Europe - DirectOut named Audiosales (Italy) as Distributor of the Year during the company’s recent Insider event. DirectOut also recognised the exceptional performances of tm stagetec systems (Australia) with the award Rookie of the Year award, while Lawo BVBA (Netherlands) took the Prodigy of the Year accolade. Jan Ehrlich, CEO of DirectOut, states: “Our cooperation with Audiosales has constantly developed over the past 10 years and we appreciate Audiosales’ professional performance in service and support across the pro audio and broadcast segments in Italy. It’s another success story and this award expresses a well-deserved acknowledgement for their great job.” Marco Alterini, sales director of Audiosales adds, “Receiving this award is of great satisfaction for us, not only because of a great year, but also because it is the tangible proof of what kind of
Finland - The Finnish Sports Museum housed at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki has recently re-opened to the public with a completely revitalised permanent exhibition after extensive renovations closed the venue for five years. The new exhibitions celebrate Finnish sport using the best of what modern technology has to offer, including a Genelec Smart IP audio solution. All audio, video and control technology was supplied by AV integration specialists Studiotec Oy, with AV and sound design by building services engineering experts, Granlund Oy. Granlund’s Aki Päivärinne and Timo Muurinen were responsible for the AV design. “Our aim was to put the visitor in the middle of the action, to make them feel as if they are really there,” says Päivärinne. “It’s hard to think of any sport where sound is not a crucial part of the experience. Sounds from various sports
USA - LEA Professional has announced a partnership with Polaris Controls to serve the company’s growing customer base in Latin America and the Caribbean. With both organisations led by teams of recognised industry veterans, the partnership will seek to further enhance LEA Professional’s growing customer base in these international markets. Polaris Controls has been operating in the pro audio industry for over a decade. Co-founder Ariel Enrique Gutiérrez comments, “The AV industry across all verticals is changing and it is imperative that companies move with that change. LEA Professional is agile and dynamic and can easily respond to the changes in the market, not to mention their solutions are intuitive, easy to use and built with integrators in mind. “LEA understands the importance of customer care and engaging with your audience via digital tools. They are n
UK - Polar has been appointed as the UK and Ireland distributor for AMX, a part of Harman Professional Solutions. AMX is dedicated to integrating AV solutions for an IT World, solving the complexity of managing technology ‘with reliable, consistent and scalable systems comprising control and automation, system-wide switching and AV signal distribution, digital signage and technology management’. AMX systems are deployed worldwide in conference rooms, homes, classrooms, network operation/command centres, hotels, entertainment venues and broadcast facilities. AMX is dedicated to integrating AV solutions for an IT World, solving the complexity of managing technology with ‘reliable, consistent and scalable systems comprising control and automation, system-wide switching and AV signal distribution, digital signage and technology management’. AMX systems are deployed
UK - #WeMakeEvents, the campaign to support the live entertainment sector during the COVID crisis, is hosting an online Speakeasy from Monday 30 November to Friday 8 January. This new virtual space will deliver skills workshops, support sessions for finance and wellbeing, ‘fireside chats’ with some of the industry’s greats, and plenty of entertainment. All industry professionals are invited to join in and connect with colleagues during what will likely be a difficult festive period for many. The Speakeasy will run regular quizzes, webinars, Q&A clinics and training sessions, and will host a forum on Discord which will be open at all hours for people to seek and share advice. On the agenda is a highly anticipated live conversation between former Cirque du Soleil artists Laura-Ann Chong and Andy Buchanan, advice on motivation through these difficult times, pl
UK - South London studio Belly of the Beast has become the first facility in the UK to install a Neve 8424 console. The studio pre-ordered the desk prior to its release in June, following an in-depth demo that highlighted its full range of features. Designed to offer a centralised platform between the worlds of analogue and digital, this small format console delivers the large format sound of the Neve 80-series console range and is well suited to studios like Belly of the Beast where esoteric and vintage outboard equipment play a significant role in the facility’s workflow. “For studios like ours where you have a large and varied collection of preamps, EQs and interesting bits of outboard gear, this desk is ideal because it provides a very logical system to bring all of those elements together,” says producer, mix engineer and studio manager James Rand. “We no
