UK - 5 Star Cases has again designed and is manufacturing a new case - the PRO-350 FLT - for l DJ equipment manufacturer, Pioneer Europe.

This is based on the success of the PRO-440 case - marketed as "The perfect hard case for 2 x CDJ 400 players, 1 x DJM 400 mixer and 2 USB sticks" - which to date has sold over 7000 units, in Europe alone.

The new PRO-350FLT offers lightweight and durable protection for Pioneer's 2 x CDJ-350s/DJM-350 portable professional DJ system. It also has some new features for which Pioneer returned to 5 Star - to continue the winning collaboration.

The main new physical addition is that the rear section now incorporates a cable management ('loom-box'), to ensure that the connectors and cabling are kept safe and neatly out of sight. This simple 90° up-stand creates the 'loom-box' area. (a separate structure was required on the PRO-440 c

Denmark - Following the successful launch of the M1 lighting controller, Martin Professional introduces two new PC-based controllers to its lineup.

The M-PC Pro, which replaces the original Maxxyz PC, includes all the features of the Maxxyz PC plus all new features from the new M1 console. In addition, M-PC Pro has been upgraded from 32 to 64 DMX universes over standard Artnet or by using the Martin USB DUO DMX, making it some of the most powerful PC-based lighting software ever made.

For budget-oriented applications, the M-PC Basic offers the same feature set as the M-PC Pro but can generate a maximum of eight DMX universes.

Both M-PC Pro and M-PC Basic come with the MSD5 (Martin ShowDesigner) MC Edition 3D Visualizer and one Martin USB DUO DMX.

In the same round of new releases, Martin also announces the addition of an M-PC 8 universes license to the Martin Ether2DMX8 Ar

UK - Sennheiser UK is extending the warranty on all K-Array products from the standard manufacturer two-year warranty to five years for all UK and Middle East customers.

"K-Array products are among the most pioneering products available today," says Sennheiser product manager Paul Nunnington. "They have proven reliability and an almost non-existent failure rate. The decision to extend the warranty period reflects our confidence in the quality of K-Array products but, even more importantly, it gives our customers complete peace of mind and the assurance that their investment is underpinned by this failsafe offering from Sennheiser UK and K-Array."

K-Array systems have recently been used on The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent as an invisible aid to the two-way process of the dialogue between stage and judges, as side-fills at Eddie Izzard's

USA/Italy - Clay Paky has reported its most successful LDI in 23 years of exhibiting at the international showtech event . The show also confirmed Clay Paky's reputation for innovation with a win for its latest beam light Sharpy in the category Best Debuting Product.

The Sharpy, just one of several new products launched in the US, impressed both judges and visitors with its parallel, zero-degree beam of light. The breakthrough concept produces a massive, stadium-sized beam from a miniature package weighing just 16kg.

Francesco Romagnoli, US manager for Clay Paky said, "I can't recall a better show in all the years we've exhibited here. There was huge excitement surrounding all our products - Sharpy and Shotlight Wash were the real stars of the floor. We welcomed several senior names onto our stand and they were visibly excited by both the Sharpy and the Shotlight."

Germany - d&b audiotechnik has championed the system concept since its very beginnings, acknowledging the benefits of the control and monitoring of loudspeaker systems for its users and listeners alike. So to further this endeavour towards a greater System reality, d&b has forged a partnership with AMX to provide even further choice when integrating systems within a media environment.

The ability to remotely control an audio installation from one central position has far greater advantages than just convenience. A large distributed audio system may have amplifiers in many different locations and the time it can take just to power them up and down without a remote system is substantial and can cut into precious time schedules. It is also significant in the first place to know that each element in the system is turned on and working. The d&b Remote network not only enables this co

The Netherlands - Chief has announced a new suspended ceiling lift that claims to make installation up to 10 times faster than a conventional lift.

The SL220 features a quick three-step installation method that simplifies adding automation into an installation. It no longer requires two or more people to install; you only need one person and one ladder. No floor lift is required.

The lift measures 600 x 600 mm (2ftx2ft) to snap easily into ceiling grids and is made of lightweight aircraft-grade alluminium for easy handling. You can use this lift with any of Chief's popular projector mounts (RPA Elite or Mini Series). It will be shown at ISE 2011.

