The new DS-12RF from DAS Audio provides an instant plug-in and go solution to a whole range of indoor and outdoor conferencing, presentation, small PA, and wireless communication links applications. The DS-12RF is a fully integrated, UHF wireless equipped, two-way self-powered speaker cabinet. The high pressure injection-moulded cabinet features high density, mineral-loaded polypropylene construction, combined with extensive internal structural reinforcement to provide a cabinet of exceptional rigidity and acoustic dampening, while maintaining a considerable weight advantage over equivalent wood or MDF type construction. The cabinet features a high power handling, low compression 12" low/mid driver and 1" HF compression driver with 2" throat, coupled to a constant directivity HF horn. Internal amplification circuits deliver 150W RMS to the low/mid driver and 50W RMS to the HF compression driver.

An integrated Sennheiser evolution 100 series switchable frequency UHF receiver system can be used with one of a selection of high quality dynamic capsule equipped, hand-held transmitters, or an alternative belt-pack transmitter and clip mic system. A line input can be balanced with the RF receiver signal, using the Master Gain, Line Level and Mic Level controls on the rear panel. Alternatively, a remote transmitter can be used to deliver a wireless communication link to a DS-12RF unit.

High Wycombe-based AC Lighting has announced availability of the new grandMA ultra-light console from MA Lighitng. Previewed in London at the PLASA Show in September and fully launched at LDI in Orlando, the grandMA ultra-light is suitable for concert lighting, touring productions, trade fairs and exhibitions, as well as theatre, TV and studio use. The compact console provides 1,024 control channels (2 DMX lines), a full-colour TFT touch-screen, 10 manual executor faders, 10 executor buttons, four encoders and a multifunction trackball. The console features software compatibility with the grandMA, grandMA light consoles and the grandMA replay unit, permitting transfer and playback of show-files created on any members of the grandMA family.

Also available is the grandMA off-line editor software, which behaves like a real console, displaying show data and programmes exactly as experienced on the grandMA. Shows may be edited and created using the software. It is also possible to connect to the consoles via Ethernet, permitting programming and remote control from a distant location. Therefore, the grandMA offline-editor can be utilized as an ideal designer remote or programming aid for use with the grandMA replay unit. The grandMA off-line editor software may be downloaded free of charge from the MA Lighting website below:

The new LightCorder from Martin Professional is a small and handy DMX recorder that allows you to record and playback any DMX 512 output. With the LightCorder there is no need for expensive on-site controllers for playback purposes. The convenient built-in scheduler allows recorded shows to be played back at any given time or date, or even have the show loop up to 255 times or loop continuously. Playback can be easily set up in the Scheduler directly on the LightCorder's LCD display or uploaded via the RS-232 connection to any computer and then saved into the LightCorder.

A handy Windows Scheduler for easy set-up and maintenance of light shows includes a complete show calendar for easy organization. The Scheduler can be used to program a light show to start at any given time or date. Three multi-function custom faders on board the LightCorder can be assigned to any controllable attribute to allow direct access to dimmer, colour, strobe or other function. A memory card is included with 8Mb of memory allowing from six minutes to three hours of recording time (expandable to 64Mb). Total recording time depends on the desired refresh rate and number of DMX channels used. (i.e. full speed refresh at 40Hz @ 512 channels = six minutes; 10Hz @ 64 channels = over three hours). The LightCorder can be remote-controlled via RS-232 and DMX-in. The easy user interface includes a built-in DMX viewer/tester and clear blue/white LCD display. The LightCorder can even be used as a handy and inexpensive back-up to a main lighting console.

Compulite has introduced the new Rave lighting control console, designed to make previously unavailable features affordable to light jockeys, DJs, hire-companies, trade shows and other live applications. Rave can control up to 100 channels, 40 moving lights and 20 extras (DMX-controlled devices) through one, integral DMX512 standard output.

Enhanced Playback operation and fixture manipulation features makes Rave into a leading tool in its market - from Clubs and Discotheque to small venues - wherever enhanced live operation is needed, Rave is the answer. Rave includes an intuitive patching wizard with menus to provide fast and easy setup of the system. The three band integral equalizer enables perfect sound-to-light synchronization.

