France - In the picturesque setting of the Arenes de Nîmes, in the south of France, lighting designer Pierre Wendels shed light on the history of the city, in a visual spectacular specifically designed for the Roman amphitheatre. Les Nuits de Nemaus featured more than 200 professional actors, dancers and stuntmen and a plethora of effects; with lighting controlled by two ETC Eos consoles, with Philippe ‘Pilou’ Roy at the helm.
Accustomed to major projects, Wendels created a poetic atmosphere by combining lighting and video content for the remarkable show. “If the team around me is confident, everyone is willing to take risks and that’s good for fostering creativity,” he says. “I try to connect with the audience through visual perception. My first considera

Austria - For this summer’s Oper Im Steinbruch production at St Margarethen’s amphitheatre, once a Roman quarry now billed as Europe’s largest natural stage, little could outshine the vast projected visual backdrop for the performances of Turandot.
The audio for the lavish production, however, was enhanced with TiMax SoundHub object-based spatialisation integrated with an Amadeus active acoustics system which immersed the 4,700-capacity audience, delivering consistent focus and intelligibility across the 80m wide, 30m deep stage.
St Margarethen’s sound designer for Turandot, Volker Werner, consistently relies upon TiMax SoundHub so that audiences can easily follow the classical opera narratives, this year specifying two Dante-equipped main and backup units as the spatial processing core of the system.
Werner states, “We have always

Germany - Prolight + Sound Frankfurt is set to return from 26 to 29 April 2022, with emphasis on sustainability.
With the Green Event Day on 27 April, the fair is offering for the first time a theme day all about the responsible use of natural resources. Companies and associations will present their green initiatives and underline that commitment to sustainability can also pay off economically.
Among the players who have already declared their participation in PL+S 2022 are ADJ, Area Four Industries, Ayrton, B. & C. Speakers, Bosch Rexroth, Bütec, Cast, Chainmaster, Chauvet, Clay Paky, ComputerWorks, dBTechnologies, DTS, Elation, ETC, Eurotruss, FBT Elettronica, GLP, Highlite International, HOF Alutec, InEar, JB-Lighting, Kling & Freitag, König & Meyer, KS Audio, Kvant, L-Acoustics, Lawo, Layher, LEDitgo, Lightpower, Link, MA Lighting, Meyer Sound, Moveca
featured content

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

UK - PLASA and #WeMakeEvents have launched a survey to investigate how the live events sector is recovering with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey aims to draw a detailed picture of the events, entertainment and installations industries following 18 months of disruption. The results are hoped to provide an insight into the challenges still facing the industry and will be used as an evidence base to better inform lobbying.
The surve contains questions about the supply of components and finished goods, the availability of skilled workers, and the year-on-year changes in terms of revenue and income.
Once all the data is collated and analysed, a full report will be published on both the PLASA and #WeMakeEvents websites.
From freelancers and sole traders to manufacturing companies and venues, all types of industry professionals are invited to ta

USA - When Ridgeview Classical Schools in Fort Collins, Colorado, a public K-12 charter school serving approximately 750 students, realised it was time to upgrade their auditorium AV system they chose LEA Professional to give them reliable amplifier power within an affordable package.
Local AV systems integrator Sight + Sound Technologies was sub-contracted in to help Ridgeview Classical with a sound system upgrade within the school's main auditorium. The project was actually started a few months earlier but was running over budget, and school managers wanted a re-look at the project to see if cost-saving adjustments could be made.
"The original estimates only included equipment costs, not labour, and the school had a strict budget they needed to adhere to, but of course, quality and usability were still important," said Kris Johnson, chief operating officer, Sight +

UK - The University of Bedfordshire, a multi-site academic facility including campuses in Bedford and Luton, recently upgraded three of their performance spaces with theatrical lighting control from Zero 88.
“We had three different theatrical spaces in need of upgrades, and we wanted a consistent experience across all of them,” explained Jamie Spirito, technician / demonstrator at the University of Bedfordshire. “The smaller Luton Campus theatre needed a powerful, yet straightforward console. Our Bedford Campus Theatre and Studio Theatre needed a bit more refined control capabilities, but with the same product quality and ease of use. That’s why I went with Zero 88 control solutions.”
Stage Electrics supplied the university with two Zero 88 consoles, a FLX for the 110-seat Luton Campus Theatre and a FLX S48 for the 125-seat Studio Theatre, both of which run t

Spain - The Elton John-Lee Hall coming of age musical Billy Elliot continues to be staged in theatres worldwide.
Reflecting the deep sea of emotions that run through this story in light, requires a design that is not only colourful and aesthetically balanced, but also subtle and nuanced in its portrayal of different moods. Carlos Torrijos of Fábrica de Luz, and Juan Gomez-Cornejo provided that for a current production of the musical presented by Som Produce at the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid and the Teatro Victòria in Barcelona.
"Billy is a show more about colour temperature than colour itself," said Torrijos, when discussing the subtle and emotive lighting design. Helping him and Gomez-Cornejo achieve this balance in Barcelona were 52 Chauvet Professional Ovation E-910FC ellipsoidal fixtures supplied by Proyect Arte.
For many of the musical se
featured content

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.

