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UK - PLASA 2008 sees the European launch of ETC's Unison architectural lighting control system, which brings green-minded technologies to theatre house and foyer lighting control. Amid a score of innovative hardware and software products in the Unison line, the centrepiece is the Paradigm lighting control system.

The Paradigm system merges advances in architectural lighting control with ETC's expertise in entertainment lighting control. Paradigm's library of lighting products (conventionals, moving lights, LEDs and more) with touchscreen control helps create dynamic effects, while networking technology allows devices from different manufacturers - both wired and wireless - to inter-operate over the same control system. Placing control very firmly in the green arena, Paradigm's ene

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USA - The brainchild of Ryan Bozsan, Sunset Thursdays is a series of summer gatherings held on the patio at P.D. O'Hurley's, a bar and grill overlooking the Hudson River from Pier 84 at West 44th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City. A sundown celebration featuring sounds designed to help bring the week to a close on a more serene note, the events enlist the talents of DJs who spread their aural ambience over the crowd using a sound system featuring 10 of QSC's powered HPR122i loudspeakers.

In the business of producing DJ and music-related events since 1999, Bozsan was inspired to create Sunset Thursdays following a visit to Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, Spain, where hundreds of people gather along the coast near the seaside bar to watch the sun go down.

"When the sun disappears into the Mediterranean, the beat drops and the crowd applauds and cheers," Bozsan

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UK - Digital signage agency Pixel Inspiration has completed the final phase of a contract to provide dynamic signage throughout Manchester Airport's check-in areas - with the further installation of 49 x dnp front and rear projected 84in screens.

Having earlier worked on the digital conversion of Terminals 1 and 2 - where they specified dnp's 84in New Wide Angle rear-projected optical screens, offering 180° viewing - Pixel Inspiration has managed to overcome the space constraints presented in one of Terminal 3's three-hall check-in areas by specifying 11 front-projected dnp 84in Supernova screens - which are purpose-designed to work in high ambient lighting conditions.

All the dnp screens - now numbering around 200 throughout the airport - were supplied by dnp's UK distributors Paradigm Audio Visual, while Pixel Inspiration has standardised on Panasonic projection, using a

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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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UK - The Clubhouse of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) at Silverstone racing circuit was brought to life with a temporary installation of Chroma-Q LED products for its annual British Grand Prix Ball.

Held in a luxury marquee erected adjacent to the Members' Clubhouse on the Friday evening of the 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix weekend, the ball has always attracted the crème of the membership, including leading GP drivers and motorsport stars past and present.

This year's event was a special double celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of the BRDC and 60th anniversary of Grand Prix racing at Silverstone. The event was hosted by Martin Brundle and included interviews with top drivers, as well as a speech by BRDC President Damon Hill.

A.C. Special Projects, a sister company of A.C. Lighting, which is a Patron of the BRDC's Rising Stars Programme, was app

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Europe - Dave Wooster who has been manning Gary Moore's front of house position for two years. This summer, Moore appeared at festivals in Scandinavia, Montreux, Germany, Spain and - Wooster's personal favourite - a biker's festival in Portugal. "As a traveling engineer, I'm still surprised at the lack of knowledge that is out there," he says. "Systems are set up and sometimes just don't work properly. Having the XTA DP448 with me worked a treat."

The DP448 meant that Wooster did not have to reconfigure the front of house desk each day, as integrating into the available system was easily done by turning it into a glorified matrix mixer, providing extra EQ and delay settings.

"At one show, there were two front of house consoles and they refused to make mine the main desk," recalls Wooster. "So as a compromise we put both desks into the XTA and

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USA - GearSource.com and LEDsource.com have appointed a new CFO / COO. Betsy Torres (formerly Halpin) spent nearly ten years in the lighting industry as Controller for both Martin Professional and Coemar. Five years ago, Betsy left the industry to pursue other interests but always remained in close contact with Sources' president, Marcel Fairbairn.

Fairbairn says: "This is a very important moment in our companies' existences. We're thrilled to be in a position to secure not only a friend, but the best person I've ever worked with in each of these roles. We are currently in a huge growth position, and need solid financial and administrative expertise in order to keep us on track."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Academy Music Group, working with Adlib Audio, has embraced Soundcraft's digital platform, working with Adlib Audio for the audio element of the installation at the 2350-capacity, £3.5 million Carling Academy Sheffield.

Adlib Audio's installation manager Roger Kirby notes: "We run several consoles in our hire fleet but we are happiest using the Soundcraft Vi6, and AMG group technical manager Ed Jackson was pleased to take our collective advice. He had also obviously heard good things about it from sound engineers coming through."

Jackson decided to incorporate three front line Vi6s into Carling Academy Sheffield - two in the main room and one in the second room (500 capacity).