Rave also includes a powerful yet easy-to-use Effects Editor, with bundled generic effects package, for quickly creating various movement effects on any fixture's parameter. Sync'ing the Rave with other devices is straightforward thanks to varied protocols support such as MIDI, SMPTE, and DMX-in. The Ethernet support of the Rave allows users to distribute the DMX512 output, as well as connect to simulation software such as CompuCAD and WYSIWYG. In addition, the Rave PC offline editor (runs under Windows) allows a show to be programmed or edited without the console.

King of its habitat, the T-Rex is the aggressive new companion to Martin Professional's other well-known predator, the Raptor. The T-Rex deploys a unique quad-angled mirror to create a salvo of effects with 48 sharp, dynamic light beams, changing colour and direction to the beat of the music. A combined colour/gobo wheel offers 11 solid colors, four multi-colours and four white, along with a full arsenal of 19 gobo patterns. The T-Rex houses a bright 250W halogen lamp with a long 500-hour lamp life.

The worldwide launch of the new Yamaha DM2000 24-bit, 96kHz production console, underpinned Marquee Audio's most successful open day ever at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith this month. Although their collaboration with Yamaha was primarily to expose the PM1D, for whom Marquee have already enjoyed huge success as main dealers, the new desk was rushed down from the SBES Show at Birmingham - where it had been given its first private preview - and unveiled to visitors in the Studio Theatre.

With full support from Yamaha's technical team, including Professional Audio Manager Terry Holton, the Marquee Audio team of Spencer Brooks, Andy Huffer and Glen Smith spent the day entertaining the UK's leading production and PA rental companies as well as studio managers. Shipping in the first quarter of next year, the DM2000 is a complete, multi-platform mixing system for broadcast, recording, post-production and live performance, marking a new era in digital mixing. Offering 96 mix channels, extensive surround features, integrated DAW and ProTools control, it provides more than nine times the processing power of the Yamaha 02R.

With its 24-bit/96kHz spec, the DM2000 offers a comprehensive range of 96kHz-compatible stereo effects, many designed for surround mixing. In addition, the DM2000 provides full automation of virtually all console parameters, and features 25 100mm motorized faders which can be layer-switched to control the 96 channels. L&SI was at the SBES preview launch - a full report appears in the December issue.

According to manufacturers Audio Digital Technology, its new SDA11 digital analyzer is a 'Digital Swiss Army Knife' for anyone who works with digital audio, verifying the final link in the audio chain. Visual indication is provided to indicate sample rate, line errors and channel status. The three output BNC connectors when connected to an oscilloscope will allow further investigation of data word length, eye patton and jitter. Word clock output is also possible from the incoming AES/SPDIF signal.

The small, hand-held, battery device will accept sample rates up to 96kHz at 24bits and will allow monitoring via headphones or internal loudspeaker of the incoming AES or SPDIF signals. For cases requiring a 'get out of trouble' fix, the analyzer is also capable of editing and re-transmitting the channel status bits causing the problem in communication, establishing a temporary working connection between two devices, while the hold function is a useful addition to tracing intermittent faults.

Digital Audio Research Limited (DAR) has launched the Trigger Audio Replay System, building on its innovative workstation and disk-recorder technology to create a unique, flexible and powerful system for live television productions, as well as for radio and live theatre. Ideally suited to game show applications, Trigger provides easy-to-use instant-play facilities, allowing sound effects, music segments and voice-overs to be managed from a single system.

Trigger offers the the ability to record, edit, assign and replay audio segments from within a single-screen display. Mono and stereo audio segments can be assigned across up to four stereo outputs, with segments sequenced as four separate Playlists, or triggered individually by the 32 instant-play Trigger keys. Specific segments can be programmed for triggering by external switching - including contestants' and presenters' buttons, and console fader-starts - with Trigger also able to generate or respond to MIDI commands for synchronizing audio play-outs to other events and equipment, such as studio lighting.

