direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month Jobs and Careers Web Directory Features Issue: 348 Ayrton Diablo – Lights that Don’t Go Wrong page 20 February 2022 Paul Cook ran the lighting for a design that covered the entire town using his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500 console. For this project, AC-ET supplied over 65 products from the NEXO range, including GEO M10 Line array modules, ID24 speakers, and the new P+ series speakers. ‘The Reel Store’ to Open as Part of City of Culture page: 12page: 15 page: 2 page: 31 pages: 28 to 31 Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced that the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery, The Reel Store, will open in April 2022. 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 Claypaky Sharpy X Frame: Small in Stature with a Big Punch Adding to the family of the award-winning SHARPY fixtures, Claypaky introduces the SHARPY X FRAME multi-function luminaire. The SHARPY X FRAME takes the best features of the SHARPY line and integrates a four-focal plane shutter system in a lightweight, compact fixture. The unit’s source is the powerful 550W arc lamp that makes this fixture extremely bright and produces deep and vivid uniform colours (including an unmatched deep red). More on page 6 Pavilion Theatre Invests in a NEXO System page: 20 Paul Cook Powers London NYE Show with ChamSyscontents this month February 2022 page no. Features page : 4 page : 6 page : 9 page : 7 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 19 Anolis for Auditoria du Louvre Installation Anolis Ambiane pure white and RGBW LED lighting fixtures have been installed at the 420-seat Auditorium du Louvre in Paris. 20 Ayrton Diablo – Lights that Don’t Go Wrong “For Mischief’s Magic Goes Wrong, it is the show that is comedy chaos on stage,” says its lighting designer, David Howe. “It must never be the lights that go wrong!” Howe originally designed the production with other lighting fixtures before he was introduced to Ayrton products. “It was White Light that suggested I consider using Diablo,” he said. 22 Iconic UK Venue The Brook Goes Green with GLS Lighting and Chauvet Professional GLS lighting has given The Brook an LED lighting upgrade with around 30 Chauvet Professional fixtures, all controlled via a Chamsys MQ80 console. 23 Astera Pixel Bricks for Bolesworth Castle Illuminated Trail Project Astera PixelBrick wireless battery-powered LED lighting fixtures proved a perfect solution for a major section of Bolesworth Christmas at Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall, in Cheshire. 24 Digital Art Gallery ‘The Reel Store’ to Open as Part of Coventry UK City of Culture Celebrations Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced that the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery, The Reel Store, will open in Coventry in April 2022, becoming a permanent new visitor attraction in the heart of the city. 26 Black Coffee Gets a Robe Boost at Drumsheds Event With a rig of Robe moving lights at his fingertips, lighting designer Eran Klein atmospherically engineered nearly 12 hours of superlative electronic musical experience. 12 Paul Cook Powers Central London NYE Show with ChamSys Paul Cook, ran the lighting for a design that covered the entire town using his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500 console. 13 Vienna State Opera Invests in Robe FORTE HCF Moving Lights The world-renowned Vienna State Opera House in Austria which is also home to the Vienna State Ballet, has invested in new Robe FORTE HCF LED moving lights and FORTE HCF followspots. 14 Chameleon Rental Lights Up Novi Sad for Doček with 175+ Chauvet Professional fixtures Helping to set the stage for the month-long festivities has been a series of light shows and displays from Chameleon Rental that feature over 175 Chauvet Professional fixtures from the company’s own inventory. 15 Pavilion Theatre Makes a Sound Investment in State-of-the-Art NEXO System Award-winning Pavilion Theatre has recently upgraded its technology. For this project, AC-ET supplied over 65 products from the NEXO range, including GEO M10 Line array modules, ID24 speakers, subs, NEXO NX controller amps and the new P+ series speakers. 16 Monumental 2021 Finale for Robe The Monumental Tour played a truly spectacular final location at the Chateau de Pierrefonds. Paris-based freelance lighting designer Mikael Trochu [Mika] was delighted to be working with Robe moving lights on his first Monumental show, including MegaPointes, FORTES, ESPRITES, miniPointes, Spiiders and 18 Houben Souren and Elation make the grade on Dutch university auditorium upgrade Eindhoven University of Technology recently received a lighting upgrade of Elation luminaires specified and installed by AV company Houben Souren.