direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month News and Features Web Directory Features Issue: 378 Glastonbury – A Technical Round-Up page 14 August 2024 page: 20page: 26 page: 31 Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua – Reliable and Effective, Whatever the Weather The Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua represents a significant upgrade from the latest HY B-Eye K15, setting innovation and light output standards and, belonging to the Claypaky’s Shield Family, sets a new standard for weather-resistant lighting solutions. These IP66-certified fixtures are designed to be high-performance, ultra-durable and long-lasting. Also, they are dustproof, ensuring reduced maintenance costs and hassle-free operation. More on page 4 page: 30 For the Girls Aloud Show tour, lighting, video, automation, rigging equipment and crew are all supplied by PRG UK to Production North. An immersive installation at Poland’s Bieszczady Cultural Heritage Center features Green Hippo Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 media servers at the core. aMEI has chosen Sennheiser’s MM 445 high-rejection capsule for her Digital 6000 wireless system, providing audiences with pure sound at her shows. Hippotizer at core of immersive installation PRG Helps Deliver Brilliant Girls Aloud Tour aMEI performs with Sennheiser Digital 6000 page: 4 to 30 page: 2contents this month August 2024 page no. Features page : 5 page : 10 page : 12 page : 10 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 26Hippotizer at core of 60m-pixel immersive installation at Bieszczady Cultural Heritage Center Sixty million pixels of content is being driven to 18 HD projectors and three LED screens as part of an immersive installation at Poland’s Bieszczady Cultural Heritage Center, with tvONE’s Green Hippo Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 media servers at the core of the visuals. More than 200GB of animated graphics are being handled by the Boreal+ MK2s in a show designed to educate, inform and entertain. 28UEFA EURO 2024 Kicks Off with Elation in Dazzling Multimedia Presentation Just before the start of UEFA EURO 2024, Frankfurt – one of the ten host cities – set the stage for four weeks of international football fever with a spectacular multimedia show. One of the bridges over the main river was covered in the colours of the 24 participating nations for the duration of the European Championship and became the centrepiece of the football world for the 25-minute show. Lighting designer Thomas Giegerich from bright! used 96 PROTEUS EXCALIBUR, 48 PROTEUS MAXIMUS and 48 of Elation’s new PULSE BAR L linear lighting solutions to visually bring the concept to life. 30aMEI creates captivating aural feasts with Sennheiser Digital 6000 Since aMEI’s debut in 1996, she has sold over 50 million records, launching hit after hit in a variety of styles from moving love songs to energetic rock tunes. Her “ASMR World Tour”, which launched in 2022, has brought a stunning audiovisual feast to millions of fans in cities across the world. As the tour continues in 2024, aMEI has chosen Sennheiser’s MM 445 high- rejection capsule for her Digital 6000 wireless system, providing audiences across the globe with pure and detailed sound at her shows. 14Glastonbury – A Technical Round-Up •Glastonbury 2024 sees Video Illusions and Cucumber Productions deliver an otherworldly, bespoke video solution for Arcadia’s Dragonfly •Reliability Rules at Glastonbury FOH Positions with ChamSys •XTA and MC² Work Hard at Glastonbury •Chauvet Professional Lights Glastonbury Pyramid Stage for Headliners Coldplay and Dua Lipa •Arcadia Lights Up Glasto 2024 with Dragonfly and Robe iBOLTS 20PRG Helps Deliver Brilliant Girls Aloud Tour Production Girls Aloud are back on the road for the first time in 11 years, with their fabulous Girls Aloud Show tour. Lighting, video, automation and rigging equipment (including some new innovations) and crew are all supplied by PRG UK to Production North. 23Central London venue 229 purchases two DiGiCo Quantum 225 as part of major refurbishment 229 is a hidden gem on the edge of London’s Regents Park. When investing in a programme of upgrades for the building, technical manager Alessandro Bonifacio was excited by the DiGiCo Quantum 225’s list of future-proof features. 243LR casts a new light on the Royal Irish Academy of Music 3LR Lighting played a central role in specifying a new house lighting system for the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin. 25New Lío Mallorca lights up with GLP The new Lío Mallorca nightclub in Palma has opened with a spectacular dinner show, featuring a troupe of singers, dancers, acrobats and international artists. Cabaret Espectacular is billed as a high-octane cabaret for the 21st century. The fully immersive experience combined with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, it represents the pinnacle of theatrical dining and is brought to life with stage lighting from GLP.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: 378 The ABTT Stephen Joseph Award 2024 is now open for booking The ABTT now welcomes nominations once again for its annual Stephen Joseph Award, as an ongoing tribute to Joseph’s contribution to theatre culture. Designed to recognise innovative and inclusive theatre excellence in today’s British theatre, the 2024 Award is now open for entries. The aim of the Award is to celebrate the variety of ways that contemporary theatre practitioners continue to break new ground in engaging their audiences. The award is open for submissions and a wide variety of practice is eligible: the ongoing work of a theatre company, a specific production, an individual theatre artist or director, or an innovative theatre building design. Submissions are welcome from theatres large or small, long-established companies or emerging artists. Nominations accompanied by suitable evidence