News Archive for October 2020
Is It QUADzilla?
30/10/2020 - Equipment News
There’s more than meets the eye with QUADZilla, the unique four-in-one LED SMD layout means it has a smoother screen surface, a wide viewing angle and robust design.
Vejle Musikteater Makes New Robe Investment
30/10/2020 - Project News
Denmark – Vejle Musikteater, in the attractive fjord-side town of Vejle in Denmark is, usually, a bustling hub for live entertainment, events and all types of performance, as one of the busiest multi-purpose venues in the country offering a dynamic mix of band concerts, dance and DJ events, theatre production and conferences, events and presentations.
Guildhall School of Music & Drama Brings Music Back to Campus Safely with Audinate’s Dante
30/10/2020 - Project News
UK – Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London is one of the premiere arts colleges in the world. Among its notable alumni are actors Ewan McGregor and Daniel Craig, and musicians Jacqueline du Pré and Sir Bryn Terfel. Since its opening in 1880, the School has become one of the most prestigious conservatoires, ranked as one of the top ten performing arts institutions in the world according to QS World University Rankings 2020.
Tom Kenny Lights 2020 iHeartCountry Festival with Bandit Lites
30/10/2020 - Production News
USA – For the seventh year in a row, the biggest stars of country music performed in a celebration of all things country at the 2020 iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One. Taking place at the Steel Mill with a lighting rig supplied by Bandit Lites, the main stage was hosted by Bobby Bones and featured performances by Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi, Riley Green, Morgan Evans, Gabby Barrett and special guest Bobby Bones.
Yamaha is #BringingLive2Life at Boisdale of Belgravia
30/10/2020 - Project News
UK – In these extraordinarily difficult times for the live entertainment industry, Yamaha is working hard with both practical measures and its #BringingLive2Life campaign to help audiences and performers alike to experience live entertainment again. One of its first successes was playing a key role in helping Boisdale of Belgravia, the first live venue in London to reopen.
New Chauvet Professional COLORado Batten Q15 is Versatile by Design
30/10/2020 - Equipment News
Inspiration and creativity (not to mention client needs and spatial limitations) are taking the shape of lighting rigs in many directions. Now there’s an extremely bright batten that can go right along with them. The new IP65 rated COLORado Batten Q15 features an array of rigging options that make it right at home in a wide range of designs.
Chroma-Q Fixtures Highlight WGN News Nation
30/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Eastern Lighting Design has been relying on Chroma-Q products for many years and many projects, including their most recent lighting design project for WGN’s News Nation Studio. Specialising in TV and broadcast studios, Matt Gordon, president of Eastern Lighting, along with VP of design Mick Smith, and supported by Barbizon Lighting Company, worked through the COVID-19 pandemic to provide the lighting for the Chicago based facility.
GLP JDC1s and X4 Bar 20s Go Dancing With The Stars
30/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Global design firm, DX7 Design, recently embarked on its second season of lighting the hit American TV dance competition Dancing With The Stars, shot at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.
Martin Audio Collaborates with Nobu Hotel Chicago
30/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Located in the vibrant West Loop neighbourhood, Nobu Hotel Chicago combines the essence of the Windy City with the spirit of Nobu. Innovative architecture and 115 stylishly-appointed rooms and suites seamlessly blend old-world Japanese influences with ultra-modern design. The Nobu Restaurant is at the heart of the hotel, opening out onto Randolph’s famed Restaurant Row.
The perfect gift for the musician in your life: Make their creative dreams come true with Sennheiser
29/10/2020 - Equipment News
There’s nothing quite like giving the perfect gift. That special item that becomes part of a loved one’s life. For creatives, it’s the tool that can take their art to new heights and make their vision a reality. And when you’re buying for a person with a passion for making music, Sennheiser is here to help with brilliant gift ideas that cater to a wide range of styles, recording and monitoring situations and budgets. The audio specialist has an exceptional range of microphones and professional headphones that make it a joy to capture and create pitch-perfect performances.
L-Acoustics and JH Audio develop Premium In-Ear Monitor Reproducing Live Music’s Most Iconic Sonic Signature
29/10/2020 - Equipment News
L-Acoustics reinforces its mission of elevating the listening experience for professionals and audiophiles worldwide with its first offering in personal audio, Contour XO in-ear monitor powered by JH Audio.
PMC Opens a New Factory to Cope with Demand for its CI Monitors
29/10/2020 - Business News
UK – Loudspeaker manufacturer PMC has opened a new factory in Bedfordshire to cope with burgeoning demand for its world-beating CI series.
CMI Music & Audio to handle Optocore distribution in Australia
29/10/2020 - Business News
Australia - Fibre network specialist, Optocore, has appointed CMI as its new Australian distributor. The brand provides a strong addition to the Melbourne company’s Audio Division portfolio.
DiGiGrid Delivers the Magic
29/10/2020 - Production News
Germany – Maurice Pätzold is a 24-year old sound engineer from Saarbrücken in Germany, who works for Schütz Sound and Light, a small but busy events production supplier. In his career to date, Maurice has already gained a wealth of experience working with a wide range of bands and artists both on the road and at many mid-sized festivals across the country. He is currently working with German singer-songwriter, Philipp Leon, who came to the attention of a wider audience by reaching the later stages of TV show The Voice of Germany.
APG Provides ‘Infinite’ Audio for Jean-Michel Jarre’s Audiovisual Artwork
29/10/2020 - Production News
France – The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille (PBA) – a public museum dedicated to fine arts, modern art, and antiquities – is one of the largest venues of its kind in France and, as such, welcomes thousands of visitors each year to enjoy its collections by Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Delacroix to name but a few.
DiGiCo Quantum338 Added to Technology Line-up at Full Sail Live 1
29/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Full Sail University, the premier media arts and technology educational institution located in Winter Park, Florida, has purchased a DiGiCo Quantum338, which has been installed in Full Sail Live 1, just one of the university’s industry leading campus facilities utilised by its students. The console is also equipped with the new DMI-KLANG in-ear mixing expansion card, bringing immersive audio capabilities to the Quantum338.
