Business News

Casa Instrumental Named Central American Distributor for L-Acoustics

L-Acoustics has announced the appointment of Guatemala City-based Casa Instrumental, S.A. as its full-line product distributor for Central America. The announcement comes from Paul Freudenberg, L-Acoustics vice president of sales and marketing.

Over the past 25 years, Casa Instrumental has grown to become Central America's largest distributor of pro audio/lighting equipment and musical instruments. With seven locations throughout Guatemala (three in Guatemala City, three in Quetzaltenando, and one in Peten) plus an additional shop in El Salvador, the company now services the entire isthmus between Belize and Panama for the French loudspeaker manufacturer.

"Shortly after we made the appointment, Casa Instrumental coordinated the delivery of a huge V-DOSC/dV-DOSC system - complete with LA8 amplified controllers and SB28 subs - to Sistemas y Servicios, a very prominent regional rental company," notes Freudenberg. "Although we were previously aware of Casa Instrumental's reputation for being well connected with both the Central American MI and professional audio markets, this high-profile sale straight out of the gate simply underscored the fact that they are the ideal partner for us there."

Casa Instrumental president Giovani Merida is equally pleased with the new relationship. "We are very excited to now be working with L-Acoustics and its US team in Oxnard, California," he says. "Their dedication to providing the best quality products and most professional service is a mission that we also share, and we feel that the brand is well-poised to make significant in-roads in our territory."

Among Casa Instrumental's many strengths are its comprehensive systems contracting and technical service/support departments, private air transportation facilities, and large in-house exhibition space perfect for conducting product demonstrations, trainings, and other events.

DPA Launches New Website

DPA has launched a new website. It retains the large amount of information and resources from the previous site, including the Microphone University, which provides useful information about microphone design, interfacing, stereo and surround techniques and recording in general, as well as product information, user stories and distributor info.

Additionally, the site has undergone a complete redesign, bringing it up-to-date and consistent with DPA's corporate branding, advertising and trade show visuals. Graphics are bolder and improved, and the site features new product photography throughout.

"We wanted to make our website even more user friendly, with a good search function, easy navigation and well-organised content," says Anne Berggrein, head of marketing at DPA. "We've made better use of the images, upgraded the search engine and included an on-the-fly product sheet generator and flash catalogue page flip. We'll be continuously improving the site with new features to constantly improve the user experience, including a more in-depth product guide to help users choose the most suitable mic, samples of recordings, and application videos."

DPA Microphones also has a new page on Facebook where it will be posting news, info, photos and videos.

Hands Across the Water

In a unique coming together of US and UK charities Behind the Scenes and Light Relief, on April 24 this year designers on both sides of the Atlantic will be donating their royalties to help their colleagues in need.

A regular event in the UK, Light Relief Day was started by Rick Fisher in memory of the charity's co-founder, Tony Gottelier. Now Rick and other leading designers Ken Billington and Ken Posner, all of whom have shows currently running on both Broadway and in the West End, have taken the bold step to make this an international event.

If you're involved with a show, whether it's in London, New York, in your hometown or on the road, you can join them in helping to make April 24 the day our industry comes together to celebrate its successes and to give back in thanks. By donating your royalties for just one day, you will be supporting these two organizations which provide financial assistance to industry members who are seriously ill or injured, or to their surviving family.

Even if you don't get a royalty, you can still join in the celebrations! Be creative - take up a collection backstage, raffle tickets to the show, sell autographed programs. Add your name and that of your show to the list of those who have stepped up to care for their own in times of need.

To find out more about how you can help - and to read about the original idea from Rick, Ken and Ken - go to http://www.estafoundation.org/bts or http://www.lightrelief.org.uk.

Light Relief was formed specifically to help British theatre lighting designers and those working in the field who are not in regular full time employment by providing either practical support or financial assistance. Emulating their model of a charity established by and for the industry, The ESTA Foundation created Behind the Scenes which serves entertainment technology professionals residing in the U.S. and Canada working in any discipline either directly backstage or behind the camera, or for the companies supplying products and services to the industry.

Tube-Tech Launches New Website

Tube-Tech, maker of contemporary high-end, all-tube-based pro audio gear has announced the launch of a completely revitalised website (www.tube-tech.com). Tube-Tech's founder, president, and designer of nearly thirty years, John G. Petersen, commissioned the site to provide an elegant clearinghouse for information on Tube-Tech products, insider tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Tube-Tech sound, and access to Tube-Tech's story and uncompromising design manifesto. In addition, the site is targeted to help younger, aspiring engineers and musicians discover the long lasting sonic quality of the Tube-Tech units.

