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11 April 2025

UK - ISCVEx 2025, hosted at the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry, is a gathering for professionals in the sound, communications and visual engineering industries. Organised annually by the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers, the event welcomes both members and non-members to engage in a variety of enriching activities designed to foster professional growth, industry insights and networking opportunities.

Commencing on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, with the ISCVE Members’ Day and AGM, ISCVEx provides a key moment for the Institute to reflect on achievements and outline future goals. After a presentation by Andy Dockerty from Adlib on the future of the live events industries, attendees later joined a vibrant networking dinner, complete with live entertainment, offering a unique environment to build relationships and celebrate together.<

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11 April 2025

Europe/India - Sennheiser and Zoapi Innovations, an India-based provider of meeting room solutions, have joined forces to empower wireless collaboration. The partnership combines Zoapi’s meeting solutions with Sennheiser TeamConnect (TC) Bar Solutions to offer users dynamic control and performance in meeting and collaboration spaces.

Sennheiser’s TC Bars are designed to bring premium audio and dynamic video to small and mid-sized spaces. Available in two models – the TeamConnect Bar S (with four microphones and two speakers) and the TeamConnect Bar M (with six microphones and four speakers) – both devices offer plug-and-play USB connectivity and integrate seamlessly with Zoapi’s wireless conferencing solution.

The TC Bars offer flexible and scalable room setups with an onboard Dante port for extension mics and an option to add an external U

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11 April 2025

USA/Germany - PK Sound has activated German event technology specialist publitec as its newest certified sales partner. Under the agreement, the Dortmund-based firm will exclusively represent the entire portfolio of PK Sound’s robotic line source solutions and complementary technologies throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

“We were extremely impressed with PK Sound’s demonstration at Integrated Systems Europe this year, and so was everyone else I spoke with about it,” says publitec business development manager Klaus Vennemann. “Not only are these incredible-sounding loudspeakers, but we were particularly excited by the patented Multi-Axis Robotics technology. This degree of soundfield control is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the industry and will notably improve the audio experience for our customers’ venues and events.”

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11 April 2025

Romania -The Bucharest National Opera House, a cornerstone of Romania’s cultural heritage, recently undertook an audio upgrade project focused on enhancing performances whilst preserving the venue’s historic interiors. Previously, the venue largely relied on rented live sound systems. Oftentimes bulky and not suitable as a permanent solution, these systems risked detracting from the old-world grandeur of the space and potentially distracting audiences.

The opera house team collaborated with local distributor and integrator, Senia, to implement a permanent K-array solution, which offers a sleek and unobtrusive design and improved sound quality. 

“One of the key challenges we faced at the Opera House was balancing the requirements for a high-performance audio system with the need to maintain the original architecture and features of the venue,

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11 April 2025

Belgium - To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Belgian band Clouseau embarked on a year-long tour across the Benelux region, including a spectacular 14-show run at the Sportpaleis, the largest indoor venue in Belgium. For these high-profile shows, the band relied on DiGiCo Quantum 338 and Quantum 7 digital mixing consoles alongside KLANG’s immersive monitoring system.

Ampli, the primary AV supplier for the Clouseau tour, delivered an extensive range of equipment, including mixing consoles, amplification, transmitters, intercoms, and cabling, with Clouseau’s long-time sound engineers Marcel Cortleven and Marc Luyckx managing monitors and FOH, respectively. The use of the DiGiCo Quantum consoles – Quantum 338 for FOH and Quantum 7 for monitors – marked a significant upgrade for the band.

“Using DiGiCo’s Quantum 7 for monitors gave me the flex

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11 April 2025

USA - R90 Lighting, one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most prominent lighting rental houses, recently received a delivery of Paragon LED profile fixtures just in time to deploy them on a private event with Gwen Stefani – one of the first major US shows to utilise Elation’s new flagship lighting fixture. 

“We didn’t have a single hiccup involving these lovely new lights,” said Joe Cole, owner of R90 Lighting, after the event. “Everything was great right out of the box, and the spares stayed in their cases. New products usually have some wrinkles to iron out, but these fixtures were dialled in from the start. We look forward to seeing these in action over the coming months on many shows.”   

The decision to expand R90’s inventory with 48 Paragon M fixtures is part of the company's commitment to offering the latest high-pe

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11 April 2025

UK - Lighting designer Ed Warren noticed the way light hit a mirror ball over his video wall and drape backdrop when rehearsing for Michael Kiwanuka's recently completed Small Changes tour, opening the door to a powerful creative opportunity.

"It was a happy accident," said Warren. "When we ran through things in rehearsals, I decided to hit the mirror ball with a single spot from below, wash out some blue light, add a bit of haze, and it worked perfectly – of course with the help of incredible visuals from my video designer Ed Hoare. We came up with a look that made it seem as if a single plume of smoke was rising up the backdrop. It really was a magical moment, everyone just stood there with their jaw on the floor."