New York City Lites turns to Elation IP-rated luminaires for “Illuminance” on Bannerman Island
29/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Some of the only ticketed live concerts in New York State in recent months took place 30 September – 4 October on Bannerman Island, a seven-acre isle with a colourful history that lies in the middle of the Hudson River 50 miles north of New York City. “Illuminance,” a fundraising concert by the Daisy Jopling Band, received special permission from the State of New York to hold five nights of open-air concerts amid the natural surroundings and magical ruins of Bannerman Castle.
Ballet Preljocaj’s Swan Lake Supported by Chauvet Professional Maverick Silens 2 Profile
28/10/2020 - Production News
Europe – Love and anguish often embrace in the unique alchemy of the human heart, each endowing the other with greater fervour and intensity. This beguiling paradox animates Swan Lake, which recounts the star-crossed romance between Prince Siegfried and the spellbound Odette, perhaps one of the saddest love stories of all time.
DiGiCo’s S31 handles multiple roles with The Lockett-Vettese Band’s streamed show
28/10/2020 - Production News
UK - The exponential growth of virtual events (and the facilities to produce them) is a tangible effect of the pandemic’s impact on the live event industry, allowing the global artistic and creative community to reach their audiences – and perhaps entirely new ones – as COVID-19 continues to preclude large public gatherings.
Epic Games’ London Innovation Lab breaks new ground in Virtual Production, supported by Brompton Technology
28/10/2020 - Production News
UK – Based in London’s Fitzrovia, Epic Games’ London Innovation Lab is a hub for the creative community, offering creators across industries a platform to produce real-time content and immersive virtual experiences, using Epic’s Unreal Engine (UE) software. The new curved LED Volume, recently installed at the Lab and running on Brompton Technology processing, is a testament to the company’s continuous commitment to empower new ways of content creation using the latest technology advances.
Green Hippo welcomes new international sales partners
28/10/2020 - Business News
Green Hippo, the specialist creator of tools for the real-time manipulation of video for the AV industries, has welcomed two new distribution specialists to its growing international sales network.
Rosco announces expanded distribution relationship with Pacific Lighting
28/10/2020 - Business News
Singapore - Rosco has announced the expansion of the company’s relationship with distribution partner Pacific Lighting in Singapore. Pacific Lighting Singapore will continue sales and distribution of Rosco products in south-east Asia as Rosco’s master distributor in the region. While Pacific Lighting’s primary focus will be sales and distribution within the permanent installation and architectural markets, the company will maintain sales of the entire Rosco product line.
Delight the film maker in your life with the gift of outstanding audio
27/10/2020 - Equipment News
Quality video is easy to come by these days, but that isn’t always the case when it comes to quality audio. Even the phone in one's pocket has the ability to shoot video in crisp 4K resolution, so why shouldn’t it sound as good as it looks? This is where an external microphone such as Sennheiser’s new MKE 200 microphone comes in.
Robe Raises the Roof for The Killers Performance in Las Vegas
27/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Signalling the start of the new NFL season, The Killers staged a special, highly symbolic one-off performance of their anthemic and hugely popular “Mr Brightside” on the rooftop of Caesar’s Palace for the Las Vegas Raiders who have just moved into the newly completed Allegiant Stadium.
Ellis Island Casino & Brewery Relies on Renkus-Heinz to Anchor Performances in its “Front Yard”
27/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Ellis Island Casino & Brewery was opened by Frank Ellis in 1968 as “The Village Pub,” located just one street off the main Las Vegas Strip. The pub quickly established itself as a local favourite. The location grew in popularity over the years, eventually seeing a rebrand as Ellis Island Casino & Brewery by current owner Gary Ellis in 1985. Today, the location continues to provide a fun and exciting experience for everyone in Las Vegas.
Martin Audio Combines the Essence of the Windy City with the Spirit of Nobu
27/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Nobu Hotels blend modern, cool luxury and minimal Japanese tradition into the concept of a lifestyle hotel, which is exactly what Robert De Niro, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and Meir Teper wanted when they decided to open a property in Chicago.
L-Acoustics Kara Gives WSU Wildcats Some Growl at Dee Events Center
26/10/2020 - Project News
USA – For more than four decades, the Dee Events Center (DEC) on the campus of Weber State University (WSU) in Ogden, Utah has served as the home court of the NCAA Division I WSU Wildcats men’s and women’s basketball teams and played host to many Big Sky Conference championship games. This summer, the domed arena welcomed its newest 'player', a brand new L-Acoustics Kara(i) loudspeaker system designed and installed by Salt Lake City’s Poll Sound.
ETC postpones in-person trade show attendance until July 2021 and offers live online demos
26/10/2020 - Business News
Worldwide – Out of concern for the safety of its employees and global community, ETC has announced that it will not participate in traditional trade show exhibitions until July, 2021. With the pandemic affecting many people’s ability and desire to travel, the company has instead decided to focus its resources on remote demos and online events.
Robe Illuminates Mountains for Parrtjima Festival of Light
23/10/2020 - Production News
Australia – Festivals have fast become an elusive dream resembling gold dust in the Covid era, a much-missed environment for enjoying and sharing culture, ideas and social activities, so the 2020 Parrtjima Festival of Light at Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory provided a rare reminder of the community, camaraderie, magic and imagination evoked by lighting art.
Ana Casillas Celebrates Passion for Mexico with Chauvet Professional
23/10/2020 - Production News
Mexico – At the start of 2020, Ana Casillas released “Tú a tu vida y yo a la mía,” which roughly translates in English to “You To Your Life, Me To Mine.” It is an apt title for the Baja California born singer at this point in her career, as she sets out on a very personal path to interpret regional and traditional Mexican music in a bold new way that reflects her own passion and strength as a woman.
Astera Adds Magic to Bergstrasse Lights Project
23/10/2020 - Production News
Germany – Seizing a chance to generate some beautiful light art, positive energy and creativity during the pandemic, Johannes Spieß, project manager from technical specialist MKM Event Show Technik based in Darmstadt, Germany, launched a new initiative of his own – ‘Bergstraße leuchtet’ (Bergstraße Lights) – to highlight some of the famous Bergstraße “mountain route’s” stunning monuments, historical buildings and public spaces.
