The new Pharos Touch Panel Controller (TPC) is an advanced, standalone, solid state lighting controller with an integrated customisable touch screen, 512 channels of eDMX output and vast interfacing potential, all over a single PoE network connection.

Programmed in Pharos Designer, the TPC has the same advanced playback and show control engine as the popular and award winning Pharos Lighting Playback Controllers. Over an Ethernet network it can interface with other Pharos controllers, button panels and remote devices. The companion Interface Editor application allows installers and integrators to build themed user interface pages, creating and organising multiple pages of buttons, sliders and colour pickers to suit the installation and customer needs.

The elegant wall-mounting design features a magnetic overlay within the sleek, plated bezel to produce a modern, streamlined design; a

On Broadway - Ghost The Musical is to transfer to Broadway next year. The show, adapted for the stage by Bruce Joel Rubin from his screenplay, opened in London's West End in June. The musical features an original score by Eurythmics star Dave Stewart and Grammy winner Glen Ballard. The Broadway show will begin its run next April after a month of previews at a yet to be announced theatre. Casting will be confirmed at a later date. The West End production currently stars ex-Coronation Street actor Richard Fleeshman and Canadian actress Caissie Levy.

Olympic Countdown - Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue bosses have warned that the technical demands of events surrounding next summer's London Olympics could drain available technical staff away from the Scottish capital.

The crucial period will be the opening week of the Olympics, from 27 July, which is when Edinburgh's

USA - The annual Orange County Fair in California, which this year took place between 15 and 14 August across multiple venues, saw GLP's Volkslicht Zooms and new impression Spot One LED moving heads out in force.

They were specified by production manager/show designer Ray Woodbury of RK Diversified Entertainment, who is accustomed to the output and performance of the German company's LED platform, having run the Volkslichts on a number of events (such as the huge E3 computer games exhibition) and at the recent NKOTBSB sell-out arena tour, where he was creative director.

Woodbury has worked with the state-run OC Fair for the past eight years, taking on multiple tasks, including production management of several venues and lighting vendor for the Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar. His company also provides the event with staging and rigging services.

The production manager ha

Qatar - Svetlost Teatar of Belgrade, has supplied the landmark venue of Qatar Education City Convention Centre in Doha with a large selection of Robert Juliat HMI profiles, followspots and Solo Fluorescent lighting.

Designed by Arata Isozaki and RHWL Architects, the exterior of the QECCC complex resembles a Sidra tree - the national symbol of Qatar. It is made up of 10 halls, including the 2500-seat Lyric Theatre, the 500-seat Concert Hall and a 4000-capacity banqueting and event facility, in addition to lecture halls, breakout spaces and a multipurpose exhibition hall.

Svetlost Teatar equipped the Lyric Theatre with Robert Juliat D'Artagnan 930 SNX 2.5kW HMI profiles, complete with Jalousie 2 dimming shutters, and two Cyrano 2500W HMI followspots. Twenty-four Solo 744 fluorescent strips were also added for linear effect production lighting. A further 12 Solo units were instal

The Nicolaudie Group's smartphone and tablet software company LightingSoft AG will introduce its EasyRemote iPad and browser app at PLASA 2011. The new software allows users to remotely control a wide range of DMX lighting software packages over a local network.

The EasyRemote designer is used to build a custom screen, a file that is then sent over to the iPad app, which can in turn be used to control a variety of software functions such as scene triggering and dimming. EasyRemote can also dynamically generate a web page which can be accessed from almost any device through a web browser.

The EasyRemote iPad app can currently be used with LumiDesk. Support with Daslight3 from Daslight and Sunlite Suite 2 from Nicolaudie will follow shortly.

PLASA 2011 1-G3

Emulator, the next generation of DJ performance technology that was first showcased at London's Ministry of Sound this summer, will be officially launched at PLASA 2011. This revolutionary piece of technology for DJs combines midi-based software with touch-screen hardware to deliver what the company describes as "stunning results".

Emulator is the world's first and only fully customisable, multi-touch system for professional DJs and music producers. Using a state-of-the-art dual view multi-touch system, Emulator's large-scale interface allows the DJ to become part of the light show as the crowd witnesses their every move, giving the performer a new and exciting way to communicate with the audience.

