USA / Worldwide - High End Systems (HES) has added to its sales organization with new hires, a restructuring of territories and the creation of a new AV market channel for its Digital Lighting products.

KK Mak joins HES as the regional sales manager for China, Southeast Asia and Korea. Mak comes to HES after 15 years of running operations at Strand Lighting in Hong Kong. Based in Hong Kong, Mak is working with HES Singapore in developing sales for Korea, China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Chris Ferrante moves from within High End Systems to become regional sales manager for North Africa and the Middle East. Ferrante, who came to HES almost three years ago with a lighting background, most recently worked in a product support role for Wholehog products throughout Europe. Based in Germany, he will continue to also offer console support until a replacement for his position has been ma

UK - Vaughan Sound Installations (VSI), part of the PAI Group, has completed an integrated sound, lighting and AV installation at Castle Leisure in Nantgarw, the latest new build venue of the ever-expanding Castle Bingo brand. VSI teamed up with architectural lighting specialists i-Vision and HLN Architects from Cardiff early on in the project.

The Castle Bingo site in Bridgend had included feature lighting for the Tower Room hospitality suite during a recent refurbishment. The concept was so successful that owners Castle Leisure decided to expand the theme and further invest in lighting and technology at the 1000-seat Nantgarw site, north of Cardiff.

Richard Vaughan led the project for VSI. "We've enjoyed a long and productive relationship with both Castle Leisure and HLN, and benefited from a client and architect who are willing to consult and listen to their suppliers

Germany - Digidesign is pleased to announce that the ICON D-Control worksurface and Pro Tools 7 software were honoured at the MusikMesse International Press Awards by winning the Mixing Desk (High End) and Recording Software categories respectively.

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

USA - XL Touring Video was chosen as video contractor for the Queen & Paul Rodgers North American Tour 2006, which is promoting their recent live DVD and CD release, Return of the Champions.

XL worked closely with video consultant, Aubrey "Po" Powell, one of the founding members of the influential 1960's album cover design groups, Hipgnosis, which is responsible for many of the famous Pink Floyd album sleeves, as well as Led Zeppelin and Bad Company.

President of XL Touring Video, John Wiseman says: "It was exciting to hear from Robbie Williams, who I had the pleasure of working with on Pink Floyd years ago. Then to find out that Po was also involved immediately made me realize that this was going to be a first class project and I was honoured to be a part of it. From the design, all the way down to the video handoff from Freddie Mercury to Paul Ro

UK - Leading names in UK theatre architecture and consultancy will be providing facts, figures and ideas at the Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference 2006. Speakers will include Mark Foley, Susie Bridges and Jonathan Adams, along with consultants, Anne Minors, Neil Morton, Iain Mackintosh, Andy Hayles, Michael Holden and Richard Brett.

These speakers will be complemented by a number of international players - including Himanshu Burte from India, Sergio Pascolo from Italy, Martien van Goor, Louis Janssen and Gerbrand Borgdorff from the Netherlands, Gerry van Hezewyk from Canada and Duncan Webb, John Coyne and Peter Rosenbaum from the US. Representatives from many other countries will be involved in the debates and discussions about the form of auditoria, backstage facilities, uncomplicated spaces for drama, and theatre building on a budget. Present booking from overseas r

UK - XL Video UK is supplying Westlife's 2006 Face To Face arena tour - which follows hot on the heels of their number one album of the same name and chart-topping single, "You Raise Me Up".

The tour is up-tempo and innovative to match the massive energy of the new stage show, which is being artistically directed by Alan MacDonald and Will Baker (renowned for their work with Kylie).

XL has supplied Westlife's video requirements since their first Coast To Coast tour in 2001, and video has always been an integral element of their live work.

This year, with the musician's positions located offstage either side; video once again takes centre stage along with the boys (Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan Mark Feehily). Some truly spectacular screen interactives include "Uptown Girl" when the boys - choreographed by Priscilla Samuels - dance in un

Germany - In an expanding market in Europe, PROEL has announced at Frankfurt, the establishment of a representation office in Holland.

