USA - The diversity which endows fashion with the power to build bridges across cultures was celebrated during New York Fashion Week at Runway 7, one of the renowned event’s premier attractions.
Held at the Sony Hall, Runway 7 was organised around a ‘Made In’ theme that featured designs endemic to different regions of the world. The work of a record 117 designers from 10 different nations were highlighted during the event’s four-day run.
From Anjali Phougat’s blend of Indian and western styles, to Microteje’s Chilean streetwear, Runway 7 showcased a global array of stylings. Accenting the artistry of these creations was a Myles Mangino lighting design that featured 20 Ovation E-260WW warm white ellipsoidals.
Supplied by ATD AV, the ellipsoidals were positioned primarily on each side of the runway. A smaller number of Ovation E-260WWs, generally between five and seven units, depending on the show, were arranged at the end of the runway.
Drawing on the smooth even field of light produced by the 230-watt fixture (it has the output of a 750W tungsten), and its smooth dimming curve, Mangino created a supportive lighting environment for the show. The fixtures’ selectable Pulse Width Modulation helped ensure that his looks were camera friendly for the much videoed and photographed show.
“I prefer single chip COB warm white fixtures like this for runway shows,” said Mangino. “I like their high CRI and how they more closely emulate tungsten for warm natural skin tones, as well as the correct colour rendering on the clothing.
Switzerland - Among the highest-attended ski races in the world, the Lauberhorn Alpine World Cup was inaugurated in 1930 and has been a highlight in the Swiss winter sports calendar ever since.
Long-time technical provider for the event, Stagepro, deployed a Wharfedale Pro audio solution at the event for the first time this year. With a total of 80,000 on-site spectators and a television viewership of 1.2m, the event required a reliable and professional audio solution. A combination of Wharfedale Pro’s WLA-1 line array systems provided the quality and coverage required for an event of such high acclaim.
"The Lauberhorn Ski Race is a longstanding tradition, and we've been supporting it for around 20 years,” explains Markus Walther, owner of Stagepro. “This year was special because we integrated the Wharfedale Pro system for a significant part of the racing sound system. The decision was driven by our positive experience with Wharfedale Pro in a project in Interlaken last year and the exceptional support we received from our local distributor, Sacher Music."
The Wharfedale Pro system covered various zones for the three-day long event, including the Girmschbielspectator area with approximately 18,000 attendees, the race finish area, and a dedicated DJ zone. The Girmschbiel zone featured four arrays, flown from specially built towers. The arrays consisted of a combination of WLA-112 and WLA121SUB loudspeakers, powered by four DP-4100N and two DP-2200N Wharfedale Pro amplifiers, connected via a Dante network.
At the race finish area, audi
Europe - The flagship conference of the Digital Signage and DooH Industry is back from 22-23 May, at the Hilton Munich Airport in Germany. Early bird tickets are now available.
At Digital Signage Summit Europe 2024 (DSS Europe), experts from around the world will explore software-related issues such as the move to a platform economy, AI, and cybersecurity, alongside other industry trends such as the latest developments in green signage and retail media.
The two-day summit, a joint venture between Integrated Systems Events (ISE) and invidis consulting offers ‘networking at its core and a goal to shape the future of digital signage’. The conference programme hosts a comprehensive lineup of speakers sharing knowledge and insights, including an industry ‘outlook’ presentation from invidis consulting, keynotes from global industry leaders, presentations of concepts for seamless customer journeys, and panel discussions.
“This year’s key themes have been carefully aligned with the industry’s growing recognition of the need for a comprehensive approach to digital signage and the need to present a true picture of the global digital signage landscape,” comments Florian Rotberg, conference chair and managing director of digital signage industry specialists invidis. The full two-day conference programme will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, says: "Digital Signage Summit Europe is not just an event; it’s a journey into the future of visual communication. Secure your spot and
Switzerland - Zernez, about an hour’s drive southeast of Davos, is home to the boutique IN LAIN Hotel Cadonau. The five-star modern, rustic hotel features 14 guest rooms, including 11 suites, and is ranked 14th in the top 20 winter holiday hotels in Switzerland in the five-star category.
Hotelier and Chef Dario Cadonau and his wife, Tamara, opened the IN LAIN in 2010, remodelling a farmhouse in the Cadonau family from 1590. The Cadonaus wanted to create a memorable guest experience, including the right balance of smells, tastes and sounds.
