Australia - LSC Lighting reports that their first production run of Clarity LX300 lighting and media control consoles was oversold but if you're eager to secure one of these controllers for multi disciplined shows don't fret as production capacity has been increased to meet the demand.

A member of the Clarity LX-Series, the LX300 is based on the successful and stable Clarity software that has been in the market for over two years and used on thousands of major tours and shows worldwide. The LX-Series is split in three different sizes to scale every type of show or venue and provide the operator and lighting designer a clean ergonomic work environment where everything is only a push of a button away.

Queensland's Brisbane Sound Group were the lucky recipients of the first ever LX300 console and Sam Walter, professional lighting sales & support at BSG, is thrilled with the purch

Norway - The Norwegian Television School has replaced its existing stock of miniature microphones with 20 DPA 4060 omnidirectional miniature microphones, which were chosen for their ruggedness and reliability.

Supplied by DPA's Norwegian distributor Lyd-Systemer AS, the new microphones are being used with Senheisser wireless systems, including eight channels of stationary wireless receivers for multi camera applications. Originally designed for use with wireless systems in theatre, television and close-miked instrument applications, DPA's 4060 miniature microphones are exceedingly accurate and highly unobtrusive.

Erik Sutterud, technical supervisor at the Television School, says, "Every time we purchase new equipment we research the market to look for the best products. A manufacturer that specialized in one type of product is likely to put more effort into its equipment

Italy - "I needed something that could properly compete with its bigger neighbours in the rig in terms of brightness and presence and the MAC Aura didn't disappoint." So says lighting and show designer Jò Campana who teamed Martin Professional's MAC Aura LED wash with 1500-watt MAC III Profiles and MAC 2000 Wash XBs on Italian rock band Litfiba's latest tour.

In accordance with the band's wishes for the 2012 tour, more contemporary visual elements like LED video screens were avoided in favor of classic rock looks. "In the end, it's an old style rock 'n' roll show with big sound and strong lights," Campana says.

"I went for the MAC Aura because of their powerful and defined beam, besides its notorious distinctive aura feature. It is also very lightweight and with its speed I sometimes launched a very high-speed pan/tilt effect. The result was definitel

UK - An audience of over 700 Yorkshire business people paid and turned up to hear worldly wisdom and wit at the 17th Yorkshire International Business Convention, held in Leeds.

Over the past 17 years, the event has brought together some of the world's most inspirational and influential speakers, from Bill Clinton to Mikhail Gorbachev. This year's sell-out event was run in a purpose-built marquee at Wellington Place, Leeds with a parallel presentation at Bridlington Spa and a two-way helicopter taxi service for the speakers. The Leeds event was the last in the series, although YIBC will continue to be staged at Bridlington Spa.

The complete audio visual production was supplied by Saville Audio Visual, providers of the AV technology for practically all previous YIBC events. Saville technical project manager, Richard Zamberlan said, "Holding the event in a marquee brings its

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors of Shure microphones and audio electronics in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman have recently supplied new Dubai rental firm Glow Productions with the UHF-R series of wireless microphones together with the new PSM1000 personal monitoring solution.

The deal includes four channels of the UHF-R series with the latest UR4D+ version of receivers providing the cascade feature, the UR1M micro-bodypack transmitter, the UR2/KSM9 handheld transmitter with the KSM9 microphone cartridge.

The purchase also includes the latest personal monitoring solution from Shure, the PSM1000.

"Glow Productions although a new rental firm in the market, have already produced a number of top level shows for both corporate and private entities," commented Shajahan K K, Shure product manager. "As most of their wor

USA - Champagne Sunday Brunch in the Eden Courtyard at the Best Western Eden Resort & Suites in Lancaster, PA has become a local area tradition, attracting patrons with an ever-changing menu that draws from the region's finest seasonal ingredients. But while the Courtyard is known for its dining and social events, the room's acoustics have long made it a challenge to attract speaking engagements. With its 40ft high glass ceiling, hard stone floor and hard walls, the room's reverberation made intelligibility nearly non-existent.

"This is a gorgeous space and great for social events - cocktail receptions and so forth," says Stephen Sikking, managing partner, Eden Resort & Suites. "But when a speaker wanted to present something to the entire room, it was very problematic to articulate so that people could hear intelligibly."

