UK - After 18 years at the forefront of Midas and Klark Teknik, David Cooper has announced that he has left the company to form David Cooper Consulting.

The philosophy of David Cooper Consulting is to provide focused, long term sales and brand management services to an exclusive number of pro audio manufacturers. The select few that the new enterprise will go into partnership with will benefit from the company's strategic approach to brand management as well as its extensive global network of relationships built up over a generation.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be in a position to now offer my services to other manufacturers," says Cooper. "Fronting Midas' exceptional sales and marketing team for nearly 20 years has been an honour and a pleasure but over the last

France / UK - Analog Way, a leading designer and manufacturer of image converters and presentation switchers, has announced the opening of a new direct sales office in the UK.

Analog Way UK is a new direct sales office based in London and dedicated to the British market. As of May 2010, Analog Way UK will provide sales operations for Analog Way's lines of products for the territory, as well as training facilities and first level technical support.

The opening of Analog Way UK is in line with Analog Way's willingness to being closer to the regional market and attentive to customers' specific needs. Alexander Schöpff, EMEA sales director at Analog Way, explains: "We are glad to offer to our UK customers a direct and close sales relationship. As Analog Way keeps improving and developing its product range, our UK team is looking forward to supporting our customers by providi

UK - AC-ET's Video division has supplied a Green Hippo HippoCritter portable media server to TSL for use on various high-profile UK corporate and worship events.

TSL managing director Sam Tamplin was looking to invest in the company's first media server, so attended an open day at A.C.'s UK headquarters showcasing the latest creative LED lighting and video technologies, and associated products. Tamplin was so impressed with the Green Hippo's interface and feature set that he purchased a HippoCritter after the event.

The media server was recently used at the UK sales conference of one of the largest global data analysis software providers to the banking sector. SFL Group, who provided projection, staging, sound and event management, contracted TSL to provide lighting equipment and video control for the event.

The conference featured daytime presentations and a guest speech by

New Zealand - For the sound reinforcement professional, an outdoor concert featuring dub, funk, afrobeat and soul (as performed by The Black Seeds) and an indoor concert featuring acoustic guitar, vocals, and orchestra (as performed by the Topp Twins and the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra) are every bit as different from one another as apples and jackhammers. This is precisely what Auckland, NZ-based Edwards Sound Systems encountered on two recent projects. They both used the new Aero 12A line array system from D.A.S. Audio.

Edwards Sound - a full service sound, lighting and audio visual - recently took delivery of their new Aero 12A line array speakers, which are part of D.A.S. Audio's Aero Series 2 product line. These two very different projects were among the first applications for the company's new equipment.

Jonathan Hardie-Neil, managing director of Edwards Sound report

USA - J. R. Clancy has announced the appointment of Jim Crooks as the company's vice president, sales. He starts in his new Syracuse-based position on 10 May.

Crooks brings more than three decades of industry experience to J. R. Clancy. For the last 17 years, he has worked for a single group of entertainment lighting, dimming and energy management companies. In 1993, he joined Portland-based Entertainment Technology (ET) as their western regional manager and vice president, marketing. ET was acquired by Stamford based ROSCO Laboratories and later sold to a conglomerate called Genlyte. In 2007, Genlyte was acquired by Philips. Within the Philips Lighting group, Crooks has held several positions with Lightolier, Entertainment Technology, Vari-lite and other Philips-owned brands.

"Jim is a well-known figure in the entertainment technology industry, and we are fortunate to br

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Belgium - PixLED has announced Bart Van der Beken as its new general manager.

Van der Beken has over 10 years of knowledge and experience in the LED industry, working for market leaders including Barco N.V and Element Labs, and brings with him a network of contacts from across the major EMEA and APAC rental and staging companies.

Van der Beken has a huge energy and enthusiasm for the technology and all its possibilities, and also for the industry in general. He is very positive about expanding PixLED's business in all sectors, and in taking the company forward over the coming years, which will include imaginative and proactive marketing campaigns.

