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Merging Technologies at heart of Venevision

‘The team was tasked with sourcing a reliable and efficient solution’

Details: 11 October 2023

Venezuela - For over six decades Venevision has been one of Venezuela’s major free-to-air television networks, known for producing and broadcasting a variety of programmes, including news, entertainment shows, telenovelas (soap operas) and more.
Responsible for selecting and playing audio content, such as music and effects, for the network’s live and recorded events are Manuel Amengual, supervisor of the music and post-production department, and Omar Noguera, chief engineer for the audio department.
With ageing equipment causing reliability issues and other impracticalities, the team was tasked with sourcing a reliable and efficient solution to replace the TV studio’s outdated audio workflow. As a past Sonic Solution DAW user and owner, Amengual was keen to explore

The 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship saw Ireland take the ‘Grand Slam’ champions title

Absen LD scores at Guinness Six Nations

Details: 11 October 2023

Europe - At the 2023 Guinness Six Nations 2023, Catalyst Event Production Services had just seven minutes to set up the on-pitch trophy presentation podium LED backdrop and footer - so turned to Absen.
The 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship saw Ireland take the ‘Grand Slam’ champions title. Absen brought 8.3m viewers onto the side-line to watch the Championship Trophy Presentation at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Spanning six weeks, the 2023 Six Nations Championship was the 24th annual international men's rugby union competition, contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. UK based events production company, Catalyst Event Production Services was enlisted to deliver results for the trophy presentation ceremony, working alongside its client, live events agency, EVENT360 who specialise in the design and delivery of global sport events.

01099 recently completed their almost sold-out tour (photo: Felix Seidel)

GLP fills the space for hip hop act 01099

Details: 11 October 2023

Germany - 01099 are currently one of the most successful up-and-coming rap/hip-hop acts from Germany.
In 2021, the successful EP Dachfenster was released, and the following year the four musicians from Dresden (01099 is the postal code of Dresden Neustadt) produced the LP, Altbau. Recently, their almost completely sold-out tour, Schnelle Brille, came to an end.
Designer Felix Seidel developed a simple but very adaptable light and stage design for the 01099 tour, using the creative possibilities of the GLP JDC1 and impression X4 Bar 20.
In the spring of 2023, he first exchanged design ideas with the band and developed various ideas from them. “My goal was to design a stage that creates a unique and captivating atmosphere that immerses the audience in the musical universe of 01099,” he explains.
Ultimately, when building the set, he decided

The four-day extravaganza in late June welcomes over 80,000 music enthusiasts

Lawo in the mix for Woodstock of Brass Music

Details: 11 October 2023

Austria - The legendary Woodstock festival of 1969 remains etched in the annals of music history. Fast forward to today, and the Austrian Woodstock of Brass Music (WoB) pays homage to that event with a playful twist.
Held annually since 2011 in the town of Ort in Northern Austria, WoB has earned its reputation as the largest open-air brass band festival in Europe. Drawing inspiration from its American counterpart, this four-day extravaganza in late June welcomes over 80,000 music enthusiasts who revel in the performances of 130 bands, spanning traditional to contemporary brass music. Notably, since 2015, the festival's highlight has been the Ensemble Playing, a spectacle that unites a staggering 20,000 musicians.
Austrian recording studio tonzauber took care of the twinned main stage with its own recording / OB truck. The heart of the vehicle’s audio equipment is a

The recently completed New Stadium of Tizi Ouzou

New Stadium sets standards with Electro-Voice

Details: 11 October 2023

Algeria - Electro-Voice loudspeakers and Dynacord electronics are at the heart of the recently completed New Stadium of Tizi Ouzou. The 50,000-seat venue is the home of JS Kabylie and has been built to exacting UEFA standards, covering everything from the pitch to the capabilities of the technical equipment installed - prompting the selection of the EN-54-rated Electro-Voice EVH loudspeakers and Dynacord IPX amplifiers.
The audio system was designed by Turkish Electro-Voice and Dynacord partner, Atempo. The company has worked on a variety of stadium projects and understands exactly what is needed to meet the expected standards while also allowing a venue the flexibility to host non-sporting events. It was the real-world performance combined with the technical specs that made Electro-Voice and Dynacord the right selection for the New Stadium of Tizi Ouzou.
“Power ampl