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: 348 Omicron creates lockdown in everything but name and threatens the revival of the UK’s Live Events sector Since reopening in July, and following the worst period in the live event sector’s history, the live events industry was working incredibly hard to recover and made great progress. Whilst it was not plain sailing nor 100% recovered, theatres, gigs and events proved their resilience, and many were looking forward to the boost of the traditionally strong December trading when most generate around a third of annual revenues. According to Andy Dockerty, MD of UK-leading production and equipment hire company Adlib Ltd: “November business was ‘pretty much back to normal’ in terms of revenue, but the arrival of the Omicron variant and all the renewed uncertainty that it brings has set that recovery back overnight and the live events supply chain finds itself collapsing again with many businesses reporting cancellations of around a third of their bookings over the next quarter.” We are seeing countless theatre productions and concerts cancelling due to staff sickness and absence, and tours are being postponed, curtailed, or delayed as once again the risks are too great, the uncertainty is devastating. In addition, the government mixed messaging has meant consumer confidence has crashed again, so customers are cancelling in fear of the unknown. In effect this is lockdown by stealth and default across hospitality and live events; both sectors being closely linked by the high hospitality sales driven by live events. As a result, #WeMakeEvents is calling on government and local councils to urgently provide sector specific support (alongside the hospitality sector) and to make sure the events sector is not forgotten or overlooked, as much of it has been over the past 20 months. To protect an industry that is the envy of the rest of the world and was worth £70 billion to the UK economy pre-pandemic, we call for an immediate package of measures to mitigate the instant losses being incurred across the sector including: • Distribution of remaining CRF funds and local authority grants • Instant rates waivers for businesses • Holidays on loan repayments A Government provided ‘cancellation fund’ that the industry can draw on in the absence of Covid insurance. (Not only is the Government-backed insurance scheme not triggered unless there is a national lockdown, it is unsuitable or unavailable to most) A support scheme to protect company employees and freelancer wages The journey to recovery was far from over, even before Omicron, in that there is still a massive skills shortage from specialists leaving the industry over the past two years, and a mountain of debt to be repaid by individuals and businesses. Most companies only got the green light to return to work on 19 July following 16 months without income, and only received around 12% of the Culture Recovery Fund. And with huge numbers of freelancers missing out on any of the support packages, the sector is once again at tipping point. Entertainment Technology magazine online viewing From March 2022, Entertainment Technology magazine will strive to become paper-free by encouraging readers to view the online version. To receive a notification email when each issue is published online, please register your interest. If you wish to continue receiving a printed copy, you will need to subscribe to the magazine at a cost of £27.50 per annum. Go to www.etnow.com/etmag/ to register for either of these subscriptions. • For notification emails, fill in the short form below “Subscribe to Entertainment Technology Online”. • For printed copies and payment, click “click here for our subscription form” below “Subscribe to Postal Entertainment Technology Magazine” and you will be taken to a registration form and secure payment service provided by SagePay. We look forward to your continued readership.February 2022 news 4 sunDial quad www.ArtisticLicence.com Dims LED close to zero! For the smoothest fades with dimmable replacement LED Trailing edge DMX512/RDM mains dimmer Animation Studio Chooses Large Format Audient Console A 48-channel ASP8024-HE was the console of choice for ISF Studios, one of the largest animation and production studios in the Turkish capital of Ankara. ISF Studios is responsible for Rafadan Tayfa, the country’s most popular children’s animated series with an audience of 3.5 million, as well as the original 2017 cinema film, Rafadan Tayfa: Dehliz Macerası which boasted 1.8 million admissions in the first weeks. Mustafa Tarkan Ergün, the producer/mixing and mastering engineer at ISF Studios explains their decision to go for the British console: “It was our first choice in terms of the warm, analogue sound, the numerous functional possibilities as well as its affordability, which doesn’t sacrifice quality.” Other projects include live recording of the national anthem in the and ISF Studios was also instrumental in the renewal of the national children’s television station TRT Çocuk’s ident. Established in order to serve all digital arts, especially advanced animation and production works according to its website, ISF Studios has become one of the pioneers of the newly developing animated film sector in Turkey. The upgrade came shortly before the Minister of Industry & Technology Mustafa Varank told the Turkish Anadolu Agency that Turkey was increasing its potential in the animation sector. Talking about the desk’s sound, Ergün says: “It has a sweet and warm saturation. At the same time, the ASP8024-HE graphic EQ gives the ear a feeling of freedom, not artificial, but realistic and soft. The bus compressor is very good!” He is excited to share the latest projects to come out of ISF Studios as soon as they become public knowledge. “It will give us great pleasure to be able to showcase the music and instruments with the sound of the ASP8024-HE,” he says. The large format British console, which