UK - Minister for the Digital Economy Ed Vaizey has indicated that the Government's compensation package to those being evicted from the 800MHz spectrum will only encompass 6% of the frequencies being cleared. This puts the large-scale live events, from the West-End to major TV entertainment shows, on notice because it threatens the small businesses that supply them.

The package covers channel 69, but the Government has exploited technicalities to avoid paying out to those high-end users that tune to channels 31-37 and 61-68, which are also being cleared. It is these additional channels that are needed to produce large-scale events like the Olympics.

Save Our Sound UK responds: The excuse the Government has given is that notice of eviction was given. But what seems to be continually ignored is the fact that no precise alternatives were provided or even now have been published.

Nigeria - Home Front Technology has been appointed VMB's exclusive distributor for Nigeria. The West African company will be distributing both lifts and audio and has taken stock of various models of VMB lifters, ADP Series cabinets and Lynx line array.

One of their first jobs was to welcome Nigeria's new president, Goodluck Johnson on a visit to Akwa Ibom State. VMB has expanded into the African market in recent years with line array in Morocco, Angola, South Africa and now Nigeria.

Home Front Technology's Segun Adekola commented, "We are really pleased to be working with VMB. We have been following them for some time now and really like the product they have been introducing. The systems sound so good and we are sure that soon the line arrays especially will be a formidable part of the Nigerian and African entertainment market."

(Jim Evans)

UK - SFL Group has installed an L-Acoustics Kiva ultra compact line source system into the New Community Church Central Hall venue in Southampton, used for prayers and worship, New Community training courses, performance and arts events.

Built as a Methodist hall in the 1920s, Central Hall has been owned by the New Community Church since 1989, and the installation was part of an ongoing renovation project. With a seating capacity of up to 800, the tiered venue has seating blocks at both sides of the stage, as well as raised seating at the back of the hall.

"Central Hall has an intimate, inclusive feel, with people sitting around three sides of the stage," says SFL's technical director Mark Payne. "Sometimes the stage is moved forward so it's almost in the round. The installation called for lots of horizontal coverage as it's very wide, plus a lot of vertical cov

Hungary - When Liga TV decided to move into HD production for its new Sport 1 OB van, the console of choice was a 32+8 fader Solid State Logic C100 HDS with an SSL MORSE Stage Box. Liga TV specialises in providing production services for live sporting events, large scale music concerts and other live events. The new OB van is the first to offer HD capabilities in Hungary. The choice of the C100 HDS was based on console features, versatility, ease of use and SSL's reputation for reliability and service.

"When we did research on the audio console for the new HD OB van, the SSL C100 HDS quickly rose to the top of our list," says Vilmos Váradi, chief accountant for Liga TV. "Console features were of primary importance in choosing the C100 HDS. This console absolutely fit the criteria for our live broadcast applications, giving us the power to easily handle events as

UK Eastbourne Music superstore Bonners is hosting a special ' Meet the Experts' day at their Langney Road location on Saturday 21 August to celebrate a major showroom refit in association with Yamaha .

The day promises a combination of expert advice, live music performances and offers a rare opportunity for local musicians to get top tips from some of the UK's leading music production specialists. All experts will be available throughout the day to discuss and demonstrate recording and music production techniques.

The latest professional audio equipment will be on show including the Pocketrak mini recording studio which "is transforming the way many musicians on a budget record music". The company is even inviting guitarists to bring their personal acoustic instruments along, to try out with the latest technology.

Bonners Music MD Tony White comments, " This i

UK - The first details of this year's extended PLASA 2010 Education & Learning Programme have been unveiled by organisers PLASA Events. The acclaimed programme of free seminars and masterclasses includes top international speakers on industry projects and technologies, sustainability, AV and systems integration and much more.

The Gottelier Masterclass will be presented, as is now established tradition, by last year's Gottelier Award winner - Alex Cooper from Midas Klark Teknik. Entitled Don't Just measure: Listen, the Masterclass will be an appreciation of the power of human perception and spatial awareness, and how they relate to audio - in particular, the fact that just because a piece of audio gear measures correctly does not necessarily mean it sounds good.

InfoComm International will host a seminar theatre dedicated to AV & Systems Integration. Topics over the dedi

UK - The Australian Monitor Cafe Series speaker system is now available in the UK through POLARaudio.

