UK / China - J&C Joel had good reason to celebrate Chinese New Year last month as they won the prestigious 48 Group Club (The Ice Breakers) UK Exporter of the Year award at the annual Chinese New Year Dinner and Chinese Business Awards. The event at London's Dorchester Hotel incorporates a series of awards for businesses that have made outstanding contributions to developing and maintaining Sino-UK business relations, bilateral trade and cultural links.
Keynote speakers included Lord Mandelson, Secretary of state for business, innovation and skills. Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and leading business CEOs. The 48 Group Club was formed in the early 1950's when the founders were the first westerners to break the international trade embargo on Ch
Belgium - ADB Lighting has announced the appointment of Acoustic and Lighting System, which has offices in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, as its new distributor for Malaysia and Brunei.
The company, which is headed by CEO Yeo Kim San, executive director Tai Quek Kee, senior general manager Allen Chan and Eugene Yeo, assistant business development manager, is one of the region's leading suppliers of audio visual, lighting and staging equipment, representing over 30 international brands.
Among its key installations are the City Hall Theatre, Kuala Lumpur, the Johore Convention Centre, and the Convention Centres in Kebudayaan, Kuching, Seremban and Sabah.
Eugene Yeo comments: "The appointment of Acoustic and Lighting System by ADB is a very good fit for the brand, as it brings together ADB's strong track record in Asia, with references such as the Malaysian National The
UK - Stage Electrics is sponsoring Zero 88's brand manager, Claire House, who is taking part in the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday 7 March. Claire is one of a group of industry professionals that have come together as 'Team PSA' to run the 13.1 miles of this challenge, on behalf of Production Services Association (PSA) in aid of their Welfare and Benevolent Fund.
This is the first year that Stage Electrics has sponsored the PSA and is delighted that Team PSA are raising money for such an important and beneficial charity. The Charity was first registered in April 2000, on behalf of people who work in the UK Entertainment and Production Industry. The charity is able to offer support in many ways, such as, providing small grants for emergency relief and support towards re-training when an unexpected injury, or illness, prevents an individual from working, or forces an unplanned chang
USA - With a long history of providing sound for some of the most high profile public figures in the world, Tennessee Concert Sound in Brownsville, Tennessee has been turning to AKG for all of their live performance needs for over 25 years. This past December, the professional sound company, led by Stewart Tritt, turned to AKG yet again in selecting a podium microphone with CK-80 capsule for Condoleezza Rice's speech at the Carl Perkins Civic Centre.
The former Secretary of State was the keynote speaker for Union University's Annual Scholarship banquet; a yearly event that consistently attracts leading international diplomats such as former President George Bush, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Soviet Premiere Mikhail Gorbachev. For the past 12 years, Tennessee Concert Sound has handled sound reinforcement and production management for each event, and they hav
China - Robe DigitalSpots continue to be specified into new and different venues, and CD Soho is no exception - the recently launched nightspot in downtown Shanghai, is located on the Heng Shan Road, right at the heart of the City's busy clubbing and social hub.
It's young crowd enjoy a mix of cocktails, rock and hip hop music in a large modish environment designed by Mr Chen Gang, complete with a large central bar surrounded by a series of stylish white fluted scenic columns.
Twelve Robe DigitalSpot 3000DTs were specified by technical manager Mr Ah Gang to create special projections onto the pillars and around the room, allowing a quick transformation of the room's dynamics and mood according to the music, time of night and accompanying vibe.
Soho's owners, the CD company, wanted to create something completely different, resulting in highly visual space that can change colo
Germany - PUR's new album Wünsche (Wishes) was released in September and gave its name to the band's November/December arena tour. PUR front man, Hartmut Engler, and his band performed in 12 large venues, with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 20,000. Sirius Showequipment, based in Niederdorfelden near Frankfurt, was the technical event service partner for rigging, sound and lighting, with PA and system engineer Frank Müller responsible for local project management. Patrick Eckerlin and Dirk Happel used DiGiCo SD7 consoles to provide the mix for both front of house and monitors.
For more than 25 years, PUR have been well known for their live performances and place complete trust in the comprehensive planning and production service that Sirius provides for their tours. For the Wünsche tour, PA and system engineers Frank Müller and Klaus 'Bob' Bolender worked wit
UK - Last month, Dion Davie, head of the British agency of Kling & Freitag SoundSystems, organised the first K&F workshop at the Liverpool Institute Performing Arts. The workshop took place in the Paul McCartney Theatre and technology students from LIPA were invited.
Lecturer David Ludz was in charge of the technical support for Kling & Freitag and was assisted actively by the VME with a substantial spread of K&F equipment plus the new Nomos XLC.
The workshop lasted nearly seven hours and included hands-on sessions. LIPA lecturer Chris Layton confirmed that the workshop has been received enthusiastically by the participants and the organizers, and that further similar workshops would be staged in the future.
