India - Sound reinforcement company Sound.com recently provided a Vertec line array system for the annual Femina Miss India pageant. The event was held 8 April at the Bandra Kura Complex in Mumbai.
"We began our audio careers in search of milestones like these," said Warren D'Souza, Sound.com's founder and owner. "Sound.com was proud to be providing sound solutions for Femina Miss India, undoubtedly one of the biggest and most-watched international beauty pageants. We decided to provide superlative audio to make it a surreal aural experience."
To create this experience, Sound.com provided a combination of JBL Vertec products, including VT4889 full-size line array elements, VT4887 compact line array elements, and VT4880 arrayable subwoofers. Additionally, JBL VRX915M loudspeakers served as stage monitors, while JBLVRX932LA loudspeakers provided side-fill coverage. The entire system was powered by Crown IT4000 and IT6000 amplifiers.
According to D'Souza, the selection of Sound.com as the event's audio provider was based on the company's collective expertise and right choice of equipment. "Our company was chosen on reputation, and Vertec does help since that choice was entirely based on the deliverables and final sound quality," he said. "Scalability has always been our forte at Sound.com, and when it matters most, we always deliver. We are achieving what we once dreamt about because we now have the tools to do so."
"Warren D'Souza and his team represent an excellent example of a forward-looking regional
New Zealand - Selecon is involved with supporting the upcoming OISTAT student Scenofest!, both with sponsorship funding and with providing Selecon Rama PCs for the Lighting Laboratory venue. This festival of scenography, held during the Praque Quadrennial in June 2007 provides an opportunity for professionals and students to get together in a truly international arena where interests and experiences are shared during in an intensive week of performance, lectures, exhibitions and workshops. There are over 300 activities on the schedule for this year.
As part of the Scenofest! programme the art of stage lighting is recognised as making its own distinctive contribution to the theatre and this is reflected in the calibre of the workshop and presentation speakers such as Beverly Emmons, Nick Schlieper and Richard Pilbrow.
Beverly Emmons has designed for Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, dance, and opera in the US and abroad and Selecon is contributing to the event's lighting activities through support in the form of Selecon Rama PCs for her workshop on the use of colour.
Already, Scenofest has received over 1700 'early bird' registrations and it is anticipated that this will swell to 3,000 students from over 60 countries eager to meet, learn from and develop relationships with their international colleagues.
(Jim Evans)
UK - Tuesday 1 May and Wednesday 2 May sees the return of the annual A.C. Lighting North event at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, aimed at buyers in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. Visitors can pre-register for the show.
The showcase will include first UK showings of a number of lighting, staging, audio and visual products, and representation from over 70 leading industry companies.
A range of guest speakers will be taking time out of their schedules to provide informal seminars on topics including different lighting techniques for stage and TV, lighting the 15th Asian Games in Doha, selling off the airwaves and how video will change the lighting industry.
The event also provides an opportunity to catch up with key industry associations PLASA, ALD, ABTT and PSA, which will all be represented at the show.
Show admission is free for registered industry visitors and includes entry to the seminars and free buffet lunch. Pre-register to guarantee your admission by telephoning A.C. Lighting on 0113 255 7666.
(Chris Henry)
UK - Lighting Partners, operators of usedlighting.co.uk, have been appointed as the UK distributor for Smoke Factory.
Commenting on the agreement, David Morgan of Lighting Partners said, "We have seen many Smoke Factory machines come through our operation and have always been impressed with the build quality and their longevity. Since meeting with Florian von Hoffen and the team in Germany, we have been very excited about bringing a dedicated sales and technical support service to the UK while expanding still further our new sales offering."
Smoke Factory's Florian von Hofen added, "We are very excited about this new co-operation. The UK used to be one of our most important markets, and with these dedicated partners we are looking forward to serving our existing customers as well as many new customers with Smoke Factory machines and service in the UK."
