Chile - The Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, in Santiago, Chile recently hosted Pearl Jam's first visit to the country in their incredible 15-year career. The 2-night Pearl Jam extravaganza, featuring Mudhoney as the opening act, took place on 22 and 23 November, each night attracting over 18,000 people.
In high demand by international tours, Cristian Olavarria Ltd, a sound rental company with 25 years of experience in sound reinforcement, took charge of the production. General Manager Cristian Olavarria, together with their Chief-Engineer, Jaime Zeballos, chose to use their Adamson Y-Axis system. This system has become the most popular rig in their inventory, which also includes EAW, Meyer, and others. To achieve the optimal configuration for this open-air stadium, Jaime used the Adamson Shooter software, which he finds "a breeze to do sound design with".
The main left and right P.A. consisted of 24 Y18s and 16 Y10s flown underneath. For side fills, six Y10s per side were added. 16 proprietary subs made by Olavarria were ground-stacked per side in front of the stage, and 8 MSL-2s were added for front-fill.
The gates were opened at 4:30pm and thousands of people rushed in. The energy of the stadium soared, when Pearl Jam hit the stage. After witnessing the immense success of this show, Olavarria put an order in for an additional eight Y18's to expand their existing Adamson inventory.
(Lee Baldock)
Italy - The popular HBO/BBC co-production, Rome, will shortly be going into production on its second series, which is scheduled to air in 2007. Having proved the advantages of his Metric Halo Mobile I/O-based hard disc recording system during the debut season's yearlong filming, Italian production mixer, Maurizio Argentieri will once again be using the setup to capture location sound for the show's second season.
Argentieri is a six-year veteran of location sound recording whose credits include: The Passion of the Christ, The Island and A Good Woman. He says of the Metric Halo Mobile I/O 2882+DSP digital interface: "I still haven't found an interface that sounds as good as this. Plus, when I bought it, it was the only interface that could be powered by the computer. For someone who works the way I do, this is very important."
According to Argentieri, his location sound system, with the Metric Halo MIO and a G4 PowerBook at its core, offers a number of advantages over traditional location recorders, or even newer hard disk recorders. The Metric Halo MIO allows him to record up to 12 dialogue tracks, offers the ability to create a modifiable mono mix for the show's picture editors, and additionally provides processing that both optimizes the mono mix and also protects the actors' performances from technical errors, he explains.
"Every mic is recorded onto a separate channel. This gives the sound editor the maximum freedom to pull out the best possible sound," says Argentieri. "In a crowd scene where five or six
USA - Never was the old adage about two heads being better than one more true than on New Year's Eve, when Mike Pappas, chief engineer of KUVO-FM in Denver, put two Neumann KU 100 "Fritz" binaural microphones into action during National Public Radio's 26th annual Toast to the Nation. The 12-hour coast-to-coast live music special, hosted from the legendary Tipitina's Uptown nightclub in New Orleans, was broadcast in 5.1 surround sound for the second straight year.
"We needed to record a brass line, the classic New Orleans funeral procession," explains Pappas. "I wanted to be able to do that in Conventional stereo and 5.1 surround, so the easy solution was to use a Neumann KU 100." Also known as "Fritz", the KU 100 is a model human head with microphone elements located inside its replica ears that produces highly realistic binaural stereo.
"The brass line marched through twenty blocks of the city. I marched with them for eight of those," Pappas reports. "Eight blocks in 80-degree weather, with the sun beating down and about 100 percent humidity." His only microphone source was the KU 100 dummy head. "It's great," he says. "It's really easy and convenient, and it produces killer stereo. When you're literally marching along with the band you need to get something up in the air that you know is going to work. I didn't have time for a second shot."
As Pappas reveals, a second KU 100 was also put to use inside Tipitina's to capture rear-channel ambience for the 5.1 music mix of the
New Zealand - An Allen & Heath iDR DSP system has been installed in Auckland's Tamaki College Community Recreation Centre to manage audio distribution for the Centre's busy event schedule.
"Until recently we had a system that was too complex for staff to use. The problem is that the venue is used for many events and has a large number of users who didn't understand how their actions could affect other parts of the building. On a regular basis, music would suddenly go on or off, be too loud or too quiet - staff didn't understand how to make the system work for them without a step by step instruction from the manager," explains the centre's manager, Lee Jones. "What we needed was a system that was simple and user friendly, and that's where installers, Jansen Professional Audio & Lighting, came in."
