UK - For nearly a decade, Martin Audio partner, Manchester-based VME, has been providing PA for major boxing events in the nation’s arenas, on an accelerating basis. Starting out with an inventory of 48 MLA multicellular loudspeaker array enclosures, such has been the demand from this sector that the rental fleet has now more than doubled, and this month the rental company announced that it has increased its inventory of MLA family products to over 100. This makes VME one of the largest MLA rental stagers in the UK. Explaining the underlying reason, operations manager Aaron Harvey-Holt says that this is in recognition of the fact that his company is now servicing over 40 events a year for TV transmission through Sky Sports, BT Sports and DAZN - all in major UK venues such as Wembley Stadium, Wembley OVO Arena, The O2 Arena, Cardiff International Arena and Manchester
Australia - In the nine years between their 2013 debut album Atlas and now, Grammy Award-winning group Rüfüs Du Sol has undergone one name change, received three ARIA certifications – two platinum and one gold - for their style of house, electronica, and alternative dance music. Multi-citied continental tours have been the norm for the three-piece outfit. Recently, Rüfüs Du Sol wrapped up an Australia-New Zealand tour of eight shows performed in four territories for over 30,000 people. For the concerts in Adelaide and Perth, tour promoters Fuzzy Entertainment chose L-Acoustics certified rental partner Novatech to supply sound, visual, lighting and communication solutions for the outdoor sites. The Novatech team’s open communication and collaborative style have made the company a returning partner for the band and mix engineer Cam Trewin. Novatech was ta
Spain - K-array has announced a partnership with AdagioPRO, the audiovisual distributor in Southern Europe. AdagioPRO, located in Barcelona, is well-known for its representation of innovative solutions in the AV market, with a strong focus on AV install and live events business verticals. As a part of this partnership, AdagioPRO will represent K-array's complete portfolio of solutions in Spain. This includes K-array and also KGEAR and KSCAPE, two of K-array's recent product lines. The AdagioPRO team will also provide dedicated support and training to ensure customers receive the highest level of service. "We are thrilled to partner with AdagioPRO to bring our state-of-the-art audio solutions to the Spanish market," said Pablo Manoukian, LATAM and Spain area sales manager. "Their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction aligns perfectly with our values, and we
UK - Smart technology and office design specialist Coodart relied on Shure Stem Ecosystem to transform the head office of one of Europe’s largest mineral producers. With new communications technologies playing a key part in the renovation, Coodart chose Shure’s flexible portfolio as the solution to bring high-quality audio into this major new project. The Shure Stem Ecosystem, which was recently awarded the 2022 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan, provides a fully customisable solution that integrates with other communication platforms such as Barco ClickShare and Huddly cameras. This is why a mix of Stem Ecosystem devices were chosen to fit in the space. The solution included Stem table and ceiling speakers and microphones, combined with the Stem hub to connect all the devices together and complete the solution. Future flexibility
Canada - Hugo Angers, TV mixer and sound engineer and co-owner of Quebec-based Euphonie Sonorisation, has worked with a plethora of audio consoles throughout his career. However, since first operating a DiGiCo console in the mid-2010s, he has developed a strong affinity for their products and used them on many different shows and festivals. During the summer of 2022, Angers purchased the company’s first DiGiCo Quantum 225 and has already utilised it at a Cajun Festival in Drummondville, opera shows in Montréal, and several corporate events. This summer, the Q225 will be used at a number of festivals. The purchase of the DiGiCo Quantum 225 was prompted by Angers' experience mixing monitors on an SD10 for Belle et Bum, one of Quebec's longest-running live music shows. "I've been using the SD10 twice a week, every week, for two years, and I've learned a lot abou
India - Founded in 1940, Patna Women’s College was the first higher education facility of its kind to be opened in India’s Bihar state. The college recently invested in audio, video and lighting systems for its newly completed 2,500-seat Veronica Auditorium. Following the successful completion of another project for Patna Women’s College, Punjab-based Soundxperts won the contract to supply a complete turnkey solution for the auditorium, including audio, video, lighting, control, acoustics, seating, and flooring. Soundxperts worked closely with professional audio distributor, Sun Infonet, which was able to supply leading brands for the crucial audio component of this prestigious project. According to Soundxperts owner, Amninder Warraich, “Having the complete audio solution under one roof from renowned brands like Shure, Allen & Heath, Audiofocus, Quest Engi
USA - Fulcrum Acoustic has welcomed acoustical engineer John Geraghty to their engineering team. Geraghty will work on designing loudspeakers and audio technology. “I’m excited to join the team at Fulcrum Acoustic”, says Geraghty. “The brand is well-respected in the industry and has a reputation for interesting technologies and customer-driven design. I look forward to learning and growing my skillset here.” Geraghty’s experience in the audio industry spans a wide range of applications including acoustical consulting, audio production, and product and system design. “John’s diverse industry experience will be an asset to our solutions-focused design team,” says David Gunness, vice president of engineering. “His real-world knowledge will assist us in innovating products to address our customers’ unique audio challenges.”