USA - Meyer Sound has announced the first installation of a Meyer Sound Cinema Experience system in two US-based commercial theatres, located in Gulf Breeze and Pace, Fla. Both systems, at The Breeze and The Ridge Cinemas, will be used for the first time during the opening of Alice in Wonderland this week.
"Until now, cinema owners and audiences have accepted mediocre audio even as they demanded exceptional visuals," says Brian Smith of Advanced Media Design Systems, which installed the cinema system. "Not only was the retrofit relatively painless but the results take cinema sound to a whole new level. Audiences will definitely now have a superior sound experience that will bring them back to the movies."
Based on the Acheron screen channel loudspeakers, the Meyer Sound Cinema Experience system that was installed by Advanced Media Design Systems is p
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Germany - Yamaha's new M7CL-48ES digital console, MY8-SDI-ED interface card and versatile TLF loudspeaker technology will be showcased at Prolight&Sound this month.
The latest M7CL replaces the 48 internal mic pre-amps with two EtherSound ports, keeping the MY card slots free for other uses such as multitrack recording, the Dante communication protocol or the use of Waves effects plug ins. A third port also allows permanent connection of the console to a computer while using EtherSound in 'ring' mode.
To make setup quick and easy, the M7CL-48ES auto-configures its connection to the Yamaha SB168-ES stage box and it features the updated V3 software, recently introduced for all M7CL consoles.
Another new product on show at Frankfurt is the MY8-SDI-ED interface card, which offers from eight to 64 I/O channels (depending on the console and number of cards used) of HD-SDI embedded
Germany - Adam Audio has teamed up with Raumfeld, the multi room specialists to launch a high performance wireless speaker system.
The new Speaker M based on Adam's successful and critically acclaimed A-series monitor systems, has been co-developed with Raumfeld to offer the same sound quality in a convenient and versatile wireless format.
The Speaker M is equipped with Adam's new X-ART tweeter, and boasts a frequency response up to 50 kHz, efficiency of 96 dB/W/m and a higher maximum sound pressure level. Adam's 5.5 inch Rohacell subwoofer is employed in the low frequency range.
Raumfeld's wireless system includes a user-friendly touch screen remote, standards-based music server and high-quality WLAN-speakers. Existing equipment can easily be integrated. To ensure absolutely synchronous reproduction Raumfeld has developed a technology for standard WLAN porticos, which is pa
Taiwan - GlacialLight, a division of GlacialTech is exhibiting at the Taiwan International Lighting Show (TILS) to be held at the Taipei World Trade Centre from 12 to 15 March, 2010.
GlacialLight products on display will include many of the latest LED Lighting solutions, from torches, to lamp lights as well as many bulbs, LED tube and lightbar display lights to streetlight and spotlight solutions.
The focus of the Expo will be to introduce to prospective customers, media and interested parties the many new power saving devices and green technologies that have developed over the past year in the LED industry under the GlacialLight umbrella.
In particular, says the company, products of interest will be power saving and dimming function products which incorporate GlacialLight's special own drivers for LED tubes, which alleviate the need for secondary drivers, reducing costs and
UAE - Renkus-Heinz has appointed Norbert Bau as its sales representative for the Middle East, with immediate effect.
Based in Dubai, Norbert Bau has worked closely with Renkus-Heinz for the past four years as part of its Middle East distribution network. He has now joined the company to help build on the strong growth for Renkus-Heinz in the region.
Prior to working with the Renkus-Heinz brand, Bau had spent some six years in South East Asia and the Middle East running the broadcast section of Klotz Digital Asia, building high level contacts in the region.
Bau comments: "We have been working together for nearly four years and the relationship became stronger and closer with the success of the Iconyx product line in many very prestigious locations including major airports and auditoriums.
"At the end of the day we found there is a fantastic chemistry between us an
Germany - Elation Professional has announced the lineup of lighting fixtures it will exhibit at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt this month. One definite trend that's emerged: the company is addressing the growing demand for fixtures that are more streamlined and energy-efficient, yet deliver output comparable or superior to larger, power-thirsty units of the past.
Among the fixtures Elation will be displaying at PLS are the Design Spot LED, E Spot LED and Platinum Spot 5R -- the first two powered by LED light sources, and the third featuring Philips MSD Platinum 5R Lamp Technology. "All three of these products represent exciting technological breakthroughs. They provide the power and brightness typically associated with a much larger fixture in an amazingly small and energy-efficient package," said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional.
Belgium - Distributor, M-Pro BVBA, has announced an expansion of the brands it exclusively represents and the appointment of new sales staff.
M-Pro managing director, Mario Clabots comments: "Many of the best business brains will tell you that a recession is the best time to invest. To be honest it wasn't the recession that affected our timing, but the opportunity of excellent brands and people that arise as our business grows. Our portfolio today enables us to offer a more complete range of solutions for pro-audio, AV and commercial install."
M-PRO was started by Clabots in 2004 and exclusively represents Astatic, Audica Professional, Community, DécoUS, InOut, MTSi, Quad Industrial and in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (BeNeLux) and APB Dynasonics, Australian Monitor, Symetrix, Xilica in Belgium and Luxembourg (BeLux).
