UK - Capital Radio's Capital Christmas Live event returned to Earls Court at the close of last year. All of the artists perform a live 20-minute set, rather than relying on playback, which requires some pretty nifty footwork from the production team.
John Probyn headed up the ClearChannel Entertainments team, working alongside Emma Hodgetts, who managed the event on behalf of Capital Radio. The two assembled a team of trusted suppliers with production manager Mark Ward and Kahren Williams at its vanguard.
Mark Ward explained: "There was a major transformation to this year's show, because for the first time it was televised on Christmas Eve. This brought changes to several aspects of the production, and meant that lighting became a major priority. We also added a second satellite stage to allow the presenters to be filmed whilst the stage was being set for the next act, reducing disruption to the flow."
The Show saw the six artists involved performing in pairs, with two breaks. Craig David and Will Young kicked off, David Gray and Miss Dynamite filled the centre spot with contrasting but very polished sets, whilst the final section featured Savage Garden's Darren Hayes and Ronan Keating.
Audio
It fell to Canegreen to take on Earls Court's challenging acoustics. Pete Hughes, recently recruited to the Canegreen fold was the company's project manager, overseeing the installation of the PA. Having worked in Earls Court before, Hughes was well aware of how idiosyncratic the venue could be so wisely invested time in some advance planning to achiev
UK - SSE Audio Group has taken delivery of the first production Nexi GEO T Tangent Array Systems - a total of 96 full-range Tangent Array cabinets and 24 CD-18 Controlled Directivity sub-bass units.
The order is a reflection of SSE's close involvement with the Nexo GEO Technology project, from the conceptualisation of the first tangent array devices, the GEO S Series launched in 2001, to the realisation of the GEO T Series and, in particular, its remarkable flying system, designed by Chris Beale, SSE's Group hire director. SSE has been field-testing GEO T full-range and sub-bass units since the summer of 2002, with the complete system fulfilling its potential most recently at the larger venues on Tori Amos' European tour. At Le Zenith in Paris, before a 7000-strong crowd, the SSE/Melpomen team flew single arrays of 17 T4805s on each side of the stage, with four CD18 sub-bass units. The system was entirely powered by Camco Vortex 6 digital amplifiers, with Nexo 241 digital processing.
SSE Audio Group has already deployed a 36-element GEO T system to Melpomen in France, to enable field evaluation to continue. In the UK, the first large-scale outing for the system will be for the rescheduled Oasis dates in early March. "The loudspeaker that has been planned and developed for so long has finally become a reality," Chris Beale of SSE told us. "In use, GEO T opens up new ways to address complex acoustic problems. Reverberant rooms can be tamed, environmental issues solved and new microphone techniques explored with results that were hitherto unobtainable
Australia - Sydney Opera House recently celebrated the opening of its sixth venue, the Forecourt - one of the city's most spectacular outdoor venues, situated on and around the Opera House steps. Throughout the summer, the Forecourt will host a diverse range of free and ticketed events - from the Sydney Symphony, jazz and rock concerts, folk and country music to unique large-scale participatory performances, all set against Sydney's impressive harbourside backdrop.
As the Forecourt will stage a diversity of productions, each with differing requirements, it was decided to initially hire the staging, starting with a domed stage supplied by Edwin Shirley Staging.
When it came to the lighting and audio equipment, the choice of equipment was driven by the fact that a versatile and modular production package could easily be utilized in other venues within the Opera House. "It's not just a lighting system," explained Phil Dunesky, stage lighting technical operations manager. "It's a power distribution system, it's a dimmer rack system and it's a patching system that can be put together or broken apart depending on how we want to use it."
Jands dimmers and power distribution provide the backbone of the system, and link neatly with the existing Jands HP12 dimmers in the Opera House's inventory. "They've all been racked up into individual roll cages that can stack into any form. We're also using Jands patch racks for 110 volt and 240 volt patching," added Peter Lockwood, lighting supervisor.
Central to the lighting specification are 32 Str
UK - Glasgow is the latest location for the development of McKenzie Group's Academy venue roll-out. Having taken over the 1920's art deco New Bedford Cinema just outside the city centre, they immediately committed £3 million to a conversion, which will see it fully operational by 26 March 2003 for the opening night with Deacon Blue.
To supply and implement the audio infrastructure, MKG's managing director, John Northcote, has again enlisted Shepperton Studios-based Marquee Audio, who first worked with the company on the conversion of Birmingham's Hummingbird to the Academy in Britain's second city two and a half years ago. The 2,500-capacity venue in Glasgow - purchased from Edinburgh-based development company EDI - will operate in three formats: as a full concert venue, a short hall arrangement and a full-on night club.
