UK - PLASA will host its 2012 European AGM and Members' Lunch on Tuesday 29 May at BAFTA in Central London. Over 200 members and guests are expected to take part in the event, which includes the opportunity to feedback on the work that PLASA is doing, contribute to the future direction of the Association, and enjoy networking with fellow members.

Over the past year PLASA has embraced a completely different governance structure, expanded its portfolio of events in North America, and introduced a range of new services and benefits. Members at the AGM will also learn more about PLASA's proposed global strategy and the crucial role played by the respective Regional Boards and Governing Body in the planning process.

The PLASA Members' Lunch will be followed by a very special guest sp

UK Black Light's annual Open Day (30-31 March) event attracted hundreds of visitors from a wide range of different backgrounds, including professional theatre, the education sector and amateur dramatics. Over 30 leading light, sound, AV and stage technology companies exhibited and hundreds of items of cutting-edge equipment were on display.

"Our exhibitors really appreciated the opportunity to meet customers, talk to them in a relaxed environment and find out exactly what their needs were," said Phil Haldane, Black Light's head of company development. "All of the show visitors I spoke to said that they were impressed by the range of products on demonstration. They also really liked the chance to get information at first hand. In general, what was so great about the Open Day was that everyone could meet their friends and colleagues, make new contacts and share advi

Argentina - Robe has announced a new exclusive Argentinian distributor - Buenos Aires based The TSD Group. The company is run by Daniel Lema, and it has been a major player in the professional entertainment technology industry since 1994 as a leading supplier to all sectors including television, theatres and concert touring.

"We are delighted to have TSD onboard as part of the Robe family," says Robe's regional sales manager for Latin America, Guillermo Traverso. "We took our time to find the right company and people," he adds, "and the TSD Group's expertise and commitment to the brand, plus their renowned after-sales service and support are all qualities that fit perfectly with us. We expect that they will be great success."

TSD sales manager Sandra Gallasso comments, "We have wanted to work with Robe for some time, and now all the circumsta

USA - CAST Group of Toronto, Canada Wednesday was awarded an inaugural IABM Game-Changer Award for BlackTrax by the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM). The Awards were held during NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) in Las Vegas. The new Awards recognise products deemed to have the greatest potential to revolutionise the industry. A panel of impartial experts from across the globe reviewed products and solutions during the first two days of the show and selected this year's five award-winners, which included such esteemed companies such as Sony and Dolby.

BlackTrax is a live solution that uses an IR LED beacon to track objects or people in a defined 3D space.Using leading-edge proprietary IR, BlackTrax 3D can track all the parameters of each uniquely tagged object in the defined 3D space (the normal installation easily handles up to 130ft cubed

UK - Located on London's prestigious Park Lane and originally built in the 1920s, Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living recently underwent a complete renovation and rebuild, creating a property which builds on the heritage of the building combined with a slick contemporary interior.

The property boasts a spectacular first-floor atrium area with a seven-storey high ceiling from which an illuminated pendant structure is suspended above diners. Prolyte Group's special projects division, Litestructures, was approached by building contractor John Sisk & Sons to manufacture, build and commission this feature as part of the overall project.

The striking luminous pendant, based on a design developed by GIA Lighting, comprises a series of aluminium frames, linked together by braces at the upper frame, assembled in a concentric orientation. Braces link the outer and inner sectio

featured content

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

UK - Meyer Sound and Pro Audio Systems recently joined forces at the Alhambra theatre in Bradford.

Presented by Miguel Lourtie of Meyer Sound with technical support from Pro Audio Systems, the event was attended by around 40 delegates from many backgrounds, all of whom took part in the very interactive event. Designed to highlight the key fundamentals of modern sound system deployment, the event focused on practical solutions for optimising audio as well as providing a refresher course in some key principles of acoustics and applicable physics.

A Meyer Sound Mina system with 500-HP subwoofers plus MAPP Online and various other Meyer Sound, Midas and Sennheiser products from Pro Audio System's inventory were used for the event.

Miguel Lourtie said, "It was a pleasure and delight to find such a professional setup and a huge crowd. I'm looking forward to doing another semi

USA - Pro sports leagues and their fans demand spectacular halftime shows these days, and the 2012 NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show was no exception. Lighting designer Otis Howard got some assistance from 30 Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures, which lent their look to high-octane performances by Pitbull, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and Nicki Minaj.

"When you go into a show like this you need to appeal to the NBA, the client and the artists," says Howard of Otis Howard Design in St. Petersberg, Florida. "They wanted a dynamic halftime show - something on a par with the NFL. There's always the challenge of making a show like this look big, and the 2012 show was the biggest they'd ever done. We had to come up with a lot of bells and whistles."

