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10 December 2024

Germany - St Hedwig’s cathedral in the heart of Berlin is modelled after the Pantheon in Rome. Construction work began in 1747, finally opening its doors to worshipers in 1773. The building is highly regarded by the people of Berlin, and to preserve its rich history, it has just undergone an extensive renovation period that’s seen the entire interior transformed. Holoplot has been chosen to supply the audio solution, delivering its X2 Matrix Array system for seamless, unobtrusive spoken word reinforcement.

The brief for the publicly funded construction work was exceptionally detailed, with high expectations. St Hedwig’s is benefitting from a complete renewal, the new look reflecting the cathedral’s history. The nave sees big changes, whilst the original interior layout returns, but now with seating in the round. The aesthetic is clean and simple with

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10 December 2024

UK - Taking place at The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, Rhythm and Ruse offered theatregoers an immersive night of magic, music and revelry. Harkening back to the prohibition era, the show took place in a ‘Speakeasy’ and allowed audiences to experience astounding close-up illusions from mere inches away, live music from a four-piece jazz band, a secret society of magicians devised by immersive theatre experts as well as food and drink across the evening.

The show featured a lighting design by up-and-coming designer Skylar Turnbull Hurd, with this being her first time lighting a show of this scale and with a full LX team. With its reputation for both supporting young lighting designers, as well as supplying immersive theatrical productions, White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, was called upon to provide the show’s lighting fixtures.

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10 December 2024

UK - The Last Dinner Party is a British indie rock band formed in 2021 and fronted by lead singer Abigail Morris. Promoting their new album, Prelude to Ecstasy, the band has just completed a two-month UK and EU tour with a theatrical set, and lighting design by award-winning LD, Ed Warren.

Key to Warren’s design were Ayrton Rivale Profiles and Kyalami laser-sourced spots, compact units which fit well into the touring rig. Warren used seven Rivale Profile and 12 Kyalami on the stage floor behind the band and 27 Rivale Profile and 24 Kyalami spread across three overhead trusses.

“For our spots we needed something with a nice wide zoom and smooth colour mixing as the main spots of the show,” says Warren. “The Rivale Profiles met these criteria very well. We used the floor spots to backlight the band and predominantly Abi, the lead singe

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10 December 2024

Poland - Experienced sound engineer, Bartosz ‘Bartek’ Kurkowski has found Optocore to be a vital component in the stage production of Polish singer songwriter Dawid Podsiadło.

The artist’s massive 360° arena and stadium tour is the biggest to ever take place in Poland, and Optocore’s M8 MADI device has been at the heart of a playback that runs additional tracks, clicks, cues and timecode at both FOH and monitor world on a DiGiCo loop.

Explaining the underlying reasons for adopting the M8, Bartek said, “I decided to use MADI for this set-up to give maximum flexibility, in case we needed to expand track count in the future.”

The challenge, he said, had been to incorporate MADI streams into their Optocore loop. The M8 MADI switch can do precisely that, providing four MADI input and four MADI output ports, offering 256 digital audio

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10 December 2024

Ukraine - The Anniversary Concert of Onuka, accompanied by the renowned Naoni Orchestra, took place at the majestic October Palace in Kyiv, celebrating a decade of Oouka's career.

Astra Wash19Pix fixtures by Prolights, supplied by Complex-V, were utilised, delivering lighting that highlighted the orchestra and created a dynamic visual experience. Compactly positioned among the orchestra, the fixtures seamlessly enhanced the ambiance of the event. Additionally, the outer pixel ring of the Astra Wash19Pix was used to craft dramatic visuals that perfectly blended with the structure and rhythm of the show.

The lighting design was led by the creative duo Vasilii Tonkonog and David Vasilenko, while the production was expertly managed by Franz Audio. Together, their collaboration brought an immersive and visually stunning environment to life, complementing

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10 December 2024

USA - Dating back to 1932, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Martin Marietta Centre for the Performing Arts in North Carolina, is the principal performance location in a four-venue performing arts centre. This also includes Meymandi Concert Hall, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theatre and Kennedy Theatre.

Over the generations locally based rental partner RMB Audio has been a frequent visitor, providing tech support for all spaces.

But it is the 2,369 capacity Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, with its varied programme of musicals, comedy and dance shows, that is the crown jewel. And it is here that the sound contractor has upgraded an ancient public address system with Martin Audio’s latest Wavefront Precision technology.

RMB Audio owner Cooper Cannady reports that it was way back in late 2020 - right in the middle of the COVID pandemic - that the request

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10 December 2024

UK - Sarner International has announced its appointment by East Staffordshire Borough Council to lead the initial visitor experience design stages for the ambitious Brewery Heritage & Social History Experience in Burton-upon-Trent.

This new immersive visitor attraction aims to celebrate Burton-upon-Trent’s pivotal role in brewing history and revitalise its standing as the home of IPA. Blending advanced technology, engaging storytelling, and interactive elements, the experience will reveal the art and science of brewing beer while highlighting Burton’s historical role as a global leader in beer production and the social fabric that shaped the town.

