Japan - The 1,300-capacity Anzu Hall Cultural Centre in Koshoku City has undergone a dynamic sound system refurbishment based around a QSC network and monitoring system. The multi-purpose Anzu Hall - situated inside the City Hall complex - hosts a wide variety of cultural events. Ueda JRC carried out the installation, supported by ComodoMattina Inc, QSC’s Japanese distributor. The company’s Takafumi Asahina says: "Originally, the client didn’t have a clear idea of what they wanted, and so we recommended QSC’s QSControl (pronounced Q’s Control) network audio control solution as being the most progressive way forward."

The QSControl remote management system, a RAVE Ethernet-based signal transport design, and CX Series amplifiers form the hub of the project. With four of QSC’s new ISIS 102W loudspeakers also commissioned for the task of

Russia - St Petersburg’s council chamber, situated within the city’s monumental Marrinsky Palace, has undergone a two-year renovation, including newly installed sound and video equipment. The ‘Grand Hall’, as the chamber is known, has the most problematic acoustics - a case in point being a reverberation time of around 3.5 seconds.

Ruton S, the Russian Electro-Voice distributor, was the firm entrusted with the responsibility of bringing the venerable 19th century hall into line with the high standards of modern communication, and one of the first tasks was to install a conference and voting system - of which the sound reinforcement system was a major part. After conducting simulations (using EV’s EAMS software), Ruton S decided on a set-up which not only offered excellent sound quality as well as compact dimensions and an elegant appearance. The sys

UK - As the exclusive UK distributor for Czech manufacturer - Cue, leaders in the design and manufacture of integrated multi-media remote control systems, beyerdynamic GB, has supplied Wentworth Golf Club with a sophisticated control system. Set in over 700 acres of beautiful rolling Surrey countryside, Wentworth is recognised as being much more than a Golf Club offering events and meetings facilities, a Health Club, Spa, and full banqueting for up to 280 guests.

As part of Wentworth’s first refurbishment phase, Legrand Electric Ltd specified the Cue lighting control system for its magnificent Ballroom, Hali-Burton room and The Masters room. Pivotal to the system design was the Assistant controller, specified by Legrand’s Mark Moody for its integrated control, aesthetics and competitive pricing.

Mark Moody explained: "We were introduced to CUE quite recently b

UK - There is something quite poetic about a conservatoire dedicated to creativity and artistic excellence, being built on the site of a former rubbish dump. This is the case with the recently opened Laban Centre in Deptford Creekside, South East London.

Laban is the world’s largest purpose-built contemporary dance centre, standing amidst a bleak environment of industrial sites as a beacon of creativity for the local community. Comparisons here with the Phoenix rising from the ashes are obvious, but apt.

Designed by Herzog and de Meuron, the prize-winning Swiss architects behind the Tate Modern, the building project cost around £20 million, primarily provided by capital Lottery funding. At the recent launch it was obvious that the building is a highly visible focus for the ongoing social and physical regeneration of Deptford and the surrounding areas.

Rudolf Laban, a

Australia - Spanish loudspeaker manufacturer D.A.S. Audio's systems have been used in the refurbishment of two famous hotels in South Australia. Built in the early 1800s, the Lion and Royal Hotels conserve the elegance of the period while integrating the latest in sound reinforcement systems.

D.A.S. distributor for Australia, Magna Systems & Engineering, provided the numerous D.A.S systems for BSS Light & Sound, responsible for the installation of the products in two of the most historic and well-known hotels in the city of Adelaide. The recently-renovated Lion Hotel has installed D.A.S. Factor and Dynamics series products throughout.

At The Lion, while a modern glass and chrome bar complements the bluestone facade which is a landmark in North Adelaide, the barn-like drinking hall of the early 80s and the gloomy eating areas of the past have gone - replaced with a stylish rest

UK - Arbiter Pro Audio has supplied installation company The Music Room with a large quantity of JBL speakers for an innovative project at a massive new Chinese restaurant/noodle bar - Hong Kong City - in new Cross, south east London.

Hong Kong City’s owner, Mr Su, acquired the site - formerly a dusty old pub - and had it completely gutted and transformed it into a lively, bustling new venue seating 300-plus people. Packed to the gunnels throughout the week, Hong Kong City is capitalizing on the current community-wide trend for Asian fast food and haute cuisine.

