USA - EDM may appear like a lot of random flashing, but puts a lighting console through a stress test quite unlike any other. Without the luxury of a script or a set list, the EMD lighting designer has to create an infinite series of dramatic looks that match the feel of the music and support the strong video images that are another hallmark of the genre.

Tom Schneider, an ETC tech and console trainer in the company's Hollywood office, has designed and operated EDM shows since he was old enough to sneak out of the house to light raves in warehouses. He believes that Eos is the perfect tool for the job - "What really sets this console apart from other high end consoles is the effects engine. It's pretty cool. The effects engine is programmable to anything I could possibly want."

While big US events like Electronic Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo and the Ultra Music Festi

USA - Some may say bigger is better when it comes to speakers, but in this case Avalon Hollywood's owner and audio expert John Lyons says, "It's a matter of being louder, cleaner and clearer."

The new system, which was unveiled during Grammy weekend at Hollywood's historic venue Avalon two weeks ago, features Powersoft's new M-Force technology - and is claimed to be the world's largest subwoofer club installation ever.

While other venues may opt for sound systems featuring a du jour brand, Avalon has its own namesake speaker series. No stranger to conceptualizing game changing speakers, owner John Lyons is an audio expert responsible for installing sound systems at some of the world's leading nightclubs.

Making this new speaker a realisation is a feat that Lyons and premier audio engineers at EAW and Powersoft have worked rigorously for two years to perfect. "

UAE - A new company, Broadcast Wireless Systems, has been established to offer expertise, agility and objective advice on specialist broadcast RF requirements and will make its debut at CABSAT 2015 in Dubai in March.

Formed by wireless experts Stuart Brown and Max Zaja, with more than 60 years' experience between them with the likes of Cobham, Link Research, Tandberg/Ericsson, Vislink and the BBC, Broadcast Wireless Systems now provides high-level sales, service and support of best-in-class wireless systems from a variety of manufacturers.

Broadcast Wireless Systems commercial director Stuart Brown said, "Our depth of experience means that we can design and implement bespoke wireless products and systems that precisely meet client needs for specific applications.

"New technologies now enable production teams to reliably reach places on land, sea or sky, limited onl

South Africa - Wild & Marr, the South African distributor for Harman Professional, will be hosting two exciting Harman BSS Audio workshops in Johannesburg during March 2015. The workshops will be presented by Justin Hankey, Application Engineer for Networking and Installed Sound at Harman.

The target audience for the classes would primarily be AV Programmers and Systems Integrators as well as audio designers and anyone else in the professional audio industry that require a better understanding of Audio Architect, networked audio signal processors and digital audio networking protocols and systems.

The first workshop is an Introductory Course to HiQnet Audio Architect, which is the software platform that is used to configure, control and monitor BSS Audio Soundweb London and the Crown DriveCore Install Network Series.

Soundweb London is an award-winning product line of digita

USA - The second edition of PLASA Focus Orlando, the regional event for the live entertainment technology industry, has been branded a resounding success by both visitors and exhibitors alike. Attracting record numbers of attendees, the popular event offered networking opportunities and hosted many over-sold education sessions presented by top industry speakers including Richard Pilbrow - lighting designer, theatre design consultant and author and Jim Hutchison, customer engagement and education manager for Chauvet Professional.

Taking place on 17-18 February at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, PLASA Focus Orlando proved to be a vibrant networking hub for 64 live entertainment technology brands and more than 840 attendees. "This has been by far the best PLASA Focus event so far," said Geoffrey Platt, product training specialist at TMB. "We had steady, quality visitors each

UK - Clay Paky fixtures have delivered an epic rock show for metalcore five-piece Bring Me The Horizon's sold out date at the SSE Arena Wembley, with lighting designer Ben Inskip choosing them for their power and aerial effects.

The Sheffield-born group has recently been experimenting with video content, leading to the incorporation of a large upstage projection surface in the design for Wembley - their biggest show to date. To complement this, Inskip specified Clay Paky Sharpys, Alpha Beam 700s and Alpha Beam 300s from leading rental company Siyan.

