LATEST NEWS FROM THE OFFICES OF
TSPROFESSIONAL SOUND + LIGHT
Now here is the news . There are also some special Features:
We have been neglecting the News Section for some time. But we have now started to regularly issue our NEWSLETTER again so here are some articles taken from our Newsletter bringing you right up to date with our activities
AUTUMN 2008
This is our first newsletter for a long time. Commitments to customer’s projects during one of our busiest years have unfortunately resulted in delaying our regular communications to our existing and potential customers. In 2005 we moved from Hove to a modern industrial unit with excellent workshop, storage and office facilities. Since the move to Mid Sussex we have attracted many new customers for hire and installation projects. Easy access to the A23/M23 gives us the opportunity to quickly support any of our customers. We proudly state that our services and support are unrivalled in the area whether it be any type of installation work or supply of hire equipment. If you are not already using our services, why not ask for us to visit to help you with your next important project?
We supply and run the PA system every year for over 6,000 VW GTI enthusiasts at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire.
HIRE FROM US!
Obviously the message is getting about that we mean to offer the best service possible as since moving to our new location we have increased our hire sales. In the past few months we have supplied 100 volt line systems in such venues as Newbury Showground, the Emirates Stadium (home to Arsenal FC) and as usual GTI International in Leicestershire's Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. For GTI International we even supplied experienced personnel for public information announcements. The biggest event was supporting Offshore Europe exhibition in Aberdeen when we covered 25,000 square metres of exhibition space for information and emergency announcements. Add to this a variety of School sports day and village day events it has been a busy year so far. Our lighting hire stock has received many repeat hirings and with the recent addition of more HK Audio sound systems the word is getting our for good quality equipment and service come to TSPro.
QUANTEGY OPEN REEL TAPE - Latest - posted 4th December 2007
Well after restarting production Quantegy have now closed down the manufacturing of open reel tape and other tape products. . We have had more 456 stock but this will be the last that we can offer. Please see the MEDIA SECTION for prices and if it is in stock. Basically Quantegy is not making money producing tape so they have decided to stop production after the management buy out. They realised that eventually production would have to stop due to a drop in demand but it has occurred earlier than anticipated. Our policy is to stock against customers requirements and generally some formats of open reel are now available from us although we have reduced stocking levels due to lower demand. Prices have also increased. We have in the past visited their impressive plant in Alabama where the legendary 400 series of tapes were made. Obviously with the rise of computer based recording systems less open reel tape has been used and this has probably influenced their decision to cease operations.
There are two other companies claiming to start manufacturing as previously advised by us in this news section.
Whilst ATR Magnetics based in York, Pennsylvania, USA have brought forward their plans to manufacture a range of open reel products, This company has been established for over 15 years servicing and rebuilding tape machines. However contact with this operation has been difficult as their web site and email address have disappeared but we understand they still have plans to produce mastering open reel tape.
*The old Emtec (BASF) plant has been moved from Germany to Holland and we now have some stock of their products produced under the RMG brand. Our policy is now to continue to replace the Quantegy stock as it runs down with the equivalent RMG alternative and at the time of updating this news we have1/4", 1/2" and 1" 911 in stock
We have been selling open reel and other magnetic tape for over 27 years, its where we started from but formats change and the future of recording is going along the digital route as we all know. The only problem with digital formats is they change so rapidly and most of the storage methods are not secure.
