Details

31 October 2024

France - Built in 1909, the Palais de l'Europe, an architectural jewel of the Belle Époque in the town of Menton on the French Riviera, regularly hosts exhibitions, highlighting works by local, national and international artists. These exhibitions are complemented by a varied programme of cultural and associated events in the 700-seat Italian-style Francis Palmero Theatre.

Working in such a historic and ornate building places additional demands on sound system designers in their quest to achieve clear, intelligible sound with consistent coverage across the audience, with additional consideration required for both visual aesthetics and point loads for mounting.

So, when the theatre approached Monaco-based events and installation AV technology specialists SES to propose a new sound system, project manager Didier Maddalon and AV technician Ronan Salier

Details

31 October 2024

USA - Willis Underhill, Diamond Rio’s Tennessee-based lighting designer, creates a party atmosphere for the band’s live shows, aided by a ChamSys MagicQ MQ250M Stadium Console.

The ChamSys MagicQ MQ250M (supplied by CLD Corp), which Underhill takes with him on the road, made it easy to busk portions of his show. “This console allows me to add busking to a cue show seamlessly,” he said. “I am using Execute Screens and Changing Banks on the fly, which is really great.”

At the start of a tour, Underhill finds that his MagicQ MQ250M aids him immensely when programming shows. “ChamSys makes importing patch information and cue times easy with minimal effort,” he said. “Also, the Timeline feature provides me with a simple way to fine-tune cue timing. Helping me create greater depth within the programming of the MQ tracks.”

At the

Details

31 October 2024

UK - One of the North’s oldest buildings, Morecambe Winter Gardens was once the centrepiece of Morecambe’s illustrious entertainment scene. Opened in 1897 as a landmark of British architecture, it welcomed performances from The Who, Vera Lynn and many more, but was partly demolished in the early 1980s, leaving only the Victoria Pavillion Theatre standing.

Since 2006, the 'Friends of the Winter Gardens' trust has worked tirelessly to revive this Grade II listed building. In 2024, their efforts took a giant leap forward with the launch of a £2.7m restoration project, funded by a grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A critical part of the restoration involved installing a state-of-the-art sound system, one that could support the current events programme and expand as the venue grows. For this, KV2 Audio was chosen to play a key role in t

Details

31 October 2024

USA - Order of the Ace, a new piano/cocktail lounge in Baltimore, Maryland offers customers an opportunity ‘to slip into a space of music and mystique’. To improve the experience, the lounge has decided to upgrade their audio system to premium 1 Sound loudspeakers.

The lounge was looking for speakers that could provide both clarity to complement their musicians, and compactness in terms of aesthetics. With 1 Sound’s Cannon series, the cocktail bar achieved high-fidelity audio supporting their live musicians and the ambiance they sought to achieve.

For this project, the speakers were installed by Dynamic Sound Level, which was introduced to 1 Sound loudspeakers after implementing them on a previous Atlas project, Oregon Grille. Mike Denoe, director of Dynamic Sound Level, comments: “I can’t say enough how pleased I am as well as the owners,

Details

31 October 2024

USA - Brett Ainslie mixes films, commercials, sporting events, and reality TV series in Manhattan and its surrounding environs. Media brands that have employed his services include ABC, Bravo, Discovery, Disney, ESPN, Food Network, HBO, and the streaming platform Twitch.

For ensuring his clients the utmost in sonic integrity, his personal kit consists exclusively of Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid Wireless – in particular, SRc dual-channel slot-mount receivers paired with SMQV transmitters. When he needs to maximise reception, these are supported by SNA600a dipole antennas.

“The RF environment in New York City is very difficult at the best of times,” explains Ainslie. “Then, when productions come to New York, they often want to shoot in the busiest RF areas like Times Square. I’ve used exclusively the Digital Hybrid stuff for at least the last

Details

31 October 2024

USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has selected AudioPros, LLC, as its manufacturer’s representative to serve the Northeast territory. AudioPros currently represents EAW throughout New England and Western NY and has now expanded to Metro New York.

“EAW is constantly innovating and bringing to market high-quality solutions that meet the needs of clients throughout the professional audio community,” says Alex Shillo, AudioPros principal.

“For over 40 years, EAW has been a leading manufacturer of speakers in our own backyard,” says Andrew Shillo. “EAW’s innovative approach to professional sound reinforcement has made them an industry leader worldwide. EAW’s passion and drive aligns with our own philosophies, we are excited for the opportunity to provide our services to new dealers.”

Details

31 October 2024

World - The Sharpy X Frame hybrid fixture – housed in a lightweight, compact design – features a powerful 550W arc lamp for extreme brightness and vivid, uniform colours.

Giovanni Zucchinali, Claypaky project support, says: “Hybrid floodlights were, and still are, a kind of fixture where LED light sources have not yet matched the performance of arc lamps. When we decided to develop this model, we chose to enhance an arc lamp-powered fixture with all the most advanced technologies our industry could offer in terms of optical features, effects, colour production and beam shaping.”

