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Robe BMFLs for 2014 Festigal in Israel

The annual Festigal performance show brings the glamour and glitz of leading celebrities to entertain the young

Details: 14 March 2016

Israel - The Hanukkah holiday is celebrated in a diversity of ways, one of which is the annual Festigal performance show which brings the glamour and glitz of leading celebrities to the stage for an all-action music and dance extravaganza targeted at eight - 14 year olds. It's one of the best attended and most popular performance phenomena in Israel.

This year, Festigal's lighting designer Ronen Najar - who has lit the show for the past eight years - spec'd 24 of Robe's new BMFL Spot fixtures to be the centrepiece. The BMFLs were part of a delivery of 60 units purchased by high profile Israeli rental company, Argaman Systems.

Ronen, among the country's leading LDs, is known for his 'out of the box' approach and the great style he brings to lighting any project. He once again pro

Stevie Wonder's team switches to DPA Microphones

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - After a recent summer tour throughout Europe, Stevie Wonder's audio team has something new to sing about; the addition of DPA microphones to his touring rig. On recommendation from jazz singer Dee Alexander, Wonder's front of house engineer tested the DPA Microphones d:facto Vocal and d:vote 4099P Instrument piano microphones while on the road. Now a permanent fixture for all of Wonder's performances, the mics provide the right blend of tone and detail that is necessary for the musician's wide range of styles.

As Wonder's FOH engineer for more than 20 years, Danny Leake has had plenty of time deciphering what audio tools are best suited to the musician. Having used DPA's original 4006 recording mics for Wonder's percussion section for years, the decision to switch the performer himself to DPA mics was an easy one.

"I still use my original DPA 4006s for the percussio

Andrew Preston, industrial property manager at LCP

New Burntwood location for expanding ide Systems

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Midlands-based manufacturer of electrical distribution systems, ide Systems, has expanded its operations by opening a new rental division near Lichfield. The move to unit 4AD, zone 2, Burntwood Business Park, has enabled ide Systems to split its business into three distinct areas.

The company, which provided power distribution and cabling for the London Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year, will locate its rental division to the 7,950 sq.ft unit after it agreed a five-year lease with London & Cambridge Properties, which owns and manages zone 2, 3 and 4 of the business park.

The company's other business interests - ide Systems, which focuses on sales and manufacturing, and ide Online - will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Cannock.

Managing director Ian Thomas said: "Due to the active increase in demand, our fleet based at o

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Cutting edge South African designers showed off their latest creations

Dream Sets on the catwalk at Fashion Week Joburg

Details: 14 March 2016

South Africa - A sunken fashion ramp created a striking effect at the annual Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg presented by African Fashion International and held at Melrose Arch in October/November 2014. Dream Sets supplied the technical and built the set, a seamless platform from which cutting edge South African designers could show off their latest creations.

While stress levels are up on an event like this - there are 12 different shows with each stylists wanting their own look - it's old hat for Mauritz Jacobs from Dream Sets. With a desire to please, his calming nature has kept him working with longstanding clients in fashion for the past 20 years, often as lighting designer and in this case, as project manager.

Precision is essential and Jacobs strives for a simple, clean look. He used 96 Philips SPX Profiles and 12 Robe Robin 800 LED Wash Units.

The Philips SPX Profi

Sennheiser and Apogee announce partnership

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - At Winter NAMM, audio specialist Sennheiser and Apogee Electronics, industry leader in digital audio conversion technology, announced their collaboration.

Apogee's Betty Bennett and Sennheiser's Peter Claussen have jointly announced the cooperation of their companies. Peter Claussen, COO of Sennheiser, said that "Apogee and Sennheiser are a perfect fit. We both operate in the demanding premium sector, serving professional and semi-professional audio customers across the globe. Our product portfolios perfectly complement each other, and I am looking forward to collaborate with a company that has truly pushed the boundaries of digital audio."

Betty Bennett, co-founder and CEO of Apogee, commented: "This is an exciting collaboration for us. Sennheiser is a highly respected brand with an incredible product portfolio and an extensive global reach. Our reputatio

The event honoured the very best of Flemish musical talent and success from 2014 (photo: Elke Briars, Concert Photography)

PWL full production design for MIA Awards

Details: 14 March 2016

Belgium - Luc Peumans of Painting With Light lit the high profile Belgian TV Music Industry Awards (MIA)s event for the first time last year ... and producers VRT (Vlaamse Radio en Televisieomroeporganisatie) Belgium were so impressed with his work, that this year Luc was invited back to create a full production design - incorporating lighting, set and video / visuals.

