USA - Multi-Grammy award winning double bass player John Patitucci has selected DPA 4099 instrument clip mic and 4021 compact cardioid for his live work as a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet.

Patitucci and the Quartet's sound engineer Rob Griffin were instrumental in providing their input to the design of the DPA 4099B for bass. They worked together with DPA designers to develop a light, non-invasive rubber mount for the 4099, which fits onto the bass strings between the bridge and the tailpiece. A small gooseneck fitting allows for greater flexibility in moving and positioning the mic into different positions in relation to the top of the bass. Griffin's FOH mix is boosted by the 4021, which is also fixed to Patitucci's bass.

"I've been working for years to get a natural live sound that is closer to the acoustic sound of my instrument," says Patitucci. "I lo

USA - Providing the greater Los Angeles area with a different twist on the late night movie, Hollywood Outdoor Movies (HOM) relies on JBL VRX loudspeakers to entertain thousands by displaying feature films on a giant portable outdoor movie screen. With audiences ranging in size from 1,300 to 2,500 people, HOM owner John J. Snyder's VRX system is using his JBL VRX system to deliver high-impact sound for movie exhibitions throughout southern California.

From Exposition Park and La Cienega Park, to the Fashion Institute of Design and an area of Los Angeles known as 'The Cornfields', HOM arranges day-long events for families that include live music, games, food, costume contests and a feature film on screens up to 100ft wide.

"We focus on making each screening a large, family-friendly event, rather than just showing a movie for an hour and a half," stated Snyder. "W

UK - Adlib Audio supplied three Soundcraft Vi consoles to BBC Worldwide for the recent Doctor Who Live tour, which visited nine major UK arenas in October and November.

This action-packed stage version of the cult TV series stars a selection of classic and favourite Doctor Who monsters including The Daleks and Cybermen, with Nigel Planer as 'intergalactic showman' and archetypal baddie, Vorgenson.

The tour's 270 degree sound system was specified by XL Events' Rich Rowley, who was also instrumental in choosing Adlib to supply the kit. The sound company itself fielded a vastly experienced team, including Tony Szabo (systems engineer), Chris Leckie (FOH, on a Soundcraft Vi6), with Fergus Mount handling audio playback on a Soundcraft Vi1, and Marc Peers mixing monitors on a second Vi6. All desks were originally supplied by Sound Technology.

"There was no other consol

Australia - On Sunday 19 September more than 34,000 competitors took part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, marking and celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the event which includes the Marathon, Half Marathon & Bridge Run.

Event Sound supplied the audio for the four event zones choosing to use JBL speakers with VRX 932LAP being their main box of choice. Other boxes used as distributed systems and entertainment stage monitors included JBL SRX700 series and JBL Eon510 speakers.

The Start Site at North Sydney has proved to be quite challenging in the past with a focused concentration of sound required for the three-zoned start areas without infringing too much on the residential buildings.

"Fortunately with the VRX system we were able to accomplish a directional system providing great clarity and throw across the areas that we needed to cover," stated Keith C

UK - For a limited time, LSI Online has slashed the price of over 130 titles in the Technical Book shop, with many books discounted by as much as 50%!

To take advantage of this offer, head over to the Technical Bookshop now or contact Sheila Bartholomew at Sheila@plasa.org or on +44 (0)1323 524137 for more information.

Offers are subject to availability and strictly while stocks last.

(Claire Beeson)

UK - Yamaha's free StageMix app for the iPad can now be downloaded from the Apple Store and, to mark the availability of this product, Yamaha UK is giving away a strictly limited number of iPads with new M7CL mixing consoles.

Launched at PLASA2010 in September, StageMix provides remote control of M7CL functions via a simple, intuitive graphic interface, from anywhere within wireless range. Worth £429 each, a free 16Gb iPad (WiFi only version) will be given to purchasers of any of the Yamaha M7CL range, one iPad per console, while stocks last.

Specifically designed to allow engineers to adjust monitor mixes from the performer' positions on stage, StageMix directly controls M7CL mix parameters via the iPad, rather than having to rely on verbal directions to a second engineer, or a single engineer keep having to run to and from the console.

