UK - The PLASA08 exhibition, which opened its doors today at Earls Court, London, sees the official unveiling of Polar Audio Ltd - a new name to the audio industry, but the exclusive UK distributor for some of the best known names in the professional audio market.

A statement issued by the company said,"Polar audio is the exciting new face of beyerdynamic GB Ltd and brings to the market an innovative approach to distribution. Beyerdynamic GB Ltd has always been an independent company, not a subsidiary, but as such it has conducted its operation as a distributor very much in the image of beyerdynamic Germany. This of course has had huge advantages, but in many ways it has coloured our image and led to some inaccurate perceptions of who we are as a company today."

The statement continued: "Perception is not always reality, we are no longer a distributor of microph

UK - Hot on the heels of the SD7, launched this time last year, DiGiCo has launched the SD8 The SD8 has a fixed architecture and employs a smaller Super FPGA than the SD7, yet it benefits from all the major features and versatility of the DiGiCo D Series, plus the advances already made in the SD7, says the company. "This gives a superlative performance to price ratio, allowing DiGiCo to offer an entry-level console, with remote pre amps, at a price point that has never been possible before," says a company statement issued at PLASA 08.

The SD8 incorporates the Stealth Digital Processing, based on the single Super FPGA and combined with Analogue Devices Tiger SHARCS, creates the Tiger SHARC FX engine. This provides audio quality, precision and processing power with an extensive range of built-in, reverbs, dynamics, output matrix and more.

The SD8's control surface has

UK - Cooper Controls are pleased to announce their appointment as exclusive global distribution partner for LightFactory.

In September 2007, Zero 88 took on European distribution of LightFactory control software, bringing this incredibly powerful PC based lighting console to its extensive dealer network across Europe.

Following extremely positive response, Cooper Controls will now provide marketing, distribution, service and support worldwide. Existing LightFactory dealers will continue to service their markets. Cooper Controls will be working closely with them to ensure the continued high level of support that they have come to expect from LightFactory.

Graham Eales, Managing Director of Zero 88 said "Having seen the power of the LightFactory products we were very excited about selling them in Europe. Now that we have the opportunity to broaden the market international

UK - Goboland introduces Gobo Motion, its new video clip service, at PLASA 2008. Utilising its experience in gobo production, Goboland now turn this expertise to video content.

Gobo Motion is a growing library of Collection video clips featuring background images and textures which can be downloaded directly from the Goboland website at www.goboland.com. Gobo Motion can also be used to create custom clips from customers' artwork to provide an economical and convenient method of basic video display.

Ideal for small scale budgets, simple installations such as trade show stands or foyer exhibitions, Gobo Motion can be used to animate, for example, a company logo which can then be played from standard hardware such as a laptop or AppleTV through a simple video projector or Plasma screen or LCD screen.

This dispenses with the need for media servers or high-tech projection equipme

UAE - Now in its seventh year, the 2009 edition of PALME Middle East, which will take place 26-28 April at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, has already built up momentum and promises to receive more exhibitors and visitors than ever, claim the organisers.

Over 8,000 key buyers and decision-makers are expected to attend the 2009 show, which will consist of four key show segments.

Said show director, Alex Heuff, "The success of last year's show was accompanied by a number of constructive comments as to how the show could be even further improved. These included streamlining the layout and rebranding of certain sectors - and I am pleased to report that we have been able to respond to these suggestions.

"For example, we have re-branded MUSAC Middle East for the professional MI market and DJ equipment manufacturers as the sector starts to show real sign

UK - InnovaSON is showing its latest digital control surface, Eclipse at PLASA 08. Based on new technology and fully networkable, Eclipse represents the French company's first console release since the ultra-compact Sy48 in 2004. More powerful than the flagship Sy80, Eclipse is also claimed to be the world's first digital live recording console to offer onboard multitrack recording.

Eclipse's DSP engine enables you to mix up to 104 inputs simultaneously into 48 mix busses with the capacity to manage up to 320 inputs on the console using up to five remote audio racks. The control surface is furnished with 48 faders and 48 fully configurable rotary knobs (spread over four layers). The concept is called SmartPanel and effectively gives you 96 "faders", taking InnovaSON's original SmartFAD concept to the next level.

According to InnovaSON's product manager and designer o

UK - High End Systems has introduced StudioPix, a hybrid wide-angle moving yoke LEDwash light with programmable graphic imaging. This second product in HES' new line of Pixelation Luminaires makes its global at PLASA 08 in London.

