Turkey - The Otto Santral restaurant and club, strategically located at the very centre of the private Bilgi Arts University Campus in Istanbul has been equipped with a complete L-Acoustics sound system.

The main system is a left/right Kiva line source array system comprised of six Kiva elements and two Kilo low frequency extension enclosures per side. The main system is completed with four ground-stacked SB118 subwoofers and the complete system is driven and controlled by three LA4 amplified controllers. The installation also features L-Acoustics self-powered speakers, namely two108P for stage side-fills for the audience, and six 112P enclosures for stage monitors and side-fills.

Opened almost 24 hours a day, this new Club has quickly become one of the trendiest place to be in Istanbul, and recently won 'The Best Place in Istanbul' award.

L-Acoustics' distributor for Turkey

UK - Leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light has today announced a radical overhaul of its transportation department that will see it move into a more sustainable future based on techniques from the past.

The company is to replace the fleet of vans that undertake regular deliveries from its Wimbledon base into London's Theatreland with an efficient, low fuel consumption, and very friendly horse and cart. "This transportation system has been used by the local Young's Brewery for many years," notes White Light's managing director, Bryan Raven.

"When we learnt that they were to phase it out we realised what a great opportunity this was for us. Our many theatre and corporate event clients mean that we have to make regular deliveries into central London, and rising fuel costs make this increasingly expensive.

"The horses, on the other hand, will pa

Australia - Madam De Biers bar and grill venue in Sydney's Kings Cross area has installed a Turbosound-based sound system.

Sydney-based Showtime Promotions and Productions was awarded the contract to supply the system and chose the Turbosound TCS Compact range.

To ensure even coverage, Showtime opted for a distributed system, comprising eight TCS-081C and two TCS-101C spread evenly around the venue, complemented by a front of house style system for DJ and band performances. This comprises four TCS-121C, flown two per side, with a pair of TSB-212 subs installed under the stage.

The system is powered by 16 channels of Lab.gruppen C-Series amplifiers and managed by a Peavey MediaMatrix NION nX32 system with wall panel touch controls.

"The Turbosound TCS Compact series is popular with my clients as they are unobtrusive but sound deceivingly large," says Rob Runko fro

UK - The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has announced that the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) is the first trade association to become an awarding body in the entertainment, conference, architectural and communications industries. By becoming an awarding body the national qualifications system is now able to recognise the specific needs of SMEs and larger organisations across the industry.

Part of the second wave of employers to achieve Awarding Body status, PLASA has been working with the QCA to conform to the rigorous standards set to become a QCA accredited awarding body.

The development of a Level 1 Trainee Rigger programme for 'new entrants' into the industry will start in the summer of 2008 and will cover the core skills required for rigging in any sector and provide a pathway for someone trying to reach the Level 2 certificate. This w

UK - A.C. Lighting's audio division has recently supplied BAE Systems with a complete ASL PRO Series dual channel communications system.

ASL's UK distributor recommended dealer A.C. Audio to BAE Systems, who were quick to assist in the modernisation of the existing 25 year old comms system. Enabling instant and clear communications between three rooms over two independent channels, the new configuration provides BAE's Simulation Department with technology that meets with their stringent requirements.

BAE's senior simulation engineer Liam Murphy commented: "Following pilot comments during simulation assessments on the poor audio quality of our existing bespoke intercom system, a new system was deemed essential for future work. Having already installed a similar system within Simulation Department, A.C. Lighting were asked to design a system for the Motion Dome Simulator.

UK - Visual designer Nick Jevons of Electric Fly Productions used an Avolites Diamond 4 for controlling lighting for the first Radio 1XTRA Live event staged at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Show visuals were played back from a Maxedia media server triggered by a Pearl Expert console run by Jake Jevons.

The show featured Akon, Chris Brown, Kelly Rowland and Craig David and was the first of its kind to be staged by the BBC's popular digital urban music channel. It was broadcast live on 1XTRA and recorded for a BBC 2 live special and BBC Digital's Red Button channel.

Jevons was brought onboard by producer Dave McColmont of Angel Music, following his many ground-breaking designs integrating video and lighting for the BBC's One Big Weekend events. All lighting and rigging was supplied by Blackburn-based HSL, with visuals and control from Electric Fly, and screens from

UK - Prism Sound, manufacturer of interfaces and converters for the recording and broadcast markets, has acquired the business and intellectual property rights of SADiE, formerly owned by Studio Audio and Video Ltd.

