Sound

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UK / Germany - Optocore's new OptoRack environment - the plug and play fibre line system, co-developed by the German manufacturer and Wigwam Hire - has made its world debut on Leona Lewis's current Labyrinth tour.

Experienced FOH sound engineer (and long-term Wigwam affiliate) Kevin Pruce, said that the returns system, designed to provide a flexible solution to the technical restrictions which many hire / production companies face with Cat 5 cable systems, was functioning without a hitch.

"I enjoy working with new systems and know that Wigwam would never put anything out until they are 100% sure that it works," said the sound engineer. "Chris [Hill, Wigwam Hire director] decided it was time to find a solution to the problem of having to supply various different types of cable runs from FOH to stage, (AES, analogue and data). This system overcomes that, by

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USA - Audio-Technica is a sponsor for the 15th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. This is the 11th year of Audio-Technica's involvement in the contest.

As part of the competition's prize packages, Audio-Technica has provided four AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Microphones, two ATM450 Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphones, 10 ATH-M40fs Precision Studio Headphones, two AT2041SP Studio Microphone Packs and two ATM610 Hypercardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphones. The entry period recently ended 28 May 2010, and winners will be announced in November.

The USA Songwriting Competition is currently the longest-running consecutive-year songwriting competition. Last year's contest saw 34,900 entries from around the world. The competition has a proven track record in helping winners achieve recording contracts, publishing contracts and getting their music placed in film and television. Winn

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USA - Peavey has updated the PR Series powered loudspeakers with its new class D amplifier topology for lighter weight on the new PR 15D and PR 12D models, which are available now.

The Peavey PR 15D and PR 12D are two-way powered loudspeaker systems engineered with a bi-amplified class D power section that drives a 12" woofer with a robust 150 watts continuous and a 1.4" titanium-diaphragm RX 14 compression driver with another 50 watts continuous.

The PR 15D and PR 12D are capable of up to 120dB peak SPL and feature Peavey's exclusive DDT speaker protection, which virtually eliminates audible power amplifier clipping. A built-in, heavy-duty crossover increases reliability at high power levels, says the company.

A Woofer Servo monitors the woofer for back-EMF that is not a result of the drive signal and compensates for the unwanted woofer response in the overall sig

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USA - Audio-Technica has expanded its contractor-exclusive Engineered Sound line with the introduction of the ES963 Three-Element Multidirectional Boundary Microphone. The ES963 is designed for surface-mount applications such as high-quality sound reinforcement, conferencing, professional recording, television and other demanding sound pickup applications in the installed sound and sound contracting markets, says the company.

Three cardioid condenser elements mounted in the microphone housing are factory set with an angle of 120 degrees between them to provide complete 360-degree coverage (in the hemisphere above mounting surface).

Two positioning levers on the microphone base allow two of the three elements to be reoriented (with no tools or disassembly required) to offer angles of 90/90/180 degrees between elements - ideal for positioning at the end of long conference tables

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USA - John Taylor ,speaking at this year's Broadway Sound Master classes said, "This is clearly an award by the people who use the kit, rather than by those who buy advertising space, so it's an award we really value." Taylor was accepting the award for Best Loudspeaker on behalf of d&b audiotechnik. "The panel, kept secret from all of us who submit products, is made up of sound designers and sound operators. We might not know who they are, but we do see some of their comments which is great."

The loudspeaker in question is the new d&b B4-SUB, ostensibly a cardioid sub and the new addition to d&b's extensive subwoofer collection. "But this one is very different," said Taylor. "Matthias Christner from the R&D acoustics department refers to it as PSP (as opposed to DSP) which stands for Plywood Signal Processing!

"DSP is normally needed to

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China/Switzerland - Chinese radio company Chongqing Broadcasting Group has placed an order for more than 20 Pyramix digital audio workstations with Merging Asia, the Chinese distributor for Pyramix's Swiss manufacturer, Merging Technologies.

The order is part of the broadcasting group's plan to move its eight radio stations to a new headquarters. In addition to the 16 DAWs required for live use on air (two for each station: one for live use, and one for back-up), a further six systems have been purchased to make recordings from the new headquarters' performance hall, and for use in the broadcaster's recording and post-production studios.

