Estonia - The five-decade old Saarepeedi Cultural Centre recently sought out a new PA for its facility and brought on Heliart OÜ for the project. Priit Kivimägi, CEO of Heliart OÜ, and his team were looking for a system with high SPL, consistent coverage and exceptional vocal intelligibility. Eastern Acoustic Works’ QX300 Series speaker system along with its RL18S Active Subwoofers were selected for their audio capabilities as well as its ease of use. The Saarepeedi Cultural Centre, located in southern Estonia near Viljandi, is often considered the heart of Estonian folk music. Serving as a multi-functional venue for the local community, the space is used for different activities and performing arts including theatrical and dance events, seminars, rehearsals, sports and musical acts including choirs and live bands. The main PA consists of two EAW QX364’s flown
UK - Entertainments venue, Grimsby Auditorium, has recently upgraded its sound desk to an Allen & Heath Avantis. Based in North East Lincolnshire, Grimsby Auditorium is an intimate custom designed venue. Since opening its doors in 1995, it has played host to a number of high-profile performers as well as international touring acts and shows, including: Starlight Express, Blood Brothers and Calendar Girls, Jimmy Carr, Peter Kay and Sarah Millican), and international rock acts Morrissey, Kasabian and The Stereophonics. Shane Jackson, Grimsby Auditorium’s stage manager commented: “After having our previous sound desk for around 15 year we felt it was time to upgrade to some newer technology. We have no doubt that this will have a positive impact on upcoming productions as well as our customers experience. Having researched our options and cons
USA - Although TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour has been an annual late-winter tradition for a number of years now, this year’s trek was particularly joyous as it represented one of North America’s first proper arena tours following the pandemic blackout year. True to form, Nashville-based Blackhawk Audio, the long-time touring sound provider for the seven-time Grammy Award-winning Christian hip-hop/pop artist, carried DiGiCo consoles - SD10s at both FOH and monitors, plus a smaller-format SD9 support desk at FOH - which were used to mix 18 arena shows in 13 cities during February and March. In addition to TobyMac, the 2021 Hits Deep Tour featured a full lineup of special guests, including Tauren Wells, We Are Messengers, Unspoken, Cochren & Co., and Terrian. All of the supports acts performed each night in a seamless awards-show format, bouncing between the main sta
Austria - Microphone manufacturer Lewitt has introduced the LCT 140 AIR stereo pair. Features include a tailored small diaphragm condenser capsule; low-cut and PAD; cardioid polar pattern; mic clips and transport bag with two compartments. “We’re always close to the pulse of the community with our products, so it was only a logical step for us to respond to the numerous voices that have asked for a flexible stereo pair,” says Roman Perschon, founder and CEO of Lewitt.
USA - Home Church has been a rock for Christians in the South San Francisco Bay Area since 1977. This past year, they vowed to keep their congregation connected during the coronavirus lockdown via online and outdoor services. There was just one problem: Their aging analogue wireless audio equipment had almost become obsolete because the available radio spectrum in the region is changing and shrinking almost by the day. Home Church turned to worship A/V experts Zamar Media Solutions, who specified Lectrosonics’ fourth-generation, all-digital D-Squared system, including two DSQD four-channel receivers, six DHu handheld mics for the praise musicians, and two DBu belt-pack transmitters for the pastors’ headset mics. “I’m the nerd that went out there to evaluate the situation,” begins system designer Tim Fairbairn. “Because of the repack of frequencies in the Ba
Poland - The Workshop Musical Academy in Warsaw is a performing arts school focused on developing young musical artists' interests and skills and preparing them for original theatre, film, and music projects. With classes held in two professionally-equipped rooms, including the school’s own recording studio and a performance hall, the facility was looking for an AV system to amplify performances. Earlier this year, the Workshop Musical Academy made the decision to upgrade its performance hall sound system. The school frequently hosts a wide range of productions, from solo performances to full theatre and concert performances. The academy brought in local AV integrator ESS-Audio, to design and install the new sound system, the integrator has been providing comprehensive audio and integration solutions for more than 30 years, and recently became a provider of amplifiers from
