UK - Sysco Productions has created an ambient audio background to support the Imperial War Museum’s Second World War Galleries with near-invisible K-array ultra-compact line arrays.
The Second World War Galleries at London’s Imperial War Museum brings to life a war that affected millions of people around the world.
In order to maximise the realism that IWM’s collection of exhibits so clearly evokes, Sysco Productions have created an immersive, digitally controlled audio system that takes full advantage of K-array’s ultra-compact Vyper and Lyzard line array attributes to hide these discreet micro line array speakers within the structure of the galleries’ exhibits and provide a supportive ambience without being seen.
“The purpose of the audio is to support the messaging of the exhibition without detracting from it or being obtrusive,” said Sysco’s now R&D director Ben Rochlin, who during the design phase was lead engineer on the project. “We had equipped a neighbouring gallery at IWM with conventional 5-inch and 7-inch speaker boxes that sound superb but are slightly more visible within the space. In contrast however, the soundtrack for the Second World War Galleries is predominantly ambient which required a different approach in that we wanted to avoid any possible distraction that could be caused by visual impact of the speakers.”
To achieve that aim, the Sysco team specified a combination of K-array Azimut systems to be deployed around the gallery, consisting of Lyzard-KZ14 arrays matched with Rumble-KU44 subwoofers an
UK - Harris Academy Chafford Hundred (HACH) is a co-educational secondary school and sixth-form that welcomes nearly 1500 students through its doors every day. Located in the Essex town of Grays, the academy works tirelessly to ensure that every detail of its provision is geared towards meeting its ambition of being ‘a school for the future’.
A key area of focus for the academy’s management team is the maintenance of clear communications within its corridors and communal spaces. The school ‘bell’ is fundamental to the smooth operation of the timetable, with HACH placing strong emphasis on punctuality to ensure that students take maximum advantage of teaching time
With this in mind, the HACH team engaged AV solutions provider Excite AV of Bishops Stortford to install a system which offered intuitive head-end control and optimal loudspeaker placement, in order to ensure the timely movement of students around the school. With more than 50 years of combined experience, Excite AV is a preferred supplier of the Harris Federation, which runs 52 primary and secondary academies across London and Essex.
The control element of the system was supplied by Polar following discussions between Excite’s project lead Gareth Thomas and Polar Integrated Solutions’ Mark Bracken. Mark recommended that the requirement for a multi zone audio processor with a built-in bell scheduler would be best met by the Atlas IED Atmosphere AZM4. The unit is a 4-Zone audio processor with powerful DSP combined with innovative algorithms, which offers custom solutions for a
India - Patna Women’s College has installed an Allen & Heath’s Avantis mixer in its newly built 2,500-seater Veronica auditorium. The college, which was founded in 1940 and was the first higher education institution for women in Bihar, recently invested in the audio, video, and lighting systems, all handled by Punjab-based company Soundexperts, who were selected to undertake the project on a turn-key basis.
The college’s auditorium stage boasts a large space that can accommodate more than 350 performers, making it perfect for live performances of bands, cultural programs, plays, and school programs. The facility can also be used for video conferencing, which is why four cameras and 14 display screens have been installed in various zones including the green room, VIP room, control room, and main hall.
Allen & Heath’s Avantis mixer plays a pivotal role in handling the various purposes of the large venue, with one console handling the main Front of House mix, and a second Avantis also serving as a monitor console on the stage.
An Allen & Heath AHM-32 audio matrix processor, integrated via an S-Link card connected to a DX168 and DX012 expander, controls the main PA and all surrounds, and offers a preset recall feature from the front panel that can change the auditorium from a live venue to a cinema with ease.
Soundexperts, who were able to deliver the project within the stipulated time frame, worked closely with Sun Infonet, purchasing and installing recommended products from leading audio brands such as Shure, Audio Focus and
Australia - Prolights, through Show Technology design team, illuminated SeaWorld theme park's latest attraction: the Leviathan roller coaster. This thrilling ride is the centrepiece of the New Atlantis-themed area, an “impressive tower of timber taking guests on a thundering quest where they reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, experiencing exhilarating turns, crossovers, drops and dips” as stated by the park.
