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It was a remarkable night to top the remarkable season that Broadway’s newest smash-hit musical has enjoyed since its acclaimed opening earlier this year.

At the 2001 Tony Awards Ceremony, held on June 3rd at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, The Producers (pictured) won all of the awards for which it had been nominated - 12 wins in all, breaking the all-time record for Tony wins by one show.

Adapted from his own film by Mel Brooks, the show won Brooks himself awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. It also netted prizes itself (Best Musical), for many of its performers, and for the rest of its creative team: Susan Stroman (Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical), Doug Besterman (Best Orchestrations), Robin Wagner (Best Scenic Design), William Ive

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Capital Sound Hire has purchased a Meyer Sound M3D line array system from UK distributor Autograph Sales. The order for 24 M3D cabinets represents a break with the company’s tradition as an exclusive Martin Audio user. Managing director Keith Davis explains: "Meyer has moved on faster than other manufacturers and we think that this system is superior to any other line array system on the market." Capital’s client base covers a wide range of genres, including major rock and stadium venues, but also musical tours and classical events; from the Bolshoi Ballet to the Stereophonics. The first outing for the system was the co-headline tour by Shirley Bassey and Chris De Burgh.

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A new study analysing almost 230 audio companies and their directors, offers a rather unique insight into the individuals running today’s companies. The research, by Plimsoll, suggests that, in broad terms, there are four distinct types of director.

Mr Average: The study found that the average director in the audio industry is 49 years old and has been in the job for over seven years. The average salary is £25,000 per annum.

Old Hats: the study revealed that despite a 7% yearly turnover of directors, almost 39% have held their position for more than 10 years. Just under one fifth of UK directors in the sound equipment industry are now over 60 years old, and over the next three to five years, as these bastions of the industry reach retirement age, their departure could have a profound effect on the companies they formerly controlled.

Marathon Runners: If the industry is a vic

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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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A special 'ready-to-tour' deal has been announced for Allen & Heath's flagship ML5000 27-buss live sound VCA console. In addition to the mixer, each ML5000 Pro Touring Package includes a high quality Amptown touring console flightcase, a pair of rugged MPS14 power supplies with autoswitching in a wheeled 7U Amptown flightcase with 3U lockable drawer, a console dustcover and four Littlites.

Allen & Heath and Amptown have gone to great lengths to devise the ideal case for the ML5000. Among the features created to meet the needs of the touring industry is a specially designed cable compartment with a hinged lid that can be easily slotted in and out to allow full access for patching. The console is protected by rubber shock absorbing, enabling the ML5000 to safely travel upright on six heavy-duty castors. Up to 20 handles are provided, and the inside of the case is fully foam lined and st

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Internationally recognized lighting designer Jeff Ravitz, principal of Visual Terrain Inc, has received a Prime Time Emmy Award nomination for his lighting design on the recent Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band special on HBO. Marking the first time Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been presented in concert on television, the special was shot last summer in high-definition format during Springsteen's record-setting, 10-show sell-out at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The concert was the finale of their 1999-2000 world tour. Ravitz had designed the show lighting for the tour and was called in to adapt the design for the needs of television. To that end, he added a subtle amount of audience lighting to enhance that already used in the live show. The live performance uses colour liberally for the artists’ key lighting to reflect emotion and enhance the live s

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On September 19th the London Hilton in Park Lane will once again be the focus for music industry stars and top brass as they gather to celebrate the Music Managers Forum's (MMF) seventh annual British Music Roll of Honour. Slick production and plenty of surprises are planned for the annual event, which promises to be as high profile as last year's when Lionel Richie played for his manager Barrie Marshal and Phil Collins reformed Genesis for one night to honour the band's manager, Tony Smith.

James Fisher, general secretary of the MMF, told PLASA Media: "As in previous years, we will be inviting a number of international artists to take part in the awards ceremony. They will play a key role in inducting well-known industry figures into the British Music Roll of Honour and honouring the recipient of the Peter Grant Award for outstanding achievement." Since its inauguration in 1

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Lamba plc will host its most expansive presentation of new products ever at the PLASA Show this year. In addition to showcasing new mixer and limited edition cartridges from Stanton - on the back of having signed up new endorsement agreements with London’s top dance venues - the company will also be presiding over a number of other major events. The full range of newly-launched Nady microphone and processing products, aimed at four distinct market sectors, will have the additional impetus of a visit from company founder John Nady, who will give an address to dealers and press in the Kensington Room on the Monday of the Show.

Lamba will also introduce their newly-acquired high-end amplification range from PSS in France, having recently been appointed exclusive UK distributors. This series will be seen for the first time in the UK. Also radically different will be a new range of pu

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Martin Professional, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automated lighting, will head to this year’s PLASA Show with a number of new products and product upgrades. These include the MAC 2000 Forma - a new version of Martin’s successful 1200W MAC 2000 profile spot which features an internal framing device for precise stage lighting and new sub-gobo rotation wheel, useful for theatrical fire and water effects. Also launched is MAC 600 NT - a new version of the popular MAC 600 featuring improved colour mixing, a CTC system and noiseless operation, perfect for noise-sensitive markets such as theatre and TV.

