Slide, San Francisco
Everything old is new again, at least when Inner Circle Entertainment’s George Karpaty decides to take a one-time Prohibition-era speakeasy and transform it into a state-of-the-art 21st century restaurant, bar and DJ salon that acknowledges its past without living in it. Once you enter the club via the – you guessed it – custom-made slide, you step into an 1,800-square-foot hideaway complete with honey-onyx backlit bar, hardwood floors and 8,000 square feet of mahogany siding (designed by Pamela Pennington Studios, up for “Best Interior Design”). The club’s potent JK Sound-designed, Club World-nominated system is deftly camouflaged into the décor, proving that one doesn’t have to sacrifice power for timeless elegance. –JH
www.slidesf.com

Tabú, Las Vegas
A three-time “Best Lounge” winner, Tabú may have broken the mold in the first place. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, there’s plenty to interact with at this stunning MGM Grand nightlife standard: from the models moonlighting as cocktail waitresses, to the ultra-chic décor layered with visual projection eye-candy. Not to mention the bevy of international DJs dropping in to play records, including Carl Cox himself. Plus, popular urban-hip party Super Slide Sundays features Melle Mel of the Furious Five, and Mr. Freeze from the Rock Steady Crew. Even with Vegas morphing all around it, Tabú is standing strong. –DS
www.mgmgrand.com

Cherry, Las Vegas
Lounge king Rande Gerber's first full-fledged dance club had to be perfect. So the Midnight Oil crew decked out Cherry in natural walnut, glass, and onyx; filled it with two million dollars' worth of sound (by Sound Investment, nominated for "Best Sound System") and lighting (by SJ Lighting, nominated for "Bes Lighting System"); and sprung for a laundry list of fantastical details: outdoor VIP cabanas with their own sound and video systems, mouth-shaped urinals imported from Holland, a chrome pit that alternately spews water and fire. It's a fittingly luxurious nightspot for the expansive Red Rocks resort, which is nestled in the hills outside Vegas like a sparkling desert oasis. –KLM
www.redrocklasvegas.com

Club Paris, Jacksonville
For the love of nightlife! Who cares if we can't get rid of Paris Hilton? Sure, a 21,000 square foot clubbing complex built with her five-year, contracted endorsement may sound like celebrity marketing overkill. But Fred Khalilian, the man behind the Paris chain—which includes a location in Orlando—claims that the inspiration for the club is actually Paris, France. That explains why the entire place is pink (Hilton's favorite color), and why the heiress attended its grand opening, in oh-so-trendy Jacksonville. The club also boasts two "Best System"-nominated efforts from Sound Stage Systems: a custom six-way speaker system, and an extensive LED and dancefloor lighting installation. –DS
www.clubparis.net

Mur.Mur, Atlantic City
The long and lanky venue inside the beautiful Borgata could easily go bottle-to-bottle with its Vegas counterparts. With premium sound and lighting, celebrity resident DJs (DJ AM played its July opening), and bottle service adapted from successful sister club Mixx, the club/lounge screams everything but "New Jersey." Even dancing on banquettes takes on an upscale vibe here, with rich leather and wood completing the VIP motif. Twenty-five tables can't nearly accommodate the masses attempting to enter... but isn't necessitated selectivity a beautiful thing? –KLM
www.theborgata.com

Pacha, New York
Pacha may be the first new club to hit the ground sprinting, with 40 years' worth of momentum. The original Pacha opened in Stiges, Spain in 1976, and has since spawned over 25 locations in exotic cities all over the world. New York's chapter—the first in North America, and former site of the infamous Sound Factory (winner in this category in 2004)—opened in December 2005, and contains 30,000 feet spread over four floors. A sizzling Dynacord alpha concept sound system, installed by Infinite Audio, fuels the main room, where an oversized DJ booth, paneled with Traxon LED squares, is the center of all the action. Under co-owner/music supervisor/resident DJ Erick Morillo's guidance, hard-to-book jocks have already come out to play, including Jeff Mills and Danny Tenaglia. –DS
www.pachanyc.com

Slide, San Francisco
As a fledgling club space directly below the San Francisco nightlife mainstay Ruby Skye, Slide indeed proves that less can be more. Boasting a set of custom-made EAW loudspeakers especially designed by JK Sound's Michael Lacina and Kenton Forsythe, the club also possesses a Dolby Lake processor usually reserved for high-end tour solutions to fine-tune the audio experience to unprecedented levels for a nightclub. Commanding the system from a refurbished baby grand piano-turned-DJ-workstation, local jocks like DJ Solomon have turned a former basement space into Ruby Skye's equal. –JH
www.slidesf.com

Ultra Bar, D.C.
The team behind D.C.'s Fur applied their winning ways to a smaller venue this April, and opened the 12,000-square-foot, four-level Ultra Bar. With Crest-powered EAW sound by Ohm Productions (nominated for "Best Sound System"), an energizing green laser bounding throughout the high-ceilinged space, a top floor VIP lounge called Chroma, and no less than four DJs spinning everything from hip-hop to house, the venue's got something for punter and lounger alike. A large chandelier and dramatic arches add vintage appeal to the main room, kicking in some elegance to the party-hardy vibe. –KLM
www.ultrabardc.com

Cherry Las Vegas, Sound Investment
Nightlife guru Rande Gerber wanted it all—power, quality, and flexibility—and Chicago-based Sound Investment Audio delivered. Gerber's first full-fledged dance club, Cherry features an audio system with over 100,000W of power, all-digital signal paths, and multi-zone remote controls. The brawny, brainy SIA system really gets the dancefloor moving. "We've floated the floor," explains designer Dan Agne. "The subs excite the flooring and you can feel it up your feet."

