Europe/USA - Yamaha and Audinate are teaming up to present a free webinar titled Audio Networking For Houses Of Worship, Colleges and Universities on 23 May (Wednesday).
The webinar, to be broadcast on ProSoundWeb.com, will examine Dante-enabled solutions for system design, implementation and management for carrying large numbers of audio channels around an auditorium and for distributing audio throughout a campus.
Andy Cooper (manager, pro audio application engineering, Yamaha R&D Centre London) and Karl Christmas (technical marketing manager, Yamaha R&D Centre London) will feature alongside Kieran Walsh (Audinate director of application engineering, EMEA).
The webinar runs from 6pm CET / 5pm BST / 12pm Eastern Time and 9am US Pacific Time. Registration is free but required.
(Jim Evans)

World - QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape and QolorPIX Tape Controller products by City Theatrical are now available to lighting and scenic design professionals around the world.
As part of City Theatrical’s QolorFLEX brand of flexible linear LED lighting, QolorPIX was created to help design professionals maximize their creative vision with customizable dynamic lighting effects that add distinction to theatrical, television, film, and architectural projects.
While many products on the market offer control of addressable LED tape and fixtures, the process of set up and operation can be challenging. Each QolorPIX Tape Controller is preconfigured with personality profiles that can be combined and adjusted quickly and easily to produce thousands of effects using QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape products, including chases, fades, scrolls, bursts, and more.
QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape is designed for the most demanding professional applications, with 48 individually controlled LED lights per metre. Each reel of tape includes a soldered-on four-pin XLR connector on one end, creating a plug and play connection to the QolorPIX Tape Controller.
QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape runs on low voltage (5VDC) and is sold in five metre reels, with a maximum cable connection length (between controller and tape) of 10m. The tape is encased in clear rectangular silicone, making it water resistant (IP 67 rated) for indoor or outdoor use.
The QolorPIX Tape Controller offers eight ports, each accommodating five metres of tape. It has a user-frie

USA - After 15 seasons on FOX, American Idol moved to ABC this year where the show’s long-time lighting designer Kieran Healy added to the rig 50 Ghibli fixtures, Ayrton’s first LED spot luminaire with a factory-equipped framing system.
“This year’s design for the American Idol studio shows has a moving ceiling with eight different panels,” says Healy. “I don’t have fixed lighting positions to key the judges since the ceiling can be in many different positions. I was looking for a new moving head spot fixture with an even field to put in the rig so I could take any pair of lights and key the judges from any angle.”
Healy opted for 50 Ghibli fixtures, five of which are dedicated to keying and backlighting the judges while the balance serves as performance lighting. The fixtures were provided by PRG.
ACT Lighting arranged a demo of the new Ghibli and other moving head spots for Healy at Volt Lighting. “LED spotlights are really just coming up to speed,” Healy notes. “Ghibli immediately struck me as a great instrument. The output, even field, colour rendition and framing shutters were all important to me. It stood out amongst the other lights.”
Healy uses other Ayrton fixtures on American Idol as well. “The upstage vertical screen splits four ways horizontally and vertically to expose three different light walls when the screens are in different positions,” he explains. “Ayrton MagicBlade and MagicPanel fixtures, hung vertically, are revealed to create beam effects and eye candy for various nu

USA - Building on the momentum that started with the company’s 2017 move to a larger facility, InterAmerica Stage is rolling out a new brand identity.
The new look starts with an updated logo, which embraces the familiar way clients refer to the organisation. “Everybody we work with calls us IA Stage,” says general manager, John Gitzy. “Heck, we even call ourselves IA Stage!” The new logo and branding theme were created by Black’s son, Andrew, who is a professional illustrator and animator.
IA Stage has been busy integrating the new brand identity into all facets of the company’s public presence, and to augment the branding efforts, the company launched a new website designed by Designzillas at the end of April, introducing cross-platform functionality and more streamlined user experience.
“We want people to visit our website and find something useful,” says Marta Peliwo, marketing & trade show coordinator. “Our old site was starting to look like a bulletin board and our identity was getting lost in the clutter. Visitors can explore the site without getting lost, or they can cut to the chase and go directly to what they’re interested in. Nothing is more than two to three clicks away.”
(Jim Evans)

