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UK - Academy Music Group, working with Adlib Audio, has embraced Soundcraft's digital platform, working with Adlib Audio for the audio element of the installation at the 2350-capacity, £3.5 million Carling Academy Sheffield.

Adlib Audio's installation manager Roger Kirby notes: "We run several consoles in our hire fleet but we are happiest using the Soundcraft Vi6, and AMG group technical manager Ed Jackson was pleased to take our collective advice. He had also obviously heard good things about it from sound engineers coming through."

Jackson decided to incorporate three front line Vi6s into Carling Academy Sheffield - two in the main room and one in the second room (500 capacity).

"Carling Academy 2 Sheffield was always going to be digital - and although a third Vi6 stretched the budget a bit we knew it would offer compatibility - while having common co

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UK - Cooper Controls has confirmed its appointment as exclusive global distribution partner for LightFactory.

In September 2007, Zero 88 took on European distribution of LightFactory control software, bringing this PC based lighting console to its extensive dealer network across Europe.

Following "an extremely positive response to this product", Cooper Controls will now provide marketing, distribution, service and support worldwide. Existing LightFactory dealers will continue to service their markets. Cooper Controls will be working closely with them, providing a high level of support.

Graham Eales, managing director of Zero 88 said: "Having seen the power of the LightFactory products we were very excited about selling them in Europe. Now that we have the opportunity to broaden the market internationally we are looking forward to this product becoming a mainst

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UK - Making science - and particularly physics - as accessible as possible to 8-14 year olds has been the main aim behind the £4 million revamp of the Science Museum's flagship Launchpad gallery. And an integral part of that accessibility is ensuring that hearing impaired youngsters derive the same benefit from the gallery as their friends, so Ampetronic induction loops have been installed along with the 50 sophisticated exhibits and devices, which provide both a hands and minds-on introduction to the basic principles of physics.

With such activities as launching a rocket, capturing a multicoloured shadow, turning your head into a sound box and controlling a magnetic cloud available, Launchpad is the Science Museum's centrepiece and is, as such, a 'must see' for every visitor - for both young and old alike.

Staffed by trained explainers, the gallery also features twin de

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Singapore - Singapore National Day featured 5,000 performers in a mass tableau on a floating platform that was 120m wide by 83m deep, and a grandstand holding over 30,000 spectators. Lighting design was created by Paul Collison who controlled the show via two grandMA full-size, two grandMA ultra-light and 16 x MA NSPs.

This year saw the introduction of grandMA video as a major part of the scenic landscape. 1,800sq.m of custom made LED netting framed the back of the stage. Four grandMA media servers controlled the screen. "The influence this had on the view was amazing," said Collison, "I've always liked playing with video and lighting, however I've never had the chance to work with it on such a massive screen and have total creative freedom to entwine it into the scenic landscape. Playing between the lighting fixtures and the screens is a lot of fun. On such a big

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UK The first three day Sound Island Festival held at Quex Park, Birchington in Kent, featured an eclectic mix of music, with rock and pop on the Friday, reggae on the Saturday and opera / classical music on the Sunday.

Promoter Coz We Can enlisted the services of AP Security for the event. "Since first working with AP four years ago, we have built an excellent relationship," says Coz We Can's Dave Suter. "I get on very well with AP's national sales manager John Phillips and that good relationship is mutual between the companies - our staff works very well with theirs and vice versa.

"Most importantly, their approach to health and safety dovetails very neatly with ours and we have complete trust in each other."

(Jim Evans)

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China - City Theatrical's new SHoW DMX wireless DMX is performing at the Beijing Olympics in front of an average of 35 million viewers per day.

NBC Olympics lighting designer Steve Brill of The Lighting Design Group utilised SHoW DMX to light the Bob Costas NBC Prime Time Studio set which rotates 360° on a turntable. Power to dimmers mounted on the revolving set is run through a three-phase commutator, but DMX data is sent wirelessly from a SHoW DMX Transmitter in the studio. SHoW DMX delivers DMX data to dimmers, which control 26 key lights on a circular truss over the newsdesk.

