UK - Wembley Loudspeaker has moved back into its Shepherds Bush workshop in West London, after a short period working away from its original home.

The company moved out in August 2008 following a dispute with Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Paul MacCallum says: "Since we were forced to move out we have been in discussion with the council about moving back. They have agreed to our offer to buy the facility back and we moved back on the 14th April. We now look forward to meeting lots of our old friends and new ones and doing what we do best, repairing and refurbishing speakers".

Wembley Loudspeaker can be contacted at: Unit A4, The Workshop Studios, 2A Askew Crescent, London W12 9DP. Tel: 020 8743 4567, Fax: 020 8749 7957.

(Lee Baldock)

Germany - The Midas PRO6 live audio system picked up the MIPA (Musikmesse International Press Award) for Live Mixing Desk at Prolight + Sound 2009. The award was accepted by Midas and Klark Teknik international sales and marketing director David Cooper.

The award reflects the huge success enjoyed by the PRO6 since its launch last August. Almost 200 have been sold worldwide, with systems used on acts including AC/DC, Metallica, Van Morrison, Jan Smit, the Pogues, Marillion, Snow Patrol, Benabar, Il Divo, Kasabian and Eddi Reader.

A total of six PRO6s were in attendance at ProLight&Sound 2009: on the EVI Germany and Mega Audio booths as well as handling daily live music programmes on the outdoor Pro Stage and in the Agora tent.

"We're delighted that the international audio press has recognised the Midas PRO6 as the leading product in its category," says Cooper. "

UK - PEL Music & Media has been awarded the contract to design, install and commission new sound systems into McDonald's' biggest UK franchisee's restaurants.

Franchisee Pru Naik has 24 McDonald's restaurants, mainly around West London and Berkshire. His McDonald's feature stylish dark bamboo and cream colour schemes, flowers on the tables, free wi-fi in every restaurant and now a new sound system.

Brand & communications manager Rico Pieri investigated the sound options and found Bose to be both quick to respond and helpful. Bose put Pieri in touch with one of its leading Bose Pro-Partners, PEL Music & Media, for the system design and installation.

PEL was asked to design and install a system initially for McDonald's London Victoria restaurant which was the first to be kitted out as part of the high spec refurb. The existing sound system hadn't been changed since 1999, but t

USA - The Healing Place Church, listed as one of "America's Most Innovative Churches" (Outreach magazine, Jan/Feb 2008), is a multi-purpose facility that includes a live worship space as well as a complete suite of production spaces for video and audio recording and broadcast. Through the use of extensive technical infrastructure, the production spaces can serve worship in the main sanctuary, or be configured to operate completely independently.

The Sanctuary's main sound system will consist of three arrays of 14 Outline Butterfly C.D.H. 483 elements each, powered by Outline T7 amplifiers. Low-frequency reinforcement is provided by 10 Outline Subtech 218 SP subwoofers. For delays, six arrays of six mini-COM.P.A.S.S. self-powered line array loudspeakers and two C.D.L. 1815 cardioid subwoofers (full-range and subwoofer loudspeakers suspended together on a custom r

Spain - D.A.S. has launched the Aero 12A compact line array system which joins the Aero Series family of professional sound touring products. The system incorporates an impressive battery of high tech. The latest in Class D power amplification, digital signal processing and optimized D.A.S. components have been combined with enclosures designed for rapid deployment, precise coverage and high acoustic output.

The Aero 12A's 600 W amplifier employs third generation Class D technologies providing extended bandwidth, improved dynamic range and exceptionally low distortion. The impressively compact and lightweight amplifier design requires much less space, reducing the overall cabinet size and in turn, the total cabinet weight.

Signal processing is accomplished by way of a powerful 24 bit DSP, providing unparalleled control over critical signal parameters. Wavelet analysis which pr

Germany - To mark the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the South-African/British violinist Daniel Hope organised a benefit concert on 9 November 2008 to raise money for the Freya von Moltke Foundation. German and international artists such as Thomas Quasthoff, Hélène Grimaud, Max Raabe, Menahem Pressler and Till Brönner took the stage beneath a banner that read, Do Something!. Klaus Maria Brandauer gave a reading from texts by Goethe and the book Kristallnacht by Martin Gilbertbrought.

The memorial concert, presided over by the German foreign minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, took place in the recently closed Tempelhof Airport. Responsibility for the sound reinforcement in the 800-seat Departures Hall, which, due to its sheer size posed a considerable challenge, fell to the Berlin events service provider TSE AG.

