Business

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L&SI has learned of further important changes from within the Harman Pro Audio camp. John McFarland and Mike Sowden of Precision Devices have negotiated a management buy-out, acquiring in the process both the company’s premises and brands.

McFarland and Sowden, who have spent the past three-and-a-half years managing the company’s operations in Redruth and Rotherham on behalf of Harman International Industries (HII), agreed the deal for the purchase of the Redruth site and brands in mid-October. The new company will be called Precision Audio Products Limited.

John McFarland told L&SI: "I believe that this move is the first step in an extremely positive future for the business, for our employees and our customers, and that our new-found independence will enable us to better develop the different arms of the business." McFarland will be taking the role of managing

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The Tivoli, one of Holland’s most established rock clubs, has announced a leasing agreement with Synco Europe for 12 Synco 15" monitor wedges with matching Synco amplifier and control racks. The deal makes the Tivoli the fifth club in Holland after O13, Music Center Utrecht, Nighttown and The Milky Way to have acquired the Synco wedges. All leasing contracts cover a period of a 60-month rental.

Dick te Winkel, managing director of the Tivoli told us: "Although it's our usual policy to own all the equipment in the club, the demands from our technicians and performing bands for these wedges have been very high so we're very pleased with the leasing option we got from Synco Europe, since their wedges are not for sale."

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XL Video supplied projection for Pulp's recent UK tour - one of many tours and events wrapping up an extremely busy year for XL, specialists in touring and live event video. Pulp - fronted by the charismatic Jarvis Cocker, featured innovative video footage created by Cocker himself, once a Fine Art and film-making student at Central St Martin's College.

Video was used to produce quirky and emotive visuals throughout 80% of the show. The footage ranged from heavily treated, stylized 60s soft porn for 'This is Hardcore', to time lapse film of flowers opening, trees and abstract patterns. XL Video supplied a fully digital video playback system for the tour, looked after by crew member Dave McKinlay. The projectors were two of XL's new 5000 lumen Barco SLM G5s. These were rigged on the front lighting truss, with both focused to produce the one upstage screen image - which varied in width a

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A Turbosound TCS system has recently been installed in an upgrade to an impressive school chapel in New Zealand. St. Paul's Collegiate Chapel - set within the schools grounds - underwent an audiovisual and conferencing system upgrade, undertaken by installers Audio Video Solutions Ltd.

Supplied through Turbosound distributor Audio Telex, a sound system comprising numerous TCS-56, TCS-59 and TCS-10 loudspeakers, was both flown and wall-mounted, along with a set of TCS-118 subwoofers and TCS-12M floor monitors. The chapel consists of highly reflective, angled walls, plus an all glass rear wall. With large amounts of glass panelling throughout, the client brief required the design to impress acoustically, whilst being aesthetically discreet.

Stuart Craig of Audio Telex told us: "The client wanted to be able to use the system for music playback vocal reinforcement, as well as live m

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Orbital Sound's company brochure 'Working With Sound' has won the Award of Excellence for a corporate or promotional brochure at the 2001 Communicators in Business Awards. Designed and produced by London-based design company, Mot Juste, the brochure was judged by a panel of industry experts on its design, content and communications factor.The judges commented: "On picking this publication up we were immediately struck by the obvious high quality. Regardless of the role you play in theatre, it is obvious that the content has been geared at a number of posts, all of whom have different reasons for using this sort of equipment. The contents were very well handled and we have no doubt gave the reader sufficient information on which to make a decision whether to ask for more information.

Established in 1954, The CiB Awards recognize the highest standards and quality in business commun

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Vari-Lite Inc has announced it has discontinued selling the Virtuoso DX control system, with immediate effect. However, the company will continue to rent the desks and to provide customer support for units already in the field. "This was a tough and emotional decision," said Rusty Brutsché, chairman and CEO at Vari-Lite. "But in the end, sales of the Virtuoso DX console just weren't profitable for Vari-Lite. And therefore the decision was made to concentrate all our manufacturing and sales efforts on the luminaire market, which has greater potential for profitable growth. The overwhelming and positive response to Vari-Lite's newest automated luminaire, the VL1000 ERS, combined with the success of the Series 2000 luminaires - reinforced our decision."

