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05 June 2024

USA - Rock band Breaking Benjamin recently wrapped their Spring tour with a lighting system from Bandit Lites. With six studio albums, two compilation albums and over 19m units sold in the US alone, Breaking Benjamin fans have come to expect consistent, powerful performances.

Bandit Lites project manager and lighting designer Craig Richter took a simple yet effective approach to the design in choosing versatile fixtures that could be deployed in multiple ways. Bandit Lites supplied Claypaky Mythos 2, Claypaky B-EYE K20, Martin VDO Sceptrons, Martin MAC Viper Profiles as well as 9 Lite Maxi Brutes.

Richter balanced the functional need of front light so the audience could see the band members once they step away from their mic stands. Additionally, when a video wall was added later into the design process, he pivoted to make sure the right fixtures wou

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05 June 2024

USA - TiMax will introduce two TiMax product integrations at InfoComm 2024. The power and spatial audio prowess of TiMax will be demonstrated live at the show in Martin Audio’s demonstration room, N112. A part of the Focusrite Group, the immersive and spatial audio capabilities of TiMax will form a part of sister pro audio brand, Martin Audio’s presentation at the show. Martin Audio loudspeakers are one of the loudspeaker brands in the ‘TiMax Recommends’ family of manufacturers proposing TiMax as their recommended immersive spatial processing solution.

A new plug-in option, available to all existing FPGA-equipped TiMax SoundHub spatial processors, adds four individual 1-in / 16-out ultra-high-quality reverb engines which give sound designers full control of all parameters as well as access to an advanced 3D room reverb-builder application.

Au

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05 June 2024

USA - Renkus-Heinz, returns to the Las Vegas Convention Centre in June for the 2024 edition of InfoComm. Attendees will be able to experience Renkus-Heinz’s advanced sound solutions firsthand, both on the main stand C9620 in the Central Hall and in the demo room N113.

Visitors to the demo room will be taken on a journey thanks to an active immersive acoustics system in partnership with Amadeus Acoustics. As the room acoustics are transformed from the hustle of an airport to the echoing halls of a cathedral to the vibrant acoustics of a concert hall, visitors will experience for themselves the transformative power of Renkus-Heinz’s beam-steering technology.

There will also be live music courtesy of violinist Drew Tetrick, who has performed throughout the world including appearances with Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder. Visitors will

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05 June 2024

France - The renowned Lido on the Champs-Élysées, a Parisian nightlife staple since the Roaring Twenties and once famous for its exotic cabaret and burlesque shows, has been completely renovated and reopened as Lido 2, a premier musical theatre.

Now presenting major works of theatre in an immersive cabaret setting, Lido 2 attracts both French and international audiences with a lighting kit almost exclusively from Elation.

Global Technique Concept, led by project manager Eddy Couloigner, oversaw the renovation and was enlisted as the lighting management service provider for the venue. In February 2023, the historic cabaret shows ended, and renovation work commenced shortly thereafter. Over seven months, the new lighting kit was meticulously installed to meet the venue's unique requirements, including a relatively low proscenium ceiling height of 5.5

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05 June 2024

USA - The OCA Alliance, champion of the AES70 standard for Open Control Architecture, has announced several new AES70-enabled products ahead of the 2024 edition of InfoComm in Las Vegas this month.

Equipment from d&b audiotechnik and Adamson Systems Engineering swells the ecosystem of AES70-enabled products, continuing the adoption of standards-based flexible, unified control.  

Specifically, d&b has incorporated AES70 support into their 5D, 40D, D40 and D90 amplifiers as well as their DS100M network-driven Milan-enabled processing platform for Soundscape, while Adamson has launched VGt, a peak performance large-format line array loudspeaker, the first member of the new Vergence Group. VGt is a self-powered unit that includes an intelligent networked DSP endpoint supporting Milan digital audio and AES70 control data. Adamson and d&b wil

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05 June 2024

UK - Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the first institution in the world dedicated to research and teaching in tropical medicine, recently undertook a significant project to extend its teaching and event capabilities. Pembroke House, a mixed-use facility was constructed with three main teaching spaces alongside small huddle areas and group collaboration zones.

Initially engaged as consultants, leading Higher Education integrator GVAV subsequently secured the integrator scope for the Pembroke House project. Collaborating closely with Audiologic, a comprehensive spread of equipment from Q-SYS and Sennheiser was specified for deployment across the different spaces.

The Audiologic team was engaged to assist with confirming the final designs for the audio solution plus programming and commissioning of this aspect of the project. Due to the co

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04 June 2024

France - Showlight, the much-loved quadrennial networking event organised by and for lighting professionals, will return in May 2025 when it will visit the city of Dijon in France.

Highly regarded by the lighting industry, Showlight combines three days of eclectic talks with a great social programme, a sponsored student scheme and unique opportunities for manufacturers and lighting designers alike to network in a relaxed and non-pressured environment. Peripatetic by nature, the event moves from country to country for each edition.

