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UK - Entertainment industry training centre Backstage Academy has launched an exclusive PLASA competition for one lucky student to win a week's work experience at LS-Live, helping on the set build of a touring artist.

Sponsored by leading trade publication L&Si, the first prize will enable a young student to gain valuable experience at an internationally renowned set design and construction business, based at the LS-Live Studios in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. LS-Live has worked on stage shows of famous artists such as Kasabian, Jay-Z, Tinie Tempah and Robbie Williams, with many of them rehearsing in its arena-sized production rehearsal studio.

The second prize, sponsored by the UK's biggest distributor of Apple and Adobe products, Jigsaw Systems, is an iPod and a 50% voucher off any Short Course or Career Course at Backstage Academy. There are also 25 third prizes; 10% off vouc

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UK - After 12 months of intensive research and planning, UK-based VirtualXpo, a new, highly innovative digital media brand, is going public with its plans to radically change the way that technology manufacturers and service companies do business, not only in the entertainment production field but across a broad spectrum of industries worldwide.

Says the company, "An elegantly simple companion to trade shows and general promotion, VirtualXpo's beautifully crafted VX 'Super App' provides a multimedia market place in which any company can exhibit and anyone can attend wherever they happen to be in the world. Its 'game-changing' Digital Marketing Environment (DME) platform provides an expansive reference point for companies, providing all their marketing needs in a truly cost-effective package that both transcends and complements the exposure offered by current exhibitions, co

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UK - On Monday 10 September, in front of a packed audience at the PLASA Awards Ceremony at Earls Court John Meyer was announced as the winner of the 2012 Gottelier Award.

John Meyer is one of the original pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry. He began his career in 1967 by building a customised system for the Steve Miller Band, and from there he went on to develop loudspeaker systems for the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Grateful Dead. Since founding Meyer Sound Laboratories in 1979 with his wife Helen, Meyer has continued to research, experiment and develop sound technology ever since - building Meyer Sound into an iconic brand and a consistent world leader in the pro audio market. Meyer is a more than worthy winner of this highly prized accolade.

This prestigious award is named in honour of the late Tony Gottelier who was one of the industry's

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UK - The PLASA Awards for Innovation, sponsored by AED Rent and Lighting&Sound, were presented at the PLASA Show in London yesterday evening, along with the announcement of the prestigious Gottelier Award.

During the show's opening two days, 47 products were judged 'live' in front of a crowd of show visitors and camera crew by an independent panel of expert judges who toured the show floor to view each product presentation.

John Meyer of iconic pro audio brand Meyer Sound was honoured with this year's Gottelier Award in recognition of his life as one of the pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry.

Eight Awards for Innovation were presented - including a final Gold Award for Innovation - along with a special Award for Sustainability.

Nominees are asked to demonstrate a new style of thinking, an improvement in technical practice, an aid to safety, energy-s

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UK - Neatly summing up its mission to achieve "the utmost excellence in every part of its business", Sennheiser comes to PLASA 2012 with a bold statement of intent - The Pursuit Of Perfect Sound.

Exhibiting on Stand 1-F6, the pursuit of excellence has been the core of Sennheiser's ethos since the company was founded nearly 70 years ago. This year Sennheiser is reaffirming its quest to seamlessly link science and emotion by launching its continuing mission for The Pursuit of Perfect Sound.

"We believe that the purer and more intense a sound is, the greater the emotional response it produces in the listener," says Phil Massey, Sennheiser UK's general manager. "This bringing together of science and emotion is why we strive to make the very best equipment possible. By providing Sennheiser users with perfect sound, they get the most rewarding experience fro

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UK - ETC's stand at PLASA 2012 this year is better than ever, the company reports, with a range of new and updated products on demonstration.

ETC introduced the new Source Four Dimmer on the stand. The Source Four Dimmer reduces cabling and energy demands on buildings while increasing Source Four fixture brightness and efficiency.

By regulating output to support 115V HPL lamps, the Source Four Dimmer supercharges a 230V Source Four luminaire - allowing a Source Four ellipsoidal profile on 230V line voltage to use a 115V lamp to outperform a typical 1200W condenser profile.

Seen for the first time in the UK, ETC's Layers of Light theatre on the stand offers a short presentation, on the hour every hour, visibly demonstrating the power of ETC's Selador x7 LED colour system, as well as offering a close-up look at the different Selador Desire LED luminaires and the new Source Fou

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UK - Shure UK is featuring the ULX-D Digital Wireless Microphone System with new multi-channel receivers, a High Density mode that enables 63 channels to operate in just 8 MHz of spectrum, and integrated Dante digital audio networking.

