A major sound installation has just been completed at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood, Lancashire. The Hall was first opened in 1935 and provides a range of arts and entertainment for locals and visitors to the area from live music to dance and drama, comedy workshops, festivals and pantomimes. After extensive system evaluation, technical manager Tony Mitchell chose a Turbosound system supplied and installed by Stagetec consisting of a pair of TQ440 mid/high speakers flown either side of the stage, a pair of TQ440s as delay fills and four THL818.2 single 18" sub-bass speakers ground stacked either side of the stage.
The largest nightclub ever to open in Hong Kong will feature a powerful Nexo sound system. The 348 Discotheque opens in Kowloon at the end of August, complete with a Nexo Alpha E rig and the first Nexo PS8 compact cabinets to be installed in the territory. Built in the former Tai Wah movie house, the 3000-capacity club has the advantage of a theatre's high ceilings. Much of the million-dollar audio budget has been spent on the Alpha E speakers, with 10 Alpha E-F cabinets used around the dancefloor; four of the full-range boxes flown left and right of the DJ console, and another two boxes mounted facing the club entrance to provide maximum impact as people walk in. A total of 14 Alpha B1-18 folded horn high-power bass enclosures are being installed.Sound designer Benny Cheng of Creative Engineering Company is the first installer in China to buy NEXO's E Series: "I hadn't even heard t
Soundcraft live sound consoles are busy in the Spanish PA rental market this summer, notably through sales of the Series FIVE front-of-house and FIVE Monitor desks. Lexon has provided 40-channel Series FIVE consoles to BTM Sound of Gerona in northern Spain and Rafa Sonido in Las Palmas, which has used the desk for live shows by Lucrezia, Hamlet and the Philharmonic of Gran Canaria. A 44-channel FIVE Monitor has been bought by Tecnosound Lanzarote, and a new 52-channel FIVE Monitor at Madrid-based rental company Espiral Sociedad Cooperativa has been used for flamenco star Rocio Jurado, and Monica Naranjo, a pop performer well-known in Spanish-speaking countries.
David Bruml is joining Funktion One as sales and marketing manager in October. Bruml has been in the audio industry many years and was at one time with Turbosound, where he developed his initial passion for the work of Tony Andrews and his partners at Funktion One. Tony Andrews comments: "We are delighted that David has agreed to join us co-ordinating our marketing and sales strategy. We are looking forward to working with him over the coming years."
Mid-Sussex based KAVE Theatre Services has recently been appointed the UK distributor for the American SFX range of audio control software. The range consists of five packages offering various levels of control, making them suitable for a wide spectrum of users from schools and colleges to the professional theatre.
Auditel has launched a new range of E series infra-red radiators for simultaneous interpretation and tour guide systems. The top of the range EP105E provides radiated power of 24W with 21 channels and commensurate endurance and range coverage. It uses the latest extended frequency diodes previously only found in systems for users requiring 12 to 16 language channels. A single emitter can cover up to 9,500sq.m. There are tow other products in the range - the EP150 and the smaller version EP160.
Pro audio retailer The M Corporation has kicked off an autumn season of seminars and workshops on 8 September with a day dedicated to the launch of Steinberg's new version 5 Cubase software. The well-attended event gave everyone the opportunity to see what the new software was capable of, and was quickly followed by a day dedicated to the Lexicon range of processing, including the 960L and Core 2 system at the M Corp's Nottingham office.Open days still to come will offer visitors the chance to see and use the new Roland VM7100 and 7200 digital mixing desks (27 Sept, Nottingham); a couple of evenings looking at the principles of good monitoring led by Dynaudio's UK suppliers Unity Audio (2 Oct, Ringwood & 4 Oct, Nottingham), and a series of workshops which will look at the finer details of Digidesign's Pro Tools (19 Sept & 6 Nov Ringwood, 12 Oct & 14 Dec Nottingham). Attendance at any of
John Lethbridge, founder and ex-managing director of Cerebrum Lighting and a former vice-chairman of PLASA, has launched a brand new on-line Internet auction site through his new company, Cereco International Ltd. www.cereco.com will specialise in offering new and ex-demonstration audio, lighting, AV and effects equipment - all of which carries a 12-month guarantee.The auctions are free to enter for buyers and sellers and unusually, for an e-commerce operation, buyers do not have to give any credit card details. All sellers will be carefully vetted as Cereco will provide a money back guarantee to any dissatisfied buyers. Instructions on how to take part are available on-line in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Chinese and Japanese and products are offered in six different currencies. New auctions will start every Thursday evening and run for 10 days, finishing on a Sunday eveni
