The Netherlands - In response to higher-than-expected demand from its exhibitor community, Integrated Systems Events has announced the addition of further space to the footprint of ISE 2013. Following a rebooking process that has resulted in more space than ever being reserved for the next Integrated Systems Europe, the show's organisers have decided to make a part of Hall 8 of the Amsterdam RAI available to both new and existing exhibitors.
"This is not a decision we have taken lightly," comments Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events. "However, the response from exhibitors to our 2012 show has been overwhelmingly positive and, in the end, we felt we had no option but to expand our footprint for 2013.
The Netherlands - Dutch supply, hire and installation company Lichtpunt Theatertechniek recently completed an impressive installation with Visual Productions' CueCore at the Drents Museum in North East of Netherlands. For a number of years Lichtpunt have provided lighting to the museum, so when Drents Museum approached them for a new project that would evolve around the world famous Yde Girl they were delighted with the opportunity.
Yde Girl died between 54 BC and 128 AD at an approximate age of 16 years and her body was remarkably well preserved in the peat bogs near Yde in the Netherlands. Drents Museum's new Yde Girl drama is an interactive exhibit with sound, lights & projections used to illustrate the story of this girls life all those years ago. The museum needed the installation to run automatically and be low maintenance and energy efficient. The Project Manager from Lic
USA - Staging Solutions, a nationwide event design, production management and media company, has hired Andy DiRaddo as senior producer.
DiRaddo brings almost 40 years of event production and audio/visual expertise with him to Staging Solutions where he will join their executive management and leadership team.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Andy for over 20 years on a variety of great events from Power of Houston to Compaq Sales Conferences in Hawaii and Las Vegas," said Bill Fitch, president and owner of Staging Solutions. "Andy has always impressed me with his keen production skill and knowledge, as well as his creativity and superb communications skills. I'm excited about the possibilities this brings to our clients and company."
Before joining Staging Solutions, DiRaddo was at LD Systems - a full service production company which he founded in
featured content
LD Systems ICOA PRO series – high-performance coaxial PA speakers for professional demands
The popular ICOA PA systems have been further developed to include two active full-range coaxial speakers – ICOA PRO 12 A and ICOA PRO 15 A – as well as the active 21″ bass-reflex PA subwoofer ICOA PRO SUB 21 A. With its professional features and high output power, the ICOA PRO series is aimed at ambitious bands, musicians and DJs as well as hire companies and commercial customers looking for a compact, robust and powerful PA sound system. The ICOA PRO series is rounded off with modern connection and control options via Bluetooth 5.1 and the specially developed ICOA PRO app, for use on smartphones and tablets.
Germany - After wide-ranging practical tests, Movecat is presenting exclusively at Prolight+Sound 2012 Version 2 of its I-Motion software.
The update includes numerous new features. Among them are an optimized graphic display, freely configurable page views for a clearer overview when large numbers of drives are involved, additional safety-relevant indicators, and enhanced performance through the integration of a powerful database.
Further, with I-Motion V2 an expanded cue functionality is possible. Movecat calls this 'Multi-drive'. One of the advantages of Multi-drive is the multiple selection and deselection of individual hoists in a cue, which makes simpler programming of complex show sequences possible.
This new version of the software will be supplied with the I-Motion controllers Expert-T II, Basic and Basic-S from March onwards. An upgrade is available for existing I-
featured content
ETC Halcyon Silent
High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features.
Germany - Just in time for Prolight+Sound 2012, Sommer Cable is presenting two new product ranges under the Cardinal DVM brand.
The DVM120 Series consists of seven different problem fixers and audio tools for professional live and studio applications. All devices have the same "indestructible, well-conceived and no-compromise housing design" made of a solid 3mm extruded profile.
Due to the front and connection plates recessed by 18mm all controls and connectors - including the active components - are optimally protected against boot kicks etc in the tough daily routine on stage or in the studio
All active devices are equipped with an internal power supply, suitable for operating voltages between 90 and 240V (50/60HZ). The mains supply is provided via a high-quality combined IEC switch/fuse unit. The supplied locking IEC power cord ensures safe contact making.