However, Leviathan is not only garnering praise for the actual rollercoaster ride itself but also for the immersive experience that envelops those queuing for a ride in the underwater utopia. Audiovisual installation specialists Run By Media spent two years planning the AV integration, over a year on-site building and countless long hours working closely with their design team Show Technology's Clint Dulieu and lighting designer Toby Sewell to bring this next-level project to light.
“The whole of the entry caves and load station is beautifully themed and well installed so it was fairly easy to light,” remarked Toby Sewell, the lighting designer at the head of the project. “Consequently, it was a great, fun space to light.”
In order to recreate the underwater theme and use a large palette of aquatic colours, the team decided to rely on Prolights lighting solutions using 57 Prolights DisplayCOB FC and eight Prolights Mosaico XL
The DisplayCOB FC, 60W compact full-colour COB PAR with parabolic reflector, were chosen for general wash lighting of the space: thirty were located in the load station and the others were distributed throu
Belgium - The Auberge Napoleon restaurant in Meise has been a magnet for culinary enthusiasts for many years. Hosts Jan and Karlien Stallaert, and chef Nico Struelens, pull out all the stops to wow their guests with a contemporary rejuvenation of traditional French-Belgian cuisine.
After a complete renovation in 2011, the venue expanded its footprint in 2018 by adding a covered extension and adjoining terrace, and last year went further in developing its trendily fashionable space to meet the needs of its wide-ranging clientele. As a space that caters for everything from a tête-a-tête to a family meal, a business lunch to a party, or even a wedding or christening, creating the perfect ambience is essential for its proprietors. With this in mind, great importance was placed on selecting a sound system that was in keeping with Auberge Napoleon’s desire to strive for perfection in every respect.
“We needed to change the audio system because we wanted to achieve a ‘warmer’ sound throughout the restaurant and give guests a better experience by playing music a little louder, without it becoming too intrusive,” says owner Jan Stallaert. “I was introduced to Joeri Verholen of Pioneer Pro Audio and was impressed by his know-how and professionalism. He convinced us that the brand’s CM-Series loudspeakers would be perfect for the brief.”
Audio specialist FOL Sound, Light and Vision was engaged to design and install a system that would deliver high quality audio to all areas of the restaurant. The loudspeakers were exclusively selected from th
UK - The Royal College of Music (RCM) in London was ranked the leading global institution for performing arts in the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject and has prepared performers, conductors and composers for international careers for over 140 years.
Since 1901, the College’s many musical groups have performed in Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, a space that in 2009 received an extensive refurbishment that brought the listed building up to modern concert hall standards. More recently, a sustainable LED lighting rig of 48 Elation Fuze Pendant luminaires has been installed in the Concert Hall.
The Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall is the RCM’s most versatile space, accommodating up to 370 audience members and up to 120 performers on stage. Primarily used for performances by the College’s orchestras, jazz bands and RCM International Opera School, the performance space also hosts public concerts and can be utilized as a unique setting for receptions and other special events.
The new stage lighting system not only provides high quality, colour-temperature adjustable white or colour illumination when required, it also helps to fulfil the college’s commitment to sustainability and becoming carbon net zero by 2035. The Royal College of Music has already reduced carbon emissions by 60% compared to 2004/05 levels.
The LED-based Fuze Pendant lights have replaced 64 tungsten fixtures that previously lit the stage and have significantly improved energy savings in the historic venue.
“The new lighting rig will save over 150,000 kil
UK - Last week saw has seen the long-awaited re-opening of the National Portrait Gallery following the most extensive redevelopment in the building’s history, which began in March 2020. The redevelopment project, named ‘Inspiring People’, was designed to break down barriers and make the attraction as welcoming as possible to all visitors. HRH The Princess of Wales, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, reopened the Gallery on Tuesday 20 June.
As projection partner to the National Portrait Gallery, Epson’s EB-PU2120W - the world’s smallest and lightest 20,000-lumen projector - is being used to help reinvigorate the visitor experience. Meanwhile, AV consultants Sysco Productions has worked together with Epson and the National Portrait Gallery as a key collaborator during the design of the spaces to help maximise the experience through audio visual technology.
A 15m x 8m wall behind its new visitor information desk is now a central welcoming attraction at the gallery, where art is brought to life powered by Six Epson EB-PU2120W laser projectors complete with ELPLU04 short-throw lenses. The projection displays a carousel of digitised portraits from the Gallery’s Collection and can also be used to show special displays. The digitised portraits have been given subtle animation effects to make the most of the display technology.
