UK - Adlib provided design services, lighting, audio, custom drapes and staging elements for the most recent UK leg of The Specials’ Encore album tour, as the record topped the UK album charts, providing the band’s first ever number one album. Adlib’s Simon Pettitt was back as lighting designer, having lit the band since 2014. Simon was also instrumental in developing the stage design, and he was joined by their regular audio engineers, Marcos Ferrari at FOH and Marina Martinez Sebastian on monitors. Adlib’s lighting account handler was Dave Eldridge, while Phil Stoker looked after all things audio. Adlib offered the use of its full tour prepping facilities - a designated pre-production space in the company’s massive new Knowsley warehouse – to ensure that the production left the warehouse ready to roll. Simon received an outline brief from th
Trinidad & Tobago - Earlier this year, Trinidad-based Rent A Amp Sound Co (RAA) took delivery of an SD10 and SD12, the first DiGiCo consoles to permanently reside in the Caribbean. The purchase, made through local sales and rental company Caribbean AV / AMR, followed multiple requests for DiGiCo consoles on local events. The SD12’s first outing was on the I Am Legend concert at the end of April, which attracted an estimated 28,000 audience. Headlined by Jamaican musician Buju Banton, this was the follow up to his Long Walk to Freedom concert in March which marked his release from an eight-year jail sentence and his return to the Caribbean music scene. The console was deployed for local artists Ziggy Ranking, Ataklan, Isasha and Kes the Band, plus Caribbean artists Wayne Wonder, Koffee and Luciano, as well as Banton himself. With both the SD12 and SD10 also booke
UK - Creative Technology Group (CT) has acquired Ion Solutions, a provider of professional audio visual and broadcast technology systems in Ireland. Dublin-based Ion Solutions will become part of the CT Europe & Middle East group and will be rebranded as Creative Technology (CT) Ireland after a transition period. The existing management team of Ion Solutions will continue to run the day-to-day business. Dave Crump, president and CEO of CT Europe & Middle East, comments: “The addition of Ion Solutions strengthens the CT organisation, increasing our full range of services and rentals we can provide to our clients, especially in an increasingly significant business hub like Dublin.” Ion Solutions was founded in 1967 as a technology engineering specialist and has since added broadcast and AV systems integration, AV rental, facilities management and conte
China - Powersoft has entered into a strategic alliance with Chinese audio manufacturer and rental house Reyn Audio. the pro audio arm of Foshan YiFeng Electric Industrial Co, Reyn Audio has an established presence in China and, through its sister brand ACME, has been able to supply many of the region’s most important local and visiting artists with full production for shows that draw fans in their thousands. Massimo Minardi, Powersoft’s APAC account manager - OEM solutions, comments: “As their business has grown, Reyn Audio has started to get requests for systems that are comparable with the big players in the market, and with a similar level of usability. Considering the high profile and the size of the events that they are catering for, our ArmoníaPlus software and the X4 amplifier models have been the best choice for them. As they are a manufacturer with spe
South Africa - The Voice is now in its third season in South Africa and is proving as popular as ever. It has just entered the ‘live show’ phase, broadcast from Mosaiek Teatro in Fairland, Johannesburg and aired on M-Net, DStv 101. This year, this section of the TV show is bringing a new audio experience to its studio audience, courtesy of L-ISA Hyperreal Sound technology by L-Acoustics and DiGiCo mixing consoles, provided by the show’s full technical supplier, Mutli-Media. Multi-Media has worked with The Voice since the popular competition hit Africa four years ago. During this time, the company has grown and become more involved in live events. At the beginning of this year, it decided the time was right to invest in a top-end audio system, initially purchasing 30 L-Acoustics Kara, 12 SB18, four KS28 and seven LA12X amplified controllers, adding
Canada - The Empire Theatre in Belleville, Ontario, recently invested in a new audio system built around Adamson’s IS-Series and sourced through London, Ontario’s The PA Shop Productions. The building, originally erected as The McCarthy Theatre in 1938, was purchased by Mark Rashotte in early 2002 with the goal of returning it to its original use. In September 2003, The Empire Theatre was open for business, and its team has been working hard to advance their shared vision of enhancing the community they serve ever since. In the autumn of 2018, ahead of a special show commemorating 15 years of operations, Rashotte and his team decided to invest in a new audio system to better cater to visiting productions and invited several manufacturers to demo their array systems in the Empire’s 700-seat auditorium. Kyle Schroeyens, VP and production manager with The PA S