Located in the lavish Red Rocks Casino and Resort, Cherry's sound is suitably sophisticated and upscale. The system features Funktion-One loudspeakers in custom chrome cages, audiophile Class A/B amplification, and individual touch panels which offer networked volume control and audio source selection for the poolside cabanas and various VIP areas. –JL
www.soundinvestmentav.com

Club Paris Jacksonville, Sound Stage Systems
Following the success of Club Paris, Orlando, Paris the Heiress and business partner Fred Khalilian decided to bring the celebutante brand to decidedly downscale Jacksonville, Florida, of all places. Fortunately, the sprawling city seems to have been an inspired choice; business is booming, thanks in large part to a sound system that rivals those found in well-known clubland locations like New York, Las Vegas, and Miami.

Designed and installed by Sound Stage Systems, the audio system features Mach tweeter clusters, full-range cabinets, and subwoofers, as well as custom, EV-loaded Sound Stage four-way enclosures. BSS processors manage the audio signals, while QSC PLX Series amplifiers provide the power. Now, that's hot. –JL
www.soundstagesystems.com

Duvet New York, AAT
Twenty-two beds, 400 thread-count sheets, a 15-foot jellyfish tank, and a 90-foot glass bar—sound impressive? You haven't heard anything yet. Duvet's audio system is as exceptional as the venue itself; a custom combination of proven design principles, premium components, and artistic installation.

The system features AAT Beyma-loaded slot tweeter arrays, Turbosound Aspect Series full-range speakers and TSW Series subwoofers, XTA digital processors, and amplifiers from both MC2 Audio and Crest Audio. In the booth, DJs will find an Allen & Heath mixer, Pioneer CD decks, and traditional Technics turntables, as well as an AAT patchbay for plugging in their favorite MP3-based music mixing systems. –JL
www.advancedaudiotechnology.com

Pacha New York, Infinite Audio Systems + Jarrod Khoury
Given the personal involvement of long-time Pacha Ibiza resident DJ and über-audio enthusiast Erick Morillo, it's not surprisingly that Pacha New York would be equipped with a sound system designed for serious dance music. Designed and installed by Miami-based Infinite Audio, the club's system features Dynacord alpha concept loudspeakers, EV RL Precision Series amplifiers, and a 115 dB signal-to-noise ratio.

With 30,000 square feet of space to fill, Pacha needed a system that would rock the mammoth dancefloor, please the VIPs, and still allow casual conversation and drink ordering by the bars. Audio coverage was carefully mapped out, and 37 loudspeakers (powered by 36 amplifiers) were installed and adjusted to bring the right volumes to the right spaces. To ensure the system stays in the zone, all audio functions are managed by an EV NetMax controller and IRIS software. –JL
www.goinfinite.com

Slide San Francisco, JK Sound
Forced into innovation by the constraints of their space, the owners behiind Slide turned to JK Sound to come up with an ambitious design plan that gives their space the sort of oomph that bigger clubs could easily envy. The basic sound design took the best of EAW's drivers and fit them into custom-made boxes—particularly the DC4/JK's that line the rim of Slide's main dancefloor. Topping it all off is a top-of-the-line Dolby Lake processor, complete with a Wifi tablet PC that can allow engineers to make alterations to any driver on the fly. –JH
www.jksound.com

Ultra Bar D.C., Ohm Productions
Once known as Home, this popular D.C. nightspot has been redecorated, refitted, and relaunched as Ultra Bar. The venue’s new-and-improved sound system is the work of Ohm Productions, headed by John Fiorito, and features significant sonic improvements to the main floor, as well as the fourth-floor bar area.

Despite budget limitations, Fiorito and company managed to completely transform the venue’s sound, giving Ultrabar’s discerning patrons a truly immersive auditory experience. Upstairs, a revamped bar system featuring EAW FRz Series speakers provides even audio; down on the main floor, EAW Avalon Series DCS2 subwoofers bring the bass. “There’s nothing like that huge horn with the 12-inch woofer,” maintains Fiorito. “It’s much tighter – definitely not the sloppy signature you get with a larger woofer – so there’s a more punchy overall LF sound.” –JL
www.ohmproductions.com

Cherry Las Vegas, SJ Lighting
Unlike many installations, Cherry’s lighting system is carefully integrated into the venue’s interior design. The club’s prominent dome, for example, features 24 custom pipe grids, each the exact shape of the space it occupies. “The overall design is part of the architecture of the space, rather than an afterthought,” explains Stephen Lieberman of SJ Lighting.

Much of the club’s outrageous ambiance comes from a point source LED system featuring 2,000 individually-controllable, color-mixing fixtures on four-inch inch centers. For additional flavor, Lieberman installed 150 10W finger strobes, which create an intense (but not overwhelming) visual effect. A dozen Martin Professional MAC 250 Entours, plus 12 MAC 250 Wash instruments, provide all the movement any lighting operator could want. The complex installation (20 DMX universes!) is controlled by a GrandMA console. –JL
www.sjlighting.net

Club Paris Jacksonville, Sound Stage Systems
Like the club’s namesake, the lighting system at Club Paris is sleek and stylish. Sound Stage Systems specified premium components for the installation, and the resulting rig is both powerful and versatile, giving operators the ability to visually enhance any event.

