UK - The Rizla Unleashed Music Festival delivered a weekend of music from a breath-taking cliff-top location overlooking Watergate Bay in Newquay, UK in early August. The sold-out event, Cornwall's largest music festival, attracted 14,500 people for the weekend. Friday's headliner Feeder were joined by The Automatic, Mystery Jets, Captain and others, while Starsailor and Graham Coxon headlined the Saturday show.

Concert Sound UK was in charge of sound production and provided their new Adamson enclosures to use. Concert Sound's new T-21 Subs garnered excitement from System Tech, Andy Walker, who commented: "They deliver all that was promised and more. What a stunning sounding, innovative product!"

The sound system design was perfected by Didier Del Fitto of DV2 - Adamson Europe, who chose 24 Adamson Y10s and six Adamson Spektrix as downfills for the main arrays. A tot

UK - Denon DJ have signed a sponsorship deal with MOBO Award-winning DJ Shortee Blitz. Nominated again for a MOBO in this year's Best DJ category Shortee remains one of the UK's most influential hip hop exponents, with two weekly radio shows on KISS FM. The DJ will be using a pair of Denon's flagship DN-S3500 CD/MP3 players on future dates around the world, and to premix his radio show.

An avowed devotee of vinyl, Shortee's signature skills of cutting and mixing have been honed over a long career. But in the new millennium he has had to face the reality of the market. "The fact is that less and less music is being pressed on vinyl these days and I needed something that would make the transition (to CD) easily. I have tried various vinyl emulation devices but they just don't have that feel."

He was urged to try Denon's flagship CD/MP3 player, the DN-S3500 by Simon Fra

Worldwide - Marquee Audio have helped solve a logistical problem for Britannia Row Productions at the mixing desk on the current Robbie Williams Close Encounters European tour.

Faced with a large returns system, Brit Row had been amalgamating all sources at front-of-house and then running the signals via a digital matrix to create the various sends to the speaker system.

"The loudspeaker controllers were also digital input - which meant that a large number of digital channels were travelling from FOH to stage left and right," notes Marquee's digital manager, Andy Huffer. Seeking a more efficient solution, Britannia Row settled on an Optocore system, due to its simplicity and reliability.

Roly Oliver, the production company's equipment manager, says: "Optocore was always top of our list in terms of audio quality, history and configurability - and the fact that

UK - Digidesign have completed an outstanding summer in spectacular fashion.The Reading Festival, which traditionally brings the curtain down on the UK festival season, saw the company's Venue live sound environment mixing each of the headline acts over the three nights of the Bank Holiday event.

Furthermore, Venue's D-Show console was the only digital desk used anywhere during the festival (SSE's main production system being a pair of analogue boards in the monitor and front-of-house positions).

The Friday night headliners were Scottish chart toppers Franz Ferdinand, where Parker was piloting the mix. The following night classical festival band Muse closed the show as a curtain raiser to their Autumn European tour. Marc Carolan, already a Venue veteran, was at FOH on a Skan PA-supplied D-Show while a second desk was at monitor city, under the command of Adam Taylor.

On Sund

Germany - Angelo Kelly has been counting on the both compact and powerful HK Audio active PA systems, for quite some time.

Kelly recently published his first solo album I'm Ready which he is now on tour with. To make sure that the rock and pop songs reach the audience perfectly, Kelly has chosen HK Audio equipment again and this time, it's even two Actor DX systems. That's a total of 6.400 Watts out of twelve compact cabinets (four active subwoofers, four passive subwoofers, four mid/high units) which the company says, are filling up the halls with clarity and dynamics even under full load, thanks to HK Audio's DDO controller.

Kelly and his live band - as well as the quality of the Actor DX systems - can be experienced live on stage until 1 October, when final gig of the tour will take place in the Stollwerk venue in Cologne/Germany.

(Chris Henry)

Baldwin Boxall Communications Limited will be displaying the new Vigil Eclipse2 stand-alone voice alarm/public address system at Firex North, 17-18 October, Harrogate - stand A27.

Visitors to the stand will be able to witness a demonstration of the increasingly popular Vigil CommuniCare Advance (disabled refuge system) and VIGIL FireCare (fire telephone system).The cost-effective, wall-mountable Vigil Eclipse2 voice alarm (VA) (or public address (PA)) system has the ability to handle up to seven single or four dual circuit zones. Eclipse2 contains the EVAS DSP controlled routeing matrix at its heart and, as a result, has many features. The unit, which is smaller than its predecessor (480mm x 200mm x 680mm), houses one 2U amplifier mainframe providing space for the power supply and up to two amplifiers from Baldwin Boxall's Vigil2 Class D range. Up to 128 Eclipse2s can be linked togethe

Russia - G8 Summits, annual meetings of the leaders of eight of the world's leading industrial nations, which are hosted by the country holding the rotating year-long presidency, require an enormous logistical and technological expenditure.