includes patchbay and Dual Layer Control (DLC) was provided by studio specialists and Audient distributor, Akalın Müzik, who specified and built the complete studio. Matt Nettlefold Joins Audiologic as Business Manager Audiologic has announced that after over 20 years at POLAR, Matt Nettlefold, joins the team as business manager. Matt has over 21 years experience in the AV industry. His career began in plastics and laminates sales, but with a keen interest in music, he moved into the audio industry in 1999, joining Polar Audio (or Beyerdynamic GB as they were known then) as technical support manager. As business development manager, Matt worked closely with the R&D department at Beyerdynamic in Germany on focus groups and product development, as well as being a point man for some key audio product demonstrations (microphones, conference products and loudspeakers and amplifiers) from other manufacturers. The external business manager role at Audiologic is an exciting opportunity for Matt as he comments: “My key interests lie within the audio field and I am extremely excited to be joining Audiologic, the premier distributor of industry-leading audio products. I have known many of the team for some years and I look forward to bringing my experience to such a professional, driven and respected company to drive business forward into the future.” Matt joins the existing team of five other business managers and will be responsible for the management and growth of existing business, as well as the acquisition of new customers and will be involved in field- based sales activity, including account management and product demonstrations. Stuart Leader, senior sales manager concludes: “Matt was such an obvious choice for us for this role, a very knowledgeable and familiar face within the industry, he has a long-standing history with many of our customers. At an exciting period of growth for Audiologic, the external business manager role allows us to split account responsibility across the southern regions of the team to give us as a team more focus, to better serve our ever-increasing customer base.” TV’s Gareth Malone Stays at Home with Audient Nero “This is a significant improvement,” declares broadcaster and choirmaster, Gareth Malone, describing the addition of the desktop monitor controller to his studio. “Before the Nero I had to switch speakers in my DAW and that was so cumbersome that I rarely bothered.” He explains: “I recently bought two extra sets of monitors for my studios. ATC near fields and Avantone mix cubes. I knew that I needed a switching device that was transparent and would fit on my desk at hands’ reach.” Enter the Nero from British studio gear designers, Audient. “It's the first time I've had a 'cut' button which has proven very helpful when mics feedback. I also wanted a mono switch: this has transformed my workflow as I monitor most of the day in mono and allow myself a little stereo treat now and again. It's great to have that at my fingertips instead of having to change in the box.” Tucked away in his north London back garden, Gareth’s studio was designed and built by Miloco. Soundproof and acoustically treated, Gareth confirms: “It sounds incredible in here. I mostly record vocals, my piano with a Sontronics ribbon mic and write demos here. I have ProTools and an audio interface. I also have various guitars and a bass and am slowly building up my synth collection,” he says. He has spent a good number of hours in this studio, especially during the more challenging periods of lockdown during 2020-21. It was here that he hosted the Great British Home Chorus on his YouTube channel, a 2020 lockdown choir for amateur vocalists longing for a sing- song. Channelling his experience of 2020 into a moving choral piece, he used his studio to compose ‘Locus Iste’ for the Stay At Home Choir, which was performed by 1,500 singers from around the world in 2021. The final video is the culmination of online rehearsals, masterclasses and global socials. With so much time spent in his studio, it not only has to sound great but feel comfortable, too. With large acoustic glass doors, it is flooded with natural light and he’s able to watch the world go by as he works. “I also have Philips Hue lighting which was a brilliant investment as I can control it from within the house and there's a lighting state for every room. I just need a sofa now,” he laughs!Issue: 348 news 5 ALPD celebrates 60 years with 11 new fellows announcement The ALPD has announced that for 2021, the year in which the association not only changed its name to reflect its membership better, but also the year in which it celebrated its 60th anniversary, 11 new fellows should join its membership for life. The ALPD Fellowships are bestowed in recognition of the immense contribution each individual has made to the Association and to the lighting community as well as the industry as a whole. A further two honorary members were also welcomed into the ALPD fold. The presentations will be made at the lighting dinner to be held at the Park Plaza Hotel, London, in February. ALPD chair, Johanna Town, said: “It is an extraordinary year for the ALPD, which has followed on from a truly extraordinary period for all of us in the lighting profession, the theatre community and far beyond. It is for this reason that we wish to celebrate and thank our new fellows and highlight