USA - From the 17,000 spectators at the sold-out festival to a record-breaking 33.5m remote viewers, TikTok’s In the Mix festival showcased the performance, dependability, and application flexibility of Cohesion.
Presented at Sloan Park in the Phoenix suburbs, In the Mix featured an impressive line-up. The team from ATK Audiotek, a Clair Global brand, deployed a Cohesion system to optimise every performance, even as the elaborate design of the production presented intriguing challenges.
Enabling the audience to focus on the 360° stage at the centre of the stadium required no flown visual obstructions. The audio design also needed to manage clearance for video towers and a freewheeling Spidercam meant to capture dynamic live footage for the TikTok livestream. In short, BAFTA Award-winning director Hamish Hamilton and event producers Done+Dusted in collaboration with Yellow Studios required that nothing tall be constructed at or near the main stage.
“They didn’t want to see it, but it had to sound good,” said ATK Audiotek account executive Andres Arango, describing the ultimate mission for the system. The ATK design deployed a hybrid system of flown and ground stacked line arrays. Eight clusters of 10 CO12 loudspeakers were flown from four towers, sufficiently equidistant from centre stage to ensure clear sightlines for all in-person and remote spectators.
The flown system was supplemented by eight strategically placed ground stacks of two CO12 loudspeakers and an additional eight ground stacks of four CO10 loudspeakers to ensure that a
Germany - ‘Elation translates visionary concepts into meaningful innovation to bring new product ideas to light’. The company will feature a broad selection of lighting solutions at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt (Hall 12.1, Stand B49/C49).
Highlights in the Proteus series of multi-environmental luminaires include the IP66-rated Pproteus Hybrid Max, that launches as the torchbearing successor of the Proteus Hybrid. Also on display will be the Proteus Odeon, a framing profile fixture with an industry-first completely variable CRI LED engine; and Proteus Radius, a high-intensity Beam FX fixture with solid state phosphor-converted light engine for incredible power at long distances.
New in Elation’s popular Fuze series is the Fuze Teatro, a fully-automated yet fanless framing fixture for completely silent operation and the first fanless automated luminaire incorporating an additive colour engine. New luminaires in the KL Key Light series include the KL CYC cyclorama/set/wall wash along with the all-in-one KL Spot IP, a fully automated static ellipsoidal fixture with zoom.
Visitors to PL+S will be some of the first to preview five new series of products designed to kindle the creative spirit - Six+ Par, Sol I Blinder, PIlse Bar, Pulse Panel FX and Limelight PAR.
“New possibilities in performance open up for all-new designs and experiences, moving the industry forward into new realms of creative expression,” says Elation, whose team of experts will be on hand to provide demonstrations and insights into the advanced features and versatile
UK - Richard Cuthbert has assumed an associate role working solely with specialist installation contractor and systems integrator, Push The Button, bringing with him three decades of experience in lighting and engineering within the entertainment industry.
Cuthbert comments: “I am keen to focus on what I enjoy doing the most, delivering innovative solutions and immediately thought of Push The Button. I worked with Nick (Ewins, Push The Button managing director) when I was starting out in the industry, and I have the utmost respect for his client-focused approach. I’m really looking forward to making an impact at PTB.”
Nick Ewins comments: “I first met Richard as a trainee engineer, and he later became a key member of my team for many years before we both went our separate ways. He has made a tremendous contribution to the industry both in terms of designing award winning products and complex systems and I am delighted that he will be assisting us. Richard shares my passion for theatrical projects and marine projects and I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”
UK - TAIT has confirmed partnership agreements with industry groups LIVE Green and Music Sustainability Alliance to support the industry-wide mission to advance sustainability awareness and learning.
The Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA) is the hub for the music industry to learn, innovate, and collaborate to advance sustainability in the music business. They provide community, science-based solutions, resources, best practices, and tools for operational change across the industry. This month, MSA hosted the Music Sustainability Summit in Los Angeles, supported by Billboard, which marked a key milestone as the first summit of its kind in North America. TAIT’s principal sustainability advocate, Carol Scott, joined the Haul It All panel on the day to discuss what artists and tours are doing today to reduce their environmental and social impact.