Visitors to Tube-Tech.com will find relevant news on the home page and links to products, company information, distribution, users, and tips and tricks sections. The product pages neatly detail the features of each Tube-Tech unit together with downloadable specifications and manuals. The company section includes an introduction to Tube-Tech's six employees, who handle - quite literally with their hands - everything from design to assembly to billing. The Tube-Tech story, which includes references to Petersen's garage as the assembly site of the earliest Tube-Tech units, and the bold Tube-Tech design manifesto also link from the company tab. The distribution section includes up-to-date contact information for Tube-Tech distributors throughout the world.

The user section provides quotes from and links to Tube-Tech users, including everyone from the industry's "household names" like Al Schmitt to the project studio down the street. Tube-Tech encourages users to send in their stories together with photos, a web address, and a list of Tube-Tech gear for inclusion in the user section. In tips and tricks, visitors will find a sizable (and growing) collection of both printed and video descriptions of Tube-Tech uses that will prove both demonstrative and inspirational. And again, users are encouraged to send in their own tips and tricks!

"Tube-Tech defines analogue more than almost any other company in the business," noted Brad Lunde, president of TransAudio Group, Tube-Tech's U.S. distributor. "All of the product information and downloads are at your fingertips. The users section connects you with other Tube-Tech users. The tips and tricks open your eyes to uses you hadn't thought of. And the company section underscores the unique history of that famous blue faceplate. The new website is a nice complement to everything else that Tube-Tech has going for it."

TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.

Disney Theatrical Productions Join ETCP Council

Disney Theatrical Productions has accepted a seat on the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) Council. The Council is the governing body which manages the development and implementation of ETCP, the industry-wide certification program for entertainment technicians.

Canara Price, Senior Safety Manager, Physical Production will represent Disney Theatrical Productions on the Council, and John Tiggeloven, VP of Physical Production - Disney Theatrical Productions;  Joseph Mannetta, Director of Loss Prevention and Business Continuity - Corportate Risk Management; and Mark Elliot, Director of Safety - Corporate Risk Management will assist her work.

"As a leader in the entertainment industry, DTP is committed to becoming a leader in theatrical safety," said Canara Price, "We are excited to participate in this proactive stance to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all cast and crew."
Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP), a division of Disney Theatrical Group, operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world's most successful commercial theatre enterprises.  Reaching a global annual audience of more than 10 million people in over 40 countries, DTP produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world including Grammy®, Tony® and Olivier-award winning The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida, TARZAN ® and Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh which is about to launch its national touring engagement.  Its most recent Broadway production, The Little Mermaid, debuted in 2007 and immediately became a Broadway sensation.  That same year, DTP launched the professional touring stage version of Disney's High School Musical. 

ETCP Chair, Tim Hansen commented, "We are delighted to welcome Disney Theatrical Productions to the Certification Council. They are a leading Broadway production and touring company who have made safety a major priority for their organization. The highly skilled ETCP certified technicians they employ help meet this objective. They have become an integral part of the entertainment industry and their support is important to the success of the program."

The ETCP Certification Council members represent the diversity of the entertainment industry and are key leaders drawn from entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia representing the diversity of the entertainment industry. Membership includes AMPTP, Cirque du Soleil, CITT, ESTA, IAAM, IATSE, InfoComm, The League, Live Nation, PRG, SHAPE, TEA, and USITT. ETCP is an ESTA initiative created to promote industry safety.

Adamson Hosts a Worldwide Distributor’s Meeting in Port Perry

The second week of January 2009 did not only mark some the coldest and snowiest days of the current winter in Port Perry, but the small Ontario town saw an influx of Adamson distributors arriving from far-away places such as Brazil and Singapore, where snow is the stuff of fairy tales.

The meetings were held at the Adamson headquarters and at the historic Port Perry Town Hall, the home of local community theatre. The first day saw distributors engaged in conversation on all new developments at Adamson, including a brand new five-stage in-line wash system, an automated powder line and the automated driver assembly line among other topics. For some, this visit marked their first visit to the factory, therefore a detailed factory tour highlighting the many new advancements, was a must for many.

Over 30 Distributors from France (DV2), Italy (Reference Laboratory), Spain (Seesound), Portugal (Merging Select), Scandinavia (Adamson Scandinavia), Germany (Trius GmbH), Netherlands (Sound & Light Import), Poland (Megamusic), Greece (DN'A), Brazil (Sotex), Latin America (Abba Trading), Singapore & Malaysia & Indonesia (Team108), Korea (Sound Solution), and China (EAD) attended the lavish affair which also included Andy Weingaertner and Jochen Sommer joining as European Support.

The undisputed highlight of the event came on the night of the 12th, when Adamson without prior notice unveiled a much anticipated new product series. The new gear is scheduled for an official launch at Frankfurt's Pro Light + Sound this coming April, but until then the series have been sworn to secrecy with distributors.

