Sound

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USA - The Vilar Center located in the heart of Colorado's Beaver Creek Resort, features a 530-seat theatre that presents a variety of year-round performances, such as jazz, comedy, dance, film, musicals, theatre, family shows and more. The intimate performance space was designed to exacting specifications to create perfect acoustics and unobstructed views from every seat.

The upgrading of the conventional sound system was greatly driven by the demands of visiting performers. The theatre found itself having to rent systems for more demanding performers that were visiting, and found it hard to control the coverage and SPL from one performance to the next (often from a single piano concert to a full blown rock show), and frequently working with an unfamiliar system that wasn't ideal for the space.

The theatre's technical team started to assess their choices and thorough shootouts

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UK - Spains Hall in Essex has been a family home for ten centuries. It has recently completed a prestigious conversion and extension of its listed stable buildings. Although the Hall itself dates from the early 15th century, installation company CGA Integration has equipped its function rooms with modern audio systems from Electro-Voice, part of Bosch Communications Systems.

CGA Integration was commissioned to provide zoned audio for a wide range of functions. Scope for future developments was part of the brief from the outset. Audio quality came top of the list for project requirements, with system flexibility and ease of routine use close behind. From the ceremony room to the vaulted dining rooms, separate zones were installed, all requiring individual design, while installation needed to be impressively finished to match the venue's high standards of decor.

Audio flexibilit

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France - This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SIEL exhibition and d&baudiotechnik will be exhibiting with their expanded Remote network includingthe latest ROPE C Version 2.0.7 software.

This exhibition for the live entertainment and events industry will be staged at thethe Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles and will be held from 11-14 February. Also on show will be d&b's J-Series line array system, which was launched at last year's SIEL. The recently introduced M4 stage monitor will also be exhibited as well as d&b's Q-Series loudspeaker range.

All these products will be presented by d&b's French office along with theirregional partners, who will be available to provide any technicalinformation or answer any questions on stand number K005.

(Chris Henry)

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UK - Allen & Heath has introduced theXone:2D, a follow-up product to the Xone:3Dmixer/controller. The Xone:2D is a combination of a four stereo channel USBsoundcard and MIDI controller, which will enable DJs to combine with theirexisting analogue mixer to create a complete Digital DJ mixing system,suitable for integration with leading DJ software such as Ableton Live andTraktor DJ Studio.

The high quality USB soundcard can operate in either of two modes - stereochannels for three inputs from a PC and one return, or two channels from a PC and tworeturns. A large array of connections are provided to enable easyconnection into any DJ setup, so the 2D can be directly connected toturntables, CD players or linked to an external mixer. Digital IO (opticaland coaxial) is also provided. The Xone:3D BPM counter with LED display isincluded, which is capable of detecting a beat in music pro

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USA - Located on Broadway in downtown Oakland, California, the Paramount Theatre is a slice of history. With its magnificent, 2,992-seat, Art Deco design, the Paramount was the last studio-owned movie palace built in the nation. Over the years, the theatre changed hands several times as both the downtown film market and the building itself slowly decayed, and in 1970, the doors were shut for good. Or at least until 1972, when the Oakland Symphony (now the Oakland East Bay Symphony) purchased it and restored it to its original grandeur, reopening it as a performing arts centre. Shortly thereafter, it was declared a National Historic Landmark, and ownership was transferred to the city.

Today the Paramount is one of the Bay Area's prime spots for high-profile concerts, lectures, theatre, and film, but one recurrent complaint has dogged the theatre in recent years: mediocre sound. &

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UK - Richmond Studios' Toby Alington will produce the audio for his 13th consecutive Brit Awards at Earls Court on 14 February, with the event being broadcast live-to-air on ITV at 8pm in the UK for the very first time.

Building on the success of last year's move to a fully digital Brits audio production, Richmond Studios have contracted Floating Earth to provide their latest mobile recording solution with its SSL200 digital console, fibre optic connection to the stage, and digital output to the broadcasters. Richmond Studios will once again do the sound-design and dub for Hello Charlie's nomination packages.

The show is set to be an unforgettable celebration of a year in which seven of the Top 10 bestselling albums in the UK were by British artists, whilst Oasis have been confirmed as winners of the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.

The acts

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UK - The New Year sees a change in company structure for UK digital console manufacturer, DiGiCo. This heralds a period of intense development for the company, as it gets set to continue its growth in the digital audio sector, and puts Bob Doyle, one of the best-known figures of the audio industry, back at the sharp end of the business.

