direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month Jobs and Careers Web Directory Features Issue: 340 iMAG mobile Virtual Production facility stages Golden Age of Hollywood page 19 June 2021 Audico Systems has installed 281 of Elation Professional’s dynamic Fuze Pendant LED downlights in Finland’s Tampere Hall. Claypaky was the official lighting partner of the ESC 2021 and contributed to the event by illuminating a key building in the city of Rotterdam. DiGiCo ecosystem helps tackle climate change page: 16page: 22 page: 2 page: 31 pages: 28 to 31 Apex Acoustics provided The London Climate Change Festival with audio equipment, including a DiGiCo SD10 console. Hawthorn has transformed into Encore! Visit our new hire website hire.encore-emea.com w: encore-emea.com t: 01664 821 111 e: hire-uk@encoreglobal.com Ghostframe – Game-Changing Technology for Virtual Production Delivering the tools to create magic in the world of visual communication, industry veterans AGS, Megapixel VR, and ROE Visual have joined forces to deliver game-changing technology for virtual production. Aiming to make the ‘impossible’ possible for film, broadcast, and event production teams, GhostFrame creates simplified, more efficient, and faster workflows. More on page 8 More than 480 Claypaky XTYLOS forEurovision page: 23 Audico chooses Elation for house lighting solution contents this month June 2021 page no. Features page : 5 page : 6 page : 10 page : 6 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 21 ROE Visual Powers High-Tech Virtual Production Studios by 80six 80six recently launched Virtual Production Studios in response to the demand for a space that incorporates a preconfigured ROE Visual LED volume adaptable to each all requirements. 22 More than 480 Claypaky XTYLOS will bring the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 to life OSRAM, parent company of Claypaky, was the official lighting partner of the ESC 2021 and contributed to the event by illuminating a key building in the city of Rotterdam. 23 DiGiCo ecosystem helps tackle climate change The London Climate Change Festival returned in 2021 with a televised broadcast. Apex Acoustics provided audio equipment for the performance, including a DiGiCo SD10 console. 24 CTWLK 2020 a success with Infinity and Showtec lights Showtec and Infinity fixtures provided the perfect solution for the difficult CTWLK lighting with TF- 260C7 Fresnel and iB-2R fixtures, Spectral M800 Q4, Data Flash and Stage Blinders. 25 GLP Creative Light1 creates dynamic atmosphere at David Vidano‘s Slo-Mo release concert David Vidano’s lighting designer, Jens Hillenkötter, deployed some 40 GLP Creative Lights 1 Plus fixtures. 26 Staatsschauspiel Dresden chooses Robe T1s The Staatsschauspiel in Dresden joins a long and growing number of high-profile performing arts venues that are investing in Robe’s T1 series of moving lights. 27 AC-ET Supply PROLIGHTS to Version 2 for Exciting Broadcast Projects and Events Version 2 Lights has added LumiPix 15IP LED fixtures to its extensive rental stock holding. 13 PRG and MADO XR create Virtual Production Studio-xR, powered by Brompton Technology Virtual Production Studio-xR, was created as a partnership between PRG and MADO XR. The 360-degree LED facility, is powered by Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 4K LED processing. 14 Robe a Winner at 2021 Sanremo Music Festival The 2021 Sanremo Music Festival was staged at Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, Liguria. The lighting rig included over 400 Robe moving lights, a mix of T1 Profiles, Spiiders, LEDBeam 150s, Pointes and a six- way RoboSpot system. 16 Audico chooses Elation for spectacular house lighting solution at Finnish concert hall Audico Systems has installed 281 of Elation Professional’s dynamic Fuze Pendant LED downlights in Finland’s Tampere Hall. 18 Award-Winning Baia Domizia Chooses Yamaha Since 2017, Italy’s Camping Village, Baia Domizia, has been installing Yamaha audio systems in its facilities, helping it to maintain its acclaimed high ratings from guests and professional bodies alike. 19 iMAG state-of-the-art mobile Virtual Production facility stages Golden Age of Hollywood Remembering the Oscars, staring Strictly Come Dancing favourites Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara, is an extravagant celebration of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The show’s producers, turned to video production specialist iMAG Displays to help them bring the sparkling show to life. 20 Robe MegaPointes Help Comic Relief Thirty-eight Robe MegaPointe moving lights were an integral part of the lighting rig used by LD Chris Kempton for the UK’s 2021 Comic Relief biennial Red Nose Day telethon.from the editor direct from: www.etnow.com Entertainment Technology is published 12 times a year in conjunction with the leading industry portal www.etnow.com Editor: John Offord Technical Editor: Jackie Staines Published by: Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green Great Shelford Cambridge CB22 5EG Telephone: +44 (0)1223 550805 Fax: +44 (0)1223 550806 Website: www.etnow.com email: editor@etnow.com © Entertainment Technology Press Ltd. Subscription Rates: Annual Subscription for 12 issues (UK): £27.50 Annual Subscription (overseas): £50.00 Subject to acceptance, subscription is free to UK based industry professionals. Subscribe online at: www.etnow.com/etmag/ Opinions expressed in Entertainment Technology are not necessarily those of the publishers. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the publishers. etnow.com (entertainment technology news on web) is the industry portal site with news from around the world added daily under various sector headings coupled to an extensive archive. The site also features a books section where titles from Entertainment Technology Press can be ordered online via our secure Sage Pay credit card services. Issue: 340 PLASA partnered with ABTT to deliver a virtual programme for the entertainment technology industry PLASA hosted a second PLASA Online from 10-13 May, following on from a successful debut in October 2020. The programme addressed the most pertinent issues facing the industry, present pioneering technology and delivered several sessions on technical theatre in partnership with the ABTT. The free-to-view programme spanned four days, bringing creative presentations, business panels, industry advice and technical training, each led by experts in their field. Furthermore, each day there was the opportunity to watch live product presentations hosted by leading manufacturers. Running alongside the programme was a virtual Exhibitor Showcase featuring an extensive A-Z of brands from audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging. The ABTT delivered the very latest amendments to its Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment which covers energy conservation, electrical installations and emergency lighting. They also presented an overview of Volume 1 of The Theatre Green Book, a project that brought together theatre-makers and sustainability experts to create a common standard for making theatre sustainably. Electrical expert James Eade returned for another unmissable session, this time delving into the most enduring electrical misunderstandings, from qualifications and PAT testing, to earthing and phase separation. This session also featured a Q&A, allowing the opportunity to get expert advice on electrical safety concerns. Lighting designer and LSi columnist Rob Halliday also returned to share his work on the innovative lockdown production of Romeo & Juliet which involved cutting-edge digital technology to keep the cast separate. Additional technology was delivered courtesy of Shure with an exclusive look at new features for the SLX-D Digital Wireless System, Vectorworks Spotlight, the all-in-one software for event design, Highlite demonstrated LAMPY DMX consoles, Artistic Licence had a hands-on troubleshooting session on RDM and DMX and Broadweigh taught the fundamentals of a load measuring system. On the topic of Covid-era events, a panel of production professionals and health and safety practitioners addressed the challenges of how the industry’s workforce can safely and efficiently return to work following a long absence. Plus, CREATEBritain co-founder Richard Woods presented the online platform designed for creative professionals to network and gain skills. Keeping you up to date on industry issues, PLASA managing director Peter Heath chaired panels on the impact of Brexit on the touring community and the Ecodesign lighting regulation. Plus, industry charity Music Support hosted a mental health hour to discuss their mental health first aid training course and their NHS- approved well-being app, Thrive.June 2021 news 4 Powersoft Launches New Free Certified Training Courses Italian audio specialist Powersoft has launched a brand- new training programme on its website, which provides two new free training sections for users: Webinars, where all Powersoft’s recent webinars are uploaded, and E-Learning, where the live sound and install courses are available online now for anyone who wishes to take them. The OEM course will be released in the coming weeks. The E-Learning platform is designed to be a one-stop destination for online training. The courses are designed to provide sound engineers, integrators, and AV technicians the advantage to learn directly from Powersoft’s experts and gain certification upon completion. “Created by our in-house experts, these courses are for anyone working in the professional audio market, so they can operate with specialist understanding on audio systems, and gain an expert’s insight into our audio products,” said Marc Kocks, Powersoft’s application engineering consultant manager. The courses cover three main areas of the audio market: live sound, install and OEM technologies, and are split into different levels; basic, intermediate, and advanced. In the Live Sound and Install courses, users will be taught how to utilise Powersoft’s renowned products to deliver the best sound quality to future audiences. As well as providing a concrete overview of ArmoníaPlus, the courses will give users a complete overview of how to build effective sound systems that can be tailored to the specific needs of the installer. The OEM course, aimed at manufacturers and OEM partners, will enable trainees to gain a deeper understanding of Powersoft’s core technologies and learn how to implement them in order to upgrade their products using Powersoft’s vast ecosystem of OEM solutions. Once a course is complete, the trainee will receive a certificate of completion. “These free courses, in addition to our webinars, have been designed to give users across the audio industry a chance to build upon their knowledge and gain new skills when installing audio systems and utilising Powersoft products,” said Kocks. “It’s our hope that, with the launch of this education programme, we will be able to continue to support the audio industry’s