the lifetime of work they have given and the opportunities they have created for others.” The new 2021 fellows include: Paul Pyant – For his immense contribution to the art of lighting design. Howard Eaton – For his immense contribution to performance lighting. Durham Marenghi – For his immense contribution to performance lighting. Ian Saunders – For his immense contribution made to the Association. Paule Constable – For her leadership in campaigning on behalf the people who work in Performance lighting. Les Bone – for his immense contribution to performance lighting at the ROH. Laurie Clayton – For his immense contribution to performance lighting at the National Theatre Bryan Raven – For his leadership in campaigning on behalf the people who work in Performance lighting. Coral Cooper – For creating and supporting opportunities for women in performance lighting. International Fellows: Anne Valentino – International Fellow of the ALPD – For her immense contribution to the development of programmable lighting control. Kathy Perkins – International Fellow of the ALPD – For her immense contribution to the art of lighting. Honorary Members: Jon Cadbury Sarah Rushton Read In picture: Paul Pyant, Les Bone, Ian Saunders and Paule Constable; Kathy Perkins, Bryan Raven and Coral Cooper. Rigging Team has announced the appointment of Adrian Skelton Independent rigging specialists, Rigging Team has announce the appointment of Adrian (‘Ade’) Skelton to the role of project manager at its Stevenage headquarters. With an extensive career spanning over 25 years working within the live events industry, Ade brings with him a huge amount of expertise. Beginning his career in the world of touring theatre, before gravitating toward the area of specialist rigging projects, Ade has more than 3,000 events under his belt, including numerous high profile engagements, such as the G20 Summit and 2012 Olympics. Working previously as head of rigging at ExCel London, Ade has built a comprehensive understanding of all areas of the project management remit. Having supported a huge variety of productions, delivering rigging solutions for a broad selection of UK and international clients, Ade’s responsibilities have included the creation of venue technical specification and safe systems of work documentation, as well as O&M manuals, risk assessments and training matrices. A strong communicator, who has managed a diverse range of crews on projects of all size and genre, Ade has forged close working relationships throughout the industry. Rigging Team director, Adam Searle says: “Ade has amassed a wealth of specialist knowledge, working at the highest level. His management capabilities, hands-on style and thorough technical understanding will be an enormous asset to our team.” Ade comments: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Rigging Team. Their service and support is renowned within our industry, it’s a pleasure to be bringing my own experience to the mix of skills they offer.” Particularly accomplished in the use of AutoCAD, Ade has been using the package for over two decades. In a fast paced industry known for ‘last minute solutions’, with no room for error, his CAD skills have seen him prepare detailed drawings, in the space of a phone call, which have gone on to become full blown designs. Ade continues: “As we make the careful transition back to normality, I am really looking forward to working with friends and colleagues as part of Rigging Team. I’m particularly interested in the technical training which the company provides, something that will help create a more secure future for our industry.” Adam adds: “People are the key factor in everything we do. Ade has experience at all levels, creating safe, practicable solutions and his extensive knowledge of our industry makes him an ideal fit for us, I am absolutely delighted to welcome him as part of Rigging Team.”February 2022 news 6 Claypaky Sharpy X Frame: Small in Stature with a Big Punch Adding to the family of the award-winning SHARPY fixtures, Claypaky introduces the SHARPY X FRAME multi-function luminaire. The SHARPY X FRAME takes the best features of the SHARPY line and integrates a four-focal plane shutter system in a lightweight, compact fixture. The unit’s source is the powerful 550W arc lamp that makes this fixture extremely bright and produces deep and vivid uniform colours (including an unmatched deep red). The unit boasts the flexibility to be the light you need when you need it. As a completely hybrid, multi-function fixture, the SHARPY X FRAME not limited as to beam effects, it can also be a spot, profile, or wash unit. This fixture replaces much larger luminaires using the longer life 550W arc lamp. Although a small fixture by most standards, nothing is sacrificed in the SHARPY X FRAME fixture’s feature set. In addition to the four-focal plane shutter system, the unit offers a rotating gobo wheel with eight rotating gobos, a static gobo wheel, four and eight-facet rotating prisms, linear frost, a colour system featuring CMY, CTO and a separated colour wheel, and six beam reducers starting at 0.5°. With a zoom range from 2° to 52°, the SHARPY X FRAME can do unparalleled visual effects. The unit is fitted with a 160mm front lens and proven Claypaky optics for producing sharp images and collimated beams. The SHARPY X FRAME is the most versatile, compact hybrid fixture