South Korean CGV Cinema Embraces The Advantage of Alcons
23/10/2020 - Project News
South Korea – European cinema chains have long known about the benefits of the highest quality, most consistent sound which Alcons pro-ribbon systems bring their audiences. As the word has spread across the world, cinemas in an ever-increasing number of countries are embracing the advantages of Alcons Audio. The latest is in South Korea.
Synergetic offers professional studio for corporate and music clients complete with full Elation rig
23/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Production and rental houses across the entertainment technology industry have had to think creatively in order to continue to serve the industry and stay in business. One of the more successful has been Synergetic of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, which has converted a portion of its warehouse to a professional TV studio for live streaming complete with a full Elation Professional lighting system.
POLAR Appointed UK Distributors for Bluesound Professional
23/10/2020 - Business News
UK – POLAR, established supplier of key industry brands to the AV Integration, MI and professional audio markets, has announced the addition of Bluesound Professional to its portfolio. Bluesound Professional provides networked audio streaming for installation and integration in the commercial world, offering a versatile way to incorporate music streaming from dozens of different platforms, including internet radio stations, Spotify and Amazon Music. A combination of hardware and software, Bluesound Professional’s range of streamers, amplifiers, active and POE+ installed loudspeakers and controllers provides an easy-to-install, expandable and secure solution designed for the commercial space. Utilising plug-in barrier strip connectivity, the platform can be integrated with existing audio installations for retro fit into retail, hospitality, restaurants, gyms and office environments, or as a complete end-to-end Bluesound installation.
ROE Visual Becomes Tech Partner to Epic’s London Innovation Lab
23/10/2020 - Project News
UK – Epic, the company behind Unreal Engine has just finalised the refurbishment of its London-based Innovation Lab, including a complete virtual production LED stage featuring ROE Visual LED products.
fos/4 Fresnel added to ETC’s portfolio of studio fixtures
23/10/2020 - Equipment News
ETC has announced the addition of the Fresnel to the fos/4 studio family. Fresnels have been around for generations and are known for their smooth wash, adjustable zoom capabilities and incredible brightness. With the addition of LEDs, however, many Fresnels became more about the technology and less about beautiful light. ETC’s fos/4 Fresnel takes the most desired features of an incandescent Fresnel and adds in the nuanced colour mixing, smooth fades, and LED technology of ETC’s other professional grade fixtures. With fos/4, you get a true Fresnel with an LED engine, not the other way around.
Prolyte welcomes All Creation to become distributor in Japan
23/10/2020 - Business News
Japan – Established in 1995, All Creation is a professional team for construction in Japan, including stage setup, LED assembly, lighting installation, TV, movie set assembly and other event services.
Wake Up to Smart Sleep in Broadweigh's Gen 3 Shackle
23/10/2020 - Equipment News
A new generation of shackle from Broadweigh is set to be released this week. Regarded as the company's hardest working shackle to date, this intelligent piece of kit takes all the benefits of Broadweigh's tried and tested shackles and packages them up with some additional features including Smart Sleep.
Prolight + Sound sets stage and theatre technology as a focal point for 2021
22/10/2020 - Event News
Opposing the crisis with full commitment: from 13 to 16 April 2021, for the first time since the lockdown, Prolight + Sound provides an opportunity for product presentation and personal encounters in the entertainment technology industry. Following positive developments in recent years, Messe Frankfurt is expanding the "ProStage" product segment, which covers the entire theatre and stage technology sector, to become a focal topic of the event. This will give it a particularly high priority in exhibitor and visitor acquisition and in the fair's seminar programme.
Shure Introduces Duraplex: A Subminiature Microphone with Exceptional Durability and Seamless Usability
22/10/2020 - Equipment News
Across industries, from film and television production to theatre and corporate events, audio engineers and professionals continually search for solutions that offer exceptional durability and value. Product longevity, reliability, ruggedness, and sound quality ensure that applications don’t fall short of audience expectations, no matter what the stage.
Elation KL Panel highlights elegance of classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles
22/10/2020 - Project News
Germany – The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach, Germany, is the official Mercedes-Benz showcase for classic cars and is a must-visit for any car enthusiast. It offers original parts, repairs, restoration and information for historical Mercedes-Benz vehicles that have been out of production for at least 15 years. Mad Music Event Technology GmbH of Stuttgart was called on to upgrade a portion of the vehicle lighting at the Classic Center and chose a large number of full-colour Elation Professional KL Panel LED softlights for the job.
Adorn Speakers Populate Phoenicia’s New Luxury Resort Hotels
22/10/2020 - Project News
Romania – Two luxury hotels from an eventual complex of three have just been opened by Romania-based Phoenicia Hotels Group in the popular coastal resort of Olimp / Mangalia.
GLP Again Supports Vienna Philharmonic’s Summer Night Concert
22/10/2020 - Production News
Austria – With this year’s Summer Night Concert, an event that has been taking place since 2004, the Vienna Philharmonic wanted to send a signal of hope in the year of coronavirus. As a result, the concert went ahead – albeit with a small number of spectators on site – as a live broadcast event on the TV channels ORF2 and 3SAT.
Electro-Voice and Dynacord sound system supports unique socially distanced festival
21/10/2020 - Production News
Germany – Badensound event company has worked out a new concert concept that uses existing infrastructure to host performances complying with the local COVID regulations. This concept led to a partnership with Edeka Südwest supermarkets to create the "shopping cart festival.” Taking place from 31 August until 5 September in Offenburg, Germany, the festival featured famous German artists performing in front of 500 people, the maximum number of people currently allowed for large gatherings, in the parking lot of an Edeka supermarket. Shopping carts were used as social distancing tools to adhere to the COVID regulations. On the technical side, Badensound used the festival to give Dynacord’s new MXE5 matrix mix engine its German debut.
Visual Terrain and Bandit Lites Honoured with IES Illumination Award
21/10/2020 - Event News
USA – Bandit Lites has announced that it has been honoured with the Award of Merit from the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Chicago Section for its work on The Fillmore New Orleans with Visual Terrain, Ewing Cole and LiveNation. The IES Illumination Awards programme “recognises individuals for professionalism, ingenuity, and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry.”
