Sound

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26 November 2024

France - Amadeus and Holophonix were chosen to design and install a new sound system for the Amphitheater d'O, part of the Domaine d'O – a multidisciplinary arts and entertainment complex in Montpellier, South of France. Because the open-air theatre accommodates up to 1,800 people in a semi-circle of nearly 180°, this presented an electroacoustic challenge for audience coverage and directivity control.

The Amphitheater d'O hosts four major festivals during the spring and summer seasons, including Le Printemps des Comédiens (a theatre festival held throughout June), Folies d'O (a musical theatre festival held in early July), and the Radio France Occitanie Festival (July).

Over the 15 past years, the Amphitheater d'O has been equipped with various traditional front-of-house reinforcement systems, from Amadeus, L-Acoustics

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26 November 2024

France - L'Aéronef, a music venue in Lille, has installed a new L-Acoustics professional sound system with the help of certified partner SLS. This upgrade marks a new era for the venue, blending power and precision in a compact package that enhances sound quality and coverage, invigorating shows for everyone.

Olivier Wils, technical manager at L'Aéronef, comments on the upgrade: "The new L-Acoustics professional sound system significantly improves our audio capabilities. The clarity and coverage are impressive, allowing us to offer an enhanced experience for both artists and audiences."

L'Aéronef, established in 1989, sought to address the challenge of delivering high-quality sound in an intimate setting and with significant rigging constraints. The venue found its solution in the new L-Acoustics L Series, marking the first installation of this sy

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26 November 2024

UK - Concrete Voids at London’s Southbank Centre is described by creator Tony Birch as anti-acoustic. The experimental audio project explores the acoustic possibilities of the empty concrete spaces that surround the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium to create an unconventional and organic sound environment. A social media moment and subsequent collaboration with TiMax panLab originator, Dan Higgott, provided the keystone for audio control in the project, which will see the first instalment of commissioned artist performances in March 2025.

The goal was to turn away from traditional soundscape designs and instead celebrate the unique hidden acoustics of the venue. Over the course of a year, sound engineer Birch, who has over 17 years of experience within the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium space, positioned a variety of repurposed and custom-built sp

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26 November 2024

Namibia - Jared Geyser has been behind many successful businesses in Namibia, including festivals and bars, for a number of years. But it was when his son, Guy, left university in Cape Town and wanted to get involved in a New Year’s Eve festival a couple of years back, that they first forged a relationship with Martin Audio loudspeakers. Shortly after, their company Plug & Play Event Solutions was set up in the capital of Windhoek to further develop their interest in PA and backline.

A friend in South Africa had tested Martin Audio products and recommended them. “So we bought Blackline XP12 and XP118 active subs, and eventually ended up owning 20,” said Jared. “While they are great speakers, they obviously couldn’t do the bigger work, so we then bought a Torus system.” But the latest prize is the acquisition of a flagship WPC line array – 2

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26 November 2024

Germany - The 30th anniversary of Prolight + Sound is all about fresh impetus. From 8 to 11 April 2025, the expo will present a newly designed and expanded area for theatre and stage technology that combines four central aspects: exhibition, education, knowledge transfer and networking. Visitors can expect an inspiring platform for exchange between generations and industry experts, as well as a comprehensive range of innovative products and services.

An integral part of the concept is the ‘Theatre College’, which offers expert knowledge on relevant topics with high-quality, bilingual seminars and workshops – realised in collaboration with leading industry associations. The new Theatre Stage is the centrepiece, where presentations and the Theatre Talk invites exhibitors and the trade audience to exchange ideas. The Networking Area, with daily events and

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26 November 2024

UK - The recently opened Kingpins in Manchester’s Arndale Centre – the largest establishment to date in the estate of UK sports venue brand, Roxy Leisure – has opted once again for Linea Research amplifiers. Leeds-based Audioserv, the group’s audio supplier and integrator for over a decade, installed a zoned and distributed audio system, powered and intelligently controlled by a system of Linea Research amplification and Symmetrix.

