USA - The CBS broadcast of the 2014 Tony Awards, which aired 8 June, was one of the most complex in the event's history. From host Hugh Jackman's sprawling, bouncing, opening number to the on-stage gathering of all winners for a closing rendition of On Broadway viewers were treated to a fast-paced production that included a record 17 musical acts and a live orchestra in Radio City Music Hall.

Managing RF system design and frequency coordination for Firehouse Productions was Vinny Siniscal. "With so much real estate to cover, so many frequencies to manage and so many live bands, I specified Shure UHF-R systems again this year," he states. "When I'm doing a live network broadcast, that's my preference. Even though the product has been around ten years or so, I

Spain - Ibiza superclub Space Ibiza was the first venue to launch its 2014 summer season in style, with a 10 hour party together with a spectacular lighting rig designed by Eduardo Valverde which included 42 x Robe moving lights.

In addition to creating the lighting, video and stage design which incorporated numerous LED elements Valverde also undertook programming and operation of the opening show which featured a multi-DJs line up making the vibes. This was spectacularly high in impact to match the profile of the club and the occasion.

The Robe fixtures comprised 30 x Robe Robin Pointes and 12 x Robe Robin LEDWash 300s, provided by Madrid based ASL Light Solutions.

The party began at 4 pm and ended at 2 am so he needed fixtures that could withstand being worked non-stop - and to the max - for the duration as well as ones that would register in daylight.

The LEDWash 300s

UK - Orbital's new Nemesis distribution line of audio playback and control solutions took centre stage at last week's ABTT 2014 Show, with the Nemesis UMT-2D Multi-Button & MIDI to USB Converter being judged the Sound Product of the Year by the ABTT panel of peers and industry experts.

The award was presented to Orbital Sound's Richard Carter, part of the Nemesis design team, at a joint ceremony hosted by The Association of British Theatre Technicians and The Stage Management Association, at the end of the first day of the show.

Orbital MD Chris Headlam commented, "This is a great achievement for the team behind Nemesis - representing two years' research and development to create something that has long been missing in the theatre market. The objective is to remove the complexity and often random nature of computer playback systems - something that has plagued us all at s

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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

When award winning film composer Hans Zimmer brought his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to North America fall 2024, the show's audio team sought out to bring infrafrequency bass to the show to add new depth to the show's audio experience. The team chose Danley Sound Labs.

USA - At InfoComm 2014, Barco introduced the MMS (Moving Mirror System): a new projector accessory that empowers show designers with total creative freedom to direct sharp, detailed HD images anywhere on stage or within an exhibit.

The MMS augments Barco's large-venue projectors with the capability to broadcast a variety of pre-programmed images. Eliminating the need for custom rigging frames and heavy yokes to position visuals where desired, the MMS system enables the projector to be rigged in its natural position, with the mirror doing all the work remotely. Then, it can be controlled either via the layout of the projector, the Barco Projector Toolset, or with an external lighting DMX desk.

"The MMS is a liberating tool that show designers will love for its unlimited creative possibilities, ease of set-up and increased flexibility," comments William Morris, vice pr

USA - At InfoComm 2014, Martin Professional introduced the latest additions to its VC-Grid and VC-Strip LED video solutions to include 15, 25, 30 and 60 mm pixel pitch for architectural installations, stage design, and television set design.

Martin's VC-Grid LED panel allows for the creative integration of LED video into interiors, set elements, stage designs, and custom-shaped LED video screens. Driven by Martin's P3 System Controller, the VC-Grid provides high-quality image processing that eliminates the need for DMX pixelmapping, loose power supplies, and cabling. The VC-Grid offers 64 individually controllable pixels in RGB and cool, medium and warm white colors. Additionally, a hybrid power/date cabling systems allows the panels to be easily daisy-chained for ultimate design freedom.

"With the latest additions to the VC-Grid & VC-Strip Family, we are now able to offe

USA - Production Resource Group LLC (PRG) has announced today that Stephen Lambright has joined its executive leadership team as vice president of marketing.

