Greece - First opening its doors to paying guests in 1930, Athens Capital Hotel is an icon of central Athens that has played host to everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna. Now a Marriott property, the former annex of the Royal Palace and Prime Minister’s residence is a five-star boutique hotel. While first-class service is promised, guest safety also needs to be paramount. This aspect of the hotel experience has been ensured as part of a larger plan that has seen the three members of Marriott’s Luxury Collection hotel group in Athens all opt to renovate with modern Bosch public address and voice alarm systems. As the first member of the group to undergo this refurbishment, there was a lot of emphasis placed on finding the right technology for Athens Capital. The requirement was for an efficient solution that would meet the necessary EN 54 standards of this type of
Finland - The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre – Siida – is one of Northern Lapland’s most popular destinations. Dedicated to the culture of Lapland’s indigenous Sámi people, Siida has recently undergone significant renovation and expansion to accommodate increased visitor numbers and to bring the establishment into line with modern standards. As part of the process, Oulu-based technical systems specialists Caverion Suomi Oy, supplied and installed a comprehensive Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker solution on a Dante AoIP backbone. Sound designer Aki Päivärinne from Oioi Collective – experts in interactive experience design – was responsible for the sound design for the new exhibits. The Sámi people live in harmony with the lands they inhabit. Their traditional livelihoods include coastal fishing, fur trapping, sheep herding, and semi-nomadic reindeer herding.
France - Marking the 45th anniversary of the opening of France’s famous Puy du Fou theme park, the spectacular La Nuit des Feux Follets firework festival was recently revived after a 15-year hiatus. Bringing together three world-renowned pyrotechnic design teams from China, Australia, and Portugal, the major international event selected the industry-standard K Series system from L-Acoustics to deliver excellent coverage and sonic quality. The sound needed to prevail over the noise from the fireworks themselves to the 14,000 spectators seated over the 23 hectares of La Cinéscénie stage, the most famous Puy du Fou show, and the biggest night show in the world. Ranked the second most popular theme park in Europe, Puy du Fou was opened in the late 1970s by entrepreneur Philippe de Villiers and his son Nicolas. The history-based park is spread over 500 hectares i
UK - Universal Live, an award-winning audio-visual integration specialist in the UK has chosen Shure Axient Digital Wireless System as the best solution to upgrade their equipment. The ability for the Spectrum Manager to liaise with the transmitters and seamlessly change to an alternative frequency, along with Shure’s reputation and our experience of using their products, made Shure Axient Digital the right choice. “On the biggest stages in the world, when thousands, even millions are watching, the wireless microphone has an enormous job to do. The audio must be clear. It must be true. No other system is up to the challenge quite like Axient Digital,” comments Stuart Thornton, hire manager, Universal Live. The upgrade of equipment brings with it significant advantages in a variety of areas, both to Universal Live and their clients. This includes technological a
USA - QSC has introduced a major firmware v3.0 update to its TouchMix-30 Pro digital mixer. The new standard for performance in a compact digital mixer, the TouchMix-30 Pro with firmware v3.0 satisfies the needs of many professionals with the addition of Scenes, Snapshots, Cue List management and offline editing functionalities. Scenes provide the user with the ability to store and recall the entire mixer configuration, while Snapshots allow the user to save and recall selected settings for designated channels without affecting other mixer settings. Cue Lists select and arrange Scenes, Snapshots and audio files into a predetermined sequence for recall during a show, while offline editing provides the user with the ability to create and edit mixer configurations without the mixer being connected to Wi-Fi. Previous TouchMix-30 Pro firmware updates added advanced feature
USA - A Wavefront Precision line array forms the centrepiece of a new AV upgrade at the Discover Church in Milwaukee, specified and installed by Martin Audio partner Avenue Systems. The expanding ministry has undergone several campus extensions since 1969, culminating in a major renovation in 2022, which included the sanctuary. Avenue Systems were part of that renovation process. “This is the project that allowed for the installation of the new Martin Audio rig,” confirms founder and CEO, David Price. “We helped coordinate the design and integration for the newly renovated space.” Avenue Systems were tasked with undertaking a full AV makeover of the main worship area and video control room, installing new audio, lighting, video, control and acoustical systems for every aspect of the main auditorium’s AV. Explaining the requirement in more detail, Price
