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UK - JBL VRX line array components have been specified to form the new central cluster at the progressive Orangefield Presbyterian Church in Belfast. Built in the 1950's, the church has been undergoing systematic refurbishment over the last 18 months.

The latest installation, part of a complete multimedia upgrade at the 850-capacity church, was installed by Visual Systems Ireland, and project manager Dennis Melville dipped extensively into the Harman Pro catalogue after being awarded the audio element of the contract. "There's very little on the audio side that isn't a Harman brand," he confirmed.

"We recommended a purpose-designed system, and having had many positive experiences with JBL's Contractor projects at the lower end, we suggested a VRX line array,"

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UK - As well as manufacturing advanced induction loop systems, Newark-based Ampetronic promotes a comprehensive programme of education and technical support, to ensure that companies contracted to provide induction loops install, test and maintain them in the right manner and in full compliance with international standards.

One of its most recent events was at the end of October, when Ampetronic staged a training day at the premises of The Royal Society, Edinburgh, allowing delegates from across Scotland to benefit from the knowledge and experience of Ampetronic's Richard Brooks and James Bottrill.

With assistance in raising awareness of the event from Louis Grace, Ampetronic's Glasgow-based distributor, delegates from as far afield as Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Falkirk convened for an informative day of theoretical and practical learning on all the essential elements of su

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USA - MercyMe, the multiple Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated Christian rock band used Shure UHF-R wireless systems on their recent tour.

"We could run around anywhere in the arena," Barry Graul says. "To be able to keep the crowd behind us entertained and included in the show...I mean I just couldn't have done it on a wire. I'd have needed a 50ft cable. And on the technical side, we can retain our guitar tone with these Shure wireless units."

With touring plans laid out before them until June 2009, MercyMe will stay on the road playing in churches, auditoriums, performing arts centres, and even on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing out of Port Cape Canaveral, Florida.

(Jim Evans)

featured content

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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USA - Performance Audio of Salt Lake City recently installed a new Electro-Voice XLC sound system at Energy Solutions Arena. The 20,500 seat arena is home to the NBA's Utah Jazz, and is the region's major concert venue - Reba McIntire and Kelly Clarkson were the first to perform alongside the new system.

"This was a team effort," says Craig Hylton of Performance Audio. "We worked closely with Monte Wise, Dave Larsen, George Georgallis, and Robert Deyarmond of EV every step of the way to really raise the bar for stadium sound with this install."

Comprising 52 XLC 127DVX loudspeakers deployed in four arrays, the new system provides seamless coverage to the arena's upper and lower bowls. FRX+640 loudspeakers were installed beneath the scoreboard for full-court coverage. The system is powered by 29 P3000RL remote-controlled amplifiers and controlled and supervi

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Denmark - Back in August 2007 Danish rental company NC Electronics joined forces with the HK Audio family. Located in Herning in central Denmark, NC Electronics provides sound for all sorts of events from small fashion shows to large rock concerts in Denmark, the neighbouring islands, and Norway.

Nils Nilsen, managing director of NC Electronics, was recently at HK Audio headquarters where he attended a training seminar. Afterwards he made the decision to acquire a Cohedra 2x8 system, which has already been expanded into a 2x10 system consisting of 20 CDR 208 mid/high units and 20 subwoofers. Nils Nilsen went for the flyable version of the subwoofers, the CDR 210 F, and remains impressed with their performance.

"When we checked out the system during the training sessions at HK Audio headquarters in St.Wendel, we simply could not believe that such compact cabinets could pro

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UK - Mark Jordan has joined Blitz Communications Limited as Group account director. Mark, who has a degree in Theatre Design & Technology, was previously an account director with Show Presentation Services working on the Morgan Stanley, FT, COI, Moodys and the Mitchells & Butler accounts.

He has been employed in the AV industry since leaving university and, in addition to his relevant academic qualifications, he has wide practical experience with a full understanding of all facets of video, audio, lighting and stage set design.

Mark says: "I'm really excited to be working with Blitz; they're a super company and they're at the top of their game".

Paul Hutton, MD of Blitz comments: "Mark is a great addition to our team and I am delighted that he's joined us. We were looking for someone special to strengthen our Account Handling division and to work alongside our

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UK - Allen & Heath's Xone:92 DJ mixer was recently selected for the European tour of experimental outfit, Unkle. Headed up by DJ and producer, James Lavelle, the musical act fuses rock music with DJ breaks. Live performances feature an eight-piece band with Lavelle DJ'ing on the Xone:92 integrating samples from a CD player, MIDI controller, effects unit and much more.

"I've been DJing on Allen & Heath mixers since my first days as a resident DJ at Fabric and now the Xone:92 is an integral part of the Unkle Live eight-piece band show," comments Lavelle.

The tour follows the release of Unkle's new studio album War Stories, and included dates in the UK, Norway, Belgium, Holland, Slovakia, Poland, and Ireland, performing at all the major summer festivals, before embarking on an autumn tour of North and South America.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Lighting, dimming and controls manufacturer ETC has released dates of training sessions for its Congo, Eos and Ion control desks at its training theatre - The Playhouse at Gypsy Corner in west London.

