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Finland - The 52nd Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Hartwall Arena in the Finnish capital of Helsinki in early May. A record 42 nations participated in what is becoming an ever-more complex and sophisticated technical production event that was broadcast to an estimated global TV audience of 100 million. Following the success of last year's Eurovision show in Athens, it was decided that a similar system be used in Helsinki. Sound company Akun Tehdas was called in to supply a total of four InnovaSON digital mixing consoles to equip both FoH and monitor positions.

Akun Tehdras put in place a dual redundancy system throughout, which effectively meant two of everything, one of which was purely for back-up purposes. As InnovaSON's technical field manager, Matthieu Le Failler poin

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Germany - Bosch Security Systems has added a visual notification appliance to its range of 420 Series fire-detector accessories. The Strobe 420 Series is compatible with Bosch's base sounder to provide optimal visible and audible fire alarm warning in a wide range of applications. The strobe has a new LED design that produces synchronised, high-visibility flashes at 1Hz. Light flashing in the 1 to 3 Hz frequency range avoids possible blinding effects or disturbance to persons with photosensitivity. The 420 series strobe is an addressable device with the advantage that it is loop powered, freely configurable and determining which strobe is switched on and in which event.

When used with a Bosch 420 Series detector base, the strobe can be used as a stand-alone device. It also allows automatic component identification, address assignment support and functional security in the event

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UK - Academy Music Group (AMG) has confirmed a further capacity increase for its newest venue, Carling Academy Oxford. The new total building capacity is now 1,350. The site of the former Zodiac on Cowley Road is currently in development to create three separate, flexible performance spaces for live music and club events.

The £2m project will be completed in September, with state of the art facilities both front of house and backstage. "We have been working closely with the local authorities to increase the overall site capacity and we're delighted with this new offering for touring artists and promoters. We plan to operate up to three separate rooms if required, and can increase the auditorium of Carling Academy Oxford for larger touring acts, utilising the maximum lower floor space. The upstairs 'Zodiac' room can also run at the same time with a flexible capacity fo

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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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Mexico - The cities of Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey were host to a series of special concerts by the Alan Parsons Live Project (APLP), fronted by Alan Parsons and PJ Olsson. Handling the lighting programming and operation was Martin Thomas of Relentless Lighting Design who employed a Martin Maxxyz for the task.

"I had been using the Maxxyz with The Alan Parsons Live Project since 2005 whenever I could, but many of the shows the act does are one-offs and there is no touring production," Martin comments. "I had also just used the Maxxyz on the 2006 African/European leg of The Black Eyed Peas and the 2006 US Tour for Chris Brown - it is my first choice of console for any of the acts I'm doing.

He continues, "The Maxxyz has an ease of programming that allows me to build several complicated cuelists in a short period of time. The layout of the console

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World - A pair of grandMA consoles is accompanying Beyonce on her world tour, which kicked off in Tokyo and excited Australia before commencing its European leg. With the tour described as a cross between a theatrical play and a rock 'n roll show, the grandMAs control an extensive array of media servers and lighting instruments.

The set is dominated by a tracking staircase unit where the band and back-up vocals live, entirely fitted with Barco's OLite modules. Complementing the staircase unit are drapes, which fly or track in and out to create not only additional scenery but also projection surfaces.

"Beyonce wanted something simple yet sophisticated. The aesthetic is very clean and simple, and the technology is neat," notes Justin Collie who created the performance environment design for Artfag LLC. "Video is an integral part of the show and the visual effects

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USA - Getting named Number One on Time magazine's list of Top Ten theatre shows of 2006 was just one of many accolades the Broadway musical Grey Gardens has received since opening to a successful off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons theatre. The show is now settled into a lengthy stay at the Walter Kerr Theatre in the heart of Manhattan's theatre district.

In addition to earning multiple acting awards, the production has earned ample praise for its lighting, music, and sound. To provide even coverage for the 975-seat Kerr Theatre - which hasn't housed a musical in nearly 20 years - sound designer Brian Ronan chose a self-powered system from Meyer Sound.

"This show has a very old-school musical feel," says Ronan, a veteran of more than 20 years in New York's theatre scene. "There isn't a lot of spectacle. No more than eight singers are on stage at any

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UK - Litestructures Studios celebrated its second anniversary with the announcement that the studio has surpassed occupancy targets with a steady string of concert tours making use of the facility.

Two years ago, Litestructures Studios opened its doors to host production rehearsals for Coldplay's Twisted Logic tour. Since, the Studio has hosted rehearsals for Cirque de Soleil, Franz Ferdinand, Prodigy, Scissor Sisters, Pussycat Dolls, Muse, George Michael, Basement Jaxx, Robbie Williams, Kaiser Chiefs, Massive Attack, Beautiful South, Westlife, Journey, Australian Pink Floyd Show, Faithless, Meat Loaf and many others.

