Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

Business

Details
USA - Nominations open 1 May 2010 for the third annual ESTA Rock Our World Awards, which recognise groundbreaking achievement by ESTA Members in new products, product applications, or projects. These awards were created to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment.

Contestants for the 2009 awards showcased a wide variety of new products and product applications from the simplest problem solver to complex uses of technology that extended the boundaries of the entertainment technology field. Project nominations showcased everything from the lighting of the Grand Mosque to the staging of the Democratic National Convention and highlighted the collaborative nature of our industry.

Nominations may be made by anyone in the industry, but an ESTA member must be involved as the de

Details
UK - Adam Hall has expand its growing product portfolio by becoming the exclusive UK distributor for Audac.

Audac is an audio manufacturer that offers a complete range of professional audio equipment including amplifiers, loudspeakers, microphones and more.

"The installation market is extremely important and Audac will be a perfect supplement to our existing range," says Adam Hall's general manager, Andrew Richardson.

Audac's export manager Mark Asselberghs adds, "We are proud to have a respected company like Adam Hall for our major markets within Europe. With their wide range of products they have the right customers for our products. Together with the support from Audac they will continue to flourish in the successful installation market."

(Jim Evans)

Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

Details
UAE - Abu Dhabi hosted the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship in the Middle East and the first in the open air - in front of 11,000 fans, a highly charged atmosphere and beneath a monster steel roof structure specially designed and built for the occasion by Al Laith Events Services.

Al Laith Events Services effectively delivered the entire stadium infrastructure - including all the seating grandstands - that was built to stage the event, juxtaposed with the futuristic backdrop of the new Ferrari World indoor theme park on Yas Island.

The production company was Flash Events. The roof design was developed by Serious Stages' chief designer, Dragan Kuzmanov. Jo Marshall project managed for Al Laith, the site manager for Flash Events was Malcolm McInnes and Flash's production manager was Lee Charteris.

Says Jo Marshall, "This was a very demanding event for us, and it

Details
Italy - For the first time in a museum setting an historical figure - Federico da Montefeltro - has been depicted full-size in a three dimensional holograph.

On 23 April, the permanent installation created by Paolo Buroni, and sponsored by the Umbria Superintendence for Architectural and Natural Heritage was inaugurated. The installation entitled At Federico's Court brings the court on the main floor of the Ducal Palace in Gubbio to life.

Under the artistic direction of Paolo Buroni, Federico da Montefeltro, played by renowned actor Giulio Base, comes to the life. Using StarkHologram, a new Italian technology, for the first time in a museum setting, an historical figure like Federico da Montefeltro is presented in a three dimensional, natural size holograph representation. The leader converses for 15 minutes with an angel.

Paolo Buroni reports, "My idea was to re

Details
USA - AVnu Alliance - an industry forum dedicated to promoting the adoption of the IEEE 802.1 AVB (Audio Video Bridging) standards and the related IEEE 1722 and 1733 for professional A/V, automotive and consumer applications - recently hosted its second PlugFest and added five new members. With these latest developments, the AVnu Alliance continues to expand the adoption of the non-proprietary AVB standards and advance interoperability among AVB-enabled networked products.

"The member PlugFests are key to moving the AVB technology from paper to practice," says Rick Kreifeldt, chairman of AVnu Alliance and vice president, systems architect at Harman International. "By implementing compliance test procedures to ensure AV devices work together, we continue our collaboration with member organizations to refine interoperability specifications and enhance the net

Details
UK - London post production house De Lane Lea has revealed details of its newly refurbished and redesigned facilities. The whole building has undergone a major refit following a devastating fire in July 2009 and re-opens soon.

Refurbished and modernised, the facility consists of Mixing Studios One, Two and Three, Studio Four an ADR studio, Studio Five, the TV Mixing Studio and Studio Six which is another ADR Studio.

At the heart of the facility is the flagship Studio One. Originally designed by Munro Acoustics, the Munro team as re-called after the fire to re-design and re-fit the facility.

Munro Acoustics director Andy Munro says, "Although the circumstances were unfortunate, this has been a great opportunity to bring the largest mixing theatre in Soho up to the highest standards with the acoustic modifications resulting in a tighter, more focused sound. This is one of

Details
France / UK - Analog Way, a leading designer and manufacturer of image converters and presentation switchers, has announced the opening of a new direct sales office in the UK.

Analog Way UK is a new direct sales office based in London and dedicated to the British market. As of May 2010, Analog Way UK will provide sales operations for Analog Way's lines of products for the territory, as well as training facilities and first level technical support.