(Jim Evans)
UK 3M has announced the appointment of rear projection specialists Paradigm Audio Visual as a 3M Digital Signage reseller in UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Vikuiti Rear Projection film from 3M will be marketed and resold on a consultancy basis by Paradigm according to the specific application requirements of customers in the corporate, retail and leisure, advertising, formal travel information displays (FIDs), control rooms and CCTV, TV and medical markets.
"We envisage Vikuiti Rear Projection film playing an incremental role in the development of Paradigm's existing rear projection product portfolio", commented Greg Jeffreys, business development director, Paradigm Audio Visual. "We have an ethos of not selling 'one size fits all' but work closely with customers to sell the best suited product for a given application."
Paradigm is currently working on a major project to install Vikuiti Rear Projection films into the BBC's new Glasgow HQ. Audio-visual is regarded as integral to the building and content has been in continuous development since the early design phases.
Under the reseller agreement, Paradigm will also recommend 3M's software for content management and network operations, where appropriate, to customers looking to install a networked digital signage solution. According to Jeffreys, "The unique selling point for 3M Digital Signage software is that it is a hosted-server solution, allowing customers to get a digital signage network up and running quickly and easily without the complexities of installing any server software o
UK - ETC has received over a 100 orders for the new SmartFade ML in London alone, even though the console, which is designed for smaller venues and non-technical users, is not yet shipping, says the company.
ETC has introduced the SmartFade ML - ML for moving lights - which brings ETC-quality control to the smallest venues and events, within a compact, portable and easy to use board.
Adam Bennette, ETC's technical director in London says: "Until now, novice end-users and small scale productions haven't had access to really good - in terms of both quality and usability - but still affordable equipment. That's something that I, as the SmartFade ML design team leader, wanted to do something about. As more people add moving lights to their rigs, I'm sure they'll find the SmartFade ML to be the perfect solution."
With a capacity for up to 24 moving lights and an additional 48 intensity channels (dimmers), plus the ability to patch to two complete universes of DMX512A (1,024 outputs), SmartFade ML provides a solid range of control for smaller lighting rigs. ETC engineered the SmartFade ML with colour-coded backlit keys to make it easy to operate in the dark without requiring additional worklights. The keys and built-in LCD displays also provide status feedback for the rig without the need for an external monitor.
(Jim Evans)
Germany - The 8th annual Musikmesse International Press Awards (mipa) ceremony once again lauded Meyer Sound's Milo family of loudspeakers when it bestowed a mipa Award for Large Format PA System on the M'elodie ultracompact high-power curvilinear array loudspeaker. M'elodie's Milo family siblings, the Milo high-power and MICA compact high-power curvilinear array loudspeakers, received the same award in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
The mipa Awards are the result of ballots submitted by 107 music and audio magazines from around the world, and are given out each year at a ceremony held during the Musikmesse/Prolight + Sound exposition in Frankfurt.
"M'elodie has been enormously successful from the very first time we showed it," says Meyer Sound director of marketing Rachel Archibald, "and we are honoured that the worldwide music and audio press have recognised M'elodie as a significant contribution. We feel we've built a great set of tools with the Milo family of loudspeakers, and it is gratifying that all of the family members have received mipa Awards."
The celebration was heightened further by the fact that both Meyer Sound founders, president/CEO John Meyer and executive vice president Helen Meyer, were in attendance at this year's Prolight + Sound show. "Meyer Sound listens when those in the field tell us what they need, then we do our research and build the best products we can to satisfy their requirements," says John Meyer. "M'elodie epitomises that approach, and we are pleased to have it validated with a mipa award.&quo
UK - The Central School of Speech and Drama hosts one of a series of events organised by the ALD (Association of Lighting Designers). Professional Development for Working Lighting Designers on 3 May is sponsored by MA Lighting and will be a chance for professional lighting designers to meet in London and see new equipment in use. The event makes use of Central's excellent theatre and professionally-focused lighting design and production lighting students (some of whom will be demonstrating the equipment).
