UK - The Eden Project in Cornwall has been wowing families during their summer holidays by hosting what they describe as “the ultimate space adventure holiday”, starring a mission to Mars, mini-golf on Mercury and a daring slide down the surface of a moon.
Running for six weeks, Expedition Space is an all-new programme of intergalactic activities that has been taking place across Eden, giving visitors “an extra-terrestrial holiday of a lifetime” including planet-hopping, meeting alien friends and enjoying out-of-this-world fun such as moon buggy driving and virtual reality experiences. Space explorers have even been able to climb aboard a rocket and blast into orbit while enjoying spectacular views of the Moon.
Enhancing the sonic realism of this trip around the Solar System has been a series of Martin Audio’s CDD-WR (Coaxial Differential Dispersion)

UAE - Dubai-based producer, organiser and promoter Envie Events connected more than 400,000 music lovers on 28 July, as revellers in du Forum, Yas Island were linked up via a live satellite connection to Belgium and beyond when the global EDM festival UNITE With Tomorrowland returned to the UAE.
Six other locations across the globe were also connected to the Tomorrowland main stage in Belgium, with Italy, Malta, Spain, Taiwan, Mexico and Lebanon also enjoying dance extravaganza.
The Abu Dhabi event featured live local and international DJs including the duo Lucas & Steve, SmokinGroove, Marcus Santoro, Regi, Barry Fore, Omar Basaad, D.O.D and Ummet Ozcan.
Protec were called on by Envie Events to deliver audio, lighting, video, scenic, staging and rigging solutions. Having successfully delivered the technical production for the festival held in Dubai

Spain - A number of headliners - including Depeche Mode, Queens of the Stone Age, Kasabian, Portugal The Man, and Underworld - at the recent MadCool Festival 2018 in Madrid came with SSL Live consoles, while the main live console for Stage 2 was an SSL L500 Plus.
The three-day event saw 80,000 music fans watch a packed line-up including some of the biggest currently touring bands in the world. Event company PRG, provided the technical services for all three stages, and chose an L500 Plus for FOH on Stage 2, connected via SSL's Blacklight II MADI concentrator technology to two ML32.32 stage boxes.
The L500 Plus features a versatile user interface. Any channel or path can be assigned anywhere on the three independent fader tiles, which are navigated in a convenient layer & bank system. This means the console can be set up quickly and simply to suit the user. New pa

USA - Inspired by Blake Shelton’s hit Ol’ Red, Ryman Hospitality Properties Ole Red entertainment venue and restaurants can be found in Tishomingo, Oklahoma and Nashville. A third location in Gatlinburg, Tennessee will open in spring of 2019 with others to follow.
The five-story Nashville location features a main stage on the first floor, two levels of dining, a large private rental space - The Hall at Ole Red - and a rooftop with stunning Broadway views. During the rehabbing of the 100+ year-old building, preferred AVL integration firm, Clair Solutions, was hired to design and install all of Ole Red Nashville’s audio, video and lighting systems. Clair Solutions was given the task of integrating a concert-level performance experience into the heart of the venue’s main dining spaces.
“We have a long history with Clair Solutions and have completed a lot

Japan - API reports the sale of a 64-channel AXS console to the prestigious Tokyo College of Music in the Toshima area of Tokyo. The AXS will be part of a new studio designed by Sam Toyoshima. This is the second AXS placed in Japan, with the previous console having been installed at the new Studio Tanta, also in Tokyo. Placement of both of these AXS consoles was facilitated by API's Japanese distributor Mix Wave, headed by Hiro Saika.
Although Tokyo College of Music will be the first academic institution to install an AXS console, it is preceded by a long list of higher education facilities, including Berklee College of Music, New York University, Abbey Road Institute, and Full Sail University, that integrate API's Legacy Plus, Vision, and 1608 consoles into their curriculums.
"We’re excited to see how the pro audio community of studios, engineers, and producers in

USA - Sacred Heart Cathedral served as the cathedral for the Diocese of Knoxville from 1988 until it was recently superseded by the new 1,300-plus seat Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, built on the same property for $30.8m.
With assistance from McCrery Architects, local architects BarberMcMurry designed the space, while Georgia-based AV integration firm TSAV worked closely with all parties involved on the acoustics and to install a sound reinforcement system. Musical content is conveyed by a Danley Sound Labs J3-64 Jericho Horn and four Danley SM80 loudspeakers for fill.
“We’ve completed several successful projects with the Catholic Church including two recent sound reinforcement systems at churches in Georgia,” explains Keith Reardigan, TSAV VP of technology & standards and senior systems architect. “That, together with several successful proj

