USA - Audinate, developer of the industry-leading Dante media networking technology, has announced at NABB 2018 plans to support SMPTE ST-2110 in the Dante platform by the end of 2018. SMPTE ST-2110 is a new suite of standards developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers to support real-time media network distribution using IP networking technology. The update will include support for a number of relevant standards, including SMPTE ST-2110-10, 2110-30, and 2059-2. When released, the SMPTE 2110 feature will be enabled through the Dante Domain Manager software platform and firmware updates for Dante IP Core, Dante HC, Dante Brooklyn II and Dante Ultimo. These Dante technologies are featured in a wide variety of products used by the broadcast industry, and will be highlighted through Audinate’s participation in plug-fests and showcases. “
Germany - This year, Cadac celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of the latest model in its CDC digital console series. CDC five, the smallest, most affordable of the touch-screen CDC series, offers a compact mix solution for small-to-medium sized production companies, freelance mix engineers and fixed installations A second new console, the CDC seven-s, is also being launched. The CDC seven-s is Cadac’s new flagship CDC console and replaces both the current CDC seven and the inaugural CDC eight. A significant upgrade to the CDC seven, CDC seven-s offers 128 inputs and 64 busses of which 56 are assignable (62 in Monitor Mode) and a number of additional hardware buttons, aimed at speeding up navigation. With the launch of the CDC five, comes Version 5 CDC Console Software, which features an improved Graphical User Interface with a completely redesigned conso
UK - There’s something out of the ordinary about doing a gig in a cave. However, when Jonathan Stafford of Cornish band Haunt the Woods approached Plymouth music technology college dBs Music to supply a PA system for their much anticipated EP launch gig, it seemed like a perfect challenge for dBs Music’s team Live Sound. The complex nature of trying to optimise a sound system which would cover the audience area equally throughout the cavernous 500-capacity space outside Liskeard, meant that careful thought was required ahead of the show to ensure the right equipment was specified. However, the newly supplied Martin Audio MLA Mini system was a perfect solution to achieving this. According to dBs music lecturer and live sound technician, Olly Wickes, discussions regarding a next generation PA system had begun more than a year earlier. It was Simon Honywill, one of
UAE - Clair Brothers has appointed Dubai-based Provision AVL as distributor for the UAE and Middle Eastern market. Founded in 2014, Provision AVL General Trading LLC, as they’re known officially, is a proven sales, distribution and design company providing high-end solutions for a wide range of engineering projects and applications in lighting, audio, and stage design in the Middle East. While Clair Brothers has been on Provision AVL’s radar for quite some time, pen was finally put to paper for a distribution partnership at ISE 2018. Explains Kevin Boujikian, general manager of Provision AVL, “The idea to approach them about distribution was always there since we met the Clair Brothers guys a while back, but it was at this year’s ISE Show where we decided to take the leap. The decision was very easy.” Clair Brothers represents the first pro audio brand
Germany - This week, HK Audio is preparing to roll out the largest product launch in the firm’s 35+ year history. In the past year, HK Audio has taken on a number of new audio specialists, and this new team has been instrumental in the development of the new pro audio range, which are on display at HK Audio’s main Prolight+Sound booth. First up is the Cosmo integrative line array system family, which is comprised of three different system models and was developed under the premise of offering an extremely flexible and easily configurable solution in the professional PA sector. Cosmo combines state-of-the-art audio qualities with ingeniously simple handling and unbeatable economic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Next up is Contour X, a new point source PA flagship series designed to offer extreme sound pressure levels from compact solid birch multiplex enclosur
USA/Europe - In an announcement made at both NAB and Prolight+Sound 2018, Stage Tec has become the latest manufacturer to join the RAVENNA partnership. The Berlin-based manufacturer of professional audio mixing consoles and routers is one of the leading pioneers in the transition from analogue to digital audio technology. “With our engagement in RAVENNA we are pleased to be able to offer an even wider spectrum of IP solutions to our customers”, explains Helmut Jahne, CEO of Stage Tec. We have been providing IP-based technology since 2012 with the NEXUS Dante card XDIP. With the launch of our RIF67 Router Interface in 2017, Stage Tec also offers IP audio transport via AES67. A second interface card to be introduced this year, the NEXUS Fiber and IP Interface (XFIP), will also feature full AES67 compatibility. Both cards are also fully RAVENNA-compatible.” Andreas
