UK - eMerging, the UK distributors for Merging Technology's products, have completed a lengthy high-definition upgrade project at Lime Pictures, Liverpool. Lime, who produce Channel 4's successful soap Hollyoaks virtually continuously 52 weeks a year, began a thorough overhaul of their video and audio production and editing facilties in 2007 to enable the show to be produced, edited and broadcast in high definition.

The completed upgrade has involved eMerging in the design, construction and installation of six new audio dubbing suites at Lime, each with Merging Pyramix audio Post-production DAWs, VCube HD high-definition video playback systems, and Merging Ramses control surfaces.

Alongside the equipment from eMerging, Lime also purchased new HD Sony HDC-1500 cameras, bui

USA - D.A.S. Audio recently hosted a seminar in Miami, specifically aimed at Aero line array users from the Caribbean and the US. Over 100 people attended the event on at the Intercontinental West Miami Hotel's Doral Reception Hall.

The speakers, D.A.S. Audio sound engineer, Javier Navarro and Gonzalo Aguirre, D.A.S. sales manager for Latin American and the Caribbean were joined by special guest speakers Ashok Maharaj the well-known Venezuelan independent professional audio consultant and Ulises Otero, US based Aero system user and owner of Roxy Productions.

The seminar's opening presentation and introduction of the participants was conducted by D. A. S. Audio international sales director, Jack Palacio. He went on to introduce Ashok Maharaj who delivered a presentation on the principles behind line array systems. Ulises Otero centred his speech on a detailed explanation about

UK - Reading-based creative lighting specialists Blinding Light supplied production lighting design, lighting equipment, power distribution and control for the recent laser tag installation in The Hangar at London's O2.

Blinding Light was working for live experience company Sledge on this three-month project - the only indoor digital laser tag facility in the UK. The aim was to build a dramatic, atmospheric and stimulating environment for the high octane experience in which two teams battle to succeed in their mission. The Hangar was one of a series of ongoing long term temporary installations designed to offer additional entertainment value to anyone visiting the O2.

Blinding Light asked Mark Mumford to create the lighting design for the all-action game, which featured its own soundtrack and was housed inside the O2's inflatable "Bubble" structure. His task included

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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

USA - Now in its 13th year, the Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance offers classic car buffs the opportunity to admire a selection of the world's most exotic vehicles, presenting 100 motor cars in an event billed as "Honouring The Art and Colour of General Motors, Zagato and BSA Motorcycles".

Recalling the tradition of the classic French Concours d'Elegance in Paris, the event includes a high-end fashion show and black tie dinner reception. Sound for the event's sprawling grounds was provided by Community R.5 loudspeakers.

The R.5 loudspeakers were mounted in the event's main patio area and adjacent to each of the category displays. "Although R-Series are best known for permanent installations in stadia and harsh environment applications, their rugged construction, high power, light weight and ease of fixing make them ideal for temporary events like th

Eurovision News - Andrew Lloyd Webber is to help pick the UK's next Eurovision entry, in an overhaul of the BBC's selection show. Lord Lloyd Webber will compose the UK's entry and embark on a search for the singer or group to perform the song. Graham Norton will host BBC TV show Your Country Needs You to find new talent for the 2009 contest, after a string of poor results for the UK. Lord Lloyd Webber said: "In my life I have never shied away from the impossible and this looks like the biggest mission impossible of all time. But with the might of the BBC and the British public behind me who knows what will happen?"

Opera News - "Not so long ago, making a fanfare about big frocks and fancy sets in opera was the preserve of that crowd-pleasing impresario Raymond Gubbay," wrote Emma Pomfret in The Times. "Heaven forbid that you uttered the words &quo

Spain - Expo 2008 has finally drawn to a spectacular close in Zaragoza, Spain after a three-month tenure. 105 nations took part in the world fair which was dedicated to the topic of Water and Sustainable Development and attracted over 6 million visitors.

Situated in a meander of the Ebro river, the Expo 2008 site is home to some groundbreaking architecture such as the emblematic Bridge Pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid and the imposing Water Tower designed by Enrique de Teresa. The exposition site also hosted several daily shows including Iceberg, a visual and poetic symphony evoking water and climate change as its central themes. Leading Spanish production company, Focus, created the iceberg itself and designed the audio system which was entirely powered by Lab.gruppen amplifiers, including 24 PLM Powered Loudspeaker Management systems.

From a technical point of v

UK - RTS Digital Intercoms has supplied a Cronus Digital Matrix to Glyndebourne Opera House as the cornerstone of a new integrated communications and paging system. The new system provides flexible paging to multiple zones and integrates production communications and 85 radio beltpacks covering the entire site. The system is controllable from any PC in the complex via the AZedit software interface.

Simon Yapp, head of audio visual and sound at Glyndebourne Opera House, and his colleague Keith Benson, head of lighting, needed to find a solution to replace the venue's old paging system, which had become unsupportable. The new solution was required to not only replace the original paging system with 16 zones but offer increased flexibility without throwing away the existing cable infra-structure and speaker system, all of which were still serviceable.

