CKS Entertainment Systems, one of the UK’s fastest growing distributors of plasma screens, has strengthened its sales focus by expanding to a seven-strong team and appointing Geoff Stevens to the newly created role of sales director.
The new team brings a wealth of individual expertise within the sales and distribution sector. Stevens, previously general manager of the Battery Sales Group at Panasonic Industrial Europe UK, will head the division overseeing sales of all plasma and flat screen technology. He will be supported by three business managers, former CRT flat panel display and projector specialists, Mike Clayton and Geraldine Neilly, as well as Jit Mistry who, until recently, was an AV sales specialist for House of Fraser. Internal sales members Anne Evans, Andrea Horton and Hannah Clemo, complete the team.
The team will report to CKS Group managing director, Chris Stephens: "Whilst many companies in our sector are reducing their sales force, preferring instead to rely on call centres to support their customers, we’re actively expanding our sales team. We’re delighted to have recruited someone of Geoff’s calibre to help define our sales strategy and head up the team which will implement it."
(Ruth Rossington)
Industry consultant Peter Ed is all set to achieve exactly that: take on the challenge of climbing 14,000ft over just one October weekend in Morocco. In the name of charity, Peter and his wife will be scaling Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, located in the High Atlas Mountain Range. The couple will be raising money for ARK - Absolute Return for Kids - a charity established to transform the lives of children who are victims of abuse, disability, illness and poverty. Last year, ARK raised nearly £1.5m from an awards dinner plus a trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and they're hoping to top this figure for 2002.
Locally, Mount Toubkal is known as Adrar n'Dem: Mountain of Mountains. The area is the most popular trekking destination in Northern Africa and is home to some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the world. The biggest problem for climbers is the altitude as it is a fairly rapid ascent from Aremd, the closest village at about 2100m, to the summit at 4167m. Peter is no stranger to breathlessness at altitude, after his drive over the Himalayas last year - vertigo is his biggest challenge!
The climbers are covering the full costs of the trek themselves with each member of the team being required to raise a minimum of £3000 in sponsorship. Peter leaves for Africa on 10 October and is asking everyone who can, to dig deep in their pockets so he can reach his fundraising target. In the meantime, he is committed to his training programme which comprises three visits to the gym each week, combined with walks around London and some serious c
With top promotion team DAD on board, fabric’s Dave Parry as technical consultant and legendary Back to Basics and Union club nights moving across town, the new 800-capacity Rehab in the heart of Leeds’ Exchange quarter, has gone straight into overdrive. The new venue, which opened this month, is sited on Assembly Street in a Grade 1 listed, 17th century building.
Much of the club’s immediate success is attributable to the explosion of kinetic energy witnessed by punters on the opening weekend, when they queued down the street to experience Leeds’ latest venue. The installation was carried out by Jonathan Reece’s Harrogate-based Funtime Music. The sound and lighting specialists have a history of installing owner, Chris Edwards’ clubs - such as Space in Leeds and Birdcage - and were asked to assist in the conversion of the building previously trading as Po Na Na (which they had also installed). Dave Parry confirmed: "There are three zones, with two music rooms - a main room, a mezzanine level and bar level off the main dancefloor - and we have followed a similar scheme to Room 2 at fabric."
Thus control of the system is under the command of a pair of BSS Audio 9088ii/LL Soundwebs and 9010 Jellyfish programmable remote, with the Soundweb files held by Dave Parry at his office in fabric. The show can be reprogrammed at will and the files sent to the club by email. Inputs on the DSP’s are assigned to the main and mezzanine left/right systems (and DJ), while outputs on the first Soundweb address the main and DJ system, and
After embarking on a successful new line-up of lighting fixtures over the past 12 months, Coemar has now turned its attention to developing a range of unique tools that will become a vital part of every lighting operator’s tool kit. The DR-1 is a remote device which virtually eliminates the need to gain access to fixtures when programming or servicing lighting equipment. This diagnostic instrument allows the functions (and history) of a fixture to be monitored and interrogated from anywhere in a venue. Offering bi-directional communication with the fixtures (which ‘talk back’ to the device over a normal 3-core DMX cable), when inserted into the DMX 512A chain, the DR-1 will replicate all functions and information, which until now were accessed only via a fixture’s on-board display panel.
