South Africa - From its modest beginnings at the OppiKoppi farm in 1994, this diverse festival has now celebrated its 21st anniversary by welcoming 162 artists to perform over three days on seven stages, to around 20,000 revellers.

Located in Northam, Limpopo province, north east of Pretoria, this South African festival boasts an unrivalled reputation as the live music event of the season. OppiKoppi 2015 welcomed the opportunity to embrace the latest software technology in the form of ArrayProcessing, from d&b audiotechnik.

Blue Array Productions from Pretoria supplied the audio equipment on all but one of the stages; The James Phillips Stage and the Skellum Stage were both rigged with a d&b Q-Series system, while the Bruilof Stage was kitted out with V-Series L/R. On the Main Stage, it was J-Series, comprising J8s and J12s, supplemented by a meaty number of J SUBs both grou

Lebanon - Opened in the summer of 2015, Seven Sisters has fast become one of the trendiest venues in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. An oasis in the skyscraper-packed city, the day-and-night hotspot is located on the waterfront in downtown Beirut and clients can relax in a green environment, watch a show in the outdoor area, chill out under a tree, or savour a breath-taking sunset while having a drink at

To ensure the audio rig installed was up to the high standards set for the venue, the management team called in local system integrator Sound Pressure Level.

Headquartered in Beirut, SPL was founded in 1993, has a lengthy experience in touring, and now focusses on audio installation and rental. Thanks to its 24 hour, seven days a week year-round service, the company has built up an enviable client portfolio, installing systems in theatres, cinemas, hotels, ballrooms, conference c

Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie, one of the most influential artists of his era, died on 10th January at the age of 69 following a private 18 month battle with cancer. The news was announced via the artist's official Facebook and Twitter pages, with Bowie's son Duncan Jones later confirming the news on his own Twitter feed. A true creative to the very end, his death came just two days after the release of his latest album, Blackstar which has been heralded as a 'parting gift' to his fans by many, including Bowie's friend and producer, Tony Visconti who writes: "He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordi

UK - LSi magazine has teamed up with Production Park, Nitelites and RCF to give readers exclusive access to a tour of the largest facility of its kind in the UK. This brand new, £2.5m Phase One development is a cluster of live event production resources spanning over 300,00sq.ft and incorporating five LS-Live rehearsal studios, three of which are mega-sized spaces, each over 17,000sq.ft.

The park is also home to a variety of other industry brands including: Brilliant Stages, Perry Scenic Creative, Litestructures, LS-Live, The Music Consortium, Knight Rigging Services, Tek LED, J&C Joel - and, of course, the renowned live events university centre, Backstage Academy.

Across the three open days, from 1-3 March, you can also meet the Nitelites team, who (using LS-Live's 17,500sq.ft Studio 001) will demo their new turnkey arena touring package from the specialist Italian lo

Europe - Yamaha is constantly developing new innovations. The latest is the SWP1 series of advanced, plug-and-play network switches designed specifically for installed and live sound networking, with simple DIP switch Dante optimisation and a comprehensive graphic interface, via a Windows application.

Yamaha has two decades' experience of manufacturing networking equipment and has been leading the audio industry for much of that time. Starting with the CL consoles in 2012, almost all of Yamaha's digital professional audio products are now based on Dante networking. While Dante offers a huge increase in quality, scalability and redundancy for audio systems, when they grow complex IT equipment is needed to connect them together.

The SWP1 series is the first range of network switches designed and produced solely and specifically for the professional audio industry. Offering a c

Denmark - Commercial television station TV2 is using d:screet 4080 cardioid lavalier microphones to live transmit a series of highly unusual live political interviews for its 24-hour news channel.

The interviews are all conducted inside a Tesla electric sports car, which was first deployed by TV2 during the country's recent election campaign. This highly innovative and usual mobile studio is entirely unmanned by TV2's technical staff and is operated remotely from the broadcaster's studios in Copenhagen.

Morten Brandstrup, head of news technology at TV2, says, "We introduced the Tesla mobile studio during last year's election coverage because we wanted to present political candidates in a different environment. Initially it was used for the programme Udfordringen (The Challenge) which ran every day during the three weeks prior to the election. On each day w

The Netherlands - Audinate, creator of the Dante media networking technology, and many leading audio equipment manufacturers, will be hosting the annual Dante AV Networking World education event during Integrated Systems Europe 2016 on Monday, 8 February 2016. The workshop and seminar programme will be held at the Amsterdam Holiday Inn near the RAI Convention Centre.

