USA - Nexera is Wybron's new family of affordable dichroic CMY colour mixing luminaires expressly designed to complement existing equipment. Nexera washlights and ellipsoidals operate just like the conventional theatrical fixtures already in use, but with the addition of Wybron CMY dichroic colour mixing.
Nexera fixtures are offered with a commonly available 575W compact tungsten source (the preferred source for theatre and television) and provide igh quality light output and beam uniformity. All Nexera fixtures are convection cooled and servo-driven, utilizing no fans for silent operation. The patent-pending Wybron CMY colour mixing module produces a wide colour palette, featuring an exceptional range of control over the most subtle theatrical colours like bastard amber, light pink and no-colour blue, all with seamless transitions between colours. Each unit requires three DMX channels, thus they are easy to use and patch, even on the simplest of control consoles. The Wybron CMY dichroic colour mixing module also means designers can make colour changes in real time.
The Nexera family of luminaires utilizes time-tested Wybron Coloram II Power Supplies for their power source, just like scrollers. In fact, Nexera luminaires and Wybron colour changers can operate off the same PSU, if desired.
All Nexera fixtures share a common lamp housing, borosilicate cold mirror reflector and Wybron CMY dichroic colour mixing module for ease of service and flexibility. The Wybron CMY module offers a menu display for DMX addressing and operational info, and the system is RDM comp
USA - The Venetian Resort hotel and casino in Las Vegas has chosen Digigram Audio Manager and NCX Networked audio terminals to distribute background music over the existing Ethernet network throughout the casino. "We were looking for a system that worked operationally, allowed flexibility and was cost-effective," said Paul Vella, engineering supervisor at the Venetian Resort.
The flexibility of Digigram Audio Manager allows the hotel to control the background music to reflect situations and demographics that change by the day or by the hour in the various locations of the $1.5billion complex. Digigram Audio Manager is a software suite for A-to-Z management of multi-zone audio installations, including play list creation, sound library management and signal routing. NCX Networked audio terminals, which are hooked into the Venetian's existing Ethernet, are used as I/O hardware. The audio is streamed via the network legacy from a central database to the audio terminals in the different areas. Using a TCI/IP interface, Audio Manager can remotely control the system from anywhere in the network.
Vella and the Venetian Resort IT staff have tested the system extensively. They had to be certain that plugging the NCX Terminals into their Intranet did not create problems. "It had zero effect on the Intranet and that is not the case with most audio streaming delivery systems. We tested one other product that shut down one of two servers," said Vella. "With Audio Manager and NCX we had no glitches, no anomalies and we didn't notice any audible changes
USA - American DJ is building on the success of its intelligent scanner, the DJ Scan, with the unveiling of the next generation DJ Scan 250. Like its predecessor, the DJ Scan 250 is an affordable, easy-to-use 4-channel DMX scanner, loaded with on-board colours and gobos, that puts an intelligent light show within reach of virtually any mobile or club DJ.
The DJ Scan 250 has a number of improved features: it has a brighter 250W lamp, which makes its seven dichroic colours much more brilliant and intense. Along with its added brightness, DJ Scan 250 features 10 all-new gobo patterns created by the company's graphic designers. "The gobos are our own exclusive proprietary patterns, which no other manufacturer has," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ group of companies.
Another improved feature on the DJ Scan 250 is an electronic transformer, which makes the fixture itself very light in weight. This enhances its portability, making it ideal for mobile applications. The 4-channel DJ Scan 250 can be operated with any standard DMX512 protocol controller, or it can be run via its own built-in programs. It can also be linked in multiples with XLR cables and run master-slave to put on a co-ordinated light show.
Another club lighting trend that the DJ Scan 250 addresses is wireless operation. The scanner can be used with American DJ's optional Wireless C controller (sold separately) to control blackout via an infrared remote key chain.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK / USA - HHB and Sennheiser Electronic Corporation (SEC) have reached an agreement whereby SEC will handle the distribution of all HHB professional audio products in the USA, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. This agreement goes into effect on October 1 this year, with SEC responsible for the distribution of HHB's Portadisc and Portadrive location sound recorders, CDR830 BurnIT and BurnIT Plus CD recorders and HHB Professional Recording Media, along with other new products currently in development. Distribution arrangements for HHB products in Canada remain unchanged.
