USA - Open house receptions are nothing new at Gemini Light, Sound & Video. The Dallas-based lighting and production company holds them annually to showcase its inventory and services and educate its customers. But this year's event, held 16-17 November, was extra special for a couple reasons: it marked Gemini's 30th anniversary in business; and it gave many customers their first view of the company's recently expanded 76,000sq.ft warehouse.

Nearly 250 existing and prospective clients attended the two-day open house, which took place in a section of the warehouse set up to replicate a theatre.

"Back by popular demand, we set up a 'black box theatre' demo area to achieve an actual production space within our working warehouse," said Cassidi Cain of Gemini. This allowed customers to see some of the company's newer lighting and video products in action as they would app

UK - The Coemar Infinity ACL beam projector made an appearance on a recent edition of the BBC's Later with Jools Holland, backing the Mercury- and Brit-nominated band Friendly Fires for lighting director Chris Rigby.

"We gave the units a gentle run on Later, where they performed very well." Rigby comments. "The most striking thing about them, to my eyes, was the bright and vibrant colours they offered. They were more than bright enough for High Definition studio cameras. We liked the iris feature, which makes the Coemar unit more versatile than others in its class, and obviously we liked the gobo selection, which makes the fixture a lot less one dimensional. In short, we liked them."

The Infinity ACL is Coemar's moving-light re-invention of the classic, intense ACL beam effect. It offers CMY+CTO colour mixing plus a five-slot colour wheel that

USA - When Northern Kentucky University (NKU) decided to implement a school-wide 'green' initiative, lighting designer Terry Powell leapt at the opportunity, and worked with Adam Hayward at Vincent Lighting Systems to overhaul his lighting rig with 24 PL3 Wash luminaires from Philips Selecon and a Palette VL control console from Philips Strand Lighting.

"In the past, my boss and I had been talking about LED technology and all the benefits we would get by using it in the theatre," began Powell. "So when the University established a pool of money that was to be used for sustainability, we jumped at the opportunity to put together a proposal, and contacted our longtime friends at Vincent Lighting Systems to get the project going."

"Vincent Lighting is very proud to have been involved with NKU for a number of years," added Hayward. "We first beca

Singapore - Clear-Com is enabling flawless communications for the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore's Marina Bay. The performance complex relies on Clear-Com's FreeSpeak and Tempest 2400 wireless systems to ensure smooth, reliable communications across its four major indoor venues and outdoor theatre, covering a variety of events, including theatrical productions, classical concerts and performances by pop and rock artists.

Clear-Com's FreeSpeak and Tempest2400 enable the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay to provide touring companies and other performers hiring the venues with the no-fail communications necessary for managing productions across its four major performance spaces.

These spaces include a 1,600-seat concert hall (the facility's premiere venue), a 2,000-seat theatre, a recital studio and a theatre studio. Although their existing legacy Clear-Com partyline

USA - A long overdue renovation of the lobby and atrium at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, began shortly after it was announced that the Hilton Anatole would be the NFL headquarters hotel for the XLV Super Bowl.

R2W's Dallas office was tapped to handle the design and installation of a new sound system for the atrium as well as other system required by the renovation.

The renovation consisted of gutting the existing lobby of the 1,606 room hotel and creating a new 11 story high atrium that features a prominent water element and new Media Grill + Bar. The 11,000 square foot space required an unobtrusive, distributed sound system for music playback in the area.

The hotel design team placed 25 custom light fixtures throughout the area and allocated space within the fixtures for loudspeakers.

"Our job was to come up with a system that would provide the audio qua

Columbia - Audio Concept CA, distributor for the Prolyte Group in Venezuela and Colombia, has recently added the Prolyte i-line range to its package of products and services.

With both the addition of a new office in Bogotá, Colombia and the opening of a vast new showroom in their Margarita offices, Audio Concept is steadily spreading the success of their company.

The addition of the i-line range to their package of Prolyte products is another step in answering the demands of their customers and local partners, says the company. "Bringing professional products, like Prolyte, into the market at affordable prices is an enormous stimulus. The introduction of the i-line range underlines the importance of not only supplying quality products at the best prices, but also backing this up with excellent availability and the best service and support you can get.