Germany - Adamson Systems Engineering is reinforcing the focus on its global education strategy with the formal introduction of its Advanced Certification training programme at Prolight+Sound 2018. The new training initiative builds on Adamson’s Applied Certification programme, which over the past eight months has been deployed in over 30 countries and attended by more than 1,000 technicians. “In 2017, we launched an initiative to build an education standard for our user base and network”, says James Oliver, director of marketing and sales for Adamson. “Applied Certification was its first phase, and today, we’ve already delivered this programme in more than 30 countries. As our network has grown, so has the demand for knowledge. The Advanced Certification programme is an indication to major productions that Adamson and its partner network are committed to imp
UK - Rick Wakeman recently recorded a live version of his successful 2017 Piano Portraits release in front of an audience at Lincoln Cathedral. Longtime Wakeman studio engineer / producer Erik Jordan employed an Allen & Heath dLive system for the project, comprising an S7000 surface with M-Dante card, DM64 MixRack and DX32 Expander, supplied by Tech-Serve Audio Consultants. Jordan found that dLive’s ease of use and fast, flexible routing made it the perfect choice for a challenging live recording scenario. “I knew from Ian Barfoot, Rick’s FOH engineer and a longstanding dLive user, how flexible and intuitive the system was to use and although this was my first real dLive experience, it took very little time to become familiar with. We had around twenty mics for Rick’s vocal, piano, audience and ambient pickup and – because the show was filmed
Tunisia - Clair Brothers has added Tunisia’s Pro Audio & Light (P.A.L.) to its growing international sales and distribution network. P.A.L. is a systems provider, consulting agency, and sole distributor of high-end products to the robust Tunisian entertainment industry. Founded in 2005 in La Marsa, Tunisia, the mission for P.A.L. was, and continues to be, to deliver the best products, expert service and smart solutions at the highest level of what the entertainment production market demands. “As market leader, we’ve come to be associated with always having the most innovative, highest quality equipment and technology on the current market,” explains Sami Sidhom, P.A.L. general manager “It’s why we firmly believe Clair Brothers is the right company for us.” When the team at P.A.L. got an earful of the new C-Series speakers, it made their decision to partner
Germany - Crest Audio’s Versarray PRO powered line array, makes its entrance at ProLight + Sound 2018 this week. Comprising the Versarray PRO VR112 line array element and the VR-PRO 215 sub, Versarray PRO is suitable for all mid-sized line array applications including live entertainment, theatres, houses of worship and more. With integrated Dante audio networking, built-in DSP, innovative flying hardware and world class components, the Versarray PRO powered line array delivers premium quality audio in a versatile, easy-to-set-up, networkable package, says the company. The VR112 benefits from Crest Audio’s latest-generation Mark III ribbon drivers and proprietary CLEAR FORM Waveguide for crystalline high end reproduction. The low end is served by the 12” NEO Black Widow neodymium loudspeaker with dual 4” voice coils which works in conjunction with Crest’s pate
UK - Adlib’s Scottish operation continues its active support and strategic partnerships in the region with another sale of premium brands L-Acoustics and DiGiCo to rental company AudioCP, a busy operation based in Glasgow and headed by Scott Young. AudioCP was founded by Scott in 2012 and specialises in providing carefully crafted sound systems for the live music sector. Scott, who originally studied popular music at Edinburgh’s Napier College before working as a professional drummer for 10 years, has also owned and run a recording studio and a rehearsal room. By late 2016, he was looking to invest in a premium audio system for AudioCP complete with a state-of-the-art mixing console to enable the company and its business to move up several levels, consolidate their current client base and also pitch for larger and higher profile projects. Coincidentally - ju
Germany - Powersoft will leverage the international platform of this year’s Prolight + Sound show to ensure the widest possible audience their first look at the new M-Force. Announced as M-force 301P01, the innovative transducer has been updated with a series of additional features to simplify the workload of OEM partners and will be unveiled on the Powersoft stand (Hall 3.1 C17). M-force is now available as the M-force 01 long throw linear motor for infra sub applications and the M-force 02 short throw linear motor for high acceleration applications. With longer linear displacement, M-Force 01 is the perfect tool for direct radiation and bandpass applications, enabling manufacturers to keep cabinet sizes to a minimum whilst allowing for flawless infra-bass reproduction. M-Force 02 is designed to grant reliability under extreme loads, such as bandpass applications and load
Germany - Outline is set to announce the launch of its latest concept at Prolight+Sound 2018. Following an evolutionary path from the influential Butterfly design, the new Superfly compact line-source enclosure “sets new standards in performance for a loudspeaker of these dimensions”. Weighing under 38kg (83.8 lb) per module yet with prodigious acoustic potential and class-leading dispersion control, Superfly integrates within the existing Outline portfolio and can be readily paired with any of their subwoofer designs. Powered by the company’s own DSP-equipped X8 amplifiers, Superfly-based systems are flexible, powerful, predictable, quick and easy to deploy and convenient to transport, contributing vital operational efficiencies to any live sound scenario, says the company. Visitors to the show will be able to hear Superfly for themselves in the PL+S Live