The event - honouring the very best of Flemish musical talent and success from 2014 - is the most watched music TV show in the country (broadcast on Channel Eén - One) and a massive talking point on the country's music industry calendar. It unites all the glitz and glamour straight off the red carpet - with Awards nominees and celebrities taking their seats in the 'Green Room' right in the middle of the space - with a full audience of very enthusiastic music fans who fill the rest of the studio.

This year

Epcor Centre is one of the three largest performing arts centres in Canada

B-EYE K10s debut at Calgary's Epcor Centre

Details: 14 March 2016

Canada - Calgary's Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts has taken delivery of eight Clay Paky A.leda B-EYE K10 Easy fixtures for its Jack Singer Concert Hall, an 1,800-seat venue which is one of the most beautiful and acoustically acclaimed venues in North America

Located in the heart of Calgary's downtown Cultural District, Epcor Centre is a six-level complex occupying a full city block. It is one of the three largest performing arts centres in Canada and the largest in Western Canada.

The Centre's head electrician, Kris Ladd, discovered the B-EYE K10 Easy in a demo video taped at LDI. Matt La Brie, in the Calgary office of Christie Lites, brought some fixtures to the Centre for Ladd to look at, and he was impressed.

"We try to stick to buying the well-known and well-supported brands," Ladd explains. "We were looking for LED wash fixtures the size of the K10s

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NMK Roadshow concludes its journey in Kuwait

Details: 14 March 2016

Kuwait - Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises (NMK) has been hosting the NMK Roadshow across the Middle East region since November last year and completed the series with the last seminar in Kuwait on 12 January 2015.

After the success in Oman and especially Qatar, the distributor of several high quality brands, which were also presented during the roadshow, was pleasantly surprised with the turnout of the attendees in Bahrain and Kuwait. The attendees were interactive and eager to learn about new products and technologies while getting to know the distributor that is covering their region.

The roadshow mostly attracted the AV professionals from broadcast, rental and installation companies. Shure Axient Wireless System, Neutrik Xirium wireless audio system together with Clear-Com, Roland AV and HK Audio products were the most discussed topics during the event.

"NM

Villalobos Brothers and DPA close NAMM 2015

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - DPA Microphones and the Villalobos Brothers, the contemporary Mexican ensemble known for their debut album Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, teamed up for the closing performance of the 2015 NAMM Show.

Playing the GoPro Stage at the Grand Plaza of the Anaheim Convention Centre on Sunday, 25 January, the Villalobos Brothers performed a blend of songs that celebrate the richness of Mexican folk music, with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music, which lends to the natural reproduction of the DPA d:facto Vocal and d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones.

The Villalobos Brothers, comprised of siblings Luis, Ernesto and Alberto Villalobos, are a trio of renowned vocalists and violin players. The group is supported by band members Humberto Flores on guitar, Rosa Avila on drums and Leo Sherman on bass. Having recently acquired the DPA mics for use in both the stud

Ambersphere Solutions have been busy fulfilling orders and shipping Mythos units to numerous clients across the UK

Ambersphere keeps customers satisfied with Mythos

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - At the PLASA Awards 2014, the judges said, "The Mythos hybrid automated light works as a hard-edge spot, a beam light, or a wash light with a range of effects. It has excellent colours, incredible brightness, terrific optics, and a small housing. It's also very energy efficient and it has a patented and innovative cooling system. In the Clay Paky tradition, it's a real winner."

Since those auspicious words in October, Ambersphere Solutions have been busy fulfilling orders and shipping Mythos units to numerous clients across the UK. Its hybrid versatility and wide range of effects has attracted the attention of lighting companies and designers alike.

Ambersphere's sales director, Phil Norfolk elaborates on the market reaction to this latest Clay Paky unit, "The interest in Mythos is incredible. It's such a versatile fixture. Rental companies recognise the po

Anna Calvi with the Heritage Orchestra at St John's Church, Hackney (photo: Louise Stickland)

Robe takes One Breath with Anna Calvi

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - When tasked to create the ambience in a special setting for award winning singer, writer and guitarist Anna Calvi's performance with the Heritage Orchestra at St John's Church, Hackney, east London, lighting designer Tom Campbell combined imagination with a Robe moving light rig and some novel ideas ... to unfold a richly layered piece of lighting sculpture.

Factors galvanizing the production were no flying facilities and only a single phase 63A power supply to run all the technicals - sound, lighting and a full camera shoot. This was split into two single phases to run the production.

