UK - At this year’s PLASA Show, on stand D4, Data Strategy will showcase QC-Check’s integration with SimplyPATS, a software programme that specialises in providing the download of data from over 50 PAT Testers.
This integration was developed to allow QC-Check to import into its database the test results from other manufacturers’ Portable Appliance Testers. It offers the facility to use the powerful QC-Check database to selectively filter equipment requiring a test into manageable chunks of data and download it to the client testers.
The new SimplyPats integration will be demonstrated on an operational, two-bay QC-check workstation. New and existing customers will see the simplicity of adding test results to one database of equipment for which a portable PAT tester

UK - Artistic Licence is featuring a spread of new and established products at Olympia.
Commissioner multi is a hand-held tool for testing, programming and configuring DMX512/RDM and DALI lighting installations or fixtures that has already generated considerable interest.
candlePower octo is being officially launched at PLASA Show 2021. It is a DMX512/RDM controlled eight-channel LED dimmer. Each channel can be individually set to constant current (CC) or constant voltage (CV).
sunDial quad is an award-winning DMX512/RDM controlled 4-channel trailing edge mains dimmer. The product works 'out of the box' with dimmable replacement LED bulbs.
For those who use DALI, Artistic Licence will be showing its latest DMX512-to-DALI conversion product, DMXtoDALI quad. With support for DALI DT8 (colour), DMXtoDALI quad is specified for the new generation of DALI prod

Italy - The 17th Century Teatro Municipale in Italy’s Piacenza reopened its doors with a endition of Verdi’s Requiem. Directed by Placido Domingo and performed by the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic orchestra and the City Theatre Choir, the concert was held in front of a socially distanced in-person audience and live streamed, utilising a KLANG:fabrik unit to deliver those at unable to attend with a 3D audio mix.
Traditionally used for in-ear monitoring, with the emergence of live streaming, KLANG systems have more recently found favour with productions for spacial audio mixes for online viewers, making their listening experience engaging and immersive.
Federico Bianchi, audio engineer and KLANG specialist for Italian distributor AudioLink, was approached by Acid Studio, the theatre’s technical partner, to work on the mix for the live stream of this special
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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 - The Brooklyn Mirage is an aptly named open-air live music venue located in the heart of New York City’s most populous borough. The sanctuary in the East Williamsburg area of Brooklyn recently reopened after a 15-month hiatus and now greets crowds of eager live music fans with a an IP-rated lighting package from Elation Professional.
The Brooklyn Mirage lies in the Avant Gardner complex, an 80,000sq.ft site that occupies an entire city block. The vast complex includes an indoor space, The Great Hall, and an intimate club space called The King’s Hall, as well as the outdoor The Brooklyn Mirage.
The large courtyard is surrounded by towering walls and is lined with palms and other foliage. Multi-tiered, it includes a balcony that encircles the courtyard, as well as a fourth level overlook called The Crown. The venue hosts all types of events - corporate or privat

Austria - For the first time, Linz State Theatre (Landestheater Linz) moved outside in order to beat COVID restrictions for its summer series of opera/operettas, dance, plays and galas. The Schlosspark at Linz Castle provided an impressive alternative setting for the month-long programme in the Austrian city.
With trees and the Castle itself providing the backdrop, the experiment proved to be a success, as rental company (and Martin Audio partner) Z-VT fielded a large proportion of its Wavefront Precision scalable line array inventory.
The entire staging infrastructure needed to be built from the ground up and recognising that the audience area was much wider than it was deep, Z-VT populated the stage with three hangs of 12 WPM Mini array elements, supported with subs and in-fills, all driven in one-box resolution from a total of six Martin Audio iKON iK81 amplifiers.

USA - Behind The Scenes has reminded that September is National Suicide Awareness Month - “and while we may be getting back to work, the need for awareness and action is greater than ever,” says the charity.
“Underemployment, new demands in the workplace, and worry about the future are all contributing to the negative impact on mental health. The reality is that many are not coping well and reports of suicide are on the rise,” adds BTS.
Running from 5-11 September, National Suicide Prevention Week is an opportunity to learn what you can do to help those you may be concerned about on the job or at home, as well as find resources that may help you today or in the future. Visit btshelp.org/bethe1 to learn how to re