That particular look was just one of many nuances that Warren called upon to set a deeply evocative aura on stage for his Gr

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10 April 2025

UK - In a joint venture, Backup Tech, The Back Lounge and UK Live Event Freelancers Forum, are launching a series of three Financial Literacy workshops and resources around being financially informed for freelancers working in the live entertainment industry.

Presented on Zoom and hosted by The Back Lounge’s Suzi Green and Paul Jones from UK Live Event Freelancers Forum, along with invited guest speakers on specific topics, the three, one-hour workshops, each of which will be standalone, will work synergistically to inform those working for themselves as sole traders or small businesses.

The series aims to provide practical advice balanced with an exploration of the culture shift needed to plan effectively for long-term security and will include a Q&A at the end of each session. They will cover topics including paying tax in the most e

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10 April 2025

Sweden - Biamp has announced that it has transitioned to a dealer-direct model in Sweden, strengthening its ability to support customers and drive growth in the region.

With this transition, Biamp aims to enhance its sales, support, and product distribution capabilities, ensuring better service for its Swedish partners and customers. This shift allows Biamp to more directly engage with the market, providing more streamlined communication, increased access to Biamp expertise, and a higher level of service across all verticals, including corporate, hospitality, education, large venues, and more.

“Sweden is a key market for Biamp, and we are excited to take this next step in delivering even better service and support,” said Michael Jarl Christensen, general manager, Europe. “By transitioning to a direct-to-market model, we work more closely with o

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10 April 2025

Mexico - Gonher Group has become the exclusive distributor for HK Audio products in Mexico with immediate effect. The new distributor has experienced sales professionals for pro audio applications, along with extensive sales networks and an understanding of service within its Audyson and Gonher Pro divisions.

“We are delighted to add HK Audio’s impressive product range to our extensive portfolio,” said Jorge Gonzalez, director general of Gonher. “HK Audio already has a good presence in Mexico and we plan to take the brand to an even higher level. We feel that Gonher is best-placed to help drive uptake of the brand in the Mexican market and we look forward to introducing our clients to the sonic capabilities of this amazing brand.”

“Gonher's pro audio pedigree in Mexico is unequalled,” added Sean Martin, ISM Americas at HK Audio. “HK A

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10 April 2025

The Netherlands - Powersoft’s Unica cloud-based amplifier platform has transformed the audio system at RAI Amsterdam Forum, a premier venue for conferences and events. As the former main stage for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), RAI Amsterdam brought together AV industry professionals for over a decade.

With a 123-year history, it has been a hub for international gatherings, inspiring people by organising and facilitating valuable conferences and exhibitions. To uphold its reputation, it was only right for the prestigious centre to provide high-quality audio to its visitors.

The goal was straightforward, to replace the aging amplifiers that had deteriorated over time, leading to operational failures in the venue’s line array system. Tasked with this was Van Brienen AV, led by technician Mike Weijers, who chose Powersoft’s Unica amplifier platf

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10 April 2025

Belgium - Clouseau recently entertained audiences with a series of spectacular shows at the Sportpaleis Antwerpen, Belgium's largest indoor venue. The Clouseau 40 anniversary shows, celebrating the band's 40-year milestone, sold out the 23,000-capacity Sportpaleis an impressive 14 times, continuing their yearly live performance tradition at the venue which was first established in 2000. For these high-profile performances, the Follow-Me Track-iT system was integral to delivering the band's larger-than-life experience.

Clouseau is one of Belgium’s most famous and successful bands, renowned for their catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and high-energy performances. Formed in 1984, the band has enjoyed decades of success, with numerous chart-topping albums and sold-out concerts. Led by brothers Koen and Kris Wauters, Clouseau has built a dedicated fan

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10 April 2025

USA - There are occasions when a massive rig can transform a stage, especially when it's designed and controlled with the artistry and precision that designer Jimmy Yeret demonstrated recently at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre.

Working for his client, the Pivot Group, Yeret of Dynamic Vision tapped into a massive rig at the venue to create a transformative stage that morphed into an array of different looks for the 2025 HASC A Time For Music concert with timecode automation, a motorised sun structure, extensive staggered video walls, and a supportive lighting rig supplied by 4Wall Entertainment and Eagle Productions that featured 183 Chauvet Professional fixtures.

"Our stage rig dimensions were 72ft at their widest point downstage and 35ft at their narrowest point upstage with a rig depth of 32ft," said Yeret. "The venue's steel reach

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10 April 2025

USA - Caramella, the newest Italian dining destination in Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, features a high-energy distributed sound system. National Technology Associates (NTA), an AV integration firm based in Las Vegas, spearheaded the design and installation of a high-performance system featuring custom 1 Sound loudspeakers.

