USA - The Brickhouse front-loading arbor from Thern Stage Equipment delivers a level of convenience and security unavailable from conventional arbors, says the company, providing stagehands with an attractive solution that solves many of the problems of traditional counterweight rigging.

Using a new front-loading design, the Brickhouse from TSE makes operation ergonomic and convenient for users. Traditional counterweight arbors are difficult to load due to their side-loading design; operators are required to stretch and twist to load weights from the bottom up. With TSE's Front-Loading arbor, a series of weight shelves eliminates the need for bottom loading and allows counterweight bricks to be front-loaded at the most convenient position. Operators are no longer required to stretch and bend repeatedly to load weight bricks from the side. TSE counterweight bricks also feature bu

USA - BSS Audio has added a cost-effective break-out box to its Soundweb London family of digital signal processors. The new BLU-BOB output expander, shown at AES New York, compliments the seven other members of the Soundweb London family and represents an inexpensive solution to increasing the number of outputs in a Harman HiQnet networked system, says the company.

The BLU-BOB features eight analogue audio outputs on standard terminal block connectors and the 256-channel, low latency, fault tolerant digital audio bus, also found on the BLU-800, BLU-320, BLU-160 and BLU-120 devices. In addition to providing a backbone for the transportation of multiple channels, this bus also facilitates the creation of large, fault-tolerant, centralized matrices containing multiple devices.

The digital audio bus uses standard, inexpensive Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable, which enables a distance of 10

USA - Crown announced at AES New York the latest update to its Macro-Tech i series of amplifiers, featuring increased power and new dual port capability. Comprised of three models, the MA-5000i, MA-9000i, and MA-12000i, the Macro-Tech i series features Class-I circuitry, which delivers greater power while reducing the amplifier's weight by more than half.

The new Macro-Tech i series also features dual-port capability. An additional network port now allows a user to daisy chain the network control down the rack of amplifiers instead of having to run a separate cable from a switch to each individual amplifier.

"The professional sound reinforcement community knows what to expect from the Macro-Tech i series. They are getting the best sounding, most reliable analogue power amplifier in the world. The best just got better with these updates. The upgraded power and features re

USA - Genelec displayed its 1038CF tri-amplified active monitoring system at AES New York.. It features loudspeaker drivers, slim speaker enclosure (only 9.25"/235 mm), dual eight-inch long throw bass drivers, multiple power amplifiers and active, low level crossovers. Designed for medium-sized control rooms, this system is suitable for music recording studios, project studios, film and video postproduction and broadcast monitoring, says the company.

The 1038CF is based on full-range Genelec 1038B three-way monitoring system and developed as a response to market feedback and customer requests for the same Mid/High performance in a compact package. The Genelec 1038B model, the basis for the new 1038CF, is a full-range monitor with "great low-end response. Today's audio production rooms are often small, and most multichannel environments use a subwoofer combined with bas

USA - Lexicon recently updated the software to the PCM96 and PCM96 Surround to make them compatible with both Pro Tools 8 as well as Mac OS X 10.5.7. In addition, software version 3.2.0.1 represents "a major effort towards the improvement of streaming audio and control functionality of both systems".

"This new software update emphasizes Lexicon's commitment to provide PCM96 and PCM96 Surround users with regular software updates that expand DAW and Mac OS X support, along with providing enhancements to improve software performance and make the system more stable and reliable", said Randy Garrett, director of marketing for Lexicon. "With this software update we have taken the industry's best processors, and made them even better."

(Jim Evans)

USA - D-Tools has announced that it is expanding its customer focus to enable systems integrators in the energy, IT, and security markets to quickly and easily generate accurate, professional looking project proposals with SI5.5 Estimator. The downloadable software is available now.

"We have provided residential and commercial AV integrators with a solution that has had a positive impact on their bottom line, and we are excited to extend our solution to Energy, IT, and Security system integrators," said Adam Stone, president and CEO of D-Tools. "In addition to establishing partnerships with leading manufacturers, we are adding significant improvements to our product line that will greatly benefit integrators in these markets."