Audioserv’s founder and MD, Pete Rollinson, explained that the audio for the new Kingpins followed a similar template to its sister brand venues across the UK, with distributed audio throughout the venue, from the front door to the furthest gaming area and on to the restrooms. “Having worked on all of the Roxy and Kingpins sites so far, the brief for the audio generally stays very similar. There's no stage, so there is

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26 November 2024

UK - Celestion has announced that the popular TFX0412 4” ferrite magnet coaxial driver is now available for individual purchase through retailers. With a rigid pressed steel chassis, the TFX0412 is a fully combined LF loudspeaker and HF compression driver that provides a very cost-effective solution for a variety of applications requiring compact, discreet sound reinforcement.

The TFX0412 features 1.25” diameter LF and 1” diameter HF copper clad aluminium voice coils powered by a common magnet motor assembly, where the same magnet is used for both the LF and HF elements. This enables the voice coils and hence the acoustic centres of the two transducers to be brought as close together as possible, delivering further improvements in signal coherence and time alignment, for a more natural sounding audio reproduction.

With the delivery of both low-

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25 November 2024

France - With a population of 57,300 and listed in the 500 cities where Life is good in France, Blanc-Mesnil is located just to the north of Paris, midway between the Stade de France and Charles de Gaulle airport.

Cultural life in the city revolves around the 710-seat Théâtre du Blanc-Mesnil which stages a variety of productions ranging from comedy and theatre to dance and music.

Sound reinforcement at the theatre comprises a Nexo STM system provided on a long-term rental basis by Loiret-based technical sound and lighting solutions specialists SPL, supplement by the theatre’s own inventory of Nexo speakers and powered controllers.

Clusters of six STM M28 main modules are flown beneath three STM B112 bass extension modules either side of the 22m-wide stage, with further sub-bass extension from ground stacks of three Nexo S118s.<

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25 November 2024

USA - The David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Centre – home of the New York Philharmonic – has various Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) products installed, including 18 Anna Adaptive Loudspeakers, six AC6 Adaptive column loudspeakers and four Otto Subwoofers.

The venue was modernised in collaboration with AVI-SPL and acoustical consultant Akustiks.

The David Geffen Hall project included an extensive redesign of audio-visual systems, acoustical systems and major infrastructure. AVI-SPL was responsible for the implementation of the PA and distributed audio, cinema systems and LED displays for closed captioning and projection, all supported by robust networking solutions.

EAW was chosen for the project by Akustiks' senior consultant Sam Brandt. Having worked with EAW for many years, Akustiks and AVI-SPL knew the brand’s Adaptive technology was right

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25 November 2024

Japan - CLUB CITTA' is a popular venue in Kawasaki. Opened in 1988, the club has seen historic performances from Nirvana, Oasis, Radiohead and many more and is a popular stop for many Japanese and international touring bands. The input from touring engineers was enough to convince Toru Yamamuro, general manager of stage production at CLUB CITTA', that their planned console upgrade should be to a DiGiCo Quantum 338.

“We introduced our SD8 back in 2012, updating the SD with a 32-bit card in 2019, so when the time came to upgrade our system, we asked various people about the Quantum and the feedback was very good,” Yamamuro says. “We also received enquiries from overseas artists who wanted to use the Quantum 338, so we had a strong desire to install it ourselves, and we were able to make it happen.

“With the addition of Mustard Processing and Sp

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25 November 2024

USA - Studio Technologies has introduced the Model 352A and Model 354A talk stations. The units support Dante audio-over-Ethernet digital media technology and are designed for voice paging applications, including theatre, live event and industrial applications. Broadcast applications can also be supported by using the products’ integral IFB (talent cue) capabilities.

The units offer a complete solution for routing voice and background audio along with playback of pre-recorded audio files. The Model 352A unit supplies two independent ‘talk’ channels, while the Model 354A unit supplies four independent ‘talk’ channels with each channel able to be individually configured to match the needs of specific applications.

As part of the unit’s Dante capability, both models support AES67 as well as the Dante Domain Manager (DDM) software application

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25 November 2024

UK - Audioscenic has announced the appointment of John Croteau, a veteran technology executive, as chairman of its board of directors. Croteau brings an impressive track record of driving innovation and growth in the tech sector including his roles as GM at Analog Devices, senior VP at NXP, CEO at MACOM, and currently as CEO at neural biosensor company Pison.  

Croteau's strategic guidance will be instrumental in steering Audioscenic through its next phase of technological advancement, innovation, and product integrations.