New Zealand - When administrators at the Baycourt Community and Arts Centre in Tauranga decided to replace the loudspeaker system at the Addison Theatre, they opted for IS-Series from Adamson Systems Engineering.
“The brief from the client stipulated a number of criteria, such as suitability for both musical theatre and touring bands, excellent clarity while retaining a warm sound, and even coverage throughout the entire venue,” says Mike Hughes of Intec Systems Ltd., an Auckland-based firm specialising in the design, sale, and installation of commercial audio, lighting, and video systems. “From our previous experience with Adamson and the IS-Series products, we knew those criteria would be perfectly met and exceeded.”
The Addison Theatre features tiered seating for 582 patrons and an expansive stage measuring 46 ft. (14m) wide by 36 ft. (11m) deep. Throughout

Austria - Salzburger Festspiele has recently invested in a multi-surface dLive system for the performance of medieval play Jedermann, which has taken place every year since 1923 at the Domplatz (Cathedral Square) in Salzburg.
With almost 700 performances in just under a century, the play is a central element of the festival’s identity and takes place throughout the summer. This year, the organisers have acquired an Allen & Heath dLive mixing system through suppliers, ATEC Pro Audio, which was purchased especially for the performance and are planning to acquire further dLive systems for their six other locations.
Dr. Edwin Pfanzagl-Cardone (head of the sound engineering and acoustics for the Salzburger Festspielfonds) had considered several digital mixers prior to choosing dLive. He comments: “Having heard only good things about Allen & Heath from co

UK - At PLASA London (stand S61), UK immersive audio and showcontrol specialists Out Board will demonstrate the new TiMax 500S software for TiMax SoundHub, featuring StageSpace spatial rendering tools which instantly auto-calculate multiple adaptive delay-matrix localisation objects using 3D data imported from CAD files or entered directly.
TiMax spatial objects can be rendered and adapted for a wide variety of stage, audience and sound system configurations, and fine-tuned in rehearsal by the user, because, as Out Board maintains “experienced sound designers will tell you its the last millisecond or dB of adjustment that really make the spatialisation work”.
TiMax 500S integrated TimeLine and PanSpace resources allow quick and easy intensive programming and control of multi-layered immersive soundscapes, with intuitive and versatile task-based workflows tailored f

UK - AV technology provider BUK Solutions (formerly Brähler ICS UK) has announced an expanded product range, which now provides its customers with access to thousands of products from leading brands including Crestron AV, Polycom, Sony and BlackMagic.
Simon Sainsbury, managing director of BUK Solutions, comments: “This exciting development brings us increased flexibility, enabling us to explore a wider variety of solutions that meet our customers’ exact AV requirements, no matter how complex, while providing more cost-effective solutions for customers.”
Business development manager, Duncan Conway, adds: “It’s a win-win for all of our customers – not only do they have access to a vast range of excellent audio-visual solutions, but they’ll also benefit from all of our industry-leading expertise which we have built up over 30 years. We have recognised a d

Australia - Established in 1983 as Emmanuel Catholic School, with classes ranging from year one to year seven, the school went through a renewal process and changed its name to Emmanuel College in 1990. Then in 1995, a second renewal led to its discontinuation, but in its place two schools were formed: Emmanuel Catholic Primary School for students, year seven and under and Holy Spirit College for students in years eight through 12.
As it works with so many schools, the sports hall at Holy Spirit holds more than just sports matches. The hall hosts numerous assemblies, from college band and choir performances to special ceremonies that include ANZAC Day, college mass, fashion shows, graduations, career expos, and much more. Greg Duncan, business manager at Holy Spirit College, explains: “Each of these events have their own requirements but the common thread to all is the ne

UK - FOH engineer Jim Ebdon (Maroon 5, Annie Lennox, Sting, Prince) is currently on a world tour with Sam Smith following the release of Smith’s new album, The Thrill of It All. To accompany him on the tour, Ebdon has chosen the Solid State Logic L200 console, supplied by Capital Sound, London.
"A lot of the new album was recorded onto 16-track analogue, and then moved onto Pro Tools." says Ebdon. "I love the feel of the album, and I love the sound of it, and I wanted to recreate that. So the SSL was a no-brainer... It sounds like an analogue console, and it has a Save button!"
The show itself has unusual staging, with the main stage projecting quite a way out into the auditorium, and PA system set up 'in-the-round' rather than as a traditional left-right system. Ebdon’s FOH mix position is to one side of the stage, facing a single line of d&b speakers,

