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UK - Formed in 1980, West Midlands band UB40's reggae style has lost none of its appeal over the years. Their extensive touring schedule continues with Who You Fighting For. This is a show that has seen a significant change in audio equipment: DiGiCo D5 Lives now sit at both front of house and monitor positions and have been warmly welcomed by crew and band alike.

SSE Hire, a company that has a long and happy association with UB40, supplies the sound system. Front-of-house engineer Tom Wiggans has been with the band for a little over two years and his first experience with the D5 was at Live 8 in Hyde Park, where they first toyed with the idea of changing console. Although the frenetic atmosphere of Live 8 wasn't the best place to assess how the D5 performed sonically, its other f

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UK - Harlequin's Reversible dance floor played a key role at British Dance Edition 2006 when nearly 500 guests from 37 countries gathered in Leeds from 9-11 February to attend the UK's prestigious dance showcase.

Supplied by British Harlequin plc for the event, Reversible provided the dance floor surface in two main venues - The Courtyard Theatre at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and at The Carriageworks.

The organisers of the event, Yorkshire Dance and the Association of National Dance Agencies, explained: "British Dance Edition 2006 featured the latest choreography from 41 different dance companies. British Dance Edition occurs every two years, taking place in 2006 in the Yorkshire region for the very first time to fantastic reviews. Over the last decade, BDE has become one of the biggest dance events in the UK, and a main focus of any dance company's tour plans. British

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Asia - Nexo has announced the formation of a new Nexo ASIA office, situated in Hong Kong and headed by new recruit Nicolas Kirsch. As the new Sales Manager Asia, Nicolas Kirsch will manage Nexo's commercial and marketing activities in the Asia region, supporting distributors in China, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea,Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

Among Kirsch's key responsibilities will be the provision of technical and expert support for systems design and custom solutions, for which he is eminently well qualified, having previously worked as an Audio-Visual consultant for Ove Arup & Partners in Hong Kong, in a technical support role for ACE Hong Kong, and as a freelance sound engineer for several rental companies in Hong Kong and France.

Nexo Asia ca be contacted at GPO Box 806, Hong Kong, SAR, China. Tel: +852 9096 3472.

(L

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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 - Adamson introduces the next generation of its proprietary venue design software, the Y-Axis Shooter 2.5.5. The easily interpreted software package is extremely precise in providing computer generated predictions of Adamson Line Arrays in customized venues. Along with the original architecture and the ability to create complex listening areas in multiple floor designs, Adamson software engineers have added useful configuration elements.

One such addition is the rigging plot window, for specific horizontal or vertical views of the load points and alternate reference locations. Originally conceived with the intention to further the schematic ability of the user to implement Adamson arrays effectively, Shooter 2.5.5 is now more versatile, offering the capability to include bothY-Axis and Spektrix subwoofer capacity in the vertical window illustration of the array, and apply it

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UK - Blackout will reveal their complete range of starcloth (coloured fibre optic, colour RGB LED, white LED and peabulb) and pipe & drape on stand G58 at this year's RSVP exhibition between 29 - 30 March, 2006 at Olympia, London.

"We literally do thousands of corporate events and parties each year and each one of them requires that special touch. The RSVP show, with over 5,000 visitors, provides the perfect platform for us to show and inspire ideas for parties and special events," comments Steve Tuck, managing director at Blackout Ltd.

Visitors and guests will be treated to a video presentation highlighting major exhibitions, parties, productions and events over the past year and will also be entertained by a surprise guest performer.

(Chris Henry)

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Germany - In its combined roles as one of the world's leading 'boutique' amplifier manufacturers and as German distributor for Nexo, Camco GmbH is anticipating more traffic than ever before on its stand at the ProLight&Sound expo in Frankfurt in March, the company reports.

Alongside its successful Vortex Series and Tecton Series of amplifiers, Camco will be showing its new DSP Module, which allows both Tecton and Vortex models to become a UCA, or Universal Controller Amp. Full parametric EQs, delays, IIR-filters, X-over and limiters are naturally selected and controlled via the multithreading Camco WinCai remote control application. The new UCA module is fully integrated with Camco's amplifiers, and data exchange is achieved via internal interfaces, say the company.

In addition to freely programmable controller software, 'parameter sets' can be downloaded into the UCA from an

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USA - Corteo is the title of a new Cirque du Soleil touring production that vividly portrays the funeral of a circus clown as a festive parade with a carnival-like atmosphere.

Processions - on stage and careening above it - are woven throughout the story, a theme that prompted placement of an elongated open stage down the middle of the oval Grand Chapiteau tent. The resulting split auditorium - with two facing audiences of about 1,000 each - dictated dual mirror-image audio systems. The task was assigned to veteran sound designer Jonathan Deans, and his response to the challenge was a technological tour-de-force comprising 38 self-powered Meyer Sound loudspeakers per side with mixing and control from a common LCS Audio CueConsole.

