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France - Summit Steel helped production company Fourimpact realise the true power of plants at the pre-press launch of the new Ford Mondeo for the Paris Motor Show. The event was staged in the beguiling Pershing Hall Hotel, one of Paris's finest and most elegant establishments, famed for its 27m high vertical walled garden.

Summit's main task was to rig a series of discreet catenary wires between the courtyard's second floor level balconies, onto which over 200 artistically presented orchids were attached forming a ceiling of flowers and looking fabulous. The orchid roots were encased in little parcels of damp compost to ensure they stayed fresh for the event.

Summit's team led by Jon Bray worked closely with production manager Haydn Taylor. "It was an extremely stylish event in a beautiful setting that needed dressing appropriately and sympathetically, " explains Ta

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Australia - Family Nightclub in Brisbane, Australia, recently overhauled its sound system, installing Allen & Heath mixers in all rooms, including the audiophile Xone:V6, MIDI-enabled Xone:92, and industry-standard Xone:62.

Winner of 'Best Club in Australia' for three consecutive years, Family boasts line-ups with top international artists, and superior technical equipment.

Family installed the full V6 package - including additional EQ Isolator and Crossfader units - in their main dance arena, along with a Xone:92 for DJs requiring sliding channel faders and MIDI capability, and four Allen & Heath VF-1 filter units, one for each turntable and CD audio source. The Xone:V6 is a luxury rotary mixer, with valves on every input channel, discrete circuitry, precise filters, and oil-damped, ultra-smooth rotary faders.

"It's the first time I've heard a million dollars worth of

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Germany - One of the leading companies in the German events industry, Düsseldorf Congress GmbH, has taken delivery of a new Soundcraft Vi6 digital audio console for one of its primary city locations, the 7,500-capacity PhilipsHalle in Düsseldorf.

Although the Soundcraft Vi6 will mainly be used in the PhilipsHalle, it will be mobile, enabling it to be used in any of the seven other Düsseldorf Congress venues, such as the massive 61,000-capacity LTU-Arena and the 13,400-seat ISS Dome, home of the Düsseldorf ice-hockey team, where the console made its debut on an outdoor show.

Markus Grotheer, event engineer for Düsseldorf Congress GmbH, was assigned the task of selecting a digital console to replace the ageing analogue desk in the PhilipsHalle. He and his colleagues had already decided on a popular mid-range model when they came across the Soundcraft Vi6 at the ProLight+Sou

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UK - Leading UK lighting rental company Siyan designed and supplied a lighting rig based on SGM moving lights for the BBC's Electric Proms shows. These were staged at the newly restored Camden Roundhouse.

The rig was a co-design by Bryan Leitch and Nick Whitehouse, with Siyan in the demanding position of working for the BBC Electric Proms team and promoters Metropolis Music, the latter of whom brought the High Wycombe based company in to light the series of shows.

Up to three artists were featured per night including music from The Good The Bad and The Queen (one of Damon Albarn's new projects), The Who, Paul Weller, Young Tiger, The Zutons, James Brown, The Magic Numbers and many more artists and musicians who performed new, unique work and collaborations.

Leitch and Whitehouse utilised 126 SGM fixtures of various different types including Giotto 400 series Washes, Spots an

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USA - Bandit Lites is proud to be supplying lighting again for Montgomery Gentry's current tour. Released in October of 2006, their latest album Some People Change features twelve new tracks.

Lighting designer, Michael Shucher, said that the main objective for the MontgomeryGentry show was to portray a big look with a minimal amount of lights. The initialchallenge was to find lights that could compete with the arched video wall. Shucherneeded the lights to cut through the video wall while still being light in weight and not toobulky. He also wanted the lights to be hard edge and have rotating gobos. The Vari*Lite2500 achieved all of these requirements.

Shucher also found the High End Systems Studio Beams to be very beneficial. Heplaced them on the side towers to act as fans. The HES Studio Beams were also used towash various set pieces, which include anything from flyin

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UK - Lighting Technology Projects (LTP) has completed the installation, programming and commissioning of a large eye-catching light-wall containing 380 ColorKinetics iColor Cove MX fixtures, at 111 Buckingham Place Road, Victoria, London.

The wall graces the impressive atrium entrance to a shared office block, housing several high profile companies and organisations. LTP was recommended for the project to the site's main contractors Simpson York by Nick Tolkein of Architainment, CK's UK distributor.

