Canada - The Montréal International Jazz Festival roared back to life in 2022, reinforcing its distinction as the largest jazz festival in the world. With 350 concerts scheduled over 10 days - two-thirds of them free - the festival once again drew audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands to downtown Montréal, where AVL supplier Solotech had equipped eight indoor and outdoor stages - including the Scène TD main stage - with Meyer Sound reinforcement systems. The resounding success of audio at this year’s festival can be credited to the work of festival technical coordinator Dan Meier and his team from L’Equipe Spectra. Meyer Sound and Solotech worked closely with Meier and his team to develop and deploy the sonic experiences at the festival. The enthusiastic response came as no surprise to director of R&D and technological solutions David Brazeau, who
USA - Recently, the Student Services Department of the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences travelled to southern California on behalf of its current and future students. “We sent members of our staff to the greater Los Angeles area for the purpose of visiting studios and companies that CRAS has had long standing relationships with, and additionally open up new doors for future students and graduates,” explained Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator. “These visits help place our students in their mandatory internships prior to graduation, and then open potential graduate job placement opportunities. All of this helps our current and future students get a leg up when positioning themselves near or after graduation in some of the industry’s best available pro audio environments.” During the visit, CRAS staff met with personnel from Touring Video, VSI TV, Everg
Europe - The Rolling Stones Sixty tour is utilising Austrian Audio microphones. On 15 July, The Stones rocked Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. “It was an unbelievable experience,” says Austrian Audio’s CEO, Martin Seidl. “Of course, I’m probably The Stones’ biggest fan, so just seeing them live again was really cool. But hearing our mics on stage - that was unreal.” That the concert took place in Austrian Audio’s hometown made it an even more unforgettable evening. “It doesn’t get bigger than this,” Seidl says. For Sixty, Dave Natale, the front of house engineer, is working once again with The Stones to make sure their sound is as excellent as their fans expect. Natale is known for his work with Prince, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Yes, Motley Crue, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, and many more A-list artists. Natale specifically chose to use the O
UK - The new Matches Sports Bar, located 60 miles south of London, in Elwick Place in Ashford, opened its doors in the summer of 2021, and has been a live sports and entertainment destination hot spot ever since. Critical to the bar's rapid success was a sharp focus on designing and installing a very flexible, high-quality, easy-to-use sound system to deliver audio to Matches' large and small spaces for public and private events. The team developed a comprehensive networked audio system with a set of Dante-connected, multi-channel amplifiers at its core. Matches owner, Jon Shephard, explained that the concept for the 250-capacity venue is to bring together all the best elements of bars he has visited into a single place, and create the ultimate sports bar experience with excellent AV entertainment that appeals to a wide range of sports enthusiasts. With this goal in mind, au
Zimbabwe - Celebration Ministries is one of the most powerful and far-reaching Christian organisations in Zimbabwe and across Southern Africa. Founded in 1982 by Pastors Tom and Bonnie Deuschle with just six people in their living room, today Celebration Ministries numbers over 80 churches worldwide. The headquarters of Celebration Church International is a building in Borrowdale, Harare, called Celebration Centre. Finally opened in 2004 after a marathon 14-year build process, Celebration Centre is now a significant Zimbabwean landmark. Stage Audio Works has recently completed a comprehensive audio systems upgrade for the main 3,800-seat auditorium based on a d&b PA system and Yamaha consoles with Dante networking. The decision to upgrade their audio systems was taken in 2019 just before the COVID pandemic. Pastor Bonnie Deuschle, who leads the praise and worship
Belgium - Located close to Antwerp’s historic city centre, Trix hosts a network of artists, music lovers, art and youth organisations, seeking to stimulate creation and discovery for a diverse audience - it also strives to be an ally for artists, helping them to develop their talent from an open-minded culture. The venue presents music from all genres, but the programme mainly consists of rock and metal, hiphop, soul and jazz with little commercial material. It is also a multifunctional facility with spaces for live performance, recording / production, workshops, rehearsals and a 700-capacity club room which has recently been upgraded with the addition of a new DiGiCo Quantum 225 console, complete with MQ-Rack. “Dominik loves to work on an SD console and owns an S21 himself,” comments David Liebens of supplier and integrator Amptec. “When the Q225 came to the m
