Germany - MDG looks forward to welcoming its friends and customers at Prolight+Sound, Frankfurt in Hall 12.0, Stand D81 after a break of two years.
MDG will be bringing its most popular fog, haze and low-fog products including its ATMe and ATMe WPE haze generators, members of its Me Series fog generators, its ICE FOG Q HP low fog generator and theONE dual-mode haze and fog generator in its touring cradle.
Appearing for the first time at Prolight+Sound will be MDG’s bespoke Vertical Flight Case. Designed to carry MDG’s ATMe haze generator, or either of its Me1 or Me2 fog generators, plus everything needed to operate under production conditions, this flight case not only provides rugged, safe transport for the generators, but allows the entire unit to be rolled onto stage and simply plugged in for instant use.
Each Vertical Flight Case is fully equipped with direct plug-in connections for power and DMX In/Out. Included inside are snug compartment spaces for MDG’s theFAN, two 9kg (20lb) CO2 bottles, a 4l bottle of MDG fluid, and space for a small DMX console. MDG’s new Vertical Flight Cases are the ideal solution for festivals and touring, ensuring your complete touring package can travel and operate from a single, easily transportable unit.
MDG’s ATMe and ATMe WPE haze generators are industry-benchmark generators. The ATMe WPE is a weather-proof and dust-resistant version of the ATMe which has been designed specifically for outdoor use.
MDG’s Me Series of fog generators, will be represented by the units at two opposite ends o

Germany - At the upcoming Prolight+Sound tradeshow, Robe is set to launch five new products - Painte, TetraX, iBeam 250, Spikie+ and the Anolis Calumma. The company will also showcase five products launched in 2021 - the Forte, Cuete, LEDBeam 350, T2 and T11, all of them presented physically following their digital launches last year.
Robe also has a further surprise up its sleeve that will be located outside the exhibition hall and will be related to its Robe on the Road activities.
Painte is a compact moving light that delivers a quiet, quality profile solution for short to medium throw scenarios in theatrical, television, installation, live or corporate settings. The impressive 12,000-lumen fixture output has a sparkling, clear white light, with boundless colours via the advanced CMY colour mixing system.
The iBeam 250 is the latest in Robe’s constantly growing iSeries which are fully IP65 rated. This offers speed, colour and zoom range in a package to handle all the challenges of outdoor use and work.
Suitable for festivals, concerts, theatre, and any outdoor events or unpredictable weather scenarios, the iBeam 250 also has all the favourite features of its popular indoor relative, the LEDBeam 150.
TetraX features a dynamic pan movement with ‘extremely high-speed continuous rotation’, dramatically increasing the sweep-effect possibilities of the fixture.
The new Spikie+ generates 25% more lumens from its single 60W RGBW source. The fixture has a specifically designed 110mm front lens, and a rapidly moving zoom that pr

UK - Digital specialist Stabal Media has launched a new film recording studio and performance venue in London that the company says is carbon neutral.
The Stabal Studio is based in converted 250 year-old barns that have been re-purposed with music and sustainability in mind, reusing all of the original building material and structure in the process.
Eco-friendly strategies help the studios to be carbon neutral. The heating system works sustainably with geothermal energy and electricity which is generated by ground and air source heat. Productions being made in the studio complex are adopting the concept of sustainability. Stabal Studio has invested in its own kitchen garden and offers carbon calculator reports for all recordings and events.
The facility forms part of Stabal Media’s wider vision to promote sustainability within the entertainment industry. In 2021, Stabal TV partnered with UMA Entertainment to produce and broadcast the COP26 special music event on Stabal’s online streaming platform, raising money for Brian Eno’s EarthPercent with performances and interviews from Aurora, Sam Fischer, Nick Mulvey, Music Declares Emergency, Beggars Group, Julie’s Bicycle, and many more.
Stabal is also campaigning to raise awareness among producers about the long-term importance of sustainable resource management. The company is working with like-minded suppliers to apply carbon monitoring and offsetting where needed.
Steve Odart, chairman and founder of Stabal, comments: “Stabal has a strong vision to partner with artists and indu

