Details
UK - LSi has learned the sad news of the death of Jonathan Speirs, the internationally renowned architect and pioneer of architectural lighting design. Speirs died yesterday at the age of 54, after a long battle with cancer.

Speirs' career as an architectural lighting designer spanned almost 30 years and included projects across the world including Madrid's Barajas Airport, Gateshead's Millennium Bridge, Dubai's Burj Al Arab Tower, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, The Copenhagen Opera House, the interior of St Paul's Cathedral, London and the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Mark Major, Speirs' long-time business partner and friend, paid tribute to him on the

Details
Voices Off - The 11-date tour for The Voice UK Live has been cancelled due to a lack of ticket sales. The gigs were due to feature eight of the show's finalists. The tour was to begin at the Bournemouth International Centre on 12 September and was then due to visit venues in Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, London, Glasgow and Sheffield. In a statement, a spokesperson said, "Unfortunately, The Voice UK Live has been cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. Customers are advised to contact their point of purchase for ticket refunds." The news comes as the show was criticised for failing to attract viewers.

Blown Away - Sir Elton John had to cut short his concert at a new seafront arena in Blackpool because of the threat of strong winds. Almost two hours into his set at the Blackpool Tower Headland arena, he told the 11,000 crowd they had to leave.

Details
UK - Technical manager at NBF Productions and FOH engineer for Newton Faulkner, Patrick Hannan, has recently invested in a Soundcraft Si Compact 24 digital mixing console, supplied by LMC Audio.

Hannan is using the Si Compact on Faulkner's current tour of the UK and Ireland, and it's already proved a success in terms of set-up speed and efficiency. "Before we had the Si Compact 24, we were hiring a 16-channel digital console on a rolling basis, or turning up to shows to work with whatever the venue had available", explains Hannan. "With the Si Compact 24, our set-up is far more self-contained, giving us much better control, meaning we can get going almost immediately. In addition, the 24 gives us two layers rather than one which means we don't risk 'maxing-out' on our channel count, plus we get EQ on all channels, 14 aux buses and a host of Lexicon effects. It's b

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 - Duran Audio UK has recently supplied AXYS Scope T2115 (three-way full range loudspeakers) and AXYS B-07 (18" Subwoofers) to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama for use in the Richard Burton Theatre, located on their site in the centre of Cardiff.

The Richard Burton Theatre is a 160 seat theatre complete with a dress circle and teaching gallery. The theatre forms part of the recent development at the RWCMD. This project has not only has transformed the look of the site, and added another iconic building to this architecturally rich area of Cardiff, but has also delivered the RWCMD dream of having their own world-class performance and rehearsal spaces on site. Students are now learning in a performance arts centre that is the hub of cultural life in the capital city.

The delivery of AXYS loudspeakers for the Richard Burton Theatre is a continuation of the relation

Details
UK - HM The Queen's Jubilee Concert, organised by Gary Barlow, took place on Monday 4 June and featured rock royalty including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Dame Shirley Bassey, Alfie Boe, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Madness (playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace) and many more. A special temporary stage was constructed for the event on and around the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

Britannia Row Productions were engaged to handle the audio production, and deployed systems to cover not just the concert but also the full length of The Mall, St James's Park, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park (where an Outline GTO system was used on the Commonwealth Stage).

For the main concert area Britannia Row had designed and deployed a main system comprising 96 Outline Butterfly encl

Details
Lebanon - Beirut is very much a hub for those from the Gulf state's looking to avoid the heady summer heat. A coast lined with some quality beaches, more Mediterranean temperatures and an expanding selection of open air nightclubs all help to tempt in an affluent summer set.

Jewel among these clubs is Pier 7, which nestles on a beach side location, overlooking the ocean. Operated by the local Crystal Group, the club has just opened its doors for the five month summer run after a multi-million dollar winter refit, which has included a full Inspired Audio sound system.

Specified in collaboration with Fouad Bechwati from Beirut based 21 dB acoustic consultants, the system included four drops of six Optima 8 array cabinets, combined with eight B215 and eight SB218 all flown from the central truss area. A further four SB218 were ground stacked while the venues stage had a further f

Details
UK - Clear-Come reports that its Eclipse Median digital matrix intercom and V-Series key-panels played an integral role at the recent Diamond Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the English throne. Delta Sound employed three Eclipse Median intercoms and more than a dozen V-Series user control panels to facilitate fast, reliable communications between the event's sound, lighting, pyrotechnics, security and stage-management production teams.

Coordinating the different activities that took place over the Diamond Jubilee weekend, including a concert featuring more than 30 performers, a flotilla on the Thames River and a royal procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, was a massive undertaking. It required precise coordination and organization on the part of event organizers and production teams, which is why Delta Sound installed a 112-port Clear-Co

Details
USA - L-Acoustics has further strengthened its commitment to the North American fixed installation market by announcing the appointments of Dan Palmer as national manager of installation projects and Andrew Nagel as head of application for the US Installation Market.

