MIDDLE EAST NEWS

LUSAIL SUPER CUP

MEDIAPRO INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES AUDIO, VIDEO, LIGHTING AND RIGGING SOLUTION FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF QATAR’S BIGGEST STADIUM.

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 just around the corner, the country’s centrepiece venue set to host the final of the tournament got its first outing on 9 September, as it played host to the Lusail Super Cup. Played out between Saudi Professional League winners Al Hilal SFC and Egyptian Premier League champions Zamalek SC, the match was the first to take place in the brand-new stadium and served as a dress rehearsal before the eyes of the world turn to Qatar in November.

Ahead of the on-pitch action, Egyptian superstar, Amr Diab opened the show with a typically high-energy performance that delighted the more than 70,000-strong crowd in attendance. Live Nation Middle East appointed MediaPro International to deliver the audio, video, lighting and rigging solutions for the concert. Senior Production Manager, Nikhil Kotian explained that the hot and humid climate combined with limited working hours provided a challenge for his team.

“There was an outdoor working restriction between 10am and 3pm during the summer as it was extremely hot, so we had to stagger equipment deliveries and crew and make sure the schedule was perfect to make the most of the time we had,” he revealed.

Due to the high-profile nature of the venue being the host stadium for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Final, the MediaPro team had to adhere to a strict timetable. “There were a lot of restrictions we had to follow, which was time consuming. However, our on-ground production team did a great job of working alongside all stakeholders to ensure that everything was done with due diligence,” Kotian commented.

The audio deployment comprised 60 L-Acoustics K2 speakers with 16 K1SB subs as the main PA to cover the first level of the grandstand throughout the stadium. The in-house audio system was used to cover the upper-level seating. L-Acoustics KARAs and X15s were used for monitors, as well as a Shure PSM1000 IEM system for Amr Diab. A DiGiCo SD5 was at FOH, along with two Yamaha CL5s on monitors.

Due to the height of the venue, 48 CM Lodestar one-tonne hoists were rigged in the stadium using 50m-plus chains and 250 running metres of 40 by 40 Eurotruss for the lighting rig. Around 400 sq m of Absen 4.81 LED screens were

incorporated into the scenic stage elements, with content running through two Barco E2 event processors and four disguise media servers.

The lighting inventory included 92 Ayrton Cobras, 66 Robe MegaPointes and 44 BMFL Blades, as well as 26 Claypaky Scenius Profiles, 56 CKC Lighting 1640s and 250 RGB LED battens. A Robe RoboSpot system featuring eight BMFL LTs was also utilised. Atmospherics were provided by 16 strategically placed Smoke Factory Fan Foggers and eight Reel EFX DF-50 haze machines, while control came from two MA Lighting grandMA3s.

Kotian was especially pleased with how his team pulled together to deliver the project exactly as promised. “There’s nothing more gratifying than a client who is happy,” he reflected. “Setting up the first ever show in this brand-new venue is a great feeling; the atmosphere on show day was incredible.”

The rest of the MediaPro team comprised Special Projects Director, Hugh Turner; Production Manager, Abel Rodrigues; Senior Audio FOH and System Engineer, Sudhakar Madula; Senior Audio Monitor and RF Engineer, Jebastian Joseph; Lighting Crew Chief, John Pathrose; disguise Operator, Konstantine Laptev; Senior Video Engineer, Vinay Divakaran; and Health and Safety Environment Manager, Pradeesh P.

The Lusail Super Cup is one of several recent high-profile projects for MediaPro in Qatar and, according to COO Shaam Pudaruth, there’s a lot more to come. “Qatar is very busy in anticipation of the World Cup, and we are expecting many more activations to take place between now and December,” he stated. “Our Doha branch is being supported by our Dubai headquarters and it is 100% ready to deliver any scale of event whatever the technical requirements.” And while he wouldn’t be drawn on precisely which upcoming events MediaPro is due to supply for, he revealed to TPMEA that the company “will definitely see Lusail Stadium again soon”.

