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10 June 2024

UK - The final show on the UK-EU leg of the Classic Tales of Yes tour at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on 20 May featured an intricately textured Martin Dudley/Chris Davey light show that included 12 Chauvet Professional Rogue R2X Wash units from Martin’s Lights Ltd.

Early on in the 24-city tour, which began in April at Lisbon’s historic Sagres Campo Pequero concert hall, the design moved into a new more intense realm.

“At the start of the project, we were told that it would be a ‘no haze’ tour,” said Dudley. “Therefore, we knew that the lighting had to be about colour, pattern and texture, rather than beams of light and movement in the air. Many of our lighting designs are quite understated, and after the first couple of shows, the feedback from the band was that they wanted “more” of everything, so we went for it.”

The

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10 June 2024

USA – DirectOut has announced two additions to its growing family of audio solutions at InfoComm in Las Vegas this week.

Building on the flexible Prodigy series, Maven offers DirectOut’s powerful DSP engine in a compact 1RU platform, expanding the integration possibilities for sound engineers, system designers and AV professionals, whether in a fixed location, or on the move.

Maven delivers the same power as the Prodigy series and is fully compatible with the PRODIGY.MP, increasing flexibility while maintaining maximum reliability. Maven supports a variety of audio network formats including Dante, AVB/MILAN, Ravenna/AES67 and SoundGrid.

“With Maven, we can now offer the unlimited DSP feature-set, uncompromised reliability, and flexibility initially introduced by PRODIGY.MP on a smaller footprint of just 1RU,” says Jan Ehrlich CEO of D

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10 June 2024

USA - TAF USA has welcomed Carter Klute to its team as its new sales representative. Carter is responsible for contacting new customers in the United States and Central/South America, as well as providing timely and knowledgeable service to existing TAF USA customers.

Originally from the Midwest, Carter has now made New Smyrna Beach, Florida, his home and base for his activities with TAF USA.

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10 June 2024

USA - At InfoComm, Meyer Sound will unveil Ultra‑X80, a versatile point source loudspeaker that draws on both the acoustic lineage of the Ultra family, and technology innovations behind the Panther large-format linear line array loudspeaker to provide ‘unprecedented precision, power, and clarity in a compact, simple-to-deploy package’.

The Ultra-X80’s focus on frequency response, phase coherence, and fidelity enables it to pair with products in the Meyer Sound ecosystem, for seamless sound at any scale.

“With Ultra-X80, we are providing extraordinary power-to-size performance along with the kind of flexibility and simplicity of deployment that make a point source loudspeaker so versatile,” says Andy Davies, Meyer Sound’s director of product & services.

“With our Ultra family, we’ve proven where we can take our acoustic i

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10 June 2024

USA - The Obsidian Control Systems team heads to InfoComm with additions to its popular and award-winning Netron data distribution range, featuring a comprehensive line tailored for system integrators and fixed installations, plus ‘the world's first IP66-rated data distribution devices for live entertainment’.

Obsidian is showing a comprehensive line of Netron products in smart form factors optimised for system integrators and fixed installations. The entire range consists of 12 new ETL-approved devices to complete any project.

In stock and shipping is Netron’s first 8-Port 100W POE-managed network switch, the NS8. The NS8 features 10Gbps total switching capacity and VLAN (six groups, trunk, colour coded) LED colour feedback accessible with CLU software.

Also on display will be the EN12i, a 12-Universe EtherDMX node featuring field-inte

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10 June 2024

Venezuela - The chapel of Divina Misericordia is a new catholic house of worship located in the recreational area of the giant Arroz Mary food processing plant in Acarigua.

Architects were determined that the requirement for a high-quality sound system with impeccable speech intelligibility should make the lowest possible visual impact, so Nexo distributor Sun Music Pro proposed a Nexo system using ultra-compact ID and ePS Series speakers.

“In the first phase carried out in October 2023, a temporary black system was installed to allow the inauguration of the chapel and the celebration of masses while a custom-finished system was being prepared,” reports  Sun Music Pro commercial manager Valeska Grüber.

The finished installation includes a pair of Nexo ID84 column speakers with a central ePS10 at the front, all finished in a custom RAL c

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07 June 2024

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) and British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) has announced the launch of a resource dedicated to fostering good physical health for backstage practitioners in the theatre sector.

The initiative champions healthy practices for backstage workers in the theatre and live production sector, where over 70% of the workforce identify as freelance workers. The two organisations, which have been collaborating since 2018, launched an infographic at the ABTT Theatre Show in London on 6 June.

Drawing on the ABTT’s deep understanding of the sector and BAPAM’s clinical expertise in health and wellbeing, the infographic uses the mnemonic S.T.A.G.E. C.R.E.W. Each letter highlights key actions workers can take to maintain physical health and well-being and minimise the risk of injury or chr

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07 June 2024

Germany - PRG EMEA is adding to its extensive lighting technology line-up with investment in the new ORON H2, becoming one of the first customers worldwide to have the IP65 hybrid moving head with phosphor-laser engine in its portfolio.