In addition to the Heritage Orchestra, with whom Calvi had performed a Giorgio Moroda tribute earlier in the year at Sydney Opera House, the evening saw many exclusive collaborations with a series of special guests.

Tom lit a festival tour earlier in the year for Calvi, including her ince

King of Kings events are some of the most popular kickboxing events in the world

Elation flexes its muscles in Moldova

Details: 14 March 2016

Moldova - Elation Professional's new Platinum SBX hybrid moving head showed both its brain and brawn at the King of Kings Eagles Series and King of Kings World Grand Prix kickboxing tournaments held 20 December at Manej Sports Arena in Chisinau, Moldova.

Broadcast live on FightBox HD and Eurosport HD respectively, Elation dealer Eventica Grup SRL, a regular staging and technical contractor of KOK tournaments, turned to the Platinum SBX for its multifunctionality as well as its power and dynamism.

King of Kings events are some of the most popular kickboxing events in the world. Intense affairs with pre-bout introductions a vital step in building up the exciting atmosphere, a powerful, dynamic light was need to match the emotion and adrenaline of the fighters themselves. Lighting designer Serghei Mosin of Eventica Grup turned to the Platinum SBX, lining the front edge of an entr

Holo-Gauze received praise for enabling the creation of “the world's biggest, brightest, highest-resolution indoor hologram effect”

Holo-Gauze set for starring role on Gadget Man

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Holo-Gauze, 3D display solution for hologram effects, is set to feature as part of the new series of Gadget Man for Channel 4 after wowing the show's producers, who were "hugely impressed" with its effectiveness, both on-set and on-camera. The ingenious, highly transparent metallic gauze was used to create a giant, revolving holographic vase of flowers during filming of a 'Date Night' episode. The show is expected to air sometime in the Spring.

Holo-Gauze is claimed to be 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, as was the case for Gadget Man. Holo-Gauze screens can be produced to any dimensions, and hologram sizes are only limited by projector distance and power - assuming the correct lighting is used.

The 3D AARO adds controlled ambience to the monitor mix, bringing hearing-impaired musicians back on stage

Sensaphonics 3D aids hearing-impaired musicians

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - At NAMM 2015, Sensaphonics showcased two advanced IEM systems designed specifically for hearing-impaired musicians. 3D-ME is a Music Enhancement method for those with significant hearing loss, while the 3D-CROS addresses the more profound issue of unilateral deafness. These game-changing systems are specifically designed to keep musicians on stage and employed despite mild-to-severe hearing issues, and both are based on the patented Sensaphonics 3D Active Ambient technology platform.

"These new systems demonstrate the power of Active Ambient technology," says Sensaphonics president, Dr. Michael Santucci. "Our focus has always been on musician hearing health, something that few if any other in-ear manufacturers can claim. We deliver amazing audio, and we do it safely. The goal is to provide longer careers and better quality of life for musicians and sound eng

The SCM45A is a completely new design but shares many features with the highly-successful SCM25A

ATC debuts reference monitor at NAMM 2015

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - ATC, the UK loudspeaker manufacturer led by Billy Woodman and renowned for building reference monitors that are "unflinchingly truthful", introduced the ATC SCM45A at NAMM 2015.

The SCM45A is a completely new design but shares many features with the highly-successful SCM25A. It fills a gap in ATC's product range for a mid-size three-way that can be used in near- or mid-field positions, has high output and extended low frequency for its size but without compromising the overall balance for which ATC is so well known.

Like the SCM25A, the new SCM45A is an active three-way with an unprecedented linear response across the critical mid-range, as well as across the rest of the audible range. In contrast to the SCM25A, the SCM45A a second woofer for deeper bass response and increased SPL capability, as well as ATC's new proprietary dual-suspension tweeter for increase

Denmark's TV2 upgrades SNG truck with BroaMan

Details: 14 March 2016

Denmark - BroaMan's Danish distributor Danmon has been providing broadcast solutions to the country's public service broadcaster TV 2 for nearly two decades.

Last year, when they decided to upgrade one of their SNG trucks (DNK-47) from SD to HD, the Odense based facility moved its commentator intercom onto a Clear-Com platform and added a BroaMan Mux22 transmission device for signal routing.

This has enabled them to transport multiple data and video signals down a single fibre in the SNG truck, including HD-SDI, RS422, Sync and Ethernet network, using Dante as their audio platform.

