Details

02 July 2024

UK - The annual Hay Festival returned from 23 May - 2 June to the picturesque town in Powys, Wales attracting over 250K visitors.

Founded in 1987, Hay Festival Global has grown into one of the most celebrated literary charities in the world and delivers events with authors, thought leaders and artists from around the globe. This spring’s edition in Hay-on-Wye featured 800 conversations and performances with diverse voices and genres including best-selling novelists, pioneering scientists, influential politicians, comedians, musicians and innovative artists.

Stage Sound Services based in Cardiff worked closely with the production team and provisioned all the technical equipment and installation to the seven venues located throughout the site. The Stage Sound Services team have worked directly with the charity’s in-house team for the last three yea

Details

02 July 2024

New Zealand - NW Group is New Zealand’s largest live event technology and full production – lighting, audio, and video – specialist in New Zealand, where it’s represented by the Oceania and Spyglass brands with bases in Auckland and Wellington on the North Island.

The company has recently invested in 24 new Robe Spiider LED wash beams which are added to their 56 x Robe BMFLs (32 x Spots and 24 x Blades), delivered via distributor, Jands New Zealand.

NW Group’s work encompasses arts, performance and entertainment shows, concert touring, all types of corporates, special projects and they are also service providers to some of the busiest venues including the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland.

They were looking for value and solidly reliable LED wash beam that could be used in any environment explained head of ligh

Details

02 July 2024

UK - Tunes in the Dunes is the apt name given to an annual three-day festival on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall.

The festival has been running on the golden sands for 11 years, having sprung up from the live music events at the beachside Watering Hole.

Based nearby in Plymouth, Martin Audio partner Nub Sound this year provided the technical infrastructure, deploying their Wavefront Precision Compact (WPC), eight elements a side, which ensured headliners McFly (Friday), Craig David (Saturday) and Ocean Colour Scene (Sunday) could be heard to the max by crowds assembling on the beach as their music drifted out towards the Atlantic Ocean.

On duty was Nub Sound director of operations and sound engineer Josh Small. He explained that in addition to the eight WPC per side, a cardioid sub array of eight SXH218 in a castellated format, ensured rear rej

Details

02 July 2024

USA - The Terre Haute Casino Resort in Indiana just celebrated its grand opening with integrated 1 Sound loudspeakers. NV5, consulting and engineering firm, and American Sound and Electronics worked together to design and install various AV aspects in the resort. The 56,000sq.ft gaming floor has 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games, poker rooms, and a TwinSpires Sportsbook area.

For the central bar on the gaming floor, American Sound installed a 360º, dual-sided, LED video wall above the bar. Both teams together implemented 1 Sound loudspeakers for this bar where they would expect live music, live sporting event audio, and background music.

For this central bar, two of 1 Sound’s Contour CT28s were deployed in the ceiling paired with SUB310s. These three-way, constant directivity, horn-loaded, point sources provided the SPL and energy needed for the

Details

02 July 2024

Airport Music - Heathrow Airport has launched a live music stage. Based in Terminal 5, the first show featured performances from acoustic rock band China Bears, folk singer-songwriter The Halfway Kid and R'n'B artist Olivia Nelson.

Heathrow said those performing on the stage have "access to an audience bigger than Glastonbury", as it expects 30m passengers to travel through its terminals this summer. "The Heathrow Introducing stage isn't just about providing entertainment, it's about propelling careers to new heights," said Karoline Komolafe, of music events company Sofar Sounds, which has partnered with Heathrow. "It's a game-changer for those aiming to break into the industry, especially with festival season at its peak, offering exposure to execs travelling through.

Heathrow director of services Tonia Fielding said: "We're proud that we're providi

Details

01 July 2024

Germany - Just before the start of UEFA Euro 2024, Frankfurt, one of the 10 host cities, set the stage for four weeks of international football fever with a spectacular multimedia show. The show, a collaboration between bright! studios and spatial experiences agency Atelier Markgraph on behalf of Tourismus + Congress Frankfurt, transformed one of the city’s notable bridges over the Main River (Flößerbrücke) into a gigantic musical instrument. 

The bridge, covered in the colours of the 24 participating nations for the duration of the European Championship, became the centrepiece of the football world for the 25-minute show. Lighting designer Thomas Giegerich from bright! used 96 Proteus Excalibur, 48 Proteus Maximus and 48 of Elation’s new Pulse Bar L linear lighting solutions to visually bring the concept to life. Kaiser Showtechnik was responsible f

Details

01 July 2024

USA - After a successful unveiling at InfoComm 2024, LEA Professional is introducing advanced DSP versions of its Connect Series amplifiers. These amplifiers join the company's extensive technology catalogue.

