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UK - Late May sees the launch of the Platinum TwinTrak Pro, the latest member of the award-winning Focusrite Platinum range. Designed principally as an affordable, high-specification dual mono/stereo tracking device, TT Pro, (as it's known), also boasts comprehensive latency-free monitoring, high performance digital connectivity, and all within a sturdy 2U 19" rack-mount chassis.

Each channel features Focusrite's award-winning Platinum pre amp, embellished with the option of instant 'air' and variable input impedance for improved microphone performance and extended creativity. A Mid-scoop EQ follows, and provides variable frequency and depth of cut for vocal problem solving and miked-up cabinet ambience. In pride of place is TT Pro’s powerful dual mono/stereo optical c

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USA - For several years now, designers have turned potential lighting slowdowns onsite into productive work time using Prelite’s Mobile visualization system - an interest which has led the company to launch Prelite Onsite.

Prelite Onsite systems are custom built CPUs configured specifically for the demands of 3D visualization. To optimize for speed, they have only the necessary software installed and large amounts of RAM, as well as state-of-the-art professional-grade graphics cards. Each system includes all necessary DMX interfaces and dual flat screen monitors, which can duplicate the same image on both screens - for local use by a programmer and remote use by a designer - or be placed in extended view, allowing a single view to span both displays.

Design teams can opt to have a Prelite system administrator onsite to handle every aspect of implementing this virtual sy

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Germany - Lightpower’s Open Days in April were an ideal opportunity for those who attended to learn more about the range of products distributed by the company, and also participate in an exchange of ideas and experience, as part of an extensive seminar programme which featured many influential German designers. The event also marked 25 years for the company, which was founded in 1978 under the name Effektlicht- und Bühnengestaltung Proppe & Hövelkröger GbR, before changing to Lightpower in 1987.

More than 1,000 visitors from across the lighting industry visited the Heinz Nixdorf Museum in Paderborn, to participate in the three-day event, the central theme of which was technology and design. To this end, there was a wide array of equipment on show from companies such as Pulsar, Rosco, MA Lighting, Vari-Lite, Osram, Philips, GE, Rainbow, ETC, Clay Paky, Spotlight and Doughty, n

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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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Australia - Have you been fascinated by the antics of the latest bunch of ‘celebrities’ in ‘I’m a Celebrity, get me out of Here’? Did you feel sorry for them as they roughed it a bit on the blow up sofa? Then spare a thought for the riggers from ESS who built the set in the virgin Australian Outback.

Under contract to Lucas and Roberts, and on behalf of Granada Productions, a team of four specialists from ESS in the UK along with six locals set to work in mid-December last year. The build took place in a tropical rainforest near to the town of Murwillumbah just south of the border between Queensland and New South Wales and was finished by 15 January.

The crew were exposed to snakes, leeches, funnel web spiders and a host of other nasty creatures that never feature in Australian travel brochures. "The first thing that happened when we arrived

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UK - When software licensing company Symbian held their two-day Exposium 03 at London’s ExCeL Centre to preview Symbian OS v7.0s, their latest operating system release for advanced mobile phones, they wanted to create a dynamic environment for keynote speeches and technology workshops, while providing a forum for over 70 exhibitors.

To achieve their goal they utilized two of ExCeL’s vast halls - N1, for exhibitions and workshops and N2 as a 1,200 seat auditorium - and asked integrated technology providers MCL to create a flexible production infrastructure. A division of Creative Technology (CT), MCL London equipped the main theatre and five breakout rooms with projection, lighting and sound, with a rapid turnaround to accommodate a gala dinner at the end of the first day.

The main backdrop consisted of a 20m wide cyclorama, backlit top and bottom using Vari*Lite VL

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USA - Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc, a leading manufacturer of motion picture projection and speciality lighting equipment (including those manufactured under the Strong Entertainment Lighting banner) has reported financial results from continuing operations for the three-month period ended 31 March, 2003.

Net revenue from continuing operations for the quarter was $7.5 million compared to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2002. Gross profit from continuing operations in the quarter was $1.4 million, compared to $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2002. The company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $0.4 million (or $0.03 per share) in the first quarter of 2003, compared to a net loss of $0.1 million ($0.01 per share), in the first quarter of 2002.

John P. Wilmers, president and CEO of Ballantyne, commented: "The theatre exhibition industry is slowly recoveri

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Morocco / Spain - L-Acoustics has announced that Encom, of Morocco, and Take Off Audio, of Spain, are joining the company’s team of international distributors. Rachid Mediouni, the Chairman of Encom, created the company 10 years ago and as a result knows the National market very well. "Being suitably versed in all aspects of AV Technologies, we can now bring an added value and dimension to the company and to the national pro audio market through the use of L-Acoustics WST and Coaxial lines."

Morocco as a country is prolific in terms of local festivals, traditional music, and cultural events, which sit comfortably alongside the growing tourist market sector. Gauthier Dalle, L-Acoustics regional sales manager, comments: "Our collaboration with Encom shows that L-Acoustics has taken an important step forward in Africa, through Magreb."

