Introducing pêma. The Audio Tools You Need, All In One Box.

Ashly introduces pêma. All the audio tools you need to run a restaurant, courtroom, school, house of worship - you name it - neatly delivered in one box.

Until now, you needed a rack full of equipment to address the audio needs of just about any public facility - restaurants, court rooms, retail stores, schools and universities, liturgical Churches...

With pêma, though, it's as simple as installing a two rack-space box. pêma handles it all. Whatever you need, pêma's got it. And it's got it for a LOT less than it's costing you now.

There's never been anything like pêma for ease of install and for reliability after the sale. Just think of the time you'll save on installs and service calls.

Call Ashly or your independent Ashly sales representative to learn how pêma can change your life.

PLASA AND ESTA VOTE TO MERGE
PLASA (Eastbourne, United Kingdom), an organization for those working in the live events, entertainment and communication industries worldwide, and ESTA (New York NY), an association for the entertainment services and technology industries in North America, are merging their organizations. The announcement follows on the heels of lengthy consultations with both sets of memberships, which concluded recently in a formal vote of members: PLASA via its annual AGM in June in London, and ESTA via a month-long electronic ballot, which ran throughout May.
More than 90% of members from each association voted in support of the move, which will see ESTA and PLASA creating a single international trade association operating under the PLASA name. The result will be the first international industry-wide membership body of more than 1200 manufacturers, installers, dealers, service providers and consultants working across the entertainment and installation industries. This will also include members of PERA, the former Production Equipment Rental Association, which recently merged with ESTA.
The merger is a continuation of an already-established relationship between the two organizations, which have worked together on a range of initiatives for many years. Both teams will now spend the next few months putting in place the infrastructure behind the merger, the first formal stage of which will be completed by December 2010, allowing the new organization to go live on January 1, 2011.
As part of this, an overarching Governing Body will be established to look after the interests of the membership worldwide and to work closely with Regional Boards for North America and Europe.

Yamaha Commercial Audio To Hold First Audioversity Expos

Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. has announced Audioversity, a series of regional expos. The first Expo will take place at Soundcheck Nashville (740 Cowan Street), August 11-12. The specialized event is catered toward audio professionals and all those interested in gaining in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience of any and everything Yamaha Commercial Audio and NEXO.

Audioversity will feature digital mixer training seminars, panel discussions with leading industry professionals, NEXO and Yamaha speaker listening demos featuring live music, hands-on line array rigging demonstrations, acoustic prediction software presentations, clinics featuring audio networking, portable sound applications from small to large, and systems solutions.

The Yamaha state-of-the-art Rolling Showroom will also make a special appearance. There will be plenty of time for Q&A with knowledgeable experts on all things Yamaha Commercial Audio and NEXO.

Attendees may also enter a drawing for a chance to win one of two LS9-16 Digital Mixing Consoles*. Additional surprises are also in store.

Register now at www.audioversityexpo.com and check back often for
updates.

This event is free-of-charge and open to the audio community. For those attending from out-of-town, hotel recommendations can also be found on the website (http://www.yamahaca.com).

INFOCOMM PARTNERS WITH PAMA, PROVIDING MANAGEMENT SERVICES
InfoComm International (Fairfax VA) has agreed to provide association management services for the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA, New York NY), the collective voice and forum for the senior executives of the leading branded manufacturers of professional audio products. InfoComm will provide general management and special services, including government relations, market research, meeting planning and more.
"PAMA has been impressed with the responsiveness and long-term strategic vision of InfoComm International," said Paul Gallo. "Their growing international reach and effectiveness in executing long-term programs that benefit the industry, as well as the success of their trade shows, make them an ideal strategic alliance for PAMA."
InfoComm recognizes the trust PAMA has placed with the association, and has stated its dedication to helping PAMA accomplish its goal of building the public face of the audio manufacturing industry. "We have worked alongside PAMA for years and have great respect for the organization Paul Gallo has assembled," said Randal A. Lemke, PhD, Executive Director/CEO, InfoComm International. "With InfoComm-provided management services, PAMA will achieve some economies of scale and provide added value, while lifting the administrative burden from this group, allowing PAMA to fulfill its mission."
Duffy Wilbert, CTS, CAE, InfoComm Senior Vice President of Membership, will serve as PAMA Executive Director. PAMA will continue to maintain its own Board and Officers, who will be responsible for setting strategic direction, while deciding on new goals and initiatives. The new management arrangement was effective July 1.

