Installation

An artist’s impression of the new main hall

Colston Hall unveils £48m refurbishment plans

Details: 15 February 2017

UK - Bristol’s Colston Hall, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in September, has unveiled plans for a £48m refurbishment to make it a world-class music hub for the South West, February 8th, 2017.
The latest artist’s impressions of the ambitious project, which will involve remodelling and upgrading the Main Hall, Lantern cellars and historic foyer spaces to improve facilities for audiences and performers, have been revealed.
A public consultation exhibiting the new plans opened 8 February, 2017, and people are being invited to comment on the proposals before a formal planning application is submitted later this year.
The charitable trust which runs the city centre venue says the improvements will benefit artists and producers as well as audiences, improving the acoustics of the performance areas and opening up new venues in parts of the Colston Hall whic

The three levels of Vegas City Hall’s auditorium are covered by a combination of L-Acoustics units

L-Acoustics K2 gives flexibility to Moscow venue

Details: 15 February 2017

Russia - Opened in September 2016, Vegas City Hall is a multi-level, multi-function concert hall in the North West of the Russian capital of Moscow. Owned by the Crocus Group, the venue has been designed to be highly flexible, with different configurations accommodating a variety of events.
This flexibility needed to be reflected in the design of the audio system, with L-Acoustics loudspeakers providing a solution that delivers high quality sound system that can be reconfigured in under a half hour.
The audio system was designed and installed by Theatre Techniques and Technologies (TTT Group, Moscow), together with Sonoruss, certified provider of L-Acoustics products in Russia.
Vegas City Hall’s auditorium spans three levels in the form of an amphitheatre. In its standard configuration, used mainly for rock, pop and jazz concerts and children’s events, the ha

Theatres Trust awards small theatres grants

Details: 07 February 2017

UK - Theatres Trust is awarding six small capital grants to a range of theatres across the country from its UK Small Grants Scheme. Launched in April 2012, the Theatres Trust receives support from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Judy Craymer MBE awarding grants of up to £5,000 to theatres across the UK with charitable status to address urgent building repairs and help theatres in need and at risk.
Grants from the UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme are awarded as follows: The Place Theatre, Bedford; Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington; Leatherhead Theatre; Market Theatre, Ledbury; Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath; Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre, Workington.
Jon Morgan, director at the Theatres Trust said, “I’m proud that our UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme, now in its ninth round, continues to help theatres make significant improvements to secure and impr

Nexo arrays in historical Polish site

Details: 30 January 2017

Poland - Nexo's contemporary, compact loudspeakers are an aesthetically pleasing fit for one of Poland's most valued heritage sites, in the Church of the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, officially recognised as the largest castle in the world.

The Castle itself is a medieval fortress, completed in 1406, and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO 20 years ago. This year, as part of an extensive reconstruction programme in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, LAUDA Audio was asked to design and install a sound reinforcement system to support the permanent and temporary exhibitions that are to be hosted by this historic venue.

The church can accommodate around 300 people in its main hall, attending meetings and presentations, as well as concerts. However, with a ceiling height of 14 metres, the acoustics of this medieval building are demanding. Reverb time is a

VT20 systems reinforce Pioneer DJ alpha

Details: 30 January 2017

Germany - For the 20th anniversary of the biggest north German indoor festival of electronic music, Pioneer DJ alpha, over 50 national and international DJs such as Westbam, DJ Quicksilver, Charly Lownoise & Menthal Theo, Pulsedriver and Woody van Eyden and many more took part.

The sound of the Mainfloor including the VIPStage was realised with a VT20 system. Two arrays with two 12 VT20 and a cardioid bass array with 36x VS18 formed the main PA. The whole main PA was powered by only six Delta 20.4-DP system amps effortless hanging on only one 32 A / 400 V three-phase connection.

For the nearfield, eight MT12 were used, which were driven four-ways. The sound engineers at the venue spoke of remarkably detailed and homogenous sound, which impressed very much. Pioneer DJ alpha's André Neuhaus (FOH) comments: "A system in this size had to meet not only the client's expec

High school arena upgrades with Danley

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - The 1,200-plus teenagers in and around Van Buren, Arkansas attend Van Buren High School, and a huge part of their high school experience involves the school's Clair Bates Arena, a 2,000-seat arena built in 2009.

Unfortunately, budget constraints left its original sound reinforcement system underpowered and lacking critical intelligibility. Local A/V integration firm Commercial Audio Systems recently remedied that frustrating situation by installing a distributed Danley Sound Labs system comprised of eight Danley OS-80 full-range outdoor loudspeakers and eight Danley OS-115 subwoofers, citing their fidelity and pattern control for delivering musical impact and intelligibility in an overly-live room.