The mere task of translating the numerous speeches, press conferences and communiqués into the requisite number of languages involves a huge team of translators and interpreters working under considerable time pressure for long hours.

For this year's summit in St Petersburg, the decision was taken to employ a Voice-Over-IP system - the first time one had been used at a G8. Two of the Advanced Digital Audio Matrices (ADAMs) in Moscow were expanded with the addition of RVON-8 cards, and translation stations, connected by intercom systems, established by VGTRK in various parts of St. Petersburg to ensure that live interviews, press conf

UK - Somerset-based Opus Audio recently designed and specified a complete audio revamp of the Monkey Club club, bar and restaurant venue in Swansea. Monkey - founded eight years ago by Paul Dyke and Annabel Davey, has a relaxed, Bohemian atmosphere and a busy live entertainment programme embracing a wide range of music and styles from around the world.

The 400-capacity venue is spread across three storeys and includes two dancefloors, a chill-out room and a roof terrace bar. Monkey has become a hugely popular off-high street phenomena in the city. Opus Audio's Andy Fox worked closely with owner Paul Dyke and sound engineer Paul Cunningham to devise the right audio package for the friendly, lively and multi-layered environment at Monkey, consulting with Leisuretec Distribution's Andy Duffield.

Duffield assisted with the specification of the front end equipment, which included u

USA - Aviom, Inc., manufacturer of the Pro16 Monitor Mixing System, is announcing that the company is now shipping the new AN-16SBR System Bridge, which will be featured at AES 2006 (Booth 123).

All Pro16 Series products are compatible with the AN-16SBR System Bridge, which is designed to be used with Pro16 Series products when digital snake and audio distribution systems larger than 32 channels are required. One AN-16SBR is used at each end of every 48- or 64-channel run. The AN-16SBR supports the configurations of 64x0, 48X16, 32x32 or smaller.

Features of the new System Bridge include two identical 1U rack-mount modules, each with four Neutrik EtherCon connectors (16 channels each) and one Neutrik EtherCon connector for Bridge output (up to 64 channels).

Multiple AN-16SBR units can be used to create complex systems and, at each end of a main run, one AN-16SBR is used to c

UK / Bulgaria - Switchcraft has strengthened its international representation by appointing Sofia based AT Company to stock and supply its connectors, patchbays and cable assemblies to the broadcast and professional audio markets in Bulgaria.

Stephen Waldron, Switchcraft's director of international sales, says: '"AT Company is a well established supplier within its market place and we are very pleased to enter this new relationship that will increase the availability of our products and introduce the Switchcraft range to new customers."

(Chris Henry)

UK - Epic Dickens tales have been the name of the game recently for the in-house designers at Autograph. They have been involved in the new productions of Nicholas Nickleby and Two Cities at Chichester Festival Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse respectively.

Nick Lidster and Matt Mckenzie designed the David Edgar version of one of Charles Dickens' greatest novels, which formed part of the 2006 Season at The Chichester Festival Theatre. Broken down into two parts, the captivating story was told in a marathon six and a half hours of wonderful ensemble theatre, accompanied by new music written by Matthew Scott.

Not content with this ample workload, Nick Lidster also found time to design Noel Coward's Tonight at 8:30 in the Minerva Theatre, the studio space at the Festival Theatre. Meanwhile in Salisbury, Chris Full has designed The Playhouse's new musical produ

UK - At PLASA 06 Void Acoustics will be unleashing their most recent creations that combine the latest in cutting edge materials and technological advances. These advances have been made possible by working with construction materials like Carbon fibre and Kevlar composites. Void have also utilised the latest advances in active sensing systems, which have been implemented to increase reliability and vastly increase the output level of the product.

The company says that they continue to show endurance, stamina and growth in a market that places ever-increasing demands on its products. One new product launched this year is Airten, which is part of the Air Series. The Airten features a new type of sensing circuit that is built into its enclosure and requires no outboard processing or external powering. The protection device monitors all components at source and is used to maximise

UK - With its broadest agenda in the show's history, the seminar programme at this year's PLASA '06 (September 10-13 at Earls Court One) will offer an insight into technical developments, as well as addressing some of the key issues facing businesses today.

