project news

Turbosound Loudspeakers are Fantastic for Plastik

Located adjacent to the Al Jazira hotel complex at Ghantoot, midway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Plastik Beach Club is one of the latest leisure destinations in the UAE where those who want to see and be seen can relax and enjoy themselves.

With comfortable surroundings, a restaurant, spa, club nights, fashion shows, VIP terrace and exclusive hillside retreat, much of the club is open to the spectacular night sky. And it's all accompanied by the very latest music, delivered by Turbosound loudspeakers.

Specified and installed by Dubai-based Reference Audio, the Plastik Beach Club features 10 TCS-121CW and four Impact 50 full range units, plus two TCS-218 subs, all painted white to match the club's colour scheme. It is the latest of a number of clubs in the region to feature Turbosound loudspeakers, thanks to their inherent sound quality and ability to acoustically cope with the open air environment.

"The sound quality of the speakers was extremely important, of course," says Fadi Costantine, head of Pro Audio Division at Reference Audio. "The club also wanted an IP rated speaker, so the TCS series was the ideal solution."

SGM on the Azadi Tower in Teheran

Like the monumental gates of ancient times, to all the visitors to Teheran since 1971, the impressive Azadi Tower indicates the entrance to the city.

The "Tower of Freedom" was built on the occasion of the 2,500th anniversary of the foundation of the Persian Empire and is located in the centre of the square of the same name, a flat 50,000m² space.

The unusual architecture of the gate combines Islamic and Sassanid architectural styles and due to this original combination seems both modern and solemn.

Fifty metres high, the Azadi Tower stands out in the immense surrounding space thanks also to the 8000 blocks of white marble from which it was built, whose shapes were calculated to the millimetre by a computer.
The unusual lines and construction material are perfectly suited to the lighting effects of the new project for illuminating the monument at night, achieved using:

56 Genio Mobile with 8° lens, installed at the side of the main path leading to the tower, 120 Palco 5 with 8° lens, on the perimeter of the building's four oblique legs and 16 Genio Mobile with 25° lens, installed on the inside part of the arch.

The entire system is controlled by a Regia 2048 Live console and a Regia 2048 Pro used as a back-up system.

Far from the past and present, at night the complex of the building and the square becomes an avant-garde site, thanks to the effect of the LED light fixtures.
The SGM fixtures, supplied by TechnoPro L.L.C., were perfectly able to meet the need to avoid mounting screws, brackets or other hardware necessary for installing the units directly on the historic building's structure.

In particular, the Palco 5 were fitted in a special channel dug round the tower and then covered with glass.

TAO Group Consults on new Dubai Arena

UK based Event Company TAO Group has won the contract to consult on Dubai's new state of the art multi-purpose venue, The Palladium.

The Palladium, built at a cost of AED120 million (US$32.6 million), will be the first venue of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, exclusively dedicated to cater to the widest array of events such as concerts, theatrical productions, conferences, corporate events, exhibitions, award ceremonies, galas and special functions.

Raymond Gaspar of ICE - International Communications and Entertainment - awarded the prestigious contract to TAO Group to consult on the technical fit out of the venue, stewarding and medical appointments, traffic and pedestrian planning, occupational safety and to prepare technical specifications to ease the attendance of touring production.

As general manager of The Palladium, Raymond Gaspar said: "This unique venue can be set-up in a variety of creative ways to suit any event theme and size. We will provide all the elements to facilitate the work of promoters and event organisers to produce world class events at The Palladium."

The Palladium is designed as a multi-purpose venue with a capacity of over 5,000 people for concerts. Setting up the venue to a client's specifications is possible in a matter of hours, with a movable stage, state-of-the-art visual effects, acoustics configurable to different applications, advanced branding mediums, foldable and retractable seats, and Sky Boxes for VIPs and VVIPs.

Andy Cotton of TAO said: "We are very excited to be part of this project, it allows us to use all of our group partners from TAO Medical, TAO Fire, TAO Traffic and TAO MIsc (that covers safety) as well as the knowledge we have in TAO Productions from running shows, events and production over the last 15 years."

With the opening of The Palladium scheduled for January 2009, TAO is working hard to put technical specification packs together, train staff and re-route the traffic infrastructure in consultation with officers from the municipal departments of Dubai.

Raymond Gaspar concluded: "We want this venue to be world class not only in design and equipment but also in operation and safety. As the UAE uses the basis of legislation from Europe it made sense for us to bring in top people from that area."

EvenLED Dynamic Wallpaper Decorates Lebanon's Future TV Studio

EvenLED, Martin Professional's bright system of LED panels for extremely uniform projection, has been utilized to great effect in several TV studios around the world.

One of those studios, Future TV in Lebanon, has implemented the modular system in its newsroom where two vertical columns of five EvenLED panels rise around a video wall to form a unique decorative background.

"Originally, the client wanted simply to change the set of the daily news show from a studio-based set into a newsroom environment set," says Ali Wazani, managing director of Wazani & Associates, an architectural firm responsible for some of the region's top television studio designs.

"Most of today's TV stations, international events and productions base their design on a branding and identity brief. It is the exceptional image that we are all striving to achieve," Wazani explains. "EvenLED can easily brand large surfaces with dynamic moving backgrounds or generate geometric and non-geometric wall covering patterns - let's call it electronic dynamic wallpaper."

DMX controllable and capable of extremely smooth dimming, each EvenLED module consists of evenly spaced and individually controlled 6-watt RGB LEDs. Positioned behind translucent glass in the Future TV newsroom, the EvenLED panels create two decorative pillars of flicker free, color changing light that help to visually stretch the space vertically.

"EvenLED is a member of the new world of LED," Wazani comments. "It is a very bright, low resolution screen that can easily be installed to cover super large surfaces. The panels are light, easy to install and ship, and 100 panels can easily cover 100 sq.m of architecture. In fact, it should really be used on large surfaces in order to reveal its beauty.

"Dynamic graphic designs can only be interpreted for the set on super large self luminous surfaces via LED matrix technology. The 1 x 1 meter size of the EvenLED panel is unique and forms the basic module for such a transformation of information."

For the Future TV studio Wazani introduced a three-level atrium structure within the closed metal box structure. The ground level housed the main activities: studio and newsroom. The other two levels accommodated ancillary functions such as edit suits, archives and current affairs departments. "Such a spatial organization made the internal space feel like a small technological village," Wazani comments. "The materials used were basically steel and glass in different shades and textures. This choice of contemporary materials, coupled with precise LED light technology, enhanced our slick transparent design."

Wazani & Associates not only design television studios (they have done work for Middle East Broadcasting Center, Arabiya News Channel, and others) but are also involved in the building design industry. "We consider TV sets an experimental design platform for our original architectural work," Wazani says. "Our experiments evolve according to the evolution of new materials, design strategies and the lighting industry. Whenever there are new technologies in lighting, designers get the chance to produce innovative and creative new designs."

Supplier of the Martin EvenLED panels to Future TV was Martin Middle East. Ali Wazani has also incorporated the EvenLED panels into a studio design at Al Arabiya News Channel in Dubai.

www.martin.com

Sound and Variable Directivity at Azadi Theatre in Tehran thanks to Outline

Azadi is a six-floor multi-room building in uptown Tehran with an overall seating capacity of 1153. The top two floors of this building host the venue's largest room, mainly designed to carry the functions of a concert hall, but also equipped in order to be able to host a very wide variety of events.

