USA - NetOn.Live announced at NAB the launch of LiveOS – an end-to-end software-based platform for high-end live and near-live media production. LiveOS translates the functionalities that are traditionally found in dedicated hardware devices, into software modules that run on generic IT servers over a SMPTE 2110 based, uncompressed Video over IP network. The LiveOS software modules can be combined in multiple ways to fulfil the various requirements of multiple productions. LiveOS provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to operate these software modules, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world via a standard web browser. Programmable hardware panels from different vendors are also supported by the LiveOS platform. A LiveOS private cloud platform allows broadcasters to design, configure, and quickly spin up and down multiple concurrent productions, suc
USA - When the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church in Florida was building a sanctuary out of the ground, optimum coverage and intelligibility from the newly installed sound system became top priorities. The church’s experienced audio-visual engineer, Kenny Stewart, managed the project, and after consulting with Brian Smith, VP at Pro Sound & Video, based in nearby Pensacola, his search led him to Martin Audio. He explained, “While narrowing down my list of equipment needs, Pro Sound installed a Martin WPM array at First Baptist Church Pascagoula and my brother Kris Stewart (also at Pro Sound) mentioned how well that system performed. “I was onboard after hearing that feedback. I needed the whole system flown, adjustable patterns, a reliable manufacturer‘s input and assistance, and an overall clear musical system.” After considering other premium b
UAE - Venuetech has been named Meyer Sound’s primary Middle Eastern distributor. Based in Dubai, Venuetech will provide sales and technical support across the region in a variety of vertical markets, including cinema, education, and performing arts centres. Meyer Sound and Venuetech’s shared business philosophy and dedication to the pro audio industry solidified the partnership, says Meyer. The new relationship between the two companies will ‘ensure continued growth in the Middle Eastern market, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman’. “We are very happy and excited about this partnership with Venuetech,” says Wolfgang Leute, managing director of Meyer Sound Europe. “We share the same values and visions, and I have a lot of respect for all Mr. Nour Assafiri [owner of Venuetech] and his team have achieved. Both our compa
Europe - Audio specialists Pan Acoustics GmbH and Acoustic Control Systems BV (ACS) have announced that after two decades of friendly cooperation they have decided to join forces for a common future. From now on the Dutch company ACS will operate under the wing of Pan Acoustics. The companies will work closely together and where possible act as one team. Nothing will change for the many existing ACS customers: the location and all positions in ACS will remain unchanged. The inclusion of ACS, as a globally recognised specialist for variable room acoustics systems, means that complete project solutions for the most demanding acoustics can now be offered from a single source. The ACS room acoustics system creates variable and multifaceted natural sound in every room. ACS and Pan Acoustics have been closely associated for many years: A core of ACS, a 96-channel DSP unit, w
USA - Cloud Microphones, makers of the Cloudlifter Mic Activator, has expanded its microphone line with a new passive version of their popular model 44-A, resurrecting the sound and spirit of the RCA Type 44 ribbon mic. The ribbon motor design remains true to the original 44, handcrafted to the exact specifications first prescribed in the 1930s by RCA; however, everything else has been upgraded using state of the art materials, manufacturing processes and technology. Featuring an all-black “midnight” finish, the new passive Cloud 44 ‘faithfully channels the sought-after personality and heritage from the past while incorporating all the robustness and clarity required for today’s most demanding recording tasks’. “I’m a ribbon mic fanatic, so this represents a major labour of love for me,” says Rodger Cloud, the company’s founder. “You wouldn’t bel
USA - Audinate reports positive momentum of Dante AV among OEMs, integrators and end-users in the global AV market. Audinate has showcased OEM and ODM partnerships with Gefen and Cypress and new products from Bolin along with the release of Dante Studio software for video. According to Joshua Rush, Audinate chief marketing officer, Dante AV is gaining strong interest and adoption among OEMs, ODMs and their customers. “By seamlessly integrating and synchronising networked audio and video, Dante AV solves a number of problems for integrators and customers. It’s for this reason - and Audinate’s proven track record of growing a manufacturer-agnostic, interoperable ecosystem around Dante - that Dante AV is experiencing such positive growth.” Audinate has also introduced the Dante Studio software platform for advanced AV production and streamlined workflows. Dante Vi
