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Poland - Leading Polish rock band Riverside utilsed a Midas PRO6 live audio system when they headlined the Metal Hammer 2010 Festival in Katowice, Poland alongside an array of acts including the multi-Grammy award winning Korn. Audio equipment for the entire festival was provided by Kraków-based rental company Prosound.

FOH engineer Daniel Schindler first encountered the PRO6 touring as a monitor engineer for Turkish singer-songwriter Nil Karaibrahimgil. "From the first rehearsal for the Nil tour, I was blown away by the PRO6 sound," he says. "It sounds like an XL4 without 120m of copper between the source and the board. I've been looking forward to using the console with Riverside ever since. I also trained with German Midas distributor Mega Audio, and am proud to

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UK - More than 3 million foreign tourists spent £2.8 billion on trips that included going to Britain's theatres last year, according to a new report from VisitBritain. Ten per cent of the 30 million overseas travellers who came to the UK in 2009 went to a stage show - ranging from classic Shakespeare in London to experimental fringe in Edinburgh, opera in Wales or a glitzy London musical.

It reveals that London dominated the theatre world with around 2.2 million foreign tourists spending £1.9 billion on trips involving the capital's theatres last year. The South-East followed, attracting 235,000 foreign theatre goers. The East of England, which features the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, was next with 133,000 overseas theatre-goers.

Scotland, whose theatrical centres include Glasgow's Theatre Royal and Edinburgh's world famous Festival, attracted 120,000. The North-W

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France - AuviTran, the French manufacturer of digital audio networking solutions, has signed a number of significant distribution agreements to increase the availability of its products across Europe.

Six new distributors have joined the AuviTran network this summer: AudioProgetti in Italy, InterSonic in Sweden, Lauda Audio in Poland, Music Data for the Czech and Slovak Republics, Merging Selector in Portugal and Dicroic for the Balkan states, including Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro.

"As AuviTran evolves beyond its origins as an OEM supplier, it is important that we surround ourselves with high-calibre technically literate distributors," says AuviTran founder Yves Ansade. "We have had long associations with many of these companies, which are already working with EtherSound partners such as Yamaha and Nexo, using our devices for the

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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 - Global Design Solutions was the successful recipient of the first Theatres Trust People's Choice Award for its Blues System Dimmable controlable performance working light at PLASA2010.

Presented at a ceremony on The Theatres Trust's Ecovenue stand at PLASA2010 in London, Global Design Solutions was voted for by visitors of this leading international trade show for event, installation and entertainment technology.

Products were nominated by participating PLASA2010 manufacturers if they could demonstrate improvements in sustainable theatre technology. They were used to illuminate a special stand featuring the work of The Theatres Trust's Ecovenue project.

Announcing that the Award will run again during PLASA2011, Director of The Theatres Trust, Mhora Samuel said: "We were delighted with the all the support we received from PLASA Events, our stand's sponsors, and the

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Belgium - Barco has announced the expansion of its RLM product line with the RLM-W8 projector. It is an 8,000 lumens, three-chip DLPTM projector with a WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution. In addition to offering low power consumption and decreased noise levels, it features geometry correction and edge blending capabilities. Barco's RLM-W8 is suited for the rental and staging markets, and uses an optional Barco stacking frame.

Early 2010, Barco launched the RLM-W6 as its first Barco Elements three-chip DLPTM projector in a single-chip DLPTM price range. It offers a top-end image quality along with an environmentally conscious profile, by being ten times more silent and 33% less energy-consuming than competing products. As an extension of the RLM family, the RLM-W8 continues these themes, while adding more features that suit rental and staging environments.

"The market responded

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UK - Riedel Communications unveiled the new RockNet RN.345.IL network plug-in card for Allen & Heath's iLive digital mixing console family at this year's PLASA show in London.

The RN.345.IL card fits into any iLive MixRack Port B expansion slot and provides an interface to 64 input and 64 output channels. A rotary switch on the front panel sets device identification and selection of up to 15 programmable routing tables. The RN.345.IL enables the iLive console system to become part of the RockNet digital audio network.

The RN.345.IL in combination with RockWorks also supports RockNet's Independent Gain Feature. Independent Gain allows several mixing consoles to operate with the same mic pre-amps without affecting each other. While the master-console is controlling the analog gain of the pre-amps remotely, all other consoles operate with emulated pre-amps just as if they were al

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UK - Showsec successfully implemented a professional, multi-facetted event security operation at Twickenham on 12 September at the Help for Heroes fundraising concert in aid of injured soldiers. Showsec secured the artist and pit areas, whilst liaising with the Rugby Football Union, managing the crowd of 60,000 spectators.

The event, attended by Prince Harry, climaxed with a reunion performance from Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams, amongst a host of other pop stars and comedians, including Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Peter Kay and Michael McIntyre.

Showsec's operations director Simon Battersby along with project manager Paul Legge oversaw 280 Showsec security professionals during the show.

