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14 March 2016

Held 12-14 June at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, visitors to InfoComm will be some of the first in North America to get an up-close look at two Martin product lines that are taking the industry by storm.

Martin will also have on display its EC Series of LED video panels as well as its Exterior 400 range of outdoor LED lighting fixtures.

Martin invites all industry lighting professionals to Booth 6151 for a relaxing chat and demo from their own personal Martin rep.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Promoted by David 'Boogie Dave' Whittall, Ace supported the event with a Martin Audio Modular System that included the 215 MK3 bass bins and Martin Audio MH212 Philishave midrange - as well as top boxes. The entire system was powered by BGW's equally iconic Grand Touring Amplifiers.

"We ran totally in analogue from the microphone to the loudspeaker, giving a really warm and clear sound which this system is renowned for," stated Alex Czechowski. Bands playing through the system included Major Triads, Too Many T's, Alternative Dubstep Orchestra and The Beatbox Collective

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14 March 2016

Based in Bergisch Gladbach, on the outskirts of Köln, Rational Acoustics' Michael Häck has been running Smaart classes since 2008, as well as distributing the software.

"Our courses demonstrate that you don't need to necessarily know all the theory, what is behind the algorithms or what is mathematically correct for setting up a high quality PA system. If you can use the software properly to measure the system and interpret the re

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14 March 2016

Over 300 objects have been brought together for the first time by the V&A's Theatre and Performance curators, Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, and arranged across two exhibition galleries. Exhibits include many of Bowie's original costumes, music videos, excerpts from films and live performances and set designs.

Unusual Rigging's brief from the exhibition designers, 59 Productions and Real Studios, along with lighting designers DHA Designs, included some very subtle rigging requirements for the many flown scenic elements and projection surfaces, scrims, screens and aerial booths involved.

One major exhibit required Unusual to facilitate approximately 100 books swarm

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14 March 2016

"Once registered and accepted, you will be given access to all the latest builds and tools that make Hippotizer the world's favourite media server. With these you will be asked to participate in testing, logging issues and suggesting new features.

"For the duration of the programme, you will become part of Green Hippo and have access to the Quality Control team at our HQ. An internal forum will allow you to engage in discussion with fellow testers, as well as share new ideas, ways of working and experiences with each other."

Hippotizer product manager Lee House says, "Our users are the real designers of Hippotizer products. Withou

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14 March 2016

The introduction of the g X-5 LED strobes from Peter Johansen's SGM provided all the inspiration necessary for multi-award winning production designer, LeRoy Bennett, to specify almost 450 pieces for Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.

When the set climaxes with her popular song Halo, the accompanying drum roll is the cue for lighting director Whitney Hoversten to trigger every strobe in the house, completing a blinding blitzkrieg. "We throw everything plus the kitchen sink at it," he says.

Beyoncé herself had expressed a preference for a lightshow-dominated stage set this time around (rather than the current video-led paradigm) and Bennett immediately set to work creating a stunning light ladder 'torm', i

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14 March 2016

For the UK leg of the tour, Knight and production manager Scotty Ross worked with Lester Cobrin, White Light's head of concert touring, to choose the layout of the lighting rig. Having already toured the show in America, Knight decided to go in a new direction with the lighting for the UK tour. "In the US, we used mostly conventional sources - incandescent pars and similar - which didn't give me a lot of flexibility and required

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14 March 2016

The historic 20-story building sits prominently on Chicago's Loop, somewhat dwarfed by its larger skyscraper siblings but exuding an air of Old World class. Inside, the building's Main Hall plays host to events ranging from formal dinners to addresses by heads of state and other national and international dignitaries. It's an exquisitely appointed room with high ceilings and m

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14 March 2016

The annual Silver Clef awards honour artists from across the music industry, while raising money for the music therapy charity. Nordoff Robbins chairman David Munns said Coldplay were most deserving of the award. "Co

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14 March 2016

"Together, the Mackie & Ampeg brands have over sixty years of history in the UK and Ireland markets with one of the industry's most loyal dealer and user bases," explained Tony Williams, director of sales, EMEA. "POLAR Audio will build on this success by delivering improved local stock availability, excellent in-market sales, technical support, and elevated levels of marketing and brand awareness."

"We are extremely excited and feel privileged to be chosen as the exclusive UK distributor of these market leading brands, " stated John Midgley MD of POLAR Audio. "Mackie and Ampeg are at the core of the music industry and we are conf

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14 March 2016

Svetlost Teatar is focused on a full service concept, including design, manufacture, assembly, install and service. During the past years, the company has successfully completed over 100 projects, including 19,000 seat arenas and world famous opera houses.

"We chose LumenRadio because it is a trusted name in the entertainment industry. The quality of the CRMX products and the reliable performance make LumenRadio the perfect fit in our product portfolio of world-leading brands", says Olivera Mitrovic, general manager at Svetlost Teatar

Jessica Björk, sales & marketing manager adds, "In signing with Svetlost Teatar, I believe that we have found the best possible partner in this region. We are very glad to have Svetlost Teatar r

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14 March 2016

The 2013 event, staged at the Frank Romero Day Greek Theatre, celebrated the local traditions with dance, music and wine, plus a special drama performance Noche de Teatro Mágico de Piedra y Vino to honour the venue's 50th anniversary.

