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USA - More than 90 years ago, a Wright biplane took off from the West Michigan State Fairground. Not long after, Kent County's first airport was opened near Grand Rapids and in 1926, the United State's first regularly scheduled airline service began between Grand Rapids and Detroit and it has grown to become an essential hub for the Midwest.

In 1999, Kent County International Airport became Gerald R. Ford International Airport and, at the beginning of the new Millennium, it completed a $50 million renovation of its passenger terminal building. Since then, its programme of improvement and upgrade has continued, with one of the most recent additions being an extensive Ampetronic induction loop system, designed to improve the experience of its hearing impaired customers.

Jonathan C

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Italy - Following on from the recent appointment of the Proel Group Professional Division to handle distribution of its loudspeaker products in Italy, Turbosound has launched a new website dedicated to its Italian customers and professional sound system users.

Created in collaboration with Proel Communications, the website is an appropriate vehicle for the new team at Proel Group Professional, headed up by sales manager Gianluca Farina, to become easily accessible to the Italian market. In addition to providing contact details for the sales team, the website integrates with Proel's strategy of focusing on distributing its entire portfolio of professional audio, video and lighting products.

"We have many customers in Italy, and with this new website we hope to attract many more to the Turbosound brand since we can offer a broad range of live sound and sound contracting pro

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UK - Kramer Electronics has announced the introduction of the VP-420 ProScale Digital PC/HD scaler. The VP-420 is a high-performance digital scaler for computer graphics video, component video and HDTV video signals. It scales the input up or down to a selectable computer graphics video or HDTV output signal on a 15-pin HD connector.

Housed in a compact Kramer MegaTOOLS enclosure, the VP-420 supports widescreen resolutions and scales and outputs computer graphics video resolutions from VGA (640 x 480) up to WUXGA (1900 x 1200), component video signals of 480i, 480p, 575i and 576p resolution and HDTV signals of 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolution. The unit is suitable for displaying computer graphics video on displays designed for video use or for displaying HDTV video on displays that only have 15-pin HD connectors available.

The VP-420 features an on-screen display (OSD) for con

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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 2009 winners of the recent AV awards were announced at a gala dinner attended by more than 500 people on 9 October 2009, at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The Digital Signage Product of the Yearhonour was awarded to Digital Projection for its innovative fireproof, dustproof and waterproof XTP?HD 300 projector. The fully IP65 certificated projector was originally designed to meet London Underground's rigorous safety and quality requirements for a cross?track digital signage projection system.

TV One received the Systems Product of the Yearfor its 1T-C2-750 Dual DVI Scaler. Steven Mattingly, managing director of TV One, was there to collect the award and states, "It is a privilege and an honour to accept this award on behalf of TV One. We are extremely proud to receive it.

"The CORIO2 Technology behind the 1T-C2-750 is among the best scaling

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The Netherlands - Integrated Systems Europe will offer audio demonstration rooms for the first time at its 2010 event, the show's organiser, Integrated Systems Events, has announced. Located in the upper floors of the Amsterdam RAI's new Elicium building, the rooms will give exhibitors the chance to show the latest in audio technology in a controlled, invitation-only environment, while visitors will have the opportunity to hear sound at higher levels than has previously been possible at ISE.

Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events, says, "ISE prides itself on being a 'quiet' show where attendees can talk business without competing with high-level sound. But we have been aware for some time that many of our audio exhibitors would like to be able to demonstrate their systems at higher sound levels than our show floor policy permits.

"We have

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Singapore - Under the theme Come together, Reaching out, Reaching Upmore than 26,000 spectators were present at Singapore's Marina Bay platform to celebrate the 44th National Day Parade. Over 10,000 performers took part in the show on the world's largest floating platform.

The show itself only lasted two hours, but the preparations had been ongoing for many months. Lighting director Mac Chan opted to redesign the stage layout from previous years, bringing the actual stage much closer to the audience.

To control all the lighting fixtures, lighting programmer Low Wee Cheng specified a grandMA system consisting of two grandMA full-size consoles, two grandMA2 lights for full tracking backup, eleven MA NSPs (Network Signal Processors) expanding the processing power and 32 MA 2Port Nodes which were distributed all over the stage.

"The reason I chose grandMA for Nationa

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UK - Leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light is pleased to announce its appointment as a distributor for Philips Entertainment Lamps - expanding its ability to offer end-to-end solutions for entertainment lighting, supplying anything from a single light bulb or sheet of gel to a complete lighting system, including installation. At the same time, the company has announced the appointment of David Manister as business development manager, increasing White Light's expertise in this field.

White Light's appointment as a distributor gives it access to the full range of Philips' lamp technologies, including the FastFit system which enables easy lamp replacement and adjustment while also reducing overall lamp length, and P3 technology, which offers greater heat tolerance so increasing lamp life.

For entertainment lighting, these technologies are incorporated in a wide ran

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UK - XL Video UK continued to supply full video production and crew to Coldplay's Viva La Vida world tour, which recently finished its final European and UK stadium phase.

