Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

Sound

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USA - Aviom's Pro64 Firmware version 4.35 and Pro64 Network Manager version 2.1 are now available for download. The updated firmware introduces additional flexibility to Aviom's m-control mic preamp control protocol for Yamaha digital consoles, as well as the ability to seamlessly extend Pro64 networks while the network is running.

The new m-control feature allows users to select from two methods of mapping mic preamp gain settings from the Yamaha console to the gain and pad settings of Aviom's Pro64 Series mic preamps. For most users, Auto Pad, which automatically switches Aviom pads on and off based on the position of the Yamaha gain control and whether the gain is being adjusted up or down, is a good balance of performance and simplicity. However, for users who prefer separate gain and pad controls, Manual Pad delinks the two settings, mapping Yamaha gain settings directly to

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Russia - As part of a massive five-year renovation project that culminated in a star-studded opening ceremony last month, Moscow's premier playhouse, the Theatre of Nations, has been equipped with an APG loudspeaker system.

Designed, supplied and installed by Russian pro audio and lighting specialists, Doka Center, who also supplied the fully motorised lighting and staging systems, the main audio system is based around APG's versatile DS Series loudspeakers. Phase two of the renovation project, which is scheduled for early in 2012 and will include more APG equipment, will concentrate on the renovation of the theatre's smaller hall.

The Theatre of Nations is housed in the former Korsh theatre that was built in 1885 on land belonging to the millionaire Bakhrushin merchant family. The building was renamed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The reopening of the histor

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Iceland - ARX Systems, the Australian based designer and manufacturer of digital and analogue interface and signal processing products has announced the appointment of Reykjavík based Northern Lights Audio as their new distributor for Iceland.

ARX managing director Colin Park said, "We're excited to be working with Thor Halldórsson and the NorthernLights Audio team in Iceland, they're enthusiastic about the possibilities for ARX and our products amongst their extensive client base.

"Northern Lights Audio are a growing force within the Icelandic ProAudio Industry and are in close contact with the Installation, live sound and broadcast market sectors.

"After more than 12 years servicing the professional audio industry, Northern Lights Audio now distribute product ranges including BeyerDynamic, LabGruppen, Cerwin Vega and Celestion Audio."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Hosted by Selena Gomez and with a show stopping performance by Lady Gaga, who walked away with multiple awards, 6 November saw the great and the good of the contemporary music industry descend on Belfast's Odyssey Arena for the 2011 MTV European Music Awards. Sennheiser radio equipment was in use by a number of the show's performers.

As in previous years, the live sound design for the show was by Derrick Zieba, with audio equipment for the performances supplied by Britannia Row Productions.

Actress and singer Selena Gomez used a 'custom bling' Sennheiser SKM 5200 mk II with a Neumann KK 105 capsule for her duties as the show's host; further SKM 5200 mk IIs and KK 105 combinations were used by those presenting the awards, including David Hasselhoff, Hayden Panettiere and Jessie J.

All show in-ear monitors were Sennheiser G3, G2 or 2000 series, while some of the highest p

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The Netherlands - At ISE 2012, Analog Way will exhibit a selection of its powerful solutions. Di-VentiX II is a multi-layer mixer scaler seamless switcher with universal analogue and digital input/output and full high resolution digital processing. It can display up to seven layers: four live sources, one Frame, one logo and one mask. Live layers can be customised.

Eikos is a multi-layer mixer scaler seamless switcher offering up to 12 inputs including four fitted with SDI and two fitted with DVI-D. Eikos offers three operating modes: Multi-Layer Mixer, 12 by 2 Seamless Native Matrix and QuadraVision modes.

OPS300 is a multi-layer mixer scaler seamless switcher with full high resolution digital processing. This high-grade and easy-to-use solution is particularly adapted to rental and staging and high-end installations, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

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Super Star - Madonna is to perform during the interval at next year's Super Bowl, it has been confirmed. The singer will take to the stage at the game on Sunday 5 February at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Her performance is expected to coincide with the release of her 12th studio album and she will collaborate with a team from Cirque du Soleil. Broadcast around the world, more than 162m viewers tuned into last year's half-time entertainment which featured Black Eyed Peas.

Parking Protest - Musicians and actors held a protest in London's West End against Westminster City Council's plans to extend parking charges in the borough. The new parking charges will target the area south of Oxford Street, including Theatreland, and will see a rate of £4.40 an hour charged all day on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight, and between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays. It will be t

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UK - The UK government has more than doubled the budget available for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies - from £40m to £81m.