Vari-Lite will support all Virtuoso DX consoles sold to date. "The goal is to provide the same quality service

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An all-new sound reinforcement system has recently been installed in the historic chapel at Harrow School by installation specialists Scan Audio. The Grade 2 listed building was designed by Gilbert Scott - famous for landmarks such as the Albert Memorial and St. Pancras station, so the installation had to be carried out with great sensitivity.

"A key area to address was the problem of hearing the choir properly at back of the chapel over the large pipe organ," notes Dee Couchman of Scan Audio. Improved sound reinforcement for speech was also required throughout the chapel. "It was the opposite to the usual problem of long reverberation times in that type of building," comments Paul Malpas of consultants Arup Acoustics. "We needed to lift the choir and subtly balance their level with the organ."

The solution was to completely strip out the old column spea

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Julies nightclub is a well-known Newcastle landmark. Like most clubs, it’s had its fair share of small upgrades over the years, but owner Keith Gibbon, of Lazi Leisure, felt the time had come for a major renovation - hence Julies 2.To effect the refurbishment, the venue was closed at the end of January to allow for major structural alterations to increase its size. Keith Gibbon came up with the design concept and called in the team at Lighting Technology Projects - Craig Grieveson, Dave Philips and Ray Scott - to undertake the installation. The effects lighting rig centres around Martin Professional’s MAC 250s, MiniMACs, Mx4s and CX2 colour changers, with Abstract Moonrays, Pulsar Demon Strobe units and shed loads of neon providing further punctuation. Controlling all this, and the Jem ZR12 Smoke machine, is a Pulsar Masterpiece 216. A Sony-led, four-screen video system is al

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Stage Technologies has announced its decision to become Gold sponsor for the forthcoming international conference on Theatre Engineering and Architecture 2002 taking take place in London next June. The theatre event of 2002 will examine technology and architecture for the performing arts. Presented in a hotel venue in London's Theatreland, the conference will bring together theatre technicians, architects, consultants, scenographers, lighting designers, stage and building services engineers, acousticians, fire prevention specialists as well as building owners, cost consultants, new clients and project managers.

The conference will be followed by the ABTT Theatre Show. Stage Technologies' commercial director Nikki Scott said: "We are delighted to sponsor this landmark international event. It is an important opportunity to discuss with industry colleagues and theatre professionals t

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Kelsey Acoustics, leading manufacturer and supplier of professional audio and lighting cables, supplied a number of Kelsey 100 touring multipin connectors, looms and breakouts to ATG Spectrum for its recently-completed installation in Studio 3 at the BBC's Television Centre in Wood Lane.

Studio 3 is the new home of the Top of the Pops and Later with Jools Holland broadcasts, and the request for Kelsey's involvement came directly from the sound supervisor responsible for both programmes. Mike Felton explained: "We were temporarily housed at Riverside Studios for TOTP whilst the move and refurb was going on, and SSE were supplying all the monitoring and PA facilities. They use Kelsey's 32-way multicore as standard, and having used it ourselves, Gary [Clarke, sound supervisor TOTP] and I immediately requested that a compatible line system be installed in Studio 3. It entirely fitted

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Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone has already received great critical and popular acclaim and is expected to become the biggest grossing film ever for Time Warner. Vertigo Rigging, Spirit Design and Fourth Phase were amongst those who helped supply the magic for the recent World Première at London’s famous Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square.

Vertigo, working for production company West Design, show producer Lucy Smail and production manager Andy Cheesman, transformed the front of the building into Hogwarts School of Wizardry & Witchcraft for the evening of 4 November.

With a seven-day get in, the event required over 22 tonnes of equipment, 12 tonnes of which was hung off the side of the building - representing a huge logistical and practical challenge for Vertigo. Work began on 29 October, when project manager Paddy Burnside and his team of riggers supervised a 60 tonne

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Trussing, aluminium and ground support specialists James Thomas Engineering has designed an integrated Trussing module - on its safe use and handling - for PCM's renowned Lodestar two-day Motor School. An extended version of the trussing module is also run at PCM's five-day-Rigging School. James Thomas's Trussing course was devised by project manager Paul Young, who says: "There's more than meets the eye with trussing and its associated safety issues, and also the wider ones generally across in the rigging industry. Anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of motors and rigging also needs to know all about trussing. People are often surprised at the complexity of the subject!"

