Sound

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UK - When Andrew Costi and Jim Dee realised that their 120-cover Bar-Celona restaurant in the Kingswood suburb of Bristol, was starting to draw more of a clubbing crowd, gathering for drinks at front-of-house, they came up with a plan.

Says Costi: "My business partner owned the building two doors down and so we converted it from an Italian restaurant and then purchased the building in between, to create an entertainment venue."

The result is that they not only have one giant piece of real estate (with a roof terrace) but can bridge between the restaurant and their vibrant new live and dance venue - via a conservatory area which is used for wedding receptions and private events.

The Bar-Celona MD brought in local installers CPM to specify and design a sound system built around Martin Audio's AQ range. This would not only service the needs of the DJ's, who play out t

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Norway - Norwegian theatre sound specialists TTA has appointed the newly-formed Benum Nordic to represent its products in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The Benum Group is one of the leading groups serving the pro-audio market in the region, with a notably strong reputation in Scandinavian theatre circles. Combining a portfolio of international brands such as Shure and Renkus-Heinz with system knowledge, system integration and first-class support, Benum provides a pan-Scandinavian service for TTA, covering the Norwegian market from its main location in Oslo, and the Danish and Swedish markets from newly-opened offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Ronald Hernes of Benum says that his pro-audio team "has been monitoring the development of this technology for some years now; indeed one of TTA's most extensive system installations is at Trondheim's Tr°ndelag Theater here in

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India - Mumbai-based V-DOSC partner Electrocraft was signed on to provide the FOH sound system for a special Beyonce concert held in Mumbai on 27 October.

The L-acoustics FOH kit consisted of 24 V-DOSC elements completed by 14 SB218 Subwoofers. Four dV-DOSC elements were used as centre-fill for the FOH system, while four V-DOSC additional elements were deployed for the VIP booth.

(Jim Evans)

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Norway - Currently under construction in Bj°rvika, the harbour area of Oslo, the €450 million National Opera House of Norway has placed an order for a new Stagetracker 16XR system, the audio tracking and positioning technology developed by Norwegian theatre specialists TTA.

Due to open in April 2008, the National Opera House is the biggest cultural project in Norway. Completely replacing the city's current theatre, the main hall of the new building will accommodate nearly 1400 audience members, with seats for 400 in an adjacent smaller theatre. The large auditorium is designed in classical form with a horseshoe-type plan and a high ceiling height, and extraordinary care and attention are being lavished on its acoustics.

TTA's newly-appointed Scandinavian distributor Benum will deliver the order, which is for a complete Stagetracker 16XR system with audio matrix and dual R

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USA - The Midas XL8 digital live performance system made its major concert tour debut in a big way this summer, visiting the USA's largest venues with country superstar Kenny Chesney's Flip Flop tour.

The XL8's at FOH, joined forces with the World's largest Electro-Voice X-Line/XLC touring rig - deployed by Dale Morris Leasing. In addition to over 100 X-Line & XLC line array loudspeaker enclosures, the system design (by Phil Scobee) incorporates Electro-Voice NetMax digital matrices and over 100 RL series remote control amplifiers running IRIS-Net software, offering complete real-time supervision and performance monitoring - right down to individual speaker components. No other touring system combines more minute attention to detail with such massive sonic muscle.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Bristol-based CPM has fitted out a new lounge bar on the city's trendy Baldwin Street exclusively with Martin Audio loudspeakers. Bossa Nostra offers an eclectic cocktail menu and wide range of Mediterranean cuisine with a 2.30am licence. Also famous for its breakfasts (since its days as Café Firenze) it still opens at 10.30am for early morning shoppers.

Owners Dimitris Kantas and Ghalia Collins ran the venue under its original guise before closing for a 10-week major refurbishment, reopening as an authentic continental bar/brasserie, with improved frontage, a canopy and a pavement licence.

CPM proprietor Trevor Brooks opted for a combination of Martin Audio's architectural AQ10 compact two-way loudspeakers, finished in white. A Blackline S15 provides some bass extension, and the rear of this 123-capacity venue is serviced by a further pair of AQ8's, under the cont

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USA - Cory's Audio Visual Services Inc, of Oklahoma City has one of the largest and hardest-working Dynacord Cobra line-array inventories in the USA. Together with their new Electro-Voice REV wireless systems, Midas mixing consoles and Klark Teknik processing, Cory's Cobra-based rigs provide their customers with state of the art audio at every step of the signal chain.