Managed by René Poelman, the structure will begin to operate in April, and will be distributing and selling all products from PROEL Universal division: lighting and sound reinforcement systems, die hard cables and stage boxes, microphones and wireless systems, stage accessories, stinger amplifiers and the famous tamburo drums.

The complete installation line (ceiling speakers, horn speakers and 100V line transformers to name just a few), will also belong to this wide portfolio as well as the ultimate home division created by the Italian company. This features home entertainment furnishings for large screens, Plasmas, LCDs, realized by the American design trend leader Bell'o, and distributed by PROEL in many European countries including th

UK - Sanyo has introduced a new and uniquely developed weatherproof, flat panel LCD screen which it says will open up a host of outdoor display and advertising opportunities.

Both developed and made in the UK by the Sanyo factory in Lowestoft, the 32" panel is suitable for both interior and exterior uses, and can withstand a range of weather conditions as well as harsh environments, such as dusty or humid conditions. The IP56-rated LCD display includes a lightweight aluminum frame covered by an acrylic front panel.

The high-resolution LCD panel boasts a high brightness level, high contrast ratio and wide 176° viewing angle, say Sanyo. It is aimed at various outdoor applications such as point-of-information, outside broadcasting of TV events, advertising, branding or sponsorship at open-air corporate events, and displaying television or drinks promotions in a pub gardens

UK - System integrator Tiger AV has found a unqiue application for Marantz's PMD570 solid state digital recorder - to encourage storytelling in the new 'Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books' development in Newcastle.

A national home dedicated to children's literature had long been the dream of Elizabeth Hamill and Mary Briggs, whose vision was to place children, young people and their books at the core of the UK's national literary culture. Their wish was realised late last year when the multi-galleried Seven Stories opened in a Grade II listed Victorian flour mill in the riverside Regeneration and Conservation area of the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle. The building was restored throughout 2005 at a cost of £6.5 million.

Tony Crossley, technical director at Tiger AV, said: "The Centre thrives on being able to offer exhibitions and visuals that make the orig

Hong Kong - Keeping its trading partners informed and involved is an integral part of Lighthouse Technologies way of doing business. A key part of that strategy is its annual partners meeting, where a range of European clients gather for a weekend of information exchange, presentations and networking.

For the second year running the event was held at the ski resort of Bormio, in the Italian Alps. and included a demonstration of the new R6 screen and the launch of Lighthouse's new used panel brokerage business.

Lighthouse's newly appointed chief technical officer (CTO) Grant Elliott, also hosted two clinics and a brainstorming session, during which feedback from the partners was welcomed with a view to incorporating the ideas in future Lighthouse technical updates and products.

A special presentation was also made by Marko Leppik of Beneway Oy, a Finnish company whose HUDLE s

Belgium / Morocco - Belgian signal processing specialist Apex has signed a deal with one of the leading PA companies in Morocco. Encom has placed an order for 15 units of Apex's GX230 (2 x 30 band) graphic equalisers, and has also been appointed to represent the full line of Apex products in Morocco.

Based in Casablanca, Encom fulfils three different roles - as a PA company, as an installer and AV integrator, and as an importer of pro audio equipment. The company owns the first L'Acoustic V-Dosc system in Africa, and is also the L'Acoustics distributor in Morocco.

According to Encom's general manager Rachid Mediouni, Encom has long enjoyed "a good history with Apex. We already have a substantial inventory of the GX Series EQs, which enjoy the Apex reputation of stability and excellent sound quality. We never have any after-sales problems with this equipment, another reaso

UK - The people behind the Blue Room online discussion forums have announced the launch of a new service for the entertainment industry. The Blue Room Wiki, it is hoped, will provide the backstage community with an ever-growing knowledge-base of technical know-how. Building on the success of the Blue Room forums, the Wiki will enable forum members to contribute their knowledge in article form to an online encyclopaedia.

