USA - Established in 1985, Hilarities 4th Street Theatre in Downtown Cleveland comprises a cocktail bar, VIP cabaret space and Pickwick The Restaurant – a 185-seat eatery specialising in rustic American cuisine. One of the largest comedy venues in the USA, Hilarities features a sound solution from Renkus-Heinz.

With a capacity of 400 and several internal venues to consider, Hilarities was on the lookout for a reliable and memorable sound system for the first time in 20 years. The club’s owner, Nick Kostis, contacted NPi Audio Visual Solutions, an integrator he knew he could rely on for a complete system overhaul. The project was split into three sections: Frolic Cabaret Bar, Hilarities main stage and the Martini Bar. NPi chose Renkus-Heinz’s IC Live X models, as well as the IC8 line arrays and point source C Series loudspeakers.

“I’ve used

UK - SOUL Church, one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the UK and Western Europe, has opened a new, purpose-built auditorium in Norwich. The 1,250-seat facility features a state-of-the-art L-Acoustics Kara II line array system, designed to provide an elevated audio experience for the church's diverse congregation.

Founded in 2014 by Pastors Jon and Chantel Norman, SOUL Church has quickly become a leading faith community with over 2,500 members. The church hosts a variety of services throughout the week, from large Sunday gatherings to intimate Bible studies. The new L-Acoustics system will support these gatherings, as well as SOUL Church's annual Christmas spectacular, which attracts nearly 10,000 attendees.

"Building a new church of this scale in Western Europe is truly unique," explains Gareth Lee, of the Directional Leadership Team a

Portugal - NEXT Audiogroup has announced the appointment of David Ferreira as its new export sales executive. Ferreira’s extensive experience in the pro audio industry includes key roles at Pioneer Pro Audio, Martin Audio, EAW, and Mackie.

“It’s such an exciting time to be joining NEXT Audiogroup,” says Ferreira. “The company has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, especially with the launch of NEXT Audiocom. Despite this rapid expansion, NEXT Audiogroup has never wavered in its commitment to delivering excellent products and innovative solutions. I am proud and excited to be part of the NEXT Audiogroup family and look forward to our journey together.”

Sergio Pinto, NEXT Audiogroup’s sales manager, adds: “We are thrilled to have David Ferreira on board. His extensive experience and impressive track record in the pro audio indus

Poland - The Gdańsk Institute of Urban Culture is a multi-purpose venue that features an immersive experience with L-ISA technology from L-Acoustics. “Gdańsk has always been blessed with a pioneering, independent way of thinking. Everything starts here – one might say – and innovative spaces like Gdańsk Institute of Urban Culture with its L-ISA immersive experience help the community’s cultural vibrancy to flourish,” says Pawel Kuhn, marketing director at Audio Plus, which installed the new audio technology.

Housed in a converted water plant, which even features a river running underneath so that visitors can traverse via glass floors, the space is fittingly called the Kunszt Wodny (Water Art) building. The Institute creates and hosts a vast range of projects designed to promote culture and nurture the city's heritage. The building features a 50

USA - The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Blvd., directed by Jamie Lloyd, recently debuted at the St. James Theatre on Broadway with Nicole Scherzinger in the lead role.

This follows 16 weeks at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End district, from September 2023 through this past January, where it won the Olivier Award for Best Sound Design. The winner of that award, Adam Fisher, is now reprising his role in New York, using the Fourier Audio transform.engine, a Dante-connected server designed to run VST3-native software plugins in a live environment.

Paired with a DiGiCo Quantum7T front-of-house console supplied by Masque Sound, this musical is Fisher’s third time using the transform.engine’s ability to let him access any and all plugins he needs in real time, with low latency. “I first used it on Kiss Me, Kate in April of

Germany - Set in a rock labyrinth, with certain upstage scene elements offset at heights up to 25m above the main stage area, Wunsiedel’s Luisenburg Festspiele, on Germany’s oldest outdoor stage, turned to TiMax SoundHub to create intelligible immersive audio for every seat in the 2,000-strong audience, via sophisticated object-based soundscapes rendered by the platform’s dynamic delay-matrix processing.

System sound designer, David Horn, maintains four TiMax SoundHub show control systems at his disposal, but used a single 64-channel unit activated for seamless real-time vocal localisation driven by a new TiMax TrackerD4, recently purchased from the TiMax German distributor, Pro-Audio Technik.

