UK - Located in St Asaph, North-East Wales, St Asaph’s Cathedral is recognised as the smallest cathedral in Britain, and one of the oldest in Wales. The cathedral, whose present structure dates back to the 15th century, has recently received a comprehensive audio system upgrade combining Harman’s JBL Professional loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS processing and AKG microphones. When it came to seeking an upgrade to the installed audio system, the cathedral’s team turned to Richard Hughes, manager of Richard King Systems. Canon for communications at St Asaph’s Cathedral, Canon John Lister, commented: “We started a long time before the final spec was agreed, Richard was prepared to come down here and look at our needs to get to know the cathedral better and he made it very straightforward.” “The initial part of this process was in-depth consultati
USA - This autumn, Holoplot partner, Creative Technology US, used the attributes of the X1 Matrix Array for orchestral performances of musical scores of The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario at this year’s Nintendo Live experience at PAX West, the destination event celebrating gaming and gaming culture, in Seattle. Nintendo Live is billed as ‘an all-ages celebration of Nintendo fun’. An in-person event, it debuted in Kyoto, Japan in 2018, with the 2023 edition being the first Nintendo Live event in North America. Across a large-scale themed area, guests were invited to play Nintendo Switch games together at the Variety Stage and Experience Zones, watch NintendoVS championship tournaments, and enjoy live entertainment on the Live Performance Stage, equipped with a Holoplot X1 sound system operated by Creative Technology US. The challenge was to provide
USA - OSA International has made a substantial investment in robotic line source technology from PK Sound, spearheading a significant long-term partnership between the two companies. “Meeting the broad range of our clients’ needs drives everything we do, and we pride ourselves on being early adopters of innovative technologies that help us do it at the highest level,” comments Mario Educate, president of OSA International. “From blockbuster tours and events to high-profile installations, we see unlimited potential in how PK Sound’s multi-axis robotics will exceed expectations in the growing range of applications we cover. Between the cutting-edge technology, amazing acoustic performance, and unmatched support, we’re very excited about this partnership.” The company’s initial investment comprises 128 of PK Sound’s medium-format T10 line source modules
Greece - In the neighbourhood around the 11th century Byzantine church of Agioi Theodoroi in central Athens is a newly renovated Art Deco building well known by locals as once owned by the internationally acclaimed composer and musician Vangelis. Inherited by the Chariots of Fire composer following the death of his father, the building was until recently occupied mainly by offices and law firms, with an arcade of shops on the ground floor. Now, following the passing of Vangelis, the building has been renovated by new owners, with the ground floor, arcade and basement leased to a group of mostly local musicians, DJs and club operators, all fans of Vangelis and eager to pay tribute to the spirit of the musician. Named after a watchmaking shop that had occupied the building for many years, The Architects of Time is an all-day venue combining good food and drinks wi
Saudi Arabia - Powersoft has appointed aDawliah Universal Appliances as its newest distributors in the growing GCC market. The addition of a new local representative will help support the development of the Powersoft brand in the Middle East. Based in Riyadh, aDawliah was established in 1979 with a mission to provide pro audio products and services to its customers who create original audio experiences for their clients. The new distributor is already planning to provide the market with product demos and regular training, with a particular customer focus on presales, design and onsite support while further growing Powersoft’s brand awareness through seminars and exhibitions in Saudi Arabia. “I have strong confidence in the potential of our market, considering the rapid development in the entertainment sector, which has a direct impact on the audio industry.