(Jim Evans)

South Korea - DPA Microphones' 2008 Distributor of the Year award has gone to Best Leading Solutions of South Korea, recognising "the huge contribution to sales and service that the company has provided over the past 12 months".

"Best Leading Solutions has carried out a successful restructure of the entire company, with expansion into new market segments," says Ken Kimura, DPA's regional sales director, Asia Pacific. "The company has implemented various sales and marketing activities in close cooperation with DPA, and this has all combined in an increase in DPA sales turnover of 35% over 2007."

"I'm pleased and honoured to win the DPA Distributor of the Year Award," says H S Ahn, CEO of BLS. "Since I first encountered them, I've loved these mics and together with my staff have tried to get them into every studio and theatre. As the

Switzerland - Barix has announced the appointment of Marcel van der Meijs as VP of sales and marketing effective immediately. Based in the Netherlands, he will focus on increasing sales-driven activities for Barix on a global basis.

Van der Maijs comes to Barix with more than 20 years of experience in international sales & marketing in the security and network industry, including high-ranking positions within Lantronix International and HID Corporation.

"Audio over IP is becoming more relevant every day, and it's important to generate direct sales and OEM applications in new markets beyond where Barix has been traditionally strong," said van der Meijs. "Barix is a very product-driven organisation and has a feature-rich toolbox that can service a multitude of niche markets. The challenge is to proactively communicate how IP Audio is relevant to these many differe

USA - Royal Philips Electronics today announced that it will present its latest innovations in entertainment lighting technology at LDI 08 in Las Vegas.

At LDI, the Philips 750/115 FastFit and Philips 800/230 FastFit will be on display for the first time, designed in fixtures of the American manufacturer Strand. These new Philips lamps offer maximum light and minimum heat at performers, a longer lifespan and fewer early failures.

Philips has extended the FastFit product range over the last few months with the Philips MSR Gold 300/2 FastFit, Philips MSR Gold 1500 FastFit and Philips MSR Gold 2000(/2) FastFit.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The Lee Evans Big Tour is the UK's largest stand up comedy tour of 2008, with 59 sold out dates in arenas around the country and a total audience figure estimated at over 400,000. Audio provider for the tour Capital Sound has developed a system that utilises XTA digital signal processing.

A total of 11 XTA DP226 are used to control an extensive Martin Audio line array system. "It's something we developed from Lee's 2005 XL tour, which in itself was a development from the Eddie Izzard system we'd used two years previously," says Capital Sound's Paul Timmins. "We now have a design for large-scale comedy which we think serves the range of venues on this current tour very well."

"We have all the delay XTAs in the rack as a master unit and we use that as a matrix to drive the other XTAs which are stage end, which runs straight off the multicore,

Ireland - In less than one month, EvenTech Ireland (18 - 19 November, 2008 - RDS Dublin, Ireland) opens its doors for the first time.

Iain McLean, one half of the Scattered Media duo responsible for the EvenTech model, reports: "The EvenTech brand is just in its first year and already we've had two very successful shows in two very different regions. EvenTech Ireland has been our fastest sell out to date and all exhibitors are very optimistic about the success they will see in Ireland. It's going to be a very pivotal show for EvenTech, the exhibitors and the visitors alike."

Darren Brechin, co-director of Scattered Media notes: "From our experience we realised that the visitors - the installers and the system integrators - need to be able to quickly and easily access these shows, taking hours rather than days out of their schedules - and actually finding informa

USA - Chauvet will unveil a variety of new LED products at LDI 2008 (24-26 October, Las Vegas, USA) with applications for stage, production and retail venues, plus a preview of the company's new architectural line, which is expected to lunch in the first quarter of 2009.

The company's product display list includes the Legend 1200E - Chauvet's first 1,200W moving yoke. Features include 12, 24, or 32-channels of DMX-512 control, linear zoom, variable frost, two gobo wheels, each with 12 interchangeable glass gobos, and a colour wheel offering seven vibrant colours, variable colour spin and seamless split colours.

The Legend 6500 is a 10 or 14-channel intelligent LED moving yoke, offering full RGBW mixing. Features include adjustable colour temperatures, the capability to trigger instant colour changes and colour consistency ensured by tight binning requirements. Also new, the Le

UK - Lighting designer Rob Gawler is using 42 i-Pix BB4s and seven BB7s on the current Oasis Dig Out Your Soul world tour.

Gawler needed a colour changing wash light offering an even spread of high quality light, not too beamy and that was a less energy-hungry alternative to conventional 4-lite fixtures. He looked at several options before deciding to go with the i-Pix products, which are used for a general stage wash.

The BB7s are all on a front truss doing a stage wash. Gawler says they are ideal for this because the band dislike follow spots and the BB7 can be used like a beam light to produce a much subtler effect. He also uses them between songs so everyone can see what they're doing.