on the market that addresses the needs for a bright spot, aerial effects unit, framing fixture and everything in between in an affordable, compact package. Martin Audio Awarded Patent for XE Monitor Waveguide Martin Audio has extended its list of notable patents with the addition of a United Kingdom Patent for its XE stage monitor waveguide. The patent covers the use of Martin Audio’s differential dispersion coaxial drive units and the continuation of their waveguide shape to form the baffle, as seen in the XE monitors to achieve the desired HF coverage. The geometry of the static HF horn, the LF cone/ moving waveguides and the static baffle combine to form a single HF horn. The XE stage monitor series comprises the XE300 and XE500, both delivering perfect monitor sound with a defined coverage pattern that allows the artist freedom of movement, while reducing overlap with adjacent monitors. Coaxial Differential Dispersion technology allows the artist to stand directly over the monitor or further back, without significant changes in SPL or tonal balance. It produces the optimal coverage pattern over a listening plane at head-height and helps to contain the sound within that region. The now patented contour-moulded static third waveguide increases the size of the horn mouth to maintain pattern control downwards and avoid spill outside the desired coverage area. Its rolled contour reduces diffraction and further improves pattern consistency at the lower end of the HF passband. Managing director, Dom Harter, commented: “Even though XE monitors were introduced in 2017, it always takes time to secure a patent, but we are delighted that our continuing innovation has once again been recognised and I couldn’t be prouder of our R&D team.” Alistair Smyth joins zactrack International as Brand Manager: A veteran of the industry zactrack has announced that Alistair Smyth, a long-time veteran of the industry, has been hired as brand manager. After earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Kingston University London, he worked for Vari-Lite, High End Systems, Christie Lites, A.C. Entertainment Technologies and Flashlight. Most recently, he was a technical sales advisor at Elation, where he was responsible for product demonstrations, sales support and technical communication. Alistair comments on his new role: “I am proud to join the Lightpower family of companies and be a member of the zactrack International team. I look forward to meeting our valued distributors, customers and users. The zactrack products are amazing and we believe they will revolutionise tracking in many areas of our industry. As part of the team here, we can work together to help promote this intuitive technology and bring it to a wider audience.” Stephan Saremba, managing director of zactrack International, said: “We are very happy to have Alistair on board now. Since zactrack International was established just last year, zactrack has been chosen for iconic projects like the ongoing Alanis Morissette 2021-2022 world tour or MJ the Musical on Broadway. We have also signed on several new distributors in key markets around the world, expanding our global service and support offering. With Alistair’s industry experience and enthusiasm for the brand he will help put zactrack on many more stages around the world.” edelmat. becomes Sixty82 reseller for Germany SIXTY82 wishes to extend a warm welcome to its newest reseller for Germany: edelmat. Based in Berlin, Germany, edelmat. sees itself as a partner for event technology, with a philosophy based firmly on the values of loyalty, efficiency and sustainability. Edelmat. services include consultation, conception, implementation, as well as service, for rental and installation projects in the field of event technology. It is here that the human being is in the foreground, and edelmat.’s well-trained specialists maintain consistent contact with each and every client to develop budget-oriented and individual solutions. SIXTY82 and edelmat. have very similar values and goals, and the co-operation between the two companies has proven promising. “At edelmat. we connect people through conception and technology,” says edelmat.’s Ayke Bröcker. “The innovative solutions of the SIXTY82 brand fits perfectly into our portfolio and our joint work is successful and fun. It is partly for these reasons we chose to become a reseller for SIXTY82.” edelmat. will offer the full product portfolio from SIXTY82. “We find SIXTY82 products durable and innovative, which in turn helps us create inventive solutions for our customers in the rental and installation business,” confirms Bröcker. edelmat. has completely converted its rental park with products from SIXTY82 and, as a sales partner with its own stock, can provide its customers with comprehensive assistance in the rental and installation business at short notice. edelmat. has already participated jointly as exhibitors with SIXTY82 at Future of Festivals, the leading trade fair for the festival industry, with great success. “Personal customer contact is very important to us,” says Bröcker. “Going forward, our goal is to strengthen the visibility and reach of SIXTY82 in the metropolitan region of Berlin Brandenburg and beyond. “We really like SIXTY82's products and are looking forward to developing the brand with them. We are ready to create great things together.”Issue: 348 news 