Sound

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Italy - Rome-based multimedia systems integrators, Edisco - which has devised bespoke solutions for many industrial projects - has carried out a major upgrade of the emergency system on Rome's "Line A" underground system, which travels 20km from east to west across the city (and vice versa).

In the era of global terrorism, clear messaging procedures and fast evacuation of underground facilities are paramount. Thus having won a tender, instigated two years ago and issued by the Comune di Roma (system operators), Edisco turned to a solution from BSS Audio, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR).

Realising that the new system had to comply with the EN 60849 emergency/voice alarm standard, Edisco's project manager Gino Fioravanti has deployed 30 x Soundweb London BLU-80 devices - one for each of the 27 networked stations on the line; the remaining three are situated 5

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Belgium - Plopsaland is the first of three 'Plopsa' amusement and attraction theme parks in Belgium equipped exclusively with Martin Audio speakers (involving more than 300 pieces of C115 and EM series). For the 2006 summer season a new attraction named 'Supersplash' was commissioned and installed. The ride involves 16 people being picked up in a boat, before travelling 16m by lift in 28 seconds; the boat then leaves the lift through a hatch and drops at high speed into the water, passing more bumps and bridges before arriving back at its start point.

The attraction only lacked some spectacular audio FX during those 28 seconds, and with that in mind Wouter Verhulst, technical director for the Plopsaland theme parks, contacted Ampco Belgium's sales manager Steven Kemland. Together with sound designer/producer and engineer Geert De Wit, they designed a surround set-up using 16 Mar

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UK - Soundcraft has unveiled another addition to the new Soundcraft Professional family, the multipurpose Soundcraft MPMTM Series.

The emphasis with all Soundcraft consoles is very firmly on quality build and audio performance, with an easy to understand control surface uncluttered by unnecessary facilities, says the company.

The highly-transparent GB30 Mic amp (also used on the larger LX7ii and GB Series consoles) features high-resolution adjustment over a wide gain range of 55dB, and provides a +22dB headroom through the console. True professional 48-volt phantom power caters for condenser microphones of all types.

Soundcraft MPM mixers are available in two standard models with 12 or 20 mono inputs, each model featuring two stereo inputs. For accurate channel control, the Soundcraft MPM console has 60mm high quality faders as used on other Soundcraft desks.

Each model ha

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UK - Denon Professional plan to push further into the burgeoning European AV market with the simultaneous launch of six playback devices known as the P Series. Each product in the range includes a 19in rackmount kit, and aside from the consequent ease of installation, conforms to rigid price, performance and reliability criteria. The Denon DN-C100P single CD player will be instantly recognisable for its bright white graphics and professional rear panel design.

As Denon's entry level CD player it has a feature set including CD/ CDR playback; IR control; optical digital output; programme and random playback as well as repeat playback (one track, one disc).

Expanding on this, the Denon DN-C200P 5-disc carousel CD player offers greater reliability than the 'cartridge' type of product. Key features include: CD/CDR playback; MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) playback from CD-ROM; IR

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UK - Concept AV have recently completed a number of sound system installations in the leisure sector using proprietary Wharfedale enclosures. The company's Jason Lee explains that many of his system designs have been for primary contractor, AVL, and are based around the Huntingdon manufacturer's SI, Twin and Programme ranges.

Both the Junction bar/restaurant in Notts and Royston Leisure Centre in Herts feature multiples of the Programme series, powered by QSC amplification, optimised in the BSS Soundweb DSP, and providing the operators with local control via the BSS remote wall panels.

Situated at Kirkby-in-Ashfield, the once traditional Ritz Associates-owned Junction has now moved upmarket, and playback is handled via four Wharfedale Programme 80's and eight Programme 32's, split between the restaurant/bar and separate pool and snooker room.

Originally owned by the Mansfiel

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UK - As the Judges are on the PLASA Show floor, adjudicating the short-listed products in the PLASA 2006 Awards for Innovation, one of the 64 nominated products they'll be viewing in the Innovation Gallery is Turbosound's Aspect modular point source loudspeaker system.

Over the last two years, the Turbosound system has made a big impact around the world and the number of enclosures now in regular use approaches 2,000.

From Australia to Italy and America to Korea, Aspect has found favour with rental and installation companies alike who have all recognised the benefits of its compact size, audio quality, power and directionality, says the company.