The new advanced DSP versions of the Connect Series include 350-, 700-, and 1500-watt models with D-units providing Dante and AES67 connectivity. Available in two channel (CS352-ADSP, CS702-ADSP, CS352D-ADSP, CS702D-ADSP) and four channel (CS354-ADSP, CS704-ADSP, CS1504-ADSP, CS354D-ADSP, CS704D-ADSP, CS1504D-ADSP) offerings, each features 96kHz linear phase FIR crossover filters with 2048 taps per channel, four seconds of input delay, under 10-second power-on to audio when PoE is used, and FIR-based speaker tunings.

The new advanced DSP versions enhance LEA Professional’s Network Connect Series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante C

Details

01 July 2024

Denmark - Powersoft’s Unica amplifier platform is the backbone to recently refurbished screening rooms in Nordisk Film Cinemas’ Danish cinema Kinopalæet.

Nordisk Film Cinemas, a prominent cinema chain in the Scandinavia, recently refurbished two screening rooms in its Kinopalæet cinema, north of Copenhagen.

Kinopalæet turned to Powersoft Unica amplifiers in order to achieve a stable audio experience to its cinemagoers. Spearheading the rooms’ refurbishment was Jan Rasmussen, head of screen technology at Nordisk Film Cinemas: “The main factors in choosing audio equipment for cinema are quality, features and stability,” he says. “We prefer using networked sound in our cinemas because of the flexibility and cost efficiency and Powersoft fits perfect in all these categories.”

The refurbishment was done in two rooms, Screen 8 with

Details

01 July 2024

Australia - Adriano Candeloro is a founding director and technology guru at Sightline Productions – a busy and successful NSW-based AV and rental company that covers a range of corporate and B2B clients across Australia, New Zealand and much further afield with a variety of international work.

Joe Murray is also a founding director, and they and the team are all big fans of Astera, having first started hearing about the brand a few years back when the neon lighting look was very popular in Australia.

The first Astera products to arrive at Sightline were AX1 PixelTubes that joined the inventory in 2019, a figure that’s now jumped to over 50 fixtures.

In addition to these, they also have AX2 LED battens, AX3 LiteDrops, AX5 TriplePARs, AX9 PowerPARs, as well as the 2 metre Hyperion Tubes and the half metre Helios Tubes, totalling over 200 As

Details

01 July 2024

Germany - Neumann & Müller (N&M) is establishing a new logistics site at a freight transport centre in Augsburg. The company intends to use the location as a base for moving equipment to and from trade fair locations in the south and southwest of Germany as well as for serving recurring event productions in the region. The company is aiming to ‘boost its performance capability in its enterprise-wide logistics operations so that it can better meet the constantly growing demands placed on the various N&M business units’.

Setting up the new site in Augsburg will increase the number of logistics sites to three: up to now, Bochum and Leipzig have served as the main handling locations for a large part of the equipment. Measuring around 10,000 m², this new site can handle a similar capacity to the other two locations and will have two positive eff

Details

01 July 2024

USA - This year’s Bonnaroo festival was hot. During the three-day event, temperatures were consistently in the 90s (+30°C), sometimes reaching 100°F, with plenty of humidity and one thunderstorm thrown in.

These conditions made the covered This and That Tents welcome places to cool off. These shaded venues offered much more than more than thermal relief; they also served up “some of the best sets of the weekend”.

Anyone who caught Dashboard Confessional’s Superjam emo performance with a bevy of special guest stars on the This Tent Stage would readily agree with that assessment. So too would those captivated by Thundercat’s thunderous bass on the That Tent Stage. Throw in performances by GWAR, Eggy, Taking Back Sunday, Interpol, IDLES, and more, and there was plenty to get swept up by in the shade of the tents.

Adding to the energy

Details

01 July 2024

USA - Cloud Microphones has announced a new partnership with Eric Hollaway, celebrated bass vocalist, voice-over (VO) artist and social media sensation known as ‘thatbassvoice’.

Hollaway has captivated millions with his deep, resonant voice and versatile performances for household brands like ESPN, Mercedes-Benz, General Mills, the US Army and many more.

“Partnering with Cloud Microphones feels like a natural step forward in my musical journey," said Hollaway. "The clarity and warmth that the Cloud 44-A Ribbon mic brings to my vocals have impressed me, and the Cloudlifter has been an indispensable tool in my recording setup. I'm truly excited about what this partnership signifies for the future of my music and the quality I can bring to my fans."  

"Eric is a phenomenal talent and we're honoured to have him join the Cloud family," sta

Details

28 June 2024

UK - Focusrite has announced the acquisition of UK-based Innovate Audio, the company behind the panLab spatial audio solutions. This follows the earlier acquisition of TiMax and builds on Focusrite Group’s commitment to immersive sound.

With the acquisition, it has been agreed that panLab solutions will join the TiMax brand, meaning TiMax can now offer a comprehensive range of immersive sound solutions, from entry-level panning software through to full delay-matrix spatial processors and performer stagetracking. Innovate Audio founder, Dan Higgott, will also join TiMax as a senior product developer.

