Sound

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03 September 2024

Portugal - Europalco leveraged the power of Kuka robot to create a memorable experience at the 36th Deloitte IRGAwards 2024. Held at the Carlos Lopes Pavilion in Lisbon, the event, organised by Desafio Global, welcomed 270 guests.

This year, the IRGAwards focused on technology and artificial intelligence, creating an atmosphere that showcased the harmony between humans and machines. Europalco’s Kuka robot played a prominent role in this narrative. The evening began with a performance where a Kuka robot played the piano alongside a pianist. A highlight of the event was the captivating dance performed by a Kuka robot and a professional dancer. These demonstrations showcased the impressive capabilities of modern robotics.

The IRGAwards 2024 stood out for its innovative use of visual and scenic elements. Of particular note was the 360-degree immersive

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02 September 2024

UK - When the DiGiCo Quantum338 made its official 3:38pm launch at the 2020 NAMM Show, the crowd that was there to witness the console’s unveiling was unprecedented, with hundreds of curious onlookers gathered around the company’s booth.

Since then, that product has gone on to be a massive global success, both out on tours and in myriad fixed installs. But with console-footprint “real estate” frequently being in short supply, DiGiCo has fielded many customer requests for a more compact, two-screen model, setting the stage for the new Quantum326 launching at PLASA this week.

“A considerable number of audio professionals have asked us for a smaller version of the Quantum338 - and specifically one with zero compromises to its feature set -so we’ve had our R&D team give the people what they want,” says DiGiCo managing director Austin Fr

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02 September 2024

UK - KLANG:technologies announced at PLASA Show 2024 the launch of a new software upgrade for its :vokal immersive in-ear monitor mixing system, which was first introduced alongside the company’s :kontroller in 2021.

With a simple purchase from KLANG’s new shop, :vokal owners can quickly transform their existing processor into a :vokal+, significantly increasing the product’s input channel count from 24 to a full 64 channels for all 12 binaural mixes.

Available for a nominal fee, the optional :vokal+ upgrade is one of the key benefits of KLANG’s newest operating system, KOS 5.6, which is free of charge and additionally brings the same root-intensity EQs found in the :vokal and :konductor natively to DiGiCo console worksurfaces via the popular DMI-KLANG card.

“The DMI-KLANG was designed as a minimalistic-yet-powerful immersive proces

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02 September 2024

South Korea - Mixing facility KoKo Sound Studios has invested in a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 multichannel converter as part of a major upgrade to accommodate Dolby Atmos music mixing.

Located at Haengju Fortress, this facility is owned by Mr. Ko Hyun-Jung who is widely acclaimed for his music mixes across diverse genres including K-Pop, Hip-Hop, Rock and R&B.

The decision to upgrade the facility to Dolby Atmos reflects KoKo Sound Studios’ desire to attract international artists that want to tap into the energy and vibrancy of Korean K-Pop, a genre that has becoming increasingly popular beyond the country’s borders.

In order to achieve a first-rate mixing environment, the studio required additional Dante outputs for 7.1.4 Atmos and high-quality analogue converters for its existing console and outboard gear.

“We wanted all the

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02 September 2024

UK - DirectOut is the creator of multi-function audio processor PRODIGY.MX, currently in use across a range of Gareth Owen Sound (GOS) Productions. These include the recently opened production of Starlight Express at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, and The Devil Wears Prada, which is currently showing at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, and due to open at the Dominion Theatre in October 2024.

Gareth Owen is one of the world’s most successful theatrical sound designers. Not only is he responsible for multiple award-winning shows, he is also a pioneer in immersive theatrical sound design. Owen was co-founder of Fourier Audio and still holds the title of CCO, after the sale to DiGiCo in 2023. He is also CEO of software house Show Control, creators of EnSnap and other software/hardware tools for use exclusively on Gareth Owen Sound pro

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30 August 2024

USA - This summer, Wonderland Forest, a campground and concert venue by GFY Entertainment, transformed the rolling hills of Central New York's Apple Valley into a hub of musical performances. The venue hosted a series of concerts and festivals all season long, powered by a 1 Sound audio system for the outdoor festival-style stage.

Upstate Stage & Lighting, a live production and installation company with a focus on music venues, selected 1 Sound for the Saloon Stage. The versatile system accommodated various musical acts, from full rock bands to DJs, with travelling sound engineers consistently impressed by the clarity and sound of the 1 Sound system.