"I simply could not have accomplished my design for Corteo without the LCS console and the Meyer Sound loudspeakers," Deans

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UK - Telectra Ltd, manufacturer of the ABTT Award-winning ice*lighting system, is to change its name to Beadlight Ltd with effect from 1 March. The company says that the name change more accurately reflects the nature of its business, including the fact that the majority of products that the company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets utilise its proprietary intellectual property, Bead*light Technologies (Patents Pending). In particular, the Bead*light LED (Light Emitting Diode) diffusion system is used in the company's principal high-tech markets of the Event, TV and Entertainment Lighting and Commercial Airliner in-seat lighting.

The company points out that there has been no change in the company ownership, management or trading style. The address for Beadlight Ltd remains as B3 - B7 New Yatt Business Centre, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 6TJ, UK. Telephone: +44 (0) 1993

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UK - Birmingham technical services company, Presentation Service Providers (PSP), working with Ben Gallop of Brand and Deliver has just completed the provision of technical services at RBS Insurance Chief Executive Awards. The event was held at Castle Ashby in Northampton and was attended by over 300 guests.

Using PSP's range of Pixel Pars and Battens, the company provided a spectacular lighting effect over the front, back and courtyard of the historical castle venue. It took PSP's lighting director and team two days to rig and to programme the complex colour sequences. A Pearl 2004 lighting desk was used for control and Mac 250s provided moving logo's onto the building.

In total, 30 PixelLine 110ec battens, 20 Pixel Par 90s, 25 Par cans, 24 Codas and six Mac 250s were used for the event. PSP also provided sound and projection for the entire production. The Marquee, situated i

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USA - Loud Technologies Inc, owner of leading pro audio brands including EAW, Mackie, SIA and TAPCO, has announced that its common stock will begin trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market as of Wednesday 1 March, at the market open under the symbol LTEC.

"This NASDAQ Capital Market listing is an important step in our program to enhance Loud's visibility in the financial community," said chairman and CEO Jamie Engen. "As a leader in the rapidly growing professional audio industry, we believe that Loud is on the right track as we continue to implement our strategy to increase revenue, improve margins, and build value for our shareholders."

(Lee Baldock)

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Italy - Outline's products have been increasingly used at events of worldwide importance - including the Rome and London Live 8 concerts last summer. Now, the Northern Italian manufacturer's loudspeaker systems have made a considerable contribution to the sound reinforcement for the Winter Olympic Games in Turin.

Outline provided 40 Butterfly CDH 483 Hi-Pack systems flown on either side of a maxi-screen in the Piazza San Carlo, backed up by 18 floor-stacked Victor Live subwoofers. Amplification and control hardware consisted of 36 Outline T6.5 digital power amps and 2 Genius 26 processors respectively.

In the famous Piazza Castello - re-christened 'Medal Plaza' for the occasion - 18 Outline HARD 212 SP stage monitors were chosen for the large rotating stage - one of the largest ever seen - which hosted artists including Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Lou Reed, Duran Duran, J

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UK - For the second year running Stage Electrics supplied staging and lighting for the Laurence Olivier Awards, the highlight of the West End calendar, presented annually by the Society of London Theatre.

Stage Electrics provided crew together with 36 Source 4 lanterns, four MAC 250 Entours, a MAC 250+, 15 MAC 500's and 13 MAC 600's for the awards held on Sunday 26th February. Lighting design was by Matt Evered, the awards were project managed by Stage Electrics' Andrew Loveday.

Stage Electrics would like to congratulate all the Olivier winners especially Paule Constable for Best Lighting Design and Paul Arditti for Best Sound Design.

Stage Electrics have strong links to the awards and winners, especially so in the case of Guys and Dolls who were successful in securing the award for Outstanding Musical Production, Stage Electrics supply lig

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Europe - Multiple BRIT award winner James Blunt is in the middle of his latest and biggest European tour, with Skan PA Hire supplying a Midas Heritage 2000 for front of house and a Heritage 3000 for monitors.

Both engineers - Mike Hornby at front of house and Mick Brown on stage - are long time Midas users and felt that the desks were the natural choice for an organic, musical show of this nature.

"I particularly like the H3000 for the EQ and gain and it's perfect for a show like this, which is very musical with everything played live," says Brown. "We also rely heavily on the service provided by Skan - the support they give us is first class."

At front of house, Brown's comments are echoed by Hornby. "We've kept everything as simple and natural as possible," he says. "The idea is to give the whole show a kind of retro, almost seventies fee

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France - An elegant sound reinforcement solution has been delivered to the Théâtre Municipal in Coutances (TMC), Normandy, comprising Nexo's Geo S tangent-array system and CAMCO amplification.

The installation has been completed by Normandy-based audio-visual specialists A-Tech, after a lengthy selection process. After auditioning products from four different manufacturers, the Nexo Geo S system was the personal choice of the theatre's technical director. "The cabinets are so compact, and the power-to-size ratio is just excellent," explained Jean-Marie Roussel of A-Tech.

