Philips CSI has appointed Reg Nicholls as general manager to head up its growing UK operation. He takes over from Kevin Diss who has just been appointed general manager of Philips Lighting in the UK.

Previously general manager of Philips Analytical in Cambridge and responsible for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Nicholls has a wealth of experience in general management and sales. In his new role at Philips CSI, he will be responsible for expanding Philips’ already strong market presence in the CCTV, PA, congress and communications markets.

Philips CSI has recently invested heavily in major new products including new generation REO digital observation systems, new AutoDome and NetCam cameras, new digital CCTV products, new digital congress systems, plus complete new ranges of PA

LCA - Lights, Camera, Action Ltd are supplying Strand Lighting, MovieMaster ballasts, Mole Richardson lighting, Avenger grip equipment and Rosco filters to Salon Films in Thailand for the latest Jackie Chan movie, HighBinders. Currently filming in Thailand, the film will also be shot in Hong Kong and Prague and stars Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, Jonathon Rhys Davies, Christy Chung and Anthony Wong.

Nick Shapley, managing director of LCA commented: "It was a huge challenge to supply Salon Films with the vast amount of lights and lighting grip in such a short space of time. However, I am happy to say we fulfilled the client’s request despite the challenges of pulling in so many products from so many suppliers." The DOP for the film is Arthur Wong, chairperson of HKSC - the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers.

(Ruth Rossington)

As part of a continued effort to increase the wide-scale availability of its automated lighting systems, Vari-Lite Inc has announced the establishment of a Dealer Network, which will carry a full line of Vari*Lite products for sale or rental. The names of the eight companies that comprise the initial Northeast Sales Network were made public yesterday.

"Each member of this dealership network has a solid reputation among lighting professionals and has established itself as a leader within the industry," said Bob Schacherl, Vari-Lite's vice-president of sales and marketing. "Vari-Lite will continue to explore opportunities to add to its Dealer Network where and when it makes sense financially and strategically."

The Northeast Dealer Network includes Barbizon - New York (sales), High Output - Boston, (sales and rental), Parlights - Frederick, MD (sales and rental), PR

Kellys nightclub complex at Port Rush is one of the province’s busiest venues. The complex includes the ultra modern LUSH with its even cooler Chill Out room and the now totally refurbished Wild, with its traditional stone and wood interiors.

WILD is split across two floors with separate sound systems: on the top floor the venue retains its existing RCF Event system, whilst on the ground floor a new EAW system has been spec’d. Local installation company, Light and Sound FX were involved in the original installation and won the contract to handle the system revamp. Darren Gardener of Light and Sound FX explains: "Our brief was to reconfigure the Event system upstairs and put a new sound system in on the ground floor. We decided to talk to Andy Austin Brown at Mackie, as he'd been involved in the original spec, and since we had no flying options, he recommended the EAW s

MC2 Audio has announced the first sale of its amplifiers in the Sultanate of Oman. Bright Lights of Muscat made their first approach to MC2 Audio at the PLASA 2001 exhibition in London and their order for amplifiers from both the MC range and T Series followed in early February 2002. MC2 Audio’s Ian McCarthy commented: "We look forward to future collaboration with Bright Lights and wish them every success with our products."

(Lee Baldock)

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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

SGM has launched a new range of professional moving head fixtures. The new Giotto Spot 400, Wash 400 and Profile 400 are professional moving head fixtures designed for use in high profile entertainment applications including concerts, theatres and television studios. All three fixtures are compact and lightweight and have a range of features including 400W hot re-strike MSR lamp, 9°-24° motorized zoom, electronic ballast (90-245V).

(Ruth Rossington)

The new Artistic Licence discussion forum is now up and running. In addition to offering technical support for the company’s product range, the company is actively promoting an open discussion of the technical standards issues facing the industry. So if you have a view or need more information on ACN, DMX512-A, RDM or Art-Net, the Artistic Licence Forum is the place to visit.

(Ruth Rossington)

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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

Leading pro entertainment industry lighting sales specialist TMB has appointed two new European distributors for its new PowerPAR fixture. In Germany, Seigen-based Trendco will be handling sales for the TMB PowerPAR, and in France and Belgium, Sonoss will be leading the way. Both deals were confirmed at the SIEL show in Paris.

