USA - Focusrite has announced the launch of a new product in its popular RedNet range of Dante audio-over-IP products: the RedNet AM2 stereo audio monitoring unit. The new product is being shown on Booth 218 at the AES 139th Convention in New York, October 29 - November 1, 2015.

RedNet AM2 is a Dante-compatible stereo monitoring unit combining headphone and line outputs for flexible monitoring of signals sourced from the Dante network. RedNet AM2 features a 1/4" front-panel headphone socket plus a pair of balanced line outputs with male XLR connectors mounted on the rear panel, which may be used for loudspeaker monitoring and other applications.

The headphone output delivers significant audio output power, sufficient to drive even high-impedance headphones at substantial levels. RedNet AM2, fitted with non-slip feet, is designed to either sit securely on a flat surface or

UK - Purpose developed to partner Martin Audio's new CDD range, DX0.5 adds affordable loudspeaker system management to the existing range of DX loudspeaker controllers.

The success of CDD has helped drive demand for the controller - so much so that DX0.5 has been the most popular controller this year for Martin Audio, with just a few months of sales under its belt.

Now, Martin Audio has announced updated software for the DX0.5, with v1.0.3 now available. This latest release adds the ability to create project files with a single file containing up to 24 presets. This means that users do not have to load one at a time; alternatively, it can be used to 'back-up' an entire unit, which is useful for any installer that wants to keep a record of default settings at a venue. The update package includes new SW installer, updated user guide and project files for CDD (to reinstall the fa

Switzerland - Audio over IP pioneer Barix reports that it is now shipping SoundScape, its fully integrated live and scheduled streaming service that allows audio content providers to centrally manage and distribute branded music and advertising over IP networks. The concept, first introduced at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show, has evolved into a fully formed software-as-a-service (SaaS) that brings together cloud-based content management, end point playout and global monitoring capabilities in a highly programmable, user-friendly package.

SoundScape enables businesses to quickly transition from more complex and expensive systems long used for in-store radio. Service providers can quickly launch a SoundScape service with a subscription and IP audio players at each end location, and immediately start reliably delivering music and advertising to restaurants, stores, hotels

USA - PixelFLEX has won its second consecutive Parnelli Award for Indispensable Video Technology. At LDI 2015, this year's award was presented to the Nashville-based LED video screen manufacturer during the 15th Annual Parnelli Awards Ceremony held at the Rio All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel and Casino for their innovative FLEXCurtain HD LED Video Screen.

"What a tremendous honor for PixelFLEX to not only be nominated for two consecutive years, but to actually bring home the award once again, we are all very thankful to the voters and Timeless Communications," said David Venus, PixelFLEX director of marketing. "We strive every day to create the most technologically advanced LED video screens for the live event and entertainment production industry, and the 2015 Parnelli Award is a wonderful validation that we remain on the right path."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Just in time for AES 2015, MADI specialists DirectOut, has brought out MADI.MONI, a highly ergonomic MADI tester and mobile MADI monitoring tool. MADI.MONI has been specifically designed for MADI testing and monitoring in the field and has the smallest footprint of any mobile MADI monitor on the market, says the company.

MADI.MONI offers a simple, uncluttered interface enabling users to see at a glance all format parameters as well as the signal quality of a MADI stream. Operation is extremely straightforward via four push buttons on the UI including a volume/channel selection to monitor individual channels of a MADI signal via the 3.5mm headphone jack. The device is battery powered and provides one coaxial and one SFP MADI port. A traffic light like display delivers immediate information about the physical signal condition (amplitude/jitter).

The state of the incoming M

The Netherlands - Eight years after the introduction of the original, Alcons has launched the mkII version of its successful CRMS Cinema Reference Monitor System.

The CRMS is a three-way sound system design to offer "the most natural 1:1 Digital Cinema and HD audio sound reproduction possible".

Featuring the patented RBN401 pro-ribbon driver, the CRMS combines a remarkable clarity and intelligibility, with a unusually high headroom SPL. The Alcons pro-ribbon drivers have up to 90% less distortion than any conventional mid/high transducer, while the very high peak power handling offers a 1:16 RMS-to-peak ratio, enabling maximum screen compensations without any audible stress on the MHF performance.

The patented horizontal dispersion of the RBN401 extends the stereo-imaging and depth-of-field to a larger number of seats in the auditorium; Due to the "compression

Germany - Shure has announced the availability of a new version of its ShurePlus MOTIV Mobile Recording App - designed for use with Shure MOTIV Digital Condenser Microphones. Version 1.1 of the newest iOS app offers a host of new features, including five-band EQ and gain adjustment controls for the MV51 Digital Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, the MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone, and MVi Digital Audio Interface.