With renowned French followspot manufacturer Robert Juliat as the headline sponsor of the 2025 event, Showlight will head to Le Parc des Expositions et Congrès de Dijon from 19-22 May 2025.

Located at the centre of France’s Burgundy region - the vineyards of which were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site a

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04 June 2024

Japan - K-array has announced a new distribution partnership with Audio Brains Co., in Japan.

Since its founding in 2007, Audio Brains has established a robust reputation for importing, selling, and maintaining audio and communication equipment. Recognized Audio Brains caters to a wide array of clients, including large music venues such as stadiums and halls, live music companies, audio firms, conference facilities, and educational institutions.

In celebration of this new partnership, a dedicated showroom featuring K-array’s products will be opened in Yoyogi, located in the vibrant Shinjuku area of Tokyo. This modern showroom will provide clients with the opportunity to experience K-array’s advanced audio solutions firsthand.

“We are excited to partner with Audio Brains, a company that shares our passion for superior audio technology an

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04 June 2024

Europe - Metallica’s ongoing M72 World Tour has begun playing its 2024 dates with the lighting design that Rob Koenig introduced last year featuring 48 Claypaky Sharpy Plus Aqua IP66-rated beam/spot fixtures.

The tour is in support of the band's eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons, which was released in April 2023. The tour commenced that month in Amsterdam and is set to conclude in September 2024 in Mexico City. The 2024 dates kick off at the end of May with nine cities scheduled in Europe through July then resumes in August and September with six-cities in the US, Canada and Mexico. 

The tour maintains an upgraded in-the-round stage design by creative director/production designer Dan Braun, which relocates the coveted  audience ‘snake pit’ to the centre of a ring-shaped stage surrounded by eight towers, each  topped by LED video cyl

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04 June 2024

UK - TiMax has welcomed Dan Roncoroni to the leadership team in the newly created role of product manager for TiMax.

For over 10 years, Dan has established his presence as a freelance AV consultant specialising in multi-channel, object-based audio design. As product manager for TiMax, Dan will help expand the presence of TiMax across the broad spectrum of performance, presentation and experiential markets.

The new role of product manager progresses the work evolved by TiMax directors Robin Whittaker and Dave Haydon, respectively product director and commercial director, following the move of TiMax into the Focusrite Group late last year. 

Dan said, “I’m looking forward to working with a set of products that has had such an impact on what I do. I’ve worked with every spatial audio product on the market, but TiMax has been my go-to solut

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04 June 2024

UK - Lighting rental company Lite Alternative has consolidated its commitment to Kinesys automation technology with the recent purchase of 15 x Apex half ton hoists and a Mentor 4 controller.

Lite Alt is one of a number of UK customers transitioning from their existing Elevation systems, choosing to continue investing in Kinesys for their future automation needs. Lite Alt’s new Apex system has already been used on tour with the Arctic Monkeys and Niall Horan.

Both productions were designed by Lite Alt’s Paul Normandale who put automation at the heart of the show visuals. Paul is known for his innovative show designs and for thinking out of the box when creating lively and interesting performance environments.

Having invested in Kinesys for at least the last 15 years with the Elevation series, both Paul and Lite Alt’s technical and autom

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04 June 2024

USA - Christie Lites has announced the appointment of Mark Ravenhill as its new client ambassador. In this new role, Mark will focus on fostering strong client relationships by understanding their unique needs and challenges. To that end, he will collaborate with clients and the Christie Lites rep team to ensure value and service at every point of contact.

Huntly Christie, CEO of Christie Lites, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Mark to the company’s leadership team. His considerable experience and insightful understanding of the entertainment lighting industry, along with the huge respect so many lighting professionals have for him, make him the ideal ambassador for our brand. Mark's arrival also signifies yet another important step in our commitment to being at the forefront of service and creative problem solving in our industry.”

During h

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04 June 2024

USA - Hosted by Reba McEntire, the 59th Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards featured a series of performances, including duets between country artists and some of today’s most influential pop stars, as well as celebrated artists like Lainey Wilson, who was named Entertainer of the Year.

With the support of Shure’s Axient Digital Wireless Microphone System and PSM 1000 In-Ear Personal Monitoring System, the ACM Awards’ expert audio team ensured that every note was heard by the audience and those watching the live broadcast on Amazon. The quality audio performance was made possible thanks to the group of industry professionals running the show, the audio equipment supplied by ATK, and the antenna infrastructure and coordination managed by Soundtronics. The Radio Frequency (RF) coordinator for the event, Steve Vaughn, weighed in on the impact Shure gear

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04 June 2024

USA - The success of Luke Combs continues as he follows his late-2023 European dates with a string of shows across the USA, scheduled to run through to October 2024.

