The mission is to strengthen the company’s business development and competitive positioning through continuous organic growth and selective M&A.
Palladio Holding S.p.A. (“Palladio”) – an independent holding company, one of the most active and solid private equity players in Italy – announces that it has taken over from RCF Group the control of DPA Microphones (“DPA”), the Danish microphone solution manufacturer. RCF Group will maintain a minority stake.
Based in Denmark, DPA is the leading manufacturer of high-end microphone solutions for the live, broadcast, theatre, and studio industries and is known as the undisputed quality leader, continuously pushing the boundaries of performance. During the RCF Group ownership, DPA has had impressive growth, even despite Covid-19 reaching all-time record performance in 2022. DPA quickly overcame the consequences of the pandemic and was ready to serve the market with its products due to fast and clever handling of the supply chain and manufacturing. When facing new challenges DPA will have a strong partner in Palladio, a boost for its mission to strengthen the competitive positioning and accelerate the business development, also through potential synergic M&A.
Palladio is not new to DPA being a minority shareholder in the RCF Group since 2017 and having contributed to the impressive growth path of both companies. In the context of the direct investment into DPA, Palladio has significantly reduced its stake in RCF Group, in favor of the current majority shareholders and crowned a highly successful and satisfying investment for all shareholders, to concentrate on the planned growth path in support of DPA.
In November 2022, Palladio acquired a majority stake in Wisycom, recognized as one of the main players in wireless equipment for broadcast, live, and location sound applications, confirming Palladio’s strong interest in this industry.
Nicola Iorio, Managing Partner of Palladio Holding who followed the transaction with Nadia Buttignol, partner of PFH, said: “We are thrilled to start this new important chapter in the history of DPA, a company with unique know-how and positioning on the market thanks to a strong brand, premium products and an organization that excels in serving their demanding customers. Our goal is to continue to invest in the company to develop the business even further and take it to the next level.”
Kalle Hvidt Nielsen CEO of DPA Microphones stated: “I would like to thank the RCF Group and Mr. Vicari for the excellent partnership we have had for the last 4,5 years. DPA has experienced tremendous growth during this period, and we have made significant investments in key areas of DPA, that have made us stronger and even better at developing, manufacturing, and launching innovative products to the pro audio industry. I have been working with Palladio since 2018 and I know that they will continue to support DPA going forward and I am sure that you will see DPA solutions in even more places and applications in the future.”
Arturo Vicari, CEO of RCF Group, stated: “The cooperation between the RCF Group and DPA Microphones has been very fruitful, and I am proud of the impressive development that we have achieved together. We have worked closely with Palladio since 2017 and I am happy to see DPA continue its journey with another good and strong partner, while we concentrate on our core loudspeaker business.”
Goose Headlines an Eclectic Mix on the Main Outdoor Stage
For two days in early May, Daze Between New Orleans offered up a piquant musical jambalaya with headliners Goose joined on the main stage by Melt, Lawrence, David Shaw and George Porter Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners. The festivities were hosted on the expansive grounds of the historic Faubourg Brewery, with Upscale Productions providing a Meyer Sound PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeaker system for spreading potent music throughout the gathering.
Goose closed the show on both evenings of the event, with the Connecticut-based improvisational rock masters deftly mixed by their Front of House Engineer and Production Manager Eric Loomis. “It was a great experience,” he reports. “I was able to mix at my preferred average loudness with more than enough headroom left over. Also, Goose is a very dynamic band, and with some other systems, the color of the mix can change. PANTHER was very consistent no matter what the band threw at it.”
Loomis first noticed the unique qualities of PANTHER in January when mixing sets at Mexico’s Playing In The Sand festival. “There is a transparency and clarity that enables me to focus more on the balance of the mix, rather than having to adjust the frequency response of the PA in the system processing.”
Upscale Productions had fortuitously engaged the services of notable systems engineer — also FOH engineer, senior instructor for Rational Acoustics and podcast host — Michael Lawrence to optimize the system.
“One of the design constraints for festivals in this format is that you have a lot of throw distance to cover but at a relatively low trim height,” says Lawrence. “That is a challenge for front-to-back consistency because you want to hang as long an array as possible. With PANTHER, we were able to hang 12 a side within our allotted weight, which gave us higher uniformity and better directivity than we would have been able to achieve with earlier generations of product.”
Lawrence also was pleased with the horizontal coverage. “One of the interesting things about this design was how the PANTHER horn behaves horizontally. You can get much further off-axis before it starts to roll off, giving coverage to the edge of the audience area without the need for outfills.”
Lawrence used the MAPP 3D System Design and Prediction Tool and the Product Integration feature in the GALAXY processors to create both the PANTHER main hang and the deep bass array, which consisted of a line of eight two-element cardioid stacks of 700-HP subwoofers, delaying the outer two stacks to match coverage with the PANTHER arrays.
“This configuration kept tonal consistency throughout and lessened the power alley effect,” he says. “Finally, I did the tuning and alignment with Smaart v9. I think I ended up with only two filters and a bit of shading to get where I wanted to go. Other than that, the only changes were in response to changes in environmental conditions throughout the festival.”
