South Africa - Stage Audio Works Technology and Engineering Group has established itself firmly, not only on the South African horizon, but also within the African continent. Building on this maxim, the company has announced the acquisition of Event Technology Namibia, a long-standing sales partner, resulting in the opening of the Southern African office based in Windhoek.

The 1350sq.m warehouse and office space will service customers across Namibia, Angola, Zambia and other neighbouring countries, offering quicker access to stock of a diverse product range, support, product service,

UK - A collaborative event industry skills initiative, formed in 2010 by Delta Sound and White Light, welcomes Metro Broadcast and The Royal Albert Hall to the 2014 undergraduate programme. The growing initiative is an educational programme for stage technicians at the UK's leading universities and theatre schools aiming for a career in live events. The initiative helps prepare students for work and provides an opportunity to gain valuable insights into the industry offering advice on production planning, project management, creating a CV and interview tips.

The initiative reaches out

Europe - In response to growing industry demand, PLASA Events Ltd has announced that two new PLASA Focus events will take place in Europe during 2014.

The first of these new events - and the first PLASA Focus to be staged in mainland Europe - will take place this summer, when PLASA Focus: Brussels open its doors in the heart of Belgium's capital city, on 1-2 July. PLASA Events reports that initial interest from exhibitors has been very positive, with over 30 companies already applying for space in Brussels, including brands such as ADJ, Chauvet, d&b audiotechnik, Robe and Shure.

Hav

Belgium - Antwerp-based Revolution Event Support is one of Belgium's leading production companies, supplying sound, lighting and stage design to many of the country's best-known artists. Recently the company bought a pair of Yamaha CL5 digital mixing consoles to ensure its clients enjoy state-of-the-art sound.

Founded by Bart Faut 20 years ago, Revolution is run by Bart along with around 20 freelance staff. Supplying systems for both national and international shows, the company has built up a roster of regular clients who appreciate Revolution's commitment to quality and reliability.

USA - Mackie has announced the release of Master Fader 2.1, the primary control app for Mackie DL Series Digital Live Sound Mixers. Master Fader v2.1 delivers new features that appeal to the professional user, including enhanced output processing.

"With 1.5m shows mixed using DL Series mixers, we wanted to focus on features that our pro users would appreciate," commented Ben Olswang, Mackie product manager. "So we added new, powerful output processing that replaces expensive outboard system processors."

Drawing from user requests, Master Fader v2.1 features a fou

UK - Shure Distribution UK (SDUK), distributors for QSC products in the UK, recently supplied a QSC Q-Sys audio management system to RG Jones Sound Engineering for use in the renowned Serpentine Gallery's new art space in Central London, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery.

Like the original gallery, the Sackler sits next to the Serpentine lake from which both venues take their name, but the newer gallery, which opened in Autumn 2013, is on the north side of the bridge and is envisaged as a space for the display of cutting-edge works that will complement and contrast with those on view in

Germany - Adamson Systems has announced new E12/E218 touring packages ideal for touring and rental houses that need system flexibility, fast setup/teardown and the most powerful mid-high performance in a 12" line array available in the world.

"The E12/E218 combination is ideal for sound companies looking for a flexible line array and subwoofer that can work for an act moving from a theatre to an arena to an outdoor festival," explains James Oliver, director of marketing and sales for Adamson. "We've designed the system so it can be used in front of 20,000 one night

Canada - Located near Saint John, New Brunswick, the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, which began operating in 1983, has been redesigned to meet all current nuclear facility standards. This included upgrades to its life safety systems and a plant-wide public address system completed by Backman Vidcom using Community loudspeakers for the outdoor and large indoor areas of the site.

Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Backman Vidcom is a leading specialist in commercial audiovisual design, integration and service in the Atlantic Provinces. Backman Vidcom's audio division manager, Ste

Germany - Danley Sound Labs, manufacturer of innovative loudspeakers and subwoofers, will be at booth 8.0N60 (Hall 8.0, Booth N60) at Pro Light & Sound in Frankfurt. As Danley approaches its tenth year in business, its solid foundation in the house of worship and theatremarkets has expanded exponentially into the arena and stadium markets with the introduction of the Danley Genesis and Jericho horns, which deliver line array coverage from point-source designs.

To support and sustain that growth, Danley is seeking international dealers and distributors in several key locations to join

UK - Liverpool based Adlib Audio is launching a new specialist division - Adlib Speakers - to manufacture and market its AA brand of speakers, which are made in Liverpool.

Hand-crafted and designed by a dedicated team of individuals who know their audio, using quality components, precision engineering and innovation, the AA series is the ultimate 'boutique' brand for those who understand that their sound really matters, says the company.

Adlib has been making, installing and using the AA range very successfully for the last 15 years, primarily for its own installations and projects,

Europe - Swedish PA company, Parashoot, has been on a European tour with Norwegian singer songwriter, Ane Brun, using iLive and ME systems for FoH and Monitors.

Parashoot used an iLive-T112 system, mixing both FOH and monitors on the same console. xDR-16 I/O expander racks were positioned on stage, one left and one right, along with an iDR-16 MixRack.

Parashoot has worked with Ane Brun since 2007, and the lineup comprises two drum kits with open micing, an upright bass with FX pedals, various guitars, 2 keyboards, backing vocalists and Brun. All musicians bar one used in ear monitor

Germany - Demonstrating how the company is 'Bringing Professional Audio and Video together' will be the main focus for Roland Systems Group at Pro Light & Sound this year (8.0 G54). As the only manufacturer providing integrated audio and video products, Roland's strength in digital technology has established the company as a provider of total solutions for the live production arena -as well as professional audio and video production.

With the launch of new products at Pro Light & Sound, including the S-2416 Digital Snake, that utilize proprietary Roland technology (such as REAC - Rola

France / UK - French loudspeaker systems manufacturer APG has announced the appointment of experienced pro audio professional Scott Fraser to head up APG's UK sales operation. "The fact of going direct will ensure that UK clients benefit from exactly the same support as customers in France, in addition to having access to a significant stock of demo equipment," say APG.

The move is indicative of APG's broader international strategy throughout the EMEA region. According to APG's VP global sales, Bruno Garros, the decision to go direct has been maturing for some time. "It

USA - Audio-Technica microphones and headphones are used by SXSWfm, the dedicated online radio portal of the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival, which takes place each year in Austin, Texas.

This year's festival, which will be held 7-16 March, will encompass film, media, technology, and of course music, with over 1700 showcasing artists playing live. The channel is now live at www.sxswfm.com and currently features artists that have showcased during the SXSW's 27-year history and all other aspects of the festival.

"The goal of the channel is to reflect the wide spectrum of sound

Mexico - Mexico City's Teatro Telcel is hosting the first Spanish adaptation of the musical Wicked, with a record-breaking 50,000 tickets sold in its first five weeks. As with eight other Wicked productions worldwide, renowned Broadway sound designer Tony Meola has chosen Meyer Sound as the audio foundation, this time including Mexico's first Constellation acoustic system.

"Constellation works amazingly well with amplified musicals in houses like Teatro Telcel," observes Meola. "Amplified sound in a dead acoustical environment makes it sound like the room

The Netherlands - On the eve of the ISE in Amsterdam on 4 February, Bosch Communications Systems invited its international distribution partners to a distributors' meeting at which Kamil Swobodzinski, vice president sales communication EMEA, and his sales team were pleased to welcome to the Pakhuis de Zwijger more than 150 business partners from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The agenda included an update on business developments, a look ahead to the coming year, and the unveiling of new products. An effective multimedia presentation was chosen this year as a means of introducing

UK - The eyes of the music world were on London in mid-February as the annual BRIT Awards brought together many of pop music's brightest stars at the O2 Arena. Sennheiser was much in evidence, the high quality of the company's equipment and support ensuring that the RF-heavy show enjoyed crystal clear sound throughout.