Currently managing director, Doyle will become chief executive, DiGiCo (UK) Ltd, whilst senior sales director James Gordon will assume the role of managing director, DiGiCo (UK) Ltd. The remainder of the management team comprises marketing director David Webster and technical director John Stadius.

Doyle's new position will utilize his 40 years of experience, as well as his skills for maintaining and raising company profile, to its maximum potential thus helping to increase top line revenue generation. "I've enjoyed my time as managing dir

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France - Digital console manufacturer Innovason reports record sales in its home territory during 2006 and says that it is poised to break that record yet again during 2007 as demand continues to rise.

The list of tours and events throughout the French territory for which Innovason consoles have been specifically purchased is impressive and includes the likes of the blockbuster musical, Le Roi Soleil (a three-console configuration on an EtherSound network), jazz/folk artist Sanseverino (FoH and monitors), young, upcoming artists Da Silva and Jeann Cherhal and French icon Francis Cabrel.

Innovason consoles are also finding their way into more and more fixed installations including theatres, performing arts centres and into the live broadcast sector as well. Radio France now has several consoles including two Sy80s and is about to take delivery of an Sy48.

Innovason sal

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USA - Vestax has announced the new VCI-100 DJ MIDI controller. USB based and featuring two jog wheels with sensor and control technology from Vestax's industry standard turntables, the VCI-100 provides professional DJs and Producers with the "feel" of hardware mixing in the software realm.

Vestax says the VCI-100 provides features that "blur the line between hardware mixing and software control". The chassis is roughly the size of a standard Laptop, thin but highly durable, compact, and convenient for transportation.

The Jog wheel controls on the VCI-100 are constructed with high resolution pulse sensors, touch sensors, and acrylic platter mechanisms. With this combination, operations such as pitch bending, scanning and scratching can be performed with speed and accuracy. Sixty-sixsoftware parameters are assignable to the VCI-100's control section.

The cr

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Eire - Midas and Klark Teknik's Irish distributor Sound Communications has supplied Dublin's National Concert Hall (NCH) with a new monitor system consisting of a Midas Siena 400 console and Klark Teknik Show Command hardware and software. This is one of the first complete packages to be supplied where Klark Teknik Show Command and Midas are united via Solo Tracking System (SOS).

The NCH's system consists of the Midas Siena together with a KT DN9331 RAPIDE graphic controller which gives direct access to the functions of KT digital EQs, providing instant recall of fader positions via 31 long travel motorised faders; three KT DN9344E quad equalisers and two KT Square ONE Dynamics units. Wireless control of the system is provided by KT's ELGAR software. The three amplifier racks are each run by a KT DN9848E System Controller to provide 12 bi-amped wedge monitor mixes, again all und

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USA - The ESTA Foundation's Behind The Scenes has announced The Challenge Grant Programme, an opportunity for donors to see contributions double in value while providing help to peers in their time of need. Established challenge grant slots are currently available for the Behind the Scenes / Long Reach Long Riders 2007 USITT Raffle, March 15 - 17 in Phoenix, Arizona (six openings) and The Long Reach Long Riders 2007 New England Charity Ride, July 29 - August 6 (two openings).

"Our industry's history is full of strong partnerships that have led to technological advances, artistic reaches, and goals we continually strive to achieve," says Behind the Scenes committee chair Rick Rudolph of the new initiative. "Many of these partnerships have also led to lasting friendships that are at the foundation of our industry. We hope that the relationships and partners we work

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UK - PLASA Events Ltd, the new wholly-owned events division of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), has revealed the first details of the PLASA07 Show at Earls Court - including a new layout that extends the show over one floor into both Earls Court 1 and Earls Court 2.

A host of innovations, based on exhibitor and visitor research, are designed to build on the show's reputation as the premier international new product showcase and PLASA Events anticipates a record number of new product launches this September.

The most radical development is the new show floor layout, which sees PLASA07 transformed into a two-hall, single-level show by expanding into the adjacent Earls Court 2. Essentially, this re-draw will secure premium exhibition space for the future growth and expansion of the show, whilst addressing industry and exhibitor demands.

The show design t

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UK - The regulatory bodies associated with the latest voice alarm systems have designed their compliance certification in such a way that it embraces the complete installed system. This ensures that every component and facility which is part of the system complies with the regulation. There have been cases where companies are inappropriately claiming that individual items of equipment bear the requisite certificate - in some cases they may even offer a Test House certificate claiming compliance. Any such claim needs to be carefully vetted, and professional assistance may well be necessary.

The Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers has always had a close working relationship with the statutory regulation bodies and is available to answer any questions that may arise from this particular issue - contact the e-mail address below. Voice Alarm is a life safety system and on

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USA - At the world-famous Walt Disney Concert Hallin Los Angeles, independent consultant / sound designer Fred Vogler andhead of A/V Kevin Wapner recently upgraded the venue with a Dolby Lake Processor and Lake Contour digital loudspeaker processingnetwork. The new wirelessly-controlled setup, which provides powerful signalprocessing tools for the optimisation of live performance and studioloudspeakers, is being used to control the venue's flown JBL VerTec andcustom stage-level ATC sound reinforcement systems.

Designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Walt DisneyConcert Hall is a $272 million live entertainment complex in the heart ofLos Angeles that became an instant landmark upon openingin late 2003. The hall is the winter home of the L.A. Philharmonic and hostsa broad range of musical events.

(Chris Henry)

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Italy / UK - Italian manufacturer Proel spa announced today that it has acquired the assets of Turbosound Ltd in a deal that looks set to transform the profiles of both companies in key market sectors.

The acquisition will add depth to Proel's position in the marketplace, allowing it to benefit from the strengths and reputation of an internationally renowned company which, for 25 years, has specialised in the design and manufacture of high end sound reinforcement products. The Proel Group is strongly committed to a strategy of growth and development which is built on a policy of carefully nurturing and exploiting the intrinsic skills of its various companies.The basic structure of the companies will remain unaltered, each continuing to operate independently on a day-to-day basis. By joining the Proel group, Turbosound will benefit from additional financial backing, enabling it t

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USA - The Long Reach Long Riders and The ESTA Foundation have announced their annual raffle to benefit Behind the Scenes at the USITT conference. This popular event will be held on 17 March at the Sapsis Rigging/ESG/Behind the Scenes booth (#525-625) on the trade show floor of the USITT conference in Phoenix. Tickets, which are $5 each or five for $20, may be purchased at the booth throughout the show.

Every dollar raised will be tripled thanks to challenge grants sponsored by I. Weiss and Sapsis Rigging. The list of twelve terrific raffle prizes, which have been donated by industry companies, can be viewed at www.lrlr.org/LRLRsponsors.html or www.estafoundation.org/bts/events_USITT.htm

All proceeds of the raffle go directly to The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes programme, which provides entertainment technology industry members with grants for emergency situations, such

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UAE - The announcement of the fourth all-star annual Dubai Desert Rock Festival at the 30,000-capacity Dubai Country Club in March, is having a profound effect on interest for May's Event 360 expo, an integral part of PALME Middle East.

According to Jonathan Gadalla, project manager for the vertically-integrated show, interest in live music is running at an all-time high in the desert, with international legends such as Iron Maiden, The Prodigy and Incubus heading a Festival line-up that will appear on one of the largest stages in the region. Also included are Junkyard Groove, the winners of SHAMAL (a competition for unsigned rock bands in the region).

Gadalla believes that the world is starting to take notice now that the Middle East is not only attracting leading names in the world of rock, but will also stage a second F1 Grand Prix (in Abu Dhabi) in 2009 - which will

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UK - The ABTT Theatre Show's organisers - The Association of British Theatre Technicians - have announced that its 29th edition has sold out five months before it takes place on 13 and 14 June in London's Royal Horticultural Halls.

Filling all three exhibition halls in London's Royal Horticultural Halls to capacity, the show will again play host to over 100 exhibiting companies who will showcase a comprehensive range of products and services for professionals involved with equipping, refurbishing or up-grading their drama studio, theatre, auditorium or multi-purpose performance space.

Committed to building on the show's success the organisers aim to expand the show's attendance which grew by 5% last year to over 2,400 visitors, and included theatre and venue managers, technical directors, technicians, technical managers, heads of drama departments, architects, consultants, des

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UK - When the plush new Bar Plazma in Wickford burnt down in October 2005 shortly after opening, it was hard to believe that it would re-emerge a little over a year later with an up-rated specification.

But the town centre venue, owned by experienced nightclub operator Douglas Quirk and managed by Alistair Burrell (who had safely evacuated all the staff and customers on that fateful October evening), has done precisely that.