development.” Powersoft is also hosting a number of webinars in the coming weeks which will be uploaded to the training portal after the event. Register early using the following links: 25th May: Remote monitoring and Control Using ArmoníaPlus and Third Party plug-ins: 6am / 2pm / 8pm CET: https:// attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/4451221507179852299 8th June: Workflow and System with Dynamic Music Distribution: 6am / 2pm / 8pm CET: https://attendee. gotowebinar.com/rt/7076337404332050187 15th June: Dynamic Dante Patching and System Configurations: 6am / 2pm / 8pm CET: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ rt/1401607260287260683 Barcelona looks forward to welcoming ISE Live and Online Integrated Systems Events’ Managing Director, Mike Blackman, has returned to Barcelona this week (13-16 April) as the city prepares to welcome ISE Live and Online. Mike Blackman was taking part in the Barcelona reACT Conference, a four- day working event to relaunch the city’s economy after a year of pandemic. Speaking at the conference and looking forward to June, Blackman said: “We recognise that the world needs events to get back to business and we are thankful for the support we have had from the national, regional and City authorities, the team at the Fira and of course to the pro AV industry for its enthusiasm in the face of what has been an incredibly difficult period. Whilst 2021 will offer a different experience we are confident of delivering a great event which will pave the way for ISE 2022 in Barcelona.” Embracing the hybrid approach to events, ISE Live and Online will bring the industry together in a safe and richly rewarding way. Mike Blackman explained: “Whether joining online or in-person in Barcelona, attendees can access inspiring content from innovation leaders, networking opportunities and the latest technologies. This main ISE event, 1-2 June in Barcelona and online, acknowledges that we are at a stage where we can start to plan again for the future and these two days will assist the industry to build a new roadmap for a new era.” ISE Live: ISE at Barcelona: 1-2 June, Fira de Barcelona Gran Via In-person attendees can visit booths from exhibitors including Alfalite, Ampio, AVI-SPL, Barco, Biamp, Control4, d&b audiotechnik, Equipson, LANG, NEC, Panasonic, Sharp, Shure, WolfVision plus many more. Highlights from the exhibition will be broadcast from the Main Stage during the two days. There will also be a Pavilion by ICEX to highlight Spanish brands and business opportunities as well as a host of other features including the following: • AV Experience Zone: a special feature area at the Gran Via, produced in association with AVIXA, that will see presentations from 15 leading Spanish integrators across the two days. Content will be in Spanish and will cover the retail, hospitality, corporate, education and digital signage sectors, exploring new business possibilities and looking forward to the recovery. • Catalan Innovation Zone: ACCIÓ is an agency of the Government of Catalunya for Business Competitiveness. ACCIÓ’s different programmes promote internationalisation and innovation and the agency will host a dedicated show floor zone showcasing these leading companies and technologies. ACCIÓ has also partnered with ISE and TNW to produce three Startup Nation sessions on the Main Stage, highlighting upcoming Catalan entrepreneurial talent. ISE Digital – The Future of AV: Live 1-2 June / On Demand for 2021 ISE Digital is a two-day festival of content, powered by CISCO technology, and designed to deliver an intuitive agenda that will help to build a roadmap to success. With a comprehensive programme of live and on-demand content, ISE Digital will come from ISE’s own virtual studio with live sessions from the Main Stage in Barcelona on 1-2 June. Available on demand in the weeks that follow, the programme is a collaboration of informative content from ISE, AVIXA, CEDIA, TNW (The Next Web) and key show partners. Live from the Main Stage, Barcelona: during the two-day festival, the Main Stage at the Fira will be at the heart of the in-person content programme, with sessions also livestreamed to the online audience. Building on the RISE Spotlight programme which ISE has been running since November 2020, ISE Digital will also feature On the Sofa Keynotes, Reporter Roundtables and of course Startup Nation, sponsored by ACCIÓ, highlighting start-ups that are shaking up the markets. Both AVIXA and CEDIA will be featured on the Main Stage with a range of sessions covering the latest market intelligence, global trends and taking a look at the smart technologies driving the residential and commercial marketplaces. The full programme will be revealed on the ISE website over the coming weeks.Issue: 340 news 5 Design, Prepare, Deliver with the new Hippotizer v4.6 Media Server software Green Hippo has released a major upgrade to its Hippotizer software which introduces an entirely new design, pre-programming and content delivery workflow. Version 4.6 builds on the familiar flexibility of Hippotizer’s real-time media manipulation system with an all-new planning, visualisation and timeline control architecture, opening up further creative opportunities for designers. “Version 4.6 is the result of some incredible work by our R&D team who have worked their trademark Hippo magic to implement a host of powerful, simple-to-use, project-enhancing features designed with the end user firmly in mind,” says Green Hippo’s product and