Balanced Technology is a new distributor on the Australian entertainment production scene, supplying an eclectic mix of products ranging from inline 5-pin to 3-pin DMX adapters and followspot sights, to Littlite task lights and complete aluminium truss systems.
Balanced Tech was featuring two new products. Brown's Precision Welding have developed a 500mm stacking truss system which, due to its advanced webbing design, is rated for higher loads than 500mm box truss. One person can comfortably move eight 3m lengths of this truss on a simple dolly.
Also on stand, Nic Moreau of Enttec was demonstrating his unique DMX Datagate, a sophisticated DMX device with one Ethernet port and eight bi-directional DMX512 (RDM) ports. The device can be configured, via its web interface, to perform any conceivable function with its ports: DMX distribution and routing, Ethernet to DMX, DMX to Ethernet, HTP or LTP merge, or any combination thereof - in any direction.
LSC probably deserve an award for the most original and charming stand at Entech, with their theme 'World class products . . . Right here in your own backyard'. The stand, which featured a typical Aussie suburban backyard, right down to the wooden fences, gas barbecue, rusty wheelbarrow and the metal tool shed, was topped with a full-width panoramic photo of a real Aussie suburb. A total contrast to the slick, modern, corporate look of every other stand at the show.
LSC was previewing KlubmaX, a concept club console built around PaTPad, the moving light controller developed for the maXim console. Although tucked away under the back porch, the first production versions of ADB's WARP profiles also attracted a great deal of attention.
Allen & Heath, celebrating an impressive 35 years in pro audio this year, introduced the latest generation of its popular MixWizard range of multi-purpose compact consoles - the WZ³12:2, WZ³14:4:2 and WZ³16:2 mixers. With a stylish new design, all models now have a new mic preamp design and advanced grounding scheme for improved sonic quality. The WZ³ models also feature individual phantom power switches, channel signal indicators, lamp sockets and backup supply capability. Internal configuration options for channel aux sends and direct output are now on pluggable jumpers for user convenience.
A&H also launched the LEDlamp, an 18" 4-pin XLR gooseneck console lamp containing a built-in thumbwheel dimmer - compatible with all ML series, PA series, GL4000 desks and the new MixWizard³ range.
Electro-Voice's new ZX5 family of speakers is notably the first EV product in the company's 75-year history ever to be launched outside of the USA. The six-model ZX5 series of 15", two-way speaker systems in polypropylene enclosures. The lightweight units are also robust, and incorporate new DVX-3150 (15") and ND2 (2" neodymium) drivers, which boast a maximum power handling of 2400W and can deliver up to 133dB SPL, according to EV. Frequency response is given as 52Hz to 16kHz (± 3dB), and power handling as 600W sustained / 2400W peak, with a maximum SPL of 132dB.
Seen for the first time was the DN370 equalizer from Klark Teknik. Billed as "an analogue graphic EQ for the 21st century", the 370 offers 45mm faders (with protective dust covers) for precise control of a new configuration of the KT's 'proportional Q' filter type. Aimed particularly at monitoring applications, each channel also offers two swept and overlapping 18dB notch filters with illuminated combined frequency and in/out rotary controls. This is not a replacement for the 360, KT is keen to point out, but aims to broaden the equalizer options offered by the company.
The Midas Verona console, offering six models ranging from 24 up to 64 inputs, received its world launch at NAMM in California at the start of the year (see L&SI February 2004). Since then, according to the company's sales and marketing director Dave Cooper, its impact has been huge, leading to a reorganization of the Kidderminster factory which has trebled production. "This console is in demand from all live mark
The Resource Corporation was showing the new Audibox range from Australia's own quirky audio company, ARX. Designed to provide professional quality audio tools, outside the conventional pro audio working environment, the range currently includes a DI box, a line level (AV) DI box, a gain balancer, an isolator, an isolated splitter, a mic preamp, and a headphone driver.
The form factor of these boxes is very compact, with several of the units available in either single- or dual-channel format. The dual-channel units actually have a second, identical unit, mounted in the otherwise unused back end of the box - very neat. Audiboxes have a lock-down security slot for use with computer security cables, and can be supplied either with a bracket to mount them under a bench, or a 1U rack-mount kit that holds four units.
Swedish amplifier manufacturer Lab.Gruppen, had a large presence at Frankfurt to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and was promising to reveal new generations of product in the near future. These, they say, will give the user more flexibility with networking, while sound quality and reliability will be further enhanced by the latest refinements of technologies such as the legendary Class TD or MLS.
