USA - At this year’s LDI show, CAST Group (stand 2255) will demo the latest from wysiwyg, BlackTrax and also present a new native software for broadcast. The company will also launch its global training programme. CAST will present release R41 of wysiwyg in the USA for the first time. On stand, the new BlackTrax V2.3.3 will be at the heart of a presentation designed by Dream Laser that will combine tracking with lighting, media interactivity, moving projection mapping, 3D positional audio and camera tracking for broadcast. Lighting for the demonstration - which will include the opportunity to get hands-on and will feature live performances and interactive games - will be powered by Luminex; media support will come from disguise and Notch; L-Acoustic will provide 3D positional audio; and projectors and PTZ cameras will be from Panasonic. Meanwhile CAST’s new broadca
USA - The Claypaky Sharpy Plus and the Claypaky Axcor Spot 400 will make their international debut at LDI 2018. Sharpy Plus is billed as “the first true 100% hybrid unit, able to be a perfect beam light and a perfect spotlight”. It fits a new Osram Sirius 330W X8 lamp and weighs only 21.6kg (47.6lb). All its functions are extremely quick. A linear 3° to 36° (1:9) zoom covers the entire range linearly, both in Spot mode and in Beam mode. The Axcor Spot 400 provides the medium-power applications with compact, bright, LED moving spotlights, complete with “every device you need for exceptional projected visual effects”. The Axcor Profile 600 stands out for its versatility, its high-level performance and the superior quality of its light. The luminous efficiency is among the highest for this power category, and can be further increased by about 25% if neces
Europe - Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting, video and rigging equipment plus crew to the recent Tash Sultana UK and European tour. The Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is wowing fans worldwide with the debut album Flow State and enigmatic one-person show. Detroit based lighting designer Cam Anderson started working with Tash at the end of 2017 during a US tour, and evolved the current stage design with the artist to compliment the performance and style. It includes a distinctive flown triangular truss upstage, together with a series of staggered video panels behind the centre-stage position which bring structure and form to the performance space. These elements were crafted working closely with Tash and her international production crew. The resulting set is highly visual, and the rig can be up/down-scaled to deal with v
Australia - Adelaide Oval has been described as one of the most picturesque Test cricket grounds in Australia. Its importance on the international cricket circuit is undisputed, being headquarters to the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). Its sporting credentials extend to other areas, with South Australian National Football League (SANFL) also calling it home and the venue playing host to Australian rules football, rugby league and union, soccer and tennis, as well as regularly holding concerts. It has three stands, the Western, Eastern and Southern or Riverbank Stand, all constructed as part of a major refurbishment completed in 2014. The Riverbank Stand boasts a new L-Acoustics Kara system, supplied by Jands, L-Acoustics certified provider distributor for the region. The system delivers improved coverage and intelligibility, all without the need for expensive ac
USA - Ayrton will highlight new products at LDI 2018, including the newly launched BoraS and KhamsinS fixtures, alongside previews of its new Diablo-S, Diablo-TC, Merak-S and Merak-TC automated fixtures. The new products can be seen on Booth 1139 where Ayrton will be showcasing them in its now much-anticipated lightshow, alongside its exclusive US distributor, A.C.T. Lighting. The Ayrton portfolio will be also on display on Booth 2105, represented by Theatrixx Technologies, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor in Canada. Launched just last month at PLASA London 2018, BoraS is Ayrton’s exciting new high output, low power LED washlight, complete with gobo projection and framing capabilities for stunning aerial effects. Bora-S’s extreme optical efficiency delivers an output of 38,000lm from an 8000K white LED engine using just 750W to “surpass any other LED fixture in
UK - At the recent 30th birthday celebrations for HSL at the company’s Blackburn HQ, Lucid Technologies delivered the gifts of innovation and visual impact for HSL MD, Simon Stuart and his hard-working team who, across the span of 30 years in the lighting industry, have provided the very same gift to others. Lucid’s contribution sparked two main areas of the event. Delineating the event’s expo space with picture-frame gallery videowalls to highlight the companies supporting the event, the team also created an immersive and interactive demonstration of the latest in video technology, for attendees on the tour of HSL’s impressive 165,000sq.ft premises. On opposing walls of the expo space, the vibrant backdrop was created on two 60m LED video walls. Content was supplied to the 60m x 2m LED displays from a Disguise GX2 media server running animated backdrops, which