Germany - Adam Hall Group will be present at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre for Prolight + Sound 2022 from 26-29 April, with separate booths for its Cameo and LD Systems brands. These booths will showcase new products from Adam Hall Group’s extensive event technology portfolio. In addition to new Cameo fixtures for stage, theatre, architecture and broadcast usage, visitors can look forward to ‘a pioneering sound reinforcement solution from LD Systems’.
LD Systems comes to Prolight + Sound with one product. Just ONE product – and yet so much more! At its booth (located at Hall 11.0 #A21), the pro audio manufacturer will present the next milestone in its brand history: a scalable system that ‘sets new standards in user-friendliness and flexibility in the professional rental market’.
With the new OTOS H5, Cameo (Hall 12.1 #B24) is directly addressing the needs of professional lighting designers and rental companies who require a fully road and rider ready beam spot wash hybrid moving head in their portfolio. In addition to its use in venues with large capacities, the OTOS H5 – with its high light output (19,000 lm) and IP65 certification – is particularly impressive in outdoor applications such as open-air concerts and festivals. This flexible 3-in-1 spotlight combines a powerful light and effect output with a low weight of only 33 kg, making the OTOS H5 currently the lightest product in its performance class.
With the P2 Series, Cameo presents its first profilers for professional theatre, TV and event applications. The series i

UK - The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers wound up its 20th Anniversary ISCVEx event at Coombe Abbey Hotel and Country Park near Coventry on 23 March.
Held annually by the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers, ISCVEx is open to members and non-members and is a mixed programme including a manufacturers and distributors exhibition, networking and seminars events.
The programme is preceded by ISCVE's annual general meeting and members’ day on which this year saw the appointments of Neil Voce as president and Jim Smith as vice-president of the Institute, both for a term of three years.
The members’ day this year also included a seminar from guest speakers Dr Mike Edwards and Mr Harry Coade of Sound Matters, titled Listening, for a better world: using sound, and the art of listening, to create a brighter future. The presentation was received with enthusiasm and interest from attendees after which guests headed into the evening for ISCVE’s annual networking dinner event.
Three seminars and an exhibition of 38 industry manufacturers and distributors followed on the second day starting with John Adeleke, managing director of Ampman Audio Services presenting the Hopkins-Baldwin Lecture, titled Can our industry profit from a sustainable circular economy?.
Adam Harvey, solution architect AV & digital media at the University of Hertfordshire and David Amann, audio visual & multimedia specialist at University of Cambridge presented the Warren-Barnett Memorial Lecture on Audio V

Germany - Prolight+Sound 2022 will host a Green Event Day on 27 April that will offer lectures, panels and best-practice presentations on the careful use of natural resources. The programme is being developed in cooperation with the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) and supported by the Association of Media and Event Technology (VPLT).
What impact does the EU Green Deal have on the events industry? How can sustainable event technology support the industry on its way to a greener future? What needs to be considered in terms of communication to ensure that the commitment is also noticed by visitors and partners? These and other questions will be addressed during the theme day.
Representatives from associations (EVVC, VPLT, LiveMusikKommission), companies from the entertainment technology sector (Adam Hall, Neumann & Müller, Cameo Light, DeerSoft), venues (Düsseldorfer Congress GmbH, Velomax GmbH, Markthalle Hamburg) as well as tourism boards, communication and event agencies will be present.
The keynote address will be given by futurologist and trend researcher Oliver Leisse who is the founder of the See More Future Research & Development institute and host of the podcast Zukunft, Trends & Strategien. The programme will conclude with a presentation and Q&A session by Stefan Lohmann, founder of the Sustainable Event Solutions project. Lohmann will present the 16 Steps initiative for the climate neutrality of the event industry by 2025 and explain why ecological action can also lead to economic advantages in to