Weishen Xu, president of Merging Asia, comments, "The Chinese radio broadcast industry is entering a period of rapid change, and the new systems at Chongqing Broadcasting Group form a milestone installation, one offering a level of qualit

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USA - North Carolina-based system designer Strategic Connections recently upgraded the sound system for the newly expanded Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The new sound reinforcement system features JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, and BSS processing.

Already the largest church in the region, the 12,000-member church chose to remodel its existing main sanctuary by adding an additional 700 seats.

At the heart of the new sound reinforcement system are 38 JBL VerTec VT4888 midsize line array elements flown in four arrays with 16 JBL ASB6128V subwoofers, 10 flown and six located under the stage. For front-fills, seven JBL AC28/95 loudspeakers are housed behind the perimeter of the stage. "The goal was to provide rock and roll style PA without filling the space with tons of speakers," stated Brant Doell, system designer for Strategic Connections.

The system is

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South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa supplied full technical production for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert, staged at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The show was broadcast to tens of millions of music and football fans worldwide on 10 June, the night before the first match.

The eclectic mix of African and international artists was executive-produced by Los Angeles-based Control Room whose technical director, Jim Baggott, and Gearhouse's project manager Bill Lawford oversaw all technical disciplines offered by the Gearhouse Group.

Gearhouse Audio supplied all audio equipment along with Britannia Row with whom Gearhouse has a long-standing relationship. These elements included racks-and-stacks for the main stage and B stage, with Britannia Row supplying front-of-house and monitor consoles, all the RF equipment - mics and IEMs - plus a crew of

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USA - Verona, Wisconsin-based Intellasound Productions provided the sound system for the multi-headliner tour featuring Drowning Pool, Five Finger Death Punch, Hellyeah, Lacuna Coil, and Seether show at the 6,000-capacity La Crosse Centre in La Crosse last month.

Intellasound deployed its Electro-Voice XLC sound system for the event, bringing in (32) XLC127-DVX mains and (24) Xsubs, all powered and processed via (30) Tour Grade TG-7 amplifiers equipped with RCM26 IRIS-Net control / DSP modules.

This high-SPL proving ground was also an opportunity for Electro-Voice to test some new technology: George Georgallis (senior applications specialist) and Matt Donarski (EV engineering) were in attendance to run some real-world engineering tests for the new TEMP (Thermal Energy Management and Protection) limiter about to be released for the RCM26 DSP card for the TG amp series.

"

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USA - Nashville-based Endless Analog, the developers and manufacturers of the CLASP (Closed Loop Analog Signal Processor) system, has announced the appointment of Vintage King Audio as its exclusive US retailer for its CLASP system.

"The appointment of Vintage King Audio is part of a comprehensive business plan that positions the next stage of growth for Endless Analog," stated president Chris Estes. "Vintage King is the acknowledged leader in boutique and classic audio products, which makes them a perfect fit to carry CLASP. Their staff is exceptionally well-trained and uniquely qualified to offer Endless Analog's product line, and their contacts and reputation in the industry are second to none. We look forward to working with Vintage King to spread the word about CLASP and analogue/digital hybrid recording."

"Vintage King is reaffirming its place as

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UK - The Forestry Commission's 2010 Live Music Tour kicked off earlier this month with power, lighting and audio specialists Pearce Hire making a concerted effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The tour consists of 22 shows running for six consecutive weekends in June & July, bringing live music to seven forest locations for an evening of entertainment for all the family. This year's broad spectrum of acts includes Keane, Simply Red, Blondie, JLS and The Saturdays.

Pearce Hire works across the whole tour, coordinating two teams and sets of equipment to provide all the site power and both site & stage lighting. This year has seen a significant change in the lighting design for the stage with the company utilising i-Pix BB4 LED Washlights instead of the PARcans previously used, halving the power consumption of the lighting rig from previous years. The rig also includes MAC 700

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USA - When the Oklahoma City Thunder made the 2010 NBA playoffs, drawing Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers as their first round opponent, they knew they would need to maximize their game. That thought was applied to every aspect of the team's operation, on the court and off - including the audio mix.

"The Thunder organization contacted me and they were concerned that Ford Center's sound system wasn't adequate to handle the playoffs," says Jerry Hooper, owner of Hooper Sound Production Services in Norman, Oklahoma. "The Thunder fans are among the loudest in the NBA, and a playoff scenario against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers was sure to test the limits of the current system.

