Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
PLASA Show 2025 - Banner - June-Aug 2025

Business

Details
UK - Philips and the Society of Light and Lighting are again sponsoring Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance's successful 2014 Junior Ready Steady Light competition.

Held at the College's campus in Sidcup on Saturday 15th March 2014, 12 teams of students from School Sixth forms & Further Education Colleges are invited to light up the grounds and buildings, in a spectacular display of light and colour.

The day begins at 11.00am and finishes at 9.00pm; this year Rose Bruford College aims to attract 12 teams, made up of 5 year 12, 13, or FE students to participate in a full day of activities that lead up to the final competition and prize-giving ceremony.

This is an exciting opportunity for young people interested in science, art, design, technology and technical theatre to compete with each other; they will need a creative eye and to be excellent collaborator

Details
USA - Nearly 90 contemporary works of light, sound, performance and projection art recently transformed the downtown Dallas Arts District into a new media art exhibition called Dallas Aurora 2013. Syncrolite, a Dallas-based theatrical and architectural lighting manufacturer, played a role as one of the lighting exhibits in this 19-square-block event.

Syncrolite provided a system of ten 8000 watt XL xenon lighting fixtures to illuminate the 1 Arts Plaza, one of the highlighted locations for the multi-sensory and participatory experiences.

On the 18 October event day, Troy Eckerman programmed the XL fixtures, while a Syncrolite team - including Steve Washington, Jesus Vigueria, Pete Martinez, Arturo Ruiz, Shawn Rodney and Isaac Cantu - installed the system.

All of the XLs were positioned on the sidewalk, across the street directly opposite 1 Arts Plaza. The 10 fixtures were gr

Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

Details
USA - At the new Terminal B at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a self-powered 48 V Meyer Sound loudspeaker system in the south concourse has raised the bar for audio fidelity and flexibility. Despite large reflective surfaces and tall ceilings, announcements and music are projected with a crispy clarity rarely heard in transportation facilities.

"The audio quality, intelligibility, and uniformity of coverage are distinctly better than most terminals across the country," says Ulf Lueders, Terminal Services group manager of the Houston Airport System (HAS). "With this upgrade, travellers can enjoy the various concessions without having to worry about missing a flight announcement. Higher quality also allows the concourse operator to choose from a wider variety of background music, without being restricted to the 'elevator music' compatible with

Details
USA - While the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards attracted press coverage for its outrageous performances, the show made headlines among professionals for its creative staging, too. Clay Paky Sharpys and Sharpy Washes lit up the stage at Barclays Centre, Brooklyn where artist and designer KAWS reimagined the VMAs' iconic moonman statuette.

"For the 30th anniversary of the VMAs and its first time in Brooklyn we were celebrating Brooklyn and Brooklyn artist KAWS, who redesigned the moonman as a 60-foot inflatable silver statue that towered over the main stage," says lighting designer Tom Kenny. "I wanted to make it feel like you were in a gallery or museum honoring his work - it's an unusual idea for an awards show, but MTV is always on the edge."

To achieve his goal Kenny deployed a large complement of Sharpys and Sharpy Washes supplied by VER. "I had extrem

Details
Italy - Slovakia's Leader Light was used in a new cycleway in Pero in the Italian region of Lombardy.

The cycle path is a new installation which is situated near the Milan Exhibition centre in Rho (the Province of Milan) with a length approximately 1.5 km. The cycleway crosses the A4 Highway.

The Milano Province designed the original project with 66 pieces of LED lighting with total system power of 30 W. These luminaries were replaced by Leader Light's LED street lighting. They used only 56 pieces of LL STREET PS 20W 4000K GAG in 6 m height and six pieces of 6 PCS LL STREET PS 20W 4000K GAG in 3.5 m height with flux detuned of 30%.

"Our solution of street lighting is on a really high level, we are still working on some innovation and this project is good example how cities can save operating costs for lighting in the range of 50 % to 75 %, " said managing director

Details
USA - First opened in 1928, the Capitol Theatre is the oldest and second largest venue in Madison, Wisconsin's Overture Centre for the Arts complex, which today encompasses seven performance facilities and four art galleries. Despite undergoing a major renovation project eight years ago that halved the historic vaudeville house's capacity to approximately 1,100 seats, the Capitol's sound reinforcement system hadn't been updated for nearly two decades, prompting the recent installation of a new L-Acoustics amplifier and loudspeaker package.

