HIGH HOPES FOR THIS YEAR'S APRS

This summer's APRS exhibition to be held at Olympia 2, London, from 24-26 June is expected to attract a record number of visitors.

There will be about 160 exhibitors, some sharing stands, which is about the same number as last year. But according to Edward Masek, who is again organising the exhibition: 'We are anticipating a noticeable increase on last year's 5,501 visitors. Everybody who came last year has been sent a personal invitation, and the show has been advertised fairly heavily.'

Masek stressed that the whole ethos of the show will, as always, be selling. 'The purpose of the exhibition has always been to provide an efficient and cost-effective marketplace. We don't load the exhibitors with extra costs that don't lead directly to orders.'

• An added bonus for both exhibitors and visitors at this year's show will be a daily paper, produced by Sound Engineer and Producer.

This is the first year that a daily has been produced for the show, and our journalists will be at the show for the set up days and the show proper, sniffing out stories, gossip and product news.

Advertisement details from Kerr Duffy.

TSC WINS SOUNDCRAFT CONSOLES

Jonathan Cole's new outfit The Synthesiser Company, trading under the abbreviation TSC, has been appointed London and Southeast agent for the complete range of Soundcraft consoles.

Cole said that he would be specialising in the TS12 as 'it is an excellent desk for the price'.

TSC has also just moved premises and opened new showrooms just off the Edgware Road.

The new address is (Contact Details).

SERIES 80 UPDATE

Trident have introduced a new variation on their Series 80 console, the Series 80C.

The new console (above), features completely new styling and a new monitor section with a dual line input facility which makes it possible to monitor up to 48 tracks simultaneously.

Also incorporated in the new monitor modules are full four-band equalisers and long throw conductive plastic faders.

This means that during mixdown, inputs and monitors are effectively identical giving up to 56 fully equalised inputs from the standard frame configuration of 32-24-48.

Moving fader and VCA based automation systems are also available for the Series 80B and 80C.

TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE

The Strongroom, set up in Shoreditch two years ago by ex-Magazine keyboard player Dave Formula and partner Richard Boote, has undergone substantial improvements.

The major addition is The Bridge (evidently this month's in name), a MIDI programming suite built above the main control room.

It features a TAC Scorpion desk surrounded by a plethora of synths, samplers and software, all carefully wired and networked. The Strongroom has acted quickly to offer a carefully thought out facility for this growing sector of the pro-audio industry.

In the main studio, the Amek Angela has been replaced by a 40-input G2520 with Mastermix, the first G2520 in commercial use in the UK.

Dave Formula was pleased with the performance of the new desk: 'Amek have combined their famous M2500 EQ with the flexible signal paths of the Angela.

'With its fast central control system, endless routing possibilities and the addition of Mastermix fader automation, we find the new console difficult to fault.'

YAMAHA'S BID TO CONQUER

Downstairs, underneath 61 Conduit Street (just off Regent Street), is Yamaha's latest bid to conquer the music technology world. The new London Research and Development Centre was opened on April 27 with oodles of champagne and more Japanese people than potential customers, as is the Japanese way!

This centre is kitted out as a 24-track studio, with everything that could possibly be Yamaha being Yamaha, including the carpet. Where it isn't Yamaha it's industry-standard (Otari MTR-90 multitrack, Adams-Smith synchroniser, etc.)

It's anticipated that the studio will be used by a select band of visitors who book appointments to discuss new ideas, play with equipment, attend seminars, and hopefully be so Yamaha brain-washed that they'll never buy anything else again.

Seriously though, it does seem a good idea, and something that more companies ought to indulge in, as precious few manufacturers go to adequate lengths to discover how people want to use their equipment and then incorporate those needs in the designs.

Yamaha has installed an assisted reverberation system into a small studio, which works along similar lines to that installed in some concert halls and broadcast studios for changing the acoustics of the room to suit the musicians. This allows them to play in different environments and find out how it affects their performance.

The grand opening was somewhat marred by the heat of too many people in the studio, which upset the synchroniser and caused it to lurch up and down in speed. This was soon rectified using the mains-off switch.

Anyone wishing to use the R&D studio should contact Eric Atsumi on (Contact Details).

KELLY LEAVES BOARD

Mike Kelly of Syco has relinquished his directorship of the company to concentrate on sister company, Cristofori. Stephen Paine will continue as Syco's Managing Director.

Kelly considers his increasing efforts with high-quality grand piano retailer and restorer, Cristofori, a fresh challenge: 'Over the past five years my main role at Syco has been to push the company's image, giving an aggressive front. I've no qualms at taking a back seat on the general running of the company. That's always been Stephen's strength.'

Paine added: 'Over the past few months I've spent a great deal of time establishing relationships outside the present arena.'

Fast Takes

• Audio mixer manufacturer Soundtracs has appointed John Carroll as Sales and Marketing Director. Carroll, 36, has been with Soundtracs for 12 years in the UK and overseas as International Marketing Manager.

• Tannoy has appointed Barry Carter as Marketing Manager for its High Wycombe Systems Division.

• Carlsboro Pro Audio (CPA) has been appointed dealer in the North and Midlands for TAC Scorpion and Matchless recording consoles.

• Music House, the London-based digital pro-audio production company, has launched the Music House Library of contemporary recorded music and Digiffects, a new digital sound effects library.

The stereo digital recording for the Digiffects CD used Sony PCM F1s and Sennheiser MKH 805 mikes. The first Digiffects CD is a cross-section of 84 effects; ten more CDs will follow. Music House are also agents for The International Sound Effects Library. Enquiries, contact Helena Hennessy on (Contact Details).

• Salford College of Technology is planning a new two-year course in audio and video systems in response to the industry's growing demand for a more technically skilled workforce. Students will graduate with an HND and be qualified for jobs in the manufacture, commissioning, servicing and distribution of audio and video equipment.

The course, which is awaiting B/TEC validation, is an extension of the college's successful OND in music recording technology.

For details, contact Ron Holt on (Contact Details).

• Crest Audio, one of the USA's leading designers and manufacturers of audio amplifiers, has established new European headquarters in Britain. Jeremy Mead, founder of Rauch Precision, has been retained as General Manager. The address is: (Contact Details).

• Brooke Siren Systems Ltd, part of the EdgeTech Group, manufacturers of frequency dividing systems and signal processing equipment, have changed to BSS Audio Ltd.

• Robertson Taylor Insurance Brokers, entertainment industry insurance specialists, have a specialist department for recording studios and hire companies. They claim to have formed a policy which offers wider cover — including breakdown cover — while keeping the policy simple.

• Bell and Howell have made two appointments in the Visual Communications Division, UK Operation. George Aubele is Sales and Marketing Director, and Kieran Chandler becomes Sales and Marketing Manager.

• Mitsubishi Pro-Audio Group has appointed three new engineers to join Karl Walters and Simon Bradbury.

Dave Ward will be Technical Operations Manager in charge of technical services and support, including the organisation of seminars and demonstrations throughout Europe.

Toshio Fujisawa will join the company from the PCM Factory in Osaka, and will co-ordinate PCM support and liaison with the Japanese factory. Ray Wynn is the third new recruit.

• Neve's Necam 96 moving fader automation system is being made available for non-Neve consoles. John Andrews, Neve Sales and Marketing Director, said: 'We have come under increasing pressure to sell Necam for other manufacturers' consoles.'

• CB Electronics has introduced a new range of timecode equipment including a generator/reader/inserter, with a video wipe and countdown facility for cueing in ADR and full cue editing. The company is planning to distribute products worldwide.