"The Litestructures Studio has exceeded our expectations during its first two years," said Brent Woods, Litestructures Studios' general manager. "The unbeatable combination of the studio's high specification, support services and Lite

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USA - Bill Sapsis has announced the formation of the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC).

Based on the model of the TEA conferences produced by Richard Brett in London in 2002 and 2006, NATEAC (www.NATEAC.org) will offer more than 50 panellists speaking at over 20 sessions on topics ranging from current rigging technology to the makeup of stage floors, as well as a discussion of where the proscenium will be by the year 2020.

The conference will take place on 20 and 21 July 2008 at the Michael Schimmel Centre for the Arts at Pace University in downtown Manhattan, NYC.

"The goal of the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference is to promote communication between the architects, engineers, consultants and manufacturers responsible for designing and building new theatres and renovating existing facilities in North Ame

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UK - RSS by Roland has just launched a dedicated UK website: www.rss-uk.co.uk. It includes all the latest news about the RSS product range, which exhibitions will be attended, and all the latest updates and software drivers.

Dealer information including links and a map with their location, configuration diagrams for Digital Snake, case studies from around the world and links to industry partners are featured.

(Jim Evans)

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Spain - Blackout France provided a variety of equipment including rigging, drapes, and motors for the glittering Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony and after-show party. The main rigging contractor for the event was Vertigo Rigging.

Hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr, the global sporting star studded event was held at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. In creating a fun and exciting atmosphere, Blackout worked with line producer, Amandine Reynolds and Pierre-Marie Quere at Monte-Carlo based production company CATS.

"We had to create a fabulous International event for 650 high-profile guests. Working with many suppliers from different countries, we were very impressed that the Blackout staff were multi-lingual. This helped us a great deal in co-ordinating the show and ensured that we could work to tight deadlines. I couldn't dream of working with a better team than Steve T

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UK - White Light has announced the next round of training courses offered by its Training Initiative training and education scheme. The company will offer four training days during June, covering moving lights, Avo lighting consoles and pyrotechnics.

The two-part Moving Light course will take place on Wednesday 20 June (Level 1) and Thursday 21 June (Level 2) at White Light's base in Wimbledon, south-west London, running from 10am to 4pm. The Level 1 course provides an introduction to moving lights, including basic set-up and handling, discussions on their potential uses, health and safety issues and basic care and maintenance.

The Level 2 course goes into more detail on fault finding in the lamp circuit, the motor circuit and the sensor and feedback systems, as well as giving a more in-depth look at cleaning and maintenance.

The Pyrotechnics course, run in association with

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UK - At-Bristol, one of the UK's leading science and discovery centres, has recently completed a major overhaul of the audio and video facilities at the various exhibition and conference spaces on its Bristol site.

The installation involved equipping the Science and Exhibition centres with AMX automation systems to control the AV facilities. All of the cabling was provided by VDC Trading, which supplied a range of Van Damme cables.

Ed Williams, At-Bristol's technical director, says: "This project was very extensive and has taken us nearly three years to complete. Although we were working to a tight budget, we insisted on using Van Damme cable because it is of such high quality and we wanted products that were going to be reliable and easy to maintain."

At-Bristol offers a world of hands-on discovery where exploration and education go hand in hand with a fun day out

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New Zealand - Selecon Performance Lighting has several new product debuts planned for the ABTT Theatre Show 2007 in London next month, including the long throw Toru 4º-8º followspot, the third and final model from the Performer Series range of followspots.

Previously seen in preproduction mode and now in full production, the Toru 4º-8º followspot has been well received with several orders for major theatres including two units destined for the Barbican, and five Toru 4º-8º followspots for Norway's new National Opera House in Oslo, together with four short throw Tahi 18º-24º models.

ABTT Theatre Show visitors will also have the chance to try out the newly remodelled Acclaim Fresnel and PC which introduce heat management to 500W / 650W luminaires, typically used in schools and community theatres. This new feature ensures operators can focus these versatile little stage l

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Abu Dhabi - German sound reinforcement manufacturer Kling & Freitag has appointed ESE Special Electronics as its sole distribution partner in the GCC with immediate effect. The signing ceremony took place at PALME Middle East 2007.

"Kling & Freitag is a recognised brand in the UAE and we're proud to be offering their range of speakers, amplifiers and controllers in our overall catalogue" said ESE general manager Faris Al-Azzawi. "The UAE market is a competitive one for any state of the art audio-visual equipment. Having the rights to distribute Kling & Freitag's audio equipment gives us a niche in the market."

"We are proud to engage in this strategic alliance with ESE, as they have a proven track record in the industry," said Kling & Freitag export manager Martin Schlockwerder. "We have been discussing the logistics of this appointment and I

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UK - Audio-Technica has completely reengineered its Engineered Sound integrator microphone line, introducing over 50 new models featuring the company's UniGuard RFI protection technology.

