That is the upbeat message from PLASA’s new Show Director, Sue Saint. Celebrating its 25th year, the PLASA Show is the world’s pre-eminent light, sound and audio-visual event, attracting major brands every year, and this year is no exception.
Stand bookings are currently at 82%, with top names such as Vari-Lite, Sennheiser, Martin Professional, Denon, BSS Audio and Total Fabrication already booked. The show pulls in over 13,000 visitors from the UK and abroad each year, having become the main marketplace for the £11billion entertainment technology industry.
"The show is evolving continually," commented Saint, "and one of the key trends emerging is the growing number of manufacturers choosing to exhibit in their own right, rather than rely solely on representation through distributors. In addition, many long-standing exhibitors, including Numark, Peavey, Sound Technology, Avolites and SGM, have reaffirmed the importance of PLASA by booking larger stands. Other major industry players are also recognizing the role the show can play in developing their businesses and this year will see Marantz, Tascam and Duran Audio exhibiting for the first time. All this is happening at a time when the economy generally has been talked down, but the increased interest in the show is clear evidence that the market is picking up and that the PLASA Show is an integral part of the exhibitors’ marketing armoury."
Steve Warren, sales director of Avolites, an exhibitor at the show for the past 13 years, added: "The PLASA Show is clearly the most imp
The Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead, Surrey, was opened by Dame Sybil Thorndike in 1969. Designed by Roderick Ham, the theatre was built and funded with enthusiastic support from local theatre groups, and went on to become an ambitious and high profile producing theatre. Its manager and founder, Hazel Vincent Wallace, was able to woo well-known actors and directors from London to create some remarkable productions.
At its height, the Thorndike Theatre’s club had 12,000 members; it was described as ‘a jewel of a theatre’. But despite the fact that houses were largely full, the economics of regional theatre meant that there was a dependence on subsidy and local grants. Inevitably there was never enough, and it was eventually closed down in 1997. Only the building’s Grade 2 listing saved it from demolition.
But late last year, following six months of refurbishment work, the Thorndike re-opened as a working theatre under the ownership of a Christian organisation, Pioneer People, who took out a 15-year lease in April 2001. Now called simply ‘The Theatre’, the venue will play host to a mixture of performances and community projects, as well as conferences, corporate events, cinema and worship.
Lighting
PP’s technical manager, Michael Forestier-Walker, found a theatre that had suffered leaks and an infestation of pigeons. The clean up was no small task. For the replacement of the lighting installation, he turned to experienced lighting designer Richard Horley. Horley’s design work includes visitor attractions such as
When the City of Manchester Stadium heralds the start of the XVII Commonwealth Games on July 25, public information will be broadcast to the maximum 38,000-capacity seating via a sophisticated new sound system.Built by contractor Laing, Arup’s design of the £77m stadium is based on an eight-mast and cable structure, ensuring that all seats have uninterrupted views of the pitch. Every part of the stadium structure is used to support the 600-ton undulating roof which covers every seat.
Its acoustics have been cleverly tuned to enhance the crowd noise by using the underside of the roof. Arup Acoustics has provided this design service, as well as the building acoustics and overall sound system design, in addition to an environmental noise impact assessment on residences in close proximity to the site.
Blackburn-based Romers successfully tendered for the entire Public Address/Voice Alarm installation contract, drawing on the TOA catalogue to fulfil Arup’s document specification. John Caton, managing director of Romers revealed that this is the largest single project the company has ever undertaken. "The stipulation was that we had to use a branded speaker for the speech reinforcement, and TOA MS1s fully meet the requirements," explained Caton, adding that the enclosure is also in use at Manchester City’s Maine Road facility - and the football club insisted on continuity in the new ground.
The TOA MS1 speaker was designed for sports stadia use and incorporates their touring driver - the twin-magnet sub-woofer (2 x 12" and horn) - with the 2
Yamaha's Commercial Audio Division has announced the shipment of its first DM2000 digital mixing console to 2nd Sense Broadcast Ltd, based at Millennium Studios, Elstree. The console, bearing the serial number 0001, is the world's first professional installation and 2nd Sense managing director Andy Hewitt took the opportunity to host two open days for current and potential new clients to coincide with the DM2000's arrival. The open days also provided an opportunity for other engineers and members of the Institute of Broadcast Sound to see and hear the console at work in the newly completed video edit and production suite.
