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USA - Bandit Lites recently lit an invitation-only dinner, funded entirely through private donations, which was held to celebrate the completion of the new University of Tennessee College of Business Administration facility.

The new six-floor, 174,000sq.ft building at the corner of Andy Holt Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard houses 34 classrooms, more than 50 offices for staff and administration, 35 team and presentations rooms, a technology centre, an investment centre and an atrium with a glass elevator.

Lighting designer Shawn Beaulieu chose to use ETC Source Fours, Martin MAC 2000 Washes, Vari*Lite 3000 Spots and Coemar LED Pars to light the event. Lighting was controlled by a Flying Pig Systems Wholehog II.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Aviom has announced the release of a major firmware upgrade for its Pro64 Series of digital snake and audio networking products. The software release, which is available for free download from Aviom's website, www.aviom.com, includes support for m-control for Yamaha digital consoles. With m-control, a user has direct access to the preamp settings on Aviom's 6416m Mic Input Modules from the user interface of most Yamaha digital consoles outfitted with a 6416Y2 A-Net Interface Card.

The m-control feature offers another control path for Aviom's Pro64 Series mic pre. All settings on the 6416m can also be set from the device's front panel, as well as controlled remotely from any point in the network with the MCS handheld controller. A single MCS can be used for up to 64 channels of mic pre control, and multiple control points can be set in a single network. All three control me

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Lifetime achievements - Motown legends The Four Tops are to receive a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement, organisers have said. The group, best known for hits such as I Can't Help Myself and Reach Out I'll Be There will be given the honour along with late Rat Pack star Dean Martin. Gene Autry, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Hank Jones, Tom Paxton and Brenda Lee will also receive career awards. The prizes will be given at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 7 February, one day before the 51st annual Grammy Awards.

Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy - which runs the Grammys - called the recipients a "prestigious group of legendary performers, creative architects and technical visionaries". He added: "Their outstanding accomplishments, legendary passion and artistry have positively affected our culture and will continue to influence and inspire ge

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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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USA - At Chicago's Grant Park Barack Obama's 2008 victory speech ran through crowds, as MA Lighting's grandMA consoles (supplied by overall Lighting Contractor - Christie Lites) took front row. States lighting designer Bob Peterson, "The Obama campaign provided the statement for the directive, which was to elegantly transfer from the exuberance of the campaign to the seriousness of the presidency. What that meant to me was to deem victory night a serious and strong historical evening."

According to Peterson: "We massaged our single look over a course of three nights. The primary component was to light the President Elect to his very best advantage, then cleanly illuminate the 100,000 plus people in the park, all at exposures that would allow the skyline and city to be a backdrop in the network cut shot." Several disciplines of equipment including Martin, Sync

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UK - A host of celebrities and artists from the worlds of music, comedy and theatre came together for the annual Royal Variety Performance. Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the show returned to the London Palladium to be performed in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Headlining for 2008 were Take That, alongside artists such as Pussycat Dolls, Duffy and Leona Lewis. Recorded on 11 December, it was transmitted on BBC1 on Wednesday 17 December.

Lighting director Bernie Davis comments: "The key thing is flexibility. All the programming is done over three days on site, and we have to be ready for any plans to change. The only way to achieve the range of looks is to use moving lights."

The decision on which lights to use was partly influenced by the venue. Bernie explained, "We took over the Palladium dur

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UK - Supported by Milton Keynes Partnership, the city's main shopping centre thecentre:mk, Midsummer Place and local newspaper The Citizen amongst others, Light Fantastic was a free public event that featured a lantern parade, French aerialists Transe Express performing a display suspended from a 150ft crane, acrobats suspended from giant balloons, gas jets flaring into the night sky, stunning images projected onto landmark buildings and a futuristic Exploratorium, all set to a bespoke soundtrack.

"We were approached as event producers and asked to come up with a number of different ideas," explains Mark Harrison. "Milton Keynes is set out on a grid system and the city wanted something unique that, when the centre of the city was closed off, would work with the road system, naturally leading people from place to place, with the building projections u

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UK - Stage Electrics has purchased 10 new Mercedes Sprinter vans for its national branch network, which will replace the existing branch fleet of vehicles. Each van is fitted with the ECO-Start system which turns the engine off after a two-second waiting period, while the vehicle is stationary. The engine will automatically restart when the clutch pedal is depressed.

The new vans will save fuel, vehicle emissions, noise and engine wear. Such features are especially beneficial for branch vehicles which often spend large periods of time stuck in traffic with the engine running. The vans are due to roll out across the branches from January, with two vehicles allocated to each branch.

Gordon Wells, head of finance, comments: "This significant capital investment highlights not only our fleet growth, but ensures we are actively reducing our corporate carbon footprint."

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Canada - The November tour of their homeland by Canada's Sam Roberts Band featured six XTA processors in use at front of house. The tour played theatre-sized venues throughout the country and the band's FOH engineer Phil Hornung was faced with the prospect of using house PA systems in most venues.