UK - Digital imaging company, Crystal CG has announced the official launch of its international operations, Crystal CG International. Headquartered in London, the company will combine its established operations in China with its new creative management team to grow the business and to deliver its 3D imaging and animation services to the European market for projects including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The new European team is led by Gilles Albaredes, former Autodesk vice president of sales for EMEA and chief marketing officer at Lectra, the IT provider for the fashion industry. Albaredes is the managing director and will work alongside former International Olympic Committee marketing director and strategic advisor to the sport and entertainment industry, Michael Payne, who will serve as Crystal CG's non-executive chairman.
UK - Essential Lighting has announced the appointment of two new lighting designers to its full service division. Under the leadersnhip of the head of full service, John McEvoy, new designers Tanya Noble and Adam Power will be working alongside senior designer, Neil Harvey, to deliver lighting projects for Essential's clients.
Tanya Noble started her career working for PRG in 2002. Following a spell as a moving light technician, she went freelance, later taking a position with production company Banana Split, where she managed and designed the lighting for a range of projects.
Adam Power has been working for Essential for three years, developing his technical and design knowledge working onsite across a range of events, acquiring experience and respect along the way.
Martin Lubach, Essential's managing director, commented, "We are delighted that our policy of looking to
UK - Ian Staddon has just weeks to go before he lines up on London's Blackheath with more than 30,000 others to run all 26 miles and 385 yards of the Virgin London Marathon. Better known for running Studer's global sales team, Ian Staddon is making his second attempt at the distance and is hoping to raise a pile of money for his charity, Alstrom Syndrome UK.
"Childhood blindness, hearing loss, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes type two, obesity and many other health problems are caused by this horrible disease," says Staddon. "Providing support and advice to those who have to live with this illness, Alstrom Syndrome UK (ASUK) is a small family-run charity which has been fantastically helpful to my own family and our wonderful daughter Chloe.
"Chloe lost her battle to Alstrom Syndrome last year, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, just after her 16th birt
USA - Co-headliners Three Days Grace (3DG) and Breaking Benjamin are back on tour, filling arenas from Peoria to Pensacola reinforced by a Meyer Sound Milo line array loudspeaker system.
"There's been nothing but positive vibes using Meyer since we started back in 2007," Chris Zakoor, 3DG's FOH engineer says. "Both Milo and Mica are powerful, great-sounding rock boxes with lots of headroom for vocals - and plenty of edge if you want it."
The Meyer Sound system is at the core of a complete touring package supplied by Rainbow Production Services of Atkinson, N.H. It centres around main hangs of 14 Milo and two Milo 120 line array loudspeakers per side, with visceral low frequency support from 22 700-HP subwoofers. The balance of the system comprises 16 Mica and 12 M2D line array loudspeakers for out- and side-fill respectively, plus four UPA-1P loudspeakers f
UK - Sean Pagel from Production Services Ireland (PSI) has become the first person in Northern Ireland to attain the Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA)'s National Rigging Certificate (NRC) Level 3 'rigging supervisor' level.
Pagel, a director of the Belfast based lighting rental and sales company, says: "With health & safety issues increasingly topping all rigging agendas, and our commitment to offering clients the very best and highest quality services, industry driven and recognised qualifications like this are vitally important."
PLASA's National Rigging Certificate demonstrates that individuals have reached a professional standard within their chosen rigging discipline. The NRC is not yet a compulsory scheme, but increasingly major UK venues are requiring it for riggers working in their spaces. PSI undertakes a lot of rigging projects in both Irela
Portugal - Acoustic solutions manufacturer Vicoustic has announced a company expansion into three separate business divisions, Music & Broadcast, Hi-Fi & Home Cinema and Industrial, with immediate effect.
The company's extensive range of wood, foam and fabric-covered acoustic solutions includes its flagship Wave Wood panel, the innovative Vari Panel, portable acoustic solutions such as Flexi Screen Lite, Flexi Wall and Flexi Kick Drum, plus a growing number of isolation products for use in construction projects and workplace noise reduction. The creation of separate company divisions will enable the development of products that focus more specifically on the different needs of each particular market sector.
Cesar Carapinha, Vicoustic's CEO comments: "Over the past year we have seen a growing demand for products within the home cinema market, often linked to interior desig
UK - Following the positive response received by Christie for the MicroTiles EMEA product launch at Amsterdam's ISE2010 exhibition in February, the company reports the first sales of MicroTiles to the event staging community.
Just a week after ISE2010, Russian company Big Screen Service put in an order for 108 MicroTiles. Eugene Marinichev, BSS's technical director, explains, "Our industry relies on products and display solutions that can be easily set-up, deliver impact, and broken down quickly to be shipped on to the next job. Our business model, costs and profits are directly affected by this. So when a solution like MicroTiles comes along, we see a great opportunity. Here is a solution that has all these characteristics and is ultimately reconfigurable permitting it to be used again and again in fresh and exciting ways."