UK - A fixture of London's jazz music scene for more than four decades, Pizza Express Jazz Club recently replaced its aging audio system with a new, self-powered Meyer Sound system featuring IntelligentDC technology. Long known for its intimate atmosphere, friendly acoustics, and stellar musical line-up, the club was voted Live Music Venue of the Year at the 2015 London Lifestyle Awards soon after the upgrade.

"With the new Meyer Sound system we have excellent response, from the top to the bottom of the frequency range, at every seat," reports Ross Dines, PizzaExpress music manager. "It's a completely different world-you can hear the difference on every instrument and voice. It's been a real game changer for me."

For Luc Saint-Martin, the club's FOH engineer, the loudspeaker upgrade gives assurance that his mix will be heard uniformly throughout the room. &

Belgium - Stage Unit of Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium has become the first Belgian sound provider to invest in a Meyer Sound Leopard linear sound reinforcement system. Since taking delivery of Leopard, Stage Unit has deployed the system for a number of events, including the 10,000-person Hestival, a free, annual music event in Heist-op-den-Berg.

"The Leopard system raised sound quality for Hestival to a new level, and coverage across the site was very even," reports Toon Van der Veken, managing director for Stage Unit. "Even at the back of the audience area - nearly 90m away - the sound was still balanced, full, and enjoyable. The system scored 100 percent in every respect. The organizers said it was the best sounding system in the 11-year history of Hestival."

According to Van der Veken, Stage Unit's Leopard investment is not only keeping his long-established

Germany - Kaiser Showtechnik GmbH, Astera's exclusive distributor for Germany, illuminated the New Schleissheim Palace in Munich on 25 August 2015. The setup, stretching more than 300m along the palace façade, was "100% wireless" and used over 600 wireless Astera fixtures.

The project made use of and fully showed the capabilities of Astera's long-distance RF technology found within the AsteraBox and AsteraApp.

The production was to mark the beginning of Astera's recently announced partnership with Kaiser Showtechnik, who produced the video, and their investment in marketing Astera for the German-speaking market.

A 14-man production crew was brought in to organise the project and capture the beautiful effects, brought to fruition by lighting designer, Chris Schatz. The footage was then compiled and edited by CorneliusFilms. The video can be seen on Astera's Faceboo

Sweden - Långbro Värdshus is a top restaurant located just outside Stockholm. Situated in an architectural and historically significant villa, it is run by the renowned Swedish TV chef and author Fredrik Eriksson. In line with its quest for excellence, the restaurant recently upgraded its audio system and Inexo, a local custom installer, chose Genelec's 4000 Series loudspeakers for their clarity of sound and ease of installation for the new system.

The building has a traditional interior which has now been completely renovated. Fredrik has been running Långbro Värdshus since 2005 and is an award-winning chef and restaurateur, he is an important ambassador both for Sweden and Swedish food and is primarily known for being a celebrity TV chef and the author of several books.

The new interior design features a quiet and understated aesthetic that focuses on natural materials a

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

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

Italy - The Mon Amour nightclub in Rimini combines a high quality dining experience with late night DJ sets and live music by top Italian artists. A recent audio upgrade saw Mon Amour added to the long list of Italian venues which trust Yamaha products to deliver high class entertainment to their customers.

The upgrade was carried out by Promo SRL of Alba Adriatica, which has been installing Yamaha equipment in prestigious projects for eight years.

The company installed four Installation Series IF3115 three-way, UniPhase loudspeakers to cover the dining area. Featuring a 15" low-frequency driver, eight-inch midrange driver and three-inch HF compression driver, the IF3115 can deliver a calculated continuous SPL of 127dB, with exceptional clarity. This makes it suitable for nightclubs where seamless sound is required between the dance floor and surrounding areas.

In addit

USA - Since delivery of its new Meyer Sound Leopard line array loudspeaker system, Nashville-based Mid-Coast Sound has seen an immediate growth in its live sound business on the home turf and in events stretching from Kentucky to Mississippi. The team expects the power-to-size ratio of Leopard to play a major role in the company's future projects.

