With song-based music currently poised to make a major comeback, the recent growth of London’s Bayswater showcase venue, Tall Poppy Presents, has seen the venue become one of the hottest spots in town for A&R people and unsigned artists. Faced with a demanding, critical audience and international performers whose potential careers depend on the best possible sound quality, Tall Poppy has chosen FBT MaxX4a active PA speakers, supplied by UK distributor Proel (International).

The venue, situated at Henry’s Bar/Restaurant in the Henry VIIIth Hotel, Bayswater, is hosted each week by Canadian singer-songwriter Lee Lindsey, who performs her own material as well as introducing performances from a string of artists. The music is often demanding and the audience is fussy. Responsible for getting the sound right is guest engineer, record producer, Jack Guy. Jack (whose recording cred

Pensacola Christian College has recently completed a top-level facility at its Florida location. Designed and installed by All Pro Sound, a design/build contractor located in Pensacola, the facility comprises a comprehensive array of sound reinforcement, recording and broadcast systems, which were installed in the College's Crowne Centre over an 11-month period, and include over 160 Turbosound loudspeakers.

Conceived as a multi-purpose state-of-the-art facility, the Crowne Centre is the College's newest development and contains a large, 6,035-seat auditorium, with a flexible below-balcony area that can be divided into three separate 600-seat seminar areas. The auditorium's 33-metre two-storey stage includes a rotatable section, and has a frontal area that can be configured in four different formats. The Centre also houses two 200-seat wedding chapels, hospitality areas and classrooms,

Home to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for the past four years, Benaroya Hall recently installed ten Soundweb 9088ii digital signal processors as part of a discrete new vocal reinforcement system for its 2,500-seat S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium. CCI Systems of Olympia, working closely with the Harman Professional Projects Group (HPPG), provided the system’s design and installation.

Two of the BSS Audio processors are utilized to provide DSP, EQ and delay for a new central cluster of custom JBL loudspeaker enclosures powered by existing Crown Macro-Tech MA5002VZ amplifiers. A third 9088ii does likewise for speakers addressing the stage lip and orchestra/monitor sections. The remaining seven processors are similarly called upon to provide individual delays, EQ and signal processing for 56 JBL HTI6 speaker boxes, all driven by a rack of Crown CP660 six-channel power amplifiers

While the sensory experience of Dolby 5.1 surround sound has become fairly commonplace, few have experienced the benefits provided by its latest-generation 15.1 successor. Such a system is due to open later this spring at Legoland California, when the 128-acre theme park north of San Diego unveils a new four-dimensional, large-screen video attraction at its LEGO Showplace Theatre.

The show, which will prominently feature white-knuckle automotive thrills as provided by the Lego Racers, will utilize a pair of 12,000 lumen Panasonic PT-D9600U projectors to convey its visual drama, and 16 PowerLight amplifiers from QSC to fuel its larger-than-life 15.1 surround sound. While El Segundo-based Edwards Technology was made responsible for installing the theatre's video and audio systems, Legoland California’s own technical guru Paul Beach will oversee daily operations. Commenting on the s

A collaboration between ScanAudio, LMC Audio, BSS Audio and Kelsey Acoustics has resulted in an ambitious pilot scheme to allow monitoring of epileptic patients at St. Pier’s School in Lingfield, the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy.

The system - designed to alert staff both visually and audibly to a possible emergency situation - is networked via BSS Soundweb 9088 digital devices. In standby mode, the block of six rooms is monitored using boundary microphones installed above the bed heads. The control panel features audio activity LED to indicate which room or rooms may need attending, while staff are able to use the visual monitor to identify which room to listen to more closely, using a solo room-select button. The threshold sensitivity of the microphone may be adjusted so that unwanted background noise is not relayed to the loudspeaker monitor.

Following the s

One of the UK’s most notable dance venues, the Middlesborough Empire, has continued its systematic sound upgrade with Martin Audio by turning the upper circle of the famous old theatre into a self-contained 500-capacity ’70s themed venue. Co-owner Barry Faulkner confirmed that a new Blackline system had been imported to complement the powerful Wavefront rig (eight W8C, 12 WSX subs) downstairs, which pumps music from the nation’s top DJs into the 1100-capacity main auditorium.

