The recent 2024 Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show proved to be the most successful edition in the event’s 20-year history, attracting 73,891 unique verified attendees from 162 countries to the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via in Spain. The show also recorded the highest number of exhibitors with 1,408 and the largest exhibition space.

The celebration of ISE’s 20th anniversary added a special touch to the event. Commemorative events, retrospective installations such as the ISE Time Tunnel and Vintage Audio Museum, and acknowledgments of industry pioneers highlighted the jouney. This not only created a sense of nostalgia but also underscored the industry’s resilience and adaptability in the face of technological evolution.

Audio is key to a total integrated AV experience, whatever the setting. ISE covered the entire audio signal chain from microphones to loudspeakers and everything in between.

While trade shows focus on the latest developments, one of the best aspects of the show this time out was the Audio Museum, an extensive display of historic equipment provided by CH Vintage Audio. Attendees could see a treasure trove of equipment that was used on stage or in the studio by some of the biggest names in music from the analog era.

The display included Pink Floyd’s PA system from the Dark Side of The Moon tour (1973-74), four monitors and an amplifier used to mix The Beatles in Abbey Road Studio 2, David Bowie’s PA system from the Ziggy Stardust tour (1973), the Midas monitor desk for Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, Led Zeppelin’s WEM PA system, The Who’s bass setup and flight cases, amplifier cabinets and effects pedals used by Jimi Hendrix, and more.

In addition, Renkus-Heinz OmniBeam beam-steering technology won the “Best of Show” award in the Installation category. The awards recognize some of the best products and technologies display at the show, with hundreds of entries considered. All entries were reviewed by a panel of industry veterans, presenters and editors.

Numerous other manufacturers released and/or showcased their latest developments, including:

L-Acoustics onsite in three different capacities to showcase both their professional and home audio platforms as well as installed sound products such as Soka, X4r, SB6r & SB10r, a format to highlight how loudspeakers can blend into any private architectural interior. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the company also unveiled the new Xi Series of coaxial loudspeakers and presented new capabilities for the L-ISA immersive platform with AI-powered Mixhalo Translate real-time audio streaming software.

Allen & Heath offered three discrete demo areas where it showcased the growing AHM processing ecosystem and its integration with the IP controllers, custom control touch panels, GPIO and Dante I/O. Additional highlights were the new CQ series of ultra-compact mixers and the new Avantis Solo mix system that condenses the original platform into a 12-fader, single-screen, 64-channel package.

HOLOPLOT displayed the X1 Matrix Array, which is noted for its application at the new Sphere in Las Vegas. It utilizes a combination of 3D audio-beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis for more precise shaping and steering of beams in two dimensions. The company also had the X2 on hand, which I must say impressed with zero roll-off in its beam steering.

DiGiCo presented second-generation Pulse software updates for Quantum338, Quantum338T, and Quantum225 mixing consoles that increase the input channel and bus counts of each desk model, plus add other features. On the Quantum338 and Quantum338T, the new upgrade will increase the number of input channels to 156 (from 128), buses to 72 (from 64), Mustard processors to 48 (from 36), and Nodal processors to 72 (from 64). Other perks include the addition of Mix Minus functionality, plus a larger 36 x 36 Matrix on the “T” theatre-software model of the console (up from 24 x 24).

DiGiCo also focused on a new Fourier interface card that will soon be retrofittable on all Quantum consoles as well as on the majority of the manufacturer’s SD-Range desks. It delivers 64 channels of bidirectional audio at both 48 and 96 kHz connections to the Fourier Audio transform.engine, which is a 2U outboard Dante-connected server designed to run VST3 software plugins in the live environment.

K-array unveiled PRISMA, a new digital matrix and amplifier series designed for applications that require advanced signal routing and processing capabilities. Powered by K-array’s operating system, OsKar, PRISMA can handle up to 16 inputs and 16 outputs (analog and Dante) and has been designed for applications such as restaurants, clubs, casinos, corporate and education settings and more.

Adamson had a large display with the new VGt large-format line array right out front. Array elements incorporate new patent-pending M140 MF compression drivers for the mid frequency range. The M140 uses Kevlar to form the lightweight and very stiff diaphragm that’s suspended to a neodymium magnet, and both it and the 3-inch high-frequency compression drivers are loaded to optimized sound chambers designed to produce a unified wavefront. The low-frequency section contains both direct and directional components to achieve a multi-mode LF dispersion pattern (user selectable as cardioid, hypercardioid and omnidirectional).

