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USA - Production Resource Group, LLC, has named Paul Morrill account executive for the company's corporate and special events group. He will work out of PRG's offices in New York City.

Morrill will provide lighting, video, scenic and audio solutions for PRG clients in the northeast. His 20 years of entertainment design and production management experience covers a wide range of applications, including corporate and special events, concert tours, television and film productions, sports entertainment, and permanent installations.

A graduate of the School of the Arts at SUNY Purchase, Morrill holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre design and technology. He comes to PRG from Motion Laboratories Inc. where he was a systems designer for chain hoist control and portable power

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UK - Philip L. Edwards, lighting manager at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, has been awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship for 2007. Fellowships are offered to British Citizens resident in the UK and from all walks of life to enable them to acquire knowledge and experience abroad.

Edwards will be spending a month in the USA in the autumn to visit a number of music colleges and universities to observe the way in which student productions - particularly of opera - are supported by design and technical back up.

Edwards has been staff lighting designer and chief electrician at the RNCM for over 30 years and this Fellowship offers an opportunity to observe the way in which American colleges approach the problems of staging opera to train singers and musicians.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Arqiva, a provider of transmission services for broadcasters and end-to-end media solutions for content and channel providers, has acquired 48 Zandar Predator HD8 MultiViewers for use on HD content provision for Championship Football for Sky Sports, Sky HD.

The Predator units provide significant space and cost benefits as well as flexible operation, says Zandar. They are installed inside two UK-based OB trucks, making this one of the largest single HD8 OB projects yet undertaken. The system was integrated by Sony Professional Services.

In each truck, 24 Predator HD8 MultiViewers are installed. There are 10 in the production area, 12 in the video tape recording area and two located in audio. The Predator HD MultiViewers feature native HD input processing to offer true HD quality images and drive high resolution displays up to 1080p.

(Jim Evans)

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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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Italy / USA - An agreement has been signed between Columbus McKinnon in the US and Litec in Italy for the creation of a new line of electric chain hoists and for a cooperation in some R&D areas. Columbus McKinnon is the main worldwide producer of chain hoists for entertainment use. Litec, with its division EXE, is committed to developing new technologies applied to structures of the whole hoist and staging movement world.

According to Craig Johnston and Giuliano Luvisotto, managing directors of Columbus McKinnon and Litec respectively, the collaboration between the two companies will have an important strategic meaning in the development of their own products.

The first concrete result of this cooperation is the realization of an electric chain hoist, which is entirely BGV-C1 compliant. The new product will carry the EXE-Lodestar logo and will be distributed by Litec sales net

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Germany - Philips Electronics announced a number of new product developments at ProLight + Sound in Frankfurt.

Philips has enlarged the MSR product range with Philips MSR Gold 700 FastFit and Philips Hi-Brite 750 FastFit. This rear load lamp base system has been codeveloped with Bender & Wirth. The benefit of this new lamp concept is not only a fast lamp replacement due to the unique lamp and lamp holder design, it also includes an increased brightness, provides the opportunity to reduce fixture size and weight, assures reliability due to pinch protection technology and has an excellent colour quality, says the company.

The new Philips Ceramic ST 500HR has a colour temperature of 3200K, "excellent" colour characteristics and homogeneous beam intensity. Light output of the Ceramic ST 500HR equals the light output of a Halogen 2000W light source.

In co-development wi

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Germany - As a direct result of the trend toward simplification in public address installations Klotz Digital has developed substantial innovations to its Varizone digital Public Address and Voice Evacuation system. The Munich based company introduced its new VAB-Line at the ProLight & Sound 2007 in Frankfurt.

VAB-Line is based on the new components VAB1 Controller (Voice Evacuation, Announcement, Background Music Controller) and I-PAM (Integrated Programmable Amplifier Module). The VAB-Line has been particularly developed for small and mid-sized applications, such as hotels, schools, hospitals, office buildings, department stores and other commercial applications of the same size.

VAB1 is the main component and core of a simplified plug & play Varizone solution. It handles up to 51 inputs and 32 outputs providing the opportunity to play-out 32 different channels, thereof 8 pe

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UK - AV Matrix reports its continuing association with Martin Professional with a major investment in Martin effect lighting for its installation business. These lights will be used for the installation of various high profile nightclubs in the UK. Also, AV Matrix has expanded its stock of Martin lights in its rapidly expanding events department which caters for corporate events throughout the country, with further investment planned for 2007.

AV Matrix managing director Mark Parker comments, "Martin Professional offers a true partnership approach to business. Their product range is excellent and the back up and support is second to none. Over the next 12 months we are going to be investing substantial amounts of money new lighting stock as well as updating our current hire stock."

