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UK - On 16 May this year, Mike Crossman, White Light's long-serving hire director, will leave the company. He has been with White Light for 15 years, during which time he has overseen an ever-more diverse range of hire projects from the smallest school shows to the largest West End and touring productions including, currently, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Contact, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon and the Olivier-award winning Our House, as well as the company's move from Fulham to Wimbledon. "I have had a fantastic time through the years at White Light, working with great people, both in the company and in theatres and on shows," says Crossman. "I feel it is time for me to get out of the office and explore the world a bit!" To that end, he

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USA - Bandit Lites has promoted John Rolison to be the new director of the sales division. Rolison was formerly a national sales consultant for the company and had recently had his name added to Stage Directions ‘Who’s Who’ list for 2003. "I am confident that John has the initiative and drive to lead our sales force and take us to the next level," commented Michael Strickland, Bandit Lites CEO.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - PLASA Member CTS has been awarded dealership status for Strand Lighting. "We are thrilled with this development," said David Harwood, CTS sales director. "Having been in this industry for nearly 25 years, a Strand dealership was something that our company always aspired to."

Part of the new product range recently introduced by Strand is aimed at educational establishments and small theatres, and therefore ideal for CTS, which has a large customer base in these sectors. The company holds a comprehensive hire stock of lighting, sound and stage-related equipment and its policy of remaining independent has allowed it to offer clients the equipment to suit their needs. CTS is confident that the Strand range will complement the other manufacturers they represent.

(Ruth Rossington)

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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 - Leisuretec Distribution Ltd and Strand Lighting have announced a new partnership. Strand Lighting has recently invested heavily in the development of entry-level equipment and products aimed at the education market - a move which has strengthened their already broad range of solutions for the film, television, theatre and architectural markets.

Leisuretec Distribution has made a substantial stock investment and managing director Nick Spalding is delighted at the appointment. He comments: "It is fantastic to be associated with a brand as prestigious and established as Strand Lighting, with our commitment to 'Pure Distribution' throughout our extensive customer base, we are looking forward to an exciting and long-term relationship with Strand."

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Kingston-on Thames based Metropolis AV & FX has completed a major audio and AV installation at LA Fitness in Sale, Greater Manchester, including a spectacular large projection area at one end of the club’s pool and main work-out area. The building is a former cinema dating back to the 1930s. Working with architects and interior designers Lewis & Hickey Ltd from Nottingham, Metropolis were called in to ensure the fitness outlet has the very best audio system and AV features for its new incarnation.

The primary objective was to ensure that the building’s character was retained, and that the renaissance cinematic feel desired by the client was realized. Metropolis found a technical solution for this idea: the screen is still in its original position now at one end of the space housing the swimming pool, and what were the balconies are now tiered levels housing rows

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USA - American Audio has released the CDS-1 single CD player aimed at bedroom and entry-level DJs. The CDS-1 is equipped with many top features used by professional DJs: it offers Fader Q Start (the ability to crossfade to a pre-programmed cue point on a CD when used with a Q-start compatible American Audio mixer), and also includes Instant Start, Loop In/Out, 8x Oversampling and Anti-Skip Protection.

In addition to entry-level users, the CDS-1 is ideal for working professional DJs who want a back-up set-up to take on the road. In addition to selling the CDS-1 as a single unit, American Audio has packaged a complete system, the CDS-1/System, which comprises two CDS-1 CD Players, an XDM-200 DJ mixer and a custom road case. The XDM-200 mixer included in the system was designed specifically for use with the CDS-1. The mixer has 2 channels - one for each CD player - with 2 lines, 2

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UK - LightProcessor’s new range of dimmers, called Dimension, is specifically designed to offer both features and performance not normally available at this price level. The dimmers will come in three versions - D610 (6 x 10A) wall-mount in dim and switch versions, D610 (6 x 10A) portable, D610 (6 x10A) truss-mount, D1810 (18 x 10A) and D2410 (24 x 10A) commercial.

Compact size, sleek clean lines and ease of installation make this range the smart choice ideally suited to both the architectural and entertainment sectors. Channel identification and MCBs are standard and RCCD options allow this product to be used in any location. Operational feedback via clearly defined and simple visual indicators. Installer and maintenance friendly features make this the ‘low cost’ option both before and after purchase.

Also new from LightProcessor is a range of small desks wi

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Japan - TOA Corporation has released the VX-2000 system - a high-quality broadcast and public address system designed to satisfy all requirements for general purpose and emergency broadcasts, across a wide range of environments. Configurable for simple, as well as the most complex of installations, the VX-2000 system components include System Manager; Surveillance Frame; Power Amplifiers; Power Supply; Emergency Power Supply; Fireman's Microphone and a user-specified number of Remote Microphones.

