Italy - AtlasIED has announced a partnership with Leading Technologies to be the exclusive distributor for AtlasIED products and solutions in Italy. As part of the agreement, Leading Technologies will sell and distribute AtlasIED's entire portfolio of products, including audio, security, and mass notification technologies, for use across a wide range of markets.
Based in Monza, Leading Technologies will coordinate sales efforts between AtlasIED's U.S. headquarters, integrators, and end users in Italy.
Leading Technologies will represent AtlasIED's entire product portfolio, including the award-winning Atmosphere digital audio platform for hospitality, retail, and educational facilities. The company will also sell the AtlasIED GLOBALCOM enterprise-wide communications platform, used in transportation hubs worldwide, including over 300 airports and multiple train and bus stations. Additionally, the company will offer AtlasIED loudspeakers, including its latest premium line, the IsoFlare point source loudspeakers.
"At Leading Technologies, our focus is to provide solutions adapted to the needs of our customers, and we are proud to be now able to offer AtlasIED solutions in Italy," said Marco Porro, CEO at Leading Technologies. "AtlasIED products are renowned for their quality, reliability, and customer service, and we look forward to representing the company and providing solutions that will make a difference for our customers."
"Italy continues to be a growth market for us, and we have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate this together with
Mexico - Genelec has strengthened its distribution in Mexico by appointing Representaciones de Audio to develop the brand's presence in the MI retail, AV and Home Audio markets. Representaciones de Audio will work alongside existing distributor Video Audio Representaciones e Ingeniería (VARI), who will continue to supply Genelec solutions to Mexico’s professional audio community.
This new partnership will complement Genelec’s long standing relationship with pro audio distributor VARI, who will continue to serve Genelec’s professional customers in Mexico, particularly those in the important music recording and broadcast segments.
“It is a pleasure to begin our business relationship with Genelec,” declares Jaime Celis, general manager of Representaciones de Audio. “Both companies share family values that strengthen our way of working together. This collaboration will allow us to expand and strengthen our product range, and provide innovative solutions for the integration of AV projects.”
“Representaciones de Audio has an excellent reputation as a serious and reliable company, with a decades-long track record in audio distribution,” adds Miguel Domínguez, Genelec’s sales manager for Latin America. “We know that Representaciones has the capacity to develop the local market significantly, and with VARI continuing to provide their deep experience and knowledge of the professional music and broadcast segments, we see enormous growth potential in Mexico.”
Japan - The Adam Hall Group is further expanding its global sales network. With H. Ito & Co from Tokyo, the event technology provider has gained a new partner who will take over the exclusive distribution of Adam Hall Group brand Cameo lighting technology solutions in Japan with immediate effect.
H. Ito & Co was founded in Tokyo in 1979. In more than 40 years, the company has been able to build up an extensive network of partners and customers as well as constantly expanding its range of services.
"We are excited about the new distribution partnership with the Adam Hall Group," comments Akihiko Sato, president of H. Ito & Co. "Cameo's solutions cover all professional lighting requirements and give us the opportunity to offer new, innovative products to the Japanese lighting industry."
Glenn Lin, business development Manager, Asia Pacific, adds: "Japan has a long and extraordinary cultural tradition, which is also expressed in the professional theatre and event market. We are delighted to have found an experienced partner in H. Ito & Co and are looking forward to seeing where our Cameo spotlights will be used in the near future."
From 14-16 February 2024, H. Ito & Co will present the Cameo portfolio at the ProLight & ProVisual trade fair in Tokyo.
Ticket To Ride - Taylor Swift's concert tour brought in about $1.04bn (£829m) in gross sales across its first 60 shows, a new record, trade publication Pollstar said. Swift’s success came during a bumper year for a concert business. Overall, the top 100 global tours brought in more than $9bn (£7.17bn) this year in gross sales, up 46% from 2022, which had itself seen record-setting spending, Pollstar said.
Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen rounded out the top three concerts of the year. However, Swift, whose tour started in Arizona in March, did not just bring in more money than anyone else. She also did it faster, Pollstar said, and her mass popularity meant she played exclusively to stadiums - which seat bigger crowds. By contrast, it took previous record-setter Elton John 328 shows to bring in $939m (£749m) during his five-year farewell tour, which spanned the pandemic.