The results of his work were appreciated by all the FOH engineers working the stage, including Leo Pisaq, who mixed for the (coincidentally booked) band Lawrence.
“The sound was exceptional in terms of stereo imaging,” he says. “Also, the vocals and the transients — specifically on drums — came through like no other PA I’ve mixed on.”
Daze Between was the first major festival assignment for their PANTHER rig since acquired by Upscale Productions in late 2022, with prior booking for regional tours and a busy showroom concert schedule at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, LA, not far from Upscale Productions’ home base in Lake Charles.
Upscale placed its order for PANTHER having never heard the system, according to co-owner Chris Lambert. “Meyer Sound said it would be a game-changer and I took them at their word.”
Upscale already had both the LEOPARD and LINA line array systems in their inventory, and decided it was time to upgrade their aging MILO line array system. “When PANTHER was announced, I knew it was time to make the move,” continues Lambert. “With PANTHER, we would shave off 80 pounds a box, and since much of our work is on mobile stages with weight limits, we knew that would make a huge difference. And working outdoors, PANTHER feels right on top of you at a distance. You still get a focused response at 200 feet and beyond.”
Artists enjoying the new Upscale system have included Lee Brice, Third Eye Blind, Jefferson Starship, and the Commodores. It was the Lee Brice tour that first connected Michael Lawrence with the Upscale owners and crew.
“The Upscale team takes the job seriously, but we have a lot of fun together,” says Lawrence. “I was glad to be asked to come down for Daze Between. It’s a great collaboration. Chris and David [co-owner David Lapointe] set the tone for the entire operation. They want to do it right and make sure all the pieces are in place, but they also have trust in their crew and allow everybody the space to do a great job.”
Daze Between is an interim musical celebration held mid-week between the two consecutive weekends of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2023 it was presented by Dayglo Presents, Live For Live Music, GMP Live, Purple Hat Productions, and Rose Tours. A portion of the proceeds benefited the Rex Foundation and will be distributed to charities in the New Orleans area.
In a thrilling industry coup, Electro-Voice has officially secured Steve Harris, the iconic Iron Maiden bassist, as its new endorser. The Iron Maiden founder and band leader has entrusted his standout bass sound to Electro-Voice for over four decades since the very onset of his illustrious music career. Recognized as a rock legend, Harris was heralded by Loudwire magazine as the best hard rock + metal bassist of all time, an accolade that underscores his influence. In this partnership, Harris demonstrates his trust by choosing Electro-Voice’s EVM-12L Black Label signature guitar speakers for all his Marshall 4×12 bass cabinets, forming a fusion of sonic titans that guarantees an experience of unrivaled intensity.
This exciting collaboration comes just in time for Iron Maiden’s “The Future Past Tour“, kicking off on May 28 – and there are still a few of the last remaining tickets available. Eager fans worldwide are gearing up to see one of rock’s greatest live bands, powered by the unique combination of Harris’s bass virtuosity and the superior sound of Electro-Voice. Brace yourself, the maiden voyage of rock with EV’s thunderous sound is upon us!
ApexPro and Sound Reference join Genelec’s global distribution network.
Genelec has significantly strengthened its distribution network in the MEA region through the signing of two new distribution agreements. Johannesburg-based ApexPro are handling the distribution of Genelec’s Pro and AV loudspeaker ranges across Southern Africa, while Dubai-based Sound Reference will be servicing the Home Audio market throughout the GCC group of countries. Both appointments signal Genelec’s commitment to what has become an increasingly important region in the global loudspeaker market.
ApexPro is part of South Africa’s well-established Prosound Group of companies, which over the last fifty years has established a close affiliation with clients in the professional broadcast, music production and Pro-AV verticals. The distribution agreement covers the Southern African region – comprising South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe – and with satellite offices in Durban, Cape Town and Gaborone, ApexPro will focus on the distribution of Genelec Professional loudspeakers via the dealer channel, while AV Worx – part of the same Prosound Group – will provide value-added distribution by concentrating on supplying Genelec Professional and AV solutions to system integrators working in audio-visual production, music production, AV applications plus education and research.
Founded in Dubai in 2021 by Muhammed Amras, Sound Reference will be supplying Genelec loudspeaker systems to the Home Audio market across the GCC nations: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Supported by General Manager Suresh Thadani – who himself has over 25 years of audio distribution experience – Sound Reference will be working with a network of dealers across the region, while supporting sales in the UAE via its impressive Genelec Experience Centre in Dubai.
“Genelec is the standard by which all other loudspeakers are judged by professionals in the global audio industry,” comments ApexPro director Mark Malherbe. “Ensuring reliable and supported access to Genelec’s class-leading products is an essential part of delivering on our commitment to provide world-class technology and solutions to our growing pro audio industry in Southern Africa. We’re confident that our extensive network of broadcast and production professionals, AV integrators and end users in the entertainment, commercial and education markets will embrace all that Genelec has to offer in the years ahead.”
