Italy - K-array has launched a new pro audio brand, Kgear, which aims ‘to bring the latest technologies and top-level performance into a sleek design, easy-approach package, with a special attention to budget-sensitive yet demanding applications’. Kgear’s product portfolio is divided into two main areas - high performance and installed sound - and comprises column systems, line-arrays, ceiling and wall mount speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers for applications ranging from large venues and commercial buildings to room-sized, residential environments. “Over the past two years we took the chance to re-focus ourselves and start dreaming and designing in a different, challenging perspective to draw the very essence of K-array and apply it to create a more accessible product line without sacrificing the quality and performance we have been worldwide known for,” sa
Europe - LED manufacturer Absen is set to hold three online round table panels on immersive LED experiences. The sessions will cover immersive LED in virtual studios, retail spaces, and corporate spaces, with each round table session hosting a variety of expert brands in each sector. Hosting all the roundtables will be Jessica Golding, Absen’s European brand manager. The first roundtable, upcoming on 19 May, will discuss the impact and rise of virtual studios on the AV industry over the last year. With a panel of the industry’s virtual studio experts, including Christian Czimny, Absen’s industry product director, the panel will discuss what virtual means in the industry, where virtual studios can be used, and what the benefits are of using LED over traditional ‘green screens’. The event will provide a multitude of perspectives, from end user to integrator, on the r
USA - Shure Incorporated is entering its 96th year in audio technology and is planning a number of celebrations of company landmarks throughout the next 12 months. S.N. Shure started the audio company in downtown Chicago in 1925, selling radio parts kits. Since then, the company has grown into a global player, offering a diverse portfolio of wired and wireless microphones, personal and professional listening products, and conferencing and meeting solutions. Shure products are now sold in more than 120 countries, and through the decades, they have been trusted and used around the world by such luminaries as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elvis Presley, Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela, The Beatles, and every United States President since Franklin D. Roosevelt. “While our 95th year provided several challenges as it relates to the pandemic, we continued with our superior pro
France - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), based in Paris is an international organisation made up of 37 member countries that works to build better policies for better lives. More than 1,000 conferences are organised annually in the OECD conference centres (La Muette and Boulogne), including around 30 conferences and major events. The OECD Conference Centre offers 3,000sq.m of modern and modular conference rooms and a range of facilities. Currently, OECD manages around 250 daily web conferences. Most high-level meetings offer interpretation in at least both official languages of the OECD and rely on collaboration, meaning interactions are dynamic amongst participants. Audio visual services (audio, video and web conferencing) have been used for several years in OECD, but with the significant increase in remote participation requests in
Iceland - Harpa is a venue in the heart of Reykjavik, housing a concert hall and conference centre. According to technical director Andri Guðmundsson, the venue is “a one stop shop” with premier facilities, sound, lighting, video, and catering. Due to COVID-19, Harpa has pivoted to virtual events using an advanced, Dante-based audio environment. To maintain precise Dante timing Guðmundsson and his team turned to the Model 5401A Dante Leader Clock from Studio Technologies. “Throughout the pandemic, we have been shifting our infrastructure to Dante to meet the demand for the surge in virtual and streamed events,” said Guðmundsson. “The Model 5401A Leader Clock from Studio Technologies has provided us with a solid master clock to support all timing needs with our Dante operations.” The Model 5401A Leader Clock provides precise timing signals for appli
South Korea - Harman Professional Solutions recently collaborated with TechDataPS to equip Geumsan Daragwon with new audio systems. Geumsan Daragwon is a culture and welfare centre featuring literary, cultural, education, sports and health centres, as well as a large concert hall and small performance theatre to host plays, musicals and concerts. In order to ensure premium sound quality at these events, Geumsan Daragwon required modern audio solutions in each room. To achieve this, venue operators hired TechDataPS to equip the performance spaces with sound reinforcement systems provided by Harman. TechDataPS reports that a combination of good acoustics and robust system design from Harman helped them deliver quality sounding and reliable audio solutions that complement the architectural aesthetics of each space. The JBL VTX A8 loudspeakers and VTX B18 subwoofers provi
