Eurovision Clash - The date of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest has been thrown into doubt. The UEFA Champions League final, the biggest match in club football, will take place on the evening of Saturday 22 May. 2010 marks the first year that the game will take place on a Saturday instead of midweek. The date is the same as the preliminary date announced by the EBU for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest. The song contest and the UEFA Champions League final are two of the most viewed television shows in the world. It would be almost impossible for the two events to take place simultaneously because many broadcasters are contractually obliged to broadcast both events.

UEFA announced that the dates for the Champions League schedule last December. Because 2010 is also a World Cup year,

USA - Over 140 Robe moving lights have been installed into the new 3800-seat theatre and two ballrooms at the landmark MGM Grand Casino at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut.

The venues are part of a two-and-a-half-year, $700 million construction project resulting in the new facility, adding 180,000sq.m to the existing Resort to which it is connected via a moving walkway. It includes four restaurants, 825 hotel rooms, 53 table games and 1400 slot machines.

The Robe fixtures are an integral part of a lighting design by Tom Roach, Foxwoods Resort Casino's lighting manager, and the choice of moving lights was the direct result of a shoot-out between Robe and another leading brand. David Middleton of Stage Lighting Representatives represented Robe on the project, and worked closely with lighting suppliers and installers Barbizon Lighting Company to provide the units for

UK - ETC has reported "a hugely successful inaugural PLASA Focus", with the company's stand proving popular with visitors. The newly acquired Selador series created a lot of interest, with lighting designers excited by the opportunities the LED fixtures offer, says the company. The series is made up of three luminaires, fine tuned for strong colours, soft pastels or perfect skin tones.

Meanwhile, ETC's latest lighting control desk, Element, created a buzz, with associate regional manager for UK and Ireland Jeremy Roberts kept busy both days of the event giving demonstrations. The desk, which is based on Eos software, is a replacement for ETC's Express line of desks and is aimed at smaller theatrical venues and schools that depend on single desk operators or volunteer staff.

ETC's market manager for Europe, Erik Larsen, says, "We were delighted with the attendanc

UK - Orbital Sound supplied a comprehensive sound system for this year's Flamenco Festival, staged at Sadler's Wells in late March and featuring six companies in a non-stop two-week programme. The system included the new d&b audiotechnik T-Series loudspeakers, with 16 x T10s and T-SUBS configured as a mix of vertical point-source standalone cabinets and horizontal mini line array groups. This is the fourth year that Orbital Sound has been involved with the event, working with resident sound technician Tom Hares.

The 2009 Festival kicked off with less than 24 hours to load in and test the system before the first performance, involving two teams working back-to-back to get everything in place. Tom Hares elaborates: "Every year is different with one exception - it's always demanding. On the Friday night before the festival started, we had 120 children on stage in Dan

South Africa - More than 200,000 men from all over South Africa congregated for the Mighty Men Conference 2009, one of the country's largest annual Christian events, to listen to minister Angus Buchan, farmer, writer and missionary of Shalom Ministries.

For the first time, though, this year's gathering was also broadcast live on local and international cable networks, posing considerable challenges for the event's audio crew. The crew for the event relied on Aviom's Pro16 monitor mixing system as a solution for stage monitoring to minimise stage volume for the live broadcast.

"Since the event was being recorded as well as broadcast live around the world, we needed to ensure as quiet a stage as possible," explains Nik Fairclough, owner of Northwind Recording, system designer for the event. "All guitar and other amps were below the stage enclosed in gobos.

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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

UAE - April 2009 saw celebrations for the opening of Goboland Middle East MFZE. Based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, this new branch of the Belgian gobo manufacturers has been established to serve the burgeoning Middle Eastern market and the demand for its gobo services across the busy architectural sector.

"The Middle Eastern market has been expanding exponentially in the past few years," explains Goboland managing director, Ivo Dielen. "The volume of business this has created for us has necessitated the opening of a branch 'on the ground', so to speak, so we can bring a more customer-facing service to our new clients here in the Middle East.

"The projection of gobo images onto the exterior of buildings is a powerful advertising tool which has become a tour de force here. The number of projects and advertising ventures which incorporate gobo projection has seen t

UK - Sheffield-based Cloud Electronics has launched a new zone mixer levelled at bars, restaurants and hotels, even offices: any multi-use area where simple control of high-quality background music needs to be allied with flexible paging options.

The Cloud CX261 is a 1U rack-mounting audio mixer offering simple control of high-quality background music - including a front-panel 3.5mm jack input for easy connection to laptop, portable MP3 connection, or similar - with a host of flexible paging options.

Any one of six stereo line inputs can be mixed with one or two microphone inputs. Independent control of music and mic levels is provided and may be operated remotely. Whilst the main output is stereo, mono output -suitable for providing MOH (Music On Hold) to a telephone system - can be simply configured.