Also new is Wizard - a one-of-a-kind DMX-controllable ‘full-house’ effects light featuring what Martin claim is an extraordinary, magical effect never before seen in the effects lighting industry. The Wizard, which uses a high-output 250W discharge

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Adam Hall Ltd, a leading manufacturer of cabinet and case hardware and audio products, will be launching several hot new products at this year's PLASA Show including 'Racklight' - an innovative way of illuminating 19" racks. Racklight will never get hot or burn out as it doesn't use conventional bulbs and comes in seven cool light source colours! Also on show this year will be many new additions to the company’s extensive range of hardware components for case, 19" rack and cabinet building, Palmer Audiotools and devices for PA, studios and installation, Adam Hall's very own brand of Bulk and Premade cables for sound and lighting, stands, the Defender II cable crossover system and Amphenol connectors, including the new 'A' type XLR for OEMs and manufacturers.

Adam Hall can be found on Stand E32.

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One of the UK’s leading sound installation companies, Northern Light, has just completed "the first of many" installs with Celestion professional loudspeakers. In Grangemouth, the Town Hall has commissioned a new sound reinforcement system, featuring the new Celestion CXi Series cabinets, for its 1000-capacity venue.

Stephen Stewart, installations engineer for Northern Light, has wall-mounted Celestion CXi 1221s left and right of the stage, with another pair of CXi1221s as a delay 30 metres up the hall. Celestion KR1s provide the balcony infill, whilst Celestion’s digital management system, the DMS2065, controls all the parametrics and delays.

"We’re hoping to establish a firm alliance between Northern Light and Celestion," explains Stewart. "Celestion is a name that our clients associate with, and this is going to be the first of many CXi i

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BSS Audio will be showing the Soundweb 9088ii at PLASA this year. Its DSP engine builds on the highly successful Soundweb platform, and brings a higher performance to the audio path. The latest generation 24-bit converters are used to give a dynamic range of better than 107dB, plus a new AES/EBU digital input card extends the applications and source options for the Soundweb system. Also on show will be the Minidrive loudspeaker management systems, comprising the FDS-334 (2 inputs 4 outputs) and the FDS-336 (2 inputs 6 outputs), together with the FDS 366 Omnidrive Compact Plus.

BSS Audio can be found on Stand S30.

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Audio-Technica will be unveiling a number of new products during this year's PLASA exhibition. Taking centre stage will be the second generation of the popular Engineered Sound series of microphones, which has been expanded to include boundary, gooseneck, suspension, lavalier and handheld models. The ES series now also features new capsules, practical switches and redesigned mounting arrangements, making it the perfect solution for all high quality audio installations. Also displayed for the first time will be a limited edition T4033 anniversary model. This commemorative version of the company's flagship microphone is launched as part of the celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of the Audio-Technica Corporation.

Finally, PLASA sees the AT3031 (cardioid) and the AT3032 (omni-directional) microphones added to the 30 Series range for home and project studios. Both microphones are end-fire

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Bryan Wilson and Jon Gee formed central London-based Flying Squad Aerial Rigging Services late last year to offer a specialist team devoted to flying performers and acrobats. As part of their expansion, the company has just welcomed a newly-appointed director, Rory McKeown. The Flying Squad now offers a fully comprehensive production rigging service including design, consultancy, manufacture and installation. From Frank Sinatra to Kylie Minogue, McKeown’s CV reads like a who’s who in entertainment. At the forefront of imaginative rigging design for over 20 years, Rory McKeown toured with Pink Floyd on the original ‘Wall’ tour in 1980, rigging the famous huge inflatable moving puppets. This led to his rigging Roger Water’s ‘Wall’ at the Berlin Wall in 1990. He has flown Prince during his 1987 European tour and been chief rigger for U2's nine month

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At PLASA this year, Sound Department will be demonstrating products from Crest Audio, Community Professional Loudspeakers and Level Control Systems - featuring a live demonstration of the VRAS reverberation system and Sound Advance Systems flat panel loudspeakers. Product launches will includethe new ST Series amplifiers and X-Rack Series mixers from Crest Audio, and new additions to the CPL Installation Series from Community.