LIVE, the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment business, is a federation of 16 live music industry associations working to ensure that the interests of live music in the UK are understood and communicated to Government, policymakers, regulators, the public and the wider music and entertainment industries. LIVE’s sustainability work is coordinated via LIVE Green. Carol Scott is currently the chair of this group, working with them to enable all in the live music industry to commit to climate action by providing the necessary support, resources, and advice.
Carol Scott comments: "I believe the whole industry is at its embryonic stages in the sustainability journey, and I see 2024 as a mass
Denmark - SGM Special Projects, a group within SGM Light specialising in creating custom lighting solutions, is a core group comprised of key personnel in Product Management, R&D, and Customer Service. The group is experienced in developing state-of-the-art products for demanding lighting professionals and has a vast prior background in both project management and lighting design.
SGM Light’s ability to deliver custom solutions is made possible by utilising in-house software engineering, extensive rapid prototyping facilities, full photometric lab, as well as a diverse network of local fabrication partners with the latest equipment. In-house testing and total control of supply chains means guaranteed quality and speed to market.
By combining design, manufacturing, approbation, delivery, as well as testing & commissioning assistance, SGM Light Special Projects can deliver production runs of custom solutions that mass market enterprises can’t, says the company.
Frank Hoehn, SGM sales director states: “Far East manufacturing is improving steadily on standard volume products. But SGM can engineer solutions on a different level than most as all aspects of development and sourcing are controlled by SGM.”
Jason Osterman, SGM product manager adds: “SGM has a lot of high-profile experience both in live entertainment and in fixed installation. We’ve completed some stunningly successful projects already and I’m excited to see even more new projects make use of our capabilities.”
Columbia - Bogotá’s Movistar Arena staged the 2023 Red Bull Batalla World Final, celebrating the creativity, importance, and popularity of freestyle rap culture in Spanish-speaking communities. The event was fully loaded with energy and excitement and lit by Madrid, Spain-based lighting designer Edu Valverde from design studio Experiencias Visuales.
Edu utilised over 200 Robe moving lights to realise an eye-catching show design for the tournament which was attended live by a 14,000-capacity audience and streamed worldwide.
On Edu’s lighting plot were 105 x Robe MegaPointes, 66 x Spiiders and 53 x BMFL WashBeams, all delivered by Bogota-based rental company, Linea Estratégica, who also take care of all things technical for the venue and were picked to deliver specific results for this spectacular show.
Edu has previously lit Red Bull Batalla tournament finals in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the previous one in Madrid, in addition to several national finals in Spain, so he knows the brief, and was very excited to be working with a great team in Colombia on this one.
The 2022 event featured an LED screen and video heavy design, so in 2023, he wanted to turn this around and produce an equally dazzling environment but this time with “light being the main protagonist”.
The set design was - similar to 2022 - a collaboration between producers Babbla Studio, the Redbull Batalla team and Experiencias Visuales. A long and slightly quirky shaped runway stage allowed contestants to strut their stuff and connect with fans in th
USA - Pensacola-based All Pro Integrated Systems selected 12 Ayrton Huracán LT long-throw LED moving head profiles and two MDG ATMe hazers for a recent technology upgrade in the Dale Horton Auditorium at Pensacola Christian College. Both brands are exclusively distributed in North America by ACT Entertainment.
Pensacola Christian College was founded in 1974 to provide a Christian-traditional liberal arts education. Named for the founder’s father, the Dale Horton Auditorium is the home of the college’s fine arts events, recitals and other programs.
“The auditorium is a 3,500-seat, multi-purpose space that mostly had technology original to its building in 1986,” says Justin Schwartz, design engineer at All Pro, an audio, video and lighting systems integrator serving the needs of organisational, commercial, educational and governmental clients nationwide. “They were overdue for a change and wanted to transform the auditorium to better serve its multiple uses.”
One goal was to replace all the conventional lighting with LEDs. “The catwalks are on two levels with the farthest at a pretty steep angle to the stage; they struggled to get good light downstage and on the thrust,” Schwartz explains. “Performers were actually trained to keep their heads tilted up to catch the light. The auditorium couldn’t change the catwalks, but they could put moving heads on automated truss.”
All Pro began by getting a generic model of the auditorium and spending 60 hours rendering the room to show new lighting placement. “They liked the idea of
Slovakia - Show designer and director Martin Hruska wanted to create a sense of spectacle coupled with edginess and idiosyncrasy for Slovak rap star Kontrafakt’s two much-anticipated, high-profile New Eras concerts which were staged at Prague’s O2 Arena.
