UK - Orbital Sound and Nemesis Research have supplied the recently launched OSCA show control hardware range to a major scare attraction theme park – Farmaggedon’s October Fear Fest. For the past 17 years, the tranquil rural corner of Downholland near Ormskirk in Lancashire has awoken to a frightful force, as Farmaggedon opens its doors for another season. For 2023, this ghoulish entertainment is being triggered by a new power - Nemesis Research’s OSCA Range. Combining an immersive experience with sound, lighting, lasers and flame effects, creating the total experience for the Zombie War Zone relies on perfect and tight control. For the technical team involved once again in helping to create Farmaggedon 2023, Infinity Technical & Production Services, a core element of this year's brief was to find a new way to deliver complete control via a simple system, wi
UK - Martin Audio has announced the promotion of sales administrator Suraj Vadher to the role of EMEA sales executive. A guitarist for over 15 years, and with background in music production, studio recording, mixing and mastering (from his time at Birmingham City University), Suraj also gained wide experience in MI while working for the highly reputable Andertons Music Co in Guildford. Moving to Bucks a couple of years ago to take up his role at Martin Audio, the personable Suraj quickly became a popular figure with customers, helping to manage the day-to-day sales orders and delivery schedule while providing timely updates to any changes. International sales director, Bradley Watson says, “Suraj is very bright and personable, exactly the right ingredients for a more customer facing sales role and I’m delighted that it also gives Martin Audio the opportunity
Singapore - Genelec has further strengthened its distribution network in the APAC region through the appointment of Broadcast Professional Pte as its new distribution partner for Singapore and Malaysia, with responsibility for Genelec’s entire range of Studio, AV and Home Audio products across the two territories. Founded in 1983 and currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, Broadcast Professional started life in Singapore as a subsidiary of Studer AG, serving the growing needs of the broadcast and recording industries across the region. Since then, it has widened its services to include broadcast and streaming services, as well as the creation of Immersive Experiences. Genelec international sales director Ole Jensen comments: “APAC has been a key strategic market for us for many years, and having already established our own subsidiaries in China and Japan, the
Vietnam - Void Acoustics has secured its commitment to the expanding Vietnamese market with the appointment of Van Lam Audio as the country’s Void distributor. With a fast economic recovery in the post-Covid era; and the growing popularity of the country as a tourist destination; Vietnam has an increasing demand for high-end audio solutions in entertainment venues. Van Lam Audio is geographically well placed to specify and deploy Void installations countrywide, with offices and experienced technical teams located in Ho Chi Minh City, Central Vietnam, and the capital Hanoi. Fedrick Lu, Void’s APAC sales manager has spent several months visiting Vietnam to analyse the market potential and meet with a number of companies, all eager to represent the Void Acoustics brand. After conducting a series of meetings with Mr Cuong, MD of Van Lam Audio, Fedrick is confident abo
Europe - Audio-Technica’s BP3600 immersive audio microphone is now supported in the recently-released version of Flux:: Immersive’s SPAT Revolution software (version 23.08), allowing for the capture and mixing of a truly three dimensional audio image. The microphone has eight compact capsule assemblies with excellent high-frequency characteristics integrated into the body, while remaining compact and lightweight enough for single-operator usability and easy setup. This practical broadcasting solution captures realistic sound that will bring the recording location directly to listeners without the need for extensive equipment, says A-T. The BP3600’s eight microphone modules extend from the body to form a cube with 15cm between each microphone assembly. Each microphone assembly in the eight-channel near-coincident array is equipped with a 12mm hypercardioid capsule
Canada - La Fabuleuse Histoire d’un Royaume (The Fabulous History of a Kingdom) is billed as a show that stimulates every sense. Held annually at the 2,300-seat Théâtre du Palais in the Quebec City of Saguenay, it is, on the face of it, a community theatre show, although its production values reflect a rather more ambitious and distinctly professional approach. A cast of 150 volunteer actors play multiple roles within a scenic deployment that features horses, fire, water, cannon-shots and more besides. During the course of its 35-year run charting the birth of Sanguenay, La Fabuleuse has played to 1.3m spectators - a record for an all-French production outside Canada’s major metropolitan centres. Last year, the show made a grand return after a two-year pandemic-enforced break, scaling new heights with the introduction of an immersive sound
