Sound

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UK - Russell Brand is currently on a world tour complete with Sennheiser E935 microphone.

"It's a big challenge getting spoken word to 16,000 people in the MEN," suggests Rory Madden, owner of sound and light company Sonalyst and a veteran touring sound engineer in his own right. "If the audience miss one word in the punchline, they've lost the entire joke. You've got to have the right equipment.

"Al Ashford, our front of house guy, and myself went through all the mics together and we were very happy with the Sennheiser mic. The clarity of spoken words seemed to be a lot better than through the other mics, especially in these vast arenas."

Brand's Scandalous tour returns to the UK for its conclusion at the O2 Arena on Friday 7 April.

See Sennheiser UK at PLASA Focus, Leeds - 28-19 April 2009.

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UK - FeONIC Plc, the UK audio technology company, has announced the launch of its latest F-Series range of Audio Drives that are able to transform everyday building, office and household surfaces into high quality audio speakers.

Unlike traditional speaker technology that relies on a moving coil, the F-Drive is powered by an exceptionally powerful magnetostrictive smart material that when placed on a resonant surface - such as a table top, glass, plasterboard or metal sheeting - causes the whole surface to vibrate, thereby turning it into a high quality loudspeaker with omni-directional, evenly distributed output, say FeONIC.The performance stats for the F-Series are likewise significant, it being able to range from 80Hz to 20Khz allowing it, for example, to match the performance typically experienced through a high-end home entertainment surround sound system.

However, the co

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USA - Loud Technologies has announced that it has restored production for a number of significant EAW and Mackie product lines that were impacted when one of the company's contract manufacturers ceased operations in late 2008.

Specifically, the company resumed mass production on all SKUs of the EAW AX, JF and NTL series in March. Production also began on a portion of the Mackie VLZ3 series in March, with the balance of the series entering full production in April.

"We've made incredible progress in restoring supplies in just three short months," commented Jim Stewart, chief operating officer at Loud. "In the process, we've added significant capacity and sophistication to our supply chain that will support the next phase in the company's growth."

In January, 2009, Loud restored production for the EAW KF and SB loudspeakers at a company-owned facility, as w

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USA - For the fifth time in as many years, Texas-based LD Systems travelled to Las Vegas in December for the 50th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR), a 10-day event many consider the Superbowl of rodeo. LD has partnered with the WNFR since 2004 as the event's exclusive light and stage producer. 2007 marked the first year that LD also supplied sound reinforcement for the event.

Last year, LD used an Electro-Voice XLC rig to provide smooth, intelligible coverage at the 18,500-seat Thomas and Mack Centre on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. This year the WNFR returned to the Thomas and Mack Centre, and so did LD Systems' XLC rig. But with the added precision and power of NetMax N8000 system controllers with FIR-Drive, and XLC127 loudspeakers with DVX woofer upgrades.

The system, comprising XLC127DVX cabinets and XLC215 subs in two-over-six combinations,

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USA - Xantech Commercial has announced the appointment of Denver-based Anew Communication Technologyas the new rep for the Rocky Mountain Territory of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, eastern Idaho and eastern Montana. The announcement was made by Rick Seegull, Xantech director of business development.

Anew C.T. has been successfully representing Xantech Commercial in the southern California/Las Vegas/Arizona territories, with headquarters in Denver and staff in Utah.

"We are pleased to expand Anew's responsibilities to now include the Rocky Mountain territory," stated Seegull. "They have done a fantastic job for us in their other territories, so to widen their scope to these states is a logical step to grow Xantech Commercial sales in the region. We look forward to continuing our working relationship with them in this capacity."

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Frequently associated with boardrooms, houses of worship, and distance learning, Shure Microflex MX391 boundary microphones once again made the transition to professional basketball as the mic of choice for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

Played this year at US Airways Centre, home of the Phoenix Suns, the game went to air with the able assistance of David Grundtvig, senior audio engineer, for the event. A 10-year sound crew veteran of the roundball matchup, Grundtvig used a dozen MX391s taped directly to the floor around all sides of the court perimeter to build his broadcast mix. Orchestrating his efforts from behind a digital console, he is one of the originators of the audio blueprint, having refined it over the years to bring an added element of realism to viewers at home.

"What we're putting over the air is essentially the same as the real, live experience that yo

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UK - OHM will be featuring its compact sound systems at the forthcoming PLASA Focus including the BootiQue, described as "the ultimate small venue solution".

