Italy - A blend of rock, folk, classical and Celtic music is reviving the legend of King Arthur under the Infinity S lights by Coemar.

Excalibur, the Celtic rock opera created by Alan Simon, boasts a cast comprising icons from the '70s and '80s. In fact, there are over 100 international stars in this show including Alan Parsons, founder of the Alan Parsons Project, John Helliwell of Supertramp and Martin Barre, guitarist with Jethro Tull.

After the success of 2009 at Kaltenberg Castle in Germany with an audience of over 17,000, the show is now on tour in 12of the most important cities in Germany and Switzerland and is already scheduled to be performed in other European countries in the summer of 2011.

Swordsmen, knights and dancers in medieval costume perform on a stage

Portugal / Germany - During the recent visit of Pope Benedict XV1 to Portugal, approximately 220,000 people attended an open air mass held on 14 May in the northern city of Porto. Fohhn PT-9 Waveline line array and Linea Focus LF-220 electronically steerable loudspeaker systems were used to relay sound in the main stage and VIP areas during the mass.

In the large open space close to Porto's City Hall, two towers each with 12 PT-9 line array speakers were positioned approximately 30m from the sides of the main stage, providing coverage for between 60,000 and 80,000 people. In front of the stage, two Linea Focus LF-220 electronically controlled column speakers provided direct sound for approximately 1000 VIP guests. Such were the crowds that in neighbouring side streets additional loudspeakers were used to relay the mass to those unable to reach the main area.

Uli Haug, Fohhn Au

Qatar - Creative Events, a major rental firm based in Doha, Qatar has acquired a fourth Midas console for their inventory. The company already boasts a Heritage 3000, Legend 3000 and a Verona. The new purchase is their first Midas digital console in the form of the PRO6.

"Creative Events already owns more than one digital console but this is their first Midas console that is digital," commented Richie Hiranandani, marketing manager. "After they were able to compare the audio quality from their inventory of digital consoles, the conclusion is that the Midas PRO6 is significantly superior."

(Jim Evans)

Denmark - Hasseris Kirke in Aalborg, Denmark has an established reputation as a centre for re-invigorating the Protestant Church through music. "Our church is interested in developing new rhythmic music for services, so we invite composers from all over Europe to come and visit the church with their compositions," says Mogens Jensen, organist and musical director at Hasseris Kirke. "We are concerned with nurturing a creative environment. By finding new music through folk songs or contemporary composition we are creating music that relates to people today, making the path to church smaller, shorter, easier."

Smaller, shorter, easier is a suitable mantra for Jensen's path to achieving that special musical environment. "The church is barely 50 years old and is stone built in the traditional style for this part of Northern Jutland. I chose a d&b audiotechnik

Korea - Christie reports that South Korea based D-Cinema Korea Co. Ltd. (DCK) has committed to installing Christie 4K-ready Solaria™ Series DLP Cinema projectors in the second phase of their digital cinema deployments, countrywide. After a successful first phase of installations, DCK selected Christie's Series 2 projectors, based on their reliability, low cost of ownership and upgradeability to 4K.

In the initial deployment plan, DCK, the joint-venture company of Lotte Cinema and CJ CGV, installed Christie CP2000 Series projectors in the majority of cinemas across the country. The agreement for the second phase of installations strengthens DCK's leadership in digital cinema and introduces a new era in content distribution for Korea. With this second phase installation, South Korea is expected to be the first, completely digitized country in the world.

(Jim Evans)

White Light reports that, following the recent changes at E/T/C UK and projection designer Ross Ashton's launch of his new company, The Projection Studio, White Light is now the sole supplier of the PIGI large-format projection system in the UK.

The PIGI system of high-output projectors and automated double rotating film scrollers has powered the dramatic projections seen at many of the most memorable public events of recent years, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War 2 (both projects involving projection onto the front of Buckingham Palace), the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every year since 2005, the 800th Anniversary of Cambridge University, and New Year's Eve in London. The projectors have also been behind countless other shows in the fields of advertising, concerts, corporate events, theatre, television and more.

These shows have been

UK - White Light recently hosted the industry's first seminar on the application of the recent British Standard covering temporary power systems by Avitas Global. The 16-strong audience consisted of a diverse range of delegates including broadcasters, production managers, event electricians, video rental companies and even an engineer from a power station. The seminar covered the important aspects of the interaction between legislation and standards and went on to look at how the electrical industry's 'bible' - otherwise known as the IEE Wiring Regulations - and the new temporary power standard BS 7909 are entwined.

It explored a range of other issues such as the testing and certification requirements of BS 7909 and in particular showed how it is easy to complete if equipment delivered to site is all PAT tested. The seminar also exampled how current industry practice was

UK - With a stage set of neon strip lights and art deco lines, and a sound that harks back to the 80s, electronic pop duo, La Roux, have just completed their successful Gold Tour, taking in academy-sized venues around Europe, finishing in the UK. Forming part of their substantial audio system was a Sennheiser G3 500-945 radio mic and a complete G3 EW 300 in-ear system.

