USA - The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in the United States that helps to fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of two and a half and 18 years. Towards the end of last year, when Becci Smith of the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area Chapter in Northern California received five-year-old Valeria’s wish to sing on a big stage, she decided to contact the team at the Concord Pavilion. Operated by Live Nation and owned by the City of Concord, the venue has a capacity of 12,500. What followed was a display of cooperation between entertainment technology professionals that not only made Valeria’s wish come true, but reminded everyone involved just how much they’d missed the shows that are the lifeblood of the industry. Against the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic where access to venues was naturally difficult, the
USA - The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, Alabama had long struggled with inadequate sound system performance due to the cathedral’s high curved ceilings, large stained-glass windows, wooden pews and other acoustically challenging design features. An upgrade to the sound system became a necessity, but to preserve the beauty and historical nature of the cathedral’s large sanctuary, the ministry leadership decided against acoustic treatment. Instead, they trusted a high-performance sound system backed by Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers. The cathedral’s sanctuary was plagued by a great deal of acoustic shadowing due to the building’s columns, with sound sources out of the sightline of the congregation, which significantly diminished levels and effective coverage. The previous attempt to redesign the sound system over-compensated with pairs of
France - Powersoft has appointed Sidev as its new distributor for France, working alongside Powersoft’s other French distributor, DV2. Founded in 1991 and based near Lyon, Sidev has been a key player in providing audio-visual solutions in France for over 30 years. In that time, the company has grown to offer the largest sales and pre-sales team in the French market, as well as two showrooms in Paris and Lyon, and a yearly turnover of over €60 million in 2020. Sidev is, since 2010, part of the Midwich Group. More recently, the company developed its market footprint and audio-visual offer on the French market with the purchase in 2019 of Perfect Sound, an audio specialist distributor. “Powersoft is a recognised and renowned brand on the AV Market, with a strong line-up to address both the staging and corporate markets,” explains Lionel Roudil, general man
Germany - Frankfurt Opera is one of the most renowned opera stages in Europe, having paved the way for many successful operatic careers. Recently, with an extensive d&b audio system already installed, the venue chose to enrich its audiences’ sound experience with d&b Soundscape technology. A d&b DS100 Signal engine was duly purchased in time for the 2019/2020 season and the staging of a world premiere at the Bockenheimer Depot - Frankfurt Opera’s second venue. "It was a spatially complex work, with moving actors and an orchestra spread across the stage” explains sound engineer, Margit Baruschka. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the production was postponed to 2021. The decision was then made to move the entire Soundscape system to the Frankfurt Opera. Here it could be used to adapt some of the regular programme to allow for social distancing
USA - Xytech has announced Tanya Kelly as managing director for APAC. This appointment follows the closing of Xytech’s acquisition of ScheduALL from Net Insight in April. Kelly’s appointment is effective immediately. For over six years, Kelly served as a sales and solution consultant for ScheduALL’s broadcast and broadcast service provider customers in the ANZ region. Her background includes technical operations, where she spent nine years as head of studio operations at Fox Sports Australia, as well as a stint at Deluxe as head of bookings “Tanya has an understanding of the industry and region and has ties to Xytech and ScheduALL reaching back through the years,” comments Greg Dolan, CCO of Xytech. “APAC is critical for Xytech as we move forward to the next phase in our growth. We know with Tanya at the helm our customers are in great hands and her strateg
South Korea - TechDataPS Cocollaborated with All That Sound to equip YeonCheon Sureul Art Hall with a Harman Professional audio solution. Located in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Yeoncheon Sureul Art Hall is a cultural facility that offers a variety of performances, including small plays, musicals and solo concerts. The venue houses both a 580-seat grand concert hall and a smaller 166-capacity concert hall. Organisers wanted an audio system that evenly transmitted sound, achieved a sound pressure deviation of +/- 3dB for over 90% of the audience and provided impactful performances for shows of all genres. To supplement the venue’s existing JBL VT4887A line array loudspeakers, the installation team equipped the venue with a range of JBL solutions including VTX V20 and VTX S25 line array speakers, VTX M20 stage monitors, AC18 two-way speakers, 308P MkII studio monitors,
