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Sound

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Netherlands / UK - Dutch loudspeaker manufacturer Alcons Audio has recently opened a dedicated UK base, which will be headed up by Stephen Badham.

"In general we have adopted the philosophy that we want to have our own presence in key territories that have an international influence," says managing director Tom Back. "Germany is a domestic market that is very interesting to us in terms of volume, sales and appreciation of the technology we have and our success there has shown that our faith in this approach is justified."

Back continues, "The UK is important in many ways. It influences the European music scene and it also influences the US. We have noticed that through the relationships UK companies have in the US market. Taking all that into account, setting up the UK operation was never a matter of if, it was purely a matter of when."

"Pr

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UK - JBL Professional is extending its Control Contractor series loudspeakers to an even wider variety of applications with the new Control Contractor 40 Series premium in-ceiling specialty loudspeakers. On show at PLASA 08 for the first time in the UK, several of the models incorporate JBL's conical Radiation Boundary Integrator (RBI) technology, providing "broad and consistent pattern control with superior sonic performance".

"As customer expectations for audio quality continue to increase, we are pleased to introduce a new ceiling speaker line that not only provides extended bandwidth and improved fidelity, but also saves the customers money by covering their space more evenly with fewer speakers," said Rick Kamlet, senior market director, commercial sound, JBL Professional. "With the introduction of the Control Contractor 40 Series, JBL's lineup of h

Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

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Russia - Leading acoustic design company Munro Acoustics has been appointed to work alongside Russian company Cineko in renovating the Grand Palace Theatre, the famous 6,000-seat concert hall inside the Kremlin in Moscow.

The hall currently hosts a diverse programme of music and theatre, including concerts for television broadcast and is in need of extensive renovation. Munro Acoustics have been tasked with giving the hall's acoustics a complete overhaul.

Managing director Andy Munro said: "It is a great honour to be selected for such a prestigious project but I do not underestimate the technical challenges involved. Fortunately, we have been working on similar auditoria concepts for some years now and we have proven the techniques that will enable our design to achieve the client's objective of a truly flexible performance space."

The hall was originally designed

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UK - After an extremely rigorous testing and selection process, London-based Britannia Row Productions - one of the UK's leading providers of live audio systems - has recently taken delivery of 80 Yamaha T5n power amplifiers to significantly boost its rental inventory.

The company was looking for a high quality, general-purpose power amplifier, which could be used with a range of point source PA and stage monitoring systems and could also effortlessly cope with the diverse range of events that Brit Row services.

"We wanted to find a model of amplifier that can work in a wide variety of situations, will deliver consistently high performance levels and will be extremely reliable," says Brit Row director Mike Lowe.

"We have a wide range of systems in our rental stock, therefore having to maintain and service as few types of amplifier as possible has obvious benef

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UK - Following a period of significant growth over the last five years, Audio-Technica has recently restructured its UK operation to offer increased levels of customer service and to provide a solid foundation for future expansion.

Amongst the important changes for Audio-Technica UK, Isabelle Alran has assumed the position of European sales director and will take an active role in the day-to-day UK sales operation.

Audio-Technica's UK area sales managers will now report directly to London-based Alran and the drive to improved customer support will see them partnered by dedicated area sales co-ordinators at the company's head office in Leeds.

In addition, newly appointed UK sales and marketing assistant Tom Harrold will assume responsibility for building on relationships with some of Audio-Technica's smaller accounts, allowing a direct point of contact for independent reselle

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UK - Impact Products (Europe) Ltd, a leading trade-only supplier of professional audio and lighting products, is highlighting five leading manufacturers at PLASA08.

Adding to its comprehensive collection of amplifiers and speakers, Brooke has two impressive new ranges of line array speakers, suitable for every kind of venue from small club to stadium.

Rhino have introduced the robust Twin Table DJ Rack Case, whose removable doors with folding legs fix securely to the 19" flight case to form two tabletops for decks and mixers.

Business manager Keith Williams says: "We are proud to now be the stocking distributor for Litestructures and exclusive stocking distributor of US-based Chauvet Lighting in the UK."

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, Chauvet's new MiN Spot is a portable moving head LED fixture with RGB mixing and nine gobos, whilst Impact's P

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USA - Loud Technologies Inc - owner of a stable of pro audio brands including Mackie, EAW and Martin Audio - has announced the resignation of chairman and CEO Jamie Engen after more than 10 years with the company. Replacing Engen is Rodney Olson, who has over 20 years' experience in executive roles.