Italy - Claudio Lastrucci, Powersoft co-founder, is set to present a case study entitled Mains to Acoustic Efficiency at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) International Convention in Milan later this month.
The AES event, which alternates between a US and European location each year and is in its 144th edition, will take place this year at the NH Hotel Milano Congress Centre.
In his case study, Lastrucci will demonstrate how the power requirements to feed a subwoofer are defined. Standardised and programme audio signals will be applied and results directly measured on real devices. Measurements on true power input, true power output, and overall efficiency in the amplification chain will be addressed including different amplification topologies. This will reveal surprisingly high overall mains input to acoustic output chain efficiency in the specific, usable, passband of the speaker.
He comments: “As an Italian audio manufacturer it is wonderful to welcome to the AES Convention to Milan for its European outing this year. Our home country is known globally for its technology and manufacturing prowess, rooted in a culture of invention and innovation which is evident way back in history.”
Lastrucci co-founded Powersoft S.p.A in 1995 in Florence and acts as research and development director for the professional amplifier manufacturer. In this role, he works across power electronic, audio amplification signal processing, applied mechanics, acoustic and transducer design.
(Jim Evans)

Japan - Having expanded from its flagship venue in New York City, 1Oak, which stands for 1 Of A Kind, has recently opened a three-floor, 1000-capacity venue at the base of Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.
Sacha Robertson reports, “At the heart of the 1Oak approach is a focus on differentiation through design and function, capturing and curating the energy in each club. Interior design and lighting combine to play a major part, but ultimately that energy has its origin in sound.”
When it came to choices for the Tokyo venue, the interior design process was led by New York-based contemporary artist Roy Nachum, who was Grammy-nominated in 2016 for his cover artwork on Rihanna’s Anti album. With the club interior complete and the opening date fast approaching, 1Oak engaged the local d&b team to design and implement the all-important sound system.
1Oak owner Salvatore Morale says: “As a DJ I appreciate sound. At around the same time we were building the club I had started to notice that in all the places I visited around the world and heard great sound, whether that was a big festival, a hotel bar or an opera house, I was seeing d&b speakers. This was a clear sign for me.”
As with 1Oak clubs around the world, the latest Tokyo venue is not simply a nightclub. Founder Richie Akiva’s vision is that of an entertainment venue; an inspiring space capable of hosting live music, launches, premieres, after-parties and VIP events. Versatility without compromise underpins the business model.
Central to 1Oak Tokyo’s layout is a d&

UK - Lighting designer Nathan Wan created a high impact design for the Live Action Arena at the 2018 Autosports International show, staged at the NEC, Birmingham, where a one-hour special presentation was staged six times a day for the duration of the expo.
Nathan has worked on the show previously, and this year wanted to introduce some new visual dimensions to the mix utilising pixel mappable fixtures, which he drove using ArKaos’s powerful MediaMaster 5 control solution with Kling-Net protocol.
The quick and easy implementation of Kling-Net enabled Nathan to drive the 36 x Spiiders on the rig, plus 70 metres of Chauvet COLORband Pix LED battens with assorted video content that he had compiled and selected for the event.
The Spiiders were rigged on top of six 5m high scenic L-shaped Singapore F1 night-race style gantries that reached 9m over the track. These were introduced last year for the first time and were a big hit, so building on this experience, Nathan wanted totally different and more beautifully fluid kinetic effects that capitalized on the map-ability of the fixtures. With this in mind, he chose to rig each gantry with six Spiiders.
The COLORband Pix were positioned in a long 70m / 840 pixel row with gaps in between the units, curving around the low wall on the far side of the track - away from the grandstand. Once again, with graphic content fed into these units via Kling-Net from the laptop, a serious amount of programming time was saved.
(Jim Evans)

