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Saudi Arabia - When Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, opens its campus to students early in 2012, its three theatres will be equipped with J. R. Clancy rigging systems.

Within what will be the world's largest university for women is a theatre complex with a 2500-seat performance hall, a 700-seat drama theatre and a black box theatre for lectures and small productions. While each theatre has different requirements, the contractor sought a single, proven supplier that could manufacture the complete package of under- and over-stage rigging for all three venues. Clancy's broad equipment portfolio and international experience in managing projects of the largest scale earned the company this project.

Clancy worked closely with Michael Burgoyne of Schuler Shook to provide the appropriate rigging system for the consultant's design concepts. Schuler Sho

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The Netherlands - At their inaugural appearance at ISE 2011, d&b audiotechnik are not only revealing the new White range of integration loudspeakers on their stand 6H134, but are also offering a number of demonstration sessions in room E103 every day.

The first topic covered in these sessions takes you on a listening journey through the two series in the White range, the xS-Series and the xA-Series. It will look at the new opportunities these integration loudspeakers will open up for placement everywhere, no matter what colour, size or performance requirement, says the company. The initial step in this journey will be to listen to the smallest cabinets in the xS-Series. They are destined for applications where space requirements and enhanced acoustic performance are important to animate the audience, such as hotels, bars, fine dining emporiums or even locations of desire such as

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UK - Technical staging supplier Blitz Communications staged its Technology Masterclass at The O2, London, on Tuesday 18 January 2011. Aimed at professional event organisers, the day was dedicated to introducing a range of bespoke Blitz products and new technologies that assist organisers in making their events more cost effective, sustainable, interactive and innovative, while creating opportunities to generate additional revenue.

Following Blitz's appointment as The O2's partner of choice for technical event staging services, the venue supported the event by making available its array of event spaces. Over 150 invited guests arrived at The O2 to be greeted by welcome messages on the huge LED screens outside the Arena itself, directing them to IndigO2 for registration and refreshments courtesy of Levy Restaurants.

The guests, ranging from production and event agencies to corpo

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The Netherlands - This year, for the first time, the ISE trade show features a 3D theatre, where visitors can experience the very best that the technology has to offer. Alcons Audio has been invited to provide the 3D theatre's sound system.

The theatre will also feature a daily 45 minute presentation by Alcons co-founder Tom Back on the company's latest 3D audio technology. Taking place at 15:00 each day, the presentation will demonstrate how Alcons' proprietary pro-ribbon transducer products enhance the 3D experience.

"With higher standards in Digital Cinema, new challenges have arisen for traditional audio systems," says Back. "24-bit resolution and up to 99 channels of non-compressed audio demand much more in terms of dynamic capabilities, frequency response and transient response.

"Cinema is also diversifying - as well as films, movie theatres now som

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Qatar - In its second year, the Doha Tribeca Film Festival has once again relied on Clay Paky Alpha moving fixtures and their biggest stockholder in the Middle East, Creative Events (CCG), to deliver the lighting performance for this major event.

CCG provided more than 1300 mixed fixtures from its extensive inventory of CCG, for the Four Seasons Hotel screening venue and the opening night after-party held at the Pearl Qatar. At the fore of this massive lighting effort, once again designed and specified by Adam Bassett Design Limited, were 88 Clay Paky Alpha units at Four Seasons and another 105 Clay Paky Alpha units at the Pearl.

CCG's head of lighting Michel Khairallah noted, "The bulk of the moving heads this year were the larger units from the 1200W series of the Alpha line, with the notable addition of the Alpha Beam 1500 and Alpha Wash 1500 moving heads, and some Alp

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UK - Video director Ben Miles turned to Martin Professional's new EC-20 LED video panels to create a dynamic backdrop video wall for Leftfield's recent tour of the UK, one of the first to feature the new generation LED screens.

Miles, who first previewed the EC-20 video panels at the PLASA exhibition in September, was looking for "a lightweight, fairly high resolution, modular LED system that I could use on Leftfield and on some other shows. David Stewart at Martin gave me a demo and I really liked how it looked. I was also very impressed by the P3-100 video processor."

Following a series of successful summer festival performances, Leftfield played a number of dates in the UK and Ireland in November and December. Miles was brought in by lighting designer Jamie Thompson, primarily to oversee the video playback system and content. After figuring his video needs, he con

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Canada - Since its opening in 1997, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts located in Vancouver, BC, has earned an international reputation for its striking design and stellar acoustics. The Chan Centre boasts three different venues: The Chan Shun Concert Hall which seats 1200, the 'black box' Telus Theatre holds 275 patrons, and the Royal Bank Cinema which has a capacity of 160.

