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France - The biggest fireworks display in Europe was held on the first Saturday in August, as it is every year, at the Fete du Lac in Annecy. Set against the stunning backdrop of the French Alps, it is a truly spectacular event that attracts tens of thousand of visitors every year.

This year's theme was Chansons d'Amour with a prelude courtesy of Les Choeurs de France (the choirs of France), an ensemble of 700 choristers whose music also accompanied the pyrotechnic display. Production was handled by Annecy Evenements who turned to Austrian pyrotechnician, Armin Lukasser for the second year running to create the fireworks spectacular. Also for the second year running, audio was handled by Starlight Evenementiel a full service production company from Alsace.

Starlight worke

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UK - Club operator Mark Sansom who made his name at London dance temple, Bagleys in King's Cross, came out of his self-enforced retirement to open the 350-capacity Vanilla Bar in Windsor. He has spent around £1m fitting out an empty building on the town's leisure strip, with a sunken fish tank in the entrance and separate Main Bar, Club Bar and luxurious LED-lit Lounge/Cocktail bar. "Although we are no longer DJ-led I still get a lot of top people wanting to play here because of past connections," says Mark. "I know the calibre of DJs we will get and what they will want to play on."

For the sound system, he passed up the rackmount twin CD option in favour of two of the individual Denon DN-S1000 tabletops, which also support MP3. Denon were able to design this as an affordable, entry-level product after first adapting the template of the award-winning DN-S500

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UK - With little more than two weeks to go until PLASA 2005 opens its doors, here are 10 reasons why you can't afford to miss out on this year's Show - taking place between Sunday 11 and Wednesday 14 September at Earls Court, London:

1. You'll see lots of new ideas - over 1,000 new products will be launched, and the best of these will be featured in the Innovation Gallery.
2. You'll see all the major international brands and manufacturers from around the globe.
3. You'll find more new companies exhibiting this year than ever before.
4. You'll hear about numerous new industry initiatives.
5. You'll find out what others are spending their money on and why.
6. You'll get to talk to lots of different people, many of them potential customers.
7. You'll take back knowledge to your workplace.
8. All the major industry trade associations will be there to offe

Doughty - Banner - Sept 2025

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UK - Lightfactor Sales has sold SGM Palco colour changing LED luminaires to Bristol-based lighting rental company, Fineline. Fineline's Darren Wring first trialled the Palcos on a corporate job at the NEC in Birmingham for Spandex, after which he was so impressed he decided to invest in the units. These went straight out again on another show for Spandex in Amsterdam.

The new Spandex exhibition stand's design and lighting design is by Wring and was built by James Thomas Engineering. It's an impressive 12 metres wide by 16 metres long, and the whole stand spins round in a circle, and is animated by both movement and changing colours.

Lightfactor's Peter Coles completed the deal with Fineline, "It's great to see companies like Fineline investing in LED technology, and we're really pleased that Darren chose the Palco as his first LED wash fixtures. It's generally been an exc

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UK - Shure Distribution UK will be showing products from Shure, QSC Audio, Phonic and Sound Devices at PLASA 2005. Shure will present the UHF-R Wireless Systems which features networked automatic set-up to minimize set-up time and effort, 75MHz bandwidth for reliable, trouble-free operation, integrated Wireless Workbench Software for advanced, real-time network control and Audio Reference Companding technology for exceptional audio quality.

Shure's new premium KSM9 vocal condenser wireless capsule will also make its official UK debut. Available exclusively with the UHF-R systems, the KSM9 capsule will be offered in champagne and black finishes by the end of the year. Shure UHF-R/KSM9 seminars will take place during the show from Monday to Tuesday at midday and 3pm.

From Phonic the show visitor will witness the latest and most powerful additions to the XP Series of amplifiers,

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USA - The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued to Meyer Sound a patent pertaining to the company's MAPP Online acoustical prediction software.

The patent describes a method of providing acoustical response predictions for a modelled loudspeaker system over a communications network. In the case of MAPP Online, an Internet-enabled client-server system lets modelling software running on a powerful server at Meyer Sound's headquarters provide the computational "back end" to GUI software running on the user's local computer. The patent is the 33rd US or foreign patent issued in Meyer Sound's name since the company's founding in 1979.

The MAPP Online system generates accurate predictions of the performance of Meyer Sound loudspeakers in a given configuration within a venue. The system is available free to qualified users, who need only download to their lap

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UK - DJs keen to see all the latest DJ technologies should head to this year's PLASA Show, which runs for four full-on days at Earls Court 1 in London, from 11-14 September. Both show floors will be packed with the hottest DJ gear - everything from the smartest decks to top-of-the-range mixers.

Denon, Numark, Pioneer, Stanton and Vestax will be just some of the big-name brands at the Show, and a key part of the 300-strong line up of exhibitors showcasing current trends in lighting, sound, AV and multimedia technologies.