Italy - Powersoft has launched a new training programme on its website, which provides two new free training sections for users: Webinars, where all Powersoft’s recent webinars are uploaded, and E-Learning, where the live sound and install courses are available online now for anyone who wishes to take them. The OEM course will be released in the coming weeks. The E-Learning platform is designed to be a one-stop destination for online training. The courses are designed to provide sound engineers, integrators, and AV technicians the advantage to learn directly from Powersoft’s experts and gain certification upon completion. “Created by our in-house experts, these courses are for anyone working in the professional audio market, so they can operate with specialist understanding on audio systems, and gain an expert’s insight into our audio products,” said Marc Koc
South Africa - DWR Distribution’s Jaco Beukes welcomed nine delegates who attended the two-day DiGiCo S-Series training workshop hosted in May. The course was held at the DWR offices in Johannesburg. “The training went exceptionally well,” said Beukes, who presented the workshop. “It was exciting and good to recap everything on the S Consoles. We went through a lot of interesting topics and everybody seemed to enjoy it. Even the more senior guys learned new things.” The group of delegates included freelancers, technicians from rental companies and technical crew from a local church. “Some of the delegates have used the console for years while others have only started audio more recently, so it was a diverse group,” said Jaco. “Thank you very much to everyone who joined us.” The training included a demonstration of the DiGiCo S-Series digit
Hungary – Rental and installation company, G-Sound, was founded in 2014 by József Gricz, an experienced engineer who previously worked for the country’s National Radio. Recently, the company decided to add L-Acoustics K Series to its inventory, elevating its own standing within the Hungarian market and strengthening the country’s K2 alliance. The system was supplied by Audmax, an L-Acoustics certified provider distributor for Hungary, whose CEO, Krisztian Varga, recalls G-Sound’s decision process for choosing K2. “In 2019, József was looking to take the next step in event technology and started to dive into the L-Acoustics world,” Varga says. “In December of that year, I offered him a visit to the L-Acoustics corporate office in Marcoussis. Both József and his system engineer Zsolt Balogh were impressed with what they saw. We spent a fantastic day with sales
UK - Organisations from across the UK’s arts, entertainment and technology industries including Digital Catapult, the Warner Music Group and O2 are collaborating to create the first hybrid 5G festival. The 5G Festival will be ‘a showcase of creative talent blended with the power of advanced digital technologies, and broadcast live directly to audiences at remote locations from world-leading venues, as well as producing novel immersive in-venue experiences’. The collaboration is led by 5G specialist Digital and brings together global music company Warner Music Group ; live arts venue and culture organisation Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival working with Brighton 5G testbed partner Wired Sussex; telecommunications service provider and sponsor of The O2 and O2 Academy venues O2 ; Metropolis Studios, Sonosphere and Audiotonix and digital technology companies Ma
Australia - ARX has introduced the USB Ultra I/O VSR Broadcast, a 24 bit high resolution plug and play USB 2 channel play and record digital/analogue pro audio interface. The USB Ultra I/O VSR Broadcast removes the need to use any existing sound card outputs, with their inherent noisy environment and problematic grounding. Designed for interfacing USB equipped computers with the balanced inputs and outputs of professional sound systems, the full transformer balanced Inputs and Outputs on the USB Ultra I/O VSR Broadcast provide the isolation required to eliminate earth loops / ground hum and other extraneous interaction noise and distortion. The USB Ultra I/O VSR Broadcast offers analogue style recording headroom with Analog 0dB In converting to –18dB and FS Digital providing Analog style headroom when recording in the digital domain. The -18dB Digital signal reverts
Portugal - Arda Recorders, which opened in 2017, is located in the heart of Porto. It features five independent spaces with Van Damme cabling throughout. Studio A features a vintage Neve 8068 console and a Fazioli F278 grand piano. It has a 100sq.m live room, three iso booths and an echo chamber with variable ceiling. Studio B is suited for most modern productions, with a versatile 20m2 live room and a sound lock that doubles as an amp booth. Its control room is centred around a 32 channel Rupert Neve 5088, complemented with a great array of outboard gear. Studio C consists of a small live room and a control room for voice-over and overdubs sessions. The Mixing Room is centred around 32 channels of Avid Artist Mix faders and more than 100 channels of vintage and modern hardware. The Mastering Studio was designed with quality acoustics in mind and has ATC main sp
