WMC2009 – Miami

Winter Music Conference 2009

24th March 2009 to 29th March 2009

“Winter Music Conference, in its 24th year, is regarded as the singular networking event in the dance music industry, attracting professionals from over 70 different countries. With its high concentration of top international artists, DJs and industry professionals, WMC permeates the international press and is thereby one of the most publicised events in the business. Every aspect of the industry is represented including the top technological innovators, artists, DJs, producers, radio and video programmers, retailers, distributors, audio manufacturers and many more. There are countless reasons why people from all over the world return year after year for this event, the most outstanding one being that there is nothing else in the world like it.”

This year, Jonathan Dobson (HouseProud resident DJ, and future SEDA member!) and I will be going to this amazing conference and joining other colleagues from the UK to network and enjoy the music.  Expect a full report when we get back.

Brian Mole

Important Dates

Here is a list of important dates for your calendar!

[Read more]

Time To Vote!

The next Shownight in March is also our AGM, a chance for us all to get together to discuss the association and vote for the next SEDA committee for 2009/2010.  There are six committee  positions available:

• Chairman
• Vice-Chairman
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Membership
• Webmaster

Nominations are currently being accepted and must be with us no later than 2 weeks prior to the AGM.  The closing date for nominations is therefore Saturday 28th February 2009.  You can choose to nominate yourself or put someone forward.  Each nomination received must be seconded by a FULL or Veteran SEDA Member.  Remember, only FULL or Veteran Members have voting rights within SEDA.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to neil@seda.org.uk.

Samsung launch two new mobile phones.

Mobile phones aren’t the stuff I aim to usually include on the SEDA website, however, these two caught my eye today.

There’s a fair few sites reporting the announcement of these  at the Mobile World Congress ‘09 in  Barcelona. This apparently is where all the big happenings in mobile phones are announced each year (a bit like MobileBeat or maybe Plasa I suppose).

According to the blurb the Samsung BeatDJ and BeatDisc are just cellphones, but they promise “deep rich bass and crystal clear treble” through stereo speakers featuring Bang & Olufsen’s ICE power amplifier.

Otherwise, the DJ has a 2.8″ touchscreen and MicroSD slot for storage while the Disc features an slightly smaller screen but adds a numeric touchpad.

The reason they caught my eye? Well what sets the BEATDJ apart from other phones is the music playback software. Budding DJs can remix their favourite tracks by adding effects, mixing them together or even performing scratches through the M7600’s specially designed music playback interface (called DISC UI).

The BeatDJ, left, and BeatDisc on the right

Full details:

Samsung BEATDJ (M7600) Product Specification

Network
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900Mhz)

Display
2.8″ 16M Full Touch WQVGA AMOLED (240 x 400)

Camera
3 Megapixel CMOS
Auto-Focus / Geo-tagging / Smile Shot / Face Detection

Audio
Full Touch Music Evolution: DISC UI, Spin Wheel Touch, BEAT DJ application
- DISC UI : Advanced Music Play UI
- BEAT DJ (DJing): Music Filters, Scratch, DJ Mix (Effect Sounds, Recording)
Poly 72 / SP-Midi / MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / eAAC+ / WMA
Powerful Stereo Speaker / 3.5? Ear Jack / Motion Sensor
Audio by B&O ICEpower Technology / SRS Virtual surround sound 5.1ch / DNSe™
Find Similar, Find Music (Music Recognition), Find Tag
FM Radio with RDS, FM Radio Recording
Bluetooth Stereo Headset Profile

Video
MPEG4 / H.263 / H.264 / DivX / XviD
Video Recording (VGA 15fps )
Video Editing (Trim video / Image capture)
Value-added Features
GPS and Geo Tagging, My Location Find
New PC Studio v1.0 / Mobile widget / SharePix (Mobile Blog )

Connectivity
Bluetooth v2.1 / USB 2.0 (microUSB) HS

Memory
50MB + External Memory : microSD (up to 16GB)

Size
112 x 51 x 13.9 mm

Battery
960 mAh

Samsung BEAT DISC (M6710) Product Specification

Network
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900Mhz)

Display
16M Half Touch WQVGA TFT LCD (2.6″, 240 x 400)