After discussing the problems and requirements of the centre, Jansen suggested the Allen & Heath iDR-4 16x16 matrix mixing processor at the heart of the system, with 2 PL-10 rotary fader panels to provide remote control at two other points in the complex. One PL-10 is programmed with full control, and the other with limited control for appropriate zones for less technical users. The operator is able to switch between the tuner, CD player, mobile plug-in units, and wireless mic.
"It's almost as if Allen & Heath had heard of Tamaki Recreation Centre and designed a system for us. It has taken human error out of the equation and improved the centre's overall operation," enthuses Jones. "We've been able to eliminate all the issues regardin
UK - Midas has launched a unique new online service with a section dedicated to the sales of approved used consoles. The manufacturer is offering customers searching for a previously-owned Midas the chance to purchase consoles which have been factory-refurbished to the latest specifications, complete with a 12-month warranty.
In an era when constant investment is required in technology that can quickly become obsolete, the decision to buy a Midas console is an astute one. The entire Midas range is constantly in demand on riders and their infrequent appearance on the second hand market means they retain their resale value. For PA companies worldwide, the assurance that an investment will result in guaranteed rentals is invaluable.
(Chris Henry)
UK - Following the success of their PMD570 solid state recorder Marantz are augmenting their range of audio data acquisition devices with the launch of the new PMD560. While the aim of the PMD570 was to replace the traditional cassette deck, the PMD560 takes this to the next level by offering a more cost-effective design to capitalise on entry-level sales.
Its simplicity and ease of operation, combined with the increased availability and lower price of CF cards, make this the ideal time to embrace the new digital media, says the company.
The PMD560 allows recording in either MP3 or PCM formats, with RS232 control. It enables automatic recording (with Auto Track & Time and Date Stamp), and simple transfer of files to PC via Compact Flash card or USB interface.
(Chris Henry)
UK - Scottish audiences enjoyed an early preview of Electro-Voice's new compact line array, the XLD, deployed by FMX Rentals on Cash For Kids charity concerts. The events in Dumfries and in Ayr, could be described as commercial radio's answer to the Children in Need telethons.
With big chart names appearing at the events, such as Liberty X, Girls Aloud and McFly, the FMX team was looking for a bankable solution for their regular client. Setting aside their own Electro-Voice XLC system, "too large for this type of event", they chose EV's recently-launched (PLASA) XLD system, which sets a new standard of precise coverage and dynamic headroom for compact line arrays.The XLD was used as the main PA at the two venues.
With Shuttlesound's Jason Kelly in the supporting role of system tech for the shows, the PA was set up with 12 x XLD 218 and four x XS212 subs, with additional XLC118 subs. It was powered by EV P3000 RL Series amplifiers, controlled by EV's bespoke IRIS (Intelligent Remote Integrated Supervision) management software. The show was mixed from a Midas Heritage 2000 console running Klark Teknik's DN9340 Helix EQ, which provides wireless control over all the commonly-used EQ functions, allowing instant and simultaneous online control of up to 64 channels of EQ from a tablet computer.
Ron McGillivray of FMX says: "I really do like my XLC system, it's just that it was a little too big for these occasions. We were looking for something smaller, that was also suitable for conferencing. The XLD looks well, it performs superbly in the
Tunisia - Backstage Technology, one of Tunisia's few audio rental companies, has put its newly acquired Adamson speakers to use at the grand opening of a new theme park in Tozeur. Tozeur is the capital of Jerid, the southern part of the country, and is marked by its date Palm Oasis, in which over 200,000 palm trees are irrigated by 200 springs, and is considered to be the doorway to the desert.
Dar Cherait is a cultural tourism complex which contains a unique, private collection that took decades to gather. It includes The Medina, a theme park dedicated to The Tales of the 1001 Nights and 'Dar Zamen', which retraces 3,000 years of Tunisian history. The owner of Dar Cherait, Cherait Jallel, is also responsible for building the new geological and prehistoric theme park named Chak-Wak, on over five hectares of land which celebrates the different steps of the story of man's evolution, via 25 scenes, featuring life-size characters and animals.