In announcing the distributorships, TMB is underlining its confidence in a buoyant European market. In fact, with the popularity of the PowerPAR taking off, it was essential to expand the European network quickly. Both companies also distribute Wybron, whose Eclipse II dimming shutter was on display mounted on a PowerPAR at SIEL. The Eclipse II is a perfect device for the PowerPAR, turning it into a dimmable fixture and opening further applications for the unit. The PowerPAR continues to grow in popularity for a variety of applications. The fixtures have recently

Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd has been awarded the contract to provide all of the technical facilities for the evening celebrations throughout the Queen’s Jubilee Baton Relay. The Baton Relay is scheduled to visit 500 towns in 50 days with the last town on each day hosting an evening celebration; culminating in the final show being the opening ceremony of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Having been selected from 23 competing tenders, Star Hire has been contracted to provide their Mobile 11-09 StarStage along with video screen, sound, lights and power. They will also be responsible for the design, manufacture and fitting of all branded imagery on the stage and all the associated vehicles. "The logistics of setting up 50 events consecutively is challenging but not unfamiliar territory," said Star Hire’s technical director Roger Barrett. "The combinatio

For the third consecutive year, UK distributor HW International ensured that the Mean Fiddler-owned London Astoria was furnished with a plethora of Shure microphones for the NME Carling Awards. The shows ran for a week-and-a-half during February and included bands such as the Pet Shop Boys, Aphex Twin, Ash and Starsailor. One of the most anticipated gigs was The Charlatans who performed to an enthralled capacity crowd. The Charlatans were supported by Reading's Cooper Temple Clause, the bill was completed by ex-Ultrasound star Matt Jones' new band Minuteman and promising Northern rockers Moco.

Matt West, London Astoria's in-house sound engineer, commented: "Shure were able to supply us with a generic mic set-up which would suit most guitar-based bands. Their mics are robust and reliable and used the world over, so I was more than happy to have them to offer to the bands and their

Autograph Sound Recording, the sound design and rental specialist, is taking opera to the masses this season, with two electrifying events scheduled back to back. Bizet's tragic masterpiece Carmen, plays for 16 performances at the Royal Albert Hall, while Beethoven's opera of love and liberation, Fidelio will be screened live next month, on the all new BBC Four.

The annual Raymond Gubbay opera in the round opened at the Royal Albert Hall on 21st February, with a brand new production of Carmen. Autograph has supplied sound and communications for the past four Gubbay opera productions at the Royal Albert Hall. This year's opera is using a large Meyer Sound loudspeaker system, comprising of over 60 UM-1s for vocals and two arrays of MSL-4 and PSW-4, for the orchestra mix, while D&B E3 loudspeakers are located in and under the stage as front fill positions.

Early Mar

A series of fund-raising concerts in Los Angeles was staged Feb. 26 by the Recording Artists Coalition to raise awareness of artists' rights. High End Systems automated lighting was there highlighting the music and the famous faces. The concerts were held in four different venues, all on that Tuesday night. LSD/Fourth Phase of Newbury Park, Calif., provided the gear for the Forum show, under the guidance of Robert Roth from its Atlanta office."It was an all High End Systems rig and the show was executed flawlessly," says Roth. More than 120 HES products were specified by the event's overall LD Nick Sholem, including Studio Color(R) 575 and Studio Spot(R) 575 automated luminaires, run on two Wholehog(R) II consoles. Don Henley and The Eagles headlined the $175 ticket, with Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, John Fogerty, and Billy Joel (for which LD Steve Cohen added his inpu

London's new musical - The Full Monty - opening on 12th March 2002 at The Prince of Wales Theatre - features sound design by Mike Walker and includes two Cadac consoles in the audio cast. At the heart of the sound system, supplied by Blitz Sound, is an 83-input Cadac J-Type Live Production Console, situated FOH, complete with a full output section comprising 15 DC VCA masters and 32 outputs, including two programmable matrix outputs. A 39-input F-Type Live Production Console, located underneath the stage, is also featuring as the monitor/sub-mixer for the show's 12-piece rock band.

The Full Monty is essentially a wholly musical "book show", with Walker's sound design for the production focusing on complementing the strong rock'n'roll score. Over the past seven years, Walker has designed some 30 shows - touring particularly in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region. The Full Mo

Swiss manufacturer ETR Lighting has introduced the Terra 12 - a 12 x 10 digital dimmer, a lightweight unit designed for optimum ease of use and reliability. The Terra 12 operates on virtually any load, and operating characteristics can be set for every channel individually. Its electronically controlled ventilator ensures a safe and continuous operation even under maximum load. The dimmer features an optional differential current breaker and comes in a 19" 3U rack-mountable case or a portable table-top version. A wide selection of connectors makes the Terra 12 dimmer ready for use in virtually any environment.

