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30 August 2024

Finland - Kuopio’s Panorama Landscape Hotel sits at the top of Mountain Tahko ski resort overlooking a landscape that could have been hand-painted by Monet. Some guests sit in the clouds absorbing the natural beauty of the forest, while others choose to relax in their suites or in the traditional Finnish design of the spa.

Built by local entrepreneurs Harri Jokela and Katja Kuulusa, Panorama Landscape Hotel is a celebration of Nordic architecture, from the detailed wood interior to the RAW Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers located across the site.

Original planning started in 2018, with construction of the hotel made possible through investment by former rally champion Tommi Mäkinen and former Formula 1 titleholder Kimi Räikkönen – both legends of Finnish motorsports. Taking inspiration from Japanese onsen spas, the idea was to build a hotel that

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30 August 2024

UK - Having appeared to great acclaim and huge popularity last year, Classic Gear Live, which presents some of the key lighting and sound products that have shaped the entertainment industry, is back for 2024 at this year’s PLASA Show.

This year’s display builds on the success of last year, with some returning favourites and a whole bunch of ‘new’ classics besides.

On show this year: the Vari-Lite VL2, VL4 and Artisan for those who missed them last year, but alongside them the Vari-Lite’s rivals from back in the day, the moving mirror lights – GoldenScan and RoboScan, controlled by a Wholehog II console, marking the 30th anniversary of its PLASA debut.

Stepping back a generation: Avo’s QM500, or for a complete contrast in size, Zero88’s Sirius, the console that introduced so many to memory lighting control. Many would then gra

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29 August 2024

UK - The PLASA Show 2024 sees the UK debut of Cadac Consoles’ CM-J50 digital audio mixing console. Following the company's recent announcement of its shift to UK-based manufacturing, Cadac Consoles will showcase the CM-J50 on Stand E85 alongside Precision Audio Solutions, who played a pivotal role in the CM-J50’s international Beta test programme, and UK speaker manufacturer Inspired Audio.

Andi Churchill, managing director of Precision Audio Solutions, comments: “Before taking the CM-J50 out on the road, we spent six months testing it rigorously in our warehouse - everything from identifying software quirks to bouncing it around the car park, loading and unloading it from vans, and transporting it across the country. Despite Cadac's challenge to 'break it’, the CM-J50 withstood everything we threw at it.

“Over the past 18 months it’s bee

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28 August 2024

The Netherlands - Conservatorium Maastricht, an international conservatory, is one of nine music academies in the Netherlands. With goals to set its musicians in motion, the school enables its students to achieve their ambitions in various musical fields through theoretical and practical approaches to artistic development and performance, along with cross-departmental activities, elective courses and professional development.

At the end of each year, Conservatorium Maastricht holds a graduation showcase, where students present their final projects. This event allows graduates to demonstrate what they have learned and their capabilities as musicians, composers and/or producers. This year, the event was held at Muziekgieterij, a local concert hall that was tasked with handling the technical aspects, which included providing the best possible sound for the show

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27 August 2024

USA - To expand research opportunities and community resources, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners partnered with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to develop the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Centre.

The centre was created to provide a comprehensive venue for livestock shows, agricultural fairs, equestrian events, and various community activities. To power outdoor speakers across the venue, the centre turned to the award-winning Connect Series amplifiers from LEA Professional.

The 37-acre site’s development involved the construction of new pole-barn structures, refurbishment of a 250ft x 150ft indoor equestrian arena, and construction of a new outdoor arena. These arenas included new lighting, PA systems, bleachers, and other infrastructure elements. When it came time to i

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27 August 2024

UK - EM Acoustics is preparing for the 2024 edition of PLASA Show, returning to London Olympia from 1-3 September. Building on the success of their R5, launched at last year’s show, the team is set to unveil the latest addition to the Reference Series, the R6, at the event.

The Reference Series is characterised by its low-profile design and exceptional quality, offering full-range point source loudspeakers that boast remarkably flat frequency and phase responses. The introduction of the R6, which sits between the ultra-compact R5 and the versatile R8, is a logical next step in the expansion of this popular family of loudspeakers.

“The Reference Series has become spectacularly successful. Designers and integrators are now looking to create complete Reference ecosystems and the R6 is another hugely powerful creative tool in the design process,” c

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27 August 2024

UK - On Stand J5 at this year’s PLASA Show, TiMax Spatial will showcase a beta version of the latest innovation to join the fold, TiMax panLab. The original editions of this spatialisation application for macOS have already taken the market by storm.