Kontrafakt was celebrating two decades at the cutting edge of rap, so Martin, the artist and event producers Mafia Records were on a mission to “present the biggest and most memorable show possible” in that venue, explained Martin, outlining his ambitious visual aesthetic for which he also leaned heavily into Kinesys automation.
The specialist technical discipline of automation was utilised to dramatically shift the architecture and vibes of the performance space throughout the show, all the time ensuring that the artist, who has a great connection with his fans, remained right at the centre of the action.
Martin asked automation specialist Kosma Szostak and his company Showstak, based in Poland, onboard to assist in realising this epic element of the production, which was delivered with the help of 48 x one ton and half ton Kinesys motors. These were a mix of Apex hoists and EXE hoists running with Kinesys Elevation 1+ drives, with inbuilt load cells plugged into a Kinesys Libra PRO system and safety-under-load / overload cut offs linked to a Kinesys Mentor 4 unit. All the hoists were programmed and run via Kinesys Vector control.
With a set up window for the full production of only nine hours ahead of the first show, it was imperative that the automation was practical, achievable, an
Korea - Singer-songwriter Younha celebrated 20 years since her stage debut with concerts on 3 and 4 February at the 15,000 capacity KSPO Dome in Seoul, formerly the Gymnastics Arena for the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Titled Twenty, the concerts were among the first large-format popular music events to feature immersive sound, with Yamaha AFC Image creating a thrilling, three-dimensional soundscape delivered by a total of 210 x Nexo STM line array elements comprising nine clusters of STM M48/B112 with M28 down-fills hung across the front of the stage, supplemented by three central clusters of 12 each STM S118 subs in an end fire configuration. Power and processing came from multiple Dante-equipped Nexo NUAR Universal Amp Racks.
The system was designed and deployed by local event sound specialists and STM rental partner Way Audio, where they used AFC-compatible Nexo NS-1 design and simulation software to configure the system which was tested and tuned at the warehouse for a period of a month leading up to the concerts.
Drawing on songs written throughout her career so far, Younha recalled her debut performance at a small café in Shibuya, Tokyo. Twenty years later at the KSPO Dome, a venue known for its challenging acoustics, each audience enjoyed immersive sound with sources dynamically mixed on 72 channels and localised within the space.
When Younha greeted the audience, her voice surged around the arena like a wave, and fans knew they were in for something special. “When the performance began and the band began to play, a sound that no on
USA - Florida’s Pensacola Christian College (PCC) has unveiled the transformation of its Dale Horton Auditorium, thanks to a collaboration with All Pro Integrated Systems and Elation lighting. All Pro Integrated Systems, a Sweetwater company based in Pensacola, spearheaded the project, seamlessly integrating a new LED lighting system that elevates the overall experience for both performers and audiences alike.
Pensacola Christian College is celebrating its 50th year of service in the Florida panhandle. The 3,500-seat Dale Horton Auditorium, a spacious multifunctional space with large lower bowl and upper balcony, is used for theatrical performances and other special events. The venue’s existing lighting, dating back to the building’s construction in 1986, lacked dynamic capabilities and was in dire need of modernisation. All Pro Integrated Systems collaborated closely with PCC to address specific challenges within the venue and provide a modern, dynamic lighting solution.
All Pro, who previously carried out an audio upgrade at Dale Horton Auditorium, handled the complete integration and project managed the lighting upgrade from concept to completion. Justin Schwartz, design engineer at All Pro Integrated Systems, played a pivotal role in the project and says the mission was clear: replace outdated conventional fixtures with new automated LED technology, offering dynamic colours, textures, and positioning while addressing specific infrastructure challenges within the venue.
Elation rep firm Freed Sales provided a large number of fixtures onsite
UK - Dark winter nights in the northern English city of Leeds were brightened by a series of ‘magical’ animations recently, when visuals were projected onto the façade of The Queens Hotel driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.
The elegant architecture of the historic hotel - which has hosted notable guests including Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant and Nelson Mandela - served as a huge canvas for the projections, which were designed to give audiences a glimpse through the doors of the hotel during the winter season.