"The arena is beautiful; it's really stunning," said Jim Crews, co-owner of Commercial Audio Systems. "They did a great job getting all of its permanent architectural aspe

AIDAprima sails with Claypaky

Details: 30 January 2017

Germany - The AIDAprima, the latest addition to the AIDA Cruises fleet, was christened in Hamburg on 7 May 2016. The ship's many attractions include the Beach Club with Caribbean feel for 365 days a year, and the Four Elements area with water slides and climbing walls, not to mention first class entertainment.

Marcel Dias Vieira, AIDA Cruises entertainment technology supervisor, explained the basic reasoning behind the lighting choices and why they chose Claypaky moving heads. The lighting rig includes Claypaky Alpha Profile 800 STs, as well as many other MALighting products - a grandMA2 full-size desk, two grandMA2 light consoles, two grandMA2 replay units, and one MA Network Processing Unit (NPU).

However, the AIDAprima also boasts professional level technology in all other areas, such as the moving stage elements, LED screens, sound system and ship's TV studio. The effo

Community at Winnipeg's Upper Fort Garry

Details: 30 January 2017

Canada - Known as the birthplace of Manitoba, Upper Fort Garry in Winnipeg is a significant site in Canadian history. Although the original fort was largely demolished in the 1880s, its remaining Governor's Gate and an area of surrounding land was gifted to the city by the Hudson Bay Company "as a public park forever".

Overshadowed by surrounding buildings and nearly forgotten, recent development pressures rekindled interest in the site and led to the inspired vision of a $19m heritage park and interpretive centre for Upper Fort Garry.

A 400ft commemorative wall of naturally rusting Corten steel has been built, with integrated LED lighting by Daktronics and sound by Inland Audio Visual. Marking the height, depth and location of Upper Fort Garry's original west wall, its sculptured layers scribe three continuous lines tracing the history of Western Canada and of Upper Fort

Cloud solution for Raynes Park High School

Details: 30 January 2017

UK - Raynes Park High School, London, is a mixed comprehensive school for 12-16-year-old pupils able to accommodates up to 1400 pupils. Currently employing 120 members of staff Raynes Park High School offers pupils access to an on-site Autism Centre, SEND Department, Sixth Form and Sports Centre.

The paging systems implemented by Clarity in Sound, Light & Vision allows staff at the school to page zones individually or call-all zones. Pre-recorded or live announcements can be made in all the separate buildings which includes a newly built the Sixth Form block, a sports hall and the D&T building, in addition to sports fields and playground areas.

Clarity in Sound Light & Vision Ltd installed a Cloud DCM-1 Digital Zone Mixer alongside several Cloud 100V multichannel amplifiers across eight zones. In addition to two Cloud PM-8SA paging microphones, a Sennheiser wireless radio

WildPitch Music Hall selects D.A.S. Audio

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - With the recent opening of WildPitch Music Hall, downtown Atlanta is home to a new nightlife destination. Best described as an underground dance club that offers live music for special events, WildPitch Music Hall features a variety of established and emerging special guests from across the electronic music spectrum. The new club also represents D.A.S. Audio's first permanent U.S. installation of its recently introduced SoundForce Series loudspeakers.

Global Audio Systems of NY, NY was the AV design-build firm contracted to handle the installation of the D.A.S. Audio SoundForce loudspeaker system at WildPitch Music Hall, with local support from Platinum Sound Atlanta. Owner Jason Ojeda, ultimately installed a system consisting of several prominent models from the SoundForce Series line. He discussed the project and his reasons for choosing D.A.S. Audio.

"The room at

PixelFLEX, S&L Integrated and JR Clancy team up

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - Similar to many worship families across the United States, the congregation at the First Baptist Church in Thomasville, Georgia, recently underwent a sanctuary renovation to offer both contemporary and traditional worship services.

Working with Thomasville's S&L Integrated on a complete audio, lighting and LED video renovation, the church wanted to make sure that while the technical systems received an update, the traditional aesthetics of the sanctuary were not affected. Desiring a solution that would enable the use of a dynamic LED video system for the contemporary services while discreetly hiding it for the traditional, S&L Integrated teamed with JR Clancy to create a roll-up LED video system using FLEXCurtain HD from Nashville-based PixelFLEX.

"We've developed a wonderful relationship with First Baptist Church over the years, so when they approached us about conc

Moscow's Nobel Hall gets Martin makeover

Details: 30 January 2017

Russia - Nobel Hall, the main auditorium of Moscow's Financial University, is a multipurpose space within this prominent and prestigious educational facility.

Equipped with a Martin Audio W8LM Mini Line Array, the hall, which operates under the Government of the Russian Federation, is capable of hosting 1,350 people. The opening was timed to coincide with the First Moscow International Economic Forum and has since been used for many world-leading scientific conferences and seminars.

