UK - Next year's Total Production International industry awards event - TPi Awards 05 - will take place on Monday 31 January 2005, once again at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith, west London. The organizers promise another night not to be missed, with formidable production values, a host of surprises, excellent food and the chance for professionals to network and catch up on the previous year!
Since their inception in 2002, the Awards have attracted the involvement of such celebrities as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, Damon Albarn, TV and radio personality Mike Read, Lemmy of Motorhead, promoter Harvey Goldsmith, soul pioneer Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave fame), Michael Eavis, jazz legend Chris Barber, blues singer/radio presenter Paul Jones, and last year's host, Spandau Ballet bassist-turned-actor Martin Kemp.
Next January's event is set to feature appearances from even more top names, and will expand on the successful formula enjoyed by last year's audience - many of whom commented that it was the best event of its kind they had ever experienced. Voting for all but three of the 25 award categories is now underway. A voting form is included with this issue, which should be completed and either faxed or posted to our headquarters at Mondiale Publishing in Stockport. Alternatively, readers may register their votes online at the web address below.
The event recognizes the leading designers, engineers, suppliers and service providers in the live production industry. The online voting form also includes details of
UK / USA - The Ford Motor Company has awarded design and communication agency Imagination with its Q1 2004 status. The certification was awarded after Imagination met rigorous performance and ongoing quality management criteria set out by the Ford quality assessment. Q1 certification is recognized and highly-regarded throughout the Automotive and its related business and support industries as a symbol of excellence, customer satisfaction and on-going high quality consistency. Although Ford has recognized others of its suppliers with the latest Q1award, Imagination is the first marketing services supplier in Europe to obtain this Status.
Ford presented Imagination with the status in an awards ceremony held at Imagination's headquarters in London. Ford's senior purchasing manager Steve Proctor, and its manager of exhibitions Derek Cockerill, presented Gary Withers, Imagination's chairman and David Girling, Imagination's global client services director, with the official Q1 plaque and flag.
Both Imagination Ltd and Imagination (USA) Inc, have obtained the quality certification, which will be reviewed by Ford's Q1 assessment team on an ongoing basis, in order to confirm that the performance continues to meet the required level.
This latest registration furthers Imagination's belief in benchmarking its performance against the highest standards available. The company achieved ISO 9001:2000 in 2002 and ISO 14001 (the environmental management standard) in 2003. David Girling said: "We are delighted to have obtained Ford's Q1 status at Imagination. As a company
USA - Doug Fleenor Design has announced a line-up of new products will be shown at the forthcoming ETS-LDI exhibition in Las Vegas (20-22 October).
The DMX to iPlayer 2 interface allows DMX512 control of the iPlayer2 and Light System Engine controllers from Color Kinetics Inc. The interface uses DMX512 data to set controller parameters via the controller's RS-232 input. The interface uses three (or optionally five) consecutive DMX512 channels to select trigger mode, show number, and intensity. Shows may also be triggered manually using the interface's three-digit thumb wheel switch.
The Remote Addressing Device (RAD) is used to set the DMX address of compatible products. Designed to draft version 2.0 of the RDM specification, RAD will be upgraded to comply with the released standard at no charge.
The CK300 power supply is intended to power Color Kinetics' LED fixtures in portable applications. The supply has six 4-pin XLR outputs to power up to six Color Kinetics Color Blast 12 (or equivalent) fixtures. Also on show, the DMX96OC is designed to drive solenoids and relays for fountains or special effects, and is ideal for many other on/off loads. The product decodes 96 consecutive DMX512 channels to drive open-collector NPN outputs. Each of the outputs is capable of sinking up to 100mA (or more based on duty cycle). The DMX512 input is optically isolated from the outputs and is protected against miswiring up to 120 volts. Also new, the High Density Distribution Block for Color Kinetics fixtures simplifies large installations of 24 Volt LED fixtures. The Block
UK - At the close of the 2004 PLASA Show in London this week, it was clear that a new level of confidence has returned to the industry, with buyers making substantial orders of new equipment and a high level of visitor quality being reported by exhibitors across the show floor.
