Europe - Wärtsilä Entertainment Systems has solved the challenge of delivering a premium nightclub experience at sea with the first ever installation of Martin Audio’s recently launched WPS optimised line array. The latest member of the Wavefront Precision family was specified long before its official launch to cater to the entertainment needs of Scarlet Lady, the very first ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet.
“We started audio specification for the ship back in 2016 but thanks to the strength of relationship with Martin Audio we were able to glimpse into the future product roadmap and as a consequence believed that the product that would become WPS was a perfect fit for the nightclub,” explained Rob Shuard, vice president, design & engineering of Wärtsilä Entertainment Systems. “We felt WPS would offer the perfect marriage of high performance, control, consist

The doors have opened for day two of PLASA Show 2019 at London Olympia, with Platinum Sponsor Robe, Silver Sponsor d&b audiotechnik and Technical Sponsor Hawthorn. The show floor is already brimming with business as visitors explore the latest products and solutions from 220+ brands from across audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging.

The show’s platinum sponsor Robe have unveiled an expansive theatrical stand based on the classic 80s movie, Back To The Future. Live performances run every 90 minutes, with a viewing area on the show’s gallery level for visitors to watch from above. The creative duo behind the stand, Nathan Wan and Andy Webb, comment:

“Robe’s stand this year features a fully time coded show called ‘Return to the Future’ which is centred around a time travelling DeLorean car. During th

USA - Sensaphonics recently educated three audiologists in the art of working with musicians at a Gold Circle Seminar in Chicago. This two-day event covers a wide range of insights on the specific needs of musicians, whose workplace requires ongoing exposure to damaging levels of loud sound. Sensaphonics president, Dr. Michael Santucci, designed the seminar to teach audiologists the realities of today’s music industry, with a focus on the proper use of in-ear monitors and hearing protection.
“When it comes to in-ears, most musicians do not know how to protect their hearing, and most audiologists have no idea what stage monitoring is like,” notes Dr. Santucci. “The Gold Circle seminar is designed to share the knowledge that both groups require in order to create a great performance experience for musicians while still protecting their hearing.”
Three audiolog

Germany - Udo Stoof, has joined the dBTechnologies Deutschland team. Stoof has many years of experience in audio and AV media technology and strengthens the Cologne-based company, joining the team for fixed installations to meet the enormous demand and to offer customers even better service. Working as project manager installed sound, he supports customers who plan and realise installations with equipment of the brands RCF and dBTechnologies alike.
Stoof has worked for manufacturers and distributors for over 25 years plus running his own company.
At dBTechnologies, he together with Georg Hofmann, who has been responsible for fixed installations for years, are forming a new team that will focus on this business area. Part of the strategy is also the spatial spin-off of the fixed installation division. Both colleagues will work from a joint office in Telgte, North Rhine-

UK - At the upcoming PLASA Show (15-17 September, London Olympia), Bose Professional will be showcasing products from its significantly expanded portfolio of loudspeakers, amplifiers, DSPs, controllers and software products. Featuring at PLASA are the new ArenaMatch DeltaQ loudspeakers and ArenaMatch Utility loudspeakers, which bring Bose sound quality, consistency, vocal clarity and flexibility to outdoor installations through DeltaQ technology. Also on show are the easy-to-install DesignMax loudspeakers in a range of sizes (the total range includes 12 models; ceiling and surface, black and white, with subwoofer options), ShowMatch DeltaQ array modules, new PowerSpace amplifiers and Commercial Sound Processors. This new, expanded line comes together to build a range of cohesive systems that reflect Bose Professional’s latest advancements in terms of audio technology a

USA - Fane International and sister company Precision Devices have recently recruited Alexander Schek in the role of sales and business development manager, LATAM to support their on-going global growth strategy.
Based in Miami, Florida, Alexander has an understanding of the Latin American market, business culture and executive level sales experience along with a passion for all things audio and technology. Working for high-profile companies, including almost a decade in charge of Latin American business with Sennheiser.
Says Schek, “I am humbled to be part of the Fane/PD Family and their passion to embrace the Latin America market. The market is eager to welcome such prestigious brands, rich in history and heritage in sound engineering excellence.”
“We are delighted to welcome Alexander as a member of the team,” says Mark Barnes, Fane/ PD managing direct