can easily be made by theatres, practitioners or the general public. Details about submitting nominations can be found below. In 2023, the Stephen Joseph Award was presented to New Vic Borderlines, the outreach team at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme for their 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. Susan Moffatt, Borderlines director said of receiving the award in 2023: “This award is an amazing recognition for the work we’ve been making through New Vic Borderlines for over 20 years. This is especially so, as our work stems directly from the ambition and inspiration of Stephen Joseph and Peter Cheeseman to reinvigorate theatre, making it accessible and relevant. Through our work, left out communities and unheard voices find a safe space to challenge preconceptions and make positive changes to their own lives and communities. We’re delighted and proud to have been awarded the Stephen Joseph Award and look forward to continuing to create innovative, inclusive theatre that truly does make a difference to society.” Stephen Joseph was one of the most influential theatre practitioners of the last century. He was a founding father of the ABTT and the Society of Theatre Consultants. He promoted new writing, architectural standards and technical excellence, and pioneered theatre-in-the-round and adaptable staging. At the heart of his practice lay the close and fundamental relationship between performer and audience. The award serves to honour this legacy and to celebrate the variety of ways contemporary theatre practitioners continue to break new ground in engaging their audiences. How to nominate: Who and what are eligible for the Award? It can be a living individual or a 21st century company or a non- traditional performance environment. In each case, the work produced will have demonstrated a creative and adventurous relationship between performance and audience. Submissions are welcome from theatres large or small, long-established companies or emerging artists. Submissions from artists/organisations who submitted in previous years, but were unsuccessful will be accepted in 2024, so long as they are fresh submissions. What are the criteria? The nominated individual, company or space will have demonstrated: •A high level of creative skill and innovation in creating the theatrical experience/s •Work created for/or in non-traditional, adaptable or in-the-round performance spaces •The creation of live theatrical events in which traditional barriers between actor and audience are removed or challenged. What evidence is needed? This can be any combination of production photos, video clips, designs, newspaper or media reviews and testimonials. Who can nominate? Anyone with a good knowledge of the nominee. This can include members of the theatre/company being nominated, the nominee him or herself or members of the general public. When do nominations close? Monday 14th October 2024 How to submit? Send your nominations to the ABTT at admin@abtt.org.uk Please include: •Your contact details •Details of the nominee (with contact details where possible) and a short 250 word statement clearly explaining why the individual, company or performance environment is being put forward for the award •A short 250 word statement from a seconder: someone else with personal knowledge or experience of the work or person being nominated •Supporting evidence such as photos, video clips, designs, reviews and testimonials. When will the awards be presented? The ABTT Christmas Party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London at the start of December.August 2024 news 4 Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua – Reliable and Effective, Whatever the Weather The Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua represents a significant upgrade from the latest HY B-Eye K15, setting innovation and light output standards and, belonging to the Claypaky’s Shield Family, sets a new standard for weather-resistant lighting solutions. These IP66-certified fixtures are designed to be high-performance, ultra- durable and long-lasting. Also, they are dustproof, ensuring reduced maintenance costs and hassle-free operation. The Claypaky HY B-Eye K15 Aqua original optical unit improves uniformity and light output efficiency. The rotating front lens and the individual LED control unleash a mesmerising world of kaleidoscopic projections and captivating eye-candy effects, making it an all-in-one lighting solution: a powerful LED wash, a flawless beam and a jaw-dropping visual effects projector all in a single fixture. The patent pending Advanced Layer Management system is an innovation that seamlessly blends three different layers at once. It gives you a significant advantage, making your shows more dynamic and engaging than ever before. Now you can mix and match three layers of effects at once: imagine having the freedom to choose a background colour, fire up an internal built-in sequence and throw in some external video content, all while seamlessly switching between these layers with the flick of a switch. The 40W RGBW LED engine delivers unbeatable performance, ensuring a brilliant display, even in the largest venues. The light from each LED blends seamlessly, creating a breathtaking canvas. The HY B-Eye K15 Aqua operates in different modalities of noise level, always delivering brilliantly efficient lighting performance: the lumen:watt ratio outshines any other model in its power class. It’s not just about being brighter, it’s about being smarter and more sustainable, resulting in unparalleled efficiency and cost-effectiveness. www.claypaky.com Ayrton launches IP65 Rivale Wash – Create to Sublime Ayrton has announced the official launch of its new IP65-rated Rivale Wash, the first ultra-equipped wash luminaire in Ayrton’s brand new “ULTIMATE” range. A new addition to its IP65 3 Series, Rivale Wash has been developed especially