UK - MilTec (UK) Ltd report that they had their busiest PLASA show for some years, due in part to their new Mini-Map miniature LED screens.

All four days proved to be busy with inquiries from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, with clients eager to learn more about the screens, along with all the other LED products in the MilTec range. The Mini-Map has 36 tricolour pixels, controlled via DMX512. Two versions are available- the touring module has PowerCon and 5-pin XLR connectors and an M10 fixing point. The installation module is a low-profile product, and comes with a backplate and IDC connectors for quick and easy fitting.

The busy show has turned into a busy month with orders for Mini-Maps from the UK and Canada now being processed along with continued demand for the Batten2 LED batten. The Mini-Map screens are built by Miltec at their HQ in Kent, England.

"We

UK - For the second year Robe lighting was joined on its busy stand at the PLASA 2013 exhibition at ExCeL London by students from the BSc Honours courses in Lighting Design and Technology and Live Event Technology at the University of South Wales in Glamorgan.

The Robe student 'PLASA experience' scheme was initiated last year by Ian W Brown, sales manager from Robe UK in conjunction with Stuart Green, course leader from Prifysgol De Cymru (University of South Wales). It is designed to give successful applicants a taste of the high-pressure, rough-and-tumble world of trade shows and first-hand experience of this lighting industry element.

The four lucky 2013 students - Owain Jones, Heather Kirby, Greg Westwood and Beth Mae MacDonald - were selected after submitting a CV and engaging in a phone interview with Ian who comments, "They were all really high calibre." Havin

UK - With PLASA moving to its new home at the Excel Centre in East London, SSE Audio Group designed a new bigger stand for this year's exhibition. SSE were exhibiting for the first time as the combined group that includes Wigwam Acoustics.

The four day show was an opportunity to present all the different elements that make up SSE and explain how they fit and work together within the organisation. On the stand staff from Hire, Sales, Installations along with Wigwam, ETA Sound & Canegreen were all in attendance.

The design of the stand enabled SSE to display an impressive range of products at the show. Digital consoles from, Avid, Midas, Soundcraft, DiGiCo, Roland and Yamaha, speakers from L-Acoustics and d&b, SSE products including the MB4 monitor and Prosight, along with a wide range of processing and outboard equipment were all available for demonstration.

The company said

UK - Investment to upgrade the technical infrastructure of regional theatres tends to come along very rarely so, when it is available, technical managers need to choose equipment wisely. It's not enough to have a system that is good for today - it needs to cater for production needs for 10 or even 20 years into the future. When Hereford's Courtyard Centre for the Arts was recently granted funding to update its 15 year old system, a Yamaha CL3 system provided all the necessary facilities and future-proofing.

After 15 years of intense use, the audio system at the Courtyard was due for a refresh. With funding available, the venue's production manager Carl Hulme took the time to choose equipment that would take the venue far into the future, without the need for further significant investment.

"We run a diverse venue, with many art forms being presented on stage," he say

Belgium - The local council in the suburb of Brasschaat, north of Antwerp in Belgium, near the border with the Netherlands, has purchased a QSC Core 250i-based Q-Sys system with a TSC-3 touchscreen controller and QSC KLA line array loudspeakers as part of the audio system in the multi-purpose hall at the heart of its local cultural centre.

The hall and its raised stage is used for everything from public meetings to children's parties and concerts by local musicians. The staff that run the sound system in the hall are direct employees of the council and recommended the purchase of the Q-Sys system along with the KLA active line array system following a demo by the local QSC distributor, AED.

The sound system in the multipurpose hall is configured as a three-channel Left, Centre, Right (LCS) system. Two KLA12 elements are used per channel (for a total of six enclosures), and are

South Africa - St Mary's Diocesan School for Girls Kloof, KwaZula Natal, trickles with tradition and charm. This girls' school was established in 1906 and is well known for its musicals and drama pieces. DWR Distribution was pleased to install a lighting infrastructure in the school hall during the June / July holidays.

"Originally St Mary's wanted lighting solutions for three venues, namely, the school hall, a studio which is used as the drama practice room and an outdoor auditorium," explained Nick Barnes from DWR who headed the installation. Michael Broderick, a lighting specialist, consulted to ensure the correct equipment was specified. Due to pricing and budget constraints, it was decided to commence the project with the school hall only.