The project, entitled Magical Night at The Queens, was initiated by Leeds Business Improvement District in collaboration with the Barcelona-based creative studio Onionlab. Pro Audio Systems (PAS) was commissioned to co-ordinate and supply every technical aspect of the installation. Every evening at 30-minute rotations over four hours, passers-by were treated to seasonal graphic displays with a voiceover by Olivier Award-winning English actor Celia Imrie.
Projection mapping experts at Motion Mapping supplied four Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 Media Servers - two active and two used as backups - to PAS for the installation. “The Hippotizers were sourced due to their compact size and flexibility with their deployment, as there was limited space available in the on-site control cabin,” says Chris Beardwell from PAS, who worked on the technical aspects of the projection. “The Karst+ servers provided more than enough power and outputs for this installation.”
The Karst+ MK2 Media Servers drove
UK - TAIT is expanding its producing offer with the appointment of Martin Green as vice-president of global live events.
Martin brings over 20 years of experience to TAIT, with large-scale live broadcast events and festivals across the globe. Most recently he served as managing director of Eurovision, Liverpool 2023 on Behalf of Ukraine where he oversaw the delivery of the publicly acclaimed event. His portfolio also includes chief creative officer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, and head of ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He has also acted as an advisor to Dubai Expo and the Tokyo Olympics.
Based in TAIT’s recently announced Kings Cross office, Martin will play an integral part in the company’s development and expansion of event production globally. He will oversee executive-level project management, provide deep subject matter expertise, and drive business development efforts for high-profile, wide-reaching live events, often characterised by intricate broadcast components.
“Martin is an inspirational leader with a wealth of experience executing high touchpoint events along with managing multi-disciplined teams and stakeholders. We are delighted to welcome him to TAIT, as we continue to build on our global success through the expansion of our producing capabilities,” says Tom Bussey, CEO of productionglue, A TAIT company.
“We are thrilled to have Martin join the TAIT team. His creative vision and vast experience leading key cultural moments will play
Turkey - Martin Audio has strengthened its global reseller network with the appointment of Atempo as its new Turkish distributor. Established in 1985 from a base in Ankara, with offices in Antalya and Istanbul, it today has more than 145 personnel and provides full technology packages across all market segments.
The addition of Martin Audio to their distribution portfolio is a significant step, according to co-owner and CEO, Volkan Konuralp. “We have recognised the constant improvement of the brand and development of the Martin Audio portfolio since their acquisition by Focusrite and we believed the products would fit perfectly with our current portfolio and customers.”
Thus, back in late November they initiated talks with the British manufacturer, proposing the idea of a partnership deal for Turkey, which took effect at the beginning of January.
Martin Audio’s international sales director, Brad Watson, was highly receptive to the idea. “Atempo are a well-established family run organisation, serving a broad range of vertical markets,” he stated. “The business has close to 40 years’ worth of experience in the pro and commercial audio markets in Turkey and its affiliated regions.”
Atempo’s priority will be to reinstate the brand’s profile in both the touring and installation markets. “While Martin Audio has good brand recognition, in Turkey it has largely been based on an image of the past. We aim to highlight the company’s forward-thinking brand values and portfolio to grow its market share,” notes Konuralp.
In s
India - DirectOut has announced that Sonic Evolution will be its new official distributor for the Indian market.
"We are very excited about the partnership with Sonic Evolution," says Luca Giaroli, chief solution officer at DirectOut. "This collaboration will allow us to expand our reach in India and bring professional audio solutions to an even wider audience. We are confident that Sonic Evolution, with their passion for audio and commitment, will be a valuable partner.”
"We at Sonic Evolution are excited about the opportunity to serve as the official distributor of DirectOut Technologies in India," said Dr. Rajesh Khade, CEO of Sonic Evolution. "Our team shares DirectOut's passion for world-class audio technology and we look forward to bringing these solutions to a wider market in India. This partnership will allow us to further strengthen our position in the professional audio technology space and provide our customers with world-class service.”
UK - London welcomed 2024 with its biggest ever New Year’s Eve fireworks, lights and drone show on the banks of the Thames River. Lighting Designer Tim Routledge returned for a second year to light the giant London Eye Ferris wheel, choosing laser-source Claypaky Skylos fixtures to deliver spectacular beam effects from each of the Eye’s 32 pods.
