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Japan - Fuji Rock Festival was held an hour's train ride from Tokyo, from 26-28 July. Japan's most eagerly awaited summer event is the largest in the whole country.

Right from its first edition, in 1997, Fuji Rock was a truly star-studded event: artists included Weezer, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Massive Attack, Prodigy, Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Nowadays, Fuji Rock is a phenomenon able to attract over 100,000 fans. Born from an idea by Hidaka Masa, the festival aimed at changing the way Japanese fans "listened to music", offering them the possibility of hearing sounds for the very first time, in an atmosphere of "freedom", while camping surrounded by nature.

The event's 2013 edition featured performances by top names on the Japanese and international alternative rock and electronic scenes: Bjork, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Vampire

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Germany - As the largest football stadium in the German Bundesliga, with a capacity of over 80,000, Signal Iduna Park - home of Borussia Dortmund (BVB) - recently sanctioned a radical upgrade to its public address system.

Their aim was to achieve higher intelligibility, even pattern control (with extended low frequency capability) and unobscured sightlines - but most importantly to link the voice evacuation and stand systems into a unified network, that could be monitored, error- and health-checked remotely. The solution was provided by RCF.

The deployment of 14 RCF clusters of 14 TTL33-A MKII line array elements (with a TTS26-A sub at the base of each), will future-proof the famous stadium for decades to come. But the most remarkable aspect is that this is an entirely active solution, wrapped around the beams to keep the sightlines intact.

Loaded with RCF's proprietary RDNe

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China - Pilot Records' Inter City Music Festival recently took place at the Golden Sands Beach in the Huangdao district of Qingdao, China. Many of the record label's acts performed including Reflector, Zheng Jun, CMCB, Twisted Machine and headliner Miserable Faith.

Real Music Acoustics & Lighting Technology Co. Ltd., Adamson System Engineering's distributor in China and Hong Kong, supplied an Energia E15 line array system for the two-day festival.

"The record labels artists represent many different genres of music," explains Richie Wang, GM for Real Music Acoustics & Lighting. "We provided a substantial Adamson E15 PA in order to accommodate their heavy metals bands as well as pop and folk music acts."

The E15 line arrays - 12 enclosures per array - were hung from scaffolding erected to the right and left of the stage. Under each array were a stack of six

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UK - Broadcast audio specialists Red TX was at London's O2 Arena on 29 September, to capture the broadcast audio for Unity - A Concert For Stephen Lawrence.

Artists including Rita Ora, Beverley Knight and Jessie J were joined by Emeli Sande, Ellie Goulding and Ed Sheeran for the concert, which was held to mark the 20th anniversary of Stephen's death in southeast London.

Red TX was commissioned to handle the broadcast audio by Paul Dugdale, who was directing the project on behalf of ACME TV. Dugdale previously worked with Red TX during the summer when the company recorded The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park.

For the Unity concert, which was broadcast on BBC 2, Red TX used its main Red 1 outside broadcast vehicle, with engineers Tim Summerhayes and Ollie Nesham at the controls.

"We knew the event was going to be challenging due to a tight schedule and the shear amount of ar

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USA - Harman Professional has announced the appointment of Brian Friborg to lead US sales, group-wide as USA vice president of sales, Harman Professional. Friborg, who previously held the position of president, Americas for Martin Professional, immediately assumes responsibility for sales and support of Harman Professional audio and lighting technologies in the United States. He will report directly to Scott Robbins, Harman Professional Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales.

"Empowering dealers with not simply the best technologies and systems but also the best programmes and people is central to our approach here at Harman Professional," Robbins said. "This commitment requires us to evolve and, just as we have added the Martin Lighting brand to our portfolio, add quality and value wherever possible."

Brian Friborg joined Martin Professional in 1999 and

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USA - D.A.S. Audio reports that Dynamic Productions USA, a full event production, sound, lighting and staging company headquartered in Orangeburg, NY with offices in Miami, FL and New Jersey, is the first firm in the nation to take delivery of a new Aero 40A Advanced Line Array System (ALAS).

Brian Rosenblum, owner of Dynamic Productions USA, purchased 24 Aero 40A enclosures and placed them into service almost immediately-and with great success. The system's first use occurred in Ramapo, NY. The concert included performances by rock band .38 Special as well as country and southern rock extraordinaire the Charlie Daniels Band. Rosenblum discussed his experience with the company's Aero 40A line array system.

