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14 March 2016

The Old Fire Station in Coventry's new Millennium Quarter was purchased by local entrepreneur Brian Mills of Phoenix Bars, and turned into Escape. To carry out the transfiguration he enlisted MA Design to build the interior character. LSS's Ian Potter saw the opportunity to work within the design and divide the single-floor venue into three separate sound zones, covering the live and dance area, the bar and the reception/front of house.

Potter specified four flown AQ12's and a pair of ground-stacked AQ212's for the main dancefloor, with six AQ10's and a pair of AQ112's covering the peripheral areas - all processed using two of the dedicate

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14 March 2016

This project once again saw close collaboration between the PID team, Paula Reason and Desmond Harte of London-based designers Cadmium Design and Grosvenor Casino's Senior Project Manager, Paul Taylor.

It follows a similar installation in Manchester last year. Here, Cadmium's first LED ceiling above the main bar area proved so popular with clients and staff and to be such a great atmosphere enhancer, that the concept has now become a design feature of operator Grosvenor's new 'G' brand. G Casinos present a stylishly designed modern environment, aimed at attracting a younger demographic.

Cadmium's Paula Reason explains that their brief was

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14 March 2016

Show designer Mikki Kunttu's visual design featured more than 200 sq.m of Barco's new MiTRIX LED screen, 125sq.m of ultra bright OLite 510 LED modules and three SLM R12+ digital projectors. Barco rental partner Massteknik (Sweden) was the general video supplier to the show.

Fully integrated into the stage set was a gigantic curved screen 'the cobra'. This not only towered 9.5m up and behind the stage, but also stretched out in to the audience, creating an animated catwalk. In addition to that, extending around almost the entire stage was a massive LED backdrop made up fro

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14 March 2016

SPS's Steve Yelland and Lucy Gaskell from CQ Lighting - who work regularly on lighting design and supply of equipment for the Eden Project's busy event schedule - were asked to specify a new lighting scheme for the Visitor Centre. This covers the plant sales, retail and ticketing areas and is part of a whole new look to the Visitor Centre conceived by Eugene Sellors.

The idea was that the lighting should be "bright and sparkly", and combine both an "industrial" and a "theatrical" look and feel to the space.

The proposal was to install the lighting onto a series of ceiling mounted trusses, which were quite low bec

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14 March 2016

Fronted by Irish singer Rae Garvin, Reamonn first found fame in 2000 with the hit Supergirl. For the Satis&Fy sound crew, led by sound engineer Sven Bonse and system technician Stefan Holtz, the disparities in size between the different locations made theirs a far from easy task. However, as Stefan Holtz pointed out, "with preparation and the right material, we succeeded in mastering it completely."

He continued, "In this way we were able to prepare at least a rough sketch of the configuration with which we would be working in each hall several days before we got there. In addition to the X-Line as the main PA, we

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14 March 2016

Mikki Kunttu utilised a wide range of Robe fixtures - the new all-powerful ColorSpot 2500E AT, the workhorse ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200E ATs, the new ColorSpot 700E ATs and ColorWash 250E ATs.

The deal with Robe was instigated by Eurovision 2007's technical production manager Ola Melzig, working for lighting and video suppliers/technical co-ordinators Spectra Stage & Event Technologies from Stockholm.

Melzig also used Robe moving lights for the 2005 event in Kiev, Ukraine. This proved such a positive success, that he was keen to repeat the experience when he and Spectra won the contract to technically produce the 2007 ESC.

"Robe lights are just so reliable that we had to have them again," states Melzig, who cut the deal with Robe's internatio

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14 March 2016

For FOH, Britannia Row Productions used a system comprising 48 Butterfly Hi-Pack and 16 Subtech 218 (plus six dV-Dosc on front-fill duty), all powered by Outline T series amplifiers, processed by two Dolby Lake units and mixed with a Yamaha PM5D console.

The set-up changed according to the venue, but, generally two main hangs (16+16) of Hi-Pack systems were used, plus 8+8 for 'side' seating.

