USA - UK loudspeaker manufacturer PMC has appointed Sweetwater Sound as a US dealer for its entire range of professional studio monitoring products. Since the release of its twotwo range of nearfield monitors and the subsequent release of its Result6 compact nearfield monitors, PMC has been searching for the right US partner to help introduce more people to its professional product range. “As soon as we identified the need to carefully expand our reach in the US, everyone at PMC agreed we should establish a partner as dedicated to the client’s success as we are,” comments PMC sales manager, Luke Smith. “We quickly identified Sweetwater as the ideal partner for this expansion. Having worked with Sweetwater for many years myself, I knew their philosophy on customers always coming first would fit in perfectly with our own customer ethos at PMC. We are elated to
USA - Audio-Technica has been offering a series of resources to help users adjust to the circumstances brought about by the health crisis, including blog posts and tutorials educating on best practices and solutions for content creation and live-streaming, developing a home set-up, and more. Of particular note is the Basic Audio Techniques for Video tutorial series on YouTube, which features 13 different videos covering the basics of hand-held and lavalier mics, wireless systems, boom mics and more - concepts that are more important than ever in the DIY era of social distancing. The videos are “short and engaging, easy to follow and filled with useful info”. Most of the techniques outlined in these videos are applicable to both a home setup and the wider world of video production in the field (once our lives return to normal). In the clip Select
World - Chroma-Q is offering free weekly training webinars on a number of lighting topics. The multi-award winning LED specialists kicked off the series last week with a webinar about LED Colour in Practice. This included an overview of some of the technologies that go into creating tools for discerning designers, why small details can make such a big difference when it comes to the end result. “Supporting our wonderful industry and the individuals in it is our top priority,” explains Paul Pelletier, global brand manager. “It is important to us to use this time wisely and as an opportunity to help our industry learn new skills, as well as build on existing ones. We were delighted with the turnout of our first webinar and hope to reach even more people with
USA - On 22 April, Elation Professional is launching The Elation Hour, a weekly virtual presentation that will delve into the more personal side of product development while also addressing the technology and process behind the company’s most popular product series. Also on the schedule are a series of discussions with some of the industry’s most noted designers who plan to share their own personal insight and experience across the broad scope of entertainment lighting. Hosted each Wednesday by Elation national sales manager John Dunn and global product manager Matthias Hinrichs, the first Elation Hour presentation - Behind the Products - R&D - will take place on 22 April at 10:00am PT (6pm BST). The free webinar is an opportunity to hear about the more human aspect of a busy R&D department while gaining insight into the how and why behind some of E
USA - While today’s wireless equipment is easy to use and designed to keep the thornier technical issues out of the way, many gremlins lurk invisibly in the realm of the airwaves. The more users know about them, the better their end results will be. That’s why Lectrosonics has produced the new video series Wireless Side Chats, hosted by vice president of sales and marketing Karl Winkler and available as a playlist on the company’s YouTube page. Winkler, who earned degrees in stringed instrument performance and audio engineering, then embarked on a career in concert sound before joining Lectrosonics in 2004, explains “vital topics in a straightforward style that’s highly approachable for audio beginners”. Originally broadcas
USA - Bandit Lites’ Nashville shop is being transformed with an expansion that encompasses the entire building and multiple departments. With a new suite of offices for the sales team, a new Technical Service Division shop and a prep floor area growing from 18,000sq.ft to 44,000sq.ft, the expanded shop will be better equipped to handle Bandit’s business including world tours, corporate events, festivals and system installations. “Bandit had outgrown its current space,” comments Bandit Lites general manager Mark Steinwachs. “Making this move gives us more room to prep ever-growing shows as well as still giving us room to grow in the future.” Bandit’s team has been practising social distancing and adhering to current state requirements, and select members were able to proceed with streamlining the expansion of the spaces including a mezzanine for i
