Germany - Events & exhibitions specialists, L&S GmbH & Co have invested in EAW's new KF740 three-way line array system.

Based near Ibbenbüren in northern Germany, the company extended its already large EAW fleet by adding 16 of the KF740 full range enclosures, containing four 10in woofers in dual phase-aligned pairs, along with eight matched dual 21in SB-2001 subs - and eight MicroWedge MW15 stage monitors. The deal was concluded at the recent Prolight+Sound expo in Frankfurt and the order fulfilled by Trius GmbH & Co, EAW's German distributors.

L&S MD Tobias Berghaus comments, "Having used many other line array systems in the past we are familiar with the market - and it was simply that the EAW / Trius combination offered the best price/performance ratio. Since Trius are based just 15 minutes away we know we can rely on them for fast back-up response."

The timing

Finland - L-Acoustics' Finnish distributor and system integrator Starlike has installed a Kiva WST line source system into the Helsinki Music Hall.

The main users of the hall will be the Radio Symphony Orchestra (YLE/The Finnish Broadcasting Company), the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sibelius Academy. The 1700-seat hall is also in demand for other types of music; for example, Finnish cello rock band Apocalyptica have been booked to play the venue later this year.

"The objective was to maintain even SPL and smooth tonal balance for all sections," says Starlike's Pauli Molnár. "This led to the choice of speakers with similar physical properties: consistent tonal balance and technology. An L-Acoustics line source system was deemed to be the ideal choice, as the modularity of its curvature ensures excellent homogeneity of coverage, even tonal balance and

Croatia - Rental company Cash Sound has invested in a DiGiCo SD9. Based in Split, the country's second largest city, Cash Sound services a wide range of live events, including concerts by Croatia's biggest artists and international stars.

"The SD9 is big enough to cope with most of the shows we work on and we wanted to offer a different option to other rental companies in our region," says Cash Sound owner Sasan 'Ciro' Cirkovic.

Supplied by DiGiCo's Slovenian distributor MK Light Sound, the console is Cash Sound's first DiGiCo product and will be used on broadcast projects as well as for live shows.

"We have had the opportunity to look at other manufacturers digital consoles via acts that have performed in Croatia and key benefits for us were that the SD9 has a really good sound and is a stable platform," Ciro continues.

"In our opinion, compared t

UAE - Melody House, distributors of HK Audio speaker systems hasrecently supplied the Dubai branch of the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) with a new HK Audio L.U.C.A.S. Smart system.

Considered as the smallest PA system in the family of HK Audio, the L.U.C.A.S. Smart consists of two satellites with a 6.5" speaker and a 1" dome tweeter, both of which are powered by a 250-watt RMS digital power amp integrated with a 10" subwoofer. Although the system is relatively small, it is engineered to throw a generously wide, uniform pattern.

"The LUCAS Smart system is a compact, portable yet powerful system which makes it a very convenient system for all sorts of portable applications," commented Dino Drimakis, business development manager at Melody House. "Eeducational institutions like the SAE will find that they have made the right investment as it is no

UK - Clare Maguire, recently completed a tour of the UK carrying a dual Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system to manage FOH and monitors.

Partly rented from PA company, SRD Group, the system comprised an iLive-80 Control Surface and an iDR0 miniRack at FOH, digitally split from an iDR-48 MixRack and an iLive-R72 Control Surface at monitor position.

"I think it's a great sounding desk with so much headroom. I mix pretty loud and I tried really hard to run the outputs into distortion but I failed," reports FOH engineer, Chris Fillery. "The parametric EQ is great and musical. I also enjoy the choice of compressor types, it's nice to have elements which help you add a bit of character to the mix. The FX are excellent - the reverbs sound really good and the ADT and sub bass synthesis are well thought out."

Chris Fillery used the iLive-80 control surface wi

Taiwan / Germany - Linfair Engineering has been appointed as the sole distributor for Kling & Freitag in Taiwan. Linfair started by Linfair Chang in 1958, is an international company providing professional audio equipment, design, installation, and maintenance expertise to the Taiwan market.

The products of Kling & Freitag will be represented by Linfair's sales manager Paul Chang who comments, "We are delighted to represent Kling & Freitag in the Taiwanese market. We feel that the superior quality fits well with our range of products and look forward to grow it in Taiwan."

