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Sound

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Germany - HK Audio welcomed more than 50 international distributors to its premises in St Wendel, Germany, prior to the start of Frankfurt's ProLight&Sound exhibition. The loudspeaker manufacturer's distributors came from as far afield as Mexico, Korea, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Russia and China.

One of the highlights of the two-day event was an awards ceremony held to recognize the contributions of several of the company's distributors. The Award for Concert Sound Sales went to John Hornby Skewes of the UK and was accepted by Dennis Drumm and Neville Raine. SDS of Switzerland picked up the Award for Portable Sound Sales, and Stefano Pagani, Ilan Kriesi and Christian Kraska were on hand to collect. In the field of Install Sound Sales, the Award was won by Space Lights of Greece and collected by Klem Tokatlidis and Christos Asproulis. There was also an award for the Most Improved Dis

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USA - VTG Audio and Stardraw announced that Net CAD has won a Pick Hits award at NAB 2004. Net CAD is VTG Audio's new on-line custom panel design and ordering application, commissioned from software providers, Stardraw.com, which went live at the recent NSCA show in Las Vegas.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Doughty - Banner - from 8 Aug 2025

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UK - Oceanic, the London studio of Who guitarist Pete Townshend, has upgraded with a new Genelec 5.1 monitoring system based around the new 7071LSE subs, with bass management feature. The Genelecs were installed especially so that producer Bob Pridden could re-mix a live Who performance from Boston in 5.1. format.

Pridden has used his much-loved Lockwood monitors with Tannoy Red drivers since the 70s all over the world, but when he came to do The Who's and a number of other 5.1 projects, he knew they had to upgrade. He and the band tried out "dozens of speakers" but he wasn't impressed by any as he felt they sounded "too hi-fi". But, "the minute they tried the Genelecs I loved them," he said.

The live show was recorded in June 2002 and features Pino Paladino on bass after the untimely death of The Who's John Entwhistle. It was recorded on eight 8

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The Netherlands - Midas Consoles Holland, the new distribution model for Midas and Klark Teknik products in the Netherlands, has enjoyed success since its launch in January. April saw a particularly busy month for the company, whose sales included a 32-channel Heritage 1000 console to the internationally-renowned concert hall and congress centre - De Doelen, as well as a Venice 320 and eight of Klark Teknik's industry standard DN360 EQ devices to another performance venue, 013 in Tilburg.

The Heritage 1000 has been installed into De Doelen's main concert hall, the 2,200-seater Grote Zaal, although it was supplied with a touring package, so in fact the desk can be moved into any room within the venue as required. Sander Zijlstra, head of sound at De Doelen, said. "We host over 600 concerts a year here, and that means a lot of visiting engineers," he said. "The adva

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UK - The alarming truth about Britain's nightclubs has been revealed in new research published by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) - the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the UK. The report, A noise hangover?, is based on the findings of a covert survey of 15 nightclubs in five UK cities - London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast - and reveals noise in Britain's clubs has reached damaging levels.

RNID commissioned the survey, which measured noise levels in three different areas within each club - the dance floor, the bar and the chill-out area. It found that in some venues, the noise was so loud on the dance floor - sometimes as loud as an aircraft taking off (approx. 110dB(A)) - that for those clubbers regularly exposed to loud music, the cumulative effect could be very damaging. Someone who goes c

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Italy - Soundcraft's Italian distributor, Audio Equipment, has reported strong sales of the company's MH3 and MH4 consoles following the SIB expo in Rimini - with a staggering 27 consoles requisitioned by the time of the Frankfurt ProLight&Sound exhibition three weeks later. Audio equipment's Marco Porro attributed this to the fact that many of his customers had wanted to suspend their buying decisions until they were in a position to make like-for-like comparisons - and SIB provided the opportunity.

"The season starts at the end of April and I knew SIB would be an important show for us," said Porro. "While I knew some orders had been promised, other rental companies decided to check out the features on competitive desks - but in every case they came back to us."

