Mondo*dr India Issue 1

THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR TECHNOLOGY IN ENTERTAINMENT

RAJAN GUPTA

An interview with the MD of Hi-Tech who is celebrating 25 years in the industry.

WONDERLA

A highly durable sound system was required for the Hyderabad theme park.

ISSUE 1

IES

Founders Rasesh Pareth and Kekul Sheth talk past, present and future.

Resident at the world‘s best clubs.

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3 CO N TEN TS

Contents 4 IN DETAIL - INDIA

Interview 10 RASESH PAREKH & KEKUL SHETH Integrated Entertainment Soltuions 21 RATNESH JAVERI Innovative Systems & Solutions 28 RAMESH CHETWANI & ANIL CHOPRA PALM Expo 36 RAJAN GUPTA Hi-Tech 46 JUVANITA SHALINE ShowTex India

Install 6 AER Mumbai 12 CENTERSTAGE Mumbai

ISSUE 1 We’re pleased and proud to present our first ever mondo*dr, country specific supplement. In case you haven’t guessed by now, our focus for this edition is India. You’ll find a selection of interviews, company profiles and venue installations inside, which cover a number of the major cities.

I personally have been travelling to India annually for the past six years and even in that short time I have seen a lot of progression in the market. Whether that be the increase in international brands appointing distributors in the country, more advanced technology being installed into venues, or more sophisticated stand building at tradeshows - it all adds up to this market evolving.

Training is an important tool to enable our industry in India to grow, and it is great to see so many manufacturers continually organising demo and training sessions to increase the knowledge. India also has three major tradeshow platforms - PALM Expo, InfoComm India and Indian DJ Expo - to promote the idea of training, encourage business deals and generally bring the industry together.

Do have a flick through the supplement and let us know what you think, and if you were at PALM Expo this year, you might even find your photo in our gallery! We’ve not settled on next country choice yet, so any ideas are more than welcome.

18 TEDDYBOY New Delhi 22 Q-LA New Delhi 26 ICON CLUB Bangalore 30 ALLIANCE FRANCAISE Pondicherry 34 WONDERLA Hyderabad 38 CITYPRIDE Pune

In Profile 16 MODERN STAGE SERVICE New Delhi 42 PREMIER PRO GROUP Mumbai

RACHAEL ROGERSON-THORLEY EDITOR

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Subscribe online at www.mondiale.co.uk or call +44 (0)161 476 5580 ISSN: 1476 4067 Mondo DR (ISSN 1476 4067) is published in January, March, May, July, September, November and December by Mondiale Publishing Limited, Waterloo Place, Watson Square, Stockport, SK1 3AZ, United Kingdom. Subscription records are maintained at Mondiale Publishing Limited, Waterloo Place, Watson Square, Stockport, SK1 3AZ, United Kingdom

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4 FAC TS & FI GUR ES

In Detail - India TOTAL AREA 3,287,263 sq km

LAND 2,973,193 sq km

New Delhi (capital) 25.703 million

WATER 314,070 sq km

POPULATION 1,251,695,584

(July 2015 est.)

Mumbai 21.043 million

GDP

2014

6.6% 7.2%

2015

2013

(real growth rate)

7.3%

GMT + 5.5 hours Bangalore 10.087 million

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US$5,800

US$5,500

+ 91

US$6,200

Country code:

GDP per capita (PPP)

5 FAC TS & FI GUR ES

2015

2014

2013

Currency: Indian rupees

GDP

(official exchange rate)

$2.091 trillion (2015 est.)

Most Populous Cities Kolkata 11.766 million

Hyderabad 8.944 million

Bengali 8.1%

Hindi 41%

Telugu 7.2% LANGUAGE Marathi 7%

Electricity supply

Chennai 9.62 million

230V 50Hz

Tamil 5.9% Urdu 5% Others 26% www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Centerstage Mumbai

The National Sports Club of India (NSCI) is home to Centerstage, a multipurpose auditorium located in the Worli area of Mumbai. The institution sits on the seafront in the centre of the city and has been there since 1950, with the current building in place in 1957.

A whole host of sporting activities are on offer at NSCI, however, more recently the cinema auditorium was added to the complex.

In fact this project was on the horizon for almost 12 months before the official consultant was appointed.

RADIO GA GA and SOUNDBIZ, young and aspiring companies were awarded the contract to deliver a stateof-art cinema viewing facility to the members of NSCI in Mumbai.

The brief for this project was simple: To create an audiovisual experience that would tempt members from their regular commercial cinema multiplex experience to a more homely, luxurious and landmark facility. After a lot of evaluation, a short list of companies was sent to Dolby India, who then supplied their technical input. A Kling & Freitag system was chosen, as this was in keeping with the high standards outlined by Dolby. The consultants commented:

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“The actual realisation of the project was not so much of a dream, given the room geometry, volume and height, the project had previously been turned down by other consultants. Secondly, there was strict deadline of just 90-95 days and in that time, the concept, the build and the installation all had to be complete.”

In order to tempt cinema-goers to this specific facility, it was going to have to offer something that the multiplexes didn’t, and this came in the form of the technology installation. The options were either Auro 3D or Dolby Atmos. The latter was selected as the best solution to contend with the low ceiling height, given that it operates on two audio layers rather than the Auro 3D, which uses three layers.

The team used AutoCAD design software to determine the set-up of the Dolby Atmos system, to ensure it would comply with the 50 page design documents issued by the Dolby India design team, and fulfilled the requirements outlined by the management - to get the best possible results for the room. Dolby India actually provided a very supportive role

for the project, which was reassuring for the management.

The product selection process was quite intense, with a number of loudspeaker brands considered by Dolby India. The team contemplated performance specification, ability to adhere to the required standards and market reputation. A comparative analysis was drawn up, which detailed the product design philosophy, manufacturing technology, product after sales support and warranties, all of which led to Kling & Freitag being chosen as the favoured brand.

“Kling & Freitag products were selected for their tonal neutrality and their uncompromised audio quality,” said Rajesh Sadarangani MD of Rivera International, exclusive distributors in India for K&F. “In fact, the products delivered more than what was expected in the end. Not only was the management pleased with the result, but it has also received high praise from cinema experts, who compared the sound to other multiplexes.”

The final Kling & Freitag Dolby Atmos set-up

Technical Information INSTALLER: Rivera International BRANDS: Kling & Freitag, Dolby Atmos WEBSITE: www.riverainternational.com / www.kling-freitag.de / www.dolby.com www.mo ndo dr.co m

Left and above: The cinema auditorium at NSCI has been kitted out with a Kling & Freitag Dolby Atmos system.

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Above: The brief was to create an audiovisual experience that would tempt members from their regular commercial cinema multiplex experience to a more homely, luxurious and landmark facility.

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comprises three Line 212-9 full range loudspeakers, four CA-1215-6 loudspeakers, 10 CA 1001’s and 16 CA-106’s accompanied by six SW-115 subwoofers. Kling & Freitag’s exclusive distributor for the region, Rivera, supplied all the products and gave its full support to the project. A Dolby CP 850 Atmos processor is also in place to provide a completely 3D immersive sound experience. “Precision and accuracy was key to reducing the Dolby calibration time,” said the consultants. “Acoustical challenges also came into play particularly with the metal roof and the fact that the sports arena next door hosts events using large format line-array and bass arrays systems.”

