Liverpool-based sales and hire company Adlib Audio has purchased nearly 40 Crown MA Series amplifiers from Crown's UK distributor, Fuzion plc, more than doubling their Crown rental stock. Adlib's Andy Dockerty commented: "We had to replace some units which we'd sold recently, but really the crux of the matter was that we needed to significantly increase our stock to cope with the amount of work we've got coming up on the hire side between now and Christmas. We looked at various alternatives in the marketplace but came to the conclusion that our original investment in Crown was still the right decision for us." The purchase comprised mainly MA-3600VZs, but also includes amps from across the MA range, from MA-1200s through to the heavyweight MA-5000VZs. Tours contributing to Adlib's busy autumn season include Texas, Gomez and the Longpigs, plus work for the Radio One Sound City g
Mackie Designs has introduced the new S500 loudspeaker to add to its ever-broadening series of sound reinforcement products. The S500 is ideal for gigging musicians, PA Hire companies and other mobile sound specialists and employs several new proprietary technologies. RCF precision components include a 15-inch woofer with inside/outside high temperature coil technology and a 17.5-inch high frequency compression driver mounted to Mackie's super-wide dispersion horn.
Autograph Sales has recently supplied over 50 Lab Gruppen amplifiers to hire company Orbital, via the London Branch of LMC Audio Systems. The sale includes 46 LAB1200C and 10 LAB1300C models, and brings Orbital's total stock of Lab Gruppen amplifiers to 109.Recent Orbital projects for the Lab units include West End musicals such as Spend, Spend, Spend and Chicago, and a series of high-profile European motorshow projects for Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar and Volvo.Orbital: www.orbitalsound.co.ukLMC Audio: www.lmcaudio.co.uk
At this year's AES in New York, AKG launched the new CK77WR, improving on the original design of the CK77 - the smallest dual-diaphragm microphone in the world, the WR version is now Perspiration proof and water resistant. The original design of the CK77 had a tiny hole in the diaphragm which provided the necessary pressure compensation. This however posed a potential risk that liquids might penetrate into the capsule and cause a short circuit. Now the Barometric pressure is compensated by a capillary tube that is connected to a compensation cavity sealed with a soft, flexible diaphragm. The patent pending new technology ensures pressure compensation, although the capsule is absolutely tight.
Billed as the biggest and most technically ambitious show ever, Net Aid recently took place simultaneously across three venues in London, New York and Geneva, and was broadcast live across the world via television, radio and, of course, via the Internet.The biggest of the three live shows took place at London's Wembley Stadium, where a capacity crowd enjoyed live sets from a prestigious line-up including Robbie Williams, George Michael, David Bowie and Bryan Adams. The rental company tasked with supplying the audio system for the event was Canegreen, who provided a self-powered Meyer system for the main PA with Midas XL-4 and Heritage 3000 control.The control set-up provided by Canegreen was almost exclusively Midas. Two XL-4s at the FOH position, overseen by Max Bisgrove and Snake Newton, whilst on monitors, Chris Peters and Seamus Fenton conducted operations via two Midas Heritage 3000
Dutch loudspeaker manufacturer Stage Accompany has supplied Screen Series cinema sound systems to all 14 auditoria at the Liffey valley multiplex cinema in Dublin, run by operator Star Century.The largest systems, for theatres one, two and five, each feature five S26 front cabinets (which includes the company's Ribbon Compact Driver), five SL30 bass cabinets, two S30 subwoofers and 18 S7 surround cabinets, powered by 10 ES20 amplifiers and ES10 amplifier. The three-way front system is flown behind the screen, requiring just 10" of space. Screen one, christened 'The Big Fella' by Irish actor Liam Neeson, is the largest screen in the UK and Ireland. Star Century has already started construction work on new multiplexes in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, all of which will also feature Stage Accompany sound systems.
The Klark Teknik Group is introducing Midas service centres into six key areas in the United States with the promise of more to be opened up in the near future.Until now, Midas field service has been handled directly from the US headquarters in Buchanan, Michigan. The new and still-building network of regional service centres will provide faster responses to emergency requirements and for maintenance. So far, the service centres are located in the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Nashville and New Jersey.