The positive feedback, Porro says, was based on the VCAs and improved EQ of the MH3 and MH4, a

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UK - Sound Division has installed a sophisticated AV system into the brand new bar and restaurant in London's Battersea, called Iniquity, and owned and run by Rising Star Leisure. According to Rising Star's chief executive, Steve Kelly, the brief was to "implement a high quality and resilient audio-visual system, based on best-of-breed technology, to provide great sound quality from a variety of input sources, including CD, Hard Disk, MP3, DVD, and DJ."

To this end, Sound Division's David Graham specified a Crown-driven JBL system that is split into two zones with the ability to control both zones from each area. The bar area is served by JBL Control 28 loudspeakers while Graham opted for Control 25Avs for the lounge with system control courtesy of a Cloud CX242 dual zone mixer. In addition to the audio system, Sound Division has also installed a sophisticated AV syst

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UK - Klark Teknik announced the launch of a PC remote control for the award-winning Helix DN9340 digital equalization system. This is the latest add-in to the ELGAR software control shell that has been developed for Klark Teknik and Midas products.

The PC controller mirrors the operation of the units themselves, allowing instant and simultaneous online control of up to 64 channels of EQ from a laptop, tablet computer or compatible device. The unique 'FastNav' feature allows access to any function of any channel with just two button clicks, making control of even the largest systems quick and simple. The software has been extensively beta-tested on numerous events and tours with excellent results.

The Graphical User Interface is intuitive and straightforward to use. The Homepage provides a composite view of the overall operation of any channel and full real-time metering is pro

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UK - UK audio rental company Concert Sound has invested in 48 JBL Vertec VT4889 line array cabinets, which went straight out on the European and UK legs of the current Eric Clapton world tour. The Vertec was supplied via JBL's UK distributor, Harman Pro UK.

Clapton's FOH engineer is the charismatic Rob Collins, who's worked for the legendary artist since 1989. Collins is also one of the founding members of Concert Sound. An industry maverick in his own right, Collins won the Total Production 'Sound Engineer of the Year 2004' Award in February.

Concert sound - who's director's also include sound engineers Jeff Hooper and Pab Boothroyd - had been discussing the addition of another large scale audio system to add to their hire stock for some time. They wanted something powerful and precise, and also a system that was familiar to a lot of engineers. Collins had first used the Vert

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Denmark - TC Electronic introduces Mastering 6000, which will make its debut at AES, Berlin. The Mastering 6000 is a four-engine mastering processor based on the company's award-winning multi-channel processing platform, System 6000. Mastering 6000 is a custom set of precise timing and high-resolution digital signal processing tools designed specifically for mastering engineers producing high-quality audio for CD, DVD, SACD and film. Mastering 6000 has a license-based structure, which enables it to be augmented with optional processing tools.

New limiting and compression algorithms in Mastering 6000 include MD4, featuring a five-band stereo and MS processor with linear phase split filter topology, an updated Brickwall Limiter that prevents listening fatigue and distortion using internal sample rates of up to 480 kHz (five times upsampling) and new custom A/D and D/A conversion

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Germany - Steinberg Media Technologies recently announced that the latest version of its award-winning WaveLab audio editing and mastering application is now shipping to resellers worldwide. Offering full multi-channel surround support, a video track and DVD audio mastering and authoring.

One of the major new releases in Steinberg's 20th anniversary year, WaveLab 5 now encompasses a full set of DVD Audio mastering and authoring tools, making WaveLab 5 the first and currently only application to support both CD-Audio and DVD Audio formats within a unified interface. WaveLab 5 is also the first and currently only application to combine all aspects of stereo and multi-channel high-resolution audio editing, processing, mastering and DVD-Audio authoring/burning.

Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg's senior product manager for Music Technology commented: "We are, of course, very proud to be

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UK - The concert hall at Nottingham's Royal Centre has been fitted out to a top touring spec by a company that understand the demands of live production work. Northampton-based TourTech have visited the venue many times as a rental/production company, and were thus seen as best equipped to design and install a system that would obviate the need for many of the incoming shows to carry their own production.

Both TourTech and the venue itself have a long history of operating Soundcraft desks, so it didn't take long for the hire company's Dick Rabel and concert hall technical manager, Pearse Ellis to agree on a 32-channel MH3 to mix the sound in the 2,300-capacity, three-tiered hall.

