direct from: www.etnow.comRegularsContentsthis monthJobs and CareersWeb DirectoryFeaturesIssue: 323Stage Electrics Upgrades Kings Place Londonpage 27January 2020Brompton Technology’s Dynamic Calibration was one of this year’s LDI Show’s most talked about new technologies.As part of the renovation, technical director Siegbert Blattner oversaw a modern lighting system comprising entirely Chauvet fixtures.Shure Enables York Minster to be Heardpage: 23page: 25page: 2page: 31pages: 28 to 31Shure Miocrophones worked with Wigwam to install a new audio system into the magnificent York Minster building.LIGHTING | SOUND | VIDEORIGGING | STAGING | DRAPESw: hawthorn.bizt: 01664 821 111e: hire@hawthorn.bizFLX S24 Control up to 48 LED moving lights & conventionals 24 multi-function faders 49 playbacks – with submaster & full cuestack functionality 48 groups 19inch rackmountable - six units highAVAILABLE TO HIREMajor Announcement from Artistic LicenceArtistic Licence has announced that all its premium Ethernet gateways including artLynx quad, artLynx RJ45, dataLynx II and netLynx quad, now support multi-way protocol conversion. Each port can be optionally configured as a DMX input (previously they were outputs only). This enables the product to route, split or merge Art-Net, sACN and DMX/RDM data with massive flexibility, great news for any venue requiring a versatile and easily configurable lighting space.More on page 14Stadttheater Aschaffenburg in LED Erapage: 26LDI success for Brompton’s Dynamic Calibrationcontents this monthJanuary 2020page no.FeaturesTECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENTRevised in February 2017 Available now from www.etbooks.co.ukpage : 6page : 9page : 12page : 10News This MonthPages 4-1324 Hala Koszyki Gets the Parfect Vibe Hala Koszyki is a new meeting, greeting, eating and social concept in Warsaw. This hipster hang-out transformation in Warsaw’s Śródmieście (central) district is a popular destination from business meetings in a funky location for friends looking for a vibe, great food and architecture – there is also a small stage for DJs and live entertainment. To add yet more ambience to the space, a lighting installation was created and installed by Dominik Halgas of design, rental and production company Fabryka Imprez, with Robe Parfect 150s among other fixtures. 25 Historic Stadttheater Aschaffenburg Enters LED Era with Chauvet Professional As part of a long term renovation of the Stadttheater Aschaffenburg, technical director Siegbert Blattneroversaw the creation of a modern and versatile lighting system that is comprised entirely of Chauvet Professional fixtures, including 26 Maverick MK3 Spots, 28 Maverick MK2 Washes, 56 Ovation E-930VW variable white ellipsoidals, ten Ovation E-260WW warm white ellipsoidals and 34 Ovation F-915FC Fresnel units.26 Shure Enables York Minster Building to be Heard Loud and Clear Shure, a leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics, worked with Wigwam, leading supplier of sound systems and equipment, to install a new audio system into the magnificent York Minster building. 27 Stage Electrics Upgrades Kings Place London Stage Electrics has supplied, installed and commissioned new LED lighting to replace the existing house lighting at Kings Place, London. 14 JTSE 2019 – Journées Techniques du Spectacle et de L’Événement Les Docks Pullman, Haussmann & Eiffel, Port de la Chapelle, Paris. As in previous years, the highly successful and busy exhibition took place across three spaces, with the main salon, the larger Dock Pullman and two special areas for lighting demonstrations and audio training taking place in Dock Eiffel and Dock Haussmann respectively.19 ABTT Christmas Party 2019 The Association of British Theatre Technicians held its Christmas Party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End on 6th December. ET’s editorial camera was there.22 Much Ado about Audio An extremely busy theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre was looking to upgrade its AV system in both front of house and backstage, in order to deliver a high-quality experience for audience and performers alike. The Theatre required a system to control the audio output in both areas. This was to include a communications corner with a paging facility, a large screen for system monitoring and control, a volume control solution for dressing rooms, as well as the potential to expand functionality going forward. Trusted partner Pro Audio Systems was engaged to provide a solution and consulted with Audiologic over a best-fit solution.23 LDI success for Brompton Technology’s Dynamic Calibration Brompton Technology’s Dynamic Calibration was one of this year’s LDI Show’s most talked about new technologies, with more than 300 existing and potential customers from around the world passing through the door of its showcase room.from the editordirect from: www.etnow.comEntertainment Technology is published 12 times a year in conjunction with the leading industry portal www.etnow.comEditor: John OffordTechnical Editor: Jackie StainesPublished by: Entertainment Technology Press LtdThe Studio, High Green Great ShelfordCambridge CB22 5EGTelephone: +44 (0)1223 550805Fax: +44 (0)1223 550806Website: www.etnow.comemail: editor@etnow.com© Entertainment Technology Press Ltd.Subscription Rates:Annual Subscription for 12 issues (UK): £27.50Annual Subscription (overseas): £50.00Subject to acceptance, subscription is free to UK based industry professionals.Subscribe online at: www.etnow.com/etmag/Opinions expressed in Entertainment Technology are not necessarily those of the publishers. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the publishers.etnow.com (entertainment technology news on web) is the industry portal site with news from around the world added daily under various sector headings coupled to an extensive archive. The site also features a books section where titles from Entertainment Technology Press can be ordered online via our secure Sage Pay credit card services.Issue: 323ABTT Launch New WebsiteAs well as a fresh new look, the updated site includes a mobile-friendly platform and a better experience for mobile, tablet and desktop users. The improved structure also means you’ll find what you’re looking for more easily. You can now search for Training and Events by date, course name and event type. There’s also more information than ever, making it easier for you to find what you’re looking for.There is now a dedicated jobs board, with Company’s and Theatre’s now being able to submit their job adverts through to the ABTT online! You can also search the latest jobs by location, job type and date added for your ease!To help you out behind the scenes, if you’ve got an upcoming show but are unsure of the stage dimensions, you can see the Theatre Listings page for all the technical details for many theatres around the UK. You can even add your own Theatre or event space if you don’t see it listed by filling in the form here!Worried about a Health and Safety risk and need advice? There is an ABTT helpline for members which you can call Monday – Friday between 10am – 6pm to get a direct response to your problem. Alternatively you can use the updated FAQs which are now searchable.If you have a Technical Query right before a show, the ABTT Technical resources pages offering a score of standards, guidance and advice aim to help you find the answer as quickly as possible.The ABTT Shop now has more products than ever - with many being instantly downloadable. Safety Matters, Standards Updates, even older copies of Sightline are now available on the new site! You can also now browse the shop by categories and easily find your orders under your account tab!Finally, do you want to get involved? Looking to develop your interest in a specific side of the Industry? Maybe you’re wanting to get more involved in what ABTT do by representing our Young and Student Members? Or maybe you’re a long-standing technician who wants to give back to the Industry by imparting your knowledge? The Get Involved section now makes it much easier for you to find ways to connect with the ABTT.www.abtt.org.ukJanuary 2020news4White Light Joins ELP Broadcast & Events Ltd in Strategic PartnershipWhite Light has announced a strategic partnership with ELP Broadcast & Events Ltd (ELP B&E). ELP B&E will continue the full service broadcast and events wet hire business it currently operates. This strategic partnership will commence on the 6th January 2020 and reverses the position announced in November 2019 of the cessation of ELP B&E at the end of 2019. It will now be ‘business as usual’ going into 2020.ELP B&E staff and premises in Manchester will be retained, along with the equipment stock. Additional staff, equipment and operational resources will be added from within the WL organisation, bolstering ELP B&E’s strength and ability to meet client needs.During the early months, fulfilment and despatch will continue from ELP’s base at Cardington Studios with a transfer to WL’s Wimbledon premises taking place later in 2020. The strategic partnership will pave the way for the acquisition of ELP’s lighting rental business by WL during 2020.ELP Rigging Services will supply specialist rigging equipment and services to the strategic partnership and will continue to operate as the in-house rigging supplier at the Cardington and Millennium Studios.The coming together of two companies with long and distinguished histories in the lighting industry brings the ‘best of both’ to the new venture. ELP B&E’s wide experience in broadcast and events combined with WL’s wealth of knowledge and resource across a wide range of markets and disciplines will result in a powerful combination.ETC and High End Systems arrive in force at Théâtre du ChâteletAfter more than two years of renovations, the celebrated Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris has recently reopened its doors to the public. With the intention of restoring the venue to its original splendour, the project saw the inclusion of an array of products from ETC and High End Systems.Christophe Leuba, one of the venue’s two lighting managers who assist lighting director Renaud Corler, recognised the potential of ETC Eos consoles after attending an ETC training session. “I loved the event and as soon as I got back to the Châtelet I arranged an ‘Introduction to Eos’ session for our entire team,” says Leuba.Several other desks were considered, but Eos family consoles emerged as the best solution for the theatre. “Thanks to their simplicity, it’s obvious how to make a patch,” says Leuba. “But it’s the colour tool that