Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

Business

Details
USA - Audio-Technica microphones were omnipresent throughout this year's VH1 Save The Music concert, which saw a host of musical greats turn out stellar performances at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre. The concert made extensive use of Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF wireless system on lead vocals for artists including Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas and John Legend.

The show was held on April 11, and employed A-T wireless and wired mics in numerous applications. A-T Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless additionally facilitated presentations by Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Christina Applegate and LL Cool J. The large selection of hardwired A-T microphones on hand included the AE2500 for bass guitar amps, ATM35 and AT4054 on horns, AT4051a for hi-hat and ride cymbal, AT4054 on background vocals, and AE5100 for audience.

Audio production mixer Al Centrella, whose credits in

Details
UK - PLASA Media has received a warning about a con-man operating in the London area who has stolen several thousand pounds worth of equipment from a London-based AV hire company. The culprit gave his name as David Jones from BBC Worldwide, and presents convincing paperwork - and an internal answerphone message at the BBC itself - to back up the claim. He then collected, via courier, a range of equipment including laptop computers and plasma screens, and disappeared.

The BBC is aware of the problem, we are told. If anything suspicious arises, please contact Simon Brown at the BBC's investigations department on 0208 752 5094.

(Lee Baldock)

PLASA Show 2025 - Banner - June-Aug 2025

Details
UK/Norway - Software providers Stardraw.com recently announced the appointment of leading Norwegian distribution specialists, Benum AS, as resellers throughout Norway for the entire range of Stardraw's design and documentation packages.

With nearly thirty-five years experience in distribution, Benum represents over sixty premium brands in the audio, video, broadcast and MI market sectors including Renkus-Heinz, Digigram, NetCira by Fostex, Digidesign, Shure and Telex to name but a few.

Benum sales manager, Ronald Hernes, says he is pleased to include Stardraw products in the Benum portfolio. "We already count a number of other software tools among our product range, and therefore have experience in the market. We also carry a number of complementary ranges with whom Stardraw has already forged a relationship including Digigram and NetCira by Fostex, so the addition of Sta

Details
UK/USA - Stardraw.com's most recent application, Stardraw Control, has been selected as a finalist in the Best Software Product for the Commercial Market category of the InfoComm Installation Product Awards. Stardraw Control has already been honored with a PLASA Award for Innovation at London's PLASA show in September 04 and an Innovation in Technology Award at the recent NSCA show.

Stardraw's marketing director, Rob Robinson, explained the key features of Stardraw Control that set it apart from other control solutions. "Stardraw Control generates standalone, customized control programs that can manage any remotely controllable equipment from any manufacturer using any protocol over any communications infrastructure. Instead of being locked into closed architectures wherever system control, monitoring or signal routing has been required, Stardraw Control offers systems inte

Details
Greece - Cadac has recently supplied two S-Type Compact Live Production Consoles to Hyatt Regency Hotels & Tourism SA, via its local distributor Telmaco S.A. The S-Types have been installed in Hyatt Regency Hotels' Vergina Theatre, located next to the Regency Casino complex in Greece's second capital city, Thessaloniki. The state-of-the-art Vergina Theatre has a 550-seat auditorium, and regularly plays host to a wide variety of shows, spectaculars, contests, award ceremonies and live TV broadcasts. A key element of its design revolves around its adaptability - a philosophy underlined by its choice of the S-Type consoles, say Cadac.

The S-types comprise a total of 44-mono and 4-stereo input channels, housed in a 24-way and 33-way frame respectively. The consoles can be used individually or linked to handle larger productions. Commenting on the reasons behind its choice, the Vergi

Details
UK - If you can hum the tune to Spirit in The Sky or know the words to I Think We're Alone Now, then chances are you're hooked on Hit Me Baby One More Time, the latest offering from production company Granada. Airing in ITV1's prime time Saturday evening slot, the light entertainment show gives the pop idols of the past three decades a chance to reclaim their fame.

Proving that Heaven is a Place on Earth, PRG Europe provided the lighting rig for the show, along with premièring the G-LEC PhantomFrame. Seven heats see five artists performing two songs each week - their signature tune and a contemporary track - while the public vote their favourite through to the grand final.

With artistes such as Belinda Carlisle, Baccara, Gloria Gaynor, Limahl, Shakin' Stevens and Chesney Hawkes all playing on the same stage, an extremely versatile set and lighting arrange

Details
UK - The transformation of a North London venue by two former international athletes has resulted in a new leisure and hospitality complex being established at the top of Muswell Hill. Former British decathlon stars Steve Gutteridge and Brian Taylor have converted the separate function room of the former Green Man into West End-style nightclub, The Hill, which has been brought to life using LED mood effects from Lighting Effects Distribution.

