USA - Harman Professional Solutions has introduced the JBL Cinema Expansion Series sound systems for small to medium-size commercial theatres. The line, which includes JBL 3153 and 4253 3-way screen-channel loudspeakers, 3181F and 4281F subwoofers and 8102 surrounds is designed to cover rooms up to 85ft deep and up to 40ft wide. Harman has also debuted the two-channel, 1,300W Crown XLC 21300 amplifier, which supports Cinema Series speakers in a range of system configurations. “When we created the Cinema Expansion Series, we wanted to offer flexible solutions for cost-conscious theatre owners looking to provide a premium audio experience in every seat while maximizing their investment,” said Sunil Karanjikar, cinema product manager, Harman Professional Solutions. “Now, whether a theatre offers traditional 5.1 or more complex multichannel sound, it can offer the fi
Spain - The G7 from Amate Audio is the first in a new family of premium installation / integrator loudspeaker cabinets, designed to ‘provide compact high performance solutions, where looks and sound are everything’, in retail, hospitality, recreation, enterprise and culture application environments. A two-way system within an EN54-24 certifiable, hexagonal-form, reinforced ABS plastic enclosure, the G7 offers power handling capabilities rated at 120 W, providing for 112 dB SPL. So a lesser number of cabinets is required for any installation, operating well within their range of capability, leaving sufficient headroom for instances where higher output may be required. In addition to its Amate Audio cabinet design, features include the high-performance 6.5” carbon-fibre woofer and 1” titanium dome, neodymium tweeter, aluminium grille and hardware, outdoor ready c
UK/France - Assistive listening specialists Contacta Systems has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with French manufacturer and distributor of evacuation, voice alarm and PA systems, Archean Technologies. The deal will introduce the complete Contacta range of hearing loops, RF, IR and speech transfer systems to Archean’s customers in France. Archean Technologies, with offices in Paris, Montauban and Lisbon, has over 15-year history of manufacturing, installing and supplying key sectors in France. The company specialises in supplying customers and projects in the transport and public sectors throughout France. Archean managing director Xavier Aumont comments: “We have always seen our supplier partnerships as a key foundation of our business. Some of our partnerships span 15 years so we select our brands carefully. Contacta’s product range is so
Sweden - Game shows have been a staple of worldwide TV entertainment for decades. More than 60 years after the first game show appeared on American TV, audiences and contestants are still as enthusiastic as ever to participate in and consume every kind of format. Recognising the passion that the public has for this type of entertainment, On Air opened its first game show bar in Stockholm, replicating the TV experience for groups of friends and colleagues in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The concept was successful and after a second On Air opened in the capital, Pitcher’s, a multi-activity entertainments hub in the Swedish City of Örebo, opened the first On Air franchise. Pitcher’s features a number of attractions including bowling, shuffleboard, arcades and a casino, and the opening of On Air has seen part of its extensive ground floor area carefully engineered to r
USA - Fantasia Barrino won the third season of American Idol in 2004, standing out from some tough competition, and has since established herself as an R&B singer in the front ranks. A Grammy Award winner for Best Female Vocal Performance on her single Bittersweet, Fantasia has sold almost three million albums in her native USA alone. During a career that has produced seven albums, she has starred on Broadway twice, receiving a Theatre World Award for her part as Celie in the Color Purple. On her recent Sketchbook Tour, this consummate performer demonstrated that she remains a force to be reckoned with, wowing audiences and critics alike with exceptional vocals and a stage presence to match. Writing in The Buffalo Times, Ben Siegel described a “riveting” performance “in full command of her production.” Part of that production for the 29-date tour was an ult
UK - Harman Professional Solutions and UK distributor Sound Technology have announced immediate availability of the new AKG K371-BT professional studio headphones. The AKG K371-BT joins the previously announced AKG K361-BT headphones in the range. AKG K361-BT and K371-BT headphones are designed for mobile artists, engineers, podcasters and beatmakers who want the flexibility of wired or wireless connectivity combined with studio-quality sound. The K361-BT and K371-BT feature an over-ear, closed-back design that is precision-engineered to reproduce natural, balanced audio in exceptional detail, so users can make more confident decisions when mixing and editing. With a frequency response of 15 Hz to 28 kHz in the K361-BT and 5 Hz to 40 kHz in the K371-BT, they deliver “the deepest bass and highest highs in their class”. Both models offer the convenience of swit
Europe - BroaMan has announced that it will now offer its Multipurpose Fibre Extender for video, audio and intercom (MUX22) with 12G-SDI interfaces - to support greater resolution, frame rates and colour fidelity. The 12G addition to the existing 3G support means that BroaMan will not only continue to support 4K SDI transport formats but also routing and transport of high bandwidth data streams, such as 10G IP traffic for SMPTE 2110. Uniquely, the company offers not only single-mode but also multi-mode options for 12G fibre transport. BroaMan technical sales manager Maciek Janiszewski comments: "12G migration is our step into the future. Our customers have been asking about 12G and IP technologies, and the new hardware upgrade will allow us to meet all modern requirements; it means we can offer pure 12G-SDI, pure IP or a mixed 12G-SDI and IP transport solution.”
