Large format projection specialist E//T//C UK projected one of the greatest Britons - Viscount Horatio Nelson - onto the Shell Building on London’s South Bank for the launch of the BBC’s new series Great Britons.

The major new 10-part BBC2 history series, directed by Miriam Jones, included the programme about Nelson, one of the top 10 Great Britons as voted for by the public. The two 6kW PIGI projectors were located in Jubilee Gardens, near the banks of the Thames, and overlaid, to project one 40m wide image across the building.

For the programme’s opening sequence, the camera panned along the Thames, taking in the various sights of that particular stretch of the river, including the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, before swinging round to catch the dramatic

Canegreen is supplying its new Meyer M2D line array system, provided the PA equipment for Beth Orton’s recent sell-out tour. Canegreen has invested in the Meyer M2D system to join its hire stock of Meyer M3D and EAW line array speakers which have proven themselves on larger arena and festival shows. Yan Stile, MD of Canegreen commented: "We’re really pleased with the performance of the M2D. It’s proved itself to be a great system during the course of this tour. It delivered even, smooth, powerful and undistorted sound at every venue."

The new M2D system means that the great dispersion characteristics available for the larger venues are now available to engineers working in smaller venues. This tour included venues ranging from the York Barbican and Birmingham Symphony Hall to the Bristol Academy, so the configuration of the new PA was tested in substantially

It may have been costly and controversial, but Switzerland’s most ambitious Expo to date has also been hailed as one of its most creative and successful. Steve Moles selects two projects which illustrate why . . .

The revered publication Architects Journal headlined a feature ‘Swiss Expo shames Dome failings’. Intended to occur approximately every 40 years, Swiss Expo is a project in the public domain and yet staged without Lottery funding. Which begs the question - is free money a curse or a kindness?

Look at what else has been in these pages of late: The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, the Pageant of the Horse, the Commonwealth Games and the Jubilee concerts at Buckingham Palace - all without Lottery money and all successfully realized. These examples have, of course, all received finance from the commercial sector, but without the political interference

You know you’re at a West Coast AES Convention when you’re standing in a rooftop bar at sunset, surrounded by skyscrapers, and listening to Sheryl Crow-alike Dana Glover singing through Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite microphones. One of many PLASA repeats, the product at least gave the excuse for the party, and where Earls Court ends, as Phil Ward discovers, California begins.

QSC Audio began by reinventing itself. OK, the new logo is "a relatively small change in terms of effort," but, said CEO Barry Andrews, "it’s an important one symbolically and technically. It signifies the transformation of our company from an amplifier specialist to an integrated systems supplier."

‘Integrated systems’ in this case means QSC products in signal processing, network audio transport, control systems, loudspeakers and - not least - amplifiers.

Coemar UK, the exclusive UK distributor for Antari smoke machine products, has announced that it is now able to supply and support the Antari range of smoke effect machines ex-stock. The company has at last taken delivery of a substantial amount of stock, and will be able to same-day dispatch on most items.

(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

Entec Sound supplied equipment and crew to Morrissey's recent high profile, sold-out UK tour. This was the first time Entec has serviced Morrissey - former frontman of 80s band The Smiths -a contract which they won through a competitive tender process. However, FOH engineer Phil Griggs and Entec's head of sound Dick Hayes have known each other for many years in the industry.

The d&b 12-stack C4 rig, with four B2 subs, achieved great sonic results throughout the tour, in a wide variety of venues. Monitors were mixed by Vince Buller, who also production managed, and the system was crew chiefed by Entec's Tristan Johnson, joined by his team-mate Adam Draper (and Liam Halpin at Brixton). Because of the nature, message and meaning of Morrissey's often intense lyrics, it's always imperative that his voice is always high and clear above the mix.

The tour culminated at Brixton Academy, where

Allen & Heath has announced the first release of iDR System Manager software for its iDR series, a new DSP audio system for installed and live sound. The software is available for free download from the Allen & Heath website (address below). iDR System Manager runs on a Windows PC and allows installers to create customized, integrated audio systems using iDR series hardware units. PC connection can be direct to an iDR-8 or remotely across a network or via a modem. Once a software configuration is complete it can be saved to an iDR-8 audio mix processor and the PC can be removed, leaving the iDR system to run as a standalone entity.

iDR-8 uses a fixed architecture, with full processing resources available to up to 16 inputs and 16 outputs (iDR-8 has 8 inputs and 8 outputs and can be expanded using iDR-in and iDR-out units), making it impossible to run out of DSP power. This rigid struct

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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

Noise Productions, one of New Zealand’s leading sound production houses, has acquired a new modular outdoor concert system from Proel, consisting of 32 TPR12A individually powered 12" and horn speakers, which combine to produce a system scalable from 600W to 10,000W. "This is the first time modular technology has been used for small to medium-sized concert systems in this country," said the company’s’s managing director Toby Mills.

