Sound

EKS

Details: 14 March 2016

From Finland, EKS was capitalizing on the massive success of its XP10 scratchable MP3 audio pad. Weighing just 370g, it can replace a 5kg CD player, say the company. This year, the XP10 was running with Bison v0.9, the latest version of its proprietary software, which brings two important new features to the mix - perfect vinyl emulation and time stretch. Time stretch maintains the pitch while you change the speed to faster or slower.

Digidesign

Details: 14 March 2016

Forward-looking Digidesign presented several new augmentations for its digital desk, the Venue. D-Show 1.1 is a free update, giving a new Variable Group mode that permits operators to configure 24 discrete mix busses, in addition to main LCR bus. Drawmer TourBuss gives live sound engineers four plug-ins for the desk, noise gate, expander, comp/limiter and a bracketing filter. D-Show Script Tray is a simple flat transparent tray designed to fit above the console surface and roll across it without disturbing any controls, while supporting notes, cue sheets - even a Laptop, anything reasonable the operator needs to hand. Personal Q Monitoring software and hardware allows for remote mixes from the main desk transmitted over a four-pin XLR to PQ wired controllers.

RCF

Details: 14 March 2016

The company launched a number of new products including the new Monitor Q ceiling speaker, MQ50C, a compact designed, limited depth, lightweight ceiling speaker. RCF says this is ideal for use in any PA system, or background/foreground music system, where high quality sound reproduction is required. The unit offers quick and easy installation.

Also new, the ART 110-Ti is a two-way high efficiency compact speaker system, offering high intelligibility, say RCF, and an ideal solution for fixed installation thanks to M10 inserts and optional accessories. The ART 110-Ti is recommended for permanent installations with constant voltage or low impedance speaker connections, sound reinforcement systems in small spaces or with distributed speakers and AV playback.

RCF also showed the latest additions to the 4PRO speaker range, the 4PRO 7001 passive loudspeaker system and the 7001-A (active) to

Lamba

Details: 14 March 2016

Lamba distributes Stanton, KAM, Cerwin Vega (see elsewhere) and KRK in the UK. KAM's section on the Lamba stand featured over new 130 products including three new speaker ranges - the 2 Series, KSF and IMS Mk II. Also new was a wireless microphone range - the KWM - offering a complete range of systems from entry level to 96-channel UHF dual mic systems with IR.

Stirling Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Stirling Audio is a distributor of studio equipment and live mics including the Audix brand and Ashley installation graphic EQs, amps and distribution units. The company also handles Aphex rack-mounted compressors and mic preamps. An assortment of products were on the stand, together with the Metric Halo Mobile 10 for location and broadcast work for those who travel and want to record on the move.

MC2 Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Ian McCarthy - probably one of the most popular men at PLASA - reports that sales of MC2 amplifiers have gone through the roof. The company, set to expand production by up to 50% by Christmas, has also recently expanded into an adjacent unit at its production facility, a move that McCarthy hopes will help to ensure that MC2 can keep up with demand. As if they were not busy enough, they'll be announcing a brand new product - the E4750 - at Frankfurt, but everything else about it is top secret . . . watch this space.

Community UK

Details: 14 March 2016

Community UK became its own entity on 1 July this year, making this the first time the company has exhibited at PLASA in its own right. On show was the expanded iBOX range of installation speakers, which has numerous array and dispersion pattern options, all in cabinets of identical size. The new iBOX HP3500 series, which are slightly larger than the existing 1200 and 1500 series, are a high performance 3-way system. Both the iHP3564 and iHP3594 are loaded with a 15" and 8" low- and mid-range drivers plus a 1.4" throated, edge-wound voice coil compression driver. Dispersion from the two boxes varies from 60° x 40° for the iHP3564 to 90° x 40° for the iHP3594, and both loudspeakers can operate in either passive or bi-amped modes.

To complement the range, two subs have also been released in the form of the i118S and i215LVS, and have the same physical dimensions as the

Fuzion

Details: 14 March 2016

The Camco UCA Network module from UK distributor Fuzion gives full DSP function to any speaker system you wish to input. Only German specification sheets were available on stand, but we can confirm this is a two-channel unit - visit www.camcoaudio.com for more.