"The Help for Heroes concert was in aid of a fantastic cause and an event we are very proud to have been a part of," says Battersby. "The event was an emotional one

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UK - Yamaha Commercial Audio enjoyed a highly successful PLASA 2010, with the company's new StageMix iPad app enjoying an enthusiastic response from audio professionals. Coupled with the debut for Macintosh editor software for the M7CLV3 and LS9, the company's stand was busy throughout the exhibition's duration.

With all three software products confirmed as being made available at no cost, interest levels were high.

"Our philosophy is to introduce products that users want and have asked for," says Karl Christmas, deputy general manager of Yamaha Commercial Audio (UK). "There are thousands of Yamaha digital mixing consoles out there and the highest priorities on user 'wants lists' were facilities to make use of them more efficiently."

Featuring a straightforward, intuitive graphic interface and the iPad's multi-touch and gesture control, StageMix uses the

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UK - At PLASA 2010 the Coemar LED Reflection projector won the coveted prize for innovation, presenting a line of projectors which exploit, for the first time with a LED, the physical properties of reflection of the light.

In the Reflection projectors, the LEDs project the light onto a mirror surface which reflects it to the outside guaranteeing perfect colours and extreme purity throughout the white light range, says the company. It was this concept and the lighting that generated it that impressed the PLASA judges.

Reflection, which will be commercially available from the beginning of November of this year, will therefore represent a new turning point in the event lighting world, yet another of the technological and commercial developments contributing to the success story of Coemar, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Bingley Music Live which takes place in the town's Myrtle Park, there has been an annual September live music event on the site for 20 years. It morphed into its present form in 2007 and, with the event entirely organised and managed by Bradford Council, crowd safety and stewarding was put out to tender. AP Security won the contract and the company is now an integral part of the festival.

"We originally staged the event as a free festival, as a way of encouraging more people to use the parks in the local boroughs," says Andrew Wood, Bradford Council events manager, who organises Bingley Music Live. "It was also a way of saying thank you to the ratepayers, of giving them something back.

"As the festival has evolved, we now charge £30 for a Saturday and Sunday pass, or £20 for either day, but we believe it offers very good value for mo

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Germany - Since its introduction earlier this year, Yamaha's M7CL-48ES digital mixing console has proved a significant success, with sound rental companies keen to adopt the flexible and highly transportable package of the console, SB168-ES stage boxes and EtherSound multicore. One of the latest purchasers of the systems of Germany's POOLgroup.

Emsdetten-based POOLgroup has one of Germany's most progressive audio companies at its heart - Westfalen Sound - which for 32 years has serviced many of the highest profile tours in Europe and worldwide.

Westfalen Sound has purchased three complete Yamaha M7CL-48ES systems, each comprising a console and three SB168-ES stage boxes. These join six standard M7CL-48 and two PM5Ds already in the company's inventory.

"This purchase was a substantial financial commitment, but the quality and reliability of Yamaha products made it an eas

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USA - Responsible for the production of two highly anticipated concerts in one of the country's most difficult audio environments, festival production specialist StagePro successfully conquered high elevation, harsh winds and zero humidity with a complete JBL Vertec line array solution for this year's Rock Jam and Country Jam festivals, staged in Grand Junction, Colorado. With artists ranging from Alice Cooper and Cinderella to Keith Urban and Sawyer Brown, the events presented many of the nation's top current touring acts.

Utilizing 48 JBL VT4889 full size line array elements and 32 VT4880A full size arrayable subwoofers, Ottawa, Kansas-based StagePro president Jay Waller and system tech Nick Mourn overcame the environmental obstacles plaguing the country and rock festivals for nearly 20 years.

"We originally purchased the JBL Vertec rig to help solve the s

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UK - At PLASA 2010, organisers of the First Night Riders (FNR), Brenda Edelstein and Triple E managing director, David Edelstein, announced the 2011 route for its second charity motorbike ride.

Surrounded by stars of the stage, screen, and television including: James Fleet, Cyril Nri, Trevor Peacock, Peter Benson, and Phyllida Law, David Edelstein explained the FNR's mission to raise money for The Theatrical Guild (TTG). TTG is a charity that supports active and former backstage and front of house employees that have hit hardship or require support.

The 2011 event follows hot on the wheels of the successful 2010 inaugural First Night Ride. Last June an international posse of entertainment and backstage professionals raised £10,000 by motor-biking around some of the UK's most historic and interesting theatres.

In just eight days they travelled from London's National The

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UK - Midas XL8s played a pivotal role at three of the UK's biggest outdoor events of the year as London's Hyde Park hosted the BBC's Proms In The Park, BBC Radio 2's Elvis Forever tribute and Pope Benedict XVI's Evening Vigil.

The consoles were rented from Britannia Row by London-based System Sound, which has been providing the PA and broadcast splits for The Last Night Of The Proms and other Hyde Park events for 15 years. "This year we had the best sounding system we have ever had," says System Sound's Simon Biddulph. "The XL8s contributed to that in a huge way."

Hundreds of musicians in orchestras and bands, plus singers and speakers, participated across the three events before a combined live audience of over 140,000, with millions more tuning in to the events on radio and television. Explaining the challenges the events threw up, Bi

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UK - Watford- based Cooper Controls has secured exclusive European distribution of amBX technology through its Cogent XC LED Lighting Controller. amBX is an innovative technology offering an alternative method for the control of colour changing LEDs.

