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Following a year of testing at the National Theatre in London, IES sine wave dimmers were recently used for the first time at a public performance in the UK. Paul Pyant’s lighting design for the play Frozen, which opened at the Cottesloe Theatre on 3 July, includes two rows of five 12V Par 56 battens - famed for their powerful light-curtain effect, but notorious for the buzzing of the lamp filaments. Two of the battens, which comprise nine 12V 500W lamps in series, are typically connected in pairs to create a 216V load and powered from a 5kW dimmer which has been trimmed-down to give a suitable voltage. However, the pulsing waveform of a triac dimmer causes the filaments to resonate audibly, and this can be distracting in a silent drama theatre setting.

Mike Atkinson, senior project manager at The National Theatre, said: "We had tried triac dimmers before, but the noi

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Lamba plc has appointed Marquee Audio as a Stanton distributor to the specialist nightclub trade. Speaking of the new development, Marquee’s managing director Spencer Brooks said: "We have been observing Stanton’s steady evolution while at the same time seeking to consolidate a front end for our club installations. What really triggered this alliance was when Stanton launched their digital output turntable (STR8-100) and the digital VRM-10 mixer - and now Final Scratch is the icing on the cake." He added: "With the aid of our digital pro demonstration facilities, we believed we could create added exposure for Stanton at the top end of the club market."

Gerry Frost, Lamba’s sales director, also felt the timing of the move could hardly have been better for his company. "This is an opportunity for Lamba to build on its long relationship with Mar

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Marquee Audio recently installed the entire sound system in the new Oyster Quay bar and grill at Poole Quay, Dorset, which opened at the end of May. With sister venue Toko already successfully established in Bournemouth, this is the latest brand from holding company, Richard Carr’s Future 3000, which also owns the dance venue The Opera House, the dance brand Slinky, and restaurant, Bliss, in Bournemouth.

Overlooking Poole Quay, the new bar was developed at a cost of £1.6m and designed by world-renowned architect and designer Stuart Jones of Design Mode. Stuart has blended soft nautical themes with up to date, modern architecture and interior styling, and, with a capacity of nearly 1000, Oyster Quay is now proving to be the new place to be seen in Poole. Divided into five zones, the exquisite venue is centred round a circular bar, which features an 80-gallon aquarium, and is comp

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Amek and Soundcraft have merged their operations to form a much stronger console group with a wide-ranging portfolio. Soundcraft sales director Adrian Curtis takes overall responsibility for sales of Amek and DAR, in addition to Soundcraft, with his existing team of Jon Ridel (Middle East and Asia), Karl Chapman (Europe) and Trevor Coley (UK and Ireland) heading up regional sales for the three brands. Inder Biant joins the team as product specialist and there are plans to strengthen the team further with new market and product specialists. All marketing activities for the group come under David Neal.

The combined portfolio means that the group has a much wider range of products and solutions for their existing markets. Manufacturing and production of the current portfolio of Amek and DAR products is being integrated into the Potters Bar facilities that already house Soundcraft and BSS

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Evenser Group, the UK's largest event services Group, has created a new division - Evenser Broadcast and Presentation Services. The creation of the new division will enhance the service offering available to clients through greater access to technical expertise, equipment and project management, say the company.

The division will incorporate the Group's international broadcast and audio-visual activities, including Charter Broadcast, Cinevideo, ABS and Blitz Communications, all of whom will continue to trade under their own names. David Carr continues as managing director of the broadcast businesses, whilst Paul Hutton, a director of Blitz Vision since 1993, will become the managing director of Blitz. The new division will be headed up by Evenser main board director Michael Breen.

Michael Breen comments: "This is a great opportunity for both the audio-visual and broadcast busine

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Luciano Pavarotti recently celebrated the 10th edition of his annual Pavarotti & Friends charity concert by gathering a star-studded cast in his hometown of Modena, Italy. The event, the proceeds of which were donated to aid Angolan children, was telecast nationwide in prime time by RAI, the national Italian broadcasting company. Along with solo performances by Sting, Lou Reed, Grace Jones, James Brown, Cuba's charismatic Augusto Enriquez and his Mambo Band; Italian chart-toppers Zucchero, Andrea Bocelli, Raf and Elisa also performed duets with the world-renowned tenor. Many of the performances included accompaniment by a 70-piece orchestra and a children's choir.

