UK - The new partnership between Powersoft and Traction Sound chose the perfect showcase for previewing the potential synergy on offer by harnessing these two brands, when this year's Bestival kicked off on the Isle of Wight.

The Italian amplification manufacturer supplied six of their flagship K10 switch-mode amplifiers to drive both the powerhouse Hidden Disco tent and more sublime, soothing grooves of the Ambient Forest, bringing the best out of Traction Sound's passive soft dome loudspeaker technology.

Powersoft provided 72kW of muscle in just 6RU spaces (12kW per amp).

It was Traction Sound's Jonny Goodwillie's friendship with festival owner Rob Da Bank that delivered the opportunity for both brands to showcase the products and what is one of the most high profile events in the UK, having won the title of Best Major Festival 2012 in the UK Festival awards. Having got th

Germany - Amptown System Company (ASC) has taken on a dedicated dealership for Munich based fibre network specialists Optocore and BroaMan. The new partnership, which was confirmed at IBC 2013 in Amsterdam this month, will see ASC representing both brands in the system integration and live sectors, such as musicals and theatre.

Headquartered in Hamburg, ASC's ability to provide integrated solutions for media technologies draws on a rich company heritage within the group. Founded in 1973 by Peter Matthes and Ulrich (Uli) Müller as a music store for instruments and large scale sound reinforcement it was this passion for music and technology that sowed the seeds for the birth of ASC in 1990, which soon saw them working on major world famous musicals.

The two men, along with Leif Witte, have subsequently developed ASC into an experienced media engineering system house, which will

China - For the band's first-ever performances in China, Metallica delivered two packed shows at Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena. A Meyer Sound Leo linear large-scale sound reinforcement system was deployed by Ling Hua ProSLV.

"I was immediately struck by the linearity of the Leo system, even when it was pushed to very high levels," says Freddy Kot, chief engineer for Ling Hua ProSLV. "Even with sustained readings of over 112 dB at FOH, there was no distortion. And of course, the audience was just ecstatic with what they heard."

The system configuration for the show was handled by 'Big Mick' Hughes, Metallica's long-time FOH engineer, with assistance from consultant 'dB Dave' Dennison. The core flown LEO system comprised main front-hangs of 18-each Leo-M line array loudspeakers, 32 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements deployed in dual steerable arrays, an

The Netherlands - HHB Communications is reporting the biggest year yet for broadcast audio at IBC after record-breaking attendance and significant product debuts created heavy footfall on its stand in Hall 8.

IBC has announced that over 52,000 attendees from 150 countries visited this year, making it a second record-breaking year for the show. These high attendance numbers combined with exclusive product launches made it an extremely vibrant event for HHB, says the UK-based company.

As an Avid Elite reseller, HHB is sharing the news of the new S6 control surface, which combines ICON and System 5 families in a new modular design. The S6 system offers the option of choosing a pre-configured S6 M10 or S6 M40, or with the S6 M40, customise the system even further with different channel control combinations. High precision editing and mixing control allows the user to quickly acces

USA - Bruno Mars is riding high off the success of his sold-out Moonshine Jungle outing. Sporting a diverse set-list with a mix of eclectic covers, radio hits, originals (many from his latest outing, Unorthodox Jukebox CD), the tour recently made Rolling Stone magazine's list of "50 greatest live acts right now."

The Clair Global tour is outfitted with dual DiGiCo SD7s at FOH and monitor world, both running redundant Waves SoundGrid servers. Each desk has two SD racks for individual control of preamps and are connected completely via digital Optocore fibre cable-a big change from the 2011 tour.

FOH engineer Derek Brener sends MADI lines direct from FOH to the record rig, handled by Charles Moniz, who records 96 channels to a Pro Tools rig seamlessly without the need for an expensive audio router for archival purposes.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Allen & Heath has launched GLD Editor, a free, computer-based control suite offering all of the key facilities of the GLD digital mixer with capability to display multiple information panels simultaneously. Available for PC and Mac, GLD Editor has the advantage of a GUI simulation of the mixer surface, offering users an onscreen representation that reflects the physical surface.