Benn Timbury, sales representative from Martin Professional comments, "It's a ple

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UK - Marlborough School in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, has commissioned an Electro-Voice sound reinforcement system for its new performance centre. The new building is a self-contained conference, business, and performance centre for school and community use. The hall has a sprung wooden floor for dance activities, and theatre audio, lighting and projection facilities for drama, sound and conference presentation.

The School called on London-based sound and lighting installation company 10 Out Of 10 to recommend a sound reinforcement design for this high-ceilinged modern building with two glass walls. "Because the portable stage would always be used against one of the long walls, we could install lighting and sound positions in sensible locations without having to worry about creating a multi-format system," explains Paul Need of 10 Out of 10.

"This gave us the oppor

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USA - Crown Audio named Sound Marketing Central its 2006 Rep of the Year at the annual Harman Pro Group rep and distributors conference in Huntington Beach, California.

Scott Robbins, executive vice president of sales for Crown Audio, made the announcement. "Sound Marketing's Central Division went far beyond simply exceeding their sales targets across all vertical markets during 2006," says Robbins. "They've truly partnered with Crown by taking a very personal involvement in supporting customers and resolving issues. They also bring considerable value to our distribution partners through outstanding training and technical support. As a result, we are very pleased to recognise them with this award for their exemplary service."

Sound Marketing Central was also dually honoured as the 2006 Harman Pro Rep of the Year, which is awarded to the firm that not only s

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Mexico - leading Mexican pop group Maná have invested in G-LEC Phantom II for the set of their current world tour. Following the US dates, which began in February and take in such illustrious venues as New York's Madison Square Garden, the band goes on to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, finishing in Spain in July.

With less then 24 hours between many of the scheduled venues, the band needed a set that was light and easy to rig and de-rig, and the G-LEC Phantom II large scale LED display system with video capabilities fits the bill. Weighing just 5.5kg per sq.m, it not only saves the band's crew a lot of hard work, but means that the frames can be flown on the set extremely easily.

Peveroll-Arquitenimiento, G-LEC's partner company in Mexico, was instrumental in gaining the contract for G-LEC. Carlos E Perezcano, the company's president and general manager, said

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UK Talbot Designs managing director Richard Woolff is facing the challenge of a lifetime as he limbers ups for a marathon cycle ride for charity. Woolff is leaving these shores and donning his cycle shorts for a 110 mile mountain bike ride round the Northern rim of the Grand Canyon in the USA. The trip which is being fully funded by Woolff will involve him cycling 25-30 miles per day over rough terrain at altitudes of up to 8000 feet. He is training daily in preparation for the ride.

The charities benefiting from his ride are SANDS for bereaved parents and families and HOPEHIV which seeks to help the 16 million orphans in Africa who have lost their parents to AIDS. He has raised almost £2000 so far.

"We had some friends who tragically lost their baby at the same time as our daughter was born and they received huge amounts of help and support from SANDS. I felt it an

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UK / Italy - Fuzion plc has made a significant addition to its distributed lighting portfolio by reaching an agreement with Coemar SpA to represent the Italian giant's range of LED and automated lighting products in the UK. The move follows just a month after confirming a similar agreement with Israeli digital lighting control and dimmer company, Compulite.

Fuzion's lighting manager David Stewart said: "Fuzion are thrilled to be working with Coemar and are looking forward to revitalising the brand in the UK. We had been looking for a moving head manufacturer with a good pedigree and product range and a reputation for providing support, including spares. We were introduced to Coemar, and visiting their premises in Northern Italy we were hugely impressed by the company's innovative approach - particularly their policy of designing their products to meet the needs of lighting

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USA - Theatre Projects Consultants, Inc (TPC) has announced that Scott Crossfield has joined its US office. Crossfield has been a theatre consultant for 11 years and is a former principal of the theatre consulting firm Davis Crossfield Associates. At TPC he will specialise in auditorium design and theatre planning, working as a senior consultant in TPC's design department with John Coyne, director of design, and Brian Hall, principal theatre designer.

"I have been a long-time fan of TPC's work, which I believe is reflected in many of the theatres that I have designed, and thus my desire to work at TPC," explains Crossfield, "I am excited and proud to be joining the company, which I consider the best in the world. I am looking forward to sharing experiences, stories, and ideas and am especially looking forward to collaborating with such a talented group of people.&

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USA / Germany - Digidesign has appointed Mega Audio as its new German distributor for the Venue live sound programme. The deal was confirmed prior to last week's Pro Light&Sound Show in Germany by Digidesign's European Live Sound Manager, Mike Case, and Mega Audio's managing director, Burkhard Elsner - thus concluding a negotiation that began two-and-a-half years ago.

According to Burkhard, who has worked in pro audio for 25 years, the intervening period has seen rapid development in both camps, with the experience gained by Digidesign during this time providing him with a compelling reason to change his digital portfolio.

