UK - Media City’s new Content Studio and co-working space at White Tower in Salford offers a blank canvas for influencers, photographers, producers, film makers, and other creatives, where they can share ideas, collaborate on projects, and make connections.

An important feature of the new Studio is its audio system, which was delivered by experienced Salford-based specialists Hollowsphere AV, who recommended and installed a Pioneer Pro Audio system from the company’s CM-Series of commercial audio products. With a brief to provide a system for background music and performance, the system needed to provide warm, clear sound, whilst also having the aesthetic qualities to discreetly complement the Content Studio interior.

Adrian Ball of Hollowsphere comments: “We were recommended for this project having completed a previous job at Media City’s Ho

UK - After receiving a generous grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of the Creative Research Capabilities Project, Professor Andrew Knight-Hill (Professor of Music and Sound Arts) and Dr Dave Hockham (Associate Head of School Student Success) commissioned the Stage Electrics team for two new installations.

This government investment into creative research practices recognises the significant contribution of the creative industries to the UK economy and has sparked innovation in the University of Greenwich’s creative research community.

Speaking about the Bathway Theatre, Professor Knight-Hill stated: “The vision for this space was to create a flexible environment that fosters possibility - allowing people to realise whatever they can dream, breaking the concept of a traditional stage, and dissolving the boundary between stag

UK - Bespoke wedding and events venue, Blackbrook Barns in Sussex found its match in the Optimal Audio ecosystem which married its need for a simple-to-use system with the delivery of a diverse range of audio styles – from the soft melodies of a ceremony to lively evening celebrations – across the multi-zoned venue.

The venue team needed an audio system that would keep pace with the ebb and flow of a meticulously planned wedding day and a key challenge was the creation of an experience that covered a range of uses, including background music, speeches, live performances, and live DJs, without complicating operation to ensure that staff could focus on delivering a flawless event rather than managing a complex sound system.

Local installer Richer Sounds, with the support of Logan Helps from Audio-Technica, designed and installed an ecosystem that w

UK - The ISCVE has announced the appointment of Jim Smith as its new president, officially introduced at this year’s ISCVEx event.

Smith brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the audio, communications and AV industries and at ISCVEx, he shared his gratitude and optimism for the future of the Institute.

“I’m deeply honoured and excited to take on the role of president of the ISCVE. I look forward to building on the strong foundations already in place and supporting the delivery of key initiatives, such as the Good Sound Charter and Training for Microphone Users. I’m especially keen on supporting the development of new and yet to be conceived initiatives with a particular focus on AV and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance).

“In the last couple of years, the Institute has forged valuable partnershi

India - The Chambal riverfront in Kota, Rajasthan is an urban development that has rejuvenated a 6km stretch of land into a thriving cultural and tourist destination.

Designed to celebrate the architectural heritage and cultural richness of India, the riverfront features 26 distinct ghats, each representing a different regional style. Among these, the Rajputana Ghat highlights the art and traditions of nine regions of Rajasthan, while the Sahitya Ghat pays homage to literary giants with statues of renowned authors and a library housing thousands of books.

Beyond its cultural significance, the restoration of the Chambal Riverfront plays a crucial role in ecosystem revitalisation, renewing the connection between the community and the river. The west-side garden of the project combines art, lighting, and horticulture, offering visitors a captivating exp

USA - The 2004 comedy-drama The Terminal had Tom Hanks’ character trapped in New York’s JFK airport due to a diplomatic snafu, but the subtler story under that narrative was how the airport had almost every service one needed to stay there, from food to retail.

From an arts perspective, that’s not unlike what one can find at Segerstrom Centre for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. Its 14-acre campus is home to Segerstrom Hall, a 2,994-seat, opera house-style theatre, the campus’ largest facility and a venue for Broadway musicals, ballet, and other large productions.

The complex also hosts the 1,704-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the 375-seat Samueli Theater – a multi-purpose facility, for jazz, cabaret, theatre, and special events – as well as the 53,000sq.ft Orange County Museum of Art. And many organisations

UK - Life City Church is a modern, vibrant, multicultural church based in the heart of South London. Music plays a major part in the daily worship, with live bands regularly providing a focus for Sunday meetings, supported by a new sound reinforcement system from K-array, supplied by Audio Related Technology.