BRIGHTON FESTIVAL 2007
The noise and colour of the Children's Parade welcomed the start of the 2007 Brighton Festival as it paraded along the streets of Brighton finishing up on the seafront at Madeira Drive. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic display by 70 schools from the area. For the second year we have been contracted to supply the sound equipment at the finishing point of the parade where school children took the opportunity to sing the city's anthem CITY BY THE SEA whilst being conducted by the Mayor. Our large HK Audio Projector systems with several Sennheiser radio and shotgun microphones were used to get the song heard by the thousands of children present. In the evening a performance of the opera DIDO and AENEAS at the city centre church of St. Peter's by Sussex Voiceworks received our attention. We provided lighting and sound equipment for the sound effects to this Purcell Opera sung under candle light. We are proud to have been involved in two major events that opened this year's Festival. You can see pictures of the children's parade on www.theargus.co.uk
New staff appointment
As from 1st January 2007 we are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Priest as our Hire and Production Services Manager. Steve is now in charge of the Hire department as well as expanding our duplication and conference support business. He joins us with many years experience in duplication and support services for many church organisations across the UK. Our customers include many church organisations and with Steve's efforts we look forward to welcoming more in the year ahead.
New Web site - New NAME - New PREMISES!
We are now operating from the new premises in Burgess Hill, West Sussex just a 15 minute drive from central Brighton and with plenty of free parking on site. The Hove office, our home for nearly 20 years has closed and all activities will continue from the new larger unit which is approximately three times the size of the Hove site. We are still TSProfessional Audio Limited but trade as TSProfessional SOUND + LIGHT because we have increased our lighting hire and installation work.
What is Brighton & Hove's loss is a gain for Mid Sussex as we are now in an area without parking restrictions and can expand our business using the larger premises which have extensive office accommodation. In the future we plan to put into place a small production area for tape and CDR duplication plus processing of archive recordings on open reel formats etc.
Our web site has now been updated to show an enlarged interactive section for installations, more special offers and generally made easier to access all of the comprehensive sections. At the new Unit we will have extensive facilities for demonstrating the HK AUDIO range of equipment including a demonstration unit for all of the LUCAS systems wired for instant comparison - this facility we believe is the only one of its kind in the South East.
HIRE EVENTS FOR 2006
Our diary for 2006 is getting very busy throughout the Spring and Summer with the annual VW GTI International weekend being held this year in June at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground In Warwickshire. Another motor sport event that we are supporting is the public address equipment for Rusper Raceway during the whole of their summer season. During July we are supplying public address systems for the Brit Open Frisbee Championship in Eastbourne and a whole load of sound and lighting equipment for the annual Narcotics Convention in Bexhill. We also supporting several events with sound and lighting equipment during the Brighton Festival.
THE BEST
We believe we have one of the largest selection of sound and lighting equipment available in the South Coast area. We are constantly adding to this range. Our extensive microphone range now includes the latest Audio Technica microminiature headworn microphones, just 2mm diameter! We have also added an Electrovoice Digital sound system controller ideal for controlling one or multiple sound systems where delay and EQ are required. On the lighting side we continue to stock in depth existing lighting fixtures and of course we added in 2005 MOVING HEADS from Martin and Skytronic available for hire making full use of our much larger premises in Burgess Hill.
LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS
We continue to do more of this type of work and recently installed the sound, lighting systems and drapes for a new Drama Studio at The College of Richard Collyer in Horsham, West Sussex. We have also just completed a complete revamp of the lighting system at The Towers Convent School in Upper Beeding in West Sussex. On this particular project we replaced the existing analogue lighting desk with new a DMX Zero88 Jester x 48 channel linked to 48 channels of dimming.
CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLES 2006
On Sunday April 23rd 2006 we provided the PA systems for the Engineerium Classic Motor Cycle Run held in Hove, East Sussex at the British Engineerium. The event is run by The Rotary Club of Hove and this was its ninth year. Live music was provided by the Millstones Big Band and there was the usual Real Ale Bar etc. Unfortunately although the event was a big success the Engineerium is now closed and this event was the last public event to be held there. The future of this Classic Motor Cycle is still to be decided. For more information why not visit the website www.engrun.supanet.com
EMERGENCY SERVICE
2005 ended with lots of installations and within the space of just three weeks we carried out work for the NHS at The Royal Sussex County Hospital servicing Induction Loops for the hard of hearing, our usual hire of a large sound system for Brighton Fire Brigade for their annual benevolent fund raising . Finally we finished a major installation at Sussex Police headquarters of a new sound system for their conference and meeting room. This installation was a multi source, two zone system with 8 channels of Electrovoice radio microphones four of which use the unique EV Polar choice satellite goose neck desk microphones.
