Events

Symetrix processes Jazz in the Valley

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - For the past ten years, the little town of Ellensburg, WA has lit up with the sweet sound of jazz for one July weekend. Dubbed 'Jazz in the Valley', the event attracted ever-growing crowds in the early years until officials put a clamp on the maximum number of attendees to preserve the intimate feel of their 10 stages. Now tickets sell out months in advance and bands clamber to join the roster.

The sound system on the main stage has grown as well. Musicians were self-amplified the first year. In the nine years that followed, FOH engineer Mike Bruce evolved his system to keep pace with the size of the crowd and the technical sophistication of the performing bands. The main stage at this year's Jazz in the Valley boasted 15,000 Watts and digital signal processing from Symetrix' Integrator Series - the Deuce 722.

Bruce replaced six rack spaces of analogue processing with th

Pharos LPC adds the X-factor at PLASA07

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Pharos Architectural Controls is introducing the LPC X, a big brother to the award-winning LPC1 and LPC2. This Lighting Playback Controller offers capacities up to a massive 100 DMX universes from a single unit, taking control for large installations to a whole new level, says the company.

The LPC X supports a variety of control protocols to suit different project needs, including DMX-over-Ethernet standards such as Pathport, ArtNet, ETCNet2 and Streaming ACN. Also provided are DVI and Firewire DV outputs for integrating with arrays of fixtures that require video-based control.

There is also a framework in place to support custom protocols for bespoke projects. Multiple different protocols can be output simultaneously from a single unit giving synchronised control across an installation and making the LPC X a flexible answer for large-scale control.

Pharos has also anno

https://www.claypaky.it/products/ultimo-hybrid/

Lighthouse goes eventing in Hong Kong

Details: 14 March 2016

Hong Kong - With the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing next summer, a series of sporting events entitled Good Luck Beijing began in July of this year to mark the final, year-long countdown to the Games. One of the most high profile events was the HKSAR 10th Invitation Cup Eventing Competition in Hong Kong and Lighthouse Technologies and the leading LED media design company Demiurge Unit took part.

Held at the equestrian venues in Shatin and the Beas River Country Club on 11 and 13 August, the event was divided into two classes for international competitors and Hong Kong riders to compete in dressage, cross-country and jumping. It was also part of the celebrations to mark the passing of a decade since the establishment of Hong Kong being a Special Administrative Region of China.

Featured prominently at this high profile event was the Multimedia Information Systems

Arena Structures offer Chelmsford shelter

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Best known in the sports and corporate hospitality world, Arena Structures strapped on a guitar and turned its amps up to 11 for a stroll into rock and pop territory this August. The company provided over 40 structures for the V Festival site at Hylands Park in Chelmsford.

Providing everything from crew catering structures to the spectacularly themed Virgin hospitality area, project manager Mark Shelley installed a wide range of structures across the large site. They were a welcome shelter to crew, artists, audience and guests alike, as one of the rainiest festival seasons in recent memory drew to a damp close.

(Jim Evans)

ISCE offers loop certification course

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - ISCE's new certification course for the design and installation of induction loop systems is intended to overcome the growing problem of badly designed and poorly installed Induction loop systems, many of which are not set up or commissioned correctly in accordance with the requisite standards.

The problem, which has been brought to the attention of the local authorities, RNID, and raised in Parliament (motion by Tom Levitt MP, Labour, 2 July 2007), stems from unqualified persons designing and fitting induction loops using, seemingly low cost, equipment now available from electrical wholesalers, online stores and even stationery supplier catalogues.

To ensure that a system is installed professionally, meets the recommendations of BS 7594, as well as the requirements IEC/EN 60118-4 and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), all installers should be trained and competent.

Electro-Voice adds new wireless system

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - The new REV professional wireless system from Electro-Voice offers an array of high tech features, including an optimised analogue audio path developed with Digital Audio Labs to provide "the truest representation of a wired microphone sound possible in a wireless system"

REV-Link PC software enables remote monitoring, control and programming over a CAN bus connection through an Electro-Voice UCC-1 converter or Electro-Voice Netmax N8000.

Factory set channel groups allow up to 16 systems to operate simultaneously in one frequency band. Programmable in 25kHz steps across 24MHz operating bandwidth, there are over 950 possible channels so users can always find a clear channel. Advanced ClearScan automatic group and channel selection allows quick, simple setup, says the company.

REV offers two handheld options - a stylish metal compact handle for concert and

Mojo trans-Atlantic service to V Festivals

Details: 14 March 2016

UK/USA - Mojo Barriers were called in to supply the crowd management barriers for the main stages at both UK sites of the V Festival - Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park, Staffordshire. At the same time, it worked in Baltimore's Pimlico Racecourse for the US version of the event.