Bob Bickelman, senior audio designe

UK - Flightcase manufacturer 5 Star Cases has expanded its HQ and manufacturing facility in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire again - this time adding a further 4700sq.ft of production units.

This is the second development this year on the Broadend Road site which is at the heart of 5 Star's busy operation. It follows on from the construction of a new and much larger custom sanding booth area in January, and is actually the third expansion in 12 months for 5 Star, as another 2500sq.ft of storage space was also added in 2011.

The latest newly refurbished units will initially be used for extra storage of finished goods - However, in the coming months 5 Star is launching several new case lines and products, so the units have been designed from the outset for the easy accommodation of a new set of state-of-the-art production facilities, ready to be activated when time comes.

Justin Locks,

Germany - Last month, all Germany was gripped with football fever. In addition to record TV ratings, the fans who gathered in vast numbers in front of giant screens all over the country to watch live relays of its performances underlined the popularity of the German national team. In arenas, including the stadiums in Kiev and Lviv where the matches were being contested, as well as at football parties all over Germany, sound reinforcement from Bosch Communications Systems provided the competition with acoustic support - whatever the size of the gathering.

In Dresden, the excitement was delivered in XXL format. Every time trainer Jogi Löw's team took to the field, around 12,000 fans assembled at the Königsufer on the banks of the Elbe to follow the action. To get them really geed up, the organizers (the City of Dresden and the company that produces the city's film nights) hired

UK - SES have completed the third and final stage of an order from Suffolk based Tempower Ltd, to significantly increase their stock of the SES Powerpro range of Distro units.

Barney Hammond of Tempower placed the order with SES for over 50 large units on a schedule to cover orders for this season which he had taken, with the final delivery of 15 units taking place at the end of June, which meant that he could satisfy his customers requirements.

This order was run alongside several other high profile projects that SES were committed too, all of which all have been delivered on time to the satisfaction of many clients, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

USA - The New Line Cinema film adaptation of the Rock of Ages Broadway musical opened 15 June with a star-studded cast, hits from the 1980s, and High End Systems products in the mix. The rock and roll romance of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, meeting on the Sunset Strip in search of their Hollywood dreams, is told through the music of Journey, Foreigner, Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon and more, much of which is recreated in performances in the film.

LD Mike Baldassari who has designed the theatrical lighting and concert scenes for a number of films including Nine, Joyful Noise, Sex and the City 2 and more, was tasked with handling the live stage performances in this production. In his rig full of assorted lighting, he chose to include four High End Systems Showbeam2.5 automated luminaires. However, to run all the performances, he specified th

Hungary - Le Mark Group continued its expansion into Central and Eastern Europe this past June with a recent visit to Budapest. Spending time developing both new and existing business, Le Mark's Stuart Gibbons and Hannah Attfield report, "The country offers huge potential for all Le Mark products."

"It was a true pleasure to at last meet clients that I had previously only spoken to over the phone or by e-mail," says Attfield. "With the continued expansion and diversity of Le Mark products I wanted to meet and be able to discuss the next phase in our growth in Hungary. My only negative was that this visit was just too short.

"I can see that there are some excellent areas where Le Mark and our new products can grow. We've recently launched new additions to our Dirty Rigger gloves and accessories range in similar countries with huge success and have

USA - - The Boston Symphony Orchestra has once again tapped DPA Microphones for its nationally broadcast, live Boston Pops Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. Held annually in the Hatch Shell at the Esplanade along the Charles River, the concert and fireworks show hosts nearly 400,000 attendees. As the most watched Independence Day performance in the US each year, the Pops have continued to rely on DPA Microphones to ensure that audio at the Spectacular is as magnificent as the rockets' red glare.

With limited rehearsal time and over one hundred production inputs, the Pops needed gear that sounded good from the start and worked dependably. DPA Microphones fit the bill for miking the orchestra, and the audio crew made good use of several of the company's equipment options during the event.

DPA could be found across the stage throughout the evening's performance, with t

USA - Norway's projectiondesign has supplied core technology to Electrosonic for the new building of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Electrosonic was the main contractor involved with the installation of audiovisual equipment and systems throughout the building.

Electrosonic was tasked with delivering AV systems that met the needs of media consultancy RomeAntics and media designer and producer Local Projects.

