USA - Richmond Sound Design's (RSD) SM-Designer sound design software is known to be comprehensive and versatile - now it can claim to be "award-winning" technology, too, the company reports. Scott Siegwald, who recently won the 2007-2008 AriZoni Award for Non-Contracted Theater Sound Design, credits RSD's innovative sound design and management program for his success.

When Theater Works, a community theatre in Peoria, Arizona, decided to produce Bram Stoker's Dracula as part of their 2007-2008 season, they knew the sound engineering would involve an unprecedented challenge. The show required 72 music cues and 58 sound effects which needed to be overlapped and layered into 157 sound cues during the show. The production team decided that, in order to create the auditory atmosphere necessary for this eerie play, they would need to hire four sound engineers and pro

UK - Scottish rental company EFX is the first to pair Midas XL8 and PRO6 digital systems on a tour. EFX has been using its two XL8 Live Performance Systems for front of house and monitors on Eddi Reader's UK tour and deploying the PRO6 Live Audio System on monitors in smaller venues.

FOH engineer Joe Thomas and monitor engineer Shona Steadman started the tour with an XL8 each, working seamlessly through dates across Scotland and the north of England before arriving at London's Shepherds Bush Empire, where the PRO6 took over on monitors.

No stranger to the XL8, Steadman has used it on a Deacon Blue tour and countless festivals and concerts throughout the summer, becoming very familiar with the system. Moving onto the PRO6, she simply transferred all her show settings across from XL8. "They all came up perfectly the first time, which was very reassuring," she says. &qu

USA - FiberPlex reports that an extensive LightViper fibre optic audio transport system was recently installed at Southern California's MiraCosta Community College. The college recently completed a $21 million project to build a music technology classroom facility on its main Oceanside, campus. The new music technology building features a total of eight production control rooms fed by two large recording studios. All audio is routed through an extensive LightViper digital transport system via fibre optics.

San Diego-based ProSound, a LightViper VAR and audio design firm, handled all aspects of the audio design, as well as installation of the fibre audio components. Mike Krewitsky, owner and chief systems designer for the 30-year-old pro audio company says: "This project was truly about designing, and then putting into place, an affordable infrastructure that will remain tec

UK - Allen & Heath has announced its Distributor of the Year 2008, awarding the accolade to the company's Chinese distribution partner, Sanecore Audio. The award was presented to Sanecore's general manager, Jun Zhu, and Sanecore Shanghai sales manager, Wu Hao, at the recent Music China show. The award recognises the best overall performance by an international distributor during Allen & Heath's 2008 fiscal year.

Allen & Heath's area sales manager, Bardy Hayes, commented: "It gives us great pleasure to make this award to the Sanecore team, which has displayed great enthusiasm and dedication to the A&H brand. Allen & Heath has launched many innovative products in recent times, including the Xone:4D DJ controller, the ZED-R16 dedicated recording mixer, and developments in its iLive digital range, and with dynamic distributors such as Sanecore behind us, Allen & Heath will cont

Jordan - "We've just completed one the most unusual, challenging, and yet ultimately rewarding shows in the company's history," said Britannia Row Productions' Bryan Grant, speaking after a recent gala event in Petra, Jordan, that saw stars from the world of classical and popular music come together to celebrate the work of Luciano Pavarotti on the anniversary of his birthday, 12 October.

"This wasn't just an act of veneration," explained Grant, "Pavarotti touched many people in his lifetime, particularly through his work as United Nations Messenger of Peace. It's rare to see stars the calibre of Sting and Zucchero rubbing shoulders with the likes of Carreras, Domingo and Bocelli, but that was the nature of the man."

Naturally, such a potent mix of performers brings its own challenges, the services of Britannia Row being engaged to bring their own

Singapore - The Ignite Music Festival staged this summer at The Republic Polytechnic in Singapore had two stages - a main stage for full-on loud rock, and an acoustic stage for the more intimate experience.

Tony Kam, assistant director (technical operations) reports: "The PA systems were put together by my in house technical team at the Poly; they defined system, position and size of rig, but naturally the students assisted, putting it up, and effectively it was they who ran the show.

"We purchased a Q-Series system from d&b audiotechnik last summer, and knew this would be ideal for the main stage which featured a large Q1 loudspeaker rig with Q and B2 subwoofers. Since we bought into the Q-Series, our in-school technical team has attended several seminars on system design and application, theory and practice and related subjects.