Julien Reux Adds Angelic Aura to Tori Kelly’s James Corden Appearance with Chauvet Professional
21/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Solitude … virtually everyone has had to deal with it at some point during the pandemic. The sense of isolation it brings can often weigh heavily on the heart. At the same time, though, it can also serve as a liberating force, freeing the human spirit from many daily concerns, so it can explore new sides of itself.
Rupert Neve Designs Introduces the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor, plus Updated Master Buss Processor in Black
21/10/2020 - Equipment News
Rupert Neve Designs has announced the new 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor and an updated version of their best-selling Portico II: Master Buss Processor.
Claypaky Fixtures Support The LD Talent Club’s Warehouse Competition for Young Lighting Designers in Germany
21/10/2020 - Production News
Germany – The LD Talent Club's Warehouse Competition held its 2020 contest finale in September at the historic Zeche Zollern in Dortmund, Germany where Claypaky fixtures were among more than 500 lighting instruments featured in show projects and on site illuminating architecture and landscapes.
Molpass srl uses an ingenious outdoor fog distribution solution for motion pictures on the banks of the River Po with MDG Me4
21/10/2020 - Production News
Italy – Molpass srl, the exclusive distributor for MDG products in Italy, recently supplied a perfect fog solution to film company, 2aFilm, for a shoot on the banks of the River Po.
ROE Visual and Disguise Partner in Virtual Production
21/10/2020 - Production News
UK & USA – With the opening of its London and LA based Extended Reality (xR) showrooms, disguise now offers two fully-operational, in-house virtual production demo spaces. LED products to build the LED floor and walls of the xR Stages were supplied by ROE Visual as part of the partnership. Customers and partners can now get a demonstration of the idea and techniques behind virtual production.
ICVFX, Australia’s first full-service LED Virtual Production solution, says ‘Yes’ to Brompton Technology processing
21/10/2020 - Production News
Australia – With a history in film, TV, VFX and production, Sydney-based Spectre Studios strengthened its virtual production (VP) toolset while working on the Hollywood Blockbuster X-Men: Dark Phoenix. The company used real-time engines and virtual production to help visualise complicated stunt and VFX shots for the film, a technique that has been mastered by the team at Proxi and successfully replicated on Triple Frontier. In the true spirit of creative company collaboration, Spectre Studios joined forces with NEP Studios and Big Picture to create ICVFX: Australia's first full-service LED virtual production solution for local and international content creators, bringing the future of in-camera VFX under one roof. Brompton Technology’s Tessera SX40 4K LED processor was chosen as the driving power for the studio’s LED virtual production workflow.
Will Stringer is the 2020 winner of Sennheiser’s Student Scholarship Programme at LIPA
21/10/2020 - People News
UK – Continuing its quarter-of-a-century tradition of sponsoring the world-renowned Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) with a Student Scholarship Programme, Sennheiser has announced the name of yet another brilliant student who has been awarded the coveted scholarship. William Stringer (pictured) will receive full financial support for his tuition fees and accommodation costs, as well as being given the benefit of access to Sennheiser key contacts and the company’s vast audio expertise.
Outline presents the world's toughest compact power amplifier
20/10/2020 - Equipment News
Leading European pro-audio innovator, Outline, has announced the launch of its latest design, the all-new L3000 multi-purpose amplifier.
Chauvet DJ Expands Line with New Power Packed Fixtures
20/10/2020 - Equipment News
Chauvet DJ is offering customers exciting, value-driven ways to create bold, new looks as they jump start their live entertainment and event businesses by unleashing a stunning array of product introductions that include the company’s first CMYO colour-mixing fixture and the first Intimidator to use built-in RGBW colour-mixing instead of a colour wheel.
ETC releases new training videos for Eos Augment3d, continuing a focus on education
20/10/2020 - Standards News
New tools mean new workflows, and ETC has a long history of creating online tools to help Eos users evolve their programming skills. Now ETC has announced the release of a new video learning series focusing on Eos Augment3d, the new 3D programming environment released with Eos v3.0.
University of Portsmouth invests in ground-breaking future for the Centre of Creative and Immersive XR (CCIXR) with White Light’s SmartStage technology
20/10/2020 - Project News
UK – Having secured £3.6M in funding from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the University of Portsmouth will launch its brand-new Centre for Creative and Immersive extended Reality (CCIXR) in 2021. The CCIXR will be the UK’s first fully integrated facility to support innovation in virtual, augmented and extended realities. In order to deliver this ground-breaking project, the University has partnered with technical solutions specialist and pioneering innovator in XR, White Light (WL). The Centre will utilise WL’s multi-award winning SmartStage technology for innovation, research, and delivery of the faculty’s cutting-edge curriculum.
Signature Lighting Design for Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
20/10/2020 - Project News
USA – Home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Kansas City Symphony, The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is a cultural cornerstone delivering extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences. Heralded as one of the World’s 15 Most Beautiful Concert Halls, the Kauffman Center first opened in 2011 and was designed by Moshe Safdie. Now wanting to update their exterior lighting design to better illuminate and accentuate the classic architecture, the Kauffman Center worked with Lankford Fendler + Associates who created a new lighting design using Anolis Lighting LED luminaires supplied by Premier Lighting and Controls.
O-Line Helps Bring Relocated St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to Life
20/10/2020 - Project News
Australia – Situated in the Melbourne’s east, the community at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was being crowded out by a suburb fast-tracked for urban growth.
Producer and Songwriter Jordan Riley Adds the Power of PMC to his Garden Studio
20/10/2020 - Project News
UK – Producer and songwriter Jordan Riley has upgraded his private studio in London by installing a pair of PMC twotwo6 monitors, which he says have brought the fun back to his recording sessions.
Elation helps shed light on noble cause at 2020 Noche del Sabor benefit
19/10/2020 - Production News
Honduras – An effective way to raise awareness for those in need is through a benefit concert where artists, sponsors, technical crew and an appreciative public come together in a spirit of solidarity to shed light on a noble cause. Such was the case earlier this year when a large Elation rig was used to light up the 2020 edition of the Noche del Sabor benefit show in Honduras with proceeds going to support the Honduran Foundation for Children with Cancer.
