< PreviousAugust 2020news10Brompton Technology HDR excels at AVID – AV Innovation Days powered by LANG AGThe end of June saw Brompton Technology take part in one of Europe’s first face-to-face industry events since lockdown, the AV Innovation Days (AVID), organised and hosted by LANG AG at its LANG Academy in Lindlar, Germany.Designed as an accompanying event for InfoComm Connected, LANG hosted the three-day fair with both new and familiar AV technologies on display, whilst adhering to strict hygiene and safety rules. Leading LED panel manufacturers showcased their innovative solutions, with Brompton partnering with INFiLED to demonstrate how its panels have benefited from Brompton’s highly acclaimed HDR solution.“The event offered a perfect platform to discuss some of the key developments in the AV industry, such as the increased use of curved, or faceted, applications which are based on a variety of corresponding products. Also, the emerging trend of virtual LED studios instead of green screen studios is an interesting niche marked right now, as protagonists can interact with their environment. That makes recording much more efficient and saves post-production costs,” shares Benjamin Valbert, director LED and displays at LANG AG.Valbert notes that choosing the right LED processor is an important requirement in supporting these trends. Whilst most LED processors provide the basic functions necessary for video display, they can have limited to no adjustment capabilities compared to more full-featured processors, which have numerous options for colour adjustments and image scaling, and are designed with LED-on-camera applications in mind.“Equally, with rental applications, for example, where setup time is limited, operator knowledge is not always the same and failures need to be eliminated as quickly as possible,” Valbert adds. “This means that processing needs to be intuitive and provide several options for trouble shooting, with features that are able to get the very last bit out of your hardware, or simply overdrive the system for a reasonable period of time.”After using Brompton Technology’s Hydra advanced measurement system to perform Dynamic Calibration, the enabling technology for Brompton HDR, on its DB 2.6 series LED panels manufactured with Brompton’s R2 receiver cards, the INFiLED team were in complete agreement.“One of the major, and most noticeable, differences for us was the extended colour gamut and enhanced luminance of the panels,” says Marco Bruines, senior vice president of INFiLED EMEA.The immediate effect was visible both with SDR and HDR video content, with the improvements added to the plethora of fine-tuning tools already offered by Brompton’s Tessera SX40 4K LED processor.“This gives us a significant advantage when dealing with busy clients like INFiLED, who have a lot of projects going on at the same time and need a highly reliable and versatile LED processing solution,” states Dries Vermeulen, business development manager – Europe at Brompton, who was on hand throughout AVID. “When our Tessera LED processor encounters an issue, its intelligent algorithm takes care of it, so it’s not necessary to even think about how to solve the problem.”Whilst the LANG team is looking forward to visiting InfoComm next year, based on the positive feedback received from this event, they will have no hesitation in repeating AVID in the future.“AVID was a great success for our customers, suppliers and LANG,” says LANG CEO, Tobias Lang. “For a lot of visitors, this was their first trip after more than 13 weeks of working from home during lockdown; they told us it was like balm to the soul. It is also incredibly useful to understand what kind of business has a strong development curve at the moment. With this knowledge, the industry now has a much better focus.”The INFiLED team concur, stating they were very happy to be able to meet their key contacts and customers again in person and experience a new form of trade show participation.“The AV industry is well known for its passion for new technology,” Bruines concludes. “Our customers were excited to see the latest products and market trends, including Brompton’s incredible HDR technology.“Successful business relationships are achieved through a combination of high-quality products, solid pre-sales quality control and a high service level. The nature of this type of technology means it’s essential to have close relationships with customers and able to solve problems at any time. Offering global 24/7 customer support on top of a tested and reliable processing technology is just one of the values that makes Brompton stand out.”Green Hippo launches feature-packed Nevis+Real-time video manipulation expert Green Hippo has opened up new a new world of options for its users with the addition of a small-yet-powerful media server to its range, the Hippotizer Nevis+.Featuring all of the creative power of its well-known bigger brothers, Hippotizer Nevis+ is designed to provide a smaller, inexpensive solution for video creation, visualisation and playback, with all of Hippotizer’s software features as standard.The Nevis+ is a half-rack or wall-mount unit offering one display port 1.2 output with software-based EDID management, two network ports and the latest versions of Hippotizer’s user-friendly tools including SHAPE 3D Mapping, PixelMapper and the multi-purpose pre-visualisation tool, all built into its Hippotizer V4 software.“We’ve designed the Nevis+ for a broad range of less demanding applications, including live music and theatre tours, corporate events and TV OB/on location productions, which have logistical and budget restrictions and where the the control systems need to be compact,” says Green Hippo’s sales and marketing director, David March. “Nevis+ offers a full, rugged media server inside a small, purpose-built chassis that you can pack into carry-on luggage. It’s lightweight, affordable and offers straightforward control with all the the popular Hippotizer features that simplify powerful video manipulation.”Green Hippo has developed Nevis+ in response to an ever-increasing use of visual displays in live entertainment and fixed installations, and despite it being in the production phase before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now needed more than ever.“Every surface seems to be a digital display these days, and we want to offer the power of Hippotizer in an affordable package to projects with lower budgets,” March continues. “We feel that now, more than ever, such an affordable solution will help solve the problem of keeping projects well within budget as crews struggle with the realities of social distancing.“In the new world that we are entering into, Nevis+ offers the unique combination of being affordable, easy-to-use and simple-to-program, while also perfectly compatible with DMX.”Green Hippo is inviting users to experience Nevis+ by requesting a demo via their website. Nevis+ is shipping now.www.green-hippo.com4Issue: 330news11Laughing with LoctambuleHaving a sense of humour has proved a vital survival tool in some of the worst possible scenarios! Whilst absolutely not downplaying the seriousness of a global pandemic, Jacky Fregonese of French lighting and visual rental and production company Loctambule, based near Strasbourg, has put smiles on faces with a series of very amusing product and business tutorials that have gained a large fan following on social media.With all events and shows cancelled and the industry closing down with the French Covid-19 lockdown, Jacky, who heads the company with his wife Catherine Saint-Georges, wanted to do something creative to boost morale while so many usually busy companies and talented technicians, designers, production managers, event organisers, etc., all push through until events can re-start.Jacky is well known amongst his friends – and now his growing fanbase – for his wacky sense of humour and intellectual wit!He was originally inspired to start the funny tutorials into products Loctambule has in rental stock, which includes Robe MegaPointes, ESPRITES, BMFL Blades and PixelPATTs, all of which have featured and generated interest amongst technicians and others.In addition to lighting, the company provides LED screens and related infrastructure and works across several sectors, from corporate presentations and experientials to music events and festivals.