Qatar - The 2015 World Men's Handball Championship finals were staged for the first time in Qatar, from 15 January to 3 February 2015.

Auditoire Qatar, a well-known event organizing company headquartered in France with branches in Qatar and various locations worldwide, conceptualized, designed and produced festivities in different locations across the city establishing Qatar as a world class sport hosting country in the region.

SGM's Middle East distributor, TechnoPro llc, contributed to the success of the event by providing the technical production with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, manpower, and system operation in the month long preparation and implementation of the event.

The Doha Corniche skyline was illuminated with a dynamic lightshow featuring 1000 x SGM LED f

Austria - The LumenRadio team, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, had two reasons to celebrate this year as Sweden brought home the Eurovision song contest trophy for the sixth time. This year's contest was held in Vienna, Austria and made use of LumenRadio's CRMX technology to provide wireless DMX links around the arena for props and set pieces, ensuring even in highly congested environment, the link was rock solid.

Lighting designer Al Gurdon dazzled the audience with an array of looks from soft and subtle ballads to rock and punk, accented by LED screens embedded in the floor and providing a constantly evolving backdrop to the stage. Providing media technology and kinetic lighting effects was Entertainment Technology Concepts GmbH. Volker Suhre, CEO, selected LumenRadio as their wireless partner for the event.

The CRMX technology was used in the show to provide links to difficult

Singapore - Nearly 500 Robe BMFL moving lights were at the core of the lighting scheme designed by LD Mac Chan for the vibrant Opening Ceremony of the 2015 South East Asia Games in Singapore on Friday.

The glittering spectacle staged in the new 55,000 capacity National Stadium was broadcast live on national TV and across south East Asia, reaching an estimated audience of 600m, and saw the 28th SEA Games declared open in great style. It also featured the greatest number of Robe BMFLs - to date - used on a single event.

The BMFLs represent a massive investment made by Singapore based rental company Showtec Communications Pte Ltd., which purchased over 700 BMFL fixtures, most of them especially for the event, once Mac had confirmed his decision.

Mac was asked to design the high-profile event's lighting by creative director Beatrice Chia, with whom he has worked on previous larg

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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.

UK / USA - British singer-songwriter Ben Howard is enjoying success on both sides of the Atlantic, having completed a sold out UK tour in December, a successful run in the US, returning to the UK in April, where he filled arenas round the country, including three nights at London's Alexandra Palace, Glasgow's SSE Hydro, Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena and Birmingham's NIA. His fans are no doubt delighted with the quality of audio that rental company Nitelites is delivering, which in no small part due to their choice of DiGiCo SD7s for both Front of House and monitor positions.

Nitelites director Andy Magee, who has been working with Ben since 2012, elected to take up the FOH position, with Barrie Pitt mixing monitors. They use SD7s, he says, simply because they are head and shoulders above anything else.

"The band knows exactly what they want and we try very hard to give it to

New Zealand - The X Factor New Zealand is based on the international X Factor production format owned by Simon Cowell's SYCO Entertainment. Paul Collison, along with Simon Garret, design and operate the weekly show from a temporary studio fitted out in a food storage warehouse in South Auckland.

Norwest Oceania Productions supplied the lighting, audio and rigging for the project, which include eight ETC Source Four Revolutions, purchased especially for The X Factor.

Garrett, Norwest Oceania's general manager, is delighted with his purchase which is essentially a high performance Source Four zoom profile spot equipped with motorized pan, tilt, zoom, on-board dimming, and colour scroll.

"I knew they would be good but I underestimated how much fixed lighting they would render obsolete," Garrett remarked. "Being able to shift lights live when the tal

UK - Blackburn-based lighting and visuals rental specialist HSL has appointed Mick Seddon as group financial director and strategist.

Working closely HSL's MD Simon Stuart, he will play a key role in HSL's active expansion over the next five years, and is one of a number of high level appointments to be announced by the company in the coming months.

HSL and Mick's accountancy practice have already been collaborating for several years. During that time, Mick has been instrumental for the management and co-ordination of several acquisitions by the HSL Group, including the purchase of Playlight, The Lighthouse and Production Services Ireland.

Simon Stuart states, "We welcome Mick to his new role at HSL. His combination of foresight, financial savvy and imagination will help shape our future and ensure that HSL remains a major force, as well as an adaptable and efficient bu

USA - InfoComm 2015 sees a number of significant new Coda Audio products being introduced to the US market for the first time. Held from 17-19 June at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, Coda will be highlighting new products recently launched at ProLight+Sound in Europe.

Exhibiting at Booth 985 in InfoComm's Audio Pavilion, key new products for Coda are the AiRAY high output, full-range line array system, HOPS8 two-way point source loudspeakers and further innovations in the company's LINUS range of amplifiers and LiNET Digital Audio Transport and Distribution (DATAD) products.

Set for a full launch in July, the AiRAY three-way, full-range line array addresses the 'holy grail' of exceptional output and intelligibility, yet from elements that are half the size, weight and transport dimensions of conventional 2x12" systems.

High Output Point Source H

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BikeFest Spain 2025 - Join the ride!

