UAE - Sennheiser Group reports the use of its newly launched Digital 9000 wireless system at the recent Bruno Mars and Paloma Faith concert held at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on 12 April 2013.

The Digital 9000 is the result of the largest R&D project in the company's history and this event marked the first time that the revolutionary system was used for a live concert in the Middle East. In addition, a number of Sennheiser's wireless systems, microphones and in-ear monitors were used at the concert, as per the technical rider outlined by the production teams of both the performers.

Mig Cardamone, sales and marketing manager at Sennheiser Middle East commented, "Bruno Mars' appearance in Dubai has been a widely anticipated event given the singer's immense popularity. Delta Sound, who provided the equipment rental for the show, were commissioned to ensuring the very

Mexico - Legendary LD Jonathan Smeeton was at the sound:check Xpo in Mexico City to 'present and be presented'. On the 'present' part, Smeeton gave a lighting seminar sponsored by Elation Professional to a standing room-only crowd at the large Mexican show. Later, he was presented with sound:check's 2013 Technical Achievement Award for lighting.

"This was the 12th of the sound:check Xpo Awards. It's the only event in México where engineers from the show business industry are awarded for their professional achievements in different segments such as audio, video, lighting, staging," said Jorge Urbano, CEO of sound:check Magazine. "Jonathan Smeeton was chosen because of his long professional career inside the lighting industry and because he still been in force designing for today top artists... Jonathan is a nice example for everyone in the show busine

UK - ETC is showing a range of new and updated products at this week's PLASA Focus in Leeds:

The Source Four LED Studio HD is designed to perform in a high definition production world where people (with varying flesh tones) need to look their best. The fixture combines exceptional light output with an ultra-flexible, variable white light (2700K-6500K), for more accurate colour rendition on camera, and uses the colour technology of ETC's Selador x7 Color System for a more spectrally complete white light that can be finely tuned to the on screen talent.

Source Four Mini is the tiniest Source Four ever, and is designed for small-scale installations, like low ceiling venues or puppet theatres, as well as museums, shops, theatre lobbies and restaurants, or those which need an extremely low-profile fixture that can easily blend into an architectural or artistic design.

The new ES1

USA - For the eighth year in a row, CAST Software has sponsored the USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) Southwest Student Design Competition, an annual event which recognises young talent in the categories of Lighting, Sound, Set and Costume Design, Stage Management and Scenic Technology.

Each year, CAST bestows the winner of the Lighting Design category with an educational wysiwyg license, and announces that this year's winner is University of Oklahoma student, Leahe Knott, who scooped the prize for her work on Peter Oswald's translation of Friedrich Schiller's play, Mary Stuart. In a review of the production for the University's Routes website, Laurel Dix noted, "The purity and subtlety of Leahe Knott's lighting draws out each brilliant bit of colour from Lloyd Cracknell's sumptuous costumes."

Knott herself explains: "The story of Mar

UK - Building on an unparalleled figure of pre-registrations, PLASA Events welcomed a record number of visitors at the Royal Armouries last week as PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 opened its doors for two days of unique access to the newest and most innovative products on the market.

As the sun came out in Leeds, visitor numbers broke all previous records, hitting a total of 2376 over the two days - an increase of nearly 12% on 2012 - demonstrating once again the size, strength and enthusiasm of the entertainment technology community in the north of England.

Amongst the many companies unveiling new products to the UK were Martin Professional, showing the first luminaire from RUSH, their new effects lighting product range, and White Light presented the latest CORE Lighting ColourPoint LED uplighter, whilst Artistic Licence premiered their new range of smart modular dimmers, sunDial alo

UK - PLASA returns to 195 Piccadilly - the iconic home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) - on Thursday 30 May for its 2013 European AGM. Over 200 members and guests are anticipated at the event, which will include a review of the achievements of the last 12 months and an outline of PLASA's aims for future development.

The AGM is of great significance to the Association and the ideal occasion for every member to ensure that his or her voice is heard. It is this feedback that enables PLASA to react positively to the changes and challenges that members face in order to act effectively on their behalf.

Important decisions were made through 2012 to support and safeguard PLASA's future including moving the PLASA Show to Excel London, investing in new software which will provide members with new self-service features and enable much easier participation in As

UK - PLASA Focus: Leeds saw the first UK outing of ArrayCalc V7 from d&b audiotechnik, arguably the most useful addition to audio mapping yet. Enabling the acoustic simulation of d&b line arrays with point source loudspeakers and an export function to the d&b R1 Remote control software; ArrayCalc V7 now simplifies the process for those planning sound system design, creating remote control workspaces and configuring d&b amplifiers.