7 Audio Light Systems selects Doughty Engineering for Norwich University of Arts Doughty Engineering was the supplier of choice for Audio Light Systems when the company was contracted to kit out a lecture theatre and public event space at Norwich University of Arts (NUA). Neil McLucas, project manager at Audio Light Systems explained: “We were brought on board by NUA to supply and install cabling infrastructure with numerous facility panels, production lighting boxes, a bespoke truss/ hoist system, sound reinforcement and AV infrastructure, to allow for a multi-purpose space.” Audio Light Systems has worked with the team at Doughty on several projects over the years and knew that Dan Phillips, Doughty’s special project manager would understand the exact requirements of the project and deliver a workable solution. Dan commented: “Having been briefed by Audio Light Systems, we came up with a range of kit including all the facility panels, production lighting boxes, backboxes and internally wired bars, combining some of our readily available off-the-shelf products with some bespoke items designed specifically for NUA.” Unfortunately, due to the impact of COVID-19 and current supply chain issues, the project did experience some delays. Neil said: “Doughty did everything they could: back boxes, where free, were issued to the electrical contractor for install prior to our start date from Doughty. This has been an issue experienced by most contractors however and there is sadly very little that can be done about it. Needless to say, Dan pulled out all the stops to make sure we had the kit we needed at the earliest opportunity.” The completed venue is a space that can be used by NUA as a lecture theatre, but with the added infrastructure installed by Audio Light Ltd, it now has the capabilities to be opened up to outside parties as a performance space / venue.” “We have a very happy client who is thrilled with the benefits the new theatre has to offer, a first class space for students to learn with the added benefits of bringing in venue by hiring the venue out to third parties. Once again Doughty equipped us with attractive, reliable and good quality items that will ensure the venue is used to its full potential,” concluded Neil. Martin Audio Announces 2022 Open Days Following the success of the Open Days in September 2021 the High Wycombe company will hold two product demos at its HQ on 8th and 9th March. Operating under COVID safety conditions, the event kicks off on 8th March, with two- hour presentations at 9.30am and 2.00pm, and will repeat this programme on the following day (9th March). Visitors can expect to hear demonstrations of the LE and XE stage monitors, point source loudspeakers from BlacklineX and BlacklineX Powered ranges, the TORUS constant curvature array and a selection of optimised line arrays from the Wavefront Precision series. In addition, attendees will be able to become better acquainted with Focusrite Pro and Optimal Audio, sister brands within the wider Focusrite Group. For further information on the Open Days visit: https://martin-audio.com/ events/2022opendays Hog 4 in control for The Big New Years & Years Eve Party Viewers were treated to a musical extravaganza hosted by British musician Olly Alexander in the form of BBC One’s The Big New Years & Years Eve Party. Filmed at London’s Riverside Studios, the two-part concert included guest performances from pop superstar Kylie Minogue and the legendary Pet Shop Boys. The show included a pause for the countdown to midnight and footage of London’s Big Ben ringing in the new year before the action headed back to the show as Olly and friends continued the party. The Years & Years singer threw a spectacular New Year's Eve party with a captivating lighting design from Gurdip Mahal, featuring more than 40 universes of fixtures. To provide main and tracking backup control of the elaborate lighting rig, programmers Ross Williams and Rob Bradley selected a pair of High End Systems Hog 4-18 consoles – the flagship console of the Hog family – supplemented by two Full Boar 4 consoles and two new HPU Hybrid Processor units. The main lighting system was supplied by PRG, with crew chief Tim Saunders responsible for the installation aspect and Ben Hornshaw providing WYSIWYG support for two days pre-production off-site. LED was supplied by LED Creative and Light Initiative, with Josh Grace in the position of production designer. Williams has been a freelance lighting designer and programmer since 1995 and has won multiple awards for his work in television. Unsurprisingly, he is no stranger the challenges involved in productions of this nature. “These shows with ever-increasing fixture counts and very limited rehearsal time can be quite stressful to say the least, and this one was certainly no exception,” he said. “I definitely appreciate the increased performance and reliability I’ve noticed since first investing in both Hog 4-18 and HPU back in the summer. In combination, this appears to create an environment that enhances the overall user experience and has proved a positive one over a number of high-profile shows throughout the second half of 2021.” Having owned almost all varieties of the console, with only the original Wholehog missing from his repertoire, Williams continues to keep a close eye on the latest developments in the Hog family. “The move towards