James Thomas Engineering, Cadac Electronics, A.C. Lighting, Artistic Licence, D&M Professional, Vidicom, LSC Lighting, Le Mark, LDR, Strand Lighting, Robe Show Lighting, Fuzion and Rackz were among the many companies who expressed their satisfaction at the level of business conducted and the quality of the trade visitors to the exhibition.
Glyn O'Donoghue, product development director at A.C. Lighting, told PLASA Media that the response to the Jands Vista console had far exceeded expectations, with no less than 12 consoles sold at the show - as well as hundreds of the new Chroma-Q Color Block LED modules. "It's been unbelievable", he enthused.
Tracey Patterson of Artistic Licence told us that this was the best PLASA Show the company had ever done - and they've done a few. Similarly, representatives of Cadac Electronics were extremely pleased with orders taken at the show. James Thomas Engineering, meanwhile, were positively jubilant over the response to their PixelRange of LED fixtures. After the event, the company's Tony Cameron told PLASA Media: "This year's PLASA show was without doubt the most successful international show for us to date. The amount of sales generated clearly confirmed for us the value of the show."
An in-depth review of PLASA 2004 will appe
UK - Appropriately for a product designed to reduce the unwanted effects of noise pollution from installed audio systems, the new Basscreator from XLNT Advanced Technologies made a suitably quiet international debut on MTi Danmark's stand (F67) at PLASA. MTi announced at the show that it is to become a distributor for Basscreator and displayed the unit at short notice.
The product, which can also be used to enhance bass output from small loudspeakers, is the creation of XLNT Advanced Technologies, the Dutch DSP research and development company that was also responsible for one of PLASA 2004's biggest hits, the Innovation Award-winning CyberHoist / InMotion 3D Motion Control System.
Basscreator is a 1U rackmount noise control device based on the principle of the missing fundamental. It gives acousticians and other audio experts a tool for situations where noise emission from music is a serious problem - as it is in Holland, where noise spill complaints against clubs and bars from nearby residents can result in their summary closure.
XLNT claims the economic argument for the unit is overwhelming, quoting figures from the Dutch Society for Building Research (SBR) of a typical cost of around 6,000 per dB to soundproof a bar or club, amounting to a potential saving of up to 60,000 for a single venue. The company says the unit can also effectively be deployed in stadiums and open-air event applications.
Performance figures are quoted as 6-10dB (A) of noise reduction with little loss of sound quality - particularly when compared to a conventional limiter system.
UK - Among TC Electronics' products on show is the EQ Station system, its latest offering aimed specifically at the live sound market.
At the heart of the system is the EQ Station itself, with a user interface rich in intuitive controls and a full-colour backlit QVGA TFT graphic display designed for visibility even in direct sunlight. Accompanying it are the MotoFader Remote which provides a familiar graphic EQ-style EQ fader panel for instant, hands-on remote control of the EQ Station's digital bands, and the PC/Mac Editor that runs on industry standard networks including the latest low-cost wireless systems - making it possible to EQ a house or monitor system from anywhere in the venue, including on stage.
Under the hood are separate display views for graphic, parametric and dynamic EQ; individual frequency, bandwidth and gain encoders; store / recall of settings with 250 user presets and the facility to link channels for stereo and in-ear monitoring applications. Simultaneous channel processing facilities include 29 band graphic EQ, 6-band parametric EQ, 3-band dynamic EQ, up to 600mS delay and a peak limiter. The company states the unit is "the next generation EQ solution for the most demanding live sound applications".
(Mike Lethby)
UK - Projected Image Digital announced a raft of new products and developments, beginning with a Beta version of the MYRAD package which provides a reduced feature set version of the RADlite image server plus a hardware DMX interface - at a much reduced price compared to the original, full featured version. The new software will run on a standard PC, although for optimum performance a dual processor machine is recommended.
