Sweden - Ranking among the coolest venues in the world, Dalhalla is located in a 60m deep former limestone quarry, seven kilometres north of beautiful Lake Siljan and the town of Rättvik in central Sweden.

The 4000 capacity open air theatre was opened in 1995 and presents a summer season of around 30 performances - from operatic and choral works to full on rock 'n' roll.

This year's festival production lighting design by Anders 'Hebbe' Herbertzon from High Voltage Designs includes Robe MMXs and LEDWash 600s which were recently purchased by locally based lighting rental company Park Brothers, and delivered by Robe's Swedish distributor, Bellalite.

Hebbe has lit the Dalhalla Summer Season for Park Brothers for the last three years - also using Robes - including ColorWash 1200E ATs and ColorSpot 2500 and 700E ATs.

The Dalhalla design is based on two 17.6m long trusses hung u

World - Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball world tour is the third concert tour supporting her second studio album, Born This Way. The show clocks in at two and a half hours with 23 songs split into five acts. The stage is modelled on a medieval Gothic castle featuring viewing towers, intricate carvings and a large catwalk allowing audience interaction.

The lighting design is by Patrick Woodroffe with Mac Mosier out on tour as lighting director. The rig is a self-contained Upstaging production that includes about 270 moving lights and multiple LED fixtures - all controlled by a grandMA2 full-size. "There's quite an assortment of fixtures in the rig, many of them dictated by the amount of space we have," explains Mac Mosier.

Using the grandMA2 on this tour has been quite a learning curve for Mosier who particularly likes the way the console is laid out. &quo

South Africa - Proaudio, a leading supplier of professional audio and DJ products has been nominated as the new distributor for RCF in South Africa.

"We are immensely proud that RCF chose Proaudio todistribute its product in South Africa" says Proaudio CEO Joss Pack."RCF has pioneered many of the innovations now recognised and used in professional audio products, and the distribution network with Proaudio will continue to offer customers complete support and technical back up in South Africa.

We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship both with RCF and its loyal dealer base in South Africa."

Notable products for the South African market include the NXSeries, D-Line, TT Touring and Theatre as well as their Art Series - a multi-purpose active speaker range.

(Jim Evans)

Precis of Subject:

This session will discuss which methodologies are best suited to ensure that the mixes we hear before giving the "thumbs up" are appropriate to the various media, including radio, CDs, compressed music file web-outlets (i.e. iTunes and BandCamp). We promise that you will leave this one hour presentation with some fine food for thought, and the urge to get back to your rigs and to experiment!

Speaker(s):

Elliott Randall (Steely Dan; producer & musician), Wes Maebe (recording/mastering engineer), Andy Munro (acoustician, studio monitor design), and Dave Harries (studio designer - for Sir George Martin's Air Studios and Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios)

presented by: APRS
Sunday 9 September, 12.30pm - 1.30pm

To book this session and check out other session in the programme,

If you want to grab a piece of Olympic memorabilia, make your way to the PLASA Bar from 6pm on Monday 10 September. Robe, who are having their own tenth birthday party this year are continuing to celebrate the popular 'Working With Winners' theme by hosting the auction of an Olympic torch during the PLASA Awards for Innovation. All the proceeds will be donated to Light Relief, the charity established to support, either practically or financially, those in the entertainment lighting industry who experience extreme hardship through no fault of their own - don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!

The torch, 800mm high with a stylish conical design and featuring an attractive shiny gold finish, will be on display on the Robe Stand Hall 1 F47 on Sunday and Monday of the exhibition for all to admire.

A professional auctioneer will be on hand to conduct the proceedings and help find

UK - Black Light has been part of the team that has been working on the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. This building, named in tribute to the athlete, is one of the most significant new sports venues in the UK.

"The project highlights our ability to work on high-profile projects that demand exceptional levels of performance," says Phil Haldane, Black Light's head of business development. "It also demonstrates our ability to work with consultants to deliver projects to strict cost specifications."

