UK - To strengthen its marketing and distribution efforts across the UK, Atlona has appointed Sahara AV as its manufacturer’s representative for the territory. Headquartered in London, Sahara AV will work closely with systems integrators, consultants and end users to demonstrate, deliver and support Atlona’s complete line of signal management and control systems, with a goal of moving more commercial facilities to AV over IP solutions.
To achieve its goal of accelerating transitions to the network, Sahara AV will leverage Atlona’s strengths in AV over IP and networked control, including its Atlona’s OmniStream AV over IP distribution platform, second-generation Atlona Management Systems (AMS), and Velocity IP-based AV control solution.
Shaun Marklew, Sahara AV sales and marketing director, comments: “By working with Atlona, we are now in a stronger position t

UAE - Eclipse Staging Services, a member of the Dubai-based Eclipse Group, has added a Hippotizer Boreal+ Media Server to its inventory.
As an owner of a Hippotizer Taiga, Eclipse was already more than familiar with Green Hippo hardware and software - and its wholly positive experience with this machine, including the excellent technical support provided by Green Hippo, meant that the company was keen to continue the collaboration. The addition of the Boreal+ enables Eclipse to provide multi-display outputs for audio-visual projects, and the company also becomes the first in its region to use this powerful server of the brand new Hippotizer+ Media Server range, bringing more accuracy, flexibility, and pace over traditional units.
“The Hippotizer Boreal+ allows us to provide multi-display outputs for our upcoming projects,” comments Alex Menor, Eclipse’s head of

Japan/USA - Nexo’s Engineering Support (ES) Division has just pioneered its first ETC2i training seminar dedicated to the preparation, design and implementation of fixed installations.
Nexo’s ETC training programme was launched in 2013 and hosts free seminars globally to educate, train and certificate audio engineers of all levels. The sessions are organised in three levels – ETC1 (introductory), ETC2 and ETC3.
Two recent ETC seminars, held in Japan and the USA, demonstrated the diversity of audience, as well as the expanding syllabus of the ES Division’s training experts.
Hand in hand with the Yamaha Music Japan team in Tokyo, an inaugural ETC2i specialist course was presented in the Yamaha building on Ginza, which has 16 floors dedicated to musical instruments, education, auditorium and rehearsal studios.
Led by Nexo’s ES Division director Fran

European Theatre - Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will acquire five new venues in Germany as it confirms a takeover of theatre operator Mehr! Entertainment. The deal, agreed for an undisclosed amount, brings the company’s global portfolio of venues to 51 and ATG’s first major international purchase since the 2016 management change and the stepping down of co-founders and joint chief executives Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire.
ATG’s purchase of Mehr! Entertainment means it will operate the Starlight Express Theatre in Bochum, the purpose-built venue which has been home to the long-running musical since 1988. It will also take over the Mehr! Theatre in Hamburg, the Admiralspalast in Berlin, the Capitol Theatre in Dusseldorf and the Musical Dome in Cologne. ATG chief executive Mark Cornell said: “These major venues across Germany are each unique and captivating in the

Germany/UK - Data Strategy’s Iain Roche and White Light’s technical director Dave Isherwood shook hands at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt on a deal for a total of four to six QC-Check workstations, incorporating PAT4 and CAB5 PAT and Cable Test Processors from joint-venture partners Out Board. QC-Check’s test database and logging software will be fully integrated into WL’s InspHire asset management system, which will provide real-time tracked test results for the company’s entire hire inventory.
The first single-bay QC-Check workstation - custom-built by SES Entertainment Services - will arrive within weeks. The most complex of the order, the distro department’s QC-Check workstation, is designed for optimal workflow in the quick and efficient checking of multiple power distribution outlets. Heavier-duty distro connectors are positioned conveniently at the front, whi

Sweden - Rental and production company Tylösand Sound has recently invested in Robe’s new MegaPointe.
The company, based in Halmstad and run by Paul Aladin, specialises in the supply of lighting, audio and video design services and equipment for shows, installations and corporate events. They deliver production for a lot of events at the nearby Tylösand Hotel, owned by pop superstar Per Gessle of Roxette which is located on the beach, with a large, busy and vibrant conference and event facility.
The company has also built up a reputation for working with a collection of inventive digital artists on their installations and shows, bringing a different and more inventive edge to the array of standard lighting projects.
Paul started Tylösand Sound in 1996, and before then, like many in the Swedish entertainment technology industry, he worked hard as a DJ, and t

