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South Africa - Live performances, dj sessions, break dancing, art, film, fashion - the Back to the City Festival in the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Newtown is a celebration of local and South African artistic expression. Live performances - boasting a star-studded line-up of local artists and headlined by internationally acclaimed hip hop rappers ONYX - entertained throughout the day on the main stage, where D.A.S. Audio systems ensured that flawless sound was delivered for the 19,000 fans who poured into the inner city venue for the day-long event.

Event organizers called in Johannesburg-based sound reinforcement company Complete Event Solutions (CES) to design and install the sound solution for the main stage. The team was faced with the challenge of designing a system that co

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UK - At their joint booth at BPM 2015 (booth G109), Electro-Voice and Dynacord will be presenting the latest additions to their portfolios of loudspeakers, amplifiers, digital sound processing and mixing consoles.

Electro-Voice will celebrate the BPM premiere of its EKX loudspeaker family, which be displayed alongside the Electro-Voice ETX Powered Loudspeaker family as well as ZxA1, ZLX and ELX loudspeakers. Dynacord will present the Xa2-PRO system in Birmingham for the first time. Also showcased will be the brand's Vertical Array system, AXM 12A monitor as well as the PM502, PowerMate and CMS mixers.

The EKX series is the newest member of the Electro-Voice portable loudspeaker family, and combines legendary EV sound quality and reliability with the latest technology - all in a lightweight, compact package suitable for a wide range of sound reinforcement scenarios, including m

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USA - PLASA's Technical Standards Programme has announced two actions to widen the programme's benefits in the entertainment industry.

The first is a new standard, one that will help performers and performance venue designers; the second is a programme to extend the benefits of the TSP to other organizations in the entertainment and special events industry.

The first is the publication of a new standard, ANSI E1.55 - 2015, Standard for Theatrical Makeup Mirror Lighting, which was developed at the request of Actors' Equity Association to help their members. The standard was approved by ANSI's Board of Standards Review on 25 August and published two days later, on 27 August.

The lighting market's move away from incandescent lamps has complicated the job of providing good makeup mirror lighting. ANSI E1.55 helps clarify what good makeup mirror lighting is by describing the topo

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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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Canada - Lawo, the German manufacturer of broadcast audio, video and IP networking equipment, has provided all audio integration and distribution systems for support of the international feed of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The main mix was provided with a 48 fader Lawo mc²66 console and a secondary console, a Lawo mc²56 with 32 faders, handled sub mix duties for over 40 ambient microphones used to bring the action from the field to the broadcast centre.

In addition to the main and secondary mix consoles, Lawo provided five DALLIS Stageboxes and a Nova73 router to manage over 1900 redundant crosspoints utilized to gather and distribute audio feeds including over 496 record tracks, 256 channels of RAVENNA (AoIP) and over 880 channels of MADI audio. Fiber tie-lines were used to connect 256 audio channels between the Nova73 and each console, as

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UK - Sennheiser CEOs Daniel and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser presented the world with its first glimpse of the audio specialist's next milestone product at an exclusive event at London's Central Hall Westminster. Themed Reshaping Excellence, the celebration of sound and innovation marked Sennheiser's 70th anniversary year and featured a concert performed to an audience of 1,200 guests by the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie orchestra and Grammy Award-winning artist Imogen Heap.

At London's Central Hall Westminster, Sennheiser's selected guests had the opportunity to experience the company's products, which have shaped the industry and received a private viewing of solutions and technologies never before shown to the public. "Sennheiser has had seven decades at the cutting edge of audio by defining the gold standard of what is possible. With Reshaping Excellence we are an

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The Netherlands - Ampco Flashlight Group has merged the recently acquired Audiopro Netherlands with its sales companies TM Audio Holland and Lightco Netherlands in a move to streamline the department. The three companies will now operate under the name Ampco Flashlight Sales.

Audiopro Netherlands is one of the principal suppliers and installers of d & b audiotechnik and Clearcom systems. It brings a strong brand package that is supported by a number of experienced product specialists. TM Audio and Lightco are system integrators and suppliers of brands such as Allen & Heath, Philips Vari-Lite and DiGiCo.

Led by general manager Peter de Fouw of Ampco Flashlight Group and commercial director Rolf Dijkstra of Audiopro, Ampco Flashlight Sales' brand portfolio, technical know-how and experience will make it one of the leading sales operations in the Benelux.

"By bringing toge

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Europe - Lighting designer Steve Bewley is the first to tour the UK and Europe with Ayrton MagicBlade-R fixtures, using over 100 units for British rock-band, Enter Shikari, in support of their new album, The Mindsweep.

Bewley has truss-mounted eighty-four MagicBlade-R fixtures behind the band in a curved wall which splits horizontally to adapt his design to fit any size of venue.

"My initial concept was to create a kind of 'fence' housing an LED framework in emulation of a brain and the neuropaths within it to emphasise the idea of The Mindsweep," says Bewley. "The LED strip needed more to bring it to life, so I supplemented it with MagicBlades which have really made it zing!"