To support their vision, under the recommendation of Jorg Steiger, owner of Switzerland-based AV integration company avidec, Cadonau chose AtlasIED’s Atmosphere audio processing and control system to accentuate the environment with audio.
The hoteliers wanted to create a modern, authentic Swiss experience. A key element was adding various genres of Swiss-originated music to create a cohesive ambiance for guests in the various areas of the hotel. The hotel had several primary areas that needed music, and AtlasIED’s Atmosphere AZM8 digital signal processor was aptly suited to meet their needs.
Steiger chose the AZM8 paired with an AtlasIED AZA 404 amplifier to help deliver music and create different experiences to eight separate zones across the property. For instance, in the hotel’s reception, office, and Michelin Star-rated Vivanda restaurant, the hotel desired energy and chose Swiss pop music. The Cadonau selected Swiss classical music for the breakfast room, while the lounge broadcasts Swiss Jaz
UK - The latest recording room to be refitted at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has an Audient ASP4816 Heritage Edition console at its heart. More compact than the rooms in the main studio block, this studio has been designed to meet several different needs. Providing extra space for students during LIPA’S busier periods was a must, as was growing the synthesiser inventory. This latest refit also includes the upgrade of the facility’s Foley capabilities.
LIPA’s head of sound technology, Jon Thornton explains the educational facility’s history with Audient. “Our two entry level studios are both based around ASP8024-HE consoles. We’ve had ASP8024s in those rooms since the console was first released - we’re now on our third consecutive pair.
“Those rooms are used not only by our students studying sound technology, but also by music students taking a specialism in production. As a result, they can get incredibly busy at certain times of year, so we needed an overflow. So building the studio around the ASP4816-HE was an obvious choice.”
An in-line, fully analogue recording and mixing console, the Audient ASP4816-HE provides everything expected of a large format console but in a space-friendly format. “The control room space wasn’t really large enough to house another ASP8024, but the ASP4816 is so similar in layout and signal flow that students can be up to speed with it in no time.”
Most recently, this was home to the 5.1 post production studio, after the main post space was upgraded to Atmos. “Tak
South Korea - The Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, located an hour from Seoul on Yeongjong Island at Incheon International Airport, is South Korea’s premier entertainment destination, featuring a five-star hotel, gaming facilities, an indoor water park, conference spaces, and an immersive “digital entertainment street” offering shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The venue aims to attract 3.5m visitors annually, tapping into the global explosion of K-pop and K-culture. Central to this ambitious plan is the 15,000-seat Inspire Arena, which features a Meyer Sound system.
The arena is built for a wide array of entertainment, from concerts to e-sports tournaments. From the outset, offering turnkey top-of-the-line AV technologies, anchored by world-class sound, was the top priority. “We have a sound system, a lighting system, and a rigging system,” explains Kevin Reilly, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s Corporate Director of Entertainment Technical Operations. “We designed it so a Western act can show up basically with backline and I have sound and lights and video and a stage and barricade all here.”
Reilly, a 27-year Mohegan veteran, says that this rider-friendly approach mirrors that at the organisation’s flagship Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut, which features a Meyer Sound Lyon and Leopard system. “For all of the shows that we’ve done at Mohegan Sun, we don’t hear ‘no, I don’t want to use your Lyon/Leopard rig,’” he says.
Inspire Arena’s Meyer Sound concert PA includes 50 Panther large-format linear
Croatia - Modern and sophisticated technology was the priority for Nova TV when it appointed Omnivor to design video walls for its new production studio. Three high-impact curved LED walls from Leyard Europe are now integral to the Croatian broadcaster’s award-winning news studio at its HQ.
The move to new premises in the heart of Zagreb presented Nova TV with the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art TV studio, equipped with the latest video wall solutions that would “deliver an extraordinary result”.
To realise its ambitious goal, the broadcaster approached trusted partners, Zagreb-based systems integrator, Omnivor, which had worked with previously on software solutions for presenting election polls and social media analysis, and Ominvor’s partner company, Kapetanović sistemi.
“It was clear from the start that LED was the ideal display technology,” explains Velibor Marhofer, Omnivor’s CTO. “It hit Nova TV’s brief for modern and sophisticated technology, offered better pixel pitch, the opportunity to create curved screens, and a lower electricity consumption. After considering a range of LED brands, we selected Leyard because of the high-end profile of the brand, the high quality of its TVF series, which comes with a lifetime warranty, and backed by the Leyard team’s support and professional approach.”
