Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

Products

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USA - City Theatrical reports that its WDS Wireless Data System is all over Broadway and the on the road this spring, playing an important part in nearly every new musical and many plays. New musicals with WDS installations include, Little Women, Sweet Charity, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mambo Kings, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (WDS supplied by PRG NJ). Other long-running musicals with WDS installed include Tony Award winners Hairspray and Lion King, as well as Fiddler on the Roof (also WDS by PRG NJ). Recent Broadway straight plays to utilize WDS include the productions of Julius Caesar, and Sly Fox (WDS supplied by GSD Productions).

Shows touring the US this spring using WDS installations include Wicked tours 1 and 2, Contact, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Movin' Out (WDS supplied by PRG NJ). Non-Broadway show

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UK - 5 Star Cases Limited, the Wisbech based manufacturer recently supplied a large number of new style cases for moving head lights. The trunk is an adaption from an existing design and this particular unit was to house the Robe 1200AT. The design department at 5 Star set about re-designing the trunk using the recently installed 3D modelling software. This enables the designers to produce a 'virtual case' to the exact dimensions including all appropriate case fittings etc.

Once the design had been verified, various renderings of the trunk was e-mailed to Blackburn based HSL who were the first to benefit from this updated designed trunk and placed an order for 167 units. Minor modifications were carried out to the 'model' to cater for HSL's specific requirements. The trunks house twin moving light units, however a unique feature is the option to add a separate door to convert th

Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

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UK - A new range of solar-powered LED tiles have been introduced by the Light Projects Group. Based on an original concept by Sutton Vane Associates, the Tsola is a recessed LED unit - suitable for both horizontal and vertical applications - which uses natural daylight to create energy-free lighting. It is available in two sizes (198 x 99mm or 198 x 198mm) and in six standard LED colours: red, green, blue, amber, orange and white.

Able to charge in both clear and overcast conditions, a waterproof IP68 rating, and operating temperature between -40°C and 70°C and resistance to point and impact load, Tsola tiles can be used in the most demanding applications, say Light Projects. As it requires no electrical supply or maintenance, it is ideal for retro-fitting to existing areas where it is unacceptable or impractical to lay new electrical cable. It can also be installed by non-ele

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USA - Version 1.3.8 software for the Wholehog 3 operating system has now been released by High End Systems. (HES). The new software provides many enhancements to the feature-rich lighting console adding new features including ESP Vision connectivity, Levels view, Follow current or Follow Next cue-contents abilities, and an on-board Fixture Builder utility. Users can download the software and read detailed release information at the website below.

The primary goal of v1.3.8 was to improve much of the currently implemented functionality, says Brad Schiller, HES director of control systems development. "This new version has increased the software's abilities in terms of data processing and network usage," he explains. "Our development team has dedicated many hours to strengthening the core functionality of the software and hardware. In addition, they were able to sne

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France - Nicolaudie-Sunlite, creator of the PLASA Award-winning Easy Stand Alone software, has announced that over the month of March 2005, it has sold more than almost 1,000 software packages. The company now forecasts sales of around 12,000 items over the year 2005 - representing an increase of 20% over 2004.

The company reports that 40% of the sale for March 2004 were for Sunlite Suite 2004, which offers advanced software functions for live control; 30% were for the Easy Stand Alone, which offers remote internet editing and internal clock triggering, and 30% were for other products, including Magic 3D Easy View (an offline 3D visualizer for DMX consoles), Sunlite Intelligent DMX Interface (intended for software developers) and Sunlite Limited Edition (a promotional item for lighting manufacturers).

The company reports that it is particularly expecting sales of Easy Stand Al

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Germany - The basis for an extremely high light output, which distinguishes the YPOC 700, is a 700 Watt state of the art discharge lamp. In the projection area the new zoom lens in association with three gobo wheels does not leave any wishes unfulfilled! Within the entire zoom angle range of 14°-32° the projections are illustrated with high precision and sharpness.The electronic ballast not only reduces the weight, but also create a flicker-free light output, a higher life span of the bulb and in conjunction with the high-quality optics, a substantially higher luminous efficiency.On that score the YPOC 700 can be operated with all world-wide usual electricity mains (90V-260V/50-60Hz) without any range selection.New design, latest microprocessor technology, fastest colour- and gobo changes, fast and precise pan / tilt movements as well as a very quiet temperature controlled fan s

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UK - Kelsey Acoustics has played a key support role in the design of a new series of Abbey Road audiophile cables recently launched by Moving Air (MA). Kelsey was closely involved throughout the development process bringing design expertise to bear on MA's drive for ground-breaking technology to produce cables to satisfy the most stringent critical listening requirements.

