direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month News and Features Web Directory Features Issue: 376 Disguise ran a full ST 2110 for Eurovision Song Contest page 16 June 2024 page: 14page: 18 page: 31 DM3 Series Mixers Can Do More with New V2 Firmware Yamaha Corporation has announced the release of firmware version 2.0 for its DM3 series digital mixing consoles, which significantly enhances flexibility and expandability with new, customer-requested features including insert function, USB driver mode option and more. Launched in April 2023, the DM3 series set a new standard in compact mixers, shattering the stereotype that a compact digital console means having to compromise on features. More on page 8 page: 26 Simple Minds’ Global Tour features 14 iFORTE in the floor package and three iFORTE for followspot duties, plus 37 BMFLs in the flown rig. Within Temptation saw their monitor engineer deploying a KLANG immersive in-ear monitor system to add control and spatial quality. Hermen Klerks selected a whopping 1,310 light fixtures from Infinity and Showtec for the Paaspop festival. KLANG technology for Within Temptation Simple Minds Goes Global with Robe Paaspop with Showtec and Infinity page: 4 to 30 page: 2contents this month June 2024 page no. Features page : 4 page : 5 page : 11 page : 8 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 24Legendary Florence nightclub solves problems and raises the standard with K-array Tenax, a beacon of the underground club scene in Florence, recently underwent a sonic upgrade with the installation of a new sound system from K-array. 25Ed Warren Powers Collaboration on Johnny Marr Tour with ChamSys MagicQ MQ250M Stadium Lighting designer for Johnny Marr’s Greatest Hits tour, Ed Warren, programmed the entire show on his MQ70 using Capture. 26Paaspop rules Easter weekend with Showtec and Infinity Hermen Klerks selected a whopping 1,310 light fixtures from Infinity and Showtec for the Paaspop festival. 27Allen & Heath AHM-64 at the Heart of New Audio-Visual Experience at McConnell’s Distillery Central to the enhanced audio experience at McConnell’s Irish Whisky Distillery is the Allen & Heath AHM-64 matrix processor, which sits at the heart of the AV system for the distillery. This facilitates the management of audio across multiple zones throughout the building. 28Joe Beardsmore Flows on Tom Odell Black Friday Tour with Chauvet and C.S.E. By deploying 68 of GLP’s JDC Line 500 in the Main Hall – supported with a handful of the new JDC2 IP – Jakob Larsson was able to take a deliberately nuanced approach which would promote both the building’s famous neoclassical architecture as much as the artist on stage. 30Robe Catches the Action for Nina Pušlar Show Lighting designer Amadej Šuperger from design studio Blackout specified large quantities of Robe moving lights which made up 75% of the lighting. 14Simple Minds Goes Global with Robe Simple Minds’ “Global Tour” features 14 iFORTE in the floor package and three iFORTE for followspot duties plus 37 BMFLs in the flown rig, which are the main hard edge and workhorse lights of the design. 16Disguise enables the first large-scale live broadcast running full ST 2110 for Eurovision Song Contest Disguise provided a full SMPTE ST 2110 workflow from the media server to the LED screens, making Eurovision 2024 the first large-scale live broadcast event to achieve this feat. 18KLANG offers intuitive control and spatial quality for Within Temptation Within Temptation saw their monitor engineer of 17 years, Bennie Veenstra, deploying a KLANG immersive in-ear monitor system to add control and spatial quality. 1960 Martin MAC Ones deployed on Reneé Rapp UK/EU tour Award-winning lighting designer James Scott recently deployed 60 new Martin MAC One fixtures on the UK/EU leg of the Reneé Rapp “Snow Hard Feelings” tour. 20Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela invests in Robert Juliat Dalis 860 Cyclorama lights Rental company, CityLight Iluminación, has supplied 32 Robert Juliat Dalis 860 Cyclorama lights to Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela. 21Point Source Audio Elevates Just for One Day – The Live Aid Musical with SERIES9 Lavalier Mics Point Source Audio’s SERIES9 lavalier microphones were centre stage for Just for One Day – The Live Aid Musical. 22Penn Elcom Celebrates 50 Penn Elcom, legendary flightcase manufacturer, celebrates 50 years at the sharp end of being a production and entertainment industry engineering specialist.