USA - To launch their much-anticipated new album Ghost Stories, Coldplay played a pair of intimate live shows in California, which were filmed and broadcast on network TV stations around the world. The high profile event marked the debut of a second DiGiCo SD7 mixing console on the band's live setup.

Coldplay Front of House engineer Dan Green adopted the SD7 in 2011, for the band's Viva la Vida tour. Its success persuaded monitor engineer Chris Wood to join him, the launch of Ghost Stories proving the appropriate launchpad for a significantly enhanced audio system.

"Dan originally switched to the SD7 because of its sound, versatility, feel and compatibility with Waves plugins," says the band's touring systems engineer Tony Smith. "After that tour, Ch

South Africa - Rental company Gearhouse South Africa has added 48 x Robe Robin Pointes to its inventory which went straight onto War Horse, Vodacom in the City and various other events.

"The Pointes are a market leading product in terms of innovation and flexibility," commented Stuart Andrews, lighting operations manager for Gearhouse SA, Johannesburg. "We compared many other products from a variety of manufacturers and they still won hands down. The units have been, as I thought, the star of the show."

(Jim Evans)

Spain - Bautista Martí Italia is a newly opened lounge located in Antic Regne, one of the most central and busiest avenue in Valencia, between the districts of Canovas and Ruzafa.

Taking into account the importance that the design and the atmosphere of the lounge has for this particular customer, the installer,Sistemas 2, relied on WORK Pro's Neo Series of loudspeakers for the audio systems. The installer chose the white version because it integrated perfectly with the rest of the interior design and decoration.

The Neo Series comprises five different passive loudspeakers, two two-way active loudspeakers and an active subwoofer and mixes sound quality with a compact design, which makes it much easier to blend them with the architectural requirements of different projects. Technically, these loudspeakers are suitable for low impedance installation as well as 100V line installa

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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 - Holo-GauzeTM, the 3D display solution from Holotronica Ltd, has enabled the creation of "the world's biggest, brightest, highest-resolution indoor hologram effect" during superstar DJ Eric Prydz's EPIC 3.0 show at Madison Square Garden - the third in a series of visual dance music events.

The performance, on 27 September, utlised a 20m x 5m Holo-Gauze screen which displayed huge hologram effects, including a giant helix, huge speaking head, and numerous rotating particle effects, realised by Realtime Environment Systems Ltd (RES) producers of the show.

Holo-Gauze comprises a metallic, highly transparent gauze (patent pending), and is the only gauze able to work with 3D polarised projection systems which use a minimum of two projectors - although it can also produce believable 2D hologram effects using one projector. During the EPIC 3.0 show, three merged 40,000

USA - Meyer Sound loudspeakers play a critical role in @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz, an exhibition of seven new sculpture, sound, and mixed media works by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. The installation explores human rights and freedom of expression in the context of Alcatraz, the former federal penitentiary and now iconic historical site in San Francisco Bay.

Widely hailed as one of the most significant art exhibitions of the year, @Large has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and The Guardian, among others. This extraordinary $3.6m project on Alcatraz Island was originally proposed to Ai by Cheryl Haines, executive director of the FOR-SITE Foundation and curator of the exhibition.

"Ai's work both awes us with its grace and beauty and challenges and critiques our way of thinking -in a manner that we hope will catalyze public dialogue on

UK - Manchester-based lighting specialist dbn was once again involved in the ambitious production at the heart of the Co-Operative Retail Trading Group (CRTG)'s annual Supporters Awards and gala dinner event, staged at the city's Manchester Central venue.

Project managed by Pete Robinson, dbn supplied rigging, lighting equipment and design. The company has been involved in the event for the last seven years and collaborates closely with both overall technical production management providers A To V and the client to interpret their brief and bring the venue alive as an exciting and invigorating entertainment space for the evening.

This year's theme took some popular elements of last year's 'circus' in terms of the physical layout and developed a special 'carnival' vibe for this year. The venue was divided into two areas - with a fully operational fairground in one half and the

UK / USA - GDS (Global Design Solutions Ltd) has just signed a licensing and manufacturing agreement with US-based company ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc). Under the agreement, ETC will manufacture the GDS ArcSystem and BluesSystem product lines for distribution exclusively in North and South America.

GDS will continue to manufacture and distribute ArcSystem and BluesSystem for other worldwide markets from the company's Bristol, UK, headquarters. "We are extremely happy to have ETC handling these products in the American markets," says GDS managing director Matt Lloyd. "Their ability to manufacture and stock the products locally and provide the level of service needed is a perfect match for GDS."

ArcSystem is an award-winning range of overhead dimmable LED products designed specifically for auditoriums, commercial and retail spaces. Most recently, th

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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 - September saw a major Gala concert given at the Meyerson Symphony Centre in Dallas. This was notable for two reasons; firstly it featured violinist Itzhak Perlman and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and it was the first concert to be recorded with the new recording equipment featuring Merging Technologies' Horus and Hapi Networked Audio interfaces, two Merging silent PC chassis, and Pyramix 9 MassCore.