UK - Since its unveiling during L-Acoustics keynote event in Paris this May, the revolutionary new LA7.16i amplified controller has received unanimous praise. This September will see it take pride of place on L-Acoustics stand J1, giving PLASA Show visitors the opportunity to discover how to “amplify differently”. The new LA7.16i amplified controller surmounts the limitations of current high power amplifier configurations used in most installation projects. Improving flexibility and efficiency, especially in multi-channel scenarios, LA7.16i a lower cost-per-channel solution, consuming 30% less energy when idle. LA7.16i has an unprecedented 16x16 architecture in a 2U chassis with seamless Milan-AVB redundancy. Each of the 16 output channels delivers up to 1,300 watts at 8 ohms or 1,100 watts at 4 ohms. Its high-efficiency design benefits applications like medium to large
UK - Martin Audio recently introduced a dedicated environment page to its website, detailing its approach to the climate emergency. Now they have taken that a step further, announcing the funding completion for planting 50,000 trees, plus an ongoing commitment to plant another new tree for every line array cabinet sold. Managing director, Dom Harter, takes up the story: “As a global leader in the pro audio industry, and as part of the wider Focusrite Group, environmental sustainability is a major opportunity for us to demonstrate climate leadership and values, define good environmental practice, and benefit from an opportunity to meaningfully engage with our staff, customers, and the wider audio community. Working alongside Andy Land, head of sustainability for Focusrite Group, we have been outlining our approach and commencing the work.” Land added, “Our approac
Thailand – As large-scale live shows begin to return to delight fans across Asia Pacific, one of the region’s biggest stars recently wrapped up two sold-out concerts and fan meets at Bangkok’s Impact Arena. California-born Mark Tuan made his mark on the K-Pop genre with superstar boyband Got7 and has since confirmed his place as a multidimensional celebrity recognised internationally as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and model. The multi-purpose Impact Arena - which includes a convention centre that can be used for sporting events, conferences, and concerts - was chosen for Mark Tuan to perform and meet with more than 10,000 fans over two nights. Bangkok-based 4nologue promoted the event. They turned to local audio-visual provider PM Center Co’s team of audio professionals to deploy pristine tour-level sound in the largest concert venue in Thailand. “Our first
USA - QSC has announced the promotion of Ronda Ross to vice-president of human resources. Ross replaces Vicki Arnold who has retired after leading HR for 16 years. “First, we’d like to thank Vicki for all she has done for QSC, LLC. Her contributions in building our HR team and capabilities have been immeasurable and we appreciate the dedication and care she has always given the organization and our employees,” says Joe Pham, chairman of the board and CEO, QSC, LLC. “We are thrilled to have Ronda fulfil this position as she has already made such a large impact over the last five years by delivering many improvements and laying a solid foundation to support the growth of our organisation.” Ross joined QSC, LLC in 2017 as director of HR operations and promoted to senior director human resources in 2021 where she focused on advancing the strategic partnerships be
UK - CPL co-ordinated and delivered staging, sound, video, lighting and other associated BTS (behind the scenes) infrastructure to Tropic Fest, a two-day festival style event staged in the grounds of the historic Chillington Hall in Staffordshire. CPL was working for production company Pandora Events and their end client, Tropic Skincare with a team led by Lee Gruszeckyj. They asked Star Events onboard to supply the 15m orbit stage on which all the performance action took place. The sound, lighting and video production design was based on the requirements of several artist riders from a lively line-up that included acts like Rob da Bank, Our Girl G, Queenz, Mr Motivator, Air Guitar Band, Magic of Marley, Twinnie, the Strictly Come Dancing Band with headliners Gok Wan, Bjorn Again and the Ministry of Sound Disco. This mixed line up meant that flexibility was essential
Europe - After hanging up his bass guitar from his time in bands like Kix and Wrathchild America, Brad Divens has been the Front of House engineer for a range of major artists, including Linkin Park, Cyndi Lauper, Garbage, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and Mötley Crüe. This summer he mixed major European shows for Enrique Iglesias where, since switching to a Yamaha Rivage PM digital mixing system, he was able to bid a final farewell to years of touring with outboard racks. Like all experienced engineers, Brad cut his teeth on analogue mixers. Since, he has used various digital systems, but it was when friend and fellow engineer Frank Scamalone recommended the Yamaha Rivage PM series that Brad properly took the plunge. “I knew that I wanted to do something different and Frank kept telling me ‘Look Brad, just plug an SM58 into it and listen to your voice, th
