Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

Details
Germany - Motörhead blasted off in the 1970s and rocked gloriously loudly for the next 40 years until their last live gig in Berlin on 11December 2015.

The band officially ended on 28 December 2015, two and a half weeks after that memorable show in Berlin, and part way through the Bad Magic tour with the passing of founder, lead singer and rock 'n' roll warrior Lemmy (Ian Fraser Kilmister) aged 70.

The Bad Magic tour was supporting their 22nd studio album - for which lighting designer Caio Bertti sculpted a classic rock 'n' roll look with the contemporary twist of moving lights from Robe.

The famous Motörhead bomber set piece also flew again for this European tour - its last as it would turn out - and its first time on a tour for many years. It was completely refurbished

Details
USA - German sound reinforcement specialist HK Audio announced at NAMM this week that it is undertaking a complete global overhaul of its visual and identity with the introduction of its new marketing campaign: the Soundmakers.

The Soundmakers campaign is the result of two years of work, preparation and planning by HK Audio's marketing team in collaboration with a number of external agencies from across Europe, says the company.

Focusing on the Soundmaker - the person who is fascinated by the energy of sound from any perspective - the campaign brings clean, fresh visuals to the entire HK Audio output, from websites and social media channels through to traditional print advertising and even products themselves.

The new HK Audio corporate design philosophy will be applied by the brand's worldwide business partners immediately, with results set to be seen across an increasin

Details
UK - The Ministry of Sound (MoS) nightclub, which runs Martin Audio sound systems exclusively throughout its London venue, has extended its long partnership with the British manufacturer by installing 16 of the company's new CDD15 (Coaxial Differential Dispersion) installation speakers in the ceiling of The Box, its premier dance room.

This will enable the club to utilise Dolby Atmos sound technology. Dolby Atmos transforms music performances by allowing sound to move anywhere around a room, even overhead.

The New Year will see the first in a number of Dolby Atmos enabled events, kicked off by Hospital Records on 23 January, utilising 22 Martin Audio loudspeaker channels.

Incorporating synchronised lighting cues, generated from music mixed in Dolby Atmos, Ministry of Sound will immerse visitors in unprecedented soundscapes delivered through the new Martin Audio CDD's and

featured content

ETC Ministar

ETC introduces the High End Systems Ministar, a game-changer in our automated lighting product line. Ministar brings exceptional versatility and performance at an affordable price point; with a compact footprint, punchy output, and a professional feature set, Ministar fits the spec and budget for small to medium-sized venues.

Details
UK - Rock band Skindred are known for their lively and energetic live performances as well as their music which is an eclectic fusion of heavy metal, punk rock, hip-hop, electronica and reggae - and so the pressure is always on lighting designer Jordon Cooper to come up with a few surprises and touches of the unexpected.

This design for the current Volume tour is diverse, different and practical to stage in different sized venues. It was also one of the first to feature Robe's new LED ColorStrobe, together with several other Robe fixtures including MMX Spots LEDWash 600s and CycFX8s and 4s.

Jordon, one of a new wave of UK LDs designing for a series of rising star artists - has lit the band for two years.

The design for the latest leg of the tour - which culminated in an amazing hi-energy performance at London's Brixton Academy - started with the set and backdrop. The band

Details
Austria - One of Vienna's finest concert houses, the Konzerthaus, recently upgraded the public address system serving its Great Hall and Mozart Hall, selecting Meyer speakers and Allen & Heath's iDR installation matrix mixers.

Installed by ATEC Pro, the new system is designed specifically for voice reinforcement. The iDR DSP systems comprise an iDR-4 matrix mixer for the Great Hall, and an iDR-8 for the Mozart Hall, with a PL10 8-channel rotary panel for remote control, and a PL-8 logic box installed in the Mozart Hall for interfacing to external systems.

Control of the entire sound system is via the iDR-8 and additional PL10 controller, including management of a hand-held radio mic and CD players for playback. The system default is Stage Manager mode, enabling limited access and control of settings for simple use.

The iDR-4 and iDR-8 units can be switched in both room

Details
UK - Following a year which saw White Light expand both its expertise and resources, the company is now launching a new platform from which its extensive range of lighting, audio, rigging and video equipment will all be available to purchase: ShopWL.