Covering continen

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Asia-Pacific - David McKinney joins the International Division of Biamp Systems to service the Asia/Pacific region. McKinney was formerly the European regional sales manager for BSS Audio and held a variety of sales management positions during his tenure. He holds a BSc in Electronic Music and Electronics from The University of Keele, Staffordshire, UK.

"David’s background is a perfect fit for our needs in the Asia/Pacific Region," says Graeme Harrison, VP of international sales. "He has a strong technical background and his experience in managing a variety of international customers gives him the necessary experience to handle the diverse markets like the Far East."

McKinney, who will be relocating to Malaysia, commented: "I am truly excited to be joining Biamp. Everything I see and hear about the new Audia line tells me that this is a good move

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Sweden - Lighting, sound and AV specialist Fremlab AB of Helsingborg, Sweden, has been appointed distributor for the Showmagic show control system by Bradford, UK-based Dial. Tomas Nilsson will be responsible for ShowMagic at Fremlab.

The first installation in of ShowMagic in Sweden is at a corporate site - the showroom of GPA-Plast, where ShowMagic is controlling a projector, motorscreen, darkening blinds, DMX-transformers in the roof (nine different channels), and the nine different areas of the company’s product display. The system is controlled via a 15" touchscreen, while a second screen serves as the operator’s monitor.

Managing director of GPA-Plast, PerOlow Jansson, says: "We are very happy with the solution that Fremlab have supplied. We first looked at a Crestron-based system, but the cost felt huge. With ShowMagic we found the same control at a

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USA - Martin US is pleased to announce the hiring of Tony Alhadeff as demand planning manager, a role designed to facilitate cross-functional communication within the organization. It plays a critical role in the collection of market intelligence and in the use of that information to balance supply and demand.

Alhadeff comments on the position: "As the individual in that role here at Martin Professional, I will be working very closely with the sales organization to collect the most current market intelligence available and to ensure that this information is effectively incorporated into the organization’s planning cycle. The goal is to deliver a better forecast with sufficient lead-time to drive improvements in customer service, inventory turnover, and profitability."

For the last five years, Alhadeff was employed by Rexall Sundown in Boca Raton, Florida. He wo

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UK - Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd has announced the transfer of its SteelShield fencing to Eve Trakway. Since inventing the solid metal fencing system in 1991, Star Hire has managed the hire of the system to promoters and event organizers all over the UK. Every festival-goer will be familiar with the green fencing, used for many high profile concerts and events. The handover to Eve Trakway is indicative of Star Hire’s intention to focus on the company’s core activities of supplying staging and specialist structures.

Managing director Maddy Sheals explained to reasons behind the move: "We took the decision to concentrate on staging and structures three years ago and our first move was to sell our sound division. As our core market sector has become increasingly complex and requires ongoing investment to remain at the top, we have now passed on management of the

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Spain - The launch of the new Jaguar XJ to global dealers took place in Sotogrande recently. The event location included four semi-permanent structures, each individually designed to cater for a different aspect of the launch. The three-day event ran back-to-back for 12 dealer and corporate rotations of 90 followed by two-day events for 12 dealer training rotations of 60, with everyone having the opportunity to test-drive the new Jaguar XJ on routes encompassing the stunning scenery provided by the Andalucian landscape.

AT Communications provided all audio-visual equipment and experienced technical operators for the event - including two newly-acquired Christie Roadster X9 projectors. Among the first to be used anywhere in the world, these new three-chip DLP devices were stacked, and detailed to project video and data (Powerpoint) displays.

The rental company favoured these

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Switzerland - Unitek Displays, the UK-based LED screen manufacturer, has successfully completed another landmark installation of its new V-series screen system. The company supplied the two giant video screens which flank the entrance to the new Schaulager art museum in Basel, Switzerland.

Designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, who were also responsible for London’s Tate Modern, the Schaulager is home to the Emanuel Hoffman Foundation’s collection of contemporary art - a unique collection covering the work of over 150 artists. Although parts of the collection have previously been on display at both the Basel Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Schaulager will, for the first time, allow the entire collection to be gathered under one roof. Combining the roles of museum, climate-controlled storage space and public exhibition venue, the polygonal-sh

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USA - Just two days before a series of 13 Easter Services was set to begin, the Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, California, installed a new Flying Pig Systems Wholehog III control system to run their 26 moving lights and 200 conventional fixtures.

Jon Griffin, the full-time lighting designer/director for the church, had no qualms about installing a new console before such a string of shows, as he was already familiar with the console's predecessor, the Wholehog II console. "I knew it would be a success," Griffin says. "I love the Hog III. I took a conversion course (a training process taking users from Wholehog II to Wholehog III) with Mike Hanson at High End Systems Los Angeles. Flying Pig Systems has been extremely helpful resolving issues with new builds all the time. With both the console and the wings, I have the flexibility we needed in th

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France - InnovaSON, manufacturer of digital mixing consoles for live sound, has appointed Nick Cook as sales and marketing director. Cook has 25 years’ experience in the pro-audio business starting his career as professional recording engineer before joining Solid State Logic (head of sales, Western Division), Fairlight ESP (director of European operations) and Amek/DAR (sales and marketing director). He joins InnovaSON from Insonify, a development and licensing company supplying streaming media solutions for mobile telecoms, where he was commercial director.