The event took place at the succulent Lake Ontario side restaurant "Port" in Pickering, where guests were welcomed with champagne, and a sneak peak of the new products. A brand spanking new Digico SD8 console stood at FOH, with none other than Digico's James Gordon and David Webster at the helm. Both had flown in as a special favour for Adamson and as a surprise for the distributors (some of whom also represent Digico).

At Adamson, we have always liked the way Digico consoles sound: "Many of the best shows I've ever heard had Digico desks on them.  When we are going to show off something new, we want to give it the best signal possible. So for us it was an easy choice." commented Jesse Adamson, Adamson Systems Director of Marketing and Sales.

After a few hours extensive listening and closer perusal of the fresh Adamson products, the astounded crowd sat down for a 12-course tasting menu, served by the staff of ‘Port' from three stations, each station rotating a course and highlighting every item with a course-complementing signature wine, hand-picked by host and chief Brock Adamson.

To everyone who flew in, drove in and attended: Thank you for making this event such a success!

Symetrix Extends Product Warranty

Already renowned for delivering well-engineered, reliable, and exceptional value-for-money products for the installed, studio, broadcast, and live sound markets, Symetrix is going a step further and offering customers greater peace of mind with extended warranty coverage for all of its Symetrix, Lucid, and AirTools-branded products. Any Symetrix product purchased during or after October 2008 will receive six additional months of coverage, extending its warranty to a full two years.

"By extending our warranty period from 18 months to two years, we reinforce the confidence we have in the robustness of our designs and our manufacturing process," said Paul Roberts, director of sales, for Symetrix. "Our products are well-known in the industry not only for their great sound and usability, but also for their reliability and durability. We have very few warranty returns, and we thought it would be wise to communicate that to our customers by extending the warranty period."

State-of-the-Art University of Tennessee Business Administration Building Features Michael T. Strickland Room

Bandit Lites Chairman of the Board, Michael T. Strickland was recently honored as the new University of Tennessee College of Business Administration building opened. The UT alumni is being recognised for his varied contributions by having a classroom in the facility named after him.

Strickland attributes much of the success he's had in business to the education he received at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves on the U.T. Development Council and as a Chancellors Advisor as well as in many other volunteer roles within the University. Strickland is a regular speaker and works with the College of Business faculty to assist the students.

"Each of us has an obligation to put the next generation in the best possible position to succeed," Michael Strickland commented. "Gifts to the College of Business

Administration ensures the success of this and future generations in this world. It is a privilege to be able to assist others as we all work together to make the world a better place."

The new six-floor, 174,000-square-foot building at the corner of Andy Holt Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard houses 34 classrooms, more than 50 offices for staff and administration, 35 team and presentations rooms, a technology centre, an investment centre and an atrium with a glass elevator. The project, which started in November 2005, cost about $46 million to complete and was funded by the state and private dollars.

Rat Sound Takes Delivery Of New L-Acoustics K1 System

L-Acoustics US has announced that fellow Oxnard-based company Rat Sound Systems Inc. has just joined its K1/Kudo Pilot Program with the delivery of a stadium-sized sound reinforcement system primarily comprised of 48 new K1 enclosures, 16 K1-SB subwoofers, 16 LA-RAK touring racks loaded with LA8 amplified controllers, and 24 SB28 subs.

Longtime V-DOSC (and, more recently, Kudo) user Rat Sound now joins New York's Firehouse Productions on a very short list of North American touring companies to take part in the manufacturer's K1/Kudo Pilot Program. Offered primarily to select existing members of the L-Acoustics Rental Network, the program was created to provide advance field proofing of the new flagship line source array enclosures for stadium and festival tour sound applications.

Rat Sound Founder Dave Rat spoke about the decision to utilize the system: "Over a decade ago, I went down and listened to the L-Acoustics V-DOSC and heard something entirely unique. Its amazing sound clarity and line source configuration changed the industry. Through my work as sound engineer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I have mixed on every sound system on the market, and the K1 is the first time I have heard something as exciting as when I first heard the V-DOSC. This is the new barometer by which all sound systems will be judged. Not to mention the fact that these hang 24 deep, they have a super-cool captive rigging system, and the radiation consistency is amazing."

"Our relationship with Rat Sound obviously goes back many years, so it's no secret that we're very pleased to have them participate in our K1/Kudo Pilot Program," adds L-Acoustics VP of Sales and Marketing Paul Freudenberg. "Dave Rat's personal experience deploying L-Acoustics systems and his innovative approach to sound design will undoubtedly rub off on the exposure of the K1 and Kudo product."