For this outdoor system that was set to be installed for three months, Upstate Stage and Lighting deployed two Contour CT212s a side as the main left and right. These robust, three-way horn-loaded po

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30 August 2024

UAE - Pulse Middle East has completed an audio-visual installation at the Epik Club, situated in Dubai’s Meydan Grandstand. Based in the UAE and serving clients across the MENA region and beyond, Pulse ME specialises in AVL Integration for nightlife, museums and places of worship.

Pulse’s long-standing relationship with Martin Audio dates back to the team’s touring days. The journey began with the W8L Longbow while the LE1500 wedge monitor, with its unparalleled clarity, further cemented the preference for Martin Audio products. This time, Pulse’s team chose to work with the Wavefront Precision WPS system at a venue that is set on 25,000sq.ft of space – a decision driven by several compelling factors.

The WPS system’s clarity and natural sound quality immediately impressed them. What stood out was the midrange clarity that required no add

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30 August 2024

Finland - Kuopio’s Panorama Landscape Hotel sits at the top of Mountain Tahko ski resort overlooking a landscape that could have been hand-painted by Monet. Some guests sit in the clouds absorbing the natural beauty of the forest, while others choose to relax in their suites or in the traditional Finnish design of the spa.

Built by local entrepreneurs Harri Jokela and Katja Kuulusa, Panorama Landscape Hotel is a celebration of Nordic architecture, from the detailed wood interior to the RAW Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers located across the site.

Original planning started in 2018, with construction of the hotel made possible through investment by former rally champion Tommi Mäkinen and former Formula 1 titleholder Kimi Räikkönen – both legends of Finnish motorsports. Taking inspiration from Japanese onsen spas, the idea was to build a hotel that

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30 August 2024

UK - Having appeared to great acclaim and huge popularity last year, Classic Gear Live, which presents some of the key lighting and sound products that have shaped the entertainment industry, is back for 2024 at this year’s PLASA Show.

This year’s display builds on the success of last year, with some returning favourites and a whole bunch of ‘new’ classics besides.

On show this year: the Vari-Lite VL2, VL4 and Artisan for those who missed them last year, but alongside them the Vari-Lite’s rivals from back in the day, the moving mirror lights – GoldenScan and RoboScan, controlled by a Wholehog II console, marking the 30th anniversary of its PLASA debut.

Stepping back a generation: Avo’s QM500, or for a complete contrast in size, Zero88’s Sirius, the console that introduced so many to memory lighting control. Many would then gra

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29 August 2024

UK - The PLASA Show 2024 sees the UK debut of Cadac Consoles’ CM-J50 digital audio mixing console. Following the company's recent announcement of its shift to UK-based manufacturing, Cadac Consoles will showcase the CM-J50 on Stand E85 alongside Precision Audio Solutions, who played a pivotal role in the CM-J50’s international Beta test programme, and UK speaker manufacturer Inspired Audio.

Andi Churchill, managing director of Precision Audio Solutions, comments: “Before taking the CM-J50 out on the road, we spent six months testing it rigorously in our warehouse - everything from identifying software quirks to bouncing it around the car park, loading and unloading it from vans, and transporting it across the country. Despite Cadac's challenge to 'break it’, the CM-J50 withstood everything we threw at it.

“Over the past 18 months it’s bee

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28 August 2024

The Netherlands - Conservatorium Maastricht, an international conservatory, is one of nine music academies in the Netherlands. With goals to set its musicians in motion, the school enables its students to achieve their ambitions in various musical fields through theoretical and practical approaches to artistic development and performance, along with cross-departmental activities, elective courses and professional development.

At the end of each year, Conservatorium Maastricht holds a graduation showcase, where students present their final projects. This event allows graduates to demonstrate what they have learned and their capabilities as musicians, composers and/or producers. This year, the event was held at Muziekgieterij, a local concert hall that was tasked with handling the technical aspects, which included providing the best possible sound for the show

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27 August 2024

USA - To expand research opportunities and community resources, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners partnered with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to develop the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Centre.

The centre was created to provide a comprehensive venue for livestock shows, agricultural fairs, equestrian events, and various community activities. To power outdoor speakers across the venue, the centre turned to the award-winning Connect Series amplifiers from LEA Professional.