UK - Solid State Logic (SSL) has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in innovation, for audio technology for broadcast. Since its launch in 2015, the System T broadcast platform has quickly gained a reputation for delivering in mission critical performance applications, with “a unique broadcast feature set, modular system approach, and pristine high-quality audio delivery”. With AoIP-based routing at its core, plus full immersive and next generation audio features, System T has been designed for the challenges of modern broadcast production, whether in the studio for news and entertainment programming, or for OB covering live events and sports. Nigel Beaumont, SSL managing director, comments: “At Solid State Logic we are incredibly proud to receive this award as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. We dedicate it to all our amazing
Pirate Radio Pioneer - Tributes have been paid to Ronan O'Rahilly, the founder of Radio Caroline, the first pirate radio station off the UK, who has died aged 79. His death was announced by the current Radio Caroline, which still operates off the Essex coast. The station was founded in 1964 to compete with the BBC and launched the careers of many well-known DJs, achieving enormous popularity. O'Rahilly, who lived in Ireland, had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013. Radio Caroline was the first of several pirate radio stations that challenged BBC radio's dominance in the 1960s. The station played pop music all day, while the BBC only played pop for an hour a week. After the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act was passed in 1967, Radio Caroline continued to broadcast from ships until 1991, when the Ross Revenge was shipwrecked off the Kent coast The station, which start
USA - Owing to the social distancing required to fight the coronavirus pandemic, live-streamed video has seen a surge in popularity over recent weeks. Individuals, organisations and corporations are all using this technology to stay in touch with their audiences, but many aren’t equipped with the necessary lighting technology to do it effectively. For this reason, ADJ has created a series of new lighting packages that are designed to make it easy and affordable for both individuals and organizations to enhance the visual appearance of their video recordings and live streams. “With a bewildering amount of choice available, ADJ wants to make investing in the right live stream lighting as simple and cost effective as possible,” explains ADJ USA’s national sales manager, Alfred Gonzales. “Our new Live Stream Lighting PAKs feature carefully selected bundles of lig
USA - Eligible candidates who have received a notification of acceptance from one of the four examinations offered by the Entertainment Technician Certification Programme (ETCP) may begin scheduling appointments at PSI’s owned and operated testing centres. ETCP is also still accepting applications from eligible riggers, entertainment electricians and portable power distribution technicians. The ‘rush fee’ has been waived and those who are accepted will be processed as quickly as possible. PSI has recognised the impact that ETCP’ Certified Technicians are making by dedicating their equipment and knowledge to this critical initiative. The ETCP Programme has been added to the list of credentialing programmes that certify essential personnel. as they will be allowed to work alongside healthcare workers, law enforcement, and first responders charged with building
UK - Martin Audio plans to host ‘a dedicated virtual tradeshow’, putting the spotlight on the new additions to its portfolio. Like the company’s Open Days, the virtual event will offer an overview of the portfolio suitable for end users, distributors, rental companies and integrators. The event will be webinar-based across a number of time slots on Wednesday 20 May to ensure that people in different time zones can come together for the show. “These are unprecedented times for the pro audio industry, and we want to play our role in helping industry professionals to stay active, connected and informed,” says Dom Harter, managing director at Martin Audio. “The webinars will last for about 90 minutes, and I will be joined by colleagues to talk people through our portfolio and to help attendees find the right product for different applications and budgets.”