Camera
3 Megapixel CMOS

Audio
Half Touch Music Evolution: DISC UI
DISC UI : Advanced Music Play UI
Poly 72 / SP-Midi / MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / eAAC+ / WMA
Powerful Stereo Speaker / 3.5? Ear Jack / Motion Sensor
Audio by B&O ICEpower Technology / SRS Virtual surround sound 5.1ch / DNSe™
Find Similar, Find Music (Music Recognition), Find Tag
FM Radio with RDS, FM Radio Recording
Bluetooth Stereo Headset Profile

Video
MPEG4 / H.263 / H.264
Video Recording (QVGA 15fps )

Connectivity
Bluetooth v2.1 / USB 2.0 (microUSB) HS

Memory
80MB + External Memory slot : microSD (up to 16GB)

Size
106.8 x 50.9 x 14.7 mm

Battery
880 mAh

Ultrasone Edition 8 headphones

Did somebody mention a recession? Well the German techs at Ultrasone obviously don’t think there is one.

Checking out what’s new on the web today and I’ve found out that they’ve just announced that they are releasing there new headphones, the Edition 8s, for the princely sum of $1499.00 now I am not sure what that’ll mean they will cost in the UK but I doubt you’ll get much change from £1500.00.

Utilising technology called S-Logic Plus, which, as the Ultrasone press release puts it, offers an “impartial acoustic feeling that allows the listener even more of a spacious tonal perception”, uses Ethiopian sheepskin covering oiver the interior of the ear cups and covers the the outer ones in Ruthenium, whatever that is?

Here are some other, more basic features of these headphones: 30 Ohm impedance, 40 mm driver size (plated with Titanium), NdFeB magnet, 6 to 42.000 Hz frequency range, 6 db SPL, 260g weight, 1.2m USC cord length, 4m USC extension cable length, ULE technology. Oh, and the 3.5/6.3mm adapter is gold plated, as well as the 3.5mm plugs.

According to the Ultrasone website:

“DJs know what they want. We know, because we´ve asked them.
Comfort and utility, massive-clear sound, genuine beats, strong
output, house-tested durability, cutting-edge technology,
distinguished appearance. And they´ve told us these elements
converge seamlessly in Ultrasone´s DJ range.

So check the details and prepare to unleash the power of musical
truth with headphones developed specifically for the cause!”

Phase 3 of LEZ Suspended

Reprieve for small businesses as Mayor suspends phase three of Low Emission Zone

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today announced his intention to suspend the third phase of the Low Emission Zone because of the detrimental impact it would have on London’s small businesses. He outlined how, whilst entirely committed to improving air quality, improvements can be achieved through other measures.

The move is part of the Mayor’s agenda to aid businesses during the economic downturn, and complements his £3bn Economic Recovery package to get London back on track. The Mayor has extended half price bus fares to Londoners on Job Seekers Allowance, introduced the 24 hour Freedom Pass, and free travel for war veterans, and has frozen the Council Tax precept for the first time.

The Low Emission Zone currently targets the most polluting lorries over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches, and the Mayor is 100 per cent committed to the existing phases 1 and 2 of the scheme, which have proved effective. Phase three of the scheme, planned by the previous Mayoral administration, was scheduled to start in October 2010 and would have affected much smaller vehicles, including vans and minibuses, and even family camper vans. Without these changes many of the owners of the 90,000 non-compliant vehicles that use the zone each year would have faced a bill of up to £2000 for abatement equipment, or £15,000 for a new vehicle. They would have alternatively faced £100 daily charges or fines of £500 for each day they entered Greater London. These costs could have tipped firms into receivership and caused job losses.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“I want to do all I can to ease the burden of the economic downturn that is affecting us all at this time. Although the Low Emission Zone has been successful in tackling the worst polluters, and will continue to play an important role, it is not the right time to press ahead with extending it to include smaller vehicles like vans and minibuses.

“Many of these will be owned by small businesses, charities, and self-employed Londoners already hard hit by the recession. Simply put, the cost of fitting pollution equipment or getting a new vehicle would have come as punch in the ribs to those who need our help at this time, would have destroyed profit margins, and endangered our businesses. I am confident that the new course we have set finds a balance between London’s environmental and economic needs and that we can lower emissions in more imaginative ways.”

