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UK - Wembley PA Centre has been named as the first of nine Electro-Voice TOUR X Super Centres to be opened in the UK by Shuttlesound. Bosch's vice-president of sales in Europe Robert Hesse was the first to congratulate MD Anil Patel.

Wembley has become a popular destination for musicians and gigging bands, a one-stop shop for live sound equipment. The PA Centre's dedicated demo room not only carries the largest stock of Electro-Voice loudspeakers anywhere in the UK, it is also the only place to go to try out the EV Phoenix range.

"This is the premier showcase for Electro-Voice products in the country," says Dave Finlay from Shuttlesound, "so it's not really surprising that, with this extraordinary level of commitment to promotion and display, the Wembley PA Centre is one of our top EV sales stores."

The team at the PA Centre has also proved instrumental i

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UK - The Winners of the 2010 Lighting Design Awards were announced in London on Thursday 11 March. Among the winners, PLASA Member David Atkinson of David Atkinson Lighting Design (DALD) collected two awards. The list of winners and commendations is as follows:

External Luminaires

Winner: Philips Lighting for ColorReach Powercore

Highly commended: iGuzzini for Archilede

Highly commended: Kingfisher Lighting for ILO

Commended: Paviom UK for Lofoot

Interior Luminaires

Winner: Concord for Stadium EVO

Highly commended: Philips Lighting for LuxSpace Mini

Highly commended: Remote Controlled Lighting for Director DR6 Retractable

Highly commended: WILA Lighting for Exilum

Light Sources and Controls

Winner: Harvard Engineering for CoolLED

Commended: PhotonStar LED for SmartWhite

Exterior Lighti

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Italy - Martin luminaires again play a leading role in Giovanni Pinna's lighting design for the latest Vasco Rossi tour. Vasco, Italy's most popular singer-songwriter, is playing dates across Europe beneath a large Martin rig of 41 MAC 700 Profiles, 27 MAC 700 Washes, 16 MAC 2000 Washes, 10 MAC 2000 Performances, 16 Stagebar 54s and 38 Atomic 3000 strobes. All Martin gear was provided by Limelite of Rome.

"The Profiles and Performance are the only spots on the show so they are very busy in all cues and placed to give me full coverage of stage, scenery and audience," explains Pinna, who has served as Vasco's LD for years.

Pinna has the wash fixtures well integrated as backlight for the band with washes along with MAC 700s dedicated to lighting scenery, a big part of the show. The Martin Stagebars are rigged over the audience in clusters of 8x2 along with MAC 700 Washe

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UK - The famous, late Victorian Coronet Theatre in South London may have had something of a chequered history, but under the management of Blackfriars' newly-created Blackfriars Promotions, the 2,500-plus capacity venue has undergone a massive refurbishment to support an aggressive in-house events programme, including a serious production upgrade based around GLP's new Impression 120 RZ zoom.

Ten of the new LED fixtures have been provided as part of a comprehensive lighting upgrade by Southampton-based GLS Lighting, who have been servicing the Coronet's lighting requirements for a number of years.

With the ownership of The Mermaid Conference and Events Centre, Blackfriars has built a strong reputation, and The Coronet's head booker Mike Weller says, "Since we are now starting to get recognized as one of the major players in the 2000-plus club/midsize venue market, we need

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UK - Two mainstays of the London performing arts scene have upgraded to SHoW DMX. The Royal National Theatre and the English National Opera have both added extensive new SHoW DMX wireless DMX systems to their permanent lighting inventories.

The English National opera had an inventory of City Theatrical WDS wireless data system transmitters, receivers, personal dimmers and 15A single channel dimmers. The personal dimmers are used in smaller pieces where a full sized receiver and dimmer wouldn't fit. The equipment is moved from show to show in the rep season at the ENO.

In their upgrade, the ENO purchased a new SHoW DMX transmitter and receiver and also upgraded their existing receivers and personal dimmers to SHoW DMX. "It was a very cost effective way for us to upgrade our current system to the latest in wireless dimming technology," says the ENO's senior lighting te

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USA - Paramount Centre for the Performing Arts in Peekskill, NY has installed Adamson SpekTrix speakers. Originally built as a 1500-seat movie palace a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, the Peekskill Paramount Theatre first opened its doors with great fanfare on June 27, 1930. The Inaugural program featured an overture by the Paramount Symphony Orchestra, an appearance by the village mayor, and 'A Paramount All-Talking Picture', The Big Pond.

