Frankfurt Pro Light + Sound 2011 open with product launches
Published: ASIA
WORLD: Pro Light + Sound 2011 has opened its doors at the Frankfurt Messe, drawing members of the audio industry from all over the globe to the German city. The mood on the show floor appeared optimistic on the first morning of the show, though its pro audio aisles were moderately subdued in the opening hours. This year’s Pro Light + Sound is taking place later in the calendar than in the past, just one week away from NAB in the USA.
The show nevertheless started with big news from UK-based console manufacturer DiGiCo, who added two new desks to its range – the SD10 and SD11. The company has positioned the SD10 between its SD8 and large format SD7, while the SD11 represents the manufacturer’s most compact console yet. Also announced was the Dante DMI (DiGiCo Multichannel Interface) card, and the Remote Record Interface comprising DiGiCo Control software for PC or Mac alongside the Dante DMI card, marking the company’s first departure from its core business.
Speaking shortly before a press conference introducing the new launches, DiGiCo managing director James Gordon was enthusiastic regarding Pro Light + Sound 2011. ‘I think Pro Light + Sound this year is going to be very important for us,’ he explained. ‘We’re launching four new products – some consoles, as people would expect, but also some solution based products. That’s a different direction for DiGiCo, which is exciting.’
Regarding the dates of this year’s exhibition, Mr Gordon added: ‘I think the fact that Frankfurt is so much later in the year this time has slowed some of the buying cycles. People have always used Frankfurt as the launch-pad for the summer season and when it creeps into April it’s a little bit later than normal so it has a different dynamic. But it’s normally a great show and we’ll see.’
Professing delight at the visitor numbers meanwhile was Kamal Mahtani of Klotz ais, we reported: ‘we’ve had a really busy morning – it’s been packed with visitors from all around the world. The customers are not only from Germany but a lot of different countries. It’s exciting because we’re launching new products. I think it’s going to be a pretty positive show – I haven’t even sat down yet. We’re very happy, very positive and I think there’s definitely a bigger turnout than last year.’
Echoing the importance of Frankfurt Pro Light + Sound was Joe White of Nexo, whose N-12 wedge monitor is causing a stir on the show floor in Hall 8. ‘Our main ambition this year is to do a huge communication on the new wedge that we’ve released, the N-12,’ Mr White reported. ‘We’re putting a lot of our energy into that. It’s a new product offering a new technology so we’re taking the opportunity to show it at a big international show with a lot of visitors.’
Elsewhere, Innovason introduced an updated version of its Eclipse digital console, the Eclipse GT, which now boasts a side-rail plus red LEDs in its sidecheeks, and can
control and memorise all the parameters utilised by the new generation of digital microphones from Neumann and Sennheiser.
Frankfurt Pro Light + Sound continues through to Saturday April 9th.