UAE - Following the great success of last year, Apart and Community have scheduled another Middle East seminar. The event will take place on day one of Infocomm MEA, Tuesday, 5 December 2017 at 4pm local time at the Crowne Plaza Dubai. During this exclusive event held by Audioprof Group International, Community Professional Loudspeakers will discuss how to design sound systems for challenging and highly reverberant acoustic spaces and the benefits of using horn loaded systems. Apart Audio will focus on their new MASKC loudspeaker and MA mixing amplifier ranges and how these products can offer an enormous time-gain during installation. The event will allow hands and ears-on with a range of products from both brands dedicated to the professional audio installation market, along with presentations from key staff from t
UK - Rental company Impact Production Services (IPS) has reported “unprecedented demand” for the ProLights StudioCOB Plus LED par. The company says the LED par has been “hugely popular across a wide range of events ranging from outdoor live music concerts to film premieres and corporate functions in high end hotels”. IPS’ Tom Warden commented: “They have been consistently popular with customers since we started adding them to our hire stock – we keep ordering more and still can't keep up with the demand for them.” IPS purchased its stock from ProLights’ UK dealer A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd (AC-ET), including the StudioCOB Plus Full Colour and StudioCOB Plus Daylight White models. Steven Moseley, from IPS’ lighting department, said: “There has been an ever increasing demand from our clients for an LED fixture with a single beam
Poland - Alcons Audio has recently added a new territory to its global spread of users, with Polish event production company Offstage using its QR, QM and VR series pro-ribbon systems on a wide range of events. Two of the most recent have been corporate orchestral concerts in the Baltic resort of Sopot. Based in Łęgowo near Gdansk, Offstage provides concert sound, lighting and staging services for national and international clients. In September, its Alcons pro-ribbon loudspeakers were used for a corporate event at the Sheraton Hotel in Sopot where the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot and guest performers entertained guests in the hotel’s Baltic Panorama Ballroom. For the orchestral concert, Offstage used L-R arrays of an Alcons QR24 modular line-source array column and QM24 LMF array extension, plus VR8 compact versatile monitors as frontfills. The syst
USA - Austin-based cinema Alamo Drafthouse recently upgraded its Highball location with an Allen & Heath Qu-24 digital mixer and its Barrel O’ Fun location with a Qu-24 mixer and an AR-2412 AudioRack. A/V manager Steve Sanders said: “The Highball was using an older mixer in their remodelled space. So, I did a lot of research. The reviews said that the Allen & Heath Qu Series is the easiest digital board to use, especially if you’re coming from an analogue background. So, I rented one from Rock n Roll Rentals and took it home for a few days. With the Allen & Heath videos, it was easy to understand and, as I got to know the mixer, I really liked it. So, we bought one for the Highball and another for the Barrel O’ Fun.” Sanders saves a Qu-24 scene for bands who play at the Highball regularly. “When they come in, I just recall their scene,” he sai
USA - Global manufacturer of video and signal distribution technology ZeeVee has launched a new website and logo as it marks 10 years in business. Bob Michaels, CEO for ZeeVee, says: “2017 marks an important milestone for our company. ZeeVee has long been a trusted brand and a symbol of quality and ease of use. Today, those attributes continue to be the driving force in our innovation and engineering best practices. Throughout this past decade we have been working to lead the industry and develop new distribution platforms that leverage standards-based technology. “From being the first to introduce an RF encoder/modulator approved for use by DIRECTV, Dish and other cable and satellite providers, to launching the first uncompressed 4K AV over IP distribution solution, we are committed to providing customers innovative and easy to use solutions. “The AV lands
USA - After producing the US Open Squash Championships in Philadelphia for seven years, IMS Technology Services noticed a distinct improvement in the audio quality after switching to Martin Audio CDD-LIVE speakers for this year’s event. IMS director of audio Chris Leonard comments: “We definitely upgraded the speaker coverage with the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 12’s and 8’s. They had a major impact on the environment with their low-end extension and consistent wide coverage. There’s no good place to put subs at this event, so having a speaker with the low-end power of the CDD-LIVE series really helped us out with adding excitement to the audio quality and coverage. This was the seventh year we’ve done this event and by far the best sounding one yet.” The Championships take place at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Centre with a custom ASB glass squas