The main system consists of proven Martin Professional instruments, including MX-10 scanners, MAC 250 Krypton moving heads, Atomic strobes, CX-10 color changers, and Wizard effect fixtures. “Atmosphere” is provided by a four-head Jem Club Smoke system and DMX-controlled fans. Elsewhere in the venue, Martin SCX-600 scanners and Mania effect projectors add to the eye candy, while American DJ Octopod LED systems help set the mood. Sound Stage Systems even equipped Club Paris with a custom, two-head CO2 jet system, the first of its kind in the U.S. –JL
www.soundstagesystems.com

Diesel Pittsburgh, iDesign
Dig the new breed: Diesel’s lighting system is all about the light emitting diodes. The dominant dancefloor visual at this Pittsburgh hotspot isn’t an antiquated mirror ball, it’s a two-storey, color-changing LED wall. Consisting of over 500 Color Kinetics iColor coves, the wall also serves as a luminous backdrop for live acts, with even more LEDs in the ceilings, floors, and behind the bar adding to the overall ambiance.

The brainchild of Michael Meacham and his Miami-based company iDesign, Diesel’s system also features plenty of conventional club lighting for shape and movement. Martin Professional MAC 250 Entours, MAC 300 Washes, MiniMACs, MX-4 scanners, and Atomic strobes offer vibrant visuals at the touch of a button. –JL
www.idesignproductions.com

Element British Columbia, Team Vassalikaki
Located in the town of Castlegar, Element is the third largest licensed establishment in British Columbia. The club’s lighting system, however, is bigger and better than anything the locals have ever seen. Boasting a bevy of Martin Professional moving heads and effects, the system has finally brought world-class club lighting to Western Canada.

The lavish lighting system was created by Team Vassalikaki – not a company, but a family. “It was a team effort,” notes Florio Vasslikaki. “My dad Nick, my cousin Fred, and my brother George, all played equal parts.” In addition to the Martin instruments and LightJockey control software, Element’s family-affair system features 1,000W PAR cans, Pulsar ChromaPanels and ChromaFloors, and 300 feet of Advanced Lighting LED strips. –JL
www.clubelement.ca

Jet Las Vegas, Johns Lyons Systems
In keeping with the club’s name, Jet’s lighting system is fast and high-flying. With a ceiling covered with 120 Traxon LED panels, the space seems even larger than its actual 15,000 square feet. Combine that with half-a-dozen High End Systems DL1 digital light moving head projectors, all fed by a Hippotizer media server, and the result is a swirling, psychedelic show like no other.

As if that’s not enough, Jet is equipped with dozens of moving lights: 36 American DJ AccuScan 250 scanners, 24 Martin Professional MAC 250 Kryptons, and four MAC 550 fixtures offer operators intense visual firepower. For effects, the club boasts Martin Atomic strobes, as well as a pair of Jem ZR33 fog machines. –JL
www.avalonsound.com

Pacha New York,
Jarrod Khoury + Robyn Parasrm
While Miami-based Infinite took care of the audio aspects of the 30,000-square-foot Pacha New York installation, the lighting design was really the work of technical director Jarrod Khoury and Robyn Parasrm. Khoury was also responsible for the design of the venue’s artfully articulated, motorized spider truss.

Pacha’s numerous fixtures are almost all Robe. “I’m a big fan of using one brand,” notes Khoury. “I hate when you walk into a club and see three different yellows. I like to have the room uniform.” The massive lighting system is controlled via a High End Systems Hog iPC, “the most user-friendly board,” according to Khoury. The club also features a showpiece DJ booth conceived by David Sullivan. Paneled with Traxon LED reflector tiles, the booth itself can display text, animations, and a funky frequency analyzer effect. –JL
www.pachanyc.com

Myth Minneapolis, Metro Sound & Lighting
This 36,000-square-foot space is actually two venues in one. While Myth has separate sound and lighting systems for dance music and live performances, its massive video installation does double duty. Fortunately, with a video wall, four giant projection screens, and dozens of LCD and plasma screens, the sophisticated system has the power and flexibility to energize both types of events.

Designing the dual-use Myth system required creativity as well as technical skills, but Randy Keeley of St. Paul, Minn.-based Metro Sound & Lighting obviously enjoys a challenge. In order to maximize the system’s visual impact without limiting the available stage area or adversely affecting the audio, Keeley used special retractable, acoustically transparent video screens in front of the live sound rigs, giving the crowd more of what they want in less space. –JL
www.metrosoundlighting.com

Element British Columbia, Team Vassalikaki
Like the club’s lighting system, Element’s video installation was a family project. The command center of the system is an Extron video matrix switcher, which pipes the desired visual content to different projectors and displays throughout the venue. To keep things simple, they used premium analog cable throughout the installation. The system also features an integrated universal remote RF system with IR eyes for both live feeds and added security.

Three powerful BenQ DLP projectors illuminate retractable screens, so patrons can enjoy crisp, colorful imagery anywhere in the club – even in the middle of the dancefloor. Eight 42-inch plasma screens complete the system, giving extra viewing options to VIPs and everyone else socializing at the bar. –JL
www.clubelement.ca

Studio 6 Atlantic City, Powerhouse Sound
At 6,000 square feet, Studio 6 isn’t exactly a big club, but its video system is huge. In order to attract discerning patrons from nearby casino hotels, the venue has been equipped with some of the latest and greatest video gear on the planet, and the resident DJs rock dance DVDs, not vinyl.

