UK - Backstage Academy has collaborated with Brompton Technology in delivery of an online masterclass to over 50 students to help them understand the importance of LED processing for video walls within live events and virtual production. “Brompton LED processing solutions have been making regular appearances at Backstage Academy and Production Park for some time now,” says Miles Marsden, industry partnerships director at Backstage Academy. “For a company to remain at the cutting edge of such a fast-moving sector is super impressive, so to give our students the opportunity to be included on that journey was a no brainer.” The training consisted of a short company overview delivered by Brompton director of business development, Rob Fowler, followed by a sampler from the company’s full one-day training course on the Tessera system using the streaming rack delive
The Netherlands - Eurovision 2021, broadcast live from Ahoy in Rotterdam, chose Shure Axient Digital Wireless System to help ensure audio quality throughout all performances for singers, musicians, and viewers. With more than 40 artists on stage and an estimated audience of nearly 200m, viewers across Europe, the 2021 Eurovision edition needed a wireless system that could meet every contestant’s demands. “With Shure’s Axient Digital we found the perfect system to monitor and coordinate the complex audio set up that Eurovision required, in which sound quality and spectrum efficiency are key,” said Aart Heus, wireless coordination technician at Ampco Flashlight. “Shure’s Wireless Workbench was the most qualified software for it. The hardware not only provides control and stability, it is trustable and reliable which is essential for a show of this size.”
Germany/UK - d&b has announced the establishment of a new service-focused business entity, d&b solutions GmbH & Co. KG. The new entity will ‘further enable d&b to offer end-to-end expertise in the areas of project development, manufacturing, system planning, installation and maintenance’. The announcement is supported by the immediate acquisition of UK-based multidisciplinary AV provider, SFL Group. The newly formed d&b solutions will act independently from d&b audiotechnik GmbH & Co. KG. d&b solutions and d&b audiotechnik will have separate, independent business structures reporting up to the d&b Group. The managing directors for d&b solutions are Amnon Harman (d&b Group CEO), Jens Nilsson (d&b Group CFO) and Michael Aldinger (d&b solutions director finance and operations). “d&b solutions is born out of
Spain - Amate Audio is exhibiting in the Catalan Innovation Zone at ISE Live, in Hall 2 of the Fira Barcelona Gran Via exhibition centre, in association with ACCIÓ, an agency of the Government of Catalunya promoting business competitiveness, which is hosting a dedicated zone showcasing some of the leading companies and technologies from the region. Barcelona-based Amate Audio will be featuring spread of .some of its latest loudspeaker products. The company’s flagship Xcellence series X212AF large format, 3-way line array and accompanying dual 18” X218WF ‘compact’ sub were the major product introductions on its booth at ISE 2020. Also from the Xcellence series, the all-new X102FD is an ultra-high output compact point-source alternative to line arrays in medium and smaller size application environments. Its advanced cabinet geometry incorporates two 10“
UK - Shure has announced free software networking capabilities for its SLX-D Digital Wireless System. Shure’s Wireless Workbench 6 software and ShurePlus Channels iOS app will be compatible with SLX-D later this summer. The software solutions offer the necessary RF management that professionals rely on for critical oversight and control of Shure wireless systems. Shure’s Wireless Workbench 6 software allows audio professionals to discover and automatically connect to all Shure devices on the network for remote monitoring and control. With just a few clicks, users can scan the spectrum, identify open frequencies, and deploy to networked systems. To ensure an optimal working environment, and smooth production with SLX-D, Wireless Workbench 6 can also help: establish network parameters and track all devices used in any given production; manage alerts and make adjustm
Vietnam - Harman Professional Solutions recently collaborated with BaSao Audio to equip the ballroom at Sonaga Beach Resort & Villa with a new audio system. Located on the Vietnamese island of Phú Quốc, Sonaga Beach Resort & Villa is a luxury resort that offers upscale accommodations in addition to a restaurant, swimming pool, fitness centre, ballroom and bar. The facility owners hired BaSao Audio to outfit the main ballroom with a complete Harman sound system. BaSao installed a combination of JBL loudspeakers, AKG microphones and Soundcraft audio mixers to support a wide range of events in the venue. JBL BRX308-LA loudspeakers and BRX325-SP subwoofers were selected for the main sound reinforcement system. Additionally, the installation team equipped the space with JBL EON612 portable PA speakers to provide premium sound quality and flexibility for r
