USA - Harman Professional Solutions has opened the Harman Experience Centre in Los Angeles. The facility joins a worldwide network of Harman Professional Solutions Experience Centres in Singapore, China and soon in London, designed to demonstrate how Harman solutions address customer needs across multiple vertical markets. The new 15,000sq.ft. multi-functional facility showcases Hartman Professional Solutions product solutions in a variety of entertainment and enterprise market applications. The Experience Centre demonstrates the integration of brands including JBL Professional, AKG Acoustics, AMX, BSS Audio, Crown International, dbx Professional, DigiTech, Lexicon Pro, Martin, Soundcraft and Studer. “With the opening of our flagship Experience Centre, we are bringing the Harman Professional Solution proposition to life while giving visitors a glimpse into the inves
UK - Technical solutions provider Stage Electrics is hosting a theatre and broadcast equipment showcase on Wednesday, 10 January, at the SS Great Britain in Bristol. Company representatives will be joined by a host of suppliers and manufacturers, including Philips Vari*Lite, Philips Showline, Strand Broadcast Lighting, Sennheiser, Prolyte, DiGiCo, EM Acoustics, Le Maitre, Swisson, Magic FX, GSL Power, Altair, GDS, Roland, RC4 Wireless and Rosco, who will be exhibiting and demonstrating some of their latest products. On show will be the latest moving, lights, sound desks, speakers, video mixers, radio microphones, house lighting systems, power distribution, talk back equipment and some exclusive prototypes of new products. The event is open from 2pm until 8pm, with a bar in the evening and a pyrotechnics demonstration at 6pm. Registration is free and if register
UK - Stage Electrics has supplied a custom-built Stage Management desk to The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Located in the heart of the midlands, Wolverhampton’s oldest running theatre, The Grand presents a wide range of major touring productions every year. After their stage management desk of 20 years was no longer suitable for their needs, Ray Tizzard of The Grand, turned to industry experts Stage Electrics for a custom designed replacement. Stage Electrics’ Paul Lucas, liaised with The Grand to establish the requirements of their new Stage Management desk. Once specifications and drawings were signed off and an inspection of the existing infrastructure was undertaken, the Stage Electrics in-house team then went into production of the desk. The facilities of the desk are a Theatre Cue 16 channel cue light master station, 12 individually addressable cue light ou
South Africa - Technical production and rental company CCPP recently made a substantial investment in Robe moving lights for their ongoing production work and for general rental stock. The latest purchase - for over 100 fixtures - included some of Robe’s newest technology - 24 x Spiiders, 24 x Spikies, 48 x LEDBeam 100s and 24 x CycFX 4s, which join the DLS, DLX and miniPointes already in the rental inventory. The company was founded by Clint in 2000, then trading as Clint Cawood Professional Productions and focusing on technical consultancy in the corporate presentation world. The first Robe purchases were in 2012, and also delivered by Robe’s South African distributor DWR. “We really want to help enrich the industry with this latest purchase” commented CEO Clint Cawood. “Robe as a brand is very strong in Sou
UK - Sennheiser will be heading to The Warehouse Sound Services in Glasgow on 6 December (Wednesday) for a seminar to explain the forthcoming changes to the UHF RF spectrum. Increasing pressure on UHF spectrum means that implementation of wireless system can be challenging. The seminar intends to help users address these issues, as well as providing information on acoustics, RF technology and components. During the seminar participants will work with Sennheiser experts to expand their knowledge of antenna technology, RF technology, in-ear monitoring and more. The event will also feature a demonstration of the Digital 6000 radio mic system. Designed for demanding live productions, Digital 6000 also addresses the challenges of the shrinking UHF spectrum: The system eliminates intermodulation, enabling more channels to operate in less spectrum space. The event is fr
UK - Sound Technology has been acquired by Midwich Group, becoming the latest wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group. The pro audio and lighting distributor will continue to operate as an independent company from its Letchworth Garden City base, with no changes to its board members, workforce or market approach. Sound Technology chairman, Robert Wilson MBE, comments: “After close to 40 years, Sound Technology has grown into a company operating on a large-scale in multiple market sectors. We continue to see exciting growth opportunities within all these markets, and the time is right for the company to enter its next phase in order to facilitate further expansion and success.” Stephen Fenby, Midwich’s Managing Director, says: “We have watched the success of Sound Technology over recent years and are delighted to have persuaded Bob, David and the