UK - A Grade II* listed former railway engine repair shed in Chalk Farm, London, The Roundhouse is a legendary cultural venue that presents a diverse line up of in live music, theatre, circus and new media. Known for hosting musical giants such as David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, The Roundhouse played a major role in the birth of punk, survived temporary closure in the 1980s, was the site of illegal raves in the 90s, and was reborn at the end of the 20th century with an 11-month residency with Argentinian theatre company, De La Guardia. In the mid noughties it reopened once again, quickly establishing itself as one of the capital’s leading arts venues. Audio specialist DeltaLive has supplied and installed two DiGiCo SD12s as permanent house consoles for the venue’s front of house and monitor positions. Following a tender process, DeltaLive, was contracted in 20
Malta - 1 SOUND has signed Black Box Pro to be their dedicated distributor for Malta. 1 Sound hosted David Zammit, CEO of Black Box Pro, and his team for a demonstration in Italy last fall. Lou Mannarino, audio designer of 1 Sound, and Leonardo Dani, 1 Sound EMEA sales executive, showed them the line of loudspeakers and gave some training. 1 Sound joins the list of brands distributed by Black Box, such as Behringer, DiGiCo, Devialet, and Solid State Logic. The distributorship was made official at ISE, where David Zammit and colleague Sandro Sammut visited 1 Sound’s booth, happy to get their hands on the product and sign the contract. “We are very excited to have Black Box on board as a distributor for Malta. They are one of the key players on the island, with a proven reputation and many records in performances during recent years,” says Leonardo Dani, 1 S
UK - Audio consultancy and networking expert RH Consulting (RHC) has been counting networked audio products and licensees since 2013 to chart the adoption of audio networking in the pro audio, AV and broadcast markets. RHC has compiled the 11th edition of this report that provides insights into the current state of the industry. It covers all the major protocols including Dante, Ravenna, AES67, AVB, Milan and others. Following the addition of video and control protocols in last year’s report, RHC have added IPMX and NDI and will further broaden the scope in the future. The statistics show that the number of networked AV products on the market continues to grow, with the total number of products being shipped being charted at 5,219, from 552 different brands. This increase of over 1,000 from last year’s report seems to indicate that the industry is successfully re
France/USA - L-Acoustics has announced that it has been named for the second time to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. This year’s list highlights the businesses at the forefront of their respective industries, paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow. “Being recognised by Fast Company for the second time in three years as a top innovator is a great honour and a testimony to L-Acoustics’ heritage of innovation and passion for connecting artists to their audiences,” says L-Acoustics CEO Laurent Vaissié. Notable innovations highlighted by Fast Company include the release of L-ISA Studio that facilitates access to spatial audio creation and listening, as well as Ambiance, L-Acoustics’ award-wining active acoustics solution that turns any studio acoustics into a real live concert environment. Additionall
Armenia - A Europe-wide TV audience of 33m viewers tuned into the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest, held in Armenia, in December 2022. Thirteen-year-old Lissandro from France was crowned the winner in a live broadcast from the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in the country’s capital city, Yerevan. The size of the audience in the venue demanded a major sound system and this (plus all the sound crew) was provided by Poznań-based Gigant Sound Letus, whose owner Jurek Taborowski commented, “We provided a large Outline audio system for the event, the main PA clusters comprising a total of 48 GTO C-12 modules with GTO-DF down-fills, all hidden from the cameras above the lighting installation, with another hang of C-12 cabinets installed in front of the Green Room platform. “Extensive out-fill and side delay lines were also used, using 48 Superfly modul
Australia - Operating out of Wodonga, Victoria, Professional Audio Services (PAS) is defined not only by its dedication to quality entertainment experiences, but also its dynamic father-son duo: managing director Tony Boon and lighting & technology specialist Adam Boon. Having carved a reputation for itself as a provider of quality audio for theatre shows, council events, concerts and more, PAS sought to elevate their production capabilities further by streamlining their systems catalogue- pivoting to Nexo’s point source offerings. “We were reorganising our business, as we had lots of different speaker systems and older things from separate places,” recounts Tony. “Ultimately, we decided to go with a framework that operates together more seamlessly. From cables to amps and speakers, we now have a variety of Nexo equipment to call on, all from the same famil
USA - EAW has announced Techrep Marketing as its new representatives in the Ohio Valley region. Techrep Marketing, founded by Ted Bahas and Jeff Mcpherson in 1998, has been serving the Ohio Valley for over 22 years. “We saw the opportunity and value of having a technically oriented sales force serving the AV marketplace,” says Bahas, president, Techrep. “We have always envisioned ourselves as solution specialists for the products we represent. Our goal is to act as a multiplier for our vendor’s sales and technical teams.” Bahas expanded on this idea, building out a team of almost 20 professionals. Now working with commercial installs, live sound and music retail customers, Techrep represents various manufacturers such as EAW in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. The company also has reach in Michigan and Indiana for some of its clients.
