UK - At PLASA Focus Leeds, KV2 will promote the newly released ESD 5. The ultra compact two-way 5" ESD 5 is the latest addition to KV2 Audio's passive ESD range. The ESD 5 has been developed in conjunction with prestigious sound designers working globally within the theatre industry. It was initially designed as a high quality delay unit for theatre applications where high quality audio is paramount but sight lines are also key.

The ESD 5 is equally at home as a discreet sound reinforcement product for entertainment venues, houses of worship, schools and boardrooms and can be used with KV2 Audio's ESD subwoofers to create an ultra-compact portable PA System.

The use of a conventional compression driver rather than a soft dome tweeter ensures that the ESD 5 offers KV2's renowned sound and ensures consistent performance throughout venues when augmenting existing KV2 systems

Denmark - After much speculation in the pro audio industry, Uli Behringer's Music Group has announced its acquisition of TC Group, one of the largest groupss of companies in the pro audio industry. The deal has been signed and it is expected to close within days.

Headquartered in Denmark, and with offices worldwide, TC Group owns well-known brands Tannoy, Lab.gruppen, Lake, TC Electronic, TC Helicon and TC Applied Technologies.

Music Group adds Tannoy, Lab.gruppen and Lake to its professional install and touring sound offerings, alongside Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound, while TC Electronic and TC Helicon guitar effects and voice processing products will complement Music Group's Bugera guitar tube amplifier brand and the Behringer prosumer division. TC Group's focus on innovation and IP creation is further demonstrated by their TC Applied Technologies company, which is inve

USA - Fresh off a stadium tour supporting One Direction, Australian punk pop band, 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS), embarked on a promo tour of the USA with Allen & Heath's Qu-16 digital rackmount mixer managing the live acoustic performances.

Comprising a series of radio and store appearances, the tour culminated in the band's Derp Con fan convention, where lucky fans were handpicked and flown from all over the world to LA to meet the band, watch a live acoustic performance and take part in a Q&A.

FOH engineer, John Delf, and monitor engineer, Ben Booker, selected the Qu-16 to mix the 10 inputs and 4 wedge mixes for the shows, and additionally record a multi-track of the Derp Con performance.

"With only a limited time to soundcheck, the Qu-16 was really quick to set up and get everything sounding nice, and the recording set up was very simple and worked flawlessly. We used

Finland - Jutel is one of the world's most experienced suppliers of radio station automation and digital radio broadcast solutions worldwide. In an interesting departure from their usual field of activities, the company has recently implemented the world's first all audio-over-IP AES67/Ravenna-based system into the newly refurbished Restaurant Nallikari in the Finnish city of Oulu.

Oulu is reputed as a major high-tech centre, particularly in IT and wellness technology. Restaurant Nallikari combines both. Benefiting from the most glorious setting right on Nallikari beach, Restaurant Nallikari is a flexible, modern and completely modular space offering high quality restaurant services as well as up to eight separate meeting/private event zones. There are also spa facilities for up to 60 people as well as an outdoor Jacuzzi on the private terrace.

The brief was to provide a high

USA - With their new album, Future Hearts, at the top of the charts, Baltimore-based punk/pop band All Time Low will be touring heavily throughout 2015. As always, the entire band will be using Sensaphonics in-ear monitors on stage.

"We've all used Sensaphonics for years now, and they have never let us down," notes guitarist Jack Barakat. "I've had problems in the past because of the amount I run around on stage, but with Sensaphonics I've never had an issue with a perfect seal and a perfect sound. Whether in the studio or touring around the world, I'm never without my Sensaphonics."

The group is currently on tour in the US, again working with production manager and monitor Daniel Nickleski of Sound Works Productions. Guitarist Barakat, lead singer Alex Gaskarth, and drummer Dawson all use the Sensaphonics 2MAX, while bass player Zack Merrick has opt

USA - South Biscayne Church in Florida's North Port is a faith and Bible believing, Southern Baptist Convention church that offers a high energy, always exciting worship experience for all ages.

Bringing quality audio and video functionality to the church's worship experience was a particularly challenging endeavour because the space was originally developed as a shopping centre and, hence, not optimized for its current purpose. With careful planning and the right equipment however, services are a vibrant, contemporary experience-thanks in no small part to the sonic excellence delivered by loudspeakers drawn from the catalogue of Valencia, Spain-based D.A.S. Audio.

