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30 September 2025

Slovenia - Basilica Brezje and St. Jernej’s Church recently enlisted the help of Renkus-Heinz’s UBX loudspeakers to ensure visitors can enjoy improved speech intelligibility and clear audio.

Experienced acoustic engineer and project manager Mitja Borko took on the challenge to transform the sound in both venues, with a goal of enhancing clarity, increasing quality and lessening reverberation. After thoroughly testing a range of loudspeakers, the UBX Series UBX8 100V passive column loudspeaker from Renkus-Heinz was chosen. MTD Electronics, a Renkus-Heinz partner in Slovenia, handled the distribution of loudspeakers in both churches.

The UBX8 offers the sound quality and accurate beam-steering technology of Renkus-Heinz’s flagship Iconyx loudspeakers in a compact passive column, making it suitable for aesthetically sensitive buildings that still

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30 September 2025

USA - From 19-21 September, the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee–Virginia once again lit up for the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, transforming historic Main Street into a three-day celebration of Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, and rock.

Born from the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions, the festival is recognised by many as the birthplace of country music, and this year’s edition carried that heritage forward with performances that drew thousands to the streets where two states meet.

Sound was a defining part of the experience, and 2025 marked a special milestone for dBTechnologies. While the brand’s systems have supported multiple stages at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in past years, this edition brought something entirely new: the worldwide debut of the VIO W12T stage monitors.

On the main

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30 September 2025

USA - The Columbus district of Indiana is known as the architectural capital of America’s Midwest, housing a clutch of modernist buildings.

A good example of this high art is St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, constructed in 1988, and described as ‘an architectural masterpiece’. But for all its aesthetic beauty, delivering an evenly-distributed sound through the sanctuary to the 750 congregants - sat in a series of rising levels of concentric, but irregular circles - had proved historically difficult before the adoption of a Martin Audio line array.

Tasked with masterminding a sustainable PA upgrade, Alex Moon, director of engineering at the locally-based Force Tech, undertook a site survey. He immediately noted the asymmetric and non-aligned interior, with the sanctuary set around a central section flanked by two raked seating wings. He recognised

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30 September 2025

Austria - Runimation Studios, a creative production company based in Berwang, has redefined its creative and technical capabilities through the addition of Absen’s PR 1.9 LED panels.

Offering services in film production, motion control systems and most recently virtual production, Runimation Studios has become a specialist in high-quality tabletop product shoots often involving fluid dynamics and reflective materials. The company found that traditional backdrop methods such as printed canvases and physical set builds were ineffective at achieving the desired results. Greenscreen was also not an option as this does not work on reflective or translucent surfaces.

These traditional approaches were proving time-consuming, lacking in flexibility and often caused glare or low contrast from flat-looking backgrounds. Therefore, Runimation Studios sought a

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30 September 2025

Belgium - Dry hire company CLUK BV has invested in more than 100 Elation SŌL I Blinders, including accessories, supplied through Elation's exclusive distributor in the country, XLR.

“By choosing Elation as our principal lighting brand and by partnering with XLR as our official distributor, we align ourselves with a portfolio renowned for its exceptional quality, reliability, and global recognition on major tours and productions,” stated Pieter Van de Velde, managing director at CLUK. “XLR strengthens our ability to bring the latest innovations directly to the professionals who rely on us. Together, CLUK and XLR form a strong link in the Elation ecosystem, connecting premium manufacturing with the daily realities of production companies.”

Every SŌL I Blinder will leave the CLUK warehouse in Zulte with its full set of accessories included as

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30 September 2025

UK - Audio-visual production and broadcast specialist Hire Frequencies has been appointed official production partner for Event Buyers Live 2025. Alongside this new partnership, the company has expanded its technical inventory and strengthened its roster of agency collaborations.

Hire Frequencies will support Event Buyers Live 2025 (EBL25), helping deliver the event’s growing reputation as a marketplace for the live events industry. The company also partnered with Identity to provide full production support at a major live event featuring a Red Arrows flypast.

Hire Frequencies recently expanded its portfolio with the Uniview UR Pro 3.9 outdoor LED video wall. The UR Pro offers ultra-lightweight durability, outdoor IP rating, and design potential, making it suitable for immersive brand activations and large-scale outdoor e

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30 September 2025

UK - Celestion has announced the TF0512HE. In a 5" form factor, the TF0512HE offers extended bass response for its size, thanks to robust construction and materials used. Optimal applications include woofer duties in compact two-way studio monitors or bookshelf speakers, low-profile in-fill cabinets, and even small line array boxes employing one or more units.