Meanwhile full houses in the Bury Theatre saw lively sessions from Oran Burns and Steve Jones as they addressed the thought processes that lie behind the choice of loudspeaker for a given task. Oran's Demystifying Audio Techniques allowed the attendees to gain a better understanding of what constitutes a well behaved loudspeaker and how it affects what the listener hears, whilst Steve continued the theme by exploring further the relationship bet

USA - With less than two weeks until the doors open at PLASA Focus: Orlando 2013, taking place at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, on 15-16 May, 2013, exhibitors have been busy releasing details about the products they will have on display at their booths.

Robe Lighting will introduce four new additions to the Robin Series; the Robin Pointe, Robin MiniMe, Robin Cyclone and Robin CycFX. The Robin Pointe is a new dynamic beam, spot and wash fixture which features include a 5 to 20 degree zoom with full focus control, variable frost, two separate prism effects, a rotating and static gobo wheel, and built-in color wheel. The RobinMiniMe is an effects lighting luminaire with the addition of full video output, driven by a 20,000 hour lifetime source. The Robin Cyclone is an innovative effects moving head product that has an integrated fan in the center of the head surrounded by a ri

USA - Visitors to PLASA Focus Orlando will be the first in the US to get an up-close look at the newest members of Martin Professional's award-winning MAC Viper Family, as well as the first fixtures in Martin's all-new range of affordable effect lights - RUSH.

Join Martin May 15-16 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort Booth 321 to check out these latest Martin innovations, network with industry professionals and enjoy a relaxing chat with Martin personnel.

A host of other Martin lighting products and control solutions will also be on display.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Following the success of the theatre-related seminars at the ABTT Theatre Show last year, a key element in the expansion of the Association of British Theatre Technicians' event this year will be extra seminar space to accommodate over 100 people at a time and more than three times as many seminars as last year.

ABTT Seminars 2013 include a range of subjects ranging from advice on theatre training and practice to informative updates on recent regulations, and will run in two separate rooms within the exhibition over the two days of the Show in June.

Live entertainment, whether commercial or educational, must comply with regulations. Are you up to date? One seminar examines proposed changes in licensing legislation, which may have considerable impact on the way venues operate. Another seminar focuses on the latest news and advice from the HSE on relevant safety issues, and

USA - Stage Technologies is once again supplying a hands-on Automation course for the 2013 USITT Elite Training Weekend in Las Vegas from 9-11 May. The Automation course will cover an introduction to automation, introduction to operating and programming the eChameleon software, and will also include a hands-on look at Stage Technologies winches and control systems.

The Elite Training Weekend, which takes place annually at the Cirque du Soleil training facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, includes classes in Automation, Rigging, Sound, and Projection for a limit of eight students each. Students, selected by application, spend days with trainers and evenings backstage at Cirque du Soleil shows. Applicants are USITT members who are studying at University.

Stage Technologies' VP of business development, Gemma Guy said, "We enjoy taking part in the USITT Elite Training Weekend becau

USA - Elation will be showing a spread of new products at PLASA Focus: Orlando next week.

EZ6 LED Video Panel is a high-resolution 22.7" x 22.7" indoor video display panel, powered by premium Tri-Color 3528 SMD LEDs, that delivers a 6mm pixel pitch, 1,800-nit brightness and 960 Hz refresh rate, allowing it to produce sharp, clear high-definition graphics, text, logos and images. Yet it is also very affordably priced, light weight and easy to assemble, making it a suitable choice for nightclubs, concert venues, live stages and exhibit halls..

The smallest and fastest LED moving head ever created by Elation, the Rayzor 7 delivers "unsurpassed brightness for its size (11 lbs., 9.25" x 5.5" x 12.5"), a razor-sharp 7° beam angle, smooth Quad-Color RGBW color-mixing, and new high-speed 3-phase motor technology that makes its eye-popping beams litera

Australia - ENTECH has officially confirmed that Karl Ruling, PLASA's Technical Standards Manager will make his only Australian appearance at ENTECH 2013 this July.