BikeFest Spain is set to return for its fourth consecutive year, inviting cyclists from across the industry to join the 360km ride towards ISE in Barcelona. From 31 January to 2 February 2025, riders will again rally in Valencia, cycling along the Mediterranean coast in support of industry causes.
For more information and to sign up, visit: www.joinbikefest.com

UK - Bel Digital's BM-A1-4SHD four channel audio monitor/de-embedder is already a firm favourite with broadcasters. All of its features are now available in a larger 2U chassis, providing increased definition in metering and an increase in SPL.

With a reduction of both chassis depth (down to 200 mm) and overall weight, the new BM-A2-4SHD MKII is ideal for OB or Flyaway applications.

The BM-A2-4SHD MKII can de-embed any group of four channels of audio from one of two SDI sources (up to 3G SDI) and display the levels on the front panel meters, as well as providing stereo audio monitoring of any combination of the four channels.

In addition to the auto-detecting SDI inputs, the BM-A2-4SHD MKII has four balanced XLR analogue inputs and two AES3id BNCs. A re-clocked loop-through output is available for the selected SDI source, providing a convenient and cost-effective method of s

Spain - VMB has released the new TL-A400 and TL-A500 line array lifters. Both lifts have been manufactured to be as compact as possible whilst retaining all the features of the rest of the line array series.

The TL-A400 lifts 400kg (882lbs) to 6m (19.7') and with a stowed height of just 1.67m is extremely compact. The TL-A500 lifts 500kg (1102lb) to 7m (23') and is the companies most powerful lifter. Both come with the ALS (Auto Lock Security) system, a safety feature which automatically locks the lift masts as they rise. The lift also has the SRS (Sequence Retainer System) built-in to it. The SRS means that the sections of the lift rise and descend in sequence, one after the other.

The masts are manufactured from highest grade aluminium for low weight. Steel outriggers & base as well as lateral support bars add further security and stability to the lifts. The special design m

UK - Allen & Heath has launched dLive, billed as "a next generation digital mixing system, providing ultra-flexible architecture, a powerful FPGA processing core, a comprehensive array of expansion, control and networking options, plus the intuitive Harmony user interface with gesture control, meaning dLive is geared to applications from rigorous touring and festivals to installation in prestigious live venues".

dLive has a distributed system design with separate MixRack and Surface. The dLive processing brain is housed in the MixRack, available in three sizes - the DM32, DM48 and DM64, and there are three accompanying control surfaces. All MixRacks and Surfaces are mix 'n match compatible, with common configuration, setup and show files. The MixRacks also contain the same processing engine, pioneered by the Allen & Heath R&D team using next generation FPGA technology.

UK - The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has issued a warning to UK employers about the risks of being misled regarding their obligation to undertake periodic thorough examination of all lifting equipment.

The advice reflects growing concerns within the lifting industry that some companies are being tempted to cut costs by not conducting thorough examinations as frequently as required by LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations).

Geoff Holden, chief executive of LEEA, said: "All UK employers are subject to LOLER, which clearly states that, once in service, lifting equipment for lifting persons or accessories for lifting must be thoroughly examined by a competent person every six months. Lifting accessories include commonly used items such as shackles, steels, hooks and round slings. Only for lifting equipment that does not fall into one o

Vienna - While equally unsuccessful on the stage at the recent Eurovision Song Contest, Austria and Germany achieved full marks behind the scenes. Austrian host broadcaster ORF marked the 60th anniversary of the world's oldest and most successful televised song contest not only as a perfect host, providing a spectacular TV and stage show, but also with a technically innovative production concept.

All of the contest's audio signals were routed via a Ravenna/AES67-based IP infrastructure for the first time at a Eurovision event. Both the Lawo Nova 73 audio matrix - including all connected Dallis I/O systems used by ORF's broadcast supplier, VideoHouse - and the video and audio distribution of the Lawo commentary solution were based on IP networking technology.

All of the audio signals were collected by a central audio router, to be distributed to all of the event's suppliers and

UK - Wembley Stadium was awash with neon light as thousands ran, danced, shone and partied through the night, basked in the Avolites controlled glow of the Electric Run UK. VME took on the event production, also supplying the lighting kit for the event. Their appointed lighting designer and programmer Pete Watts chose a selection of Avolites control solutions including Titan One dongles, an Expert Pro and a Titan Mobile.

Electric Run, an internationally run event originating in the US, is in its second year in the UK. It has grown from a single Wembley date to multiple events across the country in 2015.

Watts, who also programmed the show last year, specified an Avolites control solution for the 5k run around Wembley Park. This included five Titan One dongles, running on touch screen Panasonic Toughbooks, all provided by VME.

Designing colourful and energetic displays across

USA - To be independent means different things to different people, but for the eponymous live music venue in the San Francisco Bay Area the name is unambiguous. Ten years presenting a cross section of local, national and international acts underlines The Independent's commitment to the broad church of contemporary music. "Fundamentally, music is about intimacy with the artist," said the venue's head of audio and production, Terry Yerves. "And for that to happen it's got to sound good."