The 37-acre site’s development involved the construction of new pole-barn structures, refurbishment of a 250ft x 150ft indoor equestrian arena, and construction of a new outdoor arena. These arenas included new lighting, PA systems, bleachers, and other infrastructure elements. When it came time to i

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27 August 2024

UK - EM Acoustics is preparing for the 2024 edition of PLASA Show, returning to London Olympia from 1-3 September. Building on the success of their R5, launched at last year’s show, the team is set to unveil the latest addition to the Reference Series, the R6, at the event.

The Reference Series is characterised by its low-profile design and exceptional quality, offering full-range point source loudspeakers that boast remarkably flat frequency and phase responses. The introduction of the R6, which sits between the ultra-compact R5 and the versatile R8, is a logical next step in the expansion of this popular family of loudspeakers.

“The Reference Series has become spectacularly successful. Designers and integrators are now looking to create complete Reference ecosystems and the R6 is another hugely powerful creative tool in the design process,” c

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27 August 2024

UK - On Stand J5 at this year’s PLASA Show, TiMax Spatial will showcase a beta version of the latest innovation to join the fold, TiMax panLab. The original editions of this spatialisation application for macOS have already taken the market by storm.

Now in the stable of immersive audio pioneers TiMax, it delivers an augmented feature set which enables users to take spatialised audio designs further in both entry-level and large-scale systems.

The beta version of the new TiMax panLab application will provide enhanced spatial pan programming and live cue management for shows and systems mapped and rendered in the TiMax SoundHub spatial processor. Optional software licences are included to output to QLab, mixing consoles, processors and TiMax SoundHub depending on user requirements.

Also on the stand is the new TiMax TrackerSP plug-in option

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23 August 2024

Germany -This summer, the Großer Sendesaal of Hessischer Rundfunk witnessed a special performance. In the Lorenz Foundation’s inclusive dance project Babylon: Miteinander Reden ist Gold, 150 people - professionals and amateurs, people with and without disabilities - took to the stage and demonstrated what can happen when people come together without boundaries: participation for all, enjoyment of art and a strong sense of community.

Working closely together, all those involved created an extraordinary live experience with powerful images and stirring music - supported by the technical team from eCon GmbH and a sound and lighting setup from LD Systems and Cameo.

Babylon: Miteinander Reden ist Gold (talking to one another is golden) tells an old biblical story, adapted to the challenges of modern times: a lack of understan

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23 August 2024

USA - Following its strategic US collaboration with Wisycom, DPA Microphones is expanding its team with the addition of several wireless systems professionals to facilitate the growth trajectory of these pro audio companies.

Included among its latest appointments are industry veterans Adinaldo ‘Adi’ Neves as director of business development, wireless, and Marcos Nieves as area sales manager, D.C. Metro. Geoff Baynard also joins the team as business development manager, wireless.

“As a renowned leader in the professional audio industry, we are thrilled to welcome Adi, Marcos and Geoff to our team to help expand our wireless systems business,” says Christopher Spahr, vice-president, sales and marketing, DPA Microphones and Wisycom USA.

“This trio of professionals bring decades of sales, support and business development experience that

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22 August 2024

UK - Wharfedale Pro has announced the launch of a new range of transportation equipment specially designed for its flagship WLA series loudspeakers. The portfolio of dolly boards and dolly frames are shipping now and includes a total of five dolly boards and two common dolly frames designed to streamline product transportation, especially critical for live event and touring applications.

“It’s important to us to provide integrators, production teams and rental partners with a complete solution and the right tools to do their jobs,” explains Alex Lane, applications and solutions manager at Wharfedale Pro. “Introducing this new range of accessories underlines our commitment to these values, and we hope existing fans of our WLA series will enjoy the new additions, and new clients will have yet another reason to choose Wharfedale Pro for their projects.

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21 August 2024

USA - Not to be confused with Area 51, Area15 is an immersive entertainment district just moments from the Las Vegas Strip. Already equipped with an X1 system, it includes the Illuminarium experience located in the Area15 District.

Now following suit in upgrading their audio experience with a Holoplot X1 Matrix Array sound system is The Portal, a multi-use venue and key element of Area15’s experiential entertainment. It offers experiences for the whole family, including rides and VR, live performances, DJs, food, and definitely no top-secret US Government experiments . . .

“Our motto is ‘Area15 does not exist’ because you can make your own story,” says Mark Stutzman, CTO at Area15. “It can be anything you want it to be.”

