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UK - The Barbican Centre in London has recently purchased 16 PixelPar 90s. Technical manager Bob Allen explains, "We first saw the PixelPars in action when a production company brought them in to light an event. We were really impressed with their light output, smooth colour mixing and controllability. They are also engineered to a high standard making them robust - which is important for us as they are continuously in and out of flight-cases being rigged."

The PixelPars are in constant use around the Barbican Centre - lighting receptions, functions, parties and branding for conferences. The diversity of the fixtures creates more of an impact on smaller events and reduces the need for hiring in alternative lighting.

Allen continues: "We mostly use them in standalo

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Switzerland - Phonak Communications has supplied its guide-U wireless tour guiding system to BMW Welt for use at the company's global headquarters in Munich, Germany.

Produced in Switzerland by the miniaturized device specialist, guide-U now guides groups of tourists, corporate guests and VIPs around the company's huge on-site education centre.

guide-U allows BMW Welt tour visitors to listen to a transmitter-wearing speaker via comfortable receiver headphone sets, ensuring that guides are heard and understood by every guest (including those who wear hearing aid devices).

To date, 180 guide-U receiver sets have been introduced and employed at BMW's Munich site, with these systems being used for both scheduled daily tours and one-off group and VIP visits.

"We are delighted to be associated with such a globally recognised brand as BMW," added Evert Dijkstra, managin

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USA - Marking the 11th anniversary of his late wife Linda's passing to the day with dedications of Long and Winding Road and My Love Does it Good, Paul McCartney opened this year's Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on an emotional and energy-charged note. In a two- hour plus set including two encores, Sir Paul enthralled the crowd from behind his regular microphone of choice, a hardwired Shure Beta 58.

"Paul McCartney has been using a Beta 58 for a long time and this year's opening night at Coachella was no exception," noted Shure West Coast artist relations manager Bill Oakley. "He put on a great show, as did several other Shure endorsers like Henry Rollins, The Presets and Thievery Corporation."

(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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South Africa - Northwind Recording appointed Gearhouse South Africa to team up, design and supply the largest ever line array PA system to date to be used in the country, for the three-day 2009 Mighty Men Conference (MMC 09), staged at the Shalom Farm, Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Comprising 172 L-Acoustics speaker enclosures - a mix of VDOSC, dV-DOSC, Kudo and SB28 subs - the in-the-round show featured a main stage system and two delay rings at 100 and 180m respectively from the centre, calculated to cover a sound-field radius of 300m/600mdiameter.

The event has become an annual pilgrimage drawing people from all denominations and cultural groups within South Africa as well as Australia, UK and USA.

The goal of the weekend is to gather men to pray, to worship and unite and heal broken families. The ministry and teaching is headed up by evangelist preacher Angus Buchan. The even

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UK - DPA microphones, including the new 4099 instrument mics, have been used for Rick Wakeman's The Six Wives of Henry VIII performances at Hampton Court Palace. Wakeman's solo debut album was released in 1973 but he was refused permission to perform it at Henry VIII's 16th-century palace. More than three decades later, Wakeman finally realised his dream when he was asked to appear to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne of England.

Never before performed in its entirety, Wakeman's two live performances of the album were played out against the backdrop of the West Gate of Hampton Court Palace. In front of the building stood a large stage supporting 30 members of the English Chamber Choir, the 50-piece Orchestra Europa, a rock band and Wakeman himself.

30 DPA 4061 miniatures provided by Wigwam Acoustics were mounted onto the bridges o

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Germany - At this year's Prolight&Sound in Frankfurt, the mipa awards were granted for the tenth time. For the sixth time, the Berlin-based microphone manufacturer Neumann was a winner - with the TLM 67.

Wolfgang Fraissinet, president of marketing/sales of Neumann Berlin, states: "We are particularly pleased with this mipa. It demonstrates that with the TLM 67 we have succeeded in creating an outstanding synthesis of tradition and innovation."

(Jim Evans)

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Sweden - Lab.gruppen has appointed Joakim Hammar to the role of application engineer. A Swedish national living in the UK, Joakim will be covering all European territories where his remit is to provide technical advice, support and training to all PLM and Lake users.

Hammar worked as a sound engineer and project manager at Scandinavia's largest supplier to the event and live music industry, United Audio Starlight, until his move to the UK two years ago. Since then he has continued to consolidate his experience working as a freelance sound/system engineer in Scandinavia and the UK.

Lab.gruppen's European sales manager, Claus Behrens comments: "He's first and foremost a highly skilled systems engineer who has been responsible for some very big systems, so he speaks the same language as his customers. His primary role is to offer technical support and advice, and to bring us

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UK - The charity live event for Cancer Research that PLASA's Ron Bonner and L&SI's technical editor James Eade are currently pulling together for 8 August this year is coming along nicely. Known as Vibes from the Vines, the event was last held in 2006 and raised £32,000 for the charity (if you are wondering about the name, the first event was held in a vineyard!). Offers of help from all around the Industry have been already received with companies and personnel being quick to step up to the plate with huge contributions in time and kit.