The Studio 6 booth is well-equipped with Numark DVD players, video monitors, and an A/V mixer, as well as a pair of Pioneer DVJ-X1 decks. A sophisticated Edirol system allows the DVJs to interact with the crowd, mixing live feeds from the booth and the dancefloor with clips from the media server, text, or even company logos. A 32 x 32 video matrix provides independent control over each of the club’s displays and projectors. –LSF
www.powerhousesound.com

Sol New York, Alba Creative
The Sol video philosophy straightforward: Take nine enormous projection screens, arrange them around the center of the club, and feed them high-quality content all night long. To make it happen, New York-based Alba Creative built everything around a Green Hippo Hippotizer media server system, which provides independent feeds to each of the nine projectors.

The Hippotizer system provides operators with eight media layers, soft-edge blending, color balancing, and a host of other advanced features. Clips can be rotated, scaled, and mixed to taste, and with 18 different effect engines per media server, Sol patrons never have to worry about seeing the same thing twice. –JL
www.albacreative.com

Cherry Las Vegas, Rockwell Group
No detail was left unattended in the making of nightlife mogul Rande Gerber’s newest nightspot, Cherry. New York designer David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group started with a palette of colors and textures, crimson, suede, leather, wood, glass and mirrors. A seven-foot sculpture of cherries, made by Takashi Murakami from the adjoining Red Rock’s Hotel & Casino, greets guests. The circular dancefloor is floated and the ceiling is domed and covered with black and mirrored tiles to hide the speakers. From there he added the “ohh” factors:  a dramatic mirror tunnel pool deck with fire/water fountains, VIP rooms with retractable glass. All that said, people love the bathrooms best, with smoke and one way mirrored, “not quite” coed stalls.
www.rockwellgroup.com

Shelter Denver, Maria Christou
Designed by the matriarch of the Christou clan—which expertly owns and operates Shelter, The Church (“Best Superclub” nominee), Vinyl and a host of other Denver venues—Shelter is 26,000 square feet of urban hominess. The open-plan look is inspired by city loft living, with vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, staircases and airiness to spare. Each of the four rooms offers its own intrigue: the main room features a split-level DJ booth, while downstairs the Milk Bar threatens in orange-lit black and white; the Green Room lives up to its name; and the Jazz Room, bearing pics of classic musicians, black-lit along the walls, is for serious chill-out. –KLM
www.coclubs.com

Slide San Francisco, Pamela Pennington Studios
Set in an underground Prohibition-era speakeasy, San Francisco’s Slide is all about “Great Gatsby”-era sophistication, sumptuousness and yes, excess. Pamela Pennington, primarily a residential designer, gave the space a warm, backlit onyx and faux-marble bar, modern chandeliers and an incongruent wood floor for period charm. The DJ console is a gutted white piano, around which flapper types congregate to dance. And no, the name isn’t about the downfall of the jetset; it highlights the club’s most novel feature. Those who don’t take the stairs can tumble into vice on a custom-made 360° slide. –DC
www.pamelapenningtonstudios.com

Smart Bar Chicago, Thomas Shoner Associates
When Thomas Shoner and company came to redesign Smart Bar in Chicago, their primary goal was to clean up, interpret and reintroduce the two level club while embracing its over-two-decade history of being a dance and rock music institution. “It was always a black box,” Shoner remarks. “We interpreted it as rocker disco.” Distressed surfaces like mirror balled tiles and scalloped tiles constructed from sewn and upholstered foam give crowds plenty of visual stimulation. An illuminated wall now separates the noisy front bar from the dancefloor. And a new lounge area in the back offers custom, wraparound deep seating. History is preserved. –DS
www.toshodesign.com

A/V Las Vegas, Steven Lockwood
Promoter Steven Lockwood’s ever-popular A/V party has a new home at super-hot JET. With an open space and fifteen 50-inch plasma screens strategically placed throughout, VJ Roonie G – “Best Resident VJ” winner last year, and a nominee again this year – commands the high energy crowd using his pop-infused audio-visual display. Nowhere else does future-forward technology so directly result in good old-fashioned partying. High profile events, like Cirque Du Soleil’s release party for their Beatles “LOVE” CD, attract a high volume of locals, celebrities and elite who jitter to the visual bits. –DS
www.jetlv.com

Asseteria New York, Rob Promotions
What can we say about the Ass that hasn’t been said before? This weekly Sunday blow-out and two-time “Best Party” winner is still going strong, whipping theme events out of its super-sized, portable, fog-spewing butt cut-out; featuring rotund go-go girls and boys who can work Show nightclub’s strategically placed poles; enlisting international DJs like Superchumbo and Behrouz, who snap photos of the madness from the booth, as if they’ve never seen freaks in a club before. Creator Rob Fernandez promises that “Asseteria: The Compilation” will be conquering record stores near you in ’07. And after that, the world. –KLM
www.asseteria.com

Misshapes, New York
Young DJ collective Greg.k, Leigh Lezark and Geordon Nicol comprise the MisShapes, party promoters whose weekly Saturday night shindig attracts a bevy of hipsters, ironists, fashionistas and celebs to get a groove on at Don Hills. Late last year, the two-year-old, press-favorite bash had its finest moment: Madonna showed up to collect cool kid points, and to spin songs off her new album alongside resident DJ Junior Sanchez. Flowers of the Killers, Hillary Duff and Kelly Osbourne have also guest DJ-ed. There’s no other party out there with a brand strong enough to sop up Madge herself. Rock on. –DS
www.misshapes.com