L-Acoustics has announced that the K1/Kudo Pilot Program is expected to last for a period of 24 months, a necessary time prior to the official launch of the future L-Acoustics stadium line array system. K1/Kudo Pilot rental companies will closely collaborate with the L-Acoustics R&D team and their technical support. Emphasis will be put on preset validation, stadium system configurations design, rigging and general system set-up and operation. Rental K1/Kudo Pilot companies will then be offered a path leading to system ownership prior to its formal market introduction.

Chauvet Launches New Web Site

Hollywood, FL-based Chauvet recently launched a completely redesigned and enhanced web site with a fresh, edgy appearance, a user-friendly format and expanded content.

"The updated and fresh site reflects our commitment to stay innovative and ahead of the curve as a leader in professional lighting," said CEO Albert Chauvet.

The new site, at www.chauvetlighting.com, is visually more appealing and easier to navigate, yet provides more user-oriented information and expanded product information.

Notable changes include a search engine, a product Quick Find, a dealer locator and the addition of tabs that lead visitors to specific product ranges suited for the particulars of the different markets Chauvet  targets: club/DJ, production and architectural. Such differentiation is crucial because Chauvet caters to a wide range of users, from mobile DJs to touring LDs and architectural installers, under one single brand name.

"We felt it was imperative to segment our products in ways that would minimize the time our diverse clients spend researching and finding products relevant to a particular application," Chauvet said.

Lab.gruppen Acquires Dolby Lake Processor Technology and Lake Brand

Lab.gruppen has announced its acquisition of the Lake trademarks and the exclusive rights for use of Dolby Lake Processor (DLP) technology for both touring and permanent sound reinforcement markets, from Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

The technology currently referred to as "DLP technology" as used in the PLM Series will, in the future, be called ‘Lake technology or Lake Processing'. The Dolby Lake Controller (DLC) PLM Edition software will be forthwith known as ‘Lake Controller software' as new versions of the software are expected to be compatible with both the stand alone DLPs as well as the PLM Series products.

Lake technology is used in several successful products including the original Lake products, Mesa Quad EQ and Contour; the Dolby Lake Processor from Dolby Laboratories and the PLM Series Powered Loudspeaker Management systems. Specifically, this agreement allows Lab.gruppen to further develop the Lake Controller software and firmware and to utilize the Lake brand name and allied technologies in Lab.gruppen-branded and stand-alone products for use in the Touring and Permanent Sound Reinforcement markets as demands dictate. Lab.gruppen has secured exclusive access to the source code and algorithms for these markets that are at the heart of the DLP and PLM and this will allow the company to create further generations of the programs for use with existing Dolby Lake Processors and with the company's PLM Series of Powered Loudspeaker Management systems.

"This is a significant step for our company," stated Tomas Lilja, managing director at Lab.gruppen. "Having the exclusive rights to the Lake technology in these markets allows Lab.gruppen to continue developing the Lake software and firmware for use in our own products and all the thousands of DLPs out there. We are sure the market will be happy to hear that.

"Lab.gruppen is extremely pleased to have acquired the very well respected Lake brand name," continues Lilja. "We see this as very important to the future growth of Lab.gruppen. Although the Lake brand will be developed separately from Lab.gruppen, the technology will have its own life within our organization. Lake technology will form the backbone of all future iterations of our unique Powered Loudspeaker Management systems. We are also very aware of the demand for stand-alone processing and assessing this market is high on our agenda. We are hoping that, through our support of the existing DLP user base - with software updates and new features - and via the increasing number of PLM customers, we can swiftly research new product development possibilities."

"Over the last few years Lab.gruppen has been a trusted partner of Dolby and we have recognized their commitment to supporting the live sound industry," said John Carey, vice president, worldwide sales, products and services, Dolby Laboratories. "As we pass the live sound torch to Lab.gruppen we are confident that they will continue to innovate and evolve the technology and brand many have grown to love in this industry."

In picture:Carl Rohdell, project manager; Håkan Gustafsson, product engineering manager;  Tomas Lilja, CEO; Emil Tirén, software engineer and Klas Dalbjörn, product research manager played important roles in the Lake acquisition and technology transfer.

SurgeX Joins Forces With ESP

SurgeX, a leading manufacturer of AC surge elimination and power conditioning products for the professional audio, video, broadcast and multimedia industries, announced today that it has merged its North American operations with Electronic Systems Protection, Inc. (ESP), a leading original equipment manufacturer of power protection technology.

The announcement reaffirms SurgeX's position as the leading brand of power protection for the ProAV market and is a strategic addition to ESP's power protection business. The merger will extend ESP's product line capabilities and will enable SurgeX to both expand within existing markets and penetrate new markets utilizing ESP's resources and expanded distribution. SurgeX management will join the ESP team and by late January all product manufacturing will be consolidated into ESP's facility in Zebulon, NC.


