Australia - "Using our equipment enabled the filming of ‘Matrix Reloaded’ to continue in Sydney even when all the other studios were booked out," said Iain Barclay, ESS’s managing director in Australia.
ESS was contracted by Graeme Dew, through Tri Point Rigging, to provide arched structures inside a number of traditional-style warehouses being used as film sets. "Our archways were used to strengthen the roof of three buildings so that various flying scenes could be shot," added Barclay. Three different warehouses were rigged by ESS over a 12-month period, all in the Sydney region. The first installation formed part of a blue room at the Fox Studios where the majority of filming took place. The other two installations were more traditional, being used to fly heavy set pieces when the roof was unable to take their weight. ESS built the arches using their own Lite Tower and Roof trussing to create spans of up to 20m and in the final shots a regular arch with a 24m span was used.
So as you enjoy the latest escapades of Neo, the all-powerful one, and his faithful companions as they battle against Agent Smith, his clones and ‘the machines’, remember that ESS had a small part to play in saving the world. Or did they? Not until the final part in the trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, will we know for certain.
(Ruth Rossington)
Denmark - The new Imager from Martin Architectural is a high quality image projector with dynamic movement capability designed for high-resolution projection of patterns, images, logos and messages. Well suited to promotional applications such as retail, exhibitions, museums, clubs, restaurants, bars or any low-maintenance installation, the Imager is available as either a single image projector or in a four-image version. The Imager boasts a powerful luminous output, programmability and styling. In addition, a moving mirror option and a click-on accessory that offers the possibility of programmable movement, is available for roving logos or gliding messages.
A 250W highly efficient discharge lamp (included) combines with an exceptional optical design to maximize optical efficiency and provide designers with extremely high-resolution picture quality. Three available lens options offer the choice of narrow, medium and wide beam angles. The standard spread angle is 23 degrees with easy to insert narrow angle 15 degrees and wide-angle 32 degrees options.
An optimized condenser lens system produces an even light distribution across the entire projected surface and a cold light glass reflector maximizes optical efficiency, resulting in high light output. The multi-layer, coated, four-element focus lens ensures extremely high light transmission with very high contrast and image sharpness.
The Imager uses large D-size gobos to ensure an image resolution nearly twice as high as E-size alternatives. Gobos in both the 4-gobo and 1-gobo Imager versions can be quickly repl
UK - The latest City College Music Convention (CCMC) will take place on Monday 9 June and Tuesday 10 June at The Comedy Store, Deansgate Locks, Manchester. The tenth annual Manchester event consists of a conference during the day and a live showcase for local bands and DJs in the evening. Monday night features Nylon Pylon, Bynatone and Mark Hart's Club Suicide at the Comedy Store, then at the Music Box, a Bentley Rhythm Ace DJ set plus Jon Da Silva and Russell James.
The convention is aimed at musicians, promoters, managers, DJs, producers and anyone aspiring to work in the music industry. The CCMC’s are unique in that they are run by the College’s HND Music & New Media Management students. The purpose of the convention is to give attendees the chance to put questions to panels of music industry professionals, to take part in workshops and masterclasses and the opportunity to network with other young professionals and local industry practitioners.
Panels this year include ‘Advice and Tips for Unsigned Artists’, ‘Legal Panel’ and ‘DJ Masterclass’ on day one and ‘Promoters Forum’, ‘Technology in Music’ and ‘Community Workshop’ on day two. Amongst the many individuals invited every year are 300+ students from the Manchester colleges and universities, the Zion centre, Black Music Academy, Salford University and LIPA. The core target audience is 18-30 year old students studying courses such as Performance Technology, Music Technology, Music & New Media Management and E-Commerce.
(Rut
UK - Long-time Audio-Technica endorsees Placebo are currently in the middle of a world tour supporting the recently released fourth album, ‘Sleeping With Ghosts’, and making use of the company’s Artist Elite series of microphones. Front-of-house engineer Ian Nelson, whose credits include stints behind the desk for The Bluetones, The Sneaker Pimps, Pink and Johnny Marr, explained: "I had heard some really good things about the Artist Elite mics from other engineers, so when I found out that Placebo were A-T endorsees I was pleased that I would get the chance to check them out for myself."
