Since its introduction in 1995, the Shure SCM810E has been widely specified in a range of applications. Shure has now released a smaller version - the SCM410E - a half-rack (single rack height) automatic mixer which boasts features such as four input channels with balanced XLR mic level inputs, a balanced XLR mic/line output, an unbalanced RCA aux level output, a +16 dBu peak output limiter and 12v phantom power. The unit is further enhanced by its link facility which enables SCM410, SCM810 and FP410 mixers to be linked together in any combination up to 400 channels.

XtraMusic has added four specially-programmed channels of Christmas music to its existing channels through December and the into the New Year. The service will be part of XtraMusic's growing digital audio programming which offers 80 channels of stereo music to business establishments.

Sony has launched a cost-effective loudspeaker management system that enables live, theatrical and studio sound engineers to 'set and forget' crossover and level settings for PA/sound reinforcement systems. Ideal for use on stage and AV presentation systems, as well as studio-based monitor speakers, the new SRP-F300 is a true 24-bit 96kHz all-digital design that provides sophisticated control over complex multi-speaker set-ups via a familiar PC interface.

California-based QSC Audio has told PLASA Publishing that its new Ethernet-based audio networking system, QSControl, is now accompanied by a free video and CD-ROM that allows users to manage and control amplifiers and other audio devices using a PC. Both the video and CD-ROM give viewers a 14-minute overview of the system's capabilities and practical applications. QSControl was the first computer-control system on the market to incorporate standard off-the-shelf technologies such as Ethernet, TCP/IP network protocol, and Microsoft's Visual Basic. The system is now being used in a variety of venues worldwide, including the Petronas Towers in Malaysia and the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cerwin-Vega has launched a range of domestic hi-fi/home theatre systems, which will be available in the UK through distributor, Lamba plc. The LS Series offers three three-way floor-standing models - the LS-15 (15in woofer), LS-12 (with 12in woofer) and LS-10 (10in woofer), as well as a two-way bookshelf system, the LS-8 (8in woofer).Four further models are designed for home theatre application, including two two-way video-shielded modular systems: the LS6 (featuring 6.5in woofer) and LS-5 (5.25in woofer), plus two two-way full-range centre channels, the LS-6C (dual 6.5in) and LS-5C (dual 5.25in).New, improved low-mass woofer cones, with enhanced damping characteristics, have been developed especially for the floor-standing three-way loudspeakers.

Sony Broadcast & Professional Europe is to launch the new DMX-R1000 digital mixing console at the Paris AES convention (19-22 Feb 2000), aimed at pro recording, mastering and post production facilities and high end project studios. The 48-channel, 1200mm wide DMX-R1000 will feature touch sensitive motorised faders, integrated metering, colour LCD touch-screen, dynamic and snapshot automation, 5.1 surround processing and a 96kHz processing mode. Sony will also introduce two new variants of the OXF-R3 'Oxford' digital mixing console – the 'Lite' and 'UltraLite' - to bring the Oxford console concept to a wider range of music recording, television post and film mixing applications.

Following prototype showings at this year's PLASA Show in London and LDI show in Orlando, AC Lighting has announced the launch of the new Chroma-Q M5 colour-changer with units now shipping. The new M5, designed for fixtures in the 5,000W range, carries many of the same characteristics as the rest of the Chroma-Q M-range, including the recently released 8-Lite version. The new M5 has standard features that include adapters for rotating barndoors, quarter turn catches for quick internal access, the ability to perform scroll changes without dismantling the unit shell, and the facility to fit heat shield filters.

David Edelstein, MD of truss and track specialist Triple E, collected the award for Widget of the Year at this year's LDI Awards ceremony. He told PLASA Publishing: "It was a complete surprise and we are absolutely delighted that UniRing has been awarded this accolade!"Created for Triple E's Royal Opera House project, UniRing is a specially designed plastic ring which enables borders and legs to be clipped directly into Triple E's own aluminium track sections. No more tying knots: to attach borders and legs on bars, staff simply twist them in, saving a great deal of time during change arounds.