These were run by Anil Suho

USA - Ransdell Chapel, the heart of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, has installed an iLive-144 at FOH position. A 900 seat facility, the Ransdell Chapel provides the educational focus for the University and is used for various types of events including student orientation, bi-weekly student body worship sessions, annual Pastor's conference, worship arts conference, theatrical performances, symphonies, and full band concerts.

"Completed and dedicated in April of 2007, the new Ransdell Chapel is in constant use and every programme is different from day to day," says Doug Price, the A/V coordinator for the University. "Often, they will have multiple events in a single day. They needed a system with easy channel and output configuration, total recall, and flexible routing. The iLive-144 was the perfect solution for Ransdell. The mix rack lives at the stage, int

Netherlands - Bosch Security Systems' new ceiling-mounted hemi-directional PA loudspeaker system has been nominated for the 2008 Detektor International Award. The award is presented annually by the global security magazine Detektor International in recognition of products that meet the criteria of outstanding innovation and outstanding contribution to developments in the security industry. Bosch's hemi-directional loudspeaker system has been nominated for the award in the Alarm & Detection category, the other categories being Access Control and CCTV.

The overall winner in each of the three categories will be decided by a jury comprising Detektor International's editorial board and external independent security professionals, and the winners will be announced at the Sectech security exhibition in Copenhagen on 19 November.

(Jim Evans)

Opera News: Plans by the Royal Opera House to establish a northern base at Manchester's Palace Theatre are to be examined by the Arts Council. The proposal from the London-based company was discussed with Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. It was decided that an independent evaluation of the scheme, to open a new opera, ballet and lyric theatre venue at the Palace, would start immediately. Mr Burnham said the review was the "positive next step". The Arts Council said the evaluation would look at plans to expand opera and dance provision, develop new audiences and provide more training and skills development to the sector.

Live News: Big-name bands like Take That and Oasis are leading a boom in gig ticket sales, with UK stadium shows selling in record time despite the credit crunch. Take That sold 700,000 tickets for their 2009 tour, a week after 500,000 tickets to see Oasis were

UK - The Diskus has become the latest addition to London's burgeoning conference venue landscape following an inspired and versatile multimedia installation by Design Integration.

Owned by UNITE, the Union T&G Section, and occupying a prime site in the Holborn business district, the independently run Diskus has been able to promote itself as an "advanced conference venue" since the AV specialists carried out a major upgrade this summer using QSC's AcousticDesign Series loudspeakers and CX Series power amplifiers.

Derek Wright, managing director of Design Integration, has frequently turned to QSC components to satisfy his project requirements - and given The Diskus's low ceiling height he was able to deploy multiples of AD-Ci52T and AD-Ci52ST recessed ceiling speakers for the foyer/break out area and main auditorium respectively.

Said conference manager, Francis Wil

USA - Samuel Ryder (who died in 1936), was brought back to life at the Ryder Cup Gala thanks to Digital Illusions' Musion Eyeliner holographic projection system, the first of its kind in the U.S., and A/V leader NMR Staging & Events.

NMR Staging And Events director of audio, Lou Castelluci, spec'd a DiGiCo CS-D5 for the production to manage over 24 inputs of video, myriad wireless mics, recording/playback functions, and outputs for both the live audience and broadcast recording decks. The console's ability to handle the Digigram EtherSound technology proved invaluable, as Castelluci was able to keep the audio all-digital by sending eight channels of EtherSound out of the console to his Nexo PA. via his Nexo 242 digital processors.

"Since we already owned the EtherSound Cards for the Nexo NX242s it only made sense to have a digital board that could handle the EtherSound ou

Portugal - Merging Select in Lisbon has taken on exclusive Adamson Distribution for Portugal. The deal was negotiated by Adamson director of European sales, Andy Weingaertner. The company's operations focus on sales, technical support, and education, aimed at commercial markets of touring, contracting, install, and corporate needs.

Merging Select aims to build long-term partnerships with their customers by providing them with a support and assistance program. It includes on-going services such as technical consulting, sound design, installation services, training and education, optimization and problem solving.

