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USA - After 22 years on Braker Lane, the staff of worldwide automated lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc is moving to a new location in Austin, Texas. The company's new home - just half a mile away - covers 97,500sq.ft in two adjacent buildings. The main two-story building houses the sales, marketing, administrative, engineering, production and shipping departments, while the new second building features a conference room, service training area and a larger demo room.

The move offers more than physical space, says HES VP of operations Rick Thompson. "Right now, High End is spread out over three buildings," he says. "This move will provide a synergy, a more cohesive culture. This will also offer significant cost savings in the areas of productivity and utilit

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UK - Stage Electrics has secured exclusive distribution rights within the UK and Eire to one of the most innovative products featured at this year's PLASA show - Ayrton's Eyecolor LED moving head.

The compact unit's versatility, additive colour mixing, LED lifespan of 100,000 hours and fast and accurate movements made it an immediate hit. Stage Electrics' business development manager, Ian Brown, told L&SI: "At PLASA you normally meet your existing customers and make new contacts that lay the groundwork for them to purchase a product at some time during the rest of the year. This year people were looking at the Eyecolor and writing cheques!" One of the first deliveries of the Eyecolor was to an installation in Cambridge where six fixtures were installed by Cambridge Sound and Light.

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UK - Italian pro audio manufacturer Outline demonstrated its innovative Butterfly line array PA system to sound engineers and rental company representatives at London's Hammersmith Apollo in late September. Early arrivals enjoyed time to listen to recorded material via CD and MiniDisc and discuss technical aspects of the system with system designer Guido Noselli and president of international sales Giorgio Biffi, along with Peter Barnard, the UK distributor for Outline products.

There was also time for a demo of Outline's proprietary Software Program - VIP (Vector Implementation Protocol), which works on an Open GL Platform and will calculate the number of modules required to achieve optimum vertical and horizontal coverage of any venue, be it open-air or indoor. Further tools to accompany VIP, including a laser range finder and trim height device which will also incorporate a t

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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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International - The Technical Focus column in the November issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine will look at the technology related to Digital Audio mixing desks. The ever-increasing level of technology available today has resulted in the increase of 'all digital' desks, which process audio in the digital domain.

As with most things technological, the ability to perform digital processing continues to become cheaper as semiconductors drop in price, and accordingly digital desks are no longer the preserve of the major league, but are available in more compact versions and making in-roads into the smaller shows and venues. L&SI's article will go some way to giving the reader an insight into this technology, explaining the processes, methods and terminology - and will be followed by a brief profile of the main manufacturers and coverage of their key product(s).

L&SI wi

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UK - More details are emerging on the restructure at Arbiter Group, including the news that the Group's chairman, Ivor Arbiter, is to retire. The only official confirmation that the company has closed its Pro Audio Division comes from the Arbiter Pro Audio website (see below), which states: "Arbiter Group PLC are no longer distributing products manufactured by JBL Professional, AKG Acoustics, dbx Professional and Digitech." Enquiries are referred to the manufacturer's representative in each case.

There has been no indication as to what UK distribution arrangements will be put in place for the four Harman brands in the long-term, but negotiations with the manufacturers have been ongoing and an announcement is expected from Arbiter within the next few days.

The Pro Audio division was a subsidiary company of Arbiter Group plc and handled the exclusive distribution in th

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India - Mumbai-based Jagmag Electrical Company has announced that at the recent PALA (Pro Audio & Light Asia) exhibition in Singapore, it secured exclusive distribution rights in India for two leading European lighting brands: Avolites, the London-based manufacturer of show lighting control and dimming systems and Robe Show Lighting, the Czech Republic-manufacturer of automated lighting fixtures.

Jagmag is a high profile event production and lighting sales company headed by Atul Sonpal, with whom Avolites has enjoyed a fruitful working relationship since 1995. In this time, Sonpal, a leading lighting designer, has bought many Avolites products, and has been instrumental in establishing Avo consoles at the forefront of the Indian professional lighting industry. India has proved one of Avolites strongest markets since the Millennium. Their enthusiasm for technology has driven thei

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UK - Nearly 14,000 fans saw David Gray, Morcheeba and Nitin Sawhney perform at a free concert in Trafalgar Square - lined up to boost tourism and showcase the revamped square.

There was also a top line-up of production services to ensure that, technically, the event - organized by b-live, with production by AMP - went without a hitch. Star Hire's Roger Barrett was the show's technical director, working closely with AMP production manager Steve Allen. Other members of the creative team included LD Mark Cunniffe.