Eight TiMax Tracker sensors, some mounted on trees and even rocks, covered the 38m-wide and 25m deep performance area, complete with one section of stage

Albania - Green Coast is a luxury tourist retreat located in the resort of Palasë. Known as the Albanian Riviera, and overlooking the Ionian Sea, it is also a popular recreational hub, with a number of bars and restaurants.

One of these is the latest LAST, run by restaurateurs Revo Hospitality Group (RHG). Described as a “one-stop shop for food and beverage experiences, providing something for everyone from daytime dining, nightlife and events” it recently turned to Martin Audio’s local distribution partner, Prosound for a sound system installation. This was after they had successfully carried out other work for the Group (including SALT restaurants, and Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar).

Having used the Prosound/Martin Audio combination successfully on previous installations, RHG had no need to change a winning formula. Tasked with reinforcing a

Europe - Onboard reliability is key for Norwegian singer-songwriter and record producer Marie Ulven Ringheim’s indie pop project, Girl in Red. The latest tour has seen the band grow, not only in size, but venue capacity. Larger venues meant higher complexity and production values, and sound engineers Kris Derry and Matt Wickens knew they needed the most stable equipment available, that also sounded great and could withstand the rigours of worldwide touring. For them, only DiGiCo could fit that bill, and the two Quantum 338s, KLANG:DMI, and Fourier Audio transform.engine, all provided by Entec Sound and Light, have been working for Girl in Red across the world in arenas and at festivals ever since.

Derry mixes at the front of house position. He has been with the band since 2019, and has witnessed a huge change in the way they tour.

"When I started,

UK - Specialist real estate development company, Long Harbour, recently added two new urban developments to its growing portfolio: The Sessile in Tottenham, North London and Riverstone Heights in Bromley-by-Bow, East London. Both developments are residential co-living spaces, where apartment residents enjoy access to shared amenities for life, work and play.

London-based systems integrators, Tateside, were approached by Long Harbour to complete the integration of user-friendly AV systems throughout both developments.

“We’ve worked with the Long Harbour group on and off for several years,” reflects Joby Morris, project manager at Tateside. “In the past, we’ve designed systems for other Long Harbour projects, but this was our first time working on a project of this scale with the client. Whilst there are differences between the two sites, it

Canada - LEA Professional has announced its partnership with Quebec-based AV distributor SFM.

SFM will now offer customers LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity.

"We share the same goal as our customers – to exceed expectations, and we are constantly seeking partners who uphold these standards," said Sami Midani, director of business development at SFM. "LEA has an exceptional and extensive technology catalogue that will bring variety and strength to our Canadian customers."

"Canada is a key area of growth for us as we enter a new year," said Scott Robbins, VP of sales at LEA Professional. "This partnership will enable us to tap into SFM’s established network that has been growing for nearly 50 years. We are closing out

Chile - Cloud Microphones has announced the expansion of its distribution network in Central and South America. New partnerships have been established in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, broadening access to their innovative audio solutions.  

“These partnerships mark another step in our commitment to expanding our global presence and supporting the international music community,” said Rodger Cloud, founder and CEO of Cloud Microphones. “We look forward to collaborating with our new distributors to empower musicians, podcasters, broadcasters, and others to enhance their audio quality and share Cloud's message of creative inspiration.”

Pro Audio Sistemas, based in Chile, is among the new distributors to showcase Cloud’s products. “The opportunity to represent Rodger's innovative solutions was one I couldn

Poland - Sound provider Gigant Sound/Letus, Europe’s largest Outline GTO inventory holder, was once again entrusted with delivering the sound for the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. Along with the Sopot Festival, it ranks as one of the two most important cultural events in Poland, celebrating the achievements of Polish songwriters and performers over the past year.

The festival takes place in the Millennium Amphitheatre, a venue where every Polish artist aspires to perform. This site has hosted the event since 1963, making it one of the oldest European festivals.

Over the decades, it has seen the rise of numerous renowned Polish artists from various generations and genres, including Maryla Rodowicz, Marek Grechuta, Zbigniew Wodecki, and Justyna Steczkowska. The festival not only marks the start of summer each year with

UK - Tiger Bay, one of London’s late-night shisha lounges, has continued its expansion with the opening of a new venue in Enfield. This new location marks the brand’s fourth UK branch and its seventh internationally.