Two prominent products in the visual stakes on the stand are the VersaTILE LED modules, for which PID is Element Labs' preferred UK partner, and the large screen D-TFT40W LCD display from D-TEK Industries. Projected Image Digital is also showing its Beacon, EpOk and Amorphous royalty free digital content libraries.
Highlighting the company's growth in the audio/video convergence market, the new D-Mix Series, according to PID, "breaks new ground in the convergence of lighting and video...the D-Mix offers the ultimate in video mixing and matrixing from a lighting console." The D-Mix Series offers the choice of single or quadruple outputs, both versions providing an internal 2-channel video mixer for smooth crossfades between either two video inputs or the internal black signal.
PID's Rob Fowler told L+SI Online: "A lot of people out there are very keen to use all these new, converging technologies but are quite nervous about where and how to start because of the perceived complexity of so much of it. There's a certain reassurance in coming to a company run by experienced lighting people who understand how these new devices and sy
UK - PLASA 2004 opened its doors on Sunday 12th September to enthusiastic crowds, with a full show, hundreds of exciting products and a real buzz across the show floor. Both visitors and exhibitors are commenting that the excitement is back and the industry future looks bright.
The Product Excellence Awards at the PLASA show have been a popular feature of the event for many years, highlighting the significance of the show as a focus for new developments for the industry. To reinforce this role, the awards have undergone an important change for 2004 with the focus being much more on genuine innovation and have been relaunched as the PLASA Awards for Innovation. The previous assessment criteria, which segmented the nominations into sectors, has been removed so that products were not judged within category lines, but on the grounds of their innovation alone. The judges looked for products which advanced the industry, demonstrated a new style of thinking, represented a key step forward in safety terms or improved technical practices.
Despite this tighter judging criteria 66 products were entered, raising over £10,000 for charity and bringing the total amount of monies donated to good causes over the past 7 years to £55,000.
At a champagne reception at PLASA's Central Bar on Monday 13th September the winners were applauded by the industry and presented with their award by PLASA Chairman Diane Grant.
The eight Awards for Innovation were awarded to:
Described by the judges as 'a leap forward in chain hoist control with an elegant solution in control and planning aspects of the production process', the much-vaunted InMotion 3D / CyberHoist motion control system was unveiled at PLASA at the start of four days of on-site demonstrations. The system offers a combination of precision movement and user-friendly programming and its creators, Dutch company XLNT Advanced Technologies, claims it is the most advanced motion control system available for the entertainment industry.
It was first seen at this year's Eurovision Song Contest (L&SI June 2004) and is now on its début world tour with Phil Collins (L&SI August 2004) via PRG Europe. A complete system consists of InMotion 3D object-oriented software, an unlimited number of half-tonne Verlinde CyberHoist motors, an Ethernet network (DataMotion), a dedicated power distribution system (PowerMotion) and the human element - a programmer/operator.
As with an automated lighting rig, the system's 'intelligence' is shared between a host control computer and each individual motor. The motors' integral CPUs interact with the InMotion 3D motion control software, running on a host computer or dedicated hardware controller via Ethernet, and feed back real-time information on position, speed, temperature, load and communication status to ensure a high level of positional accuracy and operational safety. It also means that, apart from the host computer, no external processing racks are required.
UK - Two video innovations are on display on stand D97, where German digital imaging specialists Coolux are displaying the Pandora's Box media server, and Schnick-Schnack Systems show a new LED matrix backlighter aimed at the décor and effects market.
Pandora's Box is a powerful media server, joining the new generation of digital lighting / video convergence technologies. Using multi-layer technology, its 3D rendering process allows one image layer to be used as a background while layering or fading other images on top. 3D rotation allows keystone correction even at extreme projection angles. Up to 9 separate layers can be created with soft crossfading of layers, variable tilting and zooming of images, RGB colour mixing, an extensive 3D effects library, 3D point-of-view shifting, perspective or orthogonal view selection, and firewire or optional capturecard input.