The first contai

World - Judas Priest, one of the most renowned and influential heavy metal groups, has embarked on what the band is calling its final world tour, with abundant support from Meyer Sound equipment and supplier Major Tom Limited. Judas Priest's Epitaph tour has included Europe, South America, Mexico, and 35 stops in Canada and the US (wrapping up 3 December in Biloxi, Mississippi). The next stop is Japan in early 2012.

The Meyer Sound system includes 48 MIlo line array loudspeakers, 24 700-HP and four 600-HP subwoofers, three M'elodie line array loudspeakers, and six MJF-212A stage monitors.

"It's a very full sound," says production manager and front-of-house engineer Martin Walker, who has been with Judas Priest for more than a decade. "Milo is a consistent-sounding box. I try and keep the system as flat as I can, and the coverage is great and very even. Wh

UK - Production for Will Young's recent sold-out UK Echoes tour was provided by Britannia Row Productions who deployed part of their extensive Outline inventory for the project.

The main system comprised an 18 per-side configuration of Butterfly CDH 483 enclosures, with two Mantas 120-degree cabinets under-hung as down-fills. A dozen Outline Subtech dual 18" subwoofers provided low-frequency reinforcement and the whole system was driven by Outline T Series amplifiers.

System technician Dave Compton said: "This system is so modular and light it is perfect for these venues as we can fly lots of boxes from a single point and not have to worry too much about the weight limit. I have used it now for five years and it never fails to impress me."

FOH engineer Davide Lombardi confirmed: "It always sounds great - I am using a DiGiCo SD8 and record every nig

Israel - L-Acoustics' Israeli distributor Lightone has supplied a Kiva ultra-compact modular WST line source system to the 950-capacity Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv.

The Cameri theatre uses L-Acoustics coaxial products for its touring productions. Having found themselves happy with the brand's audio quality, ease and reliability, it was decided to specify it for the theatre refit, replacing an older system that couldn't cope with the more demanding productions.

Independent sound designer Eytan Gidron created the system together with L-Acoustics' tech support engineer Germain Simon, using the company's proprietary Soundvision 3D acoustic simulation software. Nine Kiva and three Kilo low frequency extensions per side have been flown as the main left/right 'music' system. Below each array is a single 112P self powered coaxial speaker, used to bring down the sound image and fill the

Denmark - Set amid the pastoral greenery of Denmark's Birker°d village, Mantziusgården Culture Centre has recently upgraded its venerable Meyer Sound UPA-1 loudspeakers of 21 years to a JM-1P arrayable loudspeaker system. Stouenborg of Kastrup, Denmark handled the sound system design and installation.

Introduced three decades apart from each other, Mantziusgården's new self-powered JM-1P system and its previous conventionally powered UPA-1 loudspeakers are both point source systems from Meyer Sound. "As a company, Meyer Sound is built on an appreciation for excellent sound," says Thomas Normann L°ve, the venue's resident sound engineer. "This commitment is clearly heard in the exceptional performance of our Meyer Sound equipment."

With a seating capacity of 750 patrons, the intimate Mantziusgården Culture Centre stages a remarkably diverse array

Germany - As the indie rock band Incubus prepared to launch their 2011 world tour in Berlin, Germany, lighting designer Robb Jibson stood ready to unveil both some old and new tricks. Having been the band's designer since 2005, Jibson was familiar with how the music and lighting should blend together, but this year he also had a new look that no audience had seen before. To help him achieve his latest design, Jibson relied upon Vari*Lite automated luminaires from Philips Vari-Lite, supplied by Upstaging and HSL (Europe).

"Having worked in the industry as a designer and technician, I am familiar with the complete product line and I have always been a fan of the Vari*Lite colour," began Jibson. "I mostly default to Vari*Lite fixtures on my projects because of their optical clarity and color systems, but on this tour I chose them for a few other reasons as well.

&q

Australia - With Phase One of Project Energia well under way, Adamson along with CMI Music and Audio has announced that Norwest Productions has joined the group of beta partners with the purchase of an E15 beta system to service the Australasian market.

Chris Kennedy, founder of Norwest Productions who already own a large inventory of Adamson including Y18's, Y10's and T21's, states, "Our Adamson Y18/Y10 systems are our flagship premium systems and demand for them is always very strong. This is an opportunity we could not pass up."