The COO concluded by thanking Live Nation Middle East for the opportunity, as well as the FIFA World Cup Supreme committee. “It’s always a pleasure working with a team of professionals,” he said. “I can’t wait to see Qatar come to life with this historic event coming to the region.” Photos: MediaPro International www.mediaproav.com

Below: ARLD’s Aaron Russ. Facing page: HOLOPLOT’s Ryan Penny and CTME’s Andy Reardon.

ARLD LAUNCHES IN DUBAI

THE NEW COMPANY WILL CATER TO THE REGION’S ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR, PROVIDING SHOW, ARCHITAINMENT AND BROADCAST LIGHTING SOLUTIONS.

A new independent lighting design studio has been launched in the Middle East. The brainchild of experienced Lighting Designer, Aaron Russ, ARLD is set to cater to large ceremonies, awards shows, sports entertainment, festivals and more throughout the region. “We plan on working heavily with previsualisation systems like WYSIWIG and Unreal to cut down on onsite time and offer clients a warm studio environment to get creative,” Russ informed TPMEA.

With 14 years of UAE experience under his belt – including a decade at Protec – Russ has made the bold decision to set up on his own. “Back in March 2020, I went back to my roots as a lighting designer, offering my services on a freelance basis,” he recalled, explaining the decision. “This was well received by the industry and once the word was out, the phone didn’t stop ringing.”

Throughout the period of COVID-19 restrictions, Russ found that by programming from his home studio, he was able to create a much smoother workflow. “I found that if I screen shared the WYSIWYG stage view on a Zoom meeting, I could sit with the creative directors of the shows and we could work together to fine tune the programming, giving confidence that when we turned up to site, all that was needed were a few focus updates,” he recalled.

Noticing this increased efficiency, Russ identified a gap in the market. “I realised that there was no studio you could call to consult on an event and no one offering remote programming sessions,” he said. “Because I was independent, I wasn’t forced to use the stock and pricing structure of what was available in the warehouse – I could design a system based on the event requirements, using instruments best suited to the purpose. This was the catalyst to start what is now ARLD.”

Based in Dubai, the new company has an office in Silicon Oasis and a studio in JVC. However, Russ is open to working throughout the region. “We’re currently active in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” he noted.

With an already-packed calendar and preproduction work taking place for events well into the middle of 2023, the first year of ARLD’s existence promises to be an extremely busy one. “It’s already a busy events season and it hasn’t really started yet,” Russ beamed. “I am currently booked solid until December. I expect it will be a crazy season and we are ready to get stuck in!”

Looking further ahead, Russ hopes to expand the company within the next 12 months. “I would like to start looking at Expo Osaka 2025,” he pinpointed. “I am interested to see what they do with events and entertainment and would like to get on board with that, as well as with some key pavilions on their architainment design. Other than that, I don’t want to rush things. I strongly believe in quality over quantity. I would rather die of thirst than drink from the cup of mediocrity.” Photos: ARLD www.arld.ae

HOLOPLOT DEMOS X1 AT CT OPEN DAY

CT INVITES THE BERLIN-BASED PRO AUDIO COMPANY TO DEMONSTRATE ITS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN DUBAI.

Creative Technology recently invited its clients, partners and friends to its Dubai headquarters, where German pro audio manufacturer HOLOPLOT exhibited its new X1 audio solution.

Demonstrated for the first time in the GCC, the HOLOPLOT X1 Matrix Array represents an entirely new category of audio technology, winning multiple prestigious international awards and delivering next-level experiences for the performing arts, immersive spaces, conference, and event venues along with arena sports and concerts; the X1 opens up new creative possibilities to connect with audiences.

HOLOPLOT delivers a previously impossible level of control over audio reinforcement and sound. The immersive audio system can be used across a multitude of live events but also in immersive spaces, attractions, visitor centres and museums within the System Integrations sector.

Wissam Shaheen, CTME Head of Audio, commented: “Having such control in horizontal and vertical planes is something we audio geeks only fantasised about not too long ago. Exceptional sonic control no matter how acoustically challenging an environment is shows how advanced this technology really is. After experiencing the system sounds, they are phenomenal, even in an L/R standard setup.”

Andy Reardon, Managing Director Middle East, added: “We are proud to have been the first in the GCC to have demonstrated the revolutionary capabilities of HOLOPLOT X1. After a very successful Open Day at our HQ in Dubai, the feedback we have received from our valued clients and colleagues has been overwhelming. CTME is very excited for future collaborations and working alongside HOLOPLOT.”