“I really just wanted to make people laugh during this difficult time,” commented Jacky, “that was the initial motivation for the tutorials, then it all started getting really popular, much to my surprise!”Each tutorial lasts around two or three minutes and Jacky keeps it snappy, interspersing each one with user-tips about the products, with heaps of humour and some ridiculous things that you would never actually do in reality but to keep the amusement factor high!In addition to all the Robe tutorials, he has covered other moving light products, consoles, and other useful business topics like administrative tips and even how to properly clean an office or the warehouse in line with additional Covid-19 regulations coming on stream.After recording the tutorials, Jacky shares them with his IT manager via WhatsApp, who edits if necessary and then shares on the Robe France Facebook channel.https://fr-fr.facebook.com/robelighting.france/Jacky adds with a large grin: “From the feedback, some people clearly think the more silly things that I might be doing during the tutorials are actually true, but either way, they seem to like the crazy side of me!”He intends to keep going as long as he is still enjoying it and can find meaningful subjects and topics to talk about! In the meantime, he, like everyone, is hoping that business will start to re-energise in the coming months so they can start getting cash flow going.Loctambule started investing in Robe products five years ago as they started becoming an industry-standard on so many riders and specifications, but his first association with the brand pre-dates that and, in fact, it goes back to when Robe was an OEM manufacturer.He likes Robe for the robust construction, excellent engineering, and reliability. “We can have the products out on the most demanding projects for many days and they keep working and working!”He enjoys a strong and close working relationship with Bruno Garros and the team at Robe France and comments: “I love the family atmosphere of the operation Team in Paris and this is also the same at the HQ in the Czech Republic from what I can see. People matter which I respect and it’s also the way I like to work.”photo: Loctambulewww.robe.czETC welcomes new Field Project Coordinator for Northern EuropeETC has announced the addition of Robbi Nassi (pictured) as Field Project Coordinator for the Northern European territory. Based out of Amsterdam, Robbi will be responsible for providing sales support in the Benelux region. His role will involve managing projects and supporting Regional Sales Manager Tim Stokholm in developing the customer and dealer network throughout the territory.With over 18 years of experience in the industry, his interest in the field began with a Performing Arts Technology degree at the Tshwane University of Technology where he went on to specialize in lighting.Prior to ETC, he was at Electrosonic SA Ltd where he worked in a sales position as a Live Events Manager before moving to Sydney, Australia to pursue further career advancements as a technical sales representative for Event Communications Ltd. Robbi has worked on several large projects including installing the first ETC networking infrastructures in theatres in South Africa.“We are thrilled to welcome Robbi to the team. He has already worked on several projects with ETC and brings a wealth of experience in the industry and knowledge of our products. I look forward to working with him and growing the business,” comments Regional Sales Manager, Tim Stokholm.www.etcconnect.comOptocore Extends M-Series with Sample Rate ConversionOptocore has further extended its highly successful M-series of interfaces with the announcement of the MADI-SRC.This exists in the shape of two new hardware boards with either four fibre or four BNC MADI SRC (Sample Rate Converter) ports. This means that any combination of devices from the M-series (comprising M8-OPT, M8-BNC, M12-OPT, M12-BNC, M12-OPT/BNC) can be now equipped with these Sample Rate Converters for MADI streams.With this new feature customers can use stand-alone or networked MADI routers, with streams in different sample rates. In addition, the new M-series SRC will be available in DiGiCo mode, and can be connected to the DiGiCo optical loop providing MADI SRC streams.Speaking of this latest development, Optocore application engineering manager, Maciek Janiszewski, stated: "MADI SRC is a very useful and unique feature. Our R&D team worked tirelessly to ensure all existing M-series devices would function seamlessly with the addition of Sample Rate Conversion. It means that customers can now interconnect and route MADI signals from different clock domains and with different sample rates. In terms of flexibility, this moves our solution to the next level.”August 2020news12Quarter-century milestone for LIPA and SennheiserFor the past 25 years, Sennheiser has been sponsoring one of the best performing arts school in the world, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), with a Student Scholarship Programme, as well as its audio expertise and resources to the specialist institution.The relationship between Sennheiser and LIPA goes back to 1996, when representatives from each organisation met to discuss the impending launch of an exciting new school to teach the performing arts and associated disciplines, from design and technology and management to sound technology. This cohesive combination allows different mindsets to work together right from the start, encouraging understanding of each element’s needs and ways of working. From that first meeting a quarter of a century ago and until the present day, Sennheiser has been an active partner of LIPA.The scholarship is a way of helping the students chosen to study freely and achieve their full potential by covering school fees, accommodation costs and, for international students, transport costs to be able to travel home to visit family and friends. It is available to the chosen students for their full three years at LIPA. Every year, a new first-year student is selected, meaning this revolving programme always has three students benefiting from Sennheiser support each year. In order to qualify for the scholarship, students already need to be enrolled at LIPA. The scholarship is for those taking part in the BA (Hons) Sound Technology Course.From the 25 submissions received this year, 12 students were jointly chosen by LIPA and Sennheiser to continue to the next stage, where they were asked to create and submit an immersive audio piece.The second round of the process, which comprised two full days of virtual interviews and the selection panel listening to pieces the students had created, has just been completed. Five candidates have been shortlisted: Joe Morgan, Rudolf Korp, Tay Hui Yun, Theo Tighe and William Stringer.