The Portal is Area15’s landmark venue. It can be used for private dining, all-night DJ sets, and everything

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21 August 2024

Mexico - Each year, the Mexican Telephone Workers Union (STRM) holds a festival for its members at the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, the world’s largest bullring with a capacity of more than 40,000 seats.

This year’s event took place on 1 August and featured performances from popular Mexican singers Carlos Rivera and María José, and Colombian music groups Piso 21 and La Sonora Dinamita.

As usual, sound for the event was provided by local production services company Tecno Son, who deployed their Nexo STM system to cover an audience that rose quickly from the floor of the venue to the highest tier and wrapped right around the edges of the stage from left to right.

Left and right FOH hangs of 15 x STM M46 Main and B112 Bass Extension line array elements with three M28 down-fill boxes were supplemented by side-arrays of nine M46/B112 plus

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21 August 2024

South Africa - Stage Audio Works has expanded its sales team with the appointment of Gary Furman. Furman brings over two decades of expertise in the distribution of products to the pro AV and events markets, in addition to recent experience in the systems integration sector.

Stage Audio Works general manager, Gustav Barnard, comments, “We’re confident that Gary is going to be a great fit for us. His extensive industry knowledge and established network of contacts make him an asset to the company, and his solution-oriented approach to business aligns with our own. I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running.”

Furman adds, “I am excited to reconnect with old acquaintances and forge new relationships in an industry that I have come to love. Joining Stage Audio Works after a three-year hiatus from distribution feels like coming home.”

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20 August 2024

China - Renkus-Heinz has announced a new distribution partnership to strengthen its presence in Northeast Asia. Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin will serve as the brand’s exclusive distributor, bringing Renkus-Heinz’s entire portfolio of audio solutions to the Chinese market.  

"We are very proud to be the sole agent of Renkus-Heinz in China,” says Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin’s vice president, Stevie Ng. “We will put our customers first and fully leverage our local advantages to bring Renkus-Heinz's superior audio products and services to our region.”  

Shanghai You Shi Wei Xin offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that allow businesses, institutions, and creative professionals to elevate their audiovisual experiences. Boasting over 100 employees nationwide, the company offers system solutions to meet the evolving needs of sectors such a

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20 August 2024

Fiji - Christian Mission Fellowship International (CMFI) is a rapidly growing church headquartered in Suva, Fiji. Established in 1990, its 30,000 members and missionaries serve in 120 countries across 5,000 churches worldwide.

CMFI is headquartered in Suva at the World Harvest Centre (WHC), where an impressive, round church building hosts over 3,500 worshippers, a full band, production, and a 100-member choir.

Since its construction in 1990, the centre has installed numerous sound systems; however, none have been able to overcome the challenges of the large reverberant space and the sound quality requirements of the growing church.

Enter head pastor Suliasi Kurulo, who finally decided the time had arrived to call in the professionals and deliver the dream to its members. After many proposals and CAD models, Suliasi, his production crew and th

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20 August 2024

UK - Commercial audio manufacturer Optimal Audio continues to evolve and expand its ecosystem. The latest development sees the introduction of Sub 6, a passive subwoofer engineered for applications requiring increased impact and low-frequency performance from smaller Cuboid and Up loudspeaker setups.

The compact Sub 6 is suitable for installations where space is at a premium. The unit can be placed in tight spaces such as under banquette seating, mounted on walls or ceilings, or flown using integral M8 inserts. Featuring a six-inch driver with a generously sized low-frequency port to minimise air noise for a clean and powerful sound output, Sub 6 delivers 250W (AES) of power with a punchy peak SPL of 118dB.

Horizontal or vertical orientation is possible by way of low-profile rubber feet which can be fitted on two surfaces, while installation is made

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19 August 2024

UK - The grounds of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire hosted this month’s Lakefest 2024 where, once again, all seven stages at this popular festival featured Nexo sound systems.

Total Sound Solutions crossed the border from Swansea to rig the main stage with left and right hangs of 12 x Nexo Geo M12s and eight MSUB18s, plus two separate hangs of five Geo M12s for delays and a single hang of Geo M10 for the VIP side hang. Eight RS18 subs were deployed across the front of the stage with additional MSUB18s in a cardioid formation, with Nexo’s versatile P15 point source speakers used for front-fills.

Side-fill duties on the main stage were performed by a Nexo live sound veteran. “Artists and engineers were so pleased to see our Alpha E system on the stage,” reports Total Sound CEO Chris Hooke. “The fact that it’s 25 years old and still welcome