Germany - L-Acoustics announced version 1.8 of its 3D Simulation software Soundvision. at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt this week.

New features of version 1.8 include updated data product library including the new architectural series (KARAi, SB18i) and new KARA-MINIBU and MINIBUEX Bumpers. These are in addition to the features implemented in the previous version of the software. An upgrade package for existing users is available www.l-acoustics.com.

Exclusively dedicated to L-Acoustics sound systems, Soundvision provides real-time mapping in coverage and delay modes; user-friendly 3D graphical interface; modular multiple window display; temporal mapping for time delay optimization and subwoofer mechanical data; free downloadable database of Soundvision venues for all users.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - Beyerdynamic is celebrating the debut of its new Touring Gear live microphone series at Prolight+Sound 2011.

Touring Gear represents "a whole new chapter in microphone innovation for beyerdynamic". There are four categories in the TG (Touring Gear) series of live microphones TG30, TG50, TG70 and TG90. The TG series includes (V) Vocal, (H) Headset, (L) Lavalier, (D) Drum and (I) Instrument microphones and all models feature beyerdynamic's new Sound Channelling Technology.

The TG 30 series is billed as the perfect introduction into the world of beyerdynamic - an entry level series that can produce large beyerdynamic sound within a small budget.

The TG 50 series covers all applications related to the stage - from vocals, instruments and drums to headsets and lavalier microphones.

The TG 70 series microphones feature advanced technical characteristics and h

USA - Bosch Security Systems has launched the Safe & Sound security and audio tour - billed as the largest, most interactive product exhibit truck in the industry. Featuring video surveillance, access control, intrusion and fire detection, critical communications, and audio systems, the mobile product display enables dealers, specifiers, and end users to experience Bosch products in dynamic ways, says the company.

"Extensive feedback from customers confirms they want the live product interaction available at a trade show without the expense of travel or time away from business activities," said Jeremy Hockham, president of sales North America, Bosch Security Systems. "With the Bosch Safe & Sound Tour, we're bringing the 'show' to our customers - allowing more people to see our products in action and fully understand the capabilities, performance and

Indonesia - A nation of 197m people spread across almost 6,000 inhabited islands makes Indonesia one of the most challenging territories for any business. For Sebastian Song who heads up d&b audiotechnik's Singapore office as well as being responsible for other areas within South East Asia the challenges are legion. "But I have at last found a company that really knows how to address this market with vigour, yet without compromise to the d&b ethos of democracy for listeners," he asserts.

The new partner for Indonesia is Jakarta based A&T Solution, a subsidiary of IM Group which is headed by its founder Christian Kartiko, "a young ambitious audiophile decidedly in the d&b mould". "He really understands why good sound matters," said Song. "He is also a shrewd and effective businessman."

Kartiko established A&T Solutions specifically to man

UK - Studer's Vista 5 console gets an upgrade to the M2 with the optional addition of the precision TFT metering system introduced on the flagship Vista 9 console.

The new metering is capable of displaying signal levels from mono through to 5.1 channels on each input, with a configurable lower area which can be used to display bus assignments, surround images or the History mode, where a scrolling audio waveform displays signal anomalies and highlights them for up to 50 seconds to allow the engineer to identify where the event occurred. Metering for 'layer 2' signals can also be viewed, while the Control Bay screen can be used to provide configurable user pages with up to 40m. When the TFT meter bridge is fitted, the external GC screen becomes an integral part of the chassis.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Production music library Audio Network has invested in a Prism Sound Orpheus FireWire computer interface for its purpose-built mastering studio in Essex, where it is being used as the studio's main sound device.

Established 10 years ago, Audio Network has offices in London, New York, Holland and Australia and is internationally known for offering a complete music solution that cuts through the traditionally complex and costly processes of licensing music for television and advertising.

Audio Network's studio facility, which is located in Little Maplestead, is used for mastering and for remixing composers' original song files or stems. Many of the recordings take place in commercial studios such as Abbey Road, which have the space for large orchestral sessions.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - Gert Sanner , front of house engineer for Deep Purple, and the band's keyboardist Don Airey visited the Harman stand at Prolight +Sound.

Airey and Sanner will be utilizing Si Compact 16 consoles for Airey's keyboard rig - one each for Deep Purple's upcoming Europe and US tours. An Si Compact 16 will first be put to work on Airey's own solo tour in Europe beginning in late April.