(Jim Evans)

UK - VDC Trading Ltd has launched a range of cables that represents a "leap forward" for marine A/V, data and communications connectivity. The Van Damme Marine Range delivers technical specifications usually associated with live sound, music studios and beyond, now adapted for the rigors of a marine environment and the challenges associated with ship installations.

Niall Holden, managing director, VDC Trading, said: "In the world of super yachts, on-board systems have entered the domain of HD television and audiophile sound systems, so pro-audio and broadcast levels of installation have now become the entry level. This means there has never been a greater need and demand for a range of A/V cables that are capable of handling the legal and technical requirements of these systems without compromising the infrastructure and quality of the ship itself."

"U

Germany - The Telex RadioCom BTR-80N Narrow Band wireless intercom system offers a comprehensive, user friendly and versatile set of features. Providing 25 kHz of modulated band width, the BTR-80N Narrow Band system will allow more users per channel in the cramped UHF spectrum.

In addition to providing excellent audio performance, the Narrow Band system inherits all the standard features of the BTR-800 system including DSP digital processing, Intelligent Power Control, and many others. The BTR-80N Narrow Band system offers up to four full duplex wireless TR-80N or TR-82N beltpacks per base station. An unlimited number of additional beltpacks can be added in half duplex operation.

Additional features include selectable transmitter power output, selectable receiver squelch control, RF meter display on base station and beltpack displays, remote battery indicators on base station

UK - Kramer Electronics has announced the introduction of the VP-420 ProScale Digital PC/HD scaler. The VP-420 is a high-performance digital scaler for computer graphics video, component video and HDTV video signals. It scales the input up or down to a selectable computer graphics video or HDTV output signal on a 15-pin HD connector.

Housed in a compact Kramer MegaTOOLS enclosure, the VP-420 supports widescreen resolutions and scales and outputs computer graphics video resolutions from VGA (640 x 480) up to WUXGA (1900 x 1200), component video signals of 480i, 480p, 575i and 576p resolution and HDTV signals of 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolution. The unit is suitable for displaying computer graphics video on displays designed for video use or for displaying HDTV video on displays that only have 15-pin HD connectors available.

The VP-420 features an on-screen display (OSD) for con

Sweden - Wireless Solution is celebrating the shipping of its 30,000th unit of W-DMX which was introduced just five years ago.

"We're extremely pleased - with this continuously rising volume, we've actually been able to reduce prices and pass the savings on to both OEM clients and lower the cost of the boxed units," says Wireless Solution CEO Niclas Arvidsson, "We now have over 20 OEM clients and a solid distribution network worldwide, proving that W-DMX has indeed become an unofficial industry standard."

The company plans to hold its popular Visionary Awards and Swedish meatball and vodka party during LDI in Orlando to celebrate the success. "The awards this year will have a special surprise," adds Arvidsson, "We want to bring focus to some very special people. It will be a celebration not to miss."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Blue Microphones has launched enCORE, a new series of microphones that brings their heritage of studio microphones to the stage. The enCORE 100, 200, and 300 models are designed and priced for any live application, from the rehearsal space and coffee shop to the auditorium and stadium, says the company.

The new enCORE series microphones are "the result of years of research designed to bring Blue's legendary studio sound to the stage, starting with their exclusive Aria Capsule". Every element of the Aria Capsule is precisely matched and tuned to achieve a detailed and clear sound. To protect the capsule, the enCORE Series feature the thickest steel grills on the market along with an oversized reinforcement ring. Further adding to their ruggedness are heavy, precision-machined cast-zinc bodies, which have been tested to perform uniformly after dropping, throwing, a

UK - DiGiCo has introduced the EX-007, designed to substantially increase the number of available faders and the number of channels controllable at any one time on an SD7 - and from a distance of up to 100m via a cost-effective Cat 5 cable connection.

It is possible to augment an SD7 with two EX-007s, each acting as control panel to provide 24 faders and two additional touch screens, as well as metering and other standard functions, transforming the already impressive SD7 into a 100-fader mixing console. The EX-007 networks to the SD7, has its own power supply and its own PC.

