Syn-Aud-Con Update: "System Optimization & Design" will be held on April 26-30, 2004 (Grand Rapids, Mich.). "System Optimization" only will be held February 1-2, 2004, at IE-Europe (Switzerland), and June 6-7, 2004, at InfoComm (Atlanta). "Architectural Acoustics: Measurement & Prediction" will be held at this year's NSCA show (Las Vegas, March 16-18, 2004, www.nsca.org). A "Hands-On" Seminar will be held May 24-25 and 27-28, 2004, in Greenville, Ind.
www.synaudcon.com

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the 20th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2004, at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco. The TEC Awards honors outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. For more information, visit mixfoundation.org.

Cadac SAM Version 1.07
Cadac has just released Version 1.07 for its Sound Automation Software (SAM) software (Windows), which incorporates new multiconsole control capabilities, support for multilingual versions and enhanced MIDI facilities, as well as additional tracking and remote-control features. This latest release provides integrated support for all Cadac consoles and products, as well as cross-console compatibility and conversion facilities for seamless show portability. SAM is free via www.cadac-sound.com. Visit Cadac at NSCA booth #2002. MORE

Community DnD Series Loudspeakers
Community's (NSCA booth #1308) two new modular enclosures (DnD12 and DnD15) are multi-angle cabinets that can be used as stage monitors at either of two angles or in a traditional upright fashion. The DnD12 is a two-way, full-range device with a 12-inch woofer at the low end and a Focused Array high-frequency section using a dual-driver pattern control horn. Housing a high-power, high-efficiency 15-inch woofer, the DnD15 incorporates the same HF section as the DnD12. MORE

DiGiCo, Soundtracs Show Integrated Live Solution
DiGiCo and Soundtracs will host a live linkup between a DiGiCo D5 FMX and a Soundtracs DS-00 at NSCA booth #2808 to show how efficiently live and recorded sound can be handled on a single integrated digital system. MORE

EAW KF850 "Z" Upgrade
Loudspeaker manufacturer EAW has upgraded its KF850 Virtual Array loudspeaker. The new z Versions of the KF850 come in two application-specific variations: the KF850zF (flyable) and KF850zR (road). Both include all-new internal components with the latest in EAW transducer technology, as well as a host of new features, all of which can be viewed at NSCA booth #1425. MORE

EAW AX Series
Eastern Acoustic Works, a LOUD Technologies brand will show a new series of arrayable loudspeakers, the AX Series, that incorporate a coaxial MF/HF driver design to provide consistent coverage over the widest possible frequency range. MORE

FiberPlex LightViper
FiberPlex Inc., a provider of fiber-optic data communications for the U.S. government, announced that its LightViper™ VIS-1832 fiber-optic pro audio solution for digital data communications will be on display at NSCA at booth #1645. MORE

Furman SB-1000
Furman's new 1U, 15-inch Uninterruptible Power Supply SB-1000 can safely keep computer laptops, microprocessing components and keyboards running until the user powers them down. The SB-1000's brownout and surge protection prevent data loss and corruption. MORE

Lake Technology Fully Digital Lake Contour Pro26D
Lake Technology Limited (NSCA booth #3930) has announced the immediate availability of the Lake Contour™ Pro26D, a new version of the company's digital loudspeaker processor that incorporates a stereo AES/EBU digital input and output as standard. The fully digital signal path of this latest Lake Contour model offers improved overall audio system quality through the elimination of an unnecessary DA/AD conversion at the console. MORE

Middle Atlantic WR Series, Guardian Series, 30-Amp MPR Series, Cable-Management Accessories

Sennheiser Evolution e614
Sennheiser's new Evolution e614 supercardioid drum overhead condenser microphone has a frequency range of 40 to 20k Hz and is powered by external phantom power (P48). Sennheiser will be at NSCA booth #2315. MORE

Soundcraft LX7ii
Soundcraft announced the NSCA Expo launch of its LX7ii live mixing console, an upgrade to the LX7 desk with new features such as improved mic preamp and EQ sections, both designed by Soundcraft founder and electronics guru Graham Blyth. Designated the GB30 Series, these new designs coincide with Soundcraft's 30th anniversary. MORE

SPL Runt Demonstration
Sound Physics Labs will host a loudspeaker demonstration of its new "Runt" at NSCA 2004, booth #2329. MORE

Symetrix Adds Express Series
Symetrix has added to its SymNet line with the new Express Series of DSP devices, which will be shown at NSCA booth #1424. Available in two versions, Express hardware will target stand-alone applications with three new models and CobraNet-capable applications with four more. MORE

