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Finland - Although a quartet of classically-trained cellists playing heavy metal seems a most unlikely phenomenon to take the musical world by storm, since 1993 Finnish band Apocalyptica has been gaining an ever-growing fan base by doing precisely that.

With a new album 'Worlds Collide' just released, the band has now set off on a major, two year world tour, with a DiGiCo D5 console at front of house and a D1 at monitors.

The band's FoH engineer Michael Bauer has been a DiGiCo user since 2003 when, with no real training, he did his first show on a DiGiCo console with the Leningrad Cowboys.

"The show was in Norway and, after a quick introduction by the sound guy, I started working with the console. Within half an hour I felt comfortable, which was surprising as it was the

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USA - The ESTA Foundation reports that a major challenge has been issued by Electronic Theatre Controls to the entertainment technology industry to step up to the plate at LDI for Behind the Scenes.

In announcing the ETC $50,000 Challenge Grant, CEO Fred Foster said, "Our industry runs on the flexibility, skills and artistry of people who dedicate themselves to creating the magic of the theatre. Sadly, this means that many times an illness or crisis can catch one of us without the support of full benefits and insurance. The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes programme provides a perfect way for us, as an industry, to provide a much needed backstop to this shortfall.

"ETC is proud to follow the path of other individual and corporate donors to support the Behind the Scenes effort. We hope that our donation will spur others to support this cause. If you haven't contrib

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UK - At the recent AV Awards 2007 ceremony held at the Park Lane Hilton, London, Norwegian projector manufacturer, projectiondesign won two awards including the Grand Prix award for the A-V Company of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year.

"We're over the moon to have been acknowledged for our commitment and contribution to the audio visual industry. projectiondesign's growth isbuilt on a solid foundation and reputation for quality products, streamlined manufacturing processes and technical innovation, all of which are backed byquality people who are key to our success," comments Anders L°kke, marketing and communications manager at projectiondesign.

(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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Canada - Now into its second year, Virgin's V-Fest in the city of Toronto attracted 35,000 fans. Braving long waits at the ferry didn't deter the crowds who were rewarded with V's ubiquitous top class line-up including The Killers, Bjork, The Smashing Pumpkins and Arctic Monkeys, and Lighthouse Technologies' LED screens formed an integral part of the action.

Supplied by Toronto-based MVI MultiVision, two R16 16mm screens, measuring 12.4m2 each, were positioned stage left and right with two secondary R16 screens measuring 3m2 each situated beneath the main screen. Processing was via a Lighthouse LIP-SX Interface Processor, Snell & Wilcox Supervisor and Folsom ScreenPro and ImagePro for image scaling.

"The main screens were displaying live images from content supplied from camera positions which were provided by Canadian TV network MUCH Music," explains MVI's vice pres

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UK / India - Allen & Heath, has appointed SunInfonet as its exclusive distributor in India. The company will manage the sales, distribution and service of the complete Allen & Heath product line from their HQ in Delhi.

"The audio market in India has grown dramatically over the past couple of years resulting in an increasing demand for more sophisticated AV systems and higher end professional products. Consequently, it made sense for us to appoint SunInfonet, who has been one of our key dealers in the region for some time, and are very knowledgeable about our products," comments Allen & Heath's sales director, Bob Goleniowski.

"SunInfonet already distributes Shure, Camco and Nexo products, so the addition of Allen & Heath has strengthened our portfolio. We are very pleased to be representing the brand, which is well known in India and our appointment means we can

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Denmark / France - As part of a major restructuring of its international distributor and dealer network, DK-Technologies has announced the appointment of Monitoring Company to distribute is entire range of audio and video metering products in France.

Based near Nice, Monitoring Company is headed by Jean-Baptiste Lannoy and has over 20 years' experience in the music, video and broadcast industries. Among the many top brands the company represents are Evertz, Marshall and ASTRO.

"We use our extensive in-house technical knowledge to ensure that our customers are provided with exactly the right equipment for their needs," says Jean-Baptiste Lannoy. "We select products for distribution on the demands of the market and every product we stock is thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets our rigorous specifications. Our belief is that quality is cheap because by distrib

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UK Italy's Show Way 2008 was presented directly to an international audience at PLASA 07. The new show format met with approval both from the audio and lighting manufacturers present at the event and from the associations of the World-ETF (World Entertainment Technical Federation), which considers the initiative an important professional trade fair opportunity in Italy.

Several associations, such as VPLT, ESTA, PLASA, Secartys and JASST, confirmed their support for the show.

The list of exhibitors is growing steadily, say the organisers. At the same time, a programme of meetings and seminars on topical subjects in the audio and lighting sector is being compiled: safety and regulations for stage structures and rigging, technological evolution of light sources (lamps and LEDs), electrical safety regulations for public entertainment premises, and the evolution of lighting in vari

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USA - Masque Sound, based in East Rutherford, New Jersey has taken possession of their first Adamson rig. The newly released ultra compact true line source series Metrix was first demoed to sound consultant and designer Duncan Edwards earlier this year, while still in its prototype stages.