Now in the stable of immersive audio pioneers TiMax, it delivers an augmented feature set which enables users to take spatialised audio designs further in both entry-level and large-scale systems.

The beta version of the new TiMax panLab application will provide enhanced spatial pan programming and live cue management for shows and systems mapped and rendered in the TiMax SoundHub spatial processor. Optional software licences are included to output to QLab, mixing consoles, processors and TiMax SoundHub depending on user requirements.

Also on the stand is the new TiMax TrackerSP plug-in option

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23 August 2024

Germany -This summer, the Großer Sendesaal of Hessischer Rundfunk witnessed a special performance. In the Lorenz Foundation’s inclusive dance project Babylon: Miteinander Reden ist Gold, 150 people - professionals and amateurs, people with and without disabilities - took to the stage and demonstrated what can happen when people come together without boundaries: participation for all, enjoyment of art and a strong sense of community.

Working closely together, all those involved created an extraordinary live experience with powerful images and stirring music - supported by the technical team from eCon GmbH and a sound and lighting setup from LD Systems and Cameo.

Babylon: Miteinander Reden ist Gold (talking to one another is golden) tells an old biblical story, adapted to the challenges of modern times: a lack of understan

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23 August 2024

USA - Following its strategic US collaboration with Wisycom, DPA Microphones is expanding its team with the addition of several wireless systems professionals to facilitate the growth trajectory of these pro audio companies.

Included among its latest appointments are industry veterans Adinaldo ‘Adi’ Neves as director of business development, wireless, and Marcos Nieves as area sales manager, D.C. Metro. Geoff Baynard also joins the team as business development manager, wireless.

“As a renowned leader in the professional audio industry, we are thrilled to welcome Adi, Marcos and Geoff to our team to help expand our wireless systems business,” says Christopher Spahr, vice-president, sales and marketing, DPA Microphones and Wisycom USA.

“This trio of professionals bring decades of sales, support and business development experience that

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22 August 2024

UK - Wharfedale Pro has announced the launch of a new range of transportation equipment specially designed for its flagship WLA series loudspeakers. The portfolio of dolly boards and dolly frames are shipping now and includes a total of five dolly boards and two common dolly frames designed to streamline product transportation, especially critical for live event and touring applications.

“It’s important to us to provide integrators, production teams and rental partners with a complete solution and the right tools to do their jobs,” explains Alex Lane, applications and solutions manager at Wharfedale Pro. “Introducing this new range of accessories underlines our commitment to these values, and we hope existing fans of our WLA series will enjoy the new additions, and new clients will have yet another reason to choose Wharfedale Pro for their projects.

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21 August 2024

USA - Not to be confused with Area 51, Area15 is an immersive entertainment district just moments from the Las Vegas Strip. Already equipped with an X1 system, it includes the Illuminarium experience located in the Area15 District.

Now following suit in upgrading their audio experience with a Holoplot X1 Matrix Array sound system is The Portal, a multi-use venue and key element of Area15’s experiential entertainment. It offers experiences for the whole family, including rides and VR, live performances, DJs, food, and definitely no top-secret US Government experiments . . .

“Our motto is ‘Area15 does not exist’ because you can make your own story,” says Mark Stutzman, CTO at Area15. “It can be anything you want it to be.”

The Portal is Area15’s landmark venue. It can be used for private dining, all-night DJ sets, and everything

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21 August 2024

Mexico - Each year, the Mexican Telephone Workers Union (STRM) holds a festival for its members at the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, the world’s largest bullring with a capacity of more than 40,000 seats.

This year’s event took place on 1 August and featured performances from popular Mexican singers Carlos Rivera and María José, and Colombian music groups Piso 21 and La Sonora Dinamita.

As usual, sound for the event was provided by local production services company Tecno Son, who deployed their Nexo STM system to cover an audience that rose quickly from the floor of the venue to the highest tier and wrapped right around the edges of the stage from left to right.

Left and right FOH hangs of 15 x STM M46 Main and B112 Bass Extension line array elements with three M28 down-fill boxes were supplemented by side-arrays of nine M46/B112 plus

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21 August 2024

South Africa - Stage Audio Works has expanded its sales team with the appointment of Gary Furman. Furman brings over two decades of expertise in the distribution of products to the pro AV and events markets, in addition to recent experience in the systems integration sector.