For an optimised experience, the list of user-friendly ShurePlus MOTIV features now also includes AirPlay compatibility and Bluetooth support for instant playback over a speaker system. Additionally, transport controls in the control center simplify the process of pausing, playing, fast-forwarding, and rewinding a recording. For low-light environments where a bright screen might become a distraction (such as a club or other live event venue), Shure has added a dark

USA - In a ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Centrelast week during the LDI 2015 tradeshow, Live Design recognised the new ProPlex EZ-LAN Unity 20 with an LDI 2015 Best Debuting Product of the Year Award.

ProPlex's EZ-LAN makes managing today's complex show networking easier and accessible for everyone. These simple to operate yet powerful managed Gigabit Ethernet switches distribute up to four discrete networks - e.g. lighting, audio, content, server, console, communications, etc. - quickly, effortlessly, and simultaneously. Users untrained in the complexities of managed networking can easily isolate networks and access and change VLAN assignments with one button.

"Managed Ethernet switches are very complicated to use," explains TMB product specialist, Ashley Simper. "The ability to distribute up to four discrete networks with a single button makes life easi

USA - The 139th AES Convention in NYC saw Genelec unveil the new flagship 1236 Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) Main Monitor System. The 1236 and its individually calibrated 3U-high Remote Amplifier Module RAM-XL provide the highest performance possible in a large format, flush-mounted main monitoring system, says the company. The new design is based on the high-efficiency proprietary double-18-inch bass driver design of Genelec's 1036.

The 1236's frequency response extends from 17 Hz to 26 kHz and it is capable of delivering 130 dB SPL referred to 1 metre through a combination of modern digital signal processing and efficient Class D amplifiers, providing 2 x 1000 W, 800 W, and 400 W of short-term power into woofer, midrange and tweeter channels, respectively. The H 960 x W 1180 x D 650 mm (37 ¾ x 46 ½ x 25 5/8 in) enclosure features two 18-inch high-linearity woofers, two Genel

USA - After many years of requests for an API line amp, the company has announced that the 535-LA Line Amplifier is the newest addition to the 500 Series collection. Modelled after API's console-based 325 booster cards, the 535 can both amplify and attenuate incoming and outgoing signals for ultimate flexibility - all while providing API's trademark API warmth and tone.

The 535 is useful anywhere signal levels need adjusting such as inputs from keyboards, audio playback devices, or from mic preamps or audio processing devices that do not have their own level control, says the company. The 535 excels at adding warmth to digital signals such as DAW outputs, and features an LED clip indicator.

The 535-LA also includes a balanced input, a polarity switch, a 20dB pad for incoming signal attenuation and a three position toggle switch, which allows for different output gain levels fr

South Africa - The Calibre LEDView530 scaler/switcher is now available from Penmac, live event, staging and multimedia specialists, based in Randburg, South Africa.

"The LEDView530 has a strong feature set, unrivalled functionality and competitive edge. It is the perfect tool for switching, scaling and processing video wall content and has performed extremely well in projects we have been involved with," explains Malcolm Finlay, managing director at Penmac. "The LEDView530 is supported by our experienced technical experts who are available to demonstrate the LEDView530 technology as required."

The LEDView530 is a multi-input scaler/switcher that is designed for combining HD and SD video sources on to LED video walls. Four-sided picture edge Features also include genlock capability and low latency.

Pauline Brooksbank, managing director at Calibre adds: &qu

UK - Equally versatile in both portable and installed system configurations, and with its four channels delivering up to 5,000W, neatly packed into 1U weighing just over 7kg (16lb), Martin Audio's new MA5.0Q is billed as a flexible, cost-effective solution for small to medium sound systems.

Benefitting from core technologies found in Martin Audio's flagship amplifiers, the MA5.0Q sets a class standard in efficiency, leading to low power consumption, and consequently to substantial cost savings on electricity - all in an eco-friendly way. Minimum heat dissipation makes the MA5.0Q suitable for hot or otherwise challenging environments.

The target markets for the new amplifier include stage monitoring, hotels, restaurants and bars, visitor attractions, houses of worship, auditoriums, educational facilities, live sound and night clubs.

(Jim Evans)

USA - The 2015 edition of LDI revealed a lively market, and was yet another success for the Clay Paky. In addition to gaining the visitors' approval for its new products, Clay Paky also won two significant international awards.

