UK - East London art deco venue Troxy unveiled a substantial restoration project ahead of its 88th birthday on 11 September.
The venue, which reopens this month with a series of events, including a gig with ska band The Specials on 25 September, has completed the first stages of an ambitious transformation project. The team has been working for over 12 months, to create a new stage, enabling larger productions, restored the foyer and entrance area and created new facilities for visitors to the venue.
The project design has been led by historic building specialists Ian Chalk Architects with on site management by M Bradbrook Electrical Services. The owners of Troxy have invested heavily in the refurbishment with significant support from Arts Council England. The works ha

UAE - AO Drones, part of the AO Creative stable of companies, launched a 600-strong fleet of drones inside Dubai’s 150m-high landmark Frame structure, for a campaign to announce the July unveiling of the UAE’s first Nike Jordan Concept store.
The event was specifically designed to be filmed for a Nike Jordan digital and social campaign, with the 600 AO drones programmed to generate a four layered, three-dimensional, rotating facsimile of the Jordan ‘Jumpman’ logo. The logo then morphed into a fully scannable 3D QR code, enabling potential customers to discover more about the store.
Owing to COVID restrictions in Dubai, the client could not make the show public, so the activation was designed to be filmed from the get-go.
“The huge Dubai Frame provided a spectacular illuminated border for the Jumpman logo and QR Code,” says Marco Niedermeier, show prod

UK - For the first time in two years, The Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) was able to honour its annual awards winners at a physical ceremony which was held on 12 September at The University of Greenwich.
The Queen’s Gambit scooped the Excellence in Sound for a Television Drama accolade and Ronnie’s: Ronnie Scott and his World- Famous Jazz Club received Excellence in Sound for a Factual Film. Excellence in a Production Audio Product went to Sound Devices CL 16 Control Surface and Excellence in a Post-Production Audio Product was awarded to Kraken: Dialogue Editor's Toolkit 1.2.
Two new AMPS fellowships were awarded to supervising sound editor Catherine Hodgson and to Rob Walker, the former chair of AMPS (2018-2021). Fellowships are bestowed in recognition of outstanding achievement in motion picture sound and individual endeavours to work f

USA - New Yorkers gathered in Central Park on 21 August to celebrate the city's comeback from COVID-19 with one of the most diverse and star-studded line-ups ever assembled on one stage entertaining beneath a complement of Elation IP-rated luminaires.
Organised by NYC in partnership with music producer Clive Davis and Live Nation, the show offered a potpourri of genres from LL Cool J to Barry Manilow. Scheduled to be headlined by Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Elvis Costello and others, the concert was stopped a little more than halfway into a planned five-hour show due to lightning storms tied to approaching Hurricane Henri. Still, performers like Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J, Andrea Bocelli, Earth Wind & Fire, Kane Brown, Journey and Barry Manilow, among others, were able to take the stage.
Despite the weather, the show was a huge succ

UK - Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems has announced the recruitment of Chris Beardwell to the post of video and lighting sales.
His role will be to develop existing and new relationships with manufacturers, to enable Pro Audio Systems to supply video and lighting products alongside its extensive audio inventory. Chris will also look to drive sales and deliver turnkey audio/visual solutions for a variety of different customer applications.
Having graduated in Media Production from Lincoln University, Chris joined Luminar Leisure (now Rekom UK) as a lighting technician at Liquid, Envy and Trinity nightclubs. Chris gained valuable experience utilising moving light technology and control systems from Robe and Martin Professional, before moving to become head lighting technician/operator at Wolverhampton super-club Faces.
In 2014, Chris joined AC Entertainment Technol

UK - Recently launched manufacturer Optimal Audio has announced the appointment of Al McKinna as head of product.
A sound technology graduate of LIPA, Al joins after 15 years at Avid, where he spent three years in sales and 12 in product management. As director of product management for live sound, Al led the business strategy and product development of Avid’s Venue brand of digital live audio production systems. Most recently as director of audio hardware at Avid, he led product management for Pro Tools systems, control surfaces and live sound.
Al will be responsible for creating a future product development strategy for Optimal Audio.
“The first phase of launching the Optimal Audio ecosystem into the market is well under way,” says Al. “It’s a fantastic system, based on principles that address a clear demand in the market. My job will be to build a bu

France - Chauvet Professional has added David Launay to its team as a product specialist. As a lighting designer, operator, and Wysiwyg trainer, Launay was the LD for Marcel et son orchestre (2003), and Ghinzu (2005). He has also worked extensively as lighting operator for photography director on French and Middle Eastern events, such as the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, the Hand Ball World Cup, and Show Hello.
“I have known David for 25 years,” says Martin Fournier, European sales director of Chauvet. “His personal character and professionalism make him a valuable addition to any organisation.”
Michael Brooksbank, managing director of Chauvet Europe adds: “David brings an extraordinary set of talents and experiences to this position. Combining his strengths with those of our existing product specialist team puts us in an even stronger position to serve our cu

