Equipment News

Claypaky Tambora Flash: A unique three in one trailblazer of a fixture to create instant impact

Following on from its successful range of LED bars introduced last year, Claypaky has now expanded the Tambora family further and introduces Tambora Flash. It is the only hybrid fixture on the market that can act simultaneously as a strobe, wash and blinder, specifically designed with a modular approach for use in a linear array to offer new creative opportunities to lighting designers.

The strobe section is based on two strips of very powerful white LEDs and a large beam angle aperture, capable of bringing a real impact of light into the show.

The blinder and the wash functions are obtained thanks to four large central RGBWW LED reflectors of 100W each, individually controllable in each function through the Advanced Layers Management. The presence of Warm White LEDs allows the typical warm effect typical of blinders. However, the blinder effect can also be obtained by using coloured LEDs, for a more dramatic effect than usual.

Both strobe and blinder effects are so visually striking that they can be perfectly appreciated even in concerts and live events in broad daylight, even in bright sunlight!

Tambora Flash was conceived and developed with the idea of making several product units combinable horizontally and vertically, in order to obtain clusters that are conceptually like the line arrays of audio systems. Its core unit is suitable for smaller venues and this is contained in a modular design that can be quickly connected together to create larger units for use in big venues and stadiums.

Claypaky Tambora Flashes offers two quick coupling modes and the adjustment of each single fixture within the cluster on a 30° angle, in order to adapt to every application. The advanced mechanics and the ease of combining matrix products make Tambora Flash a truly versatile and fun to use system.

Tambora Flash offers an IP66 degree of protection, which guarantees its ideal use in outdoor applications.

4th August 2022

City Theatrical Launches QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape

City Theatrical is expanding its line of QolorFLEX LED Tape and Accessories with a new QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape, which brings its best-selling QolorFLEX 5-in-1 and HiQ High CRI LED Tape for film and video technologies together in a single LED Tape. QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape is an interior grade 5-in-1 24V LED Tape with a colour rendering index (CRI) of 95 and is 25% brighter than other 5-in-1 LED tapes, making it an ideal high CRI LED tape for the camera needs of film and video projects, while providing lighting professionals with ultimate colour control.

Each QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape (P/N 5050-24-RGBH27006500-60-5-20-1) offers

exceptional on-camera colour rendition and the ability to match the light sources already being used on set. It can create a wide spectrum of colours using red, blue, green and tuneable 2700K to 6500K white.

QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape is an excellent tool to meet the demands of high-quality lighting for film and television projects, and also helps 'future-proof' LED tape lighting installations for theatre, opera, and other live entertainment projects that may transition to broadcast in the future.

To complement this new QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape, City Theatrical offers three QolorFLEX HiQ High CRI LED Tapes in colour temperatures that include 3200K, 6000K, and 2700K to 6500K in a single chip. City Theatrical also offers QolorFLEX 5-in-1 LED Tape, RGBACW, which uses identical LEDs for its 5-in-1 RGB + Amber + Cool White configuration. City Theatrical’s original QolorFLEX 5-in-1 LED Tape, RGBWWCW is now a legacy product in the QolorFLEX line.

Like all 45+ high quality QolorFLEX LED Tapes that help put light in places that were once thought impossible and create lighting fixtures and effects in a new and inexpensive way, QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape is sold in 5m reels and includes six-inch long pigtails on both ends for easy connections to QolorFLEX dimmers for ultra-smooth, flicker-free dimming.

Other new QolorFLEX products include an Aluminum Extrusion, 45°, 2m (P/N 6693) which provides lighting professionals with more flexibility in LED tape installations, such that they can easy mount and direct the light from LED tape at a 45-degree angle. This new Aluminum Extrusion, 45°, 2m is ideal for cove lighting, wall washes, and foot lighting.

This expansion of the QolorFLEX brand with QolorFLEX 5-in-1 HiQ High CRI LED Tape aligns with City Theatrical’s strategic direction to support film and video projects worldwide with innovative lighting accessories, which include Multiverse Studio Kit for revolutionary multi-universe wireless DMX/RDM control as well as many other City Theatrical solutions for film and video.

29th July 2022

Maverick Storm from Chauvet Professional Takes IP65 Moving Heads to Next Level

There are “more storms on the horizon” at Chauvet Professional, and that’s good news for anyone interested in lighting shows and events. In keeping with its commitment to offering all-weather solutions, the company has announced a new generation of IP65 rated moving heads: the Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash, Maverick Storm 4 Profile and Maverick Storm 2 Profile. Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash is the first available, and its intensely bright and extreme versatility makes it powerful enough to excel at even the largest stadium and amphitheatre applications.

“Our company has been increasing our commitment to developing IP65 solutions that stand out for being way more than weatherproof, including our Maverick Storm series,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “With the class-leading weight and versatility of the new Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash we’ve taken this category to the next level.”

In addition to its strikingly bright output of close to 10,000 lumens, the new fixture, which features 19 x 50W RGBW LEDs in its centre pixel array, and an outer ring of 0.2W RGB LEDs, offers a host of features that open a wide range of creative options, all in a rugged, dependable package with a class-leading weight of under 40 lbs.

The Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash will light up the night sky thanks to its output and a zoom range that goes down to 3.6 degrees for searingly tight aerial beams. When wide washes are called for, the zoom range goes up to a generous 53.4 degrees.

Adding to the fixture’s versatility is its pixel mappable 12-zone RGB LED outer ring that offers individual pixel control. The outer ring is positioned under a stealth filter, making it easier to incorporate this light into a wide range of designs. Built-in foreground and background LED macros, facilitate the creation of pixel mapped effects.

Also helping the Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash stand out are its ultra-smooth fades, the result of its 16-bit dimming and six distinct dimming modes. Additionally, the fixture’s user-selectable 7,500k calibrated white, and very fast pan and tilt movements open the door to more creative possibilities, while simple and complex DMX channel profiles make accessing looks easier.

“Our team has worked diligently on this fixture,” said Chauvet. “We believe in the future of IP65-rated fixtures, and with the Maverick Strom 2 BeamWash we’ve taken a big stride in that direction.”

29th July 2022

Naostage launches automatic beaconless 3D tracking solution for fixed installation and rental staging

Naostage, a forward-thinking, engineering-led start-up, has launched the world’s first automatic beaconless 3D tracking solution, making it easy for AVL rental-staging and fixed-install professionals to create immersive, interactive live experiences.

Designed and engineered at the company’s headquarters in Nantes, France, Naostage’s tracking solution seamlessly identifies and follows artists, performers and visitors wherever they are in a defined tracking area, allowing for the automation of an endless array of lighting, audio, video and media effects in real time, in perfect sync with the show.

“From outdoor festivals to touring shows, visitor attractions, immersive experiences and more, Naostage’s 100 per cent automated solution streamlines and simplifies tracking workflow wherever it is deployed,” explains Paul Cales, Naostage founder and CEO, “helping artists, show designers and technical teams to improve productivity and reduce their costs while further elevating the live experience for fans and visitors.”

The potential applications for this one-of-a-kind technology are limited only by the imagination of the user: not only can Naostage help with staging automation for concerts, tours and festivals, but it can also help create a fully automated show in a museum or an entertainment venue where AVL actions could be triggered by a visitor entering the room. A cruise ship could also embark on multi-week journey with a fully automated show, simplifying pre-production and reducing costs across the board.

