Sound

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UK - Waterloo Sunset rehearsal studios in London features a comprehensive Turbosound wedge monitoring system and has recently taken delivery of further Turbosound cabinets.

Owned and managed by equipment rental specialists Music Bank, users of Waterloo Sunset's facilities range from A-ha to Will Young, with Paul McCartney, Kylie, Queen, Muse and Madonna just a few examples of the calibre of artiste who rehearse their live shows there.

In addition to a considerable number of TFM-450 wedges and a range of TMS-3 mid-high cabinets, the facility has recently taken delivery of a pair of TA-500DP digitally powered Aspect Wide cabinets and TSW-218 subs.

"Waterloo Sunset's four (North, South, Blue and Green) rehearsal rooms are all equipped with the very highest standard of equipment and the Turbosound wedge system delivers exactly what artists need - high quality on-stage sound

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UK - RG Jones, Synco and Martin Audio, played together to create the solution for the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

With mostly dry weather and a fantastically eclectic Glastonbury musical line-up including Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, Goldfrapp, Leonard Cohen and The Verve, there was plenty for audiences to smile about - including an all-new PA system design that saw RG Jones extend its contribution in 2007 from the stage sound to the main arena PA.

Engaged last year to provide full control systems and stage monitoring, this year the team was brought in by Chris Beale of CBA and Dick Tee, respectively Pyramid Stage sound co-ordinator and production manager, to supply a powerful, pristine, controlled sound solution and a highly experienced crew for both stage and FOH.

In charge of the South London based company's team was FOH engineer Simon Ho

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UK - Kylie Minogue has launched a three-month European tour KYLIEX2008 with UK-based Capital Sound supplying a powerful Meyer Sound rig, based around left and right hangs of 14 Milo and two Milo 120 line array loudspeakers each. For some of the larger arenas, such as Manchester's Evening News Arena and London's O2, two additional side arrays of 12 Mica line array loudspeakers augment the system.

Low end is covered by a combination of six flown 600-HP subwoofers per side, along with eight 700-HP subwoofers per side on the ground. "Chris Pyne (FOH engineer) wanted a powerful but present low end, with both power and attack. Therefore we suggested the 600-HP and 700-HP together as an ideal combination to achieve that," explains Paul Timmins, Capital Sound's project manager.

As the massive production utilises the entire stage as a visual backdrop, a centre hang of

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UK - The second phase of The All England Lawn Tennis Club's three-year plan to transform the Centre Court at Wimbledon includes the installation of a major public address system featuring Martin Audio loudspeakers and BSS Soundweb London.

After going roofless in 2007, Centre Court has assumed a more traditional look following the installation of the permanent non-moveable new roof. At the same time the seating capacity will increase by 1200 to 15,000, and the East and North stands have been equipped with upgraded leisure facilities.

The dilemma facing Jon Berry from RG Jones Sound Engineering, the All England Club's long-term pro audio contractors, was in finding a system that could be installed on a temporary basis for this year's Championships, knowing that immediately after the event it would need to be removed in preparation for the third phase. A soffit will be added to t

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Good News: London's theatres enjoyed their most successful year on record in 2007, with attendances exceeding 13m for the first time, a report says. The Society of London Theatre's annual report says that box office takings rose to almost £470m. But the number of plays opening was down by a third on the previous year. The report says two-thirds of tickets sold were for musicals, with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Grease doing particularly well.

Sports News: More than 90,000 visitors to the Beijing Grand National Stadium will hear the words of the opening speeches of the 2008 Olympic Gasmes mixed on two Aurus desks installed in the stadium's central control room,, which will be fed via a Nexus audio network to the sound reinforcement system of 220 line arrays. Additionally, around 40 billion TV viewers around the world will view the opening ceremo

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UK - 14 years after the public was first introduced to the Irish dancing of Riverdance, there are still usually at least two touring companies on the road at any one time performing a full theatre production of the show. This year has so far seen tours in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, China and Taiwan, with a tour in the production's native Ireland also in full swing. And at the heart of them all are Yamaha PM5D audio consoles.

The public's appetite for it has shown no signs of diminishing. Despite having played across the world and having spawned an entire genre of dance shows and with production values far more akin to rock'n'roll than anything that had gone before in the dance genre, Riverdance continues to delight audiences in many countries.

Sound design for all Riverdance productions is by Mick O'Gorman and his sound design company MOSCO,

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UK - At Glastonbury 2008, CBA Wireless Events rolled out its latest solutions aimed at simplifying and 'greening up' communications between the myriad companies and people scattered across hundreds of acres of Worthy Farm for the event.