USA - Fulcrum Acoustic's FL283T Line Array provides the throw and tight vertical dispersion needed to distribute uniform coverage to the multiple levels of seating at Heritage Apostolic Church in Holly Springs, MS, without energising the full vertical expanse of the open space. Fulcrum’s Passive Cardioid Technology provided the broadband control needed to keep sound energy off the altar. Church leaders decided to build a new sanctuary to fit their modern worship style as their congregation continued to grow beyond their original location. Their new church is an open two-story space with tiered seating along the stairways on either side. The stairways lead to a small balcony that wraps around the back of the room with two rows of seating. When designing the church, extra care was put into acoustics. Room geometries were developed to reduce standing waves while padded
Canada - As long-time audio solutions providers for the Canadian government, GerrAudio and Engineering Harmonics have a steady grasp on the needs of its officials. When the companies’ principals were presented with the challenge of creating a custom podium microphone solution for the interim House of Commons, they turned to DPA Microphones. The custom solution is based off DPA’s 4081 mics along with a DPA TSM 4001 shock-mount, which fit into the cut-outs of the Parliament’s existing podium units. “When you’re working with such a high-level client, there are no compromises,” explains Martin Van Dijk, senior consultant/partner at Engineering Harmonics. “There were really specific requirements for how the microphones worked, how they picked up the sources and, obviously, for their sound quality. Given the need for a clean aesthetic and simple solution, body-
USA - First Christian Church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky recently called in JCA Media for the latest upgrade to its campus. Having already completed several installation projects for the congregation in the past, JCA Media was on-hand to deliver a Martin Audio main PA system and ceiling speaker installation for the church’s worship areas, classrooms and children’s play areas. The decision to go with Martin Audio was a simple one. “The tech directors were already familiar with Martin Audio and we always rely on their systems for these types of installations,” explained Alex Peake, integration specialist at JCA Media. JCA Media installed three Martin Audio CDD10s as LCR speakers alongside a pair of SX112 subs flown above the stage to deliver smooth, even coverage across the space. “For this project, the CDDs merged together so beautifully within the main worsh
Poland - The Brzeskie Cultural Centre in the southwestern town of Brzeg recently reopened following a programme of modernisation. The centre, which stages a wide range of entertainment productions, cultural events, cinema and arts education classes, comprises three principle event spaces - a Main Events Hall, a Chamber Hall and a Cinema. The centre enjoyed a significant investment in its facilities, aimed at providing its users and audiences with a first class experience. In order to furnish each of the spaces with a high quality audio system, the main construction company working on the project, MPM Development, recommended audio specialists Tommex to supply and install Coda Audio systems throughout - a choice accepted by the centre’s team. Each hall required a distinct independent design to meet its specific needs, using loudspeakers and amplification combinations drawn
UK - Apparel and tech brand STNDBY has launched its flagship range of sustainable clothes and accessories, designed for crew and creatives. STNDBY (www.STNDBYworld.com) was conceived by lighting and production designer Tom Campbell and host, producer and entrepreneur James Murden to offer clothing and accessories that are ‘as functional as they are fashionable’. With partnerships in place with companies such as Avolites and Dirty Rigger and offering customisation, gifting options and tour swag, STNDBY’s products are designed ‘to work and built to last’. “We’ve spent almost two years researching the problems crew face finding work gear and developing these products to solve those problems,” said Campbell. "We’re so proud of the incredible feedback we’ve had throughout our testing phase and can’t wait to s
Sweden - CT Northern Europe which has offices across Sweden, Norway and Denmark has become an L-Acoustics certified provider for the event market. “I have been working with the L-Acoustics brand since 1995 and have seen the advantage of dealing with such a reputable company,” says CT’s business unit manager, Ola Bigélius. “I have always believed in developing a close connection with our suppliers. Becoming an official L-Acoustics certified provider corresponds perfectly with this objective.” A long-term benefit of being an L-Acoustics partner is the training programme offered by L-Acoustics. CT’s new technicians will benefit from the technical knowledge of the manufacturer, allowing CT Northern Europe to maintain high service standards within the team. “Adding Ola and the Creative Technology team in Scandinavia to the network of L-Acoustics partn