(Jim Evans)

Italy - RCF has completed its range of Commercial Audio Column Speakers with two new products CS 3041 and CS 3082. Both models are formed in an ultra slimline design offering minimal visual impact.

Easy installation can be achieved with either the supplied 'L' shaped wall brackets or the optional MA 7W swivel bracket, which allows the installer to angle the speaker to suit, says the company.

The new CS Slimline Columns have been optimised for speech reproduction using extended range twoinch speakers and one inch tweeters.

(Jim Evans)

The Netherlands - Elation Professional's new TVL2000 is designed to be the "ultimate LED broadcast light." The TVL2000 is equipped with 450 cool white and 450 warm white LEDs that can be combined to adjust colour temperature from 3200°K to 6500°K. The unit provides a 30° beam angle standard and produces up to 98 foot candles @ a 10'/3.05m throw.

Using either onboard controls or a standard DMX-512 controller, operators can blend the LEDs to create any shade of white, from cool natural daylight to soft warm tungsten - or anything in between, says the company. The versatile TVL2000 makes it possible to instantly customize studio lighting to complement any skin tone or production environment with a soft, even white output.

The panel also features full 0-100% dimming capabilities, so users can fade in and out and control the intensity of the light. A 4-way bar

Japan - The InterBee 2010 international broadcast exhibition sees Yamaha launching two major software products - Yamaha Console File Converter and the M7CL Version 3.5 operating system - both of which offer "significantly enhanced functionality for users".

InterBee 2010 takes place from 17-19 November at the Makuhari Messe exhibition centre in Chiba, Japan.

Yamaha Console File Converter is a highly significant product which users have been consistently requesting since the M7CL and LS9 consoles were introduced, says the company. To be available as a free download, users will be able to use the software to convert file formats between the PM5D and M7CL, and the M7CL and LS9, providing unprecedented data compatibility between Yamaha digital mixing consoles.

The software means that audio companies will have flexibility in how they deploy Yamaha consoles, enabling them

UK - Christie has announced that its Mirage Series 3D DLP projector line has expanded with the addition of six models to bring high performance 3D solutions to new markets. The new Christie Mirage M Series 3-chip DLP projectors offer complete compatibility with today's 3D standards to support growing demands for 3D displays - from home entertainment and video gaming, to museums, education and rental/staging, says the company.

The six models feature a new dual-input image processor and a wide range of input options to integrate with any 3D signal and format. For 3D entertainment requirements, the Christie Mirage M Series is ready for Blu-ray 3D video, PS3 and other gaming consoles and meets the mandatory 3D spec for HDMI v1.4a. Combined with embedded Christie TwistT for advanced image warping and edge-blending, and a full suite of specifically designed lenses, the projectors are

USA - Audio-Technica has unveiled its SpectraPulse mtu301 Body-Pack Transmitter. The mtu301 allows presenters the flexibility to clearly transmit audio as they move throughout the entire SpectraPulse coverage area. By simply plugging in a lavalier or headworn microphone to the mtu301, users can now be free to untether an onstage performance, leave a podium or walk away from a conference table., says the company. A completely new application of UWB technology, SpectraPulse offers secure wireless operation for the installed sound market, free from RF competition, frequency coordination and 'white space' issues.

The mtu301 joins the SpectraPulse mtu101 Microphone Transmitter Unit (in a boundary mic design) and mtu201 XLR Desk Stand Transmitter (paired with gooseneck mics) to offer more flexible options for presenters and performers. Like the other SpectraPulse components, the mtu30

Denmark - By adding a host of new features, including full RDM support and introducing a new DMX licensing system, version 2.8 software for Martin's M1, M-PC and Maxxyz lighting consoles is a milestone release that further enhances the value of Martin's professional controller line for its rapidly growing user base, says the company.

Martin continues its company-wide support of the RDM standard by adding a comprehensive RDM control system to its controllers. Users can now monitor RDM-enabled fixtures connected to a Martin console either directly inside the software or remotely from a website hosted inside the console. This features the ability to download status reports across the Internet, showing real world usability of RDM and adding real value for the customer. RDM is supported over the integrated DMX ports and over Artnet.

