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UK - Adlib Audio was out in force again at Glastonbury 2004. Fielding 19 engineers and audio technicians, they serviced seven stages - the Cabaret Tent, The Circus Big Top, Outside Theatre, Outside Circus, the Theatre Tent, the Albatross Stage plus a mobile system.

The 3,000 capacity Cabaret Tent was the largest Adlib audio system, featuring Nexo Alpha speakers and a Soundcraft Series 4 console at FOH and SM20 onstage, complete with ADLIB monitors. Marc Peers, Tim Dalton and Paul Roberts looked after this. James Coates, Chris Smethurst and Dave McKenzie using an Adlib FD system with Allen & Heath control at both ends of the multicore coordinated the Circus Tent sounds. The Outdoor Theatre was overseen by the multi-skilled Hassane, Paul Dakin and Graham Smith, who ran another Adlib FD system with Allen & Heath control.

On the outdoor stage were Richie Nicholson and Carl Billing

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UK - London-based PA specialists Capital Sound Hire supplied an entirely XTA driven PA system for 50 Cent's first outdoor UK performance this year, at Rockingham's Days of Thunder events. Each thrilling race day has 170mph-plus racing and The Smash Hits Rockingham Stage, which plays host to a variety of top pop acts.

On 6 June, Europe's hottest rap DJ Tim Westwood played a half-hour set, followed by a ground-shaking performance by 50 Cent. To cope with the heavy amount of sub bass the rapper puts out, Capital employed a 16 per side Meyer Milo line array system with 12 of Meyer's new 700HPS sub-bass - its first use on an outdoor show in the UK. This would normally be more than enough, but on this occasion they added another 12 Martin W8L subs because, as Capital's Paul Timmins explains: "50 Cent's type of music is very sub-bass heavy, so we needed to have a huge amoun

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UK - London welcomed the Olympic flame with one of the biggest free concerts in its history outside Buckingham Palace. As five-times Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave carried the torch up the Mall in front of an estimated 70,000 people Rod Stewart rounded off a six-hour concert to mark the event on 26 June, performing with former Faces (now Stones) guitarist Ronnie Wood and the cast of the West End musical, Tonight's the Night.

Spectators lining the Mall were able to see the show at close quarters via a series of six delay rigs, supplied by CT Screenco, with a further three designed into Mark Fisher's massive stage set. Commissioned by production manager Robbie Williams, of RWP Ltd, the big screen specialists supplied three Barco DLite 7 stage displays, in 16:9 aspect ratio. The large upstage centre screen, measuring 9.8m x 5.4m, provided the centre-piece at the back

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UK - CT Screenco's new high-resolution Masted Mobile (which rotates the trailer-based 44 sq. metre 15mm LED screen through 360°) is being put to good effect as performances from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden are relayed to key public locations. Historically, London-based screenings have generally taken place in The Piazza, Covent Garden. But commissioned to broadcast three events this year, CT recently carried the performance of Onegin - Pushkin's passionate tale of unrequited love - to 4,000 or so gathered in Trafalgar Square.

Carrying its own production onboard, the Masted Mobile came through its London initiation with flying colours, its onboard production facilities enabling CT to take the incoming digital feed from the Royal Opera House, interspersed with locally inserted graphics, VT playback and live camera work. Boasting the largest rotating mast screens

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UK - Engineers, producers and pro audio suppliers joined together at Kore Studios in West London for the much-anticipated listening comparisons of the Audient ASP008 8-channel mic variable impedance mic pre and the public unveiling of the soon-to-be-released Sumo high definition analogue summing amplifier.

Kore's owner and chief engineer, George Apsion was at hand to ensure that all of the mic pres had a fair hearing. Units from Millenia, Avalon, Focusrite and Amek, all kindly donated by FX Rentals for the day, were compared directly with the Audient ASP008. Audio professionals were then invited to pass comment on the sound quality of each, with source material provided by an excellent female vocal and acoustic guitar duo.

Luke Baldry, sales and marketing director for Audient, comments: "The most interesting aspect of this test was that there was little evidence of the di

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Germany - Besides boasting a great and growing tradition, the Jazz an der Donau (JADD) festival, now in its 18th year, is one of the eight biggest jazz festivals in the world. With a world-class line-up again this year, it's a status JADD is in no danger of losing.