13 eight-head Alkalite Tracpod 80 linear intelligent LED battens are recessed the length of the ceiling to provide a dramatic colour wash down either side of the room. In the centre is the DJ podium, above which is a three-way plasma triangle, facing out on three axes. The displays form part of a 16 plasma and LCD flat screen array (which includes local booth TV's), giving the venue a genuine sports bar theme.

All the sound, lighting and

Details
UK - Hawthorn is in the throes of a European exhibition programme for Allison, the commercial vehicle transmission manufacturer. Allison's stand features two transmissions displayed in huge transparent water tanks, which form an integral part of two columns on the exhibition stand. Hawthorn lit the tanks with Pulsar Chroma Par 36 fixtures in a red hue, to compliment Allison's corporate colours.

With Hawthorn's experience of LEDs and its continued investment in the technology, the company was able to meet Allison's requirements of reducing its power costs and also minimizing heat output. The stand design incorporates a low ceiling and is lit with Thomas Par 90 LED fixtures which were integrated into the stand framework to provide an even light distribution across the whole stand.

Project manager, Peter Boott commented: "As water and electricity do not mix, we used IP68 wat

Details
UK - The British Council's Pall Mall offices in London now allow visitors to take a tour of the world while waiting in the reception area. The council has installed a visual communications system from Visual Planet which uses Holographic screens incorporated into a glass partition to create a dynamic 'information wall' which displays - via film and moving graphics - the work of the Council. The purpose of the British Council is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements.

This ethos was a major driver behind the refurbishment of the reception area which, as facilities manager Steve Ellis explains, is multi-functional: "The work of the British Council is better known overseas, so the reception area has a role in explaining and promoting its activities, not jus

Details
UK - Located in central Rome, Studio EMME is one of the main film archives for major Italian national and American films as well as specialising in content mastering for the entertainment industry across the board, from DVD production to broadcast and cinema postproduction.

They recently took delivery of a Soundtracs DS-00, supplied by Soundtracs' Italian distributor Audio International. "The console has enhanced their facilities for multi-channel audio," explained Audio International's David Butterworth. "It makes Studio EMME the first Italian facility capable of generating Dolby E masters."

Their choice was based on the ergonomic design of the DS-00 along with its affordability. "And because it's so easy to use, their sound engineer was able to "drive" the console in no time at all," adds Butterworth.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Details
UK - Global club conglomerate Ministry of Sound has completed an overhaul of the audio systems in its flagship London venue with the introduction of Allen & Heath mixers. MoS, which has been using a Xone:464 for several years as the broadcast mixer for its radio station, selected the audiophile rotary Xone:V6 and MIDI-enabled Xone:92 to give DJ's a choice in the DJ booth, with an ML3000 VCA console to provide sound reinforcement for live acts.

Head of Production David Bradshaw commented: "The Xone:V6 sound is rounded and warm, never sharp and with plenty of headroom. We have had DJ's change mixer mid-set to the V6 purely because the sound is so much better than other mixers. Its best feature must be the high-pass filter on each channel. It takes a little while for DJs to understand what this does but once they do everyone agrees that this is far better than a simple 'bass'

Details
UK - Entertainment lighting supplier White Light has been chosen to supply lighting equipment to the UK tours of two shows which originated on the other side of the world: the Australian productions of Hi-5 and Sleeping Beauty On Ice.

First to arrive in the UK was Sleeping Beauty On Ice, with lighting designed by Gavan Swift; this is Swift's second show in the UK following his design for Saturday Night Fever's return to the West End. His design includes ETC Source Fours, L&E striplights, Selecon Pacifics including five of the 90° unit, UV fresnels, Vari-Lite VL2000 Washlights, Martin MAC 500 and MAC 2000 Performance spotlights and Atomic strobes, as well as Wybron CXI colour changers, and atmospherics from Jem Glaciator low smoke machines and Unique haze machines. Control is from a Strand 500 series console, and White Light is also providing the show

Details
UK - Pictured is an unusual installation by EQ Audio & Events of Dublin. The company was contracted to specify, design and build a promotions vehicle for Red Bull - based around a 1944 US Military Police Dodge Vehicle. The original vehicle was stripped out and the rear canopy roof was cut off (vehicle modification was by Par Fit Dublin) and replaced by a hinged steel canopy mounted on hydraulic rams. A 2.6kW Dometic TEC29 generator with separate fuel tank was mounted beneath the vehicle, allowing approximately four hours of independent operation from a full fill.

