Sound

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25 November 2024

France - With a population of 57,300 and listed in the 500 cities where Life is good in France, Blanc-Mesnil is located just to the north of Paris, midway between the Stade de France and Charles de Gaulle airport.

Cultural life in the city revolves around the 710-seat Théâtre du Blanc-Mesnil which stages a variety of productions ranging from comedy and theatre to dance and music.

Sound reinforcement at the theatre comprises a Nexo STM system provided on a long-term rental basis by Loiret-based technical sound and lighting solutions specialists SPL, supplement by the theatre’s own inventory of Nexo speakers and powered controllers.

Clusters of six STM M28 main modules are flown beneath three STM B112 bass extension modules either side of the 22m-wide stage, with further sub-bass extension from ground stacks of three Nexo S118s.<

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25 November 2024

USA - The David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Centre – home of the New York Philharmonic – has various Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) products installed, including 18 Anna Adaptive Loudspeakers, six AC6 Adaptive column loudspeakers and four Otto Subwoofers.

The venue was modernised in collaboration with AVI-SPL and acoustical consultant Akustiks.

The David Geffen Hall project included an extensive redesign of audio-visual systems, acoustical systems and major infrastructure. AVI-SPL was responsible for the implementation of the PA and distributed audio, cinema systems and LED displays for closed captioning and projection, all supported by robust networking solutions.

EAW was chosen for the project by Akustiks' senior consultant Sam Brandt. Having worked with EAW for many years, Akustiks and AVI-SPL knew the brand’s Adaptive technology was right

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25 November 2024

Japan - CLUB CITTA' is a popular venue in Kawasaki. Opened in 1988, the club has seen historic performances from Nirvana, Oasis, Radiohead and many more and is a popular stop for many Japanese and international touring bands. The input from touring engineers was enough to convince Toru Yamamuro, general manager of stage production at CLUB CITTA', that their planned console upgrade should be to a DiGiCo Quantum 338.

“We introduced our SD8 back in 2012, updating the SD with a 32-bit card in 2019, so when the time came to upgrade our system, we asked various people about the Quantum and the feedback was very good,” Yamamuro says. “We also received enquiries from overseas artists who wanted to use the Quantum 338, so we had a strong desire to install it ourselves, and we were able to make it happen.

“With the addition of Mustard Processing and Sp

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25 November 2024

USA - Studio Technologies has introduced the Model 352A and Model 354A talk stations. The units support Dante audio-over-Ethernet digital media technology and are designed for voice paging applications, including theatre, live event and industrial applications. Broadcast applications can also be supported by using the products’ integral IFB (talent cue) capabilities.

The units offer a complete solution for routing voice and background audio along with playback of pre-recorded audio files. The Model 352A unit supplies two independent ‘talk’ channels, while the Model 354A unit supplies four independent ‘talk’ channels with each channel able to be individually configured to match the needs of specific applications.

As part of the unit’s Dante capability, both models support AES67 as well as the Dante Domain Manager (DDM) software application

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25 November 2024

UK - Audioscenic has announced the appointment of John Croteau, a veteran technology executive, as chairman of its board of directors. Croteau brings an impressive track record of driving innovation and growth in the tech sector including his roles as GM at Analog Devices, senior VP at NXP, CEO at MACOM, and currently as CEO at neural biosensor company Pison.  

Croteau's strategic guidance will be instrumental in steering Audioscenic through its next phase of technological advancement, innovation, and product integrations.

John Croteau commented: “I am thrilled to join Audioscenic at such a defining moment in the company’s evolution. With its innovative, position-adaptive 3D sound technology, Audioscenic is well-positioned to capitalise on the industry’s secular growth in immersive, 3D content.

“I look forward to collaborating with

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22 November 2024

APAC - Naostage, creator of automatic, beaconless 3D tracking solutions for live events and immersive experiences, has announced three new distributors in the APAC region. These strategic partnerships with Novatech, in Australia, ArcSource in Hong Kong and EZpro in mainland China, cater for the growing demand for Naostage’s tracking solution, K System.