The product of four years of research and development, the easy-to-understand Naostage ecosystem is backed by ABAB and BPI France, which invested €1m in the company last year. It comprises three products: Kapta, a lightweight (12kg) riggable 3D sensor bar, Kore, a powerful AI processing server which uses AI to track up to 16 performers from a single box and Kratos, the intuitive interaction-design software at the heart of the Naostage system.

As a beaconless solution, Naostage requires no additional hardware, such as sensors or tags, to be attached to performers. Once rigged, the plug-and-play Kapta sensor scans the space in 3D, feeding data to the Kore processing unit which automatically identifies each target in real-time 3D. The Kore computer, which uses deep learning to build its tracking intelligence engine, has already been used for hundreds of shows, including pre-pandemic summer festivals and Orelsan’s residency at the Accor Arena in Paris, where the French hip-hop phenomenon wowed over 90,000 fans last March.

Naostage’s founders chose to put the system to the test in challenging conditions to prove the reliability of the solution in high-pressure live entertainment environments, such as tours and festivals, continues Cales. “Rental-staging conditions bring a myriad of challenges, including heat, dust and dampness,” he explains. “We knew it would validate the reliability and robustness of our solution in the harshest conditions.”

Now out of the testing stage, Naostage has already been specified for major events including the 2022 Trackmania Cup, an Esports event taking place next month at the 20,300-capacity Accor Arena, Rilès’s upcoming summer tour, and the iconic Vieilles Charrues summer festival.

Like Naostage’s hardware offering, Kratos is suitable for venues and productions of all sizes. This powerful, user-friendly software solution offers full show design functionality, including target patching, stage zoning, and the creation of scenarios, interactions and cues for automated, synchronised effects. Each 3D space and Kapta sensor can be calibrated in under 20 seconds, while dedicated modules allow the easy control of outputs to external AV equipment.

“At Naostage, our goal is to restore the meaning of live performance by reconnecting the artist and the human to the enormous potential of today’s audio-visual techniques and technologies,” continues Cales, who is joined at Naostage by partners Olivier Le Doeuff (CTO) and Nathan Van De Hel (COO), all graduates of the INSA de Rennes school of engineering.

“Now, as we officially launch our unique, first-of-its-kind solution, we’re moving towards making that a goal a reality, one show, exhibition, production or immersive experience at a time.”

14th July 2022

HK Audio introduces new POLAR 8 column system

HK Audio is expanding the popular and powerful POLAR column system series with the addition of POLAR 8, a compact system that is extremely easy to transport and delivers optimal sound results even in confined spaces. With a convincing 1,200 Watts (peak power) and the same impressive sound aesthetics as its big brothers POLAR 10 and POLAR 12, POLAR 8 is the ideal choice anywhere where flexibility and perfect sound are required, making it the perfect companion for musicians, entertainers and DJs on small stages, in rehearsal rooms, seminar rooms and at garden parties. Equipped with a three-channel mixer and Bluetooth TWS (True Wireless Stereo), POLAR 8 truly shines with its power and expression.

Six powerful 2.5" neodymium speakers with 1" voice coils work in a curved column arrangement in the POLAR 8 mid/high unit. With dispersion angles of 120° x 45°, they provide clean and uniform sound, even in difficult or low rooms. The 8" high-performance bass speaker is housed in a metal-reinforced plastic/ABS subwoofer enclosure for dry and accurate bass response. A powerful, 1,200 Watt (peak power) Class-D power amplifier provides superior power reserves and offers stable, consistent sound at any volume.

Unlike systems with continuous speaker configuration, POLAR can be used without a spacer on stages, as a monitor system and with a seated audience. The plug system specially developed for POLAR makes set-up quick and easy and means the column elements can be connected to the subwoofer wirelessly and without wobbling.

POLAR 8 offers a three-channel mixer including Master volume control and modern Bluetooth 5 audio streaming. Two channels are provided as XLR/jack combo sockets for microphones and line signals, e.g. for mixers or keyboards, and an AUX channel with cinch sockets for DJ equipment or MP3 players, which simultaneously controls Bluetooth audio. Bluetooth 5 allows up to four times the range of older Bluetooth versions with a Bluetooth 5-capable device. Two POLAR 8s can be simply and wirelessly connected to a Bluetooth device via Bluetooth TWS to form a true stereo system. The Sub Level and Treble controls allow the overall sound to be adjusted to local conditions or personal taste in next to no time.

13th July 2022

Vari-Lite announces large scale IP rated luminaire that is lightest in its class

Vari-Lite, the originators of the modern moving head and a Signify entertainment lighting brand, has announced the VL3600 PROFILE IP, a large-scale, high output production profile fixture with an IP65 rating. Designed to withstand inclement weather, yet with weight and size comparable with similar non-weatherproof fixtures, the VL3600 Profile IP is perfect for touring and TV productions, stadiums and arenas and large theatres and houses of worship.

“Weather-rated moving lights are becoming highly desirable for outdoor and even indoor applications, but current IP65 fixture designs considerably increase the size-to-weight ratio compared to equivalent non-IP rated fixtures,” explains Martin Palmer, senior product manager, Vari-Lite and Strand Luminaires at Signify. “This makes the fixtures harder to mount and heavier in the rig. The VL3600 PROFILE IP is the lightest in its class, meaning designers no longer need to choose between lighter non-weatherised fixtures or heavier IP-rated ones, reducing the budget and environmental impact of the entire tour.”

With a 1000W monochromatic light engine producing 85,000 source lumens, the VL3600’s huge output power is ready to light the show from any distance in any weather. Thanks to a CMY+CTO colour wheel mixing system, the fixture produces a wide range of rich colours while eliminating the appearance of blades in the lens, improving direct view applications. With dedicated CRI boost and colour correction filters, colours render beautifully on stage or on camera.

“We really focused on making the VL3600 a workhorse fixture that gives the designers what they need while making life simpler for the crew as well,” adds Palmer. “From a design perspective, the VL3600 Profile IP offers a wide set of tools to create the most amazing effects on the largest of shows.” The VL3600 Profile IP includes the exclusive VL*FX animation wheel, as well as gobo wheels, a dual prism and frost, framing system, iris, zoom, and focus. “To help the crew, the lighter weight and exclusive V*Track Calibration System reduces the tension in the suspension and addresses the somewhat notorious ‘swing after startup’ issue.”

“The response to the VL3600 since we previewed it at Prolight + Sound in April has been tremendous,” says Palmer. “Customers love that it’s a single workhorse fixture that fits in a variety of indoor and outdoor applications, and they rave about the high output, low weight, and strong feature set. It fits well without our portfolio of production luminaires, and it can easily be accentuated with other fixtures in our line-up, such as the VL10 Beamwash or VL800 Series fixtures, for the right balance of luminaires from a single manufacturer.”

5th July 2022

DiGiCo announces new software update for S-Series consoles

DiGiCo has announced the release of its latest Version 3.0 software update, dramatically increasing the processing power of its small footprint, cost-effective S-Series consoles. Version 3.0 offers an optional software expansion that significantly increases the channel count from 48 to 60 flexi-channels and 24 flexi busses, turning S-Series consoles into an S21+ or an S31+.

V3.0 includes two new Master Buss configurations: LCR (left centre right) or LRM (left right mono), providing additional control on the channels over the LCR blend or the LRM mono gain. LCR or LRM are ideal for running an expanded speaker set-up or sending out a mono mix alongside a stereo mix. And increasing the master buss size doesn’t introduce any compromises: users still have access to all busses and channels.

Software version 2.2 introduced OSC Control of Snapshots. Version 3.0 extends the OSC control capabilities to channel processing controls. With the ability to control many aspects of channel and buss processing including EQ and dynamics, this update adds a huge amount of flexibility when integrating your S series console with external remote control systems.

Version 3.0 now adds compatibility for MADI sample rate conversion on the DMI-MADI-B and DMI-MADI-C. SRC allows the S21 or S31 to run at a different sample rate to connected MADI devices, providing useful flexibility when connecting to external MADI devices. This is commonly used for recording and virtual soundchecks, and for maximum compatibility, both high-speed and SMUX 96k MADI modes are supported.

Compatibility for DiGiCo’s Dante based DQ Rack, a compact 48 in, 24 out high-performance Stage Rack, is also included. When connected to a S Series console via a Dante64@96 DMI Card, this provides cost effective expansion, which is perfect for both touring and installation applications. Dante is commonly used for fixed installation and conference AV solutions, so the support of the expanding Dante Rack range with the S21 and S31 consoles is an important step and opens the consoles up to more markets and opportunities.

The S-Series now makes use of GPIO (general purpose inputs and outputs), with both the S21 and S31 featuring a ¼” GPI and ¼” GPO on the back for connection to external devices. GPI can be used to fire a specific snapshot, or to trigger the previous or next snapshot.

GPOs are commonly used to trigger external devices with a simple contact closure. Adding a GPO message to S-Series snapshots provides simple integration options as the contacts can be programmed to either open or close with each snapshot. With a snapshot being fired a GPO could be used to trigger a projector being lowered, or dim or brighten the house lights, for example.

Dynamic EQ is a powerful processing feature built right into the channels and provides the ability to control the amount of EQ being applied to a signal, based on the level of the signal. This is often used to solve audio problems like the proximity effect, or to de-ess a signal. Version 3.0 software adds ganging of this function across multiple channels, a useful time saver when mixing a lot of similar inputs that all need a similar treatment.

When mixing, it is useful to have a single tap control that sets the delay time across all the delays. With version 3.0, the Ten Tap Delay effect can now be added to the Global Tap Delay, so no matter which internal delay effect is in use, users always have access to the control they need.

Finally, since all channels on the S21 and S31 are flexi channels (meaning they can be either mono or stereo), the optional software expansion allows up to 120 inputs to be processed across the 60 stereo channels, and 48 output processing paths across the 24 stereo groups or auxes. It also includes the previously mentioned master buss (including the new LCR and LRM configurations) and standard 10 x 8 matrix.

“Our aim is to always give our consoles a long lifespan and maximise return on investment,” says DiGiCo managing director, Austin Freshwater. “Our software upgrades allow our consoles to not only keep pace with what engineers need now, but anticipate what will be needed in the future, meaning your DiGiCo consoles are always a step ahead. This is exactly what we’ve done with Version 3.0 for the S-Series, which not only seriously expands the channel count of the S21 and S31, but adds some really useful features that will take S-Series into new markets.”

Version 3.0 is free to all S-Series owners and is available at www.digiconsoles.biz

To purchase the channel expansion pack, visit the DiGiCo DiGiCo Shop online today.

4th July 2022

Claypaky Volero Batten Aqua: a high-performance LED bar for indoor and outdoor use

First one in the Volero line of high-performance LED bars, Volero Batten Aqua is a new fixture that brings all the Claypaky quality but now for outdoor use in all weathers.

From the first glance you will notice that Volero Batten Aqua is a different moving batten than usual. The light source is in fact made up of ten 60W Osram RGBW LEDs, capable of emitting a much higher light power than most of the LEDs bars on the market. Each LED adopts 80x80mm lenses, a very unusual width that allows more versatility with focusing the power of the LEDs, optimising their luminous efficiency and resolution.

Volero Batten Aqua offers another important feature, it allows separate control of the zoom in two groups from five adjacent lenses, creating a dynamic movement of the light beam that is truly unique and unmatched on the market. It is spectacular to see in operation.

In addition, as an exclusive feature of the entire new Claypaky "Effect Lighting" line, Volero Batten Aqua also offers advanced layers management, with which the operator can choose to use different levels of effects simultaneously.

All these optical, constructive and advanced firmware characteristics give the product an unmistakable appeal, this is particularly stunning when multiple bars connected in seamlessly and for backlight effects.

With its IP66 protection rating, optional Wireless DMX control, a large number of effects and built-in macros it is the perfect product for the touring, event, television and installation market, and works equally well for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Main features:
Light source: Ten 60W RGBW Osram LEDs

• Ten single pixels with possibility of pixel mapping

• 80 x 80mm square lenses

• 4° to 55° zoom aperture

• Zoom control: two individual zooms, each for five lenses

• Advanced layers management (background colour – internal shape – pixel mapping)

• RGBW colour mixing – virtual CTO 2500-8000K

• Tilt > 215°

• Electronic linear dimmer 24 bit

• Optional wireless DMX – WDMX

• IP66 rating

• Possibility of mounting on Panify for volumetric projections

• CloudIO Ready: fully compatible with CloudIO

1st July 2022

Modular NX1 console system from Obsidian offers complete ONYX lighting control experience

Following a successful launch at the Prolight + Sound trade show in Germany in April, Obsidian Control Systems has to announced availability of the NX1, an ultra-compact yet full-featured lighting controller designed to handle a huge variety of shows using the intuitive ONYX lighting control platform. The NX1 also features an expandable playback wing (NX P) along with a 10-digit keypad (NX K) that combined with the NX1 creates an even more powerful and flexible console.

Designed for smaller to medium projects where an intuitive console is needed without a PC, the NX1 will be valued by rental companies and the mobile lighting programmer alike. The NX1 joins the compact yet fully-integrated NX2 and Obsidian’s flagship NX4 under the ONYX lighting control platform.

The NX1 is a small yet powerful console where playback and programming interfaces are fully supported with no compromises. Utilising the full ONYX operating system, the NX1 offers a slate of professional features like a high-brightness 10.1" HD multi-touch screen plus 1 HDMI output for one additional external touch monitor that allows for additional customisable views (optional touchscreen monitor not included). Included are four assignable parameter encoders, ten full motorised playbacks with four freely assignable buttons plus an extra playback and function key hybrid array. A dedicated Master Go section rounds out the efficient front panel design.

Made of rock solid construction, the latest in industrial grade components like a powerful new Intel processor, high-speed NVMe SSD drive and 8GB of DDR4 RAM allow for fast boot times, instant operation and the ability to process eight universes right inside the console. With four DMX ports, a gigabit network port for up to eight universes of Art-Net, sACN plus the ONYX X-Net protocol, the NX1 has ample connectivity and power for a wide variety of shows and applications. One additional touch monitor is supported for even more direct access at any time. Measuring only 298.5mm x 636mm x 71mm (11.75 x 25 x 2.8 inches) and weighing a light 4.5kg (9.9lbs), the NX1 fits under one arm and is portable enough carry on commercial flights. Included items include an LED USB desk lamp, dust cover, USB 3.0 recovery drive and IP65 locking power cable.