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: Jackie Staines Production: Jackie Staines Published by: ET 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 © ET 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 ET Press can be ordered online via our secure Sage Pay credit card services. Issue: 376 The Profile Awards The Profile Awards have been created and are co-ordinated by Durham and Jennie Marenghi in association with the ABTT, the ALPD and the STLD; the Awards recognise lighting design excellence in theatre and television in the UK and the inaugural event will take place at the Alexandra Palace theatre on the 6th of June 2024. Alongside eight specific theatre awards and six TV awards there will be a Student Virtual Lighting Design competition and the Richard Pilbrow Lifetime Recognition Award by kind agreement with Richard’s family and sponsored by Theatre Projects. The Theatre Awards are judged by eight UK theatre critics and are not open to nominations, whereas the Television Awards are judged by broadcast professionals and can be nominated by anyone, the deadline of those entries is the 30th of April 2024. The Awards trophies are Patt 23M fixtures on stands, a miniature LED version of the iconic Rank Strand Pattern 23 profile fixture modelled and produced in limited numbers by Hugh Chinnick. Sponsorship take-up has been incredible with all the 16 Awards being taken up by the industry in as many days, the headline sponsor is Ayrton with the TV Awards being sponsored by ChamSys, ELP, LCR, Light Initiative, Roxxlight and Version 2 Lights. The Theatre Awards are sponsored by Chauvet, Elation, ETC, Fix8, GLP, TSL, SLX and Vari-Lite; the pre-show bar is sponsored by Ambersphere Solutions and the Goody Bags at the end of the evening are sponsored by JLL. The Student Virtual Lighting Design Award entries will be judged by the professional Profile Awards TV and Theatre nominees and the Virtual competition student nominees will receive an invitation to The Profile Awards event with the winner being announced live at the Awards at Alexandra Palace on the 6th of June, these awards are kindly sponsored by AC Entertainment Technologies. “The theatre section of The Profile Awards is judged by eight of the UK’s leading theatre, dance and opera critics. Every single new production we see is automatically eligible for consideration. “At our lengthy judging session we drew up a long list of thirty pieces of outstanding lighting design from the literally hundreds of productions we saw in person across the year. That list was then whittled down to a shortlist of eighteen. “From there, we chose to salute the work of eight of the most exciting teams in the industry whose names will be revealed on the night,” stated Theatre Awards Chair, David Benedict – Variety. ABTT Stephen Joseph Award 2023 Created in 2021, the ABTT Stephen Joseph Award recognises innovative and inclusive theatre excellence as well as the relationship built between performer and audience member. Commemorating the life and work of leading British theatre pioneer and founding member of ABTT, the aim of the Stephen Joseph Award is to celebrate the variety of ways contemporary theatre practitioners continue to break new ground in engaging their audiences. Run by the Stephen Joseph Committee (SJC) of the ABTT, the 2023 nominations were more impressive than ever. The Award Panel came to the unanimous decision to award New Vic Borderlines, the outreach team at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle- under-Lyme, Staffordshire, with the 2023 Award. The Award Panel noted that New Vic Borderlines’ longstanding and innovative approach to inclusive and developmental theatre, as well as the sheer range of work done to engage people in the area from disadvantaged or challenging backgrounds was key to their success in winning the Award. Their programme includes taking plays and workshops to schools and community settings and tackling a variety of socially relevant topics and, without doubt, merits the description of ‘innovative and inclusive excellence for which the award was designed. It’s also worth noting that the programme builds on a rich history of community theatre in the Potteries that largely stems from Stephen Joseph’s and Peter Cheeseman’s pioneering work at the ‘old’ Vic. New Vic Borderlines uses theatre to help people find new and positive ways to understand themselves, their communities and their responsibilities. It challenges destructive and anti-social behaviour, builds self-awareness and self-worth and develops positive attitudes. Borderlines works with individuals, groups and communities facing challenges – social and economic disadvantage, young people at risk of offending, adults with learning difficulties and others at risk of being marginalised. June 2024 news 4 Claypaky plays host to the Polytechnic University of Milan at the picturesque Teatro Sociale in Bergamo Again, this year Claypaky played host to the students enrolled in the Master in Lighting Design and LED Technology, organised by the Polytechnic University of Milan. This course has long been