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Halo extends Astera inventory

Details: 12 November 2021

UK - Halo, a central London-based lighting and AV rental and production company founded in 1989 by Yann Guenancia, has been thriving ever since, including throughout the UK’s three pandemic lockdowns, when it was one of a few very fortunate companies in a position to remain open and keep supplying equipment for a broad range of clients.
The company’s recent investment into Astera products, including Titan Tubes and AX3 LightDrops, resulted from business actually expanding during this time as new opportunities presented themselves.
The first Titan Tubes arrived in March 2021 and were for lighting in the company’s pop-up streaming studio which was built in part of the warehouse and busy throughout the lockdown period. “More and more clients booking the space for

The visual elements of the show have been designed to add a dynamic element to the performances

Anna Valley provides backdrops for Genesis

Details: 12 November 2021

UK - Anna Valley subsidiary, Matrix UK Solutions is providing dynamic LED backdrops and innovative IMAG services for Genesis’ The Last Domino? Tour. Having sold an estimated 100m albums, Genesis is among the biggest selling recording artists of all time and has played to sold-out stadiums and arenas all over the world for decades. The Last Domino Tour marks over 13 years since Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford have performed together and it is expected to be the group’s last live tour.
The tour kicked off in September 2021 with 37 shows planned at venues across the UK and North America between 20 September and 16 December 2021. However, the final four performances in the UK were cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests within the band and are now planned for March 2022. The US leg of the tour will commence on 15 November 2021.
With Phil Collins remaini

Mohamed Ramadan plays Egypt’s North Coast

Hippotizer drives Mohamed Ramadan show

Details: 12 November 2021

Egypt - Green Hippo’s Taiga and Karst+ were the media servers of choice for Egyptian artist Mohamed Ramadan, whose recent outdoor performance on Egypt’s North Coast saw 85,000 fans gather for what the singer described as “the largest audience attendance in 2021”.
To entertain the masses, the region’s largest ever scaffolding stage was erected, measuring 45m wide and 20m high, for a concert that commanded serious attention to detail, with the visuals quite literally taking centre stage among 800 lighting fixtures, pyrotechnics and special effects.
The structure was built by event rental partner Hi-Lights Group, which also supplied the 900sq.m of LED video wall that displayed bespoke graphics on a 4K video display with a total of 230,400 pixels.
Hi-Lights Group utilised two Hippotizer V4 Taiga and four Hippotizer V4 Karst+ Media Servers, with an output sp

‘The design process for the tour started with the idea of a bold definitive look’ (photo: Eddie Diaz)

Robe in the Clouds with ИF

Details: 12 November 2021

USA - Rapper ИF toured his Clouds (The Mixtape) album in October with a raw and stylish production design created by Chris Denholm (also musical director) and Clay Joiner (also lighting designer).
To capture the narrative flow and massive energy of his music on this first ever shed tour, Chris and Clay chose over 200 Robe fixtures as the ‘lead luminaires’.
The lighting rig included 64 Robe Tarrantula wash beams, 128 Spikies, and 16 BMFL Spots plus two BMFL FollowSpots on a RoboSpot remote follow spotting system.
Chris and Clay have both worked with the rising star artist since early days trawling 300-capacity clubs with a passion, and have seen him fast-forward in presence, popularity, and credibility to now regularly play amphitheatres and arenas. The two also have a natural creative synergy and have been production collaborators for some time.

The Norwegian Settler’s Church in Southern Natal

Plus Audio for Norwegian Settler’s Church

Details: 11 November 2021

South Africa - The Norwegian Settler’s Church (NSC) has a rich history; inheriting its namesake from the group of Norwegians who originally settled in Southern Natal in 1882. Since, the church has undergone various transformations, but remains the longest serving church in the region. Construction on a new auditorium kicked off in 2008, and has slowly progressed through to the current day, developing to accommodate the church’s growing congregation.
Recently, Stage Audio Works (SAW) were brought in to implement the finishing touches; handling the integration of the audio aspect of the church, which, in the words of Phillip Kloppers, media and technical director at NSC, really “makes the building work”. SAW used the expertise they’ve acquired across many House of Worship projects to deliver the entire solution over the course of two weeks. Significantly, this was a

