USA - Loud Technologies Inc has announced a cross-licensing agreement with Echo Digital Audio, which will see Loud Technologies license FireWire audio technology from Echo, while Echo licenses Mackie-branded application and plug-in products from Loud. "This partnership leverages each company's strengths," commented Tony Rodrigues, business development manger at Loud. "Echo is a recognized leader in the development of high-quality audio devices for computer-based audio workstations. Combining their expertise with Mackie's exceptional analogue and digital audio technologies will result in a new generation of high-performance audio I/O products that will bring a host of innovative features and capabilities to the desktop and professional recording markets."

As part of this agreement, Echo will begin bundling Mackie-branded software products with their PCI and F

UK - The Product Excellence Awards at the PLASA Show has been a popular feature of the event for many years, highlighting the significance of the show as a focus for new developments for the industry. To reinforce this role, the PLASA Awards have undergone an important change for the 2004 event (12-15 September), in order to focus on genuine innovation.

For the re-branded PLASA Awards for Innovation, the judges will be looking for products which advance the industry, demonstrate a new style of thinking, represent a key step forward in safety terms, or improve technical practices. There will be eight Awards for Innovation at the judges' disposal and currently over 60 nominations have been received, with just three weeks before the deadline of Friday 3 September. Exhibitors who still wish to nominate a product are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible. Nominees w

UK - Mission Pro, the professional division of the British company at the leading edge of loudspeaker innovation for over 25 years, is exhibiting on Stand CC42 at PLASA 2004, Live at Earls Court, from 12-15 September.

The highlight of the Mission Pro stand will be the award winning TecSonic portable PA system. TecSonic is a groundbreaking, lightweight package that includes a specially designed full range panel loudspeaker, an efficient mixer-amp and all the accessories needed to provide an ideal sound reinforcement solution for PA presentation and background music applications. For easy and safe portability, the complete system is housed in a sturdy and protective carrying case.

Also on display will be the SM6A active studio monitors, which have already received excellent coverage in numerous MI Pro publications. The SM6A features a 150mm Paramid cone bass unit, coupled to a 2

UK - One of the world's leading cruise ships, the QE2, has undergone an extensive technical refurbishment of its Grand Lounge, the largest entertainment venue on the ship. A new Martin Audio sound system has been installed to handle the Lounge's diverse programme of events.

The Grand Lounge stretches over two decks of the ship, accommodating 450 people in cabaret-style seating on two levels. Twice a night, the ship's on-board cast present theatrical production shows, and occasionally guest cabaret artists perform, as well as dance bands. Cunard's entertainment technical manager Andy Pygott had to search for a sound reinforcement system that was flexible enough to handle these shows, as well as all the other events that are hosted by the Grand Lounge throughout the day.

"We were looking for a system that would deliver even sound coverage across the whole room, with a part

UK - Outline's patented Butterfly line array had its UK debut this summer, at the only live gig performed in Europe by The Isley Brotheres. Kool and the Gang and the sensational Amy Winehouse supported the Isley's, while the Sunday featured Michael Ball. Capacity audiences on both days enjoyed the summer sun at Penshurst Place in Tonbridge, Kent.

The show moved on to Harewood House near Leeds for 7-8 August and the Saturday night saw Will Young play to a capacity audience of over 16,000 eager fans. The show used Outline's Butterfly Line Array and a full 20-way stage mix which used Outline's H.A.R.D 212 monitors.

The front-of-house system consisted of 16 Outline CDH483 mid/high packs per side and 16 Outline 'Victor' live sub-basses (eight per side), the whole system powered by Outline TP 6.5 PWM digital amplifiers and controlled by Lake Contour system processors. Sigma AV Ltd,

Russia - Exactly 53,212 spectators were in attendance on the 31 July, 2004, beneath the huge new canopy held aloft by 16 supports, as Berlin's Olympic Stadium - four years out of commission for rebuilding - re-opened with a magnificently staged spectacle.

Charged with the installation of a brand-new sound reinforcement system and supported by EVI Audio, the Berlin-based sound and events specialists TSE AG opted for a large Electro-Voice sound reinforcement system and a Dynacord PA. In addition to outstanding sound quality, the new equipment offers reliable and convenient system control and monitoring. In this, Electro-Voice's IRIS software and remote-controlled amplifiers play key roles. Explains Oliver Sahm, project and sales manager permanent installation Europe: "Having to install the loudspeaker enclosures in the roof is hardly conducive to easy maintenance. Thanks to E

UK - Allen & Heath has launched a new dedicated website for its award winning range of Xone DJ mixers. The Xone website has been designed to cater for the needs of the DJ market, providing a balance between visual entertainment and technical information.

