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USA - Brad Schiller has announced the release of his new book, The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook. The text made its debut at the LDI 2003 convention in Orlando, Florida, where it sold out early on the second day. Schiller teamed with Focal Press to publish and distribute his manuscript.

The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook explains in detail concepts and procedures regularly used by professional automated lighting programmers. From basic principles of automated lighting, to pre-production preparations, the text details concepts, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a successful production. Then the author continues with in-depth explanations for beginning, intermediate, and advanced programmers. Additional sections explore troubleshooting principle

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UK - Music Live 2003, held recently in Birmingham's NEC, again successfully consolidated its reputation as the UK's premier annual public music show. A huge roster of acts, demos, seminars and clinics ran through the duration of the show, whilst the main stage offered some impressive and well known talents. Legendary Yes guitarist Steve Howe played a hugely enjoyable solo set, with other notable performances coming from erstwhile Squeeze frontman singer/songwriter Glenn Tillbrook, US virtuoso rock guitarists Stevie Salas and Ritchie Kotzen, plus top New York session player and Ovation clinician, Matt Smith.

As a result of HK Audio's performance at Music Live 2002 and the 2003 London Guitar Show, HK's pro audio systems were again used exclusively throughout Music Live 2003. Capable of offering powerful yet detailed sound, HK Audio represented the ideal pro audio choice for the va

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USA - Gefen, a developer of computer interconnectivity solutions for professional and personal computer users worldwide, is currently pioneering a full line of DVI and HDTV (High Definition Television) products that enable digital video signals to be split, switched and extended.

Gefen has recently released two new ex-tend-it switchers: the 2x1 HDTV Switcher and the 4x1 HDTV Switcher. Both expand the functionality and compatibility of HD displays by allowing them to access two or four digital video sources - supporting home theatre, multimedia presentation, entertainment, education and similar audio/video applications by streamlining systems behind the scenes.

In operation, they enable one HDTV display to access either two or four digital video sources at any time without unplugging and replugging devices. Installation is simple and requires the user to plug the video sources

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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 - Bill Kenwright's record-breaking production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's smash hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is using Martin Audio's Wavefront system for its redesigned 2003/4 national tour. Chris Full of Autograph Sound has revamped the sound design for the production, which has been on the road since 1997, touring the regional theatres of the UK. For the new rig, he has chosen Martin Audio, specifically ten WT3s and four WS2A subs, with analogue processing.

Full explained: "The sound design for the tour of Joseph required a versatile, high power sound system that also fulfilled the budget requirements of the show. I had used the WT3s and baby subs before, and liked the way the system sounded - particularly with respect to throwing the sound to the back of a venue. We are not touring delays as the turn around between venues

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UK - Stephanie Arhern's name was drawn out as the winner of a pair of tickets to the final performance of Merce Cunningham Dance Company's Anniversary Events at the Tate Modern. The competition, which was organized by British Harlequin and Dance Umbrella, ran on Harlequin's web site at www.harlequinfloors.com during October. Stephanie, who studied for a dance degree and now works in a performing arts college where she regularly produces contemporary dance work of her own, was overjoyed to have the opportunity to witness one of the sell-out performances. Commenting after the final MCDC performance Stephanie said, 'My guest and I enjoyed the piece thoroughly and experienced a serene and relaxing experience in the Turbine Hall, provided through the Weather Project and the Merce Cunningham piece which merged perfectly as one that evening."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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Sweden - Edsbyns Ljudteknik of Edsbyn, Sweden, has become the first European sound rental company to invest in the new-generation Renkus-Heinz PN102LA Line Array system, unveiled at the PLASA and New York AES 2003 shows. Company founder Bosse Davidsson has worked with sound rentals and installations since 1985, and first used Renkus-Heinz PA and monitor systems in 1990, as well as loudspeaker systems from other manufactures.

When the commercial climate made an investment in line array technology a 'must', Davidsson immediately opted to audition the new, compact PN102LA: "I am very satisfied with all loudspeakers from Renkus Heinz; it doesn't matter if it's a live concert or an installation, the results are always good."

Renkus-Heinz lent the company a complete system for field trials at two major concerts this autumn, he says. "The result was very, very good - t

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Russia - VGTRK in Moscow, the all-Russian State Tele Radio broadcaster, has taken delivery of a new 48-channel Soundcraft MH-4 mixing console, to add to an inventory that already includes several K2 and Ghost mixers, all supplied by PAL Systems in Russia.

The latest desk is being used for The Sports Channel, which broadcasts live coverage of international and domestic sports events. The MH-4 is intended primarily for the many talk-shows broadcast on The Sports Channel, which use multiple mic inputs, as well as international feeds and telephone hybrids.