BiAmp introduced Nexia - a new family of digital audio products consisting of the Nexia PM (presentation mixer), Nexia CS (conference system) and Nexia SP (speaker processor). Designed with application specific I/O and with more power than analogue products it features intuitive software which allows easy computer configuration with set-up and control achieved through Ethernet ports. In addition, with NexLink, up to four units can be linked together to create entirely different combinations of functionality.
InnovaSON announced that following the successful collaboration between Digigram's EtherSound technology and its own digital consoles on the production of Carmen at the Stade de France in September 2003, the company has seen a steady rise in the number of system designers specifying systems which include the Sy80 or the Sy40 digital consoles linked to an EtherSound network via a DO-8XES card.
Each DO-8XES provides eight processed channel outputs supplying simultaneous AES digital and EtherSound outputs. Each output provides eight full-band parametric EQ, compressor, gate, output delay, mute and output gain. By using InnovaSON's Sensoft Patch-out screen, matrix, bus or direct outputs it can be patched to the DO-8XES modules located in the local Mix Box for distribution to amps, loudspeakers etc, located anywhere on an EtherSound network.
Millbank, acquired by Ampekko in 2003, was announcing at Frankfurt the appointment of Atlantic Audio as its distributor for Germany, as well as introducing some new products. These included the VxLINK - a low-cost digital audio distribution system, designed to relay multi-channel audio signals using a single pair of cables. The system comprises Instations (input units) and Outstations (output units) with two audio channels per unit.
A VxLINK offers up to four Instations (eight audio channels) which can be distributed to any number of Outstations. VxLINK then creates a network, with units up to 350m apart, that can be used to create a flexible public address system for any building from stadiums and airports, through to shopping and leisure centres. VxLINK is simple to install and can use existing structured cabling to link zones and save on speaker cabling. Millbank is posting a number of application sheets on its website to help integrators develop ideas for the uses for VxLINK.
Also debuting from Millbank was the DVS8 voice store, which uses a flash memory card for storage. With a spot announcer option, DVS8 offers timer and preview options and a small on-board amplifier to give a flexible, low cost voice store in which the messages can be easily updated by non-technical staff.
Italian manufacturer Powersoft, specialist in PWM (pulse width modulation) amplification technology, introduced two new series. First is the K-10 Series - the first model of which is the Digam 10,000, with two channels producing 6,000W at 2 ohms and weighing just 12kg including DSP. The second was the S Series - starting with the S3400, featuring six channels, bridgeable, and producing 800W into 4 ohms on two unbalanced channels and 450W into 4 ohms on the remaining four channels.
Up to now PWM amplification technology has not been used in many audio applications, but Powersoft have taken advantage of new high-speed components and combined them with innovative design to develop high-power full bandwidth Class D professional amplifiers.
German loudspeaker manufacturer Kling & Freitag introduced the new, powered Line 212-SP system, complete with an innovative, patented, 'Click & Fly' system. Also new is the SW 215E subwoofer, which features the company's 'Exponential Tunnel' design and is designed to be compatible with the Line 212.
The Line 212-SP is powered by two power amplifier blocks in Class-D technology with a total output power of 2kW. The 'Click & Fly' system, it's simple to mount and cluster. Thanks to some internal re-design, the active version of the Line 212 is not significantly heavier than the passive system.
The SW 215E features a multitude of stacking grooves, which when combined with one or more Line 212 cabinets, allow for simple and precise alignment and help to stabilize the entire stack. Its use of modern chassis, tunnel, and enclosure technology gives it more punch in full power operations than comparable systems, say the company. Because of the phase compatibility, this subwoofer can also be combined with all other K&F systems.
TC Electronics launched a number of products including the V-Station|PowerCore by Novation, the TC-Helicon VoiceLive and new speakers from Dynaudio Acoustics. VoiceLive is a floor processor aimed at musicians who want complete control of their vocal sound on stage. It features EQ, compression, pitch correction, natural harmony and vocal effects.
USA - On Thursday 6 May 2004, just before David Bowie was due to start his A Reality Tour at the James L. Knight Centre in Miami, a local lighting technician, later identified as Wally Thomas, fell 50ft to his death from a metal wire and rod ladder. Investigators are now trying to determine the circumstances which led up to the death of Thomas who had worked in the industry for 25 years and was an extremely experienced stage technician.
The Miami Herald reported that Homicide detective, Ed Avila told them: "Wally Thomas and two other workers - who were looking after stage spotlights - were all wearing full body harnesses. However, the speculation is that Thomas was not clipped into the safety line when he fell to his death.
According to colleague and stage hand Chris Ryan - who has worked with Thomas since 1978 - he was stunned to hear he was on a truss spot to begin with as he did not usually work at height, following a near-fatal fall 15 years ago, and secondly that he was very upset that he was allowed to get on the ladder without his fall arrest.
