Germany - Christie's ProLight+Sound stand is split into two zones. The first is showcasing the Christie MicroTiles as well as a two-channel edge blend with two Christie WU12K-M managed by Christie Spyder X20 and 42 Controls S.P.O.C. The second is providing a complete lighting show with video animations created and piloted by renowned international lighting designer Bruno Corsini.

Christie Nitro Solutions, the modular series of motorised moving yokes, can provide up to 20,000 ANSI lumens of video projection, creating high brightness imagery on any surface, from anywhere. With the optional Xenon or LED lighting heads, the system can produce up to 50,000 lumens of lighting. Nitro Solutions can be installed at ground level or rigged to a truss, and are ideal for building projection, a

Germany - L-Acoustics announced version 1.8 of its 3D Simulation software Soundvision. at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt this week.

New features of version 1.8 include updated data product library including the new architectural series (KARAi, SB18i) and new KARA-MINIBU and MINIBUEX Bumpers. These are in addition to the features implemented in the previous version of the software. An upgrade package for existing users is available www.l-acoustics.com.

Exclusively dedicated to L-Acoustics sound systems, Soundvision provides real-time mapping in coverage and delay modes; user-friendly 3D graphical interface; modular multiple window display; temporal mapping for time delay optimization and subwoofer mechanical data; free downloadable database of Soundvision venues for all users.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - At ProLight + Sound, Proel Group is presenting the new Compact Series, further expanding its product range. Sagitter is also using the occasion to launch its new website.

The Compact range includes four models - Arrow Compact 300 Beam and Arrow Compact 700 Beam, featuring a patented motorized beam focus, alongside Arrow Compact 300 Spot and Arrow Compact 700 Spot.

The low noise level of the fixtures and the high quality of their light emission combined with an electronic ballast, demonstrate Sagitter's attention to an increasingly demanding market, says the company.

Finally, ProLight + Sound marks the debut of two new products in the Sagitter LED range - two ArtLed colour changers featuring IP55 outdoor protection rating will be added to the line, alongside the Mantis moving head.

(Jim Evans)

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

Germany - KRK Systems, a member of the Stanton Group of companies introduced a full line of accessories for its KNS Series (KNS8400 and KNS6400) of professional headphones at Musikmesse 2011. With several different extension, replacement and travel cables, as well as ear cushion replacements and connectors, the new KNS Series provides the user with customised options to accommodate a wide range of monitoring applications.

"Our KNS-8400 and KNS-6400 headphones, which we introduced earlier this year at the NAMM Show, have been recognised for their ability to provide an incredibly natural frequency response that delivers a precise listening experience to the recording and performing artist, engineer or audiophile," says Timothy Dorwart, CEO of KRK Systems.

"Anticipating the individual needs of users, we have been in development of a range of accessories that augmen

Germany - ETC has launched Selador Desire LED luminaires, Source Four Fresnel, and outdoor Source Four XT which are all featured on a new website at www.layersoflight.com.

ETC product marketing manager David Lincecum says,"ETC has proven that we are the manufacturer to trust when it comes to both tungsten and LED sources. The new Source Four and Selador fixtures were designed with the user experience in mind. We talked to professionals in the field and designed the fixtures to meet their needs and simplify their work, while still producing spectacular light."

The Desire line offers three different PAR-shaped chassis: the bright D40 with 40 LED emitters; the super-bright D60 with 60 emitters and the D40XT that is rated for exterior use.

The luminaires feature Selador's x7 Color System, which uses balanced blends of up to seven different shades of LED emitters to pro

UK - Orbital Sound has expanded its project and support team with two new appointments. Carl Rutherford has joined as project manager, while Lucy Jenkins is the new face on the rental desk.

Rutherford's background includes the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage, and general manager of the National Youth Music Theatre. As part of Orbital's expanding project management team, he will be responsible for managing a wide portfolio, across the spectrum of entertainment industry events.

Director of Theatrical Operations, Luke Hyde comments, "Orbital's reputation is based on being able to translate the challenging mix of client requirements, locations and timescales into focused, well co-ordinated implementations. We are delighted to welcome Carl on board as a valued team member, capable of delivering the first-rate planning and integration skills needed to ensure the smooth runnin

UK - Modern-day AV support combines with 10 centuries of history in new galleries at the Museum of the Order of St. John, where AV hardware installed by Electrosonic helps visitors interpret exhibits and learn about the Order's story.

The London-based museum is located in the circa 1500 St. John Gate entrance of the English headquarters of the crusading Knights Hospitallers. It traces the Order's origin in 11th century Jerusalem and its rich history interwoven with such figures as Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Suleiman the Magnificent, William Shakespeare, William Hogarth and Dr. Samuel Johnson. The museum also brings visitors up to date with the Order's two leading charities: St. John Ambulance and the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

A recent £3.7m redevelopment showcases the museum's rich and diverse collections of paintings, furniture, silver, metalwork and armour, cer

Germany - Beyerdynamic is celebrating the debut of its new Touring Gear live microphone series at Prolight+Sound 2011.

