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The Netherlands - At the star-studded UNICEF gala in The Hague on the 25 March, AVEQ Rental & Sales supplied the equipment and expertise for the entire production - relying on systems from Electro-Voice.

It was the top social event of the year in The Hague. Celebrities from the cultural, sporting and political worlds thronged the atrium of the town hall to have a good time and donate money to a worthy cause. UNICEF was delighted to make a net profit of 143,500 euros - money that will be used for charitable purposes.

To heighten the mood of generosity among the guests, the UNICEF team had organised a high-calibre live programme that included not only local and national acts such as Jim, Told U So and Frank In Person (F.I.P.) but also the legendary disco group of the Eighties Sister Sledge, who made sure the dance floor was packed and stayed that way. Their much-appreciated set

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UK - Serious Stages supplied one of their 25 metre two bay Space Roofs for the main stage at the new Hedgestock Festival at Knebworth House, compete with 8.4m wide x 15m high video and PA wings.

The exclusive new style 2-day corporate event with music - headlined by The Who as part of their Teenage Cancer Trust work - describes itself as a 'festival of networking' for the Hedge Fund Industry - with the adage "because conventions don't have to be conventional".

Serious was asked onboard by production manager Nick Fisher with whom they've worked on several projects. Fisher was brought in by organisers Albourne Partners to co-ordinate the supply of all the technical production and infrastructure, which also included Entec (sound) and PRG (lighting).

The Serious team of 20 crew and riggers was led by Aleksis Zarins. The site build started 14 days in advance and was com

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Italy - Proel, the Italian leader company in audio/lighting systems, consumer electronics, musical instruments and accessories manufacturing, is proud to announce that Fantasy Sound International has been appointed as the exclusive distributor in Taiwan.

Under this multi-year agreement, Fantasy Sound International will sell and co-promote all of the various Proel product lines: stage equipment and accessories, sound reinforcement, lighting, trussing, Die-Hard cables and Tamburo drums.

Also included in the distributor's portfolio, is Proel Installation division, featuring audio, trussing and lighting products for large fixed installations and conferences.

Luigi Paoloni, the Proel International export manager says: "We are very excited about this new agreement. Fantasy is a highly dynamic and professional company and we strongly believe that they are the right choice as p

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UK / India - Charter has supplied 16 radio mics and engineering support for the Sport Relief Celebrity cricket match in Bombay filmed by the BBC, with just three days notice. The match in aid of Sport Relief, between a UK all-stars team and a Bollywood Megastar 11, required a radio mic on every player on the cricket pitch and contracted a local company to provide the necessary equipment. At the last minute it became clear that that many radio mics could not be made available in the time within the available budget. Tim Hunt, a freelance sound man who has worked with Charter on such programmes as Springwatch knew that Charter were radio mic experts and introduced Kimberley Littlemore, the BBC producer responsible for the programme, to Colin Bowman, audio engineer at Charter Broadcast.

With just three days to spare, Charter set about bringing together the 16 radio mics and

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UK - Digidesign's Venue live digital mixing environment is enabling the famous Montreux Jazz Festival to celebrate its landmark year by moving exclusively into the digital domain. On its 40th anniversary (coinciding with the 70th birthday of its founder Claude Nobs) the Festival has proudly announced that Digidesign has agreed to become the official Montreux Audio Sponsor, signing a three-year contract.

Digidesign will install the D-Show digital mixing console, FOH Rack (with digital mix engine and embedded control computer), Stage Rack unit with recallable, remote-controlled preamps and multi-channel digital snake in the FOH and monitor positions of the three major auditoria used for the world-famous Festival - the Stravinski Hall, Miles Davis Hall and Casino Barrière - along with full Pro Tools HD rigs so that operators can seamlessly integrate a Pro Tools workstation with Ve

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The Netherlands - This May saw VisualDMX testing the wits of contestants vying for the big € 100,000 cash prize on the Dutch National Lottery's monthly game show: De Staatsloterij.

Producer Endemol asked Visual Productions to programme a special facility in the VisualDMX software that would enable it to control a new game based on the Labyrinth principle. Two 18 square metre platforms of MultiLEDs floor were supplied by Blue Magic rental and project house, located close to the Studio Aalsmeer used for filming the show.