"Almost all the smaller screens at the NMAJH that require projection use projectiondesign," explains Bryan Abelowitz, system sales consultant at Electrosonic.

Depending on the throw distance, image brightness and resolution required at each location, Electrosonic selected projectiondesign F12, F22, or F32 projectors, and Abelowitz is pleased with their size and performance.

Anders Løkke, marketing director, projectionde

South Korea - Robe moving lights have been installed in the E&M TV studio in Seoul, Korea. Owned and operated by CJ Entertainment & Media, the studio is dedicated to producing music shows - both pre-recorded, live and often with live audiences - for the MNet broadcasting network's 24-hour music channel,

The Robe fixtures (30 x Robin MMX Spots, 24 x Robin 100 LEDBeams and eight ColorBeam 2500E ATs) were specified by Mr JaeWoo Choi, owner of rental company RGB, and supplied via Robe's Korean distributor, ArtTech Lighting Co.

RGB services all the lighting needs of the E&M Studio and the MNet music channel, and when the time came for new moving lights in the studio, Robe was an obvious choice. RGB has been using the brand for 10 years - ever since it was launched - and knows first-hand the reliability and creative potential of the products.

JaeWoo Choi comments: "After 10 y

UK - Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre in Armagh, Northern Ireland, has become one of the first venues in the world to install Allen & Heath's new GLD digital mixer, comprising a GLD-80 mixer plus an AR84 I/O rack in the control room, and an AR2412 rack down on the stage floor.

Replacing an existing analogue desk, the installation is part of a wider overhaul of the venue's analogue audio infrastructure, which includes installing Cat5 around the building to allow connection of an expander I/O rack to the GLD-80 mixer.

"We have a team of four technicians, and we all put forward names of desks we thought may be suitable, as well as consulting industry colleagues. We demoed a few desks before making our choice but the GLD came out on top for price, ease of use and input capacity. Moreover, it sounded the best in our comparison listening tests," commented technician, Gar

UAE - Dubai-based AV company, MediaPro International, recently fielded three Christie Roadie HD+35K projectors (along with two Christie HD18K 3-chip DLP projectors) to beam the action for the Etisalat Pro League football finals - a major event in the Abu Dhabi city of Al Ain.

Contracted by Al Ain Football Club, the production company ensured that the high output 35,000 lumens projectors, brought the event to life for the 11,000 people who gathered in the Tahnoun bin Mohamed Stadium, showing HD content and bespoke graphics throughout the event.

Images were projected onto a huge 60m x 90m canvas, using the Christie Twist module in the projectors, with the show run through a Dataton Watchout system.

With a throw distance of around 55 metres, MediaPro used 1.45-1.8:1 zoom lens on the projectors, which were mounted on scaffolding platforms positioned in the upper grandstand. This

Denmark - Parken Stadium is Denmark's national football stadium and the current home of FC Copenhagen. Built between 1990-1992 it currently has a capacity of 38,065 (for football matches) although for other events the stadium can hold as many as 50,000 people with an end-stage set-up and 55,000 with a centre-stage set-up.

In 2006-07 the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history, and three years later became the first Danish club to ever reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Keeping pace with the club's recent success, the Parken Stadium is equipped with a modern infrastructure, with a recently upgraded audio system. Danish company Nordic Sales (part of the Matrix Group) delivered and installed a premium RCF loudspeaker system, working in close collaboration with the RCF project department, who specified the individual products,

UK - On Sunday 3 June, over 1,000 vessels participated in a flotilla on the Thames from Battersea to Tower Bridge in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. And while it may have been an awful day for the weather, live acts were the order of the day at Battersea Park, with everything from 1950s swing orchestras on the bandstand, to a host of exciting acts on the main stage.

On hand was Illuminate Design, who set up and managed the lighting for all five stages, with an anticipated audience of up to 90,000 - as well as a number of different craft areas with a small but functional lighting arrangement.

Project manager Robin Shephard-Blandy reports, "We have worked on the Mayor's Thames Festival many times before, so knew the organisers of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant already. They asked us to help with a number of different stages, with a finishing time of 7pm - which meant ev

UK - The Royal Albert Hall, London's landmark venue, has recently purchased Coemar ParLite LED fixtures as part of a major re-vamp of its auditorium lighting.