"The EX-007 has many applications," says DiGiCo managing director, James Gordon. "For touring, there's the obvious advantage of more faders and the ability to control everything that's on the main desk from multiple locations - ideal for shows where a number of mix positions are required be

Germany - The B4-SUB realises d&b audiotechnik's patented design of a cardioids technique using only one amplifier channel following on from the introduction of CSA (cardioid subwoofer array) techniques to their products early in 2004. Then the approach used a combination of stacking standard loudspeakers with specific amplifier configurations which proved both effective and consistent and was followed by the introduction of both the J-SUB and J-INFRA cardioid subwoofers using front and rear radiating drivers powered by separate amplifier channels. In 2008 d&b perfected and patented the 'Loudspeaker system with reduced rear sound radiation' which in turn led to the development of the B4 subwoofer.

The B4-SUB enclosure houses two long excursion neodymium drivers: a 15" driver in bass-reflex design facing to the front and a 12" driver in a two chamber bandpass design rad

USA - The new Majestic LED from American DJ is "a spectacularly regal moonflower" powered by 64 red, 60 green and 60 blue brilliant 5mm LEDs. This DJ/club effect produces a shower of 184 dazzling beams that are so intense and razor-sharp they look like a laser light show, says the company.

Designed for mobile DJs, clubs and small venues, the Majestic LED offers a cost-effective, convenient alternative to expensive laser effects. "Because it has such extremely sharp and focused beams, the Majestic LED provides the exciting look of a laser aerial effect, yet at a much lower cost," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American Group of Companies. "Plus, with LEDs as its light source, you don't have to worry about a laser variance or other types of restrictions. DJs and small clubs can now add the impact of laser to their light shows without any hassle,

France - Christie is giving the French debut at Siel Satis in Paris (19-22 October) to its Roadie HD+35K - "the world's brightest projector". Nominated for the Trophées 2009 Siel Satis in the 'event' category, this new addition to the Christie Roadie family of projectors produces 35,000 centre lumens (32,500 ANSI lumens) and features Christie's unique, flexible split-body design with separate lamp ballast.

The Christie Roadie HD+35K is the flagship product in Christie's three-chip DLP line, with native 2048x1080 HD resolution and 10-bit image processing. "There is no comparison in terms of resolution, brightness and performance," says George Tsintzouras, director of product management at Christie.

The Christie Roadie HD+35K is built for the road: it sets up quickly and easily and is tough enough to withstand frequent installs. New to this model is a

UK - Zero 88 has announced the release of version 5.3.0 software for the ZerOS consoles. Version 5.3.0 can be installed on Zero 88 Leap Frog 48, Leap Frog 96, Frog 2 and ORB consoles and adds a number of new features together with bug fixes.

Key features introduced in version 5.3.0 include a Non Tracking mode for cue stacks, support for multi-part cues and the ability to store user-defined views directly onto UDKs on ORB. These new features add to the feature set of ZerOS and are in response to user feedback.

ZerOS 5.3.0 can be downloaded now from the Zero 88 support centre (http://support.zero88.com), together with release notes and an Offline Editor (Phantom ZerOS) for all ZerOS consoles. This upgrade is provided free of charge.

For more on Zero 88's Orb console, look out for our comprehensive review of the product as part of our Technical Focus section in the forthcoming

UK - The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) has recently been updated to provide extra protection to the Partially Sighted, putting emphasis on both the illumination of Stairs and making columns and pillars in public areas more visually apparent. Light Tape can assist in both these areas with cost-effective simple solutions, says UK supplier Light Tape UK.

PolyLight is a new electro-luminescent (EL) product aimed at improving safety by making steps, stairways and other features more visible. It is available in a variety of sizes with ether 12mm and 25mm illuminated strips for both indoor and outdoor stairs with six grades of anti-slip, in a variety of colours for both the anti-slip insert and the Light Tape. PolyLight's connections are embedded in resin, making the product waterproof for outdoor use.

PolyLight anti-slip illuminated inserts have been developed primarily to fit

Italy - FaitalPRO, the professional division of the Milan based Faital company has recently announced the launch of two new compression drivers for HF. Following the innovations developed in these two models, they will soon be joined by four others of slightly larger sizes, says the company.

Flavio Naggi, FaitalPRO overseas sales manager states: "No new model here is made 'by chance', we want to propose an ever more complete catalogue that responds to all the demands of acoustic enclosure manufacturers in the pro audio market."

