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UK - Hall Stage launched their all new website at PLASA this week, capturing the complete product catalogue, featuring over 800 pages, all with images, technical detail and related downloads.

Hall Stage have been working closely with designers Oak Creative Partners over the past year to develop this comprehensive web resource, with an extensive "Support" library of over 150 downloads, ranging from data sheets for standard components to details on rigging procedures & "How to...." guides.

The site includes some illustrative Case Studies on some recent projects, and a sample of the companies 100 year History.

Hall Staff heaped praise on the team at Oak Creative, who have worked tirelessly on this exciting project. "Oaks' strong conceptual designs and tec

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UK - 5 Star Cases continues its busy summer with recent supplies to Visions OB and the London International Faith Centre. Both organisations have been supplied with a selection of utility cases.

The Tour Grade units purchased by Vision OB feature six drawers of various depths, which were mounted on ball-race slides, with heavy-duty aluminium rails for additional durability. The cases went into immediate use as general-purpose utility and tool cases. "The Tour Grade rating ensures they will last for many years service and withstand the rigors of the road and constant travelling," explains 5 Star's Dave Harris.

The drawered cases are particularly popular for utility or accessory use, as clients can specify the exact layout required. "We are finding that more and more touring companies are using these drawered utility cases by replacing worn out and un-managable ty

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UK - As the originator of transparent imagery in LED lighting and effects, G-LEC remained one step ahead at this year's PLASA show, introducing its new fibre optic based data transfer technology, 100 times faster than existing copper wire cabling.

This new technology, plus upgraded software, has been integrated into the company's PhantomFrame system, the new system being called G-LEC Phantom II.

The technology gives such fine control over the graphics that images are rendered pixel-by-pixel, enabling curves to appear as true curves, instead of being pixellated. For most occasions such accuracy is not necessary, but it is vital for many corporate identities. Graphics such as circular logos - VW, BMW - are represented with crystal clear precision.

The high speed data transfer technology also opens up the way to build much larger systems and special constructions.

Flexibility

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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 - tsg has recently completed the installation of a promedia hard disk player and audio system at the new Sam & Maxies restaurant in the Trafford Centre, Manchester. This Sam & Maxies, which is part of La Tasca Group Plc, is the second outlet to be opened during 2006 and is the third brand within the Group, which already operates La Vina and La Tasca.

Essentially a bar, grill and smokehouse, Sam & Maxies offers a subtle, more mature offer of 'Americana' but is not overly themed. Targeted at families, especially those with children of a school age, Sam & Maxies is an elevated offer of the typical American restaurants found within the UK today, with the children's menu being a scaled down version of the adult menu. Music is an integral part in establishing an appropriate dining experience and James Horler, chief executive of La Tasca Group, turned to tsg and its candyrock music

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UK - Denon DJ have announced the launch of a professional multimedia player and controller (the DN-HD2500), which provides working DJs with a complete system solution that addresses virtually all their needs.

The rugged and portable DN-HD2500 is designed for everything from small parties to weddings, club installations, outdoor events or anywhere that professional-quality, reliable operation is required. It joins Denon DJ's full line of high-performance products for working DJs.

Denon DJ brand manager, Silvio Zeppieri, says: "DJ equipment has progressed over the past few years, with DJs moving from vinyl to compact disc to laptop computers to a combination of all three technologies. Our DN-HD2500 represents the next step in this product evolution, offering a total all-in-one solution that addresses and actually anticipates the many different needs of working DJs. With bui

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UK - MGC Lamps Ltd, one of the largest global independent specialist lamp distributors, has announced the appointment as David Jackson to export sales manager. Jackson joined the company in 2004 as area manager of export sales for the Far East and Australasia, recently expanding this area to include Middle East. With a wealth of knowledge from his time at Martin Professional and Celestion, he will now manage the continued growth of the company's export division.

MGC has also welcomed Justin Althorpe to its UK sales team. Althorpe will help promote MGC's new entertainment products including Tryka's range of LED lighting solutions.

(Lee Baldock)

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Sweden - ETC has recently completed the refitting of the Malmö Opera and Music Theatre in Sweden with a new IES SineWave dimming system, a Unison lighting control system for worklights and a UDP network with DimSTAT reporting software, plus DMX distribution.

Built in 1944, the renewed theatre opened in February with a production of Verdi's A Masked Ball, complete with 21st century lighting technology illuminating the stage's original 1940s furniture. Since Malmö is only a 20-minute drive from Copenhagen via the new Öresund Bridge, ETC's Danish distributor, BICO, handled the installation, commissioning, training and project management together with ETC regional manager Tim Stokholm and field project manager Jeremy Roberts.

ETC has installed five IES Matrix Mk II dimmer racks for the main stage, four racks for the smaller Intim stage and one rack for the workshop stage

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USA - Imagination (USA) Inc worked in cooperation with the Ford Lincoln and Mercury brands of Ford Motor Company to produce the 2007 New Model Introduction Meeting in Las Vegas recently. An event spanning nearly two weeks and hosting several thousand people, the meeting represents Imagination's latest effort in strategic communications, and involves all facets of Imagination's services, including insight, strategy, design and production. This year's effort marks the first occasion on which Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers have been brought together on a single occasion.

