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06 November 2024

Iceland - With a US-themed menu and over 50 different kinds of beers available, American Bar in the heart of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik fully captures the American spirit.

Adding to the buzz of this busy nightspot themed with a décor of football helmets, sports memorabilia and a huge stars and stripes flag, there’s live music every night, a packed dance floor and large HD screens showing major sports fixtures from the US and around the world.

Quality sound is central to the party atmosphere at the bar and when audio consultant and technician Assaf Tzur arrived to tune the existing sound system, newly arrived in his role at production services and AV installation specialists Exton, he went on to propose a new system that would extend powerful, dynamic sound with even coverage throughout the L-shaped venue.

“I come from the studio wor

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06 November 2024

UK - The team at Milton Keynes-based Impact Productions Services (IPS) set up the production for the London premiere of the reimagined Day of the Jackal at Queen Elizabeth Hall (formerly Royal Festival Hall) at the Southbank Centre. IPS put up the lighting rig and video wall for this Limited Edition Event Design project, which was designed by Richard Godin.

Helping to ensure smooth sailing for the event were REM 3IP LED Screen panels from Chauvet Professional installed on the premier’s two screen structures. IPS’ onsite screen tech Dan Ainsley and the entire team were not surprised that the REM 3IP created ‘no surprises’ – they’ve been using the bright, 4,500 nits indoor/outdoor video panel for almost one year now.

“Our install team has been using the REM 3IP quite often since we first acquired it, so they are familiar with the

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06 November 2024

Czech Republic - SMART Productions, headed by Josef ‘Pepa’ Ženíšek, supplied all the technical elements required for the two venues – Prague’s O2 Arena and Ostrava Arena – involved in hosting the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)’s World Championship tournament. They also co-ordinated technical production in the Prague FanZone area.

As if Czechs were not already proud enough to see their national team beat Switzerland 2-0 in the final to become world champions for the next 12 months, the event’s lighting designer Ondrej Burian worked closely with game experience director Martin Zahálka from Livebros and leaned extensively into Robe moving lights to make an impact for that final event in Prague.

24 Robe BMFL Blades, 24 BMFL WashBeams, 12 Spiider LED WashBeams and 12 Tetra2 LED battens were deployed to illuminate the int

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06 November 2024

UK - IPS has expanded its inventory of EXE Technology hoists with further investment in EXE Rise D8+ with an additional 40 1,000kg and 12 2,000kg double fall chain hoists, considerably expanding their EXE rental stock.

IPS, based in Milton Keynes, is a leading trade hire supplier to the events and production sector, offering extensive rental supply in staging, rigging, lighting, video, sound and power to a wide cross-section of clients nationwide.

Having increased its EXE Rise D8+ fleet in April with 1,000kg and 500kg units, the company has seen an upsurge in demand via its trade hire team with enquiries from its customer base, especially for the 1,000kg units. EXE has played an integral role over the summer season on some of IPS’s biggest projects and festivals across the UK, which have seen the full deployment of EXE hoists IPS now stocks. 

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06 November 2024

UK - Composer and producer for film, television and games, Hilgrove Kenrick has recently installed Audient Oria in his new Oxfordshire studio. He was already working in 5.1 with his Steinberg Nuendo and PMC setup when he heard about the immersive audio interface and monitor controller from Audient, and realised “it would slot right in.”

“It would simplify everything and allow me to monitor stereo, quad and 5.1 – no extra gear needed,” he added. Which led to him taking the leap into spatial audio. Originally concerned about how he was going to flip between stereo and surround formats, he realised Audient had solved that problem for him as well. “When it became clear that SoundID Reference was going to be integrated directly into the Oria, it really did seem to be pretty much unique in this sector of the market,” he says.

Setting up was s

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06 November 2024

Austria - The Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG) will participate in the bi-annual MEET (Messe für Eventtechnik und Theater) show for event technology and theatre, held at Messe Wien in Vienna 6th - 7th November. The WSDG team will not only host a booth (F2, Hall D) but also present an educational lecture as part of the event’s official programme.

As an international trade fair for event technology featuring a specialist conference for events and theatre, MEET blends technology and art with over 80 exhibitors. This event presents the latest innovations in event technology and provides a valuable platform for discussion among theatre and event managers.

WSDG's Dirk Noy along with Mario Reithofer will be available throughout the two-day event, where they will meet with clients, partners and industry professionals to discuss ongoing and future projec

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05 November 2024

UK - UKEvents, the umbrella organisation of the UK’s events industry, has announced the findings of its anticipated UK Events Report 2024. The report, compiled by Great Potential Consultancy, highlights the industry’s critical role in the economy, generating £61.653bn annually and affirming its resilience following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covering a wide range of events, including corporate, public, and charity sectors, the UK events industry has proved itself to be a vital economic driver, contributing not just financially but also culturally and socially. As the nation continues its recovery, the industry is paving the way for future growth and innovation.

Key findings from the report include:

Corporate events such as conferences, trade shows, exhibitions and product launches, generating £33.6bn.

