Norway - For three days - 2-4 February - Oslo's Spektrum arena was taken over by this year's LLB show and Green Hippo's Hippotizers helped highlight the stand of its Norwegian distributor Norsk Sceneteknikk.

The LLB tradeshow is an important date in the entertainment industry calendar with exhibitors ranging from film camera distributors to production companies and manufacturers, while attracting visitors from a wide variety of sectors covering permanent install specifiers, video directors and lighting operators.

Green Hippo's own Tom Etra, technical sales manager EMEA, attended the show and the company provided one of their demonstration pods for the stand, showcasing the capabilities of their Hippotizer HD, HippoPortamus and HippoCritter.

Norsk Sceneteknikk's Jan Robert Midtbø reports, "For this year's show our aim was to have a 'live show stand' showing the in

USA - High End Systems reports that it will be showcasing a broad spectrum of product offerings at the 2012 PLASA Focus Austin tradeshow held 22-23 February in Austin, Texas. This year's event will serve are the launch pad for several new lighting products designed to enhance live events with creative lighting solutions. In addition, show attendees will have the opportunity to visit the High End Systems factory to see products as they are manufactured.

Continuing the development of digital lighting, High End Systems is launching the new DLV Digital Light. This addition to the largest digital lighting portfolio in the industry represents the next evolution in creative, video-based lighting, says the company. Built on the same industry standard software as the DL.3 Digital Light and Axon Media Server, the DLV brings digital lighting abilities to any stage, club, or application in

UK / USA - A visual production company new to the UK, Chaos Visual, are making their mark in the UK events market, following in the footsteps of their big brother, Chaos Visual Productions USA. Chaos Visual were responsible for LED screens on the water platforms and the Excalibur roof, and illuminations at the golf target, of the latest Callaway Golf Co. advert; the first with singer and actor Justin Timberlake at the helm as Creative Director.

Nick Jackson, CEO said: "It was a tough job and a tough schedule over 5 days but we pulled it off very successfully," and Chaos UK are working on more exciting projects due to take place over the summer.

Gary White, MD of Chaos Visual UK, said: "To be involved in projects like this is really exciting for us, our core business is concert touring events and golf is something we carve out time for on a personal level or to c

UK - Bristol and West Midlands based video and AV specialist Central Presentations Ltd (CPL), provided a multi-screen projection design and equipment including media server control for Regeneration, a seasonal party event created by a leading technology company for over 1000 guests.

The event was staged in the edgy but charismatic Hangar 92, one of a number of decommissioned aircraft hangars on the former RAF Hullavington airbase near Chippenham, Wiltshire, which dates back to the second World War.

CPL's Nick Diacre was asked to design and specify a high impact projection system by Bristol based production company Bright, The initial sense of anticipation started as guests trekked through the bleak and uninviting landscape of the disused airfield to reach this exceptionally discreet location.

On entering the hangar, they were immediately confronted with a latter day A

UK - Venue IT, the permanent infrastructure division of Etherlive, has strengthened its ties to the hotel industry with its appointment by The Cumberland hotel, The Tower and Marble Arch.

The landmark London hotel has chosen Venue IT as its technology provider for meetings & events. The appointment follows discussions looking at the longer term conferencing needs for the award winning hotel.

Following a £95m refurbishment, The Cumberland is now looking to assert itself in the lucrative corporate events market set to be stimulated by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

Venue IT will provide high-speed Internet connectivity which can be accessed throughout the hotel's 26 meeting & event spaces, including the ultra modern Ocean Room, which has a capacity of up to 350 people. The enhanced communications infrastructure will support innovations such as dedicated

UK - Paradigm AV used the recent ISE Show in Amsterdam to confirm several new UK distributorships, largely designed to improve their screens range. This includes the Da-Lite and Projecta product ranges, along with Chief mounts - all part of Milestone AV Technologies portfolio.

"This will not only enable us to extend into the low-cost end of the screens market, but along with dnp, enable us to provide a solution for every market application, whatever the budget," said Paradigm AV sales director, Mick Perrone.

