UK - Yamaha Music GmbH (UK) has announced that Karl Christmas has been appointed to the role of senior manager for Commercial Audio. The newly created position sees Christmas adding to his existing responsibilities for the CA-Sales Team, dealer partners and user support.

Yamaha state that Karl is to become involved across the company's wide-ranging Pan-European CA marketing activities helping to maximise advertising and PR opportunities and driving more online communications including the recently launched Commercial Audio Europe Facebook page which is proving highly popular amongst end-users.Karl adds,"Despite the tough conditions last financial year, Yamaha CA in the UK more than beat their budget, as did Yamaha UK as a whole, as indeed did Yamaha Europe as a whole. Working more closely with our EU colleagues is a genuine pleasure and it's great to see the various talents

UK - The black boxes for which d&b is noted are now being joined by a new White range of integration loudspeakers. A selection from each d&b world will be on show in separate yet typically black or white sections of their stand on 15 and 16 June.

The established T10 and B4-SUB will take their place alongside the new 4S and 10S/D from the White range.

The d&b Remote network and ArrayCalc will also be featured as well as information on the extensive education programme. d&b will also be participating in the seminar programme.

(Jim Evans)

Cadac Holdings announced a number of strategic initiatives at this year's Prolight+Sound exhibition, with major significance for its on-going business development. The company announced the appointment of Vincenzo Borrelli to the newly created position of sales development manager. Borrelli has previously worked for companies as diverse as Harman, Mackie, Sound Technology and, most recently Stage Electrics.

Commenting on the appointment, Cadac director of sales Bob Thomas stated, "Cadac is actively developing a retail focussed distribution network as a major element in its future growth strategy, in support of its new compact analogue and digital product lines. Vince brings invaluable experience and knowledge of that market to the new role, and it's my pleasure to welcome him to the Cadac team."

On the product development front, Prolight+Sound saw the unveiling of the Cadac

UK - February and March saw multimedia artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard bring together film, video and sound works made over the past seven years in one exhibition at the South London Gallery, Peckham. Sound is an integral part of their work, and an interest for which they are primarily known. To make the fullest artistic impact, the audio component of their work has to be of the highest quality, but without impacting on the visual element. Here, they found the answer in a K-Array loudspeaker system.

Titled Publicsfear, the exhibition featured works that were selected to explore ideas of being part of and / or observing an audience. These included File Under Sacred Music, a 2003 remake of The Cramps' 1978 video of their live performance at the Napa State Mental Institute, and the 2009 film Performer.

"As artists we're always aiming to push the bo

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies enjoyed a busy and successful PLASA Focus exhibition in Leeds, at which the company showcased several innovative new lighting solutions from the brands it distributes - including Jands, Chroma-Q and GLP.

A team of staff from AC-ET's specialist lighting, audio, rigging and video sales divisions were on hand to discuss the vast, multi-million pound stockholding of over 200 leading brands available from the company's High Wycombe and Leeds offices, and the super-fast round the clock service and support for which the company is renowned.

Jonathan Walters, sales director for A.C. North, comments, "We had a really good show, with the new products on our stand attracting plenty of traffic and interest as it was the first UK appearance for many of them."

The new Jands Vista v2 software - of which this was the UK launch - caused a stir,

France - Christie is the sole provider for all digital projection services at this year's Cannes International Film Festival, including the Official Selection and the Marché du Film. The company is an official technical partner of the Festival, which runs from 11-22 May, 2011, for the fifth consecutive year.

As a technical partner, Christie will provide its DLP Digital Cinema projectors for the screening of major digital titles throughout the entire Festival. Of the 23 screening rooms that will use digital projection equipment at this year's Festival, 13 will be equipped with Christie SolariaTM Series projectors.

"With each new year, we are honoured to provide all digital projection services for the Cannes Film Festival. The trust that the Festival's organisers have placed in us is evidence of the reliability and performance of our digital cinema projectors,"

UK - Prism Sound and its UK distribution partner, TTi distribution, are holding a two-day audio test and measurement training seminar from 2-3 June, 2011. This event will introduce engineers to the practical and theoretical aspects of accurately measuring audio for a wide variety of applications.