development director, Ryan Brown. “Hippotizer has always been the ‘pocket knife’ of media servers, delivering multiple solutions from a single box. Now, version 4.6 adds so much more. “Version 4.6 combines Hippotizer’s familiar content and design practices with a redesigned, real-time 3D visualiser and projector planning tools for intuitive playback and control, giving designers the tools to manage, manipulate and plan projects with full visibility. Users can deliver on-the-fly changes, with easy control options, for an even faster and more creative toolset. In short, it’s the next giant leap in collaborative video design, production and content delivery.” Key new design features include Projector Planning, giving full visibility of the projection environment and requirements, and improved integration with third party 3D tools (C4D, DAE, OBJ) and textures in Cinema 4D. The Hippotizer development team says this takes the guesswork out of projector placement, providing information on coverage, brightness and pixel manipulation, even before getting to site. New features to enhance project preparation include the enhanced TimelinePlus, with access to hundreds of programmable playback parameters within this intuitive keyframe interface, and an upgraded SHAPE Visualiser, a full resolution, full frame-rate 3D pre- visualisation tool. www.green-hippo.com DiGiGrid MGB for New Year, New Hope Competition Winner DiGiCo recently announced the winners of its New Year, New Hope competition. The giveaway was designed to put the focus firmly on a brighter future by giving entrants the chance to win three fantastic products from DiGiCo, DiGiGrid and KLANG. One of the lucky winners was Jennifer Werner, from Ostrau in Germany, who works for LSP (Light and Sound Professional) GmbH. Jennifer, currently on parental leave, won a DiGiGrid MGB MADI-to- SoundGrid interface, and was delighted: “It’s fantastic to have won the DiGiGrid MGB! I saw the competition as an opportunity to give something back to my teammates who have been so supportive of each other during what has been a difficult year. I wasn’t able to participate in the live announcement, so at first I didn’t know I’d been lucky enough to win something. My workmates texted me to make sure it was true and when I saw the email from DiGiCo, we were all really happy!” Although LSP haven’t used DiGiGrid products before, the team can’t wait for the opportunity to get to work with the unit, as Jennifer explains: “Last year, in spite of the pandemic, we invested in a new L-Acoustics line-array, as well as in a DiGiCo SD8 and SD9. The DiGiGrid MGB complements our inventory perfectly, and we can’t wait for the resumption of the events and festivals to see how quickly we get used to it and how it can improve our work. I’d also really like to thank DiGiCo for staging a competition like this during such hard times; I’m so grateful to have been part of it.” Stage Electrics Makes Further Investment in Education Stage Electrics has appointed Darren Jackson to the newly created role of “Opus business development manager”. The Opus suite of products offer an audio, video projection and lighting solution that enable schools to deliver professional presentations and drama performances with absolute ease. Designed to help teachers and inspire students, Opus installations create stimulating environments with smart technology that is both easy to use and simply performs. “Five years ago, we recognised teachers and students had a technical problem that needed fixing; so, we designed Opus. Fast forward to today, and the range of Opus products has grown significantly to keep up with demand from schools, colleges and education facilities throughout the country,” said, Dan Aldridge, the company’s commercial director. The company’s sales director, Anna Western added: “Darren has a wealth of experience and expertise and is a valuable addition to our field sales team that live and work across the UK. Darren and the team are able to arrange COVID secure, in person meetings in your location to discuss this unique technical solution for schools, colleges and education facilities, along with any other requirements you may have from products sales, installations and inspection and testing.” Darren added: “I’ve been working with sound and lighting technical solutions for years and can’t recall seeing a product that is as innovative and as easy to use as the Opus suite of products. I am thrilled to be joining the team, and through the sale of Opus, help future generations take their first steps into a career in the performing arts.” Magnum PA Invests In T Series Welsh rental house, Magnum PA has recently purchased a number of Powersoft’s renowned T Series touring amplifier platforms after a consultation with trusted partner – and Powersoft distributor – CUK Audio. The company initially ordered four T604 and four T602, though it soon added another T604 and has since revealed plans to add another three T602 in order to complete its inventory. As well as their impressive sound clarity, T Series amplifier platforms can be controlled in a number of ways (either through ArmoníaPlus, via the front panel display, or using the dedicated webapp), and boast a large preset library. The T Series offers input via Dante, AES3, or analogue, with the Dante and AES3 solutions being optimised for daisy-chained distribution of 2-channel audio. This enables routing to many amplifiers without the need for external switches, repeaters, or splitters, and, in turn, simplifies