The Netherlands – Tasked by a Regional Public Health Service with finding an effective solution for a new COVID-19 testing centre to enable its 18 test bays to signal for technical assistance, Backbone International turned to tried-and-tested event production technology from digital communications specialist Green-GO. The company, a leading production management and temporary infrastructure specialist with operations worldwide, is well used to delivering the best technical solutions for any number of environments. Faced with this signalling challenge as part of a systems integration project for a testing facility in Eindhoven, they turned to Green-GO, and its Beacon call indicator units. Developed for the event production industry, the Green-GO Beacons have a transparent outer case and light up when receiving a call. Backbone’s Daniël Zwaan explains, “The testin
Norway - Bølgen Kulturhus in Larvik is a multi-purpose, multi-use venue that welcomes thousands of patrons annually for concerts, cinema, and theatre presentations, as well as conferences and events of all descriptions. With the recent installation of an Adamson Systems Engineering E-Series PA in its main hall, Storsalen, Bølgen has extended its already substantial capabilities to present the wide variety of programming it offers and the diverse range of events it hosts. Previously, Norwegian distributor Benum provided Bølgen with Adamson rigs for the venue’s other two, smaller performance/event spaces: eight IS10, four IS119 subs, four PC5, and two D120 amplifiers in ‘Sanden Scene’; and eight S7, two IS119 and two D120 for Blåboksen. In the Storshalen space, Benum has now installed a system comprised of 20 E12 (flown 10 per side), six E219 subs, and four S7p
Europe - German networked audio and interconnectivity specialist DirectOut has announced a collaboration with the Italian-based team of Vivivaldy to establish a tailored service for uncompressed audio transmission over public WAN connections. Driven by the success of the first Lockdown Rock projects which allowed artists and audio professionals to work together remotely in real-time, the experts from both companies decided to join forces and create an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution. Luca Giaroli, product manager at DirectOut, comments, “Our products deploying Ravenna technology have already proven their worth in remote production and broadcast environments. Since the constraints of the pandemic have forced large parts of the audio industry to shut down their businesses, we were thinking about lowering the entry-level of this technology for the pro audio industry. For
Europe - Global event production company PSAV has announced that it will begin to operate under the Encore name as part of a planned move to align its portfolio of companies, including Hawthorn and AVC Live, under a master brand. Announced in March 2020, the move “solidifies the company’s desire to unify its operations and deliver industry leadership through end-to-end creative, production and technology services to its meeting planner customers and hotel partners, taking them far beyond traditional AV services”. “This is an exciting day for our family of companies,” said Ben Erwin, president and CEO. “In a world changed by the pandemic, the Encore brand and new icon signal a forward focus. It puts our customers at the centre as we offer new platforms and tools to enable them to continue to meet and seamlessly connect in person and virtual audiences. We hav
UK - 2021 sees the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) celebrate the diamond jubilee of its foundation. The Association will be marking this milestone with a year of online activities, and a resumption of the popular face to face in-person events when restrictions allow. It will also take the opportunity to dip into the rich depths of the ABTT Archive in order to share videos and interviews. Plus there will be more seminars, new awards, and events throughout the year. “It is a privilege to be part of the ABTT in its 60th year and to participate in its diamond jubilee,” says Robin Townley, CEO of the ABTT. “It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the role it has played throughout its existence in supporting those engaged in the design and construction of places of entertainment as well as those delivering technical and production support to live perform
UK - PLASA is hosting two free webinars this week on how to apply for the second round of grants from the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF). Taking place on Wednesday 13 January from 10am-12pm and Friday 15 January from 2pm-4pm, these webinars will be hosted by Caroline Taylor, an independent expert with a proven track record in successfully applying for £15m in Arts Council England funding, including the first round of the CRF and the ACE Emergency Fund. During each webinar you will explore the main application questions in detail which will help you submit a strong application. You will also learn about Grantium, the new Arts Council application portal which you are encouraged to register for prior to the webinar. Additionally, each webinar will have a dedicated Q&A section to answer any specific questions you may have regarding the application process. Following the