China - The annual Spring Festival Gala staged by BTV (Beijing Radio and TV Station) which celebrates the Chinese New Year is one of the most watched television spectaculars in the world. The 2021 edition of the show, with its central theme of unity was no exception, attracting a large audience and wowing its audience with a combination of art and high tech. Recorded at the 3,600sq.m studio at Xingguang Film and TV Centre in the Daxing District of Beijing, the Gala presented a song and dance extravaganza (including virtual performances) that used a 360° panoramic immersive performance area. The show presented its production team, Beijing Zenith Culture and Art Company, with many challenges, breaking down as it did the traditional barriers between audience and performers. The design of the audio system in particular was demanding - the immersive approach meant th
Egypt - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat is one of UNESCO’s projects to help safeguard and preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage. The April opening of the new-build museum was marked with a lavish ceremony, in anticipation of which the Egyptian government undertook a multi-million-dollar investment to re-paint, re-light, and equip downtown Cairo with sound. The epic opening ceremony, which was supervised, directed and organised by Media Hub Saadi-Gohar Company, combined marching bands, cheering children, synchronised lighting, and a line-up of famous Egyptian actors and singers. The centrepiece of the productions was the transfer of the mummies of the ancient kings and queens of Egypt from their previous resting place in the Egyptian Museum to their new home. Twenty-two mummies in chronological order of their reigns, from the 17th Dynasty
Italy - Powersoft has launched a project registration process on its website that will allow subscribers to receive a discount on Powersoft products to be purchased for any installation project, as well as direct support from Powersoft’s expert technical team. Registrants can be any company or user in the project chain, such as distributors, end users, system integrators or resellers, and the discount and support will be accessible to customers once the submitted project, after meeting certain requirements, has been considered eligible. To be eligible, registrants must provide at least three months prior to the estimated product delivery date, all project details (including programme and products of interest) to the official project registration form, accessible via MyPowersoft. "We have launched this initiative to further support projects around the world in
UK - Video technology company, 80six, recently opened the doors to its virtual production studios in Slough. The VP facility boasts a pre-configured curved LED stage, suitable for shooting in-camera VFX. Brompton Technology products are part of the studio's high-end technical backbone. 80six has been at the leading edge of building and implementing xR stages and has now directed its attention to live LED in-camera virtual production, which uses similar technologies. The company has spent the last 20 months carrying out extensive R&D with LED and cameras for film and TV productions with partners such as Epic Games, Dimension Studio, DNEG & OSF. “Throughout the last couple of years, we have carried out various tests that have given us a solid understanding of the principles of VP. We can now confidently advise our clients as to the benefits and limitations th
South Africa - Event and entertainment technology solutions supplier Stage Audio Works has relocated to new premises in Kyalami Park, Midrand, Johannesburg. The move follows a change in strategic direction of the company’s Mitech Direct division (MI retail sales) to a stronger presence online. The new business model has enabled SAW to reorganise operations in a way that reduces the requirement for physical space overall whilst deploying more resources in key areas for increased profitability. “We are fortunate in that our business has remained strong throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” states SAW group CEO, Will Deysel. “However, to ensure that, we’ve had to remain agile and react quickly; one of our early decisions was to move Mitech Direct to a predominantly online sales model, which has prompted our relocation to new, appropriately sized premises in Kyalami
UK - Founders of the global #WeMakeEvents movement feature in the fourth episode of The Meister Series, Jägermeister’s project celebrating “the mavericks and innovators in the music and events industry.” In April 2020, #WeMakeEvents was launched by PLASA in response to the impact of the pandemic on the live events ecosystem. What started as a single UK campaign soon grew into a global movement now spanning 40 countries. Since then, through fundraising, mental health support and campaigning, the organisation has worked tirelessly to keep the music industry alive and support those impacted by the crisis. In this fourth episode, founders and board members of #WeMakeEvents - Nicky Greet and Peter Heath from PLASA, Koy Neminathan from Avolites and James Gordon from Audiotonix - join Jägermeister in a passiona