Stage Audio Works general manager, Gustav Barnard, comments, “We’re confident that Gary is going to be a great fit for us. His extensive industry knowledge and established network of contacts make him an asset to the company, and his solution-oriented approach to business aligns with our own. I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running.”

Furman adds, “I am excited to reconnect with old acquaintances and forge new relationships in an industry that I have come to love. Joining Stage Audio Works after a three-year hiatus from distribution feels like coming home.”

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20 August 2024

China - Renkus-Heinz has announced a new distribution partnership to strengthen its presence in Northeast Asia. Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin will serve as the brand’s exclusive distributor, bringing Renkus-Heinz’s entire portfolio of audio solutions to the Chinese market.  

"We are very proud to be the sole agent of Renkus-Heinz in China,” says Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin’s vice president, Stevie Ng. “We will put our customers first and fully leverage our local advantages to bring Renkus-Heinz's superior audio products and services to our region.”  

Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that allow businesses, institutions, and creative professionals to elevate their audiovisual experiences. Boasting over 100 employees nationwide, the company offers system solutions to meet the evolving needs of sectors such a

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20 August 2024

Fiji - Christian Mission Fellowship International (CMFI) is a rapidly growing church headquartered in Suva, Fiji. Established in 1990, its 30,000 members and missionaries serve in 120 countries across 5,000 churches worldwide.

CMFI is headquartered in Suva at the World Harvest Centre (WHC), where an impressive, round church building hosts over 3,500 worshippers, a full band, production, and a 100-member choir.

Since its construction in 1990, the centre has installed numerous sound systems; however, none have been able to overcome the challenges of the large reverberant space and the sound quality requirements of the growing church.

Enter head pastor Suliasi Kurulo, who finally decided the time had arrived to call in the professionals and deliver the dream to its members. After many proposals and CAD models, Suliasi, his production crew and th

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20 August 2024

UK - Commercial audio manufacturer Optimal Audio continues to evolve and expand its ecosystem. The latest development sees the introduction of Sub 6, a passive subwoofer engineered for applications requiring increased impact and low-frequency performance from smaller Cuboid and Up loudspeaker setups.

The compact Sub 6 is suitable for installations where space is at a premium. The unit can be placed in tight spaces such as under banquette seating, mounted on walls or ceilings, or flown using integral M8 inserts. Featuring a six-inch driver with a generously sized low-frequency port to minimise air noise for a clean and powerful sound output, Sub 6 delivers 250W (AES) of power with a punchy peak SPL of 118dB.

Horizontal or vertical orientation is possible by way of low-profile rubber feet which can be fitted on two surfaces, while installation is made

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19 August 2024

UK - The grounds of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire hosted this month’s Lakefest 2024 where, once again, all seven stages at this popular festival featured Nexo sound systems.

Total Sound Solutions crossed the border from Swansea to rig the main stage with left and right hangs of 12 x Nexo Geo M12s and eight MSUB18s, plus two separate hangs of five Geo M12s for delays and a single hang of Geo M10 for the VIP side hang. Eight RS18 subs were deployed across the front of the stage with additional MSUB18s in a cardioid formation, with Nexo’s versatile P15 point source speakers used for front-fills.

Side-fill duties on the main stage were performed by a Nexo live sound veteran. “Artists and engineers were so pleased to see our Alpha E system on the stage,” reports Total Sound CEO Chris Hooke. “The fact that it’s 25 years old and still welcome

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19 August 2024

Poland - From 26 to 28 July, rental company Gondek Sound provided the audio infrastructure for the Łódź Summer Festival, held in the heart of the country. As one of Poland's largest festivals, it attracted an estimated 500,000 attendees, according to the organisers.

The massive crowd gathered to enjoy performances by both international and local stars, including Placebo, Milky Chance, Błażej Król, Smolasty, White 2115, Kukon, Krzysztof Zalewski, PRO8L3M, Beata and BAJM, Kizo, Young Leosia, and Röyksopp.

To meet the demands of this large and challenging gathering, Gondek Sound deployed a comprehensive array of Outline equipment. The FOH system featured 15 GTO line-source enclosures and two GTO-DF (down-fill) modules per side.

The setup also included three delay towers: the first was equipped with nine GTO enclosures per side, while the

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19 August 2024

UK - Work was recently completed on an ambitious project to provide a revitalised and upgraded learning environment for those studying a range of further education courses at Barrow Sixth Form College.

