Germany - Following the development of new software, enabling Optocore devices to be connected directly to the Optocore-DiGiCo fibre loop, the German specialists created an ambitious network at this month's Frankfurt Prolight+Sound which threatened to steal the show.

The two companies - along with Clear-Com - certainly ring fenced the opening morning with successive 'virtual' press conferences, where the media thronged to the stands - first to see DiGiCo MD James Gordon hosting, with marketing director Dave Webster speaking remotely from the Optocore stand, followed by Bob Boster, MD of Clear-Com, who was beamed in from the Optocore stand as Simon Browne anchored the press call from Clear-Com's stand location.

The three stands were connected via single mode fibre - all made possible by the new DiGiCo implementation. Visitors were clearly able to see the remote X6R mic preamp o

Germany - K-array's booth at the recent ProLight+Sound 2014 was designed so that visitors could enter into a world where they could "discover K-array solutions and the philosophy of the Italian brand, but also to meet, maybe drink a cup of Italian espresso, and learn about new products during the frequent showcase presentations."

In a break between his frequent presentations, Francesco Maffei, Product Specialist at K-array commented: "Now the number of attendees has been split between ISE and PL+S, and Frankfurt attracts more professionals from rental and staging, events and touring, we've showcased our new products launched at ISE; at PL+S we kept some surprises for those who work on the road."

The new products presented in Amsterdam just over a month ago included: KT2 Tornado, point source compact speaker and the KTL2 version complete with integrated LED

Germany - SUVs have become one of the hottest commodities in the automotive industry. Why? Because people love the idea of combining a sedan's comfortable on-road ride with an all-terrain vehicle's off-road capabilities.

Musicians and DJs have something similar in mind, as the latest global trend towards the "smart rig" attests. They want a sound system that is easy to transport, sets up quickly and delivers premium-quality audio - hence the rising popularity of mono columnar systems. However, a stereo setup is the better choice for many situations. Until now, musicians and DJs who were unwilling to compromise on quality and convenience had to buy two different PA systems.

HK Audio's LUCAS NANO 600 is billed as the world's first PA that can be deployed as a single column and as a stereo system. "LUCAS NANO 600 is to PAs what the SUV is to cars - a crossover soun

Germany - Martin Audio adds an important loudspeaker to its comprehensive range, following the official launch of the new multi-purpose DD12 at Prolight+Sound.

The multi-purpose DD12 defines the ultimate in performance and versatility for powered, two-way loudspeaker systems. It combines onboard networking, DSP and Class D amplification with state-of-the-art transducers and Differential Dispersion horn technology to achieve best-in-class performance in terms of fidelity, output capability and coverage consistency across the audience.

Differential Dispersion technology delivers more consistent audience coverage than systems with conventional X° x Y° horns - providing more throw to the rear to distribute sound evenly front-to-back, while having wider close-up horizontal coverage for the front rows.

Versatility is a key attribute of the DD12. The system is designed to m

UK - Two Midas PRO6 digital mixing consoles were recently employed to mix the first in a series of "secret" performances by Prince, at the Electric Ballroom in Camden. The PRO6 consoles were supplied by LMC Audio Systems Ltd., and operated by the well-established production company - DB Audio.

DB Audio and the Electric Ballroom have enjoyed a nearly 30-year relationship, and have seen several digital boards rotate through the historic venue over that period. Most were not able to live up to the company's high demands on sound quality and usability, forged from years of working with state-of-the-art analogue equipment.

DB Audio owners Richard and Steve Waterhouse consulted with Will Hinkly, technical field sales at LMC Audio London, to determine which console would best suit Electric Ballroom's diverse requirements. Hinkly had this to say, "We took them through t

USA - This year, for the first time, the National Hockey League (NHL) programmed four regular season games into outdoor venues in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, scheduling the 2014 NHL Stadium Series between the previously established NHL Winter Classic and NHL Heritage Classic series of outdoor games.

Tasked with mixing the live musical entertainment at the games in all three NHL series for broadcast on the NBC networks, Ron Reaves called on production provider Clair Nashville to supply a DiGiCo SD10 digital audio mixing console with two SD-Racks.

Reaves, who mixed the music and fed it to NBC's broadcast production engineer, who added it into the audio mix, reports that the DiGiCo system's Optocore fiber optic transport capabilities were critical to its successful operation at the Winter Classic. "As it turned out, it was the right choice, because I was 2,000 feet fr

Italy - Yamaha's CIS series installation products are increasingly being adopted across Europe in projects where the requirements of excellent sound quality and reliability are allied with the need for very flexible systems. One new installation with a truly international flavour is in Treviglio, northern Italy, where an Irish pub and live music venue is benefitting from superior CIS sound.