In Australia, Naostage will be represented by Novatech Creative Event Technology, a family-owned event production company based in Adelaide, South Australia, focusing on providing innovative, creative turnkey solutions for events of all sizes, while offering a one-stop shop for event organisers and promoters. The partnership with Naostage sees Novatech become the exclusive distributor for Naostage in Australia, where it will focus on introducing artists, event producers, and production and performing arts co

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22 November 2024

Europe - Belgian loudspeaker manufacturer Audiofocus has named Audio Acoustics as its exclusive distribution partner for The Netherlands.

From its headquarters in Alphen aan den Rijn, Audio Acoustics will promote and support the full range of Audiofocus products, including the recently launched ARRoCC constant curvature system, Carys column PA system, and the new Isolde AP108 point source loudspeaker.

Audiofocus founder and CEO Ann Leroy comments: “Pro audio is still very much a people business, so it is vital to find partners who are fully embedded in their country’s audio community. Jeroen Knol [Audio Acoustics commercial director] and the Audio Acoustics team are familiar faces in the industry and have extensive experience of supporting top brands and high-profile projects. We are delighted to have them on board as our distributor for The Neth

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22 November 2024

UAE - Q-Sys Middle East Electronics Trading has announced the opening of its Q-Sys UAE Experience Centre in Dubai. This new centre offers an immersive and interactive environment to explore, test, and experience the latest advancements in AV technology.

Strategically located in the Dubai Supreme Court Complex, this Experience Centre spans more than 4,000sq.ft and delivers an experiential tour through the capabilities of the Q-Sys platform. From the moment visitors arrive they will be immersed in Q-SYS solutions throughout the divisible meeting room and training room, large boardroom and demo lab. The Experience Centre also features an open events area with a café/bar where customers can explore demonstrations of Q-Sys in an entertainment environment.

“We are excited to open our new Q-Sys Experience Centre in Dubai,” says Chant Utukian, managing

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22 November 2024

Switzerland - For the third year running, AudioRent Clair has provided 360° production services to Basel Tattoo, a celebration of music entertainment featuring classical and traditional musicians performing around the city's 400-year-old cultural centre, Kaserne Basel.

The multifaceted event is a major supra-regional spectacle, with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) recognising it as the official tattoo of Switzerland. This year, talent from Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Australia played for live audiences of up to 72,000 and were broadcast across national TV and radio stations in Switzerland for 450,000 viewers.

AudioRent's head of production, Reinhard Hoehn, begins: "The pressure to deliver a high-end production such as this in the Swiss market requires a 360° approach; streamlining complicated technic

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22 November 2024

Germany - d&b group has announced the appointment of James Gallagher-Powell as chief strategy officer (CSO).

Gallagher-Powell joins d&b group following a number of strategic and financial leadership roles with globally recognised organisations including PwC, RFRSH and CSM Sports & Entertainment, where he was Group CFO.

"I am thrilled to welcome James to our executive team and to the d&b family," says Amnon Harman, CEO of d&b group. "Our ambition has always been to address future trends and create technologies, business models and organisational structures accordingly. With James’ strategic experience he will be invaluable in helping us continue to set trends and support our customers in transforming their businesses."

Gallagher-Powell's responsibilities as CSO will span leading the company’s long-term strategic directi

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21 November 2024

Australia - LEA Professional has announced a new distribution partnership with Victoria-based Snap One Australia, now part of ADI, showcasing the company's ongoing global expansion efforts. This distribution relationship will bring LEA’s technology catalogue to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Snap One empowers its network of professional integrators to deliver entertainment, connectivity, control, and security solutions to residential and commercial end customers worldwide. Expanding its portfolio with LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers, and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity, supports Snap One's continued commitment. These series enable integrators to utilise cloud-based remote control, monitoring, notifications, and more from any internet-enabled device, allowing

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21 November 2024

USA - The 2025 NAMM Show (Anaheim, 21-25 January) will place a strong emphasis on pro audio. NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants) has “maximised the show’s exhibit and demo space, so professionals will have their best-ever opportunity to get hands-on with the latest in pro audio technology. These new product introductions will be complemented by a full suite of educational sessions and training opportunities for professionals in live sound, recording and music technology.”

“One of the main reasons that audio professionals come to the NAMM Show is to hear the latest equipment from the biggest pro audio brands,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “We are making that easier than ever before with more demo space for our exhibitors and more opportunities for our members to hear what state-of-the-art truly sounds like.”

