The prestigious Danish venue VEGA has recently bought four AS-2 self-powered subwoofers for use in both Store Vega and Lille Vega, making full use of the self-powered concept. The AS2 is a dual 18" subwoofer, designed to meet the demand for compact, high-powered, ultra-low frequency (31-80Hz (-3dB)) subwoofers for touring and other professional use. Flemming Nielsen, technical manager, says that the power and sound quality were very important, along with the mobile possibilities for clubbing events. Store Vega is equipped with a d&b 402 system processed by XTA DP 200.

Anders Christensen, managing director of D-PAC, said: "D-PAC is proud to have VEGA as one of the first customers for our new line of self-powered loudspeakers. We have done thorough research making our class-D amp

The spring touring season is off to a busy start with a number of high profile acts touring under Martin MAC rigs. They include Paul McCartney, touring the US under 50 MAC 2000Es (electronic ballast). Lighting design is by Roy Bennet with lighting supply by Light & Sound Design. For Lenny Kravitz, lighting designer Jon Pollak is using MAC 2000s for contemporary the world tour through August (Japan, Europe and US). European production is by UK-based Lite Alternative.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are reunited under a MAC rig for their US tour. Lighting designer is Keith Wissmar, with lights supplied by Bandit Lites. For Westlife, Bandit Lites supply a MAC rig and Jem Glaciator heavy fog machine for the latest European and UK tour. Lighting design is by Barry Halpin. Barry Manilow’s latest world tour also features a lighting system delivered by Bandit Lites and based around Martin M

When Salisbury-based PA hire company, Amethyst Audio, decided to replace its existing but ageing amp rack and invest in the best Britain could provide, there was only one choice, according to managing director Chris Wynn - Chameleon. Amethyst Audio’s revamped rack now houses a pair of Chameleon 2750 DP/2s for low-end duties, a 1200 DP/2 to handle the mid, while a 600 DP/2 takes care of the top. "The old amps were a respected traditional brand, but in my opinion they don’t hold a light to the Chameleons. The response is so smooth, even the audience ask why the sound is so good," commented Wynn. He continues: "I have also noticed a sizeable increase in new business since customers discovered that Amethyst Audio was using Chameleon amps. The existing client base, which spans from Cornwall to Kent and the South Coast to Leeds, is delighted with the significant impr
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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

Outline’s recently launched Bomber enclosures, first seen just a few weeks earlier at both the Frankfurt and Rimini trade shows, were ‘road-tested’ for the first time at the Viareggio Carnival in March, one of the most famous and colourful Italian festivals known worldwide and attended by over 100,000 people. Michele Brudaglio’s Sound Service rental firm fitted out two floats with Outline sound systems, achieving an enormous concentration of power and sound pressure in a small space: on the first float, there were two Bomber enclosures, four Doppia and four Victor Live subwoofers, whilst on the second there were four Doppia, four Victor Live, two Minisubs and two SM18SWs, all powered by Series T digital power amps and controlled by Outline Genius 6 digital processors.

(Ruth Rossington)

Pathway Connectivity, the leading data communications company in the entertainment lighting industry, has appointed Jose Luis Olvera & Associates as its new sales representative for South and Central America. Already representing ETC and Wybron in this market, Jose Luis Olvera & Associates is a well-respected presence in Latin American lighting, with more than 20 years of electrical engineering and entertainment lighting experience. "Jose Luis Olvera & Associates will boost our presence in this important market, and improve availability of our entertainment networking solutions to theatres and studios," says Pathway’s president, David Higgins. "We are thrilled to have a representative of this caliber join the Pathway team."

(Lee Baldock)

Paradigm has been providing the BBC with two DNP wide angle screens for News at Six and News at Ten. Commissioned by Shooting Partners, a specialist in production management, the screens are positioned within the studio behind the main presenters, and are being used on every show for the weather, interviews with outside sources and for feature item illustrations.

Rob Hopkins at the BBC said: "We carried out a test to compare various screens and projectors on the market and the viewing angle and brightness of these screens came out on top." Mark Holdway of Anna Valley - the new display division of Shooting Partners - commented: "The brief was to be able to view the screen from a variety of angles whilst maintaining image brightness and uniformity. The DNP screens fulfilled this requirement perfectly."