He states, "I am very honoured to be taking up this exciting new challenge, and immediately accepted the post after seeing the wide and refreshing new range of ultra lightweight PixLED LED products. There is a great future her

UK - The ongoing evolution of FocusTrack, the show lighting documentation system, sees the introduction of PowerTrack, a function for calculating the power consumption of shows.

PowerTrack takes the information about the levels lights are at in cues, which it extracts by importing showfile data from ETC Eos/Ion, MA grandMA or Strand 300/500-series consoles, and combines it with information about fixture types and their power consumption that is available from the RigTrack rig management module. This means that it can calculate the approximate load of any given cue - in doing so taking into account not only the level that tungsten lights are at and the constant background load of discharge fixtures, but also the status of more complex fixtures such as moving lights that reduce their discharge lamp's output power when the mechanical dimmer is closed.

In addition to calculating t

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Create new traditions – Cameo P6 - High Output Full-Spectrum Ellipsoidal

Cameo's P6 is a future-proof LED profiler with a powerful 600 W RGBACL engine and 16,000 lumens. It’s an energy-efficient replacement for 2.5 kW halogen profile lights in theatres and venues. With excellent light quality and natural colour rendering, it fits perfectly in theatres, musicals, TV studios, congresses, and live events.

With an LED life of 50,000 hours and low power use, the P6 cuts energy costs and supports the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ goals for climate neutrality by 2050. It also meets updated eco-design rules for lighting.

www.cameolight.com/p6profile

Germany - After almost two decades, d&b audiotechnik has found it necessary to update a classic. The venerable E3 has now been superseded by the E6, taking years of audio heritage and redefining it for a new generation of listeners. Smaller and lighter, this powerful new loudspeaker equals or exceeds E3 performance in every way, says the company. The E6 fits smoothly between the acknowledged E0 and E8 loudspeakers within the d&b audiotechnik E-Series product range. Not only is the E6 smaller and lighter than its ancestor but it also punches above its weight.

The E6 is a high performance multipurpose loudspeaker employing an integrated 6.5"/1" exit coaxial driver design with neodymium magnet and constant directivity horn loading. The innovative horn design with its 100° x 55° (h x v) dispersion pattern can easily be rotated through 90° providing a 55° x

UK - Grammy Award winning US producer/engineers and founding members of the METAlliance, Chuck Ainlay and George Massenburg, are to jointly host two recording masterclass seminars in London, directly after the forthcoming AES convention. The two-day sessions, to be held at British Grove Studios in West London on 26-29 May will cover aspects of the entire recording process: preproduction session planning, studio set-up for tracking, mic placement, overdubs, mixing, delivery, and archiving. They will also cover effective use of tools: microphones, analogue & digital equipment, outboard effects and plug-ins, in-the-box as well as analogue console mixing, plus detailed stereo & multichannel mixing techniques.

A live band will be present on the first day of each session. The plan is to make the whole event a very hands-on experience for everyone who attends. The event is being manage

Israel - Waves Audio is now shipping the WSG-Y16 mini-YGDAI SoundGrid I/O card for Yamaha mixing consoles. The card widens the sonic capabilities of a Yamaha console, giving live engineers the opportunity to more accurately duplicate the sounds of hit studio recordings, the company says. Also, it gives front-of-house engineers the ability to select from a wide palette of vintage outboard signal processing without having to haul racks of fragile classic gear. Together with Waves SoundGrid Server (SGS), a Control PC, a network switch and an authorised iLok with SoundGrid-compatible Waves plug-ins, the WSG-Y16 enables Yamaha consoles to process 16 channels of audio with Waves plug-ins. The WSG-Y16 also supports MIDI input, for remote plug-in control directly from the console or external control surface.

"We are delighted to add the Waves WSG-Y16 SoundGrid MY-card to the ever-g

USA - One of the main elements of any live performance is the mixing console, but Memphis Train Revue, a 10-piece R&B/soul band based in Austin, Texas, and their engineer James Duvall have been successful with a new paradigm. The band's sound system is designed around Allen & Heath's iDR-32 MixRack connected to a laptop, eliminating the mixing console completely.

