UK - Continuing a long-running working relationship, XL Video is supplying LED screens, cameras and control for Muse's current The 2nd Law world tour featuring another innovative collaboration between stage & visual designer, Oli Metcalf and video director Tom Kirk.

The tour began in October 2012 in the UK. It stormed through Europe, Japan and US and is now back in the UK, this time playing stadium shows.

Muse are renowned for their visually spectacular live performances. XL's project manager Phil Mercer enthuses, "It is always interesting working with Oli and Tom, and the results of their work is another entertaining, impressive and thought-provoking show."

To achieve a combination of the highest resolution and lightest weight LED video screen surfaces, XL Vi

UK - As the nail biting Champions League Final came to an end at Wembley Stadium, Bluman Associates was hard at work at the Natural History Museum setting the scene for the official after party for German football team Borussia Dortmund this Saturday (25th March).

Bluman Associates managed the technical production for a mapped building projection onto the front of the historic building for creative agency Unspun Ltd.

The highly anticipated final saw German rivals Borussia Dortmund take on Bayern Munich where victory was clenched in the 89th minute for Bayern Munich, with a goal from Arjen Robben making the final score 2 - 1.

On arrival at the Natural History Museum, the Dortmund players, their management, friends and VIP supports of the club were all greeted by the club logo projected onto the outside of the building. Video services production agency Bluman Associates worked

Estonia - Renowned for producing some of the best theatre in Europe, Vanemuine Teater in Tartu, Estonia, launches its new production of Grease directed by Georg Malvius, featuring a vibrant lighting design by Palle Palmé who is utilising over 100 Robe moving lights.

These are part of a new installation at Vanemuine in the theatre's 660 seater Big House venue.

The installation is part of a much wider upgrade programme which has seen all eight Estonian state supported arts and culture venues receive a major lighting refit - with Robe moving lights deployed across all sites.

Involving over 500 fixtures distributed around the country, this has been co-ordinated by Robe's Estonian distributor, Tallinn based E&T Ltd.

Palle Palmé is based in Stockholm and works internationally on a wide variety of shows across theatre, live music and corporate event sectors.<

Europe - Avolites' powerful yet compact Titan Mobile console will be working alongside the Ai Media Server for the first time on the latest Skunk Anansie European festival tour this summer. Video-heavy, it's a visual feast of light, colour and movement backed up with epic rock show lighting. This has seen LD Andy 'Foxy' Smyth harnessing the power of Titan 7 in its most concentrated form.

Smyth has been working with Skunk Anansie since the beginning of summer 2011 and has used an Avolites Pearl Expert control console for the venues tour for the last two years. He describes the desk as 'incredible' following its boost from the new Titan Software.

"The Pearl control surface has been a favourite of mine since I started in the industry, so it was an easy choice to make for the tour. The Expert additions, such as the extra five playback faders, split roller page and fixture exc

UK - Audio-Technica has announced the recruitment of Matthias Exner to the position of business development director EMEA for professional products.

With a strong technical and commercial background, Exner has spent many years in the pro-audio industry representing leading brands like Biamp, Tannoy and BSS, in various roles working with distributors across EMEA and SAARC regions. Exner brings significant experience of the commercial installation industry to Audio-Technica

Exner said, "I'm very excited to be joining Audio-Technica - it's a fantastic company with great technology, high quality products and an amazing heritage. Incidentally, my first contact with the company was the purchase of a pair of its noise-cancelling headphones, which I still use on business travels today.

"I am looking forward to working closely with our distribution partners to implement str

Spain - Master Audio has launched the highly anticipated iOS DSP Studio app for iPad, bringing full wireless remote control and monitoring of its flagship Xcellence series of loudspeaker systems to the popular tablet device.

The application - which is also available in a PC version - utilises a bespoke control protocol that supports Wi-Fi connectivity (control over IP), allowing it to address the ethernet-enabled amp and DSP modules in the Xcellence series cabinets, affording the user visual feedback on amplifier status and the ability to edit processor values from any spot in the venue. Parameters such as crossover frequency, gain (per way and separately mutable), limiter, polarity, delay, five custom parametric EQs or an array of filter shapes, can all be adjusted in fine detail, with several elements controllable at the same time using grouping functions. The app also provide

UAE - Adamson and Thomsun (United Arab Emirates) are teaming up to offer their first seminar in Dubai from 30 May through 1 June. The event will bring in top production companies, partners and FOH engineers to the Traders Hotel in Deira, Dubai. Adamson applications engineer, David Dohrmann, will lead the event and work through topics including Adamson core technologies and products, line array theory and best array design practices.

The presentation allows industry professionals a chance to hear playback and live music on multiple Adamson products including: SpekTrix, Metrix and the Point Series. The seminar will include additional presentations introducing the Energia Series, a Blueprint software overview as well as loudspeaker measurement techniques and system alignment.

There is still an opportunity to attend this seminar and interested parties are encouraged to contact dav

China - The newly reopened Yau Ma Tei Theatre has put a modern twist on traditional Cantonese opera. The historic 300 seat venue in Kowloon, Hong Kong, features the latest ETC technology, with layers of the highest quality conventional and LED light.