Tests of the Artist Elite mics during production rehearsals at The Depot went well, so well in fact that Nelson chose to place a number of AE microphones alongside more established A-T mics across the stage. "I’ve got AT4050s all over the back line and we’ve moved from AT4054s to AE6100HEs on all the vocals. The 6100s are fantastic - very natural, and are particularly good for Brian, who has a tremendous range and a very unique sound.
"I haven’t had a chance to test the AE2500 yet as that arrived a little late, but I am keen to check it out on Steve’s kick drum during the next set of production rehearsals, maybe for the summer festivals. The reports I have had have all been really positive, and getting a condenser and a dynamic capsule in perfect phase all in one mic body is pretty unique, so I’m really looking forward to playing around with that one."
"I’m hoping it’s as good as all the
UK - Aberdeen University has installed Allen & Heath's new Digital Signal Processing (DSP) audio system, iDR, to manage sound reinforcement in its chapel building. The system uses TCP/IP over Ethernet to connect to the network, enabling the audio system to be managed not only from a central point but remotely from any PC on the network.
University Head of AV, David Walton, chose Creative Light & Sound to install the new system. MD, Charlie Fleet, commented: "Our brief was simple; the University needed a system that offered flexibility of control. The education sector infrequently adopts new technology, so investment needed to be in a system that was at the cutting edge and would remain up to date. Similarly, the education sector contains a majority of non-technical staff, so we also needed a user friendly system that could easily be operated by University members."
"The benefit of the iDR is that it can be approached "hands off" from a non-technical user's point of view. It also provides remote access at various points in the building and offers a profound level of flexibility whereby audio settings in different areas can be automated by programmable patches using iDR System Manager software. For example, during one of the University's assemblies when the chapel is full, it may be necessary for David to increase the amplifiers to full, but distortion is avoided because the microphone volumes are limited as part of a patch. Furthermore, compression and EQ can all be monitored from a central point.
"Aberdeen University's chapel p
UK - After seven years at Metier, Duncan Sones has announced his intention to stand down from the post of chief executive to work in a freelance capacity in education, training and regeneration projects.
Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA and also the Chair of Metier commented: "On behalf of the Board I’d like to express my thanks to Duncan for his achievements since his arrival in May 1996. During this time he has overseen considerable changes in Metier's fortunes and has been instrumental in raising the annual turnover of the organization from £250,000 to £1.5m. We believe that Duncan has been instrumental in bringing £10m to the sector - a large proportion of this has been invested in partnership projects helping to support the viability of around 35 other organizations."
Metier has made the successful transition from a National Training Organization into a much more practically-based agency delivering innovative programmes of work in the areas of education, skills and employability. Sones will continue to work with Metier over the next 12 months drawing on his knowledge of funding sources and partnership development. The organization has a strong team of managers and skilled staff: this team will be supplemented by two new appointments - that of an executive director and an equality projects director.
Griffiths continued: "Metier will have an important role to play in developing the delivery infrastructure for training for many years to come. Clearly the landscape will change with the arrival of the Sector Skills Council for
The Netherlands - At the forthcoming Cinema Expo (23-26 June, Amsterdam), newly-founded Alcons Audio will make its first appearance with a complete line of cinema loudspeakers and amplifiers. Alcons Audio is a newly formed Dutch company, active in developing and manufacturing professional sound systems for quality-conscious clients in the cinema industry.
The company was set up by Tom Back in October last year, together with the former Stage Accompany R&D team, with a wide experience of transducer, acoustics and system design, as well as DSP and amplifier technology. The new Alcons cinema product range consists of two 3-way front systems, featuring Alcons’ patent-pending ribbon transducer technology; a radically different, but proven way of reproducing mid and high frequencies, resulting in hi-fi sound quality with truly unsurpassed clarity and intelligibility at full digital cinema sound pressure levels. This space-efficient design is made possible by the very slim size of the RBN601, the most powerful ribbon transducer available, say Alcons, with "real90" horizontal dispersion.
