An array of Claypaky lighting fixtures illuminated the Smetanova Litomyšl Festival, the second oldest music festival in the Czech Republic and one of the country’s largest classical music festivals. From 14 June to 6 July the 67th edition returned to its traditional setting of the courtyard of a Renaissance castle in Litomyšl, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where it delighted national and international guests. Prague-based LightNeq, which specialises in premium sound, lighting, video and staging solutions with internationally recognized brands, provided the Claypaky fixtures, which included seven Rhapsodyas, 20 Sinfonya Profile 600s and 24 Midi-B/WWs, all of them capable of…
Author: Alicia Pollitt
ETC has launched the DP8K Exchange Program, a new initiative designed to help customers transition to the latest generation of Hog hardware and software. The program supports users of the High End Systems DMX Processor 8000 (DP8K), which was discontinued in 2020. While the DP8K remained compatible with earlier versions of Hog OS, it is no longer supported with the release of Hog OS v5.x, making an upgrade essential for continued performance and compatibility. To make this transition smoother and more cost-effective, ETC is offering a significant discount on the purchase of a new HPU (hybrid processing unit) when replacing an existing DP8K. Program details, including exchange logistics,…
Slovenian singer Nina Pušlar rocked her picturesque hometown of Ivančna Gorica, 40 kilometres out of Ljubljana, for a homecoming concert at the football stadium, celebrating 20 years of success in the music industry. Lighting designer Crt Birsa of design studio Blackout produced a carefully sculpted lightshow crafted for the scale and importance of the occasion, stoked with so much anticipation. He utilised nearly 200 Robe moving lights among his 500-plus fixtures to impress Nina’s friendly, loyal, and enthusiastic fanbase, which included Slovenia’s President, Nataša Pirc Musar, who sat unobtrusively in one of the VIP areas. Birsa and his team at…
The 2025 version of Solidays Festival featured artists like Damso, Sean Paul, Fisher, Lamomali, Gims, Kalash, and many others over the course of three spectacular summer days. This non-profit festival is about much more than music. Founded in 1999, to raise awareness and funds for the treatment of AIDS, Solidays is a celebration of human dignity, respect and compassion that radiates a sense of warmth and solidarity throughout its over 15-hectare site. Reflecting this spirit on the festival’s five stages and grounds was an engaging and carefully crafted lighting and production design by Frédéric (Aldo) Fayard and his colleagues at…
Sensaphonics has announced new updated firmware for the dB Check Pro sound level analyzer. The only device of its kind on the market that provides IEM and headphone end users with calculated at-ear real-time and average sound pressure level estimates (dBA SPL), the dB Check Pro provides a simple and unobtrusive way to help maintain proper hearing health in potentially damaging audio environments. This latest firmware version 1.14 adds support for earphone models for newly included brands Alclair and FiR Audio, as well as adding new models from Westone, adding to the growing number of supported brands which include 64…
Disguise has announced a major update to its AI-powered workflow assistant for Designer Pro, Ask AId3n. The update enables production teams to sequence repetitive or technical tasks, reducing hours of work at the click of a button. Powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, Ask AId3n enables Designer Pro users to type questions into a chat-based interface, from simple queries like “how do I add blur?” to more complex commands instructing the tool to make direct changes to a project file. For example, if working on concert visuals at a well-known arena, users could instruct Ask AId3n to set up the…
Obsidian Control Systems has introduced ONYX 4.32, the latest iteration of its popular lighting control software for NX consoles and PC systems. This new version includes a host of improvements – feature enhancements and bug fixes – designed to give lighting programmers more control, speed, and flexibility while opening up new possibilities for creative programming. Faster cue control, smarter pixel mapping, and timecode support via standard audio input make programming smoother than ever. Whether you work in theatre, broadcast, or live events, ONYX 4.32 gives designers and programmers tools that streamline workflow for an even more intuitive lighting control experience.…
Follow-Me has announced that its Follow-Me 3D system is playing a key role in the lighting automation of country music superstar Kane Brown’s High Road Tour. The tour features an innovative all-moving lighting rig with Follow-Me 3D serving as part of the show’s sophisticated automation ecosystem. Christie Lites provides vendor support, with Follow-Me Programmer Evan Rodecap and Production/Lighting Designer Chase Hall leading the technical implementation. Hall set out to revolutionise country music production values with an ambitious vision. “I was bound and determined to make a country show look progressive and cool,” he explained. “So I intentionally abandoned the typical…
Elation’s PROTEUS RADIUS launched a new era of long-throw beam lights with its LILI (Laser Illuminated Lighting Instrument) light engine and now that long-range power is taken to the next level with the new, ultra-long-throw PROTEUS ATLAS. This intense IP66 Beam FX is comparable to 7K Xenon searchlights yet offers a host of design features and operates at a fraction of the power. The PROTEUS ATLAS is engineered to conquer distances and paint the sky with precision, empowering designers to light boldly at scale. Designed for landmark events and large-scale productions, ATLAS offers unmatched output, weather-defying durability, and the creative…
