Category Archives: Reports

Using All Access Design’s interactive concept

The Avener has all the visuals at his fingertips

As deep house and electro music producer The Avener pursues his stellar career performing at ADM concert festivals, we thought it would be worthwhile to go back and have a look at his Flash Deep Tour, from late 2015, to focus on the interactive concept developed by All Access Design (AAD). The concept is that the artist can maintain manual control over part of the lighting rig – live and in real time.

Theatrical Piece

The Encounter, the binaural masterpiece designed by Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin

London 11:00 AM. I’m about to discover The Encounter and get a look behind the scenes at this unique opus in one of the most iconic theaters in the British capital, the Barbican. The press is unanimous: it is as disconcerting as it is captivating, and the 600 headphones that act as the sound system are the proof of that. We have an appointment with Gareth Fry and Peter Malkin, the two sound designers of this work, and with the ASD – Association of Sound Designers.

“Rester Vivant Tour” at the AccorHotels Arena

Johnny Hallyday on tour, with lighting by Dimitri Vassiliu: back to the roots of rock

Dimitri Vassiliu, lighting designer (LD) for French rock superstar Johnny Hallyday, invited us backstage at the AccorHotels Arena during the on-going “Rester Vivant” marathon tour to talk lighting, video, and rock & roll. This was a new experience for the talented LD, who had already worked on some of the biggest music tours in France. Now, to helm not only the lighting but also the scenic and video design for over a hundred concerts by France’s rock icon was an exciting new challenge.

With the integration of Fa Musique, S-Audio, Vidéo Events and Harkan

The Dushow Group continues to grow. An interview with Eric Alvergnat

Slowly but surely, Dushow continues its march forward, welcoming into the group Fa Musique, Frédéric André’s little gem of a company in Rhône. Just three years after a story on the birth of Dushow group, we went back to take stock of this flagship of French service together with the president, Eric Alvergnat. It’s always interesting to spend time with a man who prefers to hang PA over having to deal with words.

For managing multiple streams of linked audio and video media

Les Gens Du Son have developed Easys, a complete solution for reality TV

They are seven partners united like the fingers on one hand. . . to tell the truth, given the time they spend at their computers, having seven fingers would actually be a plus for them. Capable of doing everything as far as capturing and mixing sound for television is concerned, they decided to create Easys, a tool designed to meet the specific needs of reality TV and all of its derivatives. Let’s visit these fellows, who definitely have brains between their ears.

Meeting at the ONDIF* Alain Français

Learprint by Alain Français and the sound becomes emotion

Charm works every time. When you see the eyes of Alain Français twinkle as they do, despite the fatigue, you know he is preparing a surprise, and the latest one is big. Imagine: A symphony played by forty speakers and a dozen subwoofers, each installed at the location where the corresponding microphones (and therefore the instruments) were located and through the middle of which you can walk. Move over Futuroscope, Asterix and Disneyland, take a break Surround and Atmos – Learprint arrives and the sound becomes emotion.

At the Paris Zenith - La Villette

Stromae lit up with squares by Paul Chappet

By associating with the biggest French-language album seller of the year for his sold-out tour, Paul Chappet, the lighting designer, left his favourite stomping ground, the clubs, to accompany the bouncy Belgian on a major world tour with customised lighting design. And as both the Pauls (a beautiful name also borne by Stromae) have known each other since the artist’s first tour, the lighting of which was done by the young lighting designer, they share the Paris Zenith stage with full confidence and complicity, one filling it with his incredible presence and the other dressing it up with beautiful floodlights in their element, appropriate for the show, completely new and electric.

Illuminated by Jason Bullock

Wiz Khalifa in Paris, Under the Influence of MagicPanel

The young American Hip-Hop phenomenon appeared at the Paris Zenith for a one night only performance to kick-off the European leg of his «Under the Influence of Music» world tour.
Jason Bullock, the tour’s Lighting Designer, has done a spectacular job with luminaires that virtually set the Paris stage on fire.
Upstage left and right of the wonderful Wiz, hang beautiful, brand-new Ayrton MagicPanel™ fixtures, Jason’s new favorites.

Electric Zoo Festival in New York

Jonathan Goldstein's original Design includes huge video screens and 80 MagicPanel™602

The Electric Zoo Festival is, by far, the largest Electronic Dance Music event in New York City, with 190 international artists from the global electronic music scene performing over 3 days (and into the night) on 5 stages for 150,000 enthusiastic attendees. 2013 marks the fifth year for Electric Zoo. With each successive iteration, Production Designer Jonathan Goldstein has pushed the edge of the envelope for technological originality – with more stages and more fabulous visual environments.