USA - The Bowery Presents, which has built a club empire comprising venues throughout the northeast United States, took its name from perhaps the toughest street in New York history. Its club brands in the city include venerable Webster Hall, Brooklyn Steel - named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone - and Terminal 5 in the trendy Hell’s Kitchen area. What all these venues have in common is high-fidelity sound, thanks to a variety of L-Acoustics loudspeakers in use at each site. Now, a bit of sonic DNA from each of these spaces has been injected into the newest member of The Bowery Presents squad, Racket NYC, which opened in January, in the Chelsea space once occupied by Highline Ballroom. There, a combination of new gear and repurposed L-Acoustics kit from those other four venues came together to let the 650-capacity Racket continue one
USA - Danley Sound Labs has announced the availability of a new line of amplifiers for dealers and customers. In addition to its popular DNA series amplifiers, the D series amplifiers provide high-end sound reinforcement for installation and touring use. “At Danley, we’re always looking for new technologies and ways to allow for innovation in sound,” said Skip Welch, director of sales & marketing at Danley Sound Labs. “In addition to our DNA series amplifiers, the new D series line offers a new option for our dealers and customers that features a very powerful digital signal processing (DSP) suite and a number of power options to make this amplifier series a very useful tool.” The Danley D series amplifiers feature a powerful Class-D power stage that delivers ‘high output power, high efficiency and low heat generation’. The D series provides processin
Europe - Ahead of a string of major announcements in the region, PK Sound has appointed event industry veteran Tim Timmermans to the role of Central European partner support. Based in Limburg Province, Netherlands, Timmermans will work closely with PK’s David Roselló, Southern European partner support, and Canadian HQ staff in developing and serving the company’s growing European network. “PK Sound’s robotic line source technology is a total gamechanger, and the PK Alliance model puts these advanced capabilities into the hands of the next generation of live sound providers with an unrivalled total cost of ownership,” offers Timmermans. “We’ve already deployed T10 and Trinity Black systems for high-profile applications in venues throughout Europe with incredible results, and the industry is taking notice. I look forward to empowering more users throughout the E
USA - After nearly eight years of regular visits on a rental basis, Meyer Sound Leopard compact line array loudspeakers have taken up permanent residence in the Silva Concert Hall of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. The rental system was provided by locally based George Relles Sound, with Relles returning earlier this year as the integrator for the permanent installation. The new resident system made its debut in the 2,447-seat venue with a performance of Missa Gaia (Earth Mass) by the Eugene Concert Choir with composer Paul Winter as the featured soloist. One week later, the system supplied sound for a showing of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, with a live performance of the John Williams score by the Eugene Symphony. “Everything is going great with our new system,” says Hult Center general manager Jeff Weinkauf, “bu
UK - At first glance an inconspicuous cuboid venue, Lightroom presents a blank canvas set to host a varied programme of original creative content. The opening show DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER (not smaller and further away) is set to be the first in a series of exhibitions, created in collaboration with leading artists and innovators. The Hockney show features a specially created score written by American contemporary composer Nico Muhly and sound design by Olivier and Tony award-winning sound designer Gareth Fry. Lightroom’s sound system is supplied by Berlin-based pro audio company Holoplot’s revolutionary X1 Matrix Array and was installed by Creative Technology. Four and a half years in the making, Lightroom was conceived by award-winning design studio and production company, 59 Productions, and is a joint venture between them and London Theatre Com
France - Launched last summer, the multi award-winning Chasseurs de Tornades attraction at the Futuroscope theme park in Poitiers is a breathtaking 360-degree immersive experience that follows the adventures of a team of tornado hunters. The landmark project, which cost 21m euros to build, features the largest circular LED screen in Europe. Hollywood visual effects specialist, François-Xavier Aubague, directed and produced the media content, which is mixed with live action scenes. The new ride is experienced from a moving platform that rises, falls, tilts and turns with the action, accompanied throughout by L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology. Originally launched in the ‘90s to showcase futuristic technologies, Futuroscope has evolved into a technology-focussed theme park with rollercoasters, immersive rides and cinematic experiences. The newest a