"While the data is staggering, Swift's massive success this year shouldn't come as a surprise to any sentient being," Pollstar said. It is the latest record in a year filled with them for Swift, who earned the Person of the Year accolade from Time Magazine.
Small Convenience - A tiny theatre based in a former public toilet in Worcestershire has been put up for sale. The local council currently owns Edith Walk Theatre in Great Malvern, better known as the Theatre of Small Convenience due to its former use. The authority says it is in need of a new owner to help bring it back to its former glory. The theatre seats just 12 people and gained a place in the Gui
UK - Hayden Borgars says that he’s always tended to view the lighting fixtures in his rig as musical instruments, not merely illuminating with them, but also “playing” them in ways that flow with the sound of his clients.
On the just-completed Sacred Blasphemy UK tour by Creeper, Borgars demonstrated his virtuosity on the Chauvet Professional Color Strike M by using the motorised fixture to follow the hauntingly evocative notes played by the band’s keyboardist Hannah Greenwood, and powerful beats by drummer Jack Fogarty.
“Aside from the silhouette looks I got from the Color Strikes, I also used a lot of the fixture’s pixel effects to go along with the key notes from Hannah,” he said. “I also used the clap out effect on both the beam and plate pixels to accent some of the drum hits and whip effects. It’s part of how I treat light as an instrument at points during a show.”
Working with a lighting kit supplied by Colour Sound Experiment, Borgars often went to the lighting equivalent of eerie minor keys with his “lighting instruments” on this tour, which was in support of the Creeper’s hit Sanguivore, an album built around a vampire theme. The band, and many of its fans, dressed to fit this vampiric mood, and Borgars added to the atmosphere with his high contrast Chiaroscuro style of lighting with its dark shadows, as well as with his colour choices.
“We very rarely use front light with Creepers,” said Borgars. “Will Gould, the band’s singer and I took inspiration from old Sisters of Mercy shows, as
USA - Texas Motor Speedway’s (TMS) new Big Hoss TV debuted in September for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoff weekend. Sited on the backstretch of the track, it is made up of digiLED Vision Ultra panels, measures 23,000sq.ft, stands 11 storeys high and, with over 8.2m pixels, it is the equivalent of 4,331 42” TVs. All of this makes it one of the largest screens in the world.
Committed to TMS and partner and installer for the project, GoVision, digiLED custom engineered Vision Ultra, which features specially designed cabinets to enable a 1:1 replacement of the old display.
A key criterion for the replacement screen was to reuse all of the existing steel structure, which in turn removed the need for TMS to repurchase about 15 tons of steel - the existing layout meant that the original power supplies could also be repurposed, all thanks to digiLED’s cleverly designed Vision Ultra cabinets.
The screen was built, tested and shipped within 60 days of the order being placed and Vision Ultra’s cabinet design helped GoVision reduce installation time to five weeks.
While reusing the existing steel was integral for completing the project on time and had the advantage of bringing it in under budget, digiLED was also mindful of the importance this had on reducing environmental impact. The steel industry is responsible for around 7% of CO2 emissions globally, making it one of the world’s top three highest emitting materials, and whilst the industry is working on reducing emissions during production, re-using the existing struc
Vietnam - Located in Rạch Giá, the capital city of Kiên Giang province in southwestern Vietnam, the Kiên Giang Music Theatre plays a significant role as a cultural and artistic hub - not only within the province but also throughout the wider region.
In addition to presenting contemporary programme material, the venue has gained recognition for its commitment to preserving and promoting the revered folk-art form of ‘cải lương’ - a complex artistic genre that blends traditional melodies with various musical instruments. The theatre therefore serves as a prominent focal point for national cultural exchange and enrichment, and audiences can expect performances and production values of the utmost artistic quality.
When the time came to modernise the sound system at the large theatre, many considerations came into play. Beyond the seamless coverage and sonic finesse required to clearly convey the nuanced content and powerful emotions of the traditional performances, the system also needed to provide ample output capacity for contemporary program material.
To achieve this goal, integrator Truong Thinh worked closely with experts from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to specify a solution including two hangs of nine Electro-Voice X1 line-array loudspeakers supported by 10 X12-128 dual-18” subwoofers, all driven by Dynacord IPX series power amplifiers, along with multiple Electro-Voice ETX and EKX powered speakers serving as fills and stage monitors, and a selection of Electro-Voice wired/wireless microphones to capture every detail on stage.