The Paramount prospered for decades despite the Depression and World War II. However, it was the advent of shopping malls and television that brought on its demise as a movie theatre. Paramount sold the building in 1973.

The Paramount's stage is a "modified thrust." The original stage was just 13ft deep. In the late 1970's, a thrust stage was added in front of the original. A series of major renovations and a historic res

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UK - The Chairworks, which bills itself as the "North of England's newest, largest and finest residential recording studio complex", has recently installed an ADA-8XR multichannel modular AD/DA converter from Prism Sound.

"We have what many believe to be the world's best mixing desk (the SSL 4000 G Plus) with all the best outboard, and the Prism Sound is the missing link," comments The Chairworks' director Ryan Jarvis.

Based in Castleford, near Leeds, The Chairworks offers several recording spaces, including a mammoth 1250sq.ft live room coupled with a 500sq.ft control room. It also has residential accommodation for up to 10 people and specialises in mixing and tracking rock and pop bands.

"The Prism Sound unit has expanded our previous 24-in 48-out analogue i/o by a further 8 in/out," says Jarvis. "Whilst our existing Digidesign 192s are v

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USA - Los Angeles' KABC-TV's live pre-Oscar broadcast On The Red Carpet gave viewers an up-close look at Hollywood's biggest stars as they arrived at the movie industry's premier event. Right alongside these luminous celebrities were some 'bright newcomers' making their first appearance at this year's Academy Awards show - Elation Professional's ELAR 108 RGBW LED par cans.

Lighting designer Richard Brown (Architectural Media Design) used six ELAR 108 RGBW units as key lighting to illuminate On The Red Carpet hosts Michelle Tuzee and Marc Brown and their guests during the broadcast. The Elation lights were also used for a live post-Academy Awards show produced by KABC. The ELAR 108 RGBW is an indoor/outdoor IP65-rated par can containing 36 3-watt red, green, blue and white LEDs.

A longtime lighting consultant for KABC, Brown said he decided to switch to the LED-po

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UK - Students studying the Live Sound module at the University of Glamorgan recently enjoyed an interactive workshop with Yamaha's Commercial Audio Digital Systems Manager, Nick Pemberton.

Nick brought along five high end Yamaha M7CL mixing desks for the students to get their hands on - giving them some really valuable first-hand experience with the latest industry equipment.

The M7CL series is a digital live-sound console, it includes an array of advanced concepts such as the Centralogic control interface that makes it as easy and intuitive to use as an analogue console. The M7CL is the ideal digital mixing console for medium size live sound applications that have previously been handled by analogue gear, says the company.

Award Leader Stuart Green commented: "The feedback has been fantastic from the students. Guest lectures such as this provide an extra dimension to t

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UK - Fibre Optic Systems (FOS) has recently completed the stylish illumination of the Odeon cinemas' northern flagship venue at Odeon Metrocentre, Gateshead. FOS worked in alliance with Leeds-based contractor, Morfitts, and all products were supplied via the city's Litetask to a very tight schedule.

Morfitts won the contract based on the success of a previous Odeon refurbishment and competitive pricing. Morfitts' project manager, Tony Horsman, explains: "We contacted Fibre Optic Systems because we've worked with them before and we know we get a good service from them and reliable back up whenever we need it. It was a very tight schedule, so we had to pull all the stops out with everybody to deliver - that is why we used suppliers and manufacturers we could trust implicitly."

The newly built cinema features a LED-illuminated, glass staircase which dominates the foyer

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USA - Billy Elliot, the musical which has become a success in London, Sydney and New York, is set to go worldwide this year, with shows in Korea and Chicago already agreed. By the end of 2010 there will also be a touring production moving to a different US city every three or four weeks.

Until now, productions have always included set pieces which revolve and emerge through trap doors, requiring extensive digging through the floor of theatres, which will not be possible on tour, so the set has been suitably modified. Lighting designer Rick Fisher also took the opportunity to consolidate some of the lighting on the show. He explains, "We needed to be able to keep the get in and get out times as short as possible, so that the first performance in a new venue could be within the week of moving.

"We've packaged the lighting to stay on the trusses as far as possibl

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UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors of Neutrik products in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman has supplied United Motors with a considerable amount of Neutrik etherCon couplers for the Ethernet communication between the two carriages of the RTA's articulated busses.