UK - The 2023 BRIT Awards, presented by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), were held on 11 February 2023 in recognition of the best in British musical talent. Airing on ITV to 3.3m viewers, and watched by thousands in the live audience, London’s 02 Arena hosted the 43rd edition of the BRIT Awards, an event which Britannia Row has worked across for many years. The company supplied a full DiGiCo control package, L-Acoustics PA sound system design, RF management and crew as managed by Britannia Row director, Lez Dwight and account executive Tom Brown. Continuing to facilitate a live sound placement for students from the BRIT School’s Production Arts course, Brit Row also enabled two students to get hands-on with the entire process of delivering a large-scale event. From the warehouse prep to load in and set up, the live performances, de-rig, venue load out and w
UK - Audio-Technica has announced that its ATND1061DAN Ceiling Array is now certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms as part of a Q-SYS system. Audio-Technica partnering with Q-SYS unifies and streamlines network configuration and control, resulting in a simplified integration and setup process for installers and end users as well as remote monitoring and management and more. With this new certified offering, users can take advantage of the flexible and scalable Q-SYS audio, video and control platform and have confidence in clear and articulate audio quality, rejection of unwanted sounds and the option to trigger camera position pre-sets using the real-time positioning data from the Audio-Technica microphone. When deployed in high-impact spaces from executive boardrooms to lecture halls, the ATND1061DAN ceiling array microphone delivers clear voices to the far end, even wit
India - Reminded of somewhere you’ve been before? Deja Brew, an Indian restaurant and bar situated in the stylish district of M Block Market in Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi, demands attention with its instantly memorable name. Backed up with high quality food, a multitude of brews and five-star service to match, the location has quickly gained popularity. The venue is the brainchild of Naveen Sachdeva, the founder of Cherish Hospitality, along with Parth Chadha and Aashish Goyal. The trio has created a successful concept that is already a favourite spot for many, much like their popular brand, Ministry of Beer. In keeping with the upmarket feel of the new venue, Deja Brew required a compact, yet exceptional sound system to match. Genelec was chosen. With a full house, Deja Brew comfortably seats 80 people across two storeys, with seating areas distributed in small, i
UAE - The multi-million-dollar Firdaus Studio in Dubai opened its doors in early 2022. Van Damme’s distributor in Dubai, NMK Electronics, supplied Van Damme Tour Grade Classic XKE microphone cables, Blue Series Studio Grade speaker cables, Tourcat Cat 6 Single cables and Black Series Tour Grade UP-OFC Overall Braid Multicore as part of the build. Based at the Expo 2020 site, now called Expo City Dubai, Firdaus Studio is the only music studio in the region to be mentored by Grammy- and Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman, and Dubai’s only certified Dolby Atmos HE studio. Equipped with best-in-class audio equipment and in-house instruments, Firdaus Studio’s live room is able to accommodate and record up to 80 musicians at once (a full orchestra). This space is also the home of the Firdaus Orchestra and is where it practises and does most of its work.
USA - Having sold more than 25m studio albums and over 100m singles globally, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Armando Christian Pérez - better known as Pitbull - earned his other stage name, Mr. Worldwide. As a relentless entertainer, that moniker is equally appropriate when it comes to the Miami native’s global touring schedule, which keeps the pop/rap artist’s calendar ultra-packed with performances, such as his latest 52-show Can’t Stop Us Now tour of North America. To ensure that Pitbull’s backing band, The Agents, are hearing themselves and each other in the most natural and beneficial way, monitor engineer Matt Holden recently added a DMI-KLANG card to his staple DiGiCo Quantum5 console. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Holden has served as Team Pitbull’s dedicated monitor engineer for the past eight years. However, Can’t Stop Us Now marke
South Africa - Pretoria-based Eventech has invested in 12 Kara II boxes and a further 26 Kara II Panflex upgrade kits. The company has also invested in eight L-Acoustics X12 monitors, all of which were purchased from DWR Distribution. “Our original L-Acoustics Kara investment was back in 2018 and it feels like an eternity ago,” says Wynand Veldsman from Eventech. “At that time, we had a fleet of ageing boxes that served us very well over the years, but as times changed and the focus shifted, we required lighter, smaller, high-performance boxes that could be set up with ease and not consume as much time as the older boxes did. “The luxury of having a few days for load-in was gone, and speed, quality and efficiency were key. After many months of considering our options and many product reviews, the announcement came that DWR would be the L- Acoustics agents in S