A single DR-1, for instance, will allow the operator to remote access as many as 250 fixtures, allowing him to alter the fixture’s DMX address, turn the lamp on (or off) or select master or slave operating modes of a number of Coemar fixtures) and record and monitor programs using PPF (on iSpot 150 and ProSpot 150). This negates the need for direct contact with the fixture’s display panel. The next stage of the product’s development will be to allow the operator to reset the parameters, modes and attributes of a fixture (as well as fault interrogate) over the telephone line.
(Ruth Rossington)
For the eleventh year running, Delta Sound Inc designed and supplied the sound and communications system for the Mercury Music Prize, the aim of which is to celebrate the best of British music. The event, which took place in mid September, saw the independent panel of judges - which included jazz legend Coutney Pine - select Miss Dynamite's 'A Little Deeper' as the Album of the Year. The 21-year-old North Londoner, real name Naomi McLean-Daley, thus performed for over 1000 guests in the elegant surroundings of The Great Room, at London's Grosvenor House.
Delta Sound deployed its versatile L-Acoustics system with the company’s Andy Jackson specifying 12 V-dosc cabinets and eight subs for the main stage, with a further 24 dV-dosc cabinets and four subs used for the second acoustic stage. Six of Delta Sound's Midas consoles (four Heritage 3000s, an XL4 and a Heritage 1000) were used for front of house and monitoring.
Jackson and his team of production engineers had seven bands, with full touring sets, to turn around in 55 minutes.
(Ruth Rossington)
The centrepiece of the State Fair of Texas this year is a spectacular pyro show launched from a huge opening pyramid. Onstage Productions’ Charles Belcher was charged with getting the most spectacular show possible from the organizers budget, and he immediately contacted Total Structures to assist with the design, development, engineering and manufacture of this colossal structure.
The square base pyramid, 50ft square at the base and 50ft high, was a combination of stock truss sizes, custom intersections and mechanical fabrication, while the use of Total Structures OMNI connectors added additional flexibility. The top 15ft of the pyramid opens as four ‘petals’ and the inventive and efficient use of two CM Lodestars and a push rod system provides the maximum 'bang for the buck.'
The lower part of the pyramid is provided with a decking system, whilst the platform for the pyro and luminaires is raised up from within the central ‘core’. The structure is clad on all faces and is designed to resist 90mph winds by virtue of the braced central core and inclined corner buttresses.
The whole structure sits in an ornamental pond and consideration was given to protecting the truss from corrosion during the course of its 30 shows in 10 days. "We are delighted with the design solution and the service that Total Structures has provided - the opening mechanism is very cool. The show will be spectacular," commented Charles Belcher.
(Lee Baldock)
Grandmaster Flash, the founder of modern Hip Hop, took both the 2002 PLASA Show and the Ministry of Sound by storm when he came to London to launch the new Rane Empath mixer, which he has helped to design.
Flash’s visit culminated in a rocking two-hour set at the Ministry of Sound on the Tuesday night of PLASA. It’s the first time he’s ever played the club, and he took full advantage to put the Empath through its paces to a packed audience. This was preceded earlier in the day by two presentations by Flash on the stand of Rane’s UK distributor, Hayden Laboratories, at the PLASA show in Earls Court. Each was followed by a short demo of his own specialist brand of performance art.
In presenting the mixer, Flash expanded on the ‘8.45’ syndrome, which has prompted many of the Empath’s most practical features. This is the common scenario when it’s 15 minutes before doors at the club, there’s a long queue outside and there’s a load of connectivity conundrums for the DJ to deal with. Coming from the horse’s mouth, from someone who’s been at the cutting edge of performing in the best, worst, most interesting and challenging situations, the Empath is a mixer by a DJ for DJs. Flash’s priorities were to ensure that the elements important to DJs were an integral part of the mixer. "It’s the small and vital details that make the big picture," he explained. This, combined with Rane’s technology and engineering experience, has produced the Empath mixer which, say Rane, is the ultimate c
PLASA 2002 saw the successfull launch of dmXLAN PoCket from ELC Lighting. This application has been written for any Pocket PC, such as the Compaq or Toshiba, and allows the functionality of ELC’s dmxLAN Software. The advantages of this include not only the compact size, but the wireless LAN functions, allowing wireless control of all DMX nodes, patching and merging of universes, monitoring DMX channels and taking wireless control of any fixture, from any place on the stage or in the hall.
