XTA OEM EAW

XTA Electronics have recently entered into a strategic agreement with Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) to provide the company with DP200 Digital Audio Processors, specifically software-configured for EAW products.

What does this mean to the likes of you and me? Well, the first product to be released under this joint effort will be the EAW MX8600 Close Coupled Digital Processor, which will include parametric EQ and delay, as well as asymmetrical crossover filters. The new processor will have a baptism of fire come the day of the Super Bowl (you know the event, lots of hot dog eating Americans watching overweight blokes in helmets belting each other), for which 26 MX8600s will be used for sound reinforcement with XTA's DSP technology.

XTA Electronics. (Contact Details)

A&H's box of tricks

For the NAMM show later in the month, Allen & Heath are introducing their first digital-based product, the DR128 digital processor. The DR128 combines mix, gain, levels, gates, compressors, graphic EQs, parametric EQs in a 2U chassis, aiming to be an all-in-one processing solution and rack space saver.

The DR128 comprises 12 inputs to eight outputs as a cross point matrix with 'comprehensive' ducking features. At each input and output, the installer chooses fron a wide variety of signal processing facilities equivalent to traditional rack units. This single unit fulfils complex mix matrix applications. As a digital system, any number of parameters and configurations can be saved to the unit's 16 internal memory patches, or stored on disk.

New algorithms, designed by the A&H digital research team allow the base unit to be expanded internally, more than tripling the equivalent rack unit power. Delays can be added and there are extensive remote control possibilities.

The DR128 is capable of serving in many different applications, from completely integrated sound systems to operating as eight 31-band graphic EQs for on-stage monitor mixes, or multi-channel surround-sound panning for film and video. Suffice it to say, watch this space, and you will be the first to hear more about the DR128 'as and when'.

Allen & Heath. (Contact Details)

JBL's new era

Once in a while in this job something amazing comes along that really makes you sit up and take notice, that makes your jaw drop in amazement, your eyes pop out on stalks, and sets your heart a flutter. Unfortunately, it was decided that the set of screen savers in question weren't suitable for an equal opportunity workplace such as SOStage's. Of course, JBL's new HLA Series touring system is mildly diverting as well.

At first glance, this looks like a JBL-loaded jungle gym, but, of course, first impressions are often misleading. The 'jungle gym' speaker enclosure is just one of the radical features of the loudspeaker, the other is a new driver technology.

The new DCD driver technology uses dual voice coils, new lightweight materials, and less steel in its components and frames, neodymium magnets, and a new airflow design that offers improved heat dissipation. Along with JBL's Optimized Aperture Waveguide, providing accurate pattern control with reduced distortion, the new drivers boast 'vast' power handling improvements.

The enclosure uses JBL's so-called SpaceFrame technology, which eliminates the traditional cabinet structure while allowing for the inclusion of integral mating points for flying the rig — which evenly distributes weight and stress over the entire structure instead of just at critical points.

The SpaceFrame, with array elements positioned, connects to JBL's new Aimable, Multi-band Waveguide tilting system, which is positioned inside the SpaceFrame. This should all give the HLA Series a good deal of flexibility in array positioning and tilting to offer the comprehensive coverage you always wish you had in a touring sound system. This combination of new mechanical innovations looks to provide advantages in positioning, flying, loading, and aiming the array, with the ergonomic benefits of using only a single type of system.

Harman Audio. (Contact Details)

Native Custom

Custom Sound have announced the release of The Installer Range. Three new models are available ranging from 60 to 200 Watts and designed primarily for installations, particularly the new crop of stylish designer pubs and diners that require an equally refined speaker unit. The speakers are constructed from MDF in a cuboid format and are available finished in a textured black or in 'trafalgar blue'.

Linear Products Ltd. (Contact Details)

QSC new USA hits UK

QSC Audio Products announces the newly redesigned USA Series, the second generation of their popular amplifier line (so popular, in fact, that they named a large North American country after it, patent pending). Three new models offer even more features and performance in a new rugged, all-steel chassis. Neutrik Combo connectors are now standard, providing active balanced XLR and quarter-inch TRS inputs. Selectable limiters provide optional input limiting to reduce prolonged amplifier clipping. Variable low frequency filters (30Hz, 50Hz, or flat) reduce potential speaker damage below box tuning frequencies and increase power available for low frequencies within the speaker's operating range. The new USA amplifiers also deliver more power than before thanks to a larger, improved power supply. Other standard features include comprehensive amplifier and load protection, high thermal mass heat sinks, clip indicators, and mono-bridging switch.

