USA - McNally Enterprises is a 30-year old family-run business that has grown into one of the biggest scenic event companies for corporate events in California. The company recently made a substantial investment in Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) loudspeakers by adding a 12 enclosure Anna Adaptive System supported by six RADIUS RSX218 dual 18-inch subs as well as 24 RADIUS RSX208L line array cabinets, six RSX12M stage monitors and four RSX12 subwoofers to their inventory.
“My Dad started out years ago with EAW JF80s and KF300s,” explains Patrick McNally, director of events. “When we decided to upgrade to newer technology we checked out Anna and RADIUS. It was perfect, almost like coming full circle. Between both systems, we’re confident that we can provide our customers

USA - Experienced production designer Travis Shirley has recently been turning to the GLP fixture portfolio in order to meet some of his more demanding challenges.
Having used the company’s new revolutionary JDC1 hybrid strobe with his long-time charge, Enrique Iglesias, he has now become the first major adopter of GLP’s new Force 120 high speed, variable direction fan unit with internal RGB LED lighting - this time with country rock band, Old Dominion, having been introduced to the five-piece on their previous tour by manager, Will Hitchcock.
In mapping out their touring plan for 2018 the band chose to embark on their own arena size tour before supporting Kenny Chesney on stadium dates later in the year. “There was a determination to have a presence throughout the entire year, whether in a support or headlining capacity,” acknowledges Travis.
With the

UK - Yamaha Commercial Audio UK has a key commitment to training the sound engineers of the future. One of the ways that the company achieves this is through taking training ‘on the road’ to education facilities around the UK. BA (Hons) Live Sound degree students at the Plymouth campus of dBs Music have been the latest to benefit from a session, provided by Yamaha’s Tom Rundle and Chris Irvine.
Founded in 1998, dBs Music provides a range of professional sound courses, aimed at students who want to be a DJ, composer, performer, producer, a live or studio engineer. The Live Sound degree course started in September 2017, with the emphasis very much on practical experience.
dBs has invested in a Yamaha CL5 digital console, plus Rio3224-D and Rio1608-D I/O units, for the course. To give the Live Sound degree students a more comprehensive rundown on Yamaha’s digital
featured content

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

USA - The Cathedral Church of the Advent, a 3,600-member Episcopal church in Birmingham, Alabama, recently completed installation of an Allen & Heath dLive system with C3500 Surface, CDM64 MixRack, IP8 Remote Controller and eight ME-1 Personal Mixers for the musicians.
Kent Michael, the Advent’s mix engineer, says, “We had recently ushered in a service on Sunday evenings that incorporated more modern instrumentation, so we needed a system that would be versatile and powerful enough to mix a full band for the evening service and simple enough to operate by our volunteer staff for the traditional services.”
dB Integrations of Gainesville, Georgia designed the Cathedral’s new audio system, installing the C3500 Surface on a rolling cart to make it easy to access for the church’s modern service. They also provided an IP8 Remote Controller for volunteers to mi

USA - The Audio Engineering Society will hold its third International Conference on Music Induced Hearing Disorders at Columbia College in downtown Chicago from 20-22 June.
The conference will focus on strategies and technologies for safer long-term hearing outcomes in the music industry and includes two days of papers and presentations augmented by lively panel discussions. Registration is now open, with Early Bird pricing through 15 April.
The Conference on Music Induced Hearing Disorders will feature presentations by a roster of notable audiologists and researchers. The keynote speech, Music for Brain Health will be delivered by esteemed scientist, inventor, and musician Nina Kraus, PhD, of Northwestern University.
Other notable presenters include Sharon Kujawa of Harvard, Dr. Marshall Chasin from Toronto, research psychologist Elizabeth Beach of Austra

Vietnam - Adamson Systems Engineering and its Vietnamese distributor, Van Lam Audio Equipment, have welcomed Ho Chi Minh City’s Van Nghe Music Centreas Vietnam’s first E-Series partner.
Following the delivery of Adamson’s Applied Certification training for Van Nghe Music Centre’s technicians, the company will demo its new system at Ho Chi Minh City’s Demo ProSound in Vietnam 2018 trade show from 22-23 March 2018.
“I had an opportunity to hear several products from Adamson’s E-Series and S-Series at an intimate demo in Hamburg last year, and was immediately impressed by the audio quality. I knew right there that we’d found the high-end system we’d been looking for that will help scale our company to the next level,” says Mr. Hieu Van Nghe, the owner and namesake of Van Nghe Music Center. “The support we’ve received from Van Lam, Sonos Libra in Th

Switzerland - Avolites has reached an agreement with Cast Swiss Light Consulting for distribution of its full range of Titan lighting control and Ai media server products in Switzerland.
For more than 24 years Cast Swiss Light Consulting (Cast) has been a leading supplier of fixtures, lighting control, staging, power, signal distribution and accessories for the entertainment, theatre, studio and film industries. The agreement now sees the company become the sole distributor of Avolites control consoles and media servers in Switzerland.
"We were looking to expand to meet demand from our client base for top-class consoles and media server technology and we realised only a major player like Avolites could fill the gap," says Silvio Cibien, Cast's chairman. "We believe we are a great match - both companies are focused on delivering the best quality equipment for the indust