Fully compliant with BS5853 pt8 EN60849/IEC60849 standards to allow use in the most demanding environments, the VX-2000 outstanding features include sophisticated failure detection measures that constantly check components and speaker lines for any faults or abnormalities which are brought to the notice of concerned personnel via visual and audio indications.

The VX-2000 features a sc

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Germany - Holzkirchen-based lighting specialists transtechnik Lichtsysteme have equipped two well-known theatres in Munich with the latest lighting technology - both the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Bavarian State Opera House have seen significant system upgrades.

transtechnik Lichtsysteme became involved with the Bavarian State Opera House as far back as 1998, and were part of the team working on a phased renovation of the theatre. The 10 FDX90 dimmer cabinets installed as part of phase 1 and the 23 FDX2000 cabinets that went in during phase 2 have ensured that the State Opera House now has one of the largest pools of dimmers in Germany. A Digiplus digital auxiliary console is used to control the auxiliary functions (such as working lights and rehearsal lighting), whilst the Prisma NT and Focus NT lighting control consoles from transtechnik's NT family are used for the stage

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UK - A Yamaha aficionado who spans the entire 30-year history of PM series consoles this month became the first customer for the ground-breaking new PM5000. EFX Audio’s John Ramsay has confirmed an order with Shepperton-based dealers, Marquee Audio, for the largest, 52-channel (48 mono + 4 stereo) PM 5000 desk.

Marquee’s Glen Smith, who flew to the Frankfurt Musikmesse with directors Spencer Brooks and Andy Huffer to finalize the deal, told us: "John has been through all the Yamaha boards. He loves the PM4000 - which he also bought from Marquee - and he told us if the PM5000 gave him all that and more, then he’d be interested."

John Ramsay can remember right back to the inaugural PM200 when he was mixing local bands in his native Scotland. "We had monitors along the front of the stage apron with ‘YAMAHA’ spelt across the wedges, and

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UK - Turbosound has supplied multiple TCS and THL systems to sound and lighting contractor Innovation, for installation at the Blu Bam Bu - a new beach-theme club in the city of Newcastle. Boasting one of the liveliest nightlife scenes in Europe, Newcastle's Bigg Market area is home to many bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, and Blu Bam Bu is the area's newest venue, with a sophisticated approach that is reflected across all its facets - interior design, lighting and sound.

Innovation, based in Sunderland, designed and installed the new club's sound and lighting systems, using Turbosound TCS and THL models throughout the venue. The club's impressive street-level entrance takes you into a ground floor bar area, leading to a VIP lounge, with eight TCS-59 units and four TCS-118 subs in the bar, plus a combination of TCS-10 enclosures and TCS-108 subs in the lounge. A large void on

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UK - Show Presentation Services (SPS), working with production company Pci:Live, has provided rock and roll industry-style AV support for the annual B&Q Business Update meeting, which was held at the Telford International Centre for over 1,300 B&Q managers from across the UK.

The stage set was dominated by a 14m x 4m Barco Dlite 7 LED screen which was flown from a rigging system. The event opened with a single video image displayed on the LED screen, which then split to create two 7m x 4m screens, positioned each side of centre stage.

Gerry Francke, account manager at SPS commented: "We believe that this project is innovative since LED screens are still mainly used by the entertainment industry, and they aren't something that corporate events organizers tend to opt for, due to considerations over screen resolution and costs. However, the kit that we have supplied for the

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USA - The Motovator is Wybron’s new DMX-512 controlled scenery and drapery motion system. It provides precise servo control of the position and speed of movement of AC motors, DC motors and hydraulic actuators used to move scenery, drapes and drops.

The Motovator can be set-up and used anywhere, but particularly suited to projects where motion needs to be tightly integrated with show lighting and effects using standard lighting consoles and moving light programming techniques. This system allows motion to be designed and edited in the same way (and by the same personnel) as lighting cues. Motovator motion control systems for Traveler and Austrian curtains, roll drops and stage turntables are available for inclusion in custom designed applications, or as complete packaged solutions.

(Ruth Rossington)

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USA - This spring the M.I.N.D. Institute will open the doors to its new home on the UC Davis Medical Centre campus in Sacramento, California. M.I.N.D is a centre that takes a collaborative approach in its study and treatment of a number of challenging neurodevelopment disorders among children. The new 135,000sq.ft complex includes two buildings - a research facility and an outpatient clinic, library and resource centre.

To aid its research efforts, the Institute’s new buildings incorporate a number of observation and conference rooms - 20 in total. These rooms are used for a variety of purposes, including evaluating new students, the effectiveness of new procedures or new treatments and for family or patient conferences. Each room has a self-contained sound system, designed in such a way that it allows for future input and output expansion, and independent operation. Eac

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USA - High End Systems has launched a retail outlet on the popular Internet auction site, eBay, to sell its range of compact interior luminaires. The luminaires, which appeal to the mainstream markets, will be featured on The World's Online Marketplace at a special price for a limited time only, and although High End is known for its customer service, these particular products will be sold ‘as is’ without warranties because of the discounted price structure.