Perrone, who says the search to create a balanced portfolio of complementary products remains ongoing, says he is thrilled by these latest acquisitions. "We have long been known for operating in the specialist end of the market yet our customers are constantly telling us that were we able to offer more mainstream products then they would buy from us."

UK - XL Video is again supplying all video technical production including LED screen, cameras, media servers and control, to Snow Patrol's Fallen Empires world tour, the first leg of which kicked off in the UK.

Video director is Blue Leach, and the show's visual design is a tight collaboration of imagination and style created collectively by Leach, lighting designer Davey Sherwin and Catalyst programmer and operator Robin Haddow. The three are dubbed 'The Art Department' on the tour.

XL Video's project managers are Jo Beirne and Phil Mercer ."With Blue, Robin and Davey working together on a project you are guaranteed some spectacular results and a beautiful, thought-provoking, different and intricately constructed show."

Six trussing pods are the architecture centrepiece of the stage visuals. They are all flown on a Kinesys automation system operated by Dave

Canada - SmithsonMartin Inc has announced its new Emulator Modular 1.0 software. The new software, which is available now at several online retail stores and directly through SmithsonMartin's website, "extends the proven functionality and flexibility of the Emulator control platform to a much broader range of music professionals beyond the DJ universe".

Emulator Modular 1.0 delivers powerful capabilities for music, pro audio, lighting and A/V professionals to customise multi-touch midi-controllers, allowing them to leverage an unprecedented degree of control and flexibility over settings and parameters. The new software can benefit anyone using MIDI-based software, including music producers, video editors, broadcasters, front of house operators, lighting designers, church AV installers and many others, says the company.

"Our newest software, Emulator Modular, ha

USA - The 2012 AV Networking Congress in Portland, OR tackled some of today's most pressing digital media networking topics with leading AV Networking, design consultants and manufacturers.

Derrick Zieba, sound designer and moderator of the Stadiums and Large Venues panel discussion commented, "With the increasing use of networked audio in one-off concerts, installations and theatres, a forum such as this is becoming an essential requirement for all who consider themselves sound professionals in this industry."

The daylong event was sponsored by ASL, Audinate, Bosch Communication Systems, Peavey Commercial Audio/Media Matrix, TC Group International's Lab.gruppen-Tannoy-Lake, and Yamaha Commercial Audio along with five of Europe's top audio consultants.

Panel discussions covered such topics as Deploying Audio Networks for University Campus Environments

UK - East London-based Presentation Rentals (PR) supplied technical production equipment to two high profile events on the same day in London, both featuring keynote speeches by Microsoft billionaire philanthropist and global anti-poverty campaigner, Bill Gates.

The first was a live broadcast by the BBC from Deptford Green School in Lewisham, east London, complete with satellite link to a school in Uganda. Later in the day, Gates and Professor Hans Rosling spoke and took part in a live webcast from the London School of Economics (LSE) in central London, addressing the 2012 Global Poverty Ambassadors and students. Gates also used this as part of the London launch of his Annual Letter.

PR was working for live event and communications agency Stretch who were event producers and for whom PR is a regular technical consultant and solutions supplier. PR's project manager was Justin H

South Africa - Gareth Chambers has joined DWR Distribution to assist with technical support.

Chambers worked at AV Tech for nine years where he was in charge of the lighting department and managed the crew. In October last year he started freelancing.

"I enjoyed the lighting aspect of a show, the creativity involved," said Gareth. "But I'm looking forward to being in an environment that's a bit more structured."

Meanwhile, DWR Distribution bids farewell to JC Du Plessis who has joined Multi-Media.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Lighting and visuals rental company HSL has acquired a new 240,000sq.ft warehouse and office premises very close to their current HQ in Blackburn, Lancashire. This will quadruple the current space and is currently being prepared to be fully operational by summer 2012.

HSL's business has expanded exponentially over the last four years and the company has completely outgrown the current building in Ribble Business Park and a second adjacent unit that came on stream two years ago.

In the new premises, there will also be room for future expansion into the rest of the space once the initial 165,000sq.ft 'phase one' development is complete.

