UK - AKG is introducing the Perception Wireless System at PLASA 2010. The new wireless microphone system comes complete with bandwidths up to 30 MHz and low-current transmitters.

The Perception Wireless is designed to accommodate musicians and entry-level audio technicians, although it has the capabilities to handle even the most difficult audio setups with up to 8 channels per band, says the company.

The Perception Wireless Series consists of a Vocal Set, with the handheld transmitter HT 45 featuring a dynamic cardioid capsule; the Instrumental Set, which comes with the pocket tran

UK - Allen & Heath and Audinate are showing a Dante networking audio interface card for the iLive digital mixing series at PLASA 2010.

The Dante audio interface card allows iLive systems to work with Audinate's Dante audio networking solution, providing capacity for 64x64 bi-directional audio with full network redundancy. iLive MixRacks and modular surfaces with the RAB2 module can be fitted with the new slot-in card. A Dante Virtual Soundcard license will be included with purchases of the card, turning a PC or Mac into a Dante enabled device.

"We know from our customers tha

UK - PLASA 2010 sees UK audio distributor SCV London showing products from Sony Pro Audio, a new line for the Essex-based distributor, Audix, Turbosound and Fostex.

On display are Sony's UWP and DWX systems, the latter being its definitive Channel 38 solution, which will help to ease its customers' upgrade path in advance of the frequency switchover scheduled for 2012.

DWX (digital wireless microphone) systems will now be sold with modification packages in order to safeguard audio investments in the run up to Channel 38 switch-over. In addition to this, an optional upgrade path will

UK - North Wales-based ETASound has extended its long relationship with the Harman Pro brands by investing heavily in JBL VerTec, Crown VRACK amplifiers and Soundcraft's new Vi1 compact digital desk.

The large order - placed with Harman Pro's UK & Ireland distributors, Sound Technology Ltd - comes at the end of a hectic 12 months during which the company's founder Eddie Thomas has supplied many events at the O2 Arena (from his secondary base in London), completed six major voice alarm projects in London and Burnley FC's Turf Moor stadium.

It was to replace their VerTec VT4888DPAN co

UK - After a record breaking 2000 visitor registrations in the final week alone, the opening day at Earls Court on Sunday 12 September has been packed with activity, as over 350 companies launch more than 500 new products.

A major strength this year has been the return of several leading audio brands and over 60 new exhibitors overall, including Ateis, Avid, Baldwin Boxall, Bosch, Bose, EAW, Electro-Voice, Intertek, Korg, Mackie, Martin Audio, Penton, and SCV/ Turbosound, as well as over 250 loyal exhibitors.

In one of the show's numerous innovations for 2010, visitors were able to

UK - Orbital Sound has a series of PLASA firsts lined up. These include the latest products from d&b audiotechnik - the keenly awaited E6 loudspeaker, and the new PLASA 2010 Innovation Award-winning B4-SUB - as well as the latest range of Da-Cappo Micro Microphones, and Zaxcom's recently-announced TRX900LT digital wireless audio transmitter, which offers operation on Channel 38 and adjacent bands.

An innovative new concept in 24/7 hire services is also making its debut: Orbital is launching its easiHire online hire product selection, estimation and quotation tool at PLASA, designed to

UK - Winners of the 2010 PLASA Awards for Innovation, and the 2010 Gottelier Award, were announced yesterday evening in a special presentation at PLASA 2010 in Earls Court, London - after a hotly contested nomination process that saw 62 products entered and six contenders for the Gottelier Award.

The Awards for Innovation, for the first time, were judged 'live' at the Innovation Gallery by an independent panel of 16 expert judges, in front of show visitors and a camera team on Sunday 12 September. Show visitors are able to watch the judging process replayed on large screens in the int

Help For Heroes - Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow have performed live together for the first time in 15 years. The Take That pair, who announced this year they were working together again, performed their new single Shame at a Help For Heroes concert in London.