USA - Following the announcement from earlier this month that it has joined forces with industry pioneer DiGiCo, Fourier Audio is releasing the transform.engine, previously known as codename Project Core. Housed in a 2U touring-grade chassis with dual redundant power supplies, the new transform.engine is a Dante-connected server designed to run all VST3-native software plugins in a live environment, bringing premium studio software to live sound and broadcast applications. Fully compatible with any VST3 plugin that can run on Windows, the new device gives engineers and creatives access to the very best studio-grade processing on a robust platform that is specifically designed for the rigors and complexities of live productions. Designed as a turnkey solution for plugin hosting, the transform.engine is easily controlled by a remote Windows or macOS client application,
USA - Eventide Audio is introducing immersive audio versions of two distinctly Eventide plug-ins: Blackhole Immersive and Micropitch Immersive. Debuted during the AES NY 2023 Convention this week, the two plug-ins are designed from the ground up for surround and immersive workflows, including Dolby Atmos. Blackhole Immersive expands the signature sound of the stereo version of Eventide’s reverb across an entire immersive mix. Eventide’s MicroPitch panned pitch and delay effect is relied upon by legions of engineers for the creation of beautiful and wide stereo soundfields. Now, with MicroPitch Immersive, the proven power of strategically decorrelated sound is pushed into three dimensions. The clean and intuitive interface of the Eventide Immersive plug-ins seamlessly fits into production, whether the project is mixing music, post-production for film, or sound desi
UK - TeamSport is the largest indoor karting company in the UK. Currently operating 35 racing circuits, the company has plans for continued growth across the UK and Europe with the intention of making the fun of indoor karting accessible to as many people as possible. Its first track opened in Guildford more than 30 years ago with a desire to create the best possible karting experience and set new standards in the industry. With an eye and ear on every detail, TeamSport recognises the importance of high-quality audio provision across its reception areas, briefing rooms, hospitality facilities and spectator areas. Audio upgrades to TeamSport’s sites are carried out by Pro Audio Systems (PAS) of Bradford, who have been the company’s chosen supplier and installer since 2016. A recent example was the upgrading of audio in the reception areas of 12 TeamSport sites. “W
UK - Following a successful stint in North America, the Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS) tribute band has returned to the UK for its #DarkSide50 Tour 2023. This celebrates 50 years since Pink Floyd’s original Dark Side Of The Moon tour. Significantly, the tour will also marry Martin Audio’s latest Wavefront Precision line array technology, as fielded by 22live - who handle all audio production for TAPFS -and the original rig conceived by Martin Audio founder, Dave Martin and Bill Kelsey for that 1973 tour. The idea of recreating this for the cover band came from Chris Hewitt (of CH Vintage) who floated the idea back in April. Hewitt is known for having salvaged and curated much of the equipment that toured concert halls and festivals in the 1960s and 70s, and selected items from his emporium can frequently be seen on show, lovingly restored, a
UK - Rycote Windshields reports the ‘resounding success’ of its recent press day. The event, held at Rycote’s brand new manufacturing facility in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, offered industry editors a hands-on experience that showcased the company’s commitment to British manufacturing excellence and innovation. The event, which took place on 19 October 2023, brought together a team of industry journalists for an opportunity to meet with Rycote's diverse and international audio team, some of whom are based at the new facility, and some company representatives from both the US and Italy. Participants were invited to explore the manufacturing facility and gain insights into the company's strategy and future roadmap. The highlight of the event was a behind the scenes factory tour that allowed attendees to meet the production team and to witness first-hand the craftsmanship
UK - Solotech has announced its partnership with Outernet, the immersive experience in the heart of London. This strategic collaboration solidifies Solotech's position as Outernet’s global 360 AV partner as it now looks to expand to future sites internationally. "Our partnership with Outernet epitomises the standards by which we measure ourselves," says Bryce Jewell, managing director of Solotech UK. "The audio solution that we provided in London was a massive success, one that was ultimately recognised by many industry bodies. However, as Outernet looks to realise their ambitions in other markets, Solotech’s global reach and track record of delivering full 360 solutions will unquestionably add even greater value to our partnership. Together, I know that our combined strengths and expertise will continue to provide consumers with the most advanced immersive audiovisual e