A pressed steel chassis facilitates maximum energy transfer while keeping unit weight to a scant 1.4kg (3.1 pounds). Able to handle up to 150W of continuous programme power, the TF0512HE pairs well with the high-output Class D amplifiers often used in today’s most popular active cabinet designs. Kevlar loading adds stiffness and resilience to the lightweight paper cone, keeping sound free of distortion even at sustained high output. The cone is mounted within an Elastomer (elastic polymer) surround,

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30 September 2025

USA - LightParts Inc. has welcomed Patti Mokry back to the team. Patti started at LightParts in 2014 and will again be handling sales and rentals.

Robert Mokry, CFO and co-owner of LightParts says: “We couldn’t be happier to have Patti return to the LightParts family. She brings a wealth of experience and a great reputation in the industry to the gig. As LightParts expands more and more into sales and repair of lighting equipment, Patti’s knowledge and skills will play a key role in that growth.”

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30 September 2025

Eurovision Vote - A vote is to be held on whether or not Israel should be allowed to participate in Eurovision next year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed it will invite 68 member countries to give their view at a general assembly meeting in early November. In recent weeks, countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Spain have all said they would consider dropping out of Eurovision if Israel's involvement continued.

A decision will be taken by a simple majority, meaning that if more than 50% of members vote to exclude Israel, the country would not take part in 2026. Israel's continued participation in Eurovision has been controversial due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and several countries had already called for their exclusion.

The EBU confirmed all 68 member countries would be invited to vote, including bro

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29 September 2025

UK - Lana Del Rey played stadia across England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales this summer, marking her debut as a UK & Ireland stadium headliner. An additional second Wembley Stadium show led to her becoming the biggest selling touring solo artist of 2025 in the UK.

How her sound was conveyed was down to a team of mixers, engineers and techs, supported by audio vendor, Sound Image, which has worked with tour manager Emily Holt across Lana’s shows for years. “I am so lucky,” says Emily. “We’ve got an amazing team who go above and beyond, and my suppliers have been with me for so long now. A key factor in that is good communication, it’s so important on any tour, and our team is great at explaining to Lana certain things which will make her feel more comfortable, things to expect in each venue, so that she will be in the right headspace. The hon

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29 September 2025

Germany - In July, Duisburg’s Wedau Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2025 FISU World University Rhine-Ruhr Games. Built in 1921 and with a capacity of 31,500, the stadium hosted over 9,000 athletes from more than one 150 competing countries. The Games are the largest congregation of sporting elite after the Olympics. This year, venues were used across the Rhine-Ruhr area from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim An Der Ruhr, Hagen as well as Berlin and Duisburg itself.

Lighting designer Arkin Atacan had already experienced working with some of the team from the Rhine-Ruhr Games before they invited him to work on the full design production for the opening and closing ceremonies. “The ceremony events have evolved enormously in the last decade and I was excited to get involved in this,” he says.

“The brief was to design a production

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29 September 2025

Bahrain - Arch Hotel Bahrain partnered with Masterpiece LLC and Harman Professional Solutions to deploy a full-scale audio system anchored by JBL, Crown, BSS, Soundcraft, and AKG technologies. The upgrade supports the hotel group’s latest club concept, designed to engage a younger demographic with immersive, high-impact sound.

As a prominent player in Bahrain’s hospitality sector, Arch Hotel operates multiple properties across the region. The AV team, led by senior sound engineer Ajeesh KP, selected a comprehensive range of Harman Professional products for the new space.

“Based on my extensive experience with various brands, I can confidently say that my experience with Harman Professional audio products has been exceptional,” said Ajeesh. “This positive track record was a primary reason why, when our management planned to launch a new club

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29 September 2025

The Netherlands - The band Kane made a powerful return to the stage in 2024/2025, entertaining fans across the Netherlands with a series of memorable live shows. Central to the visual impact of the tour was a bold and dynamic lighting design – brought to life almost entirely using Highlite products.

The lighting setup was supplied by HighliteRent, commissioned by ARF&YES, and featured a robust selection of fixtures designed to deliver both power and precision. The touring rig included: 20 x Infinity iW-1941 RDM, 56 x Showtec Stage Blinder Flex Blaze, 10 x Infinity Raccoon S420/4 and 36 x Infinity Raccoon P14/4.

During their show at Park City Live in Heerlen, the main stage also featured a fixed installation using 22 x Infinity Furion H402, six Infinity Furion P602 and six Infinity Furion S602.

The lighting design was created by Jarmo de

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29 September 2025

USA/Europe - Soft field light has long been delivered through classic Fresnel fixtures, but with the industry’s shift to LED technology, designers have sometimes found themselves missing the vintage look that Fresnels brought to the stage. When it comes to achieving that more poignant feel, award-winning lighting designer Paul ‘Arlo’ Guthrie often turns to Elation’s Fuze Wash 500.