With over 20 years of international marketing and brand development experience, Lambright will be responsible for the company's global marketing strategies, implementation of marketing programs that enhance and expand PRG's industry leadership, and promotion of PRG innovations to partners and clients. As a member of the company's executive leadership team, Lambright will report to PRG's CEO, Jeremiah Harris.

"Steve is a welcome addition to our team," said Harris. "He has demonstrated thoughtful and creative leadership as an executive throughout his career and is a talented marketer who delivers results. Steve joins us at a perfect time to build a global marketing organization within PRG that will support an

UK - Midwich has appointed Jon Dew-Stanley as director of solution sales. Jon brings a wealth of AV management experience to Midwich, having been director of commercial audio specialists Polar Audio for the past 13 years. During that spell, he was both technical director and sales director, bringing both commercial and technical design experience to the Midwich group. He is also a past winner of the coveted AV Awards technical person of the year award.

Jon said: "I am delighted to be joining the Midwich group in this new and exciting role. I'll be assisting our client partners to successfully design and deploy innovative technical audio visual solutions using the latest technologies available from our vendors.

"Midwich are a company I know well from my time in the industry and I look forward to contributing to their business objectives with comprehensive, collaborati

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OPUS X4 PROFILE – the most powerful LED moving head from Cameo to date

The OPUS® X4 PROFILE is the new flagship model from Cameo and is among the most powerful LED moving heads on the market. Equipped with a 1,400-watt LED white light engine, this spot profile moving head produces an enormous light output of 50,000 lm, providing powerful spot and gobo projections on even the largest stages and much more.
www.cameolight.com

USA - In a significant development for users of Audinate's Dante audio networking technology, Symetrix has announced that the latest version of its popular SymNet Composer software will support native configuration of select Dante-enabled Attero Tech and Stewart Audio products.

Settings affecting I/O levels, routing, and more may be defined with SymNet Composer 2.0, which gives customers the ability to consolidate design on a single software platform where previously multiple platforms were required.

"As of this release, integrators will no longer need Audinate's Dante Controller as well as separate software packages for each manufacturer's products," comments Trent Wagner, senior product manager at Symetrix. "Supported Attero Tech and Stewart Audio Dante-enabled products can now be configured and managed right alongside to SymNet hardware. Integrators who have

UK - ETC has added two products to its lighting control line up: the Nomad software and Nomad Puck controller. Designed for situations when lighting professionals can't bring their consoles with them, Nomad and Nomad Puck allow users to programme and run shows from anywhere.

"One of the best features of Nomad and Nomad Puck, is the ability to run either Cobalt or Eos/Element software," says ETC Eos product manager Anne Valentino. "It's like having two consoles in one - users don't have to choose between the two control platforms." Both Nomad and Nomad Puck can serve as a primary controller, a backup or a client device, and can also be used offline.

Nomad is a tiny device that attaches to PCs running either Microsoft Windows 7 or 8, or Macintosh OS X (Mavericks). It is available in four output counts: Nomad 256, which offers half a universe, Nomad 1024 with

Ghana - PR Lighting's comprehensive portfolio of discharge and LED automated lighting were in full evidence at the recent 15th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), organised by Charterhouse Ghana.

The company's subsidiary, Charterhouse Production, also masterminded the technical infrastructure at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) for an event that seeks to foster the development of the Ghanaian music industry and reward the artistes, producers, recording labels and other industry professionals. They handled all aspects of the event, provision of lights, stage and set design, full production and event management.

According to Charterhouse Production event executive Eli Tettey the technology was scaled up for this year's Awards. "We used a lot of new equipment from PR Lighting, incorporating LED screens into the set design - and a lot more people attended.&quo

UK - In order to meet demands for larger scale applications, PR Lighting has taken the successful model of its XLED 1037 - but instead of deriving its output from 37 powerful 10W RGBW LEDs (with a lamp life of 50,000 hours) they have added a further 24 sources in developing the new XLED 1061 (PR-8121).

