Austria - The Wiener Konzerthaus, one of Austria's most famous and prominent concert halls, recently installed two Soundcraft Vi digital consoles as part of an equipment upgrade. The consoles were sold through Kain Audio Teknik, Soundcraft's Austrian distributor.

The Konzerthaus dates back to the beginning of the 20th Century and is one of the largest and most artistically progressive institutions in international music. During the course of a season, which extends from September to June, approximately 750 wide-ranging events take place and more than 600,000 visitors can listen to around 2,500 different compositions. With this comprehensive and varied selection, the Wiener Konzerthaus-together with the Vienna State Opera House and the Musikverein-is central to Vienna's reputation as one of the world's leading music capitals.

The Vi6 is used as the FOH console in the Grand Conc

UK - Sound designer Colin Pink has specified DPA miniature microphones for a new UK tour of Chess, the opus of Tim Rice, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. The UK tour opened at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle in late August featuring a cast of West End stars, and continues into 2011.

Pink explains that there were some unusual considerations to take into account when specifying the mics for the tour. "This is an actor/musician production, which means there are 30 performers on stage who sing, play and dance, often all at the same time. With this in mind, I needed mics that would work equally well on voice and instruments. The DPA 4061 miniature omnidirectional mic seemed to be the perfect choice for the job, as it is equally at home with vocals and instruments and is very open sounding, with a good dynamic range."

Pink experimented a little with mic placement, st

Austria - AKG donated nearly 100 wireless microphone systems and handheld microphones in support of the 2010 Life Ball, held in Vienna. The event, which is one of the largest charity events in the world, is held annually, with the proceeds from ticket sales and donations going to various non-profit organizations for people suffering from HIV or AIDS.

AKG has provided the equipment supporting the Life Ball's various concerts, speeches discussions and banquets for 10 consecutive years. This year's microphone donation included numerous frequency-agile DMS 700's, WMS 4500's,IVM 4 in-ear monitoring systems and premium handheld microphones including D7's, D5's, C414's and D40's. AKG equipment was used in every presentation and on every stage throughout the entire night, providing clear and uninterrupted audio for some of the most popular celebrities and superstars in th

Norway - With its origins dating back to the 1850s, Den Nationale Scene (DNS, or The National Theatre) is Norway's oldest permanent theatre. It has recently installed a DiGiCo SD7 mixing console.

Located in Bergen, DNS puts on around 20 productions each year across its three stages, which include international and national classics, musicals, contemporary drama and family shows. One of three national theatres in Norway, it has a reputation for high quality productions and also bringing on new talent.

The venue's biggest space is the 450-capacity Store Scene (Main Stage), where the SD7 was recently installed by Oslo-based Bright A/S. Front of House sound is mixed to a Meyer system, while an Aviom card in the SD7 feeds to the monitor system.

"When we were looking to install a new console, we looked at six and then narrowed it down to the two strongest candidates," sa

USA - BSR E1.40 - 201x, Recommendations For the Planning of Theatrical Dust Effects, is available for public review at www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php through 22 November 2010.

The draft dust effect standard is written as a recommendation, a document that gives a mixture of guidance "should" statements and mandatory "shall" statements. A great variety of materials might be suitable for dust effects, either as dust lying on props and scenery or as aerosol clouds, so it does not specify exactly what dust must be. However, the standard will help people to avoid inappropriate materials, to select those that are least likely to cause health or safety problems, and to use them with care.

(Jim Evans)

Mauritius - Rental company Damoo Sound and Music has supplied an L-Acoustics Kudo line source system for Zee Nite in Mauritius. The live show, being filmed for Zee TV, featured more than three hours of live music and dance from top Indian artists, with a tropical stage set to illustrate the sun, sand and sea of Mauritius.

The Kudo system provided sound for an audience of 3,500 people at The Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre. The left/right arrays of six cabinets per side provided more than adequate sound coverage for the room, impressing Zee TV directors who had travelled from India for the event. Familiar with L-Acoustics from their previous use of V-Dosc systems, they were particularly impressed with the high SPL provided by the small and compact Kudo boxes.

"We were getting good SPLs right at the back benches, and the same clear and punchy sound

UK - FX rentals has purchased 10 of Turbosound's new Milan M15 self-powered loudspeakers through recently appointed distributor SCV London.

