South Africa - Both beginner and advanced users are catered for at DWR Distribution’s Vectorworks training sessions presented by Francois van der Merwe. The dates range from 12 to 16 March and delegates are able to choose if they would like to patriate in one or more training sessions hosted over this time. The basic training will be held on 12 March and delegates can expect to discover the fundamentals of Vectorworks with topics covered such as Layouts, Balettes, Basic Tools, Classes and Layers. The cost for this one-day training session is R850. Intermediate Training will be held on 13 & 14 March. Here Francois will discuss preferences, Basic Spotlight, Basic Renderworks and Intermediate Tools. The cost for this two-day course is R1 700.00. Advanced Users are invited to participate in training held from 15 & 16 March. The exciting module will cover w
UK - Following the success of last year’s open day, Nitelites will again be hosting an RCF showcase at the Sage Gateshead on 27 March between 10am-5pm. The event will feature a full demonstration of four key new systems. The HDL30-A, NX32-A and NX45-A will be rigged and presented to sound professionals for the first time in the UK, while the smaller HDL6-A - shown in prototype last year - will now be fired up as a full working model. The latest HDL systems are part of RCF’s D-Line range of active composite line array enclosures, which have proved popular with rental companies and installers alike. The NX series of active speakers will demonstrate their versatility either as a stand-alone system, satellite-fills or stage monitor. “RCF product specialists will be on hand to advise and answer questions, and visitors will have the opportunity to inspect the pr
UK - For one night only, on 25 March, Al Murray The Pub Landlord will be serving up a very special night of comedy for the live events industry at the Dorfman Theatre, within the National Theatre, in aid of backup - The Technical Entertainment Charity. Sponsored by SFL, TSL, White Light and The British Drum Company, and with the kind support of The National Theatre, this is the night that the artists we support pay it back and support the technicians of the live events industry. As well as The Pub Landlord, there is a great supporting line up including Mike Gunn, Tiff Stevenson, Danny Posthill, Nick Revell, Matt Price plus more acts to be announced, and live music from Brighton troubadours, The Cloggz. “Because this is a night for the industry by the industry, it was incredibly important to backup to hold the first Comfest at the National Theatre because of the
UK - When Nottingham-based Quadrant Events took the decision to freshen up their loudspeaker stock, they opted for KV2 Audio. Offering services ranging from AV hire and technical staging, to event management, communication strategy, video production and creative concepts Quadrant provides complete solutions with complete control of all aspects. Technical production manager Mark Oakland comments, “Here at Quadrant we took the decision to replace the speakers in our hire stock. These are the workhorses of our hire fleet, going in and out of venues on a daily basis. “Having looked at many manufacturers and models we turned to KV2 who visited us and showed us the ESD range. Our technicians put the speakers to the test and found the size, weight and - most importantly – the sound quality was just what we were looking for.” Products from the passive ESD r
UK - PLASA has announced a new programme of professional development and networking events to support members and non-members working within the industry. The training courses and workshops have been developed to be relevant to the current business climate and aim to provide cost-effective, tailored professional development. Every PD event will host a limited number of delegates allowing for a personalised and supportive experience with specialist tutors. The first training event of the year is a two-part course for Sales Management Training on 20 March and 8 May. This course is aimed at sales managers who wish to significantly improve their team’s sales performance, those in a technical role who have been promoted to managing sales, or senior company members in need of a refresh. Steve Ramos of Rosco, who previously attended this course, comments: "The sales m
South Africa - DWR Distribution, the local distributors of Philips Vari-Lite in reports that Gearhouse South Africa has invested in 48 Philips Vari-Lite VLZ Profile fixtures. Awarded the technical supply contract for a television show season, which kicked off on M-Net 101 on 4 February, Gearhouse wanted a fixture that would be suitable for the long show run and which would suit both the client and lighting designer Joshua Cutts. The Gearhouse team decided that maintenance costs and the replacement of lamps were an important factor, plus the shoot required very quiet fixtures. Gearhouse South Africa’s investments over the years include Philips Showline products (SL Nitro 510) and now Vari-Lite, while Gearhouse Splitbeam, which provides professional equipment hire to the theatre industry, has owned Vari-Lite for some time already. (Jim Evans)