"My aim was to create an interesting overhead truss layout that would work with the projection instead of fighting it," says Inskip. "I then used eight Sharpys on a downstage Chevron-shaped truss to create wide architectural looks that extended to the overhead set up. They were fantastic for creating some really inte

Germany - Having updated the audio systems in its Ü2 and Ü3 radio OB trucks back in 2013, Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) operates integrated systems of Lawo production and on-air products. At its Nuremberg Regional Studio, BR is now replacing another two aged OB vans (Ü1 and Ü2) with new vehicles that have a largely identical configuration.

Mixes of all kinds are handled by Lawo mc²66 consoles, providing the recording, sources and TB signals needed for large-scale live events using a sapphire mastercard-equipped DALLIS router frame. The different processes are visualized and operated by way of a multi-page graphical user interface with touchscreen operation. This is where the VisTool software provided by Lawo's radio tools portfolio comes into its own. For the playout - also in multichannel mode - it is possible to dock a sapphire console at any time.

UK - CPL brought more festive sparkle to an independent Bristol based energy supplier, when they delivered full technical production - video, sound, lighting and rigging - for their Christmas conference and party, again working for producers Bright.

The event was staged at Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol - a vast and charismatic former bottling factory now transformed into a lively film and TV studio facility. However, the actual area utilized for the party had not previously been used as an event space, so it was specially modified for the occasion.

CPL's crew of 12 were led by project manager Simon Haydon and they worked closely on site with Bright and set and stage builders, Flat Earth.

The event area was divided into two. The largest space, Room 2, was built as a plenary conference environment during the day for 400 delegates, and then completely transformed into a large,

Canada - Award-winning musical Once returned to Canada on 10 February to start a 111-day run at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre. Having enjoyed a particularly successful stint in the city during the show's North American Tour in 2013, Once's producers decided to re-visit for an extended stay. Sound designer, Clive Goodwin, has created a new audio concept for the production that is, once again, formed around a Funktion-One sound system.

Set in modern day Dublin, Once is the story of a guy who gives up on his love of music and the girl who inspires him to dream again. The show is being performed by an all-Canadian cast of actor-musicians. A 63-day run was announced last year but demand for tickets, even before it opened, has seen that extend by almost seven-weeks.

Commenting on the production's continuing success, Goodwin says, "I think Once connect

USA - Seeking to provide exceptional audio quality for its diverse speech and music programmes, the Penn State Great Valley graduate school has recently installed a Meyer Sound Mina line array loudspeaker system in its 300-seat Warren V. Musser Auditorium.

"With Mina, we have future-proofed the room for any future needs," says Dave Brotman, president of Coatesville, Penn.-based DBS Audio Systems, which handled system design and integration. "Mina's clarity and coverage easily take care of all current speech requirements for educational uses and corporate conference rentals. Beyond that, the room is also ready for extremely high-quality music reinforcement, which allows it to double as an intimate performing arts venue."

Twin flown arrays of nine-each Mina loudspeakers seamlessly cover the steeply raked auditorium from front to back with a 500-HP subwoofer h

Canada - Elation Professional has announced that SF Marketing, Inc. has been appointed the exclusive Canadian distributor for Elation Professional products in Canada. SFM has been providing professional-quality products and services to the audio visual and live entertainment industries in Canada since 1978.

"As they say, timing is everything and as Elation's product range has expanded more into the pro-specification lighting professional market, now is the right time for us to find the right partners and sales team to push to the next level stated Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. "SFM is a well-respected distribution company with a long history of taking care of their customers with top-notch service / support and has the resources to help grow the business by offering inventory on demand and flexible financing terms allowing Elation customers t

UK - HHB Communications has been named RTW's distributor for the UK and Ireland with immediate effect.

RTW is a German professional audio manufacturer renowned for developing innovative instruments and technologies for visual audio monitoring in broadcast, production, post-production and quality control. A leader in loudness technology, RTW pioneered the development of audio monitoring and metering with the TouchMonitor range by incorporating a top-notch loudness system.

RTW continues to innovate in the field of loudness monitoring with the introduction of the Loudness Tools Masterclass plug-in. RTW CEO Andreas Tweitmann commented, "The DPP's adoption of EBU R128 loudness standards has made the UK a very important market for innovative audio loudness tools. HHB is the UK's leading authority on loudness technology and we are confident in their expertise to deliver the best

Monaco - The Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo hosted a major gathering for Herbalife (the bio-nutrition global giant - The Future President's Team Retreat, which brings together the most successful leaders of the multinational. The result is an event lasting five days, with a daily audience of 2,500, carefully planned and perfectly prepared, in a district of professionalism that doesn't admit mistakes.

