Lighting designer Bryan Hartley has specified the High End Systems' Catalyst system to add another dimension to the recent Slayer tour. MCSi supplied the Catalyst and the video projection equipment, while Bandit Lites provided all the lighting, the Wholehog II console - which also ran the Catalyst - and the remainder of the production gear.

"The Catalyst was a lot of fun," comments Hartley, "and it was great to run the video edits through the Hog." The lighting veteran, whose design credits include Kiss, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Meat Loaf and many others, plans to use Catalyst an another upcoming project near the end of this year.

(Ruth Rossington)

The new edition of ‘The Source’ product catalogue is now available from Canford Audio. This latest edition contains more new products than any previous Canford catalogue and there are hints that an on-line version will follow shortly. Coinciding with the launch of the new catalogue is the company’s decision to introduce free deliveries across the UK.

The result of a year-long study to match customers’ needs with both stock availability and product depth, Canford’s sales director Barry Revels is suitably confident about the value of the new catalogue. "People have been used to a new edition of The Source arriving every 6 months or so with new products and new prices. This catalogue has taken us almost 18 months to produce and reflects that hard work and thought. The changes we have made to our processes in terms of ordering and stock holding will enabl

The Music Managers Forum’s (MMF) British Music Roll of Honour took place on 18 September at The Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London. The event marks the achievements of music industry managers and luminaries and attracts a myriad of industry stars and top brass. This year they also gathered to mark the Music Managers Forum’s 10th Anniversary. Live entertainment came courtesy of Travis and Craig David in honour of their managers Ian McAndrew and Colin Lester. McAndrew and Lester, from management company Wildlife, were presented with the much-coveted Peter Grant Award for their outstanding contribution to the music industry.

The ceremony was hosted by DJ and BBC radio presenter Paul Gambaccini, who was surprised to find himself inducted onto the Roll of Honour in recognition of over 30 years in the industry. Other inductees included Willie Robertson and Bob Taylor from Robertso

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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

With a capacity of 3,000, Ireland’s largest dance club opened its doors this month in the town of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. Owners Kevin McKenna and PJ Woods have invested nearly €5 million in developing what is arguably Ireland’s first superclub, around a Martin Audio Wavefront 8 Compact system. Woods had known Rea Sound from previous leisure ventures but the Cookstown-based company still had to win a tender to develop the dancefloor and balcony (with a small, 200-capacity chill-out room in the next stage of development). "When they gave us a chance to quote we thought we’d show them just what the Martin Wavefront system was capable of, as we were under serious pressure from other leading brands," says Sean. "So we took them on a tour, and they were quickly convinced."

This sounded the signal for Martin’s product manager, Richie Rowl

The Alien 51S from Mach is a recessed speaker system designed for demanding background installations where wide dispersion and high quality audio reproduction is needed. Designed around a 5" co-axial drive unit with a 3/4" neodymium tweeter, the Alien 51S offers high levels of clarity and a wide and well-controlled dispersion.

The compact design integrates a passive crossover and a 100/70V transformer into the housing and allows the user to operate the speaker from either traditional or 100V amplifiers. Because it is based on the same cabinet as the Alien 05 colour changer, installing multiple Alien products - both colour changers and speakers - is straightforward. Useful in a wide variety of applications, the 110-degree acoustic coverage pattern ensures even sound pressure and tonal balance throughout the coverage area. As a special feature, the Alien S51 comes with a softwa

Robe Showlighting - the Czech moving light manufacturer - announced the appointment of LMP Lichttechnik as its new German distributor at PLASA last week. Based in Ibbenbüren, North Germany, LMP is one of the largest lighting sales operations in Europe, and is ideally placed to service Robe's active expansion as a direct sales operation. This follows Robe's recent appointment of Coe-tech as its UK distributor, and a very successful PLASA show, where it launched its new AT Series of intelligent fixtures, with six featured products and more to come.Until recently, Robe Showlighting was well known as an OEM manufacturer and supplier of many of Europe's leading moving light brands.

Robe's Josef Valchar comments: "We chose LMP because it's a very well established company with much experience and familiarity with the moving light market. Their after-sales support and back-up is also ren

ESTA has announced that two draft standards are up for public review: BSR E1.5, Entertainment Technology - Theatrical Fog Made With Aqueous Solutions Of Di- And Trihydric Alcohols, is available for a second public review. These theatrical fogs and mists are often used as visual effects or to enhance lighting effects in live performances such as dramatic productions, musicals, and popular music concerts, and are commonly called "glycol fogs." This draft American National Standard describes the composition of glycol and glycerin fogs that are not likely to be harmful to otherwise healthy performers, technicians, or audience members of normal working age.