DWR took out the outdated lighting infrastructure and replaced this with two stage lighting bars, one FOH Lighting Bar, four

UK - To raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign, Orange Amplification is offering everyone a chance to own a one of a kind, bright pink Crush 20LDX. In addition, OrangeAmps.com will be turning Pink this Friday for Breast Cancer Campaign.

The international auction for the electric pink Crush 20LDX will start on Friday, 25 October 2013 at 9.00am GMT, on Ebay. The auction will last seven days, giving plenty of time to scrape all those pennies together for a unique amp and a good cause. To find the auction when it goes live, simply go to the pink Orange website homepage and follow the links. All the money raised from this auction will go to Breast Cancer Research.

Cliff Cooper, Orange Amplification founder and CEO said, "Breast Cancer Campaign is a cause close to many people's hearts, we all know someone who has been touched by this terrible disease. We want to support the fig

Germany - CT's recently introduced lightweight LED system has been used on three spectacular projects since its introduction in September.

The first application saw 363m2 installed as an LED ceiling for the Audi booth at the Frankfurt IAA car show. The ground-breaking stand design featured an inverted city with buildings, trees and other architectural elements suspended within the purpose built exhibit hall. The LED ceiling displayed graphical content representing traffic and movement on the roads between reflected tower blocks.

This project would have been impossible with any other LED product as the entire 363m2 system weighed less than four tonnes including purpose built super modules which allowed the display to be transported and installed in pre-fabricated sections each measuring 1.5m x 3m and weighing around 100kg.

Immediately following the Frankfurt show the system w

USA - Capture Polar lighting design software excels at helping lighting designers of all levels turn their most inspired visions into workable designs. That's why it's been widely embraced throughout the industry worldwide. Elation Professional, which distributes Capture Polar in North America, is celebrating this achievement by giving students and young designers a chance to turn their visions into designs and perhaps win some attractive prizes along the way.

The company is holding a Designing Vision contest that invites students and young lighting designers to create a stage or club design using Capture Polar software student edition. First prize in the contest is a free trip for two to InfoComm 2014 in Las Vegas from 18-20 June plus Capture Polar Extended Software (a $4,000 value). Second place prize is Capture Polar Basic Software, (a $1,500 value); and the third place prize

UK - Interactive light technology group Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) is utilising the pure-beam power of Clay Paky Sharpys to create an inspired 'light architecture' installation at a huge disused church in central London.

Ten Clay Paky Sharpys were rigged in a circle high in the disused main hall of the Welsh Church on Shaftesbury Avenue for an interactive art performance entitled Nest. The fixtures' beam was used to create an acute criss-cross prism of clean, directed light around the space. The innovative performance was based on Homer's epic poem The Odyssey and featured cutting-edge dance troupe New Movement Collective.

Robin McNicholas, one of the directors of MLF explains why the fixtures were so valuable to the performance: "The production itself was a holistic collaboration where costume would inform choreography, which would in turn influence the

The Netherlands - With its imposing Art Deco exterior, the Pathé Tuschinski in Amsterdam is The Netherlands' most prestigious cinema. Inside it has been restored to its original 1920s glory, while at the same time being extended and modernised to satisfy the expectations of 21st century filmgoers. The latest phase has included the installation of a bespoke Alcons Audio system, featuring the CRA72cst and the first installation of the company's new Sentinel 4-channel digital amplified loudspeaker controllers.

Regularly used for 'red carpet' premieres, the Pathé Tuschinski's 740-capacity main auditorium gives audiences the opportunity to watch films in luxury. Private boxes and 'love seats' are a feature, while wine and food can be ordered for at-seat delivery. As well as films, the room also hosts special events, concerts and weddings.

"Due to the high profile

UK - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a production based on the 1964 book by Roald Dahl, has been delighting audiences of all ages at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London following its premiere in May 2013. 70,000 people saw the musical in its first month with its premier attended by top celebrities from the acting world. Its run has now been extended until May 2014. The musical is directed by Sam Mendes and Willy Wonka is played by Douglas Hodge.

L-Acoustics equipment was specified by award-winning sound designer Paul Arditti, following his successful shows (including London Road and The Magistrate) using L-Acoustics equipment in the Olivier Theatre, since its installation in July 2012.

"Having heard L-Acoustics Kara in the challenging environment of the Olivier Theatre in London, I knew that this was the loudspeaker system I wanted to specify for

USA - More than 30 years after its founding, the Theatre for a New Audience finally has a new and permanent home at Polonsky Shakespeare Centre, an intimate and flexible courtyard theatre designed by Theatre Projects Consultants.