Mixed Elements, San Francisco
Given their solid business credentials outside the nightclub world, Trevor Hewitt and Brendon Coen have certainly proved to the San Francisco massives that they know the meaning of hard work. But ever since 2001, they’ve been helping smartly dressed and well-heeled professionals play hard in a fun and accepting atmosphere, where both the crowd and DJs- ranging from Josh Wink and Mark Farina - feel compelled to let loose. Musically, ME’s mixture of high-end house, trance and hip-hop have helped Hewitt and Coen expand the brand into a record label and a marketing/travel agency, but the party is always the first thing people fall in love with. –JH
www.mixedelements.com

We Rock Hip-Hop Miami, Empire Events
Time to bling yourself out and dress up in your finest ghetto fab, because Empire Events’ We Rock Hip Hop is representin’ on Fridays at Miami Beach’s Mansion, and very few party promoters know how to serve up the jet-setting hip hop lifestyle better, baby. Resident DJs Mr. Mauricio, Irie and Juan Mejia k warm up the crowd while guest hosts like Wilmer Valderrama and David Navarro and performers like Ludacris and Scott Storch keep a well-dressed and gorgeous clientele feeling special. Small wonder, then, that this club keeps outshining the competition in the glutted South Beach market. –JH
www.empireevents.com

DJ AM, Pure
The man at the forefront of the mashup revolution is Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM; and no city has championed the new format (at least in its mainstream incarnation) as readily as Vegas. AM’s Friday sets at “Best Superclub” nominee Pure are all-American mix tapes gone mad, smashing grizzly rock with growling hip-hop, power pop with slow jams, and novelty tracks with full-on classics. Enjoying the ADD-ified madness are celebrities from the A-List to the Z. Win or lose, AM’s willingness to plant roots at a single club, despite his current hotness, makes him a resident DJ champion. –KLM
www.djam.com

Oscar G, Space
After years of homelessness, G returned this year to Space, the room that made him CWA’s first-ever “Best Resident DJ” in 2003. With him he brought the deep and dark style that’s always been his DJ-ing hallmark – and the defining sound of main room Space – but also new, more minimalist influences that show the breadth of his good taste. Combine those fresh sounds with G’s old-school style of room-rockage – thinking thematically, layering tracks, teasing acapellas…you know, DJ-ing – and you’ve got big room mayhem every Saturday. –KLM
www.myspace.com/djoscarg

Cedric Gervais, Space
Gervais’ is the fairytale resident DJ story. A French Riviera expat (how cool is that phrase?), Gervais was the youngest resident DJ ever at legendary Paris gay club Queen, before relocating to Miami in ’98. Now, he’s three years into a residency at downtown überclub Space, where he plays shimmery yet tough progressive for the loyal terrace crowd. The gig got him the attention of Ultra Records, which released his debut album “Experiment” in October; and booking agency Chaotica, which is busy getting him gigs the world over. Loyalty has its rewards. –KLM
www.cedricgervais.com

Francois K, Deep Space at Cielo
The man, the myth, the legend – and two-time “Best Resident DJ” winner – is carrying the banner of dub into yet another year, via his weekly Deep Space party at Cielo. Each Monday (yes, Monday), K. weaves a multi-genre journey championing the spacey, the groovy, and the bulbous, without ever losing its sense of fun. He also books the night’s stridently diverse guest performers, which have ranged from downtempo mavens Voom Voom to techno star Stacey Pullen to K’s old Body & Soul partners Joe Clausell and Danny Krivit. This year, he supported dubbiness from the studio too, creating a vocally sparse remix of super-band Coldplay’s “Talk” for EMI. –KLM
www.francois-k.com.com

Larry Tee, Bank Saturdays at Element
New York nightlife fixture Larry Tee can really work a party, as the gay-leaning mixed Saturday crowd at Element will attest. They gather for Josh Wood-promoted trash-and-vaudeville party Bank, and Tee’s unique style, which he calls “maximal.” “Maximal suggests you’re playing the best of everything,” he says. “I don’t like the same-song-all-night vibe.” Element’s crowd responds to his noisy mix, which combines electro-house, oldies and tribal. And for those on the cutting edge, Larry doesn’t exclude selections from the bleepy, blurpy minimal house genre – as long as they’re good. –DS
www.larrytee.com

Mike D, crobar New York
Last year’s winner in this category, the lightman’s lightman boasts over 20 years’ experience, including lead gigs with Junior Vasquez at Tunnel, Twilo and Palladium; and an international tour with Sasha & Digweed. At crobar, he commands the Martin Professional moving lights with a MA Lighting grandMA console every Friday and Saturday night into the wee hours, working non-stop. And aside from his operator duties, he’s also the club’s light tech, with the ability to take apart ailing fixtures and put them back together again, good as new. –DS
www.crobar.com

Johnny Eubanks, Oz New Orleans
It takes a lot of flash and panache to get noticed in the gay club world, and Johnny Eubanks has proven himself a real stunner over the years, with a lighting style as theatrical and flamboyant as your average Bourbon Street drag queen. He’s quite versatile as well, handling straight cabaret performances like Oz’s Revival shows with the same ease as he does the club’s DJ nights. This versatility served him well when Katrina detoured him into Memphis club Backstreets. But with improved gear upon his homecoming, he’s set to do further damage next year. —JH
www.ozneworleans.com

Andris Kasparovics, 1015 San Francisco
Former NYC live event lighting guru Kasparovics is excited about the prospect of networked LED systems. “It’s nice to see chases again on the dancefloor,” he said. “1015 opened our newly renovated Cirque Lounge with an eight-foot ceiling that had a large circular grid of 1,200 LED nodes running animation around the room. People were losing their balance just standing there staring at the ceiling!”

