Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

Sound

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Australia - Genazzano FCJ College, located in Kew, Melbourne, recently unveiled their new Madeline Centre for Music and Performing Arts.

The Madeleine Centre is a fully functioning performing arts venue, incorporating a series of classrooms, drama rooms, a gallery space and the impressive Montagner Auditorium. The 456 seat auditorium and the accompanying rooms are already heavily used each day, playing host to drama and theatre studies, music classes, band rehearsals, meetings, assemblies, seminars, concerts, recitals and theatre productions.

Lightmoves were contracted to supply and install the theatrical lighting, sound and lighting control packages for the new artistic hub. For the PA, Lightmoves turned JBL.

The main auditorium features a high ceiling, curved walls and minimal space in which to mount a speaker system. A JBL VRX line array was chosen, given its small footpr

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UK - Turbosound's Milan portable self-powered range of loudspeakers has a new addition - the Mi0, a lightweight, self-powered two-way compact loudspeaker that makes your portable system even easier to handle.

The Milan Mi0 enclosure consists of a 10" reflex-loaded neodymium low frequency driver and a 1" high frequency compression driver on a 90°H x 60°V dispersion HF horn in an optimally tuned injection-moulded enclosure, together with an integrated two-channel amplifier module.

The integrated amplifier is a two channel unit - the Class D low frequency section delivering 180 watts while the Class AB high frequency section delivers 50 watts - which provides a balanced XLR microphone input and balanced line input on a jack/XLR connector with individual level controls, as well as overall bass and treble tone controls.

A balanced male XLR output provides a line

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World - Dolly Parton is touring with a pair of digital consoles from the Midas PRO range: a PRO6 at front of house, operated by Mike Fechner, and a PRO9 on monitors, both supplied by Thunder Audio of Detroit. The world tour, in support of her Better Day album, kicked off in the US before travelling to Europe for a string of sell-out arena concerts.

Using Midas digital for the first time, Dolly's monitor engineer Jason Glass is finding his PRO9 invaluable for the complex show, which changes from bluegrass to full string pop to gospel and back again, performed by seven multi-instrumental musicians and three backing vocalists.

"I'm using scenes extensively as I have a lot of changes happening on layers that are out of sight and out of mind while I'm paying attention to Dolly," he says. "It really simplifies the show for me; it's also reliable and consistent.

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Norway - One of Norway's most popular recording art monitorsists, country rock group the Hellbillies, is spending 2011 taking Nexo's new N-12 stage monitors all over the country on an epic eight-month tour.

Hellbillies' monitor engineer Atle Aamodt sourced eight of the 45°N-12 wedges from rental company and Nexo distributor Fotophono for the national tour, and has found them a major advance on the in-ear monitors being used by the band, especially in an environment where the acoustics or PA are poor and muddying the sound on stage.

"The lead vocalist Aslag Haugen has always used IEMs in situations where the PA or the room acoustics make monitoring difficult. Since we started using the N-12s, we don't need the IEM back-up; even in the worst possible conditions, these monitors provide listening conditions for the musicians that no other monitors can match."

Aamod

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USA - It's to be expected that a bar might be serious about the drinks that it serves, but The Pony Bar, located at 10th Avenue and 45th Street in Manhattan's famed Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood, takes the quality of its sound system no less seriously.

The Pony Bar, which offers some of America's finest craft brews, also provides beer aficionados with a nightly music soundtrack from artists such as Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Phish and Wilco played back though six Genelec 8030A Bi-Amplified Monitor Speakers and a 7050A Active Subwoofer.

Dan McLaughlin, who opened The Pony Bar with a business partner in mid-April 2009, first experienced Genelec speakers while working at another bar for six years. "It was the best sound I'd ever heard anywhere, just incredible clarity," he enthuses. But after the first installed sound system at The Pony Bar failed to live up to those exp

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USA - Dataton and their North American partner, Show Sage LLC, will be demonstrating version 5 of WATCHOUT multi-display production and playback system at LDI.

Jim Testa, Show Sage's president, explains, "As Dataton's North American distributor we are pleased to be spearheading the introduction of WATCHOUT version 5 to LDI attendees. Already recognized as the number one multi-display software solution for the industry, WATCHOUT version 5 offers many new advantages to our customers including enhanced live interaction and a significantly reduced cost per display channel.

"We look forward to introducing the new features of WATCHOUT version 5 to those attending LDI as well as highlighting our WATCHOUT-tuned computer systems."