Europe - Clear-Com has announced the appointment of Nicola Milburn as senior regional sales manager for Southern Europe. Nicola brings 16 years of technical sales experience and a background in test engineering across a broad range of markets to her new role at Clear-Com. Nicola previously spent 10 years as regional sales manager for UK and Europe at Phabrix, where she focused on the broadcast sector and helped transition customers to IP-based systems, often doing the training and demos herself. “Nicola’s dual experience as both an engineer and salesperson makes her a valuable asset to Clear-Com,” said Richard Palmer, director of sales for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “We are pleased to have her aboard to help us strengthen our business in Southern Europe and Benelux.”
Denmark - DPA Microphones has unveiled its new compact 2012 Cardioid and 2015 Wide Cardioid Microphones. Featuring a durable, reinforced construction to withstand the rigors of touring, the new mics join the brand’s line of pencil mics and offer DPA’s renowned natural and precise sound reproduction. Designed for a variety of instruments, from loud and booming audio to gentle and elusive tones, the 2012 and 2015 mics will be showcased at NAMM 2023 (Booth 14504). “We are so pleased to share these new solutions for sound professionals in the music industry,” says Helga Volha Somava, product management director, DPA Microphones. “The 2012 Cardioid and 2015 Wide Cardioid continue to build upon our other live microphone solutions, offering the same natural sound quality that people know, love and trust, with sonic and physical properties specifically designed to meet the
Europe - In light of the company’s ‘rapid growth and the obvious necessity to provide its customers with innovative answers to new workflow models’, Lawo has established a CTO Office staffed with experts from all areas, dedicated exclusively to achieving the overall strategic goals of Lawo’s product and R&D organisations. The CTO Office drives innovation and marketable solutions for current and future developments and ensures that the forward-looking initiatives of the corporate strategy are delivered. Phil Myers, Lawo’s CTO, explains: "The CTO Office will implement the execution of our customer-centric strategy across the organisation. Lawo is well aware that the delivery of products involving audio, video, networking, and control infrastructure is no longer enough. Customers increasingly expect seamlessly integrated solutions rather than technically robust as
USA - The Emmy and Tony-award winning Broadway producer Michael J. Moritz Jr. calls Broadway home, and it seems quite happy to call him a marquee resident. He is a co-producer for Hadestown, earning him a 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical, and most recently before that he won an Emmy for his audio work on From Broadway with Love: A Benefit for Orlando. Other tips of the accolade iceberg include a Tony nomination for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and On The Town, as well as collaborations with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bernadette Peters. As muso and techie, he keeps his personal Lectrosonics M2 Duet kit - comprising M2T transmitters and M2R receivers - at arm’s reach. “I’m usually the showrunner or producer or wearing the musical director hat - or all of them,” says Moritz of his role. But where production personnel that far “above the
India - Mezzo, Powersoft’s flexible Mezzo 604 amplifier platform is driving the multi-zone background music system providing the soundtrack for Fig at Malcha, a new high-end dining experience in the heart of the Indian capital, Delhi. Fig at Malcha is an ‘eco-contemporary’ café, bakery and bar offering all-day dining at Malcha Marg, near Chanakyapuri, New Delhi's historic diplomatic quarter. The second Fig restaurant, after the original destination in Gurgaon, Fig at Malcha combines Japanese design with Nordic lifestyle, featuring a curated menu based on local and seasonal produce from local farms, GMO-free meat and cage-free eggs. It is also home to a Parisian-style bakehouse that offers fresh breads, pastries and ‘farm-to-cup’ speciality coffee. According to Gunbir Sing, founder and co-owner of BBW Distributors, for their second café the Fig team desired
UK - A new K-array sound system has been installed at Homerton College’s architect-designed dining hall as part of a multi-million pound extension to the Cambridge college’s campus. Providing natural vocal reinforcement in the vaulted dining hall, the Vyper-KV52 line arrays complement the warm timber-panelled interior, blending into the strikingly modern architecture. Originally founded in Homerton, East London, the college relocated to Cambridge in 1894 as a teaching college and only in 2010 became a full part of the University of Cambridge. The city’s newest college is also the most populous, with accommodation blocks housing upwards of 900 students, and had outgrown the original the timber clad neo-gothic Great Dining Hall which was no longer sufficient to cope with providing some 1,000 meals a day. A new dining hall was commissioned early last year with