With a 22 October ribbon-cutting, the 299-seat theatre, situated at 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, proudly joined the burgeoning Brooklyn Cultural District. After more than 10 years of design and construction, the opening of the Samuel H. Scripps Mainstage at Theatre for a New Audience's Polonsky Shakespeare Centre marked the first theatre built in New York City for Shakespeare and classic drama since the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Centre in 1965.

Designed in partnership with H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, Theatre Projects sought to create a venue thats structural flexibility would allow for maximum artistic flexibility. With an orchestra floor th

Europe - Led by the legendary 'Barnsley Big Teaser', Biff Byford, hard rockers Saxon's wheels of steel have been rolling around the world on the band's Sacrifice tour since last March. Playing indoor shows and festivals in Europe, as well as for the growing trend in multi-band cruises, the tour lasts until December. A pair of DiGiCo mixing consoles is helping to rock many nations.

Jacky Lehmann runs Berlin-based audio production company Audiosound Lehmann and has worked with Saxon since 2004. Initially he engineered the band's live recordings and mixed the audio for two live DVDs, before becoming the regular Front of House engineer for the band's European shows last year. As well as his many years of experience, he brought his own DiGiCo SD9 and SD11 consoles for mixing FoH and monitors respectively.

Jacky uses the SD9 with gain tracking, plus a D-Rack and a Little Red

Argentina - A Robe and Anolis environmental lighting solution was chosen by the Argentinian government to permanently illuminate the venue hosting Tecnópolis, a science, technology, industry and art exhibition at the Parque del Bicentenario (Bicentenary Park), in Buenos Aires.

The annual Tecnópolis exhibition runs for three months and is focussed on new technologies, techniques and advances to stimulate creativity.

Buenos Aires based lighting design and service company Pampin Luces designed the ornamental, environmental (encompassing the different spaces and rooms) and landscape lighting scheme, which is based on a different concept each year.

Lighting equipment includes 36 x Robe LEDWash 1200s, 30 x LEDWash 600s, 20 x Actor 6s and eight MMX Spots all from Robe's ROBIN series, plus 120 x LEDForce PAR 18s, four CitySkape Xtremes, 40 x CityFlex 48s and 20 x Anolis ArcPad 94

Sweden - LumenRadio reports that SGM, has selected them as their chosen wireless partner. SGM have a long history of delivering high quality innovative LED fixtures for the entertainment industry, with their latest being the G-Spot, the first IP65 moving head.

LumenRadio's CRMX product line is increasingly becoming a standard feature in professional fixtures. Their patented Cognitive Coexistence continuously monitors and adapts to the wireless environment to deliver a durable wireless link in even the most challenging environments.

SGM were one of the first manufacturers to launch wireless connectivity within their fixtures, originally using another wireless technology. As part of their continuous strive for improvement, head of development Finn Kallestrup evaluated the available wireless products in early 2013 before settling on LumenRadio's CRMX technology for all SGM produc

UK - Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 saw Philips Entertainment brands - Selecon and Vari-Lite - work alongside leading venue producer C venues to increase the creative opportunities for over 170 of its international productions.

Philips Entertainment supplied a selection of the Selecon PL range of LED luminaires alongside Vari-Lite discharge and LED moving heads. All were delivered in tandem with onsite training and support throughout.

Enabling C venues to take full advantage of the creative benefits of LED in many more of its venues kit included the Selecon PLcyc1, the PLfresnel1 and the PLprofile1 augmented with the Vari-Lite VLX3 LED luminaires and VL440 Spot luminaires. In addition the VL440 Spot bought the energy efficiency of the super-bright 400-watt MSR Gold 400 MiniFastFit lamp plus a host of creative features including: powerful colour mixing, quiet and reliable strob

South Africa - An Avolites Titan Training Course was hosted at DWR Distribution's new premises in Laserpark, Johannesburg, from 21 to 23 October 2013. Due to high demand from rental companies in and around the Durban area, the same workshop will be held in KwaZulu Natal from 28 to 30 October.

24 delegates attended the Johannesburg event and DWR Distribution's Nick Britz, presenter of the Avolites Titan Training, was delighted with the response.

Topics covered included workspaces, patching, groups, controlling fixtures, palettes, playbacks, basic timings, chases, shapes and running the show.