Features in the new space will include a large technical department, complete with climate controlled test rooms from +85 to minus 20 degrees - including an anechoic chamber (dead room) - to enable the extreme soak testing of all products

UK - Blackmagic Design has announced that production house Brightonart Ltd built a comprehensive AV control solution around Blackmagic Design's ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher to capture runway looks from Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the largest independent showcase of the Fall 2012 London Fashion Week.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout promotes both new and seasoned designers to an international audience through catwalk shows, presentations, fashion films and exhibitions. Based during London Fashion Week at the Freemasons' Hall in central London, Fashion Scout looked to Brightonart to produce the catwalk videos that would be uploaded to Vimeo.

Brightonart used Blackmagic Design's ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher to cut live footage from HD-SDI video feeds shot by two Sony EX-1 cameras. Program output was then captured on two SSD recorders; a Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio recording uncompre

Germany - Christie will be supporting two of its partners - Videlco and Vision Tools - at Prolight+Sound 2012, Frankfurt.

Videlco: (Hall 9, Stand B10) is one of Christie's main partners for the Spyder range of products and has developed a console ideally suited for Christie's range of video processors: Vista Spyder and Christie Spyder. The 42 Controls, Single Point of Control (S.P.O.C.) console which Christie is distributing as a third party product, is a media controller centralizing the control of multiple third party systems including projectors, media servers, matrix switchers and video processors - making it ideal for rental and staging applications, broadcasts and live events.

Visitors to the Videlco stand will get the opportunity to see a wide range of Christie solutions including an edge-blended large format projection using four Christie HD10K-M, Christie MicroTiles a

UK - XL Video provided video production - including LED screens, projection system, PPU and cameras for the 2012 Brit Awards, staged for the second year running at London's O2 Arena.

The event was the 11th year in a row that XL Video and (XL Project manager Paul Wood) has been a supplier to the event, working for technical production co-ordinator Papilo Productions and producers Brits TV.

Peter Bingemann's stage set design was inspired by the work of British pop artist Peter Blake, and consisted of a series of different sized white box frames, which were filled with artefacts and props, and two LED screens, also ensconced in box frames. The stage left screen measured 8.1m high and 4.5 wide, while the stage right one was a 4.5m square surface, both made from Pixled F-11.

In front of these, on the downstage edge of the stage were three more F-11 screens, two 4 x 4m squares on

UK - The PLASA 2012 free registration offer ends in just under 48 hours! Over 9,000 people have taken advantage of the free registration offer for this year's PLASA 2012, taking place at Earls Court in London from 9 - 12 September. Register before midnight on the 29th February and save £20 on the standard ticket price.

All previous PLASA Show visitors have been sent this special offer via email, and free registration for new visitors is live at www.plasashow.com

(Claire Beeson)

UK - Matrix UK Solutions has announced its formation with Smile AV, the long-standing technical solutions company. Both companies recognised the change in market and client demand, with a need for their companies to supply a full spectrum of skills under one roof, Smile AV will now support Matrix with all their technical elements.

Jamie Gaskins, founder of Smile AV comments, "This is a fantastic opportunity for both businesses and our respective clients, we are now able to offer our clients a greater spectrum of skills and knowledge, which will in turn provides a more streamlined project."

Jamie Gaskins now forms an equal partnership with existing directors Matt Phillips and Grant Mitchell.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - At Prolight+Sound 2012, Gerriets will present new screens including OptiBlack - a nearly black front/rear screen for soft-edge projections, and the transparent matte Frost, "a perfect diffusion film for backlighting".

Also showing will be the new, heavy-duty track system - the Cargo series - suitable for precise maneuvering of LED video walls and large heavy scenery in four profile/load rating sizes S/M/L/XL for 250-1200kg.

Large-screen wall systems Tube and MegaScreen featuring top or bottom rollers operated with virtually silent motors will be also demonstrated. Enlarged dance and event floor spectrum: Vario Ergodance, for user-friendly permanent and portable applications, with optimum shock absorption and Gerriets' inherently flame-retardant stretch fabrics Heavy-, Molton- & Muslin-stretch which offer individual stretching factors for wrinkle-free surfac

UK - Paradigm Audio Visual has undertaken a major internal restructure following founder Greg Jeffreys' decision to return to the coal face, taking over the day-to-day running of the company as Managing Director.