USA - Albert Grossman – music industry guru and manager of Bob Dylan, The Band, Janis Joplin, Odetta, and Peter, Paul, & Mary, among many others – founded the Bearsville creative complex in the 1970s in Woodstock, New York. Sadly, Albert died while the Bearsville Theatre was still under construction, and his widow, Sally Grossman, saw it through to completion in 1989. The John Storyk-designed theatre remains part of a complex that included restaurants, residences, the Utopia production studio, and a recording studio. The Rolling Stones, Isley Brothers, Ozzy Osbourne, REM, Peter Tosh, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, and many others recorded at the studio. The theatre is set to re-open with a Danley sound system in place. “Woodstock obviously holds a special place in music history, starting with the ‘Sound-Outs’ of the 1960’s that inspired the much larger Wood
USA - LEA Professional has announced a partnership with C&E Marketing Pro to serve the company’s growing customer base in Florida. “LEA Professional represents everything we look for in a partner - innovative, agile and run by a highly experienced expert team,” said Mike Sajecki, president and CEO of C&E Marketing Pro. “Their industry first technology has gained a lot of traction in the market and we look forward to helping them grow their presence further in Florida.” C&E Marketing Pro will represent the full suite of LEA Professional Connect Series amplifiers. “2020 was a difficult year for the pro audio industry, but at LEA Professional we have aggressive growth plans for 2021. Our offerings address many pre-existing challenges which are now exacerbated by the pandemic. By coupling leading amplifier technology with proven IoT expertise,
Thailand - Upgrading its facilities, the Montatip Hall, Udon Thani International Convention and Exhibition Centre hired integrator Mahajak Development Co to design and install Harman Professional network AV and lighting solutions throughout its meeting spaces. Continuing to establish the province of Udon Thani as a growing business centre, the Montatip Hall, Udon Thani International Convention and Exhibition Centre is a premier enterprise venue. The facility covers 25,000sq.m and features 80 meeting rooms, several banquet halls and a convention and exhibition centre that accommodates up to 5,000 people. “The client wanted powerful, flexible AV and lighting systems to support events of any scale, reinforce brand image and ensure customer satisfaction,” says Pongsakorn Kanchanachayphoom, project director, Mahajak Development Co. “It was challenging to design the a
Italy - Located on the coast of the Gulf of Portofino, in Santa Margherita, Italy’s Covo di Nord-Est, or the North-East Lair, has recently undergone an extensive rebuild with a new audio system. Originally built in 1934 as a private residence, the venue quickly became a popular club during the 60s and 70s, and after storms ravaged the venue in late 2018, it has once again opened its doors to the public. “After the storm in 2018, we undertook a complete rebuild the entire venue,” said Stefano Lo Sardo, owner of Vibra Service and project manager for this build. “But we didn’t just want to rebuild, we wanted to upgrade, and that meant a new audio system that would rise up to the challenge.” Together with Italian distributor Audiosales, they designed a completely new sound system. Featuring both Martin Audio speakers and subwoofers, the system was supported by
France - New sonic technology developed in France by Amadeus was revealed in a new artistic work during a ceremony presided over by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, to celebrate the renowned French writer Maurice Genevoix as he was entered into the Panthéon. Within the scope of the Armistice Day commemorations, French author Maurice Genevoix, who wrote the four-part Ceux de 14 (The Men of 1914) about World War I, joined other luminary writers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Dumas, Hugo, and Malraux, along with revered figures from culture, science, and politics in France’s secular temple, the Panthéon. For the celebration, the President of the French Republic commissioned a work from two major figures of the contemporary art scene, German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, and French composer Pascal Dusapin. This is the first public co
Middle East - L-Acoustics has announced the appointment of two regional industry experts to support existing partners and grow the company’s presence in key vertical markets. Over the last decade, the region has been supported by L-Acoustics sales manager, Peter Owen, who will now concentrate on developing key territories in Russia and Eastern Europe. The appointment of a new, dedicated and locally based team will allow the company to nurture new and closer relationships in the Middle East, India and East Africa. Chris Mead, sales manager for the Middle East, India, and East Africa will build relationships and develop business in the region while Rahul Samuel, application engineer for the Middle East and India, will provide technical support, design assistance and training to partners and projects throughout the area. “The Middle East and India regions are very div
