direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month Jobs and Careers Web Directory Features Issue: 346 Eos illuminates Pierre Wendels’ Les Nuits de Nemaus page 25 December 2021 On 3 October, 200 drones took to the skies. Numerous moving lights from Ayrton set the scene for the multi-layered live setting in parallel. Paris-based Blue Node used the disguise Extended Reality (xR) workflow as an essential solution for shooting 43 musical numbers in four days. TiMax on Europe’s largest natural stage page: 15page: 20 page: 2 page: 31 pages: 28 to 31 For this summer’s production at St Margarethen’s amphitheatre, the audio was delicately elevated by the subtle brilliance of TiMax SoundHub. 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 CODA Audio Releases SPACE HUB CODA Audio has announced the release of its new state-of-the art immersive processor, SPACE HUB. Featuring highly advanced spatial audio algorithms for the positioning and movement of sound objects, Space Hub can render up to 128 audio sources into 128 outputs to create the ultimate 3D immersive listening experience in theatres, houses of worship, live venues and production studios. Set for its official launch at the Tonmeistertagung 2021 event at the CCD in Düsseldorf, SPACE HUB is an integral component of CODA’s SPACE immersive system solution. More on page 11 disguise xR in for “La Soirée Extraordinaire” page: 22 German Unity Day staged with Ayrton Fixturescontents this month December 2021 page no. Features page : 5 page : 6 page : 10 page : 8 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 21 Chauvet Professional Helps Create Nuanced Looks for Billy Elliot Reflecting the deep sea of emotions that run through this story were 52 Chauvet Ovation E-910FC ellipsoidal fixtures. 22 TiMax masters immersive opera on Europe’s largest natural stage For this summer’s “Oper Im Steinbruch” production at St Margarethen’s amphitheatre, the audio was delicately elevated by the subtle brilliance of TiMax SoundHub. 23 Waltham Forest Town Hall Gets New Anolis 21st Century Look A vibrant and elegant new Anolis Eminere LED lighting design by architectural lighting practice Pritchard Themis is gracing the front facades of Waltham Forest Town Hall, London. 24 WL leads integration for BAFTA 195 Piccadilly Redevelopment Under the ongoing redevelopment remit of BAFTA’s 195 Piccadilly headquarters, White Light (WL) was engaged to manage the installation of its new state-of-the-art technological infrastructure. 25 Eos illuminates Pierre Wendels’ visual creation Les Nuits de Nemaus Les Nuits de Nemaus featured more than 200 professional performers and a plethora of effects; with lighting controlled by two ETC Eos consoles, with Philippe Roy at the helm. 26 New Pop Golf Experience Launches in Wembley with Martin Audio CDD Pop Golf features a course of nine holes paired with a high-octane Martin Audio sound system, provided by partners, Middlesex Sound & Light. 27 Robe T1s Get Musical at Curve Theatre An eye-catching lighting design was created by Ben Cracknell for this spirit rousing show, utilising some Robe T1 Profile moving lights for keylighting. 12 AMATA deploys Sennheiser Digital 6000 at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 Digital Showcase AMATA, became a satellite venue for the Edinburgh Fringe, presenting a digital showcase as part of Pleasance Theatre’s Edinburgh programme. Sennheiser Digital 6000 was chosen as the perfect solution to diverse requirements. 14 Royal Opera House London chooses Artiste Picasso for FOH moving heads The Royal Opera House in London has chosen Elation Professional’s Artiste Picasso as the prestigious performing arts venue’s new front of house moving head lighting solution. 15 Multimedia Unity: German Unity Day staged with Ayrton Fixtures On 3 October, 200 drones took to the skies above Burg Giebichenstein in Halle. Numerous moving lights from Ayrton set the scene for the multi-layered live setting in parallel. 16 Audiologic works with Handy AV to install a future-proof audio system at GAMA Healthcare HQ Audiologic has delivered a state-of-the-art audio system for GAMA Healthcare’s brand-new office space. 18 Astera for Lotus Emira Launch Video Lighting designer Nick Jevons reached for Astera Titan Tubes to create the desired effects. 19 Robe Holds the Strings at Ljubljana Puppet Theatre Ljubljana Puppet Theatre has recently re-opened after a complete eight-month renovation plan. This latest technical upgrade has included the installation of 16 new Robe T1 LED Profile moving lights. 20 Blue Node relies on disguise xR in for “La Soirée Extraordinaire” Paris-based Blue Node used the disguise Extended Reality (xR) workflow as an essential solution for shooting 43 musical numbers in four days.