Nick Moran, lecturer in lighting at Central says, "I am delighted that Central is able to host this event in the fully-equipped Embassy Theatre. It offers professional lighting designers a chance to discover new technologies, and a chance for them to meet the students who may soon be working alongside them in theatre and elsewhere. The event underlines our commitment at Central to involve industry in the training of tomorrow's professionals."
(Jim Evans)
UK - The new Land Rover 2007 Defender was launched to the press at Calcott Manor in Gloucestershire, with Stage One (sets, scenery and live events), production company Cricket and designer James Grey all bringing their skills to the fore to ensure the event was a success.
Brought on board by Cricket, Stage One was asked to build three different elements - an external car plinth, an internal main set and a small set at a second venue, following a 'ride and drive'. The unusual car plinth consisted of a steel 'I' beam, with scaffolding poles threaded through and finished in silver paint. The plinth held the new Defender along with one of the first Land Rovers to come off the production line (chassis number 9). Two lighting towers were also built in the same style.
Inside the venue, the main set incorporated four 'I' beams which Stage One manufactured from mdf. The beams were erected vertically to form three sections, with 8mm steel cable stretched between. The sections were separated by three large graphic panels, with the two outer sections also containing 60" plasma screens mounted to the front. In addition, the company constructed a 150mm high stage and two side stages, along with a lectern with 'I' beam detail.
Paul Owen, the event's producer from Cricket, said, "We have developed an excellent relationship with Stage One, having worked with them for several years on the Land Rover account. We know that we can rely on them to deliver the results that both we and our client want."
(Jim Evans)
Sweden - Palco 5, one of the most powerful colour-changing LED fixtures in the SGM range, has now adopted W-DMX wireless DMX technology by Wireless Solution Sweden as standard. Thanks to GSM-based technology, it can recognise transmission signals within a radius of over 500m. Palco 5's smart lines and its functional and mechanical features have now been joined by those of the new wireless DMX system.
Signals leave a DMX controller and reach the wireless transmitter's antenna which, from a distance of over 500m , sends it to the Palco 5 fixtures' antennas. The (GSM-based) wireless DMX link does not interfere with other types of signals, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPRS-UMT and is not disturbed by them. The system has been tested with excellent results. The signal is transmitted via 512 DMX channels, so can be fed to several Palco 5 fixtures simultaneously, providing they are the within operating radius, says the company.
W-DMX is protected to IP 65, so it can be used outdoors even in bad weather conditions. Separate from the body of the Palco 5, but connected to it via an extension cable, it facilitates finding the ideal position for signal reception. Equipped with a wall or pole mounting system, it meets all positioning requirements.
(Jim Evans)
UK - The final of Unsigned Heroes 2007, the bands competition sponsored by AKG microphones has been postponed owingto the permanent split of The Cooper Temple Clause, who were due to headline at the final in support of unsigned talent.
"The Cooper Temple Clause's split was only announced on Tuesday, leaving us insufficient time to find a replacement headline act for the final on Thursday (April 26)," said Harman Pro UK's Marketing Manager Amanda Chester. "In the circumstances, we're very sad to say that we will have to postpone the event untilanother band can be found. We'll make an announcement about the rescheduled date as soon as we can."
(Jim Evans)
UK - Arena Structures, a specialist division of the Arena Group, has expanded with the acquisition of over £250,000 of staging and scaffolding this April.
This recent investment in plant and equipment includes a substantial amount of stage decking system which introduces a totally new staging service the Arena Group can offer clients. The new stock includes ancillary items such as steps, handrails and stair cases, including many bespoke items that are useful for the events industry and media sectors, says Arena.
Martin Clark has been appointed commercial director of Arena Scaffolding, coinciding with this expansion. Clark has been delivering staging and scaffolding projects to various events over recent years within his role at the Arena Group, such as the London Marathon and televised music shows such as X Factor and The Music Hall of Fame.
The Arena Group underwent a management buy-out in February 2007, and this is the first significant investment since then, as managing director Grahame Muir explained: "Since the management buy-out, we have received much positive feedback from clients in all sectors, and this investment underlines the commitment of the new management team to expand the services we can offer clients in areas we already operate in."