M N Chelli, technical director of Backstage Technology - a company created with Jallel back in 2002 to take care of all the Chérait Group's technical requirements, flew in Adamson Systems technical support representative, Benoit Cabot, to give Chelli, Jallel and their crew an intensive three-day technical and practical training session, and to insure that the system was built to the same global standards as those belonging to other Adamson rental partners.
In addition, the system was built to match Adamson Europe DV2's standard for all European systems to guarantee cross-continent compatibility. It is expensive to trave
UK - Pioneer Europe has announced the availability of a free system upgrade to its DVJ-X1 which enable artists to play MP3 files burned to CD, introduce a 'track Loop' feature (to continually loop a track), improve support for PAL and NTSC DVDs and enable 96kHz 'digital audio output' (in DJ mode), while the presentation of Wave display through a preview monitor output.
The new features are designed to further enhance the creativity and versatility of the system, say Pioneer, and are included as standard on new machines. The extra functions can be downloaded onto previously purchased units via a firmware upgrade CD available from DVJ-X1 retailers and Pioneer distributors.
With MP3, artists can 'travel light': depending on the compression level, several hundred tracks can be pressed to CD (via CD-R/RW media) - while the track data can be viewed on the preview monitor. VJs can now take advantage of the track loop feature (initiated by pressing the emergency loop button for more than a second) while interaction with Wave Data and Playing Address information has been improved through display on the preview monitor output. Pioneer has also added a Digital Audio output (while in DJ mode) to remove interference and deliver the utmost sonic purity.
Ian Jordan, technical manager of Pioneer Europe, says: "The DVJ-X1 has created a new genre of artist - the DVJ. The exceptionally positive response to the system from DJs to clubs, promoters and musicians indicates that its fusion of audio and video content will see it become a standard play out platform that's as succes
USA - The world-famous Walt Disney Concert Hall, winter home for the L.A. Philharmonic, and venue for a wide range of musical events, has added an innovative wireless microphone system manufactured by Lectrosonics to match the environment's exacting technical requirements. The nine-channel Venue receiver system comprises a modular UHF design that operates with Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters, and/or a variety of analogue transmitters. The receiver utilises a mainframe assembly that includes an antenna multi-coupler, communications interface and mounting for up to six receiver modules.
Kevin Wapner, head of audio at Walt Disney Concert Hall, says: "We have a total of nine Lectrosonics SM Series belt-pack transmitters and nine UT400 Series handheld models equipped with AKG C5900 super-cardioid condenser capsules." The 18 Venue receiver modules are paired to offer nine channels of audio. The system's Ratio Diversity scheme blends the output of each two receivers based on which one is picking up the better signal. For belt-pack transmitters, the "Super Mini" SM units are being used with DPA 4066 headset microphones. "The wireless system has performed flawlessly since it was installed in September 2005," says Wapner. "We handle a number of jazz performances, together with operas and other musical events where we need mobile operation. The receiver rack is mounted in the ceiling directly above the performance stage, and is linked to the mix location in the rear of the auditorium. We can also remotely control a number of critical sy
USA - Sennheiser will introduce a new, more powerful and flexible line of 3000 Series wireless monitor transmitters and receivers at the 2006 NAMM Show. The new SR3254-U single-channel transmitter, SR3256-U dual-channel transmitter and EK3253-U body-pack receiver are compatible with Sennheiser Evolution series wireless G2 monitor products. The new units offer extended tuning flexibility and an unprecedented 100mW output. "With a switching bandwidth of 36 MHz, and frequencies that are tunable in 5 kHz steps, we are providing PA companies, broadcasting networks and stage professionals with the best of the best in the ever more crowded RF spectrum," says Sven Boetcher, Sennheiser's product manager for Professional Wireless.
Engineered in response to customer requests for higher RF output levels, the new 3250 series transmitters incorporate the HDX compander technology used in Sennheiser's G2 wireless equipment achieving noise suppression of up to 90dB and ensuring a wide dynamic range and crystal-clear monitoring signals. Offering a total of 7,200 frequencies, all three products ship with 16 pre-coordinated preset frequencies and 16 user-assignable presets. Both transmitters are easy to operate, can be switched between mono and stereo mode and have a backlit LC display. These newcomers are especially recommended for demanding multi-channel applications and are supplied complete with integrated power supply unit, rack-mount "ears" and either one (SR3254) or two telescopic antennas (SR3256) says the company.