Returning for its sixth consecutive year, the event will feature an increased emphasis on Dante training, giving design consultants, system integrators, audio engineers and IT managers the tools and information they need to get started with Audinate's audio networking solution. With over 250 OEM licensees and over 600 Dante-enabled products now available on the market, Dante has become the de-facto standard in audio networking.

The free all-day conference will feature industry trends and research, insight from l

The Netherlands - The OCA Alliance is exhibiting for the first time at ISE, immediately following the standardization of Open Control Architecture (OCA) by the Audio Engineering Society as AES70. The OCA Alliance is exhibiting in Hall 7, Booth F221 and showing the latest developments in standardising control architectures and interoperability for professional media IP networking devices and systems.

The OCA Alliance booth will be staffed by alliance members from multiple manufacturers and media network experts, who will be available to discuss the benefits of standardizing control technologies in professional AV applications, and how OCA can be implemented in networkable products.

A live demonstration on the stand shows products from multiple manufacturers (including Bosch, d&b audiotechnik, Focusrite and others) operating with different network transport platforms under a s

USA - Distributor TransAudio Group is launching a new line at Winter NAMM in Anaheim later this month. Subwoofer Pros will provide subwoofers with best-in-class bass response and functionality for mission-critical recording and mixing environments, says the company.

Subwoofer Pros' first two products, Studio 12 and Studio 18 use a 400W integrated amplifier to deliver precise linear performance down to 8Hz at SPLs of 105dB and 113dB, respectively. A comprehensive set of inputs, outputs, and bass management protocols allow both subs to optimally integrate with an enormous range of existing professional monitoring setups.

"Because no other company was building subwoofers with the performance and feature set needed in high-end music and film control rooms, we approached a leading expert in subwoofer technology - Bag End Modular Sound - to see if we could fill that gap,"

The Netherlands - Yamaha Music Europe GmbH will be exhibiting on stand 3-A90 at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016, where a number of innovative new products will be on show from the ever-expanding Commercial Installation Solutions (CIS) range.

Taking place at the Amsterdam RAI from 9-12 February, Yamaha is once again using ISE's high profile platform to demonstrate the many advantages of its CIS products to existing and future customers.

Leading the way in new products is the SWP1 series, the first range of network switches designed and produced specifically for the professional audio industry. Offering a comprehensive set of Ethernet features, the SWP1 series has very straightforward, plug-and-play operation. Flipping a single DIP switch allows an optimised Dante setup to be instantly recalled, making the switches ideal for audio engineers who have no expertise in IP net

China - When renowned pro audio engineer Jin Shaogang and his team were given the task of creating a wireless sound solution for the hit Chinese reality singing competition, The Voice of China he turned to Wisycom, designer and builder of sophisticated RF solutions for broadcast, film and live production, to keep the music playing. For the fourth season of The Voice of China, Shaogang and his crew utilised 12 channels of Wisycom wireless (along with some additional spare channels), including the MRK960 Modular Wireless Microphone Receiver System, MTH400 Wideband Handheld Transmitter used with DPA capsules, SPL218AW Wideband Active Antenna Splitterand LBNA UHF Wideband Antenna.

The show's master of ceremony and singers used Wisycom handheld microphones in both the recorded sessions and live show finale. Shaogang and his team were given live technical support from W

USA - VUE Audiotechnik has added Greg Kirkland to its Technical Sales team. Kirkland brings with him more than 30 years' of experience in sound system design and engineering and will expand VUE's technical support for larger design firms and projects.

Kirkland has been responsible for designing, installing and programming audio systems in world-class performance venues as well as engineering live shows throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He has mixed tours for Liza Minnelli, Andy Williams, Burt Bacharach, Julie Andrews, Rosemary Clooney and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, among others.

As a founding partner of Thomas Gregor Associates, Kirkland designed and programmed audio systems and oversaw production of the company's larger and more complex projects for clients including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Boeing, Universal Studios and Cedars Sinai,

UK - The Institute of Sound and Communiocations Engineers (ISCE) has announced dates for this year's ISCEx2016 exhibition, along with details of its seminar programme.