The festivities featured more than 12,000 fireworks, 600 drones, 430 lights and a varied soundtrack of songs and voice-over clips. Attending the huge party were 100,000 lucky ticketholders while millions around the world watched on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Routledge positioned 32 Skylos in the Eye’s passenger pods or capsules to create amazing beam effects that complemented the fireworks and drone display in the night sky.
Neg Earth supplied the Skylos fixtures, which are much more than classic searchlights. Skylos is an ultra-versatile and weather-resistant fixture with incredible light output and outstanding construction features. Considering its light output and the size of the front lens, the body of this remarkable light is lightweight and compact - a must for mounting high up on the London Eye. The fixture’s IP66 rating was also a plus for this challenging application.
"We used Skylos as a new fixture this year, as we had been looking for something new that could cut through the fireworks and the sheer amount of smoke they generate,” explains Routledge. “Skylos did us proud with punchy, bright beams that looked even more stunning when used with the prism effect that gave us a unique l
Italy - Indie group Pinguini Tattici Nuclear (Tactical Nuclear Penguins) played Reggio Emilia’s RCF Arena, Europe’s largest outdoor concert venue to a crowd of 80,000.
Supporting the pulsating, upbeat music of this six-member Italian pop band, which takes its name from a Scottish beer, was a vibrant light and video show by Ombra Design that featured 120 Chauvet Professional COLORado PXL Bar 16 motorised battens, imported by Zalight and serviced by Agora.
Designing for Pinguini Tattici Nuclear’s entire 11-date tour run, Ombra Design created looks that were as big and embracive as the music of the band itself. The two large IMAG walls to either side of the stage, and the immersive video display at its centre were joined visually by a smooth horizontally oriented lighting display that used vivid colours to set an emotionally engaging tone for the big audience.
Contributing to the cohesiveness of this design were the COLORado PXL Bar 16 fixtures, which ran across most of the stage, being installed on its edges, as well as on the catwalk. Additionally, four of the motorised battens were placed above the proscenium, to create particular geometric elements.
Ombra Design chose the COLORado PXL Bar 16 because of the fixture’s brightness. (The unites in this show were almost always dimmed, given their exuberant power.) Also influencing the decision to go with these fixtures was their IP65 protection they offer.
Video contributions are an important part of the Pinguini Tattici Nuclear concert, explained by Lorenzo De Pascalis, who served a
The Netherlands - As part of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), electronic music fans partied the day away at the combined Dockyard Festival x Mystic Garden Festival ADE 2023 in the Havenpark in Amsterdam on Saturday 21 October.
Think! AV supplied and set up lighting equipment for several of the areas at the festivals with the company's Niels de Feij managing the light project. He also created the light design along with YES! Your Event Support's Itai Joosten who also worked as the technical producer.
The Dockyard Festival x Mystic Garden Festival ADE offered revellers the chance to enjoy electronic music in contrasting settings. While the Mystic Garden Festival had a magical, fairytale-styled theme, the Dockyard Festival went for dark and industrial. In total, there were six stages with Chris Liebing, Dax J, East End Dubs, HI-LO, Olympe and Vuur headlining the Mystic Garden, Vision, Dockyard, Terminal One vs HE.SHE.THEY., _UNPAVED_, and TIJDMASJIEN stages, respectively. To ensure each area had spectacular lighting effects, Think! AV used a large number of lights by Infinity and Showtec to fulfil the ideas of the light designers.
At the Mystic Garden stage, eight top-of-the-range Infinity S601 Profile moving head spotlights from the Furion series provided fast, precise movements with colourful, dynamic light effects. These were complemented by eight Showtec Helix S5000 Q4 washers, two Showtec ACT Fresnel 50 WW theatre lights and two Showtec Blinder Flex Blaze that added creative blinder effects. A Showtec Mistique hazer added extra atmosphere. Other
Slovenia - Comedian and TV personality Lado Bizovičar set lofty goals for his live show Slovenska Muska A-Ž (A-Z), in which he went through the entire Slovenian alphabet, linking it to a recording artist (A for Avsenik Ensemble), or genre (R for rap) to reflect on the state of music in his country.
