Italy - FBT Elettronica SpA has announced the appointment of Mr. Roberto Mataloni to be in charge of international sales for East Europe, Africa, Middle East, Far East and Oceania. He will work alongside with Mr. Mauro Zazzini.
Mataloni is pleased to be back to FBT after the six years he spent at Proel, he comments: "For me this is like returning home, having previously worked ten years with FBT before joining Proel. A lot has changed during this time and this opportunity finds me very motivated: over these years FBT has built a stronger reputation of a professional sound reinforcement manufacturer, developing and manufacturing high quality products to meet the most demanding applications. FBT has grown a lot in these last years, both in sales and in "made in Italy" technology: today, the company can present one of the most advanced R&D department. Products like the new PSR digitally processed active speakers, featuring no-compromise quality, performance and features comparable only to the high-end brands; or like the MaxX series, a true benchmark among the polypropylene moulded speaker models are just examples of the company's skills to invent always original sound products."
FBT's production capacity and rapidity of delivery are also two key factors of the company's organization. All customers can be supplied from the factory in Recanati, Italy with an average lead time of 72 hours from order receipt, say the company.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Northern Light has just supplied one of the first GB8 consoles from Soundcraft, after its launch at NAMM, to Galeri Caernarfon. The GB8 is the new eight-bus console augmenting Soundcraft's GB4 console range and is available in frame sizes from 16 to 48 channels, each with four full-function stereo channels and four stereo returns. A 32 channel GB8 has been supplied to Galeri as part of the complete £500k technical fit out of the new Creative Enterprise Centre for Cwmni Tref.
The GB8 console was selected after the centre manger Huw Aled Jones visited PLASA 2004 where Soundcraft unveiled the GB4 - as soon as he saw the GB4 he was impressed with quality and functionality of the desk - but wanted something more and after careful deliberations with Northern Light's project manager Simon Cooper and Soundcraft's UK sales manager Gary Dent it was decided to wait for the release of the GB8 - hopefully in time for the Centre opening on the 7 March 2005. The console was delivered within time - but Soundcraft lent Galeri a GB4 to enable the systems to be fully commissioned by Northern Light and for the new staff to learn the functionality of the GB series desks.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - One of the UK's more famous golf clubs, the links at Frinton-on-Sea, has given a high-tech boost to its old clubhouse, with the installation of Electrovoice EViD background music systems in several of its bars and function rooms.
Installation company Xtreme Audio Visual, based just down the road in Clacton-on-Sea, has designed a zoned system using off-white coloured EViD 6.2 and 4.2 compact full-range speakers. The small but highly stylized speakers have been fitted in the main club bar and into the club's function room, as well as the Ladies' Dining Room and the Bridge Room.
"All the cables have been hidden," explains Craig Wiggins of Xtreme, "and the speakers have been painted off-white so that they blend in really nicely with the existing décor. We were keen to have very low visibility in a traditional environment like this, so it's great that the members actually like the look of the EViDs and tell us that, audio-wise, the end result is a big improvement."
A Cloud Z4 zoner controls the system, and Xtreme has also supplied a radio mic and speakers on the terraces to enable presentations to go ahead outside the clubhouse.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Stage Electrics London has complete the move into its new shop, after more than 12 months at its Long Lane premises. "We wanted to give our customers easier access to the facilities at Stage Electrics," says Linda Moore, head of sales and marketing for the company. "We have the added value of parking at the rear of the building where we now have customer access to the shop and hire warehouse."
There have also been some additions to the team at Long Lane. Stephen Bray has joined as sales manager for the branch. Bray has come to Stage Electrics from a background in sound, most recently at Media Tools. Also, James Morris has joined as a customer service representative after working at Vodafone. Bray and his team will shortly be holding a series of open evenings to introduce products and services now available from London.
Pictured left to right are: Ed Gambrill - warehouse technician, Darren Beckley - business development manager, James Brace - customer service representative, Stephen Bray - branch sales manager, Chris Patton - business development manager, Jonathan McMullan - customer service representative, James Morris - customer service representative, Ben Noble - warehouse technician and Alex Keighley - branch hire manager.
(Lee Baldock)
Germany - At the Frankfurt ProLight&Sound exhibition next month (6-9 April), German distributor Camco will be hosting the exhibition display of its most high-profile line, the sound reinforcement products of Nexo. These will be shown alongside Camco's own acclaimed power amplifier designs and network control software.
