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UK - The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance has announced the launch of its 2012 careers event, to be held on Tuesday 17 April at north London's Tricycle Theatre, close to the Institute's facilities in Kilburn.

This interactive event, part of the Institute's comprehensive career's support service provided to all students, will provide a major opportunity for students to explore all manner of career development and showcasing opportunities both during and after their time at the Institute.

In attendance will be a comprehensive set of guests and speakers, from a wide spectrum of the music industry including artist management, music publishers, A&Rs, events promoters, music solicitors and Industry representatives

Confirmed participants include: Angus Blue, Riverman artist management (Placebo); Ed Poston, BMI; Kwame Kwaten, ATC Management; Jonny Dawson, ATC Management;

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Germany - Steinberg Media Technologies has announced that from 1 April 2012, the pan-European distribution of their Nuendo product range will move to Yamaha Music Europe.

By moving the Nuendo family of products to Yamaha's sales and distribution network, Steinberg and Yamaha are now able to offer a broader range of hardware and software system solutions to the commercial audio segment than ever before. This in turn achieves a clearer focus on precisely meeting the end customer's needs.

"We at Steinberg are happy that the continuing collaboration with Yamaha now also brings the well-established Nuendo range to further fruition," said Andreas Stelling, Steinberg's managing director. "Steinberg takes this opportunity to thank its customers for their support of Nuendo and is confident that the new partnership with Yamaha will help grow the business even further.&quo

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Australia - Gladstone Entertainment Centre, the city's premier live entertainment venue showcasing local, national and international artists, has taken delivery of six Vari*Lite VL3500 Spot luminaires from Philips Vari*Lite to keep their existing VL500 Washes company.

"We have been very happy with our VL500 fixtures which have proven to be rock-solid," commented Troy Everett, manager performing arts at GEC. "I love the colour that you can only get out of a tungsten unit and the unique VL500 colour system. However when deciding on the new fixtures I had a look at a wide variety of lighting fixtures but the VL3500 Spot was the clear winner for me.

"I love that all Vari*Lite fixtures seem to deliver beautiful colours and that the gobos are always sharp and crisp," he added. "In fact the colour mixing in Vari*Lite fixtures is so good there really is n

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UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has been appointed as the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for the full range of lighting products manufactured by US-based High End Systems, a Barco company.

This new partnership was announced on the High End Systems stand at the Prolight+Sound exhibition in Frankfurt, which debuted the new TechnoArc fully featured, soft edged, competitively priced moving light, amongst several recent innovations from the manufacturer.

Says Brad Schiller, High End Systems' product marketing manager, "High End Systems is very excited to be partnering with A.C. Entertainment Technologies to provide UK and Irish customers with a local distributor. Their excellence in customer support, combined with an impressive sales force, will offer High End Systems products to a broad range of customers. With new products like the DLV, trackspot Bolt, Tec

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Germany - Robe lighting enjoyed its "busiest and best Prolight+Sound" exhibition to date in Frankfurt last week, with a record number of deals closed, plus "a phenomenal interest in its progressive, forward thinking Robin product range" - as well the launch of five new fixtures at the show.

The stand took on a very distinctive appearance. No-one could miss the giant set of Newton Balls suspended above the reception area. Nathan Wan's vibrant and lively lighting design for the booth utilised nearly 300 of the latest Robe fixtures and featured a 'wall of death' effect, with some serious metalwork in the roof and serious impact on anyone walking Hall 11 - who could not fail to catch the action. Over 60 Robe representatives were present on the stand from all over the world.

The five new LED-based innovations in the Robin series all received serious interest, sa

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Antarctica - Rain, snow, ice and heat are no match for the ETC Desire XT LED fixtures - or so the marketing says. Paul Slater, director of Channel 7's popular breakfast show, Sunrise, decided to put this to the ultimate test by taking one with him to Antarctica. "It was the first time an Australian television programme had done a live, broadcast quality transmission from Antarctica," explained Slater.

Fortunately the lighting team at Channel 7 had an ETC Desire XT LED fixture on order to replace a broken HMI fixture and they took delivery of it the day before departing for Antarctica.

