UK - The Royal Albert Hall (RAH) is one of the world's best-known venues, and the task of providing sound reinforcement in such a prestigious hall is a sobering responsibility amply shouldered in recent years by Woking-based Sound By Design (SBD). As part of their ongoing development of sound services available in the RAH, SBD has installed an assortment of Meyer Sound self-powered systems - highlighted by a new centre cluster of M2D compact curvilinear array loudspeakers - as well as upgrading the existing permanent loudspeaker installation in the building.
After an intensive assessment period, the company took delivery of the package of M2D cabinets to complement its existing stock of M1D ultra-compact curvilinear array loudspeakers. A new three-hang centre cluster was designed, consisting of eight central M2D units with outer hangs of eight M1Ds each, all driven by LD-3 compe
USA - Coldplay's video for its latest single, Speed of Sound features Versa TUBE units from Element Labs. In an unprecedented application, nearly the entire video shoot was done with LED lights from a total of 700 Versa TUBEs. Filmed on a massive sound stage, the video features a delicate, half-crescent back wall composed of 640 Versa TUBEs placed on approximately 6" centres. Since the TUBEs were used without diffusion sleeves and the surrounding structure is quite minimal, the lights appear to be suspended in mid-air.
Production designer Mike Keeling of Project X and director Mark Romanek put together this singular look."The idea here is having the band on this raw stage and everything is done in silhouette with lighting and key lighting," Keeling explains. "Once we embarked on it, Mark and I just decided to do the entire video in LED lighting. That w
UK - Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Audio Ltd is the latest company to invest in Audient's acclaimed Aztec live performance console. Owner Bob Collinson had used Aztec on many occasions and thought it time to purchase one for a forthcoming tour, so this month he collected a new 48-channel Aztec Touring Edition. Collinson notes: "I had used Aztec on a number of gigs and loved it every time. When looking recently for a new large format console, I noted that Aztec had turned up of many riders last year and its evident success made it a very sensible option for my hire inventory."
UK sales manager, Nick Pemberton completed the sale. "As a person with Yorkshire blood in me, I understood what Bob wanted from his console: quality and flexibility, without it breaking the bank. Aztec fits the bill perfectly. As one of the finest sounding console available, Aztec's "no nons
UK - HSL Productions has supplied full lighting rigs for both performance areas at the ABC, Glasgow's newest live music venue. ABC, situated right downtown in a charismatic building on the City's famous Sauchiehall Street, is owned by Scottish promoters Regular Music and PCL, and the Workers Beer Company. It features a 1,250 capacity main room and a 350 capacity second room plus VIP bar, and plugs the gap for a medium sized, highly specified live venue in central Glasgow.
Venue general manager Malcolm (Malky) Blair, a well known figure on the Scottish and UK music and touring scenes says, "We wanted a really excellent production facility to encourage bands and performers to play without needing to bring in their own rigs". As it's a multi purpose venue as well as a live music space, ABC will feature several regular club nights, so versatile lighting was also top of the
USA - The San Francisco Hilton Hotel and Towers has added an Allen & Heath MixWizard WZ3 16:2 mixing console to its special event audio production equipment, which already includes a 24 mono/8 stereo input Allen & Heath GL4000 and a 24-channel GL4. The hotel chose the MixWizard for its compact size, flexibility and ease of set-up. "We're getting quite a fleet of Allen & Heath desks now and I'm excited about using the new MixWizard," said ballroom engineer, John Fagan. "It's a real space-saver; we bought a case with it as well, so it goes in, tilts up, and off we go! That's what it's all about now, a quick set-up and a quick strike."
The San Francisco Hilton Hotel and Towers offers a wide selection of ballrooms and conference spaces to handle its busy events schedule, from the 30,000sq.ft Grand Ballroom - which seats 3,300 in a theatrical configuration - down
UK - DiGiCo's dedicated theatre console, the D5T, formed a major part of LSI Projects' stand at the recent ABTT show in London. As a supplier and system integrator of sound, lighting, audio-visual and suspension equipment for a diverse range of markets, LSI Projects has recognized the need for a high-end digital mixing console for the theatre market, and believes that DiGiCo's D5T has provided an ideal solution for them. "LSI Projects is one of the number one installation companies in the UK, Middle and Far East for the theatre installation market," says DiGiCo's sales director James Gordon. "They have been specifying our products on a number of projects recently and we're extremely pleased to welcome them into the DiGiCo family."