USA - Pittsburgh Penguins fans are enjoying an even more dynamic game experience this season with the installation of Ayrton Zonda 9 FX LED moving head washes beneath the new scoreboard at the PPG Paints Arena. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of Ayrton lighting in North America.
Kevin Hogan, the lighting designer and programmer for the NHL team since 2005 and the owner of Pittsburgh-based Process of Illumination LLC, chose eight Zonda 9 FX fixtures for the new scoreboard, which is part of an arena upgrade by the Fenway Sports Group (owners of the team since late 2021). Designed and built by Mitsubishi Electric, the much larger, four-sided scoreboard features 50ft LED panels around a hollow central core with two Zonda 9 FX positioned on the lower mounting rail of each panel.
It was Ayrton’s promotional video for the fixtures that sparked Hogan’s interest in using Zonda 9 FX. “It was all I needed to see,” he recalls. “The Zonda 9 FX was an amazing fixture with so many features built in, including the LiquidEffect and individual pixel control. I hadn’t seen anything else like it. It was a great quality wash light with eye candy effects that were second to none - exactly what I would like for the new scoreboard.”
Hogan talked to Rick McKinney at long-time equipment supplier Main Light about seeing the Zonda 9 FX in person. “Main Light has a reputation for being one of the best partners you could ask for in this business,” he says. “They are always advancing their inventory, so it was no surprise that they had added Zon
Belgium - The historic Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles has upgraded its digital communications to a Green-GO system as part of a wider investment in its AV and IP infrastructure.
Green-GO distributor Luc Buytaert, manager of the technical department at Audio Visual Lighting bv was approached by the theatre and Riva Audio AudioVisual Solutions to design and specify a new IP-based digital system, to replace an older setup that was no longer supported or fit for purpose. It was part of the second phase of the theatre’s complete AV upgrade.
“The brief was to provide the users and technicians a more flexible and integrated communication solution, replacing the old system which was limited to a single line party extension,” says Frederic Vard, managing director at Riva. “We analysed a range of possible technologies and found that Green-GO products met all the requirements of a full IP integration. For example, the ability to add macro at every push of a button allowed us to achieve all of what was required, and we’re impressed by the power of the system and the ease of use of the configuration program.”
Green-GO stations are now installed in multiple positions in the theatre, including the front desk, stages, offices, changing rooms, and using mobile devices, meaning the entire team is making use of the new system.
The theatre has invested in 12 Green-GO Beltpack X devices, one Dante Interface X - which links up to eight audio streams from and into the Green-GO network and converts with quality loss - and four Slim Audio Interface
UK - Every year in the latter part of July, York Racecourse stages the Live After Racing concert series. This event results from a collaborative effort between EnTEEtainment and Music Plus Sport, offering attendees a blend of daytime horse racing and evening live music. Since 2021, Adlib has orchestrated the audio environment for this event.
Adlib's account manager, Richy Nicholson, notes that this is the third year that Adlib has supported York Racecourse and Music Plus Sport: “Dick Tee from EnTEEtainment brought us onboard, and I think York Racecourse may have been one of the first shows we looked after in 2021 post-COVID," he says.
“The primary objective for York Racecourse in hosting these gigs was to provide a concert-grade experience to audience members across the 300 metres, and the lawn within the track, as well as to additional VIP areas,” Billy Bryson, system tech at Adlib explains. The challenge was to accomplish this without compromising sightlines for racegoers during the day, as well as ensuring that no concert infrastructure obstructed the racing event. Adlib achieved this by using L-Acoustics' technology, placing a priority on sound quality while keeping the concert infrastructure discreet.
The system design centred around long throw K1 loudspeakers. Bryson explained, "K1 was the obvious choice to tackle the large audience areas, with delay locations constricted by the racecourse layout.”
Main hangs consisted of 12 K1 over four Kara II down per side with side/out-fill stacks of six Kara II per side. Three delay towers
UK - The Christmas season traditionally brings with it magical and immersive eco-trails, with lighting and imaginative soundtracks replacing the more natural effects. Among these is Eden Project’s Music & Lights after dark experience, which runs during the month of December.
Based nearby in Cornwall, technology specialists (and Martin Audio partners) TruCru were brought in to provide a seamless audio experience. According to project manager, Toby Bodman, after much deliberation this was achieved by deploying Martin Audio’s weatherised CDD6-WR in a flown configuration to create seamless transitions and ensure maximum intelligibility of both the narrative and a soundtrack that varied from orchestral to ambient music.