With this new venue, Tiger Bay wanted to create an environment that easily shifted from a dining experience to a lively party destination. As the evening progresses and guest DJs take over, the space needed to deliver ‘an immersive sound experience that elevates the entire atmosphere’. To meet these requirements, a quality, scalable sound system was essential – leading Tiger Bay to KV2.

“The client reached out to us via word of mouth, bringing a set of detailed drawings,” explains Toby Jones, AV designer at Middlesex Sound & Lighting, the team responsible for the sound system installation. “They were looking for a dis

USA - Bob Marley was larger than life, and the sheer scale of The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour reflected that. The recent outing, featuring five of his sons - Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian - boasted a total of 19 musicians, singers, and one Rastafarian flag-waver onstage for the tour, which kicked off in Vancouver and concluded in Miami in early October.

The Legacy Tour is notable in part because it marked the first time that the siblings have performed together on the road in two decades. Monitors alone required two engineers manning two consoles - both DiGiCo Quantum338 desks - in addition to a Quantum852 used at front of house.

The three desks collectively shared three SD-Racks with 32-bit Stadius pre-amp cards on an Optocore loop, with one SD-Rack on the secondary loop at front of house providing AD/DA conversio

USA - Labour Day weekend saw the quiet mountain town of Telluride, Colorado transformed into the epicentre of global cinema for the 51st annual Telluride Film Festival. For the 24th year, Meyer Sound supported the festival as signature sponsor and cinema sound partner. Together, they brought state-of-the-art cinema sound technologies to the festival’s marquee cinemas, delivering the audio experience for filmmakers and audiences alike.

“It’s been a privilege to support the Telluride Film Festival for nearly a quarter century,” says Meyer Sound’s programme manager, cinema & residential, Jay Wyatt. “The festival’s bold, boundary-pushing spirit aligns perfectly with Meyer Sound’s commitment to innovation and superior sound, making it the ideal place to showcase our advanced cinema technologies.”

A key stop on the r

Europe - JOYNED has announced that Morten Lave, former CEO of TC Applied Technologies and most recently principal of All Access Consulting, is joining the company as chief technology officer (CTO) effective immediately. Lave will spearhead JOYNED’s R&D efforts, using his AVB/Milan software expertise to elevate the company’s audio networking solutions and drive innovation.

Lave’s' AVB/Milan software will now be integrated into JOYNED’s suite of offerings, providing a complete end-to-end solution - from endpoints to AVB switches - while remaining true to JOYNED’s commitment to open standards. This is a significant step in JOYNED’s mission to democratize network technology for the audio industry, ensuring that cutting-edge solutions are accessible to everyone, from engineers to musicians.

"As the audio industry moves towards greater stan

USA - ACT Entertainment has appointed James Oliver to the position of vice president of strategic partnerships. Oliver has been tasked with developing a live sound division that mirrors the success ACT has created for its other partners in the entertainment space.

“We are pleased to have James join us in our efforts to increase ACT’s position as a leader in the professional audio market,” says Dale Williams, president and COO of ACT Entertainment. “James brings decades of technology-focused sales, marketing and strategic planning experience that will be pivotal in our initiatives. PK Sound has been a welcome addition to our wide array of product offerings, and I am confident that James will help further drive growth across all our product lines.” 

Oliver previously served as partner and chief strategy officer at PK Sound. During his tenure

Europe - Blaze Audio has announced that its Ci series loudspeaker product line is now available globally. The Ci series was acquired earlier this year from Cornered Audio ApS of Denmark and make a match for use with Blaze Audio’s PowerZone amplifiers, software, and controllers.  

The new Ci series of products - the Ci2, Ci4, Ci4-V, Ci5, Ci5-V, and CS8 and CS12 subwoofers - are designed for use in commercial and hospitality locations. These surface-mounted loudspeakers make for a discrete and elegant installation while offering quality sound reproduction with wide and uniform coverage, clarity, and reliability.  

The IP-rated Ci series is a feature-packed family of acoustically superior 2-way full-range loudspeakers that are designed for a wide range of indoor and outdoor commercial applications such as retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and mee

The Netherlands/Slovakia - The global launch of the SRS Lighting VLAN-toolbox has been announced. This product is the result of a collaboration between Podiumtechniek B.V., a leading player in the entertainment industry, and SRS Group, a globally respected name in lighting, rigging, and power distribution technology. Together, they have developed a solution that will ‘significantly simplify the lives of AV technicians worldwide’.

