Exhibo S.p.A. is pleased to announce that the first EAW NTL 720 line array system in Europe has been delivered to Milan rental firm Star Service, a long-time user of the US manufacturer’s products (since 1992).  Dario and Alberto Frigerio, owners of the prestigious Milan rental company, explain the reasons behind their choice:

   Frigerio with the NTL720

“We asked to try out the system as soon as news leaked out regarding its existence; the first unofficial photos taken at a US expo and the first technical descriptions filtering through the blanket of secrecy EAW imposed on the product…"

Then there was the eagerly awaited announcement that production had begun and the inevitably long waiting list for all those who had requested it all throughout the world.” Dario Frigerio explains the story behind his latest purchase: “…Then, thanks to the commitment of Exhibo, EAW’s Italian distributor, we managed to test the first system that arrived in Europe.
As long-time EAW users, we wanted to confirm that this new system,…

UK – EAW recently honored this year’s top distributors in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with an awards ceremony, held during PLASA08 in London.

Receiving Distributor of the Year honors was Barcelona-based Pro3 & Co., EAW’s distributor for Spain. Petah Tikva-based Pro Touch, EAW’s Israeli distributor, won Most Improved Distributor. EAW’s distributor for the Netherlands, Amsterdam-based Holland PA Services BV, won Most Consistent Distributor. The awards were presented by European sales manager Sean Martin during the company’s annual EMEA Distributor Meeting at the Chelsea Football Stadium.

Martin credits these key distributors, as well as the entire EAW EMEA sales force, with producing record numbers in the first half of 2008. He had particularly complimentary things to say about each of this year’s three award winners.

"Pro3 has been EAW Europe’s number one distributor in terms of sales for the past few years. They have a great team who fully support and represent the brand exactly as it should be, so it is no surprise that this effort and enthusiasm is reflected in their stellar results.

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EAW has made two new personnel changes to the EAW Europe Sales and Application Support Group (ASG). The appointments were announced by Sean Martin, director of EAW European Operations.

Kevin McNally will be joining EAW Europe as the U.K. sales manager. He will be responsible for all sales activities in the U.K. territory for both live and installed applications. He comes to EAW from an active career in installed sound design, including a stint at Metropolis AV and FX in Surrey. "EAW is one of the most respected names in pro audio and seems to have a solution for every application," says McNally. "I am really looking forward to working with such a well rounded product line and helping the brand expand its presence in the U.K. market.

Previous U.K. sales manager, Moray McMillin, has taken over European ASG duties. He has been looking after U.K. sales for the past two years and now moves his talents to the support of the entire EMEA region from the technical application standpoint. In…

The full owner’s manual for the EAW UMX.96 digital mixing console is now available on EAW.com. Specifically, it’s located in the UMX.96 training and resources section of the site along with a growing stable of reference materials.
The manual is presented in pdf form, allowing users to easily navigate and locate the specific information they want, and to print out select pages they need, or the entire document. More than 200 pages in length, it can safely be said that the manual provides “everything you wanted to know” about the UMX.96.
Of course, any further questions can always be posted in the UMX.96 forum also here on EAW.com, with Product Manager Martyn “Ferrit” Rowe, members of the EAW ASG team, and the community on hand to provide answers.
To directly access the new UMX.96 owner’s manual, click here.

Extremely popular Austrian folk music band Lechner Buam recently chose to purchase a new system headed by EAW NT Series self-powered loudspeakers to utilize for sound reinforcement at all of their public performances – up to 70 concerts a year. The new rig was recently used at two distinctly different events by the band, with similarly excellent results.
The first event was a concert for more than 3,000 in a huge hall, while the second event, marking the band’s 25th anniversary, was held in a tent with about 1,500 in attendance. EAW’s distributor for Austria, SAC Schneider Audio Concept Vertriebs, headed by Christian Muhm, worked closely with the band on the new system, including providing NT Series systems for live evaluations that confirmed the band’s decision to make the upgrade. Specifically, the band utilizes 2 x NT59, 2 x NT56 and 4 x NTS22 subwoofers.
“We’re so happy – we’ve been searching for just such a PA over many years,” states Willi Grafeneder, the band’s leader. “Every instrument and the vocals are so clear, exact and transparent. It’s amazing that these small and lightweight speakers…

