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SS EDITORIAL

SoundSolutions Issue # 34 / April-June 2011

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Bhavanashi Ramakrishna - Editor ram@sandy.in; +9198 4587 2794

Bobby Chetia - Advertising bobby@sandy.in; +9198 9250 4871 Raghavendra T - Circulation Yashodhara S - Design & Layout Printing Ramya Reprographic, Bengaluru Published by Sandeep Mittal on behalf of Sandy Media 231, 7th Cross, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru 560 038, India Phone +9180 2521 5107 / 2527 2812 Fax +9180 2521 5094 info@sandy.in www.sandy.in

Advantage India My recent visit to a brand introduction programme by a major audio distributor-integrator as well as an industry show has been a revelation. Interestingly, both the programmes, were marked by the inquisitiveness shown by the participants who appeared little less than probing. It was indeed not just those two programmes; a few of the kind earlier too gave the same impression. What I could infer from those observations was the growing enthusiasm among the user communities that included some end users too, besides the dealer-contractors.

While it is apparent that an increasingly cluttering market of flooding international brands might have bewildered the user communities – since most brand promos speak more or less the same tone and tenor – the very fact that users are not playing their routine ‘listeners in wonderment,’ and are probing the ‘gyan sessions’ for some real, applicable knowledge makes it all the more important.

Regional Offices 17 Kuky Villa Jagdeep Cottage, 4th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai 400 052 Phone +9122 2604 2917-22 Telefax +9122 2604 2264 67 Masjid Road, Jungpura Bhogal, New Delhi 110 014.

Phone +9111 2437 8061 Telefax +9111 2437 4848 B5, 2nd Floor, Gems Court, 14, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 006 Phone +9144 2833 0906 Telefax +9144 2833 0907 RNI # KARENG02795/10/1/2002-TC SS (SoundSolutions) is a quarterly publication on AV, sound, architectural acoustics, noise control, technical lighting and design for private circulation. SS reaches to architects, interior designers, acousticians, performing space owners and trade professionals in India and select cities in the world. SS seeks a healthy promotion of acoustics, AV and allied fields through dissemination of useful information. Some of the information is compiled from industry sources, trade journals, company brochures, etc. for the benefit of readers. SS acknowledges with thanks the authors and publishers of these source materials. SS is a trademark under registration and the contents are under copyright registration. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Unsolicited printed material is welcome but no responsibility is undertaken for the same and will not be returned. Letters to the editor are welcome but subject to editing for publishing. SS does not take responsibility for absolute accuracy of information published.

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Evidently, there had been at least half-a-dozen multinational audio and AV majors who have either stepped in, or up their activities in the last few months alone through a direct pitching in the country. This ‘momentum’ – the term made fashionable by celebrity endorsements – while highlighted the market potential the country has been generating of late, contributed to user communities’ getting choosy about their solution-equipment picks, and thus wanting to know what promises and does what.

For one, there’s a market race, hitherto unseen, for all these mover and shakers to make their pitch deep and audible.

On the other hand is the reassurance evinced by the players that there is enough space for all of them to make their intelligibility- without intercepting one another.

Let’s watch out.

Bhavanashi Ramakrishna Editor

Products...

Check Them Out! The domain of audio-visual technologies is a very hot space. Exciting, often amusing, if not crazy! With technologies impacting the space faster than even one's imagination, there is a new concept, if not a product straight away, coming to the market almost every day, to take the user communities by wonderment! SS continues its effort to present some exciting products that have either hit the market recently or going to hit soon. They might as well be in the market even as this feature goes to press, or reaches you! (Bear with us, in case you know these products already!)

ADI Launches Industry's First 3-GHz HDMI Receiver Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced the industry's first 3-GHz (gigahertz) HDMI receiver for advanced television solutions. This new dual input receiver incorporates HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) specification version 1.4a support 3D display resolutions and extended colorimetry.

Unlike 2.25-GHz ICs, ADI's ADV7619 3GHz, dual-port receiver is effective for next- generation home entertainment AV (audio/video) systems that must support the higher data rates required for emerging 3D and HD sports, movie and broadcast content. The 3-GHz receiver enables home- and pro-AV designers to deliver the full benefits of 3D and HD video formats by meeting demanding performance requirements, including 3D 1080p at 60 Hz for more realistic fast motion sports content, and 4K x 2K (4,000 x 2,000 pixels), for the high-end resolution used by digital cinemas, which at four times the resolution of 1080p, is considered by industry experts to be the next frontier in home theater displays.

A member of ADI's Advantiv advanced TV solutions portfolio, the ADV7619 is a highly-integrated, single-chip, dualport 3-GHz receive solution that delivers the required HDMI and fast switching performance needed to quickly bring compelling new products to market, including HTIB (home theater-in-a-box) systems, AVRs

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Three-GHz data transmission puts extraordinary challenges on a HDMI receiver to operate with cables of differing quality and lengths. Unlike 2.25 GHz receivers, the ADV7619 implements ADI's state-of-the-art adaptive equalization technology with automatic adjustment to provide the best 3GHz receive performance across a wide spectrum of sources, cables and input signal speed.

(AV receivers), HBR (high-bit-rate) TVs, matrix switches and sound bar speaker systems.

According to recent In-Stat research, , a leading semiconductor research firm, HDMI has continued as the dominant interface in CE devices, particularly DTVs, Blu-ray and DVD players and recorders, AV receivers, and game consoles.

"3D and 4K x 2K resolutions are the future of HD video, and supporting those resolutions with advanced video ICs will be paramount," said Brian O'Rourke, principal analyst, digital entertainment, In-Stat. "Nextgeneration, 3-GHz-capable HDMI receivers, such as Analog Device's ADV7619, enable designs to achieve the increased performance of 3 GHz, while ensuring backward compatibility with existing AV designs."

"The ADV7619 is the first 3-GHz receiver of its kind to resolve the complex analog signal processing challenges required to bridge the gap between 2.25 to 3 GHz," said Charles O'Roark, product line director, digital video products, Analog Devices.

Broadcasters, movie makers, and even YouTube, are already generating 3DHD and 4K-HD video content. Yet, AV systems are not capable of displaying such high-quality HD video content using traditional 2.25 GHz receivers.

With support for HDMI 1.4a technology and 3GHz connectivity, the ADV7619 offers a fundamental shift in AV designs, enabling designers to turn pro- and home- AV systems into 3D- and 4K-HD entertainment hubs."

The 3-GHz receiver incorporates ADI's proprietary Xpressview fast switching technology, which enables automatic switching between multiple HDMIenabled AV systems in less than one

second. The ADV7619 offers an onchip CEC (consumer electronics component) controller, an integrated audio codec, support for HDCP (highbandwidth digital content protection) 1.4 and complete audio support of S/ PDIF (Sony/Philips digital interface format) for compressed audio, including Dolby Digital and DTS; and 2-channel I2S audio for transmitting stereo at sample rates up to 192 kHz. The ADV7619 allows for optional inclusion of embedded key support for HDCP 1.4 content protection.

The ADV7619 3-GHz receiver is compatible with other Analog Devices components, including Advantiv switches, Blackfin and SHARC processors, ADI's SoundMAX portfolio of audio algorithms and codecs, and ADI's power-management ICs.

ADI’s Industry First Wideband Multiband Mixers Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), semiconductors and signal processing applications major announced the introduction of industry's most highly integrated wideband passive mixers for communications applications. The ADL5811 single-channel and ADL5812 dual-channel mixers deliver unmatched linearity, low distortion and low noise combined with wideband frequency performance.

The new devices enable multiband, single-board receiver designs by combining a wideband LO (local oscillator) amplifier, a programmable RF balun, a high-linearity mixer core, a programmable IF filter, and an IF amplifier.

ADI's new passive mixers extend across a 700-MHz to 2800-MHz frequency range in a single device while delivering input IP3 (third order intercept) of 24 dBm, an 11 dB SSB noise figure and 7 dB of power conversion gain. These performance specifications are maintained across the full operating frequency range.

The ADL5811 and ADL5812 passive mixers are designed for wideband wireless infrastructure applications and software-defined radio applications,

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including multi-band/multi-standard cellular base station receivers, wideband radio link down converters, multi-mode cellular repeaters, and picocells applications.

The high performance across 700 MHz to 2800 MHz of the new passive mixers is the result of three technical advances, most significantly the development of a limiting LO amplifier capable of generating a high-voltage, fast-rise-time, square wave over a wide bandwidth with no DC current penalty compared to existing narrow band mixers.

The second technique involves the integration of a tuned, RF balun structure to ensure a well-balanced RF signal is applied to the FET mixer.

Previously, narrowband mixers incorporated an RF balun consisting of a magnetic or transmission line transformer, which provided low loss but only moderate bandwidth.

A third technique addresses the potential for the passive mixer's structure to generate a composite signal that could result in the early compression of the IF amplifier. ADI reduced the amplitude of the unwanted sideband into a load by designing a tuned filter network to provide the proper sum termination as a function of the RF and LO frequencies.

The frequencies of the ADL5811 and ADL5812 can be easily changed using a three-wire SPI (serial port interface), which allows designers to tune the mixers with no need for external impedance matching components.

Performance can be further optimized by digitally adjusting the DC bias voltage to the passive mixer gates. To minimize power dissipation, each channel of the dualchannel ADL5812 can be enabled or disabled independent of the other. For DPD (digital pre-distortion) transmit observation receivers or non-

diversity applications, the singlechannel ADL5811 can implement a single receiver chain in a multichannel or multi-band platform.

The feature-rich ADL5811 and ADL5812 Passive Mixers come with •

Limiting LO amplifier achieves wide bandwidth

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Tuned RF balun structure ensures well balanced RF signal

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Tuned IF filter network provides proper sum frequency termination

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Single Ended, 50-Ohm input matched for the RF and LO input

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Wideband 700-MHz to 2800-MHz frequency range

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Input IP3: 24 dBm

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SSB Noise figure: 11 dB

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Power conversion gain: 7 dB

"Wireless receiver designers typically have had to choose between an active mixer, which offers excellent wideband operation and moderate spurious-free dynamic range, or a passive mixer, which has greater SFDR performance but much narrower operating bandwidth," said Peter Real, vice-president, Linear and RF products, Analog Devices. "The ADL5811 and ADL5812 passive mixers eliminate the need for this trade off by giving engineers the linearity, distortion and noise performance they need while also supporting true wideband frequency operation."

TourGuide 2020 D: Guiding Experience Optimum quality and communication reliability - these are the key benefits of digital audio transmission. Audio specialist Sennheiser's visitor guidance system with digital wireless transmission in the license-free band has been proving to be the most preferred choice for tourguiding, conferences and for providing hearing assistance. TourGuide 2020-D offers up to six channels for reliable information transmission in museums, during factory tours and at tourist attractions.

Users can benefit from this superior technology immediately and without the need for registration formalities, as the system operates in the license-free ISM band (Europe: 863-865 MHz; USA: 926-928 MHz). TourGuide 2020-D consists of a sturdy SK 2020-D beltpack transmitter with an HS 2-ew professional headset microphone and, for the visitors, an HDE 2020-D receiver with integrated stethoset headphones.

"Fully digital transmission allows us to operate on a completely new quality

center of the level control allows a channel to be selected. The backlit display shows all the settings clearly.

And audio transmission is equally clear: the design of the stethoset headphones effectively attenuates outside noise, allowing visitors to hear what is being said even in noisy production environments.

Close to the Source of Information Visitors simply need to put on the headphones and they´re ready to start.

Opening the ear bows automatically switches the receiver on. A comfortable volume level is preset and can be adjusted using a large volume wheel, while a switch located in the

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TourGuide 2020-D as a Mini Interpretation System

Convenience for the Operator Up to six tours at the same time with a single license-free system"TourGuide 2020-D is completely uncomplicated.

External sound sources can simply be fed in via the transmitter´s line input, and the microphone can either be mixed with the external source or switched to "mute". The sensitivity can be adjusted separately for both inputs.

The charging case (EZL 2020-20) fully recharges the receivers and the transmitter within about three hours.

A particularly convenient feature of the EZL 2020-20 is the "Copy" function. Simply set one receiver to the required frequency and the "Copy" button then adjusts all other units to this channel, saving the visitors the trouble of searching for the right channel before their tour begins.

Clever Charging

level," explains Anshuman Dubey, Project Manager for Installed Sound at Sennheiser India. "Interference that used to be audible with analog systems is corrected by the redundancy of digital transmission." " A further plus point is the fact that the system is license-free, which is a special asset for private users and companies. "With Tourguide 2020-D, users are able to go `on air´ immediately, without having to apply for a license as is usually the case with wireless systems."

users' receivers can be converted from six (Tourguide Mode) to eight channels (Conference Mode).

The intelligent L 2021-40 tourguide charging unit allows the receivers to be charged quickly and conveniently in around two-and-a-half hours. It has bays for up to 40 receivers and their reception channels can be easily programmed using the "Copy" button. An Ethernet connection and the software supplied with the charging unit provide even more userfriendliness and offer access to further functions. For example, channels for individual receivers or groups of receivers can be programmed and the

By using additional transmitters, TourGuide 2020-D can be used as a mini interpretation system for foreign visitors and small conferences. Users also benefit from a further feature of this system: the wireless signal is digitally encrypted, which means that it cannot be intercepted by commercially available AM and FM scanners - thus guaranteeing secure communication.

Sennheiser TourGuide has been successfully implemented and used at various place in India. Some of the major projects where the Sennheiser TourGuide is in use or has been used in the past include Tata Power, Volvo, JK Tyre, P&G, Hyundai, Honda and a number of other major corporate set ups.

Zero-drift Amp from ADI Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a world leader in semiconductors for highperformance signal processing applications and leading supplier of amplifier technology, introduced the industry's lowest-noise, zero-drift operational amplifier. The ADA4528 zero-drift op amp is designed for instrumentation and medical applications that require precision over time and temperature without system calibration. The breakthrough design achieves an ultra-low integrated voltage noise of 99 nVp-p over 0.1 Hz - 10 Hz meaning that the ADA4528 delivers a 26 percent lower voltage noise at 40 percent less power consumption than the closest competing amplifiers. This

DPI’s Full HD 1-Chip 3D Projector

improves system SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and lowers the noise floor enabling 24-bit resolution over 150 kHz in A/D converters while improving system accuracy.

•

Ultra-low noise: 5.3nV/@Hz at f=1 kHz

•

Open-loop voltage gain: 140 dB minimum

•

CMRR: 135 dB minimum

The 5.3-nV/rtHz voltage noise density allows designers for the first time to use the zero-drift amplifier in broadband applications, such as piezoelectric transducers and precision data acquisition systems.

•

PSRR: 130 dB minimum

•

Single-supply operation: 2.2 V to 5.5 V

•

Dual-supply operation: ±1.1 V to ±2.75 V

•

Rail-to-rail input and output

"This new precision amplifier is a flagship product in ADI's operational amplifier portfolio," said Peter Real, Vice-President, Linear and Radio Frequency Products and Technology Group, Analog Devices. "ADI's unique, patented chopping technique allows the ADA4528 to achieve the high levels of accuracy required for lowfrequency sensor measurements in systems such as data acquisition, weigh scale and precision medical instrumentation applications."

Key Features of the ADA4528 Zerodrift Amplifier

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Ultra-low offset: 2.5 µV maximum

•

Ultra-low offset voltage drift: 0.015 µV/°C maximum

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The ADA4528 zero-drift amplifier offers low offset voltage of 2.5 µV max and the industry's lowest guaranteed offset-voltage drift of 0.015 µV/°C max.

It has a 140 dB gain and a CMRR (common-mode rejection ratio) of 135 dB and a 130 dB PSRR (power-supply rejection ratio), making it well-suited for precision amplification of low-level signals in applications such as position and pressure sensors, strain gages, and medical instrumentation. The ADA4528 is fully specified to operate from a 2.2-V to 5.5-V single-voltage supply over the extended industrial temperature range (-40°C to +125°C) and is available in an 8-lead MSOP (Mini Small Outline Package).

Digital Projection International announced the launch of active-3D enabled M-Vision Cine 400-3D. With over three years of experience manufacturing, distributing and supporting powerful 3D projectors, DPI unveiled this new, high-value, entry level single-chip 3D solution. Equipped with the same DLP DarkChip technology featured in DPI's entire product line, the M-Vision Cine 400-3D delivers immersive 3D imagery for screens up to 12' wide.

The 5,500 lumen M-Vision Cine 400-3D thrives in cinemas with screens up to 12' wide, as well as in venues with some ambient light, such as media rooms with smaller screen sizes. The compact and quiet Cine chassis, 1080p resolution, broad source connectivity and straightforward user interface make the M-Vision Cine 400-3D an optimum 3D solution for home entertainment enthusiasts desiring simple operation and stellar 3D imagery. Augmenting these benefits are the overall efficiency and long-life of the lamp system, enabling this new platform to produce beautiful 2D and 3D imagery while consuming very low power and producing very little heat.

Previously, large-screen 3D experiences in the home were reserved for the most elite home theaters using DPI's award-winning TITAN Reference 1080p-3D. Serving as a complement to the existing TITAN 3D product line, the M-Vision Cine 400-3D introduces a native 1080p, single-chip 3D display to home cinemas for a fraction of the cost. Enthusiasts can now experience flicker-free 3D at a full 120 frames per second while benefitting from the value of the M-Vision Cine 400-3D. Installation is flexible due to the M-Vision Cine 400-3D's compact and lightweight chassis design, and extraordinary lens shift range of 30 per cent horizontal and 120 per cent vertical.

Barco Lights up NAB with New Displays Visualization pioneer Barco impressed the global broadcast industry with whole big range of exciting product display at the NAB 2011.

"When it comes to wowing audiences, broadcasters can look to Barco for the industry's most innovative approaches to creative content delivery," commented Todd Hoddick, VP Entertainment for Barco North America. "We have the tools, technologies, and know-how to help producers bring their ideas to life, offering best-in-class products that easily integrate with their visualization platforms to maximize creativity and control. And, with our outstanding reliability, Barco can consistently deliver and support our offering to meet the demanding needs of the studio environment."

The new range included, LEDs, image processing devices, screen presentation systems, besides the HDX-W14, world's first event projector to combine active 3-chip DLP 3D and both wired/wireless control options in a single unit. This large-event projector features crisp, vivid imagery on any screen thanks to WUXGA resolution and 14,000 lumens light output. A built-in LCD screen enables image preview and quick control through smartphones and tablet computers.

RLM-W8 - featuring superior image quality, 33% less power consumption and 10x quieter operation than its nearest competitors, the RLM-W8 is a three-chip DLP速 projector for a singlechip price tag. It features 8,000 lumens, saturated colors, and built-in blending and warping technologies.

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Barco's new HDX-14 and RLM-W8 projectors. With the same high image quality as DVI, 3G-SDI signals eliminate the need for costly DVI fiber cables. The new 3G-SDI output card is form/fit/function compatible with the original Encore design. Field upgradable kits are available for existing Encore VP and VPx models.

DP2K-P - the world's only cinema projector designed for post production, the DP2K-P features superior contrast, brightness uniformity, and expanded color gamut. A special version of Barco's Communicator software enhances accuracy.

FSN with new remote control panel - the FSN combines advanced multi-format production and presentation switching of multiple video and graphics inputs in one common, highly integrated unit. A brand new remote control panel (RCP-120) enables users to remotely

route sources to the FSN AUX outputs. The RCP-120 is fully integrated with the FSN system through dedicated setup and configuration menus.

Encore with new 3G capability Encore, the industry's leading widescreen presentation system, is further strengthened with the introduction of new models supporting 3G-SDI standards. The new models provide full 1080p HDSDI output signals supporting

LED Wall and Display - OL-521 this LED-lit 50" HD video wall features high image quality and low profile in a rugged, yet elegant package. Providing an excellent viewing experience, the OL-521 delivers the sharpest, most saturated colors in full HD. Barco's Sense6 software automatically ensures consistent, stable color and brightness across the entire display.

C7 - the industry's first truly environmentally friendly display, this 7mm pixel pitch LED display features 2,000 nits of high contrast, superior color reproduction, and calibrated output for indoor displays. Utilizing a fraction of the power consumption of competing products, the C7 is cast in an ultra-thin, fanless enclosure which is easy to install and maintain.

Bose Professional Launches new RoomMatch Bose Professional Systems Division introduced its new RoomMatch series of array module loudspeakers and PowerMatch PM8500 configurable professional power amplifier. Using new Bose technologies and innovative designs, these products provide sound designers with unprecedented scalability and configurability for venues including arenas, performing arts centres, and houses of worship.

The launch was made recently in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.

According to the company, the new systems enable professionals play concert-quality sound delivered more consistently and efficiently, regardless of room size, shape, or acoustic properties. ”Our engineers challenged conventional wisdom for both loudspeaker and amplifier design,” Akira Mochimaru, general manager,

Bose Professional Systems Division, said on the occasion. “The result is a new approach for the industry, one that lets sound designers and integrators meet the acoustic challenges of any fixed-installation sound system with more flexibility and far less compromise to audio performance.”

All RoomMatch and PowerMatch products, and compatible versions of Modeler and ControlSpace Designer software, will be available from September, 2011. The products, however, would be on display for European markets during the PLASA show in September.

The combined package of the modular speaker system and accompanying power amplifier is designed to deliver a scalable and configurable system solution for fixed installation in venues such as arenas, performing arts centres and houses of worship.

The speaker modules are available in 15 different coverage patterns, and the precise combination of units required for a project is determined using the latest version of the Bose Modeler software.

The PowerMatch 8500 amplifier can allocate its 4000W rated power between two and eight channels, in different combinations of power per channel. It is even possible for it to output a combination of low impedance and 70/100V on different channels.

The device acts at most as an 8x8 matrix, with DSP and EQ available for each of eight input channels.

Inputs can be analogue or digital (via CobraNET).

Developments in power electronics made by Bose also mean that it combines class-AB sound and reliability with the efficiency of a Class-D unit.

Versatile Wall Mount Touch Panel from Crestron

Crestron announced that the new TPMC-9L Wall Mount Touch Panel, the latest addition to its family of Core 3 OS-ready panels, is now shipping. TPMC-9L is the perfectsized touch screen - large enough to enjoy a full, rich interactive user experience with a minimalist design that remains discreet in any setting.

A 9" widescreen provides more space for designing custom graphical interfaces, and a larger display for viewing cover art, control apps and scores of other dynamic content.

TPMC-9L also offers a slew of cool new media and communications tools like widgets and highdefinition streaming video for IP/ Web security cameras that instantly enhance whole home and building automation systems.

"The new TPMC-9L offers incredible value for a touch panel of this size," said Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director or Marketing. "With its slim profile and luxurious design, along with a widescreen display, this Core 3 OSready touch screen is a perfect solution for the most demanding system designers and interior designers."

TPMC-9L enables extreme graphics and animations, including cover flow and page flips making control of theater systems, lighting, AV networks, thermostats, security cameras, and any other connected home or building system fast, fun

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and easy. TPMC-9L is engineered to support the new Crestron Core 3 OS, the foundation for its new GUI framework.

TPMC-9L makes it easy for anyone to walk in and use right away. A stylish faceplate features 12 programmable hard-key pushbuttons for unlimited design and control flexibility in commercial and residential settings.

Designed with ultra-intuitive operation in mind, pushbuttons are smartly positioned along both edges of the touch screen, conveniently aligning onscreen text and graphics right next to the corresponding pushbuttons to support contextsensitive menu functions such as movie and song titles or lighting presets. For designs where a simple, clean appearance is desired, TPMC-9L also ships with a sleek, button-less faceplate.

Featuring smooth lines and graceful contours, TPMC-9L easily mounts flush into walls, lecterns, podiums or even an equipment rack, adding a contemporary and elegant appearance to any environment.

All-pervasive iPAD Control from IVCi IVCi, LLC, a leading integrator of high definition video conferencing and telepresence solutions, audio visual systems, and managed

conferencing services, announced that it has expanded its audio visual control solutions to include an iPad based application. The new app allows the user to control any AV (audio visual) integrated conference room via an on-screen GUI that resembles a traditional AV control device.

IVCi designs and programs userfriendly GUIs that provide complete control of the audio visual rooms that it integrates. These environments bring together video conferencing and telepresence technology, advanced audio visual equipment, special lighting, and shading. IVCi partners with AV manufacturers that offer conference room management applications for the iPad and configures its enhanced Customer Control Platform (CSP) directly on the device.

"Traditionally we have customized our customers' GUIs with just hardware provided by Crestron, AMX or other manufacturers. With the proliferation of Apple's iPad within the business environment and the new apps from our manufacturing partners, IVCi can now complement a control system implementation with a GUI that runs directly on the iPad," said IVCi's SVP of AV integration Tim Hennen.

Just as with any other app for the iPad, the user easily downloads the application online. IVCi's Audio Visual team then uses its knowledge of the integration of the various systems in the room to program the application to the customer's specific environment. The user then touches the app icon to access an interface that closely resembles their touch panel. Users then proceed to control the room just as they would with a custom touch panel controller.

IVCi's Audio Visual Division will program the iPad right along with the hardware based touch panels.

The result is an interface that is easy to use and navigate across both devices

Small Is Beautiful: DiGiCo's New Baby Is Born DiGiCo's SD range of digital consoles continues to astonish and delight the professional audio industry. Visitors to ProLight+Sound 2011 recently discover that the company has 'done it again' with the SD11 - a console that is the smallest (both in size and price) that the company has ever produced, but still packed full of DiGiCo's famous industry leading features.

The SD11 was unveiled at DiGiCo's stands 8.0 F60 and G56 and is designed to be equally at home as a desktop console or mounted in a 19" rack. By simply removing the end cheeks and arm rest, 19" rack fixings are revealed, making it straightforward to incorporate the SD11 into any touring or installation environment.

But that is just the first part of the SD11's extraordinary specification.

Never before has it been possible to manufacture a console at an astoundingly low price point and still maintain the very highest audio quality and best facilities. The SD11, however, achieves this feat with ease, perfectly demonstrating the versatility of DiGiCo's Stealth Digital Processing ™ and the flexibility of a true FPGAbased digital audio console.

Manufactured with a steel chassis for strength and a polycarbonate-overlaid, aluminium work surface for reduced weight, the SD11 features 12 touch sensitive moving faders below a 15" touch sensitive screen. Such clarity of control means the SD11 is as simple to use at speed as any other DiGiCo console.

16 Microphone pre amps, eight line outputs and two mono AES I/O are provided, in addition to which users have the option to connect a DiGiCo D-Rack to the CAT5E port. This provides a remote I/O rack frame with an additional 32 Microphone inputs and up to 16 outputs.

Further connections are a MADI port, GPI/O, MIDI, Overview screen output, Word Clock I/O, an Ethernet port for console remote control / networking and a USB port for file exchange and session backup.

The SD11 features 32 input channels with full processing, eight of which

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can be configured as full Flexi Channels. All inputs have dual mono inputs for fast 'Main' and 'Alt' channel switching, which are ideal for corporate events where a large number of spare microphones may be required.

Standard input channel processing includes channel delay; single and multi channel presets; HPF and LPF, with an industry leading 24db per octave; four bands of parametric EQ with band curve selection; compressor and gate; moveable insert point and access to all bussing.

Standard output channel processing includes output delay; four bands of parametric EQ; filtering; compressor and gate; moveable insert point; groups with buss to buss routing; and Auxes that have direct talk to output with dim control for fast monitor communication.

Dynamic EQ provides both expansion and compression on all four bands of the parametric EQ. These powerful processors can be assigned to any of the input or output channels, whether they are Mono, stereo or LCR and four units can be allocated as required.

Multi-band compressors are also installed, giving the user extended dynamic control of any input or output channel. Again, four units can be positioned on either input or output channels.

One of the more unusual features for a digital console with the SD11's small footprint is that it has 12 Flexi Busses, which can be user configured as either mono or stereo. In its maximum configuration these could be used as 12 stereo mixes - equal to a remarkable 24 busses.

As well as this already substantial bussing resource, an additional stereo or LCR Master buss and 8x8 output matrix is provided, facilitating the SD range's renowned routing flexibility.

Eight control groups (VCAs) are also provided for faster access to multiple channels and busses, user and snapshot configured for ultimate show control. Dual solo busses are also provided, making the SD11 well suited to managing Front of House and Monitoring tasks alike.

An unlimited amount of Snapshots can be saved and recalled, with user defined recall scopes being set globally, per snapshot or per channel function. Additional tools include feature-defined crossfade, sequence fire, MIDI control and a Snapshot notes panel.

In addition to the SD11's core processing functions, insertable Stealth stereo FX and 12 graphic EQs can be routed, controlled and even snapshot recalled for the most complex show design. Four Stealth stereo FX units can be configured at any time from the palette of thirty-three effects.

But this is not all, because even more processing is available through the SD series integration with Waves plugins.

Unlike all other Sound Grid platforms, DiGiCo provides complete control of plugin parameters, as well as recall of snapshots and single loading and saving, directly from the console's surface. Sixteen stereo Sound Grid racks can be inserted, with up to eight plugins in each rack.

Like all DiGiCo consoles, the SD11 software runs on a standard PC or Intel-based Macintosh for offline preparation and remote control of the console. One SD11 can also be linked to another, using a standard CAT5 crossover cable, providing 24 faders for control. In this configuration, the audio engine of the first SD11 provides complete redundancy for the other.

A final important facility is that advanced security options can be configured to protect console settings from accidental or unwanted change.

Sennheiser Innovates at Palm 2011 Sennheiser Electronics India, global leader of sound and audio solutions is unveiling a technology showcase at Palm Show 2011. The audio major is aiming at galvaniing the industry through the Palm platform with its display of revolutionary products. The products on display would include an exciting range of products and a whole lot of world class offerings for professionals in the country.

The Neumann KH 120: The KH 120 studio monitor is designed for use as a near-? eld loudspeaker or as a rear loudspeaker in larger multichannel systems. The KH 120 represents the latest in acoustic and electronic simulation and measurement technologies to ensure the most accurate sound reproduction possible.

It has a Mathematically Modeled Dispersion waveguide (MMD), ? exible acoustical controls, analog class-AB ampli? ers, various input formats and an extensive mounting hardware range. All of this provides the user with the maximum versatility over a wide variety of acoustic conditions, source equipment, and physical locations. A subwoofer, such as the Neumann KH 810, with its 7.1 High De? nition Bass Manager, can be added to deepen the low-frequency response to 18 Hz and increase the system's maximum output level. The KH 120 is perfect for tracking, mixing and mastering in music, broadcast, project and post-production studios.

MK4: The MK 4 with its nickelcoloured finish was developed for professional users in project studios, but is equally well suited for other

recording environments and is tough enough for use on stage. It is also a microphone that is affordable for home recordists and musicians. The focus was on the key elements of a good studio microphone to ensure that the product offers an integration of best technology to Indian professionals. The finest sound structures are well resolved, and sound coming from the sides is picked up without colouration and so does not change the overall sound quality. The microphone has a very harmonious presence; it has vivid mics and is also very detailed in the bass range. At the same time, typical cardioids cancellation is relatively frequencyindependent.

Sturdy large-diaphragm model: The MK 4 has a large 1-inch diaphragm precisely spattered with 24-carat gold.

The sturdy metal housing and the elastically mounted capsule make the microphone tough enough for even the most energetic recording situations. The excellent suppression of handling noise offered by the internal capsule mount can be even further improved by the use of an elastic suspension, which is available as an accessory. The open front of the suspension mount enables the MK 4 to be positioned close to the sound source. The microphone has a maximum sound pressure level of 140 dB, and its self-noise of 10 db(A) is extremely low.

ADN Conference System: Sennheiser presented the ADN discussion system, a premium product for the conference market. The wired, digital discussion system comprises of an easy-to-use central unit and two conference terminal options, one for the conference manager and the other for the participants. Special features include superb Sennheiser sound quality, sophisticated design, an intuitive user interface and a fully integrated software package within the central unit.

Good sound quality starts at the frontend: with the microphone. The ADN conference unit uses a high-quality Sennheiser KE 10 capsule, whose super-cardioid pick-up pattern brings the speaker into focus, efficiently attenuating ambient noise. A DSP limiter ensures that the audio signal can not over-amplify.

Audio is reproduced by the terminal's integrated twin loudspeakers; they create a pleasant sound with excellent voice intelligibility over the whole conference room - even when just a few conference units are in use.

"Innovation and superior technology have always been paramount for Sennheiser, and we have always offered the best products to professionals in India," says Vipin Pungalia, Business Group HeadProfessional segment. "Palm Show offers a unique platform for our industry to come together and present the latest innovations in products and technologies," he said, adding, "we would continue to provide simplified solutions to the professionals which are in sync with the ever evolving technology."

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ProVA Audio-Technica's Sole Distributor for India and Sri Lanka Singapore-based Audio-Technica (SEA) has appointed Bengaluru, India-based Pro Visual Audio Pvt. Ltd. as the sole authorized distributor for the entire range of Audio-Technica's professional products. A company announcement said Pro-VA will exclusively handle the full complement of Audio-Technica's range of professional microphones, headphones, electronics, mixers and wireless products for India and Sri Lanka.

A leading distribution firm in the areas of acoustic and audio visual equipment, Pro-VA also represents QSC Audio, Midas and Klark Teknik, Clair Brothers, Eiki and Link EuroCable.

All inventory and spares will now be warehoused in Bengaluru, enabling clients to benefit from prompt access to product and demo units with stable pricing in Indian Rupees. Local technical support and servicing will also be provided through ProVA and its authorized channel partners.

"We are delighted to have Pro Visual Audio on board given the strength in their employees they have and more importantly their passion and drive to distribute Audio-Technica in a challenging market of India," said Vincent Chan, managing director of Audio-Technica (SEA). "With their established customers' network, I'm confident ProVA will deliver our objectives we have set forth for India."

Pro Visual Audio's Director Sales, Robin Ghose, added, "this is an important move for us and we are delighted to add the entire AudioTechnica product range to the ProVA portfolio, which complements our existing range and allows us now to offer a onestop shop to any segment of customer for a professional audio solution.

"The new working relationship brings great benefits to both parties - and indeed to our customers and end-users - leading to exciting future opportunities in India," Ghose added.

