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PLASA Media is looking for feedback from readers of Lighting&Sound International magazine and PLASA Online News, to find out the products that are making the biggest impact among entertainment technology practitioners - and we want your input.

'Tried & Tested' will take a simple approach: we're not asking for your views on hundreds of different product categories, we're just after your gut reactions to a series of broad-based questions on the equipment you're using, in the fields of lighting, sound, staging and effects.

The aim of this is simply to sniff out what's impressed you, what's made a difference to your working life. There are no awards and no ceremonies - we're just going to stir the pot and see what, if anything, floats to the top. The products you vote for can be new or old, high-tech or low-tech - all are valid.

The products which have the highest profile from among th

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For the ninth consecutive year, the organizers of the Pepsi Festival (Sziget Kulturalis Szervezoiroda) in Budapest, asked Production 2000 Ltd to provide sound and lighting for the main stage - and the other areas. The company fielded a high specification of equipment from their hire fleet, including a major Turbosound Flashlight and Floodlight rig. 36 Flashlight TFS 780H mid/high packs were flown in 6 x 3 configurations on either side of the stage, with 48 Floodlight TFL-780L bass enclosures configured four wide and six high on each side. 12 Turbosound Floodlight TFL-760H mid/highs were used for near-fill and infill and a further eight TFL-118 low-frequency Floodlights provided centre coverage.

The sections of the sound system were driven from three amp racks housing configurations of MC2 MC750 and MC2 1250 amplifiers. In addition, Production 2000 supplied all Turbosound stage monitori

Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

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The Stage Accompany SSA amplifier range is specifically designed to meet the very high demands of (digital) cinema sound reproduction: these 'digital-cinema' dedicated amplifiers, have been developed with some unique features, to dramatically enhance the cinema experience, say the company. The SSA amplifiers feature SA’s ‘high speed, high current’ class G design. This high efficiency design, together with the 280 joules capacitor bank, makes the SSA 200 deliver 1380W of fast and sustained power per channel.

An important feature is the Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) system that completely eliminates the influence of (in cinema, often very long) speaker cables. The result is a highly accurate bass and mid response, without the need for using high impedance speakers. Through the tamper-free internally accessible EFN circuit slots, extra signal processing functions can be

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Expotus-managed distributor Stagecraft, based in the Philippines, were rewarded for their efforts this year, as they received the Turbosound International Distributor of the Year in the Far East Award based on growth in sales throughout financial year 2000/2001. With sales having increased by 156% last year, director of Stagecraft Frankie Zabala (pictured left) commented: "Receiving this commendation was a great surprise and indeed an honour. We hope to do even better for Turbosound next year!" he says. Martin Capp, managing director of Expotus, (pictured right) continues: "Expotus business in the Far East goes back a long way, and we’re proud that Stagecraft has been recognised in this way by Turbosound this year. We’re particularly pleased as the Expotus-managed Chinese distributor Jia Hui won it last year!"

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Audient has launched a brand new product to augment its Surround Sound range - the ASP520 bass management processor. Launching in November 2001, designer David Dearden describes the ASP520 as "a unique problem solver for bass management in any surround monitoring system." Any surround sound monitoring environment which does not have five full-range loudspeakers in addition to a subwoofer needs some form of bass management in order to reproduce the full bass content of the surround mixes.

The ASP520 is a flexible bass management controller which permits selection of both the bass redirect source and destination. Phase compensation at the crossover point and two bands of parametric equalisation are provided to enable the LF performance of the monitor system to be optimized without resorting to external EQs. The ASP520 can be used alone, or in conjunction with the ASP510 Surrou

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The Adelaide Convention Centre in Australia has recently invested in Turbosound Powered QLight enclosures as part of a venue extension programme that will more than double the size of the facility. The development will offer more than 10,000sq.m of pillarless floor space, (divisible into six sound-proofed halls) for exhibitions, banquets and other events, in addition to existing convention facilities. The combined banqueting capacity will facilitate 6,500 guests, allowing for much larger events and enabling multiple function hosting.

After an extensive evaluation of most major brands in the market place, the ACC chose Turbosound’s new QLight Powered System and 16 TQ-440SP powered three-way enclosures and eight TQ-425SP subwoofers were duly supplied by Australia’s Turbosound distributor Audio Telex.