As a company that specialises in equipping major concert tours and theatres he believes the Pro Tools support of Venue is of paramount importance. "Many theatres today, who are using Pro Tools as a production tool - as well as many PA companies - would

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UK - Following the success of last year's series of Professional Laser Display Safety training days, laser safety specialists Laser Visuals Research have announced the next course date - 16 April 2007 - to be held at the Kent Science Park, near Sittingbourne, Kent.

The one-day course combines theory with practical examples of many topics specific to laser display safety. In addition to the subjects covered during the course, each attendee receives a copy of the Laser Visuals Research handbook on laser display safety, and receives a certificate of attendance.

The course has been designed to provide essential and valuable information for anybody involved with working with laser lighting products, whether they be show operators, installation companies, manufacturers, or resellers of laser projectors. Attendees of the course will also be automatically enrolled onto the new Laser S

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Canada - Pyrotek Special Effects Inc. and Laser Design Productions have appointed Jim Schorer as marketing manager. Schorer comes with experiences working in the field of marketing and sales for Coca-Cola and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

He will provide direct support to the marketing efforts working in conjunction with both Pyrotek Special Effects and Laser Design Productions. "We're so excited to have Jim on board to not only get to know the ins and outs of our exciting industry, but to also propel Laser Design Productions and Pyrotek Special Effects new products and services into the market place," stated President Doug Adams.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - The creation of high quality 3D images has "just got simpler", thanks to a new product launched by rendering experts ARTVPS. The introduction of RayBox means that, for the first time, leading 3D rendering technology is readily accessible to visual artists and designers looking to get more from 3D image creation. The compact and powerful rendering solution brings outstanding rendering performance direct to the desktop - faster and better than any other solution available on the market, says the company.

Brian Tyler, CEO of ARTVPS, said: "It is an exciting time for us. RayBox supports all the standard features of Autodesk's leading 3D applications, 3ds Max and Maya, ensuring quick and easy integration into any studio. A simple plug-in interface provides access to ARTVPS' physically-based rendering environment, which delivers real-world lighting, an advanced ma

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South America - As an extension to the Twisted Logic tour, Coldplay recently capped off a three week tour in South America. Once again, Laser Design Productions provided laser effects with its new compact 5 watt air cooled white light diode laser system.

The 11-date tour took in four different venues in Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paolo, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico. According to Mark Ward, Coldplay's production manager, "The South American tour was a huge success. The new technology Laser was a great solution to the production management's concerns of equipment size, weight, power consumption and venue water limitations. The 5 watt air cooled diode Laser provided spectacular multicolour atmospheric and beam effects."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Allen & Heath has introduced a fourth control surface to the iLive digital mixing console system, joining the existing iLive-122, iLive-144 and iLive-176. The new iLive-80 is the smallest in the range of control surfaces, designed for smaller applications such as theatres, churches and touring bands.

Providing 80 control strips grouped in two sections, each with four banks, there is an LCD display with multicolour backlight above each fader for labelling and colour-coding channel information. The channel controls for preamp, filter and EQ are laid out across the top of the surface on rotary controls with LED indicators, while a colour LCD touch screen presents a graphical view of the processing and access to gates, compressors, limiter/de-essers, graphic EQ's and effects, as well as the automation and set up screens. Audio at the surface is available on four slots accommoda

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Dubai - Following hot on the heels of the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Shakira's sell-out concert at Dubai Autodrome has provided the curtain raiser for this year's Event 360 expo at PALME Middle East. Event 360 Exhibition Manager Jonathan Gadalla says that when the recent Dubai Philharmonic Orchestra concerts and Dubai Jazz Festival are added in, it illustrates just how far the industry in the region has developed.

"The Philharmonic Orchestra shows at the new Festival City recorded a huge turnout, indicating a real interest in the classical music market," he said. "On top of that, 25,000 people attended the Jazz Festival. It is evident from this that whether the music is classical, Latin American, heavy metal or jazz the level of appreciation is now unprecedented."

Some of the magic of show production will be introduced to the Dubai International Exhibition

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UK - A.C. Lighting's Special Projects division has provided the complete supply and installation of lighting technical facilities for the Northern Stage theatre in Newcastle as part of a two year, £9m refurbishment programme.

Formerly known as the Newcastle Playhouse, Northern Stage is the largest producing theatre company in the North East of England and regarded as one of the top-ten UK producing theatres. The venue has been completely redesigned, doubling in size to accommodate three very different performance spaces.

Northern Stage's activities include performing their own major new productions on all three stages, co-producing new work with theatre makers from around the world and all around the UK, and inviting the most exciting theatre companies of all sizes and shapes to bring their work to the North East.

Stage 1 is the theatre's spectacular and versatile main

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