The HF10AK and HF10RK compression drivers feature an innovative Ketone Polymer diaphragm having elevated strength and resistance at high temperatures while maintaining elasticity and flexibility.

They boast greater efficiency and extension in high-frequency response; they hold 60W-AES at continuous power (120W peak power), but their characte

Spain - Ecler has introduced the Audeo speaker series which "strikes the perfect balance between the intelligibility and sound reproduction quality requirements currently demanded in professional audio installation and ever-increasing demands with respect to aesthetics, design and integration into all types of architectural environments".Audeo has a balanced, innovative design, resulting from the collaboration between Ecler and the prestigious group Giugiaro Design during the conceptual phase and in the exterior design of the speakers. This factor, together with its quality sound reproduction, make this series suitable for use in numerous sound projects: corporate and residential buildings, commercial premises, leisure centres, health centres, conference and meeting rooms, says the company.

This versatile series, which comes in three sizes (Audeo 103, 106 and 108), and

France - Robe lighting's Robin 300 Plasma Spot fixture has won one of the Trophées 2009 Siel Satis Awards (Entertainment category) which was presented at the Paris SIEL & Satis Le Radio 2009 entertainment technology trade show in Paris last week. Robe was exhibiting in conjunction with its French distributor Axente.

This follows hot on the heels of winning a PLASA Award for Innovation at the London show in September.

The Robin 300 Plasma Spot was one of 59 products nominated for Les Trophées, which was judged by the combination of 11 leading independent industry experts and an online vote by members of the public.

The Robin 300 Plasma Spot - also being shown for the first time in France at the exhibition - was chosen for its innovation, and for bringing a new and dynamic dimension in lighting to visual and lighting designers working in all areas o

UK / USA - Christie will debut the Solaria series, at ShowEast with the launch of the Christie CP2220 digital cinema projector. The projector features Texas Instruments' (TI) (NYSE: TXN) next generation DLP Cinema technology and an optional integrated 2K/4K media block. Christie's 4K digital cinema projectors will display 4096 x 2160 pixels of resolution. While maintaining support for 2K external servers, these new models allow exhibitors to easily project 2K or 4K content, giving them the widest choice in digital cinema options. The Christie CP2220 will be on display with a Doremi integrated media block at the Christie booth.

The Christie CP2220 is the first in the new series of digital cinema projectors that also includes the Christie CP2210 and the Christie CP2230. The Christie CP4220 and the Christie CP4230, also introduced in June, are the company's premium 4K projec

Canada - Cast Software of Toronto has received confirmation of International Patent PCT/CA2009/001225 for its BlackBox system and method for realtime environment tracking and coordination - and thereby this filing conforms with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Switzerland. This international patent filing for BlackBox is in addition to the filing #12/421,343 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Through the realtime positioning, BlackBox receives and converts live positional data about any/many moving objects, establishes the exact 6D positions of those objects, computes instructions in XYZ, plus yaw, pitch and roll terms, and shoots out moving positional information so moving lights, set pieces, spatial sound, media servers, robotic cameras, etc. are synchronized and tracking to the action of those moving objects, all at a speed of 50 Hz.

Bru

USA - The new Emulation Control Software from Elation Professional is the next generation in software lighting control. It has all of the functional features that lighting professionals are accustomed to working with, says the company, like cue-lists, fixture groups, playbacks and globals but there is one big difference - they can run it on a Mac OS platform from the start. And, they won't have to spend a king's ransom for this privilege either.

"In the past lighting professionals had limited choices when it came to lighting control software," said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. "We have been getting requests for years for a MAC OS lighting software from both Pro Lighting users and Musicians who all own MAC computers. Sure they could run their lighting software on a Windows platform by using a third party software and then go through the

Italy - The ND 850 2.0 from RCF is a driver for professional high performance applications, from high power two-way systems to multiple-way long throw systems.

The ND850 2.0 has a two-inch exit throat featuring several state of the art technologies. The diaphragms are precision formed from made from pure titanium and the suspension is based on a vented and damped design in order to provide low distortion.

Voice coil assembly of the compression driver is designed using high temperature kapton former.

(Jim Evans)

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