Hewitt, a former BBC sound engineer, was one of a number of sound engineers approached by Yamaha's R&D department two years ago to help specify the next generation of Yamaha digital audio mixing consoles. The result of those consultations, which took place simultaneously with pro users throughout the world is the noise free 24-bit / 96kHz DM2000 hailed as a complete, multi-platform mixing system for the commercial audio market.
Hewitt has always liked the Yamaha marque: he partly attributes the strong growth of 2nd Sense Broadcast to the three original Yamaha O2R consoles installed six years ago, the desks providing an affordable and professional quality facility to clients at a time when budgets were being trimmed down. 2nd Sense Broadcast now have an ever growing list of high profile clients including Channel 4, all the BBC channels and the ITV network.
(Ruth Rossington)
‘The Deep’, the world’s only Submarium, is Hull’s £45.5 million Millennium Commission lottery project. Opened on 22 March by Prince Andrew, the complex was designed by Sir Terry Farrell with Lighting Technology working alongside Waterman Gore to provide the ‘above tank’ lighting. A totally new concept in visitor attractions, the Submarium is a dramatic fusion of aquaria combined with a descriptive voyage through the worlds Oceans.
’The Deep’ boasts the deepest water tank in Europe. This and the 11 tanks are home to seven species of shark and thousands of other fish. These range in size from the ‘Endless Oceans’ tank which holds 2.3 million litres of salt water to the smaller ‘Jewel’ tanks which hold just 1 cubic metre. The interior spaces are strongly influenced by the physical nature of the ocean and maximum use is made of the three dimensional spaces. At the building's core, a concrete structure containing the main fish tank recreates the conditions found in the Pacific.
For the above tank lighting, Waterman Gore called in Jonathan Hilton of Lighting Technology to work alongside their US consultant, Chris Baldwin, in order to establish the lighting concept. As such, the structure and the lighting installed above the various tanks by Lighting Technology, has been designed to create a sensation of immersion within the ocean environment. In order to create this impression, an array of ‘variable focus’ fittings were selected from the Astralux range of marine searchlights. Within the confi
The Oxford Street Virgin Megastore has installed a D.A.S. PA system for use on its high profile in-store live stage. Arizona-based Jimmy Eat World was the first band to use the full system, appearing there recently, in the middle of a sell-out UK tour promoting their ‘Self Titled’ studio album and new single ‘The Middle’.
The D.A.S. system, comprising four Compact 1 bi-amplified,1000W, 133dB three-way system cabs and four SUB-118 self-powered 500W 131dB cabinets, was specified by Virgin Megastore events manager Simon Dornan who was impressed by a hired D.A.S. system during an in-store set by UK band Elbow. The Megastore provides a launchpad for UK promotional campaigns for many up and coming and established artists and Dornan is well aware of the quality required: "The Megastore is a major date for a wide range of artists and the success of the events relies on great sound and great performance. The D.A.S. system is clearly capable of delivering really good, smooth sound, with plenty of bottom end - perfectly suited to the excellent Jimmy Eat World acoustic set. We also use the system to augment hired-in systems, but we’re seriously looking into extending the house system with more D.A.S. units to cope with bigger electric sets."
(Lee Baldock)
Celestion's flagship CXi range of sound reinforcement cabinets is increasing in popularity with contractors specifying systems for permanent installation in nightclubs. One of the most impressive recent contracts has been that for the new club Afterlife in Burnley.
The new three-floor multi-venue has been opened in Burnley by Obar Ltd, sited in a former seamen's temple. With a capacity for 1,100 people, Afterlife is one of the largest venues in the region, themed to give clubbers a chance to drink in the Underworld and Judgement Bars before going up to the Heaven nightclub.
Promotion Time, the sound and lighting contractor from Co. Durham, was commissioned to equip the club, and specified Celestion throughout. The three floors of Afterlife each have their own identity: in the basement, a warm dark-red interior called the Underworld Bar features Celestion SR1s supplemented by Substation bass bins. On the ground floor, a similar SR1/Substation combination is used by the Judgement Bar, a totally different interior made up in steel and wood.