The club’s relationship with Martin Audio began when design engineer Rod Short joined the High Wycombe-based manufacturers back in April 1995. Rod had designed the original club system at The Empire, while working with his previous company - but quickly turned the club round to Martin. This time around he designed a system which was supplied through Dial Sound & Lighting in Yorkshire. Four

Hull company Tega has recently completed the installation of sound and lighting at Hull University Union’s new venue, ‘Asylum’. The union building, dating from the seventies, has never had a proper venue for events, and until recently the refectory area was pressed into service. This was far from ideal as equipment had to be removed after every event, and the ceiling height was less than 10 feet.

The long-awaited new venue has been designed by Big Blue and features a large stage, sprung dancefloor, DJ booth and bar area with permanently installed sound and effects lighting. Tega have worked closely with the University on many events in the past, and, as a result of their good support service, were awarded the sound and lighting contract. The main sound system uses the Union’s eight existing EAW KF650 boxes, which are flown above the stage on custom-designed fram

Dramatic changes are taking place in the middle of Birmingham. Much of the city centre appears to be under construction, and - as increasingly seems to be the case in such projects - the civic redevelopment has been led by the artistic facilities at its heart: the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre has recently completed a development project that lasted almost two years.

Following a £24 million National Lottery Award through the Arts Council of England and further support from the European Regional development Fund, Birmingham City Council, donations from businesses and individuals and funds raised through appeal, the project has seen practically every part of the building reworked. The foyers were demolished and re-built providing greatly improved access, including lift and disabled access, together with a restaurant and other catering facilities - all wrapped within a design that feel

A surprise last minute decision from Lord Falconer, Minister of State at the DTLR, agreed with Save London's Theatres Campaign's request to 'call-in' Westminster’s decision to demolish the Westminster Theatre. Falconer's finding has given new heart to the campaign which had all but given up hope of a reprieve for this unique theatre and arts centre. The final decision on its fate will now be in the hands of the Secretary of State following a full Public Inquiry which is likely to take place this summer.

The Secretary of State has declared that he is 'very selective' about 'calling-in' planning applications, and usually only takes this step if 'planning issues of more than local importance are involved' and 'that the application is one that he ought to decide himself because he considers the proposals may conflict with national and regional policies on important matters.' This vin

CP Sound, the creative audio design and installation specialist, has completed two major projects in Manchester. Both are new build venues within a few hundred metres of one another, and both now feature sound systems designed by CP’s Colin Pattenden, featuring a variety of JBL speakers powered by RSE amplifiers.

At Waxy O’Connors, part of The Printworks complex, the acoustic challenge was to produce a clean multi-layered system. The Waxy’s site is a busy, good looking labyrinthine complex of passageways, spaces, snugs, small meeting/drinking rooms and several bars, spread across four floors. A stunning stripped wood, sculptured tree stretches up through a high atrium space slicing vertically through all four floors. Pattenden - who has also designed and supplied sound for the very successful Waxy’s sites in London and Glasgow - has used a mix of JBL speakers, i

Moving Pictures is a new touring exhibition exploring the experience of going to the cinema and watching television, celebrating both the past and present, as well as looking to the future of digital technology.

The exhibition showcases favourites from the extensive collection of film and television material held by the BFI chosen from thousands of films, programmes and production materials. David Atkinson Lighting Design was contacted by Land Design Studio to come up with a cost effective, flexible and dynamic lighting design to cope with the scope and scale of the exhibits, as well as the touring schedule. Land devised a bespoke modular steel system, with the resulting architectural solution having something of a warehouse feel.

As the designers wanted to use colour to define areas within the exhibition, Atkinson chose to use a large quantity of Encapsulite fluorescent fittings,

With recent revisions to Building Regulations concerning conservation of fuel and power coming into effect, UK architects and building design professionals will be pleased to hear that a design advice service offered by the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPp), to improve the energy efficiency of all building projects is available to them free of charge.

Design Advice offers all organizations, from both public and private sectors, free, objective advice on how to maximize both the financial and environmental benefits of providing quality built environments with minimum operation costs. As part of the campaign, Design Advice is offering free independent site energy assessments for new build and refurbishment projects with a floor area of 500sq.m or above. The assessment will be undertaken by one of a network of 160 specialist consultants and will assess every aspect of the

Marquee Installations have carried out the latest audio-visual fit-out for Six Continents, in their roll-out of the Edwards brand. In Swindon, they have again chosen the combination of Mackie and EAW components, following the design model originally created with Orritt Electronics.

