UK - When the producers of the Thriller Live musical arrived at the Lyric Theatre in London, they found themselves faced with the difficult challenge of isolating a wireless radio frequency within the heart of London's theatre district. After much deliberation, the company turned to Shure and the Joint Frequency Management Group (JFMG) to provide the solution.

"The issue we have in such a densely populated area is isolating RF channels that are not already in use," explained Chris Whybrow, the production's sound designer. "We basically needed to make sure we weren't stepping on anyone's toes."

The iconic venue is located in London's West End, surrounded by numerous theatre, musical, and comedy productions. The crowded nature of the area made isolating RF for on-stage instruments and vocal artists very difficult. Following a full assessment of his req

USA - Mackie has launched HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers, creating a new category: High-Definition Live Sound. The HD1521 2-way and HD1531 3-way represent the pinnacle of Class-D amplifier technology, delivering up to 1800W of peak system power, says the company.

Mackie created the 'active' electronics game long ago, incorporating precision crossovers, transducer time alignment and phase correction circuitry right in the box, creating "a perfectly tuned system". HD Series loudspeakers take this further with the implementation of patented acoustic correction processing that counters the inherent physical attributes that can make typical loudspeakers sound honky or washed out.

"Our new HD Series loudspeakers are on the cutting edge of loudspeaker technology," said Greg Young, Mackie brand product manager. "They offer more watts per dolla

USA - Audinate, Inc., announced that its Dante audio networking solution was used during the world premiere of the new Star Trek movie at the Sydney Opera House. The 150 million dollar Paramount Pictures film debuted with the stars in attendance last month at the red carpet event.

For the event, Audinate collaborated with Dolby and d&b audiotechnik to deliver a truly impressive audio video experience. The Sydney Opera House was transformed using Dante to impeccably transport digital audio from the media servers to over eighty speakers across the Concert Hall. Over 1500 people enjoyed Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound at the highest audio quality through the full showing of the movie.

Surround sound from the digital cinema projectors was transported via Dante through a complex network of Cisco switches and amps. The audio network reached all areas of the Concert Hall using fiber

UK - Britannia Row Productions has purchased a third Midas XL8 Live Performance System. The purchase comes as one of the company's systems continues its world tour with Oasis, with a further two spec'd for Depeche Mode's Tour of the Universe which begins in Israel in May.

"Oasis went into rehearsals for their world tour last summer and will have had a Midas XL8 out on tour on monitors for nearly 15 months by the time they finish in October 2009," says Britannia Row's Mike Lowe. "That console, specified by their monitor engineer Nahuel Gutierrez, is now on the South American leg of the tour.

"Another Midas XL8 went into in SIR studios in New York with engineer Sarne Thorogood for Depeche Mode monitor rehearsals. Anthony King, the band's front of house engineer, also specified a Midas XL8, and as the Depeche Mode World tour will go into 2010, we purcha

UK - A meeting aimed at covering the concepts of audibility and inaudibility is being organised by the Measurement & Instrumentation Committee of the Institute of Acoustics in London.

Did you hear that? - concepts of audibility and inaudibility on 23 June will look at where threshold levels are either suggested or legislated. It will also cover what may be subjectively audible to one listener may not be to another.

Other areas covered in the meeting will include: What in practice should those quantified thresholds be, how can they be measured and are they enforceable? Likewise, in some instances it may be prudent to ensure inaudibility, what should these maximums of audibility be? How can they be measured and could they be directed to one segment of the public?

Did you hear that?, being held at the Royal Society, London is a one day meeting, with papers from In

UK - DiGiCo has announced the launch of its new and improved website.

"We haven't given our old site a bit of a facelift," explains marketing director David Webster. "We've completely re-designed it. It's now database driven to allow it to be quickly and easily updated and we've included more of the information we know our customers want and need."

This site includes offline and online software, allowing engineers to prep a show even before seeing a console and/or remote control it. Time saving documents such as pdfs of line drawings provide data to determine if a console is the right size for a particular location before additional information is downloaded. Consultants, specifiers and contractors can also download the latest dxf line drawings to include in their installation specifications. Brochures, high-resolution product images and logos are available

Germany - The 83rd ADAC Ball took place 24 January 2009 in the Hotel Maritim, Berlin. Beneath the banner This is where Berlin dances, some 2,600 illustrious guests took to the floor and were treated to a programme of entertainment including a spirited set from pop legend Howard Carpendale. The evening was hosted by Kathrin Müller-Hohenstein of German TV's ZDF Sportstudio.