"They asked what should be done to give them the best results, and we determined that the analogue FOH console was the weakest link in their situation." Hooper con

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Singapore The Dbl O club, recently reopened in a new venue equipped with a D.A.S. Variant system. The club's main attraction has always been its top-notch DJ's and the best selection of music with the objective of providing an outstanding dance environment to its patrons.

Having worked together previously for their Pool Room bar, the Emerald Hill Group, approached D.A.S. again with a new. Audio and street art were to be the main priorities of the new Dbl O.

Emerald Hill group director, Arden Peddell comments, "The club was designed as a multi-purpose venue, so we needed the capability of easily unrigging and moving the system around should the need arise." The issue of noise pollution was also present, due to the other establishments in the area which include a hotel. D.A.S. Audio was given the task of designing a venue that would provide pristine audio quality witho

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Mexico - Troya Eventos, a prominent audio production services provider in Mexico, recently deployed a complete JBL Vertec line array system to support Fenahuap, one of Mexico's largest music festivals, in Ciudad Valles, Monterrey, Mexico. The 20-day event featured a multitude of performances from leading acts such as Juri, Aklex Syntec, Sasha, Sin Bandera and Pitbull, on stages throughout the event grounds.

Responsible for the sound reinforcement of the festival's main stage, Troya focused on achieving the perfect coverage and output for the massive crowds attending the outdoor setup. The company needed a system that would cater to the needs of the talent on stage, while also ensuring that weather and other factors would not affect the sound quality.

"We chose Vertec line arrays for their reliability, easy setup and excellent performance in extreme environments, wh

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Nigeria - One of Nigeria's fastest growing churches, Daystar Christian Centre in Ikosi, Lagos, has upgraded its audio system to an Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system.

The installation was managed by Lagos-based rental and installation company, PF Syztems, who originally installed a 40-channel Allen & Heath ML3000 VCA console at FOH with a 40-channel GL4000 at monitor position when the church was first opened three years ago.

Increased attendance and a switch to four consecutive services, coupled with increased complexity in dealing with multiple stage requirements, prompted the 7-000 capacity church to enquire about possible ways to streamline worship services.

PF Syztems' engineer/consultant, Olushola Aremu, comments, "I recommend iLive desks to every FOH and monitor engineer. The iDR-48/iLive-T112 system is a great digital system to work with; it's user-friendl

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UK - Orbital Sound reports that the Da-Cappo Micro Microphones range - distributed exclusively by Orbital in the UK - has won the Sound Product of the Year Award at the ABTT Theatre Show 2010. The award was granted on two counts - in recognition of the tiny 2.5mm diameter Da-Cappo capsule's sweat resistance, with its potential to save the significant on-going wastage of moisture-damaged microphones, together with the comfort and adjustability of the products' innovative ear-mounting system.

Chris Headlam, managing director of Orbital Sound, commented, "This Award is an excellent and well-deserved accolade for the Da-Cappo brand - won for the performer-comfort and security of its ear-loop, as well as its technical, moisture-resistant performance. It recognises the products' inherent financial benefits for theatres and production companies as, in this budget-challenged climat

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USA - Audio-Technica has recognized Roseville, California-based The Farm Technical Sales & Marketing as its Rep of the Year for the 2010 fiscal year. Marc Lee Shannon, Audio-Technica vice president, sales, and Tracy Brefka, Audio-Technica territory manager, professional products, presented the award to The Farm principal John Hood. The Farm sells Audio-Technica's complete line of professional audio products to sound contractors and retailers in Northern California.

Audio-Technica held the awards ceremony during this year's InfoComm Expo on 9 June in Las Vegas, Nevada, to honour its dedicated force of manufacturer's representatives. The A-T Rep of the Year recipient was congratulated for outstanding sales performance and bestowed with Audio-Technica's Samurai doll award. The Farm Technical Sales & Marketing was acknowledged for its consistent success in the areas of sales, market

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UK - Following the success of her ITV2 sketch show Katy Brand's Big Ass Show, the eponymous comedienne has gone out on the road, performing a stage version in theatres and arts centres throughout the UK. A key part of the technical production is a package of Sennheiser microphones and wireless equipment.

The shows comprise songs and dance routines, as well as straight stand-up comedy. With everyone from the Queen to Amy Winehouse the butt of Brand's humour, the bottom line for the show's promoters Mick Perrin Productions (MPP) was that Brand's wide-ranging styles of delivery had to be crystal clear at every seat, despite the venues ranging widely in size and design.