Front of House engineer, Dave Swallow, has been with the band for just over a year and has a long history of working with Sennheiser products. "Pretty much every tour I've ever been on has had Sennheiser product on it, so using it here was a natural choice," says Swallow. "I opted for this particular system because I've always liked the e 935 and e 945 mics. Using the SKM 500-945 on this tour, I found there are some lovely frequencies in the low end and you can really warm vocals up with them

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USA - TMB will present free condensed Hippo School, AvoTraining, and DVI Parrot seminars in a dedicated Training Room at InfoComm 2010. Training sessions are open every hour, every day of the show.

Special guest Jon 9 of Holonyne Corp. will appear at the Hippo Schools, 10 and 11 June, for a brief presentation on the innovative video art display at the Tom Bradley Terminal, Los Angeles International Airport. This is the world's premier application for the new UberPan Hippotizer component. It is also the largest media server installation in the US, and probably the world, comprising 60 Hippotizers and 58 displays.

On the TMB stand will be not only Hippotizer, Avolites, and DVI Parrot, but other new products including: amBIENT XC immersive lighting control; Kinesys motor control and digital loadcell system; Tempest fixture and projector enclosures; Solaris high-powered strobes; D

UK - The Fareham Folk Festival is one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK. For the last 15 years, Salisbury-based sales and rental company, MIDAS ProSound, has been supplying the sound system. This year, the company went for a complete change, from the main PA all the way through to the monitor system. The new package included two Eclipse consoles from Innovason, SMX15 stage monitors from APG and the VQ Live loudspeaker system from Tannoy.

According to MIDAS ProSound's Paul Nicholson (who also heads up the distribution company Red Square Audio) the event was a complete success. "We've been handling the audio for the Fareham Folk Festival for the last 15 years and we've always achieved great sound," noted Nicholson, "but this year was truly exceptional. In addition to our usual festival regulars who are always kind enough to comment on the gre

UK - May's Camden Crawl saw over 200 acts perform along a two-mile stretch of the UK's most famous High Street. But the massive two-day event is not all about the A-Listers, including Kasabian, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Fall, Billy Bragg and 808 State, as the ETA - or Emerging Talent Awards - ably demonstrate.

Dedicated to celebrating up and coming talent in all areas of music, this year's inaugural ETA gave out eight awards with Best New Solo Artist going to British rapper Truth, who scooped a high profile gig at the Camden Crawl and a Shure KSM9 condenser microphone for coming first in the category that's voted for and judged by members of the public.

Asked about the awards and what it means to be playing on such a prestigious bill, Truth said, "Winning the award for Best New Solo Artist is great. It's the first award I've ever won, to be honest. The management

UK - Audio-technology-for-post specialists Scrub, a division of HHB Communications, has announced the appointment of Ben Scully to its Soho-based team. Scully will operate in a technical sales capacity, providing advice and support at all stages of the sales process from initial consultation and advice, through system configuration, to installation and training.

A Music Technology graduate of the London College of Music and Media, Scully joins Scrub with a background in custom-building computer systems for audio and video production ­ initially with Carillon Audio and, more recently, with Synergy Computers. This experience, combined with full training by Digidesign in Pro Tools HD support, equips Scully for his new role.

Scrub sales manager Tina Wallace says, "Scrub has a hard-earned reputation in the post-production community as the people to talk to about audio technol

UK - Sennheiser UK has appointed veteran Front of House engineer Dave Wooster to the role of live sound specialist. This newly formed position is the result of the company identifying the value of employing a live sound professional with first class knowledge and up-to-date field experience to work alongside its customers.

"My aim is to demonstrate Sennheiser UK's live sound solutions, provide ongoing support and backup and further develop how this range of products' fit in the current marketplace," says Wooster, whose live sound engineering credits include Van Morrison, Gary Moore and, most recently, Leona Lewis.

"Sennheiser's own products are well known for their excellent quality and the third party brands it distributes have been carefully chosen to compliment this. DAS loudspeakers, for example, have some extremely innovative features and sit at a great pri

USA - Traxon Technologies reports that its e:cue Light-Drive Elite is the recipient of two LFI Innovation Awards, announced at Lightfair International 2010. The Light-Drive Elite was recognized for 'design excellence' and in the category of 'Controls, Daylight Integration and Systems'. These awards reinforce the company's commitment to flexibility, simplicity, and innovation in the development of cutting-edge technology for the lighting and controls market, keeping design and aesthetics in mind along with the ability to deliver dynamic and powerful lighting control to users with any level of skill.

Light-Drive Elite is a wall-mounted standalone DMX controller and interactive user interface for dynamic lighting. End-users can easily set up colour changing effects and control lighting using the device.

