Japan - March 2006 saw the colorful opening of Cocone Kamifukuoka, a multi-use complex in Fujimino City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Located north of Tokyo and situated directly in front of Kamifukuoka train station, Cocone Kamifukuoka offers a variety of services such as rental housing, shopping and medical facilities. Operated by the Urban Renaissance Agency, the complex's convenience and friendly atmosphere is already proving quite popular with locals. A new, dynamic façade illumination has added to the area's appeal.

The shopping center's façade, a five-storey construction housing a large parking garage, features a colour changing illumination from 11 Martin Architectural Exterior 200 Long Barrel colour changing luminaires. The IP65-rated fixtures, mounted with 12° lenses and spaced equally atop the structure, focus a narrow beam of seasonal shades vertically across the

Spain - DPA Microphones has supplied a quantity of mics to Radiotelevisión's Catalonia facility in Sant Cugat, Barcelona, for its two new digital studios. The order, supplied by DPA's Spanish distributor SeeSound, includes 18 DPA 4011 cardioid mics, chosen for their high sound quality and versatility, which are being used largely for acoustic instruments as well as crowd ambience.

Radiotelevisión - one of Spain's leading audiovisual companies and programme makers - has also purchased 24 DPA 4060 miniature omnidirectional which it is using together with some 4066 miniature omnidirectional headband mics for producing news programmes and documentaries. The company is also finding that DPA's 4088 cardioid headband mics are ideal for its sports broadcasts such as the UEFA Champions League.

The final weapon in Radiotelevisión's DPA armoury is a 3530-A kit comprising a factory-mat

Argentina - D.A.S. Audio's Aero linear array system continues to conquer new frontiers, this time in Argentina where French singer Manu Chao sold out two concerts (on 17 and 19 March, at Jujuy and Mendoza respectively). Chao demonstrated once more that he is a force to be reckoned with in Latin America, where he is committed to the struggle for prosperity and equality.

Some 6,500 people attended each performance, for which a D.A.S. Audio sound reinforcement system was provided by Argentina's Merino Technical Productions. The company set up a PA system of 24 Aero 28 speakers with two CA-215 enclosures stacked at ground level for the Jujuy concert, which took place at the Old Jujuy Station. At Mendoza's Pacific Stadium, regardless of the poor acoustic, the main PA system (which consisted of 32 Aero CA-28 speakers with four CA-215 and 12 Compact 218 Sub for low-end reinforcement) d

UK - Audio-Technica Ltd is pleased to announce the availability of its ATH-PRO700 professional monitor headphones. Designed with DJs and other audio professionals in mind, these headphones offer the highest level of sonic accuracy, combined with maximum comfort for hours of listening in a variety of environments.

Representing the latest in Audio-Technica transducer technology, the ATH-PRO700 headphones incorporate a neodymium magnet system and combine rugged construction with a stylish look. Their closed-back, dynamic circumaural design provides excellent isolation in loud listening environments - ideal for privately auditioning tracks. With an ability to handle extremely high SPLs, the headphones deliver outstanding sound reproduction with 53mm diameter drivers and extended bass frequency response.

The padded, easily adjustable headband ensures a comfortable, secure fit throu

Australia - When designing sound reinforcement systems for churches, there are two priorities that are of equal importance: high intelligibility and aesthetic unobtrusiveness. The latter is especially true in historic church buildings, where the architecture is often extremely valuable.

Sydney-based church specialist Clare Communications has good experience at designing such installations and takes full advantage of Turbosound's TCS and Impact series, which the company says combine high quality acoustics with a small, discreet enclosure and are specifically designed to fulfil the twin requirements.

Clare has recently worked with Matt Donovan from Audio Telex, Turbosound's Australian distributor, to design and install new systems into two very different Catholic churches in Australia - the Mosman church in Sydney and St Aloysius Catholic church in Cronulla.

The Mosman church

UK - Roland Systems Group has appointed Total Audio Solutions of Bromsgrove as a main supplier and servicing centre for its Digital Snake products. Adding to an already extensive product range including Neumann, Genelec and Sony broadcast, it was agreed that Digital Snake made an ideal partner for the company's studio and broadcast solutions.

Product manager for Roland Systems Group, Neal Tomlinson, commented: "We feel that the expertise and background offered by Total Audio allows us a great opportunity to expand further into the live, broadcast and installation market."