Further introductions to the site will include slow-moving and obsolete products, used products and products that don't fit the core competency of the company. High End's professional line of lighting and control systems will continue to be exclusively sold through its dealer network.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - Once again the infrastructure of Stage Electrics has proven to be a lifeline for a touring theatre company. The Blue Room, staring Tracy Shaw, was playing in Cardiff for a week’s tour, when on Monday at 5pm the show control computer failed. Stage Electrics took the call at 5:15pm and although not a supplier to the show, Chris Patton, business development manager for the theatre touring market agreed to attend site. Patton had the forethought to grab Ross Livings from the company’s IT support team, armed with a company PC. On site by 6:30, Livings had two computers in pieces within minutes, swapping the necessary parts and software. The show was running by 7:15, a cool 15 minutes ahead of curtain up. Stage Electrics offers this level of support and service throughout the UK from its 10 Branches.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - The Barco Viewscape Image Controller has arrived at Cheshire based, Keyteq and is being heralded as "the ultimate, soft-edge blended, wide-screen vision mixer for live events." The exceptional piece of kit is a multi-input, multi-display control device allowing the user to show a multitude of windowed inputs onto a set-up of combined displays. It is able to control both projection and plasma displays directly and daylight displays indirectly and offers a wide range of effects such as alpha blending, chroma keying and z-order control.

The arrival of the Viewscape has been eagerly awaited by Keyteq’s clients and with confirmed bookings well into the summer it looks as if it will be a very popular piece of kit. Based in Altrincham, Cheshire, Keyteq is an independent rental company servicing both conference production companies and event organisers, and is one o

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Europe - Microsoft’s Xbox games console has embarked on a major promotional tour of selected European cities, in two liveried 40ft tractor/trailer units with hydraulic drop-down sides. There are also two 16-tonne support vehicles containing generators and back-up equipment, and a trailer-mounted 3 metre long model of an Xbox controller. The concept was devised by brand experience company, Live Communications, who number Microsoft Xbox among their clients. Live, in turn, enlisted Avesco companies Creative Technology, Screenco and Dimension Audio to help construct the technology infrastructure for the visitor experience.

According to Dimension Audio project manager, Kevin Swain, the trucks are designed to show off the full capacity of Xbox, with a playing area, a series of pods and free play zone with games machines and chill-out areas. Visitors enter a 48-person auditorium

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Switzerland - This year’s Geneva International Motor Show, which runs until March 16th features approximately 350sq.m of Barco’s popular LED display products. 19 leading car manufacturers, including Daimler Chrysler, Jaguar, Saab, BMW, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Pirelli, Porsche and Audi have chosen Barco LED displays to showcase their latest models over the course of the 10-day event.

The Barco products present at the show (provided by some of Barco’s worldwide rental partners, including Creative Technology, Gahrens and Batterman, ICT, ETF, SONO and VPS) include the indoor ILite 6mm, ILite 8mm, and ILite 10mm range, the outdoor DLite range, as well as various large-screen projection set-ups by Opel and Citroen with Barco’s ELM and SLM projectors.

(Ruth Rossington)

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UK - Colin Pattenden, managing director of CP Sound, the Staines-based audio and lighting design and installation company, makes a guest appearance on the popular BBC2 quiz show ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’ next Monday 17 March.

Colin appears in The Identity Parade round of the show, hosted by Mark Lamarr, during which the audience is shown clips of famous performers anything between 10 and 30 years ago. The teams - who've not seen the clips - have to pick the correct band member from a line up of 5 people - one genuine, and four actors.

Colin was bass player and founder member of the legendary rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band, back in 1969. During this time, he toured the world several times, playing to audiences of 35,000 plus. Manfred's Mann's Earth Band's classic ‘Blinded by The Light’, reached the top of the UK and US charts. The band enjoyed glo

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Greece - Jack Morton Worldwide has been appointed producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the next Olympic Games, to be held in Athens in 2004. Jack Morton will support Dimitris Papaioannou, the concept creator and artistic director of the Games’ Ceremonies.

Dimitris Papaioannou said: "Jack Morton Worldwide has an impressive track record and I am looking forward to working with them. We are all very honored to deliver the Ceremonies celebrating a special occasion: the return of the Games to their birthplace."

The appointment was announced by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (ATHOC) this week after a seven-month bid process, which involved agencies from within Greece and throughout Europe. The European office of Jack Morton, based in London, led the bid with an international team most recently responsible for the successful pr

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