CMI Music and Audio has had quite a success in achieving market penetration since becoming Australian & New Zealand distributors of Adamson, supplying systems to rental companies and facilitating several installations into churches, not least is one of the world's largest permanent installations at Hillsong Church's headquarters in Baulkha

Norway - Barco reports that entertainment equipment rental company AVAB CAC selected 17 Barco's event projectors and 100 MiSTRIP creative LED strips to support the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Sunday, 11 December. This year's edition was co-hosted by Helen Mirren and Rosario Dawson and featured artists such as Evanescence, Ellie Goulding, Jill Scott and many others.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world. Every year, the ceremony takes place on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, and is followed by the Nobel Peace Prize Concert the day after. Featuring an international selection of musical artists and celebrity hosts, the concert honours the Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The concert is held every year at the Oslo Spektrum Arena in the centre of Oslo. The customized three-tiered stage was able to host 50 singers and musicians a

UK - The fourth annual PLASA Focus: Leeds event launches today with a new website and a sold out floor-plan. The leading event for audio, video, lighting and staging technology in the north of England will be held on 17-18 April 2012, at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

Long-standing exhibitors such as White Light, Martin Audio, Martin Professional, J&C Joel, Shure, Avolites, Stage Electrics, Robe, Sennheiser, Hawthorn Theatrical and Clay Paky have been joined by a raft of new exhibitors, including Bose, d&b audiotechnik, LSC Lighting Systems, Midas, Topdeck Stage Systems, Pete Smith Inspections, JoeCo, Amber Sound, Audio Logic, English Braids, Experience Lighting, Isophase Audio, The Lectern Company, Showtex, Smoke Factory, CLD Distribution, ADB, Wirelessled.co.uk and Total Solutions.

Packed aisles and major UK product debuts have firmly established PLASA Focus as an unmi

UK - Blackout provided a comprehensive truss structure to help organisers extend facilities at the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, 20-27 November.

The atmosphere reached fever pitch with a record quarter of a million fans in London's O2 Arena enjoying Roger Federer's victory as the world's eight top seeds competed over the eight day tournament. More than 100 million global viewers watched the event on television and online.

Blackout worked closely with client Detail Management to create an interactive Fan Zone visitor experience, meeting the specifications of both the ATP organisers and the official tournament sponsors Barclays.

Tom Lambert, Blackout's project manager coordinated with Detail Management's managing director Jim Mason to install 800m of Prolyte H30V Truss and screen support, 95 corner pieces with 63 support legs and additional black drapes. The Fan Zone wa

UK - Over 250 people attended this year's joint ETC/Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) Christmas party at London's Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. The theatre's Grand Saloon saw some of the leading people in the theatre industry, including theatre consultants and owners, architects, lighting designers, system specifiers and technicians.

Mark White, chairman of the ABTT and also regional manager for UK and Ireland at ETC, says, "The ABTT is now 51 years old, and throughout its history, has always campaigned on behalf of the theatre industry to ensure legislation is appropriate to the industry's needs. The annual Christmas party - which, itself, is in its 10th year, is a great opportunity for all manner of theatre people to get together for an informal chat over a glass of wine."

(Jim Evans)

Armenia - December saw 13 acts from across Europe convene on the Armenian capital Yerevan for the ninth Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Won by Georgian 'girl group' Candy, a pair of Apex Intelli-X2 processors ensured that the sound hit the sweet spot throughout.

The show took place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex on 3 December. Stockholm-based Electrosound AB used the venue's Meyer audio system to deliver the front of house sound, but brought all their own electronics and processing equipment, including a pair of Apex Intelli-X2 processors.

"We used the Intelli-X2 processors because they have dynamics processing on the inputs and outputs, a more flexible matrix and much better options for creating and controlling crossovers," says Electrosound's Brollan Söderström.

"They fit my way of working. I'm not forced to used fixed, inflexible spea

USA - Chauvet reports that Amnesia Miami, a former staple in the South Beach club scene, is back in business. After months of renovations, the multi-level nightclub became a state-of-the-art venue featuring 87 Chauvet fixtures.

Hundreds of partygoers flocked to the newly redesigned, 26,000sq.ft hot spot on Miami Beach to hear DJ Bob Sinclair, also co-owner of Amnesia Miami, rock the beats and take part in the nightclub's grand reopening celebration. The once open-air venue now features a roof, a vast dance floor, 70 VIP tables, two private VIP sections and revamped sound and lighting systems.

Michael Stone, vice president for HMS Inc specified the incorporation of 30 COLORado 2 Tour, 30 COLORdash Accent, eight COLORado 1 IP and seven COLORado 3p IP wash lights. Lighting designer Maxime Moussier created Amnesia Miami's extensive, yet intricate, lighting design.