The opening of Analog Way UK is in line with Analog Way's willingness to being closer to the regional market and attentive to customers' specific needs. Alexander Schöpff, EMEA sales director at Analog Way, explains: "We are glad to offer to our UK customers a direct and close sales relationship. As Analog Way keeps improving and developing its product range, our UK team is looking forward to supporting our customers by providi

Details
UK - AC-ET's Video division has supplied a Green Hippo HippoCritter portable media server to TSL for use on various high-profile UK corporate and worship events.

TSL managing director Sam Tamplin was looking to invest in the company's first media server, so attended an open day at A.C.'s UK headquarters showcasing the latest creative LED lighting and video technologies, and associated products. Tamplin was so impressed with the Green Hippo's interface and feature set that he purchased a HippoCritter after the event.

The media server was recently used at the UK sales conference of one of the largest global data analysis software providers to the banking sector. SFL Group, who provided projection, staging, sound and event management, contracted TSL to provide lighting equipment and video control for the event.

The conference featured daytime presentations and a guest speech by

Details
New Zealand - For the sound reinforcement professional, an outdoor concert featuring dub, funk, afrobeat and soul (as performed by The Black Seeds) and an indoor concert featuring acoustic guitar, vocals, and orchestra (as performed by the Topp Twins and the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra) are every bit as different from one another as apples and jackhammers. This is precisely what Auckland, NZ-based Edwards Sound Systems encountered on two recent projects. They both used the new Aero 12A line array system from D.A.S. Audio.

Edwards Sound - a full service sound, lighting and audio visual - recently took delivery of their new Aero 12A line array speakers, which are part of D.A.S. Audio's Aero Series 2 product line. These two very different projects were among the first applications for the company's new equipment.

Jonathan Hardie-Neil, managing director of Edwards Sound report

Details
UK - Grammy Award winning US producer/engineers and founding members of the METAlliance, Chuck Ainlay and George Massenburg, are to jointly host two recording masterclass seminars in London, directly after the forthcoming AES convention. The two-day sessions, to be held at British Grove Studios in West London on 26-29 May will cover aspects of the entire recording process: preproduction session planning, studio set-up for tracking, mic placement, overdubs, mixing, delivery, and archiving. They will also cover effective use of tools: microphones, analogue & digital equipment, outboard effects and plug-ins, in-the-box as well as analogue console mixing, plus detailed stereo & multichannel mixing techniques.

A live band will be present on the first day of each session. The plan is to make the whole event a very hands-on experience for everyone who attends. The event is being manage

Details
USA - One of the main elements of any live performance is the mixing console, but Memphis Train Revue, a 10-piece R&B/soul band based in Austin, Texas, and their engineer James Duvall have been successful with a new paradigm. The band's sound system is designed around Allen & Heath's iDR-32 MixRack connected to a laptop, eliminating the mixing console completely.

Memphis Train Revue is a high-energy show band that plays a lot of private events. "One of the things we specialize in is making things efficient and seamless for our clients. Everything we do can happen within the boundaries of the stage itself. Eliminating the mixing console frees up a significant amount of floor space, and that can be the difference in getting the gig, whether it's a club, theatre or ballroom," says James Duvall of Creative Engineering & Solutions in Austin, who does both the house and moni

Details
Thailand - A large Milos ground support system was utilised by Thailand based audio designers and manufacturers, P. Audio, for the high profile launch of the new Red Ant restaurant, a popular new eatery located near Bangkok's busy Suvarnabhumi airport.

The large 20 x 35m (internal stage size) structure was built from Milos's MR3 roofing product which was specially purchased by P. Audio for this occasion.

The total height of the completed structure was 15m, giving an impressive 12.5m of headroom, and a weight loading capacity of 17 tonnes for the hanging of lighting, sound and video production equipment. A full programme of entertainment took place on the stage to celebrate the opening night of Red Ant for the enjoyment of an invited audience.

All four sides of the structure can be covered by flame-proof side nets if desired, and the intention is that P. Audio will in the fut

Details
Global Music Sales - Sales of music slid by 7% around the world in 2009, new figures have revealed. But the music market in 13 countries, including the UK, grew during the past year, according to data released by recording industry body the IFPI. It added that global digital sales registered a strong increase across many markets in 2009. Susan Boyle's debut album was confirmed as the world's biggest seller of the year, shifting 8.3m copies. The Scottish star's performance was substantially up on 2008's world number one, Coldplay's Viva La Vida, which sold 6.8m. The Black Eyed Peas and Michael Jackson's This Is It followed Boyle in the rundown.