Europe - DPA Microphones has acquired UK pro audio distributor Sound Network. The acquisition was confirmed following the decision of Sound Network founders Pete Wandless and Ralph Dunlop to retire from the business. The two companies have had a close relationship for more than 20 years, with Sound Network distributing DPA products in the UK broadcast, live sound and theatre markets. The UK company, which will be headed up by sales and marketing director Adam Pierce, will retain its name and staff structure and continue to observe its distribution arrangements with other manufacturers such as Sony Pro Audio, Meris, Bubblebee Industries, Quested Monitors, Smart Research and China Cones. DPA’s CEO Kalle Hvidt Nielsen, comments: “Sound Network has been a marvellous ambassador for DPA for many years and has invested heavily in the brand. By acquiring the busines
USA - Fulcrum Acoustic has appointed Audio Source as its exclusive sales representative for Northern California and Northern Nevada. The appointment comes as Fulcrum is experiencing a significant increase in brand recognition and product sales in key markets. "Fulcrum Acoustic's innovative loudspeakers provide technological advantages that are unrivaled in their price/performance category," states Audio Source president Richard Gibson. "We pride ourselves in providing high-quality representation for some of the finest brands in the AV industry, and are thrilled to partner with Fulcrum to help facilitate their continued growth." "Audio Source brings considerable market knowledge and experience to the table, as well as a customer-centric attitude consistent with our own," explains Fulcrum Acoustic Western US sales Manager Jon Sager. "We are excited to have them on board
South Africa - DWR Distribution has scheduled the Robe Fixture Workshop presented by Steve Eastham, international customer support at Robe. Taking place in Johannesburg from 12 - 14 February 2018, the course will then be presented in Durban (5, 16 & 19 February), and Cape Town from 21 - 23 February. Joining the entertainment lighting industry in 1992, Steve worked for 17 years for Vari-Lit’e Europe’s Technical Support team, managing the department through its transition to VLP after the sale of the Vari-lite brand. Thereafter he moved to PRG before freelancing as a touring technician in 2009. Steve joined Robe to take up his present position in 2012. The two-day seminar consists of an introduction to the company and its manufacturing operation, the Robe Robin range and the important differences between Robe fixtures and those of other manufacturers. Steve has w
The Netherlands - Tens of thousands of Dutch music fans celebrated the national holiday of Koningsdag (Kingsday) in Breda with international EDM superstar Armin Van Buuren and over 20 other artists at the annual 538 Koningsdag festival. As usual, Dutch production rental powerhouse Ampco Flashlight was called on to provide the audio and lighting equipment for the hallmark event, and relied on a premium loudspeaker system from Adamson Systems Engineering to deliver a live music experience fit for a king. “We had a lineup of leading national artists and DJs, a big crowd, and some of the world’s most skilled engineers asking for a premium PA, and that’s why we have a system like Adamson’s E-Series in our inventory,” comments Dennis van der Haagen of Ampco Flashlight. The 538 Koningsdag event is put on by Holland’s 538 radio network and hosted by some of
City Limits - Five British cities competing to be the European Capital of Culture in 2023 have been left reeling after it emerged the European Commission is to exclude them from the competition. The news comes less than a month after final submissions were made by Dundee, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Nottingham and a joint bid by Belfast, Derry and Strabane. A letter sent by the commission to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU meant “the participation of the UK in the European Capital of Culture will not be possible”. Expectations had been high that a British city would be selected for the first time since Liverpool in 2008. A judging panel had been due to convene next week to assess the British bids. Responding to the decision, a DCMS spokesman said it: “disagrees with the European Commission’s
USA - Atlona has named Denver-based Momentum Group as its manufacturer’s representative for much of the western US. Momentum Group will represent Atlona north to south through Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and western Texas, working closely with Bruce Moses, Atlona’s national sales manager, Western region. “We play very strongly in the corporate AV vertical, and Atlona’s traditional range of switchers and extenders are among the most versatile and visible options on the market today to serve the needs of board rooms, huddle rooms and other meeting spaces,” said Dan Keller, director of commercial sales, Momentum Group. “What excites us more is Atlona’s aggressive move into AV over IP, which is quickly becoming an important need across all commercial AV verticals we serve including corporate, education and government. The OmniStream range is made for