Michael Engström, Sales Director at Dataton adds: "Presentations have never been more creative, accessible or as easy to utilize and,

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UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) received a great reception to many leading innovations showcased exclusively on the company's stand at PLASA 2011 - with highlights including new products from Chroma-Q, GLP, PixelRange, Jands Vista, Litec and Traction Sound.

AC-ET UK sales director, Jonathan Walters commented, "We've had a great response to the latest Chroma-Q, PixelRange and GLP LED-based fixtures alongside moving head models from GLP, Clay Paky, Martin Professional, Robe lighting and VARI*LITE. Also causing a buzz were the Jands Vista v2 lighting control software's power with simplicity and Traction Sound's innovative SDS loudspeaker design. Litec's MyT supertruss made an explosive entrance on the stand, plus the latest Green Hippo Hippotizer software and our Cable Express cable manufacturing service also received a lot of interest."

Visitors to this ye

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Denmark - Moto Rental has been supplying equipment for the annual Ledreborg Slotskoncerter (Ledreborg Castle Concert) for almost 20 years. Since 1999, Moto Rental has used L-Acoustics systems for the event, hosted by the Danish National Chamber Orchestra with various guest performers. This year, FOH engineer Henrik Bonné chose Moto's new Kara WST modular line source system with SB18 subs for the concert.

"Everyone was very excited about getting this large Kara/SB18 system," says Bonné who has mixed the concert since 1995. "Normally we work with V-DOSC in larger venues and Kara in smaller venues. But using Kara on this large outdoor concert, which attracted with 24,000 people over two days, really impressed us. We only received good, positive feedback about the sound."

The main system consisted of 20 Kara cabinets each for left and right hangs,

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France - PAN.OPTIKUM describe themselves as an ensemble of street or action theatre artists. They are all about outdoor theatre productions on a huge scale with complex and spectacular pyrotechnics, gigantic purpose-built theatrical machines, large-scale projection, stunning lighting and effects, and a troupe of artists who clearly aren't afraid of heights.

Each show tells a story through the media of theatre, music and song. The company responsible for transmitting those messages - aurally, at least - is Freiburg-based rental company, Coco Sound, who specified a significant Uniline system from APG for PAN.OPTIKUM's European tour.

The PA configuration is an unusual one given that PAN.OPTIKUM perform in large, open spaces with the audience in the middle and the show going on around - and indeed, at times, amongst - them. Consequently, Coco Sound's Joscha Muschal specified a fou

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India - The Gaitey Theatre in Himachal Pradesh, India, has a special look that is worth preserving. This remarkable piece of Victorian-theatre architecture was conceived by legendry Architect Henry Irwin, and symbolises the grandeur of the British colonial period heritage.

After the inception in the year 1887, eminent theatre personalities like Rudyard Kipling, Baden Powel, K.L.Sehgal, Prithviraj Kapoor, Balraj Sahni, and Manohar Singh have taken to the stage of this theatre.

The government of Himachal Pradesh recently restored the 124-year-old historical landmark, which seats 320 people over two floors, and whose main purpose is still for dramatics and other classical and folk cultural activities. However, after the restoration, it was clear that the existing sound system wasn't meeting the demands of this busy theatre, and that a new, state of the art solution was required.<

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UK - Founded by some of the UK's leading sound designers, the ASD was officially launched at PLASA2011 to provide sound designers a professional representative body.

Issues such as training and new technology are at the forefront of the Association's aims and so it has actively sought support from rental companies, educational institutions and equipment manufacturers. As one of the professional audio industry's major examples of the latter, Yamaha Commercial Audio is very supportive of the new venture.

"Providing support for end users is very important to Yamaha and so we fully endorse the launch of the ASD," says Karl Christmas, senior manager at Yamaha Commercial Audio (UK). "As a corporate sponsor, we look forward to working with the ASD's Board to develop opportunities for training, discussion of new audio technologies and any other support that we can offer

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France - Moored at the Quai de l'Oise in the 19th arrondissement, L'Improviste is a traditional 'peniche' or longboat that has been completely restored and converted into Paris's latest jazz club/wine bar. The lower deck, which houses the jazz club, has been equipped with a new APG sound system, specified and installed by systems contractor and events specialist, Octalino.

