UK - Could advances in Bluetooth technology have benefits for the live music industry? Jonny McClintock, commercial director at Antennaware, CEO of Audio Codecs and advisor to Virscient, Segotia and Sonical, explores the issue . . .
McClintock: “Almost to the day, it’s been 12 months since I resigned my role in Qualcomm having looked after aptX for almost 30 years. In that time, I’d been on a journey that took aptX into over 12billion devices in the professional and consumer electronic audio sectors. The resignation was in part down to post-COVID, in part approaching 57 years old and an interest to see if I could ‘go again’, but mostly just a sense of frustration about wireless audio. This frustration was almost wholly around Bluetooth and how it really wasn’t delivering on its potential.
“When APT Licensing Limited was acquired by CSR in 2010, Bluetooth

USA - Wisycom has appointed John B. Anthony Company as its new manufacturers’ representative for the north-eastern United States.
John B. Anthony Company will represent Wisycom’s entire suite of products, including its new MTP61 Miniature Multiband Transmitter, as well as its new LBC61 4+4 Battery Charger and its versatile new MTK982 dual-wideband stereo IEM/IFB transmitter, among other solutions.
“For over 50 years, we have had a proven track record of generating new business and growing companies, and we are very excited to add Wisycom to our portfolio of brands,” says Angelo Fecci, president and treasurer of John B. Anthony Company. “Our hope is that through our services, we will provide Wisycom with the representation they need, and will prove to be strong assets to their team.”
“Expanding our market is important to us and working with the Joh

USA - Moving lighting fixtures around at a festival often requires some careful logistics. Moving crews around calls for considerable skill too. George Cannon got a first-hand view of both recently when he was hired by Harford Sound to be the house LD at the That Tent at Bonnaroo.
“Harford Sound was responsible for the That Tent and the This stage at the festival,” said Cannon. “They had morning and night shift crews that would tag off around 6-7 PM. We stayed at an Airbnb about 30 minutes away from site. So logistics alone for all those crew was a lot. Harford Sound and Rock the House AV did a great job making this project rock. The job everyone involved did was amazing.”
Tasked with providing audio, lighting and full staffing for both stages from 8am to 3am daily, Harford Sound broke the project into two shifts. With a crew 18 deep, the company furn

UK - Occupying the stunning Tudor courtyard, the two-week Hampton Court Palace Music Festival returned recently to this Grade I royal palace setting, dating back to the early 16th century and once home to Henry VIII.
Working within constraints of heritage buildings and tasked with creating a technical infrastructure for the event in recent years has been SWG Events.
A major investment in the manufacturer’s technology has enabled them to field an end-to-end solution (the latest acquisitions being further Torus T1215 speakers and SXC118 single 18in cardioid subwoofers). This is in support of their flagship WPL Wavefront Precision line array which was deployed as the main PA hangs.
All of which has this year delighted the many visiting sound engineers accompanying artists ranging from Gladys Knight, Kaiser Chiefs, Soft Cell, Kool & The Gang and Tom Jones, who

Lebanon - LEA Professional has announced a distribution partnership with Technosound of Beirut to support its customer base in the Middle East. This partnership allows LEA Professional to increase support for its existing customers in the region, as well as further develop new opportunities in the market.
Technosound has more than 50 years of experience in the audio industry and is a trusted distributor in the Lebanese high-end pro audio industry, dedicated to providing customers with customised quality solutions. The company will represent the full range of amplifier solutions from LEA Professional.
“We are always seeking new, dynamic partners to complete our offering,” said Georges Bitar, CEO of Technosound. “LEA Professional is a game-changer in this industry and we are proud to work with an innovative partner that is always looking to make things better, easi

USA - Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics tour has entertained more than 4.5m fans across three continents since it launched in Dublin on 23 April of last year.
Additionally, the tour has been a valuable proving ground for advanced sound reinforcement technologies. The tour was the first to carry Milan AVB networked signals from FOH mix through to the individual loudspeaker boxes - in this case, 212 Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers from Major Tom. The tour also has been a test bench for Meyer Sound’s new Nebra software platform for network configuration and system monitoring, while MAPP 3D prediction software has streamlined the task of realigning coverage for varying stadium shapes and sizes.
“The network has been rock solid, and we’ve used Milan AVB as our primary input since early in the European leg,” says system engineer Adam Wells. “Wit