The project, which was completed in September 2022, included multiple LED video walls, three of which were curved. Two 14m x 7m curved video walls frame the central news anchor desk, displaying infographics and back
Italy - Mods Art, the 1 Sound distributor in Italy, recently worked with Andrea Bocelli’s audio team to provide audio support for a private event in Italy. David Barbagli, who is a FOH/monitor engineer, currently working with Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, and José Carreras, chose 1 Sound’s new Cannon C8 loudspeaker as Bocelli’s floor monitors for this live performance.
After hearing the Cannon C8 during sound check, Andrea Bocelli said: "Wow, such a big sound is coming out from such a small cube? I love it!", as he held the speaker in his hands. 1 Sound released the Cannon C8 last year, as the final loudspeaker to complete the Cannon Series of high-fidelity, pro-audio loudspeakers with extended low-end.
For this Andrea Bocelli performance, the Cannon C8s acted as floor monitors for pianist Carlo Bernini, flutist Andrea Griminelli, and singers, Ilaria Della Bidia and Andrea Bocelli. The audio team utilised the Cannon C-Clamp accessory for the speaker aiming.
“As a permanent part of Andrea Bocelli's audio engineer international team, I've had the chance to use a lot of different sound gear worldwide, with excellent results. But due to my experience with classic orchestras and opera singers, I am always pursuing perfection and I was happy to try the new 1 Sound C8 in monitor configuration for Andrea,” says David Barbagli, FOH/monitor engineer for Andrea Bocelli’s international team. “I have obtained an over-expected result. The Cannon C8's natural reproduction of the highs is amazing, as well as the bass deepness, so natural and no
USA - This year’s Time For Music concert supporting the 37th annual Camp HASC for Jewish youth was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre in Newark. Supporting the artists on stage and engaging the audience was an evocative lighting design by Ofir Ben-Haim that featured 34 Chauvet Professional COLORado PXL Curve 12 motorized battens supplied by Dynamic Vision.
Ben-Haim positioned fully pixel mappable RGBW fixtures around the main video screen. His goal was to “create a dynamic and immersive experience” for the audience by illuminating the artists and the stage from different angles and flanking them with bold displays to accentuate the mood and tone of their performance.
“I was inspired by the fixture’s pixel mapping, as well as its ability to create seamless symmetry and intense volumetric looks,” he explained. “I saw the fixture in videos promoting it on social media, and I had no doubt that it would be the perfect choice for the show. It was very exciting to see the fixtures for the first time in the show.”
The actual experience of using the fixtures lived up to Ben-Haim’s expectations. “I believe they contributed significantly to the overall success of the performance,” he said of the PXL Curve 12. “I used the fixture's bright and concentrated beam to create a stunning 3D effect on stage. By dividing the stage into segments, I was able to create a unique and immersive experience for the audience.”
Working with technical producers from Dynamic Vision and video content made from Visualive (Shmulik Ben Harush
China - System integrator TR Audio System Solutions has installed APG’s workhorse APG4000 Matrix Array system at two of China’s new nightspots.
Super Gaga, in Maoming, and Win Party, in Yunfu (both cities in TR Audio’s home province of Guangdong), are the latest additions to China’s fast-moving nightlife scene, where new clubs spring up seemingly by the day.
According to Huang Zhao, general manager of Guangzhou-based TR Audio, APG’s distributor in China, the majority of APG products are well suited to nightclub installations, given their powerful SPL output and enviable evenness of coverage.
For mid-sized clubs like Super Gaga and Win Party (both of which occupy an area of around 500m²), Zhao typically relies on the APG4000 - an evergreen choice for TR Audio, having been installed previously in similar nightlife venues in Guigang (Open Pie), Baise (PingGuo Boss) and Nanning (another Open Pie club).
“In this segment, most of our projects are based on the APG4000 matrix system, coupled with the TB218S subwoofer,” confirms Zhao. “At Super Gaga, for example, four 4000HI [speakers] are installed either side of the main DJ station, providing a coverage angle of vertical 30° (vertical) by 120° (horizontal).”