(Jim Evans)
USA - Wybron has introduced its latest product offering, the Split IT (opto-splitter) for use with Wybron's InfoTrace Control and Management System. The Split IT is a one in, eight out, RDM/DMX optically isolated splitter/repeater. It will enable InfoTrace users to run any DMX-controlled lighting devices, such as colour changers, moving lights, conventional lights and dowsers on the system, allowing easier installations and remote maintenance and repair.
"We wanted to make sure that Wybron offered its clients a cost effective DMX/RDM splitter to facilitate the acceptance and utilisation of any lighting device on the InfoTrace System, as well as any future product introductions," said Miles Dudgeon, Wybron's director of marketing.
The advantage of using Wybron's Split IT is that it can communicate with any product that utilises the Remote Device Management protocol over DMX lines. Currently, many existing splitters on the market do not handle RDM traffic. Wybron has committed to using RDM in future product offerings. The company expects to launch one new product a month over the next six months.
(Jim Evans)
UK - Blitz is working to design and equip an exclusive mobile installation for the Ducati team at the MotoGP events - the premier class of grand prix motorcycle racing. The Paddock Club Complex at each MotoGP event provides necessary amenities for the team as well as exclusive facilities for individuals and corporate groups.
The composition of the facilities, made up of five individual 40ft long adjoining trailers creates its own challenges from a technology installation point of view. However, within the VIP hospitality area, ten distinctive zones have been created, each with its own specific purpose including offices, kitchen space for catering, dining areas and relaxation spaces.
In each individual zone, Blitz has developed a system which gives customers the choice of watching any of the individual circuit feeds - a total of approximately 20 video and audio channels are available to every guest in each area, as well as telephony and internet connections. Users in each area are able to customise their viewing experience with the aid of individual AMX MIO Modero wall panels. Blitz has also installed an overriding AMX wireless touch panel which allows the organiser to take control of the race feeds and dictate what is televised in each zone.
Alan MacDonald of Blitz Interactive comments, "This project has been extremely exciting to manage, and we have created a fully integrated AV solution which functions incredibly well within the trucks. Special care was needed to ensure that the trailers were easily set up from a technology point of view and that interli
UK - Allen & Heath has launched the XD-53 professional monitoring headphones, designed to complement the company's brand of Xone DJ mixers. The XD-53's incorporate a circumaural isolation design, providing high level isolation from ambient noise, making them the ideal product for DJ's requiring immersive listening in loud environments, says the company.
Comprising 53mm diameter drivers - the largest drivers currently available - with high power neodymium magnet design, 1500 mW of power handling, and high SPL capacity, the XD-53 headphones deliver clear sound reproduction. They also have rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring, a coiled cable with convenient one-side exit, and a folding design for compact portability.
"The Xone range of DJ mixers has a staunchly loyal following and many customers were asking if we could design headphones to complement their audiophile set up," comments head of Xone design, Andy Rigby-Jones. "We've bought the same design ethos to the XD-53 headphones as we use for our mixers - they sound fantastic with tons of power, and a sturdy construction."
(Jim Evans)
USA - PanAVid, a regional sound company in Pompton Lakes, NJ, has just taken delivery of a further two InnovaSON Sy48 digital mixing consoles from Erik Wayne of Consolidated Audio. The purchase boosts PanAVid's InnovaSON inventory to a total of four control surfaces and a Stage Box.
Serving a premium clientele from the federal government, international corporations, local and regional festivals and general live music reinforcement, PanAVid's Walter Loehr says, "Naturally, we evaluated the market very carefully before we took our decision, but in the end, the InnovaSON route was our best choice from every point of view.
"Firstly, InnovaSON is already a console we know and love," explained Loehr. "We already have two of a much earlier vintage, and they have made some difficult shows go very smoothly indeed. Secondly, they are future-proof. We are in the process of upgrading our older consoles to current specifications very simply and at a fraction of the cost of buying a new console. And finally, they are just great consoles to use and own."