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Arbiter Pro Audio has supplied Edinburgh-based SI Sound & Light with a large quantity of JBL loudspeaker systems for an exciting new sound installation at Genesis nightclub in Dunfermline. The independently-owned 800-capacity club is split into two sections - a large bar/walk-in space, and the main dancefloor area. A good budget had been allocated to allow for a sound system to cater for a diverse selection of musical genres from mainstream pop to hardcore dance. It was also essential not to alienate those wanting to drink rather than dance. SI Sound & Light’s Pete Simpson undertook the sound design - his latest of several using JBL.

Genesis' dancefloor speakers are four SP222s from JBL's Sound Power Series - 1500W each with 12" drivers. For bass, Simpson chose two JBL VS125HS speakers, combined with two SP128 subs. For maximum impact, he has sub-divided the low frequencies:

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The recently developed VIGIL CommuniCare from Baldwin Boxall Communications is unique within the emergency communication sector, having been especially designed for use within a completely new market - Disabled Refuge Areas. Market leaders, Baldwin Boxall took the initiative to develop VIGIL CommuniCare, a sophisticated emergency communication system that meets the requirements for public buildings containing Refuge Areas, such as: Cinema Complexes, Hotels, Theatres and Office Blocks.

The main Control Panel allows Fire Officers or Building Managers to keep in contact with wheelchair bound personnel who, in an emergency, are kept from danger within Refuge Areas. The control panel is supplied as a 64 way unit which can be divided into 16-way blocks, is wall mountable and battery backed to meet EN60849, BS5839 part 8 and BS5588. The Remote Unit is housed within the Refuge Area and, once t

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NXT's SurfaceSound flat panel loudspeakers have found their latest application in the new Predators exhibition at London's Natural History Museum. Open to visitors until May 2002, this new family-oriented showcase features a range of audio-visual effects enhanced by the use of bespoke acoustic panels made by NXT licensee, Amina Technologies Ltd.

The exhibition uses a series of interactive robotic models, including a 5 metre-long great white shark, a 3 metre chameleon and a 2.5 metre funnel web spider. Using the SurfaceSound technology, clear tri-wall polycarbonate flat panel speakers sited above the models provide the realistic surround-sound effects for each of the animal exhibits.

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SSE Hire's work schedule for Christmas and the New Year period is looking busy, with a number of tours and special events in the pipeline for the audio hire company. Tours being serviced by the company include the forthcoming tours of the UK and Europe during November and December by Travis and UB40. Front-of-house engineer for Travis is Giles Woodhead, who will be using the SSE-supplied Midas XL4 desk and the Nexo Alpha system, while Chris Leckie has a Midas XL3 looking after monitors. Front-of-house for UB40 will be Jerry Parchment and Steve 'Gonzo' Smith with an XL4, and SSE's Betamax speaker system. Monitor engineer Graham Blake will be using an XL3. For Faithless' UK and Ireland tour, FOH engineer Mark Kennedy will be using a Midas Heritage 3000 (also with a Nexo Alpha system), while monitor engineer Tim Pattison will be taking advantage of the facilities offered by the Innova Son G

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The Music Producers Guild (MPG) has elected Andy East as its new chairman, replacing Phil Harding who has now completed his one-year tenure as chairman but will remain on the MPG board. The appointment was announced at the MPG’s recent AGM. Steve Parr also joins the board as vice-chairman and, as part of the MPG’s rotational chair and directorships, a number of other board members were announced. These include Jim Barrett, Meg Nicholl and Roger Askew.

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The final phase of the restoration of Reading Town Hall’s concert venue - with the renovated Father Willis organ providing a magisterial backdrop - has been completed this month under the guidance of English Heritage.

Marquee Audio was responsible for supplying and fitting all the audio, working to a specification from audio consultant Peter Mapp, who had been introduced to the project by former technical manager, Paul Kennedy. By completion, the whole project will have cost around £5 million. Given the constraints of the protected architecture the installation had been no easy feat, as the venue’s chief electrician Tim Liddle emphasized. "We got a grant from English Heritage who wanted the hall restored to its original 120-year-old grandeur. The Borough Council have been restoring the building over a 15-year period and when I came here 10 years ago, there were pigeon

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QSC Audio Products Inc has introduced the DSP-30 digital processor. Building on the power and success of the DSP-3 signal processing module, the DSP-30 is a cost-effective, highly customizable, single rack unit, 2-channel signal processor featuring a high degree of functionality that can improve the performance of any sound system, say QSC Audio. The DSP-30's powerful processor facilitates a wide range of signal processing functions, including screen channel crossovers, multiple parametric EQ and time delay for surround channels, or subsonic filters for subwoofers. Compound these functions with compression/limiting, precision attenuation, mixing, plus tone or noise generation, and the DSP-30 is as flexible as your system's needs - easily capable of performing the most complex speaker processing tasks.