"Nick's audio industry experience will help us capitalize on the rising demand for digital live mixing consoles and enable us to broaden our international scope and access new markets," said InnovaSON co-founder Philippe Royer. "His sales and marketing experience will be very valuable assets to establis

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Austria - The new MAXmodular from AKG is a compact all-round loudspeaker designed specifically for setting up small, mobile sound systems. Ideal for seminars, exhibition booths, or vocalists and instrumentalists performing at small clubs, the 60W powered speaker features an integrated three-channel mixer and a built-in rechargeable battery for 10 to 14 hours of operation where no power outlet is available.

A half-rack size installation compartment lets you mount an optional AKG wireless receiver of your choice. In addition, you can also connect a hardwire microphone, instrument or external audio source such as a CD or cassette player, and a recording device. All inputs provide separate, independent volume controls.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Arbiter Pro Audio, exclusive UK distributor for JBL, has supplied a variety of JBL audio elements to the new Luminar Leisure flagship multi-scene Oceana venue in Kingston-on-Thames.

The 2,200 total capacity venue has an multi-themed environment, with seven imaginatively designed rooms, ranging from the jazzy, still-life, red French Boudoir suite to the massive 1,000 capacity Vienna Ballroom. The latter is complete with an enormous chandelier centrepiece, opulent feeder bar hall and grand sweeping staircase entrances.

Audio contractors were Liverpool-based Over Audio, who chose JBL speakers for Oceana's main areas - the Vienna Ballroom and the New York Disco area. The requirement for powerful large-volume enclosures for the spherical Vienna Ballroom, which also has a large baclony/VIP area, prompted the selection of JBL Sound Power SP225-6s to make up the room’s two

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UK - TSC Music, the specialist provider of background and foreground music systems, has teamed up with Thomas Bennett Community College (TBCC) to provide valuable work experience to one of its most promising music students. The Crawley-based company has opened its doors to music student Sophie Killick for a week to work with its music production team to gain first-hand experience of working in the ‘music biz’, learning the art of sound engineering, mixing and CD duplication as well as the administrative side of the business.

TBCC head of music, Bernie Steponitis said: "The aim behind Sophie’s placement with TSC Music was to give her the opportunity to work within a professional music company to learn what the ‘music biz’ is all about and utilize the experience she gains to further her music studies at Thomas Bennett as well as any career in the

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UK- It boasts one of the most star-studded casts to hit the West End stage, and when Sexual Perversity in Chicago opened at the Comedy Theatre in London last week, it received rave reviews.

Starring Friends favourite Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), British actress Minnie Driver and Hank Azaria, best known for providing a variety of voices for The Simpsons, Sexual Perversity in Chicago is about four young people looking for love in the 1970s. The one-act play written by David Mamet and directed by Lindsay Posner, tells the story of Danny (Perry) and his friend Bernie (Azaria), two red-blooded males playing the mating and dating game.

The play consists of 32 scenes and before each one, images of 1970s Chicago are projected onto a screen to indicate the time and place. Production manager John Dalston explains: "The designer Jeremy Herbert wanted to be able to cl

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Skan PA Hire has completed its first tour as a certified dV-Dosc Provider (CDP). The company’s new system, comprising 24 dV-Dosc, eight dV-Subs, eight SB218 Subs, and four ARCS, all powered by LA48a amplifiers, was used over a three-week period across the UK and Ireland for the Mel C tour. The diverse nature of the venues showed the true versatility of the dV-Dosc system allowing Certified V-Dosc Engineer (CVE) Mark Ballard who was also mixing FOH to fly, groundstack, or combine the system as the audience geometry dictated. Mark comments: "I was really pleased to learn that Chris Fitch had decided to invest in an L-Acoustics dV-Dosc system. I knew right then that I was going to have great tour."

Paul Nicholson from L-Acoustics UK adds "over the past eighteen months, SKAN have looked at virtually every speaker product available on the Pro Audio market. Their final

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Members of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) are about to get the benefit of a major new service which will immediately save them money. On behalf of its members, PLASA has negotiated highly competitive terms for those members who process debit and credit card payments. This latest service is offered through Lloyds TSB Cardnet and will give members significant reductions on all their major credit and debit card transactions.

Details of the rates offered are outlined in the table below, and demonstrate that even those companies which handle relatively small amounts will immediately see a benefit. (Switch and Visa Debit cards are charged at 20 pence per transaction).

Users of the scheme will also have the advantage of additional security, at no extra cost, provided by the Card Verification Number Scheme (CV2) and Address Verification Scheme (AVS) - designed to com

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