Details
USA - RHC Holding Corp, in conjunction with their financial partners, Midwest Mezzanine Funds and Bush O'Donnell, announced yesterday that they have signed a definitive sale agreement as of 19 November 2010 for the asset purchase of ProCo Sound, Inc.

ProCo Sound, a Michigan-based Corporation founded in 1974, designs and manufactures cable and interfacing products servicing the retail music markets as well as the pro A/V installation and broadcast industries.

RHC Holding Corp. owns and operates six separate companies including The RapcoHorizon Company, which services the retail music market and the professional A/V installation market; and Major Custom Cable, which services the DataCom and Telecommunications industries.

"No major changes to ProCo Sound or any RHC company w

Details
Europe - The Peter Gabriel New Blood, Scratch My Back Tour features the singer and a 54-piece orchestra - No drums, no guitars. Gabriel and the New Blood Orchestra performed cover songs to sellouts at amphitheaters and arenas throughout Europe this spring and fall. Audinate's digital media networking technology Dante was chosen by Brit Row Productions as a key part of the production package.

Because of the complexities of delivering an even orchestral sound to large arena audiences, a number of finely controlled zones were required. Richard Sharrat, FOH engineer for the tour, used nine sends from the Digico SD-7 to Dante enable products. In order to ensure that these sends were combined properly, a Yamaha DME 64 with a Dante-MY16-AUD was used to transfer the AES outputs of the console to the entire Dante network.

The DME also allows for fine system matrix control and te

Details
USA - Aviom Personal Mixers are helping the audio staff at Sunset Christian Centre in Rocklin, CA, win the war against loud stage volume. The Aviom personal mixing system, along with an upgrade to the acoustics of the space, has helped Sunset Christian Centreadapt its sanctuary, originally designed for a traditional worship service comprised of a choir and piano, to a more contemporary form of worship.

Stage volume became a challenge when the loudness of monitor wedges and guitar amps began competing with the PA system. In addition, there was a constant struggle to make each performer comfortable with his monitor mix. What would make one musician happy would be wrong for the next one. The Aviom Personal Mixers, along with in-ear monitoring systems, have solved these challenges, allowing the musicians to customize their monitor mixes while also reducing the extra volume caused by

featured content

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

Details
UK - Flare Audio supplied the sound system for the UK Festival Awards and Conference 2010 which took place at Indigo2 at The O2 London on 18 November. Stealth Array X4 was used at the main awards with the V series for the awards conference.

Flare Audio MD Davies Roberts comments, "We were brought in to replace the existing in-house system at the Indigo2 that comprises a total of 45 speakers and 32 amplifiers. We set up Stealth Array X4 as a ground stack to cover both the lower and upper tiers, comprising of just two X4H and two X4L Stealth Array a side, with just one speaker covering each side of each tier. Four CF182 double 18" bass enclosures were positioned each side with the entire system being powered by three PLM10000Q and two PLM14000 Lab Gruppen amplifiers.

"This was also a great chance for us to show off the horizontal coupling of Stealth Array X4 and j

Details
Italy - After winning the award for innovation at the PLASA show in London last September, and the award for creativity in Las Vegas at the end of October, Coemar's LED Reflection projectors have been chosen to light up Velasco Vitali's exhibition at the Royal Palace of Milan from 13 November to 3 December.

This exhibition is marked by a detailed study of the lights, and a subsequent technological project by the architect Alexander Bellman. The route of the exhibition, culminating in Vitali's dog sculptures, is ideal for really showing off the revolutionary characteristics that Coemar has applied to a projector based on LED technology: an extraordinary softness, the entire range of whites, and the total absence of pixels and multiple shadows.

Coemar has managed to achieve these results by focusing the light from the LEDs onto a reflective surface that then sends out an even be

Details
USA - When the acoustical tiles became frozen in place in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Centre for the Arts, theatre consultants Westlake, Reed, Leskosky turned to J. R. Clancy.

The 2,400-seat Whitney Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, is the heart of the arts centre, presenting a full range of performances year-round: touring Broadway shows, productions by the Kentucky Opera and the Louisville Ballet, and concerts by the Louisville Symphony Orchestra.

To accommodate the acoustical requirements of so many different groups, Whitney Hall's ceiling includes wooden acoustical tiles that can be repositioned to adjust the sound quality. Recently, however, the hydraulic hoists that control these tiles have become stuck in place, so house acousticians can no longer adjust the house to improve the sound.

J. R. Clancy will replace the hall's original hydraulic hoist system - installed when

Details
UK - Rihanna switched on the Christmas lights at Westfield Shopping Centre in London, with Arcstream AV supporting the star's appearance with a spectacular laser show.

Arcstream AV provided four lasers for the performance including a 10watt Full Colour, two 6 watt Green OPS systems and an 8 watt Green OPS, to create a stunning effect as Rihanna pushed the button on Westfield's Christmas installations.

Arcstream AV's managing director Neil Dickinson reports, "Westfield was looking for an effect which would engage the huge crowd this event always pulls in, and lasers are a brilliant way of creating an effect in a large space. We used 20 diffraction mirrors placed throughout the atrium area sending beams literally everywhere to cover the massive audience."