UK - HD Pro Audio is to host the Avid Expanded S6L Range on Monday, 21 May at the Hospital Club in London’s Covent Garden.
The workshop will run from 11:00 to 16:00 and will provide one of the UK’s first opportunities to see and experience Avid's expanded range of VENUE | S6L live audio mixing consoles. The company’s Live Sound team, including FOH Robb Allan will be on hand to take attendees through the range.
HD Pro Audio’s sales director Andy Huffer comments: “With the new 48 fader S6L-48D, the ‘Profile replacement’ S6L-24C and the compact S6L-16C all available for some hands-on experience, alongside the new E6L-112 engine, this will be an extremely popular event. Entry is free, but numbers are limited, so anyone wishing to attend should email info@hdproaudio.co.uk or book online [

UK - The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) has released a guide to the proposed EU 2020 lighting regulations as part of its Save Stage Lighting campaign that aims to secure an exemption for stage lighting from the proposals.
The Proposed 2020 EU Lighting Regulations - A Primer collects relevant information about the existing regulations (EU1194/2012), the regulations proposed for September 2020 as part of the EU’s Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2019, and the key differences between them.
The guide highlights how the proposed regulations will not only affect tungsten lighting, but all specialist lighting fixtures used for show lighting, including arc and LED. The document also exposes that manufacturers would stru

UK - All aspects of electroacoustics will be explored at Reproduced Sound 2018, which takes place 27-29 November at the Bristol Hotel, Princes Street, Bristol.
Offers of papers on any electroacoustics topic will be considered for the programme. Authors are encouraged to include practical elements in their presentations and could be allocated extra time if required.
Potential topics include: Live Sound, Acoustics in Rooms, Audio System Design, Loudspeakers and Microphones, Intelligibility, Measurement & Evaluation, Cinema Sound. Case Studies are also welcome.
Organisers urge those interested to send a 150-word abstract for papers plus a short biography of up to 150 words to linda.canty@ioa.org.uk by Friday, 11 May.
Final written papers for the proceedings must be submitted by Friday, 28 September.
(Jim Evans)

Italy - As the cornerstone of the Audio Engineering Society’s (AES) mission to promote the science and practice of audio, each AES convention features a wide array of presentations on research topics presented by leading engineers, scientists and students in the field of audio engineering, and the AES Milan convention, coming up 23-26 May at the NH Hotel Milano Congress Centre in Milan, Italy, is no exception.
Brought together by AES Milan papers co-chairs Ville Pulkki and Sascha Spors, the Convention’s Technical Programme will feature research papers, engineering briefs and poster sessions by over 100 authors.
Day one of AES Milan kicks off with a series of presentations on loudspeakers, followed by a poster presentation session on transducers. Audio quality, a hot-topic at this year’s convention, will then be delved into in two full sessions of paper presentat

Germany - Robe has reported “a busy and successful” Prolight+Sound 2018. The Czech manufacturer’s live show concept taken to new levels with Cirque Robe, a six-minute performance spectacle and circus style presentation with a cast of 11 designed to highlight the company’s latest lighting technologies.
Another highlight was Robe’s new MegaPointe multi-purpose moving light winning a 2018 PIPA (Prolight + Sound International Press Award) for Best Light, a decision reached by a jury of international trade journalists who meet annually in Frankfurt.
The MegaPointe was one of the primary fixtures featured in the stand show, where Robe continued to raise the bar in presenting live exhibition entertainment, with an ever-rising element of expectation accompanying each one.
CEO Josef Valchar comments: “Our goal was to showcase the products in an entertai

UK - The EU’s proposed Eco-Design Working Plan 2016-2019 will require all stage lighting to meet efficiency targets in line with domestic and office lighting, from the very latest LED lighting fixtures to specialist tungsten bulbs which make up the majority of theatre lighting rigs. At present, there are three sets of lighting regulations for lighting products, but the proposed changes would streamline them into one regulation with no exceptions, taking effect from 2020.

