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Switzerland - Swiss acoustic design company Studio Equipment, run by industry veteran Terry Nelson, has been using its extensive Klark Teknik inventory on a number of recent high-profile projects. Promotion for Robbie Williams' new album Intensive Care kicked off with a live cinecast from Berlin. The event was played in over 23 cinemas and venues across Europe, the largest venue being the 4,000-capacity Palladium in Cologne, a converted cable factory which has been converted to a cultural centre.

Studio Equipment was mandated by Shooting Partners UK, who handled the technical organisation of the transmission, to supervise the sound for the Palladium event. Left-Centre-Right signals were created via a TriField decoder from the stereo mix coming from Berlin, then the Left-Cen

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UK - DiGiCo/Soundtracs Limited has won a Queen's Awards for Enterprise for innovation in the design of their D5 Live series of digital mixing consoles. Among the UK's most prestigious awards for business performance, the Queen's Awards recognise outstanding achievement by UK companies in trade, innovation and sustainable development.

The Grant of Appointment and Award was presented to DiGiCo's managing director Bob Doyle at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The award recognizes DiGiCo's commitment to extensive research into the requirements of live audio engineers, culminating in the ground-breaking mixing console design that is now synonymous with the DiGiCo name.

Amongst the key features that clinched the judges' decision were the intuitive user interface, small size and light weight, an almost halving of power consumption compared to its analogue counterparts, as wel

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Korea - Sound Projects reports that its Korean distributor Sound Solution has gained a strong position in the country's PA market by installing its sound systems in several large theatres and churches and by delivering systems for important events.

For the Performing Art Center of Hanbad National University, Sound Solution installed a fixed installation in the Harmony Hall. This 909-seat auditorium can stage performances of virtually any size, including grand opera: the stage can accommodate 200 performers at once. The university decided to install a powered sound system for consistency and reliability, and Sound Projects system was selected by the client "because it combined smooth music reproduction as well as very clear voice production from one and the same system without the need of any intervening equalisation," say Sound Solutions.

The installation consists of

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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 - Projecta's SlimScreens are high quality projection screens which rollout using a spring mechanism, incorporated in a compact case. The latest addition to this successful range is the SlimScreen XL, measuring 244cm across, which accommodates the wide range of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 sources used in today's professional presentations, say the company.

The SlimScreen XL features integrated mounting brackets, and is ideal for any location where presentations are held on a regular basis, but where a permanent screen is not required or desirable, such as boardrooms or classrooms, say Projecta.

An extra thick metal roller prevents sagging screen fabric and a 5 cm black border all round increases perceived contrast of the projected image. The SlimScreen XL is available in flame retardant Matte White screen fabric.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - 5 Star Cases has supplied Leicestershire-based digital signage and display specialist HoloVis International with a bespoke flightcase to transport its new Media-Wall exhibition display system. The system comprises of either the HoloVis 84" or 100" specialist daylight viewable optical projection screens - complete with a bright yellow 5 Star flightcase.

5 Star designed and manufactured the Tour Grade, large-format case which includes removable doors and eight heavy duty castors fitted to an 18mm plinth for maximum manoeuvrability. Protection for the equipment is provided by a fully lined and fitted polyethylene foamed interior, which fits snugly around the screen.

The Media Wall has been designed to be quickly assembled across the corners of exhibition booths, instantly producing a very large screen surface area for displaying any type of media - TV, Video, DVD,

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UK - Allen & Heath has upgraded the WZ20S - the stereo model - in its compact best-selling MixWizard range to WZ³ status, joining the WZ³16:2, WZ³12:2 and WZ³14:4:2.

The new WZ³20S benefits from several design improvements, including a new mic preamp, advanced grounding scheme, more responsive 4-band EQ, and the addition of a dedicated mono output fader for use as a mono sum of LR, or as the aux6 master - ideal for aux-fed subs and dedicated Centre mixes. The dual stereo channels now have a sub-panel switch, which allows the TRS 'A' inputs to route direct to the LR buss, plus, the 'B' inputs have been upgraded to XLR.

Designed for mixing multiple stereo sources, the WZ³20S retains 4 mono mic/line channels, 8 dual stereo input channels and 2 stereo return inputs - providing a total of 44 connections and 22 sources to the mix - which makes the mixer ideal for applications

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USA - The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is currently hosting SAFE: Design Takes On Risk, an exhibition comprising of contemporary design objects and prototypes of safety, with a Mojo Barrier being incorporated into the exhibition.

The US exhibition currently underway, started on 16 October and runs until 2 January, incorporates objects addressing human fears and worries, from the most exceptional to the most mundane. Mojo Barriers was identified by the exhibition's organizers as an object of safety, through their use at events across the world, displaying the barrier with details of its creation and use.

Patrick Jordan of Mojo Barriers commented: "It was a surprise to be asked to provide a barrier for an exhibition, and for it to be featured in the display rather than as a guard for it! It is a compliment that other people have identified our barriers as

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UK - The UK leg of the White Stripes tour rolled out across the country in November, with the SSE Audio Group providing both FOH engineer Matthew Kettle and monitor engineer Neil Heal with their desk of choice - the Midas XL4 - as it has done for all European shows this year.

