Skan PA Hire has completed its first tour as a certified dV-Dosc Provider (CDP). The company’s new system, comprising 24 dV-Dosc, eight dV-Subs, eight SB218 Subs, and four ARCS, all powered by LA48a amplifiers, was used over a three-week period across the UK and Ireland for the Mel C tour. The diverse nature of the venues showed the true versatility of the dV-Dosc system allowing Certified V-Dosc Engineer (CVE) Mark Ballard who was also mixing FOH to fly, groundstack, or combine the system as the audience geometry dictated. Mark comments: "I was really pleased to learn that Chris Fitch had decided to invest in an L-Acoustics dV-Dosc system. I knew right then that I was going to have great tour."
Paul Nicholson from L-Acoustics UK adds "over the past eighteen months, SKAN have looked at virtually every speaker product available on the Pro Audio market. Their final conclusion was that dV-DOSC provided the most complete solution for the work that they had booked. They preferred the clarity and accuracy of the system, which derives from the patented WST technology, a unique feature of L-Acoustics line source arrays. Combined with the tremendous power and flexibility of the small format system, and the fact that they would be joining the CDP Network, it was a complete Turnkey solution for their market needs."
The Mel C system was turned around overnight for the Ladysmith Black Mambazo tour (22 shows in City Halls and theatres 1,800-4,500 capacity), and will then go straight out on a series of 10 outdoor classical concerts with an average audience
UK - TSC Music, the specialist provider of background and foreground music systems, has teamed up with Thomas Bennett Community College (TBCC) to provide valuable work experience to one of its most promising music students. The Crawley-based company has opened its doors to music student Sophie Killick for a week to work with its music production team to gain first-hand experience of working in the ‘music biz’, learning the art of sound engineering, mixing and CD duplication as well as the administrative side of the business.
TBCC head of music, Bernie Steponitis said: "The aim behind Sophie’s placement with TSC Music was to give her the opportunity to work within a professional music company to learn what the ‘music biz’ is all about and utilize the experience she gains to further her music studies at Thomas Bennett as well as any career in the music industry she may decide to pursue in the future."
TSC managing director Neal Abdool said: "As part of our corporate values we feel that it is important for us as a local business to reinvest in the local community. Having established a close relationship with TBCC over a number of years, we are delighted to be in a position where we can provide its music students with an opportunity to sample what we do and give them an insight into the commercial world of the music business. Our own recording studio engineer William Bone is in fact a past student of Thomas Bennett and one of Bernie Steponitis’s top music technology graduates.
Sophie is 15 and currently studying Mu
UK - Arbiter Pro Audio, exclusive UK distributor for JBL, has supplied a variety of JBL audio elements to the new Luminar Leisure flagship multi-scene Oceana venue in Kingston-on-Thames.
The 2,200 total capacity venue has an multi-themed environment, with seven imaginatively designed rooms, ranging from the jazzy, still-life, red French Boudoir suite to the massive 1,000 capacity Vienna Ballroom. The latter is complete with an enormous chandelier centrepiece, opulent feeder bar hall and grand sweeping staircase entrances.
Audio contractors were Liverpool-based Over Audio, who chose JBL speakers for Oceana's main areas - the Vienna Ballroom and the New York Disco area. The requirement for powerful large-volume enclosures for the spherical Vienna Ballroom, which also has a large baclony/VIP area, prompted the selection of JBL Sound Power SP225-6s to make up the room’s two main speaker stacks - six per stack.
The Ballroom is in a listed part of the building that now encompasses Oceana, dating back originally to the Art Deco heyday of the early 1930s. Consequently nothing could be bolted to the ceilings or walls, and the main sound system is ground stacked, with all speakers ensconced in customized scenic enclosures.
Sound design in a circular room is always a great challenge, and the Sound Power speakers, with their twin 15" (0.38m) woofers and 70° horn were chosen for both directional qualities and efficient dispersion. This room is completed with four ground-stacked JBL Sound Power SP128 subs for plenty of hard driving bottom end, to pump up the B
Austria - The new MAXmodular from AKG is a compact all-round loudspeaker designed specifically for setting up small, mobile sound systems. Ideal for seminars, exhibition booths, or vocalists and instrumentalists performing at small clubs, the 60W powered speaker features an integrated three-channel mixer and a built-in rechargeable battery for 10 to 14 hours of operation where no power outlet is available.
