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Japan - Audio-Technica has opened the doors on a new facility, Technica Fukui. Located in Echizen City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Technica Fukui integrates the three pre-existing A-T Fukuoka branches into one location, consolidating and streamlining design efforts with increased collaboration among A-T's global design teams, says the company.

The new facility is equipped with a dedicated acoustic lab and an advanced-design anechoic chamber specially designed for audio testing. An emphasis has been placed on further advancing wireless technologies with research and product development.

Technica Fukui is designed to streamline Audio-Technica's product development process with emphasis on innovation, accuracy and efficiency. Investments in the latest wireless communication measurement tools will allow A-T to create wireless products for both professional and consumer markets that will

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France - The recent JTSE show in Paris was the occasion for loudspeaker manufacturer APG to introduce their concept of what has been termed the 'Uniline Solution'. The Uniline compact line array system is the flagship product of APG's new generation product range which also includes the SMX15 monitor speaker and the new DX Series compact, low profile multipurpose loudspeakers.

APG's managing director, Gregory Dapsanse comments, "The Uniline Solution is a comprehensive, multi-layered network that we have put in place to optimise the exploitation of Uniline in the marketplace."

At the first level, it comprises rental companies who already own a Unline system and who are APG-certified Uniline users. The second level is rental companies who don't own a system themselves, but are nevertheless certified Uniline users who can sub-hire a Uniline system whenever necessary. T

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USA - At the NAMM Show in Anaheim in January, Sennheiser is presenting the new MK 4, a large-diaphragm true condenser microphone. This cardioid microphone, which is manufactured in Germany, is Sennheiser's first large-diaphragm side-address microphone and focuses on giving the best possible sound quality rather than technical extravagance, says the company.

The MK 4 with its nickel-coloured finish was developed for professional users in project studios, but is equally well suited for other recording environments and is tough enough for use on stage, adds the company.

"In the development of the MK 4, we invested every euro in getting the best possible sound," says product manager Sebastian Schmitz, "and we focused on the key elements of a good studio microphone to ensure that we can offer the MK 4 to our customers at an attractive price."

The MK 4 has a la

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Switzerland - TiMax Tracker and TiMax2 SoundHub audio showcontrol systems from UK developer, Out Board, have been in constant demand for the outdoor theatrical events becoming ever more popular across Europe. Two such events in the 2010 season were Anna's Carnifex - the story of Switzerland's last witchhunt of Anna Goldi the witch by Carnifex the witchhunter - and Dallebach Kari, a musical of the classic film which signalled the beginning of German-speaking new Swiss cinema.

Tom Strebel and his Basel-based sound design and consulting company audiopool were behind both events.

The Dallebach Kari opus was staged at Thunersee, where every year a large stage is built upon the beautiful lake of this, one of Switzerland's largest cities. Strebel employed the TiMax SoundHub not only to apply its delay-matrix localisation capabilities to the radio mics, but also f

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UK - Currently on an extensive tour to promote her debut, eponymously-titled album, Eliza Doolittle is playing a range of territories including Europe, the USA and Australia. A recent UK headline tour, followed by a prestigious support slot to Paloma Faith, has also helped to raise her profile in her home country.

Tour manager and Front of House engineer Jim Carmichael is a long-term Sennheiser user and a self-confessed fan of the 900 series. Currently, Eliza is using an e965 wireless microphone and G3 IEMs, with her band using wired e935 mics.

Touring takes its toll on equipment, especially when you're on a tight budget. "As well as providing good audio quality and signal strength, the Sennheiser equipment is extremely rugged and reliable," says Carmichael. "The company's backup is also excellent - I've never had a single problem that hasn't been solved with a

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Europe - As Deep Purple continue their tour through Germany and France, their long-serving FOH engineer Gert Sanner has transferred his show mix from his Soundcraft Vi6 digital console to the smaller footprint of the new Vi1.

An early adopter of the Vi6 (since when he has regularly provided technical support to sales and rental company, SSE Group), Sanner was keen to move his show files to the Vi1 and prove the process in a real-world environment.

"The purpose was to create show files that would work on any Vi console," he stated, with the end goal of purchasing a Vi1 for the band.

Having now completed his rigorous trials, the FOH engineer declares that he has been able to tick every box. "It was important to be sure that the Vi1 would work on the road and to discover whether there were any compatibility issues or areas for improvement. I did this by demoing i

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USA - Meyer Sound has announced that it will exhibit at the forthcoming NAMM Show in Anaheim, scheduled for 13 -16 January 2011. This will mark the company's first formal participation at NAMM in more than 14 years.