Linfair has already lined up a couple of interesting projects, which will be planned with speakers from the German manufacturer. (Jim Evans)

UK / Sweden - Studiomaster has announced the appointment of SC Sound A/S as its exclusive distributor in Sweden. The appointment is the latest development in the ongoing expansion of the company's international distributor network, following its acquisition by the Soundking Group.

The Danish owned import and wholesale company was appointed Studiomaster distributor in Denmark in 2009. It's success for the brand in that territory has led to its appointment in Sweden where it also operates. The new agreement was signed by SC Sound CEO Lars Bruun Jensen and Studiomaster International Sales Manager K.M. Malik, at this year's Prolight+Sound exhibition.

Commenting for Studiomaster, Malik stated: "Partnering with SC Sound in Denmark has been a great success for Studiomaster. We have seen tremendous growth in our business in year one and two, and year three is on course for a furt

UK - The Backstage Academy is launching a new foundation degree in Live Events Production in partnership with the University of Bolton.

The one-year foundation degree, which is the only one of its kind in the UK, focuses on the artistic, creative and practical use of technology for live events.

According to Creative & Cultural Skills, the Sector Skills Council for creative and cultural industries, by 2017 there will be a need for 30,000 skilled backstage and offstage technical theatre staff to support live events. The Backstage Academy is aiming to train students who can help meet this demand.

Students will gain hands-on experience at the Backstage Academy thanks to its base at the LS-Live Studios in South Kirkby, Wakefield. LS-Live is one of the largest purpose-built rehearsal facilities in Europe and has hosted some of the world's biggest music stars, including Lady Gaga,

UK - The foyer and bar area immediately of the Brighton Dome has become an integral part of the entertainment complex following the installation of a PA system. It's just received its first trial, being used repeatedly for events during the Brighton Festival from 7-29 May.

"We designed the system installation in house," explained production manager Kevin 'Kenny' Taylor. "We have three venues here, the Pavillion Theatre, Corn Exchange, and the Dome concert hall; and effectively we're a d&b audiotechnik house having our own selection of C4s, C7s and some MAX cabinets. For the Foyer the d&b E-Series looked ideal and so it has proved."

Occupying the Concert Hall frontage, the foyer bar is a wide but shallow room, 25m across, 10m deep, with a 12m ceiling height. "The roof is glass, hence the light airy feel," said Taylor, "and has quite a bouncy f

UK - Wigwam Acoustics has taken delivery of five new Midas VeniceF 'digilogue' consoles with FireWire interface for the festival season.

One of the VeniceFs has been supplied to Coldplay, providing audio splits for recording throughout their summer festival run. Two of the consoles are being used at the Hampton Court Festival and a further two at the Isle of Wight, both in June. After using the VeniceF for Bryan Adams' solo performance at the Hampton Court Festival, the artist's FOH engineer Jody Perpick, a long time Midas user, said, "I was very happy with the sound and features of this small console; it's nice to know you don't have to take out an XL4 to mix only a couple of inputs."

"We bought the VeniceF's as they offer great sonic quality, affordable prices and great packaging, as well as providing flexibility for our dry hire customers," says Wigwam's

USA - The ESTA Foundation has announced its 2011 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards, created by an impressive line-up of all-star designers - Andrew Hefter, Seth Jackson, Derek McLane, and Jim Youmans.

Seth Jackson has designed tours for two decades for Don Henley, Jason Mraz, Hilary Duff, Melissa Etheridge, American Idols Live, Barry Manilow, Carrie Underwood, and Toby Keith, to name a few. He's also a two-time Parnelli Award winner, and has received the Illuminating Engineering Society?s Award of Distinction.

Derek McLane is one of today's most sought after designers, with designs seen on Broadway in this year's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Anything Goes revivals on Broadway. His design for 33 Variations won him a Tony Award, and his Ragtime and Pajama Game revivals each earned Tony nominations.

Jim Youmans has design

UK / Spain - Lab.gruppen, Tannoy and Lake have announced that Victor Perez has been appointed national sales manager for touring and installed sound products with full responsibility for sales and support in the Spanish market and distributor support in Portugal.

Perez joins TC Group International (TCGI) - the sales organisation of the brands' parent company TC Group - after a long and varied career in pro-audio, having worked with some of the leading distributors and companies in the industry. In 1989, he worked with national manufacturer Audio Stars, before moving to EARPRO as area sales manager in the mid-90s. He then became electroacoustics systems designer and audio consultant at Pyramid Audio, sister service company to EARPRO.

