Lighthouse LED screens, supplied by Massteknik, Scandinavia’s foremost giant screen provider, played a huge role in the visual aspect of the recent month-long tour by Sweden’s best-known and most popular artist, Tomas Ledin. A total of 77 panels of Lighthouse LVP1010D LED video screen (10mm pixel pitch, 1000 nits of brightness) was divided between three screens which tracked from side to side across the stage, forming either one giant screen of 11 x 7 panels (7.04 x 3.36m), or three smaller individual screens, with the centre screen being larger than the two outer screens.

Throughout the month of July, the tour visited open-air venues in no less than 30 cities around Sweden, sometimes on consecutive nights, with each concert attracting crowds of up to 10,000 people. This is the second year running that Massteknik has provided Ledin¹s entire video solution and, to make such

So here’s the thing. I’m no expert in this theatre lark - is anyone? - but it seems to me that if your message is that the music business has gone bad, producing fake stars who do dull dance routines synchronized to synthesized backgrounds just to extract the maximum amount of cash from the fans . . . then the best medium for presenting that message is perhaps not a musical which heads dangerously close to that style, and for which you charge in the order of £40 per ticket.

But hey, a couple of thousand screaming Queen fans a night (after a slow start, ticket sales picked up following the cast’s promotional efforts at the real Queen’s Jubilee celebrations) suggest that the producers of We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre (the Queen back catalogue in the style of Stars in their Eyes, with Nigel Planer reviving his own old Young Ones role as an ageing hippy)

One of the most talked-about live music mixing consoles of recent months - the DiGiCo D5 Live - was launched at PLASA yesterday, with and Dave Webster and Bob Doyle making a special presentation to members of the press over an enjoyable Sunday roast. On stand D28, the D5 Live system is on demonstration in a fully working set-up with a digital multitrack concert recording sync’d to video.

Designed from the ground up to deliver high sonic purity and powerful, instantly accessible controllability, the D5 Live comprises the D5 Live console itself, a front-of-house Digirack containing A/D converters and I/Os, a matching stage Digirack and 100m of fibre optic cable. This is a complete, self contained system that does away with the need for a multicore, splitters, line drivers, dynamics processors and - optionally - an entire effects rack too. The D5 Live can even record live to multitr

The 2002 PLASA Show got off to a positive start yesterday as the industry congregated in Earls Court, London. With another bumper crop of new product innovations on show the PLASA Show is providing an unmissable opportunity to see and discuss the state of the art in entertainment, communications and presentation technology. Comment from exhibitors was upbeat - one first-time exhibitor told PLASA Media he had been overwhelmed by the attention his company had received on stand, and wished he had more staff to deal with enquiries.

O Sunday night, PLASA’s 25th anniversary party took place to round off a highly successful day on the show floor. The event - staged at The Bridge - was attended by over 500 exhibitors and visitors who participated in numerous side shows at the Party including a bucking bronco, sumo wrestling, boules and the highlight, a full-on seventies disco.

On the

Mobil Tech UK is to take on the manufacture and distribution of selected items from the Mobil Tech France range, which will include the ALP, Standtech and Alutech lines, and will also see the reinstatement of some of the company’s most popular stands from previous years. The move comes after Mobil Tech France had experienced some problems with its manufacturing capability. It is also envisaged that Mobil Tech UK will change its name to Mobil Tech International to reflect this change in emphasis.

Mobil Tech can be seen on stand D28.

The Martin Audio stand at PLASA 2002 was the site for an important announcement yesterday, and the first appearance of the Synco W8L Line Array System by Martin Audio, a specially configured version of the Martin Audio W8L line array system which is exclusive to the Synco Europe Network. Fred Heuves, MD of Synco Europe, and David Bisset-Powell, MD of Martin Audio, announced the signing of the deal that will see Synco Network members equipped with the system.

The deal represents Martin Audio’s largest single European sale since the launch of the acclaimed W8L system in the spring of this year. The Synco W8L Line Array will be operated in parallel with the existing stocks of the network’s Renkus-Heinz Synco Touring System and proprietary Synco floor monitors. "The network has grown very fast in the five years since we launched it and reached over 1000 cabinets but still

Announced at the PLASA Show, Chameleon Audio has appointed the UK’s leading export company, Expotus, to source potential distributors for its products throughout Asia, and the alliance has already borne fruit, with three companies now handling the line.Total Solution, Singapore, Stagecraft International in the Philippines and Phoenix Audio & Lighting Technology, Hong Kong, are now official distributors of Chameleon amplification.