Japan - Formed in 2008, the three-piece Japanese rock band My Hair is Bad recently wrapped up the Ultimate Homerun Tour with final arena series concerts in the Osaka-Jo Hall and in a Tokyo arena. The tour, which began in the middle of 2022 as Japan’s pandemic restrictions on entertainment began to ease, culminated with these two arena concerts that featured a special immersive audio experience.
The band’s sound engineer, Hironori Ochi had first learned of L-ISA technology from Masaaki Nagayasu, systems engineer at L-Acoustics certified rental agent Hibino Sound, who hosted Mr. Ochi to an L-ISA workshop in his personal studio. On discovering the capabilities of L-ISA, Mr. Ochi began working on the design of an L-ISA Hyperreal Sound system for the 10,000-capacity Osaka-Jo Hall arena concert.
“I received L-ISA training with L-Acoustics in the spring of 2022. The im

Austria - Designed by noted Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, the Salzburg State Theatre was completed in 1893 and is today the leading venue for performing arts in the historic Austrian city. This 700-seat theatre stages around 400 productions per season, encompassing drama, opera, ballet and youth theatre.
For the project of renovating the stage facilities and installing new sound and lighting systems, the theatre turned to experienced stage technology solutions consultants BWKI located in Bayreuth, Germany, with the very specific instruction that no loudspeakers should be visible in the historic hall.
BWKI system planner Jürgen Meyer, himself an experienced sound engineer, reports: “To replace the existing line array, we worked with Nexo to design a system based around four ID84/84L cabinets coupled to create a single, 4m column that was just 150mm wide, so

Germany - Holoplot has announced the launch of its latest product innovation: X2. Wrapped in a more compact hardware design, Holoplot’s newly conceived X2 embraces the same core technologies of 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis as the multi-award winning X1, making it more accessible for integration projects across a variety of sectors.
The X2 is optimised for speech applications and builds on achievements from Holoplot’s formative years, when tests of a technology prototype resulted in some of the highest Speech Transmission Index (STI) measurements ever recorded on a train station platform.
The Modul 30 (MD30) is a Matrix Array loudspeaker, incorporating 30 full-range drivers in a single layered matrix arrangement. X2 taps into intelligent software-based optimisation of sound system design and performance, as well as guaranteeing seamless and customiz

UK - For the past 15 years, associate sound designer Hyder Khalil has been crafting the audio that brings the long-running London stage musical Wicked to life.
Working alongside sound designer Tony Meola, Khalil abides by Meola’s philosophy when micing shows: whether you’re working with instruments or cast members, get the mic in the correct place without being intrusive, and then get the sound as perfect as possible. With these goals in mind, microphones designed to provide authentic audio were the obvious choice when upgrading the theatre’s sound system.
DPA Microphones fits all of the sound needs for Wicked. After initially integrating the DPA 6061 Subminiature Lavalier Microphones, the theatre added the brand’s 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid, 4055 Kick Drum and 4099 Instrument Mics to its lineup.
“As a whole, DPA makes things easier,”

Europe - Touring in support of their ninth studio album, Will Of The People, Muse are back on the road with long time audio vendor, Skan PA Hire. Building on two decades of trust between the bespoke audio rental company and one of Britain’s most intriguing and progressive bands, the Will Of The People tour delivers with impact.
The band have entrusted their nuanced repertoire to FOH Engineer Marc Carolan since 2001. “I’ve only missed one show since,” confirms Carolan. “It’s been incredibly satisfying working with them, and to hear their evolution; nothing has ever stagnated, and they consistently perform at the highest level.
“As musicians, they are very good at expressing specifics, so working out the audio brief for the tour is always an efficient process.”
Carolan, who is supported by FOH Tech Eddie O’Brien, has used Skan PA Hir

India - Jaipur’s Suntech Sound recently invested in their first L-Acoustics system comprising of Kara II and KS28 high-power subwoofers. With the aim to exceed their clients’ expectations, Vaibhav Goel, founder of Suntech Sound strategically planned the company’s future with L-Acoustics.
The purchase was done through Hi-Tech Audio & Image who are L-Acoustics official India distributor and have been associated with the brand for a decade.
The move marks a significant milestone for Suntech Sound as it expands its product portfolio and further solidifies its position in the audio rental industry.
Vaibhav Goel comments: “L-Acoustics sets a new benchmark in audio reinforcement with their cutting-edge loudspeaker technology and advanced sound design solutions. Their precise and immersive sound reproduction, coupled with their extensive range of scalable sy

