Germany - Italian pro audio manufacturer Outline suffered a substantial theft of equipment during the break-down of its booth at the recent ProLight & Sound show in Frankfurt, on Sunday 14 April. A full list of the equipment stolen, together with the serial numbers where available, has been provided to the Frankfurt police. A copy of the list can be downloaded from Outline's website by clickinghere.

Outline's Giorgio Biffi says: "Obviously we'd like to warn the possible buyers of the risk incurring in buying this items . . . Fortunately very few items can be used, as they've been stolen without some essential parts, such as the Butterfly units, which are devoid of side bars and back side incremental bars, which are absolutely necessary for their normal use."

(Lee Baldock)

UK / Sri Lanka - When the devastating effects of the tsunami struck the countries around the Indian Ocean over the Christmas period, the services offered by the entertainment production industry weren't those that were immediately required as part of the disaster recovery effort. Three months on, however, as the countries work to return to normality, the UK lighting industry has been able to offer assistance to colleagues working in Sri Lanka.

Production manager Alison Ritchie heard about the damage caused to the lighting, sound and staging equipment stock of her friend Thushan Dias of Mahinda Dias Engineers. MDS has supplied lighting sound and staging services in Sri Lanka for more than 50 years, and Ritchie knew Dias having worked with him when Shared Experience toured to Colombo in the 90s. After the tsunami, she contacted him to check that he was OK, and heard that though he

Italy - On 26 February 2005 at the Salone delle Idee in Turin's Arsenale della Pace, a packed house attended the première of the concert Dal Basso della Terra by Ernesto Olivero and Mauro Tabasso, which was dedicated to the late Pope John Paul II. The concert, conducted by Salvatore Accardo - one of the world's greatest living violinists - was transmitted by Italian national state broadcaster RAI's channel 3 on 7 March 2005.

The audio rig for the event was from Outline, installed and fine-tuned by Bologna's Nuovo Service. It consisted of three arrays made up of Butterfly Hi-pack CDH 483 (6+5+6), two Victor Live subwoofers, four H.A.R.D. 212 monitors and four Micra enclosures, used for 'front-fill' purposes. The entire system was powered by Outline Series T power amps.

Nuovo Service's owner Willy Gubellini commented: "With artists of this calibre, it's the precisio

UK - LightProcessor will show a variety of its core products at the A.C. Lighting North trade show next week, along with the latest innovations from sister company Lightfactor Sales -including products from Wireless Solutions, SGM and LDR.

The show will be the UK preview of the new LightProcessor Dimension 3000 dimmer, aimed at all touring applications. Available in 10 or 16A modules, it features an onboard 12-scene memory, all the standard dimming curves, individually DMX-addressable channels and many other elements. It's available in single- or three-phase versions, and has been designed practically with easy access for servicing and parts replacement, say the company. Also on show will be LightProcessor's series of DMX signal processing products, including the QDMuX, QStore, QMerge and QBuffer - the latter available in both truss and 19" rack-mounting version.

The awar

Finland - Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, is using FogScreen in its new central attraction, The Bar at the Edge of the Earth, created exclusively for Celebrity by Cirque du Soleil. Every evening, in the top deck lounges of Constellation and Summit, guests are invited to pass through a mystical gateway - created with FogScreens - and enter a world bathed in luminescent light, pulsating sounds and mesmerizing visual effects. This whole unique entertainment experience is currently available on select Caribbean sailings aboard Constellation and Summit with additional ships in the planning stages.

The installations of FogScreens on the ships is a first for the Finnish start-up company. "We are delighted to be able to work with these entertainment industry leaders, and welcome them as our appreciated clients", says CEO Mika Herpiö. FogScreen

USA - The founders Pennsylvania's Sight & Sound Theatres, Glen and Shirley Eshelman have always pushed the technological envelope. As the nation's largest Christian theatre, Sight & Sound creates spectacular live events drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the country to the magnificent 2,000-seat venue.

One of the latest additions to the theatre's extensive portfolio of professional live sound gear is the InnovaSON Sy80 digital mixing console which has been installed in the Millennium Theatre, the anchor of the Sight & Sound theatre complex, sporting three stages and more than 85 loudspeakers. The theatre produces elaborate stage events, which can include live animals, animatronic figures, life-size props and even helicopters that fly in. The sheer number of microphones, combined with the vast number of scenes and settings meant the mixing and recall capabiliti

USA - Looking to broaden its appeal to national touring acts and corporate clients, Michigan-based Thunder Audio has bolstered its loudspeaker inventory with the addition of a Meyer Sound Milo high-power compact curvilinear array system.