Two such recent shows celebrated Oklahoma's Centennial year - the first a concert by legendary singer Shirley Jones and the second the Boy Scouts of America's 2007 Centennial Camporee.

.Shirley Jones - the Academy Award-winning singer and actress most famous for her role in The Partridge Family - performed with the University of Central Oklahoma Symphonic Orchestra and Ballet Oklahoma, all on one stage for the University of Central Oklahoma's Broadway Tonight series Centennial concert event.

"The R

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Australia - The HMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy's premier training establishment. Located 70km from Melbourne near Crib Point on Hann's Inlet, Western Port Bay, the centre trains about 6,000 personnel annually, averaging 800 trainees onboard at any one time.

Purchased in 1911 and originally called Flinders Naval Depot, it was commissioned as HMAS Cerberus 10 years later. It includes numerous training and recreation facilities, two chapels, a small marina and grounds covering 1517 hectares.

Optim Audio recently installed a new audio system for the parade grounds and with the brief requesting a full range system that needed to be weather resistant, Simon from Optim Audio turned to the Turbosound TCS Compact range of speakers supplied to them by Turbosound's Australian distributor, Audio Telex Communications.

All TCS Compact models are available with the option of an

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USA - Miami-based Drummer Boy Sound's Dynacord Cobra line array system, complemented by EV microphones, monitors and amplifiers, Midas mixing consoles and Klark Teknik signal processing, was deployed as part of a full sound, lighting, and video production package for a fundraising dinner hosted by the Broward County Mayor's Office and The Sickle Cell Foundation of Broward County, Florida.

A 900-strong audience enjoyed live performances by The Wyle Fyah Band, who played two Caribbean style sets, and headliners The Perfect Image Band (Mobile, Alabama), who performed two Top 40 sets.

"Mayor Josephus Eggelletion put on a beautiful gala dinner, inviting dignitaries from around South Florida to raise money for The Sickle Cell Foundation," says Harold Cummings of Drummer Boy Sound. "The event was held in the Grand Floridian Ballroom, a 30,000sq.ft convention centre spa

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USA - M-Audio has announced the Studiophile Q40 closed-back dynamic headphones. This new product offering represents the company's entrée into the headphone market following years of success with studio reference monitors like the popular BX and EX series.

"The Studiophile Q40 headphones utilise professional-grade dynamic drivers that deliver full-range specs and stunning sonic detail," says the company. The extra-large drivers measure 40mm in diameter. The combination of vented diaphragms made of low-mass treated mylar, neodymium magnets and copper-clad aluminum voice coils, deliver efficient performance for enhanced bass. These elements come together in M-Audio's custom enclosure, which has been specially tuned to further extend low frequencies, the company says.

The headphones feature sealed backings and comfortable ear cups that completely surround the ear

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USA - As the next generation of Menudo emerges from the hit MTV show, "Making Menudo, the so-called "final five" will be on their first tour with personal monitors from Future Sonics. Company founder and president, Marty Garcia, is the innovator behind professional earphone products and systems of this type that are still in use today by some of the members of the very first carnation of the Latin supergroup.

According to Cary Reichbach, vice-president of Menudo Entertainment: "Future Sonics products were hand-selected for Menudo and really have the best sound quality out there. Since we're looking at the long-term, the additional benefits are also about seriously reducing the need to have the volume up so high, but still hearing well. Once again, Marty [Garcia] and his team deliver the best."

"This is really exciting to see the outstanding

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India - 1730 guitarists in a polo ground playing Knocking on Heaven's Door to set a new world record. This was just one of the events at the Autumn Festival in Shillong, north-east India, where PA company Delta Sound debuted its new Nexo Geo D array system.

The regional capital of Shillong, in Meghalya state, has recently hit the headlines for propelling local singer Amit Paul to the title of Indian Idol. The city's musical reputation is now firmly in the record books, after it hosted a massive outdoor concert at which more than 1700 guitarists joined together to play Bob Dylan's classic Knocking on Heaven's Door.

