Europe - Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular (read report in LSi November) is a $20m production based on the award-winning TV programme of the same name. The show benefits from major improvements to animatronics, which have enabled the life-like dinosaurs to 'eat' and 'breathe' - and live arena experience has already been seen by over nine million people in more than 250 cities globally. Experience and expert technical knowledge has been essential in executing the brief, and South Wales-based Sonalyst was called upon to deliver. The audio, lighting, BlackTrax system and comms for the production were all provided by Sonalyst. Project manager George Pakenham explains: “Being a
Columbia - DirectOut has expanded its worldwide business network with the appointment of VCR as its sole distributor for the Colombia market. Based in Bogota, VCR will handle distribution of the full DirectOut product portfolio and provide technical and sales support. Hernan Suescun, VCR’s CEO comments: “As a company, we aim to offer our clients the most advanced technologies available to the AV world, especially now that new IP technologies are rapidly developing. DirectOut has the best solutions in terms of audio networking, routing and conversion along with a well-known quality and reliability.” Lorenzo Sassi, business developer at DirectOut, adds: “A few months after we met with VCR for the first time it was quite clear to us that both companies had a common interest in developing their business together. VCR not only has skills and a deep knowledge o
UK - Adlib first supplied audio kit for American singer and actress Janelle Monáe in 2008. A decade later, Monáe was back in the UK and Europe for a short, high-impact leg of her Dirty Computerworld tour, and once again Adlib was involved in supplying the technical production elements - sound, lighting and video - to her production team led by tour manager Reneeka Rae and production manager Jeff Cochran. Adlib account handler Phil Kielty commented, “Janelle is one of the most energised and innovative artists of the moment and it was our pleasure to work with her and her crew again.” In keeping with the spirit of inclusion, the FOH creative team was all female with sound engineer Amanda Davies, video director Erica Hayes and lighting designer Lauren Sega leading the way. The equipment package was effectively a dry hire, however Adlib sent engineers t
Australia - Built in the early 1970s, the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall, in the Australian state of New South Wales, is a significant landmark building on the University’s Callaghan campus, located in the western suburbs of Newcastle. The building is multi-functional and used by the university and Newcastle community for a wide variety of functions ranging from formal University graduations, public performances, sit down dinners, open days, community events as well as teaching and learning activities. The new audio-visual Infrastructure upgrade was focused around providing a significant improvement in audio and video quality and reliability within the Great Hall. The end-result, based around a Martin Audio WPM PA, achieved that and more. It is flexible, scalable and supports the University’s teaching, learning and community outreach activities. The
The Netherlands - Story Event Engineering recently deployed multiple Harman Professional Solutions audio systems at Emporium Festival, including JBL VTX A12 tour sound solutions. Founded in 2005 by Dutch promoter Matrixx Events, Emporium Festival is an annual dance music festival held near the city of Wijchen in Berendonck Park. This year, 30,000 dance music fans came together to enjoy a robust lineup of DJs and performers across nine stages. Story Event Engineering equipped the entire festival with end-to-end Harman live sound reinforcement systems, including JBL VTX Series line arrays, Crown I-Tech HD Series amplifiers and Soundcraft Vi Series consoles. “We’ve been providing sound for Emporium Festival for over 10 years, and every year our company grows along with it,” said Paul Lehmann, sales representative & system engineer, Story Event Engineering.
