Audio-Technica officially opened the doors of Technica House/AstroStudio, the company’s newest office complex, on November 13, 2001. Local officials, friends and key representatives from Audio-Technica’s corporate headquarters and subsidiary offices worldwide attended a dedication ceremony that included a gala party, a tour of the AstroStudio facility and a speech by Audio-Technica Corporation president Kazuo Matsushita.

Located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, the eight-story building has a unique architectural design based on a giant transducer, symbolizing the importance that A-T places on listening and responding to the needs of the audio community. As well as the impressive office environment it provides, Technica House also features AstroStudio, a world-class Dolby 5.1-ready surrou

BBC Television is to broadcast five programmes this week which will feature interviews and behind the scenes footage from various West End shows. A Week in the West End will be broadcast daily at 3.30pm on BBC2.

(Ruth Rossington)

Capital Sound Hire has added a pair of Allen & Heath consoles to its hire stock. The London-based rental company bought the mixers - a 32-channel ML3000 VCA mixer and a 40-channel GL4000 - through Ray Bradman of Bonza Sound Services in Surrey, with whom Capital has had a close relationship for around 20 years.

Within hours of delivery the ML3000 went straight out onto the road to perform monitor duties for critically acclaimed drum 'n bass outfit Kosheen, whilst the GL4000 made its debut front-of-house on tour with former Level 42 front man Mark King. Both consoles are now scheduled to go out on David Essex's Theatre of Dreams tour, starting on March 15th.

Capital Sound Hire's project manager Martin Connolly explains why he chose the A&H consoles: "What we needed were dual purpose compact mixers that could go out on smaller jobs at either end of the multi-core. I am expecting th

White Light and The Moving Light Company have been chosen as the lighting suppliers to two new musical productions in London, one - The Full Monty - the West End production of an established New York hit, the other - Taboo - a new show in a new West End venue.

The Full Monty, a stage adaptation of the hit British film, has been playing to enormous popular acclaim in New York - and is now making the journey back to the UK, where it will play at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Lighting designer Howell Binkley will re-create his New York design, making use of an automated lighting rig of six Martin MAC 2000s, 12 MAC 500s and 38 High End Studio Colors controlled from a WholeHog 2 console. The rig also features around 325 ETC Source Fours, 55 of which are fitted with Wybron colour scrollers, and Orion and L&E Ministrip floodlight units, 80 StarStrobes, police beacons, Robe

The organisers of Entech, the leading entertainment technology exhibition for the Australasian market have reported increased attendance for last week’s three-day show. Darling Harbor proved a popular destination for Entech, with greater interstate attendance (up 8%) and more local visitors. International visits were static, with decreases from destinations other than Singapore (up 10%) and New Zealand (up 5%). Audited actual attendance was up, a record 5,143 trade attended, in addition to 1,272 exhibitor personnel.

The Entech Awards dinner once again sold out, held again at the Metro in George Street. A complete list of winners is attached. Voting was done on the trade show floor, for the first time, in addition to votes garnered from all those who nominated products and people. The Award for Best Lighting Product at the show went to AVR for the Arc Screen; Best Audio Product at

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ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

The new EVP-S Series from Wharfedale Pro is the second generation of the company’s successful EVP Series. At the heart of the EVP-S series is the all new WP-M44 high performance compression driver. Coupled to this is a sophisticated crossover design with built in dynamic limiter/protection. The addition of two new high performance stage-monitors further enhances the family. The EVP-S series gains additional valuable features in the new waveguide/horn, ergonomic handles, a recessed-protected input plate, metal stand adaptors, plus the new 15SB ST stereo input subwoofer with internal low-pass, high level sub woofer processing giving stereo PA systems cost effective and powerful low end extension in a compact and cost effective package.

(Ruth Rossington)

Following the success of its previous open days, direct marketing company Smart Sound Direct has confirmed Saturday 28 April as the date for this year's event, to be held at Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey.

Visitors will see DJs demonstrating Smart Sound Direct's full complement of PA enclosures, monitors, power amps, mixers, rack-mounted effects and accessories. Exclusive to the show will be the launch of a new SmartLight range of lightweight speaker cabinets. These include bass bins which, when coupled with a power amp and mixer from the SmartLight line, provide one of the lightest portable and compact PA packages available. Visitors will also be able audition a variety of innovative products, including the CP8SP (according to the company, the only compact 1000W RMS sub-bass currently on the market) and the 'neighbour-approved' guitarists' gizmo, the Lockwood Isolation Bo

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Create new traditions – Cameo P6 - High Output Full-Spectrum Ellipsoidal

Cameo's P6 is a future-proof LED profiler with a powerful 600 W RGBACL engine and 16,000 lumens. It’s an energy-efficient replacement for 2.5 kW halogen profile lights in theatres and venues. With excellent light quality and natural colour rendering, it fits perfectly in theatres, musicals, TV studios, congresses, and live events.

