UK - TiMax spatial audio and performer stagetracking solutions, the most recent addition to the Focusrite Group, will make its debut appearance at the first set of this year’s Martin Audio Open Days. Running from 12-24 March at High Wycombe, the open days will see TiMax join forces with its sister pro audio brands from the group which includes Martin Audio, Linea Research and Optimal Audio, as well as OutBoard’s chain-hoist rigging motor control.
TiMax will showcase the capabilities and strengths of the TiMax SoundHub spatial audio engine and the award-winning TiMax TrackerD4 stagetracking solution, including new product offerings introduced earlier in the year. The presentations, by TiMax director Robin Whittaker with applications specialist Dan Roncoroni and new Martin Audio colleagues, will highlight the synergies between the product offerings of the group.
The

Germany - The Adam Hall Group will once again be presenting its extensive event technology portfolio in a variety of ways at this year's Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt.
The event technology manufacturer will not only be represented with two stands (Adam Hall Networking Space and Cameo) in the exhibition halls, but will also open its Experience Centre at the nearby company headquarters in Neu-Anspach for the exclusive Adam Hall Group Surround Experience. The Adam Hall Group's presence at the trade fair will be rounded off with a presentation by Herbert Bernstädt (senior research & development engineer, light technology) as part of the Manufacturers' Forum.
The Adam Hall Group's Networking Space (12.1 A24) is the central point of contact for all those interested in the company. With its designated business area, the Networking Space offers a location for focused cust

USA - Production sound and re-recording Mixer Thomas Cassetta has always loved live theatre and events, so when presented with the opportunity to work on comedy specials back in 2014, he jumped at the chance. Cassetta has worked on projects around the globe for platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Tubi, Peacock, HBO and ShowTime. He also helps generate laughs with comedians such as Andrew Schulz, Jim Jefferies and Hasan Minhaj. Cassetta’s most recent stand-up production work includes recording and mixing comedian Akaash Singh’s first hour-long comedy special, as well as Pete Davidson’s new Netflix special entitled Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli.
Working on so many streamed comedy specials, Cassetta knows he needs to recreate the experience of being at a live show, while also ensuring the comedians feel connected to their audience. For Cassetta, the best way to ac

USA - Located in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts District, Essex is a new music venue poised to be one of the city's premier destinations for live concerts, recently booking bands like Joywave and Danielle Ponder. In a district that has very few music venues, the music hall is a glowing addition to the area, bringing night life to mixed city residential and old industrial complexes. Essex will allow for more national acts when touring through Western New York to choose Rochester, as opposed to neighbouring cities, like Syracuse or Buffalo.
“The main focus of the venue is to showcase national touring artists that might otherwise drive right past Rochester,” says Dave Drago, talent buyer and one of four co-owners of Essex. Drago was tapped by SCN Hospitality, a Rochester-based restaurant group, to oversee the design of the venue's systems on every level of the conce

UK - In a repeat of their successful deployment at OVO Arena Wembley for the 25th MOBO Awards, SWG Events this time headed north with their flagship Martin Audio WPL Line Array to the Utilita Arena, Sheffield for this year’s event.
They had to overcome the challenges of providing balanced sound reinforcement for the live audience inside the 12,500-cap arena, while preserving the integrity of the set and striking a balance between the presenters’ mics and the live showcases, in a fast-paced show.
These live performances ranged from UK rap to Afrobeats, Dancehall to Pop/R&B and Garage, with back-to-back performances from Soul II Soul, Ghetts, Sugababes, Cristale, Byron Messia, King Promise and Camidoh, plus a Garage set from DJ Spoony. The event was hosted by Babtunde Aleshe, Indiyah Polack and Zeze Mills.
It required SWG Events to increase the WPL box coun

UK - Jim Hallington, founder and managing director of Clockaudio has died, aged 92. The specialist UK-based microphone specialist was established in 1994 by Hallington and a team of audio specialists with many years of experience in the design and manufacture of innovative pro audio products. The company’s success has been established on sound principles: its dedication to quality, service and innovation.
On the company’s success, Hallington said: "It is all about being responsive to your clients. If you don't respond then you won't be successful. It's as simple as that.
“When Tina and I started Clockaudio, we never envisioned it becoming such a success. Manufacturing always comes with challenges, but we have a great team that always comes up with a solution. It is an exciting and interesting business, and we look forward every day to facing the challenges and e

