Sweden - Two RedNet 2s are the perfect fit for a custom 27.2 surround sound production at GöteborgsOperan in Gothenburg, Sweden.

RedNet is being used for an increasing number of innovative audio applications where something special in terms of quality or performance is required. RedNet couples Focusrite's legendary conversion expertise - along with superbly transparent mic preamps and other studio-quality audio capabilities - with the tried and tested Dante Ethernet-based audio networking protocol to record, distribute and play back audio over IP.

Most recently RedNet solved a problem for Andreas Renhorn, chief sound engineer at the GöteborgsOperan in Gothenburg, Sweden, when he was tasked with playing back 32 channels of high-quality audio including feeding a custom 27.2 audio system in the Opera's modern riverside performance complex.

The production The World To Darkn

Australia - Soundbay Pty Ltd, trading as Store DJ, is pleased to announce its appointment as the exclusive importer and distributor for Allen & Heath's Xone DJ Series in Australia.

"Allen & Heath's reputation for uncompromising sound quality and innovation has made Xone the "DJ's DJ mixer", so it is natural that Xone should find a home at Store DJ, Australia's leading DJ retailer," comments Store DJ's Xone brand manager, Paul Bridge. "Allen & Heath's Xone DJ mixers are the only choice for many top-shelf DJs, including Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong, Andy C, John Digweed, and Booka Shade. Store DJ's management and staff are extremely excited to have the opportunity to bring these excellent products to Australia's DJ's and performers!"

Store DJ will continue the global development of the Xone brand not only through their own stores but through other key A

USA - In a significant development for users of Audinate's Dante media networking technology, Symetrix has announced that the latest version of its popular SymNet Composer software will enable complete configuration of select Dante-enabled Symetrix, Attero Tech and Stewart Audio products.

Settings affecting I/O levels, routing and more will be defined with SymNet Composer 2.0, which gives customers the ability to consolidate operations on a single platform where three or more were previously required.

"As a result of the release, integrators will no longer need separate software packages for each manufacturer's product as well as Dante Controller," comments Trent Wagner, senior product manager at Symetrix. "Supported Dante-enabled products will appear side-by-side with Symetrix SymNet products in the Composer software and can be managed or configured identically

Education Initiative - The Musicians' Union has urged the government to do more to support music hubs, after a critical report from Ofsted claimed the publicly-funded initiative was largely failing. The union re-iterated its concern that the "completely unrealistic timeframe" set by the government to establish the hubs, combined with local authority funding cuts, had allowed the "postcode lottery" of provision in schools to worsen.

Funded by the Department for Education and administered through Arts Council England, the three-year £171 million programme was considered to be a major positive outcome of Darren Henley's 2011 review of music education in England.

However, Ofsted's report published in November said the hubs, funded from August 2012, had done little to improve the quality of music education from previous years and that the subject continued

Germany - Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund is the biggest football stadium in Germany and Ateis Europe's IDA8 is now playing a major role in ensuring that the upgraded audio system reaches all areas of the 80,720 capacity venue.

The stadium opened in 1974 as the Westfalenstadion and is home to Bundesliga football team Borussia Dortmund. While still referred to by its original name it is known officially as Signal Iduna Park after the Signal Iduna Group insurance company that has sponsored Borussia Dortmund since 2005 in a deal that runs until 2021.

Four new stands were built at Signal Iduna Park for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Germany. It can seat 65,718 fans for international games, with a mixture of seating and standing areas for home matches bringing it up to full capacity. Because of the growing need for a technical infrastructure to provide both voice alarm co

The Netherlands - New, intriguing, unique: three easy words to say yet much harder to produce the reality. A visit to the d&b audiotechnik demo room at this year's ISE in Amsterdam made the case in triplicate.

Three demonstrations daily introduced listeners to the passively crossed over 24C and 24C-E column loudspeakers from the new xC-Series; fixed installation products aimed squarely at speech reinforcement in demanding acoustic spaces. This Series is specifically intended for the kind of highly reverberant environments where conquering acoustic challenges must balance with aesthetic considerations.