Opened 20 years ago, Treviglio's Clock Tower pub owes its name to the nearby 11th century clock tower of the Basilica of San Martino. One of the Lombardy region's most popular local venues, it is deeply rooted in Irish culture, the furniture all being built locally by Irish carpenters with original materials, following the traditional style of Guinness pubs in Dublin.

Music has always played a leading role in the pub's ambience. It hosts a winter schedule of live shows which attract a wide

Germany - In the world of education, the benefit of high-quality sound reinforcement or media technology is often still neglected, be it for budget shortage or lack of good advice.

The Aalen University of Applied Sciences in Germany knows better. The clearer the sound of a presentation or a lecture can be understood, the easier the mind will follow. So, unhampered understanding and pleasurable sound quality are vital factors for conceiving and memorizing content. Thus, investing in a good sound system would instantly benefit student's learning success.

In 2013, when some of the University's auditoriums needed audio systems, Klartext-Gruppe offered and installed a technically advanced system design, well within budget, that utilised Lab.gruppen's new LUCIA amplifiers to great effect.

The two-channel LUCIA (Localized Utility Compact Intelligent Amplification) is an extremely c

UK - 4HM the UK manufacturer of MADI interfaces, monitors and format converters has launched a new website (www.4hmaudio.com) which as part of their move to reposition themselves in mainstream professional audio. Clearly signalling their intentions, the new website now uses the URL www.4hmaudio.com whilst all recent product introductions have placed as much emphasis on audio infrastructure for live sound and installation applications as they do for broadcast.

4HM Director, Craig Lovell explained, "When 4HM launched into the market with our first product, the SAM64, a quad SDI to MADI converter/de-embedder, it was pretty clearly aimed at the broadcast sector. Since then and as the MADI renaissance has really taken hold, the focus of our latest product developments has been to widen our appeal so that they are equally applicable in whatever environment MADI is found; whether

USA - For the USITT 2014 Stage Expo and SoundLab, 1602Group TiMax will provide visitors with hands-on demo and workshop access to the TiMax2 SoundHub system matrix, sound-effects playback server and audio showcontroller. Alongside the market-leading TiMax Tracker UWB performer tracking system, visitors will experience real-time delay-matrixed localisation of presenters' radio-mics or effects as they move around a defined performance area.

Also demonstrated will be the powerful TiMax2 SoundHub S-Version sound effects editing, playback and immersive surround panning functions, including the spatially-aware PanSpace effects map which integrates with the TimeLine Editor for intuitive graphical pan programming and editing. The Soundlab workshops will be conducted in conjunction with Alcons Audio loudspeaker systems, featuring the company's exclusive pro ribbon driver technology.

Ti

Germany - Yamaha Commercial Audio enjoyed a successful 2014 ProLight+Sound - not only launching the new QL series digital mixing consoles to a huge gathering of expectant media and dealers, but the company also winning one of the event's debut PIPA awards.

The launch of the QL1 and QL5 was one of the major highlights of the professional audio presence at ProLight+Sound, attracting a great deal of interest and pre-orders.

Featuring virtually all the facilities of Yamaha's CL series consoles in a very compact form, the QL1 and QL5 can be seamlessly integrated into larger CL series systems. The new Port to Port facility gives CL Series consoles access to the QL's onboard i/o, allowing them to be used as external connections, complete with Auto Gain Compensation.

Audio innovator Dan Dugan was also demonstrating his revolutionary auto-mixing technology on the Yamaha stand. Provid

UK - Shure Distribution UK has supplied London-based sound reinforcement specialists Chaps Production Company with a range of new radio microphone products, including four channels of the flagship Axient system, together with several channels of ULX-D, the high-performance digital wireless system.

Given the many outdoor, concert and corporate events Chaps undertake for high-profile UK clients, they are often working in very crowded RF environments in the centre of large cities, and were attracted to Axient and ULX-D for their ability to minimise interference, and for the remote control and monitoring facilities afforded by using the systems in conjunction with Shure Wireless Workbench 6 management software.

"We got the Axient and ULX-D systems when we were asked to provide radio mics for a Microsoft conference in Barcelona last year," explains Chaps Production Compan

Germany - Had you accepted the quest, ProLight + Sound proved once again to be worth the adventure, especially if you like a good trilogy. New products from d&b audiotechnik featured prominently, most significantly: the D80 amplifier.

Why most significant? The arrival of the D80 completes the development of a three stage approach to achieving perfect sound. Also on display were the xC-Series column loudspeakers launched just one month earlier.

The D80 is nominally an amplifier, featuring more channels (4), more power (4000 watts per channel), yet in a slimmer pack (2 RU), but this singular description severely underplays this sophisticated device. Through modern amplifier technology and active Power Factor Correction (PFC) the D80 demonstrates an efficiency that must be measured to be believed. Powerful onboard DSP capabilities incorporate extensive system EQ, limiting, user d

China - State Broadcaster CCTV has installed a QSC KLA Active line array system at its Beijing headquarters, in a 400-seater multi-purpose hall used for meetings, seminars, demonstrations, lectures, and live broadcasts. The installation comprises eight QSC KLA12 elements (four per stereo channel) and two KLA181 subwoofers, all finished in white to match the CCTV building's aesthetics.

Prime Connections Inc (PCI), the QSC distributor in China, undertook the installation of the KLA system at the CCTV's architecturally distinctive 'loop'-shaped skyscraper, familiar to anyone who saw coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The irregularly-shaped, predominantly glass-fronted building presented PCI with some acoustic challenges.

"The directivity of the loudspeaker system had to be carefully controlled in order to minimise unwanted reflections from the glass walls," explains

The Netherlands - Adamson Systems is pleased to announce that 013, the largest live music venue in the Netherlands, has decided to upgrade their main hall (the Jupiler Hall) with a complete Adamson sound reinforcement system.

Located in the centre of Tilburg, 013 was the first concert hall in the Netherlands purpose built for live music. Since its opening in 1998, artists like Robbie Williams, Nice Inch Nails, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Damien Rice, Kraftwerk, 30 Seconds To Mars, Slayer, Queens Of The Stone Age, Sigur Rós, Editors and Interpol, have performed there.

The Jupiler Hall can currently accommodate up to 2,000 ticketholders with expansion plans that will allow capacity to increase to 3,000. The hall is known for its U-shaped balcony with dramatic stairs that ascend to the main floor. The room was designed to ensure an excellent view of the stage from any seat in the house. A

Albania - Harman Professional has appointed Prosound of Tirana as distributor in Albania for its AKG, BSS, Crown, dbx, JBL Professional, Lexicon and Soundcraft product lines. As Prosound is also the existing Albanian distributor for Martin Professional lighting, the company is positioned to address all the key vertical markets where Harman Professional is active in the country.

Prosound began operations in 2006, beginning with a small rental system and growing its business every subsequent year. The company is involved in the most prestigious sound and lighting projects in Albania, serving customers, dealers and contractors as a one-stop solution.

"With Harman we are more solid than ever and we will elevate Harman's presence in Albania to the top - where it belongs," said Kliton Gjika, managing director, Prosound. "As Harman's regional distributor, we will deliv

Belium - Belgian pro audio and lighting specialists, ARC-Productions, have confirmed the purchase of 16-enclosure Martin Audio MLA Compact and Mini PA rigs - the first company in Belgium to do so.

Based close to Ghent in Flanders, Marc De Baets' sales and rental company, which also provides stage management as part of a full technical solution, has a long history with Martin Audio dating back to the purchase of a W8 Compact in around 2001. He has subsequently invested in WT2, LE1200 and 1500s, WS 218X subs and W8LC.

"His complete speaker inventory has been made up of Martin Audio for many years," confirms Steven Kemland of FACE, the manufacturer's Belgian distributor, who serviced the recent order.

Marc De Baets had been operating under his own name before setting up ARC-Productions at the end of 2008, and had been in conversation with Kemland about the MLA from it

UAE - Melody House, a sole distributor of Primacoustic in the Middle East, has recently supplied SAE Institute Dubai with high performance acoustic materials including wall panels and tiles, bass traps, pitch diffusers and an instant vocal booth.

SAE Institute has equipped its four recording studios with thirty two Control Columns, fifty Broadband Panels, forty ThunderTile ceiling tiles, two MaxTrap Corners - mount bass, eight RX9 Recoil Stabilizers, one FullTrap Wall - mount bass trap, four FlexiFuser pitch diffusers, two Flexi-Booth Wall mount vocal booths, three VoxGuard Ambient field controllers and sixteen Cumulus Tri-corner traps.