FOH engineer Nils Uthoff and monitor

Czech Republic - On his historic first visit to Europe, American President Obama made only one public speech - addressing a crowd of 30,000 (and a global TV audience running into many millions) in the striking surroundings of Prague's medieval castle. The White House demanded a sound reinforcement system that would ensure that every single syllable of his speech could be clearly heard - delivered by PA company RentalPro and a main PA of Nexo Geo T, delay systems of Geo S12 and fills of Geo D.

Speaking on the future of mankind, Barack Obama stood on a dramatic stage in the Hrad?anske nám?stí, the area outside Prague's famous castle which overlooks the city. The White House communications team brought along the President's podium and microphones, but everything else for the show - from stage to screens to flower arrangements - was provided by RentalPro, one of the largest rental

South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa's Cape Town branch supplied technical production design, complete technical infrastructure including lighting, sound, AV, staging and power, plus 40 crew for the three main stages at the 2009 Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

GHSA has serviced the event since its inception in 2000. In that time, it's grown in stature and profile to become one of the most important dates on the Jazz calendar today, attracting a live audience of 60,000 plus across the two days.

Staged at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the event was co-ordinated for GHSA by international sales manager Philip Beardwood in the office, and on site by project manager Theo van As.

Says Beardwood, "Having worked on an event for many years and seeing it evolve has been a great experience and given us real insight into the event and how the production valu

UK - Front of house engineer Robbie McGrath used a Midas PRO6 live audio system for Kasabian's Royal Albert Hall performance in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The concert, plus three warm up shows, was recorded onto a Klark Teknik DN9696 hard disk recorder. Support band The Hours was also mixed on a PRO6, with a third on stage for monitors. All equipment was provided by Entec Sound and Light.

This was the first time McGrath has used Midas digital, and to reassure himself it could provide all the familiar characteristics of the company's analogue boards, he carried out some A/B testing prior to spec'ing the PRO6.

"I wanted to find out how much of the Midas analogue sound had been captured and transferred into their digital domain, and I was extremely happy to discover that the PRO6 sounds very like the XL4," he says. "The EQ reacts like EQ should - as you choos

USA - Recently designated as an official New York City landmark, Webster Hall has served as one of Manhattan's premier live music venues for well over 120 years. In 2005, the nightclub made a leap forward in terms of production values by installing a full L-Acoustics dV-Dosc loudspeaker system in its 1,400-capacity Grand Ballroom located on the second floor. Based on that system's success, Webster Hall has once again turned to L-Acoustics, this time to outfit its intimate 300-capacity basement venue known as The Studio @ Webster Hall.

Kevin Mignone of Island Park-based KM Productions was brought in to design and install The Studio's system, which now benefits from three ARCS per side flown in a horizontal array and powered by two LA4 amplified controllers. Four SB28 subwoofers, driven by a single LA8, are positioned end-to-end behind a sturdy steel grille under the front lip of

Germany - Marie Antoinette is the latest stage musical by Germany's popular and successful writing team Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze. The show's spring European premiere at the Musical Theatre Bremen featured a "source-oriented reinforcement" approach by sound designer Athanasios Rovakis', controlled by an automatic actor tracking and panning system: TiMax Tracker and the TiMax delay matrix from Outboard UK.

16 actors wore miniature radar-frequency UWB transmitter TT Tags which were tracked by six TT Sensors installed around the stage and the auditorium. The TiMax Tracker software used an automatic calibration routine to instantaneously map the stage area in three dimensions based on some simple measured Sensors location data. Thereafter the system followed the actors' movements around stage and sent this information via MIDI to the TiMax showcontrol softwa

Sweden - The annual EAU (European Association of Urology) congress was held this year in Stockholm, Sweden. As a curtain raiser to the event, the EAU has a history of providing its visitors with a high class classical concert which forms the spectacular opening ceremony. Last year part of the La Scala Theatre Company produced the concert in Milan, and so the 24th Congress in the Swedish capital had a lot to live up to.

Although the venue at the Stockholm International Fair is not ideally suited for a classical event of this nature, with some subtle amplification and careful design of the QSC WideLine-10 line array configuration by sound production and design company, DM Audio (part of EM Nordic AB), the concert was a big success.