An additional EB-PU1007W is also installed on the first floor providing a separate, interchangeable digital art installation, and a 16k-lumen EB-PU2216B with ELPLM10 mid-throw lens is installed in the Ondaatje Wing
The Netherlands - Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) and fixed install amplifiers are powering the multi-storey building’s sound system at renowned international trading house, Van Caem Klerks Group’s head office. Located in the centre of Amsterdam, the company has built its reputation for import and export of A-branded products, namely liquor, beer, fine wines, fragrances, luxury and fast-moving consumer goods.
The trading house approached local integrator Van Brienen AV with a brief to install a sound system able to play background music and share its duties with announcements, radio and music stream on each floor and with the needs to control the volume.
“This project was unique for us,” states Harry Scheringa, senior sales at Van Brienen AV. “We had 60 Sonance speakers with excellent sound reproductions, and the perspective to combine this large number of speakers with an easy to operate central management and local resources was an exciting challenge for us.”
With such a complex brief, Van Brienen AV turned to Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution, which streamlines multi-zone and multi-source management. A system built around the ability of sharing multiple sources between zones is not only easy to deploy and run, but it also simplifies the process of achieving high quality standards for small to medium-sized background and foreground music distribution applications.
“Installing DMD was simple. We gave the manager panel access to all the zones to have a full control over all the rooms,” explains Scheringa.
USA - Struggling with an aging PA system, Arizona’s Surprise Stadium was looking to do a full overhaul of not only its sound quality, but the ways in which they use the PA. Already acting as homebase for the Texas Rangers’ and Kansas City Royals’ spring training, the city of Surprise was hoping to transform the stadium into a multipurpose space, fit to host corporate events, fundraisers, movie nights and more.
To implement the technology upgrade necessary to achieve this goal, and provide the required sound quality and versatility, the city turned to audio specialist Ben Davis for his expertise and guidance, as well as Sound Image Integration.
Davis’ primary areas to tackle were the outfield and the main seating area. “The main seating area was very linear,” he explains, “and the speakers in the outfield were throwing too far and splashing audio into the main grandstand, resulting in an echo. There were existing speakers hung on yolks from the canopy in a standard layout throughout the field, so there was a lot of opportunity to evolve the current technology. I looked at the ADAPTive technology from EAW and the AC6 ADAPTive Column Loudspeaker seemed to fit all our needs.”
The AC6s were used to replace all the existing outfield speakers as phase one of the upgrade, which was designed by Davis and installed by Sound Image Integration. There were also existing EAW boxes in the under-hang from the original build that were in perfect condition. Davis and Sound Image additionally replaced any aging amplifiers and processing components. Th
USA - Hope Church recently collaborated with Diversified Systems and Harman Professional Solutions to update its sound system with a JBL Professional audio solution.
Founded in 1988, Hope Church is located in the Memphis suburb of Cordova and is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Although Hope Church already had a robust JBL VTX Series audio system in its main 5000-seat sanctuary, the church’s technical staff wondered how a different speaker configuration could benefit the worship experience with improved impact and clarity while retaining an intimate feel.
Hope Church’s audio director Tim Kanter reached out to Jeff McOlgan of Diversified Systems and - with help from the Harman Professional Applications Team -conducted a system review to see if they could improve the worship experiences with more JBL speakers. The team utilised Ease and Line Array Calculator software to design and implement a new audio system configuration that resulted in more comprehensive coverage and clarity than they previously thought possible in the challenging acoustic space.
“I have been a big fan of JBL since the beginning of my career in the late ‘80s,” said Jeff McOlgan, account executive, Diversified Systems. “For me JBL is the perfect mix of quality and value. Harman’s Jay Fullmer and his team are an added bonus when I need assistance supporting the client. Our client is exceedingly pleased with the performance of the new array configuration at Hope Church.”
The sanctuary sound solution installed by Diversified is based on a tradit
Malaysia - A subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), the Zepp Hall Network has expanded with a new concert venue in Kuala Lumpur, equipped with a Nexo STM line array.
Located in the heart of the city, the new hall has a capacity of 2,414 and boasts similarly high-quality facilities as the existing Zepp Hall Network of eight performance spaces in Japan and one in Taiwan. The availability of a world-class, pre-installed sound system is central to the audience experience, while also making set ups and sound checks easy for performers, while saving costs for event organisers.