Ayrton's MagicBlade-R aligns seven individually controllable 15W RGBW LED emitters, each with a tight 4.5° beam, and provides continuous double rotation on the pan and ti

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USA - The deadline for ordering 2015 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards is just two weeks away. These unique cards were created especially for Behind the Scenes by designers William Ivey Long, Robert Mendoza, Bruce Rodgers, Court Watson, Paul Weimer, and Paige Weintraut. What better way to spread holiday cheer to friends and family than with cards that bring help and hope to your colleagues in need. The order deadline is September 14th so place your order now!

Three card ordering options are offered: personalized cards with a company logo and custom message, card packs of 10 with a standard greeting, and electronic versions for delivery by email. All proceeds benefit the Behind the Scenes charity which provides financial assistance to entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured. View and order cards at www.behindthescenescharity.org/holidaycards.

For m

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China With responsibilities that include the live transmission/recording of court proceedings and the management of case-related documents, it stands to reason that no chances can be taken when it comes to the AV infrastructure of the Beijing Higher People's Court. In this spirit, the Court - which is the most senior level of judiciary in the municipality of Beijing - recently pressed ahead with an audio system installation in which Symetrix DSPs play an integral role.

In delivering the best possible solution, the project entailed cooperation between two of China's leading specialists in professional technology. Whilst distribution heavyweight and long-running Symetrix distributor EZPro was primarily responsible for supply and system tuning, Beijing Jinqiao Times Culture Development Co served as systems integrator in charge of product purchase and system specification.

"E

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USA - Zac Brown Band's Jekyll + Hyde North American stadium tour presented by Bai is the band's largest tour to date and features a production design created by James Scott and Louis Oliver, of UK-based creative specialist Okulus, which involves several moving elements with a Kinesys control system at its core.

The Kinesys control system was specified by the tour's rigging contractors Atlanta Rigging Systems (ARS) and is running 39 axes of movement facilitated by 38 Lodestar 1 tonne chain hoists and a custom screen element. Ten of the axes run with Kinesys variable speed Elevation 1+ controllers while 28 run with encoded fixed-speed hoists. The system also features eight pile-wind winches, which were custom-fabricated by ARS to control a gauze screen in front of the stage to be used as a projection surface at integral moments throughout the show.

Okulus were contracted for the

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USA - Choreographers, actors and dance champions Derek and Julianne Hough have taken their Dancing with the Stars expertise on the road for a second year in a row with their dynamic show, Move Live on Tour 2015. Lighting designer Peter Morse of Peter Morse Productions in South Lake Tahoe, California is using Clay Paky A.leda B-EYE K20 and Sharpy Wash 330 fixtures on the show.

Move Live on Tour 2015 opened in Phoenix and played 42 dates across the country before closing in Las Vegas 8 August. The spectacle features dancing and singing by the Houghs and the Move Dance Company; they also encourage audience participation.

"A lot of shows I do are rather large in scale. This tour plays mostly theatres and small arenas so it poses a bigger challenge: working with budget and truck space limitations while still making sure you knock it out of the park,"

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Italy - An immense Phoenix spread its wings on the beach of the Red Rocks of Arbatax, in Sardinia. It is here that mythology has merged with the lighting technology in the heart of one of the most charming landscapes of Italy. The Red Rocks have a close relationship with the great music, having already hosted the likes of Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Eric Clapton.

In Arbatax, the Phoenix does not rise from its ashes, but expresses its special relationship with the sun, which enhances this wonderful place, giving beautiful reflections to the red of its rocks and the emerald sea.

At Red Rocks, the majestic Phoenix is the extraordinary setting for the Red Valley Festival - a giant DJ set which took place over two nights, on 5 and 6 August, with the participation of Italian and international DJs and world-renowned guest stars Steve Aoki and Deorro.

When the glaring sun gave way to

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USA - The Summerland Tour, previously hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "10 Hottest Summer Package Tours", returned this year with Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing systems managing FOH and monitor positions.

Now in its fourth year, the annual Summerland tour is devised by Art Alexakis, front man of popular 90s alternative rock band, Everclear. This year's tour comprises Everclear, Toadies, Fuel, and American Hi-Fi, travelling across North America to over 30 different venues.

Alexakis gives credit to the iLive systems - comprising iLive-T112 Control Surfaces and iDR-32 MixRacks - for playing a key role in the success.

"We have used Allen & Heath for the last couple of years and the sound has just been phenomenal. I am so glad to be able to use them on every tour," says Alexakis.

"We carry two Allen & Heath iLive T-112 surfaces

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Money, Money, Money - The piano that featured in nearly all ABBA's recording between 1973 and 1977 is going to auction. Sotheby's expert Philip Errington said, "The opening piano glissando from Dancing Queen is one of the most distinctive sounds of the 1970s and we are delighted to offer the actual instrument used by the legendary ABBA in their major recordings. The piano itself is an instrument of real importance and with the added ABBA provenance we expect it will have worldwide appeal."

The piano was made by Swedish musical instrument designer Georg Bolin for the US jazz pianist Bill Evans. It was bought by Stockholm's Metronome Studios in 1967 and appeared on nearly all of ABBA's recordings between 1973 and 1977.The group's pianist Benny Andersson said, "The Bolin Grand is one of a kind and was a great source of inspiration while working in the recordin

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UK - What colour is the voice of a deity? This was the synesthetic question faced by the design team at London's National Theatre in their production of Everyman, a new adaptation of the classic 15th Century morality play.