Spain - Clear-Com will have a presence at the first Barcelona-based Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in May, exhibiting on stand #7M925. Clear-Com will be demonstrating their latest innovations including Arcadia Central Station, FreeSpeak Edge Base Station, Station-IC Virtual Desktop Client, and the latest software/firmware update to the Eclipse HX Digital Matrix platform - alongside the company’s award-winning solutions including FreeSpeak II, LQ series of IP interfaces, and the Agent-IC mobile app.
“ISE has grown in importance for us over the years, and at this point it’s a critical platform for us to connect with a wide variety of market segments, including live events, installation, theme parks, sports venues - and really more than I can list here,” comments Clear-Com president, Bob Boster. “We are looking forward to reconnecting with this disparate audience in the show’s new home of Barcelona.”
A main feature on the booth will be the Arcadia Central Station. Designed with input from Clear-Com’s extensive global live sound user base, Arcadia is a scalable IP intercom platform that integrates wired and digital wireless partyline systems along with third-party Dante devices in a single rack unit. The system can be expanded to meet varying production needs, offering a base level of 32 IP ports which can be expanded to up to 96 IP ports (and beyond in future releases) as needed.
“This is truly a platform designed for future expansion,” explains product manager, Kari Eythorsson. “We will be demoing the highly anticipated

UK - It’s been two long years, but it’s time to pull on your racing suits, don your helmets and get back behind the wheel for the industry’s favourite get together, Kartfest 2022, which takes place on 7 July at Daytona Sandown Park.
“Kartfest has always been an amazing event,” says Backup’s Lee Dennison. “We’ve missed the fun of getting together with our industry friends, and the thrills and spills of the teams battling it out for the coveted Kartfest Champions title, so we’re delighted to announce its return.”
Kartfest is a vital fundraiser for Backup. The charity has been a lifeline for so many during the pandemic and, whilst recovery of the industry is underway, the ongoing work it does, including medical grants and wellbeing support with a 24-hour helpline, mental health counselling grants, MHFA training bursary and support of Addiction and Recovery Aware training workshops, is still essential for the industry. “That’s why Karfest has even greater significance this year and why we’d love as many of you as possible to join us,” Dennison adds.
With a theme soon to be revealed, the day will see three hours of intense racing from up to 30 teams of drivers, all keen to show their prowess on the track, and will include fun challenges, a BBQ lunch and drinks. Team entry from the website gets you six drivers. You can also buy non-racer wristbands.
If you want to join in with the fun, catch up with your friends and help Backup help more of our industry family, visit www.backuptech.uk to enter your team.

UK - Crewing platform Entourage Pro (EP) has launched its free to use and join freelance production crew resource. The service connects and sources freelance production crew and underpins traditional word-of-mouth methods for finding work and sourcing crew.
Partnered by major manufacturers of production technology including Robe, Avolites, Yamaha, d&b audiotechnik, MDG, Chainmaster and Marshall, EP is an online network of crew that has already secured thousands of members from over 60 countries around the world.
Initial uptake is being extended by EP’s partnership with Showcase Music, with the platform being promoted to over 350,000 rental companies, artists, labels, management, venues and production and tour managers from across the globe.
Searches by role, experience, availability, credentials, visas, rates, languages, qualifications and much more, gives the whole industry access to an unrivalled source of professional freelance crew from over 150 industry roles.
“The non-return rates of freelancers who had to leave the industry to find other work during the pandemic are frightening,” says EP director, Joel Perry. “We know the number of crew lost has reached into the 1000s, globally. Consequently, the opportunities presenting themselves for skilled video techs, riggers, staging, audio and lighting practitioners, are vast. EP can plug the gap quickly, efficiently and comprehensively.
“Entourage Pro was conceived well before the pandemic, and was able to act swiftly during lockdown,” adds fellow EP director, James Stanbri

UK - Artists including Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, Elbow, The Chemical Brothers and George Ezra have announced a series of prize draws to benefit the Ukraine humanitarian aid appeal set up by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Each draw will be on sale for at least a week, with all proceeds being immediately paid over to the DEC once each draw ends. Winners will be drawn at random, with customers able to buy up to 10 draw tickets (at £5 each) at a time for each prize. You can purchase draw tickets at //ukraineappeal.seetickets.com.
Crosstown Concerts co-founder Conal Dodds comments: “We wanted to make as much of a difference as possible, beyond giving money. We contacted artists we know and got a great response and will be adding more unique experiences in the coming weeks.”
The first 10 prize draws have been confirmed as:
Ed Sheeran: three groups of three people can accompany Ed in his private hospitality box to watch an Ipswich Town home game
Elbow: attend one of the band’s 2022 UK headline shows, plus meet the band backstage
The Chemical Brothers: attend the band’s concert at Castle Howard, and win a limited-edition vinyl package from the band
Jack Savoretti: attend his show at Henley Festival on 10 July and share backstage drinks with him before the show
George Ezra: attend George’s show