Rational Acoustics will be hosting EAW Smaart training sessions in Morristown, New Jersey, this coming June 24-26, providing attendees with introductory as well as continued/advanced training in the use of Smaart software for sound system engineering, optimization and acoustical analysis.
All sessions will be led by a Rational Acoustics instructor with decades of pro audio expertise and superior teaching skills. Smaart Fundamentals and Applications will be covered the first two days, with the third day devoted to an Advanced User Seminar.
Day 1: Smaart Fundamentals – Tuesday, June 24
The fundamentals of setting up a Smaart measurement system, as well as basic measurement theory, Smaart basics and a tour of Smaart v.6 and v.5.
Day 2: Smaart Applications – Wednesday, June 25
Advanced measurement theory and applications of Smaart for loudspeaker and sound system alignment and response optimization. Also, in-class measurements and examples of real-world data will be used to emphasize and support the theoretical subject matter, with a strong accent on measurement interpretation. (Note: Students provide their own laptop and stereo interface for interactive measurement examples.)
Day 3: Smaart Advanced User Seminar – Thursday, June 26
A hands-on application workshop with participants setting up and tuning a…

The Solar Stage for the upcoming 2008 Vans Warped Tour, scheduled for at least 46 dates starting later in June through August, will feature a concert sound reinforcement system featuring EAW KF730 Series line arrays and other premium EAW components.
We’ll have more news regarding this exciting development posted here soon, but in the meantime, this 14th edition of the tour will feature performances by more than 100 top artists – Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, Jack’s Mannequin, Against Me!, Pennywise, Reel Big Fish, Cobra Starship, Every Time I Die, Angels and Airwaves, Aggrolites, As I Lay Dying, the All-American Rejects, and the Academy Is… among many others.
Click here for the current slate of artists, and go here for the current Vans Warped Tour ’08 schedule. Last year’s tour sold 622,467 tickets to 45 shows, under the direction of tour founder and producer Kevin Lyman of 4fini Productions.

Located on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Cameron Indoor Stadium benefits both the Blue Devils men’s and women’s NCAA basketball teams with intimate seating that includes bleacher-style seats along the court reserved for students. In fact, it’s cultivated such a rich heritage that Sports Illustrated magazine ranks it number four on a list of the world’s most prestigious sporting venues.
Opening in 1940 with a capacity of 7,000, some minor renovations have occurred over the decades, most notably in 1988, when a new electronic scoreboard, new sound system and decorative wood paneling gave Cameron an updated look, with seating capacity increased to 9,314.
Yet the university’s mission remains to steadfastly maintain the venue’s original charm and elegance. Against this backdrop, SPL Integrated Solutions (SPL IS) of Columbia, Maryland, was invited in mid-2007 to submit ideas for a new arena-wide sound reinforcement system to the university’s facilities management and athletic departments as part of another subtle renovation phase.
Justo Gutierrez of SPL IS took the lead in evolving discussions regarding the new system, and as a Duke alumnus, he brought valuable context and insight to the specific…

EAW will be exhibiting at the upcoming InfoComm show in Las Vegas, June 18-20, at booth C4436. InfoComm should be quite exceptional this year, incorporating the NSCA Expo for the very first time. Show floor hours are 9 am – 5 pm on Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19, and 9 am – 4 pm on Friday, June 20.
New/recent EAW and EAW Commercial products to be featured include NTL720, SMS Series, CIS Series, UX8800, MicroWedge MW12, UMX.96, CAM Series, Smaart v.6, SB1002 – and – a new product sure to surprise and please!
Numerous EAW personnel will be on hand, such as Jeffrey Cox, Kenton Forsythe, Martin “Ferrit” Rowe, Dave Raneses, Jeff Rocha, Joe Fustolo, Karen Anderson, and Kati Naish. InfoComm questions go to Kati at Kati.Naish@loudtechinc.com .

The latest concert tour by Foreigner has officially launched, but despite his hectic schedule, veteran engineer Don “Dodger” Dodge took the time to share more of his thoughts on the EAW UMX.96, which he’s chosen again as his FOH console. (A UMX.96 will also be used with Bryan Adams and his band when they join the tour a bit later this year.)
Don’s comments:
“Things could not have gone better with the UMX.96 during the dozens of shows we did all over the world on the previous tour. I utilized the console in the scorching heat of North America sheds in the summer and the deep freeze of Eastern Europe in winter, but flawless performance remained a constant.”
“I had previously not been a fan of digital boards, but the UMX is so good that it erased that viewpoint. This console is not just competitive with others – it’s a clear winner.”
“It has an analog mix feel, while the intuitive, comprehensive digital design cuts my workload in half – no more tape layouts of input mods, labeling outboard racks of comps and gates, or routing of verbs and effects. And, every setting can be stored and…