"As we have been using a Soundcraft Vi6 for Deep Purple concerts with tremendous results, the Si Compact 16 for Don's keyboard setup gives us compatibility across the system," Sanner says. "I'm looking forward to another successful tour season with Soundcraft."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Adlib supplied sound equipment & crew for the recent sold out UK arena tour for the The Script , as part of their Science & Faith world tour , which saw their largest production set to date.

Richy Nicholson is The Script's FOH engineer. Last autumn for their theatre tour, he used an L-Acoustics V-DOSC system that was also supplied by Adlib, and for this one, he specified the new K1 system, of which Adlib now has a substantial quantity.

Nicholson worked alongside an Adlib team, consisting of Tony Szabo as systems tech, crew chief Marc Peers who also oversaw monitor world, plus PA techs Ian Nelson and Alan Harrison. Bob O'Brien managed all aspects of the production with Ian 'Quinner' Quinn as TM.

Says Adlib project manager Phil Kielty, "The Script are easily one of the most exciting and talented bands of the moment. It seems wherever I go from LA to Glasgow th

Germany - Roland Systems Group has boosted its extensive V-Mixing System lineup with the introduction of the new R-1000 48-Track Recorder/Player, a stand-alone dedicated recorder/player designed to work with the V-Mixing System in any live event or production. The R-1000 can be connected with any digital console that has MADI output capabilities by using the Roland S-MADI REAC MADI Bridge.

Used as a recorder for live events, the R-1000 will capture up to 48 channels of discrete audio all as separate broadcast wave files ready to open in a DAW of choice, says the company. As a playback device, it can be used in live events to play back selected channels, to augment a live performance or as a multi-channel playback deck in a theatre or amusement park application. Two units can be sinked together for a 96-channel recorder/player or sync to video with SMPTE (LTC) or via black burst.

Germany - Martin Audio's Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) celebrated a double success in Frankfurt this month. Just six months after winning the top prize at PLASA's Awards for Innovation, voted by an independent panel of 16 expert judges during the trade show at London's Earls Court, they scooped the MIPA Musikmesse International Press Award for Best PA System during the Pro Light&+Sound expo in Frankfurt.

Held for the 12th year running, the award, voted for by more than 100 magazines worldwide, was presented to managing director, Anthony Taylor and R&D director, Jason Baird during a gala awards ceremony held at the Messe's Saal Europa.

Said Anthony Taylor: "It has been an incredible year for the MLA and its design team headed by Jason Baird. Winning the top PLASA Award was a highlight but to be recognised by the world's press - the harshest critics of all - underp

Germany - Soundcraft's Si Compact range has grown with the latest release of the Si Compact 32, which can deliver 40 inputs to mix, while maintaining the full DSP functionality of its smaller siblings, the Si Compact 24 and 16 models.

The Si Compact 32 features 14 main busses (all with dynamics, delays and BSS graphic EQs), four matrix buses, four dedicated FX buses, four full-time Lexicon effects engines and a range of option cards to interface with other systems such as Aviom, CobraNet, AES/EBU and MADI.

All Si Compact models can connect via MADI to the new Compact Stagebox, adding remote connectivity to these great value digital mixers.

"We believe that this very cost-effective, powerful mixer will be a natural choice for larger install or medium tour sound and house of worship systems," said Keith Watson, marketing director for Soundcraft Studer.

(Lee Baldock

UK - Cooper Controls will be presenting the latest developments in its Zero 88 entertainment lighting control range at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2011. New to the show this year is the ZerOS Android application - Zero 88's latest addition to its suite of remote applications. Continuing the commitment to mobile device integration, this new app adds to their existing suite of iPhone, iPod, iPad and Windows Mobile applications.

The ZerOS Remote Android app, the first for the entertainment technology industry, allows remote control of any ZerOS console. The app allows users to control their lighting rig from their Android for the first time. From channel levels to playback the ZerOS Remote offers full control of the Leap Frog 48, Leap Frog 96, Frog 2, ORB and ORB XF consoles.

Taking centre stage on the Cooper Controls stand is the ORB XF.