UK - The d&b audiotechnik GB team has scheduled another installation showcase on Thursday 11 January 2018. The presentation, exploring the latest pro audio solutions for optimal sonic results and unobtrusive design, is hosted by the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) at 11:00 and again at 14:00 at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage, London. “This is another great opportunity for anyone who would like to know more about the dedicated installation products and what can be achieved, even in the most challenging of venues,” says Steve Jones from d&b Education and Application Support. “With lots of listening, we’ll experience the smart and scalable xS-Series loudspeakers – the 10S, 12S and the 2016 release 24S, alongside their counterpart subwoofers.” The presentation will also cover the d&b 10D and 30D amplifiers, with their installa
Poland - DirectOut has appointed LP Systems SP as its distributor for Poland. LP Systems managing director Paweł Mathia comments: “In the current era of remote productions, budget limitations, and increasing quality and reliability in radio, live and television productions, DirectOut products will be used heavily in the future. Based on IP, MADI and other sophisticated technologies they are ideally suited for achieving the ambitious goals that LP Systems has been pursuing since its beginning. The DirectOut products and solutions meet the challenging media market demands and will be a cornerstone of the market's transition.” “We are always looking for technically experienced and motivated distribution partners, who act as consultants and service providers in addition to the pure sales business - and LP Systems meet these requirements perfectly,” says Jan Ehrlic
Germany - Astera LED Technology’s AX1 Wireless PixelTube won a PLSN Goldstar Award for the Best New Battery-Powered Light at LDI 2017 in Las Vegas. The German manufacturer’s pixel controllable LED RGBW baton has 28W of LED power and reaches almost 700 lumen output. Its RGBW LEDs are individually calibrated to reach a CRI of 88, and the fixture’s built-in lithium-ion battery pack offers a 20-hour runtime on a single charge. Each of AX1's 16 pixels can be controlled individually via W-DMX or CRMX. In addition, the fixture’s IP65-rated housing enables safe outdoor use and LDs can use the AsteraApp to create programs on the go and to set up the AX1 for DMX usage and monitor the lights during operation.
South Africa - Michael Taylor-Broderick of DWR Distribution presented the company’s two-day Theatre Lighting Workshop in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, covering a range of topics from stage lighting to elements of design. “I am passionate and I absolutely love what I do,” said Michael, a lighting designer for over 15 years. “Every time I walk into a theatre I'm aware of how special and magical it is. I treat it with great respect and the idea is that other people should do that too. All forms of performing arts, all kinds of live performance are indebted to the theatre and its demands in some way.” The course covered essentials such as the properties of light and colour, lighting positions and angles, lighting instruments, design and theatre language. “I try to instil that lighting is not about the lighting designer, but actually about what’s on the
Canada - EM Acoustics’ Canadian distributor Contact Distribution delivered a presentation on the challenges, merits and benefits of fixed versus floating point DSP algorithms at the Toronto chapter of the AES. For over two decades the mandate of the industry has been to achieve higher sample and bit rates. Now that 192 kHz is possible, the question is whether clients need it or appreciate it, especially in view of the cost of the increased performance. The evening was hosted at Revolution Studios in Toronto. Contact provided two pairs of HALO-Cs stacked on top of two EMS118 subs per side running off the four channels of an EM Acoustics DQ20 amplifier for a unique ‘ears on’ demonstration of the differences between 48kHz versus 96kHz and fixed and floating point architectures from Donny Chow, president and chief engineer of Xilica Audio. “Apart from being a
Israel - Israeli singer Rita Yahan-Farouz is back on the road with a new album Transparent Miracles and a new lighting and visual design by Ronen Najar featuring Robe Spiiders and BMFL Spot moving lights. The tour started at the Yakum Kibbutz Hall just outside Tel Aviv, where Ronen was engaged in five intense days of pre-programing before revealing the magic and mystery creating a stunning looking show for Rita and her 12-piece band. Ronen, who has worked with Rita for around 16 years, discussed the show concept with the signer who came up with the basic live concept in terms of the music, rhythm and pace of the set. From this, he produced the essence of the design with the idea for a curved structure upstage of the band. Visiting a wide variety of venues, from 500 – 3,000 seaters, the rig had to be scalable and the structure capable of being flown, grou