USA - Emmy Award-winning camera operator George Prince III has worked on his fair share of high-profile events. With credits including the Oscars, American Idol and the Superbowl, plus a whole host more, he has proven himself in some of the most watched and most demanding live productions. Clear communication has been vital to the success he has experienced, and this is aided by his use of Point Source Audio’s CM-i5 in-ear intercom headset. “When I first became a camera operator, an engineer gave me a headset and said, ‘don’t lose it, it’s like a plumber showing up without a wrench’. That stuck with me, so I have always had my own headset,” recalls Prince. While initially owning his own equipment was due to good practice, this choice has become even more important in the current climate. “The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted that you should have yo
The Netherlands - Highlite International has unveiled the new logo of audio brand DAP, to mark its ongoing development. A new dedicated DAP catalogue accompanies the new look and feel of DAP. “The audio-branch of Highlite, DAP, has grown and it is still growing,” says Highlite. “Over the years, DAP has become a household name for various artists, small stages, venues and events. Even for offices, shopping malls and fitness areas DAP offers the fitting audio solutions. With this growth a new image was necessary. Clean, crisp, clear and embodying the quality DAP is known for.”
Europe - ALC NetworX, developer of the the Ravenna technology, has announced Weigl Control as the latest Ravenna partner. Based near Linz, Austria, Weigl s known around the world as Weigl Control, a specialist in high performance hardware and software solutions for show control. Weigl Control provides interactive and multi-media electronic controllers for theme parks, museums, sauna & spas, retail and more. Created with a focus on embedded playback for animatronics and motion control, Weigl has expanded their hardware and cross-platform software offerings over the past decade to include large scale lighting, media and logic capabilities to support the production of some of the world’s best themed entertainment examples. “I’m happy to be a Ravenna partner,” says Manfred Weigl. “The ProCommander X Series, which we developed in celebration of our compa
China - Brompton Technology has launched a Chinese version of its website. Including all downloadable documentation, as well as product and feature pages, it makes Brompton’s technical information readily available to the Chinese market. A major part of Brompton Technology’s strategy in recent years has been to find ways of strengthening its support for its panel manufacturer partners, most of whom are based in Shenzhen. The new website is the latest in a string of initiatives, the first of which was the creation of an office in Shenzhen at the beginning of 2019. Led by Elijah Ebo, Brompton’s general manager (Asia), the office is staffed by Chinese-speaking account managers and field application engineers (FAEs). In addition to employing native Mandarin-speakers, th
Europe - London-based Capital Sound, long-time audio supplier to the Welsh rockers, deployed an all-Outline system for the European leg of their Kind 2020 tour, in support of their new album released in late 2019. The tour made 13 stops across Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Italy, taking in a variety of venues. Capital Sound provided a total Outline inventory including 28 Superfly enclosures for the main system plus 12 Mantas 28 cabinets for side hangs, six LIPF-082 stage lip-fill speakers and 12 GTO-SUB subwoofers. System control was from a single Outline Newton FPGA processor. The band’s long-serving sound engineer Dave Roden was at FOH. He commented, “Nick Boulton and I have found Superfly to be an exceptionally good sounding and flexible cabinet. It has a very flat, consistent response which reacts very well to EQ and copes easily
Australia - ClearOne has announced a new distribution agreement with Audio Visual Distributors (AVD), headquartered in Queensland Australia to represent ClearOne’s full line of audio conferencing, visual collaboration, and AV networking solutions. "AVD’s experience in the AVIT Australia and New Zealand market is second to none with prime focus on customer service and support,” noted David Gledhil,l regional sales consultant, UK, Ireland, Benelux, Oceania at ClearOne. “ANZ is an important market for us and we are looking forward to working with AVD to serve our channel partners and customers in the region who will effectively offer full commercial and technical value from pre-sales thru post-sales support.” "We are delighted to partner with ClearOne as a leader in voice and visual communications solutions for changing workspace demands,” stated Simon Fourie,