Designed to provide a forum for those issues affecting the automotive retail business, the 2007 New Model Introduction meeting gathers Ford Lincoln and Mercury executives with the nationwide network of independent franchise dealers. Through a series of highly engaging business meetings, dealers have the opportuni

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Mexico - The D.A.S. Aero Line Array Systems Training programme held its first seminar at the Crown Plaza Hotel Mexico City recently. The main speakers were Alejandro Valles, from Mexican firm Top Music, D.A.S. distributor in Mexico, Ashok Maharaj the independent professional audio consultant for Venezuela, and Javier Navarro, D.A.S. Audio sound engineer.

Over ninety Latin American Aero systems owners attended the event which focused more on the theory behind line arrays rather than on the practical side. The opening talk was by Jack Palacio, D.A.S. Audio export director; Able Villanueva's talk was concerned with the line array theory; Javier Navarro focused on the technical settings of Aero systems and the handling parameters of digital processors; Alejandro Valles commented on the electric and electronic aspects in the context of equipment interconnections. Ashok Maharaj expose

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UK - David Stewart has taken over as business development manager of DiFuzion, the lighting division of Fuzion plc. Formerly with Spirit Design, specialising in corporate lighting design, he also spent two years in the entertainment sector with Stage Electrics as well as working with Martin Professional.

Stewart says that he jumped at the opportunity to take on the position in view of the challenge offered by the Futurelight range, which DiFuzion represents in the UK. "I am looking forward to increasing exposure for the brand in the marketplace," he said. "They have a great range of fixtures, from the 1200W scanners on down, and the fact that they also have products fo the live sector formed part of the attraction."

DiFuzion's new recruit says that his medium-term aim is to grow the lighting and control portfolio into a position where the company an offer a

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Australia - The Dixie Chicks' Accidents and Accusations tour, which will return to North America after a series of dates Down Under, features a lighting package designed by Alex Reardon and consisting of 6 BigLite 4.5's, 30 MAC 2000 Washes, and 8 Atomic Strobes fitted with Atomic Colours, along with other automated fixtures.

Commenting on the production itself, Rearden said, "All too often I hear the euphemism of 'we want to make this show all about the music' when the translation means, 'we want to make it all about the money!' However, in an absolute first, this show really is 'all about the music'. They have a stunning nine piece band whose talent is spectacular."

"This was my first outing with the BigLites," adds Rearden, "and I was very seriously impressed. At full intensity, they have the punch required, but it is the other functions that

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UK - Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical Evita has returned to the West End twenty-eight years after it first opened 28 years ago. Advances in technology down the decades see the production enjoying the latest generation of audio products, including DPA microphones which are being used across the entire cast.

"Radio microphone and miniature microphone technology in particular has had a huge impact on musical theatre," says sound designer Mick Potter, who specified the DPA mics, having used them extensively on all his sound designs since Saturday Night Fever in 1998. "The amount of frequencies now available for reliable use means miking all performers in a cast of 30 or 40 is no longer an issue. Transmitters are so small that on this production, female cast members wear them in their wigs, meaning no visible cable or transmitter packs at all. This is

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USA - For the second successive year, Digidesign supported XM Productions/Effanel in the production of the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) telecast. Once again, the XM Productions/Effanel audio team relied on the Digidesign ICON integrated console environment as the backbone of its L7 mobile recording truck to deliver music mixes for every artist who appeared in this year's broadcast, including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, The Killers and Panic! At The Disco.

John Harris,/XM Effanel Productions mixer, and Jay Vacari produced the live performance mixes for the VMAs telecast, and once again relied on their renovated L7 mobile production trailer's ICON system.

"At the VMAs, there is limited time for performing artists to rehearse on stage," explains John Harris, XM Productions/Effanel mixer. "ICON allowed us to maximise that time by recording

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UK - Knight Sound & Light have equipped a large Polish community centre in south London with a new technology infrastructure - built around 24 of Wharfedale's full-range Programme 50's.

Hamilton House in Balham - originally a gift from Lord Nelson to Lady Emma Hamilton and later owned by the Kray Twins, has operated as the White Eagle Club and hosted a wide range of Polish community activities since the 1960's.

While front-of-house operates as a bar/restaurant for the Polish community, the 400-capacity multi-function room is used for additional activities including karaoke nights, discos and live music.

The hall was in a run-down state when Magda Harvey took over the premises last year. The services of freelance consultant/DJ Robert Czekalski were enlisted and on advice from Knight Sound & Light, he opted for a Wharfedale solution. "We had experienced environmental heal

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USA - In Cleveland, Ohio, the Browns Stadium's seven year old sound system has been revamped with the assistance of Nashville-based Durrell Acoustic Solutions. Durrell, a sports stadium audio specialist whose resume includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the homes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, determined that approximately 90% of the stadium's loudspeaker drivers showed signs of damage from the elements.

