USA - Louisville-based Axxis Inc has become one of the latest North American companies to become an L-Acoustics V-Dosc provider, having purchased a dozen V-Dosc and eight dV-Dosc loudspeakers plus eight SB218 subs and a variety of LA Series amplifier models. Specializing in the corporate event production market, the 30-year-old company has worked with clients including Arby's, Ford, GE, Intel, UPS and United Way.

In the short time since acquiring the equipment, it has already been used for 10 days of concerts at the Kentucky State Fair (Ted Nugent, Joan Jett, Michael W. Smith), at a large Nashville event called Acteens, in nearby Frankfurt for a Toyota Motors event, and as 'stacks and racks' for Sheryl Crow's Louisville tour stop.

Axxis Audio director Blake Harris comments on the purchase: "This has not been an overnight decision: we have been looking at line arrays very

The Netherlands - UK studio design professional, Munro Acoustics, has been awarded the contract for the acoustical and interior design and fit-out of a brand new Radio-TV complex in The Netherlands.

L1 Radio-TV is a regional public radio and television station that broadcasts to over 1.2million people in its home province of Limburg. Recent growth has enabled the station to amalgamate its operations and design a 4000sq.m broadcast centre to house all of its various media transmissions. The expansive new building will be fitted with two radio 'On-Air' studios, complete with control room and presenter studio, a Radio DJ studio, a 5.1 audio post-production facility with Pro-Tools studio and control room for live productions, three radio journalist production studios, a news TV studio including news and weatherman set, a current affairs TV studio, four TV edit suites and five edit/v

Europe - PMC has announced the appointment of Maurice Patist to the position of pan-European sales manager with responsibility for professional industry sales in Germany, Benelux, Switzerland, Ireland and Eastern Europe. The newly created role is intended to provide greater strategic support for PMC's current European sales networks and to develop channels into new territories and market sectors.

A former professional live sound engineer, Patist also brings extensive sales management experience to the position. A career extending over 11 years in the industry including professional sound engineering (in sound touring, theatre sound, event production and for the Royal Dutch Court), and sales management experience in IT, consumer and professional audio, and AV installation markets. Patist has held positions at IBM, Canon and Hecla Electronics. While Sales Director at Sound At Work

Germany - Behringer, the German manufacturer of pro audio tools, is expanding its product line to meet the growing needs of the pro audio and entertainment industry. At PLASA 2003, Behringer unveiled 13 new products developed in close collaboration with professional artists and engineers.

These include three new 31-band equalizers - the Ultragraph digital DEQ1024, Ultragraph pro FBQ6200 and Ultragraph pro FBQ3102 - and one new 15-band stereo-graphic equalizer, the Ultragraph pro FBQ1502. These new products feature ultra high-resolution stereo 24-bit/96kHz equalizers, combined with a patent pending FBQ Feedback Detection System that instantly reveals critical frequencies and can also be used as an audio analyzer. Super, rugged construction ensures long life even under the hardest of users.

For DJs, the new professional VMX1000 is a 7-channel, 19" ultra low-noise DJ mixer w

UK - Specialist Pro-audio product distribution company, LAX, launched a new range of Rodec amplifiers at last week's PLASA Show. The three new models are the PA 800, PA 1600 and PA 2400, which are being manufactured in the USA to Rodec's own specifications and they join the range of Rodec DJ and club mixers, aimed at the installation, professional and semi-professional DJ markets. Progressing the companies' philosophy that high quality equipment is vital to the DJ market, the amplifiers have been through a rigorous design and testing process during 2003 before going into manufacture.

The inclusion of good components, high build quality and effective protection and cooling circuitry ensure the new amplifiers will follow in the Rodec tradition of good sound and reliability, say the company. For this reason all Rodec equipment comes with a limited two-year warranty.

The amps have

UK - Stanton Magnetics scooped two of the top awards at this year's highly-prestigious DJ Magazine T-Scan Awards, held at fashionable London restaurant Momo, while their UK distributor Lamba plc, in turn won accolades from Stanton themselves.

The Sunday night of PLASA 2003 was Stanton's night, as for the second consecutive year they ran away with the Best MP3 Hardware Player (for Stanton's Final Scratch) and Best Turntable Award (for Stanton's new ST-150/STR8-150). Then, on the following night, the spotlight turned to UK distributor, Lamba plc, which walked away from the Stanton Distributors' Convention with the award for 'Exceptional Business Partner'.

