Events

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14 March 2016

The rig consisted of a mixture of conventional Source 4s and fresnels, intelligent lights in the form of AC's tourspot, and 24 of the ChromaQ DB4 colour blocks, to create an understated yet interesting look.

The venues, ranging from London to Bolton and Birmingham presented a fewchallenges. Lighting operator Richard George said: "Fitting the set and all its attendant lighting and AV equipment into some of the smaller venues was a real challenge at times, especially on the power side of things.

Then there were the problems of making the set seem to fill the lar

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14 March 2016

Open to PLASA Show exhibitors with a new product at the Show, entry into the awards brings immediate benefits with nominated products showcased in an Innovation Gallery inside the entrance to the show. Products are then judged on the show floor by a panel of exp

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14 March 2016

This award has become the 'Grammy' of the Musical Instrument and Pro Audio industries. Fifity-eight music press magazine from all over the globe cast their vote to make Genelec winner of the category.

The 8000 Series of near-field, two-way systems took two years to develop. It features a new approach to enclosure design; driver technology and active electronics to further reduce distortion and provide an outstanding performance.

All three models in the 8000 series feature die-cast aluminium, minimum diffraction enclosures (MDE) which have large internal volumes, softly curved edges and outstanding strength to help reduce linear and non-linear distortion. They also incorporate Advanced Directivity

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14 March 2016

At ProLight & Sound, the EtherSound development team delivered on a key milestone: a proof of performance demonstration of the new ES-Giga System Transport technology, which is optimized for the expanded bandwidth of Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ab). The demo ran throughout the show, and showcased an Ethernet network handling both PCM digital audio and control data.

"ES-Giga is a System Transport technology because in addition to 512 channels of PCM audio data, it offers a dedicated 100 Mpbs for generic Ethernet data traffic," explains business development manager Jimmy Kawalek. "This allows ES-Giga users to run a variety of software programs that monitor and control devices fr

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14 March 2016

A dynamic range of international bands and artists included Goldfrapp, Anthony & The Johnsons, Bloc Party, Razorlight, Judas Priest, The Scorpions, The Cure and comedian Ricky Gervais who opened the week long event.

Entec Sound has serviced the event for the last six years and seen it grow from a single night to the six gig event it is today. Over the years they have sussed out the nuances of the venue and fine tuned the art of creating a successful sound design. However, the major sonic challenge still remains - ensuring the system sounds equally as good for the different performance genres - from

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14 March 2016

Directed by David Leveaux, Sinatra opened in March and is realised via a hybrid of technology and live action. The production mixes video footage of ol' blue eyes himself with a live band (music arranged by Gareth Valentine), accompanied by live backing singers and dancers (choreographed by Stephen Mear).

Bridge's brief was to create atmosphere and dimension for the 24 strong band and the live dancers - without upstaging Sinatra. However it was not easy to light the live performers when the leading man appears as a video image anything up to eight meters tall! Sinatra manifests on nine separate screens of va

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14 March 2016

In the mix at Musikmesse in hall 5.1 alongside other scene leaders such as Ableton, Apple and UDG, Pioneer hosted a grand stand in order to introduce the latest equipment. This included the exciting new digital DJ mixers, the DJM-400 and DJM-800, as well as the new range of CDJ CD decks, the CDJ-800Mk2s and CDJ-1000Mk3s. Aside from this future-proof DJ hardware, Pioneer's new DJS software was also available for examination alongside the new industrial strength DVD player, the robust and re

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14 March 2016

The M4 is a visually discreet, 2-way high performance stage monitor employing an integrated 15" /1.3" exit coaxial driver with a CD horn and passive crossover network. In its standard 50° x 70° dispersion configuration it provides an accurately defined coverage area on stage and when used upright it is transformed into a powerful PA system. The M4 can optionally be operated in 2-way active mode by changing the d&b D12 amplifier's configuration without any modifications to the loudspeaker. For its compact dimension and mere 20 kg (44 lb) it produces an incredible 138 or 140 dB SPL when driven in passive or active mode respective

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14 March 2016

Following on from Brussels and Las Vegas, this year's event took place for the first time in Rimini, Italy, in conjunction with the SIB light and sound trade fair. The conference again included the presentation of the ILDA Awards, which honour the best laser shows of the year, considered to be not only to be the laser show industry's Oscars, but also the most objective yardstick as to the state of la

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14 March 2016

Since the launch of the W8L, Martin Audio has developed a patent pending technology, which provides an exceptional degree of control over the curvature of the high frequency vertical wavefront. Research has shown that even very long-throw systems benefit from a small, but specific amount of wavefront curvature. By coupling this technology with significant advances in high frequency device design Martin Audio have created a quad-driver, high frequency system with an impressive 10dB greater output capability over the W8L.

This additional high frequency headroom all

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14 March 2016

The annual MusikMesse International Press Award ceremony (MIPA) now in its seventh year is one of the most anticipated events at MusikMesse; Europe's largest professional music industry tradeshow located in Frankfurt. MIPA is widely regarded as the most prestigious music industry awards with fifty eight magazines from all over the world nominating three products in each of forty categories before finally choosing each category winner.

Digidesign's ICON D-Control worksurface received the award for the best product of 2005/2006 in the Mixing Desk (High End) category beating other nominees AMS Neve88D and SSL AWS900. In the final awar

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14 March 2016

The iF (Industrie Forum Design e.V.), based in Hannover, provides a broad range of design-related services. Since 1953 it has become known worldwide for its annual iF design award competition. This year a total of almost 2000 product entries from 37 countries were submitted. The award means that Bosch is permitted to use the iF label on the WAP unit in recognition of the company's commitment to innovation and meeting customers' requirements.

