USA - Loud Technologies has announced the appointment of Paul Yue as director of procurement and Kevin Mahony as director of operations, Asia - both newly created positions.

"Kevin and Paul bring more than 30 cumulative years of supply chain strategy, management and quality control experience to Loud," commented Jim Stewart, Loud's chief operating officer.

Yue joins from Philips Healthcare where he most recently developed and managed a Chinese-based manufacturing joint venture relationship for the company's medical imaging business. He will focus on optimizing Loud's material supply chains and developing strategies for key commodities.

With more than 15 years' experience in pro audio manufacturing and supply chain strategy development, Mahony will oversee demand plan

UK - Worcester Cathedral is the centre of a vibrant community and attracts visitors from all over the world. 80 custom-built PixelPups featuring white only LEDs have recently been installed inside the building. The fixtures all have built-in power/control units and feature 12 white Luxeon (3200k&5600k) LEDs. The mixture of both warm and cool white luminaires highlight the architecture.

The cathedral's head electrician Steve Hughes explains, "The Cathedral is very environmental conscious and the PixelPups have not only improved the lighting, they have also saved us money in running costs. The old lighting system consisted of 120 watt PAR 38s; the PixelPups are only 28W- so far more cost effective and more importantly, it reduces our carbon footprint."

He continues: "We are delighted with the PixelPups and are proud to showcase the latest in architectural LED ligh

UK - Eat To The Beat has won the contract to provide dressing room and the production team catering at this year's V Festival in Chelmsford.

Mary Shelley-Smith, Eat To The Beat operations director said, "We are delighted to be adding this prestigious festival to our extensive roster of high profile summer events. The backstage catering has become a key ingredient in the success of the festivals we have become regulars at, thanks to great staff, equipment and expertise. We have previously worked with V Festival in the USA through our American office so to also be working with this one on our home turf is an honour."

Eat To The Beat has over 25 years of tour, location and festival catering experience spanning across the music, film, television and production sectors. During that time they have secured many long term festivals contracts including Glastonbury, Reading an

UK - CoNi - a leading supplier of high-quality lighting, sound and audio-visual equipment to the leisure industry - will be present at PLASA Focus Leeds this April 28 - 29.

Also a major rental house, supplying lighting solutions to tours such as Lee Evans, Live @ The Apollo, Will Young and the forthcoming Michael McIntyre tour just to name a few, the company has direct accounts with some of the world's leading brands in all areas of the entertainment business and aims to supply "leading products at competitive prices,"

"We stock the latest in intelligent lighting technology from Martin Professional, industry standard lighting desks from Avolites coupled with an extensive range of generic lighting and effects. We also stock an extensive range of trussing, rigging and staging, again using industry standard names such as James Thomas and Tomcat," say the compa

Germany - Luminex will be exhibiting their lighting control equipment at Frankfurt's ProLight & Sound exhibition. Luminex will display its latest innovations and enhancements: the New Ethernet-DMX4 MkII and LumiNet Monitor V2 Software.

Launched at the beginning of the year, the Luminex Ethernet-DMX4 MkII is a 4 way ArtNet node that comes with 4 shielded and fully isolated DMX inputs/ouputs, plus all the well known features of the Ethernet-DMX range firmware. The unit can be managed through its front panel, through its built in web site, or through the new LumiNet Monitor V2 software. "The Ethernet-DMX4 MkII offers the reliability and flexibility of Luminex product in a very affordable way."

Visitors will find the company's product range on Focon's booth (Hall 9 - A40), and can visit staff on the Sonoss booth (Hall 9 E86).

(Claire Beeson)

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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

Germany - Alcons Audio will demonstrate its latest innovations including the LR7, the smallest addition to its L-series pro-ribbon line arrays at ProLight+Sound.

LR7 is a micro-sized line-array system, designed to be used in stacked or flown configuration, for both portable and permanent installations. With a width of 3 CD's and a height of 1,5 CD's, the LR7 is suitable for A/V projects, where very compact form factor with perfect line-array throw and imaging are required.

In what has become a regular feature on its ProLight + Sound stand, Alcons will exhibit a new 'design study', providing a glimpse of its R+D activities by displaying assembled prototype developments, some of which may be applied to future products.

To enable visitors to get an idea of the quality performance of Alcons sound systems, low-SPL demo's will take place on the stand, with the VR8 compact monitor

Germany - At ProLight+Sound, Philips will show the latest additions to its FastFit range. With over 50 fixtures, put on the market by 19 different OEMs, the Philips FastFit range has increased greatly since the introduction in 2006.Following therecent launch of two halogen lamps - Philips 750/115 FastFit and Philips 800/230 FastFit, are three new additions. Philips MSD Gold 300/2 MiniFastFit and Philips MSR Gold 700/2 MiniFastFit have expanded the lower wattage group of the seriers. A smaller lamp base, so-called MiniFastFit, is installed to enable the design of even more compact fixtures.