Michael McCook, SurgeX senior principal and owner of New Frontier Electronics, Inc., noted: "This is an exciting milestone for our company and we are eager to work with ESP. ESP is an excellent company and this merger will allow SurgeX to offer our customers and partners expanded resources, sales and marketing expertise, enhanced product solutions, expanded manufacturing capabilities and broader engineering resources. I look forward to working together with ESP to ensure a rapid and seamless transition and to continue building the SurgeX brand for years to come."

"SurgeX's product offerings along with its position in the ProAV market make it an ideal fit for our company," stated Steve Cole, president of ESP. "SurgeX's solutions, talent and customers complement ESP's business and extend our ability to deliver compelling products and services to new industries. As a result of this acquisition, SurgeX's diverse product line, and ESP's manufacturing expertise, we will be able to expand into new markets as the premier provider of power protection solutions."

Ballantyne Expands Digital Cinema Distribution Footprint

Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc., the provider of cinema equipment and services, has reported today that its cinema products distribution subsidiary, Strong Westrex Company, Asia, has secured distribution rights for the NEC Starus Line of digital cinema projectors from NEC Display Solutions, Japan for three additional Asian territories. Strong Westrex Company, Asia has been granted a license to distribute NEC's digital cinema projectors in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Strong Westrex will also provide sales training, service and support for all digital cinema products sold in these three territories.

The new territories build upon Strong Westrex's existing NEC Starus distribution rights for Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China, as well as Ballantyne's digital cinema projector master reseller agreement with NEC Corporation of America for North and South America.

Ballantyne president and CEO, John P. Wilmers, commented: "These new territories represent a market opportunity of approximately 1,300 cinema screens, only a small number of which have already been converted to digital cinema. We are pleased to expand our partnership with NEC to serve the needs of customers in these countries as they move to digital projection technology. Importantly, Strong Westrex maintains a 40+ year-old reputations for quality cinema products and excellent customer service."

TransAudio Group to Distribute Tube-Tech

TransAudio Group will handle the U.S. and Canadian distribution for Tube-Tech, the Danish engineering and manufacturing firm with a 30-year history of building world-class tube compressors, equalizers, and mic pres of uncompromised fidelity and reliability. TransAudio Group will bring its core strength of business and personal relationships to bear for Tube-Tech, increasing exposure and sales in the high-end markets of U.S. recording, mastering and touring sound.

Tube-Tech long-time owner and chief designer, John Petersen, builds modern classics by combining simple yet elegant designs with contemporary materials and manufacturing processes. Tube-Tech possesses that magical reputation for gear that "makes everything sound better just running through it". Many Tube-Tech units, such as the CL1B tube compressor, have been a "must have" for years, in both recording and high-end live sound.

Brad Lunde, president of TransAudio Group commented: "I am thrilled to be part of this Tube-Tech family. John Petersen is one of the most respected designers of our day. He is responsible for so many modern "must haves" and so many future "vintage classics". These are pro audio devices that never go out of style, as they are not designed to be a "color" or reflect a trend or a feature of the moment. They are designed for professional audio people who depend on their gear to always sound good under every condition. Tube-Tech is gear you could make a living with for mastering, an uncommon ability in a disposable world. Tube-Tech is much larger than anyone would guess due to the "don't tell anyone about my secret weapon" status. It will be an absolute pleasure to represent a brand with such authority and renown."

"We are very pleased with the appointment of TransAudio Group as our new distributor for North America as they are highly respected in the audio business for their serious and honest way of doing business. We have been thinking about working with them for quite some time." said John G. Petersen, president of Lydkraft ApS/Tube Tech.

In addition to signing with TransAudio Group, Tube-Tech has taken other initiatives to strengthen its position in the U.S. Notably, it has hired sales engineer Jesper Bo Nielsen, a top-level Danish recording engineer, to focus on supporting the U.S. market. The company is also implementing a forward-thinking Internet campaign to publicize Tube-Tech applications with video and other media.

Noted Jesper Bo Nielsen, Tube-Tech sales and marketing manager: "Everybody at Tube-Tech looks forward to working with TransAudio Group. I personally look forward to meeting our dealers and developing a close relationship with the whole team. With our new website launching just prior to NAMM, Tube-Tech is poised to, not only grow sales but, implement a strong marketing and public relations program."

Osram Enters Joint Venture with LED System and Solution Specialist Traxon Technologies

Osram is strengthening its portfolio in the field of professional LED lighting systems and solutions by setting up a joint venture with Traxon Technologies Ltd., Hong Kong. The new company, in which Osram has the majority shareholding, is one of the leading providers in the fast-growing market for LED technology in the field of architectural, hospitality and shop lighting. The company employs around 135 people and reported sales of around 17 million Euros in fiscal 2008. The company is operating globally in Asia, Europe and North America. The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price undisclosed and the transaction is subject to the approval of the responsible cartel authorities.