Berlin-based events service provider TSE AG, under the leadership of project manager Adrian Carlin, deployed audio systems from Electro-Voice in all three ballrooms. The main PA in the Saal Maritim comprised two line-arrays: one of eight XLD per side and a second centre hang of four XLE. Four Xsubs handled low-end while six EV QRx 112/75 cabinets served as front fills. Four additional XLE systems acted as side fills. The system was driven by fourteen TG7 amplifiers from Electro-Voice.

The syst

USA The new Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, home of the New York Mets, has a new sound system. Over 550 EAW MK and AX series boxes fill the bowl of the 42,000-seat stadium, which opened on 13 April, 2009. The systems integrator was TSI Global Companies, LLC, and it was designed by consultants WJHW.

The key element of the massive and complex sound system is a customised version of EAW's full-range AX364-210 Arrayable Install Loudspeakers with 60x40 horn, modified to fire simultaneously forward, down and to the rear. A pair of 10-inch woofers was added to the cabinet, aimed downward to cancel low-frequency buildup in what is, essentially, an architectural bass trap.

Three of these precisely modified enclosures are installed at the clubhouse level, one of the most challenging spaces in a stadium of this design. Other notable aspects of the system include a large number of under-b

USA -. Located on the popular Pine Avenue 'restaurant row' in Long Beach, CA, Sergeant Pepper's Dueling Piano Café features a sound reinforcement system from the D.A.S. Audio Variant catalogue.

Duarte, CA-based Total Concept Integration (TCI), a design/build firm that handles a broad range of commercial projects, designed and installed Sergeant Pepper's new sound system. According to Adrian Morales, one of the firm's partners, space was a huge consideration on this project. "This is a small, pub-like type of venue," said Morales. "With two pianos and a drum set up on stage, there really isn't a whole lot of room to spare. Initially, the owner envisioned flying a few conventional, non-powered loudspeakers that would be augmented by one or two subwoofers on the floor. When we asked him where he planned on housing the power amps, he realized this approach woul

UK - The first Electro-Voice line array system has arrived in the Channel Islands. Stage 2 Productions, Jersey's biggest concert and event company, has completed its first shows with its new EV XLD compact line array, featuring the XCS312 flown subbass cabinets, and is already planning to increase its inventory.

Deploying the new system for high-profile productions like BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter James Morrison and top TV comedian Al Murray, Stage 2 Productions has given the XLD cabinets a fiery baptism. Proprietor Rob Ritchie reports that "both events went really well, with the system performing fantastically. In fact, this was the only date on James Morrison's tour that used anything other than d&b J Series."

Stage 2 Productions has, for some time, operated in the upper echelons of event service providers. "But our old point-source system was just no

USA - The Auralex Acoustics HoverDeck, a drum isolator, will be employed on stage at the 19th Annual Chicago Drum Show, the world's largest and longest-running vintage/custom drum event of its kind. The exhibit and performance event is being held at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois on 16 and 17 May 2009.

Auralex Acousticscontributed to this year's event by providing its HoverDeck for the show's clinic stage. The HoverDeck is a specifically engineered drum isolator that reduces coloration from floor resonance by decoupling the drum kit from the structure, resulting in a tighter, purer sound.

"My first use of Auralex's HoverDeck was at a backline gig at a major casino," says Rob Cook of Rebeats, a company specialising in vintage and custom drum-related resources and coordinator and producer of the Chicago Drum Show. "During set-up my drum tech

UK - The inaugural PLASA Focus Show in Leeds on April 28-29 was a great success, beating the headiest expectations and the credit crunch. Anticipation had been high since PLASA Events announced the takeover of the event from AC Entertainment Technologies last year. The team had set out to continue the show's compact, user-friendly format while opening it up to the entire industry, broadening the marketing and creating new networking opportunities. By its close, the show had registered a total of 1,398 visitors (pre ABC audit).

