Short Takes is the mix's very own bulletin board - this is the place for dealer information, recording courses, price changes and idle gossip

LIVE SOUND engineering course

The next Going Live course will be held at the University of Manchester over the weekend of March 31st to April 2nd.

Going Live will offer valuable insights and instruction for those with all levels of knowledge of sound reinforcement, from beginners through to advanced users. The course will be structured as a two day event over Saturday and Sunday, with an optional precourse session for beginners on the Friday. This will provide a basic introduction to signal path, console layout and system components for first-time students.

The instructors will be professionals from the world of live sound. Previous courses have featured engineers with touring credits with the likes of David Byrne, Mike Oldfield, Prince, David Bowie, Jeff Beck and Shakespeare's Sister, with a brief to cover everything from set up and soundcheck to equipment operation and live performance. And on the Saturday night, students will have the chance to mix a live band on stage.

More from: Katrina Davies, Soundcraft, (Contact Details)

Optimusic debut

Optimusic made its debut at last month's Live 94 consumer electronics show in Earls Court. Optimusic, designed and built in the UK, is 'played' by movement and dance through interaction with light beams. Optimusic produces electronic sounds, controlling the pitch and length of notes as well as controlling lighting systems, special effects and any other electronically operated devices used on stage. It's an excellent tool for dancers and musicians alike, adding a new dimension to any live PA or rock concert. The professional model is currently available, with a home use version hot on its tracks. The complete package includes a modular lighting unit, computer interface, and dedicated software which can be ordered from Optimusic's London office.

More from: Alan Simpson (Contact Details)

YAMAHA PRO MIX 01 "Audio R&D Achievement of the year"

Broadcast professionals from around the world voted in the International Broadcasting & Television Buyer Awards 1994, giving top place in the audio R&D Achievement Of The Year category to ProMix. The award was announced at the recent IBC, and the awards are officially endorsed as an IBC event. The ProMix 01 is currently being used on stage with Take That, as part of the audio production for their biggest and most technically ambitious tour to date.

More from: Yamaha-Kemble (Contact Details)

White Light are exclusive distributors of Cumulus

White Light announced its exclusive UK dealership for sales and hire of the Cumulus Dry Ice machine at PLASA. From November 1st, White Light will have stock to sell and hire. The Cumulus Dry Ice has a high capacity dry ice basket for huge quantities of fog output, and also has many new design features, including a lift-out basket for quick exchange to a stand-by basket, to ensure virtually continuous fogging.

More from: Bryan Raven at White Light (Contact Details)

Challenge Sennheiser!

In the recent Challenge Anneka programme, the lycra-clad booty had to transform Swansea's famous Patti Pavilion into the Patti Arts Centre. Sennheiser kindly donated a two-channel infra-red audio system for the simultaneous transmission for those with impaired hearing, and a translated language, or transcription service for the visually impaired. The system donated by Sennheiser consisted of two SZ1 1219 radiators and ten receiver headsets.

More from: Rob Piddington, Sennheiser (Contact Details)

Golden microphones

HW celebrated their 30th birthday with a special presentation at this year's PLASA show. To mark the occasion, Shure produced a unique gold edition of their classic Fifties shape 55SH-2 microphone.

HW International, (Contact Details)

KAM mixer wins award

At the recent Disco International 1994 Awards, KAM's GM-X5 stereo mixing desk won the award for 'best mobile mixer'. The GM-X5 features four line inputs, one mic input, output EQ, and a durable crossfader, and comes in a rugged rack-mountable case.

More from: Lamba (Contact Details)

STEINBERG get a slice of Heaven

German software house Steinberg, and the UK's Heavenly Music MIDI software, are to join in a worldwide alliance which will see Heavenly's building block software including Dr Beat, Bytes'n'Pieces, and others packaged with many of Steinberg's flagship products, including their new Musicstation. It's a natural progression, since all of Heavenly Music's products have always been programmed using Cubase.

More from: Heavenly Music (Contact Details) Harman (Steinberg) (Contact Details)

Jesus Jones and the Holy Spirit

Jesus Jones' next album is being made using a Spirit console. Bandleader Mike Edwards' home studio is based round a 24-channel Spirit Studio, which has already been used for several remix projects. Mike likes the desk for its ease-of-use, nice EQ, and 'decent number of sends and returns.' The recent film Shopping featured a track by Mike recorded using the Spirit Studio.