The company has worked at the UK festival for many years, but, as always, V Festival production manager Tony Wheeler of Nine Yards Ltd, alongside promoters Metropolis and SJM, decided to take a long, hard look at other products available for the 2007 events.

Following the review, Mojo was delighted to be invited back to provide barriers for the festivals' most demanding areas, the main stages, where organisers needed complete confidence in the ability of the barrier to handle the large crowd pressures.

Mojo Barriers' US service was the choice for the festival's twin event in Baltimore, USA. T

Power Logistics at V 2007

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Power Logistics supplied all of the power and site lighting to the V Festival in Hylands Park, with a team of 15 installing 25km of cabling and distro to carry the power from 103 generators around the Essex site. In the region of 70,000 litres of fuel were used to power everything from cash point machines up to the main stage's PA, lighting and screens.

More than 6km of festoon lighting lit temporary roadways and footpaths for the 70,000 music fans and the production team that transformed Hylands Park into a festival town for the weekend of music. Power Logistics used shatterproof light bulbs on the festoon, minimising the environmental impact to the park.

Managing director Pete Wills commented: "This year's festival has grown and the layout has been changed from previous years. Once again, Maztech created a well-managed festival behind the scenes and the fans certai

Blitz assists Lacoste at Science Museum

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Blitz, part of the Blitz Charter Group, was commissioned for the second consecutive year by fashion footwear label Lacoste to provide AV design, equipment and support to showcase its Spring/Summer 2008 shoe collection which was launched at the Science Museum in London.

Following a successful partnership with Lacoste in 2006, Blitz says it was delighted to have the opportunity to showcase its technical abilities once again in providing a total AV solution at the event.

The Science Museum's impressive 26 x 9m IMAX screen provided the backdrop for the Lacoste images. Blitz combined the use of theEncore and Watchout systems with four new Panasonic HD DW10000 projectors and added LED Par 90 lights to powerfully project Lacoste's images throughout the event.

Andy Simister, president of Lacoste Footwear comments: "The entire team at Blitz contributed to the phenomenal suc

TMB at PLASA 07

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - TMB will be exhibiting at PLASA 07 with partners A&O Technologies and Global Design Solutions.

A&O will introduce a new, "revolutionary Falcon xenon fixture", details of which will be revealed at the show. Also showing will be the complete range of Falcon fixtures by Alpha One of Germany. Falcon high-power, compact fixtures are designed for architectural and portable use. Xenon and Metal Halide models are available, in static or automated versions, IP-rated for outdoor use.

Global Design Solutions (GDS) will debut the GDS E System - a complete emergency lighting system, developed from the strengths of GDS's Blues System - and the E-System Dimmable Exit Signs, recently installed in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and at the Royal Court Theatre, London. Also showing will be the GDS Blues System, exclusively distributed by TMB worldwide.

Interactive Te

Creative Technology at PLASA 07

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Creative Technology has announced that it will be exhibiting at PLASA 07, in Earls Court 2 on stand J83, where it will be exhibiting some of the latest display technology from its rental stock. The company's experts will be available on stand to discuss your forthcoming projects or any queries you might have.

Creative Technology will feature a selection of interesting products on its stand, including the first UK showing of the revolutionary NOVA LED 3D display. In addition, the company will have "an assortment of state of the art display technology covering the entire spectrum from 3D to HD".

See Creative Technology at PLASA 07 - Stand J83.

(Lee Baldock)

Element Labs add glamour to Motor Show

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - When the 62nd edition of the International Motor Show (IAA) opens its doors on 13 September, Element Labs' Stealth LED display solution will be there to add glamour to the booths of some of the world's foremost automotive manufacturers. IAA Passenger Cars is the biggest trade show for cars and accessories in Europe. It is held every two years and in 2005 the show attracted 900,000 visitors, with attendance expected to be as high again this year.

Over the past few years, Element Labs Stealth LED displays have appeared on many of the world's biggest car shows. From Frankfurt to Paris and Detroit, Element Labs has created backdrops to help manufacturers launch their latest, flashiest models and concept cars to an audience of industry press, visitors and prospective customers alike.

At this year's IAA, just over 600sq.m of Element Labs StealthLED displays will again form

Stampede sound with Sound Art & EV

Details: 14 March 2016

Canada - As the largest outdoor rodeo in the world and one of the biggest shows on the Canadian calendar, the Calgary Stampede attracts well over a million visitors during its ten days in July. In addition to rodeo competitions, the Stampede programme runs the gamut from chuckwagon races to agricultural exhibits and all kinds of entertainment events on numerous stages.

