29th April 2009 - Fohhn’s UK distributor, Systems Workshop, has supplied AL-100 line source speakers for system updates at Comberbach Methodist Church in Cheshire and All Saints Church in Four Oaks, W. Midlands. The installations were carried out by Cheshire-based specialists Kirkpatrick Sound Engineering who specified the AL-100 speakers for their proven effectiveness in difficult acoustic conditions where there are long reverb times, such as churches, museums and conferencecentres.

Two wall-mounted AL-100s have replaced the original flown system at Comberbach, while additional coverage has been provided at All Saints using four AL-100s mounted on pillars, two near the front of the congregation and two nearer the back.

“In each church the primary focus was on clarity of speech, hence the choice of AL-100s”, commented sound engineer Roy Kirkpatrick, who undertook both installations. “The speakers were switched to their music setting and we made a low end cut up to 300 Hz at the amplification end, which gave an excellent degree of clarity and also removed any potential problems associated with low frequency feedback.”

Fohhn’s Linea AL-100 has 10 x 3.3-inch speakers and a dispersion H x V of 140° x 15°. This helps sound reach the listener more directly, offering greater clarity in difficult acoustics. The speaker has a back-mounted music/speech switching option and, for more powerful music applications, can be combined with Fohhn’s AS or XS ranges of subwoofer.

www.fohhn.com
www.systemsworkshop.com
www.kirkpatrick4sound.co.uk

1st April 2009 - Portuguese acoustic solutions manufacturer, Vicoustic, has today announced a major company expansion with the opening of a new logistics centre. The facility, which will be operational from the end of April, is situated next to the IKEA factory in Paços de Ferreira, near Oporto. Here, Vicoustic will work in conjunction with its new neighbours to establish a fast and efficient system of shipping stock to its network of international distributors. Vicoustic’s main research and development offices will remain in Lisbon.

“ Vicoustic’s sales are currently increasing around 22% each quarter, so we need to establish a more efficient and cost-effective way of supplying our customers” explains CEO Cesar Carapinha. “At present there is road transport bringing raw materials to the IKEA factory, which then leaves the area empty. We are establishing an arrangement that lets us make use of this regular transport facility to ship our products all over Europe.”

The move coincides with two new business ventures being launched during 2009. Vicoustic will produce a range of industrial acoustic solutions for sound isolation of industrial environments and machinery. The company also plans to move into the manufacture of studio furniture and accessories.

“Our new facility is situated in an area which is well known for the manufacture of leading Spanish and Italian furniture brands,” adds Cesar. “Vicoustic will not only be able to make use of the specialized technology in this area, but will also be able to recruit from a specialized workforce, creating new jobs in the region, which is good for everyone.”

www.vicoustic.com

1st April 2009 - Acoustic solutions manufacturer, Vicoustic, has announced the latest addition to its Premium Line range of acoustic panels. Cinema Square has been specially developed for use in large areas, such as classrooms, offices, and meeting rooms, where suspended ceilings can often be a limiting factor in the choice of acoustic treatment.

The Cinema Square panel consists of an acoustic foam tile with wood frame surround and fabric covering. Its soft, modern design enhances the appearance of the room, while maximizing its acoustic performance.

Designed to perform mainly on medium and high frequencies, Cinema Square provides a particularly effective solution for use on suspended ceilings. Easy to install, and supplied in boxes of 8 panels, Cinema Square is available in a range of colours to match room interiors.

Available during Q2 2009.
www.vicoustic.com

27th March 2009 - This year’s Frankfurt Musikmesse sees the launch of a new concept in variable acoustics. Portuguese acoustic solutions manufacturer, Vicoustic, has announced the launch of Vari Panel, a revolutionary system that makes the world of variable acoustic treatment accessible to everyone.

Vari Panel is an innovative combination of Vicoustic’s award-winning Flexi Panel A50 foam tile, with a detachable wood front panel. Simple fixings on the wood panel are designed to slot into the cavities of the foam, allowing the acoustic properties of a room to be adjusted in minutes, by simply adding or removing selected panels.

Creating a variable acoustic environment has always proved a highly complex and expensive procedure. Major concert halls and multi-purpose venues have invested tens of thousands in systems designed to cater for a range of activities that require different styles of room acoustic. Whatever the room size, many people use the same space for a range of performance purposes, or for recording different instruments and voices. Although the space may have acoustic treatment, the treatment will generally focus on absorbing or diffusing unwanted room frequencies, and it will probably be fixed. However, a space that has been tailored to bring out the best in an acoustic guitar won’t necessarily offer the right amount of dryness needed for recording vocals or speech – until now.

Based on the same ARCS (Absorption and Reflection Control System) research model as Vicoustic’s flagship Wave Wood panel, Vari Panel’s innovative design and flexibility sets a new standard in the variable acoustics market. The non-linear cavities of the wood front panel maintain the energy control of the room, giving the option of adjusting the room acoustic to create a dry recording environment, a bright ambient space, or something in between.

“Product testing has produced some very encouraging results”, explains developer Jorge Castro.  “Using a 40% coverage in rooms with dimensions of between 15 and 25 square metres, we found that adding the wood increases the room reverb time by approximately 8% on frequencies over 1K. However, a greater percentage increase occurs from 2-4K upwards, increasing the reverb time from approximately 50-65%.”

Available during Q2 2009, Vari Panel will be available in two versions:
-        Vari Panel Kit. Box with 6 wood panels and 6 Flexi Panel A50 foam tiles.
-        Vari Panel Duo. 2 wood panels for use with customers’ existing Flexi Panel A50 foam tiles.

Visit Vicoustic at the Frankfurt Musikmesse, Hall 5.1, B61.
www.vicoustic.com

16th March 2009 - Systems Workshop Distribution has announced that German pro audio manufacturer Fohhn is now shipping the latest addition to its powerful X-Series of portable speakers. The XM-4 is a compact, high-performance stage monitor that combines flexibility and ease of transportation with outstanding sound quality. The passive two-way monitor is fitted with a 12-inch bass/mid chassis and 3.5-inch high-frequency driver with 1.4-inch CD horn. Combined with asophisticated passive crossover and self-resetting high-frequency protection, this configuration maximizes the dynamic range of a variety of sound sources, including speech and drums. At the same time, it achieves an outstanding level of transparency.

The XM-4 has a choice of two set-up angles (35 and 55 degrees) making it perfect for all kinds of stage monitoring and playback. Its defined sound dispersion characteristics provide maximum protection against feedback, even at extreme levels, while the 80 x 60 degree dispersion angle ensures that sound reaches the target area on stage with incredible accuracy.

Each XM-4 has two Neutrik NL4 Speakon left/right connectors, enabling it to be linked to a neighbouring XM-4 on stage. The unit is also extremely effective when used as part of a drum fill with XS-4 active or passive subs. Fully compatible with Fohhn’s own digital DSP amplifiers (including the D-2.1500 and A-2.2100), XM-4 monitors can also be operated using any professional amplifier.

The XM-4’s housing is built to withstand the rigours of touring. Manufactured from quality multiplex birch wood, with a waterproof construction and scratch-resistant coating, it also has a sturdy metal grill placed behind the acoustic foam front panel to protect the speaker from daily wear and tear. Rubber feet protect the monitor housing and prevent it from slipping.

The XM-4 is a practical choice for monitoring systems of all sizes. Weighing in at 23kg, each unit is fitted with recessed handles for easy lifting. High-quality padded covers are available for space-saving transportation to and from events. For touring, there’s also the option of a flight case with space for two monitors.

www.fohhn.com
www.systemsworkshop.com