Copies of the draft BSR E1.5 standard may be obtained from the ESTA website or by requesting a copy from ESTA's Technical Standards Manager via mail, fax, or e-mail (see below). Comments on the document should be receive

The first installation of Autopilot II in Scandinavia has been made for the Kikki Bettan Lotta cabaret, which opened at the Rondo in the Liseberg funfair outside Gothenburg on September 12. The show features three of Scandinavia’s most famous singers Kikki Danielsson, Elisabeth Adreassen and Lotta Engberg.

Primadonnas and divas do not appreciate being kept out of the limelight and nobody knows that better than a lighting designer. Palle Palmé, one of the best known lighting designers in Scandinavia, was facing just that particular dilemma when creating the lighting look for Kikki Bettan Lotta, as the theatre didn’t offer the facilities for three followspot operators. With three equally strong characters on stage, Palmé knew he could not compromise on the spotlight for any of the stars and he went searching for an alternative option.

The solution was simple: Autopilot II

Canford’s Tecpro range has been expanded to include a completely new digital ‘Wireless’ system. This new development includes the full functionality of the existing Tecpro system, but without all the drawbacks of a ‘hard-wired’ system. A full range of complementary products has also been designed and manufactured by Canford to provide a complete wireless communications infrastructure.

At first glance the new Tecpro Wireless system looks almost exactly the same as the existing hard-wired Tecpro system. This is no doubt as a result of the familiar, robust extruded aluminium cases Canford’s and Tecpro products are so often contained within. However, those sturdy little boxes conceal the latest in DECT technology permitting over 100 wireless beltpacks to be used in the same physical area and at a distance of up to 300 metres from a base station. The digi

Two specially designed Lighthouse LED video screens with Electrosonic VECTOR image processing were chosen as the high definition medium for a major new football and soccer stadium which opened in August 2002 in Seattle, USA.

The company behind the new stadium is First & Goal Inc, headed by Paul G. Allen, owner of the Seattle Seahawks and co-founder of Microsoft. The facility was built a few blocks south of downtown Seattle in the historic Pioneer Square district, on the site of the Seattle Kingdome, a 23.9 acres concrete and steel arena which opened in 1976, and saw over 73 million visitors pass through its doors during its life. Last year, 24 years to the day after it opened, the Kingdome was demolished to make way for the new stadium.

The stadium is the new home of the Seattle Seahawks football team and is designed with a 67,000 seat capacity, with 5,000 additional seats available

HMV has become an official sponsor for Sound Advice, the music industry education roadshow that tours the UK for five days in October. Sound Advice represents a unique collaboration by all of the UK's leading music industry organisations under an educational banner. Its aim is to provide music students around the country with invaluable advice from leading figures about key issues affecting the industry and how these might impact on their future careers. The importance of Live music, the issues surrounding Copyright and the need for education within the industry will be high on the agenda.

HMV Europe's managing director David Pryde, comments: "I am delighted that HMV is in a position to support this inaugural 'Sound Advice' tour, not least because it gives a chance to those people around the country where we have our stores to find out more about all aspects of our industry. Hopef

We have learned today that Jack (the hat) Nairn died yesterday after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Jack had worked for AC Lighting for over 20 years as the company driver and was well known within the industry.

AC's managing director David Leggett told us: "Jack had worked for AC Lighting for over 20 years as the company driver, but he was much more than this, he was an excellent Ambassador for AC Lighting and this was his 'official' title. Everyone who came into contact with Jack just loved him. He was dedicated to his job and even when in the very advanced stages of the disease, he still turned up for work. Everyone loved him for his wit. I remember being in an upmarket restaurant with him and the waiter asked him if he would like something from the sweet trolley. Jack replied in his soft Irish accent 'the wheels'. Jack was an excellent employee and friend. How h

This year's International Leisure Industry Week (LIW) show takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on the 8-10 October. LIW brings together the many elements of the UK leisure industry, from health and fitness to food, drink and entertainment.

The Leisure Environments and Leisure Solutions shows within Leisure Industry Week have been designed to educate, inspire and support industry suppliers, operators and designers. Everything from lighting, sound and furnishing to ticketing, lockers and membership technology will be showcased, and the BEDA Village (the British Entertainment and Discotheque Association) will ensure the show continues to provide an unequalled networking opportunity as well as highlighting the latest ideas and innovations for clubs everywhere. Participating companies include Pulsar Light, HZ International and HK Audio, as well as the likes of Holsten UK who will be showca

Martin Professional has introduced Freekie Control, a new concept in creative lighting control that adds a new element to a DJ’s scratch, backspin, bend, drag, delay, brake, reverse and power down. Packed with easy-to-use features, Freekie features easy pitch and pan/tilt control for instant lightshow to music synchronization.

