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
USA - While some churches have ignored the shelter-in-place orders - to the disdain of many - Orlando’s Experience Christian Centre took a decidedly different approach. By taking their Good Friday worship service outdoors to a parking lot, church officials were able to satisfy their congregation’s desire for spiritual guidance while maintaining social distancing. It proved to be both an uplifting and responsible approach for everyone. To ensure the congregation could hear the message clearly, sound was delivered by a healthy assortment of loudspeaker enclosures from DAS Audio. Orlando, FL-based MTI Sound, Lighting, and Staging, an event production services company that addresses a wide range of projects, was contracted to provide sound, staging, and lighting for Experience Christian Centre’s outdoor worship service. Utilising loudspeakers drawn from DAS Audio’s
Thailand - To provide good quality sound for speakers and performers, Mahajak Development Co recently equipped the Young Buddhists Association of Thailand headquarters with a Harman Professional Solutions audio system featuring solutions from JBL, Crown, Soundcraft and BSS. Young Buddhists Association of Thailand (YBAT) is a youth organisation dedicated to educating youths who are interested in Theravadan Tripitaka. Opened in 2006, the YBAT Vipassana Meditation Headquarters in Bangkok is home to the Mind and Wisdom Development Institute and hosts multiple meditation and Dhamma courses. To ensure clear, intelligible sound during classes and special events, YBAT hired distributor Mahajak Development Co to upgrade their existing audio solution. “The YBAT management wanted to upgrade their existing sound system with a robust audio solution that would enable them to sprea
USA - As students and teachers continue with their transition to online learning, ensuring the right tools to learn from home can be a challenge. Shure has stepped up to help its neighbours by donating $79,000 worth of earphones to Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The earphones are compatible with mobile phones and laptops to enable more focused learning for students and teachers who may encounter distracting noise or difficulties in hearing online lessons at home. Shure’s SE215 Sound IsolatingTM Earphones help eliminate noise and are designed to be comfortable for extended wear. An inline mic provides clear audio for two-way communication between students and teachers. Select Chicago Public Schools on the South, West, and North sides of Chicago have received the earphones to distribute to those who need them. "Once schools were closed, teachers, staff, and admini
New Zealand - One of New Zealand’s most storied performance venues has reopened after a five-year dormancy with a new name, a new look and, thanks in large part to an expansive IS-Series audio solution from Adamson Systems Engineering, a newly-augmented guest experience. The Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre, known as Toitoi, is home to a historic 979-seat opera house – one of the most revered lyric houses across all of Australasia. First opened in 1915, the opera house and its adjacent municipal building were both closed in 2014 having been deemed “earthquake-prone”; however, with the full support of the local community, work began on a $17.8m NZD (approx. $10.76m USD) venue-wide overhaul midway through 2017. A key component of that investment was an all-new sound reinforcement system for the opera house, ultimately built around Adamson’s install-focuse
Europe - On 27 April, L-Acoustics sales manager Tim McCall set out on a journey to ride 2000km from L-Acoustics headquarters in Marcoussis, France, to each of the companies in the group. He will return to Marcoussis on 11 May, in time for when the French Government is due to lift some of the current lockdown restrictions. “The live production business has been hit hard by COVID-19, and individuals in this industry even harder. So to help our global crew family, I will be riding my bike on a trainer (so as not to break strict French lockdown laws),” says McCall. “My virtual route will start at L-Acoustics HQ in Marcoussis before going on to Keskatel and then Wenden, Germany and on to the L-ISA HQ in Highgate, London before heading south and back to Amboise, France before heading home to Marcoussis - a trip of around 2,000km and around 8,000m of climbing.” McCal
USA - Atlona will launch AtlonaComm 20, a month-long virtual tradeshow experience beginning 1 June on Atlona’s website. The online event will offer a schedule of product offerings, training and education experiences, and personalised meeting opportunities for customers, partners and other visitors. AtlonaComm 20 represents Atlona’s proactive response to COVID-19-related event disruption, including the cancellation of InfoComm 2020, as well as general business travel and in-person sales visits. Atlona hatched its plans for an online event back in early March as the magnitude of the rapidly-evolving health crisis unfurled. “We wanted to provide guests with a tradeshow experience that closely resembles the experience of being there,” says Ilya Khayn, CEO of Atlona. “We took a proactive approach in creating a virtual, interactive event to share our latest innovat
USA - During an extensive career mixing audio for live sports, Fred Aldous has earned over 20 Emmy awards and a spot in the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He currently works as a lead mixer and audio consultant for FOX Sports, managing live audio for a variety of broadcasts, including professional football and racing. Improving viewers’ sound experience over time has necessitated a shift to a Dante-enabled digital workflow powered by products from Studio Technologies. “I need to balance all the nuances of the broadcast and create a sound image that captures the narrative of the game, all in a way that’s pleasant to the viewer,” says Aldous. “I use several Studio Technologies products, all of which have been extremely reliable and instrumental to our broadcasts.” Aldous said moving from an analogue to digital workflow has been “tremendous”, especially
UK - As an experienced production video engineer, Steven Jackson of InFocusAV creates video management and playback solutions for clients in touring theatre, musicals, conferences and installations, both at home in the UK and internationally. He is as well-versed in the nuts and bolts of creative video as anyone in the business - and for much of his career, the Hippotizer platform has been an essential part of his professional toolkit. “At secondary school I was always involved in music performance. We had a fantastic teacher who brought in a PC and recording equipment to class. I started to use it and that put me on the path I’m on now,” says Steven, recalling his first tastes of entertainment technology. At university, Steven studied Music Technology while working for a local sound and lighting company servicing a wide range of events. He encountered Max/MSP so
USA - Shortly following his Beerbongs & Bentleys tour, which wrapped up in August of last year after more than 100 shows around the globe, Post Malone took only a brief three-week hiatus from the road before heading back out on the 38-date autumn Runaway Tour in support of Hollywood’s Bleeding, his third full-length album, released on 6 September. The second leg of that North American trek picked back up in early February and carried Malone through most of his 22 additional dates before 2020’s global pandemic put live touring on hold in March. However, although much of the material performed on the Runaway Tour was new since Beerbongs & Bentleys, one element that remained constant throughout was the use of an L-Acoustics K1/K2 loudspeaker system supplied and deployed by Detroit-based provider Thunder Audio. The standard PA
Finland - Genelec is to donate a percentage of every sale of its new RAW loudspeaker range to the Audio Engineering Society (AES), for the remainder of this year. Additionally, Genelec will be funding 10 one-year AES memberships for those individuals whose lives have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Genelec managing director Siamak Naghian comments: “To us, the AES represents the only serious forum for the development of audio, and the work it does for our industry is invaluable. In its pursuit of excellence and dedication to raising the bar in the industry, it is without equal, and our approaches have much in common. We will do everything we can to help the Society through the ongoing crisis, and this donation is just one way of showing our support and appreciation for this much-loved institution.” Genelec will donate a percentage of each global RAW sale to
