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Europe - Popular Belgian singer Geike Arnaert spent the summer playing a number of European festival shows, her mixture of sparsely-arranged pop and haunting ballads providing a popular counterpoint to many of the other performers. Ensuring that the former Hooverphonic lead singer and her six-piece backing band had the appropriate monitor mixes was a DiGiCo SD11, manned by the band's regular engineer Gert Vreys.

Vreys asked Apex Audio to supply a suitable digital console for the festival shows. "I was happy to use the SD11," says Vreys. "I made up a custom 14U rack, which had the D-Rack and the wireless IEM and microphone units built in to it. I put the SD11 on top of it and so only needed one square metre of space, (which was ideal for festivals), as I could fit in

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Australia - Jands Pty Ltd has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of Aurora in Australia.

"Jands represent leading audio brands such as JBL, Crown, BSS and Shure, which collectively provide a premium solution to audio contractors and installations. Increasingly these systems need control, and further, contractors and customers alike are looking for a one supplier solution to guarantee compatibility and performance. After a long search, Jands is excited about finding the perfect partner in Aurora." said Paul Mulholland, Jands managing director.

"The quality of the product, the integrity of the company, value for money and ease of programming will excite the market. The fact that the company is stronger in video distribution products is a bonus and allows Jands to further extend our solution offering."

The Jands technical team has started to get the

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Abu Dhabi - Four years on from the opening of the Yas Marina circuit the excitement of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was enhanced with a series of After Race Concerts featuring Kylie Minogue, Nickleback and Eminem. With Kylie's production manager Kevin Hopgood busy on another tour, Capital Productions was asked to handle the production and audio needs for Kylie's concert on the Friday night.

Capital project manager Robin Conway handled the audio, whilst Paul Timmins took over the production role for this large scale one off show, which featured eight dancers specially flown in from Australia.

Regular sound engineers Kevin Pruce and Dan Kent, at FOH and monitors respectively, specified the control, which Capital supplied for both the rehearsals in London and the show in Abu Dhabi.

Consoles included an Avid Venue Profile System at FOH and a DiGiCo SD8 at monitors. RF included

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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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The Netherlands - Following the success of the Q-series, Alcons Audio has introduced the QR24 line-source array column: A modular two-way column loudspeaker to be used as vertical array system, for both permanent and (limited) portable applications.

The QR24 combines "a natural, dynamic sound reproduction with superb intelligibility and throw, in even the acoustically most challenging environments without the need for DSP-based beam shaping".

Due to its modularity, throw and low-frequency directivity ("near field") can be increased just by extending the array length; Multiple individual mid-high frequency lobes can be made, by using the QM low-mid fill columns.

The QR24 measures a mere 66cm / 26" tall in length, and is fitted with 4x 6.5" woofers and two purpose-built 12" pro-ribbon drivers; Specifically for this system, the "RBN03&quo

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UK - XL Video supplied scenic LED plus projection and camera / IMAG systems - including some of their newest products - to Robbie Williams' acclaimed three nights at London's O2 Arena last week. With a rousing performance in-the-round, the star re-established himself in grand style as a solo artist.

For XL, it was the continuation of a long and fruitful relationship with Robbie Williams and his production team which stretches back over a decade. Video has always been an integral part of Robbie's live shows and his tours have blazed a trail for innovative, design-led applications of new video technology.

This was once again the case, making maximum impact at the O2 shows. The third show was broadcast live on Sky 1, and in other territories worldwide, and can now be seen on Sky's On-Demand service.

XL's project manager, Phil Mercer, worked closely with Robbie's long-term produ

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UK - The entire crew from the much-anticipated reunion tour by The Stone Roses took time out during rehearsals at LS-Live to complete their Event Safety Passport (SPA) certificate at the industry training centre on site, Backstage Academy.

Ahead of their shows in Manchester, production manager Tony Gittins wanted the crew to be up to speed with the latest health and safety considerations whilst working on a live event.

He booked all the crew onto the one-day course at the Academy, which is based at the LS-Live rehearsal studios in South Kirkby, West Yorkshire.

He said, "For the larger tours I do, I always send all the crew to do their Event Safety Passport because it raises their awareness of health and safety when they are working around the set.

"When we booked the production rehearsals for The Stone Roses at LS-Live, I was pleased to learn that the facility no

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Russia - When Russian guitarist Roman Miroshnichenko was booked to play a Jubilee concert with legendary guitarist Larry Coryell at the Moscow International House of Music, he knew he would need a first class microphone to truly capture the sound of this prestigious event.

DPA Microphone's Russian distributor I.S.P.A arranged for Roman to test a DPA d:vote 4099G Instrument Microphone for Guitar, which proved to be exactly what he was looking for.

"I heard that Paco De Lucia's sound engineer rated DPA microphones very highly so on that basis I decided I had to try them out," Roman Miroshnichenko says. "I was in need of a really good microphone for my upcoming Jubilee concert with Larry Coryell so I spoke to Maxim Kupryakhin at I.S.P.A who arranged for me to try a d:vote 4099G clip mic. The concert was a great and important test-drive for the microphone and from t

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UK - Paul Nulty Lighting Design (PNLD) provided architectural lighting design to the 120sq.m Adventure Bar in Clapham High Street, London.

The bar is the fifth to be opened by the growing chain and lighting once again plays a key role in providing mood and ambience.

Working closely with interior designers, Finch Design, PNLD have produced a dramatic scheme using some simple theatrical techniques and feature luminaires to create a dramatic and inviting space, whilst producing comfortable lighting to booths where customers can drink and relax.

The total expenditure on lighting, including controls, was just £6,500.00 including a lighting control system so the PNLD team had to be very creative with the details and resourceful with regards to the specification of luminaires. Head of practice, Paul Nulty explains, "It was an ambitious budget so we had to think laterally

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Israel - ARX Systems has announced the appointment of Tel Aviv based Gidron Levitan as their new distributor for Israel.

ARX managing director Colin Park said, "Gidron Levitan is the new distribution company of Eytan Gidron, an old friend of ARX for many years. We're looking forward to working with Eytan and the Gidron Levitan team in Israel, they're enthusiastic about the possibilities for the ARX product range amongst their extensive client base."

Gidron Levitan adds ARX to a growing distribution product portfolio that includes Outline, Fulcrum Acoustic, Rational Acoustics, Earthworks and Apex.

(Jim Evans)

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Benelux - For the past 15 years, Tau Audio Solutions has successfully imported and supplied audio communications systems to the Benelux region. It has now confirmed its appointment as exclusive distributor for Ashly Audio Inc.

Ashly Audio is one of the world's leading designer manufactures of high quality, high performance signal processor and power amplification solutions. Operating in the commercial and professional audio sectors, the company has achieved a steady growth both in its domestic and international markets. The appointment of TAU Audio is set to continue this trend in the Benelux region.

"It's our experience that Ashly's high performance line of audio electronic products works best when paired to high performance loudspeakers," says John Sexton, Ashly Audio's vice president of sales. "TAU's combination of SoundTube loudspeakers and Ashly amplifiers

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USA - Country rock singer-songwriter Brantley Gilbert kicked off his Hell on Wheels in late September hitting the road with a complement of Clay Paky Sharpys from Digital Console Rental in Nashville.

Gilbert has released two albums of his own, and his songs have been recorded by Colt Ford and Jason Aldean.

A long-time client of Digital Console Rental, Gilbert asked company president Howard Jones to serve as his tour's lighting designer. Digital Console Rental is handling all of the audio, lighting, rigging and trucking for Hell on Wheels.

Jones chose eight Sharpys from his inventory deploying four in the truss and four wrapping around the top of the set. "We wanted to come up with something that was iconic to Brantley," he explains. "He's big into motorcycles and has a bad boy image. I had the idea to have the truss over the stage be a giant pair

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UK - AKG's D7 dynamic vocal mic is proving popular with some of the UK's new generation of up-and-coming artists.

Chart-topper Jake Bugg has been using one successfully on his concerts this year while Mercury Music Prize nominee Jessie Ware is also finding that the D7 capsule, in conjunction with the versatile DMS700 wireless system, is revealing new detail in her vocal register and enriching the artiste's timbre, according to FOH engineer and tour manager, Olly Long.

"It offers so much clarity and definition, particularly in the upper-mid register," he observes.

The sound engineer was introduced to AKG's latest mic and wireless technology at tour production company Cato Music when he was working with dubstep band Hadouken. "We were able to take out a DMS700 and D5 dynamic capsule - and the results were great," he appraised.

The band then went into the

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UK - Stage Electrics continues to invest in pro audio equipment for their busy hire department with the recent purchase of two Yamaha CL5 digital consoles plus four RIO 3224-D and two RIO1608-D racks.

The Yamaha CL series digital mixing consoles represent a new level of refinement. They offer an evolved experience in accessible mixing, plus sonic purity with sound shaping capabilities that will give the most imaginative engineer unprecedented creative freedom. The CL series embodies the leading standards in live sound in their most advanced, most expressive form.The three section fader layouts for efficient hands-on control, making the CL5 the ideal choice for a diverse spectrum of live sound systems.

A significant proportion of Stage Electrics total stock of £13m worth of hire equipment is devoted to audio equipment from leading manufacturers. Continued growth in live e

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Taiwan - Allen & Heath has appointed a new distribution partner in Taiwan called Seapower. The company has close contacts with Allen & Heath's Chinese distributor, Sanecore, and therefore has access to a wealth of product knowledge and experience with the brand.

"We are honoured to have been appointed to distribute the prestigious Allen & Heath brand. In particular, we see a lot of potential for the digital products and look forward to professionally supporting these products as the brand grows in Taiwan," comments Douglas Chang, owner of Seapower Technology Co.

"We are very excited about this new relationship with Seapower. I've known Douglas for many years and I've been very impressed with his professionalism and his team's technical expertise. I look forward to a successful relationship," comments Bardy Hayes, director Global Market Management and Allen

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UK - As every good conductor knows, even the most tried and trusted musical score can warrant a revisit from time to time. The same is true of production, as has happened on the latest outing of Classical Spectacular. "We have maybe 80 pieces of music in the repertoire now," said show programmer Tim Routledge. "I have been working with lighting designer Durham Marenghi for several years on this show so when he presented his new design I saw an opportunity to upgrade the control system."