The increase, which was announced in the latest London 2012 quarterly economic report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), comes from the £9.3bn public purse, which is in theory meant for building, infrastructure and security, while the ceremonies is paid for from the privately-raised funds of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games - money raised from the IOC, ticket sales and sponsorship.

In the DCMS report, Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, says: "The ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a unique opportunity to portray a positive image of the UK to a huge potential global audience - an estimated 1 billion people watched the openi

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Spain - The domed roof of La Esfera (The Sphere) is a distinctive feature of the city of Alcobendas, north of Madrid, Spain. Hosting a variety of live entertainment, a recent major upgrade of the venue has seen a Yamaha / Nexo digital audio system installed.

Half-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the €650,000 project included new dressing rooms and public cloakrooms, upgraded entrance facilities, an improved electrical system, a higher stage and all-new stage lighting and sound.

The venue is almost constantly in use by performances which showcase a wide range of local, national and international culture, from rock concerts to folk music. This variety of use was a key factor in specifying a new system, as was the requirement that the front of house multicore be routed around the edge of the auditorium. With these in mind, equipment supplier and installer Milan

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Czech Republic - The J.K. Tyl theatre in the Czech Republic city of Plzen (Pilsen) is one of the city's most historic cultural landmarks. Built in 1902, the impressive building honours the city's outstanding theatre tradition, which is second only to that of the capital, Prague. The theatre has recently benefitted from a significant audio system upgrade which has seen the installation of a new Innovason Eclipse GT digital mixing console and a sophisticated EtherSound digital audio network.

Muscdata, exclusive distributor in the Czech Republic for the Innovason brand, selected cable from German cable manufacturer, Sommer Cable as the backbone of the system with an AVM500-ES EtherSound network matrix from Auvitran which enabled star as well as daisy-chain connections. The AVM500 is connected to the control room via optical fibre.

The result is a completely flexible network which

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Cyprus - Adamson's exclusive distributor in Cyprus, ProSonic Audio-Lights, recently installed a Point Series system in the Joko Restaurant, located in the city of Nicosia. Its bright and open space promise a pleasant and warm atmosphere. The sounds to compliment the flavour of the establishment, features the full and warm sounding Adamson Point Series cabinets throughout the venue.

he design consists of eight Point 8's and four Point 115 subs for low frequency extension. The Adamson M Series Processor is used for control and the entire rig is powered with Lab Gruppen C Series amplification.

The Joko Restaurant does not close the doors after dinner. The trendy restaurant doubles as a lounge/club into the night. Director of Prosonic Audio-Lights, Christos Chrysnathou, comments, "The Joko installation was really a simple installation. The owner was asking for the best high f

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Germany - Fohhn Audio AG has released the A-1 live, a new portable stereo USB audio interface that has been specially developed to "enable high-quality, trouble-free transmission of audio directly from a computer/laptop to a professional sound reinforcement system", without the need for additional hardware such as a mixer or DI box.

Primarily designed for live sound applications and permanent installations, the A-1 live is a stand-alone USB device equipped with balanced XLR stereo outputs and a galvanically isolated USB connection. These features enable audio to be directly transmitted from the computer to the sound reinforcement system avoiding any interference, hum, reduction in sound quality or loss of output level - common issues that can occur when using interfaces with unbalanced connectors, or when there is no galvanic isolation between the computer and the inte

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The Netherlands - Ateis Europe will showcase a raft of new solutions at ISE 2012, while its new IDA8 fully compliant public address voice alarm system makes its ISE debut.

The IDA8 system has already been deployed at Silverstone's Formula One racetrack and London Underground's new Paddington station with considerable success.

The IDA8 is a 'one-box' solution that runs open DSP software. It boasts IP connectivity and features an IP microphone to maximise this facility. In addition it offers remote diagnostics for easy configuration and enhanced systems operations.

Also featuring as part of the ISE showcase, the UAP G2 stackable, programmable digital audio processor, steerable column array loudspeaker, the Messenger G2, and the Orbit omni-directional line array are designed to "create a new standard in modern PA/VA, commercial and professional audio".

Amongst Ateis

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UK - Musician and composer Kathryn Tickell has been using DPA 4099 instrument clip mics, supplied by UK distributor Sound Network, for her Northumbrian Voices project, which has been touring the UK.

