USA - Audio-Technica is introducing its new System 8 VHF wireless systems. Featuring stackable, contemporary styling, Audio-Technica's System 8 Wireless Systems are designed for reliable performance, easy setup and clear, natural sound quality at affordable price points.

Available in handheld, headworn, guitar, lavalier and body-pack configurations, these single-channel, fixed-frequency systems are available in three travelling VHF frequencies (169.505, 170.245 and 171.905).

The System 8 units offer reliable performance and durable construction. Features include an advanced dipole antenna system for extended operating range; Power, RF and AF Peak indicators; Volume control, ¼" output jack and user-adjustable squelch; rugged unidirectional dynamic element on handheld microphone/transmitter; variable microphone trim control and multi-colour battery/power indicator (with AA

Germany - Loudspeaker manufacturer Coda Audio reported a successful Prolight+Sound this year, with interest in its products continuing to come from a diverse array of territories. As well as its current range of loudspeaker cabinets, including the CoRAY4 which was demonstrated in the Portable Sound Arena and AIRLINE LA12, demonstrated in the Concert Sound Arena, Coda exhibited the C3, a new amplification product, as well as revealing its ability to now supply a Polyurea coating for all cabinets upon request.

The C3 is a rugged, 19 inch / 2U high performance, two channel power amplifier. It integrates light-weight power supplies with high power class D amplification and features either USB or network controlled 24 bit 96kHz via powerful SHARC-based DSP.

The C3's outputs can be configured as 2 x 1250W at 2 Ohms or 1 x 2500W at 4 Ohms, it has 2 Ohm and 70 / 100V line capability,

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies' rigging division, the exclusive UK reseller for Kinesys, is all geared up to provide demonstrations of the new Kinesys DigiHoist digital hoist controller range.

At the core of the system is a digital communications link that enables multiple units to be daisy chained together. The units will automatically assign channels according to their position in the daisy chain. The high resolution OLED displays offer comprehensive channel feedback including channel number, status and load cell information.

The DigiHoist platform has been designed from the ground up to be upgradable. Options include encoder inputs, as well as Ethernet and LibraCELL connectivity.

The digital link incorporates self-healing emergency stop connections eliminating the need for shorting plugs in the system. Safety features include hoist presence indication, limit monitor

Germany - One of the big hits at this year's Frankfurt Prolight+Sound exhibition was the new XLED 336 fast moving head from PR Lighting.

It stood out among a large suite of innovative LED based products on the stand of the Chinese manufacturer, where visitors praised its brightness, its speed of execution and the sleek design of the housing.

XLED 336 is a 36-LED fast moving, compact and economically priced head, with 18.15° dispersion angle. It generates its power and RGB colour mix from 36 x 3W Osram Oslon LED's (12 red, 12 green, 12 blue). With a power consumption of just 140W it outputs close to 250W.

The spot has a beam angle of dispersion of 18.15° and lens angle of 8°. Head movement includes 540° pan and 270° tilt, with auto position correction, pan and tilt swap and invert function. It also offers 12 DMX control channels (16 channels in extended mo

UK - The new TXS-2402SET two channel PLL microphone system from IMG Stage Line offers "an excellent route into the digital market with its two channel system" Running on 2.4GHz the digital microphones offer a high resistance to interference due to the digital transmission.

With volume control for each channel, 6.3mm output for mixed signal and 16 selectable frequencies the TXS-2402SET offers the capability to use two system simultaneously, allowing up to four microphones to be used.

Neil Clayton, managing director of Monacor UK commented, "It is great to be able to offer our customers a route into the digital microphone market at an affordable price point. The TXS-2402SET offers an excellent sound quality that you simply can only get from a digital unit."

(Jim Evans)

Denmark - Martin Professional has launched the VC Series of creative LED video. Part of the series is formed by VC-Dots, lightweight strings of individually controllable, bright Dots useful in creating customized LED video solutions with maximum artistic flexibility and a minimum of effort.

For greater options in design and brightness, VC-Dots are available with one, four or nine LEDs per pixel (VC-Dot 1, VC-Dot 4 and VC-Dot 9) and come in an RGB colour mixing version or cool, medium, or warm white single colour versions. They are designed for integrating LED video technology into façades, stage designs, ceilings or any other structure (indoors or out).

Driven by Martin's family of award-winning P3 System Controllers, this is the first family of video dots to combine an incomparable level of simplicity with such a high level of quality, says the company.