USA - The Phunky Monkeys, based in New Orleans, are a most capable and professional all-purpose live acts. From corporate events to weddings around the world, the Phunky Monkeys have received many five-star reviews and have performed at more than 4,000 events. While the pandemic slowed performances down globally, the Phunky Monkeys continued to perform in 2021 and already have a significant list of new performances already on the books for 2022. “While things picked up in 2021, it’s exciting to see the volume of events we already have scheduled for 2022,” said Eric Breaux, audio technician and producer for the Phunky Monkeys. “Compared to last year, we’re already booked almost every Saturday through June – where last year things didn’t pick up until late summer.” As events and musicians around the globe go back to performing on stages in front of big cr
Italy - Powersoft has announced the launch of a product line extension enabling users to enjoy all the benefits of the full Quattrocanali and Duecanali range with ‘DSP only’ versions, making it more accessible and affordable to a wider range of users. DSP (digital signal processing) plays an integral part for installers wanting to digitally process audio signals to alter characteristics of the timing, spatial traits, frequency and phase without any analogue hardware to make this possible. Thanks to the addition of DSP in professional audio amplifiers, not only does this eliminate extra unnecessary hardware, (i.e. extra cables), but DSP also opens the door to digital signal routing, which improves the likelihood of electronic failures and troubleshooting in an install. Commenting on the benefits on this product line extension Luca Giorgi, sales director at Po
UAE - At the heart of the Address Downtown Dubai hotel, Urla is a dining experience with a distinctive coastal design concept that presents a menu of ‘Aegean-inspired cuisine’. The restaurant overlooks the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountains. The outdoor destination features an L-Acoustics X Series audio system. Opened in November 2021, Urla was developed by the Q Food & Beverage Group, which was also instrumental in luxury dining destinations Huqqa, Huqqabaz and Gal. Local L-Acoustics certified provider Integrator, Levels Audio Visual has worked closely with the group to develop AV systems for all its concepts and was brought in at the interior design phase of the project to provide a complete design, as well as to supply, install and service the latest project. Urla is mainly an outdoor venue situated in a mixed-use area, so sound spill into neighbouring are
Germany - d&b audiotechnik has been honoured as one of the top 100 most innovative, medium-sized companies in Germany. The TOP 100 award recognises innovative output and the innovation potential that lies within the company. The assessment process judges small- and medium-sized enterprises for: innovation-friendly senior management, climate of innovation, innovative processes/organization, outward looking/open innovation, successful innovations and entrepreneurial response to the Covid-19 pandemic. "To what extent is a company focused on innovation? How consistently do its structures follow this goal? With TOP 100, we examine this," explains Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke, the scientific director of TOP 100. "The most innovative medium-sized companies receive the seal. It shows that they are excellently equipped to meet future challenges." d&b, which employee
USA - Shure has introduced its new KSM11 wireless vocal microphone capsule, a premium condenser microphone transducer technology intended to provide low and mid-range clarity as well as high-end detail without requiring additional processing. Available in black and brushed nickel finishes for use on Shure wireless handheld transmitters, the KSM11 offers a lighter, streamlined design. With specifically developed microphone technology for wireless, the KSM11 transducer is outfitted with a ¾” gold diaphragm and “premium electronics” with an eye towards handling dynamic range and transient response. The capsule features a consistent, deep cardioid polar pattern with the aim of reducing off-axis phase distortion while providing full low frequency response, linear mid-range and high-end detail when used for vocal reproduction. Aiming to reduce weight as much as
USA - The 25,000 seat Red Bull Arena, home to the Major League Soccer New York Red Bulls and the NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, is located in Harrison, New Jersey, and is the third-largest soccer-specific stadium in the country and in the league. In addition to the implementation of new open-concept spaces and renovations to existing premium areas, Red Bull Arena recently saw its audio systems infrastructure enhanced with the installation of a DiGiCo Quantum225 mixing console paired with a new Dante-native DQ-Rack. John Nicklas, the venue’s AV engineer, calls the desk the “steering wheel” of an entirely new sound reinforcement system in the form of an L-Acoustics A Series PA, all integrated by leading AV system design and integration firm Diversified. “You wouldn’t want to drive a Corvette with the steering wheel of a golf cart, righ
