UK - White Light has been appointed to the Accredited List of Contractors at the National Gallery in London. The appointment will allow the company to supply lighting equipment and services to the many events which make use of the Gallery's building, centrally located in London's Trafalgar Square.

"We were delighted to be able to offer White Light a place on the Accredited List of Contractors at the National Gallery," commented Natasha Browne, the Gallery's head of events. "In particular, we feel that the LED lighting technology they can supply will offer our corporate members exciting new ways of lighting the gallery in a more environmentally sustainable manner for their events."

"We are looking forward to working with Natasha and the staff and guests o

USA / Israel - The CE Division of Waves and Peavey Electronics have announced a new collaborative project resulting in the launch of the Peavey IPR Series of power amplifiers, which uses Waves' MX5010 semiconductor. MX5010 features such proprietary Waves technologies as MaxxBass Bass Extension, MaxxTreble High Frequency Enhancement, 7-Band Paragraphic MaxxEQ, MaxxStereo, MaxxVolume Level Control and more.

The Peavey IPR Series utilises an advanced design that allows Peavey engineers to dramatically reduce weight while increasing reliability, thermal efficiency and output power (up to 6,000W at 2 ohms stable). IPR Series amplifiers are designed with a resonant switch-mode power supply and a high-speed class D topology that yields the highest audio resolution and efficiency available. Four DSP-equipped models feature 32-bit, floating-point digital signal processing with program-sp

The Netherlands - One of The Netherlands' most successful production companies, Rent-All, is on tour with one of the country's most successful artists, Guus Meeuwis. The consoles of choice are a DiGiCo SD8 and SD7 FoH and monitor combination.

In a departure from his recent stadium tours, Meeuwis's current appearances to promote his NW8 CD, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios, are in theatre-sized venues across Holland, where engineers Michiel Lukassen (monitors) and John van Heertum (FOH) are finding the DiGiCo duo the right solution.

"Meeuwis crew used to be committed analogue guys," says Jaap Pronk of TM Audio, DiGiCo's distributor in The Netherlands who sold the consoles to Rent-All. "His recent switch to digital was the result of Lukassen and van Heertum's experience with DiGiCo during Meeuwis stadium concerts in 2008 and 2009.

"They found

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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 - Audio-Technica is extending the warranty on its entire line of 40 Series microphones. Effective immediately, all 40 Series microphones purchased through an authorized US A-T dealer now come standard with a five-year warranty. Recent purchases from authorized US A-T dealers, going back to 1 January 2009, are also covered retroactively by this extended warranty.

Included in the warranty are the recently-unveiled AT4080 and AT4081 Bidirectional Active Ribbon Microphones, AT4050ST Stereo Condenser Microphone and AT4047MP Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone, which debuted earlier this fall. Also covered are classic 40 Series models such as the AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone and the AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone, among many others.

"The move to extend the warranty reflects Audio-Technica's confidence in the quality of our 40 Series and shows the company's

UK - GE Lighting has extended its energy-efficient lighting portfolio with a new range of halogen lamps. Adding to its already extensive CFL product range, GE Lighting's new halogens will provide consumers with even more choice to help them find the right energy efficient lighting source for each application, says the company.

Among the additions to be available from early 2010 is the GE Precise Constant Color MR16 IR, incorporating the market leading double-sided coating technology, and providing up to 40% energy savings when compared to conventional low volt mirror lamps. The new Precise Constant Color MR16 IR provides superior colour rendering and lumen maintenance throughout life and eliminates unwanted backlight seen on competing products, say GE.

The GE Lighting team will also be offering an energy saving MR16 solution for less demanding needs. Arriving this November, th

Germany - The Maintalhalle, situated in the city of Mainaschaff, is a multi purpose venue with a fixed stage used for presentations, theatre shows and live music.

Tony Glaab, technical director of Maintahalle, contacted Stage Light Sound and asked them to provide a high performance audio system that could handle all the different kinds of performances scheduled for the venue.

