UK - Alexandra Palace opened in 1873 as a grand Victorian public gesture - ‘the people's Palace’. Since then, the complex story of the London venue - affectionately known as Ally Pally - has been marked by fires, restoration, substantial war-time damage, charitable rescue and many political sagas. In December, after 80 years of slumber and two years of careful restoration, Alexandra Palace Theatre re-opened. As part of the process, a complete technical infrastructure had to be installed, including a substantial L-Acoustics Kara PA system. The Alexandra Palace Theatre itself is part of the building's East Wing. It had an original capacity of 3,000 and the stage was a marvel of Victorian engineering, incorporating a variety of innovative stage machinery. The BBC leased the Palace in 1935 and the theatre went unused until performances started again in 2004, in a lim
USA - Community Professional Loudspeakers has appointed Richard Dean Associates as its rep firm for the New England and Upstate New York. Established in 1975, Richard Dean Associates’ line card includes Shure, QSC, Allen & Heath, BARCO, Patton Electronics, Denon/Marantz Pro, Rane, IDK Corp. and Listen Technologies. Dick Bazirgan, principal of Richard Dean Associates, comments: “We pride ourselves on representing the premier brands in every category, and Community is certainly in that group. It is a great complement to our other brands, with outdoor and installation products covering voids we couldn’t previously fill. The endorsement of many of our rep colleagues also played a big part in our decision. To a firm, they talked about what a great company Community is to work with.” Bazirgan adds: “We have a large number of outdoor opportunities with all of th
USA - The Super Bowl, one of the most wireless-intensive live events with thousands of devices vying for clear spectrum, deployed Shure wireless systems for game day, including the flagship Axient Digital wireless system and PSM 1000 in-ear monitors. All RF usage was planned and managed by NFL lead frequency coordinator Karl Voss. Primary audio supplier ATK Audiotek again brought in experts from Orlando-based Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) to meet the challenge of delivering pristine audio for the on-field entertainment. PWS handled Gladys Knight’s rendition of the US national anthem among other pre-game festivities, plus the Maroon 5 half time show and the referee’s critical microphone. Professional Wireless Systems RF engineer, Gary Trenda, chose Shure wireless again. He explains: “It’s our second straight year using Axient Digital as our preferred syst
China - The Zhengzhou Art Palace has upgraded its main PA with Aero-20A systems from DAS Audio. The Zhengzhou Art Palace, which houses a 1,338 and 186-seat theatres, had recently undergone a major renovation to convert the venue into a multi-purpose facility with a stage lift, a project that included a revamp of the Art Palace’s audio system. DAS Audio China were contracted to set up an audio system for the Zhengzhou Art Palace that was powerful yet adaptable enough to meet the venue’s unique sound needs, which range from ballets and dance performances to opera and symphonies by first-class national and international groups. A total of two clusters of six Aero-20A line arrays were installed as the main PA using the integrated DASaim optimisation tool, combined with two LX-118A subwoofers, which were flown in a left/right configuration on either side of the st
Swaziland - Ten Concepts, a Swaziland based hire company for audio, visual and lighting equipment, has invested in a DiGiCo S21 with D2 rack, purchased from South African distributor, DWR Distribution. “When I saw the DiGiCo S21 on the internet I was sold,” says company founder, Thabani Ngcamphalala. “I love the touchscreen and being able to move files from one screen to the other without a problem. It’s so user friendly.” He will be using the console for corporate events and shows, and is particularly looking forward to making use of the DiGiCo platform for live events. (Jim Evans)
UK - On-Stage, supplier of musical accessories and pro-audio equipment, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019. After years of encountering the varied needs of musicians first-hand, Jim Hennessey set about designing the innovative solutions he felt were lacking in the marketplace. Utilising knowledge acquired during a career in aviation, as well as his experience of the music industry from his time at Ovation guitars, Hennessey designed the TRI Triple Guitar Stand, an industry first which became On-Stage's debut product. “I've always been a creator and designer, so when I saw a need in the industry, I filled it,” said Jim Hennessey. “I'm so proud of where we are as a company today; we have all of the musicians that have used our products throughout the years to thank. It has been a pleasure serving you for the last four decades.” Distributed in UK, ROI a
USA - In the hands of Beckie Campbell, an Allen & Heath dLive S7000 mixing system is more than a console, it’s a base from which students can start their careers in professional audio. As the owner of B4 Media Production, a live event production company based in Vero Beach, Florida, Campbell’s business model serves a wide-ranging client base while empowering the next generation of audio engineers. “I want to give young people work,” Campbell says, “as well as a leg up that I didn’t have when I started out so they can embark on a solid career path. I hire a lot of freelancers who are just out of college or give students a chance to earn credit hours for internships or complete program requirements. It’s challenging sometimes, but ultimately quite rewarding.” B4 has a presence around the country at conferences, festivals, faith-based entertainment ev
USA - Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, holds five weekly services, three of which involve a full choir and orchestra. The church also offers seven weekly television broadcast programmes that reach a local and worldwide audience. Along with its weekly services, the church hosts an Internet live stream three times a week. Rusty Trowbridge, technical director/lead audio technician at Southcrest Baptist Church, wanted to improve the overall sound quality for the prominent Northwest Texas church’s weekly services and broadcasts. After testing various options, Trowbridge found that a selection of DPA Microphones produced the best sound and were able to handle the church’s high-production demands. The upgraded microphone package Trowbridge employed consisted of DPA d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones for most of the orchestra, including all of the stringed ins
USA - At the recent NAMM show, Westview Productions presented a cheque for $5,162.32 to Behind the Scenes as their first donation to the charity as a new Pledge-a-Service Partner. Westview is an entertainment, energy, and immersive technology solutions firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Their project process encompasses all aspects of design that integrates with all construction trades to ensure a cohesive and seamless project experience. Westview has global experience in lighting, motion control, audio and AV systems, media, and architectural systems allowing them to provide comprehensive services as a sole solutions organisation. On presentation of the cheque, Eric Bloom, president, states: “I feel so strongly about the Behind the Scenes Foundation’s efforts, that it’s a great pleasure to be able to support the foundation this way. Helping to support our c
Italy - A sound system from Clair Brothers was deployed for the 25th anniversary celebration of Italian nightclub Odissea Fun City Dance Club. The club’s owners decided their previous system had served its purpose well but that the time had come to upgrade. Prase Media Technologies, Clair Brothers Italian distributor, was asked to suggest speakers for the upgrade. Emanuele ‘Lele’ Luongo, product manager at Prase, along with Ivan Omiciuolo and Matteo Barbaro, whom supported the project throughout, recommended the new Clair Brothers PA. “The main challenge in this room,” explains Luongo, “was to achieve homogeneity in the distribution of low frequencies while also minimizing the reflections, within the entire audio range, caused by metal sets and mirrors on the side walls of the dance floor. We also worked to curb the incidence of medium-high range in
UK - UK rental and production specialist Adlib continued its excellent working relationship with Irish singer-songwriter and musician Hozier, and a production team led by Sue ‘Duchess’ Iredale. The Liverpool-based company supplied sound and lighting equipment plus crew for the band’s recent UK and European tour, with a Coda sound system specified by FOH sound engineer Steve ‘Patto’ Pattison, and the realisation of an eye-catching and inventive lighting design created by Steven Douglas. Patto joined the Hozier team mid-way through 2018, shortly after completing the Freedom Child world tour with Irish trio The Script. Hozier’s Nina Cried Power EP dropped almost immediately and with a new (second) studio album anticipated in the spring, the touring schedule started apace and continues worldwide throughout 2019. Patto chose a Coda AiRAY system for
The Netherlands - ISE 2019 (5-8 February 2019, Amsterdam RAI) sees the launch of the d&b audiotechnik DS20 Audio network bridge, the company’s first product offering for connecting its loudspeaker systems to the open standards-based Milan protocol. The DS20 is a natural networking choice for d&b users. Milan is a deterministic network that inherits all the technical benefits of Audio Video Bridging (AVB) technology: improved reliability, optimum synchronization and hassle-free network set up. Advantages that coincide quite nicely with the efficiency focused d&b System reality. Together with AVID, L-Acoustics, Meyer Sound, and Biamp, among others, d&b has defined the specifications for achieving seamless interoperation between any product implementing Milan. Henning Kaltheuner, Head of d&b Market Intelligence and explains: “AVB defines a
The Netherlands - Italian loudspeaker manufacturers Outline has launched four new designs at ISE, taking place this week in Amsterdam. The Ki-Series is an application-flexible compact loudspeaker concept designed for a broad range of installed applications. Both models (the Ki-12 and Ki-10) maximise efficiency and cost effectiveness with internal crossover networks, a small footprint, integral mounting points and very high SPL capability, the company says. Both models also feature rotatable horns that can be adjusted without any disassembly of the device. The MV1CX is the latest member of the Cinema Series family of Outline products. This high-powered, slimline co-axial design is ideal as a main system component for smaller cinemas and may also be used as the centre speaker in L-C-R arrangements. Its small footprint features side-located reflex ports to eliminate LF-in