USA - Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, home to the NHL Predators, recently took delivery of its third DiGiCo audio console, a Quantum338, purchased and installed through Nashville-based Spectrum Sound.
The Quantum338 joins two existing and upgraded DiGiCo SD12-96 desks, along with an SD-Rack, SD-MiNi Rack, D-Rack, and three SD-Nano Racks, all also sourced through Spectrum Sound. The Quantum338 has now taken over front-of-house duties at the venue, while one SD12 is used a router/hub/mixer for the broadcast control room and the other as a utility mixer, paired with the D-Rack and deployed as needed around the venue, including for mixing monitors at the band/stage platform. Two Orange Box MADI interfaces are also on the same very busy Optocore loop as the consoles and Racks.
Bridgestone Arena’s sound is a big part of its allure for show and events, and DiGiCo is an int

UK - British grime MC and rapper Dizzee Rascal performed his Mercury Music Prize-winning album, Boy in Da Corner, to loyal fans with help from Eighth Day Sound. Working with production manager Tommy Sheals-Barrett of Back On Your Heads, the tour hit UK arenas following a major comeback at London’s O2.
Commenting on the importance of choosing the right vendors, Sheals-Barrett says: “This job can be hard enough without worrying about whether you're in safe hands, supplier-wise. You get the best out of the artist (and the artist's crew) when they have confidence in a production supplier.”
Choosing Eighth Day Sound and mixing Dizzee’s hard-hitting yet melodic blend of influential London hip hop, is FOH Engineer Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Sargeant, who has navigated the pioneering artist’s live work on and off the road. He begins: “Over the years, I’ve mastere

USA - For the first time in history, the biggest game in American Football descended upon Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. This presented a massive new challenge: managing the Super Bowl’s immense production in Las Vegas’ already crowded wireless radio frequency (RF) environment.
The production crew tackled this challenge and delivered to all attendees and 202.4m broadcast viewers. For audio, the team relied on the Emmy Award-winning Shure Axient Digital Wireless Microphone System.
“Axient Digital is the key to the Halftime Show,” shared lead RF engineer Cameron Stuckey. “We are using every feature that sets it apart to the fullest extent possible. And, at this point, it is hard to picture how I would design the wireless system without it. The unmatched coverage Quadversity provides, combined with the reliability of Frequency Diversity, means the team and I

UK - The Art-Deco Grade II listed Queens Hotel has been a majestic presence on Leeds’ City Square since its construction in 1937. Designed by W.H. Hamlyn and faced with white Portland Stone, it is a striking landmark which over the years has hosted many notable guests. Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant, Nelson Mandela and Laurel and Hardy, all chose the comforts of the Queens. During the recent festive season,
The Queens was the focus of a spectacular art installation which saw LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) collaborate with Barcelona-based creative studio Onionlab on Magical Night at The Queens, a visual spectacular which used the elegant architecture of the Hotel as a canvas for multiple projections.
The ambitious and innovative project required the highest level of technical and logistical expertise. LeedsBID engaged Bradford-based Pro

Australia - Every January, when the sun is at its hottest, thousands of country music-loving people make the pilgrimage to the country town of Tamworth for the Toyota Country Music Festival which runs over 10 days.
The heat of over 40°C and the flies are no deterrent as the festival, presented by Tamworth Regional Council, is now in its 52nd year and is recognised as the second biggest country music festival in the world, after the CMA Music Festival in Nashville USA. The town comes alive with ticketed and free shows alike, and buskers that line the main streets.
The festival culminates in the televised Golden Guitar Awards which celebrates Australian country music and is fortunately held at the air-conditioned Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Events Centre.
Sydney-based Live Event Services has been providing production for the past 10 Golden Guitar Award

USA - Meyer Sound collaborated with staff and researchers at the University of California San Diego’s Department of Music to beta test NADIA, the next generation processor of Meyer Sound’s Constellation acoustic system. Spatial sound and variable-acoustics technology upgrades were installed in the department’s Experimental Theatre, which enabled real-time development with faculty and students while offering the opportunity to gain skills, learn in interactive ways, and accelerate experimental music research.
UC San Diego is the first educational institution to integrate Meyer Sound's NADIA hardware platform in its facilities. The installation highlights Meyer Sound’s commitment to audio education and illustrates the potential to apply the company’s technologies in diverse learning environments.
“With the emergence of spatial headphones, immersive art instal