UK - The trust that Neg Earth Lights has put into EXE Technology products was demonstrated last year when they purchased over 200 new EXE-RISE units within a six-month period. Recent purchases included 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg and 2000kg units, all featuring the new 8:1 safety factor standard and FEM class 2m rating, along with some specific Neg Earth Lights customisation. “The current EXE-RISE hoist (8:1 range) has seen some fantastic improvements,” says Neg Earth. “For example, the way in which the wiring has been arranged internally, and also the upgrade of the limit switch assembly, especially in the 500kg hoist. Mechanical improvements have seen the chain size increase, leading to a higher safety factor. Another great part of the EXE-RISE is the external nylon guide used, with a carefully designed chain opening to avoid damage to internal components if the chain
Spain - Clair Brothers new distribution partner in Spain, VTècnics, recently upgraded its touring P.A. to the new C12 system immediately following their decision to partner with the loudspeaker company. And they’ve wasted no time putting it to the test. For The Moto Grand Prix World Championship, VTècnics was called on for the first time to provide full production of the Spanish leg. Juan Carlos Álvarez, VTècnics stage systems engineer, explains: “We’re honoured to have been selected for the 2017 celebration of the winner of the Moto GP championship, rider Marc Marquez from our home country of Spain.” When the time came for the rider’s speech, a couple wireless microphones were used. The C12 system delivered a powerfully clean sound to the audience. VTècnics provided a successful event overall. Álvarez notes, “Events like this come with unique challen
South Africa - UK based Phase 3 Connectors has officially appointed DWR Distribution as its South African agent. Said Robert Izzett, head of sales at DWR, “While we’ve been selling Phase 3 items for a number of years, we were recently appointed the authorized distributors in SA. Phase 3 Connectors need little introduction. The products are outstanding, designed, manufactured and assembled in the UK. These products are the unsung heroes at events.” Phase 3’s Power Connectors product range includes standard and special application, harsh environment connectors for power, signal, optical and data transmission. In addition, Phase 3 offers complete interconnect system solutions, including cabling and distribution equipment. (Jim Evans)
Turkey - Istanbul-based Trio is adding Bose Professional to its portfolio of manufacturers and will take the reins as the distributor for Bose Professional products in Turkey from 1 April 2018. Trio’s continued focus on technology and innovation has helped to establish them as a market leader in the region. Over the years as the industry has evolved so too has Trio’s product portfolio, which includes some of the world’s leading manufacturers in AV technology and has resulted in the team building strong relationships with resellers and customers alike. After recently relocating to new offices in the Mustafa Kemal Culture Centre, Trio has an impressive demonstration area and training rooms. Resellers and customers have open access to this facility as well as the skilled technical team, product trainers and specialists in after-sales support, all thanks to the inve
Singapore - US lighting manufacturer Chauvet is inviting dealers, integrators, designers and other lighting professionals in Asia to the company’s first open house in Singapore. Held at the Four Points Sheraton on the Singapore River, the event takes place on Tuesday, 27 February, from 1:30pm to 6:30pm and is followed by a dinner. Visitors to the open house will get a close-up “hands-on” look at the latest Chauvet Professional, Chauvet DJ and ChamSys products, including fixtures in the Maverick and Ovation series. Hanslee Lim, who recently joined Chauvet, and Aziz Adilkhodjaev of ChamSys will also be on hand to meet guests and answer questions about the company’s product line-up. Also attending the open house will be executives from Chauvet’s US home office, including Stephane Gressier, the company’s International sales director. “All of us are
USA - Clair Global has substantially increased its Optocore inventory as the production company giants gear up for a major 2018 tour. Having used Optocore DD series solutions for some time, mainly with their vast inventory of DiGiCo SD series mixing consoles, the Lititz-based company has added a further six DD32R-FX network converters and pair of DD2FR-FX AES/EBU. Clair Global console dept manager, Jonathan Shober, stated that previously the company had enjoyed a brief experience with an LX4 system prior to utilising Optocore with a DiGiCo D5. “Our clients continually ask us to push the envelope,” he says. “With regard to the new tour, it was suggested that an audio network be used to distribute the signals to multiple zones. Both parties had previous experience with Optocore, so it was the obvious choice.” He added that there were a number of compellin
