USA - When BlizzCon 2010 opened its doors at the Anaheim Convention Centre, fans of the wildly popular video games produced by Blizzard Entertainment were treated to a serious spectacle. At the helm of the lighting design for the four-day event was designer Arnold Serame, Serame Design, who was tasked with creating a consistent yet rock-n-roll atmosphere. To bring his design to life, Serame worked with 4-Wall Los Angeles and 200 Vari*Lite luminaires.

"This was my first year with BlizzCon and right away I knew I would be in for a challenge," said Serame. "In our initial discussion about the event, Blizzard Entertainment made it clear that they wanted to really step up the production values over previous years. When BlizzCon first started it was about one-quarter of the size it is today, but the lighting, sound and video elements had not grown to support it. This ye

UK - Lighting rental company HSL, based in Blackburn, has bought 12 new Robert Juliat Lancelot 4K followspots to add to its already substantial hire stock of RJ products.

These were supplied by UK distributors White Light, and were part of a £2.5m investment that HSL has made in the last quarter of 2010 to service its ongoing work.

HSL MD Simon Stuart comments: "We have been very happy with the reliability of all the Robert Juliat products purchased over the years and with the support from RJ and White light. We know this purchase will confirm our commitment to Robert Juliat as a leading brand in this field, and we also look forward to expanding on this initial investment soon."

(Jim Evans)

USA - ANSI E1.3, Entertainment Technology - Lighting Control Systems - 0 to 10V Analogue Control Specification, and ANSI E1.27-1, Entertainment Technology-Standard for Portable Control Cables for Use with USITT DMX512/1990 and E1.11 (DMX512-A) Products, are announced as being in public review for reaffirmation from now through the end of February 2011.

The intention of the Control Protocols Working Group at this time is to reaffirm the existing standards as they are, but this is, of course, contingent on any objections or comments that the public might offer. The public review forms are accessible at http://tsp.plasa.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. The standards themselves are being sold by The ESTA Foundation at http://www.estafoundation.org/pubs.htm at their normal prices.

ANSI E1.3 describes a method of controlling equipment by means of an analogue control voltage

UK - HSL is supplying lighting equipment and crew to Production North for the first arena tour by boyband, JLS, with lighting designed by Dave Lee and a lively, entertaining show created by artistic director Beth Honan.

HSL's project manager is Mike Oates, and this follows on from their work on the band's first theatre tour earlier in the year. He says, "It's great to be out with JLS again. Production North has really upped the production values and it's good to see the band develop and become such a success."

Lighting equipment includes 160 moving lights - a mixture of Vari*Lites and Robes - including the first of the new Robe LEDWash 600 fixtures, one of many recent new purchases by HSL. The moving lights are distributed over a series of semi-circular trusses above and to the sides of the stage, and across the stage floor and set which was designed by Peter Barnes.

UK - St. Clement's church in Finsbury, London is now lighting up the capital's skyline as a result of a project designed and specified by LED suppliers Architainment Lighting in conjunction with Islington Council. The council was looking to enhance the church's identity, which had always blended into the background of King Square, and it was keen to do this using a low-energy, low-maintenance lighting system.

Architainment Lighting specified a range of LED fittings that could meet the council's environmental and financial requirements and these were then installed by Wishbone Electrical to illuminate St. Clement's portico, church tower, spire and clock.

For the spire and portico, Architainment supplied Philips Color Kinetics eW Blast Powercore and LED floodlight with a high-intensity wash of white light. For the side recesses, Philips Color Kinetics eW Graze Powercore was fitt

USA - Tonic Bar & Restaurant in Times Square NYC's first floor boasts 25 large Plasma & LCD TV's and a large marble top bar. The second floor is a restaurant with a full international menu. At the Tonic Bar facility there are also private bars for special events.

Recently the Tonic Bar installed new sound systems and Foundation Audio's installation features several RCF products.

Justin Shafran from Foundation Audio reports, "On the second floor we flew the four H1315 in the four corners of the room. We added two S8028 side by side to one side of the room dedicated to the dance area and one S8028 to the other to add some extra low frequencies to the bar area.

"On the the first floor we flew two C5215L on each side of the room for side-fill and five C5215 on U Brackets on the wall facing the bar at a 45 degree down angle. The ART 410A is being used as a DJ monitor.