UK - Broadcast and event lighting rental specialist Version 2 has introduced the Litepanels Gemini LED 2 x 1 softlight fixture to its range of low-energy lighting products.
Created specifically for use in the film, television and media industries, the Gemini’s intuitive onboard control system features three fully-featured lighting modes capable of delivering virtually any colour; CCT Mode for true daylight and tungsten with +/- green fine tuning, HSI Mode for total control over hue, saturation and intensity to create any colour in the 360° colour wheel at any intensity from 0-100% and Gel Mode to easily replicate the industry’s most popular gel sets with a daylight or tungsten source.
Version 2 managing director Nick Edwards comments: “We’ve been looking into purchasing a perfect soft light solution for some time. I believe we now have the workhorse our indust

USA - The World According to Sound is a San Francisco-based immersive aural romp of a public radio touring show. Co-creators Chris Hoff, a sound engineer, and Sam Harnett, a reporter/journalist, mishmash detailed sounds and present them in dramatic fashion to audiences ranging from 80 to 140 people eager to witness the extraordinary.
Hoff comments: “Our show invites listeners to re-imagine the world through their ears instead of their eyes. We pass out eye masks, turn out the lights, and take sounds from all over the world and move them around the audience using a ring of eight loudspeakers – the Clair Brothers kiTCURVE12+. All these sounds will swirl around you while you sit in total darkness with only your ears to guide you.”
To recreate sounds as diverse as bridges creaking, ants marching and mud pots gurgling to historic street sounds of Berlin, musica

Sweden - Rigging Works Sweden (RWS), one of the country’s largest independent rigging and automation specialists, has recently invested in the latest Kinesys Apex technology, having purchased eight new vari-speed Apex hoists to an already extensive Kinesys inventory.
The company is run by John McDonough, universally known as JonnyMac. All eight of the new motors were supplied to the country’s high profile 2018 Melodifestivalen tour, together with four of RWS’s existing Liftket motors running with Kinesys Elevation 1+ drives, a Kinesys Mentor 4 controller - offering SIL3 safety over Ethernet - at the hub of the system and one of RWS’s flexible Kinesys Vector control platforms.
This gruelling six-week event, known for its high production values, visited six cities to select the Swedish song and entrant for the annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).

UK - Following the re-boot of Top Gear, the team behind the series are back in the driving seat for another round of the high-octane motoring magazine show.
Filmed in front of a live studio audience at the show’s studio home at Dunsfold Park, Top Gear features a high-tech, semi-industrial installation by designer Rudi Thackray, lit by award winning lighting director Gurdip Mahal. Encircling the studio floor with crisp, bright lines and bold, vibrant colours, the set uses the audience as an integral part of the design and features a selection of carefully highlighted classic cars with a giant illuminated Top Gear logo framing the main presenting area.
In creating the show’s look, the lighting crew, headed up by gaffer James Tinsley and including long time Top Gear collaborator Paul Tibbles, used a number of lo

UK - ProLights LED fixtures are helping shows to shine at the Elgiva Theatre in Buckinghamshire, with the venue recently upgrading their house lighting rig from the brand's extensive range to cover the diverse day to day production needs of their lighting rig.
Located in southeast England, The Elgiva presents a wide-ranging programme of professional and amateur productions, top comedy, musicals, ballet/dance, one night shows, professional pantomime, movies, and private events.
Initially the theatre invested in ProLights' StudioCOB FC LED PARs and later decided to further upgrade their house rig with ProLights Eclipse FC LED ellipsoidals and Luma 700 LED moving spots. All fixtures were supplied by ProLights’ UK dealer A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET).
Elgiva Theatre's technical manager, Tristan Collett, comments: "After searching for years we have finally

UK - Sound and communication specialist integrators T.G. Baker have transformed the entertainment experience for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC fans, updating the PA/VA system at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton with a Nexo solution.
Molineux, the club’s home ground since 1889, was the first stadium ever built for the Football League. It was one of the first grounds in the UK to install floodlights, and one of the founding hosts for European club games in the 1950s. Now owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate and international investment company, this 31,000-capacity stadium continues to innovate.
Called in by Steve Sutton, Wolves head of operations, the T.G.Baker team was asked to design and install a new audio system for entertainment and public address/voice alarm. “Our old system was 24 years old, and well past its recommended working life,” says S

UK - Paul Heaton’s lighting designer on his current UK tour, Patrick Sollitt has over 70 tunes on his current song page, with new ones being added all the time. “With such a large back catalogue going back 20-plus years ago to Paul’s days with the Housemartins, onto The Beautiful South and his current hits, we draw on a wide range of music,” says Sollitt. “It’s a nice challenge to have to create unique looks for so many songs.”
Sollitt is meeting this challenge with a robust, fast-moving and very flexible six universe lightshow that features 34 wash, 24 spot and six beam fixtures run on a ChamSys MagicQ MQ500 Stadium.
“I would describe the lightshow as ‘big,’” explains Sollitt. “We put a lot of brightness out there and change things up quite a bit as the music goes from full on pop to delicate ballads. Paul conveys a range of emotions and mixe