Jeffreys' immediate strategy has been to divide the company into autonomous focused divisions, promoting Susan Hall, who has been with Paradigm for 10 years, to operations director for the whole group. Fresh from securing another successful ISO 9000 audit, she will now take charge of all logistics, while joining her as assistant is new recruit Amanda Goggins.

At the same time, Paradigm invested heavily in IT to improve its CAD and process capabilities in anticipation of its relocation to the new Bedfordshire base which has three times the existing capacity.

"This provides us with expanded evaluation and demonstration facilities for our traditional and new simul

USA - Lee Dodson has been appointed vice president of business development for both TV One and Magenta Research, two Nortek, Inc. companies in the Pro AV market.

Dodson, a 25-year veteran of the Pro AV industry, joins Nortek from Premier Mounts, where he served as president. He has served as the elected chairman of the InfoComm Manufacturers Council for two terms, and also served on the InfoComm Leadership Development Committee, twice as Chairman of the InfoComm Exhibitors Committee.

"I am delighted to join this respected group of AV manufacturers," said Dodson. "TV One and Magenta Research are two of the most innovative pioneers in our industry. I see opportunities to develop additional synergies between these highly complementary business units within the Nortek technology family. With experienced and motivated management teams and cutting-edge new technologie

UK - Chaos Visual Productions worked with the fashion glitterati, providing the LED screens and catwalk projection and effects for this years' London Fashion Week, and London Fashion Weekend, at Somerset House.

The 4.48m wide (Barco Olite) screen situated in the stunning neo-classical courtyard of Somerset House, showed live streaming from the catwalk shows and highlights from London Fashion Week events and interviews.

Chaos worked with Bacchus and other contractors to streamline the systems used to broadcast the catwalk shows from other locations on the main courtyard screen, "Last year we were faced with every catwalk show from all the other LFW locations bringing us the edited video of their show in a completely different format, sometimes we'd have bags full of USB's all holding different formats all needing to be uploaded and shown on the main screen straight away -

Germany - Two new ArKaos innovations will be on display on the ArKaos stand at ProLight+Sound as the company presents its new ArKaos Hub network monitor and a new Video Mapping Software.

ArKaos Hub is an application specifically designed to monitor the state of multiple servers running MediaMaster in fixture mode. ArKaos Hub's key function is as a real-time backup system that gives instantaneous protection against server failure.

"A mid-show server failure has potentially drastic effects on your live show and takes time to restore as you struggle to re-establish the physical connections between projector and backup server. Enter ArKaos Hub!" the company says.

ArKaos Hub monitors servers in real-time and, in the event of server failure, automatically issues a configurable command to the video switchers, instructing them to re-establish connections between projectors

UK - IT & AV rental company DB Systems has achieved an ISO9001 accreditation following an audit by independent certification body ISOQAR. The ISO9001 accreditation means that DB has met internal standards for quality and that these standards meet internationally set guidelines.

DB's operations director, Mark Danvers, who led the project to get the accreditation, said, "The ISO9001 is recognised as a mark of quality, which we achieved following a rigorous independent, internal and external audit.

"DB has always been a rental company that strives to provide a first class service. The accreditation shows all our customers that we have a proven quality management system in place. It also demonstrates that we are committed to providing a quality service and willing to work towards improving efficiency.

"Additionally, I think this accreditation helps enhance our app

Australia - The Merewether Surfhouse has a second floor function centre featuring an open plan area which can be divided into separate rooms. The divisible room can be used for functions such as weddings, seminars, product launches and community related activities. The floor plan benefits from a wrap-around veranda and large rear terrace.

Impact AV Australia provided an audio visual design and installation for the venue that took into account the low ceilings and the high level of ambient light from the glass exterior walls. Also the AV design had to create a flexible audio visual environment for various room layouts in the multi-room facility.

The lighting system was designed to provide maximum flexibility in a corporate function centre. ETC Source Four jr Zooms profile lamps were installed as their wider lens angles were perfect for the Surfhouse's shorter throws distances.<

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