USA - MXL Microphones, the professional audio division of Marshall Electronics, is scaling production and support to meet increased demand for products that address telepresence, remote workflows, and online education. As a certified hardware provider for Zoom and Zoom Rooms, the rapid adoption of Zoom as a digital communications platform for businesses, government healthcare, and educational institutions has correlated with increased demand for MXL AC-Series USB microphones and accessories. “The demand for our MXL conferencing microphones has been steadily increasing over the last few years,” comments Leonard Marshall, founder and CEO of Marshall Electronics. “Now that a lot more businesses and universities have adopted work-from-home and telecommuting policies, we have seen a spike in demand for MXL AC Series microphones, such as the AC-404 and AC-360-Z.”
UK - Austrian Audio has announced immediate UK availability of its new made-in-Austria Hi-X55 professional headphones. The closed-back, over-ear, Hi-X55 is the first model in the company's new Hi-X (High-Excursion) Series which will also soon include the Hi-X50 on-ear version. Designed for professional use, the Hi-X55 circum-aural, closed-back headphones provide incredible over-the-ear comfort. A double acoustic wall was designed to achieve the best damping results, with the form factor of the earpads completely rethought, giving more room for the ears without enlarging the earcups, reducing fatigue from long listening sessions. Developed from scratch, the all new Austrian Audio 44mm Hi-X (High Excursion) driver features a ring magnet system allowing improved air-flow and the strongest magnetic field in its class. This ring magnet structure, coupled with a copper-clad
The Netherlands - The QB242 arrayable subwoofer is a modular bass element designed for use in both permanent and (limited) portable applications. It is designed as a fully-scalable low-frequency extension (LFE) system to the QR24 line-source column system, or as arrayable LFE system with any Alcons pro-ribbon system. The QB242 can be stacked or flown in multiples, making it a building block to form bass arrays, for obtaining low frequency projection and throw control in acoustically challenging spaces or over longer distances. The controlled (cylindrical) projection of the QR24 can thus be extended down to the lower frequencies by enlarging the LFE array length through adding extra QB242 modules. The lowest usable frequency of one single element is 35Hz. The Q-systems are suitable for applications where a high directivity and/or a very long throw is required, com
Italy - The RCF Audio Academy team continues to present a series of webinars focusing on RCF technologies and best practices in live sound and installed audio. These webinars are presented by RCF specialists from around the world in multiple languages, streamed live on the RCF online platform. Topics covered include Sound System Design courses for line array systems, subwoofer alignment and tuning, design of controlled directivity systems in difficult environments, design of EN54 voice alarm systems, and many others. Viewers and students will also have the opportunity to ask questions via a chat window during each live stream. Seats for these webinars are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the seat limit is reached, attendees will see a message that the classroom is full. Attendees who are unable to attend can then subscribe to the next session available.
UK - The beginning of 2020 saw the finals of the IFMAR 2020 1/12 World Championship at Milton Keynes’ Centre MK. Event production supplier, SFL, provided a zoned AV system for the event, made all the more challenging by the Championships being held in a working shopping centre that remained open to the public throughout. The IFMAR 2020 1/12 is hosted by the BRCA (British Radio Car Association), which races over 13 different classes of radio-controlled model racing cars. It took place over five days in Centre MK’s dedicated 1800sq.m exhibition space, which is situated within the main shopping area, and attracted an impressive 100,000 visitors to watch the thrills and spills of this exciting event. SFL’s involvement with IFMAR started four years ago at its UK National Meeting, the first IFMAR event held at Centre MK. "I took a small van, set the gear up and then
USA - In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Chris Brodman and Cody Lisle of LIT Lighting have launched LIT Live, a live stream for music shows. Prior to the lockdown, most of LIT’s work involved lighting festivals and corporate events. Brodman and Lisle had no experience streaming live music. They brought together a team of experienced volunteers and, adhering strictly to social distance protocols - set up times were staggered to avoid crowding and all equipment was consistently disinfected - they began streaming live music shows on Twitch.TV and Facebook. The first show featured Hollywood Slasher and was lit by Casey Jones, who ran his rig on a ChamSys Magic Q Maxi wing PC system; while the second, featuring DJ Yellow, was run by James Simpson. Both performances were given dynamic, colourful looks with the help of 16 Maverick MK2 Spot, 22 Rogue R2 Wash and 12 Rogue