Japan - One of Japan’s most popular singer songwriters, Koji Kikkawa, added real dynamics to his recent Live Is Life arena show at the 8,000-capacity Musashino Forest Sport Plaza with the aid of 23 JDC1 hybrid strobes from GLP.
Specified by lighting and set designer, Makoto Shimizu - who was also performance director - these were programmed in full 68-DMX channel mode to achieve full impact.
The entire stage concept was put together between himself and Koji Kikkawa. “He likes stereo architecture so we assembled mainly curved trusses,” explained Shimizu. “Also, using the lights we designed the back-lighting truss to resemble a weapon attack by the Mazinger Z [from the Japanese animé super robot manga series], with the JDC1 featuring prominently.”
Makoto said he had been aware of the power of GLP products for some time. “We had a tour last year, using the X4 Bars,” he said. “Because of the passion of Fourleaf [GLP’s Japanese distributor], we decided to purchase the JDC1. We saw the demo fixture during the performance by [Japanese mascot character] Funassyi last summer, and used two [GLP] GT1 and JDC1.”
GLP Asia’s Michael Münz and Søren Storm had also paid regular visits to Fourleaf, as well as major lighting company, Lighting Big1, who supplied the fixtures for this show. “They are one of the biggest rental companies in Japan and long time GLP customer,” said Münz. “They have been using the impression range since early on and currently have a large stock of the X4, X4 Bars and now the JDC1.”
At the

Australia - The first in Australia and one of the most spectacular border lighting shows in the southern hemisphere has been launched by Twin Towns as they unveil their new dynamic digital media facade.
The exterior of the Twin Towns Club’s main building in Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, has been transformed into a huge digital canvas, creating a dazzling attraction for both locals and tourists crossing the Queensland and New South Wales border.
The ULA Group was engaged in this project from the early concepts, working close together with the team at Twin Towns, managed by CEO Rob Smith.
Smith has said he and the Board are extremely excited to see the project come to fruition. “It’s been over five years in the planning and we believe the end result is truly spectacular, not just for Twin Towns, but for the entire community.”
“We’re thrilled, we’re excited. We have turned the vision into a technical reality, and we couldn’t be happier with the result,” says Cuono Biviano, managing director of the ULA Group. “We feel extremely privileged and proud as a local Australian business and global organization to be a part of this iconic digital artwork that has transformed Twin Towns and the local area.”
The original brief was given in early years with the intention for projection and colour onto the building. However, as technology has advanced over time, the project has evolved immensely.
The ULA Group engaged the services of the Bruce Ramus and his team to not only create the content, but to assure that the technical d

UK - Powerbox has announced the launch of four new series of extra-wide input voltage range, 8W to 20W board-mounted DC/DC converters for railway and transportation industry.
With a 13:1 input voltage range of 12V to 160V, the MAD33 (8W), MAD32 (10W), MAE35 (15W) and MAF35 (20W) have been developed to provide systems designers with a single part number that is able to power a large range of transportation industry applications (e.g. railway, industrial automation and automotive, remote radio-control), reducing inventory, time to market and documentation.
The MAD-MAE-MAF series are designed to meet railway specifications EN50155, EN50121-3-2, EN61373 and EN45545, but as well ISO7637-2 for 24V vehicles, and EN12895 for industrial trucks and other industrial applications such as robotics. The 8W MAD33 is packaged in an industry standard DIP24 case, and the MAD32, MAE35 and MAF35 are housed in a 2x1 inch case. All four series have a typical efficiency rating of 86%, which considering the extra-wide up to 13:1 input range is an outstanding figure.
“Time to market is very important for systems designers as is simplicity of the sourcing / supply chains in order to reduce downtime in the case of trains maintenance or hardware upgrades. Both are driving forces behind extra-wide input range converters and we see similar demands from other industries such industrial automotive,” said Martin Fredmark, Powerbox’s VP portfolio management.
“Designing 13:1 input range DC/DC converters is very challenging in order to optimize all parameters while keep

USA - Austrian AV technology manufacturer AV Stumpfl has launched a US subsidiary - AV Stumpfl Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the office will be helmed by managing director Todd Liedahl and supported by a network of distributors, dealers and technology specialists.
Fabian Stumpfl, AV Stumpfl GmbH CEO, comments: " The establishment of AV Stumpfl Inc. is a new chapter in our company’s history. Todd is without doubt the perfect choice for the role of managing director. Although our products are already well known in the US market, we feel that there is still a lot of growth potential for both our projection screen and media server systems.
He adds: “The USA is obviously of major importance as a trend-setter territory. Professionals from all over the world look to the US for the latest technological trends in the AV and entertainment industries. With the new AV Stumpfl Inc. presence, we will be able to support our US distribution partners and customers in a more direct and efficient way."
Liedahl brings over 25 years of experience from the rental and staging market and has a background in sales and operations leadership. He comments: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining AV Stumpfl, a company that strives to make a superior product and succeeds in doing so. I look forward to helping to grow the business in North America as well as introducing exciting new products to the market. The second half of 2018 will be particularly interesting for US customers, due to a number of activities we are currently planning to promote innovative