UK / Germany - UK-based professional loudspeaker manufacturer EM Acoustics revealed its brand new X3 horn-loaded PA system, the long-awaited companion to the mighty Quake subwoofer, at the ProLight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt last week.

On the drawing board for over six years, the X3 was finally brought to life at the behest of Show Atelier, EM Acoustics' Russian distributor, who saw X3 as an ideal product for their market. The system comprises a horn-loaded 15" LF drive unit, a horn-loaded 8" MF drive unit and six 1" compression drivers on a bespoke waveguide, creating a horizontal line source which allows X3 enclosures to be tight-packed together to form arrays.

The result, they claim, is a system that offers predictable horizontal coverage in any application, particularly those where high SPL is required. "The difference between X3 and other point sour

Italy / Germany - RCF introduced its brand new D Line speaker series at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt last week. The series of four models consists of the HD10-A and HD22-A active 2-way monitor, the HDL20-A active line array module and the HDL18-S high powered sub woofer.

The D line is powered by Class-D power amplifier technology which delivers "ultra fast attack, realistic transient response and impressive audio performance" say RCF. An integrated DSP manages crossover, eq, soft limiter, compressor and dynamic bass boost. All D Line's RCF transducers feature lightweight neodymium magnets for a lightweight solution.

The use of new 1" and 2" neodymium compression drivers with a pure titanium dome offer a transparent midrange sound and high fidelity in HF reproduction, while large constant directivity horns offer a precise directivity.

D Line cabinets are mo

UK - Flightcase and speaker solutions specialist Penn Elcom and speaker manufacturer Fane Acoustics have announced a global partnership, whereby each have access to the other's international distribution networks.

The synergies between the companies, both with extensive manufacturing facilities in the UK and Asia, will enable the MI and pro audio markets to benefit from a complimentary and comprehensive range of loudspeaker components and casing hardware available globally, says a statement. Both companies have known each other for over 30 years.

Says' Penn's chair Roger Willems, "Integrating Fane with our sales and distribution network fills a gap, and the already excellent existing relationship and levels of mutual respect made it a logical step. We will be able to offer a whole range of premium products from both companies, fantastic value and unparalleled levels of se

Germany - Nexo's annual Distributor Awards dinner took place in Frankfurt last week. Top honours for success in 2010-2011 went to Russia, with Dmitry Roumiantseff collecting the award on behalf of SIM.

The evening was introduced by Nexo CEO Keisuke Kobayashi and sales director Denis Baudier, who noted record-breaking sales in key territories, including Nexo's home market, France. Taking home the award for best French dealer, Thierry Trenchant of Melpomen has also delivered one of the most prestigious installations in the world for Nexo - the famous Stade de France in Paris, which has been extensively equipped with Geo S12 line array technology.

Latin America featured prominently on stage. The Best New Distributor award was given to Sound Logics of Colombia, and a special recognition diploma was handed to Jesus Aguilar of Sonotec for his exceptional promotion of Nexo technology

Slovenia - When one of Slovenia's premier theatres was looking to replace an existing analogue mixing console with a digital version, the venue's technical team had a long list of requirements that the new desk had to fulfil. A Yamaha M7CL-32 was selected.

Established in 1955 in Nova Gorica, Slovensko Narodno Gledalisce (the Slovenian National Theatre, or SNG) is a venue which stages a wide range of productions, from light comedies to high drama, by both Slovenian and foreign writers.

Although its existing Yamaha PM5D and DM1000 consoles and Outline Audio PA system are working reliably, the SNG technical team had another analogue console which needed replacing. In doing so, they wanted to replace it with one which could handle all of the theatre's varied requirements and work seamlessly with the other equipment.

"The console had to perform all the tasks that a theatre p

Poland - The Zygmunt Hübner Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw is one of the leading modern theatres in Poland. Opened in 1944 and renovated for the first time in 1975, the playhouse in Warsaw's Praga quarter now features over three stages and boasts a seating capacity of 600. The theatre was renovated again last year to meet modern requirements, with one of the principal items on the agenda being the upgrading of the sound system.