USA - Located at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Tropicana Hotel has a storied history that dates back to 1957. Over the years, the 'Trop' has been spotted in films such as Elvis Presley's Viva Las Vegas and the James Bond 007 hit Diamonds Are Forever. The hotel's Tiffany Theatre - once home to the >I>Folies Bergère production show - now serves as a venue for a wide variety of headline shows and other entertainment. An upgraded loudspeaker system consisting of products from the Aero and Avant Series catalogs of D.A.S. Audio was recently placed into service.

Las Vegas-based A.D.D. Productions, a part of Eagle Group Holdings, manages all aspects of entertainment at the Tiffany Theatre as well as the hotel's forthcoming Las Vegas Mob Experience attraction. A.D.D. Productions general manager David DeLeo selected a sizeable D.A.S. Audio loudspea

USA - Steve Linder is the principal behind SRI Training, a company that provides strategic life coach training for thousands of clients each year. Linder's presentations utilise a variety of biofeedback and neuro linguistic programming (NLP) techniques to teach leadership, communication and other interpersonal skills to both individuals and organizations.

He uses an array of A/V technology to illustrate his points, including live video feeds, audio and video playback, live wireless microphones, and live telephone feeds. To control it all, he uses the Allen & Heath iLive R72 control surface paired with an iDR-16 MixRack.

"The iLive has really revolutionised my presentations," Linder notes. "The audio is so clean and easy to control, it really keeps everyone focused on the content. People will put up with mediocre video, but not bad audio. As soon as you have feed

USA - Human-powered flight has been a dream sought after for centuries and accomplished only very recently. Red Bull gave contestants a crack at this rarely achieved fantasy during its summer-long Flugtag competition, held nationwide.

In Long Beach, California, 105,000 spectators watched teams push whimsical contraptions from a pier. Sound for the event utilised IEEE 802.1 AVB Bridging protocol, enabled by AVB-compliant technology from Harman Professional. The signal control chain consisted of four dbx SC 32 Digital Matrix Processors and 24 AVB-capable Crown CTs 3000power amplifiers, as well a half-dozen network bridge switches from BSS Audio/NETGEAR configured and controlled using Harman HiQnet System Architect. On Stage Audio (OSA), led by vice president Jim Risgin, deployed the AVB system.

Using the HiQnet System Architect's virtual software environment, Red Bull ran audio

USA - J.R. Clancy has been selected to supply the automated rigging for Hempstead Hall, the new auditorium and conference centre at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. The hall is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

J.R. Clancy is the rigging equipment manufacturer for the project. Pook, Diemont & Ohl is managing the project and performing the installation of all of the rigging equipment.

The 50,000sq.ft facility will feature a 1,600-seat auditorium, a convention area and an expandable exterior amphitheatre. Completion of the construction project is scheduled for January 2012.

J. R. Clancy will provide six PowerLift automated hoists, each with a 2000-pound capacity and a fixed speed of 20ft per minute. The PowerLifts will be used for the cyclorama, electrics and utility battens.

Clancy's SureTarget 10 control system will be used to control the PowerLifts' mov

USA / Australia - Intelix has partnered with Ness Corporation to better serve the Australian audio-visual market. Effective immediately, Ness is stocking and supplying Intelix hardware, including their HDMI, digital signage, security and audio/video over twisted pair solutions.

"Ness is an ideal partner in Australia," says Steve Cohan, Intelix CEO. "Their exceptional support, extensive product offerings, and numerous stocking locations cover over 95% of Australia's population, making them a leader in the datacom, security, and commercial and residential AV markets."

"Ness partners with quality suppliers from North America, Asia and Europe, allowing us to bring leading edge technology to our customers in all areas of the industry," says Greg Kingsley, Ness national integrated solutions manager. "We are always looking to expand our range and co

Germany - As its year as the Culture Capital of Europe came to a close, the Ruhr region in Germany celebrated on 18 December with a massive multi-media show broadcast live on Germany's national WDR TV from three separate locations.

The main event was staged at the disused Nordsternplatz coal mine in Gelsenkirchen which, using the latest video technology, was transformed into a life-size paddle steamer, the MS Ruhrtopia, on which a cast of artists and musicians took a journey through 2010.

With a series of video screens formed of over 500 m2 of G-LEC Phantom Frames and supplied by Videotechnics Bär, the event made a big impression on the 30,000 strong audience.