USA - The 2023 AES International Conference on Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration, held at The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia, concluded ‘with resounding success’.
Over the course of three days, nearly 200 researchers and practitioners from around the world gathered to discuss critical preservation issues and explore strategies that foster collaboration and interoperability between the industry and the preservation, restoration, and archiving communities.
The conference, which took place from 1-3 June, provided an opportunity for experts in the field to come together and share their knowledge and insights. The event's focus on audio archiving, preservation, and restoration emphasized the importance of safeguarding our sonic heritage and ensuring its accessibility for future generations.
Part

UK - Based at the historic Birmingham Hippodrome, the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is one of five major ballet companies in the United Kingdom. Known for its intensive touring schedule, the company required a reliable communication solution that could be easily deployed in a variety of venues. The solution came in the form of an innovative punQtum and Riedel solution, specified by UK distributor Autograph.
Prior to the upgrade, the production team were using a two-stage system, composed of a one- or two-channel hard-wired system and a Motorola radio system. “Depending on the venue, we often found that their hard-wired systems were far from being able to accommodate the size and complexity of our productions,” says Johnny Westall-Eyre, technical manager of Lighting/AV at Birmingham Royal Ballet. “That meant we had an in-house system we couldn’t rely on and that wasn

UK - This year, Martin Audio’s open day programme returns over an extended three-day period (from 6-8 September) at their High Wycombe base, following on from the PLASA Show, London.
It was exactly six years ago that the manufacturer launched the first of what has become a hugely successful programme.
This September the open days will offer more demonstration times each day and a half day extension plus the introduction of a new product at their newly refurbished offices. It will be sharing the stage with fellow brands within the Focusrite Group, namely Optimal Audio, Linea Research and Focusrite, ‘delivering on the promise of a mini tradeshow, without the walking’.
Martin Audio will be showcasing their recently announced point source series, FlexPoint, the full line up of constant curvature Torus loudspeakers, a selection of optimised line arrays from the

UK - Audio networking specialist, AuviTran has appointed Glasgow-based CUK as distributor for the UK and Ireland with immediate effect.
AuviTran has been developing audio networking products in the shadow of the French Préalpes since 2003, initially with a range of EtherSound interfaces for mixing consoles. Today, the company produces a wide range of Dante interfaces along with the innovative Audio ToolBox modular solution for routing between and converting multiple audio formats including Milan certified AVB, Dante, EtherSound, CobraNet, MADI and AES-EBU.
International sales and marketing manager at AuviTran, Cianna David-Kivlehan, comments: “CUK tick all the boxes for us when looking for a distribution partner. Their presence in both live sound and installed AV allows them to service our two key market sectors. Having a strong technical focus means that customers

USA - The recently-opened Bankroll is a new take on a Philadelphia sports bar. This 13,000sq.ft and 350+ seat restaurant and entertainment-viewing social experience is an impressive addition to Center City’s nightlife. CEO, Padma Rao states: “I think are going to change the game on how people come together to experience sports and live events with our range of access levels and experiences.
“We’re encouraging guests to look up at the same big screen together, celebrate big wins and monumental moments with the table next to you, and ask for advice on the under from a real person that’s sitting across the bar. We’re bringing people back together with technology rather than keeping them apart.”
Electrosonic led the audio/video system installation, outfitting this elevated sports bar with an installed 1 Sound audio system and 1,200sq.ft LED screens. Bankroll

Switzerland - Each spring, the Cully Jazz Festival immerses jazz fans in a blend of music and picturesque scenery in the heart of Switzerland’s wine country. The most important event in Swiss Romande's vibrant cultural calendar, the festival was born in 1995 from the passion and dreams of two Daniel Thentz and Emmanuel Gétaz. Since then, the festival has grown from a humble two-day event, to one of Switzerland's most influential jazz festivals spread across nine days.
This year marks Cully Jazz Festival’s 40th anniversary, and the event now includes the entire village in its festival atmosphere. Year after year, the festival's demanding yet accessible programme attracts more than 70,000 festival goers. The festival line-up features musical performances across various genres and over three stages, including new Chapiteau, an outdoor stage, designed to elevate the live pe

