UK - The Script's FOH sound engineer John Delf has been using a Midas PRO6 for the band's UK tour. Delf spec'd the PRO6 - supplied by Entec - after mixing the Irish band on a Midas XL8 for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo last December.

"It was my first time using an XL8 and even after just one sound check I had fallen in love with it," he states. "We were performing with a full orchestra and the production was running two XL8s at FOH and three PRO6s for monitors and recording. The house engineer was mixing the orchestra on one XL8 and I was mixing the band on the other. It just sounded so sweet and it was really easy to find my way around the desk. We were up and running really quickly and everything I needed to do mix wise was at my fingertips."

He co

Web News - A musical based on the Marvel comic book hero Spider-Man will open on Broadway in 2010. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will include the story of the superhero's origins and will feature music and lyrics by U2 members Bono and The Edge. It will be directed by Julie Taymor, the creative force behind Disney's long-running Lion King. The musical will open in February 2010 at the Hilton Theatre with preview performances beginning in January. The show is reportedly the most expensive Broadway production ever, costing $40m (£27.6m).

China Crisis - Oasis' debut concerts in China have been cancelled after the authorities revoked the band's licences to play, deeming them "unsuitable". Shows in Beijing and Shanghai due to take place next month have been pulled, and fans are to be reimbursed. Concert promoters said the Chinese culture ministry

USA - For Trinity United Methodist Church in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, sound has always been an issue. The sanctuary's soaring peaked roof and exceptionally live acoustics lends a majestic touch to the choir, bell choir and pipe organ, but rendered the sermons nearly unintelligible. That was the conflict confronting Music Mart's Tom Gallagher.

"The room had a three-second reverb time, and the musicians loved what it did for the sound," says Gallagher. "But for the pastor, anyone more than about 20ft away could barely get a word out of the sermons. We had to find a way to improve the intelligibility factor without resorting to any acoustic treatment that would impact the room's resonance."

Gallagher found the solution in Community Professional's new ENTASYS column line array system. "We looked into using a steerable array, but it wasn't really practica

Germany - D.A.S. Audio will be present at this year's ProLight & Sound and will be showing some of its latest developments, including the new Aero and Avant series models, as well as a selection of its wide and varied range of products.

D.A.S. Audio's export sales team will be joined by staff from its subsidiaries, D.A.S. Audio of America and D.A.S. Audio Asia.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Elation Professional's new IP-rated Design LED 36 Pro LED colour changer can adapt to any application, whether indoors or out, in permanent installations or travelling stage shows, says the company.

The DLED 36 Pro has 108 watts of high-output featuring 36 x 3-watt RGB LEDs (12 red, 12 green and 12 blue). Using a DMX controller, operators can custom blend RGB colours. The DLED 36 Pro can also generate changing colours as a standalone unit, since it's equipped with pre-programmed colour macros and eight built-in programmes that can be called up with or without a DMX controller.

The unit includes a built-in 100V-240V switching power supply, and Edison power in and out and XLR in and out. "Even though it's an IP 65-rated fixture that uses IP 65-rated cable, the connectors are regular Edison and XLR, so you don't have to worry about using special connectors," said

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UK - MTFX was at the Brit awards at Earls Court providing confetti 'butterfly effects' for Chris Martin from Coldplay.

This consisted of three cues, one on each of the chorus of Viva la Vida. To produce the effect the producers hired 12 of MTFXs Confetti storms, four extra large venturi blowers, three extra large spinners and 250kgs of red, white and blue Butterfly confetti.

(Jim Evans)

Indonesia - UK-based luxury lifestyle store Harvey Nichols recently opened an outlet in Jakarta, the first Harvey Nichols in Southeast Asia. Two separate facades of the upmarket department store in the Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall, feature dynamic exterior lighting schemes powered by 144 Martin Professional Cyclo 04 DMX colour changers.

The two facades measure approximately 20m wide x 30m high and 20m wide x 9m high. The feature facade is made of an aluminum composite panel, double layered with wire mesh and a translucent canvas. The parang motif, a traditional Indonesian batik pattern based on sea wave movement, is showcased on the exterior front façade.

Lighting designer for the Harvey Nichols project is Paul Gunawan, principal designer at PT LITAC Konsultan of Jakarta whose initial lighting brief from client PT Hamparan Nusantara called for the feature facade to be backli

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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.

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UK - In late January 2009, six performances of The Memory of WT Stead were made at Steinway Hall in London. These performances by artists Lundahl & Seitl and experimental pianist Cassie Yukawa, immersed their small audiences in worlds of darkness, storytelling and music, all the while exploring the geography and contents of the workshops and recital rooms behind the scenes at the piano maker's flagship store.

Sennheiser was an essential part of the process, providing 12 sets of Series 5 headphones for the small audiences. The quality audio of these headphones enabled Lundahl & Seitl to blur the lines between recorded and live sound, making a dramatic experience even more immersive.

