Mackie Designs has announced that PD (a.k.a 'Phy Deaux'), the company's corporate Chihuahua, passed away on 28th September. PD's image as Mackie's Corporate Chihuahua rose to prominence in Mackie collateral material, advertisements, websites, marketing videos and product manuals. So well-known was PD to Mackie employees, distributors, reps and customers, that in 1995 a bronze cast of PD was produced as the highest award that could be bestowed upon a Mackie Designs sales rep. Ron Koliha, Mackie's Marketing Deity and PD's owner, told us: "PD was the one who I could turn to for honest critiques of all of my marketing concepts. If she didn't like it, she would simply piddle on it . . . literally. PD will surely be missed."

In a move which reflects their continuing commitment to providing the highest possible quality service to their customers, London-based rental company, Dobson Sound Productions Ltd. is pleased to welcome Nicholas Hughes to the role of technical manager. In addition to being a graduate of the prestigious Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey, Nick also comes with extensive experience in the service and repair of high end professional audio equipment, most recently with Boffin Island, the service company for Funky Junk. He is thus ideally suited to take on the mantle of building a full service department for Dobsons.

London-based theatre sound specialist Orbital Sound has acquired three Allen & Heath ML5000 mixing consoles from the London branch of LMC Audio Systems. Specified in advance by Orbital for their forthcoming Winter season, the console will be employed on Christmas Pantomime productions, as well as Bill Kenwright's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The nature of the Christmas shows means tight production deadlines and limited budgets. Orbital has a long association with Pantomime productions, and Orbital's hire department, headed by Jane Finlay and Dan Parton, who specified the desks, offers practical advice gained from years of experience in this most traditional of theatre.The addition of the cost-effective Allen & Heath ML5000 complements Orbital's extensive inventory of high-specification equipment. The ML5000 is ideal for any production working within limited budgetary constraints and enables Orbital to provide a cost effective, reliable solution for these shows.

ARX Systems has introduced a series of multi-channel power amplifiers with built-in zoning features. Comprising three models, the ZA Series is designed for any multi-channel application including paging systems, foreground and background music, AV systems, loudspeaker multi-zoning, etc. The ZA Series features AutoLink function which automatically links channel inputs as required, eliminating the extra expense of an external zoner/splitter. The models are the ZA400 (4-channel, 250W pc into 4 ohms); ZA600 (6-channel, 125W pc into 4 ohms); ZA800 (8-channel, 125W pc into 4 ohms). Initial installations of the ZA Series include the CSIRO Science Centre in Canberra, Australia and the Ing-Ge Ceramics Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.

Contestants on Carlton Television's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' Will now talk to compere Chris Tarrant through Trantec's multi award-winning synthesised UHF S5000 radio mic system - thanks to the initiative of a consortium of six freelance sound engineers. The newly-formed Elstree Sound Associates was set up specifically to provide audio services to Celador Productions, makers of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' at Elstree Studios - giving them the opportunity to break free from some of the products generally used in TV production.One of the supervisors, Chris Thorpe - who sound mixes alongside fellow Elstree Sound Associates engineer, Kevin Duff - was happy to recommend Trantec, having used the system at the OB/derig facility Roll to Record and Fountain Studios in Wembley. Thorpe ordered 16 personals (fitted with Sony ECM 77 clip-on mics) and two hand-held systems, along with a couple of distribution units and computer monitoring.The other four members of Elstree Sound Associates are Robert Wahl, John Galbraith, Barry Mizen and Vernon Cooper.

The Klark Teknik Group has appointed ART Studio to distribute Midas products in Belarus. This is the first time that Midas has been represented in White Russia and the company has already got off to a flying start with the sale of a Heritage 2000 to the Belarussian State Orchestra in Minsk. Finberg, the State Orchestra's own rental company, is one of the largest in Belarus and caters for many prestigious events throughout the country. One of the first events for the new console was a concert by the award-winning French singer, Patricia Kaas. Since the sale of the Heritage 2000, ART Studio has also purchased a Heritage 1000 for its own rental department. Its first outing will be for Deep Purple, playing the Sports Palace in Minsk in early November as part of a European tour.