"The ORON H2 is a laser moving head with unique lighting options," says Udo Willburger, CEO of PRG AG. "While working in close cooperation with Cameo, we were able to use our specialist market view to support the engineers throughout the various development stages and fully test the ORON H2 during extensive visits to the Adam Hall Group’s Experience Centre. Here we also had the opportunity to discuss all the details with lighting designers and product specialists from Cameo.

“With its IP65 rating, this moving head not only offers flexible deployment, but also reduces our operational costs. For us, the ORON H2 is a

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07 June 2024

UK - Singer/songwriter James Blunt’s production team relies on Skan PA Hire for additional sound reinforcement due to audience demand on James Blunt’s Who We Used To Be tour.

Tour and production manager Robert Hayden has worked with James Blunt since the singer first ventured into full time musicianship. He begins: “James and I started off doing little club shows around England before we went to mainland Europe where we played to even less people! When we returned, everything just took off for him, first with the single, and then the album.”

Following 2005’s You’re Beautiful from debut full length record Back To Bedlam there’s only ever been one audio supplier to help James’s sound reach audiences on tour. Robert continues: “I’ve used Skan since the beginning of needing production,” he explains. “The

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07 June 2024

USA - DPA Microphones will present its latest microphone solutions throughout InfoComm 2024 (Booth C9971), including the new 2017 Compact Shotgun Microphone and AIR1 Universal Miniature Fur Windscreen. The company will also showcase its installation microphones, such as the 4098 CORE Supercardioid Gooseneck Microphone and accompanying TSM4001 Table Shock Mount and DM6000 Microphone base.

DPA has prioritised versatility with the 2017 Compact Shotgun Microphone, creating an easy to set-up mic for indoor or outdoor environments. The 2017 is an all-purpose shotgun solution that offers flexibility and the ability to withstand difficult environments or extreme weather in an array of applications.

Intended for quick mounting on most round, omnidirectional headset or lavalier microphones between 0.1-0.23 inches (2.5-5.8mm), the AIR1 Universal Miniature Fur W

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07 June 2024

Portugal - Choreographer and contemporary dance innovator Andrew McNicol presented the world premiere of Upstream, his first collaboration with the Companhia Nacional de Bailado (CNB) – the National Ballet of Portugal – for which he asked lighting designer Yaron Abulafia to create scenography and lighting for the performance which was staged at the São Carlos Opera House, Lisbon.

Upstream was presented as part of a trilogy of works, together with Baracco Concerto by the late George Balanchine and Workwithinwork (which originally premiered in 1998) by William Forsythe – three distinctive works from very different eras and generations of choreographers based on classical dance.

Yaron was excited to use the CNB’s 20 x Robe T1 Profile moving lights – the only moving lights on the rig – as the backbone of h

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07 June 2024

USA - Cadac Consoles has announced that its new CM-Series integrated mix system will make its US debut at InfoComm 2024. The heritage UK console designer will be located on booth C9957 alongside its affiliate UK pro audio Studiomaster brand in the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Cadac Consoles’ demonstration will be centred on two of its new CM-J50 mixing consoles featuring the latest version of the CM-J intuitive software, with latest additional features including Monitor Mode, Console Mirroring and Console Sidecar. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the compact, lightweight, high I/O capacity CM-SR remote audio stage racks that further expand the CM system’s capabilities and operational flexibility.

The US launch, a significant milestone for the rebranded Cadac Consoles, is being staged in collaboration with newly appointed US dis

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07 June 2024

The Netherlands - The Pop on Top festival returned to the scenic hills of Valkenburg aan de Geul last month, captivating thousands of visitors with a blend of music and light. Central to the festival’s success was Sonic Support VOF, whose lighting and LED screen solutions from Showtec, Infinity, and DMT transformed the event into an unforgettable visual spectacle.

The family-friendly event attracted thousands of visitors who defied the rain to enjoy performances from national and international artists including Lucas & Steve, Rowwen Hèze, Clouseau, Krezip and many more across four stages.

Sonic Support VOF used 60 DMT Premiere Series PS3.9 Blue Line LED panels to create two large LED screens on either side of the main stage, ensuring that every audience member had a good view. These panels were complemented by an additional 30 DMT Premiere Ser

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07 June 2024

USA - The Void Acoustics team returns to InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas next week, where the company’s sound systems can be seen at booth C9507 in the Central Hall. Matt Young, Void’s sales manager for North America, supported by the company’s leadership team, will be on hand.

Based in Denver, Matt joined Void Acoustics last year and has spent the past twelve months spearheading its expansion across North America.