"This award underpins the strength of the Lamba and Stanton relationship," said Lamba sales director, Gerry Frost. "It is testament to the work our sales and marketing teams have done in reinforcing the Stanton b

Germany - The Kulturpalast Dresden, situated at the Altmarkt in the heart of the town, is the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra's parent company, and hosts music events including important guest conductors and solo artists. The 2,433-seat auditorium is the biggest multi-purpose hall in what was formerly East Germany: it serves as a plenary and concert hall and ballroom, providing a flexible, variable room design.

The auditorium was this month equipped with a new sound system which exclusively features systems from the K.M.E.'s Prestige Series. The twin clusters and single loudspeaker positions for the stalls and the upper rank have been equipped with passive QS 1122 speaker systems. These are operated by K.M.E. amplifiers SPA 1200 MP. K.M.E. developed special installation accessories for the ceiling using a special simulation. The portal area is equipped with active QSA 500 D louds

Ireland - Soundcraft's MH3 multi-function console continues to stake its claim as the 'must-have' desk in the mid-price band. Since its launch at Frankfurt ProLight&Sound in March it has achieved success with sound engineers around the world and become one of Soundcraft's most heavily-specified mixing boards of all time.

One of the latest venues to take on board a 48-channel MH3 is Dublin's hybrid venue, the 700-capacity Temple Bar Music Centre, which doubles between live music and pure dance, and is linked up for recording. Audio Warehouse, Soundcraft's Southern Ireland distributors, supplied the desk. At the hub of the city's arts and music development, Temple Bar Music Centre has been run by proprietor Paddy Dunning since it opened seven years ago.

The venue operates in conjunction with The Sound Training Centre upstairs, which provides job-specific, product-based training

UK - Marquee Audio has won a major contract to equip the Wycombe Swan, one of the UK's leading provincial theatres, with a brand new audio infrastructure, based around d&b loudspeakers. The venue - an 11-year-old, 1,076-seat receiving house - is owned by Wycombe District Council and operated under contract by Wycombe Arts Management.

According to the theatre's technical manager, Carlos Quieroz, the audio is the first phase of a complete equipment overhaul, and coincides with the renewal of Wycombe Arts Management's contract for the next 10 years. The total programme of refurbishment - expected to span a three-year period - will end up costing the theatre around £750,000. "Lighting should also be upgraded this year, followed by new flying systems," predicts Quieroz.

The audio is based on a new public address system, control - and a complete overhaul of The Swan's pag

Australia - The new PMX 12 from Australian pro audio manufacturer ARX Systems is a flexible, multi-profile speaker cabinet suitable for main or monitor applications, which according to ARX, raises the concept of processor-controlled speaker systems to a new level. It is, they say, suitable for any professional loudspeaker application requiring high quality audio in a compact, powerful and flexible package.

The PMX 12 is a two-way speaker system, featuring an ARX Pro Series 12" (305mm) bass driver, plus 1" (25mm) ARX extended range, large diaphragm compression driver, coupled to a 90°H x 40°V horn flare. Frequency management is provided by an ultra-efficient 24dB per octave internal crossover mounted on a fibre glass circuit board, using audiophile quality hand-crafted components.

Equally at home when used as a stage monitor. Its low profile design maximizes sightli

UK - Autograph Sales has announced the sale of two Shure radio mic systems to the BRIT School, Britain's only state-funded school providing vocational education in the arts for 14 to 19-year-olds. Although Autograph has worked closely with the BRIT School for a number of years, this is the first sale it has made to the establishment.

One of the systems consists of five handheld U2/Beta58 mics including a spare, and two U4D dual receivers with passive splitter and active remote antennas, while the second consists of six U1 beltpack transmitters with Sennheiser MKE2 mics and three U4D dual receivers with active splitter and active remote antennas. Each set of receivers is fitted into an SKB 6U suspended flightcase fitted with a Furman PL-PLUS-E mains conditioner/distribution unit, and a 10m 6-way multicore was supplied with each system.

"We're pleased to make this sale to t

UK / USA - The new management team at Cerwin-Vega used the PLASA Show to unveil the results of the company's new development philosophy, in conjunction with UK distributor Lamba plc. President, David Rice, and marketing manager, Jesse Walsh, presented three new product ranges making their world debuts.

The Vision Series, flagship of the company's Professional Audio division, features five new designs specifically aimed at live sound reinforcement and non-engineered sound applications. The Vision line includes two, three-way, full-range (bi-ampable) trapezoidal enclosures with ATM-equipped fly points, along with two subwoofer units and a single 12" coaxial enclosure that doubles as a floor monitor and flyable install speaker. The series includes the VIS-153 (a single 15" three-way system); the VIS-253 (a dual 15" three-way system), the VIS-122 (a single 12" co

UK - Pearce Hire provided the power, lighting and PA equipment to help ensure the 26th Peterborough Beer Festival was a record-breaking success. The 2003 event attracted 43,000 aficionados of real ale over the six event days, resulting in the beer festival being officially crowned as the largest in the UK.

