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USA - Bandit Lites is excited to be working with country music artist, Dierks Bentley, for the first time. Bentley's third studio album, Long Trip Alone, was released 17 October, 2006. Fans will have the opportunity to hear some of the new tracks, plus all the hits, on his current 'Locked and Loaded' Tour, which started on 4 October, 2006 in Auburn, Alabama and will wrap in late-April, 2007.

Currently in the Canadian installment of the tour, Lighting Designer, Chris Reade, chose to use the following equipment: Coemar Infinity XL Lights, Martin MAC 600 Washes, Martin MAC 2000 Profiles, Martin MAC 250 Profiles, Martin Atomic Strobes, Strand Fresnels, James Thomas Engineering Pars and Molefays. Lighting is being controlled by a High End Wholehog II console.

Reade said that after li

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USA - Sports radio broadcast engineer Peter Grosskopf recently upgraded his personal RF microphone systems to Sennheiser's Evolution Wireless products were his obvious choice.

Grosskopf, who started at a local radio station, then moved on with CBS/Westwood One, reports that he upgraded to Sennheiser's evolution wireless 135 mic system and SR300 IFB while travelling for several seasons with the Syracuse University football team. "I had used the 135 in various fixed installations and I figured it would work great on the road as well. I now use it for all of my NFL and college games, NHL playoffs in Detroit, Stanley Cup playoffs in Buffalo, and for our last year for Buffalo's semi-final round against Carolina, as walk-off interview mics."

As an independent contractor, Grosskopf regularly covers indoor ice hockey games in the US and Canada, where his Sennheiser RF gear h

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USA - ESTA's Technical Standards Program has announce that another draft standard, BSR E1.31-200x, Entertainment Technology - DSP - DMX512-A Streaming Protocol, has joined the four other draft standards now on the ESTA website for public review. BSR E1.31 will be available for review through March 19, 2007, and can be accessed at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.

BSR E1.31 is a simple protocol that offers functionality comparable to existing DMX512 over Ethernet protocols, but with the advantages of compatibility with ANSI E1.17-2006 and easy implementation on managed networks. Device Management Protocol over Session Data Transport, borrowed from the ANSI E1.17 protocol suite, provides a mechanism for streaming DMX-type data intermixed with random access data and high

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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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Qatar - In autumn 2006, Qatar hosted the biggest Asian Games of all times. Since 1951, this event, held every four years, is the sporting and cultural reference for all Asian countries.

The German company Procon, through a sub-contract of the Australian Bytecraft, designed, installed and supplied the lights inside the superb Khalifa Stadium of Doha, which was the venue for most of the sporting competitions, as well as the extraordinary Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games.

Procon supplied 110 Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 1200s, which together with many other luminaires, were excellently used by lighting designers Andy Doig and Fabrice Kebaour for their shows. Alongside them, 120 technicians, under the guidance of the Procon project manager Michael Casper, worked non-stop before, after and throughout the event (from 1 to 15 December 2006), using a total of 520 tons of equipm

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USA - A pair of grandMAs is helping lighting designer Daniel Boland dazzle audiences nationwide with Blue Man Group's How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0. The innovative performers are playing arena-sized venues and select theaters coast to coast with the production in which they download a tongue-in-cheek 'how-to manual' on becoming a rock star. Joined by an eight-piece band, Blue Man Group subsequently takes the audience through - step-by-step and song-by-song - every head-bobbing, fist-pumping moment of a real concert.

"The show is fairly unique compared to productions I've done before," says Boland. "It's a cross between theater and rock 'n roll and a pretty interesting blend." Boland uses two networked grandmas full-size to control all the lighting and video for the show. "We've got it down to one cue list. I just push 'go'," he explains. &quo

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UK - Hawthorn has announced that Paul Stear, formerly of Stage Electrics, has joined the Company in a business development role for its hire and sales operation.

Stear, has extensive experience and an excellent reputation within the Market having been a lighting, sound and video designer and worked for more than four years as head of lighting and sound at Nottingham Playhouse prior to joining Stage Electrics.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to be part of the Hawthorn Team" says Stear, "The Company provides an exciting environment to work in as it continues to rapidly expand and I look forward in my new role of business development, to making my contribution to that continued growth."

"Paul is a valued addition to the growing team at Hawthorn," says general manager Simon Wood, "In his role as business development he will be spending

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USA - American DJ has introduced the P64 LED UV Ultraviolet PAR Can. The latest addition to American DJ's popular series of LED-based PAR cans, the DMX-compatible P64 LED UV spot is designed for any and all applications that call for the effects of ultraviolet light, say the company.

Equipped with 151 ultraviolet LEDs, the P64 LED UV provides super smooth projection on stages and surfaces. It features a 15° beam angle for long-throw applications. In addition to being an extremely powerful black light, the highly affordable P64 LED UV is very economical to operate. The unit is energy-efficient and runs on low voltage, with a maximum power consumption of 21W, say American DJ.

