Germany - At this year's Prolight&Sound in Frankfurt, the mipa awards were granted for the tenth time. For the sixth time, the Berlin-based microphone manufacturer Neumann was a winner - with the TLM 67.

Wolfgang Fraissinet, president of marketing/sales of Neumann Berlin, states: "We are particularly pleased with this mipa. It demonstrates that with the TLM 67 we have succeeded in creating an outstanding synthesis of tradition and innovation."

(Jim Evans)

Sweden - Lab.gruppen has appointed Joakim Hammar to the role of application engineer. A Swedish national living in the UK, Joakim will be covering all European territories where his remit is to provide technical advice, support and training to all PLM and Lake users.

Hammar worked as a sound engineer and project manager at Scandinavia's largest supplier to the event and live music industry, United Audio Starlight, until his move to the UK two years ago. Since then he has continued to consolidate his experience working as a freelance sound/system engineer in Scandinavia and the UK.

Lab.gruppen's European sales manager, Claus Behrens comments: "He's first and foremost a highly skilled systems engineer who has been responsible for some very big systems, so he speaks the same language as his customers. His primary role is to offer technical support and advice, and to bring us

UK - The charity live event for Cancer Research that PLASA's Ron Bonner and L&SI's technical editor James Eade are currently pulling together for 8 August this year is coming along nicely. Known as Vibes from the Vines, the event was last held in 2006 and raised £32,000 for the charity (if you are wondering about the name, the first event was held in a vineyard!). Offers of help from all around the Industry have been already received with companies and personnel being quick to step up to the plate with huge contributions in time and kit.

Ron Bonner says: "There will be some top quality equipment and expertise on show with Steve Williams of Nippy Industries providing the stage, Martin Hawthorn of Hawthorn Theatrical promising the vast array of Clay Paky lighting and Brian Grant agreeing to provide a top-spec PA from Britannia Row. Ric Salzedo at Avolites is agai

UK - Il Divo have embarked on another world tour, their dulcet tones backed by a powerful Meyer Sound system provided by UK-based Capital Sound.

The system comprises left and right arrays of 18 MILO line array loudspeakers each, with side arrays of 12 MICA line array loudspeakers each and a center hang of six M'elodie line array loudspeakers, along with four UPA-1P loudspeakers for fills. Low frequencies are covered by 12 700-HP subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker system with three Galileo 616 processors provides system drive and processing.

Capital Sound's Paul Timmins notes: "Capital Sound has worked with the band on their earlier tours, providing sound for their European shows. But this time around they've asked us to cover the full tour. The consistency factor is quite important for them, and by carrying the Meyer Sound system throughout the tour they're assured of

UK - London-based 10 out of 10 Productions has been appointed as sole UK distributor for the new TM-125 microphone from Bartlett Mics - a replacement for the popular PCC-160. Designed by Bruce Bartlett, one of the original developers of the PCC for Crown, the TM-125 microphone will be available for sale early June 2009.

(Lee Baldock)

The Netherlands - Bosch Security Systems is introducing a new series of flush-mount Premium-sound ceiling loudspeakers covering the full audio frequency range. The new series is suited for applications where high-quality music is required whilst still meeting the needs of today's most demanding public address systems, says the company.

The loudspeaker series offers a choice of drivers, including full-range units in sizes of 4", 8" and 12", in powers of 30W and 60W. An optional 10" 60W subwoofer is also available to add extra bass. This makes it easy to create and install custom set-ups for a broad range of applications - including health and fitness centres, restaurants, hotels, bars and shops.

Equipped with a waveguide-coupled, titanium-coated dome tweeter and housed in an integrated, fully-ported enclosure, the loudspeakers are capable of accurately repro

UK - Sheffield-based Cloud Electronics has launched a new range of paging products, designed for use with any Cloud zoner and mixer-amplifier, or that of a third party.

The Cloud PM1 single-zone paging microphone with its heavy-duty moulded base and 300mm gooseneck has an attractive and modern appearance and is supplied with a windshield. Connections are provided for wiring the mic to the mic audio signal and access contacts. The PTT (PressToTalk) button un-mutes the mic and provides contacts (NO or NC) for the host device's access connector.

