UK - Leading pro-audio provider The Warehouse Sound Services has reported a boost in sales following this year's inaugural PLASA Focus in at the SECC. The company showcased a range of products from d&b audiotechnik, Shure, Yamaha and EM Acoustics. The event provided the Scotland headquartered organisation an opportunity to exhibit on home turf with the experience surpassing all the company's expectations.

PLASA Focus Glasgow delivered two days of constant activity, high quality visitors and high interest in The Warehouse's new products.

Janet Murray, sales manager of The Warehouse commented, "Exhibiting at PLASA Focus has been productive for The Warehouse. This has been a great event for the company based on the responses to product presentations and the volume of new and existing customers who came specifically to see our product range. Importantly we were able to greet

South Africa - Cape Audio College, The Institute of Sound Technology, recently acquired the JBL VRX900 Series Constant Curvature Line Array that will be used as a portable sound system when training student sound engineers as part of their Live Sound Module.

Cape Audio College's Head, Rae de Jager says, "We were looking for a scalable sound system that could deliver power and offer flexibility and the VRX does just that, whether as a single point system or expanding it to a larger format. It is also budget friendly, which was an extra plus point."

Their JBL VRX System comprises a total of six JBL VRX932LA-1 line array loudspeaker, two VRX-AF rigging frames, six VRX918S 18" subwoofers as well as four PRX715M 15" loudspeakers that will be used for stage monitoring. Amplification is through four Crown IT 9000HD running V5 tunings.

"We are excited that t

Germany - Having recently turned 70 years old, Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser is handing over the chair of the supervisory board of Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG to Dr. Frank Heinricht, as of 1 January 2015.

Frank Heinricht has been Chairman of the Board of Management of Schott AG since 2013 and became a member of the supervisory board of Sennheiser electronic GmbH five years ago. "Dr. Heinricht has a profound technical expertise and brings experience in managing large family-owned companies to his new role. We are very happy that he is taking over as chairman of the supervisory board of the Sennheiser Group," said Daniel and Andreas Sennheiser, CEOs and shareholders of Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG.

In withdrawing as chairman of the supervisory board, Jörg Sennheiser is placing the management of the company fully into the hands of the third Sennheiser gener

USA - When the 15th annual Latin Grammy Awards were broadcast live on Univision from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) once again supported Univision's system with a custom RF communications package for the network's green carpet pre-show and star-studded main event.

The Latin Grammy Awards, presented by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Awards, which primarily honours music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammys recognize music recorded in either Spanish or Portuguese, produced anywhere in the world.

During the festivities, the PWS team, led by lead RF coordinator James Stoffo, was onsite to monitor the RF spectrum and ensure that the show ran smoothly, with any potential interference issues quickly resolved. Brooks Schroeder was the

UK - Calling all event professionals! Drapes and rigging specialists Blackout have launched a social media campaign to support Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day, and they need your help to raise funds for the cause.

Blackout will be donating up to £1,000 to support the charity initiative which aims to Make the World Better with a Sweater. The team got together for a festive-themed photo shoot, featuring Christmas jumpers, props, and a festive star cloth backdrop. The photos are currently being shared on Twitter and Facebook, with £2 donated for every re-tweet, like or share.

Louise Nomes, marketing manager from Blackout explains all: "We always donate to charity at Christmas time but this year we were feeling particularly in the Christmas spirit and wanted to do something a bit different.

"In addition to donating money to a good cause the

UK - Outline was again at Wembley Stadium for the NFL International Series. Three matches were held, featuring the Miami Dolphins vs the Oakland Raiders, the Dolphins winning 38-14, the Atlanta Falcons vs the Detroit Lions, won in the last minute by the Lions 22-21, and the Jacksonville Jaguars vs the Dallas Cowboys, won by the Cowboys 30-17.

Robert Lawrence Event Production Resource installed an extensive range of Outline loudspeaker systems, including Butterfly, Mantas, DVS 118 SW subs, Doppia, DVS 12 and DVS 10, to distribute sound over large areas outside the Wembley Stadium.

Each game had sold out Wembley's 90,000-seat capacity, fans had the opportunity of being entertained by the Main Stage, Merchandising, Tailgate, Game Pass and VIP areas during the pre-game build up.

The final game of the year, the Jacksonville Jaguars vs the Dallas Cowboys, saw a large mobile Orbit

UK - Sennheiser UK has released the dates for its first training courses for 2015, which include new location Theatr Clwyd in Mold, Wales.