devoted to nurturing the talents of aspiring young lighting professionals. The Master aims to equip them with the skills they need for diverse applications such as entertainment venues, interior architecture, urban landscapes, museum exhibitions and temporary installations and residential spaces. The curriculum focuses on the analysis and synthesis of lighting design methods, covering conception, organisation and rigging. Among the esteemed instructors who teach on the Master course is Giovanni Pinna, a renowned lighting designer in Italy, known for his work with artists like Vasco Rossi. Pinna runs the Lighting Design for Entertainment module, which includes practical workshops hosted by entertainment industry partners. This year, besides the expertise contributed by Alberico D’Amato, Alessandro Colangelo and Marco Zucchinali, Claypaky also provided the exceptional venue of the Teatro Sociale in Bergamo, Italy. This historic theatre, which opened its doors in 1809, was commissioned and built for the Bergamascan nobility and was used right up until the 1920s. It mainly hosted art exhibitions and displays from 1974 to 2006, when it was decided to begin restoration work, jointly undertaken by the City Council and the Italian Ministry of Culture. Giovanni Pinna conducted a session of the Master’s course in this beautiful setting, attended by around 30 promising young lighting designers. During the workshop, Pinna explained programming techniques for lighting shows in detail, using an extensive rig consisting of Claypaky lights. Giovanni Pinna remarked: “It was a unique opportunity for my students to gain real experience in a real venue with professional products, in a captivating setting. Only the Polytechnic University’s Master syllabus offers real-life lighting programming experience in a theatre. The day-long session was dedicated to understanding the entire creative process behind crafting a light show, from listening to the song and writing the cue list, to dealing with the stage and transforming creativity, ideas, personality and taste into reality. It was a truly unique experience for all the students, who fully appreciated the opportunity Claypaky had given them to get first- hand experience of an unknown world to them.” www.claypaky.com Liz Sillett appointed new Chief Executive Officer of the ABTT The ABTT announces that Liz Sillett will be its new chief executive officer. Liz will start the role later in May 2024. Liz joins the ABTT having been at The Old Vic where she was director of operations and external relationships since 2017, having worked in the arts in the UK for over 25 years. This has included senior leadership roles at Orion Management working in and supporting multiple venues across the UK, several senior roles at The Old Vic and various consultancy projects. Liz’s experience spans traditional theatres, unconventional venues including immersive experiences, temporary spaces and pop-ups as well as events and hospitality. Liz brings to the role a thorough understanding of venue operations (both front of house and backstage) as well as extensive experience of capital projects. Liz has been a member of the ABTT for many years. She has experience of working closely with SOLT and Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) and has sat on and led a number of industry groups, bringing a robust network of connections with her. Liz also brings with her a passion for supporting people into and through the industry, having mentored many people throughout her career. Liz Sillett commented: “Having been a member of the ABTT for many years, this is a hugely exciting opportunity. I am looking forward to exploring ways of adding further value to ABTT members, as well as championing and driving change on key issues around diversity, equity and representation, flexible working and the development of the next generation of technicians.” David Evans, co-chair of the ABTT Council added: “We are delighted Liz will be joining the ABTT as the new CEO. She has achieved many triumphs in the areas of live performance operation and development, areas that are key to the ABTT. Liz’s key roles backstage and close association with many of the industry’s suppliers gives her a strong insight into the challenges facing us at the moment, bringing a tremendous wealth of experience and understanding to her new role. “I should also like to thank Robin for his contribution to the ABTT, most recently as CEO and for having established the Association as a robust, resilient and effective organisation providing the best platform on which we can start to build the next chapter in our development.” The appointment has been made following an extensive search process led by People Beyond Profit. Liz succeeds Robin Townley who leaves the ABTT after 12 years at