Sound Art Calgary deploys a wide range of equipment from Electro-Voice to meet the Stampede's varied sound reinforcement needs, from compact Sx and Zx speakers on stands to the X-Line, XLC-DVX and XLD line-arrays flown for the Grandstand shows in front of 30,000 people, with headliners including INXS and Collective Soul. Midas mixing consoles and Klark Teknik EQs complete the picture.

"We've used EV speakers for every one of the 12 years I've been involved in these events," says Dan Frerichs, general m

K.M.E. rocks at Swiss festival

Details: 14 March 2016

Switzerland - The 16th Rock Oz'Arènes festival from 15 to 18 August featured more than 40 acts including Joe Cocker, Stephan Eicher, Jimmy Cliff and Nine Inch Nails, and attracted a record crowd of 35.000.

Jaccoud Music Electronic was responsible for sound and stage equipment of the event. For the reinforcement of the Scène Casino, Christian Jaccoud chose the K.M.E. PANO line array. The Casino stage was equipped with seven PANO line-array tops QL 906 and a QL 1215 each side. As subwoofers he used six cardioid QCB 318s.

Christian Jaccoud reports, "The system providing perfect coverage of the 12m wide stage through QL 906 in combination with QL 1215 was amazing. No front or near-fills were necessary."

(Jim Evans)

New Exhibitors Boost PLASA07

Details: 14 March 2016

PLASA07 organisers PLASA Events have announced a record number of new exhibitors for this year's show, with over 50 companies exhibiting either for the first time or returning after an absence.The show, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has been radically re-drawn with the former two-level, single hall layout changed to a single-level, two hall format. New facilities include quiet meeting and wi-fi areas and four seminar theatres, where special interest and manufacturer-led sessions will be free for the first time.PLASA is confident that this year's show (which runs from the 9-12 September at Earls Court), will break its previous record of over 500 new product launches. "New products are the number one attraction for visitors," comments Event Director Nicky Rowland. "And with over 50 new products submitted for the PLASA Awards for Innovation, it underlines t

Lighthouse welcomes Tall Ships home

Details: 14 March 2016

Poland - Throughout July and early August, the Baltic Sea was home to one of the most spectacular annual maritime events, the Tall Ships Race. Starting at the Danish port of Århus, the ships sailed to Kotka in Finland, then the Swedish capital Stockholm, before finishing the season at Szczecin in Poland, where two large Lighthouse LED screens were in place to greet the ships and their crews.

"According to one popular Polish saying 'It's not necessary for a man to eat, but to sail - it is,'" laughs Rafael Kociemski of Polish screen company Wizja Sp. "That is how important an event the Tall Ships is to Szczecin."

Proof of this was provided by a crowd of 1.5 million which came to admire the ships in Szczecin harbour, making it the largest Polish outdoor event of 2007. In total over 200 ships took part, accompanied by a wide variety of other attractions, perfo

Floods force Deco Leisure out of PLASA Show

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Due to circumstances beyond their control, Deco Leisure Group has been forced to pull outof the forthcoming PLASA Show at Earls Court.

The company suffered severe damage to its Birmingham manufacturing plant during the recent floods in the UK, and had hoped to have time to recover from the damage. However, the situation was exacerbated by a reoccurrence of the drainage problems over the week-end of 1 September, prompting CEO Sammy DeHavilland to make a formal statement:

"We consider the PLASA Exhibition to be the most important in the calendar; however the recent flooding has forced us to focus on the continuity of supply to our customers, rather then attending the show - it has become obvious we cannot do both.

DeHavilland explained: "Ironically the main problem, which involves the run-off of excess water from the site, was not our responsibility until last y

Scout movement celebrates with HK Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - To celebrate the scout movement's 100th anniversary, 5,000 members of the UK South Coast Movement, recently came together in Hampshire in the south of England. The programme of the open-air event at the New Forest Showground in Hampshire featured speeches, presentations, theatre performances and a performance by the Gosport Gang Show, supported by a 5-piece live band.

These diverse demands presented a challenge for Guy Morris of MLS, the local rental company. For this event, he required a sound system that could do a top job of reproducing speech, prerecorded music, and live music equally well over a large area. He chose the HK Audio Cohedra Compact line array and set up eight CDR 108s and four CDR 210 subwoofers on each side of the stage, and powered them with three matching PR8 amp racks with digital field controllers.