USA - Victor Zeiser of Squeek Lights is using Elation Professional’s new DARTZ 360 LED moving head along with Elation Protron 3K Color LED strobes to support the diverse sounds of hardcore rock band Beartooth on their current North American tour. The headlining tour, in support of the band’s new studio album Disease, kicked in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and plays a packed schedule of dates, concluding in Columbus, Ohio, next month. Zeiser, who first met the hardcore rockers when they were an opening act for one of his other clients, Silverstein, and had put together a small timecoded show for the Ohio-based group’s last headliner tour, was well familiar with the band. So when Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo and company came looking for a designer for their fall Disease tour, Zeiser jumped at the opportunity. “The band wanted to get more serious about their
USA - Twelve months on from the launch of LightShark at the 2017 LDI show, WORK PRO returns to Las Vegas to launch a completely new range of control hardware: Pyron. Bringing together the company’s established background in digital audio and lighting control with their R&D team's experience of remote firing systems and pyrotechnic control, WORK PRO's Pyron range comprises several wirelessly controllable devices designed to provide event organisers and touring companies with complete control of stage effects and hardware ranging from stage pyrotechnics, audio and lighting effects to CO2, flame and cold fire spark machines. At launch, the Pyron range includes an advanced suite of control software, two different DMX-equipped, battery-operable hardware consoles (the FDC W and the more fully-featured FDC A) and the FD P1 wired or wireless trigger pad, all of which are
USA - At LDI 2018, ArKaos will preview its powerful and flexible MediaMaster 5.4 and GrandVJ 2.6 video and media control platforms. Both now offer two significant new features: TrackDJ is designed for the seamless synchronization of video clips with a live DJ or to beat-match short video loops; while Full Fixture Control has also now been added to the ArKaos Video Mapper ArKaos has had a busy and productive summer out and about at festivals and shows, talking to numerous lighting and video operators, DJ’s VJ’s, LDs etc., working in many different environments, and several have also visited ArKaos’s base in Brussels. Their comments and feedback have helped shape the latest product developments and ensure that ArKaos keeps in touch and on-trend with what the fast-moving world of show visuals is demanding. TrackDJ is a straightforward solution for better int
Croatia - The Istrian National Theatre is located in the medieval port city of Pula on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia and is one of the most important cultural institutions in the region, renowned for the quality and innovation of its productions. It has a 720-seat main auditorium and they produce around 10 new works per year, mainly drama or modern dance, plus one children’s production. The original building dates back to 1871 when the theatre opened. It was reconstructed in 1918 and extensive further restoration and upgrade work was undertaken in 1989 including the installation of a new fly tower, which made it capable of staging far more ambitious productions. Recently, the theatre has invested in Robe moving lights – following a growing trend for theatres not just to look for more flexible and adaptable options, but also to look at LED and other long-term ene
UK - Around 500 industry family, friends, acquaintances and business associates hit HSL’s Blackburn HQ to enjoy two social open days to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary. The event included an exhibition space which was dedicated to 32 of HSL’s key suppliers and partner companies including high profile brands and manufacturers like Avolites, Chauvet, High End Systems, J&C Joel, Martin by Harman, Robe, SGM, Philips Vari*Lite, Unilumin and many more, who showcased their latest technologies and enjoyed the general conviviality. HSL’s Simon Stuart worked closely and tirelessly to make HSL30 happen with a short lead time, just before the autumn touring season kicked in. He worked alongside Jeff Demain as the co-show producer to get the building prepared while event organiser Mark Walsh took care of the administration. In fact, almost everyone working at
USA - ADJ is proud to announce will use the 2018 LDI trade show to unveil its latest technology breakthrough: IP65-rated moving head beam fixtures. The new Hydro Beam X1 and Hydro Beam X2 will bring weatherproof moving heads within the reach of production companies and installers working on projects with budgets that up until now would not have allowed for IP-rated fixtures. With robust construction and IP65-ratings, the Hydro Series fixtures are designed for both indoor or outdoor use. Their durable casings protect them from dust, sand, moisture and liquids, making them ideal for use in all situations from dusty deserts in California to rainy fields in England. Suitable for festivals and outdoor events, as well as installation in open-air clubs and other outside entertainment spaces, the fixtures offer an extended operational life and reduced maintenance requirement due to