USA - Avinext and Shalleck Collaborative recently equipped 10 learning spaces in Texas A&M University’s new Learning Classroom Building with Harman networked AV systems featuring AMX, JBL and Soundcraft solutions. Serving more than 71,000 students, Texas A&M University is one of the largest college campuses in the country. In response to increasing enrolment and population growth in the state, Texas A&M University recently launched a large-scale campus expansion project, which included a new Innovative Learning Classroom Building (ILCB). The new facility houses 10 different learning spaces suited for different applications, with capacities ranging from 72 to 605 students. The spaces include small, medium and large in-the-round arena-style lecture halls, a fan-shaped lecture hall, an egg-shaped classroom, three-tiered learning spaces and two smaller learn
UK - Christie’s London has announced a digital companion piece to Leonardo da Vinci’s penetrating study Head of a Bear, via a collaboration with digital artists Hackatao, an artist duo born in Milan and who have been pioneering the crypto art space since 2018. To be offered in the Exceptional Sale in London this July, Hackatao have created a work inspired by this Old Master drawing, bringing the bear majestically to life. This specially commissioned digital work will be unveiled at Christie’s King Street from 3 July, as part of the Classic Week view, visible via the Aria AR app. The digital work has been donated to The Museum of Crypto Art where it will subsequently appear. Hackatao’s response to the masterpiece Head of a Bear by da Vinci is based on the concept of the continuum; a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibl
Gibraltar - Pixel Artworks has created an immersive light and sound installation within St Michael’s Cave on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Government awarded the project to WrightTech Media, a local digital marketing solutions company with extensive knowledge of the site. Pixel Artworks collaborated with WrightTech Media on the pitch as well as the design and delivery of the complex show, which is scheduled to open to the public on 20 June 2021. While the project sought to enhance the current Gibraltar Upper Rock Nature Reserve visitor experience, there was no specific site in mind. WrightTech Media and Pixel Artworks showed how St Michael’s Cave could be used in a unique way to take the audience on an unforgettable journey through Gibraltar’s natural history, using projection mapping technology, lighting design and immersive audio. Christian Wright, dire
Finland - Intersonic Oy is now providing import and distribution of Renkus-Heinz products through its resellers and integrators. Intersonic Oy specialises in the import and sales of AV equipment for the Finnish market. The company offers a comprehensive range of products for the experience and event industry, as well as lighting, sound, video, and AV communication solutions for retailers, contractors, and companies. Intersonic Oy is owned by Audico Holding Oy since March 2020. “It is an honour for us to be appointed to represent Renkus-Heinz here in Finland,” comments Antti Rintamäki at Intersonic Oy. “Renkus-Heinz was one of the first brands I originally worked with when I started my career as an audio sales manager about 15 years ago. I still have the Distributor of the Year trophy in my drawer, and now I can take it out again, put it on my desk, and work for
France - Amadeus has released a major software update for the company’s Holophonix spatial sound processor. The version 1.7 software update features a new web-remote user interface completely redesigned from the ground up for better performance and a faster workflow and includes a host of new features both powerful and useful for immersive creative projects. The new version 1.7 update is free to all current Holophonix users and is included with all new Holophonix hardware system purchases. Holophonix immersive sound processors are installed and have been used for some of the world’s most innovative venues including Paris-based The Pantheon, Chaillot National Theater, La Scala, La Comédie Française, as well as the Beijing Stadium (China), The Lee Seok Young New Media Library in South Korea, ETH Zürich in Switzerland, and many others. “Previously, the Wav
UK - Shure has introduced the Axient Digital ADX5D Portable Receiver - a dual-channel, portable wireless slot receiver that ‘provides superior RF performance, spectral efficiency, and transparent audio quality’. “We designed the ADX5D Portable Receiver to incorporate the same innovative wireless technology that Axient Digital is known for, all in a portable form factor for professionals in the field or on-the-go,” said Nick Wood, senior wireless category director, at Shure. “We took the time to ensure this new addition to the Axient Digital family exceeds the rigors of everyday use and lives up to Shure’s reputation for quality that we’ve earned over the past 96 years.” Axient Digital has been used on some of the biggest live stages across the world. Since it was designed for professional productions that demand maximum signal stability, ADX5D is able
