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20 June 2024

USA - Country superstar Thomas Rhett’s tour is hitting US arenas and festivals with an “awesome” lighting and visual show driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.

A vast LED screen is constructed in each venue behind a wall of lighting fixtures, which are rigged on a scaffolding-style structure. Wrapping around the top of the stage, mirroring the thrust, a series of LED panels add height and drama. For each show, creative designer Alec Takahashi of BKD plays with depth, texture and layering to create what he describes as a “sense of wonder” with video surfaces.

Two Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers – one as main, one as backup – are being used to provide the processing power, programming ease and eye-candy effects, with a Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 at FOH for HippoNet access.

“To create this show we utili

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20 June 2024

UK - A Thameside location in the well-heeled town of Marlow is the setting for Tom Kerridge’s firmly established Pub in the Park festival.

Thiis is more of a four-day community event than a festival - complete with stages, pop-ups and a line-up of top chefs, mingling with the DJs and artists of the calibre of Van Morrison, Paloma Faith, Busted and Example, while the array of DJs ranged from Judge Jules to Gok Wan via Vernon Kay.

Martin Audio partner SWG Events have a had a long history with the event, this year bringing their flagship WPL line array to main stage. The rental company will also be providing a turnkey solution for the other three Pub in the Park events, in Chiswick, St Albans and Reigate.

In Marlow, they populated the stage with hangs of 10 WPL enclosures a side, with four of the smaller Wavefront Precision WPS arrays providin

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20 June 2024

UK - Forty years in the business have seen Nils Edstrom cover the full range of audio engineering duties. Having started life as a performing musician, Nils moved into studio engineering, where he amassed credits on more than a hundred and fifty commercially released albums. After that, itchy feet took him out on the road as a freelance touring engineer, a role he occupies to this day alongside his gig as an educator at South and City College (SCCB) in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Nils has enjoyed a plethora of career highlights, not least of which was the Easy Star Allstars performance of Dub Side of the Moon on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, next to the Lovell Telescope at Bluedot Festival. Punjabtronix at Washington’s Kennedy Centre, Maximo Park at Kendall Calling, and a series of TEDGlobal events, are further examples of Nils’ versatility. He is a

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20 June 2024

USA - Elation supported the British Music Embassy (BME) stage at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and music festival in Austin, Texas. Partnering with the Academy of Live Technology at Production Park, Elation lighting was used to illuminate the stage and artists while serving as a valuable training ground for the next generation of lighting technicians and operators.

The BME stage is a high-profile platform at the renowned festival and is run on behalf of the UK Government International Department for Business and Trade. It provides a valuable showcase for the UK's best emerging acts and has played host to a number of artists who went on to global fame such as Amy Winehouse, Sam Fender, The 1975, and more.

As an ongoing partner of the Academy of Live Technology, and Production Park, Elation was pleased to supply 18 Proteus Lucius,

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20 June 2024

UK - Flipside AV recently installed an Optimal Audio Zone 4 and ZonePad to control three audio zones at a modern café, bar and hotel called Bang in Wells in Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast.

Zone 4 is a zonal audio controller with DSP providing everything required in a single compact unit to become the beating heart of an efficient, high-quality multi-zoned commercial sound system and features 4 line and 2 mic inputs plus 2 HDMI inputs for TV and video sound. It allows the installer to independently allocate sources across four configurable zones, such as a lobby, bar or restaurant, and each zone can be configured to do precisely what is required using the intuitive WebApp. This includes EQs, speaker presets, structured time of day routines and so much more.

In the case of Bang, Zone 4 was installed to control audio for three zones and

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20 June 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Earlier this year, ProRent enhanced its already impressive array of rental solutions with a new multifunctional workhorse - the SD12 digital mixing console.

“At ProRent, we are committed to delivering top-notch solutions for our clients, and the addition of the SD12 aligns perfectly with our mission to provide cutting-edge technology,” says Sinisa Ninkovic, owner of ProRent. “DiGiCo is a premier global brand, and SD-Range consoles are often featured on technical riders of both regional and international artists, which played a pivotal role in our decision to make this purchase. The SD12 is recognised as a reliable solution within our industry.”

Ninkovic also notes that the SD12 commands an impressive array of features, including 72 input channels that can be expanded up to 96 channels, 119 dynamic EQ processors, 16 gr

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19 June 2024

UK - Creative climate non-profit Julie’s Bicycle, host of festival industry project Vision: 2025, is collaborating with 10 local authorities and more than 60 festivals to test how a Green Events Code of Practice (GECoP) can be adopted nationally.

Vision: 2025 chair and Shamabla Festival director Chris Johnson states: “I’m very proud that our industry is making the environment a key priority to deliver more sustainable festivals in the future. I’m surprised that we’ve heard so little about environmental issues during this election campaign so far, given the scale of the climate emergency we’re in. I hope our pioneering sector can continue to highlight and inspire positive actions to make a significant difference for future generations.