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: 346 Michael Hall Michael Hall was born in 1934 and, after working on airborne radar during National Service, entered the lighting business in 1954 as a management trainee involved with cold cathode colour and photometric physics. He became a senior lighting engineer at Osram GEC, and in 1975, while researching studio lamp design in Hollywood, Michael met Stan Miller who ran Rosco, then a colour filter supplier to the film industry. This meeting was pivotal in Michael’s career. In 1976 Michael and Stan opened Rosco in London. With a minimal staff it grew swiftly from just a gel company into a major supplier of dance floors, gobos and scenic paints. The range of colour filters became extensive and helped a revolution in lighting design. Rosco was an exhibitor at the first ABTT Trade Show in 1976 and remained constant supporters for almost 40 years. When the company moved from the South Bank to Sydenham, he built a paint frame for hire in their new warehouse, filling a gap in the market and ensuring that scenic artists always had a ready supply of paint! Michael was a Kentish man and retained a keen interest in bird watching throughout his life, along with keeping pet dogs. On his retirement he and his wife converted a 500 year old barn into a home. Here, Michael had an extensive library and his collection of Magic Lanterns and slides. The lure of lighting and colour kept Michael involved as a consultant to Rosco. He was a keen supporter of the ABTT and he became an active member of its Historical Research Committee. He wrote and published a number of personal memoirs on colour, painting and lighting, as well as producing articles for Sightline. Michael also had three books published by ETP: Light and Colour Filters (with Eddie Ruffell), Gobos for Image Projection (with Julie Harper) and Miscellany of Lighting & Stagecraft (again, with Julie Harper). At the time of his death, he had other writing projects in progress. Michael never wavered in his love and support for the technical theatre industry. He died aged 87 on 25 September 2021. He will be sorely missed by friends and colleagues alike. photo: Chris Taylor Photography Season’s Greetings to all our Readers from all at Entertainment Technology PressDecember 2021 news 4 Set CC or CV per channel DMX/RDM controlled 8-channel LED dimmer candlePower octo ArtisticLicence.com Absen Partners with Brompton Technology to Help Create Virtual Studio Solutions Absen, the world’s leading LED exporter and Brompton Technology, an expert in LED video processing, have joined forces with the aim to offer the very best solutions for high-end virtual studios. Absen’s LED specialist background paired with Brompton Technology’s market leading processing solutions for LED video walls, offers integrators and customers access to the leading video packages when it comes to virtual studio creation. Adam Berditch, Absen’s business development manager for the UK, commented: “Over the last year, we’ve seen businesses use LED to transform live online events. State-of-the-art virtual studios are fast becoming the norm for industries across the globe, as LED can offer a whole new dimension to online presentations, professional events and award ceremonies.” The use of virtual studios has grown exponentially in the last two years, with this growth showing no signs of slowing down. Grand View Research estimated that the global virtual production market size was valued at USD 1.41 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.7% from 2021 to 2028. Virtual production enables film makers to create real-time virtual backgrounds instead of filming at costly set locations, not only does this ensure significant savings but the content creation options are limitless. Both Absen and Brompton will be leading the way in showing users just how effective immersive LED screens and processors can be for the future of virtual production. London based Brompton Technology, established in 2011 is a specialist manufacturer of cutting edge video processing products for the film, TV, broadcast and live event sectors. Its LED processors are able to realise reactive backgrounds that perfectly sync with the camera for fully immersive filming. Notably, its Tessera LED processing products are leading the way in virtual studio development with features including; High Dynamic Range (HDR), ultra-low latency, and high frame rate which can help create a real-time rendered virtual world. In light of the virtual studios growth in recent years, Absen’s latest Autumn launch featured an LED virtual movie studio solution which streamlines the film making process. Colossal scenes can be shot in a small space, saving time and energy for set transitions. The director and creators are immersed in the surrounding environment, so they are able to engage with their surroundings in real time. The AX Pro series of MiniLED and HD lease products were showcased, including professional stage floor tile screens so actors and creators can walk over their virtual set. With such extensive knowledge and 24/7 customer support offered to world-wise users, Brompton Technology’s company ethos parallels that of Absen who are globally recognised for their high-quality products and bespoke customer care. Absen’s support network spans the globe, with 380 service partners and exports reaching 120 countries and regions. Both internationally recognised companies have a wealth of combined knowledge to offer their clients, integrators and end-users. Christian Czimny, product director at Absen commented: “We’re thrilled to be working together with Brompton, especially creating solutions surrounding virtual studios, which have become so important recently. It’s an exciting time for Absen, having replacement green screen technologies to offer our clients, which really revolutionise the filming process. Brompton’s extraordinary technologies work in unison with a whole host of our high end products so I feel our collective expertise will benefit the customer above and beyond what we have been