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New Zealand - dbx Professional Products, a Salt Lake City-based manufacturer of professional signal processing products and a division of Harman International, have provided a flexible routing solution at the heart of a new museum installation in New Zealand.

Jands (NZ) Ltd of Auckland and Deacons Retrovision of Taupo, have designed, supplied and commissioned a new audio system for the highly acclaimed Taupo Museum of History and Art, with a dbx ZonePRO 1260 digital zone processor at the hub.

The town of Taupo is situated in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the edge of the largest freshwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Lake Taupo is actually an active volcanic crater that was formed some 200 million years ago in what has been described as the world's largest explosion. Taupo is thus a tourist mecca and attracts thousands of visitors each year as it is the gatew

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UK - Gary Campbell of Campbell Lighting Design, and Barry Hannaford and Nick Hoggett of dpa Lighting Design, have announced the amalgamation of their respective lighting consultancies. The combined company will be known as dpa Lighting Design. This merger brings together two of the leading lighting design practices to form the most substantial lighting consultancy in the UK and perhaps the world. Both practices are "enjoying an immensely successful period", each with varying strengths that will combine to provide a unique human resource in terms of experience and scale, the company says. When further recruitment is completed to fill current design vacancies the combined practices will have a team of 50 people.

The joint statement says: "Ensuring clients and other professionals still experience the same personal service that both practices have provided to date is

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South Africa - Gearhouse (PTY) Ltd and Ashraf Omar (AV Network) this month announced the launch of a new company, Inhouse Venue Technical Management (Pty) Ltd (IVTM). Part of the Gearhouse group of companies, Inhouse VTM was formed to facilitate the supply and management of technical equipment and personnel within key venues across the Western Cape. The service enables venues to rent in the latest equipment and technical expertise without incurring expensive capital outlay. Cutting edge lighting, audio, staging, audio visual, daylight screens, power and rigging equipment coupled with experienced technical staff ensure that the event is seamless and there is also the additional benefit of an onsite branch to resolve any last minute eventualities.

The joint venture is the culmination of years of discussion between Inhouse managing director Ashraf Omar and Gearhouse directors, whic

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USA - Since being founded by John and Helen Meyer in 1979, Meyer Sound's dedication to producing products of consistent quality has dictated that manufacturing be at the company's headquarters in Northern California, where it can be overseen and developed. The company's first years were spent at a location in San Leandro, but since 1984, manufacturing has been at the company's base in Berkeley, Calif.

In the beginning, Meyer Sound bought drivers and modified each one to meet the company's specs. By the mid-1990s, with the company growing and introducing self-powered systems, this was no longer a workable system. So, Meyer Sound made a commitment to fabricating its own loudspeaker drivers. Since the company was already bursting at the seams in its original building, the decision to make drivers meant making a major expansion and constructing an entirely new facility.

Meyer Soun

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UK - For the 12th successive year, Hawthorns were contracted by East Midlands based The Christmas Company to provide the technical solution for it's Christmas party events held at Marquee venues in Bracknell, Leicester and Nottingham.

The Christmas parties take place over 20 nights in December and attract up to 1200 guests per night at each venue.Each Marquee is individually themed for the parties, with Bracknell hosting One Night in Bangkok, Leicester with its Russian-themed Gatecrash the Kremlin and Plunder the Pyramids in Nottingham.

Hawthorn provided all lighting, sound (Bracknell only), power distribution, drapes, star cloths (not Bracknell) and rigging.

80 days of manpower and effort were required by the Hawthorn team to rig each marquee and 30 days for de-rigging once the party schedule has been completed. Furthermore, Hawthorn provided operating

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UK - In December 2006, for the fifth year running, A&O Lighting Technology of Bremen, Germany, installed a seasonal display at the Volkswagen Autostadt theme park, using high-powered alpha one Falcon fixtures to create visual effects. The winter production in Wolfsburg, Germany features illuminated factory buildings, a searchlight display, and lighting for an ice-dancing show featuring skating star Norbert Schramm.

This year's Autostadt theme was 'A Russian Winter Journey'. Designer Max Wehberg and technical administrator Christian Kiel specified 20 Falcon Beam 7K Xenon fixtures to illuminate the landmark Volkswagen factory chimneys, simulating giant candles. The display also used a variety of other products in the Falcon range for special effects, including: Sky Falcon Arc white 1.2K HSR, Sky Falcon Arc colour 1.2K HSR, and the Falcon Static Arc white 4K Xenon. In all, one hund

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UK - Lighting designer Nick Jevons of Electric Fly Productions has bought a new Avolites Pearl Expert lighting console - which has gone straight out on Jarvis Cocker's sensational solo tour.