India - To deliver intelligible sound at DM Cinema, CineTech Engineering Works installed a premium JBL Professional by Harman cinema audio system. DM Cinema is the first cinema in Aizawl. With comfortable seating for up to 140, a full-sized cinema screen and a 2K projection system capable of showing 3D films, DM Cinema provides an immersive experience for movie-goers. In order to ensure comprehensive coverage throughout the theatre, DM Cinema hired CineTech Engineering Works to install an audio system featuring JBL loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers. “Being the first cinema in Aizawl, this was a huge breakthrough in the northeast,” said Asad Rashid, owner, CineTech Engineering Works. “The support from the Harman Professional Solutions team was commendable, and enabled us to complete the installation within the designated time frame. “For the installation a
USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has announced the appointment of Quantum Sales and Technology as its new manufacturer’s representative for Southern California. “We chose to work with Quantum ST because of the company’s strong reputation within its dealer network and history of brand-building within its territory,” explains Josh Garcia, western regional sales manager for EAW. “We share the common goal of establishing long-term relationships with customers to enable their growth and success. Quantum’s marketplace knowledge will help us tap into the potential in its territory.” Quantum ST is an AVL sales and marketing firm based out of Santa Ana, CA with 20 years of industry knowledge and experience. “We’ve always been impressed with how EAW speakers sound in real-world scenarios, not just in demos,” says Buck Tallman, sales manager at Quantum ST.<
Italy - An a installation of Shure’s ULX-D Digital Wireless and Shure’s QLX-D wireless systems has been deployed throughout an 18,000 seat, 65 room conference and exhibition venue that occupies over 54,000sq.m of exhibition space in Italy. The MiCo Milan Convention Centre hosts over 500 events each year and is part of the Fiera Milano Group, one of the largest trade fair and exhibition organisers in the world and part of Fiera Milano Congressi, an international conference centre operator and venue management company. The choice of wireless system was crucial to guarantee crystal clear audio and perfect intelligibility for the audience, especially with so many devices in daily operation throughout the venue space, as well as the potential for DVB-T interference. It was a high priority to have a system that ensures the reliability of at least 100 channels in action w
Israel - Meir Nitzan Rishon LeZion Cultural Hall has upgraded its audio system, the ultimate aim being to offer a first-class system that would significantly reduce the need for visiting productions to carry their own equipment, thus reducing the environmental impact of transportation. To achieve this, L-Acoustics K Series was installed. Constructed 20 years ago and located just eight kilometres from Tel Aviv, the Hall is known for its excellent acoustics and the comfort of its seating. The multi-purpose venue includes a large auditorium of 970 seats - where the new system was installed - a smaller auditorium of 250 seats and dance halls, both large and small. The main auditorium hosts a full range of productions, from drama and musical theatre to classical concerts and rock and roll. The venue also serves as the home of the Israeli Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion as
India - Mastersound has recently purchased a DiGiCo SD10 from the British manufacturer’s authorised India distributor, Hi-Tech Audio Systems. Ahmedabad-based Mastersound was launched in the 1950s and operartes throughout North India. From India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to George Harrison, sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and Lata Mangeshkar, Mastersound has worked with some of the world’s biggest names. Being the third-generation torchbearer for the company, director Tarandeep Singh has made sure he can carry on Mastersound’s legacy with the same promise of quality as his father and his grandfather. The purchase of the SD10 fits with this ethos. “Gurnam Singh, founder of Mastersound, had a vision when he started the company in 1956,” he says. “He didn’t want to compromise on its audio system’s quality and always aimed to provide the best so