"It's an all-encompassing, weather-proof light that enables us to dial in different colour temperatures, whether it's daylight or tungsten lighting," remarked Slater. "You also have full dim control; to have all those features in a light without the need for a ball

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UK - Elstree Light & Power has recently invested in a significant number of Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 1500s, supplemented by a healthy order of Sharpys. The Alpha Spot HPE 1500s were immediately specified on some high profile live and broadcast events.

Working closely with lighting designer Nigel Catmur, ELP took delivery of 26 of the Alpha Spot HPE 1500s which Catmur specified first on S4C's Rhydian shows and the Only Men Allowed TV special. He subsequently featured them on the lighting rig for the Royal Variety Performance.

"Having first seen the impact of the Alpha Spot HPE 1500 on Eurovision last year, I knew it was a light I wanted to work with," says Catmur. "Simultaneously ELP had the same idea and so we collaborated and made it happen on the projects we were working on together at the time."

"We recognised that we needed a

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UK - A new onslaught of Saturday evening reality television shows has begun with both sides vying for the best viewing figures for the family audience. This year, the BBC is launching a new singing competition, one that has already had remarkable success in the Netherlands, Germany and the USA, to compete with the sixth series of ITVs Britain's Got Talent. The Voice, a new concept in reality TV talent shows focuses on nothing but the voice.

Creative Technology (CT) has been involved in setting the scene for the striking backdrop to the show. Alongside the creative talent of Julian Healy, the production designer on the series, CT had a set and light period of only three days, in which time over 150sq.m of LED screens as backdrops and floor covering were rigged.

With the main set screen comprising of 30sq.m of Chromatek Black Faced 6mm LED screen, the fragmented Fl

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UK - Black Light's next pyrotechnic training course is set to go off like a rocket on the 30 April when the company's training team lights the blue touch paper at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. The one-day course is designed to give practical advice and instruction on all the key aspects of stage pyrotechnic design, operation and safety and will include hands-on workshop sessions during which participants will be able to try out everything they have learned.

"Our pyrotechnics courses are always popular," says Black Light's customer relations manager, Claire Södergren who is helping to organise the course. "This one should appeal to a wide variety of people - from those who have never used pyrotechnics before through to participants who want to see what the latest technology can do. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a nationally-reco

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USA - The bell tower of First United Methodist Church in Conway, SC, has been a landmark in this coastal city's historic downtown since the early 1960s.

In recent years Conway has undergone something of a revitalization, and First United Methodist is no exception. The 600-seat Georgian-style sanctuary was recently treated to an extensive renovation that included everything from foundation repair and new flooring to an elevator and a new, state-of-the-art sound system featuring Iconyx digitally steered column arrays from Renkus-Heinz.

Audio engineer David Clyburn of Roebuck, SC-based MusiCraft explains the selection of the Iconyx IC16-R systems. "The sanctuary is a beautiful, large, rectangular space with high ceilings and tall windows," he says. "Even before the renovation, we measured the reverb time at more than three seconds, and that was before they expanded

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Australia - St Kilda's Australian National Memorial Theatre is a 783-seat theatre and theatrical arts school which exists to provide Australian and international students with affordable, world-class training in ballet and dance, drama and music theatre. This not for profit theatre provides a dynamic, caring, non-discriminatory environment that recognises the potential of the performing arts to enhance life skills as well as provide a career.

The venue houses a versatile, professional performance space that is also available to community, educational and professional organisations at favourable rates. It operates with a minimal technical crew, usually only two, and so a reliable wireless communications system is a necessity.

"Keeping in contact with our staff was becoming more of a problem especially with the dance school performances where you may have up to 300 children

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Sweden - Immediately after unveiling its new MLA Compact system in London, Martin Audio was able to announce its first sale.

DM Audio AB, its long-serving Stockholm-based rental customer (and part of the EM Nordic Group), has invested in a System 36 (comprising 24 MLA Compact top boxes and 12 DSX subwoofers), which is supplied with all necessary cabling and accessories for rental stock. The order was handled by EM Nordic AB's sales arm, XL Audio.

Although long term this will provide DM Audio with a system for rental stock, it was immediately sub-hired to Norwegian rental company Rubicon, for use as an out-fill system at the 9,700-capacity Oslo Spektrum for two Morten Ramm comedy shows on 24 March. Rubicon themselves purchased a full-size MLA system from XL Audio Norway back in November 2010.