According to Thunder Audio president Tony Villarreal, the extraordinary flexibility of Milo was the deciding factor in his purchase decision. "We researched all the line array products and found that Milo offers both the high-end clarity and raw horsepower we need for all the acts we work with. Let's face it, who's going to get louder than Metallica and Slipknot? Milo can go 'balls-to-the-wall' for them, but it also has the smooth, high-end clarity we need for clients like the Detroit Symphony."

Thunder Audio's new Milo complement includes both original Milo cabinets and Milo 120 high-power expanded coverage curvilinear arrays. To op

USA - High End Systems' new Hog iPC console is making its touring debut with the band Garbage. Hog iPC is the industry's first hybrid console. It's designed to use Wholehog 3 software but is also backward compatible with the discontinued Wholehog 2 software.

Butch Allen is the production manager, lighting designer and lighting director all rolled into one so can speak from all perspectives when it comes to his specification of Hog iPC and Catalyst Pro v3.3 media server -supplied by XL Touring Video.

Says Allen: "If you know the Wholehog 2, the Hog iPC console will seem like an old friend - an old friend that 'had some work done,' so to speak. The new touch screen monitors are flawless and very responsive. I run a great deal of our show 'on the fly' and was afraid to do so before - but now, no worries. Hit a palette and it works. Cool."

Of the Hog iPC's features - i

USA - Design firm Visual Terrain wanted a high impact, cost-effective way to brighten up the Morongo Casino and Resort, having seen the visual capabilities of the Versa TILE and after consulting with Element Labs and learning more about the product, they created a concept video to show to the Morongo Casino.

Dawn Hollingsworth, managing design principal of Visual Terrain, commented: "Visual Terrain was presented with a challenging design opportunity by the architect at Morongo Casino. The architect's desire for a visual experience to draw visitors from a distance as they approached the property meant we had to think of an extraordinary approach. Element Labs' Versa TILE was the perfect blend of light and image. We were able to create a solution that literally stopped traffic on Interstate 10 (without accidents) and presented the property with a unique identity. Element Labs

Denmark - Global technology company 3M and Martin Architectural have formed a commercial cooperation that makes Martin Architectural's Exterior 600 colour changing luminaire the illuminator of choice for 3M's LPS150 (6") Light Pipe System in colour and colour changing applications worldwide.

3M Light Pipe is a transparent pipe lined with 3M Optical Lighting Film that is able to efficiently transport light up to 64 feet (20 meters) from a single point light source. The Martin Architectural Exterior 600 is an IP65 rated 575W lighting fixture with CMY colour changing technology capable of producing a nearly endless variety of colours.

3M also offers LPS50 (2.5") and LPS100 (4") Light Pipe Systems compatible with the Martin FiberSource CMY 150 and Martin Exterior 200 respectively. Additionally, the agreement makes Martin Architectural an authorized distributor of 3M

UAE - Oasis Enterprises, provider of turnkey project services for professional and broadcast audio, video and lighting systems in the UAE, has been honoured with a prestigious award during CabSat 2005, the Middle East's electronic media and communications event.

Designed to recognize exceptional quality and service levels in key areas in the Middle East's broadcast industry, the digitalstudio Industry Leadership Awards 2005 ensured complete impartiality through nominations and consultation with a panel of experts. Oasis Enterprises won Lighting Installation of the Year for its work on behalf of broadcasters such as Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Al Jazeera in Qatar and CNBC Arabia.

Suhail Ahmed has known Oasis Enterprises for four years, firstly during his time at Dubai TV and now at CNBC Arabia, where he is lighting director. "Oasis Enterprises installed the lighting grid and p

Spain - In keeping with its ongoing sound education and training program d&b audiotechnik will be participating in this year's European AES convention. John Taylor and Ralf Zuleeg from d&b audiotechnik will present a three part session entitled Loudspeaker line arrays, this will take place at the CCIB in Barcelona on Sunday 29 May from 10.00 to 14.00.