UK - Since their initial investment in Outline point source systems in 2017, growing rental and installation company Novum AV has been deploying its Vegas 12CX and 8CX inventory in a wide range of work around the UK from their base in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Tim Jacques, managing director of Novum AV, explains the reasons for that investment: “Back in 2017, Outline was very new to us and a surprise choice. We ran blind tests with seven different manufacturers and Outline was unanimously chosen by our six technicians who all thought they had selected their preferred brands. The system has changed how we operate and design certain jobs as not only is there a like-for-like weight saving compared to our previous point source enclosures, but the HF throw is so great and the sound quality so clear that we have often needed fewer speakers to achieve the required results. The pur
USA - Laredo, Texas has broadcast its city council meetings via public access cable TV since 1984. The city updated its 10-year-old conference system with a DICENTIS Conference system from Bosch, providing significant upgrades in control, sound quality and ease of operation with IP connectivity. The public access centre manager of the city, Gerardo Leal, is responsible for operating the conferencing system during meetings, and porting the audio into the video feed. The programme is aired on large video screens within the meeting room, which accommodates about 100 people. In addition, the meetings are streamed online and aired on the city’s public access channel. Audio, data and power for the discussion devices all run over a computer-based IP network using Bosch-developed OMNEO media-networking technology. Laredo’s set-up features 16 DICENTIS Discussion devices wi
South Africa - The Academy of Sound Engineering Cape Town, a tertiary institution for the entertainment industry, and DWR Distributions teamed up for an audio workshop to give the sound engineering students exposure and practice on some of the industry’s higher-end gear like L-Acoustics, DiGiCo and Audix. “ASE Cape Town lecturers are all active industry professionals; this keeps them engaged with the technological developments. Basically, we are massive gear heads which is the reason we want our students exposed to some of the great products that a company like DWR distributes”, says Gaston Roulstone a lecturer at ASE Cape Town. Jaco Beukes from DWR Distribution went to the Cape Town campus to give the students some “play time on some of the best toys”. “Before I began my portion of the workshop, I had the students set up the audio equipment with some real
UK - Technical event specialists Light Fantastic Production Services partnered with FUTR Summit to produce its recent event at London’s Business Design Centre. Billed as Europe's only annual summit focused on fresh thinking and progressive change in the future of retail, marketing and commerce, FUTR brings together a diverse mixture of international brands and retailers. Featuring over 200 guest speakers, this high-profile event required planning and delivery of a comprehensive audio, video, scenic and technical support solution, to create the perfect environment in which to welcome both presenters and delegates. Keeping the main stage presentations crystal clear within the venue’s bright central atrium, LFPS deployed their new Panasonic RZ 12K laser projectors. In tandem with a main stage auditorium, the company also created a pair of ancillary stages
UK - The White Rock Theatre on the Hastings seafront is a historically significant cultural landmark in East Sussex, with origins dating back to 1927. As one of the region’s largest receiving houses, the theatre accommodates 1,066 seated and nearly 1,700 standing. Marquee AV recently installed an EM Acoustics EMS Series point source system to bring the audio up to the standards demanded by modern audiences. Adam Harkin, the venue’s technical and building manager says: “Sound is everything - without sound, there’s no show. Our new EM Acoustics system stands head and shoulders over what we had before which was old and no longer fit for purpose by modern standards. What we have now is simply amazing - it’s a proper theatre system and has made a huge difference - everyone can hear everything regardless of where they are sat in the venue.” When the decisio
USA - The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre near St Louis, Missouri seats 7,000 people under its roof, but another 13,000 can sit on its vast lawn. However, the previous line arrays that covered the lawn - and thus the vast majority of patrons for a well-attended show - strained to provide the necessary volume, irritated neighbours and literally rotted under the stress of the summer humidity and heat in St Louis. Rather than replace the failed system with an equally doomed solution, Logic Systems Sound and Lighting completely re-conceptualised the entire approach. They installed four clusters of two point-source Danley Sound Labs J7-95 Jericho Horns each and opted for Danley’s fully-weatherised version that can be left out, not only all summer but, all winter as well, with no ill effects. “The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre was on its third lawn sound reinforcement syst
