Details
UK - XL Video supplied hardware and crew for the high profile DJ Shadow tour which utilised a massive projected set as the show's visual centrepiece.

The ground-breaking collection of atmospheric and provocative images are produced by a US-based team of visual artists led by Ben Coles. They are stored on DVDs and replayed live by Shadow via two Pioneer DVJX1's DVD decks, output to screen via an Edirol v 4 mixer.

XL supplied nine Barco RLM G5i projectors, complete with Barco 0.8:1 wide angle lenses to rear project onto the 24 ft wide set/projection area, which consisted of a top and a bottom screen - the top measuring 6ft high and the bottom 12 ft. The set and the screen surfaces were custom built and sourced via Litestructures.

Three projectors were positioned on the floor, an

Details
The Netherlands - Alcons Audio will be exhibiting at the ISE show (Upper Deck booth AA6) in Amsterdam with a representation of its pro-ribbon speaker systems of both the general product line-up as well as the cinema product line-up.

The CRMS, Cinema Ribbon Monitor System is a unique hybrid 3-way main- / 2-way surround-system. Each system consists of a separate mid-high frequency ("MHF") section, featuring one RBN401 pro-ribbon driver HF with non-vented 8" MF and a low frequency 15" ("LF") section, with low power-compression 4" voice-coil. The MHF section is specifically designed to act both as MHF section for the main/front system, as well as full-range surround system. This unique design results in a very uniform sound stage throughout the entire listening area.

The LR14 ultra-compact line-array system will also receive a new sibling: The LR

Details
USA - Mackie have announced the debut of the newest member of the SRM family, the SRM150, following the success of the SRM450 and SRM350 Active PA speakers. The Mackie SRM150 Compact Active PA System delivers superior sound quality in an ultra-compact package, making it a versatile and expandable solution for a variety of sound reinforcement needs, says the company. And with 150 watts of ultra-efficient Class D amplification and the 5.25" EAW-designed, full-range neodymium driver, the SRM150 delivers high sound pressure levels (SPL).

"The SRM150 integrates the proven technology from the SRM series - along with an easy-to-use onboard mixer - in a compact package," said Mackie Brand group vice president John Boudreau. "It makes the SRM150 the perfect choice for a wide range of applications such as boardroom and classroom A/V, and live music performance in venue

featured content

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

Details
UK - Vertigo Rigging played a major role in bringing together the biggest double change in the 53-year history of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. The December 10 broadcast was the first to open its doors to the public - and the first to be televised from outside London. 3,000 people snapped up the first ever public tickets to the event within minutes of the announcement that this year's show would be staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham.

With a completely new format and arena-style seating, the event was designed by Imagination with lighting designer Gurdip Mahal for BBC Television. The BBC's production managers, Karen Dorling, Jon Sweeney and John King, along with Imagination production manager Lee Wateridge, called in Vertigo Rigging to design and rig the enormous lighting grid required to cover both stage and audience.

Vertigo pro

Details
UK - 5 Star Cases has supplied leading professional lighting company Ianiro with a selection of flight cases to house their tungsten open-faced lighting fixtures, designed specifically for location video shoots.

The Italian company has its UK base in Redditch, and was established in the 1950s. it manufactures its own classic Ianiro product line as well as distributing leading lighting brands primarily in the film, video, TV and photographic markets. They were looking to reduce the lead-time and shipping costs involved in sourcing certain flightcases from Italy, and so initially asked 5 Star to produce three different designs - all in their traditional Ianiro red colour.

5 Star's Dave Harris recommended that their 'Light Industrial' specification would suit the application, made to house different combinations of the tungsten lights. Ianiro's Nick Allen-Mills says: "We're

Details
China - An Allen & Heath 48-channel ML5000 live sound VCA console was used for the world premiere of Chinese director Zhang Yimou's epic 'Curse of the Golden Flower', held at the Beijing Film Production Factory in December 2006. This latest cinematic release from the acclaimed director - whose previous films include 'Hero' and 'House of Flying Daggers' - was launched at a spectacular US$6 million gala event, staged in an enlarged conversion of the film's royal palace set.

The ML5000 managed sound for the evening's series of events hosted by China's popular stand-up comedian, Wu Tsung Hsien, and He Jiong, a well-known TV anchorman. Over a thousand VIP guests were treated to a dramatic dance performance, and one of the film's stars, Jay Chow, performed a song from the movie. The console also provided broadcastfeeds for two national TV stations, and managed the director's introduct

Details
Germany - Visitors to the forthcoming Prolight + Sound exhibition in Frankfurt will have the first opportunity to see two new products that will be launched there by Formula Sound. The new ZMR-80 modular zoner mixer and the FSM8 Plus 8-channel mixer extend the growing list of successful Formula Sound products and both add exciting new features to previous product designs that have already been well-proven in applications right around the world.

The new ZMR-80 modular zoner mixer has been designed for those applications where accurate and reliable control of audio sources being fed to different zones is needed. Suitable for use in theme parks, public buildings, hotels and entertainment venues the ZMR-80 features a modular construction format that enables it to be configured to suit many different types of requirement.