In order to maintain consistency of the sound, XTA's local distributor, Sennheiser Canada, supplied him with a package of processing options, comprising a C2 compressor, D2 dynamic EQ, E2 parametric EQ, G2 noise gate, GQ600 dual 30 band graphic EQ and DP324 SiDD digital dynamics processor.

"I was looking for a compact outboard package that would allow me to lend some measure of consistency to the sound," says Hornung. "The XTA package was small, compact and - most importantly - easy to use and interface with local PA systems.

"The D2 allows me to keep any PA or

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USA - Digidesign has announced the immediate availability of Pro Tools 8 software. Available now through authorised Digidesign dealers as well as at www.digidesign.com, Pro Tools 8 is the latest version of the digital audio workstation. An enhanced feature set is highlighted by a completely updated user interface, more than 70 bundled plug-ins and virtual instruments, fully-integrated MIDI and score editors and an expanded array of editing features for both music and post production applications.

"Customer excitement for this release of Pro Tools is at an all-time high," stated Tex Schenkkan, Vice president and general manager, Audio at Avid. "We believe that this is not only in response to the substantial changes and additions we've made to the product, but also because so much of what's new came directly from customer feedback. We are grateful for their contribu

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UK - For the second year running, A.C. Entertainment Technologies presented a British Racing Drivers' Club award to 2008 Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton at the BRDC Annual Awards luncheon. Over 400 people gathered at the Café Royal in London for this year's event. The star-studded guest list included many of motor racing's finest heroes from past and present to celebrate the success stories of the 2008 racing season. Also, the Club welcomed The Prime Minister, Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP, as a distinguished guest.

A.C. Entertainment Technologies product development director, Glyn O'Donoghue, along with BRDC President Damon Hill OBE and Graham Hill's widow, Bette Hill, presented the esteemed Graham Hill Trophy to Lewis Hamilton. The trophy is awarded to the British Driver for the most meritorious performance in single-seater racing.

A.C. Entertainment Techno

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Spain - D.A.S. Audio has launched its new LX-218 bass-reflex subwoofer system. The LX-218 high efficiency system is designed to provide "outstanding performance in terms of output power (142dB peak SPL), bandwidth extension and distortion control" say the company. The new horizontal cabinet configuration incorporates two 18" long excursion speakers in addition to electronic technology, using third generation Class D amplifiers for the powered versions.

The system is designed to provide high-level sub-bass reinforcement for mid-high units such as D.A.S. Aero line array systems. They are suitable for P.A. applications using systems for mid-to-large scale events in arenas, stadiums or theatres, ensuring magnificent levels of bass reinforcement.

The design philosophy behind the LX-218 is an advanced electro-acoustic solution with all of the main components including

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Iceland - At this year's Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík-based Exton provided effective and powerful sound reinforcement for five festival venues using self-powered systems from Meyer Sound. Referred to by Rolling Stone magazine as "the hippest long weekend on the annual music festival calendar," the five-day music showcase introduces acts from Iceland and across the globe, including this year's CSS from Brazil; Junior Boys and Crystal Castles from Canada; UK-based Robots in Disguise; and White Denim and Boy Crisis from the US.

As Exton's Ivar Ragnarsson explains, the festival's largest venue, Reykjavík Art Museum's Port Room, was the most challenging. "The room was originally a warehouse," Ragnarsson says. "It's about 10m wide and 45m long, and very reverberant." Ragnarsson adds that aside from the acoustical challenges, the room required a quick set

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USA - First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri has re-configured its sound system from a basic two-fader setup with choir and pastor microphones into a complex multi-channel mix with a full live band.

To modernise both its sanctuary and it range of worship services, First Baptist recently undertook a $1.5 million renovation. Unity Pro AV of Jackson, Missouri was contracted to design and install a new $105,000 sound system. The church opted to retain its 24ft video screen, projector with long throw lens and multi-camera setup. "We have been working with First Baptist on small upgrades and maintenance issues for several years," Unity Pro AV's Matt Schwartz says.

In four short months, Schwartz designed both a new loudspeaker system and acoustical treatment using EASE, he gently persuaded the church that wall treatments were the right way to go and installed the co

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USA - Elation Professional has introduced a low-lying fog effect machine that doesn't require dry ice or any connections to external units. The company's Antari DNG-200 Low Fog Generator is a self-contained unit that produces a continuous output of low-lying fog while running on X-Fog Ice fog fluid.

Featuring a 3M fog conducting hose, the DNG-200 creates low-lying fog straight from its nozzle, just like a regular fog machine. With no CO2 installation to hassle with, the DMX-controllable DNG-200 is operator-friendly, says the company.