This year, the sales and rental company turned its attention to the Rainforest Biome after having also helped stage events previously in different areas across the site.
They have also undertaken a series of audio-visual installations at Eden Project -often drawing on Martin Audio’s CDD (coaxial differential dispersion) technology -while at the same time systematically being engaged to spice up the client’s live events.
To keep the trail experience fresh, this year the emphasis moved more from the Med Biome to the Rainforest, and with it came a brief to avoid some of the hotspotting apparent in previous years. “Rather than a rapid drop off in sound from zone to zone, they wanted a nice even coverage across the whole Biome, so we started to approach things quite differently.
“We weighed up options at the design
France - Audio network specialist and equipment manufacturer AuviTran celebrated its 20th anniversary during the JTSE (Journées Techniques du Spectacle et de l'Événement) show held in 29-30 November 2023. The celebration was an appropriate occasion for the AuviTran team to gather their long-time partners, clients and integrators, and raise their glasses to ‘past projects and future endeavours’.
Founded in 2003 by Yves Ansade, Jérémie Weber, Wlodek Sielski and Robert Morgan-Males, Grenoble-based AuviTran has built and developed its expertise on audio networking solutions.
In its early days, AuviTran focused on developing and deploying EtherSound-based solutions to serve OEM and integrator customers worldwide. The company rapidly extended its expertise to designing its own hardware solutions and was soon able to address a broader issue: bridging the gap between major audio networking technologies.
The release of the flagship Audio ToolBox Suite, comprising of the audio platforms and an ever-expanding series of cards designed to connect various audio protocols such as Dante, AVB, AES67 or MADI, but also provide audio functions (Mic/Line, GPIO, SRC, etc.), was well received by both the live and installation markets.
Today, AuviTran solutions not only power prestigious venues worldwide, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Stade de France, but also festivals (Bastille Day fireworks in Paris) and famous theme parks (Disneyland and Puy du Fou).
Over the years, AuviTran has gained a solid reputation and stance as a high-end manufactu
UK - Multi award-winning Scarisbrick Hall School in Ormskirk, Lancashire has just opened Oak Theatre & Studios, where an Audient ASP8024-HE has been installed, along with 33 iD4 audio interfaces in a dedicated music programming Mac lab.
The opening of the newly built theatre and arts buildings heralds the beginning of a new era for the school. It not only puts music technology firmly on the curriculum, but also provides a high-end studio for hire with a gothic-style backdrop.
Oak Theatre & Studios was designed from the ground up with recording flexibility in mind. The fact that it is available for commercial use as well as teaching is something technical manager Ross Krige was careful to consider when specifying the Audient console. “Overall I’ve tried to keep the studio very simple for learning but still accessible for external hire,” he explains.
For the 10-13-year-olds, Ross has set up a Music Technology Club, with a view to demystifying the song recording process. Here the youngsters “start learning how songs are recorded and what ‘that person sat behind the desk’ does at theatre shows,” he explains. “The students will be recording some songs of their choosing - within reason - and I’ll be teaching the basics of mic-ing and how to use a console.”
Older students (GCSE/A-Level) have the option of joining the more advanced club where they pick up more professional techniques around the studio as well as in the theatre. “The aim of this club is for them to be able to participate in the shows and/or recordings we
UK - Global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, with over 6,000 employees across 70 offices in 30 countries, has recently revamped its UK head office on Baker Street, London. Seeking audio-visual solutions for the second and third floors, Oliver Wyman partnered with AV experts Insight Visual Systems.
The ambitious project aimed to outfit over 60 spaces of varying sizes and functions, ranging from expansive meeting rooms to more intricate and flexible audio solutions for smaller spaces. With a substantial £1m budget, Insight proposed a solution featuring industry-leading brands to align with global standards and seamlessly integrate with the office's fresh decor.
On agreement of the proposal, Insight engaged distributor Audiologic to help facilitate and source equipment for the project. According to Matthew McGill, managing director, at Insight, "The Audiologic team supported the project throughout, advising on solutions and ensuring competitive pricing and timely stock delivery, for a smooth project execution."