UK - J&C Joel has won the Exporter of the Year category at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards held at Grosvenor House in London on 14 November (Tuesday). The Sowerby Bridge-based firm, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of flame retardant fabrics, drapery and stage engineering solutions, was praised by the judges for the pace of their international growth, the range of countries they cover and their strategy of offering of a range of value-added services suited for both their UK and overseas clients. J&C Joel’s CEO, James Wheelwright, said: “We are extremely proud and honoured to have won this award, we weren’t expecting it as we were up against some really strong businesses. In recent years we have invested heavily in our export infrastructure; opening new offices overseas and expanding our operations to ensure we are offering the
Germany - It has been 500 years since Martin Luther sparked the Reformation and the German city of Worms, which played a central role in the movement, has been marking the event throughout the year. From 27 October to 1 November, a Ecumenical Bridge of Light was cast between the city’s St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Luther Church using Elation Professional Proteus Hybrid moving heads. Lighting designer Thomas Gerdon was contacted by the city to connect the lofty Catholic Cathedral with the Protestant Luther Church in a bridge of light intended to express the bond between Catholics and Protestants. “Even though they are separate religions, they are still connected by the Christian faith,” Gerdon says of the reason behind the project. “The bridge of light was meant to visualize this connection as a symbolic meeting of the two great faiths in partnership.”
UK - Hawthorn is once again heading out on tour with 80s new wave group OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark). The company will be supplying lighting & crew to the band as they take their The Punishment of Luxury Tour around the UK and Europe. The band, which has sold over 40m records worldwide, is returning to the stage in support of their 13th studio album The Punishment of Luxury. Having kicked off at Liverpool Empire on 29 October, the tour will run through to 8 December, closing at the Les Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland. The concert touring division at Hawthorn is supplying lighting to specification for the performances, including Clay Paky Sharpy and Sharpy Wash, Robe BMFL Spot and Ayrton Magic Blade-R fixtures. Hawthorn is also providing rigging, drapes, dimmers and distro, as well as supplying two lighting crew for the performances. Mi
UK - The new owner of SWX will work with local and national promoters to bring more live music to the Bristol club. Electric Group, which also runs Electric Brixton, completed a deal for SWX last month, recognising “the performance potential in its outstanding atmosphere, production and sightlines”. With Ticketweb providing box office and marketing support, Electric Group will manage the SWX live diary from Brixton under head of music Mike Weller’s direction. Weller has been working with the SWX team to further refine the venue’s live set-up, technically and commercially. Dominic Madden, Electric Group co-founder, comments: “We operate with an independent mindset, shaping an easy and collaborative culture for promoters to embrace SWX with as few financial strings attached as possible. “Having invested substantially to make the venue pro
Czech Republic - Perhaps one of the most unusual cultural buildings in Europe, the airship at DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague appears to float above the surrounding buildings. For those that venture inside it, a Yamaha audio system proves that the sound. Named after fictional traveller Gulliver, the 42m long, 120-capacity steel and wood airship features a zeppelin-shaped structure on top and is a permanent space for lectures, exhibitions, screening and other cultural events. The venue features an AV system specified and installed by Martin Vondrášek of the Prague-based AVT Group. The audio system comprises four Yamaha VXS5W speakers arrayed along each side of the ‘body’, powered by an XMV8140 multi-channel amplifier, with signal distribution and processing by an Yamaha MTX5-D matrix processor. Audio inputs come from wireless microphones, a
USA - Set against the striking backdrop of the Hollywood Hills with its famed Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Bowl is the summer home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Bowl has also been the winner of 13 consecutive Pollstar Awards for Outstanding Outdoor Venue since 2004, which was coincidentally the same year that L-Acoustics was selected to help maintain the audio excellence at the venue, first with V-DOSC, then with the 2013 installation of the only K1 system currently installed in a North American venue. Just prior to the 2017 season, the Hollywood Bowl furthered its pursuit of sonic excellence with the acquisition of 18 AVB-ready L-Acoustics LA12X and 10 LA4X amplified controllers, all sold and installed by Rat Sound. With this addition of 28 new LA Series amplified controllers, the Hollywood Bowl has completely refreshed and updated its power infrastructure, fu