Jay O'Keeffe, Chan Centre's head sound technician organised an extensive and thorough shootout to upgrade their existing floor monitoring system. A total of 17 models representing eight different manufacturers were included.

Both self-powered and conventional monitors were included as were various driver and horn sizes. For the non-powered wedges, in order to ensure that the testing process was as un-biased as possible, Lab.gruppen PLM 10000 amps were used in all instances, and comparisons were condu

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UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors of Rane products in the United Arab Emirates has recently signed United Dubai Disc Jockeys (UDDJ) with an endorsement contract providing them the Serato Scratch Live SL3 DJ interface.

The endorsement deal provides UDDJ with the SL3 DJ interface for the team of DJs to use during their various events both in the most prominent nightclubs in the Middle East and exclusive private events.

"UDDJ which is headed by DJ Mass Ramli is without a doubt one of the most visible DJ groups not only in the UAE but the Middle East," comments Katrina Angeles, DJ and consumer sales representative. She added, "With 17 DJs playing at various public and private parties it provides great visibility for Rane and also confirms that Serato Scratch Live is a reliable system for DJs to use for their performances."

(Jim Ev

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UK - Peak Hire, based in Cheltenham, continues to expand its EAW inventory with the addition of 18 KF740 three-way line array modules. The announcement was made by Peak Hire managing director Karl Ashman and signifies the first UK order of the sound reinforcement module.

"We bought a KF730 system about four years ago after extensive evaluation, and it became our first line array," stated Karl. "Moray McMillin, who was EAW's UK sales manager at the time, and is now involved with EAW's Application Support Group, sold us the system after some live demos, and it was great. But eventually, we reached a point with our 730 system where, although we were achieving very good results in the situations we were using it, we needed to take the next step to be hired for larger venues and shows.

"Then the 740 came along. EAW's Kevin McNally arranged a demonstration at Nor

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UK - Lighting Technology Projects (LTP) has completed the installation of a striking media wall feature which has integrated solid state lighting and forms a visual centrepiece in the foyer of the new 11 storey building at 110 Fetter Lane (a site formally known as Rolls & Arnold House) in the heart of the City of London.

The space is currently taken up by the Royal Courts of Justice housing an extension to its 120-year-old Victorian gothic building on The Strand and a leading offshore bank.

Working for clients Delancey, the main contractor and installer for the construction project, LTP was brought in to provide specialist AV and integration services for both the video wall and a surrounding scenic lighting 'frame' which is prominent in the reception area.

LTP specified Philips SSL Flex MX nodes, complete with frosted shallow lenses to back light and diffuse the light evenly

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China - Riedel Communications installed a comprehensive communications system for the Asian Games in Guangzhou. Riedel provided the venue communication system as well as the intercom for the opening and closing ceremonies, combining wired and wireless technologies.

The system for the ceremonies furnished an Artist digital matrix intercom system consisting of two mainframes connected via fiber, about 20 Artist 1000 series control panels and around 75 Performer digital partyline beltpacks.

To provide the infrastructure for venue communications, Riedel equipped the venues with a Performer digital partyline systems offering a versatile and easy to use communications system with high quality digital audio and more than 600 beltpacks.

Riedel Communications also handled the installation of the analogue radio network that was also integrated into the wired intercom infrastructure vi

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Olympic Marathon - To celebrate the London 2012 Olympics, Shakespeare's Globe will stage all of the playwright's 38 plays, each in a different language and by a different international company. Performances in Maori, Aboriginal languages and Cantonese will all be presented during the season and there will also be a production of Love's Labour's Lost in British Sign Language. Over the course of six weeks, companies including the National Theatre of Greece, Rome's Cometa Off Theatre and Oyun Atolyesi from Istanbul will play the Globe. The Globe itself will also stage one of the plays.

In an Urdu production, Pakistani TV star Nadia Jamil will star as Katherine in Taming of the Shrew and international directors Eimuntas Nekrosius and Tang Shu Wing will mount shows in Lithuanian and Cantonese respectively. Shakespeare's Globe artistic director Dominic Dromgoole said tha

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UK - As the newest performance space in the South West, Pavilion Dance has certainly got the equipment and technology to deliver a first class act. Consultants Drama by Design were chosen to produce the solution, while Audio Light Systems Ltd were the chosen to engineer the demanding design in this compact but well-equipped venue.