Sound Reference’s Muhammed Amras adds: “We have a very close relationship with Farooq Pasha, who’s company – Audio Video People – has had great success as a Genelec Home Audio dealer in Bangalore, India. Working with Audio Video People, we recognised the opportunities that representing Genelec in the GCC region would create – it’s a fast developing market, and the booming tourism industry is generating significant demand for high quality loudspeaker solutions in the Home Audio and AV segments.”
Genelec International Sales Director Ole Jensen concludes: “We can see the growth potential that the MEA region represents, and we’re extremely excited about working with ApexPro and Sound Reference, both of whom have high levels of experience and professionalism. It also showcases the fact that Genelec’s strong studio & broadcast customer base is now being supported by a growing number of discerning customers in the AV and Home Audio markets. This really underscores the fact that exceptional sounding, sustainable, aesthetically beautiful loudspeaker solutions are in demand everywhere – whatever the application.”
Everything You Love About SolaPix 19, but IP65-Rated
With its modest footprint and next-generation brightness, the SolaPix family pushes the traditional concept of a pixel wash to its maximum potential. Whether used to spread the color throughout a ballroom, tradeshow floor, or concert stage, the bright and punchy output will envelop your production with beautifully saturated color.
Additionally, SolaPix’s narrow zoom, FleX Effects macros, and pixel-controlled face produce a wide variety of looks and styles to help set the mood and steal the show.
SolaPix 19 XT is an IP65-rated version of SolaPix 19 designed specifically for indoor and outdoor events. It utilizes custom weatherproof housing and sealed front lens glass to deter the ingress of water and other liquids.
All SolaPix models share integral features, including RGBW color mixing, tuned color temperature between 2800-8000K, 4.5° to 60° zoom, and FleX Effects Engine and Pixel Control. The models differ in their lumen output, footprint, and a number of individual pixels, meaning there’s a SolaPix for every unique application. The flagship SolaPix 37 outputs 29K lumens, with the SolaPix 19 and SolaPix 7 output 14.5K lumens and 5.5K lumens, respectively. The IP65-rated SolaPix 19 XT features a 13.8K lumen output.
SolaPix 19 XT
IP65 rated for outdoor use
HaloGraphic Pixel Definition
Ultra-fast pan and tilt
RGBW with digital CT
FleX Effects Engine || Create effects faster
4.5° – 60° zoom
Individual addressing for Base, FleX, and Pixel control
ETC’s flagship Eos lighting control family grows more powerful with every free software release, introducing features that streamline and revolutionize the design team’s workflow. Eos v3.2 – the latest major update – is no exception, bringing powerful tools to quickly adjust fixture-, device- and session-level settings, as well as massive expansions in the Augment3d programming environment.
As modern lighting systems grow to encompass more and more controllers and devices, easy access to network configuration controls is paramount. Eos v3.2 brings several key settings from the shell into the Eos application proper, allowing them to be saved in the show file and adjusted in real-time without leaving your session or stopping output. Device settings are also now stored in profiles within the show file, allowing you to bind devices for quicker configuration. With the template file feature, easily starting from a known point is as simple as starting a new show. Output protocol settings have also been brought into Eos and have been significantly expanded to support advanced configurations for dynamic and static systems large and small – laying the groundwork for future system expansion.
Color control has also received significant upgrades in the new software. You can now set color configurations for your fixtures, allowing Eos to control them with ease. As you use and build LED fixtures, Eos dynamically generates a gamut, giving you use of the color tools with any fixture — from two-emitter white light fixtures to eight emitters and beyond. The software also adds native and virtual CIE XY controls via the color tools and command line to keep you up to date on any communication path your fixtures and your team may use.
The most dynamic new control feature can be found in Augment3d, the award-winning 3D-programming and visualization environment built into the Eos software. The new Zones feature offers a revolutionary way to let your 3D environment affect your lighting. Don’t want moving fixtures to land on the projection screen? Would you like the lights to turn blue every time they move offstage or go dark when they pan over the audience? Zones allow you to define regions in your model space and automatically affect fixture behavior when they intersect with the zone – turning intensity off or on, triggering macros, or applying presets or palettes. You can even attach a Zone to a moveable scenic element in your model – allowing the Zone to intersect and affect the behavior of static fixtures as well as movers. Programming complex behaviors has never been simpler.
A 3D programming environment is only as good as its model, and Eos v3.2 makes getting started in Augment3d easier than ever. ETC teamed up with Vectorworks to implement direct MVR import for fixture and model data — no more plug-ins. In addition, you can import glTF from other drafting suites, as well as the 50+ file formats Augment3d already supports. And with the upcoming Augment3d Scanner app for iOS & Android, you can use your phone or tablet’s built-in AR tools to scan your space and instantly create an Eos-compatible model.
Eos v3.2 adds a massive suite of tools that elevates your design and programming, letting you work not just faster — but better. With additional quality-of-life improvements system-wide – including new features like macro search, cue alerts, and focus palettes that follow Augment3d objects – the new software is bound to be a game-changer, no matter which Eos Family console you use.
