Italy - ARX Systems has appointed Bregnano based Etabeta Electronics spa as their new exclusive distributor for Italy.

ARX's MD Colin Park said, "Etabeta Electronics spa are a well-known and respected Italian distributor, here at ARX we're looking forward to working with Roberto Santini and the team at Etabeta Electronics.

"They're very enthusiastic about the possibilities for the growing ARX digital and analogue product range amongst their extensive dealer base throughout Italy."

Etabeta Electronics president Roberto Santini said, "ARX fits perfectly in our portfolio to help our installation, live sound, corporate, broadcast and studio customers."

Etabeta Electronics was founded by Roberto Santini in 1985 to distribute professional audio equipment, initially representing Cerwin Vega servicing the Italian disco market.

Subsequently, Etabeta adapt

USA - Syncrolite has given its website (Syncrolite.com) a new look. "After months of brainstorming and hard work, we are excited to announce that a new and improved website is now live," says the company.

New Features include: User-friendly - content is well-organized so you can easily find the information you need; Easy Navigation - pages have been optimized to include easy-to-understand headings; Valuable and Timely Information - content is fresh, informative and tailored to your needs; Social Media Integration - follow us on our new social media platforms where we will be sharing our projects and productions from around the world; Mobile Ready - access our site from any device and get a first-rate experience; Parts Catalogue - authorized users can access an easy to use visual replacement parts catalogue, and Pre-Owned Equipment - visit the site to see what used equi

Belgium - Engineering specialist WIcreations provided a complete automation solution for the 2015 live special broadcast of popular Belgian TV show 'Tegen de Sterren Op' (Against The Stars) which parodies celebrities, other TV stars and public figures.

This included the supply of two customised WI laser controlled wagons - now available from rental stock - which proved an ingenious method to ensure the lightening quick scenery changes needed for the fast paced show were realised.

Three live shows were produced at Antwerp's Lotto Arena over one action-packed weekend by producers Studio 100 and Dedsit for the VTM channel. Wi's project manager was Geert Stockmans.

WI also provided one of their suspended WItrack systems to move a large two-part video screen at the back of the stage, together with a flown tracking system with a moving winch to aid two aerial performers.

The sho

USA - When CTC resident designer Elizabeth Kline was asked to create the dramatic lighting design for the Venus in Fur collaboration between the Nevada Conservatory Theatre and Cockroach Theatre Company, she needed a lighting instrument that could breathe life into the integral lightning effects in the show. So once she began her collaboration with the productions sound designer, she found the ideal lighting instrument in the Showline SL NITRO 510 luminaire from Philips Entertainment.

"When I came into the design meetings, the first question I asked was whether or not we would be staying true to the script in regards to all of the lightning and thunder effects," began Kline. "Since these elements are essential to the story, I started coordinating with the sound designer, and to really accentuate the effects, I needed a fixture that was capable of both quick

Ireland - Production designer Tom Rohan of Eventco has used the power and lightweight versatility of 12 Clay Paky SuperSharpys to light the 'Spire', the iconic 120m stainless steel monument in the centre of Dublin.

For the 'inSpire' lighting project, which launched Ireland's celebrations of the UNESCO International Year of Light (IYOL) 2015 and coincided with the St. Patrick's festival, Rohan worked alongside lighting designers Mick Murray and Matt Cregan to bring his concept to life.

"Originally, we wanted to create a static light sculpture, which we drew up in WYSIWYG. However after creating a few looks we realised that with some movement/animation the sculpture could work from a number of different perspectives, from close-up in the streets around it to an indirect view from the city's outskirts," says Murray. "Because of the lightweight and compact size of t

USA - AMD has announced details behind one of the world's largest and most technologically advanced display walls, located in New York's Times Square at 1535 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets. The stunning visuals that drive the digital sign's massive size - 25,000sq.ft of ultra-high definition digital signage incorporating nearly 24mpixels - are powered by AMD FirePro professional graphics cards.

The sign, with playback system designed and managed by Diversified Media Group, is a single surface covering a city block in length and stands eight stories high. Driving the visual display are three AMD FirePro professional graphics cards using AMD Eyefinity Technology, with each card powering six sections of the display for a combined resolution of 10,048 x 2,368 pixels. The individual display sections are synchronized across graphics cards and zones using the FirePro™ S40

UK - It's a mark of the reverence with which the British honour their heroes that whatever the dramas and disappointments of the preceding day, the general election could not diminish the three days of events that marked the VE Day 70th anniversary. Staged 8-10 May, it proved a resounding success.

