Germany - At the centre of the career and training opportunities on offer at Prolight+Sound (19-22 March) will be the Future Hub. Divided into Campus, Career Centre, Start-up Area and Networking Lounge, the area is promoted as ‘a contact point for the professionals of today and tomorrow’. Designed to conserve resources and powered by green electricity, it also sends out a clear signal in favour of energy efficiency and sustainability.
The latter is also the driving force behind a joint project with the Lycée Francais Victor Hugo in Frankfurt. Plants used as decorative and meta-story elements in the Future Hub will be given a permanent place in the school's garden after the show. With this campaign, Prolight+Sound is emphasising its efforts to constantly promote the topic of sustainability in the sector through creative projects. Another aim is to convey the diversity a

UK - PLASA has acquired BPM, the UK’s only dedicated trade event for the DJ sector. The annual show is set to take place at Birmingham’s Cranmore Park from 12-13 October 2024, spanning the mobile, radio, club and karaoke DJ markets. The event offers a unique opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts to get hands-on with pro equipment and discover services available to support a successful DJ career.
The show’s acquisition by PLASA means that BPM will now align with the association’s market-leading trade events for live entertainment technology: PLASA Show and PLASA Focus Leeds. These events span the entire live entertainment technology sector, ranging from pro audio and lighting to AV technology, staging and rigging. PLASA Show has been the UK’s flagship event for over four decades, welcoming 6,500+ visitors and 200+ brands each year. Meanwhile PLASA Focus Leeds

UK - Production Futures has confirmed that its next On Tour event will take place at the AO Arena, Manchester on Tuesday 30 April. The venue, recently underwent a £50m makeover, making it one of the most cutting-edge facilities (and the largest) of its kind in the UK. As its first Arena outing, this will be Production Futures’ largest and most ambitious On Tour event to date.
Set to attract a wide range of young people from across the North of England and beyond, this free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.
Manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors will have representatives present at the event to provide advice, information and insights, and discuss specific

Spain - #WeMakeEvents BikeFest returned to Spain with the 18-strong team cycling over 360km towards ISE in Barcelona. Together, they have so far has raised £16,000 for industry charity Backup Tech but are hoping to reach £20,000 with your donations.
This year, the BikeFest team included representatives from AELTC, Autograph Sound, AVIXA, Clair Global, Equipson, FLUX Creative Consultancy, PLASA, Reclaim Audio, Sharp, Stage One Creative Services, and Wonder Works. Furthermore, due to the strong community element of the event, BikeFest is now seeing familiar faces returning each year, including Backup Tech chair Piers Shepperd who was cycling for the second year running.
Starting in Valencia, the team cycled along the Mediterranean coast, stopping off in Valencia, Peñíscola and Tarragona. On day three, the exhausted riders finally arrived at Fira de Barcelona ready

Spain - Claypaky will be showcasing its recently launched products for all kinds of events from touring to theatre productions. Booth 1D150 at Fira Barcelona is where visitors can see and learn about the latest products and innovative technologies for the entertainment industry. It is also the first time since ARRI’s acquisition of Claypaky, that two companies will be exhibiting together at ISE and presenting an even broader portfolio together.
With demand for IP-rated fixtures continuing to grow, Claypaky will feature the Shield Family IP66 product range with fixtures such as Arolla Aqua and HY B-EYE K15 Aqua. The Shield Family - which included Skylos, Arolla Aqua, Mini-B Aqua, Xtylos Aqua - launched a new standard of weather-resistant, high-performance, ultra-durable and long-lasting fixtures. These IP66-certified lights have advantages in performance, handling and use.

Spain - Sennheiser will focus on its industry partnerships and alliances at ISE 2024. Located in Hall 3 of the Fira Barcelona, Gran Via, the Sennheiser booth (3C500) will feature an interactive touchscreen for attendees to easily discover the Sennheiser technology and collaborations that streamline integration and deliver engaging experiences.
Integrators, consultants, and end-users can explore the full potential of Sennheiser products when paired with solutions produced by its global partners and alliances. Throughout the event, Sennheiser is collaborating with 20 leading manufacturers from their partner network, including Airtame, Audac, AVer, Crestron, Lightware, Lumens, Q-SYS, Xilica, and more, to deliver an in-show campaign that highlights the benefits of their combined solutions.
ISE attendees are encouraged to participate in an app-led scavenger hunt across Senn