Through a sensory journey into Burton’s brewing heritage, visitors are introduced to the concept of Burton’s naturally mineral-rich water and immersed in the tale of the ‘waters of life’. Th

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10 December 2024

UK - Avolites has announced the release of Prism Early Access, the latest edition of its popular media software. Prism Early Access (E.A.) edition can be downloaded for free via the Avolites website and becomes operational when used in conjunction with an AVOKey. The full Prism ONE paid licence release is currently scheduled for Spring 2025, when the Early Access edition of Prism will be superseded.

Prism is a specialised software application developed by Avolites, principally for lighting designers, tailored for media playback and designed specifically for the live events and entertainment industry. Prism (E.A.) edition introduces multiple banks and layers that can be controlled via Prism's UI and/or via Avolites lighting control application Titan which utilises the Synergy layer control.

Prism is composed of two parts – the server and the UI. The

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10 December 2024

USA - Bose Professional has announced the global availability of two new AMU multi-use loudspeaker models, the AMU108-120 and AMU208-120, as well as two new mounting accessory options. These new additions expand the flexibility of the AMU series, providing new wider coverage options while maintaining the high-output sound, exceptional vocal clarity, and rich musical depth that make it ideal for a diverse range of applications.

“We engineered the AMU Series to be scalable and meet the diverse needs of large distributed and small-to-mid-sized audio systems,” said Shawn Watts, director of product management, Bose Professional. “With multiple driver configurations, flexible mounting options, and colours, the AMU line provides virtually limitless installation and coverage possibilities for both indoor and outdoor use.

“These loudspeakers combine p

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10 December 2024

End of The Eras - Taylor Swift thanked her fans for making the Eras Tour "the most exciting, powerful, electrifying, intense, most challenging" experience of her life, as she played the closing show in Vancouver on Sunday. The Eras Tour kicked off in Arizona in March 2023 with an epic, 44-song setlist that lasted more than three hours.

The appetite for tickets was so great that Ticketmaster's systems broke down, prompting a hearing into the company in the US Senate. Despite that, more than 10.1m tickets were sold for the tour's 149 shows, spanning five continents, over almost two years.

Last December, it became the first tour in history to surpass $1bn (£786m) in ticket sales. At its conclusion, that figure totalled $2,077,618,725 (£1.63bn), said Taylor Swift Touring, the star’s production company. Merchandise has also proved to

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09 December 2024

USA - The Latin Grammy Awards were back in Miami on 15 November to celebrate the 25th edition of the Latin Music event. Artists, musicians, and producers gathered at the Kaseya Centre to award the most successful hits of the year. Shure Axient Digital Wireless System was selected to ensure quality audio throughout the night.

Axient Digital delivered solid RF and consistent signal quality throughout the event. Engineers and artists relied on 24 channels of Shure PSM 1000 In Ear Monitoring System and 12 channels of the Axient Digital Wireless System. The production also included 18 ADX2 handheld wireless microphone transmitters, four AD2 handheld microphone transmitters and two ADX1 bodypack transmitters.

The show started with the Person of the Year Carlos Vives. Next, Ela Taubert, winner of Mejor Artista Revelación surprised all the attendee

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09 December 2024

Hungary - Lightware Visual Engineering has detailed its comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach. These efforts reflect the company's dedication to integrating sustainability into all aspects of its operations.

Lightware has acknowledged the impact of its activities on the environment, society, and the economy and is committed to embedding sustainability into its business strategy. The company emphasises that the values embodied in its products and services are the foundation of its success.

To ensure the longevity of its products, Lightware has implemented comprehensive testing protocols, robust engineering processes, and ongoing after-sales services such as technical support. A guideline highlights how sustainability aspects are integrated into product design, addressing factors like energy efficiency, IT security, accessi

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09 December 2024

Spain - Since 2004, SeeSound has offered top professional solutions in the audiovisual market. With the mindset that the best technology and innovations are the keys to achieving this goal, SeeSound often turns to a variety of RF solutions from Wisycom. This includes the brand’s MRK16 Ultra-wideband Wireless Receiver System, MCR54 Four-channel True Diversity Wireless Microphone Receivers, MPR50 Wideband IEM Receivers and MTP60 Multiband Bodypack Transmitters.

For the theatrical touring productions of The Phantom of the Opera and The Producers, SeeSound deployed the Wisycom solutions mentioned above, in combination with the brand’s SPL2208 Wideband Active Antenna Combiner/Splitter.

“The Wisycom wireless coverage capabilities are great, and the audio quality is one of the main strengths of this system,” says Javier G. Isequill

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09 December 2024

UK - Video rental company Universal Pixels (UP) wraps for Christmas on the back of shows with Idles, Massive Attack, and Nile Rodgers & CHIC at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, plus the alt star-studded Mark Lanegan 60 – A Celebration, and Kelsea Ballerini, both at London’s Roundhouse.

