In a surprise announcement Jon Miller, managing director of The Sound Company, has decided to step down from running the organisation in order to spend more time on music and theatre production. Whilst he will still take a directorial role in the company, the day-to-day business will be run by Mark Thompson, as sound designer and technical director, with Mich Speller taking over as production manager from Giles Rowland, who is heading off to the computer industry. In the meantime, The Sound Company, which is currently enjoying its best ever year, will continue to offer a sound design and hire service for the theatre industry, whilst expanding into other markets.

Matrix Audio Distribution is now accessible online via two new websites. One site details the full range of Matrix amplification allowing customers to view the entire range, alongside product manuals and troubleshooting tips, whilst the second site covers the company's recent news and project work.

Sound Reinforcement is the theme of the sixteenth Reproduced Sound Conference, organised by the Institute of Acoustics and to be held in Stratford-on-Avon over the weekend of Nov 17-19, 2000. Presentations will be given by sound designers, tour sound managers, manufacturers and equipment and systems designers. Subjects tackled include the new loudspeaker array technologies, aspects of digital sound processing, control and distribution, designing auditoria for reinforced sound and environmental issues relating to stadium sound.

Tony Rodber is to join Stage Electrics as business development manager for Wales and the West. He brings with him a wealth of experience from the industry where he has been a well-known figure for the last 13 years, principally with Lighting Technology.

High End Systems' new automated luminaire, the Studio Beam PC, has won the award of Best of Lightfair 2000 from Design Journal magazine. Products were judged during the recent Lightfair 2000 trade show in New York City and were chosen based on their form, functionality and design. Studio Beam PC uses a pebble convex lens to produce a unique quality of light unlike the wash or spot fixture. Extremely high-output color mixing coupled with a large zoom range and intense beam shaping give the Studio Beam PC a unique niche in lighting design.

Peter Maddison has joined Performance Light & Sound as sales representative. Maddison has extensive industry experience, and has previously worked for companies such as Adam Hall. John Ridley, managing director of Performance Light & Sound, told PLASA Publishing that is looking forward to working with Peter and will take full advantage of his extensive industry knowledge.

Martin Professional UK's sales director David Faulkes is leaving the company to form his own distribution company, Miltec, which will concentrate on the distribution of audio and lighting products within the UK and Ireland. Faulkes told PLASA Publishing: "Over the past six years I have built up a strong relationship with many of the industry's key accounts. Having attended a number of International exhibitions, I believe there are a number of important product lines that have very little or no presence within the UK and Ireland."Miltec can be contacted at: Unit 1, Leddingford Farm, Darman Lane, Laddingford, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6BL.

One of London's best-known nightclubs - Tramp - has recently received a new sound system as part of a major refurbishment. Watford-based Stage Two designed the system, based around RCF's ART Series, in conjunction with RCF UK's Andy Austin-Brown. Stage Two's Terry Douris explained that the brief presented difficulties in terms of the small size of the building and the high power required from the system. Four ART 300 cabinets are used, with two situated over the dancefloor and two on the perimeter of the room. In addition, two MSW 8 sub-woofers provide the heavy bass required on the dance floor. The system is controlled by an XTA DP200 digital sound processor, with amplification from InterM M1000 and M700 amps. Meanwhile, four RCF Monitor 5s and four Monitor 4Ts cover the restaurant and reception areas respectively.

For their recent headline UK tour, Toploader augmented their live set with an on-stage Tascam DA-98 digital multitrack and RC-898 remote control. Controlled by drummer Rob Green, the Tascam recorder is used to bring some of the studio-recorded strings and percussion from the Album - Onka's Big Moka - into the live performance. The band also brought in a second rig of four DA-88 digital multitracks to record some of the gigs.

Marquee Audio has announced the formation of a new division, which will operate under the supervision of co-director Mark Brown. Marquee Installations aims to respond to increasing retail sector requirements. Brown's roster of licensed-trade contractor clients, which included many of the UK's leading breweries, restaurants and independents, had previously been homogenised into Marquee's general work portfolio, but he now believes he can give greater focus to expanding the business. Marquee Installations will offer a complete turnkey service, combining audio, lighting and visual display integration.