The customer quite literally ascends to Heaven, which is on the top floor. Unusually for a nightclub, Heaven has an all-white interior. A Celestion CXi system has been installed around the dancefloor, using four CXi 1221 full-range cabinets and four 118 bass bins. Promotion Time has used MC2 amplification for all three systems; they also specified and installed intelligent lighting systems, controlled by Show Magic, for all the bars.
(Ruth Rossington)
Back in 2000, funding proposals for a £10.4m all-seater stadium at Bournemouth AFC’s Dean Court HQ were drawn up as part of a 15-year business plan. With help from Bournemouth Borough Council, supplemented by a record £3m package from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, the Club were well on their way to reaching the scaled-down first phase of the targeted £5.5m-£6.5m. The shortfall of around £2m was made up by Cherries supporters and thus the first phase of the new Fitness First Stadium, with the construction of three new stands - and rotation through 90° of the playing surface - was unveiled earlier this season.
With Barr Construction undertaking the building construction, it was left to turnstile and gate specialists, Swift Tate Security Technology Ltd, to offer a turnkey solution by specifying a fully-featured public address/voice alarm system. And with 23 years’ experience behind them they turned to TOA for the solution. The system is designed to provide both public address facilities and voice evacuation, integrated with the fire alarm system.
The installation features 21 of TOA’s new purpose-built ES-0871 stadium boxes in a distributed 100V line design, controlled from the SX-1000 Smart Matrix Control System. Eight enclosures are distributed into each of the two long East/West stands and five in the North stand behind the goal.Distributing sound evenly over a 90° x 60° dispersion pattern from a CD horn and 12in mid/LF, the loudspeakers are ideal for the application. The weatherproof ES-0871s come with a rotatable horn and at Bournemout
It’s been water, water everywhere recently for D J Willrich Ltd (DJW), as the Hampshire-based AV and multi-media specialists have recently completed work on the saltwater Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset and the freshwater Lakeside Aquarium at Newby Bridge on the shores of Lake Windermere.
Working within a deadline of just three weeks, DJW installed in the Bournemouth Oceanarium three Sony plasma displays, three touch screen quiz-based interactives and, with the help of strobe lighting and Bose speakers, the sound of a rainforest thunderstorm that automatically comes to life every 20 minutes.
Visitors to the Lake District are obviously used to it raining more frequently there since DJW’s thunderstorm sound simulation at the Lakeside Aquarium proved to be so popular that it now runs every three minutes! In addition to this, DJW has also installed two Sony plasma displays, lighting and sound controls, plus an AV theatre featuring a 2 metre screen and projector showing images of the surrounding Lake District hills, lakes and wildlife.
As well as having water in common, Bournemouth and Lakeside both have BSS 9088 Soundwebs and a 9010 Jellyfish remote - the Jellyfish being essential to enable staff to control the audio systems from the office. "The Soundwebs are crucial to the easy operation of the audio systems within the two aquariums," said Kevin Southwell, project manager. "It means that staff can vary sound levels from their main office depending on whether it's a quiet or busy day. They also have an easy facility for using radio microphone
The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, is the proud owner of a brand new sound and lighting system for its in-house theatre, installed by Live Business International. The massive teaching hospital has a 330-seat theatre deep within its bowels, which has been used over the years for student lectures, as well as plays and Student Union performances. The hospital’s Trustees wanted to make much more use of the theatre, but the ancient sound and lighting system, with no component less than 25 years old, was a major stumbling block.
Live Business won the tender for the contract to design and install a completely new sound and lighting system for the theatre in time for a pantomime run. Live Business International director Roland Hemming designed the installation, which besides being high quality, required a great deal of flexibility to cope with the very different types of use. The systems also needed to have the sophistication to cope with relatively complex productions, yet be useable by in-house staff for lectures and simpler performances.
