Thailand - Biamp Systems has appointed Andy Pearce to lead its sales and support operations in the Asia Pacific region. Pearce assumes responsibility for the coordination and support of regional distributors and channel partners and also the maintenance and development of successful integrator relations throughout the region. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, Pearce will report directly to Graeme Harrison, Biamp Systems VP of international sales.

With extensive industry experience both in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region with firms such as Quantel (UK), Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Malaysia), AMS/Neve (UK and Hong Kong) and Mandrill Recording Studios (New Zealand) Pearce joins Biamp Systems from Sony (UK) Ltd, England, where he was technical account manager with responsibility in the UK for product management of the Sony XDCAM range of products and Sony XPRI systems. Before joi

Australia / UK - In a surprise move, Tom Misner - president and founder of the multi-national SAE (School of Audio Engineering) Group - has announced the acquisition of the leading console manufacturer, AMS Neve. Misner, an audio technologist, visionary and educator in the music field, has maintained a strong industry association and has been a user of Neve consoles for the past 30 years. AMS Neve's MD Mark Crabtree said: "We are very happy to now be part of such a strong global organization." He added: "With the full support of the SAE Group it will enable us to increase our market share and above all accelerate the introduction of our new product range."

SAE Institute will now be providing through its network in over 45 colleges in 20 countries AMS Neve broadcast/music/film and post seminars for past and new clients. This will be a first of a kind service o

USA - The recent launch of the self-powered MICA compact high-power curvilinear array loudspeaker was enthusiastically received in the market and orders began flowing in as soon as the product was announced, say the company. Although the first production run has been dispersed to nearly every continent on the globe, the majority of the initial shipments have gone to Europe, with more than 70 cabinets going to Spain alone and Best Audio/Dispatch France's Meyer Sound distributor taking delivery of 48 units.

MKM Showtechnik of Darmstadt, Germany, the first of a number of German rental companies buying the new loudspeaker, employed a dozen MICA cabinets, supported by seven 700-HP ultrahigh-power subwoofers in a horizontal line array at the Burggrabenfest concert in Darmstadt. The show received favourable reviews for sound in the German press.

12 of the MICA units going to Best Aud

USA - Neutrik collected a Pick Hit Award 2005 for its new OpticalCon product, presented at InfoComm in Las Vegas (8 to 10 June). Industry insiders - ranging from end-users to consultants and journalists - who visited exhibitors' booths anonymously during the show - selected the winners. The Pick Hit recipients need to be renowned for offering a wide range of products standing for the application of leading-edge technology and/or providing eminently practical solutions to today's system integration challenges. "It was difficult to come up with only 14 products out of all the contenders, but it's exciting to see such a good cross section of technologically innovative products that either provides extremely well thought-out solutions, represents the latest advancements in a particular technology, or both," the jury said.

OpticalCon is a ruggedized and dirt protected fibre

USA - Veteran front-of-house engineer John Cooper is using Lake Contour and Lake Mesa Quad EQ digital processors to maintain a consistent day-to-day sound system performance as Bruce Springsteen's five-week solo acoustic tour winds its way through Europe. The award-winning Cooper, well known for his work with The Judds and other Audio Analysts clients, is using two Lake Contours for the main left/right PA speaker set-up with a Mesa Quad EQ optimizing the nearfield and side hang systems.

Cooper, who has been in the business for nearly 30 years, has apparently become an instant fan of the Lake Technology processors. "I have immediately fallen in love with them," he comments. "It's definitely the best tool for my job." The engineer, who also mixed the mammoth world tour promoting Springsteen's 'The Rising' in 2002/2003, is looking forward to adopting Lake Contou

UK - The Royal Albert Hall (RAH) is one of the world's best-known venues, and the task of providing sound reinforcement in such a prestigious hall is a sobering responsibility amply shouldered in recent years by Woking-based Sound By Design (SBD). As part of their ongoing development of sound services available in the RAH, SBD has installed an assortment of Meyer Sound self-powered systems - highlighted by a new centre cluster of M2D compact curvilinear array loudspeakers - as well as upgrading the existing permanent loudspeaker installation in the building.