The Bregenz Festival returned this summer

Bregenz Festival invests in DirectOut

Details: 11 November 2021

Austria - The Bregenz Festival attracts more than 200.000 visitors every year. In the months of July and August culture lovers from all over the world can enjoy more than 80 performances. Due to COVID-19 no shows could take place. The festival returned this year for its75th anniversary and to experience the revival of Guiseppe Verdi's Rigoletto on the lake stage.
For many years, the Bregenz Festival has placed emphasis on the latest technologies, on the one hand to meet the high technical and structural requirements, and on the other hand to provide its audience with a unique experience through maximum system stability and quality.
Just in time for the start of the new season, key components of the existing audio system were completely renewed and extended for average monitoring. Two Prodigy.MP from DirectOut, configured in MirrorMode (redundantly to each other

Chelmsford City Racecourse hosted the second Clockstock Festival

ESL deploys Martin Audio for Clockstock

Details: 11 November 2021

UK - DJs from around the globe assembled at Chelmsford City Racecourse recently for the second edition of Clockstock Festival.
Staged by Clockwork Orange (Danny Gould and Andy Manston), the 12-hour dance party was designed to recreate the spirit of the nationwide recognised names in the 90s clubbing scene, complete with VJ’s, special effect flame throwers, CO2 jets and dancers. The event attracted an audience of 15,000 ‘old school ravers’, who had cut their teeth on the dance genre of the mid-90s.
Paul Galley, who runs locally based Event Sound & Light Ltd (ESL), deployed his front-line Martin Audio MLA Compact PA to equip the two main stages, with a Wavefront Precision (WPC and WPS) occupying the ‘Olds Kool’ big top, where there was also an early outing for Martin Audio’s latest baby, Torus. This stage was supported by Martin Audio product support engi

The church’s recently restored organ has been treasured by parishioners for generations

DPA enhances audio at Petruskerk

Details: 11 November 2021

The Netherlands - Founded in 1313, Petruskerk van Leens is one of Holland’s oldest churches and home to its famous, recently restored organ, which has been treasured by parishioners for generations.
Once churchgoers were faced with stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, the church decided to introduce live streaming services to bring mass, and their beloved organ’s music, into the homes of the parish. To help the church design its AV set-up, it called on Bart Hof, owner of HOF AV. Based on his previous use of the mics in live music applications, Hof recommended DPA Microphones to support the audio needs of the church.
“In my opinion, when it comes to the equipment, the simpler and more straightforward way that you approach music is actually the best way to handle audio in a natural way,” Bart explains. “With DPA mics, it’s just a matter of connecting it, and

Anchoring the festival rig were the Rogue R2X Wash and COLORado Batten 144 Tour (photo: Augusto Marrandino)

Activando Cultura enlivened with Chauvet

Details: 11 November 2021

Peru - On 29 February 2020, Argentinian folk rockers Vilma Palma e Vampiros and Peruvian alt band Plutonio de Alto Grande performed at the Parque de la Exposición. A short time later, the curtain went down on live music in Peru because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite its early and efficient response to the virus, Peru was hit much harder by COVID than many other countries. It was one of the last countries to lift lockdown restrictions, but lift them it did recently, welcoming back live music at Lima’s Parque de la Exposición in the joyful and spirited Activando Cultura festival that featured five of the country’s leading national artists representing a cross section of musical genres.
The concert was the result of Rectivate, a project initiated by Dblux and its CEO, Andrés Cuadros, to achieve the recovery of the live post-pandemic concert market in Peru. Altho

Mini-Bs shine on Quebec singing competition

Details: 11 November 2021

Canada - A large complement of Claypaky Mini-B fixtures, supplemented by Claypaky A.leda B-EYE K20s, illuminated the set of Qui Sait Chanter, a one-of-a-kind singing competition making its debut on Quebec’s Noovo network this fall.
The Quebec version of the show is the latest in South Korea’s I Can See Your Voice franchise, which airs in 16 countries worldwide. The US series quickly became a hit in its premier season on FOX Network last fall. Its unusual concept combines songs, suspense and performance as contestants try to identify the real singer and the imposters among a group of six participants from all walks of life.
Quebec-based Omnison provided 96 Mini-Bs, Claypaky’s smallest LED moving light for the professional market, and 12 versatile B-EYE K20s, a combination wash light, beam light and effects light, to lighting designer Jonathan Lewis f

The award was presented at a Washington, D.C. ceremony by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves

Cloud Microphones wins President’s E Star Award

Details: 11 November 2021

USA - The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded Cloud Microphones the 2021 President’s E Star Award for Exports.
Cloud Microphones designs and manufactures ribbon microphones and microphone preamplifiers. The company’s patented Cloudlifter Microphone Activator has garnered several industry awards and is used by audio professionals in recording studios, on concert stages, in broadcast booths, in podcasts and for livestream audio.
"Cloud Microphones has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion. The E Awards committee was very impressed with Cloud Microphones’ extensive marketing through trade events, podcasts, social media, and other advertising. The company’s development of innovative products with export markets in mind was also particularly notable. Cloud Microphones’ achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion eff

SLX will supply the complete sports and broadcast lighting package for Birmingham 2022

SLX wins Commonwealth Games contract

Details: 11 November 2021

UK - Bristol-based SLX has been appointed as the official broadcast lighting provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The company will provide more than 2,000 LED fixtures to a wide variety of sports over the course of two weeks, at more than 15 competition, non-competition and training venues.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see around 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete from 28 July until 8 August 2022. As the biggest event ever to be held in the West Midlands, it is expected to attract more than one million spectators to the city and have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion.
SLX will provide lighting solutions, ensuring the demanding requirements for both sport and broadcast are met. Project director Russell Payne will be working with lighting designers David Lewis and Nick Collier, both of whom have decades of experienc

The JBL sound system comprises 24 VTX A8s

JBL VTX A8 chosen for new Bob Marley musical

Details: 10 November 2021

UK - Leading musical theatre sound designer, Tony Gayle, has chosen HARMAN’s JBL Professional VTX A8 next-generation line array as his preferred PA system for the new production of Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical. A total of 24 JBL VTX A8 enclosures and 10 accompanying JBL VTX B18 single 18” subs have been rigged at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End.
Produced by Playful Productions, Stage Play and Cedella Marley, the production celebrates the life of the Jamaican global superstar, played by Arinzé Kene, and Gayle wanted to ensure that the sound produced by the nine musicians was as authentic as possible.
“The whole show is performed by a live band from a platform in the wings, with no pre-records,” he confirms. “Part of the creative brief was not to produce it as pure ‘musical theatre’ as that format wouldn’t work for this show.

The update is available for Zero 88 lighting consoles as well as the recently announced Strand FLX S Series consoles

Strand and Zero 88 update FLX software

Details: 10 November 2021

USA - Signify entertainment lighting brands Strand and Zero 88 have announced the latest update to ZerOS, the software for their FLX S Series and FLX consoles.
ZerOS 7.10 includes support for multiple pixel luminaires, a library update featuring a wide range of Vari-Lite and Strand fixtures, and more. The new update is available for Zero 88 lighting consoles as well as the recently announced Strand FLX S Series consoles.
“Despite the prevalence of multicell fixtures in the market, facilities have mostly been able to find full multicell control on higher end consoles,” says Jon Hole, global product manager, Strand and Zero 88 Controls and Systems at Signify. “Many of these consoles either control the luminaire as a single fixture with a large number of parameters or patch each pixel as a separate fixture, with compromises in either approach. Even consoles with sub

Brompton Technology will be showcasing its HDR solution in Las Vegas

Brompton brings HDR solution to LDI

Details: 10 November 2021

USA - LED processor manufacturer, Brompton Technology, will be showcasing its HDR solution on booth 2335 at this year’s LDI Show in Las Vegas from 19-21 November.
Brompton HDR, or High Dynamic Range, has applications across multiple sectors due to its ability to deliver images with better contrast, higher brightness levels and a wider colour palette, with details preserved in the darkest and brightest areas of a picture along with more accurate reproduction of colours.
Brompton’s Hydra system which will also be in display on the stand, is an all-in-one industrial solution that incorporates all the measurement instruments and processing required for panel measurements to enable Dynamic Calibration.
Additionally, visitors will be able to see Brompton’s range of Tessera LED processors, including ideal rental workhorse S8 and the flagship SX40, with the all-im

The Handsfree Mode for the MXCW Wireless Conference System is available now

Shure Microflex goes hands-free

Details: 10 November 2021

Europe - The Microflex Complete Wireless Conference System (MXCW) from Shure now features a Handsfree Mode. The feature allows participants’ microphones to be voice-activated automatically without the need to press a physical button. Likewise, when a participant stops talking, their mic shuts off.
To accommodate various styles and dynamics of meetings, MXCW users can toggle between handsfree, manual, or remote microphone activation to best suit the style of conversation, from casual discussions to formal proceedings.
In Handsfree Mode, each conference unit evaluates the level, spectral content, and signal-to-noise ratio of the audio at its microphone to determine when speech is present. The conference unit sends a “Request to Speak” signal to the MXCW’s Access Point Transceiver (MXCWAPT). Next, the MXCWAPT assigns it a transmission channel and adds its audio t

