Belgium - The PARTS contemporary dance and performance school in Brussels has an international reach, holding auditions in countries around the world and accepting only the most talented students.

PARTS was founded in 1994 by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, one of the world's most prominent choreographers in contemporary dance, and Bernard Foccroulle, director of the Belgian national opera De Munt/ La Monnaie. It is closely allied to De Keersmaeker's dance company Rosa's and increasing dissatisfaction at the quality of the audio systems in two of the PARTS studios led to a better solution

USA - John D. Millett Hall on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is best recognised as home to the school's popular RedHawks basketball and volleyball teams. But the 9,200-capacity venue is also well known as the site for the school's commencement exercises, as well as concerts and other events from a list of guests as varied as Yo-Yo Ma, Beck, Bill Cosby, The Fray, O.A.R., Béla Fleck, Jay Leno and the Dalai Lama.

With the facility's aging distributed PA system struggling to even accommodate announcements at sporting events, the school hired Cincinnati-based L-Acous

UAE - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors for Neutrik across the GCC (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait) as well as Iraq and Iran have recently supplied Dubai based production company Eclipse with OpticalCON fiber reels for their video department's requirements. Used for connectivity to LED walls, Eclipse can now reliably send fibre video signals over a portable and rugged medium over long distances for their various corporate shows and concerts in the United Arab Emirates.

"The feedback from Eclipse has been extremely positive," comment

UAE - Melody House, distributors of HK Audio speaker systems have recently supplied the Event Services division at the Dubai International Exhibition and Conference Centre with a large batch of PR:08A HK Audio speakers.

DIECC's Event Services division provides various audio, video and lighting services to clients at the center, which boasts the largest number of exhibition halls, conference and meeting rooms. The recent purchase will be used to bolster the equipment offering of their new conference rooms.

"DIECC have been using the PR:O Series since the beginning of the year,&q

Germany / USA - Last year's ProLight&Sound saw UK digital solutions manufacturer DiGiCo announce the SD9 Supercharged software and firmware upgrades, freeing up more of the FPGA's processing power and adding 100% more on many of its features. This year, DiGiCo takes the SD9 further for both the broadcast and theatre markets, with stand 8.0 F60 at ProLight&Sound and stand C1344 at the NAB show in the US seeing the SD9B making its worldwide debut, along with the European launch of the SD9T, which follows hot on the heals of its US debut at USITT in Milwaukee.

For over a decade, DiGiCo h

Germany - Fohhn Audio, together with leading spatial audio solutions provider IOSONO, has opened Europe's largest state-of-the-art 3D audio demonstration facility in its Nürtingen-based SoundLab. The system offers a spectacular three-dimensional audio experience that places the listener at the very heart of the sound image.

Eighty system integrators and sound designers recently attended a launch event in the SoundLab, where they were transported into a jungle soundscape to experience tigers stealthily moving alongside, monkeys swinging from tree to tree behind and parrots flying over

France - This year, during SIEL 2013 in Paris, Adamson Systems Engineering continued to grow their partnership with French touring powerhouse Audiolite. DV2 brokered the deal that has added the E15 system to their roster.

Audiolite has already set off on the road with the E15 system, with Sylvain Turpin behind the board for the new C2C Tour. They wanted to put it to use right away because of its low maintenance rigging system and nearly unbelievable headroom.

The addition of 48 E15s complimented by 16 T-21 subs will bolster their inventory of Adamson line arrays which already includ

Cyprus - S&V Megasound won a highly competitive bid, beating a large number of companies (mainly based in Cyprus). They were selected to develop the AV infrastructure for this new leisure project Cyprus' capital city - chosen for their ability to provide reliable up-to-date technology and support, and based on their reputation of being able to deliver challenging projects such as this.

The RCF distributors were tasked with providing sound reinforcement for live and club performance down to low level, high reference background music across the three functional floors.

The ground floo

UK - Technical solutions specialist Adlib supplied sound and lighting for recent solo shows by rising young Australian pop star Cody Simpson, who took time out from his busy schedule opening for Justin Bieber to perform in the key cities of Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester promoting his first studio album, Paradise.

Adlib was asked by AEG Live to supply full technical production to the shows which played true theatre / concert halls rather than traditional pop-orientated venues.

Adlib's Sam Proctor was systems engineer and worked closely with Cody's FOH and monitor engineer

USA - Three new sessions have been added to the PLASA Focus: Orlando 2013 Professional Development Programme, a two-day program of free educational seminars and workshops running alongside PLASA Focus: Orlando, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, on 15-16 May, 2013.

In Innovation in Disney Entertainment: Technology Meets Storytelling, Matt Conover, vice president at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment, explains how at Disney Parks Creative Entertainment the story is the foundation to every show. No matter what techniques are used - from cutting-edge high-tech to int

Eurovision Update - Bonnie Tyler has been confirmed as the UK representative at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. The 61-year-old, best known for her 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, said she was "honoured" to be asked. "I promise to give this everything that I've got for the UK!" she said in a statement.

Tyler will be performing the song, Believe in Me, in front of an estimated 120m viewers in Malmo, Sweden, on 18 May. "I am truly honoured and delighted to be able to represent my country at Eurovision, and especially with such a fabulous son

UK - The PLASA Show, a driving force in the development and promotion of the professional entertainment technology industry for over 35 years, is preparing to launch the most important edition in the show's history this Friday 15th March 2013. Taking place at Excel London for the first time this year, the show will open under its new name PLASA London 2013, in its new dateline of the 6-9 October.

PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths explains; "PLASA London 2013 reflects a new focus on international visitors, which is the number one reason we moved to Excel. Excel London is just five minut

France - With 320m records sold since launching his career almost 50 years ago, French singer Michel Sardou shows no signs of slowing down. Frequently filling concert halls and arenas, Sardou is the latest artist to tour with the new Meyer Sound LEO large-scale sound reinforcement system as he brings his spectacle to France and Belgium.

With the goal to give fans of Sardou the best sound quality, FOH engineer Jean-Marc Hauser and long-time Sardou supplier Dushow set their sights on a Leo system following an impressive demo.

"Leo delivers a bigger sound even at low levels,"

UK - As a longtime monitor engineer to many high profile artists, including Florence And The Machine, Phil McDaniel knows exactly what facilities a good monitor console needs. He has recently invested in a pair of Yamaha CL5s for his audio rental business.

McDaniel was first able to get hands-on with a CL5 in the USA last year, when a local dealer set one up next to the PM1D he'd been using long-term for Florence and the Machine. Because of the band's busy touring schedule he was unable to make the switch straight away, but was impressed enough to do so as soon as practically possible

USA - The prestigious Warner Theatre has made its next quantum leap forward in entertainment services with its new Outline Butterfly PA system. Nestled just two blocks from The White House in Washington, D.C. the majestic Warner Theatre has a rich legacy dating back to its origins in 1923 - first with Vaudeville, and later as a cinema theatre during Hollywood's Golden Age.

Fully restored in 1992, the Warner took on yet another incarnation and became an esteemed live performance venue. The new sound system delivers the power and clarity of Outline technology to support the venue's expa

France - L-Acoustics has strengthened its marketing team with the appointment of Emma Beer, in charge of press and media. Emma has developed a career in communications in both the private and public sectors, previously focused on digital technologies and publishing for the higher education sector, as well as green growth and private sector development at the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. In her new role as communications manager at L-Acoustics, she will be responsible for strategic communications - developing media relations, external communications and launching

Spain - Spanish manufacturer Equipson has completed the development of its new anechoic chamber. This investment is part of the company's drive to improve its capabilities for the design of advanced acoustic loudspeakers. At the same time, new experts have joined the engineering team in charge of acoustic projects.

The construction of the anechoic chamber is a logical step in the evolution of WORK (the company's leading brand) over the last few years, with the release of high quality audio solutions. The specific design of the anechoic chamber completely absorbs reflections to minimis

USA - Beatport's top 10 sound systems in the US features five venues installed with Funktion-One. Beatport - one of the largest online music and tools resources for DJs in the world -searched across the USA to reach a shortlist of 10 standout venues. "The criterion here was very straightforward; which venues in the US have the best sound?" says Beatport.

The enviable top spot went to New York's Cielo Club, which boasts a Funktion-One system. And this was no one-off for the British loudspeaker manufacturer, which also took position number three (Beta, Denver), six (Q, Seattle

UK - Ian Hall has been promoted to sales director at Total Solutions Group. Joining the company nine years ago as sales manager, Hall has watched Total Solutions Group (TSG) evolve to engage with the ever growing demands of special projects. "From Slick to Solutions is a heady mix. TSG's involvement in providing specialist engineering skills to the ceremonies section of the London Olympics last summer was the high point in what has been for me, a tumultuous nine years since Slick Trussing first became part of TSG in 2004," says Hall.

In recognition of Hall's experience and

UK - City of London's Barbican Theatre recently hosted a Complicite production of The Master and Margarita, described by critics as a fantastic technical achievement. Live film and 3D animations by Finn Ross and Luke Halls combined to help director Simon McBurney bring Mikhail Bulgakov's challenging novel to the stage. The sound design by West End veteran Gareth Fry, which employed TiMax SoundHub and TiMax Tracker automated vocal localisation, also attracted high praise from reviewers.

The TiMax SoundHub processor received radio-mic channel direct outs from the Yamaha PM5D cons

Spain / Greece - Genelec has appointed new distributors in Spain and Greece - two key Southern European territories for the company's range of professional monitoring and AV trade products. Growing business in Spain has seen the appointment of Lexon S.A., a professional audio distributor; and in Greece, Bon Studio S.A. joins the Genelec family as the first distribution partner in the country.

Jarmo Masko, European area sales manager, Genelec, is delighted to have secured the services of both companies and reassured that in times of recession, premium brands like Genelec retain their s

UK - PLASA London launches its first show at ExCeL London today with free entry for the first 5000 people to register via its new website. Taking place on 6-9 October 2013, the new name, new venue, and new autumn dateline aren't the only changes afoot for the industry-owned event.

PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths explains, "This year marks the first stage of the show's long-term strategic development. ExCeL is located just five minutes from London City Airport, which handles 350 flights a day from 40 international destinations, and ExCeL's seven onsite hotels provide thousands of room

UK - The opening day of PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 will finish with a keynote address from Harald Haas, Professor of Mobile Communications at the University of Edinburgh and Fellow of the World Technology Network.

Professor Harold Haas is widely regarded as one of most eminent innovators in communications technology today. His current research is focused on three main areas: optical wireless communications, spatial modulation and interference coordination in wireless networks. A finalist for the world Technology Award in 2011, his work on Li-Fi was featured by TIME magazine as one

Japan - Audio-Technica has announced the passing of company founder and executive emeritus of Audio-Technica Corporation, Hideo Matsushita, on 5 March, 2013.

Hideo Matsushita passed away of natural causes at the age of 93. In accordance with his family's wishes, a private wake and funeral service were held on 8-9 March.

On the eve of Audio-Technica's 40th anniversary in 2002, Hideo Matsushita reflected on the company's early beginnings: "I came to Tokyo at age 32, and, thanks to an introduction by my uncle, went to work for the Bridgestone Museum of Art. At the urging of the mu

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