UK - Announced at the PLASA09 exhibition in London, Trantec is to offer a trade-in discount of up to £450 per channel for Trantec, and other qualifying manufacturer's radio mics, when purchasing new Trantec channel 38 equipment. With the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the funding of the Channel 38 switchover, Trantec says it is offering "a positive solution for end users and dealers alike".

The scheme was introduced alongside the company's new 'Channel 38 ready' S6 Wireless System at PLASA09. The rack-mounted S6 receiver comprises eight receiver modules, internal antenna distribution, headphone monitor, and USB connectivity - and also incorporates a comprehensive user interface on the front panel allowing the user to configure and monitor all channels, with or without an external PC.

The trade-in scheme, which will work in conjunction with the Trantec dealer a

Italy - Taking place for the second year in 2009, the Jazz:Re:Found festival is fast becoming an Italian answer to that most famous of jazz festivals held in Montreux, Switzerland. This year Lighthouse Technologies became a technical sponsor of the three day event, providing two LED screens and technical expertise throughout.

Held in the city of Vercelli, near Milan, Jazz:Re:Found is already becoming one of the most important events in Italy's musical calendar and so event management company Casanoego went out of its way to build on the first year's success.

Artists such as Lamb, Josè James, Jazzanova, Hot 8 Brass Band, Stephanie McKay and Casino Royale were booked and the technical infrastructure also saw a significant upgrade, with Casanoego choosing Lighthouse screens to provide "the ultimate in visual impact and performance".

Lighthouse supplied a 4 x 4

UK - At PLASA09, London-based installation company The Sound Division Group became the first UK customer for Nexo's new PS8 R2 compact loudspeakers, launched at the show earlier in the week.

David Graham of Sound Division placed a substantial order with Tony Torlini, sales director of Fuzion plc, for PS8s, LS500 and LS400 subs, and system processors. He confirmed that the new speakers will be installed at the Berkeley Square venue Morton's Club, which is opening a new boutique nightclub as part of an extensive interior refurbishment.

Nexo's PS8s are a regular fixture on London's chic nightclub circuit. Recent installations include Raffles, Vendome, Bungalow 8, Kitts, Stringfellows and the Pigalle Club.

(Jim Evans)

UK - EMF worked closely with the Southbank, Royal Festival Hall and the Shell Centre to provide two nights of projection with multiple large format 7kw slide projectors and 8,000kW Space Cannon Search Lights as part of the launch of the new game, Monopoly City Streets, a collaboration between Hasbro and Google.

EMF transformed the iconic riverside building into the golden 'Monopoly Towers'. The charity Kidscape also benefited from the projection of big outdoor of images which successfully promoted their anti-bullying campaign.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Sennheiser UK provided on-site support at the twin V and Reading/Leeds festivals over two consecutive weekends.

At V2009's Weston Park site, Sennheiser UK's artist relations team Mark Saunders and Phil Cummings, along with its RF service team, were on hand throughout the weekend of the 22 and 23 August. Based in a Portakabin located adjacent to the main stage, the team was well placed to offer advice and support - plus the odd free chocolate - to anyone who needed it.

Artists using Sennheiser microphones included Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal, who were using the new G3 SKM 935 hand held radio mic with G3 EM 500 series receiver; Keane using the SKM 935 G2 with EM 550 receiver; The Saturdays with the SKM 935 G2 and EM 500 receivers and The Script using SKM 5200 handhelds with KK 105 heads. In addition, Snow Patrol made good use of the Neumann KMS 104 wired vocal microphone.<

Australia - 13 September 2009 saw Lightmoves celebrate 20 years of operation. Starting off as a theatrical lighting company, Lightmoves has expanded into architectural feature lighting, lighting control and home automation across various sectors of the entertainment, architectural and electrical industries.

Managing director Braham Ciddor is a little surprised at the company's longevity: "When we started out, we really didn't know where we were headed and we certainly couldn't have predicted where we are now. Starting out trying to fill a niche in the entertainment industry, the business quickly expanded when we saw the emergence of lighting control technology and our partnership with Dynalite has seen the company and the markets we work in expand dramatically."

