Headphone Market Continues to Celebrate Growth
Futuresource Consulting has just completed its latest round of research into the headphones market. According to its new report, worldwide shipments of headphones grew by 8.5% in 2014 to 309.5 million units. The majority of headphones sold are in-ear models (60%) and wireless headphones are the fastest growing category.
New Audio- and Music-Oriented Apps for Apple Watch
And we’re off! Apple started shipping its Apple Watch device to a few lucky million who pre-ordered online. Many of those first-owners are in fact developers who needed to actually have a Watch to test their application ideas. Surprisingly, Apple reached 3,500 available Apple Watch apps on day 1. As expected, some are music and audio oriented.
Behringer’s MUSIC Group Confirms TC Group Acquisition
Since, in September 2014, the TC Group publicly announced that, based on its shareholders’ interest, it was open for a sale of its entire operations, there where rumors about a three-tiered race between Harman, Yamaha and Behringer. During Prolight+Sound 2015, Harman confirmed it was out of the race. Now, the MUSIC Group confirmed the acquisition.
Solid Growth for Smart Home Automation Systems and Wi-Fi Deployments
According to market research company ABI Research, global revenues from smart home automation systems will grow at a 21% CAGR between 2015 and 2020, with the North American market contributing close to 46% globally. Meanwhile 802.11ac Wi-Fi deployments continue to accelerate in 2015 and the market is gearing up to tri-band 802.11ad solutions.
New PCB Piezotronics 1/2” Random Incidence Microphone Covers More of the Human Audible Range
The new PCB Random Incidence Microphone (Model 377C20) from PCB Piezotronics covers a frequency range up to 16 kHz (+/- 2dB), the hearing range for most adults. The new microphone is ideal for noise reduction testing and general room acoustics measurements as well as calculating transmission loss with different materials.
Tectonic Elements BMR Speakers Selected for New Car Concept and Flat-Panel TVs
Designer and manufacturer of audio transducers and amplifier modules, Tectonic Elements has recently confirmed two interesting projects for its Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) transducer technology. The BMR speakers have been selected to provide headrest audio for the Citroën Aircross concept car and a new range of flat panel TV’s, from Lucida Technology USA.
Optocore Introduces Advanced MADI Switches with Bridging and Routing Options
Having already made a major commitment to the MADI standard (AES10), Optocore announced a significant extension at the 2015 Prolight+Sound show in Frankfurt. The new advanced MADI range (M Series) includes the M8 and M12 units with coaxial, fibre and Cat5 interfaces, including two Optocore own hi-speed fibre uplinks.
Propellerhead Take 2.0 Free Recording App
Propellerhead Software announced the release of Take 2.0, the greatly anticipated update to their creative free vocal recorder. The update includes a new Voice Tune effect, applying effects on each channel and mixing the final sound with mastering presets. Whatever the use, it’s a great free recording app for the iPhone.
RTW Introduces Mastering Tools Plug-In and RTW TM3-Primus USB TouchMonitor
German audio meter and monitoring specialist RTW was busy attending both the NAB 2015 and Prolight+Sound 2015 shows in the same week. In both shows, RTW introduced its new Mastering Tools Plug-In with extensive analysis and display functions, as well as the new TM3-Primus USB TouchMonitor.
SSL Introduces V3 Software and Dante Option For SSL Live Consoles
At the Prolight+Sound 2015 show, Solid State Logic attracted considerable attention to its large display of both studio recording and live mixing solutions. SSL released V3 Software for its Live Consoles many new important features and enhancements, introduced an optional Dante interface card, and the new L500 Plus model.