Console controls available via

UK - When the Broadway blockbuster Fela! transferred to London's National Theatre on the South Bank this month, Tony Award-winning sound designer Robert Kaplowitz took advantage of the auditorium's vastly different form to rework his original soundscape, with a Studer Vista 5 digital console at the control centre.

Portraying the life of Nigerian political activist and musician Fela Kuti had required the audience to be immersed in a soundfield as part of the adventurous production--but at the National he decided to go a step further.

The opportunity came when the National's sound operations manager, Borneo Brown, and assistants, Matt Berry and Ed Ferguson, requisitioned a 42-fader, custom-configured Studer Vista 5 digital console for the production.

"I had hoped to have used this desk for the Broadway production--but for various reasons it didn't happen," sai

Benelux - Lab.gruppen's PLM (Powered Loudspeaker Management) range have been deployed for the live studio broadcast finals of the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance? in Holland and Belgium. A number of PLM 10000Q and the new PLM 20000Q have been supplied to TV production company Kanakna Productions as part of a substantial live PA system, which also includes Lab.gruppen's FP+ series, by lighting and sound supplier Eventec.

The TV show has eight 'finals' shows broadcast live on Dutch TV network RTL and VTM in Belgium, from Studio 1 at Aalsmeer, just outside Amsterdam. The first of the live finals took place on 10 October, with the grand final on 28 November.

Eventec supplied all sound and lighting for the show, with the audio system based around Seeburg Acoustic Line Galeo XT tops and subs, powered by racks of Lab.gruppen PLM and FP+ and controlled via Dolby Lake DLP

Hungary - Rental company Hangharmas recently deployed its new L-Acoustics KARA modular WST line source system for the Gospel and Soul Festival at the Papp László Sportarena, Budapest. Around 10,000 people attended the event, starring the London Community Gospel Choir and Hillsong London.

The main FOH system consisted of 12 KARA cabinets per side, with a hang of six Kiva ultra compact units with two Kilo LF extensions per side providing offstage-fill. Additionally, eight SB18 subs (four per side) were flown, with 12 SB28 subs groundstacked (four in the middle in line and two cardioid stacks at L and R). The entire system was driven by LA8 amplified controllers.

Hangharmas recently purchased KARA from L-Acoustics' Hungarian distributor Audmax, joining the Kiva system they already owned. Supplementary Kara cabinets were supplied by L-Acoustics Rental Network Agent Reznic

Spain - Ateis Europe's public address technology played a key role in the service of consecration at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, 128 years after building work on the church began. In a sombre, yet impressive ceremony on 7 November, Pope Benedict XVI blessed the altar and bestowed basilica minor status on Antoni Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece.

A comprehensive PA system installed by Ateis' Spanish distributor, Optimus SA, ensured that the congregation of more than 6,500 people heard every word of the Pope's blessing. The installation was challenging for many reasons: because construction is still ongoing there is a lot of scaffolding in the building but the loudspeakers could not intrude on the decoration of the church interior.

Although the Sagrada Familia - or Holy Family church - is not a cathedral, it is on the same scale as a cathedral. The audio brief was for a syste

France - Digigram has announced a commercial and technological partnership with TDF, one of the leading operators of shared facilities and terrestrial networks in Europe. TDF Group assists its clients - television networks, radio stations, telecommunications operators, ISPs and local municipalities - across the entire value chain of audio-visual and telecoms networks: from upstream to downstream, with deployment, maintenance and operation of transport and distribution networks and on-site hosting of operators' equipment in TDF's sites.

The TDF Group has extensively tested and eventually selected Digigram's IQOYA and PYKO IP transport solutions as the basis for its own Audio-over-IP proposals. The PYKO range was chosen for solutions that transit in part over the public Internet network, whereas the IQOYA range, particularly the * LINK/LE and * SERV/LINK products will be used for

Germany / Spain - dBTechnologies has announced that a full version of the website - including all product information, videos and navigational tools - is now available in Spanish.

"Working directly with employed representatives in Spain, means we have a responsibility to provide our many customers there with clear, comprehensible information, and this also extends to our website. What better way than to present it in their native language?" says European sales manager, Harald von Falkenstein. "Very soon our latest news about worldwide installations will be in Spanish, too."