A half-rack size installation compartment lets you mount an optional AKG wireless receiver of your choice. In addition, you can also connect a hardwire microphone, instrument or external audio source such as a CD or cassette player, and a recording device. All inputs provide separate, independent volume controls.
(Lee Baldock)
France - InnovaSON, manufacturer of digital mixing consoles for live sound, has appointed Nick Cook as sales and marketing director. Cook has 25 years’ experience in the pro-audio business starting his career as professional recording engineer before joining Solid State Logic (head of sales, Western Division), Fairlight ESP (director of European operations) and Amek/DAR (sales and marketing director). He joins InnovaSON from Insonify, a development and licensing company supplying streaming media solutions for mobile telecoms, where he was commercial director.
"Nick's audio industry experience will help us capitalize on the rising demand for digital live mixing consoles and enable us to broaden our international scope and access new markets," said InnovaSON co-founder Philippe Royer. "His sales and marketing experience will be very valuable assets to establish InnovaSON as one of the top digital live mixing desk manufacturers." Philippe Delacroix, managing director of Digigram, added: "Since Digigram acquired 100% of InnovaSON in 2002, we concentrated first on technical and industrial improvements, which led to new products of exceptional quality. Nick will help us now to achieve the same excellence in sales and marketing."
(Ruth Rossington)
Spain - The launch of the new Jaguar XJ to global dealers took place in Sotogrande recently. The event location included four semi-permanent structures, each individually designed to cater for a different aspect of the launch. The three-day event ran back-to-back for 12 dealer and corporate rotations of 90 followed by two-day events for 12 dealer training rotations of 60, with everyone having the opportunity to test-drive the new Jaguar XJ on routes encompassing the stunning scenery provided by the Andalucian landscape.
AT Communications provided all audio-visual equipment and experienced technical operators for the event - including two newly-acquired Christie Roadster X9 projectors. Among the first to be used anywhere in the world, these new three-chip DLP devices were stacked, and detailed to project video and data (Powerpoint) displays.
The rental company favoured these multimedia projectors in view of their incredible power (outputting 8500 lumens of light), in combination with their compactness, measuring no more than the size of an X4 or X6 projector. In fact the X9 is the brightest and most cost-effective XGA projector in its class, delivering exceptional image clarity and colour uniformity. A super-reliable power supply and lamp ballast provides consistent power to the lamp, while the X9 can also project a digital signal from source to
In Sotogrande, a conventional 3m wide, 16:9 aspect ratio rear projection screen was sited in the main auditorium. The centre section of the auditorium then opened up to provide a walkthrough into a Studio area, where
Sweden - Lighting, sound and AV specialist Fremlab AB of Helsingborg, Sweden, has been appointed distributor for the Showmagic show control system by Bradford, UK-based Dial. Tomas Nilsson will be responsible for ShowMagic at Fremlab.
The first installation in of ShowMagic in Sweden is at a corporate site - the showroom of GPA-Plast, where ShowMagic is controlling a projector, motorscreen, darkening blinds, DMX-transformers in the roof (nine different channels), and the nine different areas of the company’s product display. The system is controlled via a 15" touchscreen, while a second screen serves as the operator’s monitor.
Managing director of GPA-Plast, PerOlow Jansson, says: "We are very happy with the solution that Fremlab have supplied. We first looked at a Crestron-based system, but the cost felt huge. With ShowMagic we found the same control at a fraction of the price."
Fremlab’s managing director, Carl-Fredrik Malmgren, commented: "We feel the potential for this program to be large in Sweden - many customers want a control system, but are not ready to pay for what other control systems on the market cost."
(Lee Baldock)
Asia-Pacific - David McKinney joins the International Division of Biamp Systems to service the Asia/Pacific region. McKinney was formerly the European regional sales manager for BSS Audio and held a variety of sales management positions during his tenure. He holds a BSc in Electronic Music and Electronics from The University of Keele, Staffordshire, UK.
"David’s background is a perfect fit for our needs in the Asia/Pacific Region," says Graeme Harrison, VP of international sales. "He has a strong technical background and his experience in managing a variety of international customers gives him the necessary experience to handle the diverse markets like the Far East."
McKinney, who will be relocating to Malaysia, commented: "I am truly excited to be joining Biamp. Everything I see and hear about the new Audia line tells me that this is a good move. The design and engineering of this product line makes it easy to present and to sell."