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21 November 2024

UK - Martin Audio is making ‘significant strides’ in reducing its environmental footprint through the strategic use of recycled materials, particularly post-consumer recycled plastics. This commitment is a critical part of its overall sustainability strategy, aimed at integrating recycled materials into its manufacturing processes and contributing to a circular economy.

Martin Audio’s approach involves using detailed data to make informed decisions about sourcing recycled materials. This ensures that the use of recycled plastics does not compromise the quality or performance of its products. “The focus is on extending the lifecycle of materials and products, thus minimising their environmental impact from the outset,” confirms marketing director James King.

So how will this work in practice? Over the coming months, Martin Audio will gradual

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21 November 2024

Monaco - Founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier III and chaired by Prince Albert II since 1984, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) combines a taste for sport and a love of the sea. With 2,500 members, the club attracts shipowners, sailors and yacht-lovers from all over the world to its luxurious setting.  

Against this backdrop, Yacht Club de Monaco required a complete audio system that would not only align with these values but also provide high-performing sound across various spaces at the club. Italian manufacturer of professional audio solutions, K-array, was chosen to solve this request, with system integration provided by BM Service.

“Everything had to be invisible, stylish, yet high-performing, the usual values of K-array,” explains Alberto Gaetti, product support specialist at K-array. “Our loudspeakers were previously installed at the club’

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21 November 2024

USA - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Joel Majgier as its new consultants and key accounts manager in the US.

“I’ve spent over two decades in professional AV, and I see huge potential for growth with Powersoft,” says Majgier. “The reputation of the brand is exceptional, and the people within the company are committed to delivering best-in-class service to both our dealer base and the venues we work with. That level of dedication is something I’m excited to be a part of.”

In his new role, Majgier hopes to help expand Powersoft’s footprint in the US. The US market currently makes up around a quarter of Powersoft’s revenue – a figure that is expected to increase in the coming years.

Tom Knesel, general manager and COO of Powersoft US, comments: “We’re thrilled to welcome Joel to the Powersoft team. His extensive

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20 November 2024

China - The Taihu Jazz Festival is held every year in the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. During five days in May, musicians from China and beyond performed to excited crowds in the purpose-built outdoor performance spaces.

Over 50 jazz performances took place, including sets from French harmonica master Laurent Maur, jazz trumpeter, Li Xiaochuan, and other Chinese and international musicians, who took to the stage of the Taihu Stage Art Centre to kick off the 2024 Taihu Jazz Festival. Central to each was the power of DiGiCo’s Quantum series, with a Quantum 338 at the front of house position, a Quantum 225 at monitors and an SD10 for broadcast.

Three free performance stages - the Dance Art Workshop Stage, the Snowflake Stage, and the Instrumental Interactive Stage - were set up by RAC Pro, DiGiCo distributor in Chi

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20 November 2024

USA - To most people in the continental U.S., Alaska evokes a narrative of rugged individuals thriving under even more rugged conditions. Between weather, terrain, and sheer remoteness of most of the state, that’s more than mythology.

Government workers and contractors regularly endure brutal conditions while managing disaster recovery and infrastructure efforts, and solo filmmaker Jake Sloan is often there to document the process. With literally one hand on the camera and the other running sound, he trusts the latter to Rycote microphones and equipment. These include the HC-15 and HC-22 shotgun microphones, Cyclone baskets, Softie windscreens, and lavalier solutions including Stickie mounts and Windjammer screens.

“One of the biggest projects I've been working on for the last year has been for a statewide effort with the Alaska Department of Tra

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20 November 2024

UK - Shure has announced its inclusion in the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP). MDEP is an Android-based platform designed to enable device manufacturers and software developers to deliver innovative solutions that meet the needs of all users. It is backed by Microsoft's reputation for security, trust, and management.

MDEP provides enhanced security, device pairing, accessibility, and management capabilities for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android devices.

“We are excited to further expand our partnership with Microsoft through MDEP,” said Sam Sabet, chief technology officer at Shure. “MDEP provides another avenue for innovation on the highly popular Android platform, leading to the right solutions for our customers. This partnership ensures that our solutions, like IntelliMix Room software, can meet the highest security standards and de

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19 November 2024

USA - Audix is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a manufacturer of microphones. Since 1984, Audix has grown to offer a wide range of microphones for audio recording, live performance, and installed sound applications. Today, product families for instruments, vocals, and studio recording enjoy a reputation for audio fidelity, build quality and sensible pricing.