Most recently, Perez has helped build the Lab.gruppen, Lake and Tannoy brands in Spain through long-time regional distributor Pro3.

"I am e

UAE - Roland Professional distributors in the region, Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises has recently supplied Backline Rentals with a Roland Digital Snake. The Dubai based rental firm which provides light and sound services currently uses a digital mixing console from Soundcraft. The purchase includes the S-1608 Stage Unit, the S-0816 Front of House Unit, the S-4000R Remote and a 100m reel of Cat 5 cable.

"Backline Rentals have had their digital console for a while and although digital consoles are convenient, the lack of a digital snake can sometimes hamper the overall production of the show," commented Moswain Antao, Roland video specialist.

"With the new system, Backline can ensure their signal quality is protected and the best part is that the snake can be used with any console, analogue or digital. So truly an investment with long term returns.&quo

Spain - The Palacio de los Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena stadium in Malaga has undergone an audio transformation thanks to the installation of four AXYS Intellivox DS1608 digitally steerable, self powered, loudspeaker arrays.

The Palacio de los Deportes is one of the reference fields of Spanish basketball. It is the home of Unicaja Málaga Team (League Champion in 2006, Cup Champion in 2005 and 3rd in Euroliga in 2007).

The stadium owners decided that whilst expanding the stadium to more than 11,000 seats, which is an audience area of over 5,500m2, they would resolve the historic issue of poor intelligibility (0.44 STI) with the PA system.

Genuix Audio's technical team supported by Duran Audio Iberia, opted for a centralised sound system, one focussed around the score board. Using four AXYS DS1608 which not only have the ability to offer over 98dB (continuous) evenly ac

USA - Anyone who walks into the Amazon Room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where the 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is being played, immediately turns their gaze upward to a captivating glowing circular object. Positioned above the featured final table at the world's premier card-playing tournament, the stunning saucer-like object is actually a giant structure of circular trusses designed off the WSOP bracelet, created by Innovative Show Design.

Its purpose is to "provide a 360° jumbo tron view above the poker table, just as you would find in any sport venue," said Justin Garrone of Innovative Show Design (ISD). Illuminated with bright LED lights, the structure features a wraparound row of EVLED Video Panels from Elation Professional to provide added special effects.

The truss structure is one of many innovative design and lighting concept

UK - Wavelength Entertainments has invested in four TT08-A, four TT25-A and four TTS28-A subs from RCF's Touring and Theatre range.

Based in the village of Eversley near Reading, Wavelength service productions throughout the UK (and into Europe) - and thus transportation becomes a major factor. The weight and economy advantages of an active, matched system, with all the processing onboard, was too good to resist, according to Tom Chennells.

The Wavelength MD has been an RCF customer for nearly two years, having been introduced to the brand through the retail shop in which he has an interest, RSD Music. The company already runs RCF 905ASs and ART 722As - and on smaller corporate jobs know they can use their 905 active 15" bass bins with TT08 tops.

The decision to back the brand followed the recent merger of Wavelength Entertainments with Yes Events Ltd. "This produc

World - Elton John is once again out on the road, supported by his full band and, this time, additional musicians. His links with Yamaha go much further than his piano, with the company's mixing consoles a long-term fixture on his live shows.

The Rocket Man's 2011 touring schedule is taking in the UK, Europe, Asia, Canada and the US, before settling in Las Vegas for a month-long residency, after which it's off to Russia, the Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand and Asia again.

The shows feature Elton's five-piece backing band plus backing vocalists. In addition, a pair of cellists - Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser - have been added for the current run of dates and percussionist Ray Cooper joins the ensemble for the Vegas shows.

One thing that has not changed from previous tours is the Yamaha mixing consoles at the front of house and monitor positions, a PM5000 and PM1D, manned by M

UK - Studiospares have been appointed as a UK Distributor of Ohm. The partnership brings together two family-run UK businesses that have been trading for over 50 years between them. Ohm offers a large selection of premium quality speakers suited for portable use and club installation, as well as stadia.

Gary Maguire of StudioSpares commented: "Studiospares deals with a large number of installation companies on a daily basis. We wanted a premium speaker line to complement our value range, so we can offer our installer base a solution based on budget. Having looked at many different brands, the Ohm speaker range ticked all the right boxes". Gareth Coleman of Ohm, who has been instrumental in setting up the partnership, said: "Studiospares has a long-standing reputation in the industry for providing great customer service as well as having a great team of technically

Italy - In a few months the Sunandbass festival will return. For a week, international DJs and artists will perform in several locations in the beach resort of San Teodoro, Sardinia.