UK - Located on a site once famed for the production of large quantities of watercress, the recently created Winchester Auto Barn and Drivers’ Club facility sits in the Hampshire countryside near Alresford. Converted from a large refrigerated production area with offices above, the site now comprises a workshop and showroom, and also offers 30,000sq.ft of easy-to-access premium indoor and outdoor storage packages for classic cars, motorcycles, motor homes and boats. The former office space has been refurbished as a drivers’ club, with communal areas and a board room. Close attention was paid to its interior design, creating a relaxing space which also includes audio and video systems. Auto Barn director, Niall Holden, engaged Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to supply its requirements which included a zoned audio system and discreet recessed projection scree
Venezuela - For over six decades Venevision has been one of Venezuela’s major free-to-air television networks, known for producing and broadcasting a variety of programmes, including news, entertainment shows, telenovelas (soap operas) and more. Responsible for selecting and playing audio content, such as music and effects, for the network’s live and recorded events are Manuel Amengual, supervisor of the music and post-production department, and Omar Noguera, chief engineer for the audio department. With ageing equipment causing reliability issues and other impracticalities, the team was tasked with sourcing a reliable and efficient solution to replace the TV studio’s outdated audio workflow. As a past Sonic Solution DAW user and owner, Amengual was keen to explore Swiss pro audio specialist, Merging Technologies’ offering and contacted its local dealer, Mario
Austria - The legendary Woodstock festival of 1969 remains etched in the annals of music history. Fast forward to today, and the Austrian Woodstock of Brass Music (WoB) pays homage to that event with a playful twist. Held annually since 2011 in the town of Ort in Northern Austria, WoB has earned its reputation as the largest open-air brass band festival in Europe. Drawing inspiration from its American counterpart, this four-day extravaganza in late June welcomes over 80,000 music enthusiasts who revel in the performances of 130 bands, spanning traditional to contemporary brass music. Notably, since 2015, the festival's highlight has been the Ensemble Playing, a spectacle that unites a staggering 20,000 musicians. Austrian recording studio tonzauber took care of the twinned main stage with its own recording / OB truck. The heart of the vehicle’s audio equipment is a
Algeria - Electro-Voice loudspeakers and Dynacord electronics are at the heart of the recently completed New Stadium of Tizi Ouzou. The 50,000-seat venue is the home of JS Kabylie and has been built to exacting UEFA standards, covering everything from the pitch to the capabilities of the technical equipment installed - prompting the selection of the EN-54-rated Electro-Voice EVH loudspeakers and Dynacord IPX amplifiers. The audio system was designed by Turkish Electro-Voice and Dynacord partner, Atempo. The company has worked on a variety of stadium projects and understands exactly what is needed to meet the expected standards while also allowing a venue the flexibility to host non-sporting events. It was the real-world performance combined with the technical specs that made Electro-Voice and Dynacord the right selection for the New Stadium of Tizi Ouzou. “Power ampl
Switzerland - Held in Interlaken on the slopes of the Jungfrau, Unspunnen Festival is a celebration of Swiss traditional dress and culture. Featuring historic games, wrestling matches and traditional music, the festival attracts revellers from across the country. In order to provide music and live commentary, a versatile audio configuration was required. Event technology provider, Stagepro Veranstaltungstechnik, consulted with local Wharfedale Pro distributor, Sacher Music, to select an appropriate system. A solution based on Wharfedale Pro’s WLA-112 line-array loudspeakers was chosen, and the design of the system was undertaken in collaboration with Wharfedale Pro applications and solutions manager, Alex Lane. “The primary scope for the system was speech intelligibility and a predictable but even coverage of all seating areas,” explains Lane. “The main challen
USA - So successful was the inaugural Iron Blossom Festival, in Richmond VA, that the organisers have already confirmed that it will be repeated next year. Contributing to this success was the sound quality provided across the two stages by Soundworks of Virginia, and featuring Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays. This ensured a quality experience for headliners, Hozier, Noah Kahan, and Lord Huron - and the rest of the artists performing. The Bon Secours Training Centre provided the venue for the festival, organised in a joint venture by Charlottesville's Starr Hill Presents, Virginia Beach's IMGoing and Richmond's Haymaker Productions. Working in conjunction with Haymaker Productions owner, Tom Beals Soundworks chose Martin Audio’s large-format WPL for main stage and WPC for the second stage - run in two-box resolution from Martin Audio