Spain - Christie will showcase how its smart technologies help to deliver ‘unforgettable experiences for customers’ at ISE 2024.
In Hall 3, on stand 3K500, Christie will present its latest visual solutions, including LED video walls, 1DLP laser projectors, RGB pure laser projectors, and powerful content management and processing solutions. With several first-time product showings in the region, visitors will see how the latest technologies perform in a range of engaging applications, under this year’s theme of ‘Experience is Everything.’
“As founding members of ISE, we’re delighted to be part of the show’s 20th anniversary,” says Arlonna Seymour, executive director, corporate marketing, at Christie. “Fuelled by 95 years of experience and know-how as a technology innovator, our solutions allow creatives and partners to deliver exceptional immersive e

Spain - Robe Lighting will exhibit on booths 1C700 and 1D700 in Hall 1 at ISE 2024, where it and sister businesses - Anolis, Avolites and Artistic Licence - will share a present an interesting array of new and popular products.
Robe highlights several new products including from its award-winning IP rated i-series - the iForte and iForte LTX, iPainte, iESprite, iBeam 350, iTetra2 and iT12 Profile - for all environments - characterised by their innovative features, rugged weather resistance and for being identical to non-IP rated versions of the same products, allowing the flexibility of easy mixing on the same lighting plot.
A new variant of the T32 Cyc will be previewed, as will the latest in the Footsie1 and Footsie2 footlight range, the Footsie TM Slim.
Also previewed is Robe’s much anticipated iBolt. With the same feature set as Robe’s groundbreaking an

Spain - ISE 2024 is set to be a busy show for the OCA Alliance with news of new products from member companies, new presentations from technical experts, and a new update to the AES70 control standard. Throughout the show, the OCA Alliance will be demonstrating the benefits and possibilities of an open public control standard at booth #7G400 in Hall 7 at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.
On hand during the show will be representatives of member companies showcasing products and solutions that support AES70. Software, hardware, finished products, and development platforms will all be on offer, highlighting the vast OCA ecosystem of AES70-supporting technologies from all areas of the industry. For integrators, developers, and users alike, these demonstrations will highlight the flexibility, ease, and opportunities that open public standards bring to product development and syste

UK - Production Futures reports that it has been chosen as a partner for the BBC’s Bring the Drama Festival. This initiative sees the BBC joining forces with some of the UK’s leading cultural organisations to create the first festival of its kind, aimed at bringing together stage and screen and opening up the doors to the next generation of behind-the-scenes talent.
The BBC is supporting the UK’s world-beating creative industries by trying to ensure that the brightest and best people want to work in theatre, film and TV, and helping them to identify where the opportunities lie. This mission aligns with Production Futures’ aim to create opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries.
Just as is the case for Production Fu

Spain - Lightware Visual Engineering will showcase a range of solutions for the corporate, education and live event sectors at ISE 2024. Visitors to the Lightware stand (3N750) will be offered demonstrations of its Taurus product family, including the Taurus UCX Dual Screen, Taurus TPX and Taurus TPN, along with other innovative connectivity solutions. Lightware will also debut its recent corporate rebrand, which has been developed to better align the company's visual persona with its status as an innovator in the technology sector.
Lightware's Taurus TPN is a media-over-IP solution tailored for medium to large conference rooms, redefining the landscape with its reliability, technical sophistication and user-centric features. The Taurus UCX-TPN and HDMI-TPN devices, both leveraging SDVoE technology, form the core of the solution, allowing for the creation of adaptable media-

Spain - Tempest is launching its latest rental and staging projector enclosure system - Fly - at ISE 2024. Fly’s innovative chassis folds flat into less than half its volume for ultra-compact shipping and storage. Fly enables rapid setup and teardown, with minimal tools, saving on time and labour. Weighting in at just over 20kg (44lbs), Fly is less than ¼ of the weight of a standard Tempest Typhoon rental enclosure. Fly is available in four models and is compatible with a wide variety of projectors up to 50k lumens, including all the most popular models in the equipment rental space.
Fly comes with all the usual Tempest protection measures, against airborne pollutants, weather, heat, cold and condensation. Fly also features an AR-coated port glass door, that opens without tools, making last-minute lens changes quick and painless. For extra-long lenses, a deeper Lens Exten