To complete the audiovisual install, a NEC NC-1100L DCI laser projector and a Screen Research CLEARPIX 4K woven PVC fibreglass projection screen were integrated and this can be used in a variety of applications such a cinema, press conferences, musical concerts or educational seminars.

Centerstage is a one of a kind auditorium as it is the first theme-based cinema in India, it’s theme revolves around the Great Gatsby movie. Yet, despite the film being set in the 1920s, Centerstage is far from 20th Century design, with its commitment to continuous development and improvement of the big screen entertainment experience, it’s safe to say its focus is very much on the future.

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10 I N TERVI EW

Rasesh Parekh & Kekul Sheth Founders of IES

When and why did the two of you start the company?

We founded the company in 1996, having returned from the USA with our respective degrees in engineering. We researched various industries and entrepreneurial ventures, but the lighting and sound industry, linked to entertainment really appealed to us. We felt the industry offered strong prospects, as during our research we discovered it had a good track record even when the general economy was not at its best.

What were your career backgrounds before the audiovisual industry?

Rasesh: I hold a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering (Orthopedics). I am a fourth generation entrepreneur from a business family.

Kekul: I am Computer Science graduate.

Describe the India market when you first began and how does it compare to today?

The technology entertainment market in India market was in its early stages in 1996. We were questioned as to what we meant by intelligent lighting. The import duties were very high, which added to the challenge of setting up a business. We were pioneers in this field, with the exception of one brand, which had reached India before we did, so we also feel largely responsible for educating the market and creating awareness.

Ideally, we wanted to start a distribution network, but since the

market was non-existent there were hardly any designers, integrators or dealers to speak or, we had to fit the role that the projects and clients demanded.

Today is a new era, the industry has grown and the market has matured. There is far more awareness, knowledge and creativity than ever before. The demand for intelligent lighting and sound has grown significantly and evidence of this can be found in very small towns and villages within India. Advances in technology, especially with LED technology and line array technology, further fuel this demand, as well as greater awareness created by the media. The mobile phone revolution, along with the internet, has ensured that events, shows and information reaches the millions of aspiring people in India.

Now, there are specialised companies that under take consultancy, design and integration, and most importantly, India now has dealer networks and service centres - something we didn’t have before.

Resources such as lighting designers, light jockeys, sound engineers, and architects have established themselves in the market and enriched it.

What was the first brand you took on distribution for and how did you secure the partnership?

High End Systems was the first company that we took on distribution for India. We studied in Texas where High End Systems is based and had a local connection with the company due to some mutual friends. In 1996, High End Systems had no representation in India and welcomed our initiative to start an intelligent lighting company in

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India - based out of Mumbai. Our first notable project was providing the intelligent lighting for the Miss World Pageant 1996 for Amitabh Bachchan of ABCL. How did you continue to build the brand portfolio?

As the sole distributor of High End Systems for India, we had a good product to enter into the rental and production market - the installation market followed.

We quickly realised that sound was a natural and necessary addition to our portfolio, so we took on distribution for Martin Audio products in the Western region.

Over time, we did change some of the brands, but continued to add new companies, one at a time to our portfolio. Each of the companies we represent is a manufacturer of cutting edge technology, much of which can be attributed to the commitment of their R&D departments.

Some of the more recent additions include Powersoft, Avolites and Madrix, what advantages have these distributorships brought to IES? Having these brands in our portfolio strengthens our position in the market. They give IES an edge over other distribution companies in terms of projects, market penetration and sales. In turn, manufacturers enjoy the advantages of IES as a company that as well as its sales, service and support network, is built on integrity and offers the correct solutions for its clients.

Can you name some flagship installation projects that IES has been involved with?

This is difficult because, during 20 years of trading, a lot of equipment from our company has entered into the rental, production and installation markets. Projects that stand out are include: Lake Front in Aamby Valley, Sahara Lake City; Hard Rock Cafe outlets in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi; Shiro in Mumbai and Bangalore; Libai and EXO at the St. Regis in Mumbai; Hype at ShangriLa in Bangalore; and Ministry of Sound in Delhi.

What makes IES different from other distributors in the region?

We are a 20-year-old company built on a simple principle; to offer the best products with complete solutions rather than only selling products.

IES offers concept, design, procurement, installation and commissioning, as well as training for the products in our portfolio.

However, as a distribution partner, we will work at any of those levels to suit the individual client.

Tell the readers something they wouldn’t know about IES? From a technical aspect, which is our strong point, IES is possibly one of the only companies in India that was founded by two engineers, who studied in the USA and then returned back to India to start our own adventure in a field that was in its infancy - this is undoubtedly unique in this industry. The journey so far has been fantastic and as the market evolves, we believe the best is definitely yet to come.

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Q-LA Delhi

Q-LA is a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of The Kila, a cluster of Heritage Buildings located around the Qutub Minar - a UNESCO site - in the Mehrauli area of Delhi. Today, the buildings have been repurposed for modern day use and its occupants include fashion outlets and nightlife venues. Q-LA is one of the newest additions to the complex and as a restaurant that specialises in European fine dining, the crowds flock for a new experience.

Upon arriving at the Best New Nightlife Venue - housed in the old-site of BLUEfrog - Q-LA is a far cry from its predecessor thanks to the work of Manager, Samrat Banerjee, Head Chef, Priyam Chatterjee and HiTECH Audio, which supplied the audio equipment. Samrat takes up the story to explain how he first got into hospitality: “Growing up I looked up to my uncle who was in the hospitality business. I was lucky enough to go on business trips with him when I was a child and see lots of luxurious surroundings. By the age of 16, I’d developed my own preferences of the world of hospitality and found interests in concepts such as real estate, project management and food and beverage.”

After studying hotel management in Switzerland and working in hotels around Europe and Asia, Samrat returned to India to get married and to take on his first www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Left and right: The event space at Q-LA boasts an L-Acoustics PA system with RCF monitors, a Yamaha mixing console and lighting from LBT.

major project, The Manor Hotel. Having gained valuable experience, he decided to take on Q-LA. He described the aim of the restaurant: “It concentrates on bringing European food to a global audience, but not just any food - fresh vegetarian cuisine. We will be the first restaurant to provide a menu that serves an allvegetarian option that includes no onions, no garlic and certainly no alcohol. We want to provide the Delhi population with a mould-breaking, fine-dining vegetarian experience because - as many know - India is the ‘land of vegetarianism’.”

Chef Priyam, who is in charge of making this a reality, has also travelled the world to build his culinary experience. Mentored by executive French chef, Jean Claude Fugier, Priyam is now a chef in his own right, capable of producing some simply stunning food - which I can most definitely vouch for.