UK - An investment in a pair of 7,000lmPanasonic projectors has enhanced the University of Birmingham’s drama students’ adaptation of the book Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy. With the requirement for a projector that could achieve a high level of output to cut through stage lighting plus project onto two different surfaces during performance, the University of Birmingham went to Stage Electrics for guidance. Stage Electrics’ Paul Lucas liaised with the Universities Drama Department to interpret their requirements. He says: “It became apparent that the department wanted to acquire professional technical equipment that exposes students to the leading brands and technology. They needed projectors that could be used for full performances, delivering a high-quality presentation whilst still being portable enough to move between their various spaces and
The Netherlands - In 2018, Dan Dugan - inventor of the automatic microphone mixer - is celebrating his 50th year in business, his 75th birthday and his 35th year of his laboratory on Napoleon Street, San Francisco. Since 2011 Dan Dugan Sound Design technology has been a key component in Yamaha’s digital mixing systems, so the company invited him to a surprise celebration on its stand at ISE 2018. Nowadays, inventors of key developments in the modern pro audio industry are recognised as pioneers, visionaries, even ‘living legends’. Significant anniversaries arrive with increasing frequency, but not many enjoy three at the same time! Dan Dugan has spent his entire life involved with audio although, ironically, his first job in the production industry was as a lighting designer. It was when designing the audio for an early 1970s production of the musical Hair
USA - ESTA and USITT have announced the presenters for the upcoming New World Rigging Symposium, 13-14 March in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo. Full session descriptions can be found at www.esta.org/nwrs_sessions. The programme includes: Keynote Address: Scott Fisher; Show Rigging on Cruise Ships. Big ideas. Tiny venues Bob Murphy, Paul Riley, Loren Schreiber; Ground Support Concert Rigs: Mike Garl, Jeff Reder, Jose Roche, Will Todd; ANSI Standards and ICOPER. Paperwork that’s actually useful: Tiny Good, Karl Ruling, Bill Sapsis; Damn it, Jim. I’m a chain hoist, not a winch: Rick Montgomery, Eric Rouse, Ken Tilson OSHA, Risk Assessments and Rigging Emergency Action Plans: Steve Adelman, Tony Galuppi, Eddie Raymond; Automation and Touring. Because we can: Joe McGeough
USA - For the fourth year in a row, global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. invites design professionals, educators and students in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries to the annual Vectorworks Design Summit. The Summit will take place from 4-6 November, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, and this training experience will consist of industry workshops, inspirational design and networking. “The architecture and landscape in Arizona are very different from the city backdrops we have had in the last three years, and I think our customers will enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives to enjoy this scenic desert location,” said Nicole Davison, vice president of sales at Vectorworks, who is originally from Tucson. “The weather in November will be beautiful and allow us to netwo
The Netherlands - Riedel has acquired Swiss engineering pioneer Archwave. This new partnership will form a research and development hub in Zurich and increase Riedel’s global engineering team to over 100 while expanding its R&D capabilities for IP and standards such as AES67, says the company. Archwave is an audio-networking and streaming specialist that promotes open standards for the interconnection of audio and video equipment in professional environments. “At Riedel, IP standards are vital not only for our intercom portfolio but also for all of the other Riedel product lines,” said Thomas Riedel, founder and CEO of Riedel Communications. "By collaborating with Archwave, we are taking another important step towards providing complete networking solutions that allow broadcasters to work the way they want to work. With our new engineering team in Switzerlan
UK - TSG and sister brand Definitive Security have won Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) accreditation, the set of standards overseen by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Independently monitored, the ACS endorsement process examines how well an organisation is managed, how effectively it services its customers and how well it treats its employees. Companies are judged across nine categories including strategy, commercial relationship management, resources, people and leadership. A spokesperson for the SIA comments: “Approved contractors are committed to customer service and the compulsory licensing of their staff. This means their customers can rest assured that every private security operative deployed on their premises will be working within the law.” TSG managing director, David Boswell, says: “It is a great feeling to achieve Approved Contrac