“The quality of the submissions was excellent,” says Tim Sherratt, manager customer development application engineering EMEA at Sennheiser. “We really liked how the students handled the creative process of capturing immersive 3D sound, and were pleasantly surprised with each entry’s out-of-the-box approach.”With the five candidates selected, the last stage will take place on the 23rd of September with a final round of one-to-one interviews, after which the successful students will be announced.Sennheiser’s continuous provision of a high level of technical and product support to LIPA has manifested itself in different ways over the years. It includes the supply of wireless equipment for shows, equipping the new TV production facility, named the Sennheiser Studio, and a 7.1.4 Atmos Home Entertainment studio with Neumann monitors. This allows the students to work with 360 video, VR, AR workflows, and with Sennheiser’s AMBEO systems, for which LIPA is currently developing specific courses.“It has been a real honour to have been part of the relationship between LIPA, our students and Sennheiser, and to see that relationship flourish over more than two decades,” says Jon Thornton, head of sound technology at LIPA. “From our inception as a new Higher Education Institution in 1996 to the present day, having a partner so committed and supportive has been truly exceptional, and of incalculable benefit, not only in the support for students, but in growing and learning as an organisation ourselves, and helping us be prepared for whatever the future of audio holds.”“We feel deeply privileged to have been able to support such a haven for creativity and passionate individuals for the last 25 years, not just financially but also through our own 75 years of audio innovation and expertise,” concludes Sherratt. “We are proud to be able to help those who are keen to make their living from music, whether performing, creating or producing, or a combination of these. Once the current situation is over, we hope that we can all get together and celebrate this successful quarter-century partnership.”Elation KL Panel for broadcast quality white or full colour soft lightElation Professional has added a full colour spectrum soft light to its KL series (key light) of broadcast quality LED luminaires, the KL Panel. Optimised for the colour temperature adjustable requirements of film and television, it is an ideal key and fill light source for any situation requiring outstanding performance and colour quality.Broadcast environments require bright and highly variable lighting of very high quality. The KL Panel LED soft light delivers with superior output, precise colour temperature control, full spectrum colour rendering and an even wash coverage. Using a highly efficient 295W RGBW + lime + cyan LED Array, the KL Panel produces beautifully soft white or full-colour washes up to 24,000 field lumens at a 100° half peak angle.Colour reproduction is also of the highest quality with a CRI over 95 while colour temperature is easily adjustable from 2,000 to 10,000K for a wide choice of variable colour or white shade projections. Additional colour tuning is possible through a green shift adjustment and virtual gel library.Besides its wide spectrum of chromatic options, this dynamic soft light luminaire includes other useful design features like smooth 16-bit dimming all the way to zero and 16-bit selectable dimming curve modes for programming ease, as well as electronic strobe. Adjustable and removable eight-leaf barndoors allow for customised shaping of the beam for more precise illumination and less light spill.The KL Panel is fully optimised for broadcast and film environments with 900-25000Hz LED refresh rate adjustment for flicker free operation. Compact and portable, it can be mounted on a stand or suspended using any standard clamp or the included Junior pin adapter. A rugged housing with impact-resistant surrounds and base plate ensure that the fixture can handle rough handling on today’s fast-paced sets.Fully self-contained without the need for an external power supply, the fixture can be powered remotely through its integrated 4-pin XLR 24-36 VDC battery input (battery not included).Professional control options include DMX, Art-NET and sACN. It can also be controlled manually using the included encoders and OLED display, providing instant control of intensity, colour temperature, green shift and other settings. The integration of Elation’s E-FLY wireless DMX system allows for even more flexibility of use.The KL Panel is energy efficient, consuming only 295W of maximum power, and offers other benefits of LED like greater reliability, a long LED life rating and less maintenance for a lower cost of ownership.www.elationlighting.comJoin Rosco’s Ambassador Crew The Rosco Ambassador programme is currently in pre-production, and the company is looking for the perfect crew to help it bring it to life. Are you creative and whimsical? Rosco wants to hear from you! Are you more scientific and technical? Rosco wants to hear from you too! If you’re passionate about the Rosco products you use in your work, you are invited to fill in the Rosco Ambassador application. Tell Rosco what you think makes a good ambassador, and why you’d be a good fit.Apply to become a Roscoambassador by clicking the link on this news story on etnow.com: http://www.etnow.com/news/2020/7/join-roscos-ambassador-crewWhile this is not a paid position, ambassadors can expect a host of benefits that will be explored and confirmed as Rosco moves forward. All applications will be reviewed and participants will be notified in the coming weeks.4Issue: 330news13MAXI-mise Your Planning TimeProductions are about to start back up again and crews all over the world are looking for techniques and tools that will make their set safer. Rosco’s new MAXI MIX LED fixture has a number of features that can help maximise time and space on set once shooting resumes.• Contactless controls – control MAXI MIX via the myMIX app on a mobile device.• Extra-Bright output – more output helps maintain extra social distancing between crew and artists.• Lightweight and mobile – easier to set up, move and reset keeps lighting set-up time shorter.Neumann introduces the V 402 PreampGerman studio specialist Neumann.Berlin introduces the V 402, a state-of-the-art microphone preamplifier with integrated headphone monitoring. The V 402 is Neumann’s first-ever stand-alone microphone preamp, although the company has created several generations of top-quality preamp modules for its mixing consoles, such as the now legendary V 476 B of the 1980s. Like its predecessors, the V 402 preamplifier is conceived as the perfect complement to all Neumann and other high-class studio microphones.“All Neumann microphones, classics as well as current models, have highly unique sound characteristics”, explains Ralf Oehl, the Berlin company’s new CEO. “Finding a preamplifier with the matching uncompromised sound fidelity wasn’t always easy – until now! The V 402 provides the ideal signal path for all Neumann microphones because it is free from any colouration whatsoever. No artificial additives could make the sound of a Neumann U 47 or U 87 more desirable than it already is. Perfection cannot be perfected!”The V 402 is a dual channel microphone preamplifier carefully designed to maintain the sonic integrity of the original signal. Its unique transformerless circuitry amplifies the microphone signal without unwanted colouration or sonic artefacts, such as noise and distortion. While this is also often claimed for simple preamps such as those in audio interfaces, the V 402 is built to much higher standards.