"For this project, we had to provide coverage for an audience of roughly 6,500 people," Rosenblum explained. "To accommodate this, our setup included all 24 A

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UK - The first ever Technical Theatre Awards (TTA) - celebrating the best of 'behind the scenes' skill and talent - were presented at a well-attended ceremony at the PLASA Show at London's ExCel.

Fifteen awards were announced on the Theatres Trust stand in the midst of the PLASA hubbub.

Sponsored by AVW Controls, dbs Solutions, Load Cell Rental, Mayflower, Philips Entertainment, PLASA, Production Resource Group (PRG), StageBitz, Stage Jobs Pro, The Fifth Estate Ltd and Triple E, the TTAs are also very kindly supported by Lighting&Sound International and The Theatres Trust.

Host for the evening was prolific multi award-winning lighting designer Rick Fisher, perhaps best known for his work on Billy Elliot the Musical and An Inspector Calls. Recent credits include Great Expectations at Bristol's Old Vic, The Herd at The Bush Theatre, and Inside Wagner's Head at the Linbury Stud

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UK - In response to widespread interest in Focusrite's RedNet Dante-based Ethernet audio networking system, and in the wake of a year which has seen sales of the brand expand by over 60%, Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited - the leading studio-quality audio conversion and distribution systems manufacturer based in High Wycombe, UK - has announced the appointment of Mark Davidson to the position of Business Manager for RedNet.

Davidson joins the company with a strong background in both professional audio and data networking sales and marketing, including extensive direct experience with Ethernet-based audio networking systems. "I knew about Focusrite from its interfaces and heritage," says Mark, "and when I heard about the position I knew it was perfect for me, with my background in pro-audio networking."

He goes on, "Audio networking is emerging as a

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Indonesia - Allen & Heath has launched a training and certification programme for digital consoles in Asia. Asian distribution agent, Global Market Management, has put in place an ongoing training certification tour for the GLD and iLive digital systems across the region.

The tour began at PT Kairos in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a three day training event attended by a total of 68 engineers, followed by two days in Thailand training 48 attendees, two days in Shenzhen, China for a total of 102 engineers, Bangkok, Thailand for 53 people and finally Shanghai and Shenzhen again focusing on GLD training for a total of 108 people.

"The engineering team at Allen & Heath has done a fabulous job of designing easy to drive digital mixing products. In fact, stories abound of guest engineers stepping up to a console and being ready to run their show after no more than 10 minutes of ori

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USA - Sensaphonics has announced a ringing endorsement from drummer Queen Cora Dunham, currently on tour with Beyoncé. "I started using the Sensaphonics 3D in 2007 when I was with Prince," she says, "and I've been using them ever since. It's an amazing system, so versatile and comfortable - much better than regular in-ears."

The patented 3D Active Ambient uses embedded microphones to capture the on-stage sound surrounding the wearer, allowing the performer to hear everything around them while their ears remain safely and securely isolated. The Queen finds that she uses a variety of ambience settings, depending on the situation.

"There are certain things I have to hear, like audience response. Other times, I like having the option of complete isolation. So I experiment with it and use different settings for different shows," she says. "

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USA - Bruno Mars finished the North American leg of his Moonshine Jungle Tour in September ­ a run that consisted of over 40 US and Canadian dates, a spectacular appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, and an announcement that he will perform at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on 2 February, 2014. This month, the Moonshine Jungle Tour continues on to Europe before setting out to Australia and New Zealand in early 2014. Bruno and his band rely on Sennheiser microphones and wireless systems.

At the VMAs, which were broadcast from New York City's Barclays Center and reached more than 10.1m viewers, fans were treated to a thrilling rendition of Mars' new single, Gorilla. Dressed in a leopard skin shirt on a stage awash in green lasers and gorilla imagery flashing on a massive LED screen, Mars delivered a memorable, soulful vocal performance through a Sennheiser

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Australia - Joan Baez went on the road in Australia and New Zealand this summer with DPA Microphones' d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones. The musician and prominent activist's audio engineer Jason Raboin uses the mics to achieve the ultimate sound of the grand piano, mandolin and violin that are prominently featured in her music. A long-time DPA fan, Raboin brought them with him to Baez's special performance in late July with Jackson Browne and Emmylou Harris to benefit Downtown Streets Team, an organization aiming to end homelessness.