"Our specific need was a pair of headphones with open backs, which would not isolate the visitors from natural spatial sound and the live piano play, and also gave us the best binaural p

South Africa - Sweepslag, now in its second series, is a popular LE music programme on SABC2 (the South African Broadcasting Association). It airs in a primetime Friday night slot and has fast gained a reputation for lighting effects, along with performances by the very best of local talent.

Lighting and set designer Robert Grobler from Global Events is using both Robe moving lights and Robe StageQube 324 video panels in his design. "We wanted to create a generic visuality that looked great on camera and which presented a real 'live' feel to the show - even though it's shot at the Urban Brew studios, Randburg."

Grobler's rig contains 24 Robe StageQube 324 panels, 13 Robe ColorWash 1200E ATs and 11 Robe ColorSpot 1200E ATs, all rigged in the studio's overhead grid.

Flexibility is also a key with the lighting and visuals. Eighty per cent of the show is music based, f

Germany - Event service provider Alpha Media Solutions (AMS) has purchased three digital consoles from DiGiCo's German distributor atlantic audio. An SD8 and an SD7 -were delivered at the end of October and December 2008 respectively and another SD8 will further enhance AMS's pro audio inventory this month.

Based in Hechingen, near Stuttgart, AMS has been involved in the professional event business for more than 20 years and its customers benefit from the company's technical and organizational know-how and its experienced staff. "The thing that people remember about an event is its uniqueness," says AMS's owner Jürgen Wirth. "The moment passes, but the fascination will remain... to ensure that this happens, you need technology you can count on."

Wirth continues: "I invested in a D5 in 2007 because, in my opinion, it was the best console on the market.

UK - Multiform Lighting will release a number of new additions to its expanding range of professional LED lighting products on the stand of its international distributor Adelto at ProLight + Sound in Frankfurt.

The MultiSpot Eco complements the shape of the successful Multispot range,but uses a plastic body with a single bracket, a RGB LED panel using 195 LEDs, plus a linear power supply unit and no sound-to-light circuit. This allows for more competitive pricing whilst maintaining the Multispot appearance and Multiform's 4-channel DMX control, offering stand-alone and also remote operation. The MultiSpot Eco is designed for remote-controlled installed systems or smaller mobile systems that require a less road-proof construction, says the company.

The MultiSpot HP uses an array of nine of the new 3W MulTriCell LED devices to deliver 27W of solid state lighting power. The lens

Norway - After rocking North America with 42 shows throughout the United States and Canada, AC/DC's rock 'n' roll Train docked at Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway on 18 February to kick off the European leg of the band's Black Ice Tour.

The group's high-tech set, which includes cannons, a wrecking ball and a 60ft inflatable doll, features a massive 70sq.m Daktronics LED video display comprised of modular PST-10 panels.

The display, provided by Screenworks, the tour's official video partner, brings AC/DC's shows to a dramatic opening as a massive mechanical train appears to crash through it while the band strikes the opening chords of Rock 'N' Roll Train. Moving along a synchronized track, the display divides in two as the locomotive steams through, forming a pair of smaller displays at opposite ends of the stage which then screen live video, colourful animations and

UK - The achievements of Arena Seating were recognised at the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA)'s Annual Tributes this year, when the company was awarded the trophy for best supplier.

The award, sponsored by Access All Areas, was presented to Arena Seating's sales director Dave Withey by promoter Harvey Goldsmith and TV's Ed Stewart. It recognised Arena Seating's track record of service and innovation at events like Wimbledon, Red Bull Air Races, X Factor, the Hyde Park festivals and many other events.

"We're delighted to receive this NOEA Annual Tribute, which we feel reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at Arena Seating," said Dave Withey. "It is a privilege to win the recognition of our industry peers and we look forward to working with many NOEA members at every type of event over the next 12 months."

(Jim Evans)

Germany - The live concerts in the Agora Marquee in the central piazza at the Frankfurt Messe have for years been a feature of the Musikmesse/Prolight&Sound trade fair in Frankfurt. After a number of successful years with the Real Groove Band - along with star guests such as Haddaway, Bobby Kimball and most recently T.M. Stevens - Electro-Voice, Dynacord, Midas and Klark Teknik have secured the services in 2009 of guitarist Steve Lukather.

The session musician and Toto guitarist will be performing with his band three times a day from 1-4 April. "We're proud to be bringing, in the shape of Steve Lukather, a genuine legend to Frankfurt. The Agora Marquee promises to be packed," says Robert Pletz, head of marketing of the business unit communications systems of Bosch Security Systems.

(Jim Evans)

UK - This month sees the release of Liquid 4PRE's Pro Tools TDM/RTAS control plug-in. The plug-in can operate alongside Liquid 4PRE's standalone control application 'Liquid4Control', and provides integrated remote control via Pro Tools software and hardware, including Icon and Venue systems.