The hall was filled to capacity and the event was simulcast to a nearby park where thousands were able to enjoy the music and video. The TV truck was fed audio via MADI from one of the Hapi converters and the sound in the park was rated as "excellent". The orchestra, under its music director Jaap van Zweden is performing at very high levels these days and the DSO is rated as one of the top orchestras in the country.

The whole recording chain at the Meyerson Sympho

USA - Richwoods Christian Church was founded in the late 1990s by pastor Jim Powell in Peoria, Illinois. Its congregation was initially small, a scant 65 people, but those congregants were motivated to grow the church. They succeeded, and today Richwoods Christian Church brings 1,400 people together every weekend, spread across four services at two locations.

The larger location built its current sanctuary in a former high-end furniture store, where, despite low ceiling height, local A/V integration firm Advanced Audio and Lighting gave the church a highly-intelligible and musical sound reinforcement system based on Danley Sound Labs SH-50 full-range loudspeakers and TH-115 subwoofers. Not wanting to compromise at the satellite location, Richwoods Christian Church asked for Danley again. There, a collapsible system of self-powered Danley SH-96 loudspeakers and TH-118 subwoofers

UK - The first MusicVidFest, a one-day conference focussing on the business of creativity in music videos, is taking place at the BFI Southbank on Monday, 10 November - the same day as the 2014 UK Music Video Awards - with Grammy Award-winning US director Joseph Kahn now confirmed as the event's keynote speaker.

Produced by the team behind the UKMVAs and BUG, the inaugural MusicVidFest aims to create discussion and debate on key topics affecting the craft and business of music videos, and will include panel discussions with leading lights of music video creativity in the UK and further afield, from producers and directors, to independent and label commissioners, managers and artists.

MusicVidFest will also feature representatives from the key music video platforms, and will culminate in a Question Time on the future of music video where audience members will get the chance to

USA - Debuting on iTunes Classical at #1 even before its official release and raising in the ranks on the Billboard Classical charts, The Chopin Variations by celebrated pianist and composer Chad Lawson, violinist Judy Kang and cellist Rubin Kodheli, takes the familiar sounds of Chopin and recasts each composition in a new light.

To accomplish this, Lawson used his Steinway piano to create a slightly muted, ethereal sound, captured entirely by DPA microphones. The positioning of d:dicate 4011A Cardioid Stereo Kit was critical to translate the desired mood into Lawson's latest recording.

Lawson wanted a mic solution that would illustrate the internal workings of his Steinway for his latest album, which was recorded in his home studio using the d:dicate 4011A Cardioid Stereo Kit. Introduced to him by an engineer during his previous record, Lawson now relies on the mics fo

USA - Le Maitre USA will be exhibiting on Booth #2625 at LDI this year at the Las Vegas Convention Centre next month. Among the products on show will be a new hazer making its world debut.

The TBF-Pyrotec flame range is to be exclusively distributed by Le Maitre USA in North America and there will be several of the German manufacturer's machines on the booth along with video footage: 5-Master, Pyromaster & Spraymaster.

In the year of the 20th Anniversary of the G300 Le Maitre is delighted to be running an original 20 year old G300 on the stand next to a brand new one, underlining just how durable this industry leading unit really is! Other fog units on show will include the GForce 3, GForce 2 with Freezefog Pro producing atmospheric low fog and the portable Mini Mist.

HazeMaster - the most powerful hazer on the market today along with the unique oscillating MVS hazer will be

UK - Behind the Scenes - the new charity which supports entertainment technology professionals in times of need - received a kick-start to its fundraising efforts at the Knights of Illumination Awards thanks to a donation from Clay Paky.

The company's Chief Executive Officer Pio Nahum presented a cheque to lighting designer Rick Fisher for Behind the Scenes UK, explaining to the audience that one of the last things approved by the late Pasquale Quadri was this generous contribution to the new charity.

"As an industry, regardless of sector, we all come together to ensure the success of the shows we work on. We work closely together and our colleagues can't help but become our friends. This camaraderie stays with us through the good and bad times and it's only natural that, when our friends fall upon times of hardship through no fault of their own, we want to do anything an

The Netherlands - The CRS12GT is a two-way passive-filtered loudspeaker, designed to meet all requirements of current and future digital cinema immersive surround sound formats.

Featuring Alcons' proprietary multiple-patented pro-ribbon driver technology, the CRS12GT combines an exceptional clarity and intelligibility with an unusually high dynamic range and up to 90% less distortion than traditional cinema surround systems. It is the ideal loudspeaker technology for complex sound sources as speech, music and effects and offers the most realistic immersive surround sound reproduction possible.

By utilizing identical MHF pro-ribbon transducers for screen- and surround systems, an exceptionally wide and uniform sound stage throughout the entire listening area is realized; This is especially striking in multi-channel cinema surround systems, but also in performing arts theatre su

Italy - ArKaos has announced the adoption of its Kling-Net protocol by Italian lighting manufacturer Music & Lights to be incorporated into a number of pixel-based LED lighting fixtures from its Prolights range.