Europe - American-based psychedelic rockers, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, have set out on a mammoth world tour this year with veteran FOH engineer, Dave McDonald, and an Allen & Heath dLive system. The band’s set-up includes a dLive S Class system, usually comprising an S5000 or S7000 surface and DM MixRack, with a Dante card for live recording. Dave McDonald, who has been using dLive for a number of years, comments in an interview run by Muzyka i Technologia magazine; “I like the ability to work at 96kHz sampling and thanks to this, I have a much wider signal spectrum and greater depth in the mix. dLive also enables extremely intuitive work, almost like an analogue desk.” He continues: “dLive includes a variety of plug-ins, from those emulating old studio equipment, up to the latest virtual blocks. The DEEP processing I use for the mix really feels like the o
Asia Pacific - This summer saw Canadian chanteuse Céline Dion tour the Asia Pacific. Kicking off in Tokyo and Macao, where she had last performed 10 years earlier, the tour moved on to new territory for the five-time Grammy Award winner, including Jakarta, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Australia, before concluding in Auckland, New Zealand. The logistical feat of picking up each system locally, which was dependent on equipment availability, was accomplished seamlessly by Céline Dion’s long-time audio provider, Solotech, achieving consistent sound across the venues on a 22-date marathon thanks to L-Acoustics’ K1 and K2, its international network of suppliers, and its consistency of product worldwide. “We needed a loudspeaker system that would be available at every venue on the tour,” says Francois Desjardins, VP R&D, technological solutions at Solotech, an L
Peru - Prodjmedia recently installed a full complement of Martin Audio CDD and CSX in Lima’s popular Lyra nightclub, which is dedicated to providing a truly world-class club and dance experience for its customers. Founded by Fernando Vidal and Arturo Dyer, Lyra features local and international DJ’s in the main room and rooftop bar/dancefloor, and as Prodjmedia’s CEO Renzo Silva explains, “they wanted to create an environment with no compromises in terms of sound quality, so the first choice was obviously Martin Audio.” According to Renzo, the sound system includes two Martin Audio CDD15’s with two CSX218 subs on the dancefloor, four CDD6’s on the first floor, four CDD6’s on the second floor and four CDD6’s and one CSX112 sub in the rooftop café. The speakers are powered by Martin Audio MA 2.8Q, MA3.0 and MA 5.2K amps. A DX0.5 loudspeaker management s
Italy - Although Florence and Pisa without doubt top Tuscany’s tourist charts, Lucca (with traces of Iron Age settlements, good wines and more) is well worth checking out and music fans have the ideal chance to do so during the annual Lucca Summer Festival, organised by D’Alessandro & Galli in the city’s main square. The festival’s 2018 edition was a particularly high-profile showcase for loudspeaker manufacturer Outline and the ideal debut of new-born rental firm VVP International, since, apart from Roger Waters, who performed in another location, the cast on stage featured a wide range of music genres: from California’s stoner rock with Queens of the Stone Age, the latest (triple-drummer) incarnation of Prog Rock icons King Crimson, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp’s Hollywood Vampires, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, jazzy-pop songstress Norah J
Norway - In the autumn of 2010 Riksscenen, Norway’s national venue for folk and traditional music and dance opened a purpose-built venue in Oslo’s Grünerløkka and invested in two DiGiCo SD8s. This summer, it invested in an additional DiGiCo console, this time opting for an S31, which has been installed in the venue’s Klubbscenen (the club) for smaller gigs. “The SD8s were chosen by my predecessor in the first instance because of their audio quality and I/O capacity, particularly when compared to other products in their price range,” recalls Magnus Opsahl Smaadahl, head of technical development at Riksscenen who, starting as one of the in-house engineers, had instantly fallen in love with the console’s sound quality and ability to be customised. “Initially, the two mixers were on two different stages - one in the main hall and one on the Club stage - the idea
Europe - Loudspeaker manufacturer KV2 Audio has appointed global systems integration company and distributor Salzbrenner Media as its product distributor in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with specific focus on the theatrical and maritime sectors. KV2 Audio’s Swiss distributor Plusmusic AG will work alongside Salzbrenner Media in Switzerland. The remaining market sectors in the region will be served directly by KV2 Audio Deutschland. Rainer Hettwer, head of project sales Germany and Ismet Bozkurt, sales manager Eastern Europe & Middle East, are the new contacts for handling KV2 Audio within the Salzbrenner Media organisation. KV2 Audio MD, George Krampera Jr., comments: "We have seen a steady increase in interest in all areas in recent years, and we have been especially pleased with our growing traction in the theatre market. The fact that Salzbrenner M