Marquee project managers, Spencer Brooks and Scott Wakelin, thus designed a reconfigurable system that would service all the venue's requirements, with a flexible cabling infrastrucure and facility panels, as well as industry-reference audio equipment that would immediately be familiar to touring bands and sound engineers. According to Spencer Brooks, the company has been able to spread the budget judiciously to allow them to pioneer new state-of-the-art equipment alongside industry-standard kit. They had already designed a cutting-edge monitor system for Carling Academy Bristol the month before - including Soundcraft's new MH3 multi-mode mixing desk, Yamaha PC amplifier series and DME-32 digital matrix processor, with the latest series of
UK - Entec Sound & Light supplied production co-ordination services and lighting and sound equipment for the UK and Irish leg of John Squire's hugely successful 'Time Changes Everything' tour. The tour has received much critical acclaim, and is the first time since Stone Roses' demise, that a former band member has performed much of the group's music publicly.
Despite the fact that many venues offered house sound and lighting systems, Steve Adj, John Squire's co-manager, and tour manager Martin Herbert, persuaded fellow manager Simon Moran to increase the budget, so that a consistent level of production could be ensured by means of a touring package. Entec won the contract and supplied Herbert with equipment and crew. The latter even included some Stone Roses stalwarts like Grub and Mouse from caterers Cat'n'Mouse, Stardes trucking and the unflappable Trapper as stage manager and backline tech.
Dave Byars was asked onboard as LD by Martin Herbert. The major challenge for the visuals department was the great variety of venues. Byars designed a practical, versatile scheme, adaptable on a daily basis to fit into anything from Manchester Academy to Glasgow Barrowlands - and plenty of oddities in between! Most venues offered no flying, so the rig was designed to be ground-supported with a series of mini beam trusses and stands. Fixture-wise, Byars chose 12 Martin MAC 500s and four MAC 600s as core elements, joined by four Molefays with scrollers and four strobes. Wherever there was a house rig, he would also utilize elements of that. Byars running his own Avolites Dia
Finland - Genelec has launched a giant active subwoofer - ideal for large surround sound or stereo installations. Known as the 7073A, it features four 305mm (12") drivers, fast-acting, low distortion amplifiers, an incredible 124dB sound pressure output, 19Hz lower cut-off frequency, plus a full 6.1-capable bass management system - so it can easily handle the most demanding high SPL applications. Essentially the 7073A has twice the sound pressure output of Genelec's previous largest sub-woofer, the 7071A.
All the new subwoofer's electronics are fully integrated into the cabinet, including the active crossover filters, driver overload protection circuits and power amplifiers. The integrated bass management system with its six inputs and outputs (L/C/R front and L/C/R rear), plus LFE input and summed signal output connectors is very flexible. The dedicated LFE input (which can be set to two bandwidths, 19-85 or 19-120Hz) has a low-pass filter selectable to 85 or 120Hz, plus a +10dB sensitivity switch. When the LFE channel carries frequencies above the crossover frequency, the system's 'redirect' function automatically sends these signals to the centre front output to ensure they are audible.
There is an integrated 85Hz test signal generator, making it easy to set-up the crossover alignment. Dual bass roll-off and phase matching controls mean the sub-woofer can be accurately tailored to different environments. The bass roll-off can be adjusted in 2dB steps, while the phase matching controls offer four positions, from 0 to -270 degrees. The low pass section of t
UK - Ignoring Arctic temperatures and driving blizzards, to say nothing of London Underground grinding to a halt, crowds packed out Leicester Square recently to catch a glimpse of the perfect couple of the moment, Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock at the premiere of their slick romantic comedy, Two Weeks Notice. The couple, along with co-stars David Haig, and Alicia Witt, attended the glittering after-premiere party for 450 guests held at the Asia de Cuba restaurant in St Martins Lane hotel. The Sound Division Group's hire department provided the sound system and DJ services for the event.
The main system comprised two JBL SRX 4702 mid/top loudspeakers, two JBL SRX 4718 subs and a C-Audio Pulse amplifier rack, with a further four EV Sx300 loudspeakers as room fills. DJ Control was courtesy of two SL1210 turntables MkIII, an Allen & Heath mixer, a Denon 1800 CD player and a JBL G2 powered monitor. According to Sound Division's Chris Baxter, the Asia de Cuba restaurant is not the most straightforward space to deal with. "We focused the main sound system on the dance area to achieve a club-like, up-front atmosphere, and then used the EVs as discreet room fills. The party went on well into the small hours, and it certainly looked as if everyone was enjoying themselves!"