Simon Jones, technical manager of Westfield London adds, "The lasers were a perfect solution for a light swi

Details
USA - Three rack enclosure systems from Installer's Choice have joined the Liberty AV Solutions catalogue. Designated as models PTN, BTN, and ETN, the trio offers strength, competitive pricing, a host of available options and accessories, quick delivery times, and a solid guarantee with each purchase, says the company.

Designed for applications with high volumes of cabling thanks to wider main channels and an overall width of 24", every PTN rack features welded construction and fully adjustable mounting rails to provide optimal support and the flexibility to mount a wide range of AV components. PTN racks are available in 27.5" and 32.5" depths, and heights of 24RU, 37RU, 40RU, and 44RU. Options include top panels designed to promote better cooling, plus an extensive array of side panels, shelving, drawers, and other accessories.

BTN racks are 22" wide and o

Details
USA - Xantech has introduced WiPad, a secure and easy-to-install solution that enables an Apple iPad to be permanently wall-mounted for use as a touchscreen AV control interface or standalone iPad use in commercial and residential applications. The Xantech WiPad is designed not only to securely protect the device but also to allow easy access to power, audio output and other connectivity, says the company.

With Apple's iPad becoming an increasingly practical and popular control interface, the Xantech WiPad presents a solution for system integrators seeking an easily mounted and tamperproof solution for residential and commercial A/V installations. The precisely machined alluminium construction is finished with brushed surfaces for a high-end look that "blends into any conference room, hotel hospitality kiosk or other application".

The Xantech WiPad is foam-lined to i

Details
USA - Liberty AV Solutions president John Dace has announced that effective as of this date, Greg Baltzer will man the company's territory manager/North Central post. Baltzer takes charge from his home base in metro Minneapolis, and joins Liberty as a key figure within a wide-sweeping sales force reorganization announced recently implementing a new national inside-outside model.

With many years of sales experience behind him logged with AVI Systems in Minnesota, Baltzer is one among a team of outside sales managers dedicated to insuring constant and consistent support to customers in the field, says the company. He will report directly to David Ellis, Liberty's new director of western sales.

(Jim Evans)

Details
USA - Multi-Grammy award winning double bass player John Patitucci has selected DPA 4099 instrument clip mic and 4021 compact cardioid for his live work as a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet.

Patitucci and the Quartet's sound engineer Rob Griffin were instrumental in providing their input to the design of the DPA 4099B for bass. They worked together with DPA designers to develop a light, non-invasive rubber mount for the 4099, which fits onto the bass strings between the bridge and the tailpiece. A small gooseneck fitting allows for greater flexibility in moving and positioning the mic into different positions in relation to the top of the bass. Griffin's FOH mix is boosted by the 4021, which is also fixed to Patitucci's bass.

"I've been working for years to get a natural live sound that is closer to the acoustic sound of my instrument," says Patitucci. "I lo

Details
USA - Providing the greater Los Angeles area with a different twist on the late night movie, Hollywood Outdoor Movies (HOM) relies on JBL VRX loudspeakers to entertain thousands by displaying feature films on a giant portable outdoor movie screen. With audiences ranging in size from 1,300 to 2,500 people, HOM owner John J. Snyder's VRX system is using his JBL VRX system to deliver high-impact sound for movie exhibitions throughout southern California.

From Exposition Park and La Cienega Park, to the Fashion Institute of Design and an area of Los Angeles known as 'The Cornfields', HOM arranges day-long events for families that include live music, games, food, costume contests and a feature film on screens up to 100ft wide.

"We focus on making each screening a large, family-friendly event, rather than just showing a movie for an hour and a half," stated Snyder. "W

Details
USA - The Wybron Mobile Showroom is headed to Texas on a journey that will include stops in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

The showroom will make its first three stops - Barbizon, Gemini Stage Lighting & Sound, and Stagelight - in the Dallas metro on 6, 7 and 8 December respectively.

On Thursday 9 December the Mobile Showroom will open its doors at Olden Lighting in Austin before heading to Texas Scenic Co. in San Antonio for its final stop of the year on Friday,10 December. Each stop will provide visitors with a hands-on survey of Wybron gear, including the new Cygnus advanced-colour LED line, as well as a chance to chat with Wybron staff and enjoy complimentary lunch.

"In this first year of touring we've pinpointed some improvements we'd like to make to the showroom and will be debuting a brand-new trailer with brand-new technology in January 2011," said Keny Wh

Details
UK - The current production of Mozart's Don Giovanni from Glyndebourne includes a special conclusion to the end of Act 1. Set in the ballroom of the palazzo, God intervenes to encase Don Giovanni in a private hell, assisted by Howard Eaton Lighting Limited.

Directed by Jonathan Kent, designed by Paul Brown and lit by Mark Henderson, the production demanded a fire effect on stage at the end of the Act. Howard Eaton was presented with the challenge, "At the end of Act 1 there needs to be a lightning bolt from the heavens that results in Don Giovanni's palazzo being torched," he says.