Clay Paky's innovative new scanner the Spheriscan won the LDI Best Debuting Product award "for making the scanner fixture relevant again and moving the state of the art in reflected beam fixtures by several orders of magnitude". Francesco Romagnoli, Clay Paky's sales manager for the Americas, and Ben Saltzman, president & CEO of ACT Lighting, accepted the award from Marian Sandberg, content director of Live Design and LDI.

Pio Nahum, Clay Paky's CEO, commented: "We are truly satisfied the market has appreciated the effort we have made to re-invent the scanner using the latest technology. A moving mirror can still be very useful owing to i

UK - FBT UK has announced the introduction of the FBT Muse 118FSA, a true reversible flyable cardioid subwoofer. The 1200 Watt RMS Muse 118FSA is an active subwoofer hybrid loaded with an 18'' B&C neodymium subwoofer, designed to be suspended from the Muse flybar, facing in either direction.

When flown facing rearward, the sub's user removable grille can be moved by the user to the new "front" of the enclosure and the amplifier module can be moved to the new 'rear' of the enclosure, thus obtaining aesthetic consistency when flown with additional forward facing Muse 118FSA's. This simple adjustment means that users creating a cardioid sub package require no additional hardware to achieve sleek visual continuity. The model MUSE 118FSCA comes factory preconfigured as rear-facing for cardioid applications.

The Muse 118FSA features a large area laminar-flow port to ensure

USA / Europe - Ayrton has returned triumphant from its annual visit to LDI show in Las Vegas, where it was exhibiting with exclusive US distributor, Morpheus Lights, to promote its six new product releases, all of which were extremely well-received by the viewing public.

"This year's LDI show was clearly the best ever for Ayrton," says Ayrton's Valère Huart-Gyors. "We found LDI visitors really intent on discovering our new fixtures and they were more than satisfied by what they saw. All our new releases were incredibly well received and the ambiance on the show floor was fantastic with enthusiastic, smiling people all around the booth."

Ayrton introduced six new fixtures at the show, which were shown to full advantage in a new light show designed specifically for the LDI booth by lighting designer, Stéphane Migné:

MagicDot-R is the first pr

UK - Allen & Heath has launched three new mini mixers from its ZED analogue console range, including the first ZEDi hybrid mixer / interface. The ZED-6, ZED-6FX and ZEDi-8 are designed with all the features and quality required by musicians, recording artists and for AV work, in a compact, portable format.

"The new ZED models deliver Allen & Heath's renowned build and audio excellence in a small format, making it the ideal choice for quality conscious musicians, singer / songwriters and venues. Whether it's bouncing ideas around at home, performing live or recording tracks to share on YouTube and Soundcloud, they are versatile companions for every step of the creative journey," comments Allen & Heath product specialist, Harry Garcia.

All the new models feature two mono channels with separate XLR and TRS jack sockets and two stereo channels. The mono channels include

USA - When Rachel Miller, an LD and project coordinator for Kinetic Lighting, was contacted by Chauvet vice-president Berenice Chauvet to create a design for the company's LDI booth, she instantly grasped the nature of her mission.

"There's obviously a great deal going on with lighting at LDI," said Miller. "Every exhibitor wants to do as much as possible to attract attention. My mission was to create a design that would get people to stop in their tracks as they passed the Chauvet Professional booth. I imagined it like we were in the proverbial 10-second elevator, where you meet someone on an elevator and they ask, 'What do you do?'

"You have 10 seconds until you reach the next floor to tell them. Chauvet Professional has so many great products. I often use them myself as a designer. I wanted to create a design that very quickly gave visitors an idea of th

Europe - Global flightcase and loudspeaker component manufacturer Penn Elcom has launched a tough new low-noise 3U heat extraction unit which can be fitted to the front or back of any 19 inch racking unit to quickly, efficiently - and silently - suck the heat out of an enclosure.

This is good news for any environment e.g. conference and presentation spaces, theatres, concert halls, lectures theatres, interactive AV displays, boardrooms and demonstration facilities, etc. utilizing AV equipment where noise is a potential issue, distraction or annoyance, says the company.

Penn's R 'n' D team has pooled its considerable experience and practical knowledge of the racking market and produced an ultimate and well-engineered solution.