"Carling Academy 2 Sheffield was always going to be digital - and although a third Vi6 stretched the budget a bit we knew it would offer compatibility - while having common co

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UK - CUK Audio promises its most comprehensive and impressive show ever at this year's PLASA08, with a new stand design for the 10 audio brands that the company exclusively represents, including Audica Professional, Community Professional Loudspeakers, DIS Danish Interpretation Systems, Digidesign, InOut Digital and KIND Audio. New to the CUK portfolio this year are Media Technology Systems Inc, Sabine, and Work; a further brand is to be announced at the show.

"Our investment in this year's PLASA is our biggest yet", explains CUK Audio MD, Stuart Thomson. "All of our brands are showing new and updated products and four new brands complete our line up, offering the most comprehensive and advanced range of solutions from a UK distributor. Our fourth new brand, to be announced at the show, is a global leader and will be a big draw and talking point of the show."

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UK - Cooper Controls has confirmed its appointment as exclusive global distribution partner for LightFactory.

In September 2007, Zero 88 took on European distribution of LightFactory control software, bringing this PC based lighting console to its extensive dealer network across Europe.

Following "an extremely positive response to this product", Cooper Controls will now provide marketing, distribution, service and support worldwide. Existing LightFactory dealers will continue to service their markets. Cooper Controls will be working closely with them, providing a high level of support.

Graham Eales, managing director of Zero 88 said: "Having seen the power of the LightFactory products we were very excited about selling them in Europe. Now that we have the opportunity to broaden the market internationally we are looking forward to this product becoming a mainst

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UK - Logic System will exhibit at PLASA08 having secured in the past 12 months new export dealers in China, Indonesia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Switzerland and the Middle East, while additional business has come from changes to distribution in Singapore and Turkey.

Much of the sales growth in both the UK and export markets has come from the Ethos range of live sound products, which will be on show at PLASA. Ethos CA, shown in completed form at last year's show has found favour in the marketplace with its scalable flexibility, while the introduction of Ethos Nd bass options has also helped the larger Ethos VA system to achieve record sales, the company reports.

Having achieved success in both small and medium format array markets, it's time to move up in format and so PLASA08 sees the launch of Ethos LA - a long-throw array module designed to give existing Ethos users an upgra

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Italy / UK - Italian manufacturer Outline will once again be at PLASA this year with a new modern stand design, where its "Outline arrays" will be on show. These include the well-known Butterfly and the mini-COM.P.A.S.S. in its recent "live" version - the latter with adjustable directivity (from 60° to 150°), the only compact VLA to offer this key feature.

Products on show will also include the entire range of DVS multi-purpose enclosures - including the brand new self-powered DVS 12 and 15 models and the Genius M 412 digital matrix (with 4 inputs and 12 freely configurable outputs in a single rack unit), controllable via proprietary software and fitted with the most powerful DSP on the market, say Outline.

Also on show will be the Kanguro 1215 NET SP system (1 x 15", 1 x 12", 1 x 1" and weighing in at just 42kg), the famous "sp

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UK - Making science - and particularly physics - as accessible as possible to 8-14 year olds has been the main aim behind the £4 million revamp of the Science Museum's flagship Launchpad gallery. And an integral part of that accessibility is ensuring that hearing impaired youngsters derive the same benefit from the gallery as their friends, so Ampetronic induction loops have been installed along with the 50 sophisticated exhibits and devices, which provide both a hands and minds-on introduction to the basic principles of physics.

With such activities as launching a rocket, capturing a multicoloured shadow, turning your head into a sound box and controlling a magnetic cloud available, Launchpad is the Science Museum's centrepiece and is, as such, a 'must see' for every visitor - for both young and old alike.

Staffed by trained explainers, the gallery also features twin de

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UK - At PLASA 08, Harting is introducing new connectivity and network solutions suitable for concert, stage and theatre automation and lighting distribution applications. Products featured include the industry standard Han family of heavy-duty connectors, industrial managed and unmanaged Ethernet switches, power supplies and ruggedised cabling.

New high-density power and data modules have been added to the Han range of IP65/67 rugged multipole connectors. When fitted in space-saving Han-Modular Compact or combined in Han-Modular Twin hoods and housings, these products are suitable for motor drive and control applications. Also in the Han-Modular range, Han-Com contact inserts, rated at 40-100 A, are suitable for the latest high-power lighting dimmer control circuits.

Harting's range of industrial Ethernet switches to IP 20/30 or IP67 includes devices with managed or unmanaged

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UK - Lift Turn Move Ltd launches the banner lift at PLASA 2008. This is a twin rope electrical winch system built to German BGV C1 safety regulations. It has been supplied for several large installations in Germany for raising and lowering signs in railway stations and shopping precincts. A wireless controller is available for operating multiple units.

The Guardian controller range has been extended and six of these units will be displayed. A briefcase controller has been developed for direct control hoists with 4 or 8 channels. Local controls are fitted into the brief case and an optional pendant with Go and Emergency Stop is also available.