LOCAL CONTACTS
We are pleased to have generated many new customers in the Burgess Hill area and it just goes to prove how difficult it was for these customers to get to us whilst we were in crowded Hove! We are particularly pleased to be working alongside Dean Walker Entertainments. They are an established entertainments company (see www.dwents.co.uk) and a surprise to us, Dean actually remembered buying his first mixer from The Tape Shop way back in the past!
CHURCH INSTALLATIONS
We continue to hedge our bets by helping all religions! Recent work included St .Peter& St. Paul Church in West Wittering, in West Sussex where we up graded the sound system to a 4 zone system with special hanging microphones and new Electrovoice loudspeakers. Also in nearby Itchenor we installed a new sound system to compliment the recently installed induction loop system in St. Nicholas Church. Both churches are Grade 1 listed buildings - at St Peter we even made use of a 14th century ladder!
SUMMER EVENTS
We supplied the public address systems for two London events in June. TASTE, an event promoting food and wines from Australia and New Zealand took place on Clapham Common and one week after that event we were in Regents Park with a similar system for the EVENING STANDARD's TOAST event promoting food and drinks. On the weekend of July 30th we supplied and operated the sound system and staging for an outside event in Henfield West Sussex for Afrikaanse Day. The event ran all day with live acts specially brought over from South Africa and we used one of our HK AUDIO Projector Systems for good live sound from acts singing in Afrikaanse, quite a strange but wonderful experience to hear in the backwaters of Sussex! During June we also supplied sound and lighting equipment for three stages at the Narcotic Anonymous summer event in Bexhill on Sea
WE ARE BUSY
Apart from the moving news above we have been carrying out a variety of installations including an Electrovoice EVID replacement system at the Bishop Hannington Church in Hove, various other minor works but so far in 2005 we have been extremely busy with a series of large hires of sound and lighting equipment. We have invested not only in Moving Head lights supplied by Martin, but more lighting for theatre use plus Soundcraft large frame audio mixers from the new GB8 range. Our Hire List on this site has been kept up to date with all of this new equipment.
WE HAVE BEEN BUSY
2004 was busy for us with many new installation projects for the education and religious sectors. We were please to install the sound, lighting and drapes for the new Drama Studio at Oakmeeds Community College as well as other projects for Lewes Priory College and the The Angmering School. Numerous sound installations have been carried out in churches throughout Sussex including some tricky ones in grade 1 listed buildings where concealment of cables was a priority. Because we have been busy we have been unable to keep this section of our website up to date.
7.2KW NOW ON HIRE
We have added a further HK AUDIO PROJECTOR system to our extensive hire stock. This gives a total of 8 x 18" Bass bins and 4 x 12" with HF horn tops. A big clear sound good for audiences of 2500. Compact and easy to set up we love the sound of this German made powered sound system now getting regular bookings. See our HIRE section for latest rates.
HELPING ANOTHER SCHOOL WITH THEIR SOUND
The Tideway School in Newhaven, East Sussex has awarded us the contract of up grading their sound system in the main hall. The School is an IT College and the sound system will be used alongside computer equipment for presentations and projects. We are supplying a variety of sound equipment with the main system being based upon Electrovoice loudspeakers and amplifiers. Other equipment include products from Behringer, TASCAM, Studiomaster and a selection of microphones from Audio Technica and Sennheiser.
ROYAL MAIL
During a busy February we will continue to assist the Royal Mail with more installations using low impedance and 100 volt line equipment for Background Music systems (BGM). BGM systems have already been supplied to a number of sorting offices during 2003 in the South using remote control TEAC equipment and Wharfedale commercial loudspeakers. Each system carefully installed to avoid busy working areas but giving good cover for music provided by a CD player and a radio receiver.