The xC-Series also includes the 16C, a smaller column using four 4" low/mid drivers plus a centrally mounted constant directivity HF horn with 0.75" compression driver. The 24C contains six 4" low/mid drivers and a HF array of six 1.1" dome tweeters. Passive f

UK - The newest addition to Flare Audio's product range is the SM15 Stage Monitor - a versatile compact and lightweight design that is suited for live music venues wanting to maximize stage space. Featuring 15" and 1" drivers, it combines high definition power (Max SPL of 133.5dB) in a compact size (384mm x 595mm x 421mm) and weight (28kg). The versatile SM15 uses Flare's Vortex technology for great feedback stability, and can be used at either a 40 or 55 degree angle.

The first venue to use the new SM15s is The Half Moon in Putney where Stevie Wyatt, chief engineer reports: "The (SM15s) deliver consistent high fidelity and vocal clarity no matter how hard you push the system, there are no holes in the coverage, they are super loud - it really is the perfect system for the venue."

Flare speakers use Space enclosure structure and Vortex porting technology in

UK - Delta Sound has announced that Martin Locket will be working with their global senior management team, as a business strategy adviser. He will be providing input to the Delta Sound companies in the UK, Dubai and Qatar in various areas of business development and diversification; advising the team headed by Mark Bonner, Paul Keating and Andy Jackson on how to develop business and maximise opportunities. "2014 will be a year of advancement and opportunity," says Delta Sound.

Martin commented: "I am working with a number of exciting companies and brands in the production industry now. I am really looking forward to working closely with Mark, Paul and Andy on opportunities and strategy for the business in Europe and the Middle East. Having previous experience with rental companies of various sizes in the UK, I am relishing the challenge of getting more involved i

The Netherlands - Bazelmans AVR, a Dutch AV rental company, has invested in the Meyer Sound LYON linear sound reinforcement system and become one of the first suppliers of the new product. The LYON sale, closed during the ISE 2014 trade show in Amsterdam, includes 40 LYON linear line array loudspeakers, 22 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements, and a Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system, in addition to RMServers for loudspeaker monitoring.

Making its tradeshow debut at ISE 2014, LYON incorporates the technology of the LEO Family in a more flexible and compact package, and extends the advantages of highly linear self-powered systems to a larger range of venues and applications. LYON is available in two variants: the LYON-M main line array loudspeaker for main arrays, and the LYON-W wide-coverage line array loudspeaker for downfill and outfill applications.

"The

Italy - Loudspeaker manufacturer RCF SpA has announced the third edition of its sound engineering course, which is organised by the Department of Science and Methods for Engineering of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, in cooperation with RCF.

The course, which will be presented in English, will cover 120 hours over a five-week period, from Monday to Friday, beginning 5 May and ending 6 June 2014. The course will be located at the RCF Audio Academy premises, located in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

The primary goal of the course is to provide engineers with a specific knowledge of the state-of-the-art technologies related to sound, transducers and speaker systems and their applications in the professional market. The course is organised in modules progressing the basis of electro-acoustics components such as transducers, amplifiers and digital processors, to the design of a

Germany - According to Music Group, Midas has launched a new competitive price plan for their award winning PRO Series digital mixing consoles. "A price reduction of up to 30% provides system integrators and rental/production providers more incentive to specify and purchase the legendary PRO Series consoles for their everyday, pro-audio applications," says the company's statement.

"We listened to our customers and those who desire to be Midas owners," said VP of global sales Shawn Watts. "This new pricing creates opportunities for installers and rental providers who have wished to integrate Midas' legendary technology and performance, but until now could not - due to budgetary requirements. Now, everyone can enjoy the benefits of Midas performances, at a truly amazing price point."

The new price structure is a direct result of Music Group's $100 m

Germany - Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, inventors of Cubase, ASIO and VST, is celebrating three decades of innovation and experience.

Thirty years ago, nearly to the day, Manfred Ruerup and Karl Steinberg founded the company that has become one of the world's largest manufacturers of music and audio software and hardware, with more than 1.5m users worldwide.

"Steinberg have a tradition of pioneering in new technologies that we can be proud of, and our wide network of accomplished engineers, musicians, producers and composers allows us to keep our fingers at the pulse of the industry," comments Frank Simmerlein, marketing director at Steinberg. "I've been a part of this company for a long time and it's wonderful to sense that the spirit of the early days, the constant desire to find new ideas and solutions, lives on."

Since 2005, the company is a whol

UK - Fans of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing are flocking to a 21 date live UK arena tour to see seven celebrity dancers and their professional partners show off their moves on stage. Four Yamaha digital mixers are ensuring that the sound is top quality.