CBA Wireless Events, the networking operations part of CBA, founded by Chris Beale in 2005, has been quietly developing event-proven, mud- and rain-proof, battle-hardened wireless IT, networking and telephony services to event sites. This was the company's second year at Glastonbury - where Beale also doubled his duties as Pyramid Stage sound coordinator - delivering those services to every corner of the sprawling site that for the other 50 weeks of the year is Michael Eavis's working dairy farm.

Beale has long been an enthusiastic embracer of technological progress - including the UK's first wireless linked festival PA delay stacks at Doningto

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USA - Shure Incorporated has redesigned the packaging for all of its Microflex Installed Sound Microphones, ULX Wireless Microphone Systems, three of its wired and wireless Personal Monitor Systems (PSM), and two of its SE Sound Isolating Earphone models.

The size and shape of all cartons for the Microflex products, ULX Wireless Systems, and three PSM Systems (PSM400, PSM600, and PSM700) as well as the strength, durability, and product protection they provide will remain unchanged. As an environmental incentive, the elimination of the Mylar coating and full-color graphic printing on the cartons increases the recycle-ability of the packaging.

"We currently produce a wide variety of full-colour packaging across all product lines, but recently made the decision to move toward a more environmentally friendly design for several products," said Terri Hartman, director of b

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UK - Broadcast sound specialist Red TX is capturing the audio for ITV2's Live At IndigO2 series, which is being filmed at the eponymous London venue - the smaller, more intimate music hall attached to the O2 Arena.

Series producer Jim Parsons, of Spin TV, commissioned Red TX for the seven-episode project, which features live performances from three bands per episode. Additional tracks are also made available by New Stream Media to download via the O2 mobile network and online.

To date, four episodes have been recorded featuring Paul Weller, The Courteeners, Scouting For Girls, The Enemy, One Night Only, Amy McDonald, The Zutons, Alphabeat, Royworld, The Charlatans, We Are Scientists and Newton Faulkner.

Red TX director Conrad Fletcher, who is the engineer for the project on board Red TX's main OB truck, says: "It's a fantastic series to be involved with because o

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UK - Cambridge-based Audica Professional has gained China's CCC Certification for its electronic products; the MICROzone amplifier/controller and MICROsub active subwoofer.

Commenting for Audica Professional, sales director Derek West said: "CCC is one of the most stringent of all of the international approvals. It is a long and expensive procedure for a relatively small company, but with a good distributor and strong sales growth in the territory, it was an investment we felt was well justified.

"With such a rapid expansion of new public and commercial buildings in China, the market for our products will continue to grow and this approval is necessary for us to take a competitive lead in supplying background music, corporate AV and audio communication systems."

Audica Professional is represented in China and Hong Kong by High Wing International Technology, wh

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USA - American DJ continues its expansion with the opening of a sales/distribution facility in the UK. Centrally located in Bolton, Lancashire, north of Manchester, the new operation will provide support to dealers and consumers throughout the UK.

"We are proud to announce the launching of our UK operation, which is another major milestone for our company and an indication of the worldwide strength of the American DJ brand," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Companies. "ADJ products are already known and well-accepted in the UK, and having a facility and staff to specifically service that market will only further increase our presence there."

The UK operation is headed by Kris Dawber and Dave Swin, who have a combined total of more than 16 years in the lighting and sound industry. As a result of their experience, Dawber and Swin

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UK - Reviewing its own top ten theatres at risk for 2008 in England, The Theatres Trust welcomed English Heritage's new initiative to protect the nation's heritage. Of the 68 theatres in England on The Theatres Trust's Theatre Buildings at Risk register (TBAR), 34 currently face an uncertain future and are at high risk. The top ten theatres in the Trust's 2008 TBAR include theatres that remain empty, are under threat of demolition, neglect or unsympathetic redevelopment, and lack of funds for repairs and restoration.

Following the launch of English Heritage's new Heritage at Risk register The Theatres Trust highlighted the importance of its own work with local authorities, theatre owners and the public to secure historic theatres for future generations. Director Mhora Samuel added: "English Heritage is encouraging local authorities to make use of its new ambitious and syste

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USA - Ravi Jakhotia, known professionally as DJ Ravidrums has been singing the praises of his AKG K181DJ headphones. "I'm very critical when it comes to headphones," he says. "It's something very personal because it's the sound you hear that puts you right there, in the moment."