Germany - d&b Group has announced a major investment by Providence, a private equity firm specialising in growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education and technology. With the support of Providence, d&b plans to further strengthen its global market-leading position in the professional audio market while also further integrating its capabilities in the audio visual, lighting and media (AVLM) solutions sector.
Providence has a track record of investing in businesses that deliver world-class technology and experiences. As part of the transaction, the d&b management team will also acquire a stake in the company, ensuring long-term leadership and strategic continuity. The parties have agreed not to reveal details of the transaction, and the conclusion of the transaction is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
Founded in

Lithuania - Located along the banks of the slow-moving Nemunas River and surrounded by green meadows, the Old Church of St. John the Baptist stands alone as a sentinel against time. The picturesque Gothic church, with its striking steep-pitched roof, draws tourists and photographers from around the world to the Lithuanian town of Zapyškis.
While the building is no longer used for religious purposes, it was given the status of a Cultural Monument in 2002 and is now a popular venue for cultural and music events like the annual Kite Festival and Pažaislis Music Festival. Steerable loudspeaker arrays from Renkus-Heinz were installed in the building to combat long reverberation times, improve intelligibility and enhance the experiences of festival attendees.
Church staff contacted Vytautas Stasiukaitis, system designer at Audiotonas, to help redesign the audio system. As

USA - The US leg Tori Amos’ 2023 Ocean to Ocean tour kicked off in West Palm Beach, Florida in June with a fresh and varied setlist, ready to rouse fans across the States. The crew joining this year’s US leg are armed with an array of Green-GO Digital intercom products.
At the heart of the setup is a Green-GO DanteX Interface, which is directly converting digital audio streams from Dante to Green-GO and vice-versa without loss of quality.
“The Green-GO DanteX Interface was key to our system,” says Alex Penn, commercial director at UK-based 22Live, which supplied a complete audio system for the Ocean to Ocean tour in both Europe and the US. “The tour was already using an extensive Dante network that covered many jobs including the PA returns, and shared stage racks for both the FOH and monitor mixing consoles.
“Utilising the DanteX Interf

China - Further to its successful introduction to the European, South-East Asian and North American markets, Powersoft will be presenting its cloud-based platform, Unica and Universo, at InfoComm China later this month.
The new platform will be presented during a special event on the EZPro booth (Hall E, stand EE4-01) on the first day of the show, 19 July, at 2:30pm. EZPro, Powersoft's historical representative in China, is the country's official distributor for the entire Powersoft range of products and solutions, including Mover, Mezzo and Dynamic Music Distribution, as well as the dedicated rental staging (T Series, X Series) and fixed installation (Duecanali, Quattrocanali, Ottocanali) ranges.
The official presentation will be hosted by Miao Wang, Powersoft’s solution engineer, together with Xiang Ji, EZPro’s senior director of marketing, who will be demonstra

UK - Atlas Show Control for spatial audio which was recently named Sound Product of the Year by the ABTT, has been officially launched.
The show control software is designed with the control and implementation of spatial audio engines at its heart. Atlas ‘aims to change the way in which designers and operators interact with the plethora of audio hardware and software within their environment’.
Atlas supports incoming positional data from trackers offering control and smoothing algorithms. Atlas can also output control data to other audio applications, sound consoles, video servers and lighting consoles.
Atlas allows for manual positional programming, the use of hardware trackers or a combination of both as demands dictates. Atlas is designed to provide users with a friendly user interface whilst unleashing the full potential of spatial audio control.

UK - One of the UK’s longest-running leisure operators, Potters Resorts, has recently completed a multi-million pound refurbishment of the luxury Five Lakes resort in Essex, which they purchased in 2021.
The improvements include a new leisure complex, upgrades to numerous existing facilities and the repurposing of a former sports hall into the Glade Theatre, a multi-functional performance space equipped with modern sound, lighting and video systems.
Already an established DiGiCo user (the theatre at their original site in Hopton on Sea features an SD10), following consultation with Autograph Sound the company chose two DiGiCo consoles for the new facility, a Quantum 338 for FOH and a Quantum 225 for stage monitoring.
Autograph subsequently supplied the two consoles plus two SD Racks fitted with the new 32-bit SD cards and an Optocore fibre network. The FOH con

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