HES, a new member of the Belgium-based Barco group, unveiled StudioPix at theBarco/High End Systems stand J30 at Earls Court yesterday.

Smaller than its predecessor Showpix, StudioPix features a circular array of 61homogenous 3-watt LEDs on a 13.5-inch diameter head with an output of 11,500RGB lumens. The pixels offer unlimited possibilities by projecting not just colour, but also displaying images and effects that transform the fixture head into a display device.

"We are excited about the addition of StudioPix to the LED family of luminaires,"stated Bill Morris, HES executive VP worldwide sales."We believe that the future of lightin

UK - ETC has announced the appointment of ARRI Lighting Solutions GmbH (ARRI LS) as its preferred distributor for broadcast applications in several major markets.

The new partnership will allow ARRI LS to provide complete broadcast lighting solutions now comprised of ETC control systems and products, ARRI lighting and suspension products, with turn-key design and installation services.

The partnership covers important broadcast markets in central and Eastern Europe (including GUS) as well as the Middle East and Africa.

"ETC and ARRI have developed some of the best lighting technologies for the broadcast industry," says ETC CEO Fred Foster. "This partnership with ARRI Lighting Solutions will capitalise on the strengths of both companies to provide complete lighting systems made with ETC and ARRI products."

The partnership - which does not affect the thea

UK - Shuttlesound can report an impressive boom in Electro-Voice line array system sales in the UK, primarily catalysed by the new compact cabinet formats introduced to the market in the last 12 months.

In addition to the recent sale of EV's XLD and XLE modules to APR Audio, Shuttlesound is pleased to welcome five rental companies into the EV family: Clear Sound, based in Stratford-upon-Avon; CWS, based in Peterborough; Ethix, based in London; Leisure Tech, based in Wigan; OneBigStar, based in Nottingham.

CWS, Clear Sound and Ethix have all invested in EV's XLC system which has been revitalised by the recent DVX upgrade, which brings EV's new 12-inch low-frequency/mid-bass woofers into the XLC127 cabinets, improving high-SPL stability and full-bandwidth intelligibility.

Colin Smith, proprietor of CWS, explains that: "we were renting in line-array systems up to ten times

UK - Litestructures, one the largest manufacturers of lightweight aluminium trussing, staging and structural solutions in the world, has appointed Impact Products as its master stocking distributor in the UK.

Adrian Brooks, managing director of Litestructures, said, "I am delighted to announce the contractual completion of the deal with Impact Products, which we expect to be worth well in excess of £10 million over the next few years. Impact has a complete infrastructure in place to fully serve our mutual customers and we look forward to a highly successful partnership."

Impact offers Litestructures' products with immediate availability from stock in its Northampton base, supported by a national network of trade counters as well as fully automated on-line purchasing platforms on its webshop.

Litestructures is known for its wide selection of lightweight yet st

UK - Making its official UK debut on Resolution Distribution's stand H47 at PLASA 08, the new ProDesk-4 small format console is available in five different input formats.

Available in 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 mono mic/line input channels, ProDesk-4 includes four stereo line only input channels, each selectable from two different input sources and controlled from 100mm faders with stereo EQ and access to all aux buses. All mono input channels also include internally illuminated Mute and PFL switches, six segment channel metering, 48 Volt Phantom Power switch with LED, mic/line, Pad and Polarity Reverse switches.

The ProDesk-4 input channels are similar to those used on ProRack mixers, while the cosmetics are identical to Spectra consoles. The side panels, armrest, and bridge assembly are modeled on Spectra. ProDesk's internal electronics and components are derived directly from th

USA - The Digidesign D-Show Profile Mix Rack System, the newest addition to Digidesign's Venue family of live sound systems, has opened Venue technology to a vast new user base around the globe, says the company.

Developed specifically for small- and mid-sized performance venues, houses of worship, touring, and fixed installations, or as a drop-in upgrade for existing analogue systems, the D-Show Profile Mix Rack System combines a D-Show Profile console with the new Mix Rack, a compact 11-space rack enclosure that incorporates all audio I/O (stage and local) and DSP into a single chassis.

