UK - PLASA has announced the two winners of the Stage to Studio competition for the best mix, which launched following the Stage to Studio live mixing session at PLASA Show 2019. Antonio Pannese from Italy has won Best Original Mix whilst Andrew Mansell from the UK was chosen as the winner of Best Alternative Mix. Marc Henshall from Shure comments: “Antonio Pannese demonstrated the best use of dynamics, space, and frequency balance while also applying creative effects for a personal touch. As an alternative mix, few demonstrated the same creativity as Andrew Mansell, who successfully transformed the mix into a spectacular dub-delay style piece.” VC Pines, the artist whose single Indigo was mixed for the competition, paired the two winners at random with their pro audio prize in a video posted on social media. It was revealed that Antonio won the Gene
USA - Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia’s contemporary-style services lift spirits with music provided by an orchestra, a choir, and a praise band. It’s a big production, but until recently, all of that effort only partially connected because the existing sound reinforcement system’s coverage of Great Bridge Baptist Church’s 1,500-plus seats was far from ideal. Regional AV integration firm RTW Media, based in Richmond – serving the Virginia/DC/Maryland areas – designed and installed a big-impact, small-footprint sound reinforcement system centred on Danley Sound Lab’s point-source products. The Danley boxes give Great Bridge Baptist Church even coverage from front to back and from side to side, in the balconies, under the balconies, and even on the stage and in the orchestra pit. “The sound system at Great Bridge Baptist Church was old
Italy - Outline has announced that on 24 June it will hold a free webinar in English on its (patent pending) WFIRs, the ‘warped’ filters featured in Outline’s Newton processors. WFIR Filtering Technology goes live via Zoom on 24 June at 9:00 am and 6.00pm (Rome time). Fernando Rey Méndez, who will host both sessions with the support of Paolo Calza, states: “The WFIR webinar will be an in-depth event, following the numerous requests from system engineers and audio technicians all over the world, from the ‘live’ industry, but also and perhaps even more from the broadcast, studio and permanent installation sectors. “What are WFIR filters? How do they differ from FIR filters? But, above all, can the difference be heard and to what extent? How much computing power do WFIR filters require? Is there an ideal ecosystem on which this technology’s
Sweden - Created to meet the surge in demand for livestreaming services resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic, Swedish production company, QTECH, has launched a new streaming division, QTECH Live, with help from an Allen & Heath dLive mixing system. Reacting to changing circumstances, on the day after Sweden announced restrictions on live performances in March, founder Timmy Qvarnström and CEO, Kevin Qvarnström began the transformation of the QTECH warehouse near Gothenburg into a dedicated streaming facility. Although QTECH already possessed most of the equipment required for the new venture, it needed a mixing system with the versatility and ease of use to handle tight setup times and a diverse programme of interviews, presentations and performances across three separate studio spaces. In a move that typifies the community spirit shown by the professional
Germany - With the slogan Autokultur – from Hannover for Hannover, an unusual series of events is helping to keep the entertainment scene in Northern Germany buzzing. Every evening, up to a thousand vehicles converge on Hannover’s Schützenplatz fairground, where they tune in their UHF radios – just like in a drive-in cinema – to listen to stage performances, from concerts to comedy. It’s all a welcome distraction from life during lockdown, and an optimistic ray of light in a time when typical live events have all been cancelled. Among the highlights of the early summer concert series were two sold-out performances by German rapper Sido. The artist used a Sennheiser SKM 6000 to wow the crowds on 11 and 12 May 2020. With its bright red, high-gloss finish, the handheld transmitter proved to be a real eye catcher and was the centre of attention during clo
USA - After introducing a successful webinar series this spring, the Meyer Sound education team is launching a refreshed comprehensive summer webinar programme today, Monday, 22 June. The webinar content offers a natural progression of subject matter, including project case studies and specialty tools that cover a diverse set of solutions across all industry verticals. “We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback to our webinar programme over the past few months,” John McMahon, Meyer Sound’s senior vice president, said. “It has been exciting to engage with our global network online while we are unable to connect in person, so we look forward to continuing the momentum this summer.” While the programme follows the same schedule as the spring season with English language webinars hosted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Spanish language webinars Tuesday a
UK - Audiologic has announced a new selection of products from Shure that will provide systems integrators and AV professionals with a complete conferencing audio ecosystem. As video conferencing moves towards the top agendas, the expanded range of Microflex Advance products - with complementary software for design, management, and control - offers expanded possibilities for systems integrators to deploy Shure’s premium audio capabilities into more types of meeting and collaboration environments. These products are all natively designed to work seamlessly with each other and provide the market with a fast and efficient means to deploy premium audio, with IntelliMix audio signal processing in either device-based or software formats. Shure’s conferencing audio ecosystem comprises various options including ceiling array, table and linear array microphones, a networke