The BootiQue is a packaged professional sound system in a box. The 10" active band-pass subwoofer is powered by a 200W amplifier with two 85W amplifiers, contained in the same cabinet, to power up to eight BootiQue speakers. The amplifiers have an auto power facility which ensures complete silence from the speakers when no signal is present. Input gains can be set independently for the bass and mid/high and the input sensitivity selector ensures that a range of signal sources can be used including CD, computer or MP3. Input connectors are Phono, USB, RJ45 and iPod mini jack. Other controls are ground lift, phase reverse and EQ. Additionally, a fire alarm mute connector enables the BootiQue to be installed int

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Brazil - Launched in 1990 as a small music technology shop, Quanta Brazil has grown to become one of the country's leading audio distributors, with a network of almost 400 official retail dealers. DPA will be handled by the company's Quanta Systems division which is focused on audio production products, providing integrated A/V solutions, training, consultancy and after-sales support.

"As a big fan of DPA mics myself, I know they will match perfectly with our high end lines of mic preamps and recording systems," says Quanta Brazil's sales and marketing director Adinaldo Neves. "Our customers are already as excited as we are and we already have commitments from broadcasters, theatrical sound designers and recording engineers from all over Brazil."

DPA co-founder Morten Stove adds: "We have been looking for a partner with the right product portfolio and

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Switzerland - Barix AG reports that its Annuncicom 1000 Audio over IP devices are being used to receive and play out EtherSound audio during worship services and live performances at the Stadtmission church in St. Gallen. The Annuncicom 1000 devices have been configured by Sphinx Connect, the exclusive Barix distributor in Switzerland; and installed by systems integrator R+R SonicDesign.

The EtherSound system was installed in a new building to provide high quality, lowest latency sound for live concerts and theatre performances, as well as sermons and other traditional church services.

"This project showcases an outstanding solution for any facility seeking a high-quality, pro-audio solution using Ethernet via standard LAN cabling," said Mr. Roman Surber, system engineer for R+R SonicDesign. "Stadtmission saved about 70 percent using the Barix Annuncicom 1000 co

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UAE - Technomad Associates reports that Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, used eight Technomad loudspeakers to provide live coverage of the Fortune Cup professional cricket matches to 20,000 spectators.

The Fortune Cup took place in late 2008, comprising three cricket matches between the West Indies and Pakistan over the course of one day. Bint Al Jazeera Electronics, a professional AV and lighting company based in the United Arab Emirates, installed six Technomad Berlin and two Noho C loudspeakers to ensure even audio coverage throughout the large open-air stadium, allowing announcers to clearly reach every spectator in the stadium.

According to Shrini N Iyer of Bint Al Jazeera Electronics, engineers from the stadium and the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club were most concerned with eliminating echo associated with previous sound systems used in the stadium. Even

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USA - Shure Incorporated will officially support Earth Hour 2009, a global climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund, by switching off all non-essential lighting in all of the company's facilities around the world for one hour on 28 March, and encouraging all of its associates, customers, and suppliers to do the same.

Shure will join corporations, organizations, governments, and individuals in more than 240 cities around the world in supporting Earth Hour, which begins at 8:30pm local time. Tens of millions of people from all corners of the world are expected to participate in this call for global action on climate change.

"One of our company's core values is to be a good corporate citizen and neighbour," said Sandy LaMantia, Shure president and CEO. "We have an internal team, our Green Team, which strives to constantly implement and improve environmentally-f

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USA - Renkus-Heinz celebrates its 30th Anniversary on the very first day of the 2009 ProLight&Sound show in Frankfurt, where the new IC Live system will be in action on the outdoor Concert Sound Arena, and the company's new VLX3 high output, lightweight large format line array will also make its European début.

The 1 April celebrations follow a successful return to Winter NAMM where IC Live starred on the Main NAMM Stage in the towering glass lobby of the Anaheim Convention Centre: a pair of IC LIVE arrays with matching IC215S dual 15" bandpass subwoofers formed the main PA system throughout the convention, the cabinet's precise beam steering and high efficiency making light work of the acoustically challenging space.

"It had a fantastic impact," says marketing manager Margie Ulm. "This was the best way to re-introduce Renkus-Heinz to NAMM attendees

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UK - PLASA Focus will see a variety of new Audio-Technica products, including microphones from both the Studio and Broadcast & Production ranges and a new professional headphone showcased on the company's stand.