At Moving Air's launch event, which took place recently at Abbey Road's Studio 2 facility, Kelsey conducted 'live demonstrations', with listening tests in the control room, explaining the technology involved to the trade and press guests.

Abbey Road, with its reputation for technical excellence, was quoted as saying that in a studio environment, this cable enhanced the musical detail and improved the stereo image. Kelsey's parent company, Fuzion plc, rocked the party by providing a live stage rig that compris

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USA - SurgeX has re-engineered its one-rack-space (1U) surge protectors and power conditioners to feature new Advanced Series Mode surge suppression and proprietary power-conditioning technologies such as Impedance TolerantEMI/RFI filtering, SurgeX ICE inrush current elimination, and COUVS catastrophic over/under-voltage shutdown.

Advanced Series Mode technology is the latest generation of SurgeX's proven Series Mode circuitry, which uses an inductor as the first and primary surge-suppression component to intercept and contain destructive surge energy. There has never been a failure of Series Mode protected equipment. Unlike other approaches, Advanced Series Mode technology does not rely on metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) as a sacrificial component. In addition, it creates no ground-wire contamination or common-mode surges and has zero let-through voltage.

SurgeX 1U products prov

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UK - Turbosound, the British-based manufacturer of live performance and installed-sound loudspeakers, announces the launch of its GigMate modelling software, following the product's recent preview at Frankfurt Prolight+Sound 2005.

Turbosound's GigMate software has been developed in conjunction with Dr Ahnert of SDA (Sound Design Ahnert), the originators of the industry-standard EASE and EASE Focus electro-acoustic design and analysis packages. The software is designed to facilitate two-dimensional modelling of Turbosound's innovative Aspect concert touring system, within any performance space.

Turbosound's GigMate provides the user with an intuitive modelling tool. It enables quick and easy prediction of the behaviour of a loudspeaker array of any size, operating in any given venue, auditorium or performance space. The software's first release offers modelling in the vertical

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UK - Following the Junior Scan 2, the Junior Barrel is available with a 150W discharge lamp. Barrel scans spread the single beam into many beams. Featuring 15 dichroic colours plus white, two multicolor effects and 19 Gobos (two exchangeable).

In addition the Junior Barrel has a 4.5mW laserdiode and mechanical shutter for high-speed strobe effects (like all fixtures of the Junior range), DMX addressing and adjustment of all functions like Audio stand alone and Master-Slave is made very easily via the display. The fixture is available in black and silver.

The lamp is an Osram discharge lamp HSD 150/70 with an average service life of 3.000 hours and colour temperature of 7.500 k. The unit offers a mirror barrel with a pan of 230°. The unit also features a laser 4,5 mW laserdiode with DMX control.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Celebrating its 60th Anniversary, Sennheiser is exhibiting at the British Music Fair 2005 with the UK launch of what it calls "one of the hottest musician products of the year". World-leaders in microphone and radio technology, Sennheiser will be introducing its freePORT radio systems, offering "renowned Sennheiser quality and reliability but at very affordable prices". With long battery life and available in handheld, instrument and lapel formats, freePORT is a true diversity system with four switchable frequencies that can be operated simultaneously, ensuring high transmission reliability and flexibility.

As UK distributor, Sennheiser will also be showing the DS108A, DS112A and DS115A active loudspeaker systems from D.A.S., which combine superb on-stage audio performance with rugged reliability. See Sennheiser at BMF 2005 on Stand 146.

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Barco has announced new show control, DVE effects and image processing features for its Encore video processing system. The Barco Encore provides source selection, advanced windowing features, seamless switching, video effects and integrated control, say the company, and its modular, scaleable architecture allows the system to support a wide variety of show configurations. The system can efficiently support from 1 to 32 screens with any combination of independent display or seamless wide-screen display elements.

