Business

Details
Czech Republic - Corporate audio specialists, Audio Alliance, recently provided an extensive sound and communication system for the sales conference for Roche UK, set in Prague. Roche, a leading research-based healthcare company, has been established for over 100 years and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Audio Alliance has worked with the UK business on several occasions, and was invited back to supply its services to production manager, Peter Woods and production company CCL-Live, the companies responsible for staging this week long conference.

Nearly 700 delegates were hosted at Prague's Hilton Hotel. The conference operated in and around 10 rooms, comprising a main auditorium and nine breakout facilities. Audio Alliance supplied specific systems for each location. Peter Woods, the event's production manager, says: "I chose Audio Alliance because of their renow

Details
UK - Presentation Service Providers (PSP) is continuing its strategy of investing in the latest technologies with the purchase of a new range of Pixel Par 90 LED-based Par cans. The range is highly energy efficient with up to a 90% reduction in heat and power in comparison to incandescent sources. Ian Willcox, Director of PSP, commented: "This is part of our continued investment in technology. We have been monitoring the developments in this field for a while but we now feel that they have got this particular product right and have been delighted with the results we have seen so far. Clients are expecting and demanding the latest effects and technologies so it is extremely important that we offer state of the art techniques and solutions."

(Lee Baldock)

Details
Austria - On 10 December 2004, The Empire Club opened in Vienna, bringing a new focus for the Viennese 'in crowd'. With Empire venues across Austria, owner Joachim Natschlager brought in Kraftwerk, who have worked on Empire and other projects all over the country, to equip the new venue. The Empire club is subdivided into three plains; the main dance area, a VIP bar where special guests can have a specified seating area, and the lounge, where guests can relax.

The main fixtures used to create the interior look consisted of 51 ChromaPanels (600mm) in total, of which 25 were used to create the chessboard effect on the ceiling, 10 were used as backlighting and enhancement for Cola text images behind the bar and 16 were used to highlight the text of Heineken and Eristoff. 40 Chroma MR16 WallWash fixtures are used to wash and highlight the walls surrounding the seating area and a fur

Details
UK - The Society of Light and Lighting, part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), is to host an interview with the prolific TV lighting director, Mark Kenyon, on 15 March. Kenyon's work ranges from 'traditional' shows such as Parkinson and Blind Date through to entertainment extravaganzas such as Party at the Palace, which took place in the grounds of Buckingham Palace as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and for which he received an RTS Lighting Award nomination.

Rather than give a lecture, Kenyon will be interviewed by Peter Phillipson about his TV Lighting techniques. It will be open to SSL (CIBSE), ILE and ALD, ESTA and PLASA members and interested members of the public. The session will begin at 6.00pm sharp, and guests are asked to arrive by 5.30pm. Entry is free, but guests must sign in.

(Lee Baldock)

Details
Italy / USA - At the end of December 2004, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted a design patent (US D500,306 S) to Italian pro audio manufacturer Outline, for the design of its Butterfly line array (hi-pack C.D.H. 483 element). The patent's priority is dated 9 July 2002.

Outlien has told us: "This acknowledgment, granted after a lengthy period of examination by the US Patent Office, gives Butterfly a great added value and, following the International WIPO patent, is further confirmation of the originality of the Butterfly's design, relegating the numerous variations that have appeared at international level to the role of mere imitations."

The following is a list of patents and numerous applications for patents (some still at the approval stage) regarding the overall Butterfly system: U.S. - D 500,306 S (Butterfly Design) - Granted; Ital

Details
Bolivia - "Festimusic", the music event which premiered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, held live concerts for two days at the Santa Cruz Royal Stadium. Friday's headliner was Paulina Rubio, the "Golden Girl", who shined on stage, while Saturday's main event was Café Tacuva's live show. About 4,500 people attended the event each day to enjoy the first ever musical festival organized by "Paceña" the country's most popular brewing company, with sound reinforcement provided by D.A.S. Audio's Aero line array system.

Sonilum, the Santa Cruz based sound reinforcement company, was in charge of all the technical details and audiovisual setup under the direction of Abelardo Suarez. As with the recent Chayanne concerts held in Bolivia, the area technicians were Juan and Paulino Montaño for stage and structures, Carlos and Walter Paichucama for audio

Details
UK - A.C. Lighting has supplied 169 Chroma-Q Color Blocks to prime-time BBC One programmes Comic Relief Does Fame Academy 2005 and Red Nose Night. Comic Relief Does Fame Academy returns this year to see another 13 well-known celebrities go head-to-head in the ultimate singing competition to raise money for good causes in the UK and abroad. Hosts Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty also return to present the extended series from the new Academy location on the banks of the Thames.