Sound engineer Kevin Madigan installed the audio and visual equipment. The system was specified to be used as a DJ setup - d&b audiotechnik speakers and amplification were chosen, using two of their Ci90s mounted left and right and a single E12 subwoofer power by D12 amplifiers. DJ equipment included an Allen & Heath Xo

Details
UK - We Will Rock You made its debut on 14 May, 2002 in London's West End and Tomcat say it is now proud to be a part of the exclusive North American production in Las Vegas at Le Théâtre des Arts at the Paris Hotel and Casino. The show written by Ben Elton, featuring the music of Queen, has been playing to sold out crowds since September 2004.

Tomcat standard and custom trusses comprise overhead lighting, scenic elements, front of house lighting as well as several lighting towers. The main overhead lighting trusses utilize twenty four, 10', two 6', four 5' and two 2.5' sections of medium duty plated truss. These sections are configured to create spans of 85', 72' and two 60' spans in the theatre. In the house, seven 12' sections of curved MD plated truss create a 73' 10" arch for front of house lighting.

One lighting tower package included thirty six - 10' MD pl

Details
Europe - Bandit Lites has supplied full lighting production and crew for Queen. Currently touring for the first time in 13 years, Paul Rodgers is on lead vocals to great acclaim and an ever-broadening fan base. The tour plays arenas across Europe before hitting the UK for a series of summer stadium and outdoor shows. LD is Barry 'Baz' Halpin, said to be one of the industries brightest young designers.

Bandit's Mark Powell said: "Working with Baz is always a fantastic experience, couple that with the legendary music of Queen and a massive lighting rig and the end result is amazing. Add to that some Free and Bad company classics and it makes for a great show".

Queen was renowned for having monstrous lighting rigs in the 1980 before moving light technology really took off, so Halpin was in the position of being able to make the show look huge, with fewer fixtures and th

Details
UK - Harman Pro UK has supplied Sound Division with an integrated audio solution including JBL speakers, BSS routing and processing, dbx zoning and Crown amplification for the impressive new Albannach venue in Trafalgar Square. The contemporary Scottish restaurant, bar and cocktail lounge is divided into three distinct areas - the bright and open main lounge bar on the ground floor, featuring large windows, lots of natural light and the stunning urban views; the more intimate mezzanine restaurant area above the rear portion of main lounge bar; and a discreet cocktail bar area downstairs. All three areas have diverse ambiences and so all required a variety of acoustic treatments when it came to the sound design. The three zones also had to be able to function either independently or simultaneously, so the global audio design had to be highly versatile.

Harman Pro UK's Andy Duffie

Details
Ireland - In the heart of Dundalk in Co. Louth on Ireland's North East coast, The Spirit Store is one of the leading venues for progressive and up and coming musical performers in the country. Housed in the former Port Merchants house dating back to the 19th century and now renovated and refurbished by its owners Mark Deary and Mark Mulholland, the Spirit Store originally opened in 1999.

It has quickly become a magnet for lovers of all types of popular music in the fields of acoustic, folk, traditional and rock. Besides being a popular live music venue, the Spirit Store now leads the way with a state-of-the-art sound system, having recently installed a d&b audiotechnik Qi-Series supplied by pro-audio dealers Mosco. Kevin McGing, Mosco's designer and sound engineer who specified and installed the system was enthusiastic about the result: "After the Store had considered a num

Details
USA - Signing on as one of Selecon's latest dealers in the USA, Portland-based Hollywood Lighting Services Inc couldn't be happier with their decision to support the "already in demand" range of performance lighting which includes the award-winning Pacific and Hui lines. Dwayne Thomas, president of Hollywood Lights, reports that the company is currently in the middle of an ongoing project to remake and modernize their over-the-counter conventional fixture rental inventory.

This process was underway last year when they were approached by their biggest production client, Nike, to design and produce realistic (but necessarily theatrical) lighting for a retail space mock up at their Asia-Pacific Spring Sales Meeting in June 2004 at the Oregon Convention Center. "The Nike job was what pushed our Acclaim Fresnel purchase initiative over the top, but at that time we had

Details
USA - Color Kinetics recently announced the largest-ever, landmark installation of its lighting systems at the new $2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino. The venue boasts a three-acre, man-made lake as its highly anticipated visual centerpiece and encompasses more than 4,000 individually controlled, submersed Color Kinetics C-Splash 2 systems. The lake represents the largest intelligent solid-state lighting installation of its kind, and seamlessly changes color as part of a spectacular, multimedia light-and-water show, it also features a five-story waterfall that cascades from a 150-foot man-made mountain.

"This milestone installation underscores the incredible applications that are now made possible by the combination of today's power LEDs and Color Kinetics' technology and system infrastructure," said Bill Sims, President and COO, Color Kinetics. "We are

Details
Belgium> - ADB Lighting Technologies has recently appointed SF Dis Tikaret A.S. as ADB authorized Distributor in Turkey. This move comes as a confirmation of an informal relationship, which has already proven to be beneficial to the two partners and their customers.

Said, Larry Busch, ADB's area sales manager: "SF Dis Tikaret, with its long experience and impressive reference list in the entertainment lighting and sound market, was a natural choice for us to further strengthen our position in the stage and studio markets, and become a real Partner for Light in Turkey."

ADB's broad product range has recently been enhanced with WARP, a fully automated profile spotlight, specifically designed for the theatre.

Installations that include ADB products in Turkey include: Ankara Odti Multipurpose Hall, Antalya Talya Hotel, Bursa Olay TV, Eskisehir Anadolu Universitesi, Ist

Details
UK - Wilkes Iris Ltd, of Bexhill-on-Sea, a world leader in the manufacture of precision irises for scientific, lighting and other applications, announce the acquisition (merger) of Temple Shearing and Engineering Ltd (Burgess Hill). In addition to the complementary manufacturing processes Keith Woods, managing director of Wilkes Iris, has plans for improvements and expansion for the mutual benefit of both businesses.

Wilkes Iris, a fourth generation family business, was founded in 1884, and after more than a century of iris technology, provides an unparalleled range. From the entertainment and television markets to the scientific and fibre optics sectors, its irises have found many uses. One is fitted to a popular compact microscope whose low weight and size make it ideal for expeditions: it was included in both the first ascent of Everest and the first moon landings, and is now

Details
The Netherlands - Two prominent sound rental companies have taken the decision to add Nexo's GEO S compact line array to rental stock; ACS is a a leading player on the international audiovisual scene buying into Nexo for the first time, whereas Skyline has been supplying Nexo systems for many years. In Alphen aan de Rijn, in the Netherlands, Skyline Sound & Light has added a new Nexo GEO S to its rental inventory, supplied by Iemke Roos. The system will be used for exclusive events, one of the first of which was the annual Debutantes Ball, held at the Grandhotel Huis ter Duin Noordwijk aan Zee.

Skyline's Bart Bakker has been a satisfied Nexo PS series and Alpha-E systems user for a number of years. Now he has invested in a GEO S compact line array system, comprising 10x S805, with 2x S830 downfill cabinets. Four CD12 sub-bass units complete the system, with Nexo NX241 system con

Details
UK - The BBC has chosen ECT projection screens to be used during the election broadcasts on national TV, while BBC Scotland will also use ECT screens, for similar presentations on the election night itself. The two main screens will be employed for interviews, analysis and diagnosis by the news and political broadcaster teams. The 26ft x 26ft Repro HS rear screen was manufactured in the UK, and then customised with eyelets and stretched across a truss frame. Repro HS projection material is favoured by broadcast cameras, as it does not suffer from hot spots. The company says that the BBC producers wanted the wide viewing angles offered by the Repro HS screen material, which is exclusively available from ECT.

(Lee Baldock)

Details
USA - Audio-Technica microphones were used throughout this year's VH1 Save The Music Concert, which saw a host of musical greats turn out stellar performances at Manhattan's legendary Beacon Theatre. The concert made extensive use of Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System on lead vocals for artists including Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas and John Legend.

The concert was held on 11 April, and employed A-T wireless and wired mics in numerous applications. A-T Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless systems were also used in presentations by Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Christina Applegate and LL Cool J. The large selection of hardwired A-T microphones on hand included the AE2500 for bass guitar amps, ATM35 and AT4054 on horns, AT4051a for hi-hat and ride cymbal, AT4054 on background vocals, and AE5100 for audience.

Audio production mixer Al Centrella, whose credits in

  1. Stagecraft launches Theatre Services
  2. Smart AV wins Australian Design Award
  3. Legendary Churchill's pub uses Mackie gear
  4. Robe chosen for TOTP Germany
  5. Cohedra's open-air debut in China
  6. New owners for Unitek Displays
Page 706 of 1804
Astera - Large MPU - June 2025
Sennheiser - MPU - June 2025

Latest Issue. . .