The Star Events Group installed a VerTech stage on the North Terrace of the Square, and handled the rigging requirements, with CT Screenco fielding two of the new Lighthouse LVP-1650 16mm outdoor LED screens. While the Lighthouse screens relayed images from the PA wings, the upstage centre backdrop, designed by Cunniffe, took the form of columns of 25mm LED display - th

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UK - TC Group announces the appointment of Fred Speckeen to director of business development. In this new position, based at Tannoy Ltd (Scotland), he will be responsible for enhancing overall Group business practice, acceleration of technology transfer between companies within the Group, and the coordination and growth of future business direction. Speckeen leaves his position as CEO / Managing Director of the TC joint-venture company TC-Helicon Vocal Technologies (Victoria, BC, CANADA) after successfully establishing that company in 2000.

Fred Speckeen will be working closely together with TC Group CEO Anders Fauerskov, who comments: "We are very pleased to be able to add Fred to the team of high achievers within TC Group. Through his previous functions at IVL and, more recently, as Managing Director responsible for the successful start-up of TC Helicon, Fred has continua

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USA - Los Angeles-based A.C.T Lighting Inc has announced that Mike Carr has joined the company as an account manager. Carr, who was formerly with one of the largest flightcase manufacturers in the US, has over 10 years' experience in corporate sales. "His specialist knowledge of both lighting and special effects as well as flightcasing requirements makes him an ideal addition to our team," said A.C.T.'s Bob Gordon. "We welcome Mike to the family and believe that his unique perspective can only add to our already top of the line staff."

A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive distributor for the MA Lighting grandMA range of consoles, Zero 88's Frog range of consoles and Artistic Licence products, as well as being a major force in the cable assemblies market.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - L&SI joined more than 100,000 people at the V Festival's Hylands Park site in Chelmsford for the V weekend in June, and 65,000 people at Reading for the Carling Weekend. For both events, the weather was spectacular, the perfect backdrop for strong performances from headlining bands such as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Coldplay, David Gray and the Foo Fighters at V, and Metallica, Primal Scream, Linkin Park, System of a Down and Blur at Reading.

As anyone who's worked on them will know, the festival season presents enormous challenges to technical suppliers and employers responsible for planning and co-ordinating such large-scale events. The logistics are complex thanks to the sheer volume of equipment required and the high turnover of acts at each event. When bands 'flip-flop' between venues over a weekend, as in the case of Chelmsford/Telford and Reading/Leeds, festival sit

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UK - Radio 1 has re-invented its approach to taking live events to its listeners this year, under the auspices of its live events manager, Dave McCalmont. He joined Radio 1 two years ago having previously worked with MCP/SFX. L&SI spoke to Dave after the final 'One Big Weekend' event in Cardiff, where 20,000 ticket holders got to see some of the world's leading DJs, as well as bands such as The Darkness, Travis and Dido.

Why change the format of your events?

We wanted to create events which would work within the overall festival calendar and still allow us to focus on our organization and promotion. We wanted to produce top-notch events that gave the public good, free entertainment that they couldn't get anywhere else. We were careful to place our three main shows across the summer months, starting in May in Manchester and finishing in September in Cardiff with the 'On

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UK - The Urban Music Seminar (UMS) was formed in 1998 as a non-profit making organization to inform and educate young people about working in the music industry, and is now annually attracting around 12,000 visitors. Expert panels hosted by celebrities and music industry executives and offering advice on A&R, artist relations, legal issues, marketing, promotion and publishing are held in the main auditorium of London's Royal Festival Hall, which can accommodate up to 4,000 people.

The event also features live performances, celebrity speakers, master classes, a sound stage for unsigned acts and networking and employment opportunities. It attracted a host of names including Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland, Mercury Music Prize-winning Dizzee Rascal, producer Damon Dash, Big Brovaz, Norman Jay MBE, Jamelia, Javine, So Solid Crew's Asha D and Heartless Crew.

FX provided radio mics,

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UK - Triple E has announced the return of Tony Jenner to the company, in the role of sales and project manager. Jenner, who previously worked for Triple E from 1988 to 1994 as technical manager, was most recently project manager for Howard Eaton Lighting Ltd for nine years.

Although several new products have been introduced in his absence, Jenner's in-depth product knowledge being put to immediate use on a track installation at Harrods for its Christmas window displays.

David Edelstein, Managing Director of Triple E, said: "Triple E has an expanding order book, so I am delighted that Tony has decided to rejoin us. His theatre experience and organising skills plus his technical knowledge of product design and assembly will be invaluable."

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - PLASA Media has learned that Farmer Studios, the Leicester-based provider of turnkey special effects solutions for leisure attractions, has gone into voluntary liquidation with the loss of 37 jobs. The company, founded by Nick Farmer in 1976, was for many years a highly successful specialist in its field, designing and manufacturing rides, shows, attractions, animatronics, scenery and interactive experiences for attractions worldwide. In 2000, the company won a TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) Award for its creation of a 'dark walk' at Liseburg, Sweden's largest theme park.

