Leeds-based Production Light & Sound (PLS) was founded at the turn of the millennium by the late Jason Salvin and is now headed by Sarah Buckmaster, who has been working for the company for the past 16 years and as director since 2018. The scope of PLS’ work includes draping and staging in addition to lighting and sound production and embraces all areas of technical production – live music, concerts, festivals through to corporate and business events. At the start of 2020, PLS invested in four Robe RoboSpot systems, complete with motion cameras – and were, like so many enterprises,…
Author: Jacob Waite
In a bid to expand its virtual production services, Solotech has acquired XR Studios. As part of the strategic plan, XR Studios will continue to operate as a separate entity and brand, progressing its strong trajectory in market leadership. With this acquisition, Solotech’s recently created Media and Entertainment Technology (MET) Division will make another significant step towards realising its vision of developing new technological solutions that are at the crossroads of three realities: fans and artists, content producers, and online gamers. Located in Los Angeles, XR Studios serves clients in multiple segments such as TV, music, Fortune 500 companies, and…
For several years, Clear-Com FreeSpeak digital wireless product family has been one of the most widely used wireless intercom systems in Germany, a trend that is continuing with the newest addition to the family, the FreeSpeak Edge Base Station. Clear-Com’s German Partner, Audio-Technica, has provided FreeSpeak Edge Base Stations to numerous customers since its release earlier in 2021 —rental companies, live events companies and video production companies — and it has been extremely well-received by the marketplace. The first FreeSpeak Edge Base Station in Germany was delivered to COBRA sound light in Hamburg, where it was immediately put to use ensuring smooth operations for several productions. …
In the latest rendition of the conneCT education sessions, Creative Technology (CT) invited a diverse group of designers, creatives, and users from various industries to a special UK presentation of HOLOPLOT X1, the Berlin-based pro audio company’s latest offering in the world of immersive audio. While ‘immersive’ is undoubtedly the hottest keyword in today’s world of activations, audio remains an area that is less understood, less utilised, and often not considered. Traditionally visual content takes front and centre stage. With no visual content to pull focus on this occasion, audio was given the opportunity to step into the limelight. HOLOPLOT…
Miami, Florida-based Creative Director, Yamil Charif of YC3 devised a high-impact stage production for Pitbull’s 32-date I Feel Good Tour with 100 Robe moving lights – MegaPointes and BMFL WashBeams – as the backbone of the lighting rig, under the production management of Victor Martinez. The tour’s lighting, video and rigging vendor, LPS Production, provided the arsenal of Robe fixtures. “Robe have been at the top of their game for the past few years and produced a steady stream of good and reliable products,” Charif commented, citing the importance of 66 Robe MegaPointes and 34 BMFL WashBeams on the rig.…
With the ongoing resurgence of jazz in China, a genre first introduced to the country in the 1920s by visiting US musicians in Shanghai, it is perhaps no surprise that cosmopolitan Guangzhou has become a major hub in China’s jazz scene, aided in no small part by a thriving festival held each year in the city. This year’s Guangzhou Jazz Festival took place at the Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall between 5 to 7 November 2021 and featured headline performances from renowned Chinese artists Li Quan and Cheng Fangyuan, plus sets from nearly 40 other acts across the spectrum of jazz…
Considered one of the world’s most successful tribute acts, The Australian Pink Floyd Show return to the road in October and December 2021 for a 28-date UK tour. The final two shows of the campaign saw visits to Birmingham Utility Arena and Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, where ticket demand was so high that extra seats were sold at both venues. As per previous UK TAPFS tours, the sound system was provided by Capital Sound, part of Solotech. Also as previously, they deployed part of its Outline inventory for it, the standard system configuration through most of the dates being L/R main…
Fourier Rewind has made its Broadway debut on MJ: The Musical. In celebration the British pro-audio startup also announced the launch of a 14-day free trial of the Rewind, as well as the general release of a new 64-channel ‘Professional’ edition of Rewind, targeted at freelance audio professionals in theatre, broadcast, music and live entertainment industries. Designed by eight-time Olivier award-winning and Tony nominated sound designer, Gareth Owen, MJ: The Musical is one of the most hotly anticipated Broadway productions of recent years, featuring the iconic hits of Michael Jackson. Fourier Rewind is a key component of the production’s audio…
In October 2021, Penn State University welcomed audience members to see Simon Stephen’s adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, directed by Rick Lombardo with sensory-friendly performances at the Playhouse Theatre on the University Park campus using BlackTrax real-time tracking. The Tony Award-winning play is about 15-year-old Christopher, who has an extraordinary brain. Two sensory-friendly performances provided a welcoming space for all patrons with or without neurodivergent needs. The characters in this production uniquely portray that neurodivergence is when a person’s brain does not function in a way that is considered “typical.” In telling this story…