Germany - Electrovision reports that it is now taking orders for the much anticipated new Behringer 'Powered by Midas' X32 Digital Mixing Console, which will begin shipping this summer.
Richard Fox, managing director of Electrovision comments, "To say we're excited about this game-changing mixing console from Behringer is an understatement. The technology in this product has only been seen in high-end models until now and we are anticipating a huge response with early pre-orders from customers eager to buy this affordable digital mixer at analogue prices. "
The X32 allows the audio engineer to focus on the event, instead of "navigating a vast sea of knobs, buttons and menus like most other live digital mixers". X32 has 40 processing channels and 25 mix buses, all equipped with high quality signal processing (dynamics, EQ and inserts), which can be configure
featured content
Create new traditions – Cameo P6 - High Output Full-Spectrum Ellipsoidal
Cameo's P6 is a future-proof LED profiler with a powerful 600 W RGBACL engine and 16,000 lumens. It’s an energy-efficient replacement for 2.5 kW halogen profile lights in theatres and venues. With excellent light quality and natural colour rendering, it fits perfectly in theatres, musicals, TV studios, congresses, and live events.
With an LED life of 50,000 hours and low power use, the P6 cuts energy costs and supports the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ goals for climate neutrality by 2050. It also meets updated eco-design rules for lighting.
USA - BrightSign was once again asked by Digital Signage Expo (DSE) management to create a dramatic, synchronised video arch for the entry to the trade show's exhibition hall. Measuring almost 20ft across and 8ft high, this year's arch featured 18 BrightSign network-enabled HD1010 solid-state digital sign controllers that delivered fully synchronised HD videos to 18 LCD displays.
BrightSign demonstrated how easy and affordable it is to deploy BrightSign synchronised video walls and interactive touchscreens, as well as simple looping and multi-zoned displays, during DSE 2012 in Las Vegas.
"We are excited to have a great host of products that deliver a fully integrated solution for this year's digital entrance unit project, where we incorporate solutions utilising BrightSign media players, Philips Commercial Displays, Peerless-AV mounts and Flixio Studios content," sai
UK - The University of Leicester has completely redeveloped one of its primary conference facilities in the Oadby Student Village, transforming Gilbert Murray Hall into a state-of-the-art conference venue. This comprises a large central space, four seminar and break out rooms and a hospitality area.
Tasked with designing a versatile AV infrastructure that would broaden its appeal to external companies, Quadrant Visual Solutions turned to a Harman Professional solution after winning the contract, supported by UK distributor Sound Technology.
With Ben Todd of Sound Technology's project team providing EASE modelling of the space, a system design was proposed to provide highly efficient coverage and to fulfil the technical requirement for the room to be used in two orientations (landscape and portrait format) for audio and visual projection.
Bahrain - With Path of Pearls, a musical production that wove Bahrain's heritage with its modern underpinnings Manama, Capital of Arab Culture 2012 was officially launched.
The event was held at the sea front of the Bahrain National Museum. Lighting designer Luc Peumans from Painting with Light, Belgium, specified one grandMA2 full-size, one grandMA2 light along with two MA NPU (Network Processing Unit) for the show.
For the musical, a large orchestra, 100 dancers plus nine aerial artists performed on a multilevel stage. The show used the largest low-res LED screen (300sqm) ever used in the region.
Eclipse Staging Services from Dubai supplied all the lighting and video equipment.
The Netherlands - The issue of what to do with industrial buildings once they are no longer needed for their original purpose is a familiar one to urban planners. But in Rotterdam, a 106 year old grain silo has found a new lease of life as a music and corporate event venue. Historic the building may be, but its new Yamaha audio specification is anything but.
