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11 March 2025

Europe - Alongside the release of their eighth and final album Heaven :x: Hell in March 2024, pop-punk icons Sum 41 announced Tour of the Setting Sum, an ambitious multi-continent arena tour that served as a fitting farewell to a 30-year career.

Throughout Asia, North America, and Europe, the Canadian rockers played more than a hundred shows for millions of passionate fans eager to see them one last time. For the 24-venue run in Europe, culminating in a sold-out performance in Nanterre, France, production manager Ivan Copelan said they considered several audio systems, ultimately selecting Cohesion for “the simple reason - the sound of it”.

16 Cohesion CO12 per side comprised the main hangs, and an additional 12 CO12 were hung on either side. “The CO12 go so low - the subs are there for lifting,” said FOH engineer Bryan Camp

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11 March 2025

USA - Audient co-sponsored The Shadowmaker, a new show from Simon Shackleton which recently premiered at Denver’s Holiday Theatre - to a standing ovation. Created by the award-winning British producer and his filmmaker wife Chele Gutek, The Shadowmaker show is the first of its kind from an electronic producer, featuring live performance of songs from Shackleton’s new album of the same name.

Audient helped Shackleton enhance his audio setup with an EVO SP8, the eight-channel smart preamp with AD/DA. Pairing that with his EVO 16 audio interface, Shackleton now has 16 channels of both inputs and outputs with EVO Expanded System.

“The EVO SP8 is the perfect addition to the EVO 16 for my live shows, where I need more than eight channels of audio going out to FOH,” said Shackleton. “It’s super simple to daisy-chain the two uni

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11 March 2025

UAE - Events company SLS Production has made a strategic investment in INFiLED’s GX Series, adding 1,000 sq.m to its existing inventory of INFiLED’s GX Series LED displays.

SLS Production is known for its expertise in organising, managing and bringing event experiences to life. Having worked with INFiLED for three years, the company values the manufacturer’s reputation for providing reliable, innovative technology, with the latest purchase strengthening SLS Production’s commitment to providing high-quality AV solutions for live events.

“In the production business we need equipment that can perform under pressure while delivering stunning results, and INFiLED has consistently met our high standards,” says Edwin Cheeran, managing director at SLS Production Middle East.

“The GX Series has been on our radar for some time, and this i

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11 March 2025

Europe - DirectOut is the creator of Prodigy.MX, a multiformat audio matrix that interfaces with the whole range of protocols offered by DirectOut. The Prodigy.MX is used by Nils Labenz, an experienced monitor engineer, who is currently on German metalcore band Electric Callboy’s Tekkno tour.

The Prodigy.MX fulfils a variety of tasks within the Electric Callboy audio workflow. First, the band uses it to supply redundancy for the playback system, utilising EARS (Enhanced Automatic Redundancy Switching) to ensure the switch is interruption-free. It is also the Dante Clock Master for the entire network and, when required, uses the MADI card with SRC to forward audio signals to outside broadcast trucks for events such as the Rock am Ring Festival, held at the Nürburgring racetrack in June 2024.

Nils (Labbi) Labenz began working with

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11 March 2025

Europe - The OCA Alliance has welcomed NDI as a member to the trade association. NDI offers a broad portfolio of software and technology solutions.

"Joining the OCA Alliance marks a significant leap forward in the standardisation strategy for metadata in NDI. It is also a tremendous pleasure to collaborate with such brilliant minds as the creators of AES70,” says NDI technical director, Roberto Musso. “I look forward to the opportunity to publish the guidelines for AES70 over NDI soon."  

"NDI truly needs no introduction, and the OCA Alliance is thrilled to welcome them to our membership," notes Ethan Wetzell, OCA Alliance marketing chair. "Not only is it a vote of confidence in the standard to have NDI participating, but it is also proof that AES70 is not just for audio - if it's connected, AES70 can help. We look forward to working with the t

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11 March 2025

USA - Chauvet Professional has introduced the Strike V, the latest addition to the company’s successful Strike family of fixtures.

With two layers of individually controllable RGBW LEDs (24 per layer), and a smart frost that can create zoomed out flares, the Strike V provides designers with a tool that they can use ‘to take their shows to the next level’.

The variable electronic frost plate over the dual layers of pixels makes it possible to change beam angles instantly at the press of a button, while the advanced optics of the LED diodes themselves can produce a stunning array of vibrant colours. A 180-degree tilting fixture, the Strike V has powerful strobing capabilities to go alone with its performance as a colour wash.

As a colour wash or strobe, the Strike Vs can create static effects or smooth motorized looks that will transform

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11 March 2025

Spain - Work Pro continues to expand its Integra series with the launch of three new models: Integra 16S, Integra 4SA, and Integra 8SA. These additions offer advanced and versatile solutions for audio management in professional installations. The new models were officially announced at ISE 2025 and will be available through official distributors by the end of March for the 16S and 4SA models, and 8SA will be available in May.