The planning and realisation of the new sound reinforcement design were the responsibility of the Wroclaw bureau of sound specialists Tommex Zebrowscy Sp. J. The customer had specifically requested a system that would offer the highest possible degree of flexibility. Additionally, as Marcin Zimny, managing director of the Wroclaw bureau of Tommex Zebrowscy Sp. J, explained "the stage construction design is built around a multifunctional system with va

USA - For many, the University of Alabama's Foster Auditorium is remembered as a 'ground zero' for the civil rights movement of the early 1960s. It was on 11 June 1963 in front of these doors that then-Governor George Wallace made his infamous 'Stand in the Schoolhouse Door', attempting to resist integration by blocking two black students from enrolling in the University.

Built in 1939, the hall was home to UA's basketball teams in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as regularly hosting graduations, lectures, concerts and other large gatherings. The building is named for Autherine Lucy Foster, the first black student to be accepted and enrolled at UA.

With the opening of the neighbouring Coliseum, the building eventually lost its standing as the campus' largest indoor structure, and in recent years had fallen into disrepair. Recently, Foster Auditorium underwent a major renovation,

Spain - "Sometimes I don't think people realise just how big Spain is. At over half a million square kilometres it is more than twice the size of the UK, yet with 46m inhabitants it's just three quarters the population. That's a lot of territory to cover if you're going to reach everyone equally and fairly."

For David Rosello, who heads up the d&b audiotechnik office in Spain, it seems the dilemmas are more than just audio oriented. "That's why we continually roll out a programme of road shows and seminar workshops; to reach people where they are and with the information they need."

The latest road show commences this spring in Madrid. Besides reaching Spain's capital city it's significant for other reasons. "We have eight established partners across Spain; a comprehensive network that provides a solid, strong support to our customers everywhere, but M

Tanzania - A Proel sound reinforcement system was chosen by Aqua Sounds, the audio service responsible for the technical setup of the city stadium for the opening ceremony of the East Africa Football Cup. Dar El Salaam National Stadium can host up to 60,000 people, and it is the tenth largest on the whole African continent. The ceremony that opened this important football competition in East Africa proved to be a festival of the sounds, dances and colours of Africa and the recently elected President, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, took part in it.

Dar es Salaam also hosted the event organized by mobile telephone company Bharti Airtel to announce the acquisition and consequent re-branding of Zain network and products in Tanzania. Aqua Sounds chose a Proel Axiom system for this event too.

(Jim Evans)

UK - TOA is to showcase a range of its voice evacuation systems that have been passed as EN-54 compliant at International Firex at the NEC Birmingham from 16-19 May 2011. Now that the EN-54 series of fire safety standards have transitioned into European law TOA has announced that the most recent selection of its products to have been given EN-54 system certification is the VX-2000 Voice Evacuation System.

"As the first manufacturer to offer a total solution for EN54-certified voice evacuation systems, TOA continues to gain certification for additional products in its range, the latest of which is the VX-2000 Voice Evacuation System" says Brett Downing, sales and marketing director at TOA .

"Our track record in supporting and embracing these new standards has been widely appreciated by our partners who have already designed and installed systems with these new st

UK - A trio of Midas consoles provided by Britannia Row Productions was used at a charity concert commemorating the 80th birthday of Mikhail Gorbachev at London's Royal Albert Hall. An XL8, a PRO6 and a Heritage 3000 handled FOH from three adjacent boxes overlooking the star-studded event, while a second XL8 provided onstage monitor duties. Broadcast feeds were also provided as the event was being recorded for Russian TV.

Celebrating the former Soviet leader's life from childhood through to high office, the reforms of Perestroika, his international peace efforts and the charitable work of the Gorbachev Foundation, the event relied on Midas' networking abilities to facilitate its smooth running. As well as numerous guest speakers and VT playback, many artists from East and West performed in an evening hosted by Sharon Stone and Kevin Spacey and attended by a long list of internat

UK - The Pioneer Lighting and Sound Activists page on Facebook - run by John Lethbridge and Iain Price-Smith - aims to develop and maintain contacts between lighting and sound professionals both past and present who have worked in the entertainment technology industry from the 1960s to the present day. The P.L.A.S.A page aims to help users search for old colleagues who have left the industry and re-establish contact.

"We are also seeking to look back and celebrate the technical developments and the designers behind them as we moved forward from being a cottage industry in the early days of lighting and sound, to the super sophistication of today's technology," comments Price-Smith.

Be sure to "Like" the Pioneers page if you've ever wondered what became of your long lost industry contacts and to ad

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