Utilising the ever popular Matrix Mania software feature of VisualDMX, the software was programmed to enable a complex route of touching squares travelling from one side to the other of the LED floor, to be hidden from sight until the contestants step on the correct path. VisualDMX was linked via MIDI to a show control system; in the event of a contestan

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UK - Digidesign has launched a complete redesign of its corporate website located at www.digidesign.com. Built using the latest web technologies, the new site features an improved navigation system and media-rich content - including My Digi profiles, 360° product views, Icon Empowered Studios, interactive console overviews and more.

By signing up for a free My Digi profile, users can customize some content of Digidesign.com based on preferences they control. For example, users can filter press releases to get the latest information on products of interest, manage subscriptions to newsletters and e-mail blasts, keep track of Digidesign events, retrieve DigiStore order history, and even register hardware and software online. In the future, My Digi will offer alerts when new software is released, media 'Quick Links' for tabbing a user's favourite media content, plus the ability

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Hong Kong - Artistic Licence is pleased to announce the launch of Artistic Licence Hong Kong. The new office provides a sales, projects and support hub for Southeast Asia. The Hong Kong office is building a dealer network throughout the region. While the network evolves, the Hong Kong office will handle direct sales to territories not yet serviced by local dealers. The new office will also provide a very high level of support for product integration including full system design and technical support.

Managing director Wayne Howell comments: "Artistic Licence has always been strong in Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific. Setting up an office in Hong Kong is the next step and allows us to build market share by doing what we do best: supporting our customers and dealers.

The Hong Kong office will focus on dealer support and training plus project management. Large-scale project d

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UK - Due to the continuous worldwide demand for V-Dosc, Japan and Poland have decided to invest in the genre. Based in Tokyo, Hibino Sound Division has earned the praise of major artists in Japan and around the world owing to their specific knowledge of concert venues throughout the country as well as mixing and mastering. Hibino sales manager Mr Ryoichi Hashimoto explains: "We can meet the needs of virtually any client with our 27 teams of trained professionals, and we have sufficient equipment to stage events simultaneously at four different stadiums and two arenas."

Hibino Sound Division is in a position to provide sound systems for a wide variety of other applications, such as public or corporate events and exhibitions, special movie previews and so forth.

Fotis Sound is the new V-Dosc Partner for Poland. Founded in 1979 in Poznan, the company has established a s

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UK - First published in 1952, the New Musical Express, or NME, has always based its success around being the champion of new and emerging rock music. It was the first organisation to publish a British singles chart some 54 years ago and since 1953 has organised regular awards and poll-winners concerts across the UK with the aim of promoting tomorrows big stars in front of an ever demanding audience.

This spring's New Music Awards Tour, consisted of four bands per night playing 13 venues over 18 nights. The headline act were the London-based quartet Boy Kill Boy; described by NME recently as "like The Smiths splitting half a disco biscuit with Hard-Fi in the Hacienda gents". Amidst the frenzy on stage for much of this new band tour was monitor engineer Stan Saunders, sporting not only a new haircut but the equally new Yamaha M7CL mixing console.

"I first saw the

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USA - Bowling Green State University's Doyt L. Perry Stadium celebrated its 40th anniversary with a newly renovated scoreboard and sound system. Remarkably, the 28,000-plus park is now amply covered by only five Community R6-51 loudspeakers, all hidden behind a mesh screen in the new scoreboard.

The new system was installed by Torrence Sound of Perrysburg, Ohio, who also provided EASE modelling and consultation for Toledo-based JDRM Engineering, who designed and engineered the fibre-optic based system.

A single Community R6 in the centre fires down to the far end of the field, with two more on either side covering the left and right seating areas.

Crown CTs3000 amplifiers, monitored and controlled via their IQ network, power the system from a single weatherproof enclosure under the scoreboard, and a Media Matrix system provides deep control over routing and signal processing

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UK - First-time visitors to ETC's new offices on a north Acton trading estate are in for a surprise: behind the industrial facade is one of a different kind - a Victorian theatre that threatens to out-match Matcham. Probably the first themed corporate reception area in the UK, the affectionately named 'Playhouse at Gypsy Corner' is the brainchild of ETC's CEO, Fred Foster, and follows on from the Town Square atrium at the company's US headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin.

