China - November saw the opening of the 16th Guangdong Provincial Games and the 9th Guangdong Provincial Games for Persons with Disabilities in Qingyuan and, with more than 20,000 athletes, coaches and related staff taking part, it was the largest Guangdong provincial games to date. The visually stunning main venue for the games, the Qingyuan Olympic Sports Centre, is designed in the shape of a soaring phoenix and consists of a 30,000-seater stadium, a gymnasium with 9,000 seats, a natatorium with 2,000 seats and an Olympic sports park capable of hosting large-scale competitions, concerts, and exhibitions. AV solutions provider EZPro was handed the responsibility to supply the sound reinforcement system for the centre with two criteria in mind: “First, reliability is absolutely critical for the sound reinforcement system when hosting large-scale competitions,” expl
UK - Project Audio has installed a K-array background music system of Vyper compact line arrays at London’s historic Burlington Arcade. Established in 1818, the 196-yard-long covered shopping Arcade runs from Piccadilly through to Burlington Gardens and houses a selection of luxury boutiques much favoured by London’s well-heeled patrons. When the Reuben Brothers bought the Arcade, the new owners decided that they wanted to create considerably more atmosphere in the naturally lit, galleried Georgian space to provide a more welcoming ambience for shoppers. A discreet, high quality music playback sound system was what was needed, and the brothers approached Crystal Palace-based Project Audio, specialists in custom-designed and high-end bespoke audio installations. Claire Munnelly, Project Audio’s director and project manager, comments: “The challenge for us
USA - San Diego State University recently completed its new $310m 35,000-seat college football venue, Snapdragon Stadium, and crystal-clear sound was of the utmost importance throughout the project. To achieve a new level of stadium design, complete with the latest technology, audio and video design firm WJHW called on Clair Global Integration to install a wide range of future-proofed products. Most notably, Snapdragon Stadium now features over 100 AC6 ADAPTive Column Loudspeakers from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW). “EAW supported the design team during the various phases of the project including early demonstrations, proof of concept and modeling for the AC6 loudspeakers, and exporting data for consultants’ integration into the full system design,” says Mark Graham, associate principal, WJHW. “The brand also remained involved throughout the construction process
USA - As the amplified vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth head audio engineer, Randall L. Squires is no stranger to the band’s haunting, hypnotic vocals. After starting with the group in 2015 alongside boss and mentor Damon Lange, Squires eventually took over full audio operations, including recording, mastering and FOH engineering. Most recently, the group entrusted Squires with recording its latest album, requesting that he create a completely new audio canvas from which they could work. To complement the unique sound and get consistent, reliable audio, Squires turned to DPA Microphones’ d:facto 4018VL Vocal, 5100 Mobile 5.1 Surround and 4011 Cardioid Condenser Microphones. “The d:factos were perfect for us,” Squires says. “Roomful of Teeth is primarily a live act, so they’re used to amplification and having a handheld vocal mic on a stand directly in front
USA - Audinate Group has announced it is now offering a subscription model for Dante Domain Manager, its network management solution that brings enterprise-grade system administration to the AV world. “Dante Domain Manager has become a critical solution in the AV industry, allowing for user authentication, role-based security and audit capabilities for Dante networks,” said Joshua Rush, chief marketing officer at Audinate. “In addition to lowering the up-front costs of acquisition, the subscription model allows buyers to treat Dante Domain Manager as an operating expense rather than a capital expense ensuring it is even more accessible.” Available in three editions, Silver, Gold and Platinum, Dante Domain Manager can be tailored to meet user needs and budgets while maintaining the agility, scalability and security necessary to create a trusted audio network.