linear patching is a particular recent favourite software-wise, something which appears to be equally appreciated by the system techs too,” he says. “I’m looking forward to seeing where the software goes this coming year as the world hopefully returns to some sort of normality and more shows return.” photo: Guy Levy/BBC www.etcconnect.comFebruary 2022 news 8 Prism Sound’s Ultimate Collection Bundles its Popular Interfaces with Exciting Software Tools Audio professionals who invest in high quality Prism Sound Lyra and Titan audio interfaces can now access one of the most powerful software bundles on the market by upgrading their purchase with the new Prism Sound Ultimate Collection. Prism Sound’s parent company Audio Squadron has created this outstanding bundle, which brings together over $4,000 USD of software tools from the Audio Squadron stable that includes Prism Sound, Tracktion and SADiE. With a wealth of premium instruments, contemporary FX plug-ins and DAW tools included, The Ultimate Collection is designed to appeal to all audio creatives, whether they are recording, mixing, mastering, editing or playing back audio. “The Audio Squadron brand encompasses innovative and industry-leading software products that perfectly complement today’s In The Box style of working,” says Prism Sound’s sales director Mark Evans. “By creating The Ultimate Collection, we are giving Lyra and Titan customers easy access to this formidable range of tools, which we are confident will quickly become essential components in their own workflows.” Presented in sleek new packaging, The Ultimate Collection includes the powerful F.’em FM synthesiser, the BioTek 2 sampling and synthesis workstation, Waverazor, Abyss, Hyperion and Spacecraft synths, Retromod Instruments classic hardware synths; the DAW Essentials collection of 16 contemporary FX plug-ins, Waveform Pro DAW software, SADiE 6 Sound Suite software for recording and editing, and, of course, Prism Sound’s own software for high quality audio conversion. Prism Sound Lyra and Titan customers can place orders for The Ultimate Collection now and can expect to receive their products by January 2022. Customers who prefer their audio conversion ‘pure’ can still order Lyra and Titan interfaces without the bundled software, just as they have always been able to do. In addition to this exciting news, Prism Sound is also giving customers additional peace of mind by increasing the warranty on all its products from two to five years. “We have absolute confidence in the durability and build quality of our products and we are backing this by extending our warranty period,” Mark Evans adds. “To qualify, all customers need to do is register new products on our website within 90 days of purchase.” Scaleable Install Range Gets Bigger – and Smaller – with Two New AHM Matrix Processors Allen & Heath has announced two powerful new audio matrix processors, AHM-32 and AHM-16, supported by the most comprehensive ecosystem of scaleable I/O, control and Dante solutions. Harnessing technology from the AHM-64 audio matrix processor, AHM-32 and AHM-16 open up the platform to the full spectrum of installed audio environments from a single boardroom to a complete campus, with emphasis on simplicity of programming and control, plus expandable audio networking and I/O capabilities. “We are thrilled to see AHM-64 at the heart of so many installations, from global media networks to theme parks,” says Nic Beretta, head of product at Allen & Heath. “Many integrators we spoke to were eager to see the same approach and technology deployed in a smaller package to suit a wider customer base, and we have delivered on those requests with the AHM-32 and AHM-16.” The AHM-32 is built on a 32x32 processing matrix with 12 local analogue inputs and outputs, making it an ideal choice for multi-room installations in hospitality, corporate and education environments. The optional Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) module is available for teleconferencing and videoconferencing applications. The AHM-16 features a 16x16 processing matrix with 8 local analogue inputs and outputs. Out of the box, the AHM-16 is particularly well suited to single room applications and smaller multi-room environments including bars, restaurants, shops and school halls. Both units benefit from a 96kHz I/O port for audio expansion and networking, enabling the use of a 64x64 Dante card for integration into Dante networks and connection to Allen & Heath’s range of Dante equipped expanders. Alternatively, a SLink card can be fitted for Plug-and-Play connection to Allen & Heath’s comprehensive Everything I/O ecosystem of remote expanders. A range of remote-control options are supported, including an array of PoE remote controllers and the BYOD-friendly Custom Control app, enabling tailored user interfaces for multiple user and device types. Both models feature a powerful suite of processing tools derived from the AHM-64, including automatic microphone mixing (AMM), ambient noise compensation (ANC), priority ducking, an eight-band parametric EQ on every input and zone, plus speaker processing options. Electrosonic Announces Ewan Smith as its new Global President and Managing Director Electrosonic Group has announced that Ewan Smith has been appointed the global group president and managing director effective 1st January, 2022. In announcing the