A high quality sound system was an essential element of the mix: Su turned to Gordon Gapper from the Music Room to produce a system appropriate for the environment, in which karaoke is also a key element of the evening’s entertainment. Music Room’s Dean Watkin then produced the sound design and specif

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was recently appointed by London-based Production House PAV, to help realise the dramatic set for a sensational one-off club night - The King of Clubs - for brand giants Budweiser.

Staged at London’s famous Old Billingsgate market, the event concept was inspired by the Budweiser King of Beers’ commercial, and King of Clubs was the culmination of a point-of-sale campaign by the company. Re-igniting the spontaneous party spirit of the late 1980’s rave scene, over 3,000 invited guests met at a central London location, before being whisked away by boat to Billingsgate - the first time the venue has been used as a club.

Blackout’s Project Manager, Chris Brain collaborated with Paul-Ant Viollet of PAV Productions, to realise his design, which took references from the ad campaign. Blackout provided massive quantiti

UK - Lightfactor Sales has supplied leading sound, lighting and AV installation company CGA with an new lighting rig to revamp the famous Pantiles nightclub in Camberley, Surrey.

Pantiles, owned by independent local entrepreneur Bob Archer, has maintained its popularity thanks to a flexible mainstream music and door policy. CGA’s Chris Gunton has been supplying equipment, service and technical support to Pantiles for some years. The club’s current manager, Matt Highton comes from an engineering background and therefore understands the importance of good technology and production values.

Last year, it was time to upgrade Pantiles’ moving light system, so Gunton suggested Highton take a good look at what was available at PLASA 2002. When he reached Lightfactor’s stand and saw the SGM fixtures, he knew he’d found the moving lights he wanted! "

Switzerland - Geneva-based Skynight and Nexo's Swiss distributor Zap Audio have completed the installation of a Nexo GEO S sound reinforcement system at the Geneva Stadium in Switzerland.

Nexo's pedigree in sports stadia is well-established, with venues such as the Stade de France in Paris and the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, using different Nexo loudspeaker products. Drawing on the success of a stand-alone GEO S system in the commercial village outside the Stade de France, the 35,000-capacity Geneva Stadium has become the first to use Nexo's flagship GEO technology as the main SR system.

The original specification followed very conventional lines, calling for 120 x 15 degree loudspeakers spread under the roof, with 60 amps located in one position. Cabling runs were enormous, and the project called for two people to spend three weeks, just hanging the loudspeakers. The

USA - Turbosound's QLight products are making a difference to the sound quality at San Francisco's high profile W Hotel. Installed by local specialist Zebra Sound, the hotel's new loudspeaker systems were supplied through Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, Turbosound's US distributor.

The project involved the installation of various Turbosound components in several public areas of the W San Francisco, a hotel located close to the city's Moscone Centre and Museum of Modern Art, in the downtown South-of-Market neighbourhood. Part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts group, which also includes the Westin, Sheraton and Four Seasons chains, the W hosts entertainment events in the Atrium, XYZ Bar and Restaurant.

"We had an arrangement with the W to provide sound reinforcement rental services," Megerssa elaborates. "They handle major events attracting up to 1,500 people.

UK - Metropolis AV has completed a cutting-edge sound, effects lighting and AV installation in Manchester at Lucid - the first of a new genre of multimedia concept venues.The unusual concept was developed by the Canadian-owned MagicCorp Group, and is expected to be subject to a selective roll-out. Metropolis was asked onboard by Lucid’s technical director, Nick Meacham, to implement the technical infrastructure that he’d helped design.

Metropolis’s brief also included the design of an integrated operating system for all things technical in the venue. The Metropolis team was headed by Simon Harris, and included site manager Stuart Clowes, technical director Shane Winterbourne, design project manager Martin Geraghty and installation engineers Shane Stanley and Ian Benstead.

The open plan venue has three levels, including a 1200-capacity Function Room/Showroom;

UK - CIE-Audio and Armstrong World Industries have announced the launch of the ‘i-ceilings Sound Systems Approved Installer Network (iSSAIN) initiative - the latest development in the i-ceilings (intelligent ceilings) initiative.

A new concept in integrated acoustic ceiling systems, i-ceilings is the latest development from Armstrong, the world’s leading manufacturer of ceiling products. i-ceilings utilizes flat panel speaker technology to provide a unique loudspeaker system which exactly matches Armstrong’s market-leading range of suspended ceilings, to combine their existing aesthetic and passive acoustic qualities with the audio benefits provided by NXT.