Europe - DPA Microphones and KLANG:technologies have teamed up to create a system that will enable live event teams to immerse singers and musicians in their on-stage performances. The solution integrates DPA’s 5100 Mobile Surround Microphone and KLANG’s Immersive Mixing Processor. In addition to the benefits of KLANG’s panning capabilities, the use of DPA surround mics replaces the need for large quantities of microphones to capture the entire environment.
Initially inspired by high-profile live sound users, the collaboration ultimately came to fruition during a series of workshops between KLANG and DPA. Engineers from the brands saw a natural bridge between the uncoloured DPA sound and the KLANG processing, which makes the system well-suited for everything from small clubs to large arena tours.
Dedicated pre-sets can be integrated through the KLANG:app, a cont
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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 - The Landon Arena at Stormont Vail Events Centre has been the place to see basketball and hockey games in Topeka since it was constructed in the 1980s. The 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena also hosts large events and live music. Avant Acoustics chose Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeakers to upgrade the sound system during the latest renovation.
Avant Acoustics specified Fulcrum’s FH15 Full-Range Coaxial Horn for its broadband pattern control to avoid interferences caused by the room reflections. “We considered a system of distributed line arrays, but that would have been cost prohibitive, as would adding acoustical treatment,” says designer John Hodgson. “We knew that Fulcrum’s FH series would provide the level of audio quality and clarity that was required even in the absence of additional acoustical treatment for the room. We listened to a demo of the new FH loudspeak

Poland - Streamed performances have become a routine way of taking the performing arts to audiences on a scale that nobody could have anticipated just 18 months ago. After difficulties with the technical sound production of Opera Wrocławska’s first streamed production, a Yamaha Rivage PM7 digital mixing system has changed everything for its audio department.
Streaming has offered a vital lifeline for the arts during the pandemic, but there has been the question of whether larger scale productions like orchestral concerts and major theatrical shows can stream their performances with the necessary artistic effect? An essential part of achieving this is, of course, how the production sounds.
In 2020, Poland’s Opera Wrocławska embraced live streaming, but it was presented with two key problems: Firstly, of 300 staff, the venue’s sound department comprised just thre


UK - KV2, like so many, is eagerly looking forward to exhibiting at its first live tradeshow since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. PLASA Show 2021 at Olympia London (5-7 September) will offer the opportunity for the pro audio specialist to meet customers and colleagues in person as well as offering live demos in its exclusive demo room.
Situated in the London Room to the left of the main entrance, KV2’s demo room is open all day, every day – no pre-booking is required, interested parties may come and go as they please. This facility will offer industry professional and users the invaluable opportunity to experience a selection of KV2’s leading range of products at their leisure.
“We’ll be showcasing our VHD 2.0 high performance point source touring and installation system accompanied by our revolutionary VHD 4.21 subwoofer system which de

Socially Distanced - The Royal Shakespeare Company will host a series of socially distanced performances of its new musical throughout November and December to cater for audiences that do not want to attend a full-capacity show. Seven socially distanced performances of The Magician’s Elephant have been scheduled throughout the three-month run, which marks the reopening of the RSC’s main house in Stratford-Upon-Avon for the first time since the pandemic began.
At each of the designated performances, audiences will be seated with an empty row in front of and behind them, and with one empty seat between parties to ensure one-metre-plus social distancing. Audience members attending these shows will also be asked to wear a face mask throughout their visit unless exempt. The RSC is currently only staging shows at its outdoor theatre, which is running at full capacity. I

Europe - Gerry Forde has become the latest member of the Point Source Audio family, taking on the new role of business development manager for the EMEA region.
Forde has a long history in the pro audio industry, working with distributors, manufacturers and rental companies. A large part of that career was spent working with Sennheiser. This was followed by spells at Rycote, and consultancy work for a variety of brands.
“My background is music and music recording," says Forde. "I was a hands-on RF operator too, so I am very familiar with the technical side of things and the production values in most sectors. I then went over to the commercial world, so I know it as a distributor, reseller, commercial manager, and sales director responsible for marketing."
“We see the EMEA region as critical for our ongoing worldwide growth,” states James Lamb, president at

India - Harman Professional Solutions has launched the JBL Commercial CSSM100 studio condenser microphone in India.
This new studio microphone is designed for audio inputs for both vocal and instrument sound and is suitable for both studio recording and for on-stage performances.
Speaking on the launch, senior director, sales and marketing, Harman Professional Solutions in India and SAARC, Aditya Todi, said “The industry is witnessing a surge in content creation and consumption, which has given rise to at home and smaller studio set ups. This affordable range of studio condenser microphone is the go-to audio device for upcoming singers, instrument players, public speakers or just anyone looking for a quality sturdy microphone. With its pro audio quality, JBL CSSM100 brings out a pristine sound, making sure that users sound their best always.”
JBL Commercial

UK - MDG is returning to the PLASA Show 2021 as an exhibitor (stand E19) and looking forward to seeing so many of its customers and colleagues face to face. MDG UK’s stand will be beside the Robe stand once again, with plenty of MDG products on show:
The ATMe haze generator will be shown alongside ATMe WPE, the IP55-rated weather-proof and dust-resistant version, designed specifically for the challenges of outdoor use.
The MDG’s Me2 fog generator produces a pure white fog with fine particles in unbelievable volume, governed by the finest of control, while theFAN, MDG’s ultra-compact, variable speed digital fan, can direct the output wherever it is needed.
MDG’s ICE FOG Q is capable of producing ‘beautiful low fog effects’ and will be shown in its high-pressure version (ICE FOG Q HP).
No show would be complete without theONE award-winning dual

