Visitors from the professional audio sector can look forward to numerous new highlights and product innovations. The Messe Frankfurt is fulfilling a central wish of exhibitors and visitors by presenting the entire product range from “Audio, Sound + Recording” in Hall 8.0, the largest ground-level hall area on the exhibition grounds. This brings together all the frontrunners in this field.
Adam Hall, Adamson Europe, Allen & Heath, Amptown System Company, Audio-Technica, Bespeco Professional, Coda Audio, Craaft Audio, d&b audiotechnik, dBTechnologies, DiGiCo, ES-Pro-Audio, FBT Elettronica, Fohhn Audio, Funktion One, HK Audio, Kling & Freitag, Klotz, König & Meyer, KS Beschallungstechnik, L-Acoustics, Lawo, Link, Powersoft, Proel, Riedel, Sommer Cable, Valentini, Yamaha Music Europe and many more are gathered under one roof.
The “Live Sound Arenas” offer visitors full performance on the open-air grounds in real-life conditions: from PA systems and line array systems from Audiofocus, Aura Audio to Axiom, dbTechnologies and Eastern Acoustic, many other brands such as Works, Fohhn Audio, Funktion One, Harmonic Design, KV2 Audio, Loud Professional, RCF, SE Audiotechnik and Unker Sound can be experienced live.
Full auxiliary program: workshops, showcases and live demos
The trend towards 3D and spatial audio is one main focus. In addition to developments in VR/AR, 3D mapping and holography, the Immersive Technology Forum, successfully launched last year, presents best practices from manufacturers of innovative audio solutions. In addition, d&b Audiotechnik, L-Acoustics and Meyer Sound will present their immersive sound systems in their own demo areas. Visitors can also experience a unique sound installation in the Sound Dome on the outdoor grounds.
Another focus is on digital audio networks. On Tuesday, April 2, Audinate will be offering a full-day training program (Dante Level 3 Training) for audio engineers, system integrators and other professionals. They will show how to tap the full potential of Dante environments. IP-based transmission technology will also be a focus of the new CAVIS – Congress for Audiovisual Integrated Systems seminar series.
The Advanced Audio + Application Exchange (A3E) will also be hosting The Future of Audio + Music Technology program (April 4) in 2019. This covers topics ranging from the use of mobile apps in studio and live environments to blockchain technology and cloud-based DAWs.
In cooperation with the Sample Music Festival, Prolight + Sound will be presenting top brands such as Akai, Denon DJ, RANE, Ortofon and Mixars for the first time in a special area in the foyer of Hall 4.0. Other companies such as Ableton and Native Instruments will be presenting their innovations in workshops and product demonstrations. Well-known DJ, controlling and turntable artists such as Beat Matazz, Clockwerk and S-Trix will be present at workshops and showcases.
DJCon will also be returning (Hall 4, Saal Europa) and offer an extensive education program, especially for DJs, with daily live demonstrations and show acts.
At the Audio Makers Square, visitors can take part in Audio Builder workshops and find everything they need to build their own audio equipment.
In the Sound & Recording Lounge in Hall 8, visitors will find exciting new products from exhibitors and a café for conversations with internationally successful producers and engineers.
Another premiere is the cooperation with the organizers of the Music Tech Fest. The program includes an ‘Innovation Masterclass’ under the direction of the award-winning composer Reeps One and the ‘MTF Labs’. The ‘Trackathon’, in which aspiring producers produce songs within 24 hours and then perform them live, offers an additional highlight under the direction of composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Martine-Nicole Rojina.
The Vintage Concert Audio Show exclusively will be presenting four decades of concert sound at Prolight + Sound and Musikmesse. Over 200 exhibits are available in the special show area in Forum.0. Many of the vintage systems can be experienced directly in action, reviving the world of PA systems in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. On each day of the event, a decade-long audio panel will take place in which sound engineers of the time tell their stories, explain the technology used at the time and answer visitors’ questions. These include long-time Prince Studio engineer Hans-Martin Buff as well as Jon Caffery (Joy Division, Sex Pistols, Die Toten Hosen) and Michael Baur (Rammstein).
All information on the program can be found at www.prolight-sound-programm.com
Pictures by Robin Kirchner
