USA - William Mooney, lighting designer for BYB Extreme Fighting, a bare-knuckles form of boxing, is using an IP-rated Elation Professional lighting rig to highlight the action inside the ring while supporting the atmosphere outside the ring.
With BYB’s three-sided triangle cage, known as the Trigon and the smallest ring in combat sports, there is plenty of that. “It’s the most exciting franchise I have ever been involved with,” states Mooney, a man who has worked on boxing and mixed martial arts projects such as ESPN’s Friday Night Fights (2008-2015) and Combat America MMA Fights. “I’ve worked on all the major networks but I feel more excited about this show than anything I’ve ever worked with in my life.”
Although the fights take place indoors, Moone

USA - The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, Alabama had long struggled with inadequate sound system performance due to the cathedral’s high curved ceilings, large stained-glass windows, wooden pews and other acoustically challenging design features.
An upgrade to the sound system became a necessity, but to preserve the beauty and historical nature of the cathedral’s large sanctuary, the ministry leadership decided against acoustic treatment. Instead, they trusted a high-performance sound system backed by Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers.
The cathedral’s sanctuary was plagued by a great deal of acoustic shadowing due to the building’s columns, with sound sources out of the sightline of the congregation, which significantly diminished levels and effective coverage. The previous attempt to redesign the sound system over-compensated with pairs of

France - Powersoft has appointed Sidev as its new distributor for France, working alongside Powersoft’s other French distributor, DV2.
Founded in 1991 and based near Lyon, Sidev has been a key player in providing audio-visual solutions in France for over 30 years. In that time, the company has grown to offer the largest sales and pre-sales team in the French market, as well as two showrooms in Paris and Lyon, and a yearly turnover of over €60 million in 2020.
Sidev is, since 2010, part of the Midwich Group. More recently, the company developed its market footprint and audio-visual offer on the French market with the purchase in 2019 of Perfect Sound, an audio specialist distributor.
“Powersoft is a recognised and renowned brand on the AV Market, with a strong line-up to address both the staging and corporate markets,” explains Lionel Roudil, general man

Germany - Frankfurt Opera is one of the most renowned opera stages in Europe, having paved the way for many successful operatic careers. Recently, with an extensive d&b audio system already installed, the venue chose to enrich its audiences’ sound experience with d&b Soundscape technology.
A d&b DS100 Signal engine was duly purchased in time for the 2019/2020 season and the staging of a world premiere at the Bockenheimer Depot - Frankfurt Opera’s second venue.
"It was a spatially complex work, with moving actors and an orchestra spread across the stage” explains sound engineer, Margit Baruschka. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the production was postponed to 2021.
The decision was then made to move the entire Soundscape system to the Frankfurt Opera. Here it could be used to adapt some of the regular programme to allow for social distancing

USA - Xytech has announced Tanya Kelly as managing director for APAC. This appointment follows the closing of Xytech’s acquisition of ScheduALL from Net Insight in April. Kelly’s appointment is effective immediately.
For over six years, Kelly served as a sales and solution consultant for ScheduALL’s broadcast and broadcast service provider customers in the ANZ region. Her background includes technical operations, where she spent nine years as head of studio operations at Fox Sports Australia, as well as a stint at Deluxe as head of bookings
“Tanya has an understanding of the industry and region and has ties to Xytech and ScheduALL reaching back through the years,” comments Greg Dolan, CCO of Xytech. “APAC is critical for Xytech as we move forward to the next phase in our growth. We know with Tanya at the helm our customers are in great hands and her strateg
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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

UK - Hologramica, specialists in the design and production of holograms, is celebrating the opening of its new demo studios on an historic Wandsworth site, thanks to music charity NEKO Trust.
Liz Berry, CEO of Hologramica, comments: “We were struggling to find a home when the NEKO Trust, headed up by Glen Rowe, came to our rescue. We now occupy a beautiful, secluded rehearsal facility, previously enjoyed by legendary bands including Metallica and The Rolling Stones.”
It is from here that Hologramica’s 3D Holonet gauze will continue its ongoing development, along with the company’s production-based activities, which provide holographic hardware, design, content and consultancy for shows worldwide.
“We’ve already installed a stunning 7m wide 3D Holonet rig, alongside one of our portable Holopops Ultra systems,” explains Berry. “Upstairs our filming