Comprising two individual speakers (4000HI and 4000LO), the APG4000’s modular design offers sound designers, integrators and installers a choice of configurations - from a barebones set-up comprising a single 4000HI cabinet to larger, medium- to long-throw configurations for both indoor and outdoor events. The APG4000
Denmark - For production and rental company Soundwise, choosing to carry Elation lighting products in a market with more traditional preferences is a strategic move aimed at providing special offerings.
“Denmark has traditionally been quite conservative when it comes to entertainment lighting equipment,” shares Lars Thorsager, founder and sales director at Soundwise. He says however that the trend is beginning to turn, albeit slowly. “As the market here begins to realise that there are other innovative products out there that can set them apart, it’s getting a bit easier to specify other gear.”
Lars founded Soundwise in 2001 in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, and first invested in Elation lighting in 2014. “Elation offered something unique that other companies didn’t have,” he said, “something that looked different, and that’s still the case with products that make for some very creative designs.”
Soundwise supplies audio, lighting, AV and staging to a diverse range of projects, including corporate events and touring shows (currently for Danish artist Pil, among others), plus a myriad of cultural events such as the Northside and SPOT festivals, as well as local live venues like Voxhall and Train. Large or small, the company specialises in delivering complete, custom solutions using the latest gear.
Notably, they recently added to their stock of Elation DARTZ 360 fixtures in time for four kick-off events for fast food chain McDonald’s. The events, one large event for McDonald’s Denmark and the Nordic region
South Africa - ULTRA Events recently supported the much-anticipated return of the pop-folk band Milky Chance to the stage in South Africa. The creative technical supplier provided a complete package including a full d&b audiotechnik sound system.
The performance at Green Point A-Track Stadium, Cape Town, and part of a three-leg tour of South Africa, was produced in collaboration with Break Out Events and Rogue Entertainment.
The show, part of the album tour for Living in a Haze, was supported by Neon Dreams and Sean Koch in Cape Town and was a long-awaited reunion of the band and their South African fan base. The duo shared: “It’s been way too long since we were over in South Africa. Back then it was so special for so many reasons and we felt welcomed by the people.”
Having recently expanded their d&b stock with the purchase of a set of AL90s, ULTRA Events was confident that a V-Series system would provide excellent audio quality and coverage for the 5,500 guests that attended.
Powered by D80 amplifiers, the sound system was based around d&b’s V-Series line array loudspeakers. This included 20 V8s and four V12s, stacked in a left-right configuration on either side of the stage plus a centre subcluster of 18 B22 subwoofers supplemented by two J-INFRA subs for extended low-end. Two AL90s were deployed as front fills and on-stage monitoring was handled by six M4 monitors.
Control over the audio output was of utmost importance for this project, owing to the location of the stadium within the built-up CBD busin
Denmark - Lighting designer Mikael Kratt was among the first visiting creatives to use the Royal Danish Opera’s new Robe Forte moving lights in a recent production at the Copenhagen Opera House.
This was for Som I Himlen (As It Is in Heaven) a lively and heartwarming musical adaptation directed by Edward af Sillén of a 2004 Swedish movie telling the story of a famous conductor who returns to his small Swedish hometown in the North of the country to retire and is asked to help with mentoring the school choir.
It was Mikael’s first time using Fortes, 80 of which arrived at the Copenhagen Opera House in summer via Robe’s Danish distributor Light Partner. The package features 32 x Forte Profiles, 34 x Forte Fresnels, four Forte FSs (follow spots) and 10 x iFortes, all part of a technical upgrade that was installed just in time for the restart of the high-profile venue’s winter programme.
Som I Himlen is a co-production with Malmo Opera and was first produced there in 2021. Mikael has worked with the director Edward before and was asked to collaborate on this production by him.
There were no Robe moving lights involved in that production as Mikael utilised Malmo Opera’s repertory rig. The entire creative team from the popular Malmo show helped to deliver the production in Copenhagen.
With many intimate moments in the show, the set, designed by Kim Witzel, was pushed as far downstage and as close to the audience possible, where there were fewer rigging points for lights, and the orchestra - who figures promin
UK - Located in Northampton, Old House bar and restaurant, a popular destination pub in the town for more than a decade, recently underwent a complete refurbishment. The venue comprises a ground-floor bar and spacious courtyard garden, where patrons can enjoy resident DJs, live performers and televised sport, whilst upstairs, its restaurant offers gastro-pub favourites in beautifully designed surroundings.
To complement his investment in the Old House’s Timothy Oulton-designed interior, owner Sunny Kooner opted to upgrade its audio system to better meet the requirements of this multi-faceted venue.