New technologies lead the way with Sunday's opening seminar - Out of Home Leisure Entertainment - considering the application of interactive and 4D technologies and the growing crossover between the themed attraction and theatre sectors.

This trend continues throughout the four days, with a range of technical seminars providing the core of the programme: sound system designers and operators of public spaces and transport networks will be interested in Intelligible Intelligibility - how to make PA and VA systems understandable and meet intelligibility standards, whilst those more focused on lighting can attend

Ukraine - Kiev-based PA company, Sendi Pro Sound & Stage, recently managed sound reinforcement for the largest international youth worship festival, which was held at the Sports Palace in Kiev, Ukraine, employing four Allen & Heath consoles - two ML5000 VCA mixers a GL4000 and GL2200.

Over 4,000 young people from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, as well as Western Europe, USA, Canada and Australia attended the two-day My Time festival, making it the largest gathering of young worshipers from all denominations.

The event comprised motivational sermons, DJ's, and live performances from leading religious rock, pop and folk bands. Headline artists were Delirious (UK), New Jerusalem (Belarus), Drujki (Russia), and Masada (Ukraine/Canada), with support from GX International, Kick Off, Calvary Chapel Band (Ukraine), Hill Song Praise Band (Ukraine), and Team X-Treme.

Yury Khomenko,

UK - At the forthcoming Firex North exhibition (17-18 October, Harrogate, UK), Baldwin Boxall Communications will be displaying the new Vigil Eclipse2 stand-alone voice alarm/public address system. Visitors to the stand will also be able to witness a demonstration of the increasingly popular VIGIL CommuniCare Advance (disabled refuge system) and VIGIL FireCare (fire telephone system).

The cost-effective, wall-mountable Vigil Eclipse2 voice alarm system has the ability to handle up to seven single or four dual circuit zones. Eclipse2 contains the EVAS DSP controlled routeing matrix at its heart and, as a result, has many features. The unit, which is smaller than its predecessor (480mm (W) x 200mm (D) x 680mm (H)), houses one 2U amplifier mainframe providing space for the power supply and up to two amplifiers from Baldwin Boxall's Vigil2 Class D range. Up to 128 Eclipse2s can be l

UK - dpa lighting consultants are delighted to announce the appointment of four new designers. Ben Acton, Stuart Barrett, Carole Grainge and Louise Mari Santiago. Ben, Stuart and Carole are based in the Oxfordshire office, and Louise is based in the Dubai office.

Nick Hoggett, partner, commented: "We are delighted with the new designers who further strengthen the dpa teams, both in Oxfordshire, and our fast growing Dubai office. The most encouraging thing is that they all come from different backgrounds, which fits entirely with our approach of making sure the Practice and our clients can benefit from the widest possible range of experience."

Ben joins dpa with a degree in Industrial Design & Technology and three years' experience of home sound and lighting installations, whilst Stuart has worked in film and television lighting over the last seven years and has recen

UK - PLASA' 06's DJ Sunday will have loads to offer the next generation of DJs with more special features and events being planned for this year's Show than ever before.

New technologies continue to define the pace with all the latest developments in DJ and VJ technology on show from leading names such as Pioneer, Allen & Heath, Stanton, Gemini, DMC, Ebsel / Proxfade, Numark, Rane and US Blaster. PLASA '06 will also give aspiring DJs the opportunity to mix with some of the best-known names in the business, as well as a chance to witness the record-breaking music event of the year, as world renowned DJ, Cut La Roc, simultaneously mixes on 20 CDJs and 10 mixers.

In addition to on-stand demos, giveaways and workshops - including TalkZones where music industry experts talk about different aspects of DJ'ing and dance music - there'll also be the Gemini 'Extreme V' DJ Competition -

UK - There's less than 48 hours to go to PLASA '06 - the key exhibition for professionals in the audio, lighting and AV industries.

Pre-registration is still available, with entry at half-price, to take advantage of the opportunity to see leading-edge products, and catch up with friends and colleagues.

For a full round-up of what's happening at PLASA '06 - from product launches from the industry's leading 500 brands, to new feature areas addressing specific technologies, and from a greatly expanded programme of events and seminars, to the chance to win £1,000 in a major prize draw competition - check out the Show website link below.