The versatile FP02-Q-3U fan unit emits 22.5 dB(A) - with a Sone (loudness) value of 0.3 - and can be fitted to any existing 19 inch racking unlit. At t

UK - Showlogix, a developer of show and media control software, has released its version 1.6, designed for producing multi-display shows and interactive attractions in museums, visitor centres, trade shows and live productions.

The new Timeline Object includes numerous layers of videos, images or sound, synchronized to one centralized timecode. This is done across displays and computers. Several timeline objects can be added and can run simultaneously.

While this object requires loading all media files in advance before running a timeline, you can still load and play videos, images, texts and external inputs on top of a timeline. Moreover, it includes the option of fading smoothly between two media files on a single layer across displays, all while the timeline is running, says the company.

"There is a rise in demand for interactivity in typical time based show applicat

USA - Elation Professional has launched the Satura Profile, an energy-efficient CMY colour-changing moving head in the company's popular LED-based Satura Series. The Satura Profile features intense output from a 440W cool-white LED engine and houses a host of creative design tools, including zoom and internal framing.

The luminaire's high-performance LED engine delivers a total of 20,000 lumens, a level of power comparable to a 1200W discharge lamp. A flexible four-blade rotating framing shutter system is included that allows the beam to be shaped and angled as required for precise highlighting of set pieces and performers. Designers can also use the flexible framing system to create outstanding projection or mid-air effects.

A full-range CMY colour mixing system with variable CTO offers a wide palette of colour shades while an extra seven dichroic colours provides added colou

USA - Novalight returned to LDI this year, where it was exhibiting with DNJ Pro, their exclusive distributor for North America, to showcase their entire line-up of products and present the industry with their newest moving light, the Nova-Scope.

"This was a great year at LDI," said Doug Brown, president of DNJ Pro. "We met a lot of people who were excited about the kaleido effect of the Nova-Scope and also a lot of people who were just excited to the other Novalight products again."

Nova-Scope is a 2KW weatherproof moving light that implements an innovative reflector design to "deliver stunning effects in mid-air". With seven gobo options, a kaleido wheel effect, shutter, dimmer, and strobe effects combined with six colours, white, and CMY colour mixing, dramatic effects can be achieved.

The Super-Nova incorporates outstanding lighting power, vi

Europe - ETC will be travelling across Europe this month to showcase some of their latest products. In Paris, the company will be working with distributor AVAB France at JTSE on 24-25 November; in Helsinki with Studiotec Oy at AVITA Audiovisual on 18-20 November; and in Serbia, with AVL ProJekt for an open day on 12 November.

LED will be star of ETC's demonstration offerings, with the always-popular Source Four LED Series 2 being shown alongside the recently-introduced ColorSource range. The ColorSource PAR, which earned the Lighting Product of the Year award at the ABTT Theatre Show 2015, will be joined by the new ColorSource Spot, making a range of great quality LED lighting available for the first time on productions with limited budgets. Demonstrations will also be available for the ETC Source Four LED Fresnel and CYC adapters, as well as the extensive range of lens tubes, s

Europe - Panasonic is set to release the world's lightest and most compact 3-Chip DLPTM laser projector featuring beyond 4K resolution.

First previewed at ISE 2015, the 10,000 lumens PT-RQ13K has a Quad Pixel Drive that produces detailed, film-like, 4K+ images.

The optical axis of the projector is shifted both horizontally and vertically at a high frame rate of up to 240 Hz, to create four different pixels from a single pixel - effectively quadrupling the pixel density of the image.

A new generation of detail clarity processors analyses the requirement for extra pixels and optimise the output for fluid, detailed, high-contrast images, says the company.

Hartmut Kulessa, European projector product marketing manager at Panasonic, said, "Panasonic has traditionally been very popular with the rental and staging market because of the build quality and compact nature of its

UK - After the genuinely remarkable success in the last few years of their single-channel, standalone REDDI valve Direct Box especially among bass players, A-Designs now offers the dual-channel REDDI v2 model in a 19 inch 2U rack mountable cabinet. With exactly the same circuitry as the REDDI, the v2 model uses a single 6N1P dual triode tube for each channel along with a gigantic, custom-wound Cinemag output transformer.

Inside the all-steel case is an overspecified toroidal transformer within a shielded and regulated power supply section, with both valves securely mounted in ceramic sockets. The front panel has a Switchcraft 1/4" Thru jack, gold-pinned Neutrik XLR output and Combo input jacks. The rear panel houses the IEC power socket and a ground lift switch.

With the same Ampeg sound as the original REDDI unit, it's 1 meg-Ohm input impedance preserves the sound of gu

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