SHoW DMX's user interface allows it to be adjusted to have minimal impact on any other wireless equipment in the studio. SHoW DMX was set to output in limited bandwidth mode and to output only 30 DMX channels, thereby creating only a very small radio footprint, and not affecting any WiFi networks

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USA - The Polyphonic Spree is a "choral symphonic rock group." Founded by Tim DeLaughter and generally including anywhere from 13 to 27 members during live performances, the group is often comprised of a ten-person choir, a pair of keyboardists, percussionist, drummer, bassist, guitarist, flautist, trumpeter, trombonist, violinist/violist, harpist, French horn player, pedal steel guitarist, someone on theramin, and an electronic effects person.

DeLaughter accepted the very first Polyphonic Spree gig before he even had a band. Faced with a hard deadline to create and produce, he somehow pulled everything together in time. "I do things like that," he admits today nearly eight years and countless gigs of all sizes and scope later. "I definitely need things like this for my psyche to move forward. If that's what it took to make this band a reality...I mean,

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Vietnam - A full-scale JBL Vertec system was utilised for the 57th Miss Universe 2008 pageant. The event took place at the Crown Convention Centre, located at the Diamond Bay Resort on the coast near Nha Trang City, Vietnam. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 from a field of 80 hopeful contestants. The pageant was broadcast live by NBC in English and Telemundo in Spanish to more than one billion viewers in over 180 nations.

Staged in a 7,500-seat performance space, the audio system needed to provide precision coverage with sufficient power to be heard throughout the venue, with adequate clarity to meet live broadcast standards. To achieve these goals, the professional audio team turned to Vertec for the system's loudspeaker components.

New-York based Firehouse Productions performed system integration functions and pre-event testing before shipping t

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UK - Automation specialist Kinesys has appointed two Australian distributors - TC Hasemer and HME. The two companies - both headquartered in New South Wales - will be covering different elements of the market. TC Hasemer will be concentrating on the rental and production companies, live events and temporary installations. HME's core market is permanent venue installationsand theatrical refurbishments.

Kinesys' Dave Weatherhead says: "We've generally been getting an increasing amount of inquiries from the region recently," adding that more concert world tours are now including the country on their itineraries, which is another reason for having good local support.

Australia is also a commercial and geographical hub for sales and support across Asia, the Far East and the Pan Pacific areas.

(Jim Evans)

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China- Audio distribution systems from Peavey MediaMatrix are providing audio networking and sound reinforcement for the 2008 Olympic Games at several major sports venues across China.

Peavey MediaMatrix NION Series processing nodes-bundled with NWare software are tasked with distributing the event announcements and background music for Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, and the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Court.

Both the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, which seats 10,000 spectators, and equestrian events held at the Hong Kong Jockey Club also feature Peavey MediaMatrix NION audio distribution systems. In the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, a fully integrated MediaMatrix Miniframe II 180c serves as the main audio processing and distribution system, while a selection of 80 Crest Audio Pro 200 Series amplifiers helped power the opening ceremonies at Beijing National Stadiu

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UK - Vaughan Sound Installations (VSI), part of the PAI Group, specified and installed AV systems throughout Penallta House, the new £20 million HQ for Caerphilly County Borough Council in Wales.

VSI was brought onboard to offer specialist sound, AV and integration skills by the project's electrical contractors Highadmit Projects, who in turn were working for principal building contractors, HBG.

The project - which put 'audio-visual integration' at the hub of it's agenda - was managed for VSI by Keith Fish, who comments: "We came up with a highly flexible, cost-effective solution for the client. This included our specialist expertise and knowledge of the audio visual arena which allowed VSI to deliver all the requirements from design/spec of the systems, right through to installation and commissioning."

VSI's brief included the provision of flexible and appro

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UK - For the London Red Bull Air Races over the River Thames, Arena Seating provided three temporary spectator viewing areas, built either side of the river. Temporary seating was installed at the David Beckham Academy Coach Park and O2 Car Park 4 on the south side of the river, with a third installation north of the river at Peruvian Wharf.

As well as the seating, Arena Seating supplied a 24m wide public staircase, 20m long, and provided the main big screen scaffolding support.

Arena Seating's project manager Martin Clark was responsible for a build which saw over 10,000 plastic tiered tip-up seats installed next-door to the O2 Arena (5,169 in the Coach Park and 4,974 in the Car Park, with an additional 50 wheelchair positions). A further 9,226 seats were built at Peruvian Wharf on the opposite bank; in all a temporary venue of nearly 20,000 capacity was installed for spectat

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The Netherlands - From 5-12 July, the Dutch town of Rhenen once again became the focal point of the pop and rock scene in the Netherlands, thanks to the Rijnweek Festival, now firmly established as one of the most popular events in the Dutch festival calendar. The final concert alone, featuring acts like Zlotavond, Jeroen van der Boom, and Frans Bauer, drew an audience of over 30,000.