Given the rather 'bijou' dimensions of both the room and the stage, the venue required a physically unobtrusive system that would nevertheless deliver professional results. As a spokesman for l'Improviste pointed out, "If we want to attract professional musicians and discerning audiences, we have to be prepared to invest in professional equipment that delivers a quality result. This is why we turned to a company like Octalino who specialize in providing AV systems for the events market as well as handling

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Germany / USA - In order to generate high-octane promotion of their new album I'm With You, Red Hot Chili Peppers recently simulcast a live concert from Cologne to cinemas throughout the States.

With their long-serving FOH engineer, Dave Rat, piloting the house mix, the band performed all songs off the album plus many other selected hits - largely through an EAW sound system.

The European promo run immediately preceded the South American leg of the band's stadium-sized world tour, and according to Rat, the concert at Cologne's 2,200-capacity E-WERK was a huge success - largely due to the presence of the compact EAW KF730 house system and combination of MicroSubs and MicroWedge floor monitors.

This venue was chosen since Germany is the band's largest European market, and Cologne the city where their European arena tour commenced in early October.

The bulk of the soun

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South Africa - Durban based rental company Clifi Sound (formerly Sound Design), who specialise in corporate and live event production, recently invested in a HK Audio ConTour Array 2 system from Pro Audio, the authorised distributor for HK Audio loudspeaker systems in South Africa.

"The flexibility of the CTA as well as its warm tone has made an impression on those looking for quality professional audio products," says Andrew Sorrill, audio specialist at Pro Audio. "The ConTour Array is extremely expandable in setup from a compact system to a line array for larger events - and it can be groundstacked or flown, which enables companies like Clifi Sound to use it in a range of different ways for various events."

Clifton Westraad, owner of Clifi Sound has been so impressed with the product, that he placed another order for a ConTour Array 2 System as well as HK

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UK - The d&b audiotechnik benchmark E-Series comprises some of the smallest loudspeakers within the Black range of products. In order to expand the offering within this series, d&b is launching the new E4and E5 loudspeakers that size wise fit below the recently launched E6,the successor for the venerable little E3. The E4 will be available from November 2011, while the release of the E5 is scheduled for January 2012.

The E4 and E5, the latter being a new design for the popular E0, are lightweight two-way passive loudspeakers that employ a 4" and 5" LF driver respectively and a coaxially mounted wide dispersion dome tweeter. Both are mounted in highly compact enclosures and offer wide symmetrical dispersion patterns in the horizontal and vertical plane, while the cabinets may be mounted in either attitude.

They have built-in passive crossover networks with a frequency

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Europe - Theatrical performer and musician Emilie Autumn, backed by her all-female band the Bloody Crumpets, doesn't stint on the entertainment. Apart from singing, violin-playing and vaudevillian chit-chat between performers, Autumn's act includes aerial flying, burlesque fan dancing, stilt-walking, fire eating and multiple costume changes. She finds the only headworn mic to keep pace with her flamboyant performances is the DPA 4088 cardioid headset.

"I've been using the DPA 4088F in all of my shows, which are a blend of rock and theatre, making them a severe challenge to mic properly," explain Autumn. "The theatre side demands that we use headsets and that the mics are as invisible as possible, but the rock side demands that we are all able to sing, scream, and generally go nuts every night, with over two hours of intense vocals. I'm also playing wireless electr

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Bahrain - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, Roland Professional distributors in the region, have recently completed the Roland Roadshow series with the last and final event hosted in Bahrain. The event, which attracted professionals from the AV industry included individuals from installation companies, live sound rental firms and broadcast integrators.

"Although Bahrain has gone through some difficulties this year, we experienced an upbeat and very interested attendance that were full for two of three sessions we hosted," commented Moswain Antao, Roland product specialist. "We received a lot of interest for our digital audio snakes, vision mixers and the other products from Roland. The equipment will now be sent back to Dubai for the InfoComm exhibition in October."

(Jim Evans)

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Lithuania - Yamaha audio equipment is making high profile inroads into the audio systems of the world's major sporting venues. DME series digital mixing engines and SB168-ESstage boxes are a feature of the new audio system at Paris's Stade de France and now Europe's newest major sporting venue, Lithuania's Žalgiris Arena, features no less than 31 Yamaha power amplifiers.

Located in Kaunas, the €50m Žalgiris Arena covers 39,684m² and is the largest in the Baltic states. Designed as a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue, its primary functions are hosting basketball matches and live concerts, seating15,442 spectators for the former and up to 17,500 for the latter.