Like the Motor School, the Trussing module is presented in a hands-on, practical manner. For the two-day Motor School - run free of charge by PCM - the Trussing section takes up half a day. At th

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The Entech 2002 Conference program features workshops and seminars in areas of lighting, design, rigging, audio, projection and even the business needs of a DJ. Sessions includeIntroducing the Line Array; The Future of Systems Integration and ProAV Technology; Venue Design Forum; Digital Live Sound Mixing; Lighting Designer Forum; Rigging Workshop; Stacks and Racks; Motor Training School; Location Sound Recording; Trends in Facilities; The Art of Designing with Moving Lights; We Are Surrounded (Surround Sound); and The Changing Face of Post Production.

Entech 2002, Australasia’s leading entertainment technology trade show, will be held in Sydney’s Darling Harbour from 4-6 February 2002. For further details on the conference programme and exhibits, visit the web address below:

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Focus 21 Visual Communications has undertaken a series of videowall installation projects for a large financial firm in the City of London involving both Sony and Christie technology. Focus installed two conference/meeting rooms at the Corporation's Thameside location at Blackfriars - generally to facilitate 'plug and play' Powerpoint presentations from a laptop computer, using scan conversion technology.

Focus 21 services director Nigel Warrilow states that by using the Sony DSC-1024 scan converter, coupled with the Christie Digital's ability to split images from multiple displays in the overall picture area, correctly displayed data images can be presented from any PC. "The company wanted a big display occupying minimal depth or loss of space," he continued. "The ambient light level wouldn't lend itself to front projection, while rear projection would have eaten up too

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Luminar plc, the name behind numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs across the UK, has recently released details of its interim financial results for 2001.

The figures make impressive reading and indicate that there is still much to be positive about in the night sector. Company turnover is up 116% from £77.2million last year to £166.4m this year. The company’s pre-tax profit has more than doubled to £29.5m.

Underpinning the financial success has been an aggressive growth strategy, which has seen Luminar acquire 10 venues from Scottish and Newcastle plc (making it the largest operator of late night venues in Scotland) and also the Life Limited brand from Whitbread. It has also continued to roll out its own brands, including Chicago Rock Cafe, Jumpin’ Jaks and Liquid, together with the development of ukclubculture - a relatively recent initiative which is aimed at

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In the first major revision to the Renkus-Heinz Synco Touring System since its introduction four years ago, Synco Europe has announced a single, new mid/high cabinet to replace the long and short throw cabinets currently in use across the Synco Network. The Synco Network members (Ampco Pro Rent and PAS Audio of Holland; DEE Sound and Light and Flashlight/APR of Belgium; R G Jones of the UK and Puro Audio of Portugal) agreed on a programme of updating their current stock of equipment with the latest technical updates. The result is a radical change from all of the network’s current MH 60-40 (40 degree vertical dispersion) and MH 60-25 (25 degree vertical dispersion) cabinets to the new standard long-throw cabinet, the MH 60-30."It has not only entailed a major change in Synco Network logistics and planning," comments Fred Heuves, managing director of Synco Europe. "Th

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Synonymous with the grass roots of concert touring, Skan PA's work portfolio has expanded under the judicious eye of directors, Chris Fitch and Abby Llewellyn, into something that is quintessentially British. They have recently simultaneously supported Orbital and Gabrielle - the latter on an exclusively British tour lasting two months, running an all-British sound rig. The company has followed up the successful beta-testing of the new TQ-310 enclosures with the band Tindersticks, by using them as infills with Gabrielle. The tour also sees a new departure for Skan, using TSW-721 subs for the first time. The tour also features continued successful use of specially manufactured 'overhangs' - provisionally designated the TFL-760HF.

Skan’s Chris Fitch says that Turbosound's willingness to listen to the requirements of PA companies, such as Skan and Britannia Row, is the reason for th

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Ad Lib Audio‘s new JBL VerTec series line array system is out on its first UK dates with the Ministry of Sound’s student union tour - a demanding, action packed environment demanding the very best in audio.

Ad Lib first used JBL’s Ver-Tec system in the late summer when they ran a system in the VIP tent of the Ministry’s massive event at Knebworth Park. Ad Lib and Ministry’s crews, plus assorted DJs, were so impressed with VerTec that they decided to use it for the upcoming tour. Ad Lib were hired as audio contractors for the events, and decided to purchase their first VerTec speaker enclosures - in a deal completed at PLASA with UK JBL distributors Arbiter Pro Audio.