Ron Bonner says: "There will be some top quality equipment and expertise on show with Steve Williams of Nippy Industries providing the stage, Martin Hawthorn of Hawthorn Theatrical promising the vast array of Clay Paky lighting and Brian Grant agreeing to provide a top-spec PA from Britannia Row. Ric Salzedo at Avolites is agai

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UK - Organisers of the four-day Glastonbury Festival are introducing a safety passport scheme for contractors setting up this year's event at the end of June.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 workers, including lighting technicians, stage constructors and video and sound specialists, will be asked to complete a training course to gain their safety passport.

The training course is one of several introduced into many business sectors by Safety Pass Alliance (SPA), based in Southam, Warwickshire.

Tim Roberts, health and safety co-ordinator for the Festival, said: "We are keen to promote a pro-active safety culture for the Festival, and we feel the SPA safety passport is an appropriate health and safety qualification for contractors and their employees working at the Festival site.

"We have run trial courses for about 200 core staff, and now we are gearing up to deliver the

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UK - Building on the original visitor experience created 15 years ago, Alien Wars returns to its original home at The Arches in Glasgow with the help of Zero 88 and Scottish distributer Blacklight.

Gary Gillies and John Gorman created Alien Wars in 1992, after watching a double-bill of Alien and Aliens at a local cinema, and wanting to experience the movie rather than just watch it.

Creating the right ambiance and effects for the Alien Wars/i> experience has been key to its success. Having been asked to supply and install the lighting, Phil Haldane of Blacklight needed equipment that could stand the rigours of daily use and handle the variety of lighting fixtures and effects used throughout the experience. He chose Zero 88.

The whole experience is run on Betapack dimmers and a Leap Frog 48 lighting control console. The show is controlled from 1

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UK - Il Divo have embarked on another world tour, their dulcet tones backed by a powerful Meyer Sound system provided by UK-based Capital Sound.

The system comprises left and right arrays of 18 MILO line array loudspeakers each, with side arrays of 12 MICA line array loudspeakers each and a center hang of six M'elodie line array loudspeakers, along with four UPA-1P loudspeakers for fills. Low frequencies are covered by 12 700-HP subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker system with three Galileo 616 processors provides system drive and processing.

Capital Sound's Paul Timmins notes: "Capital Sound has worked with the band on their earlier tours, providing sound for their European shows. But this time around they've asked us to cover the full tour. The consistency factor is quite important for them, and by carrying the Meyer Sound system throughout the tour they're assured of

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UK - London-based 10 out of 10 Productions has been appointed as sole UK distributor for the new TM-125 microphone from Bartlett Mics - a replacement for the popular PCC-160. Designed by Bruce Bartlett, one of the original developers of the PCC for Crown, the TM-125 microphone will be available for sale early June 2009.

(Lee Baldock)

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The Netherlands - Bosch Security Systems is introducing a new series of flush-mount Premium-sound ceiling loudspeakers covering the full audio frequency range. The new series is suited for applications where high-quality music is required whilst still meeting the needs of today's most demanding public address systems, says the company.

The loudspeaker series offers a choice of drivers, including full-range units in sizes of 4", 8" and 12", in powers of 30W and 60W. An optional 10" 60W subwoofer is also available to add extra bass. This makes it easy to create and install custom set-ups for a broad range of applications - including health and fitness centres, restaurants, hotels, bars and shops.

Equipped with a waveguide-coupled, titanium-coated dome tweeter and housed in an integrated, fully-ported enclosure, the loudspeakers are capable of accurately repro

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USA - Elation Professional has introduced the Design Wash LED Pro, a high-output DMX-compatible LED moving head colour wash.

Although compact and affordable, the Design Wash LED Pro is bright, powered by 108 high-output 3-Watt Rebel LEDs (52 red, 22 green, 22 blue and 12 white). Its LEDs can be blended to create a palette of millions of colours through additive RGB mixing using a DMX controller. The addition of white LEDs to the usual RGB mix is an extra-value feature that allows the Design Wash LED Pro to produce more vibrant colours and pastels, and also makes it a suitable fixture for designers who want to create a true white, says the company.

This fully automated moving head can pan at either 630° or 530° and tilt 265°. And with an expansive beam angle of 39.5°, it gives a wide, even, smooth wash.

"LED moving heads are starting to have a real impa

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UK - Sheffield-based Cloud Electronics has launched a new range of paging products, designed for use with any Cloud zoner and mixer-amplifier, or that of a third party.