USA - TT+ Audio will feature strongly in the Anaheim Arena, with demos of the GTX Line Array. At centre stage, TT+Audio’s new GTX Line Array System addresses the full range of challenges faced by touring sound professionals and large-venue system installers while offering ground-breaking performance and sound quality, says RCF.
Unlike previous TT+ Audio products, the new GTX system separates the power amplification from the loudspeaker enclosure, relocating it to newly designed touring racks. Each rack accommodates up to three RCF XPS 16K 4-channel DSP amplifiers. This new approach to hybrid power management seamlessly integrates the externally-powered GTX System with self-powered TT+ modules all managed by the RDNet software platform.
GTX models include the GTX 12 three-way line array module, GTX 10 two-way line array module, and GTS 29 high-performance double 19" s

USA - The Sennheiser Group will showcase its latest audio innovations in two demo spaces. The Sennheiser Group Live Room (located in demo room # 18806) and the Immersive Demo Room (# 18808) will feature the latest audio innovations from Sennheiser, Neumann, Dear Reality and Merging Technologies, as well as offering seminars and panel discussions with industry experts.
The Sennheiser Group Live Room will offer visitors a chance to explore the rich histories of Sennheiser and Neumann by showcasing both companies’ timelines. A focal point within the space will be the unveiling of Sennheiser’s latest addition to its professional studio portfolio, with NAMM attendees having the unique opportunity to engage with the product for the very first time.
Additionally, a dedicated wireless station will feature the Evolution Wireless Digital family of wireless microphones, Digit

Sweden - XM Automation started the new year on a high by successfully demonstrating its XMove software controlling a number of automated bars in an existing theatre system. The XM team were able to show how easy it could be to upgrade the control front-end without requiring costly upgrades to the existing hardware or electrical installation.
The demonstrations attracted more than 50 Swedish theatre technical directors, technicians and consultants, all keen to see how XMove, the new front-end software could be used to run an existing system with minimal changes to the back-end. According to one attendee,“This event is too interesting to miss.”
The ease of use and intuitive, familiar feel of the software also surprised many attendees, who were able to try programming and running even quite complex moves for themselves after just a short introductory tutorial.

UK - Audient has introduced ORIA, an all-in-one audio interface and monitor controller designed specifically for multi-speaker arrays ranging from stereo to 9.1.6 setups - and everything in between.
“As immersive audio continues to become more prevalent across music, film, TV, game and VR production, our goal was to design a purpose-driven and affordable solution for those wanting to work in the immersive space,” says Audient’s Andrew Allen.
“ORIA is designed to prioritise immersive audio workflows, giving you onboard room and speaker calibration DSP, true immersive monitoring control and professional audio performance, alongside intelligent integrations with Sonarworks and Dolby Atmos.”
ORIA provides 16 outputs via TRS or AES, two dedicated relayed switched stereo outputs, two independent headphone outputs, BNC Word Clock in and out, as well as two Aud

Spain - LED Studio is expanding its EDGE series with the launch of the 54” EDGE Pro and 65” EDGE at ISE. The single die-cast cabinets are designed as a direct replacement for popular videowall LCD panels, offering increased sustainability with up to 40% energy saving vs LCD, as well as simplified installation and operation to make large scale LED applications more accessible.
LED Studio is on a mission to eradicate throwaway culture with its proprietary V1 Architecture within its EDGE series. This cabinet infrastructure allows for the pixel technologies to evolve as technology progresses, with options for Flip Chip High Bright Common Cathode and traditional SMD and the latest addition to the pixel offerings Chip on Board (COB), says the company. During the upgrade, only 30% of the display undergoes replacement, preserving the remaining 70% in its original state. This app

Spain - Part of the K-array brand ecosystem, KGEAR has released two new product launches in the run up to ISE 2024. The pro-audio manufacturer introduces the GU210 subwoofer and GMX4L mixer to its product family, two releases that once again showcase the ingenuity of K-array’s engineering.
The GU210 subwoofer is suitable for fixed installations, especially in environments where a discreet audio solution is required.
Enclosed within a stainless-steel cabinet and grille, the subwoofer boasts an IP rating of IP64, making it appropriate for indoor and outdoor installations. The GU210 also comes in both a black and white finish, allowing it to slot seamlessly into any project design.
“The launch of the GU210 is significant because it fills a gap in our portfolio by providing a performance subwoofer with a versatile 10” form factor,” explains Lorenzo De Poi, br