AKG's K181DJ headphones work for Ravi because they were designed specifically to meet DJ requirements, says the company. "I love the way these headphones reflect what's going on in my mix," Jakhotia adds. "With other headphones I've tried, you can't get that deep low end and all the highs. These give me all I need for everything I've got going on. The sound is incredible."

(Jim Evans)

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USA - FiberPlex has announced that multiple LightViper digital audio transport systems were recently provided for the live ESPN and NBC Television broadcasts at the recent US Open Championship played at Southern California's Torrey Pines Golf Course. ESPN, which shared coverage of Monday's dramatic 19-hole playoff with NBC, garnered a 4.2 rating and was seen in more than 4 million households, making it the most-watched golf telecast in cable television history.

Kurt Heitmann, senior VP of marketing CP Communications and sister company Total RF Productions, explained his firm's use of the LightViper: "We furnished our clients, ESPN and NBC, each with two complete 32X8 LightViper fiber optic audio systems in our 'booth kits'. The audio run from the golf course to ESPN's SportsCenter golf set was around 5,000 ft., nearly a mile away. From this location, ESPN also handled their

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Switzerland - The seventh annual Dance with the Wolf festival recently took place in Corbeyrier with Allen & Heath's iLive digital system managing monitor mixing.

The two day festival is a celebration of everything Celtic, with Celtic food, folk tales, dance and most importantly, music. The event hosted eight bands over the two days from Ireland, Brittany and Wales.

"I have managed monitors for the festival for several years and decided to use A&H's digital system this year," reports Roland Dupertuis, from Allen & Heath's Swiss distributor, Decibel SA.

Comprising an iDR10 stage rack and iLive-144 control surface, iLive managed a range of musicians playing a diverse range of instruments from electric guitars and bass, to harps, mandolins, bagpipes and accordions.

"All the musicians praised the sound quality on stage, and the scene recall is very fast

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USA - D.A.S. Audio reports that All-star Audio Systems recently took delivery of a substantial D.A.S. Audio loudspeaker system. With offices in Smyrna, Tennessee and Merritt Island, Florida, All-star Audio Systems is a full-service sound, lighting, video, and staging design firm for corporate VIP events, live event marketing tours, concert tours, festivals, and other special events.

Over the last several months, All-star Audio has taken delivery of 24 D.A.S. Audio Aero 38A three-way, self-powered medium format line array elements, eight Aero 28A two-way, self-powered line array elements, four CA-215A mono-amplified arrayable subwoofers, and 16 Aero 218A high performance, powered subwoofers. Additionally, the firm took delivery of four PL-48 transport carts for the Aero 38As.

All-star Audio recently used their new D.A.S. equipment - with much success - during the Children's Mir

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UK - Amid the continuing growth in membership and a broadening range of initiatives, this year's PLASA AGM and Lunch on 3 June saw a record turnout for the third year in succession, the Association reports.

Over 170 members and guests enjoyed a day in the glamorous surroundings of London's Hurlingham Club, where the AGM and members' questions were followed by a three-course lunch with a talk by renowned broadcaster John Humphrys.

In its fourth year as a combined AGM and Member Lunch, and its third at the Hurlingham Club, the event has grown into a major fixture on members' calendars and the growing demand for places means PLASA will almost certainly move to a larger, but equally special, venue for next year.

Members now see this as a prime opportunity to celebrate being part of an organisation that is moving the industry forward and to network with other members in relaxed s

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Canada - Pacific West Sound Professional Audio and Design (PacWest), based in a newly constructed building in Bakersfield California, has made the decision to upgrade to an Adamson Y-Axis System.

Brent Milton, president and owner of PacWest explains: "It was a big, decision for us to add Adamson to our current inventory, but it gives us yet another means of meeting the demands of contemporary artists." PacWest currently has the largest inventory of Adamson Y-Axis in California which now includes 32 Y-10s and 16 T-21s.

PacWest had a busy year in the world of production, culminating with the New Year's Eve Together As One (TGA1) rave at the LA Sports Arena. This is the show in which PacWest decided to debut their new Adamson rig.

"2008 has been one of the most exciting and important years in our company's history; our output in all areas, production, desi

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UK - Brähler ICS UK was selected by the International Coffee Organisation to replace the conference system at their London headquarters, which is also one of Cavendish Conference Venue's prime conference locations.