(Lee Baldock)

During the SIB show in Rimini, Martin Professional's worldwide distributors were treated to a black tie Gala Dinner followed by Martin's Annual Awards Ceremony at the elegant Villa des Vergers just outside the city. The company’s marketing director and CEO of Martin Italy Pio Nahum presented Martin's Distributor Awards for 2001. The winners were:
Preferred Partner of the Year:
Ecler - Spain

Stage, Studio & Event Distributor of the Year:
Panou - Greece

DJ and Club Distributor of the Year:
Pro Technica - Bulgaria

Architectural Lighting Distributor of the Year:
AMAC - Lebanon

Martin Lighting Distributor of the Year:
High Tech Design - Czech Republic

Mach Speakers Distributor of the Year:
Factory Trading - Cuba

Jem Smoke Distributor of the Year:
A&T Trade - Russia

Best MAC 2000 Dealer:
EVDV

Le Mark Group have announced that, as part of their ongoing relationship with US company Apollo Design Technology, they now have the opportunity to offer glass gobos of up to 20,000 dpi resolution. The SuperResolution and ColourScenic range offers high-resolution quality on both black and white and full colour, allowing for crisp images and specific colour matches or gradients of colour. As part of the arrangement, single and two colour gobos are also available up to 6,000 dpi across 86 standard patterns.

(Ruth Rossington)

After a great deal of speculation and industry rumours, Eat to the Beat UK is spreading its wings to America. As of June 1st 2002 'Eat to the Beat Inc’ will be in full operation, taking up residency in New York. After the success of recent US tours and at the request of many of their existing clients, Eat to the Beat have decided that the time is right to set up an operation in the States. Managing director Tony Laurenson said: "In the past we have come close to setting up a division in the States, first in Atlanta nearly 14 years ago, then Los Angeles eight years ago. Our feelings are that, whilst we have successfully worked on tours in America without a proper presence, now the time is right to consolidate and build on our successes in the USA.

"We are now finding that venues are more willing to allow us in and we know that our style of catering is both popular and ec

Audio rental specialist Alex Schlösser GmbH has formed a new company, AS Audio, to distribute Chameleon amplifiers and other brands throughout Germany from its Cologne base. The decision will allow Alex Schlösser GmbH to concentrate solely on servicing its extensive number of clients in the broadcast and live sound sectors.

Schlösser is no stranger to Chameleon, having purchased DP/2 3500 and 2000 models over the past nine years for use by commercial and state-owned TV stations, RTF and ZDF. Recent contracts where the British company’s amps have played an important role include the 2001 Chancellor Party in Berlin and the Wiener Festwochen in Vienna.

Schlösser says AS Audio intends to build on Chameleon’s success in the UK and his own country by further promoting the brand via its website and through the pro audio media in Germany.

(Lee Baldock)

Denon has raised the stakes again in the twin CD marketplace with the release of the DN-D9000, designed as a creative tool for DJs of all genres, and now available in the UK through Hayden Laboratories.

For all its complexity, the DN-D9000 is simple, user-friendly and logical to operate. It utilizes high-speed internal processors, offers many new digital features and has a large memory capacity. The world-first Alpha Track facility allows DJs to play two tracks off the same disk simultaneously.This function - not found on any other CD player - allows two completely separate tracks per drive to be selected and replayed - or played on top of each other. Both tracks can then be simultaneously Pitch Bent, and have other additional effects like Scratch applied.

The D9000’s digital ATAPI drives will reliably playback CDR and CD-RW disks. The drives are also user replaceable - a great

Shure Incorporated is now shipping the affordable WH30 headworn microphone designed for users, especially performers, who require full mobility along with the professional audio quality of a condenser capsule. The WH30 features a frequency response tailored to enhance the clarity of vocals. Ergonomic and lightweight in design, the hands-free unit features a flexible gooseneck that facilitates optimal microphone placement and an isolation shock mount that reduces vibration noise. Temperature and moisture-resistant, its cardioid polar pattern delivers maximum gain before feedback. Capable of handling high SPLs, the headworn mic comes with its own snap-on windscreen.

The WH30 is available in a hard-wired version, as well as with Shure's T Series, UT Series, LX Series, ULX Series, UC Series, and UHF Series wireless microphone systems.

(Lee Baldock)

Hertfordshire Police have advised PLASA Media that two Turbsound TFM 212 monitor wedges were stolen at the weekend from the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth. The wedges, both the characteristic Turbo blue with grey grilles, were just six months old and carry the serial numbers 121540 and 121541; they were taken from the theatre on Saturday 13 April. The TFM212 is a passive 2-way floor monitor consisting of two 12" LF drivers and a 1" HF compression driver.

If you are offered Turbosound TFM212 wedges for sale, or if you know of anyone who has recently come into possession of a nice new pair of blue boxes, please contact the officer dealing with the case at the e-mail address below, or by phone on 01932 472142.

(Lee Baldock)

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is to treat Her Majesty the Queen to a presentation of half a century of fashion when she visits the area on 9 May 2002. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be guests of honour at an all day celebration of youth and fashion.

50 models (one for each year of Her Majesty’s reign) will put on a fashion spectacular that will reflect fashions from 1952 to the present day. Popular music from the different eras and a commentary on momentous events in the nation's history will complete the pageant.

"We have a great days celebration of youth planned for 9 May and we’re looking forward to the visit from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. It’s a fairly simple idea really, but I think it’s a great way to celebrate the Golden Jubilee," commented a local authority representative.