For the second successive year, the Mackie HDR24/96 was chosen to record and broadcast the event. "These units played a fundamental role in the broadcast sound," explained Pavarotti's sound engineer John Pellowe, wh

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Russian installation specialist Elarcon has recently completed a major audio system upgrade for the main concert hall of Moscow's prestigious Cosmos Hotel. The 1000-seat hall is employed for a broad range of applications, from upscale rock performances and classical concerts to corporate events and international conferences. The 2002 schedule includes the Russian State Circus, the Moscow City Ballet and the Russian Imperial Ballet.

Elarcon, which is the installation division of prominent Russian distributor, MixArt, was asked to supply a system that reflected the full flexibility of the venue. As a result, a 40-channel Allen & Heath ML5000 live sound VCA console was selected to perform all front-of-house and monitor mixing tasks. In addition to its eight VCA groups, the mixer has a flexible output structure, allowing any combination of up to 16 auxiliary sends and up to eight audio sub

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Edwin Shirley Staging (ESS), the international staging and structures specialist, has just completed another project for an event that is synonymous with the quintessential English summer season, the 2002 Henley Festival in Oxfordshire. The Festival, which took place in mid-July, hosted a diverse array of artists over a five-day period at one of England’s best known event sites, which is also home to the famous international regatta. ESS, having already this year been present at Epsom, Ascot and Wimbledon, and with Goodwood still to come, see 2002 as a successful year for the company in terms of servicing these classic calendar fixtures.

ESS delivered a 20m Orbit stage, called the floating stage as it was positioned in the Thames facing back to the riverbank, as well as producing a 14m wide, four-bay clear-panelled Superstructure building christened the ‘Transparium’

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Cinematographer Jon Driscoll contacted XL Video UK to supply projectors, playback and a control system for the dramatic projected backdrops he designed and produced for Up For Grabs. The production - specifically the projections - wowed the packed audiences flocking to see Madonna’s West End debut at the Wyndhams Theatre. The 10-week run was fully sold out in advance.

Driscoll was originally approached to design backdrops for the project - directed by Laurence Boswell, designed by Jeremy Herbert - by John Owens, a director of Aura Sound, the production’s sound consultants. Driscoll had previously worked with Up For Grabs’ sound designer Fergus O’Hare (who’s also a director of Aura Sound) at the National Theatre. Driscoll worked on the projection design and production with his colleague Richard Overall, who edited and post-produced the origina

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The Waterfront Nightclub in Arbroath has turned to Turbosound to boost its sound quality, installing a sizeable Floodlight Series system to handle the club's mix of dance music and live sound. The installation was handled by Blue Audio, and took place over a two-month period earlier this year.

The PA system is divided into two elements: the live stage set-up comprises a left/right rig of Floodlight Series TFL-760Ht trapezoidal loudspeakers, complemented by TSW-718 folded horn bass enclosures stacked directly below, plus TFM-202 passive two-way floor monitors. Overall system control is provided via the LMS-D6 digital loudspeaker management system. The second system is designed to create a surround-style set up for the DJ, using one Floodlight Series TFL-760Ht positioned on each corner of the dance floor, with a TSW-718 directly below to cover the rear area. Blue Audio also provisioned a

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Stagetec is enjoying their busiest ever summer season, with a myriad of different lighting and sound design and installation projects embracing all areas of the industry - here are just a few of them:

In the world of television, Stagetec is finishing complete new lighting installations for five studios at Bloomberg TV Studios in London in association with Film & TV Services. The studios transmit 24 hours a day to five countries in Europe. Equipment includes 120 channels of Compulite CompuDIM 2000 dimmers with Dimmer Monitor software and five SP-4D control systems. At BBC Belfast, the lighting installations for two studios are having the final touches added. The installation includes 132 channels of 96 channels of 2.5kW Compulite CompuDIM 2000 dimmers with Dimmer Monitor system, Ovation 4D and two Micron 4D control systems plus Ethernet nodes, DMX network and complete installation of li

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Arbiter Plc has supplied installer John Fearon of Eclipse Lighting & Sound with a variety of equipment, including JBL loudspeakers, for installations in the latest two Revolution Vodka Bars. The fast-expanding, award-winning brand has recently opened new sites in Northampton and Clapham. The Revolution concept - vodka, dancing, food - doubtless leading to plenty of lively political debate - and the very best sound throughout the evening, was launched in 1995. The latest two venues are part of a group of 27 owned by Manchester-based Inventive Leisure, all of which have had sound systems installed by Rochdale-based Eclipse.