The system's bodypack receiver, the EK32
UK - A.C. Lighting's Northern sales office has supplied over £70,000 worth of loose lighting and audio equipment to the newly fitted Carriageworks theatre in Leeds.
The Carriageworks houses two auditoria of 350 and 80 seats with state-of-the-art equipment, rehearsal and dressing rooms, and presents a vibrant mix of plays, musicals, film, community events, youth theatre and workshops. The venue is also the new home of the Leeds Civic Arts Guild, a group of amateur drama, opera and musical companies who will present an ongoing programme of performances.
Venue's technical coordinator, Peter Waddicor, awarded the contract to A.C.'s Northern sales office in Leeds due to the company's ability to provide a complete one-stop-shop solution and rapid response service to meet their needs.
Using the company's dedicated lighting and audio sales teams, large stockholding of entertainment technology brands and in-house cable manufacturing service, A.C. Lighting was able to deliver all goods - including preparing the fixtures ready for hanging - in a very quick turnaround from order.
The Carriageworks' lighting system comprises of various ETC Source Four zoom profiles, Strand Alto and Cantata fresnels, James Thomas long nose Par 64s, Selecon Pacific zoom profiles and Lui cycs, Robert Juliat tungsten followspots, Vision Par 16s, Martin 3000W strobe and MAC 550 moving head fixtures, and Strand Quartet fresnel and profile lanterns.
A.C. Lighting also supplied Chroma-Q scrollers with Tourflex Datasafe scroller cable, multicore cabling, Look Solutions Fog and Haze machine
Germany - The Berlin firm TSE (Technik und Service für Events) AG has invested in an extensive Electro-Voice Ultra Light Compact XLD line array system and a Midas Siena console. For years now, the company has been using an Electro-Voice X-Line system for large venues; the XLD will come into its own at smaller and medium-sized ones.
Explaining the advantages of the compact EV XLD system, Marcel Fery, TSE AG's executive director for equipment and finance, said: "It has a very good sound and is also very powerful and versatile. In addition to corporate events of all kinds, we will be using it for concert productions. With twelve units per side plus the requisite bass, it is even capable of providing coverage for really large events."
What Fery finds most surprising is the fact that the compactness of the enclosures is not achieved at the expense of power. "Naturally, we listened to the system very closely before the purchase and were already really impressed by its loudness. But in terms of intelligibility, too, it is absolutely flawless," he says.
In addition to the 24 EV Ultra Light Compact Line Array XLD 281 units, TSE AG also invested in a Midas Siena (48 LH) console.
Since the merger in 1998 of Total Sound Fery & Weinert and Excellent Veranstaltungstechnik, TSE AG has been one of the leading sound reinforcement and events production firms in Germany. From its Berlin base, the company employs over 50 full-time and 80 freelance employees.
(Chris Henry)
Australia - Melbourne's Besen Centre has to be one of Australia's busiest theatres hosting over 620 shows a year. The venue can seat up to a maximum of 1000 patrons although the venue size can be modified to seat from as little as 360. The venue prides itself on its technical equipment, which is always state of the art, and all of the dimmers and the lighting consoles come from LSC Lighting.
January 2006 marks three years since the Besen Centre purchased a LSC maXim console and the technical staff are still delighted with its never-failing performance. "We use the maXim for all of our day to day shows, particularly those that have no rehearsal time, because we can busk so easily with it," said Brad Alcock, head technician. "The operators need to have access to lots of faders so they can get things done on the fly. With most theatre lighting consoles you can't do that because you're working with a syntax keyboard rather than individual faders."
The other important reason why the crew at the Besen Centre favour the maXim is because it's an Australian product. "We prefer to buy Australian products if we can," added Alcock. "The maXim has all the features that we need but it is the speed with which we can programme it that is really impressive. The maXim also makes it very easy for us to train new operators - they pick it up so quickly. The maxim has also been very reliable. Like all consoles it occasionally has a software issue but if it does, it resets itself and gets back on with the job. To be honest - we wouldn't trade our maXi
UK - KEF has announced the addition of two new speakers to the brand's Custom Installation Series. Models Ci3-80QT and Ci9000ACE, both now available, boast individual technical features and user benefits and, say the company, "in keeping with KEF's reputation in the Custom Installation market, deliver sonic qualities that set them apart from the rest of the field".
