USA - One year ago, Focusrite officially launched the Focusrite Pro Podcast. In the nearly 25 episodes that have been posted since the series’ inception, show host and producer Daniel Hughley (Focusrite marketing manager) has guided discussions offering insights into the technology behind current audio trends. Topics have included Dolby Atmos and Audio-over-IP, podcasting basics, the future of the Audio Engineering Society, the production of Live from Darryl’s House, advice on evolving one’s career in audio and much more. On the occasion of the one-year anniversary, Hughley is taking the opportunity to reflect on the show’s journey over the last 12 months. He notes: “The evolution of the Focusrite Pro Podcast is very close to my heart. We started with just a crazy idea
UK - When Amate Audio’s UK distributor Stage Concepts was commissioned by Ice Tech to design, supply and install custom trussing with PA and lighting for its new build Cambridge Ice Arena, it turned to the power and performance of the new Nítid N15 active point source system. The brief for the €6.3m leisure facility specified a striking appearance and the capability to easily add more lighting, and offer natural positioning for the PA. Working together closely, Stage Concepts and Amate Audio designed a system offering the minimum of complexity while providing highly consistent sound pressure levels throughout the whole arena. Six Amate Audio Nítid N15 active point source systems were flown in each of two double layer hex design trusses positioned above the ice. Precise positioning of the N15s, to achieve optimum coverage, was determined using Amate Audio’
USA - Production company Toucan Productions has started to livestream weekly DJ sets from its facility in Oklahoma City using a festival-worthy setup that includes nearly 100% Elation lighting gear. Dubbed Secret Shop and hosted on Twitch TV, the livestream broadcasts feature multiple 45-minute DJ sets and run every Wednesday from 8:00 pm to midnight Central Daylight Time in the U.S. Arvol Dingess and Parker Shore, both of Toucan, have been instrumental in getting the Secret Shop livestreams up and running, an idea that emerged from Covid-era downtime. “Sometime in May, Arvol, our video lead at Toucan, hit me up with the idea to do a streaming show from the Toucan shop and I jumped on it,” said Shore, an Oklahoma City native who has been a lighting specialist at Toucan for the past five years. “We did some cocktail napkin sketches of the rig, built it an
UK - This summer, Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s opera double bill has been transformed from the physical to the digital stage, with the creative team and artists from across the School bringing the productions to life from their homes using digital technology. It is now available to stream for free until Wednesday 1 July 2020. A 20th-century reimagining of one of the earliest English operas Dido and Aeneas - Purcell’s tragic love story featuring the famous aria Dido’s Lament - is contrasted with Respighi’s La bella dormente nel bosco, a witty take on the Sleeping Beauty story. The School’s production would have been the UK premiere of Respighi’s rarely performed work. All students, staff and guest artists have been working from wherever they have been living during the lockdown, across at least 14 countries and four con
Norway - When multiple Norwegian Grammy-winner Emilie Nicolas played two shows in one day at the Oslo Opera House in late 2019, an Alcons Audio pro-ribbon solution was specified. Emilie’s pop anthems and atmospheric ballads have a very wide dynamic range, from the quietest, nuanced vocal to the power of her up-tempo songs. Making sure that every detail was enjoyed by the sold-out audiences, front of house engineer Stian Sagholen only had one PA system in mind. “Stian contacted us after a show at Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral), Trondheim in May and said there was no other option than an Alcons system for the Oslo Opera House shows,” says Arnstein Fossvik of audio production company Trondheim Lyd. Trondheim Lyd supplied an Alcons LR18 compact line array system comprising 36 LR18, four VR12 mid-size versatile monitors and four LR7 micro line arrays for fills
South Africa - Rental and technical production company Blond Productions invested in its first Astera products - Titan Tubes and AX3 Lightdrops - for the first series of reality dating show Love Island France. This was filmed earlier in the year at a luxury villa on the Lothian wine estate in Elgin Valley, on the banks of the Palmiet River about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Paris-based director of photography (Florian Sinopoli works worldwide on various TV shows and series, and last year also lit Celebrity Love Island in South Africa for producers ITV Studios. He initially specified the Asteras, although Blond Productions’ owner Christiaan Ballot was already considering making an investment in the brand after numerous recommendations, “It was really just a question of awaiting the right moment,” he explained. The Asteras were supplied by Joha
