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UK - Creative Technology has again joined forces with the Walt Disney Company to develop the Playhouse Disney Live! Roadshow, which has been entertaining visitors to some of the UK's leading shopping malls. Designed to promote the Playhouse Disney Channel, the six-week tour was organized by director Kathleen Gearhart and production manager Jonathan Stott of Walt Disney Special Events.

The set was designed by Idea Design Europe and this year the live backdrop was constructed around the Barco 8mm iLite 8 indoor LED screen in a 6 x 2 configuration, provided by Creative Technology and set between the 'house' frontage and start of the roof. Displayed on the screen is a series of graphics and pictures of the puppets, which is designed to encourage the children's audience to interact wit

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UK - Award-winning Saville Audio Visual has further strengthened its position as one of the UK's largest AV firms by acquiring Edinburgh-based conference specialists, The Media Facilities Company. The deal means that Saville will be the only professional AV company operating from all four UK capitals.

The Media Facilities Company was established by John Dick in 1990 and has its headquarters in Leith, Edinburgh, where the latest developments in digital projection, plasma screens, digital editing, lighting, sound and video-conferencing technologies are available. One of Scotland's fastest growing AV companies, it has seen its turnover soar by 42% in the last 12 months, despite widespread trading difficulties faced by the Scottish tourism industry in the same period.

In recent months, the company has worked on events and conferences with a number of Scotland's blue-chip companies

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UK - FX Technical Services, part of the FX Group, has recently completed an exclusive install of a Linn Knekt Multiroom system at Butlers Wharf - a private penthouse complex overlooking London's River Thames. One of its properties has recently undergone an extensive rebuild and FX Technical Services was called upon by the project's architect to install a sound system that would complement the flat's exclusivity.

The system comprises a Linn Kivor multi-output hard disc audio player, a Linn FM/AM tuner, a Sky plasma screen and Linn and BW speakers, both free-standing and ceiling-mounted. The system allows the hi-fi to be controlled from any room in the house with the minimum amount of equipment in each room. The team were also able to lay down the necessary cables before the flat was decorated and thus the install was completely unobtrusive to the overall design of the property.

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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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UK - Simon Brophy, the former head of lighting at the Millennium Dome, his wife Margaret Bragg, who worked as his assistant, and company director David Gordon appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday morning for an initial hearing regarding allegations of contractual fraud at the Millennium Dome. No trial date has been set as a result of yesterday's hearing, but a Directions Hearing has been scheduled for June 27 this year - at which point a decision will be taken about what needs to be done in order to prepare the case for a court hearing.

We have no further news on the woman in her 60s who was arrested at the same time, and a couple, both on their 30s, who were arrested in February 2001. These three remain on police bail pending further enquiries.

(Ruth Rossington)

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USA - Mackie Designs has announced the promotion of Frank Loyko to senior vice-president sales, worldwide. At the same time, Paul Rice has stepped down as Mackie's senior vice-president of international sales and business development. Loyko will assume global responsibility for sales initiative across all Mackie Designs Inc brands, while Mackie's marketing group takes over business development initiatives.

"This is the next step in the restructuring plans that Mackie put into motion last November," commented Rice. "We have set the stage for success and I'm confident in the new senior management team's ability to build upon the strong foundation that I have helped to establish over the last year."

Mackie CEO Jamie Engen said of Rice: "Paul has made considerable contributions to Mackie over the last year and we wish him well as he moves on to new challen

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Australia - MC2 Audio has announced the first major theatre installation via its Australian distributor, Funktion One Australia. Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat, located very close to Melbourne, is a beautiful old theatre, built in the mid-1800s at the height of the gold rush. Today it's an historically important and heavily over-worked regional theatre. The auditorium is constructed in traditional style with stalls at ground level and the circle and dress circle above.

T Series amplifiers have been selected to drive the Funktion One speaker system, which is located throughout the auditorium. John O'Donnell of Funktion One Australia says: "MC2 amplifiers were chosen to drive the entire system based on their high quality, transparent sound, high reliability and their compatibility with the Funktion One range of products."

The system has been configured to use one chan

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Australia - Richie Mickan, well known Australian Lighting Control systems specialist, has joined LSC Lighting Systems to help bolster the Technical support for LSC's worldwide Distributor and customer network.

Richie's experience spans live events, theatre, television and architectural applications utilizing the latest DMX, WAN and ethernet technologies. He has designed and conducted intensive training courses on Compulite consoles and Coemar intelligent fixtures and project managed large-scale installations of lighting networks in casinos, television studios and nightclubs.