The Netherlands - Yamaha has launched new loudspeakers, 10G L2 switches and significant firmware upgrades at ISE 2019. Launched in response to customer demand, Yamaha’s multi-award winning VXC and VXS loudspeaker range is being expanded with the VXC2F 2.5” full-range, low profile ceiling speaker and VXC8S 8” bandpass ceiling subwoofer. The VXC2F is the shallowest model in the VXC series, with a back can less than 7.6cm/3” deep, while VXC8S is the first ceiling subwoofer in the range and includes unique VXC features like anti-drop tab and carrying band for safe, straightforward installation. The PK-C4 pendant mount option for the VXC2F will also be launched, with all VXC models available in black or white (paintable) finish. Also being launched at ISE is the SWP2 series of network switches, which include 10Gbps fibre uplinks, making them ideal for high capacity
The Netherlands - intoPIX, leading provider of image processing technologies for professional media applications, has announced that Audinate, leading provider of professional digital audio networking technologies, will use intoPIX’s ProAV optimised ultra-low-latency JPEG 2000 technology within its new Dante AV Design Suite for use with the newly-announced Dante AV Module. At ISE 2019, Audinate is launching Dante AV as a video-capable extension to the popular audio-over-IP ecosystem Dante. It provides ease-of-use, seamless multi-vendor interoperability and integrated control experience. The incorporation of intoPIX’s unique technology plays a crucial role in the system to deliver a visually lossless 4K60 4:4:4 HDR video experience within a standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet network with no latency, the company says. Gael Rouvroy, intoPIX CEO and director of technol
The Netherlands - At this year’s ISE trade show in Amsterdam, Martin Audio announced the launch of a cardioid subwoofer, SXC118, as part of an overhaul of its subwoofer strategy. Designed for touring sound and installations, the SXC118 is a compact, high performance cardioid subwoofer. It features an 18” (460mm) forward facing driver and a 14” (356mm) rear-facing driver, each driven independently by separate channels and DSP from an iK42 amplifier. Each driver has its own chamber with optimised bass reflex porting. This arrangement produces a cardioid dispersion pattern which maximises the front radiation and reduces unwanted radiation behind the subwoofer. The recommended iK42 amplifier optimises the DSP parameters for front and rear drivers to maximise the rear rejection — from 21dB at 43Hz to 28dB at 75Hz. In front of the enclosure, the output from the two d
South Africa - To cater for a growing congregation, Thrive Church, east of Johannesburg, has invested in an L-Acoustics audio system installed by DWR Distribution. Thrive Church has two houses of worship, a church in Boksburg and another in Edenvale. The upgrade, which was installed at the Boksburg community, consisted of a three per side L-Acoustics ARCS WiFo System (two Focus and one Wide) with two SB18m subwoofers flown per side, two X12 outfills (one per side) and six 5XT front-fills. “The previous audio system was about fifteen years old and wasn’t adequate for the size of the venue where we had recently extended the seating capacity,” says Pastor Byron Chicken. “It wasn’t giving us a sufficiently full and clear sound and was battling to fill the venue properly. The new L-Acoustics system has made a huge difference; it gives our venue a beautifully full and cl
The Netherlands - ISE (5-8 February, Amsterdam RAI) is the first European outing for Nexo’s ‘Big Twelve’ Geo M12 line array, the top-of-the-line addition to the popular Geo M family of sound reinforcement systems by the French manufacturer. Sharing the same aesthetic design and sonic signatures as the other models in the Geo M Series, the new Geo M12 promises to deliver “all the Nexo hallmarks of power, flexibility, coverage and superb sonic performance in a thoroughly modern package,” the company says. Launched together with the MSUB18 companion sub bass cabinet, the Geo M12 is aimed primarily at the mid-size rental company, although its competitive pricing will make it a popular investment for all types of user, from corporate presentation to live performance venues to houses of worship. The Geo M12 takes its place at the upper end of Nexo’s current line
The Netherlands - At ISE 2019 this week, Astro Spatial Audio (ASA), will appear on the booths of three major loudspeaker manufacturers. In addition, a new AAX plug-in will be previewed, offering full remote control and monitoring of the SARA II Premium Rendering Engine within Pro Tools and the Avid S6L live mixing console. A leading independent solution for object-based 3D sound, ASA breaks the chains of manufacturer-specific systems, instead opting for a brand agnostic approach that frees sound designers and engineers to use the brands they prefer. Most recently, a series of immersive showcases drew crowds to the Clair Bros booth at January’s NAMM Show. At ISE 2019, AsSA will drive demonstrations across three separate halls, beginning on the booth of Alcons Audio (6-H150), as the Dutch manufacturer brings its popular Pro-Ribbon Immersive Experience back to the RAI.