For Samrat and Priyam, food and beverage is the star of the show at Q-LA, however, they are also well aware serving this sumptuous menu is only further enhanced by creating the perfect setting, and this is where Rajan entered the fold. “Technology supports everything we do and without

it we can not create the right ambience and atmosphere balance,” continued Samrat. “Our sound systems provide the impeccable balance that goes in line with the great tasting food. The calibrated loudspeaker systems create a flow around the venue that is key to our success.”

The main technology installation is not actually in the main restaurant itself but in the event space, Zone, which is able to host seminars and conferences, birthday, wedding or anniversary celebrations, as well as comedy, music and theatre shows.

Covering an area of 7,000 sq ft, the event space can hold 400+ people standing and anything between 75-250 people for a seated event depending on table configuration. The main stage PA comprises a pair of L-Acoustics ARCS WiFo either side of the stage, in addition to a further pair split to cover the left off-axis and the right off-axis, and one final ARCS WiFo in the centre for fill requirements. The ARCS WiFo is a combination of the manufacturer’s ARCS Wide and ARCS Focus enclosures in a more compact cabinet, yet its coverage span can go from single enclosure fill all the way up to 360° in-the-round. Because www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Technical Information INSTALLER: Hi-Tech Audio BRANDS: L-Acoustics, RCF, Yamaha, LBT WEBSITE: www.hitechaudiosystems.com / www.l-acoustics.com / www.rcf.it / www. yamahaproaudio.com / www.lbtpro.com

its coverage matches its shape, ARCS WiFo is easy to use, perfectly conforming to any audience configuration using few elements, demonstrated by installing just five at Q-LA. ARCS WiFo combines high SPL, native low frequency performance and constant tonal balance over distance.

Four L-Acoustics subwoofers - two SB28’s and two SB18’s - extend the low frequency capabilities of the sound system. As is usual for an L-Acoustics set-up, the boxes are powered and processed by the proprietary LA8 amplified controllers. For events that include live band performances, six RCF 15SMA active monitors are lined up on stage.

While mixing requirements are taken care of by a Yamaha LS9-32 digital console, which in addition to an extensive range of gating, compression, and equalisation capabilities, also has a built-in USB memory recorder/ player for recording or BGM playback - a perfect feature for a venue like Q-LA that caters to such a wide variety of events. www.mo ndo dr.co m

The lighting and visual element in the event space in made up of 32ft by 8ft LED screen manufactured by LG and a selection of moving heads from LBT. Aside from the restaurant and the event space, Q-LA is also able to offer guests an outdoor terrace and a rooftop terrace, for which extra equipment is rented in as required. “This place has the potential to be the best place in Delhi through its evening entertainment. Wednesday evenings are wine tasting and Thursdays are cocktail evenings. Couple this with our great live jazz artists and our location, and it renders a beautifully romantic haven, which is the perfect place to spend an evening after a long day at work,” said Samrat.

“Right now we are getting the word out, but over the hot months, people will come to Q-LA to chill out and we will provide them with just that in a fantastic atmosphere, whilst providing great food, drink and sound.”

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16 CO M PAN Y P RO F I LE

Modern Stage Service New Delhi Modern Stage Service (MSS) was founded in New Delhi in 1956 by Lt. Sh. C. L. Wadhwa, and specialises in audiovisual integration and lighting solutions. With over six decades of experience, MSS has created a brand, which today has created industry standards in events and installations for design, technology, engineering and consultancy.

Under the guidance of Varinder Wadhwa, the company has successfully completed more than 1,300 installations in theatres, auditoriums and public and private museums across all states in India. Well known for its state-of-the-art design and high-end technology specification, MSS has been honoured with a number industry awards over the years.

Some of the most recognisable projects designed and executed by MSS include the Virasat-E-Khalsa Museum, Punjab; IshqE-Dilli light and sound show at the Purana Qila, Delhi; and the record-breaking 3D holographic set-up for the Indian Prime Minister’s electoral campaign.

The Virasat-E-Khalsa museum in Punjab is one of the largest government-funded fixed audiovisual installations in the country.

Each of the 26 galleries uniquely depicts the history of Sikhism - how it originated and developed over time. The concept of the museum is to explain each segment of information using technology. The museum boasts holographic projections, lighting and other special effects, combined with 3D mapping techniques, all of which are synced with multiple channels of audio to recreate realistic war scenes. With the

sources so carefully placed, the audience are momentarily transported into that immersive war-like environment. The design and installation has really brought the museum to life.

The Ishq-E-Dilli light and sound show at the infamous Purana Qila (Old Fort) in Delhi, is one of the first ever architectural projection mapping shows in the country. It is one of the most exquisite outdoor entertainment shows in the capital today. The show runs six days a week and is a mecca for technology lovers, while telling a fascinating story.

The Fort is mapped with several projectors and is combined with moving beams to create the illusion of a starry sky. The content developed for the show, together with the lighting, audio and projection are programmed from the central control system.

The electoral campaign of the then Prime Minister candidate and now the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but was also a great challenge for MSS. Narendra Modi had to be broadcast live in a 3D holographic environment in 1,100 cities across India in record-breaking time. With only two months to prepare, what was the Prime Minister candidate’s dream turned out to be MSS’ greatest accomplishment. With more than 1,000 trained technicians working on this job, the project is now engraved in MSS’ history books, as it resulted in the biggest victory by any political party in the largest democracy in the world in over 30 years. modernstageservice.in

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In order to cater for the large crowds that flock to the venue over the weekends, Dipankar - along with Krishna Singh of TW AUDiO India - opted for two T24 loudspeaker featuring double 12-inch horns and capable of producing dynamic SPLs up to 143dB for the main PA. “These are able to cater for both live and background requirements, which saves money in the long run, by not having to rent in equipment for live performances.

We also future-proofed the system so it will last for many years to come,” Dipankar explained. The flagship T24’s are complimented by four TW AUDiO B30 subwoofers to enhance the high-energy space - the bar area. The hybrid construction of our B30 with two 15-inch speakers combines the advantages of bass reflex and horn systems, which produces high efficiency, a great range and a deep low frequency limit.

Elsewhere, in the seating areas, Dipankar and Krishna wanted to create more of a low energy atmosphere, in which guests can chat and catch up with friends over a drink. For this section of the venue, a combination of four TW AUDiO M10’s and two M12’s were selected.

Equipped with high frequency horns and optimised by using the boundary elements method, these cabinets have a coverage pattern of 75º by 50º. Their complex passive frequency crossovers also coordinate the phases of the woofers and mid-high drivers, as well as linearising the frequency responses of whole systems. “These loudspeakers can be amped-up or down, providing the sound engineers with the opportunity to control the tempo of both the high and low-energy spaces.”

Teddyboy New Delhi

Left: The area housing the DJ booth and bar is the high energy section in the venue.

Teddyboy, New Delhi’s newest bar, lounge and restaurant takes inspiration from 1950’s British subculture and the Edwardian period. Immediately obvious from the moment guests walk through the door and are greeted by the union jack flag hanging on the wall, the old-school attire of the waiting staff, and the retro style menus. Although it may feel like taking a step back in time in some ways, the venue still oozes ultra-cool modernism with its fusion food, intriguing signature cocktails and, of course, a state-of-the-art sound system.