South Korea - TechDataPS Cocollaborated with All That Sound to equip YeonCheon Sureul Art Hall with a Harman Professional audio solution.
Located in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Yeoncheon Sureul Art Hall is a cultural facility that offers a variety of performances, including small plays, musicals and solo concerts. The venue houses both a 580-seat grand concert hall and a smaller 166-capacity concert hall. Organisers wanted an audio system that evenly transmitted sound, achieved a sound pressure deviation of +/- 3dB for over 90% of the audience and provided impactful performances for shows of all genres.
To supplement the venue’s existing JBL VT4887A line array loudspeakers, the installation team equipped the venue with a range of JBL solutions including VTX V20 and VTX S25 line array speakers, VTX M20 stage monitors, AC18 two-way speakers, 308P MkII studio monitors,
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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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The Netherlands - May saw Faber Audiovisuals join forces with many of the Netherlands’ world-class technical production companies to deliver a successful Eurovision Song Contest at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena.
Sint-Annaparochie-based Faber Audiovisuals were selected as official supplier for all video display technology, providing both the video hardware and the skilled team of technicians that installed and operated it. "Eurovision is an unparalleled show,” says Faber Audiovisuals CEO Cees-Jan Faber. “To be able to deliver to such high expectations during a pandemic is an achievement that makes us extremely proud.”
Designer Florian Wieder, who celebrated his seventh Eurovision set design in 2021, created a stunning set design for this year’s event. Perhaps the most eye-catching element was the 508 sq.m LED wall, which was built using the new ROE Visual BQ4, con

USA - Avinext and Shalleck Collaborative recently equipped 10 learning spaces in Texas A&M University’s new Learning Classroom Building with Harman networked AV systems featuring AMX, JBL and Soundcraft solutions.
Serving more than 71,000 students, Texas A&M University is one of the largest college campuses in the country. In response to increasing enrolment and population growth in the state, Texas A&M University recently launched a large-scale campus expansion project, which included a new Innovative Learning Classroom Building (ILCB).
The new facility houses 10 different learning spaces suited for different applications, with capacities ranging from 72 to 605 students. The spaces include small, medium and large in-the-round arena-style lecture halls, a fan-shaped lecture hall, an egg-shaped classroom, three-tiered learning spaces and two smaller learn

UK - Christie’s London has announced a digital companion piece to Leonardo da Vinci’s penetrating study Head of a Bear, via a collaboration with digital artists Hackatao, an artist duo born in Milan and who have been pioneering the crypto art space since 2018.
To be offered in the Exceptional Sale in London this July, Hackatao have created a work inspired by this Old Master drawing, bringing the bear majestically to life. This specially commissioned digital work will be unveiled at Christie’s King Street from 3 July, as part of the Classic Week view, visible via the Aria AR app. The digital work has been donated to The Museum of Crypto Art where it will subsequently appear.
Hackatao’s response to the masterpiece Head of a Bear by da Vinci is based on the concept of the continuum; a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibl

Gibraltar - Pixel Artworks has created an immersive light and sound installation within St Michael’s Cave on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Government awarded the project to WrightTech Media, a local digital marketing solutions company with extensive knowledge of the site. Pixel Artworks collaborated with WrightTech Media on the pitch as well as the design and delivery of the complex show, which is scheduled to open to the public on 20 June 2021.
While the project sought to enhance the current Gibraltar Upper Rock Nature Reserve visitor experience, there was no specific site in mind. WrightTech Media and Pixel Artworks showed how St Michael’s Cave could be used in a unique way to take the audience on an unforgettable journey through Gibraltar’s natural history, using projection mapping technology, lighting design and immersive audio.
Christian Wright, dire

USA - The Robson Performing Arts Centre in Claremore recently completed a stage lighting and control upgrade with over 300 LED luminaires and a networked control solution from Vari-Lite and Strand, Signify entertainment lighting brands.
“We wanted LED equipment that would give comparable functionality to our previous fixtures, along with some added ‘eye candy’ elements to enhance our performances,” explains technical director Pamela Neuok, who turned to theatre consultancy Schuler Shook, the original theatreconsultant for the building, to advise on the specification.
Schuler Shook prioritized high quality light output and technology that would be both accessible to students and powerful enough for a professional theatre programme. “The Strand products met our design criteria very well,” says Schuler Shook’s Jack Hagler.
The final design and install

Finland - Intersonic Oy is now providing import and distribution of Renkus-Heinz products through its resellers and integrators.
Intersonic Oy specialises in the import and sales of AV equipment for the Finnish market. The company offers a comprehensive range of products for the experience and event industry, as well as lighting, sound, video, and AV communication solutions for retailers, contractors, and companies. Intersonic Oy is owned by Audico Holding Oy since March 2020.
“It is an honour for us to be appointed to represent Renkus-Heinz here in Finland,” comments Antti Rintamäki at Intersonic Oy. “Renkus-Heinz was one of the first brands I originally worked with when I started my career as an audio sales manager about 15 years ago. I still have the Distributor of the Year trophy in my drawer, and now I can take it out again, put it on my desk, and work for

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Sir Elton John has warned MPs that the UK music industry could lose "a generation of talent" because of post-Brexit restrictions on touring the EU. The musician accused ministers of being unwilling to fix a "gaping hole" in the current Brexit deal which means artists need costly visas to play in the bloc.
The government says the EU rejected its attempts to negotiate visa-free travel, while the EU claims the opposite. Sir Elton called the situation a "looming catastrophe" for the UK. "I want to be clear that the issues of visa-free and permit-free touring aren't about the impact on me, and artists who tour arenas and stadiums," he said. "This gravest of situations is about the damage to the next generation of musicians and emerging artists, whose careers will stall before they've even started due to this infuriating blame game.
"If I had face