Announcing the launch of the i-ceilings Approved Installer Network, CIE-Group marketing manager Chris Edwards explained: "The partnership between CIE-Group and Armstrong World Industries has brought t

UK - Following the Sound Division Group’s recent sound and lighting installation at the American Community School in Egham, Surrey, the company continues to build upon its reputation in the educational market with the completion of another comprehensive sound and lighting installation at Islington Green school in North London.

Islington Green is a large county comprehensive facility that educates over 1,000 students in the heart of one of the most culturally diverse areas of London. Sound Division’s brief was to provide a system for the main hall that was capable of handling everything from speech reinforcement to live and pre-recorded music in a variety of situations, including awards ceremonies, assemblies and drama productions.

As a result, the company specified and installed a Crown-driven ElectroVoice sound system based on EV Sx300 loudspeakers supplemented

UK - Based in Kirkmichael, Scotland, GAB Audio Engineers specialize in installing high quality sound and AV systems in places of worship, council chambers and concert venues. They also have a thriving hire division catering for small to medium PA requirements. Among the gamut of products they have specified from the Martin Audio catalogue, the C115 surface-mount architectural enclosure rules supreme for the style of installation in which they specialize.

In fact GAB have just installed six in a 100V line distributed system, discretely mounted in the Grade A-listed Garnethill Synagogue (the oldest in Scotland), for concerts and school festivals. A further four grace the ornate meeting room at the Merchants Hall in George Square, again in the centre of Glasgow and the listed Meeting Chambers of one of the city’s oldest institutions. "The aesthetic styling and performanc

Germany - Labelled as an urban entertainment centre where shopping and leisure are combined under one roof, Space Park in Bremen, Germany, looks set to attract millions of visitors each year as it prepares to open in early 2004.

The theme of the park is, not surprisingly, Space - a choice that was not arbitrary, since Bremen is Germany’s second most important centre for aerospace technology after Munich. As well as a multiplex cinema with seating for 3,600, a space disco and Hotel Saturn, Space Park Bremen will also include Space Center, an attraction which informs visitors about current developments in space research and provides a taste of what it feels like to train as an astronaut. With such a high-tech futuristic theme for the park, the technology controlling it needs to match, which is why ETC equipment was chosen, even before the lighting designers were brought on b

UK - Highfield Church in Southampton has installed Allen & Heath's recently-released iDR system to manage its live sound reinforcement. The system has enabled the church to establish automated sound settings for the many and varied events that take place in the building.

iDR is a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) audio system for fixed installation into any type of venue. It comprises a range of hardware units, wall plates and remote controllers which build into integrated systems, all set up using iDR System Manager software. Control parameters are saved to patches, which may then be recalled by the operator using front panel keys, remote wall plates or virtual wall plates using PL Designer software.

Highfield Church's original installation was constructed around a DR66, which provided the core signal routing, room EQ and delay processing. The Church tailored its new system to

UK - Enlightenment has recently completed a further installation of ADB Eurorack 60 digital dimmers at the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham, Lancashire. The installation comprises of 192 3kW and 24 ways of 5kW all-digital dimmers, a comprehensive DMX Network and outlet facility panels. The production lighting is controlled by an ADB Phoenix 5 control desk, previously supplied by Enlightenment, with the remainder of the lighting systems (house lights, working lights and independents) being controlled by two ADB Netbuses.

In addition to providing control of the generic lighting the ADB Netbuses also provide real-time fault reporting, remote programming and system wide control of the entire dimmer installation. All dimmer functions including the recording and playback of 20 memories, patch, dimmer testing, and dimmer curve settings, etc, can all be accessed via the ADB Netbus.

The ADB

USA - The Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has announced that the draft American National Standard BSR E1.7, Entertainment Technology - Recommended Practice for the Design and Use of Manual Systems for Flying Performers, is available for public review until 29 July 2003.

The draft standard describes recommended practices for lifting and transporting performers to create the illusion of flying or levitation in theatrical performances. Anyone that has an interest in flying effects with live performers is invited to review it and offer comments. Public review and comment is being sought so that the draft standard may reflect the consensus of informed opinion in the industry.

The standard is a project of the Rigging Working Group, part of the ANSI-accredited standards committee E1, Safety and Compatibility of Entertainment Technical Equipment and Practices.

UK - It's been billed as an opera which has to be seen to be believed, and when you become aware of the plot, you'll understand why. Based on America's most lurid talk show, which brought worldwide television audiences programmes entitled 'Pregnant by a Transexual', 'Here Come the Hookers' and 'I Refuse to Wear Clothes', it is packed with swear words, tap-dancing Ku-Klux Klan members, a gay black Jesus and a God who resembles Elvis - the critics are having a field-day.