Rachel Archibald, director of marketing at Meyer Sound comments, "Our presence underscores Meyer Sound's commitment to serving not only touring sound companies but also rehearsal facilities, music venues, musicians, and beyond."

"We are excited to have a company of Meyer Sound's calibre participate at the NAMM Show this year," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. "Both of our organisations share the desire to honour the best and brightest in the pro audio field through the TEC Foundation."

Meyer Sound will also become a Platinum Sponsor of the TEC Awards, to be held in conjunction with the NAMM Show on Friday 14 January.. Meye

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UK - Ateis UK has appointed York-based Tukans as sole distributor to handle its ECS-Teleconference range.

ECS (Echo Cancellation System) was launched at the beginning of 2010 and is designed to produce clear audio for teleconference work, with no delays or doubletalk. The product is based on a digital signal processor using Dynamic Automatic Echo Cancellation, which uses a wideband acoustic echo cancelling algorithm developed by Ateis engineers.

While ECS is aimed at the conference market in general Ateis is also looking to move into the boardroom and specialised commerce sectors. The ECS range has a modular configuration and comprehensive signal processing replacing the function of many ancillary products, making it cost effective and easy to maintain.

Tukans director Yvonne Womersley comments: "The financial sector has embraced conferencing technology and we are sure

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UK - LMC Audio has sold the very first Midas PRO3 live audio system to Rambert Dance Company. Rambert's front of house engineer, Tomás O'Connor, who made the decision to purchase the desk alongside sound designer David Tinson, was keen to invest in a desk that "combines quality and flexibility".

O'Connor comments: "Rambert wanted to spend wisely on a desk that could fulfil the demands of the company's increasingly complex show pieces. Our main goal was to find a desk that had all the flexibility and features of a digital desk, but with the usability and great sound quality of an analogue desk. After a lot of research, the Midas Pro series was the only desk that met our requirements."

JP Cavaco, sales manager at LMC London, made the sale to Rambert.

O'Connor notes: "When I joined Rambert, I was aware of a long history between the sound department her

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Germany - The new EAW KF740 Three-Way Full-Range Line Array module recently made its German debut at a historic concert in Berlin that featured one of the best-known oratory works by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Berlin-based Hacksound Veranstaltungstechnik provided the multi-zone PA system, comprising all EAW speakers powered by Lab.gruppen amplification, for the performance of Canto General at the Max Schmeling Hall.

Hacksound supplied a main left/right flown system composed of nine KF740 speakers plus two KF730 Compact Line Array Modules, for down-fill, per side. A dozen additional KF730 speakers, in two hangs of six, provided out-fill to the audience on either side of the stage. Five more KF730s were positioned to provide front-fill. Three hangs each of six KF730 speakers, plus a pair of SB730 Compact Line Array Subwoofers, were employed for left, centre and right

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The Netherlands - DiGiCo is returning to ISE alongside the brand's Dutch distributor TM Audio. This year, as well as its flagship SD7 and mid-sized SD8 desks, the entry level SD9 and the new SDRack, launched at PLASA2010, the company will "demonstrate DiGiCo's commitment to the install market".

The newest addition to DiGiCo's SD Series of consoles is the SD9. This complete, integrated system includes the mixing surface, a D-Rack digital stage interface and Cat 5E digital multicore. As with all DiGiCo consoles, it has the additional ability to simultaneously record 56 channels direct to your favourite multitrack software or DAW.

Also on show will be the new 192KHz SD Rack. This is the first I/O rack for any mixing console that offers multiple format sample rate conversion and allows up to an amazing 448 I/O, in any combi

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Lebanon - Beirut-based Pro-Audio company AMAC has been appointed as Electro-Voice's distributor as of 1 November 2010.

AMAC director Abdul Razzak Assafiri comments, "AMAC's policy is to keep on pushing towards a better future and leadership in the A/V market. Electro-Voice is of great significance for us."

Assafiri continues, " We offer services and solutions. That is to say - distribution, consultancy, design and simulations, system integration and after-sales services. We are also skilled in installations and solutions such as professional sound for theatres, house of worship, conferences, hotels, pubs and clubs. And last but not least we offer DJ equipment as well as automation and control for both residential and commercial venues."

AMAC has two offices and two showrooms, one located in North of Lebanon and the other in the centre of Beirut.

