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UK - The Black-E community arts project in Liverpool has completed a £6m refurbishment to become the North-West's only in-the-round auditorium. Its triple-height performance space has been transformed by a beefy central cluster of Nexo Alpha-E PA, designed and installed by SSE Sales, who had to overcome a number of acoustic challenges set by the architecture of this former Congregational Chapel.

The Black-E originally derived its nickname - the Blackie - in the 1960s, as over 100 years of smoke and grime had stained the chapel's stonework black. It was at that time when the building was given a new lease of life as the UK's first community arts project.

SSE Sales was approached in late 2008 by Dan Mills, technical manager of The Black-E, to provide a sound reinforcement system for the newly-refurbished performance space, but this was by no means straightforward. T

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UK - The Underglobe, as the name suggests, is situated in the depths of the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London and has recently installed a sound system comprising Meyer Sound speakers and Allen & Heath digital mixing products, including the new iLive-T Series. The Underglobe is host to the Globe Exhibition, and venue for the Globe's corporate and educational events.

Autograph Sales was appointed to help design and install the system with sound designer, Sarah Weltman. Having collaborated before on the refit of the Young Vic Theatre in Waterloo, the Globe's technical manager, Paul Russell, asked Weltman to design a system of high quality, capable of fulfilling almost any event that the Underglobe may host.

"Flexibility, versatility and speech intelligibility were the key aims of the system, whilst keeping control and operation simple to enable a non-technical end user to

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Italy - The philanthropism of Italian Cashmere magnate Brunello Cucinelli has included his investment in the sympathetic restoration and development of the historic medieval village of Solomeo, near Perugia. Central to this project is Teatro Cucinelli, a brand new 230-seat theatre whose design is inspired by the 400-year-old Farnese theatres in Parma and Sabbioneta. Complementing the venue's elegant historic design is a state-of-the-art Yamaha audio system.

Stephan Luthi of Acoustic Light, who designed and installed the audio system, says: "The theatre hosts a range of events, from opera and live music to conferences, and we wanted the system to be acoustically very discreet in terms of the uniformity of sound, and very subtle in terms of it not being obvious that the sound is amplified."

In addition, the hands-on Mr Cucinelli wanted the system to be able to carry au

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USA - After two years, almost 2,000 attendees have participated in Shure Incorporated's Advanced Wireless Seminars around the United States, most recently in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

"We consider this a significant milestone for us, and we're looking forward to continuing this programme," said Gino Sigismondi, training manager for Shure. "With all of the uncertainty surrounding White Spaces over the past few years and with so many unanswered questions about the future of the wireless landscape, our customers need this kind of training now more than ever."

The company has been staging these events around the US since mid-2007 and most recently hosted two of the sessions on the West Coast for dealers, sound contractors, consultants, and technicians from major entertainment venues, including Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, The Mirage, and The Flamingo casino

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Upbeat in Orlando - InfoComm International has announced that InfoComm 09 (17-19 June, Orlando, Florida), the annual conference and exhibition for professional audio-visual buyers and sellers worldwide, was the biggest commercial AV show ever held on the East Coast of the United States, with more than 29,000 AV professionals attending from more than 80 countries. There were 850 exhibitors participating this year, representing an increase of 80 since the last time the event was in Orlando. "InfoComm continues to be the one trade show where most professional AV service providers make their important buying decisions for the year," said Randal A. Lemke, executive director, InfoComm International. "Despite the global economy, the AV marketplace has enthusiastically embraced InfoComm as the place to make their purchasing choices, network with product and service provider

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World - On Tina Turner's current world tour, sound engineer Dave Natale deployed AKG C214 microphones as well as a WMS4500 wireless system. Natale initially tested the C214 mic on a sound check in AKG's hometown of Vienna, Austria and immediately began using the mic on the current tour.

"While touring Austria on the Tina Turner tour, I had the ability to experiment with the C214 as well as other AKG products and I immediately fell in love with the C214's features and capabilities," commented Natale. "I am very impressed with the C214 and they are now my new standard. The older mics that I use become harder and harder to find, and it is great to find alternatives. This is truly the first microphone, ever, that I have used flat."

In addition to the C214 on the Tina Turner tour, the bassist, Warren McCrae, is pleased with the wireless capabilities of the WMS4

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USA - theMovement, a non-denominational church based in San Marcos, California, has chosen the new Soundcraft Si2 digital console as the heart of its sound system upgrade. The church was making the transition into digital for the first time so the sound quality, DSP power and the ease of use were crucial in the decision-making process for the console.