One of the most popular models in the range is the Vortex 6, which has this year powered world tours by Metallica, Marilyn Manson, and Slipknot, with Robert Plant and Garbage getting ready to tour with Camco racks. The Vortex 200V is the latest addition to the line: specified at more than 3kW per channel RMS at 4 Ohms, the Vortex 200V delivers voltage at the output of 200V per channel.
The Tecton Series has won new converts to Camco's High-Efficient-SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) design concept, the company says. The Tecton models, targeted at the sound contractor and rental company market, deliver the same standards of performance, low dynamic distortion and superior sound quality that characterise the Vortex range, according to the company, but in a more accessible price bracket. Now featuring seven models, from 2 x 300W/4 Ohms, the range is optimized for use with either higher or lower impedances, and all models offer three operational modes: parallel mono, bridged mono and stereo. All Tecton amplifiers are compact and light, weighing just 10kg in a 2U chassis.
As industry momentum gathers around remote control systems and networking protocols, Camco's Wincai remote control software has improved graphics, a modern ergonomic user interface,
UK - Workwear manufacturer Setwear has announced the availability of EasyFit 2 - a tough yet flexible glove made from 0.5mm synthetic leather with durable gel foam padding in the palms for extra grip and neoprene reinforcement over the knuckles for flexibility and protection, while Lycra panels between the fingers increase mobility and give extra comfort.
Machine washable and fast drying, these gloves allow you to dial your phone, tie knots and operate equipment without taking them off, say the company. The gloves "built for the needs of the technician working in the live entertainment industry" are now available from stockists in the UK and Europe.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - Loud Technologies Inc has announced the acquisition of St. Louis Music Inc, a Missouri-based manufacturer, distributor and importer of branded musical instruments and professional audio products. As part of this acquisition, St. Louis Music will become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Loud Technologies Inc.
Founded in 1922 by the Kornblum family, St. Louis Music's products include world-renowned Ampeg bass guitar amplifiers, Crate amplifiers, Crate Audio sound reinforcement equipment, Alvarez guitars and string instruments, and Knilling orchestral string instruments. The company is also one of the largest distributors of music accessories, offering retailers a complete line of branded accessory products.
"This acquisition demonstrates that Sun Capital Partners, our principal shareholder, is committed to the expansion of our portfolio into related markets," commented Loud's CEO Jamie Engen. "St. Louis Music has an impressive and well-respected family of brands that open up a number of significant new opportunities for Loud Technologies."
Engen continued: "Both companies share a strong commitment to our customers and employees, as well as mutual respect for our unique corporate heritage. By combining our collective resources under one corporate umbrella-from technology and manufacturing, to engineering, product development and marketing-we will work together to bring even more innovative new products to our customers."
St. Louis Music's existing CEO Gene Kornblum will remain in his current position and will report
USA - Beyoncé, at the 77th Annual Academy Awards show, broadcast live on ABC from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, February 27th, sang three of the Oscar-nominated original song, using her standard Sennheiser RF microphone, which pairs an SKM5000-N handheld transmitter with a Neumann KK 105-S capsule.
RF systems provider and frequency coordinator for the show, David Bellamy, whose Burbank-based Soundtronics Wireless company specializes in RF equipment rental for major entertainment, sports and broadcast events, supplied the remainder of the Sennheiser microphones and RF gear for the telecast. "We had SK5012 beltpack transmitters and SKM5000-N handhelds, plus EM3032 receivers," says Bellamy.
In addition to Beyoncé's own mic, Soundtronics Wireless supplied Sennheiser/Neumann hybrid handheld mics for host Chris Rock as well as for Josh Groban, who joined Beyoncé for a duet on 'Believe', the nominated theme from The Polar Express. Beyonce also sang "Vois Sur Ton Chemin" from Les Choristes (The Choir), in French, with the American Boychoir, and performed "Learn To Be Lonely" from The Phantom of the Opera accompanied by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber at the piano.
This year, veteran show producer Gil Cates arranged for a number of awards to be presented in the audience, rather than from the stage. According to Bellamy, those presenters not at the stage podium mics, accessorized with Sennheiser's extremely compact, miniature body pack transmitter. "All the ladies were wearing the 5012s, because t
Malaysia - One of Kuala Lumpur's newest clubs, the Rum Jungle, has been opened by Trend Matrix in the shadow of the Petronas Towers. Themed on the Malaysian ecosystem, tropical foliage envelopes the building's perimeters, reinforced in a cover of jungle mist, atmospheric lighting, water features, flaming torches, giant river boulders, and even a trapeze and a swing-rope.
