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14 March 2016

Anyone working in theatre industry can nominate their colleagues, crew members or favourite hire company. This is your opportunity to highlight why your chosen nominee stands out from the rest and deserves some recognition. It only takes a few minutes to nominate at www.technicaltheatreawards.com

Nominations will officially close during PLASA Focus in Leeds. Following this, organiser Ian Taylor will be inviting a panel of independent industry figures to shortlist the nominations. This is a new initiative for 2015, as suggested by TTA supporters as a way to improve the awards process.

Voting for the UK awards will open during the ABTT Trade Show on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at Alexandra Palace in London

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14 March 2016

Tom works on many high-profile awards show designs and continues to create new and original lighting schemes. For this year's Woodies, he incorporated over 200 Robe moving lights - Pointes, LEDWash 1200s and LEDWash 600s - into the rig, for which his starting point was a stunning stage-set sculpture crafted from tens of thousands of wood planks, imagineered by Julio Himede.

The jagged wood structure clad the two stages which

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14 March 2016

The papers and engineering briefs sessions showcase the work of over 100 researchers on topics ranging from 22.2 multichannel to accelerometer-based motional feedback. Workshops bring panels of experts together to discuss a range of provocative and practical topics, such as automotive sound, music production for film, and live sound. Tutorials provide an overview of important audio fundamentals for seasoned professionals and young people alike. Additionally, Special Events will offer both entertaining and thought-provoking, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to hear from industry icons.

Pa

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14 March 2016

Univest recently opened a branch office in Newtown, Pennsylvania and relied on A/V integration firm Communication Systems Incorporated, CSi, of nearby Allentown to design and commission a sound system for digital signage and traditional background music. In turn, CSi relied on an Ashly Audio Pema 8125 eight-channel amplifier with an integrated digital matrix processor, along with Ashly Audio's WR-5 wall-mounted remote control and its iPad remote control app.

"To the electrical contractor, Bergey's Electric, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, the bank officials relayed their desire for a well-balanced sound system that would be easy for non-technical staff to control,"

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14 March 2016

A highlight of the new products was a first glimpse of the company's new AiRAY three-way, full-range line array system. Set for a full launch in the summer, AiRAY addresses the 'holy grail' of exceptional output and intelligibility, yet is half the size, weight and transport dimensions of conventional 2x12" systems.

Also on show for the first time was the High Output Point Source HOPS8, a passive two-way system with outstanding output-to-size ratio and 100° x 100° coverage. Optimised for near-field applications, the unit is available with two hardware options - HOPS8 for mobile applications and HOPS8i (fitted with M6 flying points) for permanent installations.

Coda also annou

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14 March 2016

Featuring practically everything from the German pro-audio manufacturer's portfolio including the compact and powerful Lucas Nano 300 and Nano 600 systems, the Elements and Elements + modular systems as well as the more traditional yet still innovative Premium PR:O, Pulsar and Linear 5 sound reinforcement units - including the popular Linear 5 Rock Pack and Big Venue Pack - complete systems optimised for live applications.

"In late 2014 Production Room made the decision to expand the business into the sound reinforcement market," says Paul Germain, director of Production Room Ltd. "HK Audio, supplied by our existing business partners

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14 March 2016

Matt is the former senior sound technician at the Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool and is looking forward to the new challenges of a busy rental company.

Responsible for managing the company's larger projects and assisting with the ever-growing rental stock, Matt brings a wealth of experience to the team.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The TF Series is aimed at small-to-medium sized venues and touring bands, education and houses of worship - in fact anywhere where high quality facilities with remarkable ease of use and an exceptional price point are required.

Adding to the surprise of the launch audience, the first TF1, TF3 and TF5 consoles will be shipping by the end of this month.

Attracting a constant stream of admirers throughout the four days of Prolight+Sound, significant orders were also placed by a number of high profile rental companies, including leading U

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14 March 2016

As Vince Gill's lighting designer for the past four years, Dylan Mire felt the lighting needed a refreshing new look that would complement the show but not distract from Vince or the bluegrass band.

"The lighting needed to be simple and effective to highlight an established artist," Mire said. "We also needed the gear to fit into a limited amount of truck space."

Mire utilized VL 2500 Spots, Robe CycFX8 and Martin MAC Auras in the design, placing GRN Par 64 fixtures for light columns on the backdrop and Chauvet Color Dashes as truss toner. Mire also uses a GrandMA 1 full console.<

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14 March 2016

"In March, our Belgium distributor, FACE bvba, opened an office in the Netherlands," explains ETC regional manager Tim Stokholm, "and we approved them as an official dealer. To best serve our customers, we decided to make Benelux a dealer-based region." ETC's dealers in Benelux are now FACE, Lightco and Controllux.