London-based FX Rentals has a wide range of clients whose requirements range from large Pas to musical instruments, effects processors, DJ equipment and recording systems. Versatile loudspeakers are always in great demand, servicing multiple events including corporate presentations, club gigs, parties and artist showcases.

The full-range Milan M15 is designed for these types of events, being digitally self-powered, portable and capable of delivering 450 watts of clear audio from its 15" LF driver and 1" HF compression driver.

"We were very impressed listening to the M15," says FX group chairman Roger Evan. "We have seen the hire demand for PA steadily grow over the last five years and it is now an important area

Belarus - Built in 2001, the Palace of Republic in Minsk is the main concert hall of the Republic of Belarus. The building consists of the Big Hall (2,500 seats) and the Small Hall (500 seats), and many of the most prestigious performances in the country are staged here.

During the recent complex renovation of the Big Hall, a grandMA2 system consisting of two grandMA2 full-sizes, one grandMA2 light, one grandMA2 ultra-light, two MA NPUs (Network Processing Units), nine MA 2Port Nodes as well as a Digital Dimming dimMA compact system, was installed.

Sergey Kabyka lighting designer and programmer reports, "We chose the grandMA2 because we wanted to have a high redundancy, high technology lighting control system which is future proof for the upcoming years. Furthermore it was important for us that the console can handle a theatre environment the same way as it can handle a c

Russia / Denmark - Martin Professional has opened a representative office in Moscow. The new organisation will promote the Martin brand and handle non-commercial activities in Russia and the CIS.

Martin lighting solutions have been available on the Russian market for more than 20 years, most of that time through exclusive distributor, A&T Trade. Thanks to the strong efforts of Martin's Russian partner, the Martin brand has taken up a leading position in the Russian rental market and is a significant player in the installation market. Today's challenging economy and Martin's global strategy, however, demands a higher level of development and progress, the company says.

"We are grateful to A&T Trade for their contribution to our mutual success," stated Bruno Garros, VP of distributor sales for Martin Professional A/S. "In the future we will see A&T among our relia

USA / Germany - Solaris - a US-based resource for buying and selling used entertainment production equipment worldwide - will open a new European location in Germany in mid-November. Heading the operation will be industry veteran, Jerad Garza.

"With the overwhelming number of new global clients we are servicing, it was the next logical step to expand our services to our friends in Europe. We look forward to offering you a fresh new perspective in buying second hand and used pro concert equipment," states CEO, Oshine Najarian.

He added: "Jerad Garza is a seasoned veteran in the industry and at 35, has basically worked in the entertainment lighting and sound industries his whole life. Experience aside, Jerad brings enthusiasm, expertise, courtesy, and integrity to the table, and is dedicated to providing a level of service that is second to none for the European m

USA - Bucknell University's Weis Centre for the Performing Arts serves the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania university as its primary concert hall and performance space for theatre and dance. In addition to student performances, the centre hosts more than a dozen professional events each year, and the annual convocation and other ceremonial events take place there as well. Lectures, community events, and recitals for music students round out the hall's daily schedule.

When the Weis Centre was constructed in 1988, its automated rigging control system was top of the line: 15 line shafts and a Shamrock controller designed and manufactured by J. R. Clancy. The system remained in top working order until 1995, says technical designer Dale Hourlland. "The Shamrock was damaged by a power anomaly, which also took out the computer that ran the lifts in our orchestra pit, and our lighting syst

UK - A.C. Special Projects has provided lighting and audio equipment to Brittany Ferries as part of an upgrade of the live entertainment facilities on board their Bretagne and Cap Finistère cruise ferries.

Brittany Ferries are a leading provider of Western Channel ferry routes to Spain and France from the UK and Republic of Ireland. Depending on route and time of year, the ships feature entertainment programmes, including resident music duos, cabaret singers, close-up magic and headlining illusion sets, through to cocktail pianists, tribute acts and DJ sets - even a full pantomime production in the school holidays on one longer route.

An established supplier to the cruise ships market, A.C. Special Projects was approached by Brittany Ferries to provide a high quality upgrade solution for the Bretagne's Main Bar lighting and audio systems. The installation includes Martin MAC

USA - The ESTA Foundation will host the Behind the Scenes Boutique at LDI 2010. The State of Nevada has denied the charity's request to hold a raffle, traditionally one of its largest annual fundraisers. To make up for this loss of income, Behind the Scenes is asking LDI attendees to bring your raffle dollars to the boutique in booth #744 and show your support for your colleagues in need by picking up some special Behind the Scenes swag for yourself or as gifts for family and friends.