Unspunnen Festival is a celebration of Swiss traditional dress and culture

Wharfedale Pro delivers peak alpine performance

Details: 11 October 2023

Switzerland - Held in Interlaken on the slopes of the Jungfrau, Unspunnen Festival is a celebration of Swiss traditional dress and culture. Featuring historic games, wrestling matches and traditional music, the festival attracts revellers from across the country.
In order to provide music and live commentary, a versatile audio configuration was required. Event technology provider, Stagepro Veranstaltungstechnik, consulted with local Wharfedale Pro distributor, Sacher Music, to select an appropriate system.
A solution based on Wharfedale Pro’s WLA-112 line-array loudspeakers was chosen, and the design of the system was undertaken in collaboration with Wharfedale Pro applications and solutions manager, Alex Lane. “The primary scope for the system was speech intelligibility and a predictable but even coverage of all seating areas,” explains Lane. “The main challen

The Linzer Klangwolke attracts around 100,000 spectators each year to Danube Park

Elation lights Linzer Klangwolke open-air spectacular

Details: 11 October 2023

Austria - When the director of this year's Linzer Klangwolke, Francesca Zambello, brought the internationally renowned Austrian lighting designer Manfred Nikitser onto the creative team as a specialist for the colossal lighting looks, it quickly became clear to them that the project would require lights of a special format. He found what he was looking for in the Proteus series from Elation Professional.
Organised by the Brucknerhaus Linz congress centre, the Linzer Klangwolke (Linz Cloud of Sound) is an open-air spectacle that attracts around 100,000 spectators each year to Danube Park in the town of Linz. This year, a moving, somewhat dystopian yet hopeful piece entitled Odyssey. A Journey Through Worlds was performed on 9 September. The odyssey, a little girl's journey on the river of life towards the source of renewal, literally took place on the waters of the Da

The WildSun K9 Wash is specially geared for shooting TV video and broadcasting in high-definition

Ayrton launches WildSun K9 Wash

Details: 10 October 2023

UK - Ayrton has announced the launch of its new WildSun K9 Wash, the latest fixture in its Multisources 9 Series.
WildSun K9 Wash is particularly suitable for television, sporting events, fashion shows, car shows, or any prestigious events requiring powerful, high-quality light and perfectly rendered colour.
WildSun K9 Wash is a highly evolved variant of Ayrton’s WildSun K25 TC, specially geared to shooting TV video and broadcasting in high-definition. With a brand new sleek design and a visual footprint 20% smaller than its predecessor, WildSun K9 Wash’s weight has been drastically reduced by 25%, allowing for better integration.
This unique LED luminaire measures up to the classic Fresnel HMI 4000 lights in terms of pure output. Fitted with 217 next-generation high-output LEDs, the luminaire delivers more than 60,000 lumens of overall output with 40% les

The Week in Light & Sound

Details: 10 October 2023

In The Courts - Coldplay and their former manager have filed competing claims in London's High Court, with each party seeking millions of pounds from the other. Dave Holmes, who worked with the band from 2005 to 2022, sued them in August for £10m in unpaid commission. In a counter-claim, the group rejected his claim and said Holmes had allowed tour costs to spiral out of control, and demanded £14min damages.
The case could come to court if the parties do not settle. Holmes' original court case claimed that Coldplay owed him commission for two as-yet-unreleased albums. According to his lawyers, the band were paid an advance of £35m for their 10th album and £30m for their 11th and 12th albums.
Holmes maintains that he helped to organise recording sessions, clear samples and liaised with producer Max Martin before the band decided not to renew his contract last year.

Michael Huelskemper - vice president product management

Michael Huelskemper joins ARRI

Details: 10 October 2023

Europe - Michael Huelskemper has joined ARRI as vice president product management business unit lighting. In this role, he is responsible for further developing, improving, and broadening the product portfolio of the lighting division.
Huelskemper has more than 15 years of experience in the development and product management of LED luminaires and luminaire components in an international environment. He spent several years in management positions at global players such as OSRAM and Philips Lighting.
Dr. Matthias Erb, chairman of the ARRI executive board, says: “I am very pleased that Michael Huelskemper, a proven expert in the field of portfolio management for LED lighting products, has joined our ranks. With this important new addition to the team, we are driving forward the realignment of ARRI Lighting. I wish him a good start at ARRI and much success in his strate

The Bon Secours Training Centre provided the venue for the festival

Martin Audio WP reinforces Iron Blossom

Details: 10 October 2023

USA - So successful was the inaugural Iron Blossom Festival, in Richmond VA, that the organisers have already confirmed that it will be repeated next year.
Contributing to this success was the sound quality provided across the two stages by Soundworks of Virginia, and featuring Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays. This ensured a quality experience for headliners, Hozier, Noah Kahan, and Lord Huron - and the rest of the artists performing.
The Bon Secours Training Centre provided the venue for the festival, organised in a joint venture by Charlottesville's Starr Hill Presents, Virginia Beach's IMGoing and Richmond's Haymaker Productions.
Working in conjunction with Haymaker Productions owner, Tom Beals Soundworks chose Martin Audio’s large-format WPL for main stage and WPC for the second stage - run in two-box resolution from Martin Audio