The official launch of Emulator was organised in partnership with Ministry of Sound as part of the 20:20 project, celebrating the iconic brand's 20th year in the industry. The sh

Australia - ENTTEC launched a Web site this month - www.AlephLighting.com - to showcase its new LED lighting solutions, including its Aleph 2 high power smart LED bar.

ENTTEC's light bars feature smooth dimming features and colour temperature adjustability. The Aleph 2 has advanced colour-mixing options with up to six LEDs (Red, Green, Blue, and Warm, Cool, or High CRI White), and various combinations of the same.

"The Aleph 2 can mix six LEDs per light engine. This means the designer can achieve the vibrant colors wanted or the softest whites needed for TV and film," explains Nicolas Moreau, founder and managing director. "Combined with the E-DIM smooth dimming technology, adjusting very low levels is not an issue anymore."

Making the Aleph 2 even more adjustable, various lenses can be used with the different colour options. Lenses can be 10°, 20°

Czech Republic - Robe lighting supported the 51st Zlin Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlín, which is the oldest and among the largest film festivals of its kind worldwide. It attracts over 100,000 visitors to see nearly 600 films from more than 50 countries screened over eight days.

It was originally staged in Zlin because the city in south-eastern Moravia had one of the first big movie studios in the Czech Republic, which was founded by famous local entrepreneur Jan Antonin Bata in 1936. The film studio was originally used to make promotional and advertising material for his company and products and gradually became the most prominent centre of filmmaking focussed on children and young people. It also became famous for its animation work, and has been used by numerous international directors over the years.

Robe's marketing manager Jiri Baros arranged and co-ordinat

UK - The range of Pharos lighting controllers continues to grow. As well as launching their new Touch Panel Controller, Pharos is introducing a higher capacity product to the line of popular and award winning Lighting Playback Controllers.

Providing more system design flexibility, the LPC 4 is a four universe controller in the same form-factor as the LPC 1 and 2. It can output two universes locally using the DMX ports and two more via multiple eDMX protocols, including Art-Net, Kinet and sACN. Alternatively, as with the LPC 1 and LPC 2, the LPC 4 can output all data via eDMX protocols.

(Jim Evans)

Hong Kong - City Theatrical, manufacturer of lighting accessories, has appointed Ten Thousand Things (3T) as its distributor in Hong Kong and Macau.

Based in Hong Kong, Ten Thousand Things forms the sales arm of Alderamin Group, worldwide provider of comprehensive lighting project solutions. Ten Thousand Things offers technical supplies and support for a wide range of lighting products.

Gary Fails of City Theatrical comments, "We chose 3T because of the group's long-standing experience in the region. Naturally we seek to market our products through the most high profile and respected channels, and we feel 3T provides the qualities we are looking for."

Simon Fraser, co-owner of Alderamin Group, adds, "From our extensive experience designing and integrating projects throughout Asia, we have first-hand knowledge of the tools required to deliver a world-class proj

South Africa - Philips Selecon is helping a classic theatre in South Africa attract and keep its 'sell out' audiences.

With the explosion of festivals in South Africa, there is an increasing need for smaller theatres, outside of the festival scene, to provide performance space for newly created productions and to promote up and coming artists. The Atterbury is exactly that - a worldclass 420-seat 'West-End'styled theatre.

What distinguishes this theatre from other similar sized venues in the region is the sophistication of the entertainment technology it uses. A professional team, including Philips Entertainment distributor for South Africa DWR, has come together to design and specify the technical needs of the venue and Philips Selecon luminaires feature high on the lighting role call.

Selecon's South Africa reseller DWR Distribution worked alongside Pieter-Jan Kapp to desi

UK - Rental company, HSL is supplying a substantial 'extras package' for Arcade Fire's summer European festival tour, with lighting and set designed by Susanne Sasic, which is the latest leg of an ongoing world tour for their acclaimed 2010 album The Suburbs.

It is the first time that HSL has worked with Sasic, who has a reputation for innovative and interesting designs. HSL project manager Mike Oates says, "We are extremely pleased to be working with Susanne, who is known for her exceptional creative flair and style. The design looks stunning and in addition to that, the whole visuals package has been very well thought out to make it practical and tourable."

Looking after all the kit is Rob Starksfield, a regular HSL technician, who has also worked with Sasic on previous projects including REM.