really stands out. With the level of colour control they offer, there is no comparison with other consoles at the moment.”Subsequently, two Eos Ti consoles were installed in the theatre’s control room – one of which is used in the audience during creation phase – and a more compact Ion Xe 20 was chosen for use elsewhere.Even though decision-making for lighting control and power control was not connected at the outset, the Eos consoles chosen complemented the Sensor3 Power control system selected, with both product families originating from ETC. “It’s really convenient to be able to control the dimmers from the consoles,” says Bernard Maby, the theatre’s other lighting manager. “In addition, it’s very nice to have the feedback directly on the desks.”The electrical room features seven Sensor3 power control racks fitted with 582 modules, plus 24 modules in an additional rack for lighting. The team opted to work in sACN for communication between consoles, dimmers and fixtures.Technical solution provider Dushow was appointed to supply the lighting, and began with a demonstration featuring all the key brands of the sector. “The Dushow demo was superb because it was very objective,” says Leuba. “The High End Systems SolaFrame 3000 stood out thanks to its power, but also its colour quality and full-frame shutters. This led to an investment in 46 SolaFrame 3000 fixtures.”The venue already had a dozen Source Four LED Series 2 Lustr luminaires and the team chose to add 60 units of the same model, equipped with 25–50 ° zoom optics. “It’s a great fixture with quality tungsten emulation,” says Leuba. “And the colour management with Eos is just amazing. It consumes nothing and it makes beautiful colour!”It’s fitting that the 72 ETC fixtures are proving to be a perfect accompaniment to the SolaFrame 3000s for Théâtre du Châtelet’s current production – An American in Paris – which runs until 1st January.photos: Jonathan Grimauxwww.etcconnect.com4Issue: 323news5POLAR Promotes Will TurneyPOLAR, established supplier of key industry brands to the installation, MI and professional audio markets, has announced the promotion of Will Turney to the position of national sales manager for its integrated solutions division.Turney will lead POLAR’s seven-strong sales team, covering the company’s extensive network of systems integrators across the UK. POLAR is very much on an upward trajectory and with yet more new and diverse technologies coming on stream this year, sees it as vital that its field sales management continues to work smoothly and efficiently for customers and suppliers.Stuart Leader, integrated solutions director, is in no doubt that Turney is well-equipped for the role: “We have complete confidence in Will’s ability to further enhance our business and continue to drive success. During his time with us, Will has demonstrated that he possesses the technical understanding and personal qualities to meet the requirements of what will be a demanding job. He has always led by example and is well-known and highly respected across the sector.”Will Turney, national sales manager for POLAR integrated solutions adds: “I’m excited about 2020 and beyond for integrated solutions and the changes ahead. The POLAR team are an exceptional group that I’m proud to be a part of and I’m looking forward to managing their talents to maximum effect on behalf of all our customers and suppliers.”Introducing the NEW Sharpy Plus Aqua Designed in the spirit of the award-winning Sharpy Plus, the SHARPY PLUS AQUA luminaire is an IP65 rated moving head fixture ideal for temporary outdoor events, touring, installations, cruise ships, and much more.This new fixture maintains the same performance features of the Sharpy Plus luminaire, but in a weather-resistant package; giving you greater flexibility. January 2020news6S+H Supplies LED Screen and Video Floor to Budweiser Event at WembleyS+H Technical Support, UK LED screen, drapes and special FX specialist, supplied LED screen and video flooring to Stoneapple Productions for a large event in the Great Hall at Wembley Stadium, London, for The Budweiser Brewing Group.BBG commissioned Stoneapple Productions to design, produce and co-ordinate all the technical elements required for the two-day event, attended by BBG customers and showcasing a number of their famous brands, including Stella Artois, Budweiser, Becks, Corona to name a few of their iconic beers.The S+H 3.9mm LED screen was used in the main conference and presentation area, designed as a 270 degree auditorium comprising a main stage and catwalk going into the audience and surrounded by six banks of seats for 800 guests.The main upstage screen was configured as a ten metre wide by three metre high surface, with the central section curving gracefully at the bottom and flowing into the ten metre long catwalk, completing an elegant, stylish and innovative design utilising the 20mm pitch LED floor.Two additional LED surfaces were positioned opposite the main screen, enabling 360% surround viewing, each screen measuring 4.5 metres wide by 2.5 deep. The screens collectively supported a series of live presentations and showed brand-related video content throughout the two-day event.On the evening of the first day, the space was transformed into a party area, with a band and DJ on stage. The versatile