The ZMR-80's 19" 4RU chassis can house up to 11 differe

Details
UAE - Clear-Com, a Vitec Group brand, and the global leader of trusted intercom solutions, will be showcasing a selection of their product range at CABSAT, to be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, in March.

At CABSAT, Clear-Com will preview Easi-Pico, the new baby Eclipse-Pico digital matrix package that replaces Easi-Com II. Easi-Pico is a pre-configured entry-level matrix designed to ease installation. The package runs without additional configuration software, so that Easi-Pico is a true plug and play digital matrix intercom package.

The Easi-PiCo package includes a 16-port Eclipse Pico matrix, 1RU interface frame and power supply with external interface cards and a choice of control panels and beltpacks. It is a high-value, cost-effective approach to purchasing a digital matrix system without significant upfront investment, says the company.

Details
USA - American illusionist and stunt performer David Blaine's latest feat had him suspended 50ft in the air over a parking lot near Times Square in Manhattan while strapped by shackles inside a giant gyroscope. His goal was to escape from his shackles after spinning for 16 hours. The stunt began Tuesday 21 November 2006.

Scott Wolfeil of the Lighting Design Group in New York City was tasked with "popping him out of his surroundings" as he dangled high overhead. He comments: "The client in our first meeting actually said, 'We envision Mr. Blaine being hit with four really big lights.' My concern was that he stand out - not only at night but in broad daylight - in the middle of one of the busiest areas in the world."

Wolfeil took his client literally and used four high-powered BigLite 4.5 units to highlight the performer. The 4500 W BigLite 4.5 offers real-ti

Details
UK - The latest in a long line of high-profile film premiere events to use PSL video technology is Eragon. The epic fantasy-adventure movie staged its world premiere at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, an event designed and produced by Lucy Smail of West Design & Production, who also created the spectacular after-show party that followed.

PSL was commissioned by West Design to provide a four-metre wide screen on the front of the cinema to show extracts from the movie, as well as an unusual triangular structure featuring three five-metre screens in the Square itself. These showed content specially created by Digital Insanity, in collaboration with Fox and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).

The unique collaboration between PSL and the team from ILM was also in evidence at the lavish after-show for Eragon, where 1,500 guests watched fire-breathing dragons flying around t

Details
UK - HSL will be co-ordinating and supplying lighting for the 2007 Total Production Awards, to be staged at the Novotel West London in Hammersmith on 5 February. It's the second year HSL has taken on this project.

The lighting design in the main room is based around Martin Professional moving lights which have been donated to the event. This will include 30 TW1s, 12 MAC 700s, 10 Entour Washes and 10 Entour Spots. Lighting will be operated by Neil Vann using a Jands Vista console, supplied by AC Lighting.

Downstairs in the party room and main aftershow bar, HSL's design will utilise nearly 100 James Thomas PixelArc LED battens and 12 Robe DigitalSpot 5000 moving head projectors. These are to be operated by Nathan Wan using an Avolites Diamond 4.

The lighting technology takes a historical journey in keeping with the general theming of the Awards, from monochrome in the

Details
USA - Listen Technologies Corporation has announced the appointment of Connect West Marketing as the company's representative firm for western Canada.

Mike Upright is the principal for Connect West Marketing and brings a wealth of sales and systems integration experience to the partnership. Commenting on the partnership, Upright says: "I am pleased to be adding Listen to our line card. Listen's products are a high quality balance to our other lines such as Tannoy, Biamp and Cloud."

"We are excited to have Connect West Marketing join the Listen team," said Cory Schaeffer, vice president of sales and marketing at Listen. "Mike's experience in system integration will be a great asset to Listen and the dealers/consultants in the western Canada region."

(Chris Henry)

Details
UK - One of the latest shows to transfer successfully from Broadway to the West End is the musical Wicked, which opened at The Apollo Victoria in September 2006. In December, the show simultaneously broke the all-time records for a single week's gross box office, both in London and on Broadway, taking £873,020 and $1.8 million respectively for the last week of the year, plus reporting 95% capacity audiences in London since opening.

Detailing the untold story of the witches of Oz, Wicked is directed by Joe Mantello, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Sound design is by Tony Meola, with equipment supplied by London's Autograph Sound Recording and including an 84-slot Cadac J-Type live sound production console.

Head operator Richard George has been working on the show since the opening, joining the team after working with Tony Meola and associate sound

Details
USA - Gear-Source Inc has announced some changes to its organisation, intended to "better service the expanding sales and market segments the company now services". With immediate effect, Henry Kones will take on the expanded title of VP of sales and special accounts. This promotion comes on the heels of Kones' first anniversary with the company.

Company president Marcel Fairbairn says: "This is really a natural progression for us. Henry pretty much came in and took over anyway, so we're only making it official." Kones has been closely involved in the company's expansion into video, and will also head up the company's growing Audio category. "Our expansion into these new markets, and our very tight relationships with our largest vendors makes this a very important move for us. The new structure allows me to focus more on the big picture growth of our ent

Details
USA - Tapco has announced brand group vice president John Boudreau is now heading up the development and direction of Tapco products. With Boudreau at the helm, Tapco is brought under the same leadership that drives the Mackie brand, better aligning Loud's development and engineering resources with Tapco products.