The Ci3-80QT is a quiet, motorised 3-way, 4-driver system, incorporating KEF's 75mm Uni-Q drive-unit array, along with two 75mm LF units in a sealed enclosure. Finished in white and mounted in a rectangular flush baffle, the Ci3-80QT is designed for in-ceiling applications and, say KEF, "represents the finest solution for those wanting unobtrusive, neat and ultra-quiet retractable custom installation speakers".
KEF's new Custom Installation Series flagship model Ci9000ACE brings the company's patented ACE technology to in-wall speaker systems. Utilizing 165 mm MF and 19mm HF drivers mounted in a Uni-Q array and two 165mm LF units in a sealed enclosure, the Ci9000ACE provides outstanding sound quality, with notably extended frequency response from the LF units, thanks to ACE technology, say the company.
The proud brushed aluminium front baffle comes supplied with three grille options; white grille assembly overhanging front baffle, black grille assembly inset from front baffle and paint-able white steel grille overhanging front baffle.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - RCF UK has announced the availability of two new additions to the Italian pro audio manufacturer's Acustica range of loudspeakers - the H1312 and the H1315.
The RCF Acustica H1312 is a three-way, full-range loudspeaker system incorporating a 12" LF transducer, an 8" cone MF transducer and a 1" exit titanium compression driver. The system is compact and provides high output and accurate voice and sound reproduction, say the company.
The H1312 is equipped with the latest generation of RCF precision transducers, all with powerful neodymium motors. The LF driver is equipped with a 4" voice coil mounted in a vented enclosure with optimised front loading. The MF cone driver is a unique RCF sealed basket design, loaded into a low compression polystyrene mid-range horn. The HF titanium compression driver is loaded on a constant directivity horn with a coverage of 90° x 60°. The compression driver Horn is rotatable.
The internal passive filter provides crossover and equalization between the midrange and the compression driver. The Crossover network offers Compression Driver Protection thanks to a unique design Active MOSFET Circuit. The system is driven in bi-amped mode, and is capable of producing a maximum SPL of 134dB and handles 800W AES (LF) + 300W AES (MF/HF).
The loudspeaker enclosure shape is multi-trapezoidal and offers a double coupling angle each side. The cabinet includes two recessed handles for transportation and positioning and a total of six double M10 fixing points for flown applications, and extensive internal metal bracin
UK - Sound Division Group have completed a complex sound installation for a sophisticated, new-age bowling and leisure concept, set within a landmark London building.
Brothers Charles and Adam Breeden had contracted the technology specialists to fit out their award-winning Lonsdale in Notting Hill three years ago. So when they set out to plan All Star Lanes, within the regenerated Victoria House on Bloomsbury Square, the Breedens (in partnership with Mark von Westenholz) had no hesitation in returning to David Graham's company.
"They did a great job for us at Lonsdale and here they have met the acoustic challenges of the building head on," declared Adam Breeden. "In the areas where we have been able to overcome these obstacles they have delivered an incredibly crisp and excellent quality sound. It is enabling us to run the music fairly loud with the confidence that it is still easy to make conversation."
Central to that team were the project managers - installation contractor Jon Carey, responsible for masterminding most of the company's fit-outs, and freelance sound designer Ed Manwaring, working alongside the Sound Division team.
The company has produced an intelligent four-zone system based around a JBL/BSS Soundweb solution. This ensures that the hard disc-generated background sound is distributed evenly throughout the private bowling lounge, reception, main lanes and diner and finally the sophisticated cocktail bar.
JBL Control 29AV's reproduce the mid high frequencies above each of the four main lanes, boosted by a single JBL AL612
UK - West Country rental company ESP Production has continued its established relationship with Soundcraft - following the acquisition of a 32-channel MH2 from dealers, LMC Audio.
David Wynn, who set up the Yeovil-based company in 2001 by amalgamating his long established Climax PA business with local lighting company Nite-Lite, considered the purchase carefully when planning his current inventory overhaul.
ESP Production services the south of England - in both the concert touring and corporate sectors. In 2004 Wynn purchased a 40-channel Soundcraft MH3 and followed this up with a secondhand 32-channel K3.