The two-day event is returning to the picturesque rural location of Coombe Abbey, outside Coventry, 8-9 March, and will bring consultants, specifiers, installers and manufacturers together under one roof. The Institute's AGM during the afternoon of 8 March will be followed by a networking dinner and entertainment in the evening.

As a learned society, the Institute is keen to share its knowledge with others working in the industry and a seminar programme, presented by industry experts will take place during the exhibition on the following day, 9 March. The following topics will come under the spotlight:

Green amplification - Is Class-D really all there is? - Jamie Angus, professor of audio technolog

UK - Shure Audio Institute UK is introducing an Audio Networking Mastered seminar at its headquarters in Waltham Abbey on 20 January.

Audio Networking Mastered is aimed at AV integrators and audio engineers who want to gain a better understanding of the IT networking standards commonly used in today's audio transport protocols. Created to provide an overview of the latest developments in audio networking technology, Audio Networking Mastered is also applicable to AV project managers and sales personnel.

The seminar will explore the path from point-to-point digital audio transport through to modern converged networks, and the future interoperability offered by standards such as AES67. This is in addition to information on network hardware, IP addressing and subnets, network topologies, setup and troubleshooting.

The launch of Audio Networking Mastered coincides with the re

UK - London-based Capital Sound Hire has confirmed the purchase of a substantial high-powered line array sound system from Outline.

Capital Sound Hire general manager Paul Timmins announced their agreement to invest in a large quantity of Outline GTO long-throw high-SPL line array cabinets. The total system comprises 48 GTO C-12 large format line arrays, four GTO-DF (down-fill), 24 GTO-SUB (subwoofer), eight GTO-FF (front-fill) and a package of 24 Powersoft X8 Dante, Series amplifiers.

Asked what prompted Capital Sound to choose Outline after reviewing other brands, Timmins replied that the final decision was made after checking the system out at London's O2 Arena last October. "Managing director Keith Davis, senior project manager Martin Connolly, project manager Robin Conway and I sat in the back row of the upper bowl and the clarity and sonic performance of the syste

Germany - The B22 is a multipurpose omnidirectional subwoofer from d&b audiotechnik. The B22-SUB houses two 18" neodymium drivers in an efficient bandpass horn design producing high Sound Pressure Levels and an extended frequency response.

The B2 is well known and loved around the world thanks to the signature sonic performance and after over twenty years of service, it's time for an update. Intended for ground stacked applications, the omnidirectional B22-SUB promises increased performance, a modern appearance and improved internal cabinet bracing.

The B22-SUB is the largest d&b omnidirectional subwoofer, but when used in multiples of three and in CSA mode (Cardioid Subwoofer Array), they exhibit impressive rejection towards the rear. To increase flexibility, the B22-SUB can also be operated in INFRA mode, which extends the frequency response to supplement other d&b su

UK - The £9m three story Centre for Creative Industries at Sheffield College is now open. Audio Light Systems installed theatre, TV studio, five drama studios and a multi room music facility which are at the heart of the new building.

The Theatre boasts a Slingco tension wire grid, production lighting & sound, a large screen projection system, full perimeter drapes, theatre communications & a spacious control room.

The TV studio is kitted out with Doughty Studio Rail systems, full high-level drapes and a state of the art control room.

The five drama studios and music spaces are also packed with a generous amount of hardware & tech, providing a learning facility which can have simultaneous productions

"Doughty equipment featured heavily in this project and as usual it give the quality finish that is expected from us. Dan at Doughty is amazing," comments

Germany - Shure has announced that it has joined the Cisco Solution Partner Programme as a solution partner. The Internet of Everything (IoE) continues to bring together people, processes, data, and things to enhance the relevancy of network connections. As a member of the Cisco Solution Partner Programme, Shure is able to quickly create and deploy solutions to enhance the capabilities, performance, and management of the network to capture value in the IoE.

"We are very proud to be a Cisco solution partner," said Chad Wiggins, category director for networked systems at Shure. "This distinction imparts in our customers the confidence that they can easily integrate our microphone solution, Microflex Wireless, within their Cisco infrastructure."

"Microflex Wireless has been very beneficial for our users," said Brian Hayes, senior design engineer at

Mexico - Loto Audio has completed the first stage of a project at Mamitas Beach Club in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Ro. Mexico. The owners called on the Funktion-One distributor after they visited several beach venues in Ibiza.

