USA - A.C. Lighting Inc. has appointed two new US sales representatives to support its continuing growth of business in the North American market. Lori French and Keith Lewandowski join A.C.'s sales team in the newly created roles of Eastern US and Western US Sales Executives respectively, providing office and in the field support for the company's stockholding of leading technology brands.

Lewandowski has over 15 years' technical and sales experience from his previous roles at Leprecon LLC. After joining in 1992 assembling control consoles and dimmers, he then moved into sales and marketing in 1998, where he was responsible for product training, territory management and technical support.

French has held highly successful sales roles for over 20 years in a variety of industries

Europe - UK-based automation specialist Kinesys has announced a European distribution agreement that is a joint venture between Sonoss, based in France, and Louis Reyners from The Netherlands.

The two companies have exclusive distribution of Kinesys' chain hoist related control products, including the new K2 3D visualisation and control system and the Elevation 1+ hoist controller, for Benelux, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark.

Dave Weatherhead from Kinesys says that these companies were chosen because: "They are well established, have excellent reputations in their markets and both are already selling complementary products, including chain hoists, cable, basic fixed speed control and so on."

Sonoss also has a rental operation. This allows clients to test the water with new and innovative products without initially having to commit large su

France - Sebastian Jurkowski, lighting designer at the Mix Club in Paris, has combined the power of ChamSys MagicQ and ArKaos VJ DMX to create the live visual mixes on the club screens and LED panels.

The Mix Club can accommodate up to 2000 people a night on its large dance floor, its two bars and VIP mezzanine. A total of 100 automated projectors, thousands of LEDs and two ArKaos VJ DMX MSEx media servers are controlled through Ethernet via a MagicQ MQ100 console and Dual Playback Wing which uses six DMX512 universes (nearly 3000 channels).

Thanks to the very short delay between the console and the screens, each of the 16 layers can be triggered at the tip of a finger, allowing instant access to any video or effect, says ChamSys. The MagicQ Media Engine allows for live thumbnail previews directly on the console, with separate previews for each media layer, as well as a previe

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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

USA - With TV and film producers hungry for ever more dramatic special effects, Stage Technologies rental department's high-speed BT290 winches continue to be in great demand, the company reports.

These compact winches fly objects at speeds of up to 9m/s and are supplied as stand-alone products or mounted inside truss frames. They have been used for a wide variety of moving effects in the UK and USA including most recently for a high-speed stunt for TV's Desperate Housewives. The truss-mounted products have also been used to fly a stunt man in Mission Impossible 3 in Los Angeles, whilst the same technology whizzes cameras around the sets of Harry Potter and the Golden Compass, for example, in the UK. The winches were also used to defy gravity in the movie Sunshine, which is released on 4 April.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - A project to record the history of Britain's Moroccan community is underway, thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Project organisers the Migrant and Refugee Communities' Forum (MRCF) have chosen to use a fleet of Marantz PMD660 portable solid state recorders for all the data collection in the field.

The scheme will span a period of two years and record interviews with three generations of Moroccan migrants across the UK. Most of the work will be concentrated in London, where up to half of the country's 70,000 Moroccan residents live. 17 field-workers will conduct the interviews, which will ultimately be stored in the National Sound Archive at the British Library.

Project manager Verusca Calabria says: "We needed the best equipment, as this should be a long-term resource for the MRCF. We sought advice from the leading authorities in this field, from the B

USA - Middle Atlantic Products introduced its new Vertical Lacer Strips, along with a number of new cable management accessories, at NSCA Expo 2007.

The Vertical Lacer Strips provide AV integrators with a large number of cable tie points for organising and arranging cable runs of any size within a fully integrated enclosure system. The Strips accept Velcro cable ties and are available in two widths as well as a variety of heights to fit any Middle Atlantic Products enclosure.

"The result of a field-level research and development initiative, our new Vertical Lacer Strips completely change the way integrators have traditionally mounted cable runs," said Jay Franetovich, application engineer, Middle Atlantic Products. "Now securing cables is as simple as binding them with Velcro and looping the Velcro on the most convenient hook."

The new TSW-15 Cable Tie Sa

UK - For Amy Winehouse's current UK/US tour, production manager and FOH engineer Dave Swallow is using After being introduced to the Digidesign D-Show Profile desk.

"I had originally planned to use an analogue desk, but I then saw the Sugababes at an AOL Winter show at Kentish Town Forum, and they were using a D-Show to mix the sound. I remember it sounded so clean and for the kind of material Amy was doing that's exactly what we wanted," says Swallow.

When it was time to put the production together he contacted Roly Oliver at Brit Row and said he would like to try out the desk. Brit Row duly obliged, supplying the console as part of a production set-up which included the Outline Butterfly line array system. Along with the D-Show Profile came the support package - courtesy of Digidesign's UK reseller Marquee Audio.