After a successful opening on Broadway, scooping 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Lighting Design, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has hit London’s West End. Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s hit film, the musical transports its audience from Piccadilly Theatre to an iconic Parisian nightclub. PRG first supported the musical on Broadway, where PRG North America played a large part in building the now iconic set by crafting the 15ft FOH elephant and Moulin Rouge neon sign, creating all scenic drops, providing the 30ft by 14ft rotating platform for Satine’s dressing room, and providing the Stage Command system for all…
Powersoft has appointed Abby Hu to the newly created role of chief representative officer in China, where her main responsibilities will be supporting and growing brand awareness throughout the Chinese market. Hu brings over 10 years of experience in the AV industry to the role, having previously worked for a systems integration company specialising in conference, broadcasting and theatre. She has also worked at AMX Asia as a regional sales manager and for China Jingye Engineering Corporation Ltd as a senior commercial manager, where she played a key role in major AV projects for significant clients such as Universal Studios…
Back to the Future: The Musical’s video elements, produced by award-winning video design and production studio FRAY Studio, and its system design, created by Ammonite, demonstrates how technology can transform the ordinary setup of a show and create an expansive, fantastical world through the use of LED screens, powered by Brompton Technology processing. Video Designer and FRAY Studio co-founder, Finn Ross, works across all forms of live entertainment, combining video with performance to enhance the audience experience and expand its imagination. When it came to creating this show’s video elements, Ross was keen to use Brompton processing to enable the…
Setting the tone for 99.3 FM’s Ugly Holiday Sweater Concert at Arizona’s Mesa Amphitheatre was a bold, multi-layered, beam-driven lighting design based on Weezer’s touring design. To provide the punch for these visuals, organisers called on Creative BackStage to provide a lighting rig that featured over 50 CHAUVET Professional fixtures. Most of the fixtures were flown on four rows of truss that became progressively smaller and lower as they moved from downstage to upstage. Not only did this arrangement create a perspective that pulled the audience’s attention into the stage, it also provide the design team with greater opportunities to…
INFiLED boosts its presence in the South of Europe and appoints Alex Tomas as Sales Manager for Spain. Tomas has long-term expertise given his over 20 years of experience in the AV industry within Sales, Business Development, and Marketing positions for AV companies within the Spanish market. “Alex brings a solid and extensive skillset with a broad network and significant experience in the Spanish Market,” said INFiLED EMEA Senior Vice President, Marco Bruines. “We are delighted to have Alex onboard and based in Barcelona where we recently opened our European Showroom, Sales and Marketing hub.” Tomas added: “I am delighted…
Neumann.Berlin has revealed its first product range designed especially for close miking instruments. To create the new miniature clip mic system, engineers in Berlin elevated electret technology and its production process to a new level. The system’s modular construction has been designed to ensure excellent stability and long service life for live and stage performances. The system includes nine mounting solutions that make it possible to find the optimum positioning for acoustics while simultaneously protecting the instrument. The miniature clip mic system will be available in spring 2022. The system can already be preordered by dealers and major clients. Neumann.Berlin…
Genelec has further expanded its Nordic sales operation with the appointment of Mirko Ekberg and Fredrik Setterberg. Ekberg joins Genelec’s Finnish team as Pro Audio Sales Manager, with responsibility for developing both Studio and MI dealer networks and building closer relationships with key studio customers. With a combined 20 year track record of distinguished sales management with both Fender and the Luthman distribution group, Ekberg steadily progressed to the role of Chief Sales Officer for Finland and the Baltics for Luthman Nordic. Setterberg joins Genelec’s own Swedish distribution team as Sales Engineer, focussing on pre-sales and sales support across the…
The Neutrik Group has announced the addition of the Fiberfox range of expanded beam technology connectivity systems to Neutrik’s portfolio of fibre optic solutions. Designed to meet the requirements of MIL-DTL-83526 military specifications enabling multiple interconnections with other expanded beam solutions the Neutrik Fiberfox Fibre Optic Connection System is the ideal solution for use in harsh environments, with performance of the expanded beam fibre optic connectivity being exceptional in wet, dirty, dusty, high and low temperature environments. Fiberfox can withstand in excess of 10,000 mating cycles without maintenance or insertion loss and can be cleaned using just clean water and…
Audinate has signed an agreement to acquire the video business of Silex Insight, based in Belgium. The Silex video business produces video networking products for manufacturers of AV equipment. The acquisition includes a range of AV-over-IP products, including IP Cores, the VIPER Board, Video ASSP and Design Services, as well as three Silex implementations of video codecs: Colibri, JPEG 2000 and VC-2 HQ. Audinate will also acquire a team of 8 engineers with extensive video implementation expertise and remains committed to supporting the existing Silex products and customers. The acquisition of the Silex video business will allow Audinate to accelerate…