They recommended a complete system overhaul, with a new audio setup based on Community Professional Loudspeakers' WET series. "We chose the Community WET series as our primary loudspeaker system based on its proven ability to stand up to the extreme weather the Browns' Stadium experiences on the shore of Lake Erie," explained John Horrell, President of Durrell. "As Durrell was asked to warranty the new speakers for seven years, the WET se

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UK - Serious Stages reports that it has completed a highly successful season supplying stages for post-race entertainment at various racecourses around the country for The Liz Hobbs Group.

At Newmarket, the Serious team designed a flat roofed stage tailored neatly to fit in between the two main grandstands. It was the first season Serious has worked at this venue and with Liz Hobbs, and the aim was to reduce the stage height from previous years, making it a more comfortable viewing angle, to maximise the available space, and to dovetail the flat roof of the temporary stage neatly in with the grandstands either side if it.

The project was managed for serious by Dragan Kuzmanov. The 40 ft wide by 48 ft deep stage and aluminium roof structure were built on 4 steel tower legs, with the roof sloping away to the rear, to ensure any water drained away safely from the performance area

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UK - Robe Show Lighting reports that it enjoyed its busiest PLASA to date - with "a fantastic show that again included another stunning party on the Sunday night, arguably the 'hottest ticket' in town".

The colourful and lively booth situated at the core of the exhibition was designed by Robe UK's Nathan Wan and featured products from across the Robe range, including the latest DigitalSpot 5000DT, StageQube 324 and the new 700 Series of fixtures.

A ring of eight DigitalSpots encircled the top deck of the stand, projecting imagery onto a cylindrical gauze running round the elevated area, which featured a bar, seating area and Robe's famous hospitality.

At the rear of the booth was a massive StageCube 324 video wall showing an array of sources stored on Robe digital media servers, which attracted much interest, as did the new products that Robe launched at the show.<

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USA - This month sees a new distribution company, CW Sales & Marketing, stepping out in the US pro audio market with brands including Audient, LA Audio and Tube Tech in its portfolio. Based east of Los Angeles and founded this year by Chris Walsh, there is confidence that following on from his success at AXI and Pro Audio Design, the new business will grow in strength.

"We set up with products that reflect our ethos," explains Walsh. "Audient for example has earned itself a reputation in the US for high quality at very reasonable prices. Although LA Audio has not yet gained much notice here in the States, I'm very optimistic about this product line."

Walsh cut his teeth in the sales and marketing role as VP sales and marketing at Martinsound and managing sales at Tannoy prior to running distribution company AXI. "I have been in the same basic position

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Hong Kong - Los Angeles-based UV/FX has recently completed the painting of what is claimed to be the "largest completely invisible scenic attraction ever produced". The Cave scene is a part of the Walking With Buddha Attraction at Hong Kong's newest Visitor destination, Ngong Ping 360.

UV/FX worked directly with Dedica Group, a California-based creative design and management consultancy, who delivered the completed project to their client, Mass Transit Railway Corporation.

The Cave scene is a massive set that literally disappears right before the audience 's eyes. The attraction represents a chapter in the life of Siddhartha, using narrative, theatrical effects and lighting. In an instant the cave magically transforms to reveal contemporary Hong Kong's Nathan Road, a blur of lights and busy people that signifies the relevance and importance of Buddhism in cont

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Switzerland - Nexo's new tangent array system, the GEO D, has been used in Switzerland for the Rock'Oz Arènes festival, the first high-profile outing for the system with mainstream international acts, and has received a universally positive reception from sound engineers, audience and local 'sound police'.

The small but influential Rock'Oz Arènes festival got a bit of a shock this year, after adding a fifth night to the front of its programme to put on Radiohead. As tickets went on sale, more than 100,000 internet applications crashed the system, such was the demand to see this band in such an intimate setting.

PA company Jaccoud is one of the first in the world to invest in the GEO D tangent array system, purchased off-plan at the ProLight+Sound expo in Frankfurt this spring. Together with Frédéric Walder of Zap Audio, distributor of Nexo product

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UK - The UK's largest and longest-running leisure trade show and convention, Leisure Industry Week (LIW) is scheduled for Birmingham's NEC, September 25-27 2007. Incorporating a range of sector specific areas from family attractions, sports, fitness and wet leisure, through to catering and the new National Licensed Business Show, LIW promises "something for everyone".

Highlights of the show include Sports Development Week with a built in sports arena. A series of sports demonstrations will take place featuring the latest techniques in training. In the wet leisure section of the show there will be a fully working swimming pool from Astral Pool UK, with a number of pool demonstrations from the ASA, STA and Olympic swimmers.

Networking events include the Leaders in Leisure VIP Dinner (by invitation only), the Attractions industry Party at Drayton Manor Park, and the FIA

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