As a Pro Tools TDM/RTAS plug-in, it brings other benefits, including comprehensive automation and session integration. This enables, for example, automated gain control of all four pre-amps and full recall of all pre-amp settings (including emulation choice), as part of the Pro Tools session.

Focusrite's LIQUID4PRE four-channel microphone pre-amplifier utilises The Liquid Channel's Liquid technology, marrying a flexible analogue front end with dynamic convolution DSP to deliver the sounds of 40 vintage and classic microphone pre-amplifiers across all four channels.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Link, a leading manufacturer and distributor of products specifically designed to solve wiring and connectivity problems within the entertainment arena, will exhibit its DGlink digital audio distribution system at the Prolight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt (1-4 April 2009).

Link, the first manufacturer to introduce printed circuit board based modular snakes and stageboxes over a decade ago, is now introducing the first hybrid multi-protocol enabled modular digital snake system.

The primary objective of DGlink is to offer a solution that will replace, or integrate with, traditional audio distribution systems (analoguee and digital) during live applications, utilizing one or multiple, digital transport protocol standards over Cat 5 or 6 cables. The DGlink modular touring grade digital audio distribution snake (48 kHz/24-bit), is designed for live applications leveraging the

Korea - Technomad reports that SBPROLINE, a sound system consultant and global supplier of professional audio and public address systems, has installed 18 Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers throughout Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Olympic Park, Seoul.

Jamsil Baseball Stadium, built in 1982, seats 30,265 people and is home to both the Doosan Bears and LG Twins, both professional teams of the KBO Baseball League. SBPROLINE installed Technomad Berlin 15/H, Noho C, Paris 616T and Vernal 15T loudspeakers at various stadium points depending on the audio requirements for each location, relying on the abundance of mounting points and strong construction to ensure the best possible placement of each loudspeaker.

Specifically, six Berlin loudspeakers were selected to provide short throw audio to the main seating areas. Two Paris loudspeakers and eight Vernal loudspeakers provide satellite

UAE - Over 60 Clay Paky spotlights were used at the Destined Multimedia Show in Dubai. Gulf Arena designed and compiled the show together with Zayed University. Accreditation was celebrated in style, retracing the story of humanity and the passing on of knowledge through 25-minute choreographed combination of video, light, sound, fireworks, flames and 'dancing waters', with the special appearance of Japanese drumming group Yamato.

Referring to the Alpha Beam 300s, LD Pawel Pajak - also GrandMA programmer and operator for the occasion - said: "These lights clearly have a never-seen-before brightness for their power class. They have a compact body, are lightweight, and consume only 300W. They also have a CMY wheel, very useful frost effects and a set of gobos for changing the distinctive features of the beam. Alpha Beams are also very reliable. I have used them on several occ

Gibraltar - St. Michael's is the most visited of the more than 150 caves found inside the Rock of Gibraltar, receiving over 1,000,000 visitors a year and making it one of the country's top tourist attractions.

The long passages and large caverns were created over thousands of years by rainwater, turned into a weak carbonic acid by slowly seeping through limestone, gradually dissolving the rock itself. Stalactites and stalagmites in the caves are formed by an accumulation of traces of dissolved rock deposited by water dripping from the ground above.

The cave's structure remains as nature intended, but they have been subject to a sympathetic sound and lighting treatment to reveal the natural beauty of the formations and to guide and inform visitors.

The largest chamber, called Cathedral Cave, has been used to create a an auditorium and houses a permanent stage and seating for

USA - Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, recently built a new facility, upgrading the sound system with an Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system.

"It's not a typical sanctuary," notes Tim Cates, audio-visual director for the church, "it's a multipurpose facility where we also host concerts and banquets in addition to two full size basketball courts. So we needed something with lots of flexibility and, of course, we had a budget. We looked at all the alternatives, and in terms of bang for the buck, iLive hit a home run."

In its primary use as an 1800-seat sanctuary, the church has a 90ft wide stage along one of the long walls of the rectangular room. The iLive-176 Control Surface is positioned halfway back, with the iDR10 MixRack located backstage, connected by two Cat 5 cables. The system also includes the optional Aviom module which integrates wit

UK - With Red Nose Day just over a week away, HHB reports that the Comic Relief media team is using FlashMic Digital Recording Microphones to gather interviews from participating celebrities, members of the public, and from those whose lives are transformed by the work of Comic Relief.

"The FlashMic has been used by Comic Relief to help achieve widespread coverage, which helps us to raise awareness of our campaigns and raise much needed funds in the process," says Comic Relief media officer Lucy McGill.

"Whether collecting soundbites in London, in any of the regions across theUK or at our international projects in Africa, the FlashMic has been invaluable."

Commenting on the news from Comic Relief, HHB managing director Ian Jones says: "The FlashMic is all about making it easy to record and deliver great results, and that makes it useful for gathering

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