Taylor is an experienced presenter renowned in many parts of the world for his distinctive lively style, believing that if you are passionate about sound system design, then you need to make it sound good. He will begin with a presentation titled "De-mystifying audio techniques" embracing visual images, experiments and practical demonstrations. Discover what constitutes a well-behaved loudspeaker and how it affects what every listener in the house will hear.

Zuleeg has been involved in many d&b sound installation

UK - The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds has recently upgraded is radio mic systems with the purchase of Sennheiser 3000 Series from Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems. The system comprises 12 x Sennheiser 3000 series radio mic systems consisting of six 3532-U dual receivers, 12 x SK3063 belt-pack transmitters and two SKM3072 hand-held mics. This was augmented with an ASA3000 splitter and active antennae and included in the purchase were a number of MKE-2's for stock. The complete system was custom racked and wired by Pro Audio Systems and supplied with S-MCD3000HP monitoring software, which is being run via the multicore.

Discussing the purchase, West Yorkshire Playhouse head of sound, Glen Massam, said, "At the WYP we continually strive to produce the best in theatre which means using the best audio equipment available. For us, that meant Sennheiser for radio and micropho

UAE - White Light will this year make its first trade show appearance in Dubai, on stand A120 at the Pro Audio Light Middle East (PALME) 2005 exhibition. PALME runs from 24-26 April at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. White Light's representatives at the show will be sales director Peter Threadgold and sales project consultant Paul Simson, who will be working to introduce White Light's range of services to customers in the Middle East.

"White Light has the capacity to supply the most comprehensive range of entertainment lighting equipment, at the most competitive price, to any size of company or project in the Middle East," comments Threadgold. "We have been supplying the UK entertainment lighting industry for over thirty years, with a reputation of choice, quality and value for money. It is our intention to extend this service and this reputation to the

UK - Hampshire-based LED screen specialists LED Screen Hire supplied large LED screens to the 2005 Nokia Urban Music Festival with the Princes Trust, via the event's production company, Nine Yards Productions. The two Barco D-Lite 7 screens - measuring 35 and 25 square metres respectively - were both onstage, upstage of the performance area, making a large asymmetric impact. Other video and broadcast hardware was supplied by CTV, and the event was broadcast on Channel 4.

LED Screen Hire also supplied 12 42 inch plasma screens around the arena , used for broadcast monitors. The project was handled for them by Nick Pask. Sound was supplied by SSE Hire and lighting by Siyan.

Princes Trust Event organiser Matt Donegan said: "It was a pleasure working with the professional team at LED Screen Hire - their ability to adapt with the minimum amount of fuss was much appreciated. Th

USA - Color Kinetics Incorporated announced on April 22 that the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has granted its motion for summary judgment regarding three of Super Vision's claims: interference with prospective business relationships, trade disparagement and defamation.

Colour Kinetics' statement added: "By granting summary judgment for Color Kinetics on these three Super Vision claims, the Court determined that no reasonable jury could find for Super Vision on its claims of interference with prospective business relationships, trade disparagement or defamation and, therefore, no trial need be held on those issues. Furthermore, arguments regarding summary judgment motions with respect to patent validity, enforceability and infringement are expected to be heard by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in May 2005.

UK - Orbital Sound has announced its appointment as the exclusive UK distributor of HME Professional Audio's DX200 wireless digital intercom system, which boasts affordable and reliable 2.4 Ghz license free operation. Adding to its expanding sales product range, it augments the company's potential to sell and hire innovative communications solutions across a host of applications.

In addition to its 2.4Ghz licence-free operation, the DX200 Wireless Intercom System provides clear, secure and interference free communications with an advanced and easy-to-operate digital design. The system is compatible with all 2 and 4 wire ring intercom systems and can be readily integrated into existing installations. A standard DX200 System comes with a base station and four full-duplex belt packs but up to 15 belt packs per system can be accommodated for more users. Two base stations can be link

UK - Event company Number One Venues has secured Westminster City Council's planning committee's approval to develop one of London's prime central locations into a high quality corporate and indoor sports events venue.

Number One Piccadilly - The London Pavilion - is a listed building on a triangular site bounded by Shaftesbury Avenue, Great Windmill Street and Piccadilly Circus, overlooking Eros, a site previously occupied by Rock Circus. Building owner Burford Group considered a number of options for the space, and director Mark Boyes commented: "Number One Venues' concept is the first one which not only envisages a versatile and stunning interior facility, spread over five floors, but also provides a unique new venue for the heart of London."

Number One Venues' plans will create a flexible central London venue ideal for events for up to 1,000 guests - including ro

UK - Turbosound QLight products, together with models from the company's TSW, TXD and TCS series, have been installed at Volar, a new club in the Lan Kwai Fong area of central Hong Kong. Volar joins a growing number of venues in the area with Turbosound-based sound systems. Phoenix Audio and Lighting Technology, Turbosound's exclusive distributor for the Chinese territories, has been responsible for the turnaround, the top-end members-only club Volar being the latest installation.

Mac Lo, Phoenix's technical director, said: "Volar's owners and interior designer, X Act Limited, wanted a top-quality audio, lighting and visual-display system. The brief was to create something extraordinary for the relatively stale clubbing scene in Hong Kong. Due to space constraints, the design called for compact loudspeaker enclosures, and Turbosound QLight systems can certainly produce the

UK - North London sound reinforcement rental specialists John Henry's have added a EAW KF730 compact line array system to their inventory of EAW cabinets. The new system comprises twenty KF730 mid/hi cabinets and eight SB730 subs plus the relevant flyware.

According to JHL managing director John Henry, the purchase was made after an evaluation and testing process of line array systems from a variety of manufacturers. "As a multi-disciplinary service company, we felt that it was appropriate to add a line array system to our inventory in order to offer our clients a full complement of cabinets to suit every application. We opted for the EAW KF730 system in particular because it has received an enthusiastic response from clients and technicians alike on every occasion we have used it."

JHL's Pepin Clout added: "The system proved its mettle from the very first time

UK - SPS Vision provided a 5.4m x 4.1m Barco LED screen to organisers Clarion Events for another spectacular London Air Show at Earls Court on April 8 to 10.

The screen was flown in the centre of the main exhibition hall. Underneath it, 30 computer pods with flight simulator games were in place for the public to test their skills. As well as relaying giant images of the flight simulator games, the screen carried key information such as the seminar programme and promotional material for exhibitors. SPS's Bryan Leathem comments: "It was a great example of making the technology work hard to earn its keep."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

UK - The Pharos Lighting Playback Controller has won the Best of Category Award for the Controls and Controls Software category at the Lightfair International 2005 tradeshow in New York. The award, announced at the show at the Jacob K. Javits Center on April 12, follows the Pharos' acclaimed initial showings at LDI 2004 in Las Vegas and ARC 05 in London.

Richard Mead, managing director of Pharos Architectural Controls, said: "The response at Lightfair from designers and installers alike was tremendous. The Pharos LPC bridges the gap between entertainment and architectural lighting in a way that proves attractive to users in retail, themed or architectural environments. Pharos LPC is a solid-state, fit-and-forget solution for control of colour mixing fixtures, conventional dimmable fixtures and ballasts, and automated moving lights using either DMX or DALI protocols. The uni

UK - Event service company PSL has underlined its relationship with projector specialists Sanyo by placing a significant order for products at the compact, portable end of the market. The move forms part of an ongoing review of its rental fleet, and is designed to give its clients access to the latest technology in its inventory.

"This equipment will be spread across our depots in Potters Bar, Birmingham, ExCeL, PSL Central and The Brewery, and will support our activities nationwide," said PSL managing director Gary Davis. "Sanyo products have an excellent feature set and offer great value for money, while we know we can always depend on good support."

The order consists of large quantities of PLC-XU47 2000 ANSI lumens Ultra Portable Compacts; PLC-XC10 3000 ANSI lumen Compacts; and PLC XP56 5000 ANSI lumens Portable Networkable Projectors.Said Sanyo's Crisp

UK - SES, the Slough-based power and distribution specialist, has won the contract to convert all the PRG Group's power distros to the new BS7671 colour code. The move will involve some 200 items of 15 types purchased before early 2004, when PRG instigated the new regulations ahead of their compulsory introduction on April 1st 2006.

This follows SES's close collaboration with PRG in the run up to the 2004 Athens Olympics, when the two companies co-designed twenty-four 72-way MCB distribution boxes, which, says PRG's Peter Marshall, were "expertly built and delivered ahead of schedule in time for the shipments to Athens". PRG then chose SES for the colour code conversion work and, says SES's Mark Cooper, "It's great to continue our very positive working relationship with PRG - the UK's largest lighting rental operation. It endorses SES's commitment to service and q

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