“It took an elaborate development process with extensive series of measurements and critical listening tests to create a preamplifier worthy of the Neumann name,” comments portfolio manager Sebastian Schmitz. “And we’ve included the monitoring side, too. The V 402 establishes a fully transparent signal chain extending from the microphone all the way to the engineer’s ear. Finding the best microphone position has never been easier.”The V 402 is equipped with a studio grade headphone amplifier ensuring uncompromised monitoring quality at the recording stage. Independent volume controls for each channel allow to dial in a latency-free monitoring mix without affecting the recorded signal.As a true Neumann product, the V 402 is characterised by exacting attention to every detail. For example, the DI input is also designed for sonic purity. Its novel high-impedance input stage captures the sound of electric guitars and basses as well as other instruments with no loss of detail and free from audible noise.Its switchable high pass removes rumble and pops very effectively without signal degradation.A 20dB pad allows the V 402 to be used with high-level sources up to 28dBu without distortion.The V 402 comes in a 2U 19” rack enclosure measuring 89 mm x 483mm x 242mm.White Light and SFL Announce Strategic PartnershipTechnical solution experts White Light (WL) and leading audio visual production supplier SFL have announced their intention to launch a strategic partnership, one which will see both companies broaden their existing offering and allow customers to receive the highest standard of full service technical production.The announcement of this strategic partnership is a natural progression for both WL and SFL. Both companies have long-standing reputations for delivering outstanding technical production, both share similar core values and both have a proven commitment to investing in the latest equipment and appointing expert staff. Similarly, both companies have grown significantly over the last few years and each had plans to continue this growth strategy by expanding the services it offered. These plans were naturally affected by the outbreak of Covid-19. Yet, rather than put them on hold, they have decided to choose a different approach and will continue this expansion together through the partnership.WL’s managing director Bryan Raven comments: “At WL, the question we always ask ourselves is how can we provide the very best service possible for our customers? Therefore, when the opportunity arose to form a strategic partnership with SFL, we knew this was something we couldn’t turn down. Whereas WL has its heritage in lighting, SFL is one of the leaders in supplying audio and video solutions. They also have an exceptional scenery company which our own in-house production team has used on many occasions. As such, we will now be able to combine our expert teams, unparalleled inventories and years of experience to offer our existing customers, as well as new clients, the very best in full service technical production. It’s an incredibly exciting step for both of us and one which we cannot wait to embark on.”SFL’s managing director Tom Jeffery adds: “We are delighted to be able to support WL in delivering full-service production. We know WL and the brilliant team there well and we know this will be a fantastic opportunity for both companies. Whilst both WL and SFL are industry leaders when it comes to offering technical solutions, the most important aspect for both companies is their people and that will continue. At SFL, we have always valued working closely with our customers and developing personal relationships in order to understand and deliver their vision. This is an ethos that is entirely shared by WL and something both companies will continue to offer as we move forward with this new chapter.”Under the strategic partnership, both companies will continue to trade separately and keep their existing bases but will now share resources, in terms of both equipment and personnel, when delivering a full production service. They will work on corporate events, conferences, festivals, ceremonies, concerts and any other form of live entertainment, as well as supporting events which take place within WL’s approved and managed venues as well as other opportunities as they arise.WL’s technical director Dave Isherwood adds: “With so much uncertainty in the world right now, it can often be quite difficult making decisions that will have a huge impact on the future of a company. That said, this announcement is a long-term strategy for both WL and SFL as it will simply strengthen our existing offerings and allow our customers to receive a service they wouldn’t be able to anywhere else. More details about the partnership will be announced in the upcoming weeks as we begin to enter this incredibly exciting venture.”In picture: Dave Isherwood and Tom Jeffery.August 2020news14Ayrton makes a splash with the launch of Domino – the Master of the ElementsAyrton has launched the latest in its series of IP65-rated fixtures, Domino – The Master of the Elements! Building on the huge success of Perseo, Ayrton’s first IP65-rated fixture, Domino delights in dominating the most extreme environments while delivering the most stunning effects.Delivering a massive 51,000 lumens from its 1000W LED source, Domino is a brilliantly versatile fixture that combines the output and exceptional optics of Huracán-X with the feature set of Khamsin, in an IP65-rated body. Designed to operate in the most extreme situations, Domino can resist hot or cold temperatures, wind, rain, hail, salt fog, sand and dust. It can withstand arid environments, heavy rainfall, and sudden climatic variations. Ayrton has included all the weatherproofing features of Perseo and given it the same minimalist design, reduced visual footprint and, for maximum effectiveness, a liquid cooling system with six IP68-rated submersible fans outside its weatherproof enclosure.Fitted with a 178mm frontal lens, Domino’s proprietary optical system uses 13 lenses, producing a 10:1 zoom ratio and a zoom range of 6° to 60°. The exceptional optics deliver an extremely uniform flat beam with no hot spot and reproduce impeccable high-definition images over the entire zoom range.Feature-rich from the factory, Domino has a sophisticated subtractive CMY colour mixing system combined with a variable CTO and a wheel with six complementary colours for infinite pastel and saturated colours. The framing section allows accurate positioning of each of its four shutter blades across a 100% surface area. The image section includes 14 interchangeable HD glass gobos on two wheels. The effects section contains two dynamic effect-wheels with continuous movement in both directions, a CMY multi-layered wheel for creating multi-coloured effects, a standard monochromatic effect-wheel, a 15-blade iris diaphragm, two frost filters (for light and heavy diffusion), CRI and TM30 optimising filters, two rotating prisms (one circular with five facets and one linear with four facets), a dynamic sparkle effect with speed and fade adjustment, and an electronic dimmer.Domino is available in S and TC versions: Domino-S delivers metallic white light with a record-breaking output of 51,000 lumens at a colour temperature of 7000K for incredible