UK - Experienced end-to-end content and systems providers, tsg Media are increasingly finding the combination of BSS Soundweb London DSP and Crown amplification a winning one, as they seek packaged audio solutions that are both dependable and intuitive for their customers in the bar, restaurant, retail and leisure sectors.

The Midlands based company recently completed a prestigious fit-out, aided by these premium audio tools, supplied by Harman Professional's UK and Eire distributors, Sound Technology.

As part of a £7m redevelopment of the food court at Meadowhall Centre, Sheffield, into the rebranded Oasis Dining Quarter, tsg Media were introduced to help the operators accommodate a greater number of dining experiences tied into a branded integrated design, around the main central circular area.

The brief to tsg media operations director, Ivan Marsden, was to vastly i

UK - Army bands regularly perform for UK troops stationed around the world, and the Royal Military School Of Music (RMSM) has now invested in portable HK Audio Elements PA systems to loan out to groups and accompany them on their travels to some of the world's most inhospitable places.

Elements is compact, lightweight, practically cable-free, sets up in seconds. Using just six individual components, or 'elements', a system for anything from a small conference PA, to a full band stage rig can be configured - ideal for the RMSM's needs in the field.

London-based Just Sound supplied RMSM with the Elements system, which will operate and loan the equipment to the British Army's bands performing around the globe. The rig will be used in dangerous hotspots - such as Helmand province in Afghanistan - where army bands play to military audiences in operating bases all over the area.

J

Germany / UK - HK Audio has rolled out a new series of high-performance speaker cabinets called Linear 5 and distributed exclusively in the UK and Eire by John Hornby Skewes & Co. Five powered Linear 5 models are available now (with passive counterparts to follow).

Linear 5 will be available in the UK from mid-April 2012, and will receive its exclusive unveiling at the PLASA Focus show in Leeds on 17 April 2012 at the JHS Booth at S-C12.

L5112FA is a 12"/1" full range model that "delivers the most powerful bass performance in its class". Equipped with a switchable EQ, it may be deployed as a stand-alone cab, in stereo pairs, and as a satellite paired with a Linear 5 subwoofer.

L5112XA is engineered to deliver high sound pressure levels (135 dB MAX SPL peak and also sports a switchable filter. Its considerable range makes it a suitable choice as a top unit

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds will be a first for the d&b GB office, who will be at the show to introduce the E4 and E5,the latest teenyweeny additions to the time honoured E-Series, from their Black range.

Alongside these elegant little loudspeakers will be a selection of products picked from the White range. The4S and 5S are equally small loudspeakers, designed for visual and acoustical integration into fixed applications.

Oran Burns and Steve Jones from the d&b GB Education and Application Support team will be offering visitors the chance to attend two seminars as part of the show's free Professional Development Programme.

On Tuesday 17 April, Can you hear me at the Back? presented by Oran Burns, will explore how to get the sound you've lovingly nurtured through the console to every seat in the house. On Wednesday 18 April, Steve Jones will look at what methods can be use

The Netherlands - White Villa, a leading independent production unit, has recently upgraded its production facilities at its headquarters the Netherlands. The newly refurbished studio features a Genelec DSP system with the 8260A monitor ensuring first class results for the many top acts which use the studios for mixing and recording.

Founded in 1997 by John Dirne, White Villa (part of White Villa Entertainment) began life as a small business but has grown to become a dynamic, successful recording company with many hits to its name in almost every thinkable style. Based atEdein the centre of theNetherlands, White Villa has four control rooms and two studios and a hospitality bar area with private pool. Audio consultant, Jan Morel of Morel Muziek chose the 8260A as the main monitor to complement the SSL duality console and other leading edge equipment.

"The 8260A was the pe

UK - Canford has added Roland to its ever expanding range of brands it distributes and will be showing a selection of Roland products at PLASA Focus alongside other top brands such as Tascam, Denon and EMO.

The latest updates to the Tecpro Wireless and Tecpro 2 communications ranges will also be on display alongside the newest addition to the Telex range, the BTR-240 wireless intercom system. Canford's D'n'A cable range for both analogue and digital audio signals will also be shown at the show. A selection of the high end Voice Technologies microphones intended for live or performance use will displayed alongside performance mics from Shure, Sennheiser, Beyer and Audio Technica.