Clapham and Northampton were as sonically challenging as their predecessors, according to John Fearon. As with all new projects, the installer has to understand and interpret the client's requirements, and provide a scheme offering superior audio quality - on budget.

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Digigram, an innovator in digital audio network solutions, has completed its acquisition of French-based Innova Son, a pioneer in the design of digital audio mixing consoles. Innova Son consoles are used for sound reinforcement in live performance such as concerts, broadcast television, theatrical presentations, religious services, and corporate events.

The deal completes a move made by Digigram when it acquired a 44.76% stake in Innova Son in January 2001. Digigram now owns 100 percent of Innova Son, but says the company will preserve its own identity and commercial autonomy within the Digigram group. Innova Son products will continue to be distributed by the company's established network, while Digigram will provide sales support in markets that the company has yet to penetrate. Innova Son’s current management remains in place, with Philippe Royer as managing director in charge

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Doing their bit to support the England football team, LGH Rigging Services erected a huge flag on the front of the Football Association headquarters in Soho Square, London. Responding within 12 hours of being notified of the job, LGH Rigging Services used a team of abseilers to secure the flag to the façade of the building prior to England’s quarter-final match against Brazil. LGH say they were hoping for a longer hire period - not for the revenue, more for England’s chances in the competition!

LGH Rigging services manager, Bob Dean, commented: "We were very pleased with the progress of the job. We reacted very quickly to the FA’s request and were very happy with the result. It’s a shame that we didn’t feel the same about the result of the England match!"

The erection of the flag was featured on the National Television News, as was the tearful

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Event Lighting and Design has been chosen to work on another string of high-profile international events, starting with the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office’s Gala Luncheon at Claridge’s on 4 July 2002. The company provided the lighting, staging, set, sound, floral decorations and technical expertise for the event, proving once again their aptitude for working with the challenges of royal and government involvement and cultural sensitivities.

The Gala Luncheon marked the launch of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office sponsored celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s establishment in the UK. This large-scale promotional event is to take the form of a Hong Kong Festival, lasting from July to September of this year, which will showcase Hong Kong as Asia’s World City. The Claridge’s Gala Luncheon featured perform

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Sennheiser UK contributed to the recent success of Europe’s biggest music and performing arts festival by exclusively sponsoring the Glastonbury 2002 New Bands Stage. Alongside sound company Southwest Audio Ltd and production company Reality Check, Sennheiser helped deliver a professionally specified stage featuring both evolution series wireless and cabled microphones and wireless in-ear-monitor systems.

A comprehensive on-site technical support centre was also set-up to provide call-out cover for the large amount of kit in use on various stages throughout the festival site, as well as to provide technical back-up to the numerous Sennheiser endorsees on the bill; these included Starsailor, The White Stripes, Faithless, Lostprophets and Haven. The technical back-up was provided by Sennheiser chief engineer Andy Lillywhite and service engineer Sam Davison, who came equipped with

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Danmarks Radio, Denmark's national broadcaster, has purchased 16 channels of new Lectrosonics wireless microphone systems and active antenna splitters from Lectrosonics representative Dansk P.A. Center A/S.

The UDR300 studio receivers and UM300B belt-pack transmitters are the European versions of the well-known and proven 200 Series system that has been the preferred wireless in Hollywood and with American broadcasters for many years. The unmatched quality was a key issue, along with the sophisticated computer control software with RF site scanning and walk test measurements. The systems are to be used on mobile production carts in TV production, in studio and on location. All 16 channels are designed to work in the 800-820 MHz in two 8-channel sets or in adjacent studios together as 16 channels.

(Lee Baldock)

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The AIDAVita provides those event oriented cruise ship vacation-goers the best of two worlds, offering an active club vacation combined with all the amenities of a traditional four star cruise ship. And speaking of amenities, the easy operating capability was also the main reason why two grandMA lighting control systems are among the top items in the cruise ship’s equipment specification list.

The ship’s on-board theatre has a seating capacity of 650. Every evening the theatre offers 12 shows and professional entertainment running every hour. Hilton Jones was responsible for the theatre lighting design and grandMA provided the control. Altogether, console operator Joe Gruber programmed over 1,800 cues, 80 sequences, and 120 macros. The grandMA - supplied by Amptown Hamburg - runs 46 moving lights, 132 channels for conventional lighting and 54 non-dim circuits.