In securing the services of blues legend B.B.King for the opening night, the organizers have pulled off a real coup. Rarely seen these days in Europe, the heavyweight blues hero with his trademark semi-acoustic, 'Lucille', joins an illustrious list of jazz and blues legends that have graced the JADD festival over the years. King's presence will further enhance the cachet of the festival, to which not only the exuberant atmosphere but also the superb staging and sound equipment contribute in large measure.

For EVI Audio, who again this year will be providing the sound reinforcement equipment, the Jazz on the D

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UK - For the second year running, Out Board's Dave Haydon and Robin Whittaker have given a seminar on Source-Oriented Reinforcement to degree students studying Sound Technology and Theatre and Performance Technology at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, coordinated by lecturer Chris Layton and technical manager Andy Waddell.

Using a TiMax Audio Imaging delay matrix and multi-channel speaker system set up in the college's Paul McCartney Auditorium, students were able to hear how control of relative arrival times between audio wave fronts affects accuracy of panoramic and surround imaging, essential in theatre and live presentation to maintain authenticity and intelligibility. The demonstrations included the delay-time boundaries that create undesirable comb-filtering and echo-perception, and how combining delay localization with conventional level panning can significan

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UK - The first ship of its kind to grace the high seas, The World recently visited the shores of the UK before sailing onto Norway. Weighing 43,524 tonnes and measuring 196.35m in length, this vessel can cruise at a comfortable speed of 18.5 knots. The World is the first resort community at sea continuously circumnavigating the globe, comprised of 165 elegant, privately-owned residences, many of which are available for rental. The World offers the comforts of home, the best features of ocean travel and the environment of an exclusive resort.

One of The World's residents said: "What we most love about the ship is that we wake up in the morning and discover we're in a different place, and yet our clothes are still in the closet and we haven't had to change hotel rooms. It is our home carrying us to different parts of the world with different cultures." Residents of The W

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France - Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day Landings were beamed across the world on 6 June. With The Queen, Tony Blair, President Bush, President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder lining up alongside the veterans, the main remembrance ceremony took the form of a multi-national event on the cliff top at Arromanches, with military aircraft performing fly-pasts, veterans marching past the heads of state and the Royal Navy staging an off-shore show and parachute drop.

All this action was captured on two giant screens supplied by CT Screenco. Contracted by the Ministry of Defense, the company sited two of their waterproof displays a modular 18sq.m 25mm LED screen accompanying their 10sq.m 25mm mobile mast on the Normandy beach, just yards from the English Channel. The screens took feeds direct from the BBC trucks, enabling veterans to follow the ceremony and s

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Denmark - Nordic Rentals A/S, one of Denmark's leading rental and production companies, has taken delivery of a further five Klark Teknik DN1248 Plus active signal splitters from KT's Danish distributor, Ascon Trading. Nordic Rentals now boasts a total of 10 units, giving them the capacity of a full split up 120 channels of audio.

Nordic's chief engineer and head of sound, Jens Elsborg, invested in the first five units late last year specifically to handle the broadcast splits for the Junior Eurovision Song contest hosted in Copenhagen in November. He was so impressed with the sonic quality and ease of use of the DN1248 Plus that he opted to take another five pieces in order to handle the demands of the gruelling summer festival season. It also gives him the capacity to handle even larger broadcast events.

"We used to buy our splitters from another manufacturer, but the p

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UK - Bandit Lites UK is supplying lighting production to the G3 UK tour featuring LD Alastair Bramall-Watson, and starring three legendary guitar heroes - Robert Fripp, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Bramall-Watson, known for his work with bands like Rammstein and AFI, was involved in the last tour in 2002 as one of the lighting techs, and returned this year as LD. They had previously used Bandit in the US, and this time also decided to take advantage of trans-Atlantic continuity and utilize the UK operation to service the European section of the tour. Bandit's account manager is Lester Cobrin.

With the UK shows as the largest, they decided to go for full production for these dates. Lighting three totally different acts - who join forces at the end of the show for a half hour super jam - was a major challenge, explains Bramall-Watson - who needed to make each set look unique and in

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UK - Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems have carried out a complete sound and vision refurbishment for Kents Health & Fitness Centre in the Yorkshire city. A dealer for Wharfedale Pro systems for a number of years, it has chosen its loudspeakers judiciously from across the company's range, to fulfill different functions in the multi-zoned health and fitness centre.

