It was a great success – thanks and congratulations to the exhibitors and all those who attended the ProAudio Showcase 2011.

Although less than cosy on what was a chilly day one, Rhubarb Lane’s Shed 6 proved to be an ideal venue for New Zealand’s third ProAudio Showcase in the last week of July. The 11 exhibiting companies taking part made the 2011 show bigger than the two previous PAS events held in 2007 and ’09, though with the South Island market in particular still hurting from the Christchurch earthquakes, attendee numbers were expected to be lower than the previous PAS shows. And so it proved, though a good few hundred of the country’s audio industry professionals happily made it along to take advantage of the opportunity.

The strategic scheduling of the two-day pro-user equipment exhibition in the week following Sydney’s combined SMPTE/Entech shows allowed exhibitors to take advantage of the presence of some international brand representatives, as well as certain pieces of otherwise rarely seen top end gear, downunder.

Protel for example, had secured the newly released Lawo mc66 MarkII broadcast audio console for their typically hi-tech stand. Several of the international specialists (plus a few local experts) also took the opportunity to present seminars during the ProAudio Showcase, all of which attracted large and attentive audiences.

The full gamut of professional audio-related products for broadcast, recording, live sound and venue installation – cables and connectors to rugged outdoor staging and $M consoles – were on display.

PAS 2011 was organised by Richard Thorne of Southern Exposure Ltd, on behalf of a collective of the key local pro audio distributors exhibiting – Protel, Sound Techniques, Oceania and Syntec International.

Below are some photos of the exhibitors that took part in this years Pro Audio Showcase.

Oceania - Organising exhibitor

Protel - Organising exhibitor

Sound Techniques - Organising exhibitor

Syntec - Organising exhibitor

Direct Imports

Livesound

Major Music Wholesale

Music Link/Music NZ/Music Biz NZ

MusicWorks

NoizeToyz

South Pacific Music Distributors

One of the many seminars that took place over the two day showcase

What was always going to be an exciting and worthwhile show has just become even better. A flurry of exhibitor interest has seen the last minute addition of Australian-based Major Music Wholesale and South Pacific Music to the exhibitor pool.
The four Pro Audio Showcase host exhibitors; Syntec International, Sound Techniques, Protel and Oceania Audio will be joined in Shed 6 by the above companies along with Livesound, Direct Imports, MusicWorks, Noize Toyz and MusicBiz NZ.
And don’t forget that the excellent Shed 5 café is just next door, for those wanting to enjoy a bit more than just the business end of things.
The Directions section includes a map guide to Rhubarb Lane’s whereabouts. There are easy entrances from two sides, the main entry being at 90 Wellesley St West, just above Sale St.
If you are driving from the north via the Harbour Bridge you can turn left into the Rhubarb Lane complex directly off Cook St. It’s a Tournament Parking area – hourly parking rates are $3 (or $9 for 12 hours!), and the kiosks accept coins, txts or credit cards. Shed 6 is on the top level or Upper Deck, behind the Shed 5 cafe.
One request: please do NOT park in front of the Shed 5 café or use it to gain entry to the Pro Audio Showcase.

Click here to view all photos >>

Direct Imports, Gencom, Livesound, MusicWorks (Yamaha) and Murray Tregonning & Associates NZ took the opportunity provided by the five core local pro audio distributors to showcase their own products and services to an appreciative invited audience. The organisers would like to thank those companies and exhibitors for their participation.

Several international guests joined the exhibitors. With attendees coming from all parts of New Zealand and a wide range of aspects of professional audio use PAS ’09 was diverse and rewarding for all. A number of those who took advantage of the various seminars reported that they were very valuable, so many thanks to the specialists who presented.

And thanks too of course to all those who joined us in attending this bi-annual event. A prize draw was offered to encourage early registration and four lucky attendees received an early Christmas present following PAS ’09. Aaron Watkinson, Diana Byrami, Greg Bailey and aomahana each received a valuable package of audio bits and pieces courtesy of the five presenting companies.

For those of you left wanting more (and those who missed out), you can expect another Pro Audio Showcase mid-year ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2011 with the (rather less likely) possibility of a similar event being held in 2010.

This November the Pro Audio Showcase returns, this time staged in Auckland’s central city Viaduct Harbour district. Core exhibitors Protel, Oceania Audio, Sound Techniques, Amber Technologies and Syntec International will be joined by number of other exhibiting companies for this invitation-only event, which is again being organised and managed by Southern Exposure Ltd.

Staged in one of the former America’s Cup bases at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, the PRO AUDIO SHOWCASE 09 will be held over Tuesday and Wednesday November 10-11. Parking is easy and the coffee excellent. Specialist seminar presentations by international brand specialists will again provide a valuable bonus for all those attending.

Register online here to ensure that you will be able to get into this valuable showcase event.