The NX1 is expandable with the NX P playback wing with motorised faders and dedicated NX K keypad that on their own can operate as a PC wing. A simple magnetic alignment system allows attachment to either side of the NX1. The keypad and playback wing are part of the ONYX platform and can be utilised with all other NX devices or ONYX on any PC system.

The NX P is a compact, motorised fader wing for the ONYX platform. The ideal expansion for any ONYX 1 console and ONYX PC systems, it replicates the full playback section of the NX1. Four integrated DMX ports provide instant connectivity to the lighting system. Multiple NX P wings can be connected to any ONYX console or PC system, expanding direct access with 20 playbacks at a time. The flexible button array can be mapped to playback control or powerful function keys.

The NX P replicates the layout and all functionality of the NX1 and NX4 console surfaces so all operation is seamless and intuitive. A simple magnetic alignment system allows attachment on any side of the NX1 console or NX K command pad.

The NX K is a small USB-powered control surface for ONYX. The ideal companion for the NX1 console and ONYX PC systems, it replicates the full keypad and command section of larger consoles. Four encoders complete the programming experience for fast and direct parameter access. A simple magnetic alignment system allows attachment on any side of the NX1 console or NX P motorised fader wing.

www.elationlighting.com

27th June 2022

Avantis Firmware V1.2 Adds Powerful New Tools to the Award-Winning Mixer

Allen & Heath has announced the release of Avantis firmware V1.2, a major update delivering new features including a next-generation RTA engine, Sennheiser wireless integration and a trio of new additions to the dPack bundle of DEEP processors.

Front and centre in V1.2 is Allen & Heath’s new RTA engine, built around a comprehensive 61-band bar or line display which can be displayed behind the PEQ curve to enable swift and accurate EQ decisions. Additionally, a sonogram view is provided making it simple to identify room resonances or mix imbalances. With all RTA views also visible on iPad and Director, engineers can rely on accurate visual feedback anywhere in the venue.

The dPack bundle has been expanded to include three new DEEP processors from the flagship dLive system: Bus is modelled on a legendary hardware compressor renowned for its ability to glue together mixes, Source Expander offers quick and easy control of threshold and depth for set-and-forget operation, while Dual Threshold Expander is perfect for challenging environments where expert control is required. Additionally, the existing OptTronik compressor has been updated to include “Model B” for a new flavour of classic 2A style optical compression. Existing dPack owners receive all new dPack updates and models for free.

Avantis’ wireless integration has been extended to include Sennheiser’s 300/500, 2000 and 2050 wireless microphones, which can be monitored from both the mixer and Director. Key wireless information, including mutes, signal level and battery bars, is visible from the Bank view, with detailed information and control accessible via the Preamp page. “Following very positive feedback on the recent dLive integration, we are excited to see this expand to the stunning Avantis console,” says Simon Beesley, manager strategic alliances at Sennheiser. “Engineers and technicians will be able to remotely monitor and control our most successful wireless microphone series, the evolution wireless G3/G4 300 and 500 as well as 2000.”

The release is rounded off with multiple workflow improvements including extended functionality for the iOS apps, enhanced DCA spill functionality and new SoftKey options.

“V1.2 delivers a powerful suite of tools which minimises the need for extra devices running measurement software, external processing and wireless monitoring,” says Jack Kenyon, Avantis product specialist at Allen & Heath. “This gives Avantis users a quicker and smarter workflow in all live sound applications.”

Avantis V1.2 is available now from the Allen & Heath website: www.allen-heath.com/avantis-v1-2/

23rd June 2022

Le Mark sets the stage with sausage and camera markers by Dirty Rigger

Le Mark Group has long been known for providing kit that makes great sense in the backstage world. Now, the flooring, tapes and labels specialist has expanded its offering with a new line of British-made Sausage and T-bar markers from Dirty Rigger.

The new products deliver practical marking and rigging solutions for outdoor events and filming, as well as for busy theatre environments. Le Mark’s Jeff Demain explains: “We’re specialists in tapes for marking out stages but, as we all know, you can’t put tape on grass, or sand, or gravel, for example. So, this is a solution that has immediate appeal for the outdoor film, TV and event markets and more besides.”

That solution is a flexible, hard-wearing, colour-coded Sausage marker made from tough webbing and weighted with stainless steel shot. Robust but soft to the touch, its design includes a sturdy brass eyelet at one end, which can be quickly and securely spiked in precisely the right spot.

Durable, colourful and reusable, the new range offers practical solutions to more than just outdoor builds. Theatre riggers can use them as spot lines to drop from the grid, or roof, to line up positions of dead-hung rigging points, motorised flying points or anything that needs to be accurately positioned in keeping with the stage plan. Unlike a solid plumb-bob, the Sausages are kinder to walk into, being flexible by design, which is an added benefit for packing and transportation.

Demain continues: “We also saw other applications in theatre, particularly when multiple shows are rigged in the same space, as with rep’ theatre or touring opera shows, where they can be used to identify suspension lines for each production: Madame Butterfly lines are all blue, Carmen lines are all red, and so on. As a visual aid, they make changeovers a lot easier. They can also be hung from the end of flying bars for easy identification.”

Meeting the needs of outdoor filming work, the range is broadened by the similarly constructed T-bar version, which is used to mark positions precisely and securely for actors, cameras, and dollies in exterior locations, essential for maintaining consistency from take to take.

Both Sausage and T-bar marker varieties come in eight stock colours: red, blue, green, yellow, pink, purple, black and white. Other custom colours are available, but with a minimum order quantity.

“We’re sure that riggers and techs working in festivals, touring, theatre, television, film and more will find these a welcome addition to their range of stock,” says Demain.

21st June 2022

disguise unleashes vx 4+, setting new records for content at scale

Visual storytelling technology platform, disguise, unleashes a new era of infinitely scaleable, immersive entertainment with the release of its new flagship media server: the vx 4+. Purpose-built for the world’s largest and most technically demanding productions, installations and shows, the vx 4+ is designed to ensure maximum content quality and playback performance, enabling productions to push boundaries and captivate audiences like never before.

Today, requirements for spectacular visual content in shows and productions is skyrocketing. Film studios and broadcasters are turning to extended reality and virtual production for an improved production process for creating compelling filmed and live entertainment. Museums and theme parks want to wow audiences with larger, immersive and more interactive attractions. Live events including music concerts, esports events and theatre productions are requiring high-quality video playback and are even pioneering the use of real-time content within their productions. All these high-stakes production environments have one thing in common: they need a rock-solid solution supporting high-performance video processing at scale with minimal latency.

With the capability to handle twice the amount of video layers versus its award-winning predecessor, the new disguise vx 4+ machine ramps up storage performance and significantly improves video throughout, with up to 100GbE in bandwidth for higher resolution live video.

“Production teams are perpetually seeking to push the boundaries of what is possible, with many experimenting with new technologies and workflows, using real-time content or using video content at unlimited scale and complexity. As these ambitions grow, playing back large-scale content reliably without latency remains a challenge,” explains disguise chief product officer Raed Al Tikriti.

“disguise vx 4+ addresses the pressing need for an ultra-reliable high-performance server capable of handling the most demanding bandwidth-hungry, data-rich video processing. Built on our team’s deep understanding of the needs of today’s productions, installations and large-scale shows, the vx4+ offers our customers cutting-edge technology, that works with the disguise modular ecosystem of solutions and offers the most reliable and effective solution for your production.”