the process of setting up a typical networked system. This allows an amplifier to act as an analogue-to-Dante convertor, collecting analogue signals and allowing distribution to other amplifiers. “I’ve known of Powersoft for years and was well aware of their famous high power per rack unit reputation,” said Philip Hughes, managing director Magnum PA. “We had been looking for an option to streamline our main system racks for a while, but it was difficult to find an option that also met our requirements for Dante connectivity and failover. Although we didn’t quite have the need for the power of the X4, as soon as we saw the T Series we knew we had found the perfect solution.” Hughes worked with CUK’s James Lawford to confirm his assumptions of what the T604 and T602 could do for his main PA systems, and was eventually sold when Lawford mentioned the T Series would comfortably drive a 100V line system. “Part of our production work is in large-scale site-wide systems, and to be able to deploy the T Series across all of our projects was a fantastic prospect,” said Hughes. June 2021 news 6 Adamson introduces IS-Series weatherised loudspeakers, and design tools for the premium installation market Adamson Systems Engineering officially announces a range of new products available immediately for the installation market, including an extension to its renowned IS-Series of installation loudspeakers and a suite of improved and updated design tools for architects, integrators, and sound designers. With the introduction of the IS-Series weatherised line, Adamson offers AV professionals a loudspeaker family purpose-built to withstand the most extreme climates in the world. Weatherised enclosures are ideal for marine and coastal venues, outdoor stadiums, open-air performance spaces, and other permanent outdoor installations. “Adamson loudspeakers have always been known for their durability and sonic performance, both on the road and in permanent installations,” says Adamson’s head of product and technology, Brian Fraser. “With the weatherised line, we’ve added corrosion resistance and environmental sealing features that are going to ensure long-term durability in harsh environments without impeding performance.” IS-Series weatherised models achieve an IP55 rating without sacrificing performance or aesthetics. All structural steel elements of the IS-Series weatherised cabinets are made of a high yield strength stainless alloy that offers 100% corrosion resistance. The new models also feature an interior and exterior coating with a distinctive smooth finish that provides a water-resistant seal and allows for easy cleaning and removal of dirt, grime, salt water or sand. Explains Fraser: “Whether you’re dealing with sea water, intense heat or cold, or endless rain, these cabinets are built to deliver uncompromising audio and a venue-friendly form factor. Even after extreme environmental testing, they look and sound incredible.” Weatherised versions are available now for the entire family of IS-Series loudspeakers. Elation’s new KL PAR FC: Modern Technology meets Classic Design Elation Professional continues to make significant strides in the development of theatrical and broadcast-grade luminaires with launch of the new KL PAR FC. Elation designers have taken modern technology and paired it with classic design to create this new full- colour LED PAR light in the company’s popular KL “Key Light” Series. Ideal for broadcast environments, film, theatre, or any production requiring outstanding colour quality, the KL PAR FC is a highly effective key, fill, and area wash light source. The KL PAR FC houses a highly efficient 280W RGBMA LED engine with CCT adjustments possible from 2,400K - 8,500K for precise colour temperature control. The full-spectrum LED engine emits beautifully diffused saturates and soft-field pastels, including tunable white light. The unit produces the finest quality of light with high CRI (92) and TLCI (95) values, meaning that colour recreation is extremely accurate both to the eye and to the camera. Output is up to 11,000 field lumens, equivalent to existing 750W tungsten PAR fixtures. Optimised for the specific requirements of broadcast, the KL PAR FC can adjust for light that shifts away from pure white towards green or magenta through a green-magenta shift adjustment and a virtual gel library. Capable of matching the white balance for camera, users can easily shift the colour temperature without the use of plus/minus green gels and filters. Additionally, the LED refresh rate can adjust so there is no flickering when used with high-speed cameras. The KL PAR FC comes with a number of other useful features that make it an even more flexible complement to any professional lighting system like a 7.5” colour frame and multiple lens choices included (11°, 22°, 30°, 52°) that are easy to replace in the field. Optional items include 7.5” barndoors, an extra-wide 90° lens, and a 23° ovaliser lens. DMX controllable (six DMX modes, 1 – 17 channels) with full RDM support, it offers intuitive manual control for stand-alone operation when desired for instant control of intensity, colour temperature, green shift and other important settings. Exceptionally bright output, precise colour temperature control, full spectrum colour rendering and even wash coverage – all in a traditional PAR form factor – make the KL PAR FC an excellent choice for today’s fast-paced production environments. The KL Series also encompasses warm-white and cold-white models, as well