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Malaysia - Malaysiato’s new Fo Guang Shan Hsing Ma Buddhist Temple recently opened in its southernmost city of Johor Bahru. At its core is a soaring Main Shrine Hall, capable of accommodating more than 1,000 people.
The Fo Guang Shan Chinese International Buddhist monastic order is well-known for its use of world-class technology in its temples across the world, including New Zealand, Canada and the UK, and the new Johor Bahru branch is no exception. Its size, shape and materials presented acoustic challenges, leading the technology team to a permanently installed d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker and amplification solution.
Kuala Lumpur-based Chan Lee Sound and Light was first on the scene to identify a system that would fit the bill. Having served as Fo Guang Shan’

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Germany - Lawo has announced the expansion of its executive management board. Effective since 15 July 2019, Jamie Dunn serves as Lawo’s chief commercial officer. Phil Myers is appointed chief technology officer. Both are joining CFO and director of the executive board Claudia Nowak, COO Ulrich Schnabl, CSCO Christian Lukic and CEO Philipp Lawo, who is still on medical leave.
“This development reflects the continuous execution of our growth strategy and is a natural step in the evolution of our company’s structure. Building strong partnerships based on staying close and accessible has been a core value of the company since its foundation. My new role recognizes the importance to maintain our customer focus as we continue to grow”, says Jamie Dunn who until recently was serving as global head of sales, a responsibility he still maintains.
“Lawo has continually

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Europe – TSL Lighting Design director, Anthony ‘Turbo’ Hall, has set off on a mammoth 22,000-mile return road trip from Kent to Ulan Ude in Russia to raise money for the technical entertainment charity, Backup.
Turbo set off on Friday 19 July in Poppy - a wholly unsuitable 1000cc Perodua Kanari – with his teammate Abby 'Henri' Cooper. Over the next 12 or so weeks, they will drive through 22 countries.
The car joins a fleet of vehicles as part of the world-famous Mongol Rally. Turbo and Henri have named their intrepid team the Nomadic Numpties, which is certain to be eye-catching as they race through eastern Europe and into lesser travelled terrains towards deepest Russia.
“I’ve known about the Mongol Rally for many years and it's always something I’ve dreamed of doing,” says Turbo. “When the chance arose to enter, we jumped at it. It’s an unsu
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Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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Well-being - Professional musicians will be able to access a face-to-face counselling service as part of a range of services designed to support their mental health. The ISM Members Fund, a sister charity of industry membership body the Incorporated Society of Musicians, will now offer counselling over telephone and in person, including cognitive behavioural therapy.
ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts said: “Looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health - and we know first-hand from our members the challenges out there for everyday musicians. The music sector has a high level of self-employed workers and in the largely unregulated gig economy, where short-term contracts or freelance work is prevalent, there are high levels of stress and anxiety.”
She said she hoped the new service would help musicians “take control” of their wel

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UK - Having made its world debut at Prolight+Sound 2019, the new JMAxX line of portable loudspeakers from FBT is now available throughout the UK.
The successor to the original FBT MaxX series, JMaxX combines ease of use and versatility for many portable or installed sound applications, making the speakers suitable for musicians, DJs, AVL contractors, rental sound reinforcement, corporate events, houses of worship, bars and clubs.
With its gas-injected forms designed to virtually eliminate undesired enclosure resonance and reinforce strong low frequency performance, the JMaxX series of powered loudspeakers is available in three two-way models: the 14” JMaxX 114A; the 12” JMaxX 112A; and the 10” JMaxX 110A. All are equipped with FBT’s latest 90° x 60° HF horn design which delivers “improved projection, accuracy, and dispersion of the mid and high frequencies

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UK - Theatre lighting specialist Howard Hudson has deployed GLP’s new RGBY version of its best-selling impression X4 on the West End production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ -The Musical. The adaptation of Sue Townsend’s best-selling book recently transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre.
Hudson had first worked on the production back in 2015 when it was at The Curve in Leicester. He had previously collaborated with the director, Luke Sheppard and designer, Tom Rogers on various projects prior to this and we were all put together for that first production. The show was then produced at the Menier Chocolate Factory before transferring to the Ambassadors Theatre.
In terms of how the show should be lit, much of the musical is written from Adrian’s point of view, with a lot of his sections of the piece as direct address to the audience. “Theref

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UK - Audio Light Systems called upon the expertise of Doughty Engineering to help deliver a new media studio at Edinburgh University's Argyle House.
The University which has a fast-developing programme of Distance Learning at Scale, had an existing media studio but was struggling to fully support the programme of media production required. Audio Light Systems was brought on board to assist with the creation of a new TV studio and gallery on floor D of Argyle house as Neil McLucas, Audio Light Systems' senior technician explains:
"The TV studio already had a space prepared with new wiring and decoration. Our task was to develop the gallery, housed in an existing acoustic sound booth adjacent to the studio. The specification was for the supply and installation of sound, video, studio lighting curtain and tracks and so we got in touch with Doughty Engineering to supply