The training seminar takes place at the AirSpace Conference Centre, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, and will cost £45 per day.

The first day will be devoted to covering the basics of audio measurement and will include sessions on objective and subjective measurement correlation; audio measurement units, single-tone audio measurements; FFTs; Sweeps and Digital Audio. There will be a general introduction session to get the day started and a Q&A wrap up so that those taking part can have their specific queries dealt with.

The second day will focus on practical measurement workshops

UK - FOH engineer Rick Pope is out on the Jamiroquai tour with a Midas XL8 live performance system at FOH, supplied by Britannia Row and babysat by Britannia Row's Warren Grimsley, who is out for the first time with the system. Originally on the tour as PA tech, Grimsley was promoted to his position with little training on the XL8, but picked it up in no time.

"I had the luxury of playing with one a few times in lunch breaks at the warehouse before the tour!" he says. "I've found that the console is easy to get around, especially when using the POP(ulation) groups. Especially useful is a function which allows you to see any audio in the patch bay when you scroll over the I/O in question; very handy for troubleshooting."

Pope, working with an input count of 60 with a further 22 for FX returns, says, "Out of all the digital boards that I've used in the l

UK - This year's ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) Theatre Show is hopeful that any tube strikes will be resolved and the show will not be affected by travel problems. But visitors to the event for theatre and staging technology should remember that there are plenty of other ways to get to the show venue in Victoria without relying on the Underground, say the organisers.

Many of the exhibitors at the 2011 Theatre Show are highlighting green and low-emission technologies, so visitors might want to show eco-solidarity by using foot power to get there. The Royal Horticultural Halls exhibition centre is only a short walk from Victoria mainline railway station, with Waterloo further along on the other side of the River Thames.

The Barclay's Cycle Hire scheme is another viable and eco-friendly way to get to the show. Mayor of London Boris Johnson wants the distinctiv

UK - On 18 June The First Night Riders (FNRs) will once more rev up for an eight-day tour around the UK to raise money for The Theatrical Guild (TTG). You can join them for as long or as short a time as you like - a day, a weekend or, if you are feeling brave, the whole week!

On Saturday 18 June riders will depart from The National Theatre London and travel to the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. They will travel to Norwich where they will have a backstage tour of the Theatre Royal. After an overnight stop, riders will journey to Castle Acre where they will have coffee with Jane Slattery. Then it's on to Nottingham for a complimentary lunch and tour courtesy of Eric Oldham of Metool Reels.

If you're not available the first weekend, why not join the ride on Friday 24 June in Cardiff? The riders will cruise to Swindon Mechanics Institute. From there they will travel to Stratford u

Oman - Melody House, distributors of HK Audio speaker systems have recently supplied Omani based rental firm BIG Rentals with the new Elements speaker system. The rental firm attended a recent roadshow in Muscat where the Elements were showcased and were impressed with "its flexibility, scalability as well as the quality of the audio at a very attractive price point".

The Business International Group (BIG) originally began in 1978 and since then has grown into one of Oman's leading multi sector organizations that are now part of the Zubair Group since 1991. The rental department has grown rapidly in the past few years procuring equipment to enhance its offerings to its clients in the Sultanate.

"The guys from BIG were really impressed with the demonstration of the Elements at our recent event in Oman and decided to purchase a sizeable system a few weeks later,&q

UK - HHB has supplied audio equipment including five Pro Tools HD systems, Euphonix and ICON consoles, and ancillary studio and ENG equipment for the new premises of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television at the University of York. Representing an investment of some £30m, the new building includes full television studio and post-production facilities, and equips the University as one of the country's leading educators in film and television production.

Working in close cooperation with the technical installation company, Wire Broadcast, HHB provided extensive management and support throughout the projects, from the initial tender submission through to on-site commissioning and training.

"The Department of Theatre, Film and Television is different in that our remit not only involves providing students with a top flight education but also requires us to engage

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors for TC Electronic in the United Arab Emirates has recently supplied two sets of System 6000 to Oasis Enterprises and Production Technology (Protec). Oasis Enterprises, integrators in Dubai have purchased a system for an installation while Protec who are a live sound rental firm have added it to their growing rental inventory.