Edwards demoed a few different systems provided by several sound companies bidding for a specific youth themed musical tour, but the size specifications coming from the production design team were limiting, leaving fewer options to contend for the tour.

This Musical was originally an American TV Movie released in 2006, and quickly became this family channel's most successful movie with 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast in the US. The film's soundtrack was the best-selling album of 2006, and has since morphed into movie sequels, books, concert tours, musical tours, video games and

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Australia - Over 100 Robe moving lights were in action at the 2007 Melbourne Parklife event - one of Australia's highest profile and most popular dance parties, produced by Future Entertainment. Site wide lighting was designed by Andy Mutton, and all the lighting kit was supplied by Clifton Productions.

The sold out event was attended by 20,000 dance and electronica enthusiasts who grooved the day and night away to an impressive line up of international artists like Digitalism, Shapeshifter, Justice, Scratch Perverts, Riot In Belgium M.I.A. and many, many more, appearing across four stages - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

Mutton's primary challenge was in making the lighting as flexible and dynamic as possible across all performance areas, so each operator had enough options for all the acts to have their own unique light-show. They also had to accommodate several visiting LDs.<

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UK - PixelArt will be making its television debut on The Championship Gaming Series to be broadcast over the Christmas holidays. Already a successful format in the USA for Fox, the show is a competitive computer game battle - that will result in the UK champion challenging the reigning USA champion.

Lighting designer Will Charles specified the PixelArt chandelier after seeing the structure at PLASA. He explains: "The chandelier was the perfect centrepiece to the set. The PixelArts look great on camera and I will definitely be incorporating them into my future designs."

The chandelier featured 100 PixelArts complementing the large moving light rig. Lighting operators David Bishop and Oliver Lifely both used Wholehog 2s - and programmed the PixelArts with a Catalyst Media Server.

The show was shot at 3 Mills studio in front of a live audience. The brief was to

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UK - DMi D&M Installation has announced that it will undertake the distribution of a new multi-room networking solution provider in the new year. The announcement follows an agreement reached with Opus Technologies to cease distribution of its multi-room audio and video systems.

DMi's strategy, as a one-stop provider of CI and commercial AV solutions, offers potential for a multi-room system closely integrated with the developing network capabilities of its Denon, Escient and Marantz distributed brands. Opus Technologies' decision, taken earlier this year, to pursue its own distribution strategy, has prompted DMi to specify a networking system requirement with the closest possible fit to the capabilities of the latest systems and products from its distributed brands. The evolving networking capabilities of products from these manufacturers provides the increasing potential for p

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UK - White Light has recently completed a new lighting installation at the St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, which has seen the company supply new equipment and install a lighting infrastructure in the school's Celia Johnson Theatre.

A 200- seat auditorium, the theatre has long been a popular and much-used facility within the school but found itself in need of some updating to meet modern health-and-safety requirements - and the demands of new productions.

White Light's technical sales manager Roger Hennigan worked with staff at the school to figure out the best way of approaching the refurbishment to ensure that the school saw the best possible return on their investment.

At the same time, White Light carried out a comprehensive upgrade of both the rigging and electrical systems in the theatre. The rigging system now has four motorised winches for lighting, four hemp

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UK - Robin Hood Up Close, the recently opened exhibition at Nottingham Castle, showcases the current BBC television series; using some of the actual props and costumes, together with video material and interactive touch screens. This combination of traditional props and modern technology mirrors the programme, which is also a contemporary take on a classic tale. Experience Design & Management, who were charged with creating the exhibition, were keen to maintain this ethos throughout; with atmospheric forests and recreated sets of Nottingham and the Castle being in stark contrast to the behind the scenes area, constructed from modern space-frame structures.

The exhibition demanded a lighting system that was flexible enough to allow distinct colour washed areas, but with the capacity to colour change; creating drama and atmosphere. The team specified Batmink Par 64 LED Cans, a bri

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UK - Expanding production company Event Concept will move to warehouses and offices totaling over 30,000sq.ft. The new location is a stone's throw from its existing establishment in Bermondsey, South London. Following refurbishment, the business will move to the new premises in January 2008.

In 13 years, the company has evolved from an event lighting service to a fully integrated design and technical production company. As well as widening the portfolio of production services to include staging, sound and A/V, the company has also continued to grow the lighting side of the business.

Developing new services and extending the production team has meant Event Concept has had to consistently invest in equipment, looking to the latest technologies. As a result of these investments the business is also servicing an increasing demand for dry hire.

Head of company operations Roger De

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Italy - Outline Butterfly, in the experienced hands of Britannia Row Productions, is ready for the only Italian date on Amy Winehouse's European tour, due to be staged at Milan's Alcatraz on Friday 26 October 2007.

