Sound

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UK / Germany - OHM, a leading designer and manufacturer of professional loudspeakers and sound systems, will be exhibiting its full range of business music systems including ceiling speakers, active subs and surround sound for cafe bars, bistros, shops, schools and churches, at the forthcoming ProLight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt (28-31 March).

OHM will also be displaying its BR Installation systems, which the company says are particularly well suited to larger venues, night-clubs, cinemas and discos, plus its Planet Suite - a concert and live sound system, and a range of amplifiers and digital controllers.

OHM will also launch its new HD-FM high power stage monitor at ProLight&Sound. Each HD-FM cabinet comprises of two 12" low/mid-range drivers coupled to a coaxial compression driver featuring a separate 3" and 1.75" coil diaphragm assemblies on a single thro

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USA - Introducing a new standard of high-definition audio in all conferencing applications, Biamp has launched its new TrueSound AEC algorithm. Available immediately in all Nexia VC and Nexia TC processors and AEC-2HD cards for AudiaFLEX, the proprietary algorithm is the result of intensive, yearlong, in-house research and development initiative. TrueSound is the only algorithm that provides integrators and consultants with a powerful, easy-to-implement solution for true wideband, 20 Hz to 20 kHz acoustic echo cancellation, delivering sound that is true to life, says the company.

"If you have HD video without HD audio, then you aren't experiencing the full power of high definition conferencing," says Ralph Lockhart, president, Biamp Systems. "With our new TrueSound AEC algorithm, integrators and consultants who are installing or specifying our Nexia VC and Nexia T

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Iran - ARX signal processing products featured heavily when newly formed five-piece Iranian rock band Nira performed the country's first two licensed live concerts in the past 18 months. ARX's Iranian distributor ZiroBam supplied the audio system, featuring products from ARX, Martin Audio and Crest Audio - all manufacturers represented by ZiroBam in the Iranian market.

ARX signal processing and interface products used included Sixgate 6-Channel Optical Noise Gates, Afterburner dual-channel dual-band compressors and ARX DI Plus and DI Plus 2 direct boxes. For the 400-capacity venue, six Martin Audio W8LM and two WS2Aloudspeakers were driven by Crest Audio power amplifiers with a Crest Audio console out front.

The two sold-out shows featured covers from Jamiroquai, Arcade and Audio Slave, as well as Nira originals.

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Opened in 1998, Bellagio is located squarely on Las Vegas's Strip, and epitomises the incredible scale and lavishness that has become the city's hallmark. With more than 10,000 blooming flowers and a wide variety of other plant life, plus fountains and themed displays, the conservatory is located in a large atrium with a glass ceiling. The conservatory installs new displays five times a year: spring, summer, autumn, Christmas, and Chinese New Year. The displays feature plantings appropriate to the theme (including sculptures of people and animals made entirely out of flowers), along with scenic elements, active props, and other related items.

Music and sound design are key to creating the conservatory's atmosphere. For each display, sound designer Jason Rauhoff of Goes To Eleven assembles and masters a music programme, as well as sound effects. Original sound designer Jona

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USA - Vestax has announced its new PMC-280Pro complete with 4 channels and 16 effects with adjustable parameters.

The PMC-280 offers four channels to serve all DJ styles together with aprofessional DSP effects unit on board featuring 24bit 96kHz samplingrate for quality sound warping. Two rotaries are providedon the control surface to adjust two variable parameters for each effect.16 effects are available with algorithms specially designed for DJsmaking the PMC-280 one of the most powerful and unique DJ tools on the market.

The PMC-280 comes with new channel faders and Vestax's exclusive CF-PCV crossfader for smooth mixing and lightning fast DJ battles. Each channelcomes with a three band isolator EQ. 10 inputs are provided including sixLine, two Phono, two Mic, and the output section features two individuallycontrolled RCA stereo outputs and XLR outputs on Master.

The effec

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Asia - Klotz Digital has appointed Thomas Marcher as the new sales director of Klotz Digital Asia Asia. "Thomas brings with him a wealth of experience in the Broadcast and PA industries and has been in this region for a long time. Thomas's track record in managing sales and distribution organizations and his in-depth market knowledge are valuable assets for Klotz Digital and a perfect match for our regional strategies," says Andre Sauer, managing director of Klotz Digital Asia.