Finland - Rock star Lauri Tähkä is on a tour of his home county’s biggest venues with a set design featuring visuals driven by Hippotizer Montane+ Media Servers. The chart-topping musician is wowing crowds at venues including Helsinki’s Bolt Arena, Seinäjoki OmaSp Stadium and the Nokia Arena in the city of Tampere. Finnish design studio Visual45 was challenged with creating a standout show for Lauri Tähkä’s tour, based on the concept of a spiritual, temple experience. The company’s Mikko Linnavuori and Eero Helle have worked on visual design for Lauri Tähkä before, and understand his requirements for audience-pleasing visual production values to match his dynamic performance. “Due to the style of the show, and the fact that the order of the songs can change as the artist sees fit, we needed a media server solution that would offer the ability to
UK - disguise has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise Innovation for its excellence in extended reality (xR) and virtual production innovation. disguise xR provided technology that allowed its user and partner community to continue delivering spectacular productions in a virtual setting. First established in 1965, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK. The awards celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services. The award comes two years after disguise xR’s first major application by disguise partner and xR pioneers XR Studios, for Katy Perry’s memorable performance at the American Idol 2020 finale. Since then, the demand and potential of xR has ‘skyrocketed’, in response disguise have accelerated their business towa
Europe - Yamaha has improved and expanded its AG series of live streaming mixers, not only updating the AG06 and AG03 with new features, but adding the AG01, a combined studio quality condenser microphone with a high performance mixer, the standalone YCM01 microphone and an all-in-one live streaming package. As remote communication of all kinds continues to grow in importance, personal live streaming has become a major form of online entertainment. With platforms such as YouTube Live, Twitch and podcasting offering a diverse range of content and streaming styles - from simple, single-person productions to those which involve multiple voices - live streaming has also seen rapid growth in business and education. Here, an ever-growing number of classes, seminars, meetings and business transactions are being carried out via live streaming. Foreseeing such demand, in 2015
UK - Hearing accessibility systems specialist Ampetronic has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of the company’s sustained growth in international trade. Employing 50 people, Ampetronic is based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, and has been trading since 1987. Its mission is to bring intelligible sound back into the lives of people with hearing loss by improving the quality of installed hearing access equipment. The company produces a wide range of electronic products for hearing accessibility, primarily audio induction loop systems that can deliver sound direct to hearing aid users. Julian Pieters, MD of Ampetronic, comments: “I am delighted Ampetronic has been recognised again with this important award. Particularly with the challenges of the last couple of years, we are proud to have sustained long-term strong growth in our export markets. It i
France - Nexo has appointed Delphine Hannotin as manager of its engineering support team. Based at the company’s Plailly campus northeast of Paris, the Nexo engineering support team supports production services providers, integrators and consultants with system designs and commissioning for live events and fixed installations. Hannotin will focus on delivering similar technical support for the group's AFC immersive sound solutions, from project design through to system calibration. Drawing on 20 years of experience as a trainer at France’s Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA), Hannotin will also bring her commitment and know-how to the partnerships implemented by Nexo and its parent company, Yamaha Corporation, with leading universities and to the group’s Audioversity training programme. Nexo director of engineering support François Deffarges comments: “In
France - Having recently announced the creation of a team dedicated to the Asia-Pacific region, L-Acoustics has announced that it has created and filled three key sales director positions to match its regional operational structure: BJ Shaver for the Americas, David Cooper for Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Jacob Barfoed for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). All three directly report to L-Acoustics global director of business development Jochen Frohn, BJ and David will also be developing regional sales strategies in close collaboration with Americas CEO Alan Macpherson and APAC CEO Tim Zhou respectively. Based in, Arkansas, BJ Shaver has been with the company for over nine years, first serving as a regional sales manager for the southeastern US, and then later as an installation business development director, install for the Americas. Before joining L-Acoustics, he spe