Held in the A-1 hall, the 3,500 seats are spread wide across the auditorium, and thus WideLine-10, with its 140° horizontal dispersion characteri

USA - Production designer Daunte Kenner, recently created an explosive show for Lil Wayne's I Am Music World Tour, a collaboration between Kenner and production manager Maceo Price - the brief was to achieve a concept never seen before in hip-hop.

Kenner explains: "We discussed conventional set styles but we agreed none were edgy enough. I proposed the idea of flying the entire five piece band - I thought a completely empty stage prior to Wayne's appearance - would make for a dramatic intro. Maceo loved it, but still wanted to include a complementary basic static set."

The finished product was five 8'x8' risers with clear plexi bottoms flown by a computer controlled system with a stationary ground set to match. The dramatic moving design fabricated by BRS Rigging, incorporated intense flame effects that demanded an entirely grated stage - a rolling 60' wide x

UK - Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons - the Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel, nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside - has completed an overhaul of its meeting and private dining room, the newly-renamed La Belle Epoque. The AV design and installation project was entrusted to Chris Gunton of CGA Integration Limited and was based around Cloud Electronics' new digital amplifier and eight-channel output zoner, DCM-1, with a pair of CDR-1 digital wall controllers for end user ease of use.

CGA Integration has worked with Le Manoir for a number of years, developing a relationship originally through audio-visual maintenance within the 32-room, listed hotel. Chris Gunton's company is now the chosen contractor for new works. The meeting room installation follows a contract to provide a new IP television network throughout the hotel bedrooms as well as complete suite automation including DD

UK - Vaughan Sound Installations (VSI), in conjunction with Whitehead Building Services, completed the supply and installation of a full public address and voice evacuation system at the new and recently opened home of Llanelli RFC, Parc y Scarlets.

The high-tech stadium is located at Pemberton, Llanelli, UK, with close links to the M4 and surrounding areas.

VSI's long and established partnership with Whitehead BS includes work on numerous projects together. Whitehead were the electrical sub contractor to main contractor Andrew Scott on this, for end client Llanelli RFC and Scarlets Region. The project was a partnership between the Scarlets and Carmarthenshire County Council.

VSI's history with the club also dates back, including the installation of a public address system at the famous Stradey Park ground in 1999, for the Rugby World Cup.

VSI opted for the Community range

UK - A Stage Technologies automation system has set the scene for the European première of the musical Spring Awakening. The rock-and-roll, coming-of-age show (winner of 8 Tony awards including 'Best Musical 2007') has taken London audiences by storm, playing to packed houses when opening at the Lyric Hammersmith. The UK production involved the original Broadway creative team; further tours are planned worldwide and a major film version is also in development.

Stage Technologies was on site at the Lyric for installation, commissioning, show programming during technical rehearsals, operator training and the press performance. The equipment installed consisted of an Illusionist console, a Maxis PTS control system, eight BigTow Classic winches, four counterweight assist winches (used to propel in-house flying bars), two point hoists installed in the grid (used for a platform eleva

UK - Over three months of Saturday night television saw primetime UK talent show The X Factor crown its latest winner in time to get the coveted Christmas Number 1 chart slot. February and March 2009 gave many of the finalists and their newly found fans a chance to get up close and personal as the X Factor Live tour played multiple shows at the UK and Ireland's main arenas.

With a live backing band and the various different performers singing individually before all coming together for the finale, it is a complex show to mix. But with sales and rental company Wigwam Acoustics supplying a DiGiCo SD7 and D5 on monitors and at Front of House respectively, the show is able to maintain its pace.

On stage, monitor engineer Sean Horsman has a combination of in-ears, wedges and sidefills, with 56 input channels and 12 mono and 12 stereo outputs on his SD7.

"As eac

Fewer Freebies - About 200 fewer free tickets will be handed out to people living near Worthy Farm in Somerset, the home of Glastonbury Festival. A spokesman for the festival told the BBC a change had been made to the area in which people have to live to receive a free festival pass. He said despite that, more than 3,000 would still be given away. Those finding themselves just outside the boundary will be given a free pass for Sunday's performances. They will also be able to claim £60 off the price of a ticket for the festival.

Traditionally festival organiser Michael Eavis has given free tickets away to people living in the villages of Pilton, Pylle and Sticklynch. The idea behind the give-away is to make up for disruption to roads when about 200,000 people arrive for the event at the end of June. The spokesman said: "No other major festival looks after people who li

USA - Once again filling the MGM's Grand Garden Arena, the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards drew Nashville's hottest acts to Las Vegas, where Shure wireless proved to be the choice of a number of artists performing at the annual event.