According to Capitol Theatre technician Brian Anderson, the new system design is comprised of 10 Kara enclosures per side, each complemented by an additional hang of six SB15m subs creating an ultra-compact and lightweight flown three-way system. The Kara arrays are covering both balcony and orchestra level seating areas thus eliminating the n

Details
South Africa - Continuing Lighthouse Technologies' global expansion, four LED screens have been installed on the main access roads to the Dube TradePort precinct in South Africa.

With one of the screens located directly in the flight path of incoming air traffic at the King Shaka's International airport in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, safety, control and durability, were of prime importance for the project.

As well as a rigorous electrical and mechanical specification, Dube TradePort required full control over the screens. For this reason, commissioning of the system included a series of brightness tests covering all light condition permutations during the 24/7 use. To ensure all criteria are met, each Lighthouse LED screen is independently dimmable and fitted with automatic brightness controllers.

Supplied and maintained by South African-based system integrator System Sol

Details
UK - Renowned lighting designer Rob Sinclair has used a Jands Vista L5 lighting and media control console to deliver an atmospheric visual feast for the latest Peter Gabriel Back to Front world tour.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of hit album So, the tour spans Gabriel's illustrious career, including a performance of the album in its entirety and features the original So live 1987 band line-up. It is described by the innovative artist himself as a 'three course show'.

In response, Sinclair's inventive and dynamic lighting kicks off with the house lights up, then slowly slips into performance mode. Sinclair chose to use Jands' Vista control platform for a number of reasons: "Firstly, it's fast and instinctive to use. At The O2 arena, London I needed to modify every cue for filming and it only took me a couple of hours."

Secondly, the latest V

Details
USA - Fusing traditional local music with Europop, contemporary rock and an unusual fixation with Scotland, Austrian quintet Die Lauser has a remarkably large fanbase. Playing around 120 shows a year with DiGiCo consoles, the band's recent foray to the USA proved how effective the company's new SD Convert software is.

Die Lauser mixes traditional acoustic Austrian instruments with keyboards, drums and guitar... and bagpipes. The result is the kind of clap-and-stomp-along anthems for audience participation, making the tartan-toting band a favourite at festivals throughout Austria and Germany. This year the band took its special sound to the USA, headlining each of the four nights of the annual German Fest (billed as Milwaukee's Original Haus Party). Normally, the band tours with DiGiCo SD8 mixers. However, the popularity of the console meant an SD8 wasn't available, but the abili

Details
USA - Although a recent college graduate, Matthew Sakatos already knows where his lighting design preferences lie. "I really like to focus on EDM events," says Sakatos, who majored in a digital film and production major at the Art Institute of Charlotte and now works as an audio-visual designer for Eye Dialogue. "The reason I like EDM shows is because they give you the freedom to get as creative as you want to get," he explains. "The lights and production are almost the focus of an EDM event. So it's a really cool way for your art to be appreciated instantly."

These days, Sakatos' art is being appreciated by the growing fan base of Gets F*cking Weird, a free-flowing interactive EDM event that features top North Carolina electronic artists and DJs, along with aerial dancers, magicians, and other wildly costumed performers. Sakatos met GF*W frontmen R

Details
USA - When the first-ever Life Is Beautiful music, art and food festival, took over 15 square blocks of downtown Las Vegas on 26-27 October, Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) was on location providing frequency coordination for the more than 80 musical acts, performers and media outlets throughout the two-day celebration.

In its inaugural year, the Life is Beautiful festival featured a diverse line-up of musical acts from a variety of genres including The Killers, Kings of Leon, Beck, Vampire Weekend, Imagine Dragons, Janelle Monae, Passion Pit, Jurassic 5, Danny Brown, Childish Gambino Pretty Lights, STS9 and Empire of the Sun, to name a few.

"PWS was happy to be part of this new festival, and while we have extensive experience in providing frequency coordination for events of this size and scope, it was not without its challenges," says Jim Van Winkle, general ma

Details
Sweden - LumenRadio reports that they have been granted the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent for their Cognitive Coexistence technology (US 8,457,023).

The granted patent covers all of LumenRadio's CRMX product lines. LumenRadio's Cognitive Coexistence technology allows the radio to ensure optimum performance even when other wireless systems are operating in the same area.

"Being granted this patent shows that we have a truly innovative and unique technology, which has never been seen before. We now have our technology protected, which gives our customers confidence that they really are buying the most reliable wireless system on the market. I can reveal that we have more patents coming up in the near future," explains Niclas Norlen, CTO of LumenRadio.

