Pope’s Words Inspire Crowd in Paris with Meyer Sound

PARIS — Pope Benedict XVI recently made his first visit as pontiff to Paris, praying together with more than a quarter million followers on the massive lawns of the Esplanade des Invalides. Sound Designer Fred Goguet created an audio system for the momentous event using Meyer Sound components provided by a coterie of French audio firms, including Dispatch, Ateliers Lumiere, Projectis and Audio-Technique.

ROME — The Parco della Musica in Rome has now installed an L-ACOUTICS ARCS constant curvature line source system into its 2,800-capacity Sala Santa Cecilia. Italian sound designer Andrea Taglia specified and designed the system.

Audio-Technica has announced three new shotgun microphones: the BP4071, BP4071L and BP4073 Line + Gradient Condenser models. These highly directional mics offer low self-noise and improved resistance to Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Their direct-coupled, balanced output is designed to provide a clean signal even in high-output conditions. All three mics require 48V DC phantom power, and feature a switchable 150 Hz high-pass filter and rugged housing made of lightweight structural-grade aluminum alloy.

MIAMI — Outfitted with 12 expansive decks featuring a Grand Lobby, Royal Court Theatre, numerous restaurants, lounges, a casino, and luxury in every corner that blends the plush qualities of British tradition with amenities of our modern age, Cunard's newest ocean liner, the Queen Victoria, carries passengers in grand style. Currently cruising the Mediterranean and waters of Northern Europe on this, her maiden year of voyages, the ship also uses Shure’s UHF-R wireless microphone systems in wide-ranging applications designed and installed by San Diego-based Nautilus Entertainment Design (NED).

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. —  Heil Sound PR 35 dynamic microphones have been selected by the Young@Heart Chorus for use in their stage productions and concerts. Four Heil mics are located downstage for the singers as they put a senior spin on rock classics such as The Clash’s Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now, The Ramones I Want to Be Sedated and others. The Heil mics were incorporated into the show for the first time at the Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles earlier in the year.

CHICAGO — Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation has announced a limited-time trade-in program for users of other brands of custom earphones. The program offers a $250 price reduction on all Sensaphonics custom earphones, including the 2X-S, 2MAX, and 3D Active Ambient models, to customers who send in their old custom earphones in trade. The program runs through the end of the 2008. 

AUSTIN, Texas  — When Capital Sound Hire sent their Business Development Manager Richard Hannan to the SXSW Festival in Austin last year to seek out new up-and-coming bands, he discovered Foals, a new band from the UK being heavily touted based on its successful debut album, Antidotes. After agreeing to provide ad hoc support to the five-piece art-rock dance band from Oxford (in the form of backline and mics), Capital has just completed the full production for a sell-out tour of the UK’s circuit venues.

FT. WORTH, Texas — As part of its ongoing efforts to revitalize Fort Worth's historic Camp Bowie Boulevard, the Camp Bowie District, Inc. recently completed its Sixth Annual Jazz By The Boulevard festival. Featuring performances by Buddy Guy, the Fort Worth Jazz Orchestra featuring Randy Brecker, Lee Ritenour, and the David Sanborn Group with Adonis Rose, this year’s festivities offered something for every musical preference and a sound reinforcement system by D.A.S. Audio.

NEW YORK — James Cowan, president of Neutrik USA, passed away on Nov. 5, 2008, due to cancer at the age of 52. Jim worked for Neutrik for 20 years, starting out as general manager, then vice president and was named president in March of 2000. He was well-known and widely liked by the pro audio industry.