USA - Christ Wesleyan Church (CWC) celebrated its centennial last year, a 100-year-old church community that has maintained its beliefs and traditions even as it grew into one of the largest megachurches in the Milton, Pennsylvania area.
But there’s an entire other side to this church, one that’s as familiar with Broadway as with ‘The Way’. Each summer and fall season, CWC puts on sophisticated theatrical plays and musicals - last year saw The Sound of Music performed in its 1,100-seat auditorium, where Titanic The Musical and The Diary of Anne Frank were performed the year before, and where the church’s affiliated high school also puts on some rather technically sophisticated productions of its own.
“These are not your typical church productions,” agrees CWC communication creative director Brent Mestach. “But it’s why we needed

The Netherlands - After suffering fire damage last year, Bowlo Bowling & Lounge in Kerkrade has shifted gears and taken its customer experience to a new level. In a major renovation they have transformed the bowling alley and surrounding facilities into a modern leisure area with ‘a breathtaking level of style and ambience’, using products from Showtec, Infinity, DAP and Showgear.
The recent makeover by Parkstad Support has fashioned a chic and modern atmosphere, inviting guests to indulge in a game of bowling or pool, or simply to enjoy a drink and a chat.
To enhance the ambience of the bowling lanes, 14 colourful Showtec LED Light Bar 12 Pixel are mounted in the ceiling, all controlled by an Infinity Chimp 100.G2 Tourpack DMX console, a Chimp Dongle for OnPC and three Showtec TR-512 Pocket DMX Triggers/Recorders. Various accessories such as DAP DMX and power

UK - Production Futures recently staged another successful On Tour event at Fly By Nite Studios in Redditch. Young people from across the Midlands were able to connect with representatives of Production Futures’ brand partners to explore paid work opportunities and free training across the sector.
A feature of the event was the presence of a team of apprentices from global production specialists, PRG.
Having been engaged by Production Futures to build and equip the event’s TALKS Stage with audio, lighting and video provision, PRG, which places a strong emphasis on in-house education and training, suggested using the occasion as an opportunity to provide its apprentices with valuable real-world, hands-on experience. Dovetailing with Production Futures’ vision, PRG’s apprentices, who divide their two-year apprenticeship between in-service training and studying w

Germany - This year, Prolight + Sound Frankfurt will feature a "comprehensively expanded pro audio offering", according to its organisers. Among other things, visitors can look forward to a 3000sq.m Performance + Production Hub, new attractions, an extended programme of specialist lectures and "the return of well-known exhibitors".
The focus will be on live and concert sound reinforcement as well as innovative studio and broadcast solutions. Renowned companies will be demonstrating sound reinforcement systems under realistic conditions on the outdoor exhibition area. There will also be an extensive supporting programme covering a wide range of current and future-oriented topics.
The newly created Immersive Audio Dome in Hall 11 is being realised in cooperation with Quickspace and United Brands. The latter will present product innovations from Adamson in the impressive

USA - History is often made at the annual Grammy Awards ceremony and this year was no exception, with legendary 80-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell performing on the live broadcast for the first time in her decades-long career.
The historic performance, also featuring Brandi Carlile, Jacob Collier, Blake Mills, Allison Russell, Lucius and SistaStrings, was captured with a variety of Sennheiser microphones, including Carlile and Mitchell’s own custom gold SKM 6000 handheld transmitters with Neumann KK 205 condenser capsules.
Also on the awards show, which was broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on 4 February, rapper Travis Scott performed a medley of songs from his latest, Grammy-nominated album using an SKM 6000 with a Sennheiser MD 9235 cardioid dynamic capsule, a combination that his monitor engineer, Justin Hoffmann, calls “

UK - Event production and audio-visual Installation company, Spotlight Sound has announced that Ashton Gold will join the team as account manager.
Ashton comes to Spotlight Sound from The Lion Inn in Boreham where she was the event planner.
“I will be fundamental in liaising between the client and technicians from the planning to execution of their event,” says Ashton. “My role means that the technicians can fully concentrate on the production of the event and I can make sure everything else runs smoothly.”
Sam Dimond, director of Spotlight Sound adds: “We’re really pleased to welcome Ashton onto the team. Her experience in planning and running events will be fundamental to the ongoing success and growth of Spotlight Sound.”
Spotlight Sound produces a spread of events including the Willow Ball and London Football Awards. Last year they prov

