Sound

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UK - Wax Jambu has opened on Islington's Upper Street hospitality circuit. Experienced on the Newcastle bar circuit, operators Jimi Pearce, Sara Nixon and Will Partridge began their quest for their own venue a year ago, reviewing sites in Manchester and Edinburgh before deciding on a former North London nightclub.

Setting a conversion budget of £100,000 (including internal structural work) they contacted Studio Output for their 2D graphic design work and the experienced Julian Taylor Design Associates (with whom they had previously worked in Newcastle) for the interior fit-out. The result is a 220-capacity late night music and cocktail bar.

Despite its bijou size, the owners wanted to achieve maximum flexibility, and based on recommendation, contacted CP Sound's Colin Pattenden to install a versatile DJ and live playback system based largely around Harman Pro components.

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Spain - The current global financial crisis failed to dampen enthusiasm for Digital Technology Expo 2008, recently held at the ExpoAthens Exhibition Centre in Greece, closing its doors with positive results. D.A.S. Audio distributor for Greece, IMA Audio, was "extremely satisfied" with the event since among the large number of visitors to the IMA Audio booth were existing clients as well as many business contacts from different areas of Greece.

A wide range of D.A.S. products were exhibited on the IMA Audio booth, including the Arco, Artec, Reference and DR series, as well as Variant 25, Variant 112 and Sub 18H systems. Despite its mainly national focus, the trade show continues to build on its position in Greece as a leading showcase for the professional sound and lighting, audio-visual, music and technology sectors. It is complemented by an educational programme, inc

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USA - Twenty-five-year industry veteran - and admitted "gear-obsessed musician" - Tom Menrath has been appointed to the newly-created position of Behringer vice-president, Global Business Development.

"We believe that Tom is the perfect person to spearhead increased worldwide sales and marketing initiatives for us," observed Behringer CEO Michael Deeb. "During Tom's tenure as Guitar Center's business development director, he grew outside sales tenfold in less than five years. His prior accomplishments as director of sales and marketing at Monster Cable and marketing/business development at Mesa/Boogie are equally impressive."

According to Deeb, Menrath's expertise in all aspects of channel management as well as long-term strategic planning will be integral to Behringer's ongoing aggressive market expansion plans.

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Philadelphia's University of the Sciences main athletic facility, the gymnasium at Rosenberger Alumni Hall, recently received a sonic renovation, courtesy of Philadelphia-based Clear Sound. As Clear Sound's Chris Dietze explains, the facility has long been in need of better sound. "The gym's PA system has always been underpowered and poorly placed," says Dietze. "For sporting events, people tend to overlook bad sound and blame it on the ambient crowd noise, but they use the gym for other events too, like convocations and student orientations, and it's then that the problem would become painfully apparent." Clear Sound designed a system utilising 12 Community R1-66 full-range two-way loudspeaker systems mounted strategically across the gym's peaked metal roof, with six loudspeakers covering the bleacher areas and six more covering the court area. "The

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UK - After 10 successful years with L-Acoustics, industry veteran Paul Nicholson has been busy with two significant new projects: the first was to reinvigorate MIDAS ProSound, the audio company he founded some 20 years ago and the second was to set up a sister company, Red Square Audio, to handle distribution of high end audio products.

Nicholson comments, "Since my return at the beginning of July, MIDAS ProSound has been extremely successful in capturing some significant sales and securing several large scale installation projects through our ongoing consultancy work. Rentals are also increasing and some major production projects are under active development for next year. However, I really wanted to look at distribution rather than additional dealerships. With this in mind, I entered into discussions with several manufacturers and French console manufacturer Innovason bec

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UK - The story of William Tell is given much credence in Switzerland as it is regarded as an important episode in the formation of the Swiss nation. When director Volker Hesse interpreted the original Schiller play as a dialogue-only rendition of the story - Tellspiele - he solicited the assistance of Out Board's TiMax Audio Imaging system and sound designer Tom Strebel to produce reliable, person-specific, voice-localisation effects, with real-time automation from the new TiMax Tracker actor tracking system.