"The idea behind Town Square, which is based on the paintings of Edward Hopper, was to have an informal meeting place for staff and visitors that acknowledged the industry we work in - the theatre," explains Foster. "Although at Acton we have far fewer employees than in America - 25 as against 450 - I wanted the same sense of place and the same great way of presenting our products."

Using

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UK - A conference in early July will look at the moving image in the public environment. The conference will explore the potential use of the moving image in the visual arena of public spaces and the creation of large-scale permanent artwork for the public environment. The combination of new technology and creative thinking on urban design has evolved a canvas for new and emergent digital media, interactive art, outdoor screens, external cinema and responsive architecture.

Key professional practitioners working in the area of contemporary new media and the design and management of the public realm will present current practical experience, projects and research in the fields of art, architecture, urban studies and digital culture. The conference will examine the growing infrastructure of giant public screens and external moving image displays that are becoming a major aspect of

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Germany - Charter Broadcast reports it is continuing its successful relationship with ITV and the FIFA World Cup following a competitive tender against a number of suppliers. This most recent commission to work with ITV will be third consecutive World Cup that Charter has been invited to work on. Charter is responsible for building and running the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for ITV which forms the hub of ITV's coverage in Germany.

The senior project engineer at Charter Broadcast, Roy Callow has been involved in the event planning and will remain on site to as an operational engineer to ensure the smooth running of service. The main challenge is that this will be the first time that content will be produced in High Definition (HD) for ITV's HD trial. Charter will be managing the logistics for all the requirements of the world's feeds however some of this will be in S

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UK - Cadac Electronics plc has appointed Sebastian Song to distribute its full range of audio mixing systems in Singapore and Malaysia. The choice was made on the basis of Song's extensive audio experience, combined with an innovative distribution approach. This emphasises a hands-on focus on product education and training, providing an innovative balance that offers clear advantages throughout this region in the development of effective applications for Cadac's high quality product range.

Commenting on his appointment, Sebastian Song explained: "With Cadac's 19" Digital Series rack devices, such as the D16, M16, F16 and X16, there is tremendous scope to broaden Cadac's appeal beyond the traditional live performance sector. We believe that recording studios and applications requiring comprehensive signal distribution can also benefit from Cadac's exceptional audio qual

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USA - Lighting industry veteran Steve Hoffman has announced the creation of his new company, GoboMan, the first primarily online gobo lighting distributor. GoboMan is the joint effort of Steve and Rebel L. Hoffman, both of whom previously worked for GamProducts Inc.

"GoboMan's mission is simple. We wanted to make ordering gobos as painless and simple as possible. That along with great customer service and unbeatable prices, is our blueprint," said Steve Hoffman. "We felt that there was a need for an affordable and more accessible collection of gobos made up of the designs used in everyday theatrical lighting situations," he added.

GoboMan's unique attraction is that unlike the rest of the Gobo industry, customers will not be required to or order in minimums. To keep prices economical, the Hoffmans decided not to publish a printed catalogue, but instead offe

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Italy - Milan-based audio and communications distribution specialists, Exhibo SpA, have recently been named EAW distributor for Italy.

EAW's European sales manager, Sean Martin, says: "I'm delighted to report that since their appointment, Exhibo has already become one of EAW's highest performing distributors in Europe. The company had already proved itself as an experienced pro audio distributor with the Sennheiser brand, which they've carried for 50 years. An added bonus came in the form of Edoardo Ravelli, who was responsible for the EAW brand at our previous distributor, Audium. Edoardo had always been extremely successful in Italy with EAW, but the owner of Audium decided to take a well-earned retirement, so we had no choice but to look for a new distributor. The combination of Exhibo and Edoardo, in addition to the professionalism and expertise of his colleague, Bruno

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UK - The HSL Group exhibited at ABTT for the second year, reflecting the growing importance of theatre and performing arts markets for the company, one of the busiest and fastest growing lighting rental operations in the UK. HSL highlighted its experience in the theatrical world and its wide equipment inventory.

The company says it has built its reputation on progressive thinking, the provision of innovative solutions, efficient and dedicated service, quality equipment and experienced designers, engineers and technicians to a diverse range of projects. HSL's work encompasses theatre, live events, concert tours, festivals, television productions, corporate presentations, son et lumières, spectaculars, parties and special events of all types.