Also noteworthy, though attracting less press attention, is the fact that this is the first new opera for both creator/composer Richard Thomas and the National Theatre, chosen by incoming National Theatre director, Nicholas Hytner, to premiere as his first production in the Lyttelton Theatre.

Lighting designer Rick Fisher was first involved with the show when it premiered at Edinburgh last year. The production h

UK - The Coronet, a 2,100 capacity, three-level multi-purpose entertainment facility, opened recently in south London. The venue’s £2m refurbishment programme is one of the first in a series of regeneration projects in the vicinity of Elephant and Castle, SE1.

The building in which the Coronet is housed was built in 1872 as the Theatre Royal. Following a fire, it reopened in 1879 as the Elephant & Castle Theatre, seating over 2,000 people. It was here that Charlie Chaplin first took to the stage as a child, and, in fact, the pub next door is named after the silent movie hero. Later remodelled as a 2,315-seat cinema (1931) and modernized as an ABC cinema (1967), the venue became The Coronet in 1997 - eventually closing in 1999.

Jeremy Millins, MD of the Pure Group, realized the potential of the venue two years ago. He contacted investor and theatre producer Dominic Madden, who

UK - Arbiter Pro Audio, exclusive UK distributor for JBL, has supplied a variety of JBL audio elements to the new Luminar Leisure flagship multi-scene Oceana venue in Kingston-on-Thames.

The 2,200 total capacity venue has an multi-themed environment, with seven imaginatively designed rooms, ranging from the jazzy, still-life, red French Boudoir suite to the massive 1,000 capacity Vienna Ballroom. The latter is complete with an enormous chandelier centrepiece, opulent feeder bar hall and grand sweeping staircase entrances.

Audio contractors were Liverpool-based Over Audio, who chose JBL speakers for Oceana's main areas - the Vienna Ballroom and the New York Disco area. The requirement for powerful large-volume enclosures for the spherical Vienna Ballroom, which also has a large baclony/VIP area, prompted the selection of JBL Sound Power SP225-6s to make up the room’s two

Russia - The Cinema Art Hall, located in the Siberian city of Norilsk, is the latest example of the international spread of D.A Audio products. Bossman - the D.A.S. Audio distributor for Russia - was responsible for the project, installing D.A.S. products in this large, multi-purpose venue.

The 700-seat theatre is considered as the main auditorium of this modern facility, which hosts mainly theatrical events and movie screenings. Bossman opted to install two different systems to work independently, depending on the type of function. When used for conferences, theatre or concerts, the equipment used consists of self-powered Compact Systems built into the building structure. The main front-of-house system is comprised of eight Compact 2 Systems (Compact 2 plus Compact 18 Sub) placed four per side. The powered systems simplified the installation needing only signal and AC-power. On

France - Nexo GEO S cabinets have been installed in the Ice Arena in Valence, near Grenoble in France. As part of an extensive refurbishment programme of the venue, Lyon Audio Equipement has designed and installed a new sound reinforcement system, using a combination of PS8 and GEO S805, driven by Yamaha PC Series amplifiers.

The Ice Arena is used regularly for ice hockey, accommodating an audience of 850 for matches. The auditorium can be re-configured for ice shows, increasing its audience capacity to 1050. Providing coverage for the ice surface itself are eight Nexo PS8 compact full-range cabinets, bi-amplified by the PS8 processor and four Nexo LS400 power amps. For the audience seating, Bernard Maigre of Lyon Audio Equipement has specified two clusters of three GEO S805 tangent array cabinets.

"There is a truss, what you could call a bridge, that runs the length of

UK - Thanks to a unique new integrated system soon to be installed as part of a major refurbishment of the Blackwall Tunnel in London, by Tyco Integrated Systems of Cambridge and Tyco Control Systems, motorists will now be able to listen to radio programmes and receive radio messages (RDS) and PA announcements about traffic conditions, incidents or emergencies while in the tunnel.

In an emergency, special radio break-in messages on RDS car radio can provide information or instructions, and the Public Address system makes sure that people hear messages even during an evacuation. CCTV cameras will also allow tunnel operators to monitor traffic throughout the tunnels. The entire system is controlled via a single SCADA integrated control system provided by Tyco Control Systems which links all the facilities together - it can even deliver pre-recorded messages automatically when sens

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