as a full colour spectrum LED soft panel light. www.elationlighting.com Robe Launches New T2 Profile Luminaire Moving light manufacturer Robe Lighting s.r.o. has launched its new T2 Profile luminaire which offers an array of innovative technologies and the sought- after colour finesse of Robe’s hugely successful Multi-Spectral LED (MSL) light engines. Crafted for multiple applications: theatre, television, auditoriums, stages, concert environments, etc., the T2 Profile produces over 17,500 lumens (measured at the front lens) via its 850W MSL source, to throw beautiful high-quality light over long distances. The fixture’s exceptional quietness is perfect for scenarios where noise is crucial including classical concerts or recitals and dramas where you could still hear the proverbial pin drop with a full rig of T2s! It will also be an ideal long throw partner used in conjunction with Robe’s smaller T1 series fixtures, as both feature the MSL LED engines and therefore produce an identical multi-spectral colour mixing consistency. The T2 Profile incorporates many unique technologies like adjustable CCT from 2,700K to 8,000K, together with DataSwatch for the quick selection of 237 authentic pre-programmed colours and tones including the most frequently used whites. A high CRI of 95+ gives gorgeous skin tones, while Robe’s L3 – Low Light Linearity – and very smooth 18-bit dimming enable fabulous fades-to-black. EMS stabilisation keeps the fixture steady whatever is happening around it, and the Cpulse flicker-free management is essential when working with cameras and vision systems. Other features include the RCCTM (Robe Colour Calibration) system which allows self-calibration of the LED engine without using any external tools. AirLOC (Less Optical Cleaning) greatly reduces the levels of airborne particles across the optical elements, boosting the overall performance and light quality of the fixture, and it also reduces the time needed for routine cleaning and maintenance. The T2 Profile has been engineered by Robe to include all the functionality that lighting designers and professionals are demanding with features like fast, easy CMY colour control, a separate +/- green hue control channel, an impressive 5°– 55° zoom, variable 1° and 5° interchangeable frosts with full zoom range capability, two gobo wheels (one static and one rotating), an animation wheel, two rotating prisms and precise four individual plane framing shutter system. www.robe.czIssue: 340 news 7 Triple Award Win for Backstage Academy Backstage Academy was recognised for its service across education and the live events sector after it claimed top spot for three categories at this year’s virtual Educate North Awards. The annual Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of further and higher education institutions across the region, recognising best practice and excellence in the educational sector. Offering degrees, short courses and bespoke training in the live events industry, the South-Kirby-based institution achieved recognition from judges across three categories: the Student Experience Award, the Employer Engagement Award and Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Academy’s chairman and founder, Adrian Brooks. Rachel Nicholson, the head of institution, says the clutch of award wins will further bolster Backstage Academy’s trophy cabinet, as it sets its sights on full University accreditation over the next few years. Rachel comments: “This is a fantastic reflection of the hard work and passion from our students, staff and partners at Backstage Academy, which I think we can all be really proud of. “It is also particularly pleasing that the Founder of Backstage Academy, Adrian Brooks, was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of his contribution to the future growth of the sector.” Backstage Academy was recognised by the judging panel for the Student Experience Award for putting students at the heart of their institution, whilst the Employer Engagement Award recognised the institution’s excellence in engaging with employers and industry professionals. The judges celebrated the Academy’s outstanding educational value, student experience and its focus on arming students with the skills to excel in the industry. Rachel continues: “From industry-partner masterclasses to hands on use of cutting- edge equipment, software and technology, our students experience real-life industry opportunities and experiences with world- leading companies day-in day-out. “We’re proud that our students get to experience working with industry specialists, experiment with pioneering products, and gain dream opportunities before becoming live events professionals themselves. “The judging panel identified our work opportunities programme as a particular driver of our students’ experience. By shaping the degree programmes with a substantial emphasis on student experience and employability, our students enter the world of work with a network of industry contacts, an impressive portfolio of work experience, and a passion for their craft. “We’re also delighted that our chairman and founder, Adrian Brooks, was recognised for his drive, passion and unwavering commitment to the live events industry and education of its future generations. “The judging panel recognised Adrian’s vision; from starting out as a bingo caller and road sweeper, to setting up an innovative, world-leading aluminium scaffolding business, Litestructures. It was then that Adrian recognised the need for investment