UK - 7thSense Design has claimed two awards at the 2017 Made in the South East Awards. The creative software and technology company which manufactures the Delta Media Server was presented with the Export Award and Digital Engineering Technology Award at a finalist event on 23 November (Thursday). 7thSense will now stand as finalists in the in Export and Digital Engineering and Technology categories of the 2018 Made in the UK Awards to be held in Liverpool on 20 June. Matt Barton, managing director of 7thSense, commented: “The competition this year was especially tough, there’s so many ambitious organisations and a great deal of innovation in the region. We are so honoured to have be recognised with both awards and this was yet another occasion where we can proud of our incredible team.” Now in their fifth year, the annual Made in the South East Award
India - Multinational flight case hardware and 19-inch racking manufacturer Penn Elcom has launched a new distribution centre in Mumbai, India. It will be based in the Vasai area and headed by Rodney D’Monte. Penn Elcom chairman Roger Willems says: “Mumbai is a major commercial and cultural hub and a great strategic location with a very positive future and we enjoy its vibrancy and energy. That’s exactly where we want to be.” The opening of this distribution hub follows other recent major investments in Penn Elcom’s global manufacturing and sales network in Canada, the UK and China. The Indian operation will first focus on the racking and hardware elements of Penn’s business, and will also manufacture and distribute products utilising brands such as Amphenol cables and Neutrik connectors. It will also source its basic hardware from the Ch
UK - The stages used for Adele’s 2017 stadium tour in the round became the first events industry designs to win a coveted Structural Award. Designed by OPS Structures for Star Events, the VerTech Ultra stages claimed the Best Small Projects (of between £1-3m) gong at the annual Structural Awards organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers. The stages were developed, built, tested and shipped to Australia in just four months and suspended 90t of production equipment at 25m above the ground. The judges praised the structures’ design, which allowed easy transportation and erection, minimised work at height and enabled unobstructed views by negating traditional bracing. A spokesperson for the judges said: “The Adele 25 Stage engineering took account of the vast constraints and design drivers to produce a safe, efficient, elegant and reusable structure. The
UK - Edinburgh-based Live Systems is the latest UK company to become an Adamson certified reseller. Established in 2000, Live Systems has grown to become a significant force in the events and integration markets in Scotland and the North of England providing sound, lighting, staging and video and offering their services to a varied client base including the live music, theatre and corporate markets. The company invested in an Adamson S10 line array earlier this year. It has been used on a diverse range of events including the Meadows Festival and the Edinburgh Mela where it has impressed customers and sound professionals alike. Steve Robb, managing director of Live Systems comments: “We have always looked to promote products that offer something different - either in terms of technology, features or quality. The Adamson brand really does tick all of these boxe
Sweden - Microphone manufacturer Milab has acquired Pearl Microphones in a deal that sees the two companies joining operations again after 40 years as separate businesses. The merger will synergise Milab and Pearl's production and R&D services and the brands will continue to exist individually for marketing reasons. The two microphone manufacturers share a common heritage that goes back to 1941 when PML was founded by Rune Rosander in Stockholm, Sweden. In the late 1970s, PML was divided into separate business units that became Pearl and Milab and eventually led to a permanent separation. Thomas Nöjdh, who will continue to serve as Milab’s CEO, says: “The opportunity to bring these two companies back together after 40 years is a matter of great pride to us all. With the acquisition of Pearl, Milab will strengthen its position as one of the world’s
South Africa - The country’s first strictly dry hire company, Guquko Technical Rider, has been established by a young entrepreneur, Phumzile Sibanyoni. Guquko is the Zulu word meaning ‘to turn around’ or ‘to reform’, a pertinent name for a company that hopes to bring a fresh wind of change to the industry. Making an investment of 12 Robe Spiiders, 24 Longman 4 Ups and Prolyte stage decks purchased from DWR Distribution, the objective of the company is to rent out high ticket line items that are specified by lighting designers on a daily basis. “Because we were just starting out, we looked at gear that would be beneficial to the growth of Guquko,” said Phumzile. ”The company has started trading and with the Robe Spiiders currently high in demand on shows, their units are out already creating revenue.” Duncan Riley of DWR says, “Phumzile was wi