The MSR Gold 2500/2 FastFit lamp enlarges the series of higher wattage discharge lamps. This new high wattage FastFit lamp concept has an arc size of 9.5 mm and an efficacy of 77 lm/W.

(Jim Evans)

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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

USA - Blue Sky has introduced two new components to its full line of monitoring solutions: SUB 212 400-Watt Push-Pull Active Subwoofer and the SAT 8 300-Watt, Compact Mid-Field Monitor.

The SUB 212 is designed to be an integral part of the monitoring system, enabling a studio monitor, such as the SAT 8, to be positioned for the best imaging, and the SUB to be positioned for the best bass response, says the company.

"Our customers were asking for a powerful system that was similar to the Sat 12 and Sub 15, but in a smaller package," said Blue Sky vice-president Chris Fichera. "The Sat 8 and Sub 212 will address those applications."

(Jim Evans)

Ireland - The University of Limerick is one of Ireland's largest campuses, and its Department of Languages and Cultural Studies (LCS) is a particularly well-regarded programme. Recently, the LCS department benefited from the unveiling of a new Languages Building. With this new facility came a massive technology upgrade, and a key component were products from Xantech Commercial. The equipment was installed by Kildare-based Audiviz.

The Language Resource Area (LRA) offers support to the learning, teaching and research that takes place within the LCS department. The LRA works closely with the Language Support Unit (LSU) in assisting language students and the facility includes two computer labs specifically equipped for language teaching and learning, as well as a digital language lab.

The main hub of the LRA is its state-of-the-art Self-Access Centre, which contains many resource

USA - When the Professional Bull Riders Tour (PBR) went shopping for some new automated lights, production manager Clayton Cullen and his crew searched for a rugged, reliable fixture that could withstand the dust and dirt kicked up by 2,000-pound bulls - as well as this fast-growing sport's intense 10-month national touring schedule.

They also needed a fixture that could handle the versatility of the PBR's weekly televised competitive events, which are "more akin to a rock 'n roll show with beef," says Cullen. Held in major indoor sports arenas like Madison Square Gardens and the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, the shows are full-scale productions that feature not only cowboys and bull riding, but also music and special appearances by guest artists.

"We never know when a major artist will stop by - or what we'll be doing in our shows. So we have to be very,

USA - Communications Specialties is consolidating its two fibreoptic product lines, Fiberlink and Pure Digital Fiberlink, into one cohesive entity known as Fiberlink.

"We have a brilliant brand in Fiberlink with excellent industry-wide recognition," states Derek Miranda, director of marketing. "Our customers have always referred to each of our fibre optic offerings as Fiberlink. It was time to strengthen our connection to our customers through a strong, homogenous and recognizable brand."

"There was a time when it was very important to clearly differentiate the two core fibre optic technologies that we provided to our customers, digital and analog, because we have always been at the forefront of the technology," says John Lopinto, president and CEO. "Now that digital fibre optic technology has become the foundation for all of our fibre optic

USA - Wybron customers can shop for colour changers, luminaires, gelstrings, and more anytime day or night with the lighting manufacturer's new online store.

Launched this week, the online store at www.wybron.com sells Wybron's Coloram IT, CXI IT, and Forerunner colour changers; Nexera LX CMY dichroic colour-mixing luminaires; gelstrings; and accessories such as power supplies, mounting brackets, and cable.

The full line of Wybron products, including such items as the Eclipse mechanical dowser and the Transition fibre optic illuminator, will only be available through the company's distributors or the company's internal sales team.

"We expect that most people will continue to buy Wybron products through dealers," said CEO Keny Whitright. "The store just gives customers and end users another way to research some of our best-selling products from their computers.

Germany - The Procon group has been appointed as technical supplier for the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. Procon has already worked for the production in Athens 2006 and Belgrade 2008.

Procon will send 34 trailer trucks with technical equipment and a team of more than 70 people to this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Contract value is in the seven-figure area, says the company.

Amongst others, Procon has recently provided services for the Echo (German Music Award) in Berlin and is at present working for the TV show Deutschland sucht den Superstar (German Pop Idol).

(Jim Evans)

UK - The Pub Landlord, Al Murray is in the midst of a year-long sold out stand up comedy tour. Tour manger Adam Booker and lighting director Paul Timmins called upon Bandit Lites in the UK to service their needs for the 2009 live tour campaign. Mick Freer from Bandit handles the daily needs of this production.

Bandit has supplied a collection of PAR fixtures, manfrotto stands, MR 16 ministrips, dimmers, cable and an Avo Pearl.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Aviom has expanded its Applications & Technical Training Programme. The initiative was originally launched last summer, and this year, the company has significantly expanded the programme to include multiple interactive webcast sessions each month. Since the beginning of this year, the company has been hosting five or more of these sessions per month. The new expanded initiative features two training programmes: one set of sessions designed for contractors, consultants, and other audio professionals and a second set designed specifically for end users.

