Europe - Playing live in support of her 10th studio album, I Inside the Old Year Dying, avant-rock artist PJ Harvey played a string of sold-out dates at carefully chosen venues. As a close-knit touring family working with one of the industry’s most talented musicians, her engineers required audio solutions from a supplier that understood the calibre of detail needed on her production.
Monitor engineer Magali Couturier has been with PJ Harvey for some years now, and has exact expectations from her vendor, including knowing that dedication comes from the top. “I first met [Skan director] Chris Fitch at Glastonbury in the ‘90s, it was the first time I’d seen a ‘boss’ that was so ‘hands-on’. He really cares about the human experience around him,” she says

USA - At NAMM 2024, DiGiCo announced that it will soon be offering second-generation software updates for its Quantum338, Quantum338T, and Quantum225 mixing consoles. Available in April for a nominal fee, the Mk 2 software packages, known as Pulse, will increase the input channel and buss counts of each desk model, plus add other notable features.
On the Quantum338 and Quantum338T, the new upgrade will increase the number of input channels to 156 (from 128), busses to 72 (from 64), Mustard Processors to 48 (from 36), and Nodal Processors to 72 (from 64). Other perks include the addition of Mix Minus functionality, plus a larger 36x36 Matrix on the ‘T’ theatre-software model of the console (up from 24x24).
Similarly, Pulse will bump up the Quantum225’s power and versatility, raising its input channel count to 96 (from 72), buss count to 48 (from 36), and Mustard a

Spain - Audio-Technica has launched a new version of its ATND1061 beamforming microphone, compatible with the company’s proprietary Audio-Technica Link communication protocol. The ATND1061LK benefits from Audio-Technica Link’s IP technology for transmission of uncompressed multi-channel digital audio and for information control with minimum latency.
A solution for conference rooms, boardrooms, lecture theatres and more, the ATND1061LK searches for the speaker’s position, allowing for accurate tracking of - and switching between – participants who move during meetings or presentations. It also detects unwanted sounds during a meeting and automatically adjusts the beam so that it is not pointed in that direction.
The ATND1061LK can be flush- or surface-mounted in a drop ceiling or hard ceiling or mounted in open architecture spaces via a standard VESA mount. The
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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

Italy - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Takis Tsonopoulos as business development manager for the MEA region. In his new role, effective from 1 February 2024, Tsonopoulos will be responsible for new and existing clients and working closely with high-level decision-makers in the region.
Tsonopoulos brings over 30 years of industry experience to his new role and joins Powersoft from Harman International, where he worked as an account manager, overseeing professional audio distributor accounts for the south EMEA regions.
“For me, quality is not only about the products of the brand, but also the level of support, people behind the company and the overall experience working with a brand. I am confident that Powersoft exceeds expectations in each of these aspects,” he says.
Looking forward to opportunities in the Middle East and Africa market, Tsonopou

Spain - At ISE 2024, Holophonix will debut its new 2.2 software version for all its immersive platforms – including hardware processors, and the Holophonix Native app for macOS – plus a new touring-ready hardware processor, called Holophonix Ultra. The Ultra offers higher performances for real-time spatialisation, with up to 512 inputs and outputs, an embedded touch screen, redundant power supplies, and more. The new Ultra platform also introduces a new scalable licensing model. The new version 2.2 software update is free and will be available on 5 February, 2024, at https://holophonix.xyz/
The Ultra hardware processor – now available for order with deliveries starting in Q2 2024 – features a redesigned chassis machined from aluminium blocks, integrating a powerful and touring-ready hardware configuration tailored for demanding setups.
Featuring ultra-low audi

Puerto Rico - The design team at The Playground created a memorable moment this December during La Meta, the final five concerts in Daddy Yankee’s career. It occurred in their show’s fourth act when a massive stone bust emerged on the deeply immersive stage at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico to reveal the reggaeton star and his trademark geometric goat head logo.
It was a moment that no one in the packed arena is ever likely to forget, which is precisely what the Playground team of Curtis Adams (show and creative director); Trevor Ahlstrand (production designer); and Sooner Routhier (production designer), aspired to achieve when they collaborated on the show.
Working with lighting programmers Will Flavin and Dane Kick and drawing on the power of a 4Wall Entertainment supplied rig that featured over 500 Chauvet Professional fixtures, the designers captured the essence of

UK - Owing to the demand in services, Artistic Solutions has appointed a regional hire manager to oversee operations north of the border in Scotland. Neil McCallum is based in Fife, and his primary role will be to continue to support clients into 2024 and beyond.
Neil joins Artistic Solutions with considerable experience, with a strong background in live theatre working with both professional and amateur organisations. His expertise will cover hire, sales and installations.