In this specific case, the entire acoustic treatment and fitting out work, which lasted ten months and concluded with an inauguration ceremony attended by Tehran's Mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf - involved the integration of the most advanced audio technology the market had to offer.

In particular, the care taken with acoustics and the choice and positioning of the theatre's sound reinforcement system had to ensure excellent sound results, able to meet the most stringent requisites. These results were perfectly achieved, say Outline.

The technical specifications required a mini-COM.P.A.S.S. Outlinearray, the well known compact self-powered VLA manufactured by Outline of Brescia (Italy); a system - the manufacturer emphasizes - also able to offer directivity that can be adjusted between 60 and 150 degrees on the horizontal plane, even asymmetrically if necessary and with sixteen different dispersion combinations. So far, this is the only product on the world market with this innovative patented function (Outline won an Award for Product Innovation at the 2005 Plasa Show in London).

In fact, the obliged positioning of the two arrays meant that their horizontal dispersion could not be identical and had to be asymmetric for all the elements to avoid audio reflections from the walls, which were very close to the arrays' hanging points.

The Azadi Theatre's rig comprises 14 mini-COM.P.A.S.S. modules, which ensure correct even coverage throughout the entire theatre, and this important result, achieved for the first time in Iran, met with the satisfaction of the technicians and the client.

The 14 mini-COM.P.A.S.S. are combined with four LAB 15 SP (1x15", self-powered), ultra-compact subwoofers just 43 cm. high and weighing just 52 kg, but able to reach down to considerably low frequencies and able to push out a high SPL (137 db @ 1m. peak).

The installation was completed by four multi-purpose DVS 10 enclosures (1x10"; 1x1") for under-balcony use and two DVS 12 (1x12"; 1x3") on front fill duties, covering the front rows of the audience. The DVS enclosures, in this case all passive versions, are powered by Outline T44 amplifiers and processed by DSP Genius 26.

The manager for the entire project was Masood Roostaei, supported by sound engineer Moghadam, and the equipment was supplied by Hashemi Trading Design and Installation, exclusive Outline distributor for Iran.

Calibration and final tests were carried out by Outline system engineer Francesco Ferretti, who has lengthy well-proven experience in the regulation and fine-tuning of the manufacturer's loudspeaker systems installed throughout the world. Following the leading edge realisations using Outline products in 2007 at the Talar Handisheh and Talar Honar theatres, Tehran Municipality has commissioned Hashemi Trading work for three more theatres. In fact, installation is currently under way of another mini-COM.P.A.S.S. system plus Subtech and DVS units in the first of the three new theatres, named ‘M Five'.

The other two theatres that will benefit from Outline sound will be finished by the end of 2008 and work is already at an advanced stage.

ChainMaster Supplies Ice Stadium in Dubai Mall

ChainMaster has just produced a BGV-C1 chain-hoist system comprising 56 chain hoists, a computer-based controller and a switching cabinet, for the ice rink in Dubai Mall. The 500kg and 800kg chain hoists are equipped with absolute value encoders and the new ChainMaster load measurement system that has made it possible to reduce the overall height of the chain hoists by around 20cm. The control and programming of the chain hoists is performed at a mobile computerised controller for installation work.

The recently opened Dubai Mall is part of the 20 billion dollar investment in downtown Burj Dubai that includes the world's highest building, the Burj Dubai. The Mall will accommodate over 1,200 businesses, 160 F&B outlets, attractions such as the Dubai Aquarium and the Discovery Center, the largest jewellery market in the world, a Fashion Avenue and a 22-screen Cineplex.

www.chainmaster.de

Grand Hyatt Muscat gets five-star upgrade to Lab.gruppen

The Grand Hyatt Muscat, with its stunning waterfront location, five star rating and a list of facilities and amenities as long as your arm, is one of the largest and most opulent hotels in Muscat. It is also home to several of Oman's hottest nightspots and entertainment venues including Club Safari, Copacabana and the sumptuous Afrah Ballroom. Audio quality throughout has recently been enhanced and refined with an upgrade to Lab.gruppen's dedicated installation range of C Series multi-channel power amplifiers, supplied and installed by Lab.gruppen's exclusive distributor in Oman, Bright Lights.

Club Safari is a dazzling three-level venue that offers an eclectic mix of high-tech entertainment and African design, including a live stage on the middle level. A powerful 4-channel Lab.gruppen C 68:4 runs the main stage PA comprising two 2 x 18-inch subs and two 12-inch mid-high cabinets from Ohm, while the stage monitor system is handled by an 8-channel C 20:8X powering six 12-inch Ohm wedges. The remaining two channels are powering the in-fill surround speakers.

Copacabana was the second venue to benefit from the Lab.gruppen upgrade. Billed as Muscat's premier club, the interior of Copacabana is inspired by the vibrant carnival atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro. Like Club Safari, a C 68:4 drives the main system, although this time the mid-high section is comprised of four 12-inch loudspeakers. A further four-channel C 28:4 powers the 2 x 700 W DJ monitor system with the remaining channels driving the delayed surround sound system.

Finally, the magnificent Afrah Ballroom which plays host to everything from upmarket weddings and elegant private parties to state functions and royal galas, has been equipped with two C 68:4 power amplifiers driving a total of thirty-two Ohm BR6 250 W speakers across four separate zones. According to Bright Light's Sabri Al-Busaidi, Lab.gruppen's C Series range proved to be the ideal choice to meet the Grand Hyatt Muscat's power requirements. "The great thing about these amplifiers is their astonishing power-to-size ratio and the high channel density," explained Sabri. "I am delivering more power with even better sound quality using only a fraction of the total number of units than was previously the case, so saving on space, time and money. I've only used a few of the models available, but it's a big range and there is something for every type and size of installation. I also think the feature set is superb with networking, remote monitoring and control facilities as standard and of course the ability to adjust maximum voltage peak output and gain per channel. All in all an excellent package that has made a huge difference to the final result. The client is very happy!"

Lab.gruppen Saddles up with AV-TECH in Qatar

Most Qataris are passionate about horses and take their equestrian traditions very seriously. As a result, there is a surprising number of extremely plush equestrian facilities throughout this small state, including those of the Qatar Equestrian Federation in the capital city of Doha. When the QEF decided that a full upgrade of their public address system was necessary, following major improvements to their indoor and training facilities, they turned straight away to AV-TECH, one of Qatar's leading suppliers of high end audio, video, broadcast and lighting equipment with a formidable reputation for high quality systems contracting. After much deliberation, AV-TECH engineers eventually settled for a custom-designed solution from Meyer Sound and Community with amplification from Lab.gruppen's installation-dedicated C Series range.

The installation covered several areas including the main indoor arena and associated warm-up area as well as the main outdoor arena and its associated warm-up area. The areas to be covered were enormous and there were several logistical difficulties to overcome, but eventually the consultants and engineers agreed to adopt a surface element approach as that which provided optimum coverage and the best value for money.