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Hungary - One of Hungary's biggest music festivals, attracting over 100,000 music-lovers over its five days, VOLT Festival has been taking place annually in Sopron (near the Austrian border) since 1993.
It is one of three festivals, including Balaton Sound, falling under the banner of the mighty Sziget Festival, promoted by Sziget Cultural Management. All have for many years been serviced successfully by Capital Sound, with their Martin Audio MLA loudspeaker array.
VOLT presents a multi-genre line-up featuring artists for electronic, rock, pop, jazz, and urban genres as well as theatre performances, visual art exhibitions, film screenings, sporting events and more.
Capital Sound again received local support from Hungarian MLA partner, BG Event Kft in the form of Balázs Szentiványi, and were further assisted by the expertise of the ever-present Marci Mezei. This

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USA - Production designers Robert Long and Sooner Routhier of SRae Productions, along with associate designer Ashley Zapar, specified the Vari-Lite VL6000 Beam luminaire to add a bold and dynamic presence to their show design for the farewell tour by KISS.
The band’s End of the Road world tour, which continues through 2019, features all the rock and roll theatrics that fans expect of a classic KISS show (described by Long as “equal parts of fire, lasers, metal, leather, and controlled chaos”) but with a modern edge.
“KISS requires an old school light show with simple cuing that accents the music but isn’t overly embellished,” says Long, discussing the KISS show style and their choice of lighting fixtures. “The music is simple, four on the floor, rock and roll with heavy guitar riffs. We need lights that reflect that, but in a modern, elevated way.

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Australia - Riverside Theatres is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Parramatta CBD in the western suburbs of Sydney. Opened in 1988, its various venues include the 761-seat proscenium arch Riverside Theatre, the 213 capacity Lennox Theatre, and the Raffety's Theatre which can accommodate an audience of 88.
In the last year, the Riverside has invested in Robe DL4S Profiles and LEDWash 300 moving lights for the main venue. These are the first moving lights they have owned and the second batch of LED lights to be installed in the space, part of a programme that will transition the entire complex to more sustainable light sources.
The timing of the purchase was also designed to reduce the need for external sub hires of LED fixtures which had accelerated during the previous season.
Technical co-ordinator Sean Clarke and his colleagues Mike Brew and Josh Stringe

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Mauritius - The 26th annual World Travel Awards recently took place on the island nation of Mauritius and the tropical surroundings were made even more enticing with a dress of Elation dynamic lighting designed and delivered by Seven Amps.
Seven Amps, a Mauritian gear rental and integrated systems provider, provided all the technical equipment for the event, which included outdoor lighting for the venue’s stately Manor House and cocktail area, as well as lighting for the awards ceremony at the indoor marquee. The company also handled decorative and branding elements for the awards event.
Held on 1 June at the Sugar Beach Hotel in Flic-en-Flac, Seven Amps chose an array of Elation lighting fixtures for the awards event, along with lighting from sister company ADJ, as well as Duratruss.
“We needed an IP-rated LED Par light and wash panel for the outdoor ligh

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Ireland - Croke Park Stadium in Dublin has completed its programme of design and installation of a permanent PA/VA sound system, supplied by French manufacturer Nexo.
This sporting venue is the national stadium of Ireland and home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The 82,300 capacity stadium has been at the heart of Irish sporting life for over 100 years and is the third largest in Europe behind Camp Nou in Barcelona and Wembley in London.
Less well-known is the fact that Croke Park is also the widest, its 88m-wide pitch (nearly twice the size of a football pitch) is designed to accommodate the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.
Mongey Communications, full-service AV and communications provider from Kildare, has been involved with Croke Park for nearly 15 years. This year, the Mongey team finished its extensive upgrade of the audio f

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Samoa - This year, Samoa plays host to the sixteenth edition of the Pacific Games which sees over 4000 athletes competing in 27 different sports. It is also home to DAWG Professional Audio whose success with their KV2 Audio inventory was sufficient to win the audio tender for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2019 Pacific Games.
DAWG is owned by Corey Keil who also owns Samoa’s Radio Polynesia and TV3. Passionate about sound, Keil’s love affair with KV2 began when he heard a pair of KV2 SL412s running with four double 21” subs on the demo stage at ProLight & Sound. “I was literally blown away,” he recalls. “I just couldn’t believe what was coming out of two such small boxes! I walked straight onto the KV2 stand where I met sales director, Dave Croxton, and said, ‘I want the system you have outside.’”
Since then Keil’s invento

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USA - The Empire State Building has gifted the Audio Engineering Society with one of the 32 elements from its Alford antenna array, which overlooked Manhattan from high above for more than half a century. This piece of FM broadcast history will be on display at AES New York 2019, the 147th Audio Engineering Society International Pro Audio Convention at the Jacob K. Javits Centre in October.
“The Alford Antenna is an important part of what made broadcasting as we know it today possible, and the Empire State Building is excited to share this special piece of history with the Audio Engineering Society,” says Anthony E. Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust.
Since its opening in 1931, the Empire State Building has been on the cusp of innovation. When the Alford master FM antenna was installed around the 102nd-floor observation deck of the Empire State