Once again the technical production of the event was entrusted to Planet Service, longtime partner of Herbalife in the design and setup of its most important projects worldwide.

And once again lighting - extremely important in an event that combines corporate message and visual appeal - was entrusted to the D.T.S. moving heads: over 90 units were installed by Planet Service, including RAPTOR, JACK and NRG 1201 models.

(Jim Evans)

South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa (GHSA)'s Ryan Dunbar became the latest South African lighting designer to be impressed with Robe's new BMFL fixtures after using the Bright Multi-Functional Luminaire at the 2015 CCI Call Centre Awards staged at Durban International Convention Centre (DICC).

The annual event welcomes 2000 guests for an evening of entertainment and fun. This year the organisers asked GHSA to design a custom stage - complete with runway leading from the main to a circular satellite stage where Awards were presented mid-audience - as well as supply the lighting, audio and video.

As well as the BMFLs, Ryan also used nearly 100 other Robe moving lights - 24 x Pointes, 48 x LEDWash 600s and 24 x LEDBeam 100s, together with 48 x Robe LEDForce PARs ... and a selection of other lights.

The BMFLs were positioned at the four corners of the stage on the floor and us

UK - With little over a week to go before this year's ISCEx2015, the Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers is reporting a record number of companies exhibiting.

The two-day networking event, taking place at the picturesque rural location of Coombe Abbey, a four-star country house hotel outside Coventry, will bring consultants, specifiers and manufacturers together under one roof. Following the AGM during the afternoon of Wednesday, 3 March, a networking dinner, with comedian Lea Roberts, will serve as a curtain-raiser for the following day's exhibition.

Wednesday, 4 March will also feature an active programme of seminars - building on the previous day's RF address by Alan March, in which he will provide updates on the Radio Spectrum.

Topics for Day 2 include: Is the market ready for audio over IP (presented by Kevin Sherwood, sales director, CIE-Group): T

USA - The in-store radio architecture is typically a patchwork of systems and components from different sources to deliver music and advertising to businesses, with challenging scenarios for licensing music and audio content. The formation of StoreStreams aims to simplify the launch and management of a multi-site in-store radio system, cleanly integrating IT network infrastructure with audio players-and providing the content, licensing and user interface to ensure a unified and profitable service.

StoreStreams brings together the music catalogue and network intelligence of XYZ Stream Hosting, a specialist in live, multiplatform content delivery; with end point hardware supplied through LineQ, a distributor specializing in networked AV equipment. LineQ will supply Ecler Sound amplifiers, Cornered Sound loudspeakers and media players from Barix, an IP audio pioneer with hundreds o

USA - Barco, in collaboration with experiential design firm The Barncyz Group, is bringing the majesty of live Broadway shows and entertainment to the sidewalks of Cleveland's renovated theatre district with its innovative, interactive LCD advertising kiosks and outdoor LED displays.

With the goal of bringing its marketing power to the street while elevating the quality and breadth of the organization's digital assets, Playhouse Square is engaging audiences with a series of Barco advertising kiosks to promote its robust line-up of entertainment. The United States' largest performing arts centre outside of New York City, Playhouse Square has recently undergone an architectural transformation, with sponsors breathing new life into its historic theatre district to attract both old and new generations to the live performance hub.

Chief creatologist Danny Barnycz was engaged to con

Czech Republic - Karel Gott is the best known and most successful ever Czech singer. His career spans over 50 years and has been highly innovative, spawned numerous international hits, selling millions of records, earning multiple awards plus a devoted following as well as having to embrace political expediency during the years of (then) Czechoslovakia's Communist years and under occupation by the USSR.

He arranged a massive farewell tour in 1990, which was such a huge success ... that he decided to continue his musical career to the delight of his fans both in the Czech Republic, Germany, the many other ex-Soviet Bloc countries where he also has a huge following as well as his international fan-base. He has also become an accomplished painter.