UK - Ampetronic and USA-based Williams AV have announced a pan-European strategic partnership, as well as a distribution partnership for the UK and Ireland. From 1July, Ampetronic will provide in-region technical and sales support for Williams’ European distribution partners and customers. Ampetronic will also provide European warehousing and logistics support to ensure rapid stock availability across the region for both Williams and Ampetronic product ranges. In addition, effective 1 May, Ampetronic will become Williams AV’s exclusive distribution partner in the UK and Ireland, offering Williams’ broad product portfolio to its customers. Ampetronic and Williams AV are both long-standing global champions for hearing accessibility, each of them leading their technology fields in assistive listening solutions. Ampetronic is a market leader in hearing loop tec
Australia - With a CV that spans everything from rock ’n’ roll to opera, Andrew Crawford (aka The Mix Wizard) has been revealing his mixing secrets to a global YouTube audience through his MixWizard Sessions. In an ongoing video series that kicked off at the end of March, Andrew, from Allen & Heath’s Australian distributor, TAG, has already racked up almost 20,000 views and covered topics ranging from how to use SQ’s onboard compressor as a de-esser to setting up A&H mixers for live webcasting. There have even been guest appearances from Allen & Heath's MD Rob Clark in a run of four episodes where The Mix Wizard admirably matches up to Rob in a fierce compressor 'nerd-off'. “In normal times my world is all about connecting with the audio community in Australia, and I’ve driven thousands and thousands of miles in the Ampervan to run SQ, Avantis
USA - To meet popular demand, Audinate has extended its online Dante webinar series. This is an opportunity to officially obtain new Dante certifications, learn about Dante Domain Manager and ‘join interesting discussions on case studies and Dante design principles’ says Audinate. Audinate is offering over 25 free online learning opportunities this month – some available in a variety of languages. Webinar topics include: Dante Design and Case Studies, Dante Domain Manager, Dante Certification Programme plus previous webinar recordings. Visit: www.audinate.com
Namibia - With more than a third of the world’s population on lockdown as countries implement measures to slow the spread of Covid-19, priorities are being thrown into sharp focus. In Windhoek, Namibia, technical production and rental company dB Audio’s first concern was to ensure that its staff would be safe and well during the lockdown period which started on 27 March and was extended to 4 May by President Hage Geingob. dB Audio is normally involved in a wide range of live events – from corporates to dance and music shows, experientials and awards presentations through to commercials. Namibia’s abundant and beautifully desolate desert locations and unspoiled coastline have long been a favourite for location scouts. Over the years, the company has been a steady investor in Robe moving lights. But all live events stopped on 16 March when public gathering
UK - VE Day was an event of particular significance for RG Jones, the oldest continuously trading independent sound company in the UK and one of the oldest three in the world. It is 75 years since founder, Reginald Jones, provided public address systems for the VE Day celebrations in London. Reginald’s son Robin Jones took over the company after his father passed away in 1987. Robin, who was a long-standing and active committee member of the APRS, has been instrumental at curating the company history archives and has also been transcribing records from the sought after Oak Records; a highly collectable record collection created by RG Jones Studios. Robin recently transcribed audio for a client from a 78rpm disc of the Loafers Dance Band, recorded by RGJ in March 1945 at a victory celebration dance at the old Epsom Baths (they boarded over the baths to turn it into a
France - From today, 11 May, Nexo will gradually begin restarting its manufacturing operations in Plailly and Saint-Pierre-de-Côle. The return to normal service, in accordance with the guidelines of the French authorities, will involve adjusted working hours to meet health and safety protocols, and the current demand. Most of the company’s key suppliers have now resumed their own activity. For several months, the Nexo team has been continuously adapting itself, staying proactive and agile in the face of the unprecedented challenges caused by the coronavirus. Jean Mullor, company CEO, states, “Our first goal remains the health of our employees, guaranteeing them a safe working environment and working practices that align with government guidelines and common-sense good behaviour rules.” Nexo R&D, sales, engineering support, and administration teams will conti
