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UK - As the centrepiece of the recent MPH06 exhibition at the NEC and Earls Court, the specially-constructed MPH Theatre hosted one of the most spectacular motoring shows ever created. In total, around 100,000 'petrol-heads' crammed in to see the procession of supercars in the purpose-created arenas at the two venues, with respective capacities of 3,900 and 4,500.

Compered by Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson and James May, along with Fifth Gear TV presenter Tiff Needell, each of the 23 x 75-minute shows was reinforced by a high level of production - from the pyrotechnics that accompanied the stunts, to the highest powered state-of-the-art DLP projection available to service company XL Video.

Project manager Lee Spencer commandeered the latest additions to XL Video's hire-fleet, the supercharged Christie S+20K SXGA+ Roadsters, fitted with polarising lens to deliver a st

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UK - Sennheiser's evolution range of microphones and in-ear monitors is being used by Corinne Bailey Rae - who recently topped the BBC poll of 'Sound of 2006' - on her current world tour. Corinne's monitor engineer, Duncan Wild says: "The e935 gives me a wonderful clean definition on Corinne's voice, and complements her dynamic variations. I've not found any other mic that can do that with such clarity. For backing vocals, I have selected the supercardioid e945s, as these give me both a warm response and minimize bleed through. On the kit, I have always been using e614s on overheads, snare bottom and hi-hat. I have been amazed at how good they sound, and their exceptional value for money!"

Wild adds: "The Evolution G2 IEMs proved to be the most reliable, easiest to set up and the best sounding in-ear monitor systems I have ever used. Despite the unpredictable cond

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The Middle East - If your organisation has been involved in the design of a lighting project, within the Middle East region in the last five years, then you may want to submit an entry to the Middle East Lighting Design Awards.

The awards presentation will be held at a Gala dinner on the 21 May 2007 at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai. The Awards are fully supported by Jonathan Speirs, of Speirs and Major Associates, who believes this event will further encourage and stimulate creativity in the field of lighting design.

The eight award categories, including the prestigious Middle East Lighting Designer of the Year, will be judged by a broad based panel of industry experts, including Barry Hannaford IALD director of independent lighting design company dpa lighting consultants.

For full details of the event, award categories, sponsorship opportunities, and how to ent

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South Africa - The Stones chain of entertainment venues is rapidly becoming one of South Africa's most established and successful hotspots and has been successfully franchised across 19 branches nationwide. Two of the chain's key venues in Cape Town and Pretoria now boast state-of-the-art EAW sound systems throughout, supplied and installed by EAW's South African distributor, Johannesburg-based systems specialists, Surgesound.

Stones venues incorporate chilled lounge areas, up-beat dance-floors, live music stages and a relaxed bar and pool table environment, all open seven days per week. After hearing the EAW system recently installed by Surgesound in the Manhattan Club in Johannesburg, Adam Collingwood, operations manager for the Stones Group, had no hesitation in commissioning Surgesound to supply and install a customised Lab.gruppen-powered EAW system throughout Stones Tygerv

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World - Lighting director/programmer Graeme Nicol is using the grandMA console on Shakira's Oral Fixation tour now wrapping up the year in the singer's native Colombia, Chile and Argentina.

"I find you never stop learning on the grandMA," says Nicol. "There's always something new to learn to use the console to the max. Shakira's tour is more of a rock show than I've been doing lately with a lot of flash and boom. We have an interesting set up of 134 moving lights run via SMPTE. The keyboard tech runs tracks, which are striped with SMPTE. He starts his tracks, which sends SMPTE out to me, and the grandMA runs the lighting cues. It's a very interesting concept."

The show's complement of moving lights consists of 34 Clay Paky Alpha spots with custom gobos, 40 MAC 2000 washes, 48 PC beams, and 12 Vari*Lite VL2402/2500s. Eight Atomic 3K strobes and hundre

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USA - Adamson Systems Engineering has expanded their Y-Axis Partner Network in the United States with the addition of BP (Bishop Petty) Lighting Sound & Video, based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1990, BP Lighting also provides sales of entertainment lighting, sound and video equipment as well as expendables and accessories for installations. They work out of a 10,000sq.ft location with 12 full time employees and various freelancers.