Designed in collaboration with Bertrand Billon from Nexo’s Engineering Support Team using NS-1 configuration software to ensure maximum throw efficiency and even SPL coverage, the STM system was supplied and installed by Concept Associates (KL) Sdn Bhd, a well-known distributor and audio-visual and lighting system integrator in Malaysia.
The STM system is configured in left and right arrays using eight flown cabinets of M46 main modules supplemented by eight B112 bass extension modules per side. Pairs of M28 omni modules are suspended from each cluster to provide down fills for the first few rows. The subwoofer system consists of nine ground-stacked S118 bass units on each side, arranged for cardioid mode to tighten LF dispersion, with two additional subs below the stage centre for maximum coverage.
The system is further supported with four mobile units of Nexo geo M10 line array modules at the stage front, which can be deployed as necessary to provide mor
Japan - TST Entertainment, a joint venture between Tokyo Corporation and Sony Entertainment, has taken four years to deliver a live music and club experience in the Kabukicho Tower, in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, featuring Adamson loudspeakers across three levels.
Zepp Shinjuku operates the venue for daytime live music events. At night the multi-floor venue operates as the nightclub Zerotokyo. The design called for a lighting and sound experience that was seamless between the floors, but still respected the various needs of a live music and club environment.
Ryoichi Ishii, sales director for Adamson’s Japanese distributor Rewire, said: “It is no exaggeration to say that Zerotokyo is one of the largest nightclubs in Japan. The fact the venue services live music and a nightclub, there were many audio distribution challenges to solve.”
Adamson’s IS7Px and PC5 point source loudspeakers are used throughout the venue. An S-Series line array is used for the main performance space along with M12 monitors. S119 subwoofers are used in each room.
“The project design started in 2019, and from the beginning, we envisioned visitors at the front of the floor being bathed from head to toe in sound, while those on other levels and at the back being able to hold a conversation,” says Ishii.
Cambodia - The Olympic Indoor Stadium in Phnom Penh, a multi-purpose indoor stadium located next to the main outdoor Olympic Stadium, has recently undergone an audio installation made up entirely of Proel brands.
With a capacity of 50,000, the Indoor Stadium hosts primarily basketball and volleyball games. This year, for the South East Asian Games, also known as the S.E.A Games, the Indoor Stadium was made the official volleyball stadium for the event, which took place between last month.
Local system integrator, Kilat Events, was chosen as the venue’s partner to fit out the stadium. It was managing director of Kilat Events, Osman Omar, who decided to fit out the stadium with Proel products. The main speakers are driven by the Axioms, alongside Proel amplifiers and Proel mixers. Eikon wireless mics, from the Aether series were used for the project. Cables, connectors and stands were either Proel or Die Hard.
“I am closely linked with the Proel Group business development team in Singapore, and my priority was reliability and ease of after-sales service, which is something they are good at,” says Omar. “When it comes to Axiom, it beats any other speaker sound for this value. The team of Proel guided us well throughout this challenging install and it sounds perfect.”
USA - To provide a wide range of events with a quality live sound mixing experience, Norwood Theatre recently collaborated with Pro Sound Service and Harman Professional Solutions to upgrade its front-of-house audio mixer with a Soundcraft Vi3000 digital live sound console.
Built in 1927 and fully renovated in 2012, the Norwood Theatre is a performance venue that hosts concerts, plays, musicals, and comedy in Norwood, a southwestern suburb of Boston.
As part of the 2012 renovation, Norwood Theatre turned to provider Pro Sound Services to install a complete HarmanProfessional live sound reinforcement solution, consisting of JBL VT4886 and VRX Series loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS signal processors and a Soundcraft Vi1 console at front-of-house.
Norwood Theatre’s production staff were pleased with the workflow and sound quality of the Vi1, but they wanted to upgrade to a similar desk with more faders. In 2022, outgoing production manager Ed DiMarzio and current production manager Jeff Morley worked closely with Charlie Tappa of Pro Sound Service to replace the Vi1 with a new Soundcraft Vi3000 digital live sound console at Norwood Theatre’s front-of-house mix position.