In Australia, Perth-based Megavision declared that Aspect was the best sounding system they had ever heard and invested in TA-880Hs with TSW-218 subwoofers, whilst Stav Hatzipantelis, owner of Pro Light & Sound, hails his new system

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UK - After much anticipation, Earls Court One finally opened its doors to the eager crowds queueing for the first day of PLASA '06. With pre-registration visitor levels at a record high, PLASA is bracing itself for record attendance.

New features opening today at the show include the new Integrated Systems Area; a greatly expanded PLASA Seminar Programme with a dedicated Technologies for Worship programme; and the first PLASA appearance of NEET (the National Exhibition of Entertainment Technology).

Traditionally 'DJ Day', day one of the show attracts a large DJ following, to participate in the heats and final of the Gemini 'Extreme V' DJ Competition.

Among today's other special features and events will be the ever-popular Talkzones, where music industry experts talk about different aspects of DJ'ing and dance music, including technical skills, online music and the business o

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UK - EtherSound has announced the signing of two significant new licensees - pro audio manufacturers Peavey Electronics Corporation and Yamaha.

Peavey has licensed EtherSound networking technology for use in Peavey, MediaMatrix, Architectural Acoustics and Crest Audio professional audio and communications products. Peavey will take advantage of EtherSound's rapid implementation support to introduce EtherSound-enabled products at PLASA 2006: Crest Audio amplifiers and mixing consoles are likely to be among the first Peavey products with EtherSound capability, say the company.

"We have monitored the development and growing acceptance of EtherSound technology, and we're impressed by its rapid implementation and evolution," said Hartley Peavey, Founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics and CEO of Crest Audio.

"As the networked audio market grows, EtherSound will enabl

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UK - Tomorrow's Awards for Innovation ceremony will also include a series of charity presentations, as the money raised from entry fees to the Awards is donated to a number of deserving causes. The ceremony will also include a personal appearance by a true entertainment industry legend - Sir George Martin.

In supporting Sir George's Music Foundation, PLASA will purchase a limited edition reproduction lithograph of the original score for Yesterday - the most performed song in history - signed by both Sir George Martin and Sir Paul McCartney. The lithograph will be auctioned during the course of the show to raise further money for the Music Foundation.

The Awards ceremony takes place tomorrow evening at 6.00pm, at the Central Bar area in the centre of Earls Court 1.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - As the PLASA Show's visitors began to fill Earls Court 1, the Innovation Gallery was naturally proving a big draw. Situated at the front of the main floor of Earls Court, the Innovation Gallery, sponsored by Lighting&Sound International magazine, forms a striking focal point for everyone coming to PLASA, as it is here that the 60 nominated products vying for this year's PLASA Awards for Innovation are prominently displayed.

The judging panel, consisting of an array of industry experts, is hard at work viewing, questioning and debating throughout today, and will draw a line under their deliberations by around lunchtime tomorrow. As well as the eight Innovation Awards, the judges will also have at their disposal an Award for Environmental Impact to reward any product that makes a significant contribution to environmental issues. The winners will be revealed to the industry to

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UK - Hawthorn is pleased to announce that it's investment in Clay Paky's Alpha 575 and 1200 series spot and wash lights has now exceeded £0.5 million.

"We started our investment in this range in late 2004," said Martin Hawthorn, "as this was a second generation moving head feature spot, Clay Paky had learnt a lot from its original series and the quality and reliability of the new range justify the significant investment we have made, including our latest order last week of over £40,000 for the Alpha Profile 1200 range, which combines the technology of Alpha projectors with the exclusive Clay Paky patented framing system."

"We now have a hire stock of over 100 Alpha washes and spots," said Matt Edgington of the Hawthorn Moving Light Department, "the initial intensive three-day training course that Gavin, Tim Ellis, our electronics

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UK - British loudspeaker manufacturer Martin Audio celebrated 35 years in business with a champagne reception at the PLASA Show yesterday afternoon, and also chose the occasion to present some of its leading international distributorships with special awards for their achievements during the year.

Pictured here are representatives of the five companies who received Awards on the Martin stand: from left to right are Marc Kocks of TM Audio (The Netherlands), who received the Award for Achievement in Installed Sound; Juan Sebastian De Castells of Adagio (Spain), with the Award for Achievement in Tour Sound; Nick Lidster of Autograph Sound Recording (UK) with the Award for Achievement in Theatre Sound; Patrick Lau of Dah Chong Hong (Hong Kong) with Martin Audio's Distributor of the Year Award; and Wei Ming of Swee Lee (Singapore), with the Award for Achievement in Club Sound.