With acts of remembrance on the Friday at The Cenotaph, and thanksgiving on the Sunday at Westminster Abbey, the pivot event on the Saturday staged on Horse Guards Parade was for celebration. VE Day 70: A Party to Remember was just that, featuring a host of stars on stage in a contemporary evocation of all that was musical, entertaining, dramatic and fun in the 1940s.

In partnership with The Royal British Legion this was a cooperative presentation between Live Nation and the BBC led by event organiser Graham Pullen. The show was production managed by Chromatic Productions, Ste

UK - Lighting and technical event production specialists Blue Parrot are providing lighting, staging and design services for the 2015 Hidden Door Arts Festival in Edinburgh. The event, now in its 6th year, transforms an abandoned site in the city into a vibrant arts space for the weeklong festival. Live music, theatre and art installations can be found throughout the site which is this year found at the old council street lighting depot in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Head of lighting for the event is Blue Parrot's Senior Project Manager, Sam Jones, who was charged with designing and co-ordinating the project on-site. "There are 60 spaces to light ranging from a small office with a single Par16 Birdie lighting an art piece to live music venues and theatre spaces with full moving light rigs. Many decisions had to be made on-site as spaces became available and their uses b

Turkey - Asimetrik has increased its brand portfolio with an exclusive master distributor agreement with Music Group. The new agreement will see Asimetrik take on distribution for the Music Group's Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound brands. The agreement marks a significant step in Music Group's one distributor strategy.

"As Asimetrik, the main distributor of Behringer in Turkey, we are honoured to have the opportunity to continue to collaborate with such a sophisticated global distribution partner," said Asimetrik's VP, Gorkem Celikbilek. He continued: "This latest prestigious agreement further enhances our ability to supply customers with a wide range of the latest, high functioning equipment. In addition, our dedicated and highly skilled technical team is available to offer customers a superior service before, during and after sales."

A statement from th

USA - Steve Moles reports for LSi: Excepting the Rolling Stones and, Lord preserve us, Ted Nugent, it's hard to imagine that anything in rock and roll has lasted thirty five years. Yet here we are in Nashville rocking up outside the doors of Spectrum Sound and yup, they just turned thirty five years of age. Barely middle-aged by most other measures, Spectrum is in the world of Pro Audio, a grand old man. Company founder Ken Porter is the kind of guy you can imagine becoming President of the student body at high school; he is also a consummate salesman. In that sense he is not typical of the characters who have grown the audio industry in the US. Yes, he has established a reputation for Spectrum built on delivery of high quality audio, but when it comes to business there is nothing typical about Porter, or his company.

"I grew up in a musical family, my Mom was a chur

UK - Since 1985 Fisher Productions has been supplying a complete production service to a wide array of corporate and private clients. Their quality bespoke service has secured the company as the preferred suppliers at many of the UK's premier visitor locations including the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A and the Tate Modern on the South Bank.

Sister company, Fisher Hires has recently invested over £5m in new lighting fixtures and control. Head of Fisher Lighting & Hires, Robert Baker explains, "When investing in our new kit we chose to purchase some key items from Ambersphere Solutions who have a reputation for really knowing and understanding the industry, backed up with strong service support which was important to us."

The L'Oréal Colour Trophy Tour 2015 was the first event to benefit from this new kit. The lighting design for the tour included Cl

Canada - At 372 seats, Capilano University's BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts is intimate and cozy, well-proportioned for this mid-sized liberal-arts university in North Vancouver. Now, thanks to its recent upgrade to a new L-Acoustics sound system installed by AV systems integrator Solotech Vancouver, the busy campus arts venue feels even more intimate.

The BlueShore at Cap, as it's known, hosts a wide range of events, from theatrical productions to concert performances by the school's music department and touring artists, including Buffy Saint-Marie, Randy Brecker and Harry Manx. Prior to the system retrofit, the venue's popularity with the community and visiting artists was pushing its basic PA system past its limits, and the school's own ambitions for the space demanded a sound system that could cover all of the artistic territories the theatre, jazz and mu

Azerbaijan - The 2015 European Games will be held in Baku in June, gathering in the Azerbaijan capital city over 6,000 athletes from 50 countries to compete in 30 sports, including 16 Olympic disciplines. Named after the former president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex is one of the four city cluster locations, along with Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Freedom Square and Baku Sports Hall, chosen to house this edition of the games.