Philip Norfolk of MA Lighting, which showed its new MA2 control surfaces, commented: "We've seen an excellent mix of students as well as serious clients, users and operators - a really broad spectrum of visitors. There have been good visitor numbers, high levels of interest and an excellent environment . . . and the time to spend with these people. Fo

Montserrat - For those with recording aspirations in the 1980s, few studios held the same rock star appeal as Air Montserrat. A who's who of major artists, from The Police to Dire Straits and The Rolling Stones recorded at Sir. George Martin's residential studio complex until a hurricane in 1989, and the eruption of a volcano in 1995, destroyed not only the studio but also the heart of the Island community.

In response to the catastrophic events, the Montserrat Cultural Centre was built between 2005 and 2006 using funds raised by Sir George and Lady Martin. The focal point of the centre is the Sir. George Martin Auditorium, a 450 seater venue, which offers concert, cinema and conference configurations at the touch of a button.

An impressive range of equipment has now been gathered for the Cultural Centre thanks to the dedication of two previous Air Montserrat clients, Chris Ru

USA - For decades, Shure microphones have been a mainstay of rock and roll stages, from the largest arenas and stadiums to the smallest bars and clubs. Now they're also appearing onstage in the virtual world, compliments of the Harmonix and MTV Games' best-selling music video game Rock Band 2.

"How could anyone create a game like this and not include the SM58 and SM57? That would be like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the bread," said Chad Wiggins, Shure's wired products category manager. "We definitely feel that having our mics in Rock Band 2 adds a degree of authenticity for all of the people who'll play it as they dream of being Roger Daltrey belting out Pinball Wizard or any one of dozens of other rock stars. It's very cool to be included."

(Jim Evans)

France - Nexo has announced the release of a standardised amplification package for touring applications featuring the new NXAMP amplifiers.

Available in three sizes, the new NXAMP racks provide a plug-and-play solution for analogue and digital audio applications, allowing Nexo's touring partners to optimise their amplification requirements, maximizing the versatility of the NXAMP 4x1 and the output capabilities of the NXAMP 4x4.

Built to an original design of sleeve frames that permit configuration using any of the NXAMP rackable units, each sleeve frame is constructed of 1.6mm steel that can carry one NXAMP patch panel and either one NXAMP 4x1 or NXAMP 4x4 amplifier model.

The carpet-covered racks are built out of 15mm birch wood and feature a suspended inner steel frame designed to carry the individual modules and the power distribution unit for the larger rack models, wh

USA - When Allen & Heath announced the availability of the lower priced iLive-T digital mixing system at January's NAMM Show, president Dan Redman of Spinnaker Multimedia Solutions in Malvern, PA, was ready. The day after the announcement, Redman placed the first order. "Our churches had been waiting for a console with these features, at this price point, for a very long time. So we were ready to go with it."

The needs of Victory Christian Fellowship in Audubon, PA were matched perfectly by the new iLive-T112 mixing surface with iDR48 MixRack. "This was the fastest project I've ever worked on. We started in early December and opened on 29 March. It's a testament to the builder, the architects, our manufacturer partners, and especially the church. They knew what they wanted to accomplish and made smart decisions quickly." Victory Christian has become among the

UK - Hand Held Audio supplied 160 channels of Shure UHF-R wireless microphones for the latest T Mobile flash-mob advert. The karaoke style event was fully supported by Shure Distribution UK (SDUK).

Lead by international pop/rock star Pink, over 13,000 people descended on London's Trafalgar Square to sing hits including Hey Jude and Is This The Way to Amarillo?. Members of the crowd were supplied with 160 Shure microphones, including the Beta 58 and SM58 models, each transmitting on independent RF channels. Footage from the event will be used to produce a series of television advertisements for T-Mobile.

Hand Held Audio was responsible for deploying the wireless technology for the event and determined that 160 wireless channels were required to meet the project brief. With such a challenge on their hands, HHA called upon SDUK to assist during planning and to provi

UK - Bose has introduced the new L1 Compact portable line array system, the latest - and most portable-- addition to the Bose L1 product line. Using advanced Bose technologies, an L1 Compact system fills the room with only one speaker, and can be carried in a single trip and set up in less than one minute.

The new L1 Compact system features an integrated low-frequency enclosure and combines the amplifier, monitor, PA, mixer and EQ into a complete audio system ready for simple connection to an instrument, microphone, MP3 player, computer or other audio device. Like the Bose L1model I and L1 model II systems, the L1 Compact system continues the legacy of the original Bose Cylindrical Radiator loudspeaker - the product to first introduce the company's individual approach to live music amplification. The L1 Compact system was engineered to bring much of the performance benefits of t

UK - A North East based audio equipment specialist has received endorsement for the quality of its products from the organisation which looks after Britain's rail system.