The live show is a theatrical blend of vintage equipment and instruments such as marimbas, timpani, push-button bells, mandolin, grand piano, various keyboards and guitar rig which Jack moves between during his performance, while Meg works her way around the drum kit. In such a setting the analogue aesthetic of the XL4 is entirely suited to both the FOH and the onstage mix. Not only does the band not stick to a set list, they can play the same song on a different instrument on any given night.

"I keep a really functional mix, which is why I still use an analogue desk," says Kettle. "It also

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USA - Color Kinetics has announced some changes to its board of directors. William O'Brien, executive chairman of Enterasys Networks, has been elected to the company's board and audit committee, while director Elisabeth Allison has been named 'lead independent director'. At the same time, CK has announced that company co-founder George Mueller will step down as chairman, but remain a member of the company's board, with effect from 1 January 2007.

Mueller co-founded Color Kinetics in 1997 and served as chairman and CEO for eight years. He passed the CEO role to Bill Sims, now president and CEO, in 2005. Mueller comments: "I will remain active as chairman throughout 2006, and as a director thereafter. I am confident that the company's growth and future direction lie in exceptionally qualified hands. My role as an industry evangelist will continue, as LED technology progresses

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USA - ESTA (North America's Entertainment Services and Technology Association) says its working group meeting in Orlando during the week of the LDI trade show, approved the initiation of six standards projects. ANSI requires that the initiation of projects be announced far and wide to affected parties so that people can be aware of the projects and can participate if they wish or can argue against the projects being undertaken if they are not needed or conflict with existing standards.

People interested in working on a project (besides simply commenting during public review, which is also helpful, say ESTA) need to join the working group for the project. Information about joining working groups and about the need for voting members in under-represented interest categories in the groups is available at he

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UK - Ridgeway Electronics Manufacturing Ltd has acquired the whole of the issued share capital of Andolite Limited, the UK manufacturer of standard and custom products for the installation of lighting and sound systems in entertainment venues.

Alan Good, an engineer at Ridgeway Electronics, will be the managing director of Andolite. His intention is to continue the emphasis on customer service, product quality and on-time delivery. Tony Swayne will stay on for the time being to ensure a smooth transition, say the company.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Audio Design Services has agreed to contribute a nominal sum for all fixed installations of its Induction Loop and Infrared systems towards the cost of the training and support of a 'Hearing Dog' - a dog trained to provide help for profoundly deaf people - currently around £5,000.

David Hopkins OBE, chairman of Audio Design Services, said that he had been so impressed by a demonstration of a 'Hearing Dog' at his local Rotary Club that the idea of supporting the charity through his company's electronic systems for deaf people was born. Since the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act had compelled companies and authorities to provide such aids there had been a general shift from voluntary support to more of a 'grudge' purchase. It seemed sensible to bring the plight of deaf people to the public's attention and this was one way that Audio Design could help, says Hopkins.

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Italy - By Christmas, the old town centre of Turin, Italy, will have a new illumination system for the Winter Olympics, which GE say will make it possible to save over 235,000kW/h of energy a year. The operation, carried out in a collaboration between General Electric and Aem Torino, will concern 1,400 lights in Piazza Castello, where the medals ceremonies will take place - Piazzetta Reale, Piazza San Carlo, Piazza Carlo Felice, Via Roma and Via Po.

General Electric will supply Aem Torino, which has managed the city's public lighting system since 1986, with 1,100 light bulbs of between 100 and 250W free of charge - CMH Constant colour and ceramic burner, currently considered the best technological solutions on the market, according to GE. It will also provide 300 'electronic reactors' that will make it possible to reduce energy consumption in a major way. "The collaboration

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USA - At this year's LDI Show, Tomcat offered attendees the chance to register to win one of two scholarships: the winner could choose to attend the 2006 Hoist and Rigging Workshop or the Advanced Truss and Motor Workshop. Over 300 people entered the contest - and the lucky winners are: Randall Flaws of Windy City Sound and Lighting and Andrew Cissna of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Andrew was the first name selected and upon being notified, he said that he is "very excited" to be given the opportunity to attend. He's a senior working to complete his BFA in Lighting at NCSA. The training he'll get at Tomcat's workshop will be a great compliment to the education he's receiving at the world renowned school.

Randall Flaws is the President of Windy City Sound and Lighting in Burr Ridge, Illinois. He and his brother John founded the company in 1980 which has producti

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The Netherlands / USA - The CyberHoist/InMotion 3D motion control system made a memorable entry to the North American market at the ETS-LDI show in Orlando recently, with two LDI Awards, headed by the prestigious Rigging Product of the Year Award.

CyberHoist / InMotion 3D was awarded Rigging Product of the Year, while the live demonstration earned system developer XLNT the Best Creative Use of Light Award for its booth, the work of lighting designer Michel Suk and motion control programmer Eric Berends. Both accolades follow the system's PLASA Award for Innovation at its European launch in London last year.