for mixed indoor and outdoor use, including in salt- laden environments. All ULTIMATE models are perfectly homothetic, sharing common features and delivering previously unimaginable weight- to-output ratios. Rivale Wash, has been designed to emphasise volume, create depth and dreamlike atmospheres that leave a lasting impression. Whether playing with light and shadow, highlighting a detail, mastering chiaroscuro, searching for the perfect nuance or chiselling space, this new-generation luminaire delivers incomparable satisfaction. In addition, Ayrton’s signature moves of continuous rotation on the pan and tilt axes are included as standard to ensure maximum design creativity and freedom. Rivale Wash’s incredible ability to create extremely subtle atmospheres makes it an outstanding wash projector. An all-new 170mm Fresnel lens giving an ultra-intensive 4° beam has been specially developed for Rivale Wash. This has been created for use with framing shutters, while also facilitating the use of geometric gobos or ovalisation lenses. The new Fresnel lens also significantly improves colour mixing and delivers 10% more light compared with a conventional Fresnel lens. Rivale Wash’s proprietary 12-lens optical system offers a zoom ratio of 14:1 and a range from 4° to 57°. Rivale Wash is equipped with a brand new 430W high efficiency sealed monoblock LED module calibrated at 6500K, offering a luminous flux of 28,000 lumens with optimum positioning on the black body to achieve perfect light neutrality. A system of four individually positionable barndoors allows precise shaping capability over the full 100% surface area, regardless of lantern position. Rivale Wash adopts a brand new high-definition progressive CMY colour mixing system that delivers perfect colour reproduction as soon as the filter is inserted, regardless of the colour combination selected. An extended progressive CTO enables precise adjustment of colour temperature from 2700K to 6500K and a seven-position colour wheel with special filters completes the palette of tools dedicated to colour creation. For greater flexibility of use, Rivale Wash offers subtle adjustment of the colour rendering index from 70 to 88. An indexable, rotating gobo wheel with seven adjustable-speed rotating gobos (in both directions), a CMY and RGB graphic effects wheel, a 15 blade iris, a 0%-100% variable linear frost and a dimmer/ strobe complete the effects package. Rivale Wash weighs just 29.7kg, offering outstanding performance for a product in this category. Compact, handy, silent and hard-wearing, Rivale Wash brings precision and mastery of nuance in its quest for perfection. Rivale Wash is a unique spotlight with a unique visual signature that combines performance, creativity, subtlety and power. An extraordinary luminaire with no equivalent on the market. Call for nominations for PLASA’s Gottelier Award PLASA and LSi are calling for nominations for this year’s Gottelier Award. Named after the late lighting designer and innovator Tony Gottelier, the revered award recognises the invaluable contributions of the people behind the products. Launched in 2007, the Gottelier Award aims to recognise product developers who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the advancement of entertainment, presentation, or installation technology over many years. Last year’s winner was Howard Eaton whose self-named company is known for delivering bespoke solutions to countless theatrical productions around the world from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s flying car, to the crashing chandelier in the Phantom of the Opera, to the flying Olympic rings at London 2012. After his win, Howard said: “It is quite something to be nominated for this award and very special indeed to be added to the list of friends and colleagues who have won it. Thank you to PLASA and LSi and special thanks to my friends and colleagues whose continued hard work, dedication and support make it possible to develop and build the things that help deliver the shows we work on.” Previous recipients include JB Toby (Avolites), Christian Heil (L-Acoustics), Alan Jacobi (Unusual Rigging), Wayne Howell (Artistic Licence), Anne Valentino (ETC), David Cunningham (Entertec), Pasquale Quadri (Claypaky), Jim Bornhorst (Vari-Lite), John Meyer (Meyer Sound), Terry Clarke (Klark Teknik, MC2 Audio), Fred Foster (ETC), Alex Cooper (Midas & Klark Teknik), John Stadius (DiGiCo / Soundtracs) and Tony Andrews (Funktion- One). If you know a respected product developer or R&D team, please submit your nomination online by completing a short form, explaining why your nomination is deserving of the Gottelier Award. Once all the nominations are vetted, voting will open to registered PLASA Show visitors, PLASA members and readers of LSi. The winner of the Gottelier Award will be announced during an intimate ceremony from 6pm on Monday 2 September at PLASA Show 2024, which is held at Olympia London. You can submit a nomination for the Gottelier Awards via the official nomination form at: https://forms.gle/qktFJ7G8UsKCrqms5 For more information about the Gottelier Awards and T&Cs, view the official brochure at: https://bit.ly/4cRRBHUIssue: 378 news 5 Half Moon upgrades with Martin Audio FlexPoint Although only a small, 220 capacity venue, the Half Moon in Putney has hosted some of the biggest names in show business over the last 60-plus years. It was the venue for U2’s first ever sell-out show, the place where Kate Bush first performed publicly, hosted KD Lang’s debut and has had the likes of Bo Diddley, The Who and The Rolling Stones gracing its stage. But its sound system had been installed almost a decade previously and was nearing end of life. The venue’s head engineer James Beck has been working at the venue all of that time and more. It was when Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason came through back in 2018 carrying Martin