Paul Brown's set was designed on the theme of a Pandora's Box, set on a huge revolve with the chamber's walls moving to reveal each scene. Director Jonathan Kent wanted the production to be fluid, "a white knuckle ride", and this added to the list of theatrical demands for

Details
UK - Adlib Audio supplied three Soundcraft Vi consoles to BBC Worldwide for the recent Doctor Who Live tour, which visited nine major UK arenas in October and November.

This action-packed stage version of the cult TV series stars a selection of classic and favourite Doctor Who monsters including The Daleks and Cybermen, with Nigel Planer as 'intergalactic showman' and archetypal baddie, Vorgenson.

The tour's 270 degree sound system was specified by XL Events' Rich Rowley, who was also instrumental in choosing Adlib to supply the kit. The sound company itself fielded a vastly experienced team, including Tony Szabo (systems engineer), Chris Leckie (FOH, on a Soundcraft Vi6), with Fergus Mount handling audio playback on a Soundcraft Vi1, and Marc Peers mixing monitors on a second Vi6. All desks were originally supplied by Sound Technology.

"There was no other consol

Details
Australia - On Sunday 19 September more than 34,000 competitors took part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, marking and celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the event which includes the Marathon, Half Marathon & Bridge Run.

Event Sound supplied the audio for the four event zones choosing to use JBL speakers with VRX 932LAP being their main box of choice. Other boxes used as distributed systems and entertainment stage monitors included JBL SRX700 series and JBL Eon510 speakers.

The Start Site at North Sydney has proved to be quite challenging in the past with a focused concentration of sound required for the three-zoned start areas without infringing too much on the residential buildings.

"Fortunately with the VRX system we were able to accomplish a directional system providing great clarity and throw across the areas that we needed to cover," stated Keith C

Details
UK - For a limited time, LSI Online has slashed the price of over 130 titles in the Technical Book shop, with many books discounted by as much as 50%!

To take advantage of this offer, head over to the Technical Bookshop now or contact Sheila Bartholomew at Sheila@plasa.org or on +44 (0)1323 524137 for more information.

Offers are subject to availability and strictly while stocks last.

(Claire Beeson)

Details
USA - Lighting designer Tom Halpain selected tgrandMA consoles for Harry Connick Jr.'s current US tour which included a sold out 15-performance Broadway concert engagement, his first in 20 years.

The Your Songs tour is crossing the world in support of Connick's eponymous album released last fall. He brought the tour to Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in July where the last two performances were recorded live for television.

Halpain, who has worked with Connick on tour since 2003 and has an extensive credit roster of tours with other artists plus TV shows and special events, began the tour with a grandMA full-size then migrated to the grandMA2 full-size when vendor MAS Lighting acquired the new model. "The grandMA was a great console, but we fell in love with the grandMA2 when we had to reprogramme the show for Broadway," Halpain reports. "And now we've take

Details
UK - Yamaha's free StageMix app for the iPad can now be downloaded from the Apple Store and, to mark the availability of this product, Yamaha UK is giving away a strictly limited number of iPads with new M7CL mixing consoles.

Launched at PLASA2010 in September, StageMix provides remote control of M7CL functions via a simple, intuitive graphic interface, from anywhere within wireless range. Worth £429 each, a free 16Gb iPad (WiFi only version) will be given to purchasers of any of the Yamaha M7CL range, one iPad per console, while stocks last.

Specifically designed to allow engineers to adjust monitor mixes from the performer' positions on stage, StageMix directly controls M7CL mix parameters via the iPad, rather than having to rely on verbal directions to a second engineer, or a single engineer keep having to run to and from the console.

Console controls available via

Details
UK - When the Broadway blockbuster Fela! transferred to London's National Theatre on the South Bank this month, Tony Award-winning sound designer Robert Kaplowitz took advantage of the auditorium's vastly different form to rework his original soundscape, with a Studer Vista 5 digital console at the control centre.

Portraying the life of Nigerian political activist and musician Fela Kuti had required the audience to be immersed in a soundfield as part of the adventurous production--but at the National he decided to go a step further.

The opportunity came when the National's sound operations manager, Borneo Brown, and assistants, Matt Berry and Ed Ferguson, requisitioned a 42-fader, custom-configured Studer Vista 5 digital console for the production.

"I had hoped to have used this desk for the Broadway production--but for various reasons it didn't happen," sai

Details
UK - Last month's Londonlaunch:live networking and educational event at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea featured interactive displays by Universal Live. The two-day event gave UK event planners and specifiers a look at the latest 'digital canvas' technology. "Londonlaunch:live is a typically brilliantly original London idea," says keynote speaker and London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Featured in a dedicated room at the exhibit was AirScan by coolux. A component of coolux AirTouch technology, AirScan infrared motion sensing operates with coolux Widget Designer PRO for completely touch-free interactivity. Full HD video presentations of any type or size can be fully controlled by the user's arm gestures, providing a completely interactive experience. AirTouch system features include large-scale scanning range, up to 10m / 30ft.; advanced motion stabilization and dy

Page 2582 of 3465

Latest Issue. . .