According to Chameleon MD, Paul Houlden, the decision to appoint Expotus was based on the company’s imposing track record of successfully marketing other UK brands overseas, particularly the Far East. Says Houlden: "Trying to break into the Asian market has been a particularly tough nut to crack. However, thanks to Expotus’ expertise, it’s already beginning to pay dividends for Chameleon."

Following a series of field trials,

The PLASA Awards for Product Excellence were presented yesterday evening in the New Technology Gallery in front of a packed audience. This year’s awards attracted one of the largest tallies of nominations ever - 64 in total - across the categories of Lighting, Sound, Audio-Visual and Stage Engineering.

The judging panel of freelance lighting designer Simon Swift, sound system consultant Richard Northwood of Coms UK, Live Business International’s technical director Roland Hemming, freelance AV consultantPhil Pike, system designer Glyn Hughes of Sysco, project manager Andy Hayles from Theatre Projects Consultants, technical consultant Mark Jones of the Royal Albert Hall and Jason Tang, general manager of Bandit Lites (UK), deliberated over three days to decide the winning products in each category.

In the Lighting category, Clay Paky’s Stage Profile Plus SV received

The 25th PLASA Show closed on a high yesterday thanks to one of the most positive shows in the event’s history. Business was high on the agenda for all exhibitors - many of which reported the highest levels of business they’d ever done, some saying that they had signed up orders of significant size at the show. The exhibition was buzzing practically from the moment it opened and the visitor count will significantly outstrip last year’s figures.

The show was active on many levels - the PLASA Product Awards for Excellence attracted one of its highest number of nominations ever with 64 products displayed in the L&SI sponsored New Technology Gallery - a clear indication of the importance of the event as a showcase for innovation. The Masterclass, Seminar and Round Table sessions that ran throughout the show added to the appeal of the event, allowing visitors to learn more

US-based video giants Nocturne Inc. recently approached their associates at PSL Concert Touring to support a major UK appearance by one of their long-standing clients - Guns ’N Roses. The group appeared at The London Arena on Bank Holiday Monday with PSL providing the complete LED and camera package.

Drawing on their new fleet of Barco DLite 7 LED screens, PSL provided the centre stage wall at 4.3m high and 3.6m wide with two PA walls both at 2.7m square. Lighting designer Gary Westcott added tremendous dramatic effect by having certain panels randomly removed and then blasting white light from behind through billowing smoke! PSL also provided a six-camera package with cameramen, along with the show graphics driven by DoReMi drives. Given the compatibility of the D-7 between PSL and Nocturne it means that systems can be easily duplicated for clients working between both the US a

Crestron chose Infocomm 2002 to unveil the remarkable new DVP4, a digital video processor, touch-panel interface and stand-alone 2-Series control processor that can display four real-time video/computer windows simultaneously on a single high-resolution monitor, projector or plasma screen. Ideal for presentations, distance learning and command and control centres, the multi-purpose DVP4 combines a unique set of features to deliver a complete presentation solution. With the 257 MIPS, 32-bit Motorola ColdFire processor of the 2-Series control engine at its core, the DVP4 can be used as a stand-alone master control system.

Also a seamless matrix switch for the ultimate in professional switching, the DVP4 features eight BNC inputs that allow any combination of composite NTSC, PAL or S-Video (Y/C) sources to be routed to the unit simultaneously. Each video window can be scaled and positione

In line with the increasing use of video projection in theatrical productions, together with the development of products such as High End’s Catalyst, DHA has put its vast knowledge and experience behind a new company, Scene Change.

Officially launched at this year’s PLASA, Scene Change has been a year in development: housed in a purpose-built studio at Waterloo Road in London, the company will employ state-of-the-art equipment in the design and creation of original digital video content specifically for projection. As a market leader in gobo and slide projection, DHA’s expertise in this area will prove invaluable.