"The build-up happened under the worst meteorological conditions" says Philip Bär, owner of Videotechnics Bär. "Heavy snowfalls and winds, kindly brought to us by Cyclone Petra, were a big problem. Th

USA - Barco is supplying integrated creative lighting and projection solutions for multiple live stage and cinematic shows presented on Allure of the Seas. The cornerstone of the deployment is a 3D digital cinema theatre - the first installation on a new cruise ship - leveraging Royal Caribbean's pioneering alliance with DreamWorks Animation to showcase first-run movies produced by the company.

Barco's DP2K 20-C digital cinema projector marked the occasion by showing a video of the Princess Fiona character, from the Shrek animated movie series, christening the ship. The projector, featuring Texas Instruments' DLP Cinema technology, will present 2D and 3D movies in the ship's 1,400-seat main theatre.

"By partnering with the best manufacturers and service providers, we've been able to offer our guests the ultimate entertainment cruise experience. Barco's help

UK / USA - FocusTrack, the production lighting documentation system, and its sister software SpotTrack, for documenting followspot cues, both enjoyed a successful 2010, helping to transfer existing shows to new productions and documenting many new shows for their successful runs and future productions.

In New York, FocusTrack provided show lighting documentation for Neil Austin's Tony Award and Drama Desk award-winning lighting for Red and his Tony-award and Drama desk nominated lighting for Hamlet, as well as for Natasha Katz's Drama Desk award nominated design for The Addams Family.

FocusTrack is currently assisting with a number of productions moving to a life beyond Broadway - the transfer of Donald Holder's lighting of Come Fly Away to Las Vegas, and the US tours featuring Kevin Adams' designs for Hair, Next to Normal and Sprin

USA - Loud Technologies has announced the appointment of Studio Sound International (SSI) as the new independent sales rep firm for the company's Ampeg, Blackheart, Crate and Mackie brands in Latin America.

"I have always admired Mackie for their value and sound. Ampeg is as legendary a bass amp name as one can get, and having US and overseas-built solutions is key for the Latin-American market. Crate offers real price-point value and a name young users can trust. Blackheart has great boutique guitar amp solutions at an amazing price point, even for the most demanding players," says SSI president, Chris Adams.

"Armed with the most sought-after brands in the business, and a wide range of gear perfectly suited to the Latin American market, Loud is poised for an aggressive cycle of growth in the region," said Henri Cohen, director of sales for Loud. "SSI'

UK - High-brightness F32 series DLP projectors from Norway's projectiondesign can be found at the heart of a new training facility at the Cobham, UK offices of control and automation manufacturer, Crestron.

"Education is a huge part of our market. Our own business is no different and we've invested in the best communications technology throughout our new training and education offices," says Jamie Blakemore, UK sales manager at Crestron UK. "These are used throughout the year to train and educate our staff, partners, consultants, architects, technology suppliers and customers. We have about 1.000 people coming through our doors for training purposes alone annually. For the display of information, we're using nothing less than the 8,000 lumens high-brightness models of the F32 series.

"The projectors are certainly being put through their paces and able to ha

UK - DB Systems has become the UK's largest stockist of the NEC MultiSync 46" LCD video wall modules, following increased demand from its clients. DB currently has 60 units and associated accessories.

Oliver Richardson, DB's sales and marketing director, comments, "This product is our flagship video wall system because of what it can offer our clients. It is a display system that, when combined with the right content, ensures an exhibition stand has that elusive 'wow' factor, which gets noticed by event attendees.

"Design agencies, exhibitors and event organizers are increasingly demanding such a high quality display system, which is why we are happy to invest large sums of money to cater for the demands."

Simon Jackson, vice president of NEC Display Solutions Northern Europe adds, "DB needs the very best technology to maintain its standing amongst i

USA - AVnu Alliance has confirmed Bosch Security Systems Communications Systems Division as a new promoter member.

"Bosch Communications Systems is a strong supporter of open media networking standards," says Bill Scott, vice president of engineering and technology. "We believe that a goal of media networking development should be universal interoperability. For this to happen, the industry needs to educate the marketplace, and it needs a widely accepted compliance certification process. Bosch Communications Systems is pleased to have joined the AVnu Alliance in order to promote these principles."

"We welcome Bosch Communications Systems to the AVnu Alliance," states Lee Minich, AVnu Alliance marketing work group chairman, "and in joining our shared vision for interoperable AV networking via Audio Video Bridging (AVB) technologies."

