UK - As is now customary, Hyde Park played host to the final weekend of its long season recently, with Proms in the Park on the Saturday making way for BBC Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park the following day. This also brought the curtain down on a successful summer at the Park for Capital Sound, and their MLA PA from Martin Audio, following its 10-day stint at British Summer Time two months earlier. Designed to coincide with Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, headliner, Barry Manilow was, supported by Bonnie Tyler, the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Jack Savoretti, Gabrielle and soprano Aida Garifullina. Bigger ensembles included two choirs, while the cast of Les Miserables also shared the bill, and the 60-piece BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Richard Balcombe, performed the traditional Last Night of the Proms anthems - including Pomp and Circumsta
Portugal - For its 2019 international distribution meeting in Porto, NEXT-proaudio welcomed over 70 international distribution partners, dealers, customers and designers from 18 countries. This event started with a welcome dinner on 14 October. This was followed by a factory tour, demo presentation on the demo room and LA26 official presentation. Demos of LA212x, LA122.v2, LA122A and LAm114xA were staged at Multiusos de Guimaraes, a leading arena for international concerts on the north of Portugal. On 16 October, everybody was welcomed on the NEXT-proaudio facilities again where Powersoft started the day with Armonia presentation based on N-rak (The power rack solution using Powersoft X8 amplifiers). After this, Antonio Correia, R&D director and NEXT-proaudio owner presented the manufacturer’s own software (Soundware, Audio Tool and AST).
South Africa - Audinate and its local partner, Stage Audio Works, are offering free certified Dante Level 3 training courses in South Africa at the end of October. The two-day courses will be lead by Audinate’s Kieran Walsh and will take place in the distributor’s Johannesburg and Cape Town offices on 29-30 October and 31 October – 1 November respectively. Dante Level 3 training is an advanced level course aimed at those who have already been using the networking protocol and want to gain more insight and knowledge in setting up and managing larger Dante-enabled systems. Building on what has already been learnt in previous Dante training sessions, the Level 3 course delves deeper into various advanced networking concepts, mixed-use networks, networking best practices and troubleshooting techniques. “Dante is the networking protocol of choice for audio professi
UK - Turbosound has introduced the Manchester Series line array system which aims to ‘bring the brand back to premier live sound reinforcement’. The Manchester Series is ‘the culmination of listening intently to customer’s requirements, obsessing over their needs and chasing down the relentless quest for sonic accuracy, clarity and detail in providing the best sound reinforcement available’. Manchester has been tested to withstand the extremes of any given application and can be deployed in virtually any environment. Turbosound is confident that no matter the environment or situation Manchester series will perform. Chris Hinds, Turbosound brand leader at Music Tribe, comments, "This is Turbosound pushing back with an exceptionally strong product to cater to all aspects of professional audio installation and touring applications’ “I’m inheren
Tunisia - The Fairground Festival is based in Sousse, on the east coast of Tunisia. This past summer the festival hit a whole new level in just its fourth year, where more than 7,000 attendees made their way to the festival, from all over Tunisia and other countries. This year’s Fairground theme was Amazing Culture and highlighted popular acts such as Giorgia Angiuli, Jan Blomqvist, ARTBAT & Tantsui, as well as 36 other electronic music artists including 23 artists from Tunisia. The Clair Brothers gear was provided by Pro Audio & Light (PAL), Clair Brothers’ exclusive distributor in the region. On the main stage, 32 C8 line arrays provided the overall sound, which according to Yasmine Bejaoui, stage manager at PAL, “is one of our best systems, if not the best. Since we obtained this PA, it’s the one we highlight the most.” Along with C8s,
Slovakia - One of Europe’s premier air shows is the annual Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) and, this year, the Slovak Aviation Agency added a new air festival to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of celebrated Slovakian politician, diplomat and aviator General Milan Rastislav Štefánik. Yamaha audio systems were an essential part of both events. The Slovak Aviation Agency stages SIAF at Sliač airport every August. The crowds enjoyed flying displays by aircraft from Slovakia and 12 other NATO and EU member states. Before this, in May the new Aviation Fest Piešťany (FLP) was held at Piešťany airport, located between Sliač and the Slovakian capital Bratislava. Systems integrator MediaTech was asked to supply the public address systems to both events, trusting Yamaha systems for these safety critical applications. “At both events, the mai