Rode Partners with Visual Media System has continued its growth offering complete solutions with qualified engineers for the Professional Audio and Video Community, Studio and Auditorium Designing, Acoustics Analysis & Development, Audio/Video Cabling and installation of all related equipment.

RØDE Microphones is proud to announce that it has appointed Visual Media System as a key distribution partner in India. Founded in 1985 under the Royal Salute banner by M Syed Ibrahim, Visual Media System was formed to serve the demand created by new generation media in the Chennai region and throughout India.

Under the able guidance of his son S Syed Mohideen Mukthar, Visual Media

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"RØDE Microphones is an incredibly strong brand worldwide and significant product releases in the broadcast and studio markets over the last 18 months have seen the company go from strength to strength," commented Colin Hill, Export Sales Director for RØDE Microphones.

Visual Media System commenced official distribution of RØDE Microphones in India in December 2010.

Sonotone Appointed dBTechnologies Distributor Mumbai-based Professional audio solutions provider Sonotone has been appointed dBTechnologies’ distributor for India. The coming together of both the companies will be demonstrated at the Palm 2011 tradeshow to be held from 2-4 June in Mumbai through a display of an array of audio products and systems. While Sonotone had been a regular at the show, in association with the German audio major, their stand would exhibit dBTechnologies’ Cromo series speakers, as well as FM12 floor monitors and a selection of models from the manufacturer’s Opera Digital speaker range. The association would also debut the DVA T4 line array system, which will be displayed alongside the manufacturer’s subwoofers; the DVA S20 and Sub 18D. According to Martin Capp, Asia Pacific Area Sales Manager at dBTechnologies, taking Sonotone onboard dBTechnologies’ distribution network is keeping in view with the ‘increasing demand from Indian users who wanted dBTechnologies’ powered speakers to be available in domestic market.

‘Sonotone are an excellent choice for dBTechnologies distribution in India,” he said, adding, “they have a long history and are respected by their Indian customers.”

Says Karan Nagpal, Sonotone’s General Manager: ‘It was our great fortune to come to an arrangement with dBTechnologies to represent them, as the time was right to further expand our business. Distributing the dBTechnologies range gives us access to state-of-the-art products from MI to high-end professional applications.”

Harman's Techbang in Mumbai Harman Professional India and its authorized India distributor, Hi-Tech Audio Systems in association with Vardhaman Electronics, Mumbai, for the first time in India, conducted Harman Techbang- exclusive two day interactive sessions on live sound technology. For Harman India, the primary objective for conducting this event was the need for a platform for the sound professionals to come together and share the industry best practices. This was an ideal platform for the live sound professionals to interact on live sound technology, obtain essential training and live demonstrations on the Harman product range.

The two-day event held on 25 and 26 March 2011 at the VMT Store, Mumbai, was attended by over 600 live sound professionals across the country. HiTech Audio Systems, the authorized India distributor for Harman Professional conducted the technical demos and interactions at the event.

Vardhaman Electronics hosted the event and provided the complete support required for the event and enabled the sales enquiries.

"Harman Techbang was a huge success beyond our expectations. The entire team of Harman Professional India, HiTech and Vardhaman came together and conducted an impeccable event which saw more 1000 registrations.

Our customers saw great value in the special offers and they were significantly impressed by the technical knowledge shared and the performance of Harman products.

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highly technical, new ideas especially on the presets of the dbx 260 and 4800, were well received. The event has been a great experience for us at Vardhaman, " said Dinesh Mandot, Director, Vardhaman Electronics.

The sessions began with an initial overview on Harman India and Ashish Barje, Application Engineer, Broadcast & Recording, Harman Professional India presented a primer on AKG microphones. This was followed by various sessions on the preview, frequency crossover, protection and setting up of JBL Vertec, VRX and SRX line, including the optimization of a live sound set-up using Harman gear,

by Manik Gupta, Technical Director, HiTech Audio Systems. A live performance by a Mumbai based band, Friction added to the actual feel

of the sound output and performance of the Harman range.

Furthermore, industry experts like Mark Rodrigues, Stagecraft and Sound Engineer to renowned singers and artistes in India, addressed the audience with his experiences and best practices including sharing his experience of using Harman products such as dbx 260. These sessions were well received by the audience who actively engaged in interactions with the experts.

"We are really proud to be associated with Harman for an event that has created a benchmark of sorts in the live sound space in India. The enthusiasm and response of the attendees towards the demo sessions and interactions were very beneficial

for all of us. We look forward to being part of more such events in the near future for other industry segments and regions in the pro sound space." Said Rajan Gupta, Director, Hi- Tech Audio Systems.

JBL Studio Monitors, VERTEC Line Arrays Shine at GRAMMY

There was tremendous enthusiasm among the attendees to try the Harman products for live/tour sound applications - AKG microphones, JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers and Soundcraft digital mixing consoles "Harman Techbang is a first of its kind event, through which we have been able continue our efforts to reach out to our customers in India and also provide an occasion for a great interactive session. We are extremely happy to have been able to bring together live sound professionals under one roof and the response has been overwhelming and unexpected to say the least. The technical support provided by Hi-Tech Audio Systems and the complete on-ground & sales support provided by Vardhaman Electronics for the Harman Techbang has been great." said Ankush Agarwal, Marketing Manager, Harman Professional India.

Apart from the interactive sessions by the various experts, there were also a host of special attractive deals and offers on the Harman products (AKG, dbx, JBL, Crown, Soundcraft) for the customers. There was a tremendous response for these products with onspot purchases as well as enquires for future orders. These offers were a value-add by Harman India and also provided an opportunity to experience the product and also an easy access to the products at the venue.

"We are pleased to roll-out programs like Harman Techbang for our customers and channel partners in India and very pleased to note the high levels of interest and attendance participation. We are confident that Indian system integrators, tour sound, studio and install sound specialists can derive extensive benefits from these programs. This is part of our ongoing strategy to get closer to our customers in India," said David McKinney, Senior Sales Director- Asia, Harman Professional.

On a night full of surprises, JBL by Harman Professional loudspeakers were once again called upon at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards to ensure predictable, high-quality live sound and audio for television broadcast. Held at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on February 13, the GRAMMY Awards were broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network. As it has for the past several years, ATK Audiotek of Valencia, California provided JBL VERTEC line arrays for live sound reinforcement, while JBL LSR studio monitors were used in the critical listening room for the telecast.

the broadcast in the critical listening room. Since the critical listening room was set up in a provisional space at the STAPLES Center, engineers took advantage of the LSR6300 Series' onboard RMC Room Mode Correction system to compensate for acoustic anomalies of the room. "We used a 5.1 JBL LSR6300 Series studio monitor system to carefully listen to details in the mix, as we have for the past several years," said Michael Abbott, Audio Director for the GRAMMY Awards. "Once again, the LSR monitors performed extremely well and helped us accurately hear the subtleties of the show."

The annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, known as Music's Biggest Night, is presented by The Recording Academy to honor outstanding achievements in the production and performance of recorded music. This year's awards were marked by a variety of elaborate stage productions bringing together some of the biggest names in music today, including Lady Gaga, Eminem, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Lady Antebellum, Cee-Lo Green and Katy Perry. Lady Gaga and Eminem both earned multiple GRAMMY Awards, while Arcade Fire won Album Of The Year for The Suburbs.

For live sound reinforcement, ATK Audiotek deployed 70 JBL VERTEC VT4889 fullsize line array elements in multiple overhead arrays, supplemented with JBL VRX932LA compact constant-curvature loudspeakers. "With such a variety of performers on stage during the Awards, and with such elaborate productions, providing live sound for the GRAMMY Awards poses its own unique set of challenges," said Scott Harmala, CTO/VP Engineering, ATK Audiotek. "We have enjoyed tremendous success with the VERTEC line arrays for the GRAMMY Awards in the past and this year was no different.

They provided powerful and accurate sound throughout the arena."

During the telecast, JBL LSR6300 Series studio monitors were used to monitor

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Sennheiser Jams Bengaluru with Lucky Ali, Swarathma

A new commercial entity at Cunningham Road in Bengaluru recently got practically "jam"med with some great reverbs of audio and musical notes.

Sennheiser, global audio leader, announced the launch of first company owned Sennheiser showroom cum experience zone in India in Bengaluru, where music lovers can come and immerse into the world class range of products before actually buying them. Sennheiser's first in India that it was, the showroom was inaugurated by leading Bollywood singer and Sennheiser endorsee, Lucky Ali along with other senior leadership from Sennheiser. The event also brought the music lovers in Bangaluru to a standstill through an open jam session with one of the most promising Indian folk rock band, 'Swarathma'.

The showroom would have a complete range of Sennheiser products catering to consumers, professional or music rental companies in India. The set up will also provide an immersive experience and a complete download on finer nuances for people to actually get the feel of world class products before they decide to use them. The showroom will also have a permanent HD 800 experience zone and jamming zone for music lovers to come and listen or play the Sennheiser instruments. Post the inauguration; the event saw a first of its kind day long Jamming session with Swarathma band and a number of their friends and bands from the Garden City who enthralled the audiences with great music. The event garnered a huge presence from musicians and music lovers who also

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got a chance to lay their hands on the best sound equipments & accessories from Sennheiser.

"Sennheiser, with its passion for perfect sound reproduction, ensures the purity of each note," said Lucky Ali on the occasion of inauguration.

"Sennheiser Sound showroom is a great idea in sharing years of knowledge with people who have a heightened sense of sound," he said, and added, "I am very excited that Sennheiser has chosen Bengaluru for its first ever showroom in India. The city resounds with vibrating music of every genre."

Swarathma hardly hid its excitement.

Talking about their association with the audio major, the lead guitarist of the band, Varun said, "Swarathma has always seen Sennheiser as a pioneer.

Many bands and artistes admire Sennheiser, and it's a proud moment us to be associated with such a brand.

Talking at the launch Vipin Pungalia, Professional Segment Head at Sennheiser India said, "the launch of our first showroom is a reinforcement of our commitment to provide the best in class offerings and services to music lovers and professionals in India."

About the new association with Swarthma, Pugalia said "we have always been committed to provide an ideal platform for the young and talented music bands in the country to create magic with Sennheiser's high quality professional sound equipment that is used by the best around the world. We are delighted to have one of the best singers as part of our family in Lucky Ali to be present on such an important occasion. Our association with Swarthma will create an innovative and collaborative environment which nurtures the best rewards for the most talented bands in the country to conquer the world stage."

A Sound Experience with Sennheiser India Sennheiser Electronics India recently took its relationship with the top professionals in Indian industry to a new level. The audio major took the top five sound professionals in India to the biggest sound and light show in the world - Prolight + Sound - 2011' show held in Frankfurt, Germany.

The professionals on the tour included bigwigs like Shantanu Hudlikar - Sr. Engineer Yash Raj Film Studios, Ashish Saxena - Sound engineer for Shankar Ehsaan &Loy & KK and Director Purple Haze Studios, Warren D'souza - Owner of Sound.com, Navnit Wadhwa Director of Audio Design, North India's biggest sound rental company & Samir Kripalani, one of the best known audio professionals & man behind some of the biggest concerts in India.

The elite company was able to witness the entire range of revolutionary products on display which included modular white microphones for ceiling installation and a new entrylevel series of gooseneck microphones.

Also, the new system update for the ADN discussion system and the ADN PS power supply unit, which will make it possible to set up conference systems with up to 400 terminals. The main focus was also on G3, with wireless frequency of 1.8 Ghz. & the MK 4 large-diaphragm microphone and new products in the area of installed sound. The professionals were given a complete demonstration of latest products at the at Sennheiser & Neumann booth at the show where they got a firsthand experience of latest revolutionary KH120 speaker from Neumann.

Vipin Pungalia, Professional Segment Head for Sennheiser India

accompanied the top professionals to give them a complete lowdown on the latest innovations by Sennheiser and its group companies. It was also followed by an interactive session with the top bosses from Sennheiser which included Daniel Sennheiser and Paul Whiting, President Global Sales at Sennheiser.

"At Sennheiser we value our relationship with professionals in India and we are really delighted to have five of the best sound specialists with us here at the biggest show in the world," said Vipin Pungalia, Business Group Head-Professional segment. "It gives us an immense pleasure to showcase the latest innovations from Sennheiser to the best in the country and just re-emphasizes our commitment to offering the best in class service and products to Indian professionals."

Talking about the visit, Warren D'souza from Sound.com said, "Kudos to the Sennheiser for organising visit to Frankfurt. We at sound.com were overwhelmed with the Sennheiser hospitality. The latest innovations are compelling and we would love to synergise with Sennheiser India on many projects this year." Adding to Warren's comments Samir Kriplani added, "thank you once again for the great support and effort the whole Sennheiser team put into this massive initiative." The sentiment was shared by all the other members on the visit.

There were also a whole range of new products at display, with the systems from the evolution wireless EW 100 G3-1G8 series, Sennheiser showcased the first wireless system to transmit signals in the 1800 MHz frequency

band. This band has been approved in many European countries for the wireless transmission of audio signals.

The systems will be available from summer 2011. The MK4 true condenser large-diaphragm microphone will be celebrating its European premiere and a microphone study entitled "Concept Tahoe"will be providing an insight into the future of microphones. The latest installed sound products included the MEG 14-40 B and MEG 14-40-L B gooseneck microphones and the ME series withs white products for ceiling installation. And for the ADN discussion system there was a new system update and a preview of the ADN power supply unit.

Sennheiser, KK Make Music Together

Sennheiser microphones have become a familiar sight on the numerous concerts and television performances by leading musicians across the world.

Sennheiser has been endorsed by leading names in Indian music industry from AR Rahman, Shankar, Ehsan & Loy, Sandeep Chowta, Neha Bhasin to name a few artists. The latest addition in the ever increasing impressive list is one of the most renowned singers in the country, Krishna Kumar Kunnath better known as 'KK'.

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Tamil and Kannada languages in a short span. KK has worked with all the best people in the industry. K K has sung some of the blockbuster songs in bollywood like, 'Chodh aaye hum who galiyan…' and 'Chappa chappa…'

(MAACHIS). With 'Tadap tadap ke is dil se aah nikalti rahi…' (HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM) including a number of other songs.

Talking about the association with Sennheiser, KK said, "I am very happy to be associated with world's leading name in sound and audio solutions which has been the first choice of professionals in music industry around the world. Sennheiser is an ideal partner for me to continue my passion of producing great sound for audiences who have appreciated my work over the years. Sennheiser has always been my first choice over the years, as it acts as a perfect partner to my sound & I feel thrilled to be officially associated with this great brand and be part of the Sennheiser family" Sennheiser offers whole range of exciting equipment to established performers, presenters, musicians, for outstanding quality. Vipin Pungalia, Business Group Head - Professional Segment, Sennheiser Electronics India also expressed his happiness on the association and said "KK is among the best playback singers in Bollywood and we are happy to partner with him in bringing the best music to Indian listeners for times to come. Sennheiser has always strived to offer not just the most outstanding products but also extraordinary special services, ranging from technical support at concerts to an impressive variety of customized products which allow users to turn a microphone into their own unique statement. It would always be our constant endeavor to provide the best equipment to Indian musicians to support them in producing outstanding quality."

Customised microphone from Sennheiser is a unique offering & helps an artist to turn a microphone into their own unique instrument which they can identify with. Singers express themselves and their feelings

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with their music and thus often have a very special bond with their microphone.

Talking about the partnership, KK's sound engineer Ashish Saksena, says, "I have been KK's Live Sound Engineer for almost a year. One of the first things we did together as a band was to discuss the various issues they had. One of their greatest difficulties was 'On Stage Monitoring'. What I concluded from our discussion was that it would be best to shift them to in-ear monitoring as that would be the best possible way to get them consistent and reliable monitoring across the various venues we perform in. Our obvious choice was the Sennheiser G3 EW300s. Since then we've never gone back to using stage monitors. The stage is also much quieter."

KK has been using a number of Sennheiser products which include EW G3 3000 in-ear monitors, SKM 5000 microphone with Neuman capsule and also a specially customised crystal embedded microphone with KK initials. The world class equipment guarantees a smooth and high quality performance under all circumstances.

Alcons' Fourplay At ISE2011 Alcons Audio announced Amsterdam trade show ISE2011 was a great success, with the event's 3D Theatre demonstrating to many admiring pairs of ears exactly the kind of superlative performance that the company's proribbon systems produce.

In addition to the company's own stand, Alcons provided an audio system for ISE's unique 3D Theatre, a cooperative venture by a number of 3D technology manufacturers, including screens, projectors, media-servers, audio systems and acoustic panels.

Featuring hourly presentations from the different equipment suppliers about 3D related topics, visitors were informed about the latest technology and it gave company co-founder Tom Back and his team the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how their systems enhance the 3D experience.

Tom conducted a daily Alcons presentation, explaining the specific challenges for audio systems in 3D cinema applications. These range from the effects of long speaker cables and of the screens themselves, to implementing line-array technology in cinema and the advantages of proribbon transducer technology over traditional compression-based systems.

The presentation concluded with high-resolution 5.1. surround recording demos and a 3D sound demonstration.

"The 3D Theatre was a tremendous success," he says. "In fact, so much so that we have already confirmed our participation for the 2012 event as well as our stand on the show floor, which will be in the same position as at the 2011 show.

"The highlight for us was a 3Drecorded mini-concert of German hiphop band Die Fantastischen Vier (The Fantastic Four). Here, the performance of the C-series, and of the Cinema Ribbon Monitor System in particular, showed its unique strength of combining Hi-Fi sound quality with concert sound pressure levels.

"The idea for the recording came from Alexander Schaefer, who said that he'd never before heard the recording with this quality / clarity in combination with the high concert sound levels. It was a genuine goosebump experience!"

He continues, "we had a very good show on our stand as well, with high levels of traffic, meeting a lot of new clients that we don't meet at other shows in Europe.

KF740 Sound Central at L.A.'s Supperclub The latest addition to the international Supperclub group of dining and entertainment establishments recently opened in Hollywood, California. The venue features a flown, custom, fiveway EAW line array system that covers the dance floor and a smaller EAW system installed in the bar area. In addition, four EAW MicroWedges provide monitoring for DJs and guest music artists. Four EAW UX8800 fourchannel digital signal processors manage the speaker systems, which are powered by Lab.gruppen amplification.

Sound designer and contractor Michael Lacina of San Francisco-based JK Sound specified a line array with substantial headroom in order to provide distortion-free coverage throughout the room and also to ensure longevity. "There are 16 compression drivers, 16 mid-range, 32 low-mid and 16 mid-bass drivers in the array, plus eight 21-inch drivers," he notes. "A system that is going to be driven at dance club levels without any distortion, and a system that is going to run until 4 a.m. with zero maintenance issues, just has to be massive."

Supperclub Los Angeles is located in the historic Vogue Theatre, a former movie house built in 1935 on Hollywood Boulevard, and the venue for numerous major motion picture premieres in its heyday. Supperclub

music director Michael Anthony, a former resident DJ at San Francisco's Ruby Sky, an award-winning club that was outfitted with a customized EAW system by JK Sound, brought Lacina onto the Supperclub Los Angeles project.

The system in the main all-white Salle Neige (Snow Room) consists of eight flown EAW KF740P Three-Way Line Array Modules and eight EAW SC215 custom dual-15-inch bass speakers, with four EAW SB2001 21-inch Subwoofers located below the stage.

All of the EAW speakers are custom finished in white to match the dĂŠcor.

Two EAW MW15 MicroWedges provide monitoring at the movable DJ console.

Another pair of the 15-inch MicroWedges is available to expand the system and provide up to four discrete channels of monitoring for artist showcases. The monitors have patch points on stage to transform them into live sound wedges.

A separate system consisting of two EAW AX396 three-way speakers and a pair of EAW DCS2 Bent Horn Dance Club Subwoofers covers the Bar Rouge (Red Bar), which can be separated from the Salle Neige by heavy curtains. "I like the dual concentric high-mid, eight-inch mid-range with the compression driver in the center," comments Lacina. "The AX396 sounds more natural than most dual

concentric speakers, because of the unique radial phase plug."

In order to achieve the 90 degrees of vertical dispersion from the line array that the room required, Lacina designed a 12-foot-tall configuration with dipole subwoofers, installing a pair of SC215 subs above and a pair below four KF740P modules in each of the two hangs. Lacina states, "The magic of the sound system is that the speakers and acoustics are designed to work together. There really was no need for a line array taller than four KF740's per side - that's already plenty of output - but on the other hand, it's only a four-foot-tall array, and it's losing vertical control fast below 300 Hz. So the acoustic walls take care of some of that. Still, a one-inch-thick acoustic material is not going to absorb the extra mid bass punch you get from a great dance club system, which is why we extended the height of the array with the two pairs of custom dual 15" flown subs. With this arrangement we have 90 degree vertical pattern control down to about 80 Hz." The flown dipole SC215 subwoofer setup features specially modified EAW SB625 modules. The dipole subs also contribute to the directionality of the array. "The top subwoofers are processed differently than the bottom subs; we're doing a little shading with the UX8800 sound focusing processors.

The result is zero reflection off the ceiling. It's a dream system," stated Lacina.

A 12 foot-tall line array in a dance club may appear to be overkill, Lacina admits. "Not many nightclubs have a line array - but the bottom line is great sound for the club-goers, which keeps them coming back."

A close-up of an EAW line array.

The Salle Niege (Snow Room) at Hollywood's new Supperclub location.

The system consists of eight flown KF740P three-way line array modules and eight SC215 custom dual-15-inch bass speakers, with four EAW SB2001 21-inch subwoofers located below the stage. All of the EAW speakers are custom finished in white to match the dĂŠcor.

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EV Skies High at FIS The resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany, was overrun by some 100,000-plus fans attending the recent 2011 edition of the FIS (or Fédération Internationale de Ski) World Championships. In addition to spectacular races, visitors were treated to a varied programme of entertainment that more than justified the organizers' claim that - far more than simply a sporting event Garmisch-Partenkirchen was offering visitors a "festival in the snow." Medal Plaza, for instance, in Michael Ende Park, was the scene each evening not only for the presentation ceremonies but also for shows featuring top German and Austrian acts like Ich + Ich, Culcha Candela, Christina Stürmer and DJ Ötzi, each drawing audiences of up to 4,000 fans at a time.

As was the case at last year's finals of the skiing World Cup, not only the races but also the organisation and logistics of the event were subjected to the closest possible scrutiny, the reason being that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is currently bidding together with Munich to host the Winter Olympics in 2018. Not only the athletes, therefore, but the entire organizational committee and all service providers were anxious to be seen in the best possible light. Prominent among the latter, naturally, was the team from TC Showtechnik of Weilheim, which was responsible for the lighting and sound reinforcement in a number of key event locations including Medal Plaza.

Celebrating with Electro-Voice XLVC The centrepiece of the sound reinforcement design was the XLVC line array from Electro-Voice. "We used EV's LAPS line-array simulation software to ascertain the ideal set-up

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for the event," reports Martin Schulze, who manages the Bavarian rental company jointly with Stefan Rehtaler.

"Even habitually critical FOH engineers working here with their bands expressed their extreme satisfaction with the system."

The main array in Medal Plaza consisted of twelve EV XLD281 cabinets per side complemented by flown XCS312 cardioid bass elements to enhance the lower midrange. To boost the very bottom end, twelve EV Xsubs were positioned beneath the stage. To provide homogeneous coverage for all 4,000 listeners, eight Electro-Voice XLE loudspeakers plied those at the very front of the audience as well as to the left and right of the stage with near-, in- and out-fill, as appropriate. The XLD hangs were driven by 16-channel amp racks made up of two Electro-Voice CPS 4.10 amps and one CPS 8.5 amp each.

"This allowed us to drive in each case three stacks actively in three-way mode, thereby achieving considerably greater acoustic differentiation," explains Schulze. The subwoofers were driven by EV TG 7 power amplifiers, whilst foldback to the performers on stage was provided by side-fills comprising Electro-Voice's tried-andtested MT2 bass elements combined with PX1122M tops and PX1152M

wedges, with the entire monitoring system powered by CP3000S amps.

Meanwhile two Electro-Voice NetMax N8000-1500 digital matrix controllers employing FIR-Drive technology made it possible for engineers - via ElectroVoice's IRIS-Net - to intervene promptly wherever necessary to adjust the output or frequency response of the system. But it is not simply the sound processing but also the routing possibilities afforded by the N80001500 controller that Schulze cherishes.

"I know of no device with which you can work more creatively," he says.

"With it, you can really construct the perfect matrix."

Not only the technicians, of course, but the material itself at the World Skiing Championships was subjected to severe stress; but despite the most adverse weather conditions, with temperature variations in excess of 20 degrees Celsius, not one single component failed throughout the entire fortnight.

"Once again, systems from ElectroVoice have proved that they are entirely impervious to cold, rain, snow and even ice," concludes Schulze.

Fixed installation on the new Kandahar downhill run Two years ago, the team from TC Showtechnik installed a sound reinforcement system along the newly designed, three-kilometre Kandahar downhill. The solution here involved mounting some thirty-four CDP-850T loudspeakers from Electro-Voice on iron masts up to 14 metres high lining the run. "For my money, these are not only the most robust 100-V loudspeakers on the market," says Schulze, "but also systems offering outstanding sound quality and intelligibility." On the Kandahar run, the loudspeakers are driven by six channels of power emanating from Electro-Voice CPS 4.5 amplifiers.

Counterfeit Audio Racket Busted In September 2010, responding to reports by companies Harman, Sennheiser, Shure and Audio-Technica (acting to uphold their rights), Guangdong Public Security Department supervised a criminal investigation by Jiangmen City Police into Enping City Meipai Electronic Audio Factory, which was suspected of selling fake audio equipment under famous brand names. On October 28, after meticulous investigation, Jiangmen City Police launched a crackdown operation, raiding the above-mentioned large-scale fake goods den and three other storage dens in one swoop. They broke up a fake goods gang of considerable size and seized over 1200 items of audio equipment, including microphones, loudspeakers, power amplifiers, and mixers, all marked falsely with the above-mentioned trademarks. The money involved was over 3.5 million RMB, and the principal suspects were detained on the spot. It has been established that the gang, operating under the name "New Dynamics Audio Equipment Factory," used the internet as a platform to sell huge quantities of fake audio equipment under famous brand names. By the time the case was cracked, sales had already reached 1.8 million RMB. On December 5 2010, after authorization

by Enping City People's Procuratorate, Enping City Public Security Bureau arrested four of the suspects.

This operation effectively curbed market circulation of fake low quality goods, retrieved huge economic losses, and successfully upheld the legal rights of the brand names involved.

"The active fight against brand and product piracy is extremely important to us in order to enable us to protect the brand and our customers and avoid the sale/purchase of counterfeit equipment," said Volker Bartels, Sennheiser's President of Corporate Services. "The purchase of counterfeits can be avoided by buying through our network of authorised Sennheiser retailers. This means we can ensure that our customers purchase genuine Sennheiser products and that the quality of the product is guaranteed," he said, adding, "with this intensive crackdown in Enping, we have succeeded in a very important mission designed to protect our intellectual property and consequently, the company too."

"Counterfeit products damage our entire industry," said Al Hershner, VicePresident of Shure's US and Asia Business Units.

Kinesys is Very Good in Poland

A Kinesys automation system with K2 control has been supplied to the Very Good Company (VGC) based in Warsaw, Poland - the first Kinesys system to be available in the country.

VGC is one of Poland's leading rental and staging companies, and is always keen to be at the forefront of new technologies. They decided to explore Kinesys after initially seeing a system in action during the Depeche Mode "Tour of the Universe" world tour and were hugely impressed.

Sales Director, Grzegorz Niemczyk and chief production manager, Piotr Lukasik were accompanied by lighting designer, Artur Szyman on their visit to Kinesys in the UK to further investigate the motion control system and fully discuss all available options.

Following this visit, they decided to purchase a system and chose the powerful K2 software control solution over the more basic Vector control, with future system expansion in mind.

The powerful K2 3D software was also chosen due to the additional scope it provides for more complex automation requirements they plan to develop as their familiarity with the technology grows.

In addition to K2, the initial order was comprised of eight Kinesys converted Liftket 20m/min 500kg chain hoists plus eight Elevation 1+ variable speed motor controllers, an Array PD-ES to distribute power, emergency stop and data communications as well as other associated accessories.

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companies' "10 Plus" investment programme. This was staged at the Polska Filharmonia Baltucka in Gdansk, attended by a glittering array of business people, dignitaries and VIPs including prime minister Donald Tusk. Singer Basia Trzetrzelewska headlined the post conference presentation entertainment.

Kinesys' business development manager Mark de Gruyter and technical support manager Andy Hicks went out ahead of the show to undertake a comprehensive on-site training programme to ensure that the VGC technicians were familiar with the system and its capabilities. With the proximity of the first gig being so close to completion of the sale, and its profile being so high, the training was as rigorous as it was crucial.

Prior to de Gruyter and Hicks arriving in Gdansk, the VGC crew - which included K2 operator and technical support engineer, Jarek Gluch - studied the manuals in great detail and thoroughly delved into demo versions of the K2 software and example shows available on the Kinesys website, all of which proved very useful. Classroom training was organised at a local hotel conference suite adjacent to the Polska Filharmonia Baltucka venue, while the hands-on in situ application of what they had to learn very rapidly was completed in the venue in the days leading up to the show. Hicks comments that "they were some of the fastest learners I've ever had the pleasure of training!"

De Gruyter and Hicks remained in Gdansk for the gig, but all the kit was controlled by its newly trained operator, Jarek Gluch. The whole exercise "Proved a great testament to both the user-friendliness of the system and the competence, professional dedication and technical aptitude of VGC staff" says de Gruyter.

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Ryan Center Sports Smart QSC Sound The Ryan Center, a $54 million, 7,500 seat multi-purpose arena on the grounds of the University of Rhode Island, is home to a variety of events including family entertainment, concerts, sports competitions, conventions and a host of other community affairs. Recently, Ryan graduated to a much more intelligent sound system with the help of QSC Audio.

Growing concerns with the intelligibility and the overall aesthetics of the venue's P.A. system led the Center to hire respected A/V system consultant, North American Theatrix, to analyze the state of the system. In reviewing the existing installation, NAT determined that a physical rearrangement of the existing clusters would cost approximately 1/3 of an allnew cluster, not including additional necessary components. However, the manufacturer of that system was not actively supporting this equipment, so replacements would have to be ordered as custom-built product. Not finding this to be an acceptable solution, NAT recommended an all-new system upgrade.

The design and integration of the new QSC system was handled by the NAT team of Gary Peck, Jeff Mele and Keith Book. "The inherent challenge of the venue was that the intelligibility was very poor," says Mele.

The NAT team recommended the complete system upgrade, integrating QSC Wideline-8 Line Arrays, ADS52T speakers for the concourse zones and a QSC Q-SYS system for redundancy and overall system control. Existing QSC CX Series amplifiers were also integrated into the new system.

The team chose the new system specifically for its wide projection, processing, horsepower, and especially QSC's reliability factor. "QSC is one of the most reliable manufacturers we work with," says Mele. "They always do their homework to fill the void by asking questions of the proper sources."

"There were around 50 very large boxes hanging 60 feet over the gym floor which hung from wire rope and threaded rod, some of which stretched 80 feet to the roof ceiling. We used a 120' Genie lift to reach these heights and chain motors to drop them. Once the existing boxes were removed, the transition was easy and the new system was completed in about four days." adds Peck. "The result of this change was both improved audio as well as better aesthetics and sightlines."

In the new system, redundant Q-Sys Cores distribute audio throughout the venue. NAT also utilized Q-Sys as the control engine for the entire Ryan Center. Custom panels, created in the Q-Sys environment, are served by the Cores to PCs or any other networked appliances (iPads, for example), which can also be used for monitoring or making system adjustments.

"We wanted to replace the digital signal processing with a more suitable configuration for the line array program with 100% redundancy for the primary arena speakers, while still satisfying the requirements for secondary evacuation annunciation," says Book. "This new system has the horsepower to control all the ancillary systems throughout the building." With the installation complete, the Ryan Center staff was extremely pleased and the completed system surpassed their expectations.

"The Ryan Center now has a number of options for expansion as we are only now using about one-third of the DSP I/ O potential," says Mele. "And the center now has more flexibility in control versus the switches, knobs, and dials installed previously in 2002. Looking ahead, the Ryan Center has the capacity to grow with this system without having to add more processing later."

QSC Boosts Finnish Multi-Room Lively

A live music venue, situated in the top north-east corner of Europe, aims to become the premier destination in eastern Finland - thanks to a new technical fit-out that draws heavily on QSC components. Karjalatalo (Karelia House), a large cultural centre in the city of Joensuu, overlooking the river, combines the Kerubin Keittiö (Kerubi Kitchen) restaurant with two live music floors.

QSC components are in evidence the moment diners enter the ground floor restaurant, where 12 stylish AcousticDesign AD-S52's are powered by a pair of RMX 1450 amplifiers; the background music provides a backdrop not only for the restaurant area but also the terrace overlooking the river. Move towards the stage and the sound becomes more strident as DJ's, stand-up comedians and acoustic musicians perform through a pair of QSC K10 active loudspeakers and a KSub subwoofer.

Beneath the restaurant is the 225capacity Cellar music bar while upstairs in the main Kerubi-Sali (which holds 400 standing) the emphasis changes to rock. Here the PA system is powered by a pair of QSC PL325 and four PL380 amplifiers - all under the management of a QSC BASIS 922az. On stage, drum fills are provided in the form of other members of the QSC "House of K" … a KW153 3-way 15" active loudspeaker and KW181 18" active sub.

Meanwhile, two additional QSC BASIS units distribute the sound from the

main stage or Cellar to the bar / restaurant so that clients can listen to the same audio when a concert is taking place (the large venue is open mostly during weekends while the smaller gigs are held in the Cellar during the week).

The sound and lighting installation was carried out by Guru Entertainment & Security, with the QSC components provided by EM Nordic Finland, the company's territorial distributors.

According to EM Nordic's Tuomas Lyly, the entire operation is dedicated to music. "There are rehearsal rooms for classical music training and the main venue is used by the local music technology students in order to learn live mixing," he says. Although the Karjalantalo is owned by the Karelian Association it is their tenants, Töminä OY, who are masterminding the promotions.