(Lee Baldock)

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Sweden - Stage engineering specialist Visual act has installed a unique set of four lifts for the new production of Lee Hall's Spoonface Steinberg set to open on 31 October at the Jewish Theatre in Stockholm. The four lifts are set on a rotating stage which is placed 3m under the stage floor. The lifts can be raised from 1m below the stage surface to 1m above while the revolve is moving.

Visual act's battery-based servo amplifiers are used to allow all of the equipment to be installed on the revolve - no slip rings or special cable arrangements are required. The operator desk communicates with the system over a radio link. The lifts are all lit from within and all visible surfaces are translucent, while the framework is designed to reduce shadows so that the lifts appear as boxes of coloured light.

Spoonface is directed by Pia Forsgren who has worked together wit

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UK - The Tussauds Group has announced that it has appointed City of London investment bankers Lazards as advisors in preparation for a flotation in 2004 which is expected to value the business at £900m. The Group, which owns the world-famous Madame Tussauds and other attractions including the London Eye, Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Warwick Castle, says that following a significant improvement in performance over the last three years, it is now in a position to consider flotation, and will be working with Lazards to evaluate strategic options to ensure further growth in the future.

Charterhouse Development Capital, the private equity group which has a majority stake in Tussauds, acquired its share from Financial Times owners Pearson in 1998, for £352m, and has since invested a further £300m in the business.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Few events could match the gathering of celebrity, style and music talent that filled London's Royal Albert Hall recently for Fashion Rocks for The Prince's Trust. The charity event was based around 18 top fashion designers, each with their own catwalk parade and with their chosen artist performing a soundtrack. A circular stage with the catwalk around the outside made an ideal setting for this glamorous event.

Hand Held Audio were asked to provide the radio microphones for all the artists and also presenters Elizabeth Hurley and Denis Leary. Most of the soundtracks consisted of live vocal to playback so a large in-ear monitor requirement added to the complexity of the wireless system.RF expert John 'Freddo' Fredericks, who was on site to oversee operations, said: "It was a great show. There was a really good atmosphere - egos seemed to take a back seat and everything

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UK - Doors open for the 2003 Showman's Show at The Newbury Showground on 22 October for two days. With over 300 exhibitors, there will be a wide range of stands at this year's show, from entertainers participating in the arena's showcase to the latest in hi-tech equipment aimed at outdoor events.

Show Director Stephen Lance commented: "We are anticipating a good show this year and are all set for a prosperous (and fun filled) exhibition. 2003 has been a great summer - both in terms of the weather, which always helps, and in terms of the numbers at events. There seems to be a more positive outlook towards the state of the industry than we have experienced over recent years. I hope we have succeeded in creating a good forum for outdoor event professionals to carry out their business."

Lance is also looking forward to a couple of significant differences at this year's e

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Czech Republic - Inter-Noise 2004, the 33rd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering, will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, from 22-25 August 2004. The congress is being organized by the Czech Acoustical Society and sponsored by the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering.

The theme for the Congress is 'Progress in Noise Control for the 21st Century', and all innovative contributions to noise control engineering are welcomed. The organizing committee is arranging an outstanding technical program, with a number of structured sessions and distinguished lectures in preparation.

Inter-Noise 2004 will take place at the Czech Technical University, Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Prague. The university campus is situated in the district of Dejvice, in the western part of the city and close to some of Prague's largest hotels. The main cong

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Malaysia - An iDR-8 has been installed in Berjaya Times Square, a new multi-million dollar development in the heart of Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur. Measuring 2,100,000sq.ft, it is the largest shopping/leisure complex and houses the largest indoor theme park in the Asia Pacific region.

Allen & Heath's iDR-8 unit, with an iDR-out expander, has been installed as a zone controller in the indoor theme park, where a resident DJ pumps out the music. The signal from the DJ mixer is distributed to 16 zone loudspeakers. An event schedule has also been created using the DSP system's programmable patches, whereby at 2.30pm daily the zone volumes gradually increase with a 10 second crossfade; similarly at 10pm the volume automatically decreases with the same crossfade effect. There is a dedicated PC at the DJ booth for remote control of the iDR-8 & iDR-out over Cat 5 cable.

Malay

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Finland - Audace Ltd, the UK-based manufacturer of the Intelliplate programmable control system for audio-visual installations, has appointed Starlike Oy Ltd of Vantaa, Finland to distribute its products exclusively in Finland. The deal was brokered by Audace's global distribution partner Comsec International. The deal was confirmed at PLASA 2003 recently, where managing director of Audace, Bryan Waters met with Jari Ukkonen from Starlike.

Bryan Waters commented on the appointment: "Starlike is a welcome and highly appropriate addition to our growing portfolio of high-quality distribution partners. We have been in discussion with them for several months now and with the advent of SuperHub and other plans we have for the development of the line, both parties felt that the time had come to solidify the relationship. Starlike brings a broad range of expertise and an excellent

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