Taking place in January and February, South Wales-based Sonalyst has designed and facilitated the Strictly tour's sound and lighting for a number of years. Managing director and sound designer Rory Madden chose a pair of Yamaha PM5Ds, an M7CL and an LS9 to deliver the 2014 production's intricate mix.

The show follows the format of the television show, each couple dancing twice and receiving comments from the judges, a full production number, routines by the professional dancers, an audience vote (by text message) and presentation to the night's winning couple.

With a 17-piece live band, five vocalists, three judges and p

UK - CIE-Group, one of the audio visual industry's longest established providers of equipment for the professional audio visual integration and PA sectors, has added the 2N NetSpeaker Audio-over-IP System to its growing product portfolio.

Controlled via a PC-based Central Management Software tool, the 2N NetSpeaker System allows the user to stream music, recorded voice announcements, tones, jingles and promotions or live paging announcements to any on-site zone, remote site or multiple zones/sites via a standard web, LAN or WAN connection.

The new additions to the product portfolio come following the announcement that the CIE-Group has entered into a new distribution partnership with 2N to provide an innovative range of IP-addressable audio, intercom and door entry systems for professional the AV, telecoms and security sectors.

Commenting on the announcement Chris Edwards, m

USA - TobyMac's Hits Deep tour is playing to audiences in arenas across 32 American cities, using a Meyer Sound Leo linear large-scale sound reinforcement system. Supplied by White House, Tenn.-based Blackhawk Audio, the Leo system is proving to be the perfect vehicle for TobyMac's blend of contemporary Christian music influenced by rap, hip-hop, hard rock, and reggae.

Ryan Lampa, TobyMac's FOH engineer for the past nine years, first experienced Leo during TobyMac's performance at a benefit concert in 2013.

"As soon as the quick sound check started, I was amazed," Lampa recalls. "I could hear everything very accurately-I first thought that would be very unforgiving, because nothing would be hidden. But mixing during the show, I quickly appreciated Leo's clarity and headroom. I knew I wanted Leo for the coming tour."

The current Hits Deep tou

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributor of ClearCom in the United Arab Emirates for the Live Sound market segment has recently supplied a a Tempest 2.4GHz wireless intercom system as well as the Encore Partlyline system to Dubai based, Extreme Productions LLC. The three systems can be used together in hybrid communication platform or independently as and when required.

The Tempest System includes a single 2.4Ghz CM-244 Master Station, ten CP-242 4 Channel Belt Packs and an CCT-RT Antenna. The Encore Partyline includes a single PS-704 power supply, a TWC-701, eight RS-703 Wired Partyline Beltpacks and Nineteen CC-300 Single Ear Headsets.

"One of the reasons we chose the Tempest System, is due to the fact that it works on the 2.4 Ghz frequency range", commented Vincenzo Testa, technical director at Extreme Productions. "It provides us with th

UK - The Half Moon, one of London's longest running and most respected independent live music spots, is the latest venue to install a fully specified system from Flare Audio, and the first to use the new SM15 Stage Monitors and V15C 15" high SPL point source loudspeakers. Additional low frequency energy is supplied by Q218 ultra sub cabinets and the revolutionary flat panel SB21, which won a 2013 PLASA Award for Innovation.

The Half Moon's musical pedigree includes some of the industry's biggest names, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bo Diddley, Kasabian and U2. Stevie Wyatt, chief engineer at The Half Moon, commented:

"What's distinctive about Flare is how much power and clarity you get from such physically small boxes, it really is impressive. When you first see our subs, it's hard to believe they are dual 18s, as the boxes are so incredibly compact, but the

UK - When Autograph Sales & Installations was recently commissioned to install a new audio system at the Royal Academy of Music's historic Duke's Hall, they needed a 'heart' that delivered a challenging combination of optimum audio quality, flexibility and comprehensive wireless remote control at a competitive price. A Yamaha MTX3 matrix processor was the answer.

Located on London's Marylebone Road, the Duke's Hall is the Royal Academy of Music's main performance space. As Britain's oldest degree-granting music school, with a list of alumni that reads like a Who's Who of the composing and performing industry, the Academy demands the highest standards. Autograph was asked to provide a bespoke sound solution which could be used for master classes, introducing orchestral concerts and various other performances, with the option for an operator to control the system remotely from wit

The Netherlands - Designed specifically for use with the Q-Sys Network Audio Platform, QSC Audio Products, LLC has announced the new CXD-Q Network Amplifier line. CXD-Q models combine the Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology (FAST) found in the CXD/PLD amplifier platform with the same Q-Sys network connectivity and processing to create the ultimate audio routing and power solution for installed sound applications.

