Meanwhile, Asia's leading RF manufacturer made its step into the digital realm. Mipro's single-channel ACT-81 and dual-channel ACT-82 are described as "true digital wireless systems", and promise CD audio quality thanks to new proprietary DSP algorithms and digital modulation RF technology. Signal security is bolstered by 128-bit encryption, while a new sub-band algorithm has been developed to tackle compander noise.

Otherwise, all the expected advantages of going digital are laid out: no HF saturation or distortion with high SPL input.; built-in selectable mic capsule sounds, modelled on leading brands; more resistance to interference and, in that sense, better sound quality than analogue. Plus, naturally, PC software for control and monitoring of large scale systems.

The use of wireless is on the increase almost everywhere you look, pointed out Eugene Chen, VP of internat

German manufacturer Fohhn Audio introduced a range of DSP-controlled active, lightweight speakers for fixed installations and mobile applications. The self-powered compact speakers in the 12"/1"CD, 12"/2"CD and 15"/2"CD class can be operated remotely, are network-compatible and are equipped with fully programmable 10-band EQs, delays and dynamic processors. Parameters are easily configured via the 4-line LCD display or a laptop and can be saved as presets. The speakers are equipped with digital stereo amplifiers (2 x 1000W/8ohm) and can be connected to other passive Fohhn Tops or a passive Sub.

There's a new lease of life for flat-panel loudspeakers: Layered Sound is a new venture by Canadian concert pianist and inventor Shelley Katz, who has developed a combination of conventional and NXT-style distributed mode loudspeakers (DMLs). "He was in search of the perfect digital piano," revealed Ian Gair, well-known for many years at Fane Acoustics and now Layered Sound's executive for Commercial Audio. "Having found that the speaker output was the real problem, he identified NXT speakers as the potential equivalent of the piano soundboard - but it only worked when he combined them with conventional ones. One set deals with the direct onset of sound, the other handles the early reflections that provide clarity and depth."

One PhD later, funding was secured and Layered Sound went into business. Obviously, digital pianos aside, all of the previously identified app

JBL showed several new products including the new VT4887ADP three-way line array element and VT4881ADP powered subwoofer, which features JBL's newly-developed Ultra Long Excursion 460mm (18") woofer with 2000W continuous (AES), 8000W peak power handling capacity, the model 2269. Using the company's patented Differential Drive dual voice-coil loudspeaker technology, the 2269 provides high output capabilities with an "extremely advantageous" power-to-weight ratio and is used in JBL's two newest Vertec subwoofers, the VT4881ADP compact powered unit and VT4880A full-size passive. Adding to the VRX portable line array series, JBL is introducing the VRX915M two-way, 15" floor monitor designed for live performance. The company was also showcasing its Venue Performance (VP) Series of powered loudspeaker systems.

Sound Projects introduced the baby of the family, the Gluon, which is an extremely small speaker system with high acoustical output. It is designed as infill- or spot monitor. Also introduced was a new fly-able self-powered sub-low system: the SP18, which will make any small system sound big. Sound Projects' Dreamline Line-array system in a prefab housing was introduced at the show. Each Dreamline is individually configured by Sound Projects to match the location parameters. Its low weight of around 100 kg (depending on configuration), makes the Dreamline compliant with most standard theatre rigging points.

Tannoy was showing two new Precision monitors - Precision 6iDP and 8iDP. These intelligent active monitoring systems combine the Tannoy Dual Concentric and WideBand technology with the latest digital processing from TC Electronic. In the V-Series loudspeaker range, Tannoy has announced active versions of various models under the 'PowerV' banner. The in-ceiling range of loudspeakers is being extended with four new compact high performance models.

UK - Crown International has launched its new 'Contractor Digital Intelligence' series 2-channel amplifiers, introducing new standards of cost performance ratio, and advanced features for the installed sound market, says the company.

The new CDi Series amplifiers feature the same Class-I (Balanced Current Amplifier) Crown patented technology as its I-Tech Series, coupled with advanced DSP functionality and USB computer connectivity, enabling setup and control via the included HiQnet System Architect software, on PC or Mac.