"Both systems sold are the new System 6000 MKII version which include not only a new look but greater power in the processor and use the same intuitive user interface and user experience that people have come to know and expect," commented Richie Hiranandani, marketing manager.

(Jim Evans)

India - Sonotone has been appointed Distributor for India for dBTechnologies. At the forthcoming PALM India show, the Mumbai-based company will be presenting some of the Italian loudspeaker manufacturer's products for the first time in India.

Sonotone will be showcasing dBTechnologies' new Cromo series, FM12 floor monitors, and a selection of models from the Opera Digital range, as well as the heftier S20 and SUB 18D subwoofers. The DVA T4 - which has been seen before in India - will also be on show.

"There has been increasing demand from end-users who want dBTechnologies powered speakers to be available in India," sayss Martin Capp, Asia Pacific area sales manager at dBTechnologies, who has also seen much interest in the active speaker ranges from Indian visitors to other shows in the region. "I'm confident that PALM India will be a great show for Sonotone.&quo

Sweden - Microphone manufacturer Milab has announced the latest addition to the VM-44 range - a supercardioid interchangeable capsule. The new capsule has been designed to provide the same natural sound that has made the VM-44 range the best selling Milab ever, and it can be purchased as a separate capsule or bundled with one of the three amplifiers in the VM-44 system - the VM-44 Classic, VM-44 Link or VM-44 Gooseneck. Previously available are the VM-44 Cardioid and VM-44 Omni capsules, says the company.

Mattias Strömberg, marketing manager for Milab says, "We have had many customers asking for a super/hyper capsule for the VM-44 system - especially in the US. So we are really happy to be able to present this new product. Not only is it a great sounding capsule - it makes the VM-44 system even more versatile."

(Jim Evans)

UK - When Marshall Amplifiers needed a high quality PA system for its demo / rehearsal facility, it required something that was capable of reproducing subtle dynamics as well as being turned up to 11. The answer was Yamaha.

The company's Bletchley headquarters includes a dedicated demonstration theatre, which doubles as a rehearsal facility for its endorsees. Wanting to upgrade this to a full pre-production rehearsal space, Marshall needed a high quality PA system to complement the stage's backline.

"We needed a system that would truly complement our amplifiers and speaker cabinets," says Luke Green, Marshall's new product co-ordinator. "Not only in terms of volume, but also in clearly reproducing the subtler dynamics of vocals, drums and so on, as well as handling some serious bass frequencies."

After looking at a range of options, Green chose a Yamaha I

USA - Midas digital consoles have won starring roles on Broadway, with an XL8 at FOH in the Palace Theatre's new hit, Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert; a permanent PRO3 installation at 42nd Street's New Victory Theatre and a PRO9 at FOH with a PRO9 on monitor duties in the Broadway bound, Whoopee-Goldberg produced musical, White Noise.

"In the theatre world, we're very cue-based," explains Brian Hsieh, associate designer/programmer on White Noise. The production requires more than 100 scenes to be programmed into the PRO9, with every scene carrying MIDI commands to at least seven devices with links and follows. "We're able to take any number of the 24 wireless channels and put them on the VCAs needed for that scene. Every line is a fader move, and every scene changes the layout of the VCAs. So we use a lot of automation, and we're constantly on

UK - March and April saw boy band The Wanted undertake their first headline tour, with 12 dates in theatres and arenas throughout the UK. Despite the difficulty of getting the quintet's voices heard over the shrieking of thousands of young girls, Sennheiser equipment ensured that they delivered the goods.

The tour played arenas and larger theatre venues and will be followed by a number of summer outdoor shows and festival appearances, all featuring Sennheiser's ew 500-935 G3 wireless microphones and ew 300 G3 GB in-ear monitors.

"I've used Sennheiser kit for the last 12 years and have always been very happy with the products and the company's support," says the band's front of house engineer Andrew Thornton. "With The Wanted, up until this tour we'd been using various radio mics - basically whatever people could provide us with - although always favouring Sennhe

UK - To meet market demands and to improve customer service, American DJ Europe has strengthened its sales team in the UK.

