USA/Germany - Funktion-One has delivered upgrades to sound systems at four iconic venues - Cielo and Output in New York, Beta in Denver and Berghain in Berlin. The four nightclubs have benefitted from an intensive period of R&D that has enabled Funktion-One to take product performance to new levels.

The loudspeaker manufacturer's latest development is having a positive impact on owners, operators and their clientele. Company founder, Tony Andrews, reveals, "Funktion-One's continuous quest for fidelity has led to a breakthrough in cone stabilisation, almost eliminating diaphragm b

Belgium - Lighting and visual design practice Painting with Light's new office in the Paardenstallen (stables) at the C-MINE development in Genk, Belgium was officially declared open by Genk Mayor, Wim Dries, at the weekend.

The restoration of the listed building - once home to the Winterslag mine's working ponies - has been a three-year labour of love by Painting with Light founder and CEO Luc Peumans, working together with local architect Ruben Hermans. It also represents completion of the final element of Stage 1 of the wider C-MINE project -- led by Genk City Council - to regenera

USA - The Manchester Grand Hyatt is Southern California's largest hotel. Its 125,000sq.ft of flexible ballrooms and breakout rooms remain booked without pause. However, that tight schedule, while a blessing in every other respect, became the principle challenge in an extensive renovation of the hotel's AV system. Due to their ease of programming, cost effectiveness and complete flexibility when expanding via Dante, San Diego-based Audio Associates chose a number of Symetrix SymNet Radius 12x8 open architecture networked DSPs and affordable SymNet xIn 12 and SymNet xOut 12 I/O expanders

UK - FOH sound engineer, John Delf, has spent the past few years working with a succession of leading artists, ranging from Plan B to the Script and The Feeling - while maintaining his own Edge recording studios in Manchester. During that time he has never been far from Soundcraft's Vi platform as his digital console of choice.

But back in 2012 he also added another rising band to his portfolio when he joined Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer as FOH engineer and tour manager, as they embarked on a two-year arena and stadium world tour supporting One Direction. In just under two year

USA - Legendary FOH engineer 'Big Mick' Hughes, who has mixed more than 1,500 Metallica shows over three decades, is confirmed as a guest speaker on the Meyer Sound Mixing Workshop webinar series. Hughes will be joining programme host and veteran mixer Buford Jones.

In the webinar, Hughes will share his lessons from mixing Metallica, the evolution of his techniques, as well as his approach to selecting equipment from consoles and microphones to loudspeaker systems. An open Q&A will be available for attendees' questions.

The Mixing Workshops take place Wednesday 1 July and Thursday 2

UK - After the success of the New Year Eve specials, Jason Manford's latest venture, It's A Funny Old Week has been commissioned for a series with ITV.

It's A Funny Old Week will take a look at the week's news "from international political crisis to bus stop disputes". Each week Jason is joined by a guest stand-up comedian, looking at the funny side of what has been going on in the world in the past seven days.

Filmed at The London Studios, the new show is lit by lighting designer Roger Williams. His plot comprises of Robin 600 LEDWash, VL1000TS, Sunstrips an

UK - Aurora Lighting Hire is constantly reviewing and updating its available hire products. Most recently, the company turned to Ambersphere Solutions to replenish their followspot stock.

From the Robert Juliat range of followspots, Aurora picked 'Victor', an 1800W discharge spot and 'Alex', a 2000/2500W tungsten model, both from the compact range. Both these units were chosen primarily for their excellent illumination properties, however Robert Juliat has an enviable pedigree in developing products specifically for the television and event markets in which Aurora specialise and the p

USA - After taking a year off from the road to concentrate on recording, Kenny Chesney has launched The Big Revival Tour across North America in support of his album released last year. A large complement of Clay Paky Mythos, Sharpy Washes and Stormy Strobes help Chesney amp up the excitement at his arena and stadium dates.

Chesney kicked off the tour at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena with guests Grace Potter, Taylor Swift, Uncle Kracker, Dave Lee Murphy and Joe Walsh. A four-time Country Music Association and four consecutive Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Ch

Germany - Martin Audio technology partners, Complete Audio recently fielded their premier MLA PA system when the Casper 'Castival' tour - a series of six open air festival type shows in Germany - arrived at the Kindl Bühne Wuhlheide in Berlin (where Complete Audio are based).

"We are supporting the entire Castival Tour - but only with lights, rigging, FOH and monitor desk - the PA systems are usually locally provided," explained Complete Audio MD, André Rauhut. "So basically [in Berlin] we were the local sound provider for our own tour production."

The ve

Spain / Portugal - Currently underway throughout Spain and Portugal until October, the Crambo 360° Experience is intended to educate and create awareness of Absen LED technology for end users, integrators and rental companies in the Iberian AV industry.

Organised by exclusive Spanish distributor for Absen, Crambo Visuales, the roadshow - which began on 29 April in Bilbao - recently stopped at Madrid, La Coruña, and Barcelona, as well as Valencia, Sevilla and Malaga in June before hitting Lisbon, concluding on 15 October in Valladolid.

"The 360 Experience is our most import

Germany - gerdon MEDIADESIGN's Thomas Gerdon recently created another lighting extravaganza at Dortmund's giant dome inside the Westfalenhalle 1 for Mayday, an event that has become an essential fixture in the calendar of Germany's electronic dance music (EDM) fans.

Since 2012, Gerdon has been igniting the Mayday dancefloor with his far-reaching concepts for promoters I-Motion, often integrating LED fixtures from the GLP catalogue. And this year was no exception.

"It is always a challenge to produce an entirely new design every year - especially as it should never remind guests

South Africa / Poland - Johannesburg-based Surgesound and Polish distributor Soundtrade recently undertook successful roadshows across their respective countries to introduce Powersoft's new X-Series, with its worldwide compatible three phase power supply and advanced channel routing system.