The new ULXD4D dual channel digital receiver and ULXD4Q quad channel digital receiver pack two or four channels of wireless into one rack space, with individual gain controls, LED meters, and XLR outputs for each channel. Like the single-channel, half-rack ULXD4 digital receiver, the new dual and quad receivers feature fully digital audio processing and RF transmission as well as AES 256-bit encryption".

"ULX-D has already set a new bar for audio quality, spectral efficiency, and features with its intelligent rechargeable batteries and AES256 encryption," said Erik Vaveris, category director for wireless products at Shure. "T

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World - City Theatrical has announced that Philips Color Kinetics will now offer City Theatrical's full line of SHoW DMX Neo wireless control solutions worldwide. This new distribution relationship makes it easy for Philips Color Kinetics customers to specify a full range of wireless DMX equipment for their entertainment and architectural installations.

SHoW DMX products can be found on nearly every Broadway and West End show and tour and have also been used on major music tours and events including the U2 360 Degree tour and the London Olympics. SHoW DMX products have also been used in many permanent architectural installations around the world.

The SHoW DMX Neo family offers a range of wireless DMX solutions from the simple plug and play SHoW DMX SHoW Baby to the professional grade SHoW DMX Neo and the outdoor SHoW DMX Vero and Vero Net.

All SHoW DMX Neo products feature t

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Singapore - On 29-30 August, Adamson and Team 108, Adamson's exclusive distribution for Southeast Asia, joined forces to host a two-day Asia Pacific Energia seminar and demo in the city state of Singapore. Team 108 based in Singapore, prepped all the logistics such as renting of spaces, providing the system, organizing transport and finding suitable lodging for all the attendees.

The seminar included extensive technical presentations on Project Energia, Blueprint Software, the T21 sub and a sneak peak at Adamson's new COAX series. Jesse Adamson, director of marketing & sales and David Dohrmann, Adamson Europe's applications engineer hosted the event. The second day of the seminar included a complete hands-on setup of a 24 cabinet E15 system with companion T21 subs in an arena environment. The demonstration also included preset management and system alignment overview.

Team 108

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USA - Once, Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best New Musical, relies on DPA Microphones' 4060 Omnidirectional Miniature Microphones to provide a transparent sound in a small, discreet capsule. Based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film of the same name, Once takes place on a set designed to give audience members the illusion that they are watching a true event unfold, making them feel as though they are right on stage with the actors. The natural sound DPA 4060s have aided in giving this impression.

With such specific requirements, sound designer Clive Goodwin turned to the DPA 4060 for its excellent sound and ability to provide an intimate sound in a large Broadway theater. To achieve this, Goodwin hides the DPA 4060 in the actors' hair or beards, with the microphones in close proximity to the mouth, where possible. He also hides a 4060 in the concertina, and each

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UK - Chauvet Professional COLORdash Batten Tri linear wash lights enliven the stage of the Royal Opera House in London's Convent Garden. Additionally used for corporate events, the 12 compact-sized fixtures supplement the existing stock and provide flexible lighting options.

"We bought the units for two reasons," said Paul Hornsby, lighting systems manager for Royal Opera House, "[for] a compact light source [when] lighting up pieces of set where we needed a small-sized, bright, low-heat unit and for events-small room meetings to lighting the windows of the Paul Hamlyn Hall for the Christmas period."

Royal Opera House selected the fixtures after its use on television shows like Strictly Come Dancing. Supplied by Stage Electrics, COLORdash Batten Tri features a row of calibrated tri-coloured LEDs that can perform complex pixel mapping and intricate ru

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UK - The Olympic Torch donated by Czech moving light manufacturer Robe lighting's CEO Josef Valchar, was auctioned at PLASA 2012 and won for £6,200 by leading European AV rental company, AED Rent.

The proceeds are going to entertainment technology industry charity, Light Relief.

The auction was held directly after PLASA's 2012 Awards for Innovation - one of which was won by Robe's Robin DLF Wash LED fresnel moving light - and followed some animated bidding, all co-ordinated by professional auctioneer Jonathan Humbert, brought in by Robe for the occasion.

The torch was collected by AED Rent's Glenn Roggeman.

It was carried on the Olympic relay ahead of the London Summer Games, and will now complete the final leg of its journey from London to AED Rent's HQ in Willebroek, Belgium.