In fact they also run a summer festival called Ilosaari-rock where recognised international acts such as Kate Nash and The Exploited will appear this year alongside various Finnish bands.

"Töminä OY is technically very critical so there were several shoot-outs involving different installation companies which delayed the installation a bit," said Tuomas, who recommended the QSC solution. "But it has proven well worthwhile. "The customer is really happy with the sound. Finnish musicians and technicians have heaped praise on the system, which in turn has enabled promoters to bring in higherlevel bands."

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PIFA Reverbs with EAW Inspired by Paris one century ago, the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) 2011, the month-long cultural extravaganza held from April 7-May 1, brought together the worlds of dance, music, visual arts, theater, film and literature. The first-time arts extravaganza organized on stages, museums and public spaces consisted of 31 commissions, 135 events and more than 140 arts partners. 'Styling a Second Empire: A Light and Sound Experience,' located adjacent to Philadelphia's historic City Hall, is an outdoor visual experience that included a soundtrack delivered by an EAW line array speaker system. Saben Shawhan, senior A/V systems consultant with Philadelphia consulting firm Metropolitan Acoustics, LLC, designed the audio system, and Starlite Productions of Moorestown, New Jersey, provided technical and logistical support.

The EAW system consisted of two stacks, each comprising four EAW KF740 three-way line array modules plus two EAW SB1002 dual 18-inch subwoofers. EAW FB174 flybar/ground stack frames support each cluster. Six Lab.gruppen FP 14000 amplifiers power the two speaker stacks, which are managed by two EAW UX8800 four-channel digital signal processors.

A Lab.gruppen NLB 60E NomadLink bridge and network controller, along with a Crestron CP2e and TPS-6x touch panel, handle automated power sequencing and scheduling of the

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three nightly show times. An EAW DX1208 DSP Matrix Mixer routes signals within the system.

"They're lighting up the first five blocks down South Broad Street from City Hall," explained Shawhan, who was engaged by architectural lighting designer Alfred Borden, Principal at The Lighting Practice. "They contacted us to help with the sound design and also to help with synchronizing the audio with the lighting, which we're doing with time code and a flashbased audio player."

Students at University of Arts in Philadelphia, which is just down the street from City Hall, have generated the audio and lighting content for displays that are positioned on various

buildings along south Broad Street.

"It's a one-hour block that runs three times nightly from sundown to about midnight each night for the six-week period," says Shawhan. The stereo soundtrack of original music is being played from a Tascam HS-8 flash-based eight-track player that is also producing time code. The time code is then fed into a Strand Light Palette VL console, to provide synchronization between the audio and visual systems.

The Crestron system provides basic on/ off control, level and routing control for the show. It also automates the three nightly show times so that it can run daily without an operator.

Shawhan utilized the EAW Resolution speaker prediction software program when designing the system. "The coverage is really good from about 300 feet back from City Hall out to about 1000 feet, then airborne absorption takes over," he reveals. "At the 300-foot mark in the middle of South Broad St. we're at about 86 dBA. Back at 1,200 feet it's at 80 dBA and that's with the speaker clusters 127 feet off the ground and only four boxes a side."

For PIFA 2011, the City of Brotherly Love has taken its inspiration from the City of Light in 1911, when Paris was a hotbed of creativity in music, literature and the visual arts. Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, hopes to ignite a creative and cultural revolution through the spirit of collaboration, innovation and creativity in the PIFA program, which represents every arts discipline.

Christie's New Range at InfoComm China Christie, a global leader in visual display solutions for business, entertainment and industry, demonstrated a diverse range of innovative visual solutions at the recently held InfoComm China in Beijing.

To commemorate its 10th year in China, Christie will launch the all-new Christie L2K1000 and Christie L2K1500

projectors - the second market in the world to be offered these two projectors. In addition, in one of Christie's largest presentations at InfoComm China, the Christie DWU670-E and Christie Mirage WU7-M projectors made their first appearance in China.

China.

Christie also previewed the DWU670-E 1-chip DLP projector. Making its first appearance in China, the Christie DWU670-E provides superior performance, brightness and image definition. "The Christie DWU670-E is a high performance projector made with no compromises," Xiao explained.

Another product that made maiden entrance into China is the Christie Mirage WU7K-M. Featuring full WUXGA resolution display and dual lamps for unrivalled homogeneity, the Christie Mirage WU7K-M is one of Christie's most advanced 3D projectors to date, delivering uniform brightness of over 6,000 ANSI lumens, superb images and vivid colors. The Christie Mirage WU7K-M uses a 3-chip DLP processor to guarantee high brightness levels and color accuracy

"These two LCD projectors will boost our business product line-up. In terms of performance, they have one of the highest brightness levels in the category of LCD projectors and will definitely be ideal for customers that demand full HD capability," explained Frank Xiao, general manager, Christie

Christie Nitro Solutions, a modular series of motorized moving yokes that can provide up to 20,000 ANSI lumens of video projection on any surface, will be another crowd-pleasing attraction at the Christie booth.

"Christie Nitro Solutions can be installed at floor level or on a truss and are ideal for building projection, architectural lighting and cityscapes, or live events," Xiao continued.

In addition, Christie also showcased its award-winning Entero LED video wall display solution - the first LED ultra high-resolution display system - and the Christie TVC 500 Series controller for control room applications.

MINI Wireless Microphone System from AKG and positioned to meet the requirements of government, military, energy, life sciences and research sectors where performance, reliability, and low maintenance cost are crucial.

Meeting the market need for groundbreaking LCD technology, Christie introduced the Christie L2K1000 and Christie L2K1500 projectors. Providing 10,000 and 15,000 ANSI lumens respectively, both projectors deliver HD+ (2048 x 1080) resolution with brilliant colors.

InfoComm's Best Video Projector/High Lumen category award from US-based New Bay Media's Rental and Staging Systems magazine, the Christie Roadie HD+35K is unmatched in terms of resolution, brightness, color definition and performance.

Another powerhouse in Christie's family of 3-chip DLP projectors is the Christie Roadie HD+35K, the world's brightest projector capable of producing over 32,500 ANSI lumens of brightness. Having earned the

AKG debuted its WMS 40 MINI at Pro Light and Sound 2011. With vocal and instrumental systems sharing the same brilliant sound and ease of use qualities, WMS 40 MINI provides High Definition Audio Performance (HDAP) technology to ensure the best possible transmission and sound for users.

Providing the smallest and lightest pocket transmitter in its class, WMS 40 MINI can also be used with AKG miniature microphones, utilizing its robust mini XLR connector. The rugged,

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handheld HT40 MINI transmitter offers a reliable dynamic microphone capsule with cardioid polar pattern protected by an all metal microphone head shell and pop filter.

All transmitters in the WMS 40 MINI operate for 30 hours off a single AA battery; ensuring performers are constantly transmitting with little worry of running out of power during a performance. The output gain from the ¼" / 6.3mm jack output is variable through the volume gain control and the switched mode power supply is powered via 110-240V. Also included in the set are United Kingdom, European Union and United States power adapters.

Other benefits include: •

•

Extended dynamic range--the first reference monitor to provide the extended dynamic range that the latest digital cinema cameras capture

•

DCI/P3 (digital cinema) color gamut support--allows the ability to perform color critical grading without the use of a digital cinema projector

•

Precise color accuracy--across all luminance levels

•

Versatility--emulates any other display device so all content preparation and quality evaluation can be done on one monitor

•

Size and aspect ratio--emulates the home viewing environment to ensure that content displays properly in the home

Reference Monitor from Dolby

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. introduced the long-awaited Dolby PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor for the European markets at Broadcast Video Expo 2011, expanding the aggressive diversification it is bringing to place, of late.

The Dolby PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor is a feature-rich system for post-production facilities of broadcast industry. The backlight consists of 1,500 RGB LED triads, with the light element from each R, G, and B element independently controlled, frame by frame, to create a full-color backlight image displayed on the LCD panel in real time. Combined, the LED backlight and the LCD screen produce a final image with true blacks, exceptional dark detail, high dynamic range, and the widest, most accurate color gamut available in a flat-panel monitor. The monitor has been tested extensively by leading colorists, cinematographers, and other industry luminaries who have been enthusiastic about its features and performance.

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True black levels--the only commercially available LCD monitor capable of displaying true black levels and rendering dark detail to produce the exact image that was shot

The Dolby PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor was first released in the US in October 2010 and is being made available for the European markets.

Harman Launches New Headset In an introduction that couples the company's studio-proven audio performance with a rugged, comfortable and easy-to-use design, Harman's AKG launches the C 544 L head-worn microphone. The new microphone is ergonomically optimized with a behind-the-neck headband to provide maximum comfort and comes with an external shock mount for high mechanical-

noise reduction and a flexible frequency response to ensure optimum audio and intelligibility even in the most noisy of environments.

The C 544 L head-worn microphone is designed for sporting applications like aerobics instruction and gymnastics trainers etc., amplified presentations or on stage vocal performance. The cheek pad allows it to stay in place even if the users head is turned abruptly, and the capsule shock mount reduces handling noise to a minimum.

There is a new moisture shield that prevents perspiration from penetrating into the transducer as well as other additional design features that provide optimum protection from moisture and sweat. C 544 L comes with an optimized frequency response for speech and vocals, features that ensure the headset carries on AKG's proven heritage of superior audio performance.

"The new C 544 L head-worn microphone from Harman's AKG provides the user with a fully functional system that is consistently reliable, even under the various stresses associated with high-energy performance," commented Thomas Umbauer, product marketing manager PPA, AKG. "It's the perfect solution for anyone who is going to be in constant motion and in need of a flexible design and intelligible audio. It's extremely affordable, as well."

Other features on the microphone include a mini XLR connector that allow the microphone to work with AKG's efficient B 29 L battery operated power supply and a MPA III L external phantom power adapter. There is also a variant that conforms with AKG's WMS bodypack transmitters, which employ AKG's smart-battery power and re-chargeable technology for the most efficient use of energy available.

Harman India Showcases Big at BES Harman India showcased a range of technologically advanced, hi- quality professional audio products at this year's BES Expo, held from 24-26 February, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The range included Studer and Soundcraft by Harman, Digital wired and wireless microphones from AKG, and Studio Monitor systems by JBL- LSR series- all industry leading, benchmarked brands that seamlessly integrated through Lexicon by Harman digital processors.

"As Harman India, we are proud to be part of this annual event that brings together the best of professional audio technology. With the revival of the broadcast and entertainment industry in India, we are confident that the Harman range of equipments and systems for TV / radio broadcast, recording and production studios will be best suited for the varied audio requirements of the users in the professional audio industry," said Lakshminarayan, Managing Director, Harman International India Pvt. Ltd. The highlight of Harman's participation was an array of sound solutions for a gamut of broadcast, recording and studio applications.

Among the range of hi-end mixing consoles, Studer On Air 2500 and On Air 3000, Soundcraft Vi series (Vi) are popular mixing consoles used in the Broadcast application. Radio and television stations and networks around the world choose Studer digital audio consoles for their exquisite Swiss craftsmanship, legendary sound quality and breakthrough operator-interface designs. Every Studer console is configured and built to each broadcast facility's specific requirements. Visitors at the Harman booth also witnessed a live demo and training for these consoles.

The digital mixing console range of Harman - Soundcraft and Studer are best suited for broadcasting and recording applications and are distributed in India

by AVF Distributors (I) Pvt Ltd.

Distributors (I) Pvt. Ltd. "These consoles, with more than 2000 audio channels are operational in 100+ studios in India," he added.

"Industry pioneers and experts have always been on the lookout for such revolutionary products," said Rajan Gupta, Director, Hi-Tech Audio Systems(I) Pvt. Ltd. "Now, they are all easily available in India."

The microphones comprised Condenser and Dynamic series (C414 -XLS, C4000, C5, D7, D230), Perception series, Wireless series( DMS 700, IVM4) and headphones headsets (K Series, HSC 271).

JBL by Harman range of studio monitor speakers - LSR (Linear Spatial Reference) series of Studio Monitor loudspeakers are engineered for use in the most demanding production and studio environments. The LSR6300, LSR4300 and the new LSR2300 series go 'beyond accurate' to 'stunning' by incorporating features that reduce the effect of problems in the room. The features in this range provide ultra-flat response and exceptional dynamic range.

Harman India also showcased Digital Effects Processors by Lexicon (PCM & ONIX series) and amplifiers by Crown (D-45 & 135 MA) at the show.

Soundcraft Vi1 Wows Mount Baker Theatre Upgrading its audio infrastructure to deliver a more immersive experience to its partners, the not-for-profit Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, Washington, recently installed a Harman Soundcraft Vi1 digital console after a successful hands-on demonstration and in-concert run through. After viewing the console at the LDI Conference in Las

Vegas, Technical Director John Bauer immediately ordered a demo console and was surprised to see it waiting for him in his office when he returned.

The Mount Baker Theatre provides its guests with a variety of Broadway and off Broadway shows, local productions of Broadway shows, symphonies, local musical acts and dance recitals. As a nonprofit organization, the theatre works to enrich the culture and reinforce a sense of community within the region.

"The Vi1 is a console you can jump right on, whether you are a seasoned pro or a new user, which is why we were able to transition to the digital board so quickly," stated Bauer. "There were distinct improvements in the Vi1's sound, so we are very happy with our console choice."

Ensuring the building committee and crew members were ready to invest in the Vi1, Bauer brought them all in for a hands-on demonstration. The deciding factor, according to Bauer, was the easyto-use interface of the Vi1.

"The transition to digital with the Vi1 was clean, clear and easy," continued Bauer.

"Tom Der [of Soundcraft] let us hold onto the demo board until ours was delivered, which allowed us to jumpstart our projects without wasting time. When our board came in, we took out our memory sticks from the demo and plugged them right into our new board."

As a test before the final board was shipped to the theatre, Bauer assigned his head engineer to a gig, without prior warning that it was a 12-piece band. With the Vi1, the engineer had the console labeled and channeled in five minutes - passing Bauer's test.

"Several of the bands we've had in house have already expressed their excitement for the Vi1 and we expect to attract more parties into the theatre with our technological upgrade," he said.

"In the last few years, Soundcraft and Studer by Harman have been a de facto standard for On Air Applications," said Rajendra Shah, Director, AVF

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Setron Brings Lynx's Hilo to India Setron India is bringing to Indian market place the new Hilo Reference A/D D/A Converter System through its international technology partner Lynx.

The Hilo Converter System provides two channels of mastering quality analog to digital conversion; up to eight channels of digital to analog conversion; a secondary monitor output, and a world-class independent headphone amplifier in a compact half-rack size. A first for the pro converter market, Hilo's innovative 480x272 touchscreen provides a flexible and intuitive interface that can adapt to a particular application and be easily upgraded with enhancements and new features. Initial front panel controls support extensive signal routing and mixing, sample rate selection, clock source options, levels, metering and diagnostic features.

"Hilo completely redefines and evolves the category of the two channel converter," states Bob Bauman, Lynx cofounder and Chief Hardware Engineer. "Of utmost importance is the audio signal quality. The completely new design of the analog stages and converter topology for Hilo breaks new ground in terms of lowering distortion and noise while maintaining transparency for A/D and D/A conversion," he explains. According to him, Hilo offers extensive I/O capabilities and utilizes the latest FPGA technology with vast resources for control, routing, and signal processing capabilities.

In the Hilo Converter System, digital or analog inputs can be routed to three separate outputs, Line Output (with 8 trim settings), Monitor Output, and Headphone Output. The Monitor and Headphone Outputs have volume controls, accessible via faders on the touchscreen or the single knob on the front (offering control in ½ dB increments). Another innovation, the Headphone section has its own dedicated D/A converter. This supports the creation of 32-channel headphone mixes independent of the main and monitor outputs, as well as providing specifications that rival those of

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dedicated headphone amps costing $1500 and more.

The digital section offers a wide range of inputs. AES/EBU inputs and outputs have transformer isolated balanced XLR connectors. SPDIF input and output are available via transformercoupled coax or optical (TOSLINK) connections. The Optical ports can also be used for up to eight ADAT channels. The ADAT input and output channels are completely independent from the AES/EBU or S/PDIF coax channels. The Lynx LT-USB L Slot accessory is also included, for computer connectivity. Lynx's low jitter Synchro-Lock word clock is also included, with Word Clock in and out connections available. In total, Hilo has 12 total inputs, 16 total outputs plus 32 channels possible via its LSlot port. The unit's FPGA powers its internal 32 channel mixer.

Hilo offers the most versatile I/O and routing in the two channel converter genre. This is just the beginning of the innovation.

"In contrast to the concentrated and intricate back panel, Hilo's front panel is elegant in its simplicity. It has a power switch, headphone jack, multipurpose control and an LCD touchscreen," explains David A. Hoatson, Lynx cofounder and Chief Software Engineer. "This highresolution screen does a lot more than replace the buttons on the front panel of most other converters. Of course it handles the basic settings and routing functions, clocking and level settings," he says, adding, "the main control screen has ten tabs for all of these plus five stereo meter sets, and faders for the monitor and headphone outputs.

Beyond this first screen is where you see more of the innovation and versatility that Hilo offers."

A second meter screen shows just two larger bar-graph style stereo VU meters. Any input or output set can be assigned to each meter. In addition to bar-graph meters common on most converters, Hilo's touchscreen is able to show more traditional metering types, such as old style VU meters.

Crestron's In-Ceiling Wireless Systems Crestron announced the availability of the CLCI series of in-ceiling lighting dimmers and switches for 230V international installations. CLCI dimmers and switches enable complete wireless control of virtually any installed lighting fixture as part of a complete Crestron lighting control system. Without running control wire throughout the home or building, the CLCI series of components lets you easily convert any fixture into a wireless controlled light. With quick and simple inceiling mounting, either on or near a fixture, the CLCI device enables long range wireless control of all lighting from any Crestron keypad, touch screen, handheld remote or mobile device.

"In addition to providing tons of flexibility for international lighting specifiers, system designers and installers, the CLCI series offers a simple solution for providing the comfort and energy savings benefits of Crestron lighting control without pulling lots of wiring," explains Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing. "Adjusting lighting levels throughout a facility or setting the perfect ambiance in the home has never been easier."

The CLCI-1DIMFLV2EX-W In-Ceiling Dimmer enables wireless dimming control of two 0-10V fluorescent lighting fixtures, independently adjustable from any Crestron user interface. The CLCI-DIMUEX-W InCeiling Dimmer enables wireless single-channel dimming and also supports incandescent, tungstenhalogen, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, and dimmable CFL loads, with a maximum 300 W/VA combined load per unit.

Offering an abundance of versatility in design and installation, the CLCI1SW2EX-W In-Ceiling Switch provides wireless on/off control of popular fixtures including incandescent, tungsten-halogen, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, and dimmable CFL loads. In

addition, a single unit enables independent control of two lighting fixtures from any Crestron controller, with each channel supporting a load of up to 500 VA. Seamless integration with new Crestron 3-Series MC3 control systems couldn't be easier or more practical. With MC3's built-in wireless gateway, directly connect CLCI dimmers and switches to any Crestron keypad or touch screen, no separate gateways required.

Similarly, CLCI series dimmers and switches also connect effortlessly with Prodigy systems, Crestron's affordable line of home technology solutions. The Crestron Universal Keypad Interface enables connection to any standard thirdparty keypad, offering even greater system design flexibility. Also, terminals on CLCI provide direct wiring to a standard toggle switch for local on/off and dimming control if desired.

Crestron Releases RoomView Express 6.3 Crestron announced the release of RoomView Express 6.3 Remote Help Desk and Resource Management software. The newest version of the popular RoomView Express platform enables AV/IT managers and administrators to instantly broadcast image-based emergency messages and text-based alerts to displays across campus. Featuring a combination of customizable messaging, storage and distribution capabilities, RoomView Express 6.3 enhances and simplifies emergency preparedness in schools, across college campuses and any other commercial application where emergency planning is critical.

To ensure optimal levels of preparedness, messages with specific images - exit route maps for instance can be created and pre-loaded in advance, ready to be broadcast on the fly so officials don't have to make campus-wide announcements in the heat of chaos. Messages and instructions will automatically "over take" the entire screen so broadcasts are seen by everyone and informing occupants where to go in chaotic or panic situations. Customized messages and images can be projected to displays in any room, a group of rooms, entire wings, or a whole building, and emergency procedures can be reviewed, evaluated and perfected before a critical situation arises.

"This flexible broadcast messaging capability lets school officials manage emergency situations in the most efficient and timely manner possible, while increasing the safety of all citizens on campus," said Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing.

RoomView Express is built into your favorite RoomView Connected projectors from popular manufacturers including Epson, Dell, Mitsubishi, BenQ, Optoma, Acer and Viewsonic.

And installation couldn't be easier.

Simply connect to the LAN via the projector's integrated Ethernet port, download the free RoomView Express management software and directly monitor, manage & control all projectors on the network, without a control system or any programming.

Designed to provide more effective technical support and emergency broadcast messaging across a school, district or college campus, RoomView Express gives professional AV and IT managers the ability to remotely monitor, manage and control AV resources in every room in real time, all from a centralized location.

RoomView Express 6.3 now supports 21 foreign languages, providing help desk managers across the globe with an intuitive single-platform solution to remotely monitor, manage and control campus-wide AV resources from any Crestron touch screen or computer running Windows.

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Crestron Upgrades its Cameo Keypads Crestron announced that it has upgraded the popular Cameo family of keypads. The stylish new models offer a slew of versatile options including easyto-install wired and infiNET EX™ wireless connectivity, new button configurations, an array of color choices and a new Cameo Express line of affordable keypads. Combining contemporary styling with highly customizable system design options, Cameo keypads provide greater flexibility for controlling lighting and audio distribution in residential and commercial environments, while satisfying the most demanding interior designers.

"The new Cameo keypads provide virtually unlimited design options for homeowners and developers, and also system designers, lighting specifiers and interior designers," said Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing. "Wired or wireless, contemporary or traditional, available in multiple colors with nearly any combination of button layouts, Cameo keypads offer a solution for every budget."

A clever split-button design provides an option for two additional buttons per keypad, enabling custom control configurations of up to eight buttons.

The two added "split buttons" are ideal for controlling up/down audio volume or up/down light dimming, which frees up an additional button space for another desired control preset and allowing more lighting scenes or audio sources on a single keypad. Autodimmable backlit text and enhanced LED feedback provide real-time status indication of each button function while enabling occupants to easily read buttons in both dark and fully lit rooms.

Cameo Flush Mount keypads offer the same high performance control and engaging user experience in a lowprofile, minimalist design that remains discreet in any setting. Occupying just one-third the space of a wall mount keypad, Cameo Flush Mount keypads install easily and cleanly in a drywall cutout without requiring a gang box.

Built-in Versiport control ports enable local connection for a range of devices

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including Crestron GLS Occupancy Sensors and Photocells, contact closure devices, and other devices for monitoring room occupancy, ambient light levels, door closures, and other conditions, as part of a complete Crestron Integrated Home or Integrated Building Technology solution.

Cameo Express keypads offer legendary Cameo performance in a budgetfriendly design and provide an ideal complimentary control solution in tandem with Cameo Express dimmers.

Available in a standard mount footprint, seamless integration with a Crestron infiNET EX wireless network provides an affordable, reliable solution for retrofits and new construction.

Crestron's MC3 3-Series Control System

Crestron announced the immediate availability of its new generation MC3, the first 3-Series control system powered by Core 3 OS. Developed and engineered like an IT platform, rather than an AV system, the 3-Series platform is a cloud-based architecture designed to provide a foundation for powerful integrated building technology and advanced home control.

The MC3 combines the agility and speed of a computer operating system with the reliability of a network appliance, enabling real-time multitasking to seamlessly run up to 10 independent programs simultaneously, all communicating with each other on the same platform. A fully-integrated 3-Series platform unleashes more processing power, faster speeds, more memory, enhanced security and

powerful multitasking capabilities that simplify the design and implementation of integrated building management and home technology.

"The MC3 represents the future of our industry. It's the first control system built like an IT platform, designed for intelligent home and building management," explains Crestron Executive Vice President, Randy Klein.

"The MC3 is just the first in what will be a full line of 3-Series control systems powered by our Core 3 OS." When performing upgrades to any single part of the control system, it is no longer required to take down and update the entire system. Because each module is partitioned, a restart or upload of one program does not affect the others, resulting in less programming and no downtime.

Upgrades can now be performed on any individual subsystem - AV, lighting, climate control, and security systems for example - while allowing the other programs to run seamlessly in the background, the same way IT performs upgrades. Until now, to make a change to one subsystem, the whole system had to be shut down.

This exclusive IT-based architecture enables integrators to perform system maintenance and expansion in ways never before possible, increasing runtime efficiency and stability. For corporate campuses and universities with dozens, hundreds or thousands of rooms, and organizations with facilities in cities around the world and in different time zones, maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrades and debugging can be executed quickly, securely and seamlessly.

"As an industry, we have to start thinking about AV as infrastructure, rather than as a standalone entity," said Crestron VP of Technology, Fred Bargetzi, "The decision makers are no longer the traditional AV manger, they're IT managers, facilities managers, architects, real estate developers, and builders. They want all their systems - lighting, HVAC, AV, building management, and others on a single platform, but until now, no one has been able to offer a solution."

DiGiCo's New Dante Interface DiGiCo announced the adoption of Audinate's Dante digital networking solution and the launch of two new Dante implemented products at this year's Prolight+Sound.

"The first, an eight channel I/O module for the SD-Rack, is something we believe the industry would expect from DiGiCo," explains managing director James Gordon. "The module allows our users to drop audio on and off a Dante network for connection to system control, amplifiers and general audio networks.

"The second is a little more unexpected and comes from our Solutions Division in the shape of Dante DMI (DiGiCo Multichannel Interface) card."

The Dante DMI card can be added to either a D-Rack or SD-Rack and allows the user to connect the I/O rack, via CAT5, to a standard PC or MAC. Audinate is leading the way networks are connected by transporting highquality media over standard IT networks. Its Dante products deliver a no-hassle, self-configuring, true plugand-play digital audio network that uses standard Internet Protocols. Dante offers a market leading solution today, while de-risking the future by providing a migration path to upgrade to new standards such as the IEEE Audio Video Bridging ("AVB").

Using the newly released DiGiCoControl software, the user can control all the functions of the rack via a standard network connection. This control includes the high quality pre amp gains, 48v and access to most DAWs for recording via the Dante network you have. All of this is enabled via one CAT5 cable, with the ability to have a second connection offering redundancy of your recording.

"DiGiCo has been at the forefront of many innovations over the years and we are proud they have chose Dante as their Digtial Networking Solution", says John McMahon, Audinate's VP of Sales and Support. "The new eight channel I/ O module for the SD-Rack, and the DiGiCo Multichannel Interface card, are

exciting new products that enhance end users capability to use Dante in more ways."

Applications that can take advantage of this functionality and straight forward recording include broadcast, live touring, studio recording, rehearsal rooms and multiple fixed installation environments.

"This is a big move for DiGiCo," says Gordon. "We feel that it is a clear statement that we are not only a console manufacturer, but a digital solutions company."

DiGiCo Launches SD Ten at PL+S 2011 Stands 8.0 F60 and G56 at Frankfurt's ProLight+Sound saw the unveiling of new additions to DiGiCo's acclaimed SD Series. One is the SD Ten with which, once again, DiGiCo has pushed the boundaries of digital mixing, producing a console that boasts features and benefits that instantly distinguish it from the others in the SD Series and every other digital console on the market.

Sitting comfortably between the SD7 and SD8, both in terms of performance and price, the SD Ten comes with all the refinements you would expect on any DiGiCo console, but with some exciting new options.

The new console's worksurface is constructed from anodised aluminium, overlaid with polycarbonate panels to provide clear and concise user feedback. A large 15 inch, touch sensitive screen provides both information and fast control of all the main parameters.

access to the console's large number of channels, which include 96 with full processing, 12 of which can be configured as full Flexi Channels - and outputs that can be assigned across the surface. All inputs have dual mono inputs for fast 'Main' and 'Alt' channel switching.

Smart Key Macros are provided, accessed via four layers of ten backlit keys. The user can program these to control any functions, simple or complex, that they want to recall at the push of a button.

Local I/O, positioned on the rear of the console, comprises eight mic inputs, eight line outputs, eight mono AES I/ O, two MADI connections with redundant cabling connections, 16 GPI and GPO connections (with the option to expand to 32 GPI and GPO), MIDI, plus Wordclock, MADI and Optocore for synchronisation.

As you would expect from DiGiCo, the SD Ten features extremely powerful processing. Standard input channel processing includes channel delay; single and multi channel presets; HPF and LPF with an industry leading 24db per octave; four bands of parametric EQ with band curve selection; compressor and date; dual insert points and access to all bussing.

Standard output channel processing includes output delay; eight bands of parametric EQ (previously only seen on the SD7); compressor and gate; dual insert points; groups with buss to buss routing, plus Auxes that have direct talk to output with dim control.

Dynamic EQ provides both expansion and compression on all four bands of parametric EQ. These powerful processors can be assigned to any of the input or output channels, whether stereo or LCR, with ten units being allocated as required. In addition, any input or output channel can be mastered via the multi-band

The control surface features 37 100mm touch sensitive faders, providing fast

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of the outputs assigned to the monitor console and 16 used by Front of House for feeds back to the stage.

compressors - perfect for managing complex in ear monitoring or difficult input channels - again, ten units can be allocated.

48 assignable busses can be configured as mono or stereo groups, or auxiliary busses. There is also an additional stereo or LCR Master buss and 16x12 output matrix, highlighting the SD range's renowned routing flexibility.

Meanwhile, dual solo busses give monitor engineers the comfort of accurate monitoring security.

Insertable FX and graphic EQs can be routed, controlled and snapshot recalled for the most complex show design. The 24 graphics can easily be inserted and controlled from the worksurface and 10 Stealth stereo FX units can be configured at any time from the palette of thirty-three Stealth FX. Integration with Waves plugins offers yet more processing options.

Unlike all other Sound Grid platforms, DiGiCo provide complete control of plug in parameters, as well as recall of snapshots and single loading / saving, directly from the worksurface. 16 stereo Sound Grid racks can be inserted, with up to eight plug ins in each rack.

As with all DiGiCo consoles, the SD Ten software runs on a standard PC or Intel-based Macintosh for offline preparation and remote control of the console. One SD Ten can also be linked to another, using a standard CAT5 crossover cable, providing 74 faders for control. In this configuration, the audio engine of the first SD Ten provides complete redundancy for the other.

The SD Ten also comes with more expansion options:

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Second-generation Optocore optic connections. Just like the SD7, an SD Ten can connect to up to 14 SD or D-Rack IDs with 448 audio channels on a single redundant optical loop.

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Five redundant consoles can share all inputs from the stage racks, and outputs on the system can be assigned in blocks of eight. For example, a single rack can provide 56 inputs to both consoles with 40

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One console can even directly route outputs to another console on the loop, for convenient tie lines.

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D-Rack, SD-Rack, SD7 and SD Ten can operate together at 96khz. The audio advantage here is clear, but also means just over 1ms of latency when routing a stage input through a channel and buss, with processing back to a stage output.

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Sound Grid Waves can be added, allowing full connection and control of a Waves Sound Grid, providing low latency plugins on a floating point digital console.

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Connectivity to the outside world isn't restricted to just the D-Rack and SD-Rack. The SD Ten comes with different I/O options because tailored DiGiCo systems and complex set ups are completely user configurable.

Finally, the SD Ten also features dual hot swap, switch mode, PSUs as standard.

DiGiCo'S Remote Record Interface DiGiCo announced the launch of its new Remote Record Interface, part of the DiGiCo Solutions range, at Prolight+Sound 2011 establishing itself as more than a console company.

The Remote Record Interface provides a remote recording solution for all applications in native Mac or PC formats. It allows working directly with a preferred DAW and is made up of two parts:

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DiGiCo-Control software. This is free of charge and compatible with both Mac and PC. It allows you to control and setup SD Racks or D Racks via USB. When used in conjunction with the Dante DMI, it also allows control of the SD or D Rack via the standard Ethernet port on a computer.

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The Dante DMI (DiGiCo Multichannel Interface). This is a CAT5 solution which connects onto a high speed FPGA buss, allowing you to plug an SD or D Rack into a router/switcher, which can then be plugged into a computer (Mac or PC) Ethernet port. It not only allows you to control the rack including the high quality pre amp gains and 48v - but to access audio data and interface it with your DAW of choice for recording.

A dual rack option, for example, utlises two D-Racks and would allow you to have 64 channels of audio to control and record to a simple laptop. Redundancy is also possible by simply plugging in another computer (with DiGiCo control and DAW software installed) to the router. An added, but significant, benefit is the ability to control all functions of the rack utilising a building's standard network infrastructure, without the need for any special equipment.

This creates a fresh approach to multiple recording applications, including broadcast, live touring, studio recording, rehearsal room and multiple fixed installation environments - with no need for a console or other large-scale interface.

"This is a big move for DiGiCo," says Gordon. "We feel that it is a clear statement that we are not only a console manufacturer, but a digital solutions company."

DiGiCo Celebrates 20 Years with SD8

UK audio major DiGiCo is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its factory in Scotland with the production of a limited run, Special Edition SD8 digital mixing console.

The Special Edition SD8 is produced in an understated titanium colour, but sports all the features and benefits of the original SD8's Stealth Digital Processing™ with Tiger SHARC FX engine, to give you the unrivalled audio quality, precision and processing power with an extensive range of built-in, world-class effects, reverbs, dynamics, output matrix, etc that you have come to expect from DiGiCo's SD Series consoles.

"We are very proud to be a UK manufacturer, with a manufacturing base in the United Kingdom," says DiGiCo Managing Director, James Gordon. "20 years is a milestone for our factory, which goes back to the days of Soundtracs before it was bought by DiGiCo in 2002, and we wanted to celebrate in a significant way.

"The Special Edition SD8 marks the occasion perfectly and we are delighted that Italian rental house, Agora, has already put in an order for the first four consoles."

EAW's New Loudspeaker Module EAW brought to Musikmesse 2011 its new KF200NT loudspeaker module.