UK - disguise has announced that it is receiving research and development funding from Innovate UK to expand its work in virtual production. Innovate UK is part of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organisation whose purpose is to accelerate UK economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. With the grant, disguise will focus on pure research, outside its usual engineering innovation work, while maintaining a competitive development timeline within the technology sector. The disguiseVP R&D project focuses on scalability and flexibility as key improvements to the current disguise workflow. Addressing mainly virtual production, disguiseVP is targeted to a totally immersive virtual production environment where extensive control and fast calibration lead to more informed decisions on set, improved collaboration and absolutely uncompromi
USA - St. Mary’s Cathedral is one of the most popular Catholic churches in the Portland, OR area. It serves as its parish’s diocese, hosting weekly masses, services and sometimes daily visits for a large, devoted congregation. The church needed to ensure its audio-visual equipment could convey its important messages in a smooth, intelligible manner - something that was previously lacking due its domed cathedral and marble walls. When it came time for an AV upgrade, St. Mary’s turned to Alpha Sound. With 40 years’ experience, the Alpha Sound team was ready to tackle the live acoustical issues at the cathedral while also choosing equipment that would not impede the church’s elegant décor. To accomplish this, the installer selected more than 20 mics from DPA Microphones, the largest DPA install to-date in the area. “Everything about this space is elegant and
UK - The Autograph Group of companies has re-organised its operating base. As of next month, Autograph Sales Ltd., t/a Autograph Sales & Installations, will be incorporated into Autograph Sound Recording Ltd. Group managing director Scott Arnold describes the move as a restructuring “that has been in consideration long before the spectre of COVID-19 and its devastating effect on our industry became a harsh reality. Weathering this storm for both companies has been a significant challenge only serving to cement our strong leanings towards this amalgamation”. Arnold continues: “Whilst our sales and hire divisions have always collaborated closely, our focus has been shifting towards providing a complete solution for our customers. Autograph is dedicated to continuing to provide a proven and unique hire, design, support, sales, installation and integration servi
China - Harman Professional Solutions has introduced the JBL Professional Rock ONE Series wireless microphone system which pairs with the JBL EON ONE series and is compatible with most other portable PAs. Designed for users who require a versatile wire-free solution for performances or presentations, this system features charging via a USB-type-C cable for both the receiver and microphone - eliminating the need for an external power source. The system supports the simultaneous use of up to four Rock ONE microphone/receiver sets, available in red, white, yellow or pink. Rock ONE features include: 10 hours of continuous operation on a full charge; 20-band UHF wireless and infrared pairing; 30m of wireless range; simultaneous operation of up to four Rock ONE microphone sets, and direct charging from the JBL EON ONE Portable PA. “The demand for portable wire
USA - As the bassist and backup singer for Bon Jovi, Hugh McDonald admits that his performances rely on trusted legacy equipment and he doesn’t concern himself too much with following the latest performance gear and technology. But after a year of cancelled tours and countless hours using the integrated webcam and microphone on his laptop, McDonald recently recognised that, in his own words, “There has to be a better way to do this.” After a brief chat with some industry friends, he found the upgraded gear he needed: the ClearOne Aura Versa 50 audio and video solution. “When I finally had to do a recording, and I was setting up the laptop, positioning it in the room, it really felt cobbled together, like a subpar solution,” McDonald said. “The band ended up doing a lot of video from our homes for various organizations, plus solo videos to prepare for a liv
China - Installed for China’s Consumer Rights Day gala, a 1,000sq.m LED wall dazzled viewers with graphics, all powered by Pixotope. Broadcast live on 15 March, the two-hour slot was dedicated to “informing consumers of consumer habits and business practices from major brands”. Great Wheel, a production company working within China Central Television (CCTV), designed and implemented the live graphics using Pixtope’s engine. Since early 2020, China Central Television has been rapidly expanding its virtual production capabilities for its programme delivery, with Pixotope becoming the station’s primary virtual production solution for a range of AR projects. Traditionally, CCTV opted to build real-world sets for its Consumer Day television broadcast, but the studio found it could significantly improve both the quality and flexibility of its productions af
