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UK - The lease on Central London's legendary Hippodrome - made famous in the 1980's by Peter Stringfellow - has been extended by 12 months to new incumbents, following the departure of previous operators, Luminar Leisure, last September. As a result, a consortium headed by Chinawhite director, Jeremy Hartley and Leicester Square Association chairman, Steve Bowen, have taken on the lease, and earmarked a £750,000 development budget, with a large percentage going on lighting.

A contract worth £150,000 has been awarded to Ian Kirby's Coemar UK for the supply of a large consignment of Coemar moving head dancefloor and mid-air beam effects plus Hungaroflash strobes, James Thomas Engineering LED battens and ShowCAD computer control.

Replacing the majestic satellites - the mainstay o

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UK - Audio-visual specialist Integrated Circles has been nominated for a Museums and Heritage Excellence Award 2004 in the 'Best use of Technology' category. The nomination is for the use of the company's own digital SoundStore in the 'M11 LINKED' project. The digital SoundStores are hidden in lamp-posts along a three-mile walk, transmitting music, recorded testimonies and the rekindled memories of those who once lived and worked where the controversial M11 Link Road now runs.

Integrated Circles' managing director, Simon Beer commented: "It was certainly an unusual project. We custom-designed a solution featuring a powerful radio transmitter and our own digital SoundStore technology at its heart, which we knew was reliable enough to endure the harsh outdoor conditions. We also had to provide 1,000 receivers for the visitors to wear to pick up the commentary along the route

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Germany - The Volkstheater in the Stiglmaierplatz area of Munich, Germany, has upgraded its FOH console to a 40-channel Allen & Heath ML3000 VCA console, in preparation for the theatre's 2004 season. The theatre specializes in traditional Bavarian folk plays and adaptations of modern novels.

Volkstheater's sound engineer, Pit Ries, commented: "The theatre has used Allen & Heath consoles for many years and we have had nothing but good experiences with them. When an upgrade was required, Allen & Heath was the only choice for the replacement. The ML3000's features give me great confidence and I am particularly impressed with the console's quality EQ. The VCA capability makes grouping easy to set up and operate during live situations. Furthermore, in a practical sense, the mixer does not take up much space, which helps us provide more seating for the audience."

(Sarah Ru

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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 - The Harman Pro UK team became Match Programme Sponsors for the recent UEFA Cup Quarter Finals, second leg, between Newcastle United and PSV Eindhoven, held at NUFC's St James' Park. Harman, JBL's UK distributors, used the opportunity to plan a special event for a selection of key stadium audio consultants, contractors, designers and installers. It proved a great chance to show off the new JBL sound system at the Premier League stadium - one of Europe's largest stadiums.

The installation was completed by Blackburn-based Romers for the start of the 2004 season. It's been a great success, and Harman's guests included Romers' John Caton, who explained the intricacies of the audio remit, and the acoustic challenges they faced at St James' Park. Harman's Dave Budge co-ordinated the event, and was also integrally involved in the St James' Park PA installation project. He stated: &

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Canada - For the team of lighting designer Jean Renaud and his associate designer/programmer, Vincent Colbert, two televised music award shows provided a natural opportunity to put a Super WYG 5000 channel system through its paces, as they lit both the 2004 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs) and the Juno Awards, Canada's version of the Grammys.

Halifax, Canada-based Tour Tech East supplied both the Super WYG system for the ECMAs and technician Roy Mombourquette, who also served as the ECMA's crew chief. "The producers of the ECMA's were amazed when we were able to show them the actual camera shots!" says Mombourquette. "With the aid of WYSIWYG, we were able to demonstrate how many people would have obstructed views because of television cameras or other unforeseen obstacles."

This year's ECMAs were particularly challenging for the lighting department with six

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UK - Marquee Audio have returned to the BRIT School in Croydon - six years after carrying out the original sound system installation - to bring Britain's only free Performing Arts and Technology institution into the digital age.

Backed by the British Record Industry Trust (hence the name BRIT) Marquee Audio sales director, first started talking to the School's senior technical manager, Andrew Smith, about the prospect of going digital two years ago, and whet his appetite by providing a Yamaha DM2000 desk to evaluate. Finally the funding became available for them to invest in one - along with an Optcore fibre optic system - as part of a thorough upgrade. Smith said: "We needed a digital desk for student training and production in live music technology."

Marquee's Andy Huffer added: "In view of its size, the DM2000 will not only enable the School to mix its own

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USA - ETC is making changes to its executive staff, announcing new titles and roles for two of the current-vice presidents. Well-known industry veteran Steve Terry will now assume the leadership of the company's global R&D department. Terry's current executive title and role within ETC's service operations will be expanded to vice-president of research and development and professional services.