Palmer, currently in his eighth year as a member of the L-Acoustics US Team, is experienced in both the technical and business aspects of professional audio, having spearheaded numerous installation projects for the company, ranging from sports venues and themed entertainment to houses of worship and performing arts. In his new role, he will focus on developing strategic relationships for L-Acoustics and various market development activities across multiple segments of the US installation market.

Andrew Nagel embraces an expanded nationwide role as head of application for the US installation market after completin

Details
South Africa - Fly Piggy Fly, which has a new TV production house called Bay Studios (the first television studio in the Eastern Cape), recently purchased a Philips Strand 200 Series console, a Philips Strand 6 Pack Dimmer, and LED Wash light panels.

"Fly Piggy Fly is a young, vibrant production company based in Port Elizabeth," commented Dave Whitehouse from DWR Distribution. "This is their first lighting purchase. They always rented in gear and with P.E. not being very central, they would have to hire from outside areas." DWR Distribution supplied the order.

"We've been using the LED panels on a film for a client from Ethiopia," said Scott Kelly, partner and art director at Fly Piggy Fly. "The client wrote the script and provided the necessary funding, while we did the entire production side. It has been really great using the panels on loc

Details
UK - A.C Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd's audio division has supplied a significant quantity of premium audio products - including DiGiCo, Yamaha, Soundcraft, Sennheiser Martin Audio, BSS, Denon and Sonifex - to UK based Insync Productions Ltd, to service their busy schedule of events.

Insync Productions is an audio visual supplier and provider of technical production, design and rental services, specialising in corporate and live events. As part of the company's policy, they like to keep their equipment inventory constantly updated with all the latest available technologies.

The supply included a new DiGiCo SD9 mixing console. This well regarded audio desk includes 24 motorised faders, a full complement of on-board processing and effects, dedicated and multi-function control knobs, electronic labelling and new quick-access buttons, making it suitable for mixing a wide

Details
USA - After 11 seasons and an Emmy Award, lighting designer Kieran Healy continues to raise the bar for live television design with his dynamic and well-balanced looks on Fox's American Idol. This season Healy chose to keylight the three judges - Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson - with the RevEAL LED Profile from Prism Projection.

"I chose the RevEAL LED Profile for the keylighting of the judges since the light provided me with a beautiful, flat field and for the fact that I could choose any colour temperature that I wanted-and maintain that balance," explains Healy.

"I am typically using them with a color temperature around 4,700-4,800K. We have a lot of different arc sources in the lighting design and that just averages it out. It is also easy to match the followspots, because you want all your keylights to match. Invariably the handheld

Details
UK - Within the last quarter, Blitz reports that it has invested over £1m in new video, sound and graphics equipment. On the video front, its projection fleet has been significantly extended by the addition of four Panasonic 20K units, three Panasonic D211OXE units and two Barco W8 units, together with a variety of lenses to suit different environments. Additional new video hardware includes 28 video scan converters, 20 Marshall and HAA monitors, and a range of DVI equipment.

The Audio department has added a range of loudspeakers, including 30 d&b E6 units, and a number of QLab playback systems.

The Graphics department has upgraded its fleet through two HD3000 Clarity systems, two Hyper X3.1 Chryon upgrades and 40 channels of Watchout V5.

Paul Hutton, managing director at Blitz, commented, "This investment will ensure we can deliver the very best on a whole host o

Details
UK - Following the successful launch of the PLCyc1 LED and the LED Studio Panel at Frankfurt Pro-Light and Sound earlier this year, the team at Philips Selecon headed to London's ABTT Show with the latest addition to the range - the prototype LED Fresnel.

A timely debut - the ABTT Show followed closely behind the Theatres Trust Conference on Delivering Sustainable Theatres. Graham Eales, general manager for Philips Selecon discusses, "The prototype LED Fresnel is built around the same engine as the popular Selecon PLCyc1 , PL1 and PL3 LED luminaires. Not only does it look and behave like a conventional Fresnel but it also focuses in the same way as any other traditional Fresnel - ie by moving the light source in relation to the lens. The fixture has been specifically designed with small to mid scale theatrical applications in mind so it is neat, easy to rig and easy to focu

Details
PLASA, the leading entertainment technology trade association, has issued the following statement in the wake of the tragic incident in Toronto on Saturday.

"PLASA extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Scott Johnson and our fervent hopes for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in the stage collapse in Toronto over the weekend.

"It has been the mission of PLASA's Technical Standards Program since its inception in 1994 to make the industry a safer place to work through the development of Technical Standards. As part of that program, ANSI E1.21 - 2006, Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used To Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events was first released in 2006.