The new studio microphones in the 20 and 40 Series comprise the affordable AT2035 and AT2050 large diaphragm condensers and the high-performing AT4021 cardioid and AT4022 omnidirectional condensers.

The 20 Series are both side-address models, with the cardioid AT2035 designed to isolate sound sources while the switchable pickup pattern of the AT2050 allows omni, cardioid and figure-of-eight operation. The 40 Series microphones - which carry a lifetime warranty - are ideally suited to deliver sensitivity and natural response, and are perfect for use with acoustic string and percussion instruments.

In the Broadcast & Production range the new models are the BP4071 (also

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Germany - The Midas PRO6 digital console made its German debut on the concert hall tour of André Heller's circus spectacular Afrika! Afrika!, the PRO6 digital console from Midas made its German debut.

FOH engineer Christian Ruppel reports: "In a nutshell the PRO6 makes my job a whole lot easier. It is a networked audio system. For a production like Afrika! Afrika! that has one considerable advantage: it lets me shift signal paths effortlessly from A to B. In large venues that is particularly helpful."

Another plus in Ruppel's view are the freely configurable POP groups: "Here it's just a case of assembling the relevant inputs. For each song, for example, I've created a separate POP group composed of all the most important inputs: the bass and snare from the drum set, say, plus the bass, guitar, keyboard and soloists. Then, each time I call u

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Italy - Ecler recently presented the Verso and Audeo series of speaker cabinets at the headquarters of Giugiaro Design in Moncalieri. This European product presentation was attended by professional audio magazines, selected customers and representatives from Ecler and Giugiaro Design. The event was headed by Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of ItalDesign as well as Enric Casimiro Damians, deputy general manager at Ecler..

The new Verso is a series of all-terrain loudspeaker cabinets thatare suitable for fixed and mobile applications, as well as stage monitors. The range includes six models: three passive Verso 8 (150W), Verso 10 (250W) and Verso 12 (350W), and three active versions Verso 8P (200W), Verso 10P (300W) and Verso 12P (450W). All models are two-way full range and made of high resistance and density plastic material.

The forthcoming Audeo is a range of acoustic ca

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USA - At ShoWest, the motion picture industry convention to be held in Las Vegas 31 March through 2 April 2, Meyer Sound will debut its new Cinema Experience line of theatre sound systems designed for applications ranging from sound design suites to dubbing stages and movie theatres.

Designed for optimal performance behind perforated screens, these loudspeaker systems were developed specifically for cinema, in collaboration with top industry creative and technical professionals, says the company. Meyer Sound's Cinema Experience series features screen channel loudspeakers, surrounds, subwoofers, and electronics that work together to deliver "remarkable clarity and power and that translate well across a variety of applications". The result is a complete, integrated system.

"In order to compete with expanding entertainment options at home, cinema exhibitors must of

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Singapore - Audio continues to organise seminars aimed at future audio professionals in Asia. The latest training session was held in Singapore and delivered by D.A.S. Audio engineer, Joan La Roda, alongside D.A.S. Audio technical representative in Asia, Ron Koh. The session took place on 20 February 20 at Fort Canning Park in Singapore, a landmark for live concerts that has recently seen the likes of Manic Street Preachers, The Ting Tings, The Beastie Boys and Incubus, and which is home to Singfest featuring acts including Travis, Simple Plan and Alicia Keys.

The event was organised by D.A.S. Audio's Singapore team. D.A.S. Audio Asia operations manager, Eduardo López, reports, "It was basically a practical demonstration of the Aero 38 line array system, to allow the local clients to hear the system for the first time. In addition to the demo, there was a workshop w

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UK - British Energy recently commissioned Carillion Communications to create a bespoke audio-visual simulation facility at its Sizewell B plant in Suffolk. Sizewell B power-station has the UK's only large Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) and is capable of supplying around two million households. The station supplies 3% of the UK's entire electricity needs and employs over 500 staff.

The audio-visual installation extends over several working environments, a control room and one large plant area. The requirement was to create a simulated working environment with the ability to re-create real-life operations and possible problems under the close scrutiny of the Sizewell training team. The brief included the capability for two-way communication within the training environment and the capacity to record and playback the results of the training to the staff, providing a powerful input

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Brazil - Last month, thousands of dancers in full make-up and bright costumes, along with hundreds of elaborate floats accompanied by musicians and rolling PA trucks blasting samba music marched down Rio's famed Sambódromo in celebration of this year's Carnaval. Song after song, samba school after samba school, Shure microphones took charge of vocalising the passion of the week-long event that marks the beginning of Lent.

