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24 October 2024

UK - Moving from his original shop in Hanwell, West London, Jim Marshall took over the current Milton Keynes factory site in 1966. A few steps away from the main building was the social club, now repurposed as the Marshall Studio complex. Adam Beer joined the company in October 2020 as studio manager and oversaw the whole refurbishment project, designing the studio, then, a few years later, turning the disused theatre into a live venue.

“Marshall reached out when they decided to make their own recording studio for the Marshall Record Label artists,” Beer recalls. “The opportunity to build something from scratch was exciting. I chose how the space sounded, filling it with the best equipment available, but as a former live engineer, it was the theatre that really caught my attention. That part of the project was on the back burner for a while, but we had

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24 October 2024

UK - TSL has announced that it has added the Martin Mac One to its stock list. A compact moving head, the Mac One is a beam, wash and eye-candy fixture, capable of producing robust, vibrant aerial effects, seamless transitions and engaging visual effects. With its Fresnel lens that transforms any stage, the Mac One is suitable for concert, touring, TV sets, theatre, corporate events and more.

“The versatility of the Martin Mac One makes it a great fit for our clients across the live events spectrum,” says TSL. “It’s already lined up for an upcoming project, and we can’t wait to see the impact it will make on future shows.”

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23 October 2024

Europe - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced an innovative technology collaboration with Genelec, integrating the Lightware Automated Room Automation (LARA) platform with Genelec’s Smart IP PoE loudspeaker family.

By enabling system integrators and AV professionals to easily integrate Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers and subwoofers with Lightware products, users benefit from precise control over essential audio functions such as power management, volume control and mute functions. The solution is particularly valuable in corporate environments where audio quality and ease of use are paramount and eliminates the need for third-party control systems.

The new driver not only simplifies the setup and configuration process but also allows for real-time monitoring of loudspeaker status, providing critical information such as firmware version, zone ID

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23 October 2024

USA - Las Vegas-based full service technical production company 3G Productions has invested heavily in Kinesys automation equipment – including Elevation drives, Kinesys Vector control, DST trollies and tracking truss, which is compatible with the Kinesys Elevation system, together with Libra Cell load monitoring systems, Kinesys Array PD-ES power distros and other infrastructure, much of which has been acquired in the last year.

“The Kinesys system is rock solid and does exactly what it says. It’s known for both innovation and practicality, while being accepted widely as an offering of a premium automation solution,” stated 3G CEO, Keith Conrad.

In 2021, the company embarked on a substantial investment plan to ensure that their audio, lighting, video, and rigging equipment featured the latest, best, and most appropriate technologies to offer

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22 October 2024

Europe - Showlight 2025 is offering a sponsorship scheme for a number of students and recent graduates of university, college or school courses related to lighting for the performing arts, events, broadcast, film and architecture.

Say the organisers: “We are now inviting international students to apply for placements which allow free of charge entry to Showlight 2025 in Dijon, France from 19-22 May 2025. At least 30 places are up for grabs, and you’ll need to be available for the entire four days as they will be packed with special events you won’t want to miss.”

All students get to enjoy the full Programme of Papers, admission to the accompanying exhibition of major lighting equipment manufacturers between Papers Sessions, the networking opportunities of the daily morning and afternoon tea breaks and lunch, as well as a place at one of the C

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22 October 2024

Tourist Tax - Bosses at Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe are among more than 300 business leaders calling on the chancellor to axe a so-called ‘tourist tax’. Alex Beard of the ROH and Stella Kanu of Shakespeare’s Globe have added their signatures to a letter appealing to Rachel Reeves to reintroduce tax-free shopping for tourists ahead of this month’s budget.

Business leaders, including those who run department store John Lewis and make-up giant Charlotte Tilbury, claim the tax is deterring some two million foreign visitors from coming to the UK, thereby diminishing their spend on British products, hospitality, and culture.

The letter reads: "In 2021, in the aftermath of the pandemic that had hit businesses like ours hard, the then chancellor Rishi Sunak scrapped the tax-free shopping scheme for tourists that had existed for decade

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21 October 2024

Canada - LEA Professional has announced its partnership with Quebec-based AV distributor SFM.