UK - Adamson’s UK distributor The Warehouse has announced the appointment of a network of certified resellers and rental partners across UK and Ireland. The network will help meet the product demand within the touring and integration markets and provide in-the-field support. The resellers are Triplex (London and Southern England), Hawthorn (London and the Midlands), PSI (Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland) and Live Systems (Scotland and the North of England). Derek Blair, director at The Warehouse, comments: “In these dynamic, forward-thinking companies, we clearly have a skill base and experience that can help Adamson growth across the UK and Ireland. We are supplying an ever-increasing number of systems for use in a diverse range of applications, including festivals, art installations, touring shows, high profile events, and church and theatre installat
UK - A range of DEEP processing plugins is now available as optional add-ons for its SQ Series, Allen & Heath has announced. The new options allow SQ users to choose from a suite of plugins ported directly from Allen & Heath’s flagship dLive mixing system, including premium compressors inspired by sought-after hardware units and a collection of powerful GEQs. Thanks to SQ’s 96kHz XCVI core, based on latest generation FPGA technology, a preamp and compressor plug-in can be used on each of the 48 input channels, while a GEQ and compressor can be applied to each of the 16 mixes. Unlike third-party plugin solutions that require additional hardware, DEEP plugins are built in to the console architecture and add no additional latency to the system, ensuring phase coherency across channels and mixes. Nic Beretta, Allen & Heath’s head of product, comment
Canada - University of Toronto’s newly built Principal Hall is designed to serve as a multi-dimensional public platform for the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design (DFALD). To ensure the highest quality of audio, the University tapped Mulvey & Banani Audio Visual (MBAV) to assist in the design of a sound reinforcement system consisting of EM Acoustics loudspeakers. With seating for 400 people, the design of the hall allows for multiple configurations and uses, ensuring maximum utility for students and faculty, and greater flexibility for a wide range of events. “The compact size and audio quality of EM Acoustics loudspeakers was a driving factor in deciding to use them at Principal Hall,” explains Gregory Rushton, vice-president, MBAV. “The loudspeakers were required to fit into five-inch spaces between wood slats covering a
South Korea - Kinoton Korea recently installed a range of sound reinforcement solutions from Harman Professional Solutions at Sarangsaem Church. Located in Busan’s Gijang-gun county, the church was founded in 2010 to offer the local community a gathering and events space. AV integrator Kinoton Korea was commissioned to outfit the Great Chapel and additional classroom, and the company selected a range of JBL loudspeakers to deliver clarity, versatility and balanced coverage. “We wanted to make sure our Great Chapel could be used for a variety of events by our members and by members of the local community,” says GyeongHwan Park, representative minister of Sarangsaem Church. “To achieve this goal, we required robust loudspeaker solutions to support a range of activities and functions, including weddings, holiday celebrations, and art therapy sessions
USA - The Kinnick Wave is an event that happens at every University of Iowa Hawkeye home game. The newly-completed Stead Family Children’s Hospital is adjacent to the Hawkeye’s 69,000-seat Kinnick Stadium, and someone suggested on social media that after the first quarter, everyone in the entire stadium should turn and wave to the children in the hospital. To kick off the 2018 season, AV integration and live sound production company Sound Concepts brought in a portable Danley Sound Labs system for the half-time show. The show featured the Pat Green Band performing Wave On Wave with the University of Iowa and Northern Iowa University marching bands while fans did the Kinnick Wave. A few years ago, Sound Concepts oversaw the installation of a massive Danley J5-4015 Caleb Horn that covers all of the seating in Kinnick Stadium, and its tight pattern control was
Belgium - Creative engineering specialist WIcreations has designed, developed and installed a bespoke wireless laser-guided system to move eight seating tribunes holding audiences watching Studio 100’s 40-45 Spektakle Musical around the performance space. Each stand is 8m high at the back, 19m long x 8m wide and weighs 28t, with a capacity for 209 people. The tribunes were constructed by WIcreations and each one contains around 14,000 parts, the majority of which have been custom machined. The 40-45 production is directed by Frank Van Laecke. The artistic supervision is by Gert Verhulst, the co-CEO of the Studio 100 Group together with Hans Bourlon, and the technical producer is Bart Caels. The automation concept that moves the audience into multiple positions around the substantial area throughout the two-hour show, is right at the heart of this theatri