(Lee

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UK - Sound Rental Company SSE Audio Group has announced the acquisition of Tarsin Entertainment Ltd. London based Tarsin specialises in the contract hire of live sound installations at many major venues in the capital and around the UK. These contracts will now transfer to SSE London, a newly created division of SSE Audio Group.

John Penn, SSE Audio Group's MD commented: "After working with Tarsin's Peter Dyer for many years, we realised the natural synergy between our two operations could lead to mutual benefit for both our businesses and customers."

Dyer becomes SSE London's contracts manager, looking after existing customer relations and developing new business, while SSE's Emma Barwell becomes operations director, responsible for the day to day running of the London warehouse and offices, which are based at Hayes in West London.

Tarsin Entertainment's clients w

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UK - There is a stand missing on the upper level this year - Garwood. Chrys Lindop, instigator of the in-ear monitoring revolution has packed up his house in London and with his wife, Maggie Riley (Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield if you're wondering where you've heard that name before) and moved to Glasgow. Lindop has turned his audio skills to new, more altruistic pastures, working for the Sounds of Progress charity.

Readers may care to remember that name. Essentially, the charity is concerned with making musical expression more accessible to people with handicaps and disabilities. "I've done something that links music and the playing of instruments to colours," Lindop explained briefly. It must be effective, the Scottish education board has asked the charity to expand and adapt the program to support school children with learning needs. Audio in education, is this

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UK - Ortofon, one of the sponsors of the DMC DJ World Championship Finals, was one the busiest stands of Sunday at the PLASA Show, where a host of world class DJs demoed their mixing and scratching skills using Ortofon's famous DJ cartridges designed to work with time-coded vinyl. Guest slots were taken up Tamara Sky, ID, Ms Vicious and many others who were also among artists from 91 countries perfuming at the 2-day Championship Finals, staged at legendary nearby venue, Hammersmith Palais.

Last night's Battle for World Supremacy was won by DJ Coma from Japan with Troubl' from France the runner up, and the Wold Team Battle was won by C2C from France with Disablists from the UK second.

Being contested tonight - the second and final evening of the event - is the ultimate DJ accolade, the Championship World Final (now in its 23rd year), plus the DMC World DJ Summit 2 . . . where f

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UK - PLASA '06 has opened, with much of the industry heading to Earls Court 1 to be part of this international event. The mood on the show floor has been positive, business deals have already been signed, and a strong blueprint has been established for the rest of the show.

The exhibition has been busy since the doors opened yesterday at 10am with architects, DJs, lighting designers, sound engineers, production managers and installers arriving in London to take part in the event.

The show's international credentials have been reinforced by the presence of companies from over 20 countries, including Canada, France, Israel, Lithuania, Germany, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Turkey and the USA. All the major names are at Earls Court, amongst them 50 first-time exhibitors, including the innovative Canadian company Cirque du Soleil.

No other show gives visitors such a positive f

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UK - Hundreds of products have been launched at this year's PLASA Show, currently running at Earls Court in London. At last night's PLASA Awards for Innovation ceremony, attended by special guest Sir George Martin, eight awards were presented in recognition of the impressive design and development work going on across the industry.

The eight awards went to: Avolites (Stand J30) for its mDMX system; Dolby Laboratories / Lake Technology (BB12) for the Dolby Lake Processor; Global Design Solutions' Blues System (R53); Vieta / KV2 Audio Europe Ltd (GG6) for the So Line; Pharos Architectural Controls (F31) for its Audio Visual Controller; TiMax / Outboard (DD18) for the Track The Actors system; Volex Power Products (FF14) for its V-Lock; and Wybron's InfoTrace system (J38).

In addition to the main award winners, commendations were also given to Adam Hall for its adjustable top-hat

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UK - With the advent of high quality plasma screens which can be found in most places where information is required to be seen, comes the need to match such innovations with realistic sound. To meet this demand, ADSworldwide of Stockport has introduced the Genie music distribution system.

The use of high precision miniature wall loudspeakers made from weighty cast aluminium provide an exceptional quality sound which belies their size. A ceiling loudspeaker version is also available, therefore providing a choice between wall and ceiling mounting. The addition of a subwoofer completes a comprehensive sound system unrivalled by any other in terms of both quality and price.