Worcestershire-based rental company RMPA has just invested in ElectroVoice's latest microphone launch, PolarChoice, purchased from EV's UK distributor, Shuttlesound. PolarChoice podium microphones offer the option of four different pickup patterns, allowing the selection of the best pattern for the application. The ability to select from omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid or hypercardioid assures the maximum protection against system feedback and ambient background noise. RMPA's Rick Bailey commented: "They really are excellent microphones in every way . . . The gain they offer before feedback is impressive, and the sound quality is superb. And it's just as well because the very first event they went out on was the MOD's World Symposium on speech intelligibility and speech coding at the DERA headquarters in Farnborough! However, the client was as impressed with the mics' performance as I was."

With the appointment of Gareth Collyer and Gerry Frost as shareholding directors, Lamba plc chairman Frank Irish, has set out a strategic blueprint for the company's future. Collyer and Frost have been on the company's main board of directors for over 18 months, and will maintain their active roles as technical director and sales director, respectively. Irish commented: "With recent product acquisitions creating a new dynamic in the company, we believe the timing is right to devolve more responsibility to Gareth and Gerry, to ensure continued development over the next decade." Lamba has recently secured two new exclusive UK distribution accounts - for Nady Systems and Cerwin Vega! Hi-Fi, as well as consolidating the UK representation of an expanded Stanton Magnetics range. To accommodate this growth, Irish has simultaneously announced the imminent relocation of Lamba plc to larger, purpose-built premises in St Albans, including a warehouse and distribution centre.

The UK's phenomenally successful television production, Big Brother, which was screened through July and August, relied heavily on Sennheiser RF systems to relay seamless sound transmission, not only for the nightly Channel 4 broadcast, but also for the 24-hour Internet broadcast. Each contestant on the show was fitted with a clip mic and Sennheiser SK50 miniature body-pack transmitter, supplied by Cine Video Audio Hire Division. These were to be worn at all times, except when showering or sleeping. The Sennheiser EM1046-UHF receiver rack was used in conjunction with Cine Video's own Triax remote antennae system, enabling the RF aerials to cover a vast area.

The Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith was the stage for a recent pro audio open day for two of Marquee Audio's main suppliers - Yamaha and Turbosound. Yamaha demonstrated its latest digital family, the PM1D, DME32 and AW4416 desks, which are now being shipped, while Turbosound's new family of TQ Series loudspeakers - the TQ440/TQ425, TQ259, TQ220, TQ225 and TQ330 lined up alongside the TCS35, also heavily specified by Marquee Audio. The event attracted some of the UK's leading audio consultants. Marquee's Andy Huffer commented: "This was a superb chance for both end-users and manufacturers to experience new products in a realistic environment. The Yamaha PM1D and DME32 ran the show, switching between the Turbosound speakers which were suspended around the stage."

Spirit by Soundcraft is launching a 40-input version of its popular LX7 mixing desks. Housed in a 32-mono channel frame, the LX7-40 features a maximum of 40 inputs, including stereo inputs and returns. Like its siblings, the new model features seven separate bus outputs, including Mix Left and Right, four Groups and a dedicated Mono bus for centre speaker clusters, side or rear fills. With the inclusion of six auxiliary busses and Direct Outs on 24 of the mono channels, the output count rises to 37.Spirit has also announced a major update for the Digital 328 console, adding many new and improved features. The 328's dynamic automation is now compatible with a wider range of sequencers, while changes and additions to the user interface make for even easier operation.