Alberico D'Amato, Claypaky's commercial director, says: "The Sharpy X Frame combines the features of a spotlight with a powerful, uniform beam, a beam moving light with an ultra-focused penetrating beam, a versatile, precise beam shaper and, when needed, a wash light.

Details

30 October 2024

USA - Sphere Entertainment Co has announced the return of the Sphere XO Student Design Challenge and this year’s theme: Earth Day. In its second year, more than 100,000 Clark County-based students will again be invited to create art for the Exosphere as part of the collaboration between Sphere, the Clark County School District (CCSD) and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The winning students’ art will debut on the Exosphere on Earth Day - 22 April 2025.

The Second Annual Design Challenge comes on the heels of the inaugural Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, which was centred on the Fourth of July and culminated with a community event to unveil the winning students’ art. The Earth Day theme for this year’s challenge will encourage students to think creatively about the intersection of art, technology, and planet Earth.

“We are proud o

Details

30 October 2024

Malaysia - Void Acoustics, a leading innovator in cutting-edge audio solutions, has partnered with Motifv8 Sdn Bhd as its exclusive distributor for Malaysia.

Motifv8 Sdn Bhd is a specialist team of audio and lighting experts delivering AV solutions to Malaysia's market. Founded in 2016, the company has completed several high-profile projects in premium hospitality – a growing sector in Malaysia.

Working across a wide range of sectors, Motifv8’s clients include places of worship, stadiums, entertainment, education and many more.

Alex Skan, managing director at Void Acoustics, said: "We’re excited to officially appoint Motifv8 Sdn Bhd as Void’s exclusive distributor in Malaysia. Motifv8 has built an excellent reputation, and we are confident that their team will drive Void’s solution out into this dynamic market.”

Fedrick Lu

Details

30 October 2024

Latvia - The Riga Circus, a historic landmark and the oldest fixed circus venue in Europe, recently underwent a transformative renovation that aimed to preserve its heritage whilst introducing modern amenities, notably an innovative audio system by Italian manufacturer K-array.

The project, led by local integrators RJK and supported by technology distributor Tet A Tek and architectural firm NRJA, aimed to create a versatile, energy-efficient space that could accommodate various performances.

Two audio systems were installed to meet the venue's specific needs: a 360-degree coverage system and a portable system, using K-array's lightweight Mugello KH2 loudspeakers. “The modernised Riga Circus is a multi-purpose space and needed versatile audio support,” explains Rudolfs Busmanis at Tet A Tek. “The portable system allows for easy reconfiguration d

Details

30 October 2024

Bulgaria - The Black Sea coastal city of Burgas attracts holidaymakers who want to relax and unwind in nature with easy access to the comfort and cultural offers of a big city.

Located just metres from the shoreline on Burgas central beach is the Neptune Beach Bar and Restaurant, originally built in the Soviet era and recently renovated into a destination nightspot for locals and visitors alike.

Mediterranean, European and authentic cuisines are on offer alongside fine wines from around the world, mature whiskeys and classic cocktails. A house band, DJ and sets from visiting artists create a party vibe in this two-storey, 120-seat venue.

As part of the renovation, new owners approached Burgas-based production and AV technology specialists Pro Audio Sound and Communications to design a new sound system.

“With top class musicians perf

Details

30 October 2024

The Netherlands - De Bosuil is a buzzing 850-capacity live music venue in Weert, southeastern Netherlands, AKA ‘The Gateway to Limburg’ due to its close proximity to the Belgian border. It has been voted the greenest city in the Netherlands.

The venue has recently received a new Robe moving light package – 16 x Paintes, 12 x LEDBeam 350s plus eight LEDBeam 150s – which is a substantial upgrade to their previous system of older Robe moving lights fixtures. These are all still working 11 years later but needed upgrading to newer tech to satisfy the string of local and international artists and lighting designers frequenting this popular venue.

Head of lighting Bart Mesman is a freelancer who has worked at De Bosuil for over 15 years, so he knows the venue inside out, and has enjoyed numerous memorable moments along the way.

De Bosuil it

Details

30 October 2024

Denmark - The Danish Film Institute (DFI) building, Filmhuset, is located in Gothersgade, in the heart of Copenhagen. Its roof-top benefits from picturesque, panoramic views of the city.

From concept to realisation, the process of transforming this under-utilised space into a 1700m2 terrace has been a long journey, but now a Leyard Luminate Ultra Series 1.5 mm LED screen forms the cinematic centrepiece of a complete renovation, featuring a bar, eatery, exhibition space, children’s play area and even two outdoor Videotheques, covered booths for watching movies on large touchscreens.

DFI chose the Leyard Luminate Ultra 1.5 as their main cinema screen due to its suitability for outdoor use, with an IP66 weatherproof rating, dual power supply, and ultra-wide viewing angle, matching their specifications.

The LED wall measures 6.5m wide by 2.5m h

Details

30 October 2024

UK - Over the years, UK-based audio engineer Jamie Tinsley has made the transition from studios to live-system technician to monitor mixing to front of house. They’re different worlds, he concedes, but that doesn’t mean they need to sound differently.