Through previous tours, Sennheiser has built a successful and close working relationship with MPP and Sennheiser product has become a ubiquitous part of the production company's touring equipment.

For the

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Spain - Void Acoustics has made a major impact on the Ibizan club scene with new distributor, IbizaPA, completing two major installations in just six weeks. The controversial daytime club, DC-10, recently re-opened with a sizeable Void triple-horn Air Motion - installed for promoters Circo Loco in just nine days from order to completion. The new Sands Beach Restaurant is also home to a Void installation, featuring an all-white Air Ten system in the White Bar.

IbizaPA was established three years ago, building up a reputation for local events and installations. Recognising the potential of the Ibizan market, Void had been looking for a dynamic distributor for some time. Director Alex Skan explains, "Ibiza's club environment is very image-conscious and a perfect match for our brand's combination of eye-catching speaker design and excellent sound quality.

"We started wor

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USA - The Grand Lady of Market Street has been a landmark in Wilmington, Delaware, for nearly 140 years. Opened as the Grand Opera House in 1871, The Grand has led a colourful history, hosting operas and symphonies, vaudeville and burlesque, movies and live performances. In its early years, performers including Ethel Barrymore, Buffalo Bill Cody and John Philip Sousa graced its stage. For most of the 20th century the 1,208-seat hall operated as a movie theatre, eventually falling into disrepair and closing its doors in 1967.

After an extensive restoration, The Grand reopened as a live performance venue, and has become a nexus for the city's downtown revival. Along with the smaller 300-seat Baby Grand next door, the building hosts more than 300 events per year, ranging from symphony orchestras and ballets to rock and contemporary artists, comedy and performance art.

Like many t

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Sweden - The Stockholm Jazz Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this month, with performances by artists ranging from heavyweights of the genre like John Scofield, Wayne Shorter and Courtney Pine to those with broader appeal, including Elliot, Kool and the Gang and the Brand New Heavies. Bringing this remarkable variety of music to the Skeppsholmen island venue was an Alcons Audio system.

This was the first year that Bromma-based rental company Electrosound had provided the festival's audio system, as a part of the complete sound/light/stage production by Live Media Group. Designed by Electrosound's Brollan Söderström and LMG's Robert Karlsson, an Alcons LR16 rig overcame a significant lack of space without compromising on sound quality.

The festival features two parallel stages which flip flop between artists. The Alcons system featured three clusters, that on

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UK - Professional loudspeaker manufacturer Funktion One is incorporating a Prism Sound Orpheus FireWire computer interface into the Ambisonics rig it is using at this weekend's Glastonbury Festival in order to bring studio quality audio to sound playback.

Funktion One managing director Tony Andrews comments: "We avoid the use of electronic equalisation to correct for system anomalies, as we believe that it is better to engineer the problems out of the loudspeaker system in the first place, rather than to correct for them electronically. Otherwise you pay a price in terms of phase response and headroom. We also avoid compression drivers in the mid-range, to keep distortion to a minimum. Our loudspeaker systems have excellent directional control allowing sound to be focused where it's needed and minimising out-of-venue environmental impact."

The company's loudspeaker d

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UK - Matt Howell is the newest member of Audient's Hampshire-based sales team. Following UK sales manager, Gareth Williams' appointment, Howell joins Audient to take on the responsibility for Audient's worldwide marketing initiative.

A recent graduate from the Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey, Howell brings a firm understanding of the technical aspects of music recording to the company, along with experience in both new and established media marketing.

"Audient's range is abundant with fantastic products that we want to bring to the wider audience. I'm very excited about working with the team, as we look to provide a more sophisticated and interactive framework for current and new customers," says Howell.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - In Cardiff, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) has started to spend the equipment budget for its new £22.5m performance facility, and the first audio acquisition is an M-400 V-Mixing System complete with 32-way Digital Snake, supplied by Stage Electrics.

The extensive development project on the College's existing site in the grounds of Cardiff Castle is expected to complete early in 2011, but Ian Evans' technical studies team was eager to start using the new M-400 from the Roland Systems Group. The compact digital console is ultimately destined to be the front-of-house mixer for the new 160-seat Richard Burton Theatre, but first it will be deployed on everything from classroom training to summer balls, promenade theatre and live music.

"We're already used it in our black-box theatre, where Firenze Guidi has just directed her production of The

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  5. APG confirms first DX Series sales
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