This unusual concert took place on the first day of Meghalya's Festival of Rock, which organisers intended to be nothing less than "the biggest-ever rock show in the country". Amit Paul was on stage to open the festival, backed by Moonwind, an

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UK - To promote their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures, Tyneside-based indie rockers Maximo Park have been touring tirelessly throughout 2007, taking in dates in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, as well as summer festivals and two separate treks around both the UK and Europe, all of which will climax in a triumphal homecoming gig at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on 15 December.

For the UK and Europe dates, Britannia Row supplied a Turbosound Aspect rig, with the band's FOH engineer Trevor Gilligan mixing on a 56 channel DiGiCo D5 console.

The Aspect system comprises nine TA-890H mid/high, nine TA-890L low cabinets and two TQ-440 full range speakers per side, augmented with four TSW-218 subs. On stage, 16 Turbosound TFM-450 wedges are supplemented by two TFL-760H and four TFS-780L as side-fills, with pairs of TFM-450s and TQ-425Sps for drum-fills. The system is driv

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Canada - For the past 26 years, the annual broadcast of the Canadian Country Music Awards has recognised and celebrated the best in Canadian country music. For this year's event held at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Toronto-based P.A. Plus Productions, used the Soundcraft Vi6 digital live sound console, which was deployed as the dedicated monitor desk for the entire show.

"I utilised all 64 input faders and all 35 mix busses simultaneously, and, out of the box, I would be hard pressed to find another digital console in this class capable of providing such flexibility," said P.A. Plus systems engineer Mark Radu. "The Vi6 was easy to navigate, simple to programme, and the routing was quick and intuitive.The full complement of available dynamics on every input and output are both functional and accurate while the eight independent Lexicon effects engines

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Canada - The Modern is a newly- opened lounge/bar/nightclub located on Alexander Street in Vancouver's thriving Gastown, which mainly consists of turn of the 20th century industrial buildings, which have been converted into highly sought after contemporary condos, restaurants and clubs.

The Modern club is located within a heritage building and has also been a club in the past. As in any thriving district, venues re-vamp and switch hands at a steady pace, each time reaching for ever more dazzling designs in order to attract the much sought after clientele. Modern club's new owners decided in addition to a complete architectural overhaul, a new sound system design was in order.

LTS Professional Sound & Lighting had done a sound design for the client at another club with similar architectural components using Adamson products. "We found that using Adamson speakers at a previ

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UK - Blitz is helping another touring production of Dancing in the Streets to dance around the UK during its nationwide run.

Blitz has been commissioned by sound designer Ben Harrison to provide a complete touring sound system from its extensive and wide ranging stock. Blitz is providing a d&b C7 speaker system which is designed to provide a high quality, versatile solution to the problem of working in a wide variety of venues. Blitz is also supplying 14 Sennheiser 3072 handheld radio mics with 1046 receivers and PM5D live sound console.

Ben Harrison, explains: "Dancing in the Streets celebrates classic anthems by the likes of The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and many other soul musicians, and the systems have to compliment the music to ensure the best visual and audio experience for the audience. Blitz is passionate about theatre and this is conve

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UK - South-coast PA installation consultancy, Creative Solutions, has specified a single array of Electro-Voice XLE compact cabinets for a Bournemouth church, making the most of its dispersion characteristics in the reverberant environment of an ancient C of E building.

St Swithuns of Bournemouth is home to the Bournemouth Family Church, part of the New Frontiers ministry, and host to a vibrant congregation which is growing so fast that it is looking for a second venue. The Church called upon Creative Solutions, and on the advice of John Ellis and David Howe of Shuttlesound (EV's UK distributor), chose to design a sound system that would handle all their speech reinforcement needs as well as provide amplification for the singers and bands that perform as part of the services.

The solution came in the shape of a single line array comprising six Electro-Voice XLE181 cabinets, fl

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Spain - Kusan, D.A.S. Audio distributor for Korea, has opted to install Aero line array systems at the Gyesan Central Church, located in the city of Bupyoung. The systems were chosen not for their lightweight and ease of use, but for their high-level performance and directivity, say the company.

Natural light is a major theme at this place of worship, housing a main hall which seats 4500 people. Kusan flew 16 two-way, compact CA-28A powered mid-high systems from the elaborate metal structure supporting the church's glass dome. On each side of the altar, eight CA-28A units were flown below four powered CA-215A bass units. The main system incorporates a Midas model V400/8/IP mixing console.