Only six or eight places are available for each course, with a maximum of two people per desk, so each student will get plenty of hands on use. All the courses are free and include lunch.

Introduction to Ion and Introduction to Eos courses being held in mid January, February and March both teach the basics and nuances of these control systems. Students will learn to programme conventional and moving lights, work with palletised data, groups and submasters, and learn to create cues and use effects.

If you are about to become a Congo or Congo jr user, you can learn to use those desks in a hands-on, user-friendly environment with a two day introductory course at the end of No

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UK - UK and Ireland distribution of the Samson and Hartke brands will transfer to Korg UK from 1st January 2009. Rob Castle, managing director Korg UK comments: "Samson and Hartke will be a great complement to Korg and Vox, whilst also having products relevant to our other brands. We are working with Sound Technology to ensure a smooth transition."

David Marshall, managing director at Sound Technology Ltd commented: "Samson and Hartke have been fantastic brands for us and we are very grateful for the opportunity Samson have given us over the years. However our purchase of Harman Pro UK earlier this year necessitated a review of existing brands to ensure that there is no possibility of conflict. Although we are sorry to be letting these brands go, we wish Korg UK every success in the future."

Peter Jostins, vice-president of International Sales for Samson sa

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UK - When the British Music Experience, a permanent, high-tech, interactive music exhibition, opens at The O2 in March 2009, Sennheiser will be a major sponsor.

Sennheiser's involvement goes beyond financial backing. As a permanent exhibition documenting the very best of British music, the creators of the British Music Experience needed quality audio equipment that sounded superb and is extremely resilient. This is why 225 Sennheiser headphones, the HD 215, have been used throughout the entire exhibition, says the company.

Sennheiser's microphone technology has also been used at the exhibition that will cover 2,500sq.m in The O2 bubble, The O2's exhibition space. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the professional recording environment at first hand; singing along to a classic British hit through a Sennheiser evolution e 935 microphone in the Sennheiser Vo

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UK - 5 Star Cases has delivered four Panasonic TH-50P plasma screen trunks to Hertfordshire-based production/event management and technical services company, Production Plus.

The new Tour Grade trunks each house one 50-inch screen display, and include separate compartments for detachable speakers plus an integral space to incorporate a fitted mounting bracket.

5 Star's MD Keith Sykes says: "We enjoy working with companies like Production Plus who follow the same basic ethos and principals of excellence that we do. Consequently there are many parallels between the way we run our respective businesses, and we all strive to complete projects to the highest standards."

(Jim Evans)

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Argentina - Latin American Idol is a reality television show that enjoys a huge following. Just like its US counterpart on many other levels, the programme provides contestants with an opportunity to achieve superstardom, showcases celebrity guests, and uses the judge's stand as a pulpit for lively and spirited discourse that sometimes extends into the audience as well.

"We tend to do many things our own way," says Juan Pablo Banchik, sound director of Latin American Idol. "From a production standpoint, standardised methods that apply to Idol shows in other countries don't often work down here."

Banchik works for FremantleMedia, the UK-based production company behind the Idol franchise worldwide. "Fremantle has a series of 'technical bibles' that explain how every aspect of the show should be produced," he says. "I

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UK - The Hoosiers have had a busy year of touring and festival dates. And they were using an array of equipment from Sennheiser throughout.

Trevor Gilligan has been Front of House engineer for the band since the beginning of the year. Since then he's weaned the band, all of who provide lead vocals or harmonies, off their previous mics and onto Sennheiser e 935s.

"The old mics sounded fine," explains Gilligan, "but I can get more level out of the 935s. I can get a much more placed in vocal sound with the 935, and I like the background noise I get from it. The stuff it does drag in sounds a lot nicer than what you get from some other mics. If you're working on a loud gig and it's hot and sweaty, and everyone's talking, the 935s cut through that really well. In a live situation, that's the way I like it."

Gilligan also impressed the rest of the engineering c

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USA - Jackson Browne launched his 2008-2009 world tour in support of his first album of new material in six years, Time The Conqueror. For the first time, Browne is using LED lighting on his stage.

Lighting director Dave Davidian put together a rig that includes 20 Elation Impression LED moving heads and 180 American DJ 64B LED Pro par cans. According to Davidian, Browne himself was "pivotal" in the decision to switch to LEDs.

"Jackson was very pro-active in looking for LEDs, because he's a very green-oriented person," said Davidian, who has worked for Browne since 1990. "He felt this would be a way to save power and do the right thing as far as his beliefs were concerned. For myself, I was curious about LEDs too."

Davidian selected products from Elation and its sister company American DJ on the basis of recommendation from his supplier,

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USA - Auralex Acoustics has been on active duty in Iraq in support of the United States Army's 10th Mountain Division Band. With approximately 40 members, the 10th Mountain Division Band was deployed to Camp Victory, Iraq earlier this year. Auralex Acoustics took on the challenge of assisting the band with occupation and acoustical renovation of its new rehearsal space.