in live events education before he launched the academy in 2009. “We are honoured to have been in the running against some of the best education providers across the north. From our humble beginnings, it is a testament to the passion and love of live events from our students and staff that has made these awards possible.” On his award win, Adrian Brooks said: “I’m thrilled for the recognition, but more than that, I am grateful to the team who have worked around me over the last 12 to 14 years to develop Backstage Academy into what it is today.”June 2021 news 8 Chauvet Professional Ovation Rêve E-3 Creates Colours and Whites Choice is good, especially when it comes in one ultra-quiet fixture like the new Ovation Rêve E-3, a next generation, brightest-in-its class ellipsoidal that creates an unlimited array of vivid colours as well as variable whites. Incorporating advanced LED technology, the versatile fixture allows theatres, broadcast studios, houses of worship and other users to get more for their lighting investment by serving as both a variable white and colour rendering unit. The Ovation Rêve E-3 performs this double duty without sacrificing brightness or performance. When creating whites with a 95+ CRI and high TM-30 RF, it delivers a level of brightness equal to that of a 750-1000W incandescent fixture. It also features a linear CCT adjustment with +/- green to match other sources light sources in a rig, and colour temperature presets from 2800 K to 8000 K with high CRI and CQS. Brightness levels are even greater when the Rêve E-3 is creating realistic colours, ranging from soft pastels to bold primaries, with its RGBAM LED engine. Its ‘mint’ colour LED has been shown to be more efficient at producing a much brighter output as well as higher quality whites and colours. “The Rêve E-3 represents an important advance for Ovation,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Being able to create colors as well as whites, reduces the number of fixtures needed in a production. This saves space on the rig and in the warehouse, as well as on the truck, which makes it an ideal fixture for our industry as we emerge from the pandemic.” Whether it’s used to create variable whites or colours, the Rêve E-3 has the output to ensure even coverage from any hang point in theatres of all sizes. Thanks to its precision optics, the fixture delivers near flawless edge-to-edge focus to minimise any shift in focus between colours. Discrete in its operation, the Rêve E-3 is virtually silent, making it well suited for applications where ultra-quiet operation is valued. Selectable fan speeds make it possible to eliminate even the faintest sounds completely, while the fixture’s adjustable PWM ensures flicker operation on-camera. A clever design innovation allows the yoke of the Rêve E-3 to be shortened without being removed to provide a convenient solution for hanging in broadcast studios or any room with a low ceiling. The fixture’s integrated handle makes focusing faster and easier, and as an added time saver, its Focus Mode can be accessed from a dedicated button. The new advanced Rêve E-3 works with all lens tubes used on existing Ovation features as well as lenses from some other manufacturers, saving costs for anyone adding this innovative breakthrough product to a rig. “Our goal in developing this fixture was to provide our customers with greater flexibility,” said Chauvet. “We wanted to offer them a fixture that can create both white and coloured light, a fixture that could deliver greater output, yet still be silent. This is our way of delivering greater value to the market at a time when value is needed more than ever.” Showgear is the new brand for all event accessories Highlite International B.V. Has announced a new brand for all the accessory products: Showgear. Showgear will be the go- to brand for all accessories for event and installation solutions, like flightcases, stands and stage essentials, and provide you with every piece of supplemental gear you need for your show. Showgear is the new go-to brand for all stage accessories and expendables. It will offer basically every piece of accessory that is needed on or off stage, from flightcases to back drops to speaker stands to rigging equipment. Products from Showgear will be supporting stage performances and events in every imaginable situation. Showgear carries clamps, LED bulbs, tapes, heavy duty power strips, gear bags, butterfly locks, 19-inch racks and accessories, stands, cable straps, fog fluids, confetti and other expendables, and every other indispensable event accessory that may be needed. Take the Showgear PSA- 32A12S for example. This power distributor will provide safe power to your stage while showing the power usage per phase via its built-in digital volt and current displays. Or the MT-230 lifting tower, which ensures safe lifting of your truss or heavy loudspeakers. With this, Showgear is replacing several products from DAP, Showtec, Artecta and DMT, which are all brands of Highlite International B.V.. Based on the established premium value of their predecessors, Showgear assures that their products will inherit the same quality with matching great price to performance ratio. Showgear emphasises that it is ready for the expected surge in demand when covid measures are loosened and events are starting up again. By that time, or any time, customers can gear up with Showgear and get the best out of their shows! Ghostframe – Game-Changing Technology for Virtual Production