70 MPH GALE FORCE WINDS AND RAIN!
THE 2003 LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN took place on Sunday 2nd November 2003 in weather never experienced before by the 400 or so cars. We provided the public address system for this world famous event finishing at Madeira Drive on Brighton's seafront. Our large 22 inch TOA loudspeaker horns survived the terrible weather as did a bank of Electrovoice cabinets. Three commentators used the new Sennheiser e550 series UHF radio microphones to inform and entertain the brave members of the public that turned out to witness the stream of cars that made the run into Brighton. By late afternoon the weather cleared and more people gathered to watch the last cars arriving before 4.30pm including a BBC film crew and Michael Aspel filming an episode of The Antiques Road show due to be broadcast in February 2004. All of our equipment was powered by our own generator and performed without fault during this horrendous weather, however the TSPro crew got absolutely soaked!
NEW 24 TRACK RECORDER FOR HIRE AND DEMO
We have recently added to our hire stock the industry standard TASCAM MX2424 recorder which uses hard drives in removable caddies. For those of you familiar with the MX2424 you will already know that you can either edit you work on the MX2424 or take away the hard drive caddy to work on your own computer. Finished or part finished work can also be archived onto re-record able DVD. Offering full 24 track recording facilities we are the only hire company offering this equipment in this area at a competitive rate (see the hire rates). We can also offer a recording service at your chosen site, i.e. Live venue or rehearsal facilities complete with a TASCAM trained operator. For those of you interested in purchasing an MX2424 we can offer a demo at our place or yours.
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
On Sunday 9th November we attended as usual the Royal British Legion Remembrance Service and parade in Angmering, West Sussex and provided the public address system. We provide this system free of charge every year.
WORTHING & LITTLEHAMPTON MIND CHARITY AGM
An unusual part of this year's AGM was the performance by Nicky Railton, a top class singer. We set up staging, lighting and the sound system for this event at the Worthing Day Centre on November 4th. A really professional performance by Nicky and a surprise to all those attending.
KINGS CHURCH, LEWES
This project kept us busy during the hot summer months as we helped the church convert a standard industrial factory unit into a place of worship. A full blown Electrovoice five unit loudspeaker system powered by QSC amplifiers fed from a 32 channel Allen and Heath GL3300 mixing desk provided the sound. Not content with this we also supplied the lighting rig. Nine metres long and all prewired back to an Anytronics DMX dimmer pack it hangs cantilevered above the main worship area. Video control and mixer were also provided to project images onto an installed 10ft x 8ft projection screen. We also supplied all of the drapes on two walls to reduce sound reflections of the hard industrial surfaces. The drapes made from heavy chain weighted black serge were hung from limited available points and reached up to 5 metres drop. All completed on time for the church's official opening in early September.
St. ANN'S CHURCH, CHERTSEY IN SURREY
We were contracted to supply a full range music system to compliment the existing low fi 100v line system in the main body of the church. Part of the specification was that all functions had to be controlled remotely by the priest from various points within the church but for the equipment to be placed in cupboards in the vestry. We supplied Electrovoice EVID loudspeakers tastefully mounted in the church and linked to a fully infra red control system giving CD, mini disc and audio cassette playback as well as volume control etc.
ANOTHER PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE CONTRACT
Completed on time and to budget during October we carried out a major up grade of Lewes Priory School's main hall sound and lighting system as the school has now achieved performing arts college status. Again we have specified Electrovoice loudspeakers. A six speaker system is powered with QSC amplifiers with a large frame Behringer audio mixer. Extensive use of our own brand (Build Your Own Box - BYOB) wall boxes have been specified for flexibility in plugging in microphones and equipment from around the hall and stage. A special feature requested by the school is the "small uncomplicated " system to be made available for the smaller functions and we have done this using a smaller compact Behringer mixer and equipment placed on a portable TSPro Audio trolley easily linked into the main system.