Pearce Hire has been working at the beer festival for over 10 years. The site, managed for Pearce Hire by Steve Kane, centred around three 75m long marquees with bars running the complete length of two, serving more than 350 different real ales, ciders and bottled beers. A third marquee featured live music from different bands each evening.

Pearce Hire supplied a synchronized pair of 200kva generators to produce enough power for the festival and distributed it to all areas of the site, including the stage lighting and PA, trade stands, the two bars, toilets and catering fac

UK - The Kerrang! Awards - one of the most prestigious events in the world of rock and metal music, was this year held in the ballroom of London's Royal Lancaster Hotel. Now in its 10th year, the Awards took place in front of over 500 people, and was presented by Radio 1's Edith Bowman and Colin Murray, with guest presenters that included Jack Osbourne and The League of Gentlemen. The show was also recorded for broadcast by Channel 4.

Britannia Row provided an Electro-Voice XLC system for the event, powered by EV Precision Series remote amplifiers and IRIS management software. Three XLC 127 mid-high array cabinets, with five XLC118 subs, were ground-stacked either side of the stage, with EV 1152s for front fill. Overseen by the experienced system engineer Colin Burrell, the XLC system more than matched the demands of the bands that performed, Good Charlotte, Linkin Park a

UK - The recent opening of Stella McCartney's London store was one of the most anticipated events in the fashion calendar. The three-storey building in Bruton Street, central London, has been completely refurbished from top to bottom, as befits one of the most fêted designers in the world.

Staffordshire-based sound installation company Ansabac was asked to design and install a sound system that combined punch with precision, "a high-quality audio performer that can be driven loud," explained John Clinton of Ansabac. "Clearly, the big opening party will not be the only event held here."

The retail areas are spread across three floors, and the audio system has been designed to provide four independent zones on each floor. Four Australian Monitor AMIS604P power amplifiers are at the heart of the system, supplied by Fuzion, the UK distributor. These four amps

UK - If you want to hear the latest in audio technology from the industry's leading manufacturers and consultants, then take time out to attend Reproduced Sound 19. This residential weekend, held at the luxurious Oxford Hotel in Oxfordshire on the 7- 9 November, has been organized by the Electroacoustics Group of the UK's Institute of Acoustics to increase the understanding of all fields of Reproduced Sound.

The conference covers modern audio and acoustics in an informal environment allowing consultants, manufacturers, contractors and end users to share insights and information. It will incorporate papers from ADA (EASE), AMS Acoustics, Arup, BSS Audio, Celestion, d&b, Duran Audio, EAW, Genelec, Harman International, ISVR, JBL Professional, Martin Audio, Meyer, NXT and Peter Mapp & Associates.

For more details call Linda Canty on +44 (0) 1727 848195 or use the e-mail or web ad

UK - Trantec has introduced the TS22 and TS212 miniature mics. The TS22 has been manufactured to the highest specifications and combine a minute microphone with an ultra light and comfortable headband. Designed to be hidden discreetly in a wig or hair, it is ideal for theatre and broadcast applications.

The headband is engineered from a hard-wearing nylon composite, which has been selected to withstand the most rigorous and demanding applications. The nylon composite can be easily moulded to custom fit any users' head and ear shape. The TS 22's microphone is mounted on a tiny boom, which bends into shape to allow optimum sound quality.

The potential of the TS22' microphone is augmented by virtue of a tiny membrane, which houses the microphone capsule, protecting it from moisture, make-up and everyday dirt. The membrane is simple and cost effective to replace.

Trantec's TS212

UK - Meyer Sound's UK distributor Autograph Sales has completed the first phase of an ongoing regional Meyer Sound training programme. The free one-day training courses, taught by Meyer Sound's technical training and seminars director Mauricio Ramirez, were held at the end of August at The Helix, Dublin City University, Audio Alliance North in Manchester, B&H Sound Services in Peterborough and the National Theatre in London.