design plus all the LED surfaces then helped ramp up the fun factor and party vibes creating a great ambience for all to enjoy. Keynote, Google Slides and PowerPoint presentations along with video content were run from separate servers, and some of S+H’s library video content was utilised for the evening event.An S+H crew of four worked closely with the stage and set builders on site and alongside Stoneapple Productions’ team headed by producer Francesca Gray and technical designer, Steve Horne. Stoneapple Productions also supplied three live cameras which were fed into the screen vision mixing system for IMAG feeds output to the screens.Francesca chose to work with S+H again due to their “great ongoing relationship” with Terry Murtha and everyone at S+H HQ, and also because of the lightweight and easy-to-rig screen solution that S+H could provide was perfect for the event.“Terry always comes to us with high-quality and cost-effective deals that ensure we can offer our clients the best production values for their events which is fundamental to our business. The kit is well-prepped and always top quality, and S+H crews are fantastic to work with on site. Nothing is ever a problem!”S+H has steadily built up its stock of standard LED screens in recent years along with other specialist video products like video flooring and video banners, all of which can be used in stand-alone scenarios or integrated into designs like this one, for slick, seamless high-impact creative presentations.photo: Stoneapple Productionswww.starcloth.co.ukAyrton Shines on SztárbanSztár Leszek in HungaryA plethora of Ayrton lighting fixtures provided striking visual impact on the popular televised music contest, SztárbanSztár Leszek (‘In the Star, I’ll be the Star’), on Hungary’s Tv2 television channel last month.Lighting designer, Balázs Varga, chose Ayrton Khamsin-TC, MagicBlade-R and MagicDot-XT to delineate the complex outlines of the stage for this visual extravaganza. Balázs Varga was assisted by Bálint Marafkó, CEO and Chief LD at television and film lighting specialists, Two Men’s Show, which provided the fixtures, which were supplied by Gábor Kele, executive director of Lisys-Project, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Hungary.Twenty-four MagicBlade-R fixtures were rigged on upstage trusses to outline the stylised shape of the performance area and provide a ‘top shutter’ for the cameras, with MagicBlade-R’s svelte linear shape proving an ideal, ever-changing frame for the core stage design.Overhead and on stage, 50 MagicDot-XT were used to populate a circular truss above the main stage, and sited at stage level around the curved upper band deck. “The MagicDot fits very well into the scenery because of its small body size,” says Balázs Varga. “Because of this, many MagicDots can be stacked next to each other – the luminaires in the upper circle were almost touching each other – so running an effect is very impressive. The goal here was to give an overhead lock to the low-level cameras, but because the MagicDots were also visible on the ground and on the columns, we were able to use them as a supplement to the overall lighting.”Twelve of Ayrton’s new Khamsin-TC fixtures were used to create water effects, back lighting, frame scenery using the shutters, and other effects, with four units each lining the two upper edges of the diamond-shaped stage and another four on the overhead bridge. “Khamsin is a true multifunction lamp which performed several tasks in this show,” says Balázs Varga. “We used them for effects of course, but we really liked the way they illuminated the stage for the dance performance, and how they interacted with the dry ice effect on stage. All static positions were lit with Khamsin-TC, and we were able to use those on the ground-level front ledge for close-ups on the performers, not just for animation in the background, but as a beautiful source of illumination. We were delighted in how well-executed the result was.“Khamsin-TC is my personal favourite lamp, with a huge advantage in its LED source. With its metal halide counterparts, when the bulb is exhausted after many hours of operation, they begin to turn green or yellow, and we struggle to set the key light and back light at the requested level. It also becomes very difficult to achieve the same colour across all our fixtures. With Khamsin-TC however, this is not a problem, these tasks can be done almost without corrections, the camera didn’t turn green and everything went smoothly. All the Ayrton luminaires are aesthetically pleasing and absolutely complement the scenery and TV studio visuals. I would definitely use them again.”Balázs Varga and Bálint Marafkó were already familiar with Ayrton products having used them for many years. “We first became aware of Ayrton for its superb effects fixtures, with MagicPanel and MagicBlade especially making a big bang and truly establishing the effect lamp market. This success was followed by many others in their effects products but we were surprised and delighted to see Ayrton’s very powerful development in LED spot and profile lights. When Khamsin came along, it filled the gap for a really powerful LED profile lamp that can be used on TV and shows.”he only you needJanuary 2020news8NEXT-proaudio introduces i SeriesThe i series compises