Audio’s MLA Mini loudspeaker array that the vast improvement in sound quality arrested his attention. “I was well aware of the Martin Audio brand and when I heard this I was super-impressed. It had already been in our mind to upgrade, as I’d never been completely happy with the old system and I felt this iconic venue deserved a proper system.” So he started looking seriously at Martin Audio. “The first thing we bought was four LE200 wedge monitors and that blew everyone away compared with what we had. So then we started talking to Martin Audio about upgrading FOH.” Enter one of the manufacturer’s partner companies, Solotech. Their project manager Louis Williams was happy specifying the brand knowing that “around 60 percent of our venues” have been equipped with Martin Audio. “We removed an old flare rig and put in a pair of FlexPoint FP15s, left and right of the stage and a pair of SX218 double 18” subs. “We’re also using FP8 for the sidefill to give the door area a bit more coverage.” A further three more FP8 can be found outside “to give the smokers some nice sound as well”. The main system is powered by a pair of Martin Audio VIA5002 amplifiers with all signal routing and EQ managed via a dedicated Martin Audio DX4.0 processor. Williams is convinced that this was the correct specification. “FlexPoint loudspeakers are a perfect match for the venue,” he says. “They are the right size and at a great price point. It’s a massive improvement to what they had before.” James Beck agrees. “The new system has been like night and day. Bands have noticed the improvement, customers and engineers have been super happy. The headroom in the system, the size of the boxes and clarity are all absolutely amazing. “With acts starting out, touring acts and the odd superstar like Ronnie Wood rolling in it was important for us to have a really good sound system. It also needed something that was durable because we have acts seven nights a week. When people come to a venue that’s been going for 60 years, they expect a good time, which is why we needed something that would fulfil that sound-wise. “FlexPoint sounded great straight out of the box, and fulfils all the criteria.” Oranje Bus equipped with full Dynacord power and processing solution for Men’s European Football Championships The iconic Oranje Bus has built a reputation over recent years as the central party location for all fans following the Netherlands in international football tournaments. To ensure it maintains this reputation, the bus underwent an extensive refresh for the 2024 Men’s European Championships in Germany that also included an update of its sound system with Dynacord electronics. The double-decker bus has become a mainstay for fans of the Dutch men’s and women’s teams. It has travelled the world to every major soccer tournament the Netherlands have played in since 2004. The popular parades it hosts see streets turned into a sea of orange with tunes and rallying cries blasted out from its compact, yet powerful, sound system. The man behind the mobile sound sensation is Alex van Rijsewijk from Wytec Trade in Tilburg. He teamed up with Reinier Bruijns and Raymond Kersjes from Electro-Voice and Dynacord Benelux partner FACE PRO to update the professional sound system. The bus last had an audio upgrade for the 2021 Men’s European Championships which saw a large amount of Electro-Voice and Dynacord equipment installed. The 2024 refresh has been more of an incremental upgrade with Dynacord electronics replacing third-party amplifiers and DSP to ensure the sound system performs at its peak. The double-decker is equipped with four Electro-Voice MFX-15MC loudspeakers pole-mounted on a pair of Dynacord FX20-PRO subwoofers to provide powerful sound reinforcement for fans walking behind the bus. Meanwhile, sound inside the vehicle is courtesy of six ultra-compact Electro-Voice EVU-1082/95 cabinets with low-end support from the manufacturer’s legacy ZX1-Sub. Power for the solution had been via a combination of Dynacord’s IPX10:4 with a pair of third-party amplifiers and an external DSP. These third-party electronics have been replaced and upgraded with a pair of Dynacord L3600FD DSP amplifiers, which provide power and DSP alongside the IPX10:4. One of the major advantages that the Oranje Bus has seen from this has been the ability to use Dynacord’s SONICUE sound system software for set up and control. While the software has been used since the initial install in 2021, the mixed nature of the solution meant that the full benefits could not be felt. With Dynacord now providing the complete backbone of the solution, the real power of SONICUE has been experienced, with operators now having direct access to every parameter of the sound system. With the system upgraded, the Dutch fans have once again taken over the streets of Germany with the sea of orange supported by a pristine soundtrack. Audio Precision Announces APx500 Global Workshop Series Starting in August, and continuing through December, Audio Precision, an Axiometrix Solutions’ brand, launches its APx500 Global Workshop Series, starting in August and continuing through December in North America, Europe and the Asian- Pacific. This one-day, interactive workshop is ideal for anyone who is new to APx500 or looking to refresh their knowledge and skills. Participants will gain hands- on experience with the software across various applications, from R&D to production line environments. The workshop will focus on practical exercises led by expert instructors, who will lecture on various topics, demonstrate the software’s features and guide participants through exercises to reinforce each lesson. The workshop agenda covers basic information of audio measurements and an introduction to the most important elements of the APx user interface, the fundamentals of FFT analysis to advanced bench mode measurements. The fee for the workshop is $250 (prices may vary