LTM have manufactured motor/ hoist controllers for many years, constructing systems for both direct control and low voltage controlled hoists. The Guardian controller range has steadily grown from the first simple 4 channel units to incor

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Singapore - Singapore National Day featured 5,000 performers in a mass tableau on a floating platform that was 120m wide by 83m deep, and a grandstand holding over 30,000 spectators. Lighting design was created by Paul Collison who controlled the show via two grandMA full-size, two grandMA ultra-light and 16 x MA NSPs.

This year saw the introduction of grandMA video as a major part of the scenic landscape. 1,800sq.m of custom made LED netting framed the back of the stage. Four grandMA media servers controlled the screen. "The influence this had on the view was amazing," said Collison, "I've always liked playing with video and lighting, however I've never had the chance to work with it on such a massive screen and have total creative freedom to entwine it into the scenic landscape. Playing between the lighting fixtures and the screens is a lot of fun. On such a big

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UK The first three day Sound Island Festival held at Quex Park, Birchington in Kent, featured an eclectic mix of music, with rock and pop on the Friday, reggae on the Saturday and opera / classical music on the Sunday.

Promoter Coz We Can enlisted the services of AP Security for the event. "Since first working with AP four years ago, we have built an excellent relationship," says Coz We Can's Dave Suter. "I get on very well with AP's national sales manager John Phillips and that good relationship is mutual between the companies - our staff works very well with theirs and vice versa.

"Most importantly, their approach to health and safety dovetails very neatly with ours and we have complete trust in each other."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Sennheiser UK has announced that Peter May has joined the company as sales and marketing director. May joins Sennheiser after 10 years as channel sales director for Philips.

"I'll be working with the sales and marketing teams to build on the good work that's being done already to grow the business in a structured manner," says May. "There's a really good bunch of people here at Sennheiser. They're all passionate about the product and they have some great customers. That's already clear to me.

"My experience with Philips is with many different commercial channels. It's a good match for what [Sennheiser UK general manager] Phil Massey is looking for in terms of developing the business."

Phil Massey adds: "Peter May is a great addition to the Sennheiser team. I'm looking forward to working closely with him and continuing to increase Sennheise

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USA - Meyer Sound has announced the appointment of John McMahon to the newly-created position of executive director of digital products. McMahon's new position reflects Meyer Sound's continually expanding commitment to the development and integration of its digital products line.

In his new role, McMahon will oversee the strategic direction of marketing, sales, and research and development of Meyer Sound's key digital signal processing technologies, including Galileo loudspeaker management system, Matrix3 audio show control, Constellation electro-acoustic architecture, as well as all related hardware and software development.

"John has been an integral part of defining and developing the strategic direction of Meyer Sound's new generation of digital technologies, as well as maintaining a consistency in integrating those new technologies with our existing products," s

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UK - PixelRange will launch PixelMax at PLASA08. A high-powered 6-cell washlight will introduce this new family of next generation luminaires - and will feature on the spectacular lighting rig designed by lighting designer Vince Foster. Other new products on show will include the high resolution PixelMax Pro and the innovative PixelClick.

The new PixelMax Pro features 288 red, green, blue and amber Luxeon Rebel LEDs - 18 independent RGBA cells in a 3x6 array. This product is designed to offer flexible possibilities across all markets - as it can be used as a high powered wash or a pixellation luminaire.

The PLASA stand will showcase 156 PixelArts and some old favourites, while a half-size mini PixelArt batten will also make its debut.

As a sponsor of the Arcola theatre and a participant in the Mayor's Office Green Theatre Action Programme, PixelRange will also light the Thea

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China - City Theatrical's new SHoW DMX wireless DMX is performing at the Beijing Olympics in front of an average of 35 million viewers per day.

NBC Olympics lighting designer Steve Brill of The Lighting Design Group utilised SHoW DMX to light the Bob Costas NBC Prime Time Studio set which rotates 360° on a turntable. Power to dimmers mounted on the revolving set is run through a three-phase commutator, but DMX data is sent wirelessly from a SHoW DMX Transmitter in the studio. SHoW DMX delivers DMX data to dimmers, which control 26 key lights on a circular truss over the newsdesk.

SHoW DMX's user interface allows it to be adjusted to have minimal impact on any other wireless equipment in the studio. SHoW DMX was set to output in limited bandwidth mode and to output only 30 DMX channels, thereby creating only a very small radio footprint, and not affecting any WiFi networks

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USA - The Polyphonic Spree is a "choral symphonic rock group." Founded by Tim DeLaughter and generally including anywhere from 13 to 27 members during live performances, the group is often comprised of a ten-person choir, a pair of keyboardists, percussionist, drummer, bassist, guitarist, flautist, trumpeter, trombonist, violinist/violist, harpist, French horn player, pedal steel guitarist, someone on theramin, and an electronic effects person.

DeLaughter accepted the very first Polyphonic Spree gig before he even had a band. Faced with a hard deadline to create and produce, he somehow pulled everything together in time. "I do things like that," he admits today nearly eight years and countless gigs of all sizes and scope later. "I definitely need things like this for my psyche to move forward. If that's what it took to make this band a reality...I mean,

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