Like the star and his many guests on stage, the production team that supported this show at the sold-out Arena Stožice in Ljubljana aimed high, creating a 360-degree stage and working with hang points that reach 34m. And just like him, they delivered a spot-on performance, thanks to the inspired efforts of director Nejc Levstik, set designer Greta Godnic, and TD Rok Lozar, along with lighting designer/programmer Crt Birsa and his ChamSys MagicQ Stadium Connect.
“This was the first 360-degree stage in the history of Arena Stožice (13,000 capacity),” said Birsa. “There were 540 fixtures in the show, probably the most in any project in Slovenia’s history. Programming and focusing for a two-hour circular stage show, along with an hour of supporting acts, was a challenge. My ChamSys was invaluable in helping me meet it.”
Birsa elaborated on how the MagicQ Stadium Connect helped him achieve his vision. “I liked that it has all the features and the layout of the Stadium consoles that I’m familiar with,” he explained. “Some additional programming buttons make the workflow go faster, which is very important at a job like this one. Also, the LTC is already built in the connect, which is very helpful, because you do not have to carry a separate
UK - Newcastle University Business School (NUBS) has embarked on a comprehensive refurbishment and modernisation initiative, including the high-profile St James’ View event space. The objectives were to create a space with a high-spec aesthetic finish incorporating the latest hybrid meeting capabilities - a distinct improvement on the original twin projectors and drop-down screens with a podium.
Newcastle University Audio Visual Department consulted with Audiologic on the design and equipment specification for this space based on previous hybrid teaching solutions. GVAV won the tender exercise and subsequently outsourced the equipment supply, design and commissioning expertise to Audiologic.
Facing challenges such as a room layout with two glass walls and an awkward shape, making acoustics difficult to negotiate and sightline and speaker positioning challenges due to the lectern position, the team embarked on a mission to create a facility tailored to meet the evolving needs of the students and faculty.
The large space is also divisible into three areas, depending on use, and it was an essential requirement that content could be routed from anywhere, to anywhere.
Darren Mitchell, technical lead at the university for the project, specified a spread of equipment based on the Q-SYS Ecosystem, driven by a Q-SYS Core 8 Flex, conferring with QSC technical support directly to confirm suitability. Given the requirement for high quality aesthetic finish to the room and the amount of speakers required to provide the best audio solution throughout th
Austria - Gerdon Design, based in Mainz, Germany, specialises in show, content and lighting production. In late 2023, the team at Gerdon Design were approached to work together with client, Revolution Event, on the upcoming Nukranox Festival, a celebration of hardstyle music, which was to be held in December 2023 at an arena venue in Salzburg.
“Revolution Event had come up with an idea for an immersive festival experience,” recalls Marek Papke, CEO at Gerdon Design. “They wanted to take a holistic approach and provide a narrative for the upcoming show and future shows in the series. The concept for Nukranox was to create a realistic forest environment and tell an ever-evolving story throughout the night through visuals, special effects and, of course, music.”
Nukranox aimed to offer customised and immersive experience to its 5,000-person audience. “A huge 24-metre LED wall covering the entire back wall of the stage was the focal point of the design,” continues Papke. “On the screen we planned to synchronise the visuals, depicting a dynamic, constantly changing forest environment with lighting effects to mimic day, night and weather conditions such as fog, rain and snow.”
Gerdon Design went beyond traditional approaches by introducing a 360° backdrop printed with the same forest scene as on the LED screen. They also incorporated scent machines emitting forest aromas and burning wood scents, along with snow machines, creating a multisensory experience, largely unprecedented in the world of music festivals.
To realise their v
USA - EAW has welcomed Robert Scovill to the position of senior live sound market manager.
Scovill’s new role will be to work tightly with existing teams on product definition and positioning, in-person demos and trainings, as well as providing thought leadership. This will include refining and shaping all public-facing communication. These duties will include assisting with written product descriptions, as well as the listening and voicing of new and existing production-level audio systems. Scovill will drive the creation of educational how-to pieces on industry topics such as tuning and deploying large-scale ADAPTive systems, passive and active articulated systems and subwoofer arrays.
“We are excited to welcome Robert to the team - he brings decades of pro audio and live sound expertise to EAW and further demonstrates our commitment to being a leading loudspeaker manufacturer in the industry,” explains T.J. Smith, president of EAW. “From driving strategy and tactical development to helping define and finalise products with an end user perspective, Robert will take on a multi-tiered role.”