"For most events we do, Leopard is just about the perfect loudspeaker," says Bruce Bossert, owner of Mid-Coast Sound. "To use a boxing analogy, it punches way above its weight. It has the horsepower of most competitive boxes weighing twice as much. It allows us to support large-format events in buildings where it would be a struggle to fly other systems."

Mid-Coast has used its Leopard system at the Silver Star Convention Centre in Philadelphia, Miss. for artists such as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Merle Haggard,

UK - On Tuesday 24 November at The Pavilion Theatre Rehearsal Space, Glasgow, the d&b audiotechnik GB team will present a new breed of point source loudspeakers with sales partner The Warehouse Sound Services.

The event marks the Scottish debut of the d&b audiotechnik V-Series point source loudspeakers. Oran Burns from d&b audiotechnik GB Education and Application Support will showcase the V7P, V10P and V-GSUB.

Oran will host two presentations one at 11:00 and another at 14:00. Both demonstrations will offer industry professionals the chance to familiarise themselves with this new breed of loudspeakers and all their rigging options.

Janet Murray, director at The Warehouse Sound commented: "We're really delighted to be showcasing the V-Series point sources which we think are exceptional. The design of the mid range horn means that the vocal performance is extraordinary.

China - In Sichuang province, an Allen & Heath ZED-436 4 bus mixer has been installed in Mingshan stadium, one of the key reconstruction projects following the 2013 Lushan earthquake.

The recently completed stadium is a multi-functional venue capable of hosting sporting events, conferences and exhibitions, and large-scale cultural and theatrical performances. The venue covers an area of 4000sq.m and can accommodate 2,500 people. It features a central basketball court, surrounded by some fixed stands, with a temporary stage and additional stands.

Designed and installed by EZPro, the ZED-436 was chosen for audio mixing and control.

"The ZED-436 is the perfect choice for this application because it provides enough input channel and professional grade sound quality." said Mr Lian, technical manager at EZPro. "The mixer features 32 mic or line inputs plus 2 dual st

UK - Central Presentations Ltd. (CPL) brought expertise, innovation and full technical production - sound, lighting and video - to the recent high profile ID Live roadshow by L'Oréal, working for producers Bright Productions.

The intense four-date back-to-back tour visited Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds and London. It is L'Oréal's widest attended event showcasing the latest cutting, colouring and styling trends for AW15, offering live and close-up education from L'Oréal's team of ID artists across four evenings of action, inspiration and fashion.

CPL's project manager Lee Gruszeckyj worked closely with Andy Oswin from producers Bright, who initiated the roadshow's overall concept, set and video design and developed the video content to ensure the presentation environment was as cutting edge as the hair-art.

The show design involved a 20m long runway denoted by a

Brazil - Since 1985, Rock in Rio has been one of the world's most successful music festivals. In its spiritual and historic home of Rio de Janeiro, it continually sells out its 700,000 capacity. This year, the heavyweight line up included Queen + Adam Lambert, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Seal, Katie Perry, Rihanna, John Legend and Motley Crew, with a DiGiCo SD7 as master console.

The entire audio system was supplied by Brazilian rental company Gabisom, which has provided audio for the last 13 editions of Rock in Rio, including those in Lisbon, Madrid and Las Vegas.

Sound designer and FOH system engineer for the World Stage at the Rio de Janeiro event was Gabisom's Peter Racy.

"The world stage was loaded with a massive PA system, which comprised 126 line-array elements, as well as 50 flown subs and 32 ground subs," says Peter. "There were several artists who opted

China - Advanced audio technologies from Meyer Sound help deliver an immersive experience for audiences of all ages at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom's 5D Castle Theatre in Zhuhai, China.

Located in the Chimelong International Ocean Resort, the 1,000-seat theatre presents an animated show with support from 119 Meyer Sound loudspeakers. The theatre's sophisticated, multichannel presentation includes 26 input channels and various output channel configurations connected to the D-Mitri digital audio platform via one of the world's largest AVB (Audio Video Bridging) networks.