(Lee Baldock)
Morocco / Spain - L-Acoustics has announced that Encom, of Morocco, and Take Off Audio, of Spain, are joining the company’s team of international distributors. Rachid Mediouni, the Chairman of Encom, created the company 10 years ago and as a result knows the National market very well. "Being suitably versed in all aspects of AV Technologies, we can now bring an added value and dimension to the company and to the national pro audio market through the use of L-Acoustics WST and Coaxial lines."
Morocco as a country is prolific in terms of local festivals, traditional music, and cultural events, which sit comfortably alongside the growing tourist market sector. Gauthier Dalle, L-Acoustics regional sales manager, comments: "Our collaboration with Encom shows that L-Acoustics has taken an important step forward in Africa, through Magreb."
Covering continental Spain, Take Off Audio are based in Barcelona. The members of the company have a long experience of pro audio distribution and a deep knowledge of the Take Off Audio comments: "We want to be at the forefront of the current technology audio evolution." This is the reason why the distribution of L-Acoustics products seemed logical, giving us the tools to respond to the high National demand, and also to the many cultural events, tours and festivals which happen every year."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Late May sees the launch of the Platinum TwinTrak Pro, the latest member of the award-winning Focusrite Platinum range. Designed principally as an affordable, high-specification dual mono/stereo tracking device, TT Pro, (as it's known), also boasts comprehensive latency-free monitoring, high performance digital connectivity, and all within a sturdy 2U 19" rack-mount chassis.
Each channel features Focusrite's award-winning Platinum pre amp, embellished with the option of instant 'air' and variable input impedance for improved microphone performance and extended creativity. A Mid-scoop EQ follows, and provides variable frequency and depth of cut for vocal problem solving and miked-up cabinet ambience. In pride of place is TT Pro’s powerful dual mono/stereo optical compressor. This features Focusrite's custom fast-acting optos, alongside side-chain inputs and the ability to operate as a true 'twinned' stereo pair. These circuit design innovations are complemented by a comprehensive set of focused controls.
TT Pro is the first Platinum to feature a D/A converter as standard, alongside its optional analogue to digital converter. The D/A converter enables the user to feed mono or stereo digital signals into TT Pro. These signals can be fed either into the stereo Latency-free Monitoring section, or via line inputs for further processing. The signal can then return to the digital audio workstation via Focusrite's established stereo A/D converter option.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - The Coronet, a 2,100 capacity, three-level multi-purpose entertainment facility, opened recently in south London. The venue’s £2m refurbishment programme is one of the first in a series of regeneration projects in the vicinity of Elephant and Castle, SE1.
The building in which the Coronet is housed was built in 1872 as the Theatre Royal. Following a fire, it reopened in 1879 as the Elephant & Castle Theatre, seating over 2,000 people. It was here that Charlie Chaplin first took to the stage as a child, and, in fact, the pub next door is named after the silent movie hero. Later remodelled as a 2,315-seat cinema (1931) and modernized as an ABC cinema (1967), the venue became The Coronet in 1997 - eventually closing in 1999.
Jeremy Millins, MD of the Pure Group, realized the potential of the venue two years ago. He contacted investor and theatre producer Dominic Madden, who formed Coronet Refurbishment Ltd and subsequently acquired the venue. He then employed Pure Management and Consultancy to co-ordinate the project and run the venue - the team includes marketing and promotions manager Angela Reed, formerly of London venue Heaven, and independent club and live entertainment booker Dan Norman.
The venue’s stunning interior design is the work of letting architects/design consultants Kracka, and it has been styled to focus on two main areas: firstly as a club, live music venue, movie theatre and performance space, and secondly as a corporate event and conference facility. One of the key factors in this is the flexibility of its technical systems, with ba
UK - Multiple award-winning Brit band Coldplay, supported by Feeder and Ian McCulloch, recently played to sell-out audiences at Earls Court in London with a total of five Midas consoles in attendance, all supplied by Tour Tech. Coincidentally, the set-up featured a console from every Midas - an XL4 at FOH for Coldplay with a Heritage 3000 on monitors, a Legend 3000 on FOH for Feeder with an XL250 running monitors, and finally a Venice 320 for ex-Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch.
Daniel Green, who’s been at FOH for Coldplay for the last four years, feels it can hardly be called work. "The band is a pleasure to work with, and despite their massive success over the last couple of years, they’re still just a bunch of totally normal guys who are passionate about their music." However, Coldplay’s success has meant playing bigger and bigger venues and working with more and more sophisticated equipment, like for example, the XL4. During discussions with Tourtech, when they proposed an XL4, Daniel admits that he jumped at the chance.
