USA - In a high-profile tropical event, sound reinforcement company Rent-A-Amp recently provided the live audio system for the Plymouth Jazz Festival, held on the Caribbean island of Tobago. The three-day festival featured numerous world-class acts, including Elton John, Al Green, Earth Wind & Fire, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J and Diana Ross.

Now in its third year, the Plymouth Jazz Festival brings together legendary performers from around the globe for a unique concert setting. The Festival grounds are located on the coast of Tobago, with the island paradise providing a scenic backdrop to accompany the talent on stage. With a 5,000-person audience extending to 300ft from the stage, providing even coverage with high fidelity throughout the seating area was a significant challenge.

To overcome these obstacles, Rent-A-Amp deployed a JBL Vertec system with 16 VT4889 large-format lin

UK - Riedel Communications has added several new products to its Performer digital partyline intercom series. The world's first digital partyline intercom system featuring high-quality digital audio now provides two and four-channel master stations, rack-mount, wall-mount and desktop speaker stations, call light indicators and two-channel beltpack headset stations.

The new Performer master stations CR-4 (4-channel) and CR-2 (2-channel) are designed for setting up a stand-alone digital partyline system. Depending on the setup, the integrated power supply of the 19"/1RU device can power up to 32 Performer devices - such as beltpacks, split-boxes or desktop speaker stations - per line. Additional power-supplies expand the possibilities.

The remote mic-kill function allows the user to silence any open microphone on the intercom channels. The CR-4/CR-2 features an additional p

UK - APB Dynasonics will be exhibiting at PLASA this year on the stand of its newly appointed UK and Eire distributor - Resolution Distribution (part of KV2Audio in the UK).

APB DynaSonics is an audio manufacturing company based in Totowa, New Jersey with the mission to design and build high performance analogue live performance mixing consoles offering superior sound quality in fixed and touring applications.

Chuck Augustowski, John Petrucelli and Taz Bhogal, leading audio designers with over 65 years of combined experience, founded APB in 2004 to bring analogue consoles to the next generation of development. Their expertise has produced innovative products such as the Spectra-C and Spectra-T consoles, and MixSwitch, all designed and manufactured in the United States.

On the stand will be the Spectra-Ti, a high performance analogue VCA console available with 24, 32, 40, 48

UK - Beyerdynamic will be taking part in the PLASA 07 four day DJ programmes. The company will be presenting, demonstrating and offering an opportunity to try out a 'plug and play' PA which highlights the versatility and intelligibility of its Dynacord D-Lite product range and the versatility and audible quality of the Dynacord XA2 system.

The seminar will last one-and-a-half hours on Monday 10 September from 1-2.30pm. It will be run using beyerdynamic radio microphones and Dynacord mixing desk and will be open to DJ's and dealers and anyone looking for simple cost effective solutions.

(Jim Evans)

UK - During a two-day workshop (10-11 September) at PLASA 07, a Columbus McKinnon representative will discuss the proper use of CM Lodestar products. He will also lead participants in hands-on disassembly and reassembly of a one ton CM Lodestar motor and discuss maintenance and troubleshooting techniques.

A Tomcat Representative will discuss the basics of truss theory, use and design. The workshop will emphasise safety and usage. Demonstrations of load scenarios and truss inspection will also be featured.

(Jim Evans)

UK - As part of what has by now become a PLASA Show institution, Litestructures, Le Maitre, Wembley Loudspeaker and Adam Hall will be hosting a Real Music Get Down And Dirty Party at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, on the evening of Tuesday 11 September.

If the chance to see many of the industry's elder statesmen acting like 18-year olds doesn't exactly float your boat, how does Uncle Bull, Bobby Tench, Papa George and the Adam Hall band laying down some classic R'n'B grab you?

Tickets are available from any of the above mentioned companies during the show. Enjoy one of the special house cocktails on the night. We're told that this year, it will probably be lager and lime. Again.