64 channels of RSS by Roland Digital Snake is being used at T in the Park to connect the Pet Sounds Arena Stage to the BBC mixing truck. 64 channels of RSS by Roland Digital Snake, supplied by Total Audio Solutions Ltd. Using two 32 x 8 stage units and two front-of-house units, the whole system will

Europe - XL Video is supplying Robbie Williams' Close Encounters stadium tour with all production video equipment and a 14-person crew, including chief engineer Stuart Heaney, project managed for XL by Phil Mercer.

XL purchased 125sq.m of new Mitsubishi OD8 LED screen for the tour, and is the first company to bring this particular resolution technology into Europe. The Mitsubishi is configured as three portrait-shaped screens - two 11 x 5 panel surfaces either side of the stage used primarily for IMAG, and one 9 x 5 panel centre-stage screen.

Embedded into the bellies of the tusks and Scorpion Tails set-pieces (designed by Ray Winkler of Studio Fish) are 6500 Barco O-lite blocks. These impressive set pieces wrap the stage in a horseshoe shape, providing a 'live' 3D backdrop. Every surface facing the audience, apart from the floor and ramps, is video. XL is supplying one

USA - The dates have been set for Tomcat's Hoist & Rigging Workshop 2007: the workshops will run the course of four days, 21-24 February, in Midland, Texas. The annual school includes workshops pertaining to hoist, rigging, truss, and fall protection taught by some of the foremost experts in the industry, say Tomcat.

Making its third appearance - after becoming a huge success among participants over the last two years - will be the Advanced Workshop. This two-day workshop covers a variety of interesting topics on hoist motors and truss design and is meant for those who have already completed Tomcat's four-day workshop and/or those with extensive experience working with motors and truss in the field. Advanced workshop dates are 23-24 February, also in Midland, Texas.

(Lee Baldock)

Morocco - 40 years ago, exclusive French tour operator Le club Méditerranée, opened a village in Agadir, Morocco. To celebrate their birthday in style, the resort received a complete refurbishment, which included the addition of eight PixelPar 90s.

Club Med's Entertainment division asked French lighting designer Olivier Legendre to design the scheme. Fortunately, Olivier had used PixelRange fixtures before on many tours with Paris-based company Prévues - so from experience he chose PixelPar 90s as his creative lighting solution.

He says: "This was a great opportunity to introduce LED technology to Le club Méditerranée. The PixelPar 90 is the perfect plug-and-play fixture, creating fabulous effects with low power consumption and no maintenance - which are key points for this kind of international product."

The PixelPars, chosen for

Singapore - Singapore's Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has announced the creation of a new permanent multimedia night-time spectacular, which will be installed over the sea. The new production, designed and produced by ECA2, is to be launched during the second quarter of 2007, and will be operated two or three times per night for a minimum period of three years.

The new attraction will be created by internationally acclaimed designer Yves Pepin, founder and president of ECA2, a company recognized the world over as one of the most experienced international teams for conception, creation and production of multimedia shows. Pepin, along with film directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou, and Ric Birch, the talented producer of the Sydney 2000 Ceremonies, have recently been appointed Artistic Advisers in the creative team for the Ceremonies of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by

Germany - After touring Germany for the past two years, the FIFA Globe has finally come home. The 17.8m tall structure designed by Multimedia Artist André Heller was built using 60 tons of zinc-coated steel (and can be seen on the BBC's World Cup Match of The Day, standing in the background behind Gary Lineker's shoulders).

Before arriving in Frankfurt, the FIFA Globe had been travelling across Germany promoting their hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Looking like an oversized football by day, the sculpture is transformed into an illuminated globe by night, thanks to 40 Tryka Strip Module Optic IP67 1200mm and six Strip Module Optic IP67 600mm - all driven by Tryka Modulation Drivers and programmed by DMX. Lighting designer Antonius Quodt was responsible for specifying the equipment.

The interior of the imposing FIFA Globe - made connecting 256m of steel pipe t

Germany - Meyer Sound brought its long-running worldwide professional training program to Hamburg, Germany, recently with a successful seminar on the SIM 3 audio analyzer and its source independent measurement system. The four-day interactive event, titled 'SIM 3 Training and System Design', drew 40 audio professionals from varied backgrounds, including the touring, theatre and AV installation markets. The intensive sessions were presented in English by Mauricio 'Magu' Ramirez, Meyer Sound's engaging senior seminar technical instructor.

Seminar logistics were coordinated by Meyer Sound's German office and the event's co-host, Klaus Rahe of Procon Event Engineering, a leading sound rental firm based in Hamburg. The actual site for the sessions was a studio at CINETEC, a local television production facility.