The speaker systems are controlled and driven by the ALC controller amps. The built-in Speaker Drive Processing circuit enables all Alcons cinema systems to deliver absolute maximum output with optimum sound quality without any chance of mechanical damage. The Signal Integrity Sensing circuit completely compensates the influence of long speaker cables. Furthermore the line is completed by high-speed vented subsystem and high-power/high-Q surround system.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - BT eGovernment's Innovation Centre, in Westminster's Queen Anne's Gate, is a demonstration and discussion venue, which uses available and emerging technologies to illustrate innovative electronic solutions across the public sector and with other businesses.
The Centre was originally opened in 2000, but just over three years ago the Government started to review ways in which it could restructure in order to have all its services online by 2005. It wanted to transform the way it did business internally, and at the same time improve dialogue - and so it turned to its nearby resource, BT Stepchange, who created the Innovation Centre, with environments that were more theatrical, virtual and dynamic, and with a reception area that would have high visual impact.
"The idea," said outgoing centre manager Joe Crofts, "was to move people's mindsets away from their day-to-day activity; the reception area, in particular, was designed to create an immediate 'wow' factor." To achieve this, theychose three of dnp's 60" Ultra Contrast Screens (UCS) as a dynamic, interactive welcome display for guests. "The other major change," continued Joe, "is that while we were already using a whiteboard and AV we wanted to make the space more interesting by connecting three demo spaces into one virtual area using the technology of conventional presentation rooms."
The conversion costs were in the region of £250,000-£300,000 - with around £100,000 of that dedicated to the new multimedia suites. The contract was awarded to Admiral NetMeeti
UK - For the recent all-Italian UEFA Champions League final between AC Milan and Juventus at Manchester United’s Old Trafford football ground, rigging specialist Summit Steel rigged 20 4m diameter inflatable footballs at a height of 30m above the pitch.
Summit was asked to realize this audacious feat of rigging - it was a world first for objects to be flown above a football pitch during a match - by their clients Production Team, led by Dave Keighley. The project was co-ordinated for Summit by Ken Nock. Summit used catenary technology, a method they’ve pioneered and perfected in the past, including at the M2002 Commonwealth Games.
The starballs, each weighing 20kg, were suspended in four lines of five, each row attached to a 240m length of catenary wire running lengthways above the stadium. The catenaries were anchored to the main supporting structure of the venue’s roof stands. The clever bit was working out the mathematics, explains Ken Nock. Summit worked alongside two sets of structural engineers - their own (Graphics Applications from Mold, North Wales) and Old Trafford’s (Roscoe Capita from Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire) to perfect a plan whereby the starballs would have the dramatic illusion of floating in the air!
Summit rigged four additional catenaries to fly an overhead giro-stabilized camera weighing 50kg (for Aerial Camera Systems of Godalming, Surrey) over the centre of the pitch. The catenaries were pre-rigged the week before the event. As the starballs - made by Air Artists - only stayed fully inflated for 24 hours at a time, t
UK - British audio and speech technology company, NXT, has announced the launch, by 3M, of a rear projection screen using SoundVu technology. The ‘Vikuiti XRVS-120 extended resolution video screen with sound enhancement, which is part of 3M Optical Systems Division's suite of Vikuiti display enhancement products, was unveiled yesterday at the annual InfoComm exhibition in Florida.
The Vikuiti XRVS-120 is a result of a recently reached in-principle agreement for 3M to exclusively provide SoundVu technology to the professional rear projection screen market. NXT's SoundVu technology turns the projection screen itself into a Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) by using actuators positioned at the 'invisible' edge to vibrate the screen, locking sound and vision as one. NXT's SoundVu technology works without adding depth or size to the unit and, by using the screen, eliminates the need for the external wires and boxy speakers required by conventional audio technology.