Portugal - Auditiv - Audiovisuais Lda. has more than 25 years of experience in the audio rental market. Under the direction of João Escada and Daniel Bekerman, both experienced broadcast engineers, it maintains a strong position in both broadcast and live sound, suppling audio systems for major national and international productions. A long-standing DiGiCo user, the company has recently invested in a Quantum 338 console, ensuring it has the latest technology in its inventory. “Working on national awards ceremonies such as the Golden Globes, well known musical TV shows including Got Talent, Ídolos and The Voice, and with bands such as Xutos & Pontapés are some of the highlights in our portfolio,” says Auditiv’s João Escada. Internationally, Auditiv has participated in spectacular events including the Eurovision Song Contest, the Summer and W
Botswana - Having last year launched Headstock Group’s HH Electronics brand in South Africa, distributor ApexPro recently introduced the company’s range of audio products to professionals and end-users at an AV Expo in Botswana. Staged at the Town Lodge Convention Centre in Gaborone with partner SixDots, the well-attended showcase allowed visitors to experience close-up the quality and flexibility of HH products, giving insights into the wide range of applications they can address. Demand in sub-Saharan Africa for robust, cost-competitive, high quality professional audio for live sound and installation is growing, with HH Electronics ideally placed to take advantage, according to its global sales director Ian Wright: “In the relatively short time we’ve been working with ApexPro, they’ve demonstrated a very strong commitment to delivering the HH message to the
Norway - To provide students of the Norwegian Academy of Music with a quality education and music-listening experience, LydRommet recently upgraded the existing JBL sound reinforcement system in the school’s Linderman Hall with JBL VTX A8 line array speakers. Located in Oslo, the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) is the largest university-level music conservatory in Norway. Many of Norway’s top musicians received their education from NMH’s diverse curriculum of genres, ranging from church and classical music to jazz and folk music. Officially founded in 1973, NMH has academic origins dating back to 1883, when Ludvig Mathias Lindeman and his son Peter Brynie Lindeman founded a historic school for organists. Named in honour of Lindeman’s legacy, Lindeman Hall is the Academy’s main concert hall, with a seating capacity for 365 audience members. With a superior
Luxembourg - Founded in 2013 by two friends eager to shake up the dining and night life experience in Luxembourg, Concept+Partners is a young and dynamic company always on the lookout for new and innovative ideas and dedicated to ensuring an exceptionally high quality of customer service. Among an impressive portfolio of Concept+Partners properties, Hitch is a restaurant, bar and nightclub in Luxembourg city that describes itself to be ‘where food meets party’. So, when looking for a sound system that could deliver on that promise, the owners turned to local AV technology specialists Lemon Event Support. “The brief was simple but uncompromising,” reports Lemon Event Support MD Paul Thyes. “The system had to deliver a clear but unobtrusive soundtrack for diners, then shift through the gears for punchy, full bandwidth, floor-filling sound when the DJs arrive an
USA - The famed Levoy Theatre in Millville, NJ has undergone a full audio renovation, under the consultation of KMK Technologies, utilising 1 Sound speaker technology and designs. Two Contour CT28 Point Sources were installed on each side of the proscenium, with an additional two dedicated for balcony seating, replacing the pre-existing line array system. The Contour CT28 is a compact, 3-way, horn-loaded loudspeaker, that has a medium-long throw and is capable of delivering a max SPL of 145 dB. CT28 Wall Brackets were used for mounting to the proscenium, allowing for horizontal and vertical aiming of the speaker without having to remove it, in order to focus the loudspeakers easily for optimal coverage. Six Panorama MS34’s were utilised as front-fills on the lip of the stage, linked to each other to run off of one cable. These are used with an M+S Controller, running
UK - Shure has introduced its new and improved GLX-D+ Dual Band Wireless system, providing a ‘solution for guitarists, bassists, vocalists, and presenters who want to go wireless with confidence and without complexity’. A major enhancement from the previous generation that more than doubles available bandwidth, the system’s new Dual Band Wireless Technology can operate in 2.4GHz and now 5.8GHz, providing reliable and consistent signal by automatically scanning for and selecting the cleanest available frequencies. GLX-D+ Dual Band intelligently avoids interference and ensures dropouts won’t stop the show, enabling users to focus on performing while benefitting from superior, transparent wireless audio. GLX-D+ is available in rack-mount, tabletop, and guitar pedal receiver options with a wide selection of lavalier, headset, and handheld microphone choices – inc