"I have re-visited all the music," said Marenghi. "A new truss shape with a completely new lighting environment: total refreshment. The fact that Tim chose this moment to move from grandMA to grandMA2 seemed entirely logical; even if it was the first time he'd migrated a master show file from MA1 to MA2."

"I did ask him if he was comfortable w

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UK - Held at Battersea Power Station at the end of October, Freeze Festival was two full on days of world class snowboarding, skiing and live music which, in combination with alpine style bars, a shopping village and gourmet food brought the joys of ski and, just as importantly, après ski to south west London.

Working for client Vision Nine (formerly known as Sports Vision) and with Robin Conway as Capital's project manager for the event, the line array tech and crew boss Marty Harrison deployed a Martin Audio LC system with 218 subs for the main stage, where Dave Poynter looked after FOH, Kevin Smith took up the monitor position and Duane Williams handle stage tech duties for sets from Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, DJ Shadow, Mark Ronson and Zane Lowe, amongst others. A smaller version of the system was sited adjacent to the ski jump, and a Meyer UPM system took care of the

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France - With audiences of over 5m every Saturday night, the French version of Strictly Come Dancing (Danse avec les Stars), has proved almost as popular as its British counterpart. The live show is broadcast from the same TV studio in Paris that hosted the live shows of last season's The Voice. Meanwhile, recording of 'the Blinds' and 'the Battles' for next season's The Voice is going on in a different studio. TV audio solutions provider, Silence! has provided APG Uniline systems for both shows. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Channel, Plus 4 Audio who supply systems for Strictly Come Dancing in the UK, also supplied a Uniline system for the special Children In Need edition of Strictly from Wembley Arena in front of a live audience of 6,000 people.

Back in France, having built their formidable reputation on being brand-agnostic and supplying the

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Mexico - After several months of intense work, the Onixeus Club has opened in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Onixeus is a club aimed at live performances while also running as a nightclub. With a capacity of 2,000 people, it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive entertainment centres in Mexico, indeed in Latin America.

For its primary audio system, Onixeushas chosen Nexo's compact line array GeoS12, paired with RS18 subwoofers. The club has a main system of six Geo S1210 cabinets plus two Geo S1230s in left and right arrays (eight per side) and an out-fill system of three Geo S1230s per side. The six RS18 subs are arranged in the centre. The entire system is processed and amplified by 3 NXAMP4x4 TDControllers.

All the cabinets have been installed using Nexo's fixed rigging accessories.

Onixeus technical manager Raúl García Rodríguez reports that "T

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Brazil - Wireless Solution Sweden held centre stage at the 58th Barretos Cowboy Festival (Festa do Peão de Boiadeiro de Barretos), one of the largest rodeo and music events in Brazil, held at the Super Bull arena in the city of Barretos. For 10 nights, rodeo activities were followed by a long lineup of popular music acts, often lasting until dawn.

Lighting designer Francisco 'Pincel' Gabriel designed an enormous cube suspended over the main arena floor for maximum visibility by the entire crowd without interfering with the rodeo activities or blocking any sightlines to the main stage for the evening concerts. The cube held LED screens accentuated with Robe moving lights to allow spectators to view the rodeo events up close.

Because of the location of the cube, high above the centre of the arena floor, W-DMX BlackBox F-1 was used as Transmitter and Receiver to deliver a reliab

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Ireland - On the far west coast of Ireland, an event and concert venue has been newly created, with a remarkable backstory. Not a surprise, perhaps, in this fabled land of poetry, folk song and traditional music, in which its soil is steeped; but this is a venture that, given the financial background of the country, has taken considerable energy to create one of the largest multipurpose venues in western Ireland.

The core impetus for this was the annual series of Sligo Live festivals, inaugurated eight years ago as a public-private initiative to promote the city of Sligo as both a musical centre and a tourist destination. The musical theme of the festival is based around folk, roots and indie, and is hosted by multiple pubs, bars and theatres in the city, the region's most populous area, a major tourist destination and former home to poet W B Yeats and Spike Milligan. The city i

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Belgium - The first concert staged in the newly refurbished and re-launched Het Depot in Leuven, just outside Brussels, Belgium, featured four days of performance by hot emerging young Belgian singer / songwriter Selah Sue.

Robe fixtures were an integral part of Selah Sue's show - her lighting designer Joris Vandamme used 12 x Robin 600 LEDWashes on floor stands as a 'specials' package, an idea also being tried out for upcoming shows. He also used eight Robe MMX Spots that have just been installed as part of a new lighting rig at Het Depot along with Robe Actor 600 units.

Additionally, the first of Robe's new MMX WashBeams in Belgium were made available for these Het Depot shows by special arrangement with Robe's Benelux distributor, Controllux.

Selah Sue's material embraces an eclectic mix of styles including soul, R'n'B, reggae and blues. Her rich, deep, raspy voice is ver

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