Hemming specified a Turbosound-based audio system, with TCS59 cabinets and TCS108 bass bins, along with TCS20 delay speakers and a pair of the new TQ310 multi-purpose speakers for foldback. The whole system is controlled by two BSS Omnidrives and powered by Yamaha amplifiers. The control room, which doubles as a basic pre-editing suite, boasts a Soundcraft LX7 console, and the system is completed by Trantec radio mics.
The new lighting systems comprise 24 channels of Botex dimming, eight channels of switching, a vari
The famous Paris site where the legendary Jim Morrison said farewell to the world has been converted into a discotheque by Sir Terence Conran. The former Whisky-A-Go-Go, underneath his celebrated restaurant Alcazar, had been empty for some time, and when it was excavated for the refit, artworks from the legendary Doors frontman were found. The site has now reopened as the Wagg - with the sound and lighting specified and administered by fabric of London, and featuring exclusively Martin Audio sound reinforcement and amplification.
Technical consultant, Dave Parry of Most Technical, who last year turned famous London club fabric (where he is resident) over to Martin Audio sound reinforcement, with the use of Blackline and Wavefront components, this time opted for the EM architectural range. Sound over the main basement dancefloor - a long tri-domed corridor - is delivered through a distributed Martin Audio system comprising 14 Martin EM26s, reinforced by six Martin Blackline S15 subs, while the DJ will be able to reference the music, mixed on an Allen & Heath mixer and delivered from Vestax, Technics and Pioneer playback devices, through a further pair of EM26 monitors and a Blackline S15 sub.
Dave Parry promises that the 350-capacity venue, in Paris’ trendy St. Germain, would appeal to the ultra chic. And those lucky enough to gain entry to the bijou second room will be able to hear the music played through four tiny EM15s and an EM120 sub. The entire system will be powered by a combination of nine Martin Audio MA1.3 amplifiers, a pair of MA1.6s and an MA900. As wi
RCI Custom has signed a significant development and maintenance contract with software provider Stardraw.com to create a new, web-based tool for the design and production of custom control and connection panels. PanelBuilder will be hosted on the RCI Custom website and allows registered users to design, specify and purchase custom panels.
Managing director of Stardraw, David Snipp, explained the background to the deal: "RCI had long been aware of the capabilities of applications like Stardraw Audio, but it was a trade show conversation that made them realise Stardraw.com could develop an affordable custom solution. PanelBuilder is based on proven techniques seen in Stardraw applications for years, but it exploits leading-edge software and internet technology."
PanelBuilder is resident on the web server and works from within a browser, so there’s nothing to download or install. It comprises a drag and drop interface linked to a complete library of all of RCI’s panel products, so the user simply selects the panel he or she wants, drags on the connectors that are needed, and sets engraving, finishes, artwork and so on. The resultant design is linked in realtime to sophisticated backoffice systems so that a user will get an automated quote instantaneously.
Users of PanelBuilder can design a connector plate or panel in seconds without the need for complex CAD training and see exactly how it will look. They will also get a price quote and drawing file for that panel immediately, any time of the day or night, even on weekends! The professional quality C
Essex University has recently installed a new customised sound system in two of its lecture theatres. Local company John Hearn & Son undertook the installation, working to a brief that required the two systems not only to be capable of working together, but to work equally well as stand-alone systems.
Tim Hearn explains: "Because of the layout of the theatres, the University wanted to be able to run both rooms independently but also have the option to remove the dividing wall and run it as one. They needed to be able to run the two rooms from either sound control unit." As far as the overall system was concerned, the requirements were certainly wide ranging. "Flexibility is how we viewed it," continues Hearn. "The University wanted to use the theatres for a variety of different applications, so we designed a sound system for spoken word, sound reproduction and even cinematic projection."
Both theatres are traditional tiered rooms, which presented the sound designers with further problems, as speaker sight lines became a consideration. "We decided on a full range system, using Mackie Industrial Vision Speakers. The mid high enclosures, Vision 152s had to be flown in front of the stage area (because of the sight lines) with the 180SW subs in the Gods. These were linked to a Mackie 16/4/2 mixer, driven by RCF HC3200 amps. The system also uses CD and cassette recording to allow for the recording of lectures."