Each of the 380 sections of Cove MX - the highest intensity member of the iColor Cove family - measures 320 mm and utilises the latest in CK's Powercore technology. This simplifies the installation by integrating power and data management directly within the fixture, eliminating the need for external low voltage power or data supplies. Inbuilt power factor correction also significa

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Austria - Austrian performance art company Lawine Torrèn used the natural beauty of the Danube Valley as a vast backdrop for Leviathan, an unusual piece of theatre. Robust Lighthouse Technologies outdoor LED video panels were deployed demonstrating the successful integration of art, nature and technology.

Leviathan - staged in association with the Austrian Army - took place at various scenic locations along the valley. The story is based on the spread of the philosophical ideas of Thomas Hobbes and seamlessly combines art and technology to create an exciting choreographic deployment of heavy military machinery and people. This was interweaved with film and photographs of local history, all delivered from a huge Lighthouse R19 19mm LED video wall built on a military ferry, which cruised up and down the Danube.

The screen with dimension 8.5 x 6.4m (55sq.m) was con

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Europe - Meyer Sound has long been committed to providing the professional audio community with high-level training seminars that present scientifically valid information on both theoretical concepts and their practical applications. Continuing the steady expansion the company's education program has seen in the last few years, Meyer Sound's latest seminars are now coming to the European continent.

"Our goal with the Meyer Sound seminars is to impart accurate, real-world professional information to the audio community," says educational programmes manager Gavin Canaan. "By offering instruction from some of professional audio's consummate authorities, we aim to bring a vital frame of reference and an unparalleled body of expertise to our users."

One of the most important seminars is a two-part, in-depth course encompassing both system design and training on

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Australia - Leading Australian lighting rental and production company Bytecraft has invested in a 10 channel Kinesys Elevation 1+ automation system. The system consists of 10 Elevation 1+ controllers, 10 1-tonne Liftket chain hoists, an Array PD-ES distribution module and Kinesys' proprietary Vector software.

Bytecraft's technical manager Darren Irving explains that they first became aware of the Kinesys system - one of the most popular, flexible and powerful movement systems on the market - after it was highly recommended by crews and rental companies both locally and overseas. "It's now also being specified on numerous shows, so getting one over here was a really logical step," he concludes.

Apart from the word-of-mouth recommendations, the functionality, ease of operation and competitive pricing all combined to swing the decision Kinesys' way, says the company.

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Worldwide - Despite announcing his retirement from touring and producing records more than two years ago, worldwide rap superstar Jay-Z has found it hard to sit on his laurels; he's been constantly busy in the studio, and this Autumn has seen him cris-crossing the globe on a massive world tour. And handling all of his on-stage vocals every night has been an AKG WMS 4000 wireless mic system, supplied by his tour production manager Bryon Tate, after the original mic system used on the tour proved unsatisfactory.

Like a lot of rappers, Jay-Z 'cups' the mic on stage, holding it close to the capsule. When using other mics, this resulted in a huge boost in mid-range response due to the microphones' natural proximity effect, but the effect was not as noticeable with the WMS 4000 system, and so it won the day. It is thought that Jay-Z made the switch to AKG after Kanye West noticed simi

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UK - With a champagne reception at chic London venue the Hedges & Butler Members' Club, London PA rental company Systems Etc celebrated its first decade.

Since it was founded in 1996, Systems Etc has increased its turnover 200-fold, expanded its workforce from two to 20, and acquired nearly £2 million of hire stock. The company's commercial trajectory has been determined by acquisition, to date three sound rental operators have been absorbed into the group portfolio. Systems Etc owner Bernard Mani says he's aiming for a 30% share of the UK's pro-audio rental market.

The origins of Systems Etc date back to 1990 when Bernard Mani, still at school, began building loudspeakers and using them on student productions. Leaving college at 18, equipped with an engineering qualification, he headed off to Spain. The scene there was one big party, and Mani's response was to put toget

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Canada - Rental sound company P.A. Plus Productions recently provided a live audio system for Just Give Me Jesus, an event featuring Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The Just Give Me Jesus Series is a collection of unique events designed to be a life-changing revival for women. The most recent Just Give Me Jesus event took place twice over the weekend of September 29, drawing an average attendance of 17,000 per event.