Audio Design Systems, under its trading name of ADSworldwide, has entered into a special joint venture with a Chinese company to sell a range of home theatre equipment under a UK label. ADS will see its new range being sold under the Mistral label in all of China's seven major cities. It is envisaged that the Mistral, which comprises a range of home theatre speakers together with an amplifier and DVD player, will also be marketed within the UK and Europe. The televised launch of the product was recently staged in Shenzhen on China's south-eastern coast. David Hopkins OBE, managing director of ADS, was there as a special guest, and admitted that the event had been far more high-profile than he could have thought possible. He added: "There can be no doubt that the venture will succeed if the initial launch is anything to go by."

Tannoy Professional, in conjunction with Funktion One Research, has launched the Focus 10 PowerDual - a high-quality music and speech reinforcement loudspeaker with complementary Focus 18B bass unit. Designed specifically for use in medium-sized venues and distributed systems in stadia, the PowerDual combines Tannoy's Dual Concentric technology with Funktion One's patented Axhead technology, which provides a controlled 60° horizontal x 40° vertical dispersion, never before achieved with a Dual Concentric fully horn-loaded unit. Tannoy's Focus 10 is a weatherproof skeletal design suitable for internal and external use and is compact and lightweight for ease of mounting. Both speakers have been designed for use with the Tannoy TDX2 Digital System Controller, which includes two input and six output channels to provide up to five crossover modes for both stereo and mono operation. Output channels feature independent control for gain, delay, high and low pass filters, five-band parametric EQ, limiting and polarity and the TDX2 also comes with a number of pre-programmed presets for use with all current Tannoy speakers.

The Oxford Sound Company recently completed the installation of two BBC studios designed for Voice Captioning, based around AMS-Neve Libra digital mixing consoles and AMS-Neve Audiofile digital editing workstations. The two identical studios will be used for making trailers for programmes and adding soundtracks to pictures for the introduction and conclusion of television programmes. The project, designed by BBC Resources Consulting and Projects under the management of BBC's Peter Newbury, took 16 weeks to complete. It was designed around the AMS control surfaces with an impressive line up of outboard processing from Calrec, Focusright, Yamaha, AMS, TC Electronic and Drawmer, with loudspeaker monitors from ATC. The apparatus room was designed to service the two control studios with VCR and routing facilities being set up via touch-screen monitors from this point. The studios are fully digital for both sound and vision. All of the studio furniture was designed and supplied by the Oxford Sound Company with wiring schedules and time planning being designed at their Kingham HQ.

During this year's PLASA Show, the third consecutive UK Midas Dinner was held at the exclusive Teatro Club & Restaurant in Soho. Organised by LMC Audio Systems Limited, the UK's exclusive Midas dealer, the dinner was as usual an extravagant affair with all UK Midas owners invited, and attendance exceeded any other year. Teatro is owned by celebrity couple Lee Chapman and Lesley Ash and was chosen as the venue for the dinner due to it's discreet service and outstanding food along with a modern 'gentleman's club' atmosphere. This year special attention was given to the many New Midas Owners, which included The Lemon Tree, Orbital, Rambert Dance Company and Dicker Sound.

Stage Electrics, the Bristol-based supplier of lighting, sound and technical equipment, officially unveiled its new London office during PLASA. The new branch, at 284-302 Waterloo Road, offers a trade counter selling consumables and also hosts a Virtual Lighting Studio housing a full WYSIWYG software programme and other WYSIWYG facilities. Also available at the new branch is a demonstration suite, displaying lighting and special effects from major industry manufacturers, giving clients and designers the opportunity to review all the latest technology. Finally to complete the facility, there is a cafe area suitable for informal meetings.

LMC Audio Systems has announced that the company's head of sales & marketing for London, Graham Allen, has now been appointed to head of sales and marketing for LMC company wide. Graham has 10 years' industry experience and has worked for several major players including Behringer, Shuttlesound and more recently with Sysco (The Systems Company). Only recently appointed, Graham has already proved himself a great team player, and is now responsible for sales and marketing at LMC's London, Birmingham and Leeds branches.