The VC-Dots are sup

USA - Shure Incorporated announced at NAB in Las Vegas that it has introduced a new portable wireless system, FP Wireless. With intuitive, flexible components, including portable receivers and XLR plug-on transmitters, FP Wireless lends independent videographers, electronic field production (EFP) producers, and others in the broadcast and media production industry the ability to confidently capture crystal-clear audio in demanding environments, says the company.

"Understanding that portability and reliability are essential for videographers and independent producers, we designed the new FP Wireless as a super lightweight and ultra-durable product that these users can depend on in even the most extreme environments," said Erik Vaveris, category director for wireless products at Shure. "It also allows the user to set up quickly with just two presses of a button...th

UK - Distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co introduced the HK Audio Lucas Nano 300 at PLASA Focus Leeds 2012 last week, along with the current HK Audio, Studiomaster, Lab.gruppen, Lake and LA Audio ranges.

The show was a resounding success for JHS Pro Audio, with the Nano's diminutive dimensions causing surprise and awe whenever it was demoed. The next step up the evolutionary ladder for HK's prosperous LUCAS line, the Nano 300 is a revolution in portable sound.

Showcased alongside the Nano were prime examples from the Studiomaster range, which are now distributed exclusively in the UK and Eire by JHS, and a number of other items from HK Audio, Lab.gruppen, Lake and LA Audio.

HK Audio also powered two seminar rooms throughout the show, with a SoundCaddy One and a super-portable Elements system providing crystal clear sound for a series of well-attended presentations, while the

Germany - Exhibiting at the show for the tenth year, Alcons Audio enjoyed a highly successful ProLight+Sound 2012, with the company promoting both new products and expansion into new premises and markets.

Attracting much interest was the new RR12, which saw a number of visitors to the show wanting to place orders immediately. A modular arrayable point-source system, based on Alcons pro-ribbon cylindrical projection technology, the system consists of two-way elements with a 30º dispersion in the coupling plane and a 60º asymmetrical dispersion in the non-coupling plane. Featuring a high-output 12-inch driver in combination with a newly developed six inch pro-ribbon driver, RR12 can be used as horizontal or vertical array.

The production version of the BC332 self-contained cardioid subwoofer system was also on show, which features newly-designed direct-radiating 18-inch front

UK - Midas has announced the launch of the Mixtender iPad app. Available now from the iTunes app store, Mixtender provides wireless remote control of the PR02 and PR02C digital mixing systems permitting an engineer to access fader levels and output GEQ remotely from an iPad. The app will also be available for the MIdas PRO Series and XL8 digital systems upon the imminent release of v2.0 software.

An impressive 64 input meters and 27 output meters can be viewed simultaneously in real-time on the 'console overview' screen, aiding fast channel navigation. Multiple iPads can be used on a single console simultaneously, and the mix engineer has the option to 'lock' each iPad so that it can only access one mix. This allows each performer to control their monitor mix on their own iPad, without making changes to any other area of the console.

Mixtender also provides wireless remote con

UK - White Light and Coemar have announced that, with immediate effect, all new Coemar products will be supplied in the UK with a two-year warranty at no additional charge.

The new warranty term covers all of Coemar's products, including the Infinity Mrange, which can take either discharge or tungsten lamps, and the Reflection range of spot and wash LED fixtures.

"Coemar makes a wide range of products, offering fantastic output as well as remarkable versatility," comments Peter Threadgold, White Light's sales director. "We hope that these new two-year warranties will provide everyone - rental companies and end users alike - with one more reason to buy into Coemar. The capabilities of Coemar products speak for themselves. The warranty should just provide re-assurance that they will continue to perform night after night, show after show."

"In the UK, w

USA - CAST Group of Toronto, Canada Wednesday was awarded an inaugural IABM Game-Changer Award for BlackTrax by the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM). The Awards were held during NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) in Las Vegas. The new Awards recognise products deemed to have the greatest potential to revolutionise the industry. A panel of impartial experts from across the globe reviewed products and solutions during the first two days of the show and selected this year's five award-winners, which included such esteemed companies such as Sony and Dolby.

