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24 May 2024

Brazil - A colossal 624-loudspeaker concert sound system powered by 212 amplified controllers projected the Queen of Pop to the largest audience ever assembled for a standalone concert.

“Madonna is a creature of comfort and habit, so the first and foremost challenge of mixing her sound is to recreate her experience exactly, night to night, venue to venue, on every stage. That’s where L-Acoustics made all the difference,” shares Madonna’s FOH engineer, Burton Ishmael. He’s been mixing for the star from October 2023, at the O2 Arena in London to the massive, record-breaking show on the beach in Rio de Janeiro on May 4, 2024, when an estimated 1.6m fans took in what Pollstar described as “the largest audience ever assembled for a standalone concert”.

The Celebration Tour, supplied by vendor Eighth Day Sound, a Clair Global brand, visited a

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24 May 2024

Sweden - The Eurovision Song Contest, a broadcast seen by over 160m people worldwide, relies on wireless DMX. When Creative Technology, official event supplier, reached out to discuss the challenges of this year’s production, the LumenRadio team along with its OEM partners jumped into action.

Eurovision deployed seven Steadicams and shoulder cams to capture the performance for the broadcast. Each camera was equipped with Aputure MC Pro battery powered pocket lights that featured LumenRadio’s TimoTwo OEM modules for their DMX data reception.

With the concert-style lighting constantly changing, the cameras needed to have an adjustable light source to maintain the video quality being captured. Controlling them wirelessly allowed for full movement of the Steadicam Ops, freeing them to focus on getting the best shot. Using cables was never an option

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24 May 2024

Australia - The 2024 PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival celebrated some of the best of Australian fashion design with a main show space at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne – recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a prime example of 19th century international exhibition architecture.

All Lighting and AV equipment for the week-long festival was supplied by full production services provider, Harry the Hirer Productions led by technical producer Marcus Pugh.

He worked closely with lighting designer Hugh Taranto who used 28 x Robe Esprites to craft a flexible lighting aesthetic for the space that would deliver great looking shows for all the diverse and different collections.

The event also featured numerous associated off-site shows, business-related seminars, workshops, entertainment, and music performances across the c

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24 May 2024

Côte d'Ivoire - Located in Port-Bouet on the Atlantic coast of West Africa's Côte d'Ivoire, the Abidjan Exhibition Centre is the largest exhibition centre in West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, with a capacity of 6,000-seated and 10,000 standing.

Designed by architect, Pierre Fakhoury, it first opened its doors in July 2023 to host trade shows, fairs and major events in the region. Its elegant sweeping exterior is matched by its advanced technology within. Its halls are equipped with a consignment of Ayrton Zonda 9 FX, Eurus and Huracán LED fixtures, specified by G.S.L lighting designer, Guillaume Sarrouy and supplied by PFO Construction and the State of Ivory Coast for installation by G.S.L of Avignon, France.

G.S.L. explains the reasons for its choice of Ayrton fixtures: “G.S.L. has worked with Ayrton products on several occasions and we find

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24 May 2024

UK - Stage Electrics has joined forces with Admiral Staging to deliver a key enhancement to Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. Together, they have developed and implemented a new, dynamic disability viewing platform, significantly improving accessibility and convenience for patrons at one of the UK's foremost event venues.

The collaboration between Stage Electrics and Admiral Staging was initiated when Resorts World Arena sought a solution to enhance the mobility of their existing disability viewing platform. Recognising the challenges posed by the platform's weight and immobility, Stage Electrics' resident staging expert, Mike Clarke, devised a tailored solution to address the client's needs effectively.

Mike Clarke comments, "Our team's dedication to finding innovative solutions is at the heart of what we do. We were thrilled to provide the team a

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24 May 2024

USA - Built in 1917, and situated in the village of Hamilton, New York, Colgate Memorial Chapel provides the centrepiece of Colgate University’s campus activity.

Since it is a multi-use facility - incorporating a range of on-campus activity from university interfaith church services to lectures, presentations and orchestral concerts - it was vital that the public address system was sufficiently flexible to reproduce spoken word and full dynamic range alike, with absolute clarity.

The chapel’s long-term AV contractor is Syracuse-based TSH AV, who specialise in the House of Worship sector. They recently met the university’s requirement for a loudspeaker upgrade by specifying Martin Audio’s award-winning O-Line micro line array, with scalable resolution. This was designed not only to optimise the sound in the challenging space, but with its comp

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24 May 2024

Austria - Prolights Arena Cob4FC lit Christina Stürmer's MTV Unplugged concert, an event celebrating the 20-year career of the Austrian pop-rock singer. The live broadcast from the Volkstheater in Vienna was produced by Das Rund, set in an environment evoking the intimate atmosphere of a rehearsal room, creating a welcoming and relaxed ambiance.

Under the artistic direction of Thomas W. Kiennast from Das Rund, Manfred Nikister designed a lighting setup that included 29 Arena Cob4FC units from Prolights, strategically positioned to maximize visual impact both on stage and in the surrounding scenery.