Similar to the popular iLive Editor software, the program enables users to easily configure show settings or make changes to existing shows online or offline to save and upload later. TCP/IP connectivity makes live mixing and processing possible over CAT5 or WiFi so different tasks can be managed in the Editor software and the GLD mixer surface simultaneously. For example, monitors can be tweaked on stage using a wireless laptop while another engineer runs the FoH sound check from the mixer. Also, a

Luxembourg - Following on the recent appointment of industry veteran Graham Rowlands to head the business development efforts of Music Group Professional brands Midas, Klark-Teknik and Turbosound, the company has announced that Rowlands will also take on responsibility for the Installed Sound division in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aimed at the integrated systems market, the IS division encompasses offerings from across the stable of MusicGroup brands, including Eurocom- Behringer's breakthrough line of DSP-based auto-mixers, integrated mixer-amplifiers and professional installed loudspeakers.

"We are building on success in the region and I am confident that Graham will amplify that success," stated Music Group founder and CEO, Uli Behringer. "Graham's experience at the contractor level, combined with his extensive network of partners in both install and pro audio

Australia - Communication technology for today's productions must be highly advanced and more dynamic than ever before, and yet continue to deliver the simplicity of the plug-and-play intercom systems of the past. Clear-Com's HelixNet is a platform of intercom products designed to offer simplified user operations and cabling requirements, ease-of-set-up and system management, unparalleled voice intelligibility, networking flexibility and system intelligence.

Crystal Productions, a Sydney-based AV Production and event company, required an updated communications system to maintain their technical capabilities and the Clear-Com HelixNet was the clear winner.

"Basically HelixNet simplifies the setup, management and use of intercom systems," commented David Thomas, project manager at Crystal Productions. "It offers cabling simplicity, ease-of-use, networking flexibil

South Africa - The Gearhouse Group of Companies recently provided comprehensive technical support, in the form of rigging, audio, lighting, trussing, structures and power, for the successful execution of the electronic dance production Sensation Innerspace, which took place at the Coca Cola Dome in Northriding on 7 September.

This was the debut event for Sensation in South Africa and the staging of it brought about quite a few "firsts" for technical supplier, Gearhouse SA, as well.

Gearhouse was contracted to G and G Productions, through technical consultants Strike Productions and worked hand in hand with technical production manager, Dave Tudor and Mushroom Productions, who handled the overall local production of the event. Project manager Anthony Banks, handled the onsite co-ordination of Gearhouse's technical elements with the assistance of Madelein

Switzerland - Several Allen & Heath iLive, GLD and Qu-16 digital mixing systems were in use across Switzerland throughout festival season.

PA company, Audiotronic, employed two GLD-80 mixers and an iLive-T system comprising an iLive-T112 Control Surface with iDR-48 MixRack. The GLD mixers were installed at the Interceltic Festival in Lausanne and FΩte de la Musique in Châtel-St-Denis, while the iLive system managed the FΩte Multiculturelle in Vevey.

Sound Lights PA company also used two iLive-T112 systems at the Festival des 5 Continents in Martigny, which attracts a 30,000 capacity audience.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Following the 2010 release of Sigh No More and relentless international touring, Mumford & Sons' rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric. Currently supporting its newest album, Babel, the band has once again been back on the road with The Full English tour, which marks its second sweep across North America this year.

Montreal, Canada-based Solotech has been providing L-Acoustics concert sound systems and support for The Full English as well as the band's May/June Summer Stampedeleg. Systems and support for August/September's Gentlemen of the Road (GOTR) two-day stopover shows have been provided by fellow Rental Network company LD Systems of Houston, Texas.

According to Jamie Howieson, Mumford & Sons' audio system engineer and sound designer, the production crew has been deploying 28 K1 mains and six Kara down-fills, plus 16 K1-SB flown

UK - 4HM chose IBC to launch the AM64, a new multi-format AES to MADI converter that provides fibre and coaxial transport. The new 1U device is intended to provide a single cost effective and space-saving solution to providing MADI on fibre for the broadcast environment.

The AM64 accepts up to 64 channels comprising 32 stereo pairs of AES/EBU or AES3-id audio (selectable from the front panel) and provides format conversion to MADI (with switchable sample-rate converters). The MADI data is then presented either via coaxial or fibre outputs. The AM64 is compatible with both single-mode and multi-mode fibre and provides peace of mind with a redundant power supply.

There is no set up time involved with the AM64 which means transporting multi-channel audio from one facility to another and over distance is much simpler than might otherwise be the case. This is especially true when u

USA - Community Professional Loudspeakers has announced the appointment of Steve Johnson as CEO. Johnson has over 25 years of engineering, marketing and management experience in the pro audio and communications industries. In his new role, Johnson is tasked with overseeing the company's overall business and sales strategies, and "leading Community into a new era of exceptional growth".