Supplied by Electro-Systems Industries Pte Ltd, sound reinforcement for Rum Jungle offers the guests the most diversified acoustic experience to be found on the strip. Planning the sound reinforcement for the different areas (main room, VIP area, dining area, foldback for stage) meant using different speakers to perform the various audio tasks: because of its open-air architecture, designing the live sound reinforcement for the main room posed some acoustic challenges especially as the room's seating was on two levels and with a huge wooden roof more than 15m high. The demanding concert-like delivery required for the stage's FOH is superbly handled by using Nexo's PS15 loudspeaker systems.
For the Main Room, two drops of two Nexo PS15 MKII and two Nexo PS15B (bass) are arrayed in a Top-Bass-Top-Bass configuration for each of the Left/Right FOH columns. Two Nexo Alpha AL-S2-CF sub-basses were placed at L/R of stage with four Logic System LM15 (600W) stage monitors providing Foldback duties. All the FOH and foldback speakers are powered by Camco Tecton 38.4 and Camco Vortex V6 power amplifiers. The elevated DJ booth is situated facing the stage and houses the soundman's Allen & Heath GL3300-832 L
France - To be launched at ProLight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt next month (6-9 April), InnovaSon's new range of interfaces allows for greater connectivity between InnovaSon consoles and third party compatible products whilst at the same time increasing the I/O capabilities of the Sy80 and Sy48 digital mixing consoles considerably, say the company.
As yet un-named, the first product in the range provides a link for 64 bi-directional audio channels between the DSP cards of two InnovaSon consoles using an EtherSound interface card. Alternatively the same cardset can be used to access up to 64 channels of audio from external devices via EtherSound, or to connect to a second InnovaSon stage box which, InnovaSon tells us, will be available shortly, after the first audio links ship.
The interfaces comprise a host daughter card attached to an Sy80 or Sy48 DSP module that can hold two audio interface cards. The first product in the range uses one of these card slots to interface 64 bi-directional EtherSound channels that can be accessed and controlled directly from Sensoft, InnovaSon's console operating system. The second slot is for future expansion with a range of card options planned. These include a second EtherSound 64-channel network (or the duplication of the single network for redundancy); on-board EtherSound to fibre conversion, and a link card for running a second DSP within the same audio rack to further increase the mix capabilities of the consoles.
The first of the new interface card sets will be shipping Q3 2005 and will also be available as an upgrad
Germany - A new German distribution company has been formed by Hans-Joachim Rockel, Christian Schiele and Jan Wintersberg. Working with ProdyTel, of Fuerth, Germany, the new company, also called ProdyTel, has been formed to distribute the company's 'Audio via TCP/IP' solutions worldwide, as well as a portfolio of other products including Clearone audio-conferencing products in Germany.
The company emphasizes the modern direction of ProdyTel as an IT/AV distribution company. In Germany, it will offer solutionsincluding Clearone and Gentner audio-conferencing; CUE media remote control systems; Teldat WAN-routers, switches and merchant gateways; ProdyTel audio via TCP/IP solutions, and S-Cluster; and Prodys IP codecs, E1/T1 multiplexers and ISDN Codecs.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - When the Imperial War Museum in London needed lighting to enhance the launch of its new touring exhibition, Their Past Your Future, TPYF communications manager, Sarah Dowd, turned to White Light Events, following the successful collaboration between White Light and the Museum on the 1940's House exhibition in 2001.
Their Past Your Future is a new educational project led by the Imperial War Museum, and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, which aims to inspire people of all ages to discover the Second World War, how it shaped and altered the world's course, and why it is still relevant now and in the future. It is now showing in nine different locations around the UK, including: Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford, Kent, Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Forest of Mercia Innovation Centre, Staffordshire, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Ministry of Defence at Whitehall, Rhyd-y-Car Leisure Centre, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Royal Ulster Rifles Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland, West Dunbartonshire Town Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, The exhibitions will move to a further 60 venues over the next year.
For the exhibition's national launch, White Light Events' lighting designer and project manager Matt Holliday had to light both the exterior and the interior of the building, with the ground floor used for VIP presentations and a drinks reception for 250 guests, and the exterior hosting vintage World War II vehicles. His design for the event included ETC Source Fours, PAR64s, a Robert Juliat Marius followspot and W
UK - As tight timescales go, it was a test of spirit and ingenuity for Environ Audio, working closely with its supplier Harman Pro UK. The two companies collaborated to supply and install 43 South Molton Street - a new, exclusive private members club - with a top quality audio system in time to open for a party the next night!