France - The Ultra Son company, founded in 1996 by Patrice Polak in Saint Quentin in the Aisne region of France, initially concentrated on the rental and sale of equipment for DJs and local services.
Maxime Polak, Patrice’s son, gave the company new impetus when he took over it in 2011, expanding its activities to servicing concerts and events, providing sound, lighting and structure. This vision paid off, as has its investment in DiGiCo consoles over the years, with the latest addition to its inventory being a Quantum 338.
Ultra Son’s DiGiCo console fleet started with the purchase of an SD8 in 2015 and has grown over the years, with S21s then an SD12 added.
This July saw them add the Q338, the first Quantum console for the company, its processing quality, flexibility of flexible configuration combined with redesigned ergonomics to cope with any operating req

South Korea - The National Theatre of Korea has upgraded its dimming control to a range of products from Strand to add functionality for its diverse range of luminaires.
A recent remodelling of the multi-theatre complex saw a Strand EC21 Advanced Technology Dimmer Rack installed by Total Plus - the Vari-Lite and Strand distributor for Korea.
Total Plus also deployed an EC21 Advanced Control Electronics Processor Assembly with Dual processor, an EC21 Dual 25A Powerthru Module 435us Dim/ND/Bypass, an EC21 Dual 25A 200us Single Pole module and a Dual 20A CD80SV Non-Dim C21-style module and housing.
“The theatres use a mixture of LED fixtures and conventional halogen lamps, and the Strand dimming curve helps to streamline such diverse equipment efficiently,” says SH Koo, senior lighting designer of the National Theatre of Korea. “Strand's dimmer modules have wi

UK - Inspired by the real-life history of summer camps organised during the 1930s by the German American Bund in support of the 3rd Reich, Bess Wohl’s play, Camp Siegfried is a story of teenage passion against a sinister backdrop of Nazi ideology. Set in 1938, the drama focuses on two young teens, known only as ‘Him’ and ‘Her’, as they meet, chat and fall in love in the seemingly idyllic environment of a summer camp in Long Island.
However, the camp’s real aim is soon revealed as the two young people become increasingly consumed and impassioned by fascist rhetoric. Autograph Sound, were responsible for the design and implementation of the audio for this unsual production; sound designer Ian Dickinson selected the new Reference Series loudspeakers from EM Acoustics to form the core of the sound system.
“I’d already heard the R10s at a factory visi

South Africa - Stage Audio Works has announced the launch of Plus Audio, billed as a new range of loudspeaker systems for all applications requiring professional grade performance at an affordable price point.
Targeted at regional rental companies and worship applications, Plus Audio offers products ranging from powerful, large format line array systems for touring or fixed installation use, compact line arrays for smaller venues right through to a range of versatile point source cabinets that can be used as a distributed system, or as in-fill for larger systems or indeed as a stand-alone PA coupled with the appropriate subwoofers. A range of subwoofers and a dedicated stage monitor as well as amplifiers and a DSP complete the line-up.
“We’re delighted to integrate the Plus Audio brand into our portfolio,” says Stage Audio Works CTO Nathan Ihlenfeldt. “We now o

Europe - Audio-Technica has introduced the low-profile BP898 Subminiature Cardioid Condenser Lavalier Microphone and BP899 Subminiature Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone.
Direct replacements and upgrades to the existing AT898 and AT899, the new BP898 and BP899 are available in a number of different terminations (for wired or wireless use) that suit them to the entire range of lavalier mic applications.
The BP898 is available in five black-finished models, all with permanently attached cables and varying termination and power configurations. Available in a variety of different variations, each of the BP899 options features permanently attached cables, varying termination and power configurations and black or theatre beige finishes.
Both microphones’ wide dynamic range and tolerance for high sound pressure levels ensures intelligible, natural-sounding

USA - Podcasters on the San Francisco-based Pantheon network are using the AKG Podcaster Essentials bundle to great effect, enjoying improved sound and ease of use from the AKG Lyra USB microphone and K371 headphones.
Pantheon Podcasts is a network of more than 70 music-focused shows, running the gamut from casual music exploration to history, production, banjo culture and much more. Pantheon founder and CEO Christian Swain is also the host of Rock N Roll Archaeology, a chronological, episodic podcast that tells the story of how the music of the late 20th century intersected with the changing culture of the times to create what is now one of the greatest moments in music history. According to Swain, the AKG Podcaster Essentials toolkit makes it possible for less-experienced hosts to achieve professional sound easily and lends a cohesive sound to the network’s many shows.