Curtis Lewis is now in the American DJ UK team as area sales manager for the Southern region. Curtis brings a solid experience from all DJ environments. Not only that he has worked himself for many years as a DJ, he was a retailer of DJ equipment, and most recently worked as a sales manager in the industry.

"We are pleased to have Curtis in the team now", says Dirk Kast, general manager of ADJ Group Europe. "We need qualified people to serve best the permanent growing market in which we are active. The experience of Curtis is a big help for us to optimize customer relations and to improve our position there."

Curtis Lewis adds, "To be working for American DJ is a great task that is exactly what I expected. It is a fantastic oppor

Israel - L-Acoustics' Israeli distributor Lightone reports that leading Israeli PA company the Mazuz Group has become a K1/Kudo Rental Network Agent. The purchase is part of an upgrade of the company's inventory to meet the growing needs of international touring riders.

"The addition of Mazuz as K1 agent for Israel is a great reflection not only of the system's performance but also on how L-Acoustics, supported by our distributor Lightone, can offer an unbeatable package in terms of performance, acceptability and return on investment," says L-Acoustics sales manager Tim McCall. "Mazuz has some of the country's most respected engineers and now they have the country's best system - a winning combination."

Following the purchase, L-Acoustics' certified trainer Paul Van Baasbank travelled to Mazuz's premises to carry out some K1 training before the new system w

France - The magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is celebrating its 800th anniversary with Dream of Colours - a spectacular high definition son et lumière show that recreates stages in the building of the cathedral and displays the massive intricate façade in all its original glowing colours. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the cathedral will host the show three times a night from May to October each year.

A major shoot-out was held between all the main brands of column loudspeaker considered capable of giving the performance required for audio quality, SPL, coverage and throw, and Community's Entasys was chosen for the job.

The Dream of Colours system consists of 16 Community Entasys three-way, full-range, column line-array loudspeakers, supplemented by six 18-inch subwoofers. Lab.gruppen amplifiers were selected to power the system and

UK - The Missing Abroad initiative by the Lucie Blackman Trust is one of the first customers in the UK to install Roland's new VR-5 AV mixer/recorder for a new studio suite which will play a central role in the charity's search for missing people, and assistance to families of muder victims overseas.

Between 50-70 UK citizens are murdered abroad each year. At any one time, the Lucie Blackman Trust is trying to find 20-30 missing UK citizens. Since the disappearance of Lucie Blackman in Japan in 2000, the LBT has assisted the families of missing relatives and has established Missing Abroad to provide unique expertise, practical help, advice and support.

Missing Abroad operations manager Matt Searle has commissioned the opening of a dedicated TV suite at the Trust's HQ in the Isle of Wight. "For families whose relatives are missing or murdered overseas, the process of makin

Switzerland - Taking two years to complete, a major upgrade to Thun's cultural and congress centre has provided the Swiss town with a truly 21st century venue. The project included a complete technical refit, with Yamaha equipment taking a central role.

Costing 24m Swiss francs, the project saw the existing Kultur und Kongresszentrum Thun (or KKThun) building extensively refurbished and extended.

The existing 740-capacity Schadausaal was completely revamped, including the addition of a moveable wall (which can divide it into two separate spaces) and greatly improved acoustics. It has been joined by a second performance hall, the 500-capacity Lachensaal, a 530m2 foyer (including bar and food facilities) and an 80 space basement car park.

The technical upgrade was carried out by Swiss AV specialists Kilchenmann AG and Szeno Engineering and includes a DME64N digital mixing engi

France / China - Loudspeaker manufacturer APG is preparing for a busy PALM Expo in Beijing in association with their Chinese distributor BVCAM. The exhibition, which takes place from 26-29 May 2011, will be the first showing in Asia of the new DX Series low profile monitor speakers, DX12 and DX15. The new range will be on demo in APG's dedicated demo room at the show, along with the big brother monitor speaker, SMX15. APG will also be showing their powerful modular line array system, Uniline.

"PALM Expo has always been an extremely worthwhile show for APG, and this year is likely to prove the best yet," commented APG's sales and marketing director, Xavier Pion. "Our business in China is growing all the time, thanks to the sterling efforts of our distributor, BVCAM, and with the new products that we have brought to market recently, we're anticipating a lot of inter

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