Howard had seen Sharpys in action and was looking for an opportunity to use them. "They seemed like the right tool for the applicati

featured content

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

UK - There has been a St Andrew's Church serving the Anglican community of Furnace Green in the West Sussex borough of Crawley (around 30 miles south of London) since 1969, but deterioration in the fabric of the original building and growing congregations called for its demolition and the construction of an entirely new church in its place seven years ago. The new building with its attractive modern architecture was recently consecrated and provides a venue now not only for christenings, weddings, and other church services but also concerts and theatrical productions.

The diversity of the events planned for the new church called for a versatile sound reinforcement system. The task of specifying and installing the system was therefore entrusted to Creative Audio Visual Solutions, a company with considerable experience and expertise in the provision of solutions specifically for c

UK - SXS Events employed their new Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing systems on a nationwide tour with Islamic Relief.

Taking place in early April, the Evening of Inspiration tour showcased some of the world's leading performers of Islamic cultural entertainment with famous names including Outlandish, Zain Bhikha, Junaid Jamshed, Native Deen and comedian Preacher Moss.

"Having purchased both an iLive-T80 and a T112 system last year, we felt that they were perfect for the tour," says project manager Johnny Palmer. "The show was in a variety format, which meant considerable desk architecture changes were needed between each performance and iLive was the perfect choice for this. Also, the RJ45-based control meant that at some venues we were able to patch into existing network infrastructure, which worked great."

All proceeds were donated to Islamic R

Germany - Fohhn Audio has announced the upcoming release of its new multi-channel D-4.1200 digital amplifier, the latest in a series of powerful, 19-inch, DSP-controlled amplifiers that have been specially developed for demanding fixed installations and mobile applications.

Weighing just 11kg, the compact 4-channel D-4.1200 is nevertheless built to deliver robust and reliable performance capability. Featuring Class D amplifier technology and Fohhn DSPs, the D-4.1200 generates 4 x 1200W of power at 4 Ohms. An integral 4-in-6 matrix enables each input channel to be independently routed to the four powered and two auxiliary outputs. (The auxiliary outputs can also be used for controlling an additional standard amplifier.)

The D-4.1200 is equipped with extremely quiet fans and is designed to generate a minimal amount of heat when operational. Fohhn Mains Control constantly monitor

USA - Iluminarc has announced the indoor/outdoor lighting solution Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW, designed for wall grazing and suited for installation in commercial spaces, homes, lobbies, hospitals or in exterior settings such as building façades and entranceways.

This multipurpose LED linear wash light has 12 warm white 1-watt LEDs that project elegant and simple warm lighting. With an ingress protection of 67, Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW features 316 marine-grade stainless steel hardware and a 316 steel trim ring to protect against corrosive environments..

Ilumiline Inground 12 IP WW is configured using the Ilumicode Addresser and can be controlled via one channel of DMX. An integral driver with an auto-switching power supply automatically detects the input voltage, ranging from 100 to 240V.

(Jim Evans)

UK - POLARaudio has announced the appointment of Thomas Walsh in the roll of business development manager for the consumer division.

In the latest phase of its development plans, audio distributor POLARaudio has turned its attention to its rapidly growing consumer division. Since the demise of its distributor Path Distribution in 2011, POLARaudio has been committed to re-establishing its consumer brands in the marketplace. Walsh has been brought into the business to assist with POLAR's growth plans and strengthen its swiftly growing national sales team.

POLARaudio's managing director John Midgley commented, "Thomas has extensive sales experience and comes to POLARaudio from the electronic components industry. With many years as an effective sales manager Thomas brings with him enthusiasm and drive. We are preparing for growth in all areas of our business and I am sure Tho

Chile - Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. recently helped Lumina Motion construct a stunning 10,000sq.ft video display on the facade of a round building in Santiago, Chile by providing the ideal equipment and precise development insight needed.

The AV team at Lumina Motion was tasked with creating an exciting and memorable product launch for Nokia's new Lumia 800 smartphone, and succeeded by working with Stampede to utilize "the best technology, share industry know-how and ensure patient attention to every technical detail".

According to Lumina Motion owner Gonzalo de la Barra: "We at Lumina Motion know that when you're producing a live event, everything has to be perfect. Stampede knows this too, which is why they recommended the eight Christie Full HD projectors and Geffen Fiber Optic cables to produce over 10,000 square feet of HD video display with precis

UK - PR Lighting has launched its first compact moving head LED Spot and Beam fixtures. The LED Spot 400 comes equipped with a 16°-38° wide zoom, while the LED Beam emits an intense 6° beam. Both run extremely quietly, outputting less heat than other fixtures on the market, says the company.

Other features common to both fixtures include 50,000 hours LED life (6,800-7500K), seven dichroic colour filters (plus white); seven rotating gobos and seven fixed gobos (all easily interchangeable); DMX controllable focus; 5-100% linearly adjustable iris and macros; electronic strobe (0-20 fps); 540° (pan) and 270° (tilt), with auto position correction; and 14 channels (short mode), 18 (standard) and 22 (extended mode). The LED Spot weighs 14.5kg and the LED Beam 14.2kg. Both fixtures are shipping now.