Visit the website below for more information, or to download the dmXLAN PoCket.pdf document from the downloads section. As with ELC Lighting’s dmXLAN main software, this application is free of charge.
(Lee Baldock)
Luminar Leisure has carried out a major £1m conversion of its Chicago Rock Café in Northampton, providing the company with a flagship venue within the former Odeon Cinema and increasing the capacity to 1,500. With the relocation of the stage to its own mezzanine level, the venue is centred around live music. Forthcoming acts will range from Spandau Ballet to the Venga Boys - and this will be played back through a concert-spec sound system. The large venue (with a massive 18 metres floor-to-ceiling height) is divided into three areas - the main room, the restaurant and Cuba Bar, situated inside the main entrance - and this is configured as a 16-zone system.
The primary task facing Lynx Lighting’s head of sound Jerey Denning, was the ability to change the venue’s soundscape - with automatic adjustment of the room’s EQ settings in accordance with the different modes of music. This he did with the aid of four BSS 9088 Soundwebs and a 9010 Jellyfish remote. Via Soundweb, each area can select local sources, such as satellite - or multiplay CD in the Cuba Bar - while still receiving announcements from the main DJ booth. Four BSS 9012 wall-mount panels provide the local user interface - featuring a five-way switch and rotary fader. However, in the live mixing area on the balcony, house engineer Rob Evans has access to the Jellyfish, stationed alongside a Soundcraft Spirit 32 (32/8/2) desk, and this allows him to override the system at any time.
Jerey Denning explained: "The idea is to use the different processing blocks from each Soundweb to route arou
The summer of 2002 has seen a significant sales trend for Out Board's TiMax audio imaging and surround animation matrixes as part of sound system upgrades to three diverse, but high profile classical theatre/opera facilities. In Finland, following a prolonged period of detailed evaluation under the supervision of long-standing TiMax distributor Kurt Nyback of Hecom, the Helsinki City Theatre and the Finnish National Theatre both opted for large TiMax Rack Systems, whilst the Moscow Operetta have purchased a system for vocal localisation and special effects programming and control from the TiMax distributor Igor Kovalev from Binar. System sizes ranged from 16-In x 24-Out up to 24-In x 32-Out.
What each of these installations has in common is perhaps not surprising these days - all systems were specified with AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs to interface with a range of mixing and signal distribution technologies from manufacturers such as Yamaha and Tascam. Out Board Director Dave Haydon comments: "Although TiMax Rack Systems and the new TiMax ImageMakers have been AES/EBU digital-enabled for some time, we were quite taken aback by the speed of take-up this year, but anticipate it to become more of a standard from now on.
TiMax Rack Systems are modular in blocks of eight channels up to a maximum of 32-In x 32-Out, which can include full digital I/O or just inputs or outputs. It is possible to mix 'n match digital and analogue, as well as retrofitting digital I/O with no modifications, which means rental operators have the inventory option of covering both bases fo
Coemar UK has taken on the UK distribution for Hungarian strobe giants Hungaroflash. According to Coemar UK managing director, Ian Kirby, this is a direct result of having supplied (via Vari-Lite) five of Hungaroflash’s massive T-Light 85K strobes for use on the Rolling Stones’ world tour.
One of the competitive advantages of T-Light - the latest product from the Budapest-based company - is that it can be purchased outright, rather than being restricted to hire use only. Requiring 63A/230V mains power supply, control is either in the form of the pre-programmed lightning strikes, or it can be created by the operator in the T-Light dedicated controller.
The lamp is low pressure non-explosive xenon - offering a flash length ranging from 1/24-sec to 3-sec - and the beam angle can be varied from spot to wide angle. Barn doors and colour filters are optional extras. The unit has internal and thermal circuit breaker and residual current operated circuit breaker. Coemar UK will be carrying the full range of products, including the 2.5kW Eudmx strobe.
(Ruth Rossington)
Following its launch earlier this year, the first European installation of Emphasis has just been completed at the New Stage of the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, as part of the venue’s major technical upgrade. More than 250 years old, The Royal Danish Theatre is located in the heart of Copenhagen and also houses the Royal Opera and Ballet.