This isn't your medieval ancestors' staging of Everyman. Carol Ann Duffy's adaptation recasts the play as a critique of the prodigal present, as a modern Everyman (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is forced to confront his solipsism, materialism and wasteful ways in the face of imminent death. The National's production, directed by Rufus Norris with lighting design by Paul Anderson, set design by Ian MacNeil, video design by Tal Rosner and sound design by Paul Arditti, uses a synthesis of up to the moment technology to present its new interpretation.

At the beginning of the play, God - who takes the form of a cleaning woman - becomes fed up with the self cent

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South Africa - A truly spectacular 'rose window' made up of 89 x Robe LED moving lights - was revealed during the new South African production of Sister Act at the Joburg Theatre, downtown Johannesburg

Production designer Declan Randall united all visual elements - lighting, video and set - in a colourful collage of finesse and visual imagineering to match the pace and vibrancy of the show. With a cast featuring some of the best South African musical theatre talent, directed by award winning Janice Honeyman and produced by Bernard Jay, it received rave reviews and sold-out audiences.

Declan - a South African now living in the UK - lit Starlight Express a couple of years ago at the same venue for the same production team, who loved his work and asked him back to add his magic to Sister Act.

He began working on ideas seven months before the show opened, ba

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Italy - Giovanni Pinna has worked with Vasco since 1991. What is the secret of this alliance? "Vasco believes in people's ideas. Moreover, all the technical and creative workers who have been around him for years, from the stage design team (Gio Forma Studio Associato since 1998) to the stage director Diego Spagnoli, play an active role in the whole show preparation process.

"First of all we begin by working around various set design ideas. Then everyone says which one they prefer. This year, the choice was unanimous: a large covered stage, modelled on the keel of a ship. This is when you start processing the ideas yourself, while the activity of discussing and sharing the project goes on as it develops over six months. It takes a long time, but that is what it needs for a set of this size.

"You have to realize you are in a stadium, with an audience of 60 or 70,

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USA - Rock and roll never dies; neither do rock and roll dreams, although sometimes they may take an extended hiatus while "adult responsibilities" are looked after. Such was the case for New York attorney Charles Bonfante. In the '80s and early '90s, the Long Island native was the drummer for a number of touring rock bands. Then adulthood happened; so did law school, followed by a successful career as an attorney. Now Bonfante has travelled full circle, forming a band and reliving his rock road warrior experience with help from something that wasn't available back in the day: a collection of high-output lighting fixtures (primarily LEDs) from Chauvet Professional.

Bonfante's group, Reservoir Dogs, is a Pink tribute band that has been wowing audiences with a dynamic lighting rig consisting of 32 Rogues and a variety of other Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Th

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Canada - CAST Software has announced wysiwyg Student Edition lighting design and previsualization software for students and educational & training institutions. The new edition will "better prepare students for their future careers in live lighting, laser and video event design".

All the student's investment on the student edition licence, goes towards a wysiwyg six or 12-month lease or full professional version.

A newly added Perform Lease Student Edition enables students to programme lighting using up to 1,000 DMX channels including connection with media server or compatible offline editor, via protocols such as DMX, EDMX, Art-net, sACN, CITP, Motion Control Universes, Pangolin Laser System, Sollinger Laser Animation, Strand ShowNet or SandNet.

wysiwyg version R35 was recently upgraded to include unrivalled performance and functionality. Constantly evolving, wysi

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Denmark - The RUSH MH 6 Wash, the newest moving head in the RUSH by Martin series, is available for pre-order and expected to ship late September.

The RUSH MH 6 Wash is adapted from the popular RUSH PAR 2 RGBW Zoom and utilizes the same LED engine and zoom system, while also featuring moving head capability. The RUSH MH 6 Wash offers a fully pre-mixed color system from 12 10 W RGBW LEDs with a spectacular 10°-60° zoom. It also features full electronic dimming, strobe effects and temperature-controlled fan cooling for quiet operation.

"After hosting a private preview event at this year's Prolight&Sound in Frankfurt I am confident in saying that the RUSH MH 6 Wash will be the ideal workhorse for night venues and small to medium events," said Mark Buss, product manager, RUSH by Martin. "With proven LED technology used within the RUSH Par 2 Zoom RGBW and the

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Germany - The demands for a high performance point source have always been the same: reliable, lightweight and compact, and with a wide range of rigging options for maximum flexibility. The V7P and V10P from d&b audiotechnik are billed as a new breed of loudspeaker offering all this and more, including the d&b hallmark constant directivity control down to low frequencies.

Building on the three-way passive design of the well-known d&b V-Series line array modules, the V7P and V10P point sources house two 10" drivers in a dipolar arrangement with a rear mounted 8" MF driver attached to a dual chamber horn. The exits from this horn design create another dipole around the centrally mounted single 1.4" exit compression driver with a constant directivity horn. This maximises the performance to size ratio, by making almost the entire baffle board radiate.

The V7P and V1

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