Tiel-based rental company Stagepoint BV was responsible for the production of the week-long event this year, supported by tour specialists Dryhire and Electro-Voice/Midas partner in the Netherlands, E-Audio Benelux.

The Stagepoint team led by System Engineer Sander de Kruif opted for Electro-Voice systems, with the centrepiece of the production comprising an XLC 127 DVX compact line-array system, Xsub bass cabinets, and RCM-controlled TG amplifiers, all from Electro-Voice.

E-Audio Benelux MD Ax

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UK Stage One recently headed to ExCeL in London's Docklands for the 2008 British International Motor Show. Brought in by client, International Motor Industry Events (IMIE), Stage One was asked to realise the designs of Hstudio for the special exhibition area entitled, The Ultimate Collection.

Stage One helped to transform the Platinum Suite into an exclusive invitation-only exhibition area, displaying 19 models including Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Stage One's main involvement was blacking out the room, using steel and gauze panels and constructing plinths on which each car was positioned.

The oval plinths were high spec with a seamless black gloss mirrored laminate finish. Attached to each plinth was a totem containing a lightbox graphic that displayed information about the car. Digitally printed double-sided corporate identity banners then topped each totem.

T

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Eire - With environmental awareness at an all time high in the Republic of Ireland, Greenled LED lamps is making waves across the Irish Sea. The Gloucestershire-based sustainable lighting company is currently working with a number of architects, specifiers and developers in Ireland, including sustainable construction company, Monti - the developer responsible for the innovative Watermint apartment development.

Located close to Cabinteely Park, eight miles from the centre of Dublin, the Watermint development is a collection of 13 apartments, built using a host of energy-efficient features, including over 400 Greenled LED lamps.

Dublin architecture practice, DMOD, was responsible for obtaining planning permission for the development. Project architect, Gemma Dwyer, explains more about how the development is coming together. "Sustainable design has been at the forefront of d

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USA - At this month's San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the first Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival will treat a record audience to more than 60 bands; including headliners Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Jack Johnson, in addition to Beck, Ben Harper, Steve Winwood, Wilco and Primus. History will be made as several artists become the firsts to ever play at night in the park, but the three-day festival is more than a music celebration.

Outside Lands urges attendees to think and act on climate change by featuring the Eco Lands interactive conservation programme, a solar-powered stage, an organic farmers' market, and plenty of educational opportunities.

Long committed to being a sustainable business and supporting the local music scene, Meyer Sound has signed on as the festival's official Audio Systems Partner, providing its sound reinforcement equipment in coll

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UK - CUK Audio has announced its appointment as the UK distributor for Media Technology Systems Inc. (MTSi). With headquarters in Westlake Village, California, MTSi provides products and solutions for installed sound, paging and communications. CUK Audio will launch MTSi to the UK at PLASA 08.

"MTSi is a genuinely innovative new brand using and developing new technology to provide flexible, cost-effective solutions," commented CUK Audio MD, Stuart Thomson. "The company was formed by some very talented individuals with long experience in the industry and it shows through in the range of products. Being in at the start of MTSi in the UK is a great opportunity and we will be working hard to ensure that it becomes the major brand it has the potential to be."

Ian Stott, MTSi VP marketing, adds, "The UK is a key market for any brand in Europe and in CUK I be

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UK - Nitelites has boosted its audio inventory with KV2 Audio EX12s and EX6s. "Ultimately we must never lose sight of the fact that we're a hire company providing a service and earning money from doing that," says the production company's Jamie Moore.

"I am interested in products that sound great and perform to, and in some cases exceed, our expectations but I also need products that can earn me money and without a doubt these EX12's have done that and continue to do that because they sound great and are such a versatile product."

Originally looking for a solution for the audio system for their work with many of the country's outdoor athletic events such as The Great North Run and many a half and full marathon around the country, they were introduced to the KV2 EX series by KV2 UK sales manager Mick Butler who arranged for a demonstration of the EX12 active

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UK - The Queen's Hall and The Hub, two of Edinburgh's most prominent live performance venues, have been equipped for with Nexo's newest line array enclosures, the Geo S12 Series. Edinburgh-based sound rental company A&R Martin has installed the S12 systems in time for the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, which precedes the International Festival and the Fringe Festival.

