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a quick run-down of forthcoming trade shows . . .

IBC - 13-17 September, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Leading broadcast technology event. The show covers all the key areas of the electronic media business including audio, cable, film, grip, internet, lighting, multimedia, production, post production, radio, satellite and transmission. An accompanying conference tackles all the technical, management and creative issues.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 6909 www.ibc.org

World Lighting Fair - 3-5 October, tokyo, Japan

World Lighting Fair is the showcase for the latest products serving the entertainment industry. It covers technology serving the stage, TV, film, attractions, retail and events sectors.

Tel: +81 3 3706 5687 www.wlf.co.jp

AES, New York - 5-8 october, los angeles, USA

AES conventions always feature a full programme of technical papers, seminars and workshops

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Members of the PLASA team will be at the forthcoming LDI trade show. PLASA is taking a government-funded group to the Show, which takes place in Las Vegas from 18-20 October 2002.
Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

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This great sporting summer reached a new pinnacle when the fourth annual Hayden Laboratories Industry Cricket Challenge was fought out at Littlewick Green Cricket Club, Berkshire.

The event once again brought out the best from 22 dedicated, superfit sportspersons from across the industry. A change in format for this year meant that the usual round-robin tournament gave way to a 35 over each way match between two teams; representatives from PLASA/Clarion Events, under captain Mark Saunders of Clarion, took on the very best that the Lighting/Sound industry had to offer, under the captaincy of Lightfactor’s Paul DeVille.

The Lighting/Sound team got off to a convincing start, until their star all-rounder Charles Ward (DJ Magazine) was bowled by Clarion’s Stephen Ingram for a disappointing 6. From then on, with the exception of a few strong batting performances from the likes

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Tomcat UK and PCM would like to remind all of their customers that from 1 September 2002 they will be supplying all Columbus McKinnon Lodestar hoists with 4-pin, 110V, 16 Amp yellow CEE-form connectors instead of the current 3-pin version. The majority of customers will now have received letters from their respective supplier explaining the change. In addition, any users of Columbus McKinnon theatrical chain hoists with questions or concerns are invited to a meeting to be held during the PLASA exhibition in London. It will allow users of the product to discuss the matter with representatives of the PSA, Columbus McKinnon and their two UK distributors, PCM and Tomcat UK.

The meeting will be held in the Westminster Room (Earls Court 1, Level 1) on Tuesday 10 September 2002 at 10:00 AM.

(Lee Baldock)

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L&SI is running two Round Table discussion sessions during next week’s PLASA Show (September 8-11, Earls Court 1, London) designed to address some of the most central issues in the industry.

The first session Freelance Rates - Due for Review? This discussion should prove to be a lively debate on the current levels of freelance rates, which over the years have shown a downward trend in real terms. With many rental companies naming their daily rates, how can those who actually do the work and keep said companies successful lobby for more money? Should there be a flat rate according to role? Who should take responsibility for change? Will rental houses come unstuck by causing their crews to form a union-style body, or should they take the lead and move things on themselves?

Chaired by L&SI technical editor James Eade, the panel will include Mark David-Gray of BECTU and freelancers

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Following the administration of the Lighting Technology Group in June, buyers have been found, as predicted, for a number of the Group’s assets.

The PAI Group has announced that it has acquired the rights and assets of Lighting Technology Projects (LTP). The new company will trade as before, under the name of LTP, and will be headed up by Terry Reeves, who managed the company prior to the appointment of the administrators PriceWaterhouseCoopers in early July this year.

The acquisition is a logical step for the PAI Group, which specializes in the creative design, supply, and installation of bespoke audio-video, lighting and sound for the leisure, retail, education, heritage, and sports industries, and consists of PA Installations (PAI), VS Installations (VSI) and PA Technologies (PAT). LTP is a respected name within the industry and its markets will complement those of the PAI G

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Fineline and Tomcat UK recently made the seemingly impossible possible by designing and manufacturing a completely new design roof structure in just over two weeks from initial conception. When approached to provide an outdoor roof structure for the recent Joe Calzaghe vs. Miguel Jimenez fight at Cardiff Castle, Fineline managing director Darren Wring thought that he would have to turn the offer down as he did not own a structure of the size or specification required. But after bit of head-scratching, it became apparent that he already owned a large enough quantity of truss to produce the majority of the structure - all he would need would be the custom components to create the roof.