The resulting system combination offers a compact, portable, and cost-effective way to take advantage of the power and flexibility of Venue, including native control of an extensive library of TDM plug-ins and tight integration with Pro Tools software for live multitrack recording and playbac

UK - FogScreen is exhibiting at PLASA08 on stand D72 a seamless 3 x One projection screen installation. The FogScreen One (one meter) and Inia (two meter) both utilise patented technology to create a thin layer of fog that is dry to the touch and environmentally safe. The one-meter-wide screen provides the option of seamlessly linking with additional FogScreen One projection devices to create a fog-canvas as large as the imagination desires.

For integrators FogScreen One is especially interesting since it enables the creation of large-scale installations, says the company.

FogScreen's AV Integrator Programme for the European market is being launched at PLASA08. This programme has been designed to support AV Integrators with conceptual and technical development, to help with presentations of the screen and to provide integrators with an opportunity to purchase affordable demons

UK - At the PLASA Show in London, commercial audio specialist in public address and voice alarm systems, Ateis UK, has announced the appointment of HD Pro Audio as a main UK distributor for its internationally acclaimed range, which is being premiered at PLASA08.

Ateis' MD Neil Voce commented: "I am personally really delighted to welcome HD Pro Audio on board as a main distributor of Ateis products. Both companies are new ventures in the UK and this means fresh thinking and the positive attitude we need to succeed. The two companies, particularly with Andy, offer complementary skill sets and backgrounds and these will combine well to ensure customers get a first class service."

HD Pro Audio's Andy Huffer added: "What we like to do here is combine great products with great support, and Ateis have a fantastic range of products that are suitable for a wide range of

The PLASA Show got off to a flying start in London on Sunday this week, with a host of high-profile product launches from many of the entertainment technolog business's leading manufacturers. The draw of new technologies and a string of other highlights has made this a visibly successful event as we enter day three.

Tour News - With a canon of classic songs, unbowed enthusiasm and his musical faculties still sharp, Stevie Wonder has opened his first European tour for a decade. The US star took fans at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on a two-hour journey through almost 50 years of songs that helped shape soul and pop. A sold-out crowd of 13,500 saw him play with a 10-strong band and four backing singers, including his daughter Aisha. Wonder, 58, now visits Manchester and London before other European cities.Festival News - Amy Winehouse has played her last scheduled show of the year

UK - John Stadius, technical director of Soundtracs/DiGiCo, was confirmed as the second winner of the prestigious Gottelier Award.

Presented during the PLASA Awards for Innovation on the second night of PLASA08, and named in honour of the late designer, developer and commentator Tony Gottelier, this award aims to recognise innovative developers who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the equipment and tools that enable entertainment technology practitioners to continually push the boundaries of event production, presentation and installation.

Voted for by the industry, the Award was presented to John Stadius by Tony's wife Susie.

Stadius is a distinguished audio designer: in 1978, he joined Soundtracs PLC, designing disco consoles, mixers, power amplifiers and speakers. As technical director between 1980-1994, he continued to design a wide range of ana

Norway - Last month saw the first show with the new Soundcraft Vi Series V3.0 software in use as Norwegian band Secret Garden finished off this year's tour with a special concert including a symphony orchestra.

Secret Garden has been touring China, Korea and Norway since April with two Soundcraft Vi6 consoles and AKG microphones. The last concert of the tour was a special outdoor show incorporating a 27-piece symphony orchestra in the band's hometown of Kristiansand, Norway. With the orchestra and nine musicians/singers on stage, the need for more than 64 channels was obvious.

"When we planned this gig earlier this summer we aimed to use a third Vi6 for the orchestra, but the timing for a stable beta version of the new V3 software was perfect to make it possible to just add, a DSP card in the FOH local rack and a second stagebox to run the required 95 channels from one co

UK - Hawthorn has announced the appointment of Richard Chilvers and Derek Wilson to its expanding sales and installations team.

Richard Chilvers re-joins Hawthorns after a seven- year gap, during which time he fine tuned his skills as a venue technician and later in a sales role.

Derek Wilson, former MD of Elevation Rigging, has also joined Hawthorn's sales and installations team after many years as a Hawthorn customer.

"Due to the continued expansion of our sales and installation department we needed to recruit additional staff to cope with the increased workload. Recruitment can be a gamble and so we are delighted to be able to welcome old friends to the team" commented Hawthorn's MD, Martin Hawthorn.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Harman Professional today gave System Architect Version 1.8 its European debut at PLASA 08 yesterday. New advances include the ability to copy HiQnet parameter strings directly to the Windows clipboard for pasting into third-party control interface applications enabling system-wide control from control interfaces such as those manufactured by AMX and Crestron.