USA - After a more than two-year hiatus from exhibiting at large-scale trade shows in North America, DiGiCo and KLANG will be at the National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB) next month. Sharing a stand in Las Vegas Convention Centre’s Central Hall with fellow Audiotonix console brands Calrec and Solid State Logic, DiGiCo and KLANG’s presence at NAB marks their first return to the US since January 2020’s NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
“NAB is pro audio’s first big show of 2022, and we’re eagerly looking forward coming back to Las Vegas for the first time in three years,” says DiGiCo managing director Austin Freshwater. “We’ve missed being able to connect in person with our North American customers, dealers, reps, and other industry friends, and NAB is already shaping up to be a terrific reunion. We have so many exciting things to show and discuss, both from DiGiCo and KLANG, and we’re more than ready for this next step in returning to normal.”
Front-and-centre on DiGiCo’s real estate within the 30ft x40ft Audiotonix booth will be the company’s latest Quantum range of consoles, including the Quantum7, Quantum338, and Quantum225.
DiGiCo will also be showcasing several SD-Range and S-Series consoles, namely the SD12 96 and S31, in addition a variety of 4REA4 solutions for installed audio applications.
On the monitor mixing side of the stand, KLANG will be exhibiting three of its latest products: KLANG:konductor, KLANG:kontroller, and KLANG:vokal.
The new KLANG:konductor is the company’s most powerful a

UK - The beginning of March saw spatial audio specialist, Sonosphere, take part in a world-first multi-venue event at the 5G Festival Showcase. Underpinned by 5G technology, it involved over 20 artists playing simultaneously across three UK music venues: Metropolis Studios, the O2 Blueroom at The O2 and Brighton Dome.
Over the last two years, Sonosphere has been working with eight other heavyweight organisations - Audiotonix, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, LiveFrom, Mativision, Metropolis Studios, Virgin Media O2, and Warner Music Group - who worked collectively with Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, to explore the untapped potential of 5G for the live music industry and provide a blueprint for how technology could play a key role in the future of the sector as part of the wider £200m DCMS 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme.
This festival experience was held to celebrate the climax of the award-winning 5G Festival project. It showcased the technical achievements made during the project and demonstrated the potential role advanced digital technologies could play in the festival of the future.
Sonosphere was responsible for leading all the trials for the entire project, which started back in March 2020 and were headed up by monitor engineer, Andy ‘Baggy’ Robinson. Over the course of the project, tests were carried out to see how much latency three musicians in remote spaces could tolerate. Those results became the benchmark for further trials and ultimately the showcase. Duncan Bell, who joined Sonospher

USA - The organisers of the 2022 New World Rigging Symposium (NWRS), which will take place online on 5-7 April, have announced the programme of sessions and the presenters who will speak at the event. Highlights for this year include a follow-up to the popular Rope 201 where Stu Cox, Eric Rouse, and Andy Schmitz will dive even deeper into the intended uses, benefits and drawbacks of ropes, lines, and ties.
Also featured will be the Rope Access session, featuring industry experts from around the country who will explore rope access use in the entertainment industry.
Loading into a university theatre can be significantly different from backing the trucks up to a commercially operated roadhouse. A panel of university venue managers will ask, and then answer, What makes them different? by focusing on the unique challenges of the university setting including staff and leadership experience, red tape and paperwork, availability of skilled labour and more.
For the full programme, please visit www.esta.org/nwrs_sessions.