Jock Bain, system tech for the Winehouse tour alon

Chile - Robbie Williams kicked off his Close Encounters world tour in April in South Africa, recently landing in South-America in Chile's capital city of Santiago. 77,000 people packed themselves at the Estadio National, to listen to his latest offerings, including the Spanish language version of his early hit Angels, bringing his total 'Close Encounters' tour attendance numbers to a whopping three million.

Cristian Olavarria Ltd is an Adamson Y-Axis partner, and a well respected rental company that supplies sound production for the majority of international acts, including Pearl Jam, Avril Lavigne, Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay, when making their stop in Chile. Williams usually tours with Britannia Row's inventory when possible, with FOH engineer Tony Szabo and system tech Sherif El Barbari ensuring a top-notch sound.

Olavarria Ltd, which owns a large inventory o

USA - ETC has posted free source code for the upcoming DMX over ACN standard (also referred to as streaming ACN) to its website, "to help the industry gain experience with this upcoming protocol and offer meaningful user input to the ESTA standardisation process".

A link to this C++ source code may be found at www.etcconnect.com/product.downloads.asp?ID=20339.

ETC is also offering optional source code that adds features to streaming ACN and provides a flexibility and power similar to ETCNet2 protocol.

ETC has long supported the development of ESTA standards for lighting control, such as the new ACN suite of protocols (Architecture for Controls Networks, E1.17). With ACN now an ANSI standard (as of October 2006), ETC is involved in the addition of a new protocol for the ACN suite. The

Germany - The L-Acoustics will be promoting its KIVA PA system at ProLight&Sound. Packaged in a sleek, fully integrated, ultra-compact design, KIVA is intended to "meet the highest demands of audio professionals and deliver the ultimate performance level in its category".

KIVA also fulfills the five WST (Wavefront Sculpture Technology) criteria in line with the scientific concepts introduced by L-Acoustics in 1992 and shared by the benchmark WST lineage of V-Dosc, dV-Dosc, and Kudo.

The system is "highly appropriate" for both the fixed installation and rental production markets. The main system components consist of KIVA, full-range element operating from 80 Hz to 20 kHz bandwidth; KILO, complimentary low frequency extension element operating from 50 Hz to 100 Hz bandwidth, and the LA4 amplified controller.

"KIVA delivers a considerable number of imp

Germany - eJamming AUDiiO is being promoted as "the first and only software application and online service that enables musicians to find, network and play music with one another over the Internet in real time and in perfect synchrony, facilitating music education, social networking and collaboration".

eJamming AUDiiO provides a virtual practice and recording studio for musicians and singers worldwide. With eJamming AUDiiO, musicians can write, rehearse, record, learn and play with each other over the Internet, in real time and more importantly, in synchrony. All they need is access to a computer, broadband connection, audio interface device and microphone, says the company.

The eJamming AUDiiO portal includes such social networking features as searchable musician profiles including music samples, an automated calendar for scheduling sessions, forums, celebrity blogs

Czech Republic - Robe Show Lighting will showcase its latest moving light and digital lighting products at Prolight & Sound in Frankfurt. These will include the ColorWash 2500E AT, the new 700 Series, Robe's StageQube 324 and the DigitalSpot 5000 DT, complete with new functions. Robe will also highlight the new StageFaze 1500AT and its powerful, expediently sized Club Series of moving lights.

The ColorWash 2500E AT is the most powerful wash light currently available in the Robe range. Using the MSR Gold 1200 SA/SE FastFit lamp and a 1400W electronic ballast, the fixture offers a smooth linear motorised zoom, full CMY + CTO colour mixing system, two colour wheels with six easily replaceable slots and combined dimmer/shutter unit.

Also highlighted will be Robe's newly released 700 Series of moving heads, featuring the ColorSpot 700E AT, ColorWash 700E AT and the ColorWash 750AT

USA - GearSource has added another account executive who will be based on the West Coast. Shaun Robinson joins GearSource following many successful years with the Guitar Center companies. Most recently, Robinson served for GC Pro where he became one of the company's banner sales associates and established a large following, especially among nightclubs and other installs.

GearSource president, Marcel Fairbain says: "We've worked with Shaun for many years as a client of both GearSource and most recently, LED Source. He's a great guy, and will add a very cool dynamic to our organisation".

In related news, GearSourceEurope has completely re-vamped and redesigned its website, making it easier to navigate and locate items of interest rapidly. GearSourceEurope was established at the beginning of 2006 and has grown to incorporate a large stock of audio, lighting and staging

USA - Tapco has announced that 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 successful leadership that drives the Mackie brand, better aligning Loud,s development and engineering resources - as well as its vision - with Tapco products," says the company.

"I am 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."