The venue - designed by the award winning Russell Stage - features an event/party space in the basement, a restaurant on the ground floor and a lounge on the top two floors. It's independently owned by three young entrepreneurs who understand the importance of good sound.
They chose Environ's sound design - created by classical musician and acoustic engineer Dan Eades - based on a package of Harman products including JBL, dbx and Crown - above others, even though it wasn't the cheapest. However quality-wise, it came closest to what they wanted to achieve with their brand.
The installation had to be completed in lightening quick time for the opening party. The project was confirmed on the Friday with Environ, who immediately placed its order with Harman, who delivered the kit to site on the Monday morning. Environ's A Team then worked very fast to get everything completed in time for doors that evening.
The system consists of four JBL Control 30 speakers and six JBL Control 25 AVs, dotted around the intimate interior, plus an SRX 718 sub, concealed in a scenic surround. Eades chose JBL because of its silky, rich sound and the uniform continuity between products across the range. "They wanted it loud and assertive" he explains,
UK - When the Met Office relocated from Bracknell just over a year ago to its new purpose-built £80m 33,000sq.m headquarters in Exeter, one of the facilities it wanted to radically upgrade was its conference provision.
Four new conference areas have been built and the configuration now allows a large 250-seat theatre to be divisible into two separate spaces, with a smaller 60-seat space (which can equally be divided into two separate theatres).
Costain-Skanska Joint Venture, awarded the contract to supply audio to Impact Marcom, which chose to design the audio infrastructure around Symetrix SymNet DSP processing power. The Met Office recently hosted an international conference on how best to minimize the impacts of climate change at which over 200 delegates assembled in the main auditorium.
With high emphasis placed on routing and signal distribution, SymNet became the preferred DSP matrix solution, largely because of the cost-effectiveness of the system's Break-In and Break-Out boxes. It is also the favoured system of Impact Marcom's sub-contractor Tony Marder (Audiovisual Southwest), who was also appointed the commissioning engineer and fulfils any temporary auxiliary production requirements the Met Office may have.
The emphasis was on a simple operation; the ability of having the extra Break-In/Break-Out boxes for the relative cost gave SymNet the competitive edge. The sources were born out of a basic requirement in each room - with radio mics, lectern mics and floor sockets for table mics, as well as VCR, DVD and PC, with standard laptop inputs, operatin
UK - LMC Audio Systems, London has sold 12 channels of Audio-Technica Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF, true-diversity wireless microphone systems, to Onyx Presentations, the Middlesex based presentation and conference hire company.
The sale represents the first of A-T Artist Elite 5000 Series wireless systems by LMC into the corporate AV market, and a first time purchase for Onyx Presentations. The purchase was part of a continuing expansion of the company's conference hire AV systems. The switch to Audio-Technica was the result of client feedback, concerning the suitability of existing wireless microphone systems for conference applications.
"People were reporting finding the capsules on our existing systems too large and heavy, particularly for female presenters," explains managing director Paul Gilley. "We had seen an advert for the Artist Elite series, and arranged for a demo from LMC. It was then that we discovered the PC control elements, the automatic frequency set up, and the Ethernet link, for building multi-channel configurations; all features not available to us with our previous systems."
Steve King, sales manager LMC, points to "the build quality, discrete and extremely lightweight bodypacks, and the ease of operation and user benefits of the monitoring software", as major advantages of the AEW-5000 Series for conferencing and presentation applications
Onyx Presentations' system comprises, six AEW-R5200 true diversity, frequency-agile dual receivers, 12 AEW-T1000 UniPak bodypack transmitters, six AEW-T4100 dynamic hand
The Netherlands - The Cultuurpodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands, recently invested heavily in new equipment, deciding in favour of systems from Midas and Klark Teknik. The team from Midas Consoles Holland, led by Axel Nagtegaal delivered a Midas Heritage 48-channel console, a Klark Teknik Helix digital EQ and five Klark Teknik DN-370 graphic EQs just in time for the venue's New Year's Eve party.