The show aired for the first time on Saturday 26 February and sees the students perform live from the Academy every night on BBC One. At the end of each show, one is expelled until just three are left for the final showdown during Red Nose Night on Friday 11 March. Extended backstage coverage of the show is also running for digital viewers on BBC Three and BBCi.

Show lighting is by Ma

Details
UKExploring the boundaries between classical opera and popular musical theatre, English National Opera are mounting the first-ever London revival of the original 'New York, New York' musical, Leonard Bernstein's On The Town. Directed by Jude Kelly and choreographed by Stephen Mear - joint winner of this year's Best Choreography Olivier Award for his work on Mary Poppins - the production will play just seventeen performances at ENO's home, the London Coliseum, between March 5th and May 24th.

Fitting a full-scale musical into ENO's already-busy rep meant that lighting designer Mark Henderson and ENO's head of lighting Kevin Sleep decided to add some additional automated lighting equipment to complement the automated Robert Juliat 2.5kW PCs in Licht Technik yokes that were added to the rig aspart of the Coliseum's spectacular refurbishment in 2003/2004.

Continuing t

Details
Australia - A collective featuring some of Australia's most popular contemporary musicians performed at Waveaid- a once in a generation event that generated approximately $2 million in funds for the millions of people whose lives have been irreversibly impacted by the recent tsunami disaster in Asia.

The sold-out show was held on 29 January at Sydney's Cricket Ground before an audience of 50,000. The concert was broadcast live on many radio networks around the country and highlights televised on various channels the following day.

The concert saw over eight hours of quality performances from the likes of Nick Cave, The Finn Brothers, Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, Missy Higgins, Powderfinger, John Butler Trio and highly anticipated sets from both Silverchair and Midnight Oil. This was the first time that Silverchair had performed for over two years while Midnight Oil was lured o

Details
USA - The International Communications Industries Association, Inc. (ICIA) and PLASA Media, Inc., have announced that PLASA Media's magazine, Lighting&Sound America, will sponsor the Lighting and Staging Pavilion at ICIA's upcoming InfoComm trade show, 4 - 11 June, 2005, in Las Vegas.

With over 25,000 attendees and more than 700 exhibitors expected, InfoComm is the annual international marketplace for rental and staging companies, systems integrators, design consultants, production studios, video professionals, dealers, independent representatives, and buyers from more than 15 vertical markets.

"Lighting and staging technologies are vital to the systems approach that visitors look for at InfoComm," said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., ICIA executive director. "Our partnership with PLASA Media is designed to round out the broad array of products and services at th

Details
UK - Music business hopefuls are being offered the chance of some business mentoring from a teaching team including Stevie Wonder's UK manager. Keith Harris is a well-respected figure in the music industry with 30 years of managing and promoting some of the world's biggest acts.

The former head of promotions for Motown UK, he has chaired leading industry bodies including the Manager's Forum, and is on first name terms with the key players from the industry and government. For the last 10 years he has taught on the commercial music degree at the University of Westminster. He's offering the chance of some personal coaching to anyone who comes onto a short course for people wanting to launch a business in the music industry.

The Music Business Course is run in association with local enterprise agency, Harrow in Business. Keith is one of the tutors on the course, along with studio

Details
UK - No longer hidden outside of town, the Pulrose Power Station in the town of Douglas was rebuilt into an environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing structure with a bold Martin Architectural colour changing illumination.

The Manx Electricity Authority (MEA) has constructed a combined cycle gas turbine power station at Pulrose on the Isle of Man. The structure includes a 75m tall flue stack and 30m high glass wall (turbine hall) that allows the generation process to become visible. The design includes a bold lighting concept in conjunction with lighting design firm Speirs & Major Associates.

The new plant has been designed to be cleaner environmentally and, because the plant no longer lies hidden outside of town, less visually intrusive. A striking water feature has been built into the design and, instead of the two chimneys of the old plant, just one, of modern desig

Details
UK - XL Video UK has purchased 625sqm of Main Light Industries' Soft-LED drape. This is the first Soft-LED product to be purchased in the UK. 300sqm of it has gone straight out on the Kylie Minogue Showgirl world tour, which kicks off next week in Glasgow - for which XL is supplying full video production. The Soft-LED was specified by LD Vince Foster.