Japan - Martin Audio Japan has been featuring the MLA loudspeaker array at Rock in Japan for eight years, and it has now become an essential item on the four principal stages.
For the 19th edition of the festival, which took place in Hitachinaka Seaside Park over two consecutive weekends in August, MLA was again seen on the largest Grass Stage, the second Lake Stage, Park Stage, and Sound of Forest.
From new, cutting edge performers to veterans, more than 200 artists appeared on these stages over the four days, enhancing the Japanese music scene, with tickets once again sold out in a matter of minutes.
“It was back in 2011 when we first introduced MLA on the Lake Stage,” reports Shuzo Fujii, president of MSI Japan. “This is now the eighth year that the system has been adopted, and its high degree of control has become essential for the festival.

USA - Electro-acoustics specialist Audio Precision (AP) has announced the passing of its co-founder and former president Bob Metzler, aged 84.
Metzler founded AP in 1984 alongside Dr Richard Cabot, Bruce Hofer and Robert Wright. He served as the organisation’s president until his retirement in 1999 and was the face of the company in its early days, taking up marketing and sales duties as well as travelling internationally to engage with customers.
His legacy includes authoring the Audio Measurement Handbook in 1993, which was widely read throughout the audio community and was used as a text in university-level courses. Metzler also wrote numerous magazine articles and application notes, edited AP’s newsletter, Audio.TST, and conducted seminars and

Australia - Out Board has announced tm stagetec systems as exclusive Australian distributor and support specialist for its immersive spatial audio and showcontrol products TiMax SoundHub and TiMax Tracker.
As a result of the deal, tm stagetec systems staff have undertaken training for TiMax products in Sydney from Out Board director Dave Haydon.
Mark Lownds, general manager at tm stagetec systems, comments: “We are thrilled to welcome TiMax into the tm stagetec systems’ suite of brands. The fit between our technology-driven ethos and the leading edge, high-quality technology offered by TiMax products is a perfect match.”
(Jim Evans)

EMEA - Production Resource Group (PRG) and VER have completed their merger in Europe and the Middle East, becoming the largest entertainment and equipment and services provider.
The entities will be controlled by The Jordan Company, GSO Capital Partners and PRG Management.Jere Harris will serve as chairman and CEO of PRG and VER, and Stephan Paridaen will be president and COO.
Harris comments: “For more than 20 years PRG has been diligent in offering its clients the best production service and equipment in the entertainment industry. Growth across disciplines, markets and geographies has always been a key part of our strategy. Now, our ability to support all types of entertainment productions globally will take on new meaning, raising an already high bar to an unprecedented level.”
According to a statement, combining PRG and VER’s strength will now offer

UK - Current RMS will be back once again exhibiting at PLASA London in September, where they’ll be showcasing their latest features built for the AV, lighting and staging industries, including a number of new updates.
The team will be on hand to show how simple managing the entire rental process from start to finish becomes with Current RMS, thanks to the convenience and the ease of one cloud-based solution. See the real-time availability of your kit from any device, effortlessly create quotes and orders to send online to your clients, seamlessly scan to allocate and book out your kit, and manage your crew, transport and venues all from one system.
Since the success of last year’s PLASA London show, the team has been working to implement some of their user feedback, based on votes on their open Customer Wishlist. New updates have included Choosing Accessories

Norway - Klubben i Røverstaden is a new venue in Oslo offering a broad range of concerts and club concepts. With its 750-capacity it has an intimate atmosphere, but at the same time caters for major touring acts, both national and international. Earlier this year, it took delivery of the first DiGiCo SD12 system to be installed in a Norwegian club, supplied by DiGiCo’s Norwegian distributor Scandec.
Røverstaden, which directly translated into English means ‘city of outlaws’, is situated in the basement of a three-storey building in the city centre, in what used to be the slum of Oslo, an area that was famous for moonshine and brothels and where outlaws ruled. Its proximity to the royal castle prompted the demolition of the entire area, but in the 1960s it became a bohemian hang-out and the building housed Club7, followed by Sardine's. These were iconic venues and fro