The new purchase is Jevons' first Avolites console - although he has enthusiastically specified and used Avo products many of his shows and tours. He says "When the Expert came out, with it's increased power and flexibility, I knew that it was the perfect desk for me and the type of shows I design and operate. Apart form that,I thought it was about time I owned an Avolites desk!"

A number of things swung it for him - one of which is the split roller. Jevons has always embraced the integration of lighting and video - right from the off - during his early days with the Super Furry Animals nearly a decade ago.

Now his shows always feature a mix of conventional, moving and digital

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Russia - Moscow-based systems integrator and distribution specialists, MS Max, have recently been named EAW distributor for Russia. MS Max is one of the largest distributors and installers of professional audio and AV equipment in Russia, and also has offices in Beverly Hills, CA.

MS Max's managing director Katherine Shesternina is looking forward to the collaboration. "EAW is a prestigious international loudspeaker brand that both complements and adds value to our existing portfolio. It has just the sort of high-end, high-tech profile we were looking for, yet at the same time, offers a huge variety of products that will be of great interest to our installation wing. EAW is an excellent fit for us."

EAW's European sales manager, Sean Martin, agrees. "Furthermore, the timing was perfect for both if us," he explained. "MS Max were looking for a major pro

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UK - Sound professionals in Turkey can now purchase HM Electronics, Inc. (HME) wireless intercom systems directly from Nefan Ticaret Vesanayi, Ltd.

"We are excited to have a distributor with the industry stature of Nefan working with HME," said John Kowalski, sales manager of HME's Pro Audio Division. "In addition to delivering outstanding customer service, Nefan is a proven market leader. They have a solid understanding of our products and we're confident that they will brilliantly succeed in bringing HME solutions to the Turkish market."

Nefan will distribute the DX Series of Digital Wireless Intercom Systems and the award-winning PRO850 Wireless Intercom System to users throughout Turkey from its locations in Istanbul and Ankara.

HME's Digital DX Series Wireless Intercoms operate within the 2.4 GHz range, offers clear, hands-free communications, and is

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The 30 finalists in the lighting design awards 2007 have been announced. Top design practices such a BDP Lighting, Arup Associate, Pinniger & Partners, DPA and Lighting Design International all vie for top awards alongside some innovative newcomers. Projects shortlisted include the lighting of a 56-metre luxury yacht, a tennis museum, three churches and two bridges.

A scheme at the Emirates Stadium by Kate Wilkins and Virgin's luxury Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow by Isometrix Lighting + Design both make the cut in the Leisure category while hotly tipped Saint Paul's cathedral causes no surprises in the Heritage section.

In the entertainment category Robbie Williams having made the grade for the second year running is battling with Pink and Glyndebournes's production of Cosi Fan Tutte for top honours. While over in the innovations section, major manufacturers include Hoffmeister, Tho

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UK - Digital media hardware and software specialists Radical Lighting are celebrating their tenth birthday with the launch of a completely new-look website. They've also sold six of their latest NG1 digital media servers to UK lighting rental company HSL, and kicked off 2007 with the sale of an NG1 system to control a videowall in the reception of Virgin Radio's HQ.

Long time customer HSL has recently purchased six brand new state-of -the-art computer systems complete with NG Pro and PixelDrive fully installed. These systems have been specially customised by Radical Lighting and include the next generation of AMD processors and SLI graphics. HSL's project Manager Mike Oates says: "It's now essential for any rental company to be able to offer media servers to their clients. Digital lighting is being increasingly specified on all types of jobs and that needs easily programmab

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Dubai - Install Middle East, the AV installation and integration technology sector of the PALME Middle East show, has received a major boost with the confirmation of several major new exhibitors.

Show organisers IIR Entertainment & Installation Technology Group says that the addition of companies such as Bose, Crestron and Opus Technologies to the exhibition roster will have implications not only for residential/lifestyle enhancement, but also in the commercial world.

These are joined by Visionaire, which supplies advanced audio visual and communication solutions to major commercial projects, and architectural lighting giants, Lumasense.

Said Lumasense's Mike Kanaan, "PALME Middle East has matured into an important show. We look forward to using it as a showcase to expose our premium lighting products to both the architectural and entertainment sectors, and to becoming

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Italy - Outline Professional Audio has opened its training academy in Brescia. The company says that the growing popularity of its Butterfly line array has meant that opening the academy and giving a formal qualification for students that pass the informative and rigourous modules is now part of the sale.