PLASA placed a response with the EU Commission on 26 January; the deadline for response has now been extended to 7 May. “We urge key manufacturers in the industry to join forces with us to present a strong argument against the new proposals. This campaign is too large for one company or association to tackle alone, and time is running out,” the associa

USA - At the USITT Stage Expo in Ft Lauderdale, ETC presented Behind the Scenes with a cheque for $11,509.55, representing the most recent proceeds from the company’s iRFR and aRFR focus remote applications. Since the launch of the iRFR in 2009, ETC’s mobile app sales have generated an unbelievable $334,335 in donations. This generosity has kept families from becoming homeless, kept the heat on in winter, and made sure those who are ill can continue to receive medical treatment. Its effects are incalculable.
The iRFR and aRFR mobile apps enable convenient, touchscreen-based remote control for Eos family consoles and controllers. You can learn more about the apps from the ETC website and download them from the iTunes or Google Play stores.
Nick Gonsman, ETC field project coordinator, presented the check, saying, “Behind the Scenes is a crucial organisation that s

UK - Due to open in January 2019, Illuminate will be a dedicated, purpose-built conference and events venue spread across the top two floors of the Science Museum. It will offer flexible contemporary spaces with state-of-the-art production. White Light has been appointed as Illuminate’s production partner, meaning the company will be tasked with designing, integrating and operating a world-class technical installation within the various spaces.
Ben Lheureux, head of catering and events at the Science Museum Group, states: “We spent a great deal of time developing the identity of our new dedicated events space to ensure we created something that is not only synonymous with the Science Museum Group and our brand values, but that resonates with the forward-thinking events industry. It was therefore essential that we chose trusted partners to help enhance our clients’ expe

Germany - Loudspeaker and amplifier manufacturer d&b audiotechnik has announced a series of landmark integrations between Soundscape’s central DS100 Signal Engine and digital mixing consoles from leading manufacturers DiGiCo , Avid and Lawo. The announcement was made at live mixing sessions showing the console workflows & mixing live multitrack recordings at a large-scale demonstration venue at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt.
This follows earlier announcements of integration partnerships with QLab show control systems, TTA Stagetracker and VST plugin formats.
The newly announced collaborations open up bi-directional interoperability between the DS100 via plug-ins operating on the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol. The plug-in allows engineers to work with their existing sound console and DAW workflows yet have access to a whole new world of creative potential

Germany - Adamson Systems Engineering has announced a new partnership with United Brands GmbH, as it takes the position of exclusive distribution partner for the German market.
Based in Düsseldorf, the team at United Brands brings decades of expertise in the German pro audio market in addition to a well-established infrastructure and technical staff to support the Adamson brand.
“We’ve enjoyed five strong years of growth both in Europe and around the world,” says Jochen Sommer, managing director of Adamson Europe. “With the addition of United Brands to the Adamson Network, we have the best opportunity to share the excitement growing around the brand with the German market. There are many stakeholders committed to building a lasting foundation and support structure geared to the highly skilled user base in Germany.”
This partnership was made possible by

Europe - API has confirmed the order of the next Legacy AXS recording console for the European market. The new 15IPS Studios in Croatia will be taking delivery of a 32 channel AXS console, which is being displayed at Musikmesse in Frankfurt this week and shipped to the new facility in July. This is the thirteenth AXS to be delivered since the product's launch approximately one year ago.
With an expanded and powerful feature set, the new AXS console continues API's commitment to an all-analogue signal path. Console frames range from 32 to 80 channels, with each channel offering dual input capability and access to two API 200 Series module slots.
Previous deliveries include Made In Memphis Entertainment in Memphis, TN and the all new Studio Tanta, the first new studio construction in Tokyo in many years.
“The AXS builds on the success of the Legacy Series consol

South Africa - With a reputation of offering clients the largest stockholding of LED Video Technology in South Africa, LEDVision, part of Gearhouse Group of Companies, has taken delivery of a Green Hippo Boreal Server.
The Hippotizer Boreal, supplied and technically supported by DWR Distribution, has gone straight onto a popular television show, and is being operated by lighting designer Joshua Cutts.
“This purchase gives us full control of all the screens whilst allowing Joshua to trigger the content from the Lighting Desk for the television recording. On a broader level though, the Hippo makes LEDVision totally self-sufficient so that we can relieve the pressure on our AV Department when necessary,” comments LEDVision’s Graeme Baker.
“Of course, there is also more self -serving reason which is that it makes our team very happy. Our LED engineers who us