UK - SSE Audio, part of the Solotech UK Group, has announced the appointment of James Baker to the role of live sound specialist to benefit the UK sales team.
In this new position, Baker will support SSE Audio and Manchester-based Wigwam’s live sound sales customers. Working alongside their team of technical experts and service providers, he will develop marketing strategies that promote the groups’ unique services for the live sound market.
He joins during the return of the UK live events industry post-pandemic, which is seeing an extremely busy summer festival season.
Baker has become well-known and respected in the pro audio industry during his 25-year career as a freelance sound engineer while working with Nile Rogers and Chic, Chase and Status, Girls Aloud, Kim Wilde and Gilbert O'Sullivan. This is in addition to his role as a live sound sales manager
featured content

ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

UK - Using the opportunity of the first trade show for many months, Nexo unveied its ePS Series of loudspeakers for professional installation. Three two-way passive cabinets and two partner subbass units are the first models in a new range, which Nexo says delivers its “high-quality European engineering at a cost-effective price that will galvanise budget-sensitive projects”.
Drawing on 25 years of success with the PS Series, the company has slimmed down connection and mounting options whilst taking advantage of new manufacturing techniques and driver design to hit “unprecedented price points” for its industry-standard point source products. ePS models will provide a way for many public and private installation projects to access a Nexo-badged system without breaking the bank, says the company.
Designed specifically for fixed installation, the ePS Series packag

UK - The winners of the 2021 PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced on Monday at the PLASA Show as it made its return to Olympia London. Twenty-nine products were entered this year, with six awards being presented in addition to two special commendations. This year’s judging team was comprised of nine independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds. They said of the R10: "The judges commend the controllable, adjustable low-mid dispersion of this product, adding that the inclusion of the different mid-high frequency waveguides increases the flexibility for a touring show and is a feature that has not been seen before in a speaker of this type."
EM’s Mike Wheeler comments: "We are delighted that our new flagship Reference Series R10 system has been recognised at PLASA 2021. It has been great to showcase the product in front of the industry after so l

Taiwan - The dramatic combination of lighting, audiovisual, choreography and staging in fashion shows requires highly creative and specific design.
For the debut of his Salon des Visionaires - Luxxury Godbage, a 1990s fashion themed fall-winter collection and Sherry Bomb Opening Party held at Ximen Literature and Arts Centre on 8 May 2021, Justin Chou, designer and founder of Taiwan fashion label JUST IN XX selected Calibre LEDFusion A130-15 all-in-one Direct View screen management solutions.
The 1990s was an era of freedom, boldness and adventure with bright colours and style – people dared to experiment. JUST IN XX’s philosophy when it came to technology echoed this, and he collaborated with Calibre UK for LEDFusion A130-15 LED displays to be positioned on each side of the main stage for the show.
Justin Chou held two different shows at Taipei Fas

India - When it comes to lighting production, young aspiring lighting designers Sachin Dunakhe and Amey Pendharkar are always keen to experiment. Recently, they have invested recently in the grandMA3 onPC command wing. With their lighting company, Pixelbug, which is based in Pune, they are enjoying steady business.
Sachin Dunhake has been using the grandMA2 console range for more than three years now, and he also owns a grandMA2 onPC command wing. He says: “grandMA2 has always been a go-to console for me for various types of lighting design work, ranging from theatre and fashion shows to live concerts and corporate events. The all-new grandMA3 user interface and improved software functionality are definitely worth the time and money investment to help create more enriching visual experiences for the audience. And what better time than this pandemic to dive into this all ne

USA - Singer/songwriter Hardy is a rising star on the country music circuit and with that newfound fame comes an opportunity to up his on-stage game in order to appeal to an even wider audience. Out in support of his debut album A Rock, Hardy is touring with an upgraded lighting rig of Elation DARTZ 360, Artiste Picasso and other lighting fixtures. Lighting design is by Zac Coren.
In early August, he started warming up audiences on Jason Aldean’s Back in the Saddle tour while headlining his own dates in between Aldean shows.
Lighting designer Zac Coren picked up with Hardy earlier this year and has known the artist for quite some time. “He didn’t have an LD and I was designing some things for him already,” Coren explains. “I was fortunate as Hardy was one of the first artists to get out there and start doing shows again. He did a lot of shows this pa

The Netherlands - The newest addition to the Dutch based Jules Boules Bites Bar chain of drinking, dining and jeu de boules experience venues has opened in the city of Rotterdam. Its exclusively Amate Audio sound installation prominently features the company’s latest G7 loudspeaker.
This, the fifth branch of the themed restaurant chain, encompasses a 12-lane indoor jeu de boules ‘parcours’, together with extensive bar and restaurant facilities. Audio for the entire bar and restaurant area is provided by an installation of 12 ultra-compact G7 loudspeaker cabinets and a pair of N12WP subs - the titanium colour scheme of the G7 cabinets matching the exposed metal work in the ceiling.
A separate installation for the jeu de boules parcours comprises 12 Amate Audio Nítid series S6P 2-way, high power handling birch ply cabinets, together with a pair of N18WP subs.