Thomas comes to the company from DIS Thailand where he was the area sales manager responsible for the Asia-Pacific markets. Prior to DIS, he worked for TC Electronics, and was elementary in setting up their China office. "I look forward to working with Klotz Digital," says Marcher. "I watched this company grow over the years and it is now one of the best known brands in the broadc

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Japan - The first Midas XL8 live performance system into Japan is now up and running at the Shibuya-AX live venue in Tokyo, supplied by EVI Audio Japan.

Located in the Shibuya district, home to the city's leading music, cultural and arts venues, Shibuya-AX has a long tradition of being on the cutting edge of sound technology. As such, it attracts leading domestic and international artists and is well-known by Japanese PA companies, sound technicians and music industry personnel. Back in 2004 the sound crew at Shibuya-AX began to discuss a future upgrade to digital technology. Head of sound, Mr Tsutomu Hashimoto, drew up a list of criteria, which first and foremost included the traditional Midas sound quality, as well as Ethernet networking capability and analogue-friendly operation - the latter of which wasn't available on any other digital console. Having heard about Midas' pla

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South Africa - Stage Audio Works has been appointed as the Southern African distributor of Rubber Box products. Stage Audio Works is based in Port Elizabeth South Africa supplying turnkey entertainment and architainment technology solutions in Southern Africa.

Stage Audio Works will be stocking standard pre-built boxes and splitters, custom solutions are also possible. Stage Audio Works will also provide technical support, spare parts and training for Rubber Box products in Southern Africa. The new Powercase from Rubberbox offers industry professionals in Southern Africa a revolutionary design in 19" racking systems.

Stage Audio Works will be showing all the Rubber Box products at the Mediatech Africa tradeshow in Johannesburg in June this year.

Gustav Barnard for Stage Audio Works says: "Rubber Box's products offer revolutionary and high quality power distribution

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Germany - Baldwin Boxall Communications Limited will be displaying its latest Voice Alarm products and a new range of microphones at this year's ProLight + Sound Exhibition in Frankfurt - the Vigil EVAS, Vigil Eclipse2 and BDM400 networkable range of paging microphones.

Vigil EVAS is a range of DSP controlled voice alarm products and are the latest addition to Baldwin Boxall's expanding product repertoire. The main unit - BVRD2M - is the feature-rich DSP controlled router. Only 1U in height, the BVRD2M has seven audio outputs, eight audio inputs and six flash stored messages. Adding one BVRD2S slave unit increases the number of inputs by twelve and outputs by sixteen. Up to five slave units can be connected to each master - providing 68 inputs, 87 outputs and 30 messages. The EVAS range can provide a decentralised network and up to 128 units can be linked together - creating a v

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Germany - K.M.E. will present Versio, a new portable series, at Frankfurt, and will complete Pano with the QLM 115.

The new Versio design has a black comb grid with acoustic foam behind to protect the speakers from dust and dirt. Inside the speakers work high resilient drivers developed to the latest technologies, which also contribute to a weight reduction due to neodymium magnets.Each top unit is equipped with a 1" high-frequency driver.

Versio includes the passive top parts VL 8 (8"), VL 12 (12") and VL 15 (15") as well as the active top unit VL 250 (12"). Subwoofers are available in the passive versions VB 15 t and VB 15 w as well as VB 18 and VB 18 w. The 't' describes the subwoofer variant with twin coil and the 'w' describes the integrated passive crossover. Active subwoofer models will follow this year. Each top unit can be used multifunctional

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Benelux / Turkey - DPA Microphones has reviewed its distribution structure in Benelux effective 1 March 2007, resulting in long-standing Belgian partner Amptec taking on responsibility for the entire region. Martin Goosen, DPA product specialist at former Dutch distributor TransTec, joins Amptec to work with existing staff, affording DPA clients in Holland and Luxembourg the continuity of dealing with a familiar and established DPA expert.

An exclusive DPA distributor since 2001, Amptec, is well placed to expand its geographical footprint.

"We have enjoyed a long and fruitful business relationship with the very professional TransTec organisation in Holland, and wanted to simplify the distribution by having only one distributor handling the Benelux region," says DPA's director of sales and marketing, Morten Stove.

Amptec managing director Bart Willems, says: "O

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UK - Leading audio-visual equipment and services provider Blitz Sound has developed a healthy appetite for Yamaha's new LS9 Series digital consoles, snapping up four units prior to Christmas, and coming back to Marquee Audio with a re-order for the same again; two16-channel and two 32-channel versions.