These LED blinders, supplied by Prolights distributor Lightpower, stood out for their ability to visually define the stage space and provide quality lighting - essential qualities for television filming.

"When designing for an unplugged s

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24 May 2024

USA - In the space of just over a month, Salem, Oregon-based church sound specialists Alpha Sound has designed and installed Nexo Geo M6 line array systems in two houses of worship: Salem Heights, a gospel-centred church with music at the heart of the celebration and, on the other side of the country, St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, North Carolina, a traditional Catholic church.

“Geo M6 proved to be the perfect solution for both, even though the worship spaces and requirements for the systems were very different,” says Alpha Sound’s lead engineer Devin Sheets. “In fact, we put 36 boxes of Geo M6 in both churches, within 36 days.”

At Salem Heights, the significant expansion of an existing Alpha Sound installed Nexo system coincided with a major building renovation, with the new system required to perform with the punch and SPL require

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24 May 2024

France - L-Acoustics has announced updates to L-ISA, its immersive production platform for the live sound and music creation markets. New enhancements include 16 free outputs in L-ISA Studio, integration of Mixhalo’s AI-powered translation services with L-ISA Processor II subscription model, and more.

The addition of 16 free outputs to L-ISA Studio will facilitate immersive monitoring setups at minimal cost, a feature with particular appeal to theatre practitioners and educational institutions around the world. In theatrical environments, L-ISA 3.2 enables immersive playback opportunities for plays and musicals, making spectacularly modern productions accessible to all creatives. Meanwhile, the latest L-ISA update opens new opportunities in secondary and higher education environments, where immersive audio is often taught in theory but difficult to impleme

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24 May 2024

UK - Absen made its debut at the Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS), where the company showcased its innovative AbsenLive capabilities.

Absen demonstrated its extensive AbsenLive production technology with floor, wall, and ceiling installations, all of which suitable for rentals or permanent setups in live events, virtual production, and xR stages.

Exploring the AbsenLive product portfolio, Absen's stand featured a main screen that utilised the PR1.9, a virtual production specialist product.

A ceiling screen showcased the PR3.9, while the floor utilised the Mars series' MR2.5, suitable for live events and VP/xR. A side screen featuring the SA2.6 completed the immersive experience. In a dedicated demo area, attendees got the chance to get hands-on with Absen products.

Solutions from across the AbsenLive portfolio were on dis

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23 May 2024

UK - Neumann has announced An Evening's Conversation Around Spatial Audio, hosted in partnership with Dolby at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). Taking place on Monday, 3 June, this event promises an engaging exploration into the future of sound, bringing together top industry professionals for a night of insights and networking.

Guests will hear from leading experts in the field, including Mike Hillier, Dolby Atmos & mastering engineer at Metropolis Studios, Kurt Martinez, head Dolby Atmos mix engineer at Dean St Studios, and Myles Clarke, senior music engineer at Dolby Laboratories. Their interactive sessions will help you understand how spatial audio is evolving and keep you at the forefront of the technology.

Attendees will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of spatial audio through interactive Q&

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23 May 2024

Denmark - Motor Stage Automation (MSA), has made a substantial investment – over 100 pieces – in equipment from industry leading brand Moveket, comprising 125 Kg and 500 Kg Moveket VMK-S C1 variable speed silent hoists, 125 Kilo Moveket VMW-S high speed winches, Moveket I-Motion Expert-T III and I-Motion Basic control consoles, together with Moveket V-Motion Drives – both E40 and E75 units.

This was supplied to MSA via Danish distributor Matrix Sales and has been added to MSA’s rental stock to help meet current trends and demands in the busy and wonderful world of performance automation.

“Moveket is a premium name in automation, their products are known for their quality and versatility, and as MSA is a truly independent business dedicated to delivering the very best and most innovative solutions for our clients, it is important to have thi

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23 May 2024

USA - Elation lighting has long been a staple of Coachella shows, and this year’s edition of Southern California’s premier music festival was no exception, with the event awash in Elation lighting technology. The newly revamped Sahara Tent, an anchor of the festival’s electrifying atmosphere, was adorned with over 950 Elation lights, while Elation gear also graced the Main Stage, Quasar Stage, and Outdoor Theatre.

Coachella delivered yet another diverse and eclectic experience across two weekends in April, featuring 147 acts across eight stages. Todd Roberts, of Production Design Works, spearheaded the production and lighting design for the Sahara Tent, incorporating a myriad of Elation lighting fixtures supplied by Aspect Lighting.

Roberts is a Coachella production original, having worked the festival since its inception. Shifting from the Out

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23 May 2024

USA - Empowered by X-Laser fixtures and Mercury Laser Control firmware, Ben Jarrett of Squeek Lights in Sayreville, N.J. designed the lighting for metalcore band Beartooth on their 2024 North American tour.

“In our early design meetings, Caleb [Shomo, lead singer for Beartooth] talked about bringing an arena-style show to smaller and mid-sized venues,” Jarrett said. “Whether that night’s stop was at a 3,000-capacity theatre or a 900-capacity club, he wanted every show to come at you and feel like it was taking place in a much larger setting.”