Rubicon head of sound, Roar Ånestad, accompanied DM Audio's Lars Wern and Barney Ga

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UK - This week marks the end of an era for both TV and Richard Martin Lighting (RML) as the very last Harry Hill's TV Burp was filmed. The series, featuring comedian Harry Hill, has been running since 2002.

Long standing lighting designer Martin Kempton comments, "It's very sad to see it go - it's been a regular fixture in my diary for the past 11 years and I've been really proud to have been associated with it."

The four-time BAFTA winning ITV show uses a small and selective amount of lights (including MAC 250's, MAC TW1's, Pixel Par 90's and Alpha Spot 575 HPE's) to create a bright yet 'homely' look to compliment the set.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - For the new production of Pippin at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the concept was to place the show inside a video game. As you walk towards the theatre entrance, the character Pippin is playing a video game - then during the opening number, Pippin gets sucked into the game that is then played onstage.

Lighting designer Ken Billington reports, "For the production, Tim Bird created a very neutral set with many levels and then with his team from Knifedge created visuals that were projected on all the surfaces requiring fast moving changes like a video game. This of course impacted the lighting in that it needed to change quickly and drastically with intensity and colour. With a very low ceiling (4m) and limited electricity - LED fixtures became almost essential to make the concept work. To give me the bang of LED I chose the PixelRange QPar 10°, 20° asymme

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UK - When entertainment lighting specialist White Light expanded into additional warehouse space last summer, part of the goal was to provide the company with extra working space for the extensive range of sales and rental projects it now supplies. But the company was also keen to provide lighting designers with somewhere new to experiment with light - lighting equipment and lighting ideas - in the kind of space lighting is normally created, rather than in a tiny demonstration room.

"Something we've often heard from lighting designers is that they long for a decent sized space where they can just try things," explains White Light's managing director, Bryan Raven. "They wanted somewhere they could come and experiment with new products, new colours, new ideas, away from the crazy pressure and schedules that come when you're actually creating a new show. There's alwa

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Germany - Lighting, dimming and controls manufacturer ETC has reported an enthusiastic response to its stand at Prolight & Sound this year.

For the first time, a stage area was set up on the stand, where field project coordinator Mark Tobler gave presentations in German or English describing ETC's overarching philosophy: Layers of Light. He showed how different types of lighting - tungsten, HID and LED - can be used together with ETC's latest control desks and Sensor3 power control system to create the right light for any kind of purpose.

Market anager for ETC GmbH Sarah Clausen says, "With ETC, our focus is on the quality of light; we wanted to show how we can really enhance the stage and what's on it.

"By setting up our famous mannequin with a brightly multi-coloured dress, we showed how we can make colours balance, 'pop' or appear dull by adjusting each o

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UK - HVFX worked with Katy Perry during her live performance on BBC1's Let's Dance for Sport Relief show.

Thrilling the audience with her song Part of me, Perry was surrounded by 12 large plasma balls and four plasma columns, topped off by her own laser display; the ensemble made for an electrifying show.

The vibrant colours of the plasma balls and columns were echoed by the pink and blue stage lights, making the whole vision a show to remember.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Long standing Allen & Heath user, John Digweed, has adopted the new Xone:DB4 digital FX mixer as his mixer of choice for all tours and gigs.

"I've been using A&H mixers since the Xone:62 came out and I've always been a fan, insisting on A&H at every gig," says Digweed. "As a DJ, you want to turn up at a gig and know you can rely on the equipment. The DB4 is stable, well built, with excellent, warm sound - it just delivers."

Digweed has been using the mixer for several months, thoroughly road-testing it on his rigorous tour schedule, which spans the globe.

"I love the DB4's layout, which is similar to the Xone:92, and it is well thought out; for instance, certain knobs are backlit, which is great for a dark environment but also signals when the mixer is in different modes as the colour changes," he states.

Digweed's set up comprises the Xo

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UK - Ambersphere's regional tour of the UK continues in March and April with two headline appearances - at the Black Light Open day in Scotland, and at PLASA Focus in Leeds.

These showcase exhibitions follow hot on the heels of the South-East roadshow that Ambersphere held recently in Brighton.