Green Hippo launches HippoSchool Online
19/10/2020 - Standards News
UK – Video manipulation expert Green Hippo is launching an online version of its popular ‘HippoSchool’ training for the first time, making it universally accessible in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move means more emerging users of its industry-leading Hippotizer media server range can access learning in a virtual environment anywhere, anytime, while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Robe Dances with the Stars in the USA
16/10/2020 - Production News
USA – The 29th series of the popular TV dance competition “Dancing With The Stars” (DWTS) returned to ABC this month with new host Tyra Banks and 178 Robe MegaPointes on the lighting plot as part of lighting designer Tom Sutherland’s precision-crafted epic look for the first series performed without a live audience.
Rogue Warrior Ryan Pervola adds Dramatic Flair to GWAR Drive-In with Chauvet Professional
16/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Time has done nothing to diminish the raw, brain-melting intensity of GWAR. Nor has it had any effect on the iconic metal thrashers‘ feel for the dramatic. This became quickly apparent when the band took to the stage at the Diamond Drive-In Saturday 10 October in their famous subterranean regalia and proceeded to rattle car windows with their ferocious sound.
White Light and strategic partners ELP and SFL in perfect harmony for BBC Proms 2020 at the Royal Albert Hall
16/10/2020 - Production News
UK – Like many iconic events, the BBC Proms, which turned 125 years old in 2020, had to undergo a significant reconception in format due to COVID-19. Once again returning to its home at the Royal Albert Hall, the extraordinary season this year combined live performances with archive footage of past festivals. However, for the first time, no guests were in physical attendance for the live shows and instead the audience tuned in via TV or radio from their homes. Technical solutions specialist White Light (WL), with strategic partners ELP and SFL, supplied the lighting and video elements for the Proms 2020 Live run.
Live Webinar – Register Today
16/10/2020 - Event News
Join Prolyte’s first free webinar Wednesday 21st October (11:00 CEST), where Eric Laanstra takes you on a journey along the strengths of Prolyte trusses with the focus on multi-purpose series.
Atlona Promotes David Shamir to VP of Product Management
15/10/2020 - People News
USA – Atlona, a Panduit company, has promoted David Shamir to VP of product management. Reporting to Atlona co-founder and CEO Ilya Khayn, Shamir will continue to lead the company’s product strategy while expanding his responsibilities to oversee engineering and product development.
Hibino Lighting Opens New Options for Japan’s 1000 Club with Chauvet Professional
15/10/2020 - Project News
Japan – When LD&K purchased a former theatre with the intention of converting it into a live music venue, there was no question about the fixtures that would make up its lighting rig. The company, which operates 'live houses' throughout Japan, had almost always used halogen fixtures, and it was set to do the same at its newest venue, the 1000 Club, located just three blocks from the bustling Yokohama train station.
Renkus-Heinz Provides Impressive – Yet Hidden – Audio Solution for Stunningly Designed Bahá'í House of Worship
15/10/2020 - Project News
USA – The Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois is a beautifully ornate building, featuring a main worship auditorium that rises 138-feet to its ceiling. Stunning and intricate white ornamental concrete and crushed quartz patterns sit upon the internal façade, supported by 54 columns that gird the main seating area. The design also creates nine separate alcoves of seating, each angled toward the centre of the room. A single lectern sits between one section of the pillars.
Vienna State Opera installs 70 SolaWash 1000 High CRI
15/10/2020 - Project News
Austria – The Vienna State Opera has replaced its 20-year-old Amptown Washlights with 70 SolaWash 1000 High CRI from High End Systems. The exchange was a challenge, as the new LED spotlights must be able to reproduce the characteristic old-fashioned light qualities of their predecessors and illuminate new productions in a contemporary way. The State Opera House has almost 200 repertoire pieces in its programme and the spotlights are in use for almost every piece.
Panoramic Bastione at Lake Garda Brought to Life with Blackline X8
15/10/2020 - Project News
Italy – Situated at the foot of Mount Rocchetta near Italy’s Lake Garda, the Bastione is a fortress built in the early XVI century. It is one of the symbols of Riva del Garda and overlooks both the city and the lake itself.
Highlite UK Autumn Roadtrip
14/10/2020 - Event News
Highlite UK has planned a UK Roadtrip to display a number of new products that have been launched this year. These products, as well as some seasonal favourites should have been shown at the following exhibitions: Frankfurt, Leeds PLASA Focus and PLASA London, but all were cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Learnmore Tavengwa’s Single Song Livestream Gets Multiple Looks from Epic Sets and Chauvet DJ
14/10/2020 - Production News
Zimbabwe – Evangelist and choir director Learnmore Tavengwa believes in the power of music to unite worshippers. Every year, he organises a One Voice concert that brings different choirs from throughout Zimbabwe together to benefit from the power of worship music.
Bandit Lites Supplies Canto USA’s Retro Fit Series for Town Chamber
14/10/2020 - Project News
USA – The Town of Cary, a diverse and thriving community in the heart of North Carolina, had a dilemma. The ambient lighting in the Town Council Chambers was in dire need of renovation, but LED retrofit solutions were not lining up with their Mission Statement for cost-conscious growth with comprehensive planning for the future. LED retrofits were either too costly, or they offered inferior performance to the existing luminaires and could not be considered a long-term solution. Furthermore, the existing luminaire layout with wide spacing and mini-candelabra lamps was presenting a logistical challenge: any LED retrofit would need to have wide optics, high output, and either replace the entire luminaire or screw into a mini-candelabra base.
“Without grandMA3 there wouldn’t have been a solution”: MA Lighting consoles score big in the bubble for NBA restart
14/10/2020 - Production News
USA – When professional basketball resumed in the US during the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA protected its players by establishing a 'bubble' isolation zone at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida. Although the general public was not permitted in the stands at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex where the games were held, fans were glad to be able to watch the season’s televised final games and the play-offs once again.