Saudi Arabia - When Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL) undertook a contract in Riyadh 16 months ago - to invest a new gym concept with a high octane ‘club-spec’ technical infrastructure - they little knew what was waiting around the corner. “We shipped the gear out to Riyadh in February last year, and the following month COVID struck,” recalls project manager Toby Jones. “Rather than suspend the work, they decided to press ahead.” Engaging with local crews - communicating via video calls and different programming platforms - hey finally managed to fly out to commission the system during the brief pre-Christmas break from lockdown. While this represented a joint venture between 1Rebel in the UK (represented by James Balfour and Giles Dean) and Pulse Fitness Group’s Fahad Alhagbani and Nathan Clute, there have subsequently been a number of venues open in Lon
UK - Shure has announced that its recently launched MXA710 Linear Array Microphone is now Certified for Microsoft Teams. The MXA710 joins Shure's portfolio of conferencing solutions already certified for Microsoft Teams, giving installers and end users even more options for their environments. “Shure's solutions are built for the hybrid workplace. Your customers, clients, and students will feel like they’re in the room with you when you use our market-leading array microphones,” said Paul Gunia, director of technology partnerships at Shure. “Our entire line-up of Microflex Advance array microphones is now Microsoft Teams certified.” “Microsoft Teams Certification requires products to meet the most stringent audio quality standards in the AV industry,” said Albert Kooiman, senior director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification.
Denmark - DPA Microphones has introduced the 4466 CORE Omnidirectional and 4488 CORE Directional Headset Microphones. Based on the design of the company’s 6066 Subminiature Headsets, the new solutions feature the brand’s 5mm round microphone capsule. These latest offerings are designed for use in theatre, broadcast, worship and corporate conferencing. With a one-size-fits-all design and adjustable height and boom length, the 4466 and 4488 headsets accommodate small to large head types. A three-point gripping system (above, below and behind the ear) ensures a greater level of security, while the flexible ear hooks provide continued comfort during extended use. “Our customers have been asking us to deliver our latest small form-factor headsets with the highly regarded 5mm mic capsules,” says DPA product manager René Mørch. “With the purposeful design of our
Europe - Sennheiser and the Sonova Holding AG with headquarters in Stäfa, Switzerland, have confirmed their future cooperation under the Sennheiser brand. The global provider of medical hearing solutions will fully take over Sennheiser's Consumer Electronics business. Subject to regulatory approval, the plan is to complete the transfer of the business to Sonova by the end of 2021. Sennheiser had announced in February that it would focus on the professional business in the future while seeking a partner for the Consumer Electronics business. With the takeover of the Sennheiser Consumer business, Sonova is adding headphones and soundbars to its hearing care portfolio, which includes hearing aids and cochlear implants, among other hearing solutions. "We couldn't have asked for a better partner than Sonova for our Consumer Electronics business," says Daniel Sennheiser, c
Sweden - The first Neve 8424 console to arrive in Sweden is now up and running in a private studio belonging to artist and producer Pontus Hagberg, the man behind the popular Mr Firechild synthesiser video review channel on YouTube. Pontus chose a Neve 8424 console for his own studio because it combines analogue summing and analogue processing in one simple, easy to use and cost effective solution. “I have been using a classic ‘in the box’ studio with some hardware synthesizers for 25 years, but it was only recently that I discovered how much of an edge real analogue outboard units have over plug-ins,” he explains. “It is similar to comparing virtual instruments with real analogue synthesisers – the difference is very apparent. “Once I fell in love with analogue hardware, I started using the hardware insert feature in Pro Tools Ultimate, which led
Canada - Adamson Systems Engineering has introduced a range of new products available immediately for the installation market, including an extension to its IS-Series of installation loudspeakers and a suite of improved and updated design tools for architects, integrators, and sound designers. With the introduction of the IS-Series Weatherized line, Adamson offers AV professionals a loudspeaker family purpose-built to ‘withstand the most extreme climates in the world’. Weatherized are suitable for marine and coastal venues, outdoor stadiums, open-air performance spaces, and other permanent outdoor installations. “Adamson loudspeakers have always been known for their durability and sonic performance, both on the road and in permanent installations,” says Adamson’s head of product and technology Brian Fraser. “With the Weatherized line, we’ve added corrosio