Germany - Held annually by audiovisual equipment supplier, Lang AG, at its Lang Academy in Lindlar, this year’s AV Innovation Days 2022 once again offered a platform to discover the latest highlights and developments, as well as encouraged communication and exchange of ideas by the AV industry’s key players.
Brompton Technology participated in the event, showcasing its latest Tessera v3.3 software and running demos of Frame Remapping, a Tessera feature that enables the significant benefits of multi-camera shoots on a virtual production set.
The two-day event saw 18 exhibitors in total, including Absen, Barco, Brompton Technology, Disguise, INFiLED, ROE Visual and Seervision, among others. There were more than 350 attendees from 130 companies joining between 2 and 3 February.
As well as Frame Remapping, Brompton presented additional Tessera v3.3 software features including Operating Modes and Per-Batch PureTone.
Brompton’s business development manager – Europe, Dries Vermeulen, also ran demo sessions on Frame Remapping at the Brompton booth, demonstrating how this Tessera feature makes it possible for multiple cameras to each see different content when viewing the same LED screen at the same time, opening up new possibilities for Virtual Production.
“The main objective of AVID 2022 was certainly to reconnect people within the industry. It also gave exhibiting companies the chance to launch new products that were originally planned to be revealed at ISE in February, in a suitable environment,” says Jennifer Wiehe, director ma

USA - AV integration professionals can discover the installation and operational benefits of the Calibre LEDFusion Pro series all-in-one LED video wall solutions by attending the upcoming LAVNCH Week 5 online virtual event.
“Exhibiting at LAVNCH Week 5 will accelerate Calibre’s growth and presence, especially in North America. It gives us a unique platform to connect AV professionals with our LEDFusion Pro Series that delivers fine detail, accurate rendering of images, increased efficiencies as well as reduced installation complexities,” said Steve Su, senior director at Calibre.
The Calibre session titled A New Visual Adventure Begins with Calibre LEDFusion Pro Series will be presented by industry veteran Raymond Budd, senior sales manager at Calibre UK. The session starts at 11:20am EST on Day 3 (Thursday, 3 March 2022).
The LEDFusion Pro Series is available in three different sizes from130 to 163-inch versions, its mechanical design ensures easy installation and maintenance. The 4in1 LED gives a robust design, smoother surface and viewing angle. The proprietary UltraX engine delivers ‘premium visual performance, greater text clarity, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, outstanding picture quality and energy efficiency’. Easy control options such as WebGUI are offered and it is compatible with Crestron, AMX remote control and more.

USA - Mental Health First Aid Training Classes for March and April 2022 are now posted on the Behind the Scenes website at btshelp.org/mhfa.
Those who sign up will learn about the risk factors and warning signs of mental health and substance use problems, the five-step ALGEE action plan to help someone who is developing a problem or is in crisis, and the available professional, peer and self-help resources.
The course is delivered in two parts. The first is a two-hour self-paced online course that must be completed prior to a six-hour virtual live instructor-led session. Classes are being offered on 15, 16, 19 and 30 March and on 3, 6, 19 and 29 April. Upon completing the course, takers will become a certified Mental Health First Aiders, valid for three years.
"Do you know how to respond if you see someone who is deeply depressed, having a anxiety attack, or showing signs of alcoholism or substance use? Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related issue," says the charity.
IATSE Members and those working under IATSE agreements may be eligible for Training Trust Fund reimbursement upon proof of su

USA - ESTA is planning its Annual General Meeting on 4 March at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The AGM will be in-person and take place from 9:30am-11am local time. The event will see ESTA honouring the recipients of two of its highest awards.
R. Duncan MacKenzie of Proskenion Design will receive the Lifetime Technical Achievement Award, which recognises individuals who have been a sustaining influence for more than 25 years and whose technical contributions have had a significant impact on the world of entertainment technology. The ESTA Board of Directors and Technical Standards Council have selected MacKenzie for his 50 years of designing control systems for rigging and stage machinery, including projects at the MGM Grand, Radio City Music Hall, the Kennedy Centre, and the Chicago Lyric Opera. Solana Bolton of InterAmerica Stage will present the award.
John Cini, president of High Output, has been chosen to receive ESTA’s Swan Award. The Swan is presented only when there is an exceptional candidate who has made major contributions to the realization of ESTA’s mission and goals. Cini has served on the Board of Directors, is an active participant in the Members Advisory Committee, and has been a driving force in the success of Production Equipment Rental Group (PERG) programmes and initiatives. Cini’s longtime friend, Paul Royalty of LiteGear, will present the award.