France - Paris-based producer and head of the Mille Feuilles label, Romain Delahaye - a.k.a. Molécule - has been called ‘the pioneer of nomadic electronic music’ and the artist takes his musical inspiration from far-flung locations, recording ambient sounds on his expeditions around the globe and turning them into lively, atmospheric musical creations.
Molécule records sound in extreme locations: aboard a fishing boat in the Atlantic, in a village in Greenland or on the mythic surf swells of Nazaré in Portugal. More recently, he captured the sound of Thomas Ruyant's monohull during the Vendée Globe yacht race. Molécule transforms his recordings into spatialised music with the help of sound designer Hervé Déjardin, engineer in charge of developing immersive audio at Radio France.
Now, Molécule and Déjardin have brought a 360-degree spatialised sound experie

France - The Monumental Tour is an innovative visual and musical concept initiated by DJ and music producer Michael Canitrot and visual activists AV-Extended in conjunction with French cooperative bank Credit Mutuel, which encompasses streamed electronic music performances and collaborations with outstanding monumental sites all around France.
Lighting designer Cédric Davignon of Bordeaux-based creative practice Electron Libre Design designed lighting for the first digital gig of the tour, staged at the Phare des Baleines (Lighthouse of the Whales) on the Ile de Ré, which is off the west coast of France near La Rochelle.
Cédric chose to work with 10 x Robe Spiiders and 13 x MegaPointe moving lights to create his lighting design which complemented stunning large-format projections beamed onto the newer of the two Ile de Ré lighthouses, transforming its octagonal t

UK - PLASA Show 2021 marked a major milestone for Autograph as the company announced its new structure and future direction.
Autograph Sound Recording was formed in 1972 and soon established itself as a world leader in sound for theatre. In 1982, Autograph Sales was incorporated to bring the hard-earned skills and knowledge from theatre into the sales and installations markets. In recent years, Autograph has been progressively extending its services to clients, both at home and overseas. By combining their depth of technical expertise with a growing team of like-minded people, the company has proved itself to be a full-service provider in many areas of professional audio.
Whilst theatre remains a core and much-loved discipline, the company’s activities now encompass sound design, equipment rental and sales, event solutions, technical support, consultancy, infrastruc

USA - Magmatic atmospheric effects is offering two new snow machines in its Polar series of high-volume snow effects that ‘make it easy to create wintry scenes of natural-looking snow’. Suitable for any seasonal production, in stock and ready for delivery are the compact and lightweight Crisp and the road case-protected Crisp Max with 20-litre fluid tank.
With its small size and easy mobility, Crisp is a set-it-and-forget-it snow effect. The unit weighs 33.5 lbs. (15.2kg) with a hanging bracket that doubles as a convenient carrying handle. Crisp uses Magmatic’s specially formulated dry-on-impact snow liquid (APS-4L) to create a snowflake that mimics the look and feel of actual snow.
Crisp Max includes a 20-litre fluid tank hidden inside a road case with durable casters for extra protection and easier portability. The unit’s 10m-long hose can be rigged on a sta

Australia - Striking a pose on the skyline of the city of Brisbane, the new Hotel X is located in the centre of the city’s Fortitude Valley, also known as the ‘Valley’.
The hotel’s custom façade lighting system has been created to reflect the Valley’s progressive and dynamic atmosphere.
To deliver this large-scale, high-profile façade lighting system, integrated solutions provider bluebottle was appointed to the project. Given its sheer size, LED fixtures were the only choice to fulfil the requirements, with Color Kinetics the chosen brand. The iColor Flex LMX gen2 RGB luminaires were used; mounted in a custom aluminium channel that forms part of the building façade.
To fulfil the control elements of the lighting scheme, bluebottle partnered with Pharos Architectural Controls. A Pharos VLC 500, directly controls the hotel’s façade fixtures creatin

UK - The new studio at London’s Metropolis features a fully certified Dolby Atmos system, based entirely around Neumann monitors.
Developed in conjunction with immersive audio and live streaming specialist Sonosphere, versatility was the key for the Munro Acoustics-designed room. Its centrally located mix position and immersive monitoring environment ensures it can cater for all current surround formats. The room fully meets Dolby Atmos specifications, is capable of delivering 11.8.1 Atmos and includes a Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite server.
Whilst Metropolis has not traditionally been a Neumann house, the Sonosphere team has a long history with the brand and were keen to demonstrate its benefits. A key mission was to ensure clean and extended low frequency, with the required isolation to accurately judge tone-shaping a full octave below the effective range of many mon

USA - On the outskirts of Cincinnati, the city of Blue Ash came to life this summer with the sounds of Carmen, Tosca, and The Barber of Seville reimagined for Cincinnati Opera’s Summer at Summit series, held outdoors from 11 July to 1 August at Summit Park. It featured singing and music from internationally renowned guest artists, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus. The outdoor setting, a choice driven by the Covid pandemic, allowed for an under-the-stars experience, yet with all the grandeur of grand opera theatre sound, thanks to the use of L-ISA immersive technology provided by L-Acoustics.
A system co-designed by Jonathan Burke, who directs the sound design programme in the School of Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA, incorporated L-Acoustics’ broad range of technologies. Sixty Kara II enclosures were conf

Latest Issue. . .