The project included the supply, installation and commissioning of thirty-two Meyer Sound UPJ 1P self-powered speakers and thirty-two Community R.25 horn speakers powered by four Lab.Gruppen C16:4 4-channel power amplifiers in the indoor arena (main arena and warm-up arena). The outdoor arena PA installation included twelve Meyer Sound M2D line array cabinets, sixteen M1D line array cabinets and four Community R1-94z 2 way horn system units powered by a further four Lab.Gruppen C 16:4 power amplifiers. In both arenas, all the speakers were connected to a Midas Venice 16-channel mixing desk and managed by a Meyer Sound Galileo 616 speaker management system.

"Despite the logistical difficulties we had to overcome in mounting the loudspeakers, the combination of MeyerSound, Community and Lab.gruppen delivers the highest quality sound," stated AV-TECH's Hadi Arzouni. "We selected Lab.gruppen's C Series because of their build quality and reliability and their high channel density. You are also able to select your output load per channel which makes them incredibly versatile, and of course they sound extremely good."

"The PA in all areas will relay the paging calls as well as a mix of sources," continued Arzouni. "These include the presenters' microphones, courtside radio microphones and other virtually routed sources. We can route any input we receive from Al-Jazeera Sport Channel or other providers, using our Galileo system, into the court mix," he explained. The specification called for a full music-rated system (although it will hardly be used as such). "Via the Meyer sound Galileo we have dynamics and EQ on every input (comp, limiters, parametric and gain), while on every output there's parametric EQ, limiting, delay and routing - this allows us to transmit test signals during the Championships, so we always know what to expect."

The entire system has now been tested and commissioned and the client (Qatar Equestrian Federation) is delighted by the results.  

 

 

 

ETC Help Palazzo Las Vegas Achieve Leadership Standard

Thanks in part to ETC lighting products, the Palazzo Las Vegas is not only the newest, tallest and most luxurious hotel and resort complex on the Strip, it is also the greenest. The $1.9 billion (£1.1 billion), 50-storey Palazzo Las Vegas opened in December 2007, and now holds a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council.

The largest LEED structure in the world, Palazzo Las Vegas presages a new era of conservation minded building construction in the area. According to an article in USA Today, plans are underway to build more than 50 million square feet (4.6 million sq m) of new casino resort projects to LEED standards on and around the Strip, and existing resorts are looking at improving their energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of LEED compliance, and ETC lighting products were one element that enabled Palazzo Las Vegas to meet the standard. An ETC Unison lighting control system and ETC Sensor+ dimming were part of the installed lighting package, plus more than 100 ETC Source Four luminaires, which are an energy-frugal standard of the industry. The Unison system is programmed to save energy through automated functions such as occupancy sensing (dimming the lights when no people are present in a space) and daylight harvesting, where lights are dimmed in response to the amount of available natural light.

"We're starting to automatically approach projects from a green mindset," says Buddy Pope, senior project manager with the Las Vegas office of 4Wall Entertainment. 4Wall Entertainment established the general lighting control guidelines and specified the lighting control package that was provided to supplier Gexpro, to meet the requirements of the various lighting designers for the space. "For instance," he continues, "we make the most of sky-lit areas through the use of daylight sensors, automatic dimming and the ability to turn off entire circuits. The ETC Unison control is well suited to that because it is designed to perform astronomical functions and to interface with photo cells."

The Palazzo complex includes a hotel tower of over 3,000 guest suites surrounded by a vast, sky-lit podium/atrium area designed by architect HKS Inc, featuring luxury retail shops and world-class dining and entertainment. The theatre there is a permanent venue for the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys.

Kaplan Gehring McCarroll Architectural Lighting Inc (KGM) provided lighting design for much of the complex. "The aesthetic challenges are a little different when lighting an interior that already has so much natural light," comments KGM partner Martin van Koolbergen. "You're no longer dealing with space as a box. In certain areas, you have to counter the intensity of the natural light and balance it with uplighting and decorative features. At night, the lighting control system has to be balanced to maintain the proper foot candles on the ground to meet emergency standards, deemphasise the ‘black holes' of the skylights and retain the monumental feeling of the architecture. A lot depended on the use of energy-efficient lamps and sources, and the ETC control system with its dimming capacity."

The Palazzo's annual savings in electricity is reckoned to be more than 10.6 million kilowatt hours, enough to power 700 homes for a year, or brew six million cups of coffee.

"This project is a new benchmark for the industry," says van Koolbergen. "It demonstrates that the developer of a major upscale property - on the Strip or elsewhere - can maintain standards for quality, drama and experience and also be environmental good guys. Not only do you create more efficient spaces, you create a setting that is pleasant and healthier in which to live and work." KGM worked closely with owner Las Vegas Sands Corp, HKS and consulting firm Ernst & Young on the specifics of LEED compliance.

Additional lighting designers on The Palazzo project included Pivotal Lighting Design (Canyon Ranch), First Circle (Cut Restaurant), IDC New Jersey (Carnevino Restaurant), Bliss-Fasman (Charlie Trotter Restaurant), Tom Ruzika (Morels Restaurant), Isometrix (Sushi Samba), Arc Lighting (Bath House) and Focus Lighting (Dos Caminos and Table Ten restaurants).

The lighting gear list includes a total of 50 ETC dimmer racks, 97 ETC Unison stations, over 1,800 ETC dimmer modules, 52 Source Four HID 150W luminaires, and 50 Source Four 375W luminaires.

In picture: The lobby at Palazzo Las Vegas

www.etcconnect.com

ETC Puts the Grand Mosque in the Right Light

The majestic Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque (also known as the Grand Mosque) in Abu Dhabi has been described as the most striking religious and national landmark in the city to date. Now the lighting has won Speirs and Major Associates international accolades for their design, including two Middle East Lighting Design Awards (MELDA) - Project of the Year and Best Public Building Lighting Project. The project uses a huge ETC ACN network for remote device management as well as Congo control systems, ETC Matrix Mk II SineWave dimming and several hundred ETC Source Fours.

With a brief of creating inspired lighting appropriate to this iconic civic building, both externally and internally, and emphasise its standing as a gateway into the city, Speirs and Major specified

building-wide ETC dimming and control systems. Keith Bradshaw, associate director at Speirs and Major says: "Given the scale and the sophistication of the control system we required, we knew there were very few people who could manage it properly. It needed to be a company who were able to think laterally when faced with complex and unique problems and we knew ETC had the flexibility and brainpower to deal with it. ETC's product reliability is self-evident, but there is just something about the mentality of its people and their background - we knew they could handle something of this scale."

Accommodating more than 40,000 worshippers in its prayer halls and courtyard, this is the largest mosque in UAE and one of the largest in the world, covering an area of more than 22,000 square metres. Internally, the lighting had to celebrate all the architectural details and features, while providing a level of functionality for reading and prayer as well as being suitable for TV broadcasting. The breath-taking lighting complements the mosque's impressive interior design, which incorporates Italian white marble, inlaid floral designs and gold mosaics and, in the main prayer hall, the world's largest hand-woven Persian carpet.

Arguably one of the most important architectural buildings in modern UAE society, the Grand Mosque has taken ten years to complete and materials were sourced from all over the world to ensure the building was finished to the highest quality. 

