Long-run L-ACOUSTICS DOSC user RADIOHEAD has embarked on a rare international tour starting in May, in USA, followed by a European tour starting in June.

RADIOHEAD was formed by five friends who first met at a private boys school. In 1993 they released their first album, Pablo Honey. Then in 1995, they released The Bends. By the end of 1995 The Bends had been universally acclaimed, enough to win them a BRIT Awards nomination as the best band of the year. Two years later, RADIOHEAD unveiled OK Computer, which received the most spectacular reviews of any rock album in recent memory. Their following album, Kid A, brought a new RADIOHEAD style with space age progressive rock, similar to Pink Floyd. In 2007, Radiohead tore up the industry manual when they allowed fans to name their price to download their latest album, In Rainbows, released last October.

For their worldwide tour 2008, they are playing most part of their In Rainbows album, along with songs from their previous albums. L-ACOUSTICS sound providers are FIREHOUSE PRODUCTIONS for the US tour (first and third leg), and WIGWAM for the second leg covering Europe.

For the concert in France in Paris Bercy, the main L-ACOUSTICS FOH system consisted of 2 x 15 V-DOSC cabinets with 2 x 3 dV-DOSC, completed for the side hangs by 2 x 14 V-DOSC and 2 x 3 dV-DOSC. The subwoofer system design called for 32 x SB28 in total, all driven by L-ACOUSTICS LA8 amplified controllers.

Freelance System Engineer and L-ACOUSTICS Certified V-DOSC Engineer Sherif El Barbari explains : "with the exception of the 2 shows in Bercy. Paris all of the concerts are outdoor shows. Either stadiums, sheds, green fields or amphitheatres, which make the sound design very challenging. I am impressed by the power of the 32 L-ACOUSTICS SB28 subwoofers driven by LA8. Also, we have used the SB28 in cardioid configuration on 4 shows so far. The results are impressive.”

Jim Warren, Radiohead Mixing Engineer from day 1, adds: “I still sometimes find myself going to switch off my nearfield monitors in an arena show, only to find that they are off already. The clarity and precision of the V-DOSC system still surprises me after 10 years of using them in just about every live sound environment there is”.

RADIOHEAD had their stage set with large hanging columns that emitted various colored of energy-saving LEDs throughout each song. Along with these high light columns, there was a giant video screen that focused on each member, providing various angles and artistic shots as they worked through each piece.

Sherif El Barbari	Jim Warren

More information on : www.firehouseproductions.com / www.wigwam.co.uk

ADLIB Audio continues its mega-busy spring, with their new L-ACOUSTICS V-DOSC system once again in action, this time on the recent Matchbox 20 UK arena tour, specified by industry veteran FOH engineer Jim Ebdon. ADLIB supplied their most experienced V-DOSC systems engineers - Tony Szabo and James Neale, plus monitor guru Marc Peers who looked after everything onstage..

(Excerpt courtesy of Adlib Audio )

More information on : www.adlibaudio.co.uk

AGORA, the largest rental company in Italy, founded in 1990, sound provider of world-renowned artists such as Eros Ramazzoti, Laura Pausini, Luciano Ligabue, Ennio Morricone, Claudio Baglioni, Renato Zero and Zucchero, has recently invested in 54 additional L-ACOUSTICS KUDO system, together with L-ACOUSTICS LA8 amplified controllers. This KUDO system completes AGORA’s massive inventory of 600 L-ACOUSTICS DOSC enclosures.

Wolfango De Amicis, Director of AGORA, says: “With the addition of KUDO - LA8 to our rental inventory, we have now a very flexible system that can be used one day in a concert and the next day at a major outdoor event, in complement to the V-DOSC system or alone.  Vittorio De Amicis, my brother,  Daniele Tramontani, L-ACOUSTICS CVE, and myself have been pleased by the sound quality that KUDO -  LA8 deliver, and impressed by the LA8 presets.  The digital amps give us a new way of working, for instance we can use the LA8 together with the SB28 - companion subwoofer of KUDO & V-DOSC -   in “cardioid” mode with LA8.

Wolfango adds: “With the LA8, we are pleased to embrace the L-ACOUSTICS new standard, and thrilled with the future evolution it will bring to the DOSC Network.”

More information on : www.agoraaq.it

OXNARD, California - July 2008 -- Given the "total system approach" brought about by the debut of the LA4 and LA8, L-ACOUSTICS has revised its DOSC systems training seminars to incorporate the new amplified controller system architecture. Designed for L-ACOUSTICS systems owners as well as technicians, mixing engineers and sound designers using the products, the new 2008 seminars offer a blend of theoretical knowledge (day one) and field procedures (day two) in order to operate and optimize WST(r) based systems in a safe and controlled environment.

System seminars can be extended to a third day dedicated to the manufacturer's SOUNDVISION 3D acoustical modeling software. Upon completion of the seminar, attendees will receive a certificate of attendance, a first step in obtaining future QVT status. Seminars are limited to 12 participants per session, with priority given to owners of L-ACOUSTICS system.