The entire rig can be set up by one person (each box weighing only around 20kgs), reducing the amount of heavy lifting. The system van be put together quickly and efficiently, simply by plugging power and a line level feed into each box; it also provides high levels of redundancy and the flexibility to offer systems tailored exactly to a client’s size requirements in increments of 600W. "We can offer our clients a

On 14 November, 40sq.m of Barco’s Dlite 10 daylight display solution was on stage at the MTV Europe Awards ceremony in Barcelona. The screen was supplied by XL Video, one of the world’s leading large video display specialists, which due to its reputation has over the years provided equipment to events including The Spice Girls Tour (worldwide), the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the US Open Golf Tournament and U2’s ‘Elevation’ Tour.

"The diversity of important events where our clients have deployed our video displays is a testament to both the quality of our equipment and the dependability of our service," says Rene De Keyzer, managing director of XL Video. "When approached to provide material to high profile events such as the MTV Europe Awards, it is with confidence and pride that we recommend Barco’s material, as we know it will exceed the c

Embarking on his first North American tour in almost a decade, Peter Gabriel kicked off his ‘Growing Up Live’ 2002-2003 tour on 13 November with a stage production that has been termed "spectacular." Lighting designer Luc LaFortune (LD for Cirque du Soleil) has specified High End Systems equipment in the design, including 36 X.Spot HO (High Output) and 36 Studio Beam automated luminaires, as well as four Catalyst systems with orbital mirror heads and six Catalyst media servers. Controlling the show are three Wholehog II consoles with a wing.

The UK's Neg Earth is the primary lighting contractor, with Upstaging as its partner on the North American legs. The Neg Earth crew includes programmer/operator Dennis Gardner, crew chief John Shelly, head electrician Andy Porter, and Dave Cox in charge of Catalyst systems.

(Lee Baldock)

Event Pro Forum, the conference for event production professionals, will be held 17-20 February 2003, at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. The conference targets top professionals responsible for producing events for amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, concerts, fairs, corporate functions, festivals, sporting events, theme parks and touring entertainment.

The 2002 premiere conference attracted 150-plus attendees from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, Nashville to New York and even London to Moscow. EventPro Forum 2003 will feature industry speakers, professional development panels and the Production Pow-Wow, a series of round-table discussions. Special events, including a golf tournament, welcome reception, wrap party and backstage tour of Las Vegas venues will provide attendees with the opportunity to have fun while networking and expanding their professional contacts, say the org

The new Sheraton Hotel on the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora has just completed the installation of 60 JBL Control Contractor Series speakers. The picturesque, five-star resort features a total of 120 rooms, 70 of which are private, over-water bungalows. The hotel needed a sound system for ambient music throughout the entire resort, including the reception area, hotel restaurant, beachside restaurant grill and banquet room.

The technical team of Total Video Distribution, the JBL distributor in French Polynesia, collaborated with an architect to design the system. A total of 50 Control 25T surface-mount speakers and 10 Control 26CT ceiling speakers were installed on the property. The entire system is controlled from the reception desk, which features a 400-disc CD player and a CT210 Crown Amplifier. In addition to this main control station, each separate room has its own music sy

Midas has reported record console sales in the UK since the decision to bring UK distribution back to the factory. Since the announcement at the PLASA Show in September, Midas has delivered eight consoles in the UK: Birmingham sales and rental company SSE took an XL4 and two Heritage 3000s to add to their hire stock, Skan PA also took an XL4, while Adlib Audio and Tourtech both took a Heritage 3000. Cheshire-based Lighting and Sound Services are now the proud owners of a Legend 3000, as is Atomic Sound in Newark.

UK Midas sales manager Richard Ferriday is very pleased with the way the new sales strategy appears to be working. He told us: "While it's possible that it may be coincidence, it nevertheless proves two things. Firstly, that customers are very comfortable buying direct from the factory - Midas customers have always enjoyed extremely high standards of service, and now tha

Vari-Lite International Inc has announced that it has sold the assets of its Vari*Lite products manufacturing and sales division to Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (GTG), a leading manufacturer of lighting fixtures and controls for commercial, industrial and residential markets. The sale included the Vari*Lite family of products as well as all sales, manufacturing and engineering operations associated with this division. GTG also acquired the Vari*Lite trademark and all patents associated with Vari*Lite products. The purchase price, which will be finalized within 30 days, is estimated to be $10.5 million - $11.5 million, which will result in a loss of approximately $4.0 million - $5.0 million.

"Operating as a manufacturer and a rental company was confusing to the industry, and it limited the growth prospects of both our Vari*Lite manufacturing and sales division and VLPS Lighting Service

Summit Steel were in action at the Birmingham Motor show, following on from their flying feats at the Paris event last month. Their clients this time were Vauxhall (via Early Action/CP Electrical) and Mini (via Act Live). Both stands were project-managed for Summit Steel by Ken Nock. The Vauxhall stand involved two Summit elements and featured the biggest roof of the five-hall event, spanning approx 50m x 40m subdivided into 6m bays. The construction of this grid involved a massive 780m of Thomas SuperTruss, 78 corner joints and 26 Lodestar hoists.

