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UK - August saw the Royal Bath & West Showground in the West of England's rural Shepton Mallet besieged by 'pilgrims' from all over the country attending the annual Christian New Wine Festival, followed by Soul Survivor.

During the changeover to Soul Survivor, the ranks of 11,000 people swelled to 14,000 - stretching the site's services to the limit - when the 96m x 69m Albion Woods Big Top was reconfigured for the more youth-oriented event.

Some of the traditional problems experienced by the promoters were eased this year when both events converted to a Martin Audio Compact Line Array (W8LC) for the first time, provided by Wigwam Acoustics.

"There had always been a desire to fly a directional system, to reduce the spill outside the tent and minimize the impact on the surrounding villages," explained production manager, Greg Szabo. "On top of that we now have

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UK - Surprising as it may seem to some of the skeptics, since his appearance on "I'm a Celebrity...", Peter Andre has shown a phenomenal increase in popularity throughout the UK - and as such has recently completed a five-week sell-out UK tour. Basingstoke-based rental company Eurohire - providing audio, lighting and risers - chose EM Acoustics Quake subwoofers as the ideal solution for the low-end.

The system is built from EAW KF 800 series products primarily - KF850's ground-stacked four per side and KF853's flown - with just four Quake subwoofers each side. The whole system is processed by XTA DP224 controllers, and powered by LabGruppen amplifiers.

FOH engineer Graham Ewins commented: "I found the Quake subs to be extremely responsive, and surprisingly powerful for a single 18" driver. Stacking four in a block each side gave us excellent low-end throw r

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International - Bryan Ferry is currently touring the globe with Audio-Technica microphones, including the AE5400 large-diaphragm, cardioid condenser - his long-standing choice of stage mic. Ferry has used an AT4054 capacitor microphone exclusively for his vocals for several years but has recently taken up with the A-T Artist Elite AE5400 - the successor to the AT4054 - with a significantly richer LF response and a switchable HP filter, say Audio-Technica.

These mics allow Ferry to switch from voice to harmonica, cupping the capsule without fear of feedback or any 'muting' of the harmonica's tone. The live mic list also includes AT4050 condensers on piano and guitar cabs, two ATM35 high-intensity, clip-on, cardioid, condenser instrument mics on harp, an ultra-miniature hanging AT853a cardioid condenser mic on violin, an AE2500 Dual Element, dynamic/condenser on kick drum, ATM25

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UK - ShowCAD will again be exhibiting at PLASA, demonstrating new features of its Artist show control system. Artist is now linked with Cast Lighting as a Registered WYSIWYG Developer, enabling users to program/visualize lighting plots virtually using their WYSIWYG software. ShowCAD has also linked up with Pathway Connectivity to utilize the Pathport Ethernet DMX distribution system. This powerful system is also ACN-ready, and gives Artist up to 32,000 DMX channel capability.

Automaton is a new product - ShowCAD's long awaited low-cost stand-alone show controller which can be programmed from a computer on or off-site using a web browser, and will then replay the programmed shows without the need of a host computer. ShowCAD will also be demonstrating how to integrate Artist with IP commands, as well as the standard MIDI, RS232, and digital connections. Also, the company reports,

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UK - Thousands of loyal folk fans gathered in August for one of the most eagerly anticipated folk festivals of the season, Cropredy. The long-running festival, which has been a regular fixture since the late 70s, was headlined again by Fairport Convention - the original founders of Cropredy. The festival also featured the Oysterband, Jethro Tull and Nick Harper. SSE Hire was once again the chosen audio contractor for the event. The PA system was the Nexo Geo T with a Midas Heritage 3000 console out front and a Midas XL348 onmonitors.

Huw Richards, FOH engineer for SSE commented: "Every engineer had something positive to say about the system this weekend - all were really happy. It's the first time I've used a line array at a folk festival and I was really impressed at the quality of the output, especially with such a wide range of acoustic instruments in use. Overall it was

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UK - The Product Excellence Awards at the PLASA Show has been a popular feature of the event for many years, highlighting the significance of the show as a focus for new developments for the industry. To reinforce this role, the PLASA Awards have undergone an important change for the 2004 event (12-15 September), in order to focus on genuine innovation.

For the re-branded PLASA Awards for Innovation, the judges will be looking for products which advance the industry, demonstrate a new style of thinking, represent a key step forward in safety terms, or improve technical practices. There will be eight Awards for Innovation at the judges' disposal and currently over 60 nominations have been received, with just three weeks before the deadline of Friday 3 September. Exhibitors who still wish to nominate a product are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible. Nominees w

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UK - Mission Pro, the professional division of the British company at the leading edge of loudspeaker innovation for over 25 years, is exhibiting on Stand CC42 at PLASA 2004, Live at Earls Court, from 12-15 September.