Canada - The organisers of the 21st edition of the annual MUTEK electronic music and arts festival in Montréal navigated a delicate pathway between virtual and live performances at the two venues hosting in-person/live-streamed performances: the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) and Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts. The event adapted to the times with a hybrid model that depended heavily on Meyer Sound products and highlighted the company’s new spatial sound design and mixing tool, Spacemap Go for iPad. According to MUTEK sound designer Jonathan LaFontaine of One Wave, the festival’s approach had to adapt to the evolving restrictions on live performances. Once the venues were confirmed, One Wave worked closely with GerrAudio Distribution and Meyer Sound to put together effective solutions. At Place des Arts, the system consisted of eight Meyer Sound LINA lin
Switzerland - Each summer, The Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) takes place for two weeks in Switzerland, on Lake Geneva's shores. Shure has backed the festival each year since 1995 by providing onsite support and a large number of wired as well as wireless microphones. Sadly, this year is different, and like so many events across the globe, MJF 2020 was unable to take place. Determined to ensure music lives on despite the current global crisis, the team at The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) - a non-profit foundation helping to promote up-and-coming talent - has maintained its activities despite the cancellation of July's annual MJF festival dates. Coined Autumn of Music, a series of COVID-secure performances and workshops were successfully staged in October. The free week-long event consisted of concerts by emerging Swiss talent and the Montreux Jazz Acade
UK - disguise has recognised the need to take learning online. Users can now access the company’s full complement of training courses directly from a new online learning management system (LMS), free to anyone looking to upskill in any of the disguise workflows and disciplines. The launch of the online platform coincides with disguise’s decision to extend the free licence for their Designer software until June 2021 in an initiative to extend learning opportunities to all. The disguise training team has redesigned the entire training programme, in order to facilitate remote and flexible learning. The new programme will split each major course up into two parts; one taught online on the new system, and the second, more practical part, carried out in-person. The programme will allow students to test their knowledge on specialist disguise equipment, and students will also ha
Lithuania - This August saw a production of The Flying Dutchman, Richard Wagner’s fifth masterpiece, brought to Lithuanian opera fans for the first time. Staged in an open-air setting by the Klaipėda State Musical Theatre and featuring leading Lithuanian soloists including Sandra Janušaitė, the event became one of the most celebrated musical productions of the year, selling out all of its socially distanced 1,000 seats to lucky spectators. Dual DiGiCo SD12 96-channel consoles with two SD-Racks and D2-Racks were selected by one of the largest audio rental companies in the Baltics, NGR Service, to bring the magic of this one-act opera to life. Fitting its original theme, the opera production took place on the slipway of Paul Willy Lindenau shipyard complex in Klaipėda, with its colossal structures and hoists, as well as frequently changing weather condition
USA - Despite being launched just six years ago, Eikon Group has already established itself as a leading player in the digital audio mastering, versioning and localisation industry, with a client list that includes many major studios and entertainment distribution companies. Eikon recently opened a major new facility in Burbank, California, which features Alcons Audio pro-ribbon systems in four of its audio-critical, Dolby Atmos screening rooms. With clients that include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Disney, 20th Century, Netflix, CBS, Universal International Pictures and Warner Bros, Eikon has to maintain the highest audio standards. The new 20,000sq.ft (1860sq.m) Burbank complex houses a range of post-production suites, ranging in size from 125sq.ft (12sq.m) to 1200sq.ft (112sq.m). These include two large and two mid-sized Dolby Atmos listening rooms, all using
UK - The fashion marketplace app Depop recently approached Flipside Soundsystem to design and install an audio visual AV system for its recently established front-of-house area - intended for holding team meetings of up to 150 employees while also showcasing new products from its sustainable fashion portfolio. Requiring a comprehensive audio visual installation that was in-keeping with the brand’s niche aesthetic, the Flipside team were on-hand to deliver a solution that could disappear into the background when not in use. In terms of sound, the speakers included two Yamaha VXL1W16 column speakers, one VXL1B8 and a final VXS10SW in white and black to match the walls they were installed on. The amplification and processing called upon a Yamaha MTX5D and an XMV4280 located in a hidden rack. Audio-Technica were the brand of choice for the wireless mics with two ATW-32
