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USA - Former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung hit 70 in mid-February without breaking stride. Performing a two-hour-and-ten-minute Valentine’s Day concert before a packed house at the 3,400-seat Star Plaza Theatre outside Chicago, the singer-keyboard virtuoso exhibited the same spirited infectious energy that made him one of the more popular rockers of the ’70s and ’80s.
Keeping pace with him note-for-upbeat-note on classics like Babe and Come Sail Away was a punchy Mathew Ryan light show that featured a collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied by JR Lighting Design, Inc.
“We asked JR Lighting for help in beefing up our show for this concert,” said Ryan. “The first thing they recommended was the Rogue RH1 Hybrid, which we added, along w

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USA - Shure has announced expanded integration between its Axient, QLXD, and ULXD wireless microphone systems and Yamaha CL and QL series mixing consoles.
With Yamaha’s firmware version 4.1, sound engineers can monitor and control key features of these premium wireless systems from the mix position during a show. This delivers a significantly-enhanced working environment and an impressive degree of system integration between the components that audio professionals use for the most challenging live events.
Sound engineers can discover connected wireless systems; identify and map each system to the desired input channel; monitor transmitter battery status, RF, and audio signal level; and adjust receiver audio output level when Shure AXT400, QLXD4, or ULXD4 digital receivers are connected to the same network as a Yamaha CL or QL series console. With Axient wireless sys

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USA - America’s third-oldest college, Yale University is perhaps as noted for its Gothic-flavoured architecture as for its history and academic achievements. So, when updating the AV systems in several of Yale’s existing spaces, as well as one of its newest ones, systems integrator North American Theatrix (NAT) turned to L-Acoustics.
“We’re a preferred vendor for Yale and have worked on their AV systems in the past, so when they asked us to find the best sound solution we could for these spaces, we naturally went with L-Acoustics,” says Pat Nelson, chief operating officer of NAT, which is also an L-Acoustics Certified Provider for Install (CPi).
“Theatre and auditorium spaces are one of our specialties, so product lines like Kiva and XT were sonically and visually ideal for Yale’s orchestra rehearsal room and a recital hall. But we were also dealing with
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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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Malta - The walled Cittadella on the Maltese Island of Gozo has been of strategic importance since the Phoenicians first set out in boats to trade with their neighbours more than a thousand years before the beginnings of the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, the fortifications were regularly extended and improved by whoever had taken possession of the island at the time. Ironically, 300 years without a siege has meant that it has been allowed to lapse into serious decay.
The Maltese government has adventurous plans to restore the Cittadella as a World Heritage site and museum to cater for the wave of tourists beginning to pour on to Gozo for its natural beauty. Renowned museum and attraction design and AV specialists Sarner International were engaged to design and implement an unusual experimental visitors’ centre located in the Cittadella’s abandoned water storage rese

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France - French band M83 has been touring its brand of electro-pop - and its latest album, Junk - around the world, playing festivals including Coachella in the US and Glastonbury in the UK, as well as headlining at academy-sized venues, all to rave reviews.
Their audio system has been supplied by Clair Brothers since the band was big enough to take one out, says Front of House engineer Robbie Barr, with a pair of DiGiCo SD10s now forming an indispensable part of the package.
Robbie has been with the band since 2012, initially on playback / Ableton and now mixing the show for the current album campaign, whilst monitor engineer Laura Davis joined them this year. Both engineers have experience with DiGiCo consoles, both are using an SD10 for the first time for the tour, and both have the latest Stealth Core 2 software which, they say, is a game changer.
“

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UK - Amaluna, Cirque du Soleil’s latest conceptual presentation is playing to packed houses at the Royal Albert Hall. The drama’s underlying narrative unfolds through Cirque’s seductive style, yet that most potent form of mime is melded to an unusually muscular score.
“Amaluna’s music is unique within Cirque du Soleil shows,” confirms Matthew Steuart, Cirque’s head of sound for the show. “It’s a powerful rock driven score, featuring a traditional bass, drums and guitars band alongside some electronic elements that when combined, create Amaluna’s signature powerful musical experience.” That call for a rockier edge saw Steuart ask Britannia Row Productions to readdress the sound design.
“We were extremely happy with the L-Acoustics Kara PA Britrow deployed last year,” continues Steuart. “Prior to last year’s visit in th

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Germany - d&b audiotechnik has announced the appointment of Stephan Greiner as chief sales officer. From 1 March Mr Greiner will serve as a member of the Managing Board, reporting directly to Amnon Harman CEO. Mr Greiner succeeds Hans-Peter Nüdling, taking responsibility for global sales and sales operations, as well as Education, Application Support, and Product Services.
With a degree in electrical engineering, Mr Greiner’s professional career spans more than 25 years, having held senior management positions at Siemens, Osram, Everlight, and most recently as vice president sales EMEA at the international LED manufacturer, Cree.
Commenting on the appointment, Amnon Harman CEO said: “Stephan’s impressive professional background and passion for technology will be a great asset to d&b at a time of significant development and innovation. His dedication to