The auction was inspired by Robe's current 'Working With Winners' initiative which has b

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USA - Author, educator, and industry veteran John Huntington has released Show Networks and Control Systems, the completely updated and revised edition of his industry standard reference text, which was previously titled Control Systems for Live Entertainment.

The book includes an in-depth examination of the control and networking technology used in lighting, lasers, sound, stage machinery, animatronics, special effects, and pyrotechnics used in concerts, theme parks, theatre, themed retail, cruise ships, museums, interactive performing arts, and special events.

"With the increasing impact and ubiquity of networking in our market, I felt a new edition with an expanded networking focus was important," comments Huntington. "So, I completely reorganised the content; checked, updated, and expanded the information; and added a lot more information. And,

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France - The largest annual festival in France takes place mid-July of every year, in Carhaix, Brittany. This year's festival featured some very big names in music such as Sting, Bob Dylan, Portishead, The Cure and Garbage who performed on its main Glenmore stage. Another five stages featured international and French artists from well-known to up and coming acts, including performance artists and theatre. The high profile names attracted 244,000 attendees over four days.

Audiolite provided all sound production for the Adamson filled main stage set-up. For the Glenmore stage, as it is named after a famous Brittany artist, sound design was executed by Patrick 'Typat' Passerel, and the sound crew chief was Sylvain Turpin, with Audiolite owner Thierry Tanguy overseeing the management.

Audiolite has been covering the Vieilles Charrues Festival's main stage using Adamson Y18's since

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UK - For the first time, the prestigious Knights of Illumination Awards, hosted by Clay Paky, incorporated special new effects, much to the delight of both guests and organizers. The awards, which were held on Sunday 9 September at Battersea Evolution in London, honour the achievements in lighting design by the best in our industry and is attended by hundreds of talented and experienced lighting professionals.

The opening sequence to the award portion of the evening began with a woman walking down the aisle toward the stage, holding the coveted Knight of Illumination award - a hand crafted sword. As she walked onto the stage, the sword was suddenly bathed in the light of two Clay Paky Sharpys, positioned on either side of the stage and tracking the sword to centre stage with perfect precision. When guests realized that these were not followspots, and there were no followspot ope

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USA - Barco teamed up with broadcast and event producer SennovA, to create the visual centerpiece for the world's premiere electronic music festival in Miami, Florida. The partners delivered a stunning 3D projection mapping display, entitled Red Bull Mind Meld which covered 29 floors of the Intercontinental Miami Hotel exterior with bold, animated imagery for three nights during the festival.

The Ultra Music Festival has been a fast-growing phenomenon among electronic music fans since the first concert launched in 1999. Expanding from a one- to three-day sold-out event, this year's festival was also streamed online to bring the total number of viewers to several million (with 200,000 attending live over the duration of the event).

The magnitude of the event demanded a larger-than-life visual spectacle, which was expertly designed and executed by SennovA with Barco proje

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USA - San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge recently celebrated its 75th birthday, paying tribute to one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Thanks to W-DMX, tens of thousands of spectators experienced a magnificent and creative light show orchestrated from locations not reachable with cable.

Event producer Don Richards of Foghorn Creative brought in San Francisco-based Lightswitch with lighting designer Norm Schwab to help organise the event. Working with Syncrolite for lighting the bridge, Schwab created a moving tribute with historical significance. The final effect was reminiscent of the Scintillator, a vintage lighting technique using a fan of searchlights that was introduced to the city at the Pan Pacific Exposition in 1915.

The show culminated in a blaze of 75 7K Syncrolite fixtures - the only lights used on the show - 50 of which rose majestically from a barg

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USA - Music Group reports that it has joined the growing list of professional audio companies to invest in SynAudCon's corporate sponsorship programme.

Music Group will use SynAudCon's web-based training for their internal tech support staff with the intention of elevating their skill level in the realm of distributed audio systems.

"SynAudCon is hands down the most comprehensive audio training solution in the world," says Steven Young VP, Installed Sound Division for the Music Group. "We feel support of SynAudCon is a great investment for our collective future."

"We are pleased to welcome Music Group as a SynAudCon sponsor," concludes Pat Brown, president of SynAudCon. "Sponsorship demonstrates a company's commitment to training and technical excellence. We look forward to collaborating with Music Group."

(Jim Evans)

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Australia - Located in an old pie factory from the early 1900's, The Grounds of Alexandria is the flagship venue for its specialty coffee. The site hosts a coffee research and testing facility alongside a café, opening onto a luscious garden of heirloom vegetables and fragrant herbs.