Aside from a slick new look, features include streamed video clips of the mixers in use, a forum and feedback facility, user lists and profiles of mixers across the range, various images for download and comprehensive feature descriptions and downloads.

"The Xone site looks and feels great with plenty of technical information backed up with real world examples of the mixers in use.However, this is just the start - it is our intention to add more interactive features and cultural information rather than just a sales tool for equipment," commented Allen & Heath's New Media manager, David Haughton.

(Sarah Rushton-Read

UK - Sovico Corporation (previously Daiyoung) has recently become the exclusive distributor of Soundtracs/DiGiCo products in Korea. With 30 years' experience of the pro audio industry, the company has distributed many high profile brands - mainly analogue but also several digital processing products - within that territory. "The market trend is going towards the digital domain," says Sovico's Yun Choi. "We have realized the importance of digital equipments and to keep up with this world trend, especially in high-end consoles, we've been tying to find the brand we want to be associated with and finally met DiGiCo.

"Recently, overseas companies have produced many large-scale concerts and events held in Korea. These kinds of events require powerful, large-scale high-end systems and we are now confident that we have a complete system capable of running such perf

ARX Systems, the Australian based Pro Audio manufacturer recently announced the release of the new EarDriver Ultra compact Headphone Amplifier to its AudiBox range of precision tools, designed to perform essential professional audio functions in an ultra compact, flexible package.

Ideal for recording and broadcast applications requiring flexible headphone monitoring the EarDriver comprises two sets of Stereo inputs feeding two channels of headphone level outputs. Channels 1 and 2 are AutoLinked into Channels 3 and 4 unless other inputs are jacked into 3 and 4, allowing up to 4 separate headphone outputs, all with separate level control.

The EarDriver is housed in a heavy duty all-steel chassis finished in attractive matt textured powdercoat, with hardwearing epoxy screen printing and slip resistant rubber pads. Security features include Kensington-type computer lock slot and option

UK - Allen & Heath's New Zealand distributor, Jansen Sound & Lighting, has recently installed iDR systems in two venues in the Auckland area. The Cock & Bull public house in Lynfield, Auckland, is the latest in a chain of Old English themed taverns, with full restaurant facilities and live bands performing three times a week. An iDR-8 digital mixing processor has been installed to distribute audio to various zones around the venue, programmed to automatically change the volume and lighting levels at predetermined times of the day. Eight PL-4 wall panels were also installed around the tavern to allow remote control of multiple sources, including a CD player, computer music system, various TV channels and a wireless mic used for Quiz nights.

The IDR-8 provides EQ and routing to the main Proel TFL speaker system - which consists of six Proel TFL10P and two Proel TFL115 subs - and a

UK - This year has seen a sharp rise in new investments by Terry Jones of Cambridge Disco Hire and Sales. After completing his long-planned move to new premises, over the last 24 months he has built an enviable showroom of the latest lighting effects and audio products, as well as a hire and production department which includes everything from staging to dressing rooms.

As part of the investment for the production and hire department, Jones had been looking for a compact but high output and scaleable audio system for some time. He relates: "I had the opportunity to see and hear several systems, but when Andy Austin-Brown presented the KV2 Audio ES system to me last year, I knew that I had found what I had been waiting to hear. Compact, but incredibly potent, I was astonished to hear such vivid resolution and integrity. Just to make sure that I wasn't kidding myself, I call

Germany - DPA Microphones recently announced it has promoted one of its German dealers, Mega Audio, to the status of sole importer and exclusive distributor for the country. Based in Bingen just outside Frankfurt, Mega Audio had previously represented DPA as a dealer for the past four years, along with Analog Audio (Munich), Hamburg Pro Audio (Hamburg) and HL Audio (Berlin). The decision to appoint Mega Audio as its sole distributor was viewed as an amicable one all round, with the three other companies remaining as dealers for DPA products in their respective territories.

Mega Audio was originally set up as a recording studio specialist and a wholesale company for recording equipment. When the studio market started to decline, Mega Audio made the move into high-end pro audio distribution. Today, as well as DPA, its product portfolio includes Fostex, InnovaSON, Apogee Electronic

UK - ETS Sales & Hire is based just outside Norwich, where it provides a comprehensive repair service to the sound and light industry as well undertaking full electro/mechanical installations.