The RCF CSS (Cinema Sound System) 3003TX has been THX approved for use in medium-sized auditoriums. Being part of the comprehensive CSS range, the new system is a three-way screen system requiring three channels of amplification for full THX performance. Two high powered 15" speakers in an optimised direct radiating cabinet provide frequency response from 43Hz-300Hz. A mid high device combining a 10" speaker on a Precision Pattern Control (PPC) horn allows exact 90 degree horizontal dispersion in the critical dialogue range of 300Hz to 2.5kHz and 1.5" exit compression driver on a 90 degree by 50 degree horn extends the high frequency response beyond 16kHz.

Allen & Heath have released a major upgrade to their WinDR software, the system manager package used to set up DR128 and DR66 digital installation mixers. To speed up system configuration and checking, WinDR V1.81 allows the entire routing matrix and all control crosspoints to be viewed as a single display. A new beta version automatic mic mixer enables NOM (number of open mic) status to determine output gain for conferencing and similar applications. The parametric EQ's have also been enhanced, with an improved 20Hz to 20kHz sweep in bell mode. Delay resolution has been increased, allowing delay times to be set to 0.02mS accuracy. Existing or potential users are invited to download the new software free-of-charge from the company's Website.

A.C. Lighting has reported an amazing response following the launch of the new Jands Event 4 lighting control consoles at the recent PLASA show. The first shipment of consoles, which arrived at their premises recently, were distributed to their eagerly awaiting European dealers within a very short time.This new range combine the familiar layout of a two preset lighting console with an added section capable of controlling up to 20 moving lights and 80 colour changers. First seen at the recent PLASA show, the console received an enormous amount of praise for its simplistic, yet thorough approach to console design for those, 'in-between' shows which have both conventional and intelligent lighting elements.

The SuperStructure from the Pure Group is a new mobile venue, designed to the highest construction standards and developed by the Group to provide another link in the chain of the Total Production Solution offered by the Company. The SuperStructure measures 65 metres long by 14 metres wide and features 14 styled arches, each with a uniformly distributed weight loading of two tonnes - more equivalent to a permanent venue specification. There is 8.5 metres of headroom at the top of the arches which have 4.8 metre centres - again far more than you'd normally expect in a tented structure. The Group turned to the engineering and design skills of James Thomas Engineering to construct the arched roof framework for the new venue. The result is the first such arched outdoor roofing system that Thomas has built.

Allen & Heath have announced the availability of an upgrade to the new V2.0 control software for their I-CON DP1000 and DL1000 digital live mixers. The console's internal compressors and gates can now be viewed on a per-channel basis, providing more editable parameters for precision control. Extra effects presets have been added to the FX1 internal processor, while FX2's reverbs have benefited from an overhaul. Footpedal control of the effects processors has been improved to cover any parameter or channel volume. MIDI control has also been extended to allow remote access to all performance parameters.Free download of the new software, and further information on its facilities, is available from the Allen & Heath website.

Gemini Sound Products has launched the CDJ-10 professional CD player, a small, top-loading, frame accurate CD player featuring a variable pitch control of +/- 16%, three time display modes, reverse and forward stutter, cue function and continuous play mode. Also new from Gemini is the Scoop series of loudspeaker enclosures, which include single 15", double 15" and sub-bass units.

Vari-Lite unveiled its first-ever line of direct sales products at the recent LDI show in Orlando. The new products are the VL2400 series wash luminaire and the VL2201 spot luminaire, which will be available in the New Year. These products are aimed specifically at permanent installations, and focuses for the first time on entertainment venues - such as community arts venues, theatres, places of worship and theme parks - which were not served by the company's traditional rental-only operations.The VL2400 is based on the Emmy Award-winning VL5 family; the 2400 series will six configurations of the 2400 wash luminaire, each with either collimated beam or beam spreader options. Sources include 1200W and 1000W incandescent or 1200W and 625W arc versions. The compact and lightweight VL2201 meanwhile, is based on the VL6B spot luminaire, with 3:1 zoom optics, rotating gobos and a centre beam intensity greater than competing 575W fixtures. Both series are operable through standard DMX-512 standard control consoles, as well as the company's own Virtuoso desk.