Many exciting items will be available for purchase, including the 2010 Holiday Cards, sold in packs of 10 and featuring artwork by some of the industry's top designers - David Gallo, Christine Jones, Jeremy Railton, and Andrew Hefter.

In addition, a new line of general purpose note cards will be offered featuring artwork by Hefter and Jones that are perfect as opening night cards or throughout th

UK - White Light, now the UK's sole supplier of the PIGI large-format projection system, recently supplied four PIGI 6K projectors with double-rotating scrollers to the 60th Anniversary presentation of the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo.

The Tattoo's projections were designed, as they have been for the last five years, by Ross Ashton and his new projection practice, The Projection Studio. Once again, Ashton conceived a show that utilised the full 90m width of the walls of Edinburgh Castle as a projection surface for images to complement the action taking place on the Esplanade below. The walls are covered by three of the projectors, with the fourth used to provide drop-in images around the castle gates, highlighting performers' entrances.

Working with the show's producer, Major General Euan Loudon, Ashton developed all of the imagery for the show, striving to create material

UK - Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been up on stage with the UK's first full Electro-Voice EVA line array SR system in the newly-opened Club Neo in the Somerset town of Yeovil. The 1,000-capacity venue, a former bingo hall and cinema, has been re-modelled as a modern nightclub but still presented a considerable acoustic challenge, solved by the design properties of the EVA (Expandable Vertical Array) Series.

Interior features of the old theatre, such as neo-Egyptian mouldings dating back to the 1930s, have been retained and incorporated into a new design that can accommodate dining, dancing, live performances and even conferences. Bars and dancefloors have been added, and the balcony turned into a VIP bar and restaurant. Stage facilities have been set up for live acts as well as DJs, and the spec includes an aesthetically pleasing installation of EV EVA line array modules, with X-Subs

Germany - The reunited Limp Bizkit played a range of festivals, in anticipation of their yet-to-be-released studio album, Gold Cobra, and will hit the road again to play shows in North America, Europe and South America following its release. The band relies on Sennheiser microphones to cut through tremendous stage volume and still deliver the staccato punches they are known for with clarity and impact.

"These guys are all on wedges and side-fills. It's old school with everything set to 'stun'," said George Squiers, monitor engineer. "It is no-joke loud up there." Controversial frontman Fred Durst sings and raps into a Sennheiser SKM 2000 wireless transmitter with an MMD 935-1 cardioid capsule. The 935 successfully cuts through Limp Bizkit's often thick sound to put Durst out in front.

"As a monitor engineer, I have three requirements of a vocal

USA / Europe - Jackson Brown and David Lindley are back touring the USA after their success on the acoustic stage at Glastonbury this summer.

Sound engineer is Paul Dieter who comments: "I started mixing live in the 80s, then spent maybe 15 years in the studio. I was just so frustrated with the live sound systems available then. When line arrays came along I was eventually tempted back to live and I'm having much more fun."

Dieter's PA for Browne comes from Schubert Systems in California, a d&b audiotechnik J-Series. "It's a subtle consideration," says Dieter, "Jackson's song-writing is rock and roll for the discerning ear. I try to be manufacturer and sound company agnostic, I don't want politics getting in the way of making the best choice for my client. The combination of J8, J12 and J-SUB loudspeakers must be absolutely correctly balanced; I expect

UAE - In Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the Family Foundation has chosen Proel's Axiom array and professional Lighting systems. The Family Foundation was founded in 2006 and is a public non-profit organization with an independent legal, financial and administrative profile.

Its objective is to "stimulate the development of the family, to prepare it for the challenges the future will bring". Among its activities, the Foundation periodically organises lectures and debates on themes concerning the institution of the family, such as the development of women's rights or health programmes.

One of Proel's distributors for the United Arab Emirates, Orient Electronic, which was asked to provide the technical outfit for the Foundation Theatre, was oriented toward professional systems that could ensure high quality performance and a design that could match the style of

USA - Barco reports that eight of its Galaxy NW-12 projectors are being used to create a 360-degree, 3D stereoscopic theatre to present the new Lights of Liberty show, a permanent exhibit which opened 29 September 29, 2010 at the Historic Philadelphia Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designed to teach and inspire visitors from around the world, the 15-minute show portrays the evolution of democracy in the United States through storytelling and theatrical illusion.

