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Poland - Telewizja Polska (TVP SA) which is one of the largest stations in Europe has invested in a variety of lighting equipment by ETC. Impressed by the calibre of lighting control on the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, which was done with four ETC Congo consoles, TVP decided to acquire its own Congo.

According to Janusz Plewin'ski, the general lighting operator for TVP in Poznan, "Congo is a good choice for mid- to large-sized studios, particularly because the console doesn't use a touchscreen. Its versatile faders and keys allow quick shortcuts to help lighting designers keep up with the busy world of broadcasting."

Congo's 'zoomable' channel views are another helpful feature for television studios, as well as the zoomable Channel Layout function that allows u

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USA - Wybron has appointed Bryan Steele as Northeastern regional sales manager for the company. Steele replaces Miles Dudgeon who previously held the position and was promoted to director of marketing at Wybron.

Prior to joining Wybron, Steele was the Rosco Laboratories account executive in charge of covering the northeastern United States. He is currently an artist in residence at the University of New Haven.

"Bryan is a terrific salesperson, well-known and liked in our industry," said Larry Turner, CEO of Wybron. "Many of our dealers have written me to congratulate us on hiring him and tell us how much they look forward to working with him as he transitions to Wybron. Additionally, Bryan's background as a lighting designer really gives him a clear understanding of our clients needs."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Research for the proposed National Skills Academy for the Creative and Cultural Industries suggests that current and projected growth in live entertainment will generate demand for an extra 10,000 skilled offstage and technical staff over the next decade. And with half of the current workforce expected to retire or leave the industry by 2017, the total estimated number of recruits required rises to around 30,000.

Major employers in the theatre, live music and events industries already report serious difficulties recruiting qualified and experienced professionals in a wide range of disciplines including lighting, sound, stage controls and specialist backstage support staff.

Since January 2007, more than 300 individuals and organisations - including employers, trade bodies and freelancers - have been consulted on the Skills Academy proposal being developed by Creative & Cul

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

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USA - It's rodeo time in Texas, and MA's grandMA made its debut at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo where two consoles were used to control the main and perimeter lighting rigs for star turns by leading performers.

"What's unique about this show is that you're dealing with 20 performing artists in 20 days," notes LD Systems' John Dickson, who handled all the overhead stage lighting. "And that means 20 different lighting designers. They don't run the board; they give you ideas to translate. The challenge is coming up with different looks using exactly the same rig every night.

The grandMA is really fluid, and its timecode is totally cool. Two shows were done to timecode: the National Anthem and a multimedia presentation honouring the volunteers and featuring a brief history of the rodeo. The grandMAs took the timecode feed better than any other system I've used

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UK - Since releasing their debut album Costello Music last autumn, The Fratellis have been hard at work promoting it with live dates. Helping them on their way has been Turbosound, whose NuQ loudspeakers played a major part in the band's recent UK tour.

Comprising twelve dates in Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London, SSE supplied the tour's audio requirements with Turbosound veterans Britannia Row supplying the monitor system, including Turbosound NuQ-15s, self-powered TA-500DP Aspect Wides and, in Glasgow and London, self-powered NuQ-12DPs.

The Fratellis like the sound levels on stage to be relatively high, so one three-way TA-500DP was used each side of the stage as a side-fill, along with nine 15" 2-way bi-amped NuQ-15s on the stage as wedge monitors - three pairs across the front, one each side of the drummer and one by bass guitarist Barry Fr

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UK - SPS has just completed its work for the Institute of Directors Annual Conference, a one day event that featured presentations by high profile business leaders at London's Royal Albert Hall.

SPS has worked on the IoD flagship event for four years and utilised its extensive experience to design and construct the impressive stage set. SPS used LED screen technology both as a graphic display and a powerful lighting source. This allowed the 2,500 company directors attending the event a clear view of the stage. These LED screens coupled with two large video projection screens created a dramatic stage set. SPS's creative team also produced the graphics and visual content.

The theme of this year's event was Success in a Challenging World. It examined topics such as the rapidly expanding European Union, globalisation of markets and environmental issues. Key note speakers in

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USA - Renkus-Heinz is introducing the self-powered IC7 and externally powered ICX7 Iconyx array modules during InfoComm07 at the Anaheim Convention Centre. Both are passive linear arrays with fixed beams that can be steered mechanically. The new additions to the Iconyx line will supplement Iconyx digitally controlled array systems in venues needing side and front-fill coverage. They also offer a low cost solution for applications that can do without the precise, programmable coverage afforded by Iconyx digitally controlled array systems, says the company.

"Many of the designers and installers who have used Iconyx systems in hundreds of museums, courtrooms and houses of worship around the world have asked for a supplemental product such as this," says David Rahn, US national sales manager for Renkus-Heinz. "The IC7 and ICX7 make our advanced Iconyx solutions even m

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USA - Digigram has announced the addition of two new members to the Digigram US team. Eric L. Richardson joins as director of strategic marketing, while James Ohana takes on the role of solutions integration manager.

