UK - Allen & Heath and Audinate are showing a Dante networking audio interface card for the iLive digital mixing series at PLASA 2010.

The Dante audio interface card allows iLive systems to work with Audinate's Dante audio networking solution, providing capacity for 64x64 bi-directional audio with full network redundancy. iLive MixRacks and modular surfaces with the RAB2 module can be fitted with the new slot-in card. A Dante Virtual Soundcard license will be included with purchases of the card, turning a PC or Mac into a Dante enabled device.

"We know from our customers that there are many iLive users who want to be able to integrate with Dante," stated Glenn Rogers, managing director of Allen & Heath. "We have been pleased to work with Audinate in the development of their new 64 channel module, which will provide a great solution. The new audio interface ca

UK - PLASA 2010 sees UK audio distributor SCV London showing products from Sony Pro Audio, a new line for the Essex-based distributor, Audix, Turbosound and Fostex.

On display are Sony's UWP and DWX systems, the latter being its definitive Channel 38 solution, which will help to ease its customers' upgrade path in advance of the frequency switchover scheduled for 2012.

DWX (digital wireless microphone) systems will now be sold with modification packages in order to safeguard audio investments in the run up to Channel 38 switch-over. In addition to this, an optional upgrade path will be made available on Sony's WL series analogue wireless microphones.

This announcement coincides with the launch of two new products in the DWX range of digital wireless audio solutions, both of which are being shown at PLASA: the DWR-R01D dual-channel rackmount receiver and DWM-01 integrated han

UK - North Wales-based ETASound has extended its long relationship with the Harman Pro brands by investing heavily in JBL VerTec, Crown VRACK amplifiers and Soundcraft's new Vi1 compact digital desk.

The large order - placed with Harman Pro's UK & Ireland distributors, Sound Technology Ltd - comes at the end of a hectic 12 months during which the company's founder Eddie Thomas has supplied many events at the O2 Arena (from his secondary base in London), completed six major voice alarm projects in London and Burnley FC's Turf Moor stadium.

It was to replace their VerTec VT4888DPAN compact line array enclosures and VT4880 subs, which are now permanently domiciled in South Africa, that ETASound placed an initial order for 16 x JBL VerTec VT4889 three-way line array enclosures.

"We expect to add more VerTec later in the year," confirmed Thomas. "The decision to go

UK - The new Han-Eco series from Harting is a range of lightweight rugged plastic IP65 connector hoods and housings which are suited to the requirements of theatre and concert tour operators.

The new devices can help to minimise the weight of flight-case or light-bar mounted lighting dimmers as well as truss-mounted hoist controllers and automation systems for theatre and concert touring, says the company.

Key features of the Han-Eco Series include inserts that accommodate tool-free, snap-in, rear-mounting modules from Harting's Han-Modular series fitting into front or rear mounting adaptor frames. The extensive range of modules available provides a high degree of flexibility by allowing connectors to be assembled to handle data, control, power, fibre-optic, coaxial and pneumatic signals. A separate PE module provides the necessary full grounding and finger-safe user protectio

UK - Orbital Sound has a series of PLASA firsts lined up. These include the latest products from d&b audiotechnik - the keenly awaited E6 loudspeaker, and the new PLASA 2010 Innovation Award-winning B4-SUB - as well as the latest range of Da-Cappo Micro Microphones, and Zaxcom's recently-announced TRX900LT digital wireless audio transmitter, which offers operation on Channel 38 and adjacent bands.

An innovative new concept in 24/7 hire services is also making its debut: Orbital is launching its easiHire online hire product selection, estimation and quotation tool at PLASA, designed to make researching and selecting hire equipment easier and more convenient.

The full product line-up on Orbital's stand comprises loudspeakers from d&b audiotechnik, Da-Cappo Micro Microphones, CSC3 Show Control Software, HM Electronics Digital Wireless Intercoms and digital wireless microphone sys

UK - Midas has launched the VeniceF, a new 'digi-log' ultra-compact mixing console designed by Alex Cooper, complete with FireWire multi-channel digital audio interface, XL3 EQ and Propellerhead recording and processing trial software bundle. The VeniceF can be seen on Stand 1-F19 at PLASA 2010.