France - Amadeus has released a major software update for the company’s Holophonix spatial sound processor. The version 1.7 software update features a new web-remote user interface completely redesigned from the ground up for better performance and a faster workflow and includes a host of new features both powerful and useful for immersive creative projects.
The new version 1.7 update is free to all current Holophonix users and is included with all new Holophonix hardware system purchases.
Holophonix immersive sound processors are installed and have been used for some of the world’s most innovative venues including Paris-based The Pantheon, Chaillot National Theater, La Scala, La Comédie Française, as well as the Beijing Stadium (China), The Lee Seok Young New Media Library in South Korea, ETH Zürich in Switzerland, and many others.
“Previously, the Wav

UK - Shure has introduced the Axient Digital ADX5D Portable Receiver - a dual-channel, portable wireless slot receiver that ‘provides superior RF performance, spectral efficiency, and transparent audio quality’.
“We designed the ADX5D Portable Receiver to incorporate the same innovative wireless technology that Axient Digital is known for, all in a portable form factor for professionals in the field or on-the-go,” said Nick Wood, senior wireless category director, at Shure. “We took the time to ensure this new addition to the Axient Digital family exceeds the rigors of everyday use and lives up to Shure’s reputation for quality that we’ve earned over the past 96 years.”
Axient Digital has been used on some of the biggest live stages across the world. Since it was designed for professional productions that demand maximum signal stability, ADX5D is able

Germany - Cover band Lonely Hearts Club isn’t likely to achieve the fame of the British quartet that inspired their name. But the six musicians from Gescher were greeted with a level of enthusiasm worthy of the Beatles or any superstar when they appeared on the open-air stage at Freilichtbühne Coesfeld at 5pm on Saturday 15 May.
For the 160 entertainment-starved fans in attendance, the band’s show, represented a small, hopeful step back to enjoying live performances as COVID-19 lockdown rules begin to ease with safety protocols still in place. Part of a regional test to demonstrate how outdoor events could be conducted safely, the concert ended at 9 pm, so people could return home in time to comply with Germany’s 10pm curfew.
The early closing time made sense from a health and safety standpoint, but it nevertheless posed special challenges for André Entrup and hi

South Korea - To enhance the visitor experience at Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju, TechDataPS Co recently upgraded the park’s aging sound systems with Harman Professional audio solutions.
Based on the popular characters Pororo the Little Penguin and Tayo the Little Bus, Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju features numerous ‘edutainment’ attractions that encourage children to learn while having fun. However, the park’s sound system was becoming a detriment to the experience, causing auditory fatigue for park employees and visitors due to an abundance of echo and harsh frequencies.
To provide a better experience for guests, Pororo & Tayo Theme Park Jeju’s audio system required a complete overhaul. After being impressed by the performance of JBL Control 60 loudspeakers at the BSS Harman Zone in Yongin, park organisers hired TechDataPS to equip the facility

UK - Martin Audio has recently promoted from within to create two new director roles for its R&D department.
Phil Anthony has been promoted to associate director of design, while Ambrose Thompson is now research director, and together they will lead the R&D department.
Phil Anthony commented, “It’s a great responsibility to continue the legacy of Martin Audio products and one that I relish and look forward to. We have made great strides in recent years in the number of products we have brought to market and I’m confident that by investing in new tools, developing improved processes and pro-active communication across departments, that Ambrose and I will bring genuine customer value with our product roadmap.”
Ambrose Thompson added, “I’m looking forward to helping drive a more even balance between technical, design and marketing strands of the

Italy - Powersoft, has announced two additions to its touring amplifier platform, the T Series, which will allow the company to almost entirely replace its lK Series.
Since it was introduced 18 years ago, the K Series has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and widely used amplifiers on the market, receiving high praise for its lasting audio quality, power density, efficiency, and stable and long-term power.
Building on this legacy, Powersoft introduced the T Series in 2019. Now, in 2021, the new T902 and T904 have been introduced to extend the applications of the T Series further, allowing it to cover the requirements for any system deployment, including larger scale live sound applications.
The T902 is a 2-channel amplifier specified to deliver 4000W at 2 Ohms, 3200W at 4 Ohms, or 1800W at 8 Ohms, and its high rail voltage and peak current on the out

The Netherlands - Heading the production lighting department for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest finals at The Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, was LD Henk-Jan van Beek from Light-H-Art working closely with associate designers Bas de Vries and Martin Beekhuizen. In addition to creating an overall lighting style for the show, they liaised with all the delegations – many had their own consulting LDs and artists directors – creating 39 individual performances within the overall show design.
Henk-Jan specified 740 x Robe moving lights for the event, which made up over a third of the total lighting rig which came in at a count of 1,782 active fixtures.
These and all the event’s lighting equipment – plus audio and rigging – was delivered by ESC 2021’s official technical supplier for lighting, audio and rigging, leading Netherlands rental specialist, Ampco Flashlight.<

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