South Korea - To enhance the visitor experience at Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju, TechDataPS Co recently upgraded the park’s aging sound systems with Harman Professional audio solutions. Based on the popular characters Pororo the Little Penguin and Tayo the Little Bus, Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju features numerous ‘edutainment’ attractions that encourage children to learn while having fun. However, the park’s sound system was becoming a detriment to the experience, causing auditory fatigue for park employees and visitors due to an abundance of echo and harsh frequencies. To provide a better experience for guests, Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju’s audio system required a complete overhaul. After being impressed by the performance of JBL Control 60 loudspeakers at the BSS Harman Zone in Yongin, park organisers hired TechDataPS to equip the facility
UK - Martin Audio has recently promoted from within to create two new director roles for its R&D department. Phil Anthony has been promoted to associate director of design, while Ambrose Thompson is now research director, and together they will lead the R&D department. Phil Anthony commented, “It’s a great responsibility to continue the legacy of Martin Audio products and one that I relish and look forward to. We have made great strides in recent years in the number of products we have brought to market and I’m confident that by investing in new tools, developing improved processes and pro-active communication across departments, that Ambrose and I will bring genuine customer value with our product roadmap.” Ambrose Thompson added, “I’m looking forward to helping drive a more even balance between technical, design and marketing strands of the
Italy - Powersoft, has announced two additions to its touring amplifier platform, the T Series, which will allow the company to almost entirely replace its lK Series. Since it was introduced 18 years ago, the K Series has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and widely used amplifiers on the market, receiving high praise for its lasting audio quality, power density, efficiency, and stable and long-term power. Building on this legacy, Powersoft introduced the T Series in 2019. Now, in 2021, the new T902 and T904 have been introduced to extend the applications of the T Series further, allowing it to cover the requirements for any system deployment, including larger scale live sound applications. The T902 is a 2-channel amplifier specified to deliver 4000W at 2 Ohms, 3200W at 4 Ohms, or 1800W at 8 Ohms, and its high rail voltage and peak current on the out
UK - Brighton-based Acute Audio Productions which has produced international festivals and concerts for Mainstage Festivals and NVS Promotions, has launched a new sub brand, Audio Production Hire (APH). Headed by managing director Giles Bristow, APH offers “new tailored pro audio production services and training platform ‘Sound System engineering - the environmental approach’ exclusively using DAS Audio products”. “In April 2020 as the pandemic closed down the event sector AAP went to work on a post covid business recovery plan and created APH in readiness to launch new services, and a CPD training programme. The brief is to offer personal tailored services to the end user, driving hire and sales of DAS Audio,” says Bristow. “Together with audio engineer Simon Ryder, we have created a brand-new module based training programme for the industry - Sound Syst
Germany - Founded in 1866, Theater Freiburg is the oldest and biggest theatre in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, south-west Germany. Moving to its present venue in 1910, like many theatres it has seen an almost continuous series of changes and renovations, some more successful than others. Most recently, the installation of two Yamaha Rivage PM7 digital mixing systems have brought much-needed peace of mind to head of sound Jonas Gottschall and his technical team. Featuring orchestral performances, opera, musicals, dance, plays and more, the Theater Freiburg building includes a main stage, smaller stage and Chamber stage. The venue has a long history with Yamaha digital mixers, going back to the DM2000 and the PM5D. More recently, the venue invested in systems by other manufacturers because, as Jonas - who joined the theatre three years ago - says, “At the time th
USA - Meyer Sound has signed on as a platinum supporter of the Home Technology Association (HTA) as it promotes professional audio products and technologies for deployment in upscale residential settings. “We are excited to support HTA and its mission of providing a no-compromise private cinema experience,” says Miles Rogers, Meyer Sound’s business development manager for cinema and content creation markets. “The quality of a private cinema sound is not defined solely by the loudspeakers, but by the sum of all the components coming together - from the room build through final calibration. When all these pieces fit together perfectly, you have a VIP ticket to sit shotgun with the director in Hollywood and experience the film exactly as it was intended. Today, HTA is a key to making that happen.” “The HTA certification program does an outstanding job of vetti