Braham's business partner, and Lightmoves technical director Andrew Sherar, has seen firsthand how much te

UK - Following the success of last year's event, Shuttlesound has announced another Big Day Out, a celebration of all things Electro-Voice for the UK's pro-audio industry professionals. This is an opportunity to get hands-on with the full range of EV products, from the four different line-array formats to the latest in wireless microphones, says the company.This event, which is free on registration, is to be held at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on Tuesday 3 November. Interested parties should contact Jac Butler at Shuttlesound by phone or email to reserve their place, or ask their Electro-Voice dealer to arrange it.

The format of the one-day event will include presentations from leading engineers and designers on system set-ups and engineering techniques, as well as the latest developments in line array, processor, microphone and amplifier technology from Electro-Voice ex

India - Following the success of his revolutionary design and installation in matter, the super club located in London's O2 Arena, Dave Parry is now returning to India to set up a sister company, Most Technical India, with his two new business partners: ex-Avolites and event organiser Isa Sapin and Indian entrepreneur and promoter Arjun Bahl.

With a reputation for visionary ideas and ground-breaking innovations, Most Technical India will be providing a unique design and specification service for the emerging Indian market. Most Technical has already designed some of the best nightclubs in the world such as Fabric and Matter in London, and Elevate in Delhi.

The current projects are in Mumbai with the soon-to-be-opened Comedy Store and in Hyderabad, South India, where Most Technical India is currently designing a nightclub in one of the boutique hotels owned by Apeejay Surrendra

USA - When the Evangelical Lutheran Youth of America held its annual gathering in the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans in July, audio company Gand Concert Sound installed one of the largest ever flown Nexo rigs in the USA. The set-up included Yamaha amplifiers powering a significant part of the system plus Yamaha consoles at FOH.

The Gathering was attended by 38,000 teenagers from across the world and featured a wide range of praise activities, theatrical performances, musical performances from Christian acts including Skillet, the Katinas, Group 1 Crew and a musical mass featuring communion for the entire 38,000-strong congregation.

Gand Concert Sound - based in Glenview, Illinois - supplied a flown system comprising 60 flown Nexo Geo T, 24 Geo S and eight CD18 subs, with 24 additional ground-stacked CD18 subs.

20 Yamaha PC9501N amplifiers powered the top 12 Geo T per side,

UK - Stage Electrics recently supported the Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain voyage which began in May. The yacht Scarlet Oyster set sail from Cowes on the Isle of Wight with five young people in recovery from cancer or leukaemia on board for the first leg of the sail. After 17 legs, 85 young people, and four and a half months later in September, Scarlet Oyster returned to Cowes, having completed a momentous journey around Britain's waters, whilst inspiring many young people both in and out of treatment.

At each port of call throughout the voyage, including Falmouth, the record breaking yachtswoman presented to a packed audience stories of her voyages and experiences, and raised awareness of the importance of the Ellen MacArthur Trust. The ticket sales from these presentations went towards the trust's fundraising.

At the National Maritime Museum in Fal

Norway - Arena Larvik opens this month and is the first venue in Europe to permanently install LED displays using the new digiTILE range from digiLED.

In common with most modern sporting venues, LED technology is an essential part of Arena Larvik's plans. The contract was won by displayLED following a comprehensive tender and selection process in the face of fierce competition from other LED manufacturers.

The LED display systems comprise: Two screens, each measuring 23sq.m, using indoor Ti16S - 16mm pitch SMD digiTILE; Two fixed banners systems measuring 20 and 8 linear metres, and a 70 linear metre 16mm pitch portable banner that can be moved to different locations and reformatted into a conventional video screen for indoor and outdoor use. The portable banner uses digiLED's latest LED technology- domeLED.

The whole system is controlled by digiSPORT, the digiLED content en

Havana Rocks - The Cuban capital has hosted its biggest open-air concert since the 1959 revolution, featuring some 15 top Latin American, Spanish and Cuban performers. An estimated one million people - many wearing white - attended the free event in Revolution Square, Havana.

Colombian singer Juanes, who organised the Peace without Borders concert, received death threats from Miami-based critics of the Cuban regime, but had the support from 20 high-profile jailed dissidents inside Cuba.

While critics have complained that Juanes is endorsing the island's communist system, the dissidents say the concert is an opportunity for reconciliation. Juanes said the show was about peace and tolerance, not politics, telling the audience that "the important thing is to swap hate for love". But at the end of the show, he caused some surprise by shouting "Cuba libre!&quo

UK - At a glittering ceremony in Glasgow, Edinburgh-based Northern Light won the accolade of Best Technical Services Company at the Scottish Event Awards 2009. The company had made it through to a shortlist of three to win the award.