"This new joint venture will make Osram one of the leading providers of LED lighting solutions. The benefits of this partnership are very clear: We intend to create an integrated offering across the entire LED spectrum which will be marketed through the joint worldwide partner- and sales network," explains Osram CEO Martin Goetzeler. "The joint venture will also act as a powerful driving force for the continuing innovative development of Osram's components business."

"With clear focus on the customers needs this Joint Venture will be the choice for LED projects, systems and solutions. We will continue to build on our partnerships around the world to make it happen," says Nicolai Wiest, CEO of Traxon.

The joint venture will bring the combined know-how of Osram and the both Traxon Technologies companies Traxon and e:cue Lighting Controls to offer customers integrated LED lighting solutions. Traxon not only offers a leading technology portfolio, it also has outstanding contacts in worldwide project business to architects and lighting designers. The range of light management and control software offered by e:cue plus Traxon's focus on LED system and solution business are an important

addition to Osram's product portfolio.

Operating under the new name "Traxon Technologies - An Osram Company" the joint venture will continue to operate from its head office in Hong Kong while Traxon's research and development activities will remain in Paderborn, Germany, and Hong Kong.

John Bowman Promoted at XL Touring Video as Wiseman Leaves XLTV

XL Video has announced that John Wiseman has stepped down from his position as president of XL Touring Video, a division of XL Video. "John helped XL Video grow in the concert touring market," explains Marcel DeKeyzer, president of XL Video. "We thank him for his efforts supporting the needs of our concert touring customers. That client support is a cornerstone of XL Video and will continue with the promotion of John Bowman to lead operations for XL Touring Video. Bowman is an industry veteran who has been with XL since its inception in 1996. He has always been a strong collaborator with the many designers who come to XL for creative solutions and cutting-edge technology."

Bowman has been the liaison for a number of high profile projects during his time at XL Video and is well known for making every effort to ensure a project is running smoothly. "I want to let our current and future clients know that I remain committed to supporting their creative designs," says Bowman. "We have a lot of new technologies and products at XL that we know designers will find exciting applications for when they incorporate them into their designs. I look forward to this new role at XLTV as we continue to grow. I guarantee that we will continue to be committed to the high level of excellence and customer service that XL is known for as we expand our products and our support for the concert touring market."

"XL Touring Video will continue to lead the industry in customer satisfaction while maintaining our unprecedented levels of service," states René DeKeyzer, CEO of XL Video. "We look forward to a smooth transition as John Bowman, along with vice president Barbara Riedling and Bob Magee, now will lead XL Touring Video based out of our Los Angeles office. We have complete confidence that XLTV's high standards will continue to grow under this strong team. We have strong people who are instrumental in expanding XL Touring Video and reinforcing the company wide commitment that XL is not just a supplier of equipment but truly a global support network."

www.xlvideo.com

RMS: a Successful Year in 2008

RMS (Rental Management Systems), the leading software for rental company, is about to end a very successful year. With over 40 new installations, sales of the latest RMS25 have been beyond expectations. Also, more and more existing users opted for an expansion of their existing system.

The demand of users for new features in the software resulted in a entirely new designed multisites-module, which will be installed in Denmark in December. Five locations of a major AV-hire company will be linked together using SQL-servers and internet/VPN connections.

Another new development is the use of RFID-tags. RMS will be incorporating RFID in a new project, together with a mayor Belgium rental company. The new software will allow them better overview of the exact items going out and returning.

RMS (Rental Management Systems) has been involved in planning and calculation software since 1987. The company was the first to develop vertical software for the AV- and entertainment industry.

www.rmsplanning.com

LITEC Launches New Website

LITEC's new website is now up and running. It has been entirely redesigned with a vibrant look in line with the new corporate image of LITEC, and filled with new significant contents and effective services.

The website was programmed and optimised in line with up-to-date technological trends. Quick and easy to navigate, it was conceived to be a real work instrument as well as an extraordinary lab of ideas and initiatives dedicated to users such as events, promotions, training activities, and much more.

The site is divided into different sections that are easily reachable from any page with a single click. All the information is provided promptly, synthetically and exhaustively.

Among the most important innovations is the Products section. The new categorisation of products has been studied to make the whole range of LITEC offer more understandable and closer to the actual use of its customers. Beside each product with its main technical features, the user can consult a comprehensive range of accessories and connection systems, download all the technical documents, and study the gallery of installations where that product was applied.

In addition, to create more opportunities to know and link products with products, it is possible to cross link and cross reference them. From now it's also possible to find a product by just typing its code or part of it in the search box on the site. In this way, all the information about a single product will be collected quickly and directly from one page.