by country). All participants will need to bring a computer with the latest APx500 demo software installed for the practical exercises. The latest software version is at:https:// www.ap.com/software/latest-software/ For more details and to register for the individual workshops, please visit https:// www.ap.com/events/apx500-global- workshop-seriesAugust 2024 news 6 WPC deployed for three-day ‘Tunes in the Dunes’ festival on Perranporth Beach Tunes in the Dunes is the apt name given to an annual three-day festival on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall. The festival has been running on the golden sands for 11 years, having sprung up from the live music events at the beachside Watering Hole, which is actually the UK’s only bar on a beach. Based nearby in Plymouth, Martin Audio partner Nub Sound this year provided the technical infrastructure, deploying their Wavefront Precision Compact (WPC), eight elements a side, which ensured headliners McFly (Friday), Craig David (Saturday) and Ocean Colour Scene (Sunday) could be heard to the max by crowds assembling on the beach as their music drifted out towards the Atlantic Ocean. On duty was Nub Sound director of operations and sound engineer Josh Small. He explained that in addition to the eight WPC per side, a cardioid sub array of eight SXH218 in a castellated format ensured rear rejection and stage spillage. Three WPS enclosures provided nearfill coverage, with the main hangs driven in 2-box resolution from Martin Audio iKON multi-channel process-control amplifiers and the front fills individually amplified. Small explained the challenges: “We were in a very long arena, not particularly wide and needing to get consistent audience coverage from in front of the pit to right out to 55 to 60 metres behind the FOH position. That’s something we can achieve really well with the Wavefront series.” He also spoke of the environmental requirements, which his sound team were able to meet thanks to the close control offered by Martin Audio’s proprietary DISPLAY software. “We were aware that we were in a really residential area. Although Perranporth is only a small town, there are a number of high-quality hotels and residences on the clifftop which we were pointing towards and our neighbours naturally have concerns about being disturbed by events happening on this site. “Therefore, we have to be really considerate about our offsite noise and we have to be really thoughtful about how we are going to impact the local populous.” His solution was to use the strict Hard Avoid setting in DISPLAY at the back of the arena. “… really pushing the priority in the optimisations to get as much offsite noise control as possible,” he said. “We specifically aimed the PA acoustically to avoid sending anything off site.” Finally, Josh Small also spoke of the logistics of getting the tech down to the beach from the cliff top. “It was a case of getting everything to the nearest hard standing car park, forking it off a lorry onto tractor trailers, bringing it to stage and then forking it off again.” In this instance the tractor trailers took on more the role of dune buggies, while the event itself gave a whole new meaning to building sand castellations! 2B Heard Appointed as Exclusive Distributor for Naostage in the UK 2B Heard, a leading provider of cutting-edge audio-visual solutions, has announced its partnership with Naostage, the innovative pioneer in automatic show tracking solutions. As the exclusive distributor for Naostage in the United Kingdom, 2B Heard will now offer Naostage’s state-of-the-art products to a broader market, enhancing the dynamic experiences in live events, theatres and various entertainment venues. Naostage has revolutionised the live performance industry with its unique auto-tracking technology, enabling precise and seamless tracking of performers and objects without the need for wearables or beacons. This breakthrough innovation ensures flawless synchronisation of lighting, video and sound, delivering an immersive and engaging experience for audiences. “We are excited to collaborate with Naostage and bring their ground-breaking technology to our customers,” said Sam Nankivell, director of 2B Heard. “Our commitment to providing the best in audio-visual solutions aligns perfectly with Naostage’s vision of enhancing live performances through advanced automation. This partnership will allow us to offer unparalleled tracking solutions that elevate the quality and creativity of live events across the UK.” “Naostage represents an exciting concept of merging innovation into the creative process, allowing us to work with visual and audio concepts simultaneously,” says Sam Nankivell, director of 2B Heard. “The system, backed by continued development, stands out as being at the forefront of the market [it’s] both innovative and ground-breaking but with the ability to be deployed into the real world with ease.” Initially aimed at the live event sector, 2B Heard sees a much wider range of potential applications for Naostage’s K-SYSTEM, such as E-Sports, visitor attractions and virtual broadcast production. The company aims to educate, train and demonstrate the product through events to allow the entertainment technology and installation industry to grasp the concept and offer operator-supported field testing and on-site demonstrations to customers looking to deploy live tracking into their projects. “We believe Naostage is the missing link in many applications,” states Nankivell. “Using AI as the method of interaction between environments and audiences, Naostage will develop to offer experience-led retail, competitive socialising and enhanced technical delivery of performances. Data capture and feedback will also show the ability to provide a strong return on investment to experiential service providers, something which standard tracking will not be able to deliver.” Working with partners who have