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14 March 2016

As MD Adrian Brooks explained: "The tremendous rise in popularity of line array sound systems within the concert and touring sector of the pro-sound marketplace has created a problem. They need to be flown, and many venues do not have the facility to easily do this. LiteMast provides a convenient, labour-saving and cost-effective solution, hence the interest from this area, with both manufacturers and hire companies enquiring."

The company also launched LiteBarrier, a modular crowd control system with advanced features and superior ergonomics, designed to hold back the pressing hordes. Commenting

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14 March 2016

The Roadie Compact features a twin block design. Dual, high-output 1.5KW heat exchangers work with a high performance fan to provide long, stage-filling projections. Versatile and capable of casting a variety of effects from a controlled haze to a high-density fog, the Roadie Compact can also be positioned vertically for geyser effects or towers of fog.

On board controls allow for independent smoke possibilities with full functionality capable from a remote control (accessory). Control via DMX is a standard feature. Designed to accept a variety of fluids for different effect options, a large 9.5 litre fluid container and easy remote fluid connection mean fluid refill

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14 March 2016

LD/set designer Paul Normandale and lighting director Glen Johnson have carried Wholehog 3 consoles on a number of tours the past few years.

Says Johnson: "Its Only Natural (referencing a popular Crowded House song title) that I would choose the Wholehog 3 console again for this tour after my faultless year with it on James Blunt."

UK's Lite Alternative provided the two Wholehog 3 consoles, along with two Playback Wings, a full-size Expansion Wing and 2 DP 2000s. Upstaging is the lighting contractor on the US tour.

"Crowded House have a catalogue of 100-plus songs with over 70 programmed in the console," Johnson explains. "While I am given a set list every night of 20 songs, it is rare for them to keep to the set, an

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14 March 2016

KV2 CEO Jonathan Reece-Farren commented: "The new brand image was tried out at Frankfurt last year and everyone loved it and this has now been rolled out into the new brochure and website to reflect our intention to align the image of the brand alongside the high level perception that our products enjoy, something that hasn't necessarily been the case in the past and it was about time to change.

"The website is easier to navigate and provides a very simple format in which to store a large amount of information whilst looking fantastic. And the brochure is similar. It's pa

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14 March 2016

Two years in the making, VectorWorks 2008 features a new name in addition to new features and enhancements developed with the direct input of VectorWorks users. VectorWorks 2008 offers new technology to optimise workflows, enrich presentations, and facilitate collaboration, says the company.

VectorWorks 2008 offers interface improvements, placing at the user's fingertips the exact controls needed to finish designs with little wasted effort or distraction. A new heads-up Data Display bar brings precision drawing into the user's line of sight, with the ability to switch quickly between mouse and keyboard inputs.

A new View bar consolidates often-used viewing

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14 March 2016

Novatech provided all the sound, lighting and video production services that were required, including the logistics for touring three states in 72 hours: Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

The concerts presented a huge challenge due to the close proximity of the tour dates and the tyranny of distance which needed to be covered, some 5,600km, with Novatech arranging the logistics, equipment and staff for the shows as well as the actual production.

Lighting control included a combination of six LSC ePAK dimmers and numerous LSC Delta DMX splitters to ensure that the shows ran smoot

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14 March 2016

DarkSide sales director Simon Ellison worked closely with the venue to complete the project. "This permanent curved system is a real innovation in theatres, and makes lighting set-up a much safer operation," said Ellison. "Previously, the industry option was a temporary life-line. These are great for straight lines, but can't work around the curves of a balcony. So you've had technicians risking their safety by clipping on and off truss or, worse still, balcony handrails - which are completely untested for strength or their ability to cope in a fall situation."

DarkSide's solution is three twin line permanent systems

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14 March 2016

The event featured the award-winning Pro16 personal mixing system, with an Aviom digital snake distributing all of the mixes to a Yamaha PM5D console outfitted with an AVIOM16/o-Y1 A-Net Interface Card.

Adams Entertainment, who also produced last year's live documentary/concert Primal Twang: The History of the Guitar, filmed the Love In performances for commercial release in 2008. That meant that the show's audio producer, Henry Austin of Professional Production Associates, had to design a system that would serve the needs of both the live and recorded elements of the production.

"I selected Aviom for this mission-critical gig fo

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14 March 2016

After being involved with the Rush in Rio Vapour Trails Tour, Pyrotek Special Effects was consulted to brighten up a number of songs for their present tour. Long time lighting designer, and agent, Howard Ungerleider approached pyrotechnician John Arrowsmith to come up with a number of special effects.

With a focus for a concussion effect to emphasise a specific moment in their newest hit single Far Cry, the requested effect was to synchronise upon the completion of the course. Arrowsmith collaborated with Doug Adams (designer & president of Pyrotek Special Effects) to design an element to the theme which ends with a big punctuation.

During production rehearsals at the Hershey Centre (Mi

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14 March 2016

"Our strong financial performance during the last three fiscal years has allowed us to team up with one of the largest banks in America," said Frank Gordon, HES CEO. "We intend to use the new facility to further support technology innovation and its global sales effort."

"High End sales revenue continues to grow dramatically in Europe, the Middle East and Asia and we have now strengthened our position to provide customers more financing options and to support dealer sales with more demonstration equipment," said Bill Morris, HES executive vice-president.