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UK - A VIP crowd gathered recently in a 39th floor luxury penthouse in London’s South Bank tower for the launch of Fabergé’s new dual time zone watch, the DTZ. Set to the backdrop of London’s impressive skyline, the unveiling of Fabergé’s watch was accompanied by a special live DJ set by Vogue Williams. An equally impressive supporting lighting concept was created within the penthouse, courtesy of Big Fish SRL, which used a selection of Chauvet Professional WELL Fit, Maverick MK1 Hybrid and Ovation E-190WW fixtures to create a lighting backdrop to the celebration.
With the penthouse itself harbouring numerous interesting characteristics such as high ceilings, a balcony, and a central chandelier consisting of stainless steel balls, illuminating the space was a complicated and involved task. One of the fixtures instrumental in achieving this was Chauvet Professional

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Germany - Technically oriented theatre, film and event careers are wíde-ranging and creative. This is something that the international trade show and conference Stage|Set|Scenery, which will take place from 20-22 June in Berlin, aims to take into account by organising a special programme for young professionals. The reason is a decline in young people learning technical skills, which has led to growing competition on the home and international employment market. This is where Stage|Set|Scenery will seize the opportunity to promote a dialogue between cultural institutions and the employees of the future.
Business colleges, universities and other professional training institutions will be represented in Hall 23. They include Akademie der Österreichischen Theatertechnischen Gesellschaft, Berufliche Schule Holz. Farbe. Textil, Beuth Hochschule für Technik in Berlin, DE

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USA - Motion control specialist and manufacturer Kinesys will exhibit for the first time in its own right at a US trade show during the three-day USITT 2017 stage expo in St. Louis, Missouri, from 9-11 March.
Stand 1404 will focus on two of the leading brand’s most popular product ranges, DigiHoist intelligent motor controllers and the Libra range of load monitoring equipment, as well as highlighting Elevation vari-speed chain hoists which will interest those looking for more advanced automation systems.
David Bond of Kinesys USA comments: “The North American market is currently expanding for us and we want to nurture this growth and reach out to more potential buyers, users and specifiers.”
He thinks that USITT is an ideal environment for meeting a diverse cross section of industry professionals working in the key sectors of theatre, performance, and the a

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Spain - The Musiluz Sound School, based in Malaga, has invested in Allen & Heath’s Qu-24 compact digital mixer as part of an update to the institute’s AV equipment.
Founded 10 years ago, Musiluz is a nationally renowned training centre for DJ and music production. The Qu-24 is not only used for the music production and live music courses but also post production audio for film and television.
“It is very important for us to have a compact, quality mixer that we can use in both the theory and practical classes. Our research showed that Allen & Heath had the system that best suited our needs for quality as well as functionality and integration with the most popular programs on the market,” comments Ruben Albendín, founder and director of Musiluz.
“The Qu-24 not only meets our expectations but has exceeded them! We are very impressed with the qua

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UK - A.C. Special Projects Ltd. (AC-SP) has specified, supplied, installed and programmed a versatile colour-changing performance and house lighting system for the Belle Shenkman Studio at the prestigious Royal College of Music (RCM), London.
The RCM is one of the world’s great conservatoires, training gifted musicians from more than 60 countries for international careers as performers, conductors and composers. Situated in South Kensington, the RCM's teaching and performance facilities are amongst the highest technical standards in the country for musicians studying at undergraduate, masters or doctoral level.
The project brief for AC-SP was to provide a multi-purpose lighting solution for the RCM's Belle Shenkman Studio, which is used by students to make video recordings of musical performances for their portfolios.
Up until now the college had been using por

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Europe - Digital 6000, the latest member of Sennheiser’s professional wireless microphone range, is shipping now. Incorporating the Long Range transmission mode and proprietary audio codec from Sennheiser’s top-of-the-range Digital 9000 series, Digital 6000 delivers “impeccable RF wireless and audio performance”.
At the same time, the system fulfils the business need of rental companies, theatres, broadcasters and houses of worship for a flexible two-channel wireless solution that allows the use of existing accessory infrastructures. Designed for demanding live productions, Digital 6000 also addresses the challenges of the shrinking UHF spectrum: The system eliminates intermodulation, enabling more channels to operate in less spectrum space.
Tom Vollmers, product manager at Sennheiser, comments, “Digital 6000 is a wireless system that is all about performan

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USA / Belgium - Barco and ETC have announced that they are in serious discussions over ETC’s possible acquisition of High End Systems, part of Barco’s Entertainment division. Details of the timeline for the completion of the acquisition remain unknown, but both parties say they are committed to moving forward with a successful transaction.
Wim Buyens, senior VP of Barco’s Entertainment division, commented: “For Barco, the envisioned divestment of its lighting activities is in line with its strategy to sharpen the focus on its core activities. We believe joining forces with ETC would enable High End Systems to realise its full business potential, while providing ongoing support and opportunity development for its customers, and we appreciate ETC’s commitment to maintain High End’s operations in Austin and fully support the development of High End’s products.”