I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT!
Our own brand Build Your Own Box has made it to court. We have supplied a large number of pre-assembled boxes to Voice Products plc who are carrying out major work up grading sound systems in the UK's courts.
THE COLLEGE OF RICHARD COLLYER, HORSHAM WEST SUSSEX
During the summer we installed a complete wall box system for the college's new music suite. Using our own brand BYOB wall boxes the system gives the college the opportunity to record between various project rooms and the main hall. We have also supplied all monitoring equipment using Tannoy and Alesis equipment together with all connecting cables and looms. Over 20 looms were custom made by us using Neutrik quality connectors.
VARNDEAN COLLEGE, BRIGHTON
This was another school that has had our BYOB wall boxes installed into a small music suite and teaching room area. We carefully added the wall boxes to an already existing structure of project studios and recording rooms including vocal and drum booths.
SENNHEISER SPARE PARTS
Our friends at RICHER SOUNDS tell their customers to come to us for reliable supplies of spare parts for Sennheiser headphones, we thank them and bring to your attention that we carry in stock most of the popular headphone foam covers and the replacement leads for the excellent range of headphones. The most common fault is the lead being chewed by the cat or dog so be warned! If we have not got the spares in stock we can get them very quickly and we of course will despatch to anywhere in the UK.
EVEN MORE NEW HIRE EQUIPMENT
We have added a new radio microphones, the brand new e550 system from Sennheiser. This is the top of the range UHF Evolution system with more facilities and output. We have eight units rack mounted for ease of set up, and as they are complete with built in aerial splitters there are only two aerials to set up. Our kit is available in either lapel mic, hand held or head worn microphone configuration. We have also added Behringer Feedback Destroyer and Virtualizer Pro effects and sound processors. We have a new larger LeMaitre pyrotechnics 6/24 controller and an "old" FOSTEX E16 open reel 16 track recorder useful for archiving old recordings or indeed recording new ones the old analogue way!. Hire rates for all this equipment is shown on our up dated hire rates in the HIRE section.
HK Audio Projector System goes to Mauritius
We were pleased to sub hire our 4kW Projector sound system for use by Brian Ferry during November/December 2002 when it was shipped out to Mauritius
FIRE!
Just completed in time for Christmas 2002 we successfully installed a public address system complete with induction loop for the hard of hearing in the main conference room of East Sussex Fire Brigade's new headquarters in Eastbourne. Our own Build Your Own Boxes (BYOB) were part of the installation fitted neatly into the floor concealed with carpet covered panels which are removed when different configurations are required for the six microphones used around the conference tables. Actually Eastbourne featured strongly in our work schedule during December when we also fitted eight induction loop systems for the hard of hearing in the new offices in Eastbourne for East Sussex County Council. This is in advance of full implementation of the requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act which must be done by any business or organisation providing a product or service to the public. Implementation must be completed by 31st December 2004.
We also installed a wall box system based upon our BYOB in the final phase of the construction of the new Causeway School in Eastbourne for their new music department.
IT'S PARTY TIME! Bring out the Karaoke
GALA BINGO has just taken delivery from us of a large 550 watt Karaoke system for use in their Sussex clubs. Build to a tight budget we managed to supply the whole kit in a very nice flight case with the minimum amount of connections to be made for quick and easy set up by members of staff. Included in the package were Sennheiser microphones, large TV monitor with a graphics CD, MP3 player.
6000th HIRE
Ian Dunnett of Dunnett Wright Music was our 6000th Hire customer and benefited from a heavy discount on the hire of a TASCAM DA88 digital eight track tape recorder. Ian used the recorder to produce work for Sony music.