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Stephen Hall has been appointed as managing director of UK rental and installations company RG Jones as part of a major management restructure of its operations in Wimbledon. Hire department manager John Carroll and financial adviser Max Cohen have also joined the board of directors.
Owner and chairman Robin Jones says: "In this industry it's important that companies continually evolve. This restructure passes the running of the company over to the hands of a young, dynamic and very experienced team. Stephen is the ideal person to lead the team and take the company forward. I wish him and the team every success."
Stephen Hall commented: "It's very exciting to be given the opportunity to further develop one of the longest established sound companies in the industry. Having been in the industry for over 25 years and having an association with RG Jones for nearly half of that, it feels very much like joining forces with an old friend."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Sennheiser UK's guidePORT Health & Fitness Partner, TrackTones Ltd, has won the Barclays Bank Award for Commercial Innovation 2003. The award was presented at the recent seventh annual London Innovation Awards ceremony at the British Library, to TrackTones inventor and managing director, Steve Parkin, by Minister of State for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, Stephen Timms MP, and Huw Evans, Barclays Bank Corporate Director of Technology, Media & Telecomms.
The invention, which earned Steve Parkin's company accreditation as Sennheiser's first guidePORT Health & Fitness Partner, incorporates the new Sennheiser guidePORT intelligent, wireless personal audio guide system in a product designed to enhance music delivery and improve performance benefits in health and fitness facilities.
TrackTones can provide up to 16 simultaneous high quality audio channels via the digital RF guidePORT system. It is able not only to enhance the psychological environment during exercise, but also to monitor and update individual music preferences by means of an interactive online delivery system.
Commenting on the award, Sennheiser director of sales Alan Johnson told us: "We've been working closely with Steve on the TrackTones project for some time and would like to congratulate him on this award. This development represents a fresh approach to the powerful features of the guidePORT system and, alongside the recent launch of the guidePORT Partner and Health & Fitness Partner schemes, underlines our belief that guidePORT can be used in a wide variety of applications."
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UK - Le Mark has developed a new fire retardant gaffer tape. Manufactured from high quality, waterproof, vinyl-coated cloth tape, with a natural rubber based adhesive, it has a special flame retardant coating. Offering high tensile strength, it conforms to Ford specifications - ESB-M3G71-B and S95GG14K024CA.
On a separate note, Le Mark's custom printing division had an incredibly busy start to 2003. January saw the production, for the first time, of a uniquely complicated multi-text identification label system for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Le Mark adapted its heavy-duty PAL Label identification system to meet the Philharmonic's requirement that every single piece of flight-cased equipment be uniquely named and identified with a reusable label. This required a total of 73 individual stencils to be produced and then screen printed.
(Ruth Rossington)
France - Since 2000, the French theme park Puy du Fou has used L-Acoustics sound systems. In 2001, the park enlarged its equipment inventory for the Gallo-Roman Stadium show, delivering a high quality and invisible sound experience for the audience.
Won over by the quality of the dV-Dosc system used on the Gallo-Roman Stadium show, the Puy du Fou decided in 2002 to bring the same audio signature to the Cinescenie, one of the biggest permanent stages in the world (3 acres, 14,000 capacity audience per show) and asked its technical team to chose an L-Acoustics system that could be adapted to the geography (an outdoor show arena with a lake in the middle, several different stage locations, night shows, totally exposed to the elements, etc) and to the audio requirements (high intelligibility and predictable directivity, off-site noise pollution, etc). The sound engineers eventually chose to work mainly with the dV-Dosc's big brother, V-Dosc; with its 90° horizontal directivity and maximum SPL of 146 dB for an array of just 4 cabinets, the V-Dosc is ideal for large-scale applications.
The Puy du Fou's sound manager Jocelin Bouchet explains: "This installation has been a real challenge: we had to maintain the authenticity of the park and the era of the show - namely between the Middle Ages and the Second World War - whilst also specifying and utilizing the latest technologies available in the marketplace." This latest installation coincides with the launching of the show's new music, composed by Nick Glennie-Smith, recorded and pre-mixed by Malcolm Luker
UK - Marquee Audio has designed and supplied a new stage monitor system to be piloted by the McKenzie Group in their Carling Academy in Bristol. According to MKG's managing director, John Northcote, the move is not only in line with the company's policy of maintaining a solid audio infrastructure for visiting bands, but also reflects the expanding secondary usage of Academy venues for smaller up-and-coming groups.