“I love that the Fuze Wash 500 has a Fresnel lens, which is a look I’ve really missed since the shift to LED wash fixtures,” Guthrie shares. “I love having a homogenised soft light look right at the source which feels mildly nostalgic.”

The Fuze Wash 500 is a full-spectrum LED Fresnel moving head that emulates the signature look of a traditional Fresnel.

In 2025, Guthrie has used it on three high-profile productions: Finneas’ For Cryin’ Out Lou

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29 September 2025

The Netherlands - Based in Domburg, Pulse Audio Video recently completed a significant audio upgrade at the Hotel De Zeevaartschool in Vlissingen on the country’s south-west coast. Located on the town's promenade, the beachfront Hotel De Zeevaartschool is housed in a former nautical college.

As part of the audio transformation, the hotel required a solution that could deliver both background music in its dining areas and provide for events including parties and other gatherings.

The Optimal Audio system installed by Pulse AV features multiple zones equipped with the company’s Cuboid 8 two-way, full-range 8” loudspeakers, complemented by low-profile Sub 10 subwoofers. The compact nature of the Sub 10 means that they can be discreetly integrated into seating areas. For extra power during parties and other events, the Cuboid 8 speakers can be enha

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29 September 2025

Australia - The Cat Empire brought their new studio album, Bird in Paradise, to life on stage this August and September.

Melbourne-based Atlas Studios, comprising Matt Jones and Thomas Herterich, delivered an original lighting design on a limited budget.

“We have always been given a lot of free rein with The Cat Empire,” commented Jones. “Among ourselves, however, we wanted to deliver a design that was different from the other designs we had done for them in the past.”

The design that Atlas Studios needed to create was a touring package that could be easily toured and fit into a wide range of venues around Australia. The touring package design they settled on needed to meet the usual common criteria for many Australian touring bands - it had to be budget-friendly, easily accessible in all states around Australia, and it neede

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26 September 2025

Germany - d&b group is reorganising its leadership. Effective 1 January 2026, Amnon Harman will step down as chief executive officer after more than 11 years, handing over the role to Jaakko Kaivonen, the current chief revenue officer.

Since 2014, Amnon Harman has been instrumental in shaping d&b’s development. Under his leadership, both revenue and headcount have more than quadrupled, outpacing the market. The company has expanded internationally and strengthened its position as a leading provider of professional audio technologies and solutions.

“It has been a great pleasure, honour, and also a responsibility to help shape d&b over the past 11 years into the leading audio technology company we are today,” says Amnon Harman. “Together with many brilliant minds inside and outside of d&b, we have advanced the company strategica

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26 September 2025

Argentina - Funktion-One has officially launched in Argentina, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the loudspeaker manufacturer in South America. The launch took place at Arena Maipú in Mendoza, with more than 3,000 people gathering to experience Funktion-One’s unmistakable sound, highlighted by a headline performance from international DJ and producer Richie Hawtin.

The event was hosted by key figures from Funktion-One’s global and regional network. Speakers included Andrés Zaina (director, Funktion-One Argentina & Brazil), Joaquín Baeza (CEO, Funktion-One South America), Diego Fernández (head of Pro Show Argentina & operations manager, Funktion-One Argentina), and Andrew Low (sales director, Funktion-One). Together, they underlined the significance of Funktion-One in Argentina.

“We’re very excited,” said Low. “This is

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26 September 2025

Hungary - Budapest was energised into a canvas of drama, colour, excitement, and storytelling in one of Europe’s finest mixed-media spectaculars to celebrate its National Day on 20 August. The 35-minute timecoded show involved monumental projection, lasers, lighting, drone shows and a massive firework display over the Danube.

Visual Europe Group (VEG) was the event’s main technical supplier, providing sound, lighting, lasers, video walls, projection mapping, and a large-scale drone show for this extensive main city centre site along both sides – Buda and Pest – of the river.

Robe moving lights, iBolts, iFortes and iForte LTXs, once again played a significant role in illuminating four key architectural elements – the 118m-wide Hungarian Parliament Building, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Elisabeth Bridge.

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26 September 2025

South Africa - DWR Distribution has announced the official opening of the Absen Experience Centre, a dedicated showroom showcasing Absen’s LED display solutions. Designed to inspire and inform, the centre presents a range of products and applications for the professional AV market, from corporate and control room environments to retail, immersive experiences, and advertising solutions. The launch event welcomed system integrators and AV professionals for a first-hand look at the technology in action.

Led by DWR’s Debbie Buchanan and her team, the Absen showroom was completed in August 2025 after months of planning. On arrival in the showroom, visitors are greeted by an immersive demonstration space featuring Absen CP1.8 panels across the walls and ceiling, paired with MR2.5 floor LED panels designed to handle heavy loads.

“This all-in-one setup