the i4, a 4” LF transducer and a 0.8“ Dome Tweeter, the i6, a 6” LF driver with a 1“ HF Driver, and the i8 composed by a 8” LF transducer with a 1“ HF Driver.The whole series’ speakers are housed in a stylish weatherproof plastic white or black cabinet (IP65) providing an excellent architectural integration, designed for indoor and outdoor applications. The speaker is protected against dust and splash water thus can be used in outdoor areas. The i Series speakers are equipped with a four-position Phoenix connector located on the back plate. The screw connector provides a faster and easy way to wire the system allowing the speaker to perfectly fit the wall shape while staying invisible.This speaker is an ideal solution for PA applications in restaurants, bars, malls or conference rooms. The very accurate speaker’s coverage allows all members of the audience to perceive the sound in the same way. For even greater versatility, the whole series’ speakers can be used at 100V or 16Ω. In high-impedance (100V) operation, a multi tap transformer is available with three different taps to be used according to the pretended 100V power and impedance needed.All the speakers from i Series come with a U-bracket included on the packaging. All the U-brackets are made from steel with a hot-dip galvanisation, coating the steel with a layer of zinc, turning it resistant to corrosion. Other wall brackets (with pan and tilt) are available for I4 and I8 speakers.Robe in Harmony at 2019 Signal Festival of Digital ArtsRobe was a sponsor of the 2019 Signal Festival in Prague, the Czech Republic’s best-known multi-platform event celebrating the exciting and ephemeral fusion of digital arts and technology.A series of provocative lighting and video installations turned a series of hand-picked sites, areas and buildings across the Czech Republic’s vibrant and beautiful capital into temporary gallery spaces for four days, attracting a diverse and inquisitive audience eager to explore new experiences created with multiple light sources: video mapping, large format laser projections, moving light performances, etc.This year the additional resonance of the date made it 30 years since the ‘Velvet Revolution’ which saw the peaceful transfer of power (in then Czechoslovakia) from a one-party Communist system to a modern parliamentary democracy. To mark this, various festival works touched on the themes of freedom of expression, change, transformation and evolution.London-based visual artist and creative technologist Memo Akten utilised 32 Robe MegaPointes to create a high impact installation, “Simple Harmonic Motion for Lights at the Czech Museum of Music”, a fluid and reflective work in the main hall of the Czech Museum of Music in Prague’s Mala Strana. The magnificent building, formerly the Baroque church of St. Mary Magdalene, was built in the 17th century. While the MegaPointes were at the heart of the artwork, the airy interior was low-lit with eight Robe Divine 160 RGBW LED wash lights and 14 RobeStrobes.Its impressive cathedral-like environs provided the perfect setting for Memo’s ambitious large-scale project which was specially commissioned for this festival. It was the first time he’s combined the mediums of video projection and lighting together in an installation.Memo needed a high-ceilinged building with the right spatial dimensions in which to stage the piece. As it is also essentially a musical work, the soundscape created by an algorithm based on computational maths, he thought it a highly appropriate location.He has developed the custom software used to generate the soundscape and control the lighting and the projected video content from open source code. Known for the appropriation of advanced electronics, software and hardware systems to create multimedia experiences, mathematics is another fascination, especially in the context of it being a fundamental language of the universe and something that underscores societal base relations.Memo’s “Simple Harmonic Motion …” (SHM) is a series of site-specific installations that started in 2011 with a combined audio and video installation including live performance by 16 drummers. This Signal Festival presentation was the eighth version of a constantly evolving idea: “The experience of the piece is very transcendental, so architecture is important,” explained Memo, a fact that makes each design that much more exacting.He has used Robe Pointes in some of the previous versions where lighting featured. The fixtures have been ideal for producing the sculpting effects and specifically the tight collimated beams of light needed, however this was the first time he’s used MegaPointes, which took things to a new level.He was delighted with the texture of solid parallel MegaPointe beams, the overall light quality and the extra brightness which proved a bonus in the Museum of Music.