Since its opening in 1990, the arena has hosted around 40 international competitions of different kinds of sports. After the 2006 renovation, it became Azerbaijan's home of gymnastics, accommodating a number of major international rhythmic gymnastics tournaments. During the European games the arena will be used for all the judo, sambo and wrestling competitions.

The arena facilities had to be radically reorganized for the European

France - When international dealers were invited to the Robert Juliat factory in France earlier this year, it was an eye-opening experience to see the dedication in which the company is run.

Robert Izzett from DWR Distribution, the South African distributor, joined the tour and training, and was very impressed. "I had the impression that it was a small manufacturer," he said. "They produce more than 10 000 luminaires a year and added to this, make everything except the glass lenses. The factory is extraordinary."

Robert Juliat currently employs around 80 people dedicated to designing and manufacturing stage lighting products. The company operates from 9.000 m² factory in the suburbs of Paris. Robert Juliat lighting solutions are distributed through a worldwide network including more than 50 distributors on the five continents.

"There is no other com

USA - Pop music stars were shining bright on 9 May at the sold-out KIIs-FM Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Centre in Carson, California, where Todd Roberts and Brandon Dunnin of Visions Lighting were at the lighting helm with some of Visions' newest Elation Professional lighting fixtures. These included the powerful Platinum BX beam moving heads, hybrid Platinum SBX moving heads and Protron 3K LED strobes. Also in the rig were some of their workhorse Platinum Beam 5R fixtures.

The annual, day-long concert - produced by Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM and hosted by Ryan Seacrestm is noted for featuring marquee performers and this year featured performances by Kanye West, Nick Jonas and Justin Bieber along with EDM veterans Calvin Harris and David Guete.

Stage, roof, lighting, video and special FX were all handled by Visions Lighting. "It is probably the biggest Elatio

UK - This year's Meet the Future conference - Event Technology Challenged will take place on 9 June at Central Hall, London. The Meet the Future event series encourages peers to share both ideas and available resources as a way of staying ahead in a constantly evolving industry.

With White Light acting as one of this year's sponsors, the conference will allow senior event buyers to experience event technology by placing them in the role of the delegates who they would normally be organising events for. The aim is to show attendees how new event technology can improve their own events by learning from real-time use cases.

The conference will be delivered in two parts. In the morning sessions, attendees will be given 'hands-on' demonstrations of cutting edge technology, gaining an insight into how it may be utilised by delegates at future events. The afternoon sessions will focu

UK - Central Theatre Supplies is supplying three Zero88 Chilli 1210i dimmers to the Criterion Theatre Coventry as the latest stage of the theatre's rolling project to update and replace their stage systems.

Central Theatre Supplies were the original supplier of the Criterion's Zero88 ID1216 dimmers and Sirius 48 lighting desk back in 1994. The Sirius 48 was replaced some years ago with a Zero88 Illusion 500 (which in itself is an update candidate in due course).

Karl Stafford, facilities manager of the Criterion said, "The ID racks have served us well for 21 years and having the one person in the UK that Zero88 recommend to repair ID's as one of our members has been a part of that. However, the racks are 21 years old and beginning to age in ways that make it difficult to keep on top of - so the time has come to replace them with something more modern.

"We've been d

USA - Video equipment rental company Pete's Big TVs supplied the high resolution LED video panels, projectors and a technical crew for the 30th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 18 April in Cleveland, OH. The show aired 30 May exclusively on HBO.

Pete's has been supplying the rock world's big night since 1989, and growing with the event as the show has transitioned from its original private Waldorf-Astoria hotel ballroom days to today's ticketed arena settings. Pete's Big TVs VP Guy Benjamin said, "Because it has moved to large arenas and is now a televised event, the production requirements demand the newest products in video production technology, which we specialise in."