The first two sessions will be presented at L-ACOUSTICS US in Oxnard, California--one focusing on KUDO(tm) based systems, held July 23 and 24, (SOUNDVISION extension on July 25th) and the other dealing with V-DOSC(r), scheduled for August 26 and 27 with the SOUNDVISION extension on August 28Th.

For details on enrollment--or to schedule on-site and custom trainings by special request--please contact L-ACOUSTICS US Sales and Marketing Coordinator Meg Rodseth at either 805.604.0577 or meg.rodseth@l-acoustics-us.com.

ATHENS, Greece - May 9th - L-ACOUSTICS DOSC systems were chosen to supply the CONCERT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING, featuring NIKOS ALIAGAS & FRIENDS. Presented by renowned Greek TV show host Nikos Aliagas, this exceptional concert was the first act of a European Tour supported by the EU.

Greek sound providers YPSILON & AUDIOSOUND provided L-ACOUSTICS sound systems for this concert featuring left and right main PA arrays each comprised of 9 V-DOSC® enclosures with 3 dV-DOSC hung below, completed by 2 dV-DOSC per side for the stereo-infills. Far left and right crowd areas were addressed by two additional outer-fill hangs each featuring six KUDO.

John Moine de Russy was specially appointed by the Production of Nikos Aliagas as Sound Designer and Technical Manager for the tour. John says: “ I was in charge of the sound design aspects and system specifcation for this project. Thanks to the L-ACOUSTICS' SOUNDVISION 3D simulation software, I was able to configure the complete system ahead of time and tweak the overall design. Then, onsite, there was a perfect match between the simulations and the end results. With no surprise, this first concert was a complete success! I will specify L-ACOUSTICS DOSC systems for the rest of the tour knowing that L-ACOUSTICS DOSC network of service providers offer equipment and staff expertise in virtually any place in Europe.”

More information on : www.ingenieuxduson.com / www.ypsilonlive.gr

SAN DIEGO, California - June 2008 -- Founded in early 2000, San Diego's Rock Church has earned a heavenly reputation for its uplifting, high-energy services and busy concert schedule that consistently draw large audiences week after week. Late last year, the Rock Church and Academy finally opened its own permanent facility in Point Loma, where the large sanctuary is equipped with a combination of L-ACOUSTICS KUDO and dV-DOSC line source array cabinets in a LCR configuration, plus ARCS cabinets for side-fill coverage.

"The design process went through three distinct phases," recalls Rock Church's former construction manager, Robert Cloyd, "culminating in a horizontal line array that works very well within the new worship center." The L-ACOUSTICS sound system was supplied and installed by Phoenix-based AVDB (Audio Video Design Build) Group.

There were a number of important design criteria for the Rock Churchs new facility, Cloyd offers. "The original format supported a pair of large-format video screens located either side of the sanctuary's main stage area. We decided that rather than run a three-cluster system left, center and right, located around the pair of screens--we would install a single central video screen, and provide line arrays to the left and right, and a center cluster. Eventually, to provide enhanced sight lines, our final design included a pair of horizontal line arrays of KUDO cabinets augmented with dV-DOSC cabinets for a center cluster and ARCS enclosures for side-fill coverage. We needed a versatile, high-power system to handle not only the church services but the wide variety of musical, theatrical and even civic uses that might be required by various users of the new sanctuary." The Rock Church's contemporary, high-energy worship style often places demands on the PA similar to a full-throttle rock-and-roll concert performance.

According to AVDB CEO Scott Oosthuizen, "The left and right arrays are made up of eight KUDO full-range, active three-way enclosures per side, with eight dV-DOSC full-range, two-way enclosures in the center." A side-fill system for stage-left/right plus the above/below-balcony areas consists of eight ARCS active two-way enclosures. A separate delay system features four additional dV-DOSC enclosures "arranged as two pairs to cover the far balcony," Oosthuizen adds.

Uniquely, and to provide dramatically improved sight lines, the L-ACOUSTICS KUDO enclosures are arranged horizontally rather than vertically using KLIFT rigging bumpers. Each quad-amplified KUDO enclosure houses a pair of 12-inch LF and four five-inch MF drivers, in addition to a pair of 1.75-inch DOSC HF compression drivers. "The KUDO cabinets are configured in hi-pass, three-way mode, allowing them to be close-coupled with the six existing custom double-18-inch subwoofers crossed over at 60 Hz," Oosthuizen explains. "Three presets optimize the frequency response according to the value of K-LOUVER settings of 50, 80 or 110 degrees."

Using L-ACOUSTICS' SOUNDVISION real-time, 3D acoustical modeling software, the sanctuary's sound reinforcement system was "designed and installed to prevent standing waves, slap-back echo, and maintain highly predictable audio dispersion to all floor and balcony seats," notes Oosthuizen. "Shaped surfaces designed by Vance Breshears of Sound Technology Consultants were implemented to diffract audio waves at critical acoustical junction points and surfaces. High-density fiberglass battens were installed on the side and back walls of the sanctuary [to help] absorb audio waves before they became an acoustical problem."