The ceremony was attended by the leading players of the Scottish events industry and took place on 11 September in Glasgow's Hilton Hotel. The event, now in its second year, is designed to promote, reward and celebrate the growing events industry in Scotland. The Event Awards brings together all areas of the industry, from event managers, to organisers, venues, suppliers and in-house teams.

Lois Ferguson, marketing manager at Northern Light, said: "We are chuffed to bits with this award. Our event production service has only been in place for a few years, so receiving this accolade from a panel of UK event industry judges - and against much m

UK - Hawthorn is delighted to have been an event partner for the second year running to the prestigious Clay Paky 'Knight of Illumination Awards' held on Sunday 13 September to coincide with the PLASA show in London.

The awards, dedicated to professional lighting designers, recognised lighting designs achieved in the fields of television, rock and theatre and were attended by the great and the good of the industry.

Hawthorn supplied all of the rigging, video screens and Martin Audio line array sound system to the event. The set showcased Hawthorn's 6mm indoor LED screen as the central display on stage, along with twin screen projection using Christie HD 10k projectors which provided an amazing clarity of video display to the audience.

"Hawthorn is proud to be associated with such a significant industry event and send their congratulations to all of the 2009 winners,&quo

USA - Attracting nearly 9,000 worshippers from across the south of the USA, the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has long featured Yamaha mixing consoles. However, this year the event's audio system saw the use of 24 of Yamaha's new TX6n amplifiers, which produced a notable improvement in overall audio quality.

Taking place over two days at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Centre, Louisville, the event featured a wide range of music and praise performances, including choirs, orchestras, solo performers and worship teams from a number of individual churches.

Yamaha equipment provided the mixing, digital signal processing and amplification for the entire event, including PM1D, PM5D-RH, PM5D-EX {incorporating the DSP5D Expander) and M7CL digital consoles, DME64N digital mix engine and an SB-168ES stage box in addition to the 24 TX6n amplifiers, all networ

The Netherlands - Sensation, one of Europe's top mega-dance event brands, celebrated its 10th anniversary with this year's Wicked Wonderland theme, as its organisers took the production concept another step further, creating an immersive party atmosphere over two sold-out nights at the Amsterdam Arena.

Since 2001, Sensation's 35,000-per-night crowd has followed an all-white dress code, originally a tribute by organiser Duncan Sutterheim to his late brother Miles, who was given an all-white funeral in 2000. The tradition has continued, and this year's human snowscape was reflected in specially commissioned white aerial décor, props and lighting effects.

The aerial pieces were animated, along with video screens and lighting pods, by a 58-motor XLNT CyberHoist motion control system, controlled by a complex four-zoned Ethernet system using XLNT Advanced Technologies

Israel - Kolot Ramim located in Upper Galilee, Kibbutz Manara, recently became the first Israeli Adamson partner in the Adamson Network. A medium sized company of 20 employees headed by founder and owner Yossi Ba, the company mainly focuses on concerts for 500 to 5000 heads, corporate shows, and theatre productions, offering full lighting, staging and backline services.

Alongside Yossi Ba, Gadi Reik, Kolot Ramim's head audio engineer with 25 years of studio and live experience, currently FOH Engineer and Technical Director for celebrated Israeli performer NOA, Kolot purchased 16 Spektrix cabinets and eight Spektrix Subs adding to their already wide-ranging inventory consisting of Meyer Sound speakers, Midas consoles, Lab. Gruppen amps and Clair & D&B monitors among others.

Kolot Ramim's first show with their new Adamson system was at the three-day, Caesarea Jazz Festival

USA - Technomad reports that DevonWood Equestrian Centre, among the premier horse show facilities in the United States, has reached 10-years of trouble-free, continuous outdoor event audio with Technomad loudspeakers.

With one indoor and three outdoor competition rings, four warm-up rings, a boarding stable and several commons areas, the specialised, international-level equestrian sports facility continues to expand its zoned audio system with Technomad at the core. The privately-owned, 42-acre facility recently added multiple Technomad Vernal and Vienna loudspeakers in the VIP seating and other outdoor areas including a beer garden, picnic area and several lengthy walkways; and converted its zoned audio distribution system to an all-digital infrastructure.