"With a staff of more than 100, regional branch offices and an in-house technical service facility, SEC will give more coverage to HHB products and a better service to our customers than we could ever hope to achieve working independently," commented HHB managing director Ian Jones. "Our relationship with Sennheiser goes back over 20 years and there's an obvious synergy between HHB recording products and Sennheiser headphones, wireless systems and microphones."
Sennheiser Electronic Corporation's president, John Falcone added: "We've embarked on a programme of expanding our distribution business through the careful selection of complementary lines. HHB has already established an excellent reputation for innovation and quality and we see this venture as a perfect fit." Distribution of Rosendahl synchronization systems in the US, Central and South America and the Caribbean will also transfer to Sennheiser on October 1st 2003.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Turbosound is celebrating the first installation of its QLight loudspeakers in a London West End theatre. The acclaimed show Rat Pack at the Strand Theatre, which showcases the voices, music and lifestyles of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra, features over 30 QLight enclosures in a sound system designed and installed by WE Audio, and supplied through Marquee Audio.
Turbosound TQ-440 speakers form the core of the show's system, which utilizes TQ-220 and TQ-230 models for under-balcony delays and fills, with sub-bass support from TQ-425 and TQ-115 enclosures. TQ-310 speakers are also included, configured as stage monitors.
The show recreates the style and ambience of Sands casino in Las Vegas, the scene of many performances by the original Rat Pack members. To this end, WE Audio's Wayne Barker, working with associates Tim McCall and Andy Playford, designed the system specifically to reinforce the nightclub atmosphere, and to provide support for the show's strong vocal styles over the sound of the 15-piece band.
Wayne Barker explained: "We paid a lot of attention to many details - from microphones to loudspeakers - in order to present the sound of a sixties nightclub as faithfully as possible, and undertook considerable research to find the most appropriate tool for each aspect of the sound. The TQ concept is a perfect match for this show's specification, which called for a compact system that was easy to work and rig. We first deployed them for the show's tour, prior to its West End arrival and found we could successfully cover a rea
UK - Deco Leisure Group has further strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Jamie Kitson as area sales executive. Kitson, who was previously with R.W. Salt in technical sales, is more than familiar with the audio industry: prior to joining R.W. Salt, he worked for Stage Craft Systems for 10 years and has a thorough understanding of audio sales.
Commenting on his move to Deco, Kitson told PLASA Media: "As Dare Pro Audio and QAD are unique to the pro audio industry, I am looking forward to developing the products within the pro-audio market." Kitson's appointment closely follows that of Alex Kay, who joined Deco as technical manager, and also that of Carl Robinson, who recently joined as production manager. Robinson's experience with mineral composites fibreglass, as well as metal and wood laminates, will prove useful for Dare Pro Audio, whose innovative enclosure manufacture has assisted the company in achieving its best sales figures in its 14-year history.
(Ruth Rossington)
Norway - Professional Sound Systems AS (PSS) has completed an installation of a Nexo GEO S Tangent Array System at the Bakkenteigen Kulturhus (Performing Arts Centre) in Horten, Norway. Following a fact-finding mission to GEO installations in Sweden, PSS set up a temporary system in the Kulturhus. During a trial period, several well-known Norwegian artists performed using the system, including Mari Boine, Vidar Busk and Bertine Zettlitz. All artists and their sound engineers declared themselves delighted, and the decision was taken to purchase and install the Nexo GEO S system.
The 465-seat concert hall hosts a mixture of jazz, classical, rock and theatre performances during the year. PSS specified a system consisting of six GEO S805, one GEO S830 and three flown CD-12 sub-bass units per side, run by Camco amplification - one Camco Vortex 4 (in parallel mono) and one Vortex 6 per side. The configuration was designed to give uniform and even coverage, sound quality and sound pressure levels.
JP Westerlund of PSS explains: "Using Nexo's software package GEOSoft made it easy to configure the system - listening tests confirmed what the software had predicted, and the light weight of the system was an added bonus. The whole system flies off a single point each side using the Camco GEO angle adjuster for easy tilting to the correct angle."