“Simple Harmonic Motion for Lights at the Czech Museum of Music” needed smoke to accentuate the light beams in the vast area, which meant disabling the fire alarms during the opening hours and having a fire crew and tender on standby. Thankfully they were not needed, but all these aspects added to the budgeting and logistics that were crunched by the Signal Organising Committee. Also, due to the value of some of the priceless historical artefacts on display, only water-based haze could be used.The MegaPointes were rigged on a central truss supported by a four-legged ground support, 11 metres high and 18 metres long, which enabled Memo to maximise the airspace and get the line of MegaPointes in an optimal central position.Prompted by the algorithm, the light beams swung gracefully around the hall like giant pendulums, all slightly out of sync and running at different speeds and trajectories, but every five minutes the algorithmic timing was tuned to sync all 32 MegaPointes, bringing them into unison for a split-second. At that point, the RobeStrobes and Divine 160s grazing up the walls momentarily emitted a strong strobe-like flash highlighting the whole interior, a surprise element that was not at all intrusive. If anything, it drew attention to the offbeat rhythm of the motion.The first visual element seen by the audience on walk-in was the liquid fractal geometry and patterns made by the video projection onto a screen in an elevated altar-like position on the wall opposite. The contemplative atmosphere was designed for people to lose themselves for as long as they wanted and clear some head space.Memo was pleased with the turnout and to see so many enjoying the overall peace and tranquillity, spending time reflecting and, in some cases, returning to experience it again.Robe also supplied six BMFLs, Divine 160s and haze and fog machines to another Signal 2019 project; an AV performance piece involving organ and synthesised music, ”Signal Soundscape: Inner Land Study 1” by Czech artists Tereza Bartunkova, Stepan Hejzlar, Oliver Torr and Ondrej Merta, staged at the Kostel U Salvátora in the Old Town.photo: Jan Hromadko www.robe.cz7news9Issue: 323Focusrite plc announces acquisition of Martin Audio LtdFocusrite plc., which comprises the Focusrite, ADAM Audio, Novation and Ampify Music brands, has announced the acquisition of LDC-backed Martin Audio Ltd and associated companies, the British, Buckinghamshire-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance loudspeaker systems for the touring and installation markets.This acquisition follows hot on the heels of Berlin-based studio loudspeaker manufacturer ADAM Audio, but has been a consideration for Focusrite founder and chairman Phil Dudderidge for years, who comments: “I have known Martin Audio since its beginnings in Covent Garden in 1971. Founder Dave Martin and I became close friends in 1989 when I served as an adviser to him and non-executive chairman for a year or so as we prepared the company for sale to Tannoy Goodman International plc (TGI) in 1990. Martin Audio is a close neighbour to Focusrite Audio Engineering in High Wycombe and their current management recognised that Focusrite plc was the obvious trade candidate to acquire the business from its private equity and management ownership structure. My conviction as to the outstanding performance of the Martin MLA system was cemented at BST Hyde Park concerts in recent years, notably Tom Petty in 2017 and Eric Clapton in 2018.”The Focusrite Group’s criteria for acquisitions remain both strict and targeted, as Tim Carroll, Focusrite CEO states: “The acquisition of Martin Audio is a strong demonstration of our strategic aim to expand into new markets. Martin Audio is also an established brand with solid financials that instantly add value. More importantly though, they’re culturally aligned with a clear part to play in our unfolding narrative. The Focusrite Group is, first and foremost, a professional music technology company, focused on enriching lives through music by removing barriers to creativity; from that first spark of musical inspiration, to delivering an emotionally charged performance on stage. Martin Audio completes that journey, uniting the audience by creating the ultimate live sound experience. The Martin Audio family share our hunger to innovate and our passion as music and sound enthusiasts. That we’re just a stone’s throw away will only further help unite us in achieving our common goal.”Martin Audio will continue to operate from their headquarter offices and factory in High Wycombe, England, under the leadership of managing director Dominic Harter, who looks forward to an exciting future, leading Martin Audio as part of the Focusrite Group: “Martin Audio has been uniting audiences through great sound for almost five decades. Our continued success has been down to a clear, well-executed strategy with over sixty new products launched over the last four years and double-digit growth each year. In Focusrite we have an industry neighbour of the finest pedigree; a global leader in its own right. Their culture mirrors our own and, getting to know the team, I sense a strong similarity with the deep-rooted values of our own Martin Audio Family. Focusrite are the perfect partner to help Martin Audio continue the innovations that have driven its success. So it is with great pride and enthusiasm that we take this next step; a momentous occasion as the Martin Audio brand enters its 50th year. Working with Tim, Phil and the Focusrite team, I look forward to seeing all our staff and the wider family grow together, continuing to bring our unique optimised sonic experience to more and more audiences across the globe.”In picture: Phil Dudderidge, Dominic Harter and Tim Carroll.Next >