In the two years since signing an exclusive agreement to provide specially-configured versions of their Line Array systems to the Synco Europe Network, Martin Audio are delighted that the relationship continues to go from strength to strength.
After underlining their faith in the original W8L line array with a substantial investment, Fred Heuves, MD of Synco Europe, placed an order on behalf of Synco Europe for 64 enclosures (and necessary amplification and rigging) the moment Martin Audio announced the arrival of the W8LM at last year’s
PLASA Show.

“We were waiting for this cabinet to arrive, since we were lacking a smaller version of the Synco line array,” remembers Fred. “Based upon the experience we had with the other Martin Audio line array products we placed an order, based on its specifications, without even seeing or hearing the new cabinet. It shows the trust we had in the product and also gave us the opportunity to show the products to the rest of the network.”

Far from plateauing out at the end of the honeymoon period, the Martin/Synco alliance just gets tighter. “The Network now has 250 of the various Synco Martin Line Array enclosures, in different combinations,” confirms Fred. And he announced that Synco Europe have just signed a new member to the network — Christian Singer’s Paradigma Production of Bucharest — who have opened their account by purchasing a substantial combination of Synco Martin W8LM Mini and W8LC Compact line arrays.

He sees this as a breakthrough, opening up greater potential in Eastern Europe. In fact Paradigma have already extended their order with a further six W8LM enclosures to cover a show by Sarah Brightman, and with Romania aiming to gain EC membership in 2007 Fred Heuves believes it is the perfect time to expose the system to the old Eastern bloc countries.

The Synco Group originally had their own OEM brand. “But when line array technology came into the picture we auditioned a number of systems,” Fred recounts. “The beauty of the Martin Audio line array systems, besides their stunning performance, is that we were able to match them seamlessly with the current equipment, available in the Synco Network.

Furthermore, he says, the Synco line array equipment is fully compatible with the original Martin Audio line array, which gives new potential clients for the system the opportunity of choosing either Martin Audio, or joining the Synco Network … depending on their commercial needs.

At the same time Synco Europe standardised their Synco line array systems on Martin Audio amplification, changing the facia plates and badging them ‘Synco Martin’. They made their own control software compatible with the system to optimise the performance, and used ViewPoint™, Martin Audio’s predicitive software, to optimise the splay angles of the hangs.

As a result, the eight European partners now have the resources to cover every type of show imaginable — from large outdoor events, to corporate shows, theatre and television.

“The relationship is extremely positive and the Synco partners are really feeling the benefits,” believes Fred, “and there seems no end in sight.”

Over at Martin Audio, managing director David Bissett-Powell shared the Synco MD’s optimism. “The relationship between Synco and Martin Audio has excelled well beyond that of manufacturer/customer. The feedback gained proves invaluable, and combined with our own R&D, will fuel our quest to provide the ultimate in tour sound.”