Northumbrian Voices is based on interviews and recordings made with family members and shepherd musicians from whom Tickell learnt tunes and songs. Three generations of musicians perform in a reflection of strong communities, their music and collective stories. Three violins, which are being played alongside such traditional instrument as Northumbrian pipes and melodeon, are being miked with DPA 4099Vs, designed specifically for mounting on violas and violins.

Tickell first encountered the 4099s playing violin for Sting's A Winter's Night...Live from Durham Cathedral concerts. "Durham Cathedral is not the easiest place to amplify acoustic music," she

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The Netherlands - dnpdenmark will have a strong presence on the stand of their German partner, Comm-Tec Germany at this year's ISE Show in Amsterdam, showing significantly enhanced versions of Supernova products, alongside the Zenith rear-projection screen, which was seen for the first time at last year's show.

These will include an upgraded Supernova Core Screen, with new frame and mounting; an improved version of the Supernova Flex Screen, and the Supernova Flex Classic with IR remote (as an alternative to its RF remote).

These refinements are expected to have a considerable impact upon these already popular models in the Supernova range.

The Supernova Core is available in two types of screen materials: ISF-certified Supernova 08-85 for high contrast and extreme viewing angles and Supernova 23-23 high gain version for high contrast and uniform brightness.

SupernovaFlex C

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UK - Console manufacturer DiGiCo once again returns to ISE alongside the brand's Dutch distributor TM Audio, with its complete range of consoles that "addresses every part of the installation market, from the largest multi-purpose complex, to the smallest theatre".

The SD7, which will be joined on Stand I H90 by the SD10, SD8, SD9 and the smallest in the range, the SD11, is the first digital mixing console to use Stealth Digital Processing - now be found in the entire SD Range. Its flexible bussing structure features a possible 128 busses and 256 processing paths, plus a 32 x 32 Matrix, 32 x 32 band graphic EQ and a plethora of internal effects.

Next in line is the SD10, which has "all the refinements you would expect, but with some exciting new options." Thirty-seven 100mm touch sensitive faders provide fast access to the SD10's channels, which include 96

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The Netherlands - Barix AG will unveil its Annuncicom PS1 Paging Station at ISE 2012 show in Amsterdam early next year. The compact, elegant device gives commercial businesses, office buildings, educational institutions, medical facilities and others a simple, fully-integrated hardware solution for paging and intercom over IP, says the company.

The PS1 features two backlit push-to-talk buttons, volume control and a built-in speaker and microphone, giving security guards, receptionists and other operators a simple way to make announcements to an entire facility. The device's IP addressability enables a simple connection to the network, allowing systems integrators and end users to take advantage of existing infrastructure, reducing costs and equipment requirements. Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability further simplifies installation, requiring only a single cable to the device.

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UK - ML Executives, one of Europe's leading full service event production facilities, has announced the expansion of its audio hire department with an investment in a complete d&b audiotechnik J Series Loudspeaker system.

ML Executives have worked on a range of top live music events over the last 25 years, building up a vast amount of experience in the field. However, in order to supply the speaker system of choice for some of the company's clients, ML has been working closely with industry specialists Azule Finance to quickly expand its hire inventory.

Neil White, project manager at ML Executives, explained why the substantial investment made sense: "Adding the d&b J Series to our existing stock of L-Acoustics and EAW systems gives us access in house to three of the leading loudspeaker brands. Until now we've been hiring in this system but recently took the decision to p

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USA - Situated on a hilltop between the Chesapeake Bay and the Blue Ridge Mountains, McDaniel College's tree-lined 160-acre campus has been called one of the most beautiful college campuses in the US.

One of the most visited buildings on campus is Baker Memorial Chapel. Constructed in 1958, the historic brick building hosts weekly worship services, campus-sponsored events including seasonal concerts, guest speakers and presentations, baccalaureate and invocation services, as well as frequent weddings and memorial services for alumni and current students.

When the college's administrators recently decided to replace the existing cluster-style sound system in the busy venue, it was crucial that the new system provide superior sound quality while preserving the church's quaint aesthetic and historic architecture. The chapel's wood panelled walls, initially designed as acoustical

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The Netherlands - Magenta Research will introduce a wide-range of new and improved products at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2012 in Amsterdam.