Ruling has spoken at numerous international shows around the world and recently spoke at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, the USITT Conference in Milwaukee, and LDI in Las Vegas, to some of his largest audiences to date. Karl Ruling as an Industry guru administers the ANSI-accredited Technical Standards Program and writes about standards, legislation, technology, and trade shows for PLASA's members.

Ruling has developed his education seminar especially for ENTECH, entitled, International Standards in a Globalised but Not Homogenised Entertainment Industry: Reflections on Cooperation.

The session will talk about the various forms of international standards, how they are developed, how they serve or fail to se

UK - After last week's PLASA Focus event in Leeds, Peavey Commercial Audio have been delighted with the reaction to the Digitool range of multiprocessors which were shipping the day following the show.

"Orders specifically for this product have been fantastic," commented Mark Coombes sales manager for Peavey Commercial Audio. "We knew the range would be a hit for us there but the response has been even better than we could ever have hoped."

The Digitool is now available in the following models: the MX16, featuring eight inputs and eight outputs; the MX32, featuring 16 inputs and 16 outputs; and the LIVE, featuring eight balanced XLR inputs and outputs for live-sound FOH applications. These all-new Digitool processors feature an updated, more powerful DSP engine, full-colour LCD screen, enhanced front-panel navigation, individual input and output mutes, and

USA - WATCHOUT Premium Partner, Show Sage, will be exhibiting at PLASA Focus: Orlando - booth 209, Wyndham Orlando Resort, Florida, 15-16 May 2013.

The major release for Dataton in 2013 is WATCHPAX. Combining all the show-timeline, control and image-manipulation of the company's successful Dataton WATCHOUT software with a compact embedded computer, WATCHPAX is now shipping.

Dataton WIRETAG, which plugs directly into the WATCHPAX media-player module allows direct integration of a WATCHOUT show with Dataton's PICKUP audio guide system. Simply point and click at the WIRETAG with a PICKUP audio guide, and you jump straight into the show soundtrack at the correct point in the show.

Jim Testa, President, Show Sage, adds, "The North American market for Dataton's products is in very robust health and we are very excited by the attention WATCHPAX is getting from customers, curre

UK - Philips Entertainment's four premier brands - Showline, Vari-Lite, Selecon and Strand Lighting - are powering up to exhibit their latest LED luminaires and lighting control products for theatre application at this year's ABTT (Orange Hall, Old Truman Brewery, Stand 123).

Following its UK debut at PLASA Focus in Leeds, Philips Showline will be promoting its SL NITRO 510 LED-based strobe, delivering superbright, intense bursts of light and dynamic effects using over 1300 high-powered LEDs. Six unique zones of control allow ultimate flexibility while unique built in chases aid in creativity and simplicity. With over 68,000 lumens of output, the SL NITRO 510 rivals conventional strobes and retains dynamic looks whether washing a stage or pointing directly at an audience.

Sister company Philips Vari-Lite will be demo'ing the recently released Indy software for the VLX Wash lum

UK - Orbital Sound plans to show a full house of international pro audio brands on Stand No: 129 at the ABTT Theatre Show 2013 (Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, 12-13 June).

As Clear-Com's and HME's exclusive UK distributor, Orbital will be spotlighting the full range of high performance wireless intercom systems, including the latest version of the Clear-Com HelixNet all-digital intercom platform, and the popular HME DX210 radio comms system.

In its capacity as an authorised d&b auditotechnik sales and installation partner, Orbital will be highlighting the highly successful T-Series compact line arrays, alongside a selection from the brand's extensive range of small, high performance loudspeaker systems.

The TheatrePro miniature microphone range is specifically designed for theatre applications. The latest models include the E-60MP low profile earset microphone, feat

Sweden - PLASA's first ever networking event in Scandinavia, PLASA Focus: Backstage Malmö, was a huge success, with over 240 delegates attending from across Scandinavia and northern Europe.

Devised in conjunction with technical director Ola Melzig and the production team behind this year's Eurovision, this unique event aimed to combine unprecedented backstage access with seminars, Q&A sessions with key members of the production team and a technology showcase to highlight the cutting-edge sound, lighting, projection, video and control systems in use on a show which will have a television audience in excess of 100m people.