Says Cooper Controls' Peter Coles, "This is an inventive and different solution for a number of applications from bars, restaurants, hotels, sports and health clubs, designer retail, to home entertainment and high-end AV systems. The technology perfectly complements Cogent's extensive LED product portfolio."

Jo Cooke from amBX comments, "Our widely patented amBX technology has been developed over a number of years so we wanted a company with a good reputation and understanding of LEDs in both entertainment and architectural lighting markets to maximise the potential of this product which is driven by amBX technology

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Germany - Milos Concepts GmbH is a new company that has been set up in Germany to explore new concepts and ideas for temporary buildings and architecture.

This new inter-European venture is the brainchild of Frantisek Zykan of Czech trussing manufacturer Milos, and Michael Daubner former MD (for 16 years) of German company Burkhardt Leitner constructiv, specialists in temporary modular architectural systems.

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, Milos Concepts GmbH is primarily a think-tank for the design, development and imagineering of new and innovative spaces suitable for a myriad of applications. The company's core business will be engaging in design led creative initiatives.

The plan is to develop a range of new structural systems that will be Milos branded as well as to undertake bespoke and custom projects on commission. All products will be defined by all the elements charac

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UK - Audio Alliance reports that it designed and supplied the sound and communications systems for two of the five productions that have been nominated for Best Conference at the upcoming UK Event Awards being staged this autumn.

Rapport Events have been using Audio Alliance as their audio supplier since their inception nearly four years ago and are responsible for the production of Astellas Senior Managers Meeting 2010, the first nominated event in the Best Conference category.

The Astellas event was based on a long catwalk used to represent a timeline, running through the past, present & future. Delegates and presenters used the set throughout the day's activities, starting in the past, they worked their way to the future by walking the catwalk. Oliver Driver, Audio Alliance's managing director, designed one single system, with a three way signal split, all controlled

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UK - Sales of Soundcraft's new Vi1 compact digital desk have immediately gone into overdrive, report UK and ROI distributors, Sound Technology, rapidly boosting inventories in both the rental and permanent install sectors.

In the latter category, Paul Duffy's Pacific Sound & Light have been quick to install a 32-input board at the new flagship Glee Club in Nottingham - a hybrid theatre which hosts, comedy and an eclectic mix of both emerging and established song-based artists.

Pacific recommended the desk to Glee Club owners, Comic Enterprises, after working on the resident 'parent' Soundcraft Vi6 console at the O2 Arena's IndigO2 while on tour last year. This led to an invitation for a demo at the Soundcraft HQ.

At the same time, SSE Audio Group had also been speaking to Pacific, which resulted in Jon Nash, the venue's production manager, heading across the Midlands to atte

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UK - This year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe saw Edinburgh sound and lighting company, Northern Light, and venue producers C venues collaborate to reduce the direct and associated energy consumption of performance lighting at C aquila - the latest addition to C venues' stable of performance spaces.

Two lighting rigs - one for each space in the C aquila venue - were specified and designed in a collaboration between head of hire and events for Northern Light Nick Read, production manager for C venues Richard Williamson, artistic director of C venues (and international lighting designer) Hartley T A Kemp, and industry journalist Sarah Rushton-Read, The aim: To substantially reduce energy consumption during the month-long festival, without compromising visiting lighting designers' creative output.

Space technician - and ETC ion programmer - at C aquila's main theatre, Kariss Leigh A

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Japan - Japanese Folk Music is stark, beautiful, and demands to be exquisitely realized. "The reasons are bound in history," explained Mr Sato from M audio labo, a specialist pro audio rental company based in Komaki near Nagoya. "The instruments used, for example the Japanese harp or O-koto, the flute (Fue), and especially the Shamisen, our traditional three string banjo, all differ slightly from region to region. The tuning and tonality from each region exhibit subtle variations; being able to discern them is what excites audiences most."

M audio labo had recently supplied a sound system for just such a special folk music event; staged for an audience of 7,500 people at the Sun Dome in Fukui; the concert was a private function for an important local bank. "It's a very large room, not normal for such recitals. We knew we needed something special to trans

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USA - Carrie Underwood, continues her dominance of the industry in 2010. She has won a staggering 70 plus awards in a brief seven-year stint including five Grammy's, 10 ACM Awards, and five CMA Awards.

Bandit Lites has been with Underwood since the beginning. Ann Edelblute and the team at 19 Management have worked with Bandit for every tour, even rehearsing in Venue One, the Bandit rehearsal facility in Nashville. Tour manager Geoff Donkin, production manager Chris Coffie and stage manager Lenny Rogers are all familiar with one another from many years of working together. Veteran lighting designer Bud Horowitz worked with Bandit VP Michael Golden on the Play On Tour 2010.

Lighting director Brian Jenkins runs the Grand MA console to control the Star Wars like lighting universe overhead. Included in the inventory are VL 3000 Spots, VL 3500 Spots, VL 3500 Washes, MAC 3 Spo

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