Italy - Performers at The Lucca Summer Festival included Take That, Toto, Macklemore, Tears For Fears, New Order, Elbow, Mark Knopfler, Janelle Monáe, The Good the Bad and the Queen, Scorpions and Sting, as well as Italian stars Eros Ramazzotti, Giorgia and Francesco De Gregori, all of whom performed in Piazza Napoleone, the main square of the ancient Tuscan city’s centre. To satisfy the sonic needs of such a wide variety of genres, an Outline PA was chosen for the second consecutive edition, supplied by this year’s audio contractor, Target Sound, one of Poland’s largest full-service production companies and an Outline GTO Partner based in the southern Polish city of Chorzów. Lorenzo Patellani and Paolo Calza were the Outline system engineers at the event and the former explains, “Ensuring all the spectators an unforgettable sound experience was no easy tas
UK - London-based Spiritland Productions recently commissioned its new large-format Spiritland One sound and video OB truck, featuring a BroaMan point-to-point fibre transport system running between the truck and the stagebox. The luxury mobile production vehicle, built by Megahertz, contains an end-to-end IP infrastructure, and audio runs entirely on a Dante network, which the BroaMan environment supports. Their system is based on two new Repeat48WDM-24 with 2Fiber boards, the layout allowing BNC SDI ports to be combined with SFPs, with all signals able to be multiplexed into common fibre. Spiritland Productions co-directors, Gareth Iles and Antony Shaw, adopted this solution following a meeting at IBC 2018, and the order was duly placed with BroaMan UK dealers, HHB. Built around a single 1RU device, the BroaMan architecture allows bi-directional multi-format,
France - The Cartel des Mines is an annual three-day sporting event that was created in 1962 at the initiative of the École des Mines de Paris engineering school. The occasion brings together teams from European Mining Schools (Paris, Douai, Nantes, Alès, Albi, Saint-Etienne, Nancy, Madrid, Vigo, Oviedo, Turin, Bochum, Krakow and St. Petersburg), as well as the Emines-School of Industrial Management in Benguerir (Morocco), to compete in different sporting disciplines before enjoying evenings of entertainment. The 2019 edition of the Cartel took place in Albi and drew some 2,000 students each night. French technical services company, SC Management, was on hand to provide the audio reinforcement for the associated festivities, which included a rousing opening ceremony at the Sainte Cécile cathedral square and evening parties at the Parc des Expositions exhibition cent
USA - Front of House Engineer Sean Quackenbush and Maryland Sound International recently deployed JBL VTX A Series Line Array Loudspeakers at Brandi Carlile’s Madison Square Garden performance. “The coverage is the most important thing, so everybody is getting the exact same show that I'm hearing at the mix position,” said Quackenbush. “We wanted to make sure there was coverage from the front row to the top row of the arena, and have the tonality stay the same from front to back. With some manufacturer’s boxes, they throw a long way but the actual sound of the mix drastically changes, whereas with this system, the sound was the same from Row 1 of the floor to Row Z of the balcony upstairs.” For the performance at MSG, Quackenbush and MSI deployed a JBL audio system including 64 VTX A12 loudspeakers, 12 VTX S28 subwoofers, 12 VTX G28 subwoofers, an array of
USA - At the 1,300-seat sanctuary at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, pews wrap around a stage that is much wider than it is deep, and a large balcony overhangs much of the main floor in a similar wrap-around design. With the deep overhang, good sound reinforcement for Eastmont’s orchestra and choir would be challenging under the best of circumstances. To replace a failing system, AVL integration firm Emmaus Media & Design, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, worked with Eastmont to design and install a high-fidelity Danley Sound Labs sound reinforcement system. Danley’s point-source pattern control allowed Emmaus to hit every seat with high-intelligibility, high-SPL coverage that varies by no more than 1dB. “In addition to its regular Sunday services with orchestra and choir, Eastmont hosts a lot of touring acts,” explained Tim James, owner of Emma
Europe - Radio Active Designs CTO James Stoffo has announced the appointment of Jim Bakker to the position of EMEA sales and technical support director. Bakker is based in France and will manage the sales and distribution of Radio Active Designs products throughout Europe as well as the Middle East and Africa. Well known for his sales representation and strategic consulting capabilities, Bakker will spearhead efforts to increase sales and distribution for Radio Active Designs UV-1G wireless, analogue intercom systems as well as the company’s catalogue of wireless intercom accessories. "Radio Active Designs is fortunate to have someone with Jim's experience championing our products in the region," explains Stoffo. “We are excited to have him on our team and are confident he will contribute greatly to the company's growth world-wide." Bakker, who is also the s