Sweden - Harman Professional Solutions has announced that Septon Electronic is taking over the distribution of AMX solutions in Sweden. The agreement applies to the full range of AMX product categories, with Septon Electronic set to focus on local sales and support of video control solutions while Harman Professional will concentrate on creating synergies between the audio, video and lighting segments of the business. “We are pleased about this agreement,” said Fredrik Barnö, channel manager, Harman Professional Solutions. “Septon Electronic has been the Swedish distributor of Harman Professional’s audio portfolio for many years, and with their extensive market reach and thorough industry know-how, we have a strong partner on our side.” "AMX is established in the absolute premium segment, whereas Septon Electronic as a distributor is known for our broa
UK - PLASA Focus Glasgow, Scotland’s only dedicated event for entertainment technology, returns to the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) on the 17-18 January, with free registration now open. The trade show, which is hosting leading international brands, networking events and a programme of seminars and workshops, will offer visitors access to over 80 pro audio, lighting, AV, rigging and staging brands, including Avolites, Bose, Chauvet, ETC, Funktion-One and Robe. Chris Toulmin, Commercial Director at PLASA comments: “Scotland is renowned for its famed festivals, iconic venues and rich cultural heritage, and we are extremely proud to host an event which supports this incredibly rich sector in Scotland. We are looking forward to another successful year of providing Scotland with the perfect stage for networking, training and discovering.” Industry professionals
MTV Europe Music Awards - Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes was the big winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards, picking up three awards including the best artist prize. Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello was honoured with the best pop prize, French DJ David Guetta won for best electronic act, while US rapper Kendrick Lamar claimed best video. There were a number of British wins, with Ed Sheeran scooping the best live category, Dua Lipa collecting the best new artist prize, and Chris Martin-fronted Coldplay named best rock act. Irish band U2 collected the Global Icon gong, previously awarded to Queen, Whitney Houston and Eminem. Taylor Swift, who was expected to be one of the big winners of the night with six nominations, failed to win any awards. In The Summertime - Michael Buble will perform at British Summer Time festival 2018 - his first gig since his
UK - Lighting and visuals rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment delivered lighting and video equipment for Neil Marsh’s show design for popular alt.trance aficionados Above & Beyond at London’s O2 Arena. The one-off show was effectively a soft album launch for their new Common Ground work and comes ahead of an extensive 2018 tour which will kick off in the US. Neil took the base elements of the design for this show from their recent AGBT250 show at the Gorge Amphitheatre, near Seattle in Washington State. The band host a weekly two hour radio show - Group Therapy Radio – and celebrate every 50 radio shows with a large ‘ABGT’ live event staged in a different county each time. As a one-off, Neil’s philosophy was to take a lighting and video design concept that he knew worked very successfully and keep things straightforward given t
UK - Live sound hire company Capital Sound has added a second SSL L500 and an Avid Venue S6L to its console inventory in a recent purchase from professional audio specialist HD Pro Audio. "We purchased our first SSL L500 and L200 consoles earlier this year and have been pleased with their performance in every respect," said Paul Timmins, operations and development director at Capital Sound. “We buy high-end consoles for specific projects to form a solid foundation and the L500 is out on long-term hire with The Killers. “The L200 is really interesting in that it meets the needs for our medium price console inventory, at the same time allowing many more clients the opportunity to experience the work flow, high-end performance and sound quality of SSL. Our decision to add the L200 has worked well with it proving very popular for shorter tours and enquiries have been s
Italy - Leading Technologies recently deployed a JBL by Harman VTX A12 tour sound solution at Umbria Jazz Festival. Held annually in Perugia and surrounding cities since 1973, Umbria Jazz Festival has hosted some of the biggest names in jazz and pop, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Prince, Alicia Keys, Santana, Elton John and many more. Continuing the tradition of excellence, the 2017 festival hosted performances by Kraftwerk, Brian Wilson, Christian McBride, Wayne Shorter and many others. In order to ensure sound quality for the diverse line-up of artists on the main stage, Italian audio provider Leading Technologies deployed a complete JBL VTX A12 tour sound system. “This is the first time we’ve deployed the new VTX A12 line arrays at the festival,” said Giovanni Bugari, manager, Leading Technologies. “The festival’s