UK - Shure is increasing its focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiatives by announcing a new STEM for STEM programme. This programme will provide donations to various global STEM-based organisations (or STEAM-based organisations) based on each STEM Ecosystem product sold by Shure. “When customers outfit or upgrade their meeting rooms with Stem Ecosystem products, they are automatically supporting the next generation of tech pros,” said Jim Schanz, VP global integrated systems sales, Shure. Shure has been supporting various STEM-focused organisations for years and is expanding to reach even more organisations and young adults worldwide, especially those working to provide more diversity in this area. As part of Women’s History Month and Gender Equity Month, Shure says it is proud to announce this programme to support STEM organisation
Portugal - NEXT Audiocom has introduced A504DSP, an amplifier that combines a lightweight, 4 x 500W (2 x 1000W) amplifier, with a powerful DSP engine that can be configured to suit a wide range of tasks, without the need for additional equipment, to drive a wide range of loudspeaker systems. The close integration of processing and amplification allows the DSP to monitor and better adapt to amplifier behaviour, making dynamics processing far more accurate and effective than that typically achieved with separate components, says Next. The A504DSP flexibly distributes the total amplifier power in various combinations across four, three or two outputs to drive, for example: Four full-range loudspeakers or subwoofers, high-power subwoofer + two full-range loudspeakers, high-power subwoofer + bi-amplified speaker or high-power full-range loudspeaker + high-power subwoofer.
UK - Oastlers School in Bradford is a specialist setting that provides support for children and young people who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school takes an empathic approach and offers a number of therapeutic strategies that sit alongside its high-quality teaching. Music and music technology play an important role in Oastlers’ curriculum and are recognised as being vitally important in adding value to personal and social development, helping to to develop increased self-esteem, creativity and confidence. During a recent evaluation of its facilities, the school decided to overhaul its music room and an adjacent small hall to create a recording/rehearsal facility and a dedicated performance space. A key aim was to give learners the opportunity to gain real-world industry experience of working in a professional studio, including broadca
UK - The Cidermill Theatre is a new performing arts theatre owned and run by Chipping Camden School in Gloucestershire. Built to serve both the school and the wider Cotswold community, the £4m venue was opened in October 2022 at a launch event which featured actor Ben Miller and chart-topping singer Jennifer Paige, who performed a set including her international hit Crush. Centred on the Rockspring Auditorium (capacity 292 seated, 450 standing), the complex also includes a dance studio, black box studio, lounge area, rehearsal spaces, classroom, café and bar. The theatre enjoys a full range of professional facilities and is quickly developing an impressive programme of theatrical performances, live music, dance, cinema screenings and talks. An essential component of any modern, flexible performing arts centre is its audio provision, and the theatre consulted with sp
Europe - Sennheiser has launched the Profile USB microphone, a cardioid condenser microphone that presents ‘an easy and stylish solution for streaming and podcasting’. It combines professional sound with direct accessibility of all functions, allowing streamers, podcasters and gamers to fully focus on their content, says Sennheiser. The side-address microphone is available as a table stand version (EUR 129, MSRP) and as the Profile Streaming Set with a 3-point self-locking boom arm (EUR 199, MSRP). Both models are shipping now. At the heart of the Profile USB microphone is an award-winning Sennheiser condenser capsule, the KE 10. Its cardioid pick-up pattern provides the typical attenuation of sound coming from the rear, making sure that the streamer’s voice is in focus. In designing the Profile, product managers Benny Franke and Dennis Stegemerten also put an em
UK - The market town of Cirencester is home to one of the biggest parish churches in the country: St. John the Baptist, where community members find their home as soon as they step through the 12-century, cathedral-style doors. The church, while visually appealing, doesn’t come without acoustic challenges. Striking stained glass windows and wooden pews lining the space create ample opportunities for reverberation and muffled audio. To overcome these challenges, the church turned to Renkus-Heinz for the sound solution to fit its needs. Together with UK-based supplier CUK Group, Staffordshire-based event and installation specialist Novum Audio Visual worked to specify and install three Renkus-Heinz ICC36/3 column arrays from the US manufacturer’s Iconyx Compact line. As a result of Novum’s work, 12 unsightly box speakers were removed from the white limestone columns of