Kling-Net will be retrofitted into four existing Prolights products, Halupix, Chromapix, Halurock and Chromarock, with plans to incorporate King-Net into all new Prolights products from the outset.

The Prolights Halurock is based on a 7x7 matrix of high-lumen CREE Warm White LEDs, with a 2800K° colour temperature which recalls the classic effect of the halogen lamp in rock concerts, while the Chromarock LED moving head is based on a 5x5 matrix of high-lumen Osram Ostar RGBW/full colour LEDs, offering a limitless chromatic generation.

Halupix is a 7x7 matrix of high efficiency CREE LEDs with an on-board modular rigging system designed for arrangement into walls or

USA - Continuing a series kicked off at InfoComm MEA in October, Audinate and Bose Professional will hold their next session of the AV Networking Roadshow - focusing on Dante technology - at the Holiday Inn Midtown - Embassy Ballroom in New York City. The session, titled Introduction to AV Networking, is a one-day session on 19 November, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The event is sponsored by Bose Professional and Audinate, with support from Attero Tech, Audio-Technica, and Digital Audio Labs.

Intended for AV and IT professionals who have a novice or intermediate understanding of AV networking, these sessions expose attendees to the current state of audio networking and control for AV systems, emerging technologies and trends in AV networking. The instructor-led training uses a variety of components from Bose and other participating manufacturers, and provides an opportunity to

USA - To amplify the home-game atmosphere and bring the 55,000 fans closer to the on-field action, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium at University of Louisville has chosen the most powerful loudspeaker technology available today-Meyer Sound's Leo linear large-scale sound reinforcement system with the 1100-LFC low-frequency control element and SB-3F sound field synthesis loudspeakers.

Selected for its sheer power and remarkable ability to project sonic clarity and impact over long distances, the system was chosen by recently retired, long-time stadium manager K.C. Scull after experiencing the impressive LEO system at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

"The performance of the new Meyer Sound system at Cardinal Stadium has been excellent," reports Mike Dewees, head technician at Acoustical Audio Designs, the company contracted for operation and maintenance of the stadium systems. &qu

UK - High Wycombe-based lighting rental specialist Siyan has recently expanded its stock with the addition of Robe Pointes and more LEDBeam 100 moving lights, all of which were sent directly out on various jobs for the summer as soon as they were delivered by Robe UK.

The Pointes were purchased for their brightness, versatility and excellent features, and the LEDBeam 100s for their tiny size and because, "They are simply one of the most popular fixtures of the moment," states Siyan's MD Nick Valdez.

He adds that the frequency with which Pointes are appearing on riders was another fact making them realise they needed to have them in stock to augment their existing Robe inventory.

Siyan now has approaching 150 Robe moving lights in its rental inventory - a mix of MMX Spots, Pointes, LEDBeam 100s and LEDWash 600s. One of the reasons they keep buying Robe is for the br

UK - Great North Run is a popular half-marathon that has welcomed runners to Newcastle-upon-Tyne for over 30 years. In 2014, the run was the first in the world to welcome its millionth finisher and it celebrated the moment in style with an Opening Ceremony that spanned both quaysides of the river between the Tyne and Millenium bridges.

With a show designed by the team that created the London Olympics opening ceremonies and included live music from Sting, Mark Knopfler, the Unthanks and Chase & Status as well as poetry, pyrotechnics, projections and performances from a cast of hundreds in the air, on stage and in boats, Tyneside production company Nitelites,with the help of sound designer Colin Pink, was brought in to face the challenge of providing sound to match the quality of the performances.

With stages on both sides of the river and audiences spread across the whole city

USA - Grammy Award-winning singer Colbie Caillat toured the US through the summer beneath a highly original lighting design that featured high-power Elation Cuepix Panel LED matrix blinders fabricated into eye-catching scenic light cubes.

Out on her Gypsy Heart tour, multi-platinum selling artist Colbie Caillat is fond of the Cuepix light cubes. "The artist has told us that the cubes were the highlight of the tour, fetching the most compliments and inquiries of any other element," says Paul Hoffman, owner of full-service lighting production company Pulse Lighting, who provided the complete visual package for the tour. "In fact, she looks forward to incorporating them into her touring plans in 2015."

Built by Steelfab LLC of Denver, "who did a fantastic job" Paul says, each cube consisted of six Elation Cuepix Panels mounted in a steel frame

South Africa - Lighting designer Christopher Bolton recently used 24 x Robe Robin Pointes to provide effects for a special gala dinner and evening of entertainment staged for business systems specialists EOH at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bolton was asked to light the event by technical service providers AVL Productions who were working for producers Jam Productions.

He worked very closely with Verusca DiZio and Paul Hughes who designed the stage and set including the video elements, and also with Show Director Samantha McGraw who collated all the musical content. This featured the Mzanai Choir, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and platinum selling singer and musician Elvis Blue, together with a house band that backed all the various performing artists in the action-packed entertainment schedule.

A massive amount of detail went into planning this e

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