the helm on the 21st June 2024. Lift Turn Move Ltd Aligns Corporate Image with Owner, GIS AG GIS Lift Turn Move Ltd. is the revised name of the Wirral-based supplier of lifting and rigging equipment to the industrial and entertainment sectors. GIS AG, the Swiss electric chain hoist and light crane manufacturer, purchased Lift Turn Move Ltd. in June 2018. The rebranded UK entity will continue to distribute the full range of GIS AG products in the UK market. There will be minimum changes from an administrative standpoint; the revised name ensures continuity of the LTM legacy in the UK market. The directors remain the same as do the outright owners. New email addresses and website will be part of wider rebranding to align the business more closely with GIS AG’s corporate image. Robert Price, managing director of GIS Lift Turn Move Ltd, said: “LTM has an excellent reputation, built over nearly 20 years in the lifting equipment industry; we’re proud of this history and want to retain it. “Our customers will see little change; they will get the same excellent level of service and products that they have been accustomed to in the past with all banking, tax, VAT and company registration details remaining the same, including membership of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association [LEEA]. However, the rebrand will capture the power and reputation of the GIS brand. GIS AG has wholly owned LTM for six years, so this is a logical step in the evolution of the business.” GIS AG has its head office and production facility in Schötz, Switzerland, in addition to the daughter companies GIS GmbH in Germany and GIS Corp in the USA; the rebrand will align all subsidiaries with the same corporate image for its customers within the markets, many of whom are multi-national companies themselves.Issue: 376 news 5 Curve light with Ayrton as it launches Kyalami Ayrton has announced the official launch of Kyalami, its first IP65-rated laser source luminaire in its Creative Solution series. Kyalami is inspired by the revolutionary, multiple award-winning MagicDot. First released in 2015, MagicDot sold by the thousands within months and still inspires creativity. Nine years later it has produced Kyalami. Devised for architectural graphic effects, Kyalami is an ultra-compact luminaire with incredible creative potential. Its essential performance capability is based on its unique design, extreme miniaturisation and a minimalist cylindrical footprint that allows multiple luminaires to be installed only a few centimetres apart. A sphere of just 265mm incorporates Kyalami’s 100W laser module, cooling system and optics, while its 126mm front lens positioned in the continuity of the sphere provides Kyalami with a unique visual signature. Kyalami pushes all the limits when it comes to beam definition, with native contrast never before achieved by a digital light source. Its proprietary three-lens optical system produces an incredible, intensive one degree beam and an extreme range of focus that permits the beam shape to be adjusted according to the operating distance. Kyalami delivers a record luminous flux of 400,000 lux at ten metres from its next generation speckle-free laser source, which is designed for rendering a D65 white point that allows perfect colour reproduction. A highly innovative colour section includes a high-definition progressive CMY colour mixing system and a multi-position instant access colour wheel equipped with five corrective filters and 17 complementary colour filters. Kyalami has unrivalled graphics capability, offering a wide choice of 29 fixed metal gobos designed to sculpt light in beam mode. These gobos can be blended with two individually combinable rotating prisms allowing the production of a multitude of volumetric lighting effects. A light and heavy frost filter complete the graphic tool palette. Kyalami adopts a minimalist style due to simplified waterproofing and the continuous rotation of the pan and tilt movement, increasing the possibilities for generating complex effects and making this luminaire a universal tool capable of meeting any challenge in all conditions. Its dimensions measure just 265 x 430 x 265mm (l x h x d) and weighs in at 14.5kg. A creative, elegant, original, light weight and fast luminaire, conceived and designed to be unlike any other, Kyalami will disrupt the codes and unleash the emotions. Stage Electrics and Admiral Staging Collaborate to Enhance Accessibility at NEC Birmingham with Innovative Disability Viewing Platform Stage Electrics, a premier technical services company and provider of rigging, trussing and staging solutions, has joined forces with Admiral Staging to deliver a groundbreaking enhancement to Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. Together, they have developed and implemented a new, dynamic disability viewing platform, significantly improving accessibility and convenience for patrons at one of the UK’s foremost event venues. The collaboration between Stage Electrics and Admiral Staging was initiated when Resorts World Arena sought a solution to enhance the mobility of its existing disability viewing platform. Recognising the challenges posed by the platform’s weight and immobility, Stage Electrics’ resident staging expert, Mike Clarke, devised a tailored solution to address the client’s needs effectively. Mike Clarke commented: “Our team’s dedication to finding innovative solutions is at the heart of what we do. We were thrilled to provide the team at Resorts World Arena with a simple yet effective fix to their mobility challenges. By integrating Admiral Staging’s cutting-edge products, we were able to ensure ease of movement and safety without compromising stability or load-bearing capacity.” Matthew Keen, projects engineer at Resorts World Arena, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating: “Stage Electrics demonstrated ingenuity in solving the challenge of our disability viewing platform. Their adaptation, incorporating Admiral Staging’s wheels and brakes, has revolutionised the way we manage our disability viewing platform. Not only has it saved us time and money on repairs and labour, but it has also enhanced the overall efficiency of our operations.” Admiral Staging’s products were chosen for their proven reliability and robustness, ensuring the longevity and performance of the enhanced platform. The seamless collaboration between Stage Electrics, Admiral Staging and Resorts World Arena underscores a commitment to innovation, accessibility and customer satisfaction. Vari-Lite Updates Iconic VL2600 SE Series with Best-in-Class Output Vari-Lite, the originators of the modern moving head light fixture and Signify entertainment lighting brand, has announced the new VL2600 SE Series, an upgraded version of the iconic VL2600 Series of fixtures that includes the recently announced SE Upgrade Engine built-in. “The VL2600 Profile is, to date, one of the most popular Vari-Lite fixtures ever produced and it’s possible to rent a VL2600 Series luminaire on every continent on the globe,” explains Martin Palmer, Vari-Lite marketing and product management leader at Signify. “The VL2600 SE Series maintains everything that makes the family of powerful, versatile fixtures so iconic, including excellent light quality, a broad colour palette and a wide range of features. With the new light engine, the VL2600 SE Series fixtures are now also among the brightest in their class.” The new SE versions of the fixtures, which include both a profile and a wash, feature an upgraded 570W light engine. The VL2600 SE Profile offers 23,750 lumens of output, while the VL2600 SE Wash offers 27,500 lumens. Existing VL2600 Series fixtures can easily be upgraded to receive the same output by using the previously announced VL2600 SE Upgrade Engine, exemplifying why the VL2600 SE Series is the smart choice product with a sustainable future. Both fixtures provide a broad choice of saturated colours thanks to the CMY colour system and variable CTO adjustment. Great for touring, studio or stage, the VL2600 SE Series offers full features for live events, along with a colour range and CRI suitable for theatrical and studio productions. Both fixtures also include a fixed colour wheel for snap colour changes and split colours. The VL2600 SE Profile has a wide range of features, including full- wipe framing shutter, wide zoom, iris, fixed and rotating/indexing gobo wheels, dual prism and variable control frost. The workhorse VL2600 SE Wash includes the most versatile range of wash looks in its class, thanks to a wide zoom range, adjustable beam edge softness and a built-in automated barndoor system as standard. “It’s no wonder the VL2600 Series is highly specified around the world for tours, theatrical productions, theatrical and house of worship installations and more,” says Palmer. “The new SE Version extends the life of this powerful family of luminaires with a class-leading output to go along with the existing competitive feature set. This ensures designers have the capabilities they need in a fixture they’re familiar with, and facilities and rental houses have a luminaire they can trust for a longer lifecycle. This is the sustainable approach customers expect from Vari-Lite.”June 2024 news 6 Union Audio Celebrates Tenth Anniversary Cornwall-based audio design firm, Union Audio, is celebrating its tenth anniversary and to mark the occasion, a limited edition gold version of its flagship rotary mixer, the orbit.6, will be available to ten lucky customers. Andy Rigby-Jones began his audio career on the assembly line of pro audio