After studio work with artists like Florence and the Machine at Antenna Studios in London, he hit the road as a system tech, touring with the likes of Sam Smith, Duran Duran, and Kylie Minogue. He also mixed monitors for Will Young, Two Door Cinema Club, Rag’n’Bone Man, and Rudimental before landing in the FOH seat for the two-time Grammy Award winner Fred Again, who wraps up the US leg of his 2024 tour in October.

What’s made a difference on this tour, and what’s enabled Tinsley to get closer to bringing the studio on stage, has been the addition of the award-winning Fourier Audio transform

Details

30 October 2024

UK - Nixer Pro Audio has announced the launch of two new products – the PD Ravenna and the RL Series – both powered by Merging Technologies' ZMAN card. These solutions are set to expand Nixer’s footprint in the broadcast, live, and installation markets by offering advanced monitoring capabilities across multiple Audio-over-IP (AoIP) standards, including Dante, Ravenna, AES67, and SMPTE ST 2110.  

The PD Ravenna is a compact, portable audio monitoring unit designed specifically for demanding broadcast control rooms and outside broadcast (OB) production vehicles. Capable of monitoring up to 64 Ravenna/AES67/ST 2110 channels, this device is tailored to meet the needs of professional sound engineers who require reliable and rapid audio confidence checking in fast-paced environments.  

"Our goal was to provide a flexible, easy-to-use tool for en

Details

30 October 2024

Finland - A new addition to the Finnish health and wellbeing scene, XO Centre is a versatile sports and fitness hub in Kerava, offering everything from personal training to padel courts, a traditional gym, group exercise, relaxation floating, massage and a restaurant and cafe. A space to take care of both body and mind, Genelec’s Smart IP networked loudspeakers are helping to motivate members in all areas of the facility.

Finnish integration company Praecom Oy was responsible for designing XO Center’s entire AV platform. “The solution covers different zones, including the padel courts, gym, spa, and individual class spaces, all of which required different audio content at different playback levels,” explains Mika Mäkelä, account director at Praecom. “Genelec is a company renowned for excellence and sonic quality – so we knew that their loudspea

Details

30 October 2024

China - Singer 2024 is the final season of the hit Chinese singing show, formally known as I am a Singer. Returning after a four-year hiatus, the series adopted a live broadcast format for the final season to promote clean, un-processed performances from the contestants.

Throughout the competition all vocal performances were given live and free from any post-production editing or live vocal adjustments, such as auto-tune. A DiGiCo Quantum 852 was chosen as the main stage console, with two SD7s deployed for broadcast and stage-monitoring. Thanks to the clarity of DiGiCo’s characteristic clean sound, the natural quality of the singers’ voices could be heard, without enhancement, enabling the audience to truly appreciate each performance.

Unlike traditional talent shows, where unknown singers compete for a prize, gaining experience

Details

30 October 2024

Europe - Sommer Cable’s new HDMI2.1 cable offers maximum robustness and optimally protects its sensitive inner workings from potential damage. The armoured structure of the cable ensures a high load capacity and allows a tensile strength of up to 80 kg. The HDMI connectors with their robust housings also offer maximum stability and can withstand a tensile force of up to 65 kg. Despite this extremely robust construction, the cable is surprisingly slim at just 5.8 mm and can be laid flexibly with a minimum bending radius of just 20 mm.

Thanks to the integrated AOC technology (Active Optical Cable), the transmission of high-speed content is based on innovative fibre optic technology, achieving an impressive transmission distance of up to 100 meters without any loss of signal quality - ideal for large home cinemas or professional installations (art. HI-HI48) t

Details

30 October 2024

Poland - The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music, one of Poland's most prestigious cultural and educational institutions, has upgraded its auditorium's lighting system with energy-efficient solutions from Prolights.

Show Design, Prolights distributor in Poland, oversaw the installation, replacing the outdated halogen fixtures with a fully modern Prolights LED setup. The new system includes Astra Profile400, Astra Wash19Pix, EclProfile FWVW, EclPendant JrFC, and EclPendant SFC, delivering uniform, high-quality lighting.

With advanced features like adjustable colour temperature and dynamic gobo projection, the system works for both institutional events and artistic performances. “The versatility and reliability of Prolights products allow the academy to adapt to the diverse needs of its events, from concerts and performances to formal presentations,

Details

29 October 2024

Canada - GLP has appointed DataVisual Marketing as its new Canadian distributor. The move was formally announced at the recent CITT conference and trade show in Saskatoon.

To underpin this move, DataVisual recently appointed Rob Deslauriers as its first vice-president of strategic growth. With a sales background in rental staging and concert touring spanning more than three decades, he says: “I’ve been a part of just about every major entertainment lighting manufacturer throughout my career.

“From my perspective GLP is completely in line with our visual offerings. Although everything today is about ‘visual’ rather than pure lighting, this is the first company we’ve represented from a lighting background.

“What excites me about GLP is their commitment to quality and some of the uniqueness of their products, which is paramount in