GAMA’s ‘Infection Prevention Solution Super Hub’

Audiologic delivers for GAMA Healthcare HQ

Details: 10 November 2021

UK - Audiologic, in partnership with Handy AV, has delivered a new audio system for GAMA Healthcare’s new office space, from concept and design through to completion.
GAMA Healthcare, founded in 2004, is a supplier of disinfectant products to hospitals around the world.
In order to support their rapid growth, GAMA has recently invested in an office space, known as their new ‘Infection Prevention Solution Super Hub’ headquarters, located in the centre of Hemel Hempstead’s business district. The space has been designed from the ground up with modern working in mind, utilising the latest in AV technology.
Handy AV, an audio-visual equipment supplier, was approached by GAMA Healthcare about the project, commissioning them to design and install audio visual equipment for their entire new office space. Audiologic was asked to look at the spatial and audio des

The Tulsa-based church now has over 7,000 members

Church on the Move switches to L-Acoustics

Details: 10 November 2021

USA - Tulsa-based Church on the Move, established in 1987 with a mere 163 worshipers, now has over 7,000 members worshiping at three campuses surrounding a 2,200-seat main sanctuary. Recently, that primary location underwent a major systems renovation that included the installation of a new K2 loudspeaker system, designed and installed by Oklahoma City-based Skylark AV, an L-Acoustics certified provider, install.
“The church knew what they wanted, and they wanted L-Acoustics right out of the gate,” says Steele ‘Ninja’ Beaty, project manager at Skylark AV. “The only question we had to decide was: which L-Acoustics speakers would work best?”
K2 was chosen based on three things, says Skylark AV’s Todd ‘Linchpin’ Cromwell: “Performance, musicality, and SPL. Church on the Move is very much a contemporary worship church when it comes to music, and it can

The Birchmere expands is palette with Chauvet

Details: 10 November 2021

USA - Guests at The Birchmere were excited to see Boney James, whose inimitable jazz saxophone stylings have earned him a Soul Train Award, four Grammy Award nominations, and a fistful of gold records, when he stepped on to the stage at the live music venue outside Washington DC on 16 October.
The club’s house LD, David Bebee, is also a fan of the artist, but as much as he appreciates good jazz, he was eagerly awaiting something else when he sat down at his console at the start of the evening: the chance to see his new Chauvet Professional Maverick Force S Spot fixtures in action at a live performance for the first time.
Bebee purchased six of the just-released 350W lightweight, IP65-rated movers from JRLX for the club, which has hosted performances by the likes of Allison Krause, Dave Mathews and the Indigo Girls. His initial plans call for him to use the fixtures a

A scene from Midwinter by Zinnie Harris, performed at The Lir Academy (photo: Keith Dixon)

Artistic Licence plays key role in Midwinter

Details: 10 November 2021

UK - Artistic Licence artLynx ethernet gateways have been used to create a key lighting effect in the recent production of Midwinter by Zinnie Harris, at The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin.
The play - one of three being directed and designed by this year's Master in Fine Art (MFA) graduates as part of Gradfest 2021 - explores the strength of the human condition in the face of extreme circumstances. The set required a versatile Sun/Moon object that could be used to conjure the hour and mood of the scenes, providing a continuous element as the drama progressed.
The MFA designers challenged one of The Lir Academy students to look at pixelmapping a Sun/Moon light object. This involved two artLynx duo gateways to handle the four dedicated universes that were needed to allow for individual pixel control.
Artistic Licence has been

Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House (photo: Ellie Kurttz)

Royal Opera House chooses Artiste Picasso

Details: 10 November 2021

UK - The Royal Opera House in London has chosen Elation Professional’s Artiste Picasso as the prestigious performing arts venue’s new front-of-house moving head lighting solution. Available to both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, the theatrical-grade LED profile luminaire met the world-class venue’s exacting standards and has already been used to light several performances. Technical solutions specialists White Light Ltd (WL) sold the fixtures to the venue.
One category of luminaire that the technical team at ROH has had frequent requests for is a moving head in the front of house position. Simon Bennison, lighting associate/deputy head of lighting at the Royal Opera House, explains: “As lighting demands have progressed, many European houses have integrated moving heads into their setups and we started to get increasing requests, particularly over recent years,

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