Touring Gear represents "a whole new chapter in microphone innovation for beyerdynamic". There are four categories in the TG (Touring Gear) series of live microphones TG30, TG50, TG70 and TG90. The TG series includes (V) Vocal, (H) Headset, (L) Lavalier, (D) Drum and (I) Instrument microphones and all models feature beyerdynamic's new Sound Channelling Technology.

The TG 30 series is billed as the perfect introduction into the world of beyerdynamic - an entry level series that can produce large beyerdynamic sound within a small budget.

The TG 50 series covers all applications related to the stage - from vocals, instruments and drums to headsets and lavalier microphones.

The TG 70 series microphones feature advanced technical characteristics and h

Qatar - By the end of 2010, Qatar realised the Emir's vision for a liquefied natural gas production capacity of 77m tonnes per annum. In order to celebrate this achievement, Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas produced one of the biggest events ever seen in the country.

As part of the main show MTFX were commissioned to design and construct a series of water effects in a 4m deep pool. These effects comprised a large circular water projection screen which could rise out of the pool to 10m in height; three different size bubbling water effects to create anything from an effervescent fizz to a bubbling cauldron and finally water explosions to simulate a drill head making impact with the water. They were also required to ensure the 1.6m litres of water was kept clean and so it was circulated and filtered using a number of large sand filters.

As there were performers in the water

South Africa - One of South Africa's biggest stage equipment distributors is supporting the lighting designers of the future by donating a Philips Strand Lighting 200 Plus lighting console to a local lighting school.

DWR Distribution, which has been the exclusive South African distributor for Philips Entertainment brands Selecon and Strand Lighting since December 2010, made the generous gift to the Moonbox Theatre - a 40-seater venue and lighting laboratory at the Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria.

"The Moonbox is a very old theatre with a little stage," explained Gerda Kruger, manager of the Breytenbach Theatre at the University. "It's a performing venue and a lighting lab where we teach students the practical aspects of lighting.

"This lighting desk will be used to train our students for productions as well as giving them the chance to experien

USA - Bosch Security Systems has launched the Safe & Sound security and audio tour - billed as the largest, most interactive product exhibit truck in the industry. Featuring video surveillance, access control, intrusion and fire detection, critical communications, and audio systems, the mobile product display enables dealers, specifiers, and end users to experience Bosch products in dynamic ways, says the company.

"Extensive feedback from customers confirms they want the live product interaction available at a trade show without the expense of travel or time away from business activities," said Jeremy Hockham, president of sales North America, Bosch Security Systems. "With the Bosch Safe & Sound Tour, we're bringing the 'show' to our customers - allowing more people to see our products in action and fully understand the capabilities, performance and

Indonesia - A nation of 197m people spread across almost 6,000 inhabited islands makes Indonesia one of the most challenging territories for any business. For Sebastian Song who heads up d&b audiotechnik's Singapore office as well as being responsible for other areas within South East Asia the challenges are legion. "But I have at last found a company that really knows how to address this market with vigour, yet without compromise to the d&b ethos of democracy for listeners," he asserts.

The new partner for Indonesia is Jakarta based A&T Solution, a subsidiary of IM Group which is headed by its founder Christian Kartiko, "a young ambitious audiophile decidedly in the d&b mould". "He really understands why good sound matters," said Song. "He is also a shrewd and effective businessman."

Kartiko established A&T Solutions specifically to man

UK - Studer's Vista 5 console gets an upgrade to the M2 with the optional addition of the precision TFT metering system introduced on the flagship Vista 9 console.

The new metering is capable of displaying signal levels from mono through to 5.1 channels on each input, with a configurable lower area which can be used to display bus assignments, surround images or the History mode, where a scrolling audio waveform displays signal anomalies and highlights them for up to 50 seconds to allow the engineer to identify where the event occurred. Metering for 'layer 2' signals can also be viewed, while the Control Bay screen can be used to provide configurable user pages with up to 40m. When the TFT meter bridge is fitted, the external GC screen becomes an integral part of the chassis.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - The Yamaha Console File Converter is a utility which users have been consistently requesting since the M7CL and LS9 consoles were introduced, says the company. Officially launched last November, it will be available for free download from the Yamaha web site imminently.

Users can use it to convert file formats between the PM5D and M7CL, and the M7CL and LS9, providing data compatibility between Yamaha digital mixing consoles. It gives audio companies flexibility in how they deploy Yamaha consoles, enabling them to swiftly react to changes in a production and how they prioritise their resources. Yamaha Console File Converter means that the mix data created on the original console can be simply and quickly transferred to the alternative mixer, saving time and effort.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Brigham Young University-Idaho turned to the Stage Technologies Las Vegas team to install an up-to-date motorized rigging system in the newly opened BYU-Idaho Centre at the heart of the school's campus. The building covers 435,000sq.ft, has a 15,000-seat auditorium and a multi-purpose area large enough for 10 full basketball courts.