   In picture: ETC luminaires, dimmers and control products are in use at Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque.

www.etcconnect.com

Martin Equips P&O Cruises Ventura

The largest superliner built exclusively for the British market, the 116,000 ton P&O Cruises Ventura, calls Southampton her home port. On April 18, soon after delivery from Italy's Fincantieri shipyard, the Ventura sailed on her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean, decked out in a full complement of colour and effect lighting from Martin Professional.

"In my role as entertainment consultant to P&O Cruises I was instrumental in selecting Martin as the lead supplier to provide the ‘moving light' elements of the entertainment systems for Ventura," states Chris Blackburn of Snap2Black.

Ventura incorporates flexible Martin lighting systems into several areas of the ship. Its many unique features - multiple bars, lounges, and show spaces, not to mention a variety of pools and relaxation areas - means she offers fantastic choice. "Most major entertainment areas are multi-use, although they do have a main use focus," says Chris. "They all have an identity."

The two-deck Arena Theatre is the ship's primary show space. "The brief was to augment the generic rig with moving light and mirror fixtures. There were three or four companies all with equipment that we could have used, but the decision went to Martin to supply, which we are all very pleased with," Chris says.

Chris mentions reliability, maintenance, ease of use, ease of installation and lighting effect as key factors in choosing the Martin lighting gear, but light output and technical support were of paramount importance. He states: "We were looking for brightness as a key element, as well as flexibility of the unit. But one of the most important for me was the confidence I felt with Martin as a company to provide the backup and support in what is always a difficult time when launching a ship.

"It's a very harsh environment with vibration issues which you don't have in land based productions. There is the constant change in temperature and the gear is really hammered. The ship is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year with something going on virtually all of the time so the equipment is used for more than just evening performances. We're looking for reliability in the mechanics of the fixture because once we put it up in a rig it's pretty much set there."

Positioned in the theatre rig are 11 MAC 700 Profiles, 35 MAC 700 Washes, 14 MAC 550 Profiles and 16 Atomic 3000 strobes. The rig supports more than the main shows but a variety of on board activities from cabaret performances and theme nights to marketing activities.

The Arena Theatre stages several quality productions produced by Jean Ann Ryan Productions. Lighting designer for the on-board productions is Jim Ryan of Infocus FX and Lighting. Permanent lighting technician onboard Ventura is production manager Greg Edrich.

You can dance the salsa to Latino rhythms in Havana or relax in the exotic show lounge, The Tamarind Club. In either venue, you'll be enjoying yourself beneath a Martin rig of 4 Mania SCX 700 effect lights, 4 MX-10 Extreme scanners and 4 Martin smartMAC moving heads. In Havana are an additional 12 Wizard Extreme effect lights and 2 Atomic 3000 strobes. In both venues, a Martin Magnum Club Smoke system, a unique multi-headed fog delivery package with a ground based fluid supply, provides the mid-air projection canopy for light beam and atmosphere enhancement. The Martin gear is used to augment an existing rig and adds a high energy element to both areas.

"Everyone onboard fell in love with the smartMAC," comments Chris Blackburn. "I first saw it at PLASA. The profile, the size, the fact that it actually looks quite funky for that environment, and with energy savings more important than even a few years ago, it's a good fixture for ships. It's also quick to get at and easy to service."

The smartMAC is a bright 150 W moving head profile luminaire that offers superior reliability, long service intervals, total silence and reduced power bills thanks to a unique fanless cooling system (no dust and pollutants are forced into the fixture). Extremely bright, the smartMAC houses eight interchangeable dichroic colours and six interchangeable effects.

Both Havana and The Tamarind Club feature small stages and dance areas. Most of the Martin fixtures are located above the dance floor, MX-10 and Manias rigged front and back. Others are positioned upstage to project across the bandstand and onto the dance floor. The effects are used as a disco effect when required or used in the cabaret show set up or for other activities.

Havana, the aft lounge and the ship's second major cabaret venue, serves as the main disco two thirds of the year. It is used for children's cruises and as a family/youth area the other third of the year. When Havana functions as the main disco, The Tamarind Club, smaller and located in the center of the ship, is used for more niche late night entertainment for those who want a bit quieter environment. When Havana features family activities, The Tamarind Club serves as the adult disco. Because of its customizable nature, the Martin gear adjusts accordingly.

Specified by Project International for the ship's atrium are eight MAC 700 Profiles and four MAC 700 Washes. The atrium serves as the ship's hub, a three deck high entrance area from where you find shops, an elegant piano bar, coffee shop bar, art gallery, reception and more.

Installed as a colour changing architectural element along with LED, the Martin fixtures alter the look and therefore the atmosphere of the space as the day progresses. Chris states that, although it has yet to be realized, there are plans for a short show in the atrium, which the Martin lights will be instrumental in lighting. "It was important that we had equipment that would serve a dual purpose," he says. "We also swing the lights into position to light the Captain when he hosts the Captains Cocktail Party, and for other events."

As a high profile family ship, it was important that outdoor events were a part of the program on Ventura, therefore another Jean Ann Ryan Production takes place at the Laguna Pool. "We needed powerful fixtures out there because the show goes from sunset into early evening into the night," Chris says, "hence we went for the MAC 2000 for their power and the flexibility a fixture like that offers, augmented by the MAC 700."

The production and other events take place on a dedicated stage - a raised platform - across one end of the pool. Here are six MAC 2000 Profiles in Tempest domes along with four MAC 700 Profiles and 4 MAC 700 Washes. On occasion, the MAC 700s are moved and used in the atrium.

Elsewhere, four MiniMAC Profiles and four Raptor effect lights keep the energy level high in the Teen Centre, where teens can indulge their fantasies of musical stardom by attending Rock School.

Installation of the Martin lighting gear for Ventura was handled by John Fearon of Eclipse Lighting & Sound of the UK.

Ventura is based in Southampton during the spring and summer months, offering holidays of between two and 16 nights in duration in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Atlantic Isles. Between October and March each year she will offer 14 night Caribbean fly-cruise holidays from Barbados.

photos: P&O Cruises

www.martin.com

Selecon at the Oslo Opera House

The new home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the Oslo Opera House took five years to build at an estimated cost of 500 million euros and the result is a spectacular edifice of Italian white marble with a slanting roof surface that rises directly from beneath the waters of the Oslofjord (Oslo Fjord) in the capital's harbour. Officially opened on Saturday, 12^th April 2008 by the Norwegian King Harald during a gala event the Oslo Opera House is the largest single cultural-political initiative in Norway today (38,500 square metres) and the first Opera House in the world where visitors can take a walk on roof!
   The main 1350-seat auditorium is a classic horseshoe-shaped opera theatre with a high-level ceiling designed to strict acoustic requirements and is capable of catering for the whole range of classic and modern opera and ballet, as well as concerts and musicals. Among the other 1100 rooms are a smaller 400-seat auditorium and a 200-seat rehearsal space.
   The building has one of the most modern and technologically advanced opera stages in the world comprising 16 individual elements that can be elevated, angled, or rotated so that landscapes can be constructed on the stage. Covering a large surface area, in addition to the main stage (16x16 metres), there are side stages, back stages and an understage allowing nine metre high scenery sets to be prepared under the main stage and elevated during performances.
   Over 300 Selecon Performance Lighting luminaires were specified to service the performance spaces ranging from short to medium throw Acclaim PCs and Rama High Performance Fresnels and PCs to long throw Arena High Performance Fresnels and 1000W Lui 4-way Cycs and Groundrows to 1250W Aurora 4-way pole operated Cycs and standard Groundrow units; all supplied by local Selecon dealer, Elpag AS.
   Renowned architecture firm Snøhetta designed the building after winning an international contest in 2000 and it was built by Statsbygg, a government-run property owner. The theatre designers were London-based Theatre Projects Consultants, the acoustic designers were BrekkeStrandArup - a joint venture between local consultant Brekke Strand Akustikk and international acousticians Arup Acoustics.

   www.seleconlight.com

MC2 Audio and XTA in Harmony in Tehran

MC2 Audio and XTA Electronics are proud to have been chosen to supply amplification and system management to Tehran’s Avini Hall and for the Fadjr International Music Festival.