UK - This year’s Cool Britannia at Knebworth Park built on the success of last year’s inaugural event, and now looks to have become a consolidated festival. Capital Sound were again brought in to work alongside production manager Keith Morris, with whom they have historically partnered on the Rewind festivals - and as was the case last year they equipped both the Main and Ministry of Sound stages. Both presented star-studded line-ups with James, Embrace, Sleeper, Basement Jaxx, The Coral, Starsailor, Fun Loving Criminals dominating the main stage and Danny Rampling, Seb Fontaine, Goldie, Norman Jay, Phil Hartnoll and Graeme Park the MOS Stage. Capital Sound’s Robin Conway noted, “The biggest upgrade this year was that we were able to fly the MLA side hang stage right, thanks to the redesigned structures, whereas it was ground stacked last year. This not o
France - Amate Audio’s new X212AF advanced three-way line array was FOH for Boris Brejcha at the Positiv Festival on 5 September in the Roman Théâtre antique d'Orange in southeastern France. Sound hire company DIDO Music supplied an all Amate Audio FOH system, comprising left / right stacks of just five X2121AF line array elements together with two further X212AF / X218WF pairings for front-fills, flooding the 9000-capacity filled Roman amphitheatre with sound. The festival line up, featuring Nicolas Cuer and Reinier Zonneveld, was headlined by Berlin DJ and producer Boris Brejcha: purveyor of his own genre of ‘hightech minimal’ techno and man in the Viennese carnival mask. (Jim Evans)
UK - British pop-rock band The 1975 embarked on a two-year world tour, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, with a firm focus on the fan experience: what they see, hear and feel – whether in the front row or the gods – is paramount. With drum and bass, ethereal pop and pulsating rock performed in venues ranging from regional halls to big city arenas, the production team required a flexible, powerful and clear sound solution. As a result, the tour is one of the first to take the d&b KSL System on the road. “Musically, this band is very eclectic, so you really need a sound system that covers all of those genres and styles,” says Jay Rigby, front of house engineer for The 1975. “Lead singer Matty Healy and drummer George Daniel produce their own albums - they know exactly how they should sound live and they have the technical expertise to communicate
China - The Mida Performance Store in Changsha, the capital city of China’s Hunan province, is a new concept that offers a high-spec live performance venue, bar and social media experience for music lovers. It provides an open stage for anyone wanting to give free rein to their singing talents in front of an appreciative audience of their peers, and the entire performance space is equipped with Genelec 1032C and 4030C loudspeakers for a high quality audio experience for both performers and audience members alike. The concept has proved hugely popular with customer flow reaching 120,000 in the first month of opening followed by 200,000 in the second month. On the Store Member’s Day, performance waiting time exceeded three hours. Much of the popularity is attributed to the superlative quality of the Genelec audio experience that forms an integral part of the concept. From
Spain - Since starting the business in 2015, the group of young entrepreneurial friends who formed Madrid’s successful Lalala Group has already opened 12 bar/restaurants. The latest, on the city’s fashionable Calle de la Princesa, features a Yamaha audio system which is keeping both customers and the city council happy. Lalala Group calls its venues ‘modern beer houses’, which all follow a core theme, but each has a different personality. Located in one of Madrid’s most popular areas, the latest Lalala Group venue - Alboroto - has a spacious dining area, two bars and a cocktail menu complemented by a choice of music which encourages patrons to enjoy upbeat, celebratory nights out. DJs maintain a lively atmosphere from Wednesday to Saturday, with live performances at weekends. Being in an area with many bars and clubs, Lalala Group wanted to ensure that Alboro
USA - As part of ongoing renovations, Nashville’s Hutton Hotel recently completed work on a new live music venue, alongside Writers Studios production rooms conceived by musicians Dierks Bentley and Ryan Tedder. Spearheaded by L.A.-based GreenLight Media, Nashville-based British acoustician Michael Cronin was hired to bring the venue and the two production rooms to fruition. Cronin subsequently brought in Clair Solutions, who worked closely with Cronin and the venue to spec the AV system – a key part of which involves components from Bose Professional, including ShowMatch and RoomMatch Utility modules. The 5,000sq.ft Analog music venue and cocktail lounge, which takes up the footprint of a former parking facility and is two stories high in the centre section, usually seats 160 but has a maximum capacity of 300. The hotel wanted the venue to reflect its intimate vib
