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UK - PLASA Events has unveiled the extended educational programme that will be a key feature of PLASA07 - with many of the sessions offering free admission to show visitors.

Four days of exclusive seminars, training sessions and workshops will be held in four purpose-built PLASA Education Theatres on the main show floor in Earls Court 2, divided into official 'special interest' seminar theatre sessions and exhibitor-led sessions.

Last year's guest presenters Technologies for Worship and InfoComm International return with an expanded seminar programme, while Cast Software will host a series of visualisation training sessions. Located nearby, PLASA will also host the first live pilot assessments for the National Rigging Certificate - the major new scheme that provides a recognised framework for measuring professional rigging skills.

Special Interest Seminars
This fou

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UK - Specialist asset finance company, Medialease, has commissioned a three part series of Podcasts looking at the challenges of technology purchase in the live production and fixed installation markets.

Talking to some of the serious players in the business, including Britannia Row's Bryan Grant, John Penn from SSE and XL Video's Lee Spencer, along with key manufacturers Barco and Lighthouse, Part One, entitled All the World's a Stage Payment, looks at the evolution of the industry and the attitude of the banks and asset finance institutions that service it.

"We decided to commission a series of Podcasts looking at how the industry has changed over the last four or five years," explains Medialease's Paul Robson. "It's gone from being very much a cottage industry, run by people who were passionate, but treated it pretty much as a hobby, to a multi-million

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UK - A.C. Lighting has been confirmed as an Official Car Sponsor of the Arden International racing team for this year's GP2 motor racing series.

The Championship is designed to equip every member of every team with the experience, knowledge and determination to succeed in Formula One and features cars running at speeds only a few seconds shy of F1 pace. For this season Arden opted for rookie drivers Adrian Zaugg and Bruno Senna, nephew of the triple F1 Champion Ayrton Senna.

A.C. provided the Arden GP2 team's innovative 'bullet-shaped' garage lighting pods, which feature the latest LED colour-changing technology and were custom designed to be in keeping with the cars' cutting-edge aesthetic and functional design.

Phill Capstick, the company's UK sales director, comments: "A.C. Lighting is extremely proud to be sponsoring the Arden International GP2 racing team. Their tr

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Germany - In celebration of its 10th year in business, Look Solutions has launched its new website in advance of PLASA 2007. The new website is designed to be faster, easier to use and more organised than its predecessor, says the company.

"After 10 years we decided it was time for a new updated look," says managing director Kirsten Eicher. "The new website carries full details of all our entire product range and downloadable data sheets for each unit, in addition to news, references and a list of our extensive international dealer network. PLASA will prove an ideal forum for our customers to tell us what they think of the new format."

The latest products to be listed on the website are the new Tiny F07 and the Tiny CO7 battery operated foggers. These are the modified successors to the Tiny Fogger and the Tiny Compact respectively, with the design of each b

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Spain - Head of QSC Spain, Mauri Costa reports that three major entertainment venues in the Catalonia region have recently adopted the QSC brand - both for the system transparency and design aesthetic. And two of these - Sala Highland in Tarragona and Sala Mandra in the Barcelona suburb of Hospitalet del Llobregat - have already pledged to maintain continuity with the QSC systems approach when they begin their second phase of development.

But it is the 800-capacity Sala Ángel in the Barcelona suburb of Sabadell, that has really captured the imagination. Situated in the Zona Hermética industrial area, after dark the district is turned over to live entertainment, and becomes one large party.

Ángel owner Gregorio García wanted to appeal to an audience seeking to be entertained away from the Barcelona downtown scene. With a unique venue, which would cover both live perfo

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India - PALME India (formerly PALA India) will take place from 4-6 October 2007 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre In the 12 months since the inaugural PALA India exhibition, what was then an emerging market has matured beyond all recognition, say the organisers.

The rebranding of the show to PALME India - bringing it inline with IIR Exhibitions' Middle and Far East Events portfolio - and improved travel networks, have given exhibition manager James Raffoul cause for optimism.

"With this massive growth in the Indian infrastructure, which is developing commercial, retail, residential, and tourist complexes on a par with anything in the world, demand for entertainment and AV installation products and services is growing at an alarming rate," observes Raffoul. "This year we have been delighted by the positive feedback we have received from Delhi, in the north of the c

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UK - The Centre Court atmosphere at this year's Wimbledon Tennis Championships was a very different one due to the absence of a roof! This very different environment called for a very different loudspeaker system.