In charge of PA was Richard Trow, who was already familiar with a lot of the arenas, as he'd worked in them on the last Depeche Mode tour. He was supported by FOH assistant Davide Lombardi of Brit Row, who also assisted sound engineer Michael "Bunny" Warren (Simply Red

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14 March 2016

On an initial idea of a Fibre Optic Curtain, HFM on subsequent meetings with Phil and Nakheel moved it forward to the four 6M diameter circles of Stealth LED, manufactured by Element Labs in USA.

HFM project manager Simon Husband put a team together consisting of LED video guru Ian Henderson and Miami-based video director Jason Randolph.

Husband comments, "Ian and Jason worked brilliantly with me to bring the content and technical issues together. They had us so well set up that even on the night before first show day when it was confirmed that HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum was making a spe

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14 March 2016

PRG Europe have supplied supplied kit for the show, Medvitz says : "We're using a great deal of LED fixtures as well as Color Kinetics ColorBlast 12, PixelLine battens, MAC 2ks, Vari-Lite luminaires and a handful of Syncrolite searchlights. A lot of the three or four thousand LEDs are built into the scenery, primarily so that we can do a lot of cool close up lighting with Lionel and the band. They allow us to have a lot of colour changing effects on them while performing, and we can put them in spaces wher

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14 March 2016

Lostprophets and their front-of-house engineer Alan 'Doof' McCann specified an Alpha system worldwide for two tours in 2006. Following the success of last autumn's theatre tour, the band is back to play their first arena headlining shows. For these dates, SSE Audio Group has upgraded them to a Nexo Geo T Series system plus Nexo NX242 second-generation digital controller, fitted with NXtension (expander) memory cards, and carrying the NXstream software operating system.

"It's the best I've ever heard it sound," says Jason 'Baboon' Hattams, SSE's senior systems tech. "The syst

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14 March 2016

Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity of seeing the effects that lighting can provide. The Martin team will be on hand to demonstrate the latest products and innovations of its growing range, including the new LED Videowall LC2140.

Stand C24, in Earls Court 2.

(Chris Henry)

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14 March 2016

The event, which will run from 11am-5pm, provides an opportunity for sound engineers, theatre technicians and rental companies to gain hands-on experience and training on DiGiCo's D5 and D1 digital consoles, sending multitrack mixes to Nexo's new GEO D10 tangential array, which will be flown in the venue.

The fully integrated D5 front-of-house and monitor system, with multi track/plug-in unit and ubiquitous stage rack, will be linked by a fully redundant fibre optic system to the Nexo loudspeaker system. A DiGiCo D1 will be available to allow attendees to familiarise themselves with a real-life mixing situation.

Fuzion sales director Paul Ward says: "These two major brands will be combining in a way never seen before, at a le

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14 March 2016

The Bangalore-based company, who undertake live concert work and multi-city tours with well-known Indian bands, operate a highly-specified fleet including dbx and BSS Audio processing, Soundcraft mixing consoles, AKG microphones and JBL VerTec and VRX sound reinforcement systems.

It was principally to run JBL's portable compact VRX932LA 12-inch, two-way line array loudspeaker that the company has added dbx's flagship processor to its inventory.

V&P Sound's Director, Vishnu, confirmed that the company will be using the DriveRack 4800 to control this PA in smaller gigs and the VRX915M monitors in larger capacity venues.

"We have been using dbx products since 1999, and they are

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14 March 2016

Anyone visiting the PA School in the evening of each roadshow will have the chance to enter into a prize draw to win an anniversary-edition AKG C414 - only 2007 are being produced this year, to celebrate AKG's 60th year in business, and one of them can be won at each of the three roadshow locations.

Roadshow attendees will also receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on selected gear from Harman Group companies, including the AKG D5 and C5 on-stage microphones, any of Soundcraft's EPM- and MPM-series mixers, Lexicon's MX-series reverb processors, and dbx's 166XL dual compressor/limiter/gate.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Lighting designer Mikki Kunttu says: "When we first began planning for Eurovision in Helsinki, one of the first products we brought into discussions was FogScreen projection screen. Production manager Ola Melzig had already earlier been interested to bring FogScreen projection screen in to the show. But this year we did, I mean, how can you do a Eurovision in Finland without a FogScreen projection screen? It is, after all, a Finnish product!&qu

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14 March 2016

Working with event production manager Ron Doroba, PRG also provided lighting design coordination for the main stage, pulling together designs for headliners Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine as well as other popular US and international acts into one system.