South Africa - The theatre audio workshop, with audio engineer Christo Davis, was held on 13 February at Gearhouse Splitbeam in Bez Valley, Johannesburg. The event, hosted by DWR Distribution, was an intimate session where Christo, who for the past 20 years has globe trotted and worked on a range of productions from the Blue Man Group to Jersey Boys before returning to South Africa, shared his knowledge with like-minded people. “I was very excited and a little bit nervous at presenting my first workshop,” said Christo, who has worked almost exclusively on the DiGiCo Platform for the past decade. “Public speaking is not my strongest point, but I wanted to share my experiences, connect with the delegates, have an open and relaxed chat around the console and install a passion for theatre audio.” He says that DiGiCo theatre software has been carefully desig
France - Home to the French rugby league team the Catalans Dragons, Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan underwent a two-phase expansion in 2006 and 2010 to bring capacity up to 13,000 with three all-seater stands. The southern French city is also home to the rugby union team USAP, whose home stadium Stade Aimé Giral is equipped with a Nexo Geo S12 sound system, installed by local AV technology specialists Sud Media System. Impressed by the sound at their neighbour’s stadium, Stade Gilbert Brutus recently contracted Sud Media System to install a Nexo system at their ground, following a public tender process. The choice of several prestigious sporting venues including Croke Park in Dublin, Optus Stadium in Perth, Japan’s Toyota Stadium and the French national stadium the Stade de France, Nexo’s Geo S12 has earned a reputation for performance, dependability and
UAE - Procom, distributor of K-array group products in the Middle East, recently inaugurated an interactive multi-room demo space at its headquarters in Dubai. Situated in Dubai Investment Park, Procom wanted to create an accessible space that would allow clients full access to a range of cutting-edge K-array, KGEAR & KSCAPE equipment in a setup that mimics real-world environments. This installation is a continuation of the Procom and K-array collaboration, following several recent high-profile projects including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the City Walk in Dubai and Iris Meydan. An extensive range of products from the K-array family was deployed across multiple environments including a demo room, meeting room, reception area, and training centre to showcase K-array solutions across applications as varied as live entertainment, corporate installations and hospitality
Europe - NEXT Audiogroup has introduced the Audio Configurator, an innovative solution that streamlines the process of choosing the NEXT Audiocom’s products for any installation. It is the latest addition to NEXT Audiogroup's range of technology, designed to simplify the process of selecting the right solution. With its user-friendly interface, the Audio Configurator eliminates the need for technical expertise, allowing anyone to easily configure and customize the ideal audio system. The tool uses audio packs to generate tailored audio product packs that are optimized for each installation. “At NEXT Audiogroup, we understand that selecting the right audio products can be a daunting task, especially for those who are not familiar with the different possible products combination. We believe that the Audio Configurator will be a game-changer, making it easier than eve
USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced its attendance at NAMM 2023 from 13-15 April at the Anaheim Convention Centre in Anaheim, CA. Attendees at NAMM 2023 can experience the Renkus-Heinz sound solution in person at booth 14001 and the Hilton Lobby centre stage, where live music will be played Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights exclusively through Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers. Renkus-Heinz team members will also be on the floor at NAMM, including CTO Ralph Heinz, product manager Brandon Heinz and western regional sales manager Garrison Parkin. “We aim to bring the best sound quality imaginable to our customers, and NAMM is the perfect place to display the live sound solutions we deliver for concerts, theatres, touring and more,” Ralph Heinz said. “Music is a driving force in many of our lives, and we’re excited for guests to experience the powerful, high-fidelity aud