Stage Light Sound specified RCF's TT+ High Definition Touring and Theatre for the complete sound reinforcement system and worked in close contact with Georg Hofmann and Norbert Wessel of RCF Germany during the design and the set up phase of the project.

The complete system, provided for Maintalhalle comprised TTL31-A compact line array and TTS28-A high power subwoofers as the main P.A., TT08-A as front-fill, TT25-A placed as side-fill and TT25-SMA for stage monitoring purposes.

Georg Hofmann designed

UK - TV One has announced the release of the new 1T-CT-520 Series Cat 5/5E or Cat 6 cable extenders for transmission of DVI-D with analogue or digital audio signals up to 250m.

The 1T-CT-521 Transmitter can accept DVI-D signal resolutions up to 1920x1200 and 1080p/60 along with S/PDIF or analogue stereo audio. Long signal distance is achieved by an analogue/digital hybrid transmission system which is fully compatible with all DVI 1.0 signals and seamlessly integrates the selected audio signal into the signal path. The 1T-CT-521 also provides EDID capability as a standard feature.

Two receivers are offered depending on distances needed. The 1T-CT-524 and 1T-CT-528 feature distances of 100m and 250m respectively and provide gain and equalization adjustments. The 1T-CT-528 receiver provides additional signal processing via two user selectable DIP switches which further equalize t

UK - A decade after its original installation in the Lyceum Theatre, the lighting and control equipment for Disney's The Lion King has been upgraded, marking the end of an era for the last Vari-Lite Artisan and Series 200 system in London's West End.

The multi-award winning Disney musical, with lighting designed by Donald Holder, has used equipment from PRG Lighting since arriving in London to critical acclaim in 1999. In partnership with associate LD Jeanne Koenig and UK associate LD Alistair Grant, the show has been entertaining audiences with its unique set, performances and automated lighting design from a rig of Vari-Lite Series 200 equipment including VL4s and VL2Cs, all controlled by the Artisan Console, programmed by Aland Henderson. Offering unparalleled degrees of control and precise movement for the time, the Artisan was the natural choice to control a Vari-Lit

USA - The Anvil / Calzone Case Companies are returning to Orlando for the 2009 LDI show later this month. Roadcase innovator Larry Vallas, who founded Anvil Cases more than 50 years ago will be in attendance.On Saturday 21 November, Vallas will be present to meet with lighting industry professionals and "share stories from the golden era of rock n' roll production". In addition, Anvil and Calzone staff will be in attendance along with their range of products specifically engineered for professional lighting products.

In 1952, the Acme Pak Company was created to fill a need to package precision instruments in post-World War II America. Originally formed as a division of Acme Pak, the first Anvil cases were designed for travelling musicians. Founded by the Vallas Family, Anvil quickly became synonymous with travelling musicians due to its proximity to the Los Angeles are

Germany - The K.M.E. Pano Line Array System has featured in a number of recent events across Germany.

Hal-Tronic is a new series of events that started on 12 September in the Halle Messe Arena. Top-DJs like DJ Kalkbrenner, Steve Murano and Marc Electrique played on two floors for about 2500 party people. For the 3600sq.m wide hall with 250m truss construction for light and sound Jürgen Dorn from Dorn u. Kannegießer Showtechnik GbR decided to use the K.M.E. Pano.

Five arrays each with two low-mid-units QLM 115, seven line source units QL 906 and a QL 1215 plus 38 subs amplified by system racks SR 7100 provided the powerful techno beat in the whole hall. The complete sound system was installed directly above the two-storied 64 sqm DJ-desk and radiated 360° with an very high SPL.

For the International Highland Games in Angelbachtal and Machern, Jam-Sound Veranstaltungstec

Sweden - Based in Stockholm, LDS specialises in loudspeaker products designed exclusively for the theatre, in particular for Broadway-style musical productions. Wherever possible, LDS specifies Lab.gruppen for amplification and processing and, in the interests of consistency and quality, has now taken things a stage further by offering their customers turnkey solutions.