brightness; Domino-TC is calibrated at a colour temperature of 6000K with a CRI greater than 90 and very high TM30 readings for perfect colour rendition.Weighing in at 52kg, Domino is designed for stadium-sized settings and intensive outdoor use. This Master of the Elements is ready to take on the most extreme conditions and is shipping with immediate effect.New Professional F6 Strip IP Linear Video Panel Unleashes ImaginationDesigners now have more freedom to create video displays in a wider variety of configurations, thanks to the introduction of the Chauvet Professional F6 Strip IP linear video panel. Measuring 1000 x 34.5 x 68.2mm (39.37 x 1.36 x 2.69 in), the new outdoor-ready product can fit in tight spaces, add an extra dimension to set pieces, and be arranged in unique patterns, making it well-suited for a wide variety of applications, including drive-in shows and livestream productions.A high resolution 6.9mm pitch strip, the F6 Strip IP is compatible with all Chauvet Professional F series panels, allowing it to display the same images as other video pieces on the stage. It works with the VIP Drive 83R Nova, using the Novastar control protocol. The VIP Drive 83R Nova can auto-detect F6 Strip IPs when they’re plugged in, making it easy to drag & drop into the mapping software.“The F6 Strip IP opens up new options for incorporating video displays into designs,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Its flexibility makes it a valuable tool in today’s market where new applications are calling for unique solutions.”Images displayed on the linear strips are clear, crisp, and vivid. The strip’s high-quality black body LEDs accurately reproduce video at 15-bit greyscale. Other features include a 5000:1 contrast ratio, and a 5940Hz refresh rate, as well as stealth and soft white diffusion filters.The F6 Strip IP maintains its pixel pitch for 0° end-to-end linking, as well as for mounting units next to one another. A viewing Angle (H/V) of 160°/155° and a resilient LED mask design presents clear images to audiences from any seat in the house (or car in a drive-in show) and a 5,500 NITS output ensures that images can be seen easily, even during daylight hours.Featuring rugged aluminium extrusion housing, the F6IP sets the industry standard for lightness and thinness, while being easy to install thanks to its flexible mounting options, which include adjustable brackets on each side. Up to four strips can be suspended from a single rig point using the end brackets, opening even more opportunities to create unique, unforgettable displays.In addition to its IP65 rating, the F6 Strip IP includes a host of other features that make it ideal for outdoor use. The panels are convection cooled, ensuring optimised heat dissipation for even colour distribution. They also have a dedicated compact power supply, for enhanced stability over extended use, making them a reliable go-to tool for designers seeking to expand their creative possibilities.GLP Announces 12-Month Global Extension of Product Warranties Due to COVID-19 PandemicAutomated lighting manufacturer GLP (German Light Products), has taken an unprecedented step in its determination to support customers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.It has announced an automatic 12-month product warranty extension for any GLP product whose original warranty was due to expire between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. The company has been using the hashtag #keepthelighton (and #KTLO) since the beginning of the pandemic, and is living up to this motto by taking this important decision.“GLP recognises and understands that the vast majority of our products have been sitting idle for many months, and will continue to do so in anticipation of their next call to duty,” declared Udo Künzler, managing director of GLP GmbH. “Therefore, we wanted to make a full show of support to our loyal customers, whose livelihoods depend on those fixtures being used.”The year-long extension is being applied to every product within the GLP portfolio. Furthermore, in order to simplify the process, this extension has already been registered through every GLP office and those of their distributors. Customers need take no action in order to ensure that the extension will be applied: it’s already been done.“As a global manufacturer, supporting our customers and our products around the world is of paramount importance to us,” continued Udo Künzler. “Whilst the pandemic continues to wreak havoc amongst our users, we wanted to bring a level of reassurance that they are not going to lose out on warranty status through the time that products are not being actively used.”Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the local GLP office, or GLP distributor.4Issue: 330news15Astera Launches NYX BulbLeading wireless LED lighting manufacturer Astera launches its newest innovation – the NYX Bulb – a name inspired by NYX, Greek Goddess of the Night, a mysterious figure of exceptional power and beauty, feared even by Zeus himself!NYX Bulb – the same size as a standard LED bulb – is the first colour-tuneable LED bulb for professional film, stage, and event productions. It comes complete with a CRMX receiver for wireless DMX, plus RF and Bluetooth modules for control via the Astera App on a smartphone or tablet.It is lightweight, hugely flexible, and highly controllable, and as always, Astera keeps the standards of quality and innovation top of the agenda.NYX Bulb is designed for gaffers, DoPs, lighting and set designers, visual artists and anyone needing stunning practicals or outstanding feature lighting bulbs: anytime, anywhere. In addition to film shoots and television studios, it is perfect for theatrical sets and for scenic elements on tour shows and live events.Sized like a regular LED bulb, NYX Bulb can be powered via an E27 socket (E26 in the US version) or with a standard power bank. Due to its compact form, it is the first Astera light source with external battery options (rather than built-in).Its Titan LED engine delivers precise colours and authentic white tones with an ultra-high CRI and TLCI and it emits an impressive 750 Lumens, comparable to a conventional 60W bulb, yet drawing just 10W of power.The RGB + mint + amber LED engine is the same as that of Astera’s award-winning Titan Tube – another name embracing the power of Greek gods and mythology – so these sources can be seamlessly mixed and matched together, and NYX Bulb offers the same excellent colour rendering, with CRI and TLCI at 96-98 and 3200 to 6500° Kelvin respectively, and a full range of beautiful, precise colours unlocked through digital calibration.The tuneable white range goes from 1750 – 20,000K, and a full range of precise gel filter numbers can be accurately reproduced.Control includes inbuilt LumenRadio wireless DMX which can be run via any lighting console, as well as more locally from the quick and intuitive Astera App.The inbuilt Bluetooth receiver is a new feature allowing users to control NYX bulbs directly from their smartphones without needing an Astera ART7 Box, and will be available via a software update in the second half of the year. The first Astera NYX Bulb that is connected via the Bluetooth signal enables the control of all the other NYX Bulbs in the range.A dual power option offers more versatility! This can be either 90-240V AC via an E27 socket (E26 in the USA) or a DC socket is available for connecting external batteries or power banks, for which a USB cable is included with the NYX Bulb.CupBouncer is another