In addition to the WAP unit, the DCN Wireless Discussion System comprises three different types of wireless discussion units and a central control unit. The system requires

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14 March 2016

In 1997, N&M (one of the largest event technology suppliers in Europe) challenged Kling & Freitag to develop a small, lightweight and economical speaker for speech applications. In the spring of 1998, say K&F, the CA 106 took part in a comparative test with products from other manufacturers and emerged as the winner. Since then, N&M have added around 350 of the speakers to its hire stock. "The CA 106 is incredibly reliable. Most of the damage to them results from negligent use," says Michael Mande, technical director of N&M.

To date, the CA 106 has seen success in more than 30 countries around the world, say K&F.

(Lee Baldock)

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14 March 2016

KV2's Jonathan Reece-Farren says that the system looked quite out of place being so small in comparison to the mass of arrays and subs around it - so much so, that he had to point out which were the KV2 speakers before each demonstration. Using only two flown VHD 2.0 mid/high enclosures per side, with accompanying subs on the ground, they proceeded to "amaze all that heard it" say KV2.

Reece-Farren commented: "We've all waited a long time for this, but the reaction from those who came along has made it all worthwhile. In

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14 March 2016

What that TV audience could not have seen, however, was the complex work needed to distribute audio to the 35,000 artists, athletes, VIPs and other guests inside Turin's Stadio Olimpico - or how that work was made all the more difficult by the demands of television.

The audio show designer for the opening and closing ceremonies, Gary Hardesty of Sound Media Fusion, originally conceived a conventional FOH system which would have seen line-array clusters hung either side of the stage, with additional arrays being flown at various points further down the area, each one bei

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14 March 2016

The hosts (Solihull Society of Arts) and organisers (UKSLC.ORG - UK Sound and Lighting Community) have assembled a top team of leading UK console manufacturers to deliver training on the latest lighting desks and entertainment technology throughout the day.

Compulite, MA, Chamsys, ETC, Zero 88 and Robe are providing a wide variety of lighting control equipment for attendees to use, and their staff will be on hand to answer questions from console operators at all levels of experience.

The training sessions are designed to cater for everyone from drama pupils wishing to learn about 'real world' performance technology, to freelancers who want to practice on new consoles, and seasoned LX operator

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14 March 2016

The art director and writer was Moneer Al Quatani, while the scenography was by the International Theatre of Dubai. Other major suppliers included Tony Shembish's Avolites Middle East, supplying lighting consultancy, Avolites lighting desks and High End moving head fixtures; Sound & L

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14 March 2016

The IL 60-CT is a compact 6.5"/ ¾" ceiling speaker with a handling capacity of 40 watts RMS for typical installations in foyers, boutiques, bars, shopping malls or even airports and public buildings. For music applications requiring extended bass, HK AUDIO offers the IL 80-CT with 8" speaker, ¾" tweeter and a power-handling capacity of 60 watts RMS. In the third ceiling model, the IL 60-CTC, also a 6.5" model, the speaker is enclosed in a sturdy steel housing.

In addition to the ceiling models, HK Audio also offers two new value-priced two-way speakers

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14 March 2016

Sharing centre stage among the numerous new products on display were the four new amplifier series from Dynacord and Midas' first digital console, the XL8, which was making its world debut. The new flagship of the live console range, which had long been awaited with keen anticipation, caught the eye of all visitors and was the subject of a detailed presentation to representatives of the music trade.

Following the maxim "Never change a winning team", EVI Audio and the Mus

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14 March 2016

Contracts won with cruise and ferry lines can be among the most lucrative in the world: there is currently $14.2 billion being invested in new-build activity and numbers in the cruise ship orderbook are at their highest since 2002. There is also renewed strength in the region's shipbuilding industry and the refurbishment and re-equipment sectors are also experiencing a growth surge.

The presentation, led by Seatrade MD Chris Hayman, will cover the opportunities that exist for PLASA Members in the cruise sector and the value of attending the Seatrade Med exhibition in Naples in October where f

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14 March 2016

In addition to the exhibition, a busy programme of guest speakers will lighting designers Durham Marenghi and Peter Barnes, Roger Barrett of Star Events Group, structural engineer Peter Hind and general manager of the PSA, Andy Lenthall, who will be taking time out of their busy schedules to provide informal seminars on topics including Live 8, the 2006 Torino Olympic Games, new Noise at Work regulations and designing truss structures.

A.C. Lighting says that places for the seminars are limited so to avoid disappointment pre-register today

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14 March 2016

Olma created a massive lighting system with more than 100 moving lights - including a total of 40 Clay Paky Stage Zoom 1200 - and 320 conventional Fixtures, as well as complex architectural lighting with LED RGB colour changers, 4 kW Xenon and 2.5 kW HTI fixtures. To control the whole lighting system he used a grandMA full-size and a grandMA light as a back up.

Olma and his programmer Manuel Da Costa gained access to the full lighting system only one day before the show went Live 'on air', so they had little time

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14 March 2016

Martin Clark acted as project manager for a team of 40, who completed their first circuit of the course on the Saturday, installing the structures across the course in potentially hazardous conditions before the road closures came into force. Martin's experience working on the race over the past 12 years was a great advantage in liaising with organiser and the police to prepare the structures and co-ordinate the operation across 36 hours on site.

Lucy McCrickard, director of LGM Consultancy, has organised 11 London Marathons and explained the

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14 March 2016

The Sinus for the Information category was awarded to Erwin Schenk, the technical manager of The Zentrum Paul Klee centre in Bern, Switzerland, and to Christian Simmen the project manager of John Lay Electronics. The Zentrum Paul Klee was designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano and is one of his most striking buildings. It distinguishes itself from traditional museums in being not just the h