UK - Mojo Barriers UK supplied all of the stage crowd barriers to the 2005 Download Festival at Donington. 50,000 heavy rock fans descended on Donington to 'rock out' to over 60 bands featuring Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, Slayer, Slipknot, Feeder and Garbage.
Mojo Barriers UK director Jim Gaffney managed the project and liaised with Clear Channel's festival manager John Probyn and site manager Andy Pearson to agree an effective barrier design to create a safe environment for the exuberant fans. Jim explained: "There a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the best barrier configuration for the show. We have done lots of shows at Donington, as has John (Probyn) so it was great working with someone who had some great ideas whilst listening to our advice. The music/audience type and slope of the ground (left to right) were the two over-riding factors in deciding on t
USA - Folk legend John Prine made his first live performance as a singer/songwriter in Illinois in 1946. Over the course of his career, he has released eight studio albums and penned such classics as Please Don't Bury Me, Fish And Whistle and Souvenirs. His music has also inspired other artists like Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash to release their own versions of Prine tunes.
Much to his fans' delight, Prine recently went back out on the road to support his new album Fair & Square, the first studio album of new material in over nine years. Joining him for the Fair & Square 2005 tour is veteran live sound mixer Dan Lance of Nomad Productions, who has offices in Dallas, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee. Lance, whose mixing career began in 1982 with Showco, has worked with a wide variety of professional performers including Barbara Mandr
UK - Wisbech based 5 Star Cases Limited has a major investment into additional CNC machining facilities. 5 Star is one of Europe's leading case manufacturers and has seen steady growth since its formation over twenty-one years ago. The company has been using CNC in its production facilities for almost six years, since its first installation of a Thermwood model 40.This machine has been the heart of the company's CNC machining systems along with two aluminium extrusion-notching saws. Due to continued growth and healthy order book, a second Thermwood 40 has been ordered with the Indiana, USA based manufacturer and will be installed in mid August."This is a major investment for the company but will hopefully demonstrate our commitment to our customers and retain our position as a leading case manufacturer" explains Andy Hudson, 5 Star's production manager. "Due to rece
UK - Front-of-house sound engineer Geoff Hooper is using a JBL VerTec VT 4889 line array system for Elvis Costello's current UK tour - a decision made as they stepped up a level in terms of production and venue size. Hopper has used VerTec for the three years he's been touring with Costello in the US, where the venues vary from 700 capacity clubs to 4000 capacity theatres and arenas. With several large concert halls on the itinerary for this UK leg of the tour, VerTec was the obvious option.
Costello knows exactly what he wants from a sound system, making the task of engineering simultaneously challenging and rewarding: "I interfere as little as possible with the distinctive Costello sound coming offstage," says Hopper. "I know I can get a great 'natural' sound out of the VerTec, and that's a primary reason it's my choice of system," he says.
USA - In May, TMB shipped the 100th ProPower Rack Panel Distribution (RPD) System. The system was sold to Ed & Ted's Excellent Lighting, Inc. in support of an intensive summer of concert and corporate events, commencing with the Eminem North American Tour.
TMB's ProPower RPD features a comprehensive range of cULus Listed panels. Included are virtually every type of connector, voltage range, or special purpose power distro device used in the live event and entertainment industries. Over 150 panels are available, with more being added regularly. Panels and their positioning in the rack are selected by the user and the RPD system is built exactly as specified. RPD rack systems are normally shipped within ten days, completely ready to use. In addition to Power Distribution panels, an entire family of panels has been engineered using the ETC SmartPack dimmer modules and ProPlex Data
France/UK - Owned by Bruno Bertrand, Audiopole is a long time distributor of pro audio equipment for a number of leading manufacturers. The company recently found it had a gap in its product range that the MC2 brand could fill.
"When our previous amplifier brand stopped being made, we were on the lookout for a manufacturer offering innovative products to fit both fixed installation and touring applications," comments Bertrand. "These market segments need high powered, compact and reliable amplifiers that few manufacturers can offer today at a high quality level.