There is now continuity with the adjacent Theatre Royal, who have just taken delivery of an MH4 from Orbital Sound - flight cased so can be used for touring purposes. "Although it's a smaller ven

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USA - Mariners Church, located in Irvine, California, recently installed a new ATI Paragon PII production console. The analogue live sound console was purchased for front-of-house mixing duties in the 2,300-seat worship centre. Mariner's has four weekend worship services that regularly draw approximately 4,500 adults. Weekend youth programmes draw an average of 900 children and 800 students.

Audio coordinator and main house mix engineer Van Metschke specified a console with 48-channels and four stereo inputs. He explained: "We have a typical rhythm section, drums and bass, plus a couple of guitars, piano, keyboards, and an occasional string section or horn section. And we could have up to 16 vocalists on individual mics. We also have a 50-voice choir once a month."

As Metschke explains, the decision to purchase the Paragon PII was based on a long-standing desire to w

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Germany - Digigram, manufacturer of sound cards for high end pro audio applications, launched at AES Europe the LCM220v2 sound card with 2/2 balanced analogue I/Os, which replaces the popular LCM220. The new board is targeted at broadcast automation, permanent playback, logging, and other pro audio applications.

By offering a more specific set of functions, the LCM220v2 provides Digigram on-board audio processing and features at a lower price point than comparable cards in Digigram's PCX range. Full duplex, the card offers simultaneous and independent record and playback capabilities, as well as real-time, simultaneous MPEG Layer I and Layer II compression and decompression during record and playback.

New features include 24-bit converters, analog and digital level control on the outputs, short length PCI format (175 mm or 6.875"), as well as Universal PCI bus (5V, 5V+3.3

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UK - Mission Professional has announced the appointment of two new distributors - Sonatel in Croatia and Kinotechniki in Greece. Sonatel Ltd., based in Zagreb, distributes a number of audio and A-V brands within the consumer and professional markets in Croatia. The company's philosophy is based on 'not being the biggest, but the best'.

Athens based Kinotechniki Ltd., signed up with Mission Professional at Musikmesse 2004. They represent well-established brands like Denon, Cerwin Vega and Ortofon and are keen to move further into the studio, installation and corporate A-V markets with Mission Professional.

Mission Pro's director of sales and marketing, Steve Jordan commented: "We are very pleased with the appointments of Sonatel and Kinotechniki. Both are well established distributors who share our ideals of quality sound and customer service."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Trantec has introduced its PT1 UHF stereo audio system, aimed at use in theatre venues and other public buildings. In October 2004, new legislation in the form of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) will come into force requiring theatre venues and all public spaces to make facilities available for patrons with sensory disabilities. Trantec's PT1 offers a flexible radio-based solution to the complex issues surrounding this new legislation.

The DDA requires that theatre venues should be able to provide subtitles or captioning and signed performances for hearing impaired patrons and audio description for partially sighted and blind patrons. The key to the solution is to offer dual-channel systems either through Infrared or radio frequency-based systems, which can simultaneously transmit hearing reinforcement and audio description.

The PT1, originally designed for multi-

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UK - Northern Ireland audio supplier DL Electrical has successfully completed the installation of a new sound system for St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral Armagh. After completing a previous installation in the St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral Armagh, the Lisburn-based company has installed Intellivox loudspeakers from Duran Audio UK in the refurbished building.

The nave is provided with two Intellivox 2C digital arrays and the rear altar with a single Intellivox 1B.Choir and military, plus ladies chapels, were equipped with DNH CAS30T column loudspeakers. The amplification equipment has been provided by Australian Monitor TX8000 mixers with AKG's Discreet Acoustics GN30ES gooseneck microphones complete with CK31 capsules being installed in the pulpit, Dean's stall and choir areas. One AKG C747 has been discreetly mounted on the brass eagle of the lectern. The compan

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South Africa - HK Audio loudspeaker systems provided the sound for a special March concert in Harare, Zimbabwe, as the top three stars from South Africa's Pop Idols 2003 competition rocked the Harare Celebration Centre performing arts theatre. As a bonus the crowd also got to see local Zimbabwean musicians the Kwe Kwe Band.

