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USA - Primedia Business Magazines & Media has announced that David Johnson, long-time editor of Entertainment Design (ED) and a veteran of both Entertainment Design and Lighting Dimensions magazines for 10 years, has been named associate publisher/editorial director of the magazines with immediate effect, reporting to group publisher, Bob MacArthur.

The move comes as two of the magazine's staff leave the company - David Barbour, long-time editorial director for the magazines and publisher, Jackie Tien. "Jackie Tien and David Barbour should be proud of what they helped build here over such a long period of time," says Primedia Business senior vice-president Pete May, "and of their numerous contributions to the entertainment lighting industry. We

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UK - Millbank Electronics, designers and manufacturers of sophisticated PA/VA equipment have expanded its operation in the UK, appointing Rowland Sleap as systems sales manager. Rowland has a wealth of experience in the audio industry, having worked in the distinct but complementary pro audio industry for over 15 years. Working alongside UK sales manager, Pat Bradley, he will handle the southern region of the UK, and liaise with the new Millbank distributor network, presenting integrated PA/VA systems solutions across a diverse range of applications.

Sleap commented: "I'm delighted to have joined Millbank's dynamic team. I'm looking forward to working with the team and expanding the brand into a host of markets."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - More news on the launch of Cunard Line's spectacular new $800 million cruise ship, the Queen Mary 2 - the largest passenger vessel ever built. At the launch ceremony earlier this month, a radio microphone suspended from the ship, specially designed for the event by Brit Row's Jock Bain, cunningly amplified the sound of the smashing bottle as HM Queen Elizabeth II named the vessel.

The invited audience was housed in a portable venue, provided by ESS, enjoying entertainment from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying a 200-voice choir, with soloists Lesley Garrett and Heather Small. The show was mixed by Richard Sharratt (both FOH and monitors) on Britannia Row's Electro-Voice X-Line system, using eight Xls cabinets left and right of the stage, and a centre cluster of four EV XLC compact line array boxes, powered by EV's Precision Series remote-controlled amplifiers.

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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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Germany - The Ultragraph Pro - a 31-band stereo graphic equalizer with patent pending FBQ Feedback Detection System, is now available. Its powerful set of features makes it a perfect choice for studio use. The FBQ feedback detection system instantly reveals critical frequencies and can also be used as an audio analyzer.

Its dedicated mono subwoofer output with adjustable crossover frequency is a feature rarely found in this segment, say Behringer. Additional sweepable high and low cut filters for each channel remove unwanted frequencies such as floor rumble and tape hiss, while an accurate 12-digit LED output metering and input gain control provide for easy level setting. Ultra low-noise audio operational amplifiers are used throughout, offering outstanding sound performance. A relay-controlled hard-bypass with an auto-bypass function saves the day in the event of a power failu

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UK - Leeds-based Sound Control has completed the installation of the 100-capacity One Eleven Club, a new jazz venue in Sheffield. Owned by saxophonist Simon Peat, the One Eleven Club boasts a chic bar/restaurant and a highly specified sound reinforcement infrastructure.

Responsible for the installation was Sound Control's Tudor, who specified four Nexo PS10s, suspended from a roof girder, with a pair of ground-stacked LS500 bass bins on Speakon extenders to enable them to be moved nearer to the audience if required. Tudor explained: "Simon was a customer of mine when I worked at the Sheffield branch of Sound Control. He told me he had taken over this derelict building and the speakers had to be both black and compact to fit in with the discrete nature of the venue and the décor. The Nexo PS10s were the obvious choice."

The owner requested the same standard when it

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Denmark - Martin Professional has introduced the new Wireless DMX-512 and Wireless DMX-512 Pro Diversity which, it says, are the easiest way to connect remote fixtures to your DMX system within line of sight. Both devices offer a fast and easy way of connecting and setting up a lighting system, especially where remote or hard to reach fixtures are involved, as no cables or expensive downtime is required. The Wireless DMX-512 and Wireless DMX-512 Pro Diversity mean that fixtures need only sit within range of the transmitter box.

The Wireless DMX-512 is designed for architectural, installation and smaller event applications. It has a range of up to 200m (650ft), can be set up via a PC and PC-based controllers such as the Martin LightJockey and can be configured as either a transmitter or receiver.

The Wireless DMX-512 Pro Diversity is a 19" rack-mount version aimed at stage

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UK - Cambridge-based Out Board has been appointed as exclusive UK and Eire distributor for the ground-breaking Lake Contour sound system controllers. Featuring advanced FIR "brick wall", zero-phase crossover filters plus exclusive graphic and Mesa EQ functions all under wireless ethernet control, Contour represents a totally new generation of audio control resources, say Out Board.

Out Board has embarked on a nationwide program of demonstrations and evaluation sessions, with interested parties from a variety of pro audio disciplines, and the company reports an overwhelmingly positive response to what Contour offers in terms of sonic quality and control efficiency.