Terry, who has been with ETC since the summer of 2001, has been a highly respected authority in the industry for over 25 years, and a major visionary force behind some of most significant technical advances in the field, including the development of industry-wide control protocols. In addition to driving the development of DMX512, he helped start the ESTA Technical Standards program and is the current co-chair of the Control-Protocols Working Group that is developing ACN and RDM.

A tire

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UK - White Light Sales recently supplied a complete lighting installation for a new seven-zone walk-through tour at Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset, south-west England. Long a popular tourist destination, the new walk-through is based on the legend of the Witch of Wookey Hole, with each of the seven zones featuring an excerpt from the legend. Patrick Watkinson designed the lighting for the installation, with sound design by Ben Findley from Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios.

To bring the project to life, the Wookey Hole Caves turned to Cockle and his team at the contemporary circus troupe The Generating Company, who are now based at the Caves. White Light has worked with The Generating Company on a number of projects, so it was to White Light Sales that Cockle turned for the equipment.

The final rig includes ETC Source Fours and Source Four Junior Zooms, Strand Quartet 22/40s,

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USA - Super Vision International, the US manufacturer of fibre optic and LED lighting, has been awarded the 2004 Greater Orlando Business Ethics Award by the Central Florida Society of Financial Service Professionals. Super Vision was nominated for the award by Craig Townsend of MetLife Financial Services.

Earl Adams, executive director of the Central Florida Society of Financial Service Professionals, said: "We are pleased to include Super Vision International among our roster of noted regional honorees. The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to the highest business ethics during a trying time in their business life and serves as a model for all businesses."

The American Business Ethics Award (ABEA) recognizes US companies that exemplify high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct and in a response to specific crises or challenges

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UK - XL Video is supplying projectors to the Siobhan Davies Dance Company for its acclaimed Birdsong work, which has just started the first leg of its UK tour. Siobhan Davies is one of the UK's leading choreographers, with a career stretching back to the early 1970s. Davies is passionately interested in the medium of dance itself - the way the human body moves, how it can be composed, and what it can achieve and evoke. Davies works collaboratively with her dancers rather than starting with a specific aim, and relies on their experiences and imagination to contribute to the palette of available movement.

An additional technical challenge for the intimate and emotional Birdsong is that it's staged in the round. So the only real solid surface the eight dancers had to work with was the floor!

Maximizing the dramatic possibilities of the floor, two Barco G5 video proj

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UK - Stage specialists Stage Technologies has seen a marked increase in its exports to America in recent years, with high profile projects including the Lyric Opera House Chicago and the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, the latest additions to their already impressive client list. It is with their American clientele in mind that Stage Technologies have recently become a UL-listed company, now authorized to produce UL-approved electrical control panels.

John Hastie, sales and marketing director for Stage Technologies, commented: "UL is a universally recognized standard and it provides our growing global client base with an instant assurance that Stage Technologies conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety."

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Strand Lighting has appointed Tim Burnham as president of the Strand Lighting Group, to be based in the company's North American offices in Cypress, California. Burnham recently left French multi national Legrand, where he was marketing vice-president and director of strategic planning for Legrand, North America. Prior to that, he had spent 30 years in the entertainment lighting business in the UK and USA, starting work backstage in the West End, followed by years of touring, lighting design and running his own rental company. He managed Arri's lighting control division in London before moving to the US in 1994.

"I'm truly excited to be back in the lighting industry," Burnham commented. "I have so many friends in this business, and to be honest, I missed them while I was away. Now I'm getting to know a great new group of people, and I think we have a great p

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UK - Audiolight has announced the availability of its Emerald series lasers, which include a 19" rack-mount controller, or can be purchased with a PC control system, using Zion 3D laser software. The high quality beam can produce text, animations, sequences, 2D or 3D projections, say Audiolight. The Saffron Series provides more scope with colour, housing red, yellow and green diodes. The compact system is ideal for many applications, including promotional, display and corporate projections. Because the Emerald or Saffron Lasers do not require 3-phase or water supplies, they can be rigged up, plugged in and running a show within 10 minutes.

If required, the Emerald and Saffron laser systems can come with The Zion 3D laser show software and PC. Zion 3D is one of the most advanced software titles available for laser display applications, and provides an easy-to-use interface e

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UK - The Cloud One Group has again supplied its recently-acquired Adamson Y-Axis Y10 line array system for the BBC Big Band, this time for a concert at the Theatre Royal, Bath. Internationally recognized for its talent and experience, the BBC Big Band is a regular for Radio 2 Monday night listeners and is heard by audiences worldwide through the BBC World Service.

Commenting on the concert, Paul Stratford, director and events manager for Cloud One, said: "The artists and management of the BBC Big Band have been repeatedly impressed with the clarity and coverage of the new system, which is a great compliment from musicians of their calibre. For the crew the Y10 is a truly versatile system, with its speed and ease of rigging when flown or the option for ground stacking."