The reengineered ES series, comprises a comprehensive assortment of 32 gooseneck, 12 hanging, seven boundary, a lavalier and a handheld microphone, and "utilises breakthrough audio and mechanical design improvements, to set new standards for signal quality, reliability, and ease of installation," says the company. Chief among these is the inclusion of UniGuard RFI-shielding, providing immunity from radio frequency interference - increasingly important in today's increasingly hostile RF environment.

Redesign of the series has also allowed for removal of substances specified in the EU's RoHS directive, making the series fully compliant. Other new features include the PivotPoint rotati

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Brazil - Loudness Sonorizacao of Sao Paulo recently provided a massive sound reinforcement system for the Red Bull Air Race in Rio de Janeiro's Botafogo Bay, one of he largest sports event in Brazilian history.

The first Red Bull Air Race was held in 2003 and has since come to be regarded as the definitive competition featuring the world's most skilled pilots. In 2007, 12 events are being held across the world, each featuring a contest in which the pilots must navigate an airborne racecourse in the shortest possible time. The result is low-level flying at extremely high speeds, bringing the air race experience very close to the spectators.

Established in 1976, Loudness Sonorizacao's system included four towers of 16 JBL Vertec VT4889 line array elements each (64 in total), powered by Crown I-Tech 8000 amplifiers. Low-frequency fill was provided by 64 JBL SRX728 loudspeaker sub

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USA - One of the hottest tickets of the touring season, the double bill of Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend, played sold-out dates at arenas across the US. during a run of spring performances together. The smooth, sultry tenor that won Legend five Grammy Awards blended with Bailey Rae's laid back British soul to create an evening of delicious R&B that offered something for everyone.

Michigan's Thunder Audio collaborated with Schubert Systems of North Hollywood on the tour, with both acts playing through Thunder's sound system, which was built around two arrays of 12 Meyer Sound Milo high-power curvilinear array loudspeakers, augmented by four UPJ-1P compact VariO loudspeakers for front-fill coverage. System processing was provided by a Galileo loudspeaker management system.

"It was really a great double bill," remarks Thunder Audio vice president Paul Owen. "C

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UK - Audi drew the crowds outside the Royal Opera House on Saturday 12 May, with PRG Europe lighting two Audi R8 Coupes parked outside on platforms. Lighting designer Michael Odam came up with a stunning new look for the cars on the plinths. Thomas PixelLine LED battens and Vari*Lite VL2000 spots loaded with Audi gobos produced by PRG Europe all made the cars look their best for the passing crowds.

A full-colour Audi logo was shone onto the side of the building, while Audi logos spun across the two sports cars. It was all in aid of an annual event sponsored by the car manufacturer at the Royal Opera House, where invited guests attend the opera and a gala dinner before being chauffeured home.

Crew chief Steve Russell said: "The crew and I got soaked when we were rigging all the lights, but we kept all the units dry and it stopped raining before it got dark. Fortunately the

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Australia - The BB03.5 is the newest member of Acoustic Technologies' BB subwoofer family. Joining the larger BB05 and BB07, the BB03.5 is a compact single 18" design. Employing a 2000 Watt Neodymium driver, the BB03.5 takes full advantage of the latest in transducer technology and computer aided design.

The optimally tuned ported enclosure is the product of extensive computer modelling and analysis, says the company. As a result, the BB03.5 offers bass performance usually associated with much larger sub bass systems. The BB03.5 is capable of delivering accurate low frequency energy extending down to 35Hz with "exceptional definition and control".

The BB03.5 enclosure is constructed using premium grade, void free Finnish Birch Ply and is extensively braced to virtually eliminate cabinet resonances. Standard finish is black AcoustiCoate elastomer coating, but for

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UK - SPS has launched LiveSign, a new digital signage offering aimed at the live events industry.LiveSign utilises the principals of permanent digital signage seen at airports, railway stations and retail environments and makes it accessible to the live events market, says the company. This technology is designed for conferences and exhibitions and can be developed for any number of live events, from a one-day conference or three-day exhibition, to a week-long sporting event.

Among LiveSign's features is the ability to change information instantaneously and at the last minute, with no disruption to the live displays. This makes it possible to alter the time of a seminar or the name of a speaker and publish these changes on all the screens at the event. Of particular interest for conferences and exhibitions is that LiveSign enables several screens to display different information

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Switzerland - ARX Systems, the Australian based pro audio manufacturer has announced the appointment of Soundhouse Musicservice AG as its new distributor for Switzerland.

ARX managing director Colin Park says, "Soundhouse's MD Herbert Schwerzmann and I finalised the distribution agreement at the recent Frankfurt Pro Light and Sound and we both agreed ARX's range of signal processing products was a very complementary fit with the other lines Soundhouse currently represents.

"The Swiss audio industry has always been important to ARX and we're looking forward to working with Herbert Schwerzmann and his energetic team at Soundhouse MusicService."

Alongside ARX, Soundhouse MusicService also represents a number of other manufacturers including Martin Audio and Apex.

(Jim Evans)

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