PSL has set up a new audio division, and pledged a multi-million pound investment in a new hire fleet. The bulk of the equipment will be purchased through Marquee Audio, while other suppliers will include LMC, SES, Total Audio Solutions, VDC, Kelsey Acoustics, d&b audiotechnic and Shuttlesound. Gil Rabinowitz (pictured) was brought in to configure an inventory which the company believes will make them competitive in their own right, at the same time offering a resource that will enable the remainder of the Gearhouse Group to quote turnkey packages to conference and exhibition clients.

Over 40 Tannoy speakers have been used in a popular city town bar and nightclub in Burnley, Lancashire after a recent refurbishment by Liverpool-based Orritt Electronic Services Ltd. Bass-owned bar Sidewalk 53 and nightclub City 53 have benefited from extensive remodelling in line with Bass Leisure Retail Channel policy, and as a result, Sidewalk 53 was recently ranked in the top 10 UK CTB's according to FHM. The bar features eight Tannoy i12 Dual Concentric speakers, four B400 bass cabinets and a couple of TX2 controllers in conjunction with Ecler amplification, and a Cloud CX335 compressor limiter and mixer. The larger roomfeatures eight Tannoy i12 Dual Concentric speakers with two B400 bass and two B950 sub-bass units. Ecler amplification and Cloud crossovers complete the larger room. The smaller room uses 10 T12 full-range speakers; two B950s with Tannoy TX2 controllers are also installed along with Ecler amplification, Cloud Cx and Citronic graphics.

LG Electronics of Korea has launched its first TV integrating NXT SurfaceSound loudspeaker technology. The LG Platon CN-29Q3 TV features motorised NXT panels on each side, which are operated via the remote control handset. The unit can be used with the panels folded in at 45 degrees or fully out. The company's new product strategy is centred around its digital technology and features next generation display devices as its core product group. LGE plans to build Digital LG as its premier brand image and is making preparations to take the centre stage in representing the cutting-edge electronics industry in the new millennium.

Stage Electrics has confirmed the opening date of its new London Branch as 7 August, but to ensure that its new WYSIWYG facility and Virtual Lighting Studio is operational in the meantime, the company has taken temporary accommodation at 81 Oxford Street. David Stewart, formerly with Lightfusion, has joined Stage Electrics as studio manager and will operate from the London branch. During the last six years, he has been involved with designing and operating at such venues as Frankfurt Music Messe, Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Filmfare awards in Bombay. London branch: 07836 231868

ARX has been awarded the contract to supply the power amplifier requirements for the new Museum Victoria Project in Melbourne, Australia. The first stage of the installation is the delivery of 15 of the new ZA 600 six-channel power amplifiers, a total of 90 amplifier channels, providing over 11kW of output for the various themed areas and soundscapes. Further stages of the development are also based on ZA 600 power amplifiers.

VDC Trading has released its 2000-2001 product directory, featuring the copany's full range range of pro audio, video and broadcast cabling systems. The world-renowned Van Damme range of cables are prominently featured as are over 5000 other cabling and connector solutions, from custom-built stage boxes and metal work, racks and multicore looms. VDC hs also added further product lines to this year's directory which include 2U, 16-32amp mains distros, all rack mountable and in two colours.

French company Digisoft Music, which distributes music software, will join Arbiter Group from the 1st of July 2000. Laurent Akriche and his team, who will be part of the Arbiter France division, will be in charge of Music Technology products sales. Laurent and wife Patricia are joined by sales assistant, Annie Gauthier, who will manage sales on Music Technology products and Michel Vachal, who is in charge of technical support, software development and French web sites. Anne Sophie Ogee joins as sales assistant to Regis Monnerie, who will continue to manage sales on drums, pro sound instruments, Arbiter Karaoke and the newly acquired AKG consumer line (which begins in France on the the 1st of July). Regis Monnerie will continue to manage marketing, and relations with suppliers.