The system is one of EAW's three recently unveiled comprehensively integrated NT models in its awardwinning KF Series. An ideal scalable solution for corporate A/V, performing arts venues, houses-of-worship, retail, ballrooms, theaters, theme parks and

more, the KF200NT is quickly becoming a favorite among contractors and system integrators worldwide.

The KF200NT consists of a single 10inch woofer with 2.5-inch voice coil and a coaxial mid-high driver consisting of 8-inch cone MF with 2inch voice coil, and 1.75-inch voice coil compression driver HF, and it features a perfectly matched 1500-Watt amplifier. Engineered by EAW's Whitinsville, Massachusetts, USA-based design team, the KF200NT delivers premium performance in a compact design that offers a lightweight solution. Aside from class-leading neodymium components and co-axial mid/high frequency components, it features EAW Focusing processing, software-accessible DSP and the proprietary U-Net network.

EAW's NT units are not conventional P.A. loudspeakers; they incorporate a revolutionary active DSP (digital signal processing) technology known as EAW Focusing. In basic terms, EAW Focusing corrects the sonic problems inherent in conventional compression driver phase plugs, horns and LF driver technology. This, along with the highest quality internal amplification, affords sonic performance comparable to premium direct radiating studio monitors, but at much higher output levels. The NT's integral electronics are based on proven, high efficiency amplifier technology, and feature field-replaceable amplifier modules for added convenience and minimal down time should an extremely rare amplifier failure occur.

A variety of available accessories provide the ability to tailor the KF200NT to any application, offering both portable features and M10 installation points. For contractors and system integrators who require added flexibility, available universal accessories include trim plates that hide handles, adjustable U-brackets, quick release flytrack segments that integrate into any enclosure and adjustable legs for use as a stage monitor.

The KF200NT has a mass of 19.5 kg (43 lbs) and measures 0.5 m x 0.3 m x 0.31 m (19.75" x 11.94" x 12.35").

Elation's Show Stopping Video Tiles

Elation Professional has announced the launch of its innovative range of high resolution LED video panels - the Elation Pro Video (EPV) series - into Europe, taking ISE 2011 as its platform.

The range is especially bright, compact and easy to hang, featuring pixel pitches down to 6mm, targeted towards installers, system integrators, commercial use and rental companies.

The Moving Head panel from the range - the EPV762 MH - was a showstopper.

Visitors stopped in the aisles to admire this impressive and eye-catching new product. The lightweight moving tile boasts 4096x 3-in-1 3528 SMD LEDs with total 2000 nits @ 2,000hz refresh rate and 16 bit processing depth while adding 540 x 265-degree pan and tilt capability via DMX. European sales manager, Simon Gasch, described it as, "the absolute highlight of the show."

The EPV15 FLEX also generated interest with its flexible design for creating curved video walls. Indoor and outdoor-rated to IP65 at the front (IP54 at the back), the EPV15 flexible tile features an in-built PSU for driving the DIP RGB 546 LEDs, making it ideal for install as well as mobile productions.

The static EPV6, EPV7.62, and EPV10 panels complete the range and come in three pitch sizes, with a slim cabinet design and seamless mechanical system, being controlled by a DVI-to-Network Interface.

Also showcased for the first time in Europe were new models from the Platinum moving head luminaire range.

This series is lighter and smaller than the leading competitor in the market.

Packing in more features too, Platinum series is the most cost-effective lighting option available in the market.

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The added models include the Platinum Spot LED - a cool-running LED lamp source with comparable output to, at minimum, a 250 discharge, but with half the power consumption. The fixture claims improved optics and a flat beam field with 50,000 hour solid state 90W LED lamp source life.

The Platinum Spot 5R Pro and Platinum Spot 5R Beam are newly-added versions.

Both units feature the new Philips MSD Platinum lamp 5R, with increased features like zoom and focus, 16-bit CMY colour mixing and wireless DMX. Gasch explained, "This has been absolutely the right platform to launch both video and the new moving heads.

We have a unique offering to this customer base and the visitor quality is very high. A lighting background that spans decades and always listening to our users, is very relevant to our new video products line, so we've been able to educate customers on the new product offering and the technology step, as well as the creative potential of presenting new ideas for the entertainment sector."

Extron's New HDMI Audio De-Embedder

video output with EDID Minder for simplified EDID management between the input source and the display, plus input cable equalization and comprehensive LED status display.

"The HAE 100 offers a convenient and simple solution for integrators needing audio to be extracted from any HDMI signal when separate routing of audio is required for the sound system," says Casey Hall, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Extron. "It is part of a growing family of HDMI problem-solving products from Extron, designed to simplify the process of integrating HDMI signals into pro A/V systems."

EDID Minder automatically manages EDID communication between the input source and the display, ensuring the source powers up properly and reliably delivers content to the display.

Input cable equalization compensates for weak source signals or signal loss when using long input cable assemblies.

LEDs on the front panel offer comprehensive, real-time device status monitoring, including HDMI input / output and audio output signal presence, HDCP authentication, and whether the extracted audio is twochannel PCM or encoded bitstream audio for Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround. A mini USB port on the front panel provides convenient access for device configuration. The HAE 100 is housed in a compact 1U, quarter rack width metal enclosure.

Extron's Long Distance HDMI, DVI Extenders Extron Electronics announced the immediate availability of the HAE 100, an audio de-embedder that extracts the audio from the HDMI signal and provides outputs for analog stereo and digital S/PDIF audio. The HAE 100 supports data rates up to 6.75 Gbps for compatibility with HDMI 1.3 Deep Color. It is HDCP compliant and compatible with HDTV 1080p/60 or computer-video resolutions up to 1920x1200. The HAE 100 is equipped with several integrator-friendly features, including a buffered HDMI

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Extron Electronics introduced the DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 twisted pair extenders for long distance transmission of HDMI or DVI plus bidirectional RS-232 and IR control

signals over a single CAT 5-type cable.

The transmitter and receiver sets are capable of extending 1080p/60 deep color and 1920x1200 up to 330 feet (100 meters). These features, combined with remote powering capabilities and compact enclosure sizes, make the DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 ideal for providing cost effective means to extend digital video, multi-channel audio, and bidirectional control signals in space-challenged environments.

"The DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 address our customers' needs for economical solutions that provide reliable, long distance transmission of HDMI and DVI video plus bidirectional control signals over one twisted pair cable," says Casey Hall, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Extron.

"These new, high performance extenders enable integrators to take advantage of the benefits of twisted pair over long distances while ensuring high signal quality and integrity."

The DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 extenders support EDID and HDCP transmission, ensuring ongoing communication between the source and display. HDMI 1.3 compatibility enables support for 1080p/60 color depth, 3D formats, and 4K x 2K resolutions. The DVI transmitter is equipped with a buffered DVI loopthrough to support connection of a local monitor. Both models support simultaneous transmission of bidirectional RS-232 and IR signals from a control system, providing remote control to source equipment or remote displays.

The compact DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301, housed in 1" (2.5 cm) high, quarter rack width metal enclosures, allow for discreet placement.

Extenders can be used as point-topoint solutions or integrated within switching environments to extend inputs or outputs to remote locations.

For added flexibility and convenience, separate analog stereo audio signals can be transmitted on a second twisted pair cable. Also, HDMI and DVI transmitters and receivers may be mixed and matched to suit installation requirements.

Extron's 10-inch TLP 1000 TouchLink Touchpanels Extron announced the immediate availability of the TLP 1000MV and TLP 1000TV 10" high resolution TouchLink Touchpanels. The TLP 1000MV and TLP 1000TV are fully configurable and feature a sleek, contemporary look and thin bezels to complement any decor.

The large, 1024 x 600 resolution touchscreen surface provides ample room for sophisticated controls and graphics. The new touchpanels incorporate an MTP - Twisted Pair receiver, which accepts either S-video or composite video input over standard CAT 5 type cable, enhancing connectivity and streamlining cable management.

Power over Ethernet - PoE, allows the touchpanels to receive power via the Ethernet connector, eliminating the need for a local power supply. The TLP 1000MV mounts on a wall, lectern, or other flat surface, while the TLP 1000TV sits on a tabletop or installs on a VESA mount.

Both are ideal for control environments where a larger control surface within an elegant touchpanel design is needed.

Extron continues our commitment to configurable control for easy and quick installations," says Casey Hall, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Extron. "These new 10 inch touchpanels, in conjunction with our new IPCP 505 control processor, will let integrators design and deploy larger, more complex AV control systems."

GUI Configurator software makes configuration of the touchpanel easy, with no graphic design skills required.

This software offers ready-to-use templates for single display rooms, dual display rooms, divisible rooms, multi-image systems and video conference suites. These designs may be used as is, or customized for the application by simply changing individual graphic elements.

The TLP 1000MV and TLP 1000TV work in conjunction with any Extron IP Link速 Control Processor, such as the Extron IPCP 505 Control Processor.

They are designed for use in AV system applications that require complete, interactive control of conferencing systems, displays, switchers, and source

Pixled Brings New LEDs to Prolight Leading European LED brand Pixled brought to Prolight+Sound show this year its new F-6 high resolution LED display - which now offers top level processing by Mitsubishi Electric, in addition to the standard proprietary options.

devices. The touchpanels and IP Link Control Processors communicate using a standard Ethernet network, allowing utilization of existing infrastructure.

New Audio De-Embedder from Kramer

Kramer Electronics introduced the 6808HDxl AES audio de-embedder for SD, HD and 3G SDI signals. The unit is ideal for both broadcast and production studio use and for digital/analog AV authoring. The 6808HDxl has one SDI input and output on BNC connectors to accept an SD, HD or 3G-SDI signal. Its input automatically detects the incoming signal format. Supported formats include SMPTE standards 259M, 344M, 344M and 424M. The 6808HDxl de-embeds two channels of AES audio from one of four selectable audio groups. These audio channels are then output via the two AES/EBU audio BNC output connectors. The group select DIP-switches make it simple to select the audio group to de-embed, while Kramer's Equalization & re-Klocking Technology rebuilds the digital signal enabling long distance signal transmission. The unit features a maximum data rate of 3Gpbs.

The 6808HDxl is powered by an included 5V DC power supply and is housed in a compact Kramer DigiTOOLS enclosure. The 6808HDxl is currently in stock and available from Kramer Electronics sales companies around the world.

The Pixled F-6 was shown prominently on stand C31 in Hall 9, which will also illustrate the strong product support and services available through Pixled's Belgium headquarters.

The F-6 screen is designed for professional high-end rental and staging applications and installers looking for the best quality, and most flexible, creative LED solutions.

This mega-bright, lightweight surface is the first 6mm LED display that is curvable in all directions on both horizontal and vertical planes so building spherical or indeed any shaped objects - no matter how offbeat or unusual - has never been possible/easier!

For maximum dynamics and effect, the F-6 can be shaped into a combination of both directions on both planes via the integrated mechanics on each screen module itself. This can be achieved quickly and simply without the aid of additional tools or rigging apparatus.

The F-6's 4000 NIT brightness is currently the brightest 6mm surface on the market.

The Mitsubishi Electric options are exclusively designed for rental & staging customers and include multi standard HD and DVI with superresolution technology, MPEG noise reduction and enhanced grey scale processing.

Pixled F-6 utilises the highest quality black package SMDs, robust and solid precision mechanics (TUV certified), as well as a full package of rental & staging accessories like hanging brackets, feet, flight cases and spares kits.

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Robe Lights up Prolight with New Range Robe lighting launched five exciting new products at the 2011 Prolight + Sound exhibition in Frankfurt. The new ROBIN MMX Spot is the first in a new generation of 1200 Series fixtures offering a neater, smaller, lighter and brighter more energy efficient package; the ROBIN 300 LEDWash is the smaller and even cuter version of the best-selling 600 LEDWash; the ROBIN 600 PureWhite is a warm, cold and smart white light version of the massively successful 600 LEDWash RGBW specifically for studio environments ... and the DigitalSpot 3500 DT is a more powerful and fullyfeatured version of the Digital Spot 3000 DT moving digital light.

Robe again keeps at the forefront of lighting technology whilst also highlighting the importance of enhanced environmental sustainability, with its "Think of the Future - Consider Nature" green initiative. This underlines the company's long term commitment to reducing environmental impact, and a special booth in the foyer of Hall 11 - C91 - will further showcase Robe's latest green and white technologies.

Spotlight moving head on the market today.

In some features, the MMX is as bright as a 1500W spotlight and at the same time energy saving - consuming about 30% less power than the current 1200W products.

Main features include:

be energy efficient and smaller in keeping with the ROBIN (Robe Innovative Technology).

The MMX Spot is compact, lightweight and has a small base and expediently sized, and is expected to be a major hit with rental companies and installations alike.

Using the innovative Phillips MSR Platinum 35 lamp, and combined with a sophisticated optical system, the MMX Spot is a true equivalent of any 1200W

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There is the option to simulate tungsten lamp behaviour when dimming and switching off, complete with 'red effect' and thermal delay.

Made with the same Cree 10W multichip RGBW LEDs as the 600 LEDWash, it has all the fabulous colour mixing and homogenisation qualities of the 600, plus true whites with a selection of pre-programmed colour temperatures (2700, 3200, 4200, 5600 & 8000K).

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2 x rotating gobo wheels, each with 7 SLOT & LOCK gobos + open

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Unique Dual Graphic Wheel (Patent pending) - for stunning effects

Main features include:

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Extremely fast motorised iris.

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CMY colour mixing, with variable CTO

19 x 10W RGBW Multichip LEDs arranged in 3 rings

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Perfect colour mixing with no

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Colour wheel - 7 dichroic filters + open

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Motorised zoom & focus, autofocus feature

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Zoom range of 8.5 - 46.5 degrees

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Variable frost

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5 facet, 11 degrees rotating and indexable prism.

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Remote hot-spot control

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Mechanical dimmer & shutter

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Variable strobe effect 1 - 10 Hz

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LCD touch screen with RNS2 (Robe Navigation System) & battery backup

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Silent operation

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Communication protocols - DMX 512, ArtNet, RDM, MANet, MANet2

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Weight only - 25.3 Kg

ROBIN MMX Spot This amazing new fixture is the new generation of 1200W Spot fixtures and the first in a new series of Robe moving lights designed to

and places where space is at a premium.

shadow effects •

Fabulous pastel colours

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Virtual colour wheel with preprogrammed colours, including 2700, 3200, 4200, 5600, 8000K whites

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Red effect & thermal delay tungsten lamp simulation

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Zoom range from 15 - 50 degrees

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Completely flat light field at any beam angle

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Individual control of the LED rings for incredible 'camera candy' style effects

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Smooth electronic dimming

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Variable strobe effect from 1 - 20 Hz

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Super-fast pan & tilt movement

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LCD touch screen with RNS2 (Robe Navigation System) & battery backup

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Communication protocols - DMX 512, ArtNet, RDM, MANet, MANet2

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Power consumption 205 VA

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Incredible light weight of 7.5Kgs

ROBIN 300 LEDWash Following the massive success of the ROBIN 600 LEDWash, Robe's fastest ever selling product, comes the 300 version which is even smaller and neater in construction, with all the features of the 600 at a highly competitive price.

This will be ideal for small installations

CityFlex 48 A hugely versatile, completely user configurable LED 'batten' consisting of

4 modules using the latest Cree 10W RGBW multichip LEDs. These powerful customizable units have a strong and uniform light output and are suitable for any application.

The unique design (patent pending) allows multiple lighting formats from one fixture - be it a compact floodlight format, traditional linear LED format or a variety of different angled options.

The fixture´s incredible flexibility means previously unobtainable effects are now available ..... from a single unit.

Housed in a durable aluminium IP 65 rated casing, the CityFlex48 has excellent colour mixing from a singlepoint-of-source with a definable pixel pitch.

A universal mounting system gives multiple rigging options for floor, wall or on to trussing. A separate quiet convection cooled control unit running via DMX or RDM allows easy setup via control display screens, while DMX and power lines can be daisy chained via Powercon connectors.

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12 x 10W RGBW Multichip LEDs (3 per module)

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4 modules, individually adjustable on 2 axes - for straight line, flat, angled, zig-zag, etc., shapes

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Removable base - ideal for the creation of low resolution screen effects in various shapes

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Individual pixel control of each LED

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Convection cooled - completely silent

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IP65 rated for both outdoor and indoor use

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Control protocols - DMX 512 & RDM

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PowerCon In/Out connectors allow for quick daisy-chaining

ROBIN 600 PureWhite Following huge demand for high quality moving LED fixtures in the wake of its ROBIN 600 LEDWash (RGBW), Robe launched the ROBIN 600 PureWhite, a white version for applications like TV, theatres, exhibitions and conferences and anywhere needing a high quality, low powered white light with all the features and functionality of a moving light - like pan/tilt & zoom etc.

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RNS2 - Robe Navigation System with LCD touchscreen and battery backup, gravitation sensor for auto screen positioning and operation memory service log with RTC

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Communication protocols: USITT DMX-512, ArtNet, MANet, MANet2, RDM

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Power consumption: 430VA

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Weight : 10.7 Kg

DigitalSpot 3500 DT

(CW) at 6000K, warm white (WW) at 3200K and Smart White (SW), which is variable from 3200 - 6500K.

The new Robe DigitalSpot 3500 DT is a more powerful, enhanced version of the very successful DigitalSpot 3000 DT, retaining all the best loved features of the original unit, together with a host of new ones.

Used as a traditional white light source, the ROBIN 600 PureWhite has the potential to dramatically reduce heat output in studios, emitting virtually no heat due to its superior cooling management.

Costs will be further slashed because less AC will be required to keep studios at a comfortable temperature for everyone working.

The ROBIN 600 PureWhite features the same 3 rings of 10W Cree multichip LEDs as its colour changing counterpart, a fully homogenized light engine with no shadows or pixelation, producing a beautiful smooth quality of light throughout the full beam path.

The Cree multichip combined with Robe's lens optimization has enabled perfect whites to be produced by the ROBIN 600 PureWhite series.

Combining the technologies of a moving light and video projector, Robe produces another powerful tool for their Digital Series.

Features include •

BenQ MX 660 projector using TI DLP technology …. featuring :

Ring control, and dimming and other features and effects are all the same as the LEDWash 600 RGBW, making this a massively versatile ground breaking addition to Robe's ROBIN range.

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37x 10W RGBW LED multichips

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Led Life Expectancy: 60.000 hours

High quality easily readable VGA Menu display

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Linear motorized zoom: 15° - 60°

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Completely flat light field at any beam angle

Options for DVI/VGA or SDI/ASI grabbing cards

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Composite video input via BNC connector

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CITP-MSEX protocol, allowing the preview of content thumbnails on any DMX desk

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Keystone correction

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Individual control of the LED rings

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High resolution dimmer 0 - 100%

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Strobe effect with variable speed from 1 - 20 Hz

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HDMI video input Contrast Ratio of 5000:1 3200 ANSI lumen light output Power off and on via DM

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Exclusive New Media content

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Three graphics media layers with separate or combined effect possibilities

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Media playback synchronization between all Digital Spot series fixtures

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Network based remote control and management interface

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Remote content transfer, preview and synchronization

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Fast 1Gb network card

The German audio company beyerdynamic presented at the recently head AERO 2011 with the HS 800 Digital a new-class Aviation Headset. The HS 800 Digital uses a newly developed Digital Adaptive Noise Reduction (DANR) which combines the advantages of feedback and feedforward ANR for the first time in a digital system.

Apart from illustrating a perfect potential application for the PureWhite luminaire - car shows - the idea is to highlight the parallels and environmentally friendly technologies of two very different global brands - Robe and Toyota and to emphasise the mutual synergies in their respective product developments.

ANR headsets use conventional analogue feedback filter so far, because these suppress wideband interference signals with high reaction speed. System-related disadvantages, such as the background noise and the limited capacity for complex sounds were accepted. Feedforward digital control was introduced by the beyerdynamic HS 600 DANR. Adaptability to high-precision frequency peaks was thus possible.

Now for the first time the HS 800 Digital combines feedback and feedforward ANR combining the benefits. The result is a new generation of active noise-cancelling setting a benchmark!

Whilst Toyota is a pioneer of hybrid technologies in the automotive sector, Robe is - and has been for some time - taking a similar path in the professional lighting industry, and is fully focussed on producing more environmentally friendly products with a greener footprint.

This is both in terms of the manufacturing process, and the actual end products - which are smaller, lighter, brighter and massively more energy efficient than previous generations.

In addition to the noise attenuation the wearing comfort is a particularly important criterion for pilots. Here beyerdynamic has made no compromises with the HS 800 Digital: All cushions are upholstered in soft leather. The ear padding is viscoelastic, which distributes the already pleasant moderate pressure evenly. The head cushion protects the fontanel with its shape. At this particularly sensitive location, where the two skull halves meet, already low pressure leads to short-term pain.

The visual, practical and ethical alignments on the White Booth are clear - white car, white fixtures, less energy consumption, stylish design, solid engineering and real quality.

Besides the impressive technology and comfort, the HS 800 Digital convinces by its quality and appearance. The housing shells in carbon design and anodized aluminium parts make the value of this “made in Germany” Headsets visible.

The White Booth This features a fabulous clean, contemporary design with a white Toyota Auris hybrid car centre stage, lit entirely with white bodied versions of Robe's new ROBIN 600 PureWhite LED fixture, which is launched at the show.

Robe's green initiative - "Think of the Future - Consider Nature" - was launched last year to underline the company's ongoing commitment to developing and producing genuinely cutting-edge, innovative and energy saving products.

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The HS 800 Digital is now available in three versions. In addition to the version with the two classic jack plugs, there is the HS 800 Digital Rotor with spiral cable and U-174 / U jack plug for helicopters. The HS 800 Digital 6pin

has a six pin Lemo connector, which – beside the microphone and stereo headphones signal - provides the electrical system voltage to get along without batteries.

Sonifex's New Video Redboxes Sonifex introduced host of new products at BVE this year. The new additions included the Redbox range of video embedders and de-embedders, the RB-VHDDD8 and the RB-VHEDD8.

Still in the familiar Redbox chassis and offering rackmounting as standard with a universal AC power supply, these new video Redboxes use latest technology components to offer embedding and de-embedding for analogue and digital audio signals into and out of all 3G, HD and SD-SDI video signals, respectively.

Managing Director, Marcus Brooke said: "we have recently expanded upon our Redbox range of products to incorporate a growing number of video units. At last year's show we announced the arrival of our video suite of embedders and de-embedders, whereas this year, we are showing our Dolby additions to the collection."

The RB-VHDDD8 is a Dolby E & Dolby Digital Decoder and De-Embedder. It de-embeds up to 10 channels of audio within any audio group of an SDI video signal and a further 2 which are sent to the Dolby Decoder. The outputs from the Decoder or the Deembedder can then be re-embedded onto either of the two SDI outputs and also transmitted on a BNC or Dtype situated on the rear panel.

Vista Consoles Shipping with V2 Software Jands has announced shipping of its entire range of Vista consoles with version 2 of the software. After three years of intense development, extensive testing and finally, use on several major shows and events by beta-testers worldwide - including the opening ceremony of Turku, Finland as joint European Capital of Culture in 2011; the Fifth Gear Live Action Arena at the Autosport International 2011 show in Birmingham, UK; and the BURDA event at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE the software is now factory-standard with new Vista consoles and available as a free upgrade to existing users.

Jands recently demonstrated the Vista v2 (code named 'Byron') at the 2010 PLASA and LDI trade shows, generating a huge amount of interest in the new capabilities the software brings to the revolutionary Vista console. The Vista v2 will receive its official launch at the Prolight & Sound 2011 trade show, Frankfurt this week (6th-9th April).

"The Vista was a huge hit with its basic principle of 'think visually, work visually'", said Paul Mulholland, Managing Director of Jands, "and version 2 takes that to a whole new level. We've re-designed the whole user interface around this concept and it's already revolutionised the way a lot of our Vista customers work."

As well as a revamped visual interface, Vista v2 introduces a host of features, including: •

tracking backup - instantly switches control to a synchronised second console or PC if the main console fails for any reason

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integrated media server control including automatic thumbnail import of content from most industry standard mediaservers

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matrix and video effects - runs intensity, colour, movement, even video files across LEDs or other fixture types arranged in columns and rows

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default and split fade times provides a quick and easy way to set and edit cue timing, including separate up and down times for intensity.

And just in case you want to stick with version 1 while you get used to version 2, the Vista 2 consoles also offer a dual-boot function.

"We took everything we learned from our customers' experiences with version 1 and completely overhauled the platform from the ground up," said Paul Mulholland."

"The new version provides simpler and faster ways to do existing functions, and at the same time introduces a host of powerful new features all presented in an intuitive visual interface."

Crestron's HD Video Scaler Crestron announced the release of its new High Definition Video Scaler, the latest addition to the popular line of high performance standalone HDMI audio/video solutions. HD-SCALER fills the void left by the inadequate scalers built into most displays which are not designed to display all different resolutions and formats in today's digital environments. The affordable and easily installed HD-SCALER connects to the HDMI or DVI input of any video display and ensures that every video source appears reliably, correctly and optimally, regardless of the display's native resolutions.

Crestron Director of Marketing, Vincent Bruno. "Not all displays accept all resolutions. HD-SCALER delivers a simple, easy-to-install solution that provides the best resolutions no matter what the source or display is."

HD-SCALER handles standard and high-definition video sources with resolutions up to 1080p60 progressive and 1080i30 interlaced, as well as computer sources up to UXGA 1600x1200 and WUXGA 1920x1200.

Whatever the source, the HD-SCALER is capable of scaling it up or down, while adjusting aspect ratios to match the native resolution of any video display or computer monitor.

HD-SCALER is ideal for adding digital connectivity and scaling to existing analog systems. Through a single VGA cable, HD-SCALER connects directly to the output of a Crestron MPS Media Presentation System or QuickMedia receiver, converting every analog video signal to HDMI and scaling the output to feed a high-definition digital display or projector. Analog audio is converted similarly through a simple stereo audio cable.

In addition, digital audio signals are seamlessly distributed across a single HDMI cable. Exclusive "audio breakaway" capability allows combining analog audio with digital video from an HDMI or DVI source, embedding both analog audio and digital video signals into one HDMI output.

Designed for simple set-and-forget operation, the compact, low-profile design allows HD-SCALER to be mounted discreetly behind a flat panel display, above a ceiling projector or in back of an equipment rack. For more advanced setup and diagnostics, an intuitive on-screen display makes it easy. Scroll through menus and navigate the OSD using the included IR remote.

"Whether you're giving a presentation in a boardroom, a lecture in a classroom, or watching a Blu-ray movie in your home theater, most of us just want the image on our highdefinition screens to display properly and look right every time," said April-June 2011

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Harman India's HR Chief is 'Woman Super Achiever' Harman International India Pvt. Ltd., the leading provider of premium audio and infotainment solutions for the professional, consumer and automotive industries announced that the Director HR for India- Vinita Shrivastava was awarded "Woman Super Achiever Award" at the 5th Employer Branding awards held in Hyderabad recently.

'Employer Branding Awards' is an appreciation of organizations and individuals who have made a significant contribution and made the HR industry proud. The Employer Branding award is instituted by Employer Branding Institute, a professional body based in Singapore.

Senior leaders in the HR field connect with each other online to share the best practices in employer branding and recognize HR professionals across industries in several countries.

Employer Branding Awards is a decade old organization and have been very active in the last 4 years across Europe, parts of America & some parts of Asia Pacific region like Singapore, Malaysia & India. The attention and spotlight has been on India because of the growth and the opportunity that it offers. Besides the importance that India has gained over a period of time.

Vinita's efforts and achievements in the talent development, management and innovation throughout her career, were recognized and nominated by an independent panel of experts in the 'Employer Branding Awards' committee. With over a decade of industry experience in leading companies such as HCL and Tesco, Vinita has headed the HR operations for large and mid-sized teams in these companies. Throughout her career, Vinita has been instrumental and has handled various functions in Talent Development and Management and has introduced innovative talent engagement practices in the companies she has worked for.

Taking up the key challenge of being part of a start-up (Harman setting up

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core areas.

Vinita is an MBA from Bhopal University India and has also completed a year's management program from Cornell University USA.

in India in 2009), Vinita took up the challenge as the HR Director, Harman India in June 2009, and as the 4th employee in India. Today Harman India is 175 employees strong with an aggressive growth plan. Over the last two years Harman India has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of recruitment, training and streamlining of various HR processes - recruitment, training, mentoring, career development, HR representation and performance management among the

"This recognition of 'Woman Super Achiever' conferred by Employer Branding Award is a great one for a Harman International India," said Lakshminarayan M Managing Director, Harman International India Pvt Ltd. "I would congratulate Vinita for this achievement and duly recognize her efforts in creating a great people culture at Harman India, that values mutual respect, encourages potential, learning and provides exciting opportunities for all employees here in India," he said and added, "we are just two years old with a small, yet close knit team of 200 employees; hence this recognition is all the more encouraging."

Elite Screen Wins AVnews Channel Award Elite Screens announced it has recently won Europe's AVnews Channel Award.

The AVnews Channel Award is a highly regarded honor that every European AV company would like to win. It is the ultimate accolade for quality and service that is voted for by resellers, integrators and installers who really know what AV is all about. With more categories and more detailed assessments this year, an AV Channel Award is a jewel in any manufacturers' crown.

Recently, Elite's penetration into the European market has experienced a quantum growth thanks to the outstanding service of Elite's European staff and the availability of its innovative product lines. With every coming year, Elite Screens provides new solutions for the various challenges faced by integrators and consumers alike. Without a doubt, its knowledgeable and friendly staff will

continue assisting customers with tough decisions so that they can achieve the most rewarding results for many years to come.

The AV News Channel Award is the Award that every brand wants to win.

It is the ultimate accolade for quality and service - voted for by resellers, integrators and installers who really know what AV is all about. With more categories and more detailed assessment this year, an AV Channel Award is a jewel in any manufacturers' crown.

Crestron Wins Six Mark Of Excellence Awards The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced the winners of the Mark of Excellence Awards, which recognizes the best in home electronics products, services, and installed technology. Crestron home technology products won six prestigious awards across a broad range of hardware and software categories. First place Platinum awards were garnered for the Crestron Mobile Pro G App for iPad (two), PTX3 Prodigy Handheld Touchpanel, 32x32 DigitalMedia Switcher, and Sonnex Tools software. The Sonnex 24X8 Multiroom Audio System received a Gold award.

"As we lead the industry into the digital age and continue to reinvent home automation, we're honored that our new generation of home technology has been recognized with six Mark of Excellence Awards," said Crestron Director of Marketing, Vincent Bruno. "Our new digital infrastructure delivers the latest HD entertainment and the most innovative mobile home control solutions available. That's what our customers want, and these products bring it into their homes today."

The six winning Crestron innovations were recognized in these leading categories: Human Interface Product of the Year - Crestron Mobile Pro G App for iPad

Tomlinson's inventive and imaginative work designing the lightshow for Brit Award Winning artist Ellie Goulding in particular has been acclaimed - and also led to him being nominated for a Knight of Illumination Award.

Presented annually by CEA's TechHome Division, manufacturers, distributors, and systems integrators enter to compete in award categories for this coveted honor judged by independent experts within the industry. Winners and finalists were recognized at the TechHome Mark of Excellence Awards banquet at the 2011 Electronic House Expo at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. A four member judging team comprised of systems integrators, manufacturers, consultants and members of the trade press determines finalists and Platinum and Gold award winners in recognition of outstanding industry achievement.

Ian Tomlinson TPi 'Lighting Designer of the Year'

Installation Product of the Year Crestron Sonnex Tools Multiroom Audio Setup

A keen Lost Prophets fan, Tomlinson designed the band's incredible 2010 live show in conjunction with singer Ian Watkins.

Throughout the last 12 months, he has combined his rock 'n' roll touring work with designing various other projects including high profile comedy acts such as Russell Howard's "Right Here Right Now" sold out UK arena tour. He also designed Frankie Boyle's massively successful arena tour & the US comedian Jeff Dunham's UK tour - fully embracing the demanding visual challenges of bringing the intimate and personal performance genre of stand up comedy into a large space.

Additionally, he has created concepts for a plethora of corporate events.

Tomlinson designs using CAD and WYSIWYG visualisation programs which allow the flexibility of full viewing with the capacity to amend potential designs and present them to clients.

He manages Adlib's busy Lighting department, an integral part of Adlib Solutions' ever expanding operation.

Multiroom Audio/Video Product of the Year - Crestron Sonnex Multiroom Audio System Software Application of the Year Crestron Mobile Pro G App for iPad Video Product of the Year - Crestron 32x32 DigitalMedia Switcher Wireless Product of the Year Crestron PTX3 Prodigy Handheld Touchpanel

The 2011 TPi Awards - which recognise the industry's most innovative and ambitious technical, creative and production achievements - were presented by Huey Morgan from the alternative rock band Fun Lovin' Criminals at the Novotel West London on 7 February this year.

Liverpool UK based ADLIB Solutions' Ian Tomlinson won the 2011 Total Production International (TPi) Award for Lighting Designer of the Year.

He says, "naturally, I'm absolutely delighted with winning the TPi Award. Apart from all those in the industry who voted for me, I would like to thank everyone at Adlib too.

I've been really lucky working with such great artists such as Ellie & The Prophets , who strive to produce such amazing live shows for their fans".

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Robe's Best Intelligent Lighting Fixture Robe's amazing ROBIN 600 LEDWash 600 moving light has won the 2011 PALME Middle East Award for 'Best Intelligent Lighting Fixture' of the Year.

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Versatile 15 - 60 degree zoom enabling both spot and wash effects: a completely flat light field at any beam angle

The Award was presented to Robe's MD and founder Josef Valchar, sales director Harry von den Stemmen and Middle East regional sales manager Elie Battah at a gala dinner during last week's 2011 PALME Middle East Exhibition in Dubai.

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Premium quality of light in all colours and at all zoom options

A panel of judges - including leading international industry journalists and practitioners - decided on the Award winners, for which Robe was commended for the innovation of the product and the quality and clarity of the Award presentation.

The LEDWash 600 was launched in November 2010 and in a very short time has become Robe's fastest selling product since 1999, and a major lighting industry 'buzz' product.