"Bringing LED technology to an ultraviolet par can represents a major advancement in cutting-edge stage and club lighting," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Compa

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UK - Following the opening of its US office in Nashville last summer, Innovason has put in place a similar initiative for the UK, based out of the London facility of pro audio sales and distribution operation, Stirling Audio.

Innovason sales and marketing director, Xavier Pion, says the move makes perfect sense. "In order for Innovason to continue to grow and develop, it is essential that we have a solid base in the UK with a UK phone number where customers and engineers can access our products - and product specialists - quickly and easily . . . The new UK office will house permanent demo and training facilities in addition to providing technical support and after-sales service. Sales to the end user will be handled directly by the manufacturer with stock coming direct from our factory in France."

Stirling Audio proprietor and MD, Andrew Stirling, says: "Innova

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UK - At least 350,000 people are estimated to have brought in 2007 in central London, where Jack Morton Worldwide produced the spectacular New Year's Eve countdown, which culminated in a 10 minute firework and lighting display over the River Thames and British Airways London Eye.

It is the third New Year's spectacle that Jack Morton has produced for the event, which is organised by the Mayor of London. The display could also be seen at high points across the capital with many millions more watching it on TV. This is the third year running technical suppliers Stage Electrics have supplied lighting for the event.

The design team from Jack Morton commissioned the lighting design team of Durham Marenghi and Associate Paul Cook to create the stunning visual effects. Stage Electrics' project manager Simon Baker headed the 10 man on site technical team installing the equipment in the

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UK - For the fifth year in succession Hawthorns were contracted by Worcester based DRP Group to supply some of the technical needs for Thomas Cook's annual overseas conference, held in Malta. This year's was different in many ways as they opted to use Malta's all new 130m x 50m structure, recently erected by Arena Structures.

Hawthorns were responsible for all the lighting, power, sound, trussing and drapes. Once again the structure had to be multi functional in terms of hosting conferences, talent shows and gala dinners, and the lighting and sound systems had to be versatile.

Because of this factor, Hawthorns sound designer, Iain Reinhold opted for the new Yamaha Digital desk, recently added to Hawthorns hire stock. The desk proved an invaluable tool, as it allowed Reinhold to store each show and recall them with minimum fuss.

A seven-man crew that included sound, lighting

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Slovakia - Top Slovakian TV Show Let's Dance is being lit with Robe moving lights, specified by lighting designer Martin Kubanka and supplied by leading lighting rental company Q-99.

The show is recorded live from the PKO Culture & Leisure Studios in Bratislava, produced by Oreo and broadcast live each week by the Markiza TV channel. It's Slovakia's first series of Let's Dance, which sees 10 celebrities from Slovakia and the Czech Republic pair up with dance professionals and demonstrate their skills on the dance-floor, with one couple voted off each week by the public.

Kubanka landed the lighting design role after his work on the Slovakian Superstar show for the same production company. On Let's Dance he is working with director Peter Nunes, DOP Jaroslav Zaman and set designer Daniel Sichman.

Q-99 first had to install 12 new rigging points in the

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Germany - Bosch's Praesideo system is world's first fully digital public address and emergency sound system and was developed for the purpose of broadcasting information and entertainment, and also for voice evacuation in emergency situations. It offers flexibility with system configuration, it's simple to install and offers high audio quality, say Bosch.

Praesideo Version 3.0 has recently achieved a number of certificates and accreditations. It is the first product in the market to receive full certification by the TUV organisation for IEC60849 and BS5839-8. Also, after much hard work by Bosch in Germany, and the development team in Breda, it has received the certificate from Eisenbahn Bundesamt, which is a requirement for Deutsche Bundesbahn projects and Bosch has now had its first order. Part of the criteria for this certification is to be EN50121-4 compliant - which is achie

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USA - Nemetschek North America hasannounced the launch of vLearning webinars, a new virtual trainingseries delivered to VectorWorks users over the web using WebExtechnology. vLearning webinars provide VectorWorks users with convenienthour-long training sessions on a variety of VectorWorks topics,including instruction on how to use specific feature sets andfunctionality, as well as techniques and workflows to enhanceproductivity. Each session is live and concludes with time for questionsand answers.

"vLearning webinars are perfect for users who are looking for short,self-contained workshops on VectorWorks topics they'd like to learn moreabout, at their own convenience," says Frank Brault, Nemetschek NorthAmerica's director of training and technical support. "Our new virtualtraining series is designed as another option for users who might notprefer to devote several

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USA - Field Template has announced that they have entered into an agreement with Stage Research that will allow SoftPlot Version 9 to be exclusively equipped with Field Template's SoftSymbols. SoftPlot 9, a "significant upgrade" to Stage Research's lighting software, is scheduled for release at the USITT National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2007.

This agreement lets Field Template realize one of their corporate goals according to Fred Allen, general partner of Field Template: "Since the beginning, our goal has been to distribute SoftSymbols across all CAD programs, striving to create a single symbol standard for the entire industry. This alliance with SoftPlot is a significant step towards achieving that goal."