Johnson's previous roles have included VP and brand management positions with Bosch Communications Systems, Harman Music Group and Shure. Johnson joins Community from Bosch where he held the position of global brand manager and was responsible for brand management of Electro-Voice, RTS, Telex and Dynacord audio products worldwide.

"I am delighted to join Community at this important time in its history," said Johnson. "The company is well-respected worldwide and has an im

The Netherlands - Since Yamaha introduced the first digital mixer over a quarter of a century ago, digital consoles have had a seismic effect throughout the professional audio industry. Nowadays they can deliver remarkable quality and flexibility at low cost, as proved by a new Yamaha broadcast installation for the Telegraaf Media Groep (TMG) in Amsterdam.

TMG publishes the Netherlands most popular newspaper De Telegraaf, as well as regional newspapers, magazines, web sites and has significant interests in radio and television broadcasting. In-house production company Telegraaf TV has just moved into a new studio in TMG's main Amsterdam building to produce online news content. Built by broadcast technology provider DutchView, a Yamaha O1V96i digital console and DUGAN-MY16 auto mic mixing card have satisfied the need for high quality on a very tight budget.

The new facility fea

UK - August Bank Holiday 2013 saw the Galtres Parklands Festival take place in the picturesque surroundings of Duncombe Park, Helmsley. With its slogan being Beer Cider Music Fun Food KV2 Audio loudspeakers ensured that festival goers experienced the music aspect to its fullest in three of the festival's live spaces.

With all technical and production duties overseen by York based events specialists Camel Event Production, KV2 Audio loudspeakers were used on the Black Howl stage, the Arts Barge stage and, most importantly if the festivals slogan is to be taken literally, the Firkin beer tent stage - home to 300 firkins of fine ale.

The Black Howl Stage was situated within a large circus top and focussed on a wide range of acoustic orientated artists - ranging from solo singer-songwriters to full on rock and roll bands. One of KV2 Audio's ES Systems was used for Front of

UK - TC Group has announced the appointment of Mark Flanagan as its VP of marketing for install & tour, with responsibility for the marketing of TC Group brands - primarily Tannoy, Lab.gruppen, Lake and White Acoustic - in installed sound and touring markets. Former VP Tim Chapman will now focus on various special projects across TC Group.

Based at Tannoy's headquarters in Scotland, Flanagan has assumed the lead role in the marketing of the install and tour verticals, the managing of the core I&T marketing team at Coatbridge, as well as the delivery of the marketing strategy and co-ordination of other marketing teams within TC Group offices in North America, Japan and China.

Andrzej Sosna, CEO of TC Group's install and tour verticals, said, "Having focused almost entirely on the professional audio market during his past five years with TC Group, and led from the front in

Italy - Paul McCartney's Out There tour recently landed in the Arena di Verona, the historic Roman amphitheatre that for thousands of years has provided entertainment spectacles for the people of Verona.

Touring logistics meant that Paul McCartney's regular PA system could not make the Verona date so local supplier Amandla Productions stepped in to provide a Martin Audio MLA system, supported by All Access, the owners of Italy's largest MLA rig.

Paul McCartney's long standing FOH engineer Paul 'Pab' Boothroyd' was at the helm for the show, ably assisted by his touring system tech Chris Nicholls. Both were impressed by the system's performance.

"I had heard a lot of good things about the new Martin Audio rig and was happy to use it for this show," stated Boothroyd. "Everybody was really happy with the show, the coverage was great and the detail and clari

USA - EAW has announced the appointment of Rusty Waite to the position, VP of sales. Waite, a 20-year audio industry veteran, will lead the worldwide EAW sales network from his new home base in EAW's design centre in Whitinsville, MA USA.

"EAW is poised to leapfrog others in our space with the Anya system, and we need a powerhouse leader of our sales network to plan for, manage and compound this growth," explained Jeff Rocha, EAW president. "Rusty has just the right mix of hands-on product and industry knowledge, audio engineering and production chops, marketing savvy and business development experience to take EAW to the next level and beyond."