"Until now, most low-lying fog machines had to use dry ice to generate fog that stays close to the ground," said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. "Another alternative was to buy a 'fog chiller' machine that hooked up to your regular fogger and converted its output to ground-type fog. The DNG-200 eliminates b

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The Netherlands - Dutch pop star Jan Smit is touring the Netherlands to promote his latest album. Prolyte supplied the complete staging and trussing set, through its distributor Controlled for Triple show Techniek.

The mobile stage was designed as a multi-level stage to enable him to have optimum contact with his audience. Beside the visual aspect, the technical specifications also played an important role. Due to a tight touring schedule, production time to build the stage was limited. Prolyte advised to use the Easy frame C system, as support frame for the entire staging area, which assembles rapidly and without the need for extra tooling of forklifts.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Symetrix Inc, the US-based provider of signal processing technology for the installed sound, broadcast and recording markets, has announced the return of Jim Latimer in the position of northern regional sales manager, following a two-year spell away from Symetrix. With Latimer joining an already successfulsales team, Symetrix says it will be able to support its representatives, dealers, and customers with even greater service.

"I'm back because I missed the company, the people, and the products," Latimer explained. "I look forward to reconnecting with some of my old customers, friends, and serving the growing Symetrix client base to the very best of my abilities. Recently I visited the factory and was genuinely impressed with the company's team spirit and unified sense of purpose. It's very exciting."

Paul Roberts, Symetrix director of sales, is parti

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South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa's Cape Town branch swung into action supplying staging, sound, lighting and LED screens to production company Celebrity Services/Maximum Exposure for the annual festive lights switch-on ceremony along Adderley Street, performed by Mayor Helen Zille and attended by 70,000 people.

The show included performances by several high profile artists including headliner Loyiso Bala, supported by Loading Zone, Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, Denim and Dozi, all MC'd by comedian Wayne McKay. The event was project managed on site for Gearhouse by Zane Carim.

The main stage was a 22m wide by 14 deep Layher construction, with a Slick Dome roof giving 12m of headroom.

Upstage of this was a Lighthouse high-resolution LED screen. Most of the artists performed before dusk, but it was dark by the time the main ceremony swung into action. This plus three del

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UK - Video was used for the first time to project giant images onto the 353ft high Shell Building on the South Bank of the River Thames for the Mayor of London's 2008-09 New Year's Eve celebrations.

E/T/C London created a projection concept and suggested that they harness the flexibility and power of video for the first time on this event, on which E/T/C has worked for producers Jack Morton Worldwide for the last five years. With LG Electronics coming onboard as a new sponsor, they wanted to up the production values, making the show something extra special and more spectacular this year.

E/T/C's Ross Ashton says: "It was another milestone in giant video projection for E/T/C London, and probably the UK's largest New Year video installation to date as well as a great opportunity for us to move the company forward."

E/T/C's Richard Porter designed the technical instal

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UK - Following its "unprecedented success and critical acclaim in the installation market" with its new VQ Series sound reinforcement loudspeaker range, Tannoy has now announced a new partnership with Paul Nicholson's Red Square Audio to develop and market a live/touring version of the product.

Having first heard the system at the 2008 ABTT Show, Nicholson had been keeping a keen eye on the product's early success in the installation market and felt there was great potential for VQ as a world class live system. Following some informal discussion of the possibilities, Tannoy welcomed Nicholson's extensive expertise to the table and he began consulting with their engineering team on adapting the existing VQ Series to suit the touring market.

Within a very short period of time Tannoy had responded to Nicholson's ideas, resulting in a new and radical departure for the co

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Australia - ARX Systems has announced the appointment of Stockholm based Sennberg A.B as its new distributor for Sweden.

ARX managing director Colin Park commented: " I have been discussing the possibilities of working with Sennberg in Sweden with them for some time, their sales team felt our range of signal processing products was a very complementary fit with the other lines they currently represent, especially our newer USB and analogue interface and dynamics products.

"Sweden has always been important for ARX, it's one of northern Europe's trend setting markets. We're looking forward to working with Stephan Segermark and his team at Sennberg to consolidate ARX's position in the Swedish market and to reinforce to their customers the state of the art performance that ARX products can offer them."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - HSL supplied lighting equipment and crew to the most recent leg of UK rockers Thunder's Bang tour, LD'd by Ian Bintliff. It's the second Thunder production tour that HSL has supplied, and was managed for the Blackburn-based rental house by Howard Dean.

Bintliff states, "It's always a pleasure to work with HSL - their kit, crew and service is second to none, and they also came up with a very good deal."

The trussing structure comprised of four 5m pre-rigged 'fingers', each fully loaded with 24 PARs, and each length also forming an integral architectural element of the design. The fingers fanned out from a central point at the back, and in between them were three triangular pods. Each pod was rigged with four Robe ColorSpot 575E AT moving lights, four JTE PixelLine LED battens and a string of ACLs.

The impact of the pods was maximised by being moved in an

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