USA - The 2010 International DJ Expo takes place in Atlantic City on16-19 August 16 - 19 at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino. American DJ and American Audio will be featured guests at this gathering, as they get set to showcase all-new products, including the long-awaited International debuts of "several never-before-seen lighting effects".

On the audio front, the show marks the first time the American Audio VMS4 arrives