Paris-based PA manufacturer L-Acoustics is expanding the representation of its V-dosc system in the UK. As a result, four diverse companies have been integrated into the V-dosc UK Network: these are Autograph Sound Recording, working mainly in the theatre and installation market; Delta Sound , representing the corporate, event and television markets; Electrotec Productions, specializing in the international and UK touring and festival market; and Wigwam Hire, operating in the broad national rental market.Christian Heil, the founder of L-Acoustics, said: "The new UK members already benefit from the many unique advantages that the Wavefront Sculpture Technology brings, and L-Acoustics UK also places a complementary turnkey V-dosc system at the disposal of the UK Members."

QSC recently expanded the territory of the Swee Lee Company, its export distributor in Malaysia and India, to include Singapore and Indonesia. "Swee Lee has a well-trained staff and ample resources to maintain and strengthen QSC's presence throughout southeast Asia," said Peter Kalmen, QSC's director of sales and marketing. "Their experience and knowledge of that region will especially help us make inroads in the contracting and installed sound market."Swee Lee Company has been QSC's export distributor in Malaysia and India since 1994. Swee Lee Company can be contacted at: 150 Sims Drive, Swee Lee Building, Singapore 387381. Tel: 65 846 3678. Fax: 65 748 7036.

Satellite background music specialist XtraMusic has announced the launch of the XtraMusic Lease package, aimed specifically at retail establishments of any size or type. The package enables retailers to provide digital CD-quality music consistently for customers and staff alike. The system is operated via simple touch-button control and the cost can equate to as little as the price of a CD each week. Where the satellite system is the sole source of music, XtraMusic is exempt from PPL licensing. It therefore represents a cost-effective means for smaller retailers to supply music by original artists, from an extensive library of over two million tracks, without constant interruption from radio announcements and adverts. XtraMusic benefits larger retail outlets by offering music for different departments or areas, without the associated costs of PPL licences for each individual area.

beyerdynamic has announced a distribution agreement with dB Technologies of Italy, in a special announcement to press on the London Eye. The dB product line includes a wide portfolio of pro audio products including speakers, power amplifiers and mixers, but it is with the company's wireless product range where the synergy between dB and beyer lies: the company's radio microphones now being constructed using beyerdynamic's transducer elements, coupled to the highly-sophisticated PLL wireless circuitry of dB Technologies.beyerdynamic's John Midgley is enthusiastic about the union. He told us: "This is a very, very impressive range of equipment and we are well-placed in the UK to promote dB alongside our existing range of products. It's a perfect fit and balances what we can offer our large customer base well".

The Klark Teknik Group has appointed a new distributor for Klark Teknik products in Denmark. Ascon Trading a/s, who also distributes Midas and DDA, as well as the full range of product lines from the Telex/EVI corporation, has taken on the Klark Teknik brand. Ascon's product manager in charge of PA products, Ib Sigismund, commented: "KT was the missing link in our product portfolio, not just in terms of the fact that we now carry the full Telex/EVI/KTG range, but also in terms of the quality of the package we were able to put together. We now have all the tools to specify the very highest quality systems using products exclusively from our own stable."

A new PA system, featuring STR1500 amplifiers from the Matrix Audio Development, has been installed at First Division Football Club Sheffield United by Small World. The company has designed and installed a new PA system to replace the existing 2000W (RMS) PA. The spec includes Marine-grade plywood cabinets housing Fane 450W Colossus loudspeakers and Fane CD150 high frequency units, together with Matrix STR 1500W amps. The installation is phase one in a two-phase programme to create the ultimate environment of sound and vision.

Sennheiser endorsees Toploader, whose debut album went straight in at the number five spot in the official UK album chart, have also been out on the road sporting the new Sennheiser evolution wireless 565 radio microphone system featuring the e865 condenser vocal capsule.Lead singer Joseph Washbourn was previously using the wired evolution e845 dynamic microphone - the move to a wireless mic is a logical progression to complement his use of Sennheiser wireless in-ear-monitoring system. The band have followed up their recent national tour with a clutch of dates supporting Paul Weller (himself a big fan), including one of his Albert Hall dates.