Sasic's overall design has evolved with the different sections

UK - GLP has chosen this year's PLASA Show in London (Earls Court, 11-14 September) to launch a "revolutionary" new LED washlight from its Impression range, as well as a new video display and controller from G-LEC.

The German company continues to play an active role in the show, and in addition to showcasing its expanding portfolio, it will also participate in the STLD LED shoot-out with its Spot One and Wash One, and Impression 120 and Impression 90 LED luminaires.

The new impression Wash One, making its UK debut, will be given star billing at the show. Boasting a 400W RGB LED light engine, and the same "groundbreaking technology" as the Spot One, the fully-featured luminaire is able to deliver delicate colour changes or instantaneous colour bumps over a wide, carefully-calibrated colour spectrum, the company says.

The Impression Wash One offers a 6-60&d

Denmark - Martin Professional's award-winning P3 System Controller for LED video screen processing is now available in a PC-based version.

The P3-PC is an inexpensive yet full-featured software-only version that can control up to 20,000 pixels using the Ethernet port of the PC it is running on.

This powerful addition to the Martin family of P3 System Controllers packs three functions into a single software package:

A PC-based P3 System Controller for smaller Martin LED video setups containing up to 20000 pixels (P3-PC License on Martin One-Key required).

An offline editor for the P3-100 and P3-200 System Controllers to preprogram setups anywhere on your own PC or laptop. Save and copy shows to the P3-100/200 using a USB stick (no license required; free-of-charge).

A tool to address/test/upload firmware LED video setups on site before the P3-100/200 arrives on location (n

South Africa - The Parlotones recently lifted the roof at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town. An ecstatic audience of well over 4,000 fans were treated to a two hour session covering 24 songs. The lighting gear comprised of 24 Robe fixtures and was provided by Grand West. Lighting Design was by Travis Yeatman on his cherished Avolites Tiger Touch.

Travis used a visualizer to pre-empt programming in between working at the Oppikoppi festival and television shoots. "I tried to keep a clean look with smooth transitions," said Travis who maintained the rock fused with theatrical feel. "The gig went very well and the pre-planning and assistance from the Grand West staff made it pleasurable. I worked with Sean Caie who is a super helpful guy."

The rig was flown from fly bars in the venue, with six Robe ColorSpot 700s on the deck for beam work. "We kept a simpl

Australia - Queensland's Stage & Audio are now the owners of a Vista T2 and managing director Tim Buchholz is more than a little bit excited by the product.

"I can get a moving light working within eight seconds with the Vista T2," he declared. "I plug the light in, hit the cue, drag in the number, ask what number it is, put the number where it goes, press intensity and there it is working in eight seconds! I challenge anyone to get a moving light working that quickly - especially when they're a sound guy like me."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Organisers of the Knight of Illumination Awards 2011 have announced that, due to forces beyond their control, the event will not be held as usual at the Hotel Ibis, Earls Court, but at the following location instead:

Hilton on Park Lane Hotel

The "Grand Ballroom" (1st floor)

22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE

The Awards will be held during PLASA 2011 on the evening of Sunday 11th September 2011. A drink reception will commence in the Grand Ballroom (1st floor) and will be followed by an elegant evening - with a three course Italian buffet and wines, a statement reads. Guests by invitation only.

(Claire Beeson)

Belgium - LED screen specialist Pixled is rapidly expanding its F-6 European Cross Rental Network, with recent sales of over 400sq.m of its high resolution product.

F-6 product, in combination with the Mitsubishi HD processor, has been delivered to the following: Stealth 7 LLC in Russia; Smart Choice Ltd from Portugal; Visiontools GmbH from Germany; Irish-based Mongey Communications Ltd and the XL Video Group, which is headquartered in Belgium.

Pixled's Cross Rental Network is a dynamic European based business strategy formulated to enable forward-thinking AV and visuals rental companies to seamlessly cross-rent equipment for larger projects.

General manager Bart Van der Beken comments, "Cross rental is definitely a way forward. Everyone is impressed with the build quality, the fast and easy rigging and the superb Mitsubishi processing option on the F-6, plus all the ex

UK - London based production management specialists LarMac LIVE supplied local production management services to the first Sensation dance event ever to be staged in the UK - at London's O2 Arena.