"D-Mitri with AVB was my favoured solution for this application," states Leo Wagner, infrastructure manager for Wels, Austria-based Kraftwerk Living Technologies, which designed and engineered the technology behind the theatre's mesmerizing experience. "The fact that the AVB data shares the same networ

UK - London's bi-annual Festival of Life is a major religious gathering of the global Pentecostal Redeemed Christian Church of God. Attracting 40,000 worshippers to ExCel London, the event features a dynamic mix of music, dance, drama and gospel.

SFL Group has provided sound reinforcement to the event for the last eight years and this October they designed an L-Acoustics Kara sound system, while also deploying an L-Acoustics X Series stage monitoring system for the first time in the UK.

London ExCel is a difficult venue, the sound system needs to cover 20,000m2 of highly reverberant space, yet deliver audio clarity to each and every congregant. The highly controlled directivity of L-Acoustics Kara allows SFL to focus the sound away from the metal roof structure, keeping it only where it's needed.

"The best way to deal with a reverberant space it is to create a direct so

UK - Buckinghamshire New University Audio and Music Production student Owen Brown is the proud winner of an annual scholarship award from leading audio manufacturer Sennheiser UK.

Owen, 26, from East Ham, London, received the scholarship based on his academic performance in his first year and plans to use the money to pay for recording software to continue to develop his skills.

The scholarship is part of an education partnership between the University, in Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, and Sennheiser. which has its UK HQ in Marlow.

Five students with the highest first year grade profiles were shortlisted and interviewed by Phil Cummings, Sennheiser's marketing projects manager.

Owen, who attended Barking & Dagenham College of Further Education before working in retail for a number of years prior to starting his degree, said the scholarship would be 'a huge help' in h

USA - Once a bedroom community for Chicago, the village of Bolingbrook, Illinois has developed far beyond its suburban origins. While its close proximity to the metropolis still plays a large role in its economy, Bolingbrook has created infrastructure that encourages a sense of community and provides its 73,000-plus residents with plenty of opportunities for recreation right in town

A good example is the Bolingbrook Performing Arts Centre (BPAC), which provides a beautiful outdoor venue for everything from local theatre to national music acts. Built 16years ago, BPAC recently replaced its original sound reinforcement system with a Danley Sounds Labs design that includes new Danley amps, processing, mains, and subwoofers. Critically, the Danley system ably meets all of the village's requirements while costing less than half the cost of other manufacturer's designs, which allowed

UK - The Plaisterers' Hall is the largest and one of the finest Livery Halls in London. Opened in 1972 and situated in the heart of the City of London at One London Wall, it reflects the grandeur of a bygone era but in an ultra-modern setting. The décor is neo-classical in style, with designs created by Robert Adam in the 18th century faithfully reproduced in great detail both on plaster and wood.

Recently, the Great Hall underwent a facilities upgrade, including replacement of the sound system and the addition of touch screen control. Bose pro partner, Whitwam, who installed the original system back in 2004 when a major renovation took place, were asked to look at upgrading the sound to a high quality speech and recorded music system to be used for various different functions including formal dining, corporate events, parties and wedding receptions.

Following a client

Denmark - As the city's main stage for operetta, opera, musicals and ballet, Vienna's Volksoper is renowned throughout the world for the quality and diversity of its performances. It is also an incredibly busy theatre with some 300 performances of around 35 different productions staged every year between September and June.

Delivering such a high volume of performances requires a great deal of effort from everyone involved, especially the sound department.

"To cope with such an intense workload, our sound equipment has to be flexible, durable and very hard working," says Martin Lukesch, head of sound and multimedia at Volksoper Vienna. "This is why we use DPA microphones. For many years they have played an important part in providing the amplification for the orchestra, for actors in musicals and for actors and singers in every kind of show. Opera and operettas,

Finland - Helsinki is well known for its excellent nightlife and vibrant and exciting rock bar scene. One of the newest to bars to open in the city is The Riff, co-owned by Jussi 69, a member of The 69 Eyes, one of Finland's best known rock bands.