After an intensive assessment period, the company took delivery of the package of M2D cabinets to complement its existing stock of M1D ultra-compact curvilinear array loudspeakers. A new three-hang centre cluster was designed, consisting of eight central M2D units with outer hangs of eight M1Ds each, all driven by LD-3 compe

UK - Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Audio Ltd is the latest company to invest in Audient's acclaimed Aztec live performance console. Owner Bob Collinson had used Aztec on many occasions and thought it time to purchase one for a forthcoming tour, so this month he collected a new 48-channel Aztec Touring Edition. Collinson notes: "I had used Aztec on a number of gigs and loved it every time. When looking recently for a new large format console, I noted that Aztec had turned up of many riders last year and its evident success made it a very sensible option for my hire inventory."

UK sales manager, Nick Pemberton completed the sale. "As a person with Yorkshire blood in me, I understood what Bob wanted from his console: quality and flexibility, without it breaking the bank. Aztec fits the bill perfectly. As one of the finest sounding console available, Aztec's "no nons

USA - Closely following the release of the MICA compact high-power curvilinear array loudspeaker, Meyer Sound has announced the 600-HP compact high-power subwoofer. Bringing the power of the 700-HP ultrahigh-power subwoofer to a package ideal for rigging with MICA, the self-powered 600-HP is ideal for flown applications, say Meyer, using its optional QuickFly rigging, and for those situations where the extra low-frequency extension of the 700-HP is not required, or where space is a consideration.

In addition to being the ideal partner in a flown MICA array, the 600-HP's operating frequency range of 33Hz to 150Hz provides a complement to other Meyer Sound self-powered products such as the UPA-1P compact wide coverage or UPJ-1P compact VariO loudspeakers. The 600-HP's power and bandwidth handle high continuous operating levels and extreme transient information with minimal distort

USA - The San Francisco Hilton Hotel and Towers has added an Allen & Heath MixWizard WZ3 16:2 mixing console to its special event audio production equipment, which already includes a 24 mono/8 stereo input Allen & Heath GL4000 and a 24-channel GL4. The hotel chose the MixWizard for its compact size, flexibility and ease of set-up. "We're getting quite a fleet of Allen & Heath desks now and I'm excited about using the new MixWizard," said ballroom engineer, John Fagan. "It's a real space-saver; we bought a case with it as well, so it goes in, tilts up, and off we go! That's what it's all about now, a quick set-up and a quick strike."

The San Francisco Hilton Hotel and Towers offers a wide selection of ballrooms and conference spaces to handle its busy events schedule, from the 30,000sq.ft Grand Ballroom - which seats 3,300 in a theatrical configuration - down

UK - DiGiCo's dedicated theatre console, the D5T, formed a major part of LSI Projects' stand at the recent ABTT show in London. As a supplier and system integrator of sound, lighting, audio-visual and suspension equipment for a diverse range of markets, LSI Projects has recognized the need for a high-end digital mixing console for the theatre market, and believes that DiGiCo's D5T has provided an ideal solution for them. "LSI Projects is one of the number one installation companies in the UK, Middle and Far East for the theatre installation market," says DiGiCo's sales director James Gordon. "They have been specifying our products on a number of projects recently and we're extremely pleased to welcome them into the DiGiCo family."

(Lee Baldock)

USA - Folk legend John Prine made his first live performance as a singer/songwriter in Illinois in 1946. Over the course of his career, he has released eight studio albums and penned such classics as Please Don't Bury Me, Fish And Whistle and Souvenirs. His music has also inspired other artists like Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash to release their own versions of Prine tunes.

Much to his fans' delight, Prine recently went back out on the road to support his new album Fair & Square, the first studio album of new material in over nine years. Joining him for the Fair & Square 2005 tour is veteran live sound mixer Dan Lance of Nomad Productions, who has offices in Dallas, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee. Lance, whose mixing career began in 1982 with Showco, has worked with a wide variety of professional performers including Barbara Mandr

UK - Front-of-house sound engineer Geoff Hooper is using a JBL VerTec VT 4889 line array system for Elvis Costello's current UK tour - a decision made as they stepped up a level in terms of production and venue size. Hopper has used VerTec for the three years he's been touring with Costello in the US, where the venues vary from 700 capacity clubs to 4000 capacity theatres and arenas. With several large concert halls on the itinerary for this UK leg of the tour, VerTec was the obvious option.

