The Netherlands - DPA Microphones, in partnership with its Netherlands distributor Amptec, will show its microphones aimed at the installation market at this year's ISE exhibition in Amsterdam (Stand 7-V240).

DPA's Podium Microphone range consist of the d:screet Miniature Podium Microphone, which provides the installation market with an elegant, directional microphone based on the company's renowned miniature microphones.

"We were contacted by an organization that had simultaneous interpreters refusing to use their existing microphones because the audio quality was so bad," says DPA Microphones' CEO Christian Poulsen. "Simultaneous interpreting is a hard job, and if the audio is poor, it gets even tougher. We knew we had the right capsule technology to take their existing solution to a new level - we just had to develop the microphone solution for that purpose.

Germany - When a famous venue in Düsseldorf decided to upgrade its 15-year-old sound system, it turned to local audio experts Thöne & Partner. Nachtresidenz's main room is now home to a new five-point speaker system from Funktion-One.

Nachtresidenz has built its reputation around its music policy, service and atmosphere. The building itself has been known for entertaining people ever since it started life as the Residenz-Theatre in the 1920s. While the style of entertainment has changed, many of the period characteristics have been kept and blended with modern features, resulting in a collection of captivating spaces.

There are five different areas, spread over 1,800sq.m, but it is the main room that really defines the venue. A dome with a height of more than 13m combines with glitzy interior design and lighting to create a glamorous event space. The owners, keen to support

The Netherlands - A new three room live music venue has been created in a converted industrial building in Leiden.

Previously owned by the Nobel brothers (after whom it is named), the new 'de Nobel' local government-owned music centre will be operated by LVC (Leiden Leisure Centre).

The sound system installation was carried out by TM Audio, who participated successfully in a European public tender in early 2013. The company responded to an outline specification issued by PB Theateradviseurs and were awarded the contract based on their ability to provide premium brands - including Martin Audio, whom they represent in The Netherlands.

According to TM Audio sales & marketing manager, Rudolf Nagtzaam, "We were up against three or four competitors, and were able to meet or exceed the specifications quoted." Nagtzaam himself co-project managed the contract in conjunction

Finland - UK theatre, event and installed audio specialists Out Board has appointed Electro Waves Oy as its new Finnish distributor for the TiMax SoundHub audio showcontrol matrix and TiMax Tracker performer tracking system. The company will also sell and support the Outboard LV & DV Chain-Hoist Controller products in Finland.

The team at Electrowaves, who have a long standing association with the TiMax suite of products, are headed by Kurt Nyback who brings two decades of experience with the brand.

Says Nyback, "TiMax is a totally unique sound automation system and it cannot be compared to anything else. At Electrowaves we understand TiMax SoundHub and TiMax Tracker, and how it will bring the best sound arrangements for our customers. Electrowaves will also support the Outboard Chain-Hoist Control products."

Nyback continues, "TiMax has proved popular in Finl

USA - Seventeen years since its inception, British audio equipment manufacturer Audient brings exciting new products, a fresh, dynamic team, a progressive new owner and a new distribution partner to the United States.

No stranger to NAMM, Audient comes to this year's show having picked up its third TEC-Award nomination, this time for the eight-channel mic pre, ASP880. Another recipient of much acclaim is the feature-packed USB AD/DA interface and monitoring system, iD22 which visitors to the show should be able to get a look at.

It all started with the large format ASP8024 analogue console designed by David Dearden, who himself lays claim to a sound electronics design experience second to none. He's spent over 40 years working with consoles, headed up DDA, co-founded Audient, and also had the incredible experience of helping build the custom console used for John Lennon's 'Ima

The Netherlands - Martin Audio has been a long-time exhibitor of the ISE Show, but this year will see it take its presence a stage further with its inaugural year of live demonstrations of its products.

As well as exhibiting in Hall 7 Stand K175, Martin Audio will also be demonstrating its products for the installation market with everything from its ceiling speakers through to its award winning MLA Mini system. The demo takes place near Hall 10, in Room 104.

Combining an engaging presentation covering the acoustic innovation behind the products and the opportunity to listen to tracks in superb richness, detail and even coverage, attendees will discover Martin Audio's signature experience and how venues and audiences will benefit as a result.