manufacturer, Allen & Heath. With a passion for DJing and a keen practical knowledge of engineering, it was not long before Andy had devised the beginnings of Allen & Heath’s first DJ mixer and the now legendary brand, Xone, was born. Andy led the hugely successful Xone range for the next 14 years, producing industry standard iconic mixers such as the Xone:92. Launching his own business dedicated to bespoke analogue audio design, Andy formed Union Audio in 2014, collaborating with leading names in the DJ and sound reproduction field, including Richie Hawtin’s Play differently, MasterSounds Audio and TPI. In 2022 the company reached a major milestone with the release of the first own-brand product, the orbit.6 six-channel rack-mounted analogue rotary mixer, followed a year later by the compact linear four- channel elara.4. “Put simply, our aim at Union Audio is to provide an elite range of analogue mixing products, meticulously engineered to meet the aspirations of audiophile DJ and vinyl lovers,” explains founder, Andy Rigby-Jones. “I am very proud of all we have achieved so far, the workplace we have created and, most importantly, the joy and passion we have inspired in DJs and home studio enthusiasts around the globe. To date, Union Audio has manufactured over 6,000 mixers and audio accessories, not bad for a company founded in my garden shed!” Update v2.1.0 for LAMPY DMX console The Showtec LAMPY DMX console has received an update that brings many improvements and enhancements as well as some bug fixes. Showtec recommends updating to this latest (free) firmware for all LAMPY consoles. The Showtec LAMPY is an affordable DMX console that offers professional features like multicell support and a CIE colour picker. Showtec’s latest firmware release, v2.1.0, adds a number of useful features to improve the user experience and fixes a few minor bugs. Firmware v2.1.0 adds an image import function to the console. Imported images can be added to the Magic Sheets or Lock Screen to personalise the LAMPY. In addition, the playback faders can control parameters up to five faders wide, with different user-definable functions for each fader and any type of MFF can now be recorded to any of the three MFF pages. With firmware v2.1.0 it is now possible to import a show from USB from the Open Show startup screen. Colour and gobo icons can be automatically assigned when presets are recorded. The performance of the fixture library table selection and DMX output view items has been improved, as well as the readability of text in table cells and the DMX output view. The full list of improvements can be found in the firmware release notes. The firmware can be downloaded free of charge from https://www.highlite.com/en/mwdownloads/download/link/ id/17455175. Free NETRON CLU from Obsidian makes data management a breeze Obsidian Control Systems offers the NETRON CLU, an easy-to- navigate central utility interface useful in discovering and managing NETRON data distribution devices across a lighting network. Especially helpful when deploying networks that use multiple nodes, or when working with nodes that lack integrated screens, the NETRON CLU makes NETRON data signal devices even easier to configure, eliminating the need to physically access the devices themselves. NETRON devices can be discovered regardless of their current IP address and all NETRON features can be centrally configured, or reconfigured, without the need to access individual web pages or the device displays. Whether you’re setting up a handful of nodes for a live event or 50 nodes for an install, remote access to all device functions straight from a computer makes device settings easy to overview and node deployment a breeze. The Windows-based NETRON CLU app continuously monitors the network status and indicates the devices’ online or offline status on the user interface. The NETRON CLU also includes integrated firmware update management, allowing users to upgrade multiple devices to the latest firmware release simultaneously and with a single click. The NETRON CLU fully supports all NETRON devices and is free to use. Download the latest version at https://files.obsidiancontrol.com/s/ NetronCLU NETRON is Obsidian Control Systems’ comprehensive range of DMX splitters and Ethernet to DMX gateways, supporting applications from live production and venue installations to architectural environments. Featuring outstanding build quality, advanced feature sets and smart mounting options, they excel in the management of complex networked lighting systems. Developed with the user in mind, NETRON products combine tough hardware with smart software for fast set-up and solid performance. A New Face for A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ireland Ltd A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ireland