The acquisition marks a new chapter in the histories of both businesses. The SADiE brand has long been held in high regard by the pro audio and broadcast industries for the quality and performance of its PC-based digital audio workstation products. Prism Sound is best known by this market for its high end A/D and D/A converters for mastering, tracking and post production.

Prism Sound directors Graham Boswell and Ian Dennis negotiated the deal after learning that SADiE Studio Audio & Video Ltd had gone into administration in February.

"Along with many people in the industry, we were very saddened to hear that SADiE had run into problems," says Graham Bos

UK / Japan - D&M Holdings Inc has announced the completion of the acquisition of Allen & Heath Holdings.

"The acquisition of Allen & Heath is a strong complement to our Calrec and D&M Pro brands," said chairman and chief executive officer Eric C. Evans. "This acquisition broadens our product offerings to our longstanding DJ customer base and expands our business in the professional market into installed live sound."

Founded in 1969, Cornwall-based Allen & Heath will continue to be led by Glenn Rogers and its current management team. The company will continue to expand its digital portfolio to meet the growing demand for digital mixers.

"We're adding another dimension to our position in the professional audio marketplace with this acquisition," said Evans. "Allen & Heath is a strong brand in the professional live sound performance market an

Canada - PB Pro-Audio & Lighting recently deployed its Electro-Voice XLD281 line array system for the 2008 British Columbia Winter Games. Held at the end of February in the Rocky Mountain cities of Kimberly and Cranbrook, BC, PB's streamlined, high-performance PA handled sound for the opening ceremony, awards, and live performances held in the Cranbrook Recreation Complex, the main venue for the games.

"The XLD delivers remarkable performance for its size," says Ben Blomander, owner, PB Pro-Audio & Lighting, "balancing sonic intelligibility and precise coverage with plenty of power handling when needed.

"For the opening ceremony, about 3000 kids came out onto the ice, past the main stage area," Blomander adds, "effectively doubling the size of the space we needed to cover; we needed to cover the ice and the first tier seating area as well as the m

UAE - Robert Juliat has appointed Dutco Tennant as its Middle East dealer and will be exhibiting with them at this year's PALME Middle East show in Dubai.

One of the oldest business organizations in the United Arab Emirates, the Dutco Group of Companies has enjoyed a long and distinguished history since its foundation in 1947 by the late Yousuf Baker. Dutco Tennant is the Group's principal trading operation, with a sound reputation in the UAE and other Gulf States for its commitment and marketing abilities.

George Puthenkulam, general manager of Dutco Tennant, says: "Robert Juliat has long been recognised as a pioneer in the lighting industry and we are determined to bring as much extra value in our promotion of the Robert Juliat brand as possible.

"We want not only to supply the product, but to provide customers with the level of support that reflects the manufact

Germany - Element Labs has confirmed that it will partner with Lightpower GmbH to become an official distributor of the innovative Stealth, Versa TUBE and Helix G75 LED-systems in the German market.

This distribution collaboration forms part of Lightpower's earlier announcement that it has opened the LED competence centre Germany, which will see the company distribute some of the foremost creative and low-res LED products available on the market today, including Element Labs' Versa TUBE, Stealth and Helix G75 products.

A joint statement says: "The announcement of the strategic collaboration between Element Labs and Lightpower represents a natural progression for two leading companies that both have a strong background in the lighting industry and who's paths have often crossed on concert tours where both provided products that worked together to deliver the visual

UK - Matthew Dilley, a leading UK producer/engineer working mainly in classical music, has purchased a DPA D3/S5 surround sound mount and five matched DPA 4006-TL omnidirectional transformerless microphones from UK distributor Sound Network.

Dilley is based in Cambridge and enjoys a close affiliation with University College Chapel choirs. "The purchase of the surround system was driven by the fact that we are seeing more demand for live recordings and DVD productions where we are trying to capture the whole atmosphere of the occasion," he says. "The S5 does this in a very elegant fashion. It looks great and is easy to fly, keeping out of the way of the visuals whilst the 4006-TL capsules ensure that the multiple mics don't increase the noise floor in the way that some multi capsule surround solutions seem to."