The installation has been developed in several phases, according to PAS director (and project manager) Brian Lumb. After supplying equipment on a piecemeal basis over the years they have now been tasked with carrying out a complete integration of the spinning and aerobics studios, cardiovascular, weights and reception areas (which are divided into six zones). In the two studios, PAS have specified two identical stand-alone systems, with Wharfedale Twin 12's fed from a Marantz PAC-750 cassette/CD/mixer combo, with Samson

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UK - Sound Division continues to build on its reputation as London's premier supplier of entertainment services and systems to restaurants, clubs and bars with the installation of a new DJ system into acclaimed London restaurant, Shumi. Based in St. James's Street, Shumi is the second concept restaurant (after Hush) of Geoffrey Moore (son of Roger) and Jamie Barber. In addition to supplying the DJ system for Shumi's sophisticated basement cocktail bar, the Calma Lounge, Sound Division also undertook a complete refurbishment of the existing system to incorporate the new elements.

The DJ system comprises two Technics SL1210 Mk2 turntables, Ortofon cartridges a Pioneer DJM300 professional DJ mixer and a Denon DND400 twin CD player all complete with aluminium flightcases as the system is designed to be portable. Sound Division also supplied four JBL Control 28 loudspeakers and an SB

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UK - Sunbaba Screens created a range of branded screening across the sell out Isle of Wight Festival site. This year, 35,000 music lovers enjoyed bands and artists including the Stereophonics, The Who and David Bowie across the three-day event.

Sunbaba Screens was contracted by production company, Hot Hammer to create a range of branded screens. Headline sponsors Nokia used Sunbaba screening on Heras fencing around the site to reinforce their support of the festival. In all, 67 panels were covered with giant 'Nokia Rocks' branded screening, around the backstage and various perimeter positions. These were produced using Digimesh, a screening material that allows images and logos to be digitally printed onto the fabric with great accuracy and precision for highly effective branding.

Sunbaba also used Digimesh for banners used at the festival's entrance, producing four 10m head b

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UK - System Sound, the Heathrow-based PA rental company, has bought a new Yamaha DM2000 digital audio mixer from Marquee Audio. The console has been purchased specifically for use with The Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra, which is due to play upwards of 30 outdoor concerts this summer.

The 70-piece Orchestra is a regular client of System Sound, whose director Simon Biddulph has spent some time looking for an effective way to meet the Orchestra's front-of-house requirements. "With this standard of orchestra, playing outdoors, everything needs to be close-mic'd. Also there is a big rhythm section that tends to dominate so the balance engineer needs to have control over it. We ordered the Yamaha DM2000 with six additional input modules, on top of the 24 built into the console, effectively customizing it for the orchestra. It can't be more than two and a half feet wide, and

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UK - 192 James Thomas Pixelline LED battens were in action for Oasis' Friday night headline slot on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, in a stunning lighting scheme designed by LD Andi Watson. The battens were supplied by LSD Fourth Phase.

On The Other Stage, LD Jonny Gaskell used 55 Pixellines and PixelDrive software, which were supplied by Bandit Lites, for Orbital's incendiary set. Taking an experimental approach, Gaskell took Orbital's video content and fed it into the PixelDrive computer to see how it would look when applied to the battens, producing some interesting patterns and textures. Gaskell also LD'd for Goldfrapp, this time using 27 Pixellines and PixelDrive, with the battens supplied by Neg Earth.

There was also plenty of other Pixel presence around the Glastonbury site. In the Budweiser dance tent, lighting was designed by Nick Jevons of Electric Fly Productions,

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USA - For a modern-day adaptation of Aristophanes' The Frogs, which follows the two main characters' journey from contemporary New York City to the underworld and into Hades via the River Styx, lighting designer Ken Posner used 31 Vari*Lite luminaires. To simulate the River Styx, Posner created a water effect using primarily 16 VL3000 Spot fixtures with custom gobos and art glass overlaid with VL2000 Wash luminaires. Posner's automated lighting rig at the Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumount Theatre also included 15 VL2000 Wash units. All the Vari*Lite fixtures were provided by PRG.

"In this one particular scene, the VL3000 Spot fixtures' major task is to provide the water effect," Posner explained. "But they are used in multiple other looks in every scene throughout the production." One of the most intriguing scenes on the journey down the River Styx is

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UK - XL Video continues its work with innovative theatre productions at The National Theatre, for Measure For Measure. XL is again working with video designers Mesmer who are coordinating the video design and equipment supply for Simon McBurney's provocative production of Measure For Measure in the Olivier Theatre.