The idea for the SRS Lighting VLAN-toolbox was first introduced by Paul van Schaik, co-owner of Podiumtechniek B.V. During the initial presentation of the prototype at CUE 2024 in Rotterdam, it quickly became apparent that there was a high demand for a simple yet powerful tool for network management specifically designed for AV professionals.

"After the presentation, we immediately saw the potential," says Paul van Schai

South Africa - FBT’S distributor StageOne hosted the ArtOfTech event in Johannesburg, marking the South African launch of the FBT Myra Line Array System.

Peter Berry, founder of StageOne, tasked his team with transcending traditional demo events to deliver an extraordinary experience. "ArtOfTech was more than just a product launch; the production successfully merged technology with creativity to produce something truly special,” said Berry.

Over 350 select clients experienced live audio demonstrations of FBT's line arrays, Horizon, Muse, and the star of the show, Myra, the line array system for mid to large-size touring applications and high-end fixed installations.

Kyle Freemantle, a respected freelance sound engineer, praised the Myra for its user-friendly rigging and exceptional sound quality. "The FBT Myra features one of the most str

UK - Having completed an impressive navigational trail for the Eden Project using smaller Martin Audio components, Cornwall-based TruCru has ramped up its line array inventory, in preparation for a busy event season ahead.

The rental company has invested in the manufacturer’s Wavefront Precision (WPS) and SXCF118 cardioid subwoofers, giving them a powerful, and recognisable front-line PA. This will bring the company into the community of other Martin Audio WP users, and is the latest step in a phased move towards eventual standardisation on Martin Audio in its hire fleet.

Commenting on the purchase, TruCru project manager and audio lead, Toby Bodman, said, “This is quite an upgrade and a significant leap for us. I first heard Wavefront Precision in 2018 and I was blown away by how consistent the coverage was throughout the space, and with the gro

UK - Inspired by a summer of sport, Manchester Day 2024 was a vibrant one-day, event filled with music, dance, performance, acrobatics and a host of other interactive and audience participative events, all with a warm and enthusiastic street party atmosphere, staged in and around the city centre.

Manchester-based audio specialist, tube uk, was asked to provide PA and sound systems for the four main stages, two of which were located in the Deansgate area, two at St Ann’s Square and one on Market Street, all major city centre positions.

tube uk’s Melvyn Coote commented, “It is always fantastic to be part of this event which energises the city centre in the true spirit of Manchester, and it’s amazing to see people from all communities engaging and enjoying, making it their event.”

The main challenges for the tube team of four audio eng

UK - RCF UK partner, JPS Sound & Light, fielded 108 RCF loudspeaker enclosures at the recent Zimfest Live 2024 festival in Hertfordshire - now celebrating its 25th year.

Involved with this event for the past five years, John Southee’s company has watched the event - a celebration of Zimbabwean music, culture and music - mature from its old Colesdale Farm site near Potters Bar to the premium Hertfordshire County Show Ground outside St. Albans where up to 10,000 people from across the UK congregate over the two days.

JPS were tasked with providing a complete technical infrastructure (sound, lighting and video as well as camera crew) - populating two stages, the enlarged main stage and a six-pole Big Top. “The SmartStage180 provided a massive 15m x 12m stage area, with a 10m high roof. This offered an impressive 20-ton weight-loading and additio

USA - Little Sister Lounge, a nightclub by Tao Group located in the Moxy Lower East Side hotel in NYC, is an underground cocktail lounge reminiscent of the LES in the 1990s. After becoming familiar with 1 Sound through its performance in neighbouring venues within the Moxy Hotel and Tao Group sister venues like Tao Downtown nightclub, this NYC staple in the nightclub scene, decided to upgrade its audio system to 1 Sound.

Inside the Moxy Hotel, 1 Sound is incorporated into Silver Lining Lounge, a piano bar, Sake No Hana, a modern Japanese restaurant, the Highlight Room, a rooftop cocktail lounge, and The Fix, a bar and all-day cafe. In the past three years of being installed these venue’s, 1 Sound systems have proved their quality and reliability, making it an exciting revamp for Little Sister Lounge to upgrade their audio system.

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