Earlier, Barlow and Williams said: "It's great that people like Shame so much and we can't wait to perform it live for the first time." Also in the line-up were Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke and Pixie Lott. The concert, which took place at Twickenham Stadium also featured comic talent including Bruce Forsyth, Pete

Hong Kong - QSC Audio Products has taken a major step towards building local sales, service and support capabilities in key international markets, with the opening of a new subsidiary, QSC Asia Ltd., in Hong Kong.

Situated in a 500sq.m split facility in the New Territories, it will support the burgeoning Asia Pacific region with a comprehensive operation, from localized sales, service, and support capabilities to managing the supply chain and offering 24/7 back office support and product training. Its geographical scope will extend from the Indian sub-continent to the West right acros

UK - 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Sennheiser UK. To celebrate, Sennheiser UK is looking back at the many highlights of an extremely successful two decades, but also forward to what it can achieve in the future.

Sennheiser's roots go back much further, to the immediate post-war period in Germany. In 1945 Dr. Fritz Sennheiser founded 'Laboratorium Wennebostel' (Lab W) to manufacture valve voltmeters. The following year the company started manufacturing microphones and, by 1950, was producing pre-amps and mixer amps.

Sennheiser UK joins the story of its parent company in 1990, th

UK - DiGiCo's Little Red Box and Little Blue Box are two compact add on units that quickly and simply expand the connectivity of DiGiCo consoles.

DiGiCo's Little Red Box is specifically designed to work with DiGiCo's SD9 digital mixing console and allows you to connect a D-Rack or a MADI Rack (DiGi-Rack or MiNi-Rack) to two SD9s.

Currently, a single D-Rack only allows you to connect to one SD9, with no way of sharing the rack. The Little Red Box, however, will allow you to plug in your D-Rack, main console and a secondary console. The main console controls all gains, as well as outp

UK - After a year of substantial growth across European markets, TOA Europe has a host of innovative products to demonstrate at PLASA 2010, all of which are being seen at the show for the first time.

Sure to attract attention is the Type H line array loudspeaker, "the most compact, aesthetically pleasing and affordable line array TOA has ever built", which barely a year after its release is already finding favour in large, reflective public spaces where intelligibility is difficult to achieve and hanging space is at a premium.

Also on display is TOA's modular audio-mixing

The Netherlands - At IBC in Amsterdam, DPA Microphones unveiled three new models in its 4099 clip microphone range, which has proved successful with musicians worldwide. The range, which is now complete, has been expanded to include the 4099D for drums, 4099P for pianos and the universal 4099U microphone mount. The complete range now provides a dedicated 4099 for all instruments comprising a full orchestra.

The new 4099P Stereo Microphone System for Piano is the first microphone kit in the 4099 range, combining a pair of sensitivity-matched 4099 mics on goosenecks with magnetic mounts

UK - QFlex, Tannoy's range of digitally steerable array loudspeakers first launched in 2008, has recently been updated with some major additional features designed to meet a range of industry needs. These enhancements give the product improved functionality and superior capabilities for integration within large scale PA/VA applications, says the company.

The new features that Tannoy has introduced on QFlex deliver more resolute safety and monitoring facilities, making it fully compliant in any life safety or mass notification environment. In addition QFlex has been weatherised for out

UK - Making sense of the mayhem surrounding the past, present and future of radio microphone frequency wavebands, Trantec comes to PLASA 2010 as one of the first companies to offer UHF wireless systems compatible with the new Channel 38.

On demonstration and already shipping in a Channel 38-compliant version of the company's S4.16 16-channel system, while also on display will be the successful S5.3 12-channel system and its newer, 'big brother' variant, the 24-channel S5.5. Between them, these products underline Trantec's commitment to ensuring customers have a future-proof solution o

USA / UK - QSC Audio Products has announced a co-development partnership with the M&W Design Group to create a series of digital audio mixing consoles. Greg Mackie and Peter Watts are, respectively the M and the W in the organisation's name.

After retiring from Mackie Designs (now Loud Technologies) in 2003 Greg Mackie still had a desire to create the kind of innovative and high-value products he is known for. So it only took a little charm and cajoling by his long-time friend and collaborator Peter Watts to convince him to come out of retirement in 2008 and develop the concepts for a

Malaysia - The owners of The Opera, a nightclub located in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, recently turned to EAW for a complete sound system upgrade. Regional EAW distributor ProAktiv Systems supplied the EAW loudspeaker systems and Powersoft amplification, which is now installed in the main theatre and VIP areas throughout The Opera.