China - Shanghai ACE, a branch of ACE (International) Co, recently installed an end-to-end Harman Professional Solutions networked audio system at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre complex. At 15.8m sq.ft, the NECC in Shanghai is the largest convention facility of its kind in the world. The massive complex has a four-leaf-clover shape, with four main exhibit halls branching off from a central plaza. In preparation for the inaugural China International Import Expo, an international trade fair proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the facility underwent extensive renovations. The NECC hired Harman distributor Shanghai ACE to upgrade the facility with a complete Harman networked audio solution including JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, dbx and BSS signal processors and Soundcraft mixers. “Due to the rigid security of state leader conferences, t
The Netherlands - Production company Spectrum AV has created a blank canvas studio in its warehouse that it is renting out to promotors who wish to host virtual dance festivals during the coronavirus lockdown. Featuring an impressive lighting rig, comprised of 68 ADJ fixtures, it allows the atmosphere of a high-energy DJ set to be captured and live-streamed for fans to watch in the safety of their own homes. Established for over 15 years, Spectrum AV is a full-service lighting, video, audio and effects rental and production company based in the village of Udenhout, which is located between Tilburg and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. Although the company supplies a wide range of clients spanning across the entertainment and business worlds, it has developed a particular niche in the EDM festival market. With a business model designed to make life as easy as possi
Austria - Starnacht (Star Night) is one of the more popular televised live music programmes in German-speaking countries. Broadcast from Austria since 2000, the programme has several editions and is known for its diverse mix of national and international artists who perform amid a festival-like atmosphere against majestic backdrops like the Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna or the spectacular peaks of the Alps. Austrian-based full-service event technology supplier Droneberger Showtechnik specialises in television productions and has been lighting Starnacht shows since 2005/2006. The company, which operates from the town of Klagenfurt, sought a flexible luminaire to enhance the Starnacht stage in colour and effect and last summer purchased Elation Professional Paladin multi-effect lights to use on Starnacht am Wörthersee, Starnacht aus der Wa
USA - Like much else in bluegrass country, there is a tranquil beauty to Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. With its gently curved inlayed stone outer walls, multi-level windowed surfaces, and soaring main tower, the 433-bed medical centre on the outskirts of this picturesque town, projects a sense of serenity and calmness. It is a sense that has reassured Kentuckians through good times and bad since 1877, when the hospital was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. In 2020, this modern medical facility came to the aid of its community in another crisis by serving at the centre of the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This June, Saint Josephs showed its gratitude to the hospital’s health care heroes and its support for families that have been impacted by the virus with two successive week-long lighting displays created by Studio46 Media, usin
Finland - Åbo Svenska Teater, a Swedish-speaking theatre in the heart of Turku, is the oldest still functioning theatre in Finland. Exuding 19th century glamour, the venue is known for hosting plays and musicals such as Les Misérables, Hair, and The Rocky Horror Show. This April, the theatre’s audio system was brought up-to-date with the installation of L-Acoustics Syva, which has solved the theatre’s complex acoustical challenges. The system was delivered in March and originally scheduled for installation in May. However, when the theatre was shut and all performances cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided to use the hiatus to install the system ahead of time, made possible by the theatre’s team performing the installation themselves. Pauli Molnár of L-Acoustics certified provider distributor, Audico, has a long history w
UK - The Royal Society of Chemistry has upgraded its audio-visual systems at its Burlington House headquarters with the addition of a K-array loudspeaker system supplied by 2B Heard and installed by the Torpedo Factory Group, enabling the Society to offer better quality sound and vision as a leading central London venue for its many rental clients. Key to the library’s attraction as a venue - prized by users for seminars, conferences, lectures, award ceremonies, fine dining and private functions – is its integrated audio-visual facilities and, taking an opportunity to benefit from the latest technological advancements, the RSC decided this year to upgrade its audio systems in order to provide better coverage and improved intelligibility to meet the growing requirements of its corporate clients. In consultation with the Torpedo Factory Group (TFG) and following an o