Scene Change unites two market sectors - entertainment technology and video projection, but developments in these sectors are by no means in sync. The video industry has developed at a faster rate than entertainment technology and video clips are being u

Barco Events had a striking display of its DLite LED walls and a Catalyst projection in the aisle. Two new products - the Events Controller and Viewscape - were launched at the show. The Events Controller enables the control of all daylight and projection displays, as well as other show equipment. This includes High End’s Catalyst, automated and conventional lighting devices, special effects, image generators, truss motors, hydraulics and more. It features Positracking, which enables repetition of position and status of all attributes at any point during a show. The Events Controller uses Barco’s ViewScape platform, which is a flexible and powerful image processing device that can handle multiple tasks including input switching, windowing, tiling, generating a wide range of video effects, edge-blending and format conversion.

Nearby, Expoteam, who specialize in high quality

Creative Technology joined Pump House Productions International to assist mobile telecom giants MMO2 with the staging of their recent AGM at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham’s NEC complex. Spread across three suites (configured as main auditorium, overspill and an exhibition area), Creative Technology rear-projected Powerpoint data in 16 x 9 aspect ratio using a Christie Roadster X10 DLP projector. They also provided Digibeta playback and Sony D30 fixed-point cameras with long lenses. The TX to screen was mixed through an Extron SGS 408 Data Vision Mixer to maintain picture quality.

In addition, CT was called on to look after the board members on the top table. The board desk was equipped with Sharp 10" TFT monitors for a variety of sources including live camera and graphic images. A further four 50" plasma screens were flown in the main auditorium to provide show rel

Crestron have extended and upgraded their award-winning 2-Series control systems, using a new Dual-Bus control engine, based on the 257 MIPS, 32-bit Motorola ColdFire processor, as the core of their redesign. As a result, the 2-Series is an ideal solution for control, distribution and automation of audio, video, lighting, security and HVAC in any application.

Onboard 36MB memory is enhanced with a 4GB expansion slot that supports off-the-shelf Type II compact Flash memory and the IBM Microdrive hard disk drive, allowing on-board storage of programme and touchpanel files, room and equipment profiles, firmware, upgrades, databases and schedules.

With this radically new Dual-Bus architecture, blinding speed and massive memory, 2-Series systems are built for high performance, secure Internet communications and dynamic expansion capabilities. The Dual-Bus system also allows for upgrades t

When Presentation Service Providers (PSP) were asked to provide AV reinforcement for a British Gas employee motivational roadshow, they sensed that Screenco’s Mini Mobile 2 would be the ideal display medium to reinforce the action. Easy to rig, and with the high brightness offered by the 10sq.m, 15mm LED display, PSP provided a three-camera (D35) PPU, with component vision mixing - augmented by the PPU which is inherent to the Mini Mobile 2 truck.

With audio reinforcement from a Nexo rig, this enabled them to capture the audience response - in the live outside auditorium. Here, small teams gathered to answer questions via a keypad driven audience response unit and participate in a game constructed within a Crystal Dome-type building under the production control of Triple A. The show itself visited British Gas car parks in Northampton, Birmingham and Manchester, and at each venue

After more than 20 years supplying sound, screens, lighting, power and other specialist services to all types and sizes of events, Oxfordshire-based event services supplier ARB is restructuring its operation to keep pace with the shifting dynamics of the events industry. The company is now gearing up for further substantial changes within the industry by improving and developing the range of products and services required to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Having steered the company through its acquisition last year and a successful 2002 summer season, Bob Boote has decided to step down. He leaves the company in an excellent position to capitalise on this growing market, with a new management team in place committed to continuing ARB’s increasing impact and reputation within the events market. Peter Boott (no relation) who will continue as managing director, commented: &quo

All eyes were on Hyde Park this July for the annual Party in the Park, the largest single day event in Europe, watched live by 100,000 people.

Now in its fifth year, the Capital Radio Party in the Park had an impressive line up of acts from around the globe, including Westlife, Shakira, Enrique, Natalie Imbruglia and Will Young, and the Prince’s Trust show sold out 100,000 tickets in just over four hours, in the process raising a huge sum for the charity.