The Australian Monitor Cafe Series subwoofer and satellite speaker package is designed for cafés, restaurants, boardrooms, bars, retail stores or any installation that demands full range, high quality audio reproduction. The Cafe Series is now available in black or and comprises the Cafe 20 speakers and Cafe 80P powered subwoofer.

The Cafe 20 is supplied in pairs with brackets included and features a 3" woofer and a ½" tweeter. Rated conservatively at 20Watts, it can be powered via a conventional amplifier or from the matching Cafe 80P subwoofer. The Cafe 20's are supplied with a multi angle ball joint style bracket.

The Cafe 80P subwoofer features dual 6.5" drivers. It includes five amplifiers - an 80Watt D Class power amplifier plus four x 20Watt amp

Switzerland - Acoustic amplification systems manufacturer Schertler has announced an update to its David and Unico amplifiers. Demand from users has resulted in increased power for both amps, with David now offering 100W capability and Unico upgraded to 200W.

This latest development completes a re-imaging of Schertler's popular acoustic amplifier series, which was given a 'new look' earlier this year. The company has also developed a new speaker system for the amps, designed to increase the sound quality and avoid unnecessary sound loss.

The David and Unico amplifiers, along with the Bass subwoofer and Side active loudspeaker now form Schertler's new Classic Series. A Deluxe Series is scheduled for release in the autumn.

(Jim Evans)

UAE - DPA Microphones has appointed Melody House Musical Instruments as its new distributor in Dubai. The appointment is part of a rebranding process that will see Melody House move more into the pro audio sector to complement its MI roots.

Greg Cargopoulos from Melody House, is familiar with DPA microphones from his own experience of working with them. "We are very happy to be the newly-appointed regional distributors of DPA microphones," he says. "I have been working as a sound engineer for many years, often on corporate events where there are several headband and lavalier microphones on stage at one time, and DPA mics have been a life-saver in many situations.

"The thing I like about these microphones is how the frequency response is so neutral. The design is always to be as neutral as possible, rather than have a coloured frequency response. This, coupl

UK - Console manufacturer Calrec Audio has launched a community website (community.calrec.com) which aims to encourage industry education and the sharing of information amongst audio folk. Included on the site are video- and image-sharing blogs from the Calrec team and other industry experts, Twitter feeds, links to social media, and RSS feeds.

The aim is to create a forum for education and information-sharing between customers and anyone else in the audio world.

The community blogs and posts will focus on subjects that the audio community is passionate about, such as 5.1, loudness and networking, and on relevant technologies such as FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays).

Currently, Calrec is seeking contributions to the site from audio mix engineers with training advice, technical suggestions, on-the-job stories to tell, challenges to share, or questions. These can be writ

Scandinavia - Lake's new LM 26 stand-alone digital audio loudspeaker processor has been given an early tour of duty by Swedish sound company Music & Lights at numerous music festivals throughout Scandinavia as the summer season kicked off, most recently at Denmark's one day rock festival Copenhagen Live 2010and one of Sweden's biggest gigs, Sweden Rock Festival.

Attracting over 20,000 rock fans, Copenhagen Live - which took place on 2 June - was held in the Kastrupstrand Park area of Copenhagen. Top of the bill were Rammstein, Bullet For My Valentine, Skunk Anansie, former G'n'R and Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash and Danish hard rockers Volbeat.

Later that same month, Music & Lights again deployed a trio of LM 26 processors for the main stage at the Sweden Rock Festival in Solvesborg, where Guns 'n' Roses, Aerosmith, Gary Moore, Slayer and Danzig were amo

USA - American DJ has filed suit in the United States District Court Central District of California against five companies, including Wal-Mart Stores and DBL Distributing, a division of Ingram Micro, for violating the Lanham Act, which covers federal trademark law, and the California Business and Professions Code.

The suit alleges that the five companies used the 'American Audio' trademark in advertising and promoting audio products that were not made by or affiliated with either American DJ or its American Audio brand. According to American DJ, the five firms "intentionally, continuously and wrongfully advertised, distributed and/or sold audio equipment... using the American Audio® mark since 2009".