Audiovisual integrator, Dipankar Grover of Sound Redefined, was tasked with the job of equipping Teddyboy with an adequate sound system that would cater to background music for casual dining, as well as kicking it up a gear for a busy bar scenario, right through to a DJ playing a set to a packed out dancefloor. Having started in home entertainment installations, Dipankar soon moved onto commercial projects after being introduced to professional audio. He said: “I found it to be more exciting as I was able to cleverly play with acoustics in larger venues compared to the limitations of installing for homes.”

He continued: “Having previous experience working in similar venues, I advised the owner that the TW AUDiO system would work brilliantly in Teddyboy. The system has an unbeatable clean audio quality and it was a joy to advise and oversee the installation.” www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Dipankar has plenty of praise for the TW AUDiO system: “I was actually introduced to the brand by my good friend, Mr Sunny. He told me about the sound system towards the end of 2013 when the system was new. It still is amazing how clean and transparent the sound is and the fact there is no ear fatigue is amazing. The quality in engineering and calibration is also hard to beat. In my opinion there really is no comparison.”

A selection of Powersoft amplifiers power the audio set-up at Teddyboy - one M50Q, one M14D and two K3DSPs - the latter with built in DSP to take care of sound shaping and system management capabilities, remotely controllable via Powersoft’s Armonía Pro Audio Suite. Dipankar is a fan of the Powersoft amplifiers because of their ultra compact size, and the fact that they are flexible, which he feels mirrors the TW AUDiO products. “Another advantage for this installation system is that within the surrounding area of Teddyboy, there are three service centres that provide an aftersales / distribution service, which is important for a venue in Delhi because the area can become quite dusty and that dust can damage the equipment.

An amp cleaning service once every three to six months is extremely helpful in this sort of environment,” he said.

Dipankar’s concluding word on the install: “The design of the venue gave my team a foundation for how we wanted the acoustics to come across and, although it was quite a task, I believe we delivered the best sound quality that relates well to the venue’s décor.” www.mo ndo dr.co m

Technical Information INSTALLER: Sound Redefined BRANDS: TW AUDiO, Powersoft WEBSITE: www.twaudio.de / www.powersoft-audio.com

21 I N TERVI EW

Ratnesh Javeri

Chairman and Managing Director of Innovative Systems & Solutions

The Indian audiovisual market is slowly getting international attention. How do you interpret this trend?

We are only at the very beginning of what will be an extended surge.

The Indian audiovisual market has been poised for growth for a very long time. We have seen a growth rate of 18.5% year over year, and that is just a conservative estimate. We expect this to continue. The market is only scratching the surface of tier one and tier two cities. The real push comes when the rural market is open as well.

What industry sectors are driving India’s audiovisual growth? Can you break it down for us?

Mainly three sectors. Number one is the corporate sector, which is driven by many international software and financial institutions making our big cities like Bangalore their technology hubs. These companies are demanding a world-class office experience in their meeting rooms and huddle spaces, where audiovisual plays a central role.

The second growth area is hospitality. India has always seen a shortage of good-quality guest rooms and other gathering areas. We’re beginning to see more and more hotel and conference centre projects breaking ground to meet this demand.

Education is also a key area of audiovisual growth. Most Indian schools are still using blackboards and chalk, but that is changing very quickly.

And instead of the gradual technology evolution as seen in the Western world, India is most likely going to skip a few steps in the adoption of digitisation.

Can you give us some examples for what the jump might look like?

The telecom industry in India provides a good guidepost for predicting technology adoption in education. It’s just like how we skipped the broadband infrastructure development and went straight to wireless mobile adoption. It’s likely that we will leap from blackboards straight to a highly digitised classroom environment centered on BYOD (bring your own device), using students’ mobile devices as the primary learning tool.

Audiovisual companies that succeed will be the ones who proactively work with Indian educational institutions and help guide their technology transformation.

What tips can you share with international companies as they position themselves to succeed in India?

First, obviously, they have to be here. Take part in audiovisual networking and tradeshow events in India to witness the market opportunities firsthand and meet the clients. InfoComm organises many of these programs.

There are several other lessons that I always share with overseas manufacturers, consultants, and service providers. For example, end users tend to be reluctant to budget for design and install services separately. There is an assumption that these services are bundled with sales. The general practice is to leave very little budget for installation, which leads to mixed results. The acceptance for paid service is changing, but it’s very slow.

Another aspect I share is that Indian customers are generally very tech driven. Even end users make a conscious effort to research and identify the best tech solution for their requirements, instead of sitting back and waiting for a proposal from the vendor. For consultants and manufacturers, what this means is that the best way to develop a relationship with the local audiovisual customers is to provide technical knowledge and win their confidence, instead of just bringing a sales pitch.

I always say this to our international industry colleagues: Invest in customer education, and you’ll be rewarded with business.

There seems to be a high demand for audiovisual skills training in India?

There is, and it’s growing every year. I was the first person in India to be awarded the InfoComm CTS-D certification. And for many years I was the only CTS-D certified person in the country. And now the numbers are growing quickly with two ‘doubles’ who have joined an elite group of international professionals with both CTS-D and CTS-I certifications.

There are at least 150 CTS holders in India, out of more than 10,000 worldwide, and I am confident it will get to 1,000 very soon.

The audiovisual landscape in India is going to change very quickly in the next few years. I am very pleased to see that the next-generation audiovisual professionals are so eager to attend classes and get certified to better prepare themselves for the career opportunities. India is a massive country with more than 1.3 billion people. We need a larger professionally qualified and certified workforce to make sure as the market expands, so that the industry as a whole is able to deliver great audiovisual experiences everywhere for all projects.

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AER Mumbai

Boasting panoramic city and sea views, AER is an open-air lounge that’s located on the rooftop - the 34th floor - of Mumbai’s Four Seasons Hotel. Open seven nights a week, early evening guests flock to watch the sunset in a chic and relaxing space, nestled high above the bustling streets of Worli. As the sun sets, the vibe at AER transforms into a high-energy lounge with the resident DJ playing nightly sets of upbeat jazz, funk, house, club and a unique twist on classic hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s. For these two distinct ambiences, the sound solution had to flexible, as well as being durable enough to withstand the monsoon season year-afteryear.

Having completed audiovisual design and integration for the hotel chain before, it was a logical decision to bring Innovative Systems & Solutions back on board with Hetal Patel heading up the team. He explained the brief: “Being an exclusive, high profile venue the client required a system to compliment that. This isn’t a fully-fledged dance club so it didn’t need to be a high intensity sound system. However, the best possible quality with adequate headroom was necessary.”