Aside from the practical benefits, SoundVu technology produces sound quite differently from conventional loudspeakers. Unlike conventional loudspeakers, SoundVu delivers a much wider audio sweet spot as it disperses frequencies evenly across the panel's bandwidth, thereby avoiding the ‘beaming’ common with conventional speakers. In addition, DML panels suffer much less volume drop-off with distance and deliver a soundfield that interacts more sympathetically with room boundaries. These distinct audio characteristics make NXT's technology ideal for large audiences, as the audio produced by
UK - Lightfactor Sales has supplied installer Chris Gunton Associates (CGA) with LDR Suono profile theatrical lighting fixtures and LightProcessor dimmers and control to realize an interesting projection concept in the Cavendish Arcade, Buxton - the historic spa town’s main shopping centre. The supply and demo was managed for Lightfactor by Peter Coles, who was approached by CGA in their search for an inventive solution to project images up a blank wall in the shopping center, protected from fixings by the building’s listed status.
The Arcade building contains Buxton’s famous spring, and originally served as the old bathing house buildings. In the mid 1980s, a large arched stained glass roof was added along one section of the arcade. At the time, it was the largest continuous stretch of stained glass in Europe. Below and at one end of this barrel-ceilinged stained glass section, is the wall in question - a flat and dull expanse of stone. Following discussions with English Heritage, owners Willowlake Properties were allowed to install a white PVC banner in front of the wall, then approached various companies for suggestions.
Enter CGA: Chris Gunton came up with a simple, effective solution - projection - and arranged an on-site demo with Peter Coles. The arcade needed something small, powerful and good looking that could be installed with minimum impact on the building. The discharge version of the LDR Suono profile fixture proved ideal for the main projection - a coloured glass gobo of the Cavendish Arcade logo. This is permanently beamed across
UK - Thanks to a unique new integrated system soon to be installed as part of a major refurbishment of the Blackwall Tunnel in London, by Tyco Integrated Systems of Cambridge and Tyco Control Systems, motorists will now be able to listen to radio programmes and receive radio messages (RDS) and PA announcements about traffic conditions, incidents or emergencies while in the tunnel.
In an emergency, special radio break-in messages on RDS car radio can provide information or instructions, and the Public Address system makes sure that people hear messages even during an evacuation. CCTV cameras will also allow tunnel operators to monitor traffic throughout the tunnels. The entire system is controlled via a single SCADA integrated control system provided by Tyco Control Systems which links all the facilities together - it can even deliver pre-recorded messages automatically when sensors detect incidents or traffic problems in the tunnels.
"This system is one of the first fully integrated systems of its kind and involved all three of our core groups covering Traffic and Transport, Wireless Solutions and Specialist Communications such as PA," said Phil Ford, MD of Tyco Integrated Systems. The automatic CCTV incident detection system can detect slow or stopped traffic, pedestrians and other traffic hazards in the tunnels, whilst the digital Public Address system allows voice messages to be broadcast to drivers manually, or triggered automatically as a result of incidents (e.g. from the motion detection system) via six separate zones of loudspeakers. In addition
Latvia - A new rigging innovation, the Verlinde CyberHoist, made its début recently at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia. The system’s designers, Dutch lighting and rigging company Flashlight, who worked closely with lead lighting contractor Spectra+ of Sweden, say the CyberHoist is the world's most intelligent hoist motor system, capable of a high level of accuracy under the control of Flashlight's Ethernet-based 3D HoistShowControl programming and control software system. At Eurovision, it was used to perform intricate movements of six circular truss ‘pods’ containing large LED video panels and lights around the Eurovision set.
Flashlight's R&D team, headed by its engineering manager Fried Buttstedt and Anne Bokma, developed the CyberHoist around a Verlinde Stagemaker hoist body as well as creating the 3D HoistShowControl software. A truly 'intelligent' hoist system, every hoist has an integral processor and memory. With a 500kg weight limit and a 1000kg version upcoming, it provides variable speed from 0.1mm per second to up to 20meters per minute, with positioning accurate to 0.1mm and confirmed in real time via Flashlight Ethernet from the hoist.
Designed and manufactured according to the latest German BGV-C1 safety standards, safety features include double brake, mechanical overtravel limits, dynamic overload device and autonomous hardwired emergency circuit level 4, incorporated in the power distribution.