promotion, Electrosonic Group interim CEO and chair of the board Lori Cross commented: “I am delighted to announce that Ewan Smith has agreed to serve as Electrosonic’s group global president and managing director. Ewan is precisely what Electrosonic needs to lead the next phase of our global strategy and deliver exceptional customer experiences around the world. We knew we wanted our president to have high integrity, accountability, and passion for the customer. Simultaneously, our leader would need to care deeply about the well-being and growth of our employees: the ultimate collaborators in designing, delivering and supporting our iconic installations. We found all of those traits in Ewan, combined with an innate desire to learn, innovate and develop new skills and emerging technologies." Ewan Smith had initially joined Electrosonic as US president in August of 2020. He was promoted to global chief revenue officer in July of 2021, where he led the growth and development of Electrosonic’s global sales and marketing efforts to a very strong year- end position. The successes of Ewan’s tenure at Electrosonic, as well as his solid background in the audiovisual and technology industry were key drivers of the appointment, but as Lori Cross states, it was much more: “Over the last six months, we experienced first-hand Ewan’s consistent, creative commitment to drive the necessary changes, positioning us to surge in a post-pandemic market and retain our position as the most trusted and innovative engineering advisor in the industry.” Commenting on his appointment, Ewan Smith said: "I'm truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead Electrosonic into this exciting new chapter. The type of innovative and experiential solutions we offer are increasingly in high demand, and I believe that our strategy and, most of all, our talent are perfectly positioned to capture and deliver those opportunities. As the industry continues to evolve, as One Global Team we will focus on what we do best, designing, building and supporting best-in-class technology for our partners and customers.”news 9 Issue: 348 More Chroma-Q Space Force Land at Pixipixel Independent London-based camera and lighting equipment rental house, Pixipixel, has recently invested in even more Chroma-Q Space ForceTM octo LED soft lights. With nearly two decades supplying film, television and commercial productions, Pixipixel is committed to offering the latest and most innovative kit, and as such has been stocking the Space Force octo fixtures since they arrived to the market back in 2016. Johnny Colley, director of lighting at Pixipixel commented: “The Space Force lights are always a great choice for cinematographers and gaffers. The lightweight, fast and easy set-up, low power consumption and low heat emission make the Space Force octo fixtures a perfect fit on sustainable productions. We have found these have become increasingly popular, particularly when used in a studio setting, mounted from the rig. “These new additions arrived at our lighting division in Tottenham and are already being used in a studio shoot of a TV drama for a well- known streamer,” added Colley. Pixipixel purchased their additional 40 Space Force octo units from Chroma-Q’s exclusive UK Dealer, A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET). Pixipixel’s managing director, Steve Knight said: “The team at AC-ET are always very helpful and quick to respond. Communication is great and so are the products received. Thank you, AC-ET for always being on hand to help with our equipment needs.” www.chroma-q.com Showgear Rain Domes keep moving heads dry Showgear has introduced its new Rain Domes for moving heads. The Rain Domes allow users to safely deploy indoor fixtures in wet conditions. Two platform sizes and three transparent sleeves are available to accommodate many different moving heads and fixtures. The Showgear Rain Domes are perfect for using indoor moving heads in outside, wet conditions. They are designed to withstand copious amounts of rain and keep the fixtures safe. Two types of platforms and three types of sleeves, which are available separately, accommodate all but the biggest moving heads. The smaller 40cm platform can be combined with a sleeve 40cm in diameter and 52cm high. For the bigger 60cm platform there are two types of sleeves available: a cylindrical one with a diameter of 60cm and a height of 62cm and a bulb-shaped one with a base diameter of 60cm, a wider top, and a height of 85cm. A conveniently placed power inlet and multiple outlets provide an easy way to power the fixture underneath the sleeve. The Pro Power True input is daisy-chained to a Pro Power True output on the back and Pro Power True, Schuko and Pro Power outputs on top of the platform. A waterproof opening (flap) in the sleeves allows easy access to all cabling of your moving head, without the need to remove the whole sleeve. On the bottom four M12 threaded holes can be used to install spigots for mounting the platform on a truss totem. The Rain Dome has a built-in pressure switch to prevent unwanted damage. The switch will automatically shut down all power when inside pressure diminishes. This can be temporarily overruled by an included bypass switch. This way, the moving head will not suffer from burned-out motors if the sleeve accidentally deflates and impedes the head’s movements.Next >