The official launch of the system was attended by directors and engineers of performing arts centres from all around Norway. One of the country's top artists, Steinar Albrigtsen, and his band performed a 45-minute concert
Indonesia - With over 350 participants, Telex reports that its first Telex Academy in Indonesia was a runaway success. The event, held in Jakarta on the 7-8 July, was the first Telex Academy ever to have been held on Indonesian soil; it was attended by a record number of participants and turned into an industry event of more than regional importance, as the Telex team, spearheaded by Mathias von Heydekampf (president of the Pro Audio Group Worldwide), Martin Traut (marketing director) and Christian Glück (product manager for Electro-Voice), found themselves welcoming audio professionals not only from Indonesia but from the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India as well.
In addition to numerous product presentations, including presentations of the Electro-Voice XLC, Electro-Voice X-Line, Dynacord Cobra-4, Dynacord Madras and Telex intercom tools, numerous seminars and workshops were staged during the two days to allow visitors to bring themselves up to speed on the latest developments in the pro audio sector.
The product demos, staged in a large car park, turned out to be a hard test for both men and equipment with temperatures topping 40°C in the shade combined with extreme humidity. "It was like a sauna," remembers Martin Traut. However, the climatic extremes did not compromise the performance of the Telex EVI Audio equipment, nor spoil the good humour of the participants.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Public address and voice alarm manufacturer, Millbank Electronics (owned by Ampekko Ltd) recently hosted a distributor breakfast in a capsule on London's Millennium wheel. Forming part of the company's initiative to further strengthen international distributor relations and reaffirm Millbank's market-leading position, the event was attended by established distributors including Output (The Netherlands), PFAFF (Iceland), Ram-Tel (Israel) and Beaufort International (South Africa) as well as UK distributors including RW Salt and Apple Sound.
The event also celebrated the new appointment of distributors in Greece (Dsi Solutions, headed by Andreas Dimitriou), Malta (Audioworks, headed by John Grech), New Zealand (Capital Communications, headed by Tony Philip-Wright) and Poland (Neumann Technologie Multimedialne, headed by Tomaszk Neumann). Since Ampekko Ltd acquired Millbank from Federal Signal earlier this year, Millbank has benefited from considerable investment into re-building the Millbank brand on an international level, the company reports.
Boasting a complement of distributors worldwide, a strong sales force is now in place to handle Europe, The Middle East and the UK, say the company. The integration of Ampekko's complementary range of 'boxed' products into Millbank's portfolio has modernized the range considerably, not only to broaden its market potential but also to enable increased flexibility and reduce shipping costs. In addition, the launch of the new Millbank DSPac amplifier mainframe is the first of many new Millbank products.
Millbank CEO Neil
UK - Lots of familiar industry faces gathered at Imagination's Store Street premises in London on Monday evening for a celebration of the lifetime achievements of VLPS' Brian Croft. The company's general manager Ed Pagett, lighting designer Richard Pilbrow and Vari-Lite Inc's Rusty Brutsché all paid tribute to Croft, whose career has spanned the last five decades.
It began when he took the role of assistant stage manager at Perth Repertory Theatre in 1959: this led him to take on several other roles in theatre, before joining, in 1965, the National Youth Theatre. In 1968 he was invited by Michael Kustow to join the Institute of Contemporary Arts as technical director and helped launch its new London premises on The Mall.
Whilst at the ICA, he took three months off to join Chip Monk's lighting crew on the Rolling Stones tour of Europe. In 1970, the Stones were keen to source a lighting desk and dimmers, so Brian approached Electrosonic: it was an enquiry that led to the prototype of the Rockboard. Several switches between his theatre and touring hats later, he formed ESP Lighting, together with John Brown. In the years that followed, the company provided lighting services to a host of emerging artists, including The Who, David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, Deep Purple, the Moody Blues, Abba and Joni Mitchell. In 1977, Brian sold ESP to Rikki Farr's Electrosound, which had also acquired Tom Fields Associates of Boston, creating an international group - TFA Electrosound - of which Brian became MD. The client roster expanded to include Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Chicago,
UK - Meyer Sound's UK distributor Autograph Sales has completed the first phase of an ongoing regional Meyer Sound training programme. The free one-day training courses, taught by Meyer Sound's technical training and seminars director Mauricio Ramirez, were held at the end of August at The Helix, Dublin City University, Audio Alliance North in Manchester, B&H Sound Services in Peterborough and the National Theatre in London.