Germany - d&b audiotechnik has introduced a set of performance-enhancing capabilities for its Soundscape audio platform. The latest feature updates include: Scenes, hardware-based scene memory capabilities within the DS100 Signal Engine and for the Soundscape software platform; two new room signatures within En-Space; and a configurable ‘Spread factor’ for function groups in En-Scene. Scenes enables snapshots of all DS100 and Soundscape parameters (Matrix / En Scene & En Space) to be stored within the DS100 hardware memory. En-Space room emulation software is an in-line technology, meaning to generate or expand the acoustic environment it does not use microphone feedback loops. Its outstanding simple setup and operation, make access to some of the world's most acoustically renowned performance spaces a reality for installation and touring both indoors
Denmark - For more than five decades, the Kulturcenter Limfjorden has served as a cultural hub for the people of Denmark’s Skive municipality. First opened in 1967, the facility is an example of an essential, regional multi-purpose venue; located in the historic town of Skive, it invites locals and tourists alike to enjoy a rich mixture of theatre, cinema, live music and more. As is so often the case with venues that serve a broad variety of needs, when the Kulturcenter recently began the search for a replacement for its ageing sound reinforcement system, the top priority was finding a solution capable of meeting every challenge. The choice was TW AUDiO VERA20. "The Goal for Kulturcenter Limfjorden was simple - to find the right sound system to do 99% of the shows that come through our concert hall, without the need for renting any external equipment,” explains And
France - From its inception, Lyon-based 13-2 Studio has been motivated by the need to provide innovative solutions for its customers. This drive has led the French company to create the Immersive Cylinder - a fully portable, temporary space that can host bespoke content and be used for presentations, training, entertainment, and many more applications besides. “When we created this cylinder, we had the one objective in mind; put the human back in the centre of VR technology,” comments Amaury Chevrier, owner of 13-2. “We realised that there was a lot of 3D and immersive content in the market but when you’re wearing a VR helmet, you’re on your own. We wanted to create a new kind of immersive space.” After months of research, tests, and prototypes, 13-2 Studio were led to create what has been billed as the first shared VR experience in France. The finished cyl
USA - When Celine Orlando in Edison, New Jersey, the city’s newest entertainment venue, was being built, they knew they could rely on local industry pro, Kevin Clouden, GC Pro’s Business Development Manager to procure a reputable sound system. Clouden has been a top seller of pro audio gear in South Florida for the past several years. Celine’s owners knew Clouden’s expertise would steer them in the right direction - sonically-speaking. Boasting a capacity of nearly 1,000 occupants, Celine Orlando is a multi-faceted entertainment space that hosts live music, corporate events, and private parties. It was created to fill the need for a centrally located, high-end entertainment complex. Celine Orlando hosts five different spaces: a Speakeasy that takes guests back to the prohibition era, complete with antique furniture, elaborate drink menus, and an attention to de
Australia - ATEN Australia and New Zealand has announced a new partnership with Exertis Pro AV Australia. The lKVM manufacturer has signed a distribution contract with Exertis Pro AV Australia with the strategic aim to expand its AV market share in Australia and New Zealand. Exertis ProAV Australia is owned by Stampede and parent company DCC Technology, which is one of Europe’s largest AV distributors. Exertis Pro AV Australia will distribute ATEN’s broad range of AV products, including their advanced video distribution, collaboration technology and control systems. “This partnership with Exertis Pro AV Australia is one of the key steps in our expanding strategy in the Australia and New Zealand AV market,” says Wesley Wong, director of ATEN Australia and New Zealand. “Exertis ProAV Australia is a new name in the local market but we believe with the st
UK - Immersive audio specialist Sonosphere has announced that commercial director Jamie Gosney and creative director Henrik Oppermann have been appointed to the company’s board of directors. Sonosphere was formed in 2019 and specialises in all aspects of immersive audio from content creation, system design, consultancy through to installation. Find out more about the company in LSi's May/June 2020 issue. Sonosphere also provides education, having developed an Ambisonics Workflow for Immersive Content Production training course. The course has recently been taken online to ensure continuity while face-to-face training is unavailable. Jamie has over 40 years’
