In its 21st year, PLASA 2012 (Sept. 9 to 12) marked the final staging of the annual exhibition at Earls Court & Olympia expo centers before the show moves to ExCeL London for 2013. Along with an expanded and varied program of sessions, seminars and events for lighting and sound reinforcement pros, this year’s event also included programs focusing on the industry’s involvement the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics. Hundreds of exhibitors showed the latest in sound, lighting, installation and entertainment production technology, and there were plenty of new professional audio products on display.
Here are a few highlights:
Allen & Heath (allen-heath.com) featured its GLD live digital mixing system, the small-format ZED60-10FX/ZED60-14FX analog consoles and for the DJ/performance crowd the Xone:DB2 digital mixer and Xone:K2 MIDI controller. We especially liked the new ICE-16, a 16×16 recording interface that can capture up to 16 analog inputs to USB sticks (up to six hours of 16-tracks onto a 32GB drive) without a computer — or directly to your laptop via FireWire or USB 2.0. Intuitive front-panel transport controls, onboard headphone monitoring and signal present/peak LED metering make it easy, while several of these single-rackspace units can be daisy-chained for 32- or 48-track recording.
AKG (akg.com) marked its 65th anniversary with limited editions of its C451 small-diaphragm condenser mic and special K702 headphones. AKG generated substantial interest in its D12 VR, a new version of its classic D12 bass drum mic, but in a completely new product that also incorporates elements from the D112 mic and a transformer from the C414. Although a dynamic mic, the D12 VR (vintage sound re-issue) also features switchable onboard active filters that operate when the mic is phantom powered. (For a video, go to http://www.fohonline.com/foh-tv.)
Avid (avid.com) debuted three new VENUE HD System Bundles pairing a VENUE live sound system with the new Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt interface: the D-Show HD Native 64 Bundle, Profile HD Native 64 Bundle and Mix Rack HD Native 64 Bundle. All come with a Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt interface and promise to serve as cost-effective ways to mix and record live performances, play back pre-recorded tracks and speed up sound checks with Virtual Soundcheck.
BSS Audio (bss.co.uk) updates include AVB-friendly Soundweb London BLU-805 and BLU-325 units and Dante-compatible BLU-806 and BLU-326 devices.
Cadac (cadac-sound.com) moved decisively into the live sound sales and rental channels with the launch of CUK Live, a dedicated live sector distribution division of CUK Audio. The division is built around the Glasgow-based company’s three core live sound brands: Cadac, Powersoft and Clair Bros.
Clear-Com (clearcom.com) featured its CC-300 and CC-400 professional headsets. Both are compatible with Clear-Com’s wide range of wired and wireless intercoms.
Crown Audio’s (crownaudio.com) PIP-BLU programmable input processor card for CTs Series amplifiers were on display, along with the VRACK 4x3500HD multichannel amplification system. The latter is a complete amplifier management system with three I-Tech HD Series 4×3500 DriveCore power amps, analog/digital connections and a universal global power distribution — all in a wheeled road rack.
dbx (dbxpro.com) featured an update for the DriveRack PA+ loudspeaker management system, with the new v1.1 software providing the latest tunings for JBL speakers and Crown amps, including JBL’s PRX Series, and Crown’s XTi and XLS Series. The company also unveiled its PMC personal monitor controller and TR1616 BLU Link I/O system to the European market.
Harman Professional (harman.com) updated its HiQnet Audio Architect configuration and control software for installed sound applications and HiQnet Motion Control iOS App. The latter is an Apple iOS app that allows customized control interfaces designed in Audio Architect to be imported on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices for mobile system control.
JBL Professional’s (jblpro.com) speaker innovations included the new AWC82 and AWC129 compact all-weather loudspeakers; CBT 200LA-1 constant directivity column loudspeaker; EN 54 part 24 certification for the Control 25AV-LS loudspeaker; STX800 Series portable loudspeakers; and the VTX-LZ-K laser accessory kit for precision alignment of VTX Series line arrays.
Klark Teknik (klarkteknik.com) unveiled its DN9610 AES Repeater, an easy to use, cost-effective solution for extending AES50 multichannel digital audio network connections. The DN9610 can extend two AES50 streams by up to 100m (330ft) and multiple DS9610s can be daisy chained in series for longer runs. Each AES50 feed can carry 24 bidirectional channels at 96 kHz or 48 bidirectional channels at 48 kHz.
Mackie (mackie.com) made the first public introduction of its DLM Series powered loudspeakers, spotlighted in last month’s issue of FRONT of HOUSE. The compact, powerful (2,000-Watt) DLM system includes two full-range models (DLM8, DLM12) along with a high-output compact subwoofer (DLM12S).
Martin Audio (martin-audio.com) turned a few heads with its totally self-sufficient 18,900-Watt sound system for the Juke Box, a breakthrough automotive design from Nissan Motors and famed London nightspot Ministry of Sound. Capable of producing up to 150dB, this set of custom made cabinets housing two 18-inch powered subs and the same Mid-Hi enclosures used at MOS. All of the custom speaker housings were designed to fit into the back of the Nissan Juke.