The Cultuurpodium Boerderij has a long and eventful history, but since the 1990s, it has settled into the role of a modern, multi-functional cultural centre, with a programme which includes found dance events, cabarets, theatrical performances and concerts representative of a wide variety of musical genres. In addition to the large 750-seater main hall, the Cultuurpodium Boerderij boasts a second, smaller venue for live music: the Podium Café, which has a capacity of around 100. Due to appear in the coming months are the Dave Weckl Band, Thin Lizzy and the Alan Parsons Live Project.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - A sound system upgrade for the 1,200-seat Community Theatre of New Jersey in Morristown presented a puzzle to newly hired staff audio engineer and technical director Jonathan 'JP' Peirce. Faced with a number of challenges - problematic acoustics, a limited budget, and strict aesthetic requirements - all proposed loudspeaker systems fell short in one way or another. Finally, when Peirce decided to "think small," the pieces of the puzzle fell together around an elegant solution based on Meyer Sound M1D ultra-compact curvilinear arrays.
The new FOH system is anchored by 12 M1D cabinets per side for the orchestra level, with a centre array of eight M1D cabinets and two M1D-Sub ultra-compact subwoofers covering the balcony. Peirce had first looked traditional Meyer MSL-4 clusters: "But it just wasn't right for this room," says Pierce. He then looked at the M2D compact curvilinear array: using Meyer Sound MAPP Online software and working in consultation with Meyer Sound's Design Services department, Peirce fashioned an M2D design, then asked Masque to bring out M2Ds for an on-site audition. The system sounded superb, but further analysis revealed that the number of cabinets required to achieve full and even coverage of the entire room would exceed the power requirements of the room - and also break the budget.
Still enthused about the potential of M Series arrays, he thought smaller. The Theatre already had M1Ds as front-fills, so Peirce next investigated the possibility of an M1D-based main FOH system. Returning to MAPP Online, he experimen
UK - Raymond Gubbay's perennial opera-in-the-round offering at London's Albert Hall utilized a TiMax audio delay matrix and showcontrol system to help create authentic and transparent vocal reinforcement for principals and chorus vocals. Directed by David Freeman and accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Peter Robinson, this was Gubbay's second Albert Hall presentation of Carmen, with sound reinforcement by Autograph and sound design by Bobby Aitken.
Bizet's romantic tragedy was translated into English to appeal to a broader opera-going audience, so mandated TiMax's unique use of multiple precedence delays to enhance intelligibility through precise vocal localization. This "source-oriented reinforcement" technique ensures each audience member will localize to the performers' acoustic vocal output from the stage just a few milliseconds before receiving any amplified sound. The multilayered speaker arrays consisted of 16 groups of Meyer UPM's distributed overhead on a grid and 14 d&b E3's concealed under grilles in the stage itself.
The TiMax PC-based showcontrol system allowed multiple cues to be programmed in rehearsal with precedence delays preset for each performer's stage location in a given scene. As the various artists moved around the stage, sound engineer Richard Sharrat triggered the scene presets from a dedicated PC numeric keypad next to his Digico D5 console, so that TiMax stepped through its playlist cues to follow the action.
The TiMax 16x32 Rack System was rented to Autograph under Out Board's Production Sup
UK - Proel has added two enclosures to its highly successful, lightweight NEXT series. The new models, featuring 8 and 15" woofers respectively, come in active and passive versions and complete the polypropylene housed NEXT series.
Available in 4 and 8 ohm versions, the passive NEXT 8FP features an eight inch European-made driver with a diecast aluminium basket, with a one inch compression driver and will handle 160W (AES), delivering a maximum SPL of 121dB. Custom 12dB/Octave crossovers and premium speakers ensure superb sound quality.
The bi-amplified active version, the NEXT 8FBA, delivers an impressive 150W + 50W power (AES) and in common with all amplified NEXT models features thermal, DC voltage and short-circuit protection, as well as a subsonic filter, soft start and RF filtering.
The NEXT 15 versions come with the same options, but deliver considerably more power. Using premium European-made neodymium drivers coupled to 1" compression drivers, they will handle 400W AES and deliver an SPL of 127dB. The NEXT 15HBA (active) comes with identical features to the 8FBA, but adds 400W + 100W onboard power.
All Proel NEXT active models have an inbuilt pre-amp with three separate balanced input channels, allowing users to directly connect microphones and/or instruments without the need for an external mixer. An XLR balanced Out is provided, allowing users to send the mixed signal to other NEXT speakers, and there is onboard 2-band EQ.