Audio engineer Scovill has mixed for over 4,000 live events. He is widely regarded as a pioneer of virtual sound check and live multi-track workflows and over his 40-plus years in the industry, Scovill has touched nearly every facet of the music production industry from recording studio, record label, live concert and broadcast.
Scovill continues to contribute to the live sound and pro audio market through his educational efforts, which include
USA - After nearly 45 years of landmark project deliveries and designs, Michael Nishball, principal equipment designer at Theatre Projects, is retiring at the end of this month. As a company emeritus, Michael will continue to offer his expertise as an international leader in stage machinery and will act as a sounding board on major projects and the continued expansion of Theatre Projects.
“‘Departing,’ ‘leaving,’ ‘ceasing,’ ‘re-careering,’ ‘transitioning,’ ‘bowing out’... anything but ‘retiring,’” shares Michael. “My confidence in being a stage equipment designer and theatre technical planner emerged directly from my youth spent as a rigging installer and contractor.
“I often say that we are in the construction industry and the skills required to make a contribution to the project should be informed as much from how it gets built as how it functions theatrically. Be a stagehand, be a designer, be an artist in the theatre, but be a builder, an observer of everything that has gone before you- then copy the best parts and improve it for the users.
“Some of my most enriching times with TP have been actively touring theatres. I was granted the opportunity early in my career to make what I called my ‘Grand Tour’ of important projects in the US and Canada to see and understand firsthand the scale of the overstage and understage machines and accommodation. TP has also been wise enough to get the entire office out to see projects as part of the PACrawl initiative, which is so instructive.
“I am grateful fo
UK - Llanelli-based PAI Group/Vaughan Sound has completed the design and installation of a new Nexo sound system at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Home to Welsh rugby, the 74,500-seat venue is one of just two European sports stadiums with a fully retractable roof and joins a growing number of national stadiums standardising on Nexo sound that already includes the Stade de France in Paris and Croke Park in Dublin.
“We’ve been involved in maintaining and upgrading the original system at the stadium for many years, and welcomed the opportunity to propose a new system which would both enhance the match day experience for fans and keep them safe with the clear intelligibility and uniform coverage of every seat necessary for effective public address and voice alarm functions,” comments PAI project manager Stuart Williams.
Designed in conjunction with the Nexo engineering support team and drawing on Nexo line array and point source technology, the main system at Principality Stadium comprises 18 arrays of eight Geo S1230 with 10 banks of three L18 subs and a delay line of 32 P12 and 12 P10 speakers. Pitch coverage is provided by a further four arrays of four Geo S1230 each, with under balconies on level 3 covered by 44 x P8s and VIP hospitality boxes around the stadium covered by 75 ID24s.
A total of 41 Nexo NXAMPMk2 powered TD controllers are spread across six amplifier rooms with a fibre ring connecting Dante and Q-LAN distribution networks, with remote control and monitoring from NEXO’s NeMo app together with system control and matrix routing
Uruguay -The Legislative Palace in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo is an imposing Greco-Roman style building constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. It is home to the General Assembly - the legislative branch of the government of Uruguay - which consists of the House of Senators and the House of Representatives.
Pro audio specialists Sonipro - also based in Montevideo won the tender to design, supply and install a new audio system in the Chamber of Sessions of the House of Representatives. Sonipro opted for a sleek KV2 Audio system supported by a PreSonus digital mixing console.
“The biggest challenge was achieving the superior sound quality and intelligibility required by the project without impinging on the aesthetic of the room,” recalls Sonipro director, Victor Barsamian. “We weren’t allowed to change any of the hanging points as we were working in a listed building and the installation needed to remain as discreet as possible. KV2 was an obvious choice for me given the premium sound quality of the brand - and I chose the ESD36 for its very high performance, especially in the vocal range, and for its elegant and unobtrusive aesthetic.”
Barsamian opted for four ESD36 full-range, three-way loudspeaker systems from KV2 powered by KV2’s ESP2000D amplifier which may be configured either via the front panel or remotely using KV2’s Control & Diagnostics Tool. A PreSonus StudioLive Series III 32SC digital mixer and a stagebox completed the upgrade for the Chamber of Representatives. Sonipro added a second mixer and a s