Wring then contacted Tomcat UK and the design work started on the four-tower, 18m x 16m system. In just over two weeks, Tomcat and Fineline had designed, engineered and manufactured the necessary component

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Following the floods in Europe during August, PLASA Media has received the following appeal from the Association of Professional Theatres of the Czech Republic:

It is barely a week since disastrous floods invaded the ancient and beautiful cities of Bohemia and caused enormous damage. Another dark August (34 years after the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968) threatens to paralyse Czech culture and its most "live" offspring, the theatre. Theatres in Prague, Ústí nad Labem, Budweis (Ceské Budejovice) and Pilsen were flooded entirely or in part and their buildings, technical equipment, scenery and costumes badly or even fatally damaged. Prague's historical National Theatre, the famous Theatre on the Balustrades and others will have to reconstruct their equipment; the young and highly popular award-winning companies of the Theatre in Dlouhá Street and the Theatre Pod Palmo

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Vertigo Rigging was appointed by production company MICE to provide precision rigging for a sales training event at the Berlin ICC to mark the takeover of Compaq by Hewlett Packard. The HP Enterprise Storage Group conference included an appearance by F1 racing driver Ralph Schumacher, who launched the new Williams car in one of the halls and made a guest speech.

Two of the ICC’s largest halls were decked out as auditoriums with stages and screens for large-scale AV presentations. The Vertigo team, led by crew chief Paul Darby, rigged three large soft front-projection screens in hall one, the centre one measuring 26m x 9.5m and spanning the entire width of the stage. This was flanked by two 16m x 9m side screens, angled to be parallel to the auditorium walls, and tapered at the front to match in with the raked seating. Vertigo also rigged two large overhead sound baffles, measurin

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A new show relay system has been retro-fitted into Cardiff’s famous New Theatre by Marquee Audio. As home to the Welsh National Opera, this magnificent Edwardian Theatre dates back to 1906 and is the city’s oldest surviving theatre. Today it is owned and managed by Cardiff County Council, and although technical manager Mark Gibbins had to request various quotations for the show relay, Marquee proved to be the most competitive.

"The call system is a major priority at New Theatre and we needed to replace the old system which was becoming troublesome and unreliable," said Mark. Marquee’s Scott Wakelin provided recommendations for a Backstage and FOH system, with priority facilities for the house manager to voice access the auditorium in the event of emergency. He proposed that this be achieved via a pair of Soundweb 9088ii/LL digital matrix devices, with a 9010

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On 17 May in Günzburg, Bavaria, the Lego Company opened its fourth theme park, the others being in Billund (Denmark), Windsor (UK) and Carlsbad (California). Covering an area the size of 25 football fields, the new park boasts more than 40 attractions and shows, including the ‘Dschungel X-pedition’ (Jungle X-pedition), a Lego structure which includes a steep 12m water slide, the ‘Land der Ritter’ (Castleland), with its Fire Dragon and Castle Theatre, the Legotop, a 50m high observation tower with a glass-sided revolving deck, and the Lego Studios, in which 500 spectators can enjoy a 4D feature film. Lego is expecting around 1.3 million visitors in the park’s first year, having invested some 150 million euros in the project.

The general contractor responsible for all electrical equipment in Legoland Bavaria is a consortium formed by ABB and Cegelec. Cegel

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Nomads nightclub and bar in Leicester has found a simple solution to a time-honoured problem; how to pump up the volume without annoying the neighbours. Situated in a residential block, the ground-floor and basement venue asked JPS, the St. Ives-based audio and lighting installation company, to design a sound system which could cater for 350 customers without keeping the residents of the first-floor flat awake all night. "They wanted high quality and high volume, but with very quick fall-off on the dBs", explains John Southee of JPS, whose solution was a combination of Wharfedale cabinets and Amina flat-panel speakers, resulting in individualized systems tailored to the very different ambiences of the two floors.