(Jim Evans)

UK Designed for schools, houses of worship, hotels, event organisers and more, IntelliStage Portable Stage Systems are billed as "the ultimate in portablilty and convenience". They consist of modular, lightweight platforms and risers that can be combined to create customised stages in various heights and configurations.

Easily assembled by a single person, each platform and riser are fastened together using an internal locking system and each platform can bear weight up to 185 lbs./sq.ft (900 KGS/sq.m).

Disassembly and storage are equally convenient. IntelliStage systems are available in kits with an optional compact storage flight case featuring integrated casters.

Platforms and risers are also available on an individual basis. Optional upgrade accessories like storage carts for larger systems and stage skirts are also available.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - The Red Flowers of Baudelaire at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, was a spectacular light show for the Hugo Boss party held during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Lighting designer Gert Hof commissioned A&O Lighting Technology to act as technical service providers for the event.

A&O delivered 77 Alpha One Falcon Beam 3,000W xenon lights for the show, arranged in four concentric circles with an external diameter of 12m. Behind this ring formation, 16 alpha one Falcon Beam 7,000W luminaires were arranged in a line. Also, 90 Sky Falcon Arc Colour 1,200W metal halide fixtures illuminated the front façade and the interior courtyard. A&O Technology also supplied the requisite controllers for the system, as well as 30sq.m of VersaTile LED panels and media content.

A&O's in-house media department, A&O Vision, carried out the technical planning, visualisation and pre-pr

UK - Over the past year, RCF has not only introduced a large number of ground breaking new products, but has now, launched the company on the Italian stock exchange with an annual turner over of €50 million.

At PLASA 07, RCF will be presenting a whole roster of new products. The TT 31-A is a 'mini' size two-way system, delivering very high output and dynamics plus extreme accuracy and high frequency extension. With its compact size the TTL31-A is suitable for indoor applications, live performances and multi- media events. The TTL12-AS active sub is a complement to the TTL31-A array module. The band-pass design promises the maximum output per size, the 4" voice coil vented design woofer offering the minimum of power compression.

RCF's Acustica P Series, coaxial weatherproof speaker systems are a new addition to the RCF Acustica range of 'Audio Contractor' installation spe

UK - Duran Audio will once again be exhibiting its AXYS brand of products at PLASA07 Show. A wide variety of products from the AXYS Intellivox and Target ranges will be on show. In addition to this the company will be previewing its second generation of self powered AXYS sound reinforcement products that boast on board Digital Signal Processing and advanced driver technologies.

During the Show, Dr Evert Start, from Duran Audio's R&D team, will be hosting a seminar entitled Modern Loudspeaker Array Theories and Technologies. The seminar will take place on Tuesday 11 September in lecture theatre 3, from 10.30am - 12.00pm.

The seminar will cover the basic physics of loudspeaker arrays and show how the directivity of loudspeaker arrays can be altered using 'beam steering' or Digital Directivity Technologies. "We will also investigate how these technologies can help ach

USA - InfoComm International and NSCA have announced a cooperative effort to consolidate their industry events. As part of this consolidation, the 2008 NSCA Systems Integration Expo will now become part of InfoComm's annual trade show in Las Vegas, 18-20 June 2008. NSCA will also transfer its ownership interest in Integrated Systems Europe to the remaining partners, as per a separate operating agreement.

According to Chuck Wilson, executive director of NSCA: "This is simply a huge deal for our industry and one we have been discussing for at least ten years. It's exciting to finally be able to say yes to the hundreds of shared exhibitors and attendees of both trade shows who have been asking for us to do this."

As part of further event consolidation, InfoComm will discontinue its Executive Business Conference and become a primary sponsor of the 2008 NSCA Business Conf

UK - Harlequin will be exhibiting its Flying Ballet Wagon at PLASA 2007, developed in conjunction with the German company, Hoac. Designed originally for Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam who needed to remove and set out their dance floor easily and quickly but were faced with an old ballet wagon, which required extensive manpower and time to assemble.