Green Hippo parties with Veronica Maggio and Red Bull
14/10/2020 - Production News
Sweden – Visual design studio PXLFLD recently deployed Hippotizer media servers from Green Hippo to provide the visual backdrop for a top-secret party and live performance by singer-songwriter Veronica Maggio. Conceived by Red Bull, the exclusive event, staged at the Nobis Hotel in central Stockholm, was available only to fans who completed a treasure-hunt-like series of tasks.
National Theatre of Greece Production Chooses Robe
13/10/2020 - Production News
Greece - The National Theatre of Greece (NTG) staged three acclaimed performances of Aeschylus’s The Persians – first produced in 472 BCE – in July at the ancient Epidaurus open-air amphitheatre, complete with a fully socially distanced audience of 4,500 instead of the usual 10,000 capacity, who enjoyed the drama and energy of live performance in this classic tragedy.
LRLR 2020 Autumn Extravaganza!
13/10/2020 - Event News
USA – The Long Reach Long Riders (LRLR) and Behind the Scenes (BTS) charity announce the LRLR 2020 Autumn Extravaganza! – a bonus ride to help those who need it most.
Louis Vuitton Foundation Gets Quiet Contribution From Prodster and Maverick Silens 2 Profile
13/10/2020 - Project News
France – Silence is often elicited by the sight of the Louis Vuitton Foundation building, Frank Gehry’s stunning architectural gem. Soaring skyward like the giant sails of a great ship, its 3,600 curved panels delicately balancing form and function with infinite precision, the distinctive structure inspires a quiet, cathedral-like reverence through the sheer power of its design.
Backup announces Hardship Fund
13/10/2020 - Business News
UK – In light of the devastating impact of COVID-19, Backup – The Technical Entertainment Charity, has announced the creation of a separate initial Hardship Fund, which will provide limited financial assistance to crew/production personnel, and people working in the technical supply chain across the UK entertainment sector, including those from live events, theatre and TV and film.
Martin Audio WPM Line Arrays Wow the Crowds at Cheshire Fairgrounds
13/10/2020 - Production News
USA – New England audio production company, Paddle Out Productions is in the middle of a 16-week contract with M.E. Productions at the Cheshire Fairgrounds drive-in music venue – a huge open field, allowing up to 425 cars parked in every other space – hosting performances from the likes of Guster and Grace Potter. To ensure every spectator could enjoy the live performances, Paddle Out Productions deployed its recently expanded Martin Audio WPM system.
Avolites Release Brand New Media Player – PRISM PLAYER
13/10/2020 - Equipment News
Avolites has released a new software application for media previewing and encoding called PRISM PLAYER. This release is the first application under the PRISM product range and can work as an auxiliary tool to the Avolites Ai video software platform.
Avantis Upgrade for Historic Classical Venue
13/10/2020 - Project News
Belgium – Allen & Heath Avantis and SQ mixing systems have been installed as part of a major update of Music Centre De Bijloke in Gent.
Atlona Introduces Long-Distance USB Extender Kit
13/10/2020 - Equipment News
Atlona, a Panduit company, has unveiled the AT-USB-EX100-KIT long-distance extender kit for USB signals. Available immediately, the new extension solution supports the transmission of USB 2.0 data up to 330 feet (100 metres) over a single, cost-effective, category-type twisted pair cable.
Robe T1 PCs for Pilbeam Theatre Rockhampton
12/10/2020 - Project News
Australia – The Pilbeam Theatre in Rockhampton, Queensland is a lively performing arts hub for the city and region. Before the coronavirus pandemic dramatically impacted on all areas of performing arts, the venue, located in a commanding position fronting onto the Fitzroy River, regularly presented a diverse mix of drama, dance, musical, concerts and comedy productions in its main 1,000 capacity auditorium, and they also invested in Robe T1 PC wash moving lights.
Next Major ZerOS Release
12/10/2020 - Equipment News
Zero 88 has announced the next major release of its ‘ZerOS’ software platform – ZerOS 7.9.8 – which powers the award-winning FLX and FLX S lighting control consoles, along with the recently announced ZerOS Server.
Standing As One at Silverstone for #WeMakeEvents Global Day of Action
09/10/2020 - Production News
UK – Persistent and torrential rain didn’t dampen any spirits or enthusiasm at Silverstone Circuit where moving light manufacturer Robe UK, rental and production company Clearsound and Silverstone’s events and conference team transformed the world-famous race track’s ‘Wing’ building and conference centre ‘resplendent red’ for the evening of 30th September 2020.
Astera Shines at SUNSTUDIOS
09/10/2020 - Production News
Australia – SUNSTUDIOS in Sydney is a diverse creative hub for the photographic and motion picture and imaging industries and creatives. Owned by Canon Australia, the Sydney facility offers five studio spaces plus camera and lighting rentals, CPS service, a gallery space as well as fine art printing and other specialist services.
Alcons Extends Studio and Residential Solutions with SRHV/9040 System
09/10/2020 - Equipment News
With the CRMS-SRHV/9040, Alcons Audio extends its solutions portfolio in the studio-, screening-room and residential markets.
Elation helps take street fighting to a new level in Tulsa
09/10/2020 - Production News
USA – In mid-August, Matchroom Boxing and sports streaming service DAZN placed a boxing ring in the middle of the street in downtown Tulsa for a night of fighting action that gave a whole new meaning to street fighting. Omni Lighting in Tulsa was called on to light the event for co-producers Matchroom and DAZN and chose to support the action using an adaptable rig of Elation lights. Holden Productions promoted the event locally.
Bandit Lites Supports Muzology
08/10/2020 - Business News
USA – Students across the nation started this past school year enjoying maths, even though the subject had been incomprehensible to many of them previously. The reason: a concept called Muzology that combines music videos with the principles of pre-algebra.
Clever Interaction, Lighter Installations
08/10/2020 - Equipment News
ArmoníaPlus 2.0 is here, and this update is a big one, bringing a new approach to system design, alongside a plethora of new features starting from the new welcome screen through which install users will be able to create projects from a dedicated skin.
Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeaker settings now available for Dynacord electronics via SONICUE software
08/10/2020 - Equipment News
Dynacord has announced that manufacturer presets for the complete portfolio of Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeakers are now available for use with Dynacord electronics via SONICUE sound system software, adding flexibility for consultants and integrators designing multi-brand systems to align with specific application or budget requirements. A Fulcrum loudspeaker installation can now run on a single Dynacord amplifier and DSP/matrix platform with the assurance of optimal performance, all with complete and unified system control via SONICUE.
ETC systems control lighting for new TV studios in Dubai
08/10/2020 - Project News
UAE – ETC lighting solutions have been selected for the brand new TV studios of leading news channel in the Middle East, Al Arabiya. ETC dealer, Oasis Enterprises supplied the equipment including a Sensor3 power control system, a Gio @5 Eos-family control console, Response Mk2 DMX gateways and DataTrack backbone system.
Squeek Lights Puts Car Photo Sessions in Gear with Chauvet Professional
07/10/2020 - Production News
USA – “If you’re going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style,” Doc Brown told Marty McFLy in Back To The Future. Who could argue? Chic and smart with its gull wing doors, and sleek brushed steel body, the DeLorean DMC-12 that starred in the 1985 pop classic, had an unmistakable flair for turning heads.
MIXBOOKS are Back in Stock and They're Better Than Ever!
07/10/2020 - Equipment News
Rosco's initial stock of MIXBOOK digital swatchbooks flew off the shelves, and customers have been patiently waiting for them to return. Rosco has announced that MIXBOOK is available once again.
Backstage Academy Launches Live Event Postgraduate Degrees
07/10/2020 - Standards News
UK – Backstage Academy has launched three brand new postgraduate degrees for 2021, to bolster the skillset of the sectors’ graduates entering the live events industry in a post-Covid world.
ROE Visual US invests in Brompton Technology’s Hydra
07/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Brompton Technology has announced that ROE Visual US has received its anticipated purchase of Brompton Technology’s Hydra system for its west coast office in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
GLP FR10 boosts Usher’s performance at iHeartRadio Music Festival
07/10/2020 - Production News
USA – The tenth anniversary edition of the iHeartRadio Music Festival took place recently in Los Angeles. Among the stellar cast was Usher, broadcasting from a red-lit stage. Both his 20-minute set, and the generic lighting rig at the iHeartRadio Theater LA, were studded with GLP fixtures (supplied by locally based Volt Lites) and put to work by LD Matt Ardine and programmer Mark Butts.
Robe on the Rig for NHL Return to Play
06/10/2020 - Production News
USA – North America’s National Hockey League (NHL) spectacularly returned to play (without live audiences but with massive enthusiasm, determination and impressive TV and online followings) for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoff series which had been suspended in April during the Coronavirus pandemic.
High End Systems Introduces HPU Hardware and Hog 4 OS v3.14
06/10/2020 - Equipment News
High End Systems has released the new HPU hardware for Hog 4, along with an update to Hog 4 OS with v3.14 software. HPU replaces both the DMX Processor 8000 (DP8K) unit and the Rack Hog 4 in a modern, 2U rack mounted unit. This processor unit can be run in either Console mode or in Processor mode with a 64 universe capacity.
Maverick Silens 2 Profile Provides Hochschule für Musik Freiburg with Quiet Flexibility
06/10/2020 - Project News
Germany – Decisions often involve a trade-off, as taking steps to address one challenge may complicate another. Philipp Reister, the event technician at the famed Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, understands this issue first-hand.
Southard Audio Deploys Flagship Martin Audio Rigs for College Events
06/10/2020 - Production News
USA – When they invested in Martin Audio’s large format Wavefront Precision Longbow (WPL) early last year, Virginia-based Southard Audio became the first of two co-operative live event production companies in the US to acquire the premium line array.
Audient Console Installed In Striking Retro-Style Studio
05/10/2020 - Project News
USA – An Audient ASP8024 Heritage Edition console has been installed in Studio A of new multi-studio and educational complex, Round Table Recording Co (RTRC). Defying all odds, the architecturally arresting, meticulously designed studio space opened its doors to the music community of Indianapolis this summer, where the Audient desk serves as the main console
All-purpose Proteus Lucius from Elation now shipping
05/10/2020 - Equipment News
The latest step in Elation Professional’s quest to provide the foremost range of IP65 moving heads on the market is perfectly embodied in the new Proteus Lucius. Available now and shipping, this fully loaded LED profile luminaire in Elation’s award-winning Proteus line is fit for use in any production environment, indoors or out and, due to its all-purpose functionality, can be used anywhere in a rig.
Funktion-One appoints Ko Team as its distributor for Israel
05/10/2020 - Business News
Israel – Loudspeaker manufacturer Funktion-One has joined forces with Ko Team as its distributor for Israel. The collaboration signals an exciting chapter for both companies, as they look forward to bringing Funktion-One sound to more venues and audiences around the country.
GW Illumination Lights Price Tower in PRIDE Colours with Chauvet Professional
05/10/2020 - Production News
USA – When explaining how he designed Price Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright described it as a “tree-like mast” supported by a central trunk of four elevators shafts anchored by a deep central foundation. The ingenious arrangement made it possible for the building’s 19 concrete floors to extend outward like cantilevered branches of a tree reaching over 220-feet to the sky.
How can you cycle further than from Land’s End to John O’Groats in the UK? Take #TheSurvivalTour bike ride!
05/10/2020 - Event News
UK – Starting in Newcastle on Saturday 3rd October and finishing in London on Sunday 18th October, five industry stalwarts (plus one driving the bus) will cycle between 80 and 125km per day, representing the UK tour season that never happened this year. Stopping off at over 50 of the most iconic festival, tour and performance venues that have all been standing empty, dark and silent since the start of lockdown, all in all the tour will cover over 1,500km.
A&H Shines On Eleonora Zouganeli’s Summer Tour of Greece
05/10/2020 - Production News
Greece – Allen & Heath systems mixed at both ends of the digital snake for platinum-selling singer, Eleonora Zouganeli’s summer 2020 “Namaste” tour of her native Greece. The tour played to appreciative audiences in 1,500 – 2,500 capacity outdoor venues, navigating the challenges of changing government restrictions and local interpretations of the rules.