The Cloud PM range of digital paging mics represents a development of the established CDPM series - with the model number - either PM4, PM8, PM12 or PM16 - referencing the number of zones that can be paged directly from the unit.

The microphone units are designed to be elegant and simple to use, as well as easy to install and configure.

Belgium - The Belgian national basilica, the Basiliek van Koekelberg, is the country's largest church, (the world's fifth largest basilica) and used for big national ceremonies and services with international acclaim.

Its cross shaped base-form with a 2500 capacity main nave and big side aisles, each with a capacity of some 250 visitors, a depth of 60m. plus the seven seconds reverb made the assignment to provide accurate sound reinforcement a true challenge for audio company Pa-P.A and Alcons' engineer Philip de Haan.

After a first demo-session with Alcons QR36 sets equipped with double RBN1801 pro-ribbon HF drivers: two columns in the main 'national' nave of the Basilica, one column in the 'parish' nave, where it excelled over the existing recently installed beam-steered system in the A/B test, the church management decided to invest in the Alcons system.

"The result

Sweden - Following the recent acquisition of the Lake brand and associated technology, which was rapidly followed by the announcement of the LM 26, Lab.gruppen's first stand-alone digital processor based on Lake technology, Lab.gruppen has announced a combined training initiative on Lake Controller software and Lab.gruppen PLM Series Powered Loudspeaker Management systems.

"Lab.gruppen's amplifiers and powered loudspeaker management systems are utilised everyday all around the world in all varieties of live productions/concerts and fixed installations," notes Ken Blecher, VP of sales, tour for TC Group Americas. "Due to the diverse technologies employed in these products, we want to make sure all operators, technicians; system and project engineers are completely educated on the Lake Controller software, and the Lab.gruppen PLMs."

The courses aim to provid

USA - Technomad comes to InfoComm 2009 (18-20 June, Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando) with renewed momentum as the company expands into new territory based on "game-changing products for the general AV, systems integration, education and commercial security markets".

New this year is the Berlin range of narrow dispersion loudspeakers, available in two configurations (90x40 and 60x40). The new models retain the outstanding durability, voice intelligibility musical audio quality and long-distance output of traditional 120x120 Berlin loudspeakers; while giving design engineers, contractors and consultants seeking a more controlled output pattern. Suitable for tightly controlled acoustic environments indoors or in outdoor installations where long distance projection is required - especially large stadiums - the Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers will be displaye

UK - When Midge Ure, Warren Cann, Chris Cross and Billy Currie decided to reform Ultravox for a reunion Return to Eden tour this spring, it was the first time the classic line up of the band had performed together since Live Aid in 1985.

As they would be performing exclusively back catalogue material, converting the classical analogue early '80s synth-driven New Romantics sound into digital, it seemed a natural choice for them to use Midge's long-serving FOH engineer Berenice Hardman and production manager/monitor man, Dave Claxton.

In 'switching codes' to digital Claxton and Hardman opted for the Soundcraft Vi6 for FOH after much evaluation, sourcing their requirements - including a JBL VerTec line array system - from Adlib Audio, with whom they have enjoyed a long relationship.

"I've used most of the digital boards on the market and never been overly hap

South Africa - Following almost a year of assessing digital mixing consoles, Hatfield Christian Church in Pretoria took delivery of four DiGiCo SD8s at the beginning March 2009.

Tadco, DiGiCo's South African distributor, was approached early in 2008 to quote on the console requirements for Hatfield Christian Church, and during the first discussions it was apparent that the church has some special requirements.

In addition to its normal Sunday services, it also has a radio and television broadcast arm, Impact Christian Media. The Sunday services are broadcast live via radio to Pretoria and are then packaged for worldwide television broadcast to a potential 42 countries.

A further complication is that three to four times a year large events are held in the church which use up to 70 channels of mixing at FOH. The norm would be 40 to 45 channels.

As a result, three consoles we

UK - As part of Noise Action Week, Stage Electrics reports that it will be carrying out noise at work risk assessments at its Bristol HQ using the SPLnet noise monitoring equipment. In addition, a staff competition is being run to raise awareness of the impacts of noise and the simple measures that can be taken to prevent noise problems. Noise Action Week is a national campaign which aims to promote practical solutions to everyday noise issues.