UK - EM Acoustics is launching the S Series, a new subwoofer range comprising seven subs designed to pair with the company’s loudspeakers in a variety of fixed and portable sound reinforcement applications.
The new S-48 is a low profile, compact VLF subwoofer with minimal dimensions for easy concealment in confined spaces such as galleries, bars, cafés, museums and smaller theatres. Four 8-inch neodymium LF drive units deliver useable response down to 35Hz without the need for EQ.
At the top end of the range is the recently-introduced ST-215 compact flyable touring subwoofer, which is proportioned to fly with EM Acoustics’ Halo-B medium format line array system. The larger ST-218 high power dual 18-inch flyable sub is designed to be matched with the large format Halo-A system.
All the subwoofers in class are prefixed with S- followed by a number (e.g. S-12

Australia - Aveo Systems has announced the appointment of Jands as its exclusive distributor in the Australia-New Zealand region.
“Mira Connect, from Aveo Systems, is an impressive innovation that further complements our existing AV conferencing product portfolio,” says Phil Muffet, national sales manager at Jands. “Jands is committed to providing the best solutions for our customers and partnering with strategic vendors who complement our integrators’ existing solutions.”
“Jands is one of the strongest AV companies in the ANZ region and is well respected by integrators and users,” comments Paul Roberts, Aveo Systems’ director of sales. “We think they will be the perfect partner for promoting Mira Connect to corporate, educational, and other users in the area.”
(Jim Evans)

UK - Creamfields returned to Daresbury on the British August Bank Holiday weekend with bigger production values - and more flown subs - than ever before.
Led by crew chief Alex Hore and with system designs from Josh Lloyd, Britannia Row provided sound solutions to Arc Stage, Horizon Stage and Stage 4, AKA, the 15,000 capacity Steel Yard (which is so popular, it has become a festival in its own right with events staged in Cream’s hometown of Liverpool, and in London.
Hore, who was Britannia Row’s crew chief, oversaw a 16-stong crew across three stages and worked closely with off-site noise management consultants, Vanguardia.
He says: “The design of the systems and the ethos behind them is to provide the best sounding and largest-area-covering audio we can, whilst limiting the potential for any off-site sound problems. Any stage, at any time, can be called o

China - The Qing show is a hi-tech, permanently installed stage show produced by the Sunac Group in a purpose-built, 1,600-capacity venue at the Oriental Movie Metropolis complex at Qingdao in the Shandong province of China.
The venue’s architecture has a number of marine elements and is designed to represent a conch. Based on the Chinese legend of Eight Immortals Crossing the the show was conceived, designed and created by artistic director Luke Petit through Art Team Group Asia.
Four years in the making, the show, which covers a floor area of 21,500sq.m, has a cast of 63 performers, features a lifting stage, acrobatics, dance, classic Kung Fu moves, 3D holographic projections and a water curtain fountain to create the perfect fusion of traditional culture and modern stage art. The cast which features 12 main roles, was selected from more than 10,000

UK - Allen & Heath mixers tackled FOH and monitor duties for We Out Here Festival (see LSi September 2019), held for the first time this August and curated by BBC Radio 6 DJ, Gilles Peterson, his Bronswood Recordings label and Worldwide FM. Taking place across four-days in rural Cambridgeshire, the family-friendly festival showcased a line-up of underground artists and DJs.
Supplied by Glasgow-based A-Live Sound, five dLive and four SQ systems were chosen to run FOH and monitors across seven stages. Director Iain Mackie comments: “I chose to invest in dLive and SQ as they’re the best sounding consoles on the market right now. With dLive specifically, unlike some other manufacturers, it has endless high-qu

South Africa - The Roodepoort Theatre has seen various transformations since opening its doors in 1981, but one of the most recent has been the investment of an L-Acoustics ARCS WiFo system supplied and installed by DWR Distribution earlier this year.
Initially presenting opera and symphony performances, today the Roodepoort Theatre is a dynamic and diverse receiving house that plays host to an array of shows ranging from ballets to musicals, revues, dramas, dance competitions, bands and live recordings.
Over the years the theatre has stayed abreast with the latest lighting equipment, while aesthetic renovations, including new seats and flooring, have created a fresh and modern look. The new L-Acoustics system enables the theatre to offer a professional service to external companies making use of their facilities and a quality experience for the audience.