The VeniceF is the first all-new Midas product to be unveiled following the Music Group's acquisition of Midas Klark Teknik. It features the full functionality and sound quality of the Midas XL3 EQ and filter section, Midas mic preamps, 100mm faders, increased channel and input count, a dual 7x2 matrix and a reorganised master section layout.

The VeniceF's 32x32 FireWire capability adds 32 channels of multitrack recording and playback (VeniceF 320) using any suitable FireWire-equipped computer, without the need for additional costly interfaces. This also offers the possibility of virtu

UK - Optocore has created new firmware for its DD4ME MADI network device to allow consoles from Digidesign, a subsidiary of Avid Technology, to operate on its network.

The new firmware enables the coaxial (BNC) ports to function not as MADI, but as Digidesign Venue's proprietary coaxial digital snake.

"With this release, Digidesign's Venue consoles and stage racks can be connected via a DD4ME to the Optocore network," states Optocore founder, Marc Brunke. "The audio flowing between the Stage Rack and Console (or vice versa) can be output via other Optocore devices in the network, thus enabling networking functionality to Digidesign products."

Several consoles and racks can be placed on the same network, and an unlimited number of splits of any input channel are possible.

(Jim Evans)

UK - DiGiCo's Little Red Box and Little Blue Box are two compact add on units that quickly and simply expand the connectivity of DiGiCo consoles.

DiGiCo's Little Red Box is specifically designed to work with DiGiCo's SD9 digital mixing console and allows you to connect a D-Rack or a MADI Rack (DiGi-Rack or MiNi-Rack) to two SD9s.

Currently, a single D-Rack only allows you to connect to one SD9, with no way of sharing the rack. The Little Red Box, however, will allow you to plug in your D-Rack, main console and a secondary console. The main console controls all gains, as well as outputs on the rack, whilst the secondary console acts as a 'receive only' module for the inputs, allowing you to share a rack and operate either Front of House or monitors. DiGiCo's gain tracking system can be activated when required.

The handy SPLIT MADI switch allows you to decide if you want to sp

UK - Aviom is demonstrating its Pro64 Network Manager PC control application at PLASA 2010 (Stand 1-F2). The Pro64 Series is designed with a simple front-panel user interface that makes it possible to create sophisticated audio networks without PC-based programming. Soon to be available as a free download from the company's website, Aviom has now introduced a software control application for those users who desire a centralized control and status monitoring option.

This new interface provides both global and device-specific information for front of house monitoring, allowing on-screen management of even the most complex audio networks from a single location. With the Pro64 Network Manager, front of house engineers now have remote control of every Pro64 device in a network through a PC connected to the network's Control Master device.

Network settings and audio parameters for e

UK - After a year of substantial growth across European markets, TOA Europe has a host of innovative products to demonstrate at PLASA 2010, all of which are being seen at the show for the first time.

Sure to attract attention is the Type H line array loudspeaker, "the most compact, aesthetically pleasing and affordable line array TOA has ever built", which barely a year after its release is already finding favour in large, reflective public spaces where intelligibility is difficult to achieve and hanging space is at a premium.

Also on display is TOA's modular audio-mixing system, the D-2000, which can be expanded up to a massive 128 input/output configuration. This makes it suited to venues such as hotel conference suites, convention centres, sports halls and places of worship, where future expansion in the form of new rooms or extensions need not be at the expense o

The Netherlands - At IBC in Amsterdam, DPA Microphones unveiled three new models in its 4099 clip microphone range, which has proved successful with musicians worldwide. The range, which is now complete, has been expanded to include the 4099D for drums, 4099P for pianos and the universal 4099U microphone mount. The complete range now provides a dedicated 4099 for all instruments comprising a full orchestra.

The new 4099P Stereo Microphone System for Piano is the first microphone kit in the 4099 range, combining a pair of sensitivity-matched 4099 mics on goosenecks with magnetic mounts. The unobtrusive design of the system makes it suitable for capturing true acoustic sound in many different piano miking scenarios, including closed lid applications.

The 4099D microphone for drums and percussion unveils DPA's 90 degree' system. Detaching the clip from the gooseneck, turning it 9

UK - QFlex, Tannoy's range of digitally steerable array loudspeakers first launched in 2008, has recently been updated with some major additional features designed to meet a range of industry needs. These enhancements give the product improved functionality and superior capabilities for integration within large scale PA/VA applications, says the company.