USA - ETC has introduced On Headset, a new audio series that allows listeners to programme a major theatrical production in realtime whilst listening to the audio cues of a lighting designer. “Our goal with this project is to fill the gap between the traditional classroom or ‘e-training’ methods of console learning and actually sitting behind an Eos desk in a theatre,” explains ETC senior field service engineer Victor Seastone, “This is a console flight simulator to help with both.” The series features esteemed Broadway lighting designer Ken Billington and a lightly curated recording of the headset conversations during technical rehearsals of the New York City Centre Encores’ Me and My Girl in May 2018. The New York City Centre, a well-known and distinctive theatre, welcomes 300,000 visitors annually to its establishment which was founded
Australia - On 15 April, Australian skies were lit up in support of those fighting the COVID-19 global pandemic whilst also drawing attention to the plight of the country’s entertainment industry. Organised by ALIA, the event also served as a morale boost for the lighting industry. Production companies, sole traders, distributors and manufacturers all joined in the effort. The brief was fairly open being just colourful with a bit of movement and initially, premises only were to be lit up. But many companies were able to light significant landmarks including hospitals, theatres, town halls, sports stadiums and even a lighthouse. Many sought permission from the aviation authorities to project high into the night skies. In an act of generosity, Brisbane-based Gobotech offered free gobos to those taking part. ALIA was “blown away by the number of participant
UK - Two industry companies have been recognised with a Queen's Award for Enterprise. The awards programme rewards British businesses who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. This year, Brompton Technology and Peerless-AV were both honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. “It is really gratifying to be recognised with such a prestigious award, and we want to thank all our partners globally who have been such an important part of this success story,” comments Brompton’s managing director, Richard Mead. “It is all the more poignant to be receiving it at such a difficult time for our industry and the world in general. This award is testament to the strength and dedication of the Brompton team. Right now, we are focussed on supporting our partners through these challenging times, but we loo
USA - Shure Incorporated is celebrating its 95th year in audio technology. From its inception in 1925 as a one-man company selling radio parts kits, Shure has built a legacy of innovations in audio. Today, the company offers a diverse portfolio of wired and wireless microphones, personal and professional listening products, and conferencing and meeting solutions. Shure products are now sold in more than 120 countries, and through the decades, these have been used around the world by the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elvis Presley, Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela, The Beatles, and every United States President since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Product innovations throughout the company’s 95-year history include Unidyne I Model 55, the first unidirectional microphone with a single moving coil dynamic element; the SM58 microphone, an industry standard worldwide f
USA - Austin, Texas-based post-production mixer and sound designer Korey Pereira recently upgraded his studio, Soularity Sound, with a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 monitoring system featuring JBL Professional and Crown solutions, enabling him to create immersive audio content. Soularity Sound provides post-production audio services for film, television, streaming, commercials and web content in the Austin market and internationally. Services include sound editing, sound design, Foley, ADR, voiceover, mixing and production sound. Recognising a growing industry trend of adopting the Dolby Atmos immersive audio format as a standard deliverable, Pereira decided to upgrade his 5.1 surround sound monitoring system to a 7.1.4 setup with ceiling speakers for three-dimensional sound. To achieve high-quality results that translate well to cinemas, home theatres and consumer devices, Perei
USA - Stay at home restrictions have prevented the Clermont, Ohio Chamber of Commerce from holding its regular meetings. But now, more than ever, its member businesses are seeking guidance from the 50-year old organisation, particularly on the steps they can take to navigate their way through this period of lockdowns. A highlight of the chamber’s educational initiative was the detailed and informative 8 April livestream it hosted by noted author and small business expert Brian Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics. A former US Labourr Department economist, Beaulieu delivered his presentation from the Events United Studio Lab, illuminated by a rig that featured Maverick MK2 Spot, Ovation CYC 1 FC, STRIKE 4 and Ovation E-260WW IP fixtures. Beaulieu was able to communicate the intricacies of his ideas to the audience, located 900 miles from the New Hampshire studio, with the h