The Netherlands - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Mennegat Trading BV to its distribution network. Mennegat will promote Powersoft's lightweight, high-power, energy efficient fixed install and rental staging series of amplifier platforms across the Netherlands. The company brings 20 years of experience and a dedicated focus on audio solutions. Mennegat Trading supplies 100 of the leading Dutch system integrators and contractors in key market sectors that include corporate buildings and sports venues. The company also supplies wholesale to AV rental companies and electrical installers. Powersoft's ESA regional account manager, Stefano Previtali, comments, "Mennegat has a very personal approach and the relationship has been rewarding from the start. Yet, the decision to work with Mennegat stems from three main factors. First, the company is focussed on specif
UK - After joining Quested Monitoring Systems as UK distributor late last year, Sound Network Ltd has already secured two Quested Super Centres – one to service the north and one for the south of England. Studiocare Professional Audio Ltd is based in Liverpool and has the Quested S and V-range studio monitors on demo in their showroom. “I have known about Quested for years and have always been a big fan; great build construction and sound fantastic, plus they’re built here in the UK and it’s good to support British manufacturing,” says Rick Whalley, Studiocare’s sales director. “We are very happy to become a supercentre and it’s always good to hold sales and demonstration stock to give our customers choices of the finest products the industry has to offer.” Red Dog Music London is a pro audio store in Clapham, London and has a fully kitted out
The Netherlands - Viju and VisionsConnected, two leading visual collaboration specialists, have joined forces to form a single brand identity – Kinly. The move makes the new company one of the largest audiovisual system integrators in the world. Kinly launched on 5 February 2018 on the eve of ISE 2018. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the combined company today serves corporate and public customers in over 120 countries from established office locations throughout EMEA, the USA and APAC. The new brand’s management team optimises the expertise and experience of both companies with former Viju CEO, Odd Sverre Østlie taking the helm as Kinly CEO whilst his opposite number at VisionsConnected, founder and CEO Raymond Alves, will be spearheading Kinly’s solutions and services development in his new role as CSO (Chief Solutions Officer). “Our ne
USA - Bandit Lites kicked off its 50th year with its Annual General Meeting, a gathering of all Bandits from around the country to commemorate the previous year’s successes, laud those with significant anniversaries and outstanding service and to devise the groundwork for the upcoming year’s projects. Among the performers and speakers for the day’s event were Republic Records recording artist and 2016 The Voice winner, Chris Blue, American radio host, Hallerin Hilton Hill, and Bandit founder and chair, Michael T. Strickland, who shared his continued vision of Bandit’s focus on excellence. Chris performed several songs, including his new hit single, Blue Blood Blues. Allison Burchett (director of philanthropy and project manager), Sharon Gross (Media relations coordinator) and Brad Hylton (warehouse manager) all celebrated five years of service wit
Celtic Connections - The festival drew to a close on Sunday night with record audience figures during its 18-day programme. The traditional music festival celebrated 25 years with 130,000 people attending more than 350 events. Venues across Glasgow welcomed more than 2,300 artists from over 30 countries on 28 stages. Entertainment included a mixture of concerts, talks, workshops, film screenings, ceilidhs, art exhibitions, free events and late-night sessions. Councillor David McDonald, chairman of event organisers Glasgow Life, said, "There is nothing that compares to Celtic Connections and it is a huge part of our year-round cultural calendar, providing much needed entertainment and economic cheer to the city during the darkest winter months. Our first 25 years have seen the festival grow into a world-beater and I can't wait to see what is to come as we move forward with th
The Netherlands - AV Stumpfl has officially announced the opening of AV Stumpfl China. The AV Stumpfl office will operate with the aim to develop and expand AV Stumpfl's presence in the Chinese mainland's AV market. Headquartered in Shanghai, the hand-picked team consists of experienced system engineers, as well as AV and marketing experts. Francis Lee, CEO of AV Stumpfl China, states: "We are seeing a lot of growth potential when it comes to AV Stumpfl's importance in mainland China. The company is completely independent and family owned, has a very good reputation, award winning products and an incredibly enthusiastic team. “Our own AV Stumpfl China team will be able to supplement this great foundation further by providing direct technical training, product support and maintenance services. As a first step, we will be focusing on a number of key markets, incl