(Jim Evans)
UK - Blitz has completed a contract providing AV refurbishment for Associated Newspapers' offices in Kensington, London. Blitz has worked with Associated and its various divisions for the last eight years. Most recently, it was commissioned to undertake the AV refurbishment of its reception area. This involved the installation of equipment that enables the display of breaking news.
For the new reception area, Blitz designed and programmed a system that employs a combination of nine Mitsubishi 67" DLP cubes and the Folsom Encore product. This enabled the creation of one singlebranded background 4.2m x 3.1m into which various windows could be inserted showing current front pages, websites, breaking news stories as well as the corporate videos.
Custom software applications were written by Blitz to enable the manipulation of incoming news feeds and data. The daily operation of the screens is controlled by an AMX system.
(Jim Evans)
Hong Kong - Lighthouse reports that its LED screens are being widely applied in the group qualifying matches for the 2008 European Football Championship staged in both Serbia and Croatia.
Using LED screens means that the old 'paint on plywood' approach of pitch-side advertising hoardings, where one advertising space is limited to one commercial brand, no longer applies. Now sports can generate far more advertising revenue because literally anything can be displayed in any space at any time, says the company.
This is a key market for Serbian and regional LED screen specialists Pietra Union, which has been helping various sporting institutions in Eastern Europe to make full use of the advantages that Lighthouse LED screens offer. Most high profile of those has been the home ties in Serbia's and Croatia's group qualifying matches for the 2008 European Football Championship.
The matches are taking place throughout 2007, with home ties played at the Marakana Stadium and Maksimir Stadium, in the Serbian capital Belgrade and the Croatian capital Zagreb respectively. For these games, a total of 150 panels of Lighthouse R19 19mm screen, each measuring 1.22m wide by 0.91m high, are supplied by Pietra Union, configured as 180 linear metres of perimeter pitch hoarding. With advertising material produced by Pietra Union's in-house video production team, processing is taken care of by Lighthouse LIP-SX and X-Drive Pro units.
"Lighthouse R19 panels are extremely rugged, meaning that if there are any accidental collisions with the screens during a match they continue to
UK - Musician and TV presenter Jools Holland unveiled his latest composition - a new Mass commissioned by the Bishop of Bath and Wells - at two concerts held during March at Wells and Rochester Cathedrals. On both occasions, production company One Fifteen commissioned Fleetwood Mobiles to capture the performances, which are expected to be released on CD later this year.
Both concerts were mainly acoustic, with Holland backed by his touring rhythm section, the Cathedrals' choirs and singers including Beverley Knight, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall. The second performance at Rochester Cathedral attracted nearly 700 people, including HRH Prince Charles. Money raised from the performances is being used to help with the upkeep of these historic buildings and to create an endowment to encourage Cathedral music.
From Fleetwood's point of view, the venues provided some interesting acoustic challenges. Fleetwood engineer Dave O'Carroll says: "The size of these buildings makes them ideal for choirs but when you have a rhythm section playing alongside, you need to be careful with microphone placement for the voices not to be drowned out. We used a mixture of microphone techniques to give the producer, Laurie Latham, options at the mix stage."
O'Carroll adds that security was particularly tight at Rochester Cathedral, thanks to the royal guest. "Every flight case and piece of equipment had to be scanned before it was allowed inside, so it did take us longer to set up," he says.
The concerts were recorded on board the Fleetwood Two mobile using Pyrami
UK - Based in the North East, sound, light and staging company Nitelites has made a substantial investment in its inventory in preparation for the coming festival season.
Although the company was started 20 years ago by Jim Moore - largely to service the requirements of local favourites Lindisfarne - the latest initiative is very much the brainchild of Jim's son (and co-director) Jamie, who is determined to raise the profile of the company and get them onto the touring circuit.