UK - Cranborne Audio and UK distributor Sound Technology have announced immediate availability of the Camden EC1 which combines the Camden preamp technology with a reference-grade headphone amplifier ‘to elevate your audio interface’s front-end to a professional level’. “We designed Camden EC1 to make it easy for musicians, vocalists, podcasters and video producers to achieve elite-quality recordings and reference headphone critical listening,” says Sean Karpowicz, managing director and founder. “Camden's unprecedented performance allows you to vastly improve the quality of your tracks,” says Elliott Thomas, product manager. “Using its ‘Mojo’ control, Camden EC1 goes from extraordinarily clean and natural sounding, to thick, vintage-style analogue saturation that can add that ‘magic colour’ to your tracks.” The Camden EC1’s reference-
USA - Located in Nashville, Tennessee, The Belonging Co. (TBCo) is becoming one of the fastest growing in the USA: its congregation has increased from just seven at its outset to many thousands in only six years. Along with weekly worship services, the church also includes a worship collective comprising a number of well-known Nashville-based artists who call the church home, an annual conference, and even a college. TBCo has always prioritised excellent live production. With a recent video system installation by integrator Diversified, in partnership with THOR AV, developer of LED video walls and headset microphones, TBCo now has a LED video wall to match, driven by Brompton Technology’s Tessera S8 LED processor. TBCo has lots of experience with LED wall products from multiple manufacturers and of various quality levels, but when it was time to develop the look and
Singapore - Founded over half a century ago by 25 original members, Bartley Christian Church has grown organically into one of the largest churches in Singapore. To keep up with that growth, the church built a new fan-shaped sanctuary in 2006 that can accommodate 1,200 congregants. However, sightlines were challenging from the start, and as the system aged, it could not keep up with the church’s shift to higher impact music. Local AV integration firm and regional Danley distributor, Soundsmith Solutions, designed and installed a new sound reinforcement system for the church that centres on two Danley J7-95 Jericho Horns, a variety of Danley smaller full-range boxes for fill, and four Danley TH118XL subwoofers for low-end support. “The existing system at Bartley Christian Church, being 10 years old, was showing its age and struggling to keep up with the higher impac
USA - The Floridian in St. Petersburg, Florida, began life in the 1920s as a bank, then was transformed into a cinema, and later a concert hall known as the State Theatre before being shuttered in 2018. Designed in the neo-classical architecture style - arched doorways, Greek columns, ornate carvings - the venue has stood the test of time. Now, purchased by St. Pete native and entrepreneur Kevin Chadwick, who oversaw an estimated $1m-plus renovation that he described as ‘a passion project’ it has become the Floridian Social Club, a lounge, concert venue, and event space in the heart of the city’s downtown Central Avenue entertainment district. At the heart of the Floridian is an L-Acoustics Kara PA system, installed by local integrator ESI Production Services. The new loudspeaker setup comprises two hangs of nine Kara boxes per side and a single flown ARCS Focus
The Netherlands - For more than 25 years, Euroconcerts Audio Control has called on DPA Microphones to provide reliable sound reinforcement for a wide array of musical productions. Included among the Euroconcerts mic locker are the DPA 4015 Wide Cardioid, 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid, 4023 Compact Cardioid, 4037 Compact Omnidirectional, 4099 Instrument Microphone, 4061 Miniature Omnidirectional and d:facto 4018V Vocal Microphones. Most recently, the company implemented the 2011 Cardioid for a classical music production that aired on Dutch National TV. “In previous years, we would record a choir with a stereo mic set up,” explains Euroconcerts founder, Johan van Loo. “However, due to COVID restrictions this year, we were only able to have a small number of singers on-stage. Therefore, we had to switch to a close-mic'ing setup - and the 2011 proved to be the perfect solut
USA - Lectrosonics, together with a number of dealers, industry manufacturers and end-users, has been spearheading a social media campaign for the last few weeks, Sound is Essential, to emphasise that no matter the medium, sound is critical. Without sound, stories and messages are lost to the viewers, audiences, or congregations. Alongside the campaign, Lectrosonics is sponsoring the Sound is Essential creativity contest, where users can upload videos to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and tag them with #lectrosonics and #soundisessential. The deadline to enter the contest is 31 January, 2021. The Sound is Essential videos should be short, creative, and focused on demonstrating the importance of sound. For instance, with the sound of the video absent altogether, viewers will likely wonder “what went wrong” at first, while they try to figure out why
