UK - Shure has temporarily removed all in-app purchases from its ShurePlus Channels app for iOS. Since 2014, ShurePlus Channels has enabled RF coordinators to carry out remote, realtime precision monitoring and control of Shure’s wireless systems. Users can monitor channel information including audio levels, RF signal strength, and battery life with compatible wireless systems such as Axient Digital, Axient, UHF-R, ULX-D, QLX-D, and PSM 1000. “As a way to alleviate additional costs for Shure wireless users, we are temporarily removing all in-app purchases for ShurePlus Channels,” comments Corey Peoples, global product manager, at Shure. “It’s more important than ever to understand and respond to the industry needs right now, which is why we listened to customer feedback and decided to remove in-app purchases until further notice.” The
Belgium - Fuse has been a significant landmark in Brussels’ electronic music scene for more than a quarter of a century. The 1,200-capacity club, a converted cinema, which regularly plays host to leading artists, labels and promoters, has evolved with the times, and remains one of Belgium’s most successful electronic music institutions. When the Coronavirus pandemic took hold, Fuse, like every other nightclub found itself in a bleak space. Closed with immediate effect as lockdown was enforced, business was halted overnight, leaving the club to contemplate an uncertain future. Determined to find a way ahead, the Fuse team began to consider its options. Assuming that as the virus was brought under control and lockdown conditions might be eased by degrees, the club’s team began to think creatively about how they might begin to recover some ground. With indoor venues
UK - Audio post production facility Pip Studios is now fully open, offering Dolby Atmos capability from its six purpose-built Atmos stages on its site in Winnersh, Berkshire. Co-founded by Ally Curran, Mark Sheffield and Nigel Bennett, Pip aims “to bring its expertise to bear on offering state of the art audio localisation services for feature films, television, gaming, and streaming industries”. The six Atmos stages are all Dolby certified, equipped with 24-fader Avid S6 mixing consoles, and aligned for theatrical and home entertainment mixing. The stages have been built and equipped by leading suppliers, including Level Acoustic Design, Westwood Joinery, HHB Scrub, Bell Theatre Services, AKA, Wire Broadcast, Jigsaw 24, and Dolby. “The COVID-19 pandemic delayed our official opening by a month, so we used that time to further refine the facility,” comments Pip
France - Pro audio solutions manufacturer Nexo has unveiled its smallest point-source speaker to date and a companion subwoofer. Measuring just 130x130x120mm and weighing 1.7kg, the ID14 is the latest addition to the company’s ID Series of compact speaker cabinets. ID14’s dual concentric design features a coaxial 4” LF driver with 1.3” voice coil, and a 1.4” diaphragm for the HF. The speaker is offered with two directivity options: a 100°x100° horn as standard, with an asymmetric alternative offering 90°x140° dispersion. Like the series’ larger ID24, the new speaker is housed in a weather resistant polyurethane enclosure. ID14 can be used standalone or in a distributed system, for front-fill, infill or delays. Thanks to availability in black, white or another bespoke RAL colour, the speaker is particularly suitable for installations and can be a creative
Switzerland - Audio over IP specialist Barix has introduced upgrades for its RetailPlayer multi-site background music streaming solution that enhance its versatility, bolster fault tolerance, and expand the network connectivity options for its hardware endpoints. New Wi-Fi support is complemented by extended scheduling and failover capabilities along with automated or manual playback of pre-recorded announcements. The scalable RetailPlayer solution lets retail, hospitality, and corporate customers easily and securely manage streamed music and messages across any number of locations over the internet. Robust hardware playout devices at the receiving sites feature advanced buffer technology for fast channel switching and resilience to varying internet performance. Meanwhile, the cloud-based or customer-hosted RetailPlayer Portal provides centralized configuration, management,
USA - South Coast Christian Church in San Juan Capistrano, California, delivers an upbeat, contemporary service to an energetic congregation. However, its aging sound reinforcement system was holding the ambitious worship team back and preventing the full translation of the praise band’s talents and hard work. In coordination with a larger renovation, local AV integration firm Tech Arts designed and installed a new sound reinforcement system for South Coast Christian Church centred on Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers and subwoofers, along with new video and lighting systems. “Our original sound reinforcement system was decades old and worn out,” said Jeff Wallace, technical director at South Coast Christian Church. “We were running at 25% of capacity!” In conjunction with a larger architectural remodelling, which would remove the soffit that housed the loudspea