The show had to be performed five times in three different locations

Paulus Choir relies on DiGiCo and KLANG

Details: 10 October 2023

Germany - Paulus-Chormusical (The Choir Musical) by German church Evangeliums-Christen Gemeinde e.V is a project produced with only community resources for both its creative content and performance. With a limited budget, but challenging technical requirements, Markus Gorges of AV Support Nümbrecht, Germany, who acted as technical advisor and head of audio for the musical, recommended a combination of a DiGiCo S31+ and KLANG:vokal for the project’s monitoring requirements.
“In the end, 151 participants volunteered over two years to put together their own musical, in their free time, and that’s what makes this unique,” says Gorges. “In terms of numbers, 53 were choir singers, 11 musicians and 43 actors, and the rest did all the work around it.”
This was no small project. The show had to be performed five times in three different locations and,

AV Company is run by father and son combo of Craig and Keagan Browning

Durban’s AV Company invests in grandMA3

Details: 10 October 2023

South Africa - Durban-based event production and rental specialist, AV Company, run by father and son combo of Craig and Keagan Browning, has invested in its first grandMA3 console with the purchase of a grandMA3 compact XT.
The company provides full turnkey solutions - lighting, audio, LED screens & video, staging, trussing, rigging and power - for a range of events, including fashion shows, awards presentations, brand activations, product launches all over KwaZulu-Natal and across South Africa.
The console, delivered by South African distributors DWR, is the second MA console in AV Company’s inventory, following a dot2 acquired in 2016.
As the company has grown and expanded, especially as events re-started so enthusiastically after the pandemic, “We simply needed a bigger console to handle larger and more complex shows that we do,” explained Keagan.

The European Youth Olympic Festival comes to Maribor (photo: Tadej Morano)

Robe lights Maribor EYOF ceremony

Details: 10 October 2023

Slovenia - The European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) - the largest multi-sport event for young athletes aged 14 to 18 - came to Maribor, Slovenia’s second city this year.
Lighting designer Crt Birsa from design studio Blackout was asked to be part of a team creating a spectacular opening ceremony in Ljudski Vrt football stadium by show director Nejc Levstik, a project on which he worked closely with set designer Greta Godnič and nearly 200 Robe moving lights.
Crt and Greta are known for their design collaborations which always push the barriers of innovation and what is achievable. “I was extremely proud to be asked onboard,” commented Crt, “It is always interesting and exciting working with Greta and Nejc, and everyone involved wanted to deliver an outstanding show fitting to the occasion.”
Their biggest challenge was producing the show - complete w

The Maestro & the European Pop Orchestra Open Air Kerkrade 2023

ADJ fixtures shine on Kerkrade's Markt show

Details: 10 October 2023

The Netherlands - The Markt (town square) in Kerkrade - the home of ADJ Europe - recently witnessed a symphonic spectacle that blended music and light seamlessly, as The Maestro & the European Pop Orchestra hosted their annual open-air extravaganza.
Utilising more than 100 ADJ lighting products, the event, aptly named The Maestro & the European Pop Orchestra Open Air Kerkrade 2023, captured the hearts of attendees with an enchanting performance that intertwined contemporary pop melodies with the richness of classical compositions.
Behind the scenes, XYMIO Event-techniek, founded in 1992 by Paul Pelen, orchestrated a technical marvel encompassing lighting, LED screens, and audio.
Guido Dieteren, known as ‘The Maestro’, is a famous orchestra leader, violin soloist, arranger, and composer from Limburg in The Netherlands. His European Pop Orchestra perfo

L-Acoustics elevates audio at the Piece Hall

Details: 10 October 2023

UK - The Piece Hall in Yorkshire has stood as a symbol of the region's rich history since its construction in 1779. As a hub for trading 'pieces' of woven woollen fabric, this architectural marvel has seamlessly blended commerce and culture from its inception.
Today, it continues to inspire and engage, hosting an array of site-specific performances, and contemporary music concerts as part of their Live at The Piece Hall summer season of gigs, featuring artists such as The Lumineers, Limp Bizkit, UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, The Charlatans, and Johnny Marr.
With its stately layout and 5,500-person capacity, The Piece Hall presents acoustic challenges, including a stage that is positioned in the corner, an open courtyard and VIP balconies. The PA system had to deliver high-quality sound to an audience standing in compact spaces, while minimising spill behind the stage.