Pop Idols winner, Anke Pietrangeli, together with runners-up Poseletso Sejosingoe and Jacques Terre Blanche, played to an enthusiastic crowd of over 3,500. The show was staged by digital broadcaster DStv and entertainment channel M-Net, which broadcast the Idols series.

Sound was provided by the PA hire division of HK Audio distributor Devan Audio Engineering, Devan Pro-Audio, which has been operating from Harare since 1984. Devan chose to use four HK Audio self-powered, long throw projector systems, with two full systems flanking the stage and two as side-

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UK - Neutrik UK Ltd has announced the opening of its new, purpose-built, 1,800sq.m manufacturing and sales facility at Westridge, Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The new factory has been built and designed to Neutrik's bespoke requirements to meet the ever-increasing demands of its expanding sales operation. The company says its decision to remain on the Island demonstrates a firm commitment to their skilled and dedicated workforce, without whom such an expansion would not have been possible.

Neutrik UK Ltd started on the Island in August 1986 in an array of small manufacturing and office units at Cowes, followed by an expansion move to Binstead in 1991. Further extensions to the product range soon followed, together with Neutrik's global flagship product range of professional audio connectors. Continued success and product range growth meant that the company soon out-grew both its C

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UK / Germany - FeONIC plc has received its first order from new German distribution partner, Adam Hall GmbH. The order, worth in excess of £150,000, is for Whispering Windows systems - a point-of-sale promotional technology used by retailers to turn glass in shop windows into loudspeakers'. The systems have been successfully installed in the UK by respected retailers such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Lunn Poly.

Adam Hall is to co-promote and install Whispering Windows in Germany, particularly within the retail sector. The company is renowned for supplying high-quality fixtures and fittings to the professional audio industry in European countries including Germany, France and Spain. According to Adam Hall, there has been considerable interest in Whispering Windows from the German market. The first monthly shipment of this order took place at the end of April.

Since la

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UK - Spector Lumenex, a division of Tyco Fire & Security, has recently achieved accreditation to BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental Standard and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard. The company provides a wide range of life safety wired communication to the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical industries, both on and offshore, as well as public address and voice alarm systems for transport, commercial buildings, shopping centres, entertainment and industrial sectors. The company's systems have been installed in diverse situations in some of the most severe environments and most difficult acoustic environments worldwide. This has resulted in an extensive client list, which includes major oil companies and other prestigious organizations.

The company says the Environmental Standard will allow all members of the company, frommanagement to the shop floor, to demonstrate their commi

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UK / Australia - Leisuretec Distribution has been appointed as the official distributor in the UK for the Aeromic Systems range of products. The announcement follows a visit to the UK in April 2004 by the founders of the Melbourne, Australia-based company, John Penhallow and Peter Paisley. The product range includes the AM10 Aeromic, well known in the worldwide fitness market, and the innovative new CM10 Cyclemic, the AM12 Countryline Headmic and a selection of multi-sized body pouches (for body pack transmitters).

John Penhallow commented on the new partnership: "We are anticipating sales growth in the UK to develop on a par with the growth already achieved in Europe and the USA, and we see Leisuretec Distribution as the right vehicle to achieving this growth in the UK."

"Until now, our products have been very well represented in the UK by John Mear of Soundguy

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UK - The Elbow Room - a hybrid of bar, club and pool hall with five venues in the UK, has recently opted for a KV2 Audio sound system for its Islington site, after Elbow Room's operations manager John Power met Duncan Baines of Xtreme AV to discuss plans for the venue.

Since it opened in 2000, the venue had employed a house system for day-to-day work, hiring in something more substantial for special events. As the special events grew, so did the need for a permanent system that could handle the growing list of international DJs and the succession of live bands.

Due to the increase in live performances and to provide bands with a suitable working area, Xtreme AV devised a portable stage, constructed in front of the DJ booth before each gig. This meant that the sound system had to be portable, so that the stacks could be moved from either side of the DJ booth (behind the stage)

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  3. Linea Research makes industry debut
  4. Tidy clubbers feel the Quake
  5. On Stage with Sennheiser's unsigned artists
  6. Andy Mace joins Supporting Role
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