TV 2 project manager, Kim Hansen, explains, "For years, the truck has been a key component in our technical setup for major sporting events (such as Tour de France, Handball World Cup etc.) where it acted not only as SNG, but as a small OB truck."

This latest upgrade involved stripping

SGM G-Spot animation for Paris ice rink

Details: 14 March 2016

France - Every year, Mairie de Paris (Paris City Hall) turns the square in front of the building into an ice rink for the citizens of Paris to enjoy ice skating during the winter. This year technical audiovisual specialist, Novelty Group, decided to add enhancements to the traditional Christmas animation on the ice rink, and after conducting stringent testing on the SGM G-Spot LED moving head, placing it under a shower for three days, they were convinced by the IP-rating of the luminaire.

Supported by Sonoss, SGM's local partner, this year's festive installation went very smoothly. "This is typically the kind of site where it would have been very hard and expensive to install waterproof domes to protect standard moving lights, and thus making advanced animation impossible," says Vincent Criulanscy, product & project manager at Sonoss. He further adds that domes do not

Highland Park Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee

Highland Park revamps with Danley & Ashly

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - As it approached its hundred-year anniversary as a congregation, Highland Park Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee sought to revamp its four hundred-seat sanctuary. It hired Church Interiors of High Point, North Carolina to help design and organize the work, which included structural and aesthetic improvements, as well as a new Sharp/Extron video system based around three huge LED screens and a cutting-edge sound reinforcement system.

Now, Danley Sound Labs horn-loaded loudspeakers and subwoofers deliver musical and highly intelligible sound, with power and processing supplied by rock-solid Ashly Audio amplifiers and digital signal processors. The sound system is zero compromise, exceeding Highland Park's hopes for fidelity and quality while still meeting their budgetary requirements.

"Highland Park's old sound system had an undersized sixteen-channel board and fr

Ben Howard played the UK and Europe (photo: Danny Paton)

XL Video bespoke package for Ben Howard tour

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - XL Video supplied one of its new bespoke mini-cam packages and LED screens for the latest UK and European tour by talented singer / songwriter and Brit winner Ben Howard, working with lighting and visuals designer Andy Rowe.

The tour - Howard's most comprehensive to date in terms of video production - was project managed by XL's Paul 'Macca' McCauley who commented, "We are thrilled to be involved with this fast rising star and an imaginative production design with an interesting and different slant on video."

Andy, Macca, production manager Chris Pollard and tour manager George Sewell met before the start of the tour to discuss video requirements and practicalities, and XL proposed their Pixled F-25 LED screen as a lightweight medium resolution solution that met the creative brief, together with the four mini-cams, which needed to be discreet, tourable and cost-

Helene Fischer's Farbenspiel show will be adapted for a stadium tour starting in May 2015 (photo © Stufish Entertainment Architects)

Brilliant Stages for Helene Fischer's Farbenspiel tour

Details: 14 March 2016

Europe - Helene Fischer's Farbenspiel tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in late 2014 marked the first set built by Brilliant Stages under Dark Arches Holdings ownership.

The German television presenter and singing star's sell-out tour saw her perform on a complex, multi-level stage with a large LED tree as a spectacular backdrop.

Working from a design concept by Stufish Entertainment Architects, with whom Brilliant Stages has worked on innumerable occasions, the main design realisation was driven from Brilliant Stages' drawing department, led by their chief CAD designer, Mel Welch.

Fabrication of the 22m wide x 12.5m deep x 2.1m high main 'A' stage took place at Brilliant Stages' site in Hitchin. The stage surface incorporated two 5m long travellators, a star trap and rear access steps, with the whole structure built on a rolling aluminium frame for easy deployment. T

Nest of Angels - “oozing fashion and luxury”

Club NOA brought to life with Martin Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Romania - The glittering new Club NOA (Nest of Angels) has opened in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca following a major renovation of a well-known clubbing site on the Strada Republicii.

Oozing fashion and luxury, the club has a potent Martin Audio system based around the W8VDQ, at the heart of an advanced sound and lighting infrastructure costing 500,000 to put together, and boasting 65kW of sound.

The Sound and lighting systems were specified by Romanian installation specialists Simo Sound SRL (Disco Zone), with support from Martin Audio's Product Support Group. The 18 W8VDQ enclosures specified dominate the main room, combining line array and differential dispersion technologies to provide an advanced hybrid solution to the requirement of even coverage over wide angles and throw distances..

The owners, Kàlmàn Jozsef, Horvàth Julieta and Kàlmàn Ladislau had already