The Integra 16S is a DSP matrix that retains all the features of the well-known Integra 8S but with double the channels: 16 inputs and 16 outputs. This model offers greater audio management capacity, ideal for more complex installations that require simultaneous control of multiple zones or areas. With its per-channel configurable DSP, the Integra 16S allows precise sound optimisation, ‘ensuring exceptional quality in medium to large

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11 March 2025

Remember Monday - The UK's Eurovision entry for 2025 will be the female country-pop trio Remember Monday, the BBC has announced. The group, who previously reached the quarter finals of The Voice, will head to Switzerland this May with a song called What The Hell Just Happened?

Calling themselves "pop girlies with a little bit of yeehaw", the band was formed by school friends Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele in 2013. In a press release, they said: "We're going to be the first girlband to represent the UK since 1999, which feels like such a crazy honour. We're going to bring loads of fun, energy and hopefully do something that you won't have seen before on the Eurovision stage."

Citizens’ Return - A revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, a production of Douglas Maxwell’s a

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10 March 2025

USA - In a thrilling showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LIX captivated a record 126m US viewers who tuned in to watch the game. From Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Shure audio gear was instrumental in delivering crystal-clear sound to fans both at the stadium and watching the broadcast.

ATK Audiotek and Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) handled all wireless microphones and IEM systems for the pre-game entertainment, halftime entertainment, and referees, as well as the Bud Light Backyard Concert. This marks the 28th year PWS has partnered with ATK for the Super Bowl.

The audio team included broadcast mixer Tom Holmes, entertainment front-of-house mixer Alex Gussard, entertainment front-of-house music mixer Dave Natale, monitor mixer Tom Pesa, lead RF engineer Cameron Stuckey, and RF techs Stev

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10 March 2025

Europe - Mark Clements has been touring with Level 42 for over 23 years; for the last 16, he has been using DiGiCo consoles provided by Neal Allen, CEO of Merlin PA Hire. For the band’s 2024 touring dates Allen joined the tour mixing monitors, with Clements at the front-of-house position.

The year began with the pair using a Quantum 225 at FOH and an SD10-24 for monitors. Towards the end of the year, they swapped to a Quantum 338 at FOH, and a Quantum 326 at monitors for the London O2 indigo shows. 2025 will see the Quantum 338 changing to a Quantum 225 for the overseas shows to fit the slimmed-down logistics package.

“I love the Quantum 225 and 338,” Clements explains. “Their size is just right, the frames are easy to manoeuvre into any venue, and the small FOH footprint and connectivity options are massive plus points. We have 48 inputs fro

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10 March 2025

USA - Visitors to February's San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo were awed by the balance and dexterity of the cowboys and cowgirls who roped and rode on the arena floor. But the heroics of these athletes weren't the only impressive feats that took place at the spacious Frost Bank Centre during the three-week event.

David Jackson of LD Systems and his crew did some impressive turns too. Every day, they set up and closed down a 40ft wide by 34ft-deep stage during the rodeo, while also accommodating floor packages for its star entertainers, a group that included Nelly, Keith Urban, Jon Pardi, Joe Nichols, the Eli Young Band, LeAnn Rimes, Sammy Hagar and Dwight Yoakam among others.

"For our crew, the challenges of working within the limited time windows to maintain the rig had to be addressed," said Jackson, who served as lighting lead and program

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10 March 2025

USA - Clear-Com has announced Annabelle Gauthier as the recipient of the 2025 USITT Stage Management Award, which Clear-Com sponsors yearly. This prestigious honour, presented annually at the USITT Conference & Stage Expo, recognises an outstanding student stage manager for their dedication, leadership, and excellence in stage management.

The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), founded in 1960, serves as a hub for dialogue, research, and education among theatre design and technology practitioners. The annual USITT Conference & Stage Expo is a cornerstone event that connects industry professionals, educators, and students, offering a platform for networking in entertainment technology.

Clear-Com has a long-standing history of supporting industry education and professional development, aligning with USITT’s mission to adva

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10 March 2025

Morocco - The 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Morocco, was a landmark event in the global effort to improve road safety. The conference brought together ministers, experts, and stakeholders globally to discuss innovative strategies and solutions for reducing road accidents while promoting safe and sustainable mobility.

For such a high-profile event, the scenography and lighting played a crucial role in creating an immersive and engaging atmosphere. Thanks to Prolights' lighting solutions and the collaboration with EcmaPro – the brand's exclusive distributor in Morocco, which provided the solutions to M212, a leading technical service provider specializing in high-profile events – the event featured a precisely designed lighting setup that enhanced the venue and provided a visually impactful experience.

EcmaPro o

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10 March 2025

USA - Adamson’s new VGt flagship line array and VGs powered subwoofer were on display at the NAMM show in January this year, with a special demonstration event.