UK - The damage across the UK culture, media, sports and digital sectors caused by the coronavirus outbreak has been laid bare in a government survey published this week. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released the results of its Business Survey, showing the impact of coronavirus on organisations across the four sectors. The survey received 3,936 responses submitted between 23 April and 22 May. Headline findings reveal the devastating impact of the pandemic on businesses, with more than a third (1,646) of respondents reporting their revenue has decreased by 100% year-on-year, whilst just 97 have seen an increase during the period. In terms of how long businesses can continue to operate viably, the majority (1,156) of respondents selected ‘up to six months’, whilst 1,102 indicated that they could stay afloat beyond six month
Europe - The new Microflex MXN5-C Networked Loudspeaker from Shure provides speech reproduction for AV conferencing applications. PoE-enabled with an onboard amplifier housed in a low- profile design, this networkable loudspeaker is optimized for easy installation in drop-ceiling configurations. It integrates seamlessly with the company’s conferencing audio ecosystem of networked hardware and software for a complete audio solution. The MXN5-C features pre-tuned frequency response optimized for voice intelligibility in AV conferencing applications. Its low-profile, shallow-can design is compatible with most drop-ceiling installations and includes two Dante inputs and one Dante output. The clean design elements allow for a subtle blend into drop-ceiling environments with a removable and paintable grille. “This new loudspeaker is part of a complete solution from
USA - One year ago, Focusrite officially launched the Focusrite Pro Podcast. In the nearly 25 episodes that have been posted since the series’ inception, show host and producer Daniel Hughley (Focusrite marketing manager) has guided discussions offering insights into the technology behind current audio trends. Topics have included Dolby Atmos and Audio-over-IP, podcasting basics, the future of the Audio Engineering Society, the production of Live from Darryl’s House, advice on evolving one’s career in audio and much more. On the occasion of the one-year anniversary, Hughley is taking the opportunity to reflect on the show’s journey over the last 12 months. He notes: “The evolution of the Focusrite Pro Podcast is very close to my heart. We started with just a crazy idea
UK - When Amate Audio’s UK distributor Stage Concepts was commissioned by Ice Tech to design, supply and install custom trussing with PA and lighting for its new build Cambridge Ice Arena, it turned to the power and performance of the new Nítid N15 active point source system. The brief for the €6.3m leisure facility specified a striking appearance and the capability to easily add more lighting, and offer natural positioning for the PA. Working together closely, Stage Concepts and Amate Audio designed a system offering the minimum of complexity while providing highly consistent sound pressure levels throughout the whole arena. Six Amate Audio Nítid N15 active point source systems were flown in each of two double layer hex design trusses positioned above the ice. Precise positioning of the N15s, to achieve optimum coverage, was determined using Amate Audio’
Norway - When multiple Norwegian Grammy-winner Emilie Nicolas played two shows in one day at the Oslo Opera House in late 2019, an Alcons Audio pro-ribbon solution was specified. Emilie’s pop anthems and atmospheric ballads have a very wide dynamic range, from the quietest, nuanced vocal to the power of her up-tempo songs. Making sure that every detail was enjoyed by the sold-out audiences, front of house engineer Stian Sagholen only had one PA system in mind. “Stian contacted us after a show at Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral), Trondheim in May and said there was no other option than an Alcons system for the Oslo Opera House shows,” says Arnstein Fossvik of audio production company Trondheim Lyd. Trondheim Lyd supplied an Alcons LR18 compact line array system comprising 36 LR18, four VR12 mid-size versatile monitors and four LR7 micro line arrays for fills
China - Shanghai ACE, a branch of ACE (International) Co, recently installed an end-to-end Harman Professional Solutions networked audio system at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre complex. At 15.8m sq.ft, the NECC in Shanghai is the largest convention facility of its kind in the world. The massive complex has a four-leaf-clover shape, with four main exhibit halls branching off from a central plaza. In preparation for the inaugural China International Import Expo, an international trade fair proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the facility underwent extensive renovations. The NECC hired Harman distributor Shanghai ACE to upgrade the facility with a complete Harman networked audio solution including JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, dbx and BSS signal processors and Soundcraft mixers. “Due to the rigid security of state leader conferences, t
USA - Audio-Technica U.S. has announced two appointments to its product management team. Kurt Van Scoy has been appointed to the position of executive director of product management for ATUS. In this position, Van Scoy will be responsible for directing the product development/management efforts at ATUS. In addition, Kurt will oversee the A-T as global product manager, based in Japan. In addition, Gary Dixon has been promoted to the position of product manager for ATUS. In his previous position as sales engineer, installed sound, Dixon served as a technical resource for the Audio-Technica sales channel in the broad contractor market, where he helped ensure the proper and successful implementation of A-T products and technology in the marketplace while determining the application needs of customers.