Integral to the disguise modular ecosystem and working with disguise VFC cards, rx render nodes and preconfigured network switch fabric, the vx4+ is designed for projects in need of a robust and scalable solution. The inclusion of two 100GbE network ports and 12G video capture as standard enables the vx4+ to be used for 4K xR compositing alongside a cluster of rx render nodes. The integration of a new PCI-Express 4.0 motherboard, CPU, GPU and RAID storage, ensures that the vx4+ video playback and compositing performance is unrivalled. When combined, the vx 4+ enables additional capacity to meet performance expectations whilst also keeping video latency to a minimum.

As disguise continues its mission to ensure that next-gen visual experiences are delivered to audiences everywhere, the vx 4+ is compatible with disguise’s upcoming IP Video Format Conversion (VFC) cards to be released in the second half of the year. IP-VFC is an industry-first and patented technology that enables users to change the video output signal from their disguise media server to a SMPTE 2110 video output.

Existing disguise vx 4 owners also have the capability upgrade their existing machine to the vx 4+ to future-proof their productions.

 

17th June 2022

Yamaha Launches VXH Series Pendant Speakers for Commercial Installations

Yamaha’s new VXH series combines high quality music reproduction with exceptional design, bringing enhanced audio to a wide range of commercial spaces where pendant speakers are the preferred solution.

Delivering superior sound in many larger retail, hospitality, entertainment and corporate premises can be a challenge with conventional surface mount or in-ceiling speakers. Pendant speakers are often a better solution, delivering more localised sound to reduce the issues of reverberation, unwanted reflections and the resulting lower-quality audio, which speakers located further away from the listener can cause.

Suitable for high, open structure and sloped ceilings, the VXH series comprises two models, the VXH6 and VXH8, engineered for optimum background music and voice reproduction.

Featuring a 120º dispersion pattern, the 6.5-inch VXH6 has a peak power handling of 300W and is designed for use where the speakers are to be suspended at a relatively low level. The eight-inch VXH8 has a narrower dispersion pattern of 75º and a higher peak power output of 360W, for higher suspended positions. You can mix and match both models, as well as with other speakers in the comprehensive Yamaha range, to achieve the best sound and coverage for any application.

Weighing just 5.7kg and 7.2kg respectively, The VXH6 and VXH8 support high and low impedance connections, while the speaker wattage can be easily switched even after installation, thanks to the straightforward tap selector. This minimises the need for additional units, letting you design systems to precisely meet the needs of a space.

VXH series speakers are IP45-rated for use in a wide range of environments, including outdoors (but not for use in humid environments), and are supplied with a Gripple suspension hardware and wire kit for easy, safe height adjustment during installation.

The enclosures feature a pleasing ergonomic, low impact design, the compact circular shape making them less visibly intrusive from below. Both models are supplied in either black or white finish, the magnetic speaker grille has a contoured profile and is paintable to match any interior décor.

Both models can be used to create bespoke installations for a wide range of spaces, from the high open structure ceilings of warehouse stores and distribution centres, to spaces with sloped ceilings like amusement facilities, gymnastic halls and design-conscious environments like clothing stores, larger restaurants and more.

“We are very pleased to announce the addition of VXH series speakers to our acclaimed Commercial Installation Solutions line-up,” says Thomas Hemery, general manager, Yamaha Pro Audio marketing and sales department.

“Over the years we have progressively expanded our speaker ranges to satisfy a wide variety of applications and aesthetics. Although we have received very positive reviews for our extensive line-up of products, high quality pendant speakers have always been a much-requested addition.

“As with all our professional audio products, Yamaha is committed to delivering only the best solutions. So our R&D team took the time to develop a pendant speaker that we were certain would satisfy the most demanding standards of installers and their customers. We are happy to announce a product that surpasses those standards.

“The VXH series fills a gap in our range that means Yamaha speakers can be used in system designs for large spaces and open structures with high or sloped ceilings, which have been difficult to satisfy in the past, while embodying the philosophies of quality and reliability that we stand for.”

15th June 2022

Claypaky Tambora Linear: a versatile new hybrid LED bar allowing you to paint stunning space-age pixel art effects

Following on from its successful range of LED bars introduced last year, Claypaky has now expanded the Tambora family further and introduces Tambora Linear, an advanced line of static LED Pixel mapping bars designed for versatile lighting effects and artistic set decoration.

These are hybrid bars, which incorporate two complementary effects into one fixture. The first is driven by a system of 400 RGB pixel LEDs, which offer a background light very similar to that of a high definition LED wall in appearance. This LED array can be controlled as 16 LEDs in 25 groups to provide high quality motion graphics.

The second effect is created by a central line of 200 extremely powerful white LEDs for an overwhelming strobe effect, capable of reproducing the behaviour of the most celebrated strobe fixtures on the market. This effect can also be controlled through 25 different areas, offering unparalleled versatility.

All graphic content can be managed through the Advanced Layers Management, an exclusive feature of Claypaky LED bars, with which you can choose to use different levels of effects simultaneously, giving free expression to your creativity.

Tambora Linear 100 features a large number of build-in effects, so it can be used not only in advanced mode but also in a simple mode for whenever a media server is not available, or the installation requires a speedy solution.

The Tambora Linear can be easily connected mechanically with multiple units and then operated as one complete fixture from the control software. This is extremely easy and user friendly to use. For greater compositional modularity we also offer Tambora Linear 60, a compact model particularly suitable for applications in narrow environments.

Claypaky also offers a wide range of easy-to-apply accessory filters. These can shape the beam of light with a frost effect or increase the readability of the pixels with the neutral density filter, which is particularly useful for television applications and really enhances the on-camera performance.

Tambora Linear is both sleek and lightweight and has been designed with a slim body, in order to better adapt to many applications, from TV studios to touring, where the need for pixel mapping light sets is increasingly in demand and appreciated. The hybrid nature of Tambora is perfect for this need and provides a two in one versatility. This is a truly distinctive product within each lighting set, at a truly competitive price.

www.claypaky.it

15th June 2022

Brompton Technology releases Tessera v3.4 software with yet more industry-leading features

It has been a fantastic few weeks for Brompton Technology, as the company has claimed three different awards, celebrating its position as the industry-leader for LED-on-camera applications.

“We were proud to receive a prestigious Lumiere Award from the Advanced Imaging Society recognising the Tessera SX40 for its ‘pivotal role in the in-camera visual effects revolution currently sweeping the industry’, as well as a Product of the Year award at the NAB show for the innovative features of our Tessera v3.3 software and an InAVation Award for Best Research & Development,” says Brompton’s CEO, Richard Mead.”

He continues: “Hot on the heels of these triumphs, we’re excited to announce two major feature advances as part of our Tessera v3.4 software release: Extended Bit Depth and Stacking. These features enhance our already compelling feature-set, which is well-established as the processing of choice for both major live events and film and television production. The best just got better!”

Brompton’s Tessera processing has been making a big impression in virtual production lately, and the new Extended Bit Depth and Stacking features will help film and VP professionals take workflows and image quality to the next level. Brompton processing has long been an established industry leader with live events and AV professionals, who will also enjoy useful new advances and improvements in v3.4.

