UK - Woodworm Studios was established over 30 years ago as the private recording studio of folk legends Fairport Convention, a battered sign at the entrance still welcomes you to 'the Woodworm Hilton', the original name of the studio.

Situated in a converted chapel in the heart of the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds, it was bought by recording engineer Stuart Jones in 2012 and renovated to high standards, and is now based around a Pro Tools HD system, a 24-channel Solid State Duality SE console and a surround array of PMC TB2S-A MkII speakers, with a pair of MB2 XBD-As serving as the

France - Live sound engineer Verlaine Levis used to think that DPA microphones were only suited to classical music and never imagined that their microphones were also appropriate for pop rock tours. Since using a selection of DPA mics on the current Cats On Trees tour, Levis is the first to admit that his initial perception was entirely wrong.

"When DPA's French distributor Audio² gave me the opportunity to try the company's microphones with Cats On Trees, I was happy to accept the challenge," Levis says. "It didn't take long to discover that these great microphones ha

The Netherlands - Opened in 2005, Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw aan't IJ is the Netherlands foremost venue for contemporary classical music. For the past nine years, the audio mixing requirements have been reliably taken care of by a Yamaha DM2000, but a recent technical refurbishment has seen it joined by a CL3 system.

Physically, Muziekgebouw aan't IJ's main auditorium, the Grote Zaal, is exceptionally flexible, featuring a ceiling, walls, floor and seating which are all moveable. These features make it an equally space for everything from intimate chamber music to full orchestras.

Aco

Turkey - HK Audio will increase its presence in Turkey significantly in 2015, after the German sound reinforcement firm signed an exclusive distribution deal with Yildirim Muzikhal.

The experienced Antalya-based distributor will be taking on the entire HK Audio product line-up - including the pro sound, install sound and MI ranges - in what is one of Europe's largest and fastest-growing pro audio markets from 1 January.

The relationship between the two companies began after HK Audio decided to make a strategic change of distributor in Turkey, and talks intensified when the two firms

USA - Symphony Centre, in Chicago's Loop district, is home to the Grammy Award-winning Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and historic Orchestra Hall. Although the CSO traditionally performs acoustically, when visiting jazz and pop artists stop by for shows using amplified music, the venue now has a new secret weapon - DiGiCo's SD9.

Installed by The Sound Co-Op LLC, the same sound reinforcement company that also provides Symphony Centre's sound system for amplified performances, the SD9 is called into service when visiting artists perform both with and without the CSO, such as on a rece

Denmark - The Audio Engineering Society (AES) has issued a call for papers to be presented at its 58th International Conference on Music Induced Hearing Disorders.

This is the second AES conference on the topic, and will continue the important task of presenting and discussing advances in the state of the art in hearing loss diagnosis and prevention, as well as strategies, technologies, and devices related to safe yet impactful music production and reproduction. The event will take place at Hotel Comwell Hvide Hus in Aalborg, Denmark, 28-30 June, 2015.

Researchers from both the audi

Korea - Through the diligent work of their South Korean distributor, Marshall Pro Sound, Inc., Amadeus speakers are now the centrepiece of sound for the Korean Congress in the general assembly hall within the National Assembly Hall building, located in the heart of the country's capital of Seoul. During the past 10 years sound requirements for the entire The National Assembly building have been managed by Marshall Pro Sound, Inc.

Because of the general assembly hall's environment, the new system required both large hanging speakers and very compact yet high SPL speakers at the podiums

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises (NMK), distributor of Neutrik in the Middle East region for the live sound market segment, is awaiting the first delivery of digital, wireless audio network Xirium.

multichannel wireless network designed to replace analogue audio cables in situations where it could be difficult to run a cable, but where a stable connection and audio quality are needed. The system combines digital transmission and receiving lines in one system and delivers the highest sound quality, reliability and ease of handling.

Xirium has been launched and present

Europe - Superstar producer/singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams made extensive use of Shure wireless microphone and in-ear monitoring systems on his first-ever headlining concert tour this Autumn. The six-week Dear G I R L tour ran from September to October and took in major venues in Western and Central Europe, including the UK's O2 Arena.

Shure's Axient wireless microphones and PSM1000 in-ear monitoring systems, as used on the European dates, were sold by Shure Distribution UK, and supplied by Wigwam Acoustics in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

Pharrell's regular monitor engineer Jer

Canada - Calgary's Epcor Centre is one of the most vibrant centres of the arts in western Canada, annually attracting over 600,000 people to around 960 events. This year the venue has invested in no less than six DiGiCo mixing consoles, the direct result of the positive experience with a single example installed in 2012.

Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts (then known as the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts) was officially opened in 1985 by Dr Martha Cohen, Sandra LeBlanc and Vera Swanson, three women who were instrumental in establishing and raising funds for the facility. It is h

UK - Rapper Professor Green hit the road in November and December to promote his latest album, Growing Up In Public, culminating in a sold-out show at the London Roundhouse. A Yamaha CL5 digital mixing system helped front of house engineer Neal Allen to make Waves with the mix.

"As this was primarily an Academy tour, which all have in-house consoles. I wanted a desk with footprint that would cause the least problems, whilst maintaining the sound and functions I was after," says Neal. "I had used a CL5 with Professor Green on the Music Cube shows we recently did a

UK - Entec Sound & Light helped the smiles flow by supplying full production - lighting, sound and video - to the high profile Roar With Laughter event staged by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo.

It's the third year in a row that Entec has supplied equipment and crew to the fundraiser, which featured another impressive line-up of top comedy talent in Seann Walsh, David O'Doherty, Sean Lock, Ed Byrne, Stewart Lee, Lucy Porter, Phil Nichol and Greg Burns.