Subjects covered included phase alignment, delays, filters, line array theory and conventional loudspeaker arrays, as well as acoustic prediction and measurement techniques. All courses were full, with around 70 attendees across the four dates. "The take up exceeded all our expectations, and the courses attracted people with different levels of expertise and from a wide cross section of the industry, including PA companies, consultants, sound designers, venue technicians and even the odd stray lampie!" commented Autograph Sales' technicalmanager Mike Mann.
Autograph Sales will be announcing more training events beginning in January 2004 which will include in-depth line array and system design seminars, and will cover more of the country including Scotland, the north east and south west of England.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - SEOS has appointed Martin Howe to the position of vice-president of visualization, with effect from 22 September 2003. Based at SEOS' headquarters in Burgess Hill, UK, Howe will be leading a strategic review of the visualization business, working closely with the existing team to further develop SEOS' presence in the leisure and entertainment markets.
Howe has over 22 years of extensive experience in the system integration business for visualization and display systems. His career started with Electrosonic in project management and system design working on large, multi-disciplined projects around the world. After a period working as service manager and then engineering manager, Martin moved into a sales management role, primarily focusing on business development and large complex systems sales.
A move to Barco saw him leading business development activities in a range of markets from simulation and visualization through to control rooms and display solutions for military vehicles. Howe has also worked extensively throughout Europe and North America managing project sales and implementation of multi-location projects.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Trantec has introduced the TS22 and TS212 miniature mics. The TS22 has been manufactured to the highest specifications and combine a minute microphone with an ultra light and comfortable headband. Designed to be hidden discreetly in a wig or hair, it is ideal for theatre and broadcast applications.
The headband is engineered from a hard-wearing nylon composite, which has been selected to withstand the most rigorous and demanding applications. The nylon composite can be easily moulded to custom fit any users' head and ear shape. The TS 22's microphone is mounted on a tiny boom, which bends into shape to allow optimum sound quality.
The potential of the TS22' microphone is augmented by virtue of a tiny membrane, which houses the microphone capsule, protecting it from moisture, make-up and everyday dirt. The membrane is simple and cost effective to replace.
Trantec's TS212 high quality lavalier microphone boasts an exceptionally small profile. It also benefits from the same protective membrane housing as the TS22. Whether deployed in the hair, on the face or as a body-worn lavalier, the TS22 is ideal for rigorous theatre productions and challenging broadcast applications, say Trantec.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - If you want to hear the latest in audio technology from the industry's leading manufacturers and consultants, then take time out to attend Reproduced Sound 19. This residential weekend, held at the luxurious Oxford Hotel in Oxfordshire on the 7- 9 November, has been organized by the Electroacoustics Group of the UK's Institute of Acoustics to increase the understanding of all fields of Reproduced Sound.
The conference covers modern audio and acoustics in an informal environment allowing consultants, manufacturers, contractors and end users to share insights and information. It will incorporate papers from ADA (EASE), AMS Acoustics, Arup, BSS Audio, Celestion, d&b, Duran Audio, EAW, Genelec, Harman International, ISVR, JBL Professional, Martin Audio, Meyer, NXT and Peter Mapp & Associates.
For more details call Linda Canty on +44 (0) 1727 848195 or use the e-mail or web address below.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - The recent opening of Stella McCartney's London store was one of the most anticipated events in the fashion calendar. The three-storey building in Bruton Street, central London, has been completely refurbished from top to bottom, as befits one of the most fêted designers in the world.
Staffordshire-based sound installation company Ansabac was asked to design and install a sound system that combined punch with precision, "a high-quality audio performer that can be driven loud," explained John Clinton of Ansabac. "Clearly, the big opening party will not be the only event held here."