The lighting package uses almost 200 ways of ETC Sensor dimming, controlled by an ETC Congo Junior desk. Amongst the 100-plus lanterns supplied were 12 Robe 575s, 24 JB LED A7s plus Selecon, ETC & Thomas units.

The d&B audio system is controlled by a Yamaha LS9 32 & DME64. This makes it possible to switch easily between FOH and Cinema mode at the touch of a button on the Crestron control system, which also provides complete AV & lighting control. The transformation to a digital cinema was enabled by the installation of a Christie Digital Roadstar HD1

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UK - Flare Audio is pleased to announce that it will shortly be opening a new R&D and demo facility in West Sussex, UK. Building work is currently underway and is on schedule to complete shortly. The 6000sqft building will also house the company's new head office.

In other news from Flare, the company welcomes D&E international as its official distributer in Hong Kong. Davies Roberts from Flare Audio comments: "We are very pleased to welcome D&E International into our network and we look forward to a long and successful business relationship with them. We are honoured to have such an established company join our international network so early."

The Flare Audio team are currently developing a new compact, multi format high pack (due late Spring 2011) that can be used as a true line source enclosure, point source enclosure or close field monitor. "Using technology

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Hungary - The culmination of the city of Pécs 2010 tenure as a European Capital of Culture was December's opening of the Kodály Centre, a new, multi-million euro concert and conference venue. It features a major Yamaha audio installation.

Inaugurated by Hungarian president Pál Schmitt, state secretary of culture Géza Sz?cs and Pécs mayor Zsolt Páva, the multi-purpose venue was opened on the 128th anniversary of eminent Hungarian composer and music teacher Zoltán Kodály's birth, after whom the centre is named.

Featuring a total area of 11,000sq.m, the facility cost €22m and includes a 999-capacity concert hall, recording studio, two conference rooms (one which also functions as a ballet room, the other which can be divided into two sections with a movable wall), rehearsal rooms, changing rooms and offices for the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra.

Yamah

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USA - Theatre Projects, in collaboration with Gehry Partners and Frank Gehry (partner in charge), has completed its most recent project in theatre design, with the opening of the New World Symphony campus this week in Miami Beach, Florida. Theatre Projects executed the design for The New World Centre as a technologically and visually advanced music laboratory intended for the highest quality of music education and performance. Theatre Projects played a key role in the theatre design and planning as well as in designing the customized performance equipment.

Theatre Projects worked closely with Frank Gehry, Gehry Partners and Yasu Toyota, Nagata Acoustics (the same team that collaborated on the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles) to bring to life a space that blends concert hall, theatre, global stage, and teaching facility into a single, large-scale concert and projection ha

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UK / USA - 2010 was a busy year for Kings Of Leon, who have been touring since summer in support of their new album, Come Around Sundown, with Midas XL8 live performance systems at FOH and monitors.

The Midas systems have been supplied by Eighth Day Sound in North America, and Britannia Row Productions in the UK and Europe. "We decided to go with the XL8 because it offers everything you could ask for in a console," says Saul Skoutarides, a UK-based Australian engineer who has been mixing monitors for Kings Of Leon since mid-2009 "Most importantly, it gives us the sound we need, both out front and on stage. It's the best sounding console I've ever used."

This is FOH engineer Brent Rawlings' first tour with a digital desk, having never found one that met his audio standards. His previous console of choice was the Midas XL4. It was the automatic latency

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UK - Black Light helped Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrate the end of 2010 in spectacular style by designing, installing and operating a series of technically sophisticated lighting shows for the city's celebrations.

"This was our most exciting Edinburgh's Hogmanay ever," says Stephen Reid, Black Light's head of events. "We used some really exciting new equipment to produce jaw-dropping effects that did full justice to the global importance of the event."

To kick-start the proceedings, the company lit the Son et Lumiére finale to the annual torch-light procession on the night of 30 December. This culminated with a dynamic lighting display that brought the architecture of the capital's Calton Hill to life. This display, which was designed in conjunction with Unique Events and programmed by Black Light's technicians, used over 50 intelligent fixtures, incl

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France - Budillon Rabatel has invested €15m in upgrading its alluvial quarry at Izeaux, in south eastern France. For the special inauguration, the company called upon sound, light and video specialists, Euro Sono Alex T'Rem, to supply lighting for this tomb-like location, spread over 100 hectares.