USA - The Audio Engineering Society (AES) will be presented with a prestigious Technical Grammy Award during the Grammy Week celebration in February 2023. The news was made public as part of the Recording Academy announcing its Special Merit Awards recipients. A special invitation-only ceremony will be held on Saturday, 4 February 2023, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. With the presentation of this award, AES joins an list of previous recipients which includes such well-known names as Apple Computer, Inc., AMS Neve plc, JBL Professional, Royer Labs, Shure Incorporated, Sony/Philips, Solid State Logic, Universal Audio, WAVES Audio and Yamaha Corporation. This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Producers & Engineers Wing Advisory Council and Chapter Committees. The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards recipients press release sta
Spain - RCF will be exhibiting at ISE in Barcelona (Hall7 - J150), showing their current portfolio alongside the launch of new products. The focus on the show floor will be a new section dedicated to RCF power amplification technology, new passive speakers (most notably the Compact A and Compact C series), the versatile active ART 9-AX speaker series, and audio solutions from the Business Music and Installed Sound product series. The new XPS 16K power amplifier provides extreme power density and control, boasting four 4000W continuous power outputs, routing options with four analogue and digital AES/EBU inputs/outputs, Dante Audio Networking, and a complete set of tools for signal processing and tuning. Thanks to the complete RDNet integration, the sound system manager can choose active powered speakers or externally amplified modules for their system, evaluating the best ap
UK - Sonnox has joined the Focusrite Group. Sonnox is a well-established brand in the audio industry. Its range of plugins are used in a wide range of audio applications including mixing, mastering, live sound, broadcast, TV and film, and even scientific and forensics projects. The Sonnox team traces its heritage back to the development of the Oxford OXF-R3 digital mixing console which was installed in recording studios worldwide. Tim Carroll, chief executive officer of the Focusrite Group, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome Rod and his entire team to the Focusrite Group. Sonnox products are globally recognized as best in class, making them a natural fit in our stable, and we are all excited about the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead.” Rod Densham, founder and managing director of Sonnox added: “We believe that by joining Focusrite
Europe - Renkus-Heinz has announced a new partnership with Denmark-based AV distributor Matrix Sales. As one of the largest AV distributors in Denmark, Matrix Sales works to bring audio, lighting and stage equipment solutions to conference rooms, meeting rooms, stages and studios. “At Matrix Sales, we take pride in offering our customers only the best AV solutions. The company originated as a rental business, and all employees have personal experience with live or studio sound, so quality is paramount,” said Thomas Christensen, CEO, Matrix Sales. “Our team is impressed with Renkus-Heinz’s audio solutions. Quality, paired with extraordinarily good support, gives us the impression of a supreme brand that we will happily represent. “The advantages of this partnership are obvious. We know the business, the customers and their demands, and Renkus-Heinz offe
USA - The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) recently hosted an in-house event with recording engineer, mixer, and record produce Bob Clearmountain and Apogee founder and CEO Betty Bennett with CRAS’ AES student section at the school’s Gilbert, Ariz. campus. The Apogee CRAS Takeover included Apogee product demos and interactive mix sessions, alongside more intimate student discussions. Clearmountain and Roger Robindoré hosted Dolby Atmos demos in CRAS Studio D. Apogee Product Specialist George Williams showcased Apogee products and answering student questions. “It was gratifying to interact with the inspiring, dedicated and professional students I met during our recent visit to CRAS,” said Clearmountain. “I was impressed by the facilities, especially those offered as part of the broadcast audio curriculum. After my visit, I have high hopes
Germany - VDC Trading is providing Van Damme cables to the motorsports industry where they are used in real time professional driving solutions. These simulation tools accelerate product development and innovation across the motorsports and automotive industries by enabling designers and engineers to experience the full ‘experience’ and performance of the vehicle they are developing without having to build a prototype. Simulators are vital to the motorsport and automotive industries, as they not only reduce time-to-market for new vehicles but they also ensure they are totally safe when finally on the road. Recently, Van Damme’s German distributor, Audiosteps Commerce, supplied Van Damme Black Series 18x2.5mm Speaker POWER multicore cables to a business in Europe for several simulator projects. Andre Masterati Freitag at Audiosteps commented: “Audiosteps r