   The Avini Hall is a 1,700 seater multipurpose theatre and is the centrepiece of the Iranian capital’s Bahman Culture Club. Not only is the Avini home to the Tehran Symphony Orchestra but it also hosts a wide variety of productions from musicals, plays and concerts to seminars and live TV and radio shows.

   To meet the demands of this broad range of performances, the board of directors at the Bahman Culture Club decided to upgrade the sound system with a particular requirement for equipment providing the highest standards of sound quality and reliability. Following a shoot-out between the main loudspeaker brands in Iran, Foujan Loudspeakers was chosen to supply a four-way, P Series system and was installed by their installation division.

   MC2 Audio’s T2000 and T4-250 amplifiers power the Foujan Loudspeakers at FOH, front fill and additional stage monitoring positions and in addition, a single MC2 Audio E45 drives four subwoofers, which are located under the stage.

   XTA DP448 and DP226 management systems powered by Audiocore software were chosen to handle the processing for the whole speaker system, with the DP226 having particular responsibility for the management of both front fill and left-hand/right-hand stage monitoring. In late 2007, three XTA SIDD (Seriously Intelligent Digital Dynamics) processing units, the first to be used in Iran, were added to the system.

   Jafari brothers: “This powerful system is working in this busy hall without failure. The top singers who play here say thanks to the great quality of sound system from the stage through the mic to the audience. The combination of MC2 and XTA products gives us the opportunity to fix the inevitable problems that happen during live performances very fast. The sound engineer is now ready for any event and says a big thanks to MC2 and XTA.”

   In January 2008, the Avini Hall hosted the 23rd Fadjr International Music Festival. Founded in 1986, the Fadjr Festival has become Iran’s most prestigious music festival and over ten days, draws musicians of all ages from the Middle East, Europe and Asia to participate in national and international competitions and to perform pieces in a number of categories ranging from International and Folk Music to Classical, Youth and Women’s Music.

   The upgraded Avini audio system performed to great effect throughout the festival and won praise from both engineers and audience. “During the festival, the sound engineer from Vahdat Hall, our equivalent of the Royal Albert Hall in London, came to meet the Avini sound engineer,” comments Jafari brothers, “and told him that all the technicians and bands who played in the Fadjr Festival said that the sound was the best for quality, power and details.”

   Group managing director, Ian McCarthy says: ‘At MC2 and XTA we are delighted to have been involved in the Avini Hall project and it is a great pleasure to do business with Majid and Mehrdad Jafari at Foujan Audio Co. Ltd. They have a special enthusiasm for pro audio and run their business with a high level of professionalism. I am grateful to them for the support they are giving our products in the Iranian market.’

   Foujan Audio is a division of JTS Pro Audio.

   JTS Pro Audio is the first and only pro audio industry research and development group in M.E.

Serious in Saudi

Serious Stages, working with Atlantic Enterprises, saw one of their Space Roof buildings air freighted from East Midlands Airport to Saudi Arabia aboard an Antonov AN-124 heavy lift cargo plane. The full kit, totalling over 210 tonnes, was amassed and supplied at very short notice which necessitated the need for the airlift!

   The roof was erected in Thuwal, a small village on the Red Sea coast to the north of Jeddah, and was the setting for a foundation stone laying ceremony to launch KAUST – the SR10 billion King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

   King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud himself laid the cornerstone. The occasion was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony uniting learned men and women of all faiths from around the globe to hailing a world-class coeducational research university. KAUST is intended to help Saudi Arabia have a world-class independent scientific research centre that acts as a scientific base and a driving force for the national economy. It is also the realisation of a decades-long vision of King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

   Serious was asked to supply the structure by Saudi Aramco. Given the clearspan size needed from the structure and the loads required to be flown from the roof, the Space Building became the only option available for them to meet their specification.

   The Space Building measured 50 metres wide by 120 metres long (its size was enough to fit three Airbus aircraft), and featured three 12 metre Orbit stages as entrances which were fitted with electronic doors.

   Inside, over 300 points of rigging are used to fly sound, lighting, laser and video equipment. Each arch of the Space Roof Building had a weight loading of eight tonnes, and this structure comprised 20 arches in total, offering a total weight loading of 160 tonnes. The exterior of the building was finished with a mixture of silver/black and clear fabric.

   The internal space was filled with an extensive exhibition of plans, details and models relating to KAUST, plus a stage and seating area for the foundation laying presentation.

   The project was coordinated by Atlantic’s Shane McCarthy, project managed by John Wilson and included 20 Serious crew and engineers from the UK who went to Saudi for the build, show and de-rig.

   KAUST is scheduled to open in September 2009.

Lab.gruppen Provides ‘Elegante’ Solution for Dubai club

The beautiful Elegante club housed in the prestigious Royal Ascot hotel in Dubai is the latest venue to benefit from a state-of-the-art sound system driven by no less than eleven C Series dedicated installation amplifiers from Lab.gruppen. The entire system, which also features a powerful Avalon loudspeaker system from EAW, was designed and commissioned by leading Middle Eastern systems integrator, Dubai-based Smart Vision LLC, with excellent support from Lab.gruppen/EAW distributor, Executive Audio.

   With a capacity of over 1,000, the Elegante club has been designed as a multi-purpose entertainment venue with the ability to host anything from live music shows, stage shows as well as top regional and international DJs for the club nights. According to Oussama Mansour Abou Faraj who manages Smart Vision, Elegante is a unique venue, boasting a “one-of-a-kind light and laser grid, state-of-the-art liquid nitrogen Kryogenifex effects systems and of course, the absolute best sound system design and technology. It all combines to make for the latest evolution of nightlife artistry,” he explained.

   The brief from the owners was quite simply to provide the “best club sound in Dubai,” marked by the ability to deliver high SPLs and deep, punching bass. In order to meet that objective, Smart Vision opted for a combination of Lab.gruppen C Series amplifiers with different power ratings to drive the EAW Avalon system together with a quantity of fill speakers. The full Lab.gruppen spec comprised two C 16:4 4 x 400 W amplifiers, four C 28:4 4 x 700 W amplifiers, four C 48:4 4 x 1200 W amplifiers, and finally, the daddy of the range, a C 68:4 4 x 1700 W amplifier.

