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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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27 June 2024

USA - When the University of Michigan set out to enhance the audiovisual experience for spectators at Michigan Stadium, one of college football’s best-known venues, university officials pledged to take the game-day atmosphere to ‘unprecedented heights’. To deliver on that promise, the university chose the technology of the Anya 3-way Full-range ADAPTive Array Module and Otto ADAPTive Subwoofer from EAW.

Led by Paul Haley, lead audio/visual engineer at University of Michigan Athletics, the multi-million-dollar project included the new EAW audio system, two new video boards (the main North videoboard and a South videoboard), as well as lighting and production studio upgrades.

“The decision to integrate EAW speakers into the renovation project came after meticulous consideration and consultation with industry experts,” says Haley. “We wanted

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27 June 2024

Europe - The Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua represents a significant upgrade from the latest HY B-Eye K15 in Claypaky's Shield Family of weather-resistant lighting solutions. These IP66-certified fixtures are designed to be high-performance, ultra-durable, and long-lasting. Also, they are dustproof, ensuring reduced maintenance costs and hassle-free operation.

The Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua original optical unit improves uniformity and light output efficiency. The rotating front lens and the individual LED control unleash a mesmerizing world of kaleidoscopic projections and captivating eye-candy effects, making it an all-in-one lighting solution: a powerful LED wash, a flawless beam, and a jaw-dropping visual effects projector – all in a single fixture.

The patent pending Advanced Layer Management system is an innovation that seamlessly blends three di

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27 June 2024

Poland - Organised and sponsored by LTT, a leading Polish entertainment gear distributor since 1992, LTT Free Light Workshops offer a variety of learning experiences and product demonstrations. The events have been staged across 14 cities, with 500 visitors participating.

The latest edition of the workshop series, which is now in its 12th year, featured over 60 different Chauvet Professional products. Among the most attention drawing was the Maverick Storm 3 BeamWash, a versatile, full-featured, colour-mixing moving fixture that has a 16-lens outer zone and 12-lens inner zone. The two zoom zones, stunning output, and in-built macros made the fixture a hit with visitors.

Also popular was the COLORado PXL Curve 12, a fully pixel mappable motorized batten that offers individual control of 12 independent heads, and the Maverick Storm 1 Hybrid, a 420W, 77

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27 June 2024

South Korea - Nothing But Thieves were very happy with their touring set-up, but a ‘fly-in’ gig in South Korea changed everything. The in-house desk was a DiGiCo Quantum 338 and Gary Curtis, front of house engineer, knew as soon as he heard it that there was no going back, and once the band had heard his multi-track recordings, they agreed.

The Quantum 338 is now their desk of choice at both the front of house and monitor positions. “We had been using another system for about seven years,” Curtis explains. “But when we heard the Quantum, we all knew it was really good. I was able to do a recording of the sound check, so we could A-B it. The other console was great, but the DiGiCo is completely different.”

David Ruffle, monitor engineer, was unable to attend the dates in South Korea and the last thing he expected was to come back to a comp

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26 June 2024

Indonesia - Void Acoustics has appointed PT Electro Audio Engineering as its new, exclusive distribution partner for Indonesia.

Founded in 2009, PT Electro delivers professional audio solutions for premium hospitality clientele in Indonesia. It provides its customers with a holistic service that includes sound system design and consultancy, product demonstrations, design & build services, and extensive after-sales support.

Wilson Buana, president director of PT Electro Audio Engineering, states, "Partnering with Void Acoustics allows us to introduce premium audio solutions filled with top-notch innovation and extraordinary design aesthetics to Indonesian consumers. This partnership propels us to new heights in the Indonesian market, enabling us to compete aggressively with industry competitors."

This partnership marks the next stage of Vo

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26 June 2024

Slovakia - For almost half a century, Jean Michel Jarre has pushed the boundaries of studio production and live performance.

Jarre’s most recent appearance saw him take to the stage in the Slovakian capital Bratislava to perform his Bridge From the Future show in front of 100,000. The gig opened STARMUS, a science and music festival founded by Queen guitarist Brian May and astrophysicist Dr Garik Israelian, with the aim of uniting science, art, and music to explore critical questions about the future of the planet.

For what would be an audio tour-de-force involving additional contributions from Brian May, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and a 19-strong chorus form the Slovak Philharmonic Choir, delivered from the largest stage ever constructed in Slovakia, Jean Michel Jarre specified a Coda Audio system to meet the challenge.

Exp

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26 June 2024

UK - The Olivier Awards 2024 took place on Sunday 14 April 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall, from where it was broadcast by ITV1, and streamed internationally on YouTube and by BritBox. It was presented by Emmy winner and multi-Olivier nominee Hannah Waddingham who opened the show, accompanied by the London Community Gospel Choir, with a performance of Anything Goes.

The three-hour long Awards show was interspersed with performances from the casts of West End musical theatre including Hadestown, Sunset Boulevard, Operation Mincemeat, and Guys and Dolls.

Lighting designer Ben Cracknell, lighting the Olivier Awards for his 11th year, chose 78 Ayrton Perseo Profile fixtures, provided by White Light, as his work horse fixtures. He wanted to modernise and unify under one fixture type his previously mixed rig, so h

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26 June 2024

France - Poised at the gateway to the Champagne vineyards, Châlons-en-Champagne is steeped in heritage and culture, blending history with innovation. Its cathedrals and gothic architecture house a vibrant creative community. Le Capitole en Champagne's multi-purpose venue showcases creativity, serving the community with events ranging from one-person shows to live music and musicals in a versatile space. Opened in 2012 and managed by S-Pass TSE group, the modular space can hold 3,600 in a mix of seated and standing audiences.

In 2023, faced with an expanding lineup of events, Le Capitole en Champagne updated the existing audio system, aiming for top-tier sound quality and versatility to meet diverse demands. Julien Dejonckeere, technical director at S-Pass TSE, which manages the venue, specified an L-Acoustics professional audio system and contacted local ce

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26 June 2024

UK - Currently running at the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End, Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! is an award-winning musical comedy which follows Kathy & Stella – hosts of Hull’s least successful true crime podcast. However, when their favourite author is killed, the pair find themselves thrust into a thrilling whodunnit of their own.

The show features a lighting design by Peter Small who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply his rig, having previously done so for the show’s Bristol and Manchester run. For the London production, an addition to the rig included the Macula remote follow-spot System – distributed in the UK by Sound Technology - making the show the first in West End history to use this technology.

Kathy & Stella arrived in London following its previous sell-out r