After meticulous research into line arrays, they narrowed down their choices to a few, "We were amazed at the amount of detailed information available to us that explained the inherent differences of a line array," says Frank Burton, vice president / sales / production. "The calculations were solid and we followed that up by listening to various line arrays and were sold on the sonic clarity of the speakers as well as the ease of

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UK - One of the dominant themes of the December meeting of PLASA's Manufacturer's Forum will be a discussion of Ofcom's proposals (as part of the TV switchover from analogue to digital) to sell-off the radio frequencies currently used by the UK entertainment industry. If the sell-off goes ahead as planned, it will leave the UK live events sector without a licence and everyone involved in the sale, hire or use of radio microphones, in-ear monitoring systems, talkback systems or wireless links will be severely affected.

BEIRG is lobbying Government to highlight the damage that the spectrum sell-off will have to companies in the sector. Sir Alexander Muir-Mackenzie and Jonathan Sayeed from PLASA's political strategists Ranelagh, together with members of BEIRG, will explain the key objectives of the campaign and hopefully secure interest from members to support the solutions being p

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Greece - For the second time, Glass Page's events management team turned to Leicestershire-based Hawthorns to provide the technical solution in terms of lighting, sound and set for drinks giant Diageo's recent Global Finance Conference held in Athens, Greece.Two 45ft trailers were used to transport over 200m of stage trussing, 40+ Martin MAC lighting fixtures and a D&B sound system from Hawthorn's base in Old Dalby to Athens.

A dedicated seven-man project team was deployed by Hawthorn for the week-long conference, which included such events as an Opening Dinner, Conference and a Team Building activity room for the 200+ delegates. Matt Oscroft, the Hawthorn project manager said: "One of the most demanding aspects of the project was to create a stunning lighting effect at the entrance of the venue."

Diageo took the opportunity at the conference to highlight its sponsor

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Spain - French multimedia retailer FNAC has commissioned Vieta to kit out special event stages in all its new stores, commencing with the most recent openings in Murcia and Bilbao.

The French company FNAC is one of Europe's largest retailers of cultural and consumer electronics products, from books to TV sets to computer software. Vieta collaborated with FNAC on the 10th anniversary celebrations of its megastore on Barcelona's famous Diagonal. FNAC has asked for Vieta's PA speakers to be installed in new stores as they open across the country.

In each FNAC branch, an 'auditorium' is dedicated to different in-store marketing events, such as book signings, personal appearances by musicians or authors, and promotional demonstrations. In Barcelona, the store auditorium hosted a number of bands playing live, using Vieta's Fa-Line speakers. Deployment of a number of Vieta's highly-p

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UK - The development of modern, fully-featured performance spaces in both state-run and privately-funded educational facilities, has become something of a mission for Stuart Graham's company Clarity in Sound, Light & Vision. But even he would be surprised at the progressive approach taken by the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) to the construction of a new theatre at Blackheath High School in south-east London this year.

The GDST is a group of 28 independent schools operating in England and Wales and Blackheath High School was founded in 1880 as part of the Trust.

The school's business manager Tony Sutherland says the project appeared on the radar soon after the Senior Department relocated to its new premises in 1994, and by 1999 a decision to build a £1.5 million, 345-seat auditorium - principally to be used for performing arts, ballet and school assembly - was rubber sta

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UK - SSE Audio Group has one of its four Soundcraft Vi6 digital consoles on tour with rock band Thunder, one of the big guns on the British metal rock circuit, selling out all the dates on its UK tour of academies and civic halls.

The Soundcraft Vi6 is in the hands of front-of-house engineer Pete Russell, who has been mixing the band for nearly 12 years. As a project manager for the SSE Audio Group, Russell has been close to the development programme of the Vi6 but this is the first opportunity he has had to use the console on the road.

"Although it's right up there sonically, the outstanding quality of this desk is that it is just so user-friendly," comments Russell. "I'm very impressed by the amount of information that is available on the surface, and how easy it is to use it. The layout is excellent - within two minutes of seeing the Vi6 for the first time, I

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UK - Showsec was the Official Security Partner for the inaugural 2006 International Sport Event Management Conference, at London's QE2 conference centre. Showsec's London office managed all aspects of the security at the Conference, organised by Rushman's, and featuring representatives of London 2112, FIFA World Cup 2006, ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Rugby World Cup and 2006 Ryder Cup.

Six Showsec staff led by Tracey McCarthy ensured the 250 international delegates were not only safe but greeted cordially throughout the two day summit as they made their way around the two levels of the event.

(Chris Henry)

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UK - Orbital Sound has recently completed the third and final phase of a year-long reorganisation program. Apart from doubling its staff and setting up rigorous benchmark testing, it has also involved some major structural work to expand the available space. The result is a highly modern facility, to service its clients in the UK and mainland Europe.