"2006 will be a fantastic year for CyberHoist in North America," says XLNT Advanced Technologies' executive sales manager Marc van der Wel, after the Awards and savouring the enthusiastic attendees' response. "The market is ready for a new and truly accessibl

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Italy - The organizers of SIB, Italy's bi-ennial exhibition for show and event entertainment technology (Rimini Fiera, 11-14 March 2006), have announced new features for its 'SIB Teatro' section, which specializes in technology for theatres, television studios and film sets.

The 'SIB Opera House' will be a 2,000sq.m set put together by by Peroni, L'Opera and Musical!, with scenery by major Italian and European opera theatres and featuring musicals performed live - including pieces from Grease, Studio 54, Moulin Rouge, Charlie's Angels and Mambo Kings. In addition, the event will also feature a delegation of the Austrian theatrical association, OETHG, including the technical directors of Vienna Opera and Innsbruck and Linz theatres.

SIB Opera House will include painted scenery, rear-lit and reflecting backdrops, screens for stage effects and devices for moving sce

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China - Lighthouse Technologies' support of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was reinforced this week with the provision of a turnkey LED video solution for a spectacular gala ceremony held to mark the 1000-day countdown to the opening of the 2008 games in the Chinese capital.

The ceremony, which included the unveiling of the official Beijing Olympic Mascots by Chinese leader Jia Qinglin, was delivered to an audience of over 4,000 spectators via a 16 metre wide x 5.28m high Lighthouse Technologies' screen that took centre stage at the Beijing Worker's Stadium.

Using 275 state-of-the-art Lighthouse R6 panels, laser beam silhouettes of the 2008 Olympic Mascots, including Baibei the Fish, Jingjing the Panda, Huanhuan the Olympic Flame, Yingying the Tibetan Antelope and Nini the Swallow, were projected on the giant LED video screen.

The images were set amidst a running commentary,

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France - As of 15 September 2005, Martin Professional France has been appointed distributor of the entire range of Alu Soudure Diffusion's (A.S.D.) lifting support and metal frame products. Lifting supports and frame products distributed by Martin Professional France are now under the A.S.D. brand and are stocked at the Martin France facility.

The announcement says that the trade agreement will maximize the skills and competencies of both companies: Martin Professional France will make the most of its wide experience in the distribution of frames in order to strongly develop the A.S.D. brand. A.S.D. will now concentrate its resources on manufacturing, as well as on research and development of new products.

Thierry Chenot, A.S.D's sales director, stated: "This agreement is a real opportunity for our companies. A.S.D. will now be able to devote itself fully to the developme

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USA - High End Systems and ESP Vision are joining forces to host two Open House events in December to demonstrate new and debuting products in an intimate atmosphere. As an added bonus, HES says it is is offering free ESP Vision visualization software with all new Wholehog 3 console purchases made between now and 31 December 2005.

The first Open House is Dec. 7-8, from 11am-6pm at the HES Los Angeles office at 8200 Haskell Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91406, and the second event takes place at ESP Vision's studio on Dec. 15 (1-6pm) and Dec. 16 (11 am-4pm) at 365 Pilot Rd., Suite C, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Attendees will be able to see High End Systems' Studio Command, Catalyst v4, DL2, DL1 and Hog iPC. ESP Vision will show its lighting simulation through direct integration with the Wholehog 3 line of products as well as real-time integration to Catalyst. ESP Vision provides real-time lig

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UK - In October 2005, the Theatre Royal Bath opened the 'egg' - an innovative and unique theatre facility for children, young people and their families that has at its heart a 120-seat egg-shaped auditorium. The opening night was packed with local dignitaries. Supporters of the egg also include James Dyson, Midge Ure, Peter Gabriel and Bel Mooney.

Martin Professional has contributed to the worthy cause by supplying the latest fixtures free of charge, including MAC250s and MAC300s, DMX cabliing and a controller, while Stage Electrics will be supplying full technical support.

David Caulfield, managing director of Martin Professional attended the opening night. David commented: "Martin's are delighted to be linked with the egg. We provide equipment for some of the biggest theatres and concert venues in Europe but when we heard about the egg we wanted to give young people the

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UK - The UK's National Theatre is using the new IES Matrix II dimming system from ETC for its nationwide tour of Alan Bennett's The History Boys, prior to the play's planned world-wide showing. The order was placed by Michael Atkinson, the National Theatre's senior project manager, ahead of the official launch at London's PLASA Show in September.

Michael Atkinson had already planned a new touring dimmer system for the forthcoming tour of the National Theatre's production of The History Boys with Matrix being one option, as it is at the core of the dimming installations in both the National's Cottesloe and Lyttelton theatres. Atkinson's response to a preview of the latest Matrix II version - scheduled to enter full production in 2006 - was an immediate order, providing that the dimmers could be manufactured and delivered in time for the tour at the beginning of Octo

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