This hall is also used for various forums and events, involving numerous creative teams of the Financial University and prominent guest performers, while a university tradition includes hosting two lectures from Nobel prize winners every year. Thus perfect speech intelligibility and highest quality of music reproduction were key requirements during the design process - and Martin Audio products

Artistic Licence at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre

Details: 30 January 2017

UK - Artistic Licence recently devised a solution for the complex lighting control requirements at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, a conference venue in Westminster, London. The centre was in the final stages of a major refit. Main contractor, Overbury had brought in Delmatic to install a sophisticated house lighting system using DALI fixtures.

The difficulty was that, on a regular basis, the DMX512-based production lighting system would need to take control of aspects of the house lighting. This would enable the overall visual effect to be controlled for a production. This presented a problem in that the DALI house lights were not compatible with the DMX512 controller.

Artistic Licence was brought in to provide a solution. Testament to the diversity of Artistic's technology range, this was achieved through a combination of standard products. First, a Rail-DMX-DALI unit ena

Last dance with Dippy at Natural History Museum

Details: 30 January 2017

UK - The Natural History Museum hosted a New Year celebration for 600 revellers to make history and be part of the final event with the iconic Dippy the Diplodocus in the Hintze Hall.

The evening saw indulgent entertainment provided by Guilty Pleasures in the form of shamelessly delivered classic pop ballads whilst the Dinosaurs gallery formed a well themed break out space. Party food was delivered by approved supplier Benugo, whilst the production by Halo focused on lighting, staging and sound in the Hintze Hall.

The Hinzte Hall will now be closed until August as Dippy departs ready for a UK tour in 2018 and the installation of the dramatic diving Blue Whale skeleton commences. The museum's wealth of additional spaces are all still available providing the chance for events to be hosted in previously undiscovered locations.

Robert Wetherell, head of venue hire at Natur

Truss UK system installed at National Theatre

Details: 30 January 2017

UK - Truss UK is one of the few remaining British manufacturers of load- bearing aluminium trussing products; they design and manufacture structural aluminium products for the entertainment industry as well as other specialist industry sectors worldwide.

Having recently launched their new aluminium space frame product, Truss UK have announced that they have supplied the National Theatre (NT) with a large OBLIK system.

OBLIK is a modular space frame system consisting of only three main component types, the largest of weighing in at less than 16kg. The system is lightweight, compact for transport and storage and simple to erect using conventional fixings (nuts and bolts) to create complex aluminium structures that are extremely strong.

Truss UK director Paul Jordan says, "The OBLIK space frame system was deployed in the grid of the NT's Lyttelton theatre and is suspended

IMS systems for Masonic Theatre in Virginia

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - The Historic Masonic Theatre is an architectural treasure nestled in the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia. Since opening in 1905, the historic venue has boasted eclectic billings over the last century, including Roy Rogers (and of course Trigger), Gene Autry, Count Basie, and even political blunderbuss William Jennings Bryan ("What has been will be again"). Now a performing arts, education, and community facility, a recent renovation includes the new, redesigned Intelligent Marquee Systems (IMS Mk2) LED marquee/festoon lighting system.

Specified by Theatrical Consultants Collaborative (TCC) of North Carolina and installed by Productions Unlimited, Inc. of South Carolina, IMS V12 "Filament" lamps were the perfect way to achieve programmable marquee lighting with the warm, golden look of traditional incandescent lamps, plus the benefits of individual DMX control and LED tec

PixelFLEX LED technology at 12Stone Church

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - Founded in 1987, 12Stone Church has grown to include eight campuses throughout Georgia serving the communities in Gwinnett, Hall, and Barrow counties. In their most recent expansion, the congregation completed a full renovation of a large retail location in Snellville, GA, and in doing so they needed to create a full worship environment.

Working with Cason Cleveland Productions, 12Stone Church had a specific vision for the LED video elements in the new auditorium, so together they enlisted the assistance of Nashville-based PixelFLEX and installed FLEXLite NXG 2.6mm LED video technology.

"For our new Snellville campus, we were moving into what used to be a Best Buy retail location, so we really needed to create all of the production elements from scratch for our worship environment," began Dustin Whitt, production ministry lead.

"When looking specifically at the L

The Week in Light & Sound

Details: 30 January 2017

Final Curtain - The curtain is coming down on the most celebrated circus in the US, the Greatest Show on Earth, run by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. After 146 years in the business, the owners said declining tickets sales and high operating costs were to blame. Activists who campaigned for decades against the travelling circus's animal acts welcomed the news.

"After much evaluation and deliberation, my family and I have made the difficult business decision that Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey will hold its final performances in May," said a statement from Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, the family business which has run the circus since the late 1960s.