Europe - With less than 18 months to go until the next in-person gathering, Showlight is putting out a call for papers. Now is your chance to share your lighting or terrific technology by presenting a paper at this quadrennial networking event, say the organisers.
The heart of Showlight has always been its varied mix of papers showcasing different disciplines and specialities of lighting. These are delivered by international lighting designers, lighting directors, directors of photography and architectural lighting designers, or associated crafts like programmers and manufacturers. Past subjects have covered designs and achievements in the fields of lighting for ballet, rock ‘n’ roll, opera, theatre, the largest tv spectacular and the smallest student projects, as well as lighting for landscapes, new and fascinating architecture, puppet theatre, animated films, and innovations in new equipment and solutions to lighting problems as well as lighting with candles!
One thing is universal - the variety of papers never cease to interest and entertain.
2023 sees the return of Showlight to Fontainebleau’s Théâtre Municipal after a two-year delay and momentum is already gathering. Talks are to be 20 minutes in length to enable as many papers as possible to be presented over the three-day period.
“We aim for variety, across all aspects of the lighting industry today,” say the organisers. “We want to hear about your experiences, your ambitions, your inspirations, your concerns, your successes and your failures. We are not looking for simple

USA - Organisers of the New World Rigging Symposium has announced the 2022 edition of the event will take place online on 5-7 April. The symposium will carry nine ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification, and the admission cost is $99.
“We’ve turned the table on the ever-popular session featuring some of the industry’s top structural engineers - Bill Gorlin, Dan Louis, Miriam Paschetto, and Jeff Reder,” say the organisers. “Instead of getting to ask your questions, they are going to tell you the things they want you to know. There was so much we’ve given them two sessions to cover subjects such as ballast, wind speeds, site safety, codes, AHJs and why things don't always stay the same.”
Paul Sapsis will walk attendees through a complicated custom flying system designed for a concert and DVD shoot at the Wembley Stadium - from concept to implementation, install to risk assessment and rescue whilst seasoned touring pros Jim Digby, Chad Kohler, and Bill Rengstl will discuss the tools and techniques used when rigging abroad.
Event sponsors are Electronic Theatre Controls and Sapsis Rigging, Kish Rigging, TAIT, Texas Scenic Company, and Wenger|J.R. Clancy, IA Stage, The Light Source, Reed Rigging, Reliable Design, and Stage Rigging, CM-ET, DeLong Rigging Solutions, EPS, Geiger Engineers, H&H Specialties, and Tyler Truss, Lighting & Sound America and Protocol.

UK - SLX has launched a new website and logo as it undergoes a complete rebrand. This follows a successful 2021, in which the Bristol-based hire and events company doubled its workforce and added more than 2,000 lighting fixtures to its stock. The rebrand is intended to reinforce the business’ brand identity and outline its core values.
The new website emphasises SLX’ all-in-one approach to event production and its ability to handle all aspects of design, equipment hire and delivery. The site also contains detailed case studies of the company’s past work in broadcast, theatre, sport, corporate and experiential.
The rebrand further underscores SLX’ commitments to sustainability and social values, which include making the SLX warehouse completely energy self-sufficient, providing support for electric cars, investing in a diverse workforce and increasing support for the mental health of their team and wider family. These commitments were one of the reasons SLX was able to win a major contract with the Commonwealth Games for 2022.
SLX CEO Alastair Currie comments: “This is the end of one era, but the beginning of a larger journey,” he says. “We did not sit still during the enforced downtime of the pandemic, which gave us time to think about what our values and our ambitions for SLX are. Following a series of major new client wins and a successful 2021, our rebrand draws a line in the sand and reaffirms the identity of our independent business. Our continued deli