It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that local crew follow health and safety rules to the extent that they are supposed to stand at the bottom of the ladder and not let anyone climb without the proper equipment and training.
Light & Sound Design/Fourth Phase supplied the lighting for the Bowie tour and Bob Manners, the company's VP of business affairs, apparently said that the firm was still investigating to check if Thomas was using LSD equipment.
Local head of the International Al
Although well-known throughout the world for its lighting products, back home in Australia Jands is probably better known as the local distributor for such products as Shure, BSS, JBL Pro, Crown Audio, dbx, Clear-com, Stanton Magnetics, ETC and Vari*Lite. Their stand reflected this diverse range of products, although the clear focus of Jands efforts at Entech was the introduction of the Vista moving light console. Although the world may not need another moving light console, Vista is anything but just another moving light console. Its forehead-smackingly obvious timeline-based programming model and its designer-liberating Generic Fixture Modelling capability, offer a completely new way to integrate moving lights into a production.
d&b audiotechnik, not far from its base in Backnang, showed the D12 amplifier and the Q-Series loudspeakers, which are making their first appearance at a German trade show, having already achieved success overseas. These latest arrivals to d&b's product range were first seen and heard in Germany last summer during extensive field tests, followed by full production last autumn. At ProLight&Sound, the D12 amplifier, a new electronics platform integral to d&b's system concept, was also put through its paces alongside the new d&b ROPE C software for remote system control and monitoring.
USA - The host city of this year's 'International Pow Wow' of the Travel Industry Association of America - Los Angeles, decided to 'wow' delegates with LA's newest landmark, the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall and Los Angeles based Visions Lighting. The event, the world's premier international travel trade show, attracts over 5,500 attendees from 65 countries and features 1,375 booths.
The 'LA Now . . . Wow' event, produced by EventWorks, called for the intersection of 1st Street and Grand Avenue to be turned into a street party with a live band on stage, food and the lighting of the surrounding buildings. Production manager and lighting designer for the event was Visions Lighting's Todd Roberts. "We had two days, with the streets closed, to pull this off," said Roberts. "We started at 6am on the first day, and we were programming till 2 a.m. that night. Of course, we were back again at 10am, and we had to clear of the site by 5am the next morning."
Roberts's design called not only for the lighting of the Walt Disney Concert Hall but also for its multiple angles to be employed as projection surfaces. Sponsor information, details about the International Pow Wow and even the Lakers game going on down the street at Staples Center graced the stainless steel exterior for the duration of the event. 20 Coemar SuperCyc 2.4 fixtures provided the main colour wash with highlights and stage lighting consisting of 16 Martin MAC 2000 Profiles, 16 High End Studio Colors, 16 Studio Spots, 16 Studio Beams, 24 Color Commands and 12 Cyberlights. A
HK Audio introduced its D.E.A.CON, a new, fully-digital band audio system featuring new Digital Dynamics Optimization (DDO) technology. The algorithms in the DDO controller developed by HK compensate for differences in the D.E.A.CON components to create a dynamically homogeneous system, say the company. The mid/high cabinet uses a 12" speaker and a 2" HF driver, powered by the integrated 600W RMS digital power amplifier.
The Duo-Tilt pole-mount adapter, the D.E.A.CON Tilt Unit or M10 flying points allow for alignment flexibility. The satellite can also be switched to full-range mode and can thus be used as stand-alone cabinet for smaller events. Two 18" subwoofers deliver the bottom end. Sub A features a 1000W RMS digital power amp run by the DDO controller in the satellite, while the passive subwoofer, Sub B can be connected for full bass reproduction even at large events. If the 3200W RMS power of the whole system is still not enough, two systems can be combined.Also worthy of note, HK's UK distributor, John Hornby Skewes & Co, received HK Audio's award at the show for 'Best Distributor Concert Sound' for 2003.
Audio-Technica introduced the new Midnight Blues line, consisting of four models - the MB1k and MB3k unidirectional dynamic vocal microphones; the MB2k unidirectional dynamic instrument microphone and the MB4k cardioid condenser microphone. All include a soft-touch finish for a secure grip and low mechanical noise, plus a protective pouch to store or transport the mic when not in use.
XTA Electronics exhibited its DP6i Audio Installation Controller, in association with Audio Export. Used to set up and control audio quality throughout any venue, the DP6i is designed specifically for the installation sound market. The unit features two-inputs and six-outputs, four front panel memories/configurations and XTA's control interface - AudioCore - which allows up to 32 DP6i units to be controlled from a single PC with the ability for further units to shadow those 32 providing an unlimited number of system outputs.