Alan Graham, LSC's marketing director told us: "As LSC expands its product base and global distribution network, the need for someone of Richie's calibre became crucial towards the end of 2002. The very successful launch of the maXim range of control desks with its extensive moving light capabilities,

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UK - Just as we were loading up the news, we got a call from Total Fabrications in Birmingham to advise us that the telephone number which appeared on their advert in the February issue of L&SI is incorrect. Unfortunately, the number TFL put on the ad actually belongs to some poor soul in Birmingham who is currently fielding calls on the range of TFL and Slick products. Total Fabs have asked that we do all we can to put them out of their misery, so if you want more information on TFL or Slick, the correct number is +44 (0)121 772 5234.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Singapore - Working with Trade Partners UK, PLASA has secured government funding for UK exhibitors who plan to participate in PALA.

The exhibition, which runs from 9 -11 July at Suntec, Singapore, is an essential event for companies looking to export to the Singaporean, Hong Kong, Malaysian and Indonesian markets. It’s a major showcase for technologies in the audio, lighting, broadcast, AV and effects sectors.

With the gradual recovery of the Asian economy, PALA’s organizers, IIR Exhibitions, expect to secure participation from 300 companies. Already committed to the event are Altair Audio; ETC Asia; Kling & Freitag; Klotz Digital; Martin Professional; MGC Lamps; Mipro; RVE Technologie; Sennheiser; Studio Due and TMB. 7,000 visitors from 45 countries are expected to attend.

Via PLASA, support is open to all UK companies exporting from the UK. Exhibitors can re

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UK - This year’s Association Day will return to the historic setting of Coombe Abbey Hotel, near Coventry.

The Association Day is a key event in the PLASA calendar, and, in addition to featuring the AGM, will also include business-related sessions, together with plenty of opportunity for networking with other members. Invitations will be going out to PLASA Members in the next few weeks, and further information will be posted on the PLASA website

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UK - For the past three years PLASA has been conducting a research exercise into the key trends within our industry.In order to continue building a picture of the dynamics that shape our industry, we need Members’ help. Not only will the results act as a significant tool in helping Members to structure their businesses, but they will also help PLASA to forge stronger links with official bodies such as the DTI and Trade Partners UK, thus creating a much greater appreciation of the role members play within UK industry.

Members’ input is essential, so please complete the Industry Survey when it lands on your desk. All members who participate are sent a copy of the key findings, with trends up to and including the calendar year 2002, clearly shown.

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UK - Bosch Security Systems has strengthened its position as one of the leading global and UK suppliers of security and communications systems with the recent acquisition of Philips CSI.

Bosch is integrating the former Philips CSI operation with the well-established Bosch Detection Systems business into a single new company called Bosch Security Systems, which now offers the complete product range covering fire and intrusion detection, CCTV, public address, paging and congress systems. The combined operation is being re-located to a new home in the existing Bosch facility in Denham. Bosch will continue to sell and support all the former Philips CSI products under the globally known Bosch brand name, alongside its well-known Detection Systems branded products.

The combined Bosch Security Systems business is headed up by UK MD Joe McCann, previously general manager of Bosch De

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UK - black light - the independent lighting, sound and staging company - has opened a new office in Glasgow. In a move designed to provide increased support for its customers in the West of Scotland, the new facility will initially carry stocks of gel and other consumables, but will build up to offer full rental stock within a matter of weeks. In the interim, hire products will be sourced from the company’s Edinburgh office. Colin Morrow, a familiar face to many from his association with Sound Acoustics, will run the Glasgow operation.

black light has seen steady growth in recent years, supplying lighting, staging, trussing and audio systems to theatres, exhibitions, conferences, trade shows, educational establishments and heritage centres. Its product range now includes fixtures from Italian manufacturer SGM, who has recently appointed the company to act as its distribut

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Finland - The Nexo GEO S compact tangent array system has been installed in three prestigious cultural venues across Finland, an impressive hat-trick for distribution and installation company Oy Hedcom Ab.

In Helsinki, the small arthouse Theatre Studio Pasila became the first GEO site in the country. In a relatively small auditorium, with capacity for approximately 350 people, two GEO S arrays have been installed left and right of the stage, each with four S-805s, one S-830 and a single CD12 sub. In addition, there is an S-830 cluster above the centre of the stage. In the theatre, six PS8s have been installed as surround speakers - these are powered by Camco Vortex.