a-Live™ Multisource/Multizone Audio System

Speco Technologies a-live™ multi-source/multizone audio systems are 6 source/6 zone with 20W per channel power, local keypad controlled, networked audio distribution systems with some very different features:
• IP networking capability with individual streaming of digital songs to all zones.
• PC-based software to allow full control of any room.
• Each zone has independent access to all playlists - meaning a-live™ functions like a digital music player in each zone.
• Standard LCD Keypad - a-live™ offers a backlit LCD keypad as the standard option at roughly the same price as others’ non-LCD pads.
• 8 Ohm and 70V – a-live™ is available in both residential and commercial models.
Speco Technologies new a-live™ multi-room audio system, with its unique 70V outputs, allows you to run more speakers longer distances than most! It gives installers a great opportunity for multisource/multizone systems in the commercial sector; bars/taverns, restaurants, hotels, malls, museums, country clubs and more. Anywhere that one room would want one type of music while another might want something different will benefit.
Go to www.specotech.com/cart/products/downloads/specs/a-live.pdf for more information.

BICSI, INFOCOMM SIGN FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENT
BICSI (Tampa FL), the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment, signed a friendship agreement with InfoComm International (Fairfax VA), the nonprofit association serving the professional AV communications industry. The official agreement was signed by Randal A. Lemke, PhD, Executive Director and CEO of InfoComm International, and John D. Clark Jr., CAE, Executive Director and CEO of BICSI. According to the associations, the AV communications industry and the ITS industry intersect in terms of technologies, as well as their complementary roles in the building, communications and IT industries.
To accomplish their shared mission, and for the benefit of the associations’ members who work cooperatively on projects, InfoComm and BICSI have agreed on mutual points of reciprocity, including establishing reciprocal BICSI continuing education credit (CECs) and InfoComm Renewal Units (RUs) and continuing the current government relations cooperative activities and participation in the Green Building Technology Alliance (GBTA). Also included in this friendship agreement is a resolution to update the AV Design Reference Manual (AVDRM). BICSI believes that this relationship will enhance and expand BICSI’s dedicated outreach and also will add significantly to its programs and services.
BICSI currently holds friendship agreements with the Electronic Security Association (ESA)—formerly NBFAA—and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).

LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES PARADIAL AS
Logitech International (Fremont CA) has acquired the assets of Paradial AS, a Norway-based provider of firewall and NAT (network address translation) traversal solutions for video communication. Paradial's technology addresses a barrier to the widespread adoption of internet-based video communication: challenges encountered when calling across protected networks. Traversing any firewall while maintaining a high level of security, the Paradial technology enables seamless video calling between people inside the walls of an enterprise and those inside other enterprises, in remote offices or telecommuting. Although Logitech is already offering Paradial technology to LifeSize customers through an OEM agreement, the acquisition allows the company to closely integrate firewall and NAT traversal across its video communication product portfolio, enabling reliable, high-quality, end-to-end HD video calling over highly protected networks.
Most of Paradial's employees, including founders, will be part of Logitech's LifeSize division. Financial terms were not disclosed.

TESTA COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES NEW IT/AV REPORT EDITOR
In its seventh year, the Fall 2010 issue of IT/AV Report, published biannually by Testa Communications, will have a new look and a new Editor. Vinny Testa, Publisher, stated that Shonan Noronha, EdD, who authors sister publication Sound & Communications’ highly respected monthly “Sign Age” column, show reports and other technical features, will be addressing the IT and AV markets specifically in this highly targeted publication. According to Editorial Director David A. Silverman, Noronha’s technical background as an award-winning writer/producer and a consultant on the applications of new media technologies, as well as her extensive publishing experience, will take IT/AV Report—and its readers—to the next level. Noronha stated, “We will provide readers with practical information about the accelerating convergence of AV and IT. Readers will read about real-world challenges, get useful tips from their colleagues and will have access to critical industry info to help them plan ahead.” The issue will mail in September. For more information about IT/AV Report, go to www.itavreport.com. To reach the Editor, email her at snoronha@testa.com.