Memphis Train Revue is a high-energy show band that plays a lot of private events. "One of the things we specialize in is making things efficient and seamless for our clients. Everything we do can happen within the boundaries of the stage itself. Eliminating the mixing console frees up a significant amount of floor space, and that can be the difference in getting the gig, whether it's a club, theatre or ballroom," says James Duvall of Creative Engineering & Solutions in Austin, who does both the house and moni

Thailand - A large Milos ground support system was utilised by Thailand based audio designers and manufacturers, P. Audio, for the high profile launch of the new Red Ant restaurant, a popular new eatery located near Bangkok's busy Suvarnabhumi airport.

The large 20 x 35m (internal stage size) structure was built from Milos's MR3 roofing product which was specially purchased by P. Audio for this occasion.

The total height of the completed structure was 15m, giving an impressive 12.5m of headroom, and a weight loading capacity of 17 tonnes for the hanging of lighting, sound and video production equipment. A full programme of entertainment took place on the stage to celebrate the opening night of Red Ant for the enjoyment of an invited audience.

All four sides of the structure can be covered by flame-proof side nets if desired, and the intention is that P. Audio will in the fut

Global Music Sales - Sales of music slid by 7% around the world in 2009, new figures have revealed. But the music market in 13 countries, including the UK, grew during the past year, according to data released by recording industry body the IFPI. It added that global digital sales registered a strong increase across many markets in 2009. Susan Boyle's debut album was confirmed as the world's biggest seller of the year, shifting 8.3m copies. The Scottish star's performance was substantially up on 2008's world number one, Coldplay's Viva La Vida, which sold 6.8m. The Black Eyed Peas and Michael Jackson's This Is It followed Boyle in the rundown.

The IFPI also reported that countries which have the least stringent protection from music piracy, such as Spain and Canada, registered the most serious falls in official music sales. Improvements in anti-piracy measures in countrie

USA - A new Avolites Pearl Expert is the lighting control console on the long awaited North American tour of Public Image Ltd. (PiL). Theatrical Media Services (TMS) of Omaha is supplying the Pearl Expert for the six-week tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles this month.

TMS has specialized in complete event production and state-of-the-art lighting for over 20 years. The company's principal partners have worked in entertainment production since the early Eighties. "The new Avo Pearl Expert is small with plenty of balls," says TMS vice-president, Mark Huber. "The new Titan software represents a real leap forward for Avo. PiL needed a desk with plenty of horsepower yet compact and reliable. The Pearl Expert fits the bill perfectly.

"Our new Pearl came from TMB, a supplier of ours since the early days," adds Huber. "Now TMB are the exclusive distribu

UK - PLASA and L&SI magazine have joined forces with the technical team at The Centaur in Cheltenham to stage a three-day loudspeaker demonstration on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th May. The event, which PLASA and L&SI plan to be the first of many such product-led industry gatherings, will allow visitors to hear and compare a range of the world's leading professional PA systems designed for shows and events with up to 5000 audience capacity.

Over the course of three days, 12 leading manufacturers will gather at the 4000-capacity multi-purpose venue to demo' their systems. The Participants will include DAS Audio, EAW, Funktion-One, JBL, K-Array, KV2 Audio, Martin Audio, Meyer Sound, RCF, Renkus-Heinz and Tannoy.

Audio consultant Steve Jones of SJA has designed the demo format in consultation with the manufacturers involved, and will be on hand to ensure an even

UK - PLASA Events confirms that PLASA Focus: Leeds 2010 has broken all records over the two days at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Visitor attendance topped 1800 - an increase of nearly 30% on last year's launch event. Thirty-three first-time exhibitors at PLASA Focus meant the show was brimming with key industry players, bringing the total to over 130 exhibitors, with both halls sold out weeks in advance of the show.