GC Pro (Guitar Center Professional Division) of Atlanta, GA - working in conjunction with Tampa, FL-based Event Resource Group - ultimately designed and deployed a sound reinforcement system at the church utilizing

UK - d&b audiotechnik has announced its return to PLASA Focus Leeds for 2015. Taking place from 12-13 May at the Royal Armouries, the upcoming show follows a very successful Prolight+Sound for d&b. The company introduced three new products: the D20 amplifier, the MAX2 stage monitor and ArrayProcessing, a significant software update within ArrayCalc V8.

At stand NA-24 in the New Dock Hall this trio of products will make their UK debut.

ArrayProcessing is a new, optional, feature for optimizing the tonal and level balance of d&b J, V and Y-Series line array systems across an entire listening area, significantly improving the consistency of performance.

The D20 joins the D80 as part of the four channel, 2RU amplifier family. It features intuitive user interfaces and fast, responsive remote control and monitoring via Ethernet, through the OCA protocol.

The MAX2 is a flexible 1

France - The renowned Lille National Orchestra (ONL) under conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus has become Europe's first orchestra to go fully digital. With a recent investment in a Sennheiser and Neumann microphone set-up, the orchestra now boasts a fully digital signal chain from sound pick-up to recording. Their mobile studio comprises a total of 33 digital Neumann microphones, 24 digital Sennheiser microphones, all on active stands and booms, and six DMI-8 interfaces.

Also included in the studio are a six-channel Sennheiser wireless system and a full Neumann monitoring set-up. Managing Director François Bou, who feels people have become overly concerned with the visual aspects of performance, sees the new system capturing the ears of his audiences, taking them on a deeper, immersive journey into the richness and variety of the music.

"For us, the fully digital mobile stu

UK - Orbital Sound has recently completed a major installation project at the University of Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, a 150-seat studio space, involving a Cat 6 network and d&b audiotechnik E-Series system.

Host to a wide variety of touring acts, as well as a series of jazz events, the Arena Theatre specified the E-Series ultra compact system after a comprehensive on-site evaluation by d&b audiotechnik, identifying it as the best match to the venue's requirement. The new system comprised d&b E12d cabinets, combined with E15X subs and E6 delays for the main theatre, complemented by E8 speakers for the studio/rehearsal space. It was installed as part of a major refit, which included an 80-line Cat 6 data network.

The Arena Theatre has a full-time technical team of three, headed up by senior technician Stephen Payne who commented, "We had originally shortlisted the T-Se

USA - University of Utah's Jon M. Huntsman Centre, a 15,000-seat arena that serves as home to the school's Runnin' Utes basketball, Utes volleyball and Red Rocks gymnastic teams, recently wrapped up a massive $6m renovation project.

When the dust finally settled, U of U's largest sporting and entertainment venue featured two new grand entrances plus a new floor, drapes, LED lighting system and versatile house sound system comprised of L-Acoustics' powerful Kara and high-directivity ARCS WiFo enclosures.

The audio portion of the project represented a joint effort between two Salt Lake City businesses: acoustician and technology consulting firm Spectrum Engineers, who provided the design and construction documents, and systems integration company Poll Sound, who installed the system and assisted with product specific design.

According to Poll Sound's Deward Timothy, the first

UK - London-born singer songwriter Jessie Ware has just completed her UK tour, with Sennheiser microphones and wireless monitors an integral part of the audio system supplied by rental company Adlib for both Jessie and her band.

Front-of-House engineer Johnny Dodkin started working with Jessie when she was a backing singer with Jack Penate. When she was signed in January 2012, she asked him to work with her on her own project.

"We have always used a 2000 Series wireless system along with a 945 capsule for Jessie until this run of shows, when I changed to a 965 capsule," says Johnny. "I love the 945; it's great as it has a tight pattern and presence with the top end. But when Sennheiser's Relations Manager Mark Saunders popped by rehearsals for this tour, we started talking about the 965 capsule, as I have created a quiet stage with all amps off stage and the dru

USA - Meyer Sound Lyon linear line array system is the top pick for tackling audio reinforcement at the 2015 NFL Draft, held 30 April through 2 May in Chicago. Provided by VER (Video Equipment Rentals), the compact yet powerful system is deployed to cover 3,901 seats inside the vast expanse of the Windy City's landmark Auditorium Theatre.

In addition to the Lyon line array loudspeakers, the Meyer Sound complement for the programme also comprises JM-1P arrayable loudspeakers, MM-4XP loudspeakers with IntelligentDC technology, 700-HP subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with Galileo Callisto array processors. Outside, for the Red Carpet arrivals, VER is providing a separate Meyer Sound system using UPQ-1P and UPJ-1P loudspeakers.