New features announced by Barco include: integrated device and show control features from Events Manager and StagePRO; the ability to drive Barco LED walls with low transport delay when coupled with Barco's new LEDPro Video Processor; DVE colour effects and "strobe" processing; programmable colour correction for digital sources; support of operation with

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USA - The SeaChanger Colour Engine from Ocean Optics can be used to produce dramatic architectural lighting effects in large venues such as museums and churches, say the company. The SeaChanger is a CYM colour changer for ETC Source Four Ellipsoidal Spotlights. It uses robust dichroic filter technology, which requires no cooling, to create a virtually endless palette of stable, reproducible colours that do not shift or fade with time or temperature.

Ocean Optics says its patented process yields the most robust dichroic filters available, allowing users to control colour, intensity and saturation to unprecedented levels of precision. The company says its filters also provide higher transmission efficiency than gels and other filter materials, and their resistance to temperature and humidity eliminates the need for noisy fans.

SeaChanger employs four patterned filters: cyan, yel

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Italy - RCF says its new 4PRO 7001-A is a powerful and precise sound system designed to work in concert sound applications, but is equally capable in professional sound situations such as large clubs and theatres. The system is an arrayable, active, medium-throw system that integrates 950W of Tri-Amplification modules, a complete electronic processor section and "full neodymium" RCF low distortion, high power transducers, say the company.

The new 15" mid-bass is the result of the latest developments of RCF's experience in speaker design and manufacture, say the company, offering an accurate and a tight bass response. The processor section includes active crossover, system equalization, transducer phase alignment, limiter and protection functions. The system is visually monitored from four status LEDs.

4PRO-7001 MH is the two-way mid-high system in a trapezoidal

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Germany - The new 1-channel model AX-1121T complements the Axxent T-Series power amplifiers, which are optimized for constant voltage distribution in fixed installations. Beside the constant voltage outputs with 50-, 70- and 100 V taps, the new model also provides an additional low impedance output (4 Ohms), say the company. The rated output power is 120W RMS at all output configurations. This broadband choice of outputs makes the new 1121T an ideal and most flexible choice for fixed installations.

The 19" 1U rack-mount unit features a passive cooling system which guarantees quiet operation, say Axxent. Operating conditions, such as power on/off, signal present and signal peaks close to clipping are indicated with different colour LEDs. The only control on the amplifier's front panel is the input sensitivity. For safety reasons, the potentiometer is detachable and can be re

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UK - A fledgling Hull company is reporting continued success in creating a set of high tech equipment which it claims is revolutionising the DJ profession. Computer DJ - set up with the support of business development expertise from the University of Hull - is carving out a niche for itself by designing and producing systems for playing digital music for both the Mobile DJ and fixed installations. All systems are custom-built offering touch screen facilities and biometric fingerprint security.

This innovative blend of new hardware and software, which has cost up to a quarter of a million pounds to develop, allows the DJ to drag and drop their music files into play lists - allowing their full collection to be stored on one complete system. Shaun Minns, managing director of Computer DJ, based at the SHINE Knowledge and Innovation Park in east Hull, got the idea for his unique prod

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UK - Pinnerton UK, the UK distributor for the Alcorn McBride range of show control products, has announced the availability of the Digital Video Machine - a rugged, compact MPEG-2 player offering flexible control capabilities and a wealth of interface options.

The Digital Video Machine allows clips to be copied from PC and stored on Compact Flash; clips can then be triggered using contact closures, playlists, real-time schedules or RS-232.

The Digital Video Machine offers a number of flexible options: a stereo amplifier provides two channels at 20W each; the pro audio module provides balanced, S/PDIF and Dolby 5.1; and an SMPTE-259M SDI module provides digital video out. With the optional Ethernet module users can update clips, schedules and GPS coordinates remotely - even using wireless networking.The Digital Video Machine fits almost anywhere and is vibration resistant, so i

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UK - Carlsbro has developed the Liberty wireless system, a "unique" product, say the company, that allows any powered speaker to be linked to any mixer, without cables. The initial system is supplied with one transmitter and two receivers, although additional receivers are available singularly for larger speaker and installation configurations and will operate from the same transmitter.

The Liberty's uniqueness, say Carlsbro, come from the fact that it broadcasts a 2.4GHz uncompressed signal suitable for multi-speaker and multi-room environments, which means a high quality of output, almost without loss. The Liberty Wireless was developed primarily for the installation and professional PA markets, but is useful in any environments where cables are used, say Carlsbro.