The auditorium will be used for weekly devotional speeches and commencement addresses, graduation ceremonies and even regional church conferences. The building also houses a communications suite enabling the University to broadcast future events.

The system comprises 55 BigTow winches, control cabinets, a Nomad control desk and a Solo handheld control console. The system also includes two camera pylons - an engineering innovation from the Stage Technologies research and development team. The camera pylon enables perfect filming of motion shot

Germany - Esprit's flagship store in Frankfurt with more than 3600sq.m of retail space on five levels, is the biggest Esprit store worldwide.

To achieve an intriguing storefront and attract guests with a concept from Corneille Uedingslohmann Architects, Traxon's ultra bright and fully customizable Dot XL-6 RGB was installed on the flagship location's exterior.

Arranged behind a special glass diffusion material, each individually addressable Dot is given a blurred effect. Inside the store, a series of Dot XL-3 RGB are arranged above the escalator, behind the same blurring diffusion, establishing a connection between the exterior and the interior.

The installation was executed by Ben Hur and LightLife, both located in Cologne. As a result of the strong teamwork, Ben Hur was rewarded with the Innovation Award for Architecture and Presentation at EuroShop 2011.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Production music library Audio Network has invested in a Prism Sound Orpheus FireWire computer interface for its purpose-built mastering studio in Essex, where it is being used as the studio's main sound device.

Established 10 years ago, Audio Network has offices in London, New York, Holland and Australia and is internationally known for offering a complete music solution that cuts through the traditionally complex and costly processes of licensing music for television and advertising.

Audio Network's studio facility, which is located in Little Maplestead, is used for mastering and for remixing composers' original song files or stems. Many of the recordings take place in commercial studios such as Abbey Road, which have the space for large orchestral sessions.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - Gert Sanner , front of house engineer for Deep Purple, and the band's keyboardist Don Airey visited the Harman stand at Prolight +Sound.

Airey and Sanner will be utilizing Si Compact 16 consoles for Airey's keyboard rig - one each for Deep Purple's upcoming Europe and US tours. An Si Compact 16 will first be put to work on Airey's own solo tour in Europe beginning in late April.

"As we have been using a Soundcraft Vi6 for Deep Purple concerts with tremendous results, the Si Compact 16 for Don's keyboard setup gives us compatibility across the system," Sanner says. "I'm looking forward to another successful tour season with Soundcraft."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Adlib supplied sound equipment & crew for the recent sold out UK arena tour for the The Script , as part of their Science & Faith world tour , which saw their largest production set to date.

Richy Nicholson is The Script's FOH engineer. Last autumn for their theatre tour, he used an L-Acoustics V-DOSC system that was also supplied by Adlib, and for this one, he specified the new K1 system, of which Adlib now has a substantial quantity.

Nicholson worked alongside an Adlib team, consisting of Tony Szabo as systems tech, crew chief Marc Peers who also oversaw monitor world, plus PA techs Ian Nelson and Alan Harrison. Bob O'Brien managed all aspects of the production with Ian 'Quinner' Quinn as TM.

Says Adlib project manager Phil Kielty, "The Script are easily one of the most exciting and talented bands of the moment. It seems wherever I go from LA to Glasgow th

UK - Blackout provided bespoke drapes at Mikhail Gorbachev's star-studded 80th birthday celebration to transform the Royal Albert Hall, creating an opulent backdrop to the set from which Kevin Spacey and Sharon Stone hosted VIP guests to honour of the last leader of the Soviet Union.

The Blackout team was brought in by production company LarMac LIVE and liaised with producers Jo Mackay & Ian Greenway to ensure the drapes complimented the event's overall look and feel. Working closely with set designer Nina Kobiashvili, Blackout supplied drapes from their range that were in keeping with the Royal Albert Hall's distinctive style, creating a set that suited the high profile nature of the event.

Blackout project director Kevin Monks coments, "The main set screen was shadowed left and right with a pair of set prosceniums created out of red velour and organza. The piece was mad

France - Christie MicroTiles receieved 'Eco-Design' honours from the IFD at the Janus awards ceremony held in Paris at the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council recently. In attendance were governmental ministers Frédéric Lefèbvre and Pierre Lellouche, the heads of the Ministries of Commerce (for Craft Industries, Small Businesses, Tourism, Services, Professionals and Consumption), and International Trade, respectively.

Supported by the Agency for Environmental and Energy Management (ADEME), the IFD's Janus Eco-Design designation seeks to promote products and services with reduced environmental impact, beginning with the selection of materials, through the manufacturing stage, the product's distribution and use by the consumer, all the way to the end of its useful life.

Introduced to the EMEA market in February 2010, Christie MicroTiles have already

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