nifty accessory! When NYX Bulbs are used in conjunction with lampshades or other coverings, this is attached to the bulb via a suction cup and reflects light back towards the base controlling the light spread.The Astera PowerStation is an essential multifunctional accessory which has an inbuilt battery unit for powering NYX Bulbs. The PowerStation can also be used to programme the NYX Blubs with parameters like DMX addresses, colours and other settings via its display and keyboard, and when the NYX Bulb is disconnected, these settings are retained.Rear-side magnets for hanging the NYX Bulb together with an integrated airline track where several mounting grips and accessories can be connected all enhance the practical options for how and where NYX can be installed.Currently available through Astera’s global distribution network, NYX Bulbs are available as single units or in sets of eight, complete with a PowerStation inside the case for charging and programming the bulbs.The PowerStation is also available as a single stand-alone unit or as a set of eight PowerStations in a charging case, for setting up eight NYX Bulbs super quickly and efficiency.Artistic Licence appoints Molpass as distributor in Italy Artistic Licence has announced a new formal distribution agreement with Molpass S.r.l. in Italy. With an emphasis on the theatrical market, Artistic’s lighting control infrastructure products will augment other premium brands in the Molpass portfolio.Founded in 1995, Molpass is a versatile provider of high-tech solutions in the entertainment sector, with a particular focus on the audience experience. Recognising the demand for a high-quality dimming product for replacement LED bulbs, Molpass approached Artistic Licence for a trial of its award-winning sunDial trailing edge mains dimmer.Following a positive response from a number of prestigious Italian theatres, a broader distribution agreement was the next logical step.Giorgio Molinari, CEO of Molpass comments: “Professional venues simply cannot accept the poor low-end response typical of many dimmers that are claimed to be LED compatible. But the sunDial product gives a very nice fade, and we particularly like the fact that custom curves can be generated and uploaded for our clients’ preferred lamps.”Artistic Licence CEO Wayne Howell adds: “sunDial is a perfect example of a product that we developed to solve a technology problem, caused by the move away from CFL and incandescent lighting. As a company, we have a deep understanding of the lighting control needs of venues, having served this market for many decades. So if a theatre or studio finds it needs to handle data in a different way – be that conversion to a different protocol, merging, splitting or failover to name just a few scenarios – then we probably already have the solution. We’re very pleased that Molpass will be increasing our visibility in Italy, which we hope will become a strong area of growth for us.”The agreement with Molpass in Italy follows Artistic Licence’s recent appointment of Controllux as its distributor in the Benelux countries, and Discoland Oy in Finland.www.artisticlicence.comTriple E Ltd back up to full capacityAfter an unprecedented series of events that decimated the entertainment industry both near and far, Triple E maintained its efforts to continue, with control measures in places, for as long as it could. This saw the company stay open and in production until quite late in the day when it bowed to the inevitable and, like so many other businesses, had to place the majority of its staff onto furlough.Triple E now announces that it is once again open for business, including all custom design and manufacturing. The company has stock in hand for all likely requirements and has spent the downtime launching its new website www.triplee.ltd which gives a new, clearer and more detailed view of its product ranges and greatly improved online quotation tools.Triple E’s design engineers, production staff, technical, workshop and machine shop stand ready to aid customers on their next projects.David Edelstein, managing director said: “The last 12 weeks has been a testing and tiring time however, Triple E passed the test of ensuring our critical order book was dispatched prior to having to shut our warehouse.“I’m very happy that thankfully we haven’t had any direct effect on any of our staff and their families from COVID-19 and that our social distancing, building cleaning and restriction on physical contact measures have paid off. However, we continue to be vigilant and have many of these in place to mitigate risk to our staff.”www.triplee.ltdAugust 2020news16Broadweigh Announces New Products and Software Features as Brand Unveils New WebsiteLeading load cell company Broadweigh has announced a series of brand new products in its range, plus the addition of software improvements to its toolkit. The company, which has undergone a complete rebranding exercise over the past year culminating with the launch of its new website, believes the time is right to bring the new developments to the market. The design changes have developed as a result of feedback from users, with the current COVID-19 pandemic creating an unprecedented time for pure engineering focus.From 13th July, two new modules have been added to the 2.4GHz product line as well as a new release of the Broadweigh toolkit software. Commenting on the design development and improvements, Robert Wilmington-Badcock, managing director said: “We have a clear ethos to continuously improve our products, to specifically develop for the entertainment industry and listen carefully to users’ feedback. We have to understand exactly what tools are needed to do the job on a tour or in a venue.” He continued: “In short, we are committed to continually improving the features and tools within our systems and because we design and manufacture the entire system, we can do this like no one else. The demands in rigging are very challenging and Broadweigh can do the job.”The new products bring numerous new benefits to the already highly regarded range. The BW-WM1 Warning Module is a fully configurable three light warning indicator that can be used in a simple LOG100 mode, responding in the same way as LOG100. A green light extinguishes if there is a loss of signal from any transmitters, an amber light illuminates if any LOG100 display channel passes the warning level and a red light illuminates if any LOG100 display channel passes the over/ under-load level. A buzzer sounds with the red indicator (which can be disabled for quiet use). Alternatively, the BW-WM1 can be configured as part of a stand-alone system. The values from up to eight data tags can be used to trigger each of the amber and red indicators (and buzzer). As well as showing that signals are being received, the ‘good’ green light can also be set to extinguish if other error states occur.The BW-BSi is another new release. A base station option which configures transmitters via USB or serial connection. It comes with the options of USB, RS232 or RS485 interfaces and with a 9-32Vdc supply. The kit works with LOG100 for viewing data and allows a cable length of up to 300m distance from the PC. Elliot Van Laere, sales executive at Broadweigh explained: “The BW-BSi is the perfect solution for a permanent installation, providing a great solution when distance to a base station is limited.” Commenting on the new Warning Module he continued: “The BW-WM1, though a new product, has already proven an imperative piece of hardware when included within a build. A green light showing all transmitters are communicating successfully, along with an early indication of being close to a pre-set load limit, means you don’t have to be present watching LOG100.”The Broadweigh Toolkit rounds off the current series of new releases and is designed for its 2.4GHz wireless product range. The new release offers features which greatly simplify the initial shackle set up, especially for new users of the system or rental houses. Broadweigh has introduced a new mode which automatically loads pre-defined parameters to the shackles. These are parameters, which from experience, Broadweigh believes will give optimum performance for initial use.Another brand new feature in the toolkit allows users to access the full transmission power. This applies mainly to users in the USA and Canada but means that, should Regulatory Region Power Limit allow, the radio output on Broadweigh modules can be increased.