"I was delighted with both the MH3 and the K3 but needed a multipurpose board for house and monitors to enable the MH3 to function more permanently at front-of-house. When the MH2 came out it was a godsend - as a dual function desk it provided the opportunity to have 32 channels for monitors or front-of-house. It was the ideal footprint for the size of event we do, and of course I already knew the format from the MH3."
Wynn is highly impressed with the board's facilities. "I am blown away with the matrix ... it's useful for recording and you can send signals to any place you want in corporate and broadcast situations."
Yet despite his many years in the business, Wynn is a recent convert to the culture of Soundcraft. "Having always found Soundcraft desks musical the MH3 was the first board that really excited me sonically - it certainly had the edge over other desks I have worked with - there's much more focus on the EQ.
"T
UK - The Nexo GEO T tangent array systems used by Oasis and Garbage have spent a very different month touring with the high-profile children's theatre production, CBeebies, produced by the BBC in line with their successful children's TV programming of the same name.
CBeebies has been playing to audiences of nearly 15,000 a day, in arenas all over the UK, laid out in the popular new 'academy' format, which sees the stage moved to the middle of the venue, and seats sold in the remaining U of the arena. With capacity for 4,500, the month-long production was playing three shows a day, spending two days in most venues.
SSE Audio Group provided the show, which is produced by BBC Worldwide and Telltale Productions, with a Nexo GEO T system. In nearly all venues, the system configuration featured 11+2 arrays of GEO T cabinets, flown left and right of stage, with 2x Nexo CD18 subbass units per side. The GEO T system was flown high and gave good sightlines to stage. The principle characters were all on a SSE-supplied Sennheiser in-ear monitoring system, and 4 x GEO S boxes were used per side for sidefill.
The exception was at the Manchester Evening News Arena, where tickets were sold down the sides of the stage. Here the SSE team provided an additional two hangs of 8 x GEO S805 cabinets to address this seating, another example of the complementary relationship between the two GEO ranges. Nexo's compact PS8s were used as front-fill along the front of the stage. All power was provided by Camco's Vortex 6 amplifiers, and SSE was using its new Drive Station as
UK - Hitchin-based sound rental company, Rossco Ltd have extended their relationship with Martin Audio by embracing line array technology for the first time.
The company, run by former musicians Ross Sharples and Mark Donovan, have purchased 10 W8LM Mini Line Array enclosures from dealers, LMC Audio, along with two of the new W8LMD Downfill boxes. Sharples confidently predicts that a further six W8LX matched subs will provide the final piece in the jigsaw.
The new Line Array joins an inventory that already includes multiples of Martin Audio W8C/W8S, W2, EM15, W0.5 and WM0.5 (which doubles as a miniature stage monitor) as well as LE400 conventional band monitors.
The equipment services a broad work roster, which aside to the local annual Rhythms of the World Festival, recently included the public enquiry for relatives of the victims of the Tsunami (when the Olympia Auditorium was transformed into the West London Coroner's Court).
Sharples, who set up the company in 1997, says: "We have been with Martin Audio and LMC Audio from day one. Having reinvested the profits from the sale of a previous company to set up the business we asked LMC Audio to arrange a shoot-out of all the proprietary brands. I immediately selected Martin Audio and purchased four stacks of W8C/W8S."As musicians-turned-engineers we tend to make our buying decisions with our ears. And it seems to us that every product Martin Audio bring out has a warmth and quality about it - particularly in the low-mids."
Sharples rationalised that with an upsurge in what he describes
UK - Adlib Audio has provided complete sound systems for two leading venues on the university live performance circuit, with Soundcraft MH Series consoles in both. Manchester University has refurbished the sound system for its live venue the Hop and Grape, which is now to be known as Academy 3. Adlib Audio has equipped it with a new 40-channel Soundcraft MH40 at front-of-house, and a 24-channel Soundcraft MH3 for monitors.
MUSU has also opened a fourth live music venue, the Club Academy, in the newly-renovated cellar beneath the MU Student Union. For the 600-capacity space, Adlib has designed and installed a comprehensive sound reinforcement system, built around the Soundcraft MH4 FOH console which was requested by the University's own engineers, John Lyd and Tony Small. Powered entirely by Crown amplification, the system also features dbx processing, and a full dbx DriveRack remote control system.