LDS as it is today was formed in 1998, but has its roots going back to the 1980s working on musicals such as Cats and Chicago. Today, LDS custom line-source systems can be heard in theatres worldwide, from Broadway in New York to London's West End, and at musicals and concerts in Germany, the Netherlands and Estonia. Shows include Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Evita and Miss Saigon.

"Lab.gruppen has been our preferred choice of amplifier brand from the moment I fir

USA - In its first year of production, Pixled products have been used on tours including Keith Urban, Coldplay, Pink and Jay-Z as well as many televised events including the Eurovision Song Contest. Pixled, which was well received during its official European launch at PLASA in London in Septemberwill be presented at the upcoming LDI in Orlando this month.

Originally beta tested as the F LED 11 and the Spider 40, the products were lauded for their exceptional light weight yet uncompromised quality of the LED video imaging, says the company. Pixled's entire product line, ranging from the high resolution F-7 7mm to the transparent and bright F-40 40mm resolution, offers users a wide variety of options from cost-efficient high-resolution LED solutions to ultra-lightweight, virtually transparent screens.

The Pixled product weighs about one-fifth of many other products on th

UK - When Radiohead frontman, Thom Yorke, decided to perform Eraser, his solo album, live for the very first time, he turned to his long time Radiohead collaborator, lighting designer Andi Watson to create the visual look for the shows.

Andi soon discovered that this was to be a one of a kind project with only two performances taking place, along with a small warm up show a couple of days in advance. The shows were to be kept secret up until a week beforehand and it was all going to take place in Los Angeles. Not being a major tour, this also meant that it was to be produced on a small budget.

Seeing this as an opportunity to try out some new equipment, Watson chose to use the GLP Impression fixture range as one of his main lighting instruments, "I had some of the smaller RGB units, some of the white LED units and some of the big XL units too, which together allowe

China - Last month saw China stage a spectacular 60th anniversary National Day Parade in the capital Beijing, with three of DiGiCo's latest generation consoles mixing the audio.

Eastern Acoustic Development Ltd (EAD) worked with the client to support this event by providing one SD7 and two SD8 consoles. "This was a vast and hugely important event - both nationally and internationally, so excellent sound quality, flexible, fast operation and guaranteed stability were key requirements," says Only Wang, EAD technical manager.

"More than anything, the event was so high profile that complete reliability was essential - nothing could be allowed to go wrong, so we had full redundancy to cover for any potential problems."

The two SD8s were used for main system mixing, monitoring and audio for various video and lighting sections in the city's Tiananmen Square. Inc

Sweden - United Audio Starlight AB (UAS) has confirmed that it is to sell 100% of its subsidiary One Two Sales AB to the pro-audio equipment distributor Intersonic AB. The deal will strengthen One Two Sales's position in the Swedish market as a leading supplier of sound and lighting products to high-profile customers.

In order to secure a stable future for One Two Sales, new owner Intersonic is encouraging key OTS employees to buy shares in their company. Intersonic's directors are also keen to emphasise that the two companies will remain as separate operational entities.

One Two Sales was created out of the sales department of Starlight AB in 2007, handling Vari-Lite, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC), Rosco Filter and Meyer Sound Laboratories among other lines. One of the critical elements of the new deal is the continued cooperation between OTS and United Audio Starlight.

Turkey - Robe moving lights have been installed into the new Sutluce Cultural & Congress Centre (SCCC) in Istanbul, Turkey.

This is a prestigious 73,000sq.m multiple venue development instigated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The building is an historic converted slaughterhouse on the Golden Horn, re-born and designed as a performing arts and conference centre. It will serve Istanbul with live entertainment, movies and drama theatres and be a centre for high profile international events of all types.