“CT Middle East’s X1 Open Day was a milestone moment for HOLOPLOT as we debuted the powers of X1 to AV industry professionals in the GCC,” said Ryan Penny, Head of Sales at HOLOPLOT. “The CT Middle East team, their clients, and partners showed a genuine appetite for audio innovation, matching with our ambitions to be best in class. Whether delivering unparalleled coverage and intelligibility in challenging acoustic spaces or unlocking new levels of creativity.” Photo: CTME www.ctme.co www.holoplot.com

PERFECT FUNCTION BALANCED CREATIVE LED DISPLAY SOLUTIONS

@ MV SERIES

Robust and Lightweight Slim and Easy Smart Monitoring System Reliable and Durable

https://www.infiled.com info@infiled.com

Case Study

Australia’s first luxury beachside - Cali Beach

VENUETECH HOLDS MEYER SOUND TRAINING COURSE

THE TWO-DAY SYSTEMS DESIGN AND OPTIMISATION SESSION WELCOMES AUDIO ENGINEERS FROM THE UAE, SAUDI ARABIA AND INDIA.

Dubai-based AV company Venuetech recently held a two-day Meyer Sound Systems Design and Optimisation training session at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC).

Headed by Senior Technical Support & Education Specialist, Merlijn Van Veen and Sana Romanos, Technical Services Specialist, Middle East & Africa, the event saw audio systems specialists, sound engineers, and technicians from the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia and India travel to Dubai to participate.

Organised as part of a series of training sessions in collaboration with Meyer Sound, the training was Venuetech’s first-ever joint training course, which saw immense success.

Addressing the attendees at the onset of the training course, Ismat Assafiri, Systems Architect and Audio Specialist at Venuetech, commented: “The release of MAPP 3D is a significant juncture in the development of sound systems design. We are excited to bring this knowledge to our fellow audio specialists in the region through our partnership with Meyer Sound.”

Andrea Granata, Sales Manager, Middle East and Africa, Meyer Sound, also addressed the attendees. “When I first attended Sound System Design and Optimisation Training, it changed my understanding of audio forever,” he stated.

“With Venuetech, we decided to give the same opportunity to a new generation of technicians, hoping to have a similar positive impact. The training evolved since the old days and was bringing together fundamentals and the latest technological development. The response of the room, filled with a mix of experienced engineers and young audio enthusiasts, demonstrates that the education that Meyer Sound offers has no equal in the industry.”

The training session explored the relationship between the predictive of the MAPP 3D Sound System Design Tool and actual sound system performance as measured with FFT-based transfer-function analysers. The participants gained insight into generating and comparing data using both MAPP 3D and Compass, in order to help them better understand the correlation between the two.

The course’s key objective was for users to possess a clearer idea of how sound systems behave in both modelled and real space, and gain a more informed approach to accurately designing and optimising systems using Meyer Sound solutions. The training was followed by a Q&A with Merlijn Van Veen and Sana Romanos.

“We decided to offer the training with the intention of sharing pure knowledge on system design,” said Alice Macaluso – Meyer Sound Brand Manager at Venuetech. “The training gave great insight into a variety of tools that every sound engineer will now have in their pocket when designing a new system. There is a vast amount of information and knowledge out there, and we hope to lead our fellow audio specialists and systems architects to these resources and offer them support when needed.”

Venuetech Chief Operating Officer, Abdul Assafiri, concluded: “We are delighted to be at the forefront of educating the professional audio specialists and systems designers in the GCC by facilitating this unique opportunity. We are already making plans for our next Meyer Sound – Venuetech training session.” Photo: Venuetech www.venuetech.ae www.meyersound.com

SENNHEISER SUPPORTS GREG PEARSON

THE SCOTTISH SINGER-SONGWRITER SELECTS A SENNHEISER XSW-IEM SYSTEM AND EVOLUTION WIRELESS DIGITAL WITH MMK-965 MICROPHONE CAPSULE.

