UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the launch of the third edition of its annual proactive conference day, the ABTT Make A Difference Conference, which is committed to finding solutions to current industry issues. The 2025 conference will be held on Friday 28 March 2025 at Rose Bruford College in Sidcup.

The theme for this year’s discussion is Rethinking backstage technical teaching and apprenticeships with and for Industry.

The conference is designed to be more than simply talking. There is no passive sitting and listening at the conference and if you attend, you are to committing to taking action by sharing your thoughts and views. You will spend the day developing ideas and strategies to achieve solut

USA - Having recently crossed its milestone 40th anniversary and added its 1,000th team member at the close of 2024, L-Acoustics heads into NAMM and the new year touting the news that Bryan Bradley has joined the company as CEO Americas. The announcement jointly comes from worldwide L-Acoustics co-CEOs Laurent Vaissié and Hervé Guillaume, to whom Bradley reports.

Bryan Bradley now oversees all of the manufacturer’s North, Central, and South American operations and will be sharing his time between the global hub in Westlake Village, California and a new Americas operations and creative hub at Nashville Yards when it officially opens later this year.

Bradley recently spent six years serving as the president of Group One Limited, the New York-based US distributor for DiGiCo, Calrec, Solid State Logic, Sound Devices, and several other leading pro aud

France - The Place Carnot Market site in Figeac has recently received a new Anolis Calumma XS lighting installation, part of a major new renovation project to generally open and improve sightlines and spatiality throughout the Market Hall and integrate it with the surrounding buildings, cafes, and restaurants of the Market Square.

The medieval-style market dates to the 19th century and is a landmark of the town, renowned both locally and nationally as a destination for lovers of good products from all over the Lot.

In 2022, the Grand-Figeac Commune (town council) commenced a renovation project to upgrade the Place Carnot market, and as part of this asked landscape and architectural lighting practice Quartiers Lumières – from Castanet-Tolosan – to develop a lighting scheme highlighting the Market Hall canopy and its intricate roof structure. The

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OPUS X4 PROFILE – the most powerful LED moving head from Cameo to date

The OPUS® X4 PROFILE is the new flagship model from Cameo and is among the most powerful LED moving heads on the market. Equipped with a 1,400-watt LED white light engine, this spot profile moving head produces an enormous light output of 50,000 lm, providing powerful spot and gobo projections on even the largest stages and much more.
www.cameolight.com

Canada - The Royal Theatre and its sibling the McPherson Playhouse are Vancouver Island’s oldest venues. Hosting everything from symphony concerts to plays and Broadway tours, the pair form the beating heart of the Capital Regional District’s performing arts scene.

While steeped in history dating back to 1913, their wireless audio technology is the very latest, built around Lectrosonics’ D Squared family of cutting-edge digital wireless. Serving all sizes of theatre companies, musical ensembles, and even full orchestras, their current complement includes six DSQD four-channel wideband receivers, 24 DBu transmitters, four DHu handheld wireless microphones, four DPR-A Plug-on transmitters, and two ultra-compact SSM transmitters featuring Lectrosonics’ time-tested Digital Hybrid radios.

Technical director Warren Busby spoke with Lectrosonics abo

UK - Brompton Technology last week celebrated its inclusion in the inaugural edition of The Sunday Times 100 Tech with a visit from deputy mayor of London for Business and Growth, Howard Dawber; Hounslow council leader, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat; and deputy leader and cabinet member for Assets, Regeneration and development, Cllr Tom Bruce.

The visit highlighted the Opportunity Hounslow Business Case for Growth, which aims to unlock £33bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) and create over 18,000 jobs by focusing on transformative projects like Future Feltham and the Golden Mile. It also recognised Brompton’s role in driving innovation, skills development, and community engagement.  

Published on January 19, 2025, The Sunday Times 100 Tech showcases companies making significant contributions to the UK’s technology sector.