"Although there is a DJ on each level, the ground level bar, which has the frontage onto the street, offers a plush sit-down environment, whereas downstairs in

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Soundcraft moved swiftly into action to provide an interim solution for the BBC in their coverage of the recent Commonwealth Games in Manchester. The domestic production division of BBC Resources, utilized Soundcraft’s new-generation 328XD to boost their coverage of the recent Commonwealth Games, while awaiting delivery of a new RM1D digital on-air radio console. "Essentially the 328XD saved the day - allowing us to have some of the functionality of the RM1D and mix all the grams-type sources - from minidisc to various hard disk options," said BBC Resources’ Martin Deane. "We are familiar with the desk and knew what we could expect from it."

Martin was in charge of the sound operation for BBC Sport, which produced all the domestic (BBC1 and BBC2) programme outputs. As for the RM1D, he was first exposed to this at last year’s IBC Show, and then acqu

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Sound Dynamics, the specialist sound installation company based in Belper, Derbyshire, is celebrating its 15th anniversary - thanks in part to the UK's obsession with health and fitness. Steve Porter and Gerry Cornell founded the company in 1987, just as the aerobics boom was getting underway. By carefully tailoring equipment packages to the specific needs of gyms, exercise studios and sports centres, Sound Dynamics rapidly gained a national reputation. The company sells stand-alone systems and self-install wall-mounting kits as well as commissioning full installations; Sound Dynamics has also ventured into manufacturing, producing proprietary ‘user-friendly’ amplifers which have the minimum of fascia controls.

Today, the company’s customer database holds more than 10,000 names, and the list of recent projects stretches from the Falkland Islands to the Maldives, with

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Nexo's new GEO Series has made its Swiss debut at the annual Fêtes de Geneve, part of an unusual mixed Alpha/Geo system designed by PA rental company Zapsono. The Fêtes de Geneve festival is staged every August, and culminates in a street parade and firework display beside Lake Geneva. More than 400,000 people came to see the fireworks this year, and sound designer Jean-Michel Ballu and his front-of-house engineer Frédéric Walder had to devise and run a system which delivered coverage across 240° and up to 500m in range.

The occasion proved an ideal test for Nexo's new GEO tangent array system. Two hangs of 10 S805s were erected, together with a stack of eight CD12 HyperCardioid sub-bass, on a pontoon which was floated out into the lake, 100-200m from the audience. Although the CD12 sub-bass units were only used for the first fireworks, the system results were impressive. To achie

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Color Kinetics Inc (CKI) has announced the completion of a $17million round of financing. In addition to a major worldwide consumer products company and a leading advanced semiconductor company, this financing round features participation from both existing and new investors, say CKI, and positions the company for growth, leadership and market competitiveness in the $40+ billion global illumination market.

The company’s flagship line of technologies, which are used today in a variety of commercial and consumer applications, leverage a patented layer of digital intelligence called Chromacore to control LEDs, generating millions of colours and a variety of lighting effects. The company says the new investment will be used to extend the company’s current business lines and leverage its wide-ranging intellectual property to develop solid-state lighting solutions for the general

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North East-based Hi-Lights Theatre Services recently saw its new Prolyte stage in action at the National Trust's Ormesby Hall over the August bank holiday weekend. With a concert featuring Suzie Quattro and headlined by Status Quo, the Prolyte ST complete roof and tower system with additional front cantilever proved a great success, especially with the rigging crew, thanks to its speed and ease of construction. The fully fitted cover also meant that rigging could continue in the heavy rain experienced before the event which thankfully cleared up for the night.

(Lee Baldock)

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Bell & Order, ARX's hardworking Singapore and Malaysian distributor advise that the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre has recently been updated with ARX power amplifiers and signal processing. One of the oldest traditional theatres in Singapore, Kreta Ayer caters for Chinese cultural events such as operas, musicals and other theatrical productions. Included in the update were ARX Sixgates, and over 10 ARX ZR550, ZR850 and ZA600 multi-channel power amplifiers. Bell & Order have also supplied Singapore Zoo with a further quantity of ZA800 8-channel power amplifiers for use with their exhibits to add to their extensive inventory of ARX products used throughout the world famous zoo, home of the legendary Singapore Night Safari.

(Lee Baldock)

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Vestax is hosting a competition to find the best turntablist in the UK. The event will take place at London club Fabric on 11 October 2002 and will feature showcase sets from The Scratch Perverts, The En4cers and The Mixologists.