Run by partners Les Bell and Paul Saunders and ably assisted by Jenny Wright, over the past six years, the company has developed a simple, methodical approach to acquiring clients and building business relationships. Naturally included are many of the holiday and leisure groups who operate along the East coast from Lincolnshire via Norfolk to Hampshire in the South.

ETS has just completed its first audio system installation for its new clients Haven, part of the Bourne Leisure Group a portfolio that includes Butlins, British Holidays and Warners holidays.

Bell explains: "We had provided repair facilities for a number of the Haven sites, but had never had the opportunity to present

UK - A variant of Sy40, the Sy48 is a compact lightweight digital mixing console. Extremely versatile, the Sy48 is equally at home mixing front of house or monitors on tour to theatres or houses of worship.

With mixing for 64 channels and input and output resources as follows: up to 48 local inputs (32 mic + 16 line) with an optional stage box giving up to 48 input on stage plus 16 mic/line local inputs. Also available is an LEM (Local External Mix box) giving up to 64 local mic inputs, 16 local line inputs - for busses / inserts, 16 local line outputs - for busses / inserts, up to 48 processed or non-processed analogue digital or Ethersound outputs, with the flexibility of movable I/O cards between local and distant (stage box) slots. There are 32 buses - freely assignable as main, aux, groups or matrix and two monitor buses.

Transmission and Software includes a new MC module

UK - During the forthcoming 2004 PLASA Show at Earls Court, you will find Shure DJ record needlz and microphones being demonstrated by UK leading DJ's and Beatboxers, on the IDJ stand M100.

The following are the full details of who will be playing and when:

Sunday 12th September

10am - Margaret Dygas (Rescue Recordings)

11am - Gideon Jackson (Rescue Recordings)

12pm - Shlomo (shlo.co.uk) & DJ Nonames (Foreign Beggars)

1pm - Manipulate & Blood 1 (Surgical Cutz)

2pm - DJ Decoy

3pm - The Scratch Technician

4pm - BCEE (Rubik Records, BBC 1Xtra) & Lee Jackson (2turntables.co.uk)

5pm - Benny Lightyearz (Roc Records) & Koobs (Human Beatbox) & DJ Cor Blimey (Freight Corp/Zebra Traffic)

Monday 13th September

12pm Richard Grey (Rescue Recordings)

1pm Kleo (Rescue Recordings)

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

UK - Based in Cheshire, VME has over 15 years experience in concert, film, video, broadcast, corporate and theatre production and is the UK distributor for Kling & Freitag loudspeakers and a main dealer for Sennheiser UK.

VME supplied the comms system used on the Sky Sports coverage for the Zurich Premiership, the Heineken Cup and the Parker Pen Cup and the BBC coverage of the RBS 6 Nations. Unknown to most, mics on the referee and other match officials provide the commentary team with more 'inside information' on decisions made during the game, and enable the referee and officials to communicate with each other. The system consists of four Sennheiser SK50 radio belt-packs, for the referee, touchline judges, 4th match official in the dugout and a 4-wire communication link from the 3rd match official in the TV outside broadcast truck, all mixed on a Rane 1U digital mixer. The mix

UK - Community Professional Loudspeakers has again extended its speaker range and is showing innovative new lines at PLASA 2004 on stand CC10. Making their debut are the CLOUD 4 and 6, which are a complete self-contained co-axial, bass-reflex loudspeaker systems. These high output packages utilize a unique and effective cooling system called Air Gap Technology (AGT).

Also on show will be the I/O 5 and I/O 8 systems - ideal for the audio professionals looking for compact, high performance speakers for a wide variety of applications, including small clubs, karaoke, playback systems and monitoring. Both models are full range designs providing high power handling, high sensitivity, and wide dynamic capability.

The M12 stage monitor system is a compact, high style, no-compromise solution to the demands of high performance monitoring. At 10 ½" high, the Community M12 offers cl

UK - Continuing with its major re-investment programme, corporate event specialists, Dimension Audio, has purchased its first line array system - keeping continuity with the d&b audiotechnik brand which already features heavily in its inventory.

Dimension has purchased six Q1 tops and six subs, along with six D12 digital amplifiers, purpose designed to power the system. "It was time we moved into line array technology, and it will enable us to quote more competitively on larger projects," explained general manager Mark Boden. "This is a discrete line array system and ultra compact - ideal for our corporate work," added project manager, Dave Rondeau. "If we need to extend the system we can simply sub-hire in."