A major highlight of the installation is the video conferencing solution in Oliver Wyman's Large Standard Meeting Room. The setup features Sennheiser Team Connect 2 beam-forming array microphones, with coverage of up to 80m2 and QSC AD-C6T-LP ceiling loudspeakers, QSC Core Nano audio processor, Audinate Dante AVIO 2 Channel Adapters, and a QSC SPA2-60 amplifier. Audio control is facilitated through a QSC TSC-70-G3 touch panel.
To ensure consistency and user-friendly experiences, most spaces are equipped with the same technology, o
USA - Drawing on a deep repertoire of chart-topping songs, John Mayer is one of the rare artists able to fill ‘A level’ arenas as a true solo act. The success of his recently concluded Solo Acoustic Tour relied on an intimate connection with his audience, accomplished aurally via a reinforcement system of Meyer Sound Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers provided by UltraSound.
The spring leg of the tour kicked off on March 11 at New Jersey’s Prudential Centre and wrapped at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum before Mayer embarked on a summer tour with Dead & Company - also supported by a Panther-based system from UltraSound.
The fall leg was another east-to-west marathon, launching at Madison Square Garden with the November finale again at the Kia Forum. The FOH engineer for both the solo legs and the triumphant final tour by Dead & Company was Derek Featherstone, who also wears the hat of UltraSound CEO.
According to Featherstone, mixing one voice accompanied by guitar or piano is not the simple chore it might seem. “With one vocal and one instrument, there is nothing for the artist or engineer to hide behind,” he points out. “The mix is either right or wrong. The detail in compression and effects is plainly audible so you have to mix with greater accuracy.”
Accordingly, he continues, the touring rig kept him on his toes. “The Panther system reacts accurately to subtle mix changes, especially in this stripped-down environment. With just a voice and guitar it’s critical that the PA does not influence tonality. T
USA - Blowing away crowds with his blasts of dubstep beats and trashing techno shreds at one turn, then picking up a guitar the next to venture forth into dreamy dance tunes, Gryffin is a one-person ensemble of diverse sounds.
This was evident during the artist’s recent performance at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Taking the stage in his trademark baseball jersey, Gryffin treated fans to a dynamic, EDM-infused set, as he performed on the stage and an exposed-scaffold riser.
Keeping pace with him and reflecting his energy with colours and motion was a compelling stage production by lighting designer Julie Reux, content creator/VJ Eddie Perez, and TM Jonny Stiegler. Like the artist’s performance on stage, the looks supporting him were multi-faceted, while still being perfectly harmonious.
“Everything about any show I do begins with balance,” said Reux, owner of Black Lantern Creative. “Our team wanted to give every visual aspect of the show a unique character. At the same we wanted everything to create this single, seamless cinematic visual feel.”
Contributing to this immersive aura was a collection of 4Wall Entertainment supplied Chauvet Professional fixtures that included 90 Color Strike M motorised strobe/blinders, 30 COLORado PXL Bar 16 motorised tilting battens, 12 Strike 1 units, and 12 R2X Washes.
Run in 74 channel mode, the Color Strike M fixtures were flown on stage left and stage right vertical truss, as well as on three rows of raked overhead truss. From these positions, the fixtures filled a va
South Africa - Atlantic Studios, Cape Town is a multi-stage film and television production facility and hub of creative activity serving the Western Cape and far beyond.
One of its current productions (produced by HBC Broadcasting Solutions) is the South African edition of Deal or No Deal (DoND), the popular risk-taking gameshow where contestants make seat-edge decisions on whether to accept a cash offer from 'the banker' in exchange for what might - or might not - be contained in a series of unassuming boxes.
Lighting designer Daniel Louw is using some new Robe Esprites which were purchased by HBC for this show and delivered by Robe’s South African distributor, DWR at the start of the recording period in February.
Dan is a freelance lighting designer / director and has worked on several projects at the studios which also has other Robe moving lights - Pointes, miniPointes, LEDBeam 100s and ParFects.
When he created the original lighting design and specification for Deal or No Deal, he wanted some moving lights to add dynamics and movement to the overall pictures and shots.
The recording schedule is intense with a total of 260 episodes which are broadcasting on SABC 1 until the end of March 2024. Twenty contestants start each round of the competition, hopeful of scoring the big money, and it’s proving a massive hit with South African audiences.
Dan wanted a light that was versatile, with a good CRI, a selection of CT whites and that was available at short notice as the investment was green lighted with on
Germany - Wacken fans don't let the weather stop them. It's not for nothing that ‘rain or shine’ is the rallying cry of party-loving metal fans who travel to northern Germany from all corners of the world for Wacken Open Air (WOA).