Black Light was commissioned by the building's electrical contractor FES to deliver and install an LED architectural lighting system to illuminate the building's facade. This lighting scheme was designed by Arup, the consultant for the project, and utlises 60 Traxon Technologies Wall Wash LED fittings and eCue control systems. It allows the exterior of the

UK - German manufacturer of loudspeaker systems and electronics for sound reinforcement, AD-Systems, has entered into an agreement with pro audio distributor POLARaudio.

POLARaudio has been appointed to handle the full range of AD-Systems products in the UK and will be responsible for sales, technical support and service for both existing and new customers. AD-Systems is mainly known as manufacturer of loudspeakers, but is expanding its field of amplifier technology, with developments to be announced in the near future.

AD-Systems will launch the new Impulse NT-4 system amplifier at the PLASA show, comprising "groundbreaking DSP, control and matrix opportunities including remote options via iPad, iPhone or laptop".

POLARaudio CEO John Midgley commented, "After meeting the AD-Systems team at their very impressive demonstration and logistics centre on the German

Web News - The long-running legal dispute between the producers of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark and the show's director Julie Taymor has been tentatively settled, it has been announced.

After winding its way through the courts for almost a year, and with a trial date set for early 2013, the case, currently in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, was ordered terminated by Judge Katherine B. Forrest, with each side to pay its own legal costs.

However, any of the litigating parties has the option of reopening the matter with written notice to the court within the next 60 days. Specific terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed.

Spider-Man had been plagued by numerous production problems since it opened, including cost overruns, injuries to performers, a continually extended preview period, and wide

Poland - A recent company restructure by the Polish manufacturer of Preceptor and Compactor (analogue Zener compressor/limiters) has resulted in the emergence of Gem Audio Labs, a new company/brand name that replaces the former Generic Audio.

The Wroclaw-based company first released its pure analogue, two-channel stereo/dual mono Preceptor during 2010. Nominated for several awards by industry publications, Preceptor was joined by a smaller sibling, Compactor, in 2011. All the company's products are assembled and calibrated by hand using the highest quality components, a factor that has led to rapid recognition of their sonic performance and build quality. The units are also equipped with classic user interfaces designed for intuitive and convenient operation. The series currently comprises the 3U Preceptor A and Preceptor T and the 2U Compactor.

In addition to re-branding, the

UK - Community continued the successful track record of its high power R-Series loudspeakers with around 230 systems installed at multiple venues for the London 2012 Olympics, including the Handball Arena, Basketball Arena, Water Polo Centre, Aquatic Centre, Outdoor Water Sports Centre and the Main Olympic Stadium.

The 22 models in the R-Series range provide a comprehensive choice of throw distances and coverage patterns and are used outdoors, from theme parks like Disneyland to the flood warning system of the city of Venice, and indoors at large convention centres and airports.

The five models deployed at the London 2012 Olympic venues were the R2, R1, R.5, R.5COAX and R.25, configured with a variety of dispersion patterns to provide the coverage each location required. The long-throw R2 is a powerful three-way system, comprising dual 12-inch LF drivers, 2-inch M200 midrange

Thailand - Bangkok-based JSS Production Company has become the first L-Acoustics K1/Kudo rental network agent in South East Asia. JSS is one of Thailand's largest live event production companies, founded more than 25 years ago by industry expert Jack Jesada Pattanatabut.

The system purchased by JSS consists of 48 K1 WST line source loudspeakers, 24 K1-SB and 24 SB28 subwoofers, 36 Kudo and 12 Kara cabinets and 18 LA-RAKs. Members of JSS' audio team underwent a training session for the systems in August 2012 with certified trainer, Alvin Koh.

"We are very pleased to have this new system," says JSS director Bob Samithisawad. "Our team is very excited and can't wait to get it out on the road once the training is over. We are confident that this new system will be very much appreciated by our clients, not only in Thailand, but also around South East Asia, since we a

UK - Always up for a party, Artistic Licence will be getting out its glad rags on 9 September 2012, when it sponsors the Knight of Illumination Awards at Battersea Evolution, London.

Initiated in 2008, the Awards recognise the most remarkable achievements in lighting design across a range of UK productions, encompassing the general categories of Television, Rock and Theatre. Emphasis is placed on the individuality of the lighting designer, a 'Knight' demonstrating the shining qualities of integrity and professionalism. Selection of the Awards recipients falls to a panel of experts from the British associations of lighting designers, STLD and ALD.