USA – At LDI 2018, ETC and High End Systems will join forces in one large-scale, combined booth to “showcase lighting solutions for every show and venue”. In addition to new fixtures, controls and rigging options, both companies will debut new moving lights on the tradeshow floor. The booth showcases several new automated fixtures this year, among them are Relevé Spot fixtures, a mover that combines nearly a decade of LED optical engineering with forty years of theatrical experience. This affordable automated fixture includes impressive colour mixing capabilities, a perfectly subtle theatrical frost, and a unique Ani-gobo wheel that was designed with your theatre in mind. The latest and brightest additions to the Sola Series, SolaSpot 3000 and SolaFrame 3000 will light up High End’s side of the booth. For a more compact frame option, the SolaFrame 1000 will be
The Netherlands - Ayrton has appointed Ampco Flashlight Sales as its latest exclusive distributor in its expanding international sales network. Based in Utrecht, Ampco Flashlight Sales will be responsible for the distribution of the entire portfolio of Ayrton products across The Netherlands, with immediate effect. With a history that stretches back 30 years, Ampco Flashlight Sales is a distributor, systems integrator and project house for both professional lighting and audio products. Its rental division has recently invested in Ayrton Ghibli and MagicBlade-FX to add to its hire stock. “To be a distributor for Ayrton is a gift,” says Ampco Flashlight Sales general manager, Peter de Fouw. “We have been looking at Ayrton with interest for a couple of years. Then came the release of the new progressive fixtures which really spurred us to talk to Ayrton and progress
Europe - On Tuesday 9th October, the EU released a revised version of their proposed new Ecodesign and Ecolabelling Lighting regulations. These are the intended final versions of these regulations. The full texts are available to read via the links below. From an entertainment lighting perspective, this version is almost entirely unchanged from the draft published in July. There is a minor addition of a new exemption for some specialist fluorescent lamps used in the film industry. And the exemptions established in the July draft, which cover many areas of entertainment lighting, remain in place. However, this draft does not address any of the issues that the entertainment lighting industry’s Ecodesign Task Group have been trying to raise with the EU since the publication of the July draft. This means that some key issues remain: - requirement for lig
UK - After a successful year of headline festival slots and TV appearances, Rob Broderick, a.k.a. Abandoman recently embarked upon a sell-out tour to take his comedy hip-hop around the UK. Like his multi-talented client, LD Robbie Butler also went outside the box to create something original. Helping him in this endeavour were 21 Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 FX-B and 21 Maverick MK Pyxis fixtures. Although lighting for a live music venue tour, Butler followed his client’s wishes and created the kind of “stadium looks” more commonly associated with large rock concerts. “Rob (Abandoman) is a big fan of Kanye West, so he wanted the show to rival a Kanye concert in terms of production value,” commented Butler. “All this had to be achieved on a modest budget, and the show had to be able to turn around within the space of a half hour, so there were significant
Canada - Lighting designer Robert Sondergaard of Electric Aura Projects and Solotech recently deployed Martin by Harman VDO Sceptron10 LED lighting fixtures to create a dynamic and innovative stage design for Toronto’s Veld Music Festival. Now in its seventh year, the annual EDM and hip-hop music festival was held in Toronto’s Downsview Park. The line-up featured Marshmello, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Benny Benassi, Lil Yachty and more. Each year the festival strives to create an ambitious and eye-catching stage design, and this year they wanted to incorporate the VELD logo as a dynamic centrepiece. Festival organisers hired production and lighting designer Robert Sondergaard, who collaborated with video and sound provider Solotech to create an ambitious design using Martin VDO Sceptron10 LED Fixtures and custom-fabricated set pieces. “The big thing they wa
USA - Obsidian Control Systems will be showcasing the first three lighting control products under the ONYX lighting control platform. Designers, programmers and operators are invited to Obsidian Control Systems Booth 1135 for a first look and hands-on demo of the powerful NX 2, the portable NX Wing and the convenient NX DMX. The NX 2 is a compact yet fully-integrated lighting controller with all the connectivity and power the ever-increasing size of shows demands. As a member of the innovative ONYX platform from Obsidian Control Systems, the NX 2 is feature rich and never restricted in its capabilities. Utilizing the latest in industrial components, the NX 2 contains a powerful Intel Hexa-Core processor, high-speed NVMe SSD drive and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Fast boot times, instant operation and the ability to process 64 Universes right inside the console without the need f