The spotlight of last year's event was focused on the Ambra Night location in San Teodoro, whose technical setup was designed by Quadra Luce & Design, the same company that installed its resident sound reinforcement system featuring Proel Edge speakers.

Sunandbass confirmed the quality and the versatility of Ambra Night's sound systems which adjusted well to the percussive musical genre. Quadra Luce & Design were asked by the festival's organizers and influential to provide an additional, higher SPL sound system for a second dance floor and decided to specify a Turbosound Aspect system.

The system features four Turbosound Aspect TA-500tpoint source 3-way tri-amped full range loudspeakers, four T

USA - The 27th annual WrestleMania, the Super Bowl of sports entertainment, took place on 3 April at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and featured an immense Martin Professional package of LED video and dynamic lighting gear supplied by production company Upstaging.

With a pay-per-view broadcast to 35 countries and an in house audience of over 70,000, WrestleMania is serious sports entertainment. Produced by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), the yearly show has become the pinnacle event in sports entertainment.

Long time production designer for WWE is Jason Robinson who taps into his years of experience to light WWE events year long. Robinson works with WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn on design and themes for WrestleMania events with this year's look less thematic and more from the world of high tech.

Playing a major role in this year's set design were Martin Professional LC

USA - With numerous Grammy, Dove and Billboard awards and nominations, Newsboys have proven to be some of Christian rock's most enduring performers. Since the band's founding in Australia in 1985, Newsboys have released 14 studio albums and have been one of the most popular Christian music artists of the past two decades. Newsboys have now chosen to partner with microphones and wireless systems from Audio-Technica.

Newsboys FOH mixer John O'Neal comments: "We are pretty particular about sound, right down to the microphones in our workbox. [Monitor engineer] Jeff Nolte and I began discussing our desire for some new microphones. Primarily, we wanted to go in a different direction with our drum kit - we had been using the same cardioid dynamic instrument mics on our toms and snare drum for the last six or seven years. The old mics weren't broken, so it wasn't like we had to ma

UK - The 2011 festival season kicked off for Sennheiser UK with a huge amount of equipment and the company's technical support team heading to Carlisle for the BBC's One Big Weekend. With the two days headlined by the contrasting styles of the Foo Fighters no-nonsense rock and Lady Gaga's theatrics, it also saw the debut of the company's latest Channel 38 equipment.

One Big Weekend saw 51 live bands and 25 DJ sets play across four stages to 40,000 people on each day. Sennheiser UK's support team of Andy Lillywhite and Mark Saunders - a familiar sight at festivals throughout the UK - were on hand to lend technical assistance and expertise to Britannia Row and Adlib Audio, who respectively provided the audio equipment for the Main and In New Music We Trust (INMWT) stages.

The event saw a key milestone in the run up to the Channel 69 to 38 frequency switchover - the

Spain - The new d&b audiotechnik office in Barcelona is the centre for the Spanish distribution of their sound reinforcement systems, and which oversees the carefully chosen partner network throughout the country. This move to a fresh location in the city will allow the d&b team to address a higher level of activity to satisfy current and future requirements as well as offering a greater capacity for logistics, says the company.

It will become a meeting place where educational and training programs can be held on a regular basis, complementing the existing workshops, seminars and training courses that the d&b partners frequently run throughout the country.

Gaelle Poullavec who runs the office, Juanma da Cassus who is in charge of the support and service and manager David Roselló say they are looking forward to having this new facility where they can not only extend a bigger w

UK - PLASA Events has announced half-price visitor registration is now available online for this year's PLASA 2011, which is already 90% sold out, three months ahead of the show opening at Earls Court on 11-14 September 2011.

Half-price online registration offers visitors the chance to not only save money but to avoid the registration queues and receive regular updates from PLASA Events about new product launches, the expanding seminar programme and new show features.

With 50% of all PLASA 2011 exhibitors based internationally, it's the best opportunity to see all the industry's big names under one roof - plus several names that are new or returning for PLASA 2011 - including Batmink, Capture Sweden, Eclipse Iluminación y Sonido, S., Focusrite, Lydrommet, RGGLED and State Automation.

In addition to new products, an expanded seminar programme and interactive feature areas, t

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