“We are continually trying to simplify the operation of the Broadweigh system but without taking away any of the functionality,” said Tom Lilly, applications engineer. “I believe that the latest version of the toolkit achieves a massive step in the right direction. It now means that if you don’t wish to use the ‘advanced’ parameters of the shackles, you don’t even need to see them! Experienced users will still be able to set up the shackles with their favoured settings.”It is this level of investment in R&D that has earned Broadweigh a solid reputation as a market leader in the rigging and entertainment industry over the past eight years. Earlier this year, the Broadweigh team felt that it was time to communicate its message more clearly and a fresh new brandmark was introduced onto its products. The final piece of the jigsaw is the new website, launched officially. Kelly Voysey, marketing manager for Mantracourt and Broadweigh said: “We’ve distilled the benefits of the Broadweigh system down to a handful of points, one of which is “Know More Do More”. Our website embodies this and our core message is the more accountable you can be for every rigging point that you’re hanging from, the more creative and innovative you can be while ensuring a safe working environment. Our new website provides countless examples of riggers doing just that. It introduces clarity in its design and navigation and delivers information more clearly so that users can get straight to the product, manual, video or find a reseller or rental house, depending on which best suits their needs. We’ve also launched an e-commerce shop so Broadweigh users can quickly purchase spares and have them shipped directly, or get their hands on one of our Broadweigh polo-shirts or jackets.”www.broadweigh.comEvents Business Lights Bristol Old Vic in RedSLX, a specialist hire and events company operating nationally from premises in Avonmouth, has illuminated the Bristol Old Vic red as part of the #Lightitinred campaign, which aims to highlight the critical condition of the live events industry.SLX Hire and Event’s CEO, Alastair Currie, says: “As a business who work with national broadcast corporations, to theatres, touring productions and event venues, we’ve not been exempt from the impact of lockdown. We have seen an industry that is our total passion and all about bringing people together, and is reported to be worth £39.1billion to the economy, devastated in order to keep us all safe. As lockdown eases, we are fortunate to still be in a position to be open (though at reduced staffing), operating and doing all we can to keep staff and customers safe in the process. However, many of our clients such as event venues, production companies and theatre institutions, have been facing the reality that they may never open their doors again. Additionally, many highly skilled freelancers, who the whole live events industry relies on, have not received the level of government support needed and we risk losing those skills and talent for when live events become economically viable once again.“We welcome the recent announcement from the government, which will see £1.57bn made available to theatres, galleries, independent cinemas and the like. As ever with these things, the devil is in the detail and it will be vital that this money filters out beyond London and the West End and makes it to the counties and other cities, like Bristol. I hope this money will also find its way to institutions like Aerospace Bristol, the home of Concorde, which plays host to a multitude of important live and corporate events each year, making up a critical part of their revenue.“We fully support the #Lightitinred campaign and hope it will raise awareness of the vulnerability of this whole sector as well as highlighting the value, both economically and culturally, of keeping the events industry alive.”Issue: 330features17The Virtual Venue by Pytch Gets Special Looks with Chauvet ProfessionalFrom the outside, the complex of buildings at 21-25 Bonville Road, Brislington doesn’t look markedly different than it did in 2019. Inside, however, a quiet revolution is underway. The building’s owner, Pytch, which until recently was known as SXS Events, has been busily reinventing itself since the COVID-19 lockdown brought its thriving live event business to a sudden and complete halt.Almost immediately after the pandemic hit, the company began looking for ways to repurpose its extensive inventory of equipment, as well as the vast pool of skills, experience and knowledge possessed by its team members.First came Intelligo, an all-in-one digital platform that makes it easier for schools to implement online learning programmes. More recently, Pytch launched The Virtual Venue, a powerfully-equipped production space that, in only its first month, has produced a stunning array of livestreams, ranging from a planetarium show and feature films, to corporate training sessions and music performances.“Our clients still needed to deliver their messages to their audiences, pandemic or not,” said company founder and managing director, Johnny Palmer. “We’ve never been ones to sit around and wait to be told what to do, so we built The Virtual Venue in record time.”The response from the market also seems to be setting speed records. “We got income online super-fast,” said Palmer. “We now have a string of bookings that will keep us very busy through the end of the year.”Described by Palmer as a “collision between live events and TV that combines the best practices of both worlds,” The Virtual Venue features a 12m by 15m main stage, plus a green room. The stage is outfitted with the latest gear from the company’s inventory, including an extensive collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures.The Maverick MK1 Hybrid and the Rogue R2 Wash have emerged as workhorses of the kit, being positioned in different spots and used in varying quantities, depending on the needs of each individual production.