The club's out

UK - POLARaudio has announced the introduction of its new Dynacord Authorised Stockist Network. Retailers from around the country have been specially selected as centres of excellence for Dynacord Product.

A network of established MI retailers from around the UK have been appointed as Authorised Dynacord Re-Sellers. In this special arrangement the selected retailers will offer Dynacord customers a full and concise service. Each store will have exclusive access to the full Dynacord product range and will have specially trained in-house experts who can offer in-depth technical help. A range of display stock will be available for demonstrations and dealers will have substantial stock holding.

Dynacord Authorised Dealers already appointed include; Discotechnology, TR Music, HW Audio, MGD, Knight Sound and Light, Session Music, Electro Music Doncaster and The Music Station Swansea.

USA - Initially established by Rev. Ellison Witherspoon and like-minded laity in 1957 as the New Light Baptist Church, the Baltimore church officially changed its name to New Light Church: Ministry of St. Luke 4:18-19, Inc., in 1990. But although the church - now located in Baltimore MD's historic Highlandtown neighbourhood - has altered its name and changed locations over time, their mandate of ministering to youth, particularly through music, remains at the very heart of their ministry.

Completed in mid-2009 and designed and installed by Adamstown, Maryland based, A/V system design/integrator, Connectivity Group LLC, the audio system now inhabiting New Light depends heavily on Tannoy loudspeakers to enable the church to continue to serve that mandate - in both speech and song - more effectively than ever.

The project, explains Connectivity Group's founder/owner John Saunders

Italy - New from DTS Lighting is The Jack which is fitted with an advanced MSD Platinum 5R 189W discharge lamp, a wide excursion motorized zoom and ultra-fast & silent Pan/Tilt and functions (colour change, gobo change, focus, zoom, iris).

The Jack is suitable for a wide range of applications, such as concerts, special events, fashion displays, corporate events, television studios, theatres, shopping malls, libraries, museums, exhibitions, clubs, buildings, monuments, houses of worship, resorts, theme parks, sport facilities, says the company.

The Jack has been ergonomically engineered and thanks to its compactness and light weight (only 11 Kg), the unit is very easy to transport, install, and store. Thus making this unit suitable for rental companies, who want a quick and easy to install unit.

The Jack provides a powerful combination of sharp overlapping gobo projections (1

Singapore - The School of the Arts (SOTA) is Singapore's first national arts school to offer an integrated arts and academic curriculum for students aged 13-18 years old. The vision of the school is to nurture Singapore's next generation of artists and creative professionals committed to the arts in a multi-cultural society.

Located in Zubir Said Drive, this school reflects the rich diversity of its artistic programme with three different performance venues: Theatre, Concert Hall and Studio Theatre. All three halls are suitably adorned with Clay Paky luminaires, which are used to enhance the performance and staging for certain plays and shows.

According to SOTA's lighting technician, Albert Wileo, "We got to know Clay Paky from the feedback from a couple of friends from the entertainment industry in Singapore. After we tested the demo set of Clay Paky 700 Wash and Alpha 7

UK - The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance reports that it has become the first performance-based institution to receive accreditation by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support), the industry-led recording, music production, song-writing, composing and performance course accrediting body.

Two courses at The Institute have initially been accredited; the BMus in Popular Music Performance and the Higher Diploma. The BMus is the pre-eminent degree course for musicians wishing to reach a professional standard of musicianship and build a sustainable career in the music industry and the Higher Diploma the foremost intensive 1-year course for musicians wishing to fast-track the development of their musicianship, playing and performing skills.

JAMES is recognised by the Creative & Cultural Skills sector as being a leading organisation involved with accrediting the industr

USA - With its five schools and colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, School of Communications, School of Education, and School of Law, Elon University is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as the second best Regional University in the South. Among the various facilities on campus, Whitley Auditorium is home to a wide range of activities.

This multipurpose space serves as a venue for lectures, concerts, performances, weekly chapel services and is home to a Casavant pipe organ. After struggling with an inadequate sound reinforcement system for quite some time, University officials decided the time had come to correct the situation - and this decision led to the installation of a new loudspeaker system drawn from the Variant Series catalogue of D.A.S. Audio.

Greensboro, NC-based Audio & Light, Inc was contracted to

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