utilized just two CoAx cables, performed front-of-house duties. It also featured a local rack and a MADICorder to record and playback the band performing there and a small Meyer FOH loudspeaker system to demonstrate the difference between having the loudspeakers on or in-ear monitors.

"The Quiet Stage was a huge success," said Barry Cobus, VP of marketing at TFWM. "

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