UK - A vibrant village of custom-created performance spaces and entertainment zones, Farr Festival recently returned for another successful edition, helped by the sounds of Funktion-One systems used across the festival site.
Woven around a wooded slice of countryside, just half an hour outside London in the county of Hertfordshire, Farr Festival is a wonderland of themed spaces equipped with quality designed sound systems.
Dave Millard, founder and owner of Full Fat Audio (FFA), has been an intrinsic part of the event since its early years nearly a decade ago. In addition to running FFA, he holds a sizeable stock of Funktion-One loudspeakers, which he pairs with his own amps to create sound systems that are a perfect match for Farr’s bespoke aesthetic. Working with supplier support from Zion Audio, Millard uses this Funktion-One/FFA pairing to produce systems for al

UK - Evolutionary Arts Hackney (EartH) will become the first European venue to install L-Acoustics’ L-ISA hyperreal sound system.
The project, a multi-purpose arts hub to launch in the restored Savoy cinema in Dalston in September, has been created by the team behind Village Underground in Shoreditch, founded by Auro Foxcroft. EartH will be curated to span art forms and a multitude of genres and voices encompassing an international live music programme, performance art, special talks and debates, comedy, and film.
The venue’s theatre has installed the L-ISA system to offer audiences enhanced clarity, more natural sound, and a wider sound panorama.
The L-ISA set up comprises a frontal system of five hangs of seven Kara flown equidistantly across the front of the stage, with a central sub system of four KS28 flown in end fire configuration in front and above

USA - DAS Audio of America has appointed Edwin Guerra to the position of US marketing manager. In his new role, Guerra will be responsible for all US tradeshow coordination from concept to execution, social media management and content creation, supporting the company’s sales staff with a variety of marketing initiatives, and overseeing the creation of related marketing collateral. Guerra is stationed at the Miami office.
Prior to joining DAS, he served as production director for Battlefrog Race Series of Miami, where he consulted on all audio equipment purchases in addition to overseeing the deployment of equipment for events. He was also an AV installation technician for AVED of Miami.
Reflecting on his new role with DAS Audio, Guerra comments: “I’ve been very fortunate to work with music and sound in several different areas and, with DAS Audio, I now have the

Lithuania - Audiotonas, Martin Audio’s Lithuanian distributor, recently installed one of the manufacturer’s newest line arrays - the Wavefront Precision Compact (WPC) at Jonava Cultural Centre.
The venue, which seats almost 700 people, organises various events, which have already become annual fixtures in the calendar, such as the Midsummer Day (Joninės), contemporary art forum Homo Ludens, national festivals of choirs, street musicians, children’s pop choirs and others. Thus, the demand for a good PA system was high.
After surveying the site, Audiotonas’ sound engineers, under the project management of Vytautas Stasiukaitis, considered that eight flown elements per side of the WPC array would provide the best solution because of its optimised coverage and outstanding overall performance.
The WPC is a new breed of optimised line array featuring scalabl

Europe - Belgian creative engineering specialists WIcreations are involved in the design and fabrication of three bespoke set elements - all optimised for air freight - to be used on a series of epic outdoor shows on Roger Waters’ current Us + Them world tour, which launched with two seminal shows in Rome and Lucca, Italy.
A pair of 16.6m-high circular PA towers grace the stage, complete with integral tracking systems on the onstage side for the rigging of 10 moving light fixtures, and on the downstage side for the sound cluster’s wind brace.
The second WI object is an industrial style stage roof - ‘roofette’ as it’s known on the tour - comprising a set of imposing cantilevered steel beams which can be fitted with clear roof skins in case of rain.
The third area in which WI is involved is a truss and beam rigging system, devised to securely rig

USA - Founded in 2012, Opera NEO hosts 30-35 aspiring young performers each summer, providing intensive operatic training, mentorship, and invaluable performance experience.
The 2018 Opera NEO Summer Opera Festival included performances of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow and Mozart’s Idomeneo, each presented with a live orchestra in a unique open-air amphitheatre in the hills of San Diego, California. The 2018 season marked the first year the festival utilised Coral Canopy for sound design and audio production services, which centred around an Allen & Heath SQ-5 digital mixer at front of house.
“The SQ is a beast and I continue to be amazed at the capabilities of the console,” says Alan Chang, principal of Coral Canopy. He adds: “With mics across the orchestra and a large chorus of performers on stage, I relied heavily on the Chromatic chann

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