The LED-Kachel (LED Tile) from Schnick-Schnack Systems is a bright idea for creating backlighting (of scrims and other translucent materials) using lightweight, modular LED matrices. Designed to be mounted a few centimetres behind the backdrop material, the tiles use the latest miniature surface-mounted RGB LEDs which output continuous colour without the primary colours being visible. Via DMX, colours can be controlled in small areas, allowing smooth, flicker-free fades, flashes and colour washes. The panels are available in 10x10 cm or 20x20 cm sizes. The larger panel has a lower pixel density and comes at a lower price, ideal for budget applications.
(Mike Lethby)
UK - Pro audio distribution specialists, Fuzion plc will announce the formation of a new lighting division at this year's PLASA Show in London (September 12-15). Difuzion will be headed by the experienced Graham Barron, who has spent the last four years at Martin Professional, having dedicated much of his professional career to lighting design, support, consultancy and sales. Difuzion will open its account by confirming an exclusive UK distribution deal with German-based Futurelight, headed by Bernd Steinigke.
Said Graham Barron, "I was ready for a new challenge and was impressed by the set-up at Fuzion. As for Futurelight, they produce a comprehensive, attractively-priced range of well-made products - and yet historically the brand has been under-exposed in the UK." He emphasized that this was just the start. "We are ready to take on other non-conflicting lighting ranges and I will be using the platform of PLASA as much for shopping as for selling."
Fuzion plc managing director, Tony Oates, explained the strategic decision to move into lighting thus. "Our portfolio of pro-audio products is relatively complete and meshes well. Technology convergence means that avoiding conflict between brands will become increasingly difficult - and adding more pro-audio brands was not on our agenda. Increasing market share with our existing lines and meeting our financial objectives, therefore requires us to move horizontally within our market - and the lighting division is a logical step."
Added sales director, Paul Ward, "We have the re
The Digital Festoon System's DFS200 low voltage batten lamp driver is a standard two-core festoon cable that carries both 48V and DMX using a unique patented data system. This means that up to 200 lamps can be individually controlled on a single cable from one DFS200 power unit. To realize large-scale coordinated lighting displays -perhaps involving hundreds of thousands of lights - practically any number of power units can be synchronized.
The system builds lighting displays in scenes - a scene defined as the state of each lamp pertaining to a given power unit. Each power unit can store up to 30,000 scenes and can play up to 20 scenes per second: combined with fast playback, this allows for long, non-repetitive and complex lighting effects.
A final feature of the DFS200 system is the ability for lamps to fade: conventional festoon lighting systems can only switch lamps on and off. With the DFS200 system, any number of lamps can be set to fade up or down, with the fade period widely adjustable. The ability to fade adds a new dimension to festoon lighting displays, especially when combined with the ability to coordinate large numbers of lights.
The judges remarked that the Digital Festoon System was "an innovative return to incandescent lighting with a product that the judges thought safe and foolproof, and which they believe will make inroads into entertainment lighting."
UK - The D1 Live, a compact version of the D5 Live digital mixing system at what DiGiCo calls an "Access All Areas price", made its debut at PLASA 2004, heralding what the company confidently predicts will be its biggest selling product to date.
Aimed at the midrange rental company and installation markets, a brand new MADI card is largely responsible for the dramatic price reduction, by providing a fully digital link from stage to FOH for up to 100m of coax cable, where previously 50m was the maximum run -dispensing with the need for expensive optical fibre.
The worksurface has the D5's instantly familiar and distinctive look - although there is slightly less of it, as the new console provides two (rather than three) input fader sections, each with eight faders, and offers a maximum of 224 inputs and 224 outputs. It shares the D5's built-in dynamics, EQ, matrix, effects, snapshot memories and more.
The system comes in different flavours to suit the user, with four main feature configurations plus a variety of I/O configurations and other options - creating, says the company, a direct replacement for an analogue console.
Standard features include a 25 layered fader work surface, grouped in blocks of eight user definable banks per section, with a meter-bridge and 40 buss DSP engine; configurability for stereo, LCR(S) and 5.1 operations, 64 to 160 input processing channels and 8 fully user configurable macro buttons.