The retail areas are spread across three floors, and the audio system has been designed to provide four independent zones on each floor. Four Australian Monitor AMIS604P power amplifiers are at the heart of the system, supplied by Fuzion, the UK distributor. These four amps power all 16 zones from a small rack situated in the shop's office. Audio distribution is controlled by a Cloud mixer via JBL ceiling speakers, with the music being generated by an E-Merge 2000 digital music storage system. Each floor of the store has its own remote volume controls.
A regular user of Australian Monitor amplifiers for its installation projects, Ansabac has assembled quite a track record with luxury goods retail outlets, counting Alexander McQueen and Gucci among its clients. Each sturdy AMIS604P features four individual 60 watt power amplifiers in a 2RU chassis, a great space-saver in multi zone installations like the McCartney store. Each of the four power amplifiers featu
UK - The Kerrang! Awards - one of the most prestigious events in the world of rock and metal music, was this year held in the ballroom of London's Royal Lancaster Hotel. Now in its 10th year, the Awards took place in front of over 500 people, and was presented by Radio 1's Edith Bowman and Colin Murray, with guest presenters that included Jack Osbourne and The League of Gentlemen. The show was also recorded for broadcast by Channel 4.
Britannia Row provided an Electro-Voice XLC system for the event, powered by EV Precision Series remote amplifiers and IRIS management software. Three XLC 127 mid-high array cabinets, with five XLC118 subs, were ground-stacked either side of the stage, with EV 1152s for front fill. Overseen by the experienced system engineer Colin Burrell, the XLC system more than matched the demands of the bands that performed, Good Charlotte, Linkin Park and top award winners The Darkness. According to another Brit Row engineer, Christian Bayley, "the PA rocked, but it didn't rip your head off!"
Two bands dominated this year's Kerrang! Awards, US megastars Metallica were inaugurated in the Kerrang! Hall of Fame, and The Darkness - who opened the awards with a live performance of their new single 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love' - were the only group to pick up two Awards, claiming the 'Best Live Act' and 'Best Album' gongs. Other winners included Linkin Park and Feeder who picked up Best International Act and Best British Act respectively, Good Charlotte (Best Single), Electric Six (Best Video) and Evanescence (Bes
UK - Mean Fiddler's Carling Weekend double header over August Bank Holiday proved to be a huge success. Operating simultaneously at the traditional Reading site and Bramham Park in Wetherby, there were plenty of stages for the production crews to equip with technical services.
CT Screenco was in action on both main stages - which saw Metallica, Linkin Park, Blur and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club headline. This was supported by the Radio One Stage, Carling Stage, Smirnoff Experience Dance Arena, Concrete Jungle Stage and Comedy Stage. At both venues the company provided 30sq.m screens, stage left and right, with front-of-house delayed LED screens for the audience behind the mix position. This took the form of an 18sq.m Lighthouse LVP1650 (16mm) LED display at Reading, and Screenco 25mm screen at Leeds. While CT Screenco took a broadcast feed at the Reading Festival they provided a three-camera (Sony D-30) PPU in Leeds.
But the real production highlight was the 5 x 5 Lighthouse LVP1650 LED display which the company provided for production company, KLP, for use in the internationally-renowned Smirnoff Dance Experience Arenas. Now in its fourth year on the festival circuit, the Smirnoff extravaganza has quickly gained a reputation for state-of-the-art production - including live vision mixing. It was the first year that Smirnoff had broken from a conventional projection/screen solution - and despite the fact that the arenas were not light-proofed, the Lighthouse high-brightness screen formed a riveting backdrop for acts such as Death in Vegas, Lamb, Audio Bullies, Rich
USA - The new Show Designer professional DMX controllers from Light Stream Controls (LSC) offers a less expensive alternative for controlling DMX fixtures to all types of professional lighting users - from disc jockeys and smaller clubs, to larger entertainment venues and rental firms. The range consists of the Show Designer 1, Show Designer 2 and Show Designer 2D controllers, along with a Show Designer Disc Drive for storing data to a 3.5" floppy disk, which is linkable to the Show Designer 1 and 2 (the Show Designer 2D comes with its own built-in disk drive).