Features include: •

Use of Cree 10W multichip LEDs

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Completely homogenised light engine producing fabulously smooth non-pixelated or shadowed colour mixing; perfect whites ranging from 2700 - 8000 degrees K

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Beautiful pastel shades traversing the entire spectrum

David Atkinson Wins LDA 2011 Award

Additionally, the 3 LED rings are individually controllable - which is great for creating camera and eyecandy 'audience-facing' effects.

Says Valchar, "winning the Award is fantastic and a great recognition for all the hard teamwork that has gone into making the LEDWash 600 the success that it is - all the way from the initial product development and R'n'D to our highly proactive marketing and sales forces worldwide."

He adds that Robe waited until the right technology - in this case Cree 10W multichip LEDs - was available before bringing the LEDWash 600 to the market. In doing so, they were able to create a truly innovative and premium quality LED wash fixture that is blazing a trail.

PALME Middle East was a busy show generally for Robe, with several deals finalized, including the supply of 24 x ROBIN 600 LEDWashes to the Raha Theatre in Abu Dhabi, with another major investment in this fixture by a leading lighting design company to be announced shortly.

David Atkinson of David Atkinson Lighting Design (DALD) won the coveted 'Lighting Designer of The Year' Award at the 2011 Lighting Design Awards (LDAs) for his consistently groundbreaking and varied architectural schemes over the years - many of which have been supplied by A.C. Special Projects Ltd. The prestigious Awards event was staged at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London last week, attended by over 700 guests including a glittering array of leading lighting designers, specifiers and architects.

Much of David Atkinson's work has involved A.C. Special Projects as a supplier of leading lighting equipment, control solutions and expertise, a highly successful and fruitful collaboration that stretches back nearly 10 years.

A.C. Special Projects' MD Peter Keiderling comments, "Congratulations to David for his achievement in winning the Award, which deservedly recognises him as one of the industry's finest practitioners. A.C. Special Projects and David have worked together on many high profile installations, where his innovative and original approach is constantly inspiring, so it's always a pleasure helping to bring his pioneering lighting schemes to life."

This great teamwork includes lighting the British Music Experience (BME) interactive music exhibition at the O2 Arena in London, which won the 2010

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Lighting For Leisure LDA, and the 'Centre of The Cell' interactive science education centre in Whitechapel, London, which won the 2010 Low Carbon LDA. Other high profile project collaborations include the 'Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes' exhibition at the V&A Museum, London; the Eurostar Business Premier Lounge at St Pancras International station; international auctioneers Christie's London HQ and sales room in King Street, St James, London; Swansea's spectacular National Waterfront Museum; the Museum of London Docklands and Romsey Abbey in Hampshire.

ACSP Sponsors 'Special Project' LDA A.C. Special Projects also sponsored the 'Special Projects' category of the 2011 LDAs, making it a truly "special" evening in all respects for the architectural lighting equipment sales and installations company.

Peter Keiderling presented the 2011 Special Projects LDA to the Jason Bruges Studio for their innovative video art installation on Platform 5 at Sunderland (railway) Station, a project commissioned by Nexus.

The Platform 5 installation is a key component in the station's refurbishment and consists of a 144m long by 3m tall glass block wall concealing a disused platform. Within this is a large low-resolution video matrix (755 x 15 pixels) made up of individually addressable white LED nodes mounted on bespoke metal frames. The content played through this depicts 'ghostly' characters that appear behind the glass wall ... opposite passengers awaiting trains.

XL Video Wins 8th TPi Award XL Video has won its eighth Total Production International Award (TPi) for 'Favourite Video Services Company' of the Year. The 2011 TPi Awards - which recognise the industry's most innovative and ambitious technical, creative and production achievements - were presented by Huey Morgan from the alternative band Fun Lovin' Criminals at the Novotel West London on 7 February.

The win follows a hugely busy and successful year for XL Video worldwide - during which the company also celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The Award was collected by members of the XL Video UK team, and follows on from wins in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

XL UK's Chris Mounsor and Lee Spencer comment, "It is a remarkable achievement to win the TPi Award for the 8th time, especially considering that it's not influenced by any judges, the magazine or promoters ... it's won purely on votes from our peers. These are our friends in the lighting, sound, trucking and rigging industries and in artist, tour and production management, plus all the ancillary industries involved with concert touring worldwide!"

They add that it is a recognition of the "High regard" in which XL is held, a position that has been achieved by the "Hard work, expertise, passion and

dedication of everyone in the company", including freelance crews and other 'front-line ambassadors' who support and are an integral part of this incredible teamwork.

XL has worked with and supplied the latest video equipment, skills, resources and technical know-how to some of the most original productions and artists throughout 2010.

Highlights have included Muse, Deadmau5, Roger Waters, U2, XFactor Live, Eric Clapton, Pink, Massive Attack, Strictly Come Dancing Live, Kings of Leon, The Brit Awards, Download Festival, the Help For Heroes concert, the Doctor Who Live tour, the Papal Visit, the Ralph Lauren Building projections and many, many more.

XL's good friend and long time collaborator Jon Shrimpton won the Video Visionary Award. Shrimpton has worked with XL on numerous projects and directed some stunning shows, most recently with Depeche Mode, Elbow, Paramore, Paulo Nutini and the Scissor Sisters.

Live Production of the Year was won

by Gorillaz, a band with which XL has been involved in realising some of the most inventive and ingenious video elements since the company was founded.

XL Video is looking forward to another busy and successful 12 months ahead.

The Special Projects category of the LDA's covers projects with restrictions like budget, planning or English Heritage listings. 'Restricted budget' schemes are defined as those with under ÂŁ20,000 expenditure on the capital lighting equipment.

A.C. Special Projects is a major provider of architectural lighting equipment sales and installations to the industry, working with lighting consultants and architects.

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• INSTALLS •

Awesome A/V from E&E, Durgesh Sound

History Comes Alive in Bhopal Bhopal - the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, the State that is literally central to India's identity in more ways than one - is a treasure trove of history, culture and heritage.

Apparently founded by the great medieval king Bhoja, the city recently sought to relive the grandeur that its founder bequeathed to it- over one thousand years ago. Thus was the commemoration called Raja Bhoj Raajyarohan Sahasrabdi Samaroh (celebration of millennium of Raja Bhoja's coronation). A great display of audio and video, claimed to be the largest till date in the State, marked the big event. An SS account.

The Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal recently turned a showcase of one of the biggest historical event- the Directorate of Culture of Madhya Pradesh under the auspices of its Cultural Ministry organized a ceremony to commemorate the millennium year of its founder, Raja Bhoj. That the event was conceived to relive all the grandeur of the polymath that Bhoja was, it required a massive audio and video set up.

Indore-based Fusion Events Pvt. Ltd. was contracted as the event managers for the mega show, who in turn roped in locally-based Durgesh Sound to take the task of audio and video. "It was not a small task for us to win the bid to be the AV provider of such a big event," says Durgesh Sound&Light CEO

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Satya Prakash Soni. "It required the largest sound system the people have ever witnessed in the State."

Though the install teams arrived on

the scene just four days prior to the event, the actual planning had commenced as many as four months before due to the sheer amount

• INSTALLS •

Systems of Samaroh Mixing Consoles • Digi design Venue SC48 (1) • Yamaha M7CL (1) • Sound Craft MH2 (1) • Sound Craft GB8 (2) Processors • UX8800 • Drive Rack260 • BSS • MX8750 PA Systems • EAW • EAW • EAW • EAW

KF760 (12) KF740 (12) KF850 (6) SB1000 (16)

The event programming commenced with Saraswati Vandana (hymnal prayer to goddess Saraswati) followed by the Madhya Pradesh Anthem. Artistes at the ceremony included renowned Bollywood singer Sukhwinder, famous percussionist Shiv Mani, and the noted Prince Dance Group and cultural performances by 350 artists.

The main stage centrally located was

Mics • Shure • Shure • Shure • Shure • Shure • Shure

detailing it demanded. It included latest products and technology in music and sound production, live and stage music sound reinforcement, stage sound and install sound, audio visual systems, lasers and lighting for stage install and acoustics.

ULX UR4D PG 58 SM57 SM58 Drum Kit

designed resembling a traditional temple of Lord Shiva adorned with pillars, artifacts and crafts of the ancient period. A grand Surya formed the back wall of the stage.

Large LED screens were placed on either side of the stage with a view to projecting the programming to wider audiences - numbering as many as over 45,000 - watching from a distance.

The audio for the stage comprised 12 EAW KF760 line array elements supplemented with 12 KF 740 enclosures and six SB1000 subwoofers, while 16 distributed JBL VRX 915 arrays lined the parade ground. In addition, it also had four EAW MicroWedge 15 monitors for fold-back, 12 JBL SRX 725 enclosures and 10 JBL SRX 728s. All these systems had been powered by a combination of amplifiers from

Monitors • JBL VRX 915 (16) • EAW Micro wedge 15 (4) • JBL SRX 725 (12) • JBL SRX 728 (10) Amplifiers • Power Soft K10 • Power Soft K 8 • Power Soft K 6 • Crest 9001 • Crown

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• INSTALLS • Crest, Crown and Powersoft, while all the sound produced was mixed by a blend of digital and analogue desks that comprised an Avid Venue SC48, a Yamaha M7CL, a Soundcraft MH2 and two Soundcraft GB8s.

With a view to matching and supporting the event's scale, a 100 by 80 feet high-tech motorized truss had been installed to illuminate the stage from every corner.

For Guddu Bhai - as the AV installer is fondly known in town - the event managers of the show had a clear idea of what they wanted at the venue; the sound had to be loud yet pleasing and acoustically pristine too, besides being uniform all over the venue. That they were ably helped by EAW engineer James Bemlett who is an ASP specialist, and Poncho (Gopinathan) and Roshan Malim of E&E Systems (India) Pvt Ltd EAW's India partner - the install came up meticulous.

"This was not the first time that E&E extended support to us, this has been so ever since we purchased the EAW KF 760 system from them," affirms Guddu Bhai, "in fact, we were so pleased with the response of the KF 760 and the support provided by E&E we decided to further supplement our audio inventory by adding EAW KF 740 line array too, to enable us handle such big events."

From providing the basic design and drawings to installation, the

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• INSTALLS •

programming team used a total of 5 Mixing Consoles: one each of Digi Design Venue SC48; Yamaha M7CL; SoundCraft MH2; and two units of Sound Craft GB8.

The lighting component was fulfilled by a total of 16 Deliya beams of 300W, eight Scanners of 1200W, four Sky trackers, two Sky Rose & a total of 12 Moving Heads.

That it was a hugely important State event, it had as its chief guest Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Gadkari, while almost entire council of ministers led by State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides many other political stalwarts held the ranks.

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• INSTALLS •

AbhangaNaad:

The Voice of Devotion

The sprawling Shivaji University Grounds in Kolhapur, the culture-rich southwest corner city of Maharashtra, recently reverberated with 'dhankars of devotion' in what was acclaimed as AbhangaNaad - meaning the 'voice of devotion' - in the most unique fashion that it echoed into the Guinness Book of Records. Massive in size and scale with 'Sound and Light,' it had a lot to rave about. Hear the dhankar…

The name of the event itself implies it AbhangaNaad, a sound that is unbroken and uninterrupted; for a nation so deeply rooted in spirituality, it is the attunement of voice of devotion while the scale and specs say the spread.

For as many as around 2500 Warkaris (spiritually charged devotees of Lord Vithoba), performing in union to an accompaniment of as many as 1350 'dhols' on a stage measuring 60m x 24m x 4.5m stretching as much as 60,000 square feet, and to an audience of over 1.5 lakh that spread over a huge 20-acre land, besides a jaw-dropping number of three million television viewers across country- all tell it all.

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Conceptualized and executed by the Art of Living Foundation recently, and aimed at sensitizing Indian youth to its folk traditions and heritage, the event became a resounding success as much for its audio scaling as its content. The size and scale of the event sounded its place into the Guinness Book for its record performance.

Audio provision for an event of such proportion obviated not only massive but meticulous system. The task was entrusted to Mumbai-based Sound&Light Professionals who roped in DAS Audio Aero 48 Line Array sound reinforcement system.

The concert took place on a magnificent multi-tier stage that measured approx. 200 feet wide and 80 feet deep, and raised 15 feet up.

Bringing in various formats of Indian heritage and culture was the adornment of the stage with sculptures from different temples and replicas of Lord Mahalaxmi, Jotiba, and Vitthal. In the accompaniment of a huge choir and drums that cast a dynamically throbbing ambience all over, noted devotional singers Ajit Karkare, Balasaheb Waikar, and Tukaram Powar crooned abhangs and bhajans, much to the spiritual fervour of the audiences.

• INSTALLS • For the primary FOH hangs, the S&L Pros. team - that comprised system engineer OS Cijith, FOH mix engineer Ramdas Kalasker, and stage engineer Pramod Vetker, besides their director Manish Mavani - flew four loudspeaker clusters per left-right side- each consisting of eight D.A.S. Audio Aero 48 large format line array elements. For center fill coverage, the S&Light Pros team deployed an additional stack of four Aero 48's which were all together augmented by a series of D.A.S. Aero CA-28 line array modules spread across the front of the stage for front fill coverage. Three delay towers - each with eight D.A.S. Audio Aero 48's and positioned roughly 150 feet apart completed the setup.

For powering the musicians' and vocalists' monitoring system, S&L Pros' team placed another 20 custom loudspeaker columns that consisted of a combination of D.A.S. Audio's Avant 12A powered 2-way loudspeaker enclosures and S&L Ps' own proprietary loudspeakers. Lab Gruppen PLM 10000Q Powered Loudspeaker management systems and XTA DP448 processors completed the system.

AbhangaNaad: The Voice of Devotion came to be a resounding success that brought His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, along with record numbers of musicians and vocalists together for a concert that reached a record setting audience.

Says Mavani: "Our aim was to ensure every note from the stage - be it the choir of 2500 vocalists, the drum beats of the 1000 plus drummers, or the soft meditative speech of Guruji -reached the audience in its proper dynamic and presence. This is where the D.A.S. Audio Aero 48's versatility showed up brilliantly."

According to him, some of the performers initially had concerns over how their singing would come out over the sound system, they were, however, amazed at the clarity achieved- all due to the exceptional horizontal coverage of the Aero 48's.

The exhilarating experience of the audience was evident in the raptures they displayed.

According to the S&L Pros. team, the fact that the venue grounds were arranged in two levels posed a unique challenge. More, that the stage stretched over 200 feet in width, the sound convergence at the center of the ground from the left-right stacks posed additional issues. Fortunately, the EASE Focus calibrated calculations and the broad horizontal dispersion of the Aero 48's reportedly helped did the honours for spreading the sound evenly throughout the coverage area.

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• SPECIAL FEATURE •

Alcons Breaks New Ground

Soldaat van Oranje Comes Alive, Anew

In what has been acclaimed to be a groundbreaking install and theatrical production in recent times, Alcons Audio added yet another feather in its cap with too many distinct credentials. 'Soldaat van Oranje' - as the famous war theme programme is known - came alive anew in a makeshift aircraft hanger in Valkenburg, Leiden in the Netherlands. While the production was awesome, what contributed to its being so was Alcons.

Jeroen ten Brinke is one of The Netherlands' most experienced theatre sound designers, with a raft of hit productions to his name such as Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, The Wiz and Ciske de Rat. His latest project held many technical challenges and took him into uncharted territory. A total of close to 100 Alcons Audio proribbon LR14 array cabinets went with him on this extraordinary journey to form part of a truly groundbreaking audio system.

Soldaat van Oranje (De Musical), based on the book by Erik Hazelhoff Roelfsema (himself a Word War II hero) and the film of the same name, has already seen more than 200,000 visitors pass through its doors. It tells the story of a group of Dutch students in the Second World War, each of whom follows a different path during the conflict, either as a collaborator or as part of the resistance under Nazi occupation. To accommodate its sheer size, the production is housed in a

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converted aircraft hangar at a former military aerodrome in Valkenburg, near the city of Leiden.

It is performed in the round - but with a twist. The raked audience seating sits on a large revolving turntable in the middle of the hangar, with the perimeter divided up into a number of

different stage sets, including a lifelike sea. A turntable measuring over 30 metres in diameter allows the seating to revolve from scene-to-scene and 180 degree video projection, and the actors walking between the sets maintains continuity as the 1100strong audience revolves.

• SPECIAL FEATURE • The production's size - this is by far the biggest theatre show The Netherlands has seen - is matched by its technical complexity. "It was a project that couldn't be done 'by the book', because there is no book for this," says Jeroen. "Surround sound was essential and my first idea was to place all speakers on the revolving turntable. However, because of the weight and the momentum when turning the wheel, that wasn't feasible."

The solution was a huge surround system fed via an optical cable, fitted on a drum system that turns through a total of 7,000 degrees to avoid the possibility of breakage. Supply and installation was performed by Amsterdam-based Focus Advanced Event Technologies with Meyer Sound's D-Mitri chosen for audio processing and distribution, with an LCS Cue-Console the choice for the Front of House position, this being the only desk that could accommodate the number of inputs and outputs needed with the required audio quality to get the maximum out of the Alcons pro-ribbon arrays and ClickTracks program utilised for effects.

Each scene features an L-C-R array of Alcons LR14 pro ribbon loudspeakers, plus a 15" sub, 14 arrays in all, with additional fill and delay cabinets. The LR14s are driven by 30 ALC4 amplified loudspeaker controllers. A huge, 144 x 144 matrix routes audio from the actors and a hidden band to the main loudspeaker system and three delay arrays of three further LR14s each.

The system is configured so that, as the seating revolves, the right-hand array from the previous scene becomes the left array of the next one and the quality of the Alcons LR14s was crucial in making these transitions smooth and lifelike.

"I chose the LR14 because of its linear response and exceptional sound quality," Jeroen continues. "As the audience is moving round, the change from listening to one cluster to another is hardly audible. And as we move the sound across the arrays, it is a remarkably smooth transition from one to the next. You would have expected much more drastic phase behaviour while the audience was moving, but the sound is extremely smooth and stable throughout."

Jeroen has been specifying Alcons systems for some time, because of both the quality of the product and the flexibility of the company.

"They are always ready to go that extra mile to help and ensure that the systems deliver the very best sound," he states. "I love the sound of Alcons loudspeakers, the high end is so open and clean and speech intelligibility is excellent at both high and low SPLs. This is a very varied production, even the styles of music change from scene to scene, so the main system had to be highly adaptable."

And Alcons founder Tom Back is delighted to support Jeroen in this unique project.

"It is great to have Alcons loudspeakers as the main house system on Soldaat van Oranje," he says. "The story is part of The Netherlands heritage and that is important to us as a local manufacturer.

The fact that it is a technical production that people will be talking about for years only makes us more proud to be part of it. Jeroen, along with operators Chiel Blaauw and Jos Diergaarde, who were also part of the development team, have done a tremendous job."

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• INSTALLS •

Dubai Rocks for Concert

Peace One Day in the Desert Dubai Aviation Club - the most premier and sought after leisure venue in the desert city recently turned host to an unprecedented event that broke new ground on many counts.

First ever such event in the splurging hub, and the largest show ever to be staged at the venue, with the biggest and most sophisticated array of production equipment, it involved some intense logistics, imagination, foresight, hard work and collective energy to produce a truly unique event. An SS account.

Fifteen leading production and technical services companies including Al Laith Event Services, Creative Technology, Delta Sound, EFM Event Logistics and Neumann & Müller Event Technology - supplied equipment, crew, skills, resources, expertise - and substantial energy free of charge - to create a stunning show environment for three days of action-packed concerts staged at Dubai's Aviation Club.

The first night was headlined by popular singer/songwriter Ali Campbell, founder of UB40.

Set against the current backdrop of mass protests, civil unrest, violence, military offensives and the desire for

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• INSTALLS • political change in key areas of the Middle East, a resonance and urgency was added to the values embraced by Peace One Day (www.peaceoneday.org) and the importance of boosting public awareness of its goals.

The concept for the Concerts - which also lined up a host of local talent including Juliana Down, Absolace, The Brownies, Maplejacks, The Shine, and many others - was germinated by Jo Marshall from Al Laith Event Services, who is a passionate supporter of Peace One Day. Timing wise, he thought it would be ideal to stage the first night Concert alongside the annual EFM Party, a social and networking event with some serious gravitas hosted by the international freighting and logistics specialist, EFM. This has evolved into a bit of a phenomenon, becoming a must-go destination for the moversand-shakers of the region's busy event industry.

Marshall states, "we have a reputation for staging world class events here in the UAE and neighbouring countries, so this seemed an ideal opportunity to help raise the profile of a great cause, in the process showcasing the premium standards and quality of work that companies and individuals based here can produce".

Marshall initially shared the idea with Mike Llewellyn, Group Managing Director at EFM who was equally as enthusiastic. A list of EFM's top clients was drawn up, which included Al Laith and the 3 other main sponsors plus several others, who were asked if they wanted to get involved. Marshall was "Really impressed" by the response.

"Absolutely everyone was up for it!" he reports.

Laith (staging, structures and production infrastructure), soon confirmed were Delta Sound (audio), CT (video) and Neumann & Müller (lighting). HQ Creative came onboard to handle production management, with a team led by Nadine Manning, plus 9 other sponsors, who contributed backline (Musician's Warehouse), furniture (Harlequin), draping, dressing and starcloths (Showtex), crewing (Gulf Crewing), site power and distribution (Gulf Show Power), branding and printing (Prolab), etc. Artist booking and liaison was handled by The Aviation Club.

The Concert broke new ground in being the first ever such event in Dubai, and the largest show ever to be staged at The Aviation Club, with the biggest and most sophisticated array of production equipment.

It involved some intense logistics, imagination, foresight, hard work and collective energy to produce a truly unique event. Such was the success, reception and reactions, that plans are already being formulated to make it an annual landmark.

"It is the most enjoyable project I've ever worked on" said Marshall after the first night - a feeling echoed by all who helped make it happen, together with hugely positive feedback from the public and those who attended and enjoyed.

Staging & Structures Al Laith team was headed by Ross Cameron. Their biggest logistical

challenge was that there was absolutely no spare space on site, so each truckload of equipment (up to 6 a day for a week) had to contain exactly the right kit for the next stage of the build process. Each stage had to be rigorously completed before the elements needed for the next could be parked up and offloaded.

The stage and dance floor area immediately in front of it was constructed over an artificial pond and water feature, with a rocky edge, so all the decking - standard steel cup-lock had to be customised to deal with the uneven topography and the kidney shape of the platform that maximised the space. They also had to be respectful of the environment which is home to a colony of terrapins and ducks!

A 3-bay 20 metre wide Space Roof was installed, a tricky operation due to the restricted space, but achieved in two days with the help of an 160 tonne crane from Johnson's. The long reach crane was necessary as it could not be positioned conveniently close to lift the roof over the stage due to the pond!

Cameron and his 40 Al Laith crew which included 8 climbers led by Simon Carr also erected a 3 storey FOH tower and a seven metre high projection platform beside it, to house 2 x Christie 20K projectors used to screen the preshow Peace One Day video.

They positioned one of Al Laith Site Services' Flatpack portable cabins just

From there a truly remarkable, almost magical, synergy developed, which spread infectiously to other service companies and production suppliers, getting the ball rolling and a buzz in the air.

Marshall particularly wanted to emphasise the single technical discipline expertise and knowledge available in the UAE. In addition to Al

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• INSTALLS • He had 55 moving lights at his disposal - a mix of VariLite 3000 Spots, Martin MAC 700 Washes and Profiles and A&O 4K Falcon Beams. Also on the rig were 4-lites, Atomic Strobes and 16 bars of 6 PARs, all of which was arranged on 3 overhead straight trusses and 2 raked side trusses sub hung from the Space Roof.

His aim was to get lights in positions for good overall stage coverage and to create an interesting looking back wall, which also included 9 columns of white Stealth screen from CT.

off the stage left ramp, which is an efficient eight-person lift and was assembled in under five minutes, in which CT set up Video Central.

Another four cabins were supplied for the production office, artist dressing rooms and green room zone, along with a 3 x 3 metre air conditioned 'chill tent'. Al Laith worked alongside 12 members of Gulf Crewing.

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Lighting Neumann & Müller brought in Nick Jevons from the UK as 'production visuals designer'.

Jevons was given a blank canvas and a kit list as his starting points, from which he designed a fabulous looking rig - also including video elements - to cater for all the artists.

The back wall lights were arranged on a series of trusses hung below one other, giving a tasty looking multilevel upstage lighting feature adding depth and elegance to the picture.

The lighting fixtures were interspersed in between the Stealth columns which could be broken up and used in sections - simple and effective, giving a big, dynamic rock 'n' roll feel and a great visual fluidity to the space.

For control, Jevons used an Avolites Pearl Expert with a touch wing.

Utilising the wing to do all his palettes, patching, pre-set focuses and

• INSTALLS • programming freed up the main console for all the memories, making the whole process quick and straightforward, A Martin Maxedia media server operated in stand-alone mode - was supplied by Neumann & Müller to play out content to the Stealth, featuring special clips and footage created for the event by Jevons. This enabled each song to have a distinct look, feel colouration and character of its own.

Two follow spots were supplied as part of the lighting package. Apart from producing spectacular looking effects and plentiful eye-candy moments, all performers were perfectly key lit and toned for the video shoot, which will be edited for a DVD. Jevons, who has worked on several major projects in the UAE comments, "This was a very special event with an amazing atmosphere and lots of nice people who really know their stuff. It was a real honour to be part of it".

Drapes & Dressing The LED animation starcloths supplied

by Showtex filled the inside stage left and right sides, adding a stylish finishing touch that ensured there were no 'black voids' for the cameras.

With 30 individually controllable LEDs per square metre, these can be pixel mapped and driven by any media server. In this case it was an Arkaos system operated by one of the Showtex crew.

Showtex also supplied 300 metres of truss sleeves, tailor made from a special knit black trevira which stretches over various diameter trusses. Ribs at regular intervals help diffuse light from truss warmers along the length of the trussing span.

Alushape mouldable fabric, which comes in a roll and is scrunched up to produce a cotton wool like effect which can be shaped to anything and takes light beautifully.

high, and these were used for a 3camera IMAG mix, directed by Eduardo Ferrari. he used a GV Kayak mixer/switcher stationed in the stage left portable cabin.

Finally, Showtex installed three 3.5 x 2.5 metre back lit Peace One Day internally lit branding cubes out in the audience area. The printed fabric is fitted into the frames via a push system needing no tools, and the cube's profile is angled at 45 degrees to avoid shadows being cast onto the fascias by the lighting fixtures.

They also supplied the 2 x Christie 20K HD projectors for FOH projection onto a stretched white Showtex kabuki which was jettisoned at the end of the Peace One Day showreel as Campbell and his band took to the stage. They performed a stonking set that energised the audience with numerous UB40 classics and crowdpleasers.

Video In addition to the onstage Stealth screen, CT supplied 2 side screens made up from Lighthouse R7 surface, each measuring 6 panels wide by 5

All things video were connected via a site-wide fibre system. An 103 inch plasma screen was installed in a central location on the adjacent Aviation Club

The kabuki was made from a white polystretch material, which is ideal for projection. It was tensioned and anchored by 8 electric kabuki points which were released together, pinging it rapidly and spectacularly into the centre of the stage mouth, from where it dropped neatly to the floor just clear of the front edge of the stage.

The ingenious snow/foam effect that dressed the risers was created from

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• INSTALLS • pool deck where the EFM party was rocking. This showed a TX relay of the performance to amassed revellers.

Once Ali Campbell's set finished, the side screens were used to relay the Champions League football for the many Concert goers who decided to party on at the Irish Village for the rest of the evening.

CT's Damien McGurn says, "This was a brilliant event for many reasons. Apart from Peace One Day being so NOW and relevant, it broke new ground staging a large and fabulous looking and sounding show at this venue".

Audio Delta Sound are one of the best known audio specialists in the Middle East and they supplied an L-Acoustics sound system which was designed by Rob Eatock.

The main left and right hangs were flown just inside the Space Roof, comprising 8 V-DOSC elements each with 3 dv-DOSC downs. Eatock commented on how easy it was to fly the arrays off the Space Roof.

The front fills were two stacks of 3 x dv's, with another 2 stacks of 3 dvs for outfills, complete with 6 x SB218 subs per side, ground stacked, for a nice big, bold bottom end.

The FOH desk was an Avid Profile, which was specified by Ali Campbell's engineer Dan Bartley, on which he took

advantage of all the onboard processing and effects. A Yamaha PM 5D was used for monitors, mixed by Carl Rosamond for Ali Campbell and Delta's Rob Turner for all the other bands.

The monitors supplied were 12 x Audio Analysts FR12 wedges, together with L-Acoustics ARCS side fills, with Campbell and band bringing their own Sennheiser IEM and wireless mic systems. For all the others, Delta supplied a standard mics-and-stands package with an assortment from all the leading brands. Campbell was backed by a 10 piece band.

A major challenge for sound - apart from having to trim a few trees to clear the speaker lines - was to ensure that everyone at the EFM Party across to stage right, also had full sonic enjoyment of the show whilst still being able to hold an audible conversation - a task achieved with considerable flair, judicious focusing and fine-tuning of the system.

Andy Jackson, MD of Delta Sound UAE shared the positive post show vibes, saying "it was an absolute pleasure to be associated with such a fantastic evening, and work with so many motivated people, all focussed on providing the great production values for which we are known."

EFM Party The EFM Party started as a largely local affair four years ago, and right from

the off was such a success that it quickly became an annual event industry milestone. This year it took a quantum leap forward in conjunction with the Concert in support of Peace One Day. Being on the international guest list became a red hot ticket in town as people clamoured to enjoy superlative hospitality and a great evening's entertainment in the very pleasant environs of the pool deck right next door to the stage.

EFM Director Lisa Ryan says, "the Concert was a great boost to the profile of the EFM Party, and a brilliant idea with much future potential . We were all delighted to be a sponsor and offer our guests the opportunity to enjoy the Ali Campbell show - which looked and sounded amazing - as a part of a memorable evening".

EFM's Mike Llewellyn stated, "there is little more I can add to the fantastically positive response to this event, other than to say that each and every one of the sponsors and crew has done themselves proud".

Apart from being a major success, The Concert brought a fresh, invigorating and different impetus to the UAE production scene. The atmosphere was incredible and there were many happy, smiley people at the end of it, not least Jo Marshall.

He summates, "the teamwork was outstanding. While everyone concentrated on making their own dedicated areas work, when needed, they also pitched in and helped one another, all of which made the production run like a dream.

Everyone's had a great time .... and we now have a solid foundation on which to build future Peace One Day live events in the UAE".

While the co-operation, spirit and harmony between all the companies, individuals and departments was an invigorating shared professional and personal experience, it has also helped put the principals and aspirations of the Peace One Day organisation in front of several thousand new and potential supporters.

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The A/V Medicine to Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceutical industry is one of the major industry segments driving audio-visual technology innovation. More so, in the fast-paced modern world where critical decisions and debates are linked directly or indirectly to the time and money invested. It is in this light, the industry is increasingly leveraging A/V technology to better itself from time to time.

Web conferencing, webcasting, podcasting and recorded web events offer pharmaceutical marketers cost and time savings over traditional face-to-face communications, while increasing audience participation and attention.

Those are the key findings of "Online Events for the Pharmaceutical Industry: It's All In The Numbers!," a comparative analysis of live online and OnDemand delivery of pharmaceutical marketing and product information versus traditional methods, published today

by The Maxwell Group, a leading producer of pharmaceutical web conferences, webcasts, podcasts and OnDemand events.

The study investigates newer web technologies as "turn-key" services allowing for timelier, more reliable, easier communications within industry. The primary technologies discussed are: live events including web conferencing-designed for smaller groups (250 or fewer) and which encourage two-way interaction between the presenter and audience, and webcasting-which deliver one-way communication from presenter to large audiences; and OnDemand programs, including recordings of previously live programs that are hosted on a web site for viewing at the participant's discretion, and podcasts-portable files that may be downloaded to a subscriber's computer or portable media player. Podcasts are offered by subscription service and provide alerts regarding the availability of new content in the areas of interest to the subscriber.

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Maxwell's analysis indicates that online programs, live or OnDemand, advance pharmaceutical business objectives more efficiently than traditional, face-to-face communications in five key areas: Direct-to-Physician MarketingMaxwell's analysis shows that live online and OnDemand programs are better attended with an average attendance of 75 participants at a typical 60-minute live online event and an unlimited capacity for OnDemand programs. In contrast, the typical dinner meeting averages 15 physicians at twice the cost of the live online meeting and a significantly higher cost per contact. The analysis further indicates that only 12% of all sales calls result in a live meeting with physicians with an average sales call duration of 30 seconds to 3 minutes while 45% of physicians are using the Internet to seek out information about disease states and product benefits.

Direct-to-Consumer Marketing and Education-the analysis indicates that 80% of Internet users-74 million consumers-have searched for health information online. 1 in 5 have sought out health and treatment

advice from other online consumers.

64% have researched specific prescription drug information. With Direct-to-Consumer advertising driving 44% of consumers to the product website, Maxwell suggests a comprehensive web communication strategy may enable pharmaceutical marketers to increase demand and consumer interest in products and to increase interactions with consumers via access to key opinion leaders and streamlined access to consumers with similar interests.

Clinical Training and Communications - the study indicates that online events may be used to positively impact the efficiency of the clinical process, supporting activities such as physician/hospital recruitment, site training and communication, and study subject focus groups. Replacing or enhancing traditional trial communications with live and OnDemand events has been shown to boost trial participation, increase retention rates and reduce costs-as this study indicates, a single live online event attended by 100 clinicians may be produced at 16% of the cost of a typical, 50-person dinner meeting.

AMX Expands Operations in India AMX, the leading provider of solutions that simplify implementation, maintenance, and use of technology to create effective environments, has set out to expand its operations in India significantly. The first measure of the American automation major in this direction was to expand its physical base in the country- with a new, state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru.

Located on M G Road, in the heart of the central commercial district in the country’s silicon capital, the new facility will allow AMX to broaden its operations in India and service the audio-visual needs of emerging markets. The 4,745 square-foot facility will serve as the company’s main hub in India and includes a fully equipped training center and spacious showroom to demonstrate its high performance, integrated AV-IT solutions.