able to offer them before.” Sarner International to bring Anglo-Saxon Winchester to life in partnership with Hampshire Cultural Trust and Ubisoft, creators of best- selling video game Assassin’s Creed Sarner International, an award-winning design and build practice behind some of the world's best-loved historical and cultural attractions, has won the tender to design and deliver an exciting, new, immersive visitor experience that plunges visitors back in time to 9th century Winchester. The project was initiated through a cross-sector partnership between charity Hampshire Cultural Trust, international gaming company Ubisoft, who featured Anglo-Saxon Winchester in the Valhalla chapter of their global gaming series Assassin’s Creed, and UK creative innovation studio, Sugar Creative. The new visitor attraction will give audiences an interactive insight into Anglo-Saxon life in Winchester through immersive storytelling, audio- visual projection and the use of contemporary objects from Hampshire Cultural Trust’s collections, complemented by assets from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Ubisoft’s own educational spin-off, Discovery Tour: Viking Age. It will relate the importance of Winchester, King Alfred’s capital, in the shaping of English history. The experience will tackle warfare and conflict with the Vikings, but also more subtle subjects such as daily life, trade and the profound influence of this time and place on the English language. Once visitors have completed the attraction they will be able to continue their exploration of Winchester, guided by an augmented reality app being developed by Sugar Creative. The aim is not only to deliver a 21st century heritage attraction based on a digital, immersive experience, but also to pioneer a new form of collaboration between arts and heritage organisations, technology innovators and the gaming industry. Ed Cookson, projects director, Sarner International: “We are thrilled to be able to bring the rich history and drama of Anglo-Saxon Winchester to life through the incredible assets of Hampshire Cultural Trust and the engaging environments and world-building of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Visitors are going to love exploring and experiencing the stories and settings of this turbulent but vibrant time.” Paul Sapwell, chief executive of Hampshire Cultural Trust, commented: “We’re delighted to bring Sarner International on board to help us develop our vision of 9th century Winchester, creating a unique and immersive experience that will bring this pivotal period of English history to life for our visitors.” The attraction is due to open late 2022.Issue: 346 news 5 Theatreplan Strengthens Team with Five New Appointments Theatreplan has welcomed five new members of staff, just prior to and during the pandemic, to assist the company in meeting the demands of current and future projects. Andy Josephs joined Theatreplan at the end of 2019 from the Bridge Theatre where he had been head of sound, and part of the small technical team that created and opened the theatre in 2017. Prior to this Andy worked as a sound technician at London's Almeida Theatre, Young Vic Theatre, and the St James Theatre, London. Since joining Theatreplan, Andy has been engaged on designing and specifying sound systems for a large school theatre in China and is also an integral part of the team working on the major upgrading project at Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and the major technical infrastructure redesign at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore. Peter Crockett joined Theatreplan as junior stage engineer in summer 2021 and will be supporting the team on many of our most prestigious stage engineering projects. Peter graduated in 2019 with an MEng in mechanical engineering from the University of Bristol. He subsequently worked with the Cotswold Canals Trust and was involved in Project Velocity Research Lab at the University of Bristol, which is researching into optimisation of chain drives for the British Olympic Cycling Team. Peter is a keen photographer and maker and joined to combine his love of engineering with a deep interest in the arts. He is working on our stage engineering projects at Royal Albert Hall and Playhouse in Copenhagen. Andrea Sinigaglia and Anthony Grieveson both joined in 2020 to further deepen the building information modelling expertise within the company. Both had significant experience working for commercial architecture practices, but also had an abiding interest in theatre design. Anthony graduated in Architecture from Liverpool University and his MA dissertation focused on auditorium acoustics. Andrea studied architecture at Universita’ di Firenze and a Master’s degree at Universita’ di Genova. His degree thesis was for a Masterplan for a ‘Music Harbour’ in the gulf of La Spezia and project for a 7,000-seat concert hall. Both are providing important support with 3D modelling for technical upgrade projects on venues around the world including at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore and Playhouse in Copenhagen. In September 2021, Theatreplan was delighted to welcome architect and theatre planner, Lara Kerrison to the team. Her wide experience of designing for theatres whilst at RHWL and later AEDAS Arts Team, latterly as an associate, means she brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and