"They are reliable, efficient and make good colours. I also really like the homogeneity of the light sources and the smooth and even output," he states. This feature elimi

China - DPA Microphones has strengthened its position in the Asia Pacific market by opening a regional office in Shanghai, headed up by Ken Kimura, regional sales director, Asia Pacific.

"The Asia Pacific region has always been important to DPA Microphones and given the increased market development, it was an obvious move to make," says Kimura. "We're focusing on increasing DPA's brand awareness in the region and reinforcing our position in countries like China, Japan, Korea and Australia through continuous training and support of our sales network, while developing new local markets by appointing new distributors and dealers.

"The relocation to Shanghai will enable me to intensify our sales and marketing support to distributors, increase communication and info sharing with local brand managers, sales personnel and end users. Their input is vital in our con

USA - Martin Professional is featuring a number of new products at LDI including the MAC III Profile and the MAC 2000 Wash XB. Also on display is EvenLED, a modular LED system for extremely even field projection; new hazers in the Jem and Magnum lines; and several new products and product updates in Martin's controller range. Martin is also showing the Exterior 1200 Image Projector and new indoor and outdoor LED luminaires.

The MAC III Profile is the first product in Martin's third generation of MAC moving heads. It features package of performance features, such as colour mixing with a broader colour range plus deeper more vibrant hues, a fat beam look with serious beam definition, up to 75% more output than current 1200 W profile fixtures, wide zoom range, new gobos, animation effects, fast effects and movements and low noise cooling.

The MAC 2000 Wash XB is now even brighter

USA - Professional audio dealers Sound Productions (Dallas, TX) has invested in 13 PRO6 digital live performance systems from Midas - the first major purchase of the new system in the Americas.

"PRO6 extends the lineage of the great Midas analogue consoles heard on countless tours and installations," says Charles Kitch, president, Sound Productions, "and adds many of the unique digital features of the XL8 to the equation, all in a package that is priced within the reach of a lot of our customers. PRO6 is going to be a big hit in a very important price range; we're expecting a lot of interest from the church market in particular. It's comprehensive and truly groundbreaking."

"I knew this PRO6 was a winner the moment I saw - and heard - it at the launch event in Minneapolis," adds Jeff Humphrey, sales manager, Sound Productions. "Looking around

UK - Surround microphone manufacturers SoundField has sold an additional digital DSF-2 microphone system and a DSF-3 digital 5.1 surround sound processor to satellite broadcaster Sky Sports. The systems are being used on their HD coverage of the currently on-going Rugby Union Guinness Premiership, which started in early October 2008.

The microphone and associated processor has been permanently installed in T16, the recently completed new HD OB vehicle owned by UK broadcast facilities company Telegenic, and will be used for coverage of all UK-based games during the championship.

"We've been transmitting HD pictures for Rugby Union for several years, but without 5.1 surround to match," says Sky's operations manager Keith Lane. "We wanted to upgrade the experience we were offering Sky Sports Rugby Union fans, and the SoundField system was the obvious choice, as it'

Germany - Built at the Meyer-Werft shipyard for the US cruise line Celebrity Cruises, the Celebrity Solstice is 350m long by 36.8m wide and offers accommodation for 2,852 passengers in its 1,426 cabins.

FUNA Nachrichtentechnik of Emden installed four networked Dynacord ProMatrix 4000 systems that combine ELA (messaging/voice alarm/evacuation) with pro sound (recorded music).

The four ProMatrix 4000 systems boast a combined amplification power of over 53,00W. Over 350 loudspeaker lines to over 8,000 loudspeakers--including 350 Electro-Voice 309-8A (coaxial systems), 520 Electro-Voice EVID C4.2 (coaxial ceiling systems), 30 Electro-Voice EVID C8.2 (coaxial ceiling systems), and 70 Electro-Voice Sx80PIX--run the length and breadth of the ship, which also boasts 16 ProMatrix DPC keypanels, plus numerous other Electro-Voice loudspeaker systems across the various function roo

UK - Stage Electrics provided a spectacular lighting display to illuminate the historic monuments of Ironbridge Gorge, birthplace of the industrial revolution. Stage Electrics lit a variety of World Heritage Site icons across the gorge including the Ironbridge, Bedlam Furnaces and Museum of the Gorge as part of the Cultural Olympiad 'open weekend' celebrations, and the World Heritage Site Festival.

The Ironbridge (built 1779) was illuminated to create a dynamic and constant cycle of colour and produce stunning reflections in the water below. The effect was created by using four 8Kw space cannons (EMF Technology), 24 Varilite VL2000 Wash lights (12 either side of the bridge), six City Colours and 16 outdoor Par64s.

An LED wall at the north end of the bridge displayed images of some of the lesser known local sites and public information messages. Subtle changes in colour were ac

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