Spain - Flight simulator manufacturer Simloc is now using Audio-Technica BPHS1 stereo headsets and PRO70 cardioid condenser lavalier microphones for its innovative Fixed Base Simulator (FBS) flight training devices and Extended Reality (XR) simulation environments for civil and military markets. The relationship between Audio-Technica and Simloc began following contact between Jaime Valle, software engineer and certification manager at Simloc and Audio-Technica commercial manager Yusti Blázquez, who had previously collaborated on another clinical simulation project. Valle said of the BPHS1 headset, “It delivers very high quality audio transmission and reception for intercommunication and it’s a really robust product. “For the simulation to be as realistic as possible, the exclusion of distracting ambient noise is crucial. In flight simulators there are man
USA - City Winery New York finally opened for ticketed live music events in early April at its new flagship location inside the redeveloped Pier 57 on the Hudson River after a hiatus of more than a year. As with the seven other City Winery locations, this newest venue relies on Meyer Sound reinforcement systems exclusively, with the New York location the first to anchor its system with LINA line array loudspeakers. Within the first week of sold-out shows, the sound quality in the new room already had earned accolades from audiences and performers alike. “I have some confidence in my own ears, but more confidence in the ears of musicians who have played here - and they have been ecstatic,” says City Winery founder and CEO Michael Dorf. “The combination of the room acoustic and the Meyer Sound LINA system is magic. Steve Earle said from the stage during his acousti
Austria - Founded in 2006, Das Werk is an alternative art and culture initiative based in Vienna. Located in the district of Spittelau, between the famous Grelle Forelle and FLEX nightclubs, Das Werk is the latest Vienna venue to upgrade to Alcons Audio pro-ribbon loudspeakers. In 2018, Wolfgang Sauter of Vienna-based Pro Performance was asked to create an audio concept for Das Werk that fitted in with the neighbouring venues, including The Grelle Forelle, FLEX, SASS Music Club and The Loft. Pro Performance had previously equipped these venues with Alcons pro-ribbon systems, giving Alcons a stellar reputation in Vienna. “The customer needed a new, effective sound solution that was flexible enough for both live concerts and DJ events across a large variety of genres,” says Wolfgang. “A particular problem was that the stage was in the corner of the room, presenting
The Netherlands - Postponed from 2020, this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its 65th edition, was held at the Rotterdam Ahoy in The Netherlands. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Nederlands Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS and AVROTOS. Specialist rental and sales company, Ampco Flashlight, was the official technical supplier, providing lighting, rigging and audio requirements, which included DiGiCo Quantum 7 mixing consoles at both front of house and monitor positions. Working on the lavish production fans have come to know and expect were Erwin Rintjema, ESC head of production, Thijs Peters, head of broadcast sound, Ampco Flashlights’ Remco Verhoek as senior project manager and Dennis van der Haagen taking up the role of operational & commercial director, along with Jeroen ten Brinke, ESC head of live sou
Europe - Wireless is meant to make things easier. It gives you freedom to perform. It makes set-up times faster. But for many musicians who are their own technician, wireless microphones can be a nuisance or even intimidating. Now Sennheiser brings simplicity to wireless with Evolution Wireless Digital. The series introduces an ‘easy, app-based workflow while retaining all the professionality, multi-channel capability and reliability that users have come to expect of UHF and 1G8 microphones’. “We talked with dozens of bands prior to the development of Evolution Wireless Digital,” explains Oliver Schmitz, product manager for Evolution Wireless Digital. “Many band members are in fact multitasking, driving the gig bus, setting the wireless up, performing on stage, doing the accounting, the marketing, you name it. They do not want to become experts at RF, they do
UK – Bluesound Professional has announced the addition of three distribution partners as it expands global distribution. The new distribution partners are Studiotec Oy (Finland), Gonher Proaudio (Mexico) and HED Cinema (Israel). “We are delighted to be able to welcome these distributors to our team as they are all leaders in the industry and in their respective markets,” says Graeme Harrison, vice-president and general manager of Bluesound Professional. “To have them so readily commit to the Bluesound Professional brand with the knowledge and perspective they have of the industry validates for us that we have something special here.” Since its launch at the Integrated Systems Europe show in February 2019, Bluesound has expanded to 23 international markets.