Entec's ability to supply all the technical elements from one source made co-ordinat

USA - Jack Calmes, the founder of Showco and Syncrolite, has died at the age of 71. One of the concert production industry's true pioneers, Calmes was also a musician, promoter, live music venue owner, artist manager and film and television producer.

In the mid-60s, Calmes and friend Angus Wynne co-founded Showco in Dallas, Texas, and set about putting on music shows. Among their early successes was a University party in Dallas headlined by Chuck Berry. Showco also brought The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and the Doors to Dallas. In 1967 Calmes and Wynne opened a Dallas music v

UK - Greg Walsh, sound design and front of house mixing engineer, chose a selection of DPA microphones to capture the sound of Kate Bush's successful Before the Dawn series of concerts at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

After 35 years away from the live stage, these much anticipated concerts received high praise from reviewers and fans who frequently commented on the exceptional audio quality and the clarity of Kate's vocals.

The decision to use DPA microphones was made following extensive testing by Greg Walsh and the production team, which included renowned audio engineer Step

China - Created by DreamWorks Animation, the How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular was produced by the storytellers at DreamWorks Animation and Global Creatures, the masterminds behind the international phenomenon Walking with Dinosaurs, the #1 grossing world tour of 2010. Following its launch in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a successful run in North America, How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular landed in China. Over 145,000 spectators turned out to enjoy the premiere at a newly built theatre on the grounds of the Beijing National Stadium - the famous Bird's Nest, buil

The Netherlands - UK-based reference monitor manufacturer PMC will be launching a new addition to its twotwo range of active nearfields at NAMM 2015, as well as giving West Coast audio professionals another chance to see the QB1-A large-scale studio monitor, launched in Los Angeles in Autumn 2014.

The new twotwo sub2 is a subwoofer designed to complement the twotwo range, providing greater headroom and dynamics than its smaller sibling, the twotwo sub1. The new sub2 is a low-distortion, active subwoofer featuring PMC's ATL bass-loading technology, Class-D amplification and DSP-based f

USA - Meyer Sound has promoted Michael Creason to the newly created position of product manager- system applications and training, while Ashley Hanson moves to the design services manager role.

The former head of the design services department, Creason now joins the growing product management group to expand the company's technical content and training resources. The goal is to give users a broader range of tools to work more efficiently and effectively in loudspeaker system design, rigging, and commissioning.

He joined the Meyer Sound design services department in 2008, following y

Spain - Effective 1 December 2014, NEEC Audio Barcelona acquired the Ecler pro audio brand and business including the personnel and management team under the leadership of Enric Casimiro who will continue to manage the business.

The Ecler business is known for its focus on technology. The brand is also well known by its creative design of Audeo speaker cabinets, in collaboration with the Italian company Italdesign Giugiaro.

NEEC intends to invest in innovation in the pro audio field and to ensure that the Ecler brand is associated with both advanced technology and excellent design.<

Italy - Audiosales has taken over as the exclusive Powersoft distributor for the Italian market, adding the audio manufacturer to its portfolio of leading brands.

Audiosales will be managing the nationwide distribution and sales of Powersoft rack amplifiers, for both the touring and fixed installation markets.

"We are very pleased to begin this collaboration with Powersoft," says Stefano Rocchi, owner of Audiosales, "The products and technology embraced by Powersoft perfectly match the requirements of the market in both the touring and installation sectors. With the a

Norway - The Nobel Peace Prize is probably the highest profile and best known honour in the world, bestowed since 1901 on those who have made an outstanding contribution to peace between people and nations. The 2014 award ceremony took place on 10 December in Oslo City Hall, Norway, with Yamaha CL5 and QL1 digital mixers entrusted to mix the prestigious event, broadcast live to an audience estimated at one billion.

Over the years, the Nobel Peace Prize has been presented to many of the world's most foremost statesmen and women, but it also recognises less well-known figures. This year

South Africa - The first Barco Auro 3D 11.1 cinemas in Africa have been completed and audiences were recently treated to the first screening in Nu Metro cinemas at The Glen in Johannesburg and Menlyn in Pretoria.

The installation of Auro perfectly fits Nu Metro's list of firsts in Africa, as Nu Metro was the first cinema chain with an all-digital Cineplex and now again leads the way with the Auro immersive sound system.

Being a first in Africa required collaborating with leaders in the professional audio industry and so Nu Metro called upon JBL importers and distributors Wild & Marr

Canada - Blueprint AV is a multi-use predictive software suite from Adamson that operates both in the 2D and 3D realm. Designed to provide Adamson clients with a user-defined level of detail, the software delivers extreme precision in any operating mode.

After extensive beta testing with key network partners, Adamson is releasing Blueprint AV via a licensing system that will allow end users to distribute a pre-determined number of copies to their team of technicians.

"The precision of the software has been proven in the field and we're very excited to be able to offer the compl

USA - Founded in the late 1960s, Avcom is a multi-line AV manufacturers' representative company covering the states of Ohio and West Virginia as well as Western Pennsylvania and Northern Kentucky.

Avcom prides itself on providing quality products and building long-lasting and profitable relationships with the AV integrators, engineers, acoustical consultants and end users in their territory.

President Jim Umstead emphasized the importance of a constant presence in the field including regular business meetings with integrators and consultants and frequent product demonstrations. He c

USA - Audinate has announced new enhancements to the Dante Ultimo low-channel chipsets, now shipping.

The new revision of Dante Ultimo incorporates support for Marvell 88E6320 gigabit switch, enabling robust daisy chaining of Dante devices with multicast filtering capability.

Audinate has also released new Ultimo 2.1 firmware, adding several new features for Audio Video (AV) equipment manufacturers building low channel-count products with Dante Ultimo. The new Release 2.1 firmware adds device control capabilities enabled by the Dante Device Protocol (DDP). DDP allows Ultimo messages

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