Having supported the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Louis Tomlinson, James Blunt, The Kooks, and One Republic over the past few years, Dubaibased singer-songwriter Greg Pearson is a favourite among UAE crowds. Following his performance at the TPMEA Awards 2022, the Scottish star sat down with TPMEA to discuss his ongoing association with Sennheiser ME.

“I partnered with Sennheiser ME after I supported James Blunt at The Coca-Cola Arena earlier this year,” he revealed. “They have been so supportive, and they have helped me to find the perfect products for my live setup.”

A Sennheiser XSW-IEM system, Evolution Wireless Digital instrument set and Evolution Wireless Digital vocal set with MMK-965 mic capsule are included in Pearson’s setup. “I was a little wary of moving over to IEMs after using onstage monitors for so long, but the XS system has been amazing – it gives me so much freedom on stage, and it’s straightforward to set up,” he stated. “I’ve recently been playing in a few arenas and larger scale venues, and working an audience at 180° can be very difficult when you’re stuck behind a wedge. The IEM system, Evolution Wireless vocal mic paired with the MMK-965 and the Evolution wireless digital on my guitar gives me full freedom to move around and cover all parts of the stage without any problems.”

Pearson described the added confidence he has gained since using the Evolution Wireless Digital system. “The guys at Sennheiser and I had a long chat about how latency might affect my live setup. Because I use a loop pedal, timing is vital. The Evolution Wireless Digital sounds as though I’m hardwired to my pedal board, but it gives me the freedom to move around and work the audience.”

The artist concluded by sharing his thoughts on the TPMEA Awards. “I was delighted to be invited to perform at this year’s TPMEA Awards in Dubai,” he commented. “The awards show gave me a unique experience and an opportunity to showcase my songs and the Sennheiser products to a room full of industry experts. Thanks to Sennheiser ME and TPMEA for the opportunity.” Photo: Adrian Hurley www.sennheiser.com

FLASH ENTERTAINMENT OPENS IN KSA

THE FIRM BEHIND SOME OF THE UAE’S BIGGEST EVENTS OPENS A NEW STANDALONE OFFICE IN RIYADH.

The UAE’s Flash Entertainment has launched a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Saudi Arabia is witnessing major change in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and realising Saudisation goals,” commented John Lickrish, Flash Entertainment CEO.

“The entertainment industry is evidently growing at a rapid pace and the goal in opening our KSA headquarters is for Flash Entertainment to become a key contributor to a priority trident of industry development, economy diversification and Saudisation goals.”

He added: “We will bring our learnings from the past 15 years in delivering major global events to meet market needs while striving to create development opportunities for Saudi nationals to help shape the Kingdom’s entertainment industry. There is a huge appetite for a broad spectrum of entertainment concepts. It is an honour to be present in the Kingdom and

IRIG LAUNCHES IN SAUDI ARABIA

THE RIGGING SPECIALIST OPENS A FACILITY IN RIYADH IN RESPONSE TO RAPID GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY.

iRIG has expanded into Saudi Arabia, opening a new branch in Riyadh.

“It’s been a long-term ambition for us to have a permanent presence in the Kingdom,” began Managing Director, Ryan D’Cunha. “We have all seen the rapid growth of the events industry in Saudi Arabia and therefore to be best placed to serve our clients both old and new with the same quality and standards that we are known for, it was clear we needed to have boots on the ground and kit in the country.”

While Riyadh is the chosen location for its new facility, D’Cunha is confident that the company will be able to successfully service the entire country.

“As it’s such a huge land mass, we will have to truck equipment all over the country – albeit without any borders to cross, meaning a swifter logistics operation,” he stated. “In terms of kit, we are replicating our UAE stock so that we can still cover our UAE operation without compromising our current clients,” D’Cunha stated, adding that the current UAE-based crew will all be given visas to enable them to enter and depart Saudi Arabia as and when required.

“We’ll also still be making use of the freelance rigging contingent as usual. The end game is to have a permanent team based in Saudi, which we aim to implement swiftly.”

Despite hearing some reports to the contrary, the Managing Director was pleased to report a swift and easy process in setting up the new branch.

