UK - Manchester based lighting design and rental company DBN is often involved in interesting and esoteric arts-based projects, but particularly during the Manchester International festival (MIF), their collective ingenuity and sense of adventure is called on to collaborate in some truly evocative and different works.

This was the case when Stephen Page was invited by MIF to illuminate a performance by virtuoso Russian-born violinist Alina Ibragimova in collaboration with filmmakers and animators, The Brothers Quay. It was staged in and around the Library of the historic Chetham's School of Music, Manchester.

The atmospheric promenade performance for 100 people each evening introduced them to several different locations in the heart of Chetham's 600 year old centre of learning,

Australia - As a part of the AFL's expansion into the Gold Coast, the new $144m Metricon Stadium has opened at Carrarra. Metricon Stadium is operated by the Gold Coast SUNS, was designed by Populous, built by Watpac and the audio installation was carried out by The PA People.

The stadium is a multipurpose facility that currently seats 25,000 spectators and will be capable of being extended to 40,000 seats in the future. Metricon Stadium features an AFL oval that will also be capable of holding ICC cricket matches, concerts, festivals, IAAF athletics events and FIFA World Cup soccer ma

Europe - Yamaha's free StageMix iPad app has been an extraordinary success since its launch in September 2010, says the company. After over 45,000 downloads of the app, the company has announced the launch of StageMix 2.0, which gives users of M7CL andLS9 digital mixing consoles even greater control.

The success of StageMix is proved by it being downloaded more than 130 times every day since it was first announced at PLASA 2010.

Connected via the iPad's built-in WiFi and a wireless connection point linked to the mixing console via Cat 5 cable, the straightforward, intuitive graphic

UK - PR Lighting has intensified its penetration of the architectural lighting market with the release of the PR-8800 and PR-8802 - which "create vibrant outdoor colour changes with the added possibility of wireless DMX control".

The PR-8800's design includes a true outdoor IP67 waterproof rating, an advanced RGB colour mixing system and automatic environmental brightness adjustment. It has already obtained an exterior design patent.

Containing 108 x 3W LED's (27 each RGBW) and linear colour temperature correction, it has a power consumption of 350W at 220V and LED lifetim

UK - LD Systems has released the D1015CM gooseneck microphone. The slim and flexible design of the D1015CM gooseneck microphone with its professional, highly sensitive and uni-directional condenser element makes it designed for all situations where supreme clarity is required, says the company.

Its low self noise also makes it suitable for professional sound reinforcement and recording in meeting and seminar rooms, schools and churches. Equipped with a three-pole XLR connector, it operates on phantom power (9 - 52 V).

Andrew Richardson, managing director of Adam Hall UK comments, &q

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