BlackTrax is a live solution that uses an IR LED beacon to track objects or people in a defined 3D space.Using leading-edge proprietary IR, BlackTrax 3D can track all the parameters of each uniquely tagged object in the defined 3D space (the normal installation easily handles up to 130ft cubed

Germany - Fohhn Audio has announced the upcoming release of its new multi-channel D-4.1200 digital amplifier, the latest in a series of powerful, 19-inch, DSP-controlled amplifiers that have been specially developed for demanding fixed installations and mobile applications.

Weighing just 11kg, the compact 4-channel D-4.1200 is nevertheless built to deliver robust and reliable performance capability. Featuring Class D amplifier technology and Fohhn DSPs, the D-4.1200 generates 4 x 1200W of power at 4 Ohms. An integral 4-in-6 matrix enables each input channel to be independently routed to the four powered and two auxiliary outputs. (The auxiliary outputs can also be used for controlling an additional standard amplifier.)

The D-4.1200 is equipped with extremely quiet fans and is designed to generate a minimal amount of heat when operational. Fohhn Mains Control constantly monitor

USA - Iluminarc has announced the indoor/outdoor lighting solution Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW, designed for wall grazing and suited for installation in commercial spaces, homes, lobbies, hospitals or in exterior settings such as building façades and entranceways.

This multipurpose LED linear wash light has 12 warm white 1-watt LEDs that project elegant and simple warm lighting. With an ingress protection of 67, Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW features 316 marine-grade stainless steel hardware and a 316 steel trim ring to protect against corrosive environments..

Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW is configured using the Ilumicode Addresser and can be controlled via one channel of DMX. An integral driver with an auto-switching power supply automatically detects the input voltage, ranging from 100 to 240V.

(Jim Evans)

USA / Europe - Flightcase and speaker cabinet solutions specialist Penn Elcom has developed a new software programme - CaseDesigner - instigating "a new fully-flexible era in the world of flightcase construction".

Penn Elcom has developed this software to offer its distributors, dealers and their clients the best and most efficient possible design, order and build service.

The fully visual graphical interface enables Penn Elcom customers to plan and visualise potential new case designs in both 2D and 3D, and view in full 360 degree rotation.

CaseDesigner enables Penn clients to generate a quote for themselves, and within literally a couple of minutes, have all the facts available to produce that case at their fingertips.

Thomas Mostert, CEO of Penn Elcom GmbH, the distribution arm of the Penn Elcom Group in Continental Europe and programmer Klaus Koppenhoe

UAE - Wireless Solution Sweden is showing new products and some advancements to their product range during PALME Middle East, 1-3 May 2012 at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Wireless Solution has been working on a completely new software platform since October 2011 that is prepared for future hardware functions as well as many new features and updated functions. The W-DMX G4S software platform includes improved adaptive frequency hopping; new Invisi-Wire MK2 with support for wireless software updates; improved Data-Safe MK2 that now supports up to 4 times redundancy of all the wireless data; RDM MK2 with custom made features for W-DMX as well as all standard RDM commands. This new platform is available for a software update on all existing Micro F-1, BlackBox, WhiteBox and ProBox units already shipped via the USB dongle.

Niclas Arvidsson, CEO of Wireless So

USA - City Theatrical will be launching new products and services for the architectural lighting world at LightFair International 2012 in Las Vegas on 9-11 May 2012.

Two new products join the SHoW DMX Neo wireless DMX product family and will be seen at LightFair for the first time. SHoW DMX Vero Net is an outdoor wireless DMX Transceiver in a NEMA 4 / IP66 rated enclosure that accepts all major entertainment Ethernet protocols including sACN, Art-Net, Kinet, and Pathport. SHoW DMX Vero is a smaller version of the product that accepts DMX input only.

Wireless DMX is often used in outdoor architectural lighting installation to light buildings, bridges, monuments, and other objects when running data cable is difficult or too expensive.

These two new products join the indoor SHoW DMX Neo Transceiver and Receiver, are compatible with them, and are the latest innovations in City T

USA - Lectrosonics has developed the SPNDNT network processor to expand the ASPEN digital matrix processor family. The new network processor is much more than a simple network interface. Instead, it is a full featured DSP processor that can address both the ASPEN and Dante matrices and add mixing, gain and delay functions to the digital audio signals, says the company.

Any of the 48 final mixes in the ASPEN matrix can be assigned to any one or more of the Dante channels for transport to other endpoints in the network. Dante signals can also be imported into the ASPEN matrix in a local processor sub-system for mixing with other local and network signals, and then routed onward to other local or network devices.