We had a pleasant and informative visit with Don Boomer, who demonstrated the Diversity Architectural Antenna that is designed to connect wireless microphone and in-ear monitor systems in the most direct and strongest signal path. Not only did he provide a full demo, he also explained what he’s working on to make the antenna even better.

d&b audiotechnik presented its range of MILAN-enabled products that include the DS20 audio networking bridge, the DS100M signal engine and the new flagship D90 power amplifier. By incorporating MILAN networking technology, the new amplifier’s design allows configuration for redundant system setups for audio signal transport, complemented by fallback capabilities for all inputs and device communication. The DS20 is designed to provide a connection between d&b systems and MILAN, while the DS100M signal is the MILAN-enabled iteration of the DS100 with Dante that’s outfitted with an expanded range of features that include more audio channels via MILAN, MADI, word clock inputs and more.

RCF featured its TT+ Audio brand, including the new GTX line array for large-scale applications joined by various other members of the product range. Unlike previous TT+ Audio products, the new GTX system separates the power amplification from the loudspeaker enclosure, relocating it to newly designed touring racks. Each rack accommodates up to three RCF XPS 16K four-channel DSP amplifiers. There were also previews of the new RDNet platform, now in version 5.0, that comes with a new design, modeling, and simulation package Shape D3D that allows users to define a 3D representation of a venue and use multiple virtual microphones or check IR-modeled measurements of the simulated system response.

1 SOUND offered demonstrations of its new Auralis 3D audio design and prediction software that is designed to provide high-resolution color predictions of loudspeaker performance in three-dimensional spaces. Auralis allows users to import 27 different types of files, including SketchUp (SKP) and AutoCAD (DXF) files, or to create their own three-dimensional space. Users can navigate their designs with fingertip free-rotation and organize them with named groups.

Alcons Audio highlighted the new WR20 stage monitor, the latest member of the company’s pro-ribbon designs. The company also presented its Immersive Experience hourly, teaming up with Trinnov for processing, Sony for projection and DreamScreen for the projection screen for this latest iteration of its Pro-Ribbon Immersive Experience. In addition, Alcons will be launched a new addition to the CRMS series that’s been developed with solid screens — such as LED panels — in mind. A pre-angled single box, it’s low-profile design means it can be mounted above and beside the screen, either in-wall or on-wall.

Rational Acoustics gave us an overview of the new Smaart Data Modeler, which will be available in late spring 2024. It’s a software tool designed to allow users to perform virtual audio system alignment and optimization through the use of level, equalization, polarity, and timing adjustments.

iSEMic touted the CPX-1212, a Class-1 microphone for measurements that offers stated SPL handling that exceeds 154 dB. In addition, it’s offered as a kit with case, clamp, windscreen and calibration download from the company’s website. CPX-1212 which is a Class 1 microphone with a stated capability of exceeding 154 dB SPL.

There’s been a lot of innovation in power amplifier design, exemplified by Powersoft’s unveiling of Verso, a half-RU gateway device designed to connect the company’s current products to its MyUniverso cloud platform that’s now merged into MyPowersoft to help ensure that all users with MyPowersoft accounts can access the cloud platform. It allows monitoring and centralized remote firmware updates for all connected amplifiers as well as supporting Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) platform, and is compatible with third-party cloud platforms, providing users access to baseline cloud project back-end information.

Speaking of amplifiers, LEA Professional debuted its new Connect Series Half-Rack models that are equipped with onboard DSP, WebUI, Cloud Connectivity, third-party API control, and more.

Each of the models (CS34, CS64, CS124, CS34D, CS64D, and CS124D) are built with routable analog inputs and four amplifier channels with Low-Z, 70- or 100-volt selectable by channel, with the D units also including Dante and AES67 connectivity. They also offer three different ways of network connection: using the built-in Wi-Fi access point, connecting to an existing Wi-Fi network or using a Local Area Network (LAN) Ethernet connection.

EAW highlighted the AC6 full-range column loudspeaker. Managed via EAW Resolution 2 software, the AC6 is designed to compensate for coverage and directivity with its ADAPTive Performance technology to deliver coverage in acoustically challenging rooms and venues. It incorporates six low-frequency transducers and 30 high-frequency transducers that produce a stated frequency response of 65 Hz to 20 kHz.

AtlasIED, which recently acquired a significant equity stake in Germany-based loudspeaker manufacturer Aimline, introduced the new Aimline Series ALXD and ALXP digitally steerable and passive column array loudspeakers at the show. The series comprises seven models offering digital beam steering and Dante audio networking as standard, and all models can cascade vertically with the same model to build arrays of various lengths.

The ISE Show returns to Barcelona in February 2025.