Sunny contacted experienced AV specialist Cosmic Electronics of Harlow with a brief to design and supply a competitively-priced system that could deliver premium audio throughout the venue, whilst blending in with its carefully designed aesthetic. Cosmic recommended an Optimal Audio solution, as CEO Mark Damon explains:
“We were familiar with the venue as we’d installed its existing system more than ten years ago. There are some large spaces to cover, as well as a variety of uses. From background music in the dining areas to DJ sets and live sport in the downstairs areas, the venue was looking for warm, present, high-quality audio throughout. We’ve carried out a number of recent installs with Optimal Audio products and been very impressed - this job was another very good fit for the brand.”
In the bar area, Cosmic installed 12 on-wall Cuboid 8 two-way, full-range, passive loudspeakers in combination with five discreetly positioned Sub 15
Canada/Europe - Long standing North America distributors (and fibre network specialists) Optocore NA have been accoladed by the German parent company, who have presented them with this year’s Best Distributor Award.
The presentation to Bill and Brandon Coons was made by Optocore founder, Marc Brunke, during the ISE2024 expo in Barcelona recently.
Optocore sales manager, RadhaMohan Rajani, said: “From their base in Canada, Bill and Brandon have been our longest serving partners, educating and serving the whole of North America. And having enjoyed a record year, they are showing that they are still introducing new customers to the Optocore family.”
Bill Coons started to represent Optocore as far back as 2007 under his Contact Distribution business model before incorporating Optocore North America the following year.
Among the high-profile projects that adopted Optocore solutions in 2023 were Toronto’s Massey Hall and Scotiabank Arena as well as Rogers Arena in Vancouver while in the USA, Optocore networks were adopted by The San Diego Symphony (at the Rady Shell, Jacobs Park), and Crypto Arena, Los Angeles.
“2023 represented our highest grossing year of sales,” reflected sales & product specialist, Brandon Coons. “Our customer base continues to grow as new users and integrators are finally adopting fibre. Shows aren’t really getting bigger, they are getting more complex and the only way to keep all the digital products/platforms working together is on an asynchronous network … which is Optocore’s ‘value propositio
UK - Christie has announced this year’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) Most Promising Student Award, an award Christie has sponsored for 19 years. The winner of this year’s award is Creative Business MA student, Cody Updegrave, who was praised for his hard work, commitment, and leadership qualities.
Previous award winners have gone on to make stellar introductions to their careers, gracing the global stage at international film festivals and winning further awards for their work. “Cody has poured his heart and soul into the life of the school, leaving an indelible mark as student representative and through supporting the expansive spectrum of VFX productions across the NFTS,” comments Ian Haig, head of the NFTS Creative Business MA.
“Not only is Cody extraordinarily kind, he also effortlessly tackles any challenges that come his way. Cody is a great leader, and his smart, friendly, and enormously hardworking approach has been pivotal in reshaping the Creative Business MA’s role throughout the school. Cody embodies the spirit of collaboration, inspiring other students to engage more deeply in projects while taking the time to listen and advise others. Above all, Cody stands out as an exceptionally talented individual who is an outstanding ambassador for the NFTS, contributing immensely to its success.”
NFTS alumni have won 14 Oscars, 165 BAFTA awards and earned more student academy award nominations than any other film school.
“It’s a pleasure to continue our longstanding relationship with the NFTS, a leading in
Norway - Outdoor mapping specialist ProjektorPøblene has invested in eight Tempest Typhoon projector enclosures to expand its outdoor events capabilities. The enclosures enable the AV and rental production company to use its fleet of Epson 20,000 lumen projectors to support a range of clients at impactful outdoor projection mapping events, as well as power its own productions.
“Being a small company specialising in outdoor projection, we need to be flexible, mobile and have a low footprint. We need to be able to get into places that other companies don’t want to do,” says Mads Faste Liang Nilsen, founder, ProjektorPøblene.
“Whenever we invest in equipment, we must be very careful to ensure it fits into our workflow. The combination of having the lightest enclosures, the ability to use them in portrait mode and the M12 mounting points meant that Tempest was the only manufacturer for us. These features give us the flexibility to create our own workflow and position projectors in challenging locations.”
ProjektorPøblene - loosely translated as ‘projector punks,’ ‘projector mob’ or ‘projector proletariat’ - was established in 2016, and offers services including concept development, content production, technical equipment rental, and projection mapping.