Merritt Belisle joined High End Systems as chairman in January. "I was excited by the outstanding team of innovators when I joined High End," Belisle said. "The sea

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14 March 2016

Lighting designer Vince Foster created a breathtaking centrepiece for the 4,000 revellers - a moving LED chandelier structure featuring 100 PixelArt video battens and 50 PixelLine 1044s. Over 100 Pixeline 1044s highlighted the enormous ground support truss and another 50 provided a chevron video wall on the live acts stage.

Foster enthuses: "PixelLine 1044s are one of my favourite LED fixtures and are constantly specified in my designs. I am very impressed with the new PixelArt video batten, the resolution is outstanding, creating further design flexibility."

To enable the guests to see the trains going in a

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14 March 2016

Show Technology marked the occasion by holding Robert Juliat showcase events at their Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices. Special guest was Lionel Garraud, Robert Juliat's international sales director.

Products on display included the Cyrano followspot, the Quincy architectural profile, the Lutin fresnel and the award-winning Super Korrigan followspot (2006 Live Design International Products of the Year).

Show Technology's managing director Emmanuel Ziino commented, "The market has shown a great acceptance for Robert Juliat and there is pent up demand for the product. We have committed to building up stock and consequently will have showroom stock in all of our b

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14 March 2016

"Christina Aguilera's production team brought in much of their stage equipment including mixing consoles, band gear, LED screens, and the stage set. This was transported in about eight 40ft cargo containers," noted Jaime Godinez, owner of Sound Check. "Our primary task was to ensure a properly-deployed sound reinforcement system for sound mixer Tony Blanc, so that he would be able to present this dynamic show to a 30,000-person outdoor crowd."

Sound Check's main speaker system consisted of 56 Vertec midsize full-range loudspeakers, configured as 36 cabinets of Vertec VT4888DP's with JBL DrivePack technology for the left and right

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14 March 2016

Based in Saint-Petersburg, TRK5 uses the FusionPro+ to process video and audio signals for the display on a 16-display videowall in its sports news department, and the second unit is used with a four-displayvideowall in a talk-show studio. The latter setup is configured so that the four displays can be used to display a large single image.

Anastasia Mikhailova, marketing manager for Viking Russia, reports, "We specify this equipment to all of our broadcasting and television studio clients due to the advanced image processing qualities and competitive price. Our client, TRK5 required a solution that would combine multiple inputs in all the commonly used formats such as HD, SD

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14 March 2016

Sound system supplier IJS was contracted to fulfil all audio requirements. The brief was clear, as IJS engineer for the event, Rob Bird explained: "The show requirements were specified by Hillsong Church; they submitted a generic rider that you would expect to see for any large touring act. They asked for Yamaha PM5D consoles and the rest was pretty much a list of the usual along with detailed stage plots and line lists. They tour all their own engineers."

Bird, in collaboration with fellow IJS engineer Nathan Davis, determined a d&b J-Series system best suited the mixed d

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14 March 2016

Sound Network director Ralph Dunlop attributes the company's success to its continued belief in providing the best advice and service to the professional sound industry, together with continued support from a loyal group of clients who recommend Sound Network to a growing number of new customers.

"After being involved personally with B&K and then DPA for over 20 years, it is a real honour to be awarded Distributor of the Year," says Dunlop. "In the last two years we have made concerted efforts to introduce DPA Microphones into a variety of new market areas, and due to the products' enviable build quality and versatility we have been very successful.&q

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14 March 2016

Bristol-based lighting specialists, Utopium have once again worked with AMG to introduce state-of-the-art facilities to the design of its three-room operation at Carling Academy Oxford.

Richard Maides, Academy Music Group's operations manager says: "We have worked with Utopium on a number of installations at our venues in Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool, Islington and Glasgow and as a group we invest heavily in both our PA and lighting equipment. We aim high in our production values so that all AMG properties offer the same excellent in-house production facilities for both international touring acts and the very best for upcoming talent looking

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14 March 2016

ORF's central radio facility, in the capital of Vienna, comprises small to medium sized studios used for recording radio talk shows and small live music shows as well as high-level post production. Its recent purchase of three Soundtracs DS-00 digital consoles - two for its Vienna facility, the third for its Eisenstadt regional studio - is part of a series of such installations there.

"ORF have used Soundtracs consoles for some time, having had DS3s previously, and are familiar with the way they work," says Othmar Eichinger of TON Eichinger. "So when it was time to u

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14 March 2016

The four-day festival hosted an eclectic mix of performances from a 40-piece orchestra to Girls Aloud. LXCO designed and supplied the production lighting for the festival, transforming the lighting set between each of the shows. Among the lights hanging from the truss were 54 PAR cans creating colour washes on stage as well as 14 Martin MAC 500s and 18 MAC 600s. The rig was developed over the four varying gigs, to suit the music and the mood of each event.

Mark Wheatley, LXCO's lighting designer commented: "We wanted to try and give it a different look each night for people coming back to the festival; suiting the style and genre of music. We knew there would be activity and rehearsals on the stage during the day so our te

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14 March 2016

Creative Events is one of several companies of Creative Communication Group (CCG), a full-service event management and production venture based in Qatar. Under the direction of managing partner Jalal Dudin, Creative Events provides sound reinforcement systems and services to numerous high-profile concerts, theatrical productions, festivals and other events held throughout the Middle East.

For example, a notable Creative Events project was supplying all audio, video and technical support at more than 110 sports venues during the 2006 Doha Asian Games 2006. In addition, they've supported firs