When the latest in a series of remodels stretching back two decades was completed in 2013 at the newly named Axis at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas, it was announced that Britney Spears had been signed to a two-year residency. While no-one anticipated longer than a six month run, it was destined overwhelmingly successful four-year run. Now, the venue boasts the highest number of ticket sales in Las Vegas and, most weeks, the highest in the US.

Another constant through this period has been Axis Production Supervision and Head of Audio Eric Fish: ‘When I first came in, this place was raw concrete,’ he recalls. ‘It was not a facelift, it was a full remodel. Everything was redone from the speaker rig to the consoles to everything in the walls and a ton of acoustic treatment.’

Read more ...

The first OB van in the world to feature Genelec The Ones 8331 monitors, has been completed by Italian systems integrator, ARET. The trailer is being presented as ‘a showcase of high-end outside broadcast technologies and integration’ that provides a template for future vehicles serving broadcast from sports to classical music.

The trailer as features double expanding wings and innovative design features such as a partial glass interior to promote cross-truck collaboration, the vehicle claims a no-compromise specification. At the heart of its audio mixing is a 5.1 surround sound system including the 8331s – described by ARET VP of Sales, Alessandro Asti, as ‘the perfect choice’.

Read more ...

Winner of 13 consecutive Pollstar Awards for Outstanding Outdoor Venue since 2004, Hollywood Bowl is the summer home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has been LA’s signature live-music venue for nearly a century.

In readiness for the 2017 concert season, the Bowl again furthered its pursuit of sonic excellence with the installation of new L-Acoustics loudspeakers and amplified controllers with LA Network Manager software supplied and installed by Rat Sound.

Read more ...

The Minneapolis Convention Center space and the wide range of events it hosts demand an extreme level of flexibility, including in its sound provision. Addressing this, a tight budget and complications inherent in any government job, Milwaukee-based Clearwing Productions recently providsed the venue with a large system centred on L-Acoustics Kara and Kiva.

‘While the system was specified specifically for the main auditorium, we knew from the beginning that pieces of the main system would be in a near-constant state of motion between the venue’s meeting rooms and ballrooms, in addition to the auditorium,’ says Clearwing’s Kerry Miller, who worked closely with the convention centre audio staff.

Read more ...

Seeking a ‘live audio feeling’ in his recording studio, Sanremo Orchestra guitarist Luca Colombo has installed an RCF EvoX 5 loudspeaker system.

‘I usually shape my sound in the studio on the Kemper Amp [guitar amp simulator], then test the guitar sound live, but I constantly realise that the perceived sound from the studio monitors is misleading – mostly because of the lack of bass frequencies,’ he explains. ‘That’s when I decided to try a number of small live sound systems...

Read more ...