The rig will comprise 36 CDH 483 Hi-Packs and 16 Subtech 218 SP subs, all powered by Outline T9 power amplifiers bought by the London rental company, thanks to which - they stress - the line arrays manufactured in Brescia has reached "new heights". The system engineer for the Milan event and the entire tour is Italian Davide Lombardi, who's been on the Britannia Row team for some time.

This is the artist's second tour with Britannia Row's Butterfly; the previous (UK) one was held in January and its sound quality met with unanimous acclaim from the top UK PA men, FOH and system engineers, says Outline.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - They're mixing more than drinks these days at 32 Degrees, a stylish European-style bottle-service lounge in The Quarter shopping-entertainment complex at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Since undergoing a renovation in Summer 2007, the popular club can mix and change the colours of its lighting at the touch of a button to modify its atmosphere, thanks to new colour-mixing LEDs from Elation Professional.

32 Degrees co-owner Barry Gutin wanted to stay a jump ahead of the city's fierce competition, so he commissioned Scott Kemly of Powerhouse Sound (Cherry Hill, New Jersey) to give the lounge a lighting makeover.

Having done the original installation, Kemly had ideas on not only how to update the room, but how to do so with minimal structural modification and expense. Previously, there had been a huge sphere in the centre of the ceiling, lit by purple neon. S

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UK - Dialight Lumidrives, the UK-based LED technology provider, has made two key appointments with Paul Williams as north and midlands sales manager and Carl George as design engineer.

Williams joins Dialight Lumidrives with over 22 years' experience in the lighting industry. He joins having previously worked in product sales for DW Windsor, Philips and Concord.

George joins as design engineer having worked in CAD design for Creda/Hotpoint and most recently as design and development engineer for Victor Manufacturing.

Gordon Routledge, managing director at Dialight Lumidrives says: "Both appointments reflect our continued investment in the Solid State Lighting market. We are strengthening continually our sales and design departments to help maintain our current levels of growth."

(Jim Evans)

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India - Bangalore-based V-Dosc Partner J Davis Prosound & Lighting provided a V-DOSC system on the occasion of the Mysore Utsava Festival which took place at the end of July.

This unique cultural event featured over 300 performances from artists such as Kunal Ganjawalla, Shreya Goswal, Shaan to Udit Naraya, just to name a few. Each day saw a crowd averaging 10,000 spectators with an audience culminating at 15 000 on the closing day of the festival. The sound system consisted of 10 V-DOSC per side and eight ARCS.

The National newspaper The Hindu reported: "Both sound and lighting systems were top notch and they brought a tremendous contribution to the general atmosphere of the festival and definitely enhanced the listening pleasure of the audience."

(Jim Evans)

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Norway - Clear-Com has been chosen to supply a fully digital Eclipse Omega matrix intercom system with FreeSpeak 50 for use throughout Norway's newest and most prestigious National Opera House, Nytt Operahus, in Oslo. Eclipse Omega and FreeSpeak50 digital wireless beltpacks will provide the communication backbone for the 38,500sq.m facility and its large production and sound crew.

The Opera House is the largest cultural building to be constructed in Norway and an important symbol to the nation. The building houses 1100 rooms as well as a 1,350-seat performance auditorium and a small 400-seat auditorium. The Opera House will employ over 600 people, including production and sound crew who will be utilising Clear-Com's FreeSpeak wireless beltpack for point-to-point communication.

The Clear-Com system chosen by the Nytt Operahus includes a 64-port Eclipse Omega Digital Matrix cont

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Portugal - G-LEC is aiming to increase its market share in Portugal, with the formation of a joint venture with Leocádia Maria Baioa da Silva, of Fx Road Lights, its existing Portuguese partner.

Fx Road Lights has been handling G-LEC products and technology for four years, during which time the company has been involved in many big events and projects, including custom signage for Casino Lisboa, which opened last year. Based in Lisbon, the joint venture, G-LEC Portugal LDA, will strengthen G-LEC's in the Iberian Peninsula marke, says the company.

Lars Wolf, managing director of G-LEC Europe comments, "Setting up the joint venture makes it possible for us to provide more support to Fx Road Lights and increases our options in the area. We have worked with Leocádia Maria Baioa da Silva for many years and now look forward to even more success in Portugal."

(Jim Evans

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UK - Cooper Parry, have originated and led a £12 million buy-out of Datapath Limited. Cooper Parry's Corporate Finance team advised the shareholders throughout the transaction which saw venture capitalists Foresight invest £3 million, with NatWest providing debt through their Structured Debt Solutions team.

Datapath, which is based in Derby, supplies graphics cards and other products used mainly to control large screen videowall displays. More than 50% of all videowalls installed worldwide use Datapath equipment. With revenues close to £10 million and growing at 30% plus per annum, the company looks well-positioned to build on its market leading position.

Steve De'Ath, director of Datapath, commented: "This investment underlines the company's market leading position. It also gives us a platform to attract talented individuals and strengthen the managemen

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