USA - Lectrosonics has introduced the two newest members of the D Squared digital wireless family, the DPR digital plug-on transmitter and the DSQD/AES-3 receiver. The next extension of the D Squared wireless family platform which premiered in 2019, the DPR digital plug-on transmitter is fully compatible with the DSQD digital receiver and features a tuning range of 470 to 608 MHz (470 to 614 MHz for the export version). The new transmitter includes specially developed, high efficiency circuitry for extended operating time on two AA batteries, and offers RF power selections at 25 and 50 mW. Studio quality audio performance is assured by high quality components in the preamp, wide range input gain adjustment and DSP-controlled analogue limiting. Input gain is adjustable over a 55dB range in 1dB steps to allow an exact match to the input signal level, maximizing audio dyn
UK - Harman Professional Solutions and UK distributor Sound Technology have announced that the AKG Podcaster Essentials bundle, previously only available in the US, is now available in the UK with stock arriving this month. Designed to give podcasters, video producers and content creators a professional edge, the AKG Podcaster Essentials bundle includes the new AKG Lyra USB microphone, AKG K371 headphones, Ableton Live 10 Lite recording software, a four-part Berklee Online recording class, and a full set of audio cables including a headphone splitter. The AKG Lyra is an ultra-HD, multi-mode USB microphone that delivers pristine 24-bit, 192 kHz audio quality, with four versatile capture modes suited to a wide range of recording applications. AKG K371 headphones provide clear, detailed sound with largest-in-class 50mm drivers and a closed-back design for superb sound iso
USA - FOX Sports went the whole nine yards in its coverage of Super Bowl LIV in Miami this year, building a South Beach studio compound that represented the network’s largest footprint ever for a Super Bowl. FOX Sports’ collaborated with Creative Works London on the studios’ set content package, which featured disguise solutions driving more than 50 sq.m of LED video at the compound. The South Beach location, just steps away from the ocean at Lummus Park, included two separate stages with LED mounted high on their facades and a large demonstration field with an LED video wall backdrop. Occupied by Fox Sports, FS1 and Fox Deportes, the compound hosted an extensive amount of Super Bowl Week coverage and the pre-game show. "When a client like FOX Sports pops up asking for a 'concert style’ graphic system, and you are a branding and content creation studio with a w
India - CineTech Engineering Works recently equipped Shree Talkies with JBL Professional’s Dolby Atmos-designed audio system that enables the theatre to show films with immersive sound. Located on the north side of Agra, the Shree Talkies movie theatre boasts the highest cinema revenue in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The recently upgraded 860-seat main theatre became the first in the city to offer Dolby Atmos sound, which features ceiling and full-range surround speakers to create an immersive, three-dimensional soundstage. To comply with Dolby’s strict specifications for Atmos theatres and offer a premium audio experience, Shree Talkies hired cinema integrator CineTech Engineering Works to outfit the theatre with JBL Professional loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers. “With the theatre having a seating capacity of 860, total throw distance of 112ft and height of arou
The Netherlands - Alcons Audio is to present a new series of online educational sessions, featuring industry names and special guests, beginning 12 May. Whether specialising in touring/production, installation, or cinema, this series will “delve into the latest technology, spark innovative dialogue, and expand the sound designer’s toolbox”. Alcons’ online Go-To presentations have always been an essential part of the company’s USA communications for supporting engineers and consultants, training new dealers and providing information to potential customers. With the increased demand for online information, Alcons is now making these presentations available to a much wider audience. Presented by David Rahn of Alcons Audio USA, with guest input from several renowned audio engineers, each webinar will be 30-60 minutes in length. The webinars will provide a detai