With an ever-increasing involvement of live music in its regular activities, Life City Church was looking to update its entire sound and lighting package and turned to Simon Griffett of Chesham-based Audio Related Technology for recommendations. The church’s older Turbosound PA had served it well but had become tired and was inconvenient to move around, as while looking for a permanent home the church was operating out of Woodcote High School in Coulsdon.

“We wanted a portable line array system for a predominantly live band mix,” said Life

USA - Located in the heart of Landover, Maryland, Northwest Stadium is a premier destination for sports and entertainment enthusiasts. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, the stadium hosts a wide range of events, from electrifying football games to large-scale concerts and community gatherings.

With seating for up to 63,000, Northwest Stadium combines modern design with cutting-edge technology to deliver an unparalleled fan experience. Its commitment to innovation and world-class AV has cemented its reputation as a cornerstone of entertainment in the region.

After 25 years of operation, parts of the stadium’s audio system needed maintenance. Following a competitive bidding process, C.V. Lloyde AudioVisual was selected to oversee the stadium’s audio upgrades. Originally specified with competitive products, the team at C.V. Lloyde saw an advantage in

USA - After a major production upgrade, Mosaic Nightclub in Kansas City has reopened its doors – reintroducing itself as a premier nightlife destination with a high-performance 1 Sound audio system.

Located in the heart of the Kansas City Power & Light District, Mosaic is known for its high-energy events and sleek design, including an indoor dance floor that opens onto an outdoor balcony overlooking the plaza. To match the versatility of the space, the audio system needed to be as dynamic as the club itself – delivering exceptional clarity and power while also standing up to the elements when the space transitions into open-air mode.

To meet those demands, the team at Definitive Pro Sound, led by Peter Bonavota, designed and installed a 1 Sound system centred around the Contour CT212 loudspeakers paired with SUB2112 subwoofers. This combinati

USA - The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills is famed for its blend of classic British elegance and modern Californian style. The hotel offers a range of upscale amenities, from its Boxwood restaurant to its exclusive rooftop pool. However, the crown jewel of this property is its West End Rooftop, a sprawling 107ft by 40ft open-air space that serves as a prime venue for high-profile events, weddings, and corporate functions.

Framed by a glass wall showcasing sweeping ocean views from Long Beach to the Malibu peninsula, the rooftop terrace is illuminated by spectacular sunsets and is a favourite among guests seeking a one-of-a-kind experience. However, alongside the picturesque appeal and vibrant atmosphere, event sound frequently spilled beyond the property, creating friction with nearby residents and leading to repeated noise complaints. To address thes

UK - The pace of technical advances in the AV industry means that venues often don’t need entirely new systems to upgrade their audio performance. Sometimes an incremental improvement to the electronics will provide a significant boost to the audio capabilities. This is the case at Celtic Park in Glasgow, the home of Celtic Football Club, which has recently upgraded the electronics for its main PA to an all Dynacord signal chain. 

The 60,000-seat stadium had a full audio refit in 2017 to enhance the audio coverage in the main bowl. This saw the installation of Electro-Voice EVH and EVF loudspeakers driven and processed by Electro-Voice CPS amplifiers and NetMax digital matrix controllers. While the system still performed well, technology has moved on in the last eight years, and there were significant advantages that the stadium could gain in efficiency a

Germany - In the heart of Berlin's Mitte district, Monsieur Vuong is a thriving family-run restaurant that has brought authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the German capital. Run by brothers Dat and Tan Vuong, along with family friend Andreas Bodenstein, Monsieur Vuong serves fresh, shareable Vietnamese dishes in a lively, communal setting that is popular with Berliners.

To further enhance this convivial atmosphere, the management team recently decided to upgrade the restaurant’s sound system – and for this they turned to Genelec, a brand they were already familiar with. 

“I used to work in the film industry, where Genelec was the de facto standard in audio post-production. In my view, the simplicity and sound quality of Genelec loudspeakers is unparalleled,” Bodenstein explains. “I wanted the restaurant to benefit from that same exceptional s

Lebanon - Located at the Sawary Beach Resort in Lebanon, Île Beach Bar is an upscale cocktail bar and lounge that blends a relaxed beachfront ambiance with an energetic nightlife scene, a popular destination resort on the Batroun Coastal Road.