With an LED life of 50,000 hours and low power use, the P6 cuts energy costs and supports the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ goals for climate neutrality by 2050. It also meets updated eco-design rules for lighting.

www.cameolight.com/p6profile

The new EVO speaker system from JBL Professional has been installed at the high profile Teatr Komedia in Warsaw. The theatre, built in the 19th century, is one of the busiest and most successful in Poland, primarily due to its popular and accessible programme of entertainment.

The theatre was looking for a dynamic and highly precise sound system that would be applicable for a wide variety of shows. They approached JBL’s Polish distributor Polsound, with whom they have worked previously and arranged for a demonstration of the system. Impressed by what they heard, the technical team gave the go ahead for the design, supply and installation of the EVO/JBL system which was overseen by Polsound’s Wojciech Puczynski & Pawel Danikiewicz.

Four EVOi.324 speakers are used for the main auditorium left and right arrays. They are joined by two JBL Marquis Series MS28s for centre fills

Laser Studio - part of the i-Vision Group - has launched the latest addition to its new I-scan Performer range of DPSS (Diode Pumped Solid State) lasers. Following recent breakthroughs in diode technology, Laser Studio has produced the UK’s first commercially available Colour DPSS laser for under £20,000.

Laser Studio’s new 1W colour unit currently offers eight modulated colour outputs. The aim is to develop the system into a 256 fully modulated colour system in the future. This product, say Laser Studio, heralds a major change in laser technology and is an important step forward in replacing older, inefficient equipment that required complex cooling and hefty electrical supplies.

The ‘Beam in a Box’ concept - and specifically this product - has been designed with the conference, exhibition and club markets in mind, although it will also be suitable for theat

South London-based creative exhibition lighting specialists Stage Light Design started the year busily, lighting two stands at the BETT education/technology show in the Grand Hall at Olympia. It’s the seventh year that the company has been involved with clients at BETT. This year both Intel and RM benefited from their lighting schemes.

Intel’s stand was straightforward for SLD, who lit a stage area and lectern used for presentations with Par 56 lanterns, controlled by a Pulsar Rock Desk and dimmers. The RM stand was more complex: as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of software and hardware to the educational market, RM wanted their stand to have plenty of impact. The stand design was totally new and included two demonstration theatres that were continuously in use. Lighting was designed by SLD’s Alastair Crooks, who lit the theatres with Par 56 and Par 36 lante

Laser Magic won the prestigious contract for the 2002 Skyworks laser show on the 26 January 2002. The laser team arrived one week before the event to install and programme the show to a custom soundtrack. Very large distances where involved with this event and to this end Laser Magic used (for the first time) the new Coherent Corona diode YAG laser, which has an output in excess of 80W. This was sited at Perth’s famous Bell Tower and is one of the largest entertainment laser systems in the marketplace.

Several other lasers were also used, including Emerald 40W Nd YAG lasers and some smaller 10W CW YAG lasers. Laser Magic even had a laser system bolted on to a fast motorboat, which created special effects as it travelled across the bay shooting beams in to the night sky. In total, five laser systems were used on this show all controlled via the latest Pangolin 2000 software and ea

Following the sudden death last month of its founder and managing director Bob Salt, RW Salt Communications has announced the appointment of its new general manager, Craig Buckley. In a statement from the company, RW Salt’s chairman, Richard A Lyon, said: "It is to Bob’s credit that even though he was taken away so unexpectedly, he left everything in good order, which has enabled our company to function very well indeed."

Lyon also welcomed Buckley to the company. Buckley, who is well known to many in the audio industry, joins RW Salt from Bose, where he had worked for 10 years, recently as national sales manager.

(Lee Baldock)

AMS Neve has recently signed an initial one-year sponsorship deal with the Music Producers Guild (MPG). The aim of the sponsorship deal is to help further the profile and work carried out by the MPG and to maintain AMS Neve's awareness amongst the producer community. AMS Neve supplies analogue and digital mixing consoles and hard disk recorder/editors to facilities worldwide.

The MPG is an association made up of over 300 record producers, recording engineers and programmers. Andy East, MPG chairman says: "AMS Neve's sponsorship package is another significant development for the continued growth and future of the MPG. It underlines our commitment to the membership in aligning ourselves with an established and highly respected manufacturer that recognizes our members' contribution to the recording industry."

As part of their commitment to education, the MPG will continue t

The recent Pop Idol and the current Johnny Vaughan show have been two of the UK's top music entertainment shows over the past months, and just part of the client roster of newly-formed TV sound suppliers, Plus 4 Audio. In order to continue to service its clients’ needs, the company has recently invested in three Klark Teknik DN1248 Plus microphone splitters supplied by Marquee Audio, with a fourth to come at the end of the month.

Plus 4's Stewart Chaney explains why he decided to create the company. "Quite simply I was frustrated at the lack of high quality audio facilities for TV, particularly in the music and entertainment sector where the need is particularly pressing. Having come from a rock and roll/corporate environment, both of which are extremely well provided for, I wanted to create the same service for the market I now work in, which is TV broadcasting, and so Plus

Blackout Triple E recently supplied two striking theatrical backdrops for the St. James’s Place Group’s one day annual company meeting held at The Royal Albert Hall. Attended by nearly 2,500 employees, the event successfully fused the annual meeting with St. James’s Place’ tenth anniversary celebrations.