(Jim Ev

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Czech Republic - The 12th Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, the largest scenography / performance design event in the world, held once every four years, returns to Prague, Czech Republic, in June 2011. Coming to Prague will allow visitors to discover a unique outdoor performing exhibition, Intersection: Intimacy & Spectacle, presenting 30 internationally acclaimed artists within an architectural environment/installation specially designed for this occasion.

Additionally, a large number of projects will be on display in outdoor public spaces throughout the city - a unique occasion to discover Prague through the eyes of the world's contemporary artists. Visitors will also be able to explore various disciplines essential to the performing arts thanks to special projects focused on lighting and sound design, architect

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UK - Soundcraft Studer has recruited Garry Blackmore, previously programmes manager at Xerox, to spearhead a wave of new product developments as part of its rapid growth strategy.

Blackmore has a background in research and development, having worked on developing Xerox's multifunction systems, and has a BSc in computer science.

"Garry joins us at a time when we are turning a performance corner, said head of Harman's mixer business Andy Trott. "We have delivered the first two phases of our growth strategy and now aim to accelerate projects even faster. With Garry's skills and experience I am confident we'll continue taking market share and providing our customers with even more irresistible products."

BIackmore adds: "I hope to use my experience to help develop a project management methodology that helps us release even more products to our quality, cost a

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UK - John Hornby Skewes & Co, UK and Eire trade distributors of HK Audio products and Lab.gruppen products, reports that Feeder is using HK Audio and Lab.gruppen products on live dates around the world. The year 2010 marked the release of the band's seventhth album, Renegades, and saw the band embark on a sell-out international tour.

At the Leeds Metropolitan University show, the band used a pair of HK Audio CT115 Contour Series monitors which had been bi-amped off two channels of a Lab.gruppen FP+10000Q and Channel 1 of an HK Audio DSM2060 speaker management processor.

Taking the drum seat for the tour is acclaimed session drummer Karl Brazil who used HK Audio monitors from the Contour Series (a pair of CT118 subs and a pair of CT115 speakers).

"Karl is a very musical and dynamic player," says Dan Trowhill, Feeder's monitor engineer. "It has been diffi

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USA - First Baptist Church Cleveland (FBC) in Cleveland, Tennessee set out to build a new facility whose technical capabilities would support and enhance a variety of worship styles, including contemporary services with a strong sound and media component. To provide sound reinforcement in the new campus' 1700-seat worship center, FBC Cleveland chose an Electro-Voice PA system.

Phase One of construction was recently completed at the new 38-acre site, which features nearly 95,000sq.ft of worship, education, and commons/fellowship space. Development, design, and construction were handled by Myrick Gurosky & Associates of Birmingham, Alabama. Walthall & Associates managed the acoustical and AV portions of the project, working with in-house Electro-Voice applications engineer Stu Schatz to design the loudspeaker configuration. The PA was installed by Cleveland's GravelRoad Entertainm

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UK - Pro Audio Systems were a technical partner of the recent 24th Leeds International Film Festival. This event is the largest regional film festival in the UK with over 300 screenings of films from all over the world, including previously-unseen works as well as classics of cinema.

The 2010 event took place in the magnificent surroundings of Leeds Town Hall, which for the duration of the festival was turned into a huge multi-media location with an enormous screen and a sophisticated immersive audio infrastructure.

Pro Audio Systems designed, installed and operated a bespoke sound system for the event comprising mainly Meyer Sound equipment. Providing seamless coverage of the large auditorium required the creation of 11 separate audio zones, programmed and independently controlled using Meyer Sound's SIM audio analyser system and Galileo processors.

An Extron SSP-7.1 surrou

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Taiwan - DPA's Taiwanese distributor IX Technology, part of the Linfair Group, has supplied more than 130 DPA microphones to Public Television Service (PTS), a division of the Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS). The order includes large quantities of 4006-TL omnis, 4011-TL cardioids, 4015-TL wide cardioids and 4017 shotgun mics, as well as seven 5006 surround microphone kits (five matched 4006-TLs and accessories) with seven S5c surround mounts.

The new mics will be deployed across PTS' new HDTV facilities in Taipei, including four new TV studios, two new HDTV OB trucks and an audio recording truck dedicated to mastering in surround. A major part of their use will be for recording classical music and opera performances at live venues such as the National Theatre and Concert Hall.

PTS' supervising audio engineer Julius Wang comments: "I'm extremely happy with PTS' additions

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USA - California-based Mastermind Production Group Inc has added JBL Vertec subcompact line array loudspeakers to its roster of live sound equipment.