strong and similar values to ourselves sets the foundation. Supporting the story and journey of new and developing brands is also a keen area of interest for 2B Heard as a distributor. The product and its continued development also stood out as being at the forefront of the market, innovative and ground-breaking but able to be easily deployed into the real world. Solotech Expands UK Operations with State- of-the-Art Manchester Facility Solotech, a global leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology, has announced the expansion of its UK operations with a new, state-of-the-art facility in Manchester. Imperial 76, the new premises located in the Kingsway Business Park, will serve as a hub for Solotech’s sales and systems integration division, as well as support for live production operations. With 76,000 sq. ft. of floor space, the facility features eight truck bays, six level loading bays, as well as a centralised hub for stock supporting the company’s sales and systems integration plans. Martin Tremblay, president and chief executive officer, says: “This investment reflects the success of our Manchester team and highlights our substantial growth in the UK over the past five years. Solotech is committed to further investments in the UK in the coming years, reinforcing our dedication to driving business expansion across both divisions.” The facility also boasts a range of features that demonstrate Solotech’s commitment to environmental and social governance, including a greener and more efficient building design, 70 parking spaces and seven EV charging points. This strategic expansion follows a series of recent moves across Solotech, including new premises in Nashville and Las Vegas in 2022 and a new UK headquarters at Blythe Valley in Birmingham in 2023.pure emotion In the wash light category there are some luminaires that will make the audience feel pure emotion. Our new creation is a compact luminaire for stage lighting that delivers a wash effect with finesse. NANDO 502 WASH is as lightweight as it is efficient. Its new minimalist design ensures full accessibility to all functions. This IP65 luminaire is specially designed for mixed use, both indoor and outdoor… even in salty environments! NANDO 502 WASH is an ultra-compact luminaire that enhances scenes with elegance and refinement. It is meant for designers looking for depth of colour who want to create unforgettable wash effects. NANDO 502 WASH EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE UK AMBERSPHERE SOLUTIONS LTD - Phone: +44 20 8992 6369 - info@ambersphere.com - www.ambersphere.com 6 Series - Source 12 RGB-L LED Beam Aperture 3.5° to 53° IP Rating IP65 Weight 15.6 kg Lumens 10,000 www.ayrton.euAugust 2024 news 8 Stage Electrics Announces Strategic Senior Appointments Stage Electrics, a leading provider of entertainment technology products and services has announced the appointment of two new senior roles within the company. Paul Roughton, currently the national sales manager, has been appointed head of equipment sales. In this role, Paul will be responsible for the day-to- day management and leadership of the company’s equipment sales department, supporting the sales team and working with the market- leading brands that the company offers its customers. Pete White, previously the support and services manager, now takes up the head of venue services role and will be responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of this business area. This position includes overseeing Just Rigging & Inspections Scotland Ltd as it integrates into the Stage Electrics Group. These new roles follow last year’s restructuring of the company’s projects department, which saw the appointment of Ian Dunne as head of business development and sales – projects, and Richard Phare as commercial manager (UK), further highlighting Stage Electrics’ commitment to building a robust leadership team and promoting succession planning. “These strategic appointments strengthen our senior management team, enhance our capabilities and provide a clear path for further growth and development opportunities within the company,” said Anna Western, the company’s sales director, who will work closely with both Paul and Pete in their new roles. “By bringing on the next generation of leaders, we are not only ensuring continuity but also positioning ourselves to ensure we continue to deliver great services to our clients whilst expanding our market presence,” added Dan Aldridge, the company’s commercial director, who joined his colleagues across the business in congratulating both Paul and Pete on their new roles. Paul Roughton said: “I am thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for Stage Electrics. This new position will allow me to drive our sales initiatives further and support our talented team as we continue to deliver exceptional solutions to our clients, all things I am passionate about.” Pete White said: “I can’t wait to step into the head of venue services role. I am particularly looking forward to leading our dedicated team and further refining our service offerings to create even greater value for our clients and partners.” Both Paul and Pete officially take up their new roles at the beginning of August. In the meantime, Paul is introducing some of his clients to his equipment sales colleagues, who will be their immediate point of contact moving forward. Pump up the energy! Introducing Elation’s dynamic PULSE BAR strobe lights Get the crowd pumping with Elation’s newPULSE BAR! Joining the PULSE PANEL and PULSE PANEL FX in Elation’s new PULSE line of high-impact lights, the PULSE BAR is a highly impactful strobe and visual effect bar that injects dynamism and spark into any performance. Available in one-metre and half-metre lengths (PULSE BAR L, PULSE BAR S), both models incorporate zone-controllable 1.5W RGB LEDs along its perimeter, 5W cool white LEDs at its centre and 1.5W