Albania - Prosound, Martin Audio’s Albanian distributor, has recently carried out two diverse installations of the manufacturer’s systems - a new urban bar in Tirana, the Albanian capital, and a seasonal holiday beach resort in Dhërmi, in the south-west of the country. The Grand Bar has been constructed on the premises of the recently reconstructed Air Albania Stadium in Tirana. Prosound had already worked with the same owners on another bar of the same name. “The owners were looking for a sound system that could function both as a background and foreground system, with even distribution,” said Prosound technical director, Endrit Veleshnja. Containing an inside room with around 70 capacity as well as an outdoor terrace, the bar trades all day through until 11pm, and the clients were happy to adopt the Adorn series, based on Martin Audio’s reputation and its
India - Responding to growing regional demand, ClearOne has bolstered its sales network throughout India with the appointment of its newest distribution partner, Trustech Audio Visual Solution LLP. “ClearOne represents innovative AV industry leadership with their full portfolio of solutions,” said Hardik Shah, co-founder and director of Trustech. “Our partners’ needs vary widely, and we know we can count on the reliability of ClearOne solutions and their commitment to providing the customer support our clients require. We know we can support any type of installation with confidence.” “As the breadth of ClearOne solutions continues to expand, we are tasked with finding those outstanding distribution partners around the globe with the history and industry knowledge upon which customers can rely,” said ClearOne chair and CEO Zee Hakimoglu. “Trustech stand
South Africa - tvONE, manufacturer of video conversion and AV signal distribution technology, has appointed DWR Distribution as a new distributor for tvONE and Magenta brand products in South Africa. DWR Distribution offers full technical solutions for the entertainment, broadcast, architectural, and commercial markets in Africa. The company’s current band offering also includes Green Hippo, which is a sister company to tvONE. DWR will distribute a full range tvONE and Magenta products, including video wall processors, scalers and switchers, multi-window processors, signal extenders, matrix routers, distribution amplifiers, racking solutions, and more. This is an exciting acquisition for our company,” comments Robert Izzett, director and head of sales at DWR. “While we look forward to utilising the extensive product range in studios, which includes all the
UK - Unprecedented line-up of world-renowned photographers donate prints of iconic music artists to raise money for Stagehand’s COVID-19 Crew Relief fund. Over 100 iconic prints of renowned music artists taken by globally celebrated photographers including Rankin, Tony McGee and Jill Furmanovsky are now on sale. Available for £95 each, the sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of music history, with many of the prints usually unavailable to buy. 100% of proceeds go to Stagehand - the only UK charity specifically dedicated to providing hardship funding for live music crews who have fallen on tough times. Available from today for a limited four-week period, expect a mix of established photography names, from Gerry Mankovitz and Pooneh Ghana to Adrian Boot and Ki Pharaoh. The eclectic range of artists represented in the photographs inc
USA - Harman Professional Solutions has announced the JBL Eon One USB power cable, which expands the versatility of JBL Eon One Compact battery-powered portable PAs by powering AKG WMS and DMS100 and DMS300 wireless systems and DigiTech and DOD guitar pedals directly from the sound system. The 1m cable features a USB-A terminal that connects to an Eon One Compact PA and a 5.5mm power terminal that connects to external devices. Two versions are available: A 12V version powers AKG WMS wireless systems; a 9V version powers AKG DMS100 and DMS300 wireless systems as well as DigiTech and DOD effects pedals. Designed for musicians, DJs, presenters and entertainers who want freedom of movement, clear vocals and an easy way to enhance their sound with effects, the Eon One USB Power Cable lets performers turn any space into a stage, says the company. “Battery-powered PA
Russia - This year, the Dream Island, a cultural and entertainment complex in the Nagatinskaya floodplain on the banks of the Moskva River, opened its doors to its first guests. The park is part of a major renovation project of the former ZIL industrial area covering some 600 ha. It is divided into four areas: sports grounds, a residential complex, a stadium and the Dream Island entertainment complex. It includes Europe's largest indoor theme park, a city promenade and a 44-hectare landscape park. The complex has dozens of attraction rides, restaurants, cafes, a multiplex centre with 17 cinemas, a concert hall, playgrounds for outdoor activities and sports, various shops and retail outlets. The 300,000sq.m indoor all-season amusement park with rides has nine theme zones. Four of them are owned by foreign copyright holders: Hotel Transylvania - Sony Pictures Cons