SoftPlot is a Windows-based lighting design application that creates graphic light plots and support paperwork simultaneously in real t

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UK - This year's A.C. Lighting North Tradeshow is moving to a new purpose-built exhibition hall with 50% more space to facilitate an expanded exhibitor line-up and rising attendance levels, the company reports. The event takes place on 1-2 May in the new Saviles Hall at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, which is adjacent to the original location and now the city's largest exhibition venue.

As well as accommodating the show's expansion plans, the improved facilities also enable the organisers to provide the main exhibition, complementary theatre seminars programme and buffet lunch with a bar and dining area, all within the same hall.

Full show details will be confirmed in the coming months, but visitors can expect the same popular format, "including exclusive 1st UK showings of new products, the latest innovations from over 70 leading brands, one to one demonstrations a

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UK - The Sound Division Group has carried out a unique installation in London's Leicester Square, personalising 14 karaoke rooms (and three dining rooms) divided across three floors in the new K-Box. Each of K-Box's bookable rooms has its own local lighting control and operates independently.

While the karaoke equipment, including the 42" Samsung plasma screens, was supplied direct from KoD (Karaoke on Demand) in Hong Kong, The Sound Division Group were tasked with providing a custom-coloured LED solution in each room. They consulted with Ian Kirby's Lighting Effects Distribution to see how the company's X-Chip PCB-based RGB colour change LED could be rebated into the ceiling periphery of each room.

Each room has the ability to create individual mood settings using colour and music. For example for Hen parties a palate of reds is predominantly used, whilst for corporate e

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UK - In partnership with Philips, the inventor and global market leader on UHP projection lamp technology, Just Lamps is launching the Diamond Lamps series. The two new offerings under the Diamond Lamps banner have been developed to address lamp supply issues arising from a number of projector manufacturers either leaving the market or rationalising spares holdings, and to provide an ethical alternative to copy lamps.

Diamond Lamps are newly manufactured lamp modules designed to fit a range of historic Philips projector models, each utilising a Philips UHP lamp identical to that originally supplied in the projector. Diamond Re-Lamps are lamp modules created by removing the lamps from existing lamp modules, professionally refurbishing the housings and then re-fitting them with Philips UHP lamps identical to the originals.

Each lamp is a vital electrical component of a projector

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USA - Color Kinetics Inc and Lamina Ceramics Inc have announced the signing of a global licensing agreement. Lamina, a manufacturer of LED light engines, will have access to Color Kinetics' complete patent portfolio to continue the development and sale of its products worldwide.

Lamina offers multiple lines of LED light engine and driver OEM components directly to third-party manufacturers and through a network of distributors. Its components power the LED lighting fixtures of more than 100 companies. Through the agreement, Lamina can offer its customers a licensed solution that provides the valuable features made possible by digital intelligence, such as additive colour mixing through DMX control, among other innovations covered by Color Kinetics' patent portfolio. Lamina customers who develop fixtures based on the Color Kinetics-licensed components will be covered under Lamina

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UK - Leading UK entertainment lighting supplier White Light was recently called upon to design, supply, install and run the lighting, sound and video equipment for the UK launch of SuperJANET5, the latest version of the Joint Academic Network - the network backbone which connects the UK's universities to each other and to the Internet.

The launch event - a dinner with presentations - took place in the Energy Hall and the Making of the Modern World Gallery at the Science Museum in London, one of the London venues for which White Light is an approved supplier. The Science Museum was open to the public on the day of the event, and no equipment could be visible until the public had departed for the day - just an hour before the guests started arriving for the event itself, which did complicate proceedings.

White Light's project manager Steve Richardson, worked with the Science Mu

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UK - Over 70 i-Pix Satellite LED fixtures are installed into the set at the National Lottery Draw studios at Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, for the BBC's twice-weekly event. They were specified by lighting designer Tom Kinane.

The Lottery represents Kinane's first use of Satellites - the installation has been active since July, shortly after the fixture was first launched by the new company i-Pix. They'd been recommended by several colleagues including moving light programmer and operator Svend Pedersen, who is also an LD and worked closely with Kinane to set up the Lottery show.

The Lottery set is designed by Simon Kemble, and Kinane needed to light this very evenly with a colour changing wash fixture. Satellites were chosen for several reasons, a major one being their robust build quality and low maintenance requirements. This was an essential consideration with the ins

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USA - The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in Louisville is one of the most impressive facilities of its kind in the United States. In keeping with its reputation for world-class entertainment, education and arts programs, the centre features no less than five Midas mixing consoles (Venice 320, XL200, Heritage 1000, Heritage 2000, Heritage 3000), and recently added a rack of four Klark Teknik DN1248 Plus active analogue microphone splitters to its equipment list. An additional rack with a single DN1248 Plus is also on hand. Head audio engineer at the centre is Ted Subotky; David Doukas is Audio Department manager.

"We handle everything from presidential conventions to rock concerts to lectures, along with a handful of annual television broadcasts," says Doukas, "so we need a mic splitter to deliver reliability, high sound quality and flexibility. And, being

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