Warren Cruikshank and Wilson Tennermann of VER are tasked with project management and coordination for the nationwide live broadcast

Korea - NEXT-proaudio has confirmed Avix Tech as its new Korean distribution partner following this year's Proligh+Sound in Frankfurt. Having founded the company 30 years ago, CEO Antonio Correia announced his satisfaction with the appointment made at the company's Rio Tinto headquarters in Portugal on the eve of the exhibition.

"Avix Tech is a very high profile supplier in Korea working closely with systems integrators, broadcasters and consultants," explained Mr Antonio Correia. "With our product portfolio, we see great potential in the Korean house of worship market."

"We supply and install full A/V systems to mid-sized churches and venues such as performing arts centres. Having visited the factory in Portugal, I was convinced that NEXT-proaudio creates unique solutions for our customers. In addition to manufacturing extremely powerful loudspeaker s

USA - A range of microphones from Audio-Technica was again selected by the audio professionals lending their talents to the recent 30th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.

A highlight of the show was the segment honouring soul legend Bill Withers, who made a rare appearance and an even rarer on-stage performance at the event. R&B singer John Legend and Hall of Fame member Stevie Wonder each performed in this segment using Audio-Technica's 5000 Series UHF Wireless System with AEW-T5400a handheld microphones/transmitters. Wonder performed Ain't No Sunshine, followed by Legend's performance of Use Me and both singing Lean on Me.

The backline mic complement of Audio-Technica wired microphones included AT4050 multi-pattern condenser microphones used for drum overheads and bass; AT4050ST stereo condenser microphone used for audience

Opera on the Road - Opera is to be toured to theatres around the UK by a new production company that aims to bring more diverse audiences to the genre. HighTime has been founded by Felicity Green and Benjamin Hamilton, who met while studying at the University of Warwick, and is aimed at staging productions for people who would otherwise not have access to opera. Its first production, supported by Arts Council England, will be Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, in a new translation by Kit Hesketh-Harvey. It will run at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, with plans to tour the show around the UK next year, engaging young people from each location to perform in the chorus.

Green Day - Amelia Lily will star in a new London production of Green Day musical American Idiot. The X Factor runner-up, who is currently starring in a tour of Joseph and the Amazi

Germany - Optocore celebrated a 'triumphant return' to Prolight+Sound this year by successfully premiering its new MADI multi-interface switches and bridges.

Launching the new M8 (with four MADI ports) and M12 (eight MADI ports) to the world's press, Optocore founder Marc Brunke told the rapt gathering why they had prioritised the MADI standard. "Throughout the years there have been many voices that believed MADI would not survive the increased number of network protocols," he said. "However, we have observed the complete opposite - MADI is the easiest and most popular multi-channel protocol, and is built into almost any professional equipment."

With only a single cable connection needed to create a MADI-based system it is little wonder that the feedback at the stand was so positive - particularly as the company's DD2FR-FX and DD4MR-FX MADI devices are amon

USA - Yard House restaurants combine a wide selection of "made-from-scratch" menu items, over 100 craft beers, ales and lagers and high-energy classic rock music to create an exciting atmosphere for casual or group dining, happy hour and holiday celebrations.

No Static Pro Audio of Burbank, California designed and installed the audio and video systems for the newest Yard House which opened in Kansas City in April 2015.

Eugene Gordon, No Static's CEO says, "The restaurant's brand image has a focus on classic rock so the owners want really high-quality foreground music that can get loud without sounding harsh. This is our 59th Yard House installation," he continued, "and we've standardized on Community loudspeakers to meet that challenge."

For Yard House locations with outdoor patio dining, No Static installs Community W Series for both the indoor

USA - The University of Alabama at Birmingham has made a long-term investment in the self-powered Meyer Sound Lyon linear sound reinforcement system. Installed in the 1,330-seat Jemison Concert Hall at the school's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Centre (ASC), Lyon provides impeccable clarity and headroom for lectures and concerts ranging from classical and jazz to pop, rock, gospel, and reggae.

"To meet artists' riders and put on shows that consistently satisfy audiences, we simply couldn't do better than the Lyon system," states Adam Stermer, technical director for the ASC. "And knowing that we wouldn't be getting a new system for perhaps 15 years, we wanted one that was well-received and incorporated the very latest technology."