David ‘Mags’ Hills, FOH engineer for Feeder, found himself behind Midas’s latest innovation, the new Legend 3000 multi-purpose console for the first time. "I was really looking forward to using it. In this instance I’m just running it as a traditional FOH desk, although now that I’m up to speed with it, I can appreciate the advantages it can offer in dual purpose applications." After a brief familiarization of the unique work surface, Mags found Legend easy to use.
UK - London’s jet set rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous at an exclusive party thrown by leather specialists Louis Vuitton to celebrate the launch of their fifth London store at the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 300 guests packed the venue over two floors to get on with the serious business of having a good time. Entertainment specialists Sound Division provided the audio system and DJ control equipment.
According to Sound Division's Chris Baxter who designed the sound system, the brief was fairly straightforward - to provide a compact, yet powerful, sound system with DJ control that would be capable of making itself heard over the noise of 300 people. "We had a slight problem during set-up in the form of a continual earth loop coming from the venue’s power supply. However, once we’d sorted that out, we achieved a tidy, precise install over two floors. The upstairs feed was very discreet with just a couple of Electro-Voice Sx80s powered by a PSL VE500 amplifier and a Spirit mixer. Downstairs, which was where the DJ was situated, we went for the more powerful Sx300s powered by a C-Audio ST600 amp. We also supplied a couple of SL1210 turntables MkIII, a Denon 1800 CD player and a JBL G2 powered monitor for the DJ plus, at his request, an Allen & Heath X:one 62 mixer, which seems to be a very popular choice at the moment."
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Sennheiser UK has introduced the HD280 Silver, a stylish new addition to its ever popular range of professional DJ headphones. HD280 is capable of reproducing bass down to an impressive 8Hz, while the ultra-sensitive neodymium equipped drivers deliver a precise linear frequency response, with 102dB maximum SPL. The closed design provides extremely effective ambient noise insulation.
The HD280 Silver features the same rugged and practical design characteristics of the Sennheiser professional headphone range - best known to DJs through the popular HD25 and HD25SPs - with easily replaceable parts, including the single side coiled cable and ear and headband padding. Unusually for headphones of such power and size, the lightweight HD280 Silvers are also able to close down to an easily transportable size with collapsible rotating ear-pieces providing for comfortable single-ear monitoring.
(Ruth Rossington)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me On A Sunday, starring Denise Van Outen at London’s Gielgud Theatre, was originally a hit album and television special written for Marti Webb in 1979, and later appeared in London and New York as one half of Song & Dance.
Produced by Bill Kenwright and The Really Useful Theatre Company, directed by Matthew Warchus and designed by Rob Howell, this latest production has been expanded to an evening’s entertainment and features five brand new songs.
Serviced by London-based Orbital Sound, the production features the company’s fifth Yamaha PM1D digital mixing console, which was purchased from dealer Marquee Audio. With three of Orbital’s other PM1Ds specified for other West End musicals - Bombay Dreams, Our House and Joseph - the Yamaha desk has certainly made its mark in top-flight theatre.
"Large format digital desks are now very established," says Orbital MD Chris Headlam. "In the three years since we started using them they have become the de facto standard - a top West End theatre tool - and Marquee Audio helped us make it happen. It’s bread and butter stuff to us now, and no longer feels like we’re sticking our necks out."
Having previously specified a PM1D, running v1.5 software on Bombay Dreams and subsequently on Saturday Night Fever, sound designer Mick Potter had little hesitation in placing it on the revival of Tell Me On A Sunday. At the Gielgud, the system includes a CS1D Control Surface running two DSP1D processing engines in mirror mode for the one-woman show. Den
UK - Studio design company Munro Associates has announced its consolidation to a Limited company, to allow for expansion and diversification into various acoustic fields, and will now operate under the new name of Munro Acoustics Ltd.
To mark the changes, Munro Acoustics Ltd has launched System Z, a completely integrated solution for audio facilities looking to maximize budgets while still adhering to all the international standards of acoustic performance. This new approach to studio building allows rooms to be designed specifically to meet the client’s requirements and to a guaranteed price. The modular concept allows both flexibility and efficiency of manufacture to exacting standards of finish and performance, while also ensuring minimum delivery and installation times.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Biamp Systems has recently opened the doors to its new Learning Centre located at its headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The 1300sq.ftspace has been specifically designed to provide each visitor with an in-depth experience of working with Biamp equipment.