"We are really pleased with our MH-4," says Andrey Vetr, chief of recording staff. "Everything is great about it, especially the ergonomics, and the benefits of the VCA and Matrix features. We've measured the console ourselves, here at VGRTK, and are delighted to find exact correlation with the original specifica

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UK - Mean Fiddler Music Group has bought the famous Borderline live music venue in London's West End, which has a Public Entertainment Licence until 6a.m. Vince Power, chairman of Mean Fiddler, said: "This valuable addition to the portfolio will further strengthen the Group's position as the country's leading live music venue operator."

(Lee Baldock)

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The Netherlands - After extensive beta-testing in recent months and the launch of "the Ribbon" line-array at the PLASA show in London, Alcons Audio is now shipping the first product of its L-series product range, the LR16. This is an active two-way line-source loudspeaker system, to be used in vertical arrays, either in stacked or flown configuration. The compact, flexible design makes it the ideal system for small to medium-sized applications, and with a maximum SPL of 135dB per unit, the LR16 is also suitable for larger applications, when used in extended arrays.

The L-series has been designed with a 'total system approach' including speakers, amplifiers, processing and logistics, with the main design goal being the creation of a versatile system that would also make a sensible investment for smaller rental companies. 'The Ribbon' system can be scaled from (part of)

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UK - The DVD authoring department of Richmond Studios has appointed Mandy Roberts as DVD designer/author. Mandy has scooped a total of four broadcast and media industry awards in South Africa for her multimedia work. As a freelance DV editor and DVD author, she worked extensively with communications, broadcast design and new media development companies in South Africa, followed by work as an editor and multimedia developer for clients including British Airways and KPMG. Her skills embrace DVD authoring as well as conceptual, sound and graphic design and editing.

Holding a Diploma in Film Arts, she was a double finalist in the Loerie Awards for her work on BA's 21st Century Travel CD-ROM and Everite's Building Products DVD, and won the 2001 Business Day Award for Panasonic SA's website.

Richmond Studios' DVD department specializes in high-quality music releases, a

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UK - Pro audio sales company Autograph Sales has sold a sound system including 10 Meyer Sound UPJ-1Ps to London's latest hotspot, Hackney Central. As Meyer Sound's UK distributor, Autograph Sales successfully launched the UPJ-1P at PLASA 2003, taking pre-orders for over 50 boxes during the four-day exhibition. The club, also a bar and restaurant, is on the site of the former Hackney Central Station, and has become one of the trendiest new venues in the capital following a massive refurbishment.

The new UPJ-1P combines the advantages of self-powered systems with the placement and arraying flexibility offered by a rotatable horn, and can therefore be used either singly as a primary loudspeaker or in multi-cabinet horizontal or vertical arrays. As well as the 10 UPJ-1Ps, Autograph Sales also supplied Meyer UMS-1P and USW-1 subwoofers. The club is the latest to be opened by manageme

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UK - Entec is supplying lighting for the Beautiful South Gaze tour, which is receiving creative treatment from one of the UK's most talented lighting designers, Dave Byars. The tour has been highly acclaimed, with the band getting rave reviews for an energetic and tight set, featuring 'all-the-hits-and-more' Beautiful South 'classics', plus an eclectic selection from the new album and a stonking, funky and jazzed up version of S-Club 7's monster hit Don't Stop.

The lighting and set had to fit into a wide range of venues, from Bridlington Spa Theatre to Manchester Apollo, Shepherd's Bush Empire, etc. Taking the new albums artwork featuring 1950's male bodybuilders as his creative starting point, Byars decided to give the stage an atmospheric retro-cinematic look. This was achieved by defining the space with three trussing arches - a main flown one at the rear, flank

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USA - High End Systems ColorCommand fixtures went to college and got a good report card for its performance. Texas Christian University's Theatre Department in Fort Worth, TX, recently used eight of the dichroic color-changing par/washlights, along with a Hog(R) 500 lighting console, to light their stage production of On the Town.

Michael Skinner, assistant professor of lighting design at TCU, directed the students in their use of lighting and particularly the ColorCommands. One of Skinner's favorite features is the beam shaping ability, allowing the fixture to move from a tight focus to a wide wash. "This replaces having to have a supply of various lamps to fit your PAR 64, with ColorCommand it is simply an adjustment of the beam angle via your console. You retain the brightness and get the amount of coverage you need without having to settle for too much or too lit

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Iceland - The NASA nightclub in Reykjavik, Iceland, has undergone a comprehensive revamp of its sound systems in preparation for a change of identity from discotheque to one of the city's premier live music venues. The 600-capacity NASA is situated in a former dance hall, complete with original architectural features and a proscenium arch stage. By the start of 2004, the club will be dedicated to live bands. Sound installers Islandia were asked to install a PA system that would suit the new clientele.

A new Soundcraft MH3 console, with 32 channels and four stereo sends, drives a JBL AL Series PA system. The new monitor rig is also JBL, and both systems are powered by Crown amplifiers and controlled by BSS Soundweb.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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China - Martin Professional's new production facility in China, Martin Manufacturing Zhuhai Ltd, received its official grand opening on 30 October amid some traditional Chinese entertainment. Dancing lions, fire crackers and a dramatic drum performance were among the treats lined up for the guests and key dignitaries that were present at the opening: the Danish Ambassador to China, the Mayor of Zhuhai Municipality, Consul General of the Danish Royal Consulate in Guangzhou all joined Martin Professional President and CEO, Kristian Kolding, along with a number of other VIPs and Martin Professional staff.