Germany - Paulus-Chormusical (The Choir Musical) by German church Evangeliums-Christen Gemeinde e.V is a project produced with only community resources for both its creative content and performance. With a limited budget, but challenging technical requirements, Markus Gorges of AV Support Nümbrecht, Germany, who acted as technical advisor and head of audio for the musical, recommended a combination of a DiGiCo S31+ and KLANG:vokal for the project’s monitoring requirements. “In the end, 151 participants volunteered over two years to put together their own musical, in their free time, and that’s what makes this unique,” says Gorges. “In terms of numbers, 53 were choir singers, 11 musicians and 43 actors, and the rest did all the work around it.” This was no small project. The show had to be performed five times in three different locations and,
UK - The Piece Hall in Yorkshire has stood as a symbol of the region's rich history since its construction in 1779. As a hub for trading 'pieces' of woven woollen fabric, this architectural marvel has seamlessly blended commerce and culture from its inception. Today, it continues to inspire and engage, hosting an array of site-specific performances, and contemporary music concerts as part of their Live at The Piece Hall summer season of gigs, featuring artists such as The Lumineers, Limp Bizkit, UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, The Charlatans, and Johnny Marr. With its stately layout and 5,500-person capacity, The Piece Hall presents acoustic challenges, including a stage that is positioned in the corner, an open courtyard and VIP balconies. The PA system had to deliver high-quality sound to an audience standing in compact spaces, while minimising spill behind the stage.
USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has introduced the SM12 Stage Monitor. Inspired by the renowned Microwedge acoustic design, SM12 is the latest addition to EAW’s catalogue of stage monitors. SM12 is a two-way passive loudspeaker that can be used as a stage monitor or fill speaker. A concentric driver attached to a CSA wave guide provides even coverage throughout the 90° x 60° pattern. A large ground coupled port extends low frequency response down to 60Hz from the 12” woofer mounted in the low-profile wooden enclosure. When utilising the available mounting pattern, SM12 can be used on a flat surface with two cabinet orientations or mounted on a third-party pole. An integrated kickstand offers additional positioning options when used as a stage or floor monitor. "Stage space is at a premium and artists have high expectations,” says TJ Smith, president,
France - With their first album Un air de rien certified triple platinum and more than 300m views on YouTube, Trois Cafés Gourmands is one of the most popular groups in France. Last month, they brought their distinctive blend of traditional folk music and modern pop to a free concert in front of thousands of people at the Théatre de La Mer in Valras-Plage, on the main square next to the sea in the south of France. A Nexo STM system owned by the commune of Valras-Plage remains installed at the summer events site and includes side-by-side suspensions of nine STM M28 line array elements with six STM B112 bass extension speakers, and STM S118 subs ground stacked at the front of the stage. Nexo ID24 speakers are used for front-fills and PS15s for out-fills. The team from local company Decibel Event (equipment supplier for the city) was present to operate the
USA - The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley recently converted its elevated monorail track – closed for years – into the Treetop Trail, providing zoo visitors with a fresh perspective on the zoo’s natural environment. True North Consulting Group, headquartered in Waco, TX with a local office in Stillwater, MN, was hired to design a new security and distributed audio system for the trail, the latter incorporating 56 Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X loudspeakers. “Throughout the year, temperatures range from -25 to 115 degrees (F) with snow, ice, rain and sun – it was of extreme importance that we utilize loudspeakers that are designed to withstand the harsh weather environment in Minneapolis,” explains Jiggs Lee, technology consultant at True North Consulting Group. “The trail will be open year-round. The EVID-S5.2X offers exceptional audio quality and is known for its reli
USA - Renkus-Heinz will attend the Rocky Mountain Audio Video Expo (AVX) on 18-19 October at the Crowne Plaza Dia Convention Centre in Denver, Colorado. AVX 2023 attendees will have the opportunity to experience The Sound Solution in person at Booth #202, where Renkus-Heinz will exhibit a variety of solutions, including the ICLive X Series and Iconyx Compact Series of digitally steerable arrays, both powered by the company’s all-new OmniBeam beam-steering software, as well as the award-winning UBX Series of pre-steered passive column loudspeakers. Members of the Renkus-Heinz team, including western regional sales manager Garrison Parkin and Chris Henley from Mountain AV Marketing, Renkus-Heinz’s representative for the Rocky Mountain region, will be on the show floor ready to answer any questions. “We enjoy regional shows such as AVX that allow us to spend v