UK Event Industry Campaigns Combine Forces to Deliver One Industry One Voice
05/10/2020 - Business News
UK – Organisers of several high profile events industry campaigns have created a taskforce to ensure strong alignment and more effective communication in fighting for awareness and financial support for the whole industry. The organisations behind #WeMakeEvents, #Let the Music Play and #WeCreateExperiences will align with One Industry One Voice and are encouraging other campaigns to get in touch.
Robe for Circo de Hielo 2
02/10/2020 - Production News
Spain – It’s approaching a year since Spanish lighting designer Juanjo Llorens first enthusiastically compiled his design for Circo de Hielo 2, the latest winter show from Madrid-based Productores de Sonrisas (Smile Producers), creators of large scale multi-disciplined extravaganzas like Circo de Los Horrores and many others.
Star appearance for Ayrton Khamsin in Singapore
02/10/2020 - Project News
Singapore – The Star Performing Arts Centre in Singapore has taken its first-ever stock of Ayrton LED moving heads with the recent addition of Ayrton Khamsin profile fixtures to its lighting inventory. Forty-four Khamsin-S and six Khamsin-TC fixtures were supplied to the landmark venue by Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for the region, Total Solution Marketing Pte Ltd.
Events United Creates Myriad Looks For Pizza Stock with Chauvet Professional
02/10/2020 - Production News
USA – Why is pizza so popular? Aside from liking its convenience and tastiness, people also enjoy the creative exercise of topping it with a mind-boggling assortment of extras. The organisers of the aptly name Pizza Stock fundraiser, which took place at the Events United Studio Lab, experienced this sort of happiness when they were given the opportunity to create their own graphics for the 52.5’ wide by 13’ tall video wall that served as the backdrop for their livestreamed fundraiser broadcast.
L-Acoustics Reveals Compact, Full-Range K3 Line Source System
02/10/2020 - Equipment News
L-Acoustics rounds out its industry-leading K Series with the introduction of K3, the manufacturer’s smallest full-range enclosure, designed to deliver big sound for mid-size events with audiences ranging from 1,000 to 10,000. K3 provides full-range bandwidth, without the need for a flown companion subwoofer. Its highly efficient design reduces amplification needs. These features make K3 faster and simpler, as well as more economical and sustainable to deploy.
#WeMakeEvents is Felt Around the World with Global Action Day
02/10/2020 - Event News
Worldwide - The 30th September marked the #WeMakeEvents Global Action Day, in which countries from across the globe came together in solidarity to highlight the plight that is currently facing the worldwide live events industry. In total, over 25 countries took part at 8pm local time, with activations delivering a range of creative responses, such as lighting iconic buildings in red to highlight how the industry is in red alert, as well as beaming shafts of white light into the sky to highlight the mass job losses.
ROE Visual Brings Short Online Crash Courses
02/10/2020 - Standards News
ROE Visual has announced a series of short, online and interactive ROE Academy training sessions, so called crash courses. Offering its clients and AV technicians easy and quick ways to update their LED knowledge.
ETC introduces ArcLamp Flicker, new drivers, and ArcSystem Pro Four-Cell Pendant
02/10/2020 - Equipment News
The award-winning ArcLamp LED solution from ETC gets an upgrade with the addition of a new Flicker variant as well as new driver options. Ideal for use in themed environments, the specialised Flicker lamp creates a 2700K fade to warm effect by flickering randomly to imitate candlelight. Flicker lamps can also be used at constant brightness by changing the DMX value on its single control channel.
Full Steam Ahead for National Rigging Certificate
02/10/2020 - Standards News
UK – PLASA's National Rigging Certificate Assessments have resumed following a postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Assessments have already been delivered successfully earlier this month at Unusual Rigging's HQ in Bugbrooke with stringent COVID measures in place that do not impact negatively on either the assessment process or the overall experience. These measures are under constant review and will reflect the current government guidelines moving forward.
GDTF website migrates to VPLT association
01/10/2020 - Business News
General Device Type Format (GDTF) founders MA Lighting, Vectorworks, Inc and Robe lighting have transitioned the GDTF website to VPLT, the German Entertainment Technology Association. This migration will ensure a compliant platform for the exchange and future development of GDTF, which offers manufacturers and users a better way of planning and controlling complex productions from design to implementation for an event.
Never Fear Shadows Makes The Masked Singer Soar with Over 200 Chauvet Professional Fixtures
01/10/2020 - Production News
Belgium – During a career that has seen him work on TV specials like European Commission’s Presidential Debate and popular programsmes including Dancing With The Stars Belgium and Liefde voor Muziek, Michiel Milbou has built a stellar reputation for his impeccable keylighting.
Backup Pumpkin Challenge
01/10/2020 - Event News
The Backup Pumpkin Challenge is back again and it’s an excuse to unleash your creativity in aid of Backup!
DiGiCo takes centre stage for UK’s first dedicated socially-distanced venue
01/10/2020 - Project News
UK – The UK’s first dedicated socially-distanced music venue since the COVID-19 pandemic began recently opened its gates in Newcastle, presenting an eclectic programme of top line acts, and equipped with a premium festival kit list provided by AV company, Kingdom Services, centred around DiGiCo SD10 mixing consoles managing FOH and monitor sound.
Renkus-Heinz Brings Modern Sound to Historic Theatre’s Live Performances
01/10/2020 - Project News
Poland – The Cyprian Norwid Theatre in Jelenia Góra, Poland was built in 1904 to serve as an artistic hub for a city with a burgeoning performing arts scene. The building was designed in an Art Nouveau style, and over the years has hosted thousands of events including plays, concerts, educational lectures, religious events and other ceremonies for the area. Its main stage, which seats 540, has served as a constant backdrop to thousands of shows over the years and its original design remains intact to this day.
Adamson & ReWire Welcome Latest and Largest S-Series Partner in Japan
01/10/2020 - Business News
Japan – Adamson Systems Engineering, together with its exclusive Japanese distributor, ReWire, has welcomed Osaka Onken as its latest S-Series partner in Japan. With its substantial investment, Osaka Onken now boasts the largest S-Series inventory in the country.
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