Orbital The Spin Autumn 2014

One of the most exciting aspects of the live sound business is that things never stand still.

Whether a sound designer, manufacturer, engineer or rental company there are always new techniques to perfect, new equipment to explore or new methods to adopt. For Orbital, innovation is in our DNA and we are passionate about what we do. That is what has made the past 20 years so exhilarating and continues to fire us up daily. There is also another essential ingredient that makes us unique – quite simply it's the people behind Orbital Sound as a company.

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Andy Simmons joins Orbital in Strategic Sales Position

Andy Simmons is joining us as Director of Sales, bringing over 25 years of international sales and marketing experience, gained within the pro-audio sector in association with many key brands, including Crest Audio, Peavey, KV2 and XTA Electronics. Andy will be fulfilling a strategic role at Orbital, working to develop the company's long-term sales portfolio, while making full use of the product-specialist expertise available with the organisation. > Read More


	JERSEY BOYS HEADS OUT ON FIRST TOUR OF UK AND IRELAND

	September saw the hugely successful musical Jersey Boys set out on its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland, complete with a sizeable sound system based on Steve Canyon Kennedy's original design delivering the high octane Four Seasons' show sound whatever the venue! At the heart of the system is the Meyer Sound M'elodie ultra compact high-powered curvilinear array speaker, complemented by d&b audiotechnik E5 and E6 compact speakers and for the first time on a Jersey Boys production, a pair of DiGiCo SD10 mixing consoles. > Read more

Meyer Sound's M'elodie ultracompact high-power curvilinear array loudspeaker combines the sonic signature and easy to use rigging of the MILO family of loudspeakers, with an extraordinary power-to-size ratio.

	DAN BAILEY
	PRODUCTION ENGINEER

	Another first was the introduction of a dedicated sound production engineer from Orbital – Dan Bailey – which represented something of a departure for Andrew compared to US productions. > Read more


	Flare's Revolutionary New Reference Headphone Technology



	The first fully open true infinite baffle headphone for distortion-free, phase linear sound.


	New London Demonstration Facility for Flare Audio		We recently opened a brand new demonstration zone, in conjunction with award-winning British loudspeaker technology company, Flare Audio. Equipped with the growing line up of Flare loudspeaker systems, this represents the first facility to provide a comprehensive London demonstration resource for the manufacturer, as a dedicated centre of excellence. Read more >>

FLARE AUDIO'S X2A COMPACT

Packing a perfectly compact punch!

The introduction of Flare's X2A Compact this summer added a new dimension to the concept of stunning clarity and aesthetics in a highly compact package. It moved Orbital's MD Chris Headlam to comment "there is an openness and transparency to the Flare sound – something which we previously did not think was achievable over distance at volume. Flare has demonstrated that it can be done, delivering high definition audio, exceptional vocal clarity and an extremely accurate sonic footprint." It also paved the way for Orbital's decision to invest in three full touring systems for the 2015 season.

The X2A combines Flare's Vortex™ and Space™ Technologies with compact size to deliver the same reference quality sound for smaller installations and live performance events. The X2A is a prime example of how Flare's technologies have been utilised to optimum effect with over 200 Vortex™ ports coupled with the compression of Space™ technology. The partnership of these technologies means that no coloration is added to the sound, focusing instead on allowing the original material to show through, creating the perfect engineers tool.
Measuring just 250mm × 435mm × 170mm, the X2A can be used standalone or in a vertical array of up to 20 boxes, with various tilt options: 0° – 2.5° – 5° – 7.5° – 10°.
The speaker features the same signature aluminium and birch ply as the X5A, and is suited for a multitude of applications, from corporate AV to live performance.

Also launched earlier this year, the X0 offers a perfect mix – of superior vocal clarity coupled with its small size (129mm × 150mm × 78mm) and flexible bracketry – allowing for maximum sound design flexibility. The X0 can be used on its own as a delay or low–level installation speaker, or can be arrayed in a Vertical Point Source.

With the highest level of sound accuracy available, the combined system is a refined tool for engineers and sound designers. Using patent pending Space™ and Vortex™ technologies, the X0 allows sound to be produced with a minimum of interference from box pressure and resonance.


	The Bill Kenwright musical celebrating the 1950s, Rock 'n' Roll Heaven, has been touring UK theatres with a sound system equipped with Flare Audio loudspeakers, supplied by Orbital Sound, in one of the first outings for Flare in the theatre sector. With a production style that is more a series of gigs than a conventional musical, the show's vibe is being reinforced by the main front of house system, comprising Flare Audio's X5A Vertical Point Source Array loudspeakers, ground stacked atop Flare's Q18 Directional Touring Bass subs. > Read more


	Take the underground nightclubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennesse, add a great mix of rock'n'roll, blues and gospel in with a love story that reflects the cultural and racial challenges of the era, and you have the essence of Memphis the Musical. > Read more


	Clear-Com's Communications Innovation – FreeSpeak II

	Unveiled this summer, FreeSpeak II is highly flexible, capable of being a standalone wireless system or an integrated wireless solution with the advanced Eclipse HX Matrix System. As a standalone system, the robust 1RU base station can support up to 20 digital wireless beltpacks... > Read more


	Stage Entertainment's brand new production of Dance of the Vampires has recently opened in Paris, at the beautifully renovated Mogador Theatre. Directed by its creator, Roman Polanski, the complex musical has taken the city by storm - adding to its impressive 16–year track record, which includes playing to audiences of over 7 million in 12 countries. Sound design is by Thomas (Tom) Strebel of Audiopool, bringing his experience of designing the Berlin production to the new show. > Read More

London-based corporate AV specialist Anna Valley Displays recently purchased a large-scale loudspeaker system focused on the d&b audiotechnik T-series design. Taking advantage of the T-series' ability to be configured as a point-source or line–array system, Anna Valley required a versatile solution to deploy across a range of corporate and event applications. The new sound system comprises twelve d&b audiotechnik T–10 loudspeakers, four B-4 SUBS and four D–6 amplifiers, and was specified...

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	THE NEMESIS LINE–UP CONTINUES TO GROW – INTRODUCING THE NEW UMT–2Di

	The Nemesis UMT–2Di is a perfect standalone solution for the complex external control requirements of theatrical control and playback software, including QLAB™, CSC, SFX™, SCS, Ableton™ and similar packages. > Read More

MIXING MUSICALS 2014
TAKE TWO!

This year's second round of the ever-popular Mixing Musicals training course took place in October, giving another dozen students the chance to gain first–hand experience of all the essential tasks associated with sound operating excellence, from basic mixing theory to working with the latest digital mixing technology.

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	INTRODUCING. . .

	Alex Waddle Training Co-Ordinator

	d&b audiotechnik Y-Series arrives!

With nearly 20 years as a d&b audiotechnik partner behind us, we are delighted to have taken delivery of our first Y–Series loudspeakers and continue to supply this international marque to a large variety of hires and instals with outstanding success. Our deep and thorough knowledge of d&b audiotechnik systems brings huge benefits to many satisfied customers. Now available for sales and hire!

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