creativity to the practice. Lara gained her degree at the University of Cambridge and post graduate qualifications at the University of Bath. Her first role was with RHWL where she worked on the detailed design and construction phases of The Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s state-of-the-art Milton Court extension. Other projects included, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new costume workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon and being project architect for the award-winning Tara Theatre. Alongside new-build schemes, Lara has extensive experience working on historic and listed buildings and is currently pursuing her RIBA Conservation accreditation. Whilst at RHWL/Aedas, she worked regularly with Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, and was part of the team that delivered the highly regarded refurbishment and extension of the Grade II* listed Victoria Palace Theatre, working directly with Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Lara is currently providing theatre planning expertise for the exciting redevelopment at Yeovil Octagon which has just commenced, with Theatreplan working alongside architects FCBStudios. Martin Audio Formally Presented With Queen’s Award for Innovation Back in April this year, Martin Audio was honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays. Upon the announcement, Martin Audio MD Dom Harter, had eagerly acknowledged the prestige of winning, fittingly during the company’s 50th year. He also revealed that Wavefront Precision arrays had become the company’s fastest ever selling line array format suitable for both installation and live sound applications. Six months later Martin Audio was formally presented with the award, at a special reception held at their High Wycombe HQ, by Countess Howe, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. Also in attendance were Councillor Zahir Mohammed, chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, as well as Phil Dudderidge, executive chairman and founder of Martin Audio parent company, Focusrite, and all the staff of Martin Audio. After a brief demonstration of Wavefront Precision, Dom Harter introduced Countess Howe, who started by congratulating the company on its achievement. She noted that there were 205 award winners across the UK and only 48 in the innovation category, including two from High Wycombe. “Buckinghamshire clearly is the entrepreneurial heart of the UK,” she exclaimed. “In order to receive this award under the Innovation category you have needed to demonstrate that innovation is critical to the growth of your company, and that you have invested in development with the right risk balanced portfolio. Your research into what the market needs has been crucial to building your networks. Customer satisfaction has been a key indicator of your engagement with your market. And with a world class rating in the customer satisfaction tables you are clearly doing the right thing!” Countess Howe continued: “Your investment in research and development has enabled the diversification of your business from an essentially touring heritage to encompassing fixed installations. This you have rolled out at an awe-inspiring rate with an unprecedented level of new product development: 60 new products in five years I believe, resulting in a five-fold increase in product.” Addressing the staff, she said in conclusion: “You should feel justifiably proud of achieving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category, and on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and as her representative in the county I am delighted to make the presentation.” A striking crystal glass trophy, along with the certificate, were duly presented to Dom Harter and Phil Dudderidge. Harter, in turn, thanked the Lord-Lieutenant, stating: “I am extremely proud of this achievement as it recognises both innovation and commercial success and is testament to everyone’s hard work here at Martin Audio. “The last 18 months has been the most challenging time in the company’s 50-year history, but the combination of innovation, hard work and family spirit has once again shown that we can meet any challenge. As we emerge from the pandemic, fitter and stronger than before, this Queen’s Award presentation feels the perfect celebration of everyone’s efforts, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team here.” Phil Dudderidge also added thanks to the staff, registering his pride in Martin Audio as part of Focusrite, and underlined the importance of the Queen’s Awards. The formal duties discharged, Countess Howe then spent time chatting to staff on a factory walkabout.December 2021 news 6 Prosound Installs Martin Audio in Upmarket Spa Resort Rooftop Lounge Bar Part of the Diamond Hill Resort & Spa the new 400-capacity Rooftop Lounge Bar in the Albanian city of Vlorë, has been fitted out with a high-power Martin Audio sound system, comprising components from the BlacklineX and CDD series, supplied and installed by its territorial distributors, Prosound. Offering breathtaking, panoramic views, the lively venue delivers a combination of house music from DJs interspersed with live bands by night, and BGM during the daytime. Prosound had been contacted by the venue’s architects to provide a solution. “But the procurement process was similar to that of a tender since the client also received offers from