John Henry Enterprises' new sales facility opened its doors last month with rock legend Jimmy Page as guest of honour. The Attic, taking its name from the top-floor showroom devoted to instrument and backline sales, is to be managed by Martin Gravestock. The Attic will stock backline equipment from Marshall, Trace Elliot, Hughes & Ketner, Mesa Boogie, Hammond, Pearl, Sonar and Yamaha, as well as Roland digital mixers and Sony's Freedom series wireless microphones.
Freelance sound recordist Chris Corner has been using a Yamaha 01V digital mixing console for live sound recording on the set of a new film being made by Illumination Television for the BBC, based on Gloriana, the opera composed by Benjamin Britten for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Corner chose the 01V after finding other options either too expensive or lacking in facilities. A live performance of the opera was recorded using over 50 radio microphones, via the 01V onto a 48-track digital recorder. The 110-minute film is scheduled to broadcast on BBC2 at the end of the year.
A new night club has recently been added to the London club scene which boasts a highly sophisticated lighting and sound system. Supplied and installed by Audio Tek of Dublin, the audio system is based around JBL Venue Series speakers MPX amplifiers. The largest dance floor has the most impressive system with almost 30,000W of amplification and a calculated maximum SPL in excess of 148dB. A major crowd-pleaser, and a first for the UK, is the installation of a 'body-sonic' dance floor where bass drivers mounted in a cavity below the dance floor make it vibrate with low frequency sound.
EMO's new C600 series 32A mains distribution panels are aimed at both the rental and installation markets. All versions have a rear panel which offers six 13A MK outlets together with an earth bonding stud. Front panel options include a choice of breakers for safety. Power inlet is via straight or angled 32A Ceeform connectors on the front panel or a fixed mains lead on the back. Ceeform versions feature a parallel output so neighbouring racks may be conveniently linked. All 32A panels feature removable rack ears which allow the units to be recessed in the rack or rear-mounted if required.
Tascam's new TM-D4000 digital recording console, launched at AES New York, is now shipping in the UK. This new addition to the 8-buss digital console market features moving faders, dynamic automation and recall, extensive machine control capabilities, 24-bit AD and DA convertors throughout, stereo digital effects and dynamics processors, fully parametric EQ and the most versatile. Aimed at both project and professional recording studios and post applications, the 36-channel TM-D4000 is a competitively-priced addition to the digital market.
Adlib Audio has taken delivery of a new 48-channel Soundcraft FIVE Monitor desk in time for the new UK tour by long-term clients Texas. Ordered at the PLASA show in September, the FIVE Monitor console was specially requested by Marc Peers, Texas' monitor engineer. The spec also features a Soundcraft Series FIVE front-of-house desk, operated by Adlib principal Andy Dockerty, a Martin Audio PA and a quantity of the latest BSS processing equipment. October is a busy month for Adlib as they also are providing PA for The Longpigs and Gomez tours. Playing their first major tour of the UK since winning the 1998 Mercury Prize, Gomez is using Adlib's proprietary DF2 PA system, supported by dozens of new Crown amps. Again, it is a console double for Soundcraft: Chris Leckie is using a Series FIVE on front-of-house, while 'Brains' is using a Soundcraft SM24 in monitor world.
EAW has introduced a new subwoofer designed specifically to work with flown arrays of EAW KF700 Series concert loudspeakers. The SB750 shares the same trapezoidal footprint and the same flying hardware as the KF750 three-way loudspeaker and the KF755 downfill loudspeaker, allowing the SB750 to be flown quickly with any KF700 array. The SB750 includes dual 18-inch woofers, housed within a tuned Baltic birch plywood cabinet with EAW's tough black polyurethane finish and weighs just 200lbs. Rear panel connectors are dual Neutrik Speakon NL4's. Frequency response of 30Hz – 150Hz at +3dB, and 25Hz at - 10dB. Axial sensitivity is 99dB (1W/1m), with SPLs of 138dB peak and 132dB long-term (@ 1m).
London's latest high profile venue, The Loop in the capital's West End, features an all-JBL sound system, with the equipment line-up reading like a wish-list from the company's extensive range. Project manager Ed Manwaring of Music Marketing Services Ltd who installed the system specified the JBL system. Coverage for the Dance Floor is provided by two VS3115 3-way loudspeaker systems and VS125HS low frequency speaker systems from JBL's Venue Series, together with six Sound Power SP212-9 2-way full range loudspeakers. A pair of EON 15P powered loudspeakers are used for monitoring. JBL Control 25s provide background music for the restaurant, with eight Marquis MS28s used in the Basement Bar. The Upper Bar is served by six Control 28s and this area is also the location for the amp-racks comprising six MPX600 and seven MPX1200 amplifiers, again from JBL.