The remaining 325sqm is designated for other up-coming XL projects - including Maroon 5 and Destiny's Child. The company is also about to invest in a further 1000sqm of Soft-LED. XL's Lee Spencer said: "When I saw it in action at the Kylie rehearsals I was well impressed. The product's incredible impact has achieved exactly what the designers where looking for". XL Celebrates its fifth birthday this month. "Five years on, and XL is still at the forefront of video display technology" continues Spencer &quo

Details
France - VTG Holdings is exploring digital snake technology with EtherSound. "We know that digital distribution is the 'next big thing' in professional audio," says VTG executive vice president, sales and marketing Darius Seabaugh. "VTG intends to be a leader in this trend and we've decided EtherSound is the platform we need to build the next generation of products for concert touring sound companies, video and sound contractors, recording studios, audiophiles and musicians."

In keeping with VTG's Custom Shop approach to guitar cables, XLR-balanced microphone cables and snakes, direct boxes, splitters, speaker wire, audio transformers, connectors and bulk wire, VTG will display a 16-channel rack mount device using D-sub connectors on the rear for analog audio and RJ-45 connectors on the front for the Ethernet-compliant EtherSound network. "This is a prot

Details
UK - The world's first amateur production of the musical The Hunting of the Snark was staged at the open-air Minack Theatre in Cornwall, with sound control from three Allen & Heath mixers.

Originally produced and performed in London's West End in 1991, The Hunting of the Snark is Mike Batt's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's 'nonsense' poem about a voyage in search of a mythical creature. Batt, who flew down to watch the first night at the Minack, had declined all previous requests to stage the production until Croydon-based amateur performers, The Mitre Players, approached him in 2004.

"Apart from Batt's original elaborate production, there was no formula to follow, just a script, a score, a few production stills, and a poor quality audio 'bootleg'," comments the Mitre Players' drummer, Richard Wear. "The original show featured a full, on-stage 50-pi

Details
UK - Orbital Sales has been appointed as an official UK dealer for the internationally acclaimed 'Stage Research' show control software. With over a decade's experience Orbital was selected by SFX as a specialist in its field. The company's in-house technical support team provides the know how and ability to offer 24/7 system support, in line with SFX's rigorous standards.

SFX offers a contemporary alternative to traditional playback equipment. It boasts automated facilities that increase control, enhance operations and maximize creative potential. It enables the creation of a rich landscape of sound, thus making shows and installations more interactive and realistic. It promotes cohesive sound design, whilst simplifying FX operation.

Developed from the ground up by a team of theatre specialists, it gives total control over sound and playback. Based around its Cue List and GO

Details
France - Proving that some people will go to any lengths to procure their mixing console of choice, French sound, lighting and video company ETF-Procon recently hired a JCB to install a Midas Heritage 2000 at front of house for the Festival International des Pyrénées, Olorons Ste Marie, France.

The concerts during the festival took place at various outdoor venues, including the town square, where the front of house position was in a control room constructed above the performance area. As 800 temporary seats for the public had already been installed in the town square, access for the 56-channel console into the control room was restricted. Heads were put together, and it was decided that the easiest way of delivering the console was through the rear window of the control room.

The remainder of the equipment, which included a Midas XL250 for monitors, was delivered to the squa

Details
UK - During the refurbishment of Wembley Arena, a temporary large-scale Pavilion has been constructed. Completed in February, the venue has already hosted act including Westlife, Anastacia and Blue with further performances of Queen in May and Elton John in June.

The substantial temporary pavilion seats 10,000 and measure some 165m x 70m. LSI Projects supplied and installed an ADB Memopack dimming system that controls the house lighting. This can be controlled by a provided ADB console or alternatively the dimmers can be linked to the show lighting control system. To comply with Brent Council licensing requirements the Memopack dimmers are run in memory mode maintaining a constant low level of light throughout the pavilion. When DMX signals - on a highest takes precedence basis - are received by the Memopacks, they raise the house lighting intensity to the requested level. The

Details
France / Switzerland - Digigram, the creator of innovative digital audio network solutions, has announced the appointment of Decibel S.A., of Vevey, as its new Swiss distributor. Digigram says that Decibel will guarantee sales, consulting, and support for Digigram's networked audio devices including EtherSound products, Hitplayer, NCX, and audio management software, in the Installed sound and Sound reinforcement markets. The company adds that J & C Intersonic remains the Swiss Digigram distributor for sound cards.