"Over the past ten years, Jamie has played a critical role in growing Loud Technologies into the industry leader that it is today. We appreciate his contributions and wish him the best," said Tom Taylor, the board member who led the search for Engen's successor. "We are fortunate to have a strong successor to take over the reins and continue our growth efforts."

Olson joins Loud Technologies after a decade with Cardinal Brands, a Kansas-based $170 million office products company, where he has served as CFO, president and, most recently, CEO for the past two year

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USA- Billy Joel's Last Play At Shea marked the end of an era of historic concerts at Shea Stadium. With a star-studded line-up of musicians making guest appearances throughout the evening including Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler and Roger Daltrey, Billy Joel performed the last concert at the stadium. With the help of Sir Paul McCartney (who played the first concert at the stadium with The Beatles in August 1965), Billy Joel closed the show by accompanying McCartney on piano with a surprise version of Let It Be.

Joel's world tour began in January 2006 and has been touring ever since. The 2008 segment kicked off in Philadelphia, PA in January, making stops in California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, Quebec, Louisiana, Connecticut, Virginia and finishing up with two shows in Flushing, NY at Shea Stadium. Joel resumes the second leg of his world tour with dates

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UK - Heading Turbosound's presentation at PLASA08 will be the new Flex Array series, which combines elements of line array theory with proven virtual point source technology in one loudspeaker product, and is aimed at providing rental companies with a one-box solution for a variety of venues and audiences.

Flex Array's Polyhorn and Dendritic horns are combined in a compact rotatable waveguide which delivers a phase-coherent wavefront with 75°h x 16°v coverage.

Available in switchable bi-amp/tri-amp and self-powered guises, the Flex Array mid/high cabinet is complemented by a single 18" horn-loaded bass enclosure. The digitally self-powered TFA-600HDP has been nominated for a PLASA08 Award for Innovation.

Flex Array cabinets feature two independent load-certified integrated flying systems, which enable quick and easy rigging with the minimum of external parts. Th

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UK - Mayfair's Zeta Bar at the Park Lane Hilton - already outfitted with JBL loudspeakers by the Sound Division Group (SDG) four years ago - has now transformed into Whisky Mist at Zeta. This has given the same installation company the opportunity to add a further generation of Harman Professional sound reinforcement products to the existing infrastructure, from the catalogue of UK distributors Sound Technology

The new bar and club is a joint collaboration between the Hilton, two of London's most successful nightlife pioneers, Nick House and Piers Adam, Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe and Marc Burton.

Open from 5pm every evening, with last entry at 2am, SDG's managing director David Graham knew instinctively how to transfigure the sound system in this sophisticated venue to optimum effect, having previously collaborated at the chic Mahiki for House and Adam.

Working

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UK - Three Allen & Heath iLive digital systems were employed for a recent outdoor festival featuring Liverpool's Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Managed by Kent-based PA company, SRD Group, and engineered by classical specialist, Ian Barfoot, the event employed SRD's newly purchased iLive systems to manage FOH and monitors, with a third system provided by Barfoot.

"We manage a lot of festivals and chose to invest in iLive because it has a simple interface for analogue desk users and provides full DSP to every input and output. For instance, it is important that we have a graphic EQ across every output and can still use the onboard effects," commented SRD Group's MD, Stuart Roberts.

The orchestra featured a full complement of instruments including 20 violins, mixed by an iDR10 Mixrack and iLive-112 control surface at FOH, with a second identical system controlling the o

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UK - L&SI has learned that after nine years with PRG Europe, Alan Thomson has ceased to work for the company as of 8 August. Previously a director of PRG Europe based at Croydon, Alan was unavailable for comment, but L&SI understands he is considering a number of challenging opportunities.

In over 30 years of working in the theatre, Alan's clients have included Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh, on productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Oliver. He was responsible for overseeing the lighting aspects of the VE and VJ celebrations in London in 1995 and in 2002 had a major role in the theatrical lighting support for Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

With many years of experience working in the Middle East, Alan has supplied lighting equipment and services to the Royal families of the United Kingdom, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and

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UK - Void Acoustics reports that its loudspeaker systems, control electronics and power amplifiers have been installed in The House Club and Terrace, in Greenwich, London. With design and installation by Essex-based Cosmic Electronics, the system represents the first part of a phased upgrade of the club's audio facilities, featuring Void's Stasys 8 subs and Impulse 3t mid/highs, with Mycro 8 full-range compacts as fills and DJ monitors. The success of the Void installation has already resulted in plans to re-equip the venue's other rooms to the same standard, using Void-based systems.