The IFPI also reported that countries which have the least stringent protection from music piracy, such as Spain and Canada, registered the most serious falls in official music sales. Improvements in anti-piracy measures in countrie

Details
USA - A new Avolites Pearl Expert is the lighting control console on the long awaited North American tour of Public Image Ltd. (PiL). Theatrical Media Services (TMS) of Omaha is supplying the Pearl Expert for the six-week tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles this month.

TMS has specialized in complete event production and state-of-the-art lighting for over 20 years. The company's principal partners have worked in entertainment production since the early Eighties. "The new Avo Pearl Expert is small with plenty of balls," says TMS vice-president, Mark Huber. "The new Titan software represents a real leap forward for Avo. PiL needed a desk with plenty of horsepower yet compact and reliable. The Pearl Expert fits the bill perfectly.

"Our new Pearl came from TMB, a supplier of ours since the early days," adds Huber. "Now TMB are the exclusive distribu

Details
UK - PLASA and L&SI magazine have joined forces with the technical team at The Centaur in Cheltenham to stage a three-day loudspeaker demonstration on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th May. The event, which PLASA and L&SI plan to be the first of many such product-led industry gatherings, will allow visitors to hear and compare a range of the world's leading professional PA systems designed for shows and events with up to 5000 audience capacity.

Over the course of three days, 12 leading manufacturers will gather at the 4000-capacity multi-purpose venue to demo' their systems. The Participants will include DAS Audio, EAW, Funktion-One, JBL, K-Array, KV2 Audio, Martin Audio, Meyer Sound, RCF, Renkus-Heinz and Tannoy.

Audio consultant Steve Jones of SJA has designed the demo format in consultation with the manufacturers involved, and will be on hand to ensure an even

Details
UK - PLASA Events confirms that PLASA Focus: Leeds 2010 has broken all records over the two days at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Visitor attendance topped 1800 - an increase of nearly 30% on last year's launch event. Thirty-three first-time exhibitors at PLASA Focus meant the show was brimming with key industry players, bringing the total to over 130 exhibitors, with both halls sold out weeks in advance of the show.

A lengthy list of new products were on show, many representing their first UK appearance following international launches, including 15 new products by Martin Professional; the SADiE 6 LiVE system; the UK debut of RCF's VSA 2050 Digital Steerable Column; Audio-Technica's updated 2000, 3000, 4000 & 5000 wireless systems; Clay Paky's first LED screen product - the Mirage LED curtain display; Trantec's Channel 38-ready S6 wireless system; GDS's latest additions

Details
UK - Housed within an old brewery bottling plant building on one of the oldest streets in Norwich, The Waterfront is a popular 700-capacity venue hosting over 100 live music events every year since it opened in 1993. The venue is owned by the University of East Anglia student union, but is run as an independent business open to the general public, and open four or five nights per week.

The venue has always offered something of an in-house PA system for touring acts, but recently secured funds to upgrade or replace its existing outdated system. It was at this point that production manager Nic Morris and the venue's in-house engineer, Lavar Bullard, discovered Tannoy's new VQ Live system through an encounter with Paul Nicholson of Red Square Audio, who made the recommendation to arrange a demonstration.

The VQ Live system surpassed all expectations with clarity, headroom and sep

Details
USA - Audio-Technica provided wireless solutions for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, taped live on Wednesday 21 April, at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, and broadcast on GMC, Sunday 25 April 2010.

Several featured performers used Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, paired with the AEW-T5400 Cardioid Condenser Handheld Transmitter, during the course of the show, including co-host Bart Millard of MercyMe; Amy Grant; Francesca Battistelli; Jars of Clay; Tenth Avenue North; Red; Donald Lawrence; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Kari Jobe; and Michael W. Smith, who led a moving finale performance of the Haiti benefit Come Together Now, accompanied by the rest of the night's artists. A-T's 5000 Series wireless was also used as part of the mic setup for a gospel medley performance, and additionally the house band used a selection of A-T hardwired microphone

Details
Canada - Wireless Solution Sweden helped Electric Aura take a carbon-friendly footstep during the 2010 Olympic Games at one of the installations found above Robson Square in Vancouver. Every night from 12-28 February, the skies overhead exploded with lights, pyrotechnics, lasers, projections and flying performers.