"We were looking to upgrade our existing control system with more functions and channels," said the theatre’s lighting director Søren Nylin, "and we were very satisfied with the WYSIWYG software, which has grown to become the industry standard." Nylin detailed his technical requirements, to ETC’s distributor Bico Professionel A/S, who came up with the perfect solution. "As the theatre’s staff were already using Expression and WYSIWYG, Emphasis was the next logical step, providing a seamless fusion between the two," said Søren Jørgensen of Bico. Emphasis was supplied with additional WYSIWYG Design, two WYSIWYG Perform 2000 and ETC’s dimmer reporting software WYSILink. Bico also supplied the theatre’s New Stage with more than 500 channels of Sensor dimming with RCDs, four ETCNet2 DMX and Video Nodes, a Remote Focus Unit and four relay racks, to control worklight relays. The theatre already had more than 130 Source Fours, 12 of which are mounted on Auto-Yokes. The theatre’s houselighting is controlled by two ETC Unison architectural processors with 19 control stations, including two LCD stations.
(Ruth Rossington)
In what can only be described as a milestone event, the Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA) has cause to celebrate after recording one of the most successful shows in its 25-year history. PLASA's annual show confirmed its status once again as the leading international trade show for the entertainment, communications and presentation technology industries, as more than 400 companies from across the globe filled the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London from 8-11 September, 2002.
13,810 people (subject to ABC Audit), up by 4.2 per cent from last year, visited the PLASA Show to see the array of new product launches, attend the Masterclass Programme, network with industry colleagues and strike up new business relationships. PLASA managing director, Matthew Griffiths, said the show bucked the exhibition industry’s recent downward trend as many exhibitors conducted good business at the show, citing an optimistic mood about the state of the industry.
The show’s acting director, Nicola Rowland, commented: "Without doubt, this has been an extremely successful show. I’ve spoken to many exhibitors and the response has been overwhelmingly positive and it has laid the foundations to make the show even better next year. The show offered the industry a platform to revive the sluggish start to trading this year, with many exhibitors sounding bullish about the opportunities for the coming year after securing significant new business deals at the show."
Laurie-Jane Greene, international marketing manager for Martin Professional, described the
All eyes were on Hyde Park this July for the annual Party in the Park, the largest single day event in Europe, watched live by 100,000 people.
Now in its fifth year, the Capital Radio Party in the Park had an impressive line up of acts from around the globe, including Westlife, Shakira, Enrique, Natalie Imbruglia and Will Young, and the Prince’s Trust show sold out 100,000 tickets in just over four hours, in the process raising a huge sum for the charity.
ClearChannel Events managed the event production with John Probyn overseeing the licensing and production, whilst Mark Ward was the production manager charged to ensure the 30-act show ran smoothly.
"This year’s production infrastructure included several new products or procedures introduced by suppliers to build on our experience as a team over previous years," said Probyn. "The relaxed nature of the backstage area reflects the efficiency of all of the suppliers on site."
Guided by the lighting design guru of Rock TV, Mark Cunniffe, this year’s Party in the Park featured the relatively unusual concept of combining two distinct shows. "Mark used the rigs for Rod Stewart and Diana Ross," said LSD’s Micky Curbishley. Light & Sound Design, as ever, supplied the entire system, Cunniffe operating the assembled Icons, MAC 2000s, 5kWs and PC Beams from an Icon console. In addition to the three diamond-shaped trusses which spanned the stage roof, the impressive stage also featured a backdrop made up of one large central screen and 20 smaller ‘pod’ screens
Apogee Sound International, manufacturer of state-of-the-art sound reinforcement products for the professional audio industry, has announced that Steven Walker has been named managing director, assuming full managerial responsibility for the company.
Walker joined Apogee Sound in February 2002 as general manager. Since then, he has re-directed Apogee's resources, accelerating new products and marketing initiatives, and implementing new manufacturing efficiencies and quality controls at the company's headquarters near San Francisco. Michael P. Fleischer, President of Bogen Communications Inc, the parent company of Apogee Sound, commented: "Our plan has always been to 'let Apogee be Apogee.' We're excited to have Steve dedicated to continuing and enhancing Apogee's reputation for making the finest professional loudspeaker systems in the world. Apogee Sound is in very capable hands."
Walker added: "Very simply, my role is to keep the people with the audio equipment design and manufacturing experience focused on what they do best, and my emphasis is on listening to customers’ needs. Apogee Sound serves two very distinct markets - fixed installations and professional end users - and we are diligently focused on 'being there' for those customers."
Walker is working closely with Apogee's long-established design team, led by director of engineering Barry Grzebik.