Martin Audio’s Lebanese distributor Technosound was brought in to deliver a high-quality audio solution to complement this luxurious setting at the 500-cap venue. As a long-time friend of Technosound’s Charbel Fahed, Île Beach Bar owner, Abdo Obeid, had complete confidence in the latter’s ability to design and implement a state-of-the-art sound system, based on his track record.

In turn, Charbel says: “Abdo owns several top-tier clubs in Lebanon; his commitment to quality and innovation is reflected in every aspect of the venue.”

However, the project was not without its challenges, as Charbe

UK - Newcastle University’s Stephenson Building is a multi-use facility designed to support engineering and science disciplines. With its sprawling multi-level atrium, the building offers an open and dynamic space for presentations, collaborative learning, and events. However, this architectural marvel came with an audio challenge – ensuring 100% intelligibility across its expansive, reverberant environment.

To address this challenge, Newcastle University partnered with CUK Group to implement a bespoke Renkus-Heinz public address solution. The result has been transformative, enabling clear, impactful sound that enhances every experience within the space.

“The atrium is a large, reverberant, open learning space used for multiple events that required intelligibility across the entire area,” explains Mark Bromfield, director of system solutions

France - Since 2005 La Cartonnerie has served as a vital cultural cornerstone of Reims' contemporary music scene. Now, with an upgrade to an L-Acoustics eco-friendly L Series system with inherent cardioid technology, the venue which hosts up to 120 concerts annually has written a new chapter in its musical journey.

This significant enhancement to the venue's Great Hall, which has welcomed artists such as Justice, Christine and the Queens, and Stromae, marks a milestone in La Cartonnerie's commitment to maintaining its renowned acoustic performance standards.

La Cartonnerie's 4,000 m² complex houses three distinct performance spaces: the expansive 1,200-capacity Great Hall, an intimate 350-seat Club, and the versatile Floor - a warm-up area that doubles as a bar and restaurant. Beyond concerts, it supports musicians through residency programmes and d

Netherlands - Dakota Theater, one of The Hague’s eight cultural anchors and a vibrant artistic hub of the Dutch city, has taken a significant step into the future with the installation of a cutting-edge LED lighting system by Elation. The upgrade marks a major improvement in functionality, creative flexibility, and energy efficiency, providing enhanced creative possibilities for designers and a richer visual experience for audiences.

As one of the key cultural venues in The Hague, Dakota Theater hosts an array of artistic productions, from experimental theatre and festivals to film screenings, musical performances, workshops, and presentations. With a 184-seat theatre, 64-seat movie theatre, and an affiliated school, the venue required a modern lighting system that could meet the diverse demands of its programming.

Recognising the need for an upgra

Romania -The Bucharest National Opera House, a cornerstone of Romania’s cultural heritage, recently undertook an audio upgrade project focused on enhancing performances whilst preserving the venue’s historic interiors. Previously, the venue largely relied on rented live sound systems. Oftentimes bulky and not suitable as a permanent solution, these systems risked detracting from the old-world grandeur of the space and potentially distracting audiences.

The opera house team collaborated with local distributor and integrator, Senia, to implement a permanent K-array solution, which offers a sleek and unobtrusive design and improved sound quality. 

“One of the key challenges we faced at the Opera House was balancing the requirements for a high-performance audio system with the need to maintain the original architecture and features of the venue,

The Netherlands - Powersoft’s Unica cloud-based amplifier platform has transformed the audio system at RAI Amsterdam Forum, a premier venue for conferences and events. As the former main stage for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), RAI Amsterdam brought together AV industry professionals for over a decade.

With a 123-year history, it has been a hub for international gatherings, inspiring people by organising and facilitating valuable conferences and exhibitions. To uphold its reputation, it was only right for the prestigious centre to provide high-quality audio to its visitors.