It was clear to Tim Speight and Jon Berry of sound contractor RG Jones Sound Engineering (suppliers of sound systems for the Club), that installing a distributed system would not be a viable option; as the limitations on possible loudspeaker positions and cable routes would have compromised the performance of a distributed system enough to render it useless. So an innovative approach was required.

"The distributed approach was not an option," said Berry, "so we started thinking about possibilities for a point source system, but designing a point source system that was capable of throwing the 100m across the bowl whilst at the same time containing the s

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Austria - Austrian Harman Pro distributors, Kain Audio, has fitted out two high-pedigree, but vastly different hotels in Austria, using a ZonePRO audio solution from dbx Professional Products.

Said Franz Werner, sales manager for Kain Audio, "ZonePRO is the perfect answer when we are looking to send different audio sources to many different zones, with a paging override - as is the case in hotel applications."

Kain divided Roomz into 10 different sound zones and Bleibergerhof into 12, using a ZonePRO 641 and ZonePRO 1261 in the former and a pair of ZonePRO 1261's in the latter.

In Vienna, the futuristic 152-bed Roomz is a frenzy of different colours and shapes and already an urban architectural landmark. Situated in the southernmost part of Austria (in Bad Bleiberg), the more rural Bleibergerhof Hotel takes advantage of the area's high altitude thermal waters and i

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South Africa - Catering for a diverse corporate and private clientele, The Catwalk, located in Gauteng's Fourways Mall, is the ultimate venue for casual, social gatherings and slick, professional events.

Harman Pro distributors, Wild and Marr, were approached to provide a complete audio and lighting solution. The elaborate technical demands called for a system that is flexible in operation, as the dynamic venue will cater to a variety of events, including a cross spectrum of entertainment. After many site visits, audio system designer, Justin Mamulis, proposed a multi-faceted solution.

At the heart of the system is BSS Audio Soundweb London. With 12 inputs and 20 outputs, the system offers total control and flexibility. All the routing and DSP is controlled via a Soundweb London BLU-10 programmable remote panel in the control booth.

The input stage features a Soundcraft GB4/

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USA The Midas XL8 performed in the prestigious company of the New York Philharmonic this summer, as FOH mixing console for the 43rd consecutive Concerts in the Parks series, which brings free of charge world-class classical music performances to parks across New York City's five boroughs.

The XL8 was supplied by Sound Associates, who are having particular success with the new digital Midas in their theatrical show sound designs, including the hit Sister Act.

Sound Associates Domonic Sack, one of the sound designers for Sister Act and system designer for the Concerts in the Park, was instrumental in introducing the XL8 to PJ Volpes and Rob Gordon, both sound engineers for the Metropolitan Opera and support engineers for the Concerts in the Parks tour.

The list of distinguished FOH engineers who mixed with XL8 on the tour included Lawrence Ro

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UK - Transmission is a ground-breaking music television format, pioneered by Channel 4 and heavily sponsored by telecommunications company T-Mobile. Although it has a prime-time broadcast slot on Friday nights, this magazine programme with live performance goes nowhere near a television studio. Instead, the recent Transmission tour spent 10 weeks on the road in the UK, recording in oddball locations, such as warehouses, old cinemas and, in Brighton, the Udderbelly - an inflatable purple tent in the shape of a cow.

In all locations, the show is recorded in front of a small live audience, typically about 150 people. Musicians perform on one, two or three stage areas; a separate intimate seating area is used by the host presenters to chat with the artists. The format flows freely, with the audience moving around the venue to see each item as it happens.

However, a r

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UK - Leading VJs and DJs, and an audience of thousands, descended on Manchester Central (formerly known as the G-Mex Centre) for two nights during July for the Industrial Resolution - the event featured a monumental visual arts installation displayed on what is claimed to be the world's largest high-res digital screen by Harkness.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Industrial Resolution brought together visual artists from Microchunk, led by director Todd Graft, to perform custom-designed, multi-media to the soundscape of DJs, including 2 Many DJs, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim, Laurent Garnier, Layo, Sasha, and many more.

The focal point of the visually stunning show was the shaped Harkness screen - 48m wide by 18m high over a 25m radius and with a total area of more than 800sq.m - specially constructed for the event to form a spectacular backdrop for th

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UK - HSL is once again supplying C Venues with lighting equipment for its seven main venues - incorporating 17 theatre spaces - at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

C Venues is presenting over 200 shows performed by 140 companies from all over the world across the three-week festival period.