The grid ceiling was built and flown in just one working day, by a Summit team of 10 - an impressive achievement within a very short timescale. One of the great advantages of using the Thomas SuperTruss in situations like this is its strength, and the fact that large spans of truss can be supported by fewer hoists than conventional trussing

ShowCAD is marketing an entry-level, cut-down version of its Artist package with 150 DMX channel outputs. An auto demo, programming tutorials and a 30-day trial version of Artist can all be downloaded at the company’s website (address below). The new version, ShowCAD Light, is competitively priced and ShowCAD expects it to be a very popular system.

The full Artist package is a multi-role system, not only designed to be used in nightclubs and discotheques, but in any situation where lighting and show control is required. Artist is the successor to the popular ShowCAD systems installed in hundreds of venues worldwide, but with additional features. The programme controls up to 5000+ DMX channels porting to USB interfaces, and implements MIDI, MIDI Show Control, RS 232, SMPTE, Real Time Coding, Digital and Analogue input/output protocols. Artist software features tools such as person

Leamington Sight & Sound has designed and fitted a customized personal audio system into the tour coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. The coach, a Scania Irizar, is owned by Wolverhampton-based Price Travel and leased to Division One team Wolves, who use it for all their away games, reserves and youth matches.

In its ‘down’ time, Price Travel utilizes the bus for a variety of other VIP and sporting events - including the Ryder Cup. The bus recently underwent a total refit, for which Price wanted the sound system updated, and a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system installed onboard. B&M Coaches in Coventry, the appointed re-fitters, called on Ian Potter of LSS to fulfill the specialist audio elements of the job. Although this type of project was a first for Potter and LSS, they weren’t daunted by its idiosyncrasies. Potter drew on his extensive kn

The recent LDI exhibition in Las Vegas saw Art-Net’s full feature set being used. Operating over a wide area of the show floor via a radio link, Art-Net linked four booths - ACT Lighting, Wybron, Goddard Design and Artistic Licence - onto one lighting network. Remote configuration of all Ethernet nodes and ongoing monitoring of the network was done via Artistic Licence’s DMX-Workshop. Art-net was used not only to transmit DMX512, but was for the first time used together with RDM (Remote Device Management) compatible products. RDM products could be addressed, interrogated and updated remotely over a wide area network. The RDM products used were a Wybron CXI colour changer, and Goddard Design single-channel DMX converters, while the Artistic Licence booth made use of a Hubbell Entertainment HX 250 Profile - an RDM compatible moving light.

Remote access to the network from any

London’s Lyttelton Theatre, part of the National Theatre complex, has become the first venue in the Britain to install Matrix - a new, advanced technology dimming system offering ‘silent’ dimming, free from harmonic distortion, developed by International Electronic Services BV of the Netherlands. IES’ UK agent, Technical Marketing Ltd, worked closely with the National’s senior project manager, Michael Atkinson, who was responsible for selecting Matrix as the key component in the venue’s new state-of-the-art dimming installation. This modular, plug-in dimming system also represents an evolution in design, combining advances in dimmer technology with client and consultant requests for greater versatility in mechanical construction.

The Lyttelton installation was included in the first part of an ongoing electrical upgrade, and provides power to the stag

Liberty, from Harlequin, is a new sprung floor panel system intended either for permanent installation in dance studios, or portable use for touring. Other applications include gymnastics and aerobics, stage floor, or rehearsal room floor. Liberty sprung floors are generally used in conjunction with a non-slip vinyl dance surface selected from the well-known Harlequin range of Cascade, Reversible, Studio, Tempo or Fiesta.

The floor panels themselves are formed from multiple layers of birch, bonded with waterproof phenolic resins to form an 18mm thick and stable substructure for the vinyl surface. Each full size panel has 45 dual density elastomer blocks, spaced at regular centres. These absorb impact and give a consistently even energy return over the entire surface of the floor. Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels combine consistent shock absorption and uniform suspension across th

PCM, the entertainment division of Pfaff Silberblau, has completed a major refurbishment of stage equipment at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline. PCM's Projects team, led by Tony Griffiths, worked closely with Hall Manager Evan Henderson and Jim Ganley from the venue's technical department to realise the project. The new facilities are designed to enable Carnegie Hall to receive a wide array of increasingly technically complex productions.

The process has seen the updating of most of the Hall's stage equipment, and the removal of all its existing, complicated arrangement of diverted manual hemp and winch sets. The new installation started with the insertion of a 40m long timber walkway and an access bridge in the roof void - all designed to aid the easy maintenance of the new equipment. PCM then rigged 13 11m-long, 4-line, hemp sets and cleat rails, complete with 150mm multi-block ball-

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