Sep Outside Love - A life-size bronze statue of Cilla Black has been unveiled outside Liverpool's Cavern Club as the venue celebrates its 60th anniversary. The club, credited with launching

Showforce assists with Les Misérables in Dubai

Details: 30 January 2017

UAE - When the touring version of the musical Les Misérables arrived at the newly opened Dubai Opera in November 2016, members of Showforce's experienced team of stage crew and event staff were on-hand to assist. Running from 17 November until 2 December, there were 18 performances in total and as the first show of its kind to be held in the UAE, it was hailed a huge success.

Working directly with the team at Dubai Opera, as part of its on-going contract with the venue, and long-standing client, Sports & Entertainment Solutions, the Showforce team supported the touring production throughout the load in, the three-week run of sell-out performances and subsequent load out.

Initially, a team of 10 crew members was tasked with the unloading of no less than 17 40-foot shipping containers, that had arrived in Dubai from Singapore, the previous stop on the tour. Dur

Event professionals rediscover the Science Museum

Details: 30 January 2017

UK - The Science Museum in South Kensington, alongside London-based event caterer Tonic and live event AV company Matrix UK Solutions, last week welcomed 300 event professionals to an evening of spectacle and discovery to launch its new spaces including Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery and Mathematics: The Winton Gallery.

Guests attending the exclusive event were able to experience three of the museum's stunning spaces- the Media Gallery, Mathematics gallery and Wonderlab, all in one evening. The event also saw the launch of Tonic's new brand and its experiential catering and service concept.

The event journey began for guests in the Media Gallery where they were able to discover the very latest event production technologies courtesy of Matrix UK Solutions. This included a small, but very impressive selection of the leading edge technology they own. This ranged from their Me

Danley improves performance at Rice University

Details: 30 January 2017

USA - Founded in Houston in 1912, Rice University is Texas's most prestigious institution of higher education, a veritable ivy of the southern coastal plains! Although football has always been a big deal at Rice - much more so than at the traditional ivies - its importance has grown as the Rice University Owls have earned five bowl game appearances within in the last decade (the most recent appearance before that was 1961!).

To accommodate and even accelerate that momentum, the university recently invested $31.5m in the new 60,000sq.ft Brian Patterson Sports Performance Centre, which includes offices, locker rooms, student athlete lounges, a sports medicine centre, an auditorium, and a strength and conditioning centre. In keeping with the new centre's state-of-the-art facilities, Baton Rouge-based AV integrator Technical Services Group (TSG) installed Danley Sound Labs loudspe

Middlesex University goes green with White Light

Details: 14 December 2016

UK - Middlesex University in London boasts a strong performing arts department and was eager to upgrade both its Ravensfield Theatre and Dance Studio space. Whilst state-of-the-art equipment was a necessity, so was the need to be environmentally-friendly, with the university determined to be as green as possible and change their previous lighting equipment to LED only. As a result, they approached White Light to purchase the perfect set-up.

Bruce Allen is technical production manager at Middlesex University and oversaw the upgrade of both spaces. He comments, "As this was quite a significant investment, we needed to ensure that the equipment we purchased not only fulfilled our immediate aims but would also be sustainable for the long-term.

"The main priority of the upgrade was to ensure that all of the equipment purchased was as environmentally-friendly as possible. We are

The Observatory North Park upgrades to Adamson

Details: 14 December 2016

USA - The Observatory North Park in San Diego has quickly gained recognition for both the eclectic assortment of well-known and up-and-coming bands that it hosts as well as the quality of their sound reinforcement. The new Adamson S10 line array system was recently designed and installed by Sound Image, located in nearby Escondido, CA.

The Observatory North Park is located in a building that opened as a movie theatre in 1929 and has continued to be an entertainment venue since then. The current owners took over the 1200-capacity space in 2015.

"The previous owners had a similar idea with the room but failed," explains Garrett Wysocki, audio manager at The Observatory. "The sound system they had in here was seriously under powered. Customers and bands were constantly complaining. One of the first things we did was start checking out reputable systems that would provide the

Richmond church chooses Danley for clarity

Details: 14 December 2016

USA - Five dedicated families founded Stony Point Reformed Presbyterian Church in the Bon Air suburb of Richmond, Virginia in 1969. A big part of its steady growth and support has been its strong commitment to motivating and punctuating services with music in an ever-changing variety of contemporary and classical styles.

In short, music is a big deal at Stony Point. Different bands play each week with a lot of reliance on the congregation's many musically talented individuals. When the church built a new 500-seat sanctuary, everyone wanted a new sound reinforcement system that could help elevate the impact and emotion of its services. In consultation with the Richmond-based AV integration firm RTW Media, Stony Point installed a robust LCR system composed of Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers, subwoofers, and DSP-enabled amplifiers.

"Despite all the incredible musical talent at

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