Philippe Delacroix, Digigram CEO & president explains, "Having Eric and James on board is part of our new strategy aimed at providing key enabling technologies to build smart radio infrastructures. The broadcast industry is changing incredibly fast and so are our customers' needs. Eric and James are not only able to understand those needs, but also to partner with them to conceive and develop tomorrow's leading-edge, tailor-made systems."

Eric Richardson has extensive experience in developing audio, TV and music technologies and has held key senior management positions at Fostex Research and Development, InfoTech and Dalet Digital Media Systems, Inc., an

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UK - D&M Europe has announced the formation of DMi D&M Installation, a division dedicated to the distribution and support of products from all of D&M's brands to the commercial AV and custom install markets.

DMi offers a comprehensive portfolio of products from Denon, Denon professional, Marantz and Marantz professional ranges, alongside Escient digital music servers, Opus multi-room systems, and Boston Acoustics' wall, ceiling and outdoor speakers.

The division is headed up by general manager Mark Perrins, formerly general manager of D&M professional Europe. Commenting on the formation of DMi he stated: "D&M Europe has monitored the CI market carefully over recent years; in particular, the gradual convergence towards a more general custom and commercial install market, with common products, customers and support requirements. This has led us to the logical step of mergin

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Denmark - Martin Professional's Stagebar 54 is a compact, powerful LED luminaire with a comprehensive colour range, all-in-one simplicity and a tough temperament for the touring market. It functions as a pixel bar for displaying imagery and video or as a wash luminaire for floodlighting surfaces and stages, says the company.

The Stagebar 54 is bright enough to be matched with other light sources. With five coloured diodes (Red, Green, Blue, Amber and White), instead of the usual three, the Stagebar 54 offers a broad range of colors. Lens options include a 29° standard lens or opaque diffuser.

A central feature of the Stagebar 54 is the ability to create even and consistent colours. Each pixel board has been measured and calibrated, "guaranteeing standardized brightness and colour performance".

To ensure the best possible lumen performance, on-demand fans monito

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UK - Staging Services has announced the launch of its new LED, modular staging/dance floor system. It can can be used in conjunction with the company's modular staging system - Super Stage as a dance floor, lit fashion catwalk, stage or exhibition floor. Each LED tile is 500mm x 500mm and can be individually programmed to emit "thousands of colours, limitless sequences, patterns and basic alphanumerical characters".

If the system is used as a raised stage, handrails can be locked into the floor to prevent guests from falling and if it is used at a height of 150mm a bevel is locked into the floor to allow safe access to and from the stage.

As well as the full colour, LED system, Staging Services also stocks a stylish check pattern in black and white vinyl and traditional polished parquet dance floors to suit different events.

(Jim Evans)

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Russia - Moscow Dynamo, the Russian capital's famous first division basketball team, inaugurated an impressive new arena recently: the Krylatskoe Basketball Sport Palace, complete with Outline sound system.

The Outline sound system installed comprises 12 Doppia II A 9075 point source systems in a tri-amped configuration and 32 compact two-way IS 6T enclosures, to ensure even distribution. The installation was completed with five T4 power amplifiers, three T44 and three Genius 26 processors, also manufactured by Outline.

Through the three DSP Genius 26's, each pair of Doppia (and also the 32 compact IS enclosures) can be controlled separately and in stereo format, enabling the system to be adapted to meet the venue's numerous sound requirements. The audio and lighting systems were supplied by Moscow's Koemart. The design, installation and fine-tuning of the audio system was car

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Italy - Milan's long-established The Rolling Stone venue has a new sound system. Adamson's Italian distributor, Reference Laboratory's Angelo Tordini specked and designed the main hall installation. It features three complete systems meant for diverse uses. One is the full size, flown, concert set-up. It is made up of two arrays of a single Y10 Sub on top, with four Y10's and four SpekTrix 5 degree boxes flown as in an under-hang. TwoY10 Subs, each equipped with two 18" Kevlar Neodymium drivers, are placed on the ground to add a balanced low-end and Reference Laboratory monitors are used on the stage to complete the concert system.

The second system is a complete surround style system used exclusively for the club nights and private events. The independent club system has two arrays of one SpekTrix Sub and a four SpekTrix under hang, placed directly opposite to the Concert

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USA - The Grinnell Water Works building in Charlotte, North Carolina was the scene of one of the city's biggest recent mega-bashes, a Players Ball hosted by national recording artist Calvin Richardson and Vintage Productions. LEDs, moving lights and other special effects from American DJ and Elation Professional were instrumental in setting a partying mood, according to lighting designer Jack Kelly of Eye Dialogue Lighting and Sound.

"The biggest visual challenge," said Kelly, "was to 'orient the party', which encompassed two separate spaces - a VIP area in the building's foyer, and a large tent for general admission guests." With each space having its own entrance, there were four lighting zones: VIP, VIP entrance, GA, and GA entrance.