The D1 Live 40 provides 40 mic/line inputs plus 24 line outputs, full D5 input EQ and dynamics processing software, onboard effects, 3
The DGS Counterweight Drive System has been designed using the latest steel band technology to simplify the arduous process of operating counterweight systems in the entertainment industry. Faster fit-up times, significant reductions in running costs and a greatly improved safety and operational capability are among the benefits offered by Hall Stage, in conjunction with ASM Steuerungstechnik GmbH, for the movement and control of scenery and stage equipment. The system won the ABTT's Rigging & Engineering Product of the Year award in the summer, and has added to its haul with a PLASA Award.
Loading and unloading cradles is an inherently dangerous process: DGS reduces the potential for conflicts with safe working practices legislation and future health issues as well as future claims for injury and long-term back problems - by doing away with the manual aspects of the process.
Operational advantages include the ability to start, stop, speed up, slow down and bring items into position with millimetre accuracy at speeds of up to 1.5m/second. The patented steel band does not stretch at all - unlike wire rope - so the load is always fully under control. DGS can be retrofitted to most counterweight flying systems and will run comfortably with a 500kg load at 1.5m/second, while advanced options allow loads of up to 750kg. The new system offers near silent operation, generating less than 30dB at stage level. The system allows for the use of all lines simultaneously, with minimal crew.
Hall Stage says DGS can be put into an existing counterweight system in approximately four
With its innovative approach to architectural building control and the potential to become a cost-effective control interface for a wide range of applications. Stardraw Control offers a new approach to solving the problem of controlling systems comprised of products from many different suppliers.
Stardraw's Rob Robinson explains what sets it apart from other control solutions. "Stardraw Control creates stand-alone control applications that can manage any kind of product from any manufacturer as long as it can be controlled or monitored remotely. It is designed to support any communications infrastructure and any protocol such as LAN, Wi-Fi, IR, RS232, EtherSound etc. Furthermore, the application that you have created with Stardraw Control will run on any Windows-enabled device from PC to PDA to touchscreen panel, as well as Linux, Mac etc. To our knowledge, no-one else offers such an innovative and flexible system, so we are pleased that its potential has been recognized on the occasion of its launch."
Awards judge Richard Northwood commented: "This year we weren't judging products within category lines, but on the grounds of their innovation alone . . . I was particularly impressed with Stardraw Control because I felt straight away that here was a product with the potential to revolutionize system control in the audio-visual industry. The flexibility of its open architecture makes it completely accessible to all manufacturers, whatever standard or protocol they happen to be using, and an astute commercial model suggests there may be a new success story i
Easy Stand Alone - IP version, the latest addition to the Easy Stand Alone range, is a new Ethernet-DMX 512 interface which makes it possible to work either locally or via the Internet with an IP address.
Programming via the Internet is especially useful for architectural installations: the system makes it possible for a lighting designer or installer to access and change colour settings for a special event at a building in Los Angeles, for example, from his office in London.
The interface is able to establish a connection to a server and look for any new updates: the lighting designer just needs to put his new show on the server and the interface will download it at the next connection. The company explains: "It works a little bit like antivirus software, which looks for updates every day, or week." The interface can be connected to a WebCam, allowing the installer to update a design and see the changes in real-time.
The creation of scenes is made simple by the software, which enables the user to program a number of steps and loop mode. Each Step has a fade time and a waiting time. By creating several steps in sequence, a dynamic scene can be built, while the number of loops, before automatically moving on to the next scene, can also be set.The electronic interface has all the necessary functions for an architectural installation: control of 512 DMX channels, a real-time clock (time and calendar triggering) and eight ports which allow triggering by external events such as a button activation, or a movement detector.
The inherent cost and time savings
Turbosound's new high-efficiency sound reinforcement system, Aspect, consists of the TA-890H touring mid-high model and the matching low-frequency TA-890L.