To celebrate its history and continued innovation, the company has produced a limited edition of the D6 kick drum microphone. The Limited Edition D6X microphone has all the sonic attributes that makes D6 a classic, plus additional filtering options. Only 100 units of the bead blasted D6X Limited Edition will be produced and will be available through selected giveaways throughout the next months.

In 1986, the Audix OM1 handheld dynamic mic was born. The OM1 began to amass a word-of-mouth reput

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19 November 2024

Japan - With an acoustic design created primarily with opera performances in mind, the 2,196-seat Toyama City Arts and Culture Hall (Aubade Hall) opened in 1996 in the Japan’s Toyama City. Now a new medium-sized, multi-purpose hall has been completed at the same site with a maximum of 652 seats which, along with the stage, can be moved to enable a wide range of configurations from conventional raked theatre seating to a flat floor for exhibitions.

Loudspeakers from Nexo’s Geo M, P+ and ID Series were selected for a customised flexible sound system in the new medium-sized hall.

“Actually, we have been using Nexo speakers in the large hall for a long time. Therefore, we are familiar with the sound of Nexo and thought that it would suit the medium hall as well,” reports Mr. Akira Sone, head of the stage technical department, sound, at Aubade Hal

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19 November 2024

UK - Long-term Martin Audio rental partner, W E Audio, recently underlined its commitment to the British manufacturer, by making a massive investment across the latest Wavefront Precision line array portfolio.

Founded by Wayne Barker, W E Audio’s upgraded inventory is headed by Martin Audio’s flagship WPL large format line array, and SXH218 subwoofers, as well as FlexPoint FP12s, Torus, and XE500 wedge monitors. At the same time, in order to give them further scalability and flexibility, the company has also invested heavily in the smaller WPS and WPC line arrays – all delivered in recent months to its base in Oxfordshire.

Last month saw the production company’s highest-profile deployment of the large-format WPL to date – on Seal’s European tour. The core PA design is based around 12 WPL cabinets per side, with six WPS units for front-fil

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19 November 2024

USA - With the help of PureTek Group – provider of innovative technology solutions for educational spaces based out of Boonton, New Jersey – Plainfield High School recently completed a major renovation to its auditorium, along with the addition of two new spaces: an eSports gaming arena and a black box theatre.

To provide clear communication between those disparate parts of the school, Plainfield High School, along with PureTek Group, turned to Pliant Technologies’ CrewCom professional wireless intercom system. 

“We chose Pliant to help orchestrate what could be a very chaotic experience,” says Dan Litvin, co-founder and president of PureTek Group. “The CrewCom system is used extensively throughout the school and produces unified performance, from standard backstage theatrical production applications, to managing cameras, lighting and au

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19 November 2024

UK - Shure has introduced the MXA902 + ANIUSB-Matrix Audio Conferencing Kit. The kit comes in a single, ready-to-go package that includes the MXA902 Ceiling Array Microphone with Built-In Loudspeaker, paired and pre-routed with the ANIUSB-Matrix Audio Network Interface for simple setup and seamless connectivity to popular conferencing platforms. The kit is certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms and works with Google Meet.

“With rising demand for better collaboration experiences in modern workplaces, IT managers require superior audio solutions to enrich communication, while maintaining simplicity in installation and operation,” said Sean Bowman, associate VP of sales, North America, at Shure. “The new Audio Conferencing Kit streamlines deployment and management, easily providing the flagship audio quality Shure is known for. This kit includ

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19 November 2024

Europe - Neutrik has further extended its etherCON TOP product offering to meet the demands of data networking in the field and addressing feedback directly from end users.

The NE8MXR-B-TOP retractable RJ45 carrier cable connector delivers the environmental protection of etherCON TOP with the capability to mate with etherCON and standard RJ45 receptacles – through a simple retraction of the shell, retaining this piece on the cable. The rugged diecast shell is retractable from the RJ45 plug to enable use in a wide variety of applications and with devices that do not use etherCON receptacles.

The carrier shell’s chuck type strain relief ensures its suitability for use in harsh application environments, for networks operating in entertainment production, media acquisition and beyond. IP65-rated protection against ingress of liquids and particulates