Artistic Licence owner, Wayne Howell, explains the company's decision to sponsor the event. "As both manufacturer and projects integrator, our involvement with lighting design is unusually broad. From custom-building state-of-the

UK - Three years ago, entertainment lighting specialist White Light supplied lighting equipment to an innovative new production of the timeless classic Peter Pan, staged in a giant tent in London's Kensington Gardens. This summer, White Light has once again returned to the majestic Kensington Gardens, supplying lighting to a new production of another timeless classic - CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

The Threesixty° production, playing until 9 September, takes the audience on the fantastical and complex journey of siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.

Directors Rupert Goold & Michael Fentiman worked with scenic, costume, and puppetry designer Tom Scutt and lighting designer Tim Mitchell to create the magical and encompassing world of Narnia. The production, staged in the round, required versatile and powerful equipment to solve challenges u

Spain - The Congress Palace (Ciudad de Oviedo), which has opened in the heart of Spain's Asturian capital, has already become a new symbol for its spectacular architecture.

Designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, this visually stunning exhibition and convention centre has left its own indelible footprint on the local landscape.

Set on three floors, and elliptical in shape, the 15,530sq.m Congress Palace consists of several different function room and exhibition spaces - but without doubt the most spectacular is the main auditorium. This unusually shaped 2500m2 hall has a seating capacity of 2,144 seats, with a height of 45.16m up to the dome.

With the complex geometry (and high reverberation time) of the room, the choice of sound system was critical - and after an extensive study of electro-acoustic systems the decision was taken to specify an OmniLine® m

UK - This year's Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe has been the most successful yet for Black Light. Over the four-weeks of the summer arts festival (the biggest in the world) the company supplied light, sound, staging, AV and theatre equipment to some of the Fringe's biggest names and venues.

"We've had a great festival. It's been bigger, better and busier than ever," says Black Light's hire and events manager, Calder Sibbald, who explains that, as always, the company's planning for the festival began early in the year to make sure that it could access the tonnes of equipment and the miles of cabling required.

"This year we thought that a major challenge would be posed by the Olympics which would swallow up a lot of gear," says Sibbald. "However, careful forward planning meant that this wasn't a real problem."

Highlights of Black Ligh

UK - XL Video, a major global provider of video equipment and services, has announced a substantial investment in new Barco high-brightness projectors.

The purchase includes a total of 66 new projectors - 44 x HDF-W26s and 22 x HDQ-2K40s - the latest models from Belgium-based Barco.

This is part of a continuing commitment to supply the latest video technology to its customers, and reinforces XL Video's ongoing plan for growth and expansion across all its markets.

(Jim Evans)

France - The Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) in Villeurbanne, north east of Lyon, has reopened following extensive refurbishment - with an wide array of new ETC lighting, power distribution and control.

Previously, the TNP operated with just 56 ways of ETC IES SineWave dimming power in the multipurpose black box theatre. Following completion of refurbishment, its Grand Theatre has become the best equipped SineWave theatre in France - with 632 channels across the two halls.

The equipment was supplied by ETC's French distributor, Avab Transtechnik France. Avab's sales manager Jean Louis Pernette explains, "The theatre's technical director, Jean-Michel Dubois, wanted to use the latest and most advanced technology while keeping maintenance as straightforward as possible. He started by testing a single rack of ETC IES SineWave dimming to see how it performed, before t

Australia - The Victorian College of Arts has added a MA onPC command wing to its inventory to the delight of their performance technology course students.

"The MA onPC command wing allows us to train the students on the MA platform at an affordable entry point into the market," commented Joseph Mercurio, VCA's performance technology coordinator. "It is vital that the students here learn on current technology in order to improve their skills and make sure they are employable upon graduation. MA has such market share and penetration that it was always on our list. Since we have purchased it we have had a steady stream of students using it and getting to know the console."