John Croteau commented: “I am thrilled to join Audioscenic at such a defining moment in the company’s evolution. With its innovative, position-adaptive 3D sound technology, Audioscenic is well-positioned to capitalise on the industry’s secular growth in immersive, 3D content.

“I look forward to collaborating with

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22 November 2024

APAC - Naostage, creator of automatic, beaconless 3D tracking solutions for live events and immersive experiences, has announced three new distributors in the APAC region. These strategic partnerships with Novatech, in Australia, ArcSource in Hong Kong and EZpro in mainland China, cater for the growing demand for Naostage’s tracking solution, K System.

In Australia, Naostage will be represented by Novatech Creative Event Technology, a family-owned event production company based in Adelaide, South Australia, focusing on providing innovative, creative turnkey solutions for events of all sizes, while offering a one-stop shop for event organisers and promoters. The partnership with Naostage sees Novatech become the exclusive distributor for Naostage in Australia, where it will focus on introducing artists, event producers, and production and performing arts co

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22 November 2024

Europe - Belgian loudspeaker manufacturer Audiofocus has named Audio Acoustics as its exclusive distribution partner for The Netherlands.

From its headquarters in Alphen aan den Rijn, Audio Acoustics will promote and support the full range of Audiofocus products, including the recently launched ARRoCC constant curvature system, Carys column PA system, and the new Isolde AP108 point source loudspeaker.

Audiofocus founder and CEO Ann Leroy comments: “Pro audio is still very much a people business, so it is vital to find partners who are fully embedded in their country’s audio community. Jeroen Knol [Audio Acoustics commercial director] and the Audio Acoustics team are familiar faces in the industry and have extensive experience of supporting top brands and high-profile projects. We are delighted to have them on board as our distributor for The Neth

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22 November 2024

UAE - Q-Sys Middle East Electronics Trading has announced the opening of its Q-Sys UAE Experience Centre in Dubai. This new centre offers an immersive and interactive environment to explore, test, and experience the latest advancements in AV technology.

Strategically located in the Dubai Supreme Court Complex, this Experience Centre spans more than 4,000sq.ft and delivers an experiential tour through the capabilities of the Q-Sys platform. From the moment visitors arrive they will be immersed in Q-SYS solutions throughout the divisible meeting room and training room, large boardroom and demo lab. The Experience Centre also features an open events area with a café/bar where customers can explore demonstrations of Q-Sys in an entertainment environment.

“We are excited to open our new Q-Sys Experience Centre in Dubai,” says Chant Utukian, managing

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22 November 2024

Switzerland - For the third year running, AudioRent Clair has provided 360° production services to Basel Tattoo, a celebration of music entertainment featuring classical and traditional musicians performing around the city's 400-year-old cultural centre, Kaserne Basel.

The multifaceted event is a major supra-regional spectacle, with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) recognising it as the official tattoo of Switzerland. This year, talent from Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Australia played for live audiences of up to 72,000 and were broadcast across national TV and radio stations in Switzerland for 450,000 viewers.

AudioRent's head of production, Reinhard Hoehn, begins: "The pressure to deliver a high-end production such as this in the Swiss market requires a 360° approach; streamlining complicated technic

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22 November 2024

Germany - d&b group has announced the appointment of James Gallagher-Powell as chief strategy officer (CSO).

Gallagher-Powell joins d&b group following a number of strategic and financial leadership roles with globally recognised organisations including PwC, RFRSH and CSM Sports & Entertainment, where he was Group CFO.

"I am thrilled to welcome James to our executive team and to the d&b family," says Amnon Harman, CEO of d&b group. "Our ambition has always been to address future trends and create technologies, business models and organisational structures accordingly. With James’ strategic experience he will be invaluable in helping us continue to set trends and support our customers in transforming their businesses."

Gallagher-Powell's responsibilities as CSO will span leading the company’s long-term strategic directi

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21 November 2024

Australia - LEA Professional has announced a new distribution partnership with Victoria-based Snap One Australia, now part of ADI, showcasing the company's ongoing global expansion efforts. This distribution relationship will bring LEA’s technology catalogue to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Snap One empowers its network of professional integrators to deliver entertainment, connectivity, control, and security solutions to residential and commercial end customers worldwide. Expanding its portfolio with LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers, and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity, supports Snap One's continued commitment. These series enable integrators to utilise cloud-based remote control, monitoring, notifications, and more from any internet-enabled device, allowing

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21 November 2024

USA - The 2025 NAMM Show (Anaheim, 21-25 January) will place a strong emphasis on pro audio. NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants) has “maximised the show’s exhibit and demo space, so professionals will have their best-ever opportunity to get hands-on with the latest in pro audio technology. These new product introductions will be complemented by a full suite of educational sessions and training opportunities for professionals in live sound, recording and music technology.”