The Blue Room now boasts almost 4,000 members, with over 110,000 messages posted since its official launch in January 2003. With over 4.5 million hits each month, the Blue Room has proved very popular. "The introduction of a Wiki is something which we've been working on for a while. We saw that the Blue Room was becoming, in part, a repository for a vast assortment of technical knowledge and advice, and an online encyclopaedia seemed like the next logical st

UK - March 2006 saw the Stardraw.com website deliver more than 100GB of data in a single month for the first time. Marketing director Rob Robinson explains: "We have seen steady growth in the distribution of data relating to all Stardraw products for some time, but it is remarkable that downloads from www.stardraw.com have almost tripled since this time last year. Breaking the 100GB/month mark so soon frankly caught us by surprise - charting the month-on-month trend in 2005 suggested that we wouldn't reach this point until next year."

Stardraw.com has delivered all its products exclusively through its website since January 2002. In addition to the initial installation of long-established design/documentation tools like Stardraw A/V and Stardraw Lighting 2D, users employ the website to download program updates and to access libraries of more than 50,000 high-quality sym

USA - Missouri-based Brawner & Associates has added Heath Lane to its fulltime design team. Lane was previously an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (UNL) where he acted as a technical advisor for students in the theatre design/technology program. Prior to this, he was production manager/technical director for Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, where he oversaw all aspects of technical production.

Heath received his MFA from The Penn State University at State College, PA, in 2003. He has technically directed over 30 theatrical productions and has designed lighting for more than 100 events. His background includes experience as a rigger, master electrician, sound engineer and crew chief. On the pre-production side of the table Heath has over fourteen years' experience with multiple CAD programs working with general layouts, build draw

UK - PLASA - the Professional Lighting and Sound Association - has announced a joint initiative with CMP Seatrade, the organisers of the Seatrade exhibitions, to host an afternoon presentation in London in early May introducing PLASA Members to business opportunities in the cruise sector.

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

Hong Kong - St Moritz in Switzerland was the setting for a recent fashion show by Alexander & Peter Slupinski, where the great and the good of the fashion world assembled to see the Slupinski's latest creations on the catwalk. And this year, for the first time, they took advantage of Lighthouse screen technology to provide a fantastically versatile and eye catching show.

Swiss production hire specialist Winkler Veranstaltungstechnik provided three Lighthouse 4x6 panel R6 LED screens - two at the front of the catwalk entrance which the models walked between, with one further back to provide a seamless backdrop as the models paraded.The screen footage was all graphics-based, put together by video designer Roni Huber and graphic designer Roger Wydler, and designed to perfectly complement the garments.

"Mr. Slupinski knew what he wanted and how the overall impression should l

UK - Emerging artist Imogen Heap made highly effective use of a combination of conventional and new projection technology at her recent showcase at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. For the largest gig on the singer/songwriter's UK tour, production company Fruit Pie Music asked PSL to provide a Barco G8 projector to deliver stunning images, specially composed for Imogen Heap by superstar VJ Mox.

In addition to the main screen projection, lighting company Neg Earth provided High End Systems' new DL2 digital lights, which repeated details from the main screen in a number of circular projections dotted around the stage.

PSL also provided an electric screen, 14ft wide by 10ft deep, which dropped down for a few numbers in the show. "The production took the best of both worlds," commented PSL Music's Pod Bluman, "cutting-edge technology like the DL2s integrated elegantl

UK - JVC is pleased to announce that John Phipps has joined the UK Sales team as Sales Executive, Pro Video. He will also be caretaking Sarah Lambley's Broadcast & Systems accounts whilst she is on maternity leave. "I am delighted to be working for such a strong brand name as JVC. This is a great opportunity for me to use the technical skills that I have to sell some great products," says Phipps. "I look forward to building on the brilliant relationship that Sarah has with her broadcast & systems customers and creating my own with in the Pro Video division."

Phipps obtained his degree in Television and Video Production at Bournemouth Media School and gained sales experience during his time at university. He joins JVC at an exciting time, as more high definition developments enter into the marketplace.

Ian Scott, director of Professional Video Operation UK,

UK - Every four years, one of the world's largest trade events for the printing and publishing world moves into the NEC. Once again, leading event services company PSL was chosen as joint official AV and IT suppliers to the IPEX 2006 show by organisers IIR Exhibitions.