"TheMovement church is very familiar with high-tech gear," reports Chris Matthews, an engineer of over 15 years. "We needed a console that had the sound quality and the power to be able to use all gates and compressors and EQs at one time. We wanted a console with history behind it and Soundcraft has a rich history including the Vi6, and their partnership with Studer is very appealing."

Matthews adds: "The feature I like the most is that there are no real pages I have to go to in order to get an aux or EQ

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UK - Adlib Audio supplied sound for the Love Music Hate Racism Festival 2009, staged at Britannia Stadium, Stoke, UK, organised by Stoke City Football Club and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

The artist line-up included Reverend and The Makers, Beverley Knight, The New Beautiful South, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Ironik & Chipmunk, Helsinki, VV Brown, The Beat, Bashy, Mick Jones & the Rotten Hill Gang. Other musicians and performers including Pete Doherty, Eddie Izzard and Kelly Rowland spoke out against racism.

Adlib's team was crew chiefed by Marc Peers, the system was designed by Tony Szabo and Dave Kay was looking after FOH. They had to accommodate the assorted audio needs of all performers with quick changeovers, and so adopted a festival style flip-flop system at both ends of the multicore.

Szabo chose 16 V-DOSC speaker elements a side for the main arrays on 17m towers

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UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributor of professional audio products in the United Arab Emirates and exclusive distributor of Midas and Klark Teknik products in the territory, have sold the UAE's first Midas PRO6 digital live audio system. The client, Sound & Stage, is a major rental firm in the region with its office in Dubai Media City.

The Midas PRO6 Live Audio System is the second networked digital audio system from Midas, employing technologies developed from the XL8. "We have seen a great amount of interest in the PRO6. The sale to S&S was prior to the PALME event, so we were excited to see the third system in place for the show," commented Chicco Hiranandani, business development manager. He added: "The sale to S&S does not only provide greater momentum but cements the PRO6's position in the marketplace. We are looking forward to the

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USA - Denon Professional showed its DN-F300 and DN-F400 Solid-state Audio Players at InfoComm 2009.

The DN-F300 and DN-F400 Solid-state Audio Players implement stable and reliable solid-state media technology as the source medium. Both products are able to read MP3 files and uncompressed WAV files from SD or SDHC cards (The DN-F300 reads from USB drives as well), which utilise technology that is far more stable and reliable in demanding applications than the 'spinning' CD.

Housed in a compact 1U-rackspace enclosure, the DN-F300 offers contractors and system integrators a versatile solid-state audio player at a cost-effective price point. The DN-F300 also has IR control and a microphone input, making it perfect for fitness and dance applications as well as background music playback. Additionally, the mic input has music ducking, which helps for paging in BGM applications. It al

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USA - Shure has enhanced its noted KSM series of microphones with two new ribbon models. The KSM353 and KSM313 are premium ribbon microphones intended for "capturing world-class vocal and instrumental performances, both in the studio and on stage".

"Ribbon microphones have always been prized for their warm sound quality, but their delicate nature has limited their use to controlled conditions," said Scott Sullivan, Shure's senior director of global product management. "We knew there was demand for ribbon microphones that could be used in a much broader range of applications."

The KSM353 and KSM313 use a new patented ribbon material known as Roswellite, which offers higher tensile strength and more resilient shape-memory properties than a traditional foil ribbon, says the company.

"Our recent acquisition of Crowley and Tripp ribbon microphon

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Denmark/UK - DPA Microphones has joined forces with Rycote to develop the DPA 4017-R Shotgun/Rycote windshield solution. The new strong suspension and windshield solution has been designed specifically to take the DPA 4017 shotgun mic's compact size and light weight into consideration.

The DPA 4017-R consists of the 4017 shotgun mic with XLR cable and DPA windscreen; the distinctive Rycote Windshield 2 measuring just 210mm; the Rycote fur windjammer; Rycote suspension mount in vibrant red and Rycote XLR holder. This kit provides everything an outside broadcaster, journalist or location film maker could need for clear, directional sound, regardless of the weather and environmental conditions, says the company.