Canford will present selected products from Roland at PLASA Focus while simultaneously announcing their appointment as a distributor for the market leading brand. Products will include the VC-30HD mult

USA - Woodberry Forest School, situated on the banks of the Rapidan River near Charlottesville, Virginia, is an historic boy's prep school situated on 1200 acres of land that once belonged to General William Madison, the brother of President James Madison.

Using Technomad advanced audio solutions, the school has upgraded sound systems in two athletic facilities in alignment with campus-wide building preservation efforts.

Onyx Audio Visual, a Virginia-based IT consulting company with expertise in audio/video, network infrastructure and lighting, designed and integrated the new sound systems. The company chose a Technomad Turnkey PA System to bring multiple loudspeakers and all required signal processing systems together into a single, integrated solution.

The complete system, deployed in a 70-volt configuration to accommodate lengthy cable runs across four zones, reproduces i

UK - To promote the UK launch of the new VR-3 Audio Mixer and Video Switcher at the recent Broadcast Video Expo (Earls Court, Feb 2012), Roland Systems Group gave away a brand new VR-3 at the show. All of the visitors to the stand who requested a personal demonstration of the VR-3 were entered into a prize draw - and the winner was Tony Miles, video producer at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

After spotting the VR-3 in action on the RSG stand, 'a light went on' in Tony's mind as he realised this looked like the perfect web streaming solution for the university, and particularly for use in its new £75m Business School. The Business School will play a key part in the university, hosting a number of high profile lectures and seminars which the university would like to share with a wider audience by streaming live to the internet. After a demonstration of the cap

Singapore - Renkus-Heinz has announced a key addition to its APAC international application support team, Singaporean national Tan Kheng Keong (KK).

Technically trained and fluent in English, Chinese and Indonesian, KK joins the company from Renkus-Heinz's Singapore distributor, Electro-Acoustics Systems, where he was part of the technical team involved in the execution of several major projects including the new Singapore Supreme Court, National Institute of Education, Resorts World Sentosa, and Universal Studios Singapore. Before this he worked both as project and design engineer for an engineering company and an audio consultancy firm.

KK will be offering system design assistance, commissioning support and more, focusing on supporting the company's Asian/Pacific Rim customers.

He comments, "At EAS, my role was as an internal system consultant: design, commissioning a

USA - Flightcase and loudspeaker solutions specialist Penn-Elcom continued its support of the Breast Cancer Awareness fundraising initiative started by Janal Cases - a Case for the Cure - at the NAMM 2012 trade convention in Anaheim, southern California.

Janal cases - a long term and highly valued Penn Elcom customer - raised over $1150.00 with special signed T-shirts.

The Case For The Cure T-Shirts were signed on the Penn Elcom booth at NAMM by a selection of stars who were lined up by Janal Cases, including legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins, Kelly Hansen of rockers Foreigner, drum addict Ya'el Biz, pop-rock band Hero's Last Mission and Canadian alternative actress and performer Molly Parker.

For a two hour slot on the second day of the exhibition, these T's were available from the stand for a donation to the Case for the Cure campaign of $10.00 .

A crew of Janal Case

Beatlemania - Let it Be, a tribute show to The Beatles, will open in the West End this September. The show - a new version of Rain, which ran on Broadway in 2010/11 - will run at the Prince of Wales Theatre for a limited season from 14 September 2012 until 19 January. The Prince of Wales is where The Beatles played a Royal Variety Performance in 1963 and the show will mark 50 years since the band's first single Love Me Do. It is the first time that the grand theatrical rights to The Beatles' back catalogue have been granted by Sony/ATV for a West End production.

No Show - The Sonisphere rock festival has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed. A web statement said they had fought hard to keep it going but that "a very challenging year" meant the event wouldn't have satisfied fans and the artists. The event was to take place at Knebworth P

UK - Italian acoustic specialist dBTechnologies will present its new UK sales team at the forthcoming PLASA Focus in Leeds. Products to be exhibited are the highlights of the DVA series, including its largest line array module DVA T12 and the active subwoofer DVA S30N, alongside the three Flexsys FM stage monitors and the brand new Cromo 15+ from the recently launched Cromo+ range.

The dBTechnologies team will be welcoming visitors at S-D29 this year with the help of newest recruits, David Finlay and Reuben McCartney. Finlay is responsible for the north of England having gained many years of valuable experience in retail and pro audio business. McCartney is based in the south of England, and has a wide knowledge in retail, pro audio and the recording industry.