Delivering the tools to create magic in the world of visual communication, industry veterans AGS, Megapixel VR, and ROE Visual have joined forces to deliver game-changing technology for virtual production. Aiming to make the ‘impossible’ possible for film, broadcast, and event production teams, GhostFrame creates simplified, more efficient, and faster workflows. Combining the strengths and possibilities of cutting-edge LED and camera technology, GhostFrame enables creative and never-before-seen use of video and broadcast technology. “Great journeys start with dreaming of the possibilities rather than being constrained by what you can’t do. We’re all strongly driven by the creation of innovative technology, so we took the leap of faith in this cooperation, opening our IP to offer the market something revolutionary and new,” states Max von Braun from AGS. GhostFrame works by displaying more than just the video feed on the LED panel with different inputs invisible to the human eye but visible to the camera. This magic enables professional cameras to capture one or more sets of images while the naked eye only sees one. Thanks to Megapixel VR’s HELIOS Processing Platform, the LED panels have immense processing power, and therefore no upstream workarounds are needed. You can have all of the GhostFrame features while sending regular frame rates in 4K and 8K formats. Creating multiple and hidden sources in one video feed gives production teams the freedom to operate without restrictions. Using GhostFrame will reduce installation and production time, allow for real-time post-production with free positioning and camera movement, all while working in a near-zero latency environment. “The fact that content, like a green screen or camera tracking, can be hidden is the ground-breaking factor of GhostFrame,” states Roelof Bouwman, from ROE Visual. “The talent on-stage works with a realistic background, while at the same time camera tracking or green screen can be captured, invisible for the person on the set.”news 9 Issue: 340 Brompton Technology introduces game changing ShutterSync in new Tessera v3.2 software Once again confirming its reputation as a pioneer of LED processing for “on camera” applications, Brompton Technology has announced its new Tessera v3.2 software with ShutterSync, a game changing tool for users of Tessera SX40 and S8 LED processors. In addition, it has added the option to upload a custom 3D LUT directly to the Tessera LED processor for the very first time. Tessera v3.2 is ideal for creatives using LED on camera for both virtual production and XR (eXtended Reality) applications, giving professional users more flexibility than ever before with convenient features that put the emphasis on creative choice and control. “Until now, filming an LED screen required the camera’s shutter speed to be precisely matched to the LED screen refresh to prevent ugly artefacts appearing. With ShutterSync, LED refresh can be tuned to the camera, not the other way around, giving creative control back to the user,” says Brompton CTO, Chris Deighton. ShutterSync is an industry-first, patent-pending processing feature that automatically adjusts the timing of the LED refresh to match the preferred camera setup. It can optionally be used in conjunction with Frame Remapping, which allows the user to interleave different areas of the video raster or solid colours in the output enabling multi-camera systems, and transforming the workflow for virtual production. With ShutterSync, the LED screen ceases to be an obstacle to work around, becoming a genuine partner in the creative process with many of the commonly experienced visual artefacts on camera a thing of the past. “This means that the DOP retains creative flexibility for camera configuration, with wider choice of aperture, lens, sensor gain, filters, etc. to achieve the desired creative result and level of motion blur,” adds Deighton. ShutterSync is compatible with all LED panels fitted with a Tessera R2 receiver card and works best with panels supporting HFR (High Frame Rates). ShutterSync does not affect network pixel capacity and works with genlock for a perfectly synced system. Tessera v3.2 also offers power users greater control over the colour of an LED screen with the ability to import a 3D LUT. 3D LUTs (Look Up Tables) are an efficient way of remapping colours and allow for advanced colour correction. They are commonly used in film production, for everything from on-set camera tuning to colour grading in post. The Tessera software can import and use any valid Adobe .cube file, using 12-bit precision and tetrahedral interpolation. “Reproducing colour on LED screens is a complex science,” concludes Deighton. “Our Dynamic Calibration technology is essential for achieving colour accuracy, and our existing ChromaTune feature gives users flexible, integrated colour correction. 3D LUT import builds on this to give power users, especially those working in virtual production, direct access to the system’s colour processing capabilities. This helps with camera calibration and improves integration with existing colour management workflows, with zero additional latency or cost. “Filming with LED is here to stay, and we’re proud to continue delivering features that support and empower the creativity of our users.” ShutterSync and 3D LUT import are available as free software upgrades to users of Tessera SX40 and S8 processors. Tessera v3.2 software is currently available for beta testing from the Brompton website.Next >