Either mic input may be activated by voice (VOX) or short-to-ground acces

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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

Italy - The new FaitalPRO 520 Loudspeakers feature the new woofers branded FaitalPRO 10FH520, 12FH520 and 15FH520 that are able to handle a nominal power of 600 W. These new models are inserted in the highly appreciated Five Hundred series and teamed with the established models 10FH500, 12FH500 and 15FH500, based on a copper winding voice coil.

The new woofers are conceptually derived from the existing ones and are intended to complete the range; they are the result a direct market request and FaitalPRO immediately replied according to their constant desire to improve - as always - the acoustic performance of their products.

Flavio Naggi, FaitalPRO overseas sales manager says, "We wanted to complete the Five Hundred Series with other professional loudspeaker models appropriate for two or three way enclosures, to be more open, to be cut higher at the level of a low-pass fi

USA - In a significant audio upgrade project at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the first Soundcraft Si3 digital console sold to a House of Worship was recently installed to help deliver better quality sound for the 750 worshippers who attend services and participate in ministries every week. The church has been established in the Grand Rapids neighbourhood since 1979 and continues to uphold the history of The Evangelical Covenant Church.

The church decided to upgrade the audio system after their original analogue system started to deteriorate; a 48-channel analogue mixing console was originally installed in the church, the digital Si3 replaced it with minimal infrastructure changes, immediately providing 64 input channels.

"There were a lot of factors that we needed to decide upon prior to purchasing a digital console, however we knew we wanted

UK - Innovation Productions has embraced line array technology for the first time, adding a new Martin Audio W8LC system and control to its hire fleet.

Managing director Andrew Pygott made the decision to purchase 16 of the mid-high enclosures, along with eight WS218X subs and a pair of DX2 processors, based on recommendation. They have also configured the drive racks to accommodate six new Martin Audio MA5.2K amplifiers, with an MA12K driving the bottom end.

Pygott said the system was purchased as soon as his company knew they had won the contract to supply sound reinforcement for this year's Isle of Man TT Races during the first fortnight in June. Each night a concert will be staged in the Villa Marina Gardens in Douglas, but it is Whitesnake - the main headliner during the week-long Festival - that will provide the W8LC with its first serious test.

While Huddersfield-base

China - Lying at the Western end of China's Great Wall, Jia Yu Guan has been a strategic transport nexus since the days of the Silk Road. This historic city, placed at one of the major crossroads of civilisation has added a grand new theatre to its already bustling streets.

It's a measure of the speed with which complex projects can be completed that the Jia Yu Guan Grand Theatre opened just 16 months after builders first cut turf. An ambitious project by any measure, the fact that this prestigious arts venue was completed during the final year of China's massive construction project for the 2008 Olympics makes it all the more laudable. That and the fact that Jiuquan Iron & Steel (Group) Co, has chosen to endow the theatre with top of the range technical equipment including a d&b audiotechnik PA system.

"The main theatre seats just under 1200 people," explained Danie

UK - Tim Riggs has set up AV Crew Finder (www.avcrewfinder.co.uk), an operation designed to help freelance crew and production companies find each other, and also to save time and resources for all clients.

Riggs has many years experience in the conference and events market, having worked for many of the major players in the industry. "We only supply and recommend experienced and reliable staff and everyone on our database is vetted to ensure they meet our strict criteria," he says.

"We also provide clients with freelancers C.V.'s and PL insurance. We do not charge freelance staff to find them opportunities but do invoice a small fee to production companies to cover our costs."

Skills covered by the service include: general audio visual technicians, specialists in video and audio, lighting technicians and designers, cameramen, video editors, project and p

UK - A grandMA light console, grandMA video and one MA NSP all running over Ethernet are at the core of lighting and visuals control for the Wild Rose production of Cirque de Glace. The show is a new concept in ice presentation, combining acrobatics and circus artistry with the elegance and magic of ice dance, performed by the Russian Ice Stars.

Lighting was designed and programmed by Tim Routledge of grandPA - the UK's first programming house for the grandMA control platform. He also specified grandMA video which supplies digital scenery and backdrops throughout the show, bringing to life a story recalling the creation of the planet, evolution and humanity's journey to the limits of technology and beyond.

Chief LX Graham Shearing is touring with the show and overseeing technicals. He first used a grandMA console on the previous 2007/08 season show, Beauty and the Be

China - The Chinese HK Audio distributor Melody Development is now offering regular seminars to customers and partners. This training familiarises dealers, technicians, and sales staff throughout China as well as Melody Development's workforce with new products, teaching participants how to best use this equipment.

Melody Development's chief technician Chen Ziqian usually conducts the seminars, held by turns in the different provinces of China. The recent workshop took place in March at Jinan Shandong province. Chen Ziqian presented the HK Audio product range to 120 attendees, focusing especially on the HK Audio Contour Array system and the HK Audio P:RO series. The presentation's highlight was a live demo of the systems and individual cabinets' audio performance that left quite an impression on the audience.