Audio installer TASC Ltd has completed the latest in a line of Parisa Café Bars using Martin Audio's Contractor Series ceiling speakers. The development of the Newcastle Quayside venue for Nader Haghighi's Warrington-based Parisa Group follows an audio conception and design instigated by Arron Smith's company 14 venues earlier. "In the majority we have used Martin C516s, fed by our GAGA hard-drive music system," Arron explained. The design brief was for the sound source to be invisible, and so once again Arron opted for 38 of the flush-mount C516 ceiling speakers, arranged in a five zone system (across four separate feature areas), using two Cloud CX133s to route the sound, powered by Crown and QSC amplifiers. The highest profile area in the ground-floor venue is around the bar and dining area, where the low-end is reinforced with three of Martin compact CS265 twin 6.5" s
C Audio has embarked upon a new worldwide distribution initiative, resulting in them making several strategic changes in key territories. In Canada, newly-appointed Erikson Pro Audio placed an immediate order for Pulse and GB series products. The company supplies equipment to all major music and PA stores, production companies and installers across Canada. Erikson's first sizeable order for C Audio was from Montreal-based Audio Services. In Sweden, Septon Electronic AB has taken over the distribution, forefronting C Audio with exclusive representation. The company's primary markets cover touring sound, cinema, MI, recording and broadcasting, installation as well as consumer. Septon's initial commitment to the Hertfordshire company comprises both GB series and Pulse amplification. The most southerly on the C Audio global map is FZ Audio, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The company, which supp
C Audio has reinforced its senior management structure to enable them to sustain and maximise the early sales potential in the wake of last year's successful worldwide launch of the new Pulse switched-mode amplification series. The key change sees David Neal take up the role of sales and marketing director, in parallel to his duties with BSS Audio. At the same time, Dominic Harter has been appointed as sales engineer for C Audio, covering all sales to European markets. Ruth Buchanan becomes sales office manager with responsibility for both BSS and C Audio, and Paul Bass becomes C Audio marketing co-ordinator. Lee Basham (product support manager) and Melissa Bednarski (sales co-ordinator) continue in their present roles.
Caribiner International has launched a new name and identity. The company will be known as Jack Morton Worldwide after merging with its American counterpart of the same name. The company has an impressive client list and was responsible for the public arena installations in the Millennium Dome and at the Hanover World Expo 2000. Recent projects include the Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies, The Royal Military Tattoo and the Queen Mother Celebrations on Horse Guards Parade. The new combined company represents a worldwide community of over 1200 people in more than 30 locations in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. William Morton is chairman and chief executive, located in New York, whilst Josh McCall, located in Boston, has been named president and chief operating officer. Lois Jacobs, based in London, becomes executive vice president, regional director, Europe and Asi
The fuel crisis must have come as a blessed relief to the Dome, but it hasn't taken the attraction long to be back in the media spotlight. Just a week after Nomura withdrew from its bid, the police are currently carrying out an investigation into fraud allegations. Apparently these centre around "irregularities" in connection with the procurement of contracts, and media reports are suggesting that the firm under investigation was one of the contractors working for the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). Nomura of course pulled out on the basis that they had been misled over the Dome's finances.
One of London's most famous live music venues, The Astoria, is currently undergoing an extensive technical refit, having been acquired by The Mean Fiddler Organisation, a dominant force in the British entertainment scene. In addition to raising the specification for visiting sound crews, the objective was to make the Astoria's infrastructure more broadcast and TV-friendly, including the addition of a new 48-way patchbay, according to long-time resident technician Erik Sanderson-Evans. Tarsin Entertainments was awarded the contract after a competitive tender, with the new inventory of kit mostly supplied by Marquee Audio. LA 1, the main performance venue which has a capacity of nearly 2,500, takes delivery of a Soundcraft Series FIVE (48 channel plus 4 stereo groups) plus a Soundcraft 324 digital mixer for returning the effects, an ASS loudspeaker system, as well as a substantial batch of
South west-based rental company, CAV, has recently taken delivery of a 48-channel Midas Heritage 3000 mixing console purchased from the Birmingham branch of LMC Audio Systems. For CAV proprietor, Hans Beier, this is his first Midas purchase. In the short time that the desk has been resident at CAV it has already travelled down to Jersey for an event there, and upon its return went straight out to major UK festival, V2000.