"From an audio and RF standpoint, Shure's UHF-R Series and the SM58 capsule continued to provide us with maximum stability and flexibility," production mixer J. Mark King said, commenting on the stage blueprint responsible for capturing the night's live performances. Giving credence to King's statement, the show opened with Brooks and Dunn, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and other A-list artists, all using UR/SM58 wireless to sing a medley of hits.

Shure endorser Heidi Newfield and her UR/SM58 mic took the stage shortly thereafter, as did Toby Keith, who broke slightly with the night's established standards by singing into a UR/KSM9

UK - If you're an established freelancer or just starting out in the industry, you can take advantage of a free advice session being run as part of the programme of seminars at next week's PLASA Focus event in Leeds (28-29 April).

This one-hour session, which takes place at 12pm on Wednesday 29 April at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, will provide freelancers with an overview of a wide range of areas relevant to their working lives, including an examination of key legal requirements and responsibilities.

Its main focus will be an introduction to Health & Safety law for freelancers, including a review of risk management, individual levels of responsibility and risk assessment practices. It will also provide an understanding of financial issues such as IR35 and what it means for an individual's self employment status, outlining the measures that can be taken to protect it. There w

USA - Harman Professional chief executive officer, Blake Augsburger has been named a recipient of Texas Tech University's Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering Distinguished Engineer Award. The Award is recognition of University alum who have excelled in their profession, have provided inspiration to their peers and have demonstrated a continuing interest in areas outside of engineering. Blake Augsburger joins Chi-Ming Chang, James A. Edmiston, Shelby Johnson and J. G. Soules as 2009 Distinguished Engineer Award recipients for outstanding contributions to the engineering field.

"I am honoured and humbled to be named a Distinguished Engineer by Texas Tech University," Blake Augsburger said. "Having attended the school for my graduate and post-graduate degrees, I am acutely aware of the depth of talent that passes through the University's halls. It's a grea

China - Lying at the Western end of China's Great Wall, Jia Yu Guan has been a strategic transport nexus since the days of the Silk Road. This historic city, placed at one of the major crossroads of civilisation has added a grand new theatre to its already bustling streets.

It's a measure of the astonishing speed with which complex projects can be completed that the Jia Yu Guan Grand Theatre opened just sixteen months after builders first cut turf. An ambitious project by any measure, the fact that this prestigious arts venue was completed during the final year of China's massive construction project for the 2008 Olympics makes it all the more laudable. Jiuquan Iron & Steel (Group) Co, Ltd chose to install a d&b audiotechnik PA system in the venue.

"The main theatre seats just under one thousand two hundred people," explained Daniel Chan from the Hong Kong office of

Austria - AKG has announced the release of the redesigned C 3000 condenser microphone, suitable for recording or live applications. The C 3000 has been proven as a trusty and reliable workhorse for more than 15 years, says the company. The new C 3000 maintains the popular characteristics of the C 3000, however a new sleek and classy finish showcases AKG's new corporate design.

Commenting on the redesigned C 3000 product marketing manager for recording and broadcast at AKG, Thomas Stubics, says: "Since 1993, the C 3000 has become a standard for a wide range of applications. The only thing our customer wanted us to change was the appearance, so we included AKG's new Corporate Design, which has also been included on recently launched products like the proven D 5 hand-held vocal mic and the brand-new K 702 Reference Class headphones."

The C 3000 features a 20Hz to 20kH

UK - Baldwin Boxall has announced a charity happy hour to be held every day on its stand at Firex between 2:00-3:00 pm. The stand has been designed as an old English Public House, with Baldwin Boxall staff handing visitors a glass of Harvey's Real Ale. During the Charity Happy Hour, visitors will be asked to make a donation in exchange for a drink.

The charity chosen is RAFT (Restoration of Appearance & Function Trust). RAFT is an independent charity working to prevent and improve the treatment of major traumas such as burns, wounds and cancers of the skin. This is achieved through medical advances in medical research and reconstructive plastic surgery.

Baldwin Boxall has supported the charity in previous years, holding golf days and the like. This is the first time the company has used the exhibition stand to raise money. Staff are optimistic that visitors will agree that the

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline