USA - Packed seminars, busy booths and new product launches confirmed PLASA Focus: Nashville 2014 as an unmissable industry event. Almost 800 attendees headed to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium last week to see over 60 brands that had the latest technology on display.

The show saw a number of new products, including Martin Professional's MAC Quantum Wash; ETC's Source Four Mini spotlight and Selador Desire D22 LED luminaire; Chauvet Professional's Nexus 2x2 and Nexus 4x1; High End System's Hog 4 and HedgeHog 4; Lyntec's award-winning Remote Power Control Mobile; Ayrton's MagicPanel 602 LED beam projector fixtures; Altman Lighting's Phoenix LED Profile; LSC Lighting System's Clarity LX consoles; and the latest additions to Robe Lighting's ROBIN Series.

The Professional Develop

USA - Would you like to earn recognition for your expertise as an entertainment rigger or electrician and become one of the first people to get the call? Get your application in today to take the ETCP Paper and Pencil Examinations at USITT in Ft. Worth!

Having ETCP Certification demonstrates that you are in the top third of the industry professionals in North America; furthermore, to maintain your certification, you must accrue continuing education credits which shows your employer that you are current with industry developments and practices.

The ETCP Examinations will be given at USITT in Ft. Worth. All three ETCP examinations will be given in one session the morning of Saturday, 29 March, 2014. Candidates who wish to take more than one exam should contact ETCP. Members and employees of members of USITT receive a $100 discount on examination fees. Interested applicants must

UK - London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) staged Harold Pinter's Betrayal and Cole Porter's High Society at the end of 2013 utilising the strong colours and smooth dimming of Philips Selecon's PL range of LED fixtures.

RADA runs a four-term specialist course in Stage Electrics and Lighting Design as well as a two-year foundation degree in Technical Theatre and Stage Management, which allows students to specialise in lighting in their final year.

Two of RADA's specialist lighting design students worked on each of the productions: Amy Mae for Betrayal at RADA's GBS Theatre; and Matt Leventhall for High Society at RADA's Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre.

RADA's head of lighting Matt Prentice consulted with Selecon to specify a mixture of PLprofile1s, PLfresnel1s, and PLcyc1s to the drama school, which is generally regarded as one of the most prestig

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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

Germany - Hall 8.0, Stand J60 at ProLight+Sound sees Coda Audio launching the Linus10 two channel DSP amplifier.

Linus10 is a stand-alone unit and also the key component of the Linus RACK20 and Linus RACK40, which provide complete system management solutions including amplification, DSP, network, comparator and power distribution for various Coda Audio systems. This combination provides a complete electronics solution with improved connecting panel, all in one rack.

Delivering 2x 4955W of clean power from a lightweight 2U rack unit, LINUS10 features a hybrid class H output stage topology for audiophile sonic accuracy with plenty of headroom and significant improvements in dynamic and transparency.

Also on show at ProLight+Sound will be Coda Audio's TiRAY, a brand new, ultra-compact line array module designed for small venues where high fidelity sound and outstanding intellig

USA - Having blown many musical minds at last month's 2014 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California following a successful beta-testing phase, American pro audio software company Plugin Alliance has announced availability of accusonus drumatom - the world's first microphone leakage suppression tool for multichannel drum recordings - as of 25 February.

As a 64-bit standalone application for Mac (OS X 10.6.0 and later) and PC (Windows XP, 7, or 8), accusonus drumatom duly represents the first non-plug-in product to be released by Plugin Alliance. Claimed to be the world's first microphone leakage suppression tool for multichannel drum recordings, it identifies the close microphone sound and reduces microphone leakage, cleverly combining progressive principals of acoustics, signal processing, psychoacoustics, and music theory using patent-pending A3 (Advanced Audio Analysis) technology by

Germany - At ProLight+Sound 2014 (Hall 8.0, Booth B50), Lawo will present solutions for live and theatre applications. Audio mixing consoles of Lawo's mc² series and the Innovason Eclipse desk will be on show.

This year, the systems will be set up in two separate areas - in a live stage zone and a theatresector. Also being demonstrated, video streaming over IP can be used as a solution for orchestra conductor camera and backstage screens for ensemble and staff following theatre scenes on stage.

Live mixing will be demonstrated on the Eclipse GT, and on the mc²56 with another, networked daughter mc²56, mirroring the settings of the master console. Also an mc²66 will be set up to demo theatre applications.

In Frankfurt, Lawo will present the Innovason Eclipse GT live mixer, featuring new soundpad functionality that allows recorded sounds to be recalled at the push of a but

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the hiring of Andrew Fisher as senior systems integrator. Fisher will be assisting with system specification sales, system integrations, and providing client solutions alongside Chris Barbee, Bandit's global director of sales.

While earning his BSBA in finance from UNC Charlotte and studying theatre at UNC Wilmington, Fisher worked at both a Broadway scenic house and as an LD. He spent several years at Barbizon in their systems group before his most recent position of national sales manager for The Light Source, focusing on their LED product line.

About his new position, Fisher shared his excitement saying, "I see Bandit as a leader in the entertainment industry. Chris has built an exceptionally strong team in the Bandit systems division. Custom, quality, and innovative services are everyday parts of Bandit. I'm thrilled to take that to th

UK - To set the scene for Valentine's Day and to launch the duo of Durex Embrace sensual pleasure gels Will Glendinning from Allium, a high profile live event company, approached PRG to provide a lighting solution. PRG provided the lighting equipment and crew to lighting designer, Durham Marenghi's specification to stage a spectacular light show on London's Southbank on the evening of 13 February, at the Observation Point near the OXO Tower.

Lighting tests were carried out on the fixtures at PRG's East Molesey warehouse in South West London to gauge the length of the beams in the night sky and to see what visual effects could be used on the evening. The show was then pre-programmed for the launch by Pryderi Baskerville in conjunction with Durham Marenghi using WYSIWYG software.

Seventy-six Clay Paky Sharpy Beam lights were used and rigged on two circular trusses, the inner cir

Mexico - High End Systems and Grace Audio have announced a new partnership that will enable Grace Audio, Inc. to serve as its new master distributor for LATAM (except Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela) effective 1 January, 2014.

The LATAM partnership between High End Systems and Grace Audio includes countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay. In Addition Grace Audio, Inc. has appointed the following sub-regional distributors: Mexico D.F.: Miller Mix (Roberto Devesa); Central America (except Panama): Prosound (Melvyn Chuy) and Panama: RW Systems (Jaime Sierra).

Pilar Costa, president of Grace Audio, comments, "High End Systems is the pioneer of the professional lighting and control systems industry. Over more than a decade we, at Grace A

UK - "We really can't tell you how much this saved our home and family."

"For everybody who contributes to Behind the Scenes, thank you. You helped save my life."

"I can't thank you all enough. Light Relief does life changing work, and my life has been changed by what you do."

Without the help of either Light Relief in the UK or Behind the Scenes in the US and Canada, these people - and many more - would have been in real financial difficulties as a result of illness or injury.

A major fundraiser for both charities is By Design Day, being held this year on Thursday 24 April. You can make a personal donation, hold a collection at work or - if you are a designer - you can support the day by giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities.

To date Light Relief has awarded more than £60,000 in grants to help lighting professiona

UK - This year, Robe was already involved in some of the highest high profile New Year's shows around the world including Berlin, Las Vegas and New York ... and once again its moving lights were right at the centre of the action for Chinese New Year celebrations in London's Trafalgar Square, featuring an afternoon of onstage entertainment culminating in a massive son et lumière extravaganza finale show to welcome the Year of the Horse.

Organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association and supported by the Mayor of London and Westminster City Council, the event - which lasts all afternoon and covers activities happening in the key areas of Leicester Square, Soho, Charing Cross Road and Chinatown - celebrates Chinese history culture and art, and is the biggest outside Asia.

Lighting, audio and power specialists Ethix Management run by Paul Jones supplied an all-Robe moving

UK - Funky Junk has added Pearl Microphones to its distribution roster.

"Having used and loved Pearl Microphones for more than 20 years, I was delighted when the opportunity arose to represent the brand in the UK," says Funky Junk's founder Mark Thompson. "These microphones have an exceptional pedigree and history. They deliver great results, particularly on acoustics instruments, and they are built to last. It's no surprise to me that vintage Pearl Microphones are as much in demand as new ones."

Pearl's chairman, Sven Olof Andersson, says, "We are extremely happy to be working with Mark Thompson and his crew of dedicated professionals in the UK. Pearl goes a long way back in Britain and we will now continue to grow there with an exciting line-up of products and new developments."

Founded in 1941, Pearl is renowned for its award-winning rectangu

Belgium - Barco and AED Studios, part of AED group, have officially inaugurated 'Barco Virtual World', a virtual experience events hall at the site of AED Studios in Lint, Belgium. The 1.000sq.m hall is equipped with 10 of Barco's high-brightness HDX-W20 projectors and a 90m long screen - the largest in the Benelux region - to provide an immersive virtual experience in full HD.

A longstanding customer of Barco, the AED group purchased the renowned Eurocam Mediacenter in 2013, renaming it AED Studios. The 55,000sq.m site is home to an extensive range of film studios (45sq.m < 3000sq.m), each offering an enormous array of multifunctional possibilities. "The studios perfectly complement our rental, sales, repair, logistics and leasing businesses," says Glen Roggeman, CEO of AED Studios. "When buying the studios, we immediately dreamt of converting one of the halls in

Sweden - One of Sweden's largest 'theatre show restaurants', Rondo, has upgraded its house lighting system to Chroma-Q Inspire premium performance, energy-efficient LED house lights, to transform the feel and atmosphere of the popular venue.

Situated in Scandinavia's biggest theme park, Liseberg, in the city of Gothenburg, Rondo stages high-class after-dinner entertainment shows and has featured performances from some of Sweden's leading musicians. One of the country's most historic show venues, around six million happy guests have danced, dined and celebrated here since Rondo opened sixty-five years ago. The venue is renowned for its glamour and exquisite dining experience.

Rondo wanted to upgrade their conventional tungsten house lights with a more modern and energy-efficient LED system, as well as offering an extra immersive dimension to their performances.

The existing s

UK - London-based RTS Communications recently added the Roland VR-50HD AV Mixer to their hire stock, with the unit going straight out the door to local production house Pink Banana Studios.

RTS purchased the VR-50HD from Leisuretec Distribution, who as distributors of professional audio and video products directly to trade customers, hold stock of Roland Systems Group (RSG) products including the VR-50HD. The sale was facilitated by Chris Webster from RSG who had received the initial VR-50HD enquiry from Pink Banana Studios and had demonstrated the streaming and live production features to them.

RTS is an established supplier of audiovisual, IPTV and videoconferencing services to both the public and private sector. With a number of high profile corporate and government clients, the projects that RTS are involved in include the live broadcast of government press conferences and

USA - Following the success of his 2011 EPIC 1.0 tour, Eric Prydz knew his EPIC (Eric Prydz In Concert) 2.0 shows had to raise the stakes of EDM visuals, and therefore collaborated again with show designers, technical specialists & content creators Immersive to realise a world-class audio/visual sensation.

Hailed by the world's press as an example of boundary-pushing design, London and New York-based show designer Immersive created an enormous set incorporating LED screens rather than projection surfaces, lasers, holograms, smoke machines and other visual effects.

Reviewing the show, the LA Times praised EPIC 2.0 for "raising the stakes for how artists present dance music live, in ways unique to their own aesthetic"; LA Music Blog commented, "The seamless marriage of deft live mixing and visual spectacle was magical to behold; I can only hope this

UK - Qdos Event Hire, was appointed to provide cabins, luxury toilets and waste tanks to the BRIT Awards for the third year in succession.