But it’s Kasparovics’ kinetic and dramatic style with moving lights that heightens the club-going experience for 1015’s patrons. His lighting philosophy? “Darkness is a good thing.” –DC
www.1015.com

Dougie Lazer, Duvet New York
Lazer learned the LJ trade at Sound Factory under owner/legend Richard Grant. Now he’s the principal of his own company, XS Lighting & Sound. Even though XS’s business covers event clients like A/X, JetBlue and Bergdorf Goodman, Lazer always has nightlife on his mind. “It’s in the clubs that I let my imagination run wild,” he says. Duvet’s white beds made the space look more like a furniture showroom than a hotspot, but Lazer’s Color Kinetics LED installation, and his manipulation of the traditional dancefloor fixtures, eliminated the retail vibe. –DS
www.duvetny.com

Chris Biggins + Cagan Yuksel, crobar NY
“It’s all about synchronizing with the DJ and the crowd,” says VJ Chris Biggins. Half of Biggins’ and partner Cagan Yuksel’s visuals are created at home in pre-production, but the other 50% are done on the fly, in total synch with the surging crobar crowd. Using a technique they call beat match visuals, the duo “play” regular and 3-D images to a 4/4 beat – an effect that went over well with Bad Boy Bill, who had them do the entire visual aspect of his live “Behind The Decks” DVD. Biggins and Yuksel also synchronize recorded images with live people shots from wireless, hand-held cameras, controlled by an Edirol V4 mixer. –DS
www.unitedvision.tv

Psyberpixie, Revolution Ft. Lauderdale
Looking like she stepped out of a fast-action anime, Marina Rao, aka Psyberpixie, is an emerging VJ whose on-the-fly blends splash across Revolution’s many plasmas and single centerstage big screen. Her show combines a montage of fast “micro” cuts with lots of frames, depicting a techno-organic blend of visuals pulled from multiple video sources, graphics and 3D animation. The goal? “To make a visual symphony of thought-provoking pixels.” Fast on the rise in the South Florida scene, Psyberpixie has provided visuals for Carl Cox, Crystal Method and Josh Wink, as well as corporate events for MTV and Reebok. –DS
www.psybervision.tv

Roonie G., Jet Las Vegas
“It’s like watching MTV in a nightclub,” says Steven Lockwood, marketing director for JET in Las Vegas, about Roonie G’s action-packed show for weekly party A/V. Last year’s “Best Resident VJ” winner takes music videos and manipulates them the way a DJ scratches a record, integrating pop-culture references like Napolean Dynamite and “Baby Got Back.” The locals dig G’s high-energy cuts, while tourists and newcomers go nuts watching the show on fifteen 50-inch plasmas. And the hype around this one-man audio-visual show has recently caught the attention of MTV, which featured Roonie in its first episode of “My Super Sweet 21.” –DS
www.roonietunes.com

Russell Edwards, The Docks Toronto
The University Of Wales alum has been tech captain of The Docks since the entertainment complex’s inception. When he’s not constructing DJ booths, reconstructing sound systems, spec-ing new lights or curing that week’s gear hiccups, Edwards finds time to master and operate the club’s extensive (and growing by the year) video system. The dedicated visualist even creates his own material by clipping up music videos, and recording life’s odder moments on his trusty video cam. “With my own footage available to scratch on the Pioneer DVJ-X1’s, my slides and banners on my PC, the third world of BrashLive!, and the hands-on loops of my Arkaos, I really am in heaven,” he says. –KLM
www.thedocks.com

Allen & Heath Xone:3D
The Xone:3D combines the best attributes of a traditional analog DJ mixer with a comprehensive MIDI control system and a high end multi-channel USB soundcard, allowing DJs to integrate computer-based digital media into their live performances. The mixer section features four multi-input stereo channels, as well as VCF filters, resonance and frequency filters, plus an assignable LFO with depth control.

The USB soundcard has eight channels, and can be fed from the main mix, FX1, or direct from the channels; and features a SPDIF optical and coaxial interface. The USB connection can also send and receive audio and MIDI data to or from a laptop. The dedicated MIDI control sections on either side of the mixer section offer eight faders, 16 knobs, 10 encoders, 50 switches, and two custom jog wheels for use with popular DJ software. –JL
www.allen-heath.com

Cortex HDC-1000
This USB-compatible controller gives DJs the power to cue, play, manipulate, and even scratch digital music files. The Cortex HDC-1000 also allows users to search their music databases by artist, title, genre, words, or phrases, so finding the right track, right now, is easy—even with increasingly massive music catalogs.

The HDC-1000 can also be used to play and control audio and data discs with any compatible USB CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. The unit even allows users to connect and recognize multiple storage devices simultaneously, so DJs can mix regular CDs with files from iPods or other MP3 players. –JL
www.cortex-pro.com

Denon DN-X1500S
The DN-X1500S offers club DJs a host of sophisticated features, including eight-channel input matrix control, parametric EQ, and fader start on all channels. Denon’s flagship mixer also boasts individual PFL input meters, 45 mm faders, and the manufacturer’s proprietary Flex Fader crossfader.