Europe - This week will see the continuation of Absen’s series of webinars, with two sessions on Tuesday 21 April at respectively 9am (Rental & Staging) and 1pm (Introduction to LED), one session dedicated to fixed installations (Corporate & Retail) on Wednesday 22 April at 9am BST, and a two parts session (9am and 1pm BST) on Thursday 23 April which will provide insights on Basic Technical Knowledge of LED Displays. More webinars will also be offered by Absen in the near future. The inaugural session, which was held on Tuesday 7 April and focussed on Absen’s rental & staging products, had in excess of 350 registrations and over 200 attendees; 84% of whom rated it as being either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. The next rental & staging webinar, which will be hosted by Absen’s rental & staging industry director Christian Cz
UK - Bryan Ferry has been a mainstay in the art rock world since the early ‘70s. Still playing music with commanding style, he returned to the stage with support from rental supplier, Britannia Row Productions. In early March, before the Coronavirus pandemic had hit the UK, Ferry took to the road with Britannia Row, delivering what FOH engineer Davide Lombardi describes as “the most challenging yet rewarding tour to date”. He adds, “Bryan is very tuned-in to making his audiences happy; he’s a perfectionist but in a very good way. His attention to detail is impeccable.” Having worked with Britannia Row for some years, Lombardi states that the key to success for a tour like Ferry’s is “total trust” in your team. “His live sound is different because of the constant alteration of arrangements within the songs. Show days involve long soundchecks,
UK - Fairport Convention’s annual Cropredy Convention in Oxfordshire and The Eden Sessions in Cornwall are the latest major music events to fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Both are being rescheduled for 2021. Since its first staging in 1980, the Cropredy festival has taken place annually since on farmland near Banbury, Oxfordshire. This year’s three-day event had been scheduled to take place on 13-15 August. It will now be staged over 12, 13 and 14 August 2021 (the equivalent weekend) on its usual site. The line-up of acts will be carried forward: artists booked to appear this year have agreed to switch to 2021. Highlights include Trevor Horn Band, Clannad, Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited, Richard Thompson, Matthews Southern Comfort and host band Fairport Convention. Tickets purchased for Cropredy 2020 remain valid for the rescheduled fest
UK - Music Support, the peer-led music industry charity that provides confidential mental health and addiction services, has partnered with Thrive, the UK’s only NHS-approved mental health app. As a clinically-effective app that offers 24/7 support for mental health and wellbeing, Thrive helps with the early detection, prevention and management of common disorders such as anxiety and depression, as well as building resilience so that users can feel empowered to improve their mental health. It tackles common stressors such as sleep, bereavement, work issues and more via the use of evidence-based therapies such as CBT, meditation, deep muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and distraction games. A mood metre and diary tracks daily fluctuations of mood and records what specific stressors the individual might be facing on a daily basis, thus becoming more per
Spain - Madrid-based technical solutions provider, Glub-Glub Soluciones Tecnicas Para El Espectaculo, has become the first Spanish company to invest in GLP’s new S350 LED fixture. Glub-Glub director Juan Margallo, who invests solely in LED lighting technology, had been looking for an advanced LED profile largely to service the corporate events and theatre work in which the company specialises. Easy to fit into a lighting plot, this compact, lightweight fixture features GLP’s baseless design - which will provide Glub-Glub with versatility in terms of hire potential. The initial order for eight units was handled by GLP’s Spanish distributor, Monacor Iberia SAU. Its director general, José de las Heras, traces the background to the sale: “We set up a demo in Madrid, where Mr Margallo had the chance to get his hands on the product. He liked the fixture very m
Italy - Outline has announced the launch of a series of free webinars in English focussed on some of its most representative (patented or patent pending) technology, in the context of sound reinforcement and the signal processing world. The first webinar, scheduled for 20 April at 9 am, covers Newton, the FPGA processor - technology in which Outline has invested since 2010 - presented three years ago and chosen by some of the world’s top rental companies, PA techs and post-production studios, as well as for broadcast applications. The webinars will be hosted by Outline’s Fernando Rey Méndez (Newton specialist) and Paolo Calza (pro applications engineer). Registration is via www.outline.it/webinars.
USA - The Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative, in partnership with HelpPRO, has announced the launch of its Entertainment Industry Therapist Finder. The Finder only includes listings for mental health professionals who have previously worked with clients in the entertainment industry or who have personal professional experience in the industry themselves. Users are able to search for a therapist using a simple search form which includes location, insurance accepted, what areas the therapist specialises in, and therapist availability such as whether they see clients remotely or on nights and weekends. An advanced search is available which also includes such criteria as theoretical approaches, credentials held by the therapist, specific populations they have experience with, and languages spoken. Both searches indicate whether the therapist is ac