Spain - ETC is set to make its return to Integrated Systems Europe with a showcase of its latest technologies on stand 6M900. ETC specialists will be available for one-on-one consultations and demonstrations throughout the four-day show.

Full system solutions from ETC’s architectural and networking families will be presented at the show including F-Drive, Mosaic and new additions to the Paradigm line. Visitors to the stand will be able to see firsthand the colour control, energy-saving features and user-friendly systems on the stand that are designed to suit installations of all sizes and budgets.

A selection of ETC’s entertainment products for the rental market will also be showcased on the stand. The newly launched High End Systems Zeo and SolaPix Fan 8 will be amongst ETC’s automated fixtures, alongside the Halcyon range, affordable Ministar

Spain - Adamson Systems Engineering will unveil its Vergence Group, featuring the flagship VGt line array system and the VGs powered subwoofer.

ISE 2025 provides the platform for Adamson to build on its storied legacy, following its milestone 40th anniversary celebration in 2024. The spotlight will be on the VGt, a line array loudspeaker system that has already earned its place as a staple on world tours by artists like Imagine Dragons and Jelly Roll and at major European festivals. The VGt is designed to deliver audio clarity and precision, ‘setting a new standard for professional audio systems’.

Complementing the VGt is the debut of the VGs powered subwoofer. With its lightweight, portable design and advanced features, the VGs is equipped with Adamson's proprietary ArrayIntelligence software.

The VGs powered subwoofer boasts an impressi

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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

When award winning film composer Hans Zimmer brought his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to North America fall 2024, the show's audio team sought out to bring infrafrequency bass to the show to add new depth to the show's audio experience. The team chose Danley Sound Labs.

Spain - Funktion-One is set to launch its latest technological developments at Integrated Systems Europe 2025. This includes the F61 loudspeaker; Projection v1.0 system design software (including the wave-based low frequency model); the IP55-rated Compact Range; additions to the Evo 2 product range; and a selection of powerful new bass speakers. Funktion-One invites visitors to Hall 7, Stand K820 for hourly demos starting at 11:25am each day.

In addition to the hourly demos, Funktion-One will host two daily presentations: Projection: Wave-Based Low Frequency Model at 1:30pm and Electroacoustic Energy Efficiency at 3:30pm, offering insights into cutting-edge advancements in sound system prediction modelling and energy-efficient audio solutions.

The F61 follows the same design principles as the popular F81.2 and F101.2 in a smaller

Spain - Fresh from tvONE at ISE 2025 will be the new MX Series of Hippotizer Media Servers and the 1RU version of the award-winning Calico Pro video processor.

The tvONE team is inviting ISE visitors to stand 5D300 to experience both the original Calico Pro and its smaller form 1RU version, which are built upon tvONE’s latest patented fifth generation 4K/8K, 10-bit video processing engine.

“We were thrilled to launch the Calico Pro 2RU hardware last year, demonstrating its from-the-ground-up new design which can deliver hundreds of video layers across four huge, real-world design canvases,” says Mark Trevena, communications and training manager at tvONE. “Now, we introduce the more compact 1RU Calico video processor, within which we’ve packed 10-bit video processing that ships with a fixed I/O configuration of six 4K60 inputs, and two 4K60

Europe - Claypaky’s Mini-B Sparky Aqua is billed as ‘a game-changer in the world of compact and lightweight mini moving-heads’. This IP66-rated fixture is making waves with its rugged design and powerful performance, suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments where durability and effects are essential.

Its high-output RGBW SMD LEDs, arranged in 10 individually controllable concentric circles, not only deliver intense colours, but also ensure even light distribution across a wide 120° flood and extreme strobe effects.

Mini-B Sparky Aqua offers very fast pan and tilt movements, for swift and precise positioning of light beams. This agility makes it perfect for live performances, events, and installations that require dynamic lighting effects that can be adjusted on the fly. From soft colour fades to kaleidoscopic sweeps of light, its capa

Spain - Chinese manufacturer Taylorleds will launch its new VX Series of professional video walls on booth 3F800 and 3N400 at ISE 2025 in Barcelona.

