Israel - Sontronics, Soundcraft's Israeli distributor, has supplied a Series 10s broadcast console for a special event that took place recently in the ancient biblical town of Nazareth in Galilee. The occasion was the inauguration of a new cultural centre and radio broadcast studio, set up as a joint Jewish/Arabic cultural initiative designed to foster understanding and co-operation. "This is the first of its kind in this troubled part of the world," explains Sontronics managing director, Sonny Shmueli.

The Series 10s broadcast console, supplied along with microphones, headphones and studio monitors, is designed for use in local and community radio stations. It is simple to use for the novice, but its fully modular design renders it versatile enough to integrate into pro

UK - Glasgow-based PA rental company Sound Acoustics has purchased a NEXO GEO S Tangent Array system from Fuzion plc, one of the first companies in Scotland to do so. Sound Acoustics' director Tommy Gorman describes walking into a GEO demo at Fuzion, and leaving with 16 boxes. That very week, the system went out on a three-month tour, and Sound Acoustics rapidly placed another purchase order.

"We've doubled the size of it subsequent to that first order, and what we have now is a rig that can handle George Benson at the Glasgow Jazz Festival, but can also be broken down into three decent conference systems. GEO is so small, so compact and bijou, and it does exactly what it says on the tin - immediately!"

The GEO S boxes have since notched up a variety of events from a touring theatre production, to a live BBC music programme, to a heavy metal festival in the Shetland

Spain - Essex-based Xtreme Audio Visual has snapped up a valuable installation contract in Spain. The company has been asked to provide the audio and lighting for the new Guru nightclub - part of the multi-million pound Heron City complex in Valencia, Spain.

Spearheaded by British entrepreneurs, the Heron City leisure operation has so far opened four venues in Europe - in Madrid, Barcelona, Stockholm and, most recently, Valencia, where its extensive range of family entertainments can attract 20,000 people in an evening. The Valencia site offers a variety of leisure activities, including a 24-screen multiplex cinema, fitness centres and an array of restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs.

The 2,700-capacity Guru is the final piece in the Heron City jigsaw, being the last venue within the complex to be built. In a contract worth £400,000, Xtreme has installed a high specification s

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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

UK - Lincolnshire-based pro loudspeaker manufacturer Logic System has announced its successful move into a new 5000sq.ft factory at Gainsborough. The £500,000 move took place over a three-month period earlier this year. Operations director Sue Ellis says: "For three months we rarely had all the staff at the same site at the same time. It was a case of its Tuesday we must be painting at the new factory today! It is a testimony to the company's staff that few customers even noticed that we were moving."

With the move complete, the factory has settled down to a split shift system to keep up with current demand for product. Logic System's managing director Chris Scott told us: "No one sector has been amazing - we have just seen good solid business across all market sectors. The theme bar market has been flat for most people but with installation customer TTL working

UK - London-based pro audio distribution company Autograph Sales will have a wide range of high-end audio products on show at this year's PLASA Show, including new product from Meyer Sound, Clear-Com and ATM Flyware.

Meyer Sound's MILO line array loudspeaker system is a self-powered four-way system with three dedicated transducers for the HF band to provide detailed resolution of transient information - even in long throw applications. Also from Meyer is the UPJ-1P Variable Orientation loudspeaker - a fully integrated two-way system comprising a 10" neodymium magnet low-mid frequency driver and a 2" HF compression driver, andemploying a rotatable 80° x 40° horn.

From Clear-Com comes the Eclipse matrix intercom system, offering up to 208 communications ports in a 6-RU chassis. Each 16-port MVX-16A matrix card provides full-duplex connections with digital matrix stat

The Netherlands - TiLE 2004 - the international forum for leisure venues - will be held at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre in The Netherlands, from 15-17 June 2004. In making the announcement, Richard Curtis, the conference organizer commented: "This will be the first time TiLE has been in Maastricht since 1996 and it will be held in the MECC's new exhibition hall and conference rooms."

TiLE 2004 will continue to build on its relationships with key associations in specific areas of the market, including IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions), TEA (Themed Entertainment Association), WWA (World Waterparks Association), EWA (European Waterpark Association) and ECSITE (European Collaborative for Science in Industry & Technology Exhibitions).

As with previous TiLEs in Maastricht, full use will be made of the beautiful city: the pa

UK - This year the education programme has been relaunched to meet the changing demands of the PLASA visitor and will be hosted by the PLASA Professional Development Programme (PLASA PDP), the Association's new training initiative. A full timetable is now online and taking bookings - check out the website below.

This extended educational platform will examine current trends and issues across the wide range of the industry and provide visitors with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and learn from the experts. The format has been revised with four different types of sessions - Technical Workshops; Business Seminars; Industry Seminars and Masterclasses.