The clubbing experience at The Opera is enhanced by daily Cirque Nouveau performances featuring acrobatic and circus troupes high above the main floor in the three-story, 10,000sq.ft theatre. The main stage regularly features performances by dance, gymn

UK - Bournemouth University has become the first SADiE customer in the UK to take delivery of the new SADiE 6 audio editing and production software.

Peter Nash, Prism Sound and SADiE's broadcast Consultant, personally delivered the first five UK licences when he attended the Sounding Out creative radio conference, which took place at the University from 7-10 September 2010.

Prism Sound, which made the new SADiE 6 software available to the public at IBC 2010, has also announced sales of 10 native licences to Aberdeen College and 16 SADiE 6 licences, which will run on their exi

Italy - Once again the curtains have closed on La Versiliana Festival. Rock-Pop musical Rent - No day but today by director Paolo Ruffini, produced by Nido del Cuculo, closed the long series of shows scheduled at the festival in Marina di Pietrasanta, Tuscany.

On stage there was a Proel Axiom + Powersoft System chosen by Alessandro Fava's Music Service of Livorno.

"The original version of this musical showed on Broadway for 12 straight years," sound designer Giuseppe Porcelli reports. "Those who know it are aware that its technical features make it absol

USA - The recent Sunset Music Festival 2010 gave Miami's trance / house music enthusiasts much to cheer about. Held on Saturday, 31 July at Soho Studios, this year's festival comprised of four stages (three inside - one outside), each with 10 DJ's. When he wasn't busy running the event, festival promoter DJ Xta-C treated the crowd to his own blend of house music. Trance / progressive music artist George Acosta also performed, as did Ralph Falcon, Cato K, and numerous other musical luminaries. The main stage was located outdoors in Soho Studios' parking lot and this is where the biggest

USA - For many smaller towns, the local church is a focal point for friends and neighbours to meet and keep in touch. And for residents of Perham, Minnesota, St. Henry's Catholic Church has long been just that. The sanctuary's soaring walls and high arched ceilings have made it a wonderful place to gather for traditional Sunday services.

But while the sanctuary's classic, ornate architecture makes the choir and organ sound magnificent, it doesn't do much for the spoken word. In fact, the church has long struggled with the room's reflectivity and its effect on the intelligibility of th

Norway - Often referred to as the northernmost point in Europe, Nordkapp (North Cape) on the island of Mager°ya in northern Norway is just 2103.3km from the North Pole at its most northerly tip. Now a major tourist destination that welcomes some 200,000 visitors every year, the area nevertheless remains sparsely populated; hence local radio is a vital means of communication throughout the region, especially for those in the most remote locations. Systems contracting company J°rgen Lien Elektronikk AS recently installed a PYKO audio over IP network from Digigram to link a number

USA - The N-Sid-Sen Camp and Conference Centre is a 270-acre multi-use facility on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene in Northern Idaho. The venue offers a wide variety of settings for activities, including sports fields, a ropes course, basketball and volleyball courts and an outdoor chapel. Recently, Pat Lambert of Lambert Audio Engineering was asked to spec a PA system for the new Stillwater Welcome Centre located at N-Sid-Sen, and he selected loudspeakers and DSP from EAW.

"The facility does not have trained audio techs on site, so I knew it was crucial that I provide an extrem

UK - Visitors to the PLASA 2010 saw the world debut of Nexo's 45°N-12 monitor loudspeaker, billed as featuring a new concept in stage sound - that of line monitoring.

The Nexo 45°N-12 wedge monitor brings all the benefits of line-array technology to the stage. It draws on Nexo's Hyperbolic Reflective Wavesource which is used throughout the Geo range of high-performance loudspeakers.

The design works by wavesourcing, creating virtual acoustic sources behind the enclosure itself and below the stage, using reflection rather than coercion to determine the shape of the wavefront.

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