“We value the versatility of the Chauvet fixtures,” said Palmer. “They can be deployed very quickly to provide compelling specials. The Maverick Hybrids are used as spots and keylights. Their varied colour temperature makes them ideal. We are also using R2 washes for colour washing and moving colour effects on the stage.”The versatile lighting kit comes in quite handy at The Virtual Venue, given the wide range of productions being streamed there. Set up, which is done in shifts to minimise contact, is an ongoing process to keep up with the demand for the space. Palmer has even been pleasantly surprised by the number of new clients that have signed up for The Virtual Venue.As for the future of Pytch, although the word “events” is no longer part of the company’s name, it will certainly be picking up where it left off when the ban on public gatherings is lifted. (It did over 10,000 live events as SXS Events!) However, even when the pandemic passes into history and the live events business is once again thriving, The Virtual Venue will likely continue to boost the fortunes of this company and set a standard for its industry.August 202018featuresArtistic Immersion Made Possible at Four Domes Pavilion with Renkus-Heinz SolutionsThe Four Domes Pavilion in Wrocław, Poland is a historic building offering visitors a view into the art of today. Built in 1921, the pavilion serves as home to the Museum of Contemporary Art branch of Poland’s National Museum. The collection is one of Poland’s most cherished, housing more than 20,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, glasswork, ceramics, photography, and conceptual works.Also part of the collection is an immersive multimedia component leveraging cutting edge A/V technologies and supported at its core by Renkus-Heinz’ powerful audio solutions.The “See it, hear it, touch it” multimedia screenings at the museum offer an integrated approach to experiencing art. Components considered traditional to art museums – framed paintings and statues – are augmented using projections, light and sound. The museum’s stated goal of the space is to utilise brilliant lighting, stunning imagery and powerful sound systems and, in turn, offer visitors an awakening of all their senses. Key to that awakening is the immersive audio.“We have set up a Renkus-Heinz system in a room with sensors that trigger set experiences depending on where the listener is in the exhibition,” said Paweł Francuz, product manager at M.Ostrowski integration firm, which provided the system at the museum. “This provides an experience that connects with the same impact as the visual side of things.”The installation includes 48 Renkus-Heinz CA81-RD point source loudspeakers and two Renkus-Heinz CA118S-RD subwoofers. All of the components are painted white to blend in with the aesthetic of the space.Utilising Renkus-Heinz in the installation allows the museum to leverage the power of the company’s cutting-edge technologies, in this case, the Complex Conic constant directivity waveguide design, which ensures consistent coverage across the exhibit space. When coupled with full Dante networking capabilities, RHAON II control and monitoring, the system offers unrivalled performance and flexibility advantages.In the Four Domes Pavilion, the loudspeakers are positioned on the side walls and the ceiling to create an impressively dense grid of sound sources. The number of sources and the distance in between them was carefully designed to provide the expected immersive experience.“It’s a pure joy to be in the room where the Renkus-Heinz system is deployed,” said Francuz. “High-quality sound and the best immersive experience was our goal. We achieved it thanks to the Renkus-Heinz offerings.”With 50 loudspeakers in one room, environmental aspects had to be considered as well. The Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers have passive cooling and smart energy control that allows them to run silently while consuming very little to no energy on stand-by. One CA81-RD loudspeaker consumes as little as 3.5W on idle.The SA amplifiers at the heart of Renkus-Heinz’ self-powered products utilise True Digital Class D Technology, eliminating the need for negative feedback in the amplifier output and removing time-domain distortions associated with typical Class D designs. The DSP amplifier converts the PCM input data directly to PWM data that drives the output stage. All of those benefits combine to offer the highest level of consistency, reliability, and audio quality to the end-user.The self-powered Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers also use Audinate’s Dante for AV-over-IP connectivity and are driven by a Barco Iosono 3D sound processor, which outputs 50 independent channels. Once installed, programming was completed seamlessly through Dante and Renkus-Heinz’ RHAON II software.“It’s a rewarding moment when configuring the system takes a few clicks rather than hours of rewiring signals to the speakers, bearing in mind there are 50 independently working loudspeakers,” said Francuz. “That saves a ton of time when commissioning the system. It allowed us to focus on the end-results from the moment the speakers were deployed.”The result: a museum that can offer an immersive artistic experience to visitors.“Everybody is very pleased with the end results,” said Francuz. “This is a perfect example of bringing the creatives of the world together with AV professionals and creating something truly extraordinary.”Issue: 330features19Edinburgh-based Black Light Virtual Studio Powered by Lucid Technologies Specialist video integration effects company, Lucid Technologies and Scotland’s leading sales, installation, hire and production company, Black Light, have announced the launch of Edinburgh-based Black Light Virtual Studio powered by Lucid Technologies. The studio is a realisation of the two companies’ expertise and experience.Always close to its clients’ ever-evolving needs, lockdown prompted Black Light to immediately turn up the heat on discussions already ongoing with Lucid Technologies. The two companies have worked together to create a permanently installed, Edinburgh-based XR studio which enables customers to continue with production in a safe and socially-distanced environment, as though they were anywhere in the world.The Black Light Virtual Studio powered by Lucid Technologies is a five-metre-cubed studio and one of the largest in the UK. It easily allows for more than one socially-distanced person to perform within the space. As an environment to produce live or pre-recorded events it enables production teams and the wider entertainment technology industry to get back to work while all live venues remain closed.The virtual studio combines action in both the physical reality, in which the performance takes place, and augmented reality which enables production actions in physical reality, such as lighting movements from a real lighting console, to take place or be recreated in the virtual space.Black Light’s spacious warehouse environment is well placed to socially distance all performers and members of the production team. The space available allows a staggered set up at least two metres between production desks to ensure a safe working environment.Lucid Technologies MD, Klean Dalton, said: “We were really focused on making this studio experience as close to a ‘real-life’ live event as possible from the production perspective. Otherwise, for clients coming in to use the space it’s too far from reality. We’ve made it so the production teams for video, lighting and sound, can come in with their clients and do their job.”Black Light’s Calder Sibbald, added: “Whilst we were already in discussion with Lucid regarding a joint venture, the current Covid-19 pandemic meant we needed to react much quicker than we may have. I am delighted that we have managed to bring this facility not just to Edinburgh but to Scotland as a whole. It will allow us to generate work for both our in-house team as well as our freelance pool during these difficult times. We have already had great interest from a variety of sectors and look forward to seeing the creative development of the space.”Next >