If successful, the move could lead to a standardization throughout the McKenzie Group's live venue portfolio. Explaining the rationale, John Northcote told us: "We look at Academy venues from three viewpoints: for full-on shows, for club nights and now for small 400-500 capacity gigs where up-and-coming bands can plug into an existing set-up."
In addition to the new stage set-up in Bristol Marquee Audio has provided FOH augmentation with the first of Soundcraft's new multifunction desks - a 40-frame MH3 - while a 32-input board forms the core of the monitoring system. The set-up also includes one of the first Yamaha DME32 digital matrix processors, with the latest series of input cards, with stage referencing provided by Martin Audio LE400C and JBL SP212A conventional floor monitors, and Martin Audio Blackline H3s supplying side and drum fills. The monitor system is powered by Yamaha's brand new PC Series amplifiers and EQ'd through four BSS FCS-966 Opal Constant Q graphic equalizers. The new set-up ties in neatly with the Academy's existing Thunder Ridge 40K-plus PA system.
Carling Academy Bristol stage/technical manager Paul Glave is delig
UK - Shuttlesound, the UK distribution subsidiary of Telex EVI, has announced the promotion of its sales manager Sean Maxwell to the position of director of sales. Maxwell, who joined the company as a sales rep five years ago, will now assume a key role in Shuttlesound's strategic planning and corporate development. He told us: "One of my main responsibilities will be the positioning of Shuttlesound, both in the marketplace we currently operate in but also in terms of exploring new market opportunities which can offer us fresh potential."
His remit will also include further streamlining of the Shuttlesound sales operation, ensuring greater coordination between the sales office in south London and its team of representatives on the road.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Eddie Hirad, the former engineering manager at Lighting Technology, has set up a new company - Vipco Lighting & Sound - to service the lighting and sound industries.
Based in West London, the company will specialize in the manufacture and distribution of connectors and extension cables, details of which feature on the company's recently-launched website, which previews the full range of products and services on offer. Hirad is a well-known industry figure, and his company is fast becoming known for working weekends and through the night, to deliver those all too common, industry rush jobs.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - 1 and Dolby Laboratories have announced a collaboration to study 1's proprietary Digital Sound Projector technology for the commercial cinema market. Digital Sound Projector technology creates highly controllable sound beams. From a single panel, which comprises an array of transducers, sound beams are formed which can be focused and dynamically steered to create exciting new audio effects.
David Lewis, 1's sales and marketing director told us: "Our technology could offer a new level of realism to cinema audiences. For example, we can align the movement of a sound beam with an aeroplane as its sweeps across the screen, or position a beam above the audience to accurately locate the noise of a helicopter landing."
The collaboration opens up a new market for 1's technology within the commercial cinema and film industry. This agreement with Dolby Laboratories follows a license agreement with Pioneer Corporation who are employing 1's technology in the Digital Sound Projector PDSP-1. This product, which will be available in March 2003, provides full surround sound from a single unit and is aimed at the home cinema market.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - QSC's revamped website is now making its online debut with new, easy-to-navigate pages sporting sleek graphics and a number of other enhancements. A useful and entertaining tool for everyone from seasoned touring pros and contractors to consultants and even garage bands on their way up, the site has been completely overhauled with refinements including an ability to conduct searches for any product from any page using either the navigation bar, search engine, or drop-down menus.
Products are listed by market category, and all relevant information on each of those products ranging from detailed specs to user manuals can be viewed from a single location. One of the most other noticeable elements within the site's broadened scope is its expanded image base. In relevant cases, product photos reveal front and rear panel views on the same page at the simple movement of the cursor in addition to front, rear, and series high-resolution images. As in the past, the site is also the place to turn to for in-depth answers to virtually any QSC-related question, thanks to the wisdom stored within in its FAQ and knowledge base pages. As further complements, the site additionally includes dedicated pages where software can be downloaded for QSC's DSP, cinema, and QSControl product groups.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - For the third year running, TiMax audio imaging and surround sound animation systems have featured on multiple car launches, press conferences, and charity events at the landmark NAIAS show in Detroit's Cobo Centre.