DJ Sunday, sponsored by iDJ magazine, will get the show off to a flying start with numerous events, giveaways and on-stand demos by leading DJs. In the DJ Lounge (at the back of the hall), visitors can watch the winners of iDJ Magazine's monthly Raw Talent competition and there will also be an opportunity to take the first steps into music production with a Tal

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Australia - Australian manufacturer LSC Lighting Systems was contracted to design and supply a cabinet dimming system for the Australian Government's pavilion at World Expo 2005. Held in Aichi, Japan, World Expo commenced on 25 March and will wind up in late September. It provides a significant opportunity to promote Australia to the world and averages 20,000 people through the pavilion every day, with the grand total of visitors nearing the two million mark.

The Australian pavilion reflects the theme of the Expo - Nature's Wisdom - from an Australian perspective. Visitors to the Australian pavilion gain an understanding that through learning the lessons of the past and using modern-day technology, we are better able to provide for the sustainable future - environmentally, economically and socially. The pavilion showcases Australia's unique lifestyle - a lifestyle that ha

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The Many Looks of Zeo

Delivering ultimate brightness and unique looks, Zeo’s distinct face design is defined by a central LED monolith and four reflectors, backed by four RGBW engines. As a blinder or strobe, Zeo promises powerful impact with 30,000+ lumens. With its sheer brilliance and playful effects, Zeo is ready to amplify the energy on any stage.

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USA - In October 2004, Jeep found a spectacular way to drive home the point that the 2005 Grand Cherokee literally could "go anywhere": they sent the vehicle up the outside of the 27-storey high-rise at 2 Penn Center in midtown Manhattan. On the ground, a half-million unflappable New Yorkers stopped to stare, while TV and webcams sent images to millions of viewers worldwide. The amazement was real, but the feat was an elaborate theatrical illusion, made possible by the meticulous planning, engineering and fabrication that PRG puts into every production.

In just three weeks, PRG designed, installed and tested the mechanism that would make the vehicle appear to climb the 414-foot structure under its own power. To reduce weight, they removed the engine and transmission from the Grand Cherokee, installed a motor that made the wheels turn, and fixed the assembly to a sled t

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USA - Loud Technologies, an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc, has announced two key appointments to its management team. Gary Reilly joins Loud as senior vice-president of product engineering, and Karen Macdonald joins as senior marketing manager.

Gary Reilly brings to Loud more than 25 years' experience in engineering and product development, working most recently as the senior director of product pevelopment at Qualcomm. Prior to Qualcomm, Reilly held key product development and engineering positions at Cubic, Spectrum Control, Advanced Technology Laboratories and Data I/O. As senior VP of product engineering for Loud Technologies, Reilly will have authority over product development and engineering resources for all Loud brands, including the recently-acquired St. Louis Music family of brands. Reilly will report directly to Loud's CEO Jamie Engen.

Karen Macdonald brings

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Sweden - On the evening of 18 August, Ericsson Racing Team's Volvo Ocean 70 was baptised by her godmother - HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, at a spectacular christening ceremony in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Swedish company Spectra Stage & Event Technologies used W-DMX BlackBox products to control four units of Syncrolite SX B/52 and six units of Studio Due City Color over the harbour of Gothenburg. The distance was about 200m open water between console and fixtures. W-DMX BlackBox with standard antenna was used and chief technical officer of Spectra, Abbe Westerlundh who used the products was very happy with the simplicity and power of the W-DMX equipment from Wireless Solution Sweden AB.

Spectra Stage & Event Technologies have invested in several W-DMX BlackBox Systems for the indoor and outdoor events and completed several events in the last month, including Doobidoo

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USA - Gerry Tschetter has been named QSC Audio's director of product management. Effective immediately, Tschetter will take charge of a new product management team dedicated to the task of product development and product marketing.

According to CEO Barry Andrews, "In its most basic sense, Gerry's role here will be to insure that we consistently deliver products that customers want and need. We will be realigning some of our staff members so that he will have a powerful and effective group supporting his efforts."

Tschetter's career has included eight years creating and launching a number of loudspeaker designs at JBL Professional. Prior to that, he logged 15 years with Yamaha in marketing, sales, and product engineering capacities.

"QSC can be as successful with loudspeakers and other product groups as it is with amplifiers," Tschetter asserts. "To t

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The Netherlands - At the PLASA Show, Prolyte will present its products that are especially suitable for the theatrical environment in 'a backstage setting', and will introduce the first prototype of the Prolyft PLT-500 drive.

The Prolyft PLT-500 is a modular flying system that can be built into any theatre, onto any existing fly-wall. Its key features include: precise and reliable positioning; strong, linear transfer, loading capacity up to 500kg; smooth and quiet operation; integrated load monitoring system and flexible, modular plug and play system.

Prolyte can be found on stand M59.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Glasgow is to host its first Festival of Light this November, bringing together celebrated lighting and visual artists and emerging talent to create a three-day spectacle placing light at the centre of urban culture. Radiance, Glasgow Festival of Light will be staged in the city's vibrant Merchant City from November 25 - 27.