Paul also added: "The Y10 is generating much interest amongst discerning customers, with it be

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USA - The retirement of lighting consultant Sonny Sonnenfeld, who has represented Wybron products on Broadway and in Greater New York City for many years, has signalled a change of representation in the City for Wybron. Ron Fogel & Associates (RF&A) has been appointed as Wybron's new representative in New York City, in addition to their current New Jersey/New York territory. Ron Fogel has been in the lighting business for over 20 years. In addition to representing Wybron, the company offers a full range of lighting and control products and services.

(Lee Baldock)

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UAE & Croatia - Almost the entire rock, pop and rap scene of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi took part in the Revolution Festival on 18 March in the Nashwan Hall in Dubai where over 600 music fans listened to the 14 live acts.

Responsible for the sound was NMK Electronics with tools from EVI Audio forming the centrepiece of the production: a Dynacord Cobra 2 PA, EV Sx300 monitors and a Midas Venice 320 console - a setup that impressed the event's organizer, Kiran Sequeira: "The sound of the Cobra was simply fantastic. Even at the highest volume levels there was not the slightest feedback." FOH man Milton Kyvernitis summed up: "Extremely professional! The Venice and the Cobra proved to be an amazing team."

In another corner of the world, the same PA system and a similar success at the Croatian Radio and TV Festival 9 - 20 March. Responsibility for the productio

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UK - London-based event lighting specialist Fentura has purchased a Compulite Vector Blue control system from Stagetec Distribution, as part of a continuing investment program. The console was delivered direct to production rehearsals for the L'Oreal Colour Trophy Tour, before the three-week jaunt around the UK and Ireland working for the production arm of CS Media. The show's LD and operator, Tim Matthews, commented: "The Vector performed well; its operation is very user-friendly, not only keeping the Compulite familiarity, but equally familiar to operators of other consoles due to its unique behavioural setup capability."

Fentura see this as important because most of their shows in the past have been run on Compulite Spark and SparkTOP desks, so moving to a larger console has been simplified by keeping the syntax, just making it more intuitive with a graphical user

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UK - CP Sound has installed a new sound system into top London gay destination - The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. With a reputation as one of the best disco nights on the town, the Vauxhall's original JBL sound system - also designed, engineered and installed by CP - was still in good condition. However, to keep pace with the technology of the times - the Vauxhall's owners opted for a sound upgrade.

The venue required a robust and reliable system to cope with the heavy usage and high SPLs demanded by its discerning audience, and CP Sound's Colin Pattenden again went for JBL. The new top cabinets are JBL AM 6215s from the new AE installation series - each powered by 750W of amplification. Bass speakers are the JBL dual 18" ASB 6128s, with a meaty 2000W going into each cabinet. CP also installed a new Allen & Heath Xone 464 combined DJ and PA mixer, enabling the venue to cater for

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USA - Gefen has announced a new method of high definition video extension which can transmit audio and video data up to 150ft over Cat 5 cable - the first time, according to Gefen, that Cat 5 cables can carry the large amounts of data required for HD clarity and precision. New chip technologies have created a method of packaging data that can be transmitted successfully using industry-standard Cat 5E cables, say the company.

Multiple resolutions up to 1080i and multi-channel digital audio are effective at distances up to 150ft, making the HDTV Extender over Cat 5 cable an economical alternative to fibre optics or copper cables for medium-length installations. It is highly advantageous when upgrading audio/video systems from analogue to digital because cabling does not have to be replaced.

THe HDTV Extender is available in two models that work with HD's two most popular interfa

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UK - I know, I can't believe it either - ENO has banned the use of the word 'darling' by any new member of staff when addressing their colleagues within its sacred walls. As one opera lovie said to me: "It's simply outrageous darling - I mean, every other word I say is 'darling'. You can bet they don't ban the word f***ing on stage!"

This particular edict is in response to a re-education document released by the government designed to enforce guidelines on sexual discrimination at work. The document bans 'suggestive remarks or lewd conduct that denigrates or ridicules or is intimidatory or physically abusive of an employee because of their sex which is derogatory, or insults which are gender related." It then continues to say that "the use of affectionate names such as 'darling' will also constitute sexual harassment."

Whilst I am all too aware

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Italy - Proel S.p.A. has recently reached a strategic commercial agreement with Litec Srl. In just two years, Proel's Lighting division has gained strong results in both turnover and export, in addition to its already positive performance in the domestic market. Litec is a leading trussing company, finding innovative solutions in the field of aluminium structures.

Fabrizio Sorbi, Proel chairman, said: "This agreement will allow both companies to develop several strategic activities. Litec means research and development, design and skilled mechanical planning. We will research advanced solutions for a new range of products, thus enabling us to meet the different needs of the market and to be closer to our customers in terms of pre-sales and after-sales services."

Giuliano Luvisotto, Litec general manager, commented: "We consider this agreement interesting and ext

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