Supplementary spots in the form of DPA 4028 wid

USA - A trio of fundraising efforts on behalf of Behind the Scenes culminated in March with over $11,000 raised. From industry veterans to high school students, people are turning their passion for the industry into action and caring for their current and future colleagues.

Richard Wolpert's brainchild was Pedaling to Benefit Behind the Scenes, a 754 mile, 12 day bicycle trip from Springfield, MO to Houston, TX in time for the USITT Conference. Riding at an average speed of 12 mph and covering as much as 78 miles in a day. He was joined for the first 72 miles by Rob Schraft and for the last 274 miles by Jeni Lyn Anderson.

On 15 March 15, the Mount Vernon High School Chapter of USITT held its second annual Short Reach Short Riders Tricycle Ride for Behind the Scenes. A cold and wet morning greeted the 38 high school riders as they competed in relays, sprints, and

UK - Following 28 successful years of manufacturing and designing installation sound equipment, founding owners Roy Millington and Andrew Colley have officially retired their positions as directors and shareholders of Cloud Electronics Ltd. The management and all shares of the company will pass to Cloud Electronics Holdings Ltd.

The new company is formed under the managing directorship of Simon Curtis and director Clare Powell. Cloud Electronics Ltd will continue to trade as before and all day-to-day operations will be maintained as usual and without change.

Millington and Colley will adopt the role of consultants for Cloud Electronics, supporting Curtis and the internal management team.

Roy Millington comments, "We are very pleased that our legacy will be continued by Simon and are totally confident in the future success of the company. The injection of Simon's youth,

Italy - Marking the 40th Anniversary of its Broadway debut, Hair - The Musical is touring across Italy, playing in some of the country's most prestigious theatres such as Teatro Colosseo (Turin), Teatro Politeama (Genoa) and Officine Smeraldo (Milan).

Lighting director and designer is Marcello Jazzetti with video/projection direction by Cristina Redini. Rental company IMMAGINI of Soresina has supplied the video and lighting gear for the tour.

Twelve mid-stage positioned Martin LC Series LED panels are used as lateral screens for text, image and graphics projection. Jazzetti, who specified the LC panels because of their familiarity, finds the LC Series "exceptional and technologically advanced".

His initial thoughts were to use the LC Series for primary stage lighting but eventually decided to incorporate image and graphics projection as well. Marcello report

UK - Three distinctive projects, delivered by Theatre design consultants Charcoalblue, have received 2008 Civic Trust Awards in recognition of their 'outstanding contribution' to the quality and appearance of the environment: The Roundhouse, The Young Vic in London and The North Wall Performing Arts Centre, St Edwards School, Oxford. In addition to the standard prizes, nine Special Awards were also presented with the Special Award for Access going to The Roundhouse, Camden.

The Civic Trust Awards aim to promote the positive impact that good building and urban development can have on society. It's currently one of the largest and most respected award schemes of its kind in Europe.

Jack Tilbury, project director for Charcoalblue and The Roundhouse project, said: "We're delighted that the Roundhouse has received the 2008 Civic Trust Special Award for Access. We worked very c

USA - Atlas Sound and IED have joined the NSCA Education Foundation as host sponsors of the Systems Integration Industry Charity Golf Tournament. The Foundation's popular golf tournament will take place during InfoComm 08 on 17 June at Rhodes Ranch Golf Course in Las Vegas.

"I am happy to join forces with Infocomm and the NSCA Education Foundation to support the Industry Charity Golf Tournament, hosted by Atlas Sound and IED," said Loyd Ivey, CEO of Atlas Sound/IED. "We can tee up a striking event for two great causes, industry education and juvenile diabetes. Both of these causes are very dear to my heart. I look forward to everyone coming out and playing their best round of golf ever, for these two important needs."

"The NSCA Foundation is extremely excited to have Atlas Sound/IED as the host sponsor for this year's event," said Tom Frericks, pr

Australia - For a recent run through a number of top Sydney venues, tribute act Abbalanche hooked up with Sydney club engineer Phill Webb, who provided his new Electro-Voice REV wireless system, complete with custom chrome-finished handheld transmitters. "ABBA sang into silver microphones back in the seventies," Webb says, "so, aside from the REV's sound quality, it made the show look even more authentic to have the girls singing into silver wireless transmitters."

The REV wireless systems were complemented by an EV RE-1 system with N/D967 handheld, as well as wired N/D967's on keyboard and bass vocals.

