Portugal - Midas has appointed Boomerang as its new distributor for Portugal. The newly-formed company has been set up by Carlos Cunha, formerly a director of Midas' previous distributor Electrosound, with more than 30 years' experience in pro audio.

"Midas and Klark Teknik are brands I have the highest respect for, due to the long experience I have with this company, and the team of excellent professionals and friendly people that work there," says Cunha. "Midas produces the best mixing consoles in the world so I am very proud to be part of this team again. It is a great pleasure to be back with my old friends after a short interval of time."

According to Cunha, Boomerang has been formed with the pressures of today's market conditions in mind. "Today, a

China - Loud Technologies has announced the appointment of Clifford Nathan to the newly created position of general manager, China. In this role, Nathan will partner with the Company's EAW, Martin Audio and Music Group (Ampeg, Crate and Mackie) distributors to "set go-to-market strategy and build corresponding marketing plans for each brand". He will also manage Loud's business interests, including the enforcement of all intellectual property, throughout China. Based in Dalian, Nathan will report to Davwinder Sheena, Loud's recently promoted APAC managing director.

"Clifford is a rare breed and a real asset," says Sheena. "He's a former creative director for a Hong-Kong-based advertising agency, a trained architect, revered live sound engineer, seasoned pro-audio industry businessperson, and speaks four Chinese dialects. With this background, he's ideall

Germany - Sommer Cable has introduced Semicolon, a four-wire miniature microphone cable which has a diameter of 5.8 mm.

It has a dual shielding (helical Cu mesh screen + aluminium fleece) and may be cross wired for audio purposes, where it shines with a low wire-to-wire capacitance of a mere 40 pF/m.

Fully assigned it is the ideal AES/EBU or DMX cable due to its wave impedance of 110 ohms, says the company. To make the "perfect studio patch cable", the wires may also be split. Due to its small diameter it fits into so many tiny and miniature connectors like 3.5 mm mini jacks, mini XLR or phono/RCA plugs. The outer sheath consists of a robust, environmentally friendly and halogen-free/flame-retardant PUR jacket.

(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

USA - Waves Audio has announced updated SoundGrid capability for consoles from DiGiCo. The update, SoundGrid Version 2, features dual engine support for DiGiCo SD7 consoles running Waves V8 plugins.

Since Waves and DiGiCo formed a strategic alliance in 2010, DiGiCo users are able to run Waves' reverbs, equalizers, compressors, limiters, delays and more, directly from their DiGiCo SD series consoles.

Designed for front-of-house, monitor, broadcast, and theatre applications alike, SoundGrid gives users" instant access to the industry's leading audio processors, directly from the industry's leading consoles". To make things simpler, Waves SoundGrid-compatible plugins come pre-loaded into DiGiCo consoles, eliminating the need to install.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The CueCore is a lighting controller for permanent installations. The device is completely solid-state, with no moving parts; it is an extremely secure and low-maintenance installation control solution with minimal power consumption.

The Hardware connectivity includes 1024 DMX Out, 512 DMX In, MIDI, MTC, SMPTE Real-time Clock, Astronomical Clock, GPI Contact-closures, Ethernet, Art-Net, OSC, VisualTouch Compliant, Link Multiple CueCores.

All operating and programming is done through its dynamic web 2.0 interface. Connected to a browser, the CueCore unfolds into a lighting console, show controller, RDM Manager, DMX/Art-Net recorder and Protocol Converter, making it standout as a cost-effective, feature-rich control solution.

Visit Visual Productions @ PLASA 2011 on Stand 1-G23

(Claire Beeson)

Australia - Located on the corner of Roe and William Streets in Northbridge, the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia features the 575 seat Heath Ledger Theatre and the flexible performance space, Studio Underground, capable of seating 200+. Also included in the centre is The Courtyard, a multi-purpose outdoor events space, two rehearsal rooms and two flexible use private suites.

Designed by award-winning Kerry Hill Architects, the design delivers a building which not only provides a functional and inspiring venue for performers and their audiences, but is also a defining architectural landmark for Perth.

Jands supplied and commissioned all the technical equipment throughout the venue except for the in-house audio installation, which was supplied by Jands, but installed by Perth-based Vizcom Technologies.

The Heath Ledger Theatre is a traditional proscenium arch stage,

USA - Omaha is a city that loves its baseball and despite the lack of a major league franchise, there's nothing minor league about the new TD Ameritrade Park. The $128m stadium, home to the Creighton Bluejays and the NCAA's premier event, the College World Series, has brought a major league baseball experience to the city.

The 2011 College World Series took place last month for the first time in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship's new 24,300 seat stadium. It is among the game's most technologically advanced, with modern features including microphones embedded in home plate and the pitcher's mound, the second largest video board in the state of Nebraska, and a sub-air system within the playing surface that can either heat or cool the field.

The venue is also outfitted with high-tech sound reinforcement and broadcast cabling systems designed by Austin, TX-based BAI and i

Australia - Industry members from all over Australia flocked to Darling Harbour in the thousands last week to visit ENTECH 2011, the trade show for the latest pro audio, lighting and audio visual equipment.