Marquee Installations' Mark Brown says that all the installations include multiples of Mackie Monitor 8s and 5s, underpinned by MSW8 subs, providing the environmental sound on both the ground and first floors. "We choose these because they are compact and discreet, produce a good sound and have a wonderful tonal balance."

On the dance floor, they specify EAW speakers in the form of JF290Zs, reinforced by FR250Z subs. The four mid-highs are flown while the pair of bass bins are ground-stacked. Brown adds that correct speaker positioning is vital in achieving the transparency of sound that Six Cont

Today, the Scottish Parliament will move to Aberdeen for a week. This will be the first time ever that the Parliament has met in Aberdeen, Scotland’s third largest city and the oil capital of Europe. While in its temporary home, the Parliament will score another first, using virtual studio technology, installed and operated by Metro Ecosse.

Using For-A’s state-of-the-art digiWarp-EX technology, Metro Ecosse has created a virtual parliamentary newsroom from which material will be webcast on the Parliament’s website. The virtual studio will provide a modern news setting for a variety of interviews and features, and will incorporate a video screen depicting a virtual image of the Parliament’s new Holyrood site, currently under construction. There will also be a computer-generated image of the interior of the new building, from which the presenter can continue studi

Cadac Electronics Plc reports that it is supplying four J-Type Live production consoles in a prestigious contract with Singapore's brand new Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, which opens on 12th October this year, following a 10-year multi-million dollar building project.

The J-Types will be used in two spaces - in the main 2000-seat theatre and in the 1600-seat concert hall - with each space having a console located in its own dedicated control room, plus another console for the FOH mix position. This is complemented by two floating 24-input extension frames that can be deployed whenever needed. The desks arrive on-site in early June, with Cadac working closely with Esplanade's sound team to provide on-site training sessions to ensure a smooth, fast commissioning process.

Production Manager Kenny Wong explains: "Our mission is to make Esplanade totally accessible. It may sound

Lightfactor Sales has supplied the majority of the lighting fixtures for two completely new floors and a refitted entrance area at the famous Madame Tussauds Waxworks exhibition in Amsterdam. The supply includes a wide variety of instruments - nearly 500 James Thomas MR16 ‘Birdies’ with integral dimmer - chosen for their neat, unobtrusive appearance; MAD ITM moving lights; LDR Tempo fresnels with long-life bulbs; Optikinetics GoboPro fixtures, and customised Thomas PAR 36 and 46 cans, utilizing 12.8 Volt halogen sealed beam units - to produce a tight, crisp beam. These lights are mounted on custom Internally wired bars also manufactured by James Thomas.

Lightfactor also supplied AVR colour-changing down-lighters and special connection cables, surface-mounted UV fittings, chandelier bulbs and several hundred metres of three-circuit tracking. LightProcessor Power Station II d

During a total refurbishment of The Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford, technical director Andy Mahaffey selected the Special Projects division of A.C. Lighting Ltd, to install the architectural lighting and audio solutions.

The first stage of the project involved architectural lighting, comprising clusters of three 500W fresnels, each fitted with an amber filter; these were used to give a soft glow of light to the stage and bar area. The second stage covered the event and effects lighting system; this employs custom internally wired bars, all with switched and dimmed outlets, as well as DMX connections. A Jands Event 24/120 console was also supplied, which provides control over all functions of the system. The audio requirements were the final stage of the installation and AC were handed the brief of providing infra-red hard of hearing systems in both the theatre and cinema complexes

Marquee Audio has recently installed the entire sound system in the basement nightclub area of the new Home Bar and Restaurant in Shoreditch. Covering five zones in total, four F12 Martin Audio Full Range 12" + 1" multi-angled enclosures have been installed in the DJ area, along with an Allen &Heath DJ Mixer and control equipment, which includes a BSS Electronic Crossover. Two F8 Martin Audio Blackline 8" speakers have been mounted in the bar, two in the VIP area and a further two in the lower entrance. Neil Gregory, who runs the venue with partner Des Byrne, said: "Marquee were recommended to me by the people at Canteloupe and we are very happy with what they have done. They put the whole spec together, recommending the Martin Audio speakers, and we are delighted with the overall sound system."

(Ruth Rossington)

Nearing the end of an ambitious one billion dollar expansion project, the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, has installed Drawmer gates and compressors at FOH and monitor positions in each of its three venues. The Mohegan Tribe created the casino in 1996. At twice its original size, it is one of the largest casinos in North America, boasting over 360,000 square feet of gaming space, 20 restaurants, 30 shops, a 3,000 square-foot children's space, and its own gas station!