DevonWood Equestrian Centre has used Technomad Paris loudspeakers since first opening its gates, installing four in each

UK - Lighting designer Max Conwell of Naked Eye used a grandMA full-size and a grandMA2 light as backup to control lighting Morrissey's Tour of Refusal, which concluded with three sold-out shows at London's Brixton Academy.

The tour has been out since January, and Conwell has worked with the artist for the last five years. For the last year, he has exclusively been using MA Lighting's grandMA control platform for this and all his other work.

"I wanted a totally reliable console and operating system," he says commenting on his switch to MA. "It's a good all round moving light desk, does exactly 'what it says on the tin' and I am really confident about using it."

The starting point for his Tour of Refusal lighting design was the distinct backdrop, complete with a haunting giant snapshot of 1960's Italian actor, Walter Chiari. This was carefull

Switzerland/UK - For its fourth sold-out year the Basel Tattoo employed TiMax delay-matrix processing and show control software to make the marching players' audio follow their movements on stage. The system also helped eliminate musical timing problems due to the large scale of the performance area.

An import of the Edinburgh military pageant which also uses TiMax, the Basel Tattoo is likewise staged al fresco in front of the 18th century Kaserne Hof barracks next to the Rhine. The performers are spread out over a 70m by 25m parade arena surrounded by audience seating on three sides.

Swiss sound designer Thomas Strebel this year specified a 32x32 configuration of the new TiMax2 Soundhub, following the successes achieved with the TiMax Classic Rack systems in previous years.

The TiMax matrix received MIDI preset control and twelve groups of MADI audio from a Soundcraft Vi6 c

Germany - Dortmund-based production company, B+B Veranstaltungstechnik, has added two new Soundcraft Vi4 consoles to its inventory of digital mixing desks. The investment follows the company's policy for regular inventory upgrade, and although a multi-brand operation, the company chose the Soundcraft digital platform based on the impressive features-to-price ratio.

While these are the first Vi4's to appear in B+B's rental fleet, the company's Sebastian Müller-Eckhard has previously designed installation systems based around the Vi4 (at the local Konzerthaus), and a Vi6 in FZW, a 1,500-person capacity live venue.

"The Vi4 is all about the sound," he says. "It's one of the best sounding desks on the market and you don't need any external hardware because everything is already in the desk - in fact the internal dynamics and effects are perfect.

"As for the

UK - Offering views over the city, London restaurant Galvin at Windows (on the 28th floor of the London Park Lane Hilton) opened in May 2006.

With chef Chris Galvin at the helm, the restaurant quickly became one of the most talked about in London, as patrons either headed right into the restaurant or left into the elegant cocktail bar on exiting the lift.

However, the one aspect of the bar's infrastructure that was found wanting was the sound system, and in due course general manager Fred Sirieix decided that in order to complete the perfect atmosphere this would need to be upgraded. "The old ceiling speaker system was not sufficiently powerful for our private events and there were 'pockets' where there was no coverage," he said.

Sirieix had worked with the Sound Division Group in a previous guise - back in his days as general manager of another London bar/restaura

UK - In The Times' annual index of Britain's leading privately-owned technology companies, London-based stage equipment and automation specialist Stage Technologies came in at number 55 in the 'Tech Track 100' table.

The ninth annual Tech Track 100 league table was published in The Sunday Times on 20 September 2009. It ranks Britain's fastest-growing privately-owned technology companies, based on sales growth over the latest three years, from 2005-2008, or 2006-2009. Growth among these companies ranged from 38% pa to 189% pa, with sales typically between £5m and £30m.

Stage Technologies, founded in 1995 by managing director Mark Ager and operations director John Hastie, has grown its sales 55% a year from £4.2m in 2005 to £15.5m in 2008, according to The Times. In 2009 it received the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2009 in the categor

Germany - The IAA Frankfurt car show is the world's most important trade fair for the international automobile industry, taking place this year from 17-27 September, with exhibitors from 30 countries showing their newest and most innovative cars to an international audience. Many brands have chosen Barco's creative and indoor LED solutions to highlight the exclusive cars on display.

The Barco LED display solutions are represented via some of Barco's worldwide rental partners including AVS System (Fiat and Alfa Romeo), Imagini (Ferrari), CT UK (Ford and Jaguar), VPS (Peugeot and Renault) and ICT (Rolls Royce).

(Jim Evans)

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