Turbosound Debuts New System at NSCA
Turbosound will intro a new sound reinforcement system at NSCA 2004 in Demo Room S227. The new Turbosound system is scalable to suit specific acoustical and venue requirements, ranging from small venues to large stadiums, while offering improved power density, throw, pattern and phase behavior, with the additional advantage of variable horizontal coverage. At NSCA, Turbosound will be demonstrating the Contractor version of the series. The Live Sound Series is scheduled for an AES Europe introduction. MORE

Musikmesse: Alcons Audio LR16
At the upcoming Musikmesse/ProLight&Sound, Alcons will celebrate its first anniversary and will show its LR16; the company will also host off-site demonstrations of The Ribbon line array system. MORE

DiGiCo, Renkus-Heinz to Set Demonstration Tour Dates
DiGiCo announced a 2004 world demonstration tour of the D5 digital mixing system with a Renkus-Heinz PowerNet Series self-powered P.A. system. MORE

Allen & Heath Honors Staff Members
Allen & Heath held a presentation in mid-February to commend several members of its staff who have been employees of the company for 20 years or more. The honors list includes design manager Carey Davies, PCB supervisor Winnie Gerred, product tester Mandy Berry, SMT production engineer Mike Cock and production manager Chris Abbott. The selected members were presented with personalized gifts of their own choice, including jewelery, commemorative coins and a guitar. MORE

ICIA Releases Positive Report on A/V Industry
The International Communications Industries Association Inc. (ICIA) has announced the release of its new 2004 Market Forecast Survey, which showed that "future trends are again quite positive," with most of the companies that responded believing their revenues and profits to increase during the next three years. The survey covers a broad range of issues, beginning with earnings and profitability, and extending to members' perceptions of important new products and trends. MORE

Klipsch Hires Jim Breen
Klipsch Audio Technologies (Indianapolis) announced that Jim Breen has joined the company in the newly created role of business unit manager of commercial contracting and corporate development. He is responsible for the overall direction and distribution of Klipsch-brand audio products to hotels, restaurants, houses of worship, retail stores, theme parks, board and conference rooms, and other commercial establishments. MORE

QSC Adds eBox to Customer Support
Designed by CustomerNation for manufacturers as a one-stop service that integrates the funcitons of telephone, e-mail and Web-based interaction into a single online resource, QSC's eBox offers customers a self-help guide to frequently asked questions, a personalized, historical archive of submitted questions and answers, comprehensive product content, and timely messaging relevant to a person's product ownership and use. MORE

Community Brings Sound Reinforcement to TKO Tour
Taking to the road with 7,000 square feet of exhibit space showcasing the latest in electronics, telecommunications and digital video, the TechKnow Overload (TKO) tour will visit more than 25 college campuses -- including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Northwestern, Florida International University, Clemson and UNC Charlotte on the first leg -- with an estimated 100,000 students dropping in. West Coast schools will be among the tour's concluding destinations later in the spring. MORE

Doug Shock Band Brings Good Tunes to Troops
Doug Shock and Dave Akers of Knoxville, Tenn. -- bandmates in the group Sage, a self-proclaimed "late-'80s big-hair band" -- have been providing audio entertainment for many U.S. troops overseas. MORE

SKAN PA Hire Brings the Darkness to Light
SKAN PA Hire (Reading, England) supplied the touring system for The Darkness' Why Stop There? tour, including an L-Acoustics reinforcement system comprising 12 dV-DOSC, four SB218 and three dV subs a side. Pedro Ferreira, the band's front-of-house engineer, mixed on a Heritage 2000, while monitor engineer Andy Shillito relied on an XL3 and used Turbosound TFM 450 wedges. MORE

DiGiCo D5 Makes Rounds With Duran Duran
A D5 Live FMX (front-of-house and monitors) supplied by Cleveland-based Eighth Day Sound was on hand for the current Duran Duran world tour, which began in late-2003 in the U.S. and then jetted over to New Zealand and Australia, where they played solo and in support of another D5 user, Robbie Williams. MORE

Aqualung Engineers Take to Midas Verona
Indie combo Aqualung recently supported UK band Feeder for a series of dates on their UK arena tour. This was one of the first outings for the brand-new Midas Verona console, officially launched at the NAMM show in January 2004. Front-of-house engineer Tony Perretta and monitor engineer Roberto Pieroni (also house engineer at Fabric) took the opportunity to put the new Verona through its paces. MORE

Yamaha Bring "Horrors" to Broadway
Little Shop of Horrors is enjoying a hot revival at Broadway's Virginia Theatre, more than 20 years after its off-Broadway debut. At the request of composer Alan Menken, a Yamaha MPC3 Grand MIDIPiano is anchoring the show's orchestra. Musical director Henry Aronson plays the instrument during performances, both as a piano and as a MIDI controller for many of the other reed, string and electric piano sounds. MORE