USA - Fulcrum Acoustic has welcomed Zuo ‘Rambo’ Zhao as the newest member of its engineering team. As acoustic engineer, Rambo works on developing new technologies and designing new products. He comments, “I’ve always wanted to work with Dave Gunness and know I will learn a lot from him. “However, what made my decision to come to Fulcrum is that they really invest in technology. I’ll have the opportunity to focus on the research part of R&D and look forward to contributing to the next generation of loudspeakers.” “Rambo’s passion for loudspeakers and related technologies is immediately apparent. In his short time with us, he’s already become a valuable member of the team” says David Gunness, co-founder and VP of engineering. “We are excited to have him on board and know that he will make significant contributions.” Rambo brings a decade of
Singapore - KV2 has announced the appointment of Robert Tan to the post of director of sales, Asia. Based in Singapore, Tan brings over 20 years of experience as an AV consultant in the hospitality and events industries before moving into systems integration. Tan specialises in designing systems for acoustically challenging environments, be it in the live events or installed sound sector and is also a skilled business manager. “It’s an honour to be representing KV2 in the APAC region,” says Tan. “I’ve long admired their technology and their approach to acoustics which, in my view, sets them apart from their competitors. I was introduced to the brand in 2010 and was immediately intrigued with the clarity of the ES1.0 cabinets. Since then, the product range has continued to develop with more options for a wide variety of applications. “I have achieved some of
Lights Dimmed - Many West End theatres dimmed their lights on the evening of 21 December, in support of Ukraine and the winter blackouts the country will face due to the ongoing war with Russia. 21 December is the darkest day of the year, with the shortest day and longest night of the year, and West End theatres, along with other London businesses and the Mayor of London, participated in the worldwide supportive act. West End theatres have a tradition of dimming theatre lights before or during an evening performance to pay tribute to notable figures who have died, mark a moment of tragedy or show support for a cause. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged organisations and individuals to band together for An Hour For Ukraine by switching off festive and non-essential lights to help raise public awareness of the continued war impact on Ukraine and to help with f
Italy - Sadly, we report the death of pro audio consultant and journalist Mike Clark, who passed away on 30 December at the age of 77. Mike, Scottish by birth, arrived in Italy at the end of the sixties as a sound engineer for a band. He fell in love with the country and decided to live there. He always worked in the field of music, first as a DJ in the leading discos of the Riviera, and then as a music expert in one of the largest shops in Italy, Dimar in Rimini. A specialised journalist and correspondent for entertainment industry magazines including LSi, he also collaborated with many pro-audio manufacturers, including Outline. “During the last 30 years, Mike was the most precious resource for our r&d and marcomms departments,” Michele Noselli of Outline states. “A brilliant, generous and extremely reliable person, Mike translated intricate pat
USA - The results are in for the 2023 ESTA Board of Directors election. Incumbent Todd Spencer of Ventana Capital Investments will return as president, and incumbent Joe Aldridge will return as individual director. Hannah R. D’Amico of IATSE has been elected as the new organisational director. She will succeed Alan M. Rowe, who reached his term limit. D’Amico first became involved with ESTA through her work with the IATSE Education and Training Department. Early in her career, she was assigned to work with members of the IATSE Craft Advancement Programme (ICAP) to develop new craft skills and safety trainings for IATSE workers. During her time with the ICAP, she was mentored by ESTA past-president Eddie Raymond; individual director, Joe Aldridge; outgoing organisational director, Alan Rowe; and ETCP Council member Kent Jorgensen, among many others. Last year she joined
USA - Slightly off the beaten path, Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Bethlehem, Georgia, has thrived in the same location since 1848 due to its dedicated members. Each successive generation has looked to the future, acting as servants to determine how best to minister to the community. The old audio system consisted of two 12” two-way loudspeakers flown sideways in a vertical array with two small side fill loudspeakers to cover the front left and right seating areas. When on-axis with any one of the four loudspeakers, the intelligibility was acceptable. However, intelligibility dropped off significantly in the remainder of the sanctuary. Small incremental improvements could be made by removing even more low-mid energy from the existing system. However, the real solution proved to be a highly targeted audio solution featuring Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers. Church staf
Cambodia – To transform the Bar Menaka into a modern entertainment venue, Nano Tech Co installed a range of Harman Professional audio solutions. Located at Phnom Penh, Bar Menaka is a popular venue for upscale parties, fashion shows, dinners and corporate events. Elaborately decorated with lush jungle terraces, Khmer sculptures and a long Angkor-style hallway, the venue exudes an alternative ambience while offering Cambodian hospitality. To deliver captivating live music experiences for guests, Bar Menaka’s management wanted to repurpose the venue’s cafe into a premier bar and entertainment space featuring a world-class audio system. With live bands and DJs performing on a regular basis, it was imperative that the new system had tour-grade power and versatility. To meet these requests, NanoTech Co partnered with Harman Professional and installed a diverse range