"DPA and Rycote share the same philosophy and it has been a great pleasure to work on a project with them," says Rycote's managing director Vivienne Dyer. &quo

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Denmark - The new Danish broadcasting complex, DR Byen, in Copenhagen features a highly creative design inspired by the Middle Eastern Kasbah with a 180m long indoor street linking three segments housing the studios, offices, depots and administration, and one segment housing a world-class concert hall with seating for 1800 people.

Electrical installation company Lindpro made no compromises when selecting the public address and voice alarm systems for the complex. "We chose Bosch Security Systems for several reasons. They were the only producer on the market able to meet the challenges presented by the new complex, and also because Bosch had the widest range of loudspeakers," says Henrik Olsen, product manager responsible for PA and voice alarm system installation at Lindpro.

Each of the segments of DR Byen has its own specific requirements so it was not possible to

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USA - Built in 1894 by Irish carpenters, the elegant 1st Presbyterian Church in Cranford, NJ, is delivering clearer services to its congregations courtesy of a new audio system featuring Renkus-Heinz ICONYX IC8 digitally steerable array loudspeakers.

The historic Shingle Style sanctuary building features Romanesque rounded arches and good examples of American Opalescent stained glass windows, carefully restored in 2000 by members of the 600-strong church community. Inside, a cathedral-style ceiling meets white walls, soft carpet and wooden pews.

Mike Sinclair of New Jersey-based system integrators Audio Incorporated explained that a combination of desires - for both better acoustics and better aesthetics - on the ministry's part led to the choice of audio systems.

"It was partly an architectural and partly an intelligibility issue," he says. "They used to have

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UK - HHB Communications has announced the recruitment of Adam Parr to its sales team. Parr arrives at HHB following seven years at Total Audio Solutions.

"It¹s great to be joining an organisation with such a strong reputation for service and innovation, and with a 30 year history of successfully meeting the needs of audio and broadcast professionals," says Parr.

As media organisations continue to decentralise their operations away from the capital, Parr will be located in the Midlands part of an ongoing commitment by HHB to better serve its customers in the provinces.

"It¹s always been important for us to meet with our customers on site, and basing Adam in the Midlands makes HHB much more accessible to broadcast, post and recording facilities in Birmingham, Manchester and beyond," states HHB sales director Steve Angel. "We feel confident that our r

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UK - Baldwin Boxall's VIGIL EVAS system has been installed in the flagship Ikea store in Wembley. Installed by Logic Fire Systems, the 14-zone emergency voice alarm / public address system will ensure that, should a situation arise, clear, pre-recorded instructions will be heard, minimising panic and aiding safe evacuation.

The system will enable visitors to the store to hear clear general public announcements, listen to background music in the restaurant and be made aware of the store's latest special offers.

The system is accessed by a combination of microphones, each with descending priority; all-call emergency firemans microphone, EVAS 16-zone rack-mounted control panel, three 16-zone paging microphones and two local hand-held microphones. There is also a satellite input providing advertisement and spot announcements to public zones and a background music facility.

Contr

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USA - Apogee Electronics has introduced ONE, a pocket-sized, portable music interface and microphone for the Mac.

ONE is a single input, stereo output USB music interface designed to work seamlessly with Apple's iTunes, GarageBand, Logic, Final Cut or any Core Audio compliant application on a Mac.

ONE features an internal reference condenser microphone, suitable for capturing inspired musical moments. ONE also includes a microphone preamp, an instrument input for guitar, bass, and keyboards, and a studio-quality stereo output for headphones or powered monitors.

"The success of Duet inspired us to provide Apogee's legendary sound quality to those in the market for an even more affordable entry point into the Apogee product line," says Betty Bennett, CEO of Apogee Electronics. "With ONE's low price and features like the specially-tuned internal microphone, profe

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UK - SSE Hire gave its new L-Acoustics K1 system its first airing at the Download Festival at Donington Park on 12-14 June, providing sound reinforcement for the main stage. The new system - L-Acoustics' long-awaited successor to V-Dosc - was an immediate success and contributed to what all agree was the best ever Download - the festival has already been named 'Event Of The Year' at this year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, which took place at the Indigo2 at London's 02 Arena, just 24 hours after Def Leppard closed the Download Festival with a momentous performance on the Main Stage.

"We made history last weekend on two counts." said Download boss and Live Nation's COO, John Probyn. "First, we produced the best rock festival that the world has ever seen and second, we listened to it through the best PA system anyone has heard!"