With two d:votes originally purchased for Dirk Powell - a multi-instrumentalist in Baez's band who wanted free range of movement while playing his guitar, violin (fiddle) or mandolin - Baez's rig now features a total of four d:votes. With the ability to mount the wireless microphone directly onto the instrument, Powell can perform with the gusto o

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UK - As the resurgence of psychedelic rock grows stronger in the UK and abroad, London-based Toy has risen to the top of the genre by developing a unique sound that combines numerous guitar effects pedals and keyboards, all of which are connected using Mogami 'Cable for Life' professional audio cables supplied by HHB Communications.

Toy began releasing records with Heavenly Recordings in 2010 to critical acclaim and fan devotion that landed them support gigs for The Horrors and The Vaccines. Billed as a band to watch by both The Guardian and the NME, they have continued to tour heavily throughout 2013, making stops at Glastonbury and Field Day Festivals and opening for Paul Weller and Wire.

With their second Heavenly LP due for release on 8 December, Toy will continue to perform throughout 2013 in NYC and Mexico and as the support act for Placebo's European arena

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Brazil - The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup took place in Brazil, matching top football teams from around the globe. The event is staged by FIFA, the international football federation, in the host country for the following year's World Cup. The Confederations Cup brings together the world's top eight teams, one from each of FIFA's six geographical confederations, plus the host nation and reigning world champions. Each match was broadcast live to a global audience.

"This event was the perfect place to show how Shure's Axient wireless microphone system can help ensure success for any event," says Igor Del Ventura, Shure market development for Latin America. "We made arrangements with FIFA to use the system at several Cup matches, including the opening and closing ceremonies. The systems were used for live broadcast as well as Infotainment." FIFA explains Infotain

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UK - The official launch of the Britannia Row Productions Training centre was celebrated with an event following the completion of the first Live Sound Technology course. The party was attended by representatives of partners from the industry and the education sector, as well as press and tutors involved in the course. The organisers were particularly pleased to welcome the mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Angela Graham.

The occasion of the successful completion of the first Live Sound Technology course run at the centre was highlighted in speeches along with the achievements of successful trainees who were running the live sound of the evening.

Britannia Row Productions director Mike Lowe reflected on the nature of live sound work: "It is a vocation and to my mind, cries out for vocational guidance and training from within industry." He highlighted Britannia Row's support

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UK - London's Royal Albert Hall continues to entertain and delight over 1.5m people every year with over 370 shows per year in the main auditorium in 2012 and close to 200 events in its secondary event spaces

Long-time audio suppliers to the Royal Albert Hall, Sound by Design won a highly competitive tender process, thus retaining their contract in September. As a result of this, the Royal Albert Hall and Sound by Design took the decision to completely renew its sound system. However, this time, the winning tender was with a new Halo Compact system from UK loudspeaker manufacturers, EM Acoustics.

Sound By Design's founder and MD Andy Callin said the principal reason for choosing Halo Compact over anything else was, "it's outstanding accuracy and coherency and an ability to maintain control of the dispersion over a distance of 50+ metres."

"It isn't very often

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Canada - Manley Labs reports that they have signed HHB Communications Canada as their exclusive Canadian distributor. HHB Communications Canada is a major international manufacturer and distributor of recording equipment to the recording, MI, DJ and production sectors of the professional audio industry. HHB and HHB distributed products are sold through all major MI, production, pro-audio and DJ dealers across Canada.

Manley Labs, a privately owned company that designs, manufactures and distributes high-end analog audio equipment, is thrilled about this expansion. "Canada's size presents a big challenge for distribution but it also offers vast opportunities, " said Rick McClendon, vice president of sales and marketing at Manley Labs. "We are confident that the combination of HHB's resources and their excellent staff will guide Manley Labs growth in Canada."

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Spain - Acustica Beyma has announced key changes within its senior management. Jorge Serrano, current product manager of the company, has been promoted to the position of director of research and development. In his new role, Jorge Serrano will continue being in charge of the definition of Beyma products portfolio, support to the commercial structures, and overseeing all projects of the development department.