This year, metalheads had to be particularly strong. Days of constant rain had so softened the ‘Holy Ground’ of the festival site that a travel stop had to be imposed for the first time in the festival’s history. Anyone who made it onto the grounds though still got the full Wacken experience, including knee-deep mud.
Lighting designer Jerry Appelt, who has been associated with the massive metal festival for 20 years, has also experienced a lot in Wacken. “I am emotionally attached to the festival,” he said. “It was remarkable how the organisers dealt with the very difficult situation this year.”
More than ever, Elation’s Proteus series of weatherproof lights showed its advantages under such adverse weather conditions with 72 Proteus Maximus and 48 Proteus Excalibur an integral part of the lighting design.
Technically, Jerry, who designed the lighting for the two main stages, relied on a mix of new and tried-and-tested for WOA 2023. On a festival of this size, the primary aim is to provide the most multifunctional setup possible to suit the many bands yet additional focus is placed on the recognition value of the festival. “Visitors should know at first glance that they are at Wacken. The look and feel of the festival must of course be continued from year to year. This is a very clear wish of t
USA - At times it seemed that everything that could go wrong would go wrong at the one-day Desert Sky Music Festival in Chandler, AZ. Not only did rain delay the 2pm start of the first act by over 30 minutes, but once the music started playing, bumps in the road kept threatening to derail the best-laid plans.
“The event gods were not smiling on us,” said John Garberson of Creative BackStage, who set up production for Desert Sky. “It rained off and on for eight hours, creating a lot of mud. There was a power outage, a medical emergency, though fortunately that turned out ok, and networking issues that disrupted the sound and lighting.”
Still, no one in the sold-out crowd of 15,000 was thinking about any of these snafus when the curtain went down on the festival late that night. They were too busy savouring the good times, and the rollicking music they just enjoyed by an enthusiastic group of performers, including headliner Lainey Wilson, 2023 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year.
Setting an upbeat tone for the festival that overshadowed any of the issues at its start were the immersive lightshows that seemed to fit each artist’s music and personality like pair of tailor-made jeans. The Creative BackStage team made that happen through some careful planning and the thoughtful placement of over 75 versatile Chauvet Professional fixtures in the festival rig.
“There were no band riders for this festival,” said Garberson. “None of the acts came in with a lighting plot. I had to anticipate what would work best for each artist and the visit
USA - Front-of-house engineer Joe Vegna (Loreen, Peter Jöback, Stefan Sundström, Lolita Pop, Pernilla Andersson) has chosen the Waves eMotion LV1 Live Mixer and Waves plugins for the 2023 tour of Swedish ensemble Stonemountain Orchestra.
Describing his choice of the Waves eMotion LV1 for this tour, Vegna comments: “In two words: sound quality. The LV1’s sound is exceptional. I was looking for a console that sounds amazing and is also small enough to actually tour with when going into smaller venues.
“My good friend Rompa (FOH, Ronny Bernstein), who tours with the rock band Europe, has been using the eMotion LV1 for years and always raves about how good it sounds. So I thought I’d give it a go for an earlier tour I did this spring with Peter Jöback. And wow, it did not disappoint. That tour was very challenging, but with the LV1 I could do things that no other console can.”
He continues: “So, when it was time to plan the Stonemountain Orchestra tour, I sat down with Sebastian Wennergren, our monitor engineer, to figure out if it could be done on the LV1 system. This band is very demanding, and everything has to sound absolutely perfect, both in the PA and all IEMs. However, the console still has to be small enough to be in and out quickly in a variety of venues. The LV1 fit the bill and, again, did not disappoint.”
“Another benefit,” he adds, “is that any of the eight plugin slots can be sidechained individually. For example, on the bass I can have one compressor that reacts to the actual bass, another that reacts to the
USA - We Came As Romans recently wrapped the fall leg of their Darkbloom II headlining tour, a 30-date run with a lighting system from Bandit Lites. The metalcore band kicked off on 10 October in Indianapolis and made its way throughout the country, culminating in Nashville, Tennessee on 19 November.
Lighting designer Corbin Alvae worked with guitarist Lou Cotton and bassist Andy Glass who sought to recreate a ‘black hole’ style stage design and update it with a space feel. A 10ft diameter circle truss was outlined with Elation ACL 360i fixtures as well as Elation DTW Blinder IP 65 fixtures.