UK - Peex, the company behind an app platform that enables concertgoers to mix audio from live concerts in realtime, has announced Patrick Vosgimorukian as its new CEO. With a background working with next generation tech companies, Vosgimorukian will be leading Peex into the next phase of its launch plan.
Vosgimorukian will be assisting the team in developing the business and identifying opportunities for the product to be scaled following its recent success in both the US and Europe where Peex was launched on Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Vosgimorukian boasts considerable experience working within the tech and entertainment industries. He comments: “It is an absolute privilege to be named Peex’s new CEO. It is an exciting time to join the company following the successful commercial launch in the US and Europe. The goal of Peex is to enhance the

USA - Audinate has announced the availability of Dante Virtual Soundcard for installation in virtual Windows environments using Type-1 hypervisors. This update is especially important for customers such as broadcasters, educators and corporate users that want to deploy Dante networked audio throughout data centres, studios, server clusters and campuses, says the company. Dante Virtual Soundcard interfaces directly with audio software running on virtual machines, allowing distribution of media playback, centralised recording, and more.
Dante Virtual Soundcard turns any computer into a Dante endpoint for networked audio. It provides a standard WDM or ASIO audio interface that allows any installed audio software to send and receive up to 64 channels of lossless audio over a standard 1Gbps network to any Dante-enabled AV endpoints, including other instances of Dante Virtual Soun

UK - Outline has announced a major firmware (v95) and software (v1.9) release for its Newton multi-source audio processor.
Smaart API integration represents the quickest and easiest way for users to integrate Smaart measurement data into Newton and to plot it within the Outline Dashboard software environment. This new compatibility will provide a faster, simpler and more accurate method of system tuning for Smaart users.
“Outline has done an outstanding job of utilising the Smaart API to integrate Smaart measurement data within the latest release of their Dashboard control software,” comments Karen Anderson, CEO, Rational Acoustics. “This integration really highlights Outline’s commitment to providing their customers with powerful, forward-thinking professional audio tools and we are thrilled to see Newton/Dashboard added to the ever-growing list of Smaart API

Sweden - Yamaha VXL1 slimline line array loudspeakers are proving the solution of choice for many houses of worship, radically enhancing sound but without compromising the aesthetics of church interiors.
Opened in 1815, the current Gothenburg Cathedral is the third on a site in Sweden’s second largest city which dates back to the early 1600s. The building has seen a constant series of improvements, including being the first Swedish church fitted with central heating, plus a number of major restoration and renovation projects.
The latest upgrade has been to its sound reinforcement system. Installed 11 years ago - including a Yamaha LS9 digital mixing console, DME24N digital mixing engine and ICP1 surface-mount controller - the installed loudspeakers were lacking quality and coverage by today’s standards.
“The main need was to improve the intelligibility and

The Netherlands - Three festivals in a row on two weekends in August - that’s the order of the day(s) for creative event production specialists The Good Guyz of Amsterdam at the Velsen Valley.
Dance Valley, Dutch Valley and Latin Village Festivals share the same site which features multiple stages and attracts huge crowds. The three electronic music events move between genres and offer up the cream of Dutch and international artists.
The Good Guyz’ Arjen Ott, technical production manager for the three events, has been a fan of Pioneer Pro Audio systems since first hearing XY-3B at the invitation of Wouter Rouijter of Amsterdam Pro Audio rental company AVL. This year he took the decision to introduce an XY-3B system for the Club Onderste Boven stage hosted by SLAM FM, which would be used during the three consecutive Velsen Valley events.
Arjen Ott explains:

UK - Ocean Colour Scene's drummer, Oscar Harrison, leads a double life - he's the drummer and multi-instrumentalist with Birmingham's Ocean Colour Scene and a leading DJ in his own right.
Determined to make himself heard, Oscar has just taken delivery of a new rig from PA manufacturer, Yorkshire-based BishopSound.
Oscar says: “I recently found myself at a friend's wedding party and was stunned by the sound I was hearing. I was amazed at how the sound filled the room with over 400 people, with no sound loss or punch on sound quality. I got investigating. My friend was using Orion15" full range and Beta 18" subs from BishopSound. For me, the system ticked all the boxes.”
Oscar's new BishopSound rig comprises: two BO115A4 Orion 15A4, two BB218S, four BB118s Beta 118 Subs, two Beta BB115 speakers, two BSS4 Telescopic Poles plus assorted cables.
(Jim Evans)