New in 2007 for Tapco are two sound reinforcement products - the Thump TH-15A active loudspeaker and the Series 69 passive loudspeaker - as well as one recording product, the Link.FireWir

USA - At this year's 2007 NSCA Expo in Orlando, Middle Atlantic Products named Eakins/Bernstein & Associates of Kansas City its 2006 AV-Commercial Rep of the Year. Making the announcement, Robert Newhuis, national sales manager, Middle Atlantic Products, noted the group's ability to perform high-quality service and expertise in the dynamic, competitive commercial AV industry. "Eakins/Bernstein & Associates had another outstanding year highlighted by an unmatched performance with regard to sales," said Newhuis.

Founded in 1980, Eakins/Bernstein & Associates is headquartered near Kansas City with branch offices in Des Moines, St. Louis and Wichita. Eakins/Bernstein & Associates represents Middle Atlantic Products in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and southern Illinois.

Commenting on the announcement, Mike Eakins, president, Eakins/Bernstein & Associates said, "

USA / Germany - Following the success of the SRM450 and SRM350 Active PA speakers, Mackie will unveil at ProLight&Sound the newest member of the SRM family, the SRM150. This compact active PA System is designed for a variety of sound reinforcement needs. With 150w of ultra-efficient Class D amplification and the 5.25" EAW-designed, full-range neodymium driver, the SRM150 delivers high sound pressure levels.

"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 venues such as coffee houses, piano bars, and rehearsal rooms. Plus, the SRM150 outperforms everything in its class by delivering higher

Hong Kong - For 35 years, the Casino Lisboa has been the beating heart of a thriving gambling industry in Macau. Now, however, the Casino Lisboa is enjoying a renewed lease of life with the construction of a new, state-of the-art property - Grand Lisboa - with five Lighthouse LED screens forming a key part of the project.

Grand Lisboa features nine floors of leisure facilities, of which five are given over to gaming. 240 tables are provided where guests can indulge in a variety of games. In addition, a live sports bar and a stage with free live music performances are provided.

With facilities for so many gamers, the venue needed a state-of-the-art system to broadcast information throughout it and so Lighthouse LED screens were chosen as the ideal complement to the fusion of modern and traditional interior design.

Chosen by the project's construction management company SJM In

UK - Live event company Essential Lighting has invested over £1,000,000 to expand its hire stock with a wide range of lighting fixtures from Martin Professional. This new investment adds over 240 moving head fixtures from Martin, including MAC 2000 Profiles, MAC 2000 Washes, MAC 700 Profiles, MAC 700 Washes, MAC 550s, MAC TW1s, MAC 250 Washes and Entours.

Essential Lighting is a leading supplier to the live event business, delivering lighting for challenges as diverse as the BBC Proms, Ford product launches and the Conservative Party conference. For the MAC 2000 Profile, Essential will be offering a choice between the standard Martin Gobo set and the world famous Woodroffe gobo set.

Essential's managing director Martin Locket said: "The time was right to make a long term investment. Our experience over the years gave us the confidence to expand our business with Mar

USA - Furman Sound reports that the All-American Rejects are using Furman Power Factor Pro conditioners and SPB-8C pedal boards for "uncompromised sound" on tour. With a double-platinum album and a recent 2006 MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video, the All-American Rejects have been in high demand. They toured US colleges and universities recently, and followed that up by headlining the Tournado Tour, a multi-act event that stopped in over two-dozen cities.

To combat contaminated AC power and its effects during live performances, the band chose Furman Power Factor Pro conditioners. These are designed specifically for musicians and feature Clear Tone Technology, which lowers the AC line impedance supplied by wall outlets, and Linear Filtering, which suppresses noise.

"When playing multiple venues, we never really know how the amplifiers are goi

UK - HSL supplied lighting equipment and crew for Lily Allen's just completed UK theatre tour, featuring her largest production to date. Lighting for the popular and feisty British singer/songwriter, renowned for her hugely energetic live performances is designed by Neil Trenell. HSL supplied 32 of its new Robe Series 700 fixtures to the sold-out tour plus a 10x10m MainLight Industries Soft-LED back cloth and an Avolites Diamond 4 console among other elements.

HSL's Mike Oates project managed, and comments, "Neil is always a pleasure to work with. He is one of a new, enthusiastic and inventive generation of LDs, and it is also good to be working with an artist surrounded by a real buzz like Lily Allen."

Trenell's basic design was based around two straight 40ft trusses - front and back - which in the ideal circumstances and sized venues, were trimmed at over 30ft to g

USA - High End Systems (HES) has entered into an agreement to sell the Catalyst media server software back to its developer, Richard Bleasdale of SAMSC Designs in the UK.

"This is an exciting time for Catalyst," says HES' Bobby Hale, long-term Catalyst product manager. "The transfer of the Catalyst media server software back to SAMSC owner and inventor Richard Bleasdale will ensure customers receive personal support and attention directly from the developer. High End will continue to provide direct customer support to its existing Catalyst customers around the globe."

Richard Bleasdale of SAMSC Designs states, "Being closer to my Catalyst customers will allow an improved response to their needs and improve the time to market for new software releases."

SAMSC Designs will support future Catalyst customers with product updates and bug fixes for v4

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