"The easiest way to orient a room is to frame the entertainment and the bar, the two most valued gathering points at

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UK - The seventh annual A.C. Lighting North event in Leeds last week (1-2 May) saw the biggest increase in attendance levels since the event began - attracting over 30% more visitors than last year.

Owing to a construction delay with the new bigger Royal Armouries Saviles Hall, the event took place in its original location - a move which proved conclusively that the show has now outgrown the venue and will need the extra capacity to cope with predicted attendance levels in 2008.

The event provided a showcase of over 70 leading brands for buyers in the Midlands, North of England and Scotland, and also served as a platform for many exhibitors to unveil their new products to a UK audience for the first time this year.

This year's seminar highlights included unique talks from leading lighting designers Bernie Davis and Andy Doig, PSA general manager Andy Lenthall, and Barco crea

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Sweden - W-DMX Generation 3 BlackBox units, manufactured by Wireless Solution Sweden, will be used to send wireless DMX signal to moving trusses and other equipment during the Eurovision Song Contest, staged in Helsinki this month.

W-DMX will control a total of six universes of DMX, including moving trusses containing Syncrolite B-52s and moving lights. It is also being used on a 120cm large prism mirror ball suspended from the ceiling, custom assembled mobile fog machines, and a Cyberhoist-rigged Fogscreen that descends from above the stage during the interval act.

The new W-DMX Generation 3 BlackBox has a high power radio output with up to 375mW and uses AFHSS and TDMA to avoid interference - even in a television broadcast environment loaded with 24 cameras and a hostile radio signal atmosphere.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Aviom has named Michael J. McGinn as the company's new vice president of sales & marketing. Previously, he has worked in general management, marketing, and sales with Shure, Ecolab, and Eastman Kodak.

"The addition of Mike McGinn to our senior management team adds the kind of leadership that will bring our young and growing company to the next level," says Carl Bader, president and CEO of Aviom. "We went through a very detailed search process to fill this position and Mike stood out among many highly qualified candidates."

In addition to his contributions as a member of the company's senior management, McGinn now oversees all of Aviom's worldwide sales and marketing efforts.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Florida-based Chauvet has entered into a licensing agreement with Color Kinetics Incorporated whereby Chauvet has access to Color Kinetics' complete worldwide patent portfolio.

Chauvet CEO Albert Chauvet said, "Because we have invested heavily in LED technology and because we strongly believe that it is the way of the future, we took a pro-active stance in approaching Color Kinetics and seeking access to their patent portfolio. "We are thrilled that we were able to come to an agreement that will help us consolidate our position as a forward-thinking, groundbreaking company while still allowing us to offer the value that we are known for."

"Color Kinetics is committed to enabling the intelligent LED Lighting market by granting access to the IP we've funded and developed for over ten years," said Bill Sims, president and CEO, Color Kinetics. "

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UK - Zero 88 Lighting is being used extensively within the UK TV production sector, reports the company. Zero 88 distributor Flashlight continues to supply a range of control products to a number of production companies. The largest is 3 Sixty Media, the company formed by BBC Resources, Yorkshire Television and Granada Television.

The current filming schedule at Granada's studios includes the remake of hit wartime sitcom Allo Allo in Studio 12 which is controlled by an Illusion 500.

Provision is the TV and Camera rental division of Granada, providing all OB facilities for 3 Sixty Media. Based in Leeds at Yorkshire TV, current shows being serviced include Heartbeat and The Chase, which are both controlled on their own Illusion 500 with dimming being provided by Betapacks.

Stewart Grant, operations manager of the newly opened Manchester branch of Provision

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UK - Gearhouse Broadcast has invested in a comprehensive Optocore fibre solution from UK distributors Marquee Audio, for use with their Yamaha M7CL consoles on the current ATP Tennis Masters Series.

The company had been seeking a fibre system for audio distribution and freelance sound engineer Steve Ayres was asked by Gearhouse Broadcast's group technical director, Kevin Moorhouse, to investigate the options. "We always listen to the engineers we use, as in the end they have to physically use the kit on site," said Moorhouse. "We already had the M7CL desks - so this was a good solution."

Moorhouse arranged for Marquee Audio to lay on a full Optocore demonstration at the Gearhouse warehouse to ascertain "whether the product would actually deliver the solution we required."

Marquee Audio recommended five Optocore DD32E Digital I/O units as the cor

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UK - Stage Electrics training has recently become accredited to IPAF and PASMA, boosting the number of courses the company is able to offer.

IPAF's training objective is "to promote the use of safe working practices in the operation of mobile elevating and mast climbing work platforms and thereby make a positive contribution to the prevention of accidents".

In the early 1980s, PASMA devised a training course for users of alloy towers, now universally acknowledged as the industry standard, and so commenced a long history of skills training to make the use of access towers as safe as possible by producing many thousands of competent users.

The current Stage Electrics training programme now includes accredited courses, PASMA Mobile Access Tower training and IPAF Mobile Elevated Work Platform training (MEWP). The courses are a mixture of theory and hands on practical e

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