Although still a relatively new name on the national touring circuit, Liverpool Academy 2 is fast becoming one of the busiest. A traditional 1930s theatre, with a capacity of over 400 people, the Academy 2 has a unique removeable ceiling which reveals a balcony (used on very busy nights), and now boasts a first-class sound reinforcement spec. The system includes a 40-channel Soundcraft MH3 console at front-of-house, and 24-channel MH2 console in support, designed by Adlib and provided to the University on a long-term hire. All system processing is BSS, and amplification is by Crown.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - During post-production of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a large number of DPA microphones were used by sound recordists and Foley editors, producing audio effects which contributed to the overall excitement of the film.
British editor and sound recordist Jon Olive worked on crowd noises, including those for the scenes set in a large outdoor stadium during the Quidditch World Cup and Triwizard Tournament. According to Olive, this presented quite a challenge in terms of loop group recording.
He says: "The normal practice of recording a loop group in a studio would not do these scenes justice, as the only way to convincingly get the sound of a large number of people in an outside setting is to record a large number of people outside!"
Olive, together with supervising sound editor Dennis Leonard and ADR editor Dan Laurie, decided to find a quiet external location and record a group of people in 5.0 surround. By recording several takes of each cue at different perspectives, Olive planned to layer them together in the cutting room to create the appropriate crowd size.
The recording took place at Bentwaters Park, an ex-US airbase in Suffolk. Around 35 people - professional loop group artists and children from a local school - made up the loop group and the recording team recorded lots of cheering, clapping, running about, screaming, chatting and chanting. This was recorded with five DPA 4011 cardioid mics on boom stands raised about 12 feet in the air in a semi-circle around the space where the loop group would perform.
"I
UK - Essex leisure entrepreneur Quilters Leisure has opened The Ivory Rooms in the affluent suburb of Billericay, a stylish meld of restaurant, bars and lounges with ample scope for private hire as well as club nights. Throughout the extensive facilities runs an integrated audio-visual system, which is one of the first in the UK to feature prominently the new loudspeaker products of the Spanish manufacturer Vieta.
Essex Sound & Light's Mike Glover found everything he needed to provide audio for this spacious and versatile venue in Vieta's catalogue, from super-compact full-range cabinets to ceiling speakers, and beefy PA systems for DJ nights and parties. Working closely with Andy Austin-Brown of KV2 Audio, distributor of Vieta products in the UK, Glover found that the Ivory Rooms were perfectly suited to Vieta's subtle design approach.
"Because it's located in a predominantly residential neighbourhood, the Ivory Rooms had to specify high-quality loudspeakers that would sound good at lower levels, rather than products that only excel when they're driven hard. Vieta's compact Do-2 units are perfect for the restaurant, where they can provide excellent coverage at low level. I'm really really pleased with these, they're tiny little boxes that produce a big big sound."
Glover has used a BSS Soundweb to organise the club's audio system into eight zones, providing local volume control and input choice in each of the areas. The installation in the restaurant features 10 white Vieta Do-2 compact full-range cabinets, wall-mounted in the corners of the room, an
UK - Newfield King Ltd (NFK) is a specialist design and technical audio installation company headed by Bill Ward. Over the years NFK has worked with studios such as Abbey Road, Angel, Mayfair and Sarm in London, as well as Soho-based post production facilities such as 750 mph and The Production Factory.
NFK's list of clients extends from concert venues, educational institutions and law courts through to recording artists such as George Michael and William Orbit, for whom NFK has installed private studios.
According to Ward, one of the main factors in NFK's success is its relationship with key suppliers such as VDC Trading, through which is sources all of its cabling and connectors. "We always use the highest quality products because that's the only way to ensure first rate results for our customers," he says. "The staff at VDC understand the technical issues involved in the business and are always willing to act quickly in order to fulfil orders."
In recent months NFK has completed three major projects, all with VDC Trading's help. The first of these was the installation of a Solid State Logic AWS 900 analogue digital workstation into Greenhouse Studios in Iceland. "VDC's support was vital whilst out in Iceland because shipping was incredibly expensive, so complex orders needed to be executed without hassle," Ward explains. "As we were not in a situation where we could 'nip back next week to finish things off', it was imperative that stock was available in quantity and next day. Added to this, our client was taking a no compro