other providers,” acknowledges Prosound’s technical director, Endrit Veleshnja, who recommended Martin Audio and designed the system around it. Explaining his reasons, he said: “BlacklineX series has continuously shown that it offers the ideal speaker models in situations where quality sound with moderately high SPL levels is required. Another consideration was that the system needed to be affordable. “As for CDD series, offering premium sound quality and weather protection, it was the perfect choice for the terrace.” Installed inside the venue are ten Blackline X8, along with a pair of X10 and four SX210 subwoofers, ground stacked. Outside on the U-shaped terrace, which bends around the indoor perimeter, are 10 CDD6 and four SX110 subs, suspended from the small terrace roof. In addition, Prosound installed the mixing console and the matrix system that divides the sound zones (which is also controlled by a smartphone/ tablet). They also installed the entertainment lighting system on a small stage in the middle of the indoor venue. This stage is located inside the bar and sits on a glass frame, with views down through six storeys. Kliton Gjika CEO of Prosound reports that both the client and his customers are delighted with the results. “Also, the different live bands that have performed at the venue during this summer season have provided very positive feedback about the quality of the sound system.” Ayrton launches Huracán LT – aim far, aim with precision Ayrton has announced the arrival of Huracán LT, the latest in its range of long-throw fixtures designed specifically for stadium and arena use. To create light for such immense venues is a privilege reserved only for the most powerful, feature-rich and advanced luminaires, and Huracán LT delivers like no other. Huracán LT generates an ultra-intense beam with the utmost precision and is ideal for creating the kind of choreography that is as graphic as it is breathtaking. Huracán LT can project over extreme distances, targeting a far-off subject with nuance, finesse, power and true precision. A 225mm front lens forms part of the proprietary optical system of 13 lenses delivering a 15:1 zoom ratio and an impressive zoom range of 3.5 to 53°. A new, high-efficiency 1000W LED module delivers a record light output of 51,000 lumens at a colour temperature of 6700K, with a CRI greater than 70 and a factory-equipped, removable high-transmission diffusion filter erases the edge of the beam without changing its angle, ensuring precision and accuracy even over the longest throw distances. Huracán LT uses the same patent-pending, revolutionary complex colour mixing system as Huracán Profile (launched in 2019) offering a double saturation level that can obtain over a billion colours. A triple variable colour temperature corrector (CTB, CTO and CTP) allows subtle adjustment from 2700K to 15,000K and offers noticeable CRI improvement in excess of 70. There is also a fixed colour wheel with six complementary colours. Huracán LT features an advanced framing section, which enables accurate positioning of four shutter blades on a 100% surface area in all positions, for precise framing of any object regardless of the luminaire’s position. The effects section includes two superimposed rotating gobo wheels each with seven HD glass gobos, a monochromatic multi-position effects wheel for horizontal, vertical or axial scrolling for creating flame, water or radiant effects, and a multi-layer CMY RGB wheel for unique multi-colour effects. Huracán LT has multiple optical tools designed for beam shaping, including two combinable image-multiplying rotating prisms – one linear with four facets and the other circular with five facets, a 15-blade iris diaphragm and two frosts. It also has an electronic dimmer allowing perfect, flicker-free light adjustment from 0 to 100% without colour variation making it perfect for television, film and video use too. Combining exceptional power, creativity and precision Huracán LT, shakes up the world of light and offers amazing new perspectives as the ultimate tool for both stadiums and arenas and all large venues dedicated to major events. Huracán LT is shipping with immediate effect. Chauvet Professional Introduces onAir IP Rugged Outdoor-Ready Soft Light Panels Chauvet Professional’s new onAir IP series delivers a stellar performance on location regardless of rain, dust, heat or snow. The first fully IP65 series of soft light LED panels, these all-weather fixtures are ideally suited to move from indoor to outdoor projects, including music videos, red carpet events and on location remotes. Available in three sizes, the onAir IP offers an effective broadcast lighting solution for a variety of set-ups, including close ups, as well as projects filmed in small to medium quarters. All three models in the onAir IP family have a 90+ CRI and equally impressive TM-30 score, as well as +/- Green adjustment, and onboard emulated red-shift control via CRMX wireless control and DMX. The largest of the three, the onAir IP Panel 2, is a 2x1 format 372W panel that delivers 23,000 peak lumens. Next in size is the 200W onAir IP Panel 1, which is a 1x1 format panel that provides over 12,000 peak lumens, while the smallest fixture in the family, the 49W onAir IP Panel Min, produces over 2,500 peak lumens and has a removable PSU. Engineered for real world applications, the ruggedly designed onAir IP offers