The 59th Montreux Jazz Festival brought 250,000 music fans together for two weeks of live music along the sparkling shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva. More than 700 performances from legends to rising stars filled its stages with genres spanning jazz, Latin music, R&B, pop, rock, EDM, and hip hop. Now in its 39th year as the festival’s Global Official Sound Partner, Meyer Sound powered 15 venues and spaces throughout Montreux with more than 400 loudspeakers, delivering extraordinary experiences for artists and audience members alike. All audio, lighting, and video equipment was supplied once again by Swiss rental company and integrator…
Sennheiser has announced its new, free online tool for simple configuration of its wireless microphone solutions. Named Wireless Planner, the tool offers customers switching to a new SpeechLine Digital Wireless or EW-DX microphone system a quick and easy way to decide on the right Sennheiser solution and how best to configure it when designing for education, corporate or live environments. Wireless Planner is designed to help customers facing tight timelines quickly complete a Sennheiser wireless microphone setup making it ideal for time-sensitive projects. The intuitive step-by-step, web-based interface allows users to select channel count, receivers, transmitters, batteries, chargers,…
‘The World of Hans Zimmer – An immersive Symphony: The Theatre Experience’, is an orchestrated concert series, that opened in the Oberhausen Metronom Theatre and plans to tour Europe in Spring 2026. Featuring many soloists from Hans Zimmer’s team, the requirement for individual monitor mixes was very high, so monitor engineer Thorben Stroehlein knew that the capacity and smooth workflow of DMI-KLANG could deliver all the immersive mixes required. “We started planning in December, and going straight into rehearsals was intense,” Stroehlein explained. “Creating a show from scratch meant we had a lot to cover. We knew the orchestra would…
Aside from the huge quantity of GLP’s JDC2 IP and impression X5 Bars deployed on the Pyramid stage for Friday night headliners, The 1975, it was another headline performance – Charli XCX’s appearance on the Other stage – that became another of the most talked-about sets of Glastonbury Festival 2025. Here, the stage was bedecked with 168 JDC Burst 1 strobe/wash hybrids. Since last November, her lighting has been supplied by Liteup, which has now added 90 of its 100 newly acquired GLP JDC Burst 1s to her touring rig. These accompanied her to Glastonbury, where they complemented a further…
On 10 July, the industry came together at The Backup Fabulous Village Fete at Daytona Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey, to raise much needed funds for supporting those working in the live events industry when they need it most. This year’s event, which welcomed over 350 event professionals from more than 40 different companies, raised just over £51,000 for Backup Tech, bringing the total raised for the charity over the years to nearly half a million pounds. The Backup Fabulous Village Fete, renamed this year in memory of Adam Taylor (AKA Adam Fabulous), an esteemed member of the events industry…
HIVE has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with ULA Group for the Australian and New Zealand markets. The agreement marks an important step in expanding HIVE’s global presence and connecting with local integrators through one of the region’s most experienced visual technology providers. “We are excited to welcome ULA Group as our exclusive partner in the ANZ region,” said Mark Calvert, CEO at HIVE. “This partnership is about more than distribution – it’s about making our technology accessible to integrators through a trusted local expert who understands the needs of the market.” ULA Group brings more than 30 years of…
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo featured drone effects for the first time in its 75-year history during Friday’s opening performance. Working with award-winning drone specialists AeroAVA, the Tattoo pioneered this new form of creative expression that seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technology with traditional performance artistry. The creative brief centred on recognising 75 years of tradition while looking forward to the next 75 years, embodied by a young piper who carried the torch forward into the future. The show’s breathtaking climax featured 100 drones forming the number 75 approximately 50-60 metres above Edinburgh Castle, synchronised with pyrotechnics and full audience engagement. Beginning…
4Wall Entertainment has announced the company’s transition to a new ownership group and subsequent recapitalisation. Funds advised by Man Varagon, among other investors, provided new capital in support of the transaction which closed on July 31, 2025. The new ownership group, led by Man Varagon (a subsidiary of Man Group with over $13B of assets under management) has committed significant new capital to 4Wall, which will create a platform for continued future investment and growth. 4Wall CEO Wes Bailey, spoke of the transaction: “We are thrilled to have our new investors, led by Man Varagon, supporting 4Wall as we move…
Yorkville Sound has announced the next generation of its Paraline series with four new powered enclosures. Designed for ground stack and flown configurations, these new speakers offer essential features and high output in compact cabinets. The full-range PSA26 and PSA28 combine Tom Danley’s patented Paraline Lens and Synergy Horn technologies to minimise comb filtering while maximising efficiency and directivity. They also feature lightweight neodymium drivers, tone shaping controls, onboard limiting, and integrated rigging hardware. The PSA15S and PSA18S subwoofers are designed to pair perfectly with the top boxes, and offer 3000 Watts of peak power with your choice of 15”…