USA - The Rooftop by JG at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills recently installed a trellis structure with retractable rain coverings and radiant heaters along with a complete renovation of the Meyer Sound foreground music system. “The owners were acutely aware of the importance of sound in the overall customer experience, and they already were familiar with the quality of Meyer Sound products from other installations there since opening,” says John Swan of Las Vegas-based Technology West Group, who was design engineer and project manager for the upgrade. “This was an opportunity to raise the bar for audio even higher in this area.” Comprising 17 UP‑4slim full-range loudspeakers and six MM‑10XP miniature subwoofers, the new rooftop system augments the total of 92 additional Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers that already were installed in five other public
UK - With the popularity of Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) to virtual and hybrid meetings, the ability to provide quality meeting audio is more important than before. Shure and Barco are working together to help ensure customers achieve “a revolutionary workplace experience”. The Shure Audio Ecosystem now pairs seamlessly with Barco ClickShare Conference, allowing customers to combine audio for remote communication with easy-to-use wireless in any meeting space. “Customers can rely on powerful and certified solutions with Shure networked audio solutions and our ClickShare Conference products,” said David Fitzgerald, vice president, global alliances at Barco. “This offers customers an engaging videoconferencing experience with high quality audio and easy, seamless wireless conferencing. Hybrid collaboration has never been easier and is just one click away.
Poland - ESS Audio, TJT Music and Master-Ton recently deployed a complete Harman Professional Solutions live sound reinforcement system at the fifth annual Psalms of David Festival. Held in September 2020 in the small Polish town of Kolbuszowa, the fifth annual Psalms of David Festival was a celebration of Jewish and Christian scriptures set to a soundtrack of live orchestral music. The open-air event, which was hosted at Kolbuszowa’s sports stadium, saw performances from Poland’s largest youth symphony orchestra, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, as well as dozens of individual performers and soloists. To ensure every note rang clear among the audience at the event, which had to adhere to COVID-19 social distancing rules, the organisers needed an appropriate cound system. To accomplish their goal, they hired ESS Audio to design and deploy a powerful Harman sound re
South Korea - A wide range of PMC professional studio monitors have been installed at Busan Sound Stage, a new audio post-production facility in South Korea that has been established to help the region develop its film industry. Located in Busan City’s Haeundae-gu area, the new facility is owned and operated by the Busan Film Commission and has five studios including a Dolby Atmos ADR/Re-recording room that is equipped with PMC system comprising twotwo.8, result6 and twotwo sub2 monitors. Three of the four remaining rooms, which are dedicated to foley, editing, mastering and education, also feature PMC result6 and twotwo sub2 monitors, all supplied by PMC’s South Korean distributor Music Metro. “PMC monitors were chosen for this facility because they offer very high resolution audio that allows us to hear elaborate sound in perfect clarity,” says Brandon Han,
Japan - The May Theatre, also known as the Suita City Cultural Hall, in Osaka is a venerable performing centre that has been on the Sound Engineers & Artists Society of Japan’s list of the Top 100 Best Halls by Acousticians, since it was opened in 1985. The cultural centre includes a 1,400-seat large performance hall, a medium sized hall, a reception hall and an exhibition space. The multi-faceted venue hosts concerts, operas and classical Japanese theatre, as well as social gatherings and art exhibitions. In July 2019, the May Theatre began a thorough renovation project, including an update to the point source sound system in the large performance hall, which was well over 20 years old. “The previous point source speakers were placed inside a speaker box, which made it impossible to deliver uniform sound quality throughout the auditorium, explains Satoshi Tanio, so
South Korea - Looking to add improved sound to its sermons and special events, Dongil Church hired TechDataPS Co to design and install a Harman Professional audio solution throughout the property. Originally located in Dangjin, Chungcheong-do, Dongil Church was established in 1996. In 2020, the church relocated and built a new 600-seat temple in Dongdaesin-dong, which is in the Seo-gu district of Busan. In addition to offering sermons and contributing to the development of the community in various ways, the church helps pastors of the Protestant church become missionaries in India. Wanting to bolster its facility and offer guests enhanced experiences during services and events, Dongil required a new audio system that delivers quality sound and speech intelligibility. Meeting those acoustical requirements, TechDataPS equipped Dongil with a Harman Professional audio solu