Decibel director Jean-Pascal Ruch is thrilled to include Digigram products in his portfolio: "Especially Digigram's EtherSound line is unique in the market place. We already had the opportunity to use it at the Convention Center Montreux, and business benefits and customer satisfaction were simply amazing. Digital audio distribution is here to stay and we believe

Details
Australia - Only the second time it has taken place outside Edinburgh in its 55-year history, a landmark production of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo was recently staged in Sydney's Aussie Stadium with a cast of over 1,200 performers. Playing to an audience of more than 160,000 people over five days, sound reinforcement for the spectacular show featured the TiMax audio imaging system, specified by Tattoo sound consultant John Del'Nero.

In contrast to the Edinburgh event, where for several years John Del'Nero has used TiMax to subtly move amplified content alongside the natural acoustic output from the bands, the sheer scale of the Aussie Stadium required a different approach. Fully amplified moving audio images were created to track the various marching bands as they traversed the length and breadth of the massive stadium in front of a life-size replica of the famous Edinburgh C

Details
Italy - Coemar has announced the launch of a new phase in its development, with a rethink of its position on international markets. Following a period when group strategy had effectively moved its decision-making elsewhere, the owners have now relocated the centre of all operations - including management, engineering, sales, marketing and communications - to Italy and the results have quickly become apparent, the company says.

The announcement says: "Today's approach to the market is certainly much more customer-oriented (particularly with regard to the distributors, who are still firmly behind the company) and is based on two solid pillars: an undeniably sound financial position and the renewed enthusiasm of those at Coemar whose professional skills have been rewarded."

Coemar says that new backing from an international investment fund has provided a guarantee for

Details
Northern Ireland - Light & Sound FX of Coleraine, Northern Ireland, kicked off the usual busy start to the year by attending and promoting KV2 Audio at the Christian Resources Exhibition at the Kings Hall, Belfast. Having successfully completed several denomination church refits as well as two complete rebuilds last year, expectations were high of the exhibition.

Darren Gardiner, owner of L&SFX reported a clutch of new leads and at least two more new build projects as well as numerous new contacts. Light & Sound FX has been the sole Northern Ireland agent and supplier of KV2 Audio since its introduction to the market place two years ago. The company has fulfilled a diverse range of applications so far, including night clubs, civic centres and sports halls, as well as ongoing projects to include a city centre Cathedral, one new build Presbyterian church, a Town Hall refit and cit

Details
UK - One of the UK's leading loudspeaker system manufacturers, Logic System Pro Audio, has completed a move into a new 10,000sq.ft, purpose-built manufacturing facility in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The move was prompted by recent orders placed by UK customers and several large orders from the company's new overseas distributors.

Sue Ellis, operations director, commented: "Large orders from the likes of Electro-Systems in Singapore meant that we were working 24-hour shifts before Christmas and it became obvious that we needed to move into new premises such that we can meet customer's expectations more readily in the future."

The new facility incorporates all manufacturing processes, from CAD drawing through to new CNC manufacturing, R&D facility and office space for administration. Managing director Chris Scott commented: "All our cabinet manufacturing is in-

Details
UK - Equipped with Sennheiser mics and in-ear monitoring (IEM) throughout, Keane finished a full UK tour in late 2004, before flying on to concerts in San Francisco, Vancouver, Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya throughout December. The band then completed 17 US dates during January and February this year, and a European tour followed in March.

FOH engineer Iain Slater and monitor engineer, Alistair Artingstall, are both enthusiastic about the performance of the Sennheiser products. Iain commented on the mic setup: "We are using e935s on main and backing vocals, for Tom and Tim, and they are working out very well. They're extremely smooth with a nice presence at the top end and they also have good feedback rejection. e604s are used on the toms and they do an excellent job as well as being discreet and durable. We've got e614s, which are good sturdy condensers, on overheads and hats a

  1. Paul Weller tours with Canegreen
  2. Install news for Duran Audio
  3. Vertigo offers training opportunity
  4. DiGiCo D5 Live is Top of the Pops
  5. First Sienas installed in new arts venue
  6. The Royal Lifeboat College, Poole Dorset
Page 706 of 1813

Latest Issue. . .

PLASA Media Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 4111709 - VAT Number GB 762 5913 14
PLASA Media Ltd, Redoubt House, 1 Edward Road, Eastbourne, BN23 8AS, UK Tel: +44 (0)1323 524120

 

login