Extended Bit Depth unlocks higher PWM bit depth output with a free firmware update for all existing and new panels fitted with the Brompton R2 or R2+ receiver card. Up to 3.3 additional bits of precision improves low-brightness performance, reducing visual artefacts and bringing out additional detail and nuance in dark areas of the image. This substantial increase in dynamic range offers a significant boost in performance that is hard to ignore for ICVFX and other LED on camera applications.

With Extended Bit Depth, you can also reproduce HDR content up to ten times darker than previously possible, without compromising peak brightness for HDR highlights. When configured for use on-camera with a shutter angle of 180°, calibrated measurements confirm that a typical 2160 Nits panel using Extended Bit Depth and Dark Magic can render brightness levels as low as 0.00024 Nits, a mere 0.000011% of the peak brightness. It does not reduce the peak brightness of the panel, so HDR highlights can still be displayed to their full potential, resulting in a contrast ratio of over 9,000,000 : 1 and over 23 stops of dynamic range.

Many set-ups utilise multiple processors working together to drive different parts of a single LED screen. The second new feature of Tessera v3.4 – Stacking – which is available on Tessera SX40 and S8 processors, allows multiple processors in a setup to be controlled together in unison.

Any setting adjustment made on the leading processor will be automatically applied to all the others in the stack, saving users time as they don’t need to apply adjustments to each processor individually. It is also possible to customise which parameters will be synchronised across the stack, giving flexibility to suit a wide variety of applications including both backup (failover) processors and control of large LED volumes. Multiple stacks of processors can co-exist on a single LAN, allowing for versatile setups with quicker and greatly simplified control.

Tessera v3.4 is now available as beta software for evaluation. For more information, software downloads, and to see examples of Extended Bit Depth in action, visit the Brompton website on www.bromptontech.com.

9th June 2022

Astera Launches New HydraPanel Product

Astera launches its latest ingenious and innovative wireless LED lighting product – the HydraPanel – which features the company’s award-winning Titan LED engine.

The HydraPanel stands out in a busy ‘LED panel’ marketplace offering many unique features not found in any pixel product, like a beam-shaper module, magnetic mounting, and the Titan LED engine’s superior colour mixing, dimming characteristics and exceptional quality of light.

The neat six-pixel product weighs 600g and has an inbuilt battery and wireless DMX module making it ultimately flexible and useable anywhere. It can also be run fully wired.

It is IP65 rated in both wired and wireless scenarios so it can be used outdoors or in damp or otherwise challenging atmospheric conditions.

Each HydraPanel emits 1300 Lumens of high-quality light giving 515 Lux at one metre (without filter) and a high CRI and TLCI.

Accessories include a ConnectorPlate which connects two HydraPanels together, and up to four panels can be joined using three ConnectorPlates to create a medium size panel that is still very compact, lightweight, and highly manoeuvrable.

Uses will include key for lighting people as well as illumination of more substantial areas such as stages, scenery and buildings. Larger Arrays of HydraPanels can be used as a low-resolution screen / video effect, and the products look fabulous on camera, either highlighting people and objects or as cool back of camera fill.

Like Astera’s PixelBrick, power and data are delivered via PowerBox 2x86W devices, and for larger set-ups, eight HydraPanels can be connected to the PowerBox via power/data combination cables. This is ideal for building bigger and more dramatic effects for stages, festivals and events.

Once arrayed, IR communication between HydraPanels enable multiple units to be controlled from a single console or controller for continuity of parameters like colour, brightness, etc.

The fixture’s display includes dedicated colour and brightness buttons for swift, accurate adjustment, and new ‘TouchSliders’ for tweaking these vital settings.

For quick and easy rigging, the back side of the fixture is magnetic and can be deployed without needing any other mounting accessories.

The units look unobtrusive when ensconced as set practicals, and with scenic lighting and adaptability in mind, six beam modifiers are also available to adjust the HydraPanel’s native 110° x 100° beam.

These include DiffusorSheet 100 which gives a soft light and 100° beam angle without increasing its height, which is great for key lighting people. A SoftFrame 100 filter can be added to distance the filter from the HydraPanel unit, enhancing smoothness and creating shadows when mounted to a camera or on structures and stages.

An Intensifier 80 creates a narrower 80° beam for longer throw applications and for those close-ups when a light boost is needed. The Intensifier 80 has four magnets allowing two egg crates to be attached: EggCrate 60 which eliminates light spill around the beam and avoids glare, resulting in a 60° beam, or EggCrate 40 which does the same, producing a 40° beam.

GelHolder secures a filter gel in place, and all these beam modifiers can all be attached quickly and painlessly as needed via the 4 small magnets on the top of the HydraPanel.

With flexibility paramount, a FlexBase accessory can be added via the Cold Shoe and utilised as a floor stand, and once the FlexBase is fixed in place, the HydraPanel can be titled via a hinge and four threads facilitate numerous other installation methods including the attachment of hangers.

Specially designed cases for one HydraPanel are available from Astera complete with Titan Tube PSU and all six beam shaping modifiers plus a FlexBase, ConnectorPlate and BabyPin double-ended spigot, while a four-unit charging case comes with a Hyperion Tube PSU and the lights are recharged through contacts. The streamlined case design accommodates all six beam shapers plus FlexBase, ConnectorPlate and BabyPin accessories for all four lights.

A DOP Choice SnapBag is also now available from Astera for the HydraPanel.

8th June 2022

Audient releases next generation iD44 (MKII) “Console sound on your desktop”

Bringing its most powerful desktop audio interface, iD44 into line with recent product upgrades, Audient raises the stakes once again with the launch of iD44 (MKII).

“As far as audio performance was concerned, iD44 was already fully spec’d,” says Andy Allen, Audient’s marketing director. “Yet we saw an opportunity to make the best better: making a major improvement to the all important ADC’s, incorporating additional must-have features and styling it with a beautiful new smoke-grey finish. All at the same price, delivering yet more value to our customers!”

The ADCs’ THD+N figure sees a 9dB improvement, representing an astounding step up in audio performance for the iD44 (MKII). “That’s super clean audio with less added noise and even less audible distortion,” says Andy.

iD44 (MKII) now also benefits from the addition of Audio Loop-back, so users have the ability to capture playback from multiple applications on the computer at the same time as the microphones, ideal for content creators, podcasters and streamers.

The incorporation of a dual headphone amp – including both a ¼” jack and a mini-jack, means three sets of headphones can be plugged in at once – as well as the makeover of the unit’s all-metal aesthetic, complete the key upgrades.

Andy continues: “The combination of these enhancements alongside four Audient Console mic preamps, class-leading converters, ADAT expandability and balanced inserts means iD44 (MKII) really does deliver the audio performance of an Audient console straight to your desktop, and ensures with iD44, our customers get a professional grade audio interface without breaking the bank.”