USA - The North Carolina Museum of Art amphitheatre has used various PA systems over the years but has now settled on a Martin Audio MLA Compact, deployed by RMB Audio. Asked to describe the current system, RMB’s Tobias Cannady says: “We’d originally used speakers stacked but then negotiated for the ability to fly MLA Compact for an improve the Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theatre is known for its summer concert series. “The set-up includes eight flown MLA Compact cabinets per side with four Martin Audio DSX subs ground-stacked on each side of the stage and CDD-LIVE 15’s for side fills and delays. “There’s been a significant improvement in several areas with the new system,” Cannady continues. “Even though the stage is lower than most of the seating, the MLA Compact system is able to throw much further, with a more cohesive sound quality while cleaning
South Africa - Vectorworks Trainer Francois van der Merwe presented Basic to Advanced training from 12 to 16 March 2018 at DWR Distribution in Johannesburg. As a respected lighting designer and a seasoned Vectorworks user, van der Merwe’s main concern was to assist delegates in increasing their workflow. Van der Merwe has presented training at DWR, distributors of Vectorworks in South Africa, since 2012. “The programme for every course is unique, and we go through all the changes, updates and added features of the software,” he says. “Vectorworks has been the platform to work on, and in my view, the best choice for our industry.” With many users relying on tutorials that are focused on architecture, van der Merwe instead demonstrates how to approach a show which is a very different process to how an architect would tackle a building. “Over the years,
China - Hong Kong-based Cosmo Pro AV partnered with AV Stumpfl to deliver a media server solution for Ocean Park’s new theatre, the Applause Pavilion. Ocean Park, Hong Kong’s most impressive theme park, merges education with entertainment. With 44 rides and 7.7m visitors on average annually who come from all over the world to see its attractions, the park first deployed AV Stumpfl’s systems in 2016 for its Cyber Illusion Show, when it rented the Wings Stage Engine and RAW Engine from Cosmo Pro AV. Such was its success that Ocean Park decided to invest beyond renting and instructed Cosmo Pro AV to design a comprehensive, permanent video system using AV Stumpfl technology for its Applause Pavilion. Jason Yeung, sales engineer at Cosmo Pro AV, who project managed the installation from start to finish and trained the staff, explores Ocean Park’s special r
USA - VER has entered into an agreement to merge with an entity controlled by Production Resource Group LLC (PRG). To facilitate the implementation of this pre-negotiated transaction, VER has filed voluntary petitions for reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. These filings only affect the company's North American operations, says the company. The agreement is part of a transaction supported by VER’s second lien lenders, including funds managed by GSO Capital Partners. VER expects to continue normal operation during the restructuring and says clients “can be confident that their project will not be interrupted”. Digby Davies, CEO of VER, comments: "Entering into this agreement and undertaking the court-supervised restructuring process will greatly reduce VER's outstanding debt
UK - PLASA Focus Leeds is bringing the world’s latest entertainment technology to the North of England on 1-2 May at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. Visitors can expect new releases from top brands, an array of immersive workshops, and leading-edge seminars covering lighting, live sound, rigging, AV and staging. The show is the perfect place to see brand new products for the first time in the UK, including the highly anticipated grandMA3 lighting console. Visitors will also see Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Series, Vari-Lite’s VL2600 range, Sennheiser’s Wireless G4 System and Robe’s MegaPointe. The seminar programme serves many different tribes, from immersive audio and theatre refurbishment, to festival lighting and set design software. There is something for everyone at the industry leading show. The reinvention of the Chester Storyh
Indonesia - Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) began in 2008 as a dance club event by entertainment company Ismaya Live. A hit from the start, the event moved to the Djakarta International Expo (JIExpo) in 2014 and has blossomed, with Clair Brothers as a key ingredient, into an all-out festival that spans two days. In 2015, DWP was crowned 'The Best EDM Festival of 2015' by EDM Sauce. Today, DWP is Asia’s second largest two-day dance music festival, boasting more than 90,000 attendees in 2016, with an estimated 20,000 travellers from 39 different countries each year. It was the move to the JIExpo outdoor stage area that i made clear the need for a sound system that could handle such a large space. Clair Brothers was the first choice of the production company - Live Production Indonesia, based on its partnership since 2012 with Clair Brothers’ rental partner Total Audio.