Artists inducted this year at Cleveland's Public Hall were Ringo Starr, The '5' Royales, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Green Day, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Lou Reed, Stevie

Australia - Everybody who's used Shure, BSS and Clear-Com products on live events know they can rely on them when getting the show right is 'a matter of life or death'. But what about when-- stripped of all hyperbole--things really are a matter of life or death? That's the reality that doctors and nurses face every day in emergency rooms, hospital wards and operating theatres.

The Simulation Learning Centre at The Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School of The University of Sydney is a facility that provides students with access to vital technology. Barbara MacKenzie, IS operations and infrastructure manager at Sydney Adventist Hospital, describes the Sim Lab as "a small 'Big Brother' studio. It's set up with two simulation environments; one as a critical care ward, and one as an operating theatre. In the middle is a control room with one-way glass facing into both rooms.

Austria - Award-winning lighting designer Al Gurdon made spectacular use of a predominantly Clay Paky rig for one of the world's largest TV entertainment events, The Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary with the theme Building Bridges, Eurovision was sponsored by Osram and hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna.

UK-based Gurdon, whose previous lighting triumphs include the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sochi Olympic Games and the American Super Bowl, has now lit Eurovision three times. This time he chose 172 of the new Clay Paky Mythos, 48 X Sharpy Wash 330, 83 X A.leda B-EYE K20 and 74 Stormy fixtures to deliver a dazzling, party atmosphere bursting with vibrant colour, varying shape and dimension.

All equipment was supplied by Production Resource Group (PRG), supplemented by Clay Paky UK distributor Ambersphere, and supported by

USA - Omnia in Las Vegas is the latest superclub phenomenon launched by Hakkasan Worldwide.

Over 100 Robe moving lights were specified for an epic entertainment lighting design that graces the main room of the new club at Ceasar's Palace.

The brief from Hakkasan CEO Neil Moffit to the technical and creative teams involved in Omnia encompassed superlatives like 'awesome' 'breathtaking' and 'mind-blowing', so architectural / interior designers The Rockwell Group and entertainment technology integration specialist Audiotek worked to ensure that his ambitions to create the most outrageously immersive, opulent and simply amazing premium clubbing experience in Las Vegas were met to the max.

The Robe fixtures are part of the lighting scheme delivered by Willie Williams - show designer for some of the most savvy and intelligently visual live artists on the planet - like U2, Robbie W

France - London based Jamie Fobert Architects asked the team at CLD Distribution to assist in providing an LED lighting solution for an exhibition of their work at the Gallerie de l'Architecture in Paris. The work coincided with the publication of Working in Architecture, a book about the practice's dynamic range of projects and work philosophies.

CLD were recommended by a lighting design practice with whom Jamie Fobert Architects regularly work explains Architect Andreia Costa, who also co-ordinated the exhibition installation, featuring a 16m long by 50mm high light-box showcasing photos related to the various projects.

CLD's Nigel Howes comments, "It was an interesting and challenging project and we were delighted to be involved. It was important for the illumination to be elegant, shadowless and concealed from the view of anyone looking into the displays, and t

UK - The Colour Project was commissioned by the City of Liverpool to devise a 30-minute video mapping spectacular as the visual climax to the city's celebrations to mark the historic visit of all three of the largest Liners in the Cunard fleet.

As part of the Cunard Lines 175th birthday celebrations and to punctuate the occasion for the city, The Colour Project created an evening show for over 80,000 visitors over the course of three nights.

Always looking to the future and confident of its past, the essence of Liverpool was boldly brought to life to celebrate the city and its historic links with the Cunard Line. The three iconic buildings along the Pier Head collectively referred to as the Three Graces were transformed into a video mapped canvas to perform The Amazing Graces.

"Featuring a sea of faces of the people that make up the rich cultural heritage of Live

Rock School - Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, School of Rock, set to open in the autumn, will be showcased this week as part of a series of concerts in New York. The concerts will take place at the Gramercy Theatre from 3-6 June. Lloyd Webber has previously said he chose New York to open his latest musical because of the more relaxed child licensing rules in America. In a targeted email, Lloyd Webber described the School of Rock concerts as being "highly-staged". He said the concerts would work better than an out-of-town tryout or extended preview period because "the wonders of technology get in the way of genuinely trying out new work". This month's concerts coincide with the Tony Awards weekend in New York, when producers, investors and theatre operators converge on Manhattan.

Liza's Back - Liza Minnelli is to return to the London Pa

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