“The Green Events Code of Practice has been developed to avoid a lottery of expectations across England

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19 June 2024

UK - The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is one of the country’s leading producing houses, based in the inner-city neighbourhood of Hammersmith, West London. The Lyric recently invested in a comprehensive audio upgrade, based entirely on EM Acoustics’ product portfolio. The upgrade, completed in early 2024, was led by the theatre’s Head of Sound, Daniel Ronayne.  

“Our existing system was due for an upgrade; it was around 30 years old and composed of many different products from different brands,” reflects Ronayne. “We had hired a demo rig from EM Acoustics for past productions, such as our yearly panto, and we were blown away by the quality and wanted to make these products a permanent feature of the theatre and the audience experience.”  

A complete upgrade is a serious decision for a busy theatre but following a trial period, the decis

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19 June 2024

Europe - Marking the 80th anniversary tour of Holiday On Ice, the 2023-24 No Limits tour was created by AED Studios in Lint, Belgium and played 174 performances in 21 cities across Germany with Claypaky Volero Wave and Scenius Profiles, from tour lighting provider Rentall Europe, lighting the figure skating spectacular.

No Limits and its 40 skaters and artists spanned many imaginative settings, from monster battles to Roman chariot races to the Wild West. The show also pushed the technical standards of live entertainment with an impressive three-dimensional, 200sq.m LED screen, approximately 300 projectors and a customised kinetic lighting installation.

Lighting designer Tim Routledge and lighting programmer James Scott focused on crafting a visually stunning and immersive environment that elevated the performances with inn

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19 June 2024

USA - Songs from Scott McCreery’s new album, Rise & Fall, feature alongside older material on his 16-city tour.

The power of McCreery’s performance is reflected in a richly textured production design by Drew Hornback, which, like the music it supports, features a strong narrative element. At its heart is a three-panelled blow-through video wall displaying captivating content created by filmmaker Jeff Ray, the Austin, Texas creative responsible for many of McCreery’s videos.

Adding visual impact to the video panorama are 18 Chauvet Professional STRKE Array 2 fixtures supplied by Blue Crew Productions of Nashville. Hornback positioned six of the high output warm-white blinders behind each of the blow-through walls. Turned on and off at different points in the show, and run at different levels of brightness, the high-output blinders c

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19 June 2024

Thailand - Studio X Beyond, in partnership with L&E Beyond, a division of Lighting and Equipment Public Company Limited (L&E), is a virtual production studio recently opened in the heart of Bangkok. On 18 July, during this year’s InfoComm Asia, the studio will host an open house event in partnership with Brompton Technology, AOTO and Disguise.

The event will showcase how Brompton’s advanced LED processing solutions, combined with Virtual Production (VP) technology, Disguise's real-time production capabilities and AOTO's state-of-the-art LED screens, can ‘revolutionise content creation’.

Targeting industry sectors such as film and television production, advertising, music video production, live events, and product launches, Studio X Beyond aims to attract professionals seeking innovative ways to enhance their production quality and eff

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19 June 2024

Indonesia - Mantra Club, the latest addition to the vibrant nightlife of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) in Jakarta, has burst onto the scene with impressive décor and a sound system from KV2. Club owners and nightlife destination specialists, the Satulapan Group, turned to integration experts, Music Art, to deliver an audio system in line with their high-level expectations. Music Art recommended KV2 with the support of KV2’s Indonesian distributor, PT Goshen Swara Indonesia.

Mantra Club aims to provide an exceptional music experience, including high-octane DJ sets and live performances. The brief was therefore to design a high-quality audio system capable of delivering high SPL with minimum distortion for a high-energy yet non-fatiguing audio experience. Following a convincing demo at Goshen’s impressive demo facility in font of both the end client and the in

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19 June 2024

France - Audio specialist and equipment manufacturer Digigram has announced the release of a new sound card, ALP-AES67, as part of its ALP-X range. Available through Digigram’s extensive network of distributors, ALP-AES67 is the latest addition to the continuously expanding ALP-X series launched in 2022. ALP-AES67 reaches further with Ravenna and SMPTE ST-2110 compliance.

While the ALP-X range already covers a large range of audio protocols, ALP-AES67 takes Digigram a step further into the broadcast, live sound and events applications, where critical audio is at stake.

Featuring the signature characteristics of the ALP-X range, ALP-AES67 was developed using Digigram’s sturdy hardware platform for unmatched reliability. ALP-AES67 also brings versatility to professional audio users thanks to its low-profile form factor coupled with a fanless design

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19 June 2024

Europe - Following the launch of the multi-channel V Series amplifiers for commercial installations, Dynacord has introduced the U Series a budget-friendly lineup of ultra-compact, single-channel mixer amplifiers and power amplifiers.

