QUIET GROWS THE DON

Good news for IT readers into home and studio recording is that leading distributor/retailer Don Larking has just opened a branch office in Stoke-on-Trent.

Don's headquarters remain, of course, in Luton, Beds, which is well-placed (right on the M.1.) for most London and Southern customers, but the December 17th. opening of the new branch means that Northern customers are now better served.

The Stoke office will be headed on the sales side by Geoff Finney and Sheree Fielding, and will have products in stock from all Don's usual sources - including Soundtracs, Trident, Applied Microsystems, Rauch, Bel, Soundcraft tape machines, Westlake Monitors plus a selection from Don's extensive stock of used gear.

Just as important is the establishment of a technical department in Stoke, offering full installation service, repairs and servicing.

The new branch is at (Contact Details). Don Larking Audio Sales' head office, meanwhile, remains at (Contact Details).

SR Spells PA For AHB

Five new models of sound mixers, specially designed for 'the most demanding road use' (the makers say) and dubbed the 'SR' series, have been launched by Allen and Heath Brenell.

The new range comprises five models, available in three stereo and two 4-output configurations.

All models feature 4-band Eq., long-throw faders, input peak indicators and 48v. phantom power supplies. Each channel affords 4 aux. sends, 2 pre-fade Eq. and 2 post-fade, which are user-modifiable into any desired combination. Insertion points allow external processing equipment to be patched into the input channels (pre-Eq.) or into either side of the stereo outputs.

Prices seem to be well pitched for most bands, and run as follows: SR8 (8 into 2 into 1) £529, SR16 (16:2:1) £787.75, SR24 (24:2:1) £1,109.75, SR416 (16:4:2:1) £1,132.75 and the SR424 (24:4:2:1) which has an RRP of £1477.75 - all prices include VAT.

More details on the new SR mixers from Allen and Heath Brenell Ltd. at (Contact Details).

REVOX 99 GOES TO MK III

New on the market is the Mk. III version of Revox's PR99 reel to reel recorder, complete with several new features.

The PR99 Mk.III now incorporates an LED real time tape counter alongside built-in varispeed control, zero locate, address locate and auto repeat functions. The microprocessor-controlled real-time counter displays hours, mins, and secs, from -9.59.59 to +29.59.59, and counter error is claimed to be less than 0.5%. A nice touch is a feature whereby the microprocessor now automatically recomputes the displayed time when tape speed is changed.

The address locator searches the tape in fast wind mode for a pre-selected 'address' point, which can be entered from the keyboard or transferred from a tape counter reading.

The Revox's repeat mode automatically plays the tape from the lowest of the two pre-selected memory locate points (zero and address) to the higher point, then rewinds again to the lower and activates the 'play' mode.

The varispeed facility on the Mk III is activated by a latching push-button, and controls tape speed within a -33% to +50% range (effectively +/- 1/2 octave). Usefully, the adjustment is 'spread' in the centre range to allow fine tuning of pitch.

Other new features on the PR99 Mk.III include expanded facilities for repro treble adjustment, a serial remote connector for accessing the microprocessor circuitry plus auto braking adjustment for large or small reels.

More details on all Revox products from F.W.O. Bauch Ltd., (Contact Details).

Policeman Detains Harrison Mixer

Fame and fortune certainly has its rewards - like having your own 24 track studio at home, for example! Hats off, then, to Police's Stuart Copeland who, IT hears, has just purchased a 40 channel Harrison MR-4 mixing console for his impressive home set-up.

Apparently, Stuart had worked with Harrison mixers in the States during recent Police tours and, most recently, at Surrey Sound Studios who were the first commercial studio in the U.K. to re-equip with the MR-4 desk.

Not being a man to mess around, Stuart has had Harrison's U.K. distributors, F.W.O. Bauch, instal a 40 channel MR-4, fully prepared for automation. Congratulations, Stuart - now let's hear that solo album!

Meanwhile, you can get details of Harrison gear from F.W.O. Bauch Ltd. at (Contact Details).