The integrity of the former warehouse has been retained by embracing its rustic and industrial aesthetic. Black and steel frames, bespoke wooden cabinetry and polished white and green subway tiles are contrasted against vintage wooden tables and refitted shipping containers.

With a holistic approach to food and design; The Grounds offers a wholesome and rustic menu. The kitchen uses sustainable practices including; picking fresh herbs every morning and working with full time horticulturalist to grow seasonal produce for the menu.

York Antoniou of York Entertainment was asked by his client

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South Korea - The Global Mission (Jiguchon) Church is an evangelical 'megachurch' with a total of over 20,000 people attending its 14 Sunday services. A feature of the church is a DiGiCo SD7 console with EX-007 expander, installed to help ensure that its gospel is spread as widely as possible.

The church has four buildings - the main Bundang church and the GMN Chapel in Bundang-gu, the Suji church in nearby Suji-gu and the Gyeonggi University Chapel in Suwon-si.

In addition to the Sunday services - which include gatherings for children, youth, university groups, young adults, foreign language services in English, Chinese, Japanese and a specific service for foreign workers - the Bundang church holds prayer meetings every day except Sunday and additional Wednesday services.

The SD7 and EX-007 have been installed to take care of two discrete mixes. The first - mixed from the S

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Australia / USA - Lighting designer Theo Cox's visual scheme for the current Seal world tour brings a fresh innovative approach, mixing the mediums of lighting, video and automation into a stunning asymmetric swirl of drama, suggestion and energy.

The design has proved extremely popular, and won much industry acclaim as the tour completed its first Australian and US legs, and is ready to hit Europe later in the autumn.

UK based Cox first worked with the multi-award winning musician/singer/songwriter Seal in summer 2011, and was then approached to create a design concept for the upcoming 'Soul 2' tour.

Given a largely open brief for the design, it had to be adaptable to a variety of different venue sizes, ultimately tourable and use kit that could be sourced worldwide as well as fitting into an expedient truck pack!

Evoking a clean, elegant and dynamically different look on

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USA - The Owner's Box Sports Bar and Grill at the new Omni Dallas Hotel has become the hot-spot for both intense game-watching and socializing in this sports-centric city. As the name implies, the concept here is to give fans a privileged seat and then pull them into the game-a technological feat accomplished by a total of 72 HDTV screens and powerful surround sound systems incorporating 40 Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers.

Walker Engineering of Irving, Tex. provided design assistance and installation for the audio, video, and lighting (AVL) systems, with Kip Kendrick, the company's business development manager for AVL, spearheading conceptual design.

"I'm not a huge sports fan myself," admits Kendrick, "but I love the feeling I get watching a game on my big screen at home with good surround sound. I knew that if we wanted to bring the fans downtown, we had

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UK - The awe-inspiring - and completely distinctive - Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which spectacularly book-ended the London 2012 Olympics, were a triumph for the respective artistic directors, Danny Boyle and Kim Gavin.

Described as the most creative yet, to ensure the realisation of these ambitious concepts, the sound and lighting designers were also faced with enormous technical challenges.

Specialising in this scale of event production for more than a decade, Australian company Norwest Productions again teamed up with their UK partners Delta Sound to provide the necessary Optocore fibre signal transport, custom RF solutions and LAN networking. This sophisticated connectivity realised the sound design conceived by fellow Australian Scott Willsallen (of Auditoria) - another with a string of Games Opening/Closing events on his CV - in conjunction with theatre sound designe

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UK - Several years ago, Rosco innovated the concept of "a colour that keeps on giving" and Rick Fisher created Supergel 313, Light Relief Yellow. Rosco committed to make a donation to Light Relief from the income generated by the sales of the colour. This year's cheque presented by Mark Engel, Rosco's CEO brought Rosco's contribution to Light Relief to $28,076.

In presenting the cheque to Matthew Griffiths, Engel said: "Every year, I have the opportunity to stand here with you and present Light Relief with a cheque for the proceeds from global sales of Rosco Supergel 313 Light Relief Yellow. It is one of the most fulfilling moments of the show for me and for Rosco. As you know we work hard to offer real solutions and tools for designers through our products, and working with you to develop this colour that continues year after year to provide much-needed, tangible

  1. PLASA 2012: All action for Robe
  2. Community system weathers the years
  3. d&b on the Edinburgh frontline
  4. Elation & AD Systems' new Customer Care Center and seminars
  5. PLASA 2012: 5 Star enjoys successful show
  6. White Light at the Speed of Light
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