(Jim Evans)

Details
The Netherlands - Matching the breadth of customer needs with innovative technology and dependable service has kept Dutch AV specialist Nieuwenhuis at the top of its game for nine decades. For 60 years the company has relied on Sennheiser equipment. With its most recent purchase of the new Sennheiser LSP 500 PRO PA system, Nieuwenhuis endorses its successful collaboration with the German audio specialist.

Established in 1926, the rental company Nieuwenhuis is a family-run company just like Sennheiser. Since its inception as a manufacturer of microphones and amplifiers, the company has thrived throughout its history through a commitment to innovation and early adoption of the newest technologies, transforming into a rental and sales business. Today, the company focuses on the professional and business markets with a particular focus on delivering solutions for conferences as well

Details
The Netherlands - Orbital Sound, the specialist supplier to the broadcast, theatre, event and entertainment markets, reports that it has supplied the sound system for the Dutch production of the hit musical Jersey Boys, featuring the music and story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and with sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy. The system deploys the Meyer Sound Mica compact high-powered curvilinear array speaker, supported by d&b audiotechnik E0 compact speakers.

This is the first foreign language production of the show, which obviously presents the sound team with its own set of unique challenges over and above the conventional issues of the venue. Associate sound designer Andrew Keister provided an insight into this production, which opened recently at the Beatrix Theatre in Utrecht:

"Jersey Boys today is in a place that we couldn't have dreamed of

Details
UK - From Here To Eternity, the new musical based on the celebrated 1953 film and 1951 novel, has just opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End. Produced by Tim Rice, who also penned the lyrics, the show features music by Stuart Brayson and book by Bill Oakes. The show is using lighting equipment supplied by entertainment lighting specialist White Light.

Bruno Poet, the show's lighting designer, has enjoyed a widely diverse career, encompassing everything from opera (including a long involvement with Garsington Opera) to plays (including the acclaimed Frankenstein at the National Theatre, for which he won both an Olivier Award and a Knight of Illumination award) to concerts such as the recent tour by Icelandic band Sigur Rós - for which he won another Knight of Illumination sword this year, in the Concert Touring category.

On From Here To Eterni

Details
Italy - Regulating their electro acoustic parameters in the fastest possible way, when necessary in an extreme and even enjoyable manner, has become an indispensable requirement.

The question Outline staffers asked themselves before developing the solution for this issue was the following: how could the "dialogue" or interaction between system engineers and loudspeaker systems be improved?

This question led to another: how could this control be made easier, more enjoyable and more powerful than it had ever been in the past?

And also: was it possible to control a line array (completely) with just a tablet, and no other kind of aid?

These ideas were at the basis of Outline's iMode - The Intelligent Digital Loudspeaker Multi-Control Platform -- and the company has now decided to dedicate a Web site to ensuring the technology involved is fully understood.

"On

Details
World - Heavy metal icon Black Sabbath continues its Reunion Tour in Latin America, Europe and the UK with a large complement of Clay Paky Sharpy and Sharpy Wash lights. The tour celebrates the band's reunion last year and supports their album 13, the first with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978.

"Sharpys are the ultimate eye candy," declares Michael Keller, lighting programmer for Baz Halpin, the tour's lighting designer. "They create such a visual display that they combat most videowalls. They're one of the few instruments that can cut right past them."

Halpin is utilising 42 Sharpys on the tour with two pods of 4x4s and 10 fixtures on the ground, says Keller. "They're very sturdy and rugged and have never had a failure. They're bulletproof lights with very powerful lamps. The prism is great and the gobos are amazing. Anything you want to do with them

Details
South Africa - Robe's latest LED moving lights are being used in great style to light the current series of So You Think You Can Dance in South Africa, which is being recorded at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)'s Renaissance Centre venue in downtown Johannesburg.

Lighting is designed by Robert Grobler from Gearhouse South Africa (GHSA). The 24 x Robe DLX Spot and 24 x DLF Wash fixtures being used on the show are part of a new investment in Robe's latest technology by GHSA, the country's largest rental and full technical production facility. This is their first show.

Using these, plus other Robe LED luminaires, has reduced the power requirements by a third form the previous series - as a result they have dropped from a 300 to a 200 KVA generator for lighting power. It's also the first TV show in SA to feature an almost all LED moving light rig.

The po

Details
Italy / Chile - Luci della Ribalta has reinforced its distribution network in South America by appointing the company Iluminacion Profesional Valook SA as distributor for Chile.

The new distribution partnership was announced during PLASA London 2013, following a meeting had at LDI show in Las Vegas. "

Fabiano Besio comments, "Chile and Italy are located on the opposite side of the pond and I'm happy to close the gap between these two beautiful countries and to have a prestigious company like Valook to represent us in Chile. It's a pleasure to deal with people that share the same enthusiasm and passion for light."