Commissioned and funded by Glasgow City Council, and organised in partnership by nva and DF Concerts, the festival will "introduce light as an art form, creating an engaging and visually striking artistic experience at the festival site - whilst illuminating the beautiful, significant and often hidden architecture of the Merchant City".

The festival will coincide with Glasgow's hosting of the 2005 AGM of LUCI, the Lighting Urban Community International Association which promotes creative lighting strategies within urban contexts, of w

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UK - Le Maitre will be holding live pyrotechnic demos at PLASA 2005, in association with the PSA. The company will be holding demos on the Top Deck at Earl's Court. The demos are scheduled for 12pm, 2pm and 4pm every day of the show. Hosted by Le Maitre's head pyrotechnician, Mark Thomas, the demos will allow visitors to see pyrotechnics in action. Effects will include Prostage II Gerbs, Waterfalls, Mines, Flames and Robotics and there will be a chance to examine the latest firing systems.

If you want to know more about the demos or are interested in coming along whilst you are at the show, please contact Amelia Croucher at the e-mail address below.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Mark Leahy has joined worldwide entertainment lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc as the regional sales manager for Northern Europe. Based out of the London office, Leahy's territory includes UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. Leahy has been involved with the professional lighting and sound industry since 1989. He was most recently commercial sales manager for Barco Media & Entertainment in the UK, where for more than four years he was responsible for sales to the events market, including concert-touring rental companies.

"High End Systems is making strong pioneering moves and forging ahead with digital lighting. This is a good opportunity to partner my experience in the projection industry with digital developments in the lighting market," Leahy notes. "Catalyst, DL1 and DL2 are pushing technology forward and are significant contributions

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Denmark - TC Group has announced the complete acquisition of TC-Helicon, the leading manufacturer of vocal technology products. TC Group previously owned 50% of TC-Helicon, which is headquartered in Canada. By purchasing the remaining 50 % of the shares from IVL Technologies Ltd, TC Group now welcomes TC-Helicon as a full-fledged member of the group, which includes Tannoy, Lab.gruppen, TC Electronic, TC Applied Technologies, and TC-Helicon.

Kevin Alexander will continue to serve as CEO of TC-Helicon, which was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between IVL Technologies Ltd and TC Group A/S. The aim of TC-Helicon, which today enjoys a strong position in the MI and professional audio markets, is to provide dedicated tools and solutions for the human voice. With this year's release of the flagship vocal processor, VoicePro, TC-Helicon further establishes itself as the world-leading

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UK - The Lighting Design Awards represent the UK's most prestigious opportunity to achieve recognition for excellence and innovation in lighting design and technology. Rigorously judged by leading industry professionals, finalists and winners earn the plaudits of their peers, industry respect and publicity across a wide range of media, including national press and TV.

New this year, sponsored by PLASA and the PLASA Show, is the Entertainment Lighting category. Open to theatrical productions, concerts, music festivals, corporate events, exhibitions, temporary and one-off lighting installations, this new award will see lighting designers in the event sector recognised for excellence.

The event or events must have taken place in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands between 10 December 2004 and 9 December 2005 (the deadline for entries). Judges will require full technical informati

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Denmark - The new MAC 250 Wash is currently playing an important part in Danish amusement park Tivoli's celebration of Hans Christian Andersen's 200 year birthday. Titled A Tivoli Fairytale, the show pays tribute to Denmark's beloved writer through the daily presentation of an imaginative puppet show. The free show plays at Tivoli's Open Air Stage and includes living fairy tales, special effects, historical readings, newly composed music and song. Andersen was a frequent visitor to the amusement park and it was there that he found inspiration for the fairytale The Nightingale.

Cascades of light, music and special effects set the stage for a gigantic puppet show whose main character is the writer himself. Surrounded by iridescent puppets standing several meters tall, Andersen presents ten of his most popular fairytales including Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clot

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Italy - The Regia 2048 version 2.15 Rev.1 boasts a number of new features. Hands-on simultaneous control of a maximum of 38 cue lists (static or changing scenes) is possible, where each list can contain an unlimited number of cues.

Via the touch screen, it is now possible to access the new Direct Access mode, which allows the operator to change the current scene instantly, should this be necessary for any unexpected reason. SMPTE enables the synchronization of a programmed show with an SMPTE source.

Regia is equipped with an effects generator that can create in a few seconds complex effects on any attribute of the fixtures being used. All playback registers can be controlled remotely via DMX, using any external desk.

SGM can be found on stand G30.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Blitz Charter Group has appointed Neil Gordon as group finance director. Blitz Charter Group was founded in 2004 when it acquired the businesses of Blitz Communications and Charter Broadcast. Neil Gordon's appointment completes the structure of the Board of Directors of the Group.

With over 25 years in financial management and control, Gordon gained his professional accountancy qualifications at Ernst & Young and has worked internationally with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Michael Breen, CEO of Blitz Charter Group, comments: "Neil's financial and corporate strategy skills will enhance the company's credibility with our shareholders and funders and increase business opportunities. We look forward to benefiting from his professional expertise."

(Jim Evans)

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