Onboard DSP gives DJs the ability to slice and dice tracks on the fly with digital effects like delay, echo, filter, flange, and auto pan. The integrated, eight-second digital sampler can be utilized with audio from any of six mixer sources, with edit options including single playback, loop, reverse, and reverse loop, with overall pitch control adjustment of up to +/- 100 percent. –JL
www.denon.com

Ortofon Digitrack
The DigiTrack cartridge is designed specifically for playing the coded vinyl “records” that are used to control digital DJ applications like Serato Scratch, FinalScratch, Virtual DJ, PCDJ Scratch, but it can also be used to play traditional 12-inch singles. This allows DJs to scratch and mix digital tracks with real records, without having to stop and switch needles in the middle of a performance.

The Ortofon DigiTrack combines optimum output (8mV) of coded information with reliable tracking and minimal record wear. Thanks to the unit’s spherical stylus, DJs get a clean signal for controlling MP3 files, and their precious (and expensive) coded records last longer, too. If they decide to throw some 12-inches into the mix, they don’t have to worry about swapping cartridges, aligning needles, making tracking force adjustments, or trimming audio output levels on the fly. And the DigiTrack’s full 20-20,000 Hz frequency response ensures that those records will sound as good as possible, too. –JL
www.ortofon.com

Soundcraft Urei 1605
The UREI 1605 offers many features that will appeal to club installers and sound engineers. The rear connector panel, for example, can be rotated for either tabletop or rackmount installation, and the input and output gain controls can be set to accommodate almost any conceivable sound system.

The 1605 also gives DJs the features they want, too, such as convenient top panel aux input connectors, three-band isolator EQ, and EQ on the headphone output. The mixer boasts seven stereo channels, aux sends on every channel, and a variable response VCA crossfader. Club owners will appreciate the mixer’s external mute function, which silences all of the music channels, but leaves the booth microphone on, allowing the PA to be used for emergency announcements. –JL
www.soundcraft.com

Crown XTI Series
This amplifier line is designed to deliver serious wattage to the dancefloor, without sucking up precious clubland resources like electricity, rack space, or capital. The Crown XTi 1000, 2000, and 4000 feature high-efficiency switch-mode power supplies, so they can rock the house without tripping circuit breakers. Even the flagship XTi 4000, which puts out up to 1200W per channel, uses a standard 15-amp Edison plug, thus minimizing electrical service worries.

The XTi Series amps also provide computer connectivity via USB, allowing setup via the included HiQnet software. Built-in DSP lets users set crossover points, make EQ adjustments, and time-align speaker drivers, eliminating the need for (and expense of) additional rackmount processors. Thanks to proportional speed cooling fans, XTi Series amps can handle brutal 2-ohm loads all night long, and keep the party going until morning. –JL
www.crownaudio.com

dbx DriveRack 4800
The DriveRack 4800 is the latest and greatest addition to the popular dbx DriveRack series of system processors. Featuring all the familiar processing functions, as well as some nifty new algorithms (like Advanced Feedback Suppresion), this unit offers users complete sound system control. Its 96 kHz processing engine and standard digital I/O provides enhanced frequency response and reduced latency, while an optional CobraNet card gives users added installation and operation options.

The DriveRack 4800 also features Harman Professional’s latest proprietary HiQnet protocol, which allows users to monitor and control signal routing and processing of multiple DriveRack 4800 units from various locations, all using standard Ethernet routers and wireless access points. –JL
www.dbxpro.com

EAW SB1000zR
The SB1000zR is a high-output, large-format subwoofer designed for applications where the fatter sound of dual 18-inch drivers is desired. The cabinet’s innovative speaker mounting maximizes cone area while minimizing frontal area, combining acoustic performance with a relatively compact configuration: That means more bass without sacrificing valuable floor space. Subwoofer arrays are doable, too.

While the basic SB1000 design has been around for a while, the zR model features new-and-improved drivers for added efficiency, extended frequency response, and longer life. With a calculated axial output of 139 dB (peak) and an operating range of 28-156 Hz, this subwoofer has sonic capabilities that are practically seismic. –JL
www.eaw.com

JBL Professional VLA Series
JBL’s Variable Line Array Series modules are based on the company’s proven VerTec Series systems, but designed specifically for permanent installation and with more horizontal horn coverage options. The six large-format, horn-loaded modules are available in three different coverage patterns (30, 60, and 90 degrees), giving designers the ability to vary the horizontal pattern within an array, while still maintaining the desired vertical directivity. Now clubs can enjoy big line array sound on the dancefloor, but more reasonable volumes near the bar.

The mid- and high-frequency sections of the VLA Series are horn-loaded for optimum sensitivity and precise pattern control. The high-frequency section features 1.5-inch throat diameter aluminum diaphragm, neodymium high-frequency drivers; the midrange section features an 8-inch cone compression driver; and the low-frequency section utilizes a 15-inch driver. –JL
www.jbl.com

Martin Audio WS218X
The WS218X is a dual-driver, vented sub-bass system intended for use with large-scale systems like the Martin Audio Wavefront and Blackline series. The enclosure features twin 18-inch drivers, engineered for maximum linear excursion. With a frequency response of 35-150 Hz (+/- 3 dB), and a 2000W AES continuous power rating, the WS218X offers 136 dB (142 dB peak) of lovely low end impact, and the distinctive large-area porting design significantly reduces air noise at all volumes.

The WS218X also boasts birch plywood construction, with a textured black paint finish and perforated steel grill to withstand the slings and arrows of typical nightclub use. –JL
www.martin.com

Chauvet Q-Spot 575
This moving yoke fixture gives lighting designers heavyweight punch at a bantamweight price point. The Q-Spot 575 features a color wheel with 10 colors (plus white), prism effects, motorized focus, and a high-speed dimmer/shutter/strobe. The two gobo wheels give users a total of 15 interchangeable gobos, including high-resolution glass dichroic gobos, to provide the perfect look for each party or performance.