Sales director Giorgio Biffi comments, "Following sales to a number of high profile clients, we realised that it was a good idea to open a training facility here in Italy as we have all the engineers available to convey and answer any technical questions that our customers may ask, we can also show them our manufacturing process from start to finish."

The course which lasts for two days contains theory and practical modules and culminates in a formal qualification allowing the engineer to use Outline's propriety software (VIP) and gain an accreditation known as VIPA

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USA - Wybron, Inc. reports that it has been granted US Patent No. 7,163,317 which covers Wybron's core technology relating to its dichroic CMY colour-changing system that allows for colour fades across a wide spectrum, inside profile and wash style fixtures. This technology is integral to Wybron's family of Nexera fixtures.

"For more than 25 years, Wybron has continually invested in innovating and developing advanced lighting systems," said Larry Turner, CEO of Wybron. "We listen to our customers and base our unique designs on their demands. Because of positive customer feedback, we are integrating this patented technology into new products like our fibre-optic illuminator. We intend to launch this new product in the coming weeks."

The Nexera utilises a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow dichroic filters, which are introduced into the beam of light, controll

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Germany - The Bangaluu club in Berlin, housed in the former city centre post office, has been transformed into a sprawling complex that houses a lounge, a dance floor on stage, and a VIP dinner club where the guests literally recline while they dine on a sea of white beds.

The company responsible for the technical design of Bangaluu's sound and light systems was Atlantis Sound of Berlin. Managers Andreas Seeringer and Benjamin Preuß had already had very positive experiences with HK Audio products on earlier projects, and so for their new project they again contacted the sound specialists from southwest Germany.

HK Audio Installation Line speakers were selected for all areas of Bangaluu. The bed-filled restaurant, an area of 220 square metres, was equipped with four IL 12.1 loudspeaker cabinets, four IL 12.2 cabinets, and two IL 218 subwoofers, all in white, driven by a DSM 20

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World - Alternative rock band Tool has added two grandMA full-size, one for lighting control and one for video control, to its manifest for its forthcoming US, European and Australian dates. "Video is a very dominant factor with Tool," notes designer/director Mark Jacobson who has been working with the band since 1996. "All the video is pre-taped; there's no live camera. We don't use spots, just the fixtures we have on the rig to give a more mysterious look.

"I've used the grandMA almost exclusively since 2002," he continues. "It gives me the flexibility to move things around the way I like it to work. I'm not forced to run the show the way whoever designed the board wants me to; instead, the grandMA is very open to the user. I also love its wireless remote."

The lighting complement controlled by the grandMA includes 24x Martin Mac 2000 profi

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USA - Young lighting designers can showcase their talents and win an all-expense-paid trip to the Worship Facilities Expo (WFX) show in Atlanta as part of the Elation Education Experience.

The contest will ask students and young lighting designers to come up with lighting specs and a design layout for an imaginary multipurpose youth ministry building with a stage performance area. Entrants will be provided with CompuLive Pro software, along with a stage, trussing and room layout scene -- and, just like in the "real world," they'll have to work within a budget and power service limitations.

Anyone interested in entering the contest should e-mail a request for an application to the Elation Education Experience website, e3@elationlighting.com . They should also include a line or two about themselves, covering educational and job experience. Once an application is accept

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UK - Thousands gathered in London's Trafalgar Square for the third Russian Winter Festival, where Star Events Group took on the challenge of installing its groundbreaking Morbit stage. Performers included The Suvorovsky Ensemble of the Military and Music Academy of the Ministry of Defence (originally set up as a second Moscow school for the Red Army), folk groups including Cossack Soul, the Chuvash State Ensemble of Song and Dance, Pelageya and Russian Song, plus contemporary artists including Ranetki and Tokio and Russian pop legend Garik Sukachiov.

Star Events Group supplied its 13m Morbit stage for the event, plus a 5m front of house structure positioned on top of the Square's terrace. The stage, dressed with large banners supplied by Imaginators, was put into position by a standard tractor unit and built using its pair of integral cranes. These were then used to fly the PA.<

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Taiwan/USA - JTS Professional of Taiwan has appointed speaker manufacturer FBT Elettronica, of Recanati, Italy and its US. division, FBT Inc. as its exclusive distributor of its Wireless Systems and Wired Microphones for the US FBT Italy will also be the exclusive JTS distributor in Italy.