“India is an important growth market for us,” said AMX President and CEO Rashid Skaf. “With this new facility AMX is expanding its commitment to the Indian market, putting us on course for significant growth in the years ahead.”

In the last three years AMX India has made its mark with major installations in bodies of government and defense, leading hotels and corporations - particularly those focused in IT and banking - and housing.

Speaking of the expansion, Mayank Gupta, Country Manager, AMX India said: “AMX India is proud of its exponential growth since our expansion into the country. With the escalating demand for high-performance control and automation solutions we are expecting continued revenue growth moving forward.”

Founded in 1982, AMX solves the complexity of managing this technology with reliable, consistent and scalable systems. Its awardwinning products span control and automation, system-wide switching and audio/video signal distribution, digital signage and technology management. They are implemented worldwide in conference rooms, homes, classrooms, network operation / command centers, hotels, entertainment venues, broadcast facilities, among others.

Sales Force Training and Communications - as reported, 74% of pharmaceutical training directors, managers and decision makers surveyed said that an online learning format would facilitate better communications, better leverage resources and save time and money.

91% agreed with the importance of leveraging the latest technologies for "rapid knowledge transfer" in the industry's quickly changing environment. (Larstan Business Reports) Maxwell's study examines how implementation of a web-based strategy for sales training and communication may increase participation, increase reach-as web technologies remove geographic barriers, and reduce costs. Maxwell's

cost analysis indicates that a live online event to 500 sales representatives may be produced at 1/ 3 the cost of the traditional dinner meeting to the same 500. An OnDemand event can be produced with a managed service provider for 55% of the cost and offers an unlimited attendance capacity.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) - Maxwell's analysis shows that more than 19% of CME programs are now conducted online. 50% of traditional CME attendees plan to increase their online attendance and more than 75% of physicians plan to complete more hours of CME online next year. Implementing a web-based CME program allows companies to

increase physician participation, increase message effectiveness through multimedia, and increase reach-reaching more physicians in shorter time periods and without regard to geography-while reducing costs. As reported, a live online CME event to 150 physicians may be accomplished for 18% of the cost for a traditional 25-person face-to-face program.

Maxwell's study also includes and a discussion of managed service versus "do-it-yourself" event production, an overview of the landscape of online event vendors, best practices for each solution area, and detailed cost analyses for each of the five key areas noted above.

Global Forex Trading Powered

by Crestron Crestron is helping Global Forex Trading, one of the largest currency trading platforms in the world, meet its objectives for a new digital AV infrastructure at its new headquarters facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To support an array of audio/video requirements today and into the future, Global Forex Trading selected Crestron DigitalMedia.

Unlike trading in stocks and commodities, there are no central exchanges for trading currencies.

Global Forex Trading facilitates direct client-to-client trades through its extensive DealBook online trading platform. With the stress of operating in the high-pressure environment of Forex trading, GFT management needed an AV system that would provide reliable high performance no matter what type of video signals were being used.

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"Time is of the essence in this business.

You will make it or break it based on how quickly you can make decisions," said Eric Johns, IT Facilities Manager at Global Forex Trading. "We wanted to be able to handle any kind of media in high definition - satellite news, HD videoconferencing, Blu-ray, and even entertainment media down in our cafe area."

video conferencing systems integrated seamlessly into the DigitalMedia platform for use in conference rooms and offices. End users of any technical level can intuitively control a video conference from a Crestron touch screen, and switch to any of seven additional video sources while showing the same or different sources on each display in the room.

The Crestron DigitalMedia platform is the only multiroom solution that carries virtually any mix of digital and analog AV signals including uncompressed 1080p HD video with Deep Color, 3D video, and 1900 x 1200 computer signals, plus HD digital audio, control, data, and Ethernet, all over a single shielded twisted pair wire or CresFiber 8G. The high tech facility features 20 conference rooms and offices outfitted with new AV systems, including an executive conference center, a training center, sales and marketing conference centers and employee lounge areas. There's also a four-screen video wall in the lobby, which displays news sources, currency prices and charts from DealBook.

Since everyone at GFT is a potential user of the system, whether participating in a videoconference or making a presentation, the ease-of-use has proven valuable. "We're not all IT people," Johns adds. "We don't want a meeting with a high value client to crash because the person leading it isn't a computer genius."

Viewing real-time data from DealBook is the lifeline to the fast-moving foreign exchange market. "We had three directives in designing this AV system," says Kirk Griffes, Systems Engineer and programmer for Michigan-based systems integrator, Bluewater Technologies. "The design had to be high-definition, 100% bulletproof, and easy to use."

DigitalMedia technology also overcomes the common problems with HDMI, including limited transmission distances, problems with HDCP copy protection, and EDID resolution management issues. "I've run into problems with every ordinary HDMI switcher I've ever used," says Griffes.

"The fact is, DigitalMedia just works and that in itself is fantastic," Griffes said. "There's no other technology out there that works so simply for digital video and audio, especially in a matrix switching configuration."

With a worldwide customer base, Global Forex Trading relies heavily on video conferencing. Tandberg HD

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Extron Gets US Patent for Flat Field Speaker Technology Extron Electronics is pleased to announce that it has been granted a United States Patent for its Flat Field速 Technology. Flat Field is an Extron exclusive loudspeaker technology that helps sound system designers address an important challenge: ensuring uniform delivery of audio content to all participants in a classroom, conference room, or boardroom.

While this can be achieved by spacing a sufficient number of ceiling speakers throughout the room, designers often have to limit the quantity of speakers due to budget concerns. The result is inadequate coverage where the level is too high in some areas and too low in others. Flat Field Technology solves this problem with a proprietary speaker design that

produces even sound pressure levels over a sound field much wider than a conventional ceiling speaker. With this uniform sound distribution, two Flat Field speakers can deliver the same audio coverage that would have required four or more typical ceiling speakers. This technology is available in the Extron FF 120, FF 120T, and FF 220T ceiling tile speakers.

"AV system designers are frequently challenged with delivering optimized speaker coverage without gaps or hot spots in rooms with low ceilings," says Casey Hall, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Extron. "Extron's patented Flat Field Technology not only provides wide coverage for improved sound quality, but we've incorporated it into an easy-to-install, drop-in speaker enclosure that saves time and money."

The Extron FF 120, FF 120T, and FF 220T are full-range ceiling tile speakers featuring Extron patented Flat Field Technology that deliver consistent sound levels across the listening area, reducing the number of speakers required to deliver uniform sound field coverage. They also offer an extraordinarily wide dispersion area of 170 degrees, providing a very wide room coverage pattern, which is especially important for rooms with low ceilings. The FF 120 and FF 120T feature an Extron exclusive, 1' x 2' (30.5 cm x 61 cm) by 3.25" (8.3 cm) aluminized composite enclosure, while the FF 220T features a larger 2' x 2' (61 cm x 61 cm) enclosure. They are UL 2043 plenum rated and sized to drop easily into standard suspended ceilings, providing quicker installations and reduced labor costs. With low profile enclosures, these speakers are excellent choices for ceiling installations with tight above-the-ceiling space issues.

Matrix StIM:

Choice of Redstone Arsenal high-resolution and highly realistic visualizations, so the resulting test data is valid and can be used towards improving current and developing future technologies for Army Aviation."

Christie was the "clear" choice for the US Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) with a revolutionary DLP and LED solution for its Battlefield Highly Immersive Virtual Environment (BHIVE). AMRDEC replaced its aging, conventional lamp-based projectors with six Christie Matrix StIM projectors.

Christie's excellent reputation in the military and simulation industries, and its position as the first to deliver an LED solution that keeps performance up and operating costs down, were key deciding factors.

AMRDEC, housed within Redstone Arsenal - 'the heart of the Army's rocket and missile programs,' - is the Army's focal point for providing research, development, engineering and technology, and services for aviation and missile platforms. The BHIVE is just one of AMRDEC's capabilities. It's where cockpit configurations, within Engineering Analysis Cockpits, are evaluated using an outside view of a terrain now powered by six Christie Matrix StIM projectors. The screen provides a 70-

degree vertical and 180-degree horizontal field-of-view (FOV), with the dome accommodating five cockpit simulators, each representing a different aircraft. The addition of Christie AutoCal and Christie MotoBlend renders a 180-degree, calibrated, seamless scene.

"The projectors in the Battlefield Highly Immersive Environment within the US Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center's Advanced Prototyping, Engineering and Experimentation Laboratory were about 10-years old and nearing the end of their lifespan. We decided it was necessary, in order to continue accomplishing our mission, that we invest in new display technology and purchased six Christie Matrix StIM LEDbased projectors," said Merv Brokke, AMRDEC spokesperson.

"When Army Aviators conduct missions in the BHIVE's various cockpit simulators, it is vital that our engineers and scientists present them with realistic virtual flight scenarios using

For example, the APEX 2 LAB creates an environment using true-to-life virtual landscapes to evaluate the Pilot-Vehicle interface issues with the proposed cockpit changes. So it is very important to AMRDEC that the outdoor terrain scenes appear as they would in the actual environment and under the same conditions.

This is especially the case when pilots engage in scenarios with highly detailed databases serving as true-tolife visual landscapes. It's crucial that the out-of-the cockpit view accurately represents the location where the pilot is flying the mission.

The Christie Matrix StIM projectors have also been performing well during crew station working group meetings (CSWG). These experimental sessions draw on the expertise of many people including engineers, user representatives and operational pilots who remotely observe what the pilot sees inside and outside the cockpit and how the pilot performs. These 'test factors' allow pilots to fly as near-toreal missions as possible.

A typical CSWG lasts up to four consecutive days with the Christie Matrix StIM projectors beaming outdoor images onto the dome seven hours each day.

"Christie is proud to offer AMRDEC a purpose-built solution that delivers the most accurate analysis and training that prepares pilots for success in the field," added Zoran Veselic, vice president for Visual Environments at Christie. "The Christie Matrix StIM's solid-state DLP速 platform, with LED illumination rated at 50,000 hours MTBF, supports AMRDEC's goals to provide the most realistic training possible. The solution is 'green' and keeps operating costs down, while keeping pilot performance up."

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Christie's Vision for the Decade Global leader visual display solutions leader Christie unveiled its new vision post its successful show at InfoComm China in Beijing. The company unveiled its business growth strategy for China as it steers toward its 10th anniversary in August this year.

One crowd puller at the Christie booth was the deployment of 70 Christie MicroTiles to form a visually arresting sight of the company signage using vividly designed graphics of moving marine life and greenery to depict the 'green technology' behind Christie's range of display solutions.

Throughout the three show days, the Christie booth was packed with visitors from leading organizations in China including procurers representing multinational companies, government bodies, and education institutions.

"InfoComm China has been a good networking platform for us to interact with people in the industry and catch up with our partners and suppliers from China and Asia Pacific who visited the show," said Lin Yu, vice president of sales, Christie Asia Pacific. "We also conducted several product demonstrations to show our cutting-edge visual solutions to potential customers."

"Today's customers are increasingly searching for design concepts as well as complete solutions for their visual display needs. This requires creative thinking associated with knowledge of the newest technology. In addition, complete solutions and systems are crucial that we must give emphasis to certain technical specifications during the demonstrations, so that the customers could gain a better understanding of the innovative technology and high quality that comes with every Christie product," she explained.

Christie also conducted two seminars at InfoComm China Summit 2011. The first, "Using Display Technologies to Create Unforgettable Experiences," presented by April Qin, business products sales manager of Christie China, focused on the future in visual technologies development, placing particular emphasis on shape as an

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upcoming trend. Bart Kresa, a USbased projection designer, together with Ken Wheatley, sales director of business products, Christie Asia Pacific, jointly presented a seminar on "Cutting-edge Display Technologies."

Using examples from several prominent projections done around the world, the attendees were given an overview of how display technologies had re-defined visual experiences and caused radical shifts in entertainment displays, particularly over the last 10 years.

"I feel so privileged to be invited by Christie to InfoComm China 2011 in Beijing. I have the opportunity to not only share with the local experts some of the work I have done but it is fascinating to see the latest development in visual solution technology. I am surprised to see the number of attendees to the seminar this morning, which in turn shows that environmental projection is becoming a fashionable trend in China. In the upcoming years I believe lots of exciting innovation and uses of new technology will be fully used in many new and different creative ways," said Bart Kresa.

times in the same period. Advanced technology in products and display systems, responsive and responsible customer services as well as a collaborative team spirit among members of the Christie China team are critical factors that contributed to the company's success in the past.

"These dynamics would still be relevant, if not imperative, to Christie's continued growth in the years ahead.

Our challenges for the future, though different, would not be any less demanding compared to what we had to surmount when we first started," said Frank Xiao, general manager of Christie China.

Planning a New Decade of Growth for Christie China

"For one, we have to continue our efforts at building the Christie brand in China. This is a process that will not stop and even though presently, Christie is a very well-regarded brand here, having been the only projector company that was exclusively selected for the staging of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Summer games and the Expo event in Shanghai last year, we have to keep on our efforts to increase our brand equity at the same time as we channel our resources towards safeguarding our corporate reputation," Xiao observed.

Christie has, since its entry into China 10 years ago, experienced phenomenal growth with turnover having increased by more than 25

"Beyond that, we need to introduce products that are relevant to the requirements and desires of our customers in China. Customers in China

today are quite different from ten years ago and we have to constantly strive to meet, if not surpass, their expectations.

I like to express my appreciation to all our distributors in China as well as to all members of Christie China for contributing to the success of Christie in the last ten years. Without the dedicated service you have consistently given to our customers, I am sure our accomplishments would not have been as glorified, "continued Xiao.

To buttress its leading role and competitiveness in the market, Christie has invested in building a manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, which began operations in November last year. This is Christie's first production plant outside of Canada and as part of its global strategy to secure more savings and better service to our customers in Asia Pacific and China, the company has decided on locating this plant in China.

"China is presently the single largest market for Christie in Asia Pacific with manifold opportunities. We will continue to augment our efforts in bringing the best and latest technologies that Christie has to offer to the Chinese market. At the same time, we aim towards building a first-class customer service and technical service team in our market segments for Asia Pacific, including China, in the next couple of years. This will form part of our strategy to cement our growth for Christie in this region," Lin disclosed.

InfoComm's Event for MEA Marketplace After countless requests from exhibitors over the last two years, InfoComm International is delighted to confirm that it is launching a tradeshow for the Middle East, Africa and Gulf region in Dubai, the region's most powerful trade hub.

InfoComm Middle East & Africa (IFMEA) will take place from October 9-13, 2011 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. A joint venture between InfoCommAsia and Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will be co-located and jointly promoted with GITEX TECHNOLOGY

WEEK, the largest ICT event for the region. IFMEA 2011 will draw the attention of the 130,000+ attendees who are expected to visit GITEX to the power of professional AV products and solutions.

•

Co-location with GITEX will expose 130,000+ attendees to the power of AV solutions

•

New show satisfies substantial lobbying from leading manufacturers

•

Event perfectly placed for the convergence of AV systems with IT networks

"IFMEA is born out of a marriage of strengths," comments Terry Friesenborg, Senior VP of International Development, InfoComm International. "Dubai World Trade Centre is the most established and influential organiser of tradeshows for the Middle East and Gulf region, while as an industry body, InfoComm has been providing education and certification for the pro-AV industry since 1939, as well as organizing its own highly successful series of tradeshows and other events throughout the world."

Trixee Loh, Senior VP, Dubai World Trade Centre affirms the partnership: "Dubai has the infrastructure, the experience and the economic and geographical positioning to bring together all industry sectors covering the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. GITEX is the ultimate business driver and innovator for this enormous and rapidly expanding market and will be the perfect stalwart for such a venerable brand as InfoComm."

Now in its thirty-first year, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK brings manufacturers, developers,

distributors and resellers of business IT solutions together with the region's top influencers and decision makers across a wide range of industry verticals, from IT, banking and finance through to education, hospitality, oil and gas, aviation, retail, government, healthcare and many more. Last year's show saw more than 130,000 attendees from 135 countries converging in Dubai to see products and solutions from over 3,500 exhibitors, occupying some 76,000 square metres of floor space.

Richard Tan, General Manager, InfoCommAsia, says that it not just the scale of GITEX that makes it the perfect companion for IFMEA. "The launch of our event comes at a turning point in the evolution of professional AV," Richard explains.

"The migration of AV products onto IT networks is making systems integration a more net-centric process than ever before. Colocating with GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK therefore makes technology sense as well as business sense -- the two go perfectly hand in hand."

As well as a dedicated showcase for AV products and solutions on the tradeshow floor, IFMEA will feature CTS-accredited education seminars from the InfoComm Academy, along with a variety of opportunities for manufacturers to present their solutions in conferences and training sessions. This combination of networking and education in a market with vast potential has already proved irresistible to many key players in the AV space, as Tan concludes: "Some of the largest companies in our sector, including Mitsubishi, Extron, AMX, Crestron, Wolfvision and Jupiter Systems, have already confirmed their booth space at IFMEA 2011, and we expect many more to sign up now that the show has been officially launched. Our industry has been crying out for an opportunity such as this for some while, and we are looking forward to a successful, empowering and inspiring launch event in October."

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MVE Named Best Managed Service IVCi, LLC, a leading integrator of high definition video conferencing and telepresence solutions, audio visual systems, and managed conferencing services, announced that it has been named one of the best managed conferencing service providers for 2010 by Telepresence and Videoconferencing Insight newsletter.

This is the third consecutive year IVCi has been included on this list.

"We thank VC Insight for recognizing our proven ability to deliver successful video meetings to our clients," said IVCi CEO Robert Swing. "When customers tell us they are able to focus on the meeting itself, while the technology and process are invisible, we know we have succeeded in providing a service that can truly provide the greatest ROI possible on a video investment."

IVCi's MVE service focuses specifically on the application of video: the meeting. Ensuring reliable meetings includes providing a robust, fully managed IP video conferencing network, and all the technology and processes needed to make video a success in any size organization.

"We (VC Insight) take the side of the user and look for innovation, reliability, ease of use, and exceptional customer care from the provider who must offer a global service and 24/7 support. We only look at their offering of services for telepresence and video conferencing. We look for satisfied customers, excellent service and recognition by others in the form of awards or certification. IVCi's MVE managed services meet all of these criteria exceptionally well. We also like IVCi's highly innovative collaboration with Adelman Travel which helps corporate customers improve the work-life balance of their staff and contribute to a better environment," said Richard Line Editor and Publisher Telepresence and Videoconferencing Insight Newsletter.

IVCi's Managed Video Experience (MVE) is a full suite of services that

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ensures each and every video call is successful. MVE provides unparalleled meeting reliability, allowing users to focus on the meeting at hand and not the technology used to make it happen. IVCi's MVE is its next generation of managed conferencing services that provides a complete cloud solution for the implementation and management of a video environment.

Projectiondesign Supports RGB Spectrum Norway's projectiondesign provided their F35wqxgaDLP projectors on the RGB Spectrum stand during InfoComm China 2011.

The F35 wqxga projectors were edge blended onto a 2-meter-wide display replicating an impressive and seamless monitoring scenario. The dynamic display will combine video and computer sources that are managed bythe RGB Spectrum MediaWall 4200 processor.

The F35wqxga projectors are renowned for their high resolution imaging at 2560 x 1600 pixels - near double that of HD. They are designed for graphically challenging viewing applicationsincluding command and control, process monitoring, operations and review with no compromise on image quality. Direct customer benefits includereduced system complexity, lowered operational costs, and greatly simplified integration. The F35 wqxga

is covered by an unmatched 24/7 operation warranty.

"This solution we are showing at InfoComm China in conjunction with projectiondesign is ideal for robust 24/7 monitoring and operation," says Scott D. Norder, VP of Marketing at RGB Spectrum. "We see a great fit with projectiondesign F35 wqxgaprojectors to display our high-resolution content from our processors to be shown on a single screen and in any configuration, including custom configuration.

What's more projectiondesign highperformance projectors are to be found in the same sectors we work in, namely military, defense,command and control rooms."

The exhibition is not the only news at the show. projectiondesign has hired Trond Gjelsten, VP Sales, Asia to streamline, develop and grow the company's activity in the Asia Pacific region. Trond joins projectiondesign from a senior role at LEAP Global Limited telecommunications provider, Group Head Infrastructure at CLSA, Asia's Independent Investment Groupand has also held senior area management roles at Cisco/Tandberg.

And the last word goes to Anders Løkke, International Marketing and Communications Manager at projectiondesign who concludes: "Working with RGB Spectrum and the appointment of Trond Gjelstenis reflective of our growth in the Asia Pacific region and there's lots more for people to know, hear, and of course see from projectiondesign in the months to come.In the meantime, we look forward to introducing the local businesses in the China region to our technology, partners and new people at the show!"

• SPECIAL FEATURE •

Essentials of Videoconferencing - The User-Level-II

In the first part of the 'Essentials of Videoconferencing at the User Level,' published in the last issue of OS, we discussed some of the finer aspects of the elementary issues involved in today's video-conferencing. In the second part of the series on the subject, we take you further to the reliability aspect of the video-conferencing network. Read on: If a presenter or teacher is walking away from the Podium / Whiteboard area this might trigger a switch to PTZ Camera #2 and then to presets from IR Motion-Sensors:

As previously noted: There is overlap between the horizontal fields for the four (4) different Zoom levels for these

presets. This is essential and must be planned carefully so as not to lose sight of the person / "human target" for the presets. The Zoom settings establish a horizontal field of view that is also wider than necessary to contain a single person. This allows some shifting and wandering by that person without also requiring constant non-stop re-adjustment to the video camera source device & signals.

over-ride-of these settings). The result: Redundancy (one type of sensor can be used to "back-up" another), Simplicity (the end-users do not have to do anything but "meet" or "present"), and Flexibility (the Presets can be reassigned and the sensors can be moved around at-will [within reason]).

These IR Sensors could be operating intandem with the Pressure Mats, and both could, additionally, be operating along with the triggers that are received from the Microphones. In other words, there is not "a single" mechanism to call-up a camera position and setting (or any other "preset").

There are several mechanisms (the three we are discussing here plus any LCD Touch-screen button interface that might accompany these that also allows modification, adjustment-to, or April-June 2011

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• SPECIAL FEATURE • The preset configuration possibilities when using the Mic triggers might look like:

discussion (the end-user layer of control system design & programming).

Furthermore - When it comes to considering other means by which elements of the systems can be controlled beyond the traditional LCD button-panel touch-screen: The abovelisted cooperative mechanisms are not the only elements that might be considered during design and development. Every effort should be made to determine the efficacy and applicability of other even more advanced means of control, up-to and including Voice-Command and Gesture-Recognition / Control. (NOTE: You must be cautious here, since many of these technologies and their accompanying software-based intelligent mechanisms are in extremely early phases of research & development, and are not at all mature enough to meet the criteria you might set here for predictable, reliable and redundant operation. Great amounts of time and money could be lost following one of these other paths without expert informed reasoned scrutiny of the predicted viability of the technology and of the company that offers it for use. [We at CDG Inc. have lost several tens-of-thousands of dollars purchasing & testing just one of these technologies that did not deliver as specified and promised by the manufacturer]) That being said - Any element or mechanism that can simplify the method by which the system receives and acts-upon a "command" must be explored* in the effort to simplify the presentation of any control elements to the end-users and build "intelligence" into the control layer. *["explored" does not always mean actually "purchased and implemented".]

We can define "reliable" in a couple of different ways. One definition would state that the term "reliable" means "without-failure". In other words, the system elements will perform, and always perform, and will never "fail" in any electronic (hardware) or logical (programmed) manner. O.K. - simple enough. But is it enough? What do we really mean by our use of the word "fail"? Another approach to the term "reliable" is derived from associating this term with another term - "predictable". Why? "Failure" can mean "not working at all", or it might mean "working at the electronic + comm-levels [OSI Layer 16], but with unexpected and undesirable results at the higher enduser level [OSI Layer 7]".

Reliability: Suffice it to say that the elements of any control systems that are to be implemented for any integrated business and organizational mission critical presentation and videoconference communication must be 100% reliable. That is a "given". It serves our purposes here, however, to explore the meaning of the word "reliable" within the context of this specific

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In Essence: It is one thing for a system to execute a command or series of commands as requested (through a button-press or other means discussed in the sections above). It is an entirely different matter to state that the actual result of the command execution will be a system or data "state" that would normally and reasonably be anticipated or expected by an end-user. For instance: If a user is presented with relatively common buttons like these (below) on a panel that is labeled "DVD Player Control" or "VCR Control"…

Rewind

STOP

Play

…then we might reasonably believe that the End-User will interpret these buttons as the functions of "Rewind", "STOP" and "Play", and that most people will be successful in actually operating the DVD or VCR Player using these buttons. If we remove the textual word prompts (not necessarily a good idea), even if it forces a user to "guess" a bit …

…we could probably still count on nearly everyone who is encountering these commonly familiar icon buttons to successfully "Rewind", "Stop" and "Play" a DVD or VCR tape.

Suppose, however, that these buttons were actually assigned their functions as follows:

Repeat

Eject

Next Disk

Text Prompts Removed

In this case I think we can all agree that most [if not all] typical end-users would be confused. Using the nontext-labeled buttons, most people would be quite surprised that when pressing what looks like a common green "Play" button [as it appears on hundreds of other devices that this end-user encounters every day] this means that the disk or tape does NOT "Play" but, instead, the disk suddenly ejects and a second disk or tape in the carousel is inserted in the Player unit and loaded or queued-up, waiting to be played. In other words, it is important not only that "something happen" when we command the system [and essential that something on the panel or screen indicate to the end-users that "things are in process" (such-as "Starting DVD…Please Wait") (more on this later)], it is even more critically important that what "happens" also makes sense and is what we (as end-users) expected to happen. Care must be taken to use icons that are familiar, culturally and regionally neutral, concise and consistent, and even greater care must be taken to make certain that the actions that are elicited from commanding the system are the actions that we can reasonably and commonly anticipate or expect will happen as a result of issuing a specific command or command sequence.

Additionally - it is essential that we present only the action options that the end-user actually needs. More

• SPECIAL FEATURE • than that creates mental overload and confusion.

For instance: An "unfortunate" sample "DVD PLAYER" control screen:

any compulsion to make-up obtuse new "icons" instead of using standard and familiar icons representing standard and anticipated fu when

Believe it or not: This was an actual panel that we [CDG] encountered in a “working” integrated system…

I think we can agree that this panel is all but unusable by anyone except the system creator (and possibly not even by that person). This layout, and the selections for functions [represented by nonsense graphical elements], did more to intimidate and confuse than it could possibly do to enhance, inform and assist the end-users. It is also worthwhile mentioning that the designer who actually thought the above panel was appropriate for the "DVD Player" control-options also determined in their own mind that it would be even more efficient when the end-user was presented with a "cleaner and neater" version like:

Now … Given the fact that in many [if not most] instances end-users will simply want to "Play", then "Stop" and/or then "Rewind" [or then change] a disk or tape…

Rewind

STOP

Play

…why would anyone attempt to provide dozens [if not hundreds] of command buttons on a single page of an LCD Touch-panel?

Is it "just-in-case" the simple nontechnical end-user needs to perform factory-level service on the DVD unit itself? [Note: If you answered "yes", please re-read the previous question.

Twice.] Beyond that - why was there

operating a camera P-T-Z [Pan- Ti ow labeled "Left" and a right-pointing arrow labeled other hat "Right" says [in nearly every language] that pressing one of these will cause the camera to move either "Left" or "Right", and says it with greater precision than almost any graphical depiction I can imagine. I once commented, in order to make this very point,"Gee…on this control-screen layout you are showing me here I really have no idea wa pin-striped 3dimensional red-colored dot with a picture of a little yellow cartoon dump-truck in the middle of the dot with the dumper-bed of the truck

filled with purple cotton ear-swabs actually means. The meaning of this is …'elusive' to me, especially when a button like this appears on a control screen labeled "Camera Presets"...".

Also - Remember to use "familiar" icons, and take your cues from the real-world that people normally inhabit. We should look at the day-today experience of most users. The layout and icons that are normally found on a cellular telephone, a standard desk phone and in a Web browser are where we should search to then find and selecicons and terms that are most familiar to the end-users.

Likewise: Once we select text oicons from these other environments, when we put them to work in our own contrenvironment - REMEMBER - the "functions", as commonly understood

by an average end user, must remain the same. "Back" in a browser or cell phone means "previous" or "go-back" or "return to where I was just before this". "Close" or "Cancelboth can mean "clear this item off my screen" or "end my present access or use-of thisfunction". "Stop" means "Stop the current activity or action immediately". "Forward"means "Advance to next" or "Go forward".

"Dial" means "Dial this number or the highlighted Directory entry".

"Disconnect" and "Hang-Up" mean the same thing. In videoconference, "Mute" always means "eliminate this audio signal (the one I am sending at the moment)" and "Privacy-Mute" means "eliminate ALL audio from myunit going out to other units (not just the one that I am currently sending)", though to many people "Mute" also means "stop all audio from being sent out of my system, including my microphone / voice".

"Master-anything" or "anythingMaster" means "everything in this category", like "Master Volume" [volume 'up' or 'down' for all audisignals] and "Brightness Master" [changes the brightness of the final video signal foALL inputs and / or outputs, not just the one you are viewing at that particular moment Suffice it to say that a clear analysis must be made of how people (everyday users) "interpret" any of these common functions-words-icons, and then this knowledge musttransferred into our own work on our local system control interface and button-screens. Extensive observation, plus on-going tests and inquiries, are essential to make certain tour (the designer or programmer) interpretation or definition of any function-or-word-or-icon matches precisely with the interpretations of the end-user community. ("Precise matching of meaning" is Control System DESIGN, not "Programming") o r ]. be hat nctions? In VTC system control, for instance,lt-Zoom] function, a leftpointing arran verage end -user, must remain the same. "Back" in a browser or cell-phone means " Additionally - It is critical for us to

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• SPECIAL FEATURE • select -"out" any true odd-ball interpretations. If there is a person who complains, "But - this is wrong for me. I have always thought of 'up'as-'down' and 'down'-as-'up' since when I was a child because my parents used to let me swing on the hammock with my head hanging over the side upside down and I would pretend that the world was completely reversed and I still do and so‌" - - these types of interpretations need to be discarded immediately as completely off-the-charts.

Another element to keep in mind when laying out a "Reliable" and Friendly Control Panel or series of "screens" is that, to a human being, repeated use of a single element on multiple screens is acceptable and comfortable only as long as each instance of the element ALWAYS appears in the same place (i.e.- the same exact geographic location on the control panel screen). For instance - If there is a plan to have a "Master Mute" button on the four different screens of: 1. VTC dialing and connection control screen, 2. Presentation PC screen, 3.

DVD control screen, and [finally] 4.

Camera control Preset screen, then this button must look the same and be in the exact same location on each one of these screens, and it must behave the same (provide the same resultant action) when it is selected. (this is Design & Programming) Most would believe that this subtle human-insistence on "commonality of location is based on minimizing the annoying end-user confusion that's caused when having to hunt-down a button that is constantly "moving around" (appearing in different places on different screens). This is actually not the underlying reason.

Scientifically, the real difficulty is that humans psychologically and emotionally associate "change with "import" ["meaning"]. If we have a "Mute" button that looks and appears-to act the same on different screens, but the button is located in [even slightly] different positions or places on those screens, the human will begin to distrust their own previously derived or acquired understanding of the meaning and functions of the button. The human will subliminally think "if this one button moved to a new position, when I changed screens, it must have changed in some meaningful way, and movement alone is not meaningful in and of itself. Since it looks the same (color-label-size-etc.), then it probably has a different result when pressed (different resultant functionality) that I haven't been told about, since that is the only thing remaining that has any potential for being 'different' in each instance of this button". Even when this is factually untrue, emotion and "inner-feelings" ("intuition") will almost always trump reason and logic, especially if the situation the end-user finds themselves in is already charged with any emotional energy (like the feelings, energy and emotions often present in people before-during-andafter a very important local or videoconference-connected meeting).

Finally - To conclude our discussion of "Reliability" for now - Each icon chosen to create an integrated interface for end-user control of a greater sophisticated sshould [I would say "must"] have one and only one (1) meaning. This results in an interface that is easiest for the human end-user to successfully and comfortably navigate (this makes many people feel the system is "friendlier" and is a

"helpful" toolset). If aupward facing arrow in one screen means "Up", and in another screen the exact samarrow means "Eject" and in a third instance the exact same arrow means "Quit and Go-Back One Screen", this is a problem. End-users will either abandon the interface (too confusing), or they will use only a very small percentage of the interface (to minimize fear and confusion) attempting to actively avoid repeatedinstances of the icon, thereby often restricting their potential use of many valuable and necessary elements provided bythe full visual communication system. People selflimit their depth-of-use of the systems (no matter what the cause) for many reasons, and in this example it's all in the fear of being personally highly uncomfortable in their own understanding the true ("one" or "commonly correct") meaning of any command icon (the arrow). They become fearful that a lack of understanding on their part increases the potential that they (the end-user) will make a mistake and "look foolish" in front of others (a result that people find neither "friendly" nor "helpful" to their communications or careers).

Even sophisticated icon-driven interfaces that have been around a very long time and that have undergone extreme scrutiny do not always succeed in avoiding re-use of icons and may often create possible "double-meaning" (and confusion).

For instance - let's examine the difference between and on the MS-Word toolbar (actual screen-grabs, realistically sized, are represented here). Both icons are eerily similar to one another, and they are located side by side on the toolbar on my PC, but apparently have absolutely nothing to do with each other. In fact - they share no common functions. One means "Spin" and the other means "Scrollbar". Which is which? 'Spin'- What?

And since I already have a scroll-bar on the right, what does "Scroll-bar" really mean? ...(Cont'd) (Reprinted under permission from InfoComm International. Authored by S R Sharer - Communication Design Group Inc.)