In addition to Wal-Mart Stores and DBL Distributing, the companies that are the subject of American DJ's legal action are V2GO Technology, American Audio Laborato

USA - American DJ's Chuck Green has been promoted to the position of international sales representative for Asia and Canada.

"I'm extremely excited and optimistic about my new position," says Green. "I am looking forward to becoming part of our stellar international team here at American DJ."

Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Companies, adds, "We are very excited to promote Chuck Green to his well-deserved new position within the company; his passion for music and his understanding of our vast family of products really embodies what American DJ is all about."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Crown Audio has appointed Eric Friedlander to the role of business developer, tour sound. In this role, Friedlander will be responsible for supporting sales in the tour sound market and working closely with the customer base to provide tailored solutions to meet each customer's specific needs. He will report to Crown's market manager for tour sound, Brian Pickowitz.

Prior to joining Crown, Friedlander served as a staff audio engineer for LD Systems L.P., a major sound, light and video production firm. In this role he was responsible for the production of corporate and special events, designing and deploying specialized sound reinforcement systems as well as mixing live performances.

Friedlander also previously held the position of sound engineer and systems tech for Maryland Sound International, where he was a technician for major live event productions. Among the

UK - A1 Entertainments from Bristol has placed an order for Nexo's new RS18 subs following a successful trial at the Glastonbury Festival. A1's Paul Wiltshire confirms that he is buying four of the French company's latest sub bass units now, and plans to add Nexo's Geo S12 line array cabinets "in the very near future".

A1 helped the Geo S12 compact array and RS18 subs to make their Glastonbury debut, deploying a six-box a side system in the 4,000-capacity Dance West tent, one of the largest stages in the popular Dance Village.

"This is the first time we've used Geo S12 in anger," says Wiltshire, "and I am very pleasantly surprised. It is smooth, loud, clean and punchy. In the Dance West tent, it's all about the bass end, and I can say that the RS18s are phenomenal, I haven't heard anything to match them."

Using one of the smallest amp racks on t

UK - A new all-day, brasserie-style restaurant in the traditions of the grand French cafés has been opened in London's Marylebone district by Belgian restaurateur Luc Van Oostende and his daughter, Julie.

The two, who operate the Café Theatre restaurant in Ghent (in Belgium), brought in a contracting team, including architects Stiff +Trevillion, main fit out contractors Tekne and sound system specialists the Sound Division Group, to create an environment in which chef David Collard could create an imaginative modern European menu.

To create his eponymous restaurant, Van Oostende took over the former Eat and Two Veg, at 50 Marylebone High Street and he and his daughter spent £1.5m creating the new infrastructure, with soft jade interior.

Stiff + Trevillion have matched a dark hardwood floor with waxed Celadon coloured walls, leather banquettes and replica

USA - Crown Audio has appointed Daniel Saenz to the position of market manager, installed sound. Saenz will be responsible for working directly with customers to support design and development of installed systems and deployment of Crown amplifiers for install applications. He will report to vice president of marketing, Marc Kellom.

Prior to joining Crown, Saenz served in multiple roles at Pelton, Marsh, and Kinsella, LLC., an AV consulting and design firm, most recently as senior director of marketing and business development and managed the Las Vegas office. In this role he was responsible for marketing acoustics, AV, telecommunication and security services as well as consulting on major projects in the Las Vegas market. These projects ranged from hotels to theatres/showrooms and education facilities.

"At Crown we understand the need to educate our customer base on the

India - A new 325-seat auditorium located at Bangalore's Christ University has been equipped with a QSC Audio ILA v2 line array and amplification as part of an integrated multimedia system, supplied and installed by locally-based Acoustic Control.

The new purpose-built auditorium, with its raked seating, forms part of the new Engineering College block on Christ University's Kengeri campus, situated on the outskirts of Bangalore, and will support this faculty in hosting lectures, presentations and cultural events.

Included within Acoustic Control's system design is an L-R ceiling suspended ILA line array, consisting of five WL2082-i cabinets per side plus four 18-inch subwoofers, positioned under the stage within a masonry and concrete housing. On-stage sound is provided by four QSC HPR 112 powered stage monitors.

Powering the system are six QSC RMX5050 amplifiers, while loud

UK - Adlib continued its summer festival run, supplying PA to The Latitude Festival, set in the chilled environment of Henham Park, Southwold in Suffolk.