"I'm really excited to work on the Tapco brand and to have the opportunity to reach young artists and music enthusiasts of all kinds," said Boudreau. "With Loud resources behind Tapco, we are able to offer entry-level audio products of unparalleled quality. We have great things in store for 2007, too, including three new products at NAMM which demonstrate Tapco's commitment to delivering complete line sound and project studio solutions at exceptional value to our customers."

New in 2007 for Tapco are two sound reinforcement products - the Thump TH

Details
USA - There's a cool new wave sweeping the hippest clubs, bars and nightspots. The Wave from American DJ is a high-output 800-watt mood effect that sends out 60 unique 'S-shaped' beams in vibrant blue and aqua tones.

The wavy beams, combined with the shades of blue, make the Wave a unique effect. When used at slow speeds, it will create a serene mood with water-like imagery. Then, simply increase its speed at the flick of a switch, and the mood instantly changes from tranquil ambiance to a high-energy party atmosphere.

To give users this easy versatility, the Wave comes with built-in programs at both slow and fast speeds. The programs make it simple to run the Wave in plug-and-play Sound Active mode.

The Wave also has two DMX-512 channels for use with a programmable DMX controller. For larger venues, a series of Waves can be daisy-chained by XLR cables in Master-Slave mode.<

Details
UK / Europe - Lighting designer Ivan Morandi produced a highly inventive, fully integrated lighting and visual show for Placebo's recent UK and European arena tour, with video equipment and crew supplied by XL Video UK.

Morandi produced all the pre-recorded video content himself, which was stored on two Catalyst v 4 digital media servers. He also wove feeds from 16 cameras into the mix - a mixture of Toshiba mini cams and Panasonic DV cam units with remote pan and tilt heads. The two types of video sources and lighting were meshed together into a seamless collage of images.

XL Video's Des Fallon project managed the tour and says: "It's always good working with someone as creative as Ivan. He puts a lot of intelligence and thought into his work - and the results speak for themselves."

The video system was being looked after on the road by chief engineer Alastair Mac

Details
Canada / Russia - Moscow-based ISPA recently took on Adamson distribution for Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The company employs 200 people locally, and around 500 across Russia. The company was established 17 years ago and has grown to have four main offices, each of which has three subdivisions named Mediaworks, ISPA Sat, and ISPA Engineering. Together they handle multiple aspects of professional sound business, including sound reinforcement and installations, public address, recording, radio broadcast and musical instruments sales, just to mention a few areas. Other pro audio brands represented include T.C.Electronics and Sennheiser DBX.

Key personnel include Elena Porojnikova - head of the commercial department, Vadim Nerokhov - head of engineering and audio development for installations, and Yuri Cheshev - Adamson brand manager. Recently they hosted a three-day training semin

Details
UK - The British Airways London Eye - named the 'World's Leading Attraction' this year by the World Travel Awards - is the latest high-profile destinations to undergo a complete lighting overhaul with Color Kinetics' LED lighting technology.

"The London Eye has become a 21st Century symbol for Britain, and it's a thrill to see this long-planned project come to realization. We've achieved an ambitious goal in bringing dynamic, visually appealing colour to the structure while at the same time eliminating the maintenance costs and requirements of the previous fluorescent system. We're extremely pleased with the results, and believe Londoners and visitors alike will agree," said Kevin Dyer, head of technical operations for the British Airways London Eye.

Color Kinetics was approached to replace this system with an LED-based alternative. Approximately 640 ColorCast 14 uni

Details
UK - Exhibition Specialists Silver Knight worked with luxury boat maker Sealine to produce a stunning, technology-led exhibition stand at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show 2007. The 1400sq.m space was designed by Silver Knight to not only display several ranges of boats, but incorporate VIP areas, an under-floor conference room, catering, office and storage facilities. The stand also provided the international launch platform for Sealine's newest boat, the SC38, to the international press attending the show.

It incorporated 12 boats, creatively lit to ensure they were the star of the stand with a fully integrated AV solution to ensure the lifestyle messages and brand were communicated effectively to the visitors at the exhibition. The central area was dominated by a 'lighthouse', which incorporated four 1x4 portrait Infinite plasma walls sourced from PSCo, to create strips of

Details
UK - A.C. Lighting has been appointed as the exclusive UK dealer for the K5600 discharge lighting range. K5600 was formed in 1992, developing and producing small, portable HMI lighting kits for the film and TV industry. The company has been a constant innovator, launching a range of extremely versatile fixtures including the Joker-Bug, a single light source featuring a 360° beam which can be used with a wide variety of accessories, and the Black Jack 400 with a unique spot and flood focussing system.

A.C. is stocking the full range of K5600 fixtures, which includes the Joker-Bug 200/400/800 kits and associated accessories such as the Softubes, Black Jack 400 and innovative new Alpha 4K and 18K Fresnels. The new Alpha 4k is the first 4kW HMI to give versatility to an "open-eye" Fresnel-type fixture. The compact and lightweight unit features interchangeable Fresnel l

Page 2024 of 3465

Latest Issue. . .