The highlight of the Mission Pro stand will be the award winning TecSonic portable PA system. TecSonic is a groundbreaking, lightweight package that includes a specially designed full range panel loudspeaker, an efficient mixer-amp and all the accessories needed to provide an ideal sound reinforcement solution for PA presentation and background music applications. For easy and safe portability, the complete system is housed in a sturdy and protective carrying case.

Also on display will be the SM6A active studio monitors, which have already received excellent coverage in numerous MI Pro publications. The SM6A features a 150mm Paramid cone bass unit, coupled to a 2

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UK - James Thomas will show its comprehensive ranges of trussing, tower and ground support systems - including the new Mini Tower trussing system - and theatrical lanterns. The latter include the legendary aluminium PAR can, cyc lights, spot banks and light battens.

The Mini Tower system is a small ground support tower designed to lift loads of up to 1000 kg to a maximum height of 7.5 metres in a three or four tower configuration; 7.5 metres in a goal post (two tower) configuration. JTE is also showing examples of its large range of standard aluminium trussing, ground support and roofing structures. JTE trussing and aluminium products are in clubs and destination venues of all types, large scale festivals, theatres, concert tours, theme parks, visitor attractions and retail environments. The most popular aluminium products include GP (General purpose) trussing, SuperTruss, Super

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UK - Sunbaba Screens, suppliers of printed and plain banners, screens and PA scrims are showcasing the newly developed 'DigiSound' at PLASA 2004. As part of their continual product development program the Sunbaba Screens team have developed a new scrim material - "DigiSound", which allows sound to pass through it with almost no signal degradation. This revolutionary fabric can also be printed upon with full colour images.

Scrims, which were initially made of just plain fabric, are traditionally used to hide and protect PA systems, but increasingly they are used as giant advertising hoardings with full colour digitally printed images, and make up an integral branding opportunity at most events. The unique symmetry of the yarn in 'DigiSound" allows brilliant images to be reproduced, while maximizing the mesh openings. This type of weave increases the sound flow, com

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UK - 5 Star Cases Limited and AV rental company PSCo will be introducing a revolutionary lifting solution to the AV industry at this year's PLASA show. The companies have worked closely together developing the mobile lifting solution. The screen and lift is housed in a flight case, to lift the 84" plasma screen. PSCo hold the sole rental rights for the screen which remains the largest in the world.

The lift can elevate over 200kg in weight, moving the 84" plasma to over 3m in height at the touch of a button, thus enabling the manoeuvre of the plasma screen into position safely and with minimal manpower. The new flight case, designed and manufactured by 5 Star Cases will be on display on its PLASA stand S70, along with PSCo's 84" plasma screen.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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Greece - The 2004 Olympics are being broadcast to thousands of fans and spectators at the event at numerous locations in and around the historic city of Athens, using state-of-the-art Barco equipment, the company reports. Other regions, such as ancient Olympia, Thessalonica, Volos, Heraklion and Patras, as well as municipalities around Greece, are also involved in the franchised Olympic Celebration sites program. With expected ticketed visitor numbers reaching well over 5.3 million, the Barco LED display and projection solutions used in the various sporting venues and entertainment locations around the country have their work cut out.

Over the last months of the preparation for the games, Telmaco, the main system designer and integrator, in cooperation with Barco, has installed two SLite 22 LED displays at the Karaiskaki Stadium in Faliro Piraeus and the Kaftatzoglio Stadium in

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UK - Outline's patented Butterfly line array had its UK debut this summer, at the only live gig performed in Europe by The Isley Brotheres. Kool and the Gang and the sensational Amy Winehouse supported the Isley's, while the Sunday featured Michael Ball. Capacity audiences on both days enjoyed the summer sun at Penshurst Place in Tonbridge, Kent.

The show moved on to Harewood House near Leeds for 7-8 August and the Saturday night saw Will Young play to a capacity audience of over 16,000 eager fans. The show used Outline's Butterfly Line Array and a full 20-way stage mix which used Outline's H.A.R.D 212 monitors.

The front-of-house system consisted of 16 Outline CDH483 mid/high packs per side and 16 Outline 'Victor' live sub-basses (eight per side), the whole system powered by Outline TP 6.5 PWM digital amplifiers and controlled by Lake Contour system processors. Sigma AV Ltd,

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Russia - Exactly 53,212 spectators were in attendance on the 31 July, 2004, beneath the huge new canopy held aloft by 16 supports, as Berlin's Olympic Stadium - four years out of commission for rebuilding - re-opened with a magnificently staged spectacle.