Features:

• 4 x Class-A Audient Console Mic Preamplifiers
• Class Leading AD/DA Converters
• 2 x ADAT Inputs & Outputs for Digital Expansion
• 2 x Discrete JFET Instrument Inputs
• 2 x Fully Balanced Inserts
• 1 x Independent Headphone Output
• 1 x Independent Dual Headphone Output
• Main and Alt Speaker Outputs
• Audio Loop-back
• ScrollControl
• 3 x User Defined Function Keys
• Dedicated Talkback, Dim and Cut Controls
• +48V, Pad, and HPF Switches
• Ultra-low Latency DSP Mixer
• Word Clock Output
• Stand-alone Mode
• USB 2.0 Compliant
• 24bit/96kHz
• All-Metal Design
• Power switch
• Free Software + Plugins

1st June 2022

ROE Visual Launches Carbon MarkII LED Panel Delivering Ultra-Light Outdoor Display Solutions

The launch of the Carbon MarkII series supplies a new lightweight LED solution for the outdoor rental market, offering a thin yet solid structure. The LED platform provides a streamlined installation with integrated frames and universal LED modules and masks. Carbon MarkII is ideal for building large LED walls and ceilings for outdoor concerts or events.

Lightweight panels make life just a touch easier when setting up large LED displays outdoors. Weighing merely 17kg per square metre, Carbon MarkII (CB MKII) offers a slender LED panel in a sturdy frame. Despite a 12% weight reduction compared to the original Carbon series, the panels never compromise on their excellent visual performance.

Installation and maintenance are simplified when using CB MKII’s unique panels. The magnet-assisted assembly, universal modules, and updated mask ensure efficient servicing. Modules can be placed in any position within the frame, while replacing the snap-on mask does not require the use of tools.

The CB MKII series supports several configurations, including curved setups from concave 15° to convex 10° as well as large outdoor LED displays using the T4 or Air Frame support systems. Due to the reduced weight of the LED panels, ceiling options for virtual production volumes are now within grasp.

The CB MKII has an unbeatable reputation for outdoor performance. Improved heat dissipation results in stable operation at all times, under any condition. In combination with the T4 or Air frames, the sturdy LED panels are built as a structurally stable and sound setup, able to resist harsh environmental conditions while still maintaining an excellent colour performance.

“With the increasing demand for outdoor LED solutions in the global rental market, our team decided to improve the product design of the much favoured Carbon Series,” states Grace Kuo, sales director of ROE Visual, “The strong yet lightweight structure, creative design, and outstanding product quality make CB MKII the ideal LED solution for all outdoor event spaces.”

CB MKII was officially launched at the Prolight + Sound exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany earlier this year and will be presented at the upcoming InfoComm show in the US this summer. You can explore the CB MKII’s remarkable features in person or contact the ROE Visual team for further details.

1st June 2022

Adamson Systems Engineering Introduces Two New IS-Series Products

Over the last five years, the IS-Series has given integrators the ability to deliver industry-leading audio performance to their clients in a form factor that is simple to use and visually appealing. Adamson has introduced two new product additions to the IS-Series which officially launched on 10th May, 2022.

The IS213 sub woofer is an ultra-compact, high-powered sub woofer intended to be used in ground stack configurations and to fit in compact spaces. The enclosure is loaded with two light-weight, 13” ND13-S Kevlar Neodymium drivers utilising Adamson’s Advanced Cone Architecture. It is mounted in an ultra-efficient front-loaded enclosure, designed to reproduce clean, musical low frequency information.

The cabinet construction for the IS213 uses marine grade birch plywood as well as aircraft grade steel and aluminium and is equipped with two front and two back Speakon NL4 connectors, or barrier strip connections. The IS213 ships with removable handles for easy handling, while allowing it to fit in tight spaces when the handles are removed, as well as rubber scuff guards on top and bottom that mate with additional IS213s for vertical stacking.

The IS5c is an ultra-compact, lightweight, passive two-way coaxial loudspeaker, with a 100° conical dispersion pattern. The enclosure contains a 1.4” dome compression driver coaxially combined with a 5” low frequency transducer.

The cabinet construction of the IS5c uses marine grade birch plywood as well as aircraft grade aluminium and steel, and is equipped with two Speakon NL4 connectors, as well as a two-point barrier strip. A plate and screw rigging system is placed on top and bottom of the enclosure, with available accessories allowing the enclosure to be deployed seamlessly in a variety of applications.

The IS5c is best suited to supplement larger systems as a fill cabinet, or to handle smaller applications on their own. Target applications include performing arts centres, conference rooms, night clubs, restaurants and houses of worship.

The level of added flexibility these products offer, bolster the already varied IS-Series product line, giving integrators even more tools to design industry-leading audio solutions. Just as with the rest of the IS-Series product line, both new products can be ordered fully weatherised.

30th May 2022

EVO launches the range’s most powerful audio interface yet: EVO 16

British audio company, EVO by Audient has announced the launch of the latest product in its range, EVO 16. A 24 in / 24 out Audio Interface, this newest release features eight award-winning EVO preamps, advanced converter technology as well as the ingenious Smartgain feature which can be used on all eight channels simultaneously, and continues to deliver on the EVO promise to ‘make recording easy’.

“Building on the success of EVO 4 and EVO 8, we wanted to super-size the EVO concept,” says marketing director, Andy Allen describing the new audio interface which is designed to fit either on the desktop or in a rack. “EVO 16 offers the intuitive user experience, professional sound and technical quality you’d expect from parent company Audient, with plenty more I/O than its smaller counterparts. And yet it still fits firmly into the ‘affordable’ audio interface category.”

EVO 16 breaks convention with its high resolution, full colour screen built into the unit. “With our all-new Motion UI [user interface] control system, we’ve found a new way of doing things,” explains Andy. “Motion UI uses the wide angle screen to intelligently display information on your session as and when you need it, making any interaction with EVO 16 a fully immersive, easy-to-use experience, more comparable to what you might expect when using a Smart device, with no menu deep diving required to activate features.

“Working alongside EVO 16’s hardware controls, Motion UI provides a centralised, one-knob control system for adjusting all EVO 16’s hardware parameters,” continues Andy. “Simply put, every adjustment is displayed on the screen in real time, letting the user make changes on the fly and take full control of the recording session without ever needing to look at the computer.”

As with the smaller EVO products, EVO 16 comes with the Smartgain feature, which automatically sets the gain with the touch of a button. “The added bonus with EVO 16, is that it can automatically set the gain for all eight channels at once, ideal for drummers who have multiple mic inputs and synth players needing lots of line inputs,” explains Andy. “Smartgain has been designed to take the guesswork out of setting gain. Not only does it save time for the user, but it eliminates the hassle for those working on their own, which means users can spend less time figuring out the tech and more time recording.”

EVO 16’s 8 EVO preamps provide 58dB mic gain, while its advanced converter technology offers a staggering 121dB dynamic range, providing professional grade audio performance across the board.

There is also room for expansion with plenty of optical inputs and outputs, making it possible to record anything from just drums to a full band. Ensuring the studio can grow with time, there are both ADAT and SPDIF options to add up to 16 extra channels of mic preamps.

The EVO Mixer software compatible with MacOS and Windows gives further options to set up and route inputs and outputs, provide ultra-low latency monitoring and much more. The meticulously designed solid steel chassis with non-slip rubber feet means EVO 16 can fit comfortably either on a desktop, under a laptop or installed in a rack with its optional rack-ears.

24th May 2022

Firmware update for Infinity Chimp DMX consoles

The firmware for Infinity Chimp DMX consoles has reached version number 2.1. In this release, several new features have been added and some bugs have been fixed.