Designed to maintain distortion-free levels of 110 dB SPL at any seat, the new system is anchored by two main arrays of seven Lyo

UK - Local authorities around the UK, faced with providing an ever increasing number of services from diminishing budgets, have been introduced to an elegant integrated 'one button' webcasting and audio/videoconference facility by Jon Hunnisett of technology specialists, Sound Advice PA Installation Ltd.

In designing a system that enables separate video and audio streams to be combined, councils can engage more with their constituents by allowing sessions to be web-streamed and viewed over the internet.

At the heart of his solution is RCF's intuitive Forum 9000 digital conferencing and voting system, and Sound Advice has now built up a portfolio of 14 councils who have been eager to adopt this platform.

It was the versatility of the system that first caught the attention of Jeremy Luckett, Business Analyst at Wiltshire Council Unitary Authority, after five councils had been

UK - Long-term supporters of PLASA Focus in Leeds, Martin Audio returns to the Royal Armouries (Booth # N-C19) on 12-13 May where it will dedicate its stand to the UK premier of the new CDD installation series (which received its global launch in Frankfurt last month).

Combining distinctive curved enclosures with unique Coaxial Differential Dispersion technology, the series is designed to deliver class-leading performance, fidelity and coverage consistency to most install applications via six two-way full-range coaxial systems - ranging from the micro CDD5 to the powerful CDD15. These are complemented by a range of high-performance subwoofers.

The company will also be participating in the seminar programme, in the Wellington Room on both days (between 11:30 - 12:15) under the title The Shape of Things to Come.

Martin Audio product support engineer Robin Dibble will be

USA - At NAB 2015, Shure unveiled its new BRH50M Premium Dual-Sided Broadcast Headset. The BRH50M introduces a modern design for on-camera use and premium sound quality, suitable for broadcast and media production professionals at every level, says the company. Lightweight, comfortable, and durable, with superior audio quality, the Shure BRH50M is constructed to meet the demanding needs of professional users throughout the broadcast industry.

Designing an on-camera product is a bit of a balancing act," said Matt Engstrom, category director for wired products at Shure. "Although on-camera aesthetic appeal is certainly a critical factor, it was important to develop a product that looked great on-camera without sacrificing sound quality, comfort, or durability. After extensive testing with the NFL and NBA, we're confident the BRH50M delivers on all four of those factors,

Israel - Munich-based live engineer Björn Seeländer, a veteran of concert tours and venues worldwide, has recently been appointed as Live Sound Product Specialist for Waves Audio, an industry-leading developer of professional audio digital signal processing technologies.

Seeländer has vast experience in the studio and live, in particular as a FOH, monitor and system engineer. His credits include such diverse acts as Mark Knopfler (monitor support/stage), Prince (monitor/Pro Tools live recording), Justin Bieber (FOH), Usher (system/FOH support), Taylor Swift (system/FOH support), Rod Stewart (system/FOH support), Lang Lang (system/FOH support), and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (FOH), to name but a few.

In his capacity as Waves Live Sound Product Specialist, Björn will communicate with other live sound engineers across Europe, demonstrating Waves plugins,

USA - A multitude of fans were entertained by Philip Selway's solo performance, which used Allen & Heath's iLive-T112 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, USA.

Philip Selway, best known as the drummer in Radiohead, performed nearly an hour long set Sunday evening at Coachella, Weekend 2. Selway didn't play drums but instead sang and played the keyboard in the Gobi tent.

The audio engineer for Selway's solo tour, Gavin McComb, explains how the Allen & Heath equipment is currently being used. McComb controls the FOH mix, while the band controls their own monitor mixes using the ME system.

"On this leg of the tour we are using an iLive-T112 surface, an iDR-48 and a ME-U with five ME-1personal mixers. They are all using in-ear monitoring, which is fed from their individual ME-1s. The only control I have with their mixes are mutes on channels

UK - A QSC Q-Sys audio management system, supplied by QSC's UK installed sound distributors Shure Distribution UK, has been installed at London's Twickenham stadium, home of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The Q-Sys platform, based around a pair of Core 1100 processors (one main and one redundant Core), routes audio and controls the PA and Voice Alarm systems at the venue, and replaced an outdated Peavey Media Matrix system.

2015 is a big year for the RFU. As well as hosting key matches in the annual Six Nations Championship in February and March this year at Twickenham, the ground will also be the venue for the final of the quadrennial Rugby World Cup at the end of October. With these key events in mind, the RFU elected to refurbish the stadium's audio systems at the end of last year in time for both tournaments. The Q-Sys audio management system was specified by Vanguardia, pr

Latest Issue. . .