More from: Andy Farmer, Spirit by Soundcraft (Contact Details)

UCI choose Tannoy

Tannoy's Contractor Series loudspeakers have been specified by UCI Cinema for its new roadshow trailer. The trailer is on a promotional tour of the UK, and is fitted with two CPA 15 and two CPA 12 speakers, as well as a video wall, stage and TV monitors.

More from: Derek West, Tannoy (Contact Details)

Change at the church

The Church studios at Crouch Hill have recently appointed a new studio manager. Lise Price has previously worked for MCA Records, Falconer and Mayfair studios, and takes over from Nick Price in her new role. Best of luck, Lise...

The Church (Contact Details)

Samson get stronger

Sound Technology have been appointed UK distributors for the Samson range of wireless systems and audio products. Samson wireless products are endorsed by the likes of Aerosmith, Elton John and U2, and their audio range includes power amps, mixer amps equalizers and headphone amps.

More from: Sound Technology (Contact Details)

Moles dig Tetra

Bath-based studio, Moles, has just installed a 64-channel Optifile Tetra with local status control and the new remote control option. The Tetra automation system is very easy to use, and recent clients who have been impressed by it include Alex Gifford (pictured), member of The Grid.

More from: The Home Service (Contact Details)

Massive Virgin Megastore for London

Virgin's new Megastore will be the world's largest entertainment store when it opens fully in Easter '95. The first phase will be the opening of the Videodrome on 15 November, which will stock the world's largest selection of videos - you can even preview them on LCD screens before you buy. To follow are departments for computer games, PC centre, T-shirts, books and merchandise. They even sell CDs, too!

Soundtracs in Joe's garage

Joe's Garage Recording Studios have recently replaced their SSL with a fully automated 32-channel Soundtracs Jade Production Console, supplied by Larking Audio. Joe's Garage is one of London's most popular studios for tracking, programming and mixing, and clients include U2, Brand New Heavies and Eddi Reader.

More from: Sally Haseman, Soundtracs (Contact Details) Giles or Savvas, Joe's Garage (Contact Details)

d-zone Price Correction

In last month's Toolbox review of d-zone's 'Loopisms' sample CDs, we quoted the price at £14.99 - in fact, they are actually only £9.99. Sorry chaps.

More from: d-zone, (Contact Details)

The Windings win award

North Wales-based studio, The Windings, has just won a 3M Visionary Award for their recording of JAMES' best-selling album 'Laid', produced by Brian Eno. The award was given for 'surpassing the levels of artistic achievement', and has previously been won by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince.

More from: Mike Jones, The Windings (Contact Details)

Scoring for Britain

The 1994 World Cup was not Britain's finest hour, but for British producer Charlie Skarbek, things couldn't have been better. At his East Sussex studio, using a Soundtracs Jade, he wrote and produced 'Glory Land' the World Cup theme, which took three months of intensive work. Available in 75 different versions, which Charlie is still recovering from having to put together, 'Glory Land' features Daryl Hall and The Sounds of Blackness. Both were recorded in the US by Charlie, before being mixed on the Jade. The track has sold over half a million copies.

More from: Sally Haseman, Soundtracs (Contact Details)

3M open customer Centre

Magnetic media manufacturer 3M have opened a new Customer Technical Centre at Bracknell in Berkshire. The aim of the centre is to support users of existing 3M products, and to assist in the development of new media for the emerging video and audio formats.

More from: Joe Clerkin, 3M (Contact Details)

Theatrical Megas

At the recent celebratory party for the premiere of the Lion King, a Soundtracs Megas II Stage console could be found mixing the jungle sound effects and African drumming band to keep the celebrity audience entertained. Engineer Doug Beveridge of The PA Company (pictured) was hidden behind a fabulous set comprising jungle foliage, a waterfall, a watering hole and an elephant's graveyard.

More from: beyerdynamic (Contact Details)

RENTALS

Info kindly provided by FX Rentals (Contact Details)