Europe - This summer’s Celine Dion LIVE 2017 tour, in support of her Encore un soir album, took the Canadian songstress on a 25-date tour of Europe in her first major tour for eight years. Dion’s lighting designer of 28 years, Yves Aucoin, put together a lighting design that featured 24 Ayrton MagicPanel-R fixtures. He says: “Celine takes her craft – and her audiences – seriously, and we spent a long time carefully listening to every song in her repertoire before choosing which she would perform and how they should look. Her collaboration with the design team comes in the early stages of a tour, after which point she concentrates on her performance and leaves us to our work on the visuals. She performs 26 songs in the show but selected 48 in total, switching between French and English from city to city. “On a tour of this scale, with venues t
South Africa - Callum Sutherland, the 18-year old founder of CSR Events, has invested in a dot2 XL-F console from DWR Distribution to compliment his six Robe LEDWash 300s fixtures. He plans to make this gear available for dry hire. Callum, who still studies at the St Stithians College in Johannesburg, has taken his hobby and grown it into a successful rental company. “Passion in this industry is a huge component and you have to really take care of everything from the equipment to the people because if you aren’t dedicated to making every factor of your production as good as possible you won’t grow as a business or person,” says Callum. He is said to remain committed to reinvesting "every last cent" back into CSR Events in the belief that this will place him in a better position in purchasing good quality equipment that can be hired out to the industry a
UK - Dartford-based laser system design specialists ER Productions have used £200,000 of funding from HSBC to finance high-end laser equipment and secure new concert and television contracts across the UK and internationally.As a result of the contract wins, the company is planning to take on new staff and is seeking bigger premises to accommodate the growing business. Sarah Milligan, HSBC’s area director in Kent, said: “Marc and his team have developed an award-winning company in just 10 years. Our support has helped fund their shows around the world and we look forward to supporting the purchase of new premises down the line.” Marc Webber, director of ER Productions said: “We have been with HSBC since we started the company back in 2007. HSBC helped us then with the loan we needed to start up and have continued to support us. In the last year we have investe
USA - A portable church setup designed to go in and out of a middle school gym every weekend, Preston Trail McKinney required streamlined equipment for its audio, video, lighting, staging and furniture setups. Martin Audio Wavefront Precision Mini (WPM) was specified to address the venue’s limitations. As described by Clark senior design consultant Peter Fitton: “The church is transported into a middle school gymnasium with a 16ft. x 32ft. stage, a 40ft. rear lighting truss upstage and lighting trusses on both sides of the auditorium about midway through the house that provide front light for the stage and house lighting for the audience area. The video system includes a video playback server, a switcher, an 11ft. tall x 14ft. wide screen in the centre and a 13,000-lumen projector in the back of the room. The school provides seating for 300-350 congregants. “For
Denmark - Musikhuset Aarhus – also known as Aarhus Concert Hall – in Aarhus, Denmark, is the latest in a number of high profile theatre venues in Scandinavia to invest in Robe, with a substantial purchase of 78 x Spiider LED wash beam fixtures. These are primarily designated for use in their main hall where they will be “workhorse fixtures” explained head of lighting Ole Nielsen. Located right in the centre of Denmark’s second city, Musikhuset is a major music venue and features five principal auditoriums - a 1600-capacity Stor Sal (Main Hall); the 1200-seater Symfonisk Sal (Symphonic Hall); the Lille Sal (Small Hall) with capacity of 300, the Rytmisk Sal (Rhythmic Hall) a flexible space that can accommodate 500 seated or 1000 standing, and where most of the rock and electronic music shows are staged. The Kammermusiksalen hosts chamber music recitals. I
UK - The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) recently partnered with White Light to support the technical training of students over the course of the next year. As part of the partnership, the company will supply the equipment on internal productions, offer demonstration equipment for lectures and classes, introduce students to key industry members. The partnership will also benefit WL’s existing apprenticeship scheme, with RADA tutors running masterclasses and the WL apprentices embarking on a training opportunity at RADA in the summer. Neil Fraser, RADA’s director of technical training, comments: “Having worked with WL previously and knowing their own commitment to training the next generation of theatre practitioners, it seemed like a natural step to move into a partnership together. “This is a really exciting opportunity for both organisations