Bringing in experience from the retail industry, Samantha Loveless was appointed as warehouse manager in January 2006, previously with Amazon UK. Joining the company with absolutely no knowledge of sound equipment, but with considerable knowledge of warehousing, she has successfully implemented some rigorous changes to propel the company forwards as a leading rental and sales facility.

She commented: "On joining the company it was clear that it had enjoyed considerable growth in only a few years, and inevitably the warehouse

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USA - Indiana-based Apollo Design Technology Inc, a leading manufacturer and distributor of lighting effects products and accessories for the entertainment industry, was granted an occupancy permit for the recently completed 5,000sq.ft building expansion at its headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The space will be used for additional glass gobo production and warehousing for its growing lines of gel and motion effects products and accessories.

"Everyone at Apollo welcomes the additional space," states company founder and president Joel Nichols. "Not only can we expand and breathe, it will also allow us to pursue additional opportunities within the entertainment industry."

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Kinesys' hugely flexible K2 3D automation control system is in action on the Night of The Proms spectacular, currently playing two weeks of sold out shows at Rotterdam's Ahoy arena.

The system is controlling twenty 500kg VariStar motors (with a speed of up to 30 metres a minute) which are moving four large 'shamrocks' - irregular triangular shaped trussing set pieces - dressed with reflective scrims and four bars each rigged with four Vari*Lite 2500 Spots upstage. All these pieces appear to 'float' in and out during the performance - such is the smoothness and accuracy of K2.

The system was specified by lighting and visual designer Geert Vanhout, who first saw it used with Belgian rock superstars Clouseau. It's being supplied by leading Belgian production company EML who are also supplying lighting and sound to the Night of The Proms production.

Three moto

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UK - The British Bridal Exhibition is now firmly established as Europe's premier bridal trade show. For bridal retailers and buyers, it offers a fantastic opportunity to browse and buy from over 145 of the finest bridal manufacturers and designers across the world. It attracts over 8,000 visitors every year and takes place in Harrogate International Exhibition Centre.

Rick Lawson of Funtime AV was given the challenge of lighting the main catwalk. He explains the design of the lighting, "The brief was to build a set incorporating lighting and effects from a basic design. Our aim was to achieve balanced coverage of white light on the catwalk with a pallet of sometimes dramatic backdrops to create a very different scene for each designer in the show."

The lights used for the event were MAC 700 Profiles, MAC 550s and MAC 250 Washes and Kryptons, plus the usual PARcans an

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UK - Whilst many major towns and cities across the UK are served by local theatres, each playing a multipurpose role within the community, The Lights in Andover has raised the bar a good deal higher.

Originally built in 1972, the waterfront location was a run-down venue when it was taken over by the local Test Valley Borough Council. But this Autumn it has emerged as a vibrant regenerated facility, with its own leisure arena, dance studio and theatre, which will accommodate an ambitious programme of music, theatre, comedy, dance, education and conferencing.

The theatre has undergone the first UK installation of QSC's ILA line array sound reinforcement system, which was recommended and installed by locally-based specialists Stagecraft Theatre Services Ltd (STS).

Stagecraft have been in business for three decades - and specifying QSC products for at least the last ten years. I

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UK - With a UK tour that started in June, British soul singer and songwriter Terri Walker has been talent-spotted by Shuttlesound as the perfect endorsee for Electro-Voice's wireless microphones. The former Mercury Prize and MOBO nominee has an outstanding vocal range and timbre, which is served by the EV RE1, and the endorsement also includes guitarists Toby Oriyende and Joel Grant, who are using EV's wireless guitar systems.

Terri's third album, I Am, has just been released by Dekkor Records, which also operates the successful Pizza Express jazz venue in Soho's Dean Street. Showcasing her new live act at the club, prior to the summer festival scene, provided her first opportunity to try out the Electro-Voice mics.

"The microphone is my instrument," says Terri, "it's a vital tool in creating a close connection with each audience member, and making them f

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UK - As part of a "world-wide shake-up", Vestax products are once again hitting high demand, with DJ endorsees including Carl Cox and US based DJ Qbert stressing their role in the club install market, according to UK distributor, Leisuretec Distribution.