Dimension made the decision following a system demonstration. Aside from its sonic attributes - making it deal for playback in the corporate

USA - Reaffirming its commitment to provide systems integrators and contractors in the Canadian installed sound marketplace with professional, knowledgeable representation Biamp Systems today announced the appointment of Power Group Ltd. as its Canadian manufacturer's rep firm. Power Group Ltd. provides its customers with the industry's best performing, most versatile audio technologies. With offices located in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, the Power Group immediately assumes responsibility for Biamp sales and customer service in Canadian market.

"Now, through our relationship with Power Group, Biamp Systems is able to expand our commitment to provide quality representation to our partners in the Canadian marketplace," said Ron Camden, vice president of sales, Biamp Systems. "Having one national sales force headquartered in Toronto, enhances communications bet

USA - CMX Las Vegas Studios of Nevada has purchased six Drawmer DL241 auto compressors and four Drawmer DS201 dual noise gates for use in live reinforcement. The units will become part of a concert and corporate sound system for CMX tours and events as well as outside rental. CMX Las Vegas Studios is the Nevada division of CMX Productions, one of the USA's leading sports marketing and events management companies.

According to CMX Las Vegas Studios' Troy Green, the Drawmer units were purchased initially for the CMX tours, parties and events that are thrown for and by various artists, sports stars or organizations. "We have CMX corporate and entertainment events weekly ranging from a few hundred to thousands of guests and VIPs. Drawmer not only fit the bill as the best gear available for touring and corporate use, but also to meet the riders of outside renters and events oper

USA - The Hollywood Bowl, summer home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1922, recently wrapped up a complete rebuild of its band shell that considerably improves the acoustics onstage while preserving its distinctive concentric ringed motif. But performers at the Bowl aren't the only ones to benefit from better sound this season thanks to the concurrent addition of a new concert reinforcement system largely comprised of 87 L-Acoustics loudspeakers driven by 40 LA Series amplifiers.

Twin arrays each consisting of ten V-Dosc cabinets, eight SB218 subwoofers, seven more V-Dosc, and a tail of six dV-Dosc flank the left and right sides of the new shell with an additional centre hang of 17 dV-Dosc flown from the apex of the structure. Furthermore, three 112XT enclosures are hung from the catwalk halo to provide nearfield coverage for the seating areas directly in front of the stag

UK - Music-lovers again converged on the Sennheiser Sounds of Summer Festival, which took place over two days at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in August. On the first day the audience listened and danced to non-stop music with an all-female line up from Flipside DJs. DJ's Emma Feline and Nomio started the event off with a mixture of Hip Hop and R'n'B, then DJ's Miss Behavin', Sophie Sugar and Sarah G played house and trance, continuing late into the night. Sennheiser also ran competitions throughout the day to add to the party atmosphere and hundreds of lucky winners took home Sennheiser headphones, T-shirts and other prizes.

On day two, the eight finalists of Sennheiser UK's Best Unsigned Artist Contest 2004 took to the stage. With well over 1,000 entrants, the competition, now in its 4th year, aims to help bands and artists who don't fall into the category of manufa

UK - On Sunday 12 September, the first day of the PLASA show at Earls Court, Pioneer promises to provide an audio-visual experience like you've never seen before! A line-up of DVJs including VJ Kreil and James Zabiela will be performing live in Pioneer's DJ Booth, offering a spectacular live performances on Pioneer's new DVJ-X1. Combining Pioneer's world-famous CD Jog Dial technology with the flexibility and capacity of DVD, the DVJ-X1 looks just like the company's own CDJ-1000MK2 CD player - and has the same functionality - with the added capacity to playback DVDs as well as CDs.

Crucially, DVJs will also be able to use the DVJ-X1 to manipulate DVD visuals in exactly the same way as they would music, so real-time digital video scratches, loops and instant cues are all possible, while the video and audio streams always stay in perfect sync, even when they're being reversed and

UK - Duran Audio will be exhibiting at this year's PLASA Show, where it will be officially launching the AXYS Intellivox DDS series and also the AXYS Target U16. Both products use the company's ground-breaking DDS (Digital Directivity Synthesis) beam-steering technology.

The electronic aiming previously available with DDC products, which can be thought of as aiming and focusing a light, allows users to aim the vertical beam onto the audience area from the acoustic centre of the array, say Duran Audio.

DDS users are offered the complete opposite; using Duran Audios DDA (Digital Directivity Analysis) software the user can define the array position and the audience area and allow the DDS algorithm to produce the best possible directivity for that array in the given location. The result is a complex dispersion pattern that "fits" the audience area, say Duran Audio. DDS

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