ISE 2012 marks the official public debut of upgrades to Magenta's MultiView line, which has served - for over 10 years - as an adaptable, top performing solution for the distribution of Pro-AV signals over UTP cable.

MultiView II's enhancements are all designed to make it even easier to replicate 1080p resolution (and higher) video at distances to 610m. MultiView II products on display will include the MultiView II DVI, T4, STx and XRTx transmitters, plus MultiView II AK600 and AK1200 receivers.

(Jim Evans)

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Romania - For over 50 years, the National Stadium in Bucharest was the venue for all home matches of the Romanian national football team. In 2005, it was decided to tear the stadium down and construct a new one in its place. The new Stadionul National, which was three years (from 2008 to 2011) in the making, is an ultra-modern, multifunctional arena designed for both major sporting events and concerts.

Satisfying the highest international standards, the stadium is capable of accommodating over 55,000 spectators, including 3,600 VIPs. If needed, the total capacity can be expanded to 62,000. The arena is the first in Romania to meet the exacting 'elite stadium' standards for infrastructure laid down by UEFA, making it the first stadium in the country qualified to host the finals of international competitions. The first such event scheduled for the new stadium is the UEFA Europa Le

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Mexico - Thanks to a special three-way collaboration between three rental companies, El Estadio Azteca (the Aztec Stadium) in Mexico City was filled with Nexo Geo line arrays for two major live shows.

Starting with L/R arrays of Nexo Geo T for the main PA, with a bone-shaking 18 CD18 subs stacked in front of the stage, the system also used long arrays of Geo D for the out-fill. Halfway down the stadium field, two delay towers each carried an awesome 18 Geo T array with four CD18, ensuring that those at the back of the Aztec Stadium heard just as much PA as those in the front.

These were special events for two radio stations; 92.9fm La Ke Buena, which plays regional Mexican music known as 'Grupera', and Los 40 Principals, which specialises in pop music, mainly in Spanish. Performers were also given the Nexo treatment on stage, where 18 PS15 cabinets were used for stage monitori

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India - Close by the popular Juhu Beach in Mumbai is the new Hometown Café, the latest in restaurant brands from the China Gate group. The new venture, which occupies the space where Deltalia once stood, has a relaxed ambience.

Mumbai's Narain Pro Audio & Lighting has delivered the audio solution for the Hometown Cafe with Turbosound loudspeaker products, and the sights and sounds of the venue suggests that the company has done a very commendable job. The setup consists of six Impact55T compact passive two-way architectural speakers powered by NX Audio's MT-601 MK2 power amplifier, and two TCX-15B single 15" compact bandpass subwoofers powered by NX Audio's MT 800-MK2 amplifiers for the lower indoor level. A further six Impact55T and one TCX-15B sub cover the open-air terrace.

Discussing team Narain's experience of completing the project, Manoj Motwani said: "

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The Netherlands - Technomad will show "the world's first completely weatherproof, all-in-one, self-casing portable PA system for the commercial pro audio market" at ISE 2012 (31 January-2 February, RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

The DragonFly, adapted from Technomad's rugged military technology, is designed for mobile pro audio and staging events that require outstanding audio quality, lightweight portability, quick set-up, ease of operation and durable construction for outdoor events, says the company. The weatherproof design fully protects system components from moisture, dirt, shock and other elements in outdoor environments, supporting everything from ceremonies and parades to sporting events and concerts.

The inclusion of green, rechargeable and long-lasting NiHM battery power, along with a potent

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Serbia - This month sees dBTechnologies announce the appointment of Sky Corporation as the exclusive distributor of its product range in Serbia. It was dBTechnologies' sales area manager Gianluca Dalessandro who closed the deal. "I'm very impressed by Sky Corporation. They handle everything from rental to retail, organise events, logistics and are able to offer every kind of service to meet all needs. It's a huge company," he says.

"It is a long time since I have felt as much excitement as I do about starting this partnership with dBTechnologies," comments Sky Corporation's president Milenko Škari?. "The product range has grown remarkably in recent years. When it comes to the new dBTechnologies products - for example the DVA and DVX ranges - our experts are extremely impressed by the sound quality. The second reason is the great professionalism and frie

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  2. Studiomaster & Carlsbro appoint Joint sales manager
  3. Richard Fleming steps up at XTA
  4. Czech's High Lite on Chili Peppers tour
  5. Genelec looks to the installation sector
  6. Monacar extends PAB speaker range
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