   Oussama from Smart Vision explained why Lab.gruppen was a natural choice. “As well as being renowned for ultimate reliability, Lab.gruppen also offers the best value/high performance amplifier combination available. The C Series of dedicated installation amplifiers exemplifies this company philosophy superbly, with eight multi-channel (4-8) models (all 2 U) providing a large choice of power outputs that will suit the most demanding of requirements. In the case of the Elegante Club, Dubai, numerous and varied power level outputs were required to drive the EAW Avalon system along with a number of in-fill speakers – a total of 44 amp channels and in excess of 40 kW of power on tap. The C Series is also compatible with Lab.gruppen’s NomadLink network via the NLB 60E Nomadlink Bridge & Network Controller, and so network monitoring and control was also included to provide peace of mind in the typically challenging environment of a high energy/SPL nightclub.”

ChainMaster Chain Hoists for Clinic in Saudi Arabia

Five JumboLifts, which are designed for particularly heavy loads and have already been used to great effect in venues such as the SAP Arena in Mannheim and the Hondynk Arena in Moscow, along with eight VarioLifts, will shortly be despatched to the Middle East, where they are scheduled for installation in a Saudi Arabian clinic.

   The JumboLifts, each of which has a lifting capacity of up to 3,000 kg, will be used to manoeuvre a chandelier in the 55 metre high lobby of the new building. When the clinic opens, it will be possible to move this 12-ton 'jewel in its crown' at variable speeds.

   The 500 kg VarioLifts are destined for a different purpose: moving the clinic's lighting trusses. These lifts, which conform to the BGV-C1 code of practice and are notable for the exceptional precision and reproducibility of their movements, will be subject to the direction of a computer-based controller from ChainMaster. The team from Saxony will also be undertaking the construction of the switching cabinet for the fixed installation.

   In picture: ChainMaster's BGV-C1 JumboLift

   http://www.chainmaster.de

Dubai Mall Aquarium Selects Wybron Architectural Fixtures and InfoTrace

Wybron, Inc. has announced that the Dubai Mall Aquarium, a permanent installation in the world's largest shopping mall, located in downtown Dubai, has purchased 226 large format Aquarams and an InfoTrace Control and Management System. The aquarium expects to install Wybron’s fixtures and the InfoTrace system in September.

   Wybron’s Aquarams will illuminate the 164 foot aquarium to allow visitors to see sharks, stingrays and other species of fish in their natural habitat. Each Aquaram contains up to 32 gel colours and is water resistant. The InfoTrace system will control and manage all of the fixtures via the RDM platform.

   “We are very pleased with the spike in sales of our architectural fixtures,” said Larry Turner, Wybron CEO. “Wybron continues to introduce new outdoor lighting technology as we expect the demand for lighting designs to grow in the overall architectural and buildings space.”

   CD+M Lighting Design Group, a US-based multi-disciplinary lighting and controls design firm which provides a range of professional design services for architectural, entertainment, corporate, educational and mixed-use projects globally, designed the project and will supervise programming and installation during the final phases of the project, which opens in 2008.

   http://www.wybron.com.

Christie Celebrates More Than 3000 Digital Cinema Installations Worldwide

Christie has announced that it has installed more than 3,000 Digital Cinema systems worldwide, the first manufacturer to reach this important milestone. The accomplishment confirms the company’s solid dominance in the Digital Cinema market, with nearly 80% of all installations around the world using Christie DLP Cinema projectors, making the projector a world standard. With Christie on target to surpass 4,000 installations by the end of the year, the company’s success has exceeded all earlier industry expectations for the entire global market for Digital Cinema.

   More than 2600 systems are installed throughout the USA as part of the groundbreaking AccessIT software and funding vehicle introduced in 2005. Christie installations also span Africa, Asia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, South Korea, Spain,

Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Christie installations outside of North America have begun to accelerate positioning the company as the leading player in the global deployment of DLP Cinema systems worldwide.

   To keep up with demand, Christie’s manufacturing facilities have boosted capacity by over 400% in the past year, delivering more than 400 DLP Cinema units per month while continuing to increase efficiency and raise productivity. Christie has also been aggressively recruiting top technical and administrative staff that include electronics, mechanical and optical engineers, technicians and industry experts. It has also instituted comprehensive quality control programs continuing to meet the high standards of excellence upon which the company has built its reputation.

   “Christie is fulfilling all of its current contracts and commitments and successfully ramping-up its deployment of digital systems by scaling manufacturing and services to meet the global needs of the market,” observed Jack Kline, president and COO, Christie USA. “Our unparalleled success is based on more than three-quarters of a century of experience. Quality and world-class support services remain our number one priorities as we work with exhibitors to help them make the digital transition seamlessly and revolutionize the movie-going experience.”

Theatre Projects Consultants Expands Middle East Portfolio

Theatre Projects has recently been appointed for specialist consultancy work on a major new Conference and Exhibition Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the smaller Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. This centre is being built by Rakeen Properties as a gateway project for a major new city development.

   Theatre Projects is engaged to work with the architects, Snøhetta AS, on the schematic design stage of the Conference and Exhibition Centre, which will form part of a larger scheme housing several hotels and a shopping centre. Theatre Projects are also currently collaborating with Snøhetta on other cultural centres around the world, including the New Opera House for Den Norske Opera in Oslo, Norway, and Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA.

   The project consolidates Theatre Projects’ growing portfolio of prestigious projects in the Middle East, which includes Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Qatar Education City, Dubai Community Theatre, a private flexible concert hall for the Sultan of Oman within the Guest Palace Complex at Qasr al Alam, and the 1,000-seat House of Musical Arts in Muscat, Oman.

Turbo Sounds Best at C Bar

Located at the lobby level of Dubai’s Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, C Bar is a sibling of the popular Crystal restaurant and certainly lives up to the latter’s chic and contemporary reputation.

   C Bar is an L-shaped venue with a relaxed yet elegant feel and, as befits its name, pleasing curves predominate from its entrance right the way through to its furniture. It also boasts a Turbosound loudspeaker system that is more than equal to its stylish image comprising eight TXD-121, four TXD-215s, four Impact 80s and a TXD-118 subwoofer all controlled by an LMS-D24 loudspeaker management system, installed by Louay Agha’s Lebanon-based installation company, Thunder Electronics.

   “The entrance to the bar is on small side of the ‘L’,” explains Louay. “This is where we have installed the Impact 80s [compact passive 2-way loudspeakers with 8" LF drivers, specifically designed to bring the power and quality of Turbosound’s larger cabinets into a product that is ideal for commercial installations] with TXD-118 subs, as this area has a more subtle type of music. In the long part of the ‘L’, where the DJ and bar area are, we have installed the eight TXD-121 and the TXD-215 sub.”

Louay’s decision to opt for the TXD-121 was prompted by his desire to ensure that he provided sufficient power in a unit that includes a two-stage high frequency protection system to prevent any untoward over-driving. “I went for these to be on the safe side,” he smiles. “And I love the sound of the TXD-215 double 15”, so that’s why I chose those.