"The combination of L-ACOUSTICS KUDO and dV-DOSC systems works perfectly for the Rock Church installation," Cloyd concludes. Now with DPR Inc., the construction manager offers that "the Church is very happy with the results. The horizontal configuration solved the line-of-sight problems and very nicely accommodates the current and future needs of the church."

L-ACOUSTICS are pleased to announce the introduction of the LA-RAK touring rack. The LA-RAK is the central element of the new L-ACOUSTICS® system architecture built upon the LA8 amplified controller. It offers an advanced drive rack solution for all L-ACOUSTICS® systems covering signal and power distribution in a comprehensive plug and play touring package.

LA-RAK was created as a universal platform designed to facilitate cross-rental between DOSC NETWORK members and to ensure compatibility with the legacy analog cabling standard of L-ACOUSTICS® systems.

The LA-RAK module comprises:

One 9U rack with LEXAN® front and rear covers
Three LA8 amplified controllers
An 1/O distribution panel for analog signal, L-NET (control and monitoring) and L-DGA (digital audio) networks distribution within the rack and link out with other racks
Available 2U space for implementing L-NET and L-DGA network switches when operating with a star network topology
An I/O panel for power distribution of 3 LA8, 2 Ethernet switches and one auxiliary AC outlet.

The LA-RAK working principle is entirely modular and the user can physically assemble and interconnect multiple modules to fit numerous applications. The LA-RAK configuration based on a multiple of 3 LA8 yields the maximum flexibility and power resources for any L-ACOUSTICS® system from compact coaxial systems up to KUDO® and K1 stadium line source array systems. Shipping Fall of 2008, list price to be announced.

Canadian songstress’ “Best Damn Tour” benefits from an amplifier/loudspeaker system that is far from “Complicated”

ORLANDO, Florida -- Avril Lavigne has morphed, over the course of a career that is less than a decade young, from a self-professed skater punk to a newly married pop princess with her own fashion line. But one thing that has remained constant is FOH Engineer Jim Yakabuski who has been running Lavigne’s sound since midway through her first tour in 2003. For Lavigne’s latest North American trek, in support of The Best Damn Album, Yakabuski and Orlando-based sound reinforcement provider LMG Inc. have chosen to return to an L-ACOUSTICS V-DOSC® and dV-DOSC loudspeaker system – this time supplementing the rig with the manufacturer’s KUDO™ enclosures and new LA8 amplified controllers.

“We have 15 V-DOSC with three dV-DOSC down speakers per side as mains, and then 10 KUDO a side as side arrays,” Yakabuski explains. “We’ve also gone back to using a center sub cluster, which has proved very successful for me in the past. There are 12 subs in a single long array in the center, with nothing at all left and right, and only one sub a side about 16 feet off-center to hold up two dV-DOSC that take care of front-fill requirements. My system engineer, Evan Hall, and I are also driving the whole system with L-ACOUSTICS’ new LA8 amps, which are controlled by LA Network Manager.”

Yakabuski’s choices were based as much on coverage as on overall sound quality. “I am finding more and more that the shapes of concert audiences are changing from 10 or 15 years ago,” he says. “Even though we have a huge video wall behind the stage that has some fantastic content on it, and a pair of side screens that have the artist’s face on it all night long, I find that the concertgoer will still buy a ticket at the side of the stage where they have no view of these screen elements long before they’ll buy a ticket further back in the venue.” While the V-DOSC arrays handle most of the venue, this side coverage played a big role in adding the KUDO arrays. “You have to cover a very wide amount of seats along the side, but you also have to cover a very tall swath as well. The bottom seats near the stage can sometimes be only 15 or 20 feet from the downstage edge while the top bowl of an arena may be 150 feet away, so having the flexibility to put a huge J-curve in the array and to be able to adjust the horizontal coverage from 50 to 80 to 110 degrees was a big deciding factor in going with the KUDO boxes.” Yakabuski has his hands full with mixing and needs a system that he doesn’t have to worry about.

“The music and musicianship are very different on this tour. We have a lot more inputs coming down the snake than on previous tours, especially in the drum department. The amount of sound that comes from this band is unbelievable. We only use a couple of electronic loops in the whole show to fill things in a bit. We also have a keyboard player for the first time and, again, we now have live keys and effects coming from his very high tech rig instead of coming from a sequencer as in past tours.”

In addition to doing duty as side-fills, the KUDO enclosures have proven themselves to be flexible enough to work in other callings as well. Yakabuski and LMG found that with the K-LIFT bar they could turn the KUDO cabinets on their sides and use three or four boxes in outdoor amphitheatre situations to get only 30 or 40 degrees of horizontal coverage, and then use the K-Louvers to adjust the vertical dispersion. “It is a very flexible speaker system and a great choice for the side arrays. It blends very nicely with the V-DOSC as well, so they work great together,” Yakabuski adds.