Demonstrations will last one hour and take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of the show at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm whilst Thursday's events wi

USA - Community Professional Loudspeakers has announced the appointment of Steve Young as director, North American sales. Young brings over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and management to Community. He comes to Community from the Music-Group where he was manager of business development for all Music-Group professional brands including Midas, Klark-Teknik, Turbosound and Eurocom. Previously, Young was vice president of sales and marketing at Mitek (Atlas Sound).

"Community offers their customers a level of integrity that is simply unparalleled," said Young. "Our products not only sound phenomenal, but they are also backed by leading edge engineering and the best applications support team in the industry. Customers certainly have a lot of choices today, but when they choose Community vs. the competition, they will experience the positive differences whi

UK - Leisuretec Distribution Ltd has announced its new trade partnership with the American manufacturer Samson Technologies, an industry leader in both consumer and professional audio equipment.

Leighton Buzzard-based Leisuretec are distributors of professional and commercial audio, lighting, video and special effects to the trade. Cliff Dounting, managing director, commented on the new partnership: "We are very proud to be partnering with Samson, a company with a great pedigree along with an exciting product range, all of which make for a very strong fit with Leisuretec's portfolio enabling us to further grow our service and capabilities to the industry trade and in particular the MI retail sector."

Samson developed the first professional USB microphones to be used by musicians, broadcasters and podcast enthusiasts and their USB microphone is now the industry standa

UK - With a choir of 1,300 school children, a 30 piece Big Band and vocalist, plus various other ensembles including a body percussion choir, the Brighton & Hove Schools Christmas Concert taking place at the Brighton Centre this December presented some complex audio logistics for Mustt Audio and its Flare loud speaker system.

The concert, organised by Brighton & Hove Music & Arts at the 5,000 capacity Brighton Centre, is a well established seasonal singing extravaganza, eagerly anticipated by local families. So it was vital that the performers were supported by a multi-skilled professional technical production team.

"It was as if we had five concerts running simultaneously," says Mustt Audio owner, Waq. "Choreographing and coordinating the show was a challenge. The music alternates between different choirs and orchestras, so one group might be playing or singing

UK - Cadac finished off 2014 with a flurry of trade shows and demonstration events for its flagship CDC eight digital console throughout November and December, in partnership with its European distributors.

For 2015 the company has already hit the demonstration trail running, at Teknikmesse i Operaen (Technology Exhibition at the Opera), at the Det Kongelige Teater Copenhagen, with Danish distributor Starbaek Audiovisual Truss and Stage on 7 - 8 January, at Tour Link Conference in Palm Springs with Paul Morini from Cadac's US office on 8 - 10 January, and at Queens University, Belfast, with PHG - Production House and Cadac's UK sales manager Rob Hughes, in Northern Ireland on 13 - 15 January.

The trade show tour at the end of 2014 kicked off with Tonmeistertagung 2014 on 20 - 23 November in Cologne, where the CDC eight-32 and CDC eight-16 were centre stage on Audio Specialists

UK - The MADI-MON from 4HM, part of the Bel Digital Group, gives broadcast, live sound and production audio engineers a simple but reliable way of auditioning embedded MADI channels, without the need to connect to external routers or audio consoles. BBC Northern Ireland (BBCNI) has recently invested in a unit, supplied by Aspen Media, in order to facilitate monitoring of its new MADI audio router and communications systems.

As the first device to provide studio engineers with the tools necessary to interrogate the MADI stream in order to view the status of embedded channels, MADI-MON is a suitable monitor for the commissioning and maintenance of MADI-based audio systems. It is the only MADI monitor that makes all of the audio signals visible and accessible as a breakout simultaneously, with the status bits of the MADI stream also available for diagnostic use.

BBCNI chose the M

UK - Award winning UK comedian Russell Howard extended his massively successful Wonderbox stand-up tour in December, playing an additional nine dates following the warm reception it had received in April.

Once again, Adlib was asked to supply a crisp and clear PA system, lighting and all necessary trussing and rigging for the shows.

As with any comedian, working a big arena is a challenging environment. One of the tasks of the production is to reduce the void and bring the audience closer - a bidirectional 'personal proximity' relationship - which has to be achieved virtually. While the physical space remains the same, the perception - of both artist and audience - changes.