Robe was proud to participate in Karel Gott's latest arena tour at the end of 2014 which featured eight high profile concerts, five in

Germany - In the film The Miracle of Bern, director Sönke Wortmann tells the story of the unexpected German victory in the 1954 World Cup in Bern and, at the same time, focuses on the difficulties of a prisoner of war who returns home and fails to re-adjust to his old life. However, in conjunction with the German team's success, the ex-POW draws closer again to his son and his family. Stage Entertainment took this story and made it into a musical, which was staged in Hamburg for the first time at the end of 2014 with the same title.

Among the equipment lighting designer Andreas Fuchs chose for the production were 53 Alpha Profile 1500 STs, 18 Alpha Profile 800 STs and 30 A.leda B-EYE K20s, all made by Clay Paky, along with one grandMA2 light, one grandMA2 ultra-light, two MA 8Port Nodes, two MA Network Processing Units (NPUs) and 26 12 x 2.3 kVA MA digital dimmers.

Fuc

USA - First established in the 1980's, Centennial Covenant Church has continued to grow in the south suburbs of Denver and in 1997 they found their permanent home in Littleton, CO. Now 18 years later, the congregation found themselves in need of a complete architectural and entertainment lighting renovation.

Working with Cuningham Group Architecture, the architect turned to The MH Companies to create their dynamic new lighting design which consisted of 18 Showline SL PAR 150 ZOOM luminaires, seven Philips Selecon PLprofile1 LED luminaires, and a 250ML lighting control console from Philips Strand Lighting.

"We moved into this site a long time ago and with two services every Sunday and multiple events consistently taking place during the week, we needed a full lighting renovation," began David Dillon, music director, Centennial Covenant Church. "In the early stage

UK - From Monday 2 March 2015, the Marquee Group, comprising leading UK installers Marquee AV and Marquee Home, will be relocating to Unit 5 Shepperton Business Park, Govett Avenue, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8BA. The company's telephone number remains the same, 01784 430404.

"The new premises are just six miles from our current Egham location, so convenient for staff and no disruption in the service to our customers," said Marquee AV MD, Mark Brown. "The building provides well over double space and is located on a modern business park. Energy efficiency has been a high priority in the new lighting and heating systems we have installed throughout the building.

"The new building has also allowed us many opportunities," continued Brown. "These include the construction of offices with custom-built work stations, a well-equipped system build area, se

UK - For the most recent run of Thames TV/SycoTV's popular talent search, The X Factor, XL Video supplied custom video set-ups for several of the guest artist appearances.

Working with One Direction and their creative director, Lee Lodge, XL Video provided 144 Barco MiStrip LED batons which were housed in a custom structure created by design studio, Artisan, as a backdrop for the band's performance of their recent single Steal My Girl. The MiStrips complemented a sea of lasers behind the band, and content for the batons was controlled by two of XL's d3 media servers.

When Take That performed as a three-piece on The X Factor's Sunday night results show, their production director, Chris Vaughan, contacted XL Video to provide projection mapping for a multi-surface stage set which incorporated more than 40 blocks of varying sizes.

For this mapped projection,

World - The Philips Strand Lighting centenary competition to upcycle a vintage Strand PATT 23 or 123 lamp has announced its three finalists. The competition saw much success with numerous international entrants and 175 people following the Pinterest inspiration board.

Award-winning architectural lighting designer Paul Nulty's Anamorphosis, architectural lighting designer Joe Vose's Back to The Future and artist/designer Derek Goldsmith's 321 Zero have all reached the final round. The three designs artfully reflect the brand's significant history, whilst giving the iconic luminaires a new lease of life.

"The old Strand designs are classics so it was interesting to see how people responded to the challenge of upcycling them, whilst retaining the heritage of the original products," says Philips lighting application design lead and competition judge

USA - At the request of FOH engineer Jose Rivera, a Meyer Sound Leo and Lyon linear sound reinforcement system was deployed for Marc Anthony's recent mini tour. The shows - which included 360-degree productions in New York and New Jersey - were Anthony's first North American concerts to be heard through a Leo system.

"Everybody was extremely happy with the performance of Leo and Lyon, both on stage and throughout the audience," reports Rivera, who first used Leo at a stadium concert in Peru. "The overall sound was very transparent and open. Vocal intelligibility was impressive, and the separation of instruments made it easy to achieve clarity in the mix. Also, the 1100-LFC units are remarkably musical in the low end. The system did more than we expected it to do.

"Using another system on our last arena tour, we had challenges with sound bleeding back onto t

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