These are designed for installers and consultants specifying background music and paging applications that do not require life safety compliance, complex networking or higher SPL levels, making them an ideal alternative to Dynacord’s other commercial amplifier lines that are typically the best choice for mid-sized to large projects.

The U Series delivers professional, high-quality amplification for single zones in high-impedance installations in smaller commercial spaces such as cafes, shops and offices.

The series consists of six models offering a variety of power options to ensure optimal performance across

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18 June 2024

Europe - Showlight 2025 is calling for speakers to present papers at the next Showlight, slated for 19-22 May 2025 at Le Parc des Expositions et Congrès de Dijon, France.

The Papers Programme is the heart and soul of Showlight and we want to present our delegates with a wide variety of interesting subjects to educate and entertain. This will be the first in-person Showlight since 2017 and we are looking for exciting new projects from all disciplines of lighting and lighting design to include in the 2025 Papers Programme.

Have you worked on a fabulous new project recently? Have you tried out some new technology and got something to share? Does your design really cut the mustard? We want to hear from you in Dijon! 

The papers committee has already begun the process of selecting papers for the programme. If you have an idea, a story or an expe

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18 June 2024

UK - ETC has announced plans to expand its business with the relocation of its London operations to a new, state-of-the-art eco-building. The move supports ETC’s expanding business and service offerings as well as planning for future growth.

The new space – which is located in west London’s Greenford – is more than double the size of ETC’s existing building and will feature enhanced facilities to accommodate the needs of its customers and workforce.

The design of the new building is being developed by ETC with its own in-house team, in-line with the company’s global design approach. There will be more capacity for training, logistics, meetings, and dedicated areas for ETC’s customers and employees.

The company’s dealers and end-users will benefit from having access to an expanded training program and bigger demo spaces. The ad

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18 June 2024

UK - Midwich and PSCo have signed a distribution deal with Hive, manufacturer of scalable media servers.

This exclusive agreement allows Midwich and PSCo to offer Hive’s full range of products in the UK and Ireland and will be launched at their Beyond the Pixel event on Thursday 20 June at Innovation House, Bracknell. Hive’s sales director, Nigel Sadler, business development manager, Sarah Cox, and co-founder/managing director, Mark Calvert, will be in-person at the event to deliver presentations and demonstrations of their product line to attendees.

The Beehive, Beebox, and Beeblade products create a flexible and scalable media control ecosystem to power complex and creative visuals in a variety of applications including immersive exhibitions, galleries and museums, live shows, theme parks, and high impact advertising.

Lloyd Platt, busin

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18 June 2024

Europe - Ayrton has announced the appointment of Briony Berning as its new design, training and business development engineer as part of the continuing expansion of its international team. The appointment takes place with immediate effect.

Berning’s multi-faceted role will be to formalise Ayrton’s product training on fixtures, key technologies and developments to the markets and its global network of distributors. Alongside this she will develop the theatre markets on a global scale, paying close attention to the specific needs of these sectors and the relevance of Ayrton products within them. Finally, she will maintain a close relationship with her specialism, the theatre market, to keep abreast of developing trends and technologies and ensure Ayrton product development continues to answer these needs.

UK-born yet spending her formative years in

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18 June 2024

Belgium - The newly completed, multifunctional Silt complex - an architecturally sophisticated ‘landscaper’ completed earlier this year - forms a dominant, wood-latticed landmark on the Belgian coast, overlooking the North Sea at Middelkerke.

Essentially a multipurpose event venue, built and operated by Middelkerke’s municipality as part of its restoration programme for the area, it also hosts a restaurant, hotel and casino run by different operators. All are set within an artificial dune, each with spectacular views across the beach and sea.

For advice on sound reinforcement in the Event Hall, the City Council brought in Stephan Bohez of SBE - a loyal partner of Martin Audio for the past 25 years, who also co-owns StarTechnics with partner, Danny Debock. Stated Bohez, who has staged events for the client over a number of years, “They already

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18 June 2024

USA - The 11th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards celebrated the best in contemporary Christian music, showcasing heartfelt performances and uplifting messages at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. Fans voted on top honours to award to artists who made significant contributions to the genre of faith-based music including Brandon Lake, for KING + COUNTRY, TobyMac and Anne Wilson.

Go Live Productions partnered with Bandit Lites to provide a lighting system that would dazzle the in-person audience in addition to those watching from home. The awards aired exclusively on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

Lighting designer Mark Carver drew inspiration from the angles of the side LED walls and the forced perspective of the LED header close down.

“Our goal was to create a contemporary linear and forced perspective look utilizing both wash, strip/strobe fixtures