"After checking the new E series, we decided that MC2 products fit those needs exactly. Moreover, having been in touch with Ian McCarthy several times, we know the company has a profile that can offer innovation, flexibility and a friendly relationship. We are very happy to see that sales have start
Germany - Audio specialist Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG concluded financial year 2004 with worldwide sales of EUR 261.7 million, which corresponds to an increase of 10.3 per cent on the previous year. Sennheiser say that in addition to the positive development of the economic climate, this success can be attributed to the company's consistently high investments in production technologies and research and development; other contributory factors were decisive improvements to its logistics processes and efficient marketing strategies.
The Sennheiser Group, which in the year under report consisted of the parent company plus four domestic and 13 foreign subsidiaries, and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S, raised its sales by EUR 24.5 million in 2004 to a figure of EUR 261.7 million. Profits increased to EUR 13.2 million, which already takes into account a special
UK - Electro-Voice's chic designer EViD loudspeakers are the ideal fit for the new refurbished interior of Birmingham's leading gay club, The Nightingale, where Matthews Electronics of Birmingham has just completed the installation of high-end sound and lighting systems throughout the venue.
The Nightingale is a unique managed business owned by its members, reinvesting its profits into the business. Now 35 years old and in its fourth location, the venue has recently undergone a £3/4 million redevelopment, evolving into a 'style bar and nightclub', open seven days a week.
Set over three floors, The Nightingale has capacity for 2,000. With live PA on the ground floor, and another large dance club on the second floor, the first floor in the middle features the new B5 Bar and Restaurant, together with a piano lounge and café bar with swanky leather sofas, chunky tables and big l
UK - ETC has always had a busy, but not large, stand at ABTT and this year Mark White, manager for UK and Ireland, decided the company needed a bigger area to demonstrate its wares. This meant a move into what has traditionally been one of the show's quieter halls, but ETC's presence soon drew the crowds say the company.
The main attraction was ETC's Congo lighting control console - field project manager Jeremy Roberts was so busy doing demonstrations that he hardly had a break during the entire two days. Other products drawing attention were the Source Four Revolution, SmartBar, SmartFade and SmartPack Wallmount with SmartLink and wall stations. However, ETC also said that visitors to the stand were equally delighted with a very British glass of Pimm's No.1, mixed by ETC project manager Iain Quinn.
USA - Interpol, New York's most talked-about rock band, has been touring in Europe with a JBL VerTec system, souped up with BSS Audio's FDS-366T Omnidrive Compact Plus's. The FDS-366T was used as the main crossover unit for the VerTec's low mid-hi cabinets and for the subwoofers that made up the system.
Playing mid-size venues with 1500-3000 capacity, the European dates of Interpol's tour were serviced by British PA company, SSE Hire. Tim Fraleigh, system technician on the tour, praised the sound quality of the BSS unit, especially the facility which allows the engineer to EQ the system beyond the crossover settings.
The FDS-366T's are equipped with the V1T tunings using WHISEWORKS-NTM filters, first pioneered with VerTec by SSE during last years Metallica tour.
Spain - When Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid decided to renew their old sound system at the famous Bernabeu Stadium they turned to pro audio specialists Gaplasa/DBM Pro ES, who recommended a Denon/Marantz playback solution.
As one of the best football teams in the world Gaplasa's José Maria Penalba rationalized the club deserved nothing less than the best in sound quality too. "However, it was not only a question of offering them top quality equipment but also the best engineering team and service," he emphasized.
After listening carefully to the club's needs, the D&M Professional Spanish distributors were able to meet all system requirements from the company's catalogue. The background music is now delivered from a Marantz Professional CC 4300P 5-disc CD changer, designed for commercial use. Also installed is a Marantz Professional CDR510 Live Event CD Recorder.
UK - Latest signings to Parlophone, The Departure, continue their intensive touring schedule with the release of their debut album, equipped with a stage full of Audio-Technica mics.
The band, whose album, Dirty Words, was released on 13 June, has played over 100 shows in the last nine months. With no let up, they have dates, including support slots with Duran Duran, lined up throughout Europe until September, after which they embark on a headline UK tour, followed by a US tour and a further European stint.
