Sound

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04 September 2024

UK - Union Audio has announced the release of four new products – the Orbit LE2, Orbit LE4, and the ground-breaking Orbit LE2 FX and Orbit LE4 FX – offering a new range of accessible two- and four-channel rotary mixers.

The Orbit LE2 and LE4 are high-performance rotary analogue DJ mixers, featuring fully independent channels, each equipped with high-quality phono pre-amplifier and line inputs, high-pass filter with variable Q, FX Send with pre/post switch, and a precise Alps rotary fader. The Master section features a three-band Isolator, and separate level controls for Master Out, Booth Out and Aux Return, whilst comprehensive monitoring is via two backlit custom analogue VU meters, with a powerful headphone amp featuring both Split Cue and Cue/Mix, plus 1/4” and 3.5mm headphone jack sockets for maximum versatility.

Building on the LE2 and LE4

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03 September 2024

UK - The winners of the 2024 PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show, currently running at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.

44 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products. And, for the first time in a number of years, the judges were delighted to also award the sustainability award. This year’s judging team comprised 13 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.

The winning products and judges’ comments are listed below:
Glensound for GTM Mobile  
The judges felt that this f

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03 September 2024

USA - Online retailer for music makers Sweetwater has announced the formal transition of All Pro Integrated Systems, its integration division, to officially operate as Sweetwater Integration. Solving the marketplace need for a one-stop shop for superior integration delivery, the transition reflects over a decade of investment, coupling exceptional customer care and a track record of successful projects for large-scale integration customers.

Sweetwater's customers now have a go-to source for integration to create immersive audio-visual experiences. And now, with Sweetwater Integration, the company is leveraging strong, proven relationships with experienced designers, engineers, and professional integrators.

"We've been working tirelessly to redefine integration and to ensure the integration delivery experience matches the experience synonymous with th

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03 September 2024

Poland - This year marking its 30th anniversary, Poland’s largest festival, Pol‘and’Rock, draws aggregate crowds of between 500,000-750,000 to the Czaplinek-Broczyno airfield, making it one of the largest in the world.

This year the three-day free festival (formerly known as Woodstock Festival Poland) drew rock act Coma, alongside Motionless in White, Flogging Molly, Less Than Jake, The Warning, Guano Apes and many others.

A veteran of the event’s successful sound since the beginning of the millennium, both as main sound engineer and crew chief, is Przemek Naguszewski (of Fotis Sound). This year he deployed an Optocore XR6 system for fibre transmission between FOH and monitors, as well as a Festival Box. “I was responsible for providing all [systems] between the sound engineer and system input,” he said. “All needed consoles, outboard,

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03 September 2024

The Netherlands - Dutch drum ‘n’ bass fans were served up a major treat when the four-day Liquicity Festival again took place at the Geestmerambacht Park in the north of the Netherlands. The programme featured a vast roster of international DJ and live dance acts.

The consolidated, multi-stage event - whose roots date back to 2013 - attracts daily attendances of up to 20,000. Returning for their second year, Martin Audio rental partner DSL equipped seven stages with premium systems over the four days.

Stated DSL director, Gert-Jan Gomes, “At Liquicity 2023, where we supplied all feature areas with Martin Audio PA, we were able to keep the audience immersed in high quality sound, while at the same time restrict off-site noise to a level within the permit. As a result of this achievement, we were asked to return for the 2024 edition.”

I

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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