USA - Self-described as “mission-minded”, Madison, Mississippi’s Broadmoor Baptist Church began meeting over 65 years ago following the rapid expansion of the city of Jackson after WWII. Over the decades, membership has grown to nearly 6,000 people, with over 1,500 attendees regularly attending services at the multi-structure campus located on 35 acres. Music has always been an integral part of the church’s worship experience, and that has expanded with the church itself. Today, there are between four and eight vocalists and as many as ten musicians onstage for weekly Sunday services. With that many musical participants, the stage at Broadmoor Baptist Church can be a busy place. That’s what led media and communications Pastor Michael Bowen and his staff to look into a more sophisticated and personalizable in-ear monitoring system. The choice, which he said wa
USA - To support his fourth and newest studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache, Post Malone hit the road last fall for a 38-date North American arena tour with special guest Roddy Ricch. With PRG recently re-joining the singer/rapper as his touring sound reinforcement provider, one thing that remained unchanged on the Twelve Carat Tour was the artist’s reliance on L-Acoustics K Series loudspeakers, which had also been deployed on his last major run, 2019/20’s Runaway Tour. Manning the FOH mix each night was Burton Ishmael, known for his previous work with Lil Baby, Nas, Big Sean, Miguel, H.E.R, and others. Supporting him at FOH was systems engineer Ben Bruns, who toured with both Jack Johnson and Harry Styles between the Twelve Carat and Runaway Tours. According to Bruns, the sound system approach for Malone’s latest tour was somewhat unconventional, which wa
Belgium - Two Halloween-themed haunted houses set up by Production Pirates drew massive crowds using light and audio products from Showtec and DAP. For the two weeks around Halloween, Bellewaerde Park in Ieper, Belgium, turned into a Halloween immersion experience, with the two main attractions being the Funerarium and Mexican Massacre. Bellewaerde Park is both a fully-fledged animal park as well as a complete theme park with many impressive coasters and rides. For Halloween 2022, Bellewaerde offered their visitors something special. They asked Production Pirates from Herentals, Belgium, to create an immersive Halloween experience by designing two haunted houses and preparing the park for opening its doors this late in the season. Production Pirates turned to Showtec and DAP and found the light and sound equipment they needed. To dress up the haunted houses, they used
USA - Located in Salem, Oregon, Alpha Sound is rapidly establishing a reputation for excellence across the US for its work in designing and installing sound systems in houses of worship. Following a recent project at St Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, lead engineer Devin Sheets and the Alpha Sound team have added further to their credentials with another successful installation at the prestigious Mount Angel Abbey monastery of Benedictine monks, established 140 years ago in St. Benedict, Oregon. “The brief at Mount Angel Abbey was to amplify the spoken word throughout the abbey with the exact same sonic character and timbre as that of the unamplified choir, while also providing pristine audio capture for the live streaming of choral music,” reports Devin. “And, of course, the system had to be as unobtrusive as possible in such a historic bu
USA - Harman Professional Solutions recently hosted 20 Los Angeles-based artists, musicians and content creators at an immersive product showcase and networking event. The event launches what will be an ongoing Create With programme where emerging music creators will engage with JBL Professional and AKG products in new and creative ways. “The event was an amazing opportunity to get connected with other artists and creators,” said musician Caroline Kingsbury. “I loved seeing all the detailed behind the scenes work that goes into making the great products JBL and AKG make to help us create our best work.” The event kicked off with a happy hour, giving attendees a chance to meet local creators in-person for the first time. Following the meet-and-greet, the creators designed their own AKG Ara microphones using paint markers. Gathered around a long table wit
USA - Despite the varied cultural differences across the U.S., one constant theme you can find throughout the country is a love for music. Whether it’s used as a tool to celebrate, educate or invigorate audiences, live music has long brought people together and quality audio is always the key to success in these performances. Audio engineers around the globe have consistently turned to DPA Microphones to provide that level of sound reliability and clarity that impresses professionals and enraptures audiences. Such was the case for recent U.S. events including the Catalina JazzTrax Festival, Belmont University’s Oratorio Chorus and Orchestra, Danny Elfman at the Hollywood Bowl and the upcoming Los Angeles Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker at the Dolby Theatre. The annual Catalina JazzTrax Festival set on Catalina Island has been made possible for the