The equipment included high and medium resolution LED screens, Catalyst and Hippotizer digital media servers plus control, spherical projection system, cameras and IMAG PPU and 17 crew.

XL supplied Coldplay's video equipment for the third our running and right from the start of this one in June 2008. The account was project managed by Des Fallon, who said, "It has been a pleasure to be work with Coldplay again, on all 159 shows."

The LED video elements were scaled up dramatically for the stadium shows, most noticeably with the addition of 550sq.m of XL's F30 SMD screen, which formed an elegant elongated 54m wide by 12m high arched backdrop traversing the whole of the upstage area. The Arch

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Sweden - Wireless Solution is celebrating the shipping of its 30,000th unit of W-DMX which was introduced just five years ago.

"We're extremely pleased - with this continuously rising volume, we've actually been able to reduce prices and pass the savings on to both OEM clients and lower the cost of the boxed units," says Wireless Solution CEO Niclas Arvidsson, "We now have over 20 OEM clients and a solid distribution network worldwide, proving that W-DMX has indeed become an unofficial industry standard."

The company plans to hold its popular Visionary Awards and Swedish meatball and vodka party during LDI in Orlando to celebrate the success. "The awards this year will have a special surprise," adds Arvidsson, "We want to bring focus to some very special people. It will be a celebration not to miss."

(Jim Evans)

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Australia - Camco Vortex and Tecton amplifiers are providing an open-air soundtrack for one of Australia's most ambitious civic precincts.

In Melbourne, the long-awaited Federation Square integrates civic spaces, a transport hub, tourist and civic facilities. Buildings and open spaces include a large irregularly shaped city square (or plaza), sunny sheltered areas for al fresco dining, street theatre and music, gallery space, performance space and facilities for cafes, as well as other multimedia facilities, a function centre and offices. A galleria and indoor amphitheatre sit between the two major building complexes, and the development is topped off by a free-standing viewing tower.

At the centre of it all, in the large open-air plaza, is a giant 16:9 high-definition LED screen, which provides visual communication and entertainment as well as coverage of live sporting events

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USA - Blue Microphones has launched enCORE, a new series of microphones that brings their heritage of studio microphones to the stage. The enCORE 100, 200, and 300 models are designed and priced for any live application, from the rehearsal space and coffee shop to the auditorium and stadium, says the company.

The new enCORE series microphones are "the result of years of research designed to bring Blue's legendary studio sound to the stage, starting with their exclusive Aria Capsule". Every element of the Aria Capsule is precisely matched and tuned to achieve a detailed and clear sound. To protect the capsule, the enCORE Series feature the thickest steel grills on the market along with an oversized reinforcement ring. Further adding to their ruggedness are heavy, precision-machined cast-zinc bodies, which have been tested to perform uniformly after dropping, throwing, a

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Uzbekistan - Gerriets was chosen as stage equipment provider for the new convention centre in Tashkent. Gerriets, in close cooperation with SBS Buehnentechnik, Dresden, was responsible for providing all draperies and projection screens, the main curtain and a large scissor track system.

To equip the convention center with drapes and curtains, Gerriets used more than 10.000sq.m of grey and black Clivia 600 stage velvet. The fabric is heavy-duty and has the quality that is necessary for curtains of exceptional height.

For the main hall, Gerriets provided an Opera white projection screen. Further, 700m of Vario Dance and Design floor was also provided.

For the main stage, Gerriets manufactured a 37m Fence Scissor track system, one of the largest in the world. The track system moves the two-piece main curtain (each piece is 19 x 14.30 m) in the main hall.

Gerriets installed al

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UK - On a worldwide tour in support of her hit album It's Not Me, It's You, singer/composer Lily Allen has enjoyed front-of-house sound on four continents via a Soundcraft Vi6 large-format digital live sound console.

FOH engineer Shan Hira comments: "I especially like the onboard effects package. Having eight Lexicons to play with is a rare old treat."

Hira, who has also mixed for the Chemical Brothers and The Streets, has been a fan of the Vi6 for some time. "I had used it before and liked the layout, ease of use, and most importantly the sound of the desk," he says.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - AV company QED Productions found they were able to set several technical milestones when the 2009 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp came to London's O2 Arena.

The brief from event producers, Smyle Creative, was to provide the biggest projection display ever seen at the 15,000-capacity venue, and AV specialists QED duly obliged, filling the massive 34.5m wide by 11.9m high Harkness Hall projection canvas by deploying six Christie Roadster HD18K projectors - flown off a 25m high truss, high above the audience, via their own fast-fit custom-designed rigging system.

This tour de force enabled a host of motivational speakers (including Bootcamp founder Andrew Reynolds) to address aspiring entrepreneurs in an event held annually by the millionaire. Previously Wembley Conference Centre, The Bournemouth International Centre and The Brighton Centre have hosted Bootcamp b

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UK - A new grandMA2 light console has been installed at Jersey Opera House, specified by technical manager Simon Francklin. Francklin has been at the venue for two and a half years, and has been an MA user and advocate for at least the last eight years, since grandMA Series 1 was released in the UK.