The goal was straightforward, to replace the aging amplifiers that had deteriorated over time, leading to operational failures in the venue’s line array system. Tasked with this was Van Brienen AV, led by technician Mike Weijers, who chose Powersoft’s Unica amplifier platf

USA - Caramella, the newest Italian dining destination in Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, features a high-energy distributed sound system. National Technology Associates (NTA), an AV integration firm based in Las Vegas, spearheaded the design and installation of a high-performance system featuring custom 1 Sound loudspeakers.

Known for its elegant interiors and vibrant atmosphere, Caramella required an audio solution that could adapt to its dynamic needs – from providing crystal-clear background music during the day to delivering high-energy sound for DJs and private events at night. Understanding the venue’s diverse sonic demands, NTA opted for a strategic combination of 1 Sound’s Contour and Cannon Series loudspeakers, complemented by distributed subwoofers.

In the lounge bar area, Contour CT28 point source loudspeakers were deployed to ensure pr

USA - PPDS, the provider of Philips digital signage and interactive displays, videowalls, and dvLED, has completed the installation of a giant 28ft by 8ft curved Philips dvLED production wall inside the new 4,000 sq.ft PBS Appalachia Virginia studio in Bristol, Virginia.

Built inside the Hard Rock Casino, and featuring a 46ft glass public viewing window, PBS Appalachia Virginia is the nation’s first all-digital public TV station, dedicated to amplifying the voice of Southwest Virginia with high-quality local content and PBS network programming. It is also the first television network affiliate located inside a casino.

Designed for 24/7 use and capable of presenting content in resolutions beyond 8K, Philips Unite LED 6000 Series – which was showcased during NAB Show 2025 – was the outstanding choice to bring the PBS management team’s studio am

UK - As part of London’s East Bank development, a new cultural quarter in East London alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL East, and the V&A East Museum and Storehouse, Sadler’s Wells East recently opened its doors at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. This vibrant creative hub features a 550-seat theatre and six studios designed for the creation and development of dance productions.

Staying true to its promise of offering ‘dance from every angle’, the venue not only supports the production of new work and artist development but also offers a unique architectural design. The Dance Floor, a public performance space in the theatre’s expansive wrap-around foyer, provides a platform for community groups and guest artists, making it a welcoming space for all dance styles.

Over the past few years, White Light (WL)

Finland - Helsinki Music Centre, home to Finland's two most prestigious orchestras, has completed a significant technical renovation featuring an L-Acoustics L Series loudspeaker system as its centrepiece. The audio upgrade, part of a larger renovation that included lighting systems and new mixing consoles, provides superior coverage and clarity in the venue's challenging acoustic environment while elegantly overcoming previous architectural and sight line constraints.

The 1,700-seat concert hall, which hosts approximately 1,500 events annually across its various spaces, presents challenges for amplified performances. Hosting international artists, television productions, and radio broadcasts in addition to classical music, the hall requires a solution that could deliver clear, controlled sound throughout its unusual 360-degree seating configuration.

UK - Located in the vibrancy of London’s East End, Bloodline Gym is one of the UK's top Muay-Thai & Kickboxing centres. To achieve the high-energy atmosphere that is central to the club’s workout routines, gym owner Paul Marut opted for an Optimal Audio ecosystem to be its beating heart.

The easy-to-use, quality commercial audio system, which is controlled via Optimal Audio’s WebApp, was installed by integrator Essex Sound and Light. The company MD, Mike Glover, said: “The installation was so simple. The products are so easy to set up and configure and the complete project, from first fix to end result, took us just four days.”

The recently opened venue is the result of the gym’s 20-year history and solid reputation in the area. Bloodline started out in a small and now outgrown space in Clapton. Marut’s career as doorman in city clu

Italy - There are certain architectural and historic structures that present particularly demanding challenges when it comes to installing and optimising sound systems.

This complexity is particularly redolent of churches and other places of worship: avoiding annoying acoustic reverberations, preventing incorrect propagation of sounds, and ensuring maximum intelligibility of music and speech (while still respecting precise architectural constraints) are of paramount importance, especially when dealing with treasured historical buildings.

This challenge was recently faced head on by the Piacenza-based IT and system integration company Inside Srl, for the Church of Sant’Erasmo in Castel Goffredo, situated in the province of Mantua.

The Church’s parish priest, Don Giuseppe Bergamaschi, explained: “The idea of ​​upgrading the sound syst

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