Spain - As part of a major refurbishment, the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona recently replaced the conference system in its main conference hall with a Bosch DCN Next Generation system. Bosch also developed custom made units with respect to colours and shapes complementing the classical architecture of the historic parliament building.

Installed in November 2006, the new system provides every delegate's position with a microphone, voting panel and connection for a laptop PC. Extra facilities such as loudspeakers, LCD screens for viewing voting results and presentations are provided for senior government positions, while the president's position is also equipped with a touch-screen LCD for controlling voting sessions. The system also features extra-large plasma displays for screening voting results and videos to the general assembly.

The time frame for installing the new syste

USA - In October 2006, St. Louis' new Busch Stadium, home of the Cardinals, went on record as one of very few ballparks whose baseball team won the World Series in the facility's inaugural season. Construction for the $365 million, 44,000-seat Busch Stadium began back in January 2004. Dallas-based design and consulting firm Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams (WJHW) was charged with the audio system design portion of the project.

WJHW specified Crown, opting for CTs Series amplifiers equipped with PIP-Lite network control modules. "On this go-round, the nature of the system was certainly far more robust," says WJHW Principal Ron Baker. "One of the things that we do as a matter of course on any of these major sports projects is to use amps that are capable of being networked, operated and monitored from a central control point because there are so many channels i

UK / USA - Software developer Stardraw.com has announced two new members of the growing community of certified programmers for its application, Stardraw Control: they are James Heliker who runs TVBR Studios in San Bernadino, California, and Joel Hauxwell of Total Audio Solutions in the UK.

TVBR Studios started life as a music recording and production facility, but has branched out in the last three years into control system design and integration. "I first started experimenting with Stardraw Control for my own purposes in the context of music production, where system control is surprisingly important," explained Heliker. "I then started looking at different markets for control and built a client base."

Total Audio Solutions' Joel Hauxwell agrees: "We are a one-stop shop here at TAS - we offer a full service from design, through installation and full sy

UK - VDC Trading has supplied over 44km of audio, video and computer cable to Queen Margaret University for installation into its new campus in Edinburgh.

Currently based on three sites around Edinburgh, Queen Margaret is planning to relocate to the first new university campus for 21st century Scotland, on the south-east side of Edinburgh, by Musselburgh. The move to the new campus will be seamless, with relocation intended to take place during autumn 2007, subject to successful implementation of the planned development.

The new campus will be a vibrant new academic village with high-tech buildings and attractive landscaped spaces, featuring an innovative learning resource centre at the heart of the development.

Jim Bain, education resource centre manager, says: "We have 70 teaching rooms and lecture theatres at the new site, all of which are being equipped with high-te

UK - Almost 30 years after Nottingham's Theatre Royal reopened to the public following extensive refurbishment work and 25 years since the Royal Concert Hall was unveiled, Theatre Projects Consultants is providing theatre consulting services to the Royal Centre Nottingham again.

The Royal Centre, a celebrated Nottingham landmark and regular touring venues, is currently undertaking a strategic review. MD James Ashworth explains, "Theatre Projects were the natural choice for the job with their intimate knowledge of the building, having helped us conceive it during the 1970s and 80s. With a vast portfolio of experience and an unparalleled reputation for excellence, we believed they would assist us in ensuring the Royal Centre continues to be one of the country's finest facilities for the 25 years."

Theatre Projects is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary of consul

Belgium - Ampco Belgium and R&D division Team Projects (both members of the Ampco Flashlight Group) have joined forces on a new MCR (Multi Channel Reverb) installation at the Hasselt Cultuurcentrum in Belgium, featuring Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers.

Their first project, the Kursaal in Ostend, went on to win an Installation Europe award in 2006, and has since spawned other MCR systems by the group, in conjunction with Dutch acoustic consultant Cees Mulder, who played a key role in designing the original concept.

This new project demonstrated how MCR can be used to adjust auditorium acoustics to suit every performance, in smaller venues than the multi-million-euro Kursaal rebuild.

Located in the town of Hasselt, 86km east of Brussels, the Cultuurcentrum's new 890-seat theatre features a combination of main proscenium PA and a multifunctional, distributed side and rear syst

Poland - Telewizja Polska (TVP SA) which is one of the largest stations in Europe has invested in a variety of lighting equipment by ETC. Impressed by the calibre of lighting control on the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, which was done with four ETC Congo consoles, TVP decided to acquire its own Congo.