“The band played around with different ideas and concepts, but the final look that was seen on this tour was absolutely solid looking and how everything panned out at the end looked wild,” said Alvae.
The large circle truss required them to adjust depending on the stage space and trim height clearances as well as having alternative layouts.
“When Corbin approached me in August to begin designing this tour, the goal was an arena look in a club tour,” said Bandit Lites client representative Mark Scherer. “Presenting the bands idea of a ‘black hole’, we worked to pick fixtures that would have a big impact in a club setting. His design looked enormous on the club stages while maintaining a smaller footprint to fit into all venues. His design skills and talent led this to become a powerful rig that complimented the band’s massive sound.”
“The Elation ACL 360i fixtures shined bright,” said Alvae. “With the ability to do
New Zealand - JPRO is celebrating 35 years of success and dedication to excellence. Since its inception in 1988, JPRO has been at the forefront of the AV distribution industry, supplying world leading brands, providing local support and customer satisfaction.
Established in 1988, JPRO began as the demand for JBL Professional products increased in New Zealand. Over the past three and a half decades, the company has evolved into a powerhouse, with a diverse portfolio of brands, customised solutions, technical expertise and consistently exceeding customer expectations.
JPRO's success story is not just about its products and services but also about the enduring partnerships it has forged with suppliers and customers over the years. The company takes pride in collaborating with a diverse range of clients, from the small one-man integrator to multinational corporations, fostering relationships built on trust, mutual growth and a passion for the AV industry.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Bruce Gray, founder and director of JPRO, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from clients, employees and suppliers. “Reaching 35 years in the distribution industry is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire JPRO team. Our achievements could not have been made without the partnerships and relationships built on respect and friendship with our suppliers and customers. These are testament to the mutual longevity of our businesses. Thank you for being the most important part of our journey.”
As JPRO celebrates its 35th birthday, th
UK - Burna Boy took to the stage at London Stadium in June as part of his Love, Damini tour. The production team trusted professional audio and video partner Solotech, which relied on Shure’s Axient Digital Wireless System and software solutions to deliver audio and a spectacular show.
The production team aimed for a robust and reliable sound system that could handle 40 channels accommodating Burna Boy, his core band, an 11-piece marching band, and a 10-piece choir. A sophisticated range of the Shure Axient Digital Wireless System equipment was selected and deployed by Jamie Skey, hire project manager - live productions at Solotech, and Valentin James, RF technician at Solotech.
Jamie Skey said: “Having extensive experience with Shure wireless products in the field, I was confident we could achieve exceptional performance, even in the congested RF environment. Shure’s Axient Digital Wireless System was the only solution considered by the production engineers for this high-profile production.”
As part of the Shure solutions used for the performance, the Solotech team also chose the Shure AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager along with Shure’s software solutions Wireless Workbench (WWB), Showlink, and Wavetool by Shure, crucial tools to monitor and control RF during the show.
“In terms of microphones, we harnessed Quadversity and Frequency Diversity within the Axient Digital product family, to ensure a robust performance on the lead vocal. The integration with Wireless Workbench 6 software and the new AD600 spectrum manager
UK - Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Howard Jones this year celebrated 40 years in the music business.
Having toured extensively in Europe, Asia, and North America during 2023, Jones returned in October to conclude his live schedule with a UK theatre tour. The 10-night tour, which included nights at the London Palladium and Birmingham Symphony Hall, demonstrated the star’s versatility. A full-on synth-driven electronic attack was complemented by acoustic trio and solo sections which showed off Jones’ talents as a pianist.
Liverpool-based production specialists Adlib took care of the audio, with the tour opting for a Coda Audio system based around the company’s ViRAY compact line array. Coda has been FOH engineer Chicky Reeves’ choice for Howard Jones since he began working with the artist in 2016, having first encountered the brand some years earlier while on tour with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
He describes his first experience with ViRAY: “I’d initially been reluctant to stray from what I was used to, but having been persuaded to take the system out with OMD, I haven’t looked back. When we set up for our first show, which was more of a production rehearsal with an audience, I walked in as the system tech was finishing setting it up. He had a track playing that I knew quite well and I was immediately smitten with the sound. I knew the track, I knew the room, and I’d never heard this combination sound so good before.
“I was absolutely stunned. After that, we took it on several tours - when I started with Ho