The CDi Series also sets a new standard in weight to power ratio for amplifiers of its class, both models - the CDi 1000 and CDi 2000 - weighing in at under 17lbs for a 2U rack space unit. The two models are identical except for their power rating, with the CDi 1000 and CDi 2000 respectively providing 500 watts and 700 watts per channel into four ohms. Other

UK - Soundworks, based in Cardiff Bay, has become the first audio facility in the UK to install a Digidesign ICON console in a Dolby licensed film dubbing theatre. To ensure that the wiring for this major equipment upgrade went ahead without a hitch, Soundworks turned to cabling specialist VDC Trading to supply everything it needed.

"The best thing about VDC is the technical support you get to ensure the installation goes smoothly," says Soundworks' founder Simon Jones. "We spent about a week discussing exactly what we needed with VDC's technical staff so that when we actually received the cables, which were made up into runs at their premises in London, we were able to install them really quickly and easily with minimal fuss. It was all very straightforward and the service we received was excellent."

Soundworks, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this m

USA - The Iconyx Series Digitally Controlled Array Systems will be at Infocomm following its launch last autumn. These loudspeakers will be demonstrated live at Infocomm 2006 in Orlando in Demo Room W-203A. An Iconyx system has also been selected to provide audio for the AV Awards Banquet on Tuesday evening - where, coincidentally, Iconyx is among the finalists in the Most Innovative Loudspeaker For Commercial Installations category.

The Iconyx Series uses advanced technology to provide natural music and intelligible speech in the highly reverberant environments typically associated with architecturally distinguished buildings. Their slender vertical profile mounts flat to the wall, blending easily with both classical and contemporary architecture. The integrated system inside provides a powerful new solution for consultants, contractors and architects who need pre

UK - Blitz Sound was commissioned by religious organisation, the Christ Embassy to provide audio and video equipment in support of a three day Easter rally at ExCel involving 5,000 people on site, plus a further seven million people world-wide via a live satellite feed.

The event was a charismatic renewal conference which started with all 5,000 devotees gathered in the main hall for a welcome and worship. A programme of interactive events including teaching and prayers then took place all day Friday and these were followed by an overnight vigil. A further two shows ran on Saturday and Sunday featuring charismatic leader, Pastor Chris preaching from Lagos. This sermon was transmitted via a hard satellite feed to Excel ensuring it could be watched in both London and South Africa. Blitz Sound recorded both audio and video throughout the four days, which were edited, remixed and sol

The Netherlands - With the delivery of a complete Alcons LR16 pro-ribbon line-array system, Amsterdam-based Focus Showequipment has chosen Alcons as main sound system brand for their rental inventory. The system consists of 18 pcs. LR16 ribbon line-array modules, 6 pcs. LR16B line-array bass complete with accompanying ALC4 2x 2kW controller-amplifiers and processing.

The choice for Alcons was made on basis of a number of comparison tests and on basis of their experience with a large number of brands from Focus' own rental inventory. Most important decision criteria were performance, logistics, but also a wide acceptance of the brand throughout the different application areas.

Paul Lassooij, co-owner, and responsible for the rental equipment, says: "Important for a large organisation as Focus, is to serve a largest possible range of applications with a smallest number of d

Greece - Christie partners AVC Productions recently provided complete technical support for a multi-venue Global Symposium on Vision Correction in Athens, on behalf of McMenemy Hill Live Communication, whose client is the eyecare specialists Bausch & Lomb.

Working with Bausch & Lomb's appointed communications agency McMenemy Hill, AVC supplied reinforcement for fifty presenters over the three days, using four of their newly purchased Christie (SXGA+) S+12Ks. These 12,000 ANSI Lumen, 3-chip DLP devices projected in 4:3 aspect ratio onto two butted displays, were soft-edge blended to create a widescreen canvas measuring 6m x 2.37m.

Fitted with 4.5-7.3:1 long-throw lenses, the S+12K's, ground-stacked at the back of the room on 10ft Dexion mounts, were able to provide the perfect solution, delivering razor sharp images over the 22m distance, and capturing the stunning detail of th

Europe - Hailed as one of the key pop lyricists of his generation, he made his name as the vocalist of the highly influential British rock group The Smiths. Morrissey's latest tour of Europe has been carrying full production provided by SSE Audio Group, featuring a Nexo Geo T system with Camco amplification.