Because of the requirement to operate both sound systems either jointly or individually, and to allow simple non-technical op
Stagetec (UK) Ltd has completed a contract to design, supply and install a complete sound and lighting system for the new Chafford Hundred school campus in Grays. The split-level building is imaginatively designed by Nicholas Hare Architects, with a central lift and an impressive atrium. Built for the future, it combines the principles of energy saving with a flexible space for learning and recreation.
In the building’s central section are the halls, drama studio, dining areas, sports hall, public library and specialist facilities geared towards art, technology, music and science. The primary and secondary wings extend either side of these shared spaces, each with its own secure entrance. Stagetec’s design brief was to provide a simple-to-use system that offered the latest technology and was suitable for school productions and additionally, for when the space is used by the local community.
The versatile performance space features a hall with an end-on stage. A sound proof screen can be pulled across the stage front, allowing the stage-side space to be used as a drama studio, while the hall itself can be utilized simultaneously for other activities. Two separate systems are therefore installed - that can be combined when required. Stagetec designed and installed a lighting system with an internally wired lighting grid above the stage/drama studio area, and with lighting bars along the length of the main hall. Power for these comes via 60 channels of the new LSC iPRO digital dimmers, mounted on the wall of the drama studio.
The two control systems are dri
Audiosales has supplied a Martin Audio system for installation in the new 800-capacity Auditorium of Parma, which is run by the Commune di Parma. The programme of performance at the venue has yet to be specified, though it was originally thought that it would become a second opera house to the town’s famous Teatro Regio.
The contract for the audio was fulfilled by Ital Cida, and according to Audiosales’ Mauro Codeluppi, one of the reasons his company was nominated as the supply source was its proximity to Parma - they are based just ten minutes outside the town. When it came to equipping the former sugar refinery - which had stood empty for years - Ital Cida specified four WT3s, six WT2s, a pair of WS2A subs and eight WT15s - ideal for the multi-purpose nature for which the theatre will be used. The system will be powered by Lab Gruppen amplification, and the loudspeaker management system will be provided by a digital network of XTA DP224s, DP200s and a DP226 - all linked together on Audiocore. Stage monitoring consists of two F12 Martin Audio Blackline F12s, arranged as floor wedges, powered by Lab Gruppen iP2100 amplification and EQ’d through an XTA GQ-600.
Mauro Codeluppi explains: "On the main outboard, eight DP324s give the sound engineer the opportunity of having 16 channels of dynamic processing that can be configured as compressor, limiter, gate and expander, depending on his needs, while 48 channels of mic/line splitter are available through six XTA DS-800s." In a separate rehearsal room a further pair of Martin Audio Blackline F12s
A new 700-capacity rock venue in Holland has meant that the citizens of Amstelveen no longer have to travel to nearby Amsterdam for their nightly entertainment. The newly-built P60 opened its doors last November adjacent to the town’s theatre in the reconfigured town square (which now includes a parking lot), and has been thriving to a mix of Holland’s leading bands and international touring acts. Owned by the local government, the three-storey rectangular building cost HFL 11,000,000 to develop. It offers a ground floor café bar under an internet café - and on top is the large performance auditorium, where the sound sweeps through the floor and balcony courtesy of the Martin Audio Wavefront 8 Compact system.
The entire sound contract was won by Martin’s Dutch distributor, TM Audio, who put together a high specification of leading brands. Sales manager Jeroen van Keeken had known sound engineer Arne de Wit from a previous venue - the Hotel Arena in Amsterdam. De Wit was asked to investigate the market for PA systems and four companies were invited to demo systems sequentially, and Martin Audio came out on top. Aside from its sonic superiority, the venue’s administrators were also aware of the huge profile Martin Audio has in Amsterdam’s leading clubs, the Milky Way and Paradiso. Jeroen van Keeken commented: "The venue is true multimedia, staging comedy (spoken word), rock concerts and dance events; thus they needed a versatile system." Van Keeken himself was responsible for the sound design. "I have a lot of experience sellin
PA Installations has installed a Mackie Fussion system in the Courtyard Theatre, Hereford. The theatre has been open for just over three years, and had previously hired in sound systems - predominantly EAW - for individual productions. With some help from the local council, the theatre was able to get a grant for a permanent sound system. "Because of the EAW connection I contacted Andy Austin-Brown at Mackie. He came down and did a site visit," explains chief technician Gareth Sumnall. "But it quickly became apparent that the budget would not run to an EAW system, so Andy suggested we looked at Fussion."