Melody Development is very satisfied with the results of the worksho

USA - Medialon is organising a Training Session on its show & media control software, Manager V5, prior to the InfoComm 09 Trade Show. The two-day course will be held on 15 and 16 June in the premises of Electrosonic, Orlando, FL.

During the session, Medialon engineers will provide students with the technical skills required to set up and programme a show control system based on the latest Manager V5 software release.

The course is aimed at show technicians, freelancers, and end-user technicians who are responsible for programming and running show control systems in live events or permanent installations.

(Jim Evans)

Canada - Adamson Systems Engineering has hired two new tour support engineers after a series of interviews conducted at this year's Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt.

David Dohrmann is currently based in Berlin, Germany and will join Adamson European Tour Support with chief technician, Jochen Sommer.

Dohrmann will provide support and training with Sommer who reports, "After the interviews we all agreed that David's technical knowledge combined with his friendly and highly motivated demeanour made him number one on our list. He's gotten up to speed with our gear very fast, he has good ears, and his system tuning fits our approach. I'm confident that he will be a major reinforcement for Adamson's European Support."

Ewan McDonald, hailing from Sydney, Australia, will be joining Adamson's Canadian headquarters support team. His career began just over 10 years ago, and got hi

USA/Canada - Paul Mitchell has a hair salon network of over 70,000 around the United States and Canada, as well as having a presence in 44 countries worldwide. Its professional training arm, Paul Mitchell the School, has a 20-year history, with new sites constantly opening around the US. Its Wichita, Kansas school has recently installed a Turbosound audio system.

The educational facility covers a total area of 12,000sq.ft, which is divided into various areas for specific activities. In The Clinic hairstyling instruction area eight compact passive two-way Impact 55Ts and two TXD-118 subs have been installed, whilst the General Classroom, Core Classroom One, Core Classroom Two, the Wash House area and the office, halls, breakout room and restrooms are covered by varying amounts of TCS-C50T ceiling speakers, numbering 28 in total.

"As a preferred vendor for Paul Mitchell Sch

USA - Bandit Lites was named the best large business in East Tennessee by the Knox Area Chamber Partnership. Bandit took home the prestigious Business Excellence Award on 1 May at the Knoxville Convention Centre.

This award is presented to an outstanding firm in East Tennessee that has clearly shown leadership, innovation and quality. Past winners include Scripps Networks and Pilot Travel Centers.

Chairman Michael T. Strickland said, "All of us at Bandit Lites are humbled by such an honour and promise to continue to earn the accolade. We are truly blessed to have the great opportunities we have and will continue to be a business that everyone can have pride in."

(Jim Evans)

Finland - Formed 33 years ago, Eppu Normaali is one of Finland's longer-established rock bands. With their stock of PA equipment improving and expanding over the years, drummer Aku Syrjä set up sound hire company Akun Tehdas as a subsidiary of the band, to rent out the equipment when the band was not on tour.

The company has become a major player in the Finnish sound rental market and, already owning a DiGiCo D5 Live console, saw the SD8 as the logical next step for its inventory, which is taking pride of place at the front of house position on Eppu Normaali's current European tour.

"The price:quality ratio of the SD8 was just right for us, as well as the console's compact size," says Antti Salminen, Akun Tehdas / Eppu Normaali system tech and monitor engineer. "Currently we also have one on hire, but this summer it's likely that we will purchase a second one.&

USA - The Impression LED intelligent moving head is now ETL approved. The Impression, available from Elation Professional, has received cETLus certification for the United States and Canada, ensuring it complies with UL standards and can therefore be specified in permanent installations and other applications where ETL approval is required.

"We are extremely pleased that the Impression has been awarded the cETLus seal of approval, which is granted only to products that pass the strictest safety and quality inspections," commented Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional.

"This is excellent news for our customers, too. The Impression has distinguished itself as a one-of-a-kind lighting product that takes LED colour washes into the next generation, and now that it has received this official accreditation, more designers will be able to specify it in

USA - A short drive north of Houston, Texas, Devasco International specialises in highly customised welding and metalworking solutions. It's an innovative and creative environment, but with a large staff, a 62,000sq.ft warehouse and plenty of industrial-grade machinery, it's not among the quietest. So when controller/treasurer David Scott took up the task of designing audio systems for the company's various buildings, he knew he had his work cut out for him. Scott selected a variety of loudspeakers from Community Professional to cover different functions throughout the facility.

14 RMG200A voice range horns provide a powerful paging system that covers the main warehouse, easily delivering 94dB of voice intelligibility where it's needed to overcome the din of a busy machine shop. In the company's training facility, a pair of SLS920 three-way boxes deliver music and voice performa

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