Mark Damon, director of Cosmic Electronics, comments: "The House and Terrace is a top venue, and one of south London's most up and coming clubs. Closely linked to Space in Ibiza - with monthly Space nights - the club had already experienced Void products, such as the Mycro 8s as DJ monitors in

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UK- Wales' Stage Sound Services has recently undergone a major restock of its wireless mic inventory. Their rapid growth has resulted in an order comprising 50 channels of Trantec S5.5, increasing their current stock to over 100 channels of Trantec UHF wireless.

Discussing the purchase, Stage Sound's managing director Phil Hurley said: "We have been using Trantec right from the start and it is a testament to their reliability that systems we bought over 10 years ago are still in use today. We constantly strive to supply the best for our corporate and theatre work, which means using the best audio equipment available. For us, that meant Trantec for quality, reliability, and especially value for money."

Aiming primarily at the corporate and theatre markets, Stage Sound realised they would have to increase their stock levels to keep up with demand. The first outing for

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Far East News - With Union flags fluttering at every turn, unpredictable weather and a line-up filled with UK bands, it seems like a typical British music festival. But it's not, says a BBC News report, it is the 12th annual Fuji Rock Festival, held at Japan's Naeba resort, about 200km from Tokyo. This year's festival has a British theme, celebrating the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Japan.

Union flags have been flying across the site, and many Japanese fans have got into the spirit with British-themed outfits over the three-day festival. British acts including The Courteeners, Hard-Fi, Primal Scream and headliners Underworld shared the main stage with Japanese performers.

But while the event is unashamedly based on Glastonbury, Fuji Rock is a totally different experience. "It might be inspired by Glastonbury, but done in a Japanese way," says

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Germany - Now in its 22nd year, the Jazz an der Donau (Jazz on the Danube) festival is one of the most firmly established jazz festivals in Europe. Running from 17-20 July, this year's event featured performances from artists such as Reamonn, Sérgio Mendes, and Percy Sledge.

As in previous years, a team of sound specialists led by Ingo Haasch was responsible for the production. The centrepiece of the sound reinforcement design for 2008 was an Electro-Voice XLC 127DVX line-array system, with Electro-Voice TG-7 power amplifiers (equipped with RCM 26 modules) providing the power, and a Midas XL8 console.

Haasch commented: "With many sound engineers still unfamiliar with the XL8, the choice was greeted with some scepticism initially, but effusive approval thereafter. We all agreed that the sound this year was even better than last year."

(Jim Evans)

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Austria - Allen & Heath's iLive digital system was selected to manage FOH sound for the Eurovision Young Musicians competition final, which was hosted live in Vienna's Rathausplatz prestigious city hall square in front of an audience of 45,000 spectators.

Selected from 16 European contestants aged no more than 19, the seven finalists from Slovenia, Russia, UK, Finland, Greece, Holland, and Norway performed live during the Gala Final which marked the opening of the annual Vienna Festival. The young musicians were accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Aleksandar Markovic, which also performed Leonard Bernstein's Candide overture during the interval.

Head of sound for the event was Adolf Toegel who was using the iLive system - comprising an iDR10 Mixrack and iLive-144 control surface - with an EtherSound module to record the whole orchestra live via a 64-cha

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UK - Over 85,000 fans enjoyed the biggest ever V Festival at Chelmsford's Hyland Park August 2008, with Power Logistics supplying power and site lighting to the 12,000 acre site.

The expanded thirteenth V Festival sold out in hours and the public encountered a new look site, with five stages and a new main stage arena featuring headliners Muse and The Verve. Promoters Maztec worked with production management Nine Yards to reconfigure the event and accommodate the additional 10,000 fans.

Power Logistics has supplied the event since the company started, but this year Project Manager Dave Oxley worked particularly closely with production manager Claire Sampson planning the site months in advance to ensure the increased power requirements were met in all of the new areas.

Oxley managed a team of 14 staff who over the two week build period installed a huge temporary power infrast

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Hong Kong - Martin Audio has confirmed that Patrick Lau has joined the company, with responsibility for International sales in the Asian region. Lau previously worked for Dah Chong Hong, the Martin Audio distributor for Hong Kong, China and Macau, and has been instrumental in spearheading the growth in sales, and generally expanding the company's profile in the territory.