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France - All eyes were on the pitch at the Stade de France even after the finals of the French National Rugby League’s Top 14 concluded on 15 June. French hip-hop brother duo Bigflo & Oli closed the event playing to packed stands as a large complement of Claypaky fixtures illuminated their set.
The Top 14 competition has been played in France since 1892 and features 14 participating teams, hence its name.
Lighting designer Damien Dufaitre deployed Claypaky Sharpy Plus, Sharpy and HY B-EYE K25 LED wash lights provided by Regietek for the brothers’ performance.
He positioned 19 K25s at the ground around the edge of the field. “The power of the fixtures’ projector allowed me to alternately coat the lawn with solid colors or play their powerful beams tight in the bottom,” says Dufaitre. “Even at 40m, they did the job.”
Sharpys, located at the

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UK - Viewers around the world enjoyed premium audio while watching Wimbledon 2019 with NEP UK deploying 15 Calrec consoles at the South West London tennis venue, alongside extensive Calrec networking and routing technology and I/O boxes. An additional three Calrec consoles were used in NEP OB trucks that covered Centre Court, Court One and Court Two.
“We have worked extensively with Calrec over the years; the networking flexibility and easy scalability of their technology were central to the success of this Wimbledon 2019 project,” says Jimmy Parkin, sound engineer, NEP Broadcast Services. “We needed audio operators to be able to easily access any source from any court without having to move anything or plug anything in; any console can ‘talk’ with any other console on the network.
“We also needed to integrate IP networks with Calrec’s Hydra 2 networking

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UK - The MJR Group has partnered with venues in Leeds and Southampton to develop and deliver their live events programmes and operations.
The Warehouse in Leeds will benefit from investment in its production infrastructure, with new staging, audio and lighting systems. The venue, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year, has been a regular venue on the touring circuit in the past, hosting the likes of U2, Oasis, Soft Cell, The Stone Roses and Pulp.
Over in Southampton, Switch, a 1,500-capacity former cinema theatre, has previously welcomed an international string of club and party bands and artists, hosting the likes of Stormzy, DJ EZ, Paul Woolford and Andy C. The MJR Group is planning to introduce live music events at the venue, which is already being refurbished, including new staging, lighting and screens throughout. An internal re-design will turn the club

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Denmark - In June, Meyer Sound returned to Denmark as the exclusive sound provider for the Roskilde Festival, Northern Europe’s largest and longest-running music festival. The event marked the second year of a five-year partnership between Meyer and the festival.
The Roskilde Festival, now in its 49th year, took place over eight days from 29 June to 6 July and showcased nearly 180 acts on eight stages, from big-name headliners Cardi B, Bob Dylan, Travis Scott, Janelle Monáe, Robert Plant, and Wu-Tang Clan to Scandinavian superstars Robyn and MØ, to emerging regional artists, performing to daily crowds topping 130,000.
The festival, which operates as a non-profit foundation, is a celebration of community and solidarity, ideals fostered year-round through support of humanitarian and cultural organisations in Denmark and beyond. (Since its inception, the Roskilde Fest

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UK - Event industry entrepreneur David Walley has acquired Star Events, provider of stages, support structures, rigging and design services.
Star Events has been supplying equipment and services to the events industry for 40 years, working on high-profile events such as British Summer Time Hyde Park, Download Festival, and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The company has also worked for artists including Adele, Spice Girls and the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Walley’s portfolio of event businesses includes event management agency Mobile Promotions, brand partnership agency BluePeg and staffing business Beautiful Minds. He was also managing director of De Boer and has led the Freeman Company in the UK. He comments: “Star is one of the great names of the UK events industry. They have an inspiring legacy and are both trusted and innovative. We are looking forward to int

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USA - TMB’s ProPlex IQ network tester was recognised with a Cine Gear Expo Technical Achievement Award, coming first from 130 entries in the Lighting Technology Accessories category.
The tool is applicable to networks of all kinds - lighting, video, audio, special effects, rigging, etc. - this hand-held product is billed as the world’s first portable network tester for entertainment staging and production use.
This is the third official accolade that the IQ tester has been granted by industry professionals, having already claimed the LDI Debuting Product award and a PLASA Award for Innovation.
(Jim Evans)

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USA - Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth was one of three bands that opened up for Slayer this past spring on the metal rockers’ extended farewell tour. Martin Müller has been designing lighting and serving as lighting operator on Amon Amarth shows since 2016 and for the 16-date trek across the southern US and east coast chose to reinforce the band’s melodic guitars and growling vocals using Elation Smarty Hybrid moving heads as contre-jour lighting effects.
With lyrical themes that deal with Norse mythology and history, the opportunity for interesting supporting visuals on Amon Amarth shows, such as a centre stage Viking ship, is great. “On an Amon Amarth tour, we have a lot of stage props, fabrics and other shushu that needs to be lit up in a tasty way so that the audience will always be able to discover something new when they look on stage,” Müller s
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