Charged with the installation of a brand-new sound reinforcement system and supported by EVI Audio, the Berlin-based sound and events specialists TSE AG opted for a large Electro-Voice sound reinforcement system and a Dynacord PA. In addition to outstanding sound quality, the new equipment offers reliable and convenient system control and monitoring. In this, Electro-Voice's IRIS software and remote-controlled amplifiers play key roles. Explains Oliver Sahm, project and sales manager permanent installation Europe: "Having to install the loudspeaker enclosures in the roof is hardly conducive to easy maintenance. Thanks to E

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Hong Kong - To meet growing demand in the rental market for high-quality and durable video screens, Lighthouse Technologies has introduced the LVP1950F 19mm LED pixel pitch video display panels. The first screens are already in use at the Amsterdam Arena, home of Ajax FC, and debuted at the Singapore National Day festivities on 9 August.

Ideal for large-size outdoor applications, the LVP1950F provides excellent color reproduction, 14-bit technology and M4 uniformity control. The screen is packaged in sleek, lightweight panels that make it easy for quick installation and break down. Other features of the LVP1950F include 5,000 nits brightness; 140° horizontal viewing angle; 51° vertical viewing angle; 2,757 per square meter pixel density; 4.4 trillion colour capability; 14-bit processing depth; 60-frame-per-second frame rate; Data input for NTSC, PAL, XGA, RGB HV, RGB S, YUV,

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UK - From the refreshingly new surroundings of their booth, Prolyte Products Group will present a mix of new and existing products at the PLASA. A new system of crowd barriers will be presented, both in aluminium and steel versions. Information on these crowd barriers will be available at the stand. A official launch party on Sunday 12 September will be used to introduce a new product to both press and public. More information on the new product that will be launched will be issued shortly.

Further demo sets of Prolyte high quality truss systems, in several ranges and the successful Stage DEX staging system will be shown. Next to that the ProTrac system, a complete system of which will be installed at the Royal Opera House in London this year, will be demonstrated. Prolyte personnel, engineers as well as sales managers, will be at the stand to assist you and to give explanation

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UK - Robe Show Lighting will launch a number of new products on a brand new, eye-catching stand at PLASA 2004. New products include the ColorWash 575 AT - the latest addition to the Robe Wash range, aimed primarily at theatres, TV studios, medium-sized stage applications. Features include full CMY colour-mixing, variable CTO, colour-wheel with five replaceable colours plus open, combined dimmer/shutter and rotatable beam shaper and indexable 360° with continuous rotation. The ColorWash 575 AT also boasts a 12° - 60° zoom range.

Robe's ColorWash 1200E AT is a powerful moving head washlight, featuring CMY colour mixing, variable CTO, two colour wheels (each with six easily replaceable slots for colours and effects), a combined dimmer/shutter and many more features, including a zoom range of 10° - 87°, depending on the lens type used.

The electronic ballast enables features

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Canada - Toronto's Olympic Island was the site of the city's 'edgiest' day of live music this summer as Adamson loudspeakers helped create some all-Canadian sonic boom. Toronto-based sound specialists Towers Productions took charge of providing the system for the day-long festival, which attracted over 8,000 to Olympic Island.

A Y-Axis line array system was employed for the event stage, comprising: 32 Y10s and 16 Y10 Subs. Four Adamson LX10s provided centre lip-fill; and for side-fill, three Adamson SpekTrix and one SpekTrix Sub per side were used. Adamson's compact, versatile SpekTrix and its new companion SpekTrix Sub were also ground stacked 'two and two' to handle drum-fill duty. A dozen low-profile Adamson 12MX were used for on-stage monitors.

Headliners Sam Roberts and veteran alt-rockers Sloan capped off a day of musical acts that included Broken Social Scene, Buck 65 a

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UK - DHA Lighting Services, the leading manufacturer of gobos and optical effects, will again be exhibiting at the PLASA Show this year. DHA will have a 'conversational' stand, focusing on their customers not their products, and ensuring visitors are as up-to-date as possible with the extensive range of products and services that the company offers, including its full-colour glass gobo service which, through improved production processes, will soon be available on a reduced turnaround and at a lower price. Examples of these gobos will be on show on the stand.