USA - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Thomas Howie as a business development manager in the US, to further support the company’s exponential growth in the region. Howie, a pro-AV industry veteran, will be responsible for new and existing clients, as well as global key accounts. Howie brings a combined 40 years of experience in the AV industry to his new role. In his most recent position as vice president of sales and marketing at Glidecam Industries, he successfully led the department that developed, coordinated and conducted live and remote training programmes. Prior to Glidecam, Howie spent 15 years at CBS Broadcasting. “I believe that my diverse experience in AV, broadcast, manufacturing and technical fields will be highly advantageous for our customers,” states Howie. “I am thrilled to join Powersoft’s innovative team and I am particularly ex
USA - Melching Field at Conrad Park is home to the Stetson University Hatters, a Division I baseball team. It is also used by DeLand High School and numerous recreation teams. The facility is owned by the City of Deland and managed in partnership by the city and Stetson University Athletics. Melching Field at Conrad Park opened in 1999. Twenty-three years later, the facility was well overdue for renovations. As part of an $8m renovation project the City of Deland Parks and Recreation enlisted the help of Entertainment Arts Inc [EAI], an Orlando-based AV integration and production company, to design a new AV system from the ground up. Byron Conerly, Owner of EAI, spearheaded the project: “In recent years, several MLB players have come out of Stetson University, so the stadium has been getting a lot of attention. It was time to put the attention on the audience.”
UK - The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September, with the funeral service paying tribute to The Queen’s long and dignified reign. It was broadcast live around the world, with crowds of mourners paying their respects along the procession route from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, and then to Wellington Arch via The Mall. Arcadis LLP was contracted to manage the event and they turned to DeltaLive, a long-time supplier to both Royal events and Electronic Audio Systems, providers of the audio project management. Together, they provided the public audio requirements along the route in both London and Windsor, as well as site-wide comms. Although familiar with Royal events, this was, says DeltaLive director Mark Bonner, the company’s most important project to date. With complicated logistics to deal
USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced a newfound partnership with Mountain AV Marketing in the Rocky Mountain region. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Mountain AV Marketing is a manufacturers’ representative in the commercial AV and pro sound & lighting market channels. Owner and founder Chris Henley has over 30 years of experience as an end user, AV integrator and independent representative. “I'm honoured to represent a leader like Renkus-Heinz throughout the region, and look forward to bringing dynamic, cutting-edge audio solutions to our dealers and consultants,” Henley said. “Always at the forefront of research and development, Renkus-Heinz brings the type of forward-thinking technology and solutions our customers are looking for along with the right team and end-user support to truly have an impact in this region.” “We’re proud to partner with Mounta
Italy - Grammy-nominated and Eurovision-winning Italian rock band Måneskin continues its ascent with a world tour and dozens of festivals in every corner of the globe. Måneskin puts its trust in sound engineer Enrico La Falce, whose experience spans the panorama of Italian pop and rock music. Building off his first role as a studio assistant in London and his career as a mixing engineer and producer in Italy, La Falce knew he wanted a natural and uncoloured microphone to support the band’s glam-rock sound on tour. For this, he selected DPA Microphones’ d:facto 4018V Vocal Microphone. “When we were planning the rehearsals with Måneskin for their first ‘big’ concerts, I met with the band’s monitor engineer, Remo Scafati, to exchange ideas regarding gear,” says La Falce. “He suggested that I test the DPA d:facto 4018V for vocals. I have other colleagues