Because the stage was located in the centre of the arena, John Lacina of P.A. Plus designed an "in-the-round" loudspeaker system that included 72 Vertec VT4889 full-size line array elements and 32 VT4887 compact models. This gave a total of 104 full-range Vertec enclosures in the system design, which was carefully formatted in co-ordination with four massive video p

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UK - One of the UK's most historic stately homes - Hatfield House in Hertfordshire - has opened the Riding School Conference Centre in its magnificent grounds, complete with a QSC sound reinforcement system. The Old Palace at Hatfield dates back to 1485 and the Jacobean Hatfield House to 1607, celebrating its 400th anniversary next year.

The Riding School itself is an early Victorian building - but the new facilities show high quality refurbishment at its best, as designed by architects Brooks Murray. Today its use will be multipurpose - hosting a wide range of events from conferences to fashion shows and wedding receptions. The main atrium can accommodate up to 200 comfortably, with adjoining breakout/meeting rooms.

The contract for the audio visual installation was awarded to Hammonds AVS Ltd, who imaginatively deployed QSC AcousticDesign AD-S282 and AD-S52T loudspeakers, bo

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The Netherlands - In Holland, the club Paard van Troje in Den Haag has just taken delivery of two new Soundcraft analogue mixing consoles for the smaller of its two venues. Although nominally a pop venue, the club's sound engineer Peter Kerkvliet explains that "our productions vary from hardcore, punk, metal, reggae, hiphop, singer-songwriter, americana to multimedia, presentations, debates, standup-comedy, theatre, lectures and so on. About 50 per cent of our activities are dance events."

With such a variety of presentation, one of the main reasons for his choice of Soundcraft MH3 and MH2 consoles was their versatility. "Often we do monitor-mixing from the front of house position, or FOH-mixing from the monitor position. Because of the dual-purpose set-up possible with both the MH2 and MH3, we have the option to swap desks. In most cases, the MH3 is used out fron

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UK - Liverpool Culture Company's Special Events team excelled themselves with one of the most successful November 5th events ever, staging three spectacular firework displays city-wide which were enjoyed free by over 50,000 people. They have been staged in triplicate for some years to allow those all over the city and surrounding areas easy access to the displays. All three displays were designed and co-ordinated by Steve Boothman of Fantastic Fireworks, working closely with the Culture Company team including event manager Bill Howard.

Boothman put together a pacey soundtrack based on the theme of performance tying in with the city's Year of Performance. This encompassed dance music of all types - from Fatboy Slim to Swan lake to Ballroom Blitz - and a miscellany of sporting themes - all essentially 'performance' geared.

To add depth to the overall visual image and to enhance

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UK - One of the UK's leading media agencies WWAV Rapp Collins recently sensed that they had not upgraded their multimedia infrastructure since moving into their impressive Riverside Building in Hammersmith eight and a half years ago.

"The whole experience is contained in our four showcase rooms, where our pitch work and presentations take place," said Group IT manager, Darren Watts. "The need for a new infrastructure was driven by our senior management." At the same time, he said, in order to impress clients, ease of use of any new system was of paramount importance."

A Plus Services were awarded the contract largely on the strength of work their project manager Martin Cowling had undertaken previously on the third floor of the building for one of the incumbent companies. "I decided that if the engineering and services side measured up, then A Plu

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UK - AKG Microphones has linked up with myspace.com to promote its Unsigned Heroes 07 Battle of the Bands competition, which launched this month at Music Live in Birmingham.

The competition now has its own dedicated myspace page, making it easier for bands already promoting themselves through the website to log in and upload their demos.

Under the banner 'This Ain't A Competition - It's A Battle!', AKG Microphones is encouraging up-and-coming bands to enter the competition, which could win them a day in a recording studio with a named producer and the opportunity to play at a major festival in 2007. All bands have to do is submit an MP3 of their music for the judges' consideration. Bands must have a minimum of three performers and all songs must be original compositions, not cover versions of another artist's song.

AKG's Amanda Chester says: "We know there's a we

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Germany - The new Berlin Hauptbahnhof is right in the heart of the historical 800-year-old city. The German capital's new central train station is an architectural masterpiece, and at over 900 feet long and as tall as a skyscraper, has caused more than a few awestruck passers-by to liken it to a "Cathedral of Rail Traffic". The long structure features a glass-lined outer hull that lets visitors see both the German Chancellery and the Reichstag buildings. The numbers are as impressive as the view: covering more than 70,000sq.m, and capable of hosting 2,000 trains and 300,000 commuters a day.

