Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

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UK - Designed to meet the demanding need for robust yet flexible content visualisation at exhibitions, concerts, conferences, sporting events, and other commercial activities, the new Leyard LN Series LED displays deliver quality visual effects and information to any temporary event or occasion. With a user-friendly design, ‘effortless’ maintenance, and swift setup, the LN Series flexible LED displays boast a modular and lightweight structure. They are easily assembled and disassembled, offering hassle-free transportation and setup for diverse events and venues.

The displays can be tailored to support specific application requirements and seamlessly integrated with other equipment and systems, enhancing functionality and effects. 

Addressing the d

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USA - Audinate Group has announced significant new additions to Dante Connect, its cloud-based Dante audio transport solution for broadcasters. New features and capabilities include remote contribution options, native Dante software integration, cloud deployment platform options, and new resellers.

Dante Connect is a suite of software applications that facilitate cloud-based broadcast production and is a powerful platform for A1s and mixing engineers, combining the familiarity, ease of use and tight synchronization of Dante audio with seamless connectivity to centralized production tools running on cloud instances.

Dante Connect adds WebRTC-powered remote contribution functionality to the existing uncompressed Dante audio transport streams. The remote contribution feature allows Dante sources connected to the internet worldwide to be captured as an a

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Portugal - 512 LiveDesign, a prominent lighting design studio specialising in live events, dance, theatre, and live performances, has announced its continued dedication to using CAST Group’s WYSIWYG in their creative process.

Led by Rui Daniel and Marco Dias, the company has been at the forefront of innovative lighting design for the past decade in Portugal and abroad, consistently relying on WYSIWYG as an indispensable tool in their projects. WYSIWYG technology has significantly streamlined the workflow at 512 LiveDesign, empowering their team to deliver immersive lighting experiences to audiences worldwide.

Rui Daniel, founder and lead designer at 512 Live Design, comments, "For the past decade, WYSIWYG has been an integral part of our design process. Its intuitive interface and powerful capabilities have enabled us to bring our creative visions

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ETC Ministar

ETC introduces the High End Systems Ministar, a game-changer in our automated lighting product line. Ministar brings exceptional versatility and performance at an affordable price point; with a compact footprint, punchy output, and a professional feature set, Ministar fits the spec and budget for small to medium-sized venues.

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France - Things do not always go as planned with outdoor affairs, and the Kandahar, Chamonix FIS World Ski Cup was no exception. Unseasonably warm weather caused the cancelation of the widely anticipated downhill competition that was scheduled to take place over the first two days of the three-day event.

However, not all was lost. Those who stayed for the entire three-days got to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this resort, located at the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps. They also enjoyed a breathtaking bit of skiing history, at the La Verte des Houches slope, as Switzerland’s Daniel Yule became the first FIS Alpine skier ever to win a slalom race after staring out in 30th (last) position.

Another thing that generated excitement and raised spirits at this famed resort (the first Winter Olympics took place here in 1924), was the

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Italy - Viola Park, a new modern sports centre and home to ACF Fiorentina football club, recently underwent a full AV system integration including comprehensive K-array audio systems. Nestled amidst the rolling Florentine hills, Viola Park is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of professional footballers at what is thought to be one of the best training facilities in the country.

With 26 hectares of sprawling landscape, Viola Park is the largest sports centre in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. The facilities at the site include 12 regulation pitches and stadiums, gyms, accommodation and medical, media and wellness centres. To complement its world-class amenities, Viola Park sought out a top-of-the-line audio system to enhance the experience for players, spectators and visitors alike.

Systems integrator, Professional Show partnered wit

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Austria - Currently riding high in the Bundesliga - the top tier of Austrian football - Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub (LASK) recently relocated to Linz’s futuristic new Raiffeisen Arena. Constructed as a UEFA Category 4 venue, LASK’s new ground is now among the largest and most modern sports facilities in the country, with over 80 Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers delivering quality sound to the fans.