The new features that Tannoy has introduced on QFlex deliver more resolute safety and monitoring facilities, making it fully compliant in any life safety or mass notification environment. In addition QFlex has been weatherised for outdoor or harsh environments without compromising on the product's sleek aesthetic, making it suited for large scale transport hub applications such as within airport terminals and major train stations.

Among the key improvements on this front are the addition of Pilot Tone Detection capability, Sen

UK - Making sense of the mayhem surrounding the past, present and future of radio microphone frequency wavebands, Trantec comes to PLASA 2010 as one of the first companies to offer UHF wireless systems compatible with the new Channel 38.

On demonstration and already shipping in a Channel 38-compliant version of the company's S4.16 16-channel system, while also on display will be the successful S5.3 12-channel system and its newer, 'big brother' variant, the 24-channel S5.5. Between them, these products underline Trantec's commitment to ensuring customers have a future-proof solution once Ofcom phases out Channel 69 for wireless mic use during 2012.

Mark Parkhouse, head of sales & marketing at Trantec, comments: "Twenty-five years after pioneering the world's first readily available radio mics, our foresight and imagination have taken us to a whole new level. For entertain

Germany - MA Lighting has announced its new main catalogue which can be downloaded from the MA Lighting website.

MA has improved the clarity and added the latest products like the full grandMA2 range, the MA VPU (Video Processing Unit) and the MA NPU (Network Processing Unit). The catalogue also contains a lot of background information about the MA system, offers a comprehensive overview of all its parts and shows solutions for setting it up.

(Jim Evans)

UK / Canada - CAST BlackBox Corporation has won a PLASA Innovation Award for their newest technology, BlackTrax. This Award marks two years in a row that CAST has won the highly respected Award, having won in 2009 for wysiwyg R24. The award was delivered by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths during an award ceremony at PLASA, 2010.

BlackTrax is a hardware motion tracking system for people and objects that operates in realtime. BlackTrax is designed to work with CAST's game-changing BlackBox system of multi-directional high-speed control coordination.

"BlackTrax makes so many new scenarios possible," says Gil Densham, president of CAST, "All production aspects from increased safety to new levels of interactivity and spontaneity."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Visitors to the PLASA 2010 saw the world debut of Nexo's 45°N-12 monitor loudspeaker, billed as featuring a new concept in stage sound - that of line monitoring.

The Nexo 45°N-12 wedge monitor brings all the benefits of line-array technology to the stage. It draws on Nexo's Hyperbolic Reflective Wavesource which is used throughout the Geo range of high-performance loudspeakers.

The design works by wavesourcing, creating virtual acoustic sources behind the enclosure itself and below the stage, using reflection rather than coercion to determine the shape of the wavefront. Unlike a conventional high frequency waveguide in which the exit is rectangular, the NEXO monitor's waveguide forms a 'smile', enabling cabinets to be linked together to form arrays without interference between wavefronts.

Monitor engineers will find that the N-12 design produces a very sharply d

Australia - ARX has announced the release of the PC-pre2 two channel microphone preamplifier. The PC-pre2 can be mounted into a standard PC tower 5-1/4" Disk Player slot or alternatively used as a stand-alone unit.

The PC-pre2 has been designed for applications include Hard Disk recording, data acquisition, loudspeaker testing measurement, sound system testing & EQ'ing and law enforcement interview recording.

Features include the latest ultra low noise & distortion THAT Corp Mic Preamp ICs, high current +48V DC Phantom Power and a full Bi Polar Power Supply for maximum signal headroom.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Martin Audio's Multicellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) took the top prize at this year's PLASA Awards for Innovation, at London's Earls Court this week.

Winners of the Awards were announced in a special presentation during the PLASA Show, and after a hotly contested nomination process MLA headed the list of 62 products entered.

For the first time, the Awards were judged 'live' at the Innovation Gallery by an independent panel of 16 expert judges, in front of show visitors and a camera team on Sunday 12 September. Show visitors were able to watch the judging process replayed on large screens in the interactive Innovation Gallery for the rest of the show.