Costello knows exactly what he wants from a sound system, making the task of engineering simultaneously challenging and rewarding: "I interfere as little as possible with the distinctive Costello sound coming offstage," says Hopper. "I know I can get a great 'natural' sound out of the VerTec, and that's a primary reason it's my choice of system," he says.

Costello's flo

USA - In May, TMB shipped the 100th ProPower Rack Panel Distribution (RPD) System. The system was sold to Ed & Ted's Excellent Lighting, Inc. in support of an intensive summer of concert and corporate events, commencing with the Eminem North American Tour.

TMB's ProPower RPD features a comprehensive range of cULus Listed panels. Included are virtually every type of connector, voltage range, or special purpose power distro device used in the live event and entertainment industries. Over 150 panels are available, with more being added regularly. Panels and their positioning in the rack are selected by the user and the RPD system is built exactly as specified. RPD rack systems are normally shipped within ten days, completely ready to use. In addition to Power Distribution panels, an entire family of panels has been engineered using the ETC SmartPack dimmer modules and ProPlex Data

France/UK - Owned by Bruno Bertrand, Audiopole is a long time distributor of pro audio equipment for a number of leading manufacturers. The company recently found it had a gap in its product range that the MC2 brand could fill.

"When our previous amplifier brand stopped being made, we were on the lookout for a manufacturer offering innovative products to fit both fixed installation and touring applications," comments Bertrand. "These market segments need high powered, compact and reliable amplifiers that few manufacturers can offer today at a high quality level.

"After checking the new E series, we decided that MC2 products fit those needs exactly. Moreover, having been in touch with Ian McCarthy several times, we know the company has a profile that can offer innovation, flexibility and a friendly relationship. We are very happy to see that sales have start

Germany - Audio specialist Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG concluded financial year 2004 with worldwide sales of EUR 261.7 million, which corresponds to an increase of 10.3 per cent on the previous year. Sennheiser say that in addition to the positive development of the economic climate, this success can be attributed to the company's consistently high investments in production technologies and research and development; other contributory factors were decisive improvements to its logistics processes and efficient marketing strategies.

The Sennheiser Group, which in the year under report consisted of the parent company plus four domestic and 13 foreign subsidiaries, and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S, raised its sales by EUR 24.5 million in 2004 to a figure of EUR 261.7 million. Profits increased to EUR 13.2 million, which already takes into account a special

UK - Electro-Voice's chic designer EViD loudspeakers are the ideal fit for the new refurbished interior of Birmingham's leading gay club, The Nightingale, where Matthews Electronics of Birmingham has just completed the installation of high-end sound and lighting systems throughout the venue.

The Nightingale is a unique managed business owned by its members, reinvesting its profits into the business. Now 35 years old and in its fourth location, the venue has recently undergone a £3/4 million redevelopment, evolving into a 'style bar and nightclub', open seven days a week.

Set over three floors, The Nightingale has capacity for 2,000. With live PA on the ground floor, and another large dance club on the second floor, the first floor in the middle features the new B5 Bar and Restaurant, together with a piano lounge and café bar with swanky leather sofas, chunky tables and big l

USA - Interpol, New York's most talked-about rock band, has been touring in Europe with a JBL VerTec system, souped up with BSS Audio's FDS-366T Omnidrive Compact Plus's. The FDS-366T was used as the main crossover unit for the VerTec's low mid-hi cabinets and for the subwoofers that made up the system.

Playing mid-size venues with 1500-3000 capacity, the European dates of Interpol's tour were serviced by British PA company, SSE Hire. Tim Fraleigh, system technician on the tour, praised the sound quality of the BSS unit, especially the facility which allows the engineer to EQ the system beyond the crossover settings.

The FDS-366T's are equipped with the V1T tunings using WHISEWORKS-NTM filters, first pioneered with VerTec by SSE during last years Metallica tour.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Spain - When Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid decided to renew their old sound system at the famous Bernabeu Stadium they turned to pro audio specialists Gaplasa/DBM Pro ES, who recommended a Denon/Marantz playback solution.

As one of the best football teams in the world Gaplasa's José Maria Penalba rationalized the club deserved nothing less than the best in sound quality too. "However, it was not only a question of offering them top quality equipment but also the best engineering team and service," he emphasized.

After listening carefully to the club's needs, the D&M Professional Spanish distributors were able to meet all system requirements from the company's catalogue. The background music is now delivered from a Marantz Professional CC 4300P 5-disc CD changer, designed for commercial use. Also installed is a Marantz Professional CDR510 Live Event CD Recorder.