The Netherlands - Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is an all-encompassing platform for electronic music, combining as it does a festival, conferences and a cultural playground that extends across the city for five days. ADE features more than 1000 events in 200 venues, attracts in the region of 400,000 visitors and includes live performances from more than 2500 artists. The festival is supplemented by talks, hardware presentations, exhibitions, promotions and interactive events. It would be hard to conceive of a more important event in the global electronic dance music calendar. ADE has once again partnered with Pioneer Pro-Audio, who will be supplying sound systems for a number of official event venues, including the ADE Zen Space, an oasis in which visitors to the event can unwind, relax and gather their thoughts. Located in the 600-year-old Waalse Kerk church, Zen Space will f
Europe - Mega Audio GmbH has named MusicNetwork AG distributor for the UNiKA Pro range for Switzerland. The UNiKA Pro Dante range comprises the NBB-04R, 96KHz 4-channel receiver, NBB-04T 96KHz 4-channel transmitter, the flagship 192KHz NBB-1616 16-channel I/O and the new NBB-0202 2-in / 2-out transceiver. Specifications include 24dBu max input or output level, uncompressed 24-bit PCM encoding and programmable mic pre-amplifiers with 132dB dynamic range. MusicNetwork’s Franco Stuppia, comments: “I received test samples of the NBB-04R and NBB-04T earlier this year and was very impressed with the sound, build quality and ease of use. The full range of UNiKA Pro is now in stock at MusicNetwork, including the NBB-1616 and the new NBB-0202.” Burkhard Elsner, CEO at Mega Audio adds, “It is great to be working with Franco and his team to promote the UNiKA Pro bra
For The Record - Adele's 21 is the UK's best-selling album of the 21st Century, selling more than five million copies since 2011. The record, which features the hits Rolling In The Deep and Someone Like You, is more than a million copies ahead of the second biggest-seller, Amy Winehouse's Back To Black. Adele also takes third place in the chart, with her most recent record, 25. The century's 40 biggest albums were revealed on Radio 2's Pick of the Pops, as part of National Album Day. Ed Sheeran appears in the top five twice too, while other artists in the top 20 include Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga and Scissor Sisters. Leading Role - Sebastian Cater has been appointed head of UK Theatre, replacing Cassie Chadderton. Cater will lead the organisation and also hold the role of workforce development, joining the
Europe - d&b audiotechnik has announced the appointment of Alain Richer to serve as managing director in France, succeeding Didier ‘Lulu’ Lubin who retired in September having founded d&b France in 2000. In his new role Richer will be responsible for all aspects of business and market development of d&b in France as well as the day-to-day operations throughout the country. He will report to Phill Coe, territory manager, EMEA. Richer comes to d&b from Sennheiser where he held the role of European marketing director. Commenting on his appointment Richer stated, “Throughout my career in the professional audio industry, I’ve always had deep respect for d&b’s commitment to quality and industry leading acoustic technology. I look forward to being part of d&b Group and lead the team that will create the next phase of growth in France. “In
USA - At this year’s 147th AES Pro Audio Convention in New York the OCA Alliance is exhibiting within the AVoIP Pavilion, promoting the advances in control and monitoring of AVoIP networks embodied within the AES70 standard. The convention will be the focus for a number of presentations and announcements from the OCA Alliance, including numerous educational sessions, presentations and demos, and the reveal of a new AES70 Products page on the OCA Alliance website. The OCA Alliance will be on hand throughout the show as an exhibitor in the pavilion, with experts from the alliance and its member companies available to discuss the AES70 standard, available developer resources, and the evolution and progression of the standard throughout the AV industry. In addition to demonstrations on its booth, the OCA Alliance will be participating in the programme of presenta
UK - Located in the heart of Mayfair, Novikov Restaurant & Bar was the first restaurant to be opened outside his native Russia by award-winning multiple operator, Arkady Novikov. Extending over three floors with two restaurants and a basement lounge bar, Novikov has enjoyed considerable success since its opening in 2011 and remains one of the favourite haunts of London’s glitterati. When the venue decided to upgrade the sound system in the Lounge, they turned to Toby Jones at Middlesex Sound & Light for advice. Jones recommended a KV2 Audio system to deliver the nightclub feel that Novikov was looking for. “When I visited Novikov at their request to see what could be done, I saw straight away that KV2 would be the ideal solution, but I didn’t want them to take my word for it,” says Jones. “I insisted on a demo in situ so that they could compare with their