Synapse relies on Brompton Technology’s LED video processors

Synapse creates VP projects with Brompton

Details: 10 October 2023

USA - Based in Los Angeles, Synapse Virtual Production is an immersive entertainment collective composed of industry-leading creatives and technicians across film and television, advertising, music videos, live events, broadcast, esports, and more. Blending their artistic instincts and technical expertise, the Synapse team specialises in virtual production with a creative-first approach, using their hard-won knowledge so that clients can have true creative freedom on set.
From the company’s inception, Synapse has relied on Brompton Technology’s LED video processors to help facilitate their virtual production projects. Synapse’s chief technology officer, Geoff Knight, explained: “Coming from a background in live events, I’ve been very familiar with Brompton for years, and know first-hand how excellent and reliable their processors are. Virtual production is so excit

Metallica - on the road again (photo: Getty Images)

Chauvet connects Metallica to the crowds

Details: 10 October 2023

USA - Metallica’s M72 world tour is playing to sell-out crowds across Europe and North America. The eight distinctive towers that lend a dramatic flair to the production came about when production designer, Dan Braun, had to find an alternative to his initial vision of creating tensegrity structures for the show.
“I have been interested in tensegrity sculpture for a while and was working on this concept for an indoor show,” said Braun, who has worked closely with lighting designer Rob Koenig on the production. “Our world changed when the tour went to stadiums in the round. My first thought was ‘we can’t do that.’ But after careful consideration, I said ‘why not?’”
Adapting to the necessity of working within the parameters of an outdoor 360-degree stage, the designers dropped plans for a tensegrity rig and combined “a study of proportion with param

SM12 is designed to be used on a variety of stages

EAW unveils compact SM12 stage monitor

Details: 09 October 2023

USA - Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) has introduced the SM12 Stage Monitor. Inspired by the renowned Microwedge acoustic design, SM12 is the latest addition to EAW’s catalogue of stage monitors.
SM12 is a two-way passive loudspeaker that can be used as a stage monitor or fill speaker. A concentric driver attached to a CSA wave guide provides even coverage throughout the 90° x 60° pattern. A large ground coupled port extends low frequency response down to 60Hz from the 12” woofer mounted in the low-profile wooden enclosure.
When utilising the available mounting pattern, SM12 can be used on a flat surface with two cabinet orientations or mounted on a third-party pole. An integrated kickstand offers additional positioning options when used as a stage or floor monitor.
"Stage space is at a premium and artists have high expectations,” says TJ Smith, president,

Håkan Hellström's summer tour encompassed 15 shows nationwide

Sunblast on tour with Håkan Hellström

Details: 09 October 2023

Europe - Prolights Sunblast 3000FC illuminated Swedish singer Håkan Hellström's summer tour. Creative Technologies Sweden provided 32 of these fixtures, which powered a series of 15 shows nationwide.
The tour's lighting designer, Calle Brattberg comments: "I needed a punchy and bright strobe that could add both extra strobe effects and provide a fantastic wash with vivid colours.” Having previously used over 100 units of the Sunblast 3000 at Hellström's arena shows last year, Brattberg had full confidence in their capabilities.
Challenged by the unpredictable Swedish summer weather, notorious for its abrupt shifts in temperature and conditions, the Sunblast 3000 strobes showcased their resilience through their IP65 rating, consistently delivering. Calle Brattberg underlined their remarkable performance, emphasising their ability to shine flawlessly under ever-chan

Trois Cafés Gourmands play Théatre de La Mer in Valras-Plage

Trois Cafés Gourmands on the beach with Nexo

Details: 09 October 2023

France - With their first album Un air de rien certified triple platinum and more than 300m views on YouTube, Trois Cafés Gourmands is one of the most popular groups in France.
Last month, they brought their distinctive blend of traditional folk music and modern pop to a free concert in front of thousands of people at the Théatre de La Mer in Valras-Plage, on the main square next to the sea in the south of France.
A Nexo STM system owned by the commune of Valras-Plage remains installed at the summer events site and includes side-by-side suspensions of nine STM M28 line array elements with six STM B112 bass extension speakers, and STM S118 subs ground stacked at the front of the stage. Nexo ID24 speakers are used for front-fills and PS15s for out-fills.
The team from local company Decibel Event (equipment supplier for the city) was present to operate the

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