To accomplish this, Jarrett and the Squeek Lights team knew the Beartooth stage had to generate immense lighting output to provide that big arena feel from a smaller footprint. The band wanted numerous special effects as part of the design, and lasers played a major part in creating those big, impactfu

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23 May 2024

Europe - Showtec has added four new models to its ACT series that now includes a number of fresnel, ellipsoidal, par and flood lights. Like the existing models, the new Par 200 W RGBAL, Par 200 W CW/WW, Par 200 W UV and Flood 200 RGBAL are designed for use in theatres, on stages and even at business events.

The new models strengthen the ACT series by adding three new pars and one flood light to the range. Each one is equipped with a powerful 200 W LED designed for a specific purpose. In keeping with rest of the ACT series, accurate colour rendering, manual control options, optimised beam angles and silent operation are features of the new models.

The Par 200 W RGBAL is a versatile indoor spotlight with an RGBAL LED light source that is capable of producing a wide range of colours. In addition to control via DMX, manual control is possible using the o

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23 May 2024

UK - Despite having a population of less than 5000, the North Yorkshire town of Malton enjoys top quality music, comedy and touring theatre shows at its much-loved local venue and community hub The Milton Rooms.

First built in the early 1800s, the venue is now run as a not-for-profit organisation by an active team of volunteers and features a 300-seat main theatre space with a new, world-class Nexo sound system supplied by Nexo distributors A.C. Entertainment Technologies, in collaboration with installers North Star Engineers.

After an independent assessment concluded the venue needed expert advice to overcome its poor acoustics, AC-ET calculated the best options for the new sound system using Nexo's NS-1 acoustic prediction software, which enables users to configure their speaker placement in any venue setup, and then predict the optimal sound cover

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23 May 2024

USA - The Detroit Lions held a reveal event for their new uniforms at their Ford Field home, drawing thousands of fans. The same stage was also used for the Detroit Lions NFL Draft Party. Both events were executed flawlessly, thanks to the dedicated effort and teamwork of 4Wall Entertainment’s Detroit crew.

Led by VP of live events Joe Leahy, the 4Wall team of Kareem Harris, Gary McGarity, Ross Zhang, Xavier Williamson, Jason Dunk, Robert McGoldrick, Jon Sogoian, Johnny Pike, Michael Gallacher, Brian Lavender, Tommy Minkowski, Joshua Ruhlman, and Rahul Samuel set a stylish, upbeat tone for the reveal event.

Helping them in this effort were 113 Chauvet Professional fixtures, including 14 Maverick MK3 Washes, 48 COLORado PXL Bar 16 motorized battens, 14 Color STRIKE M strobe-washes, 14 STRIKE Array 4 blinders, 20 EPIX Strip IP one-meter linear units,

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23 May 2024

USA - EAW will debut its new SBX118F 1 x 18″ powered arrayable subwoofer at  InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas. This new subwoofer can be used to enhance any EAW full-range enclosure and is designed to rig directly to the popular NTX Series of professional solution products. With SBX118F, the NTX series offers rider-ready performance fit for touring productions and high-end installed applications, says the company.

“SBX118F brings emotion and impact to any performance,” says TJ Smith, president of EAW. “Designed to support all EAW's professional systems, including ADAPTive, SBX118F is an essential element of our catalogue. SBX118F’s rigging interfaces directly to the NTX210L line array enclosure, increasing the number of applications and adding deployment flexibility to the already successful NTX series.”  

The SBX118F is a high-output, mid-s

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23 May 2024

Europe – Sommer Cable has introduced the new 32-core SC-Elephant SPM3215 loudspeaker cable, specially developed for use in professional large-scale sound reinforcement systems. Its main application lies in the connection between line array speakers and the latest generation of 16-channel amplifiers whereby each speaker is individually addressed.

The cable is suited as a reliable connection solution for (PA/sound systems or large sound reinforcement systems such as the L-series from L'Acoustics. An individual combination of the cores also makes it possible to run smaller sound systems. The SC-Elephant SPM3215 can also be used as a control cable for machine and robot control.

With its torsion-free stranding, the cable ensures a reliable performance, while its compact diameter of just 20,3 mm makes installation considerably easier. Owing to its fine-w

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23 May 2024

USA - “Pretty much any time the church staff calls me up and asks if we can do this or can we do that, the answer I can always give them is, ‘Yes!’” says Parker Gann, system engineer at MessengerAVL, the Conyers, Georgia-based integration firm that designed and installed a new audio upgrade for Church Unlimited.

The Corpus Christi, Texas campus of the non-denominational, evangelical, multi-site church, which seats over 1,500 worshipers and is also its broadcast centre, completed a major audio systems upgrade in February in which MessengerAVL installed a KLANG:konductor immersive in-ear monitor mixing system routed through a new DiGiCo Quantum338 front-of-house console.

A Quantum225 desk, used as the church’s new broadcast console, was also part of the upgrade package. “It’s their largest campus and their flagship campus, and now it’s