ClearChannel Events managed the event production with John Probyn overseeing the licensing and production, whilst Mark Ward was the production manager charged to ensure the 30-act show ran smoothly.

"This year’s production infrastructure included several new products or procedures introduced by suppliers to build on our experience as a team over previous years," said Probyn. "The relaxed nature of the

In what can only be described as a milestone event, the Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA) has cause to celebrate after recording one of the most successful shows in its 25-year history. PLASA's annual show confirmed its status once again as the leading international trade show for the entertainment, communications and presentation technology industries, as more than 400 companies from across the globe filled the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London from 8-11 September, 2002.

13,810 people (subject to ABC Audit), up by 4.2 per cent from last year, visited the PLASA Show to see the array of new product launches, attend the Masterclass Programme, network with industry colleagues and strike up new business relationships. PLASA managing director, Matthew Griffiths, said the show bucked the exhibition industry’s recent downward trend as many exhibitors conducted good

CKS Entertainment Systems, one of the UK’s fastest growing distributors of plasma screens, has strengthened its sales focus by expanding to a seven-strong team and appointing Geoff Stevens to the newly created role of sales director.

The new team brings a wealth of individual expertise within the sales and distribution sector. Stevens, previously general manager of the Battery Sales Group at Panasonic Industrial Europe UK, will head the division overseeing sales of all plasma and flat screen technology. He will be supported by three business managers, former CRT flat panel display and projector specialists, Mike Clayton and Geraldine Neilly, as well as Jit Mistry who, until recently, was an AV sales specialist for House of Fraser. Internal sales members Anne Evans, Andrea Horton and Hannah Clemo, complete the team.

The team will report to CKS Group managing director, Chris Ste

Following the continued growth of Cambridgeshire-based 5 Star Cases Ltd, the company has recently undertaken major changes to its management structure. Jim Willis, the current managing director, has taken the decision to plan for his retirement in a few years by handing over the day to day running of the company to the current technical director, Keith Sykes.

Sykes, who becomes works director (MD designate) has been with 5 Star since 1991 when the company acquired Pro-Tect Cases, the Ipswich-based manufacturer which he ran for six years. "The growth of the company over the last few years has seen 5 Star become a leading name in the case industry. It's down to a professional approach and hard work from everybody in the company," explains Sykes. Justin Locks, the current production manager is promoted to general manager, overseeing both the production and administration facilit

A new website for freelance professionals and employers in the UK and beyond has been launched at www.freelanceshowstaff.co.uk. The site has taken two years to develop, making it a very versatile and user-friendly service for the whole entertainment industry - a market sector which relies heavily of freelance labour. A mix of useful information combined with valuable functions, the website is designed for both employees and employers. Since its launch earlier this summer, the site has registered over 200 freelancers and 80 companies - from more than 20 different disciplines including audio, lighting, carpentry, rigging, scenery, stage management and wardrobe.

Potential employers can check a specific registered freelancer’s availability or search for new ones, as well as placing job advertisements. They can search by name

Show Presentation Services (SPS) has successfully completed its fourth consecutive year providing equipment and technical expertise at the Royal Albert Hall’s prestigious back-to-back award week. The events also mark more than a decade of partnership with Philip Talbot Productions (PTP) producing some of Britain’s highest profile awards ceremonies.

This year SPS and PTP teamed up with Qudos Productions to provide staging and production expertise for the Investment Week awards, the British Insurance awards, and the Motor Transport awards over a three-day period. The tight schedule was dictated by the limited time period when a false floor can be fitted in the hall to accommodate the 1,400 capacity audiences at these kinds of events. Following the success of previous years, it was decided to run the events consecutively to maximize the hall availability and ensure the smooth

Lighting designer Bryan Hartley has specified the High End Systems' Catalyst system to add another dimension to the recent Slayer tour. MCSi supplied the Catalyst and the video projection equipment, while Bandit Lites provided all the lighting, the Wholehog II console - which also ran the Catalyst - and the remainder of the production gear.

"The Catalyst was a lot of fun," comments Hartley, "and it was great to run the video edits through the Hog." The lighting veteran, whose design credits include Kiss, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Meat Loaf and many others, plans to use Catalyst an another upcoming project near the end of this year.

(Ruth Rossington)

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