Indonesia - CSA Indonesia recently supplied Gamung Productions with a complete inventory of live audio solutions by Harman Professional Solutions.
The Harman systems supplied by local dealer CSA Indonesia include JBL, Crown and Soundcraft solutions.
Setiawan Winarto, CEO of CSA Indonesia, says: “An inventory of high-end products is essential to supplying performances with exceptional sound quality and coverage - no matter the size of the event. With the addition of JBL line arrays, Crown amplifiers and Soundcraft consoles, Gamung Productions gained an advantage over its competition, establishing a reputation for versatility and reliable service.”
Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, Harman Professional Solutions, APAC, adds: “We’re happy to see our products being used by Gamung Productions, a leading touring and rental solution provider in Indonesia.”

USA - Psychedelic rockers, Portugal. The Man, have been on a charge. Fresh from collecting a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with the song Feel it Still, they're currently on a world tour promoting the band's eighth studio album, Woodstock. Front of House Engineer Charlie Izzo has chosen the SSL L300 live console as the right tool for this dynamic, multifaceted show.
On this tour Izzo deals with anything from 40 to 60 inputs per show, depending on factors that include a steady stream of guests, choirs, and/or orchestras - variable according to the city they happen to be playing in. This, the wide range of material and styles that the band visits, and the fact the band refuses to use any tracks, makes for a challenging, and very 'live' show.
"The set opens with a Metallica cover," says Izzo. "And they might do anything from an Oasis tune, some Be

UK - From 2 April, Stage Electrics will become the exclusive distributor of Strand Lighting TV, studio & location lighting in the UK.
The Stage Electrics team have already received training from Philips Entertainment Lighting and the distributor is expected to soon be offering product demonstrations to customers nationwide.
Shaun Robertshaw, key account manager at Philips Entertainment Lighting, comments: “The decision to make Stage Electrics the sole distributor, has been made to help best serve the marketplace. This arrangement will bring many bonuses, including demonstration product being held at Stage Electrics in the UK”.
Anna Western, sales director of Stage Electrics, adds: “We are increasingly operating in broadcast sales, installation, system testing and maintenance. Partnering with Philips to become their Broadcast Lighting’s sole distribu

USA - From today (15 March), Strong Lighting assumes sales, servicing and manufacturing duties for the full line of Phoebus followspots and searchlights.
Omaha-based Strong Lighting, which manufactures the Strong followspot, Syncrolite and SkyTracker ranges, will now add the Ultra Quartz II, Ultra Arc II, i-Marc, i-Chip, Titan and various searchlight models to its production line.
Phoebus product support, repairs will be provided by Strong Lighting’s team of lighting experts while parts and replacement lamps will also be shipped from its facility.
Paul Rabinovitz, president of Strong Lighting, comments: “The Phoebus name is familiar to everyone in the entertainment lighting industry and Strong Lighting is proud to be in a position to carry that tradition forward and take Phoebus products to the next level. Our deep knowledge of followspots and searchlights a

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds, the essential event for entertainment technology, returns to celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on 1-2 May. Free registration is open for the show that has already sold out, with over 130 international brands set to introduce their latest products.
In addition to the wide array of exhibitors from lighting, audio, AV, staging and rigging, attendees will have unlimited access to a seminar programme packed with hands-on technical workshops to inspiring keynote talks.
Journalist and LSi contributor Phil Ward will explore the advanced challenges of spatial and immersive audio alongside a panel of manufacturers and sound designers including Tom Slater from Call & Response and Sco

USA - City Theatrical (booth 231) will take part in this year's USITT Conference & Stage expo to be held at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 15-17 March.
The company will demonstrate its latest wireless DMX technology and software solutions and also present its range of LED products.
City Theatrical president and founder Gary Fails will demonstrate the Multiverse wireless DMX technology at the Innovation Stage on Friday, 16 March at 12pm EST.
The demo will highlight City Theatrical’s vision of a lighting setup in which every DMX device contains a Multiverse Module (and where legacy lighting products have a Multiverse Node near them), allowing entire productions containing hundreds of fixtures and dozens of universes to be operated wirelessly.
John McKernon will showcase his multi award-winning Lightwr

USA - ETC has released Unison Paradigm 4.0, the latest version of its lighting control system.
Paradigm 4.0 incorporates energy monitoring options, including Demand Response integration, improved support for tunable white and colour-changing fixtures, extended support for Paradigm Inspire stations, including faders, and many software optimisations to simplify the system’s programming and customisation.
Individual channels, groups of channels or whole spaces can be set to shed load when the system receives a demand response command from the utility company. Standard actions are defined in Paradigm and can be executed from contact closures, UDP, RS232, or BACnet.
Paradigm 4.0 also features reporting options to help keep track of energy usage. Load Schedule import and export functions make it easy to enter load information, and Paradigm’s software automaticall

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