UK - Bluesound Professional has announced the launch of the fourth instalment of its podcast series called Surroundscapes. The series continues to feature expert guests from around the world offering perspectives on changes affecting the current and post-pandemic workplace. The series is targeted at commercial A/V integrators, consultants and business owners interested in the idea of using audio visual technology to ‘help create memorable and immersive experiences in commercial environments amidst our new reality’. Hosted by Graeme Harrison, VP and GM of Bluesound Professional, Surroundscapes Series 4 is theme focused on the Future of Music and Music Creation. Harrison, along with invited industry experts, will explore two principal areas of the music industry. First, they will investigate new ways of both composing and performing music often
USA - One of the most highly anticipated tours in the Contemporary Christian music world this year is The Blessing USA Tour, pairing six-time GMA Dove Award winner Kari Jobe and husband/partner Cody Carnes. Kicking off in Pittsburgh on 15 April and culminating in Brandon, Mississippi on 18 June, the tour is taking the singer-songwriter duo on a 24-city run of shows at large houses of worship and theatres across the Midwest and South, including Dallas, Orlando, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Houston and elsewhere. Sponsored by illumiNations and CovidSafeChurch.com, the tour is implementing “socially distanced and/or reserved COVID-safe seating and capacities” in each venue, and tour members will be tested and everyone entering will be temperature checked, in addition to other standards and local requirements. What’s also different about this tour is how the DiGiCo Quantum338 co
USA - After the widespread cancellation of the 2020 Graduation and Commencement season in the States, students were anxious to know whether this year they would be able to celebrate the completion of their degree programmes on a grand stage. Cooper Cannady of Martin Audio partner RMB Audio, the event’s long-term services provider, was faced with the same conundrum. “We have serviced Duke University Commencement at the Wallace Wade Stadium [in Durham, N. Carolina] since the evolution of the campus back in 2003,” said the RMB Audio owner, whose company is based nearby. “This year I was invited to initiate planning for an event which I knew may never occur.” However, when University president, Vincent Price, finally received the green light from the Centre for Disease Control and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the RMB Audio tech te
USA - Each spring, the annual NFL Draft broadcast offers millions of sports fans an opportunity to discover with which franchises players will be signing for the upcoming football season. This year’s event, held in Cleveland from 29 April to 1 May, welcomed 50,000 fans a day for live events, including the NFL Draft Experience interactive football festival and nightly concerts from Black Pumas, Kings of Leon, and one of the city’s native sons, Machine Gun Kelly. Once again, the National Football League and events promoter C3 Presents chose Houston-based certified provider LD Systems as the live sound vendor for the NFL Draft. LD’s primary deployment was for the Draft Theatre, a massive 200ft-wide by 220ft-deep by 80ft-tall half-moon structure created by Stage FX. Erected near FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, overlooking Lake Erie, the structure
The Netherlands - Located on the banks of the Zaan river in the city of Zaandam, a few kilometres north-west of Amsterdam, Filmtheater De Fabriek (The Factory) is a popular cinema. The cinema has recently added a new 30 seat theatre and, at the same time, updated the audio in its existing 90 and 64-seat theatres, all with Alcons Audio pro-ribbon systems. Filmtheater De Fabriek offers an in-depth movie experience, each month offering introductions, after-talks or panel discussions about its programme of films. These provide more context for the films and the viewer with food for thought. This approach to providing a more complete experience includes the sound. De Fabriek occupies a 100-year-old former school building, which has seen many changes over the years. A recent refurbishment saw original details being preserved and, at the same time, the cinema being brought ri
Australia - Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has reopened its home venue, The Wharf, at Walsh Bay in Sydney, following a two-year closure for a total renovation. A highlight of the complete technical upgrade was the installation of 32 new Meyer Sound loudspeakers, largely drawn from the company’s new Ultra-X series. The system was designed by Bob McCarthy and Josh Dorn-Fehrmann to implement Spacemap Go, Meyer Sound’s new tool for spatial sound design and live mixing. When it opened in late February, STC’s production of Playing Beatie Bow became one of the world’s first theatrical productions to use dynamic spatial effects provided by the new technology based on the Galaxy 816 Network Platform utilising Milan and a new iPad user interface. For the theatre’s sound & video manager Ben Lightowlers, selection of the right solution was critical, so the venue