Key players in this project were Saw IT Consulting, Genelec distributor Audio Pro, and local integration company Contech – who were responsible for the central distribution of all audio-visual equipment, as well as some of the stadium audio.

“Genelec was chosen for three main reasons,” says Friedrich Mühlböck from Saw IT Consulting. “Firstly, because of their undeniable quality thanks to their heritage as one of the most respected players in the

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UK - Audiences are being treated to ‘an immersive visual feast’, thanks to RCM’s approach of combining real-time 3D generative content, utilising Epic’s Unreal Engine, with live cameras.

The creative content for James Arthur’s Bitter Sweet Love World Tour, which hit the road in March 2024, was fashioned by RCM’s team, headed up by Video Designer Alex Vipond. They collaborated closely with the artist, along with Pete Hutchison and Edd Croft of design collective Mangata to bring the client’s aspirations to life. The visuals add energy to the show, combining a nostalgic Nashville aesthetic with a dynamic that nods to James Arthur’s rise from the X-Factor.

Pete said: “We worked closely with RCM to utilise the screens shape. The original mood board they sent captured everything we were looking for from the visuals and l

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Strictly FX Highlights

Strictly FX was founded in 1996 by industry veterans Mark Grega and Ted Maccabee. Our expertise and knowledge of the world’s leading pyrotechnic, laser, and flame manufacturers allows us to curate astonishing live events. With over 500+ shows performed a year, there’s good chance you’ve seen some of our work!

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UK - Brompton Technology has appointed Sebastian Kanabar as technical sales consultant, focussing on the broadcast and film industries.

Based at the company’s headquarters in Chiswick, Kanabar brings over two decades of experience in senior technical, sales and product management roles at Prokit Europe, Holdan (part of the Midwich Group), NM Productions, and Pixel Engine.

He has had the opportunity to work with many well-known companies including Panavision, Sky, NBC Universal and CNN, as well as leading lighting and camera manufacturers like ARRI. Most recently, he was technical director at a UK-based VFX company, handling projects for high end technology and automotive brands. 

“Working in a variety of roles has given me an understanding of the entire production cycle,” he explains. “I wanted to delve deeper into product management

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USA - Disguise will showcase its latest broadcast and virtual production (VP) solutions at this year’s NAB. Show visitors will be the first to get an early preview of Disguise’s latest release of its Porta broadcast graphics controller, which has been upgraded for Unreal Engine 5.4, and get hands-on with Disguise’s end-to-end xR and VP technology at six exhibition stands across the show floor.

Disguise and its Creative Services division, Meptik, will also be part of several speaker sessions on topics including digital twins, AR graphics, virtual production and ST 2110 with partners such as WWE, NVIDIA and the Portland Trail Blazers.

“From the Olympics to the elections, this is a big year for broadcasters. Teams need to tell data-driven stories more efficiently, while still increasing audience engagement figures,” says Disguise’s general m

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USA - RDL has announced its latest creation, the RU-NMP44, a cost-effective, network mixing processor that delivers ‘the flexibility of network audio for any system size or budget’. Designed to be versatile, and to support a wide range of system designs, the RU-NMP44’s performance specifications make it suitable for the most demanding installations.

The RU-NMP44 can add volume control, mixing, switching, and ducking to existing network audio systems. The digital signal processing offered in the RU-NMP44 often fulfills all the requirements for an audio system design, such as in classrooms, meeting rooms, restaurants/bars, fitness centres, and retail stores.

“This is a remarkable product that was developed through a combination of our deep expertise in network audio, signal processing, and manufacturing,” says Erik Tarkiainen, president at RD

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UK - DiGiCo has announced the release of its latest software update, Version 1742, designed for all SD and Quantum consoles. Now available for free download from the Info and Downloads section of the DiGiCo website, found under the Support tab at www.DiGiCo.biz, V1742 replaces previous version V1619, which was rolled out a year and a half ago.

Of particular note, the installation of V1742 enables Quantum338 and Quantum225 owners to purchase and harness DiGiCo’s optional new Pulse software extension, revealed this January, increasing their number of input channels, busses, and Mustard and Nodal Processors. V1742 will also offer Quantum7 and Quantum5 customers a bump in Mustard processing numbers for free.