“It was nowhere near as complex as we’d been led to believe, which was a welcome surprise,” he revealed. “Looking forward, we are happy to grow organically – much the same as iRIG Dubai, which has performed well in terms of growth, stock growth and crew expansion.” Photo: iRIG www.irigevent.com

UAE PRO LEAGUE AWARDS

MEDIAPRO INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTS NO1 EVENTS FOR A HIGH-PROFILE AWARDS EVENT AT ABU DHABI’S EMIRATES PALACE AUDITORIUM.

The UAE Pro League held its annual awards ceremony on 27 August, celebrating the achievements of the best players and clubs in the competition. No1 Events appointed MediaPro International as technical supplier for the event, with the company providing production and design services, as well as a complete technical production package.

MediaPro Technical Director, Mirco Resta, ran through the company’s supply. “We supported No1 Events with a dedicated preproduction process that included designing a video system that would be capable of handling high-resolution creative content while providing excellent stability during this live event,” he explained. “We had to work around the auditorium’s fixed installation to deliver the concept and design provided by No1 without compromising any important features.”

The main challenge of the project was the creation of a breath-taking opening performance, which included an 18m by 6m hologram projection screen that augmented the performer’s actions on stage.

Esteban Garcia, MediaPro disguise Specialist, commented: “The video system included a disguise gx 2c server as dedicated director and a vx 4 to drive the 192 sq m Gloshine 3.9 mm screen design on stage. We chose the gx 2c range for the projector outputs to drive the two Panasonic PT-RZ31K projectors that delivered the crystal-clear holographic projection,” he added. “We relied on the Mapping Matters platform to make the projection study since it integrates well with the disguise workflow.”

Inframe Motion Design’s Haitham Taha was the Content Producer, delivering a mix of studio pre-recorded and edited content and spectacular 3D sequences.

A Showtex PepperScrim was used for the holographic projection, while roughly 100 Robe and Claypaky wash, profile and beam fixtures featured on the lighting rig, which was controlled by an MA Lighting grandMA3 console, running timecode through the disguise servers. Audio meanwhile was covered by No1 Events’ in-house Clair Brothers C8 line array.

Alongside Resta and Garcia, the MediaPro team comprised: Production Manager, Nigel Ranasinghe; Sound Designer, Martin Chiervo and Barco E2 Operator, Sudheesh Vasudevan.

“With this project, we wanted to bring together theatre, acting, cinema, and drama with hologram technology to impress the audience,” Show Director, Hassan Abdul Hamid commented. “The choice of production team was easy for me. I rely on the technical direction of Mirco Resta and his MediaPro team. They always have a solution for every problem and take care of the final result without any compromise.” Photos: No1 Events www.no1events.net www.mediaproav.com

DIVE IN

BARCO AND DELTOID EXPAND PARTNERSHIP

THE MOVE AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE POSITION OF BOTH COMPANIES IN THE TURKISH ENTERTAINMENT MARKET.

Barco has extended its partnership with Turkish system integrator, Deltoid Technology. Aimed at strengthening the position of both companies in the growing immersive experiences market in Turkey, the new distribution agreement covers the entire Barco projection and image processing portfolio in the Turkish market.

Barco and Deltoid Technology have been partners for more than a decade, with a market share of over 90% in the Turkish control rooms industry with the Barco LED, LCD and RPC video wall solutions. The companies are aiming to expand the market share and extend the collaboration into the entertainment market such as museums, theme parks and visitor attractions.

“Barco video walls are the obvious choice for all our control room installations,” said Serkan Kaya, General Manager at Deltoid Technology. “Turkey has invested significantly in the development of museums and visitor attractions. Deltoid sees the rise of these new immersive experiences as an important growth opportunity. And if we want to tap into that market, we must choose the best partner with the industry-leading solutions. Barco’s expertise with global immersive experiences and strong projection portfolio will allow us to offer a great solution package to our partners and customers.”

Ta Loong Gan, Global Sales VP for Immersive Experiences at Barco, commented: “Barco is excited for this extended partnership with Deltoid. We are convinced that together we can leverage the success of our collaboration in the control rooms sector and take it into the growing entertainment and immersive markets. We are looking forward to seeing lots of new Barco-powered immersive experiences in the region.”

The first orders for E2 Gen 2, S3-4Ks, G-series and F80 projectors have already been signed and delivered. Photo: Barco www.barco.com www.deltoid.com.tr