Lightweight polypropylene housings make for extreme ruggedness coupled with easy transportability and the trapezoid
Qatar - It wasn't quite a royal command performance, but Sennheiser microphones made an appearance at the wedding celebrations for Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar, son of His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. The 12-hour party, for the prince's bride-to-be, featured a 45-piece Iraqi orchestra and a stage full of Sennheiser Evolution Series wired and RF microphones, as well as wireless personal monitor systems. Created, designed and produced by special event planners Colin Cowie Lifestyles of New York, the extravagant celebrations took place at the bride's palace, one of four in the Qatar royal family compound in the capital city of Doha.
"There was nothing on the stage but Sennheiser," reports Scott Scherban, project manager and audio crew chief for Delicate Productions of Camarillo, California, who provided the event production systems. An octagonal stage, located at the focus of a 66,000sq.ft. semi-circular area constructed on the palace gardens especially for the event, featured Sennheiser Evolution Series e614 condenser microphones for the string section, along with e602, e604, e609, e865 and e903 instrument mics, as well as six Evolution Wireless SKM365G2 RF handheld vocal mics, four ew300IEMG2 wireless personal monitor setups, and thirty Sennheiser wired headsets.
"There were twenty Sennheiser e614s for condenser overheads on the string section," elaborates Scherban. "There were sixteen strings, four cellos, an eight-piece choir, a drum kit, bass guitar, and two keyboard rigs. The rest
UK - The London branch of LMC Audio has supplied a large order of Soundcraft mixing consoles to audio visual specialists Onyx Presentations. LMC's Steve 'Bunty' King confirmed that eight GB4's - in 16 and 32-channel frame sizes - and a pair of the new 48-channel GB8's had been purchased by the Sunbury-based company, a long-standing Soundcraft house, as it looked to upgrade its fleet by retiring some of its older K1 and K3 desks.
Commented King: "The feature set of the GB4 is fantastic; the EQ has been greatly enhanced, and unlike other consoles in this market it contains a matrix section." Onyx presentations hire manager, Craig Theaker, agreed that the company had made the right decision in holding back its purchasing decision until the GB4 became available: "We waited for a year, and it's been one of the better decisions we've made, the two 32-channel desks, which backed up the six 16-channel GB4's, went straight out on a corporate project in Barcelona. It wasn't so much a cost issue as the fact that the other desks we looked at didn't have the matrix facility." As for the GB8, which follows a similar template to the GB4 but contains a meter bridge, four stereos and eight sub groups, Theaker says: "We are starting to do large scale work in larger venues such as Alexandra Palace, as well as working closely with other production companies - and these will be ideal." He added that where possible Onyx attempt to crew all hires using freelance engineers. "We always take on board what engineers have to say about equipment and all are d
Germany - With effect from today, Sennheiser GmbH & Co KG, located in Wedemark, Germany, has taken over the marketing and development divisions of Klein & Hummel GmbH, located in Ostfildern, Germany, including all product rights and brand use. This move will be represented by a newly founded company, K&H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH.
During its 60-year history, Klein & Hummel has developed a strong reputation for its studio monitors and other products including installed sound systems. In the past, Sennheiser has been Klein & Hummel's key distribution partner. With its existing core competencies, a worldwide distribution network and the newly gained K&H products, Sennheiser is now strengthening strengthens its position as a full-line supplier of electro-acoustic systems. Together with K&H's sister company Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin, Sennheiser "represents the upper echelon of acoustic systems", the company says.
Sennheiser has assigned Achim Gleissner, director future concepts of Sennheiser, president of the new company. "The integration of K&H into the Sennheiser network positions us to be a full-line supplier in electroacoustics," comments Achim Gleissner. "It further supports our commitment to meet the growing and comprehensive needs of our global customers."
As one of the world's leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems, the Sennheiser Group with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, had total sales of over 237 million in 2003, with an export share of a
UK - Yamaha has introduced its first portable PA with the introduction of the Stagepas 300, designed to meet the increasing ' multi -use' demands of a variety of venues and institutions. Stagepas brings Yamaha's technology into a convenient, portable system that can be set-up and operated by anyone with little or no technical knowledge, say the company. Stagepas offer ultra-compact, 2-way designs with an easy-to-use eight-channel stereo mixing console. The system is also ideal for multimedia corporate presentations.
Each speaker contains an 8" woofer and 1" compression driver, driven by a 2x150W professional Yamaha power amplifier. The mixing console features balanced XLR connectors, microphone/line switches and balanced quarter-inch jacks. Two-band EQ provides flexible tone control and a 24-bit digital reverb further enhances sound fidelity. Connectors for tape recorders, CD players are located on the front panel. The high impact moulded cases include rear compartments that house the mixer, cabling and accessories.
(Lee Baldock)