Marc van der Wel, sales manager of Flashlight, says: "We developed CyberHoist as the demands for staging more innovat
UK - Essex-based sound and light company Xtreme Audio Visual has ordered a new Electro-Voice X-Array rental system, complete with P3000RL Precision Series Remote Amplifiers, and a Midas Venice 320 mixing console, all to be supplied by Shuttlesound.
Xtreme has been building up its rental business, and, last year, invested heavily in expanding its lighting capability. In 2003, it is the turn of the sound department, which already has a healthy client list: the company recently provided audio services for two film launches in Leicester Square, is heavily involved in corporate events and conference work throughout Europe, and regularly supplies systems for dance events. One of their goals for the coming year is to increase their list of music clients, and the purchase of the X-Array is intended to attract more music touring business.
Xtreme's new X-Array system comprises four Xcn and four Xb LF cabinets, with two Xds ground-stacking subs. Craig Wiggins of Xtreme Audio Visual explained that personalities played a big part in securing his order. "The guys at Shuttlesound have been absolutely tremendous. We're not the biggest rental company in the world, and we need to know we've got back-up. They've given us great friendship and a lot of help, and that goes a hell of a long way."
(Lee Baldock)
France - Nexo GEO S cabinets have been installed in the Ice Arena in Valence, near Grenoble in France. As part of an extensive refurbishment programme of the venue, Lyon Audio Equipement has designed and installed a new sound reinforcement system, using a combination of PS8 and GEO S805, driven by Yamaha PC Series amplifiers.
The Ice Arena is used regularly for ice hockey, accommodating an audience of 850 for matches. The auditorium can be re-configured for ice shows, increasing its audience capacity to 1050. Providing coverage for the ice surface itself are eight Nexo PS8 compact full-range cabinets, bi-amplified by the PS8 processor and four Nexo LS400 power amps. For the audience seating, Bernard Maigre of Lyon Audio Equipement has specified two clusters of three GEO S805 tangent array cabinets.
"There is a truss, what you could call a bridge, that runs the length of the arena above the ice," explains Bernard. "We have fixed all the loudspeakers to this bridge, which also carries the lighting. The PS8s are angled downward to the ice surface, and the GEO clusters address the audience seats at the side of the arena. We get a good even sound coverage through the entire arena, averaging 100dB SPL, although we do have to cut the low frequencies just above the ice."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - The funeral of Keith Ferguson, the former general manager of the Production Services Association (PSA), will be held this Saturday 7 June, at 11.20am at Putney Vale Crematorium, Stag Lane, London SW15. Ferguson, who also served as a trustee of the PSA’s Welfare & Benevolent Fund, died in his sleep during the night of Friday 23 May. He was 56. Freddie Nyathela of the South African Roadies Association (SARA), who worked closely with Ferguson, described him as "a gentle giant - a man with a soft heart and vision."
He leaves a son, Guy, and a daughter, Meredith. The family has requested that flowers be sent from family members only, while anyone wishing to contribute should send a donation to the family’s chosen charity, Diabetes UK, c/o the Funeral Directors at: Fred K W. Paine, 24 Old London Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6QG.
Following the service, a Memorial Gathering will be held on a riverboat journey to Hampton Court and back. The boat will leave at 1.00pm from Turk’s Boatyard in Kingston. All are welcome to attend the service and gathering, but if anyone should be unable to attend the service, they can still board the boat from 12.45pm.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - SCV London has appointed Eamonn McGonagle to the newly created position of UK sales manager for PA and installation products. Julian Blyth, SCV London managing director, says: "As we are continually expanding the PA and installation market side of our business, we needed to find the right person to manage our rapidly increasing portfolio of products. We believe Eamonn fulfils the role perfectly."
McGonagle was previously national sales manager for Celestion Pro Products, and before that he was the marketing manager for Van Dam Cables.
(Lee Baldock)
Italy - For the 2004 edition of SIB (13-16 March 2004), the show’s organizers are promising a cutting-edge expo with a new image, new targets and two new sections as part of a plan drawn up in conjunction with research and consultancy company Cermes-Bocconi.