The contract was awarded by Brit Awards Production Ltd and saw Qdos supply their cabins for use as production offices and hospitality areas for backstage and the after-show party. They also supplied a range of their luxury toilets to support the existing facilities in-house at the venue. In addition they to installing tanks for catering waste.

The 2014 BRIT Awards, widely regarded as the biggest event in the British music industry's calendar, was held on 19 February 2014, held at The O2 Arena in London, with James Corden presenting. Big winners on the night included the Arctic Monkeys and One Direction.

Nigel Brice, CEO, Qdos Event Hire said, "This is the third year that we have been involved with the BRIT Awards and I'm delighted to

Australia - Since Perth's Concert and Corporate Productions (CCPWA to their friends) purchased their Jands Vista L5 they've barely had the pleasure of its company. And it's that kind of that kind of immediate return on investment that really makes a production company happy. Sean McKernan, general manager of CCPWA, couldn't be happier with its absence. "We got it mid-September and we only had it in our warehouse for 12 hours before it went out on its first tour!"

After purchase from Jands, the L5 flew into Perth to be prepped by the CCPWA crew, and soon turned around and was put a plane to Brisbane, where it kicked off on UK metal band Bring Me The Horizon's national tour. As that tour finished up, the desk went straight over to US rockers Fall Out Boy for another lap of the nation.

"It was a good month and half before it came back" Sean continued, 'and it'

UK - 'Juke box' musicals based on the songs of iconic performers continue to enjoy huge popularity in the UK. Ben Elton's Tonight's The Night - The Rod Stewart Musical is currently on a major tour of provincial venues, with a Yamaha CL5 digital console ensuring that the audio production is plain sailing.

Originally staged in London a decade ago, this is the show's second UK tour. Sound designer Rory Madden of RM Sound Design specified a Yamaha PM1D for the 2006 tour, so this time out a CL5 was the obvious choice.

The CL5, a Rio3224-D and two Rio1608-D i/o units were supplied by Orbital Sound, with associate sound designer Jon Sealey operating the show.

"The advantages of both a console and multicore which are much easier to handle are obvious, especially on an intensive tour where there is just six hours for the get in and soundcheck," he says. "The CL5

Germany - Avolites and Avolites Media are powering up the latest stable of products to be unveiled at this year's Prolight + Sound.

The show promises to be Avolites' biggest presence yet. Avolites and Avolites Media will take their own dedicated stand at Frankfurt - Hall 11.0 Stand D40 - but will also be exhibiting with longstanding friend and partner, Trendco, also in Hall 11.0 B41A.

Avolites Media will showcase the new S-Series Media Servers, along with the latest generation in the Infinity line, the Ai Infinity EX series.

The Ai S2, S4 and S6 media server are the latest server systems from Avolites Media and offer two, four and six Display Port / DVI outputs respectively. They feature 3rd generation PCI Express motherboards, graphics cards and RAID SSD drives for unrivalled performance along with 4K Ultra HD capability in the S4, S6 and S8 servers. The Dual Processor, hi

Germany - As well as showing new products and its annual 'glimpse into the future' at Prolight+Sound 2014, for the first time at the show Alcons Audio is giving comprehensive demonstrations of its ground-breaking audio technology.

Exhibiting in Hall 8, Stand G60, Alcons will be launching two new compact loudspeakers, as additions to the V-series and B-series.

Featuring the all-new RBN202 2" pro-ribbon driver for the first time, the V-series is extended with a versatile micro monitor for use in a wide variety of applications, where non-compromise fidelity is required. Another series extension is shown, now being the smallest of Alcons B-series subwoofers; a long-excursion 12" custom-designed woofer in a reflex-loaded configuration, as the perfect low-frequency extension for the smaller V-series monitors.

The company will also be showing the new R-series RR12 modular

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