Network Rail, which runs, develop and maintains rail tracks, signalling and other infrastructure such as tunnels and bridges - together with18 of the country's biggest and busiest stations - has chosen fire telephones and induction loop systems produced by Current Thinking for inclusion in its St Pancras Thameslink Box project.

Many rail stations on the East Coast Main line are already equipped with fire telephones and induction loop systems produced at Current Thinking's Sunderland factory and managing director Tony Smith says Network Rail's (PADS) endorsement follows installation of its products at St Pancras International, as well as Stratford, Ebsfleet and Ashford International stations.

He comments: &q

UK - For Lionel Richie's extensive European arena tour to promote his latest studio album, Just Go, front of house engineer Lars Brogaard is mixing on a DiGiCo SD7.

Brogaard's relationship with DiGiCo is a long one - he was the first engineer to take a D5 console on tour and was involved from the early days of the SD7's development, helping with BETA testing of the new console to ensure it delivered everything that leading live sound engineers need.

"I'm also Lionel's production manager and my sound company, Major Tom, was awarded the contract to provide sound for the tour," says Brogaard. "We needed to buy a console for this tour and so the SD7 was the obvious choice. Having been involved in helping to road test the console, I felt it was about time I actually owned one."

For more on Lionel Richie's tour, see the May issue of

USA/Italy - The Adeo Group, Italian distributor for Renkus-Heinz, is to hold a special premiere at Rome's Cuba Garden on 13 May, heralding the launch in Italy of the IC Live portable digitally steerable system, and the VerSys compact large-format / high power line array, as well as RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network).

"This special event will allow visitors to hear the extraordinary performance of these state of the art loudspeaker systems live," says Adeo's Sasha Defranceschi. "It will be a chance to look at two of the most exciting products from Renkus-Heinz and, above all, to listen to them perform for the first time in Italy."

The event will be hosted by Adeo special guest presenters Ralph Heinz, Renkus-Heinz senior vice president, and Karl-Gustaf Kahlau, export sales manager.

On show will be a full IC Live dual system with two ICL-R (RHAON

UK - Electrosonic, the AV systems integrator and products manufacturer, has launched a newly redesigned website, located at www.electrosonic.com. The new website provides online visitors with "dramatic improvements" in navigation, content and appearance.

The new website's top page directs users to Electrosonic's products division's global website or regional websites for Electrosonic's Solutions businesses. This new design reflects the products division's recent separation from Electrosonic's AV Systems Integration and Service business.

(Jim Evans)

China - The Bank of China (BOC) chose a Varizone system for its premises in Wuhan, Hubei. A VAB-Line system has been installed by Wincomn Technology, Klotz Digital's Chinese sales and service partner in the form of a hybrid application.

This means, digital technology has been combined with conventional analogue 100V technology. The system consists of a VAB1 controller and matrix, line managers, amplifiers, and speakers to form a simple but secure and stable PA application. BOC uses the new PA system mainly to supply background music to the corridors at the Governor's office, but also for voice evacuation purposes. Therefore, the VAB1 controller is equipped with an EVAC expansion card to fulfil evacuation requirements, and to ensure highest security in the facility.

The existing fire detection system has been linked into the Varizone VAB-Line. Additionally, it offers interfaces

Belgium - Vieta's Do Line loudspeakers are playing a key role at the Vorst Nationaal, one of the largest concert buildings in Belgium, where an impressively plush private suite is being heavily marketed as the VIP place to be.

Located in Brussels,the Vorst Nationaal is a 7,000-capacity multipurpose venue that is a principal stop on the European touring circuit. Over the next few months, Bob Dylan, Jean Michel Jarre, Johnny Hallyday, Eros Ramazotti and Steely Dan will all play dates there, and a number of high-profile sporting events will also be staged in the main arena.

Steven Bontinck from Ampco Belgium has just completed an acoustic installation in the new VIP facility. "Our design had to complement the architectural concept of the suite, which is intended to serve visiting artists and music industry events, as well as hosting VIP concert packages for the corporate mar

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