"We knew that the Learning Center needed to serve a variety of audiences," said Ned Ludlum, technical training manager. "Our representatives, distributors, systems integrators and contractors - even our sales staff - require periodic updating of our product lines. This is particularly true with a product line as powerful as Audia, which requires certification. We find that people who have been using Audia since its introduction are still surprised at some of the capabilities built into the product. And we continue to enhance the software with added functionality. This Centre serves an important role in keeping everyone up-to-date with all of our products."
Biamp’s Learning Centre has 12 individual workstations and is wired for video switching so that classes can review various audio designs created by participants and analyze different approaches. Each training session is two days in duration and initially focuses on Audia training for certification purposes. Future classes will offer advanced Audia training and there are plans to expand the uses of the Learning Centre.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Autograph Sound Recording's busy hire department has undergone a major reshuffle, with Barry Channer joining as hire support engineer, Lee Dennison promoted to production sound engineer and Scott Arnold taking Dennison's place as hire department manager. Meanwhile David ffitch has moved out of the hire department to become Autograph's IT administrator.
Channer has been a familiar face at Autograph for some time, having worked as a freelance operator on many of Autograph's West End productions. His experience will prove invaluable. Dennison's new role will allow him the freedom to occasionally leave his day-to-day involvement in the every-busy hire operation to work on smaller engineering projects. Autograph has recently expanded its portfolio of West End plays and this new appointment is a timely response. Dennison has already overseen installations on My Brilliant Divorce, The Three Sisters, Auntie and Me and Brand.
David ffitch has worked for Autograph for four years, having spent 20 years in the theatre industry, taking 18 months out in 1998 to become a computer programmer. He will utilize his IT knowledge to help further integrate the computer world with the company’s core business.
These developments put Scott Arnold in complete control of the hire department, leading a team of five. As a former West End operator, and former member of Autograph's specialized service department, Scott is well placed to understand and respond to the needs of the company's clients.
(Ruth Rossington)
Ireland - Dublin-based CAVS (Corporate Audio Visual Services) have debuted their L-Acoustics dV-DOSC system outdoors for the first time. The event was the inaugural Medieval Festival at Slane Castle, which ran from the 9-11 May. CAVS provided 24 flown dV-DOSC cabinets, with eight dV-SUB, and eight 115FM monitors on the main stage for, amongst others, The Mediaeval Babes. All the cabinets were powered by L-Acoustics LA48a and LA24a amplifiers with processing by XTA and L-Acoustics LLCa controllers. CAVS also provided four L-Acoustics 115XT for the main jousting arena, and 4 MTD108a for the banqueting marquee, again both fully packaged systems.
Despite the usual problems with the elements, from the technical perspective the show was a great success allowing CAVS the opportunity to demonstrate how they can provide different audio solutions quickly and easily under the most demanding conditions. Fran Quigley, managing director of CAVS, comments: "All the systems were up and running in no time and covered every corner of the field, which as anybody who knows Slane will tell you, is huge. Hopefully, this will now become an important annual event in the outdoor calendar."
(Lee Baldock)
Worldwide - In the June issue of Lighting&Sound International, the Technical Focus section will be looking at Wireless Microphones.
The ever-increasing level of technology available has resulted in the increase in complexity of wireless systems. Simple VHF systems are being replaced with their, sometimes digital, microwave counterparts offering far superior audio and functionality. This article will go some way to giving the reader an insight into this new technology, explaining the methods and terminology. It will be followed by a brief profile of the main manufacturers and coverage of their key products.
If you would like your product to be featured in this report, please e-mail L&SI’s technical editor James Eade before Tuesday 27 May.
UK - Ampekko Ltd has completed acquisition of the Millbank Voice Evacuation Systems business from Federal Signal Ltd, a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation, the US-based, NYSE-listed company, with turnover in excess of US$1 billion, in a move which will form the largest UK-based voice evacuation products manufacturer and one of the fastest growing global players specialized in voice evacuation technology.
The two ranges of equipment are highly complementary, with Millbank’s Class D amplifiers and parallel banking solutions contrasting against Ampekko’s VxLAN control network and digitally controlled MAX series matrices. Ampekko’s Neil Voce commented: "There are so many strong Millbank products and some of them deserve to reach a wider audience - we are extremely keen to re-establish these products’ leading position and satisfy increased market demands."