A lengthy list of new products were on show, many representing their first UK appearance following international launches, including 15 new products by Martin Professional; the SADiE 6 LiVE system; the UK debut of RCF's VSA 2050 Digital Steerable Column; Audio-Technica's updated 2000, 3000, 4000 & 5000 wireless systems; Clay Paky's first LED screen product - the Mirage LED curtain display; Trantec's Channel 38-ready S6 wireless system; GDS's latest additions

UAE - ETC's Selador range of LED fixtures has scooped another award, this time for Best Intelligent Lighting Fixture at the PALME Middle East Awards 2010.

Selador was entered for the award by ETC's Dubai based distributor, Oasis Enterprises. David Gray, architainment division manager, says, "Quality of light output is an important feature in an energy efficient fixture, and the PALME award recognises this. It is always a challenge to convince professionals that one Selador Vivid Ice fixture can replace 16 Source Four PARs in Congo Blue; or that the same fixture then also be used to generate Sky Blue which would have required eight PARs. But by setting up demonstrations and shoot-outs, we can prove this amazing technology to end users first hand.

"The TV market has been fastest to recognise the benefits of Selador in producing warm whites - we have supplied many Lustr

UK - Housed within an old brewery bottling plant building on one of the oldest streets in Norwich, The Waterfront is a popular 700-capacity venue hosting over 100 live music events every year since it opened in 1993. The venue is owned by the University of East Anglia student union, but is run as an independent business open to the general public, and open four or five nights per week.

The venue has always offered something of an in-house PA system for touring acts, but recently secured funds to upgrade or replace its existing outdated system. It was at this point that production manager Nic Morris and the venue's in-house engineer, Lavar Bullard, discovered Tannoy's new VQ Live system through an encounter with Paul Nicholson of Red Square Audio, who made the recommendation to arrange a demonstration.

The VQ Live system surpassed all expectations with clarity, headroom and sep

USA - Audio-Technica provided wireless solutions for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, taped live on Wednesday 21 April, at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, and broadcast on GMC, Sunday 25 April 2010.

Several featured performers used Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, paired with the AEW-T5400 Cardioid Condenser Handheld Transmitter, during the course of the show, including co-host Bart Millard of MercyMe; Amy Grant; Francesca Battistelli; Jars of Clay; Tenth Avenue North; Red; Donald Lawrence; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Kari Jobe; and Michael W. Smith, who led a moving finale performance of the Haiti benefit Come Together Now, accompanied by the rest of the night's artists. A-T's 5000 Series wireless was also used as part of the mic setup for a gospel medley performance, and additionally the house band used a selection of A-T hardwired microphone

Canada - Wireless Solution Sweden helped Electric Aura take a carbon-friendly footstep during the 2010 Olympic Games at one of the installations found above Robson Square in Vancouver. Every night from 12-28 February, the skies overhead exploded with lights, pyrotechnics, lasers, projections and flying performers.

The project, aptly named Ignite the Dream was the creation of Partrick Roberge to be the signature show celebrating the end of each day of the Olympic competition. Lighting designer Robert Sondergaard of Electric Aura explains, "Patrick's vision was that this show had to be one of the top 10 things to see during the Olympics." The lighting, as well as all of the special effects, were designed to create a stunning 360-degree experience that would showcase British Columbia at its best.

The show was produced by Partrick Roberge Productions, with lightin

UK - A syndicate of professional entertainment technology companies, including Fibre Optic Systems, AC Technologies Robe and HSL, are sponsors of Team Pyro in 2010's Elf Renault Clio Cup. The syndicate is looking for more companies to join them.

Leicestershire-based Team Pyro is already champion of the 2008 and 2009 seasons of the Elf Renault Clio Cup and for 2010 has joined forces with driver Jack Goff, reported as being one of the Motorsport News Fast 50 - one of the top 50 drivers to watch in the season.

The Clio Cup is run as part of the British Touring Car Championship programme and benefits from the huge popularity of the BTCC. It offers various avenues of media coverage including live television coverage as well as specific Renault race meetings, including the World Series by Renault.

(Jim Evans)

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