It is now possible to receive up to 16 Universes

USA - TC-Helicon has released "the ultimate end-to-end solution for vocalists" with the addition of two high performance dynamic microphones.

The MP-70 and MP-75 microphones are handheld dynamics and the MP-75 comes with one added feature that puts vocalists in control of their performance - Mic Control.

The MP-75 dynamic handheld mic has a single button on the barrel that can be used to switch effects from a range of TC-Helicon effects processors in and out. In this way any vocalist can switch effects and signal processing in or out of the signal path as they see fit. Simply hit the button that's right there on the barrel and change your performance in an instant, says the company.

The proprietary Lismer capsule design uses a patented neodymium magnet structure for high output and uniform performance. The placement of the super-cardioid capsule provides a high deg

USA - City Theatrical reports that it is now shipping its PDS-750 TRX power/data supply for Philips Color Kinetics CKDMX LED lighting fixtures.

The PDS-750 TRX combines advanced new LED fixture control and configuration features with multi-control protocol interoperability and powerful new data management resources in a single lighting control unit, and represents the first practical implementation of all of these features in a single unit. The unit can be controlled with all popular Ethernet protocols including Streaming ACN, Art-Net, or KI-Net, as well as wired and wireless DMX512, and is fully RDM enabled. Every unit includes a built-in SHoW DMX receiver.

The PDS-750 TRX provides full control capability for the new Philips Color Kinetics five colour RGBAW ColorBlast 12 TRX, as well as 16-bit and 8-bit ColorBlast 12 TRs, iW Blast 12s, conventional 8-bit ColorBlast 12s, Color

Spain - VMB has introduced a new lift to its pro series range.The new TE-086 is now the largest in the Pro Series of telescopic lifts, lifting 300kg (661lbs) to a height of 6.5m (21.3').

The addition of the TE-086 now means that the Spanish manufacturer offers 15 different lifting solutions from the Classic, Pro and TL Series of lifters.

Like all pro series lifts the TE-086 includes ALS safety features, is BGV-C1 certified and is available in black or silver finish.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Broadcasters, sound engineers and RF engineers can now download a new version of the Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) from the Sennheiser website. The new, upgraded version of the control software for Sennheiser radio microphone and monitoring systems includes a 'professional set-up' function. Its most important features: the Manager automatically calculates the interference-free frequency set for the required number of radio channels, while a 'lifebelt' icon keeps a number of back-up frequencies in reserve in case there are any RF problems on the day, says the company.

"With the new 'professional set-up' function, the Wireless Systems Manager is an indispensable aid for sound engineers and RF engineers," says Sven Boetcher, Sennheiser product manager for professional wireless microphones. "The user simply enters the required number of channels, including back-

UK - The 2011 edition of HHB's renowned pro audio catalogue, available in both print and digital versions, is available now and details over 1750 products from all sectors of audio production.

The Essential Guide to Professional Audio Technology has been expanded to 188 pages which makes it the biggest ever produced by the company.

This year's Catalogue is not only a top-level technical reference to all the latest pro audio products, it also includes editorial feature content by Hugh Robjohns. The Technology Focus sections cover the hottest topics in pro audio, with a mix of practical and informative information on a number of subjects including loudspeaker placement, loudness monitoring and surround acquisition for HD Broadcast.

To complement the printed and digital offering, the HHB Catalogue 2011 is also available in a convenient and searchable form online.

(Jim

UK - Roland Systems Group has released the Roland VR-5, a fully integrated audio mixer and video switcher with built-in recorder/player for live production and web streaming. This product combines the power of Roland's audio and video technology into one unit, says the company.

Typical live events today, whether large or small, all require a wide variety of production equipment. There are audio inputs from mics, audio mixing, video sources to a video mixer, computer inputs, video playback, video monitors, capturing the event in some form, and also streaming it live online. The VR-5's 'all-in-one' solution greatly simplifies production, recording and streaming of these live events.

The VR-5's design incorporates a video switcher, audio mixer, video playback, recorder, preview monitors and output for web streaming, all in a single unit.

(Jim Evans)

Sweden - Lake has announced the release of a significant update to the company's Lake Controller software. This latest version (v5.6) includes several critical developments to both the Lake Controller software and included firmware for both LM 26 Digital Audio Loudspeaker Processor and Lab.gruppen PLM Series Powered Loudspeaker Management products, says the company.