Recently, Mastermind purchased 18 JBL Vertec VT4886 subcompact line array elements and nine VT4883 subcompact arrayable subwoofers to add to its rental inventory. Other JBL speakers in use by Mastermind include VRX932LA-1 Constant Curvature powered loudspeakers, eight 18" VRX918S subwoofers, SRX712M stage monitors, and AC25 speakers for use as area-fill speakers. The company will be adding more VT4886 and VT4883 speakers by the end of December.

"We are a regional sound company in Orange County, California. We pride ourselves on having great gear and doing great work," says Chad Griswold, president of Mastermind Production Group. "We do a lot of church and school events, functions for the City of Anaheim, as we

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USA - Platinum-selling rock band Flyleaf have been touring constantly in 2010, building upon the success of their Memento Mori and Flyleaf albums. Now on the second leg of the band's Unite and Fight tour, Rich Caldwell (front of house engineer) and Sean Patrick (monitor engineer) rely on Soundcraft Vi6 and Si3 digital mixing consoles, respectively.

"Earlier this year we were able to secure a production budget to carry consoles, so we started shopping for a desk to rent," says Rich Caldwell, Flyleaf's front of house engineer. "We wanted to go analogue at the time, but it's just not practical for a multi-band bill and limited trailer space. After several lengthy conversations with Vince Kapchinski, the owner of Backstage Sound and Lighting [of Bryan, Texas], we decided to take out the Vi6. He kept raving about how 'analog' the Vi6 digital sounde

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Poland - Jazz pianist Leszek Mo?d?er has been using two DPA stereo miking kits - a 3511 and a 3506 - for his live performances and studio recordings.

The 3511 kit consists of a pair of matched DPA 4011-TL cardioid microphones with stereo booms and mounting accessories. These mics are linear in their frequency response, on and off axis, and provide high SPLs to allow close as well as distant placement. The 3506 kit contains two 4006-TL compact omni mics which have a detailed and natural reproduction with high sensitivity and low noise-floor.

"DPA microphones transfer the sound very faithfully," says Mo?d?er, explaining why he's chosen the DPAs. "They reproduce everything: the hammers working inside the piano, the touch of the fingers on the keyboard, the mechanism of piano's pedal. The microphones record and reproduce everything that is going on while playing; th

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UK - Following the retirement of Claude Burton at the end of September, Lee Shuttlewood has taken over the role of professional sound sales - south for Sennheiser UK.

Shuttlewood spent the past 10 years working in the broadcast and systems integrator markets at pro audio technology supplier HHB.

"Claude is very well regarded and played a vital role within Sennheiser's pro audio sales team," says Nigel Mann, business area manager - pro systems. "But Lee's extensive experience in broadcast and systems integration means that he is already proving his worth."

A key part of Shuttlewood's remit is to liaise directly with broadcasters, systems integrators and broadcast hire companies to assist them in the switchover from Channel 69 (854-862 MHz) to Channel 38 (606-614 MHz), which comes into force during 2012.

"We have taken a proactive approach to the Cha

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UK - POLARaudio has appointed Clive Burns as national sales manager for its retail division. Burns has many years experience within the audio industry and has previously worked for prestigious companies including Korg and most recently Behringer.

Burns has been brought into the business to head up the newly created retail division and to strengthen the rapidly expanding team at POLARaudio. His main objectives will be to underpin POLAR's already strong product portfolio within the Retail and MI sector, whilst developing new business.

POLARaudio's managing director John Midgley commented: "Clive brings with him a wealth of experience and technical knowledge, he has worked within retail sector for many years and has longstanding strong relationships with key figures. He reinforces our quality driven approach to business, we are delighted to have him on board and look forward

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South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa supplied technical production, including sound, lighting, video equipment and a stage/roof system plus crew for the South African leg of Indian singer/musician A R Rahman's Jai Ho world tour.

Gearhouse SA's project manager was Bill Lawford, who started work two months in advance, collaborating closely with the tour's US-based production manager, Nick Jeen.

Three venues - Sun City Superbowl, the Grand West Casino in Cape Town and the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban - were visited over a 12 day period.

The tour brought its full monitor rig and control consoles for sound, lighting and video to SA - the production sound elements came from Sirius Show Equipment Germany for this section. At the first two venues, they hooked into the house racks-and-stacks for audio, with Gearhouse supplementing a quantity of Kudo and dV-DOSC cabinets, a

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