Entertainment lighting specialist White Light, Coemar's exclusive distributor in the UK, supplied the hall with 54 ParLites, which have now been installed to uplight the columns that encircle the iconic auditorium at gallery level.

The Royal Albert Hall's team, led by senior technical manager Ollie Jeffery, chose theParLites after carrying out an extensive set of auditions encompassing a wide range of lighting fixtures. They ultimately opted for the ParLites because of their colour consistency, silent fan-free operation, and energy saving compared to traditional tungsten lighting fixtures. The ParLites now allow dramatic transformations to the mood and feel of the hall to be made quickly and easily from the lighting cons

Serbia - ETC's Serbian distributor, Studio Berar, has installed and commissioned the latest generation of lighting at the Palilula Cultural Centre and theatre in Belgrade - complete with ETC lighting, dimming and control.

Studio Berar's marketing manager Lazar Josanov, says, "The theatre's managers were looking for a complete new lighting system which would last them well into 21st century, and which would come with the backup and support that they would need.

"Studio Berar has a long relationship with ETC, and we were quick to recommend them - ETC has always provided an efficient and helpful service, with 24 hour customer support where necessary."

Studio Berar project manager Aleksandar Kruscic, who designed the system, explains, "We supplied ETC's latest update to the Source Four range, the Fresnel, as well as Source Four Zoom, Source Four jr Zoom and S

UK - Conceived and sponsored by Saville Audio Visual in partnership with De Vere Venues Whites, the first ever Conference North attracted an enthusiastic audience to Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

Chairman Richard John introduced a team of leading events industry professionals to debate the benefits and the development of blended, or hybrid, events in some detail. The viability and effectiveness of the eStream streaming solution was clearly demonstrated on the day, with 25% of the audience watching and interacting online as remote participants.

Topics and questions from the room and from the online audience were discussed, broadcast and captured, using the Saville iDEA iPad platform to sample opinions and display results on screen. Nearly half the audience comprised professional event organisers and 60% saw the benefits to accessing a wider audience coupled with the ability to respo

Mexico - Mexico City-based Representaciones de Audio have been appointed territorial distributors for SGM Lighting.

The agreement was reached with SGM's Antonio Parise during the recent Sound Check Expo in Mexico and the appointment will help the distributor to develop its lighting portfolio.

According to Rep. de Audio's Jaime Celis, the company had first been introduced to the lighting manufacturer whilst it was under the ownership of RCF Group, since they are also distributors for RCF's sister brand dB Technologies.

"SGM already has a good profile in Mexico, largely through its Giottos - which are very popular in rental companies and on TV sets," confirms Celis.

He believes that Rep. de Audio's core markets of rental, installation and broadcast will prove to be fertile ground for SGM's evolving portfolio of LED products - in particular the X-5 and XC-5 strobes.

USA - Entertainment lighting specialist White Light will this week be at PLASA Focus in Nashville, showing the latest LED lighting technology from i-Pix and Core Lighting.

For the last seven years, i-Pix has been creating LED lighting fixtures that have immediately become the favourites of lighting designers working across the full spectrum of entertainment lighting, from concerts and live events to theatre productions. At PLASA Focus, staff from White Light, i-Pix's distributor, will be showing the new i-Line 600 and i-Line 1200 battens. Building on the success of i-Pix's renowned BB range, the i-Lines are six-cell or t12-cell colour-mixing fixtures offering high light output in a beam that is completely blended. The i-Line fixtures deliver over five times the output of the original BB range. The new fixtures have already been put to use lighting the Queen's Diamond Jubilee con

Music in Schools - Violinist Nicola Benedetti has attacked the spending squeeze on music tuition in schools. She said young people needed a cultural identity to replace their obsession with celebrities and in becoming a celebrity. Benedetti began violin lessons at the age of five and went on to attend the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. The 25-year-old told the Radio Times, "I'm fiercely furious about the provision of music in schools."

Benedetti secured a £2m, six-album record contract after winning BBC Young Musician of the Year at 16 and has risen to international fame. She has also been involved in supporting the Big Noise orchestra in Raploch, Stirling - inspired by the Venezuelan El Sistema scheme to help poorer children. The violinist said: "So many people up and down the country are trying to create a better foundation for musical education.

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