“The whole premise of the company is based on using our technical and creative competence to not just deliver a service but also to deliver a message that means something,” adds Mads. “We use projection to comment and communicate something that we stand for.”
Italy - Raffa in the Sky is a tribute opera to Raffaella Carrà, a prominent Italian TV personality. It is the story of an artistic career that not only evolved with the changes in Italian society over the last half a century but occasionally inspired them. Through Carrà's extraordinary experience, the work also aims to reflect on the artist's role in society, the value and use of art, and the role of television and other media, not forgetting the songs she performed.
Show lighting designer Alessandro Anderoli comments: "The Fondazione del Teatro Donizetti has been working with Claypaky for over a year, and there was a mutual desire for a Bergamo-based partnership. Moreover, the Claypaky technical team have always solved our problems promptly when needed. This is an absolute linchpin for me.”
Alessandro Andreoli elaborates on the role of the Claypaky Sinfonya Profile during the show: "Its special value in this opera lies in its main feature, the ability to vary the colour temperature of the LED engine, along with the light's extraordinary technical performance across all parameters. From the beginning, it was clear that the Italian national broadcasting company (RAI) was going to film the opera, and the Sinfonya Profiles enabled me to confidently program the fixtures during rehearsals, knowing that I could later optimise the effects without drastically altering them once we were joined by the technicians for the shoot. They had specific colour temperature requirements for balanced in-camera images.
In addition to the Sinfonya Profiles, th
USA - Sphere Entertainment and Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, have released new details on how the two companies leverage Hitachi Vantara’s data processing software to help power the LED screens at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Both Sphere’s 160,000sq.ft interior LED display plane and 580,000sq.ft fully programmable LED exterior - the Exosphere - utilise Hitachi Vantara’s software as a key tool to stream high-resolution immersive content.
“Sphere is home to many firsts, one of which is streaming immersive, high-resolution video content on a scale that has never been done before,” said Alex Luthwaite, SVP, show systems technology, Sphere Entertainment. “Hitachi Vantara worked with our team to develop a solution that’s fast, reliable, and efficient. Through their expertise and technology, Sphere’s displays deliver content that is captivating audiences not only in the venue in Las Vegas, but also around the world on social media.”
With the world’s highest resolution LED screen inside the venue and the largest LED screen on the exterior, Sphere leaned on Hitachi Vantara to deliver solutions to stream video content on an unprecedented scope. For its original immersive film, Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth, the system handles over 400 gigabytes a second of throughput at sub 5 milliseconds of latency and a 12-bit colour display at a 444 subsampling. Hitachi Vantara utilised its storage platform Hitachi Content Software for File, a high-performance, software-d
USA - Clear-Com played a pivotal role in enhancing communication capabilities at the Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022 and is owned by San Diego State University and managed by OVG360.
Snapdragon Stadium, located within SDSU Mission Valley, serves as a year-round sports and entertainment destination and a hub of community engagement. Home to SDSU Aztec Football, San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby and the newly announced MLS team, San Diego FC, the venue hosts a myriad of events, including concerts, festivals, motocross shows, international sporting events, championships, community events, private and corporate events, and more.
Notably, Snapdragon Stadium has emerged as a favoured venue for the US Women’s National Soccer Team. Since its opening, the facility has hosted multiple 'friendlies' and is currently a key venue for the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. Clear-Com's communication solutions contribute to the success of these events, enhancing the overall experience for athletes, performers, and fans alike.
Snapdragon Stadium's communication infrastructure, featuring Clear-Com's advanced equipment, plays a pivotal role in addressing diverse needs associated with its status as a multi-use facility for both sports and entertainment. The heart of the stadium's communication infrastructure lies in the deployment of Clear-Com's FreeSpeak II digital wireless system combined with Encore analogue partyline elements, providing a robust and reliable communication platform that ensures sea
Estonia - Chin Chin wine bar in Tallinn offers guests the pairing of a crisp glass of wine with a stunning sea view. A solo project of sommelier Karl-Märten Käesel, the bar features a discreet yet powerful Smart IP loudspeaker solution from Genelec.