The new software release enables DiGiCo users to benefit from KLANG’s also-new KOS 5.5 upgrade, which permits standalone console integration wit

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Portugal - Lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe recently held a workshop on lighting at the Teatro Ibérico in Lisbon.

In the tenth edition of the seminar Lighting The Stars, Patrick Woodroffe, who has designed the lighting for the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, the London Olympic Games and numerous other events of international significance, shared his most notable and thrilling experiences, including a touching tribute to Michael Jackson, with whom he was preparing a tour mere days prior to Michael's early demise.

He then proceeded with a live practical exercise, in which he created a lighting design for a musical piece chosen without his knowledge, revealing some of the secrets of his art and technique.

The event was organised by SLS, Claypaky's distributor for Portugal, with the support of Claypaky itself, which was present with an extens

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Ireland - PSI Production (PSI), a lighting, visuals and rigging production specialist with offices based in Belfast and Dublin, recently made a significant investment in Martin Professional MAC Ultra Performance fixtures through Ireland’s official Martin distributor, Entedi.

This new addition to PSI's inventory complements last year’s investments in the MAC Aura XIP, MAC Aura PXL, and MAC One.

"The acquisition of the Martin MAC Ultra Performance units not only elevates our portfolio but assures our clients that they are working with a company at the forefront of live production capabilities," said Brian Reilly of PSI. "I was particularly impressed by the impactful punch and striking beams that are sure to redefine audience experiences at live events."

Brian further commented, "It is always a pleasure to work with the Entedi team. Their to

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Spain - Ibiza Rocks recently replaced its aging sound system with a comprehensive Harman Professional live audio solution consisting of JBL Professional loudspeakers to ensure high-impact audio for its guests while minimising disturbances to local residents.

Originally conceived as a live music night at Manumission, Ibiza Rocks aimed to introduce a performance dynamic to the island, initially emphasising live bands. Over time, this focus evolved to include both live bands and DJs as headliners. In 2008, Ibiza Rocks transitioned into a hotel, featuring an iconic poolside stage and a full schedule of events throughout the season.

The Ibiza Rocks team recently collaborated with Harman Professional Solutions to enhance its pool parties with a new stage position and upgrade to a JBL Professional VTX A-Series sound system, allowing for increased sound leve

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USA - CAST Group of Companies has announced Visual Endeavors (VE) as a creative solutions provider for BlackTrax in the United States.
Based in California, Visual Endeavors is headed by Aron Altmark and specialises in technical producing for XR, live events, and immersive experiences, integrating BlackTrax into its tech stack to enable clients to ‘leverage the power of real-time tracking and automation across projects’.
Aron, having first encountered BlackTrax in 2018, has since utilised the technology in various projects including installations with over 500 moving lights and 200 static lights. With BlackTrax also being used on numerous high-profile projects including Carrie Underwood’s Reflection, Las Vegas residency, and the 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, the company is well placed to take BlackTrax further.
As a creative solutions provider, V

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UK - PLASA Focus Leeds returns to the north from 14-15 May, along with a programme dedicated to delivering knowledge and inspiration for all those working in the live events and entertainment technology industry. Sponsored by Vectorworks, this year’s programme is the biggest ever, and the first wave of seminars has just arrived. Register for PLASA Focus Leeds to gain unlimited access to all these sessions, and more.
Lighting design and sustainable tech
Jonathan Haynes and Stuart Porter from White Light will discuss the processes and challenges of enhancing your lighting rig. This seminar follows on from last year’s seminar on sustainability and is aimed at venue managers and technicians as well as sustainability advocates and manufacturers.
Robe will host two seminars: a journey into why CRI and colour rendition matter when choosing LED lighting – aimed