The result is powerful, 4-in-1 bright linear colour mixes highlighted by animation effects, rainbow effects and a pulsing strobe.

Fully featured, in addition to the above functions, the XLED 1061 also offers 0%-100% linearly adjustable dimmer, linear zoom (13°-52°), adjustable speed pan (540°) and tilt (270°) with auto position correction, and linear colour temperature correction from 2700K to 10000K.

Controllable via DMX, other features include: Brightness and contrast adjustable display; Lamp use time display; DMX512 channel value display and Menu Invert func

Twickenham Ticket - A 100-seat theatre that will be both a producing and receiving house is to launch in west London, opening in September with the musical Sweeney Todd. The Twickenham Theatre will be based above the London Road pub and is the brainchild of theatre producer Tony Green, who claimed Twickenham had not had an arts venue available to production companies for more than 250 years. "By offering a new dedicated venue for quality theatre and other entertainment we can give locals the opportunity to experience some of the West End on their doorstep, and Londoners a reason to come to Twickenham," he said. The venue will offer a flexible rehearsal and performance space, which will be available to visiting companies and local community groups.

School Report - The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts will open a sixth form college in 2015 following

UK - Top UK amusement park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, are using Jands' flagship Vista L5 console to control the lighting on their latest production of the world-famous Hot Ice Show ice skating spectacular.

One of the UK's most popular attractions, with nearly 20,000 visitors per week, skaters travel from across the globe to take to the ice in Blackpool for what has become the world's longest running ice show. Included in the impressive line-up are stars from ITV's Dancing On Ice, as well as Olympic and professional skaters.

Hot Ice Show is created, produced and directed by Amanda Thompson OBE and presented by Stageworks Worldwide Productions at the Pleasure Beach's ice skating theatre, The Arena.

To create the production's dynamic and highly theatrical feel, a spectacular light show, explosive pyrotechnic fire effects and a dramatic music soundtrack comp

Poland - SGM has announced the appointment of LTT Lighting & Theatre Technology as its new sole Polish distributor.

LTT, Poland's leading, and longest serving distributor of professional lighting fixtures, consoles and other technology, say they are excited to be offering products from what they describe as "one of the world's most promising LED fixture manufacturers".

The relationship between LTT and SGM's CEO Peter Johansen, in fact dates back to 1997, and the latter states, "I have always enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the company and I look forward to working with them once again in this new era."

LTT say that the main attraction to them has been the speed of SGM's evolution. "To stay relevant in the market requires the ability to anticipate future developments in technology and customer needs," says LTT commercial director, Pawel Mroz

UK - Long-time ambassador for Optocore fibre signal interfaces, HD Pro Audio's sales director, Andy Huffer has strengthened his relationship with the Munich based network specialists - by placing the focus on sister company, BroaMan.

Once Optocore had decided to set up Broadcast Manufactur (BroaMan) to extend the Optocore infrastructure (and distribution options) into broadcast applications such as studios, OB vans and sport events, Huffer admits "it all clicked into place."

When he first saw MUX-22, the latest addition to the BroaMan portfolio of routing and repeating devices at this year's Frankfurt Prolight+Sound Show, and sensed its full I/O capacity and configurability, it really ignited his interest.

Consequently, his company - which specialises in the sales and distribution of a range of premium pro audio brands - gave BroaMan's MUX-22 device a prime spot on

UK - SSE Audio Group has been appointed a Soundcraft Vi Select dealer, and with the company's established reputation as a Vi User, wasted no time in securing one of the first Soundcraft Vi3000 digital consoles off the production line.

SSE sales director, Alex Penn, confirms: "We have a long history with Soundcraft's Vi Series." He continued "We saw the new console for the first time at Frankfurt Prolight+Sound; it sits neatly between the Vi1 and Vi4 and offers many new features which will secure the longevity of this series, which has always been popular with engineers."