After understanding the precise requirements, Hetal - with the help

of Funktion One’s Mike Igglesden opted for multiple four-corner point systems, in order to provide a full and even coverage across the entire venue. The firing inwards design meant the sound was concentrated within the venue and therefore limited sound leakage. “We have been associated with Funktion One for a few years now and we have completed a couple of installs for private customers,” said Hetal. “We were looking for an opportunity to showcase Funktion One at a commercial venue, and we got that with AER.” The venue consists of two zones, the main zone facing the sea and the other facing the city. The city side has a Funktion One F101 in each corner, as well as two Funktion One F121’s to provide low end. The number of subwoofers throughout had to be carefully considered, so as not to annoy or disturb neighbours and other hotel guests. “Because this was a retrofit installation in an existing hotel, acoustic isolation or acoustic treatment was not an option. Therefore, we had to limit the number of sub-bass speakers to strike a balance between reducing the bass travelling to the floors beneath, yet providing adequate low end for the sound,” said Hetal.

The sea facing side is split into two, four corner point systems,

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comprising more F101’s and a further three F121 bass units, which come into play during the DJ sets. A final two F101’s in the bar area complete the loudspeaker line-up. All of the boxes have been coated in a weatherised treatment for protection against the hot and wet environment.

Hetal added: “Although the venue is covered during the monsoon season, direct exposure to dust, intense heat and humidity had to be taken into account. Funktion One’s custom weatherising treatment helped us tackle this situation.”

Power for the system - which is racked remotely in a separate room to avoid overheating - is provided courtesy of four Funktion One branded MC2 Audio E15 amplifiers for the F101’s plus one E45 and one E100 for the subwoofers. Two XTA X04 DSP units take care of loudspeaker management. “The pure sound quality of the Funktion One loudspeakers could only be coupled with electronics of equal calibre, so it was a simple decision to opt for XTA processing and MC2 Audio amplification,” Hetal explained.

With new hotels being built in Mumbai, it is important for the existing ones to keep up by revitalising and replenishing their facilities. General Manager of the Four Seasons, Vikram Reddy, not only opted for an upgrade, but now also offers his guests a unique experience of being able to look out to the Arabian Sea, while enjoying an evening out with family and friends, all in the comfort of a well equipped venue. Hetal concluded: “It was rewarding to know that the client understood how good sound quality can augment the ambience of a venue and how the design process is so crucial to achieving that.”

Technical Information INSTALLER: Innovative Systems & Solutions BRANDS: Funktion One, XTA, MC2 Audio WEBSITE: www.isspl.in / www.funktion-one.com / www. audiocore.co.uk / www.mc2-audio.co.uk www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Icon Club Bangalore Recently opening its doors in the Yeshwantpur area of Bangalore is Icon Club, a 6,000 sq ft venue that boasts five zones including a private lounge, a bar, seating areas on two levels and an outdoor smoking zone.

The lounge bar and restaurant offers a wide range of cocktails and serves a combination of European and Asian style cuisine.

Owner, Mr Shetty wanted to provide guests with a relaxed ambience, in which people can catch up with friends, and to realise that concept, he appointed Pandam Audio - an installation company with a story spanning over two decades. Founder, Prashant Damle built his first loudspeaker in 1989 and hasn’t looked back since. After establishing the company and creating a portfolio, Pandam took on the exclusive distribution of Genelec monitor speakers for custom installations. It was Genelec that Prashant specified and installed at Icon Club to meet the audio brief.

The technical team at Pandam studied the raw space at Icon Club, assessing the possible mounting points for the Genelec loudspeakers and determining the sound coverage those mounting points would produce. Before installation a treatment was applied to the ceiling in order to correct

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Technical Information INSTALLER: Pandam Audio BRANDS: Genelec, Sonifex WEBSITE: www.pandamaudio.com / www.genelec.com / www. sonifex.co.uk

the acoustic environment and to ensure optimum sound quality.

The set-up comprises eight Genelec 1038CF studio monitors in the bar area, which are easily flush-mounted due to their compact appearance. Its unique Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technology provides excellent on- and off-axis imaging and frequency balance even in difficult acoustic environments such as Icon Club, hence the reason for selecting this specific model. The 1038CFs are coupled with two Genelec 7073 subwoofers, which feature four 12-inch drivers, have a lower cut-off frequency of 19Hz, are capable of 124dB sound pressure output and have built-in electronics for easy set-up and handling.

Across the two seating areas, nine Genelec 8040 loudspeakers have been installed. These produce high SPL, low colouration and broad bandwidth. They also provide excellent frequency balance and neutral sound imaging thanks to their Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) and advanced Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technologies. A further two Genelec 8040’s are at home in the private lounge and one more in the smoking area.

Each area is in its own audio zone, meaning all is individually controllable and volume levels can be altered according to the requirements on any given evening.

Pandam also selected two Sonifex RB-DA6G splitters to complete the installation. www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Anil Chopra & Ramesh Chetwani International Director & Exhibition Director of PALM Expo Tell me how long you’ve been working for PALM Expo?

Ramesh: I have been with PALM now since 2012. I have actively been involved in organising four consecutive editions of the show. It has been a great learning experience and the challenges and dynamics of the expo have kept me performing at my best. It has been extremely satisfying working with the founder, Anil Chopra and together I think we make a great team, we share the same vision in driving PALM Expo to international standards and earning a reputation worldwide. We are already working on developing new features for PALM 2017, which is very exciting.

How does PALM Expo cater to the professional audio / lighting / visual market in India?

The professional audio, lighting and visual market has developed a great deal since PALM’s beginnings over 16 years ago. PALM fuelled the industry by connecting manufacturers and distributors to dealers.

It created the opportunity for the extended market across different regions in India, and the non-metro markets to showcase and do business. We cater to the professional audio and lighting industry in delivering the entire body of professionals working at the pinnacle level in music, movie and event industries. PALM has become a mecca for professionals to gather during an annual industry convention. This drives the market in India forward.

How has PALM impacted the global manufacturing industry in terms of professional audio, light and visual technology?

The impact has been very definitive in that PALM has filled a vacuum, which has served the global community very well. PALM is a gateway to India for professional audio, stage sound and light, and music production industry. India is a maturing market using the latest technology, and today is one of the most affordable markets for the latest innovation in professional audio and lighting. PALM is the provides many major worldwide brands with a platform to launch new product and technology in the Indian market. Our philosophy has always been to ‘motivate the market, putting technology in place’.

In pursuing this mantra, we can be proud of the fact that within the global professional audio industry PALM is recognised as a major brand globally.

What makes PALM Expo successful and what improvements do you think could be made?

We have come to understand the knack of the professional sound and

light business, as well the requirement of visitors and exhibitors and their expectations from the event. We feel we go the extra mile to fulfil all of this. We are very careful to be an inclusive convention. Exhibitors from all countries worldwide are welcomed and we aim to provide them with the best service. If there are problems with importing, staffing, booth design or build, our team is on hand to help. This reputation has given the global industry confidence to participate.

Similarly, professionals worldwide are invited to speak at PALM and we fulfil their needs for a knowledgeable, meaningful audience to make their participation successful. PALM thinks of itself as part of the industry and we share the ambitions and hopes of the global industry.

We don’t just organise the show we organise our own industry gathering as a celebration of all that is achieved.

Where do you see the Indian market on a global industry scale?