Unaudited figures released this week by ETF, the show organiSers, indicate that there were 4562 unique visitors to ENTECH 2011 with 393 of them coming back for a second look during the three day tradeshow.

"We are very pleased with these recording breaking results, they surpass our previous best show in 2004", stated ENTECH's event director Robby Clark. "The co-location with SMPTE was a huge success with exhibitors at both shows seeing the positive impact on visitor numbers."

The value of ENTECH as a must-attend industry event is clearly recognized both nationally and overseas. Approximately 20% of visitors to the show were from interstate and a furthe

Belgian manufacturer APart Audio is to give several new products their UK début at PLASA 2011. The new lineup is headed by the OVO cabinet speaker series that, says the company, combines budget with quality sound. Available in low impedance as well as 100 Volts, and ready to fit in any décor or interior style, OVO can be used in covered outdoor applications and exists in three sizes : three, five and eight inch.

Also new is the MA247 100V mixing amp, which replaces the MA246 and adds 24V dedicated priority output per zone and folder selectable MP3 playback.

CMAR is a new range of three low-impedance in-wall/in-ceiling marine speakers, designed especially for use in the most humid and hot conditions including yachts and saunas.

CHAMP-3D remains the flagship of the 2011 line up. The three-channel fully programmable digital amplifier adds a built-in DSP, fully parametric

UAE - Melody House, distributors of HK Audio speaker systems in the United Arab Emirates have recently supplied another 16 cabinets of the CT108 to Dubai based rental firm Delta Sound which provides support to major production and equipment rental companies from their base in the UAE and also now from their new branch office in Doha, Qatar.

In addition to the stunning opening of the Atlantis Hotel, George Michael, F1 concerts in Abu Dhabi and numerous corporate events the company was involved in the epic grand opening of the Burj Khalifa.

"The CT108s have received great response from the market for their compact size and quality," commented Dino Drimakis, business development manager at Melody House. "We expect the HK Audio brand to have a greater presence in the Middle East live sound market because of this great reference."

(Jim Evans)

Europe - XL Video Group Holdings has secured major new investment for the XL Group representing 19m Euros.

Gimv-XL, an independent European investment company with over 30 years experience in private equity and venture capital projects is listed on Euronext Brussels. It has taken up this opportunity of becoming a new shareholder in the XL Video Group, which includes XL's global video rental enterprises and also its LED and product design and manufacturing arm, XL Technologies.

Says XL's CEO and co-founder René De Keijzer, "We are all very enthusiastic about the new partnership and the opportunities that Gimv coming onboard will bring. It will allow us to make major investments in new technologies in the immediate future, which will benefit all our clients and end-users. Longer term, it will allow us to strengthen our position in the marketplace and move forward wit

MilTec (UK) Ltd will be showing a host of new audio and lighting products at PLASA 2011, including the latest in its range of LED luminaires, the LEDHead EPW multi-function LED moving head.

The LEDHead EPW uses the latest LED technology to give a moving head with true spot and wash capabilities, says the company. The 60W white LED light engine, colour wheel, two gobo wheels and rotating prism provide the spot functions.

Wash lighting is provided by eight high powered tricolour LEDs situated at the front of the unit. This allows both functions to be used independently or simultaneously, expanding its applications for creative lighting design. In addition to these functions, the tricolour LEDs are arranged in four zones to provide visual effect capabilities.

PLASA 2011 1-F1

EAW will be showing its new additions to the MicroWedge series of stage monitors at PLASA 2011. The MicroWedge8 (MW8) and MicroWedge10 (MW10) are a small-format continuation of the MW line. Although even smaller than the compact MW12 and MW15, EAW says the MW8 and MW10 offer volume levels and voicing that rival full-size industry-standard 12-inch and 15-inch monitors.

The MW8 and MW10 are suitable for mid-to-high-volume rock/alternative performers, houses of worship, theatres, edge of stage-fills, corporate shows/events and presenters. They are also designed for front-of-house or monitor engineers looking for a live monitoring option on the console meter bridge.

The MW8 is the smallest in the MW line of products, featuring an 8-inch woofer, while the MW10 features a 10-inch woofer. Both units' coaxial designs pair the respective woofers with a 3-in (diaphragm) coaxially-mounted HF co

Robert Juliat will be showing its Aledin 630 LED profile and the new Aledin 330 LED wash light - the latter for the first time at PLASA 2011. The new, variable beam angle, 85W LED Aledin wash light is a complement to the award-winning Robert Juliat Aledin 630 LED profile spot.

Initially aimed at television studios, Robert Juliat says broader interest in the Aledin wash is growing, with exhibition halls and theatres also choosing to take advantage of its qualities.