Serrano will oversee the R&D department to align its actions with market and company requirements in order to ensure the role of Acústica Beyma as a global leading edge company within the electro-acoustic field.

Pedro Enguidanos, current key account manager, will add to his duties the role of director of operations. His extensive experience will enable better alignment of essential business processes with the growing needs of the market.

Both Jorge Serrano and Pedro E

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South Africa - Barco Lighting Systems and Stage Audio Works have announced a new partnership that will enable Stage Audio Works to serve as exclusive distributor of High End Systems' products throughout South Africa and the surrounding countries. Effective immediately, this agreement enables Stage Audio Works to make HES' products available to their extensive network of local distributors and resellers. They will also have direct access to product knowledge, support as well as local stock.

Stage Audio Works CEO, Will Deysel, comments, "We have been searching for a lighting brand to add to our portfolio for a while and I am glad that we have been patient about it. High End Systems fits perfectly in completing our complete solution of world-leading brands."

"High End Systems is a well-established manufacturer that have pioneered digital lighting and offer excellen

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UK - The QSC CXD Amplifier platform introduced earlier this year at Infocomm in Orlando, FL was recognised with a PLASA Award for Innovation PLASA London 2013. Featuring user configurable, built-in DSP, this amplifier platform includes Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology (FAST), which allows the amp's total power allocation to be distributed across one, two three or all four of its outputs, enabling amp channels to be combined for maximum current or voltage output, depending on the requirements.

The judging panel, composed of industry experts in the field of lighting, sound and installation technology, commented: "This is an incredibly flexible amplifier that can be used in almost any situation. It can be sub-divided and reconfigured, and will work well in installations or as hire stock."

"CXD and PLD amplifiers are a reflection of our use of cutting-edge tech

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UK - Martin Audio has announced the introduction of a 24-hour email tech support solution for its award-winning MLA family. This is the result of MLA's increased success with global partners.

Constantly monitored, the email helpdesk (mlasupport@martin-audio.com) will ensure that queries can be handled effectively and quickly by MLA technical support agents from around the world.

For more about Martin Audio, please click to www.martin-audio.com.

(Claire Beeson)

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Asia - Mattel's universally beloved Barbie and Ken dolls are performing across Asia in the stage production Barbie Live!. For the young audience in this family show, sound designer Kai Harada has built a sound system based on the Meyer Sound M'elodie line array loudspeaker. Equipment provider is Orlando-based Show Systems.

"It's a dance-heavy show," says Harada, "so we needed a robust system that would cover large theatres or smaller arenas with exceptional clarity-but at levels appropriate for children's ears. I knew that a M'elodie rig would give us those qualities, as well as the flexibility to adapt to different venues."

The show uses up to 24 M'elodie loudspeakers that can be configured as either left-right or left-centre-right arrays, depending on the venue. The system also includes two 600-HP subwoofers, 16 UPJunior VariO loudspeakers for fold

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UK - A sonic sea level which immerses audiences beneath the ocean waves - without getting wet - and then allows them to climb steps to emerge to a different sonic atmosphere has been unveiled at the launch of a major new cultural festival celebrating the River Tamar.

Fathom is a new 'sonic artwork' by Plymouth University media arts specialists Jane Grant and Dr. John Matthias. In an attempt to bring one of the country's most diverse waterways into sharp focus they used new generation technology to create an artificial surface 6ft above the floor of a 17th century Royal Navy victualing yard. Anyone that understands the challenge in creating two distinct sonic experiences in the same space will know this is no small feat - and it is Martin Audio's award-winning technology that has made this possible.

The company's Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA), supplied by RG Jon

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UAE - Sennheiser Group together with vendor partner K-Array will be hosting two seminars covering live and installed sound during the InfoComm/GITEX week, on 22-23 October, 2013, at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

The seminar on 22 October will feature installed sound elements and there will be a demonstration of K-array's flexible, array element speaker, the Anakonda KAN200 and the KZ10, an ultra-miniaturized line-array element. The second seminar on 23 October will feature K-Array's live sound products, including the company's revolutionary Concert Series speaker and subwoofer range. There will be a demonstration of the KH4, hi-tech, self-powered PA system and line-array element and its complementary KS4 dipole subwoofer.

Mig Cardamone, sales and marketing manager, Sennheiser Middle East says, "K-Array is known worldwide for its revolutionary speaker technology. As the

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