The latest software for the Infinity Chimp DMX consoles was released on 22 April 2022. Version 2.1 adds quite a few new features, like the Virtual Strobe, which lets users create a virtual strobe function for fixtures that only have a dimmer channel and no shutter channel. It adds synchronised strobing as well as random strobe effects. Another new feature is the cue-only record option, which allows users to mark changes in a cue to be used for a certain cue only. It is now also possible to import Reaper csv files, the MIDI and DMX inputs are freely configurable, new options have been added to the cue commands and the Magic Sheets have been enhanced with more sheets, renaming, cue renumbering, and much more. A full list of improvements and bugfixes can be found in the release notes published on https://forum.highlite.com/thread-1297.html. The Chimp software update function and the latest firmware can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s product pages.

20th May 2022

Ayrton presents Cobra – its first laser source IP65-rated luminaire

Ayrton presents Cobra, its first factory standard phosphor laser source, IP65-rated luminaire, based on the concept of Dreamspot 18K which it first presented at Prolight+Sound 2016.

Several years of development have gone into designing and finalising this exceptional luminaire, which offers a next generation speckle-free laser source, designed for rendering a D65 white point that allows perfect colour reproduction.

Cobra pushes all the limits when it comes to beam definition, with native contrast never before achieved by a digital light source, an incredible beam angle of 0.6°, and an extreme range of focus, XT-Focus, which permits the beam shape to be adjusted according to the operating distance.

Cobra is the only luminaire on the market capable of illuminating an object several kilometres away, with an output of 386,000 lux at 20m and an unprecedented 38x zoom ratio and a zoom range of 0.6° to 23° due to its proprietary optical system with 13 lenses and a 170mm frontal lens.

Cobra adopts a particularly minimalist style, is extremely well-balanced due to the luminaire’s simplified waterproofing, known as EasyProtect-65, and the continuous rotation of the pan and tilt movement, which together multiply the possibilities for creating complex effects (Multi-I.R.S.) and makes this luminaire a universal tool capable of meeting any challenge in all conditions.

Cobra is equipped with a highly innovative colour section including a CMY mixing system and a multi-position instant access wheel equipped with six corrective filters, 21 complementary colour filters, and a variable CTO on two concentric circles, 2D-ColorWheel.

Cobra has an unrivalled graphics capability, offering a wide choice of 92 fixed and rotating metal gobos distributed on two wheels specifically created to sculpt light in ‘beam’ mode, and incorporates an animation section on the gobo wheel, 2D-GoboWheel. These gobos can be blended with two sections of four individually combinable rotating prisms allowing the production of a multitude of volumetric lighting effects. A light and heavy frost filter complete Cobra’s graphic tool palette.

Well-suited for use indoors as well as outdoors, Cobra was developed as a unique versatile luminaire that incorporates all waterproof features, while remaining easily accessible and limited in weight.

Able to operate in the most extreme situations, it has a sunlight protection system, SunProtect-65 and an integrated heating system that safeguards against temperatures below -10° C (14° F), ColdProtect-65.

But above all... Cobra is simply unique.

18th May 2022

Litepanels Launch New Gemini 2x1 Hard RGBWW LED Panel

Litepanels, a global provider of professional broadcast and cinematic lighting solutions and a Vitec Group brand, has announced a further expansion of its award-winning Gemini RGBWW LED panel range. Litepanels’ Gemini 2x1 Hard RGBWW LED Panel is brighter than any other 2x1 panel, delivering up to 23,000 lux at 10ft/3m of output from a lightweight, compact fixture.

Just like the Gemini 1x1 Hard released a year ago, the double-size Gemini 2x1 Hard produces highly accurate full spectrum white light as well as RGB output and a range of creative cinematic effects. It weighs just 25.3lbs (11.5kg), including yoke and integrated power supply, and has a maximum power draw of just 500W. Twice the size of its smaller sibling, Gemini 2x1 Hard produces an output that is an incredible seven times brighter than the Gemini 1x1 Hard, creating a large volume of punchy light that can be easily softened with a range of diffusers.

“Gemini 2x1 Hard produces a greater volume of light than any other RGBWW LED panel available to gaffers and lighting designers today,” said Michael Herbert, product manager, Litepanels. “No other 2x1 LED panel is this powerful or this versatile. We have combined the latest advances in LED technology with cutting edge industrial design to push the boundaries of what is possible with LED lighting for cinema production.”

Gemini 2x1 Hard can deliver a powerful 20° beam of accurate hard white light, or seamlessly switch to a beautiful soft 100° wash with included diffusion panels. Users can control and modify without compromising on source. The extraordinary output enables users to deploy a wider range diffusion or reflection tools not possible with less powerful fixtures.

With no external ballast, the lightweight fixture is quicker and safer to rig. Ultra-light and domed diffusers are supplied as standard. In addition to its onboard controls, Gemini 2x1 Hard offers a range of wired and wireless control options for easy integration, including integrated DMX, CRMX, and RDM. Like other Gemini fixtures, Gemini 2x1 Hard delivers consistently accurate, flicker-free performance at any frame rate, shutter angle, or intensity with ultra-smooth dimming from 100 percent to 0.1 percent.

17th May 2022

grandMA3 software release version 1.7 out now

grandMA3 software release version 1.7 out now!

MA Lighting has now released the grandMA3 software version 1.7. This release brings massive improvements for the workflow with presets, recipes and phasers:

• MAtricks in presets

• Reworked preset editor

• Easier creation of recipes

• Faster programming of phasers

• More intuitive timing and speed

In addition, there are new features as well as lots of improvements. XYZ programming, preview functionality and a DMX tester have been implemented. Important menus like Backup and Patch have been reworked for a faster and easier workflow.

Last but not least, the grandMA3 software release version 1.7 takes the next step of a future-proof lighting control system. It reacts to the rising complexity of shows and the increasing requirements in the different market segments.

Therefore the software delivers a massive parameter upgrade for most of the grandMA3 devices! The rules:

• grandMA3 full-size and light (including CRV versions) will get 8.192 parameters more

• grandMA3 compact XT, compact and replay unit will be doubled

• ALL grandMA3 onPC devices will instantly get 4.096 parameters

The best thing for the user: this parameter upgrade just comes with the software update to grandMA3 v1.7.

For the complete list of features and enhancements please visit: www.malighting.com/grandMA3-software

Here you can find some video tutorials about the new features. Additionally, you can visit the MA E-Learning for the grandMA3 special course v1.7 which contains detailed information about the new software release. Just contact a local MA distributor to get access.

The grandMA3 software is the soul of the grandMA3 platform and is designed to meet current and future lighting control requirements. MA Lighting provides new and existing users of all genres with a lighting control tool to create new and exciting shows at any scale.

17th May 2022

SIXTY82 launches Arena Frame, a new concept in stage systems

SIXTY82 has launched Arena Frame, a new stage concept designed for venues that value the benefits of a quick and easy-to-build stage system.

The straightforward design allows big stages to be built in the blink of an eye; for example, a 200m2 stage can be built in just 90 minutes with a crew of four and a forklift.

The system has a very small storage footprint due to its foldable frames, while it also offers the ability to build the stage and rig at the same time, greatly reducing the time needed to build any stage set.

The Arena Frame system allows every second frame to be omitted, allowing the creation of corridors underneath the stage in both directions without any loss of its load bearing capacity.

For standard decking, 2 x 1 metre elements are used.

The system is equipped with robust swivel castors and an internal lever system which allows the castors to be raised once the stage is in position and rests on its screw jacks. Accessories like stairs, guardrails and transport dollies are also available.

13th May 2022