The TMC has one level of seating, with quite a marked rake. To ensure even coverage throughout the audience area, which can accommodate 800 people, A-Tech has installed left and right hangs of seven Geo S805s plus 1x Geo S830 downfill box. For subbass, there are three CD12 units on each side

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USA - Theatrical Lighting Systems (TLS) has appointed Jennifer Bell as their new sales assistant/inside sales person at the Mississippi office. Jennifer is a former theatre teacher at Starkville High School and has general office experience from her work at Picayune Junior High and with the Mississippi State University Band Department. This blend of technical theatre experience and office skills will prove useful as she assists Rusty Scafidel in the office.

In addition to hiring Bell, TLS are also expanding the Mississippi office. Still in the same location, they now have more space available to them for an additional sales person, and to stock more consumables such as gel, tape, lamps, etc.

(Chris Henry)

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UK - In late February, Community UK held an outdoor demonstration and seminar at Love Street Stadium, home of St Mirren FC in Paisley. The stadium was hired for the day to enable Community to effectively demonstrate the company's range of high power and long-throw, all-weather systems, and is part of a series of such days being held at various locations throughout the year for the benefit of installers and audio consultants.

Community UK staff were on hand, not only for presenting the product and answering questions, but also advising on system design and projects.

Commenting on the day, Stuart Cunningham, general manager of Community UK Said: "The human ear remains the most critical instrument in evaluating how a loudspeaker performs, and hearing it in an appropriate environment is essential. Half way through the event, the Scottish weather also obliged with a hail-storm

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UK - From designing and manufacturing unusual creations in drapes and starcloth for worldwide music tours, to installing complex truss structures at award ceremonies, Blackout have been working their magic all over the world for 15 years.

Established in January 1991, Blackout has come a long way since sewing the very first black drape. Today, Blackout are proud to be the largest supplier of drapes, rigging, starcloth and track to the theatre, media, event and corporate industries. Blackout have encountered every possible challenge that can occur in this fast-paced industry, and as a result this has made them stronger and more innovative.

Steve Tuck, managing director and founder of Blackout, puts the reason for their success over the past fifteen years down to the sheer dedication of the whole Blackout team: "From seamstresses to senior management, great pride is taken in

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UK - Cadac's flagship analogue console scores a full house in the Best SoundDesign category. All the nominations for the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Sound Designfeatured a Cadac J-Type Live Sound Production Console, reports Cadac Electronics Plc, demonstrating the J-Type's enduring position as the console of choice for leading sound designers around the world for major productions.

The nominees included Paul Arditti for Billy Elliot The Musical, Christopher Shutt for Coram Boy and, on Guys and Dolls, Terry Jardine and Chris Full, with Paul Arditti scooping up the Best Sound Design Award at yesterday's gala presentation.

Managing director Bob Thomas believes that more than 75% of the current Broadway and West End shows feature a Cadac analogue console, reflecting Cadac's continuing supremacy in sound quality, reliability and bullet-proof performance,

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France - Kinesys' new K2 automation control system was used to fly an impressive 16 metre high spiral staircase reveal, which was the centrepiece for Karl Lagerfeld's highly visual Ice Princesses show for Chanel during Paris Fashion Week. This was staged in the elegant, newly renovated Grand Palais, just off the Champs Elysees.

Flemish rental company EML supplied sound, lighting and rigging equipment for the event which was production managed by Alain Van Isacker. The stage was a Stageco structure and the show's technical aspects - including the staircase - was conceived by Hans Willems of Stageco. The staircase was constructed by French company Devineau, with the truss tower and all the load bearing mechanical elements supplied by Stageco

The highly versatile K2 system - which EML purchased last year and debuted on the Clouseau show in Antwerp (see the January i

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UK - The Theatrical Guild (TTG) is delighted to announce that it is exhibiting for the second year running at the forthcoming ABTT Theatre Show 14th-15th June 2006.

The Theatrical Guild is the only registered charity in the UK providing help and support to anyone who works or has worked Backstage or Front of House, be it general staff or management.

Offering an extremely valuable service, TTG gives financial aid to those who are unable to work due to illness, accidents or to those who have retired.

Karen Nichols, Chief Administrator, explained: "We found exhibiting at The ABTT Theatre Show enormously worthwhile. It gave us the opportunity to meet with theatre professionals from around the country. It was invaluable meeting face to face and being able to let them know that The Theatrical Guild exists and explain how our charity can make a dramatic difference should they

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USA - Design & Drafting, manufacturer of LD Assistant, is celebrating its 20th year as a leading developer of CAD solutions for the entertainment lighting and event planning markets. The company says it has "both survived and prospered in the past 20 years", adding: "In the theatrical and entertainment lighting design market, Design & Drafting has been able to consistently lead the field with new and innovative CAD solutions that offers more features and ease of use to its users."

Chicago Stage Equipment DBA Design & Drafting Software was established in 1986 by founder and CEO, Rufus W. Warren III, when he identified a niche in the entertainment lighting market - the need for an easy-to-use CAD solution for entertainment lighting design, presentation, installation and event planning. The company's flagship program, LD Assistant, has evolved over the years to

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