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• INSTALLS •

Christie Projects

Navigation Simulation Kongsberg Maritime Simulation Inc. and partners Electric Picture Display and Christie Digital Systems USA deploy second state-of-the art simulation solution for US Naval Academy, one of the most sophisticated maritime defence training institutions in the world. An OS Snapshot: The second upgrade of the projection underclassmen per day in December upgrade was completed in December systems for two ship's bridge training 2010 alone. Up to 4,000 students are 2009. simulators at the US Naval Academy expected to use the simulators for "The US Naval Academy needed a (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland was training this year. Reaction has been high-end and durable, lowrecently commissioned to assist highly favorable, as the varied maintenance solution that provides its underclassmen to learn ship's scenarios and vivid, real-world detail students with realistic training navigation and safety on the high seas provided by the simulations and their scenarios all day, every day. Our and in scores of harbors around the projectors are the next best thing to solutions, anchored on Christie's world. These USNA bridge simulators being there. The USS Doyle bridge projectors, are helping them are built by Kongsberg do just that," says David Maritime Simulation Inc., Meers, account executive for The United States Naval Academy was which in turn relied on design Kongsberg. "We provide our and service support from founded in 1845 by the Secretary of the customers with reliable, Electric Picture Display ready-to-use 'workhorse' Navy, George Bancroft, in what is now Systems, Inc. of Melbourne, simulators, with configurable the historic town of Annapolis, MD. The Florida and state-of-the-art features, providing scalable simulation projectors from academy gives young men and women the solutions based on the Christie Digital Systems USA, requirements the up-to-date academic and professional of Cypress, California. marketplace," he added. training needed to be effective naval and The USS Storm's projector was Each simulation room marine officers in their assignments after installed in late November includes seven projectors 2010 and the simulator was graduation. arranged in a 1 x 7 array, to used by more than 180

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• INSTALLS • provide a field of view of about 210 degrees in one room and 205 degrees in the other. The simulator for the USS Storm projects images 12 feet high, while the USS Doyle features images of nine feet in height.

"By using 3-chip DLP technology we ensured the visual punch needed by supplying the entire color spectrum.

This is especially vital with the application for the USS Storm, which is projecting detailed images to 12 feet high and 16 feet wide for each channel," said RP Higgins, president, Electric Picture. "What makes Christie 3-chip DLP® technology so important in the maritime-simulation community is its ability to discern green, yellow and red buoys from distances of two miles or more. Projectors with color wheels can struggle with this. Christie's service and support is among the industry's best and they respond quickly and professionally. As well, this is important for all customers, who typically plan on working their simulators for a minimum of five years, and therefore need to know that their projectors are up to the task," added Mr. Higgins.

The database feeding the USNA system incorporates images from all types of ships, including giant aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines.

The simulators help the academy provide the most effective training available, preparing its graduates for leadership roles throughout the US Navy.

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Christie Package is Feature/ Function Rich The bridge simulators use Christie DS+6K-M, 3-chip DLP systems with dual lamps. Both simulators incorporate Christie Twist and Christie AutoCal. The lamps in the projectors use Christie's LiteLOC, a light output control technology that, with Christie Twist, provide optimum optics while ensuring that the projector stays within registration convergence with AutoCal. "The second bridge was a greater technical challenge, since it involved a larger display area with increased

height, shorter throw lenses and required a large overlap of each projector's throw, but Christie has a number of features to meet the challenge," added Meers.

For example, Christie Twist has an easy-to-use GUI that runs on an external PC and enables users to configure many of the features of the hardware board. And Christie AutoCal provides automatic display system calibration, giving the end-user expert image display adjustment via a simple checkbox interface. This feature allows the user to re-calibrate both geometry and blending with superior accuracy, efficiency and ease.

• INSTALLS •

Quantum Power to MPS Surveillance "The Extron Quantum Elite videowall processor provided high quality video processing plus the scalability to support future system expansion."

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of London, UK extensively uses public surveillance video as part of its duty to maintain public safety. IP and legacy CCTV cameras cover the Underground subway system and public areas throughout the Greater London area, nearly enough to monitor activity on every street corner of the city. After over a decade of investments in surveillance and protection, the MPS underwent an extensive overhaul to modernize and enhance the efficiency of its Command and Control, Communications and Information the C3i systems. More than 30 monitoring facilities were consolidated into three centralized Special Operations Centres outside of Central London in Lambeth, Hendon, and Bow. Each of these new facilities needed flexible, high performance video monitoring on video walls so

that numerous staff members can easily view numerous camera feeds and other important information. The Extron Quantum Elite video wall processor provided high quality video processing plus the scalability to support future system expansion.

Videowall System Needs The videowalls for the C3i systems were to be used to display a large number of camera feeds, together with news broadcasts and graphical information such as maps. These sources had to be presented simultaneously without compromising image detail. MPS also asked for the ability to add camera feeds or other sources to the videowalls as necessary.

Reliability was imperative since these facilities operate around the clock.

Furthermore, the system needed to have a user-friendly interface, and be

integrated into the master control system being used for all other communications including telephony,

Surveillance Video Monitoring in the UK The United Kingdom is said to be the country with the greatest deployment of surveillance video cameras. Surveillance video has been used for over a decade as a measure to help thwart criminal activity or other public threats, and facilitate and support criminal

investigations. It is estimated that about 4.2 million cameras are located throughout the UK, or one camera for every 14 people. In London alone, there are about 500,000 cameras in private areas, and much more dotted throughout the public in the Greater London area. Surveillance video is also

extensively used throughout the London Underground subway system. In addition to maintaining public safety, surveillance is also used in the UK to monitor and manage traffic conditions, particularly in London and on the major motorways.

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• INSTALLS • radio, and data.

Quantum Elite Meets the Need for Expandability Approximately 30,000 IP and CCTV camera feeds are supplied into the system at each facility. Within the CCTV monitoring suite, the camera feeds are screened and selected for display on the videowalls located on the main floor. Each facility includes a Gold Command Center, within which control center staff and leaders discuss and delegate overall direction and strategy during major incidents as well as day-to-day operations.

The Quantum Elite is available in 8 and 15-slot versions with 4U and 6U card frames, respectively. The 15-slot Quantum Elite 615 was selected to drive each of the seven videowalls deployed in the three facilities. The card slots can be populated with input or output cards. One of the input cards used for this application features high density video connections that accept up to 12 standard definition video inputs from the camera feeds.

The output card drives two screens on a videowall and can display up to 128 source windows simultaneously.

Each videowall comprised between 8 and 12 screens and therefore required 4 to 6 dual output cards per card frame. The frames were also populated with 2 to 4 of the high density video input cards to accept between 24 and 48 video inputs, and one or more RGB video input cards, each with two VGA connections for PC graphics sources supplying data, maps, and other graphical information. Several slots were left available for each Quantum Elite unit to accommodate future system expansion.

In addition to PC sources directly connected to the videowall processors, multiple graphics sources were streamed over IP to the Quantum Elite units. A QGE 100 DVI/RGB Computer Screen Capture IP Encoder enabled streaming from a PC to the

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Quantum Elite over the local network.

Network-based content delivery avoids the need for additional input cards, and allows PC sources to be conveniently located anywhere a network connection is available.

Hundreds of additional DVI or RGB sources can be interfaced into the Quantum Elite using additional QGE 100 encoders. The Quantum Elite can display up to 28 simultaneous streams on the videowall.

Maintaining Image Integrity with High Quality Video Processing An important requirement for the MPS videowall systems is the presentation of surveillance camera feeds and other critical visual information without compromising image detail. A video source presented on a videowall should have the same picture quality as if it were being viewed on a single display. Essential details and quality of the image must be retained, even with scaling applied to enlarge or reduce the source image size for the videowall.

The video processing is handled onboard the input and output cards.

Video signals processed on the input cards are channeled to the output cards via a dedicated high capacity, 10 Gbps RAPT - Real-Time Asymmetric Packetized Transfer video/graphic bus with more than ample headroom for the 50 or more video sources to be displayed on the MPS videowalls at full frame rates. The RAPT bus and video processing are separated from shared system resources such as a dedicated bus or central processor. This prevents system overloading which could otherwise affect video processing latency and quality, and also ensures rapid control response when switching window presets or input sources.

Failsafe, 24/7 Operational Reliability The Quantum Elite satisfied the MPS's requirement for continuous failsafe operation in many ways, including hot-swappable fans and redundant power supplies, and system operation using write-protected CompactFlash memory, which eliminates the risk of virus retention and susceptibility to failures characteristic of hard disk drives.

In the unlikely event of a system crash, the Quantum Elite will continue to output content to the videowall since the operating system and shared resources are independent of the RAPT bus and input and output cards. A reboot restores the system to its previous operating state in less than 90 seconds.

Simple User Operation The MPS required that control of all communications in the control centers be intuitive and centrally integrated into a single, user-friendly system. For the videowalls, operators simply recall predetermined window presets. To accomplish this, window layouts were first created, and saved as presets, on a PC with the Quantum Elite control software. The master control room user interface was then programmed so that operators could quickly select window presets.

• INSTALLS •

Turin ITC Controlled by Extron The International Training Center, ITC, in Turin, Italy recently completed new AV systems for a major classroom renovation project using a wide range of Extron products, including TouchLink Configurable Control Systems. ITC is an advanced vocational training institute and part of the United Nations program for technical cooperation with developing countries. Each year the Center runs 450 programs for 11,000 people from 180 countries, including diplomats from around the globe.

The hub of the ITC Turin campus is the Piemonte Pavilion Conference Center, which includes a 350-seat auditorium, six classrooms with 30 to 150 seats, a simultaneous interpretation system with five booths for multilingual conferences, four offices, and a reception area. ITC wanted to network and centrally control the six classrooms, three of them on one floor, and the remaining three on a separate floor. Each large room is referred to as a "Piano" and is divisible into three smaller rooms.

AV Needs Each classroom included a projector and display, with additional LCD displays in the halls, to display video and audio from each of the rooms. ITC needed to transmit scaled video along with audio signals from a variety of sources including computer, DVD, and satellite, to the classroom projectors and sound systems and hallway displays. They also wanted to include nine CCTV cameras for videoconferencing. The system would route signals from composite video, RGB, HDMI, and S-video sources. Each

Piano would have its own control system, with additional overarching control of the entire AV system.

Networking Hardware and Software Italian AV integrator Battiston Professional Congress, BPC, designed the system using Extron switchers, scalers, extenders, controllers and TouchLink touchpanels, along with Extron web-based control software.

According to BPC Managing Director, Eugenio Battiston, "we chose Extron because of their wide range of high

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• INSTALLS •

performance products and expert customer support."

Switching and Scaling BPC routed incoming signals through Extron MTPX Plus twisted pair matrix switchers to Extron DVS 304 DVI AD Video and RGB scalers. The scaled signals travelled through Extron MTP twisted pair transmitters and receivers to Extron P/2 DA 4xi and P/2 DA 6xi distribution amplifiers which split and amplify the signals before sending them to the projectors and displays.

Local and Centralized Control For local control, BPC installed an IPL 250 Ethernet control processer and a TLP 700TV TouchLink controller in each Piano. For centralized control, BPC used a third IPL 250 control processor, Extron IPL T S6 and IPL T SFI244 Ethernet Control Interfaces, and two TLP 700TV TouchLink touchpanels, one in the control room and another in the reception area. The IPL 250 was

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"We chose Extron because of their wide range of high performance products and expert customer support."

– Eugenio Battiston BPC Managing Director configured using Extron's free Global Configurator software and managed with Extron's GlobalViewer web-based AV resource management and remote control software.

With GlobalViewer software, TouchLink touchpanels, and IP Link controllers, ITC personnel now have the flexibility to manage, monitor, and control both Extron and third-party AV equipment in the Piemonte Pavilion and provide high definition educational programming to their wide variety of international students.

beyer's

Dynamic Mission For some enterprises, technology is passion. Sophistication is the mission and constant innovation for superlative experience of technology is vision. German audio electronics major beyerdynamic is apparently one. This is borne by the fact that even 85 years after its foundation, the mid-sized family-owned enterprise still develops premium headphones and microphones, which are carefully handcrafted in the southern city of Heilbronn- which is why it is counted among the best.

The company recently made pitch for a direct presence in India with its Country Office based out of Bengaluru, the tech capital of the country. OS caught up with Michael Kinzel (MK), Director-Marketing and Sales, Asia-Pacific, its First Person this time, to know what exactly is the company vision for India. Excerpts:

OS – Tell us something about beyerdynamic…

MK – I will start with a little bit of history. We have actually been in India more than ten years already- mainly on the broadcast side. Probably, now we are the largest suppliers worldwide of broadcast headsets, headphones and recording microphones. We began working on case-to-case basis for broadcasting industry here, and in 200304 we started systems integration with some of the local system integrators; we have had some of the biggest installations in the country - Infosys has been a major project in 2005, and later on followed by the NDMC in Delhi. We have been developing step by step, and the market too has been very proactive here.

OS – Having been here for so long, what made you pitch for a direct presence here?

MK – We already have a positioning and a basic understanding of the market here with our brand, key technologies and expertise known, recognized, and demanded.

Particularly, key technologies like the

Asian Pacific Sales and Marketing Director Michael Kinzel & Sales Manager Navin Sridhar

line array microphones which are available only with beyer, had been on great demand. We also found Navin (Country Manager), coming from one of our competitors, with vast experience in system integration. By the time the market begun showing strong growth rates, we have our positioning and an expert executive here, Things began falling in place for

us perfectly, so we decided to step directly into this potential market.

OS – Indian market is getting replete with multinational giants, of late. Harman, E&E, QSC, MeyerSound, DIS etc., in addition to the existing majors like Sennheiser, Bosch etc. Aren't you entering a cluttered space?

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MK – Competition is always good for a genuine market in that it contributes to genuine R & D; better technologies and services. That beyerdynamic believes in technology and innovations, it welcomes competition.

It will be clear if you see beyerdynamic website that it regularly rolls our unique technology and systems that are not available with other competitors. It's not just enough selling products at various price points, but offering outstanding technology and better user experience. beyerdynamic makes its pitch here, and we are sure it will stand apart the competition.

OS – What strengths do you see in India to contribute to your cause?

MK – We have been seeing Indian market growing steadily from the time we were here first time over ten years ago. It's rather exponential in the last few years. Compared to other markets in the region, it looks lagging a bit behind China which is far more organized and offers huge potential, but it does have immense potential that has begun showing up recently.

Its market is educated, growing more cosmopolitan and understanding differentiating technologies and demanding cutting edge solutions.

Initiatives like that of the InfoComm have been contributing to the growth and awareness levels across the technical community. The more they get exposed to these programmes, the more they understand the technology and the more they spend on owning a better product. Having a better technology product means investing in a system that promises long stay into the future snag free, and saves repeated investments on repairs and replacements.

We see that happening in Indian market and that's great booster for us, being so much focused on cuttingedge technology.

OS – What strengths beyerdynamic believes it possess, and what strengths it seeks to bring to India?

MK – Outstanding technology is our main strength. Adding a unique

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aesthetic value to that is our finest, hand-made precision products.

Complimenting that with the spirit of dedication is that being a familyowned company it's very much focused as well as flexible in its approach…

OS – Flexibility…does it mean in pricing or product customization?

MK – I would say both. We are a typically mid-sized German family owned company. The Beyer family still owns a large stake but we can take up the case of a customer for being flexible if the project merits it. That's a significant advantage while getting business.

OS – How does beyerdyamic intend to promote its cause in India?

MK – We would be part of the InfoComm initiatives in the country; their training programmes; and roadshows etc. On other hand, we would initiate focused training programmes in association with other manufacturer groups, agencies and representative bodies to present our technologies and product systems to the market segments. We would also contemplate organizing our own road shows to get closer to the students and future technicians so that we will have become part of the strata in few years down the line when they become decision makers.

OS – What products or systems does beyerdynamic intend to introduce to India to begin with?

MK – We would be focused mainly conferencing systems and solutions which accounts for largest share - over 45 per cent - of our business, followed by systems integration. Over 75 per cent of our business in India is

accounted by systems integration and conferencing systems.

OS – What is your roadmap of expansion in the country?

MK – As I said earlier, ours is a midsized family-owned enterprise and we would not be very aggressive upfront.

We would rather take a step-by-step approach. We do have plans to have our own, independent full-fledged centre here, but it will take some time.

This is also more due to the fact that we do not have any service related issues till now as the products and systems we had been bringing here running perfectly well to the customers' satisfaction. However, going forward, as we bring more and more systems, expand our sales and technical team, we would require a centre and would plan the same.

We are actually finetuning our growth strategy here with more dealers and active partners as well as educational programmes to support them. In a few months from now, we should have a more defined plan of action.

OS – How big is beyerdynamic's network in the country today?

MK – Currently we have a network of about 25 active spread across the country and different segments of the market here- conferencing, broadcasting, systems integration and consumer electronics.

OS – What differentiates beyerdyamic business from the others- is it volumes or margin?

MK – It's the second one. We do not believe in spreading aggressively all across the market without business proposition. Whatever we do, we do it focused and with dedication.

• INSTALLS •

Kingdom of Dreams

An Ad'venturous' Allegory!

There are entertainment destinations galore the world over- some very famous for their pedigree, some for their path-breaking genre, some for their incredible architectural marvel, and some for their grandiose, expanse and fanciful composition. There may, however, be hardly one - like that of the 'Kingdom of Dreams' - that blends tradition and technology into an exalted expression of culture and heritage, art and architecture, dalliance and romance of history with reality, and a fanciful wonderland.

Gurgaon, the upmarket stretch of India's National Capital Region, is now home to the country's fanciest tourist attraction- thanks to the practically monumental effort put in by two exceptionally entrepreneurial personalities, Viraf Sarkari and Gagan Sharma.

It's not just their Kingdom of Dreams; it is practically one of everyone visiting it. An AS account.

Dreams, they say, are domains of imagination, if not fancy!

Giving reality wings to dreams and interconnecting them makes it a whole big ambition, an exploratory expedition, and an adventurous allegory!

New York's Broadway; Sydney's Opera House; London's West End; and, of course, Phuket's Fantasia (Fantasy of a Kingdom!)- all have been definitive addresses for such a daring dream work, with the last one in the richly-Thai tourist destination being more fanciful and taking the genre of leisure and entertainment to a new level! Probably drawing a slender parallel with the last whilst being in its uniquely own Indian is the Kingdom of Dreams!

Imagine an evil-scorned kingdom, the infant heir-apparent brought up by gypsies - courting love with a beautiful

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princess pledged for the usurper's son, and an ensuing battle for love and kingdom amidst gorgeous song and

• INSTALLS • dances- angels flying from all around, gales uprooting and throwing everything to winds, fire erupting from the ground, and lightening flashing from the ceiling- the typically Bollywood stylized fairy tale coming alive in all its splendor technologically.

Even as you come out of the Nautanki Mahal spellbound by its intriguing appeal, what welcomes next door and takes you into yet another world of wonderment is Culture Gully - a boulevard of richly crafted and 'orchestrated' under an artificial sky to the likes of those in Las Vegas - food bazaar epitomizing India at its diverse best. it's not just satiating the palate with sumptuous food from 16 themed eating joints, but ringing the soul with hearfilling music from as many as 28 musical zones.

have been dreaming for the last ten years or more," he says, adding, "fortunately, we got the right place here in Gugaon to do it."

Set up a joint-venture, GINC is actually a brainchild of Gagan, and his exceptionally entrepreneurial partner Viraf Sarkari, the head honcho of Wizcraft International Entertainment.

That the project cost more than quadrupled from an estimated Rs. 75 crore when its idea was conceived in 2001-02 to over Rs. 300 by the time of its completion in late 2009 explains the ambition and vision put into its scaling as they went in pursuit of perfecting technotainment.

Consider this: •

The Nautanki Mahal - centrestage of KoD - is built like an Indian palace of yore, with ornate Indian sculptures and carvings all over the place

•

It's India's first full-fledged, stateof-the-art 4-D theatre

•

Its 848-seat auditorium is draped in traditional riches of India

•

The proscenium is decked with three frames of LED arches with an additional large LED screen forming the backwall- the 35-feet true colour LED video wall creates a stunningly high tech backdrop,

All this is made a uniquely enriching experience by means of one of the most awesome audio-video technology plays, reliving a splendor called the great Indian tradition in art, architecture, culture, and cuisine.

"We wanted to make something that rivals the cultural venues of the world's best, say those in Las Vegas or in Western Europe," says Gagan Sharma, chief of Apra Group of Companies and managing director of the Great Indian Nautanki Company (GINC) the promoting company of Kingdom of Dreams (KoD). "This we

Spreading the Dreams Continentally Even as the Kingdom of Dreams journeys through the psyche of Indian entertainment milieu, the Great Indian Nautanki Company (GINC) is seeking spreading its 'Kingdom of Dreams' across the continents. The company intends to launch similar ventures not only in other cities of India but also across the world- from East to West.

According to GINC chief Anumod Sharma, the company intends to create similar Kingdoms of Dreams in Mumbai and Bengaluru in India; Singapore in the East; Dubai in the Middle East; London in Western

Europe; and Las Vegas in the Americas.

The company is already in advanced talks with Singapore Government towards creating a KoD in the rich Asian city-State, Anumod Sharma said, while their next immediate project could be in Mumbai too.

More, according to latest market sources, GINC is spreading its KoD to Chinese Mainland too, a geography fast revolutionizing its entertainment genre with technology. The company intends to launch as many as 10 KoDs in China.

The first Kingdom of Dreams would be

launched in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, over a 65,000 square metre land by the second half of 2012. That would be followed by similar destinations in 'tourist and commercial cities' such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

The size of Kingdom of Dreams might be bigger in China, but the Indian touch and construction genre would remain the same. A joint-venture initiative between GINC and Dafeng, the mission is estimated to cost over $100 million.

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• INSTALLS • with an astronomical number of 68 billion colours, and with an incredible refresh rate of over 900Hz •

•

•

•

•

MAIN AUDITORIUM Item

Make

Model

Qty

Main Sound System (Left, Center & Right) with Downfills Three-Way High Directivity Midsize Line Array Element

JBL

VT4888

The two-stage part is movable up and down by means of hydraulic lifts- down to the basement and over two meters up the normal, a technology play that allows free to & fro movement of elephants and trucks on the stage

2 x 18" Ultra Long Excursion, High Power Handling Arrayable Subwoofer

JBL

VT4880A

8

Array Frame

JBL

VT4888-AF

3

Array Frame

JBL

VT 4889 - AF

1

2 x 2500 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Digital Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Itech 5000 HD

12

2 x 3500 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Digital Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Itech 9000 HD

12

An automated flying system - said to be first of its kind in the world enables as many as 16 people or objects to be flown in at the same time

2 x 4500 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Digital Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Itech 12000 HD

4

As many as 50 flying bars and 75 moving lights on the stage, and a 47-channel metric system

1 Ton hain Hoist

22

4 Surround System

Compact 2-Way Loudspeaker

JBL

AC18/26

32

2 x 800 watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Xti 2000

16

Under Balcony Speakers & Front Fill Speakers Two Way Loud Speaker with 2 8" LF with 375 Watts

JBL

AC28/26

8

It has a 7.1 set-up and can switch over to any of the multiple applications by mere pressing of button

2 x 2100 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Xti 6000

2

8

Pyrotechnics and special effects integrated and time-coded via a digital console

Onstage Monitoring System 15" two-way dedicated floor monitor system

JBL

VRX915M

12" two-way line-array system

JBL

VRX 932 LA - 1

8

Array Frame

JBL

VRX 932 LA- AF

2

2 x 2500 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms, Digital Audio Power Amplifier

Crown

Itech 5000 HD

4

Dressing / Green Rooms & Control Room Monitoring System

There are many more, in the Culture Gully and elsewhere on the sprawling premises!

"Internationally, there are places where different people do different (independent) performance venues and they all together make up a big centre something like the Broadway Street," explains Gagan Sharma, "In

Dressing Room Speakers

JBL

Volume Control

BOSCH

Control 25 AV

24

Control room monitor speakers

JBL

EON 510 / 230V

2

Dual Channel Power Ampliifer

Crown

Cdi 2000

1

Zone Controller

DBX

Zone Pro 640

1 1

12

Microphones, DI & Headphones Control room head phone

AKG

K 240 Studio Mk II

Microphone - Corded

AKG

D5

Microphone - UHF Dual Receiver

AKG

DSR 700 BD1

Microphone - UHF Handheld Transmitter

AKG

DHT 700 C 5 BD1

Microphone - UHF Body Pack Transmitter

AKG

DPT 700 BD1

8 15 4 28

Microphone - Lavaliere

AKG

CK 77 WR L/P

4

Microphone - HeadWorn

AKG

HC 577L

6

Power Distribution System

AKG

PS 4000

4

Power Supply Unit

AKG

PSU 4000

2

Accessories for the Anteena Distribution

AKG

SRA 2 B/ W

2

Accessories for the Anteena Distribution

AKG

ZAPD 21

2

DI Box

BSS

AR-133

6

Microphone - Gooseneck for podium

AKG

GN 50 ESP

2

Microphone - Module for Gooseneck microphone

AKG

CK 80

2

D 542ST/S - Table stand mic with on/off switch,AKG coiled cable with 3-pin XLR connector.

No phantom power needed.

D 542 ST /S

1

Audio Mixing Console, Audio & Video Sources

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96 Channel Digital console

Soundcraft

VI 6

48 channel Play Back

Tascam

X 48

2 2

48 CHANNEL DIGITAL CONSOLE

Tascam

SI 2

1

Professional CD/Cassette Combi Deck

Tascam

CD-A700

1

Digital Audio Processor with multiple input /output

BSS

BLU-800

2

Instant Replay

360 Systems

DR 600

1

• INSTALLS • India, we do not have such entrepreneurs and places," he says, asserting, "we wanted to elevate that concept further and create a 'first of its kind in the world' centre using technology the best way possible."

They did succeed in that the final outcome of the project is hailed to be the best fit for its name. That it had some of the best names in the industry going into its making in terms of design, audio, video, lighting, pyrotechnics and special effects, acoustics, and integration of all that.

The architectural design of the complex was rendered by Mumbaibased Naren Kuwadekar & Associates, while the acoustics and technical consultancy had been done by new Delhi-based Suri and Suri (Consulting Engineers). The audio consultancy for the entire project was entrusted with renowned international DJ Sunny Sarid from New Delhi, while the allimportant audio supply and install was done by Harman India through its Delhi-based master distributor Hi-Tech Audio Pvt. Ltd. The LED walls on the stage was supplied and installed by Hyderabad-based MIC Electronics.

Sandersons Group India was entrusted with the project management consultancy while the thematic design was rendered by Omung Kumar of Mumbai-based Blue Lotus Productions, who shot to fame with magnum opus projects like Saawariya

Areas

Make & Model

" Operated “By "

Qty

Speakers (Ground Floor) 4 Toilets of Cultural Gully, Atrium & Maikhana Bar

Soundsphere Q15

" CDI 4000- “1 No."

6

Soundsphere Q SB 2 JBL, Control 24CT Micro JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 1

3 8 16

Kashmir Retail

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 2

4

Punjab Rest

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 3

8

Rajasthan Retail

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 4

4

Retail Mumbai

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 5

4

Goa/Kerala/Retail by the side of Pondy

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 6

12

Goa Mistick Centre FF / Kerala FF/ Kerala Retail/FF

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 7

12

Lobby between Goa & Kerala GF

Soundsphere, Q 8

CH 8

2

Chennai Rest

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 9

6

Lucknow Retail (1) double Height/ Lucknow Retail live Artist (2)

JBL, Control 26CT

CDI 4000

16

Lucknow Rest

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 10

12

MP Retail

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 11

2

West Bengal

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 12

6

Sikkim

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH-13

4

Speakers (First Floor) Fashion Street & Café

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 14

16

Delhi/Rajasthan/Mumbai Retail

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 15

16

Ayurvedic Retail

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 16

6

Chennai Coffee shop

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 17

8

Assam Tea House

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 18

12

Foyer of the Audio GF & FF/ Toilets M & F

JBL, Control 24CT Micro

CH 19

24

Audio as Part of the Dream Design Like many of its stakeholders, it was a dream project for the audio consultant Sunny Sarid too. His brief was to have an integrated system for different requirements on different occasions.

Brief for the audi was that it had to be a multipurpose facility - a theatre, a concert venue, a live sound, and a corporate event platform - enabling

Amplifers Make & Model

QTY

Crown, CTS 8200

3

Crown, CDI 4000

2

Processors BSS, BLU-160

2

BSS, BLU-120

2

BSS, BLUCARD IN

11

BSS, BLUCARD OUT

5

CRESTRON, MC2E

1

CRESTRON, APAD-W

32

Sources Denon DCM 500AE

20

Equipment Rack

2

Installation, Testing & Commissioning

1

Cabling & Connectors (in Lot)

1

broadcasting. The Culture Gully on the other hand was meant to be a summation of India integrated. While each of the State pavilions was conceived to symbolize its identifying cultural tenet, the audio needed to be wired for playing that particular background music, making it uniquely diverse in its ambient audio.

It was decided to have a 47-channel metric system and surround sound for the Nautanki Mahal so that audio signal could be sent to a specific speaker or cluster of speakers to April-June 2011

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• INSTALLS •

maximize the drama and overall experience. A clinical assessment of the requirement zeroed in on Harman Indian and their local distributor HiTech Audio. For, they are locally-based and represent a global brand with proven capabilities of scale and support.

"What was significant in the process was almost 85 per cent of the specs made by us were ratified by Harman," recalls Sunny. "We knew what kind of equipment required and spec'd it with the solution providers," he said, adding "they proposed for slight improvisation and we went by that."

The main sound system comprises a total of 22 JBL three-way high directivity midsize line array VT4888s, and two 18-inch ultra long excursion, high power handling arrayable subwoofers

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located above the stagesuspended and ground stacked. While this was done to ensure that the full low end audio is and experienced in the balcony area with no delay, they are powered by Crown ITech HD digital audio amps with latest V4 tunings.

Weaving surround sound ambience in the seating area are as many as 32 JBL AC18/26 compact 2-way loudspeakers, powered by Crown Xti 2000 amp. With a view to ensuring perfect audio in sync with the design, JBL AC28/26 speakers are fitted under the balcony, with a Crown Xti 6000 amp backing them while JBL AC18/ 26 did the front fills.

Onstage monitoring is done by a total of eight JBL VRX915M 15" two-way dedicated floor monitors while one JBL VRX932 LA-1 line array, powered by another Crown Itech 5000 HD

• INSTALLS • was roped in for the performers on stage to enjoy while they enact their drama.

The big task of digital mixing was sought to be done by Soundcraft's Vi6 large format digital mixing console.

Given its 96 channel inputs and 35 outputs, in addition to its Studer Vistonics-II user interface, the system was considered for its strength of diverse audio requirement of the venue. The system's capability is proven by its integration of a Tascam X-48 hard disk workstation, over a kilometre of Klotz cables, two units of Klotz Multilink 19", using 48-channel stage box as main multicore system for FOH, and a 8-core 4.0 mm speaker cable LSCF840.

Sounding the Culture Gully The atrium, the lobby, and the Maikhana Bar of this magical food boulevard is powered by Soundsphere Q15's chosen for their 'sound' ability to blend in aesthetically with the décor and themed designs. The restaurants and other public areas are treated with as many as about 200 JBL Control 24CT ceiling speakers designed for medium volume music. Crown power amplifiers CTS 8200 and CDI 4000 took the job of powering the speakers. All the speaker systems are powered by Crestron MC2E, and Crestron APA-W control systems.

The Culture Gully also features the IIFA Buzz Bar, an International Indian Film Academy (Wizcraft's regular cinema platform) branded bar replete with Bollywood décor and music. Divided into two zones, it allows both quiet interactions as well as partying fun with as many as 28 JBL Control CRV speakers handle the job along with an ultra compact 280 Watt powered 10" portable speaker system JB EON 510. In addition, the audio ambience is also powered by a compact 18" portable subwoofer system JBL PRX 518S and Crown XTI 4000 dual channel digital power amplifier.

departments working to a common cause- Hydraulic, flying bars, LED walls, audio, video, lighting, acoustics, HVAC et al," Sunny explains. "there were a good number of professionals from outside the country who were not familiar with Indian ways of working," he elaborates, "the biggest challenge was to synergize all these groups into one line of action."

The other challenge, according to him was the timeline. "We were set against some tough deliverables," endorses Rajan Gupta of Hi-Tech Audio.

"Besides the bandwidth of the brand, it was the promise of full service back up in the event of any failure," he asserts, "we lived up to it."

It went without saying that the KoD was an extremely challenging task for all the stakeholders. For the burden of deliverables was just unprecedented.

"There were at least eight independent yet interconnected

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• INSTALLS •

GMCH Auditorium

An Audi of Clinical Perfection

While the Northeast India, as a region, has always occupied a special, if not unique, proposition in the country - exotic, ethnic, entertaining and educational - the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital - has been one of the instrumental institutions contributing to all that. Being one of the oldest, and prestigious in the country as a whole, the GMCH is par excellence on many a count. Adding to its 'special' stature is its latest embellishment- a new, sophisticated multipurpose facility addressing its growing needs of variance. An AS account: When the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) management wanted to rev up its already revered facilities by means of a landmark venue blending space and technology in to a multipurpose facility, all it intended and did was to have a team of its trust onboard for the task- a designer firm of repute, a consultant of high credentials, a vendor of brand identity and a contractor of good track record. Thus was born the truly landmark facility on the premises of the prestigious institution that it is- a new, multipurpose convention centre, with a uniquely designed massive auditorium as a central facility.

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The Brief "The facility was to be a like a convention centre," says Sashank Bhargava, Principal Architect of Bhargava & Associates Pvt. Ltd., the renowned, locally-based architectural firm entrusted with the design of the proposed complex. "The auditorium was to host events including conventions, seminars, international conferences, and other activities of the institution's charter," he explains, adding, "the main component was to an auditorium with seating capacity of around 1500."

The finer component of the design

brief was to have a balcony with seating provision for around 500 people. The double-level auditorium also needed to be centrally aircondtioned which meant the design had to provide for discrete ducting too.

• INSTALLS • That the auditorium was also envisaged to host live musical shows of the students, and provide for 5.1 cinematic setting too sounded all that challenging.

The other critical components of the brief included a lecture hall complex with three halls of 200 seating capacity each, and an examination hall with a seating capacity for 500. More, a cafeteria for students, with a seating provision for at least 100. All the facilities have to be centrally airconditioned.

