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South Africa - It’s a new season for the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria who rode the Covid-19 wave and have turned their Performing Arts Diploma curriculum upside down with a different approach. The students are currently working alongside technical supply company MGG, to host a virtual stage, which will also be recorded for external examiners.
“We are very excited to announce that all previous departments that worked within the Performing Arts have now merged into one Department of Performing Arts (DPA),” comments Janine Lewis, professor and HOD at TUT. “The six programmes we had before are being phased out while first-year students will now follow the new multi-disciplinary Diploma in Performing Arts and then go into a discipline stream of speciality where they can focus on Dance, TAD (Theatre, Art & Design which includes performance and te

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Australia - The Atomic Beer Project is a new microbrewery concept that debuted recently in the inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern. Its hoppy beers provide a complement to the pan-Asian cuisine that the operation specialises in.
Although owners, Gage Roads Brew Co., hail from Western Australia, this is their first bricks and mortar incarnation. In addition to the Craft beers, also helping to draw in patrons - and keep them there - is a potent sound system from Martin Audio.
Music is a core part of the concept, according to Atomic Brand lead, Clint O’Hanlon. “We have started sponsoring FBI radio, which is a youth radio network just down the street from us, and we’ll be hosting their DJs here,” he promises.
One thing the Atomic team were unequivocal about was that there would be no compromise on sound. They chose Martin Audio loudspeakers, having had “excellen

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UK - The Vitec Group has announced the acquisition of LED lighting technology provider Quasar Science. The business will become part of the group’s Production Solutions Division alongside Litepanels, the supplier of LED lighting panels for television lighting and cinematography acquired by the group in 2008.
“This acquisition is in line with Vitec’s strategy to drive growth by increasing our addressable markets and expanding our higher technology capabilities”. Said Vitec Group CEO, Stephen Bird, “Having the well-respected Quasar team within our portfolio, with their flair for new product development, on-set experience, and industry networks, will enhance our position as a leading player in the growing LED lighting for broadcast and cine market.”
Quasar Science products are used in professional large-scale film and television production as well as small sca

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UK - Collaborative Creations (CC) has announced its sales team partnership with AED Audio in the UK.
CC founder and director, West End associate sound designer, Sam Vincent, confirms, “AED Audio has come up with a brilliant product offering in the Flex and Solid Series speakers. Incredibly versatile, they suit a wide range of applications and the 15" Front Loaded Solid15 sub has an impressive low range for a sub of its size.
“It’s the accessories for the range, however, that represent the biggest step forward I have seen in a long time. As a system it’s very user friendly at every level, whether for a single install or for multi-application use, for example, in a multipurpose or multi-format venue, or for a hire company.”
A division of the AED group, the AED Audio product range is inspired directly by the needs of AV production hire companies with whic

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France - Solid State Logic has appointed Algam, distributor of professional audio products in France and Maghreb regions, as their sole distributor for sales and support across all four of SSL’s vertical markets of broadcast, live, studio and audio creation.
For over 30 years Solid State Logic has provided sales and support services via their own subsidiary, SSL France, under the leadership of, Philippe Guerinet. SSL France has been responsible for the growth of SSL Live, System T broadcast and large-format studio consoles in the region and in recent years, the increasing range of ‘ACP’ audio creation products, including USB recording interfaces, high-performance small-scale mixers and hybrid production tools; Fusion and UF8.
Philippe Guerinet, director of international sales comments: “We were looking for a new structure capable of supporting further growth i

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Italy - Renkus-Heinz is partnering with Italian AV distributor Prase Media Technologies to bring its loudspeaker solutions to the Italian market.
“The mission at Renkus-Heinz is to make every location sound better,” said Michal Poplawski, European technical sales manager at Renkus-Heinz. “That requires more than just having product available in a certain area. You need to have a partnership in place with a team that is passionate, knowledgeable, and excited about the solutions you create. We are fortunate to have those qualities in our partnership with Prase Media Technologies.”
Prase Media Technologies, headquartered in Venice, has decades of experience as a distributor focused on AV integration for theatres, conference rooms, retail stores, museums, hospitality, cruise lines, railway stations, and the broader entertainment industry.
“The markets that