The tour, which started in Sweden, has visited a diverse list of venues, from well-known arenas to town halls. Used in full at the largest shows, for example at London's Alexandra Palace, Morrissey's Nexo Geo T tangent-array sound reinforcement system comprised left and right arrays of 12x T4805s and three T2815s, with a centre cluster of two T4805s plus three T2815s. Sub bass was delivered by Nexo CD18s and the entire system was powered by Camco Vortex 6 amplifiers, with Vortex 4s to power the stage monitor system.

FOH engineer Dave 'Milky' Millward explained: "It's

France - Rycote is showcasing a new and exciting range of smooth windshields at AES (Audio Engineering Society) in Paris this month. As well as providing very effective wind noise reduction, these new Rycote Smoothies can be personalised with a printed colour logo of your choice.

The Smoothies comprise a two-part foam cavity constructed of an open cell acoustic foam base, covered by a thin foam outer skin, reducing wind noise up to 22dB. A large range of sizes is available to fit most popular shotgun and condenser microphones (from 19mm to 25 mm diameter), as well as a variety of on-board camera microphones. There are five new Smoothie flavours to choose from: blackberry, strawberry, lime, banana and blueberry.

For increased wind protection a removable fur cover (Smoothie Windjammer) is available as an optional extra in the standard Rycote grey fur.

Rycote's managing directo

France - First announced at AES New York in October, the new EnergyPro brand will be exhibiting for the first time at a European AES in Paris, together with their distributor Analogue Audio/Pro Audio Services.

EnergyPro is the newly created professional division of Audio Products International Corp, manufacturer of the brands Energy, Mirage and Athena Technologies. Based in Toronto, Canada, APIC is the third largest loudspeaker manufacturer in North America and one of the ten largest speaker manufacturers in the world.

The first products created under the new brand are a comprehensive line of studio monitors, focussed on the recording, post production, project studio and broadcast markets. Stereo, surround, passive, active, analogue and digitally controlled systems are all featured and API has used its R&D resources to design in digital compatibility and upgrade paths for this

Aisia - Singapore-based distribution company Peak Fusion Audio Design has become the new exclusive distribution partner for HK Audio products in Singapore and Malaysia.

For several years, Peak Fusion has been active on the market as a distribution and installation company both in the professional audio and the AV segment and is also working exclusively with other German manufacturers as well.

Managing director Daniel Ng says: "With HK Audio, we have been able to add another premiere German manufacturer to the fold. Both the Portable Sound products with the active LUCAS systems and the high-end Cohedra and Cohedra Compact line array systems are the final touch in rounding out our product portfolio."

HK Audio international sales manager Christian Stumpp adds: "By working together with Peak Fusion, we are taking another major step in establishing our brand throug

UK - ADLIB Audio continues its excellent working relationship with the Charlatans, supplying a JBL VerTec line array system and full sound production and crew for their latest UK tour.

The band have just released their new Simpatico album, and with a loyal concert going fanbase, all the gigs have been packed with punters and enthusiasm.

The tour visits a variety of venues and is being mixed by FOH engineer Dian Barton. For the larger spaces, the standard configuration is 12 VerTec 4888 elements a side, together with six ADLIB 418 subs a side, explains ADLIB's systems engineer and FOH 'babysitter' Steve Pattison.

VerTec is an ideal system for a band like the Charlatans, who combine a serious rock 'n' roll attitude with power, driving guitars and intricate lyrics. They are not a band that requires rocket science to get a good sound, as they all play well and solidly, it

France - Graham Pattison has been Front Of House engineer for many bands and spent years with Kula Shaker and, more recently, Gomez. When it comes to recording, there's just one mic that Pattison takes into the studio, the SE Gemini.

Pattison is a freelance sound engineer based in Paris who has worked with a host of big bands and artists. For years he worked as Kula Shaker's FOH engineer and when the band reformed recently they asked him to work with them at their reunion gigs.

"The gigs were really good," he says. "I didn't know whether to get involved again to be honest. It was kind of like going out with an old girlfriend! I turned up and mixed the first show and it went great."

Pattison has a long list of other bands on his CV too. "I've worked with Spiritualized and, over the last couple of years, I worked with Gomez who are now very big in Amer

Spain - Time goes by with giant steps, so Work is introducing the new SION professional mixer series, aiming to satisfy the needs of the most demanding DJ's.