You may also have heard of QSC's new high power extensions to their PowerLight range — namely the PowerLight 8.0, capable of delivering a hefty 8000W bridged into 4 ohms. Interesting and exciting? Yes. Available in the UK yet. No. So wipe the drool from your chin and relax for at least a month before you go hassling your local dealer.

HW International. (Contact Details)

C Audio — PAXT with great features

A large sale of C Audio power amplifiers to Paraguay has been completed by PAXT Ltd, who represent the Cambridge company in some territories including South America. A total of 24 XR 3801s, six RA 2001s, and an ST 1000 were configured in their own purpose-designed amp racks, for shipment to the country's leading PA hire company. The consignment includes six racks loaded with three XR 3801s and one RA 2001, one rack with three XR 3801s and one ST 1000, and the final rack with three 3801s.

Explained PAXT's Clive Bradbury: "These will go straight into rental stock as part of the company's transition from American power amps to all British. The sale was influenced by the owner, whose family originally come from the UK. He wanted to replace his stock with reputable, high-power British amplifiers — and they plan to add to this initial order in the future." The empire lives!

Clive added: "This sale has only resulted from painstaking work and five visits to South America in the past five years."

Further news from C Audio involves an upgrade to their ST range of power amplifiers, which will carry a new serialisation. Known as the ST 400i, ST 600i, and ST 1000i, the products bear minor internal improvements to the electronic circuitry, but more significantly are now more rugged and roadworthy.

C Audio. (Contact Details)

1 MXT-up wedge

The Peavey HiSys 1 MXT is a high power, low profile, wedge monitor enclosure. This enclosure is equipped with Peavey's 1205-8DT 12-inch Black Widow speaker, which features a Kevlar impregnated deep cone, for high power handling. Coupled with a 22XT driver, a CH 3 horn flare permits good directivity control. The small size and low profile of the HiSys 1 MXT make this foldback enclosure well suited to use where there is limited space or where obtrusive monitoring is a no-no.

The sealed design enclosure is fitted with a high-power crossover for full-range application. This crossover can be re-configured for full bi-amp operation by simple rearrangement of a jumper plug on the circuit board. To enable the Hi Sys 1 MXT to deliver all available power, two low-loss Neutrik NL-4 Speakon connectors are fitted. These are paralleled to facilitate 'daisy-chaining'.

Peavey have also introduced the KB/A 100 and KB/A 300 keyboard/acoustic amps. The KB/A 100 offers 65 Watts RMS of power, in a two-way speaker system that includes a 15-inch heavy-duty speaker and high frequency piezo-type horn.

Three channels are provided, each with quarter-inch inputs and level controls. Channels 2 and 3 offer a 12dB gain boost switch. Additionally, channel 1 contains an XLR mic input. Four-band EQ is provided globally for all channels. Master reverb control is also provided.

Meanwhile, the KB/A 300 provides 150 Watts of power with three separate channels available. Channels 2 and 3 offer a quarter-inch line-level input and feature 12dB gain boost switch. Four-band EQ is provided along with a reverb send pot. Channel 1 contains all the features found on 2 and 3, minus the gain switch.

Peavey Electronics Ltd. (Contact Details)

Gooseneck mics spread their wings

Shure's 'Microflex' range of microphones for theatre, film, conference, and installed sound have been dramatically improved. The new 'Microflex' gooseneck microphones, much like a three and a half foot Chinese gymnast, bring a whole new meaning to the word 'flexible'. Apart from the flexibility of the goosenecks, interchangeable microphone capsules are on offer, available in either cardioid, super cardioid or omni directional pick-up patterns. 'Microflex' goosenecks are available in four models, with a variety of heights and mounting styles to choose from. One model includes a 'silent mute' switch and LED.

Two new boundary microphones have also been introduced into the range, which also have the advantage of interchangable capsules giving you either cardioid, super cardioid or omni directional pick-up patterns, incorporating 'silent mute' switch and LED to show microphone 'on', ideal for round table conferences etc.