Contour Controller software downloads are available from the Lake Contour website (see below), which can also been reached directly from a link on Out Board's site.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Strict environmental health regulations are placing increasing pressure on all entertainment venues to limit the amount of noise that escapes from their premises. With music being the prime source of this nuisance noise, leading audio equipment manufacturer Formula Sound has launched a simple and effective solution which removes the risk of the music being cut off and the entertainment interrupted.

The company's new AT-1 intelligent controller has been specially developed to work with the company's existing Sentry Mk2 noise control unit and provide a complete, integrated solution. Used on its own, the Sentry Mk2 creates an effective method of shutting down an audio system by isolating the mains supply when the volume exceeds a preset threshold. The AT-1 links between an audio system's mixer and amplifier, and monitors SPL readings from the Sentry Mk2. As the volume approac

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UK - Allen & Heath's Xone mixers were used during the filming of the ITV series, Joy of Decks, a national contest to seek out the UK's emerging DJ talent. Short listed from over 300 nominations by record shops and industry professionals across the UK, the series began with eight hopefuls, who were invited to showcase their DJ skills and personas in an effort to impress the judges. Four finalists were selected and assigned mentors from the cream of the DJ trade - Mr C, Roni Size, Tom Middleton and Sister Bliss.

During the series, the mentors helped their apprentices hone technical, remixing and production skills and the mixer chosen as a practice model was the industry standard Xone:62: "My first time to ever use an Allen & Heath mixer was on the first programme of The Joy of Decks," said finalist Clodagh McCann. "It looked very complicated at first, but once I st

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The Netherlands / Germany - Sound Projects will introduce its new line-array concept LineX at the Frankfurt ProLight&Sound show (31 March - 4 April). Building on the company's Sigma series of symmetrical true line-arrays, LineX features an eight-driver, horn-loaded design into a compact and lightweight cabinet. According to the manufacturer, the LineX's three-way configuration provides one of the highest full-range output to size ratio physically possible.

Use of specialized carbon-fibre composites together with calculated bracing and inner reinforcement structures, results in higher stiffness and yet a 30% lighter enclosure than a conventional wooden cabinet, say Sound Projects, adding that no less than 12 handles can be integrated within the housing, improving the handling of the system.

Sound Projects has developed the patented HF Wave-shape-transformer - a device which pro

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UK - Lighting designer Tom Lesh specified Pixelline LED battens for the current Primal Scream UK tour - to add an extra layer of excitement to his high-energy lightshow. With just eight Pixellines, Lesh proves once again that less is more, with the fixtures forming a powerful and bright back 'wall' to the stage.

Lesh also specified PixelDrive, the new software control platform for Pixelline, which is a co-development project between James Thomas and IRAD, manufacturers of the RADlite digital media server. Pixelline allows the very quick and easy programming of complex 'liquid' effects via a PC. The software pixel-maps the 18 pixels in each batten for easy on-screen pattern creation.

Using PixelDrive's latest enhancements, Lesh was also able to access and utilize the Pixelline battens' internal strobing effects which - at up to 28 flashes per second. The Pixellines were positio

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Germany - IMG Stage Line has extended its successful series of STA amplifiers for stage and entertainment applications. This spring, the company reports that its new STA-121 amplifier, offering a powerful 300W from a 1U box and weighing 7.2kg, will come onto the market.

The STA-121 operates silently, say the company, due to its fanless cooling design. In addition to a power of 2 x 110W rms at 4 Ohms, the amplifier presents two level controls and four switchable line inputs which also recommend this amplifier for studio applications! Two unbalanced 6.3mm outputs, a speaker terminal L/R, LEDs for overload and protect and of course protective circuits against short circuit and overheating complete the concept.

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Lighthouse high-resolution LED screens have been selected by Urban Display Network LLC (UDN) for a huge project to install wirelessly networked electronic billboards at the street-level entrances to Manhattan's subway stations. UDN, a Las Vegas-based company, is partnering with US media giant Clear Channel Outdoor on the project. The system rollout has already begun, with 20 sites operational by 1 December. Clear Channel, which holds a street-level advertising contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), plans to extend its new screen network throughout the island's subway system to around 80 screens during the first quarter of 2004.

MTA and Clear Channel had originally experimented with plasma screens for the sites, which are at eye-level on top of the railings surrounding the steps leading down to platform level. But the wide variations in ambi

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UK - The BBC's Top of the Pops is now imported and broadcast by television channels in Italy, Germany, Australia, France, Japan and Holland. Italians can watch the program on Italia 1, presented by Daniele Bossari. With links between London's Top of the Pops studios and Italy, the program is able to show both Italian and international artists, plus exclusive star interviews.