Midas (midasconsoles.com) displayed the PRO1 and VeniceU consoles and offered free one-hour training sessions covering its PRO Series of consoles. Although both the PRO1 and VeniceU have been seen elsewhere (InfoComm 2012 and Palme Beijing, respectively), they made their European debut at the show. Britannia Row was presented with Midas’ “Pushing the Boundaries” award for its work on the Queen of England’s Jubilee Concert in June.
Ohm (ohm.co.uk) debuted its new Total Clarity line, with the CT-10/CT-12/CT-15 two-way top cabinets for pole-mount or flying applications (horizontally or vertically), and designed for portable or installations used alone or paired with Ohm’s single or double 15/18 subs. Now with a strong new product lineup and headed by managing director John Oakley (formerly of Midas), Ohm is on track to make serious headways into the market.
Out Board (outboard.co.uk) launched the TiMax2 SoundHub PanSpace graphical sound-effects pan programming map that operates in conjunction with the TimeLine editor. Other launches included iPad and iPhone apps for the TiMax2 SoundHub system matrix, playback server and audio show controller and — with Data Strategy — the CAB-5 Cable Tester and RCD-T modules, which work with the PAT-4 Test Processors to provide automated cable test capabilities, RCD testing and detailed logging/reporting.
Penn Elcom (penn-elcom.com) featured its CLD, Pro Audio Stash and Rackz branded products in one booth, with a special focus this year on the company’s CaseDesigner software innovations, Rackz wall mounting rack enclosures and the Pro Audio Stash R8010 19-inch Slide-and-Rotate racking system.
Renkus-Heinz’ (renkus-heinz.com) U.K. distributor POLARaudio staged demos for the Iconyx IC16-R-II. Also on show: the built-to-order Ralph Heinz Signature Series and modular Varia Series.
Sennheiser (sennheiser.com) showcased its innovative Digital 9000 Series wireless, and also featured demos for a wide range of Sennheiser and Neumann microphones along with new products from its distributed brands, including APart Audio, DAS Audio, K-Array and Rane. For more on Digital 9000, CLICK HERE. For a video, go to http://www.fohonline.com/foh-tv.)
Sommer Cable (sommercable.com) presented the NL4FX-SOM cable plug, a special version of the industry-standard Speakon cable connector designed in cooperation with Neutrik and available exclusively from Sommer Cable. The housing is charcoal gray with a transparent, 6mm-wide ring for writing labels and is designed to be road-rugged.
Soundcraft (soundcraft.com) debuted its Si Performer series digital consoles, which feature I/O expandable via card slots to any Soundcraft stageboxes/option cards for up to 80 inputs to mix, or from CobraNet, Aviom or AES inputs, and onboard DMX lighting control with four scene masters and slave channels on the ALT fader layers and master level dimmer — all assignable to any of the main fader layers for simultaneous access to audio and lighting levels. For a video, go to http://www.fohonline.com/foh-tv.)
Studer (studer.ch) used PLASA to demo console innovations including the new Studer Compact Remote Bay, a laptop-sized unit offering full remote control and monitoring functionality with all types of Vista consoles. Also new is Studer’s Vista 1, the first self-contained Vista console, with 32 or 22 motorized faders, all I/O’s system, DSP and power supplies in a single chassis.
PLASA has announced the move to the new, expanded ExCeL London venue for next year’s show, which takes place Oct. 6 to 9, 2013. Mark those calendars now!
Product Innovations — and Innovators — Get Recognition
A panel of 14 judges weighed the merits of 47 products at PLASA 2012 before deciding upon eight New Product Innovations Award winners. One of the eight — CAST BlackTrax — was deemed the “Gold Award Winner.”
The other seven were the Stageco Arena Lift, Digital & Future Technologies Super2fer, Tait Technologies Pixel Tablet, Avolites’ Sapphire media server, the Robe Robin DLF Wash, JBL’s VTX V25 Line Array and Martin’s MAC Viper Profile.
ETC Source’s Four LED won the Green Award and honorable mentions were given to the d3 Designer, Sennheiser’s Digital 9000 wireless system, Shure’s ULX-D digital wireless system and the Highlights Wentex pipe and drape system.
John Meyer of Meyer Sound was honored with this year’s Gottelier Award in recognition of his life as one of the pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry. The award is named for the late Tony Gottelier, one of the entertainment industry’s most influential designers, innovators and commentators. Meyer was also the recipient of the first Parnelli Audio Innovator award in 2004.
One of the original pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry, Meyer began his career in 1967 by building a customized system for the Steve Miller Band, and from there he went on to develop loudspeaker systems for artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Grateful Dead. Since founding Meyer Sound Laboratories in 1979 with his wife Helen, Meyer has continued to research, experiment and develop sound technology ever since — building Meyer Sound into an iconic brand and world leader in the pro audio market.
In receiving the award, Meyer acknowledged the importance of collaboration and credited his team for their contributions.
“It’s like a play, where everybody has to do their part,” said Meyer. “I’d like to thank my wife, Helen, who has played a tremendous role in the success of the business, and all the people who support the products that we make. It’s a huge team effort, and I gratefully accept this award on behalf of everybody at Meyer Sound.”