Spain - Shure has announced the launch of Microflex Wireless neXt 2 (MXW neXt 2), the latest addition to its Microflex ecosystem, expanding the original Microflex Wireless platform. Designed with a combination of advanced features, the new Microflex Wireless neXt 2 is a versatile, two-channel wireless system designed to offer ‘a cost-effective, intuitive, and all-in-one audio solution for diverse spaces and hybrid environments’.
“MXW neXt 2 is an ideal new solution for those seeking enhanced meeting equity and clear sound reinforcement in videoconferencing and hybrid presentations, both in classrooms and business spaces,” said Doug Daube, director of conferencing, global product management, at Shure. “AV/IT professionals in corporate and higher education environments now require more flexible solutions for teaching, conferencing spaces, and other hybrid scenarios.

Europe - In a strategic move to ‘redefine its presence in the professional audio industry’, Cadac is dividing into two distinct, independent business units, reflecting the current evolution of its product development activities; namely Cadac Consoles and Cadac Immersive.
Cadac Consoles will retain its focus on the development of advanced digital audio mixing systems, with product development, sales and brand management remaining firmly in the UK. The business is rebranding under a new logo and corporate identity, with a renewed product offering scheduled to be unveiled at ISE; along with an all-new website that will go live shortly before the show.
Cadac Consoles effectively paused commercial activity at the outset of the COVID emergency, retiring its previous CDC series product lines, but continuing the development work on a new-generation product line. The near

USA - DPA Microphones, together with Yamaha, will showcase a selection of its mics at the new Mobile Listening Studio as part of a Grand Plaza Tour at the 2024 NAMM Show. Located behind the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage, the mobile studio will act as a mixing space for all performances at this stage for the duration of the convention.
The brand welcomes attendees to tour both the stage and studio to see and hear first-hand the clarity provided by DPA mics. Attendees can also visit DPA Microphones at the brand’s booth on the show floor (Booth 17911).
“This new Mobile Listening Studio will not only highlight the versatility and clarity of DPA mics but will also be an exciting place for show attendees to see a variety of top-of-the-line gear,” says Jarrod Renaud, marketing and communications manager, DPA Microphones. “Attendees can now enjoy a live show at the Yamaha

Spain - The Obsidian Control Systems team from Europe and the U.S. head to the ISE tradeshow with additions to its popular and award-winning Netron data distribution range, including a comprehensive line tailored for system integrators and fixed installations, plus the world's first IP65-rated devices for entertainment signal distribution. Lighting professionals are invited to explore these latest innovations on Stand 5C150.
Obsidian is showing a comprehensive line of Netron products in smart form factors optimised for system integrators and fixed installations. Two new compact devices with interchangeable connection plates offer performance and flexibility. Available as RDM6D (6-port RDM Splitter) and EN6D (6-port EtherDMX Node), these rugged chassis can be DIN-Rail or wall mounted and provide data ports that can be repositioned to the top, bottom or front of the devices.

USA - ACT Entertainment has a lot to celebrate as 2024 begins. In addition to launching a new corporate logo and forthcoming website, the company heads into the year with new brands and divisions. Included among its latest acquisitions and partnerships are Visual Productions, PK Sound and, most recently, tvONE - the combination of which will see ACT dive more fully into the fixed installation, professional sound and video production markets.
“At ACT Entertainment, we are passionate about helping our clients realise their creative vision and are continually on the lookout for cutting edge products,” says Ben Saltzman, CEO, ACT Entertainment. “These three brands not only help us deliver on this promise, but also expand our reach into new markets and industries. We look forward to supplying new and existing customers with a fuller array of audiovisual solutions that will

Spain - Berlin-based pro audio company, Holoplot, returns to this year’s ISE to showcase its audio products. The X1 product series, the sound of Sphere, once again takes centre stage, joined for the first time by the new, more compact X2 Matrix Array.
Holoplot technology enables precise control over sound in both the horizontal and vertical axes, allowing users to tackle even the most challenging acoustic environments and produce outstanding, realistic audio for stereo deployments, as well as add and explore creative capabilities to enhance immersive sound designs. Most recently, this is showcased at the Las Vegas Sphere where Holoplot is the exclusive provider of the sound system.
The Matrix Array’s technology uses advanced proprietary algorithms and integrated software applications to precisely shape and steer sound to where it's needed and remove it from where i

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