Europe - Muse have embarked on their Simulation Theory’ World Tour in support of their eighth studio album. The tour began in February 2019 in Houston, Texas, playing 53 dates across North America, Europe, Asia and South America before concluding in Santiago, Chile in October 2019. A disguise gx 2 media server, provided by PRG, drives video and real-time Notch content for the show, which is currently on its European leg, playing at stadium venues. Creative director Jesse Lee Stout of Metaform Studio partnered with the band, and Muse’s frontman and lead vocalist, Matt Bellamy, on the concept and style of the tour based on the recent album. Sooner Routhier and Robert Long are the show’s lighting designers, Aaron Luke the lighting director, and George Reeves the production manager, with Tom Kirk as the video director. “Creatively, this show is a world of r
USA - Clearwing Productions once again selected Harman Professional Solutions’ JBL Professional loudspeaker, Crown amplifier and Martin lighting products to kick up the excitement at Summerfest 2019 in Milwaukee. The deployment at Summerfest comes months after Clearwing made a significant upgrade to its audio inventory with a multi-million-dollar purchase of JBL VTX A-Series line arrays. More than 200 JBL Professional loudspeakers, fills and subwoofers are featured, including the new JBL VTX A8 and A12 line array loudspeakers. The Martin MAC Allure made its debut this year, along with support from the Martin Atomic, VDO, and RUSH lines. “We are really enjoying the flexibility that the new JBL A8s offer for our various stage configurations as well as the versatility that we’ve come to enjoy from the A12s,” comments Bryan Brunclik, Clearwing Productions Mi
USA - The recently-opened Mandrake has already established itself as a popular staple of the Miami Beach dining and nightlife scene. In addition to a variety of sushi and pan-Asian cuisine prepared by executive chef Jimmy Gallagher, the restaurant is known for its over-the-top décor, including a life-sized gorilla to greet the patrons and bright fuchsia-coloured lighting. Equally important for the restaurant’s ambiance, it also features a Martin Audio CDD sound system installed by Miami’s AVL Innovations (AVLI). Asked about the audio component, AVLI’s James Reed explains: “Mandrake has several floors and multiple rooms. There’s a sushi bar in the front room where we used eight Martin Audio CDD8’s mounted on the wall along with four SX210 subwoofers built into the banquettes; then there’s a hallway leading to the main dining room with two CDD8’s.” The
Spain - With over 50 albums recorded and the unusual distinction of being awarded a ‘uranium’ disc, singer Raphael is one of the most successful Spanish performers in in the country’s recent history. Still touring in his mid-1970s, a Yamaha Rivage PM7 digital mixing system is currently showcasing his greatest hits in a new orchestral tour. Since his career began in 1962, Raphael’s distinctive voice and performance style have made him an iconic figure amongst Spanish performers. 50m sales of compilation album Ayer, Hoy y Siempre saw record company Hispavox award him a ‘uranium’ disc for the achievement. Having performed in most of the world’s leading venues over nearly 60 years, he is still a very popular live performer. His current RESinphónico tour began in December 2018 and is booked to continue into 2020, with shows at major venues in Spain, Russia,
USA - An SQ-7 digital mixer from Allen & Heath now serves as the cornerstone of production technologies at the Academy of Modern Music Production (AMMP). Working in tandem with Ableton Live 10 music sequencer and digital audio workstation software, the SQ-7 brings a new level of control to the Mesa, Arizona-based learning centre. “We’re more than a project studio, and different from a university or any other conventional school,” says AMMP founder and all-round ambassador Brandon Mandy. “What sets us apart is that we focus on teaching what it means to be an artist first, all while demonstrating everything else needed to succeed from technical to marketing skills.” What sets this SQ-7 installation apart from all others is its deep integration with Ableton 10 Live, something - to the best of Mandy’s knowledge - that has never been done quite like this
USA - Penn’s Peak is a popular 1,800-capacity entertainment facility in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, only tells half the story. Set in beautiful surroundings, its auditorium, plays host to a wide range of national and international artists. Recently, the production team at Penn’s Peak took the decision to install a new sound system in the auditorium. The team chose a system based around Coda Audio AiRAY, supplied by Pennsylvania-based Saturn Systems. The existing system at the venue was undersized and underpowered for what is a large, open, acoustically challenging space. Penn’s Peak is characterised by its predominantly wooden interior, the acoustics of which alter drastically when the hall is empty at soundchecks and full at showtime. The areas under the balconies on either side of the hall had also presented problems. The team was aware that the experience of pat