"Every single enginee

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UK / Australia - Polar Audio has announced its appointment as exclusive distributor for Australian Monitor in the UK and Ireland. The brand joins Polar Audio's already extensive product portfolio, which includes exclusive UK distribution for Aviom, beyerdynamic, Biamp, Dynacord, MC2, XTA and Renkus Heinz.

The company says it was chosen for its full coverage of market segments in the UK and its excellent connections with dealers, integrators and consultants across the UK market. Ian Hodgkinson, European Sales Manager for Australian Monitor commented: "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Polar Audio as our UK and Eire distributor. Australian Monitor has a successfully established product range in the UK and is set to expand in the coming months with the introduction of a new range of DSP solutions and digital amplifiers for the installation market. We feel that Po

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Greece - Adamson Greece distributor DN'A Systems general manager Takis Tsonopoulos, together with Adamson System's European technical support department, took a week long road trip around Greece, in an effort to visit all users of Adamson Systems. The trio made up of Tsonopoulos, Jochen Sommer and Adamson's newest European addition David Dohrmann, visited users and checked various details on the operation of the these systems.

The road trip started in Athens with NET Audio where a service upgrade on their old SpekTrix demo system was performed. From Athens, the trio continued to Key Sound's shop in Klidi, a small town near Thesaloniki to check on their SpekTrix system, after which they continued to Thessalonic to take a listen to Electrosound's Y10 & T21 Sub system. Sommer and Dohrmann looked into control and measurement systems used by the partner companies and verified each en

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UK - The annual May Balls at Cambridge University always generate a fierce rivalry between the various colleges as to who can stage the best. In 2009 Peterhouse, the oldest college at the University, had four stages at its Ball featuring Turbosound systems.

This year's event was particularly special as it celebrated 725 years of the first college in Cambridge and the 800th anniversary of the University itself and, with a Britain and its rich history theme, the event featured a wide variety of entertainment, from civil war recreations to the most contemporary performers.

Supplied by South London-based Subfrantic Production Services, the four systems had to cope with a remarkable array of audio. "The line-up was eclectic, to say the least," says Subfrantic proprietor and general manager Steve Davies. "For example, the main stage featured modern acts like Si

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Palestine - The Church of the Nativity, one of the most emblematic sites in Bethlehem, universally known to mark the birthplace of Jesus Christ, hosted a sermon given by Pope Benedict XVI last May, with the attendance of more than 10,000 people. The sound for the event was carried out by Antarelectronics, who opted for the Aero 38 line array systems.

In total, 16 systems, eight flown about 5m up on each side of the stage, were used. Low frequency reinforcement was handled by Aero 182 systems, two ground stacked on each side of the stage. The choice of the Aero 38 proved a success for the sound company, as the system gave uniform coverage across the square, providing high-end sound for one of the most anticipated events of the season.

This is the second time that a pope has visited the sacred Jewish site, the first being the visit by John Paul II during his pilgrimage to the Ho

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USA - Digigram unveiled AQONDA for the first time in the US at InfoComm 2009. In essence, a remotely-controllable EtherSound stagebox, AQONDA is capable of transforming up to 16 analogue audio signals into as many EtherSound channels, and injecting them into an EtherSound network. Building on the success of Digigram's original EtherSound bridges, ES8-mic, ES8-in and ES8-out, AQONDA combines the functionality of all these devices in a single 2U rackmount unit and incorporates additional network and control capabilities.

The device is available in two formats: AQONDA-8 which is 8-in/8-out, and AQONDA-16 which is the 16-in/16-out version. The inputs are of high quality and switchable between microphone and line level. The microphone preamps are also high end to ensure that audio quality remains uncompromised throughout. The preamps may be remotely controlled from any digital consol

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UK - After a successful initial UK tour and run in London's West End, Take That 'tribute' musical Never Forget is currently on a further, far more extensive, tour of UK venues. This is the first theatre production on which sound designer Richard Brooker has used a DiGiCo SD8, which he chose because it immediately addressed a range of the challenges that provincial tours inevitably throw up.

"As a sound designer, I have been quite faithful to established analogue theatre consoles like Cadac," he says. "But, as associate sound designer on Mamma Mia!, I was looking after a DiGiCo D5T and was very impressed by it.

"I also designed a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Spain last year which used a D5T12. I got on fine with it and was very happy with the results, so when I heard about the SD8, I thought it sounded very interesting. At the

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