Federal Signal has announced the return to the company of Alan Weston as area sales manager for the North of England and Scotland. His appointment coincides with the restructure of the firm's national sales force and the launch of a new range of products from the Millbank public address range. Weston, who has vast experience in the voice alarm industry, rejoins Federal from specialist public address installer TG Baker Sound. In addition to developing markets for existing and new Millbank products, he will also focus on the company's Akusta products, dedicated to the oil and gas sectors.

Stage Electrics, the Bristol-based supplier of lighting, sound and technical equipment, officially unveiled its new London office during PLASA. The new branch, at 284-302 Waterloo Road, offers a trade counter selling consumables and also hosts a Virtual Lighting Studio housing a full WYSIWYG software programme and other WYSIWYG facilities. Also available at the new branch is a demonstration suite, displaying lighting and special effects from major industry manufacturers, giving clients and designers the opportunity to review all the latest technology. Finally to complete the facility, there is a cafe area suitable for informal meetings.

The SS Ausonia, a recently-refurbished luxury cruise ship contracted to First Choice Holidays by Louis Cruise Lines, has had a state-of-the-art audio design specified by cruise line specialists, Fisher Marine. The equipment installation was carried out by Louis Cruise Lines' own contractors. The Halifax-based company used a wide range of Martin Audio loudspeakers as their primary sound reinforcement source in the three main zones - the main and secondary show lounges (which are multi-purpose, transforming into cabaret and late night discotheque usage) and the main deck, which also features a massive lighting rig. The system on the Ausonia, which has its audio presets stored and relayed to the different show areas by three BSS Audio Soundweb devices, will be fed from a mixture of CD and Minidisc playback sources, as well as live cabaret through a radio mic system.

Canford now has a new sales and operations director. The ex commercial-radio engineer turned entrepreneur, Iain Elliott, who founded the outfit back in the seventies, has returned to the fold. Whilst Elliot concentrates on the product and customer side of the operation, Phil Buckle, a man with a wealth of manufacturing and distribution experience, has joined as chief executive. With the appointments Canford is now back to the course set years ago, with "engineers communicating with engineers", and a commitment to the continuation and development of the the Canford catalogue, now in its 20th year of production.

HSL Productions has made a large and carefully calculated investment in a Crest and Community touring system. The decision was made principally with the Performing Arts Management summer tour in mind, however the company wanted a system capable of reproducing any musical genre. At the heart is the flagship 52-channel (48 + 4) Crest V12 mixing console.In addition to the V12, HSL has placed additional orders with Sound Dept for a 40-channel Crest XVCA console and a 32-channel XM monitor desk, to complement its existing Crest console range. Having converted the company's amplifier stock to Crest 18 months ago Simon Stuart confirmed that HSL have purchased an additional 60kW of Crest CA18s and CA9s to drive its newly-acquired PA system, which comprises 24 stacks of Community SLS-960 mid/tops, with VLF-218 bass cabinets.

A new simultaneous translation facility, incorporating a Sennheiser infra-red transmission system and Evolution wireless microphones, has been installed by London-based M&R Communications, as part of a major refurbishment to the Congress Hall at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. The system has been specified to accommodate pan-national conference requirements and the six-channel Sennheiser infra-red system includes over 1,200 stethoset receivers, COM 1423 gooseneck microphones and MKH 40 cardioid condenser mics for the lectern. A smaller two-channel portable system was also provided for smaller bilingual meetings.

Canford Audio has acquired the design rights to the range of broadcast audio products previously supplied by Audio Systems Components Ltd (ASC). This well-known and respected range, including the Buddy PC Workstation, MD-Report! location recorder, Minx OB mixer and the Talking Brick workstation loudspeaker as well as VHF tuners with pro-conversions, is now manufactured a its Washington (UK) facility. At the same time, UK distribution and support of the ISDN products from Spanish manufacturer Prodys has also moved to Canford. This includes not only the established Pronto series, but the new Nomada portable contribution unit, and Multiplexer 2MB link equipment.