Described by the company as its "most efficient loudspeaker design to date", the Aspect series features a number of patented concepts and is capable of generating peak SPL in excess of 146dB, with very low distortion. It utilizes in-house-designed transducers, which operate over four frequency bands divided between the system's modular mid/high and LF enclosures. All feature neodymium magnets, offering greater efficiency and thermal stability, plus lower power compression and low weight.
Notable innovations include the Polyhorn waveguides, employed for the design's HF and high-mid frequency bands to create a phase-coherent wavefront. The Polyhorn concept allows individual wavefronts to coincide seamlessly with the physical curvature of an array - an approach which minimizes comb-filtering effects between adjacent cabinets and is responsible for the system's tightly-focused directivity: Turbosound claim it is intuitively adaptable to a broad range of room sizes and audience-coverage requirements, with easy scalability from small clubs and auditoria, to the largest arenas and stadia.
Money raised by the PLASA Awards for Innovation was presented to the following good causes in order to help with the purchase of new equipment and facilities. Each organization received a cheque for £3,500 during the Awards ceremony.
Livewire Youth Project: A youth centre in Cornwall providing facilities for young people in music and performing arts.
Rehearsal Room Pilot Scheme: Supported by the Live Music Forum. Aims to provide rehearsal facilities and equipment in three UK urban areas.
Camberwell Music Project: Aims to enhance the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) aspect of music teaching, and provide facilities for the local community.
Wireless Solutions took home an innovation award for its latest product the W-DMX, a wireless DMX transceiver system.
Broadly based on GSM (mobile phone) technology, the wireless side works in the 2.45GHz radio band alongside Bluetooth and similar IEEE 802.11 (W-LAN) compliant products. However, unlike equipment operating according to the 802.11 standard, the W-DMX system uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) encryption along with Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) which allows greater data throughput as it is less affected by local 802.11 products.
The products are all DMX512A and RDM ready, and the firmware can also be updated using a separate data channel, which is also used for system set up. Up to 8192 receivers can be controlled form one system, and there are four differing types of transmitter - the differences being primarily in the quantity of DMX universes that can be controlled: 1, 4, 8 or up to 16 universes (8192 channels) of DMX can be deployed. The receivers are more use specific - the standard is small with the minimum of controls, whereas the Delux has a built in UPS for up to 8 hours of power loss and the Deluxe Outdoor has an IP rating of 65. All systems have LCD screens and menu systems for easy navigation, and the 'Blackbox' version has no controls and is entirely 'plug 'n play' for one universe of DMX.
Ranges of up to 30km are possible (US Spec equipment only) with up to 12km in Europe, depending on conditions and antenna chosen. Various boosters, repeaters and ready-made cables are available as well as a range of antennas.
Following a re-assessment of the Show's product awards by the PLASA Exhibitors' Forum, this year's event placed a greater emphasis than ever before on Innovation, while doing away with the familiar - but often unequal - product categories.
The PLASA Show's product awards have been a popular feature of the event for many years, highlighting the significance of the show as a focus for new technological developments. To further underline this role, the awards have undergone an important change for 2004, with a greater emphasis being placed on 'innovation' - hence the first presentation of the PLASA Awards for Innovation.
The previous assessment criteria, which separated the nominations into sectors, was removed, and products were judged on the strength of their innovation alone. The judges, chaired once again by L&SI's technical editor James Eade, consisted of respected consultants, designers and practitioners from various technical disciplines. They were . . .
Jim Beagley - experienced West End production electrician and occasional lighting designer.
Andy Hayles - theatre consultant, formerly of TPC and now a founder of Charcoalblue.
Rowland Hemming - former head of sound at the Millennium Dome; now audio consultant at Live Business International.
Charlie Kail - respected staging and set design consultant.
Blue Leach - leading rock and roll video mixer and engineer.
Durham Marenghi - well-known freelance lighting designer.
Richard Northwood - freelance audio consultant (Coms UK).
Phil Pike - freelanc
No, not the work light on the Innovation Gallery, but the thing it was attached to - a simple and useful device which made the judges wonder why it hadn't been done before. Lewden's Encore T-Line incorporates both a 16A plug and socket in a compact IP44 black moulding with a rewireable cable outlet at the side. Applications include any fixture or appliance with a 16A plug where more than one item is often plugged into the supply. Permanently fitted to a lantern or accessory in place of the standard 16A plug, it allows simple and neat daisy-chaining of another fixture without the need for a separate 16A splitter. Because the plug and socket are in-line, it allows exceptionally neat rigging along a bar/truss or on the ground. This innovative daisy-chaining connector is now available exclusively from Stage Electrics.
UK - Heralding it as "the world's most versatile amplifier", MTi Danmark announced its first product developed especially for international markets with the arrival of the MPA 82000 8-channel DSP amplifier and the DSM 88 Digital Speaker Manager.
The MPA 82000, which MTi says will replace a typical 12-16 unit amplifier rack, offers 8 x 500W or 8 x 1000W power amplifier modules, in any combination, in a 3U rackmount unit that weighs in at 58lb (26 kg). It's aimed at both the installation and touring / rental markets. The amplifier features the unique ICEpower power conversion technology, made under licence from Bang & Olufsen ICEpower A/S.
A built-in 8-channel DSP controller provides a full 8x8 matrix, EQ, crossover, delay, limiter and volume, with global delay of up to 8 seconds. Settings can be stored in 16 user presets. Via an RS485 interface, up to 16 MPA 82000s can be controlled by a PC located up to 4000ft (1200m) distant.
The DSM 88 Digital Speaker Manager is a dedicated loudspeaker controller. Its facilities are based on the MPA 82000's DSP engine and include a full 8 input / 8 output matrix, with each channel offering a 6-band parametric EQ, an RMS limiter with 'look-ahead' capability, channel delays of up to 104mS and a global delay function.
Rolf Birkenborg told L+SI Online: "The lengthy research that has gone into these two new products reflects the Danish obsession with high audio quality, and the fact that we were determined to bring a fully finished and well tested product to this demanding marketplace."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Formula Sound is launching the FF-6000 DJ mixer at PLASA, the product of a unique collaboration between the manufacturer and loudspeaker specialists (and dance market aficionados) Funktion-One. The mixer's features and layout were determined during the collaboration and extensively checked along the way with professional DJs.
A large-scale DJ mixer 'shoot-out', conducted by Funktion-One some 18 months ago that involved an informal panel of interested listeners from around the industry, revealed differences in both sound quality and control interface. "We tested mixers from all the major manufacturers," explains Funktion-One's Tony Andrews. "There were only two mixers that everyone agreed delivered acceptable sound quality, and one of those was Formula Sound's PM100. We then worked with Formula Sound to refine the layout with features that working DJs really wanted to use and the result is the FF-6000. We were all just fed up with walking into festival situations or clubs and finding the sound was awful, but not being able to do anything to improve it because the problem was with the mixer. The objective of this comparison was to assess mixers in a controlled situation."
(Mike Lethby)
UK - In a PLASA showcase, loudspeaker innovators Funtion-One are using the PLASA Show to launch the Resolution 1, a standard sized loudspeaker aimed at the generic 2-way box market. The new product represents a radical departure from the norm in this market and the company claims it will "revolutionise the 2-way small box loudspeaker market."
The key component is a completely new 5 inch mid/high driver that eliminates the need for a compression driver, and lowers the LF crossover point to just 600Hz below which a ported 12 inch LF driver takes over. The 5 inch device, developed in-house at Function-One's Surrey, UK base, is mounted on a miniaturized, dedicated Axehead-loaded waveguide and the promise of the complete package is a combination of high efficiency and excellent projection and imaging.
The enclosure shape has been optimized to recess a wall bracket for neat installations but will also be used to flush-fit an amplifier in a future self-powered version. Standard cabinet finishes will be either violet or silver and the waveguide can be rotated to suit vertical or horizontal installation.
"We've spent years listening to compression drivers in this type of cabinet," says Funktion-One's Dave Bruml, "and we think this loudspeaker completely changes that listening experience."
(Mike Lethby)