Trigger can be operated as a stand-alone system - or, using DAR's D-net protocol, Trigger systems can be networked to each other, or linked to a studio-wide, server-based audio network. A disk-based system, Trigger is supplied with an 18GB internal hard drive, plus a choice of removable-media drives including DVD-RAM, MO and Zip. Trigger's built-in editing functions provide the ability to fine-tune audio segments independently - trim start and end points, adjust fade-in and fade-out slopes, set gain levels, and ad

Yesterday, Pioneer introduced to the world its first Pro DJ 19" rack-mount mixer; the DJM-3000. To ensure the widest possible music-making flexibility, the DJM-3000 is equipped with an industry-first Effect Mix Mode that easily and accurately effects phrases in a BPM-linked operation along with an improved auto beat effector. In addition to Echo and Zip, Pioneer has come up with a new effect, 'Roll'. This runs a mix while changing the pitch of the song up the chromatic scale to the beat of the music.

The Auto BPM Counter automatically measures and digitally displays a track's BPM (measurement range: 70-139 / 91-180 / 70-180 / Manual) allowing the user to merge one song into another smoothly. Tapping on the TAP button enables the user to manually input BPMs of tracks that are difficult to measure. DJs can now see the music beat, making it faster and easier to mix tracks with different beats. More information is available from Pioneer's 'djsounds' website - address below.

Nady Systems, one of the world's largest wireless microphone manufacturers, has introduced a cost-competitive UHF package via its recently-appointed exclusive UK distributor, Lamba plc. Lamba see the UHF-10 as being one of the best value-for-money products on the market, the system offering all the advantages of clear-channel operation on the uncluttered UHF band (operating between 794-805MHz). Featuring the full 120dB dynamic range, the UHF-10 promises a typical operating range of 250ft - extending to up to 500ft in open areas.

Features of the UHF-10 receiver include DigiTRU Diversity for maximum range and drop-out protection, Tone Squelch for locking out potential interference; noiseless transmitter; both quarter-inch unbalanced and balanced XLR outputs and full LED indicators. The BodyPack Transmitter (UB-10) features: Off/Standby/On switch; low battery LED indicator; locking 3.5mm mini-jack for audio inputs (instrument, headworn mic or lavalier mic), with input level adjust and three-way selector. The UH-10 Handheld Transmitter features the Nady DM-10D unidirectional neodymium dynamic cartridge for optimum true sound, with low feedback and minimal handling noise.

Coemar has launched the CF7WashZoomX, a new unit which complements the already popular CF7HEX. The new 700W MSR unit continues the Coemar tradition of using carbon fibre in the construction of the body and, alongside now standard features from Coemar such as high output and crisp definition, uses a powerful zoom lens system and a range of filters to alter the beam output from maximum intensity to maximum evenness to maximum diffusion. Alongside the zoom capability, which can produce beams as narrow as 9° and as wide as 54° with the diffusion lens, and as wide as 80° with the prismatic lens - Coemar's rich CMY colour mix system is included with a single dichroic colour wheel and colour correction filters.

Also new from Coemar, the new iCyc250 and ColourCyc250 LX are designed for applications requiring compact, intelligent colour wash facilities and are both constructed utilising the latest VO ABS material and features a unique system of four snap-on lenses which can be quickly changed to alter the beam configuration as required. Utilising the MSD/HSD 250 series of lamps, the iCyc also features full CMY colour mixing and full on-board dimming, whilst the ColourCyc utilises a colour wheel with replaceable dichroic colours.

Finally, the Panorama range has been increased with the addition of the Panorama Cyc250 and the Panorama Cyc250C. These compact, outdoor colour wash units are IP44-rated and utilize the MSD/HSD 250 series of lamps. Both units are constructed from the latest VO ABS material and features a unique system of four snap-on lenses which can be quickly change

The StratoSphere is a 60ft tall by 50ft wide inflatable dome with two airlock systems for entrance and exits. It has been designed to be a projection sphere capable of holding 300+ VIP guests and offer excellent projections of video, lighting and laser images inside a unique 360° environment. It is also possible to use the projection surfaces as a giant video screen as the surface of the sphere is specially designed for this medium, we have projected both on the inside and on the outside of the StratoSphere with equally impressive results and couple with the quick erection time of the sphere, Laser Magic feel that this system will attract users from many areas of our industry.