The site, www.ShopWL.com is now live and has more than 5,000 products available for purchase, with more than 1,000 of these ready for next-day delivery. The site will offer every type of entertainment technology from state-of-the-art lighting and loudspeakers to the essential consumables such as batteries and tape.

Peter Threadgold, WL's customer services director, comments, "As a company, WL is renowned for providing complete production solutions. We wanted this reputation to be evident with our online shop hence the launch of ShopWL. As more customers than ever before are making their purchases online, it is important tha

Details
UK - To celebrate five years since the formation of The Aloud Charity - www.thealoudcharity.com - which comprises Only Men Aloud, Only Boys Aloud, and Only Kids Aloud, a one-off concert - Aloud @ 5 - was staged at the Wales Millennium Centre in late 2015.

The charity offers free choral tuition and membership for young people from deprived backgrounds, and the chance to perform in some of the world's largest productions. These have included Britain's Got Talent, The X Factor, and the Queen's Jubilee Concert.

With a total cast of around 350 singers, the sold-out show was recorded by Orchard Entertainment for broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C on Christmas Day.

Founder of the Aloud choirs is artistic and musical director Tim Rhys Evans, and together with Broadway and West End creative director, Jonathan Butteral, and production designer, David Marson, he c

featured content

Strictly FX Highlights

Strictly FX was founded in 1996 by industry veterans Mark Grega and Ted Maccabee. Our expertise and knowledge of the world’s leading pyrotechnic, laser, and flame manufacturers allows us to curate astonishing live events. With over 500+ shows performed a year, there’s good chance you’ve seen some of our work!

Details
UK - RH Consulting has launched a major new edition to their guide to voice alarm systems. Originally released six years ago, the e-publication has been comprehensively updated to become the definitive guide to all types of emergency audio system for consultants, manufacturers, installers and venue owners.

Running to 200 pages, it covers all applications where VA systems are likely to be installed, from stadia to public buildings to nightclubs, theatres, transport hubs, shopping centres and much more. It is packed with tables, diagrams and animations to help people comprehend this often misunderstood subject. The guide covers standards worldwide, including Europe, Australia and the USA as well as delivering comprehensive information on the industry-changing topic of EN54.

"We wrote the book on two levels' says RH Consulting founder, Roland Hemming. "For those new t

Details
UK - Straightpoint has appointed Dave Mullard as business development manager. Mullard, a force measurement, load monitoring and suspended weighing load cell professional completed his move from a fellow lifting equipment manufacturer this week, joining the Hampshire, UK-based Straightpoint on 18 January. He is keen to further advance a blossoming career in the below-the-hook sector, while spearheading his new company's continued growth in Europe, Africa and Russia.

Mullard comments: "I have enjoyed the challenges presented by the lifting industry in relation to weighing technologies and have spent the last three years in particular developing a thorough understanding of the marketplace. Straightpoint continued to emerge as the market leader and I am grateful for the opportunity to align my goals with such an innovative, dynamic business."

Straightpoint director Da

Details

USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has announced the retirement of Kenton Forsythe, EVP of strategic engineering. Forsythe, one of the original founders of EAW, has spent his career advancing loudspeaker technology and design. In 2011 he received a Parnelli Award for audio innovation as further testament to his contributions to the professional audio industry.

"I have had the profound honour of working closely with Kenton for over 21 years," states EAW president Jeff Rocha. "It is remarkable that Kenton had already revolutionized the industry and established himself as an icon before my EAW career began all those years ago. The fundamental principles that drove Kenton to create EAW remain the core values that drive our company to this very day."

Forsythe first entered the pro audio industry in 1975 with the introduction of the Forsythe Audio SR215 dua

Details
USA - Symetrix has announced the launch and immediate availability of its Prism digital signal processing platform. Joining the manufacturer's line of Dante-enabled DSPs, Symetrix Prism has been developed to deliver cost-efficient, high-powered networked audio processing for a wide range of installed sound applications.