For new and existing users of wireless microphones and in-ear monitor systems wishing to further their understanding, the Basic Wireless Mics and Monitoring Course is suitable. Anyone wishing to attend should register for the session at Theatr Clwyd on 14 January, or on 14 April at Sennheiser UK's headquarters in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Wireless Mics and Monitoring: The Master Class Course will run on 15 March at Sennheiser UK in Marlow. This intensive two-day course is designed for those who have already completed the Basic Wireless Mics and Monitoring Course.

Both courses are run by Sennheiser UK's engineering and technical services manager, Tim Sherratt, and chief engineer Andy Lillywhite.

(Jim Evans)

Turkey - Asimetrik hosted an open day on 5 November for Clay Paky, DiGiCo and Meyer Sound's newest and latest technology products. The event was held on Asimetrik's HQ and Kucukciftlik Park (Outdoor Culture and entertainment centre). VPs of sales and Europe sales managers Alberico D'Amato from Clay Paky, James Bradley from Digico and Scott Gledhill from Meyer Sound also attended the event.

The event attracted considerable interest from sector professionals all around Turkey. All day long, brands' representatives continuously showcased their latest technological developments and products.

Clay Paky introduced the brand new masters of light 'The Projectors': SuperSharpy - a powerful beam light for long throw applications, Mythos - the most advanced combined spot light and beam light and Stormy - a strobe that uses ultra-modern LEDs, but still offers classic strobe effects as wel

USA - Wireless audio manufacturer RF Venue has released two new antenna distribution products: COMBINE4, a four channel transmitter combiner, and DISTRO4, which has been updated to include cascade ports.

COMBINE4 is a professional, affordable combiner for any brand in-ear monitor. It joins four IEM signals into a single RF output for dramatic improvement in signal quality and extended range via optional directional antennas.

"With performers of all kinds demanding IEMs, the challenge is for engineers to minimize dropouts and interference," said RF Venue CEO Chris Regan. "Using a robust antenna combiner like the new COMBINE4 paired with a dedicated transmit antenna makes an enormous difference, even on small IEM systems."

RF Venue's updated DISTRO4 retains all powerful features of the previous generation antenna distributor, but adds a fifth cascade port t

UK - The hugely successful musical Jersey Boys recently set out on its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland, complete with a sizeable sound system based on Steve Canyon Kennedy's original design delivering the high octane Four Seasons' show sound. At the heart of the system is the Meyer Sound M'elodie ultra compact high-powered curvilinear array speaker, complemented by d&b audiotechnik E5 and E6 compact speakers and, for the first time on a Jersey Boys' production, a DiGiCo SD10 mixing console.

Jersey Boys is no stranger to the touring scene, with two US productions plus South Africa and Australia already notched up, so the teams already have a great deal of experience behind them. For the UK version, associate sound designer Andrew Keister and his team did an extensive study of some 18 venues in order to arrive at the a "best fit" touring design

USA - The School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) is once again getting into the holiday spirit with DPA Microphones for its third annual Keyboards and Carols at Christmas event.

With 13 Steinway Grand Pianos, one organ and a choir of over 180 adults and children, student and professional musicians performed holiday songs for the packed house at the 3,500-seat venue. In addition to using a stereo pair of d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones on each of the pianos, the school also utilized four wireless d:facto Vocal Microphones for the event's soloists.

DPA mics were chosen for their clear, pristine sound as well as their ability to reproduce the natural beauty of both the Steinway pianos and the exceptional voices of the singers. With the addition of the large choir, this year's event featured a significant change in the setup from prev

World - For Judas Priest's world tour, FOH engineer and production manager Martin Walker has selected Leo-M and Lyon linear line array loudspeakers from Meyer Sound's growing Leo Family of products. With the power and linear response of both products, the crew can easily adapt the system for a wide range of venues, which includes casino showrooms, arenas, large theatres, outdoor amphitheatres, and festivals.

"The response of the system is pretty seamless, whether going from main Leo arrays to Lyon side arrays, or going from a main Leo hang in an arena to a Lyon hang in a theatre," Walker says. "You turn on the PA and there's really no difference to worry about. The headroom is there, the weight saving is there, and the clarity and fidelity are there. It's a great system with either box out front."