USA - Distributor Stampede is hosting eight Big Book of AV Tour & Conference Series stops in the United States and Canada, one US national sales meeting, and three summits for its United States, Canadian and Latin American vendor partners.
The Fall 2019 Stampede Big Book of AV Tour & Conference Series will make stops in San Diego, California, 19 September; Montreal, 17 October; Chicago, 24 October; Toronto, 13 November; Houston, 21 November; Miami, 5 December and Vancouver,11 December. Complete details on the fall tour can be found at www.bigbookofavtour.com.
The United States Vendor Summit will take place on 7-8 October at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Centre in New York, following on the heels of its United States national sales meeting on 5-6 October. The Canadian Vendor Summit will take place on 12 November at the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport

Canada - At a time when the background noise in audio is all about 3D sound and immersive experiences, arguably an extravagance suited to famous concert halls and exotic experimental music, it is contrary to the flow that a d&b audiotechnik Soundscape system is being applied at a church in Calgary, Alberta.
Thriving it may be, yet the pastoral team at First Assembly, Calgary is not prone to moments of irrational exuberance or wanton financial profligacy. For them Soundscape provided an entirely affordable solution to a seemingly intractable issue between acoustics, worship and sound reinforcement.
Justin Wells, First Assembly’s technical director, saw it as an uncomfortable divide between parts of their congregation and the heart of music worship. “Music is a huge part of what we do and within our church we have highly skilled musicians. For people who come fo

UK - Now well into its ninth decade of technical innovation, RG Jones Sound Engineering returned to Glastonbury for the eleventh consecutive year to support headliners Stormzy, The Killers, and The Cure on the Pyramid Stage, and to extend its expertise to the Genosys Stage and the new IICON stage at Block9, and a reconfigured West Holts stage.
RG Jones has enhanced the Pyramid Stage since 2007 in one of the longest uninterrupted runs of audio services of any sound company at Glastonbury in recent times. The 18-strong on-site team, headed up by production manager Ben Milton with production engineer Mark Isbister on stage, collectively brought to the largest green field festival in the world a wealth of expertise in delivering audio to an extremely large crowd under notoriously challenging climatic conditions.
The main aim of the system design, developed by festival soun

UK - Entertainment Technology Partners has announced the launch of its new European division. Based out of the United Kingdom, ETP Europe will provide support throughout Europe to bring AV solutions to clients.
Industry veteran Paul Hutton will be joining as president of European operations. Paul has spent the past three decades creating and spearheading Blitz, one of the leading AV staging companies in Europe.
“We couldn’t be more excited about expanding ETP’s operations to Europe, especially with Paul coming on board to help lead the way,” said Les Goldberg, chairman and CEO of ETP. “We have been looking at a number of opportunities in Europe and expect to have more announcements of new brands joining ETP in the very near future.”
Entertainment Technology Partners was created in 2014 with the idea of like-minded owners joining together to continue

Europe - DPA Microphones has appointed AVL Projekt and LAV Projekt as its distributors in Serbia and Croatia respectively. The two companies are distributors and integrators of professional audio, light and video solutions and can support customers from the initial point of contact through to the delivery and installation.
AVL and LAV address DPA market segments through a network of system integrators, installers and dealers active in the theatre, broadcast and touring.
Slobodan Veckalov, managing director of AVL Projekt, comments: “We are very excited to be representing such a great microphone brand. We have worked with DPA in the past on various projects, and we advocate for top-notch quality product in the portfolio of brands that we distribute.”
Davor Vujic, managing director of LAV Projekt, adds: “It is both a great privilege and obligation to introdu

UK - Martin Audio has confirmed that the active versions of its BlacklineX series, the BlacklineX Powered, will begin shipping in early September.
When it was first announced in May this year, customers and distribution partners welcomed the introduction of a self-powered version of this full-bandwidth, high definition portable system. They will now have the opportunity to sample the new speakers, and learn more about their properties at the series of Martin Audio open days (17-19 September) at company HQ in High Wycombe
Comprising 12” (XP12) and 15” (XP15) full range enclosures plus the compact but powerful 18” XP118 subwoofer, BlacklineX Powered integrates Martin Audio’s signature acoustic, DSP and amplifier technologies and follows the success of the passive BlacklineX Series - the fastest-selling portable series in Martin Audio’s 48-year history.
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