Three new 'Lavalier' microphones also make their debut. No larger than a paper clip, the MX 183, 185, and 185 have interchangable capsules for either cardioid, super cardioid or omni directional use — side entry cables make unobtrusive mounting a bonus for TV presenters etc.

HW International. (Contact Details)

Out Board power up

New from Out Board Electronics, the 882 retrofit fader and switch automation system is primarily intended for use in live applications where complex audio events require several settings of levels; routing and console set-up to be stored during rehearsal and recalled during a performance. A Snapshot system, the 882 possesses dynamic capabilities. Each scene stored may consist of either static fader levels with a programmable crossfade rate and switch status, or dynamic fader and switch event in real time. Up to 128 faders as well as 128 mutes and one or several matrices up to a total size of 16 blocks of 8 inputs and 8 outputs, can be controlled by the 882. The 882 can be supplied in standalone format as well as a console retrofit.

Also new from Out Board is the Octopus, an 8 input, multiple output automated sound control system for live production work, and designed to give the operator eight 'extra hands' to help with repetitive setting and re-setting of levels, signal routing to loudspeakers, effects insertion and sound effects triggering — in effect its like having a particularly clued-up octopus sitting next to you as your personal assistant.

Out Board Electronics Ltd. (Contact Details)

Live Sound — the book

With Live Sound — PA for Performing Musicians, Peter Buick has produced a book written for live sound engineers with practical applications and real life scenarios very much in mind. The whole ambit of live sound engineering is addressed, including the equipment used and how to get the most out of it, the problems you will confront and how to fix them, and various other related subjects such as safety, feedback, as well automation and MIDI in the live sound field.

Live Sound is well set out, with plenty of diagrams and pull out boxes offering salient tips and tricks of the trade. Buick has been quite sparing on the technicalities and dry theory of the subject, and this is by no means the final word in professional live sound resource books, but is well worth having on hand for those embarking on work in this field or engineers needing more information as their responsibilities expand.

SOS Publications (mail order). (Contact Details)

Sennheiser new UHF system

Sennheiser has launched its new EM 3000 Series UHF radio microphone receiver system. A more cost-effective replacement for the EM2004, it comprises an entirely new 16-channel selectable frequency receiver system, available in either EM 3031 single channel or EM 3032 dual channel configured 19-inch 1U rack-mountable units.

The two units feature PLL controlled channel selectability, with up to 32 programmable frequencies within a 24MHz switching bandwidth. The ergonomic facia features frequency select and set controls, power switch, headphone jack and volume control, and a large backlit LCD display, giving clear indication of frequency, field strength, deviation, and transmitter battery status for both channels (EM 3032). Sennheiser's own HiDyn plus compander system is employed to deliver an effective 120dB signal to noise ratio.

Also new from Sennheiser are affordable yet fully professional, UHF transmitter units — the SKM 1072 hand-held and SK 1063 beltpack. Both units feature 16-channel selectable operation within a 27MHz switching bandwidth. The SKM 1072 hand-held transmitter features a new super-cardioid condenser capsule especially designed for optimum performance for both vocal and speech applications, and should be equally suited for use in music, theatre and conferencing, and presentation.

Sennheiser UK. (Contact Details)

Deltron box your va ears

Deltron has launched a modular stage box that has been designed to accommodate a range of panels, which can be fitted to suit customer requirements.

All panels are 6U long and either 1U or 2U wide, depending on the chosen cut-outs, with plain versions available for specific adaption. All cut-outs can be fitted with blanking plates to create a fully enclosed box — although naturally you won't want a unit entirely comprised of blanking plates, this is an option. Manufactured in sheet steel and aluminium, this compact box is simple in construction, robust, and is supplied in a smart matt black finish. With strong integral handles and no sharp comers or protrusions, it is easy to move and stack.

The range of panels, which can be mounted, have cut-outs for EDAC multiway connectors, Harting multiway rectangular correctors, and Litton circular connectors, to be fitted to the box ends. Top mounted panels have cut-outs for universal XLR plugs and sockets (in eight and four cut-out options), which can also be fitted to the end of the box to extend the input/output range. Plain panels are also available.

Deltron Components Ltd. (Contact Details)