The SIM 3 Training and System Design seminar is an in-depth, intensive

UK - West London-based Entec Sound and Light is supplying cult US thrash metallers Tool with full lighting and sound production and crew for their current European tour, supporting their newly launched '10,000 Days' album. Entec's ability to offer an integrated sound and lighting package helped them win the competitive bid for the tour - their first with the band - via tour manager Craig Duffy. The tour is being project managed for Entec by Noreen O'Riordan (lighting) and Dick Hayes (sound).

LD Breck Haggerty has worked with Tool since 1998 - initially as lighting crew chief before graduating to the design hot seat. His main lighting consideration for this tour was designing something floor-based and optimised for easy rigging and de-rigging. The concept is that this toured to festivals throughout the summer, enabling them to have as much of their show as possible with a minimum

USA - At the recent Infocomm 2006 in Orlando, Florida, Gear-Source Inc and Christie Digital finalized a deal making Gear-Source the exclusive online reseller of Christie's coveted b-stock video projectors. The deal - which gives GearSource.com hundreds of new video listings, also offers Christie new exposure for their re-conditioned, b-stock and discontinued inventory. "This deal really provides us a ton of credibility in the video market, plus offers inventory to the lighting market we're already deeply rooted in. We couldn't be more thrilled to become a part of the Christie family of re-sellers," says Marcel Fairbairn, president of Gear-Source Inc.

Heading up the relationship on the Gear-Source side is Henry Kones, director or market development. "Henry worked hard to make this happen, it's only fitting that he continues to manage the relationship," says Fa

Germany / USA - Telex Communications Holdings Inc of Minneapolis has announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, which will see Bosch acquire Telex for an aggregate purchase price of $420 million. Upon closing of the merger, the surviving company's name will be Telex Communications Holdings Inc, with headquarters remaining in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Telex - a leading manufacturer and supplier of professional audio, wireless, life safety and communication equipment- achieved sales of $308 million in 2005, and has nearly 2,000 employees at 14 locations in nine countries. The company is home to well-known brands such as Electro-Voice, Dynacord, Midas, Klark Teknik, Telex and RTS. If the merger is consummated, Telex will be assigned to, and come under the leadership of, the Bosch Security Systems division.

"W

The Netherlands - The organisers of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2007 say that an unprecedented demand for stand space has prompted the addition of a fourth hall at the Amsterdam RAI.

Overall, 400 exhibitors are expected to attend ISE 2007, up from 300 at this year's event in Brussels. ISE's organisers have signed up companies including Thompson Grass Valley, Sony, Eiki, Crestron, Mitsubishi, Kramer and Extron are returning and will be occupying significant floor space at the show, while Canon and Yamaha have been signed up as exhibitors for 2007.

ISE managing director Mike Blackman says that a massive upturn in the AV systems integration market, and recent strong performances at InfoComm and CEDIA are behind the surge in exhibitor interest for ISE 2007. CEDIA has just closed in London with record attendances and a packed conference programme. "This year, we have seen

USA - Dolby Laboratories Inc reports that Eighth Day Sound Systems Inc, one of the largest sound reinforcement companies in the US, has purchased 40 Dolby Lake Processors to boost its concert tour work this summer. Eighth Day Sound is using Dolby Lake Processors on many of the 2006 tours it is providing with sound systems, including those for Madonna, Widespread Panic; Tool; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Slayer; Tom Jones; and Earth, Wind and Fire.

"We were blown away by the Dolby Lake Processors the first time we heard them in action," said Jack Boessneck, executive vice-president at Eighth Day Sound. "We have used Dolby's Lake Contour processors extensively on tour after tour since 2003; they had the hottest interface available and the performance was absolutely brilliant. The new Dolby Lake Processors take it to the next level with even more control and flexibi

Switzerland - For the 40th time since 1966, the Montreux Jazz Festival will present 16 days and nights of indoor and outdoor concerts. More than a quarter of a million music lovers from around the globe are expected to attend this year's festival to hear 200-plus international artists spanning the music world.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Meyer Sound's official sound sponsorship of the festival. Approximately 370 of the company's self-powered loudspeakers, supplied by six different Swiss and French hire companies, are deployed for sound reinforcement throughout the festival's venues, ranging from the gracefully arcing curvilinear arrays in the capacious 3,500-capacity Stravinski Hall down to more modest systems for the workshop rooms and press center.