Slovakia - Green Hippo has appointed City Light Slovakia as its distributor in Slovakia with immediate effect.
City Light Slovakia was established in 1993 and in addition to being a distributor, the company offers technology installation and post-warranty services and also has experience in providing operator training; an area in which it will work closely with Green Hippo’s highly regarded HippoSchool and in-house training division.
Marek Plancar, owner of cityLight Slovakia, comments: “For us, the distribution of Green Hippo Hippotizer Media Servers opens the door of creativity and offers high-end hardware and software, for great shows. We are glad to become part of the Green Hippo family and its product line of Hippotizer Media Servers - it is the world’s best solution for real-time video playback. We hope that we can begin a positive cooperation as the exclusive distributor of Green Hippo in Slovakia.”
Evzen Zomer, sales manager (Central Europe) at Green Hippo, adds: “This is a positive time for the Slovakian economy, which continues to record sustained growth. We don’t appoint distributors lightly, and we are confident that City Light Slovakia has the acumen to help Green Hippo gain further footholds in this increasingly important market.”
(Jim Evans)

Greece - Asproulis Experience has become K-array’s distributor in Greece.
The Thessaloniki-based company specialises in acoustic measurements, services and installations. It was formed in late 2017 by industry veteran Christos Asproulis.
Asproulis comments: “From day one, I sought to work with K-array and become their point of reference in Greece.
"K-array’s design and quality sound is something that no one can refute. Our goal is to offer high-end solutions and procure installations all over the Greek territory. With our close relations with our large network of dealers, we will be able to supply K-array in every part of the country.”
(Jim Evans)

Italy - AV technology specialist Peerless-AV has announced a distribution agreement with Milan-based AV distributor AGMultivision for the manufacturer’s complete portfolio, including outdoor displays, indoor kiosks, mounts, trolleys and stands, and accessories.
Under the new agreement, AGMultivision will be responsible for sales, marketing, customer support and distribution in Italy.
Melinda Von Horvath, vice president of sales and marketing - EMEA, Peerless-AV, comments: “AGMultivision is a perfect partner to help grow our brand awareness, promote our products and expand our customer base throughout Italy. They are a trusted and highly respected distributor with strong sales and support competencies that are fundamental to contributing significant growth for us as a company.”
Guido Villa, managing director of AGMultivision, adds: “We are looking for long-term business relationships with our suppliers, and offer them complete visibility of the Italian market so they have complete confidence in our experience and capabilities. We are proud to be a Peerless-AV authorised distributor, and we see huge potential for increased sales of high value products such as indoor kiosks and outdoor displays.”
(Jim Evans)

UK - Production equipment specialist VER has opened its new lighting showspace and pre-visualisation suites.
The new facility houses VER's entire product range. It has been built as part of upgrade works at the company’s North London hub and is adjacent to VER’s equipment store. 
To help launch the new showspace, the company is running a series of open-house events featuring a variety of automated fixtures and lighting effects, including the Minuit Une M-Carré, an innovative new approach to scenographic illumination and effects that will change the way you look at light - exclusively available to rent from VER.
Speaking about the new studio, VER’s director of lighting, Europe, David March says, “We’re delighted to be launching our new showspace. The facility allows us to provide crews with hands on testing of both the VER and Aurora product range plus detailed demonstrations of exciting new luminaires, cutting edge technology and immersive effects such as the M-Carré.”
The on-going investment in the VER UK operation also includes the newly built pre-visualisation suites, created specifically to provide lighting designers with the opportunity to plot and showcase installations.
March continues, “Our new pre-viz suites are a fantastic resource; the chance to build and visualise lighting plots can prove invaluable, particularly in helping create accurate equipment lists, which can potentially result in on-set savings of both time and resources.”
(Jim Evans)