Headed by Surgesound MD, Andrew Rowan, and technical product manager, Ruan Joubert, the tour started in Bloemfontein and travelled through Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban before finishing in Johannesburg. Supporting the event from the manufacturer was Sound School Trainer and Pow

UK - "It's a voice that's so distinctive and familiar. You don't even need to see him. The minute Al Pacino steps on stage and utters his first word you are instantly transported to any number of characters he has played. For me it was Michael Corleone in the Godfather: softly spoken, and with that stillness the camera loves, he conveyed enormous power." No wonder Front of House engineer Chris 'Privet' Hedge was excited. "I have to say I was as nervous doing this as any of the big rock and pop shows I regularly do, certainly more nervous than I have been in a long while.&

UK - XL Video, working for Production North, supplied all video production - LED Screens, IMAG cameras / PPU and crew - for the most recent UK tour by hi-energy pop-rockers, The Vamps.

The tour included several arena shows and was the largest to date for the rising stars who originally met via You Tube around 2012, as well as the first for Global Live, the new 'live' division of Ashley Tabor's UK-based Global Entertainment - and a co-promotion with AEG Live

The Vamps stage / set and video design was evolved by the tour's technical director Iain Whitehead (Production North) and light

UK - AV systems integrator Saville Audio Visual has announced a set of record breaking results for 2014, with turnover increasing 12% to top £40m for the first time in the company's long history.

Group finance director Colin Nixey said, "Our major emphasis has been a planned strategy for growth alongside improvements in business efficiency. The most pleasing aspect is that both of the company's key trading arms have played a major part in this success.

"With 14% growth, the AV Systems division has improved its share of the growing, competitive audio visual and unifie

Sweden - Liseberg - with its giant wooden tracked 'Balder' roller-coaster that dominates Gothenburg's skyline - is one of the most visited amusement parks in Scandinavia, attracting around 3m visitors a year.

In addition to all the rides, there are four live stages, and the Park produces around 800 events a year in its two seasons - from April to September and November / December, including an award-winning ice show. Lighting for all these is overseen, co-ordinated, and for the most part also designed by Rickard Broman and Jenny Björklund, who are both big fans of Robe products.

Li

Canada - CAST has announced that its multi-award winning BlackTrax real-time motion tracking solution has been deployed in 1,485 plus shows since late 2013.

Adding to its international presence, BlackTrax has a growing ecosystem of partners that benefit from easy on-site training and support, enabling them to push the boundaries of what can be achieved for their clients. Additional technology partners include: Mark Roberts Motion Control; AI Media Servers; Jurlights, Netherlands; The Unit, Netherlands; Production Technology LLC, Protec, Dubai; Prolight, Poland; DWP Live, Tennessee; an

USA - Holo-Gauze, the 3D display solution for hologram effects, has been utilised as part of the key performance presentation on the opening day of the eighth annual World Science Festival in New York. Light Falls: Space, Time & An Obsession of Einstein extensively featured Holo-Gauze to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einstein's discovery of the general theory of relativity.

World Science Festival took place 27-31 May at venues throughout New York City. Designed by 59 Productions, Light Falls combined Holo-Gauze holographic effects animation and dramatic portrayals t

Middle East - When the latest Disney On Ice production Princesses & Heroes was brought to the Middle East by Sports & Entertainment Solutions FZ LLC this May and June, Showforce were on hand to provide the full spectrum of staffing solutions including stage crew, skilled technicians, logistical personnel, demonstrators, follow spot operators and event staff.

The first part of the tour took place at the Qatar National Convention Centre from 27-30 May before moving to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 10-13 June.

An experienced Showforce team of stage crew led by a crew manager

UK - Definition Audio Visual has completed an audio installation at the Marriott Hotel, Trevelyan Square, Leeds to upgrade existing audio-visual equipment in the hotel ballroom. The upgrade includes localised control and localised input options for the installed audio system in the main ballroom in addition to a centralised system located in the control room.

The ballroom at the Marriott Hotel is a multi-function event room at the hotel which can be used as a single room or divided into three separate rooms, Ambler 1, Ambler 2 and Ambler 3 with the use of partitions. The division of t

USA - Grammy nominated country singer Chris Young is on the road, bringing his show winning sounds to fans around the country with lighting provided by Bandit Lites.

Production manager and lighting director Mike Stanley worked with lighting designer Chris Lisle to create a rig that kept the day-to-day building at a minimum, with nine main sections locking together to create a stunning visual array of lights and video. Bandit supplied the lighting package, which includes Robe Pointes, Bandit 5x5s, and Martin MAC Auras.

"Auras were the perfect combo of wash and eye candy, along w

UK - For over a decade, the Royal Courts of Justice have built a reputation as a Central London venue which provides historic spaces for corporate hire and external events. Although this is a service they have provided since 2000, the Courts announced last year that they would no longer be offering their spaces for such occasions. As a result, on 6 June, when White Light supplied the lighting and sound equipment on a corporate dinner organised by the TFI Group, it would be doing so for the last ever corporate event held at the venue.

White Light has a long history of working at the Ro

China - Flexibility and reliability topped the list of requirements when systems supply and integration specialist EZPro International was engaged to design an advanced audio processing system for a popular indoor children's theme park in China's Heilongjiang Province. Located in Lesong Plaza in Harbin, Songsong Town was developed by Thinkwell Group and incorporates a host of attractions alongside relaxation areas, educational spaces, catering and entertainment.

A long-time Symetrix DSP user, EZPro was aware that products from the highly scalable SymNet range would be able to handle a

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