When he accepted the post in Jersey, a technical modernisation programme was already in the offing, and naturally, he wanted something modern and cool on the control front - to replace the existing system that had been in place since 2000.

"My ethos for the entire technical upgrade - encompassing sound, lighting and stage - was to get a future-proof system in place - something with a lifespan of at least 10 years" he confirms.

The console was supplied by Stage Electrics. Francklin had been keen to wait for the grandMA2 to come online before making the final purchasing d

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China - Barco played a major role in providing total visual solutions for the opening ceremony of the 11th National Games of the People's Republic of China. The Games - often referred to as the "All China Games" - got underway last Friday night at Jinan Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Shandong's capital city of Jinan.

The event was highlighted by a spectacular 'Super Bowl' video display show in the centre of the stadium that provided a magical experience for those in attendance. In addition to Barco's role in the opening ceremony, Barco products are being deployed by both Color Lighting and Creative Technology throughout the Games.

The Friday opening ceremony of the Games was presided by People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao and attended by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. The All China Games will feature 33 sports and 360 discipline

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France - PR Lighting's French distributors, CSI France report that a high volume of the company's LED and conventional automated spots from PR Lighting have been in use at shows and spectaculars throughout France during the summer and early Autumn.

Particularly popular has been the company's new lightweight XLED-590. Using Osram's Diamond Dragon LED, each head contains 90 high power 5W LED's (30 x Red, 30 x Green, 30 x Blue).

One company that used multiples to great effect was Peronnas-based Concept Son at the Jean Luc Habel dance school's end of term gala in Bourg en Bresse - which they have been servicing for more than 10 years.

The new XLED 590's helped to bring to life 500 dancers from different countries, including African, Indian, flamenco and rock 'n'roll. Concept Son manager, David Reydellet comments: "The XLED 590 is a very flexible, general purpose light which

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UK - Control Lighting provides innovative and artistic lighting for town performance space. At the heart of Workington town centre's shopping malls and hovering in mid-air like a space ship, is The Workington Hub. The Hub is an overhead dome-shaped canopy with futuristic lighting and state of the art 3D sound technology.

The Hub is suspended by wires so it appears to float between the surrounding buildings. Allerdale Borough Council commissioned this work to create a special art piece for the performance of live and recorded sound shows. The canopy was designed by Base Structures and, working with soundscapes from Illustrious Company and SoundWave, the art work's 3D sound system delivers an immersive performance that is dramatically enhanced by the creative use of lighting.

The canopy inner dome is made of a translucent and inflated material that makes an ideal canvas for clev

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China - French loudspeaker manufacturer APG has announced the opening of a new showroom in China. Situated at the Shengzhen branch of APG's Chinese distributor, BVCAM, the 80sq.m facility is dedicated exclusively to APG products.

Featuring products from the Micro, Micro Axial and Dispersion ranges along with a number of compatible subs, the new DMS26 processor and the SMX15 multipurpose monitor speaker, the showroom has already hosted demos for some 50 clients including dealers, consultants, sound engineers, plus TV and rental companies.

"We know that simply having fantastic products is not enough," says BVCAM sales director Kelvin Kung. "You can't sell a professional loudspeaker system on the brochure alone - you have to be able to show the product to the customer, and more importantly, you have to let him hear it. I believe that APG products are truly exceptio

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Jazz News - The Bull's Head in Barnes, one of the UK's most established and respected live Jazz venues, will mark 50 years of promoting jazz and blues this November with an extraordinary programme of events to celebrate the landmark.Owner Dan Fleming has devised a month-long festival programme that will take place in The Yamaha Jazz Room. A launch party will kick off festivities on 12 November and the celebrations continue until 12 December.

The launch, to be hosted by virtuoso trumpeter and bandleader Paul Eshelby, will remarkably feature octogenarian Vic Ash, who was the headline act for the first gig and opening night of the club back in 1959. On the same bill, and with a nod to the future will be Yolanda Brown, Kit Downes and Elisa Caleb.

Throughout the Festival, an array of artists will assist Fleming to mark the occasion, including Don Weller, Peter King, Art Themen, Guy

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USA - Opened a year ago as a multipurpose worship and performance centre for young people at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, The Refinery is an all-Lab.gruppen installation, with multiple C Series amplifiers being used to power a number of sound systems.

"It's a great result," stated Greg Baker, Saddleback Church's technical director. "Our new gymnasium and auditorium within The Refinery are very well served by our Lab.gruppen amplifiers, which have been totally reliable since we added them in June of last year. We are very pleased with the new addition."

The new facility derives its distinctive name from the church's avowed aim to "Refine young children into adulthood." Reported budget for the recently-added audio, video and lighting system was close $2 million.

Working with a comprehensive AVL system design from Acoustic Dimensions, The

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