RGB LEDs at its core. Whether adding rhythmic flashes that synchronise with the music or crafting special effects for a more visually stimulating experience, customisable zone control of both the RGB and CW LEDs opens up for a myriad of design possibilities. The PULSE BAR allows you to infuse your performance with intense, attention-grabbing moments of white or coloured light that enhance the energy of the moment. A library of customisable RGB and CW strobe effects along with variable dimming modes and curves are included for quick programming. The PULSE BAR features the same RGB and CW LEDs as the PULSE PANEL and PULSE PANEL FX for a perfect match and feature the same effects engine and control capabilities as well. Designed for ultimate flexibility, an integrated accessory slot accommodates optional diffusion filters, ND filters and other optics. Both the PULSE BAR L and PULSE BAR S feature Elation’s market- leading IP65 protection, a durability standard that not only protects them from weather and harsh environments, even coastal locations, but also serves to protect the internal components and electronics from dust and debris that can wreak havoc on fixtures. The fanless convection cooling guarantees silent operation, making them ideal for noise-sensitive environments as well. ThePULSE BAR’s innovative housing allows for end-to-end interconnection and includes integrated L track for flexible mounting and positioning. Trunions designed for attachment to the L track can be fixed at multiple points to optimise positioning around objects or obstacles.The PULSE BAR includes the same interlocking mechanism as the PULSE PANEL, so the bars can be locked together end to end or connected to the PULSE PANEL for seamless designs. Controlled via DMX/RDM, Art-Net, sACN, and KlingNet protocols, thePULSE BARalso features proprietary Aria x2 wireless device management for simplified system set up and maintenance. Create more vibrant lighting displays for concerts, events or theatrical productions. Accentuate scenery, create patterns, shapes, or even animated sequences that add depth, interest and artistic flair to designs. When the moment calls for high-impact bursts of light and visually striking effects, look no further. ThePULSE BAR delivers! Pixl Evolution Announces New Central London Office in Kings Cross Pixl Evolution, a leading provider of cutting-edge AV and event technology solutions and part of the Entertainment Technology Partners (ETP) family, has announced the opening of its new central London office in the heart of Kings Cross. Strategically situated at The Derby on St Chad’s Street, just off Euston Road and directly opposite the iconic King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, the new space embodies Pixl’s dedication to innovation. This central location also provides a perfect base to support its exciting partnership with Town Hall by Bottaccio, London’s newest and most anticipated event space, conveniently just 200 metres away. Pixl proudly serves as the venue’s in-house AV and technology partner. “We are incredibly excited to be a part of the thriving tech revolution happening in Kings Cross,” says Paul Hutton, president of ETP Europe. “This prime location offers Pixl unparalleled access to connect with clients seeking the very best technical expertise for their events. I, for one, am eager to experience the dynamic energy this environment has to offer.” Guy Vellacott, CEO of Pixl Evolution and vice president of ETP Europe echoes the enthusiasm: “Establishing a central London presence has always been a key strategic goal for Pixl. When this opportunity arose in Kings Cross, we knew it was perfect. We are excited to welcome both existing and new clients to our new location, reaffirming our dedication to serving the growing event scene in this vibrant area.” The new Kings Cross office signifies Pixl Evolution’s commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions to clients across the UK and beyond.Issue: 378 news 9 Sennheiser Celebrates 25 Years of Evolution Wireless Microphones The closing years of the last century were marked by the rise of hip-hop and the revival of teen pop, manifesting in the huge success of boy bands and girl bands. Oscar-winning films American Beauty and The Matrix hit cinemas around the globe and became true classics. For Sennheiser, 1999 marked the birth of its most successful wireless microphone series: Evolution Wireless. Launching just one year after the Evolution wired microphones, Evolution Wireless comprised various radio microphone systems plus an in-ear monitoring set. Since then, the series has gone through several generations of innovation, culminating with its digital transformation in 2020 with the release of Evolution Wireless Digital. Evolution and Evolution Wireless began with a courageous decision that went against a common trend at the time. In the music business in particular, many microphone manufacturers were outsourcing their production to low-cost countries. “Our grandfather and father were trapped: they did not want to compromise the high Sennheiser quality but needed more affordable price points for the music market,” explains Daniel Sennheiser. “Then the Sennheiser engineers suggested that the company might possibly be able to produce high-quality microphones fully automatically and we took the risk and invested in the necessary production lines.” Andreas Sennheiser adds: “They created the most modern microphone manufacturing line of the time, and the success immediately proved them right: Wireless sales surged tremendously.” “From the start, the Evolution Wireless series has benefitted from Sennheiser’s RF expertise in the fields of theatre audio and broadcasting,” says Andreas Sennheiser. “And with every new generation that was launched, our customers and users could be certain to hold the latest in RF wireless technology in their hands.” The second generation