Blackout Triple E’s creative team worked closely with the show producers Creating Sunshine, to realize the creative effect of the complex stage design. A stunning 16 x 6 metre fine grey gauze drape was custom designed, manufactured and hand painted at Blackout’s South London facility, to work as a semi-opaque screen in the foreground. This also provided a canvas onto which a light show, designed by Quentin Jarman, was projected from both sides. In addition Blackout supplied 30 metres of starcloth as the backdrop to achieve a galaxy-like effect.

(R

From the opening ceremonies until the last medal is awarded, Vari-Lite Inc will play a prominent role in lighting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. More than 1,200 Vari*Lite luminaires are being used to light events within and surrounding the Olympic Games, including the nightly concerts following the medals presentations at the medals plaza.

Rusty Brutsché, chairman and CEO of Vari-Lite, said: "Just as the athletes have spent years training for the competition, organizers have shown the same dedication in preparing for the way the games and events are presented. We were up here exactly a year ago for a trial run on the opening ceremonies, so it has been a painstaking process to make sure the proper equipment is in place and being used. Vari-Lite is extremely proud to be an integral part in the way these events are presented worldwide."

A lighting package th

Entering a high-profile competition to win a superb HK Audio Projector PA system as recently run by Music Mart magazine certainly paid off big time for one lucky reader. Trying not to look too stunned as he collected his sound reinforcement haul was Farnborough-based winner, Richard Payne. Richard, 21, who works in customer services in an energy management company, is a big fan of the south of England’s techno scene, and had been saving hard for a deposit for a decent PA system when he received the good news.

Richard collected an £8999 3.6kW self-powered active Projector system from the head office of exclusive HK Audio UK & Eire distributors, John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. Richard is already making plans for his new system, including getting it out working on the South’s techno circuit, and setting it up on a pitch at Glastonbury 2002.

(Ruth Rossington)

PSL is the first video projection rental company in the UK and US to invest in High End Systems' new Catalyst image manipulation system, which turns ordinary video projectors into artistic tools. Winner of five technical awards in 2001-2002, Catalyst offers users a unique new tool that integrates the video and lighting industries.

At the heart of the system is the Catalyst Media Server (video processing computer and video/DMX interface). This provides an unlimited range of real-time image processing capabilities. Designers can load their own still or moving images or select from an extensive library of stock files. They can then scale, rotate, zoom, edit, morph, colour mix or overlay to create the desired effect. Images can be projected anywhere in three-dimensional space using Catalyst's unique orbital movement system. The head provides 250 degrees by 360 degrees of movement and can b

Following the demise of Out Board Electronics Ltd, which entered into voluntary liquidation in November 2001, the ‘assets, name and goodwill’ of the company have been purchased from the liquidators by the company’s original founder and inventor of TiMax, Robin Whittaker, and former commercial director, Dave Haydon.

Whittaker and Haydon have incorporated a new company called Sheriff Technology Ltd, which will trade under the ‘Out Board’ name. The new company will focus its core business on TiMax and its applications, as well as future peripheral and related audio and media technology development and marketing. The company is establishing manufacturing and marketing joint-ventures in chain-hoist motor control, PAT testing and AC distro in order to maintain and develop market support and growth in these technology sectors.

For its core audio control produc

Many of the top names in the lighting industry watched as the new Vari-Lite VL1000 ellipsoidal reflector spotlight was put through its paces in collaboration with the Vari-Lite Series 2000 products at a recent open day hosted by Vari-Lite. The demonstration took place on Thursday, 7 February at The Manhattan Center Studios Grand Ballroom in New York. "The VL1000 continues the Vari-Lite tradition of providing the most reliable and innovative lighting systems available on the market," Bob Schacherl, Vari-Lite vice president of sales and marketing, told those in attendance.

Attendees, which included some of the top lighting professionals on Broadway, were treated to an exhibition showcasing the VL1000 ERS. Also on display, were the VL2202 spot luminaire, the VL2402 wash luminaire and the VL2416 wash luminaire.

(Ruth Rossington)

Northamptonshire County Council is the first Council in Britain to have a Virtual Audio Network. The system, CDS-VAN, has come from Brähler ICS UK Ltd, as has a microphone and voting system, CDS-200. The latter was chosen to improve both the overall management of meetings and the audibility of the proceedings. The Council Chamber is now equipped with 74 councillors’ units. Each of these has removable directional microphones with in-built speakers to enhance audio reproduction. And the chairman’s unit has a priority button which gives it an override facility.

The system, supplied through Willow Communications of Northampton, was selected after an extensive evaluation process that involved other manufacturers, its unobtrusiveness and user friendly operation securing it the contract. The CDS-200 includes an integrated digital voting system. To signal a vote, delegates simply

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