USA - The Audio Engineering Society (AES) has announced the incoming officers and governors following the 2020 Board of Directors and Board of Governors elections. The Society’s membership has elected Joshua Reiss as president-elect, Marina Bosi as treasurer-elect and re-elected Valerie Tyler as secretary. Additionally, Alex Kosiorek has been re-elected as VP Western region, USA/Canada; Gabriel Herman has been elected as VP Eastern region, USA/Canada; and Elena Prokofieva has been elected as VP Northern region, Europe. “Congratulations to all the newly elected Governors and officers of the AES,” says President Agnieszka Roginska. “We look forward to the new ideas and energy they will bring to AES governance. All of the candidates on the 2020 ballot were extremely qualified – they honoured the Society with their willingness to serve, and for that we of
Canada - Bluesound Professional has announced the launch of a podcast and video content series called Surroundscapes, featuring ideas from invited expert guests from around the world who use A/V technology in innovative ways. It is targeted at commercial A/V integrators, consultants, as well as business owners, interested in creating memorable immersive experiences that point to the future of business in retail, hospitality, wellness, and office environments. Hosted by Graeme Harrison, VP and GM of Bluesound Professional, Surroundscapes is part A/V tech nerd talk and part psychosocial experimentation, helping audiences discover the sound and visual stimulus techniques used in public spaces to engage people and drive business outcomes. “Surroundscapes has been many months in the making and I’m extremely excited to be able to share what we’ve been wor
USA - Audi Presents: Summer Drive-In Concert, which was held in appreciation of Los Angeles' frontline and essential workers, was the first time the R&B artist Kehlani performed songs from her album It Was Good Until It Wasn't, which she released mid-shutdown on 8 May. The 100-person crowd watched the show at Calamigos Ranch nestled in the hills of Malibu, California from vehicles that had been provided for the concert. The show was also an experiment in live music and larger events in the coronavirus era, with masks required and cars spaced six feet apart. In what may become the new normal, upon arrival at the drive-in guests had their temperatures taken and were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Bags of hand sanitizer and Audi-branded masks were handed out to each attendee, along with a picnic basket of popcorn, pretzels, charcuterie, and beverages,
France - The beginning of the modern French nation is celebrated each year on 14 July, with events taking place all over the country - but this year’s National Holiday was quite different due to the pandemic. Lawo mixing consoles provided the audio quality for the traditional Concert de Paris taking place on the Champs du Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower - Lawo’s sixth successive year serving both the live and broadcast sound requirements. The FOH consoles used were a 48-fader mc²56 production console for the orchestra mix, and an mc²36 all-in-one console for the soloists. A 48-fader mc²56 took over the monitor tasks in a setup with a 16-fader mc² extender that was used in order to allow social distancing between the two operators. Working over the Optocore fibre-optic network deployed by Radio France for the live sound system to connect the event’s mixi
USA - In February 2021, NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover is scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet. The spacecraft will have the capability to capture imagery and sound as the Mars 2020 vehicle descends through the Martian atmosphere and lands on the surface of Mars. To capture sounds from the Red Planet for the first time ever, the Mars 2020 Rover will be outfitted with a selection of equipment from DPA Microphones. DPA’s 4006 Omnidirectional Microphone will capture the audio while the MMA-A Digital Audio Interface will be used to record and send audio to a computer through its USB connection. Both mics will be paired with MMP-G Modular Active Cables, which act as ultra-transparent preamplifiers. DPA won the contract from JPL based on its products’ ability to perform under demanding environments and the ability to deliver industry standard communication interfaces. DPA
USA - Known for their blend of magic and comedy, Penn & Teller's Las Vegas show takes a different approach to live entertainment with provocative, and often amazing results. When looking to upgrade the intercom system for season seven of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Tony Kremer, founder of Kinetic Productions, turned to Pliant Technologies’ CrewCom wireless intercom system. The show required a solution that offers increased flexibility and usability, and seamlessly integrates with the venue’s existing hardwired intercom systems for broadcast and theatrical use. Since 2014, the comedy/magic duo has presented their Fool Us television show at the Las Vegas Rio Hotel and Casino. “With our previous system, each base station offered only four 2-channel beltpacks, limiting our capabilities in terms of communication,” says Kremer. “When looking to up