Ltd. has welcomed Manni Loosli as its new business development manager. Based in Cork, Manni is an established lighting designer and technician with over 20 years of experience. His background as a lighting director, technical manager and project manager makes him ideally placed to offer the best advice and support to our diverse range of clients. AC-ET Ireland supplies Chroma-Q,ProLights, Avolites, Luminex, Green Hippo andTourflex Cabling, as well as many other leading industry brands. AC-ET’s export director, Lance Bromhead commented:“I’m delighted that Manni will be joining A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ireland. With his extensive local experience and contacts, he is well equipped to support our clients and make sure they get the best products at the best prices.” Manni stated:“I feel honoured to be joining A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ireland and I’m really looking forward to showing their amazing range of brands to the Irish market. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to utilise the knowledge and professional experience I’ve gained from previous roles and apply this to helping our clients find the right products and solutions for them. “I can’t wait to get out to see our customers, and to help A.C. Ireland continue to grow into the future.” www.ac-et.iecurve light MAGICDOT, released in 2015, was a revolutionary luminaire that still inspires creativity. Nine years later, Creative Solution series has been expanded to include its first IP65 laser source luminaire: KYALAMI. This new ultra-compact luminaire has incredible creative potential... The essential performance capability of KYALAMI is based on its unique design and extreme miniaturization. A sphere of only 265 mm incorporates a laser module of 100 watts, its cooling and optical system required to generate effects. A creative, elegant, original, lightweight and fast luminaire, conceived and designed to be unlike any other. KYALAMI will disrupt the codes and unleash the emotions. KYALAMI Creative Solution - Source 100 W - 9000 K Beam 1° Front Lens 126 mm Weight 14.5 kg Lux at 10 m 400,000 IP Rating IP65 www.ayrton.eu EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE UK AMBERSPHERE SOLUTIONS LTD - Phone: +44 20 8992 6369 - info@ambersphere.com - www.ambersphere.comJune 2024 news 8 A Sense of Theatre – Launched 1st May 2024 Almost a decade in the making, containing stories never before told and pictures never before seen and written with the insight of someone who was at the very heart of it, A Sense of Theatre – a remarkable new book providing a unique, eye-witness account of the birth and subsequent triumph of Britain’s National Theatre – launched to the public on 1st May 2024. The book is the final work of the pioneering lighting designer, theatre consultant and author Richard Pilbrow, who, with his work on the book complete, sadly passed away at the end of last year. This is history he was uniquely placed to record: in 1963 he was chosen by the National’s first director, Sir Laurence Olivier, to light the opening shows of the new National Theatre company at the Old Vic theatre. From there he quickly became involved in the planning of the new National Theatre building on the South Bank of London’s River Thames, eventually becoming the theatre consultant to the National and its architect, Denys Lasdun. For the National, Richard and his company Theatre Projects created technical innovations including a unique power flying system and the remarkable drum revolve stage in the larger Olivier Theatre, the pioneering Lightboard computerised lighting console, sophisticated new sound systems and much, much more. They also helped define the very shape of the building itself and designed the smallest of the National’s three auditoria, the Cottesloe. In A Sense of Theatre Richard describes the heady days in which the National company came to life. He investigates the background to the design of the National’s building and the three theatres it contains, including the full minutes of the meetings of the Building Committee; the panel of the leading theatre practitioners of the day assembled to help Lasdun understand theatre. He explains the technical solutions devised to achieve the ambition to present a repertoire of different shows in each theatre each day. He explores how his approach to designing performance spaces was influenced by but evolved after his work on the National. And he charts the remarkable shows that have been created by the National in its three theatres over the years, including conversations with many people involved with making those shows. The result is a unique record of a beloved theatre building and theatre company. A substantial work, lavishly illustrated, A Sense of Theatre’s publication has