Spain - Cycling enthusiasts have raised more than €6,000 for entertainment technology industry charities after riding along a 400km stretch of the Spanish coast for BikeFest Spain 2022.
Cycling from Valencia to Barcelona in just three days, a team of 10 industry professionals overcame challenging mountain terrain en route to the final destination - Fira de Barcelona, where the now-postponed ISE 2022 tradeshow was set to take place earlier this month.
For the riders, the arrival was bittersweet - although a small group of industry colleagues had gathered to celebrate the team’s achievement, the exhibition centre stood empty.
But their efforts have raised €6,000, and donations continue to come in. The funds will be split between industry charities Backup in the UK and the AAA Foundation in Spain.
Organised by #WeMakeEvents in partnership with PLASA, AVIXA, ISE, FIAVE, Alerta Roja and LSi, BikeFest Spain was sponsored by Ayrton, Equipson, EarPro, EES, FANTEK and Ruisaljo. In addition, the cyclists represented PLASA, Equipson, Bishop Sound, Britannia Row, and Sharp NEC.
Federico Haba, head of Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Ibérica, comments: “As a representative of an AV manufacturer, we at Sharp/NEC wanted to join the cause to raise awareness of the impact COVID is having on the live events sector. In addition, with limited access to key components and steep increases in costs, we - and many other companies like us - are being forced to manage supply chain delays. This is having ramifications for distributors, venues, end-users and

Europe - Shure has partnered with Crestron to support the upcoming Crestron Next Road Trip Europe, a tour with a mobile experience centre that will visit 38 stops in 19 countries. The truck will provide every attendee with a safe environment in which they will be able to get hands-on, one-on-one demos of the most recent audio technology from Shure and Crestron.
The mobile experience will cover Shure and Crestron’s collaborative conferencing technology as well as the whole Crestron ecosystem of solutions for hybrid workplaces, classrooms, government organisations and more.
Crestron Next Road Trip Europe will tour Europe from March, to offer dealers, partners, and customers all over Europe an opportunity to experience the latest innovations in audio technology from Crestron and Shure.

UK - Following a two-year hiatus, PLASA Focus Leeds will return to the Royal Armouries from 10-11 May, with free registration now open.
Across the two days, visitors will be able to see products in action and gain insights from industry leaders. And with two years of catching up to do, the 2022 edition of the show will serve as a vital crossroad for the live events, entertainment and installation industries.
Spanning two halls, the showfloor is home to 150+ brands from the worlds of audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging. Each exhibitor is set to present their most popular products and solutions, including several new releases and debuts.
PLASA says more and more exhibitors are coming aboard, with initial highlights including show sponsor Ambersphere and seminar sponsor Vectorworks. Plus, lighting professionals can catch up with Artistic Licence, Avolites and GLP; audio professionals can check out the latest from d&b audiotechnik, Martin Audio, RCF and Shure; and riggers can meet with Area Four Industries, Doughty, Triple E and many more.
There is a huge array of new exhibitors too. Debuting at Leeds, 4Wall and LANG UK will showcase their AV and screen technologies; 4Evacuation, Canford and Riedel will present their electronics and accessories; and Collaborative Creations will discuss how to build your brand and professional network.
As always, there will be a programme of keynote talks and panel discus

China - Clear-Com will be attending Prolight + Sound Guangzhou (PLSG) this year, from 22-25 February. Clear-Com will show its latest innovations - Arcadia Central Station and FreeSpeak Edge Base Station - as well its market-proven solutions.
“We are especially excited to attend this show as live events have begun to come back online,” comments Jeffrey Wu, Clear-Com’s regional sales manager and chief representative for China. “Clear-Com products have been critical to the live market for over 50 years, but we are still developing new and innovative products that we know will be welcomed by the attendees of this show.”
Featured on the stand will be the new Arcadia Central Station, a scalable IP intercom platform that integrates wired and digital wireless partyline systems along with third-party Dante devices in a single rack unit. The system scales to meet varying production needs, offering a base-level of 32 IP ports which can be expanded to up to 96 IP ports as needed.
Also on the stand will be the FreeSpeak Edge Base Station, an IP base station that supports the full range of FreeSpeak digital wireless intercom solutions encompassing multiple wireless frequency bands, as well as third-party Dante devices.
Some of the company’s most popular products will also be featured on the stand, including the Agent-IC mobile app for iOS and Android devices, which has seen an uptick in adoption due to the rise in remote production workflows.
Additional products include FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless intercom, a five-channel, full-dupl