Originally opened as a cinema in 1930, the Yau Ma Tei Theatre screened films from a variety of genres until it closed in 1998. Nearly a decade later, the building was saved from being bulldozed when it was declared an architectural and cultural landmark. The government decided to revitalise the area, beginning conservation work to transform the former cinema into a performing arts venue that would become home to a Cantonese opera troupe.

During the renovation, power consumption in the theatre was a big concern. The aging building has limited electrical capacity, so the lighting system had to be green. The staff decided to install

featured content

ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

USA - After a hugely successful debut show in February 2012, the trail-blazing PLASA Focus regional event series is returning to Austin, where it all began! This year's show is bigger and better and is taking place at a new venue, the Palmer Events Centre in downtown Austin, just 20 minutes from Austin Airport, on 10-11 September 2013.

"PLASA Focus: Austin 2012 was the first event to be launched under the PLASA Focus banner in North America, and it proved to be very popular, with both visitors and exhibitors, which is why we have decided to return to the region this September. Over 40 companies have already signed up to exhibit, and we expect to see both previous and new visitors, all of whom want to experience and interact with the latest products without having to travel far from home" says Jackie Tien, director of media, sales & marketing at PLASA.

PLASA Focus pro

UK - Allen & Heath's regional sales agency for Asia, Global Market Management, has appointed Alex Schloesser to the position of sales engineer. He will be working with distributors in training, pre-sales system design support as well as after sales support with an emphasis on helping distribution partners increase market share.

With 25 years of experience in broadcast audio, FOH mixing, systems engineering, speaker system tuning, R&D, RF, speaker measurement and many other related pro audio functions Schloesser makes a significant addition to the Global Market team.

"I was delighted to find a man with such high technical and business credentials recently relocated to the heart of the Asia Pacific territory," comments Global Market Management president, Bardy Hayes. "Alex has already proved himself to be very valuable across a wide variety of disciplines. We look

UK - A substantial lighting rig featuring over 150 Robe fixtures was used by 'house' lighting designer and TV lighting director Tim Routledge to create a production design for the 1xtra / In New Music We Trust Arena at BBC Radio One's 2013 'Big Weekend' event.

The high-profile three day musical extravaganza staged in Ebrington Square, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, kicked off the UK festival season in style.

The lighting equipment for this stage was supplied by the HSL Group incorporating PSI who provided all rigging and support. The two companies have recently merged offering even more comprehensive rental operations throughout the UK and Ireland.

The 1xtra / In New Music We Trust stage was located inside The Venue, a 5000 capacity multi-purpose temporary structure erected for Derry's 2013 year as European Capital of Culture. The house lighting rig in here also contai

UK - MediaCityUK-based media services provider, dock10, has formalised the appointment of technical support firm Gallowglass to fulfil the vast majority of its labour requirements at The Studios - the studio complex at the heart of MediaCityUK.

One of the largest television studios in the UK and home to the BBC and, progressively, ITV, the new complex offers the largest high definition facilities in Europe. Operated by dock10, The Studios contain seven HDTV studios, two audio studios, digital post production cloud media management services.

Gallowglass will provide a workforce of technical support staff, including carpenters, scenic artists, gaffers and stage-hands, to work at The Studios - and also at production base The Pie Factory, home to three large sound stages, and location for a wide range of productions, from feature films to sofa commercials.

Gallowglass regional m

UK - Award-winning lighting designer James Thompson is using pure beam Clay Paky Sharpys to throw laser like beams across the audience in his show design for The Script's current sell-out world tour.

Thompson - who was presented with a Knight of Illumination Award in the category of Concert Touring and Events for his work with The Script in 2011 - has praised the impact the Sharpys can have in a lighting design.

The Script show, which has been designed to reflect the name of the Tour - '#3', features a huge video backdrop with three parallel video fingers that reach out into the audience, both along the floor and overhead. Although Thompson uses the Sharpy's sparingly he has worked them into his design seamlessly, using them to deliver high impact, audience-embracing effects. Where they are used each look exploits the sharp parallel beam acting to punctuate the music and the v

UK - Amongst Sennheiser UK's products on show at the 2013 ABTT Theatre Show will be "three truly ground-breaking audio solutions".

Launched last year, the company's 9000 Series digital wireless microphones system has already made a major impression on West End theatre shows and high profile corporate launches. On show will be the eight-channel EM 9046 receiver, SKM 900 handheld and SK 9000 beltpacks.

The LSP 500 PRO loudspeaker is a wireless audio solution which allows entire sound reinforcement systems to be installed in minutes. Connected to an external WLAN, a complete PA of up to 20 loudspeakers can be controlled by an iPhone or iPad, via the free, highly intuitive LSP 500 app. Each LSP 500 PRO accommodates up to three receivers for wireless microphones and also has a combined socket for a 6.3 mm jack plug and an XLR-3 connector for using a wired microphone. A US

USA - Auralex Acoustics has announced several recent additions to its leadership team. The announcement was made by Auralex founder and president Eric Smith.