The VX Series offers a solution to the long-standing challenge of achieving the ideal 16:9 aspect ratio. Unlike the common 500mm x 500mm and 500mm x 1,000mm sizes that dominate the market, the VX Series comes with 16:9 and 8:9 panel options, making it perfect for high-precision NPP (Narrow Pixel Pitch) rental applications.

Engineered with advanced materials, the VX Series panels are made of carbon fibre and magnesium alloy, making them 40% lighter than traditional rental panels while retaining supreme structural integrity. These panels boast impressive features such as extreme thinness – just 50mm compared to the typical 80mm – enhancing ease of transport and installation. They also feature cutting-e

Spain - Elation invites lighting professionals to Experience Tomorrow at Booth 6R700 at ISE 2025, where visitors can ‘discover the future of lighting technology by exploring Elation’s latest advancements in professional lighting’.

Elation will showcase new product lines including Paragon, Elation’s new flagship automated lighting series and winner of the Best Debuting Product Award at the LDI show in December. With an adaptable design, TruTone variable CRI technology, and weatherproof IP54 rating, Paragon enables more refined creative expression.

Available in three high-performance models (S, M, LT), Paragon combines multiple fixture roles in a single, adaptable design. Its precision-engineered profile lens can be easily interchanged with a Fresnel Wash or PC Beam lens for greater flexibility. Housing a white LED engine with fast zoo

USA - New York-based Group One, the US distributor for DiGiCo, Solid State Logic, Calrec, KLANG, Fourier Audio, Sound Devices Astral RF, elektraLite, and other top pro audio and lighting industry brands, has announced several key changes to its management team.

First, Austin Freshwater has been appointed to serve as the new CEO for Group One, in addition to carrying on his current role as managing director for DiGiCo. Freshwater originally joined the digital console maker as general manager in 2017, coming to the brand after a decade spent with Canon. After four years with DiGiCo at its global headquarters in Chessington, UK, he was promoted to the position of managing director in 2021. Now, as CEO of Group One, Freshwater will further oversee all sales, marketing, and support teams for each of the distributor’s pro audio and lighting brands across the Uni

Germany - Lighting designer Matthaus Scheuerer used Claypaky Arolla Aqua Spots for four weeks on the last tour he did with German thrash metal band Kreator, and gives the fixtures rave reviews for their reliability and performance. 

“I got the opportunity to see the Arolla Aqua Spot in action and to test its strengths extensively, and the experience showed me why the fixture is so highly valued and considered by many colleagues to be one of the best options in its class,” says Scheuerer.

“The Arolla Aqua Spot proved to be extremely robust and durable. During the entire four weeks of use, there were no failures whatsoever, a clear testament to the high quality of workmanship and reliability of this product,” he states. “Even under demanding conditions in various arenas, the spot worked perfectly at all times. The lamps were mounted on dolli

France - Digital Projection’s M-Vision 27000 WU delivered projection for Paris Basketball for the team’s first match in the top-flight international EuroLeague championship.

The M-Vision 27000 WU lit up every corner of the 8,000-capacity Adidas Arena for the opening game of Paris Basketball’s debut EuroLeague campaign (against Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda), as well as the team’s first full season in its new home arena, inaugurated in February 2024.

In collaboration with Digital Projection’s distribution partner, ETHA International, Paris-based video mapping specialist Doxa Vision deployed four M-Vision 27000 WU projectors to illuminate the interior of the Adidas Arena, taking full advantage of the projectors’ 27,000 lumens’ output to deliver vivid, vibrant visuals – including projected on-court banners celebrating Paris Basketball’s mai

France - At the Parc du Sautour in Les Mureaux, aerial hoopers, jugglers, clowns, and other acclaimed acts from all over the world entertained the Festival du Cirque International crowd with their virtuosity. Contributing to the magic was the event's lighting, which like the artists it illuminated went beyond the ordinary to find new ways to engage people visually.