From its branch location at the NEC near Birmingham, PSL provided plasma screens, TFT monitors, laptops, computers and sound systems to the show.

In addition to individual exhibitors, PSL supplied equipment and crew for the special Innov8 Theatre, where influential CEOs of companies like Hewlett Packard, Heidelberg, Kodak, Xerox and Canon were speaking. Every presentation was filmed so that a compilation of highlights could be made after the show.

PSL Gary Davis explained: "In terms of turnover, IPEX is the single largest exhibition that we've handled through our NEC subsidiary since we formed it in 2001.

UK - Blitz, one of the UK's leading technical staging specialists, has been showcasing its expertise to some of the key players in the City. Blitz was recently appointed the sole AV supplier for ExCel International Exhibition Centre and completed the installation of AV equipment for Reuters. Blitz also worked with the in-house events team at Deloitte, the business advisory firm, to provide technical AV and staging support on a number of the firm's flagship events.

The three year contract sees Blitz supplying ExCeL with the latest in AV equipment. Blitz also has an on site technical team to provide any additional support for the venue's clients. The alliance will ensure that ExCel's clients continue to benefit from the option of in-house expertise and technical staging services of the highest and most creative professional calibre. The service will be available to organisers usin

Germany - German LED rental company Screen Visions, specialist in large-scale video screens for indoor and outdoor use, has been working with Triple-A-Production from Berlin to develop an advanced construction consisting of a total of 25 FlexiScreen modules for the German tour of the Schiller band with Christopher von Deylen. Five columns of five modules each will be positioned in a semi-circle behind the band, creating a unique atmosphere during the concerts with a specially composed light choreography.

"Anyone who has had the chance to experience Schiller live knows that the audience can always expect a very special sound and light experience", says Roger Rinke, CEO of Screen Visions. Two years ago, the specialists from Screen Visions provided the screens for Schiller's Live Erleben Tour 2004. This year again, Bodo Schulte's team at Triple A Productions will r

USA - ESTA - the North American Entertainment Services and Technology Association - has announced that BSR E1.17, Entertainment Technology - Multipurpose Network Control Protocol Suite, the draft standard commonly called "ACN," is now available for public review until 19 June 2006.

The draft standard is a suite of protocols offering needed services in network management, device management, device description, and device control with reliable multi-cast transport on data networks that use the common Internet Protocols. There are 21 documents that describe various aspects of the suite of protocols, and they are all contained in the approximately 2.5 megabyte compressed file ACN.zip. Reviewers should also read the Readme.pdf file. It is not part of the draft standard, but it explains the structure of ACN and the changes that were made since the last public review.

Belgium - Barco reports that the Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht (RSC Anderlecht) has chosen Barco's latest sports perimeter LED solution for its very own Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Belgium. The SP-10, specifically optimized for Broadcast, brings LED visualization and the broadcasting world together for the first time.

Anderlecht chose the Barco SP-10 and Sports Box management controller for its stadium as it wanted to differentiate itself from other stadiums by providing an enhanced match day experience for fans, viewers and advertisers alike. As one of the most successful Belgium football teams on the European level, Anderlecht fully recognizes the real value the SP-10 will add to the sponsorship packages that it is able to offer advertisers. With the SP-10, advertising opportunities are greatly improved and provide a better experience for viewers and greater revenue oppo

UK - XL Video supplied video equipment and crew for the sold out arena tour of Jeff Wayne's War of The Worlds. The show - a dream of Wayne's to tour live ever since he wrote the piece in 1978 - has received great reviews for its staging and projection visuals.

The tour, run by Steve Nolan's Chromatic Productions Ltd, featured a front projected 80ft wide by 15ft high screen using eight Barco ELM R18 projectors, relaying two hours of high resolution CGI narrative visuals, created by Media Station.Above was a massive Martian Fighting Machine (MFM) set piece, and on stage right was a flown 10ft three-dimensional head onto which a specially made video animation of narrator Richard Burton was projected.

The tour was project man

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