Both panLab 3 and panLab Console have proved popular with sound designers the world over with over 10,000 downloads achieved and the solutions being used in venues from Sydney Opera House to the National Theatre. With panLab 3 users enjoy a spatial audi

Details

28 June 2024

UK - BPM Show, originally re-scheduled for 9-10 November 2024, is now postponed to a date to be confirmed in 2025.

This decision, taken in collaboration with PLASA, Headliner, SEDA, Mastermix, AVSL, Chauvet DJ, NADJ, Paladin Innovations and Promo Only, reflects our commitment to providing an unmatched experience for our attendees.

The team at PLASA – alongside our esteemed partners – have decided to take this extra time to completely revamp the BPM Show, including a brand-new venue. This is so that we can deliver a world-class event that sets new standards in the UK for the DJ and electronic music community.

BPM Show 2025 will focus on several key areas:

Music: Featuring some of the biggest names in the electronic music industry.

Technology: Creating a hands-on tech playground with cutting-edge DJ equipme

Details

28 June 2024

UK - The Isle of Wight Festival 2024 is setting a benchmark in sustainability by integrating hydrogen-powered generators into its power infrastructure. GeoPura's hydrogen powered generators (HPUs) replaced traditional diesel fuel to power crew and artist catering and part of the guest village; supplying zero-emission electricity from hydrogen for the first time at the festival.

This initiative is part of the festival's commitment to becoming the most sustainable in the UK. By introducing hydrogen power, the festival is making a significant leap towards reducing its carbon footprint and setting an example for other events.

Caroline Giddings, director at The Isle of Wight Festival, said: "By introducing hydrogen-powered generators, we are taking a proactive step towards our goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. This initiative is jus

Details

28 June 2024

Bahrain - ShowTech Productions, based in Riffa, has recently added to its extensive Robe moving light stock with the purchase of 12 x iFORTE LTX luminaires. These were delivered by Robe Middle East in Dubai.

The company is a leading event production and technical services provider working across multiple sectors including concert touring, live events, and corporates. They also have a base in Saudi Arabia, and work across the GCC region.

These join several hundred Robe products including Spiiders, MegaPointes and BMFLs already owned by ShowTech, following steady investments in recent years. “Robe products have consistently been on all the international riders we have seen in the last 10 years” commented owner and CEO Lawrence Rodricks, adding that this plus the brand’s reputation for quality and well-made products has driven the purchases.

Details

28 June 2024

“DirectOut's approach to audio distribution and processing has caught the attention of many professionals in recent years and further strengthened their reputation,” says Simon Rains, chief engineer & education director of Sonos Libra. “It was therefore a great solution to add to our catalogue. The highly flexible clocking and redundancy options of the Prodigy series are obviously highly desirable and add tremendous value to projects and applications where downtime is not an option.”

The partnership with Sonos Libra will enable DirectOut to bring its solutions to an even wider customer base in the region. With offices in Bangkok, Ho Chi M

Details

28 June 2024

USA - Ben Gilbert was called upon to light the 31 city North American leg of LANY’s Beautiful Blur tour in support of their fifth album. Not endowed with a great deal of time to do their thing, Gilbert and his team came up with a design that used a curved truss configuration to engage audience by changing the depth and shape perceptions of the stage and its runway.

“The biggest challenge on this for us was time,” said Gilbert.  “We managed to pull this whole show together in under a month and programmed it all in about 10 days. Coming up with the design and getting it to work with the music of the show in such a short space of time was challenging, but working with a great team we got it done.”

Providing assistance to Gilbert in this task was Bandit Lites, which suggested the idea of using pre-rig gates for the curve design. Bandit also su

Details

27 June 2024

China - The architecturally stunning Xiao Theatre inside Beijing’s Huilongguan Cultural and Art Centre Theatre has installed a Green-GO ethernet-based digital communications system to aid clear, seamless interactions between the technical team.

The theatre, which is named for renowned Chinese director Rao Xiaozhi, has become a go-to venue for immersive sound technology, attracting a range of dance and theatrical companies. China Green-GO dealer and AV expert EZPro specified a complete AV solution for the theatre, helping it to gain a reputation as a pioneer in audio system design that brings audiences a more involved experience.

To ensure clear communication and efficient workflow, EZPro introduced the Xiao Theatre’s technical team to the Green-GO system. During the planning process Wei HE, Green-GO product manager at EZPro, demonstrated its wire

Details

27 June 2024

Singapore - Changi Airport in Singapore recently unveiled its latest attraction: Terminal 2 which now boasts an immersive experience across two installations aimed at recreating the wonders of Singapore’s natural environment.

The two multimedia installations, named Digital Sky and Wonderfall were created by multimedia studio Moment Factory, in close collaboration with the design studio Boiffils Architectures, and implemented by systems integrators Electronics & Engineering (Wonderfall) and Electro-Acoustics Systems (Digital Sky).

Moment Factory also designed the soundscape of both installations and a K-array system was chosen to provide sound reinforcement for this ambitious installation.   “For our third collaboration with Changi Airport Group, the trust already established with the client allowed us to push the envelope, both creatively a