SFM will now offer customers LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity.

"We share the same goal as our customers – to exceed expectations, and we are constantly seeking partners who uphold these standards," said Sami Midani, director of business development at SFM. "LEA has an exceptional and extensive technology catalogue that will bring variety and strength to our Canadian customers."

"Canada is a key area of growth for us as we enter a new year," said Scott Robbins, VP of sales at LEA Professional. "This partnership will enable us to tap into SFM’s established network that has been growing for nearly 50 years. We are closing out

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21 October 2024

Chile - Cloud Microphones has announced the expansion of its distribution network in Central and South America. New partnerships have been established in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, broadening access to their innovative audio solutions.  

“These partnerships mark another step in our commitment to expanding our global presence and supporting the international music community,” said Rodger Cloud, founder and CEO of Cloud Microphones. “We look forward to collaborating with our new distributors to empower musicians, podcasters, broadcasters, and others to enhance their audio quality and share Cloud's message of creative inspiration.”

Pro Audio Sistemas, based in Chile, is among the new distributors to showcase Cloud’s products. “The opportunity to represent Rodger's innovative solutions was one I couldn

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21 October 2024

Australia - Centrestate Sound & Lighting has expanded its inventory with the acquisition of the Prolights Smart BatWash to enhance the efficiency and the versatility of their productions. 

Centrestate Sound & Lighting provides production services even in the most remote areas of New South Wales, often facing the challenge of working in environments with limited technical infrastructure. In this context, adopting battery-operated fixtures like the Smart BatWash proves to be a strategic choice to ensure high-quality productions even in the absence of traditional power sources. 

Allan Brown, CEO of Centrestate, comments: “The Smart BatWash units have proven to be extremely versatile and suited to a wide range of events, from conferences to stage live. With features like IP65 rating, wireless DMX, and the battery operation option you can't go

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17 October 2024

UK - Having completed an impressive navigational trail for the Eden Project using smaller Martin Audio components, Cornwall-based TruCru has ramped up its line array inventory, in preparation for a busy event season ahead.

The rental company has invested in the manufacturer’s Wavefront Precision (WPS) and SXCF118 cardioid subwoofers, giving them a powerful, and recognisable front-line PA. This will bring the company into the community of other Martin Audio WP users, and is the latest step in a phased move towards eventual standardisation on Martin Audio in its hire fleet.

Commenting on the purchase, TruCru project manager and audio lead, Toby Bodman, said, “This is quite an upgrade and a significant leap for us. I first heard Wavefront Precision in 2018 and I was blown away by how consistent the coverage was throughout the space, and with the gro

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17 October 2024

Germany - Prolight + Sound has announced the reintroduction of an advisory board. The committee, consisting of representatives from well-known companies, trade associations and industry experts, will serve as ‘a source of inspiration and impetus in the future’ and will make ‘a significant contribution to the further development of the event’.

At regular meetings, the advisory board will discuss current industry topics and provide strategic advice in order to define future-oriented goals for Prolight + Sound and to align it even more closely with the needs and requirements of the global event industry.

Particular attention is being paid to the further internationalisation of Prolight + Sound. On the basis of the broad network of contacts and the different strategic orientations of the companies, the advisory board, together with Messe Frankfur

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16 October 2024

South Korea - Genelec has added Seoul to its growing global network of Experience Centres. The Seoul location joins other existing Genelec Experience Centres across Europe, The Americas and Asia.

Located in the city’s Jongro area, the Seoul Experience Centre is a collaboration between Genelec and its local distribution partner SAMA Sound. Offering a wide selection of solutions from Genelec’s Professional Audio, Installed Sound and Home Audio ranges, the Centre is hosted by SAMA Sound’s Genelec product manager Wonjoo Lee and tech specialist Jaehyuk Han, who are on hand to offer personal demonstrations and advice to customers who pre-book appointments.