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Sweden - Interlite AB has been appointed the exclusive Swedish distributor of ChamSys products, including the MagicQ and QuickQ series.
“We are big believers in product training and demonstrations, “said Tobias Johansson, a 20-year industry veteran and brand manager of ChamSys for Interlite AB. “The commitment ChamSys has to service fits perfectly with our own philosophy.
“ChamSys products excel from the mid to the top range of the console market. Their powerful and user-friendly features have earned them a great reputation.”
“Interest in our MagicQ and QuickQ consoles has been expanding rapidly in Sweden,” said Aziz Adilkhodjaev, international sales and business development manager for ChamSys. “Having a company with the core values of Interlite AB represent us in that market will ensure that we are able to maintain the highest standards of servi

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Europe - Meyer Sound has announced a strategic realignment of all top-level sales management responsibilities outside of the Americas. Meyer Sound Germany has been renamed Meyer Sound Europe and, under the leadership of managing director Wolfgang Leute, will assume direct responsibility for sales and support activities throughout Europe as well as across the Middle East and Africa. Concurrently, director of international sales Scott Gledhill will focus exclusively on continuing Meyer Sound’s sales momentum in the Asia Pacific region.
“During the pandemic we learned the importance of timely, direct and personal communication with our distributors, dealers and customers,” says Meyer Sound senior vice president John McMahon. “Zoom and similar technologies changed the way we communicated, but time zone differentials remained a hinderance. This regional realignment will m

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UK - Bristol-based event production design and delivery specialist Pytch has invested in 72 new Astera Titan Tubes – adding to their existing 32 Astera AX3 LightDrops.
The LightDrops were originally purchased for creating table centres for events and gala dinners and Pytch have produced some custom covers that refract and treat the AX3 light in different ways.
Recently Pytch ran a PytchLab session - an experimental event where different ideas and concepts can be tried and tested for effectivity and practicality - using the AX3s and the Titan Tubes to illuminate the underside of the plane in numerous striking ways.
However, the Titan Tubes were specifically an investment for the three virtual studios that Pytch has been running since the start of the pandemic, which have steadily been getting busier, utilised for a range of corporate presentations, meetings and

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UK - Yamaha Unified Communications (UC) has appointed three specialist UK distribution partners for its new Adecia intelligent conferencing solution.
Adecia applies automated room tuning and dynamic voice tracking to the challenges of conference environments, providing a complete, customizable audio solution for remote conferencing and collaboration. Based on the dedicated RM-CR conference processor, VXL1-16P line array speakers and optimised SWR2311P-10G PoE+ switch, Adecia systems are easy to set up and can be used in a wide variety of locations and situations. Yamaha will be developing the range, offering Adecia solutions which provide a comfortable and effortless remote conferencing experience in all kinds of spaces.
For UK resellers and their customers, Yamaha has appointed Audiologic, Habitech and Tempura Communications as distribution partners.
“Special

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Norway - The Future Group, maker of virtual production tool Pixotope, the technology behind award-winning productions such as TWC Surge Flood and Riot’s Pop Stars, has received development grants from the Epic Games MegaGrants fund and Innovation Norway.
The grants will allow The Future Group to develop Pixotope Live Cloud that "will enable companies to connect to the power of live virtual production through a ‘pay as you go’ and always available cloud service".
Marcus B.Brodersen, CEO of The Future Group, explains: “We are making virtual production more accessible and giving streaming and broadcast production companies more flexibility in how they tell engaging stories.”
Built on the production-proven Pixotope virtual production technology, Pixotope Live Cloud adds a number of new features.
Brodersen summarises: “Unreal Engine is the perfect

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Germany - Integrated Systems Events has released more details about its ISE Live & Online programme, which will run throughout June.
ISE Digital is a two-day web event of live and on-demand content powered by CISCO technology. ISE Digital will be launched to run concurrently with the Barcelona event on 1-2 June and will be available on demand in the weeks that follow, reactivated with live updates from the Munich, Amsterdam and London events. Registration for any of the four regional events provides access to this content from launch; online-only registration is also available.
Exploring The Future of AV, ISE Digital will highlight business growth and opportunities, while showcasing solutions, in the context of the industry emerging from the confines of the pandemic.
Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events managing director explains: “We are proud