The play was staged in the Uri Theatre in Altdorf - the Swiss province from whence Tell originally hailed. The 500+-capacity theatre is a standard proscenium build, but not much else about this production's staging could be described as standard. The theatre's interior was almost completely re-fashioned to create a 35m long stage platform stretching all the way from

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UK - DB Systems (DB), the global audio-visual company, has been awarded a contract by Rapiergroup to provide AV solutions for defence and aerospace giant, BAE Systems.

The two-year contract, which begins in January 2009, will see DB working with Rapiergroup to design innovative and bespoke AV solutions for BAE Systems' exhibits at over 28 exhibitions and events around the world. These include Farnborough, Paris, Dubai and Singapore Airshows, DSEi London, IDEX in Abu Dhabi and LAAD in Rio de Janeiro.

Previously, DB worked with Rapiergroup for BAE Systems between 2006 and 2008. However, to win this new contract DB successfully came through a competitive five-way pitch, which was spearheaded by David Bulley, Managing Director, and Jay Goldson, Senior Account Manager, who will also oversee this contract. BAE Systems is the third largest global defence company in the world and has

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Ireland - A pioneering installation at the new Wexford Opera House in Ireland marks a European first for auditorium sound - digitally steerable auditorium audio.

Acoustic consultant Peter Mapp and system integrators Northern Light specified six Renkus-Heinz Iconyx digitally steerable array loudspeakers, supplied by Renkus-Heinz's UK and Ireland distributor, Polar Audio. The project saw a completely new theatre complex built on the site of the previous theatre in this picturesque Irish coastal town.

Three pairs of Iconyx IC16 loudspeakers are installed, with one column of three concealed either side within the stage's proscenium arch. Each left and right pair covers, respectively, the stalls and first and second balconies. The Iconyx units' digital beam steering capabilities were used to precisely focus each loudspeaker on its allocated seating area during setup via the dedicat

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World - Wybron's Infogate feedback software plays a key role on Independence of the Seas, the newest and biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

As part of Wybron's Infotrace feedback system, Infogate enables lighting equipment on board Independence of the Seas to talk back to its operators using the industry-standard two-way communication protocol Remote Device Management, or RDM. It constantly monitors the equipment, keeping an eye on any problems or maintenance issues.

"We can track scroller wear and tear, what strings are in which scrollers, identify each fixture individually and basically track how the rig is holding up," says lighting technician Michael Calder, who's now headed to Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas - another Infogate ship.

Independence of the Seas launched in April 2008 as the world's biggest cruise ship. Wei

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Russia - Rental company Live Sound Agency is enjoying an extremely busy autumn/winter season following its recent investment in 32 Lab.gruppen Powered Loudspeaker Management (PLM) systems earlier in the year. The PLM devices, which are used to power their L'Acoustics V-DOSC rig, were supplied by Lab.gruppen's Moscow-based Russian distributor, I.S.P.A.

Live Sound Agency's Yuriy Sokolov reports: "The combination of one of the world's greatest system processors, Dolby Lake, with the tried and tested amplifier technology from Lab.gruppen in one single device is a stroke of genius. There is no discomfort for the user in that everything is already familiar to him and there is a good preset library to work from initially. After that, it's easy to customise if necessary. The result is that you are efficient straight away because your time is spent tuning the system, and not having

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UK - An issue that has cost electronics manufacturers worldwide a great deal of time, effort and money is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive, which restricts the use of many materials, most noticeably leaded solder and cadmium plating on connector shells.

UK-based Bryant Broadcast has now introduced a fully RoHS compliant version of the MIL-C 26482, 26 and 41-pin connectors, which are historically the connector of choice for the outside broadcast industry in the UK and are used in conjunction with 8- and 12-way 'Star-Quad' cables in audio multicore systems.

These new connectors have zinc cobalt black plating finish and heavy duty arctic grade ribbed coupling rings. Both the standard convention of cable-end male connector with locking ring to panel female receptacle with bayonet posts; and cable-end receptacle to mating panel mount plug are available. Both male a

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UK - OHM has introduced a series of white speakers to meet the growing trend for nightspots where audio equipment needs to be heard but not seen. Stock items range from ceiling speakers, through the KS surround series and up to the BR8 wide dispersion loudspeaker popular in disco bars and small dance clubs.