USA - UK lighting control manufacturer Zero 88 will have a strong presence at the 2018 LDI expo, for the first time in several years following on from the success and buzz of their FLX range of lighting consoles, first launched in 2015. Zero 88 product specialist Jon Hole, commented, “LDI is well known for the high-quality of its visitors which includes a big percentage of lighting designers, directors and programmers. In addition to all those from North America, Canada and Latin America, we are also expecting to see people from Asia and the Pan Pacific regions. It should be an excellent chance for us to get the brand and products in front of new contacts and a completely different audience.” An international Zero 88 product specialist team will be demonstrating the FLX and FLX S ranges of powerful and intuitive lighting desks on Booth 962 (co-exhibiting alongside
USA - At LDI 2018, TMB will again show a wide selection of new technology in a comfortable, social atmosphere on booth 1568. The new ProPlex IQ Tester LV, Ethernet/DMX tester/analyzer, recognised with a PLASA 2018 Innovation Award, is a must-see. The first Ethernet tester designed for entertainment production, this tall-in-one device easily performs many functions essential and useful for setting up and trouble-shooting today’s show networking. A short list includes: Wireshark for analysis of any Ethernet protocol, plus network troubleshooting; PoE tester; SMPTE Timecode, LTC receiver/analyzer and LTC transmitter; full DMX analysis, control, and testing; RDM controller; and bidirectional Ethernet-DMX gateway. Also, update Solaris/ProPlex firmware without a PC! Extremely compact and rugged, the ProPlex IQ Tester goes anywhere. TMB will also introduce ProPlex Cat 6a e
Portugal - Following a series of recent meetings with distribution companies at international exhibitions including Pro Light & Sound in Frankfurt, WORK PRO has concluded new distribution arrangements for its LightShark lighting console. Effective immediately, the following companies are exclusively responsible for LightShark sales, support, training and marketing in their respective territories: United States of America — Blizzard Lighting; Canada — AVL Media Group; France — Freevox; Switzerland — Plus Music; Colombia, Panama and Venezuela — Audio Concept. “LightShark was something of a bold departure for WORK PRO, going way beyond the capabilities of any lighting control products we’ve released in the past,” explains Juan Jose Vila, WORK PRO’s chief sales officer. “Awareness of the console and its advantages and impressive price point has spre
Italy - Music & Lights celebrated the official opening of their new headquarters, dedicating a day of exclusive celebration for customers, partners and international distributors. The new base represents a further phase of development, with its over 40.000sqm surrounded by greenery and with a covered area of 10'000sqm, which brings together offices, research and development, production, laboratory and logistics. An organisation that has acquired over the years a growing international reputation, with its brands that today are at the top of the professional entertainment industry. This innovation played a central role in the distributor conference, held on the morning of the event and reserved for the international sales network. Then, in the afternoon, the doors of the new exhibition areas opened up; a complex of over 1000sqm, including a stage set up
USA - GLP will sport a new booth display and location (#573) at this year’s LDI Show. Sharing their largest booth to date with their distributed brands, Scenex Lighting and Cosmic Truss, GLP US is taking a twist away from their consecutively award winning ‘black box’ presentations in favour of a customer-centric experience with a free flow of information and hospitality. With the impression E350 supercharged LED moving head, GLP has “moved its development programme into the next generation”. The advanced LED engine offers “unprecedented output in its class, making the fixture perfect for any type of showcase event or installation where dynamic, articulated lighting is a key component”. At the same time, this quiet, flicker-free luminaire also meets the stringent criteria required by the broadcast / TV world. The impression S350 is characterised by i
USA - LDI 2018 will be all about originality for Elation Professional with a string of premiere product launches set for display at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Showing at LDI Booth 931 for the first time anywhere in North America will be two all-new visual effects that feature TwinkLED, a novel, patent-pending LED twinkle effect that uses dedicated high-brightness pixels inside large front lenses to provide additional layers of creativity for the lighting designer. Both the RAYZOR 760 and IP65-rated Proteus RAYZOR 760 incorporate the TwinkLED system. RAYZOR 760 is a compact yet powerful LED wash effects luminaire with 5 to 77-degree zoom projects intense, well-defined mid-air beams, as well as an exceptionally wide and even wash coverage. The RAYZOR 760 is available in a compact and lightweight weather and dust protected IP65 version, the Proteus RAYZOR 76