Crest’s ST series amplifier is the flagship in a family of ‘elevated efficiency’ amplification. The ST amplifier represents a new benchmark in switching amplification - providing the expected advantages of low-weight and reduced heat, while preserving the sonic integrity for which Crest Audio is known. With the latest in switching technology onboard, this feature-rich product has the contemporary look, feel and sound of a touring class amplifier

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This year Marquee Audio will be offering a relaxed atmosphere with a room for conversation over coffee, along with the traditional tempting assortment of audio delicacies. There will be the opportunity to view the latest developments within Marquee and the manufacturers the company works with, including the recent appointment of Marquee as a main UK dealer for Sony. Products demonstrated will include the Optocore LX4 fibre-optic multicore system, latest developments of BSS Soundweb software and hardware, Crestron control systems integrated with other audio processing devices, Yamaha PM1D digital console (latest software release) and the Sony digital console, radio mics and playback equipment.

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Tascam is showing its expanding digital DJ product range on the Tannoy Professional stand. On show are a brand new digitally powered DJ mixer and the very latest update of the company’s top flight DJ CD decks. Guest spots from top UK DJs on the stand are also being lined up. The Tascam X-9 is a uniquely powerful and appointed professional 4-channel DJ mixer which utilizes high resolution digital processing to offer a range of features including on-board sampling, recallable sweepable EQ and internal effects. 24 bit A-D convertors provide for the highest possible signal resolution from vinyl, with four sets of phono stage or stereo line level connections. Digital inputs enable CD decks and external devices, like MiniDisc players, to be directly connected without loss of quality.

Balanced and unbalanced Master outputs feature attenuation control. Pre-Master booth monitor (with inde

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The Elbow Room chain of pool bars has commissioned a second audio installation from Essex-based Xtreme AV, for its newest venue, recently opened in Bristol. This latest contract follows on from the success of Xtreme’s design for the Elbow Room in Swiss Cottage, London, which opened in June. The three-floor bar in central London features a highly flexible Celestion CXi sound system, providing six zones of audio to the main bar, the gallery bar on the first floor and the club bar in the basement. The system is controlled by BSS Soundweb which allows the Elbow Room to route any sound source to any area - for example the DJ in the basement bar to a private party in the gallery bar. Private VIP areas, scattered throughout the club, are equipped with their own televisions and speaker system, allowing guests to choose their own programming. Each area has its own EQ setting on Soundweb.

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XL Video Inc (with the familiar team of Bob Higgins and Barbara Riedling) is in the midst of a busy schedule, mirroring the hectic summer season being enjoyed by UK-based XL Video. The demanding design of the 50-date Tim McGraw shed tour is providing a highly innovative challenge for the video department, with XL supplying one of the most sophisticated music production video systems currently on the road. Although XL has provided touring video packages for U2, Destiny’s Child and from Robbie Williams, the McGraw tour pushes the envelope further. LD Roy Bennett’s show design was minimal in terms of lighting instruments, but substantial in terms of video technology and expectations - specifically the use of over 500 Barco DeLite14 LED tiles for displays, and an enormous number of options in the backstage SDI video system itself.

Gary Westcott, a leading LD in his own right, w

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At this year’s PLASA Exhibition Prolyte is introducing new product including a brand new delay tower system, available in 550 kg, 1100 kg, 1600 kg and 2100 kg versions. The large version is being displayed on the stand of Lightfactor - one of Prolyte’s UK distributors. The smaller version can be seen on the stand of another prolyte distributor in the UK, Unusual Rigging. Also new is a completely restyled and updated version of the MPT tower system, to bring the product in line with future demands and regulations.

The updated version of the Prolyte catalogue is also available, featuring over 100 pages of product information and background knowledge from the world of truss. Furthermore the company invites visitors to the cosy surroundings of their stand to enjoy some fun and business gossip at the famous ‘Prolyte Bar’ or to meet Prolyte’s distributor represe

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A new specialist sound, lighting and video design and installation company, Live Business International, has opened its doors in London. The company is headed by technical director Roland Hemming, the former head of sound at the Millennium Dome, and is backed by Live Business, the UK’s largest provider of live entertainment. Live Business International specializes in design, installation and maintenance of sound, video and lighting systems in entertainment venues, including cruise ships, hotels, theatres, clubs, stadia and conference venues.

Hemming’s background spans 15 years in the entertainment technology business, beginning at the sound department of Theatre Projects where he pioneered MIDI-based show control in the late 1980s, going on to work as a sound engineer, event production manager, audio consultant and installation designer. In recent years Hemming has been res

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The Royal Opera House live relays are making a welcome return to the Covent Garden piazza following the success of their revival last summer, made possible by the generous sponsorship of BP. This three-year sponsorship scheme has already brought three operas and now the very first ballet live from the main stage of the ROH into the piazza. An estimated 5,000 people enjoyed the free performance of Tchaikovsky's timeless ballet, Swan Lake which was broadcast onto a huge screen supplied by Screenco. The complex audio requirements were provided by Dobson Sound who have worked with the Royal Opera House on several previous occasions during the period of its refurbishment.

The system that was put in place for the Swan Lake relay was the result of collaboration between Paul Dobson and Eric Presley, Head of Sound for the ROH. Presley mixed the sound in the ROH and sent the feeds out to the pia

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