After the event, Melzig said, "What a success! All partners and visitors I've talked with are super happy about the quality of this show, and its visitors. It was really great to share the experience and show what is going on backstage to so many peo

World - Fleetwood Mac are back on the road and a grandMA2 console has joined the iconic band on the Fleetwood Mac Live 2013 World Tour. The new tour, which began in Columbus will wrap in Australia in December, marks the first for the band since 2009's sold-out Unleashedtour. This year is also the 35th anniversary of their Rumours album, one of the most successful in recording history.

Lighting designer Paul "Arlo" Guthrie of Minneapolis-based Toss Film + Design is Fleetwood Mac's long-time lighting designer. "I have to cater to four different personalities (Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) and bring them together as one team," he explains. "For this show we have four big soft box panels and 32 Clay Paky Sharpy Washes on curved lighting pipes, some of them on the floor, some on the rigs and some in pods that c

Russia - Moscow's Satirikon Theatre opened its 2012-2013 season with a production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Konstantin Raikin. Raikin, the theatre's artistic director, has not staged Shakespeare's timeless love story at the Satirikon since the mid-1990s, and the new production has been hailed by critics and theatregoers alike for its innovative, high-tech, and ultramodern approach. The impressive visual effects created by ETC Russia using Christie projection equipment meld seamlessly and naturally with the on-stage action.

As Ruslan Semenov, general director of ETC Russia, explains, "It took our team a month and a half to prepare the video content for the show. The work was done on stage under the direct supervision of Konstantin Raikin. Daily rehearsals with the theatre company enabled us to achieve unique synchronisation between the video elements and the act

USA - For the 16th year in a row, a broad range of Audio-Technica microphones was selected to outfit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A-T supplied over 50 mics to capture the music for the 28th annual induction ceremony, which took place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Inductees included Rush (longtime A-T supporters), Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, Public Enemy and Donna Summer. Non-performing honourees included Lou Adler and Quincy Jones. The show will be broadcast on HBO, Saturday, 18 May.

Eight channels of Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System were used with AEW-T3300 handheld microphones/transmitters for frontline vocals throughout the evening, notably on the evening's finale by Chris Cornell, John Fogerty, Dave Grohl and Ann Wilson.

The Rush performance had a particularly strong Audio-Technica presence, with R

Switzerland - Moving lights from Robe's latest Robin MMX and DL Series ranges were utilised by lighting designer Michael Grundner for the world premiere of Moses - The Ten Commandments, a new musical extravaganza by Michael Kunze and Dieter Falk being staged at the Theatre St. Gallen in Switzerland.

The creative brief for Grundner's lighting design was to mimic the style and genre of the show - 'contemporary rock and pop with gospel elements' - for which the theatre decided to purchase the new system of Robe moving lights.

The package comprised eight MMX Spots, two DLS Profile, two DLX Spots and 16 DLF Wash fixtures, all of which were specified by the theatre's head of lighting, Andreas Enzler and his deputy Andreas Volk ... on the recommendation of Grundner among others, and were delivered via Robe's Swiss distributor, Audio Tech.

They decided on Robe because they so

Australia - Concert & Corporate Productions in Western Australia supplies lighting equipment and crew to some of the most prestigious corporate clients as well as national and internationally recognised touring acts. As CCP continues to grow stronger, larger, and to increase their inventory, their equipment choices tend to be driven my market demands.

"As our industry is spec driven we have to go by what people are wanting and most of the specs we've seen in the past eighteen months have requested Vari*Lite VL3000's or higher," commented Sean McKernan, general manager at CCP. "To purchase some was just a natural progression for our path of where we wanted to go."

In February Concert & Corporate Productions took delivery of 24 VL3000 Spots and eight VL2500 Washes which have seen action on a wide variety of events from Celtic Thunder, Neil Finn & Paul Kelly t

USA - Bandit Lites had the privilege of being the first to light a concert at the University of Georgia's Sanford Stadium, where ACM award winner Jason Aldean played to more than 60,000 people. The 90-minute set, which was filmed for a DVD release, included a surprise visit from rapper Ludacris and a virtual appearance from Kelly Clarkson.

Award-winning lighting designer, Aaron Swetland faced the singular challenge of having to adapt his already massive rig for television with an additional 88 Sharpys, 20 Syncrolite fixtures, 34 3500 washes, 20 MAC Auras and 24 Bandit 5x5s. Giant artwork scrims were added above stage right and left with 30ft trusses above them, while a 60ft lighting truss was placed centre downstage from the usual downstage truss for television lighting.

For his inaugural stadium show, Swetland focused on filling the space while being mindful of the challenges

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