Symetrix Prism is comprised of four products, varying only in I/O count and form factor. Prism 4x4 features four inputs and four outputs, power over Ethernet (PoE+), and a compact ½ rack format. Prism 8x8 (eight in, eight out), 12x12 (12 in, 12 out) and 16x16 (16 in, 16 out) utilize an external power supply along with a 1U form factor.

DSP, analogue audio, and converter technologies are identical in all four products. Prism features the same digital signal processing power, mic preamps and AD/DA converters as Symetrix' award-winning Radius and Edge products,

Details
USA - Audio-Technica debuts a new range of professional in-ear monitor (IEM) headphones at NAMM 2016 this week. Bringing the critically-acclaimed sonic signature of the M-Series to an in-ear design, the three models have been designed to fully answer the needs of demanding sound professionals and musicians from the studio, to the stage, to the DJ booth, says the company.

The headphones are compatible with Audio-Technica's popular M3 in-ear monitor wireless systems - together offering a comprehensive in-ear monitoring solution from Audio-Technica. They offer a solution for use in any application requiring the use of in-ear monitoring.

The ATH-E70 is the flagship in-ear monitor of the new range. Its accuracy and detail allow precise balancing of the mix, making it a suitable choice for monitoring on stage and ENG mixing in the studio.

The ATH-E50 features "excellent is

Details
USA - Clair Global listened to their clients and is now offering their new flagship system: The Cohesion Series. The philosophy that inspired The Cohesion is centred on creating the highest quality and most efficient speaker system. The Cohesion's design allows for exceptionally smooth horizontal pattern control throughout its' entire range in a very compact package. The series consists of five speaker enclosures that provide high output reference-quality sound within a smaller footprint in both truck space and in the air.

"The Cohesion combines the best possible sound quality, highest maximum SPL capability, and incredible efficiency. We reduced the weight and size of the PA considerably, while improving virtually all aspects of its acoustic behaviour," said Jim Bowersox, Clair Global design engineer.

"The new Cohesion Series is going to give other manufactur

Details
Iberia - In January and February, audio engineers in Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands can take advantage of advanced tuition on Yamaha's CL and QL series digital mixing consoles and Dante networking, as the company runs a series of free, day-long seminars.

Taking place in Madrid (27 January), Santiago de Compostela (2 February), Barcelona (10 February), Lisbon (1 March), Porto (3 March) and Tenerife (9 March), the training is part of the Yamaha Commercial Audio Training Seminar (YCATS) programme, which provides free, advanced training for sound engineers who already have a good working knowledge of digital audio mixing.

The major topics of each day will be: General overview of the Yamaha CL and QL consoles; System Configuration; Using two consoles (FOH and Monitors); Working with Gain Compensation; Live multitrack recording with Nuendo Live; Advanced Memory Management

Details
UK - Following last year's successful launch of White Light's audio department, the company will continue building its audio expertise and equipment catalogue all throughout 2016. With a commitment to offering the very latest technology within the audio industry, this has seen a host of prolific clients use the company solely for its audio services. The company's reputation as a leading audio supplier has now been further enhanced by its latest investment in the highly-acclaimed DPA d:screet 4080 and DPA d:vote 4099 microphones.

WL has already invested in the DPA range, with its existing hire stock including DPA d:fine headsets, DPA d:screet 4060s along with the Podium microphones. This latest investment includes a large quantity of DPA d:screet 4080s and DPA d:vote 4099s; all of which will be available for hire.

Marcus Wadland, WL's audio project manager, comments, "It

Details
UK - Over 65 years after its first production, the popularity of musical Guys and Dolls is as great as ever. The success of the 2014/15 Chichester Festival Theatre production has seen it transfer to the West End, with a tour to follow. Stage Electrics has worked closely with lighting designer Tim Mitchell to help make the transition.

Produced by Runaway Entertainment, the show has just started an eight week run at London's Savoy Theatre, after which it tours 18 UK and Irish cities through to the end of July. As an associate artist at Chichester Festival Theatre, Tim designed the lighting for the original run. Yet, unusually, you won't hear him say the word 'compromise' regarding the tour.

"Budget and time are obviously the two main creative constraints for a tour and we had to massively modify the rig. But I think we've actually improved it. It looks a lot sharpe

Details
Taiwan - In Taibao City, Taiwan, a southern branch of the National Palace Museum has opened, driving cultural, educational, social and economical development to both northern and southern regions of Taiwan. To commemorate its inauguration, Aurora Lighting was called in to overview the design, and local distributor Jackson Yu of DLHG, to offer project support to the job.