unique drop-in access to allow quick and easy swapping of diffusion and intensifier filters without tools, saving time when changing beam shapers. The panels also make it easy to use either a pin mount or truss clamp during set up, and offer a direct 28V connection. RDM (Remote Device Management) and CRMX Wireless Control provide added flexibility. Once an on-location shoot is completed, onAir IP fixtures can be taken down easily. The onAir IP Panel 2 and IP Panel 1 also have integrated handles for added convenience. Regardless of whether they’re used in fixed studios or on remote locations, fixtures in the ultra-quiet onAir IP series offer a variety of features that make it possible to achieve nearly any colour in the visible colour space, while delivering an extraordinarily bright output. The onAir IP panels have precise colour temperature replication. Presets make it fast and simple to adjust colours, and the panels fade rather than step between colours. The onAir IP Panel 2 and IP Panel 1 include physical preset buttons which are set to specific colour temperatures, and the ability to store custom colour temperatures and effects, for quick recall. Software updates can be made easily with no need for an uploader thanks to a USB port and readily navigated on-board control. The panels can also be controlled via integrated CRMX wireless, Art-Net and sACN networking, as well as a 5-pin DMX, making it easier for users to run them in any environment.Issue: 346 news 7 TAIT acquires ITEC Entertainment TAIT, the global group of creative engineers, fabricators, producers and technologists for live entertainment environments, has announced its acquisition of ITEC Entertainment (ITEC), an industry leader of worldwide solutions in entertainment design, technology and project development. The acquisition brings together two best in class organisations with complementary expertise in mounting live events and experiences. ITEC will join the TAIT group comprised of a roster of unparalleled innovators who set the standard for the industry, creating the most comprehensive end-to-end developer of entertainment projects and solutions. Operating since 1978, TAIT is a premier, global leader in the live entertainment industry. TAIT’s diverse group of markets include theme parks, theatres, cruise ships, concerts, and corporate events with marquee clients ranging from Princess Cruises, Fortnite World Cup, and U2 to Disney, Universal, and the Olympics. At the core of its services is TAIT Navigator, an industry leading show control and proprietary automation platform that maximizes the client’s creative vision. ITEC was founded in 1985 and has delivered some of the most successful and comprehensive guest experiences spanning theme parks, resorts, rides and shows, and cultural attractions for clients such as Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Madison Square Garden Ventures, LEGO, Wanda Group and Dubai Parks. With offices in Orlando, Los Angeles and Osaka, ITEC has maintained and even expanded its business throughout the pandemic. ITEC’s leadership team including president and CEO Bill Coan, chief technology officer Marc Plogstedt, EVP, project development team Jeff Jensen and EVP, entertainment technology Steve Alkhoja, will remain with the company. With complementary culture and skillsets in engineering, technology, creative design and client management, the partnership offers a unique opportunity for both companies to achieve significant, sustained growth. The acquisition will allow TAIT to add capabilities in support of clients locally in Orlando as the company establishes a presence within ITEC’s existing Orlando headquarters. “We felt it was a natural progression to join TAIT’s long legacy of success in the live entertainment industry and rising growth in the theme park and attractions world,” said Bill Coan, president and CEO, ITEC Entertainment. “Our combined ingenuity will achieve bigger, better, and more awe- inspiring shows and experiences for our customers, and our access to strategically located global resources and services will better meet the increasing complexity of projects in the themed entertainment space and beyond.” “ITEC’s tremendous success over the past 35 years is nothing short of remarkable,” said Adam Davis, TAIT’s chief creative officer. “We have long-admired their innovation, continued growth and their contributions to live events and visitor experiences. I know that together we will continue to deliver on that promise to all of our customers around the globe.” PLASA and #WeMakeEvents launch Covid recovery survey PLASA and #WeMakeEvents have launched a survey to investigate the recovery of the live sector following the Covid-19 pandemic. All types of industry professional are invited to take the survey, from freelancers and sole traders to manufacturing companies and venues. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 3rd December. The survey aims to illustrate a detailed picture of the events, entertainment and installation industries following over 18 months of lockdowns and social distancing restrictions. This includes the supply of manufacturing components and finished goods, the availability of skilled workers and the year-on-year changes in revenue and income. The resulting data will strengthen the position of the industry when PLASA and #WeMakeEvents lobby government and will provide key insights into current challenges, allowing business leaders to plan for the future. Once all the data is collated and analysed, a full report of findings will be published on both the PLASA and #WeMakeEvents websites which will be free to view and download. Go to take the survey: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/plasa-wme-2021December 2021 news 8 Strand and Zero 88 bring multi-cell fixture support, major fixture library update to ZerOS Signify entertainment lighting brands Strand and Zero 88 have announced the latest update to ZerOS, the award-winning software for their FLX S Series and FLX consoles. ZerOS 7.10 includes support for multiple pixel luminaires, a library update featuring a wide range of Vari-Lite and Strand fixtures and more. The new update is available for Zero 88 lighting consoles as well as the recently announced Strand FLX S Series consoles. “Despite the prevalence of multicell fixtures in the market, facilities have mostly been able to find full multi-cell control on higher end consoles,” says Jon Hole, global product manager, Strand and Zero 88 controls and systems at Signify. “Many of these consoles either control the luminaire as a single fixture with a large number of parameters or patch each pixel as a separate fixture, with compromises in either approach. Even consoles with sub-fixtures or cell control have conflicts between pixel intensity and fixture intensity. We have been waiting to implement multicell control until we could address all of these challenges.” To address this issue, ZerOS 7.10 allows users to dynamically select whether to adjust the whole fixture or a single pixel depending on how they interact with it using the multi-touch screen on the console. “ZerOS is all about being powerful and easy to use, and this new update does that for multiple pixel fixtures, allowing users to fully control them just like the rest of their rig without complications,” adds Hole. ZerOS 7.10 also brings a major update to the fixture library, including many luminaires from Vari-Lite and Strand. “With Zero 88 now part of Signify’s entertainment group and the availability of the ZerOS-based Strand FLX S Series in the Americas markets, customers are wanting better support of Vari-Lite and Strand fixtures within the ZerOS software,” explains Hole. “The library update includes new theatrical luminaires from Strand such as the Leko, Cantata and Acclaim LED Series, as well as multicell fixtures like the Strand Aurora LED Strip and Vari-Lite VL800 EVENTWASH.” The update also adds new configuration options to ZerOS’s move on dark capabilities and introduces other features and bug fixes as well. The new software is available now from the Zero 88 website, and a video summary of the new features is available on YouTube. Void Acoustics is Kingpin in North London Camden in North London is known for its eclectic nightlife and in recent months, Monarchy on Chalk Farm Road has re-opened its doors with a new name and a complete venue refurbishment including a total upgrade of the audio to a Void Acoustics system. Formerly known as The Monarch, and where Amy Winehouse once DJ’d, this popular bar is a stone’s throw from The Roundhouse, the iconic North London music venue. While it may have new owner operators (AB-InBev) and a fresh new look, the venue remains committed, and connected to, its music heritage, so there is no surprise that a full audio upgrade with a high- end Void Acoustics audio system was central to the re-fit. It’s not the first time that Void Acoustics has partnered with London based integrator AT&C Professional Systems to specify and install a fully integrated Void system. Alan Smith, business development manager for AT&C takes up the story. “The brief we were given was to create a venue which was the ultimate sports-viewing experience in Camden, with deference to the music heritage of the area as well,” explains Alan. “Whilst the owners appreciate quality sound, their audio knowledge is, by their own admission, limited. And so it was great that we have been able to harness our expertise alongside a strong working relationship with the team at Void Acoustics and specify a high performance audio system which would do justice to this important venue on Chalk Farm Road.” The decision to install a significantly sized audio system was particularly important because AB-InBev has chosen Monarchy as a flagship pilot venue with a huge variety of application requirements, from playback music to TV sound reinforcement for sport event concepts and live music performances. So coverage and system headroom were both important factors to consider alongside the desire for a compact distributed system for the venue with sufficient performance capabilities given the very music driven nature of the location. The extensive refurbishment saw the venue completely modernised, with a nod to the much loved local craft beer venue it was before the pandemic lockdowns. AT&C had worked with the venue operators on six previous projects including Goose Island Brewpub in Shoreditch and so the operator was very happy when AT&C recommended Void Acoustics as a good fit for the site and its aspirations. “It has also provided us with an excellent opportunity to specify the Venu series from Void Acoustics,” smiles Alan. “It was critical to our client that the new audio installation was adaptable for a variety of different style events, whilst reliably and consistently