France - As Culturespaces opens the world’s largest digital art centre, the cultural operator continues its successful collaboration with Modulo Pi. Opened on June 10, 2020, the Bassins de Lumières (The Ponds of Lights) in Bordeaux relies on 30 Modulo Kinetic media servers to provide an outstanding immersive art experience. Culturespaces Digital turned to Modulo Pi and chose the Modulo Kinetic media server solution in 2018, when it created the first digital art centre in Paris, the Atelier des Lumières. Opened in April 2018, the Atelier des Lumières already welcomed more than 2m visitors eager to experience a new immersive approach to the work of famous artists such as Klimt, Van Gogh, Monet, and more. Since the opening of the Atelier des Lumières, Modulo Kinetic has become the exclusive media server for each existing or new digital art centre by Culturespaces
Russia - A recent upgrade of AV systems in the central conference hall at the Moscow head offices of the Mosenergosbyt AO energy company – the largest wholesale energy company in the Russian Federation – saw the installation of an Amate Audio Xcellence X208 line array, providing the complete audio reinforcement for the 180 seat auditorium. Charged with bringing the company’s principal conference facility into the 21st century, system integrator Atanor group – an Amate Audio authorised distributor in the Russian Federation – opted to ensure even distribution of high intelligibility audio signals throughout the auditorium by means of a line array. The X208 was chosen as providing a highly efficient, effective and compact solution by virtue of its novel coupling of X208A active and X208P passive array elements, where power and DSP loudspeaker system management i
USA - When the live music industry screeched to a halt March due to COVID-19, Sidewalk Prophets, a Christian music band knew they still wanted to reach out to people with a message of love and positivity. Their tour was revamped for a virtual audience, and rather than stream one show, the band has twelve performances scheduled for free access, if you live within the region of the show, with different set lists played live. “With COVID-19 having such a massive effect on the industry, it was unclear how long it would be before we would play live shows again,” said production manager Robert Mays. “After one phone call with Mike Golden, I knew I had the full support of Bandit and that this show would no doubt be a success.” “The vision of this project is to find a unique way to connect with our audience through the medium of live stream concerts,” said rhythm
USA - Anticipation was high for Kayzo’s Unleashed Tour when it was announced in January. Scheduled to begin 27 March in Denver with stops across the USA, before wrapping up 9 May in Seattle, the tour represented the next step in the former Insomniac Discovery Project winner’s impressive musical ascent. Then, the COVID-19 outbreak brought plans for the tour to a halt, just as it was about to begin. But Kayzo refused to allow a pandemic to box him in. Determined to reach fans despite the lockdown, he teamed up with 4Wall Entertainment to livestream the Unleashed Tour. Reflecting the intensity of the star’s two-hour performance, which was hosted by Insomniac, was a 16-universe Dallas Gasper-designed lightshow that featured Chauvet Professional Maverick MK3 Wash fixtures and Cloud 9 low lying foggers. “Our team was gearing up to start this tour when the entir
Brazil - When rental company Maxi Audio had to close the doors on the planned in-store Maxi Academy training programme, it was determined not to let its customers down and swiftly set up an alternative, online programme. Broadcast and Front of House engineer, Renato Carneiro, Audio Systems' DiGiCo support, a regular supporter of the Maxi Academy and long-time DiGiCo user, delivered the first session, based on the mix he had done for popular Brazilian duo Bruno & Marrone’s first live YouTube performance. “Maxi's training programme is 100% free and open to the market,” says Carneiro. “The idea of my original, face-to-face session was to have a quick description of an SD12 and rebuild the actual session used in Bruno & Marrone live shows - remember those shows we used to do on a proper stage, with an audience? - using the multitrack show recordings. We ha
Australia - FOH engineer James ‘Oysters’ Kilpatrick is one of Australia’s most experienced and has mixed for a who’s who of Australian music. The COVID-19 pandemic left him with no work so he decided to put all his gear, knowledge and contacts to good use creating The Roadie Show. Along with key contributors Barry Brody, Alex Saad and Christian McBride, the team behind the project have a combined history of more than 100 years of stage, screen and touring experience in the live music business. “The Roadie Show aims to provide fun-filled and creative opportunities to keep going and stay busy in this fragile climate of uncertainty,” commented Oysters. “Essentially, it brings long-time mates, roadies and musicians together with a Plan B to keep a small part of the once-thriving global entertainment industry alive.” “This project is gu