A total of 61 fixtures were used, including 20x Fine Art 230 BEAM, 16x Fine Art 1500 Spot, 20x Studio Due City Colour and five PASP 4K SKYBEAM luminaires. Controlling these automated fixtures was an MA2 Full-size and 4x W-DMX™ BLACKBOX F-1 units.

To enhance the important landscape surrounding the building, the lighting display for the opening ceremony took place by the lake side, which created a barrier between control and lighting rig. "We got worried about DMX runs until we realised DLHG were W-DM

Details
USA - At the 2016 Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, Shure unveiled the KSM8 Dualdyne Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone. The KSM8 is billed as the world's first dual-diaphragm dynamic handheld microphone for revolutionary vocal reproduction and accurate sound-reinforcement and control. The KSM8 extends the company's wired microphone line - which includes numerous products of significance and enduring legacy - such as the Unidyne 55 and the SM58 Microphone.

Designed for live sound performances where vocal clarity and sound quality are absolutely critical, the KSM8 not only meets the most discerning quality and reliability standards, it also has the versatility to adapt to changing environments without impacting performance.

"It's a hit!" stated Chris Pollard, FOH Mumford & Sons. "Marcus really enjoyed the KSM8 on his first gig with it last night at Rock in Roma. As d

Details
Spain - Clay Paky Sharpys have one again played an integral role in an epic stunt by trailblazing light artists Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) and lighting designer Matthew Button, who have combined their creative genius to pull off a sensory spectacular for Lexus Europe and singer will.i.am.

The technological feat, which is part of Lexus's campaign for the Lexus NX SUV, sees will.i.am create a choreographed laser light show in time to his hit #thatPOWER, using a trio of Lexus NXs on a disused Spanish runway lined with 350 motion-sensitive lasers and Sharpys. The number-one artist was challenged with directing the three cars to hit the beams at the right cadence to synchronise with his track.

"The fantastic beam quality was the driving force behind the choosing the Sharpy," explains Button. "Having used them previously on a project for Castrol where they

Details
USA - Avid and Focusrite have a history of industry-shaping collaborations, from the world's first plug-ins to feature a fully skeuomorphic GUI (D2 and D3), to the original Focusrite-designed Mbox interface that brought Avid Pro Tools software to the masses, and Control|24TM, Avid's first mid-format console. Twenty-one years after that first collaboration, Avid and Focusrite are "in deep discussions once more, the results of which they look forward to announcing soon".

Dave Froker, CEO of Focusrite PLC, comments, "We want to make the experience of using Focusrite hardware and Pro Tools software together the best possible experience for all our customers. Avid recognises Focusrite as an ideal companion to Pro Tools and Focusrite recognise Pro Tools as the most mature professional recording platform for new Focusrite customers to adopt.

"Focusrite are the l

Details
The Netherlands - Daktronics will showcase its Ultra High Definition (UHD) LED product series at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016 taking place February 9-12 in Amsterdam. Currently available in two offerings, 1.9mm and 2.7mm line spacing, these new products are designed for "applications that require pristine image quality from an arm's length away".

Using the latest innovations in display system design, the Daktronics UHD solution is designed to effortlessly manage one of the largest influencers in display performance: heat. The result is a reliability advantage that offers superior performance and long display life, as well as greater colour depth, vibrancy and uniformity for the life of the product.

Daktronics product manager Lane Munson explains, "We have found in our 47 years in this industry that managing heat in an LED display is paramount. Heat is

  1. Lex Products expands EverGrip line
  2. Protec delivers real-time projection tracking for WAG 2015
  3. Electro-Voice debuts ND Series at NAMM 2016
  4. Pure Groove and Danley launch PGD series
  5. National Television Awards celebrate 21 years
  6. Brian Gale: Narrating with light from ETC
  7. Coda reinforces Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room
  8. Robe for The Voice in southern Africa
Page 3282 of 3291
Robe - Large MPU
GLP - MPU - May-June 2024

Latest Issue. . .