Leis

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05 November 2024

UK - Blue Thunder Sound is based just outside Ivybridge in Devon. The company was founded by Jake Prowse and has been running for the last 14 years, supplying events equipment to festivals all over the country, and touring internationally. Purchasing a DiGiCo Quantum 225 has been a game-changer for the company and the Big Weekender at Yeovil was the first outing for the console.

Jake Prowse, managing director and Ryan Gardner, senior audio engineer say the new Quantum 225 complements their existing inventory and is a perfect fit for their style of working. “The versatility of the Q225 is very important,” says Gardner. “We do festivals over the summer, but we are also doing theatre shows and corporate events. We need a console that has a simple user interface and is as versatile as we are as a company. The Quantum 225 can do all of this and mor

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05 November 2024

Portugal - Since the inauguration of Portugal’s Golden Globes awards ceremony back in 1996, production company Auditiv Audiovisuais has supported the event with advanced sound reinforcement and broadcast.

The company recently returned to the 4,300-capacity Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon with a Martin Audio WPC line array, providing the auditorium sound for the first time at the 2024 edition.

According to Auditiv directors Daniel Bekerman and João Escada, who also served as the event’s technical directors, the decision to deploy this advanced scalable PA was largely driven by a desire for innovation. They recognised that this solution would adapt to the space, be visually unobtrusive, provide improved coverage and adhere to the venue’s significant weight limitations.

Two hangs of 12 WPC speakers were deployed – powered by Martin Audio

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05 November 2024

UK - LSi is saddened to report the passing of Jack Thompson, long-time technical director of the Manchester International Festival and one of the key forces behind Factory/Aviva Studios, the Festival’s new home base in the City.

Well known and hugely popular throughout the industry, Jack’s early years were spent in the lighting department of theatres including the Birmingham Rep, the Belgrade in Coventry, the Derby Playhouse and Manchester’s Library and Royal Exchange theatres, as well as freelancing across the country. He was the lighting designer for DV8 Physical Theatre through most of the 1990s, and was a project manager for White Light North from the mid 1990s to mid 2000s. Amongst his many projects at White Light was delivering the Northumberland Lights outdoor winter lighting scheme, the precursor to the many popular winter light trails of today

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05 November 2024

Australia - Intense Lighting has expanded its inventory with Prolights EclProfile CT+ fixtures. This upgrade allowed the company to support the world premiere of Gilgamesh, a production by the Sydney Chamber Opera in collaboration with Opera Australia.

Ian Garrad, director of Intense Lighting, stated: "The Prolights EclProfile CT+ fixtures have proven essential to our work. Not only do they offer superior brightness, but the integrated homogeniser ensures flawless colour mixing, simplifying on-site operations. Their compatibility with our existing accessories was another key factor in the success of the installation."

The EclProfile CT+ model was selected for its optical performance, featuring optimised light output and advanced colour management through its six-colour LED source with a high CRI. These features enabled versatile lighting tha

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05 November 2024

UK - TiMax has announced the launch of TiMax panLab. Continuing its mission to democratise access to spatial audio, the new macOS application packs an augmented feature set to enable users to take spatialised audio designs further in both entry-level and large-scale systems.

TiMax panLab is the first major product release since both TiMax and panLab joined the Focusrite stable, marking the first step in a roadmap of product updates. At launch, TiMax panLab adds 3D rendering capabilities to QLab, alongside a wide range of mixing consoles and system processors and now for the first time, TiMax SoundHub.

The simplicity of the 3D user interface in TiMax panLab provides a powerful tool for creators to intuitively craft multi-dimensional audio soundscapes. The finely honed UX design of the original panLab spatial programming platform, skilfully developed b

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05 November 2024

USA - Bose Professional has announced the global availability of EdgeMax EM90-LP and EM180-LP, expanding the EdgeMax line of in-ceiling directional loudspeakers. The LP models bring powerful EdgeMax sound and asymmetrical coverage to smaller rooms and more challenging spaces, and work together with the original EdgeMax loudspeakers to deliver consistent performance across projects where specifications and installation conditions vary.

EdgeMax LP models have been specifically designed for smaller rooms with lower ceilings and challenging installation requirements. The new EdgeMax LP loudspeakers have a 4” backcan depth, 60% shallower than the original models, which makes EdgeMax LP suitable for rooms with above-ceiling limitations and tighter clearances. The new EdgeMax LP models also feature an 80° vertical coverage angle that is ideal for conference room

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05 November 2024

USA - Wireless load monitoring brand Broadweigh has announced its presence at this year’s LDI Show in Las Vegas this December. Visitors to the show can find Broadweigh at booth #2019 where the 9-tonne load cell will get its North American debut. The team will also be giving an exclusive preview of its innovations set for release in 2025.