The production is a collaboration between Theatre de Complicité and The National. It encompasses several firsts for video - the first time a Catalyst digital media server has been used at the National Theatre; the first time video images from camera playback have been manipulated live; and the first time that the whole performance area floor has been utilized as a projection canvass.

Video takes on many roles throughout the performance. It's used as a scene and location setter and as moving metaphorical backgrounds or textures to emphasize the interac

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Europe - Lighting designer John La Briola chose an Avolites Diamond 4 Vision lighting console to control all lighting fixtures on Mary J Blige's world tour - currently in Europe. La Briola has always been an Avolites fan, and has a track record of producing imaginative designs for top female R 'n' B acts. This is his first outing as LD for the high profile Mary J.

Having taken a break from the live circuit for the last two years, getting back on the road in early 2004 has meant the opportunity of using the latest and most powerful of the Avolites Diamond range - the Diamond 4 Vision. Blige's lightshow design took her spectacular 'soft' good set as a starting point. This is designed by Tom McPhillip of the renowned set and material specialist, Atomic Design, based in Pennsylvania. The stage is dressed in a 'box' style of textured curtains and drapes which give it a luxurious, ric

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UK - Harlequin Floors' new website provides a useful reference resource for anyone involved with the world of dance and in choosing a dance floor to suit their needs. With the growing understanding that the right floor can allow dancers to perform with confidence and protect them against the risk of injury, Harlequin's new website is a helpful asset.

A simple three step online guide steers through the process to selecting an appropriate floor and presenting the possible options. Product detail and specification as well as help direct from British Harlequin is easily accessed. The site also includes testimonials from many of the world's leading dance companies, case studies of recent projects, as well as useful guides for installing, maintaining and transporting floors.

The site includes a comprehensive coverage of all Harlequin's activities, history, products and services as w

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UK - Whilst the US celebrated Independence Day and Greece celebrated its Euro 2004 win, engineer Clive Franks commemorated the 30th anniversary of an album he recorded with Elton John (Caribou) hitting the number one spot with a live show. John and band played a catalogue of hits to sell-out audiences at Wembley Arena and, in support of the Royal Academy of Music's Elton John Scholarship fund, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The most famous former student of the Academy performed with a 130-piece orchestra and choir composed of this year's students. Sound was handled by a Clair Brothers iO system from Audio Rent, with Franks mixing FOH with the new Yamaha PM5000 console. "Each show is a challenge, but Wembley Arena poses its own complications, especially in the low end: it's built on top of an empty swimming pool [constructed for the 1948 Olympics] so the bass flaps abo

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USA - Denver-based Rave Lighting supply a Martin Total Supplier package for Denver's own South Beach getaway. Modeled after clubs more typical of Miami's infamous South Beach, Rise is a true tropical-themed mega-club complete with real palm trees, Latin beats, Caribbean Happy Hour and tropical cuisine and theatrical entertainment in the form of its very own Theatre Surreal.

Rave Lighting designed and supplied the lighting systems which include a Martin Total Supplier package of Martin lighting, Mach audio and Jem smoke gear. Rave's Brian Gysegem was instrumental on the project, serving as lighting designer and project manager with assistance from Stephen Cox of Rave. Sound engineer was Chad Busse.

The three-floor club boasts one of the largest club layouts in Denver's lower downtown with four dance floors and five separate bars spread across Rise and a pair of sub-venues, the

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UK - DJ Steve Gerrard has selected Allen & Heath Xone mixers for the production of a new mix CD, 'Thinking Out Loud', and the album's live promotional tour. Gerrard employed Allen & Heath's landmark Xone:V6 valve rotary mixer to produce and record the double CD album, which showcases his trademark fusion of progressive house and breakbeats, while the MIDI-enabled Xone:92 will be used by Gerrard for the live dates.

"Using the Xone:V6 to mix my forthcoming album was wicked. It's a mighty piece of equipment but surprisingly easy and enjoyable to use. The sound quality is outstanding and the EQ very subtle and effective," commented Gerrard. "I prefer linear faders to rotaries when performing live, so I have selected the Xone:92 for the tour. I discovered the mixer on the recent Bedrock University tour with John Digweed, as it's his mixer of choice. It was a treat to u

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