From Australian Monitor, the new QF5A ceiling speaker, a quality 5" unit with multi-tap transformer is an upgrade of the QF5 which it replaces, and is designed for fast-fit installation.

A full-range system for bars and theme venues, the FG Series from T&M comprises five models with a choice of three subs. The new RMW-1152 MicroWedge from Radian is a line of ultra-compact stage monitors for live sound applications. Finally, from Work comes the Studio Series install speaker for bars and clubs using a small horn tweeter. With a 100V/70V line option - the Studio series is designed for hi-fi background music.

Outboard

Details: 14 March 2016

The TiMax SoundTablet from Outboard is a cue-driven sound effects editing and playback package operable from any desktop, laptop or tablet PC, available at a very realistic price. Eight mono or stereo audio sample tracks per cue, mixable to eight soundcard outs; simultaneous and instantaneous multi-channel playback from PC hard drive; limitless Playlist cues triggered either manually or by MIDI, SMPTE, RS232, or a follow-on timeline. The drag-and-drop function of manipulating cues and effects makes this a no-brainer to work with.

If added to TiMax imaging software, with its complex manipulation of multiple delays to produce satisfyingly realistic image-shifting sound effects, SoundTablet directly applies Image definitions to perform enhanced static and dynamic pan imaging.

MEDC

Details: 14 March 2016

MEDC, specialists in loudspeakers for voice evacuation in hazardous areas, was showing its new explosion proof (meaning they won't cause one), BS5839 Part 8 compliant, Next Two speakers at PLASA. The loudspeakers are designed for use on oil rigs and other similar harsh industrial environments.

MilTec

Details: 14 March 2016

MilTec (UK) featured several new products from the Ecler brand, including the Ambit 103 and 106 loudspeakers, the DPA, XPA and DT ranges of amplifiers and the DP300 effects processor. Further new audio products included a series of Beyma neodymium driver and line array horn loudspeakers.

Equipson SA

Details: 14 March 2016

Equipson showed its new Studio Series loudspeakers. The new range is specifically aimed at providing high quality audio for short spaces that have high ceilings, such as shops, galleries and museums and are designed to minimize diffusion to maintain intelligibility.

Signet (AC)

Details: 14 March 2016

Signet, manufacturers of induction loop, voice alarm and emergency telephone systems were showing its recently introduced Pro range of induction loop amplifiers at this years show. The PDA Pro-Range come in three varieties, PDA200/2, PDA500/2 and PDA1000/2, which relate to the number of square meters the loop can encompass. Also, on the stand was the neatly packaged PL1/K1 Portable Induction Loop system ideal for use anywhere and ready in seconds. The system is capable of generating a loop field of 1.2m2 , provides excellent sound quality and runs off a rechargeable battery.

Peavey

Details: 14 March 2016

Peavey focused attention on a new live sound desk made in Australia - the Smart Console. Really, it's a work surface designed to be used with products such as Peavey's Nion (now we see their logic). The control surface comes in three formats - 48-, 72- and 96-channel, each topped by a sweeping arc bridge which exemplifies the innovative approach taken by the Smart Console. Besides being a meter bridge, the arc gives the operator instant access to any channel by sweeping a finger along the touch-sensitive strip below the channel linear meters. A simple scribble strip beneath each channel is read by character recognition software from below and transferred onto the digital display above the channel faders on the main work surface below.

Highly intuitive, but radically unconventional, the Smart Console is intended as a universal control surface to work with ultimately any engine. Besides

Sound Technology/Samson

Details: 14 March 2016

Probably one of the most useful products at the show is the new Samson USB microphone, the C01U. The condenser mic plus directly into a USB port on either a PC or Mac allowing direct digital recording into the machine. The A/D converters are placed as close to the capsule as physically possible and were designed specifically for the microphone.

Alcons Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Utilizing Alcons' own 18" ribbon tweeter, the new Q-Series is a true flat line array in the purest sense of the name. Highly directive Q comes in 1m modules with frequency control in the lower ranges increasing as you add modules, potentially down to 80Hz if you like a line that tall. With 90° horizontal dispersion and the high claimed power of the ribbon driver, a single module makes for a very powerful cabinet.Alcons' Ultra Compact Line Array comprises two cabinets, the LR14 and LR14B (bass). It can be flown (including the sub), or groundstacked, and uniquely with the mid/high boxes pole-mounted (up to three boxes) in a yoke-style harness, adjustments can still be made to the arraying intervals between the cabinets. All with on-board amps and DSP.