The Mayor recently met with Lord Hunt to discuss Air Quality issues, and agreed that the GLA and Defra will work jointly on a package of measures, both national and regional, which will address PM10 emissions in London in order to meet EU targets. He has also written to Lord Mandelson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, with the aim of working together with the Government on a subsidy scheme for replacing the oldest, most polluting light goods vehicles. Such a scheme would help small businesses, improve the environment, and stimulate the UK automotive industry at a time of economic slowdown. In addition, Transport for London is delivering a range of initiatives focused on improving air quality.

The Low Emission Zone will continue to reduce emissions from the most individually polluting vehicles in London. The scheme standards will rise again for these vehicles in January 2012 when vehicles affected by phases one and two will have to meet the Euro IV standard for particulate matter to continue to drive within Greater London without charge.

The Mayor will begin the legal processes necessary to implement the proposal, which will involve public consultation on a revised Transport Strategy and a variation to the Low Emission Zone Scheme Order. The Mayor will take into account the views expressed in the consultations and decide whether or not to confirm his decision.
Notes to Editors

1. A draft revision to the Mayor’s Transport and Air Quality Strategies reflecting his intention to remove the third phase of the Low Emission Zone will be the subject of a 12-week public and stakeholder consultation scheduled for late summer 2009. TfL will also need to consult the public and stakeholders on the necessary changes to the Low Emission Zone Scheme Order before the Mayor can decide whether to formally remove phase three based upon the results of the consultation.
2. The Low Emission Zone was introduced on February 4 2008. Phase three of the Low Emission Zone was due to start on 4 October 2010 affecting light goods vehicles and vans up to 3.5 tonnes, minibuses under 5 tonnes, and specialist vehicles including motor caravans and horseboxes between 2.5 – 3.5 tonnes.

Updated: 06/02/09 – 13:12

Ofcom to sell off current UHF radio mic spectrum to Mobile Broadband companies.

If you use UHF radio mics plan to have to replace them next year.

UK regulator Ofcom has published a consultation on the harmonisation of 800MHz across Europe, and proposes shuffling the digital TV bands already in operation and finding a permanent home for wireless mics at channel 38. This means that if, like me, you use currently use UHF radio mics you will have to plan to replace them next year.
The main reason for this is because Europe is hoping to make a chunk of spectrum at 800MHz available across the region, to take advantage of economies of scale so mobile manufacturers and telecoms companies can make one mobile broadband device that works across Europe saving money, increasing profits and supposedly making life better for you and me the humble consumer.

However, here in the UK we’re already broadcasting digital TV in the 800MHz, not to mention the fact that all of our theatres and the PSME industry (Programme Making and Special Events), which is worth an estimated £15bn, use that spectrum as well as Mobile DJ.

So Ofcom plans to move DTV transmissions down the dial, and shift microphones from channel 69, where they currently hang out, down to channel 38 where there is still room for professional users to expand into the white space (as they currently do from channel 69). Ofcom reckons that move will cost the Programming Making and Special Events (PMSE) industry between £90m and £200m, and the regulator is prepared to reimburse companies that have already bought kit operating solely at channel 69.

However, I suspect that it would prove difficult for a small mobile DJ operate to obtain any part of this compensation and that it is aimed more at the concert and outside broadcast industry who hold around 1700 licences for wireless microphones at channel 69.

Ofcom would really like to see the PMSE operators moving to digital transmissions, but respects the views of professionals that the latency and quality of existing digital systems is not up to the mark – for the moment at least.

Those of us using Freeview or similar will need to retune our set-top boxes to allow for the shift, but Ofcom reckons we should be doing that every now and then anyway, so the impact will be small.

All this chopping and changing will delay the whole Digital Dividend sell-off, so it will be 2010 before anyone gets to bid on a chunk of the spectrum formally used to transmit analogue TV signals.

Stakeholders’ views should be sent to Ofcom by April 20 so please let the SEDA committee know if you have any thoughts and we can consider whether to make a statement to Ofcom on behalf of the membership.