Lake Controller software provides a unified interface for control and monitoring of PLM Series systems and Lake LM 26 Digital Audio Loudspeaker Processors. In addition to controlling all parameters of Lake Processing, the Controller also provides control and monitoring of exclusive PLM Series features: digital input gain and attenuation, and comprehensive load verification and monitoring via LoadSmart™ and SpeakerSafe.

One of the most significant benefits delivered by this major update is the provision of Brid

USA - Three rack enclosure systems from Installer's Choice have joined the Liberty AV Solutions catalogue. Designated as models PTN, BTN, and ETN, the trio offers strength, competitive pricing, a host of available options and accessories, quick delivery times, and a solid guarantee with each purchase, says the company.

Designed for applications with high volumes of cabling thanks to wider main channels and an overall width of 24", every PTN rack features welded construction and fully adjustable mounting rails to provide optimal support and the flexibility to mount a wide range of AV components. PTN racks are available in 27.5" and 32.5" depths, and heights of 24RU, 37RU, 40RU, and 44RU. Options include top panels designed to promote better cooling, plus an extensive array of side panels, shelving, drawers, and other accessories.

BTN racks are 22" wide and o

USA - Xantech has introduced WiPad, a secure and easy-to-install solution that enables an Apple iPad to be permanently wall-mounted for use as a touchscreen AV control interface or standalone iPad use in commercial and residential applications. The Xantech WiPad is designed not only to securely protect the device but also to allow easy access to power, audio output and other connectivity, says the company.

With Apple's iPad becoming an increasingly practical and popular control interface, the Xantech WiPad presents a solution for system integrators seeking an easily mounted and tamperproof solution for residential and commercial A/V installations. The precisely machined alluminium construction is finished with brushed surfaces for a high-end look that "blends into any conference room, hotel hospitality kiosk or other application".

The Xantech WiPad is foam-lined to i

UK - Yamaha's free StageMix app for the iPad can now be downloaded from the Apple Store and, to mark the availability of this product, Yamaha UK is giving away a strictly limited number of iPads with new M7CL mixing consoles.

Launched at PLASA2010 in September, StageMix provides remote control of M7CL functions via a simple, intuitive graphic interface, from anywhere within wireless range. Worth £429 each, a free 16Gb iPad (WiFi only version) will be given to purchasers of any of the Yamaha M7CL range, one iPad per console, while stocks last.

Specifically designed to allow engineers to adjust monitor mixes from the performer' positions on stage, StageMix directly controls M7CL mix parameters via the iPad, rather than having to rely on verbal directions to a second engineer, or a single engineer keep having to run to and from the console.

Console controls available via

UK - Green Hippo has announced the official release of their new ScreenThief component in conjunction with the 3.0.14 software version.

ScreenThief allows remote PC capture via Ethernet. A feature many Hippotizer users have been requesting, this new component allows them to capture the screen of a PC or Laptop in real time over the network and use the content as a source, says the company.

The new Ethernet video capture solution is suitable for incorporating PowerPoint presentations into Hippotizer-driven shows and also works well with House of Worship software, such as Easy Worship, or alternatively Web pages and product demonstrations run on the captured machine.

While remote screen capture isn't new, ScreenThief adds new dimensions to this type of software with an almost unperceivable latency as well as offering lossless quality up to 1280x1024 resolution. Additionally, i

USA - Staging Concepts has announced a new addition to its line of performance products - the rolling and folding SC Choral Riser. The versatile SC Choral Riser can be arranged in either straight or half-round configurations and will create "an ideal performance environment at a moment's notice with its easy set up and mobility". Because of a lift assist, the SC Choral Riser can be unfolded into a performance configuration and folded to its storage position by just one person, no tools required.

The user-friendly 3-tier SC Choral Riser is designed for use in any performance setting. When set up, the riser's dimensions are 6ft wide by 56 inches deep; when folded for storage, the riser measures at only 2ft wide. Constructed of aluminium, the SC Choral Riser is lightweight and durable with a variety of surface options including black polypropylene (poly vinyl), carpet, un

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