The Netherlands Classic British pro audio brand Studiomaster makes its ISE debut this week at the Amsterdam RAI (5-8 February). The company will introduce a diverse range of innovative install products, including a portable, compact line array system, a DSP-controlled phased array column speaker system, a miniature 5” DANTE/POEspeaker box, full range 70/100V in-ceiling speakers, 100V line programmable DSP rack mixer amps and a series of flatbed and rackmount tablet controlled digital mixers. PLATFORM 10 is a self-contained, portable and compact powerful active line array system comprising two 18” subs, each paired with two 10” line array elements. With 2400W of 4 channel CLASS D integrated amplification in each sub and array configuration (providing a total of 4800W system power), and 2 input / 4 output onboard Digital Signal Processing with selectable preset system co
Finland - Oulu enjoys the distinction of being the most populous city in northern Finland with over 200,000 residents. The city recently saw the opening of Basso Club, a new 430-capacity nightclub that hosted its official opening night in December and features a range of Genelec active loudspeakers including the new S360 and 7382 high-SPL models. The young owners of Basso Club, brothers Teemu and Miikka Sulkala, were determined from the outset that their club would break the mould. “We didn’t want to do anything that our competitors or other nightclubs have already done so many times,” affirms Teemu Sulkala. “We wanted something totally new.” Teemu and the rest of his family already had a very clear idea of what they wanted inside the space, which was a former furniture store near the centre of Oulu. In fact, their architect produced the plans for the new ven
The Netherlands - Allen & Heath will unveil a host of new Dante enabled products at the ISE Show, including portable and wall-mount I/O solutions for installation, and two new Dante option cards. All of Allen & Heath’s latest Dante releases are AES67 compatible and Dante Domain Manager ready. The DT168 provides 16 mic preamps and 8 line outputs in a convenient stage box form factor. Ideal for portable applications thanks to its rubber bumpers and handle, DT168 can be deployed on stage or used as a drop-in expander. The DT164-W provides 16 mic preamps and 4 line outputs in a versatile wall-mount design for permanent installation. The reversible mounting frame allows for in-wall or on-wall mounting. The unit also fits in a standard 12x12” NEMA box or equivalent, or mounted in a floor pocket for stage use. The IEC mains power inlet can be replaced with a gland
UK - Peavey Commercial Audio has partnered with Neets to announce the availability of a TanGo driver for PCA’s Digitool family of digital audio processing units for loudspeaker management, matrix mixing, room combining and more. The driver is currently available for the Digitool MX16 and Digitool Live devices, both of which are 8x8-channel units. The Neets TanGo is a powerful control system enabling intuitive touch control of third-party devices - such as Digitool - either through the array of Neets touch panel devices, Android/iOS touch panels, or standard browsers allowing for custom built GUIs. For easy installation, TanGo comes with PoE-in and PoE-out to avoid the need for an external power supply for either the control system itself or any external device such as a touch panel. The Neets TanGo driver developed by PCA offers an IP-based command set including inpu
The Netherlands - OCA Alliance, the AV trade association formed to promote awareness, implementation and development of the AES70 open network control standard, is once again fulfilling its mission at ISE, supporting the release of the latest revision of the standard. The result of several years of collaborative work within the OCA Alliance and the AES, AES70-2018 is an evolutionary upgrade to the original AES70-2015 standard. The revision provides a number of new and improved features The new standards documents are available from the AES Standards site. Links to the relevant AES pages are on the Developer Resources page of OCA Alliance Technical Site, while more details on the 2018 changes may be found on the OCA Alliance website. Key to the OCA Alliance’s mission is supporting developers become more familiar with the AES70 standard, providing assistance in i