Requirements for other speakers to be finished in white can be met by the manufacturing unit in Knutsford, Cheshire where OHM have been making speakers for over thirty years. Recent venues have been Walrus in Manchester, where white BR8s are in the basement disco with white LM series in the restaurant and cocktail bar, the Bar Bacchus in Warrington another BR8 installation and further from home in New Delhi, a new-build five-star hotel and multi entertainment complex will have an OHM Lunaray line-array system in white for the one thousand plus capacity nightclub.

Mounting b

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Jordan - Amman's PRO4 Total Event Solutions has upgraded its rental sound systems with Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers to meet a variety of production needs in the area.

"Our goal was to raise the quality standards for live audio production in Jordan. This was why we invested in Meyer Sound," says Hisham Al Asad, production manager of Onstage, a division of PRO4 Total Event Solutions.

PRO4 is now stocked with Mica line array loudspeakers, 700-HP subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system.

The first deployment of the Mica system was at the annual Amman Summer Festival, a 24-day marathon of social, cultural, and musical events held in the city's huge King Hussein Park and attended by more than 150,000 people. "Our client, the Greater Amman Municipality, was very satisfied with the high-quality audio production at the event. Of course, we are v

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USA - American Audio has introduced the VersaPort, an easy-to-use universal audio interface that provides a powerful and affordable USB solution for using CD players or turntables with DJ-ing software.

The VersaPort is a four- input channel / four- output channel sound card with microphone and headphone level control that hooks up directly to a PC via its USB connection. A USB 1.1 compliant unit, this black box lets you connect your CD players or turntables to your computer and mixer all at the same time.

A generic interface, the VersaPort works with virtually all popular Windows and Macintosh audio production software programs, including: (Windows) MME, MS DirectSound, Steinberg ASIO and Audition; and (Mac) Garage Band, Audio Hijack Pro (OSX) and Sound Manager (OS9) - and many more, says the company.

"We developed the VersaPort in response to our customers' needs for a

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UK - Scottish hire company Ward Steedsy Associates recently held a free training and demonstration day at The Bongo Club in Edinburgh, to highlight the benefits of its new Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system, comprising an iDR10 MixRack and iLive-112 Control Surface.

Over 40 delegates from a range of backgrounds, including students, freelance engineers, youth music workers, event co-ordinators and promoters attended and were trained on the concept and use of the Allen & Heath's iLive digital system by Allen & Heath's product manager Leon Phillips.

There were also presentations by Funktion One, demonstrating the Resolution 4 system, and Polar Audio, who showcased the Beyerdynamic Opus drum microphones. A large Yamaha drum kit was miked up and the audience was given the chance to hear the Opus microphones, iLive and Funktion One systems in a live situation with local cover

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UK - This November has seen the Top Gear Live show wreak its particular brand of motorised mayhem around the British Isles. Screeching to a halt at London's Earls Court, Birmingham's NEC and Dublin's RDS Simmons Court, the audio for Jeremy Clarkson, James May, The Hamster, The Stig and the thousands watching has been in the hands of Gareth Davies, front of house engineer for the entire tour.

"I've done this show for the past three years," he says. "We have had issues with RF in the past so when I approached Stage Audio Services of Stourbridge to put together the specification and the quote for this year's show I said it had to be Sennheiser RF technology."

With the three presenters in the middle of a large arena floor, often surrounded by speeding cars, reliable, clear audio was an absolute necessity. Which is why Davies specified Sennheiser SK 500 b

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USA - Daktronics recently upgraded the sound system at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, home to the University of Mississippi football team in Oxford. The audio upgrade is part of a $6 million overhaul that includes the largest high-definition video display in the NCAA Southeastern Conference.

Home to the Ole Miss Rebels since 1915, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium holds more than 62,000. As part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Ole Miss faces some of the top college football programmes each year. With the addition of the large high-definition LED screen before the 2008 football season, an equally powerful audio system was needed.

