LONDON – PLASA 2010 got underway Sunday, Sept. 12, after a surge in visitor registrations. The overall focus remains, as always, on the latest new products, including introductions from new and returning exhibitors of gear targeted at the pro audio crowd. Audinate and OEM partners including Allen & Heath, ASL, Electro-Voice, Lab.gruppen, Link, Midas, Outboard, Peavey, XTA and Yamaha featured products that incorporate Audinate's Dante media networking technology. (The iLive Dante module is pictured here.)
Allen & Heath's Dante networking audio interface card from Audinate for the iLive digital mixing series allows iLive systems to work with a Dante audio networking solution, providing capacity for 64×64 bi-directional audio with full network redundancy. iLive MixRacks and modular surfaces with the RAB2 module can be fitted with the new slot-in card. A Dante Virtual Soundcard license will be included with purchases of the card, turning a PC or Mac into a Dante-enabled device. (For more information, CLICK HERE.) The company also added the xDR-16 expander unit to the iLive digital mixing family, providing remote analog I/O expansion and networking options at FOH, on the other side of a large stage, in another room, or even in a different building during installations. And Riedel Communications also offered a new RockNet RN.345.IL network plug-in card for Allen & Heath's iLive system. (For more information, CLICK HERE ).
Avid featured new consoles and VENUE system capabilities designed to improve live recording workflows with Pro Tools, AVB networking and remote control, facilitating mixing, archiving, and setup. Demonstrators showed how an Avid AVB interface card in a VENUE stage rack could transmit audio to a Crown amplifier over AVB in a demo that also integrates Lab X networking technology and a Marvell Ethernet switch. An ECx Ethernet Option card demonstration, which will show how customers can control all VENUE functions over a wireless network, let them step away from the console to adjust their mixes. Customers could also learn how to use an Apple iPad touch screen to access detailed areas of the VENUE user interface to control mixing parameters that included faders, patching, plug-ins and snapshots. Avid also offered a series of panel discussions and master classes covering VENUE Virtual Soundcheck. Hosts included Robert Scovill, Chris Madden, Robb Allan and representatives from Waves, Softube and Sonnox. (For more information, CLICK HERE ).
Clear-Com featured its intercom platform, HelixNet; and an enhanced version of Tempest2400 digital wireless intercom system. (For more information, CLICK HERE.)
DiGiCo introduced its SD Rack, which is based around Stealth FPGA technology. It's touted as the first I/O rack that offers multiple format sample rate conversion and allows up to 448 I/O, in any combination at 96kHz, spread across multiple racks.(For more information, CLICK HERE.)
Harman Professional launched AKG's new Perception Wireless system and HiQnet System Architect Version 2.2; Selenium by Harman; five new loudspeakers in JBL Professional AE Series; and featured the Soundcraft Si Compact digital live sound mixer. The company also teamed up with Com-Net Software to launch IDX information delivery systems and power IDX systems in transit facilities with Crown CTs amplifiers. Harman also featured dbx SC 64 (System Core) and SC 32 digital matrix processors; Crown VRACK; and Crown ComTech DriveCore series amplifiers. The Soundcraft Si Series' new feature set also made its PLASA debut, as did Soundcraft Stagebox for the Vi and Si series.
Midas and Klark Teknik also launched a raft of new products at PLASA 2010. The VeniceF, a new "digilog" ultra-compact mixing console designed by Alex Cooper, made its worldwide debut, complete with FireWire 32-channel digital audio interface, new mic preamps and Propellerhead recording and processing trial software bundle. New to Europe, meanwhile, were two additions to the PRO Series, the PRO3 and PRO9; the XL8i; a new range of Midas digital snakes and new digital audio format and sample rate converters from Klark Teknik. The PRO9 topped the Midas PRO Series, providing an 88 channel input count and 35 buses, while the Midas PRO3 still offered the connectivity of a Heritage 3000 at a cost-conscious price point. The XL8i is an addition to the top of Midas' digital audio line-up, offering the connectivity of the XL8 touring pack in a more compact and lower cost I/O format, and designed with the install, theatre and house of worship market in mind. All the new systems use exactly the same technology and components as the XL8 and PRO6. Also shown were a full range of standalone Midas digital snake and line system products and the new Klark Teknik DN9650 and DN9652 digital audio format converters with a high channel count, integral sample rate conversion and clock isolation.(For more information, CLICK HERE.)
Outline featured its Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode, an Internet-linked networked control system for speakers that runs on a Linux operating system, designed for future interactions with digital consoles, smartphones and "intelligent" devices.
Renkus-Heinz featured the latest products in the expanding IC Live family of digitally steerable array loudspeakers, starting with the new IC2, or "IC Squared." Also new to Europe is the CF/CFX Modular Point Source Array.(For more information, CLICK HERE.)
Yamaha launched its iPad StageMix and AuviTran Network ASIO streamer support for its M7CL digital console and the debut of an arrayable line monitor – the NEXO 45 N-12 12-inch arrayable line monitor.(For more information, CLICK HERE.)
For more information, please visit www.plasashow.com.