Switzerland - The Andermatt Concert Hall, located in the village of Andermatt in the Ursern Valley of the Swiss Alps, opened its doors in 2019 to rave reviews by hosting the Berlin Philharmonic, bringing world-class classical music performance to the alpine wonderland (see LSi Jan-Feb 2021). The concert hall is a beautiful venue with seating for up to 650 and offers an up-close and intimate atmosphere with enough room for a 75-piece orchestra. The hall's stage and lower level are below ground level, and the space features a high ceiling with upper-level walls of glass, wood-finished ceilings, and a wrap-around balcony. Studio Seilern Architects created a captivating space, int
USA - XXXX Audio Systems recently outfitted MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa with a Harman networked audio system. MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa is a casino hotel in Stateline, Nevada owned by Bally’s Corporation. Originally constructed in 1978 and known as Caesars Tahoe until 2006, MontBleu includes a 48,456sq.ft casino and 438-room hotel along with multiple restaurants and shops. MontBleu needed to upgrade its aging audio system and hired XXXX Audio Systems to replace its existing system with a networked audio system consisting of JBL Professional, Crown and BSS solutions. “Our overall goal was to create a vibrant sound experience for our guests from the minute they arrive to the time they’re playing their favourite slot machine or table game,” said Marimille Dacia, director of marketing, entertainment and retail, MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa.
Austria - As historic churches strive to serve their existing congregations and expand their reach using new technology, inevitably they find themselves balancing their needs for quality audio systems with the desire to maintain the aesthetic beauty and singular atmosphere integral to the worship experience. That’s of particular concern in historically important spaces like Eisenstadt, Austria’s Dom St. Martin, which recently deployed a low profile, high fidelity Adamson Systems Engineering PA to improve speech intelligibility and reinforce small, contemporary musical ensembles with clarity and depth. Previously known as St. Martin's Church, the Gothic cathedral was completed in 1522 and features a pipe organ created to the specific instructions of Austrian composer and ‘Father of the Symphony and String Quartet,’ Franz Joseph Haydn. Over time, it’s been dama
UK - The 2021 BRIT Awards made history on 11 May as 4,000 audience members gathered at London’s O2 Arena for the UK’s first indoor live music concert in 14 months. In celebration of the best in British and international pop music, The BRIT Awards audience - made up by primarily of NHS key workers - brought hope back to live music crews. The test show was a momentous return to multi-artist, large scale productions, and although the limited numbers presented challenges, the Britannia Row team was happy to take up the mantle. Safety was paramount, as crew chief Steve Donovan explains: “The BRITs were very different this year in terms of crew logistics and, in particular, the Covid-19 testing of every individual onsite. Crew were tested every 72 hours minimum throughout the course of the build and show. It was critical to ensure we didn’t have positive tests
France - Modulo Pi has announced the immediate availability of Modulo Kinetic version 4. With this release, the fully integrated media server solution offers a revamped user interface, improved 3D engine, and new extensive capabilities dedicated to virtual productions. Introduced in 2016, Modulo Kinetic makes a major step forward in its development with a variety of new features and improvements. The Modulo Kinetic Designer offers a revamped user interface with new icons, optimised views, toolbars, timelines, nodal programming editor, and more. Special attention was paid to the 3D scene viewer to offer users a smooth navigation and polished experience with the software. Version 4 includes the support of Notch Block, 10-bit Apple ProRes, and 10-bit GoPro Cineform. Modulo Kinetic also supports LUT format, allowing creative filters and real-time colour grading.
USA - Established in 2001, Oaks Christian School (OCS) in Westlake Village has quickly flourished over the past two decades to become one of the most sought-after private middle/high schools in the West Los Angeles area. With a number of the school’s events now being held outdoors on its 25-acre Conejo Valley campus per current health and safety protocols, OCS recently purchased a portable sound reinforcement system that is being piloted via an S21 digital mixing console from DiGiCo. David Alexander is Oaks Christian School’s technical director as well as the facility manager for the Bedrosian Pavilion, the campus’ 30,000sq.ft multipurpose performing arts centre that opened in 2007. “We have a large-format desk as our mainstage console at the pavilion, but it’s far too big to move quickly and deploy easily as an outdoor desk for mid-size events,” he says. “We n