Andy Austin-Brown takes up the story: "Because of the type of usage the theatre wanted, I suggested they consider a Fussion system. I asked PA installations to do the demonstration with two stacks of the Fussion 3000. Once they had seen and heard the system it became apparent that not only did it fit the bill from a sound point of view, but the fact that the Fussion system was portable decided it." The system can be moved around the stage area, and by segregating the sub woofers they can use the mid high enclosures as a full range box when required.
(Lee Baldock)
PAI have recently completed an installation at Reading University's Students Union Bar. The project was for a complete sound and lighting system, which used Mackie Fussion for the main dance floor and a combination of Martin Professional and Abstract fixtures for the effects lighting.
To run the sound system, PAI’s Martin Draisey selected to use the new Mackie Industrial DX8/10e digital audio mixer. "I was invited to Mackie’s showrooms in Wickford by Andy Austin-Brown for a seminar on the DX8/10e. The presentation was fronted by Costa Lakoumentas (the man behind the development of the mixer) and I was genuinely enthused by what I learned. The unit is highly flexible. At Reading University, for instance, we have used it as a digital processor and loudspeaker management system. I used 9 of its 10 outputs, for main, left and right (Fussion), six circuits for the peripheral loudspeakers (Monitor 8s and 5s), and a single one for the PL80s in the toilets and washrooms. The software and operation made a refreshing change: within a short amount of time I had the DX10 configured and the venue delays and EQs all set up."
PAI’s decision to go with a Fussion system was based on the need for a set-up that could handle anything the students could throw at it. "We had to ‘fly’ the Fussion 3000 cabinets, continues Draisey, "as there was no place for us to stack the system. We hung the cabinets either side of the stage using brackets and assemblies built and designed in our fabrication shop. The 1800s/sa sub bass units were housed under
When entrepreneur Alan Grant was planning his new West London venue, Cherry Jam, he knew sound was going to be of prime importance for the multi-arts programme he had planned.
Having worked with Mark Metcalf at Notting Hill Arts Club for five years, he chose Blue Box Company to specify and install the audio system. Based around the principle of creating a hi-fi sound environment, Metcalf chose Funktion One Resolution loudspeakers for the main system and Genelec studio monitors for the bar area.
Two Funktion One Resolution 2 cabinets are flown left and right of the stage, augmented by two F118s supplying low bass, and a rear fill of one Res2 hi pack and two additional F118 bass enclosures. "One of the main briefs for the architects," comments Metcalf, "was sound insulation as the venue is in the heart of a residential block. The consequent sound proofing, coupled with the compact size of the venue, has resulted in some very neutral acoustics and the Resolution system fills the space effortlessly with very clean dynamic sound."
Early on, one of the other prime drivers behind the project, DJ and musician Ben Watt had commissioned ‘Cherry Picked’ pre club music compilations from various local dignitaries (Jurgan Teller, Tracy Thorn and the like) and as these were to be an important part of the venue's programming, it was essential that these hand-picked tunes came over with equal clarity and drive as the main DJ and band programming. Res 2s allow this as they perform equally well at lower levels without losing their fundamental characterist
The largest hotel chain in Italy, the Jolly Hotels, tested Biamp’s Audia Digital Audio Platform and decided that they liked what they heard. In October 2001, an Audia system was installed in a five-room conference section within the Jolly Hotel Conference Center complex on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. This system was to serve as a beta test for Audia and was installed by Professional Show SRL and Prase Engineering, one of Biamp’s top export distributors worldwide. Biamp’s Engineering staff assisted in the installation as well.
The Jolly Hotel pilot consists of seven Biamp VRAM automatic mixers with five additional radio mics feeding the inputs of two CobraNet Audia units, each with 8 inputs and 8 outputs (8X8 CM). In each of the five conference rooms there is an output as well as five recording outputs and a monitor output. Audio control is through a PC via Ethernet in a remote control room as well as through Crestron wall panels in each of the conference rooms. The Audia units are being used for both input and output equalization as well as matrixing and distributing audio into any combination of the five linked conference rooms.