Europe - Shure has announced the completion of its acquisition of Ab Wavemark Oy. The move adds Wavemark’s software products to Shure’s professional audio portfolio, equipping audio technicians in theatre, film, TV, broadcast, and content streaming applications with innovative tools. These tools ‘aim to inspire confidence and minimise guesswork in real-time applications’. Both Wavetool and WTautomixer V2 are available now for download. Wavetool will be showcased at the Shure booth #502 at AES-NY this week. Wavetool is an audio and listening application that provides critical, comprehensive monitoring for audio professionals. Wavetool’s early detection of potential audio problems, streamlined communication capabilities with the sound team, and its centralisation of monitoring functionalities, helps professionals monitor high-stakes productions with confidence, says
USA - Reaffirming its commitment to the success of its integration partners and end-users in international markets, LEA Professional today announced the extension of its international warranty from three to five years on products purchased after October 1, 2023. The move underscores LEA Professional’s confidence in the design and build quality of its amplifiers and provides international customers with strong assurance of LEA Professional’s customer-centric intentions. Commenting on the extension, Jeremy Bules, LEA Professional vice-president of engineering, notes: “As others cost-engineer, strip out features, and roll back warranties, we believe in our amplifiers and are confident that a five-year warranty is what our customers seek and deserve. As such we’re extending the warranty and we’ll continue working with our international partners to evolve our products a
USA - PRG (Production Resource Group) has appointed Ariane Coldiron as senior vice president, corporate events. Coldiron will head the corporate events division, reporting directly to PRG CEO Stephan Paridaen. Coldiron was most recently SVP, brand experience at Freeman where she worked for nearly a decade. As SVP, she drove the company’s highly successful agency business, developing and implementing go-to-market and long-term strategies while managing a large and complex portfolio of accounts including industry giants like Google, SalesForce, Sage, and HP. She also held tenures at experiential agencies Jack Morton, InVision Communications, and TBA Global Events. “Ariane’s extensive industry experience has uniquely equipped her for success in this key role,” said Paridaen. “She is a well-known and much-respected figure in the corporate events space, with lon
Australia - When it comes to education, Monash University is focused on addressing today’s challenges for a better tomorrow - for students, local communities and global populations. Named one of the top 50 universities worldwide, Monash is continually striving to offer the most comprehensive learning regimen possible, one that puts student and professor connectivity above all else. So, when the world started shifting from analogue VGA video to HDMI digital, and their students required higher quality output from its AV systems, Monash called on audio visual design manager and lead architect Peter MacLean to overhaul the university’s sound setup. Over the past decade, MacLean has worked with Monash University to define what a new AV system needed to do to improve the learning experience. Some of these requirements included natural, smooth and rich sound with high speech i
Poland - At 195m, the recently completed Skyliner office building in the new heart of the Warsaw Business District is one of the seven tallest buildings in Poland. A flagship investment for the Karimpol Group, it offers 49,000sq.m of office and retail space on 42 floors, with the prestigious Look Up event and conference space occupying the top two and providing spectacular 360-degree views of the city. Already almost fully booked with events leading up to Christmas, Look Up comprises a dividable modern conference and banquet space for up to 100 people on the 41st floor, and a stunning 270sq.m loft-style space with a 14.5m ceiling height on the 42nd floor, ready to accommodate up to 200 people. With elegant interior design helping to attract events ranging from dinners and product launches to conferences and parties, it was clear from the outset that the sound system at
USA - The Treetop Trail is reimagining what it means to visit the Minnesota Zoo. As the longest elevated pedestrian loop in the world, the 1.25-mile Treetop Trail brings guests up to 32ft into the canopy, offering a breathtaking birds-eye view of the zoo and animals below. In addition to creating a sense of awe and wonder, it connects guests with nature and inspires action to save wildlife in Minnesota and around the world. The zoo has already named the new ambassador to the trail's habitat: a North American porcupine named Quillber. There are several ‘lookouts’ along the trail, which serve as areas of interest in which zoo docents inform visitors about the area they're in or animals they can see. These lookouts will also be used for small-scale musical performances through the zoo’s planned Music in the Trees program. Featuring a rotation of different musicians and st
Indonesia - Suara’s independent art, music, culture and educational festival is set on the pristine Tabanan coast on the Indonesian island of Bali. Founded for the good of its community, the unique two-day event has a clear mission to bring together locals and visitors to connect and celebrate the beauty of Balinese heritage and nature. Now in its second year, the location for Suara is Nuanu City, ‘a home for visionaries and creators’. The festival itself welcomed around 4,000 visitors daily who could enjoy a packed schedule of workshops, cultural activities and performances across nine unique stages. An outdoor festival requires high-performance, flexible and discreet loudspeakers and when it came to choosing the supplier for Suara, K-array was the ‘first choice’ for general producer Vladimir Belyakov and sound engineer Semen Chumanikhin: “Having experienc