Liz Reed, health and safety manager at Stage Electrics comments, "The effects of occupational deafness and hearing damage are devastating especially in the entertainment industry where hearing sound accurately at different frequencies is an integral part of any audio set-up. Stage Electrics is committed to completing a full and thorough programme of noise assessments and I am looking forward to using the SPLnet monitoring equipment t

USA - The tenth Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April saw hundreds of performers across five stages, with a wide range of artists include Sir Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen, The Cure, The Killers and hip hop pioneers Public Enemy, among many others.

More than 50 EAW MicroWedge Series MW12 stage monitors were employed over four Coachella stages by sound reinforcement vendor Rat Sound Systems. To date, this was the largest outlay of MW units ever for a single event, according to Rat Sound president Dave Rat, who was the co-designer of the MicroWedge 12 (along with the EAW engineering team). For the last 18 months, the MicroWedge Series has been exclusively manufactured and distributed by EAW, under license from Rat Sound Systems.

Covering Coachella took a lot of monitors and a lot of manpower. A 30-member crew from Rat Sound was employed to ensure that the concert's s

USA - Celebrating the company's 30th anniversary this year, Meyer Sound will bring a full slate of audio solutions to InfoComm 2009, which will be held on 17-19 June in Orlando, Fla.

More than 14 new products will make their InfoComm debut, ranging from cinema sound and corporate AV to commercial installation and networked digital systems for theatrical production and themed spectaculars. In addition, Meyer Sound will extend the company's ongoing education programme offerings to InfoComm participants with on-booth presentations, as well as mixing workshops with Buford Jones, the FOH mixer and Meyer Sound touring liaison manager.

Highlights will include the D-Mitri digital audio platform, a next-generation system for integrated signal processing, networked multichannel distribution, multichannel recording and playback, and show control automation.

Also featured will be Cinema

Norway - National Broadcast Company NRK has purchased three DPA 4017 shotgun microphones from the company's Norwegian distributor Lyd-Systemer, following a period of evaluation.

The broadcaster needed a small and lightweight shotgun mic for recording dialogue on drama productions. As well as demonstrating natural intelligibility, good directionality and off-axis qualities, the mic also had to produce high enough audio quality to allow for extensive post production processing.

"Everyone noticed that material recorded with the 4017 had a greater tolerance for manipulation after recording, such as compression, than the other mics we tested," says NRK's Are Andreassen, the project's team leader. "It gave us more substance to work with, and the off-axis response was particularly good. When working with high frequencies, it doesn't sound hard or metallic and handles s

Cyprus The new Babylon superclub is bringing a new level of nightclub cool to Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The venue features a Turbosound-based sound system and it already has a very high profile list of summer DJs lined up, including many Ministry of Sound sessions.

Steve Richards, in charge of music management and events at Babylon, and managing director Tasos Kritikos needed a system that would reliably support DJ and dance events, live bands, fashion shows, presentations, private functions and more.

To achieve this, they selected a system comprising 20 Turbosound TA-500DP self-powered Aspect Wide and four TCS-122 mid/high loudspeakers, with 12 TSW-218DP self-powered subs. Supplied by Turbosound's Cyprus distributor Yannis Theodoulou of C. Theodoulou & Sons, the installation was overseen by Turbosound applications engineer Dan Orton.

"The versatility of the venue was a key is

UK - London's O2 Arena staged the world premiere of Star Wars: A Musical Journey with John Williams's famed score performed by an 86-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and an 80-voice choir. A Lucasfilm re-edit of all six movies was shown on a 100ft LED screen, while a Meyer Sound Milo and Mica line array loudspeaker system provided the sound reinforcement. An electronic shell created using the Constellation electroacoustic architecture allowed the musicians to hear themselves in an ensemble environment, despite the large arena setting.

The audience and press, including The Times, gave positive reviews on the cinema and aural extravaganza, while Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Dirk Brossé commented: "the sound was the best I've ever heard."

Sound design and front-of-house duties for the event were assigned to Fred Vogler, renowned re

UK - Rycote, the UK-based manufacturer of microphone windshields and suspension systems, is continuing its Spring schedule of new product releases with the announcement that it has begun production of a large range of foam microphone windshields. The new foams are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and are designed for use with microphones of all types, including small- and large-diaphragm mics, hand-held reporter's models, and shotgun microphones.