Quirk, who made his name running the epochal Hollywood Romford in the 1980s, turned to fellow Essex contractors, Southend-based Essex Sound & Light and interior designer Colin Stone of Stone Me Design, to deliver a superior interior package. What they have produced is an upscale, all-day chameleon venue which trades from 11am until 11pm (midweek), 1am Thursday and 2am at weekends.

ESL were asked to carry out the technological integration in view of their

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Italy / UK - Leading Italian pro audio manufacturer FBT Elettronica has announced the launch of its architectural/commercial installation product range - FBT Audio Contractor - into the UK market with the appointment of CIE-Group to exclusively represent the brand.

Already a pro audio/music speaker brand throughout Europe, the addition of the 'Audio Contractor' range places FBT in the market for contracts and installations for PA, VA and AV.

CIE-Group - representatives for many of the UK's leading commercial audio brands including Inter-M, Armstrong i-ceilings, Atlas Sound, IC audio and EverFocus CCTV - will be undertaking a nationwide launch of the complete product range throughout the spring of this year.

CIE-Group head of marketing, Chris Edwards is highly enthusiastic about the announcement, saying: "The appointment of FBT Audio Contractor is an essential part of ou

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Germany / Denmark / Sweden - Sennheiser Nordic A/S, the Denmark-based subsidiary of German audio specialist Sennheiser, will extend its business to include Sweden, so all Scandinavian markets will now be served by Sennheiser Nordic directly.

From April 1, after a long and close relationship with Sennheiser AB in Stockholm, Sweden will join Denmark, Finland and Norway, giving customers direct access to top products, services and comprehensive consulting support for audio projects of all kinds.

Volker Bartels, Speaker of the Sennheiser Executive Committee, says: "Our experience has shown that setting up our own subsidiaries permits closer cooperation with the end customers. This transition will provide added value and make the best use of resources and infrastructure."

Paul Whiting, vice-president sales of the Sennheiser Group, says: "A local presence in Sweden

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UK - Proel (International) the UK distributor of a range of international Pro Audio and MI brands, "welcomes" the acquisition of UK loudspeaker veteran, Turbosound, by Proel spa, Italy, and confirms that it will be "business as usual - only more so" in the UK.

Proel International's MD, Paolo Burocchi says: "This is excellent news for all the parties involved and for the audio market as a whole, because it strengthens two major European brands. We offer our congratulations to both Proel, in Italy, and to Turbosound.

"Meanwhile, Proel (International) continues as the UK distributor for a wide range of products including those from Proel, but not for Turbosound, which will still handle its own brand in this country."

Burocchi continues: "For our part, we have recently expanded our management and technical teams - an announcement will be m

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UK - When The Automatic's FOH sound engineer James Lawrenson first started prepping his band's production for their headline role on the hugely influential NME Awards Indie Rock Tour he was unaware of the Digidesign Venue digital mixing environment.

But the Welshman was savvy enough to listen to the recommendation from his friend Richard Jackson, who recounted that he had used Digidesign's D-Show live console while mixing Welsh band Super Furry Animals.

From that point things moved quickly into gear, so that by the time the UK mainland tour commenced at the Glasgow Academy, the sound engineers from all four bands had become willing converts.

Two companies had provided the catalyst for this: Digidesign resellers Marquee Audio, and the tour's sound production company Stage Audio Services, who were more than happy to accommodate the desk - supplied with a mobile Pro Tool

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UK - Vision Fire & Security has announced that The O2 Arena has selected Millbank solutions to provide voice alarm and public address systems for the new music venue. The O2 is being re-developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) to transform the Millennium Dome into "Europe's finest music venue". The 23,000 capacity in-door arena aims to host up to 150 music, entertainment and sports events in its first year.

The building will be renamed The O2 will also have a smaller Music Club venue with a capacity of 2,200, a multiplex cinema, an ice rink, a world-class exhibition space and a vibrant 'entertainment district' featuring a variety of bars, restaurants, retail and leisure facilities.

Building on Vision Fire & Security's global partnership with Tyco, the Millbank team began working together with ADT to realise the challenging brief from the early stages.

The pr

  1. Cadac makes its mark on Korean Theatre
  2. We Will Rock You with Meyer
  3. Neil Young uses JBL at the Bridge School
  4. Allen & Heath iDR installation at Jockey Club
  5. New Designer Speaker Range From Tannoy
  6. Group One expands team
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