Australia - Powersoft’s new AES67-enabled amplifier platforms, including the enhanced A+ versions of its innovative, half-size Mezzo range, have made their global debut at the recently reopened Abercrombie hotel in Sydney. The Abercrombie, located in the inner-Sydney suburb of Chippendale, traces its roots back to 1843, when it opened as the Australian Inn. The current, art-deco building, on the old Carlton United Brewery site, was completed in 1938 and served as a much-loved watering hole and live entertainment venue until its closure in 2014. It was acquired by hospitality group Solotel in 2016 and reopened – two years late, as a result of Sydney’s on-off coronavirus lockdowns – with a 36-hour launch party in December 2022. The new-look Abercrombie comprises three venues: a ground-floor club space, public bar and beer garden; late-night cocktail lounge and ro
UK - The Adam Hall Group continues to expand its sales network, following the presentation of the new integrated systems vertical, at ISE 2023 and has announced Commercial Audio Solutions as a distribution partner. “We are very excited to have been appointed a distribution partner for the installation market across the UK and Ireland for the Adam Hall Group. I believe the LD Systems installation range is going to make a big impression on the marketplace,” says Brian Knott, managing director at Commercial Audio. “The focus on quality and performance is world-leading, but what most impressed me, was the deep understanding of engineering and how to improve the job-at-hand for the installer, as well as delivering a fantastic, reliable product for the client. We can’t wait to introduce more people to this amazing product range, and I’m sure it will only be a matter of
Poland - A graduate of Warsaw’s Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, sound director Tadeusz Mieczkowski has dedicated his career to not only understanding the art of music, but learning how to bring out the beautiful, natural sound of recorded instruments. Since 1984, he has been primarily recording acoustic instruments and large musical forms, such as oratories and symphonies, for classical and popular music, as well as film. With his current work, Mieczkowski has expanded into recording and mixing in Dolby Atmos, most recently capturing a live performance by trio Surreal Players and Mino Cinélu at the Nowa Miodowa concert hall. Mieczkowski started this immersive project as he does any: identifying the direction of the production. He spent time exploring the acoustics of the famed concert hall, which were designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, director and chief designer of
UK - Immersive audio specialists, Sova Audio, will present Sound II Light - a two-day event dedicated to spatial sound taking place at the Leyton-based creative community space Patchworks on 24-25 March 2023. The event is organised by Sova Labs - the social impact division of Sova Audio, that focuses on creating and delivering educational and cultural activities in sound, with the support of Waltham Forest Council Arts & Culture’s Make It Happen grant. The event will feature live music designed especially for performance on the immersive, 12-point Funktion-One sound system, as well as workshops, panel discussions and a site-specific AV installation exploring the possibilities spatial sound has to offer. The artists performing at this event have residency days at Sova Audio Studio to work on their pieces on a 12.4 sound system mirroring the setup that will be pre
UK - Following a successful start to 2023, E1 London has unveiled its ‘most eclectic season to date’. Featured acts include Blawan, Pantha Du Prince, Dr Rubinstein, Dubfire, DVS1, Ellen Allien, Hector Oaks, Indira Paganotto, Kangding Ray, Kelly Lee Owens, Marcel Dettmann, Matrixxman, Mood II Swing, Nastia, Special Request. This season the club also unveils its new A/V & lighting system. For this latest run of events, all new screens will run up the wall behind the performers, from floor to ceiling and above the heads of the crowd, offering a whole new visual dimension. These will be displaying bespoke seasonal content created by Spencer at Rebel Overlay. It will be regularly updated to keep the venue feeling fresh and play on top of the over 151 lighting fixtures which range from spots to beams to lasers to pixel-mapped LED bars. In all, there are 4,620,288 pixels in
UAE - Out Board has appointed Pro Lab as the exclusive distribution partner for TiMax SoundHub, TiMax Tracker D4 and the full range of TiMax solutions in the Middle East. With a strong and extensive reach throughout the GCC and MENA regions, Pro Lab is an established name known for its pro audio-visual and stage equipment product portfolio. The new distribution partnership addresses the dramatic increase in demand for TiMax immersive audio solutions in the region. As a versatile and autonomous spatialisation engine, designed to work effectively with any loudspeaker on the market, TiMax SoundHub was a logical addition to the Pro Lab’s product portfolio. TiMax offers Pro Lab’s extensive network the freedom to tailor system solutions according to their individual technical and budgetary requirements. Pro Lab has invested in demonstration stock and the company’s newl
