USA - US entertainment laser projectors manufacturer X-Laser has become an official dealer of Avolites lighting control hardware in the United States.
At LDI 2017, the company worked with the Avolites team on a setup which featured Avolites lighting consoles used to demonstrate and unveil the X-Laser Mercury laser control system.
Adam Raugh, president of X-Laser USA, says: “The team at Avolites were extremely helpful both on site at LDI and especially in the run up to the show while we were finalizing the necessary fixture profiles as we prepared the launch of our Mercury laser control system. Now that we’re on board with Avolites, we can provide our clients turn-key laser fixture packages including projectors equipped with our Mercury laser control interface, as wel

USA - The Admiral Theatre, an art deco movie house in Bremerton, Washington, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The Admiral Theatre Foundation, which helped renovate the venue in the 1990s, raised $1.2m and recently completed upgrades to its infrastructure and sound reinforcement system, adding 11 new Clair Brothers 1AM+ and 1.5AM+ powered monitors.
"Performers these days are looking for hi-fi sound in their monitors. The days of a simple 'horn-in-your-face' are gone," said Andrew Saylor, production manager for the Admiral Theatre, who also plays the role of Audio 1, house system tech, and frequent FOH mixer.
"In our search for new monitors, we wanted something that could handle volume while still remaining punchy, transparent, and bright. We demoed a lot of different top-name manufacturers, and the Clair Brothers 1AM+ and 1.5AM+ powered monitors stoo

UK - Dutch architect Francine Houben, the creative director of mecanoo architecten has been announced as the first keynote speaker of the International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference 2018 to be held on London on 3-5 June.
Houben has gained international acclaim for her work on theatres, museums and libraries to neighbourhoods, housing and parks, with each design founded on the observation of people, location, culture and climate. She holds Honorary Fellowships of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and was granted lifelong membership of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin.
Booking for ITEAC 2018 is now open and as interest to attend the conference has been very strong, those wishing to attend are urged

UK - Graham Murray has been appointed to take charge of international business development and channel management for JoeCo, with a remit to deepen the UK manufacturer's ties into key export markets.
Having previously worked extensively in both Asia and the Middle East, Murray brings more than 35 years of industry experience and expertise to his new role. He is described by JoeCo founder and managing director Joe Bull as "a world-class audio professional with a reputation to match his considerable experience".
A well-known figure within the global audio community, he most recently held the position of sales director, EMEA for the Harman Pro brand, Studer, while in the past he has served in leadership positions for brands including Calrec, Fairlight and AMS Neve.
As part of his new remit, Murray will spearhead international sales delivering increased visibility a

USA - Rock band Avenged Sevenfold has been busy with its latest world arena tour, following the release of the group's most recent album, The Stage.
FOH engineer Bob Strakele - also known for his work with The War on Drugs, Awolnation, Papa Roach, and James, amongst others - has been with them at every stop, and chose the Solid State Logic L500 Plus live console for mixing duties. Audio kit on the tour has been supplied by Solotech.
On this tour, Strakele has around 48 inputs from stage, with about 23 of those accounted for on the drum kit. The rest of the set includes bass, two electric guitars, two acoustics, plus five vocal mics. According to Strakele, the main sonic challenge arises from the sheer size of the tour venues, so clarity is a priority: "With double kick drums and blazing fast songs, it might be hard to keep it punchy - keep it together... So I'm
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ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

UK - Broadcast and event lighting specialists Version 2 has continued its investment into its power distribution equipment offerings.
Version 2 prides itself on being at the forefront of technology and innovation with its power distribution systems. The company offers monitoring that utilises its propriety SMARTdistro technology.
The company once again turned to its manufacturing partners SES (Entertainment Services) who have built the companies entire distribution inventory since its inception. The design process was led by Sam Crook, Version 2’s technical director who collaborated with SES managing director Mark Cooper on the specification of the latest units.
SES’s Mark Cooper commented: “SES loves working with companies like Version 2; they come to us with a clear outline of what they want both technically and physically, but still allow us to build th

Thailand - Com 7, a technology retail chain, has relocated its headquarters to a new six-story office building in Bangkok. AV integrator Mahajak Development selected an end-to-end Harman networked audio solution consisting of JBL speakers, Crown amplifiers, Soundcraft mixers, BSS audio processors and AMX control systems to create a multi-zone AV system for the conference and training rooms.
Pongsakorn Kanchanachayphoom, project director, says: “Harman solutions incorporate the latest advances in technology with seamless integration, allowing us to achieve their goals and install a conference audio system that delivers consistent intelligibility and advanced networking capabilities.”
Mahajak outfitted Com 7’s conference and training rooms with JBL LSR305 two-way studio monitors and Control 25-1 compact speakers. Mahajak also installed Control 14C/T full-range cei
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Create new traditions – Cameo P6 - High Output Full-Spectrum Ellipsoidal

Cameo's P6 is a future-proof LED profiler with a powerful 600 W RGBACL engine and 16,000 lumens. It’s an energy-efficient replacement for 2.5 kW halogen profile lights in theatres and venues. With excellent light quality and natural colour rendering, it fits perfectly in theatres, musicals, TV studios, congresses, and live events.