   “For background I always use products from the Impact line and I add the TXD-118 for fill. Using Turbosound’s LMS-D24 makes the system sound better and also offers added protection to the speakers.”

   In an area such as Dubai, where new, highly sophisticated buildings are appearing at a rate of knots, does C Bar stand out from the crowd? “When friends of mine went there they said it sounded 10 times better than anywhere else they’d been to,” says Louay. “That’s why people go there. They want to impress and they like the music.”

   Louay goes on to explain the reason behind his choice of product: “In Lebanon, when you want to start building a name for yourself, it helps to ally yourself with a known brand. Not only that, I like the family atmosphere at Turbosound. It’s very important for me. Every time I ask for their help I get it and every time I ask a question I get a full answer.

   “I’ve had lots of offers from other loudspeaker manufacturers, but I always say ‘I’m sorry, it’s taken a long time for me to build my reputation and I’m going to stick with Turbosound!’”

Chanel Studio in Mall of the Emirates

July 2006 saw the opening of a Chanel makeup studio at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE. The makeup boutique is Chanel’s sixth of its kind worldwide, a place where the fashion conscious can gather for a makeover as well as access to exclusive makeup products and professional makeup accessories.

   Chanel sought to showcase their makeup collection in a contemporary, playful and interactive environment, one both attractive to shoppers and optimal for the application of makeup. Martin Professional Middle East provided a dynamic lighting solution - mood as well as practical application lighting - using 38 Martin Architectural Cyclo 04 DMX fixtures. The Cyclo 04 is an RGB plus white T5 fluorescent color changer capable of generating nearly all colours or white light of any color temperature.

   Besides serving as visual enticement from the Mall, the Cyclo 04’s provide the studio with essential colors and color temperature useful for makeup application - candle light, fire light, evening light, office light, daylight, etc. Lighting control is simple and is handled via a Martin 2510 playback controller.

   Fidaa Baddour, marketing manager for Chanel – UAE, stated: “The basic element and the main focus of makeup is lighting. At Chanel we say, ‘Chanel Masters the Light’, and this appears not only through the use of Martin products. The lighting in the studio is unique and attractive and shows that the professionalism of applying makeup depends on light directly. We trust the Martin products to demonstrate all the colors we need and all applications required.”

   http://www.martin-architectural.com

Martin in Mall of the Emirates

Mall of the Emirates located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is one of the largest shopping malls outside of North America. But that is not what makes it unique. Although the Mall features the usual amenities of a large shopping center, its claim to fame is something altogether new for a desert environment – specifically, a one-of-a-kind indoor ski complex.

   Located in the heart of what is deemed ‘New Dubai,’ this 223,000 m2 center offers a full range of shopping, leisure, and entertainment activities. Officially opened in November, 2005 it is home to over 400 retailers and features some of the most exclusive attractions you will find at any shopping mall, among them Ski Dubai; the five-star Kempinski Hotel; and Magic Planet, the largest indoor family entertainment center in the country; and much more.

   Because Mall of the Emirates sought to further differentiate itself from the dozen or so other newly completed malls in Dubai and the surrounding emirates, Martin Professional Middle East, already responsible for some of the regions most distinguishing lighting solutions, was called in to provide an attention getting dynamic lighting scheme for several key areas.

   Ski Dubai is housed inside a huge 22,500 m2 metal fuselage packed with plenty of groomed artificial snow. The first indoor ski destination in the Middle East, the nearly six acre dome houses five runs (some even black diamond) and a real chairlift that rises some thirty levels. Temperatures are kept at a constant -2o C.

   The structure’s outer facade is outlined in a beckoning strip of decorative color changing light from some 370 Martin Architectural full color mixing Cyclo IP65 luminaires. Fully weatherproofed, the Cyclo IP65 is an RGB T5 fluorescent color changer capable of generating nearly all colors or white light of any color temperature. Ski Dubai’s ever changing lighting scheme is controlled via a Martin PC-based ProScenium control system. Debbas Electric L.L.C. installed the Cyclo fixtures with lighting design by Martin Professional Middle East in collaboration with Francis Krahae.

   Offering stunning views of Ski Dubai and the surrounding area are charming chalets that form part of the Kempinski Hotel at Mall of the Emirates. Attached to the Mall, the Kempinski is a 400-room 5-star hotel that offers all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of its class. The domes of the Kempinsky glow in an ever changing concert of color shades from Martin Architectural CMY colorchanging Exterior Series fixtures: 12 Exterior 600 Compact and 48 Exterior 200 with lighting control from a Martin ProScenium and Martin LightJockey. The Exterior fixtures were installed by Cinmar Lighting Systems with lighting design by Francis Krahae.

   Because the domes sit at various levels and the luminaires are spaced at distances too great and impractical for DMX cable, Martin Professional Middle East proposed a wireless control solution using the Martin Wireless DMX 512 device. Located outdoors, two WDMX transmitters communicate with five WDMX receivers. All devices are protected from sun, water and corrosion by IP65 box covers.

   Magic Planet at Mall of the Emirates is the largest indoor family entertainment center in the country. Firmly aimed at the technology savvy younger generation, the two-level fun zone offers a wide variety of rides - including roller coasters - and high tech video and simulation games.

   An elegant combination of indirect dynamic illumination and atmospheric audio fills the area courtesy of the Martin Architectural ViroStation. ViroStation consists of flat panel architectural loudspeakers mounted on a slim post and illuminated by Martin Exterior 200 CMY colorchangers. The panels function as both loudspeakers – for music and PA purposes - and light reflectors and blend perfectly into the environment. Its contemporary look complements Magic Planet’s interior design and high tech setting. Martin MAC moving heads add energy to the space as well as to other areas of the mall.

ETC Dimming and Control for Dubai Sports Channel

Studio F is Dubai Media Inc’s latest television studio to benefit from a complete technical refurbishment. Accommodating seven sets and often broadcasting up to four live sports shows per day, seven days a week, the studio counts on staff skills and technical infrastructure that are second to none. This makes replacing familiar equipment with new all the more complex and relies on the unwavering back up of the manufacturer and installer in the early stages of transition.

   Continuing its trend to provide state of the art dimming and networked lighting control systems to TV studios around the world, ETC, via its UAE distributor Oasis Enterprises L.L.C, has provided a fully networked dimming and control system for Studio F, along with suitable training and support for the studio staff concerned.

   Basel Al Aref, manager of professional projects division at Oasis Enterprises, describes the system: “We installed 144 channels of ETC Sensor dimming, three ETC Sensor CEM+ processing units and, initially, one Congo control console. The console offers 3,072 control channels, which are patchable up to 6,144 DMX outputs. The system also comprises seven ETC plug-in stations with three network and four DMX outputs each, so that the studio will be able to do any level of multimedia production it needs.”

   Studio F was officially launched late in December 2005. The senior lighting engineer and designer for the Studio, Ziad Haddad, was so satisfied with the control platform that, almost immediately, he invested in a second Congo. These sales signified the first and second purchases of the console in the Middle East.

   Haddad says: “We have six plug-in stations distributed around the Studio walls and one in the gallery. These stations offer the advantage of positioning the console anywhere in the studio. We can therefore program the lights from the studio floor without any worries about pulling any control cable. One Congo is positioned in the gallery and the second one in the studio. The gallery console acts a server whilst the studio console acts as a client or slave for back up purposes.”