(Ruth Rossington)
Following the success of its previous open days and the demand for a repeat event, Caterham-based direct marketing company Smart Sound Direct has confirmed 2pm Sunday 17th November as the date for its Winter show, which will be held at Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey.
Entertainment will be provided by various performers and DJs who will demonstrate the company's full complement of MSA PA enclosures, monitors, power amps, mixers, rack-mounted effects and accessories. New product lines include the upgraded version of the newly developed Smartlight range of lightweight speaker cabinets. These include bass bins which, when coupled with a power amp and mixer from the SmartLight line, provide what is claimed to be the lightest, portable, compact PA package available.
Visitors will also be able audition a variety of innovative products, including the CP8SP (currently the only compact 1,000W RMS sub-bass on the market) and the 'neighbour-approved' guitarists' recording gizmo, the Smart Sound 'Hermit' Isolation Box.
Admission is free, but only on a pre-bookable basis by calling 01883 346647.
(Ruth Rossington)
Pulsar Light has announced that from Monday 23 September, the company will commence full operation from brand new premises. Located just over a mile from Pulsar’s existing building, the new factory will house the design, manufacturing, sales and support teams. With 3,400sq.m of floor space and the potential for growth, the move will allow continued development for Pulsar.
The company’s new address will be: 3 Coldhams Business Park, Norman Way, Cambridge CB1 3LH, UK. Tel: 44 (0)1223 403500. Fax: 44 (0)1223 403501.
Established staging manufacturer Maltbury has announced that it has expanded its stock to include Morgan Trussing, a product new to the UK, which will complement Maltbury’s own demountable staging systems. The Morgan alloy trussing combines strength and a sophisticated appearance with unbeatable prices to reflect the qualities of Maltbury’s staging systems. Available in a number of truss styles and sizes the individual truss sections can be connected quickly and simply by using the double-ended conical spigots which slot easily into each truss tube and are secured with a pin and clip. In addition to an array of standard angled and jointed sections, Morgan Trussing can also be custom-made to meet particular requirements.
Morgan Trussing also comes in a range of styles and sizes from slender trussing, which is ideal for indoor work to the 400 x 600mm beams that are perfect for major structures. To ensure a stable and levelled foundation, the steel-framed ground support base is available with screw feet and demountable bracing, plus mounted on castors it also allows the assembled trussing to be moved easily into place. Finishing touches, also supplied by Maltbury, include complete flame-retardant stage covers, which are easy to attach and hard-wearing, as well as providing a simple means of protection whatever the weather!
One of the first jobs for Morgan Trussing was this summer’s Shakespeare at the Abbey Festival by Titchfield Festival Theatre. Set against the atmospheric and magnificent backdrop of the 13th century Titchfield Abbey in Hampshire, the an
Just over a year ago Tomcat USA Inc opened its first regional distribution facility - Tomcat Las Vegas - and the success of that distribution and service centre has presented the opportunity to expand the products and services as well as the staff. Kevin Makalous joined the Tomcat Las Vegas team as the assistant US sales manager on 16 September. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Makalous has over 10 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. "Being a former customer of Tomcat’s and experiencing the quality and commitment to service the company offers, it was a natural fit," said Makalous. The Western Region sales manager and Makalous will be working together to ensure all the West Coast customers’ requirements are met aggressively and consistently.
(Lee Baldock)
After more than 20 years supplying sound, screens, lighting, power and other specialist services to all types and sizes of events, Oxfordshire-based event services supplier ARB is restructuring its operation to keep pace with the shifting dynamics of the events industry. The company is now gearing up for further substantial changes within the industry by improving and developing the range of products and services required to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Having steered the company through its acquisition last year and a successful 2002 summer season, Bob Boote has decided to step down. He leaves the company in an excellent position to capitalise on this growing market, with a new management team in place committed to continuing ARB’s increasing impact and reputation within the events market. Peter Boott (no relation) who will continue as managing director, commented: "The technological developments in our industry over the past few years have been spectacular and this has increased expectations among our clients and potential clients of how best to promote their products and services at major events. To ensure we meet these expectations we will be building on the best aspects of our company, while improving efficiency and continuing strategic investment. This will ensure ARB’s continued position as one of the premier event equipment suppliers."