The core of the system is a six-channel amplifier comprising six individual 35W modules, four each feeding an individual loudspeaker and also providing separate volume control. The last two amplifiers are bridg

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UK / Norway - Clockaudio Limited has expanded its Scandinavian marketing and distribution efforts with the appointment of FotoPhono AS as its Norwegian distributor. The announcement was made by Rod Geary, Clockaudio's sales and marketing manager, and reflects the continued growth of the Clockaudio operation worldwide.

FotoPhono AS will be responsible for the sales and distribution of Clockaudio's extensive line of microphones, mixers, headsets and accessories within the burgeoning Scandinavian market. "We are very excited to be distributing Clockaudio," says Erik Torp, FotoPhono divisional manager. "With our experience in the microphone business, we hope to growClockaudio's presence in Norway. We feel we can offer the Norwegian dealer quicker delivery of product, better servicing, and increased local sales and marketing."

Commenting on the appointment of Fo

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UK - Audio-Technica's comprehensive range of wireless products is to be further augmented with the launch of the company's new 700 Series. The series offers customers a range of easy-to-use solutions designed for a variety of performance situations.

Comprising five different packages, the 700 Series includes the Vocal system with handheld mic/transmitter, the Presenter system with belt pack and lavalier mic, the Guitar system including cable for guitar/belt pack hook-up, and the Active system that includes a headworn mic. For ultimate flexibility, the Options system comprises a basic belt pack and receiver, with the customer able to select a microphone of choice from Audio-Technica's Wireless Essential range. (All Wireless Essential models are compatible with the Options system.)

The 700 Series offers eight selectable frequency-coordinated UHF channels, automatic frequency sca

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UK - Two school leavers, have been given the opportunity to discover the fascinating world of conference staging, lighting, sound and audiovisual equipment at the UK's leading conference centre, Birmingham's ICC, following a brand new career initiative launched this summer.

Katie Clements,18, from Selly Oak, and Greg Toomer,16, from Castle Vale have joined the ICC to work in various parts of the technical department, and will experience a wide range of conferences, events and exhibitions, whilst gaining a qualification in a related area, on day release at college, starting in September 2006. The programme has been designed to allow trainees to study and complete their chosen qualification, in preparation for a junior technical position within the industry in two years.

Clements, who has recently completed three A-levels at Shenley Court Specialist Arts College, says: "Thi

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UK - At one of the best PLASA trade shows for Le Mark in recent years, showing recent additions to its ranges including both Setwear and IronClad gloves, personal entertainment industry work wear and accessories.

"We were extremely pleased to be complemented by industry professional on our booth layout, with terms including 'true need' and 'long overdue' regarding the new product lines we displayed. Our traditional lines also saw excellent interest and strong sales with new export distribution deals confirmed at the show for both Greece and Russia," says the company's MD, Stuart Gibbons. He added that it was "a great show" which also saw the launch of the company's new 'Survival Kit' catalogue for 2007.

(Lee Baldock)

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Digidesign introduced the D-Show Profile to its Venue live sound environment family at the PLASA Show in London this week. This compact mixing console is a size-conscious alternative to the popular D-Show, the flagship console of the Venue line. D-Show Profile offers full compatibility with all existing Venue hardware components, total file portability, and an incredibly compact footprint-all of which ensures the exact same sound quality, reliability, and flexibility for which Venue is now well known, the company says.

"D-Show Profile represents Digidesign's overall commitment to address the needs of a wide breadth of sound reinforcement applications," says Digidesign market manager for live sound products Robert Scovill. "With Profile, we've paid particular attention to feedback from vendors and operators who work in many different styles of operation. We feel that D-Sh

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USA - Zaxcom, the manufacturer of pro audio equipment for the television and film industries, has announced that its popular TRX900 wireless microphone system is now available with the Zaxcom Recording Wireless feature. This patent-pending option records up to 12 hours of audio directly to an internal memory card for later use in the post house, eliminating concern over audio loss due to RF or EMI interference during transmission.

The system's new internal recording capability is particularly useful for reality television productions or other programming where ad lib dialogue is used frequently. Because the audio is recorded directly to the body pack, there's no chance of missing anything, even if the sound mixer wasn't expecting dialogue from a given actor or reality show participant. The sound mixer's job is further simplified by the fact that perfect reception is no longer a

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