The celebration began on 29 October with an official dinner banquet held at the Harbor View Hotel in Zhuhai. The official opening took place the next day with a VIP reception and tour of the new factory. General manager of the Zhuhai plant, Henrik Larsen, welcomed the guests follo

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UK - The Royal Society of Medicine is an independent organization founded nearly 200 years ago. Its aim is to provide a range of educational opportunities for doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons, including students and allied health care professionals. A renowned venue for large scale conferences and meetings, the RSM's facilities are currently undergoing extensive redevelopment. The whole of the ground floor of the Society's house in London has been developed to provide a state of the art meeting and conference space both for members of the Society and its external users.

One of the most exciting areas of the development is the new 300-seat auditorium, which has recently been completed and is now in use. Designed by MJS Architects with Arup Venue Consultancy and the Robin Haddow Partnership, the client's brief involved finding a way to optimize the room design, keeping me

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UK - Live video production specialists XL Video UK were the main Video suppliers for the Fashion Rocks fundraising event at the Royal Albert Hall, to which they supplied projection, screen, cameras, and their Digital OB truck. Clearchannel Entertainment produced the Princes Trust event, presented by Liz Hurley and Denis Leary, and featuring performances from some of the biggest names in rock including Beyonce Knowles, Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry and Sheryl Crow, plus 17 international fashion designers, from Armani to Prada to YSL. Production manager for Clearchannel was Phil Christensen.

One of the largest video projection screens ever made, 27m wide by 14m deep covered the whole of the RAH's upstage area. XL commissioned screen manufacturers ECT to produce the Matt Bright front projection surface. It was hung and stretched onto a rectangular truss with a slight curvature, pro

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UK - With sales set to increase an average by 3.2% and profit margins likely to remain low but steady at 1.6%, the sound equipment market looks set for a rewarding year in 2004. A recent survey from financial publishers, Plimsoll, found that 26% of the 236 companies surveyed are showing unprecedented confidence about their prospects in 2004. The latest study profiling the UK sound equipment industry has looked at how each of the 236 companies surveyed will perform in 2004. Plimsoll's research found three distinct views on the New Year.

26% of companies in the industry are set to exploit the buoyant market. These companies built strong businesses to get ahead of the competition in 2003 and have now set themselves up for continued expansion in the market. Sales look to increase at a staggering 10% on average and margins could be as high as 10.8%.

34% of the industry will be in t

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UK - Gallowglass, generally regarded as the number one events supplier for crew and modular staging, have confirmed their status by winning the CEA Awards Event Supplier of the Year 2003. Paul Grecian, managing director of Gallowglass said: "When I was first involved in the event industry, eleven or twelve years ago, I was appalled at the way crews in general were treated (perhaps justifiably in those days) and was determined that if we were going to remain here, we had to start to change peoples perceptions and generate some respect for the impact a great crew could have on any show. The awards last week bore testimony to the fact that we have succeeded to a large extent, although we know we have to continue to push the boundaries back. Nevertheless, my colleagues and I are absolutely delighted".

Gallowglass used a variety of case studies to illustrate their versatili

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UK - Skan PA Hire has continued an ongoing phase of investment with one of its most exciting purchase to date, an L-Acoustics V-DOSC line array loudspeaker system. The purchase of 24 V-DOSC cabinets with 16 SB218 subwoofers, four ARCS cabinets and 32 LA48A amps follows Skan's acquisition of a dV-DOSC system with dV-Subs, SB218s and ARCS earlier this summer, and establishes the company as the new UK member of the V-DOSC partner network.

Delivered to Skan's Reading-based warehouse this month, the system went straight out the door on a European arena tour with chart-topping rock band Muse, together with Skan technicians Matt Vickers and Ant Carr who are working closely with the band's engineers Marc Carolan and Adam Taylor. Skan is a long-term user of XTA's 226 controllers, recommended by L-Acoustics for use with V-DOSC, and also owns almost 100 Lab Gruppen amps, the company which

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Spain - The latest production of We Will Rock You, the smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton, has now opened in Madrid and once again Autograph Sound Recording supplied the sound and communications systems following on from their successful involvement on the original London production, which premiered in May 2002 at the Dominion Theatre.

The Spanish translation opened at the Calderon Theatre Madrid in November and as with the UK and Australian shows, the system was designed by Bobby Aitken. Aitken, formerly of Autograph but now a freelance designer, also co-designed all worldwide productions of Mamma Mia with Autograph Chairman, Andrew Bruce.

Autograph's Andy Brown was the nominated production sound engineer for this Spanish interpretation, Andy's experience is second to none having been PSE on such productions as Witches of Eastwick, The Lion King,

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