(Jim Evans)

Russia - The historic Theatre of Nations in Moscow, which has re-opened after a lengthy reconstruction, has been equipped by DOKA Center with a large ADB Lighting installation, including the first ADM Eurodim Twin Tech dimmer installation in Russia.

The Theatre of Nations was established in 1987 under the name of Theatre of Friendship of Nations and in 1991 was renamed the State Theatre of Nations.

Its intensive production activities include developing and producing a variety of theatre projects, organising international and national festivals, presenting the best Russian and international productions, representing many different genres and styles. The theatre also stages its own productions, with the ultimate goal of becoming the centre for nurturing a new generation of theatre practitioners.

The State Theatre of Nations' historical building had been occupied since 1885 by

UK - As part of the celebrations for the Bishop of London's The2012 service, St.Paul's Cathedral hosted an inspiring evening service with over 2000 followers. Music was provided by The Psalm Drummers and Twyford High School Gospel Choir of the Year, withspecial effects by MTFX.

During the choir's rendition of Spirit of the Living God the congregation were showered by thousands of white rose petals, scattered from the Whispering Gallery in the dome of the Cathedral.

Organisers of the service were delighted with the effect and the collective gasp of surprise from 2000 worshipers was described as "breath-taking; a moment to remember for years".

(Jim Evans)

USA - As any die-hard fan will tell you, hockey is the Rodney Dangerfield of American sports. Despite a long history and legions of fans, the game has never quite garnered the respect it deserves.

But the folks behind the Anaheim Ducks are working to change that perception with The Rinks, a fast-growing chain of ice and inline hockey venues in southern California designed to promote the game in a kid- and teen-friendly environment.

"Particularly in Southern California, hockey's always been a pretty underrated sport," says Jason Voorhees of Costa Mesa-based Cantara Design, the company behind the audio systems at The Rinks. "It's gotten a bad rap as a rough game, and in the past, many of the available places to play have been rather run down and neglected."

The Ducks have been working to combat that image, purchasing and renovating older rinks to create cle

USA / Europe - Flightcase and speaker cabinet solutions specialist Penn Elcom has developed a new software programme - CaseDesigner - instigating "a new fully-flexible era in the world of flightcase construction".

Penn Elcom has developed this software to offer its distributors, dealers and their clients the best and most efficient possible design, order and build service.

The fully visual graphical interface enables Penn Elcom customers to plan and visualise potential new case designs in both 2D and 3D, and view in full 360 degree rotation.

CaseDesigner enables Penn clients to generate a quote for themselves, and within literally a couple of minutes, have all the facts available to produce that case at their fingertips.

Thomas Mostert, CEO of Penn Elcom GmbH, the distribution arm of the Penn Elcom Group in Continental Europe and programmer Klaus Koppenhoe

UK - Electrosonic has announced the appointment of Paul Kent as senior consultant to the cultural entertainment and leisure (CEL) team for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Kent originally joined Electrosonic in 1996. During his 12 years of employment, he worked with major theme park clients and designers in Europe, USA and the Middle East as a Project Consultant.

Prior to re-joining Electrosonic, Kent worked as a consultant for attraction design and operation companies, working on internationally renowned projects such as Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.

"Kent brings with him 25 years of production and technical experience working within the entertainment industry", commented Rob Smith, sales manager of the CEL team. "He is well known within the industry and possesses the skills and knowledge to drive Electrosonic's theme park and attractions business forward w

USA - Audio-Technica officially kicked off its 50th Anniversary Year in the US with a special gala event held 19 January 2012, during the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. The event featured an all-star music revue produced by Phil Ramone.

Among the featured all-star cast of performers were saxophonist and longtime Audio-Technica endorser Mindi Abair, R&B/jazz vocalist Patti Austin, new age/adult-contemporary superstar and Audio-Technica endorser Jim Brickman, smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, vocalist Monica Mancini, trumpeter/pianist/composer Arturo Sandoval, gospel/R&B music legend BeBe Winans and Canadian jazz-pop vocalist Nikki Yanofsky.

In commemoration of the event, all eight performers have decided to donate their performance honoraria to different music education programmes and institutions, helping promote the importance of music education and assisting studen

South Africa - MJ Event Gear provided the full technical including stage, sets, video, lighting and sound for a Transnet breakfast event held on 10 April 2012 at the Hilton Ballroom in Sandton. Transnet Group CEO, Brian Molefe, provided detail on a R300bn, seven-year investment programme aimed at transforming the country's ports and railways, and changing the state-owned ports and rail company's financial performance.

Much pre-planning and production management by MJ's Otto De Kock saw the team loading in Sunday morning, rehearsals on Monday and everyone set to go on Tuesday at 7am.

"The client, Overend Outsource, wanted a clean, corporate look, " commented Johnny Scholtz, lighting designer, from MJ Event Gear.

The Robins and MMXs were mostly used to create a warm mood incorporating the Transnet colours. "I used the MMX to light the podium and used some animat

Latest Issue. . .