Marking a massive technological upgrade to the Vi series, Vi3000 offers many advantages, including the much requested access to Universal Audio's plug-ins and Soundcraft Realtime Rack plug-in engine - both points picked up on by Penn.

"The Realtime rack can also be used with our exis

USA / UK - Having completed the first European leg of her Prismatic World Tour and now starting dates throughout North America, Katy Perry invites her audiences into a visually stunning concert experience. "Everything with Katy is larger than life so the design needed to reflect that. The stage itself is a statement," points out show director and designer Baz Halpin. Helping Halpin and Perry make that strong visual statement is PRG Nocturne.

Supporting her album, Prism and calling the tour the Prismatic World Tour, Perry had a vision of where to start in the look of the show's design. "She wanted a large triangular LED Video screen on a triangular stage," explains Halpin. "That was the basis of the design - the shape. Everything else plays into that." Halpin conceived the enormous 70' wide by 34' tall automated tracking triangul

Malta - W-DMX by Wireless Solution Sweden once again helped pull off the impossible at Malta's 10 year anniversary celebration of joining the European Union. Malta's accession to the EU in May 2004 began a new chapter in the island's history and it was a common goal to make the anniversary a truly spectacular event.

The celebration would not have gone on as planned without Wireless Solution delivering a system setup of 8 W-DMX universes to span Malta's Grand Harbour to four points with up to 1000m distance - and all delivered within three days.

The main focal point, the walls of historic Fort St Angelo, were lit up with a stunning light display followed by a glittering array of fireworks that worked their magic over the Grand Harbour at midnight, all to the delight of thousands of spectators. Nearby Senglea Point and Villa Bighi served as additional backdrops for the audiovisu

UK - Manchester-based lighting specialists dbn Lighting specified Clay Paky fixtures when designing a lightweight and versatile rig for the renovation of the city's Grade II listed, multi-purpose Albert Hall.

The early 20th century gothic chapel underwent major renovation to convert it into one of the city's most happening music venues. Stephen Page of dbn Lighting was called upon to design a lightweight and versatile lighting solution that could take care of all genres of entertainment lighting.

"The weight capacity of the Albert Hall's roof is limited so we couldn't use anything too heavy," explains Page. "I also wanted the equipment to be as discreet as possible so size of fixture was also important. The reliability and compact build of the Clay Paky fixtures was therefore key in my decision to use them."

Page specified the Clay Paky Sharpy, complement

UK - Critically-acclaimed indie pop four-piece The 1975 have been driving fans wild on their world tour, including a sold out show at London's majestic Royal Albert Hall where the power and brightness of 12 Philips Vari-Lite VL3500 Wash FX luminaires provided spectacular illumination for the Manchester-born boys.

Show and lighting designer Tobias Rylander, of design house Seven Design Works, worked alongside lighting designer Darren Purves to specify the VL3500 Wash FX luminaires which complemented the remarkably physical design's clean lines and epic style aerial projection. This concept was inspired by Rylander's passion for architecture and art, particularly the artist Anthony McCall, who is renowned for his work with forced perspective, glass and prisms and bouncing light off of reflective surfaces.

"The band had a very distinct graphic design in the album artwork,&qu

Romania - Viva! magazine recently celebrated its 15th anniversary at the picturesque Mogosoaia Palace in Bucharest. As the most anticipated glossy event of the year in Romania, the party was attended by 1,200 local show business celebrities, the ladies marking the glamorous red-carpet garden party by wearing long gowns and gentlemen showing up in tuxedos.

SGM's local partner, production company FIVE'S, supplied the lighting equipment for this high-class venue and incorporated the versatile SGM range into their design. The company witnessed SGM's product presentation at Prolight+Sound earlier this year, and instantly knew that this was the LED range that they were seeking.

Thus, the new G-Spot moving head made its Romanian debut, with six units lighting up the red carpet corridor together with six SixPack blinders. Marketing Developer, Titus Percea, explains: "We were happ

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