“The system we installed in 2012 was part of a major renovation,” said Tappa. “We did analysis on what would be the best products to fulfill their needs, not only for live music performances, but for pro theatre as well. The combination of the JBL loudspeaker system and Soundcraft mixing solutions has worked very well for them. All through the 10 years since that in
Turkey - Home to the Metropol Istanbul Tower, Turkey’s highest skyscraper, the Ataşehir district on the Anatolian side of the city is a residential, business and trading centre which has developed a popular social scene.
Its many busy eateries cater for a wide range of tastes, and Della Fame is the latest Italian restaurant to open in Ateşhir. Located in a section of the Metropol Shopping Mall, Della Fame is a stylish and spacious venue which offers indoor and alfresco dining courtesy of its street-facing aspect.
Background music and DJ sets complement the guest experience at Della Fame, meaning that quality audio was an essential component of the restaurant’s ambience. The Della Fame team engaged Istanbul-based professional audio integrator, Pulsarpro, to supply and install a discreet, high quality system that would meet the needs of the venue’s different spaces. Pulsarpro chose an HH Electronics solution in what was one of the first collaborations between the installer and the UK brand.
Project coordinator Hakan Tamer deployed 10 HH TNi-0801A 8” full-range active loudspeakers in conjunction with four TRS-1800 18” powered subwoofers for the inside spaces.
These installation units from the HH Tessen and Tensor ranges respectively, combine to comfortably deliver all the necessary power and quality for background music and evening DJ sets, whilst blending unobtrusively into Della Fame’s elegant decor. Three HH TNi-C8 ceiling speakers were mounted in the lobby and restroom entrance area, while the garden area benefitted from 16 TNi
South Korea - The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) is a government-operated organisation in South Korea that aims to promote and develop the country's IT industry. Recently, the organisation collaborated with South Korean XR, virtual production consulting and environment construction specialist, Ark Ventures, to create an innovative LED stage using technology, including ROE Visual panels powered by Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors.
NIPA collaborates with partners worldwide to create business opportunities and conducts research. This informs IT policy decisions and focuses on cultivating a skilled workforce and fostering international exchange to advance South Korean IT companies.
According to David Oh, general manager at Ark Ventures, the new LED stage has equipped NIPA to facilitate more innovative content development in the local market. “We were thrilled to be involved in this project and work with NIPA’s technical team to provide world-class LED equipment that is both future-proof and reliable. The new LED stage will enable NIPA to provide local companies with a cutting-edge virtual production experience in an optimal LED setting,” he says.
Featuring a curved design, the main LED wall is composed of ROE Visual Black Pearl BP2V2 panels measuring 16m by 4m, with a floor comprising ROE Visual Black Marble BM4 panels measuring 14.6m wide by 6.7m deep. The entire setup is powered by three Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and six Tessera 10G data distribution units.
“Tessera features that will be particularly r
UK - Named after the Celtic warrior queen, and located in the heart of London’s Battersea, recently-opened restaurant Boudica offers brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks. Transitioning through the day from a quiet chilled space to a lively cocktail bar with top DJs, Boudica is focused on delivering ‘classic comfort food with international and contemporary twists in an immersive, luxurious setting’.
Music will play a key role in precisely establishing the right ambience for Boudica’s changing moods, and with audio reinforcement in mind, co-founder Ed Allingham sought advice from Mark Damon, director at installers Cosmic Electronics.
Damon recommended an Optimal Audio solution for Boudica, having been impressed with its commercial audio offering since attending the company’s launch in 2021:
“The Optimal Audio package caught my attention from the off - its emphasis on simplifying commercial audio for the benefit of installers and end-users, whilst maintaining audio quality, was very appealing. Having used elements of the ecosystem on several jobs now, it’s certainly lived up to its billing. When the Boudica project arose, I had no hesitation in recommending Optimal Audio.”
Boudica operates across two floors, with the main downstairs restaurant comprising a bar to the left of the space, rear seating and side seating, while the upstairs space is reserved for private dining. The brief required a zoned audio system that could meet the varying requirements of the spaces, from low-key background music at one end of the spectrum to DJ sets
USA - Headed by their flagship WPL line array, Martin Audio systems have been specified throughout the vast 250,000sq.ft Armory complex in St. Louis, MO.
Originally constructed in 1938 as an armoury for the Missouri National Guard - part of the New Deal after the Great Recession - it later became a US tennis HQ before transforming into a concert venue in the 1960s and 1970s (featuring Ike & Tina Turner and the Grateful Dead, among others).
