IT’S BEEN an exciting couple of weeks. And, no, I’m not talking about that ‘summer of sport’ this time. The build-up to the IBC and PLASA shows usually serves up something juicy – and this year, there’s been a bumper crop of goodies.
“The build-up to the IBC and PLASA shows usually serves up something juicy – and this year, there’s been a bumper crop of goodies”
First of all we saw the Soundcraft Si Performer launched in Soho (see p41). Our cover star, Wicked’s Kerry Ellis, became the first artist to perform publicly through the desk. The Performer is such a simple idea, and one which must have crossed the minds of many a console manufacturer over the years – but it took Soundcraft to actually spend the money (a £1 million investment we heard) and make the audio/lighting combo a reality. I’m looking forward to hearing more about its successes.
On the eve of press deadline – too close, in fact, for us to squeeze a story into the magazine proper – Mackie launched its DLM range. Powerful, rugged and ridiculously portable, the DLM boxes deserve to do well for Mackie. As CEO Mark Graham said at the Seattle launch, this year has witnessed a return to form for the LOUD company, with the clever DL1608 followed up by a cunning take on compact coaxial speaker tech. You’ll see for yourself at PLASA. Not show related, but worth a mention: I can report that the MPG has begun its new structured approach to the February awards night too. They’ve examined their ‘product’ if you will, and are now upgrading it to V2.0. Watch this space.
Cover picture: Main pic: Kerry Ellis, West End star of Wicked, launches the Soundcraft
Si Performer, August 2012. Photo: Phil Bourne
Much lies ahead. We’ll be telling you all about it, as and when. See you in Amsterdam and then at Earls Court. Dave Robinson
Twitter: @psneurope NEW DS8000 Audio Distribution System IN THIS ISSUE...
NEWS 4 Defining moments from a decade of DiGiCo 6 Industry appointments 8 Key events and expos
TECHNOLOGY 10 Product review: Focusrite ISA Two 12 New products
IBC preview Product highlights
p15
STUDIO 21 Church Studios facing closure 22 Studio Apollo relocates and refurbishes 24 A Valencian facility with a view 26 KMR’s Stefan Pope talks us through a typical day 29 Feature: Outboard gear
BROADCAST 34 A more settled future for BBC Studios & Post 35 VRT’s Radiohuis opens in Leuven 37 DTS embraces 3D with SRS Labs 38 CBC invests in 100 TM3 units
LIVE 41 Soundcraft launches lighting and audio console 44 Behringer continues to innovate with the X32 48 Penguin Cafe engineer Jamie Orchard-Lisle on getting a reputation
50 Live Verdi work is a challenge for DPA 52 Meyer Sound LEO roars in Sweden 55 Show preview: PLASA 58 Feature: On the road, part 3
INSTALL 61 PLASA Show relocates to ExCeL 62 AVB continues to evolve 63 d&b in education double 68 Feature: Products to make life easier
Some things you just can’t change, but everything else? No problem. Re-engineered from the ground-up based on your feedback about the best-selling DS800, the DS8000 sets a new standard in audio distribution systems. With an all new mic pre-amp, redundant power supply linking, quick one-to-many splitting, subtle panel illumination and an AES digital output option, the DS8000 offers incredible performance and the highest reliability in all conditions. And it’s still blue.