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UK - Sennheiser and Neumann microphones were much in evidence again at the 2006 BRIT Awards, held at Earls Court, London. All presenters on the night used the SKM 5000N, which marries the outstanding RF that Sennheiser is renowned for, with all the warmth of a great Neumann capsule.

The 2006 show also saw all acts, with the exception of Coldplay, utilising the Sennheiser Evolution 300 series in-ear monitors. The Kaiser Chiefs opened the show with a full compliment of Evolution mics, before going on to collect awards in three categories - Best British Rock Act, Best British Live Act, and Best British Group.

Amongst other artists choosing Sennheiser were Jack Johnson, Gorillaz and, despite the distraction of 77 near-naked gold-painted ladies, US star Kanye West who picked up Best

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UK - The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has launched the first in a new suite of financial services designed to help member companies protect themselves against the risk of bad debts and to assist them in trading competitively in the growing global market.

The three new services - free credit checks, credit insurance facilities and a debt collection service - have been launched to minimise the risks involved in trading with particular customers and enable members to make more informed decisions.

PLASA Members can now request free credit checks on all UK companies. The service, provided by CreditSafe, allows members to request Reports on clients or business contacts. Updated on a daily basis, the Reports include financial information, key ratios, trend analysis, directors' details, payment record and a rating system classifying companies on a scale from 0 t

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UK - Two new appointments at Stagecraft will add a new dimension to the company's staging, lighting and sound expertise, say the company. Experts in pyrotechnics and special effects, David Walker and David Mockford will be using their knowledge throughout many projects and events planned for the coming year.

"Pyrotechnic and special effects have long been an expensive luxury, only suitable for larger theatres or performance groups, but over the past few years, special effects and pyrotechnic equipment has really taken a step forward in terms of ease of use and cost. David Walker and David Mockford are hugely knowledgeable on the subject and their expertise will be invaluable to our customers to ensure that performances of all sizes really go with a bang!" said MD David Goodrich.

Both David Walker and David Mockford have completed FX Training and specialise in creatin

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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 - Cambridgeshire based flightcase manufacturer 5 Star launches its new look website for 2006, including a host of additional and updated features. The re-design has been undertaken in-house by 5 Star's technical and marketing departments, underlining the company's commitment to keeping key functions and services internal.

The Home page features colourful, easy to navigate links, which are regularly updated and have been designed to guide browsers quickly to the relevant sections of the site.5 Star's continued investment and innovative qualities are highlighted, including a new 'Technology' section, added to detail 5 Star's recently installed Solid Edge software, a world renowned 3D design, assembly and visualisation tool of which 5 Star has three 'seats'. Solid Edge is now used in production as well as providing clients with accurate virtual models of the proposed case.

The

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USA - Shure Inc has appointed Christine Schyvinck as executive vice-president of global marketing and sales. In this role, she will have responsibility for the management of Shure's five business units: US, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Asia, International Americas (Canada, South and Central America) and Personal Audio.

"Chris's leadership has been integral to the steady growth and profitability of Shure for many years, "said Sandy LaMantia, president and CEO. "We are confident that her management of our marketing and sales functions will continue this success given her broad knowledge and understanding of all areas of our company worldwide."

Schyvinck replaces Michael McGinn, who has left the company. Previously, Schyvinck had been executive vice-president of Operations and had responsibility for the management of global manufacturing and quality

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Worldwide - Dave Skaff, monitor mixer on U2's current Vertigo global tour, has chosen Lab.gruppen fP Series 2400Q amplifiers for power. Skaff was having trouble with the amplifiers originally supplied for the in-ear monitors and switched to Lab.gruppen after consulting trusted associates for advice, he says: "The Lab.gruppen amplifiers came top of the list", says Skaff.

Distributed exclusively in the UK by Sennheiser, the Lab.gruppen fP 2400Qs became the amplifier of choice and are being used to power in-ear monitor mixes for U2's drum, keyboard, and cue mixes. According to Skaff, they have been working flawlessly. "They sound very open and true, with no coloration," he says. "The reason I switched from the original amps was that they did not have enough front-end headroom and tended to color the sound on high transients in the mix. The fP 2400Qs were th

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Italy - For the first time in her existence, Dutch sound system manufacturer Alcons Audio will be exhibiting at the SIB show in Rimini this year (11-14 March), mark the official launch of Alcons on the Italian market.

On the stand of Headroom from Besana, Alcons' newly appointed distributor for Italy, a selection of Alcons products will be on display, among which the LR14 ultra-compact ribbon line-array module featuring the patented RBN401 pro-ribbon driver. This line-array system is experiencing "enormous popularity", say the company, with the entry of line-array in performing arts theatres, with the musical Beauty & the Beast and Staatsoper Stuttgart being just two examples.