The Mohegan Sun's size and grandeur is complemented by three top-notch performance venues: the existing 350-seat Wolf Den, the new 300-seat Cabaret, and the new 10,000-seat Mohegan Arena. Mohegan Sun attracts national acts of the highest caliber, and everyone from Janet Jackson to Gloria Estefan to Aerosmith to Tony Bennett has graced the Mohegan Sun stage. Lead audio engineer Gene Mulcahy explained that ch

Pro sound company Podd Sound of Kingston has installed the entire sound system in new club Oval in Wood Green. Conceptualised and developed by six friends including Radio 1 DJ Spooney and Choice FM’s Patrick Berry, the club/bar replaces a Greek banquet hall on the High Road.

Incorporating various theme nights including R&B, 70’s and 80’s music, Greek nights and an Iranian disco, as well as offering the stage to new talent/unsigned acts, the club will host various guest DJs, along with regular appearances from house DJ Nick Smood, Radio 1’s Dreem Teem DJ Timmy Magic and DJ Spooney, amongst others.

Included in Podd Sound’s installation within the dance area and VIP area are four Martin Audio Blackline H3 top cabinets and four Blackline S218 sub enclosures - two stacks each on either side of the stage - as well as HK DJ monitoring, three Technics systems, a

The Lebanese city of Batroun, approximately 25km north of Beirut, has been enriched by another attraction, ‘Void’ - a 700-capacity club which is one of the largest and most modern discotheques in the region. In only a few months, the owners, brothers Joseph and George Nader, converted an old cinema into an exclusive nightclub. At the centre of ‘Void’, which occupies two floors, a large, round bar made of steel visually dominates the ground floor. The floor above is balconied so that guests on the upper floor can watch the dancers below. On the upper floor are two further bars, as well as additional seating. The upper dance floor is in fact the rooftop of the round bar. Sound design and installation were provided by Lebanese HK Audio partner, Backstage Music, with Camiel Geagea primarily responsible.

For the main dance floor, six LP 118 1x18" direct-loaded s

As official communications partner of Manumission for the third year - Orange has teamed up with Vestax to provide a dramatic sonic makeover for Bar M. Their commitment to the Bar M faithful is plain to see, with the installation of a mighty full-range Turbosound rig. There are 14 TQ-310 two-way speakers fitted in three independently controllable zones, plus three THL-828.2 sub units. The BBS amp racks are accompanied by a Yamaha digital control unit.

But it’s not just the punters that Orange has thought about - in conjunction with numerous DJs and industry anoraks, they have designed, built and installed a DJ booth to rival all others. The ‘enjoymusic’ booth features three Vestax PDX 2000 turntables, a PMC-400 mixer, a DFG-X2 three-band isolator unit below each deck and a DCR-1200 isolator with anti-phase on the output below the mixer and all complimented by a pair o

Audio contractor Live Business International (LBI) worked from 11pm throughout the night in sub-zero temperatures and several inches of snow in order to refurbish the audio system at Xscape Snozone, a youth leisure complex in Milton Keynes. Xscape Snozone, headed by former Millennium Dome boss P Y Gerbeau, is a major installation featuring food courts, bars, shops, clubs, a multiplex cinema, gymnasium and a climbing wall. The centrepiece is an indoor 170m long ski slope, complete with real snow, up to 12 tons of which is generated each night by 16 'snow guns' and is kept frozen by a mean air temperature of -2°C and eight miles of under-snow cooling pipes.

While the whole of the complex had its audio system updated, the ski slope had a completely new system installed. LBI has extensive experience of using Technomad Vienna weatherproof loudspeakers in harsh environments, such as the dec

The Deep is Hull’s £45.5m Millennium project and a central part of the city’s regeneration programme. Supported by a grant of a cool £21.5 million from the Millennium Commission, the world’s first ‘Submarium’ has been designed by Sir Terry Farrell and features various aquaria, a business centre, a lifelong learning centre and research facility.

The venue boasts the deepest water tank in Europe. This, and its 11 other tanks, are home to seven species of shark and thousands of fish. These tanks range in size from the ‘Endless Oceans’ tank holding 2.3 million litres of salt water to the smaller ‘Jewel’ tanks which hold just 1 cubic metre. The design consultant for the exhibition was John Csáky Associates, whilst the lighting consultant for the exhibition and exterior lighting was DHA Design Services, with Peter Fordham as project l

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