The improvement to the full-colour glass gobo service follows on the heels of the price reduction to spot colour glass gobos announced earlier in the year as a result of new production processes, systems and suppliers. Diane Grant, managing director of DHA commented: "Although we are the biggest and most experienced go

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The Netherlands - The second edition of Integrated Systems Europe will run in Amsterdam's RAI exhibition centre from 26-28 January 2005. As a consortium of leading industry associations CEDIA, ICIA /InfoComm and NSCA, ISEurope fuses these complementary disciplines into an advanced showcase. It represents the future of digital applications-led solutions for the home and the workplace, as well as in commercial and industrial sectors, say the organizers

Including a full conference program, training forums, new product launches and new exhibitors, the show is on target to expand by more than 50%. The organizers report that a host of leading European and international manufacturers have already reserved 70% of the available floorspace, including AMX, Artcoustic, Christie, Crestron, Imerge, Jamo, Linn, Russound, Runco and Sony. Working with CEDIA's team, ISEurope delivers a unique opp

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UK - Coinciding with the launch of Diana Scrimgeour's new book, U2 Show, a beautifully illustrated history of the legendary Irish band's innovative tour productions, PLASA (in association with Total Production International and the PSA) is presenting an exclusive seminar featuring two of the band's longest-serving touring personnel, at the forthcoming PLASA Show.

Hosted by TPI editor Mark Cunningham, the seminar - Designing for U2 - will feature Willie Williams and Joe O'Herlihy in conversation about their creative and technical involvement with U2, and how advances in technology have been successfully (and ingeniously) applied to deliver the band's constantly evolving performance ethos.

A leading lighting and show designer, Willie Williams joined U2's entourage in the early 1980s, becoming their LD on the 1983 War tour. His combination of hi-tech media and lo-tech eccentrici

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UK - Temporary power distribution systems used in the entertainment and events industries will be significantly affected by the changes to the UK phase and neutral colour-coding for cables. We are currently in a transitional period with installers now able to implement the changes although the new regulations take full effect in April 2006. As these new changes permeate through the industry, there will be many situations where potential hazards could arise from the mixing of new and old colour schemes, most critically where temporary equipment is hired from more than one supplier for an event, or where suppliers have not yet made the expensive wholesale change to the new colour scheme.

Several PLASA members and readers of L&SI have already expressed concern about the new system and the potential safety issues. To discuss the implications in a wider context, PLASA is holding a d

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Denmark - Danish PA company DPA Soundco has supplied various sound reinforcement systems to the Roskilde Festival over the past 12 years, but this year, for the first time, the company equipped two stages with Nexo GEO T Series tangent arrays. The company reports the system received unprecedented praise over a diverse range of performances, from the Scissor Sisters to the Royal Danish Opera and a variety of world music.

DPA Soundco's system designer Gorm Jakobsen was responsible for PA on three of Roskilde's six stages, including the 11,000-capacity Arena Stage (the second largest), and the Ballroom stage, which hosted the world music events. In the past, Jakobsen has used systems including Turbosound's Floodlight and Flashlight and, last year, the JBL VerTec. He comments: "They all worked, although, of the three, the line array was the best design for the space. However, this yea

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UK - PLASA 2004 heralds the first Prize Stage alongside the PLASA After Show Bar, set to run from 6-8pm on 12, 13 and 14 September. The Prize Stage is the brainchild of DiGiCo marketing director, David Webster, and is sponsored by nine of the entertainment industry's major players: Avolites, DiGiCo, Lab.Gruppen, Lighthouse, Meyer Sound, Mobil-Tech, Sennheiser, Stardraw and XTA Electronics.

Each evening, the sponsors will be giving away exciting prizes in a free draw for show attendees who have obtained an entry form from the companies involved and comply with the necessary criteria. There will also be the chance of winning a joint prize of £1000 for those who have visited each company and had their 'Prize Passport' (available from each of the sponsoring exhibitors) fully stamped.

"We're very excited to be able to put something like this together," says Webster. &q

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UK - Wakestock, which takes place in Abersoch, North Wales, is Europe's largest wakeboard music festival - a watersport/music combination which is proving highly popular. Sound, lighting and power for the event was provided by Cheshire-based VME.

The event was staged over three locations: Pwellheli inner marina and Abersoch main beach were used for the wakeboard competition, while Penrhos was the music site, where headline act Kosheen was supported by the Ordinary Boys, Snatch and others. It took two and a half days to set all power, lighting and sound equipment across the site.

PA for the main area was Kling & Freitag's Access system: four T9 and T5 cabintes, with 12 B5 and four B10s as subwoofers, powered by Lab Gruppen amplification. At front-of-house were a Yamaha PM4000 and an Allen & Heath ML5000. For each desk was an outboard rack carrying a Yamaha SPX 900 and SPX 2000, a dbx

  1. Reproduced Sound 20
  2. Soundcraft Going Live
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  4. PLASA 2004 opens its doors . . .
  5. Inition launches Autostereoscopic Monitors
  6. Digidesign launches venue
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