Appearing at Brighton's Ocean Rooms this autumn, DJ Qbert & DJ Muzzell utilised the Vestax PMC-08Pro professional hybrid digital mixer and QFO system. Whereas the QFO is portable and ideal for scratch and trick mixes, the PMC-08 is the first scratch mixer with digital processing; a great install product that may be a hidden gem for venues, says Muzzell: "I got the PMC 08 a few days ago and didn't go out for 24 hours. It has an analogue-to-digital converter built in, which enables DJs to shape the sound very precisely. The up-faders are fantastic; they've got a new curve which means they cut in right at the top. In

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Denmark - Copenhagen was Stage One's destination when, for the fifth year running, the company was asked to apply its experience and skills to the MTV Europe Music Awards, one of the most prestigious events in the music calendar.

Working for MTV Networks Europe, Stage One built all of the Ray Winkler-designed stage and set elements, along with specific band extras for several of the artists, including Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, P Diddy and Rihanna.

The main stage and performance areas consisted of a 40m diameter, horseshoe shaped stage, along with a 12m diameter central performance area and several presenter islands. All stage areas were clad in over 900sq.m of black mirror gloss laminate, with a three-strip Neo Light detail to the edges.

Providing several unusual access points onto the stage were two time tunnels consisting of structural rings, inserted with Neo Ligh

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USA - JBL Professional Vertec system owner Sound Image was recently named the winner of a 2006 Parnelli Award for Sound Company of the Year. The award was presented to Sound Image president Dave Shadoan on October 20 at the LDI convention in Las Vegas. The Parnelli Awards are chosen by subscribers of Projection, Lights & Staging News and Front of House magazines.

In 2006, Sound Image serviced some of the world's most successful tours, including Toby Keith, Eric Clapton, Tool, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Jimmy Buffett. On these tours, Sound Image deployed Vertec line array systems, using Vertec VT4889 full-size line array enclosures and VT4880 line array subwoofers. "Our company philosophy is to be the best you can be and give 110 percent at all times," Shadoan said.

According to Shadoan, the use of Vertec line arrays correlates directly with this philosophy. &qu

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UK - The first Avolites Pearl Expert is on tour with Paul Weller - specified by LD Pip Rhodes. When Weller told Rhodes he wanted the show to be operated 'live', rather than pre-programmed or replayed in a cue list style, this seemed an ideal opportunity to road-test the new console, which is designed for even more flexible 'hands-on' operation than the original Pearl.

"He wanted a real authentic 'feel' thing going on with the lighting, in line with his music" explains Rhodes, who is very happy to run the show in this spontaneous manner.

Rhodes has always been an Avolites fan - and the Pearl has always been the ultimate 'live' operational desk. The start of the Weller tour coincided with the launch of the Pearl Expert which offers additional live operational features, and so Rhodes thought this was an ideal opportunity to thoroughly road test the desk.

The desk is c

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Italy - Martin Audio loudspeakers feature in a revolutionary Italian leisure hospitality concept which has opened in Brescia. Known as MYA Dinner Moving the premises simultaneously operates as a restaurant, lounge bar, meeting point, dancefloor, art gallery, theatre and much more.

Accessed via a crystal elevator, the articulated scene is spread across 800 sq.metres on different levels, with electronic systems able to completely transform each area. This is an innovative use of space where the common denominator is 'togetherness' - the kitchen, rooms, music and decor effects are all united in a single aesthetic, with high architectural values masterminded by Adriano Verzelletti.

On the top floor, customers are able to dine under the stars - thanks to an additional 500sq.m terrace, with hanging gardens and water games. After dinner MYA 'changes its skin', transforming completely

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Spain / France - Vieta has appointed new distribution for its professional sound reinforcement products in France, choosing the new independent company Dimension AV to represent the brand.

Based in Paris, Dimension AV is headed up by Directeur Génerale Stéphane Morillon, a highly experienced pro-audio reseller, who has served with Edge Technology and SCV Audio, as well as leading French PA company Dispatch. In Dimension AV, he is partnered by Ampco Flashlight Holding, which is distributing the Vieta portfolio of products in Belgium. Dimension AV made its corporate debut at the SATIS exhibition in Paris, announcing its partnership with Vieta by displaying the radical So Line of wireless loudspeakers.

From So Line to the versatile and inexpensive loudspeakers of the Do Line, Morillon sees a huge variety of customers for the Vieta range of pro products, from theme p

  1. White Light supplies Northumberland Lights
  2. An eventful time at Northern Light
  3. Star Gazing in Store Street
  4. Outline Butterfly at Lisbon convention
  5. PALME Dubai expands again
  6. Meyer on Cirque du Soleil's Delirium
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