The training seminars cover everything from monitor mixing to getting started with digital snakes to advanced audio network design and have included Lowering the Stage Volume in the House of Worship, Aviom's Pro64 Series: The Next Generation of Digital Audio Connectivity, Aviom Solutions for Schools & Theatr

USA - When ATK Audiotek, a high-end audio company servicing such events as the Super Bowl, Dancing with the Stars, and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, went shopping for five million watts of amplifier power, it chose the Digam K-10 amplifier from Italian manufacturer Powersoft. Each K-10/AESOP offers up to 12,000W of power in a one rack unit body and is designed for high reliability, crystal clear sound, low power consumption and advanced digital control, the manufacturer says.

ATK's initial purchase of 450 units completes a unified equipment vision for the future of ATK, th company says. "We specialise in large, technically difficult special events for television," says Scott Harmala, vice-president of engineering of ATK Audiotek. "The reason for the massive purchase of Powersoft K-10/AESOPs is because we wanted to implement a unified e

Czech Republic - Milos recently staged a successful and comprehensive Technical Workshop event at its facility near Prague.

Attended by 30 individuals representing rental and staging companies from all industry sectors and Milos users from across Europe, the two-day event was designed to highlight new and key products in the Milos range of trussing, staging and roofing systems. It also focused on the services and support offered by the company.

Jeff Broitman from Milos America kicked off the proceedings with an introductory speech, followed by a tour around the xtensive manufacturing facility. This enabled attendees to see first hand all the elements involved in the manufacturing process, including cutting and automatic welding, all types of trusses, the production of circles and other shapes and special projects, control, packing and final products. It also included the Milos

Germany - Wireless Solution Sweden is preparing to show its latest additions to the W-DMX product line at Pro Light + Sound next month. The company will be showing three new products: the W-DMX UglyBox, the W-DMX ToolBox Pro with Dongle, and the W-DMX BlackBox S-2000.

The W-DMX UglyBox which can be attached to a belt with its built-in lanyard connector, measures the presence of DMX, the signal strength, and even a signal strength history monitor to gauge signal stability. The unit is built for rugged conditions and is adaptable for any W-DMX antenna, says the company.

The W-DMX ToolBox Pro with Dongle is Co-Existence software with an antenna calculation tool. The software ensures that the co-existence of multiple wireless protocols remain in harmony.

The BlackBox S-2000, a double universe transmitter, a 19" 1U Rack unit is prepared for ACN Lite, ETC-NET and Strand ShowN

USA - Audio-Technica is holding a series of seminar events during NAB 2009, 30 March - 1 April in Washington DC.

Audio/broadcast veteran Dennis Baxter will present seminars on Surround Sound for Sports Broadcasting. Baxter is a multiple Emmy winner and the sound designer for the 2004, 2006, 2008 Olympic Games, as well as the author of A Practical Guide to Television Sound Engineering.

Dr. Fred Ginsburg, specialist in production sound recording for motion pictures and video, will present seminars on the Placement and Use of Lavalier Microphones. Ginsburg's background includes nearly two decades as a sound mixer on feature films, episodic TV and commercials, as well as for corporate and government applications.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Adlib Audio continues its ongoing relationship with the Kaisers Chiefs, supplying all sound equipment and crew for the band's latest arena leg of their Off With Their Heads world tour.

Adlib's systems tech Tony Szabo has worked with the band and FOH engineer Chris Leckie since Adlib first won the sound contract in 2007.

Leckie once again specified a JBL VerTec line array which light in weight, making it easily adaptable for some of the smaller shows in Europe. "We can get 11 cabinets on a 1 tonne point." Szabo points out.

They carried a total of 60 VT4889 mid hi cabinets for the arena leg, together with 16 of the updated VerTec 4880A subs and 16 of the new L-Acoustics SB28 subs. The L-Acoustics SB28 formed a nice solid ground stack whilst the Vertec subs were flown.

A typical configuration was 16 deep VT4889s for the front hangs and 14 for the sides,

Italy/UK - Clay Paky has confirmed the appointment of Ashley Lewis as regional sales manager for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Lewis will start in his new position immediately and will be responsible for the broad customer base of Clay Paky in the region, adding value to the existing relationships and providing local support.

Lewis, who has 20 years' experience in entertainment lighting, commented, "I am looking forward to working with such a professional and respected lighting company and I am so honoured to be looking after such a loyal network of quality dealers."

Pio Nahum, international sales director at Clay Paky said: "The creation of this new position happens at a very positive time for Clay Paky and it is part of our strategic plan for providing our customers with a solid support worldwide. I have known Ashley for many years and I respect his competen

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