Televised globally by Rede Globo, Carnaval is a giant celebration where samba schools compete for bragging rights as the official winner of Carnaval. The schools prepare all year for this one performance where they are meticulously judged on their costumes, choreography, floats, music, harmony, and overall theme. All of the bands that performed chose Shure wireless microphones to accompany them on their kilometer long, one-hour performance.

Rep

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USA - Since opening its doors in June of 1965, Wichita's Metropolitan Baptist Church has been a vital part of this bustling community, offering a range of services, classes and other events. In 1983 the church added the Jesse Vardaman Fellowship Hall, a multipurpose venue that has seen near-constant use over the years. But with a very rudimentary 70 volt distributed sound system and budget grade ceiling speakers, the hall has long struggled with intelligibility issues.

As Dennis Craven of Wichita-based Vivid Pro Systems explains, the solution came in the form of Community Professional's new Entasys high-performance line array column systems. "We've worked with line columns in the past, and Community's new Entasys immediately came to mind for this application," says Craven. "The system needed to be versatile enough to handle spoken word, movie night, light praise a

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Germany - FailtalPRO will be using Spectr Audio cabinets to demonstrate some of their drivers at the 2009 Prolight&Sound. Spectr Audio staff will be attending in support of the demonstration, and to further explain and discuss the philosophy behind the cabinets, how the sound quality was achieved, and why Faital drivers play such an important role in attaining the level of clarity and performance.

There will be two Spectr Audio cabinets at the booth - The AP26 - a powerful and compact cabinet with dual Neodymium 6" woofers and a 1" compression driver with a 1.7" voice coil, and the AP110, which is a compact, trapezoidal cabinet with a single Neodymium 10" woofer and a 1" compression driver with a 1.7" voice coil.

(Jim Evans)

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Iceland - Near the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland, stands Laugardalsvöllur, the National Soccer Stadium. It recently received a major upgrade, with complete renovations to the main seating area and the construction of new office facilities.

The stadium now accommodates 15,000 people. Subsequently, the Football Association of Iceland requested an offer for a complete PA sound system for the stadium's west side with the option of later expansion for the remaining areas. To complete this upgrade, the association hired local pro audio and lighting firm EB Kerfi ehf, and immediately plans were under way for the design of a full sound system for the entire stadium, which was to include loudspeakers from EAW.

EB Kerfi chose weather-protected versions of EAW's MK5300 Series small-format installation system loudspeakers with rotatable horns. The design of the system's speaker setup was a

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Germany - The CADIS system, the new Installation Array from HK AUDIO, was designed first and foremost for versatility, says the company. CADIS was developed for installations in theatres, civic and community centres, houses of worship, gymnasiums, conference centers and large meeting halls, as well as outdoor installation projects such as stadiums and theme parks.

The Compact Adaptive Installation System, as it is called by its full name, is noteworthy not only for its extraordinary flexibility and sonic performance, but also for the ruggedness of its components. For example, the German-made mid/high unit sports a housing made of polyamide resin, an especially durable, weatherproof space-age plastic. Since injection-molded polyamide resin also happens to be highly antiresonant, it lends itself quite well for the construction of loudspeaker enclosures.

The passive CAD 208 mid/h

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UK - Following the recent sudden death of Dennis Harburn, managing director of Shure Distribution UK, Shure has paid tribute to Harburn, who was closely involved with the company for more than three and a half decades.

Dennis Harburn had been with Shure for over 36 years, having joined in 1972, when it was Shure Electronics Limited (SEL), as a sales rep for London and the South East. As SEL shifted to independent ownership, he quickly rose through the ranks as assistant sales manager, sales manager, and then sales director before being named Managing Director in 2000.

While spending almost his entire career supporting Shure, Dennis also was a classic car enthusiast, a lover of horse riding, a die-hard fan of Gillingham F.C and was the proud owner of a vast and diverse music collection. According to one of his associates: "His enthusiasm for music was infectious and there

  1. Renkus-Heinz optimistic for year ahead
  2. ARX releases updated models at Frankfurt
  3. UK first for EV DC-One processor
  4. Out Board takes Tracker to Frankfurt
  5. Ultrasone launches PRO headphones series
  6. E-Audio Benelux begins NetMax training
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