"Throughout my 25 years in the industry, I've looked up to the EAW brand for its phenomenal sound and reliability," commented Waite. "But as I got closer, I was flat-out blown away by the newer lines

UK - Trilogy has announced the installation of its Gemini intercom system and Mentor XL sync pulse and test signal generators (SPG/TSG) at Birmingham City University.

Configured to accurately replicate a full, professional production facility, the 64-port Gemini intercom system is deployed at the university's state-of-the-art Media Centre.

Based at the newly opened Parkside Building, the Media Centre is home to the largest broadcast facility in the UK's university sector, featuring four television studios, including a dedicated 2000 sq ft Green Screen studio, one of the largest in the UK. In addition to the TV studios the Gemini intercom system connects six radio studios and other technical areas such as sound recording studios, post-production facilities and editing suites, a colour grading suite, 4k screening facilities and hundreds of PC and Apple-based multimedia workstati

UK - PLASA London 2013, which takes place at ExCeL London from 6-9 October 2013, is putting out a final call for entries for the 2013 PLASA Awards for Innovation, before the deadline of Friday 27 September. More than 25 entries, ranging from audio interfaces and lighting controls to Ethernet switches and luminaires have been approved so far. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the new AudioLab Arena on Monday 7 October at 6.00pm.

The PLASA Awards for Innovation recognise products that advance the industry by demonstrating a new style of thinking, improving technical practice or taking a key step forward in terms of safety. All successfully vetted products are judged against one another on the strength of their innovation alone.

Companies and products in the running include:

• Altman Lighting (STAND F40) - UV LED Spectra CYC - A 100W cyclorama/wall wash lumina

Norway - The Oslo Concert Hall (Norwegian: Oslo Konserthus) in Norway has relied on the durability of its Meyer Sound equipment since 1986. A quarter century after installing eight UPA-1 and two USW-1 conventionally powered loudspeakers, the venue again turned to a Meyer Sound solution when it came time for an upgrade. As a result, a Mica line array loudspeaker system was supplied and installed by Oslo-based AVAB CAC.

The 1,404-capacity Oslo Concert Hall regularly features a diverse schedule of classical, blues, jazz, and rock performances. The hall's legacy Meyer Sound equipment has proven its worth, and venue management was ready for a system with more power and flexibility.

"I think it's unique that our UPA-1 system was so old yet sounded so good," says Jan Olsen Skare, long-time production manager of Oslo Concert Hall. "Now with the Mica, we have a system th

USA - Masque Sound continues its Broadway run by providing a custom audio equipment package for the new production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

The Glass Menagerie, starring Cherry Jones, Zachary Quinto, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, is directed by John Tiffany and the Tony Award-winning creative team behind ONCE, and tells the story of Amanda Wingfield, a Southern belle past her prime who lives with her two grown children in a small apartment in St. Louis.

For sound designer Clive Goodwin, there were two main goals: To make the play sound as natural as possible and to ensure that the whole audience, even members seated in the very back of the mezzanine, could clearly hear Nico Muhly's beautiful composition. "Nico's music sets the theme for the show," says Goodwin. "The Glass Menagerie is a memory play about the character T

UK - As part of its organisational restructure, D&M Pro has announced the appointments of Mark Perrins to president of D&M Pro and David Morbey to global product marketing manager.

Having taken up the role of general manager at the beginning of 2005, Perrins' successful leadership has culminated in his appointment as president of D&M Pro, from where he will continue to expand the company's penetration into the global installation market.

Morbey, meanwhile, rises from European product marketing manager to take on the mantle of global product marketing manager, with ultimate responsibility for product planning for the company's entire portfolio of products.

Says Perrins, "Our product range is constantly expanding and we have solutions for all recording and playback applications for the AV installation, audio production, live sound, theatre and broadcast markets.

"D

UK - The first SSL Live console are now shipping. The first three consoles all shipped to U.K.-based global tour production company Britannia Row for use on Peter Gabriel's forthcoming European Back to Front tour and another two shipped to SGroup in France for the imminent Amel Bent tour. Console manufacturing production for 2013 has been sold out since July, and details of the new commercial partner network for SSL Live are available in the 'Where to Buy' section of the SSL website, says the company.

SSL's CEO, Antony David, says, "The on-schedule completion of the new Live console is an important milestone for SSL. This has been one of the biggest developments we have undertaken for some time and marks the first application of our new Tempest digital platform. We have been very encouraged by the response from mix engineers, rental companies and our channel partners

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