The system will be shown in flown and stacked configuration, with the unique bracket to have three units LR14 on stand mount, with full line-array functionality. The LR14 will be complem

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UK - The Guildford-based Academy of Contemporary Music has confirmed its appointment of cable specialist Van Damme as an official sponsor of the college. The deal will ensure that every new student will receive a selection of cables from the recently launched Van Damme Musician Series. This will be incorporated into ACM's Gig Bag, a welcome pack given to every student at the start of his or her college career.

The Academy of Contemporary Music is regarded as one of the UK's finest music education institutions. Students have access to superb music education facilities and are taught in an environment that encourages effective networking with other serious musicians. Whether they enrol on an entry level beginners course or the BA Honours degree, students benefit from the thousands of hours of high level industry experience that has enabled the ACM teaching staff to create and deli

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UK / Germany - The forthcoming NSCA and Frankfurt exhibitions will be the first chance for British manufacturer XTA to show the world its flexible new offering for speaker system control. XTA's Guy Lewis says: "With hundreds of our 4 in, 8 out processors now driving audio systems worldwide, we are completing the family, and really giving every sound company and installer a flexible choice of how they structure their drive processing and speaker systems. If a 4 in, 8 out format is not perfect for your world, we can now offer either 2 or 4 inputs, with either 4, 6 or 8 outputs - plenty to choose from."

Lewis is referring to the new DP446, DP444, DP424 and the renamed DP448. "It does not matter if it is an LCR system, a two-way monitor rack, four-way front-of-house system or four-channel EQ front-end. Anyone can fit the processing to their way of working, without com

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France / Poland - Media Business Solutions has recently been appointed as the L-Acoustics distributor for Poland. Based in Warsaw, Media Business Solutions has been operating since May 1999, and working with major recording/TV/post studios, PA companies, top artists and dealer networks as well, and also provides system design.

Media Business Solutions' president Piotr Lugowski explains: "We are very excited to be joining the L-Acoustics family. We believe that it will allow us to better fulfill our market demand and needs. Together with our other audio brands, the distribution of L-Acoustics products will provide our customers with the best of quality and flexibility for their PA rental and installation business."

Media Business Solutions took the opportunity at the Jean Michel Jarre concert on 26 August (one of the biggest events in Poland this summer, coinciding wi

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Italy / New Zealand - TAGNZ has been appointed as New Zealand distributor for FBT professional audio equipment. "After a temporary absence, we are excited to be able to offer this excellent product to the New Zealand market", said Robert Judd of TAGNZ.

FBT has built a strong reputation of professional sound reinforcement manufacturing and its high quality products meet the most demanding applications. FBT has one of the most advanced R&D departments in the industry. Products like the MaxX series, a true benchmark among the polypropylene moulded speaker models are just examples of the company's skills to invent original sound products. "Were excited to be working with TAGNZ," said Roberto Mataloni, international sales at FBT. "TAGNZ's commitment to high quality products and support matches FBT's history of excellence in speaker design."

Established

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UK / Germany - Harman Pro is showing a several new products across its various brands at this year's ProLight&Sound exhibition in Frankfurt. Products being debuted in Europe include the new JBL VP Series powered reinforcement systems, Crown Xti and new XLS power amplifiers, Lexicon MX400 and MX400XL Dual Stereo/Surround Reverb Processors, and Alpha Desktop Recording Studio. Other new products being shown include the AKG WMS40 PRO wireless microphone series, the dbx DriveRack 4800, and JBL LSR4300 Linear Spatial Reference Series studio monitors.

The new JBL VP (Venue Performance) Series is described as "a best-in-class powered loudspeaker system family", and is intended to fulfil a wide range of professional installation and portable touring applications. The series of two and three way cabinets and a sub, integrates proven Differential Drive transducers, a 'next genera

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USA - High End Systems (HES) has announced the release the Hog 3PC application as well as updated software for the Wholehog 3 lighting console. The Hog 3PC software transfers the advanced control technology of the Wholehog 3 console to personal computers as well as to the Hog iPC console. Users may download the free software and enhancement details from the Flying Pig Systems website.

The Wholehog 3 operating system is specified worldwide by leading tours, production companies, theatres and more. Hog 3PC enhances the abilities of the Wholehog 3 suite with a complete line of hardware products allowing users to create their own control solution.

Show files are completely compatible between Hog 3PC, Hog iPC and the Wholehog 3 console, thus providing off-line, backup and networking abilities between the various systems.Customers with existing USB DMX Widgets using Hog 2PC are enco

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Dubai - Visual Terrain has designed lighting for the world's largest Toyota showroom, which recently opened in the Automotive retail park area of Dubai Festival City in Dubai. Toyota marks the first opening of several showrooms designed by Visual Terrain for the multi-dealership facility. Additional showrooms currently in design include Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge, Honda, Lexus and Volvo.