UK - As the planet wrestles with global climate change, enterprises worldwide have begun incorporating green solutions into their business models. Companies are examining their emissions impact through a broader lens to achieve carbon neutrality. According to Phillipe Wetzel, CEO of streaming solutions provider Vitec, how enterprises use video applications and resources to support their operations sustainably is an essential piece of the puzzle.
“The immediate challenge is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by racing toward carbon neutrality, but it will not be easy,” says Wetzel. “The video streaming sector will have to design products that utilize fewer raw materials, are easier to transport, consume less energy, and are easily recyclable. Adopting carbon-neutral energy strategies throughout the enterprise video supply chain will be necessary. In response to t

USA - Crusader Stadium is the home of the NCAA Cru Football team at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. During the summer of 2021, Daktronics upgraded the end-zone scoreboard and sound system with the goal of doubling the size of the video display area while minimizing changes to the existing structure.
For long-throw coverage, Daktronics deployed six Fulcrum Acoustic AHS speaker modules in the horizontal ‘ribbon’ above the video area of the scoreboard. Each AHS module packs a lot of output into a 31” tall package, with up to four coaxial compression drivers and four horn-loaded 10” woofers per module.
The available space within the scoreboard structure allowed for three stacks of two modules each. This provides sufficient output to achieve the project’s sound level goals for the seating areas. The high-frequency driver density provides the output needed to

USA - Ayrton is playing a key part of The Doobie Brothers tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary, which will play to around 50 venues across the USA and Canada throughout 2021 and 2022.
Solotech of Nashville supplied 17 Ayrton Khamsin LED profile fixtures for this tour which were chosen by the production design team at Darkroom Creative, Seth Jackson and Nathan Alves. The team wanted the Khamsin fixtures as part of their retro design which they use to summon up a 1980s vibe.
“In celebration of the Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary, Darkroom Creative did a little celebration of our own,” explains Jackson. “We figured since the band was celebrating 50 years, and the concert lighting business is roughly the same age, we would give a nod to the guys that inspired us when we were getting started. The lighting rig, though completely LED, is reminiscent of the

UK - Britannia Row Productions marked its return to outdoor live music in the UK by providing a control package for Anne-Marie’s Saturday set at the 2021 Pirelli British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone.
The package for the Formula 1 fixture was made up primarily of DiGiCo consoles, DPA microphones, Shure and Sennheiser IEMs and KLANG processing.
During the show, Anne-Marie - a judge on the Voice UK who is known for hits such as 2002, Don’t Play and Friends - was looked after by Niccolò Antonietti at FOH, while Scott Maxwell took the reins on monitors.
“This was my first-time mixing Anne-Marie. I really like her music because it’s a good mix of garage, electronic beats and pop melodies,” said Antonietti. “I tried to replicate the atmosphere of her records as closely as possible, particularly on her vocal effects. She’s us

USA/Europe - An open comment period on the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging has launched.
The International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICOPER) was drafted by industry professionals from around the globe to promote awareness and safety worldwide by providing a model code of practice with a focus on arena rigging but applicable to all event production rigging disciplines.
The practices described in ICOPER are intended to provide a universal foundation for those engaged in planning, managing and executing entertainment rigging. ICOPER also provides guidelines for those who wish to develop policy, design training content or help establish certification criteria.
ICOPER was published in 2017 and has been downloaded by over 1100 people located in 59 different countries. It has been translated into Traditional Chinese and Polish,

Slovenia - Ljubljana Puppet Theatre (Lutkovno Gledališče Ljubljana) is famous for both puppet productions and live acting dramas, musicals, and other performance entertainments in and around its various spaces, which are also available for business events. The 200 capacity Saint Jacob’s (Šentjakobsko) Hall auditorium has recently re-opened after a complete eight-month renovation plan.
This latest technical upgrade has included the installation of 16 new Robe T1 LED Profile moving lights in the Saint Jacob’s (Šentjakobsko) Hall.
They join more recent Robe purchases across the venue’s other four performance spaces including The Tunnel which burrows into the hill beneath Ljubljana Castle and has 12 x CycFX8s which are used for lighting the long corridor audience areas. The 180-seat St Jacob’s Stage, the Main Stage, Small Stage and the Stage Under the Stars l

UK - After its enforced break last year, the traditional black-tie Henley Festival returned this summer with sound system providers, RG Jones Sound Engineering’s association with the event now approaching 40 years.
However, the site on the banks of the Thames is not without its challenges when it comes to creating optimum audio. This is highlighted by its main Floating Stage, situated on the river itself. The auditorium here is only around 40m from front to back, but over 100m wide. Obtaining even coverage without hotspots for audiences, both inside and outside the main sound field, is a challenge that has been met head on by a combination of the service providers’ technical expertise, led by designer Simon Honywill, and their deployment of Martin Audio’s MLA.
The festival production team had previously acknowledged that MLA’s advanced control technology had en

USA - Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) has announced it has signed a definitive agreement of merger with PreSonus Audio Electronics, designer and manufacturer of recording and live-sound hardware and software solutions.
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone on the PreSonus team to the FMIC family and excited about the future growth opportunities available to both companies,” explains Andy Mooney, CEO Fender Musical Instruments Corp. “Our teams share the same passion for music, the same commitment to innovation and the same desire to inspire and equip current and future generations of artists.”
“I would like to extend our utmost gratitude to our loyal Baton Rouge and Louisiana community that have supported PreSonus for the last two decades,” says Kevin Couhig, chairman of PreSonus. “It has been wonderful being a part of this incredible journey

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline