Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

Lighting

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UK - Network AV, a specialist in large-scale exhibition features, delivered fully integrated in-house production solutions to the Cruise Strip at Max Power Live at the NEC last weekend (2 - 4 July), including sound, light, staging and a number of creative components.

The event saw the launch of Network AV's new arch roof staging system that featured as the central focal point for all the arena action. The stage, an 8x8m area, was the base for the main MC, promotional models and the show's live DJs. This new Network AV stage is expected to be in strong demand for festivals, city centre entertainments, fashion shows and exhibition stands, with flexible steel deck flooring and independent truss structure. For this event, the roof was undressed to increase light flow, although it does come with full roof and side covering for weather protection, say Network AV.

The Cruise Strip wa

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USA - In a move designed to strengthen Entertainment Technology's presence in the theatrical and entertainment industries, Vari-Lite regional sales managers have been given direct access to the award-winning IGBT-based dimming products of VL's sister company, Entertainment Technology. The announcement is the latest strategic move taking advantage of the synergies of the two Genlyte Thomas Group companies. Both Entertainment Technology and Vari-Lite are part of the Genlyte Controls division, based in Dallas, sharing office, manufacturing and shipping space.

"In many instances, Vari-Lite and Entertainment Technology reps are calling on the same decision-makers," says Bob Schacherl, vice-president of sales for Genlyte Controls. "By providing Vari-Lite RSMs access to the Entertainment Technology line, these lighting professionals can now work with one person for all

Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

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UK - Following a series of successful technical lighting workshops held earlier in the year, Selecon UK has completed the second round of sessions, which are free to professional theatre technicians and lighting designers. Four workshops were held at diverse locations around the country, starting with the Kings Theatre in Plymouth, moving to the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, then on to Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham and finishing at the Bristol Old Vic.

Selecon's Nick Gale, Mark Miller and Louise McCoy gave participants a brief overview and demonstration of the various Selecon luminaires before inviting them to get 'hands on' and try them out for themselves. Theatre technicians Oscar Kane and Dave Sinton travelled all the way from Belfast's Waterfront Hall to attend the workshop in Leeds. "The lights are great. We were very impressed by their performance and versatil

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UK - When the Olympic Torch arrived in London on its journey to Athens, Power Logistics supplied the power for the celebrations on the Mall. The event attracted 70,000 people to the Mall to see the Olympic flame welcomed to London by the UK Olympic Patron, HRH Princess Anne. A concert followed, featuring an array of artists including Rod Stewart, James Brown, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Will Young and Emma Bunton.

Power Logistics' project manager, Tony Harpur managed the installation of the power equipment, loading in 10 days prior to the event. The unique location offered many challenges; most notably because the Mall was open to the public during the build, and also because of the high-level security. This meant everyone had to work to a strict load-in and set-up schedule, with working times based on the Mall's allocated road closure times to ensure minimum disruption to the area

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USA - Scott Chmielewski of Digital Media Designs in Baltimore, specified High End Systems lighting products to light a corporate gathering for the Small Business Administration Expo '04, which required a multipurpose lighting rig. The event at the Orlando Convention Center, Florida, featured keynote speeches, networking opportunities, an awards ceremony and black-tie gala.

"The lighting system had to be as flexible and dynamic as possible," Chmielewski explains, citing his plot for two Catalyst Pro v3.0 Media Servers, two DL1s, 32 ColorCommands, 12 Studio Beams, 10 Trackspot 2s and 24 other moving lights, with control by two Wholehog III consoles. "In addition to the range of aerial and projection effects from the DL1s, we also used Catalyst to send show Flash files and images to the main screens for all the events, and it all happened flawlessly. We were able to

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USA - For New York radio station Hot 97's Summer Jam concert in Giants Stadium, production designer Gary Westcott sought a way to integrate control of the show's audio and video elements. The five-hour concert was scheduled to include performances by 11 different acts with frequent playback of video clips and audio tracks during and between acts. PRG's solution was Mbox, the media control technology exclusively available through PRG.

Using four Mbox servers and a GrandMA lighting console, Westcott was able to control all of the visual imagery on eight video screens rigged onstage and over the audience. He was also able to cue the front-of-house audio console for playback of selected audio tracks throughout the show. The show's video and audio elements included support for the live acts during their performances as well as playback of clips between acts for artist introductions a

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Sweden - W-DMX is a new wireless DMX system developed by Wireless Solution AB in Sweden. Currently, most systems for sending wireless DMX transpose the data on to a proprietary standard such 802.11 (W-LAN) and use compliant wireless equipment for the data transmission. There are inherent problems associated with this method though, interference from other competing local wireless networks including Bluetooth equipment is one problem and the user often has to go to the trouble of setting up IP and Netmask settings in order to make the system function. However, the W-DMX is a compact, plug and play unit with a competitive price, and more importantly, free from interference from other products in the 2.45GHz band.

Using the well-established mobile telephone GSM technology in the 2.45GHz licence-free band, the W-DMX avoids many of the problems associated with ordinary wireless netw

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Denmark - Martin Professional has made available the first module in a new Wing System for its Maxxyz lighting control desk that expands the console's functionality and gives users the ability to customize and add more direct access. An adaptable Playback Wing, the first of several Wing Modules to be made available, expands the direct playback access of Maxxyz by three times, and allows the Maxxyz operator to navigate through even more quickly.

The Playback Wing consists of two Playback Modules in one frame, adding 20 motorized faders with 20 customizable LCD buttons and extending the playback capabilities of Maxxyz. The Playback Wing also includes 10 additional LCD buttons, also customizable for easy navigation, plus 40 conventional buttons - more advanced features than competitive equivalents, according to Martin.

The Wing System's modular design is freely configurable, all

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USA - Starlite Productions of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has appointed Keri Hall as a lighting sales associate. In this role, she will handle both retail and wholesale sales within the company's lighting group. Hall returns to NJ from Orlando, Florida, where she was most recently an event coordinator with Disney's Wild World of Sports. In addition, she spent several years as a lighting, pyrotechnic, and special effects technician at Pleasure Island and Disney-MGM Studios. She holds a BFA in Theater Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - DHA Lighting's unique Digital Light Curtain continues to find favour with lighting designers, having now been selected for two big new productions in the UK. Lighting designer Howard Harrison has specified 14 Digital Light Curtains for Mary Poppins, the adaptation of the classic film being produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Walt Disney Theatrical.

The show will premiere in Bristol in October before moving to the Prince Edward Theatre in London in December. Harrison is using the DLCs to light a cyclorama and other flown cloths that form part of Bob Crowley's scenic design. Harrison is very familiar with the DLC's qualities: over 140 units are already used in his design for Mamma Mia on productions around the world. The units for Mary Poppins will be supplied by Stage Electrics in Bristol.

In Plymouth, lighting designer Jenny Kagan has specified five Pitching Digital

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UK - The Dance Tent at Glastonbury this year saw Audiolight & RiLL the powerful Aurora 1200 DPSS Whitelight Laser. With two systems positioned at each end of the stage, controlled through one of RiLL's custom PC systems, the effects were "amazing" say Audiolight. The company's Rob Fisher said: "The Dance Tent presented us with a massive space, and our lasers filled the tent with a beautiful spectrum of colours, graphics and patterns with ease."

With both lasers giving an output of 1200mW, they complemented the excellent line-up on stage. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, the Aurora produces crisp, clean graphics for advertising, logos, text and animated characters. The system is capable of multiple colours, graphics and beams. All these effects can be produced at the same time, making it a far superior system to other diode laser systems, say the compa

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Australia - Enttec and LF Software Ltd have recently signed an exclusive partnership agreement. This agreement covers the LightFactory lighting control software which Enttec will add to it's product line. "We see it as a need for growing companies to join forces, Enttec has a forte in designing products and LightFactory Software Ltd has a track record of producing quality PC software. This synergy is the logical step forward," said Nicolas Moreau MD of Enttec.

Since Enttec will also include free of charge a limited edition of Light Factory with its Ethernet enabled products, users will now have a professional 36-channel control software free of charge. They can then easily upgrade to the full version when they feel the need. Lightfactory is also fully compatible with the recently released community project Open USB DMX widget. Students and educational institutions will

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USA - Agilent Technologies Inc and Lumileds Lighting have announced an agreement to collaborate on a new series of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The companies say the mid-power range devices will target the automotive, mobile phone and lighting markets, and complement the high-power Luxeon devices offered by Lumileds and the lower-power devices from Agilent. Under the agreement, Lumileds will provide high-brightness LED chips and technology, while Agilent will contribute design, development and system integration expertise, including its patented manufacturing techniques.