UK - Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, White Light (WL) and Bug Productions joined forces to create FLUX, a hybrid performance space safely connecting artist, fan and host for a live music experience. Following their first European headline tour and cancellation of the US leg due to lockdown, King Nun frontman Theo Polyzoides was the first artist to perform in this immersive environment. Utilising technical solutions specialist WL’s socially distanced SmartStage studio in London, Polyzoides was joined by music reporter Jimmy Blake, to deliver the intimate gig for an exclusive group of fans. From the safety of remote participation, the fans were able to enjoy a front-row virtual experience and up close personal interaction with the artist. Lee Dennison, WL’s head of business development explains: “As lockdown started, many artists started recording themselves singing or
UK - Torpedo Factory Group has upgraded the audio-visual system at the London headquarters of the Royal Society of Chemistry, one of the UK’s oldest professional scientific associations, established in the mid-19th century with the goal of advancing the chemical sciences. Burlington House, Mayfair, has been the RSC’s residence since 1857, and is famed for its historic library that not only houses a world-class collection of scientific journals but is also a leading event venue in central London. Key to the Library’s attraction as a venue – prized by users for seminars, conferences, lectures, award ceremonies and private functions – is its integrated audio-visual facilities and, taking an opportunity to benefit from the latest technological advancements, the RSC decided this year to upgrade its systems in order to provide better coverage and improved intelligi
Belgium - Lighting, visuals, show and production design practice Painting with Light (PWL) has opened – in partnership with NEP Belgium – a new virtual event studio at its C-MINE HQ in Genk, Belgium, offering a streaming production / broadcast facility – including full virtual audience interactivity – to deliver digital events. Based on a model created by Univate in The Netherlands, the new PWL Studio space offers an innovative and creative approach for staging virtual events of all types – from keynote speeches, corporate meetings and presentations to brand activations, product launches and conferences to seminars to album launches, parties and live music streams. The project is a response to the massive increase in demand for streamed, ‘delivered-live’ and recorded events and content to expand reach and visibility in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic
China - When construction began on the Xi’an Olympic Sports Centre, home of China’s 14th National Games, officials wanted the modern 18,000 seat venue to feature a PA system that would give every seat a memorable experience. With help from pro audio distributor EzPro International, officials found the solution they were looking for in EAW’s Radius (RSX) Series loudspeakers and subwoofers. “In designing the sound system, the goal was to provide the same frequency response for each listening area and to address any unevenness throughout the audience areas,” says system designer Zhang Xianjun. “We first built a 3D model for the stadium in AutoCAD, according to the architectural drawings. We then imported the model into EASE4.3 acoustic analysis software, followed by a 1:1 EASE model setup. We choose EAW’s RSX line array for its strong directivity, ability to optim
UK - TSL Lighting helped independent live events production company LRI create a Covid-secure lighting package for a live stream training session by e-learning company, Skillsoft, in May. TSL was approached by lighting designer Tim Ball to supply a fitting solution for the project, with a specification that would provide the presentation with the perfect balance of lighting for the cameras filming the session. Skillsoft had originally programmed its Perspectives 2020 session as an in-person event, but the Covid-19 lockdown meant that LRI and Skillsoft worked quickly to transform the production into a fully online, global digital experience. Ball’s design included Chroma-Q Colorforce II 48 LED battens for scenic treatment, Arri 650 Plus fresnels for key lighting, ETC Source Four Profiles for graphics highlights and an array of battery-powered Astera AX3 L
UK - Farming showcase event Cereals should have been taking place in Duxford this week. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it has been unable to go ahead in its physical form this year. Instead, the event’s organiser Comexposium is holding virtual event Cereals LIVE 2020 with a programme that covers all the key demonstrations, exhibitors and seminars. Regular exhibitor, John Deere is participating and shared an exclusive preview to select customers earlier this week. The online demonstration highlighted key feature updates to three of its best-selling machines and the benefits of its ‘My John Deere’ technology live to an audience of 250, utilising a purpose-built studio, presenters, cameras and live streaming technology, delivered by its long-standing exhibition and audio-visual partner OneBigStar. With several new technological advancements added