Originally, Maassilo was the largest grain silo in Europe. It fell out of use a decade ago and its sheer size could have meant that demolition was the only realistic course of action. However, the city of Rotterdam authorities have used its size to their advantage, transforming it into an entertainment and exhibition venue. De Nieuwe Oogst, a centre for urban culture, has recently opened at Maassilo and includes two concert stages, a recording-studio, lounge bar, dance and exhibition facilities.
USA - Rational Acoustics LLC has announced the addition of Chris Tsanjoures in the role of applications support specialist. In his new position, Tsanjoures will oversee all application support functions at Rational including the creation and dissemination of customer support materials regarding application & use of Rational Acoustics' products.
He will also provide application-based customer phone, e-mail and web support, work with partner companies to create integrated Smaart Measurement Technology based solutions and provide tradeshow support & external training support.
"This is a really exciting time for Rational Acoustics" says Karen Anderson, Rational Acoustics COO. "We are expanding our product offerings and our technology solutions and with that growth comes the ability to add incredibly talented people like Chris to our team. He's not only a highly skil
USA - Upstaging, Inc has purchased six Robert Juliat Victor followspots for its rental equipment inventory, which supplies some of the biggest names in entertainment coast to coast. The Sycamore, Illinois-based company has been known for theatrical lighting and equipment trucking since 1972; its additional capabilities include production services, mobile marketing and event coordination. Five Lakes Marketing, which represents architectural and theatrical lighting manufacturers from its base in White Lake, Michigan, closed the deal with Upstaging.
"We've been looking for an excuse to buy Victors for a couple of years," says Chuck Spector, Upstaging's purchasing and rentals manager. "We had some experience with them on Batman Live in Europe, and our crew chiefs have had positive experiences. Victors were specified for Reba McEntire's tour, and that gave us th
Asia - This month, Green Hippo is embarking on a tour of Asia, with the aim of introducing newly appointed technical sales manager for Asia, Justin Fitzpatrick, to their existing distributors. Samantha Bailey and Fitzpatrick will be carrying out visits to Shanghai, HongKong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Following this, Green Hippo will be attending Infocomm Beijing where they will be exhibiting with Kupo, exclusive distributor for China and showing new features such as 3.1 SP1 with highlights such as key stoning on every layer and new input card options.
For the final phase of their tour, Green Hippo will be at the Koba trade show in Korea from 29 May - 1June, where they can be found on exclusive Korean distributor C&C's booth.
Samantha Bailey, head of sales comments, "The trip to Asia is part of plans to further increase Green Hippo's market share in a technologic
Germany - Wladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles and celebrated the 50th knockout of his professional career. In his 60th professional bout, the 35-year old defended his WBA, WBO, IBO, and IBF titles against Jean-Marc Mormeck, who he knocked out in the fourth round.
Prior to the bout, the 50,000 spectators in Düsseldorf's Esprit-Arena, along with the around 12m television viewers, experienced an awe-inspiring staging of music, light, and laser effects.
Eight, full-colour, RYGCB-laser systems from tarm, each putting out 25 Watts, for projecting the laser presentations, plus another laser system for projecting the specially designed 'tunnel' accompanying the champion's and contender's entrances, were installed in the arena.
Full-colour laser graphics, adapted to suit the television broadcast produced by RTL, were projected onto a 144-sq.m. gauze screen.
UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) enjoyed a busy turnout to its recent Video and Lighting Convergence UK open days, which showcased the latest products and innovations available from Green Hippo and PixelRange.
Staged at both AC-ET's southern HQ in High Wycombe and northern office in Leeds, a good mix of people from many different industry sectors took up the opportunity to visit - including schools and educational establishments, theatres, venues, individuals working in broadcast and a cross-section of freelancers.
In a fast-moving industry constantly demanding quicker and more flexible control of multiple video sources and playback surfaces, the events emphasised the on-going creative and technical fusion between lighting, LED sources, 'pixels' and video technologies as a complete visual environment.