"This agreement is a win for Agilent, for Lumileds and for our customers," said Young Sohn, president of Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group. "Agilent will have access to new applications and customers for our LED line, Lumileds will be the exclusive provider of LED chips for the new series of

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The Netherlands - 'The greatest living room in Europe' was the brief for how the set should look for Rene Froger's recent Amsterdam show (including chandeliers, TV screens and carpet on the floor). Production company Sightline and lighting designer HenkJan van Beek came up with a massive ground support system to hang all video, lighting, sound, and scenic equipment, using 12 long trusses above the ego-ramps and the audience to complete the huge set.

Given the time frames for this event and the limited time allocated for cueing in the venue, WYSIWYG was chosen to allow for accurate pre-cueing offsite before the event. As a result of the challenges of working in the round, there were eight dimmer cities. Tenfeet used the ELC dmxLAN software to transport the 18 DMX lines over the ELC network. The ELC nodes performed perfectly, say the company, despite the size of the installation,

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UK - Phil Mercer has joined XL Video's project management team, where he'll be concentrating his energies on the application of video in live music and theatre, and on the rapidly continuing creative fusion of lighting and video media and technologies. Having spent the previous four years working for leading moving light manufacturer High End Systems, Mercer first became involved in video via their award-winning Catalyst product. XL Video was one of the first UK rental operations to invest in Catalyst digital media servers and their DL1 moving projection heads.

Mercer's experience in overseeing large Catalyst shows includes working on the last three Eurovision Song Contests and Peter Gabriel's recent tour. "It's hugely exciting to be working with the UK's leading live video company," he says. "I'm looking forward to working with a growing number of lighting desig

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UK - Pearce Hire showcased a new range of lighting equipment at this year's Forestry Commission's 'Forest Tours' across the UK. The Forestry Commission's annual summer tour of unique forest locations began in 2001 and has grown year on year, adding new sites and more dates. This year, artists include Paul Weller, Status Quo, the Sugababes and Jools Holland: on completion at the end of July, the tour will cover five weekends at six different Forestry sites. Despite the unfortunate cancellations by Bryan Ferry due to a throat infection, the tour has been thus far successful, playing to sell-out crowds.

For the fourth consecutive year, Pearce Hire has supplied power and lighting to the run of shows, this year investing in £85,000 worth of new lighting equipment and flightcases for the tour. The new equipment strengthened Pearce Hire's inventory and allowed the team to provide the

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UK - The King Arthur Film Premier took place at the Empire in Leicester Sq, with Utopium lighting up the façade of the cinema and the event. Afterwards the cast partied 'old style' at the Guildhall - done out in full Medieval regalia, including imitation forest and banquet hall lit with 48 x S/4 profiles, 36 x Fresnels, 60 x Birdies, 60 x Par64 Floor cans and a large High End Systems rig of Studio Spots, Studio Colours and Studio PC Beams run from a collection of Whole Hog II's.

Two days earlier Spiderman 2 was premiered across the Square at The Odeon with McFly performing on the balcony of the cinema. The after show party, at Billingsgate Old Market, hosted seven areas - the Spider Web Dance Floor and the City Scape being the largest. The curved trussing from two Orbit stages were used to provide 'spiders legs' coming down from the roof - lined with Pixeline. On both these eve

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USA - Lighting designer Graeme Nicol specified nearly 50 Vari*Lite automated luminaires for the lighting rig on Sarah McLachlan's current North American tour, but plans to use movement with caution: "Just because they're moving lights, doesn't mean they have to move," Nicol says. Sticking with that basic fundamental principle, Nicol made use of the smooth pan and tilt, the soft colour-fade capability and the fixtures' CYM colour-mixing system, rather than the fast strobe functions, the quick-snap colour changing or the fast movement. "There's a bit of movement, but it's not unnecessary movement," Nicol explains. "If there's no point in making the fixture move, I don't do it."

The automated lighting rig consists of 23 VL3000 Spot luminaires, 12 VL1000TS ellipsoidal reflector spotlight units and 14 VL5 fixtures. All of the Vari*Lites were provided by

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CZ - The latest addition to Robe Show Lighting's moving head range is now in full production.