Adlib applied its considerable experience in the discipline of live comedy to the task in hand. The sonic detail is crucial as most comic delivery entails hearing every inflection of the voice with comple

UK - Each December, London's The O2 plays host to the Capital Radio Jingle Bell Ball, which never fails to get music fans in the festive mood. As in previous years, Adlib Audio provided audio requirements for the two-days of festive fun, with Sennheiser radio mics and in-ear monitors - a perennial part of Adlib's inventory for this challenging event - delivering flawless sound throughout.

"We've worked on the Jingle Bell Ball for a few years now," says Adlib's Dave Kay. "Each year it's demanding, both in terms of the level of the acts performing and the quick turnaround times we have to work to, and this year was no exception."

Artists performing at the shows included Take That, using Sennheiser SKM 5200 handheld microphones with EM 5235 capsule, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith both deploying 2000 Series handhelds with MD 9235 and e 965 capsule respectively and Ta

USA - Bob Cowan and Adam Correia, monitor mixers for Metallica, will be the next guest speakers on the Meyer Sound Mixing Workshop webinar series, hosted by veteran mixer Buford Jones.

Scheduled for Thursday 5 February 5, 2015, the webinar will focus on the dual monitoring team's approach to mixing a combination of in-ears and on-stage wedges for the heavy metal legends. Cowan and Correia will also share their key to success for earning and maintaining the artists' trust and achieving consistency. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/1xurSun

As part of Meyer Sound's worldwide education programme, Buford Jones brings lessons learned from a mixing career of almost four decades to his online Mixing Workshop and hands-on sessions around the world. Jones's illustrious mixing credits include Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and David Bowie.

(Jim Evans)

Benelux - L-Acoustics has announced the appointment of Han Dohmen as sales manager to manage the Benelux market. The newly created position reflects the company's commitment to European markets, which continues to represent growth for the brand.

Dohmen, who holds an MBA in management, lives in the Netherlands and brings exceptional experience in the professional audio industry, having worked with Sennheiser in the Benelux region, as well as holding senior European sales and marketing position in companies outside the sound industry.

Jochen Frohn, director of business development at L-Acoustics states, "L-Acoustics has seen constant growth of around twenty per cent per year, and as this trend continues we felt the need to strengthen our support for installation and rental clients in this key domestic market. Han is the perfect fit to do this. He shares a common culture wit

USA - Mackie and Audinate have joined forces to bring high performance networked audio to the DL32R wirelessly controlled digital live sound mixer with the new DL Dante Expansion Card.

The pioneering DL32R is controlled completely wirelessly, using the Mackie Master Fader control app for iPad, freeing sound engineers to mix from any location in a venue. The DL32R delivers 32-channels of powerful digital mixing with convenient direct-to-drive multi-track recording/playback, new Onyx+ recallable microphone pre-amps, in an ultra-compact 3U rackmount design.

The new DL Dante Expansion Card provides 32x32 channels of network audio I/O, allowing the DL32R to be connected to any Dante-powered AV network. Dante delivers the easiest-to-use AV networking solution, featuring automatic discovery of devices, simple graphical audio routing, incredibly low latency and flawless interoperation

The Netherlands - Audinate is running a free, day-long event about its Dante audio networking solutions in Amsterdam prior to ISE 2015. As a major Dante user with its CL and QL digital mixing systems, among other products, the event is being co-sponsored and supported by Yamaha Commercial Audio.

Taking place on 9 February at the Amsterdam Holiday Inn, the event will feature presentations, training workshops and interactive panel discussions led by industry design consultants, AV installation contractors and IT networking experts. It will also feature a major interoperability networking demonstration of Dante-enabled products and systems.

Dante has developed into a de facto standard for networked audio and is a fundamental part of Yamaha CL and QL series digital mixing systems. Together with the R-series i/o units and other products, exceptionally flexible and powerful audio sy

The Netherlands - Merging Technologies' Ovation finished 2014 with an impressive roster of new users and many of these are highly relevant to ISE. Major new museum installations, live events, theatres, opera houses and broadcasters realised that the combination of reliable and repeatable operation coupled with the ease with which all parameters can be programmed and interfaced with other devices, provided compelling reasons for specifying Ovation.

However, the industry's requirements move ahead at a pace and sound designers were creating ever more realistic soundscapes. Immersive sound is becoming part of cinema and home audio but this has now spread to live events, product launches and even museums. The need to accurately place mono, stereo or multichannel sounds in a given space became paramount.

Merging's creative team looked at solutions that were commercially available an

UK - With Jerry Hall cast in the starring role as the Wicked Queen, the recent production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Richmond Theatre had nearly all the ingredients needed for a good run.