According to Janusz Plewin'ski, the general lighting operator for TVP in Poznan, "Congo is a good choice for mid- to large-sized studios, particularly because the console doesn't use a touchscreen. Its versatile faders and keys allow quick shortcuts to help lighting designers keep up with the busy world of broadcasting."

Congo's 'zoomable' channel views are another helpful feature for television studios, as well as the zoomable Channel Layout function that allows users to draw their own live displays using standard channel symbols or icons. TVP technicians apprec

UK - D&M Europe has announced the formation of DMi D&M Installation, a division dedicated to the distribution and support of products from all of D&M's brands to the commercial AV and custom install markets.

DMi offers a comprehensive portfolio of products from Denon, Denon professional, Marantz and Marantz professional ranges, alongside Escient digital music servers, Opus multi-room systems, and Boston Acoustics' wall, ceiling and outdoor speakers.

The division is headed up by general manager Mark Perrins, formerly general manager of D&M professional Europe. Commenting on the formation of DMi he stated: "D&M Europe has monitored the CI market carefully over recent years; in particular, the gradual convergence towards a more general custom and commercial install market, with common products, customers and support requirements. This has led us to the logical step of mergin

Russia - Moscow Dynamo, the Russian capital's famous first division basketball team, inaugurated an impressive new arena recently: the Krylatskoe Basketball Sport Palace, complete with Outline sound system.

The Outline sound system installed comprises 12 Doppia II A 9075 point source systems in a tri-amped configuration and 32 compact two-way IS 6T enclosures, to ensure even distribution. The installation was completed with five T4 power amplifiers, three T44 and three Genius 26 processors, also manufactured by Outline.

Through the three DSP Genius 26's, each pair of Doppia (and also the 32 compact IS enclosures) can be controlled separately and in stereo format, enabling the system to be adapted to meet the venue's numerous sound requirements. The audio and lighting systems were supplied by Moscow's Koemart. The design, installation and fine-tuning of the audio system was car

Italy - Milan's long-established The Rolling Stone venue has a new sound system. Adamson's Italian distributor, Reference Laboratory's Angelo Tordini specked and designed the main hall installation. It features three complete systems meant for diverse uses. One is the full size, flown, concert set-up. It is made up of two arrays of a single Y10 Sub on top, with four Y10's and four SpekTrix 5 degree boxes flown as in an under-hang. TwoY10 Subs, each equipped with two 18" Kevlar Neodymium drivers, are placed on the ground to add a balanced low-end and Reference Laboratory monitors are used on the stage to complete the concert system.

The second system is a complete surround style system used exclusively for the club nights and private events. The independent club system has two arrays of one SpekTrix Sub and a four SpekTrix under hang, placed directly opposite to the Concert

UK - The seventh annual A.C. Lighting North event in Leeds last week (1-2 May) saw the biggest increase in attendance levels since the event began - attracting over 30% more visitors than last year.

Owing to a construction delay with the new bigger Royal Armouries Saviles Hall, the event took place in its original location - a move which proved conclusively that the show has now outgrown the venue and will need the extra capacity to cope with predicted attendance levels in 2008.

The event provided a showcase of over 70 leading brands for buyers in the Midlands, North of England and Scotland, and also served as a platform for many exhibitors to unveil their new products to a UK audience for the first time this year.

This year's seminar highlights included unique talks from leading lighting designers Bernie Davis and Andy Doig, PSA general manager Andy Lenthall, and Barco crea

Eire - Irish distributor Sound Communications has installed a Telex RTS Cronus DSP matrix communications system into Dublin's National Concert Hall, the country's leading classical and contemporary music venue, to coordinate productions taking place in the venue. This is the first installation of a Cronus DSP matrix system into a concert hall environment.

The new Cronus matrix system replaces the venue's former simple loop system and walkie talkies with a communications system which integrates the existing public address system with a building-wide wired and wireless communications system, allowing the stage manager to communicate with anyone in the building.