Estonian audio-visual integrators Progear OÜ designed, supplied and installed the system, with the help of local Genelec distributor msonic Baltic. The solution comprises 10 Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers that met Chin Chin’s brief of a superior multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing sound system. This project marks the first time that a Genelec Smart IP solution has touched ground in Estonia, so this was a particularly special installation for Progear, msonic Baltic and the Finnish loudspeaker manufacturer.
“Genelec were selected because of their legendary status, and because they offer built-in DSP and Dante compatibility,” begins Karl-Erik Sepp, sound installation project manager at Progear. “The 4430 uses one network cable, through which it receives power, audio and the possibility to control each speaker remotely. The ease of use was an important factor for the team at Chin Chin. The 4430 also offers Genelec’s famous sound quality, which can easily adapt to everything from relaxed wine tastings through to the curated DJ nights that Chin Chin hosts at the weekend.”
As well as serving as a place to wind down after work and let loose on the weekends, Chin Chin also hosts wine classes, which range from a tour around the Italian coast via specially selected bottles, to wine and f
Ireland - Keith Alexander, a Dublin-based freelance sound recordist, began his career in the music industry managing bands and fostering a lifelong passion for sound and music. His love for studio recording led him to work in Windmill Lane Studio in Dublin. Keith consistently used Rycote's products for his recording sessions, both in the studio and on location. Recently, he faced the wind for a challenging project off the coast of Ireland.
"My early experience in music and managing bands ignited my passion for sound and music," says Alexander. "This enthusiasm led me to discover studio recording, opening up a whole new world."
After transitioning from the music studio to location sound, Alexander then moved into post-production for cinema and TV, and then to animation. His diverse experience in the sound industry has given him a unique perspective and rich expertise in his field.
Keith has recently been involved in some concurrent projects on the Aran Islands, off the coast of Ireland, that came with significant challenges for sound and voice recording. These projects required robust, versatile and reliable kit that could withstand the harsh conditions.
Employing the Rycote Nanoshield, together with a HC-22 mic, a pair of HC-15's short shotgun microphones and the CA-08 cardioid mic for different recording situations. For one of the projects, Alexander spent three days on the island recording sound effects. To capture the essence of the island effectively, he could use the elements to design a soundscape for the movie that was being produced f
Austria - Nestled in the picturesque Alpe-Adria bioregion, encompassing Slovenia, the Austrian states of Kärnten and Steiermark, and two regions in Italy, Stadttheater Klagenfurt (Klagenfurt City Theatre) stands as Carinthia's largest cultural institution. Constructed between 1908 and 1910 by the renowned Viennese architectural firm Fellner & Helmer, this municipal theatre with a seating capacity of 716 hosts over 200 performances each season and is home to the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra.
Offering a diverse performance programme, including theatre productions, grand opera, operetta, and a wide musical repertoire, Stadttheater Klagenfurt recently elevated its sound experience thanks to the integration of KLANG:technologies immersive in-ear monitoring alongside its DiGiCo Quantum 7T mixing console.
Manuel Bundschuh, the theatre’s Head of Audio, highlights that the decision to adopt the KLANG system was an important part of a major upgrade to their existing personal monitoring system. “After hearing numerous positive testimonials about KLANG within the industry, it became clear to us that we wanted to implement KLANG’s immersive IEM mixing platform at our theatre,” he says.
The team enlisted the services of Signal, one of Austria's leading providers of lighting and sound equipment, which supplied one KLANG:vokal immersive IEM processor and ten KLANG:kontroller units to deliver fast tactile user control of Groups, Channels, and Immersive mixing.
Since the adoption of KLANG, Bundschuh notes a significant improvement in the work of
On The Campaign Trail - The estate of Sinéad O'Connor has asked Donald Trump to stop using her music at his political rallies. Last month, Trump played O'Connor's best-known song Nothing Compares 2 U at a campaign event in Maryland. The singer's estate told BBC News it was "no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted" by his use of her music.
A joint statement from O'Connor's estate and her longtime label Chrysalis Records said: "Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings. It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies.
"It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a 'biblical devil'."
Prize Draw - Glastonbury Festival has opened a ticket prize draw to raise money for charities supporting people affected by conflict. The prize draw comes after tickets for the Somerset festival sold out within an hour of being released in November. Twenty tickets are up for grabs and the prize draw is open until 12:00 on 28 March. Organisers say the money raised will be donated to the British Red Cross, Oxfam and War Child.
MTV Manchester - Manchester's new arena has been chosen as the venue for this year's MTV Europe Music Awards (