The band's mission involved transforming an old swimming pool into an acoustically balanced rehearsal facility. The greatest sonic anomaly involved early reflections off the plaster walls surrounding the pool, which is kidney shaped with curved walls, making it difficult to predict the angle of reflections. Sound was reflected in every direction with little attenuation due to the hard wall surfaces. Intelligibility of sound sources was almost completely lost, which resulted in hearing/ear fatigue.

"I've us

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Spain - VMB has announced the appointment of Avix Tech as its exclusive distribution partner for South Korea. The company has placed a substantial initial order including both Line Array systems, ADP series and towerlifts.

Avix Tech made contact with VMB in PLASA 2008 and recently displayed and demoed the product at last month's KOSOUND.

Avix Tech president Chang, Joo Hong said: "I am very pleased to have been able to introduce the VMB speakers to the Korean market through KOSOUND. It was a very successful launch for us in Korea."

VMB's export manager, Ben Sinclair commented: "We are really pleased that Avix Tech is going to take over the distribution for Korea. It has all been very sudden. We made initial contact at PLASA and within six weeks we received them here in Spain for meetings, signed the contract and were over in Korea demonstrating the product at K

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Canada - Club manager Todd Williams describes Canada's On The Rocks Nightclub and Bar in Fort St. John, British Columbia as an uptown, big city themed club in a small town setting. That big city feel is due in large part to a Martin lighting effects package of smartMAC moving heads and Mania series effect lights.

The venue, a former restaurant converted to nightclub use, lies in British Columbia's sparsely populated north and features the biggest dance room in a 350 km radius.

Spaced evenly around the perimeter of a 21' x 21' truss suspended 16ft above the club's dance floor are Martin smartMACs, Mania SCX600 scanners and Mania EFX700 and Mania EFX800 effect lights. Surrounding a cluster of 17 mirror balls at the centre of the truss are Atomic strobes and Mania EFX500 effect lights.

Dispersed around the club's ancillary areas and providing a splash of wall décor are M

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UK - When Coldplay decided they wanted 'Magic Balls' for their Viva la Vida World Tour, XL Video turned to Pufferfish to provide a custom solution. Pufferfish designed and delivered six new 'PufferSphere XL' touring units within the space of two months.

Lighting designer Paul Normandale was tasked with devising a new means of integrating the visual components for the current Viva la Vida tour.

"For my part the band's desire for a viewing surface without the use of LEDs, was an interesting challenge, and one for which the Pufferfish system of internal projection provided a unique solution," states Normandale. "It allows not only media content, but also live relay footage (via the Hippotizers) in large scale arenas worldwide."

In all, six PufferSpheres were commissioned for the tour, forming a major part of the overall visual design as well as

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Dubai - UK-based event company TAO Group has won the contract to consult on Dubai's new multi-purpose venue, The Palladium.

The Palladium, built at a cost of AED120 million (US$32.6 million), will be the first venue of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, edicated to cater for a wide array of events.

Raymond Gaspar of ICE - International Communications and Entertainment, awarded the prestigious contract to TAO Group to consult on the technical fit out of the venue, stewarding and medical appointments, traffic and pedestrian planning, occupational safety and to prepare technical specifications to ease the attendance of touring production.

General manager of The Palladium, Raymond Gaspar said, "This venue can be set-up in a variety of creative ways to suit any event theme and size. We will provide all the elements to facilitate the work of promoters and event org

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UK - Skins 3 is coming to e4 soon, and the programme's creators are looking for some bright young things to help them with a very special project. They'll be creating an online mini-episode of Skins that will feature some of the series 3 cast - and four very important behind the scenes roles still need to be filled.

The producers are looking for a writer, director, costume designer and production designer to join the team. No experience is necessary as the Skins creators will be mentoring the winners and providing support. Not only that - they get to join the set of series 3 for paid work experience. The mini episode will be screened online in 2009.

Entrants need to be between 18 and 23 years old and the closing date for all four competitions is Tuesday December 9th at 6pm.Directors: Skins are giving one budding director the opportunity to ge

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Germany - An L-Acoustics V-DOSC system has been used for the 35th anniversary show of Höhner, a German folk music band, at the 14,000-capacity Lanxess Arena, Cologne.

The concert - Wenn Nicht Jetzt Wann Dann (If Not Now Then When) - which featured special guests Guildo Horn, DJ Ötzi and the Kölner Symphonie, was televised by German broadcaster WDR and recorded for a live CD. While popular across Germany, the band are enormous in their hometown of Cologne and sing in the local dialect of that region.

Cologne-based PA rental company Event-Solution put together a large and complex L-Acoustics system to cover the stalls and lower balcony of the arena.

Event-Solution's Jochen Gotzen used 12 V-DOSC line source cabinets per side as the main PA system, with a total of 20 dV-DOSC compact line source speakers: three per side as down-fills and seven per side as out-fills.

T

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