The exact location of this gravel pit is called Mollard Mouton, and many political and economic celebrities visited the Region iséroise for the occasion. The lighting system featured six PR Lighting XLED 590 LED moving head washlights, which had to perform in the difficult conditions. These were accompanied by effects from StarWay - all working in harmony to create a spectacular show under the open skies.

According to Alexandre Jeannerod, manager of Euro Sono, while conditions were hazardous, this could not prevent the lighting from functioning perfectly. He said that the pow

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UK Sound reinforcement for the 2010 Conservative Party Conference, held at Birmingham's ICC's Symphony Hall in early October, was provided by RDC Audio for the third year running, working with the Conference's production company Blueway. A DiGiCo SD9 console was at FOH.

"We purchased the SD9 via Wigwam sales department and there are a number of reasons why it's ideal for this kind of job," says RDC's Steven Neave. "They include the physical number of faders on the surface, the split banks of faders, flexibility of fader assignment and the straightforward layout and patching, all of which make for very fast access around the desk. "The stereo channels, Cat 5 multicore and external overview screen were additional reasons why we invested in the SD9."

Audio planning for the conference began in May, which included site visits and discussions with broadcaste

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UK - Leeds College of Music (LCM) recently took delivery of two Audient ASP8024 mixing consoles as part of an upgrade of their current studio facilities. The Audient desks were supplied together with Lynx converters and Drawmer outboard gear by Funky Junk, and will be used by the college's Music Production degree students for recording, mixing, production and mastering.

"Previously we had digital desks that were getting a bit old so we traded them in for good analogue desks," explains LCM's senior studio technician, Keith Smith. "The studios didn't have any outboard gear at all before, so we bought a few units so that students can get used to patching and mixing outside of the computer."

BA (Hons) Music Production course leader, Craig Golding says, "The Audient ASP8024 console provides the College with a quality analogue platform for use in delivering

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The Netherlands - Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson is currently touring with Front of House engineer Howard Heckers, a DiGiCo SD9 and a pair of DiGiRacks.

"The reasons we chose the SD9 are its sound-quality, flexibility and its size - it is very compact to travel with," says Heckers. "Sometimes we have a flight to catch after every other show; the SD9 makes it easy for us to travel and still use our own FOH desk."

Another feature he likes about the SD9 is that they can only use one stage rack if Roger is playing a solo show, or use both when he is doing shows with a full band.

The console was supplied by DiGiCo's Dutch distributor TM Audio. "When we delivered the SD9 to Howard's studio, he was familiar with the complete console within an hour - it is that easy to learn," says the company's Jaap Pronk.

"When Roger and I hooked up the ge

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UK - The Le Mark Group team raised £5,934.00 for the RNLI. Managing director Stuart Gibbons welcomed Mark Spruce from the RNLI and received their official thanks on behalf of the entire staff of Le Mark. "Despite difficult trading conditions for many companies, Le Mark continued to grow and expand their workforce during 2010" stated Gibbons. "We felt that as an established company blessed with staff originating from different parts of the world, who all showed excellent social awareness, we wanted to help those less fortunate in some way."

The company raised the money by committing a percentage of their net profit to the RNLI. This way every person in every department contributed through their own individual efforts to make a definite difference to the overall sum raised.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Riverside Studios, on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, were looking for a suitable alternative to PARcans and scrollers, "something equating to an expensive show run hire," according to Ruari Cormack, technical director of the Riverside Studios Trust. They turned to Martin Professional's MAC 101 LED moving head luminaire.

"As a venue, we are aware of the need to cut costs and using LED technology lets us replace banks of lights to give a variety of colour palettes whilst using a fraction of the energy," states Cormack, whose role it is to liaise and co-ordinate all technical theatre matters for the venue's two theatre spaces, as well as any events in the cinema, gallery and café bar areas. "With our high turnover of productions, these units will give us greater flexibility to meet each show's demands."

Riverside St

  1. Czech & Slovakia's Got Talent with Robe
  2. QSC lines up seminar series for ISE 2011
  3. Guangzhou Opera House installs Midas systems
  4. Yamaha consoles in Stirling celebrations
  5. Stage One package for Qatar shipyard
  6. Bastille Opera upgrades to ADB Eurodim
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