(Lee Baldock)

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USA - Gefen has released the DVI-1000 ST - which is a new version of the DVI-1000 HD video extender, but is equipped with more durable fibre optics cable connectors to accommodate the rental and staging markets.

Though armed with cable connectors that are better able to endure frequent and repetitive setup and take-down procedures, the DVI-1000 ST uses the same methodology to extend high definition digital video up to 500m (1,640ft) from source to display. Small sender and receiver units link the source to the extended display with multimode fibre optic cables, available from Gefen in lengths ranging from 10m (33ft) to 100m (330ft). The DVI-1000 ST supports high resolutions up to and including 1080p or 1920x1200 for computers, and is equipped with DVI inputs and outputs to connect its sender and receiver units to the source and the extended display, say Gefen.

"This new v

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USA / Europe - When ETC bought the Avab brand three years ago, they promised to continue to support and develop it: now, the company has announced that it has kept its promise with the release of v3.5 in October 04 and now v3.6 of the popular Safari software.

In response to requests from users, the upgrade includes improved scroller handling, display of device addresses in patch and editing timegroups in blind (including extended drag-and-drop functionality). A history of status files now allows the user to go back to un-recorded play. A few issues experienced by a small number of users have also been resolved.

Safari v3.6 is available as a free upgrade for a limited time. Current v3.5 users can simply email the address below, indicating whether they want a download link (about 4MB) or a disk set. Other v3.x users can register at

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UK - Carlsbro has introduced the Wanderer and Wanderer Deluxe portable PA system series, aimed at a range of applications including seminars, training classes, street entertainers and aerobics classes. The Wanderer is available in three versions, say Carlsbro: the Wanderer Deluxe (with true diversity handheld UHF radio microphone) is a 50W RMS unit with two 8" speakers, a CD Player, cassette tape player/recorder; master volume, echo, tone and tape/CD level controls; voice priority function; mains or battery (4-hour life) operation; two microphone inputs and MP3/Minidisc input. The Wanderer Deluxe is also available with a headset mic, while the basic Wanderer system is supplied without a microphone. All versions come with a trolley handle and wheels, and a pole mount.

(Lee Baldock)

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Australia - New to Australian Monitor's Installation Series, the AMIS ZRM4 is an easy to use, yet highly featured 1U zone routing mixer, say the company. It features six inputs that can be balanced XLR mic or dual RCA/balanced XLR line level, all available to any combination of four zone outputs.

Input one can be designated as a paging input with priority over all other inputs individually selectable at each zone output. Front panel switches with LED indication provide for simple routing of each input. Each input has bi-colour status LED indication and two-stage equalization. Each input has an internal gain trim which can provide a further +/-15dB of gain. Phantom power and high-pass filters are also supplied per input. Outputs feature bi-colour status LEDs and remote master volume VCA control.

Also new, from The Australian Monitor AMAV brand, the AV25PS and AV40PS are active

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Italy - The CP Color 400 SH (Separate Head) is a new, silent, 400W CMY colour changer, with the power supply unit separate from the lighting body. The lighting body can be placed up to a distance of 300m (984ft) from the power supply unit, with connection via a single power cable. This, says the manufacturer, is of particular benefit where space is at a premium and in theatres where equipment must be hidden from general view.

If required, the lighting body can be clamped to its own power supply using an optional 'fast clamping kit'.

(Jim Evans)

Details
UK - The first European showing of Slingco's Vortek rigging system will be at at ABTT 2005 in June. Vortek is a complete theatrical rigging system designed and manufactured by Hoffend in the USA, represented in the UK by Slingco. The hub of every Vortek system is a patented brake, specifically designed for theatre applications. This continuously applied, variable-load, back-up brake totally is claimed to eliminate overspeed brake and "shock-load" type problems.

The brake is connected to the drum, and operates independently of any electrical or drive-train system. Says Slingco, "In the event of all other elements in the drive-train system failing (including the gearbox), with the Vortek back-up brake, everything stops within 3mm. The mechanical Vortek back-up brake also remains fully functional in the event of a power failure."

Vortek also features overload

  1. Strand to introduce EC21 series
  2. ABTT UK launch for iBOX
  3. Lighthouse launches PopVision
  4. Scan Operator Controller
  5. Pulsar at bar.05
  6. Stardraw Control supports new brands
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Astera - June 2025
GLP - MPU - Feb, Apr 2025

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