Featuring an intuitive front panel layout for easy program selection coupled with a c

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Kelsey Acoustics has launched Duracat, a tough Cat5 DMX and AES data cable for industrial applications which provides a durable and reliable data solution for patching, theatre, studio stage and public area usage. According to Kelsey's Michael Whiteside, the brief for this cable was to produce a tough, "stage-proof" Cat5e cable that terminates with standard RJ45 connectors and yet has a build that provides real protection for its structure as a data cable. "We have gone to great lengths to ensure that Duracat is constructed for maximum flexibility combined with the strength and durability that is fundamental to the accurate transmission of data," he commented.

Satisfied customers already include Marquee Audio who have used Duracat for a recent theatre installation, and rental company SSE who were delighted with every aspect of the cable's performance in a live envir

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Lightfactor Sales has completed 10 days of extensive training sessions and seminars - the first in a series - covering its most popular product ranges, underlining the company’s ongoing commitment to training and product support. Courses have been run for both beginners and advanced users on products including the LightProcessor Qcommander lighting console - and also the LightProcessor Paradime dimmer range. Demand also proved high for courses featuring assorted High End fixtures distributed in the UK by Lightfactor - including Technobeam, the 250 and 575 series of Studio Spots and Colors and the Cyberlight.

Lightfactor also ran courses for the LDR range of theatrical lanterns and SGM moving lights from Italy. On the sound front, courses on Zeck Audio products from Germany and Apogee Sound Inc products from the USA aroused considerable interest. Lightfactor's MD Paul de Ville tol

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Martin had plenty of reason to celebrate at the LDI exhibition in Orlando this past weekend, but one accomplishment appeared extra special. At a press meeting held at the Martin stand on Saturday, Martin President and CEO Kristian Kolding presented the 100,000th MAC automated light produced. The 100,000th unit, a MAC 2000 profile spot, rolled off the production line just prior to the LDI exhibition. It was ceremoniously painted gold and is now displayed in the Martin manufacturing plant’s reception area in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

At the LDI Awards Ceremony Martin won ‘Product of the Year Lighting/Entertainment, Most Promising Prototype’ honours for the TracMAC mini, an easy to operate followspot luminaire that drew a lot of attention from visitors. Mach speakers was awarded the ‘Product of the Year, Sound, Most Promising Prototype’ for the Mach ViroStation

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Accessibility is high on the agenda for the Oxford-based Creation Theatre Company. Its aim is to encourage people who’d not normally set foot in a theatre, to participate in and enjoy their innovative work.

The company doesn’t dumb down Shakespeare in an attempt to make it popular or trivial, rather it reworks his canny psychological takes on human behaviour and intense storylines into a relevant and contemporary context. To add further appeal, the company also chooses to perform in non-conventional spaces.

Since 1996, Creation has performed its summer season in the grounds of Magdalen College School, Oxford. The stage area backs onto the natural fork between two arteries of the River Cherwell, and this constantly in-motion backdrop can include anything from screeching wildfowl to walkers, cyclists and inebriated students on evening punting trips! Creation’s first

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The MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards is the fastest-rising star of the international music awards circuit. In just four years the event has grown from its niche origins, through last year’s production at Alexandra Palace, to the London Arena in 2001. The star-studded event included performances from R. Kelly, Mis-Teeq and Usher, plus Beverly Knight and the legendary Dionne Warwick, amongst others.

Production managing the event was Mick Kluczynski of MJK Productions. "It was definitely the best MOBO Awards ever - the show has finally grown up, and I really enjoy working with the team. This year we had a new director, Nicky Parsons, and new producer, Lisa Chapman, with a 3,500 live audience. In spite of the events in America, we managed to retain most of the artists - only Luther Vandross pulled out."