UK - The Smile embarked on their first ever UK and European tour with audio support from Britannia Row Productions. The band – comprised of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and Sons of Kemet’s Tom Skinner – chose a selection of intimate venues for their debut tour, which meant that house PA systems were the order of the day, and the Brit Row control package would take on a lot of the heavy lifting. FOH Engineer Mikko Gordon has worked with The Smile’s frontman, Thom Yorke, for 10 years both live and in the studio, most recently serving as engineer for the band’s debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention. “It felt natural for me to be the one to take this show out into the world,” says Mikko. “We spent some time at Rak Studios for production rehearsals and this allowed me to create my mix in a controlled environment. I used
USA - Franklin Music Hall on Philadelphia’s North 7th Street first opened its doors in 1995 as Electric Factory, the second incarnation of a bygone local ’60s/’70s venue. The new 2,500-capacity venue quickly emerged as one of the city’s prime destinations for artists spanning genres from rock to punk to noise to dance, and its popularity sparked the warehouse-style music-venue trend, becoming the model for clubs across the nation. The venue was eventually acquired by AEG in September 2018 and took on its current moniker, with AEG’s regional partner The Bowery Presents producing shows there by artists like Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Greta Van Fleet, MGMT, and Matt and Kim. Now, Franklin Music Hall has turned yet another corner with its recent installation of an L-Acoustics K2 loudspeaker system, which has pumped up the volume for its most current raft of touring
Europe - DPA Microphones is showcasing its latest microphone offerings, designed to meet the growing needs of the entertainment and media markets, at IBC 2022. Focusing on the needs of film and TV productions, DPA is highlighting its 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun Microphone, which can also serve as a boom mic for broadcast applications. Two important mic solutions ideal for televised live event productions, the 4466 CORE Omnidirectional and 4488 CORE Directional Headset Microphones and the 4055 Kick Drum Mic, will also be featured on the show floor. Featuring the same sonic qualities as the brand’s other supercardioid microphones, the 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun Microphone has been optimised to pick up speech from a distance. Initially designed for plant miking applications, it is ideal for small spaces because of its compact footprint and clear audio pickup. Used in combinati
USA - Built as a hotel in 1865, the Haywood House in Jefferson, Texas, has served as a grand hotel, a local history museum and a personal residence. Today, the historic Haywood House is an upscale Euro-American restaurant and cocktail bar. Owners Teresa and Alan Ponder purchased Haywood House in 2020 and have been updating and renovating the building's infrastructure, including the installation of a new state-of-the-art, facility-wide sound system from AtlasIED, featuring the company's Strategically Hidden Speakers and Atmosphere audio control platform. Michael Chism, account manager at Visual Techniques (VTI-TX), was the point person for the historical Haywood House sound system project. Based in Longview, Texas, VTI-TX is an AV systems integration firm providing a range of products and solutions, including high-quality audio and control systems, visual presentation a
USA - The Audio Engineering Society has announced the incoming officers and governors following the 2022 board of directors and board of governors elections. The Society’s membership has elected Leslie Gaston-Bird, as president-elect. Also on the board of directors, Valerie Tyler has been re-elected as secretary and Marina Bosi re-elected as treasurer. In the AES Elections for the board of governors (BoG), Angela Piva has been elected vice president Eastern region, USA/Canada, David v.R. Bowles has been elected vice president Western region, USA/Canada and Jamie Angus-Whiteoak has been elected as vice president Northern Europe region. Additionally, newly elected governors-at-large are Lesley Fogle, Toru Kamekawa and Marcela Zorro. Save for the president-elect, each newly-elected individual will serve a two-year term and Bosi and Tyler with have their current te
UK - Bluesound Professional has launched the B170S networked streaming stereo amplifier to North American and global distribution markets. Orders for the B170S are open immediately with warehouse availability starting in September 2022. The B170S is an all-in-one streaming solution for any commercial music installation combining a high-quality stereo low impedance and constant voltage amplifier with a BluOS enabled network music player. The low impedance output is suitable for applications where intelligibility and sophistication are important. Alternatively, multi-speaker installations like corridors or high-traffic areas can be catered to with the constant voltage option that allows for daisy-chained speakers, in turn reducing cable lengths and complexity. With keyhole slots allowing for flexible mounting options, the B170S is well-suited to hide under shelves, tabl