Audio professionals, engineers, and enthusiasts were invited to the exclusive demonstration event given by Adamson personnel at the City National Grove in Anaheim.

The event offered attendees an up-close look at the VGt and VGs along with an opportunity to network with industry peers while enjoying drinks and appetisers.

“Adamson is proud to introduce the Vergence Group to the NAMM community,” says Brian Fraser, head of product and technology at Adamson. “The VGt and VGs are the result of years of innovation and engineering, aimed at delivering superior sound quality and operational efficiency. These products are a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what

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10 March 2025

UK - Solid State Logic has announced the release of the latest System T V4.1 software update, delivering a range of tools and features for immersive audio production. With support for 9.1.6 channel paths, an expanded FX Rack including Fusion, Blitzer, and Sourcerer, alongside the Dual Channel View mode in the Tempest Control App (TCA), V4.1 further establishes System T as a comprehensive immersive-capable digital audio console.

System T V4.1 expands its immersive audio capabilities with new 9.1.2, 9.1.4, and 9.1.6 channel path and bus formats, enabling enhanced workflows for object bed mixing and content creation for fixed auditorium installations with advanced speaker configurations. These formats include dedicated metering, with separated height channels for added clarity. Advanced folddown controls simplify downmixing, while the dedicated Spill function p

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10 March 2025

USA - dBTechnologies USA has announced that Darrin Young, known in the pro audio industry as B-Side, has joined the company as the new director of sales for North America. Young brings a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective to his new role, with a proven track record in sales, marketing, training, and driving strategic market growth.

Young’s early experiences travelling internationally sparked a lifelong passion for global ventures. His professional career in the pro audio industry began in 1999 with Stanton Magnetics, where he played a key role in the company’s growth into the Stanton Group – a portfolio that includes brands like Cerwin-Vega, KRK Systems, and Stanton DJ.

Following Stanton’s acquisition by Gibson Guitars, Young was retained to support the Gibson Pro Audio division. Operating out of Nashville, TN, he travelled worldwide

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07 March 2025

UK - Backup Tech’s annual summertime day of fun and frivolity, this year renamed The Fabulous Village Fete in celebration of Adam Taylor, aka Adam Fabulous, DJ and long-time supporter of the event, will once again take place at Surrey’s Daytona Sandown Park on Thursday 10 July.

With shooting brakes, feather boas, picnic blankets, cake creations and voluminous veg to the fore, the industry is invited to enjoy the event’s perennial favourites, including Best Dressed Fete’r, the hugely popular Bake Off and Veg Off, The Straw Stage for live entertainment and workshops, Peasant laser clay Shooting, the Food and Craft Fest stalls and some new additions, to be announced later in the build-up to the day.

“The fete stalls proved incredibly popular last year, and even more companies want them this year so,

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07 March 2025

Europe/USA - Powersoft and Cohesion, a professional sound reinforcement design and manufacturing enterprise within the Clair Global Group, have announced a strategic partnership that ‘will shape the future of live event production and beyond’. Under the Cohesion name, Powersoft will become a key technological partner that provides amplification and processing platforms suited for live touring and events audio as well as installed sound systems worldwide.

The collaboration between Powersoft and Cohesion serves as the foundation for new technology that will deliver unprecedented performance, efficiency, and reliability for the most demanding and aspirational applications and will ensure even greater flexibility and control for audio professionals around the world. Notably, engineers from both companies have developed a new, customised amplification platfor

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07 March 2025

UK - Lightware has announced that its UK office has a new collaboration with Paragon Projection, a key player in AV rentals for live event production. This partnership will significantly enhance the UK market’s access to Lightware products, enabling event production companies to leverage advanced AV technology for seamless event execution.

Through this partnership, Paragon will offer Lightware’s range of matrix switchers, extenders, and AV-over-IP systems for cross-hire and rental services. Paragon’s available stock includes high-demand products such as the MX2 series, HDMI20-OPTJ solutions, and UBEX extenders. As the partnership progresses, Paragon plans to expand its inventory in response to increasing customer demand, ensuring that production companies have flexible access to the best in AV technology.

This collaboration aims to address the

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07 March 2025

UK/USA -To provide a scalable, and versatile lighting rig that could accommodate multiple types of venues throughout the summer leg of Foo Fighters’ Everything or Nothing At All tour, lighting designer Dan Hadley implemented an adaptable and impactful rig featuring the Martin MAC One fixture.

Foo Fighters embarked on the tour in 2024 in support of their 11th studio album But Here We Are. Given that the tour stops spanned large indoor venues, outdoor festival stages, and stadiums, Hadley was tasked to create a lighting rig that could be implemented across a wide range of venue types and maintain their basic mission of visually amplifying the band without drawing attention away from them.

After using the Martin MAC Aura fixtures for the first leg of the tour, Hadley decided to implement the recently released MAC One for the band’s