ESS will provide a 50 metre by 12 metre

Liz Madden has joined Chevalier Event Design as Business Development Manager this spring. Madden has joined Chevalier Event Design, Millennium Sails and Eat to the Beat to work with Bonnie May and the team in taking their unique style of bespoke catering and event presentation to a wider range of clientele.

Madden began working in the operational side of the hotel and restaurant industry in 1990, and six years ago transferred her experience and skills to work in sales in the event services sector. Over that period she has become a familiar figure within the corporate events industry where her professional skills and ‘vibrant’ personality not only resulted in a successful career but also attracted the attentions of Chevalier.

"We have just experienced our most successful year to date and we are confident our continued expansion will mean that Liz will be ‘gainfu

Shure Incorporated, the leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics, has announced the establishment of a new company - Shure Distribution GmbH. This new wholly-owned subsidiary of Shure Europe GmbH will begin direct sales to Shure dealers in Germany from 1 June 2002.

"This new arm of Shure Europe is a logical extension of our current activities in Germany, the largest audio market in Europe," said Al Hershner, vice-president of US and European sales. "Shure Distribution will enable us to strengthen our brand both in the home country of many of our competitors, as well as throughout Europe."

Markus Winkler, managing director of Shure Europe and the new Shure Distribution GmbH, added: "Direct contact enables us to benefit from market feedback which is critical for future product development and growth. In addition, our European distribution partn

To head up its new OEM Sales department (see today’s other news), TMB has hired Alison Lovell, who brings a wealth of broad-based knowledge and experience of technical sales to the post. Lovell graduated from Teesside University, England, with a BSc in Chemical Engineering, and spent 14 years working in UK manufacturing, during which time she developed an excellent relationship as a supplier for TMB. She first joined TMB in London in March 2001. Since then she’s moved to Los Angeles, with her 11-year-old son, Luke, to take up her new position.

TMB CEO Colin Waters comments: "We’re delighted to have Alison onboard. She’s already making great progress, and the future for our OEM Sales department is looking very bright."

(Lee Baldock)

Wharfedale Systems’ new Programme Corner Speakers have been purpose-engineered to achieve the high output/nearfield delivery of background and foreground music in a broad sphere of applications. A wide operating band was required to ensure natural music and speech articulation, which would remain clean at high levels.

These two-way, ported systems thus provide a wide frequency range coupled with high power performance in an acoustically-efficient enclosure. Aside from their sonic quality, the environments for which PCS speakers are designated - such as airports and railway stations, places of worship, retail outlets, restaurants, sports complexes, bars and hotels - all required elegant styling.

The range offers two different models, each with black or white painted finish, and with 70.7V or 100V transformer versions. In addition to the standard finishes, the lightweight, impact

Lighting sales specialist TMB has opened a new OEM Sales division, based at its Los Angeles HQ. The new department will focus on developing TMB’s sales to OEM manufacturers, both inside and outside of the lighting industry. TMB’s CEO Colin Waters told us: "Over the years, we’ve developed excellent resources for many types of products, at both the component and finished levels. This move will allow us to develop and further capitalize on these resources."

The goal of the new department is to build a specific, expert OEM Sales team, functioning close to, but outside, the hectic environment of TMB’s regular Sales office. "The ‘Rush Service Normal’ pace of TMB’s sales offices is better suited to our dealer and rental company customers," continues Waters. "It’s a daily, team-effort fire-drill, almost incredible to beho

QSC Audio’s new 8-channel CX168 power amplifier is now shipping in Europe. Housed in a compact 2U chassis and featuring QSC’s PowerWave switching power supply technology, active inrush limiting technology, and the renowned DataPort for remote system control purposes, the new CX168 features the world’s highest channel density in a compact, lightweight design.

The CX168 includes contractor-specific features that are standard among QSC’s entire CX Series, including detachable Phoenix-style input connectors that enable the system to be pre-wired prior to rack mounting. The CX168 offers 90W per channel at 8 ohms or 130W per channel at 4 ohms (with all channels driven). Other features include 1-dB recessed and detented gain controls and a custom security cover for tamper-proof installations, user-selectable high-pass filters to reduce transformer saturation and protec

Screenco’s involvement in the TV sensation Pop Idol has led to them supplying an LED display to the Pepsi Chart Show - and it’s all thanks to Gareth Gates. Management of the Pop Idol runner-up had been so impressed with the screen during the series that they requested that the same display form the backdrop to his appearance in a Gareth Gates TV Special - and Gareth’s record company BMG were happy to oblige.

Several weeks later, Initial TV approached Natasha Blake of Screenco and booked 11sq.m of 15mm LED high brightness display for use on the Pepsi Chart Show. Initial TV production manager, Vivienne Pheysey, explained: "We spoke at length to Gareth’s record company, who thoroughly recommended the screen. Anything less than an LED display would not have been bright enough."

Artists using video reinforcement on the show included Express 2 featuring Da

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