"FACE has been expanding steadily in the Netherlands," says FACE CEO Karel de Piere. "We opened our support centre in Rotterdam, and a new consultant, Fons de Vreede, joined our team. If you can add a world class brand like ETC to your portfo

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14 March 2016

In the late 1990s, he earned a privileged spot with New York's avant garde guru Laurie Anderson, serving as the lead engineer on her concert tours, the designer for her computer programsme, and the recording and mix engineer. From there, he developed another long-lasting engagement with Bang On a Can, the visionary contemporary classical music organization that has revolutionized the relationship between popular and classical music.

One thing leads to another, and Elff signed up to work front-of-house for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk

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14 March 2016

Out on a spring US tour, 2Cellos is a cello duo that combines training in classical music with youthful rock energy to present a special concert experience. Riding a wave of popularity - the band even played with Elton John recently at his residency in Las Vegas - 2Cellos are selling out shows at every stop.

Lighting designer for the 2Cellos US tour is Chris Maguire, who has over 25 years of touring experience under his belt (Ted Nugent, et al) yet admits that at first he wasn't quite sure how to light the more untraditional band. "It's just two cellos and a drum kit and there are big stages to fill," he says. "But they play everything from B

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14 March 2016

Founded 20 years ago, the IAB provides recognised training qualifications for live sound and lighting technicians in the stage and event industry. The Institute decided to upgrade the audio equipment used on their courses to provide students with an up-to-date audio system that can mix both FOH and monitors, and record a live performance, in one simple, integrated package.

The Institute purchased six GLD-80 mixers fitted with Dante network cards, AR2412 and AR84 remote IO racks, and a ME-U hub with four ME-1 personal monitor mixers. Connected via the Dante network, the system enables six students to mix and record simultaneo

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14 March 2016

Visitors to the Avolites Prolight+Sound stand came from more than 40 countries, and included a high number of potential new distributors, especially from North and West Africa and the Caribbean.

Now, the Avolites team is continuing the buzz by debuting its well-received new products in the UK at PLASA Focus, Leeds, on stand N-D01.

"The Arena consoles attracted a huge amount of attention during April's Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt - we were inundated with lighting designers, rental companies and specifiers, generating a fantastic response from many of the people who came to see the

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14 March 2016

Tech Suite features one of the widest selections of videowalls in action in the UK, as well as single and multi-screen ensembles from NEC, Samsung and Sharp set up in a variety of example configurations to showcase the options available to customers. Chris Wilcox, PEL's Music & Media manager said: "Tech Suite is a great place to get a real feel for the possibilities, experience this kit working in different ways and see the latest audio visual technology from leading industry manufacturers, including a wide array of screens, sound systems and the latest discussion systems.

"Tech Suite is already evolving with the pace of developments and has been desig

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14 March 2016

Heralded as a major change in direction for the business, the new 44500 Sound Amplifier Series will be fully manufactured to the individual requirements of its customers at the firm's purpose built design facility in Worcestershire.

The range, which will be targeted at both the UK and international markets, allows customers to have total control over the functionality of their sound systems; specifying the number of CD drives required, microphone sockets, multiple speakers and tablet or smartphone integration.

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14 March 2016

"Better Hearing Month is the perfect time to show how the right equipment and expertise can contribute to healthy hearing, yet still deliver high-impact audio," says Sensaphonics founder and president, Mike Santucci. "We're committed to giving our customers both.

To enter, visit and like the Sensaphonics Facebook page, go to the giveaway post titled 'RESPECT YOUR EARS' at the top of the timeline, and Share. On 1 June, Sensaphonics will hold a random drawing among all qualified entries and announce the winner online.

Sensaphonics has won numerous hearing conservation awards, including the prestigious Safe-In Sound Award for innovation in hearin

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14 March 2016

The KOI Awards, which celebrates the creative talents of international lighting and digital content designers working in the UK, has added a 'Club' category, which will allow the Awards to widen its reach to celebrate LDs working at all scales of touring.

Proposed to the committee by KOI chairman of Concert Touring and Events Sarah Rushton-Read, the category was introduced in response to feedback from lighting designers working with new bands just starting out on the touring circuit. It will mean that these LDs, often working with just a floor package and having to use each venue's house rig to realise their design, will also be recognised for their creativity.

"Often designers that are touring club style venues with just a floo

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14 March 2016

OSK Communications out of New York created "the big idea" and brought in NY production management specialists SIAM Productions to produce the overall event.. Creative Technology (CT) was consequently contracted to help deliver the spectacular reveal.

After the initial brief CT assembled a top-flight team to design the technical specs and lay out the execution strategy. The challenges were considerable - the 420,000sq.ft surface had a number of different angles of curves t

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14 March 2016

The auditorium forms part of the redevelopment of ADFA - a partnership between the Australian Defence Force and the University of New South Wales - which provides training and education for future leaders of the country's Navy, Army and Air Force.

Tim McCall, sales manager at L-Acoustics notes, "Consultant GUZ BOX design + audio was brought in to design the audio system for the new space. The requirement was primarily for a system to provide vocal reinforcement, presentation sound and background music on a limited a