"Since the tragic accident in Indianapolis last summer, PLASA has focused on making the industry and governmental authoriti

Details
Australia - Allen & Heath has appointed a new Xone distributor in Australia. The award-winning range of Xone DJ mixers, DJ controllers and DJ headphones will be exclusively distributed by the Hills SVL Group.

Don McConnell, audio division manager for the Hills SVL Group, commented, "We are delighted to be involved with the Xone team. They offer some truly innovative products and it's obvious that the developers are passionate about the DJ market and the needs of both professional and up and coming DJs. We look forward to a long and successful relationship."

"By joining forces with a partner that shares our passion for fabulous sounding products and truly great service, our alliance with Hills SVL will continue to build Xone's reputation in Australia," comments A&H regional sales manager, Bardy Hayes.

(Jim Evans)

Details
UK - Northern Light has recently announced another two appointments that will enhance the company's installation team.

Martin Tarpy comes to Northern Light from leading installer TMC, where he had worked for more than 20 years. Tarpy will be a project manager for Northern Light and will be involved in the design and installation of lighting, sound, AV, media and stage systems across a range of Northern Light projects - beginning with a raft of schools in the Birmingham area.

Tarpy said, "After 20 years of working with TMC, I'm sure working anywhere else will be a shock to the system! However, I'm very much looking forward to the new challenge and to bringing my skills to Northern Light. This is a company that I've been very much aware of throughout my career and it is with a sense of excitement that I join the much bigger operation that is Northern Light."

James Ho

Details
UK - A new service offering the AV industry a method to trade used, rental and ex-demo equipment in Europe has officially launched. Nearly New AV is to concentrate on both the buying and selling of used audio visual equipment.

This service is designed to give manufacturers, rental companies, integrators and end users the chance to access used AV equipment at much reduced prices than compared to brand new stock, as well as also offering a vehicle for them to sell off underutilised and older products also.

Nearly New AV's business manager Stuart Johnson explained, "This initiative has been designed with the aim of supplying a growing market for high quality used AV equipment; helping rental companies supplement their fleets and save money by investing in those products that they use the most.

"Installation companies will now have top of the range used equipment readi

Details
UK - Sennheiser UK has announced that, from 1 June 2012, it will be the official distributor for Avalon Design products in the UK and Ireland.

Used in many of the world's top recording studios, Avalon products include rackmount pre-amplifiers, channel strips, equalisers, compressors and DIs, employing pure Class A circuits to deliver detailed analogue sound.

As well as featuring on albums by some of the world's leading artists, the distinctive silver front panels and oval Vu meters of Avalon processors are a familiar sight in the racks of front of house engineers, adding a high quality touch of analogue warmth to both vocals and instruments for a wide range of touring acts.

"Avalon and Sennheiser share a common vision in striving to be the benchmark for audio excellence," says Paul Nunnington, Sennheiser UK product manager. "Avalon preamps in particular are th

Details
USA - As the curtain rises on the 2012 season of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Masque Sound, a leading theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design company, is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing audio equipment and services to the theatre for one of New York City's most beloved traditions.

Shakespeare in the Park moved to its permanent home at the Delacorte Theater in 1962 and since then, New York natives and visitors alike have enjoyed free Shakespeare performances each summer season. The majestic, open-air theater has a seating capacity of 1,800, and each season more than 100,000 people attend performances produced by The Public Theatre.

"Masque Sound has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with The Public and Delacorte theaters and their summer productions of Shakespeare in the Park," says Den

Details
UK - The 2012 edition of JHS's legendary annual trade Event came to a close on Wednesday 13 June and is being hailed as a resounding success.

The hands-on MI and Pro-Audio trade show saw attendees from across the industry turn out to see, hear and test out new product, pick up some deals, watch artists play, mingle with a number of industry stalwarts, and go home with extra profits.

The two marquees, the demonstration theatres and outside areas were bustling throughout, and visitors were entertained by music across three live stages, with electric sets played by the likes of Oliver/ Dawson Saxon, Jerry Donahue, John Verity, virtuoso acoustic offerings from the legendary Gordon Giltrap and

Raymond Burley, and a quirky Stylophone performances from Youtube sensation Brett Domino.

A stack of new products were on display, including the latest mixers, powered and passive speaker

Details
UK - Lighting designer Lucy Carter has used Philips Selecon's new PLCYC1 LED luminaires to create an evocative environmental design for the Royal Opera House's production of Max Richter's new chamber opera, Sum.

The world premiere was staged in the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio, Covent Garden. Set inside a specially built room the audience and performers were arranged on four sides of a centrally located sunken orchestra pit. The room, comprising four high walls each of which feature a built in video screen, are washed throughout with various colours to denote the changing mood and atmosphere of each story.

Carter chose to use sixteen of the newly launched PLCYC1 LED luminaires, supplied by Stage Electrics, to define the mood of each piece as she explains: "I needed a fixture that could give me multiple colour choices, wash the walls and the room but not deman

Page 2848 of 3465

Latest Issue. . .