UK - Wireless LED lighting manufacturer Astera will highlight its three newest product innovations - all launched this year - at PLASA 2021 on the booth of its UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions. PixelBrick, AX2 PixelBar and the AX9 PowerPAR will make their trade show debuts.
Astera’s sales director Sebastian Bückle commented, “PLASA will be one of the first established industry trade shows to take place as events and expos gradually re-start post-pandemic, and we know there is a huge enthusiasm from everyone in the entertainment sector wanting to finally get together and meet face-to-face again after such a challenging and uncertain 18 months.”
PixelBrick is designed for concerts, events, filming, or broadcast scenarios and can also be utilised as a compact, light (1.1kg) and y handy up-lighter like an AX3 LightDrop. It can be hung anywhere and become a univ

UK - In a post-pandemic world, Robe looks forward with a range of new products designed for ‘maximum performance, versatility and operational life aspects for the entertainment and production industry’.
Product wise, there is a big emphasis on Robe’s Transferable Engine (TE) LED technology on Stand E19.
The booth features another eye-catching design with The Show Goes On, inspired by - among other things - rapper Lupe Fiasco’s insightful Billboard Top 10 hit of the same name.
This year’s PLASA show has the additional dynamic of teaming up with ABTT who will be hosting their own theatre-dedicated Hub area of the show floor.
With the performing arts in mind, Robe will highlight its T range of luminaires designed specifically for this demanding discipline - notably the new T2 launched a few months ago and the soon-to-be-revealed T11 which will

Sweden - Improving the sound for the congregation in an ancient church can be a difficult task. But Yamaha’s VXL series slim line array speakers make it much easier, as demonstrated in the medieval church at Säve, near Gothenburg.
“The church’s audio system was at least 20 years old. It was outdated, with a non-standard mixer and speakers/amplifier designed for home use. So it could not possibly deliver sound of acceptable quality,” says Sten E. Ranwald of Gothenburg-based Ljud & Säkerhet.
Sten was asked to improve the 13th century church’s sound but, because of its historic structure and decor, it needed to be done very sensitively. “We could not interfere with the structure of the church or place any equipment that would have a visual impact,” he says.
“After the old system was removed and while the church’s electrical system was being

China - The Peacekeeper Elite League is the highest level of eSports competition for the videogame Peacekeeper Elite - the localised title of PUBG Mobile in the Chinese market. And while esports is a burgeoning market in the live production world, the production costs across these performances have traditionally been high due to the need for dedicated, on-site staff and expansive cable runs connecting many different video and audio feeds.
To mitigate this challenge, VSPN - a co-organiser of the Peacekeeper Elite League - recently experimented with a new way to host its events by relying on Audinate’s Dante for broadcast audio over a vast geographic distance.
On 3 May, the first weekly final of the Peacekeeper Elite League 2021 S2 season was held in Chongqing Banan Huaxi Sports Centre. Twenty professional teams from across the country gathered in the mountain city of

USA - Dierks Bentley’s current Beers On Me tour is providing an emotional and welcoming reunion for the singer/songwriter’s production crew, who are savouring the experience of being together on the road again connecting to fans and entertaining them after a long lockdown.
Contributing to the positive atmosphere at the shows is a deep and immersive Bruce Rodgers production design, engagingly lit by Chris Reade with help from Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Christie Lites.
“My job is to piggyback on Bruce's vision, and really push a perspective that pulls fans into the performance and personalities on stage,” said Reade, who with his partner Jay Ballinger, is the owner of Las Vegas-based KYVA Design, LLC. “This design is very much about angles that engage you visually.”
A key component of the set design is a V-shaped video wall. Roughly 50ft

South Korea - Blumano, entertainment industry consultants in safety and machinery design, is expanding into the Asian market with the announcement of Blumano East Asia. The new operation will work closely with Blumano's network of offices in Ireland, the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Laurent Ste-Marie joins this organisation and brings with him 25-years’ experience and vast knowledge of the acrobatic rigging world
''Seeing how the entertainment industry is bouncing back from an unfortunate dip, the timing seemed right to take on a new and exciting challenge by joining yet another industry leader,” says Laurent. “Through our exchanges we realised that our passion for the industry, vision, and dedication for the promotion of a safe work environment would make a partnership between us a perfect fit.”

UK - Part of the University of Surrey, Guildford School of Acting (GSA) provides its Theatre Production course students with a rounded education in all aspects of technical production. Part of this, is ensuring the equipment they learn on is not only cutting-edge but prepares them for their professional careers. To this end, GSA has recently invested in a DiGiCo Quantum 338, purchased through Autograph Sound.
“As a drama conservatoire, GSA is renowned for its musical theatre and actor-musician training, creating many opportunities for the Theatre Production students to support the sound needs of this diverse performance programme,” says Gareth Evans, teaching fellow in Sound at GSA. “When we were looking to upgrade our existing SD8, we knew we wanted a console that both represented an industry standard for our students and would support the efficient workflows needed t

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