The main and side arrays for the tour are assembled from the

Bulgaria - L-Acoustics has announced that Forte Music has signed on as the distributor of L-Acoustics systems in Bulgaria, a country enjoying rapid growth following its recent entry into the European Union.

More and more customers in the region are seeking high-end professional audio solutions according to L-Acoustics sales manager Tim McCall, who comments, "We have been monitoring Bulgaria for some time and we believe it is the right time for L-Acoustics to have a reliable partner there. Forte is a strong local player and we feel they are the perfect partner to bring our products to this market."

Forte joins a strong worldwide network of L-Acoustics provider distributors and has already sold an important system to rental stager Joker Media after inviting them to a K2 demo at L-Acoustics headquarters. The purchase, which includes an inventory of L-Acoustics K2, KARAs

The Netherlands - Innovox Audio has named Tau Audio Solutions of Groningen, The Netherlands, as its European distribution partner.

This new arrangement means that Innovox's SL and SLA model ranges, which feature ribbon-type high frequency drivers for extremely fast and controlled transient response, will be available within the European market for the first time.

The SL series models feature ultra-thin point source designs, with enclosure depths ranging from just 45 to 50 mm. The series is designed for high quality presentation and conference rooms up to six meters long.

The SLA series, meanwhile, are frequency-shaded columnar array speakers that are designed for larger conference rooms, university classrooms, churches and other reverberant spaces. All Innovox Audio loudspeakers are made in the USA.

"We're delighted to add Innovox to our range of products," says

UK - Premier Cardiff nightclub and live music venue, Clwb Ifor Bach - originally set up in 1983 as a Welsh-language club and community centre - has continued its long tradition of using Soundcraft mixing consoles, by purchasing a next generation Vi3000 digital mixing console and Vi Stagebox from nearby dealers, AB Acoustics.

AB Acoustics director, Rob Ashton,said that the venue's technical team of Phil Williams and Richard 'Chill' Hawkins had been quite specific in their requirement when they placed the order, and had wanted to remain loyal to the Soundcraft brand. "Many bands started off playing there and they host a lot of different music genres, which is why they wanted the 64 channel capacity of the stagebox."

Bands that have played at the club over the years include Strokes, Killers, Pavement, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Foals, Kiesza as well as locals such as Super F

UK - Festival Republic called Midas into Blondin Park, Ealing in December, to provide power for the first Plant to the Beat, a Trees for Cities initiative.

More than 200 volunteers met the challenge of planting a mixture of 10,000 trees in a day, sowing the seeds for biodiversity in Ealing, and Midas provided for Festival Republic's 'Beat'.

The 'woodland village' featured a stage for a choir, drummers and DJs, along with structures providing participants with free vegetarian food, hot drinks and arts facilities for children.

Laura Pando, Festival Republic's sustainability co-ordinator, comments, "We worked with Trees for Cities to make Plant to the Beat a sustainable event and Midas' commitment to 100 per cent biodiesel was a perfect fit."

Buoyed by their Ealing success, Trees for Cities/Festival Republic have big ambitions for the event, in multiple cities, plan

Guatemala - Funktion-One has extended its reach around the globe with an installation at Central America's 'first super club'. Blue Box, the company responsible for introducing the loudspeaker manufacturer to Ibiza over a decade ago, has continued its pioneering ways with the first ever Funktion-One installation in Guatemala - at One Club in Guatemala City.

The new 1,200-capacity venue boasts a forward-thinking design that fuses the appeal of an exclusive lounge with a high-energy nightclub. Technology is at the heart of its operation. Along with some of the latest Funktion-One speakers, the club features a video mapping system, which brings colour and movement to its architecture.

Blue Box's Mark Metcalf comments, "Funktion-One contacted me to say they had an interesting project in Guatemala. I have a long standing client in Ecuador and tend to help Funktion-One with new

UK - It was announced on Friday that the UK's first government-backed National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries is to be established at The Backstage Centre, High House Production Park, opening in September 2016.

Managed by Creative & Cultural Skills on behalf of a consortium of employers and industry organisations including Live Nation, Royal Opera House, White Light and the Association of British Theatre Technicians, the new National College will provide specialist training in the technical skills needed by the creative and cultural industries. This is in response to significant industry growth, with the creative economy growing at four times the rate of the national economy, and the value of the UK's creative industries exports standing at over £15 billion per year.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The talent which brings plays, operas, and f

UK - Tannoy has introduced a new addition to its VX Series range of premium grade passive sound reinforcement loudspeakers, with the new model heralding a number of subtle changes across the range to provide more flexible solutions for mobile and versatile environments.

The VX 8M is a new full range Dual Concentric loudspeaker from Tannoy, providing a compact, yet punchy and sonically vibrant solution for small-to-medium scale performance sound reinforcement. With a tightly controlled 90 degree dispersion for optimum coverage and forward gain, the VX 8M has a peak output of 119dB and a recommended amplifier power of 260w, making it a powerful and versatile performer for a wide range of applications.

A new rugged highly compact birch plywood enclosure - available in textured black and white paint finish - has been ergonomically redesigned to offer a greater degree of flexibilit

The Netherlands - d&b audiotechnik will be showing its latest installation solutions at Stand 7-C175 at ISE in the Amsterdam RAI between 10-12 February 2015.

The d&b Y-Series was launched in 2014 to much critical acclaim. Offering both point source and line array loudspeakers, the Y-Series delivers versatile and configurable solutions in a myriad of environments. The Yi loudspeakers are the installation specific versions and will take centre stage at the d&b audiotechnik display. The Yi7P and Yi10P and the Yi8 and Yi12 will be on the stand and the d&b team will be on hand to welcome visitors.

But it's not just about the Y. The d&b audiotechnik installation solutions provide stylish, discreet and quality performance in permanently installed applications. Examples from the xS-Series, xA-Series and the particularly elegant xC-Series column speakers will be on show.

Meanwhile, i

UK - Shure Distribution UK (SDUK), exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland for Spanish manufacturer WORK Pro, has announced the availability of two new additions to the Neo range of installation loudspeakers. Supplementing the existing pair of two-way Neo models and one subwoofer, Neo 5 A ES and Neo 5 IP are compact, stylish speakers designed for installed sound applications, and like the rest of the range, can be used in low-impedance or 100V installations.

The Neo 5 A ES is an updated version of the existing Neo 5 A self-powered compact installation speaker, with an added 'eco-friendly' energy-saving mode which saves on power consumption. When not receiving audio signals, the speaker goes into shutdown mode, reducing its consumption to below 1W.

Neo 5 IP is the two-way passive model of the Neo range, and is rated IP65 on the industrial Ingress Protection scale, meaning t

South East Asia - DPA Microphones has reorganised its distribution channels in South East Asia by appointing new distributors in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan. The appointments reflect the company's ongoing commitment to develop new business channels and support DPA's influential customer base.

The new appointments include AV United in Malaysia, Vision One Co. Ltd in Thailand, Pro AVL in Vietnam, Promedia in Indonesia and Shin Lee Sheng Music Corp. (SLS) in Taiwan. "Sales in virtually every APAC country are showing growth as the market recognizes the quality and breadth of DPA's product range," says Ken Kimura, DPA's general manager for the APAC region.

Francis Lai, DPA's regional sales manager, adds: "With our new distribution channels in place, we are now better able to promote DPA's microphones and increase brand awareness in many industry

UK - Since launching earlier this year, Yamaha's QL digital consoles have become favourites with education, the flexible facilities and familiar ease of use ensuring that students are given the best training for a job in the entertainment industry. One of the highest profile installations is at Tonbridge School in Kent.

Established in 1553, Tonbridge is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 13-18. The school still occupies its original site, albeit with many new buildings constructed over the centuries. One of the more recent is the EM Forster Theatre, built in 2000 and named after the famed novelist and Old Tonbridgian. When another former pupil, James Mitchell, took up the post of chief technician last year, one of his first priorities was to upgrade the 370-capacity theatre's audio system.

Drama, theatre and technical live production are key parts of the scho

UK - Audiologic, is now shipping some new lines from Ecler. Committed to developing products in direct response to customer feedback and demand, Ecler has built on the success of its CA40 micro stereo amplifier to produce the CA120. Still compact, the more powerful 2x60W CA120 offers even wider scope within applications that require integration with external control devices, including classrooms, meeting rooms and retail premises. Its remote control features include serial RS-232 port, IR receiver and 0-10 VDC remote port.

Addressing the need for single box solutions in retail, bars and restaurants, ECLER's HMA is a series of self-powered public address mixers. With nine audio inputs and a high/low impedance amplified output alongside an extensive set of control connections, the HMA 180 covers the full spectrum for a variety of applications involving background music, microphone

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