SAE Institute Dubai was founded in 2005 in order to bring expert training and education to the fields of audio and film in the Middle East, providing a local base for a global outlook on the new media industries.

"The brand provides easy

UK - Part of London's Southbank cultural complex, Topolski Bar & Café - situated in the arches under the Hungerford Bridge, which carries pedestrians across the Thames - has undergone a complete refit, including a new Martin Audio AQ loudspeaker system.

CTS Productions carried out the technical upgrade at the venue - previously the studio and gallery of Polish born artist, Feliks Topolski, whose stunning works are featured throughout. The high railway arches, lined with exposed scaffolding, bare wood, combine with a huge bar and servery to create an impressive visual feast.

The venue itself is constructed around the two arches and a smaller more intimate space to the rear, with Martin Audio AQ enclosures specified throughout to ensure comprehensive coverage.

CTS Productions owner, Carl Broadhurst has deliberately given each space a different feel; Arch 1 features the

Germany - Cadac brand development manager, Richard 'Fez' Ferriday outlined a series of highly significant developments for the company in a keynote presentation to press and industry professionals at the Prolight+Sound exhibition.

Opening the event he stated, "On our booth you will already have noticed the biggest changes for Cadac in some time, with new people and more new products, including a high performance network infrastructure that makes our flagship CDC eight a real-world proposition."

Introducing, publicly for the first time, his colleagues in the new marketing and brand development team - marketing manager James Godbehear and UK sales manager Rob Hughes - he announced that, with appointment of Hughes, the company was forming its own UK distribution operation, stating, "From 1 April Rob Hughes will oversee a select dealer network for the UK, out of our

UK - Calrec Audio has confirmed its acquisition by Electra Partners. Calrec will become a sister company to Allen & Heath, which Electra acquired last year.

"When we made our initial investment in the professional audio sector by supporting the buyout of Allen & Heath, Electra provided all of the new financing to ensure flexibility with respect to further acquisitions in the sector," said Alex Fortescue, chief investment partner of Electra Partners. "The acquisition of Calrec shows the benefits of this approach, and both companies are well-placed to accelerate growth as a result."

"We are delighted to have funded the acquisition of Calrec," said Charles Elkington, investment partner of Electra Partners. "Part of our investment strategy in the professional audio sector is to acquire additional businesses to create a group of market-leading pro

USA - Solid State Logic is continuing to build its US dealer network to support its new Live console with the appointment of Firehouse Productions in Red Hook, New York. A 2014 TEC Award winner for its support of Peter Gabriel's Back to Front tour, Firehouse provides sound reinforcement and complete sound systems for every aspect of live production, including high-profile television performances.

"We are excited to become a dealer for the new SSL Live console and to add it to our rental inventory," says Bryan Olson, owner/president of Firehouse Productions. "Where excellence and quality are concerned, we are sure this console is a powerful option."

"Firehouse Productions is a well-respected leader in live audio," says Jay Easley, SSL's vice president of Live consoles in the Americas. "Having them as part of the SSL Live network was ver

UK - Successful Scotland-based pro audio specialists, The Warehouse, have become the latest members of EM Acoustics' growing UK dealer network. With offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, The Warehouse offers high quality services in sales, rental and operation of pro audio equipment, and has been doing so for the last 35 years. The company will be supplying the full EM Acoustics product range including the Halo Compact line array system, and has already taken delivery of their first items of demo stock.

Given that The Warehouse already carries a number of well-established pro audio brands including loudspeaker equipment, it rather begged the question, "Why EM Acoustics?" The Warehouse sales director Derek Blair was categorical: "It's simply one of the most exciting product ranges we've heard in the last ten years," he stated. "The first model we listened to

Canada - Lawo North America Corp has announced that Applied Electronics Limited has joined Lawo's network of authorized resellers. The company will offer Lawo's full line of audio, video and AV-over-IP networking solutions.

Applied Electronics will market Lawo's premium quality mc² series audio consoles for sports and entertainment production as well as a full range of IP-based networking audio solutions for radio broadcasters, all supported by their award-winning routing technology. In addition, the company will be introducing Lawo's new V_line products, the V_pro8 multi-channel video processor and V_link4 for remote broadcast production, which features multiple user-selectable video codecs, accepts 3G/HD/SD-SDI and MADI I/O and provides a one-box solution for all the requirements of IP video and audio contribution.

"Applied Electronics Limited provides complete solutio

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