“This is an exciting time for the Broadweigh brand," said Matthew Youngs, marketing manager at Broadweigh. “Our innovations are developed with a deep understanding of the demands faced by today’s live event professionals. We are therefore thrilled to bring our latest solutions to LDI and demonstrate how our products support a safer, smarter approach to event rigging and structural monitoring.”

Broadweigh’s wireless anemometer will also be on display on the booth, illustrating how it enables precise monito

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05 November 2024

Japan - Following the success of last year’s event, Brompton Technology has announced its return to Inter BEE 2024. The expo will see an expanded presence of Brompton’s LED video processing technology, which will be featured on the booths of key partners including INFiLED Japan, Ark Ventures, Sony Marketing, Leyard Japan, AOTO Electronics, Innovator One Co and d&b audiotechnik.

Brompton highlights at this year’s show include the latest Tessera v3.5 features, such as Dark Time Insertion, Frame Store, Hidden Marker Improvement, as well as the recent Q-SYS plugin integration. These enhancements further cement Brompton’s leadership in the virtual production (VP) and high-end LED installations sectors.

“We are honoured to be featured on our partners’ booths at Inter BEE 2024,” says Elijah Ebo, director of APAC Operations at Brompton. “

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05 November 2024

Hammer Blow - Theatres across the country are braced to absorb yet more costs under Labour’s first Budget in office, with large tax rises labelled another "financial hammer blow” for pinched organisations. Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves’ increase to both national insurance for employers and the national living wage has left theatre buildings saddled with potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds more in annual expenditure.

Curve chief executive Chris Stafford told The Stage: "While we actively support increasing the national living wage, this rise in cost alongside the hike in national insurance payments is another financial hammer for theatres and producers. Based on very early projections, the Budget will hit our bottom line by at least £350,000 next year. This is on top of the money we will need to allocate to implement Martyn

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04 November 2024

USA - Working with lead designer AECOM and Turner Construction, Clair Global Integration (CGI) was engaged to design and install innovative technical solutions to the Intuit Dome basketball arena, home of the LA Clippers.

In addition, the $2bn, 18,000-capacity venue announced Clair Global touring client, Bruno Mars, as its opening act, placing Clair's rental and installation divisions in close collaboration for the Inglewood, CA, arena's first live event.

"The great thing about the LA Clippers is their dedication to the fans – as an organisation they wanted this facility to engage sports and music fans instantly," says CGI VP of sports integration, Demetrius Palavos. "Steve Ballmer, LA Clippers chairman, has a background in powerful technology and understands perfectly how it can become a lever to meaningfully interact with patrons."

Ballme

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04 November 2024

USA/Italy - Princess Cruises has chosen Robe Lighting for Sun Princess, the latest addition to the Princess fleet.

With a capacity of 5,900, the Sun Princess boasts various entertainment venues and concepts. The ship has been equipped with a comprehensive Robe Lighting package, including four Forte FSs, four RoboSpot systems, 27 Esprites, 76 Paintes, 22 Spiider LED wash beams, 24 LEDBeam 350s, 43 LEDBeam 150s, 57 Spikie+ and 14 T11 Profiles with gobo modules, plus 21 ParFect 150s, 42 Tetra1s, 30 iPaintes, 13 iSpiiders, 17 iBeam 350s, 5 iTetra2s and 19 iBar 15s.

The Princess Arena, the most technologically advanced Princess Theatre design, offers three configurations to maximise sightlines and deliver a truly captivating experience. The Dome, featuring a pool by sunlight and a stage for shows by starlight, is a glass-enclosed space inspired by the hil

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04 November 2024

USA - Claypaky Xtylos played a key role in Limp Bizkit’s 2024 Loserville Tour, the nu-metal band’s 24-stop North American summer road show. Las Vegas-based OSA International provided the full production package for the tour, including audio, lighting and cameras.

The Loserville Tour kicked off in Wisconsin in July and wrapped in San Bernardino, California at the end of August. Justin Wade, who has worked with Limp Bizkit for about two years, served as lighting designer, programmer and operator for the tour.

“I was looking for a punchy beam that would cut through outside natural elements for this all-amphitheatre tour,” Wade explains.  

“Mark Fetto at OSA International steered me to Xtylos, whose laser source makes it a lot stronger than many other beams. And at a time when so many lights are getting bigger and bi

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04 November 2024

USA - The 67th annual Monterey Jazz Festival featured performances by artists like Mavis Staples, Stanley Clarke, and Samara Joy. The festival was powered by a Meyer Sound Panther system paired with 2100‑LFC elements, all provided by McCune Audio. Meyer’s technical design specialist, Tom Dalske, provided ground support throughout the event.

“It was great to see an updated Meyer Sound rig in the arena this year,” says Dalske. “We had a fun time interacting with the crowd at the sound booth, and there was a lot of positive feedback. It was exciting to see the reactions of some of the guest engineers who hadn’t yet mixed on Panther. I really enjoyed being a part of such a historic show, and hearing Morgan Freeman on the PA.”

The festival’s sound was driven by an impressive setup featuring 16 large-format linear line array loudspeakers, f