Located in an old church building, The Hub hosts some of the hottest events in the Jazz Festival - in this 450-seat hall with high ceilings and a wraparound balcony, the neo-gothic interior décor has not been compromised by the addition of a small Geo S12 system flown above the stage, and Nexo's new RS15 subs on the floor.

Long-time Nexo user A&R Martin has supplied rental systems to this venue in the past. "In here, the acts are acoustic by nature, so subtle reinforcement is the name of the game. W

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Singapore - As in past years, this year's National Day celebration was on a grand scale with large numbers of Martin automated lighting fixtures used to bathe the Marina Bay venue in swathes of celebratory colour. 320 MAC 2000 Washes, 60 MAC 2000 Wash XBs and 20 MAC 2000 Performances were utilsed. Lighting production was by Showtec Group of Singapore.

The 60 MAC 2000 Wash XB fixtures formed the bulk of the stage's front wash for the National Day event. "With the XB's I'm getting more level on stage and much better control, and the new lens has taken them to a whole new level," says lighting designer Paul Collison."They were sent directly from Martin's Danish headquarters and gave much more control over the 100m throw to the stage.

"The shallow angle of the FOH position caused all sorts of grief last year with excess ambient light being thrown on to the cons

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China - Laoshan Velodrome, which is hosting all cycling during the Olympics, has a capacity of 6,000 spectators. It features a 250m oval shaped track and a total surface of 32,92sq.m. Positioned in the arena are the BSS Audio Soundweb Original SW9088iis, one dbx DriveRack 260 control, along with Crown CTS 600 and CTS 1200 amplifiers powering two JBL AC2212/64 and two JBL AM 4315/64 loudspeakers. The system was sold through Hong Kong-based distributor Advanced Communications Equipment (ACE).

The Soundweb Original SW9088iis forms the heart of the audio system. In a single rackspace unit, it offers eight analogue inputs with comprehensive LED monitoring, eight analogue outputs and open architecture signal processing.

"Laoshan Velodrome presented a challenge because of the arena's smaller size, and unique events for indoor spectator viewing," said Iain Gregory, product m

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UK - A former undergraduate IT lab at the University of Salford has made way for the world's most flexible immersive reality environment. Known as the Octave, the octagonal projection space can be reconfigured to many types of industrially familiar systems to assess best fit for emerging applications, and features a revolutionary video capture system which the group hope will lead the field in tele-immersion.

The mission to move virtual reality into a realm above the standard TelePresence and Access Grid videoconferencing has been led by Professor David Roberts, scientific director of the Centre for Virtual Environments at the University of Salford.

The £1.6m project has a number of stakeholders including Electrosonic, who successfully tendered for the integration. For their precision engineering requirements they turned to Paradigm Audio Visual, who constructed the rear

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UK - The 2008 Kylie X tour once again saw The Rigging Partnership provide the Automation effects for this show. TRP has previously provided flying effects on both the Kylie ShowGirl and Homecoming tours.

TRP were commissioned by the Kylie tour management to provide all the flying effects for the show which sees three different sections of performer flying and a six-screen LED back wall. TRP provided a 14 winch system to automate all the moving pieces which was specifically designed for this high demanding European tour.

Kylie herself flies in twice during the show, the automated screens parting to reveal her descending onto the stage on huge flying set pieces. With a complex rig of both static and tracking systems the whole solution completed a mammoth 33 venues in just over 3 months.

Gavin Weatherall, director of The Rigging Partnership comments: "

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Vietnam - Eighty contestants competed this year at the Diamond Bay Resort's Crown Convention Center in the 57th Miss Universe beauty pageant. Broadcast globally on NBC, the event was the first major U.S.-based television production originating in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War.

Bringing audio to the event proved to be a logistical challenge managed adroitly by Red Hook, NY-based Firehouse Productions which assembled the components needed for an entire PA in the US and then shipped them to Vietnam. Purchased outright for permanent installation by the convention centre, the system included a microphone package delivered directly from Shure Incorporated's world headquarters in Niles, Illinois.

(Jim Evans)

  1. A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd to launch at PLASA08
  2. Bose at the Beijing Olympic Games
  3. Hoosiers get digital mix at festivals
  4. Heritage desks kept busy in Holland
  5. The Week in Lighting & Sound
  6. Pearce aids greener Cambridge Folk Festival
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