Turbosound has appointed Philippe Robineau MSc as a director of engineering. Robineau, who began his career in pro audio working for Nexo, will lead a team which also includes new recruits Jon Crawley and Laurence Dickie, alongside Danny Cooklin. The appointment follows the opening of a new 4,000sq.ft purpose-built creative environment in Partridge Green, Sussex.
Trantec's award-winning range of UHF and VHF radio microphones are now available for the export market for the first time. Until now, products bearing the Trantec marque have been confined to the UK only as a result of an exclusive licensing agreement overseas. Following the company's takeover by the TOA Corporation in April 1998, Trantec has worked on revising its market strategy, leading to the announcement this month of the implementation of a worldwide export policy, with the exclusion of the European mainland.The first available products will be the new S4000F UHF fixed frequency diversity system, based on the popular S4000 UHF system, and the S3.2, which combines many of the features of the S3500 in a single frequency system.
Shure Inc has announced the appointment of Markus Winkler as managing director of Shure Europe GmbH, the official sales and marketing office for Shure microphones and audio electronics throughout Europe.News of Winkler's appointment was disclosed simultaneously with that of the changing of the Heilbronn, Germany-based firm's name from Shure Brothers Europe GmbH to simply Shure Europe GmbH.
LMC Audio has supplied a multiple Soundweb package to Home, Big Beat's new seven-storey nightclub in London's Leicester Square. The programmable DSP system is at the heart of the multi-zone sound system, and includes 12 Soundweb 9088 boxes, three 9000 Mk II hubs and three 9010 'Jellyfish' remote controllers. The system was designed by BSS Audio's Matthew Bate, with LMC Audio's London sales manager, Ian Woodall, in conjunction with Home's technical manager, Andy Kayll. Of the seven floors at Home, the only level not directly under Soundweb control is the third floor. This features the Steve Dash Phazon system, where, as at Cream in Liverpool, all the processing is managed and stored in a BSS Omnidrive, which is fed by Soundweb.
Sound Dept will be holding an SIA-Smaart Pro Training School session on November 17 at The Matrix Club, reading. SIA Smaart Pro, the acoustic measurement and sound system optimisation software for Windows 95/98 and NT4.0, was developed to provide sound system contractors, acoustical consultants and audio professionals with a practical, powerful and accurate acoustical analysis tool, to enable them to achieve new levels of sound performance. The software delivers detailed and accurate spectral impulse and system response information.
Shure has launched the PSM700 series of in-ear monitors. These feature a synthesized design, offering greater frequency agility, which in turn allows for the simultaneous use of up to 16 personal stereo mixes. The units have Shure's Mixmode technology - one of three operating modes (along with stereo and mono) - which provides high levels of control at the receiver over the mix that the performer hears. Initial demand for the PSM700 has been strong and John Henry's Ltd of London has already had systems out with David Bowie.
Numark DJ equipment was used on site for vinyl promotion at the 4th Dance Music Conference in Amsterdam in October. The conference is Europe's largest forum for International DJs and music professionals to discuss issues of Dance Music as a cultural phenomenon. The three-day conference was supplied exclusively with Numark professional DJ equipment by Amsterdam-based Interstate Audio. The 12 proTT-1 direct-drive turntables and six proSM-1 two-channel mixers were used to provide 'listening stations' for all the participants in the main foyer of the conference centre.
As a response to feedback from retailers and leisure operators, who are unable to benefit from custom-programmed music services because the CDs play on specialist proprietary devices, AEI Music has launched Dynamic Disc - a CD which, with the aid of a special filter, will play on the sites' existing CD players. The filter, which attaches directly to the CD player, decrypts the recorded music during playback, preventing pirating of the music. While still being able to play their own CDs, subscribers can also choose from seven different genres of music programmes, which are updated on a monthly basis.
Sennheiser has launched the new MKE-2 Gold sub-miniature omni-directional lavalier microphone, aimed at television broadcast and theatrical productions. The key feature of the new microphone is its unique 'Umbrella Diaphragm', which keeps the mic moisture resistant, while delivering the same quality performance as the industry standard MKE-2. The extremely thin (0.000014 inch) low-mass diaphragm exhibits excellent transient response. The MKE-2 Gold is available in matt black or beige.