"I love working with these guys; they sound great, look great, and always draw a big crowd," adds Webb, "and adding EV equipment to the mix makes the whole presentation even better."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Bluewater Shopping Centre boasts 27 million visitors a year and an expansive complex of three shopping environs, each with its own "village." The centre makes a big impact, so it seems natural that they would want an equally impressive setting for the busy holiday season.

Working with Scena Projects, Tomcat UK created some larger than life Christmas presents for display on various roundabouts at the award winning shopping destination in Kent. All four presents were finished just in time to set the scene during the 2007 holiday season.

When Scena Projects were asked to build four 'Christmas Presents 20ft high' they turned to designers at Harriman Steel and Tomcat UK for help to achieve this vision. For its part, Tomcat UK manufactured the framework which consisted of a Tomcat One aluminum trussing system with counter weights for each of the presents. To complete

UK - A.C. Lighting's rigging division has announced its partnership with Out Board and can confirm it is now a full-line stocking dealer for their latest professional LV and DV chain-hoist controllers.

A.C. Lighting's rigging sales manager Adam Beaumont comments, "I am delighted to partner with Out Board and be able to work with such a leading brand, whose products fit together perfectly with our existing ranges. We looked at several options, but the products that distinguished themselves as the front runner and the only real contenders for us were those made by Out Board. We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with them."

Out Board director Dave Haydon comments, "We have seen unprecedented growth in our motor controller sales since we re-launched with the new LV-Series and DV-Series just over a year ago, and we greatly value the substanti

USA - There's a grandMA behind the scenes as NBC revives American Gladiators for a new generation of TV viewers. The grandMA is controlling almost 600 Vari*Lite VL2500 moving lights and some 1,500 LEDs for the strength and endurance competition. The show, which originally premiered in 1989, made its midseason debut in January 2008 with Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali hosting.

"For the new version of the show the producers wanted a spectacular, immense arena feel," notes lighting director William McLachlan. "Scenically the space is so large, it covers a huge footprint. So we needed a substantial rig just to cover the area let alone create a signature look."

In crafting the signature look, McLachlan and lighting designer Oscar Dominguez wanted to "use video as a way to move, breathe colour and bring intensity across the rig. We wanted to use the rig to e

UK - Crowd management and event security company Showsec has launched its managerial Academy, a building block in its goal to offer a progressive, operational career path within the Industry.

The Showsec Academy formalises training and provides an accredited qualification for staff at managerial level, something that has never before been addressed by the industry, says the company. The year-long programme offers staff the chance to develop the knowledge, skills and experience required to become an effective operational manager within the crowd management industry.

The programme is divided into three key elements: operational management, leadership, and administration and support services. It includes vocational and industry qualifications, operational experience, as well as mentoring and self development elements. The vocational aspect will ensure associates encounter every t

Spain - The Spanish version of Fame - The Musical - Fama - El Musical - recently visited Cádiz in the south west of Spain. The show has toured Spain for over a year and has already seen packed houses in Barcelona and Madrid.

Fame, originally a film directed by Alan Parker and released in 1980, was turned in to a long-running TV series, then a stage show, which has performed in theatres all over the world and in a multitude of languages.

DiGiCo plays a major role in the show's audio success for Barcelona-based rental company Tour Serveis, which provides all the sound equipment, maintenance and logistics for the Spanish tour.

The Cádiz production took place at the Great Falla Theatre, which was built in 1884 by Adolfo Morales de los Rios on the site of the original Great Theatre, a wooden building that was constructed in 1871 but destroyed by a fire in A

UK - The Sound and Light Company, based in Huddersfield, has committed to the Fine Art UK range of moving head luminaires, having bought four each of the flagship Fine 700W washes and profiles for its current hire inventory.

The Sound and Light Company's production manager, Andrew Pickersgill, explained his decision: "I've not got anything like [the Fine Art luminaires] at the moment in terms of reliability. Normally by now moving heads would be in bits or have little faults with them after six months of constant hire use - but the Fine Art lights are superb, not a thing wrong with them - they're brilliant.

"The quality of the lights is fantastic and they're reliable - really reliable - and they're bright. They just tick all the right boxes basically."

The Fine Art luminaires have replaced The Sound and Light Company's out of date moving head hire stock and ha

Latest Issue. . .