Open Battle starts at 9pm and all competitors will use PDX-2000 turntables and either the PMC-05/06 or 07Pro mixer. The Open Battle (video tape entries) will feature two one-minute battle routines with the first and second-placed going on to the main competition. The main competition itself (which is invitation only, plus the two successful winners from the open heat) will consist of two rounds of two minutes each. The first will be an elimination knockout, whilst the second will decide the UK Champion and runner-up.

Entries will only be accepted as a two-minute recording on VHS tape: the closing date for these is 30 September 2002. Entries must include na

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WS Steele of Glasgow has completed the installation of a sound reinforcement system in the Chapel of St Salvator at Scotland's oldest university, St Andrews. The Chapel, founded in 1450, is one of the finest examples of Scottish Gothic architecture, and is highly valued by the Church of Scotland.

Acoustic consultant John McDonald, who drew up the design brief, explained that "the objective was to make the sound as natural as possible. The chapel as a very pleasing acoustic, so we wanted to use natural reverb to enhance the sound. The main problem was the separation of noise source from the choir and organ, so that people sitting below the gallery could hear what was happening above." For this purpose, microphones have been centred in the choir area which are automatically activated when the choir begins to sing, and this sound is relayed to the speakers under the balcony.

S

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Linkin Park has had one of the most intense touring schedules of any band in recent years, playing a record number of 324 shows in 2001. Their debut CD, Hybrid Theory, was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2002, and the group won the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy for the single ‘Crawling.’ While out on tour, Linkin Park uses a wide array of Audio-Technica wired and wireless microphones to help capture their unique sound.

Front-of-house engineer Brad Divens and monitor engineer Roger Pigman are two of the key people responsible for engineering Linkin Park's sound and equipment choices while on the road. Divens, who has worked with such diverse acts as Cindy Lauper, Monster Magnet and Machine Head, says he was sold on Audio-Technica mics from his first time using them. "Our monitor engineer Roger Pigman brought out a pair of AT4050s for me to try on guitar and af

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Plimsoll Publishing has launched a new website aimed at owners/managers in the UK sound equipment industry looking to make an acquisition or to sell their own company. This unique service from Plimsoll helps companies gain a better understanding of what their own company is worth and presents company names and analysis of what companies would be their best options for buying or selling.

"The idea for the website and the buying or selling service came from a great deal of interest we were receiving from companies keen to go on the acquisition trail. Yet they did not have a simple, cost effective means of assessing what companies to go after. I knew we could offer a real insight into specific companies in the industry our clients could target. Now, prior to calling in the professionals, owners can take a good look at the possibilities for themselves," says David Pattison, acqui

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The three-year old sound engineering division of Raper & Wayman Pro-Audio under Jon Raper's leadership has now grown to such an extent that it is time to fly solo. With projects under its belt as diverse as the acoustic control system at the Barbican Theatre, a complete sound reinforcement system for Norwich Cathedral, six radio stations in Sierra Leone and many other systems, the operation is to become a separate company to be known as R&W Sound Engineering.

Jon Raper will run the venture with Peter Kenny from R&W. Trading out of new premises in St Albans, they will continue to use their existing team of engineers and installation staff. Of the expansion, Raper says: "In such interesting times we have been very pleased with our success over three short years. Rodney Wayman and I feel the new company will further strengthen our focus on what we have become known for - good, reliab

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The White Light Group - and its ever-popular bar - returns to its usual position on stand F4, just inside the main door to the exhibition.

For many, the main attraction will be the welcome return of the White Light bar featuring White Light’s own beer plus a selection of other drinks and snacks. This year the bar will be theatrically lit using Anycolour colour-mixing fluorescent units from Anytronics. For those looking beyond the bar, examples of the many equipment ranges now distributed in the UK by White Light Sales will be on show. First amongst these will be examples of lanterns and followspots from the Robert Juliat range, which have found many new homes in the UK over the last 12 months. White Light Sales will also be showing smoke machines from Look Solutions and The Smoke Factory, while an on-stand computer will allow visitors to try Lx Store.com, White Light’s new

  1. Stones get what they need from High End Systems
  2. Coemar UK Office
  3. New HW website goes live
  4. Vari-Lite signs exclusive agreement with TSP, Russia
  5. New comfort initiative for visitors to PLASA
  6. FX Rentals moves into movie market
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