"We’ve carried out support activity for Rimini Fiera’s management on the basis of our experience in the sector of exhibitions of international importance," explains Professor Francesca Golfetto, joint director of Cermes-Bocconi. "Bearing in mind the on-going evolution of its business sectors, it’s extremely important for strict scientific surveys to be conducted on an event of SIB’s international calibre, to ensure the utmost satisfaction of its numerous clients." As a result of this plan, SIB now also has a new subtitle - the International Exhibition of Event and Entertainment Technology - and a restyled logo.
In addition to its traditional lighting and audio sectors, SIB 2004 will also highlight everything else related to creating successful events and shows. Alongside the SIB Theatre section, which through the years has become a reference point for the sector and will be further expanded, there will now be two new sections: SIB Design, dedicated to furniture and décor for venues and architectural lighting; and SIB Congress, dedicated to the organization of commercial and promotional events, a showcase for tensile structures, technology for queue and crowd control, sets and fittings, staff, catering and services.
SIB is also updating as far as its spectac
UK - Music Bank, the London rehearsal facility, has opened two new rooms, nearly doubling its studio space as a result of a major expansion programme. The main event is the opening of the East and West studios, more than 3,500sq.ft of natural light rehearsal space, each studio boasting its own ground-floor load-in, private office and kitchen.
Each room is offered with a Soundcraft 40-channel MH4 mixing console. "The rooms are aimed at four or five piece bands, perhaps a bit more budget-conscious than our current clients," explains Music Bank's Nunu Whiting. "All of us here believe that there's going to be a resurgence in the rock 'n' roll market, so we're getting ready for the new upcoming bands. Music Bank will give them a decent and affordable rehearsal environment, rather than the traditional black room with sticky carpets!"
East and West Studios have been designed by Music Bank's regular design-and-build specialist, Mick Fitzgerald of KFA, and equipped by Crystal Pro Audio. "We've got Soundcraft desks (SM20 and SM24) in the South and North Studios," says Nunu, "and we've always found them to be very acceptable to the professional engineers. We bought one Soundcraft MH4 console which we'll use on rotation between both East and West: we've already discussed terms with Crystal Pro Audio for a second identical MH4."
With a multi-purpose design topology that permits easy configuration for front-of-house, stage monitor, or mixed FOH/monitor duties the multi-purpose live performance console is ideally suited for touring appl
USA - Stanton has announced what it calls ‘a revolution in DJ mixer design’ - SST f(Superior Sound Technology) is found in the latest crop of Stanton mixers including the new SA-5, SMX-401, SMX-301 and RM-22. This technology offers audio quality on a par with professional studio consoles, but at prices working DJs can afford, say Stanton. Features include ultra low-noise circuitry, transparent sound, no channel bleed and superior construction throughout.
SST is the result of a new strategic initiative at Stanton to bring pro audio specs to a more affordable price point, which the company has achieved by utilizing a new team of engineers from broadcast and recording mixer backgrounds - in conjunction with Stanton’s own DJ product managers.
All SST mixers boast a flat frequency response from 20Hz-20kHz +/-1.5dB and a dynamic range better than 110dB (noise and distortion better than 0.015% THD) no bleed-through between phono and line inputs, and superior construction using glass epoxy boards (except SMX-301) and surface mount technology throughout.
Currently, there are four models in the SST-Series. First is the SMX-301, a 3-channel mixer that sports rotary gain and 3-band EQ on each channel, built-in kill switches, balanced Master outputs and more. Stepping up to the SMX-401, users gain a high-quality Penny & Giles crossfader, an onboard FX loop, plus balanced Booth and Master outputs.
For turntablists, Stanton offers the SA-5, a 2-channel scratch mixer built in conjunction with the Allies All-Star Beat Down. For mobile and club DJs, Stanton p
UK - London-based theatre sound specialist Orbital has combined forces with The National Theatre to co-produce their third advanced training course for final year Stage Management and Technical Theatre students wishing to pursue a career in theatre sound.