All of the controllers can operate a wide range of DMX intelligent lighting products, and come pre-programmed with a large library of built-in fixture settings for many different lighting brands. The systems are easily upgraded with continuous software updates, downloadable via the internet. Show Designer controllers are designed to be versatile for a wide range of applications. They come 'tabletop style' but also include removable rubber rails, which allow them to be used as a standard 19" rack mount unit.
Show Designer 1 is an affordable alternative for DJs and smaller clubs who want professional DMX lighting control. It can control up to 512 DMX channels, including 16 large fixtures (up to 32 channels each) or 16 groups of smaller fixtures. The MIDI-capable controller can hold up to 1024 scenes, 512 presets, 256 chases and 256 shows.
Show Designer 2 features two universe outputs, which can control a total of 1024 DMX channels - or twice the standard 512 channels. The Show Designer 2 can con
UK - Pearce Hire provided the power, lighting and PA equipment to help ensure the 26th Peterborough Beer Festival was a record-breaking success. The 2003 event attracted 43,000 aficionados of real ale over the six event days, resulting in the beer festival being officially crowned as the largest in the UK.
Pearce Hire has been working at the beer festival for over 10 years. The site, managed for Pearce Hire by Steve Kane, centred around three 75m long marquees with bars running the complete length of two, serving more than 350 different real ales, ciders and bottled beers. A third marquee featured live music from different bands each evening.
Pearce Hire supplied a synchronized pair of 200kva generators to produce enough power for the festival and distributed it to all areas of the site, including the stage lighting and PA, trade stands, the two bars, toilets and catering facilities. The length of the bars and the 75m of entertainment stage, meant that the internal wiring for the festival was complex, along with the bottled beer bar requiring 25 coolers, which also had to be connected to the system.
The PA system in the music tent consisted of 12 L-Acoustics Arcs and eight SB 218 speakers with Pearce's FOH engineer, Pete Hat, using a Midas legend 48-channel desk and Andy White behind on a Soundcraft SM 20 for monitors. Camco Vortex 6 amps drove the FOH with the stage using Lab.Gruppen amps and XTA processing.
Pearce installed lighting to the whole site including 50 emergency light units, 50 x 400W MBI floodlights, 50 halogens and 150 fluorescent fittings to
UK - The Building Regulations* now require building log books containing details of the building services installed in new non-residential buildings, enabling owners or occupiers to monitor and control energy consumption. In response to this new regulation, Action Energy has published Building Log Books - A User's Guide to provide advice on using building log books for facilities managers, building operators and energy managers. The Guide is also designed to help maintenance staff, consultants and contractors who work in a range of buildings.
Using log books should improve the understanding, management and operation of buildings resulting in lower running costs and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. The Guide is an integral part of CIBSE's own new toolkit which also includes, Building Log Books - a guide and standard template for preparing log books for non-domestic buildings which is available at cost from CIBSE.
To receive a free copy of Building Log Books - A User's Guide, or for information on the advice and services available through Action Energy, interested parties should call the helpline on 0800 58 57 94, or visit the websites below.
* These regulations only apply in England & Wales and will differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK / USA - The new management team at Cerwin-Vega used the PLASA Show to unveil the results of the company's new development philosophy, in conjunction with UK distributor Lamba plc. President, David Rice, and marketing manager, Jesse Walsh, presented three new product ranges making their world debuts.
The Vision Series, flagship of the company's Professional Audio division, features five new designs specifically aimed at live sound reinforcement and non-engineered sound applications. The Vision line includes two, three-way, full-range (bi-ampable) trapezoidal enclosures with ATM-equipped fly points, along with two subwoofer units and a single 12" coaxial enclosure that doubles as a floor monitor and flyable install speaker. The series includes the VIS-153 (a single 15" three-way system); the VIS-253 (a dual 15" three-way system), the VIS-122 (a single 12" coaxial enclosure), the VIS-218 subwoofer (dual 18" direct radiator) and VIS-36 (a trapezoidal folded bass horn with a single 18"woofer).
"Vision represents the pinnacle of Cerwin-Vega's engineering and manufacturing capabilities," said David Rice. "More importantly, it also represents a real breakthrough for our customers, offering them a range of powerful and elegant performers along with outstanding value - a combination not available from any other competitive product line. It's a win-win that will make Vision one of the most important loudspeaker introductions in recent years."