"We first met Claude Nobs when John and I lived in Switzerland while he was working at the Institute for A

Germany - For a nation fixated on model building (Germany has the highest per capita concentration of model railway enthusiasts in the world), the Germans have outdone themselves for the World Cup. Accept the premise that there is just no way everyone who wants to attend the various matches of the World Cup can possibly be accommodated. Solution: place large format outdoor LED TV screens in prominent public spaces throughout German cities, then add a good quality PA system and voila, problem solved.

Except that it's not quite the same experience: yes, you can see it all, arguably better than those actually watching the match in the stadium, and yes, you have the atmosphere of possibly being amongst a large crowd who all share in the excitement . . . but it's not the stadium is itΩ

Adidas has found the ideal solution: in Berlin they have built the Adidas Arena; a scaffold

UK - White Light is supplying the lighting equipment to the first West End revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Evita, which opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 24 June.

Directed by Michael Grandage, designed by Christopher Oram and with choreography by Rob Ashford - the team behind the hit production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre, Evita is being lit by two-time Olivier Award winner Paule Constable.

Constable's design includes a diverse range of lighting equipment, much of it available from White Light's extensive hire stock - but with one particular light created by White Light specifically for the production. The conventional rig includes ETC Source Fours and Source Four Pars, Strand Alto and Cadenza PCs, Alto Fresnels and Strand and Arri 5kW Fresnels, Par 64s and ADB Svoboda battens, plus 200 Rainbow Pro scrollers in a ra

UK - With just hours to go before the controversial RoHS (Restrictions of Hazardous Substances) Directive passes into UK law on 1 July, the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has issued a warning to its members about the forthcoming EuP (Energy-using Products) Directive, which may have the potential to hit manufacturers even harder than RoHS. The Association is urging members to familiarise themselves with the new regulations well before they come into effect next year.

Passed by the European Parliament in 2005 and due to be implemented into UK law on 11 August 2007, the EuP Directive aims to improve the environmental performance of all products that use any form of energy, throughout their entire life cycle of manufacturing, use and disposal. It will do so by enforcing systematic integration of environmental aspects at the earliest stage of product design.

Li

Qatar - In February of this year, Canadian rock star Bryan Adams brought his Room Service tour to Doha, the capital of Qatar. The concert had been organized as part of a charity campaign, named 'Reach Out to Asia', promoted by the daughter of the Emirate to raise money for the victims of the tsunami. The show at the stadium at Doha, Al Sadd, lasted over 90 minutes and the meeting on the stage between Adams and the young Iraqi star Bilal was particularly striking.

Qatar Vision took care of the supply and installation of all audio-visual equipment, in addition to constructing the stage, which took three full days. The lighting system was composed solely of Clay Paky equipment, with 150 moving head projectors (including numerous Alpha Spot HPE 575s - the effects projector which offers 20 gobos, an animation disk, a colour system with a luminosity unattainable by most 575W pr

UK - For their current tour, Rock legends The Who requested that the cables used to mic Zak Starkey's drum kit matched the kit's chrome finish. They also wanted a strong, flexible cable for Roger Daltry's microphone - one that could withstand the rigours of his on-stage performance.

Entec, the sound company handling the European and UK leg of The Who's current European and US tour, were happy to oblige and turned to cable specialist VDC Trading for assistance. "We supplied Entec with a Van Damme Star Quad microphone cable for Roger Daltry because it is incredibly tough and is built to withstand on-stage radio interference," says VDC account manager Carl Stage. "For the drum kit, we sourced Vam Damme classic mic cable finished in grey with matching grey boots for all connectors."

The cable has already been used for a number of performances, including The Who

USA - The Infocomm show in Orlando at the beginning of June not only saw DiGiCo's renowned range of live digital mixing consoles grace their booth, but also witnessed a DiGiCo D1 in use at the Technologies For Worship Magazine Conference Quiet Stage. The Quiet Stage, a new departure for TFWM, was designed to demonstrate digital instrument and in-ear monitoring technology.

A D1 Live 56 (56 inputs, eight analogue outputs and an Aviom Card) plus stage rack with a DiGiCo digital snake between the two that utilized just two CoAx cables, performed front-of-house duties. It also featured a local rack and a MADICorder to record and playback the band performing there and a small Meyer FOH loudspeaker system to demonstrate the difference between having the loudspeakers on or in-ear monitors.

"The Quiet Stage was a huge success," said Barry Cobus, VP of marketing at TFWM. "

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