SouthAfrica - With an ever-increasing demand for events in South Africa, The Gearhouse Group of Companies has taken ownership of 142 Robe fixtures which form part of a lighting investment for their branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban as well as for their Inhouse Venue Technical Management team.
The new gear will complement their service from supplying small functions like product launches or conferences to the larger events such as impressive stadium concerts.
Listening to the wish list of their technicians around the country, and taking into account the rider requests, Gearhouse purchased 48 x Robe BMFL Blades, 46 Spiiders and 48 LEDBeam 150s from local distributor, DWR Distribution.
“The BMFLs are currently the highest discharge light output in the JHB lighting arsenal, coupled with the fastest shutters in the game and high-speed precision movement


Oliviers Oversight - Organisers of Sunday's Olivier Awards have apologised for omitting director Sir Peter Hall from a tribute segment shown during the ceremony. "We are hugely sorry for the oversight of leaving Sir Peter Hall out of our In Memoriam," said the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) in a statement. The founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company and former National Theatre director died in September, aged 86.
The failure to mark his death prompted dismay and disbelief on social media. Olivier-winning choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne said the omission was "unforgivable", while actor Christopher Biggins called it "disgraceful". The In Memoriam segment came midway through the ceremony, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London and subsequently broadcast on ITV.
In a statement on Monday, SOLT described Sir Peter as "a wonderful and inspiring figure within the U

Serbia - AVL Projekt, a leading Serbian distributor, rental house and installation specialist for the entertainment industry, recently welcomed over 200 guests to its demo day at the Belgrade Belexpocenter for a hands-on presentation of the latest Chauvet Professional and Chauvet DJ fixtures.
AVL Projekt has installed Chauvet Professional fixtures on several recent high-profile projects in Serbia such as the Green Love festival (Maverick MK1 Spot and MK2 Wash) and the popular TV show Veče sa Ivanom Ivanovićem (ÉPIX Strip Tour LED strips). The demo day provided the company with an opportunity to showcase its Chauvet products to lighting professionals in the Balkan region.
Building on the success of two previous well-attended demo days, the AVL demo day saw guests from rental houses, technical directors and technicians from television studios, theatres and cultural in

USA - Audinate, developer of the industry-leading Dante media networking technology, has announced at NABB 2018 plans to support SMPTE ST-2110 in the Dante platform by the end of 2018.
SMPTE ST-2110 is a new suite of standards developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers to support real-time media network distribution using IP networking technology. The update will include support for a number of relevant standards, including SMPTE ST-2110-10, 2110-30, and 2059-2.
When released, the SMPTE 2110 feature will be enabled through the Dante Domain Manager software platform and firmware updates for Dante IP Core, Dante HC, Dante Brooklyn II and Dante Ultimo. These Dante technologies are featured in a wide variety of products used by the broadcast industry, and will be highlighted through Audinate’s participation in plug-fests and showcases.

UAE - Clair Brothers has appointed Dubai-based Provision AVL as distributor for the UAE and Middle Eastern market.
Founded in 2014, Provision AVL General Trading LLC, as they’re known officially, is a proven sales, distribution and design company providing high-end solutions for a wide range of engineering projects and applications in lighting, audio, and stage design in the Middle East.
While Clair Brothers has been on Provision AVL’s radar for quite some time, pen was finally put to paper for a distribution partnership at ISE 2018. Explains Kevin Boujikian, general manager of Provision AVL, “The idea to approach them about distribution was always there since we met the Clair Brothers guys a while back, but it was at this year’s ISE Show where we decided to take the leap. The decision was very easy.”
Clair Brothers represents the first pro audio brand

Germany - Follow-Me has announced its distribution agreement with A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd, who will demonstrate the remote follow spot control system at Prolight+Sound 2018 this week.
Follow-Me is a network-based software package that allows the user to harness multiple moving lights from any manufacturer in any orientation to follow multiple targets or performers. Independent and flexible, the system requires no sensors, belt-packs or proprietary hardware, and provides seamless fixture takeover with any lighting console.
The Follow-Me product line offers both creative and commercial benefits over traditional Front of House or truss mounted follow spots. Creatively these include freedom in lamp positioning; multiple fixtures following a single performer, improved follow spot angles; and consistent timing for cues. From a production perspective, oper

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