Known for its elegant interiors and vibrant atmosphere, Caramella required an audio solution that could adapt to its dynamic needs – from providing crystal-clear background music during the day to delivering high-energy sound for DJs and private events at night. Understanding the venue’s diverse sonic demands, NTA opted for a strategic combination of 1 Sound’s Contour and Cannon Series loudspeakers, complemented by distributed subwoofers.

In the lounge bar area, Contour CT28 point source loudspeakers were deployed to ensure pr

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10 April 2025

USA - Country music’s rising star Alexandra Kay is out on the road on her headline tour, Cupid’s a Cowgirl, spanning 31 cities across the United States and Canada. The tour, with a lighting system from Bandit Lites, launched at the end of February and will run through 6 April 2025.

Having worked as Alexandra Kay’s LD for about a year, Corbin Alvae pivoted his previous experience of rock and metalcore to Kay’s style. 

“With AK’s show, the biggest thing I focused on was making sure it brought the visual side of what we envisioned when planning this design. Hints of flashy moments, but also big, fun moments and making sure she was lit up as the focal point,” he said. “I really went towards defining that her and the band looked like superstars on stage every night.”

The system ultimately landed on the vibe that Kay dub

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10 April 2025

USA - PPDS, the provider of Philips digital signage and interactive displays, videowalls, and dvLED, has completed the installation of a giant 28ft by 8ft curved Philips dvLED production wall inside the new 4,000 sq.ft PBS Appalachia Virginia studio in Bristol, Virginia.

Built inside the Hard Rock Casino, and featuring a 46ft glass public viewing window, PBS Appalachia Virginia is the nation’s first all-digital public TV station, dedicated to amplifying the voice of Southwest Virginia with high-quality local content and PBS network programming. It is also the first television network affiliate located inside a casino.

Designed for 24/7 use and capable of presenting content in resolutions beyond 8K, Philips Unite LED 6000 Series – which was showcased during NAB Show 2025 – was the outstanding choice to bring the PBS management team’s studio am

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10 April 2025

Europe - Claypaky is featuring a number of newly released products at PL+S 2025 in Frankfurt this week.

Tambora Stormy Linear is a hybrid bar that delivers ‘bursts of stunning graphical strobes that cut through darkness’. With extreme brightness, pixel-perfect control, and seamless modularity, Tambora Stormy Linear transforms productions into an immersive experience that audiences won't just see but feel in their core.

Tambora Glare merges vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. Whether you’re designing for a dynamic EDM festival, a theatrical production, or a live TV broadcast, Tambora Glare delivers ‘unparalleled performance and visual impact’.

Volero Twins is a hybrid fixture with dual powerful engines working in harmony, delivering versatility without sacrificing performance. This solution combines the creative freedom

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09 April 2025

Europe - Cyndi Lauper took a final lap of the UK and Europe with her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour with PRG entrusted to supply a full 360-degree package, including lighting, video, rigging and audio, for the arena run.

The show is a mix of bright colours (her true colours if you will) bringing Lauper’s image into 2025, designed by Tom Sutherland and the team at DX7 Design; along with Brian Burke of Brian Burke Creative. The main event is an 'accordion-style' video screen lined with LED lighting fixtures, made up of 234 ROE Active CB5 video panels and surrounded by Pixel Line IP fixtures. To support the fixtures and create the seamless columns between the panels, PRG adapted the custom metalwork from the US tour as well as fabricating new metalwork to support pixel line ‘chevrons’ that sat on the front of the on-stage lighting trusse

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09 April 2025

USA - Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Gracie Abrams, Pink and more – the stars came out in force for Live Nation's Fire Aid benefit concert. But behind the scenes there was also an array of talent that made this spectacular and very worthy event (it raised over $100m for those affected by the LA area fires) come to life.

Lighting designer Allen Branton and production designer Patrick Dierson led a talented team of professionals that created powerful, and often deeply moving looks, at two venues (Kia Forum and Intuit Dome) that connected not only to the live audiences, but also to the 50m who watched on various livestreams.

Although the shows looked seamless with the crisp coordination of lighting and video, well-timed rapid pan and tilt effects, and harmonious colour combinations, pulling them

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09 April 2025

UK - Unusual Rigging returned to the Royal Albert Hall for the 2025 Olivier Awards on Sunday 6 April, bringing its expertise and large-scale technical capability to one of British theatre’s biggest nights. No stranger to either the venue or the event, Unusual was tasked with delivering the full scope of rigging and draughting requirements for this year’s spectacular ceremony – supporting an ambitious production with sustainable, reusable rigging infrastructure.

“We were brought on to handle all the rigging and draughting requirements for the show,” said Luke MacBride, design engineer at Unusual Rigging. “Our scope included the design and installation of a mother truss to support lighting equipment, scenery, and the automated presentation screen. We also supplied trussing for drapery, including a custom-fabricated curved truss for the red drape, a