NAIAS and TiMax veterans On Stage Audio deployed TiMax ImageMaker16s in both the Jeep and Chrysler booth arenas to provide speech image localization for the several 'edu-tainment' presenters delivering rapid-fire market messages from various locations around the booth to a wide-spread audience. In addition, each brand utilized TiMax for mood-enhancing surround sound effects and playback in their respective spaces. Sound designers were OSA's Jim Risgin and Kelly Epperson, with on-site programming support by Robin Whittaker from UK-based TiMax developers, Out Board.
On the Ford booth, New York's Rock City Sound supplied a 16x32 TiMax Rack System specified by UK sound designer John Del Nero. TiMax was not only used to create animated surround sound effects and playback to support video content on large LED screens via its extensive SMPTE-driven show control capabilities, but also speech localization of product specialists. Show control programming and operation were handled by Chris Hey, Donnie Smith and Nathan Allers.
Over at Toyota Lexus, TiMax was used extensively to enhance both press and public events. Amongst its various sound effects duties the system's surround sound animation trickery was used to track the movement of a vast glowing orb that was floated around above the audience by TV illusionist Marco Tempest, in addition to static loca
UK - Since Fuzion took on the Australian Monitor brand some 18 months ago, the partnership has exceeded all expectations. Specialising in public address equipment exclusively for the contracting market, the brand has more than lived up to its promise of delivering useful, reliable, well-built product at prices that are almost too good to be true. Indeed, the last twelve months have seen a staggering 1500% growth in sales for Fuzion with the trend set to continue.
Sales director Paul Ward is understandably pleased. "Obviously going from a standing start, any sales are going to be represented as fairly substantial percentage increases on paper, but the growth we've achieved since we started with Australian Monitor has been truly phenomenal. Our product specialist, Linton Smeeton, has been doing a great job, and we have excellent support from Australian Monitor themselves. But perhaps most importantly, the product itself is simply second to none in its market. Well built, technically advanced with lots of clever features and yet still incredibly competitively priced, it's hard to beat, and our customers are starting to recognise that."
Australian Monitor international sales and marketing manager, Stuart Craig, commented. "While we believe in our product, it's gratifying to see our distributors sharing our enthusiasm and getting behind it to the extent that Fuzion has. The results for them have been amazing. What Fuzion has achieved in a year is more than some will achieve in five, so we're delighted to name them European Distributor of the Year at the
UAE - The Middle East's sound and lighting industry is expected to be worth $1 billion a year in three-to five years time, according to Matthew Griffiths, CEO of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), the leading international association for the industry. He was speaking in Dubai at the first Pro Audio Light Middle East (PALME) trade show, an event officially endorsed by the organisation.
PLASA's own research into the global market indicates that the sound and lighting sector generates $20 billion a year worldwide. "With so much construction and so many major events in the Middle East, we anticipate that the Middle East will grow to be worth $1 billion a year. The sector is already worth that a year in the UK and the Middle East can certainly match this given the level of activity here.
"This is a dynamic part of the world. It isn't afraid to be loud and proud - PLASA likes that and our industry likes that. The key is that sound and lighting technology sector isn't simply about entertainment - it is also very relevant to the large range of construction and architectural projects. The same technology that is used for live performance is being adapted and applied in shopping centres or sports stadiums, and safety-specific technology is also being developed - sophisticated voice alarm systems, for example. That's why the growth of the sector applies to all countries in the Middle East: there is massive growth in construction in Dubai, for instance, allied to which the area in general is attracting events of international standing - the F
UK - The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has warned its members in the past about scams in which companies are approached by organizations claiming to be 'collectors' for Data Protection Act registration. The approaches are often in the form of a letter, and carry demands for a registration fee (often £95 +VAT) along with erroneous 'reminders' that failure to register could result in a fine of up to £5,000. Other 'collectors' have even visited companies in person, and displayed convincing-looking ID tags.
It seems that the practice is still continuing, with up to 18 bogus agencies known to be engaged in the scam - for a full list, visit the web address below. Anyone being approached with a similar request is asked not to make any payments, and to contact their local police.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Channel 4 and E4's latest reality TV show, The Salon, is using Audio-Technica microphones to ensure the audience misses none of the drama. The ES933 microphone, with its combination of broadcast quality sound and diminutive on-screen presence, has proved itself well suited to the requirements of the show's unique AV system, with a total of 33 units discretely suspended throughout the studio.
Also on duty is an AT871WR boundary layer microphone. Originally developed for water sports broadcasts, the waterproof 871WR has been charged with the task of handling the high-humidity environment of the Sauna. Freelance sound supervisor, Oliver France, is responsible for specifying and running the audio system on behalf production company Endemol. Having enjoyed great successes working with Audio-Technica on the last two series of Big Bother, France had no hesitation in once again turning to A-T mics for The Salon, as he explained during a rare break from the show.