Singapore - The Lo & Behold Group owns and operates two OverEasy American-style diners in Singapore overlooking the Marina Bay skyline. To improve the overall sound experience for OverEasy patrons, and a permanent solution for outdoor space events, the Lo & Behold Group commissioned Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd to design and install a new audio system for the One Fullerton Road venue. In addition to a substantial upgrade in audio quality, the owners wanted better zoning and greater level control within each of the zones. The permanent outdoor part of the system also required loudspeakers that could handle all weather conditions, particularly torrential rain and high humidity. Case Woo of Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd was the audio consultant for the project, tasked to meet the varied requirements for indoors and outdoors with good aesthetics an
Italy - KLANG:technologies has appointed Mods Art as distributor for its advanced range of 3D personal monitor mixing systems in Italy. Mods Art will be adding KLANG:technologies to its portfolio of 15 premium brands, which includes Solid State Logic, Yamaha and Outline. General director and chairman Giacomo Larìa, comments: “I first heard about KLANG:technologies when working for Yamaha Music Europe and have followed its progress closely since then. We chose to distribute KLANG as they are innovative and establish new standards for monitoring. The products also offer the high performance and excellent build quality that are essential for the brands we offer our customers. We work with the best brands in the industry and KLANG is an ideal fit for our business.” Phil Kamp, KLANG:technologies’ head of sales, adds: “We are pleased to welcome Mods Art as our
USA - As the newly launched d&b Soundscape system continues its worldwide rollout, it is finding itself in all kinds of creative and inspirational company. One such liaison is with Berlin-based experimental electronic pop outfit, Mouse on Mars. The creative duo behind Mouse on Mars - life-long friends Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma - seized upon the potential of d&b Soundscape as the tool with which to demonstrate the complex, layered aural dimensions of their multi-collaborative new album, Dimensional People. The album launch event, presented with the aid of percussion-playing robots, took place during a conference presented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) called Dissolve Music. For Mouse on Mars, it was the ideal environment in which to showcase the special ‘spatial mix’ of their new album, through d&b Soundscap
Finland - A Genelec sound system has recently been installed at the Universal Music offices in Helsinki, delivering quality sound to the entire office space. Universal’s two-floor office is located in the Merikortteli building in the trendy Punavuori area of Helsinki. Previously a vast 28,000m² industrial building, Merikortteli has now largely been converted to a host of sophisticated office spaces. When Universal moved in in 2010, they called upon the services of interior designer, Eliisa Korpijärvi, to transform the dark and dingy factory area into a cosy, yet modern, office, with a light colour palette. The open plan space houses more than 20 employees, with two separate offices and meeting rooms, as well as a kitchen and living area. Whilst the renovated space retains its clean, modern feel, the same could no longer be said of the loudspeaker system which was
UK - The recent unveiling of the first statue created to honour the life and work of David Bowie attracted worldwide media attention and crowds of fans flocked to the event. The bronze statue, entitled Earthly Messenger can be found in Aylesbury’s Market Square, the town where he first performed Ziggy Stardust in 1972, and is not just one statue. It’s a compilation of his very varied personas, from his Ziggy days in the 1970s, through a suited Bowie in the 80s and 90s to a more formal look in his later years. Overlooking the many faceted statue are two Bose 802 Series IV speakers which deliver a random selection of Bowie hits on the hour, every hour between 9am and 9pm seven days a week, and marking the contribution the singer made to UK popular culture. The speakers were installed by Bose pro partner, Adam Florio of AV Systems, who realised tha