Managing director Michael Herweg adds: "The South American market has seen incredibly rapid growth in a very short time. Our distributors in these emerging markets have enjoyed unprecedented success, making it a priority that important information is made available to dBTechnologies

Spain - Linkin Park, has accepted the Award for 'Best Live Act' at the 2010 European Music Awards held in Madrid, Spain on 7 November 2010. The band has been touring on a massive Adamson systems arena rig on their two previous two world tours, Minutes to Midnightand Project Revolution.

The 'Best Live Act' nod was accompanied by a live performance of Waiting for the End at the Award ceremonies. The award was accepted by the band who not only thanked their entire production crew, which includes award-winning FOH & monitor engineers 'Pooch' Van Druten and 'Tater' McCarthy, but also invited the crew to join them on stage to accept the award.

Presently Linkin Park are touring Europe and will kick-off their North American segment in Sunrise, Florida on 20 January 2011.

Their current arena rig consists of a L&R main hangs, each made up of 16 Y18, with an underh

UK - A.C. Special Projects has provided audio solutions featuring a fixed installation background music system and a separate high performance DJ PA system for the K West Hotel & Spa in London's Shepherd's Bush.

K West was looking to upgrade its existing bar and restaurant speaker system to increase the venue's appeal as a premier nightlife destination during evenings and weekends. They approached A.C. Special Projects to specify, supply and install a discreet audio solution providing high quality sound for day-time background music applications, as well as a more powerful PA system for night-time use by DJs at weekends and during private parties or corporate functions.

A.C. Special Projects specified fixed installation Turbosound TCS-C35T full-range, two-way loudspeakers finished in white, to replace the existing ceiling-mounted speakers in the K Lounge Bar and Kanteen restau

UAE - Midas' newly-appointed UAE distributor Melody House has supplied four DPA 4080 miniature cardioid lavalier mics to Almoe Digital AV Systems, for installation in the Shiek Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi. The mics are being used by the mullahs of the mosque for prayers.

"When comparing DPA microphones in a blindfold test, the DPA's were clear leaders of the pack," says Almoe's Jason Rouzaire. "This was a perfect microphone to use in such a high profile job."

Almoe was founded in 1994 to offer a one-stop solution for audio visual and office automation products in the UAE.

(Jim Evans)

The Netherlands / UK - Acoustic Control Systems, based in the Netherlands, has appointed HD Pro Audio as its new UK partner.

HD Pro Audio sales director Andy Huffer will be leading this new partnership, expanding on an existing relationship between RK Sound and ACS. Huffer commented: "By adding the ACS product line to our portfolio, I see the addition of a top-of-the-line technology which is a step forward in positioning HD Pro Audio at the highest level of the pro audio market."

HD Pro Audio will continue to have links with Jon Raper of RK Sound. At van den Heuvel, technical director of ACS, said, "The management of ACS wishes to express our gratitude to Jon Raper and his colleagues for many years of positive support. Over those years a number of ACS systems have been sold and installed by RK Sound. We value Jon as a very knowledgeable and experienced engineer,

Germany - Since the mid-1600s, the Oberammergau Passionsfestspiele (passion play) has been performed every 10 years in the German village of the same name. The 2010 performances used sound reinforcement for the first time in its history, with a Yamaha PM5D front of house console chosen for the occasion.

2010 marked the 41st season of the play, with 2000 villagers dedicating a year of their lives to the project - none of whom are professional thespians - culminating in 105 performances (plus five public previews) between May and October. Each performance lasted for eight hours, including a three-hour interval.

"In the past, the audience had to resort to reading along in a text book to follow the dialogue," says Michael Kennedy, the 2010 play's sound engineer. "A number of those involved in were sceptical about using sound reinforcement for the first time,

Switzerland - Due to unprecedented demand from Switzerland's classical outdoor festival circuit, TiMax distributor Bleuel Electronics AG has invested in additional TiMax Tracker and TiMax2 SoundHub systems from UK developer Out Board. With its existing rental stock already fully committed to other shows, Bleuel purchased a further TiMax SoundHub-R32 delay matrix and four-sensor TiMax Tracker (TT) performer tracking system to service a spectacular in-the-round production of Carmen being staged outdoors in Schintznach Dorf.