The importance of sound in theatre continues to grow at a rapid rate, and as audio technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, both Orbital and the NT are concerned that there is a skills shortfall, and that young people entering the industry have little experience of the latest technology.
The course was co-designed by the NT’s head of sound Rob Barnard and Orbital’s Simon Whitehorn as a ‘top-up’ to the very good, but basic training offered at drama schools. 20 candidates were nominated from drama schools nationwide to participate - at no expense to students or schools - in carefully structured classes, which were co-hosted by Orbital and The National’s staff. Building on the success of previous years, the course has gained national status, with students attending from as far afield as the Royal Welsh College of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
The five-day programme covered a wide range of subjects, with the creative and conceptual workshops staged at The National, whilst the in-depth technical and practical sessions were held at Orbital’s headquarters. This year a particular emphasis was given to digital technology, production engineering and sound system design. Whitehorn commented: "The digital day gave us the opportunity to teach hands-o
France - With the small cable size and with no audible electromagnetic interference, the use of Ethernet technology has many advantages in the audio word. It can often enable audio installation in areas where traditional methods would be difficult or impossible. Functioning as Ethernet audio bridges, Digigram’s EtherSound ES8in and EtherSound ES8out offer an easy and affordable way to install and distribute up to 64 channels of high-quality audio using standard Ethernet switches and Cat 5 cabling, and are the first off-the-shelf products to feature Digigram's EtherSound technology.
EtherSound ES8in injects eight analogue balanced audio signals into an EtherSound network, while the EtherSound ES8out extracts eight analogue audio signals out of an EtherSound network. System set-up, control and re-configuration are operated remotely via straightforward PC software, with no specific IT expertise is required.
Applications include synchronous high-quality audio distribution in broadcast facilities; multi-zone audio distribution in fixed installations; and touring and portable PA (broadcast vehicles, touring theatres, live recording set-ups).
Advantages of the system include reduced labour and material costs, aas well as significant cuts in the cost of re-configuration and maintenance. EtherSound ES8in/8out allows for highly flexible audio distribution, going well beyond the possibilities of analogue audio installations and their physically defined signal paths, say Digigram. Both EtherSound ES8in and EtherSound ES8out allow management of GPIO and RS232 for bi-d
USA- Further news from Ballantyne of Omaha, this time concerning the appointment of Daniel E. Faltin, 46, as executive vice-president and chief operating officer.
As COO, Faltin will oversee day-to-day operations at the company, assuming those responsibilities from Brad French, who added those duties to his chief financial officer role during the company's restructuring process. French will continue to serve as CFO, a position he has held since 1996.
Faltin most recently served as an executive consultant to Ballantyne's senior management team. Prior to this, he was president of Chief Automotive Systems Inc, a Nebraska-based manufacturer of collision repair equipment for the body shop industry, which was acquired by Dover Corporation in 1988. In this role, he oversaw the introduction of several new products, thecreation of a successful product trade-in programme and the implementation of a capital investment programme that resulted in manufacturing process improvements.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Shure has started to ship its new DFR22 audio processor, a powerful and affordable 2-in, 2-out DSP product featuring Shure’s patented automatic digital feedback reduction algorithm (DFR).
Primarily designed for the sound contracting market, the DFR22 also includes modules for equalization, dynamics processing, delay and matrix mixing and is easily configured through a flexible, drag-and-drop Windows software interface. "The DFR22 will give current users of our DFR11EQ and P4800 the best of both products in a new form. It will function as an out-of-the-box, two-channel feedback reducer or as a fully configurable 2 x 2 device with a full complement of software-configurable audio processors," said Bob Rieder, Shure category director of audio processing products. "It also answers the many requests we’ve received for a stereo version of our patented feedback reduction algorithm."
The DFR22 features single-channel and stereo 5-, 10-, and 16-band DFR processing blocks. In addition, the DFR now offers an auto clear mode that removes changes to equalization made by the feedback reducer after a specified period of time. The DFR22 includes both XLR and Phoenix connectors and will appeal to the professional live sound market by functioning as a feedback reducer that does not require a computer for configuration.
(Ruth Rossington)