With 575W of power, this Chauvet can light up any room. Designers can choose rich, saturated hues for ambiance in the lounge, or go bright and bold for high energy on the dancefloor. The Q-Spot 575 can even be used for theatrical or stage lighting, so it can cover live performances, too. –JL
www.chauvetlighting.com

Compulite Vector Red
Compulite’s newest console is meant for larger venues and sophisticated lighting systems. The hybrid design allows users to control both conventional and automated fixtures with equal ease, making it useful for live performance spaces, high energy dance clubs, and everything in-between.

The console’s dual processor design offers performance and stability, while the familiar Windows XP environment simplifies programming and operation. Three integrated 12-inch TFT touch screens and an interactive toolbar give users instant, intuitive access to all functions. The Vector Red features a 20 GB internal hard drive, 22 motorized faders, 200 virtual playbacks, and 999 cue lists; the console also offers full networking capabilities and can control up to 8,192 DMX channels. –JL
www.compulite.com

Elation Professional Design Spot 250 White
The Design Spot 250 White is a hybrid fixture that offers spot and wash performance in a single instrument. This versatile, compact, 250W moving head also offers frost, iris, and gobo morphing capabilities—advanced features that are usually associated with larger, more expensive lights.

The handsome, white exterior offers lighting installers and interior designers a refreshing change from basic black fixtures. Designed to coordinate with neutral ceilings and walls, the Design Spot 250 White is perfect for architectural applications, stage sets, lounge spaces, or any environment where dark, anonymous instruments would look uninviting or simply out-of-place. –JL
www.elationlighting.com

Nicolaudie Sunlite 260
This lighting control software has been updated and upgraded for 2006. Sunlite now features a fresh design (Windows XP style), a console feature (for connecting external MIDI interfaces), the ability to save/open complete shows, and Easy View 2006, and a beginner mode to simplify (or limit) the use of the software.

The new Master Page feature allows users to control all DMX channels from the same page, and the Groups feature has been redesigned so that all fixtures can be managed from the same window. Sunlite 2006 supports 19 different languages, and includes a real-time, 3-D visualizer and complete profiles for 2000 different instruments. –JL
www.nicolaudie.com

Robe ColorWash 575 AT Zoom
The ColorWash 575 AT Zoom offers all of the performance of the original ColorWash 575AT, plus a motorized linear zoom, ranging from 8 to 50 degrees, with a fresnel lens fitted as standard. Optional wide-angle lenses can provide even broader beam coverage for stage lighting and similar applications.

The fixture’s high-pressure MSR 575/2 lamp and sophisticated optics provide plenty of power for any clubland application, while its 16-bit DMX resolution offers precise control of pan, tilt, zoom, and dimmer operations. The AT Zoom also boasts a CMY color mixing system, a variable CTO filter, and a color wheel containing five replaceable “slot-and-lock” colors and open—ideal for color correction. –JL
showcad.com

Chauvet DV Wall HR
The DV Wall HR is designed for high-resolution graphics, including still image slide shows, animated GIFs, Flash animations, PowerPoint presentations, and even full-motion video. With an IP-65 water resistance rating, this unit is suitable for indoor or outdoor use, so it can entertain patrons on the dancefloor, in the bar, or out on the patio.

The DV Wall HR system is capable of rendering 16 million colors with a pixel pitch of 31mm, giving users the power to create vibrant, detailed displays. Each individual module features 2,304 LEDs (786 red, 786 green, 786 blue), but consumes under 200W – much less than conventional video displays. –JL
www.chauvetlighting.com

Edirol V-440HD
The V-440HD video mixer accepts both standard definition and high definition video sources, giving users to seamlessly mix and switch multi-format video signals: up to four SD video and four HD or RGB video sources at the same time. The unit is perfect for venues that aren’t ready to ditch existing SD gear in favor of all-new HD cameras, switchers, and displays.

To compensate for color and luminance differences between formats, the V-440HD allows operators to preview the output and adjust brightness, contrast, hue, and color for consistent, quality video. The mixer also boasts a traditional fader bar for smooth transitions, as well as a variety of built-in wipes and effects. –JL
www.edirol.com

High End Systems Axon Media Server
The Axon is a rackmount media server featuring the same graphics engine as the High End Systems DL.2 digital light fixture. The unit can be used to feed video to LED panels or large format projectors, and comes complete with a stock digital library of more than 1,000 media clips, as well as 200 available folders for custom media clips.

Like the DL.2, the Axon features Collage Generator and Curved Surface Support functions, but it allows users to choose their own output devices. All of the unit’s stock content is locked down and protected, so operators always have a safe supply of eye candy. The XP Embedded Operating System also protects Axon from drive corruption and O/S degradation over time. –JL
www.highendsystems.com

Pioneer DJV-1000
The DVJ-1000 offers the same layout and operation as Pioneer’s popular CDJ-1000MK3, but with enhanced DVD capabilities. DJs can cue, scratch, and loop video as well as audio, using a familiar, proven interface.

The DVJ-1000 can be slotted into existing booth set-ups, and features MP3 compatibility, a brighter and larger display, and studio-quality 96 kHz/24-bit audio. New functions include 4X hyper jog mode and a back-and-forth loop button. The deck also plays both NTSC and PAL DVDs using a built-in standards converter, making it perfect for jet-setting international VJs. –JL
www.pioneerprodj.com

Elation Antari Z-1020
The unusual shape of this fog machine allows it to be pos