To that end, Daktronics designed and installed an end-zone system consisting of 12 JBL VLA601H line array loudspeakers configured in left-right hangs of six loudspeakers each. The system is supplemented by two JBL PD743 loudspeakers and two PD5212/64 loudspeak

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France - The famous crocodile logo celebrated its 75th anniversary and René Lacoste's presence was once again felt in Paris as the Roland Garros stadium hosted the first-ever commercial event to be staged on the famous centre court.

Attended by 800 fashion and tennis fans, the presentation celebrated 75 years of Lacoste Clothing. Production company Prodeo had pulled off a coup by staging the event at the Roland Garros stadium, where Lacoste, the first true French tennis star, won three French Open championships.

Nicknamed the Crocodile by the press and his fans because of his pugnacity on court, in 1933, he introduced his tennis shirts with the famous crocodile logo, probably the first time that a brand name appeared on the outside of an article of clothing.

For the corporate celebrations, event services company Euroson constructed two stages on court, to accom

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India - Ohm's Indian distributor, Harness Overseas has been busy of late with two major dance club renewals.

After two years of continuous use, Mumbai's premier nightspot, Poison has been renovated and re-opened in October. Club owner Aqueel, one of India's top DJs, loved his original Ohm TRS system but wanted to upgrade to something "out of this world" says the company.

Harness reworked the system completely and after carefully studying the venue suggested a Saturn system. Given seven days to reinstall the system, it was completed two days before the official opening. "Poison now has a three way active system, which not only rocks the venue but sounds sweet like honey. It is now truly an 'iron glove in a velvet hand.'" says Harness principal, Lalit Chopra.

The 6000sq.ft club has a 2000sq.ft foot dance floor, three VIP decks and three bars. The Ohm syste

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Finland - Stagetracker, the performer tracking and audio localisation system from Norwegian theatre specialists TTA, has been installed in the Svenska Teater in Helsinki.

The Swedish National Theatre is situated in the heart of the city, one of six professional theatres in Finland to serve the Swedish-speaking population, and is considered to be the Swedish national stage. Why Swedish? Because Finland was part of Sweden until 1809 and its ties to the country remained strong until it became a sovereign state in 1917. Swedish is spoken by 6% of the population with roughly 40.000 Swedish speakers living in Helsinki.

Built in 1866 by a Russian architect, much of the Svenska Teater's interior is original. The auditorium has three balconies and a proscenium arch stage. On behalf of the theatre's sound team, Andreas Lönnquist describes the current system. "We have a L/C/R PA, w

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Sweden - DPA microphones, including the newly-launched 4099 instrument mic range, were used for the grand opening ceremony of a major new Swedish venue, the Malmö Super Arena. The microphones were rented by DPA Soundco, a Danish rental company situated in the Örestad region, for this joint Swedish/Danish venture.

With a capacity of 15,000 for concerts and 12,500 for sports, the Super Arena is the largest in southern Scandinavia, able to attract international performers and pro sports, particularly ice hockey.

The opening ceremony featured a group of Swedish musicians playing alongside the Malmo Symphony Orchestra, a 300-piece choir and eight solo artists, giving a total of more than 200 input channels into the sound system. The musical theme for the shows was The Wonder of Swedish Music, drawing from such influences as early folklore, ABBA, Roxette, Europe and Robyn.<

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USA - Concert sound provider Firehouse Productions, known for its tours with Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Peter Gabriel and other innovative artists, chose to deploy L-acoustics LA8-powered Kudo arrays for FOH on Sigur Rós' recent North American tour leg.

In addition to typically flying nine boxes of Kudo per side for the four-piece ethereal Icelandic post-rock band, Firehouse positioned six dV-DOSC across the lip of the stage for front-fill and set up four SB28 subs per side in a cardioid configuration for LF reinforcement. Two ARCS cabinets per side were also flown or ground stacked for out-fill in venues where the seating configuration wrapped around the stage. Furthermore, the tour utilised four of L-acoustics' new LA-RAK touring racks, each featuring three LA8 amplified controllers.

According to Firehouse systems engineer Jamie Pollock, who did a system prediction using S

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