The etherCON Series is a ruggadized and lockable RJ45 connector system, optimised for pro audio, video and lightning network applications. The chassis connectors are shaped to fit into standardized panels out of the entertainment industry.

"Although our primary focus is supplying the professional audio, video and lighting market segments with the best connectors in the market we have been able to tap into some other segments with Neutrik," commented Richie Hiranandani, marketing manager. He added, "Neutrik's focus on high quality and reliable products make th

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UK - The organisers report "excellent attendance" at ISCEx2010 in Watford last week. All possible exhibition spaces were taken up and the seminars were filled with keen listeners almost to bursting.

Terry Baldwin, president of ISCE, said, "What a day! I thought this year's exhibition was probably the very best yet. There was a full house regarding seminars and an excellent number of casual visitors. Well done to Ros Wigmore for organising the event and to the many exhibitors without whom it wouldn't have been the same."

Nicky Spiers, of Voice Perfect, said: "This year's exhibition was Voice Perfect's first with the ISCE. We were pleasantly surprised by the friendly and relaxed environment that they created which allowed us to demonstrate our new products to interested members. We met many friends, old and new and hope to have at least re-established co

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China - The founders and owners of Czech Republic based lighting manufacturer Robe Lighting - Josef Valchar and Ladislav Petrek - have invested in a new LED screen manufacturing startup - Vuepix - together with Australian entrepreneur Cuono Biviano, the owner of sales and distribution company ULA.

The Vuepix factory is based in Shenzhen, China, and the new brand will be distributed globally through another new company, Visual Lighting Solutions. This will provide general distribution and service of the new LED screens manufactured in China via Robe's worldwide dealer network.

Valchar states, "We have been keeping a careful eye on the convergence of the mediums of lighting and video over the last five years, and have already brought a number of highly successful Robe 'digital lighting' products to the market. With this trend of integration very much 'ongoing', the next log

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Mexico - Mexico City and Monterrey were the targets for MA Lighting Latin America to present the brand new grandMA2 as well as share the knowledge of the new console series. 70 people from the entertainment industry were attended the events, with Audio Systems and Serpro receiving training in Monterrey and new Mexican MA Lighting dealer Showco trained in Mexico City.

MA Lighting's regional sales manager Daniel Ridano comments: "Our guests were very keen to know more about the grandMA. Networking, full-tracking-backup-mode fiber optics e.g. are concepts not very well known and are even quite new in Mexico - and concepts which MA has developed to perfection. The flexible and sophisticated hard- and software raised a few eyebrows and was received with enthusiasm."

(Claire Beeson)

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USA - Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd, the UK manufacturer of Focusrite and Novation brands, has announced the formation of Focusrite Novation Inc, establishing a dedicated American presence for the UK company. Phil Wagner, who held a similar position as President of Solid State Logic Inc, will head the new company.

Phil Dudderidge, Focusrite managing director states: "We want to increase the recognition of and support for the Focusrite and Novation brands in the vital U.S. market. Creating Focusrite Novation Inc. enables us to enhance our presence with increased levels of dealer support and various forthcoming marketing initiatives. We are extremely pleased to have Phil Wagner come on board as President of our wholly owned subsidiary."

Focusrite Novation Inc. will concentrate on growing Focusrite and Novation's expanding product slate with the addition of sales mana

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On Broadway - A musical celebrating musician Ray Charles will open on Broadway in November, it has been announced. Unchain My Heart will be produced by Stuart Benjamin, who also made the 2004 Oscar-winning movie Ray which starred Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx. The musical was originally staged at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 with the title Ray Charles Live! A New Musical. The Broadway cast has yet to be unveiled. In 2004, Foxx was named best actor at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of the late musician, who was a pioneer in the genre of soul during the 1950s. The film also won the Oscar for sound mixing.

Performing Rights - The royalties that UK songwriters, composers and music publishers get from online sales are growing faster than the decline from CDs and DVDs. That is the finding of PRS for Music, the not-for-profit body which ensures such gro

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USA - After four subpar audio installations at the Payne County Courthouse in Oklahoma, Judge Worthington and the courthouse administration approached Aspen Custom Electronics with a special request to upgrade the courthouse audio system for good. Using an arsenal of AKG equipment which includes the WMS450 Wireless body pack, a DMM 4/2/2 Audio Mixer and two GN30 Goosenecks, Aspen Custom Electronics installed a clear and powerful audio system.