   Because of its busy schedule and various sets, Studio F utilises a diverse range of lighting fixtures. These include numerous DeSisti fresnels and Soft lights, a plethora of moving lights, MiniCity 150s from Studio Due and various short nosed PAR Cans. With such a complex rig and punishing schedule Haddad needs to be confident that nothing is left to chance. Because most of Studio F’s broadcasts are live, the console operators cannot afford to be anything but fully conversant with the control system from the outset.

   Having never used Congo previous to its installation, the programming staff spent five days in training. Haddad reports: “The operators learnt very quickly. They are particularly enthusiastic about the speed with which complex cue sequences can be built and the shortcut facilities available. The back up and training that ETC provided, through Oasis Enterprises, definitely gave us the confidence to deal with any problem that might arise, quickly and efficiently.”

   Studio F offers a total working area of 1000sqm. Aside from the seven different sets for the live sports channel broadcasts, the studio offers the flexibility to position a further set in the centre of the studio should it be so required. The studio therefore requires as flexible and adaptable a dimming system as possible. However with restricted storage capacity and the need to synchronize Studio F’s existing dimmers with the new system, it was clear a compact cabinet size was going to be necessary.

   Haddad explains: “We had real concerns that we would have problems fitting all the dimmers into one room; in addition, we had to synchronise our existing dimmers with the new ones. The compact size of the ETC Sensor racks has given us the flexibility to plan a new master dimmer room offering the advantage of fitting everything into one space. We also require multiple network compatibility and ETC’s products offer unrivalled communications between the dimmers, the consoles and the network.”

   The studio is now fully commissioned and Haddad and the sports channel management team are very proud of the result. Haddad enthuses: “The studio is now benefiting from the latest technology in dimming and lighting control. The console features the latest network compatibility and offers extremely smooth communication with dimmers and vice versa. We are more than pleased with the results.”

http://www.etcconnect.com

InnovaSON Demonstrates SuperStar Quality in Lebanon

Future TV based in the Beirut Hall complex in Lebanon has just installed an InnovaSON Sy80 digital mixing console as part of a major system upgrade for their newly inaugurated Studio D. Offering 12m of vertical clearance and no less than 1500sqm of set and audience space, Studio D was purpose-built for FTV's major musical shows including SuperStar, the pan-Arab version of Pop Idol.

   Philippe Tohme, independent producer/sound engineer and acting consultant for FTV-Lebanon was responsible for researching, testing and specifying the new equipment. He explained that the main priority was to upgrade the system to accommodate for the new space while maintaining the extremely high sonic standards for which the show has become famous throughout the Arab world over the last two years. "There is no doubt that SuperStar has set the standard for live broadcast oriental orchestra mixing since the show was first aired two years ago, so it was incumbent upon me to maintain if not exceed those standards as the show's popularity increased, followed by an increase in production and studio size to match," commented Tohme.

   The original equipment for the show consisted of an 80-input/40-output console on which Tohme was producing twenty monitor mixes and eight broadcast subgroups. The system upgrade includes the InnovaSON Sy80 with two EtherSound-enabled InnovaSON Stageboxes and an InnovaSON Mixbox providing a total of 64 mic/line inputs, 24 line inputs, 32 line outputs and 16 AES/EBU digital ins/outs. Wireless UHF mic count has gone from 14 Shure U4Ds to 22 Beta58 or Beta87 heads, and in-ear capacity now stands at eight channels of Shure PSM700 into 22 E5 in-ear monitors.

   "I specified the Sy80 after months of research. I looked at dedicated broadcast systems from all of the major broadcast manufacturers as well as a number of digital consoles from the live sound reinforcement sector. What I found was that the InnovaSON solution offered all the specific functions I required for a fraction of the cost of dedicated broadcast systems, and for a competitive price compared to similar 'touring' desks," observed Tohme. "Furthermore, the sonic quality is of a standard to delight even audio purists, as we discovered as soon as we started manipulating the processing section, and the wonderfully simple and intuitive user interface is a real bonus when you occasionally have to rely on inexperienced TV sound technicians for operation."

   Tohme pointed out that the configuration of the desk allows it to play the role of just about any task-specific console on the market. "In our case it is a live broadcast desk where all of the program's inputs are handled simultaneously and go directly on-air. We have a 32-piece oriental orchestra, 12 SuperStar candidates, four personalities in the jury section and one presenter plus audience mics, VTRs and media players all visible and live on the Sy80. In addition to providing three stereo busses for recording and two mono busses for broadcast, the desk also produces eight mix-minus busses as returns to the stage area. In other words, we're working it pretty hard, but the Sy80 handles it all with ease, and remains extremely simple to navigate, which is a blessing for the operator when there is so much going on. I would say that my research paid off – I'm delighted with my choice of the Sy80."

Haoman 17 in Tel Aviv Rocks with EAW

Haoman 17 (Ha Oman meaning 'the artist' in Hebrew) is Tel Aviv's newest mega-club. The original Haoman in Jersusalem is universally acknowledged and consistently voted as the best club in Israel, yet the new Tel Aviv venue is billed as even bigger and more sophisticated than its famous forebear. Set in the trendy Florentine district of Tel Aviv, Haoman boasts a huge sunken dancefloor with elevated platforms, a live stage, five different bars and a secondary dancefloor separated by a peek-a-boo glass wall. At the heart of it all is a mighty EAW KF850 sound system installed by EAW distributor and systems integrator, Pro Touch Ltd.

   According to Pro Touch's Shmulik Mazuz, the client evaluated no less than four audio systems from high profile manufacturers before selecting the EAW solution. "The customer already owns the most successful club in Israel, and he knows what he's talking about when it comes to sound," commented Mazuz. "He took a long time over the listening tests and shoot-outs, but in the end, he said that the EAW KF850 system sounded superior to any of the other systems he'd heard demo'd, and THAT was the sound he wanted in his new club."

   Pro Touch opted for a configuration of maximum impact, both aurally and visually, with two stacks of six SB850 subs and six KF850 mid-high cabinets each (two rows of three subs at the bottom and two rows of three KF850s on top) on either side of the central stage area looking out across the dancefloor. Each stack towers well over 4m high, so the overall effect is hugely powerful. A further two KF650s are flown at the back of the room as balcony fills. The entire system is driven by QSC power amplifiers with digital electronic processing courtesy of an EAW MX8750. The secondary dancefloor sports a further four KF695 compact virtual array cabinets supplemented by a pair of SB750 subs. Continuing the theme from the main room, processing is via EAW's MX8750 processor and amplification is QSC throughout.

   According to EAW's Sean Martin, the results are truly phenomenal. "The Pro Touch team has really pulled out all the stops here," he observed. "I've been to a few clubs in my time, but I can honestly say that this system sounds truly magnificent. Rich, powerful, yet with so much headroom, and fantastic coverage throughout – I was genuinely impressed. Even talking without my EAW hat on, this is among the best club systems I have heard anywhere, EVER. It's also a great-looking club from a design point of view, and the lighting is spectacular. For my money, Haoman 17 certainly deserves its top ten rating."

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