Loto Audio's Ramon Salazar explains, "We started to try and make contact with the owner over a year ago because this is the best and most famous beach club in Mexico. When we found him, it turned out that he was also looking for us - the Funktion-One distributor for Mexico. He went to some beach resorts in Ibiza where he experienced that Funktion-One sound and he was amazed. In that moment, the venue and the owner committed to new, extensive project of remodeling and growing Mamitas."

Taking into account the environmental challenges, Loto Audio specified a system comprising four Funktion-One Resolution 4 speakers and two F221 double-21in bass

UK - The new ID24 super-compact loudspeaker, the smallest ever made by Nexo, has been installed for the first time in Bristol, UK. Working as under-balcony-fills in the 2000-seater Hippodrome theatre, 24x ID24s are a vital element in the high-specification system brought in by London-based Orbital Sound for a specific production. Orbital Sound is the first rental company in the world to deploy the ID Series, used in Bristol alongside two other Nexo systems - a STM M28 modular line array for main PA, augmented by Geo M6 compact line array modules for upper balcony. With a view to forthcoming rental projects, Orbital has ordered ID24 cabinets in black and white. In Bristol, they have been installed as fills under the two large balconies, as well as stageside for front-fill. Orbital MD Chris Headlam describes the ID24 as "a latest generation product from the modern era of loudsp

UK - The Warehouse Sound Services will once again be exhibiting on stands C3 and D2 at this year's PLASA Focus Glasgow on 20-21 January 2016 at the SECC.

The Warehouse will be showcasing a wide variety of products from d&b audiotechnik, Avid, EM Acoustics, RCF, Shure, Allen + Heath, Yamaha and Sennheiser. Representatives from The Warehouse's sales, hire, service and flight-casing departments will attend.

At the event, The Warehouse will showcase a range of quality audio products including d&b audiotechnik's new VP loudspeaker range. The Warehouse is Scotland's only d&b audiotechnik sales partner, so PLASA Scotland provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate d&b's new speakers to PLASA delegates.

The V7P and V10P from d&b audiotechnik are a new breed of loudspeaker offering all this and more, including the d&b hallmark constant directivity control down to low frequencies.

USA - Deptford Township High School serves over one-thousand students in the Philadelphia suburb of Deptford, New Jersey. Its Spartan football team is fiercely competitive and won the state sectional championships back-to-back in 2003 and 2004. However, like so many high schools, Deptford's game-day sound reinforcement system didn't live up to the passion of the team. It fell flat musically and caused fans to strain to hear announcements.

Local A/V integration firm Precision Audio, which just so happens to be headed by two Deptford Township High School alumni, pulled out the old system and replaced it with a Danley Sound Labs design comprised of three Danley OS-80 loudspeakers and two Danley OS-115 subwoofers, all of which are completely impervious to the elements and thus ready for any weather the East Coast can conjure.

"The old system was basically a handful of vinta

USA - Camarillo, California-based Rat Sound Systems provided a full 360 degrees of audio coverage for Bassnectar's New Year's Eve show in Birmingham, Alabama. The concert, which was held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Centre (BJCC) Legacy Arena, featured 72 Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) Anya modules flown in four double-wide clusters.

Bassnectar is well-known for his live performances, massive sound systems and light shows. Bassnectar NYE360, now in its fifth year, features a rotating stage at the centre of the arena designed to deliver maximum impact to his fans. The Legacy Arena seats up to 19,000 and was completely sold out for the event.

"After adapting Anya to Red Rocks in Colorado and now using it 360 degrees at BJCC - the system continues to amaze me," says Jason Decter, FOH engineer for Bassnectar. "It has such power and hi-fi clarity. It was no

USA - Clearwing Productions, an AV sales, service, event- production and integration services provider with locations in Milwaukee and Phoenix, acquired eight RedNet D16R AES rack-mount Dante interfaces, part of the full line of RedNet Dante network devices from Focusrite, nearly a year ago.

The D16R units have transformed how the company is able to move digital audio around for clients ranging from one troupe of the famed Blue Man Group to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Three RedNet D16R units (along with three RedNet 1 eight channel A-D/D-A interfaces and one RedNet 2 sixteen-channel A-D/D-A interface) reside at the Blue Man Theatre at Luxor hotel and casino in Las Vegas, where Clearwing Productions was the systems integrator for the theatre's new sound system designed by Marcus Ross.

At the World Ski Championships, the D

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