Jesse Walsh also introduced the ProStax Series, featuring five new systems wit
UK - Following unprecedented interest during PLASA 2003 in Kinesys' Elevation 1+ variable speed chain hoist control system, and its special commendation at the PLASA Awards, Kinesys is delighted to announce that Lodestar conversion kits are now available for both the large body and small body sizes of CM Lodestar.
These conversion kits allow standard CM Lodestars to be run as full variable speed hoists while still allowing the hoists to be controlled, fixed speed, from a standard motor controller. The conversion kit upgrades all the wiring within the Lodestar and includes a new 24V transformer and a high-resolution encoder. A circuit board accommodates all the contactor and brake switching components; provision for circuitry to control silent DC brakes is also included ensuring a simple and cost-effective upgrade path. The conversion kit leaves the hoist fitted with a multi-way Harting type connector that allows it to be plugged directly into an Elevation 1+ variable speed hoist controller. Also provided with the kit is a Ceeform adaptor cable that allows the hoist to be run, fixed speed, from a standard Lodestar controller.
Conversions can be performed either by Kinesys or by the end-user; a comprehensive instruction manual is supplied with each kit. A fully functioning prototype of a converted CM Prostar hoist was on display at PLASA and is now in the final stages of production engineering. An official release of the Prostar conversion can be expected within the next few weeks.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Autograph Sales has announced the sale of two Shure radio mic systems to the BRIT School, Britain's only state-funded school providing vocational education in the arts for 14 to 19-year-olds. Although Autograph has worked closely with the BRIT School for a number of years, this is the first sale it has made to the establishment.
One of the systems consists of five handheld U2/Beta58 mics including a spare, and two U4D dual receivers with passive splitter and active remote antennas, while the second consists of six U1 beltpack transmitters with Sennheiser MKE2 mics and three U4D dual receivers with active splitter and active remote antennas. Each set of receivers is fitted into an SKB 6U suspended flightcase fitted with a Furman PL-PLUS-E mains conditioner/distribution unit, and a 10m 6-way multicore was supplied with each system.
"We're pleased to make this sale to the BRIT School following a long association, and look forward to continuing working with them in the future," says Autograph Sales director Graham Paddon. "We were also very pleased to be able to supply both systems five days after receiving the order."
In addition to a grant from the Department for Education & Skills, the BRIT School is funded by the British Record Industry Trust - the charitable arm of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) - to provide the best quality training available for both performers and technicians. "We use industry standard equipment so that our students can gain experience that will enable them to go into the industry with confidence,&quo
Australia - The new PMX 12 from Australian pro audio manufacturer ARX Systems is a flexible, multi-profile speaker cabinet suitable for main or monitor applications, which according to ARX, raises the concept of processor-controlled speaker systems to a new level. It is, they say, suitable for any professional loudspeaker application requiring high quality audio in a compact, powerful and flexible package.
The PMX 12 is a two-way speaker system, featuring an ARX Pro Series 12" (305mm) bass driver, plus 1" (25mm) ARX extended range, large diaphragm compression driver, coupled to a 90°H x 40°V horn flare. Frequency management is provided by an ultra-efficient 24dB per octave internal crossover mounted on a fibre glass circuit board, using audiophile quality hand-crafted components.
Equally at home when used as a stage monitor. Its low profile design maximizes sightlines, and delivers superb performance in the critical vocal range, with all the power to really cut through on stage. Its rugged plywood, multi-profile design has the flexibility to handle the most demanding stage monitoring requirements, from vocal monitors to sidefill, say ARX.
The PMX 12 is controlled by the PRO-Sys speaker processor, a multi-channel control unit that supplies EQ trim, phase correction, sub crossover, and failsafe speaker protection. Quoted technical specifications include a frequency response of 60Hz - 18KHz (±5 dB), sensitivity of 99dB @ 1W, 1m, 8 ohms nominal impedance and a minimum amplifier power requirement of 300W RMS @ 8 ohms. Weighing in at 20kg (44lbs) the PMX