UK - Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Martin Audio is intent on turning 2021 into a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. The company - founded by Australian Dave Martin in London’s Covent Garden back in 1971 - has forged a well-respected reputation despite the twists and turns of the last five decades. The Martin Audio story follows an engineering development path dating back to the very foundations of the touring industry. Dom Harter, managing director, comments: “While we are forever mindful that COVID restrictions are still firmly in place, this is a landmark that should be celebrated in style.” To commemorate the occasion, Martin Audio has produced a book detailing its illustrious history and filled with eye-catching photography. This is available now online and in print from February onwards. A celebratory video is also available
UK - Anthony Morgan has been appointed as technical director of Baldwin Boxall, with Dave Boxall still very much involved in the business and with his new title of founding director. Morgan has been with the company for over six years and leads a strong R&D team, alongside Boxall. “I thoroughly enjoy coming to work every single day,” says Morgan. “It is the people at Baldwin Boxall that make it so great, we truly have a fantastic, friendly and professional team.” As an active member of many board committees in the industry, Morgan is well-versed in the multitude of aspects of life safety and is well-placed to continue Dave Boxall’s hard work, the company says. Sales and marketing director, Nick Baldwin, comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Anthony to the board of directors and we know he is the perfect fit for this role”.
USA - Loudspeaker manufacturer KV2 Audio has announced the appointment of Paul Freudenberg to the position of business development director, US, effective immediately. Freudenberg’s career spans over 25 years with a number of leading pro audio manufacturers including L-Acoustics, AKG, BSS Audio and Aphex Systems. Freudenberg will be immediately charged with the task of setting up direct distribution offices in Los Angeles, CA. The aim is to further enhance user and reseller relations as well as complement the existing market development activities being conducted by Plusmusic US, which continues to function on behalf of KV2 Audio as an official Value-added Reseller in the US market and independent sales representative (North-east region). “Our new distribution facility on the west coast complements the existing activities of the eastern US and Canada regions,” sa
Europe - Coda Audio has announced the immediate availability of the latest public beta version of its proprietary prediction software - System Optimiser. This is a major update from the current version, providing integration with other software; Trimble SketchUp & Flux: IRCAM Spat Revolution Immersive Engine. System Optimiser enables the user to accurately simulate several Coda Audio loudspeakers in any 3D scene with ‘unmatched precision and speed’. Design is possible for all sizes of audio system, from the smallest gathering up to the largest of stadium production, with incredible ease. In creating proposals for clients, SPL pressure mapping is presented in detail, with a strong sense of reality. In busy environments, workflow is tantamount to accuracy, and with this in mind, bespoke tools are provided to fully enable the system designer, says Coda. Various to
Spain - Amate Audio’s new commercial audio loudspeaker, G7, is rolling off the production line and shipping to customers. G7 is a ‘ground-up, fully in-house, development, two-way system within an EN54-24 certifiable, hexagonal-form, reinforced ABS plastic enclosure’. Continuous programme power handling and output capabilities are rated at 120 W and 112 dB SPL, and a full-frequency response means that the G7 can be deployed without the need for sub bass reinforcement. Over several years, Amate Audio has secured a worldwide niche demand in music and hospitality install applications, where high performance and operational efficiencies of its premium, self-powered, self-processing loudspeaker systems have found favour. In pitching for mainstream commercial audio success, the company has eschewed prevailing market trends, in offering a distinctively premium product wi
UK - The Parish church of St Giles’ in Wrexham, North Wales, a grade one listed building, is considered one of the finest examples of a medieval parish church in Wales. Built mainly between the end of the 15th and early part of the 16th Century the church annually welcomes around 33,000 visitors through its doors. Unfortunately, the performance of the sound system no longer met the church’s needs and in 2017 the Parochial church council engaged Richard King Systems to provide a scheme for improving the audio facilities. With over 30 years’ experience of sound system design in places of worship RKS turned to the Harman Professional product portfolio, distributed in the UK by Sound Technology. Harman’s JBL range of passive CBT column loudspeakers were selected for sound performance and discrete appearance. At the opposite end of the audio chain, AKG microphones w