Based on Brähler's CDSVAN digital conference solution, the system is controlled by a powerful DSP card with all functions, routing and adjustments accessible via the CDSVAN software. This system was chosen because it is highly flexible and able to cope with multiple audio configurations. A sophisticated digital recording system is integrated, which automatically records and name-tags each individual speaker to an mp3 file as soon as their microphone is activated, and ends recording when the microphone is switched off. This allows for easier and faster transcription of the meeting, creates a running order for the meeting and eliminates the need for audio cassettes.

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UK - Optocore devices were used again for the digital returns system on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this year, sending multiple AES channels to stage processors and distributing them, as well as transporting the RS485 control signal.

Andy Huffer of Optocore's UK distributor, HD Pro Audio, explained the setup: "At FOH, the AES outputs from the Digidesign Profile console were sent to the Optocore DD32E device, with all digital devices locked to an external wordclock. The DD32E also received an RS485 input from an XTA DP226 processor located at FOH.

"These signals (both AES and RS485) were then sent to the Optocore DD32 device located on stage, and distributed. The AES signals were patched to multiple outputs via the Optocore internal matrix, allowing the same signal to be sent to multiple XTA DP226 processors where necessary - as in the case of the main PA hangs

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USA - Industry members had the chance to relax and raise money for charitable causes during InfoComm 08. During its first joint show with InfoComm, NSCA hosted many of its popular events from previous NSCA Expos.

The Systems Integration Industry Charity Golf Tournament, host sponsored by Atlas Sound/IED, kicked off the week and raised money for the NSCA Education Foundation, the International Communications Industry Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

"We were extremely pleased with all the NSCA-sponsored events during InfoComm 08," said NSCA Education Foundation president, Tom Frericks. "Our mission is to support education for industry professionals, but the Foundation also supports other charitable causes through its fundraising events. We accomplished both in Las Vegas this year."

The next evening the Drunk Unkles band made its I

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UK - May saw the Global Day of Prayer, held outdoors at London's Millwall Football Club, New Den Stadium. The event aims to help people of any age apply the gospel and biblical teachings to their everyday life. The event featured a 200-piece choir backed by an orchestra and band that is exactly what some 15,000 happy worshipers encountered.

Sound and lighting responsibilities fell to the capable hands of the Reading-based Sound Foundation Ltd Group. Having previously done the 2007 Global Day of Prayer held at Upton Park, West Ham United's Football ground, Andy Barr from the event's organisers Pure Solutions had no hesitation in calling SFL again. Yamaha mixing consoles handled sound at both FOH and Monitor mixing duties. Two M7CL-48s where required, giving a total of 96 channels for FOH and a single PM5D took care of monitors. Mark Payne, SFL's technical director and co-founder,

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UK - RCF has appointed The Warehouse as its new distributor for Scotland. The Warehouse, one of Scotland's leading audio distributors, representing some of worlds major sound products first made contact with RCF at Eventech, Glasgow. A subsequent meeting took place at RCF's offices and factory in Italy.

Warehouse sales director Derek Blair comments: "We have been aware of RCF's growing profile and were really impressed at their presentation at Frankfurt's Pro Light & Sound this year. Visiting the RCF Factory in Italy did give us the time to take a much closer look at the products and meet with the RCF team. We had already identified the need for another product line to complement our exciting stock and looking at what RCF had to offer it seemed a good move forward for the company."

Warehouse will have total exclusivity in Scotland for RCF Acustica professional speake

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USA - Denon Professional has released its new DN-C620 CD Player. Housed in a compact 1-rackspace enclosure, the DN-C620 offers contractors and system integrators a versatile CD player at "an extremely cost-effective price point", says the company.

The DN-C620 is compatible with standard audio data file formats including CDDA (.cda) and MPEG-1/2 Layer III (.mp3), allowing for up to 20 hours of MP3 or similar audio playback from a single CD, CD-R or CD-RW, making it suited to serve as a continuous audio playback device for houses of worship, health clubs, restaurants, and various broadcast applications.

The DN-C620 features intuitive front panel control, which allows customisable programme playlists and output of ID3 or CD-TEXT title, artist, and album information via RS-232C. Additionally, standard 25-pin Contact Closure (GPIO) and 9-pin RS-232C Control connections ar

  1. A&H adds configuration tool for iLive
  2. Sound Projects bass cabinets on live debut
  3. RSS V-Mixer makes Glastonbury debut
  4. Audio-Technica adds two condenser mics
  5. Cirrus meters measure up at The Spa
  6. Faital Asia opens for business
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