"CXD-Q represents our ongoing commitment to create installed sound solutions that are incredibly versatile and integrate seamlessly with Q-Sys," says Dale Sandberg, QSC senior product manager. "As Q-Sys products, they operate like other Q-Sys peripherals utilising the same standard Layer 3 networking technology for audio streaming, control, and monitoring. As amplifiers, they feature our new Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology™ (FAST) that enable

Europe - As an integral part of the CL series digital mixing system, Yamaha's R Series I/O units have been widely praised for their pure and natural sonic quality, their Dante audio networking capability and remarkable flexibility. That flexibility has now been further enhanced with the new R Remote software application for Windows.

R Remote allows remote control of the head amplifiers in the Rio3224-D, Rio1608-D, and Ri8-D I/O units directly from a laptop or desktop PC, without the need for a CL series or similar digital mixing console with remote control capability.

Available as a free download from the Yamaha Pro Audio web site, R Remote opens up many new possibilities for audio engineers. These include setting up a live recording system with just R Series I/O racks and a computer running Nuendo Live or similar DAW software; operating Dante infrastructure completely indepen

Germany - In March, Nexo will partner with PRG Europe to provide the PA and monitoring systems in a state-of-the-art production package for the LEA Awards, one of Germany's premier entertainment awards programmes. Visitors to the Festhalle over the duration of the Prolight+Sound expo (12-15 March) will have the opportunity to hear Nexo and Yamaha in concert; a 24-set STM Series modular line array at front-of-house and a 45°N-12 line monitor system on stage, networked over Dante with a full complement of Yamaha CL Series consoles.

Sponsored by PRG, the Live Entertainment Awards (PRG LEA) reward outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry in German-speaking countries. This year, some 1,300 guests, including many prominent celebrities, will gather in the Festhalle in Frankfurt to enjoy live performances and applaud the winners of the LEA trophies. The gala event also

USA - He is most known around the world as founding member of Phillips, Craig and Dean, a popular contemporary Christian music group since the 1990s, but around Life Austin Church, in Texas, he is known, simply, as 'Pasto Randy.' Lead minister to a congregation of over two thousand, Randy Phillips brings his passion for the arts into his sermons.

"We play with a full band every Sunday, perform short skits and even have a string orchestra at Easter. The goal is to find a way to reach everyone, immerse ourselves. We have a lot of audio professionals in our community. They'd be able to hear the difference. Sound was definitely a priority," says Life Austin band member and AV director, Joe Diaz. "We want every person to have a full experience."

It's taken some time, however. For the last seven years, Life Austin, previously Promise Land West, has built up their

USA - The stars aligned during Super Bowl XLVIII on the evening of February 2 as Bruno Mars delivered an unforgettable halftime performance to a record-breaking broadcast audience of 115.3m viewers - the largest in Super Bowl history. For the duration of the performance, Bruno Mars sang through his Sennheiser SKM 5200 handheld transmitter, coupled with an MD 5235 dynamic microphone capsule, ensuring crisp and detailed sound for millions of fans around the world.

During the 12-minute set, Bruno Mars showcased his versatility as an entertainer with a dramatic drum-solo introduction, James Brown-inspired dance moves, and an instantly recognizable soulful voice captured by Sennheiser.

Working alongside veteran production provider ATK Audiotek, Bruno Mars' production team - including monitor engineer James Berry and front-of-house engineer Derek Brener - specified Sennheiser SKM 52

UK - Free registration is now open for the PLASA Professional Development Programme, running alongside a sold-out PLASA Focus: Leeds 2014 on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April 2014, at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

The Professional Development Programme provides visitors to this popular trade event with free access to over twenty seminars and demonstrations delivered by some of the industry's leading experts, and provides an opportunity to learn new skills and have questions answered.

Kicking off on the Tuesday, a panel of representatives from the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) will address how we talk about the artistic side of lighting design for live performance, what is meant by "good" or "outstanding" lighting design, and find ways to talk about this most ephemeral of art forms, in a discussion entitled And The Award For Best Lighting

Latest Issue. . .