USA - To provide incoming productions and touring artists with a rider-friendly sound reinforcement, Warner Theatre’s production manager Ryan Patsy teamed up with consultant David Bateman, CTS-D, of Acentech and integrator Todd Pander of Dobil Laboratories to outfit the historic theatre with new JBL VTX Series line arrays and subwoofers. Commissioned in 1929 by the then-named Warner Brothers Productions and opened in 1931, the Warner Theatre is a landmark located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The venue operated as a cinema theatre until it was sold to the city of Erie in 1976 and converted to a performing arts centre. In addition to being the home of the Erie Philharmonic, Lake Erie Ballet and the Erie Broadway Series, the Warner Theatre regularly hosts concerts and performances by touring artists like Kenny Rogers, Jerry Seinfeld, ZZ Top, Kenny G, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and ma
Italy - Taking place between 2 and 4 April 2023, Music Inside Rimini is the only show in Italy dedicated entirely to audio, video, lighting and control technologies for music and entertainment. Rooted in the nightclub market and the vibrant nightlife of Rimini during the 80s and 90s, Music Inside Rimini is an annual event which attracts global exhibitors from professional audio, lighting and entertainment brands. Wharfedale Pro will be exhibiting at Music Inside Rimini for the first time this year. The British manufacturer will focus on its latest product developments, which will be showcased in three separate demo spaces. Simon Godfrey, sales director at Wharfedale Pro, comments, “We’re particularly excited about attending Music Inside Rimini as we’re going to be able to physically demonstrate a wide range of products. It’s one thing choosing a product from a
UK - 22live has appointed two new recruits to its team, with Aaron Boothe and James Gebhard both joining the line up as hire consultant and technical supervisor, respectively. Aaron Boothe first started working with 22live in 2022 as a hire consultant, bringing some of his projects to the team led by Paul Timmins, namely Central Cee, D-Block Europe, Beenie Man and Rema. Boothe wears many hats as a production manager, system engineer and sound engineer. He joins 22live as a hire consultant, meaning that he will be responsible for bringing clients to 22live. Boothe already works with many artists and is a well-known figure within the industry. Spencer Beard comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Aaron to the 22live team. Aaron is a great guy that will push us in front of new clients, and we really value him as both a great personality and engineer as well as
USA - Martin Audio North America has chosen the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, for its first post-pandemic open day on Tuesday, 9 May. The popular concert venue will host two sessions (a morning and afternoon event), based around a series of demonstrations and presentations featuring Martin Audio’s front-line PA systems. In particular, they will showcase the entire line up of Wavefront Precision line arrays (WPL, WPC, WPS and WPM), Torus constant curvature array (T1230, T1215 and T820) and XE stage monitors (XE300 and XE500). Lee Stein VP of sales, North America, confirmed the importance of what will be the company’s first large-scale presentation since before the pandemic. “With all the new products we’ve introduced over the last few years, now that social gatherings are happening again, we wanted to give current and prospective custom
UK - Infused with the rhythms of South Africa, the sound design for Mandela at London’s Young Vic is defined by the distinct signature of Paul Gatehouse. His style is conferred through his workflow and his essential favoured technologies, one of which is TiMax TrackerD4. That the Young Vic has recently invested in TiMax TrackerD4, which Gatehouse deems, “a great asset”. He adds, “It meant that we were able to be ambitious in our thinking with what is essentially a smaller budget approach.” The production features 22 cast members and Gatehouse notes, “Without the automated performer tracking that TiMax provides we’d have to manually locate the position of all the vocal objects in Soundscape, which would be a lot of cues and button pushing for the sound mixer! This way that burden is removed for us.” The Young Vic’s TiMax Tracker setup includes
USA - The top-earning country music tour of 2022 and one of the highest of any genre last year, Kenny Chesney’s Here And Now Tour grossed over $135m and saw him perform for 1.3m fans across 41 shows, including 21 stadia, making him the most popular touring country artist of the year. The tour was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but, like so many, was derailed by the global pandemic. Chesney eventually moved the tour to 2022 and named it after his album of the same name, bringing support acts Dan+Shay, Carly Pearce and Old Dominion with him. The tour closed in Foxborough MA with two sold-out shows that hosted a total of 122,000 fans. Clair Global deployed a major audio system for all the concerts, using a combination of their Cohesion CO-12 and CO-10 line-array enclosures and CP-218 subwoofers. The three support acts used Avid, SSL and DiGiCo consol