At the House of Culture in Espoo, the Tapiola Hall has a capacity of 800. Every year, the House of Culture hosts a well-known festival called the April Jazz, which attracts names like Joe Zawinul, Chick Korea, Jan

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UK - Reading-based EMF Technology recently launched its new DMX-controlled Fire Storm range of flame effects. These special effects were developed to fill a demand for medium-scale controllable stage flames. EMF’s Stuart Roberts told us: "For many years we have supplied DMX effects that range from 2ft in height to 8m high kerosene Vulcan flame-throwers. Our clients asked for ‘something in between’ and we’ve responded to that request."

The Fire Storm system has been developed to produce a flame height of 3-5m and is typically designed for use for large indoor events. Systems can be placed at the front, rear and under stages. "As with all our real flame effects, these have been designed in accordance with the standards set by the London Fire Brigade and the City of Westminster events department," Roberts added.

Since its roll-out, the

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USA - Wybron has created a new CXI colour mixer designed to fit perfectly on the ETC MultiPAR lighting fixture. The CXI MultiPAR colour mixer is the newest member of the CXI family - the fourth generation of colour changing technology from Wybron. The new MultiPAR is constructed with an all-metal housing that has proven to hold up under the rigours of a rock tour, as well as in permanent installations and theatre applications. Just like the other members of the family, the larger CXI MultiPAR uses the same standard gelstrings of cyan, magenta and yellow to create a nearly endless palette of colour. The variable fan speed offers whisper quiet service and extends the gel life while the Time to Destination feature offers easy programming for variable length cross fades.

(Ruth Rossington)

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USA - Celebrating 11 years of in-depth industry training courses, another successful Hoist and Rigging Workshop was recently hosted by Tomcat USA in Midland, Texas. Expert instructors were joined by over 71 industry professional participants from over 15 states, including Hawaii.

Instructor Don Dimitroff, from Columbus McKinnon, as well as Tomcat’s own Dave Beard, worked participants through the Lodestar electric chain hoist. Rocky Paulson of Stage Rigging and Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances stressed safety in rigging techniques and fall protection equipment while Keith Bohn, Tomcat design manager, wrapped up with truss theory and design.

Participants were not only treated to four days of power-packed informative classes, but also four nights of local entertainment, the traditional factory night at Tomcat USA with extensive tours, demonstrations, a graduation cerem

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USA - Lighting design consortium Lightswitch has announced that Greg Cunningham and Brad Malkus, based respectively in Los Angeles and Orlando, have been named Associate Partners in the organization. Both are long-term members of the Lightswitch team, and the move recognizes their individual contributions to the success of the company.

The move is just one in a series of developments for Lightswitch, which specializes in lighting and projection design for the corporate, exhibition, theatre, music, live entertainment, special events and architectural sectors. It recently opened an office in New York, giving it firm anchors in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orlando from which it can more effectively serve its global client base.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - Rare Basics, suppliers of visual display solutions, are preparing to launch an innovative new colour-changing product on one of their two stands at International Display Week. The new illuminated mini-panel has been designed to display a variety of products from accessories to homeware, whilst at the same time visually enhancing retail and other environments.

The colour-changing mini panel uses an LED light source and is easy to adjust to different settings. Measuring 300mm square and 44mm deep, they have been produced with bevelled edges so that they can be linked to make larger units or bracketed to form shelves.

International Display Week 2003 takes place between 5-7 March at Islington’s Business Design Centre in London.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - Neutrik UK Ltd has added several new connectors to its ever-growing range of products that provide solutions to today’s interconnect and interfacing problems.

The company has launched a bespoke range of adaptors and DI boxes. These are manufactured to the usual exacting Neutrik standard, utilizing only genuine Neutrik components, and incorporate Speakon phase inverters, Speakons to XLRs, Impedance balancing adaptors (DI boxes), Phono to XLR and BNC to Phono.

The new range of RCA/Phono plugs, with black, chromium shell and coloured (black, red, yellow or white) coding rings, feature Neutrik’s chuck principle cable retention and gold plated contacts. They come complete with two sizes of cable entry/protection springs for cables 3-5mm and 5.1-6.1mm, and are colour-coded for video application.

Also new is a range of phono sockets, in recessed ‘D’ hou

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UK - The British Board of Film Classification - located in the British Film Industry’s Soho heartland - is the industry body charged with ensuring fair and effective regulation of the film industry. The Board has to classify every film and video that goes on sale. Thus its 45-seat Preview Theatre, which is also available commercially, undergoes a high degree of usage.

Cinema installation specialists Sound Associates have a relationship with the Board extending back to 1986, and have periodically updated the replay systems as new sound platforms have been established. When they were recently called in to fit an AMX remote touch-screen system, they took the opportunity to recommend that the Board simultaneously upgrade its loudspeaker system. "While their screen frame was coming out it seemed to make a lot of sense," said Sound Associates’ Graham Lodge. "

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