"We identified the LS9 as a 'killer product'," says Blitz's Richard Rogers. "It does everything we'd want it to do, it's really well-priced and so versatile, and it fits into our conference market very well indeed. The first four desks we bought more or less entirely on Marquee's recommendation, and, after a few shows, we thought we'd better buy another consignment before they ran out!

"Fortunately, Marquee Audio is always able to source products in time for our demanding needs, even a hot product like the LS9."

Blitz Sound is gradually replacing all i

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UK - Yorkshire's historic Scarborough Spa Complex has unveiled the first phase of its £3.75 million pound renovation programme, with a team from Fagan Electrical heading a massive technical refurbishment designed to place the venue firmly on the touring map. The project is headed by Fagan Electrical, lead contractors for the entire technical refurbishment programme, with the audio system design and installation carried out in close co-operation with Lo Humm Audio.

This major undertaking was funded by Scarborough Borough Council, the Yorkshire Forward regional development agency and the European Regional Development Fund. The 1,924 capacity Grand Hall, at the heart of the Spa Complex, has already reopened for business with brand new production lighting, audio and video systems.

Aside from the new, installed lighting rigs, most of the new production systems have been fligh

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UK - The success of a recent sponsorship agreement between UK audio equipment manufacturer Formula Sound and leading sound and dance event organiser Trigger has led both parties to agree a new deal. Trigger will continue to promote the Formula Sound brand at the many events it stages throughout the next 18 months and will put the spotlight on the company's recently-launched FF-4000 DJ mixer.

The announcement follows on from the original sponsorship agreement between the two parties which saw Trigger using the Formula Sound FF-6000 mixer at the many large-scale dance events it was involved in throughout the UK. Trigger promotes its own individual blend of bass-driven Electro Breaks dance music and rates the quality of the sound reproduction as an absolute priority.

At the time of the original sponsorship deal, Trigger representative DJ Kosmikneil commented that his organisation

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UK / Germany - Pro Light+Sound 2007 (28-31 March, Frankfurt) will see leading induction loop manufacturer Ampetronic launch its new Field Strength Meter, which the company says is a cost-effective and simple solution for measuring, setting up and commissioning an induction loop system to the requirements of IEC60118-4.

"IEC60118-4 is the reference to which every induction loop installation should be tested," explains Julian Pieters, Ampetronic's managing director. "This has recently been revised and is currently being published around the world. The new revision places more stringent and specific requirements on installers, as well as on facilities managers, etc to set up, commission and maintain their loop systems. Many installers are tempted to cut corners and not do this testing properly, largely due to a lack of knowledge and the cost and the complexity of tes

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UK - In an effort to cut fixed costs, The English National Opera (ENO) has announced it is to cut 10% of its staff - around 45 jobs - which will include both performers and technical staff. BECTU, the union representing those working in broadcast, film, theatre, entertainment and leisure, has said it will "strongly" fight any cuts, and representatives will shortly be meeting with ENO management.

ENO says it fears reduced funding if government money to the Arts Council does not increase. ENO chief executive, Loretta Tomasi, was quoted on the BBC News website as saying: "Many options have been considered to achieve increased flexibility and a decrease in these 'fixed' costs and, whilst we believe it is vital that ENO retains a strong core of staff, the contractual overhaul includes the potential loss of around 45 jobs across the company."

Commenting on the co

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UK - The Celtic Connections Festival annually takes place within around a dozen of Glasgow's premium venues (including the popular City Halls and Old Fruitmarket). However, the focal point is the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where performances take place in every available space, from workshops in the foyers to shows by world-class artists in the main auditorium and Strathclyde Suite.

Wigwam Hire, who have carried out sound systems installations in these venues and have a long association with Celtic Connections, provided the production control for this year's major hosting venue - supplying the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with a Digidesign D-Show Profile at front-of-house and D-Show in the monitor position.

Wigwam appointed Sean Horsman to offer support to the incoming sound engineers having their first run out with Digidesign, offering an analogue desk alternativ

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UK - The Cambridge Arts Theatre has upgraded its audio control facilities to the digital domain with the purchase of a new Yamaha M7CL mixing console from Marquee Audio.

The 666-capacity theatre first contacted Marquee Audio in September to discuss a range of digital options to replace an ageing 24-channel analogue console that had reached the end of its useful life. Chief electrician Julian Brooks reports that: "We considered analogue and digital consoles, but quickly realised that, although we could have stayed analogue for half the price, we didn't want to accept its functional limitations. We wanted all the benefits of digital."