The loudspeaker technology supporting the tour also continues unchanged, with SES of Mocksville NC providing a stadium-filling Outline system, combining the flagship GTO enclosures with GTO-LOW, Mantas 28, GTO C-12, LAB21-HS subs and LIPF-082s.

As last year, the venues require 220-degree coverage due to the size of the crowds and so the sound system is deployed as a main left / right with LL/RR arrays and then out-fill LLL / RRR arrays beyond them to deliver the required horizontal and vertical dispersion. FOH system control is again via two Outline Newton FPGA processors.

One of the few changes to the current part of the tour is the Saturday support acts and that has provided th

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04 June 2024

UK - The Grade II-listed Winter Gardens Blackpool has a proud heritage dating back to 1878. As a driving force in the regional economy of the North West of England, the venue hosts a diverse range of events in its various spaces. These include concerts, theatre productions, conferences, exhibitions, weddings, dance competitions, and international matchplay darts.

This varied programme necessitates versatile and flexible technical provisions. Recently, the Winter Gardens Blackpool team, in consultation with supplier ArranPaul, reviewed its audio systems to enhance and future-proof its inventory. As a result, they chose two HK Audio systems.

Venue Technician Allen Hendley explains: “We needed replacements for systems that were no longer meeting our needs. The new systems had to deliver high-quality audio and be powerful and portable enough to suit va

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04 June 2024

USA - Wharfedale Pro, will be returning to the Las Vegas Convention Centre this June for the 2024 edition of InfoComm. Exhibiting with North American distributor, AVL Media Group, Wharfedale Pro are leveraging the opportunity to run a full schedule of audio demos across the entirety of the InfoComm week.

“There’s no better way to experience our new products than with ‘real-life’ audio demos,” says Nick Williams, global sales director at Wharfedale Pro. “That’s why we’re excited to welcome our clients and business partners to our dedicated demo room to showcase a wide range of our solutions, from our WLA-1 Hybrid Curvature Array to our versatile and hard-working Typhon and T-Sub-AX system.”

Demonstrations will take place multiple times daily from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 June.

In recent months, Wharfedale Pro has shared variou

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04 June 2024

South Africa - Afrikaans is Groot (AIG) continues to celebrate Afrikaans music. The production, held at Time Square in Pretoria at the close of 2023 pulled out all the stops incorporating two DiGiCo Quantum 338, a Quantum 225 and an SD10 into the audio set up.

Ian Vos, technical director of Africaans is Groot, serves as the technical director at Coleske Group, a subsidiary of Warner Music Africa, ultimately owned by Warner Music Group in the United States. He oversees all technical aspects of the show, from design to execution, including budgeting.

“The technical team are amazing,” says Vos. “Coming to the Sun Arena improved the show as we had hit a bit of a ceiling, literally! In our previous church auditorium the ceiling couldn’t handle any more rigging, we never expected it to get this big. If you look at Afrikaans as a language and the de

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04 June 2024

New Zealand - Cincinnati rock band The National’s touring lighting crew appreciated using a mix of Robe BMFL Blade and Spiider wash beam moving lights for their show at Auckland, New Zealand’s Spark Arena venue, for which equipment was supplied by rental company NW Group / Oceania and used to great effect to realise a touring version of Michael Brown’s production lighting design.

The National played the Australia and New Zealand leg of their ongoing world tour in February and March in a show that embraces new material from two albums including the latest Laugh Track and continues through 2024.

The production is being co-ordinated on the road by production manager Stuart Trenold and includes lighting and video crew chief Emil Hojmark from Denmark and lighting director Matt Greer from Virginia, USA who is operating lighting on the road.<

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04 June 2024

USA - Linea Research and Optimal Audio have announced the appointment of Jeff Miranda as US national sales manager.

Having previously served as national sales manager for both brands with Allied ProTech, their former US distributor, Miranda comments, “This is an exciting move as it will allow me to focus more closely on Linea Research and Optimal Audio, and the solutions they offer. We have a well-established dealer base managed by our existing network of independent sales representatives, and with new products recently introduced there’s a lot to build upon.”

With both brands being part of the Audio Reproduction division of Focusrite Group, managing director, Dom Harter, explains, “Bringing Jeff on board allows him to continue his valuable work with both brands, ensuring continuity in our relationships and setting them up for continued growt

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04 June 2024

Carbon Footprint - In 2021, Coldplay announced a 12-point plan to cut the carbon footprint of touring by 50%. Now, they've given an update on their progress, saying the first two years of their Music of the Spheres tour saw a 59% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with their previous world tour.

They have used things like a dancefloor that generates electricity when fans jump up and down and have cut down on air travel. They have also revealed that seven million saplings have been planted as part of a commitment to grow a tree for every fan attending the shows.

"As a band, and as an industry, we’re a long way from where we need to be on this," they said in a statement. "But we’re grateful for everyone’s help so far, and we salute everyone who’s making efforts to push things in the right direction."

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