Lionel Garraud, Robert Juliat sales director, says: "The feedback we are receiving is that customers find the Aledin wash a very powerful LED product which is easy to daisy chain and produces a clean, even beam. The dimming is very smooth with no 'stepping', its strobe feature is useful for concert lighting and the choice of colour temperature lends itself well to exhibition work. The result is a very versatile unit th

DYMO will show the latest in its Rhino industrial range of handheld labelling machines at PLASA 2011. Designed specifically for every application in datacom, IT, pro AV and other industrial environments, the labelling tools' features include hot key technology to make the job both fast and easy.

The company cites benefits including performing labelling jobs with 77% fewer keystrokes than the competition, hot keys to eliminate guesswork, quick formatting of common labels, a pre-programmed library of terms and symbols, memory storage for up to 1,000 custom labels, quality craftsmanship and integrated shock bumpers, and customizability for adding graphics and logos to labels.

The labels are also designed withstand moisture, heat, solvents, oil, dirt, chemicals and UV rays without smearing, fading or peeling, and the machines feature lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for fast charging a

South Africa - One of South Africa's leading professional lighting sales operations, DWR Distribution, enjoyed a successful Mediatech Africa 2011 exhibition, the country's biennial trade show for the professional live events and production technology industry.

It is the third time that DWR has participated in the 3 day exhibition, for the second time staged at the Coca Cola Dome venue in Northgate, Johannesburg. The show presented a diverse set of related seminars and discussions running in parallel, and on the Thursday evening, the annual TPSA Awards, presented by South Africa's Technical Production Services Association.

DWR won a Mediatech Platinum Award for the Best Booth Design, with the panel of independent judges hand-picked from international media attendees noting that they had made very efficient use of the space, creating an action-packed environment that highlighted

Turkey - Istanbul has become home to the latest incarnation of Billionaire Club, the upscale nightclub brand owned by Italian tycoon and Formula One entrepreneur Flavio Briatore.

The club, located inside Istanbul's fashionable Edition Hotel, recreates the same combination of cuisine and after-dinner entertainment that originated at the first Billionaire Club on the jet-set getaway of Costa Smeralda in Sardinia.

Inside, the space has been conceived as a glimmering disco ballroom accessed via a dramatic staircase that descends into the main. Guests entering the space are immediately struck by the lighting - a composition of Clay Paky Alpha Wash 300s and Spot HPE 300s, and architectural LED lighting.

The concept here is one of absolute luxury, designed for the local jet-setters who flock to the club for the vibe as well as the music performed by top international DJs. French in

South Africa - A new sporting awards event - the Sport Awards Gauteng 2011 - was staged at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park, Johannesburg - an initiative by the local Gauteng government to reward and acknowledge those in the province who excel at various sports. It was broadcast live on the Supersport 4 satellite TV channel.

Lighting designer Nicholas Michaletos' rig contained 80 Robe moving lights, which were the core of the lighting, supplied by locally based MGG productions - plus a large generic rig - all of which was programmed and run by MGG's Kevin Rieck using a grandMA console.

The lighting design was based around a set and production design by Wayne Sproule of Pendragon Dezign. He gave Michaletos a very clear idea of what he wanted in terms of lighting aesthetics, and the result was a slick and smooth fusion of classical theatrical and televisual styles.

The set pro

UK - June saw Capital Radio host its third Summertime Ball at London's Wembley Stadium. With a complex wireless specification to deal with, event sound company Adlib Audio's close working relationship with Sennheiser ensured that everybody heard only what they were meant to.

Adlib are long-term Sennheiser users, exclusively using the company's in-ear monitor systems, plus an extensive inventory of microphones and radio wireless systems.

"The RF is rock solid, Sennheiser UK offers really good support and works with us post-sale, as opposed to just leaving us to it," says Adlib director Dave Kay. "Having a company with a UK-base which really knows how to get the most from the product is great.

"They really get involved in educating users. Every year we hold a two-day training session with them. They provide excellent training and, in return, we provide the

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distribution centre for Shure in the Gulf has recently supplied Dubai based rental firm Mediakraft with wireless microphone systems from the UHF-R series.

The deal includes receivers and transmitters from the top of the line UHF-R series. More importantly, Mediakraft have purchased the new UR4D+ receiver, which allows them to cascade up to 10 units without the use of an antenna distribution system.

"The UR4D+ and the UR4S+ are the latest update to the highly popular and successful UHF-R series from Shure," commented Shajahan K K, Shure product manager. "Mediakraft have recently open their new office in Doha, Qatar and have invested in additional channels to supplement their inventory there."

(Jim Evans)

UK - The official UK launch of the new Bose RoomMatch series of progressive directivity array loudspeakers and the PowerMatch PM8500 & PM8500N configurable professional power amplifiers will take place at PLASA in September.

Introduced to consultants and dealers in Istanbul earlier this year, these products provide sound designers with "unprecedented scalability and configurability for venues including arenas, performing arts centres, live music venues and houses of worship". They enable concert-quality sound to be delivered more consistently and efficiently, regardless of room size, shape, or acoustic properties.

Also on show at PLASA will be updated Bose Modeler software including features for designing systems with RoomMatch array modules, and new Bose ControlSpace Designer software providing setup, control and monitor functions for the PowerMatch amplifier, while

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