Roy Curtis from Kusan explains: "One of the main difficulties we had to overcome here was the building's bad acoustics, because it really has a high-level of reverberation and, on top of

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Belgium - Artcoustic Loudspeakers are providing the audio solution for The Institute of the High Studies of the Social Communications (IHECS) in Brussels. At its on-campus conference facility, The Institute was faced with the requirement for more technology-based multimedia presentations, as they could no longer afford an under-utilised venue.

The venue consists of a large conference room with seating for 400, as well as several smaller rooms, each with seating for 130. The challenge was to install a high quality AV system, including sound reinforcement and multimedia capabilities for the whole facility.

A major objective was that he system was unobtrusive and would not affect the interior design. The Institution turned to the Engineer Bureau Droyers to provide the solution and selected Strobbe Sprl to install the system.

Strobbe, the Artcoustic dealer for Benelux, chose a s

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UK - A.C. Lighting's Audio division has been selected as an authorised UK distributor for the Powersoft pro audio power amplifier range, the company has announced. A.C. Audio was selected as one of only four distribution partners in collaboration with Sennheiser UK, based on its distribution capability, familiarity of product, stock holding facility and a reputation for providing elite products and customer support.

A.C. Audio Sales Manager Peter Butler commented: "We are very keen to be a part of the Powersoft distribution partnership. We have always been a fan of the product portfolio due to its adaptability and reliability, and are looking forward to working closely with all parties involved to showcase these products in the UK marketplace."

Powersoft has a strong reputation of producing high end amplifiers for the pro audio industry. The company's products have a

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UK - It was around the middle of 2005 that experienced sound engineer Tom Marshall started working with Liverpool band, The Coral - brought in by tour manager Pete Hillier to look after the FOH position.

Since that Invisible Invasion tour, Marshall has remained the band's first choice, taking Adlib Audio's production across Europe - punctuated by stints in the US and Japan.

But it was the less likely location of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London this summer during the iTunes Festival that provided his first opportunity to mix on the Soundcraft Vi6.

"I had already seen Dave Kay using it at FOH on the Scissor Sisters tour, where it was also used as a recording console," he reports. "I really enjoyed using the desk at the ICA but it wasn't until the latest full production tour (to promote the band's fifth album Roots And Echoes

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Turkey - Istanbul's Babylon live music club has chosen an L-Acoustics sound system. Babylon serves as a multipurpose performance centre promoting other artistic disciplines, plays, modern dance, workshops and documentaries with a capacity of 400 spectators.

ELIT, L-Acoustics' distributor in Turkey, has been in charge of the installation, and thenew system consists of four ARCS, six SB118, four 8XT, four LA4 and eight112P.

Emre Defne, technical director, ELIT comments: "We are very pleased with this installation. When the club first re-opened its door with the Patti Smith concert, everybody was impressed by the intelligibility and clarity of the system - the L-Acoustics sound system in the Babylon club is becoming a legend."

(Jim Evans)

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Dubai - The new clubhouse at the Al Badia golf course features advanced audio distribution through more than 52 zones in a system designed and installed by BCL Business Communications LLC. The system features Biamp AudiaFLEX CM module at its epicentre to create the optimum decentralised audio network for the club and grounds.

"With control over Ethernet via integration with the third-party control system and the AudiaFLEX network-friendly design architecture, we were able to create a single IP network incorporating audio distribution and paging with touchscreen control that also covers lighting and system monitoring," said BCL's Puthenkulam. "For audio distribution we have eight AudiaFLEX CM units located in separate rack rooms, but working together with convenient control points throughout the facilities. It was this flexibility that helped us meet the client req

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Europe - Experienced studio and live sound engineer Gerard Albo recently had the exacting task of piloting Amy Winehouse's FOH sound mix, and because of the access speed required when set lists suddenly change, he says he is delighted he made the decision to turn to Soundcraft's Vi6 digital console.

Hailing from the Dordogne, Gerard Albo's interest in the Vi6 was alerted after he had returned to sound mixing after an enforced layoff, following a 2006 tour with Corrine Bailey Rae.

Taking Amy Winehouse's FOH position from his friend (and tour manager) Dave Swallow (who was on paternity leave) he mixed shows at the Benicassim Festival in Spain, three broadcasts in Italy and the MTV Awards in Munich.

But his first exposure to the Vi6 came during the iTunes Festival at the ICA this summer, where Winehouse was playing and the desk was installed. "I was already c

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