Installations already employing either Ampekko or Millbank equipment include important sites such as Harrods department store in London, the UK Law Society London office and most major commercial high rise buildings throughout Canary Wharf in Docklands. "Combining the cutting edge technology of Ampekko’s current product line with Millbank’s global customer and distribution base positions us as the leading player in this market with the most comprehensive product range and a historical installation base that includes many of the world’s most important commercial structures," says Voce.
Since the tragic events of September 11, building systems manag
USA - The First United Methodist Church of Troy in Michigan has upgraded its front of house console to a 24 input, 12 buss Allen & Heath GL2200. The new console, chosen for its capabilities and competitive price, was supplied by Audio East in Dracut, Massachusetts.
Head of sound for the church, Jacob Lozier, installed the Allen & Heath live sound console as part of an upgrade that also saw the addition of Tascam CD recording and playback capabilities to the existing sound system, which features EAW speakers and Mackie amplifiers. The GL2200 offers dual-mode switching between FOH and monitor functionality, four subgroups, six auxiliary sends, and a four-band EQ section with switchable high pass filter.
Services at First Methodist range from the traditional, simply involving a pulpit microphone, to contemporary services with a full band, including drums and guitars. The console that was replaced by the GL2200 was unfortunately not up to the latter task, notes Lozier. "One of the reasons the upgrade happened was because the previous console was being overused for its capabilities." In contrast, he reports, the Allen & Heath is more than capable of handling both roles.
Lozier chose the GL2200 after a previous happy experience with it. "I'd used the GL2200 before and really enjoyed using it. It has great capabilities and a good range of use. I used it on an outdoor band performance and it was very capable of doing that, so I knew that it could handle an indoor facility, especially the size of this one." Services at First Methodist typically numbe
UK - Allen & Heath has launched version 3.1 of iDR System Manager, the Windows PC software which configures iDR hardware components into an integrated audio distribution system. Version 3.1 supports the forthcoming PL-7 (remote LCD) and PL-8 (4 in 4 GPIO) units from the PL series of remote control devices which supplement the iDR system, scheduled for release at the PLASA Show this September.
The new software has the additional features of 'draggable' curves for EQ and dynamics processing sections, cross over slopes in the output PEQ and a new cut and paste system whereby information appears on the toolbar, there is an undo paste feature and cut and paste functionality for PL devices.
New features also include password protection for the Ethernet and RS232 connections, centred windows, new front panel diagnostic options and a ‘plug and play’ ability if PL units are disconnected and reconnected. There is an IP Gateway support for internetworking connections to the iDR and range parameters have been added to the PL-Anet faders and rotaries. Once the software configures the iDR system, comprising a selection of iDR-8 units, iDR-in and iDR-out expanders, iDR-switch boxes, wall plates and other remote control devices, the PC is removed and settings and programmed ‘patches’ are saved to the central iDR-8 hardware unit.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Autograph Sales has sold the UK's first Symphotec OMS orchestral microphone system to classical music reinforcement specialist Sound By Design, which has purchased a touring system comprising 26 mics, 5-way and 1-way routers, stands, cables and self-contained flightcase.
Before purchasing the system, Sound By Design used it on a wide range of classical events including the Mountbatten Festival of Music featuring military bands, a UK tour by opera diva Lesley Garrett, Classic FM Live and Louis Hoover's Salute to Sinatra. As Symphotec OMS - introduced to the UK last October - has become more and more established, it is being increasingly specified by the classical sector, and looks likely to become a new standard for orchestral rental companies.
"When amplifying orchestral instruments, transparency, sonic quality and aesthetic appearance are of the utmost importance," says Andy Callin, Sound By Design's managing director. ‘Symphotec meets all these requirements, and as a package it does exactly what it claims to do. The first time we used it, we knew the 'loan' system wouldn't be going back!"
Symphotec systems have also been specified for high-profile projects such as BBC TV's Songs Of Praise special broadcasts from the Royal Albert Hall, and by Britannia Row on the annual Let's Praise! worship event at Wembley Arena, with sound designer Derrick Zieba. "The Symphotec concept has really caught people's imagination," says Autograph's technical manager Mike Mann. "The system has found fans in all sorts of applications. It's a