As has been well documented within the pages of TPiMEA, when it comes to size, scale and complexity, there aren’t many events anywhere in the world that can compare with MDLBEAST Soundstorm. While up to now our coverage of the annual mega-festival has focussed primarily on its eye-catching production elements, behind the record-breaking LED screens, dazzling lights, lasers and SFX, there’s an unseen engineering masterpiece that supports the entire operation. The company behind many of these feats of engineering is Robert Bird Group (RBG) – a structural and civil engineering consultancy that lends its expertise to complex projects all over…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Events of any kind live or die by how successfully each individual element of supply and production comes together to create a product that becomes greater than the sum of its parts. This ethos is one that the team at sound reduction specialist -45dB buys into wholeheartedly. Not content with developing a patented sound reduction product that boasts myriad advantages over existing alternatives, the company is on a mission to ensure that its offerings cater to a wide variety of industry needs, ultimately adding value and improving any event they are deployed on. “As well as offering unrivalled sound reduction…
Set up in 2024 to nurture the next generation of Saudi events professionals, the educational arm of MDLBEAST, BeastED, is continuing to deliver on its early promise. As regular readers of TPiMEA will remember from our previous article on the initiative [see TPiMEA #51], the first year of the BeastED Career Path Program saw scores of Saudi students make their first steps into the live events industry, and since then, the programme has expanded significantly. “Last year was our first year and we had two terms with a total of 72 students – almost all of whom are now employed…
The events industry is one of the few places where exhaustion is celebrated. We don’t just accept long nights, countless coffees, self-neglect, and seven-day work weeks – we wear them like trophies. The problem is, behind the applause and adrenaline, this lifestyle slowly erodes our health. This column isn’t about burnout alone. Burnout is part of the picture, but the real issue is self-neglect. We work so hard in one of the most stressful industries in the world that we forget ourselves entirely. We slip into patterns – cycles – that overlap and compound until they turn into something slippery…
What products are included in the D3 series? Underlining a new and innovative approach from Avolites since becoming ‘A Robe Business’ at the end of 2023, D3 is a family of five outstanding compact, stylish and fully featured packages developed for a world that is constantly on the move. Smart design, engineering and expedient sizing are at the heart of the D3 series philosophy. The D3-010, D3-110, D3 Wing, D3 Core and D3 Touch are all powered by Avolites’ famous Titan software, offering cost-efficient, intuitive programming and operation, coupled with flexible control for multiple lighting solutions. The D3 family presents…
What are the main features of the Astera Quikspot that benefit end users? The Astera Quikspot’s primary benefit is its versatility and portability. It’s a compact, battery-powered spotlight with a versatile 13° to 60° Fresnel zoom, which means a user can quickly place a high-quality, full-spectrum light almost anywhere without running power cables. The power behind it is the Titan LED Engine, which not only delivers vibrant RGBMA colour but also exceptional optical performance, producing high-quality whites and a ‘one-shadow’ fresnel beam that ensures a clean, homogeneous light. One of its most useful features is the OutputGain, which allows the…
How has MediorNet evolved to cater to the industry as it increasingly shifts to IP? MediorNet has transformed from a decentralised signal routing platform into a fully IP-ready solution that aligns with SMPTE ST 2110 and other open standards. This evolution enables broadcasters, live event producers, and system integrators to transition seamlessly from baseband to IP workflows. The flexibility to combine both worlds – SDI and IP – gives users a future-proof infrastructure without forcing an overnight shift. What are the main benefits of MediorNet IP products to the end user? The key benefit is scalability with reliability. End users…
While working on the stage design for Istanbul Festival, Stage & Production Designer İbrahim Kandemir of i’Kandemir Design Studio asked himself the question: “How can I bring the energy, rhythm, and silhouette of Istanbul to a stage?” His answer came in the form of what he described as “a contemporary urban structure that reflects the modern face of Istanbul”. “The forms I drew inspiration from came directly from everyday life – particularly the city’s high-rises illuminated by night, which shaped the foundation of the design,” Kandemir commented, explaining how the stage reflected his personal journey. “After countless nights of sketching,…
Having been delayed for a year to avoid a clash with the 2024 Olympic Games, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 (WAFCON24) finally took place in the summer of 2025 in Morocco. After such a long build-up, the pressure was on Moroccan event experiential agency Avant Scène to deliver an Opening Ceremony that would be worth the wait. “From day one, our ambition was to create an Opening Ceremony that would stand out – something that would resonate in the world of ceremonies – and I believe we succeeded,” said Avant Scène’s Ismail Dine, who led the project alongside…
Once the preserve of cinema and studio settings, spatial audio is becoming increasingly popular in the world of live events. Known to many as immersive, object-based or three-dimensional audio, the principle of spatial audio in live events dictates that each individual sound – whether it’s a voice, a traditional instrument, or something generated electronically – is treated as a distinct sound object, with the flexibility to position it in space not just according to its physical origin but also creatively within a 360° auditory landscape. “Spatial audio transforms our approach to sound design, allowing for a level of creativity and…
First held in 1954, the Damascus International Fair is one of the world’s oldest trade exhibitions, boasting a rich history of welcoming visitors from all corners of the globe. After more than 14 years of interruption due to the war, the Syrian Exhibitions and International Markets Foundation relaunched the Fair, with the 62nd edition taking place from 27 August to 5 September 2025. With the Syrian events industry still working its way back full strength, Dubai-headquartered production house Artevor was tasked with bringing to life a grand Opening Ceremony that lived up to the historic occasion, and the company turned…
NMK Electronics recently hosted the latest edition of its flagship event, NMK Interactive. Taking place on 25 September at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, the event brought together over 600 system integrators and partners from across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. “NMK Interactive goes beyond showcasing technology; it’s about bringing people together,” commented Nicolas Cox, Managing Director at NMK Electronics. “Every demo, every performance, and every conversation is part of a larger story: one of collaboration, community, and shared growth. Together with our partners, we are not only shaping projects, we are shaping the future of the AVLC industry.” With…