Seven Awards for Innovation were presented by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths - but there was only one Gold winner. This award is only given out when a product is worthy of particular commendation and it has not been awarded f

UK - For the third time in recent years, the Italian manufacturer Outline received the PLASA Award for Innovation, thanks to its Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode vertical line array.

The independent panel of judges noted, "This loudspeaker's combination of generic IT and innovative line array technology represents a step forward for the industry in systems integration. The cabinet's built-in web-browser support makes it possible to control a complete loudspeaker array from a plethora of industry standard devices."

"This is the third award won over a relatively short period, confirming the avant-garde features that have distinguished our brand for almost 40 years, and we're obviously very proud," comments Outline's Michele Noselli.

"As in 2001 and 2005, when Kanguro and COM.P.A.S.S. won the same award, we believe that this recognition not only rewards with sat

UK - GLP's debut of the new SpotOne at this year's PLASA Show in London received an enthusiastic reception.

The Impression SpotOne represents a breakthrough in providing the world's first high powered RGB LED spot fixture, says the company. Light output is equivalent to a 700W discharge lamp and therefore truly usable in a wide range of applications.

It contains a full feature set including rotating and indexing gobos, iris, prism, focus, zoom, effects animation, pan and tilt - all of which are motorised. The RGB LED source retains high efficiencies, as no fragile glass colour system is required. To further minimise environmental impact, the baseless design reduces size, weight and transportation, whilst the fixture operates with near silent performance.

(Jim Evans)

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies, Audio division has taken stock of the new Sennheiser G3 GB wireless microphone systems for use on Channel 38 (606-614 MHz), enabling customers to start 'future proofing' their investment in new equipment for the impending UK radio frequency move.

As a distributor for all major wireless equipment brands, A.C. Audio have been keenly following the Ofcom designated 2012 digital switchover from Channel 69 (854-862 MHz) with a view to providing impartial customer advice and recommending the best course of action that will ensure minimal disruption.

The new Sennheiser G3 GB frequency range variant covers ALL of Channel 38 and as many 'future proofed' interleaved frequencies above Channel 38 as its 42 MHz (from 606-648 MHz) tuning range will allow. Models include the entry-level 100 series for live performances, the 300 series for installed sound

USA - Intelix has announced the release of the DIGI-HD-UHR2, a professional-grade extender which transmits HDMI up to 300ft over a single twisted pair cable.

Designed for residential AV, commercial AV, and digital signage applications, the DIGI-HD-UHR2 transmits 1080p video up to 150ft, 720p and 1080i video up to 300ft, and 480i and 480p video up to 300ft. Built-in buffering and amplification allow multiple units to be linked for greater distances, and ESD protection safeguards connected equipment from power strikes and surges.

The DIGI-HD-UHR2 employs Intelix HDsh?k processing, which guarantees HDMI signal integrity through bandwidth limiting, dynamic key processing, and EDID storing. The unit is HDMI and HDCP compliant, and supports 3D.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Specialist LED lighting manufacturer i-Pix showed six new products in its groundbreaking BB (Building Block) range at the 2010 PLASA exhibition in London and enjoyed one of their best PLASA shows ever.

Says i-Pix founder Chris Ewington: "We had lots of UK and international interest from new and existing people and it was a busy show for us all round. Our highly focused R&D team has spent the last 12 months developing these six new products, and we're confident, post PLASA, that this strategy has really paid off."

New customers were drawn to the whole range of BB products. The non-LED look of the BB1's which more resemble PAR 36 or 46 fixtures was a big advantage, together with the smooth homogenised light engine which sets i-Pix fixtures poles apart from most other LED products, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - Neumann is well-known in the audio industry for its top-of-the-range microphones. Neumann has also been a pioneer in the audio industry for over 80 years with a long history of world-class products - from mixing consoles and disc cutting lathes, to more recent innovations in digital technology with the Solution-D system. Wolfgang Fraissinet, president of marketing/sales at Neumann Berlin, comments, "Neumann is excited to introduce its latest innovation, the KH 120, representing the first product in the new line of Neumann Studio Monitors."

The KH 120 studio monitor is designed for use as a near-field loudspeaker or as a rear loudspeaker in larger multi-channel systems. The KH 120 represents the latest in acoustic and electronic simulation and measurement technologies to ensure the most accurate sound reproduction possible, says the company.

It has a Mathema

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