Italy - Powersoft has announced that version 2.3 of ArmoníaPlus - a major update which enables system designers and integrators to have a more granular control of the company’s Dynamic Music Distribution solution - is now available to download from its website. Dynamic Music Distribution offers system integrators the ability to scale inputs and zones conveniently and efficiently with dynamic routing capabilities embedded on its amplifier platforms. This makes it simple to dynamically route music and other signal sources along with control signals between different zones and across multiple amplifiers - all independently of source location and without the need for a centralised DSP. The latest update to ArmoníaPlus software will provide integrators with the tools to easily select groups of loudspeakers within a zone to create sub-zones with their own audio level con
UK - The constantly evolving production of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds - which has been touring arenas for 16 years - has been revitalised, with a new cast, additional music and an immersive experience for audiences. A regular feature over the past 12 years has been sound designer and consultant, Simon Honywill, in the FOH mixing position, and a Martin Audio PA delivering the complexity of sound, while RG Jones Sound Engineering have again provided the inventory of sound equipment. Honywill is now on his sixth tour of duty, and in keeping with the production, he has kept the sound suitably refreshed as technology has evolved. His adoption of Martin Audio’s award-winning MLA back in 2012, with its multi-cellular control ensured that audiences in the front stalls were subject to exactly the same sonic experience - the full explosion of
France - Twelve APG MC2C compact satellite loudspeakers are providing maximum intelligibility in the humid and challenging environment of the busy Centre aquatique Auréo in Bayeux. Opened in 2019, Auréo is an aquatic centre combining multiple swimming pools with a 515sq.m ‘wellness area’ featuring saunas, a jacuzzi, a salt cave and a balneotherapy pool. The 2,300m², €12.6m complex is the only municipal swimming pool serving the nearly 15,000 residents of the district after the previous piscine de Bayeux closed a year earlier. When it came time to upgrade the aquatic centre’s AV system, the previous installation having not lived up to expectations, the town of Bayeux selected local system integrator Music Light, a long-term partner of both Bayeux and APG. “We have already equipped various locations in Bayeux with APG, so our client had references and was al
World - Japanese transducer manufacturer Audio-Technica will mark its 60th anniversary this year with a series of events that will celebrate A-T’s commitment to analogue sound. Company founder Hideo Matsushita developed the first AT-1 cartridge on 17 April 1962 with the aim to bring the warmth of analogue listening to a wider audience. He was inspired by the depth of emotion he witnessed at vinyl listening sessions organised during his tenure at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts in Tokyo. The success of the AT-1 and the AT-3 enabled him to expand the business, opening an HQ in Machida, where the company continues to operate today. In 1974, Audio-Technica started producing headphones, adding microphones in 1978. When Kazuo Matsushita, son of Hideo, became president in 1993, the business continued to expand, opening offices throughout the world and developing produ
USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has announced the addition of Richard Muggle to the position of service and support manager. In his new role, Muggle will oversee and manage the department to ensure customer satisfaction. “As EAW continues to enhance its customers’ experiences, we are pleased to welcome Richard into the EAW family,” says T.J. Smith, president of EAW. “We look to Richard’s knowledge and his vast industry experience to help expand EAW’s world class service and support centre, located in our Whitinsville headquarters.” With over 20 years of experience in the audio industry, Muggle comes to EAW from Numark Industries where he served as project manager of Alesis Drums. During that time Muggle oversaw all aspects of construction from concept to mass production. He also worked with various teams to maintain schedules and meet deadlines.
USA - Powersoft has welcomed three new employees to its US office in Flanders, New Jersey. Peter Robinson – whose industry experience includes more than 25 years as a system integrator and speaker designer – joins Powersoft as consultant liaison with immediate effect. Providing oversight and management for large scale projects, Robinson will also assist consultants, architects, engineers and end-users, coordinating the efforts of Powersoft’s solutions engineering team. Evelyn Caruso joins as inside sales coordinator in the United States, bringing over 20 years of experience in industrial sales support, distribution and manufacturing to the newly created position. Caruso will be responsible for the coordination and execution of sales and customer support, as well as assisting the US sales team with forecasting reports. Powersoft’s third US appointment is