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USA - At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), sound artist Bill Fontana has added another dimension to the turret-skylight atrium atop the building by enveloping the space in a dynamic, interactive auditory experience. Entitled Sonic Shadows, Fontana's work employs eight Meyer Sound MM-4XP miniature self-powered loudspeakers - working in conjunction with four moving ultrasonic emitters - to reproduce sounds generated organically by vibrations inside the building.

"What Bill Fontana has achieved is a truly hybrid and reactive sculpture of sound in time," says Rudolf Frieling, SFMOMA curator of media arts. "Crossing the bridge on the fifth floor activates a complex work in which the invisible structures of the architecture play as large a role as the random movements of visitors. It is a unique SFMOMA sound."

Nearly invisible, the MM-4XP lo

UK - PEL Services has recently completed one of its most sophisticated audio visual installations for Syngenta International Research Centre in Berkshire.

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 25,000 employees in over 90 countries. 800 staff are employed at the Centre in Berkshire, which is the company's largest site for agrochemical R&D.

As part of an efficiency drive to increase productivity and site usage, Syngenta put into place a three part programme, which included improving communications, the main focus of which was on making The Elements Building a central hub of the site. Already home to the dining room and refreshments areas, as well as some little used meeting rooms, the Elements Building underwent a complete refurbishment incorporating eight meeting facilities plus informal meeting areas, all run by an on-site dedicated concierge.

For S

USA / Belgium - Production Resource Group (PRG) has announced its acquisition of First Events BVBA - a major Europe-based entertainment technology company whose holdings include EML Productions NV in Belgium, EML Productions Holland BV in The Netherlands and Sound and Light Productions S.L. in Spain.

PRG Chairman & CEO Jeremiah 'Jere' Harris and EML director Jan Van Malder made the joint announcement of the acquisition through MEL Holding BVBA, a subsidiary of PRG.

This acquisition will extend PRG's European presence into new territories, including the Netherlands and Spain, as well as significantly reinforcing its existing activities in Belgium.

"Today, PRG's local presence in mainland Europe gets even stronger," noted Harris. "With EML joining PRG, we will continue to provide our services globally with an emphasis on local support."

Founded in 1979, E

USA / Europe - Grammy-award winning singer Shakira asked Paul Normandale to create the lighting design for her current The Sun Comes Out World Tour and he was happy to oblige. Touring in support of her two most recent albums, in addition to performing a string of older hits, the tour hit the US in the fall with a European leg running through December.

The European shows feature a rig full of Martin moving lights, including MAC III Profiles, MAC 2000 Wash XBs, MAC 700 Profiles, MAC 250 Beams and Atomic 3000 strobes with Atomic Colors scrollers.

"We did a six week run in the States with no major issues, and thus far in Europe they are fine too," Normandale states. Lighting vendor for the US leg was Upstaging with Lite Alternative, Normandales's UK based lighting production company, handling the European leg.

Normandale, who field-tested the MAC III Profile ove

UK - Stage Electrics is opening its doors to the pro audio industry at the end of January, hosting Yamaha Commercial Audio for a pair of open days at the company's London branch.

Taking place on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 January, from 10am to 5pm each day, the events will provide a series of demonstrations on a selection of Yamaha Commercial Audio products, including the M7CL and LS9 digital mixing consoles, the SB168-ES stage box, Ethersound and Dante networking protocols.

"The open days are designed to give both prospective and existing users a focused overview of the key functions and applications of the products and the advantages of using Ethersound and Dante," says Naomi Wilkinson of Yamaha Commercial Audio sales and marketing support.

"Each demo will be followed by practical hands-on time with the equipment, with Yamaha staff available to give advice

UK - The Cinematic Orchestra performed a large-scale concert at London's Royal Albert Hall with the London Metropolitan Orchestra that required the use of Soundcraft Vi6 and Vi1 consoles at front of house and a Soundcraft Vi4 for the monitor mix.

The Cinematic Orchestra is a British jazz and electronic group whose music, as its name indicates, is expansive in scope, employing live electric and acoustic instruments, turntables, samples and electronic elements. The group has scored a number of films and released several albums.

"This event presented us with some extremely challenging logistics," noted Mark Hornsby, owner of London sound contractor Hark, which supplied the Soundcraft consoles for the concert. "Because we needed to mic a full orchestra, three backup singers and a number of guest vocalists in addition to the band members, we needed more than 100 inpu

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