Europe - Merging Technologies has supported the AES Student Recording Competition for many years, both at the European and US Conventions, by donating a prize of a Pyramix Native licence to the top student in the appropriate category. The situation was rather different this year with the Vienna Convention being virtual; no Merging employee could present the prize. Nevertheless, the competition went ahead as normal and produced an excellent result for a student from the Detmold Hochschule für Musik. Kseniya Kawko was awarded the Gold Award in the Traditional Acoustic Category for the recording of the piece by Michio Miyagi Haru no Umi and Silver Award in the Immersive Category for the recording of the Mendelssohn String Quartet No.2 in A Minor. Kseniya recorded and mixed both projects on Pyramix since Detmold and McGill University, where Kseniya did her previous
Korea - Void Acoustics has confirmed the appointment of a new distributor for Korea. Joeun Media Co is based in Busan, Korea and first came to the attention of Void Acoustics in 2013 at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt. The company has operated since 1985 as a wholesale AV distributor and has established a significant reputation as an exceptional audio installation company for major clubs and venues around Korea. However, this will be the first time that Joeun Media has been appointed directly as a distributor for the audio manufacturer. Jung Wook, CEO for Joeun Media comments: “I was first made aware of Void Acoustics six or seven years ago and was fascinated by the unique design and innovative speaker arrangement of the Incubus and Nexus systems, which so clearly demonstrate the unique production values of Void Acoustics.” Since that first introduction to Vo
UK - Leading trade bodies and businesses are joining forces to issue a Red Alert and highlight the severe challenges faced by the live events industry and its entire supply chain due to the pandemic. Planned for 11 August, the action will include social media and video drives as well as legal outdoor events, with other specific activities occurring on the day. The initiative is part of the #WeMakeEvents campaign that aims to raise awareness of the sector’s struggles and to secure further support from the government. “The live events industry supply chain that contributes to every single event in the UK is set to completely collapse,” comments Peter Heath, MD of PLASA. “Social distancing prohibits mass events, and even if this stopped now, long-term plan
France - In tandem with the recent release of LA Network Manager 3, L-Acoustics has introduced the M1 suite, a comprehensive set of measurement and monitoring tools. From data acquisition through system tuning to live monitoring, M1 harnesses the power of the manufacturer’s Milan-certified P1 processor and amplified controller hardware to deliver a streamlined system calibration process as well as realtime performance monitoring. The M1 suite pairs system measurement and control software to work natively as one seamless solution. Providing an original, reliable, and more efficient method for calibration, M1 allows users to expand their capabilities and optimise their time, says the company. Ideal tuning of a venue requires both data capture and analysis. For most systems on the market, calibration processes typically involve estimating optimum EQ and alignment sett
USA - An Audient ASP4816 is at the heart of a new studio setup at Kofa High School in Yuma District, Arizona, which happens to be the only school in the Yuma district to offer a Music & Audio Production programme. Career and technical education (CTE) Instructor, Adrian Matthews, describes it as “an incredible opportunity for our students”. “We are currently in our second year of the program and it is going extremely well,” says Adrian, who since the new studio opened has been overwhelmed by the feedback from other staff members. “Reactions have ranged from complete amazement, to utter disbelief that there is a professional recording studio in a high school.” When it came to specifying the gear, Adrian was looking for professional quality and an uncomplicated interface. “We only have 180 days in the school year, so I didn’t have the luxury of spendin
Australia - The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) recently committed more than AUD$50m to a substantial upgrade to its 100,000-seat stadium. This included an AUD$25m contract for a new site-wide PA, transport and connectivity, masterminded by two eminent technology companies. Australian sound & AV consultants Auditoria conceived the system, and Diversified (who in 2019 acquired Rutledge AV in Australia) undertook the complex integration at the famous MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Premier pro audio brands, including fibre network specialists, Optocore, were vital to the implementation. To give an idea of scale, more than 3,000 speakers now populate the seating bowl, function rooms and VIP suites, atria, internal concourse areas and exit gates. The existing PA system, installed 14 years earlier, no longer met audience expectations, hence informal conversations wi