Bhargava and his team chose a circular design - rather curvi-linier - interior design for the steppe concave ceiling as well as the seating. The concept, according to the designer, is relatively new for an auditorium which, traditionally, is taken for a fan-shaped interior. That the venue was big in scale, it had to have a big state and proper sightlines provided for the entire seating area- which was why, the stage was set with 24 meters of

width and 12 meters of height while the seating is done in la-stadium seating raising backwards.

The interior walls of the auditorium are done in fabric-covered tri-layer design, with top and bottom done in golden brown, in contrast with the middle dark brown layer. The back wall on the other hand is done entirely in dark brown. The entire side walls and backwall have been treated

The four-acre site chosen for the whole array of requirements was, thus, as it is, a multipurpose complex that also included a sizeable parking lot, and a sprawling landscaping. The project, therefore, was thus a truly 'landmark development,' besides being challenging.

The Design Quotient The very requirement portfolio of the project itself meant that it has to be a modern, sophisticated, well-defined facility in terms of both design quotient and the material, and its mechanisms.

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• INSTALLS • with Antuone Soak Cord, a fabricbased material known for its superior 'artcoustics.'

The ceiling is done in Anutone Subtex in squares of highly reflective bright white, accentuating the lighting factor of the ambience.

The material employed for the walls and ceiling surface finish are unique in their artcoustics that besides being aesthetically appealing and acoustically pleasing, they also contribute to the green factor of the structure, the buzz word today for most constructions.

"These materials have provided us the necessary acoustic parameters in the auditorium," says Bhargava, "they also comply with international specifications for acoustic design," he details, "they are also aesthetically pleasing products; the colors of Soak Cord have been very effective in that they accentuated the aesthetics- the color combination of golden brown and dark brown presented an eyepleasing ambience even as they worked to comfort the aural senses as well."

The products' sporting eco-friendly properties is also taken as a big plus by the designer.

The lobby is another design testament for the ingenuity of the designer- it is designed on two levels with a large glass façade done with spider fittings.

The schematic is precisely to weave in a unique modernity while being in sync with nature around- which is why a significant focus has been laid on letting in natural day light.

The eco factor for the design is also complemented by the designers' preference to source locally-available material as much as possible, particularly in the lobbies and adjacent areas.

The designers did, indeed, had their challenges- the design specs made available in the local schedules were found to be inadequate which necessitated them to seek special specs, particularly with regard to the finishing material. That they got everything in the right proportion in right time, the product unveiled in the right perspective too.

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April-June 2011

While the visual appeal was selfexplanatory, the aural comfort, i.e. the acoustics, was said to have been tested to be one of the finest in the country.

It was done with meticulous testing, calculation, and employment of sophisticated methodologies, compliment the designer.

The A/V Metric Kolkata-based Ace Acoustics has been contracted to supply and install the audio system for the whole complex.

One the most renowned audio-video contractors in the Northeast, and main dealer for Harman, it was quite but natural for Ace Acoustics to rope in Harman range for the entire install.

The main sound system for the auditorium comprised the JBL VRX932 two-way line array system. Being a 5.1 cinema application, the front three stacks - left, right and centre - comprised the famed high- performance JBL VRX 932LA line array cabinets. The strong high frequency deliverable of these cabinets made the front channels strong for the movie application. The crossover boxes were complemented with two arrays of 18" LF driver JBL VRX 918 hangs, to give the bottom end sound required for cinema and to make the system sound full range during presentations and speeches. The JBL 8340A surround speakers complemented the surround channels.

Powering these speakers are 14 high powered amplifiers by Crown, mainly

used for line array surround system, subwoofer surround, stage monitor sound system, green room and control room sound system. On the other hand, a Soundcraft Live 8 digital live mixing console provided a 40-channel I/O system, to handle all the input sources from stage and route them to the sound system.

The hallmark of the entire installation was, of course, the use of processing equipment - BSS by Harman. The backend processing was done using BSS by Harman Digital Processing units. The Soundweb London BLU boxes provided the capability of programming the system in various modes like live music, cinema application and speech presentations mode. BSS BLU 10, a programmable touch panel control unit was programmed to cater to all the interface ideas with the system.

It was the user interface which made the client more fascinated about the neat and excellent sound system for the facility.

Programming of BSS BLU 160 and BSS BLU 120 units helped equalize the system to perform and deliver in all the modes. BSS BLU 10 enables the user to handle and control important features like mode selection and volume controls.

"It's a commendable achievement for Ace Acoustics and also for Harman," says David McKinney, Senior Sales

• INSTALLS •

Director Asia, Harman Professional.

"That every part of the signal chain used high-end products from Harman ensures high quality performance throughout the venue," he says, "sit anywhere, for any event and you experience the same effect in sound."

The auditorium also features an entire range of AKG by Harman microphones and headphones (wired and wireless) for both on-stage and in the audience section. While the PCC 160 directional stage microphones pick the stage voices during cultural shows, Lexicon MX200 does the reverb processing during Live Shows events. AKG D5 microphone came in for main vocals on stage while AKG K240 Studio MK II a semi-open, circum-aural dynamic stereo headphone, mini XLR-connector has also been roped for use of the onstage performers.

project were extremely high given that this install had to be the very best in the region. We had to work around many challenges which included integrating and customizing the audio in a way that it best suits the multipurpose nature of the auditorium."

According to him, that Harman sports and supports with a huge range of products and after-sales back-up, made the prestigious project a smooth accomplishment.

It was a happy, very successful deal too for Konkan Dutta, Director of Oriental Engineers, the main contractor for the project. "A very challenging task was accomplished with clinical precision," says Dutta.

"There have been challenges of kind indeed," he says, "they were, however, addressed with a finesse that we all can boast of."

The team that came onboard the GMCH auditorium complex did it all!

Says Ace Acoustics Director Devasis Barkataki: "Expectations for this

April-June 2011

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REVIEWS

InfoComm International - the global apex congregation of audiovisual and systems integration technologies - conducted a series of roadshows in India recently, in the run up to its 2011 edition of exhibition and convention in the USA.

"AV and Systems Integration industry is happening phenomenally in India," said Richard Tan, General ManagerInfoComm International. "India is one of the key markets in the Asia Pacific; it's been our effort to bring the best from the domain to the marketplace here and contribute to its efforts of

synergy with global industry," he said, adding, "we are pretty much encouraged with the enthusiasm shown both from the exhibitors as well as the audiences. This augers well for the industry, in general, and for the aspiring AV professionals."

The roadshows, held in three Indian cities from 14-18 February, were pretty much focused in that the first one was organized in the Indian political capital of New Delhi on 14 February, followed by the one in India's financial capital of Mumbai on 16 February, and one in India's IT capital of Bengaluru on 18 February.

While the composition of the roadshow more or less remained same, that it appealed to different audiences in diverse marketplaces made its impact. The Bengaluru lag of the roadshow, apparently was more glittering in that it had significant numbers from the IT community, and enthusiastic participation in the educational seminars that were run concurrently.

The roadshow was also conspicuous in that its tradeshow component had some new participants from unexpected quarters. The most conspicuous was Harman - the audio giant who, having set up its direct presence in India - is seeking aggressive roads in the country's video and systems integration markets too, in line with its global strategy.

AMX

beyerdynamic

DA-Lite Screen Company

Delta

Harman

Kramer

The other new entrant was beyerdynamic, the German highprecision microphone manufacturer, who also recently began a direct presence in India.

Major exhibitors in the show included AMX, Christie, projectiondesign, Kramer, Extron, Jupitar, Baryx, Elite Screens, and DaLite Screens.

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The Sandy Team

REVIEWS

Harman spokesperson added: "While Harman had all along been reckoned as audio major, it sees immense growth opportunities in the systems integration and video part of the industry as well hence this beginning pitch. We intend to take this forward and bring our competencies towards contributing to the benefit of the industry."

Seminars at the Roadshow

Christie

BES Expo 2011, the 17th international conference and exhibition on terrestrial satellite broadcasting was held from 24-26 February on the premises of Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Themed on 'Emerging Trends,' the three-day event was inaugurated by Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Raghu Menon.

The BES India Chapter president Ashok Lakhanpal welcomed the gathering while the Opening Address was delivered by Prasar Bharati Board Chairperson Mrinal Pandey. Lauding the role of technology, the Prasar Bharati chief stressed on proper utilization of infrastructure to build up a more informed and empowered society.

Though technological innovations like satellite broadcasting, digitalization, high definition TV, mobile broadcasting, and interactivity were opening new avenues every day, their use in today's world was only increasingly isolating the user communities. It's time broadcasters paid due attention to the social responsibilities they carry, she underscored.

Delivering Keynote address Philip Laven, Chairman of European Broadcasting Union (DVB) detailed the emerging trends of broadcast

technology like mobility, portability, and personalization.

Comparing Internet broadcasting with conventional broadcasting, he said "IPTV is not to be confused with delivery of video via Internet, but IPTV network offers large bandwidth allowing consumers to watch TV, access on-demand video services, and surf the Internet simultaneously."

According to him, 'the main strengths of radio and TV lie not in the methods of delivery, but in the attractiveness of the content.'

The tradeshow of the event comprised as many as around 275 exhibitors from around 25 countries across the globe. Most exhibitors came from countries such as Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and USA. The exhibits on the show included the wide gamut of broadcast engineering- audio, audiomation, broadband, cable, DRM, DTH, DTT, DVB-H, HDTV, IPTV, mobile services, multimedia, networking, postproduction, satellite uplinking/ downlinking, video and video streaming.

Extron Electronics

projectiondeign

April-June 2011

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PREVIEWS

Integrate (audio, visual, communications) Expo, formerly known as INFO Communica Expo, will be held from 2-4 June, 2011, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E) in Mumbai. Co-located with the much-acclaimed PALM (Pro Audio, Lighting, Music) Expo, Integrate Expo is India's only technology event dedicated for the professional audio visual (Pro AV), information communication and systems integration industry. The primary focus of Integrate Expo 2011 is AV/IT Convergence.

The PALM Expo provides synergy to the Integrate Expo as the Pro AV segment that features manufacturers and distributors of Sound and Video Install equipments, AV Install equipments, AV communication systems, AV-IT integration and convergent technologies. Integrate Expo presents a huge business opportunity to learn about the latest trends in 'Command and Control' concepts in integration of information and communication in the audio and video segments. The theme of the 2011 Expo is appropriately devised as 'The Pro AV Future - Capture > Display > Command > Control > Inform > Communicate".

The estimated growth of the AV industry is anticipated at a CAGR of 13% of which the Indian subcontinent market accounts for 9% with a projected size of $2.66 billion by 2012. The service and technology industry catering to systems integration supports the Expo as it is a meaningful platform for the everexploding systems integration market of infrastructure, retail, real estate, hospitality, education, corporate IT, healthcare, public utility, sports and entertainment complexes. The Expo covers over 8000 sq. m. attracting over 150 exhibitors and over 400 brands

SS 102 April-June 2011

already used into AV integration.

The exhibit floor will showcase a huge gamut of products including CCTV Systems, LED Lights, Display Monitors, LCD / PLASMA / LED Displays, Multi Projector Displays, Touch Screens, Water Screens, LED Video Screens, Wireless Audio Conference Systems, Wireless Microphone Systems, PA Systems, Projection Systems, Analog & Digital Projectors, Digital Signages, Conference Systems, Cables & Connectors, Digital Video Recorders, Installation Speakers, Ceiling Speakers, and so on. Some of the companies exhibiting these products are ADJM, Avaya Global Connect, Barco, BenQ, Bosch Security Systems, Canon, Casio, Elgin Electronics, Esco Audio Visual, Globus Infocom, Harman Professional, Kramer, Mitsubishi, Philips, Sennheiser Electronics, Sharp, Vinshek, Viewsonic, White October, MIRC Electronics, Yamaha, Elite Screens, Delta Electronics, Polycom, Panasonic, Hitachi, Bose, Create LED, NEC and HCL Infosystems.

The key profiles of visitors attending Integrate Expo are Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers of AV Products, Systems Integrators, Integration Contractors, Hardware and Technology Consultants, Communication Design Engineers, Information System Analysts, AV/IT Convergence Professionals, Architects and Interior Designers, Chief Technology Officers, Installation Engineers and Technicians, Networking Consultants, Acoustic Engineers, Project Managers, Facility Managers, Security Chiefs, etc.

Integrate Expo will host a series of conference sessions and presentations that will offer and information sharing and learning opportunities. The "Integrate Expo Technical Class" is one such major highlight and a positive step towards disseminating valuable information to the professionals involved in the systems integration industry. The Technical Class will be held over three days of the Expo and

conducted by the industry's leading audio guru Ranjit Singh, CTS-D,CTSI,THX (Tech II). This Class will be organized by Kramer Electronics, the pioneer in providing audio, video and computer signal processing solutions.

Informative presentations on technology and latest innovations by top leading Manufacturers of Digital Signages, Large Format Displays, LCD/LED Monitors, LED Walls, Projectors, Video Conferencing equipment, Tele Presence systems, AV Networking and Control Systems will contribute to the knowledge sharing initiative at Integrate Expo. The conference sessions will address key topics like acceptance of large-format displays in Indian market, capabilities of system integrators in India, etc.

An Advisory Committee of experts in the areas of Pro AV/IT convergence, media and entertainment, etc. is formed to bring together the major stakeholders from Public & Private Enterprise Buyers, Government / Policy makers, Technocrats, Business and Industry Leaders. The eminent dignitaries comprising the Committee are Ranjit Singh, CTS-D, CTS-I, THX (TECH II) Senior Consultant, RST Technologies; Mike Gopal, Director of Market Development, North Asia & Japan, AMX Asia; Lakshminarayan, President & Country Manager, Harman India; Vinod. S. Nair, Director - Marketing, AGC Networks Ltd.; Udeep Jani, Head - AV & VC, Tata Consultancy Services; Rajesh Patkar, Dy. General Manager, Christie Digital; Bharath Kumar, Country Manager, Kramer Electronics India; and R. Ravi Verma, Sales Manager, Elo Touch System, Tyco Electronics. The guidance and active participation of these experts will play an instrumental role in drawing up an interesting program line-up with relevant focus and topics for discussion.

PREVIEWS

It's that time of the year in India when the industry starts preparing for their only trade event. The PALM + Musician Expo 2011 is just around the corner. With its doors opening on 2 - 4 June at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E), Mumbai, the much awaited, industry supported Expo will be celebrating 11 successful years of its role of fuelling the growth of the industry.

And what's in store for the trade delegates and visitors at the 11th successive year is for us to find out.

Speaking to the organizers, already an elated lot, and why not. With 15,000 square metres, spread across two halls, the PALM + Musician Expo 2011 has increased 20% (this is at the time of going to press - one month prior) since its last successful staging in 2010. Add to that the Harman sponsored Performance Arena, an open-air line array demo area, an Indian Acoustic Musical Instruments Village, and now for the best part, a whopping 50% increase in Exhibitors. So there is a lot more 'new' to look out for at this year's exposition in terms of brands making their Indian debut, new product launches, clinics, workshops and an extensive three day Seminar and Conference program.

This year the Musician Expo has taken up a separate hall for its own exposition. A good decision on the part of the organizers, reason being the MI industry is gradually picking up with a whole lot of emphasis being directed on music education, investments into music stores/ showrooms and crucial strategic tieups to combine forces for the development of the MI segment in the country. And therefore Musician Expo representing itself in a separate hall with more exhibitors this year will define the strength and depth of this market.

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An altruistic attempt too is being made by the organizers to bring together the manufacturers of Indian Acoustical Musical Instruments from across the country and supporting their participation with subsidized rates. A special area has been carved out to display Indian Musical Instruments thus promoting our culture and our manufacturing expertise to the world.

And for all you tech savvy ProAV system integrators, architects, project consultants, the second edition of the INFO Communica Expo re-christened 'INTEGRATE Expo' is going to add colour to the exuberant PALM + Musician Expo. The entire segment is going to come alive with the latest in LED/LCD Video Walls, Large Format Displays, Digital Signages, Projection, Video Conferencing, Office Automation, Distribution, Networking and Control Systems.

A major highlight of the INTEGRATE Expo 2011 is the "INTEGRATE Expo KRAMER Technical Class" which will be held from 31st May to 2nd June conducted by world renowned trainer Ranjit Singh, CTS-D,CTS-I,THX (Tech II).

Ranjit Singh is a veteran in the field of audio visuals for the last 15 years.

For those of you who have still not confirmed travel plans ought to reserve and book tickets and hotel rooms at the earliest. The organizers assert that looking at the market growth and investments in various sectors, the visitor footfall would touch an all-time record of 15,000 plus. Once again a steady thirty percent increase that's been registered every year since the last two years.

Visitors can register online to avoid the serpentine queues on the day of inauguration and collect their name badges onsite from the pre-registered counters. Registration will commence at sharp 10:00 am on 2 June 2011 with gates to the exhibit floors opening at 11:00 am.

The PALM + Musician Expo represents the strength of the market with key players investing wisely and planning exhibits of the latest products and technology launched. It is seen and experienced by the loyal exhibitors participating since 2001 that the entire trade is present to network and do business during the three action packed days that keeps the organizers too on its toes. So expect the three days of the Expo to be as dynamic as they have been in the past.

PALM - IRA AWARDS The 4th edition of the PALM IRAA (Indian Recording Arts Awards) has been announced with new awards categories, ata special gala night with performances on 3rd June 2011, under the able supervision of India's foremost English Rockstar Nandoo Bhende, who is the Awards Director.

Still under wraps is the DJ Competition which will be announced soon including prizes to be won by visitors on all three days of the Expo. So hurry and plan your visit to India's internationally reputed exhibition and conference on Pro Audio, Lighting, Live Sound, Install Sound, AV Integration and Musical Instruments. This clarion call goes out to visitors outside Mumbai - "Do not miss your date with the PALM + Musician Expo in Mumbai."

For latest updates on the Conference and Seminar program, Performance Arena schedules, Artist performances, Clinic and Workshop timings kindly log onto www.diversifiedcommunications.in.

PREVIEWS

PALME Asia, Southeast Asia's most established international professional audio, lighting, AV, systems integration, music software and IT and entertainment technology exhibition, this year, will be held from 13-15 July at Singapore's newest and largest meeting and exhibition venue - Marina Bay Sands.

says Anna Cheong, Exhibitions Director at IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd.

Being the new iconic tourist attraction in the city-State, the Marina Bay Sands is taken to help PALME Asia 2011 to draw even more regional visitors to the show than the preceding years.

•

Live Event Staging

•

House of Worship

•

Architectural Lighting

•

Digital Display Technology

•

Music Software & IT

At over 120,000 square meters, the Sands Expo and Convention Center is the largest exhibitions and meetings facility of its kind in Singapore. This spectacular business and leisure destination combines the Marina Bay Sands hotel with three impressive hotel towers crowned by the aweinspiring one-hectare Sands SkyPark that also includes top designer boutiques and gourmet dining. In addition, Marina Bay Sands also offers a host of sensational entertainment options.

PALME Asia 2011, thus expects to bring together more industry experts, key decision makers, top executives, exhibitors and decision makers to witness the latest trends and offerings, and keep themselves on the cutting edge in the industry.

"The Asia Pacific market is now the second largest media and entertainment market in the world. This year's PALME Asia is expected to be bigger and better than before. The higher than expected visitor turnout further reinforces the importance and need for this show in the region,"

SS 106 April-June 2011

As the Asian economies begin to turnaround with higher growth expected in Asia compared to other parts of the world, PALME Asia is expected to double in show size to cater to the demand.

The three day event will focus on five key areas:

While all these key areas will have dedicated seminars, workshops and interactive meets, the event is also programmed to have many more special features such as Classroom Technology Showcase: The Showcase features how technology is incorporated in today's classroom taking teaching beyond the classroom walls. Visitors can learn how to integrate technology in today's classroom that enhances students' participation.

Buyers & Exhibitors Networking Luncheon: PALME Asia's networking luncheon allows visitors many opportunities to find new businesses, share ideas, and help increase longterm relationships with targeted buyers. The networking luncheon aims at establishing relationships between key buyers from the region and exhibitors.

Palme Asia Industry Party and Happy Hours: In the evenings, delegates can chill out and let hair down at some of our special networking activities planned keeping in view the changing tastes of visitor communities. The PALME Asia Party and PALME Asia Happy Hour on Day One and Two respectively will provide drinks and entertainment to last the entire evening as the participants network and catch up with their industry peers. Overall, visitors to the event can •

Meet over 200 exhibitors from over 30 countries

•

Find the latest commercial and residential AV Applications

•

Explore cutting edge event technologies and equipment

•

Watch the spectacular laser shows and lighting demonstrations

•

Experience integrated technologies and simulators in action

•

Learn through certified courses

•

Attend specialised conferences and Free, dedicated seminars

•

Do business with leading suppliers

•

Source new suppliers of professional audio, light and music

•

Network with Industry peers

EVENT CALENDAR 2011

PREVIEWS

InfoComm 2011 - the year's biggest platform of audio-visual technology displays for corporate, government and academic agencies, healthcare and religious institutions from around the world - would be held from 15-17 June at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. World's largest AV show that it is, InfoComm promises to bring to place the very best and latest in integrated display, projection, audio, conferencing, lighting and staging, and digital signage, besides communications system solutions.

The three-day exhibition and convention would actually be preceded by two days of intense conferencing sessions on diverse AV subjects, making the event a fullstretch week-long event from 11-17 June.

For nearly a century the audiovisual industry has been helping people communicate. Information Communications Technology is no longer optional, it is indispensablebusinesses and institutions around the world rely on the $68 billion global professional audiovisual industry to communicate. Each year AV professionals, Chief Information Officers and institutional buyers attend InfoComm because it provides the largest mix of audiovisual products, along with industry and manufacturers' training all in one place. With today's audiovisual technology being net-centric, IT professionals are taking increased notice in the conferencing, control systems, digital signage and other technologies that can be seen at InfoComm 2011.

With over 950 exhibitors, InfoComm 2011 will be visited by as many as over 32,000 commercial AV professionals, technology managers, CIOs and procurement

personnel from 90 countries. More than 300 education sessions will offer the essential training that AV professionals rely on to stay current with a constantly changing industry.

June 2-4 Palm Expo Mumbai www.palmexpo.in June 2-4 Integrate Expo Mumbai, India www.infocommunica.com

"Attending InfoComm's tradeshow is a valuable investment in both time and money," said Randal A. Lemke, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. "In just a few days you can visit the most comprehensive array of professional audio, digital signage, display, conferencing and telepresence, lighting, control system and signal distribution technology manufacturers available in one location, all while receiving world-class education and training from leading experts and manufacturers."

Although InfoComm is large, it is easy to navigate, due to pavilions that bring together like technologies, positioned as per their category of business plane: 3D, Audio, Digital Signage, Lighting and Staging, and Unified Collaborative Conferencing are just a few of the pavilions featuring integrated solutions from innovative manufacturers.

InfoComm 2011 will also be remarkable in that it will feature special exhibits addressing sustainability, 3D technology and production cameras for live events. A new special exhibit will feature Invisible AV Technologies, while audio demo rooms, rigging and staging demonstrations, the Digital Signage Application Showcase, the Systems Programming and GUI Design Gallery and the Technologies for Worship Pavilion are all returning to the Show.

June 15-17 InfoComm Orlando www.infocommshow.org June 21-24 Broadcast Asia, Singapore www.broadcast-asia.com July 13-15 Palme Asia Singapore www.palme-asia.com July 29-31 Pro Sound Light Expo Chennai, India www.cinematoday.in September 9-13 IBC Amsterdam, Holland www.ibc.org September 11-14 PLASA London, UK www.plasashow.com October 20-22 Broadcast India Mumbai, India www.broadcastindiashow.com

NSA

November 17-19 National Symposium on Acoustics Jhansi & New Delhi, India www.acousticsindia.org

2012 February BES Expo New Delhi, India www.besindia.com April 14-19 NAB Show Las Vegas www.nabshow.com April 11-13 InfoComm China Beijing, China www.infocomm-china.com May 1-3 Palme ME Dubai, UAE www.palme-middleeast.com

April-June 2011

107 SS

PREVIEWS

Pro Sound & Light Expo 2011 – the fifth edition of Asia’s biggest show for pro sound, light, broadcast and entertainment industry – will be held from 29-31 July at the Chennai Trade Centre, in Chennai.

bigger participation and larger contingents from a wide spectrum of industry. The three-day event also includes three more concurrent tradeshows, viz, Broadcast Today, CGIVFX Today and Media Today.

Being held in a buoyant atmosphere of surging business prospects, particularly in Southeast Asia, with several industry giants making rapid strides to grab the market space, the even this year promises to bring

The previous edition of Pro Sound & Light Expo evoked good response from the industry and its professionals.

While the exhibitor numbers were pretty impressive, it was more

A peep into Pro Sound & Light Expo 2010

significant for the presence of some of the most popular brands from inside and outside the country.

Arri, Quantel, Sony, Kodak, Autodesk, Wacom, NVdia, Panasonic, Showtex ME , Sonodyne, Philips, Pope, Pro Musicals, and Crayz Lighting were only some of the brands that made it big at last year’s event.

They are all back to this year’s event too.

The CGI-VFX seminar organised by Buysell Interactions in association with BCAS & Sniper evoked wonderful response and served as an excellent platform for knowledge and technology sharing.

This year’s event would lay special focus on digital revolution in film making , 3D technologies, special effects makeup, advancements in animation and visual effects, live professional sound and light demonstrations.

Hansa Cine Equipments

Krish of BuySell presenting momento to Team Sandy

SS 108 April-June 2011

Pro Musicals

Sonodyne

Visitors at Sandy Media Stall

A Hi-Tech Mission &

Ambition Rajan Gupta

Hi-Tech Audio Systems Pvt. Ltd., the Delhi-based Master Distributor of Harman, has been a leading player and one of the most aggressive in domestic Pro Audio market. With a strong hold on the North Indian market and some very big projects to its credit, the company is charting ambitious growth paths. SS talks to Rajan Gupta (RG), its First Person this time to know what exactly the company is all about. Excerpts: SS – Hi-Tech has been operating for over 20 years (?) now. How has the company evolved in these years?

RG – Hi-Tech had its inception in 1990, and since then has been an aggressively growing company. Today, we can proudly say that we are one of the largest audio distribution companies in the region and boast best range of professional audio brands. Hi-Tech today is an exclusive Master Distributor of Harman Pro in India for brands like JBL, Crown, dbx, DOD, BSS Audio, Soundcraft, Lexicon etc. We are also distributors for Neutrik and have been recently appointed as Distributor for Klotz Cable and Cotex too. In addition, Hi-Tech is also a dealer for Bosch Public Address, Surveillance CCTV & Fire Alarm Systems. All this makes the company a very competitive, choicest audio solutions provider in the country.

Today, we have a team of almost 130 persons on our rolls with all-India presence. We also put in place aggressive expansion plans to increase the dealer network. We have been offering our channel partners and dealers a wide variety of new and exciting products every year from some brand or the other, and we continue to do that.

On the whole, Hi-Tech has grown phenomenally over the years, by brand and by spread.

SS 110 April-June 2011

SS – Hi-Tech has been operating in many domains. How has been the industry evolution in each of your operating domains in these 20 years?

RG – Hi-Tech's major operating domains consist of: • Installed Sound • Live / Tour Sound • Broadcast • Cinema • M/I Stores Our growth in each of the five areas has been rapid, particularly, in the last four-five years- arrival of digital products in each of these categories has brought in more functions, features, reliability and performance, and thereby more growth.

Install Sound: Beginning with Economic Liberalization, availability of international brands in India opened up installed sound market to a great deal. As a result, we have installations in India on par with international standards in all areas of usage i.e. airports, malls, clubs, cinemas etc.

Even market for conferencing system in India is no less than any part of the world. We are thus instrumental, among others, to this growth of install sound in the country.

Live / Tour Sound: Today, we have large number of national / international stars / rock bands

performing in India. We are able to meet all the riders. Almost all the latest digital consoles, speakers, amplifiers and other accessories are now made available locally. We have large number of Soundcraft Digital Consoles and JBL Vertec Systems moving into these applications, bringing us more business, and spreading our services.

Broadcast: This is not only one of the most rapidly growing industries in the country, but also one of the best in the world with the technology used being on par with international standards.

Whether for a recording facility or editing facility, we have best equipment and technical expertise to cater to all requirements.

Cinema: While cinema has been a growing market and reaching new highs with advent of Digital cinema, the concept of moving away from assembled boxes to branded sound solutions is catching up fast JBL and Crown offer perfect example and combination of one of the best sound systems in the cinema industry.

M/I Stores: There is an increasing interest among today's youth and children about musical instrumentswhich is prompting musical instruments vendors to establish stores across the country and also garner the latest products and systems. Some

stores even offer coaching and have play / demo area for people to have `hands on' experience on the instrument.

Hi-Tech has been an aggressive player in this domain too.

SS – How do you see the markets of your domain evolving during the time in terms of technology; volumes; share in Asian/Global markets; and awareness across the ecosystem?

RG – I would say there has been an overall growth. However, it cannot be uniform all over the place and a little too subjective with different regions, domains having different parameters.

In terms of technology- more and more products are using in-built DSPs. While the size of products is increasingly getting reduced, compact and lightweight they are getting more reliable and scalable. In terms of volumes- reduced prices have given us, like many others, increased volumes. In terms of share in Asian and global market space- the Brazil, Russia, India, China and Korea - BRICK as they are called - are focal points for global business, and thus are the next big thing. While global markets focus their energies on these geographies, audio (and video) industries of the region have already begun taking a lion share, after the core sectors. In terms of awareness across the value chain of consultants-dealers-ownersend users- there is a visible and increasing awareness in the value chain about the products, their technology, and the ease of use they bring to place. More, that there is a

higher level of appreciation for one another's work, the industry component segments have been gaining cumulatively, and the benefits are for everyone.

SS – What factors you attribute to the growth or decline in your business domains?

RG – There hasn't been any decline in any of the domains. In fact they have been robust, as I said earlier, in the last four-five years. Reasons are pretty clear: Awareness across the community, increased access to the systems and solutions, and a willingness to spend for better experience. The high energy activity happening all over the place is testimony. Big sporting events like Olympics, CWG, World Cup and IPL do contribute a lot to the growth of audio industry segments.

SS – What is Hi-Tech's core area / strength? and why?

RG – We believe in business through relationship which has been our core strength. Another core strength area is that we have a well-developed inhouse design and technical team; therefore, we are not much dependent on external resources for solutions.

SS – Indian market has seen the emergence of many players in the last few years. How much edge HiTech has been able to maintain over the competition, and how?

RG – Hi-Tech offers one-stop solution for all professional audio needs. We also offer complete design which includes 3D modelling of the

application space, besides commissioning services. This tendency and proactive approach stands us clear of the competition.

SS – Considering your long standing in the industry, what competencies you think you brought to the industry?

RG – Hi-Tech has always been a trend setter in its own way. We did the first Voice Activated Conference System in India. Installed Fibre Optics based PA Systems. Demonstrated appropriate use of DSP's in all areas of Pro Audio, and, more importantly, an ideal support function base required for sale and service components.

SS – What new system-concepts you introduced to Indian market?

RG – We introduced concepts in terms of skilled integration for Boardrooms, Professional sound solutions for bigger venues, effective use of 3D mapping in professional audio application.

Introduction of Line Array for various applications has been effectively demonstrated. JBL VRX 932LA has been a trend setter. Today it is owned by almost all medium / large rental companies in India.

SS – Indian market is always held for grey market and counterfeit impact - what is your take?

RG – The import duties are still very high as compared to international standards. The duties in countries like Singapore and Dubai are very low which prompts people import into India or hand carry. Grey market is indeed a threat to the survival of genuine business. There have been some good efforts in the recent past yielding good results too, but admittedly a lot more remains to be achieved. A greater thrust from law enforcement agencies, as well as an increased awareness across the value chain is also required.

At our level in Harman, we are in a continuous process to curb this menace.

That Harman now have a direct presence too in India we are hopeful of countering this more effectively. Towards this end, we hired legal professionals to assist us handle the counterfeit operators.

April-June 2011

111 SS

Due to the efforts over the last few months itself, there has been a decrease in number of people using JBL stickers on their DJ Speaker Boxes. However, we are still in the process of collecting information of people selling counterfeit products. An appropriate legal action shall be initiated the moment we are ready for the same.

SS – How about the notion that Indian industry suffers from dearth of trained / certified / quality professionals?

RG – Yes, This is true to a large extent.

This is, probably, largely due to the fact that none of Indian academia has a focused course on Pro Audio and Live Sound. All the knowledge given and/or taken is through some crash courses or workshops conducted by manufacturing companies themselves. There are institutions imparting knowledge on sound in the most generic sense, and those who complete such courses end up in Mumbai as recording engineers.

Very few take to Pro

Audio and Live Sound, and the pains to become experts.

SS – Has Hi-Tech done, or is doing something to contribute towards breeding such professionals?

RG – We recently started Harman product specific training programmes, which include general as well as indepth training on our products. This training programme is going to be aggressive in terms of reaching all across India. This apart, we are also planning two-day seminars and product specific training all over the country towards imparting both theoretical and hands-on expertise to the aspiring professionals.

SS – Internationally, it is the infrastructural strengths that bring global events to places. It appears the reverse in case of India where events are awarded then infrastructural efforts begin.

Being a long-time industry leader, what is your take?

RG – India being an emerging market still needs to improve on infrastructural strength. Fortunately, it started happening and witnessing rapid growth, particularly in the last few years. While, admittedly, it's a long way

to go before we a certain level of achievement, once we reach that level, this trend shall change for good.

SS – Are there ways to set right the equation?

RG – This equation has to be set right at the Government level, primarily, wherein massive infrastructure initiatives in terms of building exhibition venues, concert theatres, sporting complexes, and multipurpose facilities have to be executed in pace with international norms. Industry players need to be sensitised in this direction too.

SS – Where do you want to position Hi-Tech Audio in the next five years time?

RG – We would like to see Hi-Tech as the largest Pro Audio Video distribution and integration company in India, with a foot print across Asia.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Company

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Pro Sound & Light 109

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The next issue of SS is a Summer Special promoted at Pro Sound & Light Expo - Chennai The advertisement timeline is 30 June 2011. Email bobby@sandy.in

SS 112 April-June 2011