Due to the width of the stage, two ConTour Series C

Event Concept lights <I>A Soldier's Story</I>

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Production company Event Concept has designed the lighting for the National Army Museum's ground-breaking exhibition Helmand: A Soldier's Story. The exhibition recreates the experiences of soldiers in the troubled Helmand Province of Afghanistan and is believed to be the first to explain a conflict while it is still unfolding. The idea for this powerful exhibition came from the first NATO troops who entered the Province and it has been built, written and contributed to by them.

Describing his approach, Event Concept's designer Dan Terry says: "I wanted a rise and fall in lighting levels as visitors walk through the space as well as contrasts in colour; the open areas are lit in bright desert tones, while the buildings are more darkly atmospheric, with strands of brilliant white light to recreate sunbeams through windows. As many of the displays have written expl

New Trix from XL for Mercury Music Prize

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - XL Video supplied 254 panels of Barco MiTrix video screen and Catalyst media server control for the 2007 Nationwide Mercury Music Prize Awards, staged at London's Grosvenor House.

It was the first time that scenic video has been used on the event. The MiTrix was specified by lighting and visual designer Nigel Catmur, who has lit the show for the last four years, and wanted to introduce a new contemporary look. The show was broadcast "as live" on BBC radio and television, and was won by The Klaxons with their album Myths of The Near Future.

With 11 of the 12 nominated artists performing live, the video element added to the dynamics and presentation of the show, ensuring that each band's set looked different.

Richard Turner came onboard as video designer and programmer to work with Catmur in producing special content for the show. They also collaborated c

L&SI's digital edition goes live

Details: 14 March 2016

International - The first digital edition of Lighting&Sound International magazine goes live today, on the eve of the 2007 PLASA Show.

Timed to coincide with both the PLASA 07 and the re-launch of the popular LSI Online website, L&SI's digital edition will offer an easily navigable and fully searchable on-screen version of the familiar magazine, accessible for subscribers anywhere there is Internet access, as soon as the magazine is published.

The digital edition will allow PLASA Media to significantly increase the global circulation of Lighting&Sound International magazine.

Available free to industry professionals worldwide, the digital edition will boost readership, particularly in developing markets where the cost of subscriptions has previously been an obstacle, and equally in far-flung territories where

Successful summer tours embace Aviom

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - As many music fans, historians and Baby Boomers celebrated the 40th anniversary of 'The Summer of Love', high-profile concert events across America made 2007 'The Summer of Aviom', suggests the company. Aviom's personal monitor mixing system and digital snakes have found a niche among musicians and live sound professionals working the summer's biggest music events the world over.

Trevor Lawrence, Jr. used his custom Aviom monitor rig on stage while playing drums with Alicia Keys at the Live Earth concert in New Jersey. Meanwhile, in the cradle of American independence, Philadelphia, hometown heroes Hall & Oates treated the rain-soaked 4th of July crowd with an outstanding 90-minute performance of their greatest hits. Broadcast live on ABC television, the whole band used Aviom personal mixers for their monitors.

Summer concerts in the park are becoming more popular throug

Smoke Factory back at PLASA 07

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Smoke Factory of Hannover, Germany, has been regarded as an "innovator in fog" for almost 20 years. Their first appearance at the PLASA Show was in 1990, followed by hundreds of successful UK installations, from major West End musicals to the Imperial War Museum.

Florian von Hofen, owner of Smoke Factory, comes from a practical special effects and touring background himself and as a result has always concentrated on developing equipment for live and touring professionals. Many of his innovations have become features of fog machines today: transportability, 0-10V control, radio remote control, DMX interfacing, flow control and "permanent ready" function to name a few.

In its home market Smoke Factory machines are an industry standard to any rental company. Europe's largest rental company, Procon, has recently standardised on 'Captain D' as its fogger of

Theatres Act on CO2 at PLASA 07

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - A seminar chaired by Mhora Samuel, director of The Theatres Trust, will highlight what leading theatre owners are doing to limit the carbon footprint of their venues - and what the industry can do to help. The seminar will take place at the forthcoming PLASA Show in London.

Following the Kyoto Protocol, the UK Government set a goal for CO2 emission reductions at 20% below the 1990 level by 2010. With the Climate Change Act due to be in place by Easter 2008 all businesses are being asked to play their part. Many theatres are aware that reducing emissions also helps to reduce their energy bills and are taking action now.

At this seminar, organised by The Theatres Trust, Dr Ben Todd, executive director of Arcola Theatre and Natalie Lewis, group operations co-ordinator of Ambassador Theatre Group, will talk about their plans to reduce CO2 emissions in their theatres and what

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