The Black Light Open Day, which is Scotland's largest gathering of lighting industry professionals, is taking place at Black Light's HQ in Edinburgh on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 March, and will be the first opportunity for those North of the Border to get a close up look at the new products on offer from Clay Paky and MA Lighting.

"It's really exciting to get on the road with the dazzling array of new products that Clay Paky and MA Lighting have recently brought to market," says Glyn O'Donoghue, managing director of Ambersphere.

"With a number of regional exhibitions

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UK/Germany - After trialling Martin Audio's active Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) on a series of high profile events, premier UK rental company, RG Jones Sound Engineering has become the first UK company to invest in the new system. The rental company confirmed the purchase of a System 36 on the opening day of this year's Prolight+Sound Show in Frankfurt.

The complement of 24 fully-integrated MLA top boxes and 12 MLX subs, with six dedicated amplifier and DSP channels per enclosure, will make their debut on a series of high-profile shows at the end of April and beginning of May.

Championing the cause for RG Jones had been the company's experienced sound engineer Simon Honywill, who had put MLA through its paces on Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds tour, Raymond Gubbay's Classical Spectacular and on shows with Katherine Jenkins in Ireland t

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UK - Following news last week of record visitor registrations of over 1,000 in just two days, it seems that exhibitors are equally eager to confirm their places before space runs out. Although the available exhibition space is the same 3,000sq.m as the three rooms at the Royal Horticultural Halls, the new venue is a single exhibition area on two levels with all facilities together in the same space.

Show director Roger Fox said, "I am so pleased that the exhibitors have responded so positively to our determination to make the ABTT 2012 Theatre Show an immediate success in its new home. Visitor registrations continue to be buoyant and we have a growing waiting list of would be exhibitors. The signs are very good for a bumper event."

Close to 100 exhibitors will be offering a wealth of products, services and advice to practitioners, designers and technicians involved i

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UK - More than 2000 professionals from the North of England's entertainment and installation technology communities have registered to attend PLASA Focus: Leeds 2012, taking place at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, on Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 April. Organisers PLASA Events are attributing this year's stronger-than-ever pre-show figures to the record number of new products on show, a flurry of first-time exhibitors, and the event's well-loved, friendly format.

Joining 130 exhibitors across two sold-out halls will be 20 new exhibitors, including audio, video and lighting installers TMC Ltd; audio manufacturer Electro-Voice; laser system specialists Laserworld AG; audio manufacturers KV2 Audio; audio contractors FBT Audio; designers and manufacturers of modular stages and portable sound and light systems, Unistage Ltd; and audio sales, rentals, and integrated installations company,

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UK - With extensive experience in professional audio design, FBT has announced its new Installed Sound division, incorporating indoor and outdoor IP55 rated enclosures, digital steerable line arrays, and multimedia automation systems.

"With a dedicated catalogue, the new FBT Installed Sound division aims to provide full turnkey solutions to the largest possible number of sound contractors, projects and tenders, with products rich with technical features and suitable for the specific applications required," says the company.

The Installed Sound division consists of: Vertus digital steerable loudspeaker arrays MLA 801A and MLA608A; Archon permanent installation loudspeaker series; Shadow all-weather loudspeaker series

MAD4IP multimedia automatic distribution over IP systems.

The new Installed Sound division expands FBT's already vast range of products including FBT

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Italy - The historic Forte di Bard in north-west Italy recently opened its high-tech multimedia museum, spanning more than 20 rooms, and featuring state-of-the art audio visual presentations, touch screens and interactive experiences for the visitor - all controlled by the recently installed Q-Sys Integrated System Platform.

Perched on a rocky promontory high above this small northern Italian town, Forte di Bard (Fort Bard) has been a site of strategic significance since the pre-Roman era. Today its importance is cultural rather than military. Completely restored in 2006, the stunning courtyards of this fortress complex now play host to theatre and ballet performances, summer pop concerts and literary events, while its imposing walls house major touring exhibitions of art and photography.

The new museum is dedicated to the history of the site and its fortifications. This state

  1. The Week in Lighting & Sound
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  3. Leisuretec highlights flexibility at Focus
  4. Reproduced Sound 2012 set for Brighton
  5. PRG helps launch King's Cross extension
  6. LumenRadio solves Rubik's Cube
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