HSL's Mike Oates project managed, working closely with C Venues' production manager Julie Rawlins. The supply has included over 350 lighting fixtures, desks, dimmers and several kilometres of cable.

It's the third year running that HSL has supplied C Venues at Edinburgh. Mike Oates says: "We're really pleased to be involved with C-Venues and the Fringe again. HSL has a history of working with all types of theatre shows, and it's great to support all the energy and enthusiasm - not to mention some cutting-edge performances - of the Fringe."

Each C Venues space has a 'standar

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UK - Every inch of Trafalgar Square was taken up for the first-ever open-air Pakistan Festival, staged to mark 60 years of Pakistan's independence. Designed to show off Pakistan's rich heritage, and vibrant diverse culture, the free show in the centre of London was based around a large stage, complete with Electro-Voice XLD compact line array.

Some of the country's best-known stars were flown over from Pakistan, their performances broadcast live back to Asia via satellite link. Musical genres included pop, bhangra and folk music; top names included Abrar-ul-Haq, Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Zafar and Jawad Ahmed.

For the 10,000-strong audience, London-based PA rental company Systems Etc provided an impressively small sound system, the new EV XLD compact line array, which delivered coverage throughout the huge square with just eight boxes per side (six XLD281 plus two XLC215 subs). Power

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USA - Hard Rock Park, billed as the world's first rock 'n' roll theme park, has broken ground as the first new major attraction to be built in the United States in nearly a decade. Slated to open in Myrtle Beach in May 2008, Hard Rock Park will celebrate the spirit of rock 'n' roll through "a myriad of unprecedented rides and attractions", marking the single largest tourism investment in South Carolina's history, say the developers.

GearSource's sales team worked with lighting designer, Bob Shultz and Hard Rock staff to provide the package they needed, This includes 20 Studio Color 575, 26 Studio Spot 575, Wybron Scrollers, ETC Source 4's and a Hog iPC and began shipping within days of receiving the final order from Hard Rock.

This new package will be used in a venue called the Ice House Theatre which features a country music themed ice show on a 50' x 50' real ice s

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Iceland - The recent concert-stage event in Iceland's capitol city of Reykjavik, commemorating the country's National Day, drew thousands of enthusiastic live-music fans. The nationwide holiday celebration marked the anniversary of Iceland's independence from Denmark in 1944.

The concert was staged at Arnarholl, an outdoor performance venue in downtown Reykjavik. Artists on the bill included Mezzoforte, Lay Low, Ampop, Steed Lord, Benni Heem Heem and Shogun. All sound, lights and staging including the rental audio system, were deployed by Hljodx.

The package included 16 Vertec VT4888 mid-size line array elements with an array of eight on each side of the stage, powered by Crown I-Tech 8000 and 6000 amplifiers and relying upon a dbx 4800 DriveRack loudspeaker management system.

Remote control and monitoring of the system was achieved with Harman's HiQnet System Architect soft

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France - Jean Louis Pernette, managing director of Avab Transtechnik France, has been connected with the Avignon Festival for the past 25 years, and each year the amount of technology involved increases.

The festival, which has been running for over 60 years and runs throughout the whole of July, showcases French and foreign contemporary drama as well as dance creations. In addition to the official festival venues, some 900 performances by 300 troupes are held as part of the fringe festival.

The centre of the festival, as far as Pernette is concerned, is the Cour d'Honneur (Courtyard of Honour) at the historic Palais des Papes - the Palace of the Popes which has walls up to 5.5m thick, which explains why it is in such a good state of repair - it was virtually impregnable to attack. It also explains why one of the pieces of technology which lighting director Philippe Catalano c

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UK - Mixer manufacturer Allen & Heath, has appointed Sanecore as its new distributor in China, including Hong Kong and Macau. The company will manage the sales, distribution and service of the complete Allen & Heath product line from its HQ in Hong Kong, and regional offices in Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi'an.

"For our new distribution arrangement in China we were looking for a company that was solidly established on the mainland, with young, motivated sales, marketing and technical staff, plus an organisation with the financial resources to bring A&H to prominence in the growing Hong Kong and Macau region," comments Allen & Heath's Asia regional sales manager, Bardy Hayes. "In Sanecore, these criteria were not just met but exceeded, and we are very proud to be in partnership with the Chang brothers, Michael and Bernard, and their team."