UK - The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has recently benefited from the implementation of a K-array Anakonda and Kobra loudspeaker system supplied by UK distributor 2B Heard. Following a K-array demonstration and training day conducted by 2B Heard directors Dave Wooster and Sam Nankivell, the audio staff at LIPA were impressed with the range of solutions that the Italian loudspeaker brand offers, and decided to take the opportunity for third year live sound students to use K-array systems on a production of <IRomeo and Juliet in the 400-seat Paul McCartney Auditorium. Students were given a strict brief to minimise the visual impact of the sound system, while at the same time delivering clarity and consistency throughout the audience area at an SPL appropriate for the dance-based nature of the show. “The sound system had to be as discreet as possibl
UK - Nexo’s Experience Day roadshow arrives in London on 3 July (Wednesday) to spend the day at The Mill’s rehearsal facility in Wimbledon. With three line arrays from Nexo’s Geo M family on show at the 430sq.m. studio, the event provides an opportunity to ‘check the spec’ of Nexo’s latest PA products. Entry is free and catering is provided. The line array systems featured in the showcase will be the recently-launched Geo 12, as well as the Geo M10 mid-size line arrays, and the popular compact Geo M6. The systems will be set up with Yamaha PM7 and PM10 Rivage digital consoles at FOH, running Dante audio network. Nexo and Yamaha system experts will be demo the systems and discuss a range of topics including Dante networking, system monitoring with Nexo’s proprietary NeMo tools, and integrating Yamaha consoles with NXAMP powered controllers.
UK - Registration is now open for PLASA Show 2019, which returns from 15-17 September to bring over 200 brands lighting, audio, AV, rigging and staging brands to Olympia London. Mirroring the growth of the AV sector, this year’s show will present an array of next-generation LED screen technology from major players such as Canon and Midwich. Furthermore, Netgear will share its networking and integration solutions. The audio presence at the show has been growing rapidly over the last few years and in 2019, the show will welcome Void Acoustics and CUK Audio in addition to Bose, d&b audiotechnik, Yamaha and Adam Hall among others. Meanwhile, live audio demos will double this year, with L-Acoustics taking a dedicated demo space and KV2 Audio demo'ing its products, which fe
Europe - Shure Incorporated has announced plans to continue its expansion in northern Europe with the appointment of Julian Simpson as market development manager. In this role, Simpson will build direct relationships with end customers in the region to better understand their requirements and find solutions that best meet their needs, while working closely with key channel distributors. The appointment will enable Shure to support its channel partners in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. The company will not sell direct, but Simpson will step in to drive business to appointed distributors, including Benum Sweden, Benum Norway, Matrix Sales Denmark, and Intersonic Finland. “Shure’s focus on developing and nurturing the Nordic market is one that we are steadfastly committed to,” comments Rob Smith, senior director, global integrated systems sales at Shure. “
UK - Creation Live started working with Fly Events on their inaugural Fly Open Air dance promotion in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens back in September 2016. By the time the event arrived at the 17th century stately home, Hopetoun House, the following May they had adopted sister company VME’s Martin Audio MLA, aware of all the sensitivities of presenting an EDM event in the 6500-acre grounds of a historic building overlooking the River Forth, which separates Edinburgh from Fife. Since then, the event has blossomed, more than doubling the original Hopetoun House attendance to 8,500 per day this year, and increasing the inventory of award-winning loudspeaker elements accordingly. Creation Live’s Tom Whittle, who heads the event and production company which this year will see them execute 300 plus events of varying sizes, described the event as “absolute
Spain - The International Music Summit Ibiza (IMS) is a comprehensive event dedicated to promoting awareness of and appreciation for electronic music. Created in 2007, when it was presented by Pete Tong as a platform to inspire debate and discussion, the Summit has since grown to be widely regarded as a leading platform for thought and leadership in the electronic music sphere. The 2019 edition took place over five days in May and welcomed industry leaders, influencers and newcomers to participate in a series of talks, presentations, socials and performances, spread across a number of venues on the island. Curated in partnership with shesaid.so, the global network of women in the music industry, this year’s programme focused on mental health, diversity and examining club culture within the objective of developing new strategies to address these important issues. The