During the beta test, Jolly Hotel management discovered several noticeable advantages with Audia over the previously installed Gentner equipment. One distinct characteristic is the ease and degree of flexibility Audia offers users so they can configure the audio to fit ever changing conference room needs. Another advantage is the seamless integrated and remote control via Audia’s IP addressable feature that allows a
Kellys nightclub complex at Port Rush is one of the province’s busiest venues. The complex includes the ultra modern LUSH with its even cooler Chill Out room and the now totally refurbished Wild, with its traditional stone and wood interiors.
WILD is split across two floors with separate sound systems: on the top floor the venue retains its existing RCF Event system, whilst on the ground floor a new EAW system has been spec’d. Local installation company, Light and Sound FX were involved in the original installation and won the contract to handle the system revamp. Darren Gardener of Light and Sound FX explains: "Our brief was to reconfigure the Event system upstairs and put a new sound system in on the ground floor. We decided to talk to Andy Austin Brown at Mackie, as he'd been involved in the original spec, and since we had no flying options, he recommended the EAW system."
The EAW Boxes have been positioned to maximize sound coverage for the both the top boxes and the subs, which are situated at right angles to the dance floor. Mackie's Andy Austin Brown on another aspect of the room: "With the room having such hard surfaces, we let the speakers do the work. We didn't spread the sound around the room. By spec’ing the EAW FR 129Z we knew exactly what it would do. The difference between big and loud is the dynamics, so at relatively low levels it will sound good. We have built in enough 'headroom' with the amps.” The system is complemented by an XTA DP226 processors, a Denon CD system and a Formula Sound FSM 600 mixer.
(Ruth Ros
A new face on the international trade show circuit is Le Mark's Rebecca Lace. She has joined the company as project manager with the task of expanding sales and the product profile of Le Mark’s reusable PAL Roadcase Label and accessory range within the US. One of Rebecca’s first outings came at the recent NAMM show held at the Anaheim (Los Angeles) Convention Centre in January, where Le Mark shared a stand with Penn Fabrication.
Penn has developed a unique range of steel dishes for Le Mark's label range. The dish can be specified by clients and can be built in as original equipment for all new roadcases. It is available on a worldwide basis through Penn and its extensive Dealer network.
(Ruth Rossington)
Show Presentation Services has appointed Tim Brewster as its new head of scenic construction, following a review of operations taken in January this year. Brewster joins SPS after working with Set and Stage for three years as a project manager, following 11 years as construction director for Lewis Productions. During his career, Brewster has worked on staging and sets for a huge variety of shows from the Conservative Party Conference and trade union events to exhibitions in Azerbaijan.
He first became interested in set design and construction after building Doctor Who sets, amongst others, for the BBC following a five year apprenticeship as a pattern maker for British Aerospace. "This is a challenging role," said Brewster. "My focus is to integrate our scenic business fully into the rest of the company and to raise the department profile both internally and externally." SPS's scenic construction department achieved business growth of 241% in 2000-2001, confirming its position as one of the leading independent AV rental and staging companies in the UK.
(Ruth Rossington)
Jands Australia, in cooperation with Stage Technologies, has been awarded an A$5m (£1.8m) contract for Sydney's new Walsh Bay Theatre. The Walsh Bay redevelopment project, to be completed by early 2003, comprises over 250 prestige apartments and a new theatre on the harbour foreshore in the historic Rocks area of Sydney. In partnership with Stage Technologies PLC, Jands will supply and install stage machinery, power flying equipment and theatre infrastructure services including paging, closed circuit televisions and the stage manager'sconsole. Jands is also supplying and installing Jands HP series dimmers, wired lighting bars and cable reelers, curtains and decorative proscenium surrounds.
Working with French company Serapid, Jands will also supply and install Linklift 100 machines, which eliminate the need for screw jacks and caissons for orchestra pits. The 850-seat theatre will be a venue for touring shows and several resident companies including Sydney Theatre Company and Bangarra, the modern Aboriginal dance group.
(Ruth Rossington)