Italia 1's most recent edition of Top of the Pops drew from the immense BBC archive to mark the initial successes of megastars such as Michael Jackson, David Bowie and U2. The Italian set design and studio environment have to be similar to the original program: a white stage and modular walls, wide black edges and the 'Top of the Pops' logo all over the studio. However, local production has complete freedom within this format, including in lighting design. Riccardo Barbaglio, the program's photography direct

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UK - David Ward, founder of Gateway Studio and The Gateway School of Recording, has announced a new training initiative designed to promote professional development and lifelong learning within the music and sound industries.

The initiative, known as Gateway Professional Development Training (GPDT), is a unique collaboration between GPDT, Phoenix Sound Studios and The Integrated Systems Organization. Based at Phoenix Sound in Wembley, GPDT aims to create a pioneering model of industry training that will be an example worldwide.

The organizations and the personalities involved all have close links with manufacturers, record companies, industry organizations and the media, ensuring an unprecedented level of industry support for the project. All three organizations are recognized as groundbreaking institutions in the recording industry and are part of the history of this industry

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USA - Furman Sound, the US manufacturer of AC power conditioning systems, has promoted Steve Rose to vice-president of product development, from vice-president of operations. In this new position, Rose, who has been with Furman Sound since late 1999, will institute new marketing analysis and plans, develop and source new products, gather competitive market intelligence, and manage the company's strategic marketing plan.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK/France - Artistic Licence will be exhibiting with French distributor ESL at SIEL 2004 in Paris (1-4 February) on Stand L74 in Hall 5 of the Paris Expo centre. Artistic will be launching the Pixi Range of luminaires and accessories, showing two new products from the range: Pixi-Led is a self-contained LED luminaire aimed primarily at the architectural lighting market and Pixi-Power is a stand alone power supply designed specifically for the Pixi-Led products.

The concept behind Pixi-Led is the ability to create a fusion of lighting and video allowing designers to achieve an almost limitless combination of effects. The fixtures use new "point-source" RGB colour mixing which creates both an exceptionally bright white light output and, with their consistent colour mixing ability, provides an enhanced colour palette with a superior range of pastel colours and tints.

To

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USA - Meyer Sound and DiGiCo have announced that they are opening a shared office in Nashville, Tennessee, that will focus specifically on serving the needs of the touring industry throughout North America. The office is located inside Nashville's renowned Soundcheck rehearsal facility.

Meyer Sound's business will be anchored there by tour liaison Buford Jones, a veteran front-of-house engineer whose credits include Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, James Taylor and Faith Hill. Greg McVeigh, Meyer Sound's vice-president of sales and special projects, will also be in regular attendance. Eric Wade, president of DiGiCo US, and Taidus Vallandi (technical sales) will spearhead DiGiCo's presence at the facility.

Jones and McVeigh expect the new office at Soundcheck to boost Meyer Sound's expanding presence in both the regional and national touring markets. "An enormous a

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UK / USA - The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has announced the formation of a new commercial subsidiary, PLASA Media Inc, which will publish a new, high-quality magazine for the Americas market - Lighting&Sound America. This monthly industry publication will launch in Spring 2004 and will cover the use of professional lighting, sound and related technologies in entertainment, presentation, club and worship applications.

The New York City-based team will consist of four well-respected and high-profile individuals from the industry - publisher and general manager Jackie Tien, associate publisher Adrienne Gurman, editor-in-chief David Barbour, and senior technical editor Michael S. Eddy, all of whom have extensive experience and knowledge of the industry.

The team will work in close collaboration with PLASA's chief executive Matthew Griffiths, and t

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USA / UK - Louisiana-based manufacturer PreSonus Audio Electronics has appointed Hand in Hand Distribution to be the sole distributor for its range of audio processing products in the UK. PreSonus international sales manager Mark Williams, said: "The UK market is a very important market for PreSonus. The UK is on the leading edge of music production and in many cases sets trends for the world. Recordists, engineers and musicians in the UK demand great-sounding yet affordable products to enhance their creativity, which is exactly what PreSonus products offer. I feel that Hand in Hand will be able to deliver the marketing, sales support and customer service that PreSonus needs to bring PreSonus products to the forefront of the UK pro audio and live sound markets."

Gary Cramphorn, president of Hand in Hand Distribution, says: "PreSonus fits very well with our belief

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USA - BBE announced the launch of a number of new products at the NAMM exhibition in Anaheim, California this month. The Max-X2 professional stereo 2-way crossover is designed for road use and is also suitable for DJs. The Max-X2 features a built-in Sonic Maximizer circuit, which adds the improved clarity, definition and punch the Maximizer is renowned for, say the company. Furthermore, the Max-X2 incorporates the company's fourth generation BBE Sonic Maximizer process, the same system utilised in the BBE 482i and 882i Sonic Maximizer processors. Other features are a phase reversal switch for each output, plus 30Hz high pass (low cut) filters on both channels.

The BBE Max-X3 professional stereo 2-way crossover, which also functions as a mono 3-way crossover, is designed for road use, and like the Max-X2, also features the Sonic Maximizer circuit. Utilizing 24dB per octave state-

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