USA - Wisycom has appointed John B. Anthony Company as its new manufacturers’ representative for the north-eastern United States. John B. Anthony Company will represent Wisycom’s entire suite of products, including its new MTP61 Miniature Multiband Transmitter, as well as its new LBC61 4+4 Battery Charger and its versatile new MTK982 dual-wideband stereo IEM/IFB transmitter, among other solutions. “For over 50 years, we have had a proven track record of generating new business and growing companies, and we are very excited to add Wisycom to our portfolio of brands,” says Angelo Fecci, president and treasurer of John B. Anthony Company. “Our hope is that through our services, we will provide Wisycom with the representation they need, and will prove to be strong assets to their team.” “Expanding our market is important to us and working with the Joh
USA - Moving lighting fixtures around at a festival often requires some careful logistics. Moving crews around calls for considerable skill too. George Cannon got a first-hand view of both recently when he was hired by Harford Sound to be the house LD at the That Tent at Bonnaroo. “Harford Sound was responsible for the That Tent and the This stage at the festival,” said Cannon. “They had morning and night shift crews that would tag off around 6-7 PM. We stayed at an Airbnb about 30 minutes away from site. So logistics alone for all those crew was a lot. Harford Sound and Rock the House AV did a great job making this project rock. The job everyone involved did was amazing.” Tasked with providing audio, lighting and full staffing for both stages from 8am to 3am daily, Harford Sound broke the project into two shifts. With a crew 18 deep, the company furn
South Africa - Peter Lambert owns and runs a busy independent medium-sized camera and lighting system rental company based in Cape Town, whose clients work across a broad spectrum of broadcast and film/recording sectors including music videos, commercials, and streaming events. They also have a healthy cross rental business. Three years ago, Peter started investing in Astera with the purchase of Titan Tubes, and since then demand continues to outstrip supply resulting in further purchases of Titans and Helios Tubes which have kept flowing steadily and now also include several sets of NYX Bulbs and Hydra Panels. “I absolutely can’t get enough of the Astera kit,” declared Peter, who started the company in 2016. The first Astera’s joined in 2020, supplied by South African distributor DWR, and Peter now has 10 sets of the 4ft Titan Tubes and two of the 2ft
UK - Occupying the stunning Tudor courtyard, the two-week Hampton Court Palace Music Festival returned recently to this Grade I royal palace setting, dating back to the early 16th century and once home to Henry VIII. Working within constraints of heritage buildings and tasked with creating a technical infrastructure for the event in recent years has been SWG Events. A major investment in the manufacturer’s technology has enabled them to field an end-to-end solution (the latest acquisitions being further Torus T1215 speakers and SXC118 single 18in cardioid subwoofers). This is in support of their flagship WPL Wavefront Precision line array which was deployed as the main PA hangs. All of which has this year delighted the many visiting sound engineers accompanying artists ranging from Gladys Knight, Kaiser Chiefs, Soft Cell, Kool & The Gang and Tom Jones, who
Lebanon - LEA Professional has announced a distribution partnership with Technosound of Beirut to support its customer base in the Middle East. This partnership allows LEA Professional to increase support for its existing customers in the region, as well as further develop new opportunities in the market. Technosound has more than 50 years of experience in the audio industry and is a trusted distributor in the Lebanese high-end pro audio industry, dedicated to providing customers with customised quality solutions. The company will represent the full range of amplifier solutions from LEA Professional. “We are always seeking new, dynamic partners to complete our offering,” said Georges Bitar, CEO of Technosound. “LEA Professional is a game-changer in this industry and we are proud to work with an innovative partner that is always looking to make things better, easi
USA - Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics tour has entertained more than 4.5m fans across three continents since it launched in Dublin on 23 April of last year. Additionally, the tour has been a valuable proving ground for advanced sound reinforcement technologies. The tour was the first to carry Milan AVB networked signals from FOH mix through to the individual loudspeaker boxes - in this case, 212 Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers from Major Tom. The tour also has been a test bench for Meyer Sound’s new Nebra software platform for network configuration and system monitoring, while MAPP 3D prediction software has streamlined the task of realigning coverage for varying stadium shapes and sizes. “The network has been rock solid, and we’ve used Milan AVB as our primary input since early in the European leg,” says system engineer Adam Wells. “Wit
UK - LeedsBID, a not-for-profit, non-political organisation, works to improve Leeds city centre for all. The organisation invests in projects, plans and activities to create a positive and dynamic profile for the city, aiming to attract talent, investment and visitors. As part of its work to make the city more welcoming, the organisation deploys a small fleet of electric vehicles for street cleaning, event installation and delivery. Always seeking to maximise the impact of its work, the LeedsBID team wanted to equip a vehicle with two battery-powered screens to deliver essential daily information as well as advertising city events and activities. The idea for the Welcome to Leeds digital media vehicle was born, prompting LeedsBID to consult with Chris Beardwell, video and lighting sales at audio-visual specialists, Pro Audio Systems (PAS) of Bradford, over a way forward.
Namibia - One of the largest banking groups in Namibia recently opened a new branch in Maerua Mall. This banking institution designed its latest branch with the digital age in mind and rolled out the upgraded format to two further branches at Rehoboth and Windhoek Lifestyle Centre. The integration of all three sites was led by Stage Audio Works (SAW) Namibia, in close cooperation with the client and suppliers. The brief for the latest branch at Maerua Mall, and the rollout of upgrades to further branches, called for the installation of multiple digital screens, intended for the purpose of displaying information and showcasing branded content. SAW Namibia specified and installed a full Samsung visual system in each of the branches. “The client was clear that the content on the digital screens needed to be managed remotely through a centralised system,” recalls Joppi
Taiwan - Harvatek, a Taiwanese supplier of LEDs, has partnered with an experienced local equipment distributor to establish a joint subsidiary called Cyans Visual Creative Co. On 7 July, the company officially opened the doors to its virtual production studio. Built inside the Formosa Television station (FTV) in the Linkou district, a hub for film and television productions in New Taipei City, the Cyans LED virtual studio is the country's first virtual production (VP) facility located within a broadcasting station. The studio boasts the highest specifications, adhering to the Netflix Partner Centre standard, and features LED processing provided by Brompton Technology. Offering a plethora of virtual production and real-time integration services, the Cyans LED virtual studio caters to a wide range of commercial events, including press conferences, product launches, onlin
Germany - Sefa Jeroen Vlaarkamp, known by the stage name Sefa (pronounced Sèfa), has been making waves in the music scene with his high powered hardstyle and hardcore scene music, with Frenchcore as a subgenre. Joined by a group of guest artists at Cologne’s Die Halle Tor 2, Sefa shook up the famed venue during a four-and-a-half-hour show with a blend of musical influences coming together in a multi-sensory experience that combined the fiery intensity of hardstyle with the melodic influences found in Frenchcore. With the technical support and lighting design of Guido Schütz of Laser Frame and Patrick Hirt of Creative Sounds Veranstaltungstechnik, the show captivated the audience. Commanding attention at the centre of the stage was a grand piano. Adding to the visual impact of that piano, which was set up on a rolling platform, were the four Chauvet Profession
USA - Behind the Scenes has announced that GLP German Light Products has joined its Pledge-of-Support Programme. The company will contribute a portion of the profits from their new Creative Light products to Behind the Scenes. GLP German Light products provides designers around the globe with environmentally friendly and energy-optimised lighting solutions that are both uncompromisingly creative and powerful. Creative Light products are the first battery-powered and completely wireless creative LED systems for maximum flexibility in an almost unlimited range of applications. Director of sales and marketing for GLP German Light Products Tyler Wise states: “Partnering with the Behind the Scenes Pledge-of-Support Programme is important to GLP because we believe so much in the organisation and its value to the industry. BTS provides direct positive impact to colleagues a
Australia - Training organisation TAFE has launched a new campus in the Gold Coast city of Robina, offering learners AV-rich facilities and projections driven by a tvONE CORIOmaster mini video processor. Integrator Videopro was approached to specify a sustainable, smart and ‘progressive’ audio and video package. Their team had successfully used the CORIOmaster mini on previous projects where multiple projectors and screens required specific image formats and edge blending, and knew it would be a fitting solution at the Robina campus. At the heart of the projections inside the new building, the team has installed a CORIOmaster mini chassis with five slots, fitted out with a CORIOmaster HDMI 4K-2 input module three HDCP Compliant, 2-Port output module HDBaseT with scaling modules. All the tvONE kit was sourced from tvONE Australia partner, Corsair Solutions.
Japan - Formed in 2008, the three-piece Japanese rock band My Hair is Bad recently wrapped up the Ultimate Homerun Tour with final arena series concerts in the Osaka-Jo Hall and in a Tokyo arena. The tour, which began in the middle of 2022 as Japan’s pandemic restrictions on entertainment began to ease, culminated with these two arena concerts that featured a special immersive audio experience. The band’s sound engineer, Hironori Ochi had first learned of L-ISA technology from Masaaki Nagayasu, systems engineer at L-Acoustics certified rental agent Hibino Sound, who hosted Mr. Ochi to an L-ISA workshop in his personal studio. On discovering the capabilities of L-ISA, Mr. Ochi began working on the design of an L-ISA Hyperreal Sound system for the 10,000-capacity Osaka-Jo Hall arena concert. “I received L-ISA training with L-Acoustics in the spring of 2022. The im
Austria - Designed by noted Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, the Salzburg State Theatre was completed in 1893 and is today the leading venue for performing arts in the historic Austrian city. This 700-seat theatre stages around 400 productions per season, encompassing drama, opera, ballet and youth theatre. For the project of renovating the stage facilities and installing new sound and lighting systems, the theatre turned to experienced stage technology solutions consultants BWKI located in Bayreuth, Germany, with the very specific instruction that no loudspeakers should be visible in the historic hall. BWKI system planner Jürgen Meyer, himself an experienced sound engineer, reports: “To replace the existing line array, we worked with Nexo to design a system based around four ID84/84L cabinets coupled to create a single, 4m column that was just 150mm wide, so
UK - Production Futures is an initiative created to provide opportunities for young people to learn, train, network, and develop real careers in production across every area of the Live Event, Music, Touring, Festival, Theatre, TV, Broadcast and Film industries. At its most recent On Tour roadshow event in Manchester, which was opened by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, chief executive Hannah Eakins announced the expansion of the Production Futures Breakthrough Talent Awards to better reflect the wide range of roles and skill sets required across the production industry. These rely heavily on transferable skills such as computer science, architecture, engineering and business management, as well those associated with the traditional event-management, music, TV, film, media and live technical fields. Hannah explains: “The Production Futures initiative originated
City Break - The city of Malmö is to host next year's 68th Eurovision Song Contest, it was announced on Friday, following Sweden's victory in Liverpool in May. The coastal town in the south of the country was selected ahead of the capital Stockholm after "dialogue with several cities", organisers said. The Malmö Arena will stage the semi-finals on 7 and 9 May 2024, as well as the final on 11 May. Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was "thrilled" that Sweden's third-largest city will host it for a third time. "Malmö holds a special place in the history of the contest, having successfully hosted it firstly in 1992 and then in 2013 - following Loreen's last win," he said. "We're excited to be returning to this vibrant and dynamic city which has demonstrated it has the venues a
UK - For the past 15 years, associate sound designer Hyder Khalil has been crafting the audio that brings the long-running London stage musical Wicked to life. Working alongside sound designer Tony Meola, Khalil abides by Meola’s philosophy when micing shows: whether you’re working with instruments or cast members, get the mic in the correct place without being intrusive, and then get the sound as perfect as possible. With these goals in mind, microphones designed to provide authentic audio were the obvious choice when upgrading the theatre’s sound system. DPA Microphones fits all of the sound needs for Wicked. After initially integrating the DPA 6061 Subminiature Lavalier Microphones, the theatre added the brand’s 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid, 4055 Kick Drum and 4099 Instrument Mics to its lineup. “As a whole, DPA makes things easier,”
UK - Sparks Theatrical Hire has recently added an additional 16 Martin MAC Ultra Performance fixtures to their existing rental inventory as a direct result of LD demand in theatre. “We have been extremely pleased with the feedback we have had from designers and technicians in the field, and the fact that they have proved so popular means we were pleased to add even more units to our rental inventory.” says Sparks director, Paul Anderson. All units were purchased from Martin's exclusive UK distributor, Sound Technology. Since taking delivery, the MAC Ultras have proved extremely popular with Sparks’ clients. The first units went onto the production of Straight Line Crazy at The Bridge Theatre designed by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and subsequently they have been deployed in the West End transfer of Oklahoma lit by Scott Zielinski, Operation Mincemeat
Italy - Vasco Rossi decided to delight his many fans again in 2023 with a short concert tour that criss-crossed Italy. As always, Giovanni Pinna was in charge of lighting, and made extensive use of Claypaky fixtures. “The set design changed radically this year," says Pinna. “We mainly used 70-by-26m stages based around a triangle: there were three triangles of automated battens of different dimensions around a large central triangular LED wall. Each batten was fitted with a modular rig complete with all the lights.” Pinna told us he deliberately chose to use only three kinds of moving light so that the stage was as uniform as possible. The ultimate goal was to achieve a high-impact, fully consistent visual result. Pinna used 148 Claypaky Hy B-EYE K25 units and 70 Claypaky Tambora Batten Squares as key lights, along with a few brand new Claypaky Skylos fixtures.
Europe - Touring in support of their ninth studio album, Will Of The People, Muse are back on the road with long time audio vendor, Skan PA Hire. Building on two decades of trust between the bespoke audio rental company and one of Britain’s most intriguing and progressive bands, the Will Of The People tour delivers with impact. The band have entrusted their nuanced repertoire to FOH Engineer Marc Carolan since 2001. “I’ve only missed one show since,” confirms Carolan. “It’s been incredibly satisfying working with them, and to hear their evolution; nothing has ever stagnated, and they consistently perform at the highest level. “As musicians, they are very good at expressing specifics, so working out the audio brief for the tour is always an efficient process.” Carolan, who is supported by FOH Tech Eddie O’Brien, has used Skan PA Hir
Denmark - Soundwise is a busy Aarhus-based full production rental company which was founded by Lars Thorsager in 2001, initially as an audio specialist. Their client base includes music and cultural shows and events, touring and corporates, the latter being a rapidly expanding sector. It’s that growth in premium industrial shows over the last year that has fuelled a new investment in Robe moving lights, with 12 x Esprites and 12 x LEDBeam 350s joining the rental fleet. These were initially purchased with an event at the Clarion Hotel at Copenhagen Airport in mind. “The design featured 100sq.m of LED screen, so we needed lights that could punch through and excel even with all that ambient light onstage,” explained Lars. He noted that many of the awards show designs for which Soundwise supplies production have LED surfaces prominent on the stage, so intensit
India - Jaipur’s Suntech Sound recently invested in their first L-Acoustics system comprising of Kara II and KS28 high-power subwoofers. With the aim to exceed their clients’ expectations, Vaibhav Goel, founder of Suntech Sound strategically planned the company’s future with L-Acoustics. The purchase was done through Hi-Tech Audio & Image who are L-Acoustics official India distributor and have been associated with the brand for a decade. The move marks a significant milestone for Suntech Sound as it expands its product portfolio and further solidifies its position in the audio rental industry. Vaibhav Goel comments: “L-Acoustics sets a new benchmark in audio reinforcement with their cutting-edge loudspeaker technology and advanced sound design solutions. Their precise and immersive sound reproduction, coupled with their extensive range of scalable sy
Australia - Production company Krank'd relied on Show Technology, Prolights distributor in Australia, to expand their rental inventory with Prolights fixtures. The new selection includes the EclProfile CT+ LED profile and the EclCyclorama 100 soft-edge linear projector. Wes Bluff, CEO of Krank'd, explained that the decision to invest in these new devices was driven by the need for a high-quality LED colour Profile solution: “Having used the Prolights EclProfile CT+ in high-level Queensland venues, and in discussion with local designers and crew, it was clear that everyone was raving about the EclProfile CT+.” Wes says that it wasn't the fixture's extensive list of features that caught his attention, but rather the quality of light that they produce: “You can achieve the natural effect of a traditional incandescent fixture, yet they also produce an excellent range
USA - June is Pride Month, a month honouring the 1969 Stonewall riots, but also a time to celebrate members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride Month brings parades, festivals, and more events. “We love seeing how designers put on productions to honour the month and community,” says software designer Vectorworks. One such creation is from Ami Hanna, a production designer, technical director, and LSO for Luma Box Designs. A stage designer for the Salt Lake City Pride event each year, Ami Hanna cites the community and her own sexuality as reasons why the event means so much to her. Hanna took over the Stageline production for Salt Lake City Pride in 2015. She inherited the job from a colleague, Nick ‘Murph’ Murphy, who went on to start Murphy's Production Services. Murph supplied Hanna with a detailed draft of the event’s Stageline 250 - a drawing he did in