With 26 years of experience in the pro audio industry across the premium home audio, commercial and luxury residential sectors, Matt earned his stripes working for household names like Yamaha, Sonos and Bose.

Reflecting on his time at Void Acoustics, Matt said: “Void isn’t your standard speaker brand – every product is an art piece that people want to see, hear and talk about. The fact that Void combines the latest technolog

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07 June 2024

USA - Returning to InfoComm 2024, K-array, is launching the latest addition to its growing suite of software products: K-Cloud. Expanding on the success of the brand’s K-Control platform, K-Cloud allows for remote control, monitoring and management of K-array’s Kommander amplifiers from anywhere in the world.

“K-Cloud is intended to give integrators greater control over their clients’ installations when working remotely,” explains Matteo Barbaro, software product manager at K-array. “Through the platform, accessible on any device with a browser, integrators can gain control of the volumes, presets and matrices of any Kommander amplifier.”

Alongside the control capabilities, K-Cloud users can also use the platform to monitor their systems and will receive alerts in case of system errors. Viewing signal presence meters remotely is another

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06 June 2024

UK - We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Blencowe, founder of dB Production Services and director of Showbitz. Dave passed away unexpectedly on the evening of 10 May. The following tribute comes from his colleagues at Showbitz.

Dave's life was quite compartmentalised with little overlap between his various roles and work. We have pulled this together from friends and family and tried to weave the strands together - any inaccuracies are ours!

Gordon David Blencowe was born in 1960 in Oxfordshire. The family often holidayed in Norfolk visiting the North Norfolk railway and Dave and his father would take holidays visiting the narrow-gauge railways in North Wales. He had a soft spot for the Talyllyn Railway which came about from these childhood holidays as did his lifelong love of Heritage and model railways. He always referred to himself as

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06 June 2024

Poland - DirectOut has announced that Commercial Audio is now its exclusive distributor in Poland.

“We are delighted to welcome Commercial Audio as our new distribution partner in Poland,” says Jan Ehrlich, managing director of DirectOut. “Their extensive industry knowledge and commitment to the highest quality and excellent customer service makes them the perfect partner for DirectOut. Together we want to offer our Polish customers the best audio solutions.”

Commercial Audio has established itself as a reliable partner in the professional audio industry and already provides exclusive distribution services for well-known brands such as Amadeus Active Acoustics, Solid State Logic, ATC Loudspeakers, Bose Professional, Clear-Com, Marian Audio and Harrison Audio. The company is known for its expertise in the implementation of audio signal infrast

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06 June 2024

Portugal - 1 Sound has partnered with Bluemix Sistemas Audio Visuais for distribution in Portugal. Founded in 2015, by Jorge da Fonseca, who has been in the market for over 30 years, Bluemix is committed to developing, designing, and implementing personalised audio, video, and acoustic solutions to meet the independent needs of each client.

Leonardo D’Andrea, 1 Sound’s EMEA sales executive, recently visited Bluemix offering brand support and training for the 1 Sound catalogue.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to bring 1 Sound to Portugal, which we are sure will be a great success,” says Jorge da Fonseca. “These excellent products offer us the opportunity to provide an excellent experience to our customers. With a distinctive premium design and extraordinary sound, we look forward to continuing a strong partnership. We want to th

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06 June 2024

UK - At Hamilton the Stereofunk Festival, staged in the Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton, Steve McCracken of Mac-Events, used the ChamSys Stadium MagicQ MQ250M to busk lightshows for Wanda Dee, hip-hop artists from The Bronx, Vengoboys, a Top-10 Dutch Euro-dance group, and Urban Cookie Collective, a UK electronic duo, along with a wide range of other global acts.

“None of the artists brought their own LDs, so we busked the entire festival,” said McCracken, whose boldly coloured looks flowed as freely and joyfully as the do-it-yourself artwork that seemed to be everywhere at the festival site, which was set against the background of a hunting lodge from the 1700s.

The flexibility of his MQ250M was invaluable for McCracken, who designed his show in Capture and programmed it onsite, then added to it throughout the festival. “There was a bit of

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06 June 2024

Germany - Vortex, the new electronic music festival, made its debut at Göppingen’s EWS Arena, offering techno, trance and hardcore continuously over 12 hours, through Martin Audio’s flagship Wavefront Precision line array series.

It was a far cry from EWS Arena’s normal sphere of activity, which is hosting the Bundesliga handball club Frisch Auf! But since the venue is located in the centre of the town, surrounded by shops and flats, the requirements with regard to noise escape were predictably stringent.

As a debut event, it was particularly important for the organisers not to provoke complaints from local residents in order to preserve the future of the event. The Martin Audio Wavefront Precision systems deployed met these high requirements.

Jürgen Schuster, from event technology specialist Skyeline Live, who provided the technical