Sane

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USA - In a high-profile tropical event, sound reinforcement company Rent-A-Amp recently provided the live audio system for the Plymouth Jazz Festival, held on the Caribbean island of Tobago. The three-day festival featured numerous world-class acts, including Elton John, Al Green, Earth Wind & Fire, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J and Diana Ross.

Now in its third year, the Plymouth Jazz Festival brings together legendary performers from around the globe for a unique concert setting. The Festival grounds are located on the coast of Tobago, with the island paradise providing a scenic backdrop to accompany the talent on stage. With a 5,000-person audience extending to 300ft from the stage, providing even coverage with high fidelity throughout the seating area was a significant challenge.

To overcome these obstacles, Rent-A-Amp deployed a JBL Vertec system with 16 VT4889 large-format lin

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USA - D-Tools has announced the 5th annual D-Tools Design Awards call for entries. The 2007 D-Tools Design Awards showcase "the finest residential and commercial system integration projects created with the newest version of D-Tools' award-winning System Integrator software". Winners will be announced at this year's D-Tools University (DTU) in November.

Winning projects will be selected from the following categories for this year's Design Awards: Best Residential System, Best Commercial System, Most Unique System (residential or commercial), and Best Overall System.

Winners in each category will receive an attractive award for display in their office and a copy of D-Tools System Integrator 5 Standard as well as significant prizes supplied by D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) members. All entrants will receive recognition for their submissions with a prize pack

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UK - As part of what has by now become a PLASA Show institution, Litestructures, Le Maitre, Wembley Loudspeaker and Adam Hall will be hosting a Real Music Get Down And Dirty Party at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, on the evening of Tuesday 11 September.

If the chance to see many of the industry's elder statesmen acting like 18-year olds doesn't exactly float your boat, how does Uncle Bull, Bobby Tench, Papa George and the Adam Hall band laying down some classic R'n'B grab you?

Tickets are available from any of the above mentioned companies during the show. Enjoy one of the special house cocktails on the night. We're told that this year, it will probably be lager and lime. Again.

(Jim Evans)

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Germany - The Red Flowers of Baudelaire at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, was a spectacular light show for the Hugo Boss party held during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Lighting designer Gert Hof commissioned A&O Lighting Technology to act as technical service providers for the event.

A&O delivered 77 Alpha One Falcon Beam 3,000W xenon lights for the show, arranged in four concentric circles with an external diameter of 12m. Behind this ring formation, 16 alpha one Falcon Beam 7,000W luminaires were arranged in a line. Also, 90 Sky Falcon Arc Colour 1,200W metal halide fixtures illuminated the front façade and the interior courtyard. A&O Technology also supplied the requisite controllers for the system, as well as 30sq.m of VersaTile LED panels and media content.

A&O's in-house media department, A&O Vision, carried out the technical planning, visualisation and pre-pr

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Denmark - When monitor technician Claus Pedersen was tasked with working on perhaps the most complex Danish musical production of 2007, he had to choose a console which could cope with an entire symphony orchestra, backing band and no fewer than 28 actors and singers.

The event was the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra's musical version of Matador, which played to sold out audiences at Copenhagen's Operaen for three weeks in June. With 35,000 tickets sold for the 22 performances, Pedersen needed ultra-reliability from a console, as well as one that could handle an extremely complex production. He chose the DiGiCo D5T supplied by European Tour Production, Copenhagen.

Named after the Danish word for a business magnate, Matador aired on Danish television between 1978 and 1981, but has been regularly repeated and issued on video / DVD since. Set in the fictional Danish

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UK - The Sage in Gateshead, will host this year's Institute of Acoustics' Reproduced Sound Conference and exhibition from 29 to 30 November 2007. Entitled Hall of Sound: Audio for Live Events, the conference provides an opportunity for exploring audio reproduction and perception within a real, modern, mid-sized venue.

Reproduced Sound 23 will retain the core format that regular participants have come to expect. But, new on the menu this year will be a focus on live music, with many interactive sessions using a real time voting system. Demonstrations will explore a range of subjects, including sub-woofer behaviour, clarity and masking effects in music and speech, and new technologies, including a live jazz band playing through a new concept in sound system design for smaller venues.

The Reproduced Sound Conference is organised by the Institute's Electroacoustics Group, i

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