NETWORK MOVE TO OLD MARKET
Network Audio productions have now relocated from our premises in Hove Park Villas to new facilities at the Old Market where Chris Seymour has set up a studio for speech based work. Chris may be reached on 01273 383940 at the new premises where he has arranged his studio so that if necessary he can use the very large hall for recording as well a smaller sound booth. We were pleased to have supplied Chris with a new 24 channel TASCAM audio mixer, monitor speakers and other sundry items.
NEW RECORDING STUDIO AND REHEARSAL ROOMS - Let's hear it for the Girls
The first half of a major project to expand the music facilities at one of the best independent schools in the UK was successfully completed in time for the start of the new school year in August 2002. We have been pleased to have been in control of the whole project from design through to all building work and equipment specification and staff training at the music department of Brighton & Hove High School in central Hove. The second stage of this project is to double the number of rehearsal rooms and this will be carried out during late 2003. Our work has included the design of specially constructed sound proofing and forced ventilation systems with detailed work including final painting and decorating all areas.
Let's hear it for the Girls again - ROEDEAN UPGRADE TO MD
A selection of Sony minidisc recording equipment has just been installed in the Music department at this world famous Girls School located on the outskirts of Brighton. We installed the equipment into existing racks and made certain staff were shown how to use the equipment, all they had to do is switch on and get recording! The equipment will be used for a variety of purposes including submission of student's work to exam boards.
4 SIGHT
This organisation is based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex and supplies advice and help to partially and non sighted people throughout the county. We have been working very closely with them during 2002 and recently completed supplying and constructing their new recording studio used for talking magazines and other projects. Included in the equipment were a bank of brand new Telex high speed cassette duplicators used for copying very large quantities of audio cassettes sent out each month.
OLD MARKET - NEW SOUND SYSTEM
The Old Market in Hove is the home of the world famous Hanover Band and houses a large hall used for public performances and recordings of the band. This hall is fully air-conditioned and has excellent sound insulation from the surrounding areas with equipment hired in for recording sessions. As part of a policy of expanding the use of this hall a sound system was required to compliment the existing full theatre style lighting rig. After lengthy consultations and demonstrations we were commissioned to supply and install a complete Electrovoice based 4.8K seven loudspeaker system. Part of the package include an EV digital field controller for the main loudspeakers and a Soundcraft series 2 x 24 channel audio mixer with a range of BSS, Yamaha and Drawmer outboard effects rack mounted into the control position at the rear of the hall. A complete multicore wall box system was installed together with a stage managers Tec Pro communication system. All the work was completed within a very competitive budget on time with complete customer satisfaction,
WE NEVER CLOSE?
That theatre that never closes, which did, has possibly reappeared in Hove actually. The Windmill Theatre is the name given to the new theatre provided at Blatchington Mill School and 6th Form College. Available for their Performing Arts College students and private hire we have just completed up grading the lighting system and putting into place a brand new sound system. The lighting system has been updated to DMX with brand new dimmer packs with a software driven ETC lighting desk. We specified Electrovoice speakers and amplifiers with a digital controller for the sound system. A selection of outboard gear gives playback facilities by cassette, CD and minidisc with the main audio mixer being a large format eight group TASCAM with full width meter bridge. We also installed a complete induction loop system for the hard of hearing and a full stage managers communication system with feeds to the changing rooms for complete management during productions. The official opening of the theatre is mid November. This theatre has one of the largest back stage areas in the area and should become an attractive venue for many local and visiting groups.
YOUR BOOKED!
The University of Brighton had a problem in their library in central Brighton. With five floors and various seminar rooms students would be beavering away oblivious to the time and in danger of being shut in the library at closing times which vary depending upon the day of each week. Our solution was a 100 volt line paging system with loudspeaker coverage in all public areas and using automatic messages provided on minidisc. By using minidisc staff are able to produce their own messages. Also with a manual override microphone individual messages may be made in the event of emergencies etc. Now staff may relax and not have to run about looking for students as the paging system announces "The library is now closing".
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