The company's 9000 series digital microphone system was used at a BRITS ceremony for the first time, with host James Corden and all awards presenters using SKM 9000 handhelds with Me 9004 heads.

Broadcast live on television, the show featured performances by an array

UK - Already owners of an MLA System 30, Manchester-based VME Ltd have extended their commitment to Martin Audio's premier platform by investing in a further 28 x MLA, six MLD down-fills and 12 MLX subs - bringing their inventory up to 76 enclosures.

This not only gives them a powerful and award-winning front-line system with which to pitch for new business but positions them as the second largest MLA rental company in Europe.

Managing director Dion Davie said the new round of investment just before the turn of the year was the result of meeting increased broadcast requirements for

Germany - Core Brands will showcase the latest innovations in its Furman line of power management products at Prolight+Sound. Exhibiting with Trius Vertrieb GmbH & Co. in Hall 8, Stand C40, Furman will display its new F1500-UPS E, PS-8R E III and an array of the company's 230V rackmountable Pro products.

As Furman's first BlueBOLT-compatible 220V-240V product, the F1500-UPS E uninterruptible power supply is specifically designed for A/V installations within EMEA countries. The battery backup and power conditioning device provides 1500VA of true sine wave battery backup to prevent data

USA - As all eyes were fixated on the actors who graced the stage of the 86th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night, audience's ears were tuned to the musical accompaniments of the show's orchestra, which performed remotely from Capitol Records.

Since the piano was positioned among the noisy percussion instruments, the show's orchestra mixer and orchestra setup coordinator needed a way to isolate its sound. To accomplish this for the piano, the duo used a combination of DPA Microphones' d:dicate 4011A Cardioid Microphones and d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones. He

USA - Multi-platinum recording artist Kip Winger has always had serious musical chops, as he demonstrated during his first high-profile gig, playing bass with Alice Cooper, and for six years fronting the glam-metal band Winger. But aside from occasional shows with the reformed Winger band, his fans most frequently see him at his solo acoustic shows, at which he often performs using an L1 Model II portable loudspeaker system, B2 bass module and T1 ToneMatch audio engine from Bose Professional Systems.

Winger generally takes only a single L1 system on the road for his solo acoustic show

Known for its wide range of entertainment, Leeds University Union operates three popular live rooms, including the 1200-capacity main Stylus as well as subsidiary Mine and Pulse (with respective capacities of 450 and 350).

Having installed a new sound system two years ago, it has always placed high priority on keeping its technical infrastructure at the cutting edge.

However, it was with their burgeoning hire business in mind that they recently purchased a Soundcraft Si Expression 2 mixing console, opting for the 24 mic input capacity in order to be able to service a range of events - from

Poland - GigantSound Letus recently deployed a large number of Powersoft amplifiers to drive their JBL VerTec PA rig, at a special concert in Warsaw welcoming in 2014.

According to owner of the company, Jurek Taborowski, the concert, which was organized by Stoleczna Estrada, saw the sound specialists provide a system, driven by Powersoft K Series amplifiers, to satisfy an audience of 200,000 people on the square near Stadium Narodowy in Warsaw.

"We decided to use 64 Powersoft K10 amps to drive a 96 JBL Vertec cabinets (low, mid, high) and 32 Powersoft K20 amps which powered 88

UK - MilTec (UK) has announced the appointment of Peter Maddison to the position of audio sales manager.

Peter's role within the company will be to further promote Miltec's successful Blakite range of British made speakers along with their amplifiers, signal processing and LED lighting products.

David Faulkes, MilTec's sales director, commented, "I am pleased to be able to welcome Peter to the company. He brings a wealth of experience gained from 27 years in the industry. With Peter on board we are set to increase our presence in the rental and installation markets even further

Latest Issue. . .