UK - Latest signings to Parlophone, The Departure, continue their intensive touring schedule with the release of their debut album, equipped with a stage full of Audio-Technica mics.

The band, whose album, Dirty Words, was released on 13 June, has played over 100 shows in the last nine months. With no let up, they have dates, including support slots with Duran Duran, lined up throughout Europe until September, after which they embark on a headline UK tour, followed by a US tour and a further European stint.

With a few days respite before the summer's first European sprint, FOH engineer John Delf, took the opportunity to equip the tour inventory with a full complement of A-T mics. "We played Sonicmania 05 in Japan this year," he states. "The festival is sponsored by Audio-Technica, so we played with a full A-T mic kit. I was especially impressed with the A

UK - Shuttlesound has made the first UK sale of Dynacord's new Xa-2 horn-loaded high SPL sound reinforcement system to Banana Row, the Edinburgh-based music services company. The new system makes one of its debut appearances in front of the most important people in the political world, when it is used at the Delegates' Ball at the G8 summit in the Gleneagles Hotel.

Banana Row is a multi-faceted music operation, incorporating rehearsal and recording facilities, instrumental teaching and PA/backline rental services for a wide range of customers. Having only taken delivery of the new Dynacord Xa-2 system at the end of May, the rush was on to gain some real-world experience with the system before the high-profile G8 summit event.

The first outing for the new system was at Edinburgh's biggest free festival, the Meadows Festival. Craig Hunter of Banana Row used the complete Xa-2 sys

Japan - Lying between Tokyo and Narita International Airport, the Makuhari Messe exhibition complex is ideally situated for its role as one of Japan's leading business and entertainment destinations. As with so many Expo centres around the world, Makuhari Messe prides itself in its ability to present a full range of events. Trade shows and corporate events naturally lead the way, but the complex is also home to the purpose designed 9,000 seat Makuhari Event Hall, where rock concerts can easily be staged.

Like its close neighbours Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea Park, the Makuhari Messe has become increasingly successful since it first opened, so successful in fact that demand for the Event Hall had exceeded its ability to deliver. This was in part due to its large and heavy PA system that required four people to stack each cabinet. With a constant need to reconfigure the hall fo

Germany - Sixty-three million euro has been spent getting the AWD Arena in Hanover ready for next year's World Cup; the 49,000-seater stadium now complies fully with FIFA regulations.

Among the key items in the modernization programme was the provision of new sound reinforcement and public address systems, with the decision-makers opting in each case for systems from EVI Audio: the centrepiece of the acoustic design is now formed by a PROMATRIX paging and alarm system from DYNACORD and a professional sound system from Electro-Voice in which FRX+PI enclosures and RL amplifiers play key roles.

For a major project such as the AWD Arena, EVI Audio's virtually comprehensive product portfolio offers considerable advantages, since each of the different areas of the stadium - the VIP lounges, the stands, the playing field etc. - poses a different problem, which (naturally) requires a

UK - The European Headquarters of Digidesign, based at Pinewood Studios just to the West of London, is well-positioned right in the heart of a major film and television production centre. Housed within the offices of its parent company, Avid, Digidesign's entire sales, marketing, training and education resource operates from this site; its proximity to Heathrow allows easy access for UK and international visitors.

The training and education centre offers excellent facilities for its European re-sellers. An array of meeting rooms and two fully equipped studios provide the perfect surroundings for hands-on understanding of their products. Since launching the ICON D-Control and very recently the D-Command, the Digidesign headquarters has played host to many of the company's re-sellers visiting the training centre for training on these new products.The ICON tactile worksurface, D-Co

UK - Stardraw.com recently announced that it has incorporated support for WebBrick technology from UK-based home automation products and solutions company O2M8 into its award-winning application, Stardraw Control.

Stardraw Control generates standalone, customized control programs that can manage and monitor any type of addressable equipment from any manufacturer using any protocol over any communications infrastructure. This approach frees systems integrators from closed or proprietary architectures and applications, offering instead the ability to create a single application that can control many different products with as much or as little complexity as the end user needs.

O2M8 Ltd is a UK-based company creating innovative smart home products and solutions using standard technologies and open source software to reduce costs and drive growth in the smart home industry. WebBri

Latest Issue. . .