Italy - K-array, is marking the beginning of 2024 with a series of new appointments aimed at strengthening the brand’s development on a global scale, with a focus on the AV market. Internally, Francesco Maffei, Simone Rossoni, Daniel Strasserra and Lorenzo De Poi are adopting new and strategic roles within the company, whilst well-known industry name, Vincenzo Borelli, joins K-array in the role of business development manager focused on the live events market.
Francesco Maffei, formerly area sales manager EMEA, has been appointed to the new role of sales director. In this role, Maffei will oversee commercial efforts across all regions. “Having been part of the K-array story since the beginning, I'm very proud and excited to take on this new role,” he states.
Also joining the sales team, Simone Rossoni will be responsible for driving growth and providing comprehen

USA - Obsidian Control Systems has announced the addition of Daniel Boerner to its expanding global team as a newly appointed technical support and training specialist. Daniel started in the new position in November and uses his expertise in lighting control to support Obsidian’s Netron line of data distribution products. Over time, his role will extend to encompass support for all products under the Obsidian brand.
Daniel brings experience from his previous position at Acuity Brands, where he served as a technical support specialist for six distinct product lines. Additionally, he served as coach, author, and publisher for a Knowledge Centered Service (KCS) programme, contributing content for customer-facing troubleshooting and training.
In his new role at Obsidian, Daniel’s primary responsibilities encompass firmware/software testing, customer support, and the cr

Spain - Claypaky will be showcasing its recently launched products for all kinds of events from touring to theatre productions. Booth 1D150 at Fira Barcelona is where visitors can see and learn about the latest products and innovative technologies for the entertainment industry. It is also the first time since ARRI’s acquisition of Claypaky, that two companies will be exhibiting together at ISE and presenting an even broader portfolio together.
With demand for IP-rated fixtures continuing to grow, Claypaky will feature the Shield Family IP66 product range with fixtures such as Arolla Aqua and HY B-EYE K15 Aqua. The Shield Family - which included Skylos, Arolla Aqua, Mini-B Aqua, Xtylos Aqua - launched a new standard of weather-resistant, high-performance, ultra-durable and long-lasting fixtures. These IP66-certified lights have advantages in performance, handling and use.

Spain - Sennheiser will focus on its industry partnerships and alliances at ISE 2024. Located in Hall 3 of the Fira Barcelona, Gran Via, the Sennheiser booth (3C500) will feature an interactive touchscreen for attendees to easily discover the Sennheiser technology and collaborations that streamline integration and deliver engaging experiences.
Integrators, consultants, and end-users can explore the full potential of Sennheiser products when paired with solutions produced by its global partners and alliances. Throughout the event, Sennheiser is collaborating with 20 leading manufacturers from their partner network, including Airtame, Audac, AVer, Crestron, Lightware, Lumens, Q-SYS, Xilica, and more, to deliver an in-show campaign that highlights the benefits of their combined solutions.
ISE attendees are encouraged to participate in an app-led scavenger hunt across Senn

Spain - Christie will showcase how its smart technologies help to deliver ‘unforgettable experiences for customers’ at ISE 2024.
In Hall 3, on stand 3K500, Christie will present its latest visual solutions, including LED video walls, 1DLP laser projectors, RGB pure laser projectors, and powerful content management and processing solutions. With several first-time product showings in the region, visitors will see how the latest technologies perform in a range of engaging applications, under this year’s theme of ‘Experience is Everything.’
“As founding members of ISE, we’re delighted to be part of the show’s 20th anniversary,” says Arlonna Seymour, executive director, corporate marketing, at Christie. “Fuelled by 95 years of experience and know-how as a technology innovator, our solutions allow creatives and partners to deliver exceptional immersive e

Spain - Robe Lighting will exhibit on booths 1C700 and 1D700 in Hall 1 at ISE 2024, where it and sister businesses - Anolis, Avolites and Artistic Licence - will share a present an interesting array of new and popular products.
Robe highlights several new products including from its award-winning IP rated i-series - the iForte and iForte LTX, iPainte, iESprite, iBeam 350, iTetra2 and iT12 Profile - for all environments - characterised by their innovative features, rugged weather resistance and for being identical to non-IP rated versions of the same products, allowing the flexibility of easy mixing on the same lighting plot.
A new variant of the T32 Cyc will be previewed, as will the latest in the Footsie1 and Footsie2 footlight range, the Footsie TM Slim.
Also previewed is Robe’s much anticipated iBolt. With the same feature set as Robe’s groundbreaking an

Europe - PRG is expanding its extensive sound reinforcement portfolio with several LD Systems MAILA XXL systems including accessories. In Germany, PRG is represented by over 350 employees at five locations and has more than 20,000m2 of warehouse space.
"We heard MAILA for the first time during an on-site visit to the Adam Hall Group Experience Centre and were immediately impressed," explains Udo Willburger, CEO of PRG AG. "This applies not only to the sound, but also to the efficient handling of the entire system.
“Especially in the corporate events sector, a system with a slim form factor and high flexibility in a wide range of applications is an enormous advantage when it comes to producing cost-effectively and still being able to deliver top results."
MAILA XXL is the largest and most powerful MAILA (Modular All-Round Intelligent Line-Array) system with a t