Mach

Details: 14 March 2016

The Mach CW 115 is the newest subwoofer in Mach's new C-Range of installation speakers. The powerful reflex-loaded sub is designed for heavy-duty use in professional environments, say Mach. Like all speakers in the Mach C-Range, the CW 115 is designed to fit unobtrusively into any install environment and features the same flying point principles used on the C-Range top boxes. The Mach C-Range also includes the CI Series of molded speakers for in-fill applications, and the first in a series of white CI Series moulded speakers, the CI 6, also featured at PLASA.

Canford Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Canford Audio highlighted its vast range of cables: the company keeps an impressive 1.5 million metres of cable in stock. The two main new products here were by Anchor Audio - the first a wireless comms system requiring no base station and accommodating up to 15 belt-pack groups with no limit on the amount of packs per group. The second was the Beacon portable line array sound system, which resembled a large wheelie suitcase when compacted!

LMC Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

LMC Audio was showing a wide selection of new products under its 'Pure Audio Choice' banner. Martin Audio, Turbosound and Nexo compact systems were all featured, with both analogue and digital consoles the cause of interest and sales. The compact Soundcraft MH2 led the way, with Midas Sienna and Yamaha digital consoles also vying for attention. "One of our most successful shows ever," said Paul Hinkly.

Tannoy

Details: 14 March 2016

Tannoy's successful V-Series dual concentric loudspeakers were launched in 2003: at this year's show, Tannoy exhibited the latest update, the VNET, which is self-powered and networkable. The new cabinets use VLINEA class D amplifiers, which do not use fan cooling. The integrated DSP looks after the amplifier and will, according to engineering director Ben Ver, attempt to make some kind of sound at any cost! Designed from the ground up, the VNETs are available in several flavours - VNET 12, 12HP, 15 and 300 with three subs - the VNET 15BP, 15HL and 18DR.

American Audio Europe

Details: 14 March 2016

American Audio launched no fewer than four new MP3 players, including the Velocity twin MP3 player with interactive jog wheel. The machine, which plays MP3s and CDs, boasts advanced cueing to the frame (not the second), digital scratching, nine onboard effects, digital BPM counter and tempo lock.

Also launched were the MCD range of MP3/CD players - the MCD-110 single deck, MC-510 dual deck with separate controller giving pitch control, fader start and relay play and the MCD-810 at the top of the range. Also new was the CDI-500, a single deck but with many of the features already mentioned plus the addition of a tap button for manual BPM entry, reverse play and storage of up to 1500 cue points.

Fametrack

Details: 14 March 2016

London-based sound and lighting distributor Fametrack was promoting its latest trade catalogue.

Innovason

Details: 14 March 2016

The launch of Dio Core at PLASA is significant for InnovaSON. This is essentially a stage box compatible with any device so long as it is Ethernet capable. Used typically with InnovaSON consoles, Dio Core allows greater input to the console, and can be used in multiples linked together by simple Cat 5 cable. One stage box gives up to 64 ins and outs in modules of eight. Patch at the desk, every remote gain, phantom power, high quality pre-amp, etc - all the renowned InnovaSON features are there. Naturally, software updates have been made for the InnovaSON Sy80 and Sy48 consoles to manage the Dio Core functions.

Allen & Heath

Details: 14 March 2016

There was quite a buzz on the Allen & Heath stand throughout PLASA this year, due to the introduction of the company's iLive digital mixing console system.The console has been designed to bridge the gap between digital and analogue mixing desks and its look and feel is certainly testament to that. Its large EQ and dynamics controls look like a cross between the inside of the Delorian in Back to the Future and a Moog synth. Yet this retro look is calming and strangely familiar, as are the large multi-coloured LCD panels for channel information.

At the heart of the iLive lies the iDR-64 processing engine, which allows the desk to mix 64 channels of audio across 32 mixes that can be assigned as combinations of auxes, groups, matrix and main outputs. The unit is controlled via Ethernet and can interface to a number of control surfaces in addition to the iLive, which itself is available as

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