Ad Lib’s Dave Kay and Ben Baker are crewing the Ministry tour, using 12 ground-stacked VerTec VT4889 boxes - plus their own Ad Lib subs - to create a high energy sound concentration in

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The International Live Music Conference (ILMC) has announced the initial details of its 14th meeting next year. For ‘ILMC14’ the three-day conference will return to the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, over the weekend of March 8-10 2002. This time it comes wrapped in a spoof sixties spy movie theme that will see the invitation-only delegates challenged to complete a three-day mission that may not be ‘impossible’ but may certainly turn out to be ‘implausible’, ‘indigestible’ or even occasionally ‘incomprehensible’ (that is, should they choose to accept it, of course).

The ILMC’s usual array of in-depth debate, specialist breakout sessions, industry trade association meetings, and a whirlwind of social activities, culminating in the notorious ‘ILMC Gala Dinner and Arthur Awards’ on the Saturday nigh

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Having already made a lot of friends in the live music industry, XTA's versatile SiDD processor is proving itself an essential tool for sound engineers in the corporate market. Sound engineer Richard Waghorn is a regular SiDD user who has used the units on product launches and conferences for a range of high-profile clients, including Honda, TNT, DHL and One-2-One. He recently used the units at a management conference for global fast food retailer McDonalds, held at the Hilton Metropole hotel in London.

The conference hosted 1000 delegates and required 24 channels of audio, which comprised four lectern mics and a range of tieclip mics, plus VT stings and other playback elements. The sound was broadcast to the floor via Funktion One Resolution 2 loudspeakers. A major drawback of corporate events is that they often take place in venues which were not designed for amplified audio. SiDD pr

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Visitors to the Serpentine Gallery might have wondered what was going on when LA-based artist Doug Aitken brought his New Ocean exhibition to Kensington Gardens, London Crowning the mixed media installation, which included 20 video projectors supplied by DVS, and audio throughout the building supplied by Total Audio, were two Coef Show 250 scanners (programmed on a Compulite Spark console) - supplied by i-Vision in conjunction with Fentura Productions.

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Britannia Row Productions has recently signed the V-DOSC Network Agreement to join the worldwide network of L-Acoustics V-DOSC Partners since December 1st.

Since its foundation in 1975, Britannia Row Productions has developed a worldwide reputation, specializing in audio design, project management and the supply of sophisticated sound equipment with sound engineers and technicians for major events and concert tours. Britannia Row Productions has been using L-Acoustic systems for its tours and projects for several years. Britannia Row Productions will receive their first delivery by mid-December of a complete arena system.

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Innovation - Turbosound’s official installer in Tyne and Wear - was recently commissioned to supply and install the sound system for a ‘wild west’ theme bar in Newcastle. Purpose-built on two floors, Buffalo Joe’s is the latest and now the largest theme bar to hit The Quayside, with a capacity of up to 1000 people.

Hosting a schedule of live entertainment six days a week - which includes a DJ throughout open hours, cabaret, live PA and bucking bronco - the owners considered the sound system to be a major priority. Innovation tendered successfully, and the company designed and installed the sound system, the main backbone of which is 12 Turbosound TCS-259 speakers positioned discreetly amongst the wild west props throughout the ground floor, six TCS-35 speakers set on the first floor, six TCS-118 subwoofers placed throughout the ground floor, along with one THL

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In a relatively new application, XTA's DP324 dynamics controller, or SiDD (Seriously Intelligent Digital Dynamics), has been chosen for use with the in-ear monitoring system for Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her band. A total of five channels were used under the control of monitor engineer Sean Busby-Little, who commented: "SiDD is a very versatile unit because it has so many functions, which are all easily accessible for a live gig situation. A lot of digital units tend to be a bit slow to access the parameters but I have not found that with these, everything is very user friendly . . . You would normally have to have at least three units chained together to achieve what you can do with one of these so the size of it is an added bonus, all the toys you need and it's only 1U."

SiDD (the DP324) is a powerful processing unit incorporating Brick-Wall limiting, input EQ, High and Low p

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  5. PLASA Offers Major Export Boost for 2002
  6. PCM Launches Install Division
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