USA - The new AS8 ACDC from Avante Audio is a complete portable PA system that can be used ‘absolutely anywhere’ thanks to its integrated rechargeable battery. Easy to setup, this active column speaker system offers flexible input options including Bluetooth 5.0+ wireless connectivity. It is suitable for acoustic solo performers, small bands, comedians and mobile entertainers who want the flexibility to perform everywhere and anywhere without the need for power outlets. Building on the success of the original AS8, the new AS8 ACDC offers the same combination of portability, connectivity and quality audio reproduction with the added benefit of an inbuilt 5,000mAh Lithium-Ion battery, which is capable of providing an average run time of four to five hours. A convenient four-segment LED battery level indicator is provided on the rear of the unit and the same power inlet soc
UK - Bringing its customers a mix of classics, musicals, blockbusters, and family films, and visiting some of the most picturesque locations in the country - from medieval castles and sports arenas to country estates - Adventure Cinema is the UK’s biggest open air cinema tour. The company has enjoyed success immersing audiences in the magic of the movies across more than 70 venues since its formation in 2019. The need for exceptional audio is particularly important in an outdoor cinema setting, and Adventure Cinema has exclusively used HK Audio systems since its inception. As a travelling outdoor cinema company running pop-up events the length and breadth of the UK, Adventure Cinema covers significant mileage and seeks to mitigate costs and environmental impact by obtaining premium quality sound from compact audio systems, as director Mark Thompson explains:
USA - Solotech has announced the appointment of Landon Lovett as global market leader, sales and systems integration division. Landon’s newly created position will focus on areas in which he has previously held impactful roles. In his career spanning more than 20 years in senior leadership, he has been a key player in developing business practices, expanding into new markets, and maintaining consultant engagement and major client relationships. "I am thrilled to join this dynamic, growing global organization,” says Landon. “Over the last 45 years, Solotech has built a world-class reputation of AV production and installation. I am extremely excited to come in and maintain that standard of quality and excellence while helping the continued growth of Solotech's sales and systems integration division." Reporting directly to John 'Jack' Steinhauer, vice preside
Europe - Production manager Gareth Russell is marking 10 years of touring campaigns with First Aid Kit, aka Swedish musical duo, sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg. Taking the new album Palomino out to audiences across the world, he’s running a tight ship. “Everyone's hard work is appreciated by this artist, which is fantastic,” he begins. “The quality of crew that we have on this tour is in demand, so it's testament to the artist that our people continue to make themselves available. Everybody really wants to be here.” First Aid Kit’s close-knit team has welcomed Britannia Row Productions into the fold for some years now, and Russell notes this is partially down to the consistency the audio rental house provides. He continues: “The kind of personnel available to us from Brit Row, such as our tech, Mario Bianchi, well those details are crit
UK - The triumphant return of 90s Britpop poster boys Blur rocked the music world at the end of 2022, as Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree announced that they were back together for the first time in eight years to headline two dates at Wembley stadium. Built to exceed the ambitions of touring productions, DiGiCo’s Quantum7 was the mixing desk of choice for the band’s biggest ever headline shows, ensuring that the 180,000 fans that flocked to Wembley felt the full force of Blur’s influential back catalogue. The mammoth gigs marked 35 years since the band’s formation, which was followed by a lengthy career of catchy chart-topping hits, numerous music awards and bust-ups with fellow Britpop stars. Alongside the Wembley shows, Blur also announced intimate warm-up dates in Colchester, Eastbourne, Newcastle and Wolverhampton, as well as festi
Italy - Lucca Summer Festival is one of Italy’s most highly anticipated live music events, which takes place annually in the city’s famous Piazza Napoleone. This year Robbie Williams returned to the Bel Paese to light up one of the most historic cities in the Tuscan region. He performed to an audience of over 20,000 people on the Festival’s final evening, closing a season which again brought to the location major names in contemporary rock and pop, including Blur, The Chemical Brothers, Norah Jones, Placebo, KISS, Simply Red and Sigur Ros. Martin Audio partner, Amandla Productions, has been a reference rental company for the Lucca Summer Festival for many years, and again provided technical management, including a full audio and lighting package. System engineer, Tommaso Bandecchi, and Amandla CEO, David Lapini, recognised the challenges in meeting the ever