New Zealand's Theatrelight was showing a variety of new products at Entech, demonstrating its full recovery from the manufacturing and intellectual property problems which arose from its unfortunate joint venture in China. The Cuemaster II control console is the next level of development in the Theatrelight tradition of simple, powerful, and easy-to-learn consoles for mid-sized school, commercial, community theatre and studio applications. The range of new dimmers on show varied from single and dual channel stand-alone dimmers (pictured) to the very sophisticated 12-channel Nebula rack-mount and Meteor wall-mount racks. All dimmers are protected by magnetic circuit breakers and will operate anywhere in the world, on AC mains voltages ranging from 90V to 250V, at frequencies from 45Hz to 65Hz.
Celestion launched the FTr range of high performance loudspeakers, which they say features a number of technical advancements in the design and construction of the driver which have helped to minimize distortion and thermal compression, boosting the performance of the speakers.
Celestion also unveiled the latest addition to their Professional Sound Reinforcement product range: the QXi series. The five cost-effective, wood cabinets feature Celestion Truvox high-performance cone transducers and CDX neodymium compression drivers. Designed to be easily transportable for use on the road, each QXi speaker also features integral mounting points, making them equally suitable for fixed installations.
Celestion added a new 50W model to its range of very lightweight (about 500g), high-performance, neodymium compression drivers. Features of the CDX1-1430 include an aluminium heat-sink, and it offers a frequency response of 2-20kHz, and sensitivity of 108dB.
The Netherlands - LGH Rigging Services, specialists in the hire, sales and service of rigging and associated equipment, has recently expanded into Holland in order to meet the increasing demand for its services in Europe.
LGH Rigging Services was established as a dedicated, back-up, equipment resource for the entertainment industry in 1997 by LGH Group plc, leaders in lifting and winching equipment for over 30 years. The business has until now been solely UK based at Three Mills Island Studios, London and is managed by Bob Dean.
Following its success in the UK, it has been decided to further support and develop European customer relationships by establishing a new mainland European base at Utrecht in Holland. Paul Fulcher, operations director, LGH Group, explained: "Our personnel's lifting and rigging expertise in the entertainment industry has been combined with a vast hire fleet to create a very powerful and professional package which can be easily replicated for the Dutch and European markets."
The Dutch business is managed by Frank Kreuk who has over 20 years' experience in the entertainment business, having previously worked for Focus Show Equipment and Flashlight before setting up his own company, Rotterdam Rigging.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Carlton-Lee Business Development was set up to provide experienced business development consultancy services to companies in the consumer and pro audio markets, particularly those looking at expansion and diversification. The company has now started a division to specifically look after public relations and marketing services - Carlton-Lee Communications.
Derek West of Carlton-Lee explained: "Business development is a very confidential service, as detailed strategy, financial and product development issues are discussed - we won't even disclose client's names. PR, on the other hand, is very open and up-front and the whole industry can be aware of who you work for. Because of the demand for PR from clients it became very obvious that I had to split the two services by operating separate divisions, one for business development and one for communications."
West continued: "As my background covers 20 years of technical, sales and marketing experience in all sectors of the audio industry, minimal input for PR is needed from the client. The PR service we provide is, therefore, not a drain on their internal resources and is fast and cost effective. I think this is partly the reason why this side of the business has grown so fast."
Prior to starting Carlton-Lee, West held various senior management or board level positions with TEAC, Rycote, Dynaudio Acoustics, Sennheiser UK and Tannoy, where he instigated and managed the company's Professional Division.
(Sarah Rushton - Read)
Korean manufacturer Inter-M staged its first ever press conference to announce the launch of its new products. These included two new graphic equalizers combining familiar analogue-type control features with the precision and quality of digital performance. Both are DSP-based units and feature analogue-style faders on the front panels providing users with a dynamic range greater than 100dB. Each is operable within an extended bandwidth of 10Hz - 30.5kHz, and is equipped with AD/DA converters, balanced XLR connectors, 24-bit/64kHz resolution, peak limiting, low and high-cut filters, and a full 31 bands of graphic equalization.
Also debuting were the company's L-Series of two-channel amplifiers, each occupying two rack-spaces. The four models in the series are ideally suited for any application where space is tight and a lightweight, powerful chassis makes sense. At four ohms in bridged-mono mode, the L-Series model L-800 produces 830W; the L-1400 has an output of 1400W; the L-1800 1800W; and the L-2400 2400W. Frequency response on all models is given as 20Hz-20kHz, while signal-to-noise ratios on each measures >100dB.