Features of the new ColorWash 1200E AT include a CMY colour mixing system, variable CTO, two colour wheels and a combined dimmer/shutter. The 1200E AT zoom has a range of 10 - 87° depending on the lens type used. The electronic ballast enables features like flicker-free operation, extended lamp life and power-saving mode.

The ColorWash 1200E AT is suitable for a wide range of applications including theatre, tv and live production, together with all types of installations, from multi-purpose venues to large clubs. Low noise output also makes it suitable for studio use.

(Barry Howse)

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UK - Following the release of the Quick Start DVD, DiGiCo has now released the full version of its D5 Live user manual giving users individual tuition wherever and whenever required. The D5 Live is an intuitive, simple-to-use console and engineers have found that they can go out and use after minimal tuition, according to DiGiCo. However, the company says there are a multitude of features within the D5 that may not be so immediately obvious.

The D5 Live User Manual DVD gives users their very own DiGiCo workshop, always at hand in a format that is less bulky than a traditional printed manual. The information is divided into seven logically defined sections that are fully navigable, allowing instant access to any chapter. There is also an offline version of the DiGiCo website, so if the DVD is played on a PC or Mac, information about other products is available, or access to a pd

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UK - Bandit Lites UK has continued its busy summer season, which includes supplying UK lighting designer Jonny Gaskell with equipment for recent shows by Orbital. The band announced - before the release of their latest Blue Album - that they would split after 15 years of musical innovation at the forefront of the UK dance scene.

Their last regular UK gigs were two shows at Brixton Academy - for which Gaskell designed a lightshow that could also be taken in to various festival situations - including a headline slot on Glastonbury's Other Stage - for the band's final UK appearances. These were undertaken prior to a farewell European festival tour that's currently underway.

Gaskell wanted to ensure the band ended their groundbreaking career in a blaze of visual glory. The use of 53 James Thomas Pixelline LED battens was integral to his design. He framed the upstage area with 12 r

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USA - Design consortium Lightswitch has announced that highly respected industry veteran Chris Medvitz has joined their team. Medvitz has been designing theatrical, corporate and concert event lighting for well over a decade, having been a staff lighting designer for The Obie Company and director of lighting design at the Juice Creative division of The George P. Johnson Company, as well as working as an independent designer for a number of years.

Medvitz's corporate client list is extensive, with companies such as Chrysler, Hummer, Jeep, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nissan, Samsung and Toyota making use of his talents. His theatrical credits include various productions for the Newport Theater Arts Center, Long Beach Playhouse, Theaterfaire for Children, Irvine Barclay Theater and Opera Pacific.

Recently Medvitz has broadened into creative and visual direction, designing product launc

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UK - The Liverpool Culture Company staged the largest ever firework display in the city to celebrate the Centenary of its famous Anglican Cathedral, described as "one of the greatest buildings In the world" by John Betjeman. The awesome 20-minute display - designed by Ian Woodroof of Fantastic Fireworks - is the largest fired off a single building so far this year in Europe.

The display, which was free to anyone within sight of the Cathedral on the Sunday night, broke new technological grounds with the live broadcast of the specially-composed soundtrack by Liverpool City Council's local radio media partner, 96.7 FM Radio City. This meant the show was enjoyed not just by a traditionally placed audience close to site, but by anyone tuning in to the radio and able to see the Cathedral - with the sonic advantages of no time delays! The innovative staging idea opened the ev

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UK - Le Maitre's new Cryo Jets were put to the test at the recent premiere of the new Thunderbirds movie at the Empire cinema in London's Leicester Square. The Cryo Jet is a CO2 system which shoots out powerful jets of dry ice. Le Maitre's chief pyrotechnician, Mark Thomas, designed the show, using six Cryo Jets and a barrage of Line Rockets to escort the celebrity guests up the red carpet and into the cinema, creating a spectacular effect.

32 of the three-second Line Rockets from Le Maitre's Prostage II range of professional pyrotechnics were used, running on 190ft lines across the front of the Empire. Line Rockets travel at high speed along a wire, emitting a loud whistling sound and creating a tail of brightly-coloured sparks. They were fired in volleys of eight and four, at 10-minute intervals. The doors of the première opened at 1.00pm and the guests were inside for 2.00p

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  6. Entec supplies PJ Harvey
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