Made possible by funding from the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, a grant from the Government’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, and investment from parent establishment, Furness College, the scheme included the renovation of existing classrooms as well as a refurbishment of the College’s 160-capacity theatre.

Colne-based audio-visual supply and installation specialist, SoVeryAPT, was engaged by architects and project managers HPA Chartered Architects of Lancaster, to deliver quality, robust AV systems for the theatre, which could comfortably cater for a wide range of campus events. SoVeryAPT had worked with HPA in the past on a number of

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19 August 2024

Denmark - Roskilde Festival, one of Europe’s longest-running music festivals, is known for pushing creative boundaries, made possible through collaboration with sound provider, Meyer Sound.

In 2024, Roskilde included a performance by Nordic experimental folk collective Heilung, powered by Meyer Sound’s Spacemap Go spatial sound design and mixing tool. Heilung draws from ancestral cultures dating back to the Iron Age. Performances evoke ancient pagan rituals, combining throat singing, field recordings, and instruments crafted from stones, animal skins, and bones to create the otherworldly music the group describes as “Amplified History”.

“Heilung is an immersive experience in terms of a sort of shamanistic ritual that already immerses the audience in a spiritual way,” says bandleader Christopher Juul. “What we wanted to do here was to br

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19 August 2024

UK - Union Audio has announced a new partnership with DJ and PA equipment reseller, Westend DJ, who will stock the company’s growing range of audio products.

Union Audio’s growing portfolio of own brand products include the orbit.6 six-channel rack-mounted analogue rotary mixer, compact linear four-channel elara.4, eq.xfader, phoebe phono preamp and lisann headphone amplifier.

Effective immediately, Westend DJ will display, demo and sell Union’s orbit and elara mixers and accessories, as well as any future product releases in its London stores and online.

"Westend DJ is a leading DJ equipment reseller in the UK and with two stores in the capital, provides a rare opportunity for customers to get hands-on with products. This makes them the perfect partner for Union Audio, as it gives our customers and followers a chance to see and hear th

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19 August 2024

The Netherlands - Pliant Technologies will highlight a variety of its new solutions at IBC 2024 (Stand 10.C53). This includes the brand’s award-winning CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack, a newly designed compact Radio Pack (RP) that was created specifically for use with any CrewCom or CrewCom CB2 system.

Additionally, Pliant will present its new CrewWare 2.0 software update, along with its updated SmartBoom LITE Headset, the new PHS-IEHU miniature in-ear style headset and a new PAC-RTM-SMU Universal Single RT Mounting Bracket. 

The CRP-C12 is one of the industry’s smallest, fully featured, wireless professional intercom belt packs, measuring approximately 3.5” x 3.5” (9cm x 9cm), while weighing just under 9oz/255g. The new compact RP is available in 2.4GHz (worldwide) and 900MHz (where legal).

It is fully compatible with both the CrewCom an

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19 August 2024

UK - The broad skillset developed by Alfie King, during his time in the pro audio industry, will stand him in good stead for the diverse role he will now be undertaking in his new position at RCF UK.

Joining a small team, and reporting to head of RCF UK, Dean Davoile, his duties will vary from behind-the-scenes admin, accounts and marketing, to front-line sales and customer support in the south of England.

Alfie King has already enjoyed a long career in music and production. Starting out playing guitar and harmonica in local bands around Aylesbury in his teens he soon graduated to helping out behind the sound desk at a local arts centre. He has worked previously at Leisuretec Distribution and Amber Sound.

Welcoming Alfie to the company, Dean Davoile said, “Alfie will be a great addition to the team and I look forward to introducing him to o

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16 August 2024

Switzerland - The 58th Montreux Jazz Festival returned to the shores of Lake Geneva from 5-20 July. Since its beginnings in 1967, the festival has drawn legends of soul, jazz, and blues along with rock stars, rappers, and emerging artists of every genre.

For 38 years, sound for the Montreux Jazz Festival has been provided by Meyer Sound, innovation and strategic partner of the festival. “Our decades-spanning collaboration with the Montreux Jazz Festival is about a shared commitment to sonic excellence,” says Andy Davies, Meyer Sound’s director of product & services. “As the festival strives to provide the best concert experiences, it needs a partner that can deliver the best sonic experiences. We’re thrilled to be an integral part of the journey.”

For the first time, events took place entirely outside the Montreux Music and Convention