The Indian market is definitely on the increase. All eyes are on India, and it is catching up. Manufacturing is the new horizon. Major brands have plans to locate production facilities here in India due to mass consumption, with figures now being large enough. Indian brands don’t really account for much at this point, and although we can’t expect Indian brands to go global at the moment, they can have a strong presence within the country, and have a decent market share.

Has being part of the BRIC countries helped put India on the map within our niche industry? Or has it had any negative effects?

India is on the map of the global sound and light industry by the virtue of adopting the latest technology and on the strength of its purchasing power to adopt the latest product. Furthermore, India is doing well because of its large body of very capable engineers who are savvy with the latest techniques and knowledge of the latest innovations. BRIC doesn’t impact in any visible or tangible way, and definitely doesn’t have any negative effect.

What do you foresee in the future for both PALM Expo and the Indian market in general?

PALM Expo will continue to grow on the strength of a robust market, which has tremendous growth potential. The install market will fuel the professional audio industry, as well as the event industry, which will act as a catalyst for the music production, stage sound and lighting sectors. With a number of major brands planning a future presence in India, growth is definitely on the agenda and PALM will continue to serve this expansion.

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Alliance Francaise Pondicherry The origins of the Alliance Francaise organisation dates back to the 19th Century and has the aim of promoting not only French language and culture, but also intercultural exchanges between France and India. In 1954, the organisation orchestrated the building of a facility in which students could be taught about French culture and language. Over the years, thousands of students of Pondicherry have benefited from the opportunities that the Alliance Francaise has made available to them, opportunities to reach a high level of expertise to either join a multinational company or to pursue higher studies in French universities.

The facility, Maison Bellocq includes a cultural and information centre, a school for teaching French, a library, classrooms and an auditorium. The latter of which was recently in need of an upgrade, after being established in 1990. In order to transport the space into the 21st Century, new Maison Bellocq Director, Fabrice Mongiat, reached out French architect Pierre Elouard who actually realised the auditorium first time around - and Project Manager, Prem Lorenzen, who altogether brought in audiovisual consultant, Sound Wizard.

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Left and right: Alliance Francaise has been kitted with a new QSC audio setup, which is joined by a PreSonus mixer from the previous installation. The projection equipment from NEC and Draper is also a mixture of old and new.

“Sound Wizard was called in to do the design job because of its extended track record and being able to deliver accurate, on target, quality results using EASE acoustical prediction software. With a modest budget approved by the Alliance Francaise board, Sound Wizard worked to optimise each area of the design to achieve specific acoustical targets for even sound coverage and a offer guests a great experience. Internal acoustical panelling, along with a line array sound system, ensure that every guest in the house gets a clean, clear and even sound experience.”

Primarily due the age of the building, Kumbha decided it would be a good idea to implement acoustical treatment to guarantee the best possible audio outcome. It would allow higher quality sound, meaning the space could be flexible and adaptable to different applications such as acoustical musical performances, theatre plays, amplified musical performances, conferences and movies with surround sound. He installed Anutone boards of varying

thicknesses in strategic places around the auditorium to create a broad absorption of sound. “Sound Wizard used EASE simulation software extensively to predict how the space would sound and together with ray tracing technology was able to successfully create a healthy acoustic environment,” said Kumbha.

Next, he and his team went about the audio system design, opting for a line array solution coupled with surround speakers.

The main PA split evenly left and right of the stage and collectively consists of eight QSC WL2082-i cabinets and two QSC WL118-sw subwoofers. Together they create a near-field sound source. Kumbha explained further: “The distance between adjacent drivers is close enough that they constructively interfere with each other to send sound waves further than traditional loudspeakers and with a more evenly distributed sound output pattern.” In addition, a total of 14 QSC AD-S82 surround speakers, create a balanced SPL providing great coherence throughout the entire space. www.mo ndo dr.co m

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Technical Information INSTALLER: Sound Wizard BRANDS: QSC, PreSonus, Audio-Technica, NEC, Draper, Extron WEBSITE: http://soundwizard.net / www. qsc.com / www.presonus.com / www. audio-technica.com / www.necdisplay. com / www.draperinc.com / www.extron. com

Amplification and processing is also provided

by QSC - a combination of CMX800, CMX 2000’s and CX168 amplifiers, plus a SC28 DSP unit. For mixing requirements, a Presonus Studio Live 24.4.2 console was reutilised from the previous installation. A microphone inventory of Audio-Technica ES015H18, AT8668S and AE3300’s equips the auditorium with all it needs for any kind of production.

Completing the overhaul of the auditorium, Kumbha reused the NEC NP 4 100 projector, but installed a new Draper screen to produce a clean and clear image projection screen.

An Extron DMP 64 surround decoder, an Extron SSP 7.1 speaker processor, Extron XTP T USW 103 HDMI scaler / receiver and Extron XTP SR HDMI receiver are also all at home in the auditorium.

The new auditorium now features 184 seats - 121 in the main area, and 63 on the balcony - spans across 165 sq metres, 45 sq metres of which is dedicated to the stage and thanks to the new QSC audio solution from Sound Wizard every seat in the house receives the optimal sound experience.

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Vero is a large format sound system, which has been engineered for new levels of audio and operational performance. It has been designed, developed and perfected over the last six years by some of the most knowledgeable and experienced audio engineers in the world.

Photo: Johannes Krämer

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Its meticulously crafted proprietary waveguides and driver technology produce naturally even frequency response and coverage.

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The result is uncompromised system dynamics, headroom and coherency combining to present an incredibly spacious stereo image, which is why Vero is already gaining the plaudits of sound engineers from around the world.

www.vero-system.com mail@vero-system.com

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Wonderla Hyderabad

Entertaining visitors with its 43 thrilling rides, Wonderla in Hyderabad is fun for all the family.

Whether your preference is wet and wild or a thrill-seeking rollercoaster, this adventure park has something on offer for everyone and to complete the immersive experience, the complex was in need of a highly durable sound system.

Local distributor, Cinetekk - which has plenty of experience in the audiovisual market with more than 40 years in business - was approached and asked to design, specify and configure an audio solution for the wave pool at Wonderla. Not an easy task when you consider the wet environment coupled with the air humidity.

Measuring approximately 140ft by 350ft and having a capacity in the region of 800 people, the wave pool audio coverage required was vast. The Cinetekk team opted for a L-C-R set-up comprising three KV2 Audio ES1.0 three-way, very high output, active-driven, mid-high / mid-bass loudspeakers. Mounted on small poles dug into the ground, the three ES1.0 provide peak SPL of 139dB and have a throw of up to 40-metres for applications of up to 3,000 people, more than ample coverage for the wave pool.

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Left and right: The ES system has been installed around the wave pool at Wonderla.

loading and intense output from a compact enclosure. Together with the ES1.0 and EPAK2500/R, the ES2.5’s deliver a high dynamic range in comparison to similar systems, providing new levels of clarity, depth and resolution. Three KV2 Audio EPAK 2500/R take care of powering and controlling the sound system by combining amplification and speaker management in one box. They also utilise KV2 Audio’s industry leading 20MHz sampling for on board time alignment and phase correction of all components in the ES system.