Light technician Frederic Sportiello and the entire team accented every dramatic acrobatic move and enlivened every humorous antic at the circus with their colourful and dynamic lighting. Key to helping them accomplish this feat was a collection of 40 Chauvet Professional Maverick, Colorado, and Rogue fixtures supplied by Remote.

"In lighting this event, we were looking for new and different effects that were completely unheard of at other circus festivals," noted Sportiello. "We especiall

Spain - The live events industry is undergoing a seismic shift, propelled by open standards and IP video transport. With the adoption of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IT technology, workflows that once relied on proprietary systems are evolving into interoperable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions. While broadcast video led this revolution, pro AV and enterprise video are now catching up, fostering innovation and breaking silos.  

The challenge lies in achieving interoperability across diverse endpoints and standards. The Matrox ConvertIP Series and Matrox Vion Series address this, bridging the compatibility gaps and unlocking the full potential of AV over IP. 

ConvertIP is a pivotal player in the transition to IP-based workflows, offering a series of SMPTE ST 2110/IPMX baseband converters and encoders/decoders designed to meet the demands

Spain - Audio-Technica is to show a variety of its installation-oriented audio solutions at ISE 2025, including the recently launched System 20 PRO wireless system, a self-managing, plug-and-play 2.4GHz digital wireless system that is scalable to 20 channels and delivers dependable, high-quality audio.

Capable of receiving up to four transmitters, the system’s ATW-R1440 receiver makes installation extremely simple – the transmitters included in each system are paired and ready to use out of the box. Each receiver channel can be paired with up to four transmitters, allowing users to instantly switch between different transmitter configurations.

System 20 PRO transmitters are available in body-pack and handheld microphone configurations for performance and presentation. The body-pack transmitters are fitted with water- and sweat-resistant cW-style

Spain - Fulcrum Acoustic will feature its latest audio solutions and software tools on booth 7J220 at ISE 2025.

On display will be the RX series of compact installation loudspeakers. Featuring new models and design updates, these small enclosures deliver impressive output for their size and are ideal for space-limited environments. Attendees can also get a sneak peek at a new series of installation loudspeakers. The design incorporates Fulcrum Acoustic’s signature Passive Cardioid Technology, which delivers low-frequency control without the need for additional drivers, amplifiers or signal processing channels.

Fulcrum will offer hands-on demonstrations of its One software, a comprehensive tool that streamlines the design, deployment, and management of traditional sound reinforcement and immersive audio systems within a single, intuitive interface.

USA - With a stop off in Las Vegas for an intimate residency, the band's hometown shows brought a sophisticated nostalgia to fans in North America. They heard Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me through a d&b audiotechnik KSL PA system from Eighth Day Sound's LA location, overseen by account executive Meegan Holmes.

Out front, the band's long-time FOH engineer Kenny Kaiser has been part of the alt pop/rockers’ crew for some years, starting out as a PA tech before eventually taking his mixer position. He begins: "There's a lot of trust between the band and me, and that comes with time. The show must sound the way your artist wants it to, but thankfully, I'm lucky to work with a band that trusts me with the decisions that I make for them.

“Each album has its own sound and ethos, so you must stay true to those songs and

UK - Speaker applications are now open for PLASA Focus Leeds, which returns to the city’s Royal Armouries museum from 13-14 May 2025. Renowned for its welcoming and vibrant atmosphere, the ever-popular PLASA Focus Leeds trade show attracts over 2,000 professionals each year and showcases more than 150 leading brands from across the lighting, sound, AV, rigging, staging and production industries.

Speaking as part of the event’s seminar programme is a unique opportunity to connect with a broad audience, as the sessions draw over 600 industry attendees across two theatres during the show’s two days. 

“Your insights could have an impact far beyond the UK, reaching professionals eager to learn and innovate,” say the show’s organisers. “This is your chance to position yourself as a thought leader, sharing knowledge that could help shape the

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