With an LED life of 50,000 hours and low power use, the P6 cuts energy costs and supports the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ goals for climate neutrality by 2050. It also meets updated eco-design rules for lighting.

www.cameolight.com/p6profile

Belgium - Luc Peumans and the team from Painting with Light created a lighting design and supplied media servers for the production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid staged by Marmalade Content at Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium.
Luc had worked in the same role on Marmalade’s 2016 Beauty and the Beast productio and was delighted to be reunited with set designer Stefan Haudenhuyse and director Frank Van Laecke, with whom he collaborated on 14-18, a Spectacular Musical. The technical director was Bart De Coensel from The Production Box.
The creative process began with a brain-storming session between Luc and the producers, Frank and Stefan, from which this basic aesthetic framework emerged and Luc started to develop the lighting concepts.
An underlining theme was to make it properly ‘spectacular’ in both impact and presence, so the audienc

Canada - Solotech has been awarded the contract to provide and install a new speaker system at the National Arts Centre (NAC) as part of the Centre’s $225m Production Renewal and Architectural Rejuvenation Project.
The equipment, including d&b audiotechnik production equipment and loudspeaker systems, will be installed in the NAC’s three largest performance halls: Southam Hall, the Babs Asper Theatre and the Azrieli Studio.
(Jim Evans)

China - The Mr. Future Music Festival brought nearly 40,000 fans to Wuhan, China to enjoy an impressive line-up of hip-hop and electronic artists in front of an interactive set design.
Sharing the massive stage with the acts were over 100 Adamson loudspeakers supplied and supported by the company’s exclusive Chinese distributor Real Music.
“Mr. Future is a unique and innovative event that brings people from all kinds of different circles together,” begins Real Music owner Zhen “Richie” Wang. “Of course, music is the central component, and Club Muse, the organiser, chose an Adamson system to ensure every single ticketholder had a powerful and exciting experience that exceeded their expectations.”
The substantial system included main reinforcement from arrays of 15 Adamson E15 three-way, true line source enclosures per side. Because the unique stage d

UK - Lighting designer Nathan Wan, who designed the light show at last year’s Autosport International, returned for the show’s 2018 edition at the Live Action Arena in Hall 5 of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.
Wan utilised over 250 Robe moving lights, working for the Live Arena’s equipment suppliers and technical consultants Network Productions. Network Productions’ Nick Halliday looked after the Live Arena’s technical direction and management aspects, with Dave Beel as production manager.
Nathan introduced the power of Robe BMFLs into the mix last year for the first time, which enhanced the dynamics he could create with the rig.
Apart from getting enough brightness in there, other parameters to consider include not blinding drivers as they belt round the short track at supernatural speeds, so fixture placement was crucial.
In

Norway - Second Warehouse, a web-based service that can simplify cross-rental of pro AV gear, has been launched.
The platform unites AV suppliers and rental companies in one place where they can organise sub-hire of equipment, make safe payments, arrange transport and trade with minimal or no commission.
Stuart Kerrison, founder of Second Warehouse, says: “I know how important cross-rental is and also what a time-wasting drag it can be, because I’ve been the guy spending hours on the phone, calling friends in the hope of finding that one bit of gear I need for a show. Second Warehouse solves those headaches and lost hours, while making sure that your equipment is always out being used and earning you money.”
Second Warehouse includes a wealth of features. Users can quickly and simply expand their cross-hire network, get quotes, negotiate prices and organis

UAE - Sennheiser thas launched evolution G4, the fourth generation of its popular product family. Major upgrades to the G4 line-up are user-inspired features such as multichannel capabilities, single click scanning and set-up, frequency agility, as well as longer range, battery life and reliability. With four product series in the range- the 100, 300, 500, and IEM series- evolution G4 is suited to meet the needs of the live performance, broadcast and film, as well as the business and education market segments.
“Whether it is in the corporate world, live entertainment, theatre or broadcast, the evolution wireless series has long been the professional's choice for the widest range of applications. We have set the precedent of introducing an ever-evolving feature set with each iteration and ew G4 is no exception. With many user-driven improvements and features, it is the culm

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) 's specialist film & TV sales team will be showcasing their choice of LED solutions designed to work in image capture within the studio or on location - at BVE 2018, Excel London, UK, stand L41, 27 February - 1 March 2018.
Chroma-Q’s range of LED solutions is becoming widely used for various broadcast, TV and film applications. Products on show include the 2016 Cine Gear Expo-winning Space Force tuneable white soft source, which delivers an output and performance comparable with a traditional 6kW fixture in an energy-efficient, lightweight, convection cooled, ultra-quiet design. Also showing is the 2016 LDI and ESTA award-winning Color Force II colour-mixing wash light range, the award-winning Studio Force Phosphor compact soft source, and the Color One 100X colour-mixing LED effects PAR.
Also on show will be the late