UK - Channel 4’s Lucy, the Human Chimp documentary aired this month with a mix of archive footage and newly filmed ‘jungle’ reconstructions, with the latter made possible by Bristol-based virtual production studio Vero. The film, which tells the real-life story of chimp Lucy’s return to the wild after being raised in human surroundings, required cutting edge technology to re-enact scenes of Lucy’s carer, Janis Carter, living on an uninhabited island off the coast of The Gambia. Production was scheduled to take place in the real-world jungle surroundings but, due to the COVID pandemic, had stalled. With no international travel permitted, and flights grounded, the team were searching for a new solution. Multi-award-winning production company KEO Films approached VERO on behalf of Channel 4, with a view to using Vero’s pioneering studio space. Thi
USA - The Denton Bible Church (DBC) in Dallas, TX recently underwent a large redesign of its audio capabilities and added a new DiGiCo Quantum338 console for both front-of-house and monitor mixing as well as a new DiGiCo SD12 console as its new broadcast audio console. The 3,500-seat sanctuary is tied together on an Optocore Digital Fibre network, at the heart of which is one of Optocore’s new AutoRouters. The audio network was installed and set up by Digital Resources, who are based close by in Southlake. Lance Eddleman, audio sales manager, implemented the Optocore AutoRouter solution for the church when he was presented with its ease of use and flexibility. Lance worked closely with Optocore North America’s Brandon Coons and Group1 Ltd to ensure the AutoRouter would be a good fit for the church. The AutoRouter works as a central patch bay and replaces the typi
Italy - More than 200 years old, the Teatro Donizetti opera house in Bergamo, Italy, recently underwent a comprehensive three-year renovation and restoration project. The work was aimed at upgrading every aspect of the historic venue, from structural and safety considerations to improving the functionality of the building for the benefit of artists, audiences and the in-house staff. Detailed attention was paid to every aspect of the renovation, which was completed during the venue’s Coronavirus pandemic-enforced closure. A fundamentally important part of any music venue is its audio system and following extensive work on the acoustics of the horseshoe-shaped, three-tiered interior, integrator and specialist in theatre technology Decima 1948 was appointed to install a new system. Decima has wide experience of handling sensitive projects in heritage settings. As a syst
Qatar - In the main hall of the Qatar University Sports and Events Complex (QUSEC) a combination of close co-operation and Yamaha and Nexo audio technologies saw systems integrator and installer Techno Q win the award for Best Flexible Space Experience for the project at the 2020 AVIXA AV Experience Awards. The main hall at QUSEC was designed to host sports like basketball and tennis, as well as exhibitions, banquets, conferences, presentation ceremonies and more. To deliver sound that matches its construction quality, a major, multi-functional Yamaha AFC acoustic conditioning system, using Nexo loudspeakers, is a feature of the design. One of the main audio challenges for Mohanad Is-Hak, senior projects manager at Techno Q, was that the space would vary in volume between 22,400m3 and 35,900m3, thanks to a 70m x 40m height-adjustable ceiling, which created obvious acou
USA - For Floridians, one of the perks of living in the perennially warm Sunshine State is that their concert season never needs to end, even during a pandemic, when shows can be taken outside and properly socially distanced year-round. Dr. Phillips Centre’s Frontyard Festival in Orlando, presented by AdventHealth, is a good example. The festival features more than 350 live performances, films, and other events, staged daily, on the front lawn of the Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, with as many as 2,000 guests seated in distanced private boxes spread across the yard. To ensure that all productions over the festival’s six-month run would be heard loud and clear, local sound reinforcement provider OPAV has been deploying K2 and Kara loudspeaker systems from L-Acoustics. The performance area, known as the Mainstage at Seneff Arts Plaza, features le
Germany - Genelec has announced the appointment of Marcel Schechter as senior customer experience specialist, with special focus on the domestic German market. Based near Stuttgart, Schechter forms part of Genelec’s international marketing and sales team and will be working in close collaboration with business development manager Eric Horstmann and local German distributor Audio Pro, and will be concentrating on strengthening activities in marketing, education and customer support. Having graduated in Audiovisual Media, Schechter then worked as a studio engineer and lecturer, spending seven years as engineer at Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg before joining Audio Pro in 2014 as Genelec product specialist. In this role Schechter gained a deep knowledge of the Genelec brand, specialising in assisting customers with loudspeaker selection, installation and room calibration,