High End Systems has launched a new automated luminaire - the Studio Beam - which adds a third type of automated light, the Pebble Convex automated fixture, to the designer's tool kit. The Pebble Convex (PC) optical train produces a unique quality of light, distinct from a fresnel wash or ellipsoidal spot. Variable soft-edge and extremely high output blending distribution, coupled with a large zoom range and intense beam shaping give the Studio Beam PC a unique niche in lighting design and application. Using a new short-arc lamp and a patented combination elliptical/spherical reflector and aspheric lens system, the Studio Beam PC produces output levels one would previously only expect from much larger units.With its wide zoom range, intense output and compact size, Studio Beam PC is ideal for soft-edge key and long-throw highlighting, as well as providing aerial effects. Other features include full CYM colour-mixing, three additional discrete dichroic colors, an internal preset system, and 540 degree by 287 degree movement.An Adobe Acrobat version of the Studio Beam PC brochure can be downloaded from the High End website.

In another important announcement, automated lighting manufacturer High End Systems is introducing a major upgrade to the its Cyberlight automated luminaire, which they claim will double the light output of the unit. The enhanced fixture will be known as the Cyberlight Turbo, and benefits from improvements in short arc source technology and High End's expertise in optical design have yielded substantial improvements in several areas. Photonic output has been dramatically increased - Cyberlight Turbo offers up to 100% increased light output with no increase in power consumption. Additionally, a new twin achromatic lens system results in an improved focus quality.

RCF have announced the launch of two new products: the Vision 151 is the latest addition to the Vision series of loudspeakers, and the AM1120 is part of the new AM1000 series of integrated mixer amplifiers.The AM1000 series has been specifically designed for transmitting announcements and/or musical programmes through all PA sound systems. The AM 1120 offers two jack inputs, selectable line/mic sensitivity, two XLR microphone inputs with 24volt DC phantom supply, one RCA stereo input, one main input, one pre-out, one tape out output. All inputs are fully balanced with XLR connectors and each input has phantom power.The Vision PA 151 loudspeaker is a short-throw unit that can be used as a standard passive enclosure or in bi-amped configuration. The PA 151 includes a 15" LF transducer in combination with a 1" compression driver loaded on a 90 x 75 degree CD horn.

Rosco has produced a lighting Master Class video which offers both inspiration and practical information for lighting practitioners in the theatre, film, TV or architectural fields.The Designing with Gobos Master Class video is hosted by Tony Award-winninglighting designer Neil Peter Jampolis and provides designers with a range of creative ideas.

AKG has launched a re-engineered and re-styled version of its C3000 large-diaphragm condenser microphone. New features include a switchable -10 dB pre-attenuation pad ahead of the preamp for an actual 10 dB increase in SPL capability. Specifications such as sensitivity, maximum SPL capability, and equivalent noise level have been improved for a much wider dynamic range. The C3000B comes with a H100 elastic suspension system.

Sennheiser has launched the new MKE-2 Gold sub-miniature omni-directional lavalier microphone, aimed at television broadcast and theatrical productions. The key feature of the new microphone is its unique 'Umbrella Diaphragm', which keeps the mic moisture resistant, while delivering the same quality performance as the industry standard MKE-2. The extremely thin (0.000014 inch) low-mass diaphragm exhibits excellent transient response. The MKE-2 Gold is available in matt black or beige.

As a response to feedback from retailers and leisure operators, who are unable to benefit from custom-programmed music services because the CDs play on specialist proprietary devices, AEI Music has launched Dynamic Disc - a CD which, with the aid of a special filter, will play on the sites' existing CD players. The filter, which attaches directly to the CD player, decrypts the recorded music during playback, preventing pirating of the music. While still being able to play their own CDs, subscribers can also choose from seven different genres of music programmes, which are updated on a monthly basis.

Sound Dept will be holding an SIA-Smaart Pro Training School session on November 17 at The Matrix Club, reading. SIA Smaart Pro, the acoustic measurement and sound system optimisation software for Windows 95/98 and NT4.0, was developed to provide sound system contractors, acoustical consultants and audio professionals with a practical, powerful and accurate acoustical analysis tool, to enable them to achieve new levels of sound performance. The software delivers detailed and accurate spectral impulse and system response information.

Shure has launched the PSM700 series of in-ear monitors. These feature a synthesized design, offering greater frequency agility, which in turn allows for the simultaneous use of up to 16 personal stereo mixes. The units have Shure's Mixmode technology - one of three operating modes (along with stereo and mono) - which provides high levels of control at the receiver over the mix that the performer hears. Initial demand for the PSM700 has been strong and John Henry's Ltd of London has already had systems out with David Bowie.