Up to 30,000 people a night flocked to catch the action over the two week Festival. A Vendimia Queen was chosen and various wine tastings took place as well as live performances from an impressive line-up of local and international folk and rock bands. The event was closed by Spanish singer-songwriter and musician Alejandro Sanz who gave a show-st

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14 March 2016

"With some of the small DMX consoles you almost need a calculator to work out which fader is going to control which element of the DMX functions on your fixtures," commented Jex. "With the Stage CL, Jands has recognised that and seen a gap in the market. I did look at some software options as well but I prefer to 'play' the console like a musical instrument. A lot of the work I do is with bands that I may be working with for the first time and the Stage CL allows me to easily interact with them."

One feature that Jex particularly favours is the 'one channel strip per fixture' which helps him to change colours easily as well as fade in and out. He

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14 March 2016

In response to a growth in the numbers of touring acts visiting India, Sound & Light Professionals made a strategic decision to boost their inventory with K1, Kudo, Kara and LA-RAK.

Manish Mavani, director of Sound & Light Professionals, said, "We are very proud to own K1 - the flagship product of L-Acoustics. It is the most rider friendly system and the choice of every engineer to work on.

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14 March 2016

The venue's technical director Daniel Loh specified 16 of each Alpha Spot HPE 700 and Alpha Wash 700s as an optional upgrade to the standard lighting package in the theatre, choosing them due to their compact, lightweight build and quiet operation.

"In addition to the Alpha Wash 700s and Alpha Spot HPE 700s' relatively small dimensions, we needed fixtures that offered good colour rendition and really packed a punch in terms of light output," says Loh. "The 32 Clay Paky fixtures will serve as floating stock that can be used in various venues in our facility, and the two Alpha ranges facilitate this due to their small scale size but powerf

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14 March 2016

Respected TV lighting and visual media programmer Russ Grubiak - who has worked on a number of high rating shows including the X Factor, Big Brother, and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross - chose to use the powerful Avolites Media Server Ai to manipulate the end visual output for Series 4 of the show, which was created to discover the best dance act in the UK.

"The Ai's built-in visualiser has been a god send, particularly in television when you are operating from a gallery or position where you can't always see the stage with your own eyes," sa

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14 March 2016

To achieve this, Sennheiser is working closely together with Markus Müller (MM Communications), who will preconfigure and supply the wireless systems. For the first time, Digital 9000 systems will be used for the two semi-finals on 14 and 16 May as well as for the Grand Final on 18 May. Jonas Næsby, RF specialist at Sennheiser Nordic, will be present at the arena to provide the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with expert support in operating the RF equipment.

This year, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will be a little more down to earth than previous shows, it will be a somewhat small

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14 March 2016

Lighting designer Luis Ernesto Armenta Jiménez has used Martin products since he started in the industry as a programmer and incorporated the new 1000 W Martin fixtures into his lighting design for the festival.

"I chose to use the MAC Viper Profile because I felt it would help me achieve the goal of highlighting a show that was full of cultural juxtaposition as it mixed contemporary dance with orchestral music and pop music, all in the same festival," he said.

Luis lined ground supports with 10 MAC Viper Profiles with colour wash coming from 26 MAC 2000 Washes and 16 MAC 101 wash lights. Twelve Atomic 3000 str

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14 March 2016

The event was staged first in Plaza de Colón in Madrid between 28 February and 8 March, and then in Plaza de Cataluña in Barcelona from 16 to 23 March.

The show was held in a special geodesic dome. A true landmark in modern engineering, this igloo-like structure was designed and created by the US company Pacific Domes using a sophisticated negative pressure system that makes the metal structure vanish to create a 800 square metre screen.

Measuring 10.5m high and with a diamete

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14 March 2016

"Showlight is an exceptional and unique event in our industry and we are delighted to again have the opportunity to participate as a sponsor," states Martin UK sales director Mike Walker, who will be attending the event along with Martin's newly hired business area manager for its EMEA sales organisation, Matt Hallard."Showlight really attracts the cream of the lighting world and from a networking perspective is unequalled. We very much look forward to it."

Held every four years, Showlight exists specifically to give speakers, designers and attendees time to meet and discuss. For example, stands close during presentat

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14 March 2016

Thanks to digital audio, instead of a few dates of an entire tour being recorded for release as the occasional live album these days fans are able to buy a recording of every show. The ability to have a recording of a gig you were at is a powerful incentive to purchase, providing satisfaction for the fans and more income for the artist.

Swindon-based Live Band Audio's new mobile studio is aiming to make this even more accessible, by making live recordings of both entertainment and corporate events available on USB wristband flash drives almost immediately after the gig.

After gradu

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14 March 2016

54 Below-named for its location underneath what was formerly the fabled Studio 54-presents up to three shows nightly in its main room, with all 144 seats within 24ft of the stage.

"My biggest challenge was coming up with smooth, even coverage throughout the room considering its low ceiling and thrust stage," remarks Hylenski. "I decided on a Meyer Sound solution based on the specific sizes and types of loudspeakers I would need to accomplish the design."

Hylenski's

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14 March 2016

Devised in conjunction with technical director Ola Melzig and the production team behind this year's Eurovision, this unique event aimed to combine unprecedented backstage access with seminars, Q&A sessions with key members of the production team and a technology showcase to highlight the cutting-edge sound, lighting, projection, video and control systems in use on a show which will have a television audience in excess of 100m people.

After the event, Melzig said, "What a success! All partners and visitors I've talked with are super happy about the quality of this show, and its visitors. It was really great to share the experience and show what is going on backstage to so many peo

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14 March 2016

"Everyone at SSL is very excited to enter this arena of audio production, and we are glad to have Jason with us to help support our success in the live sound industry," says Antony David, managing director of Solid State Logic. "The SSL Live console has been years in the making and we're happy to now be able to share it with the world. We know Jason's keen understanding of the market and product sectors is the perfect combination for this position. W