The scale and size of the projects ARB has successfully worked on this summer, which have included the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, Silverstone Formula 1 Grand Prix, The Open Golf Championshi
With two and a half years of technical sales at CIE Group behind him, Chris Fearn has moved to one of the company’s principal suppliers, Wharfedale Pro. In an expansion of the company’s sales force, Fearn becomes northern area sales manager, including Scotland, with responsibility for the installation market and MI markets. "This is an exciting time to be joining, with the launch of the powered EVP-S range, which is aimed at several different sectors of the market," said Fearn. "I will also be seeking to get the Programme 50 and Programme 52 more exposure in the installation market."
Prior to CIE, Chris Fearn worked in AV and domestic audio as part of a career that has so far spanned 12 years in the industry. Wharfedale Pro sales manager, Dean Davoile, commented: "This appointment is in line with our UK expansion strategy and will enable us to provide an improved service to our growing number of dealers."
(Ruth Rossington)
Lamba plc, UK distributors for Stanton products, scooped two top awards in DJ Magazine’s T-Scan Awards, which were held during the recent PLASA Show at the fashionable Momo Restaurant in London’s West End. The revolutionary Final Scratch was rewarded in both the MP3 Hardware and Most Innovative Product categories, and Stanton Magnetics’ export manager, Laurent Cohen was on hand to collect the awards.
Final Scratch allows bedroom DJs to enter and control the digital world. Its patented technology allows real-time manipulation and scratching of digital music files such as .wav and MP3 - from conventional analogue decks. Using any standard turntable and mixer set-up, a DJ can manipulate digital sources by hand, and with vinyl, while out on the road a DJ can now carry his entire system to a gig in a travel bag.
Certainly Final Scratch proved to be a popular winner, as DJ’s flocked onto the Lamba stand throughout the PLASA Show. Among those who saw Stanton’s B-Side and John Acquaviva put Final Scratch through its paces were Roger Sanchez, Grandmaster Flash, Cutmaster Swift and XPress 2 - who recently enjoyed a huge UK chart hit (Lazy) with former Talking Head David Byrne.
DJ Magazine’s awards are considered to be the most prestigious in the industry, and Lamba’s Paul Bierton commented: "We are delighted that DJ Magazine has recognized what we already know - which is that Final Scratch is on the verge of setting a major global trend that is set to revolutionize the way in which the industry thinks about downloading, mixing and
Zero 88 Lighting has awarded their North American distributor, A.C.T Lighting Inc, with their prestigious International Dealer of the Year Award for the second year running. "A.C.T Lighting's hard work and commitment has raised the brand profile in the US over the past 12 months", commented Zero 88 brand manager Tim Burt. "We have developed a close partnership with the company who provide ongoing support, training and marketing for us in the competitive US market."
Zero 88's Frog range of consoles have been extremely successful in the US market, providing easy to use and low-cost moving light and conventional control in a number of different formats, depending on the needs of the user. The Frog range currently comprises the Frog, Fat Frog, Leap Frog, Bull Frog, Mambo Frog and Frog Box.
(Lee Baldock)
When the organizers of the Panasonic Mercury Music Prize announced the nominations for this year’s event, at a press conference at London’s Royal Commonwealth Club, they asked Avesco Group company Creative Technology to provide all the audio visual support for the event.
Project manager Matt Hunter then involved fellow Avesco company MCL-London to handle the audio, and his colleague Simon Waters to provide a sophisticated playback rig, providing separate audio feeds from the digital mixing desk to the cameras. CT provided two 37" Hitachi plasma displays, which were used as relay monitors, and a Barco i6 high-resolution daylight screen, cut into an aperture - raised on a platform and suspended from behind as an integral part of the set design created by Frames Design and Build Ltd.
Cameras were supplied by the television companies but using Beta playback, CT flipped between Mercury’s graphic logo, held on a Sony DTS-375 framestore and short clips of the nominees, mixed on a Sony DFS-500 vision mixer, as Jools Holland announced the names in three separate segments.
MCL-London provided a conventional d&b left and right stack (augmented by front and rear fills), with playback from a pair of Denon MD105 minidiscs. Pete Clifton mixed the sound from a 24-channel Soundcraft K3 digital mixer, in turn sending live feeds to the cameras. Sony handheld mics, a pair of hardwired Shure SM58s and an AKG 747 lectern mic provided the live reinforcement for Jools Holland.
Summarised Matt Hunter: "With Avesco’s dedicated sound company Dimension Audio,