A step up the evolutionary ladder from the successful T4 module, DVA T12 is special in its class, providing more power

UK - When business owner Steve Graham took over The Torrance Hotel, a hotel, restaurant and bar in East Kilbride, Scotland, he was adamant that the renovation would be a modern and stunning success.

Today it stands testament to Graham's commitment and drive, a stylish and popular destination that has revitalised the surrounding area, and with an audio system throughout that is comprised of Tannoy loudspeakers.

During the renovation, Graham called in independent audio consultant Bryce Keachie of Keachie Electronics to specify and install a system that was both consistent and appropriate for all of the different areas, from discreet speakers in the sleek main dining area to something more powerful in the bar and conservatory.

"I have worked with Tannoy loudspeakers a lot in the past, so I knew that whatever solution I chose would be reliable and have that hallmark of qual

Singapore - SWITCH by Timbre, the latest live music restaurant and bar in the Timbre Group is a 300-seat, bilingual venue that sets the stage for the best up-and-coming Singaporean musicians proficient in Mandarin and English pop-rock and offers live performances nightly. As the third Timbre property to utilize D.A.S. Audio loudspeaker systems, SWITCH by Timbre relies on a potent sound reinforcement system drawn from the company's Aero Series 2, Road, and Avant loudspeaker product lines.

As with the other Timbre locations, D.A.S. Audio's Singapore's office was actively involved in the design and specification of the sound system at SWITCH by Timbre. In addition to the deployment of a substantial number of D.A.S. Audio's Aero Series 2 loudspeaker enclosures, this new facility is the first installation in Singapore to utilise the company's new Road Series products, the stage monit

China - Electrosonic's Shanghai office has been designated a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), an officially registered limited liability corporation. This allows Electrosonic to continue to pursue new business opportunities in China as a legally licensed design consulting and systems integration company while maintaining full control of business operations.

"We are very excited about the WFOE designation for our Shanghai office and look forward to the many new opportunities it affords us," says Chris Conte, Electrosonic's VP of entertainment. "We can now expand and grow our partnerships with local product suppliers, fabricators and installers, which will enhance our efficiency on the ground."

Electrosonic's China operations will conduct business under the new legal name, Electrosonic Audio-Visual Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. The office will contin

The Netherlands - From humble beginnings as a café showcase for Dutch acts, in 14 years Vrienden van Amstel Live has grown in size, with the 2012 event encompassing seven sold out nights at Rotterdam's 10,000 seat Ahoy Arena. Such were the technical demands that it required four DiGiCo SD7 consoles and seven of the latest SD racks to manage the audio, with all equipment supplied by Ampco Flashlight Rental.

The televised show included 17 top Dutch bands playing across three stages, set up as main A and C stages at each end of the Ahoy's arena, which featured a 3300Kg per side moving PA and an invisible PA respectively, with a connecting B stage in the middle. The highlight of each night was a Battle of the Bands, which saw the acts playing opposite each other on the A and C stages, with their singers walking along the central catwalk, each facing the other band via

Monaco - Jimmy'z d'Hiver nightclub in Monaco has recently undergone a renovation, during which the 300-capacity club has been equipped with an L-Acoustics ARCS constant curvature WST system.

The new sound system was supplied and installed by L-Acoustics Certified Provider, system integrator and distributor Services Electroniques & Sonorisation (SES). It comprises two hangs of three ARCS, one 115XT HiQ and two 112P coaxials, one SB28 subwoofer, one LA48 and two LA8 amplified controllers.

The owner of Jimmy'z d'Hiver, the Societe des Bains de Mer, is already a committed L-Acoustics client, having installed systems into other of its venues including the famous Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo.

"The ARCS constant curvature WST system is ideal for this type of application, combining strong SPLs and medium throw with controlled directivity in the horizontal plane," says

USA - Established as the region's very first church in1840, Pleasantville United Church of Christ has served the south eastern counties of Bucks and Montgomery for more than 170 years. Today the celebrated church hosts a wide range of activities for its congregation and the surrounding community.

Pleasantville Church recently completed construction of its new sanctuary, a project that began more than 15 years ago. The newly built sanctuary is an exact replica of the original building, but constructed on a larger footprint.

The challenge of designing the optimal audio system for the space was met by designer/installer Tony Hersch of Audiobahn. The sanctuary's high vaulted ceilings and reflective surfaces presented a unique challenge in system design.