“One of the main reasons that audio professionals come to the NAMM Show is to hear the latest equipment from the biggest pro audio brands,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “We are making that easier than ever before with more demo space for our exhibitors and more opportunities for our members to hear what state-of-the-art truly sounds like.”

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21 November 2024

UK - Martin Audio is making ‘significant strides’ in reducing its environmental footprint through the strategic use of recycled materials, particularly post-consumer recycled plastics. This commitment is a critical part of its overall sustainability strategy, aimed at integrating recycled materials into its manufacturing processes and contributing to a circular economy.

Martin Audio’s approach involves using detailed data to make informed decisions about sourcing recycled materials. This ensures that the use of recycled plastics does not compromise the quality or performance of its products. “The focus is on extending the lifecycle of materials and products, thus minimising their environmental impact from the outset,” confirms marketing director James King.

So how will this work in practice? Over the coming months, Martin Audio will gradual

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21 November 2024

Monaco - Founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier III and chaired by Prince Albert II since 1984, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) combines a taste for sport and a love of the sea. With 2,500 members, the club attracts shipowners, sailors and yacht-lovers from all over the world to its luxurious setting.  

Against this backdrop, Yacht Club de Monaco required a complete audio system that would not only align with these values but also provide high-performing sound across various spaces at the club. Italian manufacturer of professional audio solutions, K-array, was chosen to solve this request, with system integration provided by BM Service.

“Everything had to be invisible, stylish, yet high-performing, the usual values of K-array,” explains Alberto Gaetti, product support specialist at K-array. “Our loudspeakers were previously installed at the club’

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21 November 2024

USA - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Joel Majgier as its new consultants and key accounts manager in the US.

“I’ve spent over two decades in professional AV, and I see huge potential for growth with Powersoft,” says Majgier. “The reputation of the brand is exceptional, and the people within the company are committed to delivering best-in-class service to both our dealer base and the venues we work with. That level of dedication is something I’m excited to be a part of.”

In his new role, Majgier hopes to help expand Powersoft’s footprint in the US. The US market currently makes up around a quarter of Powersoft’s revenue – a figure that is expected to increase in the coming years.

Tom Knesel, general manager and COO of Powersoft US, comments: “We’re thrilled to welcome Joel to the Powersoft team. His extensive

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20 November 2024

China - The Taihu Jazz Festival is held every year in the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. During five days in May, musicians from China and beyond performed to excited crowds in the purpose-built outdoor performance spaces.

Over 50 jazz performances took place, including sets from French harmonica master Laurent Maur, jazz trumpeter, Li Xiaochuan, and other Chinese and international musicians, who took to the stage of the Taihu Stage Art Centre to kick off the 2024 Taihu Jazz Festival. Central to each was the power of DiGiCo’s Quantum series, with a Quantum 338 at the front of house position, a Quantum 225 at monitors and an SD10 for broadcast.

Three free performance stages - the Dance Art Workshop Stage, the Snowflake Stage, and the Instrumental Interactive Stage - were set up by RAC Pro, DiGiCo distributor in Chi

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20 November 2024

USA - To most people in the continental U.S., Alaska evokes a narrative of rugged individuals thriving under even more rugged conditions. Between weather, terrain, and sheer remoteness of most of the state, that’s more than mythology.

Government workers and contractors regularly endure brutal conditions while managing disaster recovery and infrastructure efforts, and solo filmmaker Jake Sloan is often there to document the process. With literally one hand on the camera and the other running sound, he trusts the latter to Rycote microphones and equipment. These include the HC-15 and HC-22 shotgun microphones, Cyclone baskets, Softie windscreens, and lavalier solutions including Stickie mounts and Windjammer screens.

“One of the biggest projects I've been working on for the last year has been for a statewide effort with the Alaska Department of Tra