More recently it has had a chequered life, before falling into disrepair. Several times it went back to the drawing board before Jake Miller and Chris Honstain of hospitality specialists Brick + Bev, an affiliate of local developers Green Street Real Estate Ventures, took it over. Honstain and Green Street’s Phil Hulse put their heads together and the project then went into overdrive.
The operators’ principal focus was The Commons, the huge 85,000 sq. ft main concert hall, with a 60ft x 32ft stage - the first of three spaces that will feature Martin Audio components over a phased opening. They were put in contact with Brad Stephens at Martin Audio North America, and their integration partner AVI Systems, who had worked with some of the facility’s operational staff over the previous six years, were awarded the contract.
They in turn specified Martin Audio’s WPL line array as being the optimum solution for the 5,200-cap space - a decision endorsed by both Honstain and production director, Rek Mohr.
The Commons’ sound reinforcement system was designed by AVI’s John VanStipdonk. His FOH sys
UK - Paignton Zoo is an education and conservation charity with over 2,000 different animals set in naturalistic indoor and outdoor exhibits, based in Devon. Their mission is to conserve species and their habitats, helping to save endangered animals in both the UK and across the globe, whilst inspiring everyone to help in the fight to protect wildlife.
Revenue is key to their conservation efforts, and so Paignton Zoo is constantly looking to diversify, create additional income streams and secure sponsorships. With this in mind, an opportunity was recognised to transform a multipurpose space that was being underutilised, into a high-profile conference centre, which could also be used internally to promote their educational activities and rented out to external parties for meetings and events.
Paignton Zoo contacted audio visual integration experts, AV-Tec to assist with the project. There were a number of key requirements for the project, including the ability to control multiple room configurations while supporting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) across multiple platforms, wireless microphones and remote support for the higher profile events.
David Folland, head of delivery support, Wild Planet Trust comments: “We had worked with AV-Tec before and approached Jarrett Dartnall to help us upgrade the space to a modern audio-visual facility. We certainly gave a challenging brief. We wanted a large screen conferencing facility that could also host meetings or training in a variety of room configurations. That would allow multiple hosting platforms such a
UK - The recent opening of Bradford recording facility KAD Studios is the realisation of a long-time dream for owner Karl Dunnachie. Located in the centre of the city, KAD features two production rooms and an impressive DJ set-up, which Dunnachie aims to make available for both pro and aspiring producers, musicians and DJs.
The studio’s three rooms all feature extensive sound treatment from Portuguese specialists Artnovion, turning the 200-year-old building into a highly usable, musical-sounding space. Previously used as a chiropodist’s practice and left vacant for several years, the building required a back-to-brick restoration and conversion, which allowed Dunnachie the opportunity to design the creative spaces from the ground up, as he describes:
“I was in touch with Artnovion - through UK distributor Audio-Technica - throughout the build process and they were incredibly helpful with both advice and the design service they provide. We supplied measurements and provided other info and they sent reports and suggested designs with 3D visualisations. We then worked to refine the initial designs to end up with fantastic results, both from a sonic and aesthetic point of view.”
The two production studios feature a variety of Artnovion treatment solutions, including Myron E diffusion panels, Andes and Orion absorption and Ulysses bass traps and absorption. The combination of corner, wall and ceiling-mounted treatment ensured significant control of reverb time and undesirable resonant frequencies, with the choice of wood, fabric and EPS finishes -
The Netherlands - Partially funded by the municipality of Apeldoorn, Gigant is a versatile cultural centre in the heart of The Netherlands, featuring as of 1995 a cinema, a pop stage, a city stage, two theatres, a café with a terrace, and a course house hosting educational workshops in various art forms, including visual arts, circus, ensembles and orchestras, contemporary music and theatre amongst others.
Since it was established in 1977 in an old school building, Gigant has focused on popular music and art-house performances, with international artists such as U2, Nirvana, Herman Brood, Golden Earring and UB40.
Recently, the venue’s technical team has upgraded their console fleet by adding a DiGiCo SD12 and Quantum225 digital mixing consoles, supplied by Ampco Flashlight Sales to replace their existing console setup. Whilst Ampco recognises the SD12 as the ‘all-accepted and multifunctional workhorse’, used on FOH at the venue, the powerful yet compact Quantum225 is used for on-stage monitoring.