The project, aptly named Ignite the Dream was the creation of Partrick Roberge to be the signature show celebrating the end of each day of the Olympic competition. Lighting designer Robert Sondergaard of Electric Aura explains, "Patrick's vision was that this show had to be one of the top 10 things to see during the Olympics." The lighting, as well as all of the special effects, were designed to create a stunning 360-degree experience that would showcase British Columbia at its best.

The show was produced by Partrick Roberge Productions, with lightin

Details
UK - A syndicate of professional entertainment technology companies, including Fibre Optic Systems, AC Technologies Robe and HSL, are sponsors of Team Pyro in 2010's Elf Renault Clio Cup. The syndicate is looking for more companies to join them.

Leicestershire-based Team Pyro is already champion of the 2008 and 2009 seasons of the Elf Renault Clio Cup and for 2010 has joined forces with driver Jack Goff, reported as being one of the Motorsport News Fast 50 - one of the top 50 drivers to watch in the season.

The Clio Cup is run as part of the British Touring Car Championship programme and benefits from the huge popularity of the BTCC. It offers various avenues of media coverage including live television coverage as well as specific Renault race meetings, including the World Series by Renault.

(Jim Evans)

Details
USA - For many types of entertainment, the Paradise Theatre is one of greater New York's leading destinations and now features a new D.A.S. Audio based sound system.

Engineer Fernando Garcia of the AVS Production Group, the Bronx, NY-based production company contracted to handle sound at the Paradise Theatre, was instrumental in both specifying and erecting the massive sound system that consists of 20 D.A.S. Audio Aero 50 large format, three-way line array modules plus another four Aero 12A 2-way, compact, mid-high line array elements.

"Prior to the theatre's new management," Garcia explained, "I worked this theatre with another sound system. We constantly had problems with inconsistent sound coverage and poor speech intelligibility. The upper balcony and the rear area of the main floor, in particular, had spotty sound. The only means of even marginally addressi

Details
Germany - Pro Audio Technik, German distributor of Out Board's TiMax range of audio delay matrix and tracking products, made the company's first sale to a German rental company when it supplied a TiMax2 SoundHub and TiMax Tracker system to Sugar Veranstaltungstechnik, PA contractors of Sinzing, Germany.

The system was specified by award-winning sound designer, Thomas Strebel of audiopool, Switzerland, for inclusion on the bizarre tour of musical comedy, Die Patienten by leading Swiss comic, Marco Rima. Strebel is well versed in producing clear and source oriented sound reinforcement for performances of vast proportions and also in the round, so he and his team were perfectly at home amongst the tour madness.

Die Patienten is the story of the members of a mental care institution who form a rock band but need to escape their current closed environment to fulfil the

Details
UK - All exhibitions claim to get bigger every year but in the case of this year's ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) Theatre Show such a declaration is justified, say the organisers. Demand for space at the exhibition, which takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London from 16 to 17 June, has been so high that the organisers are having to use all available space to accommodate both new and established exhibitors.

The list of companies taking stands at ABTT 2010 covers the spectrum of products and services for the theatre production and staging market, with a strong showing from the engineering sector. This is partly due to the biennial International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (ITEAC) running in parallel with the Theatre Show but in general the increased exhibitor attendance demonstrates that this event has become the key industry sh

Details
USA - With the growing success from each of the previous Control Protocols Plugfests, the event has now become a regular part of the ESTA Technical Standards Programme meeting schedule and will return for another run in July. The ESTA Control Protocols Plugfest will be held at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Marriott Solana hotel in Westlake, Texas. The Plugfest will run three days: Friday, 23 July 2010 from 16:00 to 22:00; Saturday 24 July from 09:00 to 22:00; and Sunday 25 July from 09:00 to 14:00.

"An official ESTA event, the Plugfest is an incredible free-form open source laboratory where the goal is to improve and progress control and feedback protocols including DMX, ACN, RDM and more," explains Jule Lauve of Theatre Projects Consultants. "Colleagues and competitors convene to discuss and present prototypes and production models, to plug different manufacturers' gear i

  1. SONO chooses Barco for Spanish Pavilion in Shanghai
  2. AIR tour Europe & US with iLive
  3. Shure chosen for Teenage Cancer Trust's anniversary
  4. Electro-Voice reinforces Trondheim's Club Gossip
  5. Electrosonic acquires The Multimedia Group
  6. Ströer Kentvizyon on Turkish Metro stations
Page 1145 of 1802
Astera - Large MPU - June 2025
Sennheiser - MPU - June 2025

Latest Issue. . .