(Lee Baldock)

The newest property in Las Vegas, the Palms Hotel and Casino, celebrated its grand opening 15 November 2001. The 265 million dollar property with 447 rooms in the 42-story hotel tower is also home to one of the hottest new nightclubs: Rain in the Desert. This multi-level nightclub/concert venue consists of an array of special effects and custom equipment made possible in part by Tomcat USA and Kelly Communications. From the private booths with water sofas and skyboxes with private balconies to the lagoon-shaped dancefloor, Rain has been a big hit with locals and tourists alike. Lavish special effects throughout the club include intelligent lighting and an amazing play of water, fog and pyrotechnics. A state-of-the-art lighting rig contains a computerized intelligent lighting system, as well as the means to create effects like fog, haze, 16ft fire plumes and 3ft fireballs. Above the dance

The largest hotel chain in Italy, the Jolly Hotels, tested Biamp’s Audia Digital Audio Platform and decided that they liked what they heard. In October 2001, an Audia system was installed in a five-room conference section within the Jolly Hotel Conference Center complex on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. This system was to serve as a beta test for Audia and was installed by Professional Show SRL and Prase Engineering, one of Biamp’s top export distributors worldwide. Biamp’s Engineering staff assisted in the installation as well.

The Jolly Hotel pilot consists of seven Biamp VRAM automatic mixers with five additional radio mics feeding the inputs of two CobraNet Audia units, each with 8 inputs and 8 outputs (8X8 CM). In each of the five conference rooms there is an output as well as five recording outputs and a monitor output. Audio control is through a PC via Ethern

Australian Concert Productions Pty Ltd based in Brisbane is now one of the largest audio rental companies in Australia with an impressive inventory including a recently purchased X-Line system from Electro-Voice. ACP is currently handling the Australian leg of Rod Stewart's world tour with his latest album, Human. The Melbourne date also proved to be something of an X-Line User symposium with four of the biggest names in the industry there to support the event.

Bob Doyle from the Klark Teknik Group was in attendance along with another recent X-Line purchaser, Bryan Grant from Britannia Row, plus ACP's managing director, Mick Pritivera and Rod Stewart's FOH engineer and X-Line user, Lars Brogaard. Bob Doyle cited the event as evidence of the worldwide network that X-Line has developed since its launch just 12 months ago. "In fact, one of the reasons Mick decided to invest in an X-L

SF Marketing Inc. is pleased to announce that they have been appointed official Canadian distributor for the Coemar line. In recent years, the Italian company has earned a reputation as an industry leader, and by joining forces with SF Marketing Inc, a reputable Canadian distribution company, Coemar aims to provide quality products to the growing Canadian market.

"Coemar’s growth in the international market is no coincidence; this manufacturing giant has developed quality products that have met the needs of the consumer. We are proud to be in partnership with Coemar, who have always signified quality and innovation," stated Jean-Louis Blanchard, VP of sales for SF Marketing Inc.

(Lee Baldock)

QSC Audio Products Inc. introduces the 215PCM self-contained active subwoofer system with dual 15-inch drivers. The core module of QSC’s ISIS (Integrated, Self-Powered, Self-Processed Industrial Systems) speaker line, the 215PCM provides power amplification not only for itself, but also two channels for driving full-range or bi-amp ‘top box’ speakers. Thus, it serves as the core module for portable live sound reinforcement systems and is ideal for corporate and industrial events. Its optimum frequency response is 35-115 Hz at the -3dB down points. A second model, the 215SB, is the identical enclosure minus the amplification and DSP.

The power and processing electronics of the 215PCM are contained in a backpack mounted on the rear of the subwoofer enclosure. Powering the 215PCM is an integral 3000W amplifier (equivalent to a bridged-mono QSC PowerLight 230) for the sub

A mock TV game show is rocking out with High End Systems products. A VH1 pilot series, "Never Mind the Buzzcocks," is flying high a rig of 6 x.Spot, 7 Technobeam and 8 Studio Beam automated luminaires, run by a Wholehog II console. The equipment was specified by LD Chuck Noble of New York City Lites, with gear provided by Pegasus Productions. Programmer Steven Garner describes the show as "a fake game show with celebrity guests (Coolio, Sebastian Bach and more) competing as they trash music videos. The moving lights double up during bumpers, they 'flash and trash' with the smashing rock and roll, then convert to great backlight and scenic projection."

The x.Spots are "especially useful," Garner says. "They are backlighting a cyc from about 15 feet away and are right up against the back wall, so the zoom is a tremendous help. The Studio Beam strobe is

The organisers of the forthcoming SBES, the dedicated broadcast sound exhibition (20-21 November 2002), report that 58% of stand space is already booked by only 45 of the 100+ exhibitors who were at SBES last year, indicating that this year’s show will be larger than last year’s event.

The SBES is the only show in the UK exclusively for sound broadcasting. For many exhibitors it is the only exhibition of the year at which they show and thus the SBES is an important opportunity to see the manufacturers and distributors of equipment and services for the broadcasting industry not seen at other exhibitions. The SBES web site at www.sbes.com has become an important resource for the industry as it lists all exhibitors, their products and services and has direct links to exhibitors' web sites. As the list of exhibitors grows this resource will become more and more useful to visito

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