USA - Danley Sound Labs, in partnership with McFadden Sales, is hosting a large-scale demonstration on Thursday, 18 August 2022 at the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church’s Mill Run campus in Hilliard, Ohio. This event follows two prior successful large-scale demonstrations in Rockingham, North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada. “Danley Sound Labs is about creating an audio experience,” said Skip Welch, director of marketing and sales at Danley Sound Labs. “We want prospective customers and partners to hear our products. We believe Danley products provide the highest quality audio experiences on the market and simply saying that does not do justice to the experience.” Andy Yost, principal and director of sales adds, “We at McFadden Sales are excited to partner with Danley Sound Labs to bring these experiences to customers in the Midwestern United States. These ‘
China - Fujian Province’s new Pingtan International Performing Arts Center recently invested in a series of Green-GO digital intercom products to provide a much-needed scalable, high-quality sound and simple-to-use solution. The centre, which serves as a cultural hub in the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area in northeast Jinjing Bay, is a vast building. It includes a 1,500-seat theatre, a 400-seat multi-function hall and a public centre for performance and art, covering almost 40,000 sq.m. Now open for business, it will be the home to a stage play directed by Chinese dancer YANG Liping called Pingtan Impression. Chinese AV solution provider EZPro was responsible for the audio system design and installation at the Centre. “The project needed an intercom system with a good quality of sound, which is easy to use and would be scalable. Therefore, we c
Canada - There are two reasons why audio rental company, Gearforce Pro Audio chose to invest in a DiGiCo Quantum 225. Rob Nevalainen, founder of the company and engineer in his own right, has always been forward-thinking. Gearforce has always focused on providing high-end technology that enables the company to meet clients' needs regardless of the demands of the gig. Nevalainen purchased the Q225 to add to Gearforce’s existing DiGiCo inventory in mid-April, ready for the start of a busy season. “After two years away,” he says, “it’s different getting back out. The landscape has changed, for sure.” However, some things have not, including Nevalainen’s reliance on DiGiCo consoles, GerrAudio, who supplied the console, as a distributor and Gearforce’s emphasis on adapting and moving forward. Gearforce purchased the Q225 in mid-April 2022, Nevalainen e
France - Focal sound has launched the 100-T Series line. This new range of in-ceiling and outdoor loudspeakers is designed for large residential, commercial and professional spaces, such as shops, hotels and restaurants. The new range takes its technology cues from Focal’s established 100 Series, with new features and international certifications to meet the requirements of large-scale integrated systems. The 100-T Series includes five loudspeakers: three in-ceiling products (100 ICW5-T, 100 ICW6-T,100 ICW8-T) and two IP66-certified outdoor loudspeakers (100 OD6-T and 100 OD8-T), rated for their guaranteed protection against dust and water. These loudspeakers are direct descendants of Focal’s 100 Series in terms of design, technologies - Polyglass cone, aluminium tweeter - and its sound quality even at low volume. They are compact, slimline and have magnetic
Vietnam - Phuc Giang recently supplied Xu Restaurant Lounge and Cocktail Bar with a JBL Professional distributed audio system. Established in 2005, Xu Restaurant Lounge and Cocktail Bar is a social gathering place located in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to its menu of cocktails and cuisine from Vietnam, Xu offers premium musical entertainment in the form of live bands and guest DJs. During the 2020 lockdowns, Xu took the downtime as an opportunity to upgrade their sound system with the help of Phuc Giang. To provide immersive musical experiences for guests, musicians and DJs alike, Phuc Giang installed a sound system using JBL EON powered speakers and subwoofers. Staff reported that Xu Restaurant Lounge and Cocktail Bar needed a seamless and easy-to-use sound system that would deliver clear and balanced audio in all areas of the restaurant, and that the
USA - QSC has announced that David Angress has joined the organisation as senior vice president and general manager of the company’s new pro audio division. “Throughout the years, I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for QSC – its people, its culture and its portfolio of innovative, market-leading products,” says Angress. “The pro audio division is gearing up for an incredible phase of transformative growth and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to serve as its leader going forward.” Angress, a seasoned veteran of the music and pro audio products industry, brings a wealth of experience in senior executive leadership with roles at brands including ADAM Audio GmbH, Guitar Centre, Harman, and AKG. As principal at Angress Consulting for the last 12 years, he has utilised his extensive international experience in marketing, prod