TiMax was specified by sound designer Renee Zulauf, who was assisted on-site by Robin Whittaker of TiMax developers Out Board. Renee's associate Dominic Schilt mixed the show on a SoundCraft Vi6, feeding radio-mic channel direct outs plus orchestra and reverb submixes to the TiMax Soundhub via optical MADI. The radio-mic handler backstage was Rigobert Sc

Norway - Martin Audio has announced its first Scandinavian customer for the Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array, (MLA). Norwegian rental company, Rubicon AS, has purchased an MLA rig consisting of 20 MLA top boxes, 12 MLX subs, and four MLD down-fill enclosures, from their local distributor, em nordic AS.

The move follows major system purchases by launch customers Complete Audio of Germany and North Carolina-based Special Event Services (SES) - who last month added a second system to their existing MLA arsenal.

By purchasing 36 enclosures, Rubicon, who specialise in a wide range of work from festivals to corporate events and one-off club gigs, will be able to divide the rig into two separate systems where necessary, having doubled up on the power distribution and control.

Based in Oslo, Rubicon has been a regular customer of em nordic since the early 1990s. They were the first

India - The Commonwealth Games Opening & Closing Ceremonies in Delhi turned out to be a slap in the face to the media who were expecting an event of epic failure. Despite inconsistent power, organisational issues, rampant Dengue fever and alleged terrorist threats, the ceremonies were a resounding success.

For audio production company Norwest Productions, it was all par for the course. The company first came to international attention a decade ago when they supplied the audio requirements for the Sydney Olympic Games ceremonies. Since then they have earned the reputation as a world leader in successfully tackling the audio requirements of large scale stadium shows racking up successful events such as two of the three Summer Olympics, both Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Doha. This year alone they have serviced the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Singapore Youth Olympics and

Arena News - The Royal Ballet is to perform a series of shows at London's O2 Arena in June. It is the first time the ballet company has performed in a UK arena. Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg will dance the principal roles in the production of Romeo and Juliet. A filmed introduction will be shown on giant screens in the venue at the beginning of each act.

Director of the ballet company, Dame Monica Mason, said she was "thrilled" about the production being shown in such a huge venue as it would "introduce our work to so many new people". The 17-19 June performances are being staged in association with impresario Raymond Gubbay, who staged the first opera at the London arena earlier this year.

Half Time - The Black Eyed Peas are to perform during the interval at the Super Bowl next year, organisers have said. The Gr

USA - Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, NJ is the latest in a growing list of houses of worship to be equipped with loudspeakers from the new installation-dedicated Electro-Voice EV-Innovation family - EVA (Expandable Vertical Array), EVF (front-loaded), and EVH (horn-loaded).

Creative Technologies Consulting (Edmond, Oklahoma) recently designed a system based around EVH-1152S/43 (15" two-way 40° H x 30° V) and EVF-1122S/94 (12" two-way 90° H x 40° V) loudspeakers for the church's new 1100-seat worship centre at their new campus location. Summit Integrated Systems (Denver, Colorado) installed the system.

Dale Alexander, principal consultant with Creative Technologies Consulting reports, "From day one we worked alongside the architect, project management team, and our acoustician to reshape the church's worship centre, preparing the space for a n

Australia - The Docklands exclusive Peninsula Room in Melbourne played host to the Tertiary Education Management Conference Gala Dinner. Alive Technologies handled the AV requirements on the night, designing a system that included a DiGiCo SD8, supplied to them by DiGiCo's Australian distributor, Group Technologies, to provide audio for a full range of requirements, including presentations and a variety of performances from a diverse array of artists.

Alive Technologies FOH Engineer Caleb Doherty was a big fan of the system, which included a substantial Nexo rig for the main stage.

The SD8 was used to handle the various MCs, presenters and bands that performed. Caleb is a long-time user of the SD8 and was very pleased with its performance on the night.

"The SD8 is quite amazing when considering power versus space," he says. "It gave us very clear output and fu

China - At Shanghai's Prolight + Sound last month, Proel staged a seminar on professional audio and, in particular, on its Axiom and EDGE Systems.

Remo Orsoni, Proel's sound reinforcement product manager reports: "We were in Shanghai to support our new Chinese distributor, AHM, and we were pleased to hold a seminar that would give us the opportunity to go into depth on several technical aspects concerning our professional systems in front of an audience that was attentive to the tiniest detail."

(Jim Evans)

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