Many regular customers assume that Rycote has always made foam windshields alongside its instantly recognisable longer-haired Windjammers and Softies - but this is a departure for them. Made of durable high-quality acoustic foam which is resistant to damage from moisture and sunlight, the new windshields offer up to 20dB of pop and wind attenuation depending on conditions - but without concurrent high-frequency loss. The foam

USA - The long-shuttered 1950s Woolworth building in Downtown Sacramento has been reborn as the Cosmopolitan complex, the city's newest entertainment hub. The building is now home to the Cosmopolitan Cabaret musical theatre, an intimate 200-seat venue with audio delivered by a compact Meyer Sound M1D line array loudspeaker system.

Designed by San Francisco-based theatre consultants, The Shalleck Collaborative, and installed by Hercules, California-based Pro Media / UltraSound, the Meyer Sound system is centred around left and right arrays of six Meyer Sound M1D line array loudspeakers, each augmented by a 600-HP subwoofer to provide low-frequency coverage. As Shalleck's Ian Hunter explains, the M1D's compact dimensions were well suited to the project's requirements.

"As a former retail space, the venue's ceiling height is pretty low," Hunter says. "With the heig

USA - The Vera Project (Vera) is a Seattle music-arts centre run by and for youth. By engaging participants at all levels of music production and community organising, Vera strives to fulfil its mission to foster a participatory creative culture through popular music concerts, arts programmes, experiential learning and volunteer opportunities for all ages, especially young people.

This year's concert calendar boasts performances from singer-songwriter Maria Taylor, electronic musician Dan Deacon and neo-folk act Iron & Wine, among others. EAW is a proud sponsor of the programme and recently donated some products to this worthwhile cause.

In 2008, EAW assisted the Vera Project by providing a selection of LA460 full-range loudspeakers, subwoofers and power amplifiers. Following that, the Vera staff saw an opportunity to upgrade their stage monitors. "EAW was kind enough to

UK - When mobile phone giant T-Mobile brought together over 13,000 members of the public in London's Trafalgar Square to sing along to a variety of iconic songs, video of the event rapidly became a hit on the internet. Five Yamaha digital consoles were there to mix the massed voices.

The 30 April Sing-along is the latest instalment of T-Mobile's Life's For Sharing brand campaign. However, the logistics involved in recording thousands of people singing along to recorded backing tracks - including Hey Jude, Build Me Up Buttercup, Is This The Way To Amarillo?, Baby One More Time and Total Eclipse Of The Heart - were considerable.

To deliver the demanding audio solution, some of the production industry's biggest names - including Britannia Row, Yamaha, Shure and high profile mixing engineers such as Dave Bracey (Robbie Williams) and

Germany - Billed as The Global Show for General Aviation, the 17th annual AERO trade fair in Friedrichshafen ran from 2 -5 April 2009. The exhibition, said to be Europe's foremost show for general aviation, seems to be profiting at the moment from a brisk tailwind: With more than 600 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors, this year's attendance figures were its best yet.

Kamil Swobodzinski, Telex director of sales, comments: "Staying in touch with our customers means maintaining a close dialogue with the consumer. We had direct access to potential and existing customers at AERO, which brought new experiences, insights, and improvements. The design of our booth was also a complete success. Through such measures, we are translating our leading position in commercial aviation into the general aviation market. The overall balance was positive."

The Telex team was showing

UK - Trantec will showcase its extensive wireless portfolio at ABTT 2009. The spotlight will be on the Trantec S-D7000 - billed as the world's first professional fully digital wireless microphone system. Noteworthy features include 24 bit audio resolution, network monitoring for over 60 channels, and you can now benefit from over 20 user channels in an 8MHz TV band.

Trantec will also be previewing its new S6 wireless system which builds on the success of the S6000 range, taking the 19", 8-way concept to a higher level. Trantec has now incorporated a comprehensive user interface on the front panel allowing the user to configure and monitor all channels, with or without an external PC. Based on Trantec's technology, the internal circuitry of the S6 beltpack and handheld transmitter has been redesigned and upgraded, extending the frequency capability to a massive 72MHz.

The

Latest Issue. . .