The Robe fixtures are installed into SCCC's two main performance spaces and were specified and supplied by Robe's Turkish distributor Atempo, acting as systems integrators for principal construction company, Yeni Yapi.

"With our vast sales experience," says Atempo's Istanbul region director Volkan Konuralp, "Yeni Yapi trusted us to specify the best qua

UK - Sting recently performed two intimate concerts at Durham Cathedral, marking the first time the musician played selections from his upcoming album, If On a Winter's Night. Sting recorded the performances live for DVD release and audio supplier Audio-Rent Clair provided the sound system for the event, which included a Studer Vista 5 SR digital console for front-of-house mixing.

Sting's performances featured an unconventional setup of Sting with a 16-piece string section, multiple percussionists, a brass section and backing vocals, as well as a large selection of traditional English instruments such as the Welsh harp, lutes and Northumbrian pipes. Rehearsals took place over a two-week period in the Chapter House adjacent to the main cathedral.

Howard Page, Clair senior director of engineering, mixed the performances, utilising the Vista 5 SR to overcome the challenges

USA - Furman has partnered with Almo Professional AV in a move to extend its sales and distribution network to professional AV integrators, dealers, and consultants. Under the agreement, Almo will help establish distribution and manage sustained sales growth for Furman's Pro 120V power management solutions.

With 12 distribution centres across the USA, Almo is a leading value-added distributor that specialises in serving AV professionals in a wide variety of markets. The company will be adding to its offering Furman's Pro AV and home theatre lines of power management solutions, which protect sensitive equipment while ensuring clear, crisp sound and picture quality.

Leveraging more than 35 years of power management experience, Furman offers a wide variety of products for Almo's customers including power conditioners, UPS battery back-up systems, sequencers, AC power distribution

Emerging Talent News - The Paul McCartney auditorium at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) rocked to the sounds and songs of the UK's finest young songwriters on Saturday 31 October at the annual Yamaha / LIPA Make It Break It Awards (MIBI) ceremony. A capacity audience including record industry executives and music press was treated to a show of inspiring and professional live performances from award winners Alex Cheatle, Kirsty Keatch, OCD, Polly Mackey & The Pleasure Principle, Sahreal and Joni Fuller.

Produced by Yamaha and LIPA, the 2009 Make It Break It awards, whose judging panel is headed by Coldplay's Chris Martin, are considered the most prestigious national awards to acknowledge the UK's most outstanding young songwriters. This year's awards added new promotional partners EMI publishing, HMV retail and XFM Radio.

In addition to the priz

UK - White Light congratulates Daniella Beattie, winner of this year's TMA Theatre Award for Best Lighting Design for The Wicked Lady at the New Victoria, Newcastle Under Lyme. Congratulations also to James Farncombe and Tim Mitchell, the other lighting nominees, and all of the other nominees and winners.

Presented by the Theatrical Management Association, the annual TMA Awards recognise work being produced in the regional theatres around the country; the Lighting category is sponsored by the Association of Lighting Designers.

At the same time, White Light and whatsonstage.com are announce that nominations are now open for the 2010 What's On Stage Theatregoers' Choice Awards; as in 2009, the Best Lighting Designer category is being sponsored by White Light.

Covering principally shows running in London's West End, anyone can nominate a person or pr

Germany - publitec Präsentationssysteme & Eventservice of Herdecke, Germany, has recently bought 16 MA VPU plus Video Processing Units. In addition to its regular hardware configuration, the innovative video control is also fitted with two HD-SDI-in inputs.

Jens Richter of publitec comments: "At the beginning of 2009, we launched the 'Content Competence Centre', allowing publitec to offer its clients comprehensive support regarding video content handling and multichannel image presentation. Our strength lies in our knowledge of video formatting and encoding as well as in the usage of well established media servers.

"Thanks to working with grandMA video for a long time, we are familiar with the MA-Net system and all its benefits, plus the second to none support of MA Lighting and its German distributor, Lightpower. So we're now very much looking forward to offering o

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