As well as supplying the wave pool audio system, Cinetekk also kitted out the 1,200-capacity multipurpose auditorium at Wonderla with another KV2 Audio PA.

Technical Information INSTALLER: Cinetekk BRANDS: KV2 Audio WEBSITE: www.cinetekk.co.in / www. kv2audio.com

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Rajan Gupta Managing Director of Hi-Tech Was audio something that fascinated you from a young age?

My parents worked hard and entrusted their hard-earned savings and confidence in me. Looking back today, yes audio and music has always fascinated me. I was interested in large speakers, recording audio and how a speaker produces more bass in an earthen pot. I learnt how to programme and design audio quite quickly, and having a passion for the subject definitely contributed to that. AIso I’m aiming to learn to play an instrument - a guitar or a keyboard - as I’ve always wanted to do so . This will help me personally and professionally.

Tell me how you first started out in the audio industry?

We started as dealers of Philips, representing its Electro Acoustics Division products, selling and installing industrial paging systems.

Later, Philips took on the distribution of Shure microphones, Crown amplifiers and Community loudspeakers in India. Before this happened, import duty on such equipment was high and pro audio products were categorised as restricted items. So, after this change came, we also got in touch with JBL and Crown, and we were awarded two contracts for audiovisual projects, which included importing and installing the audio, lighting and visual inventory. That was the beginning, and we haven’t looked back since.

How has your opinion of the audio world changed from when you started out to the present day?

The audio world has changed quite a bit and is constantly evolving: from a VHF single antenna wireless mic to a UHF multi-channel mic; a simple analogue console to a high-end digital console with hundreds of channels and plug-ins; large loudspeakers with internal/external crossovers to intelligent line array / point source loudspeakers.

Systems are becoming more sophisticated, intelligent and easy to operate. The use of DSPs has totally transformed what a system can achieve, design and deliver . I actually believe that the better and best is yet to come.

When and how did Hi-Tech come into the equation?

Hi-Tech was founded in 1990 by my partner and elder brother, P.K. Gupta. Together, we slowly grew the organisation from selling industrial communication systems to CCTV set-ups, then to music systems and fire alarm systems and now a full-fledged audiovisual company in charge of distributing products and system integration.

Describe the early days of Hi-Tech and how you built the company?

It wasn’t easy in the early days, but after receiving encouragement

from Guy Hawley and Jerry Stutzman to take on JBL and Crown, we knew pro audio was the right path for us.

We sold our first JBL line array in India in 2003 and went on to install many systems in auditoriums, parliament buildings, airports and restaurants, establishing a dealer and system integration network at the same time.

We invested in infrastructure, manpower and technical skills and soon after we became the exclusive distributor for all the Harman brands in India. Today, we distribute brands including L-Acoustics, DiGiCo, RCF, Klotz, Bose, and Christie.

How do you make decisions on what brands to target for distribution agreements?

There are a few things to be considered when it comes to selecting brands. Firstly, the commitment from the brand towards the Indian market, its customers and Hi-Tech specifically. Secondly, the company should be fun and easy to work with and be commitment to developing innovative products. We also look at the company’s keenness to invest in Hi-Tech. We like to ensure a long-term contract and we assure ourselves that we’ll receive efficient and effective service and support.

What has been the most valuable lesson of your career?

Never lose control of the market. There should be always system in place that ensures you are in touch with your customers and your network. There are three ‘P’s to success in my book… people, partners and products.

How does it feel to be celebrating 25 years in the industry and it being recognised with an award?

It feels great to be part of this industry and I am thankful to have been recognised with an award at this year’s PALM Expo. It’s been a long ride with lots of lessons along the way and I’m still learning new things too.

What do the next 25 years hold for you and the company?

More planning and growing the company. We’d like to add to our lighting and video brands and there are plans for the next generation of Guptas to join the family business to make plans for the future.

If you didn’t have a career in the audio industry, what path do you think you’d have taken?

Probably a path related to fashion or cars.

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The mondo*dr awards website is now live.

www.mondodrawards.com

Launched to recognise and celebrate the technical marvels that are created in today’s entertainment outlets.

Log on to the website to read more about the awards and submit your project to be in with a chance of making it an award-winning installation.

JUDGING PANEL TO INCLUDE:

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Citypride Pune

The flagship venue for Harman’s Quantum Logic Immersion surround-processing technology is cinema chain Citypride and, in particular, its outlet in the Kothrud area of Pune. Citypride is one of the very few family owned multiplex chains with roots dating back to 1939. Today, it owns 17 properties with a total capacity of 15,000 seats, which are spread over 42 screens in and around Pune and Western Maharashtra.

The landmark system at the Kothrud complex was designed by Samir Mistry, Senior Engineer Cinema Vertical at Harman India. He put together a complex solution which includes Lexicon Quantam Logic Immersion (QLI) surround-processing technology, JBL large format screen array loudspeakers and Crown DSI amplifiers.

The QLI-32 Quantum Logic Immersion cinema processor is designed to deliver up to 32 channels of surround sound in professional cinema applications. The new QLI-32 interfaces with a theatre’s media source to provide a multidimensional listening experience with left, centre, right, surround, rear and height channels, all via the proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion surround-processing technology. It offers theatre owners an effective way to

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upgrade the movie viewing experience for their guests with by the introduction of immersive sound, and it is fully compatible with existing cinema processors.

Once the design was in place, the installation was carried out by the cinema’s in-house technical team, under the leadership of Samir, to ensure this milestone project was completed successfully. “The complete solution was designed with the requirement of client in mind. Citypride asked for a powerful system with wide coverage, good speech intelligibility and dynamic range. In short, a system that would deliver dialogue, music and effects efficiently. All of this criteria was incorporated

in the design along with the QLI Immersion system to achieve the desired result,” said Samir.

JBL 5742 four-way loudspeakers have been installed in a L-C-R right configuration around the movie screen, as well as JBL 9320 large format 12-inch high power surround speakers, which were selected to ensure coverage was extended across the entire audience. JBL 4642A subwoofers were specified to extend the low frequency capabilites of the system and to complete the loudspeaker line-up JBL SCS 12, two-way, full range cinema surround speakers were wall-mounted for fill requirements. The enclosures are powered by a combination of

Technical Information INSTALLER: Citypride, Harman India BRANDS: JBL, Lexicon, Crown WEBSITE: www.harman.in / www.jblpro.com / www. lexiconpro.com / www.crownaudio.com www.mo ndo dr.co m

Left and above: Citypride Kothrud is the flagship venue for Lexicon’s Quantum Logic Immersion surroundprocessing technology.

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Right: The Crown amplifier rack and the JBL surround speakers.

Crown DSi 2000, 4000 and 6000 amplifiers and, of course, processing and loudspeaker management is looked after by the Lexicon Qli 32 cinema processor.

“The Crown, JBL and Lexicon system far exceeded our expectations. The combination of the clarity, dynamic power and seamless integration of the speakers and amplifiers with the three-dimensional width, depth and height localisation is truly amazing,” said Pushkaraj Chaphalkar of Citypride.