The arena features a number of technical innovations like automated, power-operated windows. Designed by project engineer Orunas Urbonas and installed by Kaunas-based Audiotonas, the Arena's audio specifica

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USA - Martin Audio and Delicate Productions of Camarillo and San Francisco, California have announced Delicate's purchase of an MLA Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array system.

Joining North Carolina-based Special Event Services (SES) and Las Vegas-based On Stage Audio (OSA) as key North American companies in the growing worldwide MLA Network, Delicate has taken delivery of an extensive MLA System comprised of MLA enclosures, MLD down-fill enclosures and MLX subwoofers.

Delicate first employed MLA on a successful Selena Gomez tour of North America in August and September and will be deploying an expanded version of the system on Gomez' Canadian tour starting October 13th in Victoria, BC.

Originally founded in 1980, Delicate provides full service multimedia production for live entertainment and corporate events. Delicate recently won the 10th Annual Total Production International

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UK - Last week, Manchester's principal theatre venues all ran simultaneous musical productions supported by London-based Orbital Sound, with the hit musical comedy Sister Actat the Opera House completing the trio at the start of its first-ever UK and Ireland tour.

Sister Act is now running at the Opera House until 15 October. Orbital also provided the sound equipment and support for the UK tour of Grease at the Palace Theatre, and for the new UK touring production of Top Hat at the Lowry.

Orbital Sound's show credits are also extending to continental Europe, with the Dutch production of Miss Saigon in Utrecht, We Will Rock You in Antwerp, the Milan production of Sister Act, and the forthcoming Dutch version of Wicked - both opening in late October.

MD Chris Headlam sees a new market confidence for top-quality musical pro

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Italy - Audio sales and rental service company, Agorà, has carried out an advanced sound and lighting installation at the new Juventus Stadium in Turin. For audio network transport and signal distribution they have developed an Optocore redundant optical fibre ring system to span the new 41,000 capacity arena.

Agorà's relationship with the German fibre network specialists extends back to 2002 when the company's Italian distributors Audiosales srl first introduced them to the system.

After many years of discussions, demos and comparative testing, Agorà rented an Optocore system to top Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk in June this year, to help the club celebrate its 75th birthday. The Optocore solution enabled remote control of all amplifiers used in the club's Donbass Arena over Ethernet.

This fully-redundant, low-latency solution was so successful that a similar

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Portugal - Following several years of strong growth as Martin Audio's exclusive Portuguese distributor, Tecnimúsica has now been awarded full brand representation by the British manufacturer for all the PALOP territories (the group of five African countries where Portuguese is the official language).

Tecnimusica's new status was confirmed during last month's PLASA Show in London by Martin Audio director of sales, Simon Bull, and export sales manager, Martin Kelly.

"We have worked with Tecnimúsica's owner Jorge de Oliveira and his team for a number of years and have been impressed by the way they have built the brand - particularly in recent years," stated Kelly.

With more than 25 years' experience behind them, Tecnimúsica's founder said he was delighted by the recognition and the increased responsibility. "It will enable us to strengthen our reputation and

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Germany - The official visit to Germany of Pope Benedict XVI received worldwide press coverage, whilst the national media provided comprehensive information on the event by means of special programmes, talk shows and live reports. The highlight of the tour was a visit to the German capital, Berlin, on 22-23 September, where the Pope celebrated the Mass with 61,000 followers in the Olympic Stadium while millions more followed the event on television.

To ensure that not a word spoken by the Pope, who has a relatively quiet voice, was lost in the giant, 56,000sq.m oval stadium, sound reinforcement equipment from Electro-Voice was used exclusively.

In addition to the 171 Electro-Voice XLC enclosures already installed, a multitude of additional EV array elements were deployed. These included 104 XLD181, 40 X-Line Xvls and Xvlts (main in- and out-hangs), as well as 60 XLE181 enclosu

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Tax Relief - Commercial producers and Arts Council England are lobbying the government to introduce US-style tax relief that would allow theatre investors to write off losses against income tax, reports The Stage. The Treasury has just finished consulting on proposals aimed at extending tax benefits on investment by business angels for small and start-up businesses across all sectors. However, in its response, ACE has called on the government to launch a separate review looking specifically at tax breaks for all the creative industries - including theatre - claiming there is a need for "a detailed review of the evidence base on the different forms, levels and instruments in this sector."

The arts council's director of theatre, Barbara Matthews, told The Stage, "We're sort of saying 'thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to this, it might

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