(Chris Henry)

UK - Among the notable features of the new Big Chill House, spread across four floors at London's Kings Cross, is the signature sound system of Funktion One. Co-designed by installation company, Marquee Audio, and Funktion One dealers, Production Hire, the reconfigurable Res4/F-218 ground floor system is a favourite of Chillfest's Pete Lawrence.

Marquee Audio were introduced to the project as a result of installing the sound infrastructure at the original Peacock in Brick Lane, upgrading the venue when it was later taken over and converted into The Big Chill Bar. The festival promoters had started to get serious about venue development after merging with the Cantaloupe Group at the end of 2002, for whom Marquee Audio had also installed the high profile Cargo in Shoreditch.

The new venue occupies a large footprint on the Pentonville Road, giving them 1,246sq.m of net operating

UK - Liverpool's Mathew Street Festival - Europe's largest free urban live music festival - proved another success for organisers The Liverpool Culture Company. The event kicked off with a classical concert on the main Pier Head stage by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and guests. The Pier Head site again ran two stages for all three days this year - after the success of introducing the second new bands stage last year.

The Culture Company was responsible for staging the event, co-ordinating and designing the complete technical infrastructure, booking and liaising with all artists and scheduling nearly 100 performances across five stages over the period.

Liverpool Culture Company's team was divided into three areas - Operations managed by Susan Lees, Site and Traffic Management managed by Alastair Stott and Production/Artist Liaison managed by Kirstie Blakeman. Whil

UK - PLASA will be holding a prize draw at the PLASA Show for an amazing limited edition lithograph of Sir George Martin's score for the Beatles song 'Yesterday'. PLASA purchased the lithograph, which is signed by Paul McCartney and Sir George, to help support the rebuilding of a new cultural and community centre in Montserrat.

Tickets for the prize draw - which cost £10 each - can be purchased from the PLASA stand (FF1) on the Upper Deck of the PLASA Show. The proceeds of the draw will provide further help to complete the centre, which will provide a much-needed focal point for the regeneration of the island.

PLASA 2006 takes place from Sunday 10 September to Wednesday 13 September 2006 at Earls Court in central London. The show attracts professionals from all over the globe and is Europe's leading exhibition for new developments in the entertainment, event, corporate,

UK - At the PLASA Show, Lab.gruppen will unveil its latest amplifier models. First up is the expansion of the popular C Series of installation-dedicated amplifiers with addition of four new amplifiers, two each in 8-channel and 4-channel formats. The new models, on show at PLASA '06, are the C 20:8X (8 x 250W), C 10:8X (8 x 125W), C 10:4X (4 x 250W) and the C 5:4X (4 x 125W). Power ratings for each are the same at 70V, 4 ohms, 8 ohms, and 16 ohms. The C 20:8X and C 10:8X weigh 9.5kg, while the C 10:4X and C 5:4X weigh 8.5kg. All models are in 2U cabinets and backed by Lab.gruppen's six-year, "no-quibble" warranty, say the company.

The new amplifiers employ a unique Class D implementation ideally suited to lower power levels where the benefits of Class TD are less easily realized and where cost versus performance is paramount. A newly developed universal switching power

UK - Since opening in 1983, Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film & Television (NMPFT) has gained international recognition for its work as well as becoming the most popular national museum outside London with visitor figures regularly exceeding 800,000 per year.

Part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, The NMPFT has an eclectic mix of interactive displays covering the three media subjects of its title and a busy calendar of special events such as film festivals and temporary exhibitions. It also has an IMAX cinema and the World's only publicly accessible Cinerama cinema.

In 1996, the museum embarked on an ambitious program of expansion and refurbishment; the sixteen million pound project lasted almost three years and actor Pierce Brosnan opened the new larger museum in the spring of 1999.

Originally built as a theatre by Bradford City Council, but neve

USA - Dolby Laboratories, announced today that Britannia Row Productions, a leading public address rental company in the United Kingdom, has purchased 13 Dolby Lake Processors for loudspeaker management on Robbie Williams' Close Encounters worldwide stadium tour.

The Dolby Lake Processors were chosen in particular to support Britannia Row's current huge L-Acoustics V-Dosc and dV-Dosc loudspeaker system inventory, much of which is now being used on the Robbie Williams tour. Britannia Row tour sales manager Roly Oliver commented: "At Britannia Row, we service very high-profile clients with the latest technologies from only the best equipment manufacturers. We did extensive research and evaluation of processors in the market and found that the Dolby Lake Processor was themost future-proof processing technology available. Support from Dolby's live sound group and its UK

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