USA - Martin Audio has grown its team in the US with the appointment of Will Harris as product support engineer. As the latest addition to the manufacturer’s product support group, Harris will be supporting the Martin Audio team and resellers with demos, system design and implementation. He will also commission installations and provide technical support to customers. Harris has experienced all aspects of the pro audio industry, from musician on stage to live sound engineer as well as technical support for a high-profile manufacturer. Based in Las Vegas, he will ensure that Martin Audio’s technical support will now cover US customers coast to coast when required. “Will is not only an experienced live sound engineer, but has experience working for a prominent manufacturer designing and supporting systems,” says Lee Stein VP of sales, North America. “Our rapid
USA - Audinate has announced a catalogue of free, live webinars and online learning opportunities – some available in a variety of languages – over the coming month. The webinars will allow participants to officially obtain new Dante certifications, learn about Dante Domain Manager and other Audinate solutions, and join discussions on case studies and Dante design principles. Registration for the webinars is available at http://go.audinate.com/lp-events/webinar-series-20 The webinars are currently scheduled between 14 -30 April. Additional courses may be announced at a future date. Topics in the series include: Designing and Managing the World’s Largest Single-Room Speaker System at the Royal Albert Hall – a discussion with the manufacturers, solution designers, integrators and the Royal Albert Hall head of production. Learn how they addressed chal
USA - Owing to overwhelming response to an initial daily offering of online training content the past few weeks, the Meyer Sound education team has launched an ongoing comprehensive webinar programme. The content blocks will offer a natural progression of subject matter, providing attendees both practical knowledge for honing skills as well case studies for reference. The instructors will review specialty tools that cover a diverse set of solutions across all industry verticals. The education team also welcomes attendees to choose from an à la carte menu to create every other Friday “On Demand” programming via a weekly poll through the Meyer Sound Users Community Facebook group. Later in the spring, special guests, including Meyer Sound CEO John Meyer, will be invited to join and lead some of the discussions. “Education has always been a pillar of the hol
UAE - Sonance has announced the appointment of John Dodson as the new manufacturer’s rep for the Pro Series and 100v product lines within the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa territories. Dodson assumes direct responsibility for the channel partners, consultant relationships and authorised integrators in the region. John Dodson has been in the audio-visual field for more than 35 years and has held positions in retail and distribution with numerous well-established commercial manufacturers. With this new appointment, Dodson is tasked with cultivating and discovering new commercial audio-visual business relationships. In addition to the Sonance line of commercial-targeted audio solutions, Dodson’s product arsenal also includes microphones, amplifiers, processors, cables, connectors and technical furniture. Regarding the new appointment, Dodson stated, “I am deli
Europe - In an effort to make educational training more accessible, K-array Webinar Series will host free, live presentations of its audio solutions on a weekly basis. Two new topics are being offered this week. Control Software is a one-hour webinar dedicated to sound technicians, audio engineers and system users will explain how to configure, tune, modify and manage your K-array system to give you maximum control. Live Sound I and Live Sound II will detail the cutting-edge features employed in K-array's Live Sound solutions. Live Sound 1 will discuss at length the technology featured in the Pinnacle line, like Pure Array Technology, ideal for theatres and concert halls. Live Sound 2 is dedicated to the technology employed in the Mugello and Firenze lines, such as Slim Array Technology, Electronic Beam Steering and Advanced Bass Control, perfect f
Italy - RCF has introduced a series of webinars focusing on RCF technologies and best practices in live sound and installed audio. The webinars - live streaming on RCF’s online platform - will be presented by RCF specialists in multiple languages. Viewers and students will also be able to ask questions via a chat window during each live stream. There’s no need for an account or to download any software in advance. Register for each session individually, then you will receive notifications one day and one hour before the webinar. Go to the RCF Online Education page for the complete schedule. Topics include: Voice Alarm and Evac Systems according to ISO 7290-19 and CEN/TS 54-32; Line array sound system design PRO for LIVE events – Use of prediction software; Sub design with RD-NET, and Live Sound Design for Professionals: Line Array Systems with Oscar Mora.