The Seoul location is divided into three distinct zones. The Immersive Room is designed to allow visitors to experience Genelec’s UNIO monitoring ecosystem, with a 9320A Reference Controller acti

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15 October 2024

UK - EXE Technology has confirmed further investment from The National Theatre, London. The venue has increased its in-house hoist stock by investing in additional 250Kg, 350Kg, and 500Kg EXE Rise D8+ chain hoists.

The National continues to expand its EXE inventory, updating its old hoist fleet and upgrading to a full range of EXE units. Having introduced the chain hoist systems in 2023, the National Theatre was keen to align with the brand.

The National Theatre has three separate theatre spaces – The Olivier which seats 1150 people, a fan-shaped auditorium and the largest of the theatres at the venue;   The Lyttelton, a traditional-style proscenium arch theatre with excellent sightlines from every seat, which can accommodate an audience of 890, and The Dorfman which has an auditorium capacity of 450 and is completely kitted out with EXE in the r

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15 October 2024

UK - Optimal Audio opened the virtual doors to its training academy. Open 24/7, the Optimal Audio Academy has certification-based courses ‘conveniently available to the world and any time that suits’.

Simple to navigate, the Optimal Audio Academy provides modular courses to help system integrators and installers to understand how to best maximise the portfolio and most importantly, WebApp.

Comprised of a streamlined product offering that works seamlessly together, the Optimal Audio ecosystem is particularly suited to multi-zoned commercial installations, such as retail and hospitality venues. WebApp, the ‘secret sauce’ of the ecosystem, makes short work of customisable installation parameters and provides an intuitive interface for the end user that’s as straightforward as any smart home appliance. Set up is already as simple as possible bu

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15 October 2024

USA - The OCA Alliance, the trade association supporting the AES70 standard for Open Control Architecture, has announced the public availability of the latest revision of the standard, AES70-2024, which introduces ‘several valuable additions’. Along with new classes, the update features new methods, a new specification for using the OCP.1 protocol, and several documentation updates.

Fully backwards compatible with existing implementations, AES70-2024 continues to expand the technical foundations of the growing and evolving OCA ecosystem. Summaries and overviews of the most recent additions to the standard can be found on the OCA Alliance website: https://ocaalliance.com/latest-updates/

“AES70 is very much a living and evolving standard, and we are grateful to the developers and contributors who continue to support and expand it,” says Ethan W

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15 October 2024

Live Issues - Many UK towns and cities have seen a drastic reduction in live music because bands and singers are playing half as many gigs on tour as they did in the 1990s. Artists are playing 11 shows on an average tour on the grassroots circuit this year, compared with 22 in 1994, according to new figures from the Music Venue Trust. Those figures also "reflect what we're hearing about the mid-capacity and arena level" tours, said Jon Collins, chief executive of the live music trade body, Live.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told a music industry conference on Friday that "too many parts of the country have become cultural deserts" after more than a hundred music venues closed last year. That is the chance to live a larger, richer life, that should belong to us all, denied to a generation," she said. "And pop is getting posher."

The Music Venue Trust

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11 October 2024

UAE - Trussing and staging specialist Sixty82 has announced that J&C Joel has joined its distribution network in the Middle East. J&C Joel will now serve as the official distributor for Sixty82 in the region.

This new collaboration enhances Sixty82’s ability to extend its reach and provide even greater access to its high-quality trussing and staging solutions across the Middle East.

“We are grateful to J&C Joel for joining our network, which reinforces our commitment to expanding our distribution capabilities and delivering exceptional products and technical expertise to our valued customers,” says Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82.

James Wheelwright, CEO of J&C Joel, stated: “We are thrilled to partner with Sixty82 and bring their innovative trussing and staging solutions to the Middle East. This partnership aligns with o

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11 October 2024

UK - Launched in June 2023, Eastbourne, Sussex-based Racquet Studios was born from a film and photographic creative agency that recognised the potential of virtual production. A year in the making, and after rigorous testing and trialling, facilities for virtual film production, education, and specialist research and development were created, relying on Brompton Technology LED processing to power the LED setup.

Since opening, the facility has successfully supported business and production companies through technical innovation and created a progressive creative economy. It has now relocated to new premises to expand its capabilities and be closer to key partners, which include the University of Sussex, East Sussex College, and various independent training bodies.