delivering a clear, crisp audio impact for their clientele.” Central to the install are the cost-effective Venu 6 V2 and Venu 8 V2 high end compact speakers, providing functionality no matter the style or type of event taking place in Monarchy, and perfect for a high impact bar installation of this type where coverage into all corners of the room is required. These workhorse fixtures are supported by the Venu 112 V2 subwoofer which were installed in a flown configuration, freeing up floorspace which is at a premium in such a North London venue. Monarchy also has a small courtyard at the back of the venue and it was here that AT&C installed the IP-55 rated Cyclone speakers which are fully controlled to ensure no noise disturbance for local residents. Cirrus 6.1 ceiling speakers, alongside the small but durable Bias Q2 amplifier and easy to set up Bias D1 amplifier completed the Void Acoustics install. Because the client wanted to use a Dante network as the backbone for the audio, this was a perfect solution as the Bias Q2 and Bias D1 amplifiers are equipped with Dante as standard which proved useful for the integration phase of the project. The resulting impact of the Void Acoustics system has been extremely well received, as Freya Clarke, marketing manager for AB-InBev confirms. “AT&C really nailed our brief and the installation was completed to a high level of professionalism, and it all works flawlessly throughout the space. Monarchy is in the centre of Camden and audio is very important to the vibe of the space. Following AT&C’s suggestion we opted for a higher spec Void Acoustics system and have been very impressed with the sound quality and overall performance. We hold live music events regularly and the feedback has been great.” North London continues to respect and applaud its music history, and Void couldn’t be more delighted to be up-front and centre. Photos: Martin Reid, Void Acousticsnews 9 Issue: 346 Infinity presents Chimp V2.0 software update, the next stage in the evolution of the Chimp Infinity Chimp has been biding its time, evolving behind the scenes in Highlite’s labs. Now, to the celebration of lighting professionals the world over, the next generation of Infinity Chimp software has been released, now with multicell capabilities! The Chimp family of products is Infinity’s premium range of professional lighting consoles. The multi-cell capability allows users of the Chimp console to assign multiple identical attributes within one fixture simultaneously, making it more convenient to prepare complex light shows. From the outside, those familiar with the Infinity Chimp will notice few changes. It looks and feels familiar to previous iterations of the software. However, the Chimp V2.0 software has received some massive improvements. It has a completely new Fixture Editor that supports its new multi-cell abilities. Fixtures now have more properties than before, like description, category and beam type. Chimp V2.0 features tracking backup, allowing the show to continue uninterrupted from a backup console on the same network, should there be any disruption to your main console. Additionally, Chimp V2.0 software supports up to ten universes, which is possible to achieve through linking the Chimp console with a Chimp Dongle, Infinity Banana Wings, and the new Chimp Peanut Box. We recommend all users from beginners to advanced, sign up to our online training sessions to learn how to utilise Chimp V2.0’s new features and expertly master the Chimp. www.highlite.com Showtec’s outdoor lighting creates peaceful ambiance at Holbæk’s waterfront DLT showcases the architectural façade for Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn’s office in Holbæk with stunning outdoor lighting. One of Denmark’s longest standing suppliers of light and sound equipment, DLT in Glostrup, has installed the architectural façade lighting for Danish Bank Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn’s office in Holbæk. DLT’s vision was to create a luminous framework that compliments the building’s beautiful architecture, while simultaneously creating a lively ambiance on the waterfront. To achieve this, DLT has utilised 40 Showtec Candela Pix 50, creating an ambiance near the waterline that is visible from both the city and much of the Holbæk Fjord. Showtec’s Candela Pix 50 can create the full spectrum of light, enabling the building to be lit in any desired colour or even multiple colours. This enables Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn to alter the appearance of their exterior as desired, for instance during national holidays or sports matches. The waterproof outdoor lights emit a small eight-degree beam angle, preventing stray light from hitting unwanted surfaces and confines the light to the building’s frame. The lighting is waterproof and calmly changes colour, radiating a sense of tranquillity across the waterfront. The lamps are controlled through DMX via a lighting controller. It was decided that the lighting of the building should run automatically in completely fixed frames for switching on and off. However, this can be manually bypassed if a particular program is desired to run, allowing for both convenience and flexibility. Thanks to the positioning of the lamps, it has been made possible for example to create the Dannebrog, Denmark’s flag, in the lighting of the building for national team matches, holidays, etc.Next >