Director of technical support Wladimiro Garrido says: "This new partnership is an opportunity to work with a brand that is determined to take a leadership position in the marketplace. We believe in Adamson's capacity for constant innovation by their ability to rela

USA - Alcorn McBride has introduced the Digital Binloop HD, a product that provides playback of up to eight HD video channels in only three rack units. Designed for themed entertainment, museums, and other applications requiring high-resolution video playback, the Digital Binloop HD stores video on CompactFlash so it has no moving parts to wear out and handles video resolutions of 1080i, 720p, 480P/576P, or 480I/576I.

The Digital Binloop HD outputs video via HDMI or HD-SDI (SMPTE-292M) with embedded audio. Analogue video formats include component (YPbPr) or RGB, with composite Standard Definition monitor output; the unit can offer simultaneous SD and HD monitor outputs.

In addition to the unit's HD video capabilities, the Digital Binloop HD also supports stereo audio or Dolby or DTS bitstreams. It can also output networked audio via a CobraNet option. Any or all tracks can be

Singapore - Swissotel The Stamford has announced the re-launch of New Asia, a club located in the south-east of the city. Juan Luis Garcia, general manager of D.A.S. Audio Asia and assistant manager, Eduardo López, visited the recently inaugurated premises equipped with D.A.S. sound systems. The audio installation was completed by Lingtec under the supervision of D.A.S. sound engineer, Joan La Roda, who travelled specifically out to Singapore to help with the installation.

Designed in amber, brown and gold, the club is lavishly decorated with an incandescent chandelier and features some stunning audiovisual effects. Aiden Macaulay, general manager of Swissotel The Stamford reports, "We have every confidence in the sound quality D.A.S. delivers."

The dance floor was equipped with model RF-12.64 Reference systems and model CA-215 Aero units were chosen as subwoofers.

Norway - The Gand Church in Sandnes, near Stavanger is used both as house of worship and for cultural events. Sound Projects' agent for Norway PA Produksjoner (PAP) is responsible for the newly installed sound reinforcement system based on the Sound Projects Dreamline system.

PAP managing director Jan Olav Sandsmark reports, "Amongst other larger PA companies in the Stavanger region, the church contacted us for an alternative to the existing system. As in everyday life, there were many contradictory demands to be met: the system had to enhance intelligibility when used with a lapel microphone in conventional worship services. On the other hand immaculate reproduction of gospel rock bands was desired.

"Additionally, the new system had to be able to handle all the different events to be held in the church. And last but not least the system should fit in the church from

UK - Innovason has appointed Red Square Audio as its exclusive distribution partner for the UK and Republic of Ireland. Red Square is headed up by industry veteran and live mix engineer Paul Nicholson.

According to Innovason sales and marketing director, Xavier Pion, the timing for such a venture couldn't have been better. "All the pieces just seemed to fit together," said. "After ten excellent years handling L-Acoustics in the UK, Paul was looking for new challenges; on our side, we had just launched Eclipse, and were looking for a proactive partner in the UK to handle sales and technical support. As a sound engineer himself and having managed high end pro audio sales in the UK for a well known and respected brand for the last decade, Paul's knowledge of the UK market and the people in it is comprehensive to say the least. He is an ideal partner for Innovason in

USA / France - One week in October saw UK digital mixing console manufacturer DiGiCo receive two awards for its new entry-level SD8 - Best Sound Product of the Year at the LDI Show in Las Vegas and Most Innovative Product in the Live Industry at SIEL, SATIS and Le RADIO, held in Paris.

In Paris, Rik Hoerée and Laurent Laignel of DiGiCo's French distributor, Apex France, were on hand to collect the Most Innovative Product in the Live Industry trophy.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, DiGiCo's marketing director David Webster accepted the award for Best Sound Product of the Year at LDI.

"The SD8 has been designed with a fixed architecture and employs a smaller Super FPGA than the SD7, but it still benefits from all the major features and versatility of the D Series, as well as the advances already made in the SD7," comments Webster.

"This gives a superlative per

Germany - Behringer has added to its line of active loudspeaker systems with the new Eurolive B315A. Featuring a 15" 2-way design, integrated sound processing and 400W of power, the B315A offers a compact, high-power solution for live and playback applications, the company says.

The B315A has a long-excursion 15" woofer and 1.75" titanium-diaphragm compression driver with an ultra-wide dispersion, exponential horn and multi-cell throat in a versatile trapezoidal enclosure. The rear panel includes Ultra-Low Noise (ULN) balanced mic and line inputs, a balanced XLR thru connector, input level control and two-band EQ. Internal sound processing provides complete system control as well as speaker protection.