"Services at the church lean towards a traditional/blended style," Hersch explains. "Music worship is typically

UK - The ProSound division of Bosch Security Systems UK is now the distributor for both Dynacord and Electro-Voice in the United Kingdom.

Having a new showroom in Peterborough at their disposal, a team of six ProSound experts will be responsible for the UK distribution of Dynacord. The team, which is spreadacross the UK, will include Sean Maxwell (sales director UK), John Ellis (permanent installation), Neal Allen (concert sound), Roy Parrott (Northern MI), and David Howe (technical support). A representative for Southern mobile audio is currently being appointed.

Robert Hesse, vice president sales communication EMEA and managing director of EVI Audio, comments, "Given the great success of Electro-Voice in the United Kingdom - both due to a dedicated sales team and a strong UK dealership base - we foresee a great future for Dynacord in this new structure."

(Jim Eva

UK - Adlib's busy specialist installation division has completed the design and installation of a new Coda Audio sound system at the BMX Centre, part of the country's National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

It follows on from the highly successful Coda system supplied by Adlib last year to the adjacent Velodrome track. Adlib was asked back by Manchester City Council, to deliver a permanent multi-purpose audio solution for the first ever permanent indoor BMX track in the UK.

The Adlib team was led by Roger Kirby and John Hughes, and overseen on site for them by Alex Burke.

Coda was specified for several reasons including continuity with the Velodrome system, and due to the positive response from the initial events. The system also offered the sonic range and dynamics demanded by the BMX Centre - which stages a whole range of events including those organised with local communit

UK - Creative & Cultural Skills, Arts Council England, and Nesta have joined forces to commission new, independent research into the influence of the subsidised theatre on commercial theatre, with a view to gaining a greater understanding of the role of public investment in the arts.

The survey will track the careers of people in the industry, and the talent that has emerged from it, in order to better understand the impact that public investment in the theatre sector makes.

The aim is to collect the views of a range of theatre professionals currently or previously working in the sector, as well as those who have aspired to do so, on how their careers have developed. The wider the range of participants, the more valuable the research will be, and the more we will know about the success story of British Theatre.

TBR and BOP Consulting, who developed the survey, will also unde

UK - 25 years after introducing its first digital mixing console, Yamaha is showcasing its latest generation of digital consoles at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2012.

Retaining essential features and functionality that have become standards over the past quarter of a century, Yamaha's new CL Series of digital mixing consoles offers "an evolved experience in accessible mixing", the company says. "Combined with sonic purity and advanced sound shaping capabilities, the CL Series gives the most imaginative artists and engineers unprecedented creative freedom".

Three models will be launched - the CL1, CL3 and CL5, ranging in scale from 48 to 72 mono + eight stereo inputs. All feature 16 DCAs and 24 mix / eight matrix output busses.

Founded on the proven Centralogic interface, the advanced CL Series incorporates multiple innovations and refinements, including enhanced Se

Toby Alington's career in studio and live music recording goes back a long way, a very long way. From his formative years in the 1980's at the BBC and then Olympic Studios, described by the man himself as, "simply a heavenly place to be," Alington is now universally regarded as something of an iconic figure in the world of live music recording. In 2012 he has celebrated his 18th year on the BRIT Awards, his 10th on the MTV EMA's, and his 12th on the Classic BRIT Awards. Just to cap it all off he will be mixing the Diamond Jubilee event in June at Buckingham Palace and is currently working on the BBC's new Saturday night vehicle, The Voice UK, mixing all the music. No real surprise then, to hear that Alington was awarded the prestigious API Studio Engineer Award in 2011.

As a professional who takes a close interest in the way his industry grows and evolves, Al

Eire/UK - The Wanted's 2012 UK arena tour drew to a close in Dublin at the beginning of March and notched up another success for the boys. Audio requirements for the tour were supplied by Canegreen and SSE Audio, with Ryan McLean manning monitors and Andrew Thornton taking on both Front of House and production manager duties.

"The main reason I use Sennheiser equipment is for its sound," says Thornton, who has specified SKM 500-935 G3 for vocals, with a combination of e 904, e 901, e 906 and MKH 40 for backline. "We've tried these guys with all sorts of different microphones and the 935 sounds particularly good with their voices and gives me loads of volume before we have any feedback issues. Plus the boys like the feel, the way the microphone handles and the way it looks."

"Sennheiser has been involved with The Wanted right from the very start,"

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