One such student is Steve Hendy who is in his first year at the college and had previously only had lighting control experience with a Hog 3PC. However, he found the MA onPC command wing to

UK - Ross Ashton's The Projection Studio once again entertained the sold-out crowds at Edinburgh Castle with stunning projected visuals for the spectacular 2012 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The show action featuring a cast of nearly 1000 performers took place on the Esplanade down below the Castle walls in the centre of the Tattoo's new, purpose-built state-of-the-art amphitheatre, which includes a special climate controlled projection room.

The Tattoo's chief executive and producer for the second year running was Brigadier David Allfrey, a big fan of large format projections, and this year's event theme was HM Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and the year of Creative Scotland.

Creative Scotland included specific sections of the show and dances celebrating iconic items of Scottish culture like tweed and whiskey, plus the industrial revolution. All these and more gave As

UK - Several Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing systems were selected by two PA companies, APR Audio and SXS Events, running seperate Olympic events in Weymouth, where all of the sailing events were held.

Somerset-based APR Audio used several of its iLive systems for the opening night at the Weymouth & Portland Beach Live Site, which hosted live entertainment, welcomed the Team GB Sailing Squad, and broadcast a live screening of the London opening ceremony.

APR employed the largest Control Surface in the series - the iLive-176 - at FOH with an iLive-T112 at monitor position, both fed from an iDR-64 MixRack. An iDR-48 with iLive-144 was also set up to manage monitors for Eliza Carty, who headlined the opening night.

Meanwhile, SXS Events managed the Bayside Festival, a major festival running alongside the Weymouth Olympic Sailing Events. Located at the end of Weymouth beach,

UK - LumenRadio will showcase its RDM products and OEM partners at this year's PLASA show. Remote Device Management, RDM, is an extension of DMX that allows bi-directional communication for configuration and monitoring of equipment typically found in entertainment applications and also in many architectural lighting systems.

The company released the first wireless DMX/RDM product based on its wireless CRMX technology in 2009. It has since then completed hundreds of successful installations all over the world and added wired RDM connectivity in the form of the Unity extension. Integral to the success is also SuperNova; a powerful and ever evolving software application that offers a feature rich RDM controller and an easy to use graphical user interface; putting the power of this technology into the hands of the everyday user.

Lighting industry heavyweight Robe, a pioneer in the

South Africa - A two day Protocol Training course was hosted at DWR Distribution in Strijdom Park, Randburg on 3 and 4 September.

This year, Nick Britz from DWR has taken Training under his wing and is running with sessions that will benefit technicians and interested parties in the industry.

The Protocol Training covers everything from the basic DMX 512, RMD, Artnet, Ethernet and Wireless Networking. It includes fault-finding techniques, addressing fixtures, monitoring units in the rig, configuring networks and the ins and outs of some of the most commonly used protocols.

September will be a busy time at DWR Distribution, and other courses include the Avolites Titan 6 Training on the 10 and 11 September and Robe Training on the 17 & 18 September.

(Jim Evans)

UK - At the end of an unrivalled summer of success, PLASA 2012 opens its doors for the very last time at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre on Sunday 9 September and with pre-registration figures already way ahead of last years, it's time to celebrate!

As PLASA announce a new home for the PLASA Show, the final event at Earls Court promises to be a glorious celebration of the industry's involvement in the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics. The Olympics Uncovered sector of the Professional Development Programme is close to a sell-out and joining Backstage at the London 2012 Ceremonies will be Making it all Possible! presented by Riedel Communications; Landscape Video, a seminar from Tait dedicated to those transforming LED panels that turn stadiums into vast video screens and Scott Burges from Creative Technology delivering From a Wobbly House to the

UK - Robe lighting continues to celebrate its popular theme of 'Working With Winners', as CEO Josef Valchar donates an authentic Olympic torch - used on one of the torch relay legs for the London Games - for auction at the PLASA exhibition taking place next week at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre.

The torch, 800mm high with stylish conical design and featuring an attractive shiny gold finish, will be on display on the Robe Stand Hall 1 F47 on Sunday and Monday of the exhibition for all to admire.

The auction will take place during the PLASA Innovation Awards, presented at the end of the day on Monday in the Central bar area. A professional auctioneer will be on hand to conduct the proceedings and help find the lucky winner!

All funds raised will be distributed to leading industry charity, Light Relief.

(Jim Evans)

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