The opening celebration started with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel addressing an exclusive crowd of 600 invited guests and went from there with performances from popular German bands, a multimedia mega-event titled Symphony of Lights - Welcome to Berlin, specially illumina

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UK / Africa - Following on from the launch of their African Aid charity initiative in March this year, Zero 88 has been running a Teddy Bear Appeal in support of the AIDS orphanage they support in South Africa.

The 'Lean on Me' charity they support looks after babies orphaned by AIDS and tries to ensure all new additions to the centre and affected children in the local area get their own teddy bear.

Over the last few months they have collected bears from staff, customers and at tradeshows around the globe, and have just shipped in excess of 150 bears to the charity. Donations came in all shapes and sizes so there should be a suitable bear for each child.

On hearing about the imminent shipment of bears Tracey Jones, general manager of the 'Lean on Me' trust said: "This is wonderful news - thank you! We are truly blessed to have people like you and all involved in the Zer

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USA - Bandit Lites CEO, Michael T. Strickland, spoke to the Knoxville Chamberof Commerce on Thursday, November 2, 2006 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The BusinessRoundtable Live Panel Discussion is part of the annual Business and Technology Expo. This Roundtable's theme was Small to Tall- How local business people have made theirmark nationally.

Strickland and three other panel speakers addressed a distinguishedgroup of CEOs, presidents and upper management. Michael Strickland shared hisinsight of growing Bandit Lites into a global business in today's economy.People from throughout the southeast attended the event to network and learn from eachother in order to develop their own business' interest in today's fast paced globaleconomy.

The event was moderated by, Bill Brewer of the Knoxville News Sentinel and AmyNolan of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal.

The Roundtable

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UK - The extended deadline for entries for the Lighting Design Awards is now only two weeks away, at 5pm on Monday 20 November 2006.

The Entertainment Lighting Award category, sponsored by PLASA, recognises excellence and achievement in entertainment lighting. Entries are required from concerts, festivals, theatre, corporate events, exhibitions, temporary and one-off lighting installations.

Entry forms and criteria can be downloaded from the website address below, where you will also find more information on the awards. Alternatively, telephone Liz Morris on 0208 277 5501.

(Chris Henry)

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UK - Digidesign and Marquee Audio recently helped production manager Steve Watson to fulfil an ambitious project at The Sage, Gateshead. Entitled Anthem for Northumberland the project was a full length film, with musical soundtrack, aimed at recording an impression of Northumberland as seen and experienced by the young people of the county.

The unique musical composition was created and arranged by students from three Northumberland High Schools, and one special school working with 13 musicians, and The Sage Gateshead trainees. It was performed live by Northern Sinfonia and many young musicians at The Sage.

Operating under the aegis of the Arts Council's Creative Partnerships Northumberland, the enterprise was backed by musician, producer and orchestrator Nitin Sawnhey, who provided artistic direction. This is the latest of a number of creative workshops supported by Ni

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UK - J&C Joel has supplied and installed two new perimeter track systems and a selection of chromakey curtains, blacks and white cyclorama material to the brand new stv studios at Pacific Quay, Glasgow.

The studios are located facing the famous Clydebank Cranes, that have been preserved as a proud and lasting testament to Glasgow's industrial and shipping heritage, and is the new base of stv, the largest independent television franchise in Scotland.

One of the tracking systems is in Studio 1, which is used to record and broadcast the flagship daily news programme Scotland Today, the weekly Scotsport, plus a number of special programmes. A similar system has also been installed within studio 2.

J&C Joel has supplied curtains and tracking systems for other stv studios and locations for several years, so studio manager Tony McIlmurray and designer Annette Whitelaw once again tu

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Ireland - The Eccles is situated at the foot of the bay in Glengariff, Co. Cork, with far reaching views over the Atlantic and nearby Whiddy Island. Run as a family owned business, the hotel has provided accommodation for many seasoned travellers as well as extending formal welcomes to the many transatlantic Cruise liners that make Glengariff a port of call to introduce the lucky vacationers to a taste of the real Ireland, via the amazing scenery and internationally accepted hospitality.

Amongst all this, the hotel has for many years been the focus and hub of a thriving entertainment facility, with a full function suite and hall catering for private parties, large-scale weddings, concerts and conferences. Whilst proving successful, over time the hotel has suffered from noise pollution problems culminating in a recent problem that finally had to be addressed, when the new and bri

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