been supported by a number of leading industry companies and organisations: lead supporter the ABTT, plus Robe, Autograph, ETC, Steeldeck, Ambersphere, Howard Eaton Lighting Limited, 3LR, Martin, Pathway Connectivity Solutions, Push The Button, TAIT, Unusual, White Light and of course Theatre Projects. Many individuals also gave their support to the book through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, with those supporters the first to receive the book as it rolled off the presses in mid-April. The book became more widely available after 1st May, including through all good book shops and online. Further information and online ordering options can be found at www.asenseoftheatre.com DM3 Series Mixers Can Do More with New V2 Firmware Yamaha Corporation has announced the release of firmware version 2.0 for its DM3 series digital mixing consoles, which significantly enhances flexibility and expandability with new, customer- requested features including insert function, USB driver mode option and more. Launched in April 2023, the DM3 series set a new standard in compact mixers, shattering the stereotype that a compact digital console means having to compromise on features. Available with a choice of Dante networking (DM3) and non-Dante (DM3 Standard) models, these supremely portable digital mixers offer facilities unmatched by any other console of a similar size. The DM3 series is already proving very popular and, with firmware 2.0, adds more functionality and flexibility for a range of professional applications. A new insert function has been added to the input/output channels. This allows users to insert VST plug-ins via USB (using the included VST Rack Elements software) and also to insert external devices via USB or Dante. An extra USB Driver mode option has also been included. In addition to the existing Mode 1, which allows 18 channels to be connected to a single application, Mode 2 allows connection to up to four applications, connected via USB to a PC or Mac. The DM3 is also now compatible with Dante Domain Manager, providing further expansion and flexibility for Dante networks.* Further improvements include support for the exFAT USB storage format, which means fewer limitations and easier recording of high quality audio on USB external storage media of up to 256Tb.** The FAT32 format will still be supported, which is limited to media with a maximum size of 32Gb. Other new features in the V2.0 firmware upgrade include screen calibration and fader position calibration, which enhance the consistency of the user experience and allow the colour balance of the screen to be adjusted, according to the operating environment. “The Yamaha DM3 series has set a new standard for compact mixers and we are very pleased to provide this update, which delivers even more flexibility and expandability. We think this will be beneficial to many professional users,” says Thomas Hemery, Yamaha senior general manager of Professional Solutions Division. “In an ever-changing world, which constantly presents new challenges as well as opportunities, the new firmware for DM3 series mixers gives users the power and flexibility to do more with a compact digital console. We at Yamaha are always listening to the opinions of our customers and we will continue to work hard at providing the most flexible, comfortable mixing environments and systems.” * Not available on the DM3 Standard. ** When recording in WAV format, the maximum size for each file is 2Gb. Recording will continue as multiple, seamless 2Gb WAV files up to the capacity of the USB storage medium. Elation TruTone Technology – a pioneering advancement in lighting fidelity Elation’s research and development department embarked on a development project that spanned several years to tackle the challenge of achieving the perfect balance between colour accuracy and intensity. The result is TruTone Technology, a groundbreaking advancement that allows designers to adjust CRI from a single fixture in order to find the best lighting fidelity. Achieving that perfect balance between brightness and colour accuracy is an issue that has persisted in the entertainment lighting industry for years and holds significance for lighting designers and rental houses alike. Traditional LED engines, with their fixed CRI values, have fallen short in delivering a comprehensive spectrum, leaving designers and gear providers with inflexible options. Despite the industry’s numerous attempts to address this shortfall, the ideal solution has remained elusive. The core concept behind TruTone is ingeniously simple yet profoundly impactful: a fusion of high and low white CRI LEDs into a single, high-density optical array that allows for CRI adjustments across a range from CRI 70 to 93. For full story see etnow.com/equipment newsNext >