UK - Taking its inspiration from street market culture, the recently opened Arcade Food Hall at the restored Battersea Power Station has seating for 500 customers and boasts 13 different cuisines on its menu. As well as the Food Hall, the 24,000sq.ft space also features two bars, three restaurants, and a private dining room and has been an instant hit with diners. Along with winning food and drink offerings, the space also hosts a wide variety of events, from product and PR launches to summer socials and music after parties. Given its multi-functional nature, premium audio was essential for the venue, with integrators HD Pro Audio (part of Marquee Group) engaged to design and install a suitable system. HD Pro Audio had previously carried out interim work and programming updates on Arcade’s existing Tottenham Court Road venue, having been introduced by a longstanding
Germany - Electro-Voice has received a glowing endorsement from Steve Harris, the bassist, founder and band leader of Iron Maiden - one of the most influential and enduringly popular bands in heavy metal, with sales over 70 million albums worldwide. Renowned for their stunning live shows, the band’s The Future Past Tour 2023 recently wrapped on 6th October, and saw stadiums packed with a new generation of fans alongside seasoned metalheads. Harris’s signature sound and fast-fingerstyle technique have made him one of the most instantly recognisable bassist in heavy metal - as noted by Loudwire magazine, which named him the best hard rock and metal bassist of all time. The relationship with Electro-Voice cements the long-standing trust that Harris has placed in his EV-equipped rig, solidifying a shared commitment to uncompromising audio quality that st
USA - Genelec Inc. (aka Genelec USA), the US distribution arm of Finland-based active monitor manufacturer Genelec, announces a wave of appointments, promotions and new hires in 2023, as the company continues to develop its strong sales force, streamlined logistics, and industry-leading customer support. Additionally, the company’s headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, have been remodelled with a variety of ultra-modern updates and amenities, including an open-area floor plan with expanded dining facilities, as well as a new modular office cubicle layout to handle the bolstered employee roster. First, longtime Genelec USA team member Eric Daubney has been promoted to digital content manager. Out of college in 2012, he worked in the world of recording studios, music publishing, and post-production, where he regularly encountered Genelec studio monitors. “I had never hea
UK - A brand new contemporary art gallery has opened in Brighton’s cultural centre of North Laine where an extensive selection of contemporary art is complemented by a Void Acoustics system to entertain its patrons. Helm Gallery is co-owned by entrepreneur Luke Davis and art curator Eden Maseyk, who have realised their creative vision across 7,000 square feet set across two floors. This multi-purpose, inclusive arts space hosts unique art events; ‘sip and paint’ classes; and exclusive exhibitions from local and worldwide artists, as well as offering a dynamic social space where a resident DJ performs every weekend. Marquee AV were appointed to provide a stylish, high end music system which would enhance, but not detract from, the key focus of the space - the art adorning the walls. The gallery has been designed as a crisp, bright, modern white space with all fix
USA - Apogee Electronics has announced the appointment of Alex Oana as its new global sales manager, effective immediately. With a career spanning over 35 years in the audio industry, Oana brings a wealth of diverse experience and expertise to Apogee. His journey has included roles as an award-winning recording engineer/producer, FOH mixer for Pharrell Williams and N*E*R*D, salesperson for Vintage King Audio, vice president of Slate, where he spearheaded the creation and development of the Raven, and the founder of Audio Test Kitchen - a web platform offering unbiased comparisons of audio equipment. Alex Oana commented: "Joining Apogee is an opportunity to contribute to a brand I've long admired as well as relied on as an audio engineer. My sales role is about providing service to our distribution and dealer partners who enable Apogee to continually expand and delight
Korea - Neumann’s Miniature Clip Microphone System (MCM) has been making waves since its release. In Korea, with artists like Jang Ha-eun (classical guitarist), Mellow Kitchen (saxophonist), and KoN (violinist) joining the ranks of MCM users, it is evident that Neumann's MCM is making waves. Jang Ha-eun is a popular South Korean singer and classical guitarist who has made a name for herself on the international stage. Most notably, she was one of the finalists at the popular South Korean talent show Superband 2 and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York with the Union City Orchestra. Her collaboration with prestigious orchestras such as the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bolshoi Theatre National Opera Orchestra have further showcased her exceptional guitar skills and musical talent. “I always aim to achieve the best sound quality for all my perfo