China - Christie is continuing its long-standing partnership with the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) for the 12th consecutive year. The 2020 festival, which runs from 25 July to 2 August, is the first major international film festival to be held in China since the COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of this year. Christie cinema projection systems will be used for movie screenings in theatres across Shanghai’s metropolitan area throughout this nine-day event. In addition, a Christie cinema projector will also be deployed for adjudication of films nominated for the Golden Goblet Award for Best Film. A total of nine films from around the world will vie for this award this year. “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with SIFF for the 12th consecutive year to deliver visually-engaging contents from around the world to cinema audiences in China,”
UK - Situated in the Dundela district of Belfast, St Mark’s Church has a remarkable heritage. Historically, it has strong links with the author CS Lewis, whose grandfather was the first rector of the Parish. Designed by celebrated Gothic architect, William Butterfield, in 1876, it recently underwent a complete overhaul of its sound system, with Martin Audio partners, Rea Sound (under the project management of Roger McMullan), installing the manufacturer’s discreet O-Line software-optimised micro line array, which is purpose designed for houses of worship. Rea Sound had introduced O-Line to the Irish church market as soon as it was introduced back in 2007 - and wherever budgets have permitted, they have continued to specify the award-winning solution. “Nine out of 10 people don’t believe it will deliver such clarity of voice reproduction until we demonstrate it,
UK - Live music is back on the Channel Island of Guernsey. With lockdown restrictions on the island completely lifted on 20 June due to the eradication of all Coronavirus cases, the St James concert venue in Saint Peter Port is in the fortunate position of being one of the only live music venues to have re-opened its doors. And when it did so, the 350-capacity venue had completed its first phase installation of a new JBL VTX A8 PA system, a key component in an ongoing series of upgrades to the historic venue. The search for a new sound system began in August 2019 when St James' executive director Jon Bisson visited the Independent Venue Week conference in London as a fact-finding and networking opportunity. It was there he met team members from Harman Professional and UK distributor Sound Technology - including Sound Technology’s Ben Todd and Joe East, and Harman’s Ed Ja
Croatia - With its seaside villages, white beaches, hilltop views, and Mediterranean climate, Croatia’s Istrian coast is a popular holiday destination on the Adriatic Sea. The five-star Istra Premium Camping Resort in the coastal village of Funtana is one of the area’s most-sought locations. The resort recently underwent a major renovation project including all new audio and video systems featuring Biamp DSP and powered by Linea Research amplification. As Tomislav Stubičan of Hust d.o.o. in Zagreb explains, the resort’s many different spaces and diverse requirements made it a complex project. “It was extremely challenging to satisfy all the different wishes expressed by the architects, designers, and the investors, the Valamar Group,” Stubičan remarks. “The goal was to harmonize the latest technology with the resort’s high standards of elegance a
Germany - Pioneer Pro Audio has appointed SLD Distribution as its new distributor in Germany. The Fürth-based company distributes a number of leading international industry brands across the audio, lighting and AV sector. Its CEO Daniel Danzer has more than years experience in the audio industry, and in particular, the nightclub sector. He founded SLD Distribution last year to be a hub for installation, planning, rental and distribution of pro AV. SLD Distribution works closely with an established network of systems integrators and offers planning, advice, training and certification associated with all its brands. Daniel Danzer comments, “We are very pleased to be representing Pioneer Pro Audio. The brand has a formidable reputation for sound and build quality. Where other brands manufacture plastic loudspeakers, Pioneer Pro Audio takes a different approach which I
Sweden - Östermalms Saluhall in the Swedish capital of Stockholm is one of the world’s premier food halls and a cultural institution in its own right. First established in 1888, the beautiful building is classified as a historical monument. It has recently reopened after the most extensive renovation project in its 130-year history. Four years on and 130m euros later, the food hall has regained its former glory and developed into a modern and sustainable trading venue, complete with a Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker solution for the Saluhall’s largest trader, Lisa Elmqvist. Having expanded operations considerably over the years to include a gourmet restaurant as well as the food stall, Lisa Elmqvist now occupies nearly one-third of the hall’s newly renovated star-shaped space. In order to find a suitable audio solution to cover the various zones, Lisa Elmqvist tur