Harlequin Liberty sprung panels already in use at the theatre had proved popular with dancers, so the solution was to build them into a new mobile wagon, retained by a special system allowing them to be stored vertically in the fly tower, but also ensuring that they perform exactly as intended when horizontal on the stage floor.

See Harlequin at PLASA on stand D73.

(Jim Evans)

UK - PLASA07 (9-12 September, Earls Court, London) will be unlike any PLASA Show you've visited before. There'll be an impressive new layout, some great new features and 100s of new products for every sector of the industry - including the latest advances in analogue and digital audio, architectural and effects lighting, AV and display technologies, integrated systems, staging, rigging and a whole host of support products and services. And with over 50 new exhibitors taking part, many of these will be from companies not previously seen at PLASA.

There's also an expanded educational programme with many sessions FREE to visitors. These include Special Interest sessions from BEIRG, InfoComm International and the Theatres Trust, plus specialist sessions from Cirque du Soleil, Duran Audio and Wireless Solutions.

Cast Software will host a series of exclusive training sessions

UK - For lighting the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium, LD Steve Nolan used two grandMA full-size and four MA NSPs. During the show the two full-size ran in full-tracking backup mode.

"We used ESP vision linked by MA-Net to visualise our programming during the day," explained Ben Cracknell, associate lighting designer and programmer. "We loaded in on Monday, began programming on Thursday evening and did the show on Sunday. I was very impressed by the grandMA and how it performed on this show.

"We were able to link both consoles together in multiuser-mode, which meant whilst I was operating the show we could use the second board to inhibit or lift intensities. This was necessary to fit the camera requirements to ensure great pictures throughout the daylight hours, past sunset and into night time."

Amongst others 102 x VL3000 spots, 90 x VL6c, 80 x

UK - Building on 14 years of LED design and manufacturing expertise, Forge Europa has launched its Visible Solutions division, offering "the complete solution to your solid state lighting needs".

Visible Solutions combines Forge Europa's knowledge and expertise in the design, development and manufacture of LED components with the latest PCB technology, thermal design, heat sinks, LED drivers and secondary optics to offer OEMs technically superior LED assemblies, says the company.

"Our lighting and illumination solutions are not only designed for purpose but thanks to one of the most sophisticated LED test laboratories in the UK, custom designs are proved and tested to the highest standards to ensure that electrical, optical and thermal characteristics are exactly to specification and perform correctly within the final application," says a spokesman.

To co

UK - Ableton Live 6 tutorials have been added to the DJ Magazine sponsored seminar programme at PLASA 07. As well as the Torq range of DJ products, M-Audio is demonstrating music creation software Ableton Live 6 in the DJ Magazine sponsored seminar programme at PLASA 07.

All the Torq and other M-Audio DJ products, including Xponent, Trigger Finger and X-Session Pro, will be demonstrated, with the tutorials and workshops upstairs in the Cromwell Suite on level 2. The Ableton Live 6 tutorials will take place at 11am on Sunday 9 and Tuesday 11 September.

See M-Audio at PLASA 07 on stand N39.

(Jim Evans)

UK - This year's PLASA stand has been designed by lighting designer Vince Foster to showcase the innovative new PixelArt video batten.

PixelArt is a modular LED video product allowing designers to build their own custom display surfaces from a range of interconnecting modules. The first product in this new range is a 6 x 72 pixel linear batten with 15mm pitch. Data to each module is supplied by industry standard Cat 5 cable which connects to a master control unit and supports a variety of video input standards. Configuration software allows each module to be positioned at any point in the video space for ultimate flexibility.

PixelRange fixtures have featured on many high profile gigs this year, including the Live Earth shows across the world. The PixelLine 1044 is a design favourite and has earned its industry standard reputation.

Other new fixtures at PLASA include two Pix

UK - The Event Show has announced dates for next year's exhibition as the 2 and 24 January 2008 at Olympia in London. The organisers say bookings are 40% up on the same time last year.