Bart van der Smissen, audio product manager at Ampco Flashlight Sales, and Simon Kemme, technical coordinator at Gigant, have known each other for a long time, having held similar roles in the event industry. Prior to his current position, van der Smissen served as the head technician at Nobel Bros, the renowned pop stage venue for Leiden and the surrounding area.
"Throughout my time at Nobel Bros, I’ve had numerous encounters with Simon. For more than 10 years, he has been a devoted DiGiCo enthusiast," van der Smissen recalls.
Having u
Israel - The Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv is one of the busiest and most recognised in Israel, and since 2003 has been located in the vibrant cultural hub that is the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre. Founded in 1848 shortly after the State of Israel itself was formally established, the theatre is focused on producing local works. It has five halls, the largest with a 1000 capacity and has recently invested in Robe Esprite moving lights and Tetra2 moving LED battens.
These were the first moving lights in the venue and were initially purchased for a production of Kaymim Achadim lit by Nadar Barnea, explained technical manager Shabi Aaron Nahum, who is delighted with the new fixtures.
The very first Robes in the house were ParFects, so they were familiar with the brand through these and generally. After making the decision to invest for the production, they specifically needed lights with good shuttering, zoom and dimmer curve as the seven Esprites are deployed on the front bridge.
The 20 Tetra2s are rigged on the upstage bars of the Cameri’s main hall and were also picked for the intensity and colour, as well as to illuminate an 8m-high rear screen, which they wash evenly and seamlessly.
Shabi and his team also liked the Tetra’s 4-45 degree zoom which assists in attaining that nice even wash and appreciate the refined dimmer curve in this fixture too.
The Camera Theatre’s new Robe lights were supplied by Danor Theatre and Studio Systems, Robe’s Israeli distributor.
UK - Perfectly located near London’s King’s Cross and Euston stations, 30 Euston Square is managed by hospitality provider, Searcys. The venue’s 300-seat tiered auditorium and exhibition space is regularly used for larger-scale conferences and exhibitions, making it essential to provide quality audio. To meet these demands, the 30 Euston Square team has recently upgraded its audio installation with a DiGiCo S31 digital mixing console, purchased through Adlib Audio.
Ilja Gosev, AV manager at Searcys, explains that the decision to replace the old console was driven by the need for a reliable, industry-standard solution capable of meeting the high demands of the live events and live streaming projects regularly hosted at the venue. “Our research led us to conclude the DiGiCo S31 was the best fit for us because of its exceptional audio quality, extensive feature set, and robust construction,” he says.
While visiting DiGiCo’s UK headquarters, the 30 Euston Square team conducted a comprehensive audio quality test and were very impressed with the performance of the S31. According to Gosev, the console's advanced audio processing algorithms, high-resolution converters, and low-latency signal routing capabilities deliver a significant improvement in audio clarity and fidelity.
“The S31 boasts numerous advantages, including its Dante audio networking compatibility,” explains Gosev. “This enables us to seamlessly integrate the console into our existing audio infrastructure, providing us with the flexibility to use processors not only for the
Italy - Director of photography Davide Manca has chosen Prolights equipment to update the lighting at the Leonardo3 Museum in Milan.
The Leonardo3 Exhibition was opened in March 2013 at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II by the Study Centre Leonardo 3 and has quickly earned its place in the cultural scenario in Milan, going from being a temporary exhibition to a museum installation.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the exhibition, the management announced a renewal of the exhibition halls through a lighting project created by Davide Manca. He chose to rely on Prolights lighting solutions, selecting LinearLED fixtures ArcShine S18FC and ArcShine S9FC to light up the walls of the art booths.
The small Gallery profiles EclDisplay DATWhite and EclGalleryProfile are based on LED source and equipped with high-definition zoom optics, the portable battery uplights Smart BatPlusG2 with RGB + Warm White LED source, and the high power EclProfile CT+ with six colours emitters and zoom optics.
“The new lighting wasn't designed only for aesthetic purposes." said Massimiliano Lisa, director, creator, and founder of the exhibition "The main aim was to provide the public with an immersive experience, allowing them to enter into Leonardo's mind: the idea was to illuminate the museum as if they were on a film set and using the light as a source of narration."
The lighting designer was more than satisfied with the result: "Giving the right light to Leonardo da Vinci's works was challenging. I only succeeded thanks to the great support of my co