The B315A can be free-standing, stacked, pole-mounted or used in a floor monitor configuration, while e Ergonomic handles and rugged construction complete a roadw

USA - Loud Technologies has announced a reorganisation of its marketing, sales and engineering functions which will, the company says, "generate a net reduction of 90 full-time positions". The restructure is expected to be implemented by the end of 2008.

Under the new organisation, product strategy, development and marketing for the company's MI and Pro businesses will be managed by separate, dedicated product management teams, while marketing communications for all Loud brands will be consolidated and managed by a shared marketing support team.

The company's worldwide engineering resources will be scaled accordingly to support a more focused product development schedule. Loud says it will also move North American sales from its current captive sales force to a group of independent sales representation firms and consolidate portions of its international sales force.<

USA - In a move that could prove a precursor to future decisions in the UK, the United States' Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to allow technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Dell, and Motorola to produce 'white spaces' devices that will use the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum now being used by wireless microphone systems.

Final text of the rules is not yet available, but the order is purported to greatly reduce the amount of clear spectrum available for use by professional audio and communications equipment.

The Commission adopted certain important elements of Shure's recent wireless microphone interference protection plan. However, Shure is concerned that, despite technical evidence to the contrary, the Commission's action opens the door to a new breed of wireless gadgetry that relies on unproven technology as a safeguard against interference to wi

India - At the recent PALME India exhibition in Mumbai, Rivera International, the Mumbai-based pro audio distributor representing Lab.gruppen and Kling & Freitag among its portfolio of brands, marked the sale of eight Lab.gruppen PLM10000Q 'Powered Loudspeaker Management' amplifiers to audio rental company Sound.com, also based in Mumbai.

Rivera International's managing director Rajesh Sadarangani was joined on the stand at the show by Lab.gruppen's Thomas Mittelman and Warren D'Souza and Sunil Karanjikar of Sound.com.

(Lee Baldock)

France - Pope Benedict XVI recently made his first visit as pontiff to Paris, praying together with more than a quarter million followers on the lawns of the Esplanade des Invalides. Sound designer Fred Goguet created a mammoth audio system for the event, using Meyer Sound components provided by a coterie of French audio firms, including Dispatch, Ateliers Lumiere, Projectis and Audio-Technique.

Spread over an area nearly 500m wide, Goguet's design comprised a total of 96 Mica, 78 M'elodie and 20 Milo line array loudspeakers, along with a handful of UPA-1P and UPM-1P loudspeakers for fill.

"Considering the architectural perspectives of the scenery and the constraints of limited heights and no scaffolding, I created a distributed system of 22 main and ten secondary arrays," Goguet explains. "The coverage was seamless across the entire audience area, with excellen

Turkey - Around 20 participants from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, and the Lebanon took part in the Telex RoIP Radio Dispatching Academy in Istanbul at the beginning of October. Conducted by Dan Bixby and Paul Mayer, the three-day workshops dealt primarily with Telex radio dispatch systems. In addition to a number of lectures outlining the latest technological developments from a theoretical perspective, the radio and VoIP experts attending the course were offered plenty of opportunity for practice-oriented, hands-on training.

"On the first day, we laid the theoretical foundations," reports Kamil Swobodzinski, sales director ACT&CCS for the regions Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We built on this in the following days, through intensive lab sessions in small groups in which the participants were able to put what they had learned into practice."

The Tel

USA - Biamp Systems, the manufacturer of audio and conferencing solutions equipment, has said it will appeal a judgment against it in the US District Court of Central Utah in a lawsuit with ClearOne, a provider of audio conferencing systems.

In 2007, ClearOne named Biamp Systems as co-defendant in a suit claiming that it knowingly licensed an acoustic echo cancelling algorithm from a third party that ClearOne alleges was stolen from them. Biamp stopped using the software in question prior to the filing of the lawsuit, and has denied any knowledge or guilt in the case and maintains that the facts do not support the claims.

Company president Ralph Lockhart is adamant that Biamp Systems would never enter into a licensing agreement that would knowingly infringe on a trade secret or steal intellectual property from another entity.

"We were shocked when we were named in this

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