In its eighth year, UP brought the big picture to an array of video projects in 2024, celebrated turns/tours from the likes of Black Keys, Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode, Green Day, and Thom Yorke/The Smile.

Across the same 12 months, Universal Pixels’ staff numbers are up by a third and more than £2m has gone into new kit, the biggest annual spend in UP history.

Founder/commercial director at Universal Pixels, Phil Mercer, comments: “It’s been an incredible year. Again. Teaming up with outstanding creatives, delivering, designin

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09 December 2024

USA - Country music group Midland has taken to the road for the Get Lucky Tour with a lighting system provided by long-time vendor, Bandit Lites. The Grammy-nominated group (comprised of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cam Duddy) recently released their fourth studio album Barely Blue to critical acclaim.

“It’s a whole new tour, whole new look, whole new set, whole new lighting setup and stage plot,” Carson told a Rio Rancho reporter. “It’s just fun to rebuild the set list and the whole, kind of, live experience when you have a new album. You can kind of integrate that into it, but it’s going to be the same Midland energy and entertainment, so it’ll be a fun night of honkey-tonkin’.”

Inspired by the retro rigs seen on various tours, Cam Duddy (bassist for Midland and creative director) sought a PAR can look. Working

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09 December 2024

Italy - A stone’s throw from Monaco and nestled on the Italian Riviera, Twiga Baia Beniamin is the latest venue from Flavio Briatore. Set in a bay and complementing its spectacular surroundings, the venue offers a blend of design, fine dining, and a luxurious atmosphere.

To enhance the guest experience further, an audio system from Brescia-based Outline has been installed. The system was delivered by Vibra Service, a Ligurian company known for equipping some of the region’s most prestigious spaces.

To ensure an audio experience worthy of its international DJ roster and refined clientele, Stefano Lo Sardo, founder and managing director of Vibra Service, selected Outline’s Vegas series. “The Vegas range won us over for three key reasons: its exceptional sound quality, impressive SPL, and robust weather resistance – it’s a true outdoor perfo

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09 December 2024

Canada - The University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall is a historic venue with a circular design. Imagined by prominent architects Darling and Pearson and completed in 1907, it has become a university landmark, hosting the annual convocation ceremonies and serving as the primary venue for academic and social functions due to its seating capacity of over 1,700.

Plagued by challenging acoustics, the hall’s reflective surfaces introduced significant complications, particularly for speech intelligibility. The previous sound system in Convocation Hall, an aging column array, was no longer effective – lacking the clarity needed for speech reinforcement in such a large, reverberant space. Renkus-Heinz was identified as the solution for these challenges, particularly its Iconyx line of loudspeakers, known for their advanced beam-steering technology.

Th

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09 December 2024

USA - As part of Elation’s Experience Tomorrow campaign at LDI 2024, Elation is introducing a new immersive digital campaign experience at www.elation.global. The interactive experience showcases the company’s product series and technologies, including the new Paragon and Rebel series, through interactive storytelling and dynamic product demonstrations.

Framed as a gateway to new creative realms, the digital experience offers an immersive exploration of the future of lighting design featuring Elation product series, including Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects.

Complementing Elation’s in-person presence at Booth #2224, the digital campaign experience underscores Elation’s LDI theme of discovery, inviting lighting professionals to

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09 December 2024

USA - ChamSys is introducing three new products that have been engineered to put more choices directly in the hands of lighting professionals. Debuting at the company’s LDI Booth #1653, the ChamSys MagicQ Compact Wing and GeNetix TouchScene are loaded with features that ‘take flexibility to new heights, helping users excel in a variety of settings’.

A simple, portable solution, the MagicQ Compact Wing offers 20 playbacks – 10 fader and 10 executor. Each section can page through multiple playbacks via its own Next and Previous page buttons. All the playbacks feature a large full-colour display with the legends located directly above each playback. The 10 playback Faders feature Flash, Go and Select (via its Touch display), while the 10 space-saving Executor playbacks employ a Select and Execute button for each playback.

Adding to its impressiv

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09 December 2024

UK - Audiologic has appointed Mark Flanagan as head of marketing. Flanagan, who has spent the last decade with a global laboratory technology firm, comes aboard as part of wider additions to the sales and marketing team and a move to new premises including a customer-facing training facility, in tandem with the company celebrating 20 years in business.

Responsible for driving marketing activities in support of Audiologic’s key brand portfolio as well as developing brand identity and reach for Audiologic itself, he’ll be leaning on 25 years’ experience in various technology marketing roles. Over a dozen of those years were spent in audio, having spent six years at Tannoy and Lab Gruppen (under TC Group ownership) and seven years prior at MI & Pro-audio chain Sound Control & Turnkey.

“Audio technology is in your DNA I think, once you di