Commenting on the overall design effort, Lisa Passamonte Green, principal-in-charge of the lighting design explains: "We listened carefully to the concerns of the Dubai Festival City Group and the Al-Futtaim Motor Group when developing the designs and incorporated their feedback into our design solutions. We also worked closely with the local representatives of ERCO, Element Labs and TIR Systems to provide product on a very tight time schedule. From design creation to opening day was roughly

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UK - Bradford's award winning National Museum of Photography, Film & Television (NMPFT) has recently installed a Yamaha DM1000 digital mixing console for a variety of key tasks in support of the Museum's many and varied activities.

"We use the DM1000 for production and post production work for our programme of temporary exhibitions, for exhibits in our permanent galleries and in support of the Museum's education department," says John Trenouth, the museum's senior curator of television.

"We used a Yamaha O3D mixer for many years but it finally needed replacing and Pro Audio Systems in Bradford, with which we have a long standing and close working relationship, suggested we replace it with a DM1000," continues Trenouth."The desk seemed to fit the bill perfectly and being much the same size as the O3D there was no need for extensive modifications to our

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USA - Shure will distribute the HA-8089 Helical Antenna of Orlando-based Professional Wireless Systems (PWS), effective as of January 2006. As an in ear monitor (IEM) transmitter antenna or wireless microphone receiver antenna, the Helix minimizes RF dropouts and considerably increases the range over an omnidirectional antenna. Shure now recommends the HA-8089 antenna as accessory for their UHF-R Wireless Systems.

When using other antennas, such as log periodic paddles, maximum energy transfer can only be expected if the receiver paddle is positioned vertically or horizontally, respectively, say Shure. When used as wireless microphone receiver antenna, for example, the helical antenna will transfer maximum RF energy regardless of the polarization of the transmitted wave. As the RF energy from the IEM transmitter radiates out of the helical, it is continuously spun through 360°

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France - The famous modern French variety singer Mylene Farmer has made a successful return to the stage after performing at the Paris' Bercy from January 13th through to the 29th 2006!

The equipment used for the shows was so vast and complex that no tour has been planned by way of follow up, as only the Bercy was able to welcome such an huge technical show. The sound system alone comprised an impressive L-Acoustics system consisting of 30 V-Dosc and 128 dV-Dosc cabinets, with 48 SB218 subwoofers for the combined main and central systems (the show happening on both the stage and the central pit).

The sound design was devised more than a year ago by sound engineer Stephane Plisson, and Laurent Delenclos a freelance Certified V-Dosc Engineer (CVE). Delenclos made it possible to realize Plisson's ideas and was in charge of positioning the speakers. Plisson assisted by Vladimir Co

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Canada - The newest release of Vivien virtual event designer is now easier to use, ensuring planners can create stunning 3D images of events without complex CAD training. With its streamlined user interface, more intuitive and user-friendly tools, Vivien 1.2 has already received rave reviews, says manufacturer Cast Software.

"I've been showing it to people and they were more than excited-they were positively giddy!" says John Mordal, a Vivien user who recently demonstrated the latest in Vivien at The Event for Planners and Suppliers Expo in Minnesota. "I believe that the success of this product depends on how easy it is for the lay person to get up and running quickly, and Vivien 1.2 does it," he says.

The Vivien team gave tools like the Missing Coordinate and Shaded View more user-friendly names like Height and Virtual View. "We've listened to feedbac

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USA - With sales of its award-winning P36 LED and P64 LED color par cans soaring, American DJ say it is building on the products' success by releasing white-light versions. The company has introduced the P36 LED WH and P64 LED WH, two DMX-compatible all-white LED par cans designed for applications where clear white light is desired.

The company believe the products are great for stage, club, corporate, display and architectural use, the P36 LED WH and P64 LED WH produce a true, warm white light. At the same time, they offer all the benefits of LEDs - including energy efficiency, low heat and super-long lamp life.

"Our groundbreaking color LED par cans - the P36 LED and P64 LED - received a great deal of acclaim in the industry, as well as from lighting users, for their superior technical innovation," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Comp

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USA - New Jersey lighting rental company BML, has purchased 18 Robe ColorSpot and 18 ColorWash 1200 AT fixtures for its hire stock. The units immediately went out on tour with Phil Lesh, on the GM Winter Blast in Detroit and at the Chicago Auto Show.

The decision to invest in Robe was made by BML's CEO Elliot Krowe, who says, "I'm well acquainted with Robe's excellent performance and reliability, so when it came to decide on moving lights for our production inventory, the choice was easy! We specifically like the zoom and gobo facilities and the quality optics for which the brand is renowned."

BML is active in all areas of lighting including concerts and events, film and TV productions, installations and rentals. The company was formed last August when Krowe and Elliot Todd teamed up with industry veteran Shelly Diamond - a sales executive at See Factor for 30 years

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