SION is a new and useful mixer series with two, three and four channels, bringing some new features and including new technical characteristics of the latest generation.

Input type selectors and three band equalizer on each channel, level adjustment and master/monitoring selector at the headphones output, front and back microphone inputs with talkover function, high intensity Led vumeters, recording outputs, an easy crossfader and line faders replacement system, and an excellent signal/noise ratio makes of the new SION series a must in the future DJ booths.

(Chris Henry)

USA - Meyer Sound has announced that Alejandro Orozco has been appointed to the newly created position of marketing manager for Latin America. Based at Meyer Sound's office in Mexico City, Orozco is charged with strengthening Meyer Sound's brand throughout Latin America by working closely with customers and Spanish language press to disseminate news about applications of Meyer Sound equipment in Latin America, and through Meyer Sound's presence at trade shows.

Orozco comes to Meyer Sound after occupying several marketing positions in Mexico's financial and entertainment industries and acting as marketing consultant to companies such as Glaxo-Smithkline, ING Financial Group, Novedades Editores, and Texas-based SoilLock Inc. Orozco also has contributed to magazines in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.

"Meyer Sound has a strong reputation and consistently inspires en

USA - Danley Sound Labs is introducing the SH-100B at InfoComm 2006. This new addition to the popular SH Series gives the user the additional power of a tapped-horn subwoofer wrapped around the popular two-way Danley SH-100 loudspeaker.

With a maximum SPL in the upper 120dB range, a beamwidth of 110 x 110, and frequency response to below 40Hz, the SH-100B is destined to become a favourite loudspeaker solution for audio designers, contractors, and staging/rental companies, says the company. Its compact size, 29.5" x 20.5" x 19", make the SH-100B extremely mobile.

Applications for the SH-100B include houses or worship, commercial theatres, live music venues, performing arts centres, and discos.

"Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the SH-100B is one of the most powerful loudspeakers out there," says Mike Hedden, president of Danley Sound Labs. "Us

UK - The M1 Tubetracker is ideal for the home or project studio - especially when space is limited. The M1 follows on from the success of the hugely popular M4 tube console launched last year, which already has a large array of high profile users from Athlete to Lamb.

The M1 enables you to capture that acclaimed warm, smooth and clean TL Audio sound at the lowest price point ever achieved on one of their desks says the company, without compromising quality. The M1 offers you quality valve mic preamps on each channel, three band musical EQ with sweepable mid on each channel, two auxiliary sends per channel as well as effects returns and alternate two track returns and monitoring options.

It has been designed to maximize today's recording techniques, with the addition of an optional ADAT output for easy digital connection to your recording device and software. It makes the perfe

Australia - Norwest Productions, one of Australasia's largest sound rental companies, have recently added an additional 66 fP Series amplifiers to their already impressive inventory giving them well over 1million watts of Lab Gruppen power.

The main amplifier model in Norwest's inventory is the Lab.gruppen fP 6400, which delivers 2300W per channel into 4 ohms in a 2 rack space, 10 kg package. Norwest employ their Lab Gruppen amplifiers to power a variety of speaker systems as well as for a wide range of applications including corporate shows, tours, dance parties and large scale events. Some recent Norwest shows and events powered by Lab.gruppen include: Black Eyed Peas tour, REM tour, Michael Crawford, Tamworth Country Music Awards, Billy Connolly tour, Carols in the Domain, The Wiggles tour, East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, 2006 Commonwealth Games ceremonies and of

UK - RF specialist Trantec is delighted to announce that it has further expanded its range of innovative wireless radio mic systems with the addition of its new 4-channel UHF S4.4 system, which offers a cost effective and flexible alternative for vocals, presentations, and musical instruments.

Designed to the highest specifications at Trantec's London based HQ, the S4.4 systems offer four license-free switchable UHF frequencies which can operate simultaneously.

By virtue of its advanced diversity receiver, it optimises interference-free reception in the most challenging application environments and features an adjustable squelch function to guard against interference. In addition its unique dynamics processor ensures a crystal clear and natural sound.

The Vocal system comprises a hand-held transmitter with a dynamic capsule and a diversity receiver. Delivering a punchy and a

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