The 9000 capacity Sensation Ocean of White show was presented by the Netherlands based dance organisation that has made Sensation a global nightlife phenomenon. The O2 show was sponsored by Smirnoff and the venue transformed into a pure white, theatrical experience of epic proportions for the evening, complete with extensive water effects surrounding the circular stage set which had two 20m catwalks leading off either side plus a dazzling line up of lasers, pyro, inflatables, aerial artists and a lightshow.

The project was managed for LML by Anthony Norris, working with Ceire Deery as the event assistant. Norris comments, "It was really refreshing to see a l

USA - PLASA Focus: Austin 2012 is now online at www.plasafocus.com/austin, offering pre-registration email update sign-ups for visitors and application information and materials for exhibitors.

The two-day event, to be held 22-23 February 2012 at the Renaissance Austin, Texas, continues to attract a growing list of high-profile exhibitors, who see the event as an opportunity to reach a regional market of customers and network with fellow exhibitors.

Confirmed exhibitors include GLP German Lighting Products, Daktronics Rigging, Clay Paky, Total Structures, High End Systems, Chauvet, Philips Color Kinetics, A.C.T Lighting, Doug Fleenor Design, Strong Entertainment Lighting, and Secoa, with many more expected to follow.

In addition, PLASA Focus: Tech - a recently announced audio, video, and lighting workshop and concert - will be held in tandem with PLASA Focus: Austin 2012. Th

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd., a leading one-stop provider of new and used professional equipment to the entertainment industry, showcases a selection of lighting, audio, rigging and video solutions available from its vast range of premium brands on Stand E10, Hall 1 at PLASA 2011.

Teams from all of AC-ET's specialist product divisions will be there to discuss the large, multi-million pound stockholding of over 200 leading brands available from AC-ET's High Wycombe and Leeds offices for worldwide dispatch to over 80 countries - as well as in-house filter and cable manufacturing facilities and wide range of consumables - backed up by an emergency evening and weekend delivery service.

Lighting:

The A.C. Lighting division of AC-ET will showcase the new GLP Impression Wash One and Spot One high powered LED spot and washlight moving heads. The latest mo

UK - Nic Tolkien has announced the launch of Dry Hire Lighting Ltd (DHL), a new 'dry hire' rental company providing lighting equipment to the entertainment industry. The company will be launched at this year's PLASA show, stand 1-E47.

DHL has been established to supply LED technology and other lighting products to rental companies on a dry hire only basis. The company aims to support such businesses in fulfilling their rental demands and assisting them in the event of short falls.

Acknowledging a gap in the market for a hire company that could support businesses with their rental activities, Rob Merrilees, Nic Tolkien and Paul Rees, combined their experience to launch DHL.

The DHL portfolio of products currently includes a range of Philips Color Kinetics fittings including the ColorBlaze TRX RGBAW and ColorBlaze RGB battens and ColorBlast TRX RGBAW wash lights, and the Power

Denmark/UK - Martin Professional's EMEA sales organisation has announced the hiring of David Martin as key account manager serving the UK market. Martin is a familiar face to many at Martin as he worked as club sales manager at Martin UK in the early 2000s.

Martin's new position as key account manager encompasses developing and managing business in the television lighting segment and maintaining direct contact with TV LD's and companies that supply the television production industry, as well as managing general accounts across the entertainment sector.

Martin brings over 22 years of lighting and audiovisual experience to the position, a span that includes the operation of his own company, Total Audio Visual Ltd, over the last 10 years in which he maintained his mastery of Martin products by selling and installing Martin lighting systems.

(Jim Evans)

Fringe Record - Sales of tickets at this year's Edinburgh Fringe are up by 3% on last year. According to figures released by the Fringe Society 1,877,000 tickets were sold by its box office over the last three and a half weeks. It is another increase on the record breaking sales achieved in 2010. Poor weather during August and a greater concentration of venues in one part of the city did not appear to have had an adverse effect on ticket sales. During the Fringe this year there were a record-breaking 2,542 shows, with about 21,000 performers presenting 41,689 performances in 258 venues.

Off Broadway - Broadway shows were cancelled on Saturday as New York braced itself for the full force of Hurricane Irene to strike. They included Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana at Radio City Music Hall and War Horse at Lincoln Center Theatre. "The safety and security of thea

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