Alejandor Cortez, sales manager at Valook commented, "LDR match with the existing portfolio of solutions that we can offer to our partners and their customers. With this product in the range we are now capable of completing our offer for the thea

Details
New Zealand - PA company, High Definition Audio Visual Ltd (HDAV), has invested in two Allen & Heath digital consoles, a Qu-16 rackmount mixer, and the new GLD-112 with accompanying AR2412 and AR84 for additional stage and FOH I/O racks.

The Auckland-based firm has added Qu-16 to its hire stock to manage a forthcoming national corporate roadshow that will have a corporate element as well as a performance in each city by the band Moorhouse, a recent X Factor NZ contestant.

The GLD-112 system was purchased to service events in the corporate and entertainment sector. On its first outing the GLD-112 was required to handle 18 channels of corporate inputs and 22 channels of band and DJ inputs. In the coming months, the console will be managing acts such as Reece Mastin, Tiki Taane, and the Dozen, along with a host of high profile corporate events..

"This was an easy purchase

Details
South Africa - At the start of the year AFDA, one of the leading film, television and performance schools in Africa, opened a campus in Durban. DWR Distribution's Nick Barnes was pleased to recently provide a lighting installation, using Philips Strand technology, for a small film at their small television studio at the institution.

The Philips Strand LED Studio Panels are a sensible choice for students who can use the units both inside the studio and on location and for control a Philips Strand 200 Plus Series console has been supplied.

AFDA, the trading name for- The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, was established in Johannesburg in 1994 and offers internationally recognized degree programmes.

With a Cape Town campus in operation since 2003, it was with great excitement that AFDA finally open her doors in Durban on 4 February 2013. AFDA'

Details
Germany - This summer water was the real star at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, where the largest water show in the world, called Made in Germany, is produced and choreographed. Four performances were held during the week, each one consisting of extraordinary effects using more than 70m of fountains and 15m of firework displays. All accompanied by a spectacular light show.

Lighting designer Andreas 'Mini' Mertens used 18 Clay Paky Alpha Profile 1500s, 14 Sharpy Washes, 30 Sharpys, a grandMA2 full-size and two MA Network Processing Units (NPU).

On the subject of event lighting management, Mertens said, "We placed moving heads in special floating housings on the surface of the water, so that they fit in with the two elements, water and fire, to create effects very similar to constellations. A complete 3D model of the outdoor Autostadt environment was built on the grandM

Details
UK - Buckinghamshire New University relied on HHB Communications Ltd. to supply, commission and install a diverse range of professional audio equipment to meet the needs of recent studio upgrades.

HHB's experience supplying Pro Tools HD technology was invaluable in identifying the most cost effective Avid products, including the latest version 11 HD software, HDX hardware, two Pro Tools D-Command consoles and two C24 consoles. HHB also provided installation services, fitting the new hardware and adapting cabling.

Buckinghamshire specified new technology for the expanded curriculum that covers developing trends in audio production, such as loudness monitoring and surround sound music mixing for picture. As such, HHB also supplied TC Electronic TM7 TouchMonitors stand-alone loudness meters and the LM2 Loudness and True-Peak Meter software, in addition to SoundField surround soun

Details
UK - Ever since setting up his new leisure company, No Saints' CEO Steve Thomas has applied his extensive experience in nightclub operation to achieve the perfect mix; and central to this is a killer lightshow. He wasted no time in renewing his relationship with SGM supremo Peter Johansen - and from his first Wonderland outing (in Surrey) has turned increasingly to the LED solutions offered by the Danish manufacturer to deliver the wow factor.

SGM UK has now provided design support for system integrators, Cosmic Electronics, who have installed another SGM 3D pixel extravaganza (along with other SGM effects) in the newly-opened Faces in Wolverhampton, on the site of a former Oceana.

Having stood empty for around 19 months this landmark building has now reopened after undergoing a £750,000 refurbishment.

In common with earlier themes, Faces contains two dance rooms split

  1. Eclipse invests in new ShowLED technology
  2. SGM LEDs shine on Cancer Research runs
  3. GDS ArcSystem revolution at Bastille Opera House
  4. PLASA announces 2013 election results
  5. Blitz in focus for wildlife photography awards
  6. Clay Paky at the Nature One Festival
Page 1537 of 1803
Astera - Large MPU - June 2025
Sennheiser - MPU - June 2025

Latest Issue. . .