Interest in the training event was heightened thanks to Avolites' Emma Thompson presenting a similar seminar in South Africa in 2012. As Britz and his assistant Gareth Chambers regularly train Avolites users on a one-on-one basis and provide daily technical support, the workshop was infor

UK - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire UK based entertainment technology design, installation and sales specialist EMTO, headed by Wes Matthews, has been appointed as a UK and European distributor for Foreground LED screen displays, a high quality manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China. The deal was cemented at PLASA London 2013.

Wes Matthews began his industry career aged 14 and now has 20 years' experience and hands-on knowledge at the 'sharp-end' of the industry. EMTO was founded four years ago to facilitate the supply of lighting and visual design projects in which time Matthews has established a reputation for providing well engineered, high quality, imaginative and interesting solutions for all types of venues, spaces and circumstances.

"The time is right to diversify and move the company forward and our intention is to establish the Foreground brand as a good-looking, robu

UK - Window on Wild Lindisfarne, run by the Holy Island Community Development Trust, presents visitors with an introduction to the island's wildlife. In particular, it highlights the migration of light-bellied brent geese to the island every year. The building itself offers a unique vantage point to observe the geese and other birds through a 7m wide full height window.

With the need for the display to include audio visual content, exhibition designers Conibear Design Associates (CDA) commissioned Integrated Circles to find the best solution.

Given the large amount of light streaming in through the large north facing window, Integrated Circles' technical director, Simon Beer, opted for a high grade front-projected dnp Supernova Blade, provided by the Danish manufacturer's UK distributors, Paradigm AV. He explained, "The choice was really driven by contrast ratios a

USA - Sennheiser has been honoured with the prestigious Philo T. Farnsworth award at the 65th Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards in Hollywood. The Philo T. Farnsworth Award honours an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering. The award originated in 2003 as a means to recognise Panavision's years of contribution to the film and television industries. Unlike most other Emmy awards, it is not awarded every year. The award is named after the inventor of electronic television, Philo Farnsworth.

Seven Engineering Emmys were awarded at the ceremony: the Philo T. Farnsworth Award, the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award, Engineering Emmys for YouTube, Aspera's FASP Transport Technology, Josh C. Kline for creating Digital Dailies, iZotope RX Audio Repair Technology and Previzion Virtual Studio

Australia - A while back Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College in Alice Springs opened a large auditorium complete with a stage suitable for a variety of productions.

During the initial build of the auditorium, four Jands JLX lighting bars were installed; three in the stage area and one front of house. Jands also supplied winches, curtains, wiring and a Jands WM wall mounted patch panel system.

More recently Top End Sounds supplied an ETC Source Four package including eight Source Four Zoom 15-30Deg Profile, six Source Four Zoom 25-50Deg Profile and six Source Four Fresnel including gel frame and barn doors.

"The ETC fixtures have been excellent, absolutely fantastic!" commented Ian Clarke, property manager at the school. "They've made a huge difference to the professionalism of our performances."

For lighting control an ETC SmartFade compact co

India - London based projection artist Ross Ashton designed and specified the large format projection elements of a new permanent immersive multi-media spectacle in Delhi, at the Guru Tegh Bahaur Memorial on the NH1 highway at Singhu Border.

Ashton and Himanshu Sabharwal, his business partner in TricolorIndia, were commissioned by the Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation (GTDB) to create the piece, for which Sabharwal was the overall show director.

Their brief was to create an immersive experience that had a universal spiritual appeal to people of all faiths, and that could work harmoniously with the new age minimalist architecture of the monument.

TricolorIndia delivered the entire technical infrastructure involved including projection, lighting and audio. Hailed as the largest installation currently in India, the challenge was to ensure that the substanti

UK - Each year, before the start of the official NBA season, a selection of friendly pre-season games are played. This year, ahead of the season opener on 29th October, eight international games have been held in Europe, Asia and South America.

XL Video, working for event producer, STS Touring Productions, supplied LED screens for the Oklahoma City Thunder v Philadelphia 76ers game at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester on 8 October.

The four flown screens were situated in the centre of the arena, allowing the audience on all levels to have a great view of the fast-paced on-court action. The screens not only showed live action from the courtside cameras, but displayed score graphics, player profiles and other game information.

XL Video selected Pixled F-6 LED for the screen as its high resolution offered the audience excellent picture quality. The product is also lightweight an

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