The company has a comprehensive stock of the latest lighting technology from all the leading industry manufacturers and brands. Items are

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South Africa - Located in the chic, affluent suburb of Lonehill, Sequoias is undoubtedly one of Johannesburg's hottest openings of the year. Owner Shelley Chadwick, a South African ex-pat now living in Washington, USA, conceptualised the new venue by drawing inspiration from the likes of legendary clubs worldwide such as PURE in Las Vegas, Red Square in Russia, and Tangerine in the UK. The result is the ultimate cocktail and dining experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art EAW audio system installed by the area's premier pro audio specialist, Surgesound.

The architecture and design concept of the new venue is stunning, including a bar counter made of solid ice, which keeps the cocktails cool while patrons enjoy the spectacular views across Johannesburg. Chadwick was determined to install an audio system that would do her new venture justice. "Whilst living in the US, I had

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India - As India has evolved into a major economic and technological player on the world stage, the country has also become a musical and cultural force to be reckoned with. The Bollywood cinema industry rivals that of the United States, and the new sounds of Bhangra music are filling dance floors on several continents.

It's still a two-way street, though, with the influence of Western music continuing to grow in India and an increasing number of international artists including stops on the Indian subcontinent in their itineraries. One of the country's major concert production suppliers is Reynold Sound and Lighting Services, a company founded in Bangalore by Felix Remedios in 1981 as a branch of Calcutta-based musical instrument manufacturer J Reynold and Company. Reynold's pro audio division, headed by sound engineer Michael Furtado, has provided sound for an ever-growing seri

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UK - SSE Audio Group provided 85 boxes of Nexo's GEO T for the Monsters of Rock concert at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The gig saw 60,000 fans turn out for legendary performers such as Deep Purple, Alice Cooper and Queensryche, supported by Journey, Thunder and Ted Nugent.

"Using Nexo's proprietary GEOSoft package, we designed the GEO T system to stay contained within the Bowl, and cover the floor of the arena," says Nick Pain of SSE. "It did such an admirable job when it came to the throw, there was no need for us to set up any delays."

The Nexo GEO T system was configured in SSE's by now customary LCR design. Left and right arrays of 26 T4805 cabinets plus two T2815s flew above 12 CD18s, stacked in four columns of three. In front of the middle of the stage, three T2815 units were stacked on top of eight more CD18 subs. The system was powered by Ca

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UK - Blackburn-based installer Romers Electronics has carried out AV installations at two local premiership football clubs - Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic - selecting Allen & Heath's iDR DSP system for both projects.

Earlier this year, Romers was tasked with refitting the executive areas of Ewood Park's Jack Walker stand, part of Blackburn Rovers' 31,000-capacity stadium. The three suites needed a new audio distribution system to provide more flexibility and control of the various sources for match day hospitality events and private functions. Each suite required access to local sources - a music source, radio, and wired mic inputs - and access to network-based global sources, comprising Rovervision, the Club's in-house TV Company; Radio Rovers, the match day radio station; and Atmosphere, a system that transmits the crowd and pitch noise into the suites.

Two iDR-4 16x16

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UK - Avenue Q - winner of the 2004 Tony Award for Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score - is a hilarious and irreverent look at life through the eyes of recent English graduate, Princeton. Previewing until 28 June, the show is a symbiotic partnership of actors and hand puppets create the diverse range of characters that live on Avenue Q.

The show's lighting designer is Howell Binkley, who last week won a Tony for his lighting of Jersey Boys. Lighting is an integral factor when it comes to the successful delivery of many of the jokes, and supplying the lighting as well as accessories such as smoke machines and mirror balls for this stunning show is PRG Europe.

Craig Bennett, project manager for PRG Europe says: "PRG has a strong relationship with Howell in the USA; it's certainly one of our strengths to be able to supply a 'home fro

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Europe - Digigram, a world leader in PC audio interfaces and innovative networked audio devices, has announced the expansion of its European distribution network through partnerships with Community (UK), Audio Systems (Switzerland), Ivamod (Croatia) and Media Chip (Portugal).

Digigram's business development manager Philippe Onillon says he is pleased to welcome these new partners on board as it takes the company another step forward in its goal of bringing sales, consultancy and support closer to its customers and end users: "Digigram has built its success on a strong track record of partnerships, from OEMs to distributors, and we are committed to continuing to serve our end-users by extending our relationships with carefully selected and highly skilled local partners", said Onillon.

Digigram has already established a global network of best-of-breed technology and di

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