UK - LIVE has partnered with Handle Freelance Solutions, The Back Lounge and UK LIVE Event Freelancers Forum to launch a survey, The Hidden Side of Freelancing 2024, to understand and identify the changes required to improve the experience of freelancers who are crucial to the success of the live music industry.
Launched this week, the new survey will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. The survey aims to help freelancers understand their true value and benchmark their own experience whilst also celebrating what makes live music a great industry for freelancers. The results will then be assessed, culminating in a publicly available report that will be published in April 2024.
Industry organisations such as Entourage Pro, Production Futures, NOWIE, Rego, and Power of Events are all key supporting partners of

UK - Max Webster’s intense production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, featuring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, opened to positive reviews at London’s Donmar Warehouse in December.
Played out on Rosanna Vize’s stark, minimalist set, comprising a flat white platform backed by a glass wall that isolates off-stage actors from the action, the audience listens through binaural headphones that catch every nuance of the actors’ speech, drawing them deeper and more intimately into the text - and Macbeth’s mental state.
Lighting designer, Bruno Poet, accentuates this intensity with the help of Ayrton Khamsin TC fixtures: “The simplicity of the set - the sharp-edged white platform contrasting heavily with the black surroundings - combined with the detail of the soundscape meant it wasn’t always necessary to see the actors’ faces fully,” explains Poet. “This

Turkey - Lighting designer Martin Kuhn tapped into the power and reliability of a grandMA3 replay unit to run a spectacular permanent show that he designed for Istanbul’s Maiden’s Tower. The landmark stands on a tiny islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 300m from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, and has recently re-opened after restoration.
Martin was working for Istanbul AV specialist ASTEL and end client, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The lighting includes 48 Ayrton Cobra moving lights which are positioned around the perimeter of the lower sea wall in protective cabinets that open when the show starts, and a selection of 76 Anolis Eminere and Calumma fixtures illuminating the various architectural elements, together with 27 SGM P2s and P6 LED floods.
The lights are connected via six grandMA3 2Port Nodes and two MA Netw

Europe - Following its release as an infrastructure matrix, DirectOut has announced the first major upgrade of its PRODIGY.MX. The upgrade will be shown for the first time at The NAMM Show 2024 and ISE 2024.
Bundled in the ‘Advanced’ system licence, the DirectOut development team has added a number of new features to extend the scope of its latest PRODIGY mainframe. The smart platform now offers a 64x64 Matrix Mixer (MatMix) and 64 Flex Channels, which can be loaded with IIR Filters, Dynamics and Delay PlugIns. 64 Input Managers and EARS for all Input channels add an extraordinary level of redundancy and resilience to the system. To tailor cost-effective solutions, all features can be purchased as part of smaller plugin bundles or in combination as part of the ‘Advanced’ system licence.
“We are excited to see how our Audio Solution Model (ASM) comes to life w

Spain - ISE 2024 is set to be a busy show for the OCA Alliance with news of new products from member companies, new presentations from technical experts, and a new update to the AES70 control standard. Throughout the show, the OCA Alliance will be demonstrating the benefits and possibilities of an open public control standard at booth #7G400 in Hall 7 at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.
On hand during the show will be representatives of member companies showcasing products and solutions that support AES70. Software, hardware, finished products, and development platforms will all be on offer, highlighting the vast OCA ecosystem of AES70-supporting technologies from all areas of the industry. For integrators, developers, and users alike, these demonstrations will highlight the flexibility, ease, and opportunities that open public standards bring to product development and syste

Denmark - Set in the rolling hills of the Danish countryside, HimmerLand is a resort combining golf and spa facilities with award-winning bistros, bowling alley, outdoor sporting activities and flexible meeting spaces.
HimmerLand recently expanded its offering to include a large multipurpose hall, smaller meeting rooms, a golf simulator and fitness centre. Leading the AV design and integration was COMM2IG - a Danish company specialising in technology solutions - who opted for a Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker system.
"The off-axis dispersion of Genelec models is excellent, which is very helpful for meeting rooms," explains Søren Maibom, solution manager and sound designer at COMM2IG. "HimmerLand also wanted a very Nordic design for these spaces, and Genelec’s form factor works really well in this context. In fact, the team wanted to hide the loudspeaker system initiall

Spain - Follow-Me Tracking Solutions is exhibiting on their own booth for the first time at ISE. Since Follow-Me began with the development of their first remote follow-spot software, the company has gone on to develop full systems for both manual and auto-tracking.
The Follow-Me product range allows for growth within the scope of manual tracking right through to full auto tracking. Follow-Me is fixture independent: it can control any manufacturers type of moving light via Art-Net, sACN and includes OSC & PSN to integrate with sound systems and motion control. A manual Follow-Me 3D System is completely scalable to also include the additional FollowMe Track-iT System for auto-tracking.
Follow-Me enables multiple performers, unlimited fixtures per performer, sizeable performance area (from small theatre to a large stadium) and also the requirements of both manual an

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