According to Matt Hall, project manager for Aspen Custom Electronics, the courthouse's audio system required so many revisions because of its many acoustical anomalies. Built in 1917, it was designed to provide optimal voice projection without the use of a PA system, so even the smallest sounds reverberate throughout the room, and a good portion of the front is covered in marble. What's more, the witness is able to turn up to 180 degrees wh

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UK - DB Systems (DB) reports that it has purchased approximately £100,000 of new equipment, including seamless LCD panels and 3D Pyramoid units, which are a form of 3D holographic projection.

DB has also made a further investment in Microsoft Surface units, which the company originally introduced to the UK event and exhibition market at the end of 2009. Microsoft Surface is a revolutionary multi-touch system that allows several users to simultaneously touch up to 52 points on the screen. Users can also operate a variety of programmes and features to perform numerous functions at any one time, such as maximising and minimising windows, viewing product data, as well as animation and video content.

The investment in new equipment has come as DB prepares for a busy spring calendar of events. Over the next three months, DB will be supply AV & IT services to 14 events. DB will

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UK - Showsec continued its long-term partnership with the 2010 International Live Music Conference. Communication was a recurring theme as company directors sat on three expert panels debating issues and discussing best practice.

The four-day London conference began with a production day, attended by several hundred international suppliers to venue, tours and festivals. Showsec managing director Mark Harding participated in a panel about how to deal with emergency incidents arising from inclement weather.

Every year there are a significant number of casualties caused by bad weather related incidents at outdoor events and members of the panel recounted personal instances and experiences as to how to avoid or overcoming these. Responding to questions from members of the audience, Harding explained the value of effective planning and communications infrastructures from managing s

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Australia - Darren McKenzie from Melbourne-based production The Loft Productions used ARX's USB - DI USB Digital to Analogue transformer isolated interfaces at the recent Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

McKenzie described the USB DIs as being ideal for the "on air play out" from the commentators computers and audio feed located in the Pit commentary position below court level. The transformer isolated outputs ensured noise free performance when connected to the complex broadcast audio system used at the Open.

The commentary was streamed via the USB DIs to the 'Tennis Radio Network' and then up-streamed globally though the world wide web to an estimated on line audience of around 2m tennis fans.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - The BankAtlantic Center (BAC) in Sunrise, Florida is using dynamic visuals from Martin Professional to enhance the fan experience and expand the venue's marketing platform with the added benefits of attracting larger crowds and ultimately greater revenue.

BAC is a state-of-the-art, 20,000 seat capacity arena that is home to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, as well as the Lingerie Football League's Miami Caliente. The venue also hosts a number of other major events every year.

The expanding cost of stadiums and arenas necessitates keeping the seats full by maximizing the marketability of a venue. But with other high profile teams like the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, Miami Heat and several top college teams in the region, not to mention great weather and endless beaches, BAC has a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar.

"Martin solut

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Switzerland - TiMax2 SoundHub recently helped launch several new models from Spanish car manufacturer Seat, taking control of the multichannel sound system plus a variety of talent and content sources on their lavish stand at the Geneva Motor Show.

TiMax was specified by Pere Capell of BTM Sound in Gerona as the system matrix to tie together a complex hook up of the exhibition stand's distributed presentation system and a full concert sound system used in the press launch which featured a live performance by Grammy Award-winning Latin pop diva Shakira.

The press launch system consisted of five Meyer M'Elodie line arrays and two M1D arrays including subs, which the TiMax delay-matrix blended with a distributed system consisting of fourteen Meyer CQ1 and nine Meyer UPA powered enclosures. TiMax also provided grouped system EQ and level-profiling across the booth's multiple overl

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UK - Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-awaited continuation of the story of The Phantom of the Opera has finally arrived in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre and fans have been looking forward to the revival of all the principal characters in a world of new hope and old obsessions.

The story unfolds at the turn of the 20th century in Phantasma, a fabulous showground in Coney Island, New York - home to freaks and entertainers. Bob Crowley's set and costumes combine the colours and thrills of the fair with the dark longing and macabre mania of the Phantom. A series of projections on layered tabs creates an immersive experience that opens up elaborate illusions of space and dimension, reality and fantasy, past and present.

The Really Useful Group, producers of the show, approached Stage Technologies and Delstar Engineering for the automation system. The Stage Technologies group

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