Michelle Tayton, manager for the exhibition said: "The Event Show has continued to grow in stature and what is particularly exciting is the number of new exhibitors who have booked for 2008. Whilst re-bookings are high, we are always keen to attract new suppliers to keep the Show fresh and to offer our visitors new and unusual ideas for indoor and outdoor event organisers."

(Jim Evans)

UK - The Tryka range of LED luminaires and drivers has seen a noticeable expansion over recent times. Keeping up its trend for advanced product development, a new flexible LED system will be unveiled at PLASA07. The Flect-O-LED uses the new Luxeon Rebel LED for bright and endless colour mixing. Also available in an optic version to control the angle of the light output, the unit comes ready fitted on a heatsink, thus considerably reducing the installation time and number of accessories required.

A combination of drivers from the expanding IDS family of Intelligent Drive Systems will be used to run the lighting on the Tryka stand. This will include the latest addition to the family, the IDS-1, and a preview of the forthcoming Drivers with adjustable forward current to run the Rebel Flect-O-LED and K2 Strip Systems with far greater output.

See the Tryka range at PLASA07 - Stand

UK - For the first time, PLASA 07 is offering attendees the chance to register for both wysiwyg and Vivien workshops from Cast.

"Vivien is a most powerful, comprehensive software design tool available to meeting and event professionals, enabling users to produce a picture today of tomorrow's event," says a spokesman for Cast. "In this workshop at PLASA, you will learn how to create 2D room layouts, amazing virtual views, and spectacular, 3D photorealistic renderings for use in your eye-popping presentations." Using Vivien's Wizards and tools, attendees will quickly and easily design seating and table arrangements, pipe and drape, and video projection."

In the more advanced intermediate workshop, attendees will get a comprehensive look at inserting library items, applying textures, importing objects from third party programmes like AutoCAD and Google Sk

USA - With the heat index nearing 100 degrees each day, this year's Lollapalooza festival was another scorching three-day event with artists, bands and music fans from across the world converging on Chicago's Grant Park. Shure's SM58s, Beta 58As and other performance microphones were a mainstay on all of the festival stages, large and small, throughout the festival.

"With as many as five people singing at any one time, our vocals are really important, so naturally, Shure microphones are our top choice for vocals and we always insist on a Beta 58A whenever possible," said Mike Jasinski, guitarist/keyboardist for The 1900s. "We had a really good time at Lollapalooza and everybody said the sound was great."

Some of the acts using Shure gear included The 1900s, The Black Keys, G. Love & Special Sauce, M.I.A., My Morning Jacket, Patti Smith, Peter Bjorn and John

UK - Goboland will be releasing another 100 steel gobo designs at PLASA 07, bringing the total of catalogue designs to more than 1350 designs, including 1100 Steel Collection designs. Catalogues with the new designs will be available on the stand along with the newly revised price list.

This price list includes a lower price on full colour CMYK glass gobos. Already known for the high resolution of their images, Goboland glass gobos will soon be produced using a "unique organic dot process" which will give finer tonal representation to photographic images, both black and white and colour, says the company.

Goboland will be presenting their new gobo rotators for the first time. Offering counter- rotating gobos with an onboard manual control of speed and direction, the double gobo rotators can also be set to carry out pre-programmed effects using a simple system of dip-

Switzerland - The fifth annual Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition concluded during this year's Montreux Jazz Festival on 12 July. Over 60 aspiring artists representing 29 countries entered the competition. From them, eight candidates were invited to perform at the competition's semi-finals at the Petit Palais.

The event concluded with Cyrill-Aimée Daudel being awarded first prize and the public prize. Laura Brunner was awarded the second prize, followed by Jennifer Ledesna receiving third prize (all USA).

The competition jury was headed by jazz legend Al Jarreau for the second consecutive year who commented to all finalists: "All of you have already won. You found something which fills your lives with pride and joy - your heart for music."

Festival founder Claude Nobs hosted the award ceremony where the three finalists each received a Shure ULX/Beta 87 Wi

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