With a few days respite before the summer's first European sprint, FOH engineer John Delf, took the opportunity to equip the tour inventory with a full complement of A-T mics. "We played Sonicmania 05 in Japan this year," he states. "The festival is sponsored by Audio-Technica, so we played with a full A-T mic kit. I was especially impressed with the A
USA - Robe moving lights have been specified and installed at several clubs and venues in Kenny's Alley at the landmark 'Underground Atlanta' retail and entertainment complex. Lighting, sound and AV design and production company, Active Production & Design, undertook all the installations. The entire complex includes over 100 retail stores, restaurants and nightclubs and the entertainment district, Kenny's Alley.
Active Production has worked with owners The Masquerade Corporation for over 10 years, helping with many club designs, consultations and installation projects. This specific undertaking was the largest to date for the client - involving five venues. The Masquerade Corporation asked the company to come up with a series of creative technical solutions and cutting edge designs to suit the five very different venue environments.
UK - Lite Alternative has installed a full WYSIWYG design suite in its premises to complement the company's lighting design and production services. Having used WYSIWYG to create over 40 different shows during the past four-years, company hire director Jon Greaves recently decided to upgrade the lighting team's software licenses to the WYSIWYG Perform suite so that they could benefit from the new-to-2005 unlimited DMX channels version to pre-cue outputs from any console.
Featuring advanced CAD tools, 3D rendering and comprehensive paperwork and pre-cueing. LD Paul Normandale is currently using WYSIWYG Perform to create new show designs for Keane, The White Stripes, Sigur Ros and Beck. He commented: "I use WYSIWYG to establish the basic building blocks of my lighting designs and get clients' feedback from the renderings. With the upgrade to Perform unlimited I can now see ex
UK - Clarion Events Ltd has acquired a controlling interest in ATE, the commercial exhibition, conference, publishing and services subsidiary of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA), the UK trade association for the pay to play amusement industry.
The newly owned portfolio includes the industry leading events Amusement Trade Exhibition International (ATEi) and International Casino Exhibition (ICE), staged in London; three other smaller exhibitions including Amuse UK in Blackpool and The Betting Show in Birmingham; three European industry conferences; and three leading publications - Coinslot, Betting Business and Casino Review.
Simon Kimble, Managing Director of Clarion Events is pleased to have completed the investment in ATE and said: "We are delighted to have secured what is a fantastic company with great products and people in an exciting market.
UK - Shuttlesound has made the first UK sale of Dynacord's new Xa-2 horn-loaded high SPL sound reinforcement system to Banana Row, the Edinburgh-based music services company. The new system makes one of its debut appearances in front of the most important people in the political world, when it is used at the Delegates' Ball at the G8 summit in the Gleneagles Hotel.
Banana Row is a multi-faceted music operation, incorporating rehearsal and recording facilities, instrumental teaching and PA/backline rental services for a wide range of customers. Having only taken delivery of the new Dynacord Xa-2 system at the end of May, the rush was on to gain some real-world experience with the system before the high-profile G8 summit event.
The first outing for the new system was at Edinburgh's biggest free festival, the Meadows Festival. Craig Hunter of Banana Row used the complete Xa-2 sys
Japan - Lying between Tokyo and Narita International Airport, the Makuhari Messe exhibition complex is ideally situated for its role as one of Japan's leading business and entertainment destinations. As with so many Expo centres around the world, Makuhari Messe prides itself in its ability to present a full range of events. Trade shows and corporate events naturally lead the way, but the complex is also home to the purpose designed 9,000 seat Makuhari Event Hall, where rock concerts can easily be staged.
Like its close neighbours Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea Park, the Makuhari Messe has become increasingly successful since it first opened, so successful in fact that demand for the Event Hall had exceeded its ability to deliver. This was in part due to its large and heavy PA system that required four people to stack each cabinet. With a constant need to reconfigure the hall fo
UK - Many companies are finding that recent changes to employment legislation are making their lives more complicated and proving a growing expense they could well live without.
And the situation isn't going to get any easier. Employers' costs are set to increase further when government plans to increase paid maternity leave from six to 12 months and to allow new mothers to transfer leave and pay entitlement to fathers, together with legislation that extends disability rights and allows staff to request flexible working arrangements, comes in. Many small and medium-sized companies have already acknowledged that these are going to prove some of the most challenging aspects of running their businesses.
PLASA (the Professional Lighting and Sound Association) is running two seminars for anyone in the industry who would like to be better informed about the planned changes. Taking p