The other website sections are also interactive and dynamic. The Company one highlights a corporate profile, the mission and the most distinguishing points of strength of LITEC, and gives an overview of Vitec Group plc.

The News and Events section on one hand shows all the news covering a wide range of LITEC initiatives and on the other reserves a whole area to press with the latest press releases and downloads. The Sales page illustrates the international distribution network. The Training and Newsletter sections provide useful information about LITEC actions, and the Careers area is thought for people that would like to join LITEC team. Finally, the FAQ area is devoted to some of the most relevant questions about this sector and LITEC products.

The website is going to be constantly improved and updated to respond to users' needs and expectations. Some new innovative services have already been planned and will be implemented in the near future. LITEC, one of the leading companies in the construction of aluminium structures for entertainment worldwide, has always been considered a pioneer of innovation not only for products but also for design and communication.

www.litectruss.com

Martin Professional Appoints Pro Shows New Brazilian Distributor

Martin Professional has appointed Pro Shows Comércio de Eletroeletrônicos Ltda as its new distributor in Brazil. The agreement, which makes Pro Shows Martin's official representative in the country, became effective in early September.

Located in the city of São Leopoldo, Pro Shows was founded in 2003 and has established an outstanding reputation in the Brazilian entertainment technology industry.

"We are very pleased to have Pro Shows as our new representative in Brazil and are confident we can re-establish Martin as the preferred lighting brand in the Brazilian market," said Martin Area Sales Manager Peter Dahlin. "Our new cooperation will be kick started with a road show to the major cities in Brazil at the end of November and in early December."

Pro Shows president, Vladimir de Souza, has a long history in the industry, having founded the company on the values of service, teamwork, trust and dedication. He commented on the new partnership, "We are a company eager to conquer market share and are very confident of the excellent work we can do together with Martin in Brazil. The brand's excellent reputation and well known product performance worldwide will help us to establish the confidence of customers in Brazil. Pro Shows knows the way to do that, and with the total support of Martin we will bring the brand to the top."

Key Pro Shows personnel include Vladimir de Souza - President; Roger P. Santos - Marketing Manager; Carlos Santos - Sales Manager; and Paulo Machado -  Financial Manager.

www.martin.com

Selecon Celebrates New-Look Website

Selecon has announced the launch of their completely redesigned website this week - the contemporary, user-friendly and elegantly designed interface brings the company's extensive range of both theatrical and architectural lighting products together in one place; an amalgamation of the Selecon and ARDIIS brands which reflects Selecon's recent review of its purpose, vision, inspiration, principles and culture. Many will be pleased to note that drop-down menus are now a thing of the past!

Navigation around the wide range of product information and support together with the extensive technical and educational resources that the site contains has been made simpler and easier. Each product has a tailored layout which is split into four tabs - overview, features, specifications which includes access to all product support downloads plus the Selecon lighting calculator, and accessories so you can quickly access the information you require or learn about the product at your own pace.

New back-end enhancements allow for a more flexible operation of the Selecon site with a new ‘search' function on products by either family name or luminaire type via the support section in the main menu bar. This powerful function is a one-click way to pull a quick overview, lighting calculator, specifications, downloads, related products and accessories together in one place for the product which is of interest to you.

News and Showcase items now feature large banner images on all items which bring a new level of sophistication and interest to these sections while Resources delivers everything Selecon from the Switched On educational support section to items of technical and product support to a Knowledge Bank of items of interest and learning to Getting Started to Lighting for Worship and much more!

www.seleconlight.com

LOUD Technologies Inc. Announces Restructuring

LOUD Technologies Inc. has announced a reorganisation of its marketing, sales and engineering functions.

Under the new organisation, product strategy, development and marketing for the company's MI and Pro businesses will be managed by separate, dedicated product management teams, while marketing communications for all LOUD brands will be consolidated and managed by a shared marketing support team. The Company's worldwide engineering resources will be scaled accordingly to support a more focused product development schedule. LOUD will also move North American sales from its current captive sales force to a group of independent sales representation firms and consolidate portions of its international sales force.

The restructuring is expected to generate a net reduction of approximately 90 full-time positions, and should be implemented by the end of 2008.

Essential Lighting Joins Production Resource Group

PRG has announced that it has strengthened its specialist brand strategy in the UK by acquiring Essential Lighting Group from the Staging Connections Group.

PRG CEO Jere Harris said: "We are very excited about the acquisition of Essential Lighting which underscores our commitment to a specialist brand strategy in the UK. The EL business has been driven by an engaged and committed leadership team that will strengthen the management of our UK businesses."