UK - Audio-Technica will be showing a range of its broadcast-oriented microphone and headphone products alongside Allen & Heath’s latest SQ and dLive mixing systems at BVE 2018 between 27 February and 1 March.
Audio-Technica’s BP40 large diaphragm dynamic microphone – designed for rich, condenser-like response in broadcast environments – and the company’s M Series flagship M70x monitoring headphones will be among the key products on display. Also available for visitors to experience at the show will be various microphones from Audio-Technica’s Broadcast & Production range, currently being relied on for broadcast sound from the Pyeongchang Games.
Those looking for compact on-camera audio solutions will be catered for with both the AT8024 stereo/mono microphone (with selectable line-cardioid or mid-side stereo modes) and System 10 camera-mount wireles

USA - The recently-opened World Club has quickly become popular among visiting LDs for artists like Hardwell, Tiesto, Alan Walker and Armin Van Buuren. The spacious 21,000sq.ft venue at the south end of Charlotte’s famed Music Factory complex provides designers with a broad, colour-neutral canvas to work on. And, with eight universes of lighting hung from its ceiling, they can let their creative impulses scream out in wild, eye-shattering explosions of patterns and colour.
“The space really gives the LD creative freedom to set the mood,” said Eye Dialogue’s Travis Pagels, who used a collection of Intimidator fixtures from Chauvet DJ to anchor his rig. “All the walls and furniture in the venue are black or metallic silver, so there really isn’t a colour scheme restricting the lighting designer. Then with all those universes in the ceiling, it’s easy to turn the

USA - FOH Engineer Simon Thomas began his live sound career in theatre at 16. Thirty four years later, he’s worked with many major artists including Gary Numan, Echo and the Bunnymen, Moby, Tracy Chapman, Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, and Sam Smith - and 2017 saw him out with Ariana Grande.
His FOH rig with Grande was inherited from the tour’s previous engineer, Toby Francis, and was Thomas’ first experience with Rupert Neve Designs equipment, including a 5059 Satellite summing mixer, a Shelford Channel for lead vocals, and a Portico II Master Buss Processor on the 2-buss.
Thomas’ DiGiCo SD7 console sent seven groups into the 5059, including drums, band/tracks, backing vocals and lead vocals. On combining analogue summing with the digital realm, Thomas says, “In very simple terms, the analogue thing brings the mix forward, brings it out of the box - rather than ma

The Netherlands - One of the most unusual sound reinforcement applications in Nexo memory has been completed in Holland. The Sauna Theatre Thermen Soesterberg, one of Europe’s top venues for the curious art of Aufguss, has been equipped with Nexo’s super-compact ID Series loudspeakers. How are these robust little cabinets dealing with temperatures of more than 150°F?
One of the host venues for the 2017 Aufguss world championship, the Sauna Theatre of Soesterberg can accommodate 150 people. The Aufguss (also called "gettata di vapore" - “Steam blow” in Italy) is a wellness / purification / entertainment ritual which is performed in the sauna, either by an employee of the wellness-centre or by an authorised guest called aufgussmeister (Steam Master).
The rite revolves around the centre stove, where attendants pour water mixed with essential oils on the hot ston

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has supplied StageSmarts smartPDU power distribution system to Titan Reality for their first certified, fully immersive 3D audio venue experience in Europe.
The Aures club is located along Leake Street Tunnel under London's Waterloo station, which features a giant mural of street art organised by renowned street artist, Banksy. Aures provides a blank canvas event space within a seven-metre high exposed brick arch and over 2,000 square feet of floor space, which is used for product launches, photoshoots, presentations and corporate parties.
The venue recently launched the first phase of Sensorium, an immersive experience which will eventually encompass sound & light, taste, scent, sight, and touch, to create a five-sensory venue for the arts and events.
To deliver their creative vision, the team behind the <

Singapore - The Production People (TPP) has recently invested in an Alcons Audio system.
TPP services a wide range of events and clients throughout Asia and owner Sheldon Gooi is always looking for equipment which can improve the experience of the company’s clients. Eugene Tay (of Alcons Singapore representative Creator’s Solutions) invited Sheldon to listen to Alcons products at the company’s off-site demo during the ProLight+Sound show in Frankfurt, an experience which left Sheldon very impressed.
"The Alcons demo really caught my attention," says Sheldon. "The sound quality was of a higher standard than our existing systems and I saw a brand that is actively pursuing perfection with its designs and technology. Discovering something that could outperform our existing inventory made me want to invest in some Alcons products to push our boundaries further."

USA - Internet singing sensation Jacob Sartorius is wrapping up his second headlining tour with a lighting package supplied by Bandit Lites. With 1.5m Twitter followers, 9m Instagram followers and 2.7m YouTube subscribers, the multi-faceted artist released his second EP Left Me Hangin’ in the fall of 2017 before hitting the road in 2018 to bring his infectious energy and hit songs to fans in person.
Bandit Lites supplied lighting designer Lenny Sasso with Martin MAC III Profiles, MAC Viper Profiles, Martin Sceptrons, Solaris Flares and a grand MA 2 lite console for control along with 60 Clay Paky Mirage Panels.
Sasso designed the lighting to be a modern twist on the classic cabaret and big band styles, putting the band up on a raised platform with eight feet wide steps at the centre, giving Jacob the option to utilise both the downstage edge to connect with th

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