Overall, PRG supplied more than 70 moving lights along with numerous ColorBlast LED fixtures for the main stage. To illuminate almost 200 acres of grounds, PRG fitted 24 PAR 64 fix

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14 March 2016

The ZonePRO 1261 digital zone processor forms the hub of an integrated Harman Pro system proposed by distributors, LydRommet. The company was approached by the landlord of the historic building, which has been converted from the famous old Myrens Verksted mechanical workshops that existed here during the last century. Sharing ownership of the large building are four companies who respectively manage indoor climbing, squash, general fitness and golf driving simulation.

Although fitness centres are familiar territory for LydRommet the

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14 March 2016

The renowned Chateau des Duc de Bretagne castle has just re-opened after 15 years of renovation work and 3 years of complete closure. It features an innovative new video artwork covering the entire southern frontage of the building, created by Sylvie Sieg and Pierre Negre from Grenoble based agency, Atelier Lumiere, specialists in urban illumination.

It was the first time Atelier Lumiere has used video projection. They approached /ETC/ Paris - initially in 2004 - to work alongside them on the collaboration because of the company's reputation and experience in the specialist field of monumental and building pr

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14 March 2016

Davide Lombardi served as head of audio on the tour on behalf of Brit Row, as well as assistant to David Morgan, James Taylor's FOH engineer. He commented: "It was a great challenge - I had 24 Butterfly and two DVS8s controlled by two Dolby Lake units, and had to change the rig's set-up 10 times in 12 different venues, but the system responded fantastically. As it was an acoustic concert, it was fundamental for the vocals and guitar to be clear and up-front everywhere in the theatre - from the front stalls to the last row in the circle.&quo

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14 March 2016

The Galea Club is unique in being both a mainstream, year-round venue catering to the local crowd, and one of the must popular summer places to where sun worshippers flock in their many thousands. This puts a lot of pressure on the venue, and especially the sound system that must operate faultlessly 24/7. The Galea combines vigorous dance floor action with a lounge esthetic. And the club mixes an ultra-modern atmosphere with gourmet dishes in the luxurious restaurant it incorporates. The principal of PAVD, the designers and installers of the sound and lighting systems, Mr.

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14 March 2016

"Wybron is committed to making great solutions that support our customers' art and allow them to better manage their lighting designs," said Larry Turner, CEO of Wybron. "We are pleased that Manhattan Theatre Club, Royal Caribbean and Spamalot chose our InfoTrace Control and Management System. Accepting the RDM platform places them at the forefront of the industry, and we appreciate their enthusiasm for our new products. We expect to see the number of InfoTrace instalments increase throughout the year as RDM catches on."

All three of these clients loaded in InfoTrace during the first qu

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14 March 2016

For the sound system, operations director Yann Roberts chose a combination of Turbosound QLight, TCS Compact and Impact loudspeakers . Two TQ-445DPs and two TSB-118 subs service the dance floor area; the restaurant is appointed with six tq-310s, augmented by six TSB-110 subs, while eight Impact 50s with four TSB-110 subs, six TCS-101C and a further TSB-118 provide audio for the first floor. Finally, on the third floor, six Impact 50Ts are

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14 March 2016

Audica Professional was launched at PLASA in 2006 with just two distributors, CUK Audio in the UK and M-Pro in the BeNeLux. This has expanded rapidly and the company now has established distribution throughout all major European markets as well as in Russia, parts of Asia and Australia.

Derek West, sales director of Audica Professional, comments, "The last eight months have shown amazing growth in our distribution and sales, and proved the importance of the main industry exhibitions, the pro audio media and distributor networking. Being with CUK from the start gave us a successful PLASA launch and w

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14 March 2016

Revenue increases were prevalent across all of Martin's key markets with strong demand for both established products such as MAC 2000s and newer products such as the MAC 700 and MAC TW1. Profit before tax for the first quarter of 2007 was DKK 9.1 million (approx. $1.6 million), also a Q1 record, compared to a loss of DKK 3.0 million (approx. $.5 million) in the first quarter of 2006, which was better than expected, says the company.

Continued improvements in quality standards and supply capacity coupled with expected strong