Many of the sessions are supported by associations, trade bodies and publications and for the first time RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) are also supporting the programme. Their endorsement is clear recognit

UK - The directors of Martin Audio and TC Group have announced that on 13 August, the management team of Martin Audio purchased the company from the TC Group. The management buyout was supported by ISIS Equity Partners plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

David Bissett-Powell, managing director of Martin Audio, told us: "The management of Martin Audio have long aspired to independence and are pleased that under the TC Group we have had the opportunity to attain this goal. Having established strong links within the Group, we will continue to work closely with Lab.Gruppen and other group companies and expect new co-operation with TC Applied Technologies regarding digital power, processing and networking."

The CEO of TC Group, Anders Fauerskov, added: "Since the acquisition of TGI plc by TC, Martin Audio has been a well-managed and strong performer and we wish the m

Europe - Industry veteran Fons de Vreede has joined worldwide automated lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc (HES) as regional sales manager for Central Europe. Fons has a wealth of industry experience, working at both Flashlight Utrecht in Holland for more than 17 years, and subsequently Lightco. More recently, he has been freelance, and worked as project manager for lighting at Disney Paris' World Disney Studios Park. He will be based in Utrecht to place him closer to his territory.

David Catterall, managing director of High End Systems Europe, commented: "Fons knows the industry, he knows the products and best of all, knows our customers. It's a perfect fit - this is a people business and we've got the right guy."

(Ruth Rossington)

UK - Audace Ltd, manufacturers of the Intelliplate programmable control system for audio-visual installations, have forged a strategic alliance with IT specialists CETSAT. The move comes in the wake of an accelerating convergence between IT and AV technologies and markets.

Bryan Waters, managing director of Audace, explains the move: "For some time we have been keenly aware of the increasing need for our customers to be able to offer, at the very least, integration of AV technology with an existing IT infrastructure. Indeed our own SuperHub controller is a classic case in point, offering control and maintenance over the intra/internet using standard networking tools. Often, the need for integration will actually lead to an involvement in modifying, upgrading or even supplying an IT infrastructure. It makes less and less sense to view IT and AV provisions as distinct and it

Australia - Melbourne-based hire and production company Resolution X has recently added a fully-expanded (4,096 channel) grandMA console to its hire inventory. The grandMA was selected by Resolution X to meet its growing need for an all-singing, all-dancing moving light console. In addition to being regularly specified by international tours, Resolution X is finding that an increasing number of local LDs, including Paul Collison and Peter Lothian, are also specifying a grandMA for their productions.

One of the grandMA's first major jobs since arriving at Resolution X, has been at the studios of HSV 7 Melbourne, for Network Seven's latest game show 'Deal or No Deal'. On this production the grandMA is outputting five DMX streams to a multitude of Martin and Clay Paky moving lights, in addition to the studio dimmers. The console has been used in conjunction with a wireless PDA, a s

UK - Loudspeaker manufacturer Logic System Pro Audio has announced the appointment of two new staff members. Ade Hardy, who has joined the company from the Birmingham office of Logic dealer LMC Audio, takes on the role of sales manager. Also joining the company, in an R&D support role is Chris Turner, who has joined from Sheffield-based Academy of Sound. Turner has a background in electronics and will bring additional skills which complement the existing R&D team.

Staff changes are completed with the appointment of existing production manager Sue Ellis to the role of operations director. Sue has been with the company for a couple of years and masterminded the recent factory move. While not known for his gushing praise, Chris Scott offered a few words: "From day one, working with Sue has been like working with a partner, not an employee; her support and commitment is invalua

Canada - In its ongoing effort to serve production and lighting professionals worldwide, TMB is expanding its North American presence with the opening of TMB-Toronto. The new distribution centre will provide a faster response and turnaround throughout Canada.

Lighting veteran and renowned fugitive from justice Mike Gillis will head the new location. Gillis has 20 years' experience in the Canadian lighting industry as a distributor and lighting company owner. Colin Waters, TMB CEO commented: "There's a lot going on up North, but that pesky border keeps getting in the way. This should solve that problem. TMB continues to grow, but all of us are more committed than ever to not forgetting where we came from. Meanwhile, we keep building a global network providing choice, support and service to companies who earn their living from entertainment production."

With locations

USA - As QSC's newly appointed global sales manager, Greg McLagan will begin lending direction to the company's worldwide sales efforts. A well-known and respected industry veteran who has logged over a decade with QSC in a number of sales and marketing positions, McLagan comes to the post with plans for increasing QSC's global market share.

"In one sense, mine is a building mission of sorts," McLagan commented."QSC has dedicated a lot of resources to the development of new products outside of its amplifier lines. Now, with the DSP, loudspeaker, network control and signal transport technologies we've added to our catalogue well on their way to becoming established here in the US, it's time to build the presence of these systems in the rest of the world too. As part of this expanded international commitment, we'll also be offering added support to both distributors

UK - With just three weeks to go to PLASA, G-LEC Europe has signed an agreement with Fourth Phase London, for it to act as G-LEC's representative office in the UK. G-LEC Europe manufactures an innovative system of LED curtains utilizing clear rods to house the LEDs, the resulting transparency and low wind resistance making the system ideal for use in the theatre, as well as for concerts, corporate events and architectural use. Weighing just 10kg per square metre, the G-LEC LED curtain is also lightweight, so can be flown effortlessly.