Working to a brief provided by Paul Kohlmann, chief engineer at the concert hall, Alan Murphy of Sound Communications, Telex's Irish theatre and live sound distributor and Adrian Richmond, sales engineer at Telex Communic

UK In North London, one new nightclub has been created out of two old ones: the Volt Club has opened in Edmonton following a comprehensive refurbishment of premises and the installation of an all-new Electro-Voice dancefloor sound system.

Built over two floors, the Volt Club is owned by Volt Productions, a company which already runs a successful nightclub operation in Uganda. Taking over two former club venues, Volt has fully refurbished and soundproofed the space, addressing the problems of noise leakage that were causing complaints from residential neighbours. Walls, ceiling and floors have been acoustically treated; even the fire exits are now connected to the club's sound system, so that if anyone opens a door, the music immediately shuts off.

For the Volt Club's main dancefloor, a powerful Electro-Voice Rx system has been specified and installed by club sound engineer Muh

Croatia - Lisinski Hall, Zagreb's world-renowned concert hall and home to the equally well-respected Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, recently upgraded its sound system to reflect the orchestra's ambition to evolve its performances and reputation in the world of classical music.

The HiQnet system, featuring 14 JBL Professional Vertec VT4888DP-CN, six Vertec VT4882DP-CN and four VP Series VP7315DP-CN loudspeakers powered by six JBL DP Series DrivePacks and 19 Crown Cts Series amplifiers, is controlled by five BSS Soundweb London DSP processors and connected by Harman Pro Group HiQnet on one cohesive network.

Microphone requirements for the 1850-seat concert hall are handled by HiQnet-compatible AKG WMS 4000 Series wireless system with 18 wireless handheld and lavalier microphones. Orchestra monitoring is provided by stage-level JBL Professional Control 300 and Control Contractor

UK - Martin Audio AQ series speakers provided an elegant sound solution for Leamington Sight & Sound recently when they became involved in the conversion of a former fire station in Coventry to a chic bar/bistro and live entertainment venue.

The Old Fire Station in Coventry's new Millennium Quarter was purchased by local entrepreneur Brian Mills of Phoenix Bars, and turned into Escape. To carry out the transfiguration he enlisted MA Design to build the interior character. LSS's Ian Potter saw the opportunity to work within the design and divide the single-floor venue into three separate sound zones, covering the live and dance area, the bar and the reception/front of house.

Potter specified four flown AQ12's and a pair of ground-stacked AQ212's for the main dancefloor, with six AQ10's and a pair of AQ112's covering the peripheral areas - all processed using two of the dedicate

UK - Projected Image Digital (PID) has supplied, commissioned, programmed and created custom content for an Element Labs VersaPixel light ceiling installation at the new-build G Casino in Luton. This features 2,800 45mm round Versa Pixels.

This project once again saw close collaboration between the PID team, Paula Reason and Desmond Harte of London-based designers Cadmium Design and Grosvenor Casino's Senior Project Manager, Paul Taylor.

It follows a similar installation in Manchester last year. Here, Cadmium's first LED ceiling above the main bar area proved so popular with clients and staff and to be such a great atmosphere enhancer, that the concept has now become a design feature of operator Grosvenor's new 'G' brand. G Casinos present a stylishly designed modern environment, aimed at attracting a younger demographic.

Cadmium's Paula Reason explains that their brief was

UK - Lightfactor Sales has supplied SPS Audio with a selection of fixtures from Italian lighting manufacturer LDR's extensive theatrical range for a new installation at the UK's award winning Eden Project 'green' attraction in Cornwall.

SPS's Steve Yelland and Lucy Gaskell from CQ Lighting - who work regularly on lighting design and supply of equipment for the Eden Project's busy event schedule - were asked to specify a new lighting scheme for the Visitor Centre. This covers the plant sales, retail and ticketing areas and is part of a whole new look to the Visitor Centre conceived by Eugene Sellors.

The idea was that the lighting should be "bright and sparkly", and combine both an "industrial" and a "theatrical" look and feel to the space.

The proposal was to install the lighting onto a series of ceiling mounted trusses, which were quite low bec

Norway - An expansive, multi-zone health and fitness centre in Oslo has entrusted all its sound protocols to ZonePRO 1261 digital zone controllers from dbx Professional Products. This solution accommodates all the Myrens Sportssenter's requirements, from the aerobic and spinning sessions to the reception priority overrides and fire alarm interface.