"As with Big Brother, this show employs a number of radio mics, but there are times and situations when those radio mics have to be removed or are simply ineffective, such as when a client is having their hair washed, and it is those private moments when a client and their stylist think they are safe from prying ears. It is those whispers that really make the show what it is and the ES933's make sure that the watching audience never misses out on something juicy."
Part of the wider Engineered Sound range of installation and broadcast products, the ES933's are incredibly discrete and versatile, wi
Germany - During this year's Telex EVI Audio in-house exhibition (Hausmesse), from the 24 to 26 January, the Dynacord Cobra celebrated its first birthday. Despite its acoustic merits and handling advantages, with larger applications the Cobra came up against its natural power limits. That is when customers began asking for more projection and sound pressure, and in response Dynacord have come up with the Cobra-4. Employing active 4-way technology, the latest member of the Cobra family is capable of generating twice the projection of the active 2-way system, according to Hans Bürger, Dynacord's product manager.
Responsible for the increase in power is on the one hand the Cobra-4 PWH, a horn-loaded enclosure generating higher sound pressure levels than the conventional Cobra sub-bass enclosure. To complement it, Dynacord's research and development team devised the Cobra-4 Far, which is designed for extremely long-throw applications. A rig, Hans Bürger told us, which plugs the gap just beneath the full-sized line-array systems.
Despite the increased power, the Cobra-4 retains the characteristics of the basic system, as Bürger explains: "The Cobra-4 is the equivalent of a large hi-fi PA system. Throughout its entire frequency range, the sound remains extremely clear, neutral and free from distortion. Once you've heard this system, you won't want anything else."
The Cobra's big sister is suitable for all high-quality industry events and applications. The basic configuration of the Cobra-4 system comprises the following components: 2 x Cobra-4 Far; 2 x C
UK - Heaven, described as the most famous gay nightclub in the world, has taken delivery of a new high-powered 4-way sound system. Inspired by its new owners, David Inches (who has been involved with the club since its beginning), Jeremy Millins and Paul Savory - who recently bought out Virgin Clubs' interest in the venue - the contract was entrusted to experienced installation contractors, Blue Box Company.
Headed by Mark Metcalf - who has a long association with Millins - Blue Box specified a QSC PowerLight system to drive the component parts of a carefully thought-out Funktion One system design. Resident production manager, Rob Barton said that the venue, situated under vaulted arches at London's Charing Cross, had recently benefited from £50,000 of sound screening and acoustic treatment, which had prevented sound leakage and enabled Heaven to raise the power rating from the previous cap of 96dB(A).
Mark Metcalf took the opportunity to optimize the sound coverage in the hard rectangular main room by designing a quad system, with two clusters of three Funktion One Skeletal Resolution 5s (12", 8" and 2 x 1" compression drivers), flown on truss either side of the stage at one end, facing two pairs at the other end. Further mid-highs form four stacks with Funktion One F218 (2 x 18) bass cabinets.
Using the highly controlled dispersion pattern of the speakers (25° horizontal, 20° vertical), correctly arrayed, Metcalf has achieved the desired projection and solved the cancellation problems previously experienced. Coverage, which previo
The Netherlands - Alcons Audio is a new Dutch company set up to develop and manufacture professional sound systems for quality-conscious clients in the cinema, installation and touring industry. The company was set up by former Stage Accompany sales and marketing director Tom Back in October. Back comments: "Not satisfied with the products available on the market and the opportunities we had in our previous positions, we left as a team and decided to establish our own company."
Alcons Audio is backed by a group of private investors with Tom Back and senior R&D engineer Philip de Haan owning the majority of shares. The company employs seven people in total, each with 15+ years experience in the different aspects of development, manufacturing and marketing of professional sound systems. "The investors are willing to allow us the time necessary to achieve a good position in the market rather than to aim for rapid success", says Back, managing director of the daily operations. "It's a very big challenge to deserve a place of our own in this extremely competitive market - we can only achieve this by offering better end-user solutions."
"Our focus is to be more than just a speaker systems supplier, but to be an audio solutions provider. This means that our involvement goes beyond the supply of a speaker or amplifier, but stretches as far as ensuring correct installation and end-usage to get the most out of the system" adds Back.
Philip de Haan says: "Our products are designed to provide the most accurate sound reproduction