This was th

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The recent launch of Attack of the Clones, the latest chapter in the Star Wars story, saw two notable firsts for a UK film premier, a live performance by the Royal Philharmonic in Leicester Square, and a pair of PM1D’s used in a unique audio experiment. "There were two major considerations for this event," explained live engineer Dave Bracey, "the concert must be relayed a full 360° around the Square which means we have to be acutely sensitive to the local neighbourhood; and secondly the whole thing must go in, fit-up, be played and cleared in under a day."

Duplicating the sound system for rehearsals away from the site was fairly straight forward, having two PM1Ds one at the rehearsal site, one in Leicester Square, simplified things further, as Bracey explained. "I rehearsed with the orchestra live; this is a 50-piece orchestra and when you add in the ef

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Italian luminaire manufacturer LDR has provided, via its Spanish dealer Prolighting, 100 units of its brand new Rima 500 floodlight, in white finish, for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The lighting is being used to highlight two major exhibitions at the museum. The first is titled ‘Paris: Capital of the Arts, 1900-1968’, and traces the major developments in painting and sculpture which took place in Paris throughout the first seven decades of the twentieth century. The second is ‘Pictures of the Surface of the Earth’, a collection of photographs by the German artist and film director Wim Wenders, who began taking photographs back in 1983. From the start, he has brought his unique sensibility to focus on the villages and landscapes of the United States and Havana, the forests and temples of Japan, the coast of Galilee and the endless roads of the deserted Austral

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Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd supplied mobile StarStages to the organisers of the UK’s largest gay festival, Mardi Gras, for the two main stages at the Hackney Marshes event. The main G.A.Y. stage was a mobile SS 15-12 StarStage that housed the PA and lighting, with a line-up including Atomic Kitten, Westlife, A1, Human League and Belinda Carlisle. These were variously introduced by a range of celebrities including Graham Norton, a host of Big Brother stars, Ken Livingston, Mo Mowlam and Trisha. Meanwhile, the more intimate ‘Popstarz’ Indie stage was a mobile SS 10 08 StarStage that featured acts including Suede, the Cooper Temple Clause and Haven.

Graham Drew headed up the Star Hire crew who had to cope with the summer’s inclement weather and the soft ground of Hackney Marshes that meant production schedules were stretched. "The whole production team work

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Light Relief is delighted to have received a number of donations last month thanks to Forester Health, the STLD and BKSTS. Krystyna Gibbons of Forester Health took Matthew Griffiths, managing director of PLASA, completely by surprise at the Association's AGM on June 14, presenting him with a cheque as the company's first contribution to Light Relief.

As part of the Forester Health Cash Plan offered to PLASA members, which was launched at PLASA 2001, £1 is donated to Light Relief for every new member of the scheme. The scheme, which is being continued at this year's show, offers members a range of cash refunds for basic healthcare needs not funded by the NHS, such as dental treatment, eyesight tests, physiotherapy and reflexology. It also provides much-needed financial help in the event of hospitalisation, an accident or the birth of a child. Whereas private medical insurance is basic

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The Sheraton Frankfurt recently added a new chapter to its 27-year history, following the completion of a €50 million renovation and redecoration programme. As an elegant five-star hotel with bright, spacious areas, it offers the latest technical equipment, large conference and banqueting facilities, direct access to Frankfurt Airport via a footbridge, close proximity to the ICE terminal and metro connections to Frankfurt’s city centre.

As Europe’s largest airport hotel, it has over 1,000 guest rooms. Not only has the interior design of the lobby changed completely, but also its location. Gone are the relatively dark charms of former days, now replaced by a bright and modern lobby six times larger. The floors are Italian porcelain tiles, extravagant Venetian plaster decorates the walls and the staircase is constructed of marble and glass. In the new ‘Glass House&rsqu

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This year’s Philip Morris Jazz Weekend took place in the Dutch city of Bergen Op Zoom in late May. During the five-day show, national and international stars of the jazz scene performed in four different venues. Among these were Phil Mason’s New Orleans All Stars with Christine Tyrell, Arie Kuit Quartet, Trio Johan Clement featuring Madeleine Bell, Miss Lulu White’s Red Hot Creole Jazz band and many more.

The main stage was the 1,000-capacity jazz tent, which was equipped with four stacks of HK Audio R-Series plus DFC amp racks, supplied by Triple A. For monitors, a total of seven HK Audio SM 112 II, two VT 115 Xs and an SM 212 for drum fill were used. Toon Dekkers, owner of Triple A, commented: "We have been working with HK Audio material for several years and we are again and again enthusiastic about the versatility of R-Series. Some people consider R-Series as

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