Sound designer Rick Clarke, veteran of over 40 West End musicals, added in an important new element - the first deployment of a Flare Audio X2/X0 Compact Vertical Point Source Array system in theatre. The system featured X2 cabinets, flown in groups of two per side, with X0s used as front-fills and delays, together with the award-winning SB21 Flat Panel Directional Touring Sub Bass units. Out front was a Yamaha CL5 front of house digital mixing console feeding the Flare system directly via the Dante network.

Pantomime has been a regular feature in Rick's calendar, dating back to when his children were younger, with the Richmond Theatre an extremely familiar venue. The ex

USA - Ashly Audio has announced that industry veteran Scott Leslie will join the company as executive vice-president. Ashly and its parent company, JAM Industries, are committed to a new growth strategy and they are drawing on Leslie's vision, experience, and leadership to help execute it. In the newly-created position, Leslie reports to Ashly CEO and president Mark Wentling and oversees the R&D, marketing, and the North American sales divisions.

Leslie's roots are deep in the audio industry; his father invented the famed Leslie rotating speaker that has long been an essential component of electric organs. The younger Leslie earned his master's degree in acoustics from Georgia Tech and, after interning at Fender, took a position as a loudspeaker engineer at Altec Lansing.

From there, he pivoted to the computer and software industry with positions at Tektronix, Sun Microsystems

Turkey - As one of the most popular singers in Turkey, Tarkan has been nicknamed the country's 'Prince of Pop' by the Turkish media, regularly selling out shows at the country's major venues. September saw him play nine consecutive shows at the 4000-capacity Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre, with a DiGiCo SD5 specially purchased by production company Staras.

The open air amphitheatre is one of Istanbul's most popular venues, especially in summer, when it hosts a variety of live shows by both national and international artists, as well as a number of cultural festivals.

Staras Technical Production handled the lighting, sound and staging for the shows and willingly acceded to the request by Tarkan's production team for a DiGiCo SD5 console for the monitor mix.

"Although Staras has been in business for 30 years, they had not previously used DiGiCo consoles," says Gorkem

USA - John Fogerty continues to entertain fans around the world with regular touring throughout North America and overseas. His most recent tour marked a complete departure from his regular audio system of many years - this time going on the road with the new Adamson Energia PA provided by Atomic Pro Audio.

"I've been working with Atomic for almost 20 years," explains Tim Schad, production manager working with John Fogerty since 2006. "I was sold on Adamson the first time I used it and have started working in different pieces of their gear with John over the last 6 years, but this was the first time we went out with 100% Adamson PA and monitor rig. The new Adamson Energia PA was "way better sounding" than any PA available out there at any cost."

Atomic Pro Audio, located in Rutland, Vermont, has been a supporter of Adamson since 2002. Most recentl

Europe - After the appointment of AED Distribution as distributor for QSC Pro Audio in Germany and UK in addition to its BeNeLux distribution, and the expansion into the European continent for High End Systems products, the Belgium-based company is also expanding its team.

AED Distribution, with offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France & Belgium, has hired several people to support its future growth into these new markets. Hans Vanderheijden, managing director at AED Distribution HQ, comments, "Over the last couple of years we have build a clear strategy to strengthen and focus on a European Master Distribution model, which enabled us to develop our distribution network in Europe. Some markets were approached directly through our own setup, in others we went to market through selected partners. As a result of our expansion into these new markets, we felt the need

USA - At Winter NAMM 2015, British professional loudspeaker manufacturer Turbosound introduced the Company's first modular column loudspeakers and subwoofers. The INSPIRE Series features Klark Teknik SST Spatial Sound Technology, an onboard remote controllable digital mixer, plus Bluetooth stereo audio streaming - all controllable via iPhone / iPad.

Designed for commanding performance, the iNSPIRE Series consists of three full-range powered column loudspeakers, the 800-Watt iP500, 1,000-Watt iP1000 and 1,000 Watt iP2000 - plus two 1,000-Watt powered subwoofers, the 12" iP12B and 15" iP15B with integrated dual-channel 200-Watt amplifiers for satellite speakers. All models exhibit the powerful, high-quality sound and optimised dispersion of Turbosound's award-winning line array products in a surprisingly lightweight, easy to use, all-in-one vertical form factor.

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