Essential's managing director, Martin Locket commented: "We are looking forward to becoming a member of PRG's group of companies. The resources available to us from a global organisation will help us provide a wider range of products and services within our offer to our customers."

Essential Lighting will be keeping their name, logo and identity, continuing as an independent brand, focused on the markets that it serves. EL remains absolutely committed to delivering the highest quality lighting services and equipment to the live event industry and its dry hire service to industry specialists, says the statement received from PRG.

Essential Lighting and its board will be reporting directly to PRG headquarters in America.  The existing PRG lighting business in the UK will remain a separate specialist brand, focusing on the markets and customers is has traditionally served.

Essential Lighting is a leader in the live event business, delivering lighting for challenges as diverse as the BBC Proms in the Park, car launches for Ford, Renault, Toyota, BMW and Volvo, London Fashion Week, and political conferences. Offering full service with lighting design, systems rental under the direction of an independent lighting designer and comprehensive dry hire services, Essential provides the highest quality service and equipment, maintained and prepared to exacting standards. A subsidiary of Essential, Caseline, manufactures bespoke flight cases for the live event industry, protecting fragile control desks, screens and fixtures in transit and storage.

City Theatrical Announces SHoW DMX OEM Partners

City Theatrical announced its first eight SHoW DMX technology partners at the Lighting Dimensions International show in Las Vegas on October 25.

CTI's OEM partners have committed to using SHoW DMX technology inside their products and many innovative examples of their work were seen around the show floor at LDI, including wireless dimmers, wireless distributed dimming, wireless DMX transmitters and receivers, wireless lighting controllers, and wireless remote control circuit breaker panels.

The newly announced partners include (in alphabetical order)

Applied Technology (USA)   
Easily LED  (UK)   

Electronics Diversified Inc. (EDI) (USA)  
Johnson Systems  (Canada)
Lex Products (USA)  
LynTec (USA)
LSC  (Australia)   
Zero 88 (UK)

CTI's SHoW DMX system synchronizes the hopping pattern of the radio with the incoming DMX packet to attain levels of data fidelity previously unreachable with wireless DMX. Additionally, SHoW DMX has a range of features including adjustable output power, limited bandwidth mode, and limited burst mode that allow it to peacefully coexist with other radio signals in the busy 2.4GHz band.

SHoW DMX also is fully RDM so users can change radio settings and monitor receiver strength from their laptop during the performance, as well as monitor other manufacturers' RDM gear on their production. SHoW DMX is also fully compatible with Art-Net.

City Theatrical offers a broad range of engineering services for other manufacturers who want to implement wireless DMX into their products, and works closely with them to insure their success.

In picture at LDI (left to right): Larry Dunn, City Theatrical; Gary Pritchard, LSC; Scott Humphrey, Applied Electronics; Jon Leonard, Applied Electronics; Mike Rampmeyer, Applied Electronics; Graham Eales, Zero 88; Shaun Johnson, Johnson Systems; Sam Heigle, Electronics Diversified; Dan Nguyen, LynTec; Gary Fails, City Theatrical.

Total Structures Supports Microsoft in Launch of New CRM Product

Early in 2007 Adrian Forbes-Black, vice president of Total Structures was researching new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and was approached to apply to beta test the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online software.

In August of the same year Total Structures were informed that they had in fact been selected to participate in the early access program to the new software and immediately started integrating it into their sales and marketing departments.

Now used extensively within the company, Microsoft Dynamic CRM Online allows Total Structures sales people to access customer and product information from any web enabled computer in the world and fully integrates with the other software they use for communication, mainly Microsoft Outlook.

After receiving feedback from Total Structures and the other twenty-nine companies chosen to participate in he program, Microsoft Corporation released the product to the general public earlier this year.

TransAudio Group to Distribute Daking Worldwide

Brad Lunde, president of Transamerica Audio Group (TAG), has announced the company's new international distribution agreement with Geoffrey Daking, Inc. Co, which expands on its long-standing U.S. distribution agreement. Because Daking designs straightforward, no-compromise outboard processing gear, it has become a cornerstone of the TransAudio Group's domestic line, which includes many of the brightest names in high-end studio/installed sound equipment.

The decision to expand their relationship internationally coincides with the introduction of Daking's Mic-Pre One, an elaborated single-channel version of the Daking Mic-Pre IV housed in a "DI-style" enclosure. Early reports suggest the renown of the Mic-Pre One may soon eclipse that of its progenitor. Other Daking products include the FET Compressor II, the Mic-Pre/EQ, and a host of modular components for customized console construction.

"There is a large and growing demand for the Daking products both domestically and internationally," said Lunde. "Since we now have the logistics in place to deliver the same level of service abroad as we do here in the U.S., it made sense to expand our role with Daking and deliver value overseas."

TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.