System-wide events can now also be triggered from device-specific error conditions, such as recalling a preset for a zone based on the conditions of individual amplifiers. A user-definable selection of controls can be automatically readdressed to different devices/parameters on a Custom Control Panel in a few simple steps, and advanced zonal control is now possible. A Fast Meter control has been added for improved meter response and device synchronization has been simplified and improved.

"With System Architect

UK - The advent of extremely wide angle profile lenses from such manufacturers as ETC and Selecon has allowed gobos to be used to project across much wider areas than was previously possible. This is ideal when using break up designs like foliage and textured patterns.

However, projection of specific images such as windows and logos has been impossible due to the pincushion distortion inherent in these wide angle lenses.

With Goboland's mastery of keystoning and predistortion of images, it is now possible to use these extremely wide angle profiles to project precise, 'corrected' images on a much larger scale and from much shorter throw distances, says the company.

Goboland has developed a system of pre-distorting gobo images to compensate for the pincushion effect, regardless of which manufacturer's lantern is used.

Each manufacturer's unit has its own unique distortion fa

UK - AKG Acoustics is displaying the D7 vocal microphone at PLASA08. Similarly to its predecessor, the D5, AKG's D7 is billed as a dynamic microphone that delivers clear sound for lead and backing vocals for live sound applications. The D7 additionally features an improved capsule design that contains a humbucking coil and a high-pass filter along with a sleek redesigned look, says the company.

"PLASA is a great opportunity for us to showcase the D7 along with all of its advantages and upgrades. Since the release at InfoComm, the D7 has been featured by famous recording artists and utilised in popular," states Alfred Reinprecht, vice president of marketing for AKG.

"The D7 microphone is one of the greatest microphones in the industry for vocals, and we are very pleased with the amount of positive attention that it is receiving. We are dedicated to providing an

UK - Aviom is exhibiting with its new UK distributor Polar Audio at PLASA 08.

John Midgley, Polar Audio's managing director, says, "We look forward to educating UK markets about Aviom's solutions and to creating additional business opportunities for Aviom's full line of products. Because Aviom systems are modular and scalable, they are ideal for a broad range of applications, including those requiring high-fidelity digital snake and audio networking solutions."

With its expanding applications from monitor mixing and digital snakes to networking and audio conferencing solutions, Aviom expects to increase its market share in the UK as it is introduced to Polar Audio's broad customer base, which ranges in market segments from broadcast to conferencing, to live sound and recording, to audio visual installations.

"Because of its vast experience in design and custom

France - Brit-Award winning Mika's larger than life personality was reflected on stage at his one-off appearance at the Parc des Princes in Paris, with the help of a set designed by multi award-winning set designer, Es Devlin (TMA Best Design 1998, Oliver Award for Best Costume Design 2005).

Production manager for the event, Chris Vaughan, once again approached Brilliant Stages to build and supply the 68m wide x 20m high solid fascia which was to provide the substantial backdrop for the show.

Devlin's design for the fascia was that of a clown's face, the mouth of which was to form the proscenium arch with the forehead, nose and eyes covering the main stage whilst the ears and hair extended off-stage and across into the wings.

Oli Metcalfe designed the lighting using 1500 Color Kinetics IColor Flex SLX units to outline the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and hair whilst James Thomas

Germany - Oktoberfest 2008, which takes place in Munich later this month, features four major tents equipped with audio technologies from Crown Audio, Soundcraft, JBL Professional, AKG and BSS Audio.

The systems for the Hacker, Weinzelt, Armbrustschtzen and Lauenbrau tents are provided by Max Ihm and Andreas Wallisch of LUTV of Forstinning.

At the Lauenbrau tent 12 JBL Professional Vertec VT4887 compact line array elements and eight JBL P744 1x18" subwoofers will be powered by eight Crown I-Tech IT4000 Series amplifiers with mixing by a 48-channel Soundcraft Series 4 console and processing by BSS Soundweb 9088 networked signal processor. Four JBL SRX712M monitor wedges will be joined onstage with a battery of AKG microphones.

At the neighboring Armbrustschtzen tent, a similar loudspeaker lineup of 12 JBL Professional VT4887 compact line array elements, eight JBL P744 s

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