The extensive JTS product line encompasses wired microphones for performance and studio applications as well as wired gooseneck, choir, lavalier, boundary mics for system integrators with installed sound applications and a broad selection of UHF wireless microphone systems and In Ear monitoring systems.

"We at FBT USA are very excited to introduce the JTS product line in the US. JTS products have become very popular throughout Europe, Australia, and Asia offering superb quality performance and reliability equalling offerings from many major microphone brands," states Tom Concorde,

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UK - Stage Electrics is continuing its successful training programme with many courses already confirmed for the first half of 2007, including the new Advanced Rigging and Flying Course.

A total of 19 dates have been scheduled between February and June. Places are now available on courses such as PAT Testing, Working at Heights, Fire Safety, Electricity at Work and the ever popular Pyrotechnics Safety Awareness.

New topics introduced this year include Introduction to Rigging and Introduction to Lighting which are both designed for those new to the industry. Master classes and advanced courses are another addition to the programme. A Moving Lights Master Class is being held in Manchester on April 12 and London on the May 10; Advanced Rigging and Flying Training takes place in London on March 29.

Training manager Sara Alarabi said, "Our courses are held throughout the UK,

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USA - Dolby Laboratories' live sound applications engineer Miguel Hadelich recently completed set up of four wirelessly-controlled Dolby Lake processors installed to manage the L-Acoustics PA speaker and Clair Brothers audio monitor systems at Yahoo! Music's Nissan-sponsored Live Sets venue in Los Angeles.

Ian Dittbrenner, audio director, senior original content producer and production systems analyst, Yahoo! Music, designed the Digidesign Venue-based performance sound and audio recording systems with the aid of Delta H Design, headed by Hanson Hsu , who also acoustically designed the performance space set.

The Live Sets soundstage, located at the 20th Century Fox lot in Los Angeles, made its debut in late 2006 with a performance by Christina Aguilera and has since hosted artists such as Tony Bennett, Incubus, Beck and John Legend. The live music performances, interspersed wit

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USA - Lighting Designer Carlos Colina turned to a Martin lighting rig that included BigLite 4.5 and SuperBig 7K fixtures for Univision Network's Nuestra Navidad presented by Target. Aired on December 8, 2006 on Univision, America's leading Spanish-language network, and produced by Emilio Estefan and Univision, the show featured an array of the most popular holiday classics and current chart toppers performed by an all-star line-up of Latin performers including Mexican superstar recording artists Pepe Aguilar and Joan Sebastian.

"The concept behind the lighting design was to help expand the set beyond its borders," comments Carlos Colina. "The audience and starfield was the only set, so I created a symmetrical look with two circular trusses with ten spokes coming out extending towards the starfield. I finished it off with 20" box trussing connecting between th

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USA - The Oriental Mission Church located in Los Angeles, California, has upgraded its sound system with the Adamson SpekTrix Line.

The design consists of two left & right main arrays of four SpekTrix 5 degrees boxes, with a single 15 degree SpekTrix Wave box at the bottom of each hang. A centre cluster of two Adamson SpekTrix and two SpekTrix Waves fills the centre of the seating area and the extreme front rows in front of the stage.

The Speakers are powered with QSC PLX 1104 and PLX 2502 amplifiers and processed with XTA Dp448 processors. The system design was executed by Rutherford Design, a consulting firm based in Northridge, California; using Adamson's Shooter Software. The Mission Church's house sound Engineer is Mr. Duho Kang.

(Jim Evans)

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Spain - ARX Systems, the Australian based manufacturer of professional audio equipment has confirmed the appointment of Equip's So Illum S.L as its new Distributor for Spain.

ARX's managing director Colin Park said, " We're very pleased to have Vicente Ros and his team at Equip's So Illum S.L as our new distributor in Spain which Spain is a challenging market for most manufacturers. Equip's So Illum S.L has been active in the Spanish market for many years and are well respected in the live sound and Installation sectors. which is where ARX's products and research and development efforts are focused."

Alongside ARX, Equip's So Illum S.L also represents RD Audio in the Spanish market.

(Jim Evans)

  1. Lakeside installs Congo jr console
  2. Meyer on Sweden's Lake Siljan
  3. Allen & Heath installed in HK Jockey Club
  4. Elation Announces 2007 Roadshow
  5. CP Sound at Beirut Express
  6. The Tragically Hip choose DL.2s
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