David Bissett-Powell, managing director, said: "Martin Audio felt the timing was absolutely right to reinforce our commitment to the Asian market by providing easy access to local support. He will continue to support DCH in their growth of the Chinese market at a time when they too are strengthening their Pro Audio team."

"Having worked with the product for many years, and being located in Hong Kong, Patrick was the ideal candidate to serve the region in a timely and efficient manner."

(

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USA - The brainchild of Ryan Bozsan, Sunset Thursdays is a series of summer gatherings held on the patio at P.D. O'Hurley's, a bar and grill overlooking the Hudson River from Pier 84 at West 44th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City. A sundown celebration featuring sounds designed to help bring the week to a close on a more serene note, the events enlist the talents of DJs who spread their aural ambience over the crowd using a sound system featuring 10 of QSC's powered HPR122i loudspeakers.

In the business of producing DJ and music-related events since 1999, Bozsan was inspired to create Sunset Thursdays following a visit to Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, Spain, where hundreds of people gather along the coast near the seaside bar to watch the sun go down.

"When the sun disappears into the Mediterranean, the beat drops and the crowd applauds and cheers," Bozsan

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Europe - Dave Wooster who has been manning Gary Moore's front of house position for two years. This summer, Moore appeared at festivals in Scandinavia, Montreux, Germany, Spain and - Wooster's personal favourite - a biker's festival in Portugal. "As a traveling engineer, I'm still surprised at the lack of knowledge that is out there," he says. "Systems are set up and sometimes just don't work properly. Having the XTA DP448 with me worked a treat."

The DP448 meant that Wooster did not have to reconfigure the front of house desk each day, as integrating into the available system was easily done by turning it into a glorified matrix mixer, providing extra EQ and delay settings.

"At one show, there were two front of house consoles and they refused to make mine the main desk," recalls Wooster. "So as a compromise we put both desks into the XTA and

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UK - Academy Music Group, working with Adlib Audio, has embraced Soundcraft's digital platform, working with Adlib Audio for the audio element of the installation at the 2350-capacity, £3.5 million Carling Academy Sheffield.

Adlib Audio's installation manager Roger Kirby notes: "We run several consoles in our hire fleet but we are happiest using the Soundcraft Vi6, and AMG group technical manager Ed Jackson was pleased to take our collective advice. He had also obviously heard good things about it from sound engineers coming through."

Jackson decided to incorporate three front line Vi6s into Carling Academy Sheffield - two in the main room and one in the second room (500 capacity).

"Carling Academy 2 Sheffield was always going to be digital - and although a third Vi6 stretched the budget a bit we knew it would offer compatibility - while having common co

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UK - CUK Audio promises its most comprehensive and impressive show ever at this year's PLASA08, with a new stand design for the 10 audio brands that the company exclusively represents, including Audica Professional, Community Professional Loudspeakers, DIS Danish Interpretation Systems, Digidesign, InOut Digital and KIND Audio. New to the CUK portfolio this year are Media Technology Systems Inc, Sabine, and Work; a further brand is to be announced at the show.

"Our investment in this year's PLASA is our biggest yet", explains CUK Audio MD, Stuart Thomson. "All of our brands are showing new and updated products and four new brands complete our line up, offering the most comprehensive and advanced range of solutions from a UK distributor. Our fourth new brand, to be announced at the show, is a global leader and will be a big draw and talking point of the show."

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UK - Logic System will exhibit at PLASA08 having secured in the past 12 months new export dealers in China, Indonesia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Switzerland and the Middle East, while additional business has come from changes to distribution in Singapore and Turkey.

Much of the sales growth in both the UK and export markets has come from the Ethos range of live sound products, which will be on show at PLASA. Ethos CA, shown in completed form at last year's show has found favour in the marketplace with its scalable flexibility, while the introduction of Ethos Nd bass options has also helped the larger Ethos VA system to achieve record sales, the company reports.

Having achieved success in both small and medium format array markets, it's time to move up in format and so PLASA08 sees the launch of Ethos LA - a long-throw array module designed to give existing Ethos users an upgra

  1. Outline at PLASA
  2. Ampetronic gets physical at Science Museum
  3. Sennheiser UK names sales director
  4. Executive role for McMahon at Meyer
  5. SHoW DMX performs in Beijing
  6. Polyphonic Spree listens in with Shure
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