Adlib was working on the event for the fifth year running - supplying audio equipment and crew for six stages including the Word Arena, Film & Music Arena, Sunrise Arena, The Lake Stage, the Cabaret Arena and a mobile system which was for various events around the site.

The 15 Adlib crew were chiefed by Hassane Es Siahi fresh from T in the Park the previous week. He also co-ordinated FOH at The Word Arena, assisted by Kenny Perrin who also looked after monitors there.

The Word Arena featured a lively mix of bands including The National, Wild Beasts, Richard Hawley, The Horrors, Jonsi and The Coral among many others. To provide good all round coverage for a variety of sounds and styles, a JBL VerTec system was specified, whi

South Africa - As Spain celebrates its victory in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is fitting that one of the country's leading pro-audio manufacturers will be part of the legacy that remains after the global football circus has left town. Vieta sound reinforcement systems can be found throughout the new Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto, which will give 20,000 young footballers a year the chance to develop their talent.

Audio agency Metropolis Consulting only took on the Vieta product portfolio for distribution at the start of 2010, and was quickly able to build the systems into a quote for Solid Rock Productions, working on Nike's new Centre. Metropolis proposed a full turnkey solution for the venue, with Vieta loudspeakers specified for all the indoor areas, including the Gym, auditorium and The Red Room educational facility.

The brief called for high-quality versatile sys

UK - The organisers of the PLASA Show (12-15 September 2010, Earls Court, London) have announced the final shortlist of nominees for this year's prestigious Gottelier Award, which will be presented at the PLASA Show on Monday 13 September.

This will be the fourth Gottelier Award - named in memory of the former designer, developer and commentator Tony Gottelier (pictured), who died in 2006. The Award (sponsored by Lighting&Sound International magazine for which Tony Gottelier was a regular contributor for many years), aims to recognise those who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the development of entertainment technology. Former winners are Tony Andrews of Funktion One (2007), John Stadius of Soundtracs/DiGiCo (2008) and Alex Cooper of Klark Teknik and Midas (2009).

This year's nominees are, in no particular order:

Richard Cuthbert

Richard Cuthbe

Celebrating Sondheim - Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim was greeted with a standing ovation at the BBC Proms on Saturday at the end of a concert marking his 80th birthday year. Dame Judi Dench and opera star Bryn Terfel were among the performers at the event, held at London's Royal Albert Hall. The concert featured numbers from Sondheim musicals such as Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company and Follies. West End stars Maria Friedman, Jenna Russell, Julian Ovenden and Simon Russell Beale also participated in the event, the first Prom to be signed for deaf concert-goers.

Since making his Broadway debut in 1957 as the writer of West Side Story's lyrics, Sondheim has become one of the most popular and revered figures in musical theatre. A London revival of Into the Woods opens shortly at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, while L

Australia - It was a busy summer for Sydney's EventSound with their gear seen all over the city at such events as Sydney Running Festival, Jazz in the Gardens and even Prince William at the Block.

Making life easier for the crew on all of these events was the JBL VRX compact line array system owned by EventSound. The RedBull Junior Surf Pro held on Cronulla beach is a good example. Featuring a line up of bands such as Urthboy, Children Collide and DJ's, the event culminated in an award ceremony hosted by surf legend Mick Fanning.

EventSound were contracted through production manager Peter Pollard to supply the audio and lighting for the temporary beach stage as well as links into the VIP Marquee.

"We required a sound system with a good throw distance as we needed to get even coverage down the beach," remarked Keith Clarkson, managing director of EventSound. "T

Norway - When Posten Norge decided to install induction loops at its counters, the sheer number of systems required meant that their reliability had to be rock solid. High quality audio reproduction in a busy retail environment was also an essential consideration.

Working closely with the company's Norwegian distributor, Trollaasveien-based Scandec Systemer AS, Ampetronic is supplying 1000 CLD1-CT counter systems for a programme that will see them installed throughout the country.

"Posten Norge decided to install induction loops as part of a wider programme of upgrades to its counters and retail furniture," says Bj°rnar Riise, Scandec product manager.

"We did some pilot demonstrations of Ampetronic equipment and also supplied them with references from London Underground and other users. They agreed that the combination of Scandec, as a local supplier, and

Latest Issue. . .