The ZonePRO 1261 digital zone processor forms the hub of an integrated Harman Pro system proposed by distributors, LydRommet. The company was approached by the landlord of the historic building, which has been converted from the famous old Myrens Verksted mechanical workshops that existed here during the last century. Sharing ownership of the large building are four companies who respectively manage indoor climbing, squash, general fitness and golf driving simulation.

Although fitness centres are familiar territory for LydRommet the

UK - As the ABTT Theatre Show draws closer (13-14 June, Royal Horticultural Halls, London), its Organisers' - the Association of British Theatre Technicians reports that current pre registrations are indicating another record attendance and that again over 100 exhibitors will showcase a spectrum of technical solutions for everyone involved with housing and presenting the performing arts.

Computers Unlimited will showcase its Vectorworks Spotlight entertainment and lighting design software. Featuring new upgrades its now offers PDF import and export and legend improvements. The programme offers a comprehensive range of 2D drafting and 3D modelling and production management capabilities with advanced lighting design, visualisation and production tools that benefit all phases of the design process - saving time and money.

US based City Theatrical will introduce its Stackers Taper

Greece - One of the best-known nightclubs in Greece, the 7,000 capacity Galea Club, in the seaside area of Voula Attikis, Athens, has just enjoyed a full renovation. This included a serious update of its primary sound systems, which now comprise EAW and RCF loudspeakers that are exclusively Lab.gruppen driven.

The Galea Club is unique in being both a mainstream, year-round venue catering to the local crowd, and one of the must popular summer places to where sun worshippers flock in their many thousands. This puts a lot of pressure on the venue, and especially the sound system that must operate faultlessly 24/7. The Galea combines vigorous dance floor action with a lounge esthetic. And the club mixes an ultra-modern atmosphere with gourmet dishes in the luxurious restaurant it incorporates. The principal of PAVD, the designers and installers of the sound and lighting systems, Mr.

USA - Wybron reports that it has secured three installations of its InfoTrace Control and Management System. These have been installed in Manhattan Theatre Club, Royal Caribbean's newest ship Liberty of the Seas and the permanent installation of Spamalot in Las Vegas.

"Wybron is committed to making great solutions that support our customers' art and allow them to better manage their lighting designs," said Larry Turner, CEO of Wybron. "We are pleased that Manhattan Theatre Club, Royal Caribbean and Spamalot chose our InfoTrace Control and Management System. Accepting the RDM platform places them at the forefront of the industry, and we appreciate their enthusiasm for our new products. We expect to see the number of InfoTrace instalments increase throughout the year as RDM catches on."

All three of these clients loaded in InfoTrace during the first qu

UK - The White House in Clapham, London SW, has installed a substantial Turbosound-based sound system as part of a major refit. The White House was originally opened in 2001 as a bar and restaurant, but the three-storey Georgian building has now been converted into a bar/nightclub hybrid. The ground floor features the nightclub and main restaurant area, the first floor a roof terrace and lounge area, with a private members bar on the top floor.

For the sound system, operations director Yann Roberts chose a combination of Turbosound QLight, TCS Compact and Impact loudspeakers . Two TQ-445DPs and two TSB-118 subs service the dance floor area; the restaurant is appointed with six tq-310s, augmented by six TSB-110 subs, while eight Impact 50s with four TSB-110 subs, six TCS-101C and a further TSB-118 provide audio for the first floor. Finally, on the third floor, six Impact 50Ts are

UK - CGA Integration has completed enhancement of Great Fosters renowned Oak room restaurant with dining audio. Gracing an estate of more than fifty acres in what was once the heart of Royal Windsor Forest in Surrey, Great Fosters hotel is a Grade One listed building, combining 16th century grandeur and luxurious modern facilities.

The Oak room at Great Fosters is a prestige dining venue, which prides itself on personal service, quality of finish, attention to detail and inspired gourmet food, for which background classical and light jazz audio was required. A secondary but important function of the sound track was to achieve audio masking of occasional intrusive noises, preserving the exclusivity of the dining experience.

Coming to the project fresh from the Dorchester Crystal Bar installation and through contacts at Le Manoir, CGA Integration were ideally suited to respond t

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