Its first showing was for a large event celebrating 20 years of King Fahad's reign in Saudi Arabia, where it was mounted on a barge in the sea. Inside the StratoSphere, Laser Magic installed high power video and lighting systems to create a living surface, and then coupled to this the new IREOS multi-coloured searchlights as well as their new stock of Comar NAT 2.5kW luminaires to create a unique atmosphere.

Laser Magic currently has one StratoSphere system, with a second StratoSphere due for delivery towards the end of the year. Further details are available from the Laser Magic website.

The Alien O5 is an elegant recessed colour changer from Martin Professional, which opens up new design possibilities in retail and themed environment illumination thanks to its stylish design and interchangeable colour possibilities. The compact and powerful Alien 05 is made of die-cast aluminium and offers eight interchangeable dichroic colour positions, plus open white. The Alien 05’s adjustable spherical head can be angled and swivelled in any position. It can be used as either a recessed ceiling fixture, or be positioned in a wall as an uplight, downlight or sidelight. The beam angle is 55-degrees and a special long life MR16 lamp (3000 hours) is included. The Alien 05 is also electrically dimmable using an appropriate transformer.

Colour and intensity can be controlled for various colour presets with colour sequences also controllable. With the Alien multi-driver unit, it is possible to connect a total of up to 24 Aliens on six independent driver outputs. A standard network cable using RJ-45 connectors can be used for easy daisy chaining of multiple units.

The unit has three different control options: in the simplest control option - a dipswitch - it is possible to select a predefined colour change from a setting of the dipswitch. The dedicated operator panel, Oracle 05, ensures intuitive programming and playback and features an LCD display. Finally, there is the option for control via any DMX controller.

DPA Microphones has released its next-generation model of waterproof microphones - the Type 8011 - which, according to the company, is the only high-quality phantom-powered hydrophone in the world.

The 8011 is the only 48V phantom powered waterproof microphone specially designed to handle the high sound pressure levels and the high static ambient pressure in water and other fluids. With a full bandwidth of 100Hz-20kHz, the 8011 hydrophone uses a piezoelectric crystal sensing element which is enclosed in a capsule so that it can withstand high pressure encountered at depths of up to 50m without being damaged or suffering changes in its performance characteristics. The sensing element gives the hydrophone a dynamic range of more than 100dB, so that even large fluctuations in the SPL emitted from a sound source, or in the distance from the sound source to the hydrophone, will cause no distortion in the recorded audio signal.

The Type 8011 uses a built-in precision preamplifier, which remains unaffected by temperature changes. The preamplifier is powered via a standard P48 system and is equipped with a standard 3-pin XLR-connector. The integral cable has a robust and abrasion-resistant jacket, which allows the product to be used in permanent installations immersed in water or ice over long periods of time.

At the Olympic Games in Sydney, broadcast engineer Al Craig chose DPA hydrophones to provide a sound that matched the underwater cameras covering Swimming, Diving and Water Polo. "The idea was to provide a contrasting texture when the vision went underwater,"

Elektralite has launched the CP 16/24, a universal moving light controller and big brother to the renowned CP10xt - the workhorse of many club designs the world over. Whereas the CP10xt offers control of 16 x 8-channel fixtures, the new CP16 / 24 allows the user to control the very largest fixtures with its 16 x 24-channel capability (384 DMX channels). The CP16/24 is capable of programming a wide variety of different manufacturers' intelligent moving fixtures through the use of extensive libraries already patched and ready for use. There are even additional entries to cover fixtures not already specified in the library. It will also control dimmers, colour changers - in fact, virtually any device that utilises DMX protocol.

Retaining the ease of programming which made the CP-10xt such a world-wide success, it takes only seconds to learn how to enter a cue, create a chase, and construct a macro. Manual control of any individual or multiple fixtures can be done at any time even while a pre-programmed show is playing. Other features include: auto-masking, timed crossfade, and coarse or fine joystick control. The user also has the added ability to turn the joystick from absolute to relative position control, providing accurate positioning of moving lights. To enhance creativity, a MIDI port is provided which allows control of the CP16/24 remotely from another MIDI device such as a keyboard. The MIDI port also allows CP16/24s to be linked, and to download or upload complete memory content to a 3.5" disk, for example. The CP16/24 is supplied with an external power supply