“We have always intended to develop clear pathways to education through our facilities

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10 October 2024

USA - 3G Productions LLC (3G) has announced that it has received a strategic investment from Chimney Rock Equity Partners (Chimney Rock), a private equity firm focused on lower-middle-market industrial investments. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chimney Rock’s investment in 3G was made with the intent ‘to leverage the company’s longstanding reputation in live event production and systems integration services to grow into a national brand, both organically and via acquisitions’. With Chimney Rock’s partnership, 3G expects to actively seek to add new locations and customers and increase its already strong market share.

Under the terms of the agreement, the 3G management team, consisting of CEO Keith Conrad, CFO Andrew Ross, executive VP Jay Curiel, and VP of production Andy Ruiz, will remain in place, and all current employee

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09 October 2024

UK - Guildhall School of Music & Drama has announced Backstage Roadshow, a series of free backstage arts skills workshops that will be given directly to UK state schools from September.

The initiative will introduce children and young people to the variety of creative pathways that exist within theatre, live events, television and film. Led by industry professionals and designed by Guildhall School’s Production Arts tutors, the Backstage Roadshow will provide participants with a crucial insight into one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors, inspiring young people to train and work in the creative industries.

The roadshow also seeks to demystify production arts language and career paths for teachers within schools and support them in helping find the right paths for young people. Jon Hare, outreach manager (production arts) at

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09 October 2024

Italy - RCF has confirmed details of its Sound Engineering University Course 2024/2025 with enrolment now open. The objective of the course is to provide fundamental theoretical knowledge for the comprehension, analysis and design of modern sound diffusion systems.

Such knowledge ranges from the fundamental principles of acoustics, to transducers and speakers, electronic amplifying systems and digital sound filtering, and also soundproofing systems.

Main topics include: Acoustics in open air and indoor spaces including design and simulation methods; Transducers and speaker systems including clusters, arrays and point source configurations; Electronics including circuit analysis, filters, amplifiers and DSP and Sound system design including practical experience in measurements, listening tests and tuning.

This university course features techni

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08 October 2024

UK - Rapidly expanding family business GLO Film Lighting has made a timely investment in Data Strategy’s QC-Check, the automated equipment safety inspection system. With QC-Check integrated into its rental software package, GLO Film Lighting maintained the high level of service integral to its ethos, whilst it focused on company growth.

Based in South-West London, GLO Film Lighting provides dry and wet equipment rental to customers across the UK in the television, commercial and film industries. To carry out electrical equipment testing, cable testing and the inspection of power distribution boxes, QC-Check was customised to include the PAT-4, CAB-4 and RCD-t testing units from OutBoard.

With equipment increasingly going out as complete dry hire packages, GLO Film Lighting is confident that every picked item has been tested well within safety regul

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08 October 2024

Serious Risk - Councils will be forced to abandon the arts and other non-statutory duties without an urgent "injection" of government funding in the upcoming Budget, local authorities have warned. Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have called the £54bn shortfall in local council funding a "serious risk to cultural provision" in England and have responded by reiterating their demand that the government strategically review public investment in the performing arts.

According to a new report submitted to the government by the County Councils Network, England’s councils face a funding "black hole" of £54 billion over the next five years, fuelled by the soaring cost of social care. Confronted with an "unpalatable trade-off" between bankruptcy and minimum services, the shortfall could lead to local councils being able to provide "little more" than care

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07 October 2024

Europe - Registration is now open for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). Returning to the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía from 4-7 February, the ISE team is promising ‘a host of new initiatives and features, an expanded and more easily accessible content programme, as well as the unveiling of Hall 8.1’.

Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, comments: “ISE 2025 will be our most ambitious, inspiring and motivating edition to date. ISE is the global destination to get your connection restored with the industry – through virtually impossible experiences, unrivalled networking opportunities, and state-of-the-art technology, as well as even more chances for career and personal development.

“With the show floor already 20% bigger, the addition of exciting new features, and our world-class content programme that digs deep into th