Europe - Presented to the market earlier this year, Dynacord’s IPX multi-channel DSP amplifiers are now shipping. Incorporating Dante and OCA (AES70) audio networking technology, the amplifiers are accompanied by the 4.0 release of IRIS-Net software for system configuration, remote control and supervision as well as the ability to create customised graphical user interfaces with individual user access permissions. Engineered and made in Germany, the IPX Series comprises three 4-channel and one 8-channel amplifier model, offering a power density of 5 kW, 10 kW and even 20 kW from a single amplifier with all channels driven. Designed from the ground up for outstanding audio performance, integration flexibility and reliability, IPX Series amplifiers cover a wide range of demanding sound system installations from concert halls, art centres, theatres and houses of worship to di
Indonesia - Bandung’s GBI Aruna Church recently invested in a new audio system built around the IS-Series from Adamson Systems Engineering for a flagship 1,600-capacity venue. The church welcomes over 16,000 weekly congregants across its 15 campuses. Built in 2007, GBI Aruna has enjoyed significant growth over the years and its pastoral team made the decision to upgrade its house audio system for the second time in mid-2018. The church invited representatives from three loudspeaker manufacturers to demo their systems in the main sanctuary. After extensive evaluations, the IS-Series system comprised of IS7 two-way, full-range cabinets and IS118 and E218 subwoofers showcased by Big Knob Audio, Adamson’s Indonesian distributor, was chosen for the project. “The Adamson IS7 is so lightweight and compact, it’s amazing to experience such powerful sound coming fr
USA - TM Sound & Lighting recently updated Florida’s Jungle Queen cruise ship with a complete Harman audio solution provided by Kor Media & Lighting to provide a premium live entertainment experience for guests. Since 1935, more than 18m visitors have embarked on Fort Lauderdale’s Jungle Queen riverboat cruise and dinner attraction for an afternoon and evening of sailing and sightseeing through the ‘Venice of America’ to a luxury private island, where guests are treated to America’s longest-running variety show. The show features performances by jugglers and stand-up comics, and a live performance of classic songs by a live band. In order to provide premium sound quality with clarity and presence for such a wide range of performances, Jungle Queen hired TM Sound & Lighting to replace their aging sound system with a sound reinforcement solution fro
World - L-Acoustics has released a plugin to enable interoperability between its P1 processor and QSC’s Q-SYS designer software. The integration will enable users to control and monitor L-Acoustics’ P1 through Q-SYS. Jeff Rocha, director of product management for L-Acoustics, comments: “Following the successful introduction of a Q-SYS plugin for LA4X and LA12X in June, accompanying the P1 release with a complementary plugin seemed essential.” The L-Acoustics P1 plugin for the Q-SYS platform as well as the LA4X and LA12X Q-SYS plugins are available from the L-Acoustics website. (Jim Evans)
Japan - Rental company Super 4 has invested in a Martin Audio WPC PA to handle its many events and concerts. The company recently placed the order for 18 x WPC elements and six SX218 subwoofers with Martin Audio Japan. Super 4 is based in Takamatsu, Kagawa. Its vice-president Higasa comments: “It has been 18 years since we established the company, and during that time we have expanded from our first purchase of a microphone, up to the level where we can handle major events by ourselves. “All the while we have watched developments with Martin Audio, and having experienced MLA and MLA Compact, and understood the philosophy behind the consistency of sound as well as the capability to control noise spill.” He adds that noise pollution had recently become and issue. which convinced the company to purchase a WPC rig in order to achieve the required controllab
Australia - The KV2 Asia Pacific team recently gathered in Melbourne to demonstrate the new VHD5.0 Constant Power Point Source Array and the VHD2.0 Large Format Point Source System at the city’s best-known outdoor venue, the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. Loading in at 7.00am, both systems were flown and ready for operation by 10.00am. Angus Davidson, technical director for Asia Pacific and North America was in charge of the set up. “It never ceases to amaze not just how quickly these systems go up but how little tweaking is required once they are in the air,” remarked Davidson. “Basically, once you get the height right it is simply a matter of adjusting the tilt angle, which on VHD5.0 can be done via remote control as the fly bar incorporates integrated tilt adjustment.” A noise curfew was in place until midday, but everything was ready to roll as many of Australi
Europe - Yamaha Music Europe has launched a YouTube channel to informally profile respected mix engineers, sound designers, technicians and other audio professionals. Titled In The Spotlight, the first video features Terry ‘TJ’ Jackson (Earth Wind & Fire / Michael Jackson), who discusses how he became a leading mix engineer and offers crucial advice to fellow colleagues and up-and-coming engineers alike. “We wanted to bring high production values to interviews with a range of audio professionals, highlighting not only the importance of their work, but also to draw the attention of the general public to how much work goes into the sound that they largely take completely for granted,” says Alex Warren, sales manager (UK and ROI) at Y