With such an illustrious name at the helm and the music offering being such a key attraction for the venue, special consideration was given to the choice of audio system, especially the type of loudspeaker required. Jussi 69 recognised that the venue's success would hinge on this choice and his team chose the Genelec 4000 Series as the loudspeaker with the right combination of performance and looks for the venue.

The Jussi69's partners in the venture are Veikka Moilanen and Oskari Kovalainen, two familiar faces from the Helsinki bar scene. Already a radio host Jussi69 is excited about branching out into bar ownership: "I have to

Oman - German manufacturer Aimline Audio is further expanding its presence in the Middle East with the appointment of Pulse Information Technologies as its exclusive distributor in Oman.

The distributor is credited with possessing a wealth of integration experience, having been involved with many high profile projects in the Middle East region ranging from house of worship installations to conferencing systems and broadcast solutions.

Hitesh Bhimani, AV specialist at Pulse comments, "The Aimline product range fully complements Pulse's current offerings for addressing acoustically and critical audio installations .This agreement establishes a strong partnership with Aimline and enforces the mutual ambition we share to provide our clients with innovative AV products using the latest technology."

"We have been looking for a more targeted pro audio distributor wit

Brazil - For the sixth Brazilian edition and the 30th anniversary of the original Rock in Rio, production company Gabisom Audio Equipment debuted its new MLA system on the Palco Sunset stage which featured artists such as Korn, John Legend, Magic, Deftones, Steve Vai and Al Jarreau across the mix of rock and pop line-ups.

The purchase, comprising 46 x MLA elements, two MLD Downfill cabinets and 24 MLX subs, followed a very successful trial of MLA at Rock in Rio, USA last May. At the Las Vegas event every FOH engineer had been very complimentary about the system saying it was one of the easiest shows they'd done.

Gabisom has been in charge of the sound at Rock in Rio since 2001 including all 14 international editions and the latest incarnate followed a similar equipment list as to the Las Vegas event. Sixteen MLA enclosures with one MLD per side along with 32 MLX subwoofers gro

Sound Investment - The British music industry invested nearly £500m in new music in 2014, with the signing up of new artists by major labels up 30%, according to data released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Publishers Association (MPA). The number of new acts signed by major labels last year hit a five-year high of 156, the figures say.

The 156 new artists signed by Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music was 26 more than in 2013, and just 12 fewer than the recent peak in 2009 of 164 new deals. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI and Brit Awards, said, "It's no fluke that 2014 was such an outstanding year for British music. Alongside the artists themselves, the passion and commitment labels show in unearthing, nurturing and developing the next wave of talent is one of the main reasons our music is the envy of the world right now."<

USA - Audinate has announced the immediate worldwide availability of its new Dante Via software. Having already revolutionized the delivery of audio-over-IP with its widely adopted Dante networking solution, Audinate now makes it even easier for end-users, integrators, consultants and sound engineers across a wide range of markets to experience the advantages of Dante-based networking.

The Dante Via software connects any audio application or device from your computer to a Dante network. Dante Via enables USB, FireWire or Thunderbolt devices - including microphones, legacy mixing consoles or I/O boxes - to join any Dante audio network. The new software also allows a Dante network to be created without the need for dedicated Dante hardware, providing a straightforward approach to routing audio using only computers. Sporting an intuitive, easy to use 'drag and drop'-style interface

Papua New Guinea - Optical Audio is a boutique provider of high-end audio processing, communications and control equipment working out of Melbourne, Australia. Technical Director Jason Read heads up a full time team of three employees, working with a team of regular contractors on the big gigs.

"We supply a service, managed within our current staffing, that ensures we deliver the product," explained Jason. "We're there from quote, to design, to delivery and we're the guys on the ground doing the job. When we started eight years ago, we were supplying backbone PA equipment like drive gear and processing. Communications became a natural progression from our work on fireworks and show control systems. Comms came naturally to us, and we've stared to specialise, and take on high profile projects."

Optical Audio has chosen equipment from Clear-Com to fill their c

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