Sound contractor Britannia Row decided to take the unusual step of

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Industry software provider Stardraw has announced the appointment of Link srl as Premier Partner in Italy. The agreement was struck at the IBTS 2001 show in Milan and took effect from October 8th. David Morrison, sales manager for Stardraw explains: "We were particularly happy to build a relationship with Link because their profile and positioning is ideal for the current range of Stardraw products. As a leading Italian supplier of cable, connectors and connection solutions they have all the right contacts in audio, AV and lighting. Everybody in systems integration needs the 'glue' that Link supplies, and everybody in systems integration needs Stardraw. It's a perfect fit."

Link's managing director Assunta Fratocchi adds: "Link has built its reputation by observing and driving the technological evolution of equipment used for system interconnection. We are now implementi

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ARX Systems, the Australia-based manufacturer of pro audio products announces the release of the new ARX Product CD-ROM V5, the total resource centre for all things ARX. Completely revised and updated the V5 CD includes new products such as the SPL8, SPL20 and SPL 28 powered loudspeakers, 8 Pre mic preamp, ZAT multi-channel transformer packs, updated application notes and much more.

To obtain a copy you can either register online at the ARX website below.

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Newbury Racecourse has had a sophisticated new public address system, involving 6km of cable, installed into its new Tattersalls Grandstand by Racecourse Technical Services Ltd (RaceTech). Owned by the Racecourse Association, RaceTech is responsible for upgrading and maintaining the public address systems throughout all the UK's racecourses. They are also responsible for the starting stalls, photo-finish, and with a five-camera television unit roaming the course, providing pictures to the race stewards to ensure race integrity and produce the on course television programme. On the 28 race days that take place each year at Newbury, signals are sent to TVs dispersed around the course, while a RaceTech PA engineer feeds commentary and information announcements from a broadcast PA office in the Weighing Room.

Newbury's three-storey Grandstand - designed by Foster & Partners and built at a

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TSC Music recently completed an extensive audio-visual installation for Dragons Health Clubs Plc at their newly opened Milton Keynes venue. As a leading supplier of business music solutions, TSC is proud to have built up a professional working partnership with Dragons to supply all their new and existing clubs with music and audio-visual systems. At Dragons Milton Keynes, TSC installed their latest state-of-the-art Hard Disc music management system to run 'Dragons FM' bespoke simulated radio service, incorporating a maximum of up to 10,000 purposely selected tracks as well as audio commercials and messages. In addition, TSC also installed an eight-hour CDi music system and audio-visual system in the gymnasium together with an audio communication system in the aerobics studio. TSC offers a complete design and installation service covering the whole of the UK with an extensive portfolio of

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A multi-purpose arts centre in Leamington Spa entered the latest phase of its redevelopment this month when new Turbosound trapezoidal Floodlight enclosures were installed by Marquee Audio as part of a high-quality sound specification, jointly designed by the Shepperton suppliers and the venue's technical manager, Chris Whalley. Flown as a three-wide centre stage cluster under six Turbosound TFL-118 (1 x 18") bass bins, the unusual configuration at the Royal Spa Centre in a confined space meant that Turbosound's Danny Cooklin, working with Marquee Audio's Scott Wakelin, had to design special flying hardware. Cooklin explained: "There wasn’t really sufficient height above the cluster for the bins so we had to create a lot of angle to enable us to array them properly."

The two sets of bins sit either side of the flybar which supports the central three trapezoidals bo

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The Ministry of Sound has unveiled the only DTS Digital Surround DJ station and multi-channel sound system in the world. The booth - relocated to the far end of the main room - is the first to incorporate eight decks, along with seven sound mixers and seven other input sources in a DTS Surround Sound environment. ProMedia Systems were called in to specify the system, working closely with the venue’s technical consultant, Keith Hardy.MoS selected a Martin Audio Blackline monitoring system to meet the high-system specification of its newly-commissioned DTS 5.1 Digital Surround DJ station and multi-channel sound system - the first in the world. Aware that other superclubs had adopted the Blackline F12 for their house booths, the Ministry of Sound decided to go one better, and on the recommendation of ProMedia’s Matt Bate, Hardy asked to demo a pair of Blackline F15s at the club
  1. Martin Leads Yates' New Technology Drive
  2. New Distributors for L-Acoustics
  3. Soundcraft Names New Product Director
  4. DPA Presents New Hydrophone
  5. Neal to Head Soundcraft/BSS Initiative
  6. Out Board Electronics in Liquidation
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Astera - Large MPU - June 2025
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