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South Africa - Pixel Nation has recently inaugurated a new virtual production studio in the heart of Johannesburg’s vibrant Rosebank district with content delivery based on StreamWorks infrastructure from Stage Audio Works. StreamWorks is a new initiative from SAW that provides full end-to-end streaming services comprising hardware and software, as well as support and expertise.
Pixel Nation was created by a team of AV professionals who have always operated in the live event space, particularly in the corporate market. As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced in-person events off the agenda for the time being, Pixel Nation was formed in order to be able to deliver events virtually, and not just as a pre-recorded show, but as fully interactive, live events with participants from all over the world.
“In creating Pixel Nation, we’re leveraging our expertise in AV event c

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UK - A new cinema experience at Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, is set to bring cultural events by some of the country’s leading arts companies even closer to home for local audiences.
Presented in the familiar Theatre space at Lighthouse, Screen On Stage will show content in high definition on the largest roller screen on the market, with a newly installed hi-tech surround sound system and digital projector.
"We’re really excited about Screen On Stage - it represents offers a fantastic new experience for our audiences,” says Lighthouse chief executive Elspeth McBain. “We took the decision to dramatically expand our digital capabilities in lockdown and are enormously grateful to have received the funding that has enabled us to create this programme as one of a number of new developments.”
On sale from next week, the Screen On Stage program

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USA - Renkus-Heinz has launched a new website focused on providing partners with increased support options, expansive product details, and multiple installation examples across key verticals. Additional technical documentation, including Bim/Revit data, is also available. The site is live at www.renkus-heinz.com.
“Over the past few years, Renkus-Heinz has made a point of helping our partners put sound where they want it most,” said Jim Mobley, vice president of operations at Renkus-Heinz. “The redesign of the Renkus-Heinz website continues that mission by offering tools that help professional sound experts place sound with precision on an audience.”
The site now offers additional documentation and data for nearly 250 different Renkus-Heinz products, including beam steerable solu

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USA - InCord has made its 2021 donation to the Behind the Scenes Pledge-of-Support Programme reflecting a percentage of profits from sales of their Theatrical Safety Netting Systems. The systems are hand-crafted in the USA, safety tested to exceed all applicable industry standards, and are custom designed by professional engineers.
Joe Menhart, InCord’s Theatre Division sales manager, comments: “We are forever grateful to BTS for all they do, especially when so many have been in need for so long due to the global pandemic. We are very proud of our support for BTS. Our hearts go out to all those who benefit from the grants and resources provided by BTS.”
Rick Rudolph, the chair of Behind the Scenes, adds: “InCord’s steadfast commitment to our Pledge-of-Support Programme is so heartening. It lets our industry know that no matter how tough times are it’s impor

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Australia - The weather in Australia can be unpredictable, from searing temperatures to dust storms and intense rain. With so many outdoor events held every year in the country, production suppliers require sturdy, IP65-rated lighting fixtures that will perform no matter what weather event is thrown at them.
Lighting production company Chameleon Touring Systems has it figured out, relying on Prolights IP-rated gear. That strategy led them to purchase another 24 PanoramaIP AirBeam fixtures to add to the considerable stock they already have in their inventory.
As well as being weatherproof, the PanoramaIP AirBeam is a powerful beam and searchlight, featuring CMY colour mixing and multiple prisms.
“Our PanoramaIP AirBeams have been popular and this year they have been on several key events already,” comments Tony Davies, managing director of Chameleon. “Their

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UK - Industry collective #WeMakeEvents, joined by over 150 industry players, has called for crucial government support for the specialist transport vehicles - carrying artists, crew, and equipment involved in touring productions - which have been rendered inoperable post-Brexit.
An essential component to music, film, and TV tours, passenger transportation relies on operating freely in the EU. Under the current post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) hauliers are restricted, stopping the 30 companies in the sector from returning and UK artists from being able to tour. This is instead opening up opportunities for trucking companies to be set up in the EU and sacrificing specialist jobs. The industry is now writing to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, urging the government to negotiate exemptions or waivers to the TCA and/or provide short-term workarounds.<

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Cultural Recovery - Music festivals, West End theatres, comedy clubs and Canterbury Cathedral will get a share of £400m emergency government culture funding. A total of 2,700 English culture and heritage venues will share the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
Canterbury Cathedral has the biggest grant with £2m, while the Serpentine Galleries in London has been awarded £1.9m and Camden Roundhouse has £1.5m. West End chain Nimax Theatres and Glastonbury will receive £900,000 each.
Glastonbury Festival organisers Emily and Michael Eavis said the money would "make a huge difference in helping to secure our future". Emily told told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the event had "suffered huge losses" in the past year. This is the last major tranche of money to be awarded from the £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund that was announced last July. In his Budg