USA - GLP US has strengthened its team with two new members.
Brandon Jeffrey takes on the role of central regional sales manager and Brad Haynes joins in the newly created position of SceneX Lighting brand manager.
GLP US president Mark Ravenhill comments: “Brandon has a fantastic combination of skills and energy that will really support our customers and their projects in a very solid way. We can’t wait to get him fully embedded into his new position.”
Jeffrey adds: “I am excited to begin work with the great team that GLP is putting together, I can’t wait to hit the ground running and help the company grow within the central territory.”
Haynes joins GLP in a newly created position to promote and strengthen the company’s SceneX brand of LED solutions that it promotes in the North American markets. A 20+ year industry veteran, Brad will add his insight and extensive experience to GLP and the SceneX Lighting brand.
Ravenhill adds: “In North America, the SceneX Lighting brand has always been about supporting customers in special LED projects and installations, but it was often done on a bespoke basis. Now we want to take things to a whole new level, and I couldn’t be happier than to have Brad taking on the challenge. We have worked together in the past and his commitment, professionalism and passion are second to none.”
(Jim Evans)

UK - Flashlight has appointed David Manister to a directorship role within the company. Manister joined Flashlight in 2013 and had since spearheaded its business development.
He comments: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to play my part in the continued growth of Flashlight. I’m lucky to work with a great team of highly motivated, industry professionals who help us to make sure we continue to deliver the highest level of service expected by ourselves and our customers."
Flashlight founding directors Andy Dodd and Rob Williamson comment: "We're delighted with David’s progress within the company. His enthusiasm allows us to continue to be in front of end users and support new business with a strong presence."
Flashlight supplies lighting equipment to the broadcast, motion picture and theatre industries from its Manchester and London bases. The company alsoprovides equipment to freelancers, productions, studios, and theatres across Europe and beyond.
(Jim Evans)

USA - With the launch of Elation Professional’s new line of SEVEN PAR IP colour changers, lighting designers have access to a wider spectrum of colour options to paint stages, sets, scrims and scenery in high-impact coloured or high-quality white light. Building on the success of the SixPar series of colour-changing LED PAR lights, the Elation Seven PAR IP uses the latest seven-colour multi-chip LED technology to give a more flexible colour wash solution.
Available is the Seven PAR 7IP and Seven PAR 19IP with seven and 19 LEDs respectively. Seven PAR IP fixtures spread light at a 25-degree angle and produce nearly 80% more lumens versus comparably sized SixPar series fixtures.
Useful for production applications or installations as a wash light, uplight, wall wash, truss warmer and more, Seven PAR IP fixtures are wrapped in a newly designed IP65-rated dust and waterproof design for use indoors or out. The updated rugged die-cast aluminium case design provides improved thermal control and heat management, ensuring stable, improved performance and extending the fixtures’ lifetime.
All fixtures in the Seven PAR IP series are fully dimmable down to 0% and a selection of variable dimming curves is provided for faster programming. A selection of colour macros, speed and fade control programs, as well as strobe effect options (1-18fps) add to their versatility. An optional gel frame and barn door accessory are also available.
(Jim Evans)

UK - GoboPlus.com has announced its support for the #SaveStageLighting campaign by providing free #SaveStageLighting gobos to performance venues across the UK and Europe.
A campaign initiative spearheaded by the Association of Lighting Designers’ Robbie Butler, encouraged theatres and other performance venues across Europe to project a ‘#SaveStageLighting’ gobo on the buildings’ exteriors to raise awareness of the controversial Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2019.
GoboPlus.com gifted 150 metal gobos to ALD members to project on Light Up day on 28 April.
The #SaveStageLighting gobos were given to any venue which wanted to take part, and theatres, schools, opera houses and even television studios all over the UK and mainland Europe took up the challenge. The National Theatre, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Brechin High School, West Yorkshire Playhouse were just some of the names in the UK, with Teatro Colisseum, Madrid and Teatre Lliure, Barcelona amid the 60+ requests received from mainland Europe, illustrating the far-reaching implications and concerns raised by the proposed new legislation.
“We were delighted to have more requests for #SaveStageLighting gobos on the stand at PLASA Focus last week,” says GoboPlus.com’s Vicky Fairall. “It just proves the enormity of the situation and how passionately people are determined to fight back.”
Managing director of Goboplus.com, Paul de Ville, adds: “Over the years the UK has been at the forefront of innovation within the entertainment technology sector and especially in