UK - Martin Audio’s new weekly education webinar programme has got off to a flying start with all sessions for its Low Frequency System Design ‘sold out’. The popularity of this session highlights the appetite for industry education during this difficult time. “Our new webinar series seems to have been embraced by the industry,” reflects James King, marketing director at Martin Audio. “We had over 1,000 registrations for the first webinar session, which is around 10 times the average registration for one of our webinars. In fact, we had to upgrade our software package to accommodate everyone. Added to this, the training area of our website is now the most visited page after our homepage, and that has never happened before. “These are very challenging times for the pro audio industry, and we wanted to play our role in helping industry professionals to stay
Russia - UK-based specialists in immersive spatial audio, Out Board, has appointed Hi-Tech Media to distribute TiMax SoundHub spatial audio processors and TiMax TrackerD4 stagetracking systems throughout Russia. Hi-Tech Media represents a network of partners and dealers whose end-customers rely on the latest technical solutions to complement the status of their projects and take them to a new technological level. Hand in hand with Hi-Tech Media’s technical support and educational programs, dealers can now benefit from the integration of TiMax spatial audio and showcontrol to realise cost-effective and versatile immersive live performance and AV installation solutions. Pavel Shemiakin, brand manager for Hi Tech Media’s pro audio department, says, “We are very pleased to begin our partnership with Out Board TiMax, whose products will offer our partners and dealers
UK - The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has launched a support fund aimed at contractors and freelance workers in the independent music industry whose source of income has been severed without warning due to lost work in April and May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund starts with assets of £500,000 committed by AIM and its members, with further contributions invited from all sectors of the music industry and beyond. The target is to distribute £1,000 to each of 1,000 workers within two months. AIM CEO Paul Pacifico comments: “Despite government initiatives and the groundswell of support from the music industry, there are still many thousands of workers being left behind without the help that they need to get through this difficult time. Many of these people have suddenly found themselves with no source of income and with famili
UK - A survey carried out by PLASA has revealed the financial struggles faced by businesses in the entertainment technology industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted from 18 March and completed by 145 PLASA members, the study shows the early impact that various restrictions triggered by the pandemic have had on the industry, with PLASA currently conducting a follow-up survey to gain insight into the ongoing challenges that the sector is facing. From those surveyed, half said that they’ve lost at least 50% of the business for the year, with a fifth saying they’ve lost between 80% to 100% of all their business. PLASA is currently pushing for the government to include the events supply chain in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business category in order to qualify for much needed Business Rates cash grants which are already available to shops,
USA - Bon Iver supported the release of their latest album, i,i with a tour of arenas in select North American cities, with Red Hook, New York-based Firehouse Productions supplying an L-Acoustics K2 and Kara PA for the trek. But the second and latest leg of the tour was even more special - and spatial - thanks to Firehouse’s deployment of L-ISA Hyperreal Sound technology. According to Firehouse Productions account rep Chris Russo, the tour’s L-ISA configuration featured three central arrays each composed of 16 K2 plus three Kara down, flanked to the left and right by hangs of 24 Kara as the Scene system, which extended over the full width of the stage. Farther out to the left and right, two per side, 12-enclosure Kara arrays served as the Extension system, while two fill-arrays of 12 K2 expanded out-fill coverage to 180° of seating. Two hangs of 10 KS28 e
Philippines - The New Clark City Athletics Stadium is an Olympic Grade Class 1 multi-purpose stadium located at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, in the Philippines. High-profile events hosted recently by the 20,000-capacity venue have included the athletic events and closing ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian Games and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 ASEAN Para Games. The Athletics Stadium’s architecture with its hinged roof, which takes inspiration from the crater of the country’s Mount Pinatubo volcano, now hosts an impressive new Outline Stadia PA system composed of 30 loudspeaker enclosures powered by eight Outline GTA Otto (Dante) power amps, installed by Amigo Entertainment Technologies, Outline’s distributor for the Philippines. Amigo also installed an Outline Stadia PA in the New Clark City Sports Hub’s IAAF-certified Class 1 Aqua