Europe - Sennheiser has announced a major update of its Sennheiser Control Cockpit, a software tool that makes daily work routines in controlling and monitoring large microphone set-ups easier. Besides design and usability enhancements, the latest version 4.0.0 now adds the ability to monitor the new SpeechLine Multi-Channel Receiver and the EM 6000 receiver from Sennheiser’s Digital 6000 series, in addition to evolution wireless G3 and G4, SpeechLine and the TeamConnect Ceiling 2 microphone. This makes the software a universal tool for corporations and education facilities. Version 4.0.0 can be downloaded here and experienced at the virtual InfoComm Connected from June 16 to 18. Sennheiser Control Cockpit now features a ‘location-based Mute’ functionality: All devices in a room can be grouped and their mute switches synchronized, so that all devices can be muted
USA - Adamson Systems Engineering is officially launching its CS-Series as part of InfoComm Connected this week. The CS-Series brings the performance of Adamson’s sub-compact S-Series loudspeakers into the networked future with onboard amplification and DSP, plus Milan-ready AVB connectivity. Rounding out the series are a suite of CS rack-mounted systems and a dedicated CS software solution. The CS-Series loudspeaker offerings are available as standalone products or as an upgrade to existing S-Series enclosures. Their Milan-ready AVB architecture offers a seamless transition into the future of network integration and boasts built-in network redundancy contained in a single cable to relay audio and control signal, as well as assurance of long-term viability as part of an IEEE standard. “The CS-Series is the product of years of engineering and innovation, and we’re
The Netherlands - Production company Spectrum AV has created a blank canvas studio in its warehouse that it is renting out to promotors who wish to host virtual dance festivals during the coronavirus lockdown. Featuring an impressive lighting rig, comprised of 68 ADJ fixtures, it allows the atmosphere of a high-energy DJ set to be captured and live-streamed for fans to watch in the safety of their own homes. Established for over 15 years, Spectrum AV is a full-service lighting, video, audio and effects rental and production company based in the village of Udenhout, which is located between Tilburg and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. Although the company supplies a wide range of clients spanning across the entertainment and business worlds, it has developed a particular niche in the EDM festival market. With a business model designed to make life as easy as possi
Germany - Lawo has started organising weekly Lawo Lounge (Wednesdays) and How-To (Thursdays) sessions to stay connected with its customers and future Lawo users. The first sessions were streamed on Wednesday, 10 June and Thursday, 11 June to a large audience. The aim of these sessions is to present entertaining and informative, short-form programmes about the media and entertainment industry’s transition to IP-based content production and delivery. Brought live from Lawo’s headquarters in Rastatt, Germany, the sessions offer product tips, application insights, new product introductions, customer interviews, interactive Q&A and more. All Lawo Lounge instalments can either be watched live at 14:00 hours (CEST) on Wednesdays, with a replay at 20:00 hours (CEST), or on demand by clicking the relevant link in the Past Webinars section on the pag