UK - As part of a major £2m refurbishment which has seen a complete renovation of the 200-year-old Grade II-listed former Post Office building, Leeds Bar & Grill has substantially boosted its in-house sound reinforcement.
By augmenting the existing PA with a potent RCF solution, Audio Visual One (AV One) has ensured that the atmosphere is now in keeping with the operation’s new hybrid bar/restaurant trading policy.
AV One was appointed after having previously carried out work for operators, Individual Restaurants, in other units.
Company owner, Stephen Bailey turned to RCF’s Compact M series when supercharging the interior, selecting four white M 12 multipurpose two-way full-range speakers for the newly defined bar area, along with a low-profile S8015LP 15in bandpass subwoofer, designed specifically for discreet under-seat placement. These are powered by

USA - Martin Audio US has set two training days to ensure system users and designers are properly equipped to get the best outcome from their implementations. They will learn how to achieve full optimisation, control and monitoring of performance on a variety of Martin Audio systems.
The two-day programme will take place on 13-14 March at Frost Productions, 6 Empire Blvd, Moonachie, NJ 07074 and the trainer will be product support engineer, Joe Lima.
Day one will examine in depth Martin Audio’s proprietary software platforms, Display 2, Display 3 and Vu-Net. The following day will see attendees explore the MLA Mini, in groundstack and flown configurations, before diving into networking and connectivity, and concluding with an XE system overview.
Joe Lima comments: “As the demand for Martin Audio products continues to increase in the US market, training on sys

USA - Meyer Sound has launched an expanded education programme for 2024, coinciding with the celebration of its 45th anniversary.
“As the pace of audio technology accelerates, Meyer Sound is strengthening its commitment to education programs, which we see as investing in the future of the industry,” says Robyn Bykofsky, Meyer Sound’s training & education manager. “Our training programmes are aimed at all experience levels, with science-backed in-person and virtual course content that fits the way people learn today.”
The 2024 programme builds on the success of the company’s revamped 2023 initiatives, which engaged more than 1,800 students through 50 in-person trainings around the world and through coursework in the new Meyer Sound Learning online platform.
This year, Meyer Sound is extending in-person education across the U.S. and beyond, with tr

Europe - Sennheiser, together with existing investors, is investing 7m euros in the Norwegian scale-up business sensiBel. The company has developed optical MEMS microphones. The miniature microphones ‘enable a completely new and improved experience in application areas such as consumer electronics, automotive, conferencing solutions, and medical devices’.
"We want to grow sustainably as a company. In addition to investments in our existing business, this also includes investments in promising future fields outside of our company, providing these align well to our company and our vision," explains co-CEO Daniel Sennheiser.
Andreas Sennheiser adds: "sensiBel's innovative optical MEMS technology is clearly this type of promising emerging field. As investors, we look forward to actively driving forward this groundbreaking development."
sensiBel has developed a

Europe/USA - Cadac Consoles’ return to ISE and the unveiling of a new product portfolio, in the form of its flagship CM-Series integrated audio mix and network system, was marked by ‘strong positive industry reaction’. The ‘widespread admiration on the booth’ for the CM-J50 mixer’s premium design and advanced performance capabilities served as a catalyst for the foundation of a dedicated CM-Series distributor network.
An initial milestone on day one was the signing, at the show, of a US distribution agreement with Italian Speakers Imports Inc (ISI). By the end of day three the UK console designer had had ‘conversations’ with over 26 distributor organisations from around the world. Coming out of the show, advanced negotiations were underway with four prospective partners for territories in Europe and Asia, with preliminary discussions to be followed up with se

Australia - Creative Technology Australia and New Zealand opted for Data Strategy’s QC-Check to address three main needs in terms of product inspection: socapex cable testing, the safe inspection of twin-frame distribution boards, and the ability to set up the specific testing processes needed to be carried out by anyone in the warehouse.
Maintenance manager, Myles Barlow, explained that the company’s highest priority was to be able to test multipin connectors such as Socapex three-phase cables, as “there’s just no safe way to test them”.
In addition, he found that “standard PAT testers fail products that have lots of internal relay, control voltages and several limit points. They see it as a dead short when there’s actually not a problem”. So without, QC-Check there was no effective way of PAT testing products like twin-frame distribution boards or oth

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