The user interface features touch-sensitive keys and wheel with colour LEDs f

Portugal - Acoustic solutions manufacturer Vicoustic is shipping the latest addition to its variable acoustics product range. Vari Bass has been specifically developed to eradicate problems associated with low frequency resonance and is billed as the first passive, stand-alone, tunable bass trap of its kind.

Vari Bass is designed for use in any professional recording space, home studio, or hi-fi room. Made from wood and high-density acoustic foam, the bass trap can be tuned between 40 Hz and 100 Hz by simply rotating its wooden top (which has a series of resonant pots) until the problem disappears. A scale is included to show the exact frequencies on which Vari Bass is acting. The unit's stand-alone structure enables it to be repositioned as required and used in different rooms.

Vicoustic developer Jorge Castro is optimistic about the product's potential. "Everyone is awa

UK GDS (Global Design Solutions) will exhibit a number of new products at this year's ABTT Theatre Show, including additions to its successful CueSystem and BluesSystem ranges.

Following its success at ProLight and Sound and PLASA Focus earlier in the year, GDS will again exhibit the newest addition to its product portfolio, the TCP-IP CueSystem an industry first, networked cue light system. With the ever-increasing trend towards completely networked show control and lighting systems, the TCP-IP CueSystem bridges the gap for stage management environments.

The TCP-IP CueSystem uses the established ergonomic control platform with standard GDS outstations. Output nodes are then used for cue light channel distribution in the field all connected to a single network. Web server configuration from an internet viewer allows for configuration and patching of cue light channels. Storage

UK - Dirty Rigger is a completely new range of pro user gloves and accessories launched by Le Mark Group and on debut at the ABTT Theatre Show. The design team headed by Mark Gibbons has spent six months working with some of the UK's leading rigging and installation companies. Gloves were tested to destruction until a style and quality started to appear that showed the design consistency that riggers working within the entertainment industry needed.

Launched with an initial choice of three styles - Full Hand, Fingerless and Framer style (thumb and two finger exposed) with a bespoke range of industry accessories to follow.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Birkenhead-based CFS Easi Rental has won a contract to help convert 50 specially-selected Rileys Snooker Halls within the estate to a new multi-media Fan Zone sports bar concept as the Group looks to reconfigure some of its prime space.

As part of the model, CFS (incorporating EasiRental, EasiPurchase & Easi Lease and service partner TV Technologies) has been supplying each of the units with a pair of Crown LPS-1500 amplifiers, purchased through sub-distributor Batmink - accompanied by purpose-built racks and amplifier remotes. These are powering 12 compact, two-way JBL Control 1 Pro's, distributed across each zone.

The install is part of a concept designed to screen sporting events via a framed big screen and high end projection (with adjacent 3D television) - with relays to other 50" plasmas distributed around the venue - in the lead up to the World Cup; each conve

UK - As pre-registrations for The ABTT Theatre Show reach record levels in excess of 28% higher than previous years, the Show will guarantee a 'full house', packed out with a vast array of new products that will premiere at this year's showcase, say the organisers. The list of companies taking stands at ABTT 2010 covers the spectrum of products and services for the theatre production and staging market, with a strong showing from the engineering sector, but also from the sound and lighting fraternity.

Among the companies launching new products is leading lighting manufacturer Martin Professional will be exhibiting a growing range of creative visual solution products including the MAC 350 EntourLED profile fixture.

As a stalwart exhibitor R.A.T Stands introduces a new range of professional battery powered LEDlights with optional radio control. In response to customer demand the

UK - Point Source Productions has gone from strength to strength since last year's ABTT show and has seen expansion across three main departments.

The Equipment Hire department constantly adds to its hire stock to ensure customers have a wide choice of quality equipment to facilitate their projects. "We believe our customers deserve the same high standard of equipment in theatre projects as they would expect in corporate events and we pride ourselves in prepping and delivering our equipment in excellent condition," says Point Source Productions managing director, Stephen Capel.

Launched at ABTT 2009, the Equipment Service department is staffed by technicians who have practical experience in using products in ongoing projects. "This hands-on approach ensures our team understands how each piece of equipment is used, its key features, and where those dreaded weak s

USA - DNP will have a strong presence at this year's InfoComm Show (9-11 June) in Las Vegas.

Pride of place will go to the newly-announced Supernova 23-23-screen material. This high-gain material (NGHG) has been developed in response to feedback from customers wanting higher-gain screens for smaller projectors, in order to reduce overall installation costs.

Supernova 23-23 addresses and eliminates (or drastically reduces) previous screen limitations, providing 35° increase in horizontal viewing angles. It is available with immediate effect on Supernova One (with which it will be demonstrated at InfoComm) and Supernova Core.

One feature that sets dnp Supernova apart is the ability to provide the total active 3D experience in a high ambient light environment - and the Supernova Infinity Screen (with 3D Content) will do just that, says the company.

A large format Supernov

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