The Lights of Liberty show is sponsored by Historical Philadelphia Inc., with the support of Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell. Wayne Spilove, chairman of the Board of Historic Philadelphia, commented, "Everybody, including Governor Rendell, has been enthralled by the story and awed by the creative experience. I especially enjoyed working on this adventure with the Niles Creative Group and

UK - Launched at PLASA2009 and the winner drawn at PLASA2010, DiGiCo's 500th SD8 console competition in aid of the families of John Roden and Jim Douglas, attracted entries from across the globe. The lucky winner is from DiGiCo's home turf - Matthew Cotton, from Southampton, collected his one-of-a-kind, liveried SD8 from the DiGiCo offices on 22 September and he could not be more delighted with his windfall.

"I didn't believe it when David Webster [DiGiCo's marketing director] called to say that I'd won," says Cotton. "It was only when a friend from Entec, who was with Noreen Roden at the show when she made the draw, rang me that I knew it was true."

Monitor engineer Cotton is a fitting recipient for the console as both John Roden and Jim Douglas graced the monitor position of many a high profile tour.

"We're really pleased the console is going to a

France - Alternative NY hip hop/funksters, the Fun Lovin' Criminals, are currently on tour in Europe for the first time in three years with their new album, Classic Fantastic. Paul Nicholson of Red Square Audio was asked to specify the PA for two of their UK dates - the Arena in St Albans and City Hall, Salisbury. Nicholson opted for a full APG Uniline compact line array system complete with SMX15 stage monitors along with an Eclipse digital mixing console from Innovason.

"Both APG and Innovason make high end systems that, in my role as a consultant, I have no hesitation in recommending," said Nicholson. "It's not just because RSA distributes these brands that I recommend them either. I'm a very proactive engineer who uses different systems all the time, but I genuinely believe that they are the best on the market at the moment.

"It just so happens t

UK - Following the launch of Flare Audio at PLASA 2010, the company has announced the appointment of its first UK dealer. Mustt Audio based in Sheffield UK purchased a full Stealth Array X4 system with CF182 bass enclosures and Lab Gruppen PLM series amplification to add to their hire stock, the company has taken on official full dealership status.

Flare's Davies Roberts said: 'We are very pleased to have appointed our first UK dealer, Waq (owner of Mustt Audio) totally understands where we are going and we are honoured to have appointed him as our first UK dealer. At the show we received some great comments about our products and demo room from some of the most respected people in the industry; this was extremely encouraging for a brand new company. Following the PLASA show, we are in discussions with a number of large venues including one major installation."

"We a

UK - GDS received another notable accolade at this year's PLASA show. The GDS BluesSystem LED performance working light system was nominated for the Theatres Trust Peoples Choice Award alongside prominent manufacturers including, ETC, Philips Vari' Light, Whitelight, I-Pix, JB Lighting, Robert Juliat and Prism Projection Inc. The award was presented to GDS by the Theatres Trust at its new Ecovenue feature on Tuesday 14 September.

The Theatres Trust's Ecovenue feature was designed to highlight the pioneering environmental efficiency practices being implemented across London venues and featured technologies designed to improve the environmental footprint of theatres. The People's Choice Award was voted for by industry professionals visiting the show and was presented to GDS, for the product that demonstrated the most significant improvement in sustainable theatre technology.

Tim

UK - The people of Sunderland gathered earlier this month for the unveiling of the city's revamped rail station. The £7m renovation has seen new waiting areas, lighting, ceilings, floors and wall panelling installed, but the most impressive additions are the three art installations, one of which is a dazzling new light installation designed by Jason Bruges Studio and supplied by Architainment Lighting UK.

In creating the light wall installation on platform five, Jason Bruges called on Architainment for a custom solution. Architainment supplied 717 Philips Color Kinetics eW Flex SLX fittings with 15 node strings. This warm white string LED solution is a versatile strand of 50 individually controllable white light LED nodes. The durable, flexible form allows for dynamic points of white light to be installed across nearly any interior or exterior surface, including walls, cei

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