Freekie is the first real DJ lighting controller with direct pitch control of the entire show on one fader! A full analogue joystick - with fine adjustment - gives fast and easy access to pan/tilt during programming - or grab any fixture manually during a show. Freekie also features a smart macro function for easy creation of circle movements. Features include: Pitch fader allows for instant speed manipulation of lightshow; Joystick for easy pan/tilt control; Controls up to 12 fixtures each with 12 channels; Multi-purpose buttons can be customized to contro

Successfully concluding their first year of operation as Simply By Others LLC (Simply By Others) principal designers David LaVigna and Ellen Lampros of the Connecticut-based themed architectural and fibre optic system design firm announced a number of new initiatives this month, signifying the further growth of the company - new offices, new corporate identity, new web site and several new projects.

In August, the company relocated to new headquarters at 415 Main Street, Suite B, Ridgefield, CT 06879. New phone and fax numbers are +1 203 894 8605 and +1 203 894 8655 respectively. Concurrent with the move, the company launched its revamped web site at www.simplybyothers.com and new corporate identity.

On the project front, design work has begun on Strike Long Island, the third facility that the company has designed for Strike Holdings. T

The BBC Proms season finished in typical style with the finale of the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, which was relayed via a giant screen link to open-air audiences in London, Gateshead and Dublin as part of the biggest-ever final weekend of the Proms. Hyde Park in London also hosted two extra events on the day after the ‘Last Night’. Pop Idols Will Young and Gareth Gates joined the BBC Philharmonic for a sell-out CBBC Prom in the Park on Sunday afternoon, and Sir David Attenborough hosted a magical ‘Blue Planet’ Prom in the Park later that evening. Outdoor event specialists System Sound were contracted to provide the audio requirements for events in Hyde Park across the weekend, and they turned to Hand Held Audio for all their radio and licensing needs.

HHA supplied System Sound with some 40 channels of radio over the whole weekend, the major

Electrosonic has announced the return of Nevil Bounds to the company as Senior Consultant, specialising in the corporate market. Nevil brings back to Electrosonic wide experience of the European audio-visual industry, in which he started when he was with the company between 1985 and 1991 and previously with Hammonds AV. Most recently, he was managing director of Dataton UK, where he developed projects with many core corporate clients.

Nevil is well-known to many suppliers and clients in the audio-visual and communications industry with a broad knowledge of the business, gained both in his previous employment with Electrosonic, and in subsequent years.

(Ruth Rossington)

Kino Flo used the recent PLASA Show to launch the latest addition to its range of lighting for the TV and film markets. The dimming ParaBeam continues Kino Flo’s unique development of fluorescent lighting, which began some 15 years ago when, working out of a garage, the small company started to develop new technology, eventually winning an Academy Award for technical achievement.

ParaBeam’s features include proprietary optics that compress the focal range of the light wave to produce a broad soft source along the horizontal axis and a narrow beam on the vertical axis. The 24" x 24" ParaBeam 400, for example, can light a four-person news desk from approximately 15 feet away. It sweeps back the darkness in the foreground without washing out the background on the set. With a simple rotation of the fixture, it can focus like a hard light on just one of the four subjec

Czech moving light manufacturer Robe Show Lighting has signed a deal with DHA Lighting for the latter to supply custom abstract design gobos, made specifically to fit Robe Show lanterns. Having first made contact at the SIB 2002 show in Rimini in March this year, following a process of sampling and testing, DHA’s gobos were selected as providing the best combination of value and quality.

(Ruth Rossington)

Based on the highly successful introduction of its new-wired microphone line earlier this year, Shure is expanding its Performance Gear family to include 17 affordable wireless systems. Formerly T/UT, these wireless systems are updated with a refreshed receiver design and packaging to make them even easier to use.

Performance Gear Wireless systems feature receivers outfitted with an attractive sloped metal front panel and repositioned LEDs making them easier to view and understand. Additionally, receiver rear panels are updated with easier to read two-colour labels highlighting connectors and controls. Performance Gear Wireless offers a variety of UHF and VHF diversity configurations designed expressly for vocals, instruments and presentation use including the Beta 58, PG58, and SM58 transmitters.

Model numbers for Shure's Performance Gear wireless systems remain unchanged from thos

At the recent PLASA Show, New York-based Audio Reality USA Inc signed a major distribution deal with Opus Audio for the US East Coast territory. An initial order was placed for a 60-box demo system, including XS series system controllers and HD series high definition power amplifiers.

Richard Dyne, of Audio Reality USA Inc. commented: "This deal has been in the planning for over two years now, ever since I first experienced the effect of the Opus system at a major London event, Gatecrasher and Creamfields. Their modest British approach, drive for innovation and the company’s pursuit of excellence in sound reinforcement completely won me over and has convinced me that the US market is now ready for this unique product. Audio Reality USA Inc operates from a 15,000sq.ft warehouse and office facility just 20 minutes from NYC in Kenilworth, NJ, complete with a purpose-built demon

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