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UK - The Profile Awards, a new lighting design awards programme, has launched in the UK. Created and coordinated by Durham and Jennie Marenghi in association with the ABTT, the ALPD and the STLD, the awards recognise lighting design excellence in Theatre and Television in the UK and will take place at the Alexandra Palace theatre on the 6 June 2024.
Alongside eight Theatre awards and six TV awards there will be a Student Virtual Lighting Design competition and the Richard Pilbrow Lifetime Recognition Award in the name of Richard Pilbrow, by kind agreement with Richard’s family and sponsored by Theatre Projects.
The Theatre Awards are judged by UK theatre critics and are not open to nominations, whereas the Television Awards are judged by broadcast professionals and can be nominated by anyone. Winners will receive special trophies - Patt 23M fixtures on

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Gender Pay Gap - The gender pay gap in the cultural sector has increased for the second year running and is now wider than the overall UK gender pay gap, latest figures reveal. Data published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport last month shows an estimated gender pay gap of 15.2% in the cultural sector as of April 2023, up from 14.2% the previous year. This means that for every £1 men were paid, women were paid just under 85 pence.
This disparity is greater than the average gender pay gap for all employees in the UK, which stood at 14.2% as of April 2023. The culture sector includes performing arts, literature, visual arts, public broadcasting, museums and galleries, libraries and the visual arts. The data marks the second successive year of increase in the gender pay gap in these industries. Between April 2021 and April 2022, the gap increased by 3.1 percentage

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USA - For Silver Spoon, a real-time graphics and animation company, the 2024 Super Bowl live broadcasts on CBS and Nickelodeon presented an opportunity ‘to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of augmented reality and live broadcast’.
Central to this endeavour was Stage Precision, whose SP tracking and control solutions played a pivotal role in orchestrating several broadcast firsts during this year's show.
"The scale and complexity of the Super Bowl demanded a bullet-proof solution that could seamlessly integrate across multiple broadcasts and platforms,” recounts Matthew Houstle, director of technology at Silver Spoon. “SP's tracking solutions emerged as the linchpin of our operations, providing us with the precision and reliability we needed to execute our vision.”
Part of the vision was to bring the Super Bowl to a younger aud

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UK - Full Production, the Berkshire-based specialist in the design and delivery of entertainment technology solutions, has completed the move to a much larger premises, with significant new facilities.
Located in Ruscombe, between Reading and Maidenhead, with fast access to the nearby M4 motorway and Heathrow Airport, the new site offers an attractive new working environment for staff and clients alike, including enhanced workshop, prep and testing areas, a meeting and training room, increased office space and a new, fully equipped Vis Suite.
Founded by Steve Richardson in 2010, Full Production offers complete technical resources to the entertainment production industry, from lighting, sound and rigging to staging and video. The company has also been focusing on adding facilities and capability to its in-house workshop, increasing its activity in advanced solutions R

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Europe - The inclusion of Holoplot products in the latest EASE 5 update, will allow users to investigate the possibilities and impact of using Matrix Arrays in their venue, or any venue. Users can model Matrix Arrays and Beam Optimisations in the company's Plan system design software to view sound pressure level simulations. The resulting array configurations can now be exported to EASE 5 for further analysis based on closed-room simulation.
AFMG’s managing director Stefan Feistel and Emad El-Saghir, fellow at Holoplot, explain how the collaboration came about and how the inclusion of Holoplot’s advanced loudspeaker systems in EASE 5 Second Edition will benefit all end users.
“The changes required to accommodate the complexity of Holoplot X1 and X2 data will benefit all end users of EASE 5, with the enhanced support for cluster-type GLL files recently released
  1. Martin Audio boosts Sandbox VR experience
  2. Loud and clear with K-array in Heidelberg
  3. Robe hosts Amsterdam studio & TV workshop
  4. Adam Hall Group adds sales partner for Mexico
  5. PSCo and ST to distribute StageSmarts
  6. Craig Richter promoted at Bandit Lites
  7. Sunborn Yacht Hotel futureproofs with Symetrix
  8. Full grandMA3 system for UAE Union Day
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GLP - MPU - May-June 2024
Robe - Large MPU

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