of Evolution Wireless was launched in 2004, followed in 2009 by G3 and in 2018 by G4, each generation improving on the previous one in features and useability. The classification into 100, 300 and 500 sub-series indicated the features and scalability to expect from the systems. The customer base soon extended far beyond the initial music industry focus: the famous evolution wireless “-p” systems attracted videographers, film-makers and even broadcasters. Small theatres on a budget often went with the 500 series. And the field of business communication applications was catered to by the 300 series. The fifth generation of evolution wireless launched in 2020 with an impactful virtual launch event and it is still being expanded today. This generational change was a major one, as the systems needed to become digital to still present the audio and RF benchmark that Evolution Wireless users had grown accustomed to. Compatibility with the preceding generation – which had been an absolute must previously – was no longer possible, although analogue and digital systems can be operated alongside each other when using the accessories designed for Evolution Wireless Digital. “To mark this move to digital and increase user awareness, the fifth generation of Evolution Wireless was not simply called G5 but Evolution Wireless Digital,” notes Daniel Sennheiser. “We also did away with the sub-series and instead created user-driven series within the product family.” “Focus groups with expert end users from the respective fields contributed massively to the development of the Evolution Wireless Digital family,” says Andreas Sennheiser. “Up and coming bands, live sound engineers, business communications experts, videographers and film-makers became a part of the product team, voicing their wishes and evaluating the development iterations.” The results of their work are the sub-series EW-D, which has a focus on bands and musicians, EW-DX for professional live audio, business communications and education applications, and EW-DP for videographers, film-makers and ENG crews. Turning digital has not only improved the audio quality but adds many possibilities for users. “For example, bands and speakers can set up their wireless very intuitively via the Smart Assist app, something that was not possible before with a professional UHF wireless system,” says Daniel Sennheiser. “Videographers can remotely unmute an interviewee who has accidentally switched on their mute button. A live sound engineer doesn’t have to crouch in front of the rack but can conveniently link transmitters and receivers via Bluetooth now. An integrator can seamlessly integrate the wireless in their customers’ larger workflows. What all users get are meticulously engineered systems that were developed with their needs in mind.” “Digital convenience and seamless workflow integration are key in professional audio today and with Evolution Wireless Digital, we’re taking the heritage of Evolution Wireless into the digital future of audio,” concludes Andreas Sennheiser. Europalco brightens up Benfica football club’s awards Europalco, the largest provider of solutions for events and shows in southern Europe, orchestrated the spectacular 120th Anniversary Gala for Sport Lisboa e Benfica, the iconic Portuguese football club. The event, known as the Cosme Damião Awards, was held at the MEO Arena in Lisbon and paid tribute to the rich history and achievements of the club, as well as the outstanding personalities who have contributed to its legacy. The Cosme Damião Awards is an esteemed ceremony that recognises the remarkable achievements of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and pays tribute to Cosme Damião, one of the club’s founding fathers. This annual event holds immense significance in the hearts of Benfica fans and the sporting community, as it commemorates the club’s enduring legacy and honours its brightest stars. The Portuguese supplier, organising this event for the fifth time, provided a wide range of services to ensure the gala’s success. Europalco’s team of 40 professionals spared no effort to deliver a flawless experience for the 2,500 attendees, from state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video production to captivating scenery and staging. The centrepiece of the gala was undoubtedly the magnificent 70m x 12m main screen, creatively designed to resemble the wings of the Benfica eagle, the club’s iconic symbol. Europalco used 12 Christie Boxer projectors to create an immersive and unforgettable backdrop for the evening’s celebrations. The gala was a mix of entertainment, emotion and reverence, with special recognition given to the most influential figures in Benfica’s history. From legendary players to dedicated staff, each award recipient was honoured for their invaluable contribution to the club’s success. At the heart of the Cosme Damião Awards, Roger Schmidt and António Silva were honoured as Coach and Footballer of the Year for their pivotal role in Benfica’s success. Francisca Nazareth won her second consecutive Footballer of the Year award, while João Neves emerged as the rising star of men’s football. The gala also paid tribute to the late football player Minervino Pietra and coach Sven-Göran Eriksson. Pedro Magalhães, CEO of Europalco, said: “Innovative staging and state-of-the-art technology transformed the MEO Arena into a captivating tribute to the illustrious history of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Our team faced the challenge of constructing and suspending the intricate set design, but their expertise and careful planning assured flawless execution.” He added: “The feedback from our clients was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing it as the best gala in their history. We are proud to have been involved in the commemoration of this milestone. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the future.”Next >