DPA Microphones in Denmark continues on its impressive expansion curve, and has again increased the strength of its sales department, recruiting Steffen Leth Møller to the European team. He takes up the role of area manager, working right across the continent. Prior to joining DPA Microphones, he completed a four-year technical education as an export technician and spent five years with the Michelin Group in Denmark, where he was a technical sales representative.
A Mach SlingShot audio rig made a successful Glastonbury debut on the New Bands' stage at this year's legendary festival. Glastonbury is the largest outdoor music festival in the UK, with more than 100,000 visitors braving the elements to enjoy performances by over 50 bands. As in previous years, the production company Reality Check took overall responsibility for the New Bands stage, but all sound reinforcement was controlled by Mark Bott from South West Audio. His team comprised of Mike Taylor leading the monitor team and Amble Skuse in charge of the stage team. The Mach SlingShot rig consisted of a custom 3 by 3 rig sited each side of the stage. Each rig comprised six MS1262 and three MS15X2 top boxes, which were supported by a total of 16 M182T subwoofers. The complete array amounted to 18 loudspeaker stacks.
Continuing expansion at Logic System Pro Audio has seen the recent appointment of Jenna Mckirgan to the position of administration assistant. Based at the company's Gainsborough factory, Mckirgan will be responsible for purchasing and general sales support. Working closely with Dean Davoile, who will be the first point of contact for customers calling the office.
London-based rental company, Dobson Sound Productions Ltd, provided all the audio requirements for a one-off concert of the Mediaeval Baebes in north London. The Baebes are a 12-piece all female vocal group whose work consists mainly of mediaeval-style choral music accompanied by a variety of instruments from recorders, violins, and other stringed and percussion instruments of the period. Working with production manager, Jamie Harley, who also engineers for the band, Dobson provided a d&b C6 and C7 system with a Yamaha PM3500 console.
GMS Music has introduced the musicPro music management system. Based on the award-winning SmartDisc technology, musicPro offers low-cost control and flexibility for computerised management of background and foreground music. Featuring a song-bank of up to 500 tunes, musicPro provides the option to change or update music when needed by allowing unlimited access to GMS's vast music catalogue - featuring over 50,000 tunes.
SCV London has been appointed the UK distributor of of Sincrosoft - manufacturers of the Opus notation package. Compatible with both Mac and PC, the programme provides an array of easy-to-use features including 12 ways to display time signatures and 12 options for sub-grouping notes and beams. The system has full MIDI playback and recording support and can provide a professional print. SCV has also taken on the distributorship of International Print Edition (IPE), the company responsible for (in conjunction with Melbay), The Masters' Collection - a library of digital scores from famous composers.
At this year's graduation ceremony for The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Professor Dr Jorg Sennheiser, presented the inaugural Sennheiser Student Achievement Awards. The ceremony, held in the art-deco splendour of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, saw Professor Sennheiser share the stage with lead patron Sir Paul McCartney, principal and chief executive Mark Featherstone-Witty and almost 200 graduating LIPA students. Professor Sennheiser presented the three achievement awards to a total of five students for work of outstanding merit in both recording production and theatrical sound design. Among the graduating students was Adam Fulton, who was awarded a first class Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sound technology; the second Sennheiser scholarship student to graduate and achieve a first.
Clockwork AV has recently installed an RCF sound system at the Gateshead International Athletic Stadium. Following a number of demonstrations, the stadium's local council chose the RCF system for its melodic feel - which was an important factor for the project. Clockwork AV specified a Vision system comprising 14 Vision PA121s and two Vision PA180 SWs situated in the main grandstand, five Vision PA261s in the East stand and 15 pairs of waterproof Monitor 4Ts located in the North and South seating areas.
The Sound Company is supplying the sound equipment for three of the latest plays to open in London's West End - The Puppetry of the Penis, The Blue Room and The Guardsman. Puppetry, which opened on Monday 18 September at The Whitehall Theatre, features two well-endowed young men with no pants! It arrives hot from The Edinburgh Festival where it received rave reviews. The show, already causing a huge stir, is produced by Richard Temple and David Johnson and is the fourth production the Sound Company and Richard Temple have done together. The second of the three to open, The Blue Room, based on the infamous La Ronda, opens on 28 September at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. David Hare's acclaimed adaptation was initially presented at the Donmar Warehouse and on Broadway in 1998, staring Nicole Kidman. Finally, The Guardsman, Produced by Paddy Wilson, opens a week later on 4 October 2000 at th