Subjects covered included phase alignment, delays, filters, line array theory and conventional loudspeaker arrays, as well as acoustic prediction and measurement techniques. All courses were full, with around 70 attendees across the four dates. "The take up exceeded all our expectations, and the courses attracted people with different levels of expertise and from a wide cross section of the industry, including PA companies, consultants, sound designers,

UK - Public address and voice alarm manufacturer, Millbank Electronics (owned by Ampekko Ltd) recently hosted a distributor breakfast in a capsule on London's Millennium wheel. Forming part of the company's initiative to further strengthen international distributor relations and reaffirm Millbank's market-leading position, the event was attended by established distributors including Output (The Netherlands), PFAFF (Iceland), Ram-Tel (Israel) and Beaufort International (South Africa) as well as UK distributors including RW Salt and Apple Sound.

The event also celebrated the new appointment of distributors in Greece (Dsi Solutions, headed by Andreas Dimitriou), Malta (Audioworks, headed by John Grech), New Zealand (Capital Communications, headed by Tony Philip-Wright) and Poland (Neumann Technologie Multimedialne, headed by Tomaszk Neumann). Since Ampekko Ltd acquired Millbank fro

Indonesia - With over 350 participants, Telex reports that its first Telex Academy in Indonesia was a runaway success. The event, held in Jakarta on the 7-8 July, was the first Telex Academy ever to have been held on Indonesian soil; it was attended by a record number of participants and turned into an industry event of more than regional importance, as the Telex team, spearheaded by Mathias von Heydekampf (president of the Pro Audio Group Worldwide), Martin Traut (marketing director) and Christian Glück (product manager for Electro-Voice), found themselves welcoming audio professionals not only from Indonesia but from the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India as well.

In addition to numerous product presentations, including presentations of the Electro-Voice XLC, Electro-Voice X-Line, Dynacord Cobra-4, Dynacord Madras and Telex intercom tools, numerous seminars and workshops

Norway - Professional Sound Systems AS (PSS) has completed an installation of a Nexo GEO S Tangent Array System at the Bakkenteigen Kulturhus (Performing Arts Centre) in Horten, Norway. Following a fact-finding mission to GEO installations in Sweden, PSS set up a temporary system in the Kulturhus. During a trial period, several well-known Norwegian artists performed using the system, including Mari Boine, Vidar Busk and Bertine Zettlitz. All artists and their sound engineers declared themselves delighted, and the decision was taken to purchase and install the Nexo GEO S system.

The 465-seat concert hall hosts a mixture of jazz, classical, rock and theatre performances during the year. PSS specified a system consisting of six GEO S805, one GEO S830 and three flown CD-12 sub-bass units per side, run by Camco amplification - one Camco Vortex 4 (in parallel mono) and one Vortex 6 pe

UK - Deco Leisure Group has further strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Jamie Kitson as area sales executive. Kitson, who was previously with R.W. Salt in technical sales, is more than familiar with the audio industry: prior to joining R.W. Salt, he worked for Stage Craft Systems for 10 years and has a thorough understanding of audio sales.

Commenting on his move to Deco, Kitson told PLASA Media: "As Dare Pro Audio and QAD are unique to the pro audio industry, I am looking forward to developing the products within the pro-audio market." Kitson's appointment closely follows that of Alex Kay, who joined Deco as technical manager, and also that of Carl Robinson, who recently joined as production manager. Robinson's experience with mineral composites fibreglass, as well as metal and wood laminates, will prove useful for Dare Pro Audio, whose innovative en

UK - Turbosound is celebrating the first installation of its QLight loudspeakers in a London West End theatre. The acclaimed show Rat Pack at the Strand Theatre, which showcases the voices, music and lifestyles of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra, features over 30 QLight enclosures in a sound system designed and installed by WE Audio, and supplied through Marquee Audio.

Turbosound TQ-440 speakers form the core of the show's system, which utilizes TQ-220 and TQ-230 models for under-balcony delays and fills, with sub-bass support from TQ-425 and TQ-115 enclosures. TQ-310 speakers are also included, configured as stage monitors.

The show recreates the style and ambience of Sands casino in Las Vegas, the scene of many performances by the original Rat Pack members. To this end, WE Audio's Wayne Barker, working with associates Tim McCall and Andy Playford, design

UK / USA - HHB and Sennheiser Electronic Corporation (SEC) have reached an agreement whereby SEC will handle the distribution of all HHB professional audio products in the USA, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. This agreement goes into effect on October 1 this year, with SEC responsible for the distribution of HHB's Portadisc and Portadrive location sound recorders, CDR830 BurnIT and BurnIT Plus CD recorders and HHB Professional Recording Media, along with other new products currently in development. Distribution arrangements for HHB products in Canada remain unchanged.

"With a staff of more than 100, regional branch offices and an in-house technical service facility, SEC will give more coverage to HHB products and a better service to our customers than we could ever hope to achieve working independently," commented HHB managing director Ian Jon

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