USA - Bose Professional has unveiled the new AMM multipurpose loudspeaker line, comprised of two full-range loudspeakers - the AMM108 and AMM112 and a companion subwoofer, the AMS115. Featuring a coaxial two-way design, AMM loudspeakers are purpose-built to perform equally well in a variety of applications. They can be deployed as mains, monitors, fills or delays in temporary setups or permanent installations, such as houses of worship, music venues and auditoriums. Designed for peak flexibility, AMM108 and AMM112 loudspeakers can be deployed with a specific role in a system or used in multiple roles within the same system. Consistent voicing with the existing Bose AM array module line and Bose AMU utility loudspeaker line means system designers and installers can easily mix and match models from all three lines, saving time during system configuration, says the compan
UK - Audio-Technica has announced their appointment as distributor for Optimal Audio – Focusrite plc’s new commercial audio brand – in 17 territories across Europe and Africa. The company will assume distribution activities following today’s launch. Focusrite Group’s seventh brand, Optimal Audio has been in development over the past three years to simplify the often unnecessarily complex world of commercial audio, as Focusrite CEO Tim Carroll explains, “Optimal Audio provides a streamlined product offering working seamlessly together to deliver high quality sound that is easy to install and can be operated by anyone, not just engineers.” Dom Harter, now managing director for both Martin Audio and Optimal Audio, describes the focus of the brand as “offering a one-stop solution of control, amplification and loudspeakers for small to medium-sized commercia
USA - “Historically, younger engineers believe that it is impossible to record in a professional studio,” says Music & Arts Production Studio (MAPS) owner Mike Willson, who hopes to change this with his pioneering new business model. Keen to attract engineers and producers who don’t have their own space to develop their craft, MAPS offers autonomous access to the studio, whilst keeping costs down by removing the need for multiple, full-time staff members. After an induction - which includes a thorough training session on their AudientASP4816 mixing desk - MAPS clients are ready to access the space whenever they like. Mike explains, “All of our clients are freelancers that we’ve developed close relationships with. They just hop on our Producer Dashboard, book the session and let themselves in. “Luckily, the Audient is so easy to navigate and I always fee
USA - The town of Clinton, NY is the home of Hamilton College. Precision Audio Services has provided audio engineering services to the college’s Music and Theatre Department for several years, and this spring the company heads up a sound system upgrade in Wellin Hall. The 700-seat hall has served as the central hub of music education and concerts for the college since its construction in the 1980s. The bare concrete and polished wood walls combined with flown wooden acoustic panels above the audience creates a highly reverberant environment. However, these properties that make the environment desirable for acoustic performances, also make sound-reinforced events a significant challenge. "With an RT60 of almost 2.5 seconds, achieving a clear mix and vocal delivery is typically a major source of frustration for visiting mix engineers,” says Michael Lawrence from Prec
Canada - The Jack Singer Concert Hall, the largest venue in Calgary, Alberta’s Arts Commons complex, has installed a new and highly “hybrid” Meyer Sound reinforcement system. It replaces a Meyer Sound system based on the same concept that had contributed to the success of the 2,000-capacity venue for more than 16 years. Both the new replacement system and the prior system were designed by GerrAudio, Meyer Sound’s Canadian distributor, in consultation with the venue technical staff. “Meyer Sound and Gerr had worked together back in 2004 on what proved to be a wonderful solution for this venue,” says Brian Beaulieu, associate director, venue operations at Arts Commons. “Everyone was very consultative and worked closely with our team to again come up with the best solution.” As before, the theatre’s system is anchored by a flown centre cluster, thi
Saudi Arabia - Connectivity for a massive Dante audio network, extending over some 15 kilometers of fibre-optic cable, during the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia, relied on the robust, field tested dependability of Neutrik opticalCON DUO connectors. The site-wide audio, video, lighting and rigging infrastructure supplied and operated by Dubai headquartered MediaPro included their entire Middle East based stock of L-Acoustics systems - comprising K1, K2, KARAs, 112Ps, 5XTs, X8s, X15, KS28, SB18s and 20 LA RACK II, 13 Yamaha QL and CL consoles, with D2 racks, 15 of the company’s own network racks - connecting all of the various audio zones to the network - and a complete redundant Dante network. Commenting on the choice of opticalCON DUO connectors, MediaPro International chief operating officer Shaam Pudaruth says, “Connectivity solutions of the quality and rugg