Checking out the Yamaha range of compact digital consoles, Julian Brooks favoured the Yamaha M7CL, with its touch screen, generous channel allocation and future expandability. "Marquee Audio was really accommodating, keen to demonstr

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UK - Martin Audio loudspeaker enclosures are found in a wide range of applications - but until recently it is unlikely that the list would have included an equestrian centre. All that has now changed thanks to Stroud-based Contract Audio Visual (CAV), who have equipped both the internal and external enclosures of a private Olympic-standard equestrian centre near Windsor with Martin Audio components.

CAV won the contract on the strength of a referral, and immediately carried out a survey on a 60m x 25m enclosure that hosts international show jumping events on the 90-acre site. Previously the Centre had hired in its audio (interfacing with a less than adequate 100V line installed system, fed from a CD) and clearly needed to upgrade.

The company demoed a Martin Blackline system with the option of additional AS118 horn-loaded subs - and the Centre purchased the full package. "

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USA - DPA Microphones have again been used on the annual Jazz Cruise on the MS Oosterdam, which sailed from San Diego down the Mexican coastline to the accompaniment of some of the greatest contemporary jazz musicians.

Long time DPA ambassador Gary Baldassari was chief sound engineer for the week-long cruise, working closely with five other engineers who included none other than DPA marketing director Morten Stove together with American engineers Jim Fay, Gary Faller, Nils Warren and Mark Deadman.

The Jazz Cruise has been running for more than 25 years, switching to the prestigious Holland American Line in 2002. With this move, organiser Traveline LLC decided to upgrade the sound and contacted the above engineers, all known for their acoustic jazz work.

DPA mics were used exclusively for all 75 musicians playing on four different stages. Performers included 19-piece swing ba

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UK - For the first live BRIT Awards since 1989, Sennheiser commissioned Crystalroc (www.crystalroc.co.uk) to produce two special Union Flag designed SKM 5200 hand-held microphones for presenters Russell Brand and Fearne Cotton. This was also the sixth consecutive year that Sennheiser has provided support to leading sound designer Derrick Zieba and Britannia Row Productions on the UK's top music awards show.

Sennheiser UK's director of marketing John Steven said: "We first worked with Crystalroc when they produced some dazzling gold and diamond microphones for the Kylie Showgirl Homecoming Tour. Everything worked out so well that we thought it would be nice to do something special for The BRIT Awards. We ran it by Derrick and the producers, and everyone was really pleased with the results."

Performers on the night using Sennheiser systems included Corinne Bailey Rae,

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The Netherlands / Germany - The range of Twisted Pair products from Dutch manufacturer RDL send, receive and distribute a variety of signal types using twisted pair cables (Cat 5, Cat 6, etc). The products were designed together as a coordinated system of functional modules that are easy to understand, the company says: "Drawing from decades of design and manufacturing experience, RDL twisted pair modules are engineered to deliver signal integrity equal or superior to installations using traditional shielded cables. The variety of styles combined with the mounting modularity of Decora-style and European 45mm designs make RDL's twisted pair products ideal for any architectural requirements. Segregating the twisted-pair cables by format type keeps the design, installation and maintenance simple and straightforward."

The new product line will be on show at the ProLight&So

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Australia - ARX's popular MIXX 1U 4-input mic/line mixer has recently had a complete update and redesign, the company reports. The Australia-based pro audio manufacturer's managing director Colin Park told us: "The Mixx has been very popular with installers and AV users around the world and the time had come for an upgrade to meet users changing demands and expectations."

The MIXX now features four balanced low-noise microphone inputs (which can be switched to line inputs if required) with input gain controls, 3-way EQ and pan controls. Switchable phantompower is also available on all four mic inputs, and each channel also has a balanced direct output, the company says.

(Lee Baldock)

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Sweden - Sweden based United Audio Starlight, one of the biggest live entertainment companies in Northern Europe, has committed to changing out their existing stock of over 400 Lab.gruppen amplifiers to replace them with 200 of the new Lab.gruppen FP + Series FP 10000Q 4 x 2500 watt-per-channel amplifiers.

"We were one of the beta test sites for the prototype FP 10000Q amplifiers during summer 2006," says Björn Lehnberg, branch manager, Audio, United Audio Starlight. "And our engineers and road crews were astonished by the new 4-channel monster. In our application, one FP 10000Q can replace two fP6400s so we halve the weight and halve the space taken up. These factors alone made the decision to replace our entire inventory very attractive."To help make the change over as swift as possible, United Audio Starlight chose to utilise their existing racks as a sho

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