First, Mark Henderson has been appointed CEO. Prior to joining Auralex Acoustics, Henderson had a successful global career with Dow AgroSciences, and also functioned as Executive Director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, travelling abroad to grow both organizations' market share. Along the way, Henderson acquired experience with Six Sigma and other process and organizational re-engineering job assignments.

Next, Dave Brune has been appointed director of sales. Brune brings over two decades of sales management and business development experience with leading global manufacturers including Sony DADC, Maxell Professional Media, Thomson Consumer Electronics, and Ampex Recording Media Corpora

Denmark - DPA Microphones has appointed Niels J°rgen °hrgaard as its new executive VP for sales.

°hrgaard joins DPA Microphones from Reson where he was executive VP global sales and marketing. He has also held similar positions at other high tech companies including Hasselblad A/S and ScanView A/S - Purup Eskofot A/S.

Christian Poulsen, CEO of DPA Microphones, says, "Niels J°rgen has spent the last 20 years developing and growing sales globally for a range of companies and we are delighted that DPA will now benefit from this extensive experience. His appointment comes at an exciting time for DPA. We have recently introduced the new d:facto Vocal Microphone, which has been well received by the audio industry, and we are also introducing other new product ranges that will appeal to a wide variety of industry sectors. Having Niels J°rgen on board will all

Australia - Nearing the end of a billion dollar transformation, The Star in Sydney's Pyrmont has morphed from a large-scale casino into a full-blown leisure and entertainment complex. With its panoramic views of Sydney's harbour and skyline, the venue has been designed to entice and host international headliners and A-list celebrities from around the globe. Situated within The Star is The Event Centre, a world-class entertainment space suited to intimate concert settings as well as domestic and international conferences, exhibitions and awards functions, which boasts a combination of DiGiCo SD10s and SD11s at the heart of its audio system.

The Event Centre is a huge 2400sq.m column-free space, the biggest of its kind in Sydney. The room caters for 4000 patrons in concert mode, 3000 guests with half seated, 1200 in a banquet ballroom setting and 1300 in a conference space.

Head

Brazil - Robe participated with local distributor Newart at the 17th Brazilian exhibition and conference organised by the AES (Audio Engineering Society) in Sao Paulo, taking the opportunity to highlight its latest innovative new products, including the RobinN Pointe, the MiniMe and the MMX WashBeam.

Attracting lighting, sound and video professionals from Latin America and the US, AES Brazil Expo registered a 10% growth in visitor numbers. AES Brazil president Armando Baldassarra stated, "More and more international launches are happening in Brazil which continues to raise the profile of AES."

On the stand, the new Robin Pointe and MiniMe fixtures were shown in Brazil for the first time, making a big impact on visitors who wanted to see them in action and asked for personalised demonstrations continually throughout the show.

Newart CEO Francisco Pinheiro commented,

Denmark - Two new Fresnel luminaires in Martin Professional's award-winning MAC Viper Family of moving heads are now shipping.

The MAC Viper Wash and MAC Viper Wash DX with internal framing are full-range wash luminaires capable of performing at the high level you would expect from a professional wash light. Both luminaires feature the same compact form, impressive speed, superior light quality and beautiful colours of the MAC Viper Family and use the same 1000 W HID source.

The Wash DX version houses a unique internal framing system that enables designers to shape and control light projection onto stages, performers, scenery, scrims or any set element with great precision. The internal framing system makes it a highly capable, automated substitute for a conventional daylight Fresnel fixture.

At 33 000 lumens of output, both the Viper Wash and Viper Wash DX are brighter than

UK - The upcoming ABTT exhibition will mark the London launch for entertainment industry training centre Backstage Academy's new two-year BA Visual Production degree.

The ABTT show takes place from 12-13 June at the Old Truman Brewery in the capital city, where Backstage Academy will feature amongst the exhibitors showcasing products, services and training for theatre, covering the latest in things like lighting, sound, staging, seating, stage engineering, projection, textiles, flooring, scenic paints and more.

Backstage Academy, who will be exhibiting for the first time at the show on stand number 27, will also be showcasing its backstage short courses and bespoke skills training to visitors, who tend to come from a wide variety of disciplines across professional theatre.

The new BA Visual Production course will launch at Backstage Academy's Wakefield facility in January 20

France / Benelux - Loud Technologies and Algam have announced a distribution agreement whereby Algam will serve as the distributor for the Ampeg and Mackie brands in France, commencing 1 June 2013.

"The Ampeg & Mackie brands are already well established in the French market with a strong and loyal following," explained Tony Williams, director of sales, EMEA. "Algam will be able to build on this success by providing a much improved level of French language-based brand communication."

"Algam has enjoyed a very long and successful story with Martin Audio and is delighted to reinforce this great partnership with Ampeg and Mackie," said Gérard Garnier, Algam CEO and founder. "Ampeg is one of the most iconic brands in the music industry and Mackie remains one of the most innovative companies on the market. Ampeg and Mackie will respectively

Latest Issue. . .