The Cloud PM1 single-zone paging microphone with its heavy-duty moulded base and 300mm gooseneck has an attractive and modern appearance and is supplied with a windshield. Connections are provided for wiring the mic to the mic audio signal and access contacts. The PTT (PressToTalk) button un-mutes the mic and provides contacts (NO or NC) for the host device's access connector.

The Cloud PM range of digital paging mics represents a development of the established CDPM series - with the model number - either PM4, PM8, PM12 or PM16 - referencing the number of zones that can be paged directly from the unit.

The microphone units are designed to be elegant and simple to use, as well as easy to install and configure.

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Belgium - The Belgian national basilica, the Basiliek van Koekelberg, is the country's largest church, (the world's fifth largest basilica) and used for big national ceremonies and services with international acclaim.

Its cross shaped base-form with a 2500 capacity main nave and big side aisles, each with a capacity of some 250 visitors, a depth of 60m. plus the seven seconds reverb made the assignment to provide accurate sound reinforcement a true challenge for audio company Pa-P.A and Alcons' engineer Philip de Haan.

After a first demo-session with Alcons QR36 sets equipped with double RBN1801 pro-ribbon HF drivers: two columns in the main 'national' nave of the Basilica, one column in the 'parish' nave, where it excelled over the existing recently installed beam-steered system in the A/B test, the church management decided to invest in the Alcons system.

"The result

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Sweden - Following the recent acquisition of the Lake brand and associated technology, which was rapidly followed by the announcement of the LM 26, Lab.gruppen's first stand-alone digital processor based on Lake technology, Lab.gruppen has announced a combined training initiative on Lake Controller software and Lab.gruppen PLM Series Powered Loudspeaker Management systems.

"Lab.gruppen's amplifiers and powered loudspeaker management systems are utilised everyday all around the world in all varieties of live productions/concerts and fixed installations," notes Ken Blecher, VP of sales, tour for TC Group Americas. "Due to the diverse technologies employed in these products, we want to make sure all operators, technicians; system and project engineers are completely educated on the Lake Controller software, and the Lab.gruppen PLMs."

The courses aim to provid

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Romania - Romanian production company Five's, a member of the Synco Europe Network, successfully staged the country's third J&B Start A Party event in April in the unconventional location of the roof-top of the Moldova Mall in Iasi, the largest city in the Moldova region of Romania, reuniting more than 1000 guests. The production included a city-wide laser lightshow and the construction of a two-metre-high mirror ball, the symbol of the party whisky brand's promotional campaign.

Five's were first brought in for J&B Start A Party on the event's first appearance in Romania in 2007, by Ogilvy Action Romania, J&B's brand activation agency. The first party was held in the former Senate's headquarters, followed, in 2008, by an open-air party at Caro Hotel on the bank of Tei Lake. As the event has grown, Five's contribution to its success and unique atmosphere has expande

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USA - Technomad comes to InfoComm 2009 (18-20 June, Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando) with renewed momentum as the company expands into new territory based on "game-changing products for the general AV, systems integration, education and commercial security markets".

New this year is the Berlin range of narrow dispersion loudspeakers, available in two configurations (90x40 and 60x40). The new models retain the outstanding durability, voice intelligibility musical audio quality and long-distance output of traditional 120x120 Berlin loudspeakers; while giving design engineers, contractors and consultants seeking a more controlled output pattern. Suitable for tightly controlled acoustic environments indoors or in outdoor installations where long distance projection is required - especially large stadiums - the Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers will be displaye

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UK - Pearce hire has continued its ongoing investment programme to improve the range of equipment available for clients.

Health and safety is always a high priority for Pearce Hire and a further investment in cable ramps sees the company grow to become the UK's largest stockist of Adam Hall cable ramp rental stock. The latest addition to its range involves a significant investment in Defender Mini Ramp, adding to the stock of Defender 3 and Defender Midi.

Mark Stimpson, sales manager at Adam Hall said: "Pearce Hire has been our partner for the Defender product for several years now. Their stock portfolio has built up over these years such that they are now able to cater for any size event. We are pleased to further our relationship and the continued investment and expansion of Pearce Hire."

The audio department has taken delivery of a new Digital Yamaha M7CL consol

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UK - When Midge Ure, Warren Cann, Chris Cross and Billy Currie decided to reform Ultravox for a reunion Return to Eden tour this spring, it was the first time the classic line up of the band had performed together since Live Aid in 1985.

As they would be performing exclusively back catalogue material, converting the classical analogue early '80s synth-driven New Romantics sound into digital, it seemed a natural choice for them to use Midge's long-serving FOH engineer Berenice Hardman and production manager/monitor man, Dave Claxton.

In 'switching codes' to digital Claxton and Hardman opted for the Soundcraft Vi6 for FOH after much evaluation, sourcing their requirements - including a JBL VerTec line array system - from Adlib Audio, with whom they have enjoyed a long relationship.

"I've used most of the digital boards on the market and never been overly hap

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