Attendees were able to delve deeper into the award-winn
Columbia - Begun in the mid-1980s and brought online a decade later, the Metro de Medellín is the circulatory system of Medellín, Colombia, the country's second-largest metropolitan area. Serving a population of over 3 million, the system averages more than 400,000 riders each day across 20 miles of lines - two light rail and three aerial tramways - that have a combined 34 stations. The multi-modal system also incorporates a new Metro Plus system of bus lines that feature dedicated roadways and a planned total of 21 elevated-platform stations.
For paging and platform music at all stations, Metro de Medellín has created the world's largest integrated NetMax networked matrix system, with 57 Electro-Voice N8000 matrix controllers. The system-wide installation also includes more than 250 Electro-Voice EVID series ceiling loudspeakers powered by more than 150 channels of Electro-V
UK - As The O2 opened its doors to the BRIT Awards for the second year, Sennheiser UK celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing support to this most iconic of British music events.
"Sennheiser has had the pleasure of assisting on the BRITs since being invited by sound designer Derrick Zieba and Britannia Row back in 2002," says Sennheiser UK artist relations manager, Mark Saunders. "Initially, this was to support the large amount of Sennheiser equipment that was being used on the show. Since then, both Andy Lillywhite [Sennheiser UK's chief engineer] and I have been on-site throughout the rehearsals and shows, providing technical back up to the Brit Row crews, supplementing odd bits of extra kit and, where required, providing some extra not-quite-off-the-shelf type solutions for specific performances on the show."
South Africa - Bloemfontein, 443km from Johannesburg and popularly known as 'The City of Roses' due to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there, is also the home town of Stefan van Biljon, owner of rental company Creative Kilowatt.
Creative Kilowatt provided the technology for a banquet dinner celebrating the 25th anniversary of OFM, the regional radio station in Bloemfontein. The event took place at the Woodlands Function Venue with a performance by opera singer Jannie Moolman and the music of Joseph Clark.
Creative Kilowatt provided the full technical including sound, lighting and AV for the event, where washes of yellow and red were used to emphasise the OFM brand colours.
Lighting equipment was hung from trussing on the roof and the client was delighted with the end result.
"Creative Kilowatt also did the crowing of the prettiest girl
Germany - Just four weeks after the first MA onPC command wings have arrived at worldwide MA Lighting distributors for presentation purposes, MA Lighting reports the start of shipping its new product to the market.
The MA onPC command wing paves the way for mobile use of the highly flexible and powerful grandMA2 control system, says the company. In combination with the free-of-charge grandMA2 onPC software, the MA onPC command wing is a portable 2,048 parameter control solution that can be used in virtually any location - all at an affordable price.
Germany - Doughty Engineering is introducing three new products at ProLight+Sound 2012, two of them designed specifically for smaller television studios.
Being seen for the first time is Doughty's all steel Beam Clamp which, with a wide adjustment range of up to 200mm, makes a flexible and versatile rigging point for hoisting equipment, pulley blocks or loads. With a forged eye and a central threaded spindle for easy attachment and safe and secure grip, the Beam Clamp has a safe working load of 1000kg.
Complementing Doughty's Quick Trigger range of clamps, the Baby Quick Trigger clamp is intended for use on smaller truss sizes, adjustable to diameters of 25mm up to 38mm. With TUV approval pending, the Baby Quick Trigger clamp will be available in polished aluminium or satin black.
Doughty is using ProLight+Sound (Hall 9.0, stand E91) to preview its new, lightweight spring Pa
Germany - At ProLight&Sound. Green Hippo will be releasing a service pack for the current 3.2 build of its award winning Hippotizer software. The release includes improvements to many of the popular components and contains over 80 minor fixes over the current release.
New features and New Hardware will also be on show, including I/O panels and the latest in 3G HD/SDI input cards as well as requested features such as keystone on each layer and a new Tap Tempo feature in Beat Bridge. Several new effects and Generators have also been added.
"Prolight and Sound is a great opportunity for us to catch up with our users both old and new and showcase the new features and improvements we have. We are looking forward to seeing our distributors from around the world at this key show and are excited to be sharing a stand with our exclusive German distributors. This allows us to show