Lars Wolf, managing director of G-LEC, told PLASA Media: "This business is about people - trust and confidence - and before appointing anyone I wanted to be sure they would be absolutely right for us. Having met Alan Thomson and his team, I know that with Fourth Phase London we will be doing great things in the UK." Thomson, the managing

UK - Edirol Europe (a member of the Roland Group of Companies), will be exhibiting with ShowCAD Control Systems at the PLASA show this year, and will be showing its latest range of live performance video products. Edirol products on show include the V-4 video mixer, which has been very popular since its launch earlier this year due to its combination of affordable price, functionality, durable metal construction and quality of results achievable.

Also on show is the DV-7PR - an innovative live performance video system for use in concerts, shows, conventions, hotels and seminars. The DV-7PR integrates with MIDI control systems (and DMX via MIDI/DMX converters) and allows the user to control in realtime various aspects of the video playback. Remote control is also possible. The DV-7PR can play and loop indefinitely, drawing from up to eight hours of unique content. It can be used

Greece - One of Greece's most popular artists, Yiannis Kotsiras, has performed with 110 moving lights run on a Flying Pig Systems Hog PC controller. Lighting designer George Tellos recently finished 45 open-air shows in Greece and Cyprus this summer using a Hog PC (with software version 3.3), a Playback and Programming Wing, and two DMX Hog widgets. High End Systems' Greek distributor, Telmaco, supplied the system.

George Tellos chose Hog PC for his control because of its convenience factor. "It is a great feeling to travel around the world with two small flightcases and have control at any system and any place," he says. "Hog PC works great, it's very easy to use and I can do a lot of things in the offline editor feature."

Tellos designed and programmed the show at the 'Lighting Design Wholehog & WYSIWYG Studio' in Athens, which is owned by Tellos and busi

UK - beyerdynamic (GB) has recently supplied Crawley-based Advanced Digital Solutions - an integrated systems provider - with its sophisticated MCW-D wireless digital conferencing system for use in the conference chambers of Southampton City Councils.

Southampton's Civic Centre contains all the local government administration departments, as well as a spectacular purpose-built conference chamber. Advanced Digital Solutions were contacted earlier in the year to propose a conference system that would be effective, aesthetic and fall within the budget set for the upgrade. Hardest of all was the caveat that the conference benches should not have cables or equipment fixed to them and that installation was to be non-invasive to preserve the integrity of the installed furniture.

Paul Langridge of Advanced Digital Solutions said: "This project was a natural choice for beyerdynami

UK - With details of ETC's latest Source Four luminaire being kept firmly under wraps until the event itself, visitors to the show are being urged to go along to satisfy their curiosity. On the ETC stand, visitors will also be able to see the two latest additions to the SmartPack family of low budget dimmers, which are being unveiled at PLASA. SmartPack is now available as a wall mount unit that can be installed directly to ensure the lowest possible cost of ownership, ideal for regional theatre groups and small TV studios. This latest version can be installed directly without any other parts, ensuring lowest possible cost of ownership while optional kits are available to provide terminals, RCDs, breakers or other switch gear in an easily accessible chamber.

The new touring system SmartPack aims at a slightly higher market and boasts built-in mains distribution, all in one box.

UK - The launch of a second generation CM Series loudspeakers at PLASA 2003 completes a product development cycle for the Logic System brand, whose first generation products were launched at PLASA 1998. The company's sales manager Ade Hardy commented: "The launch of the new CM Series gives us one of the most complete product ranges in the pro audio industry and lets us compete in a diverse range of markets. The great thing about my job is that I don't really have to sell the product, I just need to get it under peoples noses, from there the product sells its self."

Logic System's new CM boxes benefit from cosmetic changes - to bring them in line with the rest of the product range - and from upgraded cone and compression drivers. The product mix for the range, which is principally intended for stage monitoring, will remain the same with co-axial 12" + 1", 15&q

UK - Martin Professional is now Ministry of Sound's new technical partner in lighting. The newly installed Martin equipment in the Ministry of Sound in London follows successful installations in in Bangkok last year, making this a global partnership.

Ministry's grand reopening, which takes place on 21 August, will see the unveiling of the new lighting rig, which consists of the new Martin MAC 250 Krypton and MX-10. David Bradshaw, Ministry's head of production, is pleased with the move: "I'm delighted to be involved with Martin in this new, exciting partnership," he commented. The club will be showcasing some of Martin's newest gear, including the latest moving head luminaires, at the forthcoming PLASA Show in September.

(Ruth Rossington)

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