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UK - PRG XL Video, the UK operation of Production Resource Group (PRG) has announced a new management structure which includes the addition of Teresa-Anne “TA’ Dunleavy as managing director, United Kingdom. TA will take-up her new position on 13 March 2017.
TA brings more than 10 years’ executive leadership experience to PRG XL, joining the company from Concerto Group where she served as CEO from 2012-2016. Prior to Concerto she was CEO of Good Relations, part of the Bell Pottinger Communications Group, where she was responsible for wins of major global brands that transformed the agency such as Nintendo, TalkTalk and Subway.
Her focus will be on further growing the commercial aspects of PRG XL’s business. She will report directly to Stephan Paridaen, PRG’s global president and chief operating officer. Stephan commented: “We are delighted to welcome TA as m

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UK - Audio-Technica, exclusive UK distributor for Apart Audio, is to showcase a range of the Belgian brand’s new products at ISCEx at Coombe Abbey on 8 March. The Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers’ event – aimed at commercial audio system designers and integrators – will be the first time the company’s MA amplifiers, MASK C Series and CM Design speakers will be shown in the UK.
Created to offer simple, elegant integration into all interior environments, the CM Design models feature a thin edge grille and integrated neodymium grille fixing magnets to ensure unobtrusive, easy installation. Apart’s Quick Fix connectors are used for speaker connections – avoiding the need for junction boxes and reducing installation time and costs. Clear power tap labelling on the speakers’ transformers also aids quick and easy set-up. The two-way CM Design speakers

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World - City Theatrical has announced that the DMXcat Multifunction Test Tool is now shipping and is available through City Theatrical dealers worldwide.
The DMXcat makes it easy for anyone to control, analyse, or test any DMX lighting fixture, whether it’s a simple LED PAR or a complex moving light. The system consists of a small hardware dongle and a suite of mobile applications. Together, they combine to bring wireless DMX and RDM control plus several other useful functions to the user’s smartphone.
The DMXcat solves the problem faced by all users of modern lighting equipment: How to turn on and test DMX lighting gear without using a complicated lighting console. The DMXcat hardware dongle is a compact battery powered unit which fits easily in a pocket or tool pouch or may be worn on a belt. It uses Bluetooth LE technology for communication with the smartphone

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USA - Country music star Easton Corbin has been bringing his smooth twang to audiences around the country with a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. His newest single, Girl Like You, has been climbing the charts as fans await his much anticipated fourth studio album.
Lighting designer Andy Knighton utilized GLP Impression X4S on Bandit created ‘Go-Go’ Truss, a custom designed A-type truss where a pipe can be mounted down the centre allowing smaller fixtures to be more portable.
“There are also two Bandit exclusive GRNLite pars in the bottom for toners and one Robe Pointe at the top of each tower,” Knighton said. “This allows for an expedited up and down as there is not very much time in between set changes, along with fitting in various clubs and drawing low power.”
Bandit also supplied Chauvet Legend 230 SR Beams, GRNLite moving washes,

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USA - The Old Church is a non-profit entertainment and event venue in the West End cultural district of Portland, Oregon. Already renowned as a space for acoustic and classical performances, the recent installation of an Alcons Audio LR7 system has made a significant difference in attracting a wider range of performers and audiences.
Originally built in 1882, a dwindling congregation meant that in 1967 an alternative use had to be found for the building or it faced demolition. A band of Portland citizens formed a non-profit organization to preserve the building and use it as a performance space to enhance the local community.
The Old Church is a contemporary, comfortable and accessible space, but the board of directors is always looking at ways to improve it. Recently they raised $272,000 with the aim of upgrading it to become a world-class concert hall. Gary Stokes of

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USA - The early years of this century were tough on Kmart. Once the second largest retailer in the US, the company had been surpassed by faster, nimbler rivals. Emblematic of the chain’s demise were the vacant Kmart stores that dotted America’s landscape, like the one at 4411 Olton Road in Plainview, Texas. Vacant since 2002, it stood as a neglected eyesore in this West Texas town for 14 years, until it became the gleaming new home of the rapidly growing Harvest Christian Fellowship.
The transformation of the old abandoned store is instantly apparent to all who pull into its spacious parking lot, thanks to the tasteful landscaping and new building façade. Inside, the utilitarian discount store interior has been turned into a warm and inviting worship environment. At the centre of it all is a bright sanctuary stage that projects a contemporary look, while still connectin

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Japan - dnp Partner KIC Corporation has installed dnp Supernova Infinity Screens to create a huge display for customers of Satellite Chuetsu, an off-track betting facility in Japan. This not only meets the customer’s demands for size and clarity, but gives the facility a new selling point.
Based in the Niigata Prefecture, Satellite Chuetsu wanted to upgrade its previous two 130” rear projection displays, and so turned to dnp partner KIC Corporation of Tokyo for the solution.
The customer wanted a display that was not only bigger, but would also offer wider viewing angles. KIC had already installed a dnp Supernova Screen solution at Satellite Aizu, a similar facility in Fukushima Prefecture, and Satellite Chuetsu were keen to use similar technology.
Satellite Chuetsu eventually chose a dnp Supernova Infinity display (comprising four 120” units) using 08:8
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