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Hungary - ChamSys has appointed Chromasound as the exclusive Hungarian distributor of the QuickQ series of consoles and QuickQ software. Wannabe Studios, the current ChamSys distributor in Hungary, will focus on the company’s flagship MagicQ range of products. Both companies will distribute the ChamSys SnakeSys line.
“We are focusing our distribution to better serve all levels of the market in Hungary,” comments Aziz Adilkhodjaev, international sales and business development manager for ChamSys. “Wannabe Studios is a strong partner, and now having Chromasound on board expands our capabilities even further.”
Based on Chromasound’s extensive 20-year experience in the market, ChamSys is confident that the company will be able develop the QuickQ customer base even further, according to Adilkhodjaev. “Chromasound’s understanding of this market makes them id

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Europe - Prolights will run a series of online webinars on 13 and 14 April, during which the manufacturer will unveil three new moving-heads, one moving-beam and two moving-washes. Prolights will also showcase its latest products from this and last year.
There will also be keynote presentations on film and TV lighting products, architectural fixtures, virtual production solutions and the entertainment lighting fixtures range.
“We are excited to use what would have been a week of tradeshows to host an online event and communicate directly with customers all over the world,” comments David Ferraz, marketing manager at Prolights. “We are eager to shake hands again with all our customers, but while the world makes an effort to open back up again, we will use all tools available to us to keep contact with everyone.”
Since spaces available are limited, interest

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UK - Guildhall School’s Graduation Day ceremony took place virtually on 26 March for the Class of 2020. Every year, as part of Graduation Day, the Board of Guildhall School elects a small number of people to the Fellowship, the School’s highest accolade. Fellowships recognise outstanding achievement or service to the School by past and present members of staff, members of the Board and former students. This year’s fellows are Prema Mehta, Ben Sumner and Natasha Gordon.
Prema Mehta (Stage Management and Technical Theatre 2004) studied at Guildhall School and is a highly successful lighting designer who has lit over 200 productions in her 16-year career. Her recent productions include Hymn at the Almeida Theatre, The Comeback at the Noël Coward Theatre, and she is soon to open the RSC’s production of The Winter’s Tale. She is also the founder o

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Tajikistan - To provide sound reinforcement for worship and events at Dushanbe Central Mosque, A&T Trade designed and installed a Harman Professional networked audio system featuring 170 JBL loudspeakers powered by AXYS, BSS and Soundcraft solutions.
Constructed over 10 years at a cost of $93m, Dushanbe Central Mosque is the largest mosque in Tajikistan and one of the largest in Central Asia. The mosque and surrounding areas boast a maximum capacity of 120,000 for large events, with the mosque itself able to accommodate around 25,000.
The complex features several prayer halls, a library, a museum, an outdoor courtyard and four minarets towering nearly 250ft high. Located in one of the warmest climates on the planet - where temperatures have been known to peak at 42°C during summer months - Dushanbe Central Mosque needed a sound system that could not only deliver c

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One Night Stand - Around 5,000 people spent Saturday night at a gig in Barcelona after receiving negative results in same-day Covid testing. Spanish authorities let the concert, featuring band Love of Lesbian, go ahead as part of a pilot. Fans took a test earlier in the day and did not have to keep physically apart but they still wore masks.
It is one of the largest gatherings in Europe in more than a year since the pandemic began. "This is for one night only, so enjoy it," one of the hosts said before the concert started at Saint Jordi Arena. The gig was held as part of a research project looking at the viability of holding Covid-secure mass events following rapid-testing of guests. It follows a similar experiment in the Netherlands last week, when fans attended a two-day music festival after showing proof of a negative Covid test.
In Barcelona, ticket-holders were on
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  2. Elation Coffee Break features Fuse Pendant
  3. Infinity Signature series installed in MIMIK
  4. Thumbs up for DWR’s Cape Town training
  5. New World Rigging Symposium registration open
  6. Optocore appoints RMS Proaudio as Spanish distributor
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