High on his list of priorities was a stock of floor monitors that would take over from the old generation; but he set the company's long-term suppliers, the Birmingham branch of LMC Audio, with an exacting task, as sales director Sean Hames remembers. A shoot-out had to be arranged featuring four proprietary brands - but the new Martin Audio LE1500 was the winner - moving Martin Audio's classical LE700A into second place.
Says Jamie Moore, "The LE1500 was the nicest sounding wedge by far, and flattened other models that were double the price. We also liked the low-profile design which makes it much more suitable for television productions we handle, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. However, overall it was the sound we went for."
The company ordered the first 20 LE1500's off the production line, commissioning special flight cases from 5 Star Cases, who also made special biamp monitor racks. LMC Audio also supplied two of the new Martin WS218X high-powered 2x18's for bass extension to use in conjunction with the LE1500's for drum and side-fills.
The move has enabled Nitel
Dubai - CEDIA, the global trade association representing designers, manufacturers, installers and distributors of home electronics, is lending its support to Install Middle East, which forms a developing sector in this year's PALME Middle East show in Dubai.
CEDIA will be staging a full educational programme which commences on the opening day (May 20) with a three-hour presentation on Home Cinema Designby Peter Aylett.
The schedule also includes: Introduction To Systems Integration (presented by Simon Buddle), Residential Audio and Video Multi-Room Systems (Steve Martin), IP In Residential Custom Installation (Peter Aylett), and Project Management Workshop (Simon Buddle and Steve Martin).
(Jim Evans)
UK - Brighton-based out post sound has opened for business in what many have described as the south coast's most vibrant and culturally diverse city. The company, based in the quiet area of Five Ways, is owned by Rob Speight, and ably assisted by a host of well-known engineers and designers. "What we are trying to do here is create a new way of running a studio by combining it with the ever increasing desire of bands, promoters, managers and labels to digitally multi-track live events," he explained.
Based around a Digidesign Pro Tools HD | 2 Accel system, the company aims to work in two main areas. At its base, out post will concentrate on utilising its vocal booth and 5.1 Genelec surround monitoring to record and mix voice overs, audio for film, television and gaming as well as supporting podcast creation and hosting in-house. Additionally, out post's extensive sound effect library will allow it to design audio for theatre and, "anyone else who wants it!" says Speight.
out post's Pro Tools system is fully road-ready - flexible and expandable enough to record any event, mix it overnight and have it online and available for download the next morning. Alternatively, removable drives on the system mean that any band can simply take the session away after the gig and mix it to their heart's content. The company can also host the downloads on its high bandwidth servers, and offers a PayPal-based e-commerce system to deal with the cash, says Speight.
"With our experience of gigging and touring as well as our understanding of the market, we b
UK - Forty Six of the new i-Pix Satellite LED fixtures are being utilised on the popular Dancing On Ice Live UK arena tour. The fixtures were specified by lighting designer Mark Cunniffe and lighting director/programmer Svend Pedersen, and are being supplied by the show's main lighting contractor, Neg Earth.
Twenty-six non-lensed Satellites are toning the trusses above the ice, configured as a circle in the middle with eight straight runs radiating outwards. The Satellites are positioned around the circle and at a slightly diagonal angle in the ends of the trusses, shooting light all the way along.
The other 20 units are rigged onto six custom tank traps (or 'trees') and secreted behind the set, positioned behind the judges panel. Pedersen comments, "The Satellites are a massive and strategic element of the whole lighting scheme".
The set, designed by Hattie Spice, was a relatively late addition to the touring show, and features a series of interlocking stretched hexagonal shapes. It is constructed from an opaque plastic material. "As soon as I saw it, I knew immediately what fixtures lights would work best on it" says Pedersen.
The set Satellites are being run in 6-channel mode, giving control over the pulse modulation. This can be tweaked to enable the units to behave like a high resolution device using less control channels. This tweak has proved a popular function for TV and live situations where channel counts are high.
Dancing on Ice Live's IMAG mix (directed by Paul Eggerton) is projected onto three large screens abo