This is Yerves' sixth year at the venue. "I started with The Independent in 2009, but I still do the occasional short tour from time to time if the dates allow. In 2014, we staged almost 300 shows so my touring work is very occasional. This is a five hundred capacity auditorium, a square box with an arched ceiling and concrete floor; the back wall has a VIP balcony above.

USA - DNJ Pro, a distributor company located in Maryland, has partnered with Novalight to distribute its product line in North America.

Novalight, just outside of Viterbo, Italy, both designs and produces intelligent moving concert-style lights and high-powered sky tracers.

Novalight products have been used on many projects including NBC's The Voice and both the American and British versions of the talent competition show The X-Factor. Novalight products were also used on the Coldplay and Kings of Leon concert tours.

DNJ Pro offers professional products for the entertainment industry and architectural lighting sectors. With in-house support and repair service for all of its distribution products, DNJ Pro is dedicated to exceptional customer service.

(Jim Evans)

South Africa - Lighting designer Francois van der Merwe incorporated 16 Clay Paky Mythos fixtures to his spectacular design at the 14th Metro FM Music Awards, hosted at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Conference Centre (ICC) in Durban on 28 February 2015.

Dream Sets were the set and technical supplier of the event, which had a live broadcast on SABC1, while rental companies Black Coffee supplied 12 newly purchased Clay Paky Mythos units and Insane Sound & Lighting made available another four.

"I like the Mythos," commented Francois van der Merwe. "I prefer them to the Sharpys and they are nice and bright. The beams and gobos make a difference and they are fast. I would use them again." Robert Hoey from Dream Sets shared his sentiment.

The Mythos units were placed standing on the stage deck and created brilliant beam work, punching upright through the air. They

Germany - Stage|Set|Scenery is celebrating its debut in Berlin this week. Around 7,500 trade visitors from 24 countries will be present and finding out information from 270 exhibitors.

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin comments, "As a cultural venue Berlin is ideal for holding Stage|Set|Scenery, more so than any other German city. Here, at the crossroads of art and technology, this fair showcases an attractive range of products, services and projects."

Over the course of the three-day International Stage Technology Conference experts from around the world will be meeting to exchange knowledge and experiences. A total of 136 events will be taking place at this international event organised by Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft (DTHG).

Yesterday, Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, opened the tr

USA - H&M, one of the world's largest retailers, opened its latest New York flagship at Herald Centre where the illuminated storefront gets a dynamic look from lighting designer Christien Methot who used Clay Paky's new Show Batten fixtures and a grandMA2 onPC system to wrap the structure in a dance of colour and light. A.C.T Lighting, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Clay Paky and MA Lighting brands in North America.

Located at the southwest corner of 34th Street where Broadway and Avenue of the Americas converge, Herald Centre is set to become a fashion destination for millions of New Yorkers and visitors who pass through busy Herald Square. The 63,000sq.ft store will showcase all of H&M's fashion brands as well as H&M's Home Collection. The renovated structure is topped by a bank of low-resolution Barco LED fins flanking a bullnose elevator shaft.

"They had wanted

Belgium - Painting With Light headed by Luc Peumans has crafted the eye-catching design for the current Holiday On Ice touring production, Passion, which highlights some of the dreams, trials, tribulations and dedication required by those pursuing ice skating careers.

Playing to enthusiastic reviews and audiences, it's the first year that Genk based Painting With Light has produced a fully comprehensive creative concept encompassing all the disciplines - lighting, set and video - one of many strengths enabled by Luc and his talented team of associates.

This scenario allowed Luc to maintain a complete visual harmony for the work, and also gave the scope to design several new and bespoke lighting elements including wireless controlled LED soles that clamp to the base of the stakes.

Says Luc, "With Passion being partly autobiographical in relation to t

USA - Robe moving lights took centre stage along with an eclectic mix of new and emerging musical talent at Hype Machine's Hype Hotel venue during the 2015 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

UK-based lighting designer David Wolstenholme was engaged as lighting consultant for the event by Hype Hotel's production designer / manager Brian Kim. The two previously worked together for Cirque du Soleil production. David helped create the lighting scheme using the Robe fixtures. He also liaised between any incoming artist LDs and his team which included assistant LX Eric Kim and lighting intern, Lila Neiswanger.

Hype Hotel featured two live sessions a day with five artists per session, complete with lightening quick changeovers, so the lighting requirements were extremely demanding. David likened the incredible vibe of this event to the craziness and buzz of the Edinburgh Fringe Fe

USA - Upfront Week in Manhattan may well witness the most intense series of sales presentations anywhere. For a few frenetic days, broadcast and cable television networks pull out all the stops in an effort to convince advertisers to sponsor their programmes. The stakes are high: up to 75 percent of advertising time is sold during these negotiations; so is the glitz and glamour as TV stars appear on stage and at after parties to pitch their shows to potential sponsors.

Any network that hopes to stand out during this ad bazaar had better create a strong visual impression on potential sponsors. The red-hot and rapidly growing Spanish Language Azteca Network did just that, thanks in part to an inspired stage lighting design by Barrett Hall that featured Chauvet Professional Next NXT-1 moving LED panels provided by WorldStage.

Hall used a collection of 12 Next NXT-1 panels to surp

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