The new processor debuted at ISE 2012 in Amsterdam earlier this year and met with an enthusiastic reception. A redundant network was installed in the exhibit stand betwe

USA - dnp denmark is set to make a big impression InfoComm 2012, Las Vegas, 13-15 June in Las Vegas with seven screens on display at its own booth and many more being shown around the fair.

dnp will unveil two prototypes of its new Short Throw front projection screen line for the education, conference room and signage markets. Both displays are optimised for maximum performance in classrooms, smaller sized meeting rooms and shops or malls with limited space and lots of ambient light.

In the retractable screen category, dnp will present upgraded versions of the dnp Supernova Flex Classic, while an ultra-quiet version of the dnp Supernova Flex, featuring new motor and new remote, is also being shown. Additionally, visitors can experience the new dnp Supernova Core II, featuring a new frame design and improved wall mounting and tension system for easier installation.

In the lar

Germany - tarm Showlaser's TSL Yoke is an integrated, single-arm, moving yoke and laser-projector system that allows projecting bright, high-quality, laser effects onto virtually any surface.

This flexible system includes an interchangeable head system that enables users to replace the laser projector with another device - on the same yoke.

With staging and event applications in mind, laser-projector movement and control is managed via DMX protocol - enabling users to integrate and control lighting equipment and laser-projectors easily from the same console. These versatile yokes can be suspended, or rigged and set up at floor level, as your application may require, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

USA/UK - Simon Spears has been promoted to the position of international sales director at The AVC Group, effective immediately, according to an announcement made by AVC Group president Mark Terry. Spears is now responsible for sales of all five brands of The AVC Group (ELAN, Niles, Xantech, Sunfire, and ATON) everywhere outside of North America.

"Simon Spears has the experience, skills, and demonstrated track record of success that will help us to achieve our long-term sales objectives in every major region of the world," Terry said. "In his previous position as international sales director - rest of world, Simon contributed greatly to our sales growth in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Australia. I am confident he will do the same great job in Europe and Asia."

Reporting directly to Mark Terry, Spears will work closely with The AVC Group's two

UK - Optikinetics has announced the launch of its first LED projector. With light output of over 650 lumens from a 40W LED module and a high colour temperature, for truer colour projection and image clarity, the OPTI Solar LED is designed for all gobo and effect projection applications.

The OPTI Solar LED appears brighter and whiter than both the OPTI Solar 100C and Solar 250 - with the same optical sharpness at a higher colour temperature, which means truer colours with better edge to edge clarity, says the company.

The projector is supplied complete with an 85mm lens and a 40 watt LED module with an effective life of over 100,000 hours.

The full range of Solar Accessories can be fitted into the twin gate of the OPTI Solar LED, can be combined with alternative focal length lenses and attachments to enable a vast variety of effects to be created.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Chauvet has announced the debut of two new compact moving spots, Q-Spot 460-LED and Q-Spot 360-LED at InfoComm 2012, in Las Vegas. The eco-friendly, cost-effective fixtures are designed for smaller entertainment and hospitality venues or any space that demands a steadfast, stress-free performance.

Both fixtures include a highly efficient patented optical system, a 16-degree beam angle, an easy-access gobo door, and shutter and strobe functions. Lightweight and easy-to-hang, Q-Spot 460-LED and Q-Spot 360-LED operate quietly and have a fast, precise pan and tilt movement complemented by a three-facet rotating prism and a motorized focus. Controlled by 11 or 14 channels of DMX, both lights feature three and five-pin DMX input and output connectors.

The luminaires differ in their LED sources and gobo selection: Q-Spot 460-LED has seven 10-watt white LEDs, six rotating gobos,

UK - AudioStix are Switchcraft's newest additions to its expanding line of premium pro-audio products. The range consists of audio adaptors and impedance matching transformers which are supplied in compact, all-metal cases.

The two audio adaptors have 3.5mm stereo inputs and are designed to connect MP3 players, laptops, etc., to house sound systems - model 318 provides mic level output via an XLR connector, and model 319 provides line level output via a 3-way terminal block. Both products feature level controls and ground lift switches, and transformer isolation provides immunity from hum and buzz caused by ground loops and RF interference.

The impedance matching transformers have XLR to BNC connections and adapt 110 ohm to 75 ohm for AES/EBU, etc.

The range can be used as stand-alone adaptors, rear mounted into modular rack panels or permanently installed into any number of

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