“As sound is an inseparable part of the movie-viewing experience, this new system offers the viewers a new and exciting sound quality. It is difficult to find a cinema system with a more reliable and uncompromising sound, that is also cost-effective, easily deployed and significantly improves immersive cinematic sound,” said Daulat Sadarangani of Vikas Corporation, one of Harman’s regional distributors.

Excited with the first ever installation of Lexicon by Harman’s QLi 32, Prashant Govindan, Senior Director of Harman India concluded: “Quantum Logic immersion surround sound processing technology will revolutionise the cinema viewing experience which the audiences have never felt before. We are ecstatic with the successful installation at the Citypride multiplex and Sultan was the perfect setting for audiences to enjoy the dhobi pachad’s on the true surround sound.” www.mo ndo dr.co m

HI-TECH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE QUICK OPTIMUM DESIGN SOLUTIONS & PRODUCTS, TIMELY DELIVERY, COMPLETE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

F-12, Okhla, Phase – 1, New Delhi - 110020 T: +91-11- 43174317 E: info@hitechaudiosystems.com W: www.hitechaudiosystems.com

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Premier Pro Group Mumbai

Currently in its third generation of family members, Premier Pro Group today distributes brands such as Apart Audio, XTA, B&C Speakers, Sennheiser, Acme, Antari, Silver Star, Kind and Ficher Amps, to name just a few. But let’s head back 50 years to find out how it all began.

The company was founded in 1966 as Premier Radio and Electronic Corporation by Shri Navinchandra Sanghavi and his brothers Bhupendra, Nanveet and Mansukhlal.

“The company was founded on pillars of quality and trust, which is ever-present in the Premier Pro Group of today,” said Maulik Sanghavi, grandson of the late Shri Navinchandra Sanghavi. Maulik recently entered the family business, which is run by his father, Kiran Sanghavi, who took the reigns after the passing of his father.

Kiran picked up the story: “In the early stages of the business, the industry was smaller and immensely-less competitive. Our import sector and sister company, Premier Industrial Importers, was one the first to import Sony audio cassettes into India.” As a result, Premier Pro Group - as it is known today after Premier Radio and Electronic Corporation and Premier Industrial Importers merged to become one - began to build its audio portfolio and established itself a major player within the Indian market.

Having joined the business in 1983, Kiran remembered some of the brands they have distributed over the years, these include Roland, Yamaha, Allen & Heath, Celestion as well as Clay Paky and Avolites. He continued: “When I joined in 1983, the Roland powered mixing console was in high demand on the rental side. Unfortunately, government policies around that time were very strict and import duties were very high, as high as 300% and even more for importing advanced technology. We started importing Yamaha

mixing consoles from 1987 and over a two-year period, we must have sold 400500 mixing consoles, and for a time when policies were strict, that was considered excellent progress. It was a difficult time, but thankfully now, importation has liberalised and import duties have reduced to less than 30% over the years.”

But, of course, times change, the market changes and companies alter their distribution network. So how did Premier Pro Group take on the distributorship of the brands it currently works with? “It has demanded professionalism, sincerity and perseverance, which are characteristics we try to meet each and every day,” explained Kiran.

Seeing an industry change over a couple of decades is something he can definitely relate to. “There used to be different taxes with different states,” Kiran said. “However, now there is a national tax system in place.

Some free market tax sectors do still exist, though, and may charge a few percent less than other markets. That few percent difference does not seem like much, but it can make a difference in our line of work.

Although with the new GST Act expected to be implemented next year, we hope such anomalies will be rectified.”

When you consider the Indian market on a global platform, it is most definitely still an evolving market, so to think an audiovisual company has been present in the region for 50 years is really quite an achievement to be proud of. Kiran concluded: “With the introduction of my son, Maulik, Premier Pro Group is now a three-generation family business that has brought - and will continue to consistently bring - the world’s most renowned brands within the audio and lighting industries to India.” www.premierprogroup.com

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PALM Expo Mumbai, India - 26-28 May EXHIBITORS: 183 NEW EXHIBITORS: 74 BRANDS REPRESENTED: 500+ VISITORS: 22,366 - 20% increase compared to 2015 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS FROM: USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, Germany, The Netherlands, Thailand, Qatar and Oman.

NEXT YEAR’S SHOW: 1-3 June 2017 WEBSITE: www.palmexpo.in www.mo ndo dr.co m

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46 I N TERVI EW

Juvanita Shaline Sales Manager at ShowTex India

How did ShowTex India begin and why was is chosen as a market to expand into?

Personally, I had visited India a couple of times to survey business prospects when I was working in Dubai. Admittedly, I was initially not keen to move here, but I felt I had reached the limitations of my experience in Dubai. When I was given the opportunity to lead ShowTex into the Indian frontier, I couldn’t turn it down. We feel India is an untapped resource for the entertainment technology industry, and it is a market that will bring new challenges for ShowTex to learn from and develop.

How does the Indian market differ to Dubai?

In the beginning, it has been seemingly less responsive, but it is a country that is very much different budgeting wise. In Dubai, both quality and safety is pivotal, but in India, the budget can cause limitations, but we will always prioritise safety. So yes, the financial situation is probably the biggest difference in India compared to the UAE. Regarding budget then, is there a way of overcoming the financial restraints?

I’m confident enough to know the ins-and-outs of ShowTex when discussing budgets. This means I’m able to negotiate deals, while maintaining satisfactory prices for both ShowTex and the Indian market with a budget-friendly, flexible price range.

After experiencing six-months in the Indian market, can you explain what a typical project might be and, so far, who you feel is your target audience?

During our time here, ShowTex has carried out projects for film and theatre companies, theme parks, performing arts studios, fashion shows, and one of our current projects is a museum in the north of

India. This country provides a good variety of market opportunities, which is great for us because it gives us a chance to show a varied audience our unique and diverse products.

What goals did you set for the first six months and do you feel you’ve achieved them?

With India arguably being an untapped resource for this industry, it was important to bring awareness about what ShowTex can offer to the Indian population. Each and every day offers more experience and, after just six months, we’re confident in our approach. As I said, our current project is for a museum in the north of India, which is a completely different demographic when compared to southern India.

Determining the needs and trends of different areas of a country such as India will provide ShowTex with a great deal of information. It also gives ShowTex a chance to educate the Indian population - both north and south - about the benefits of our products.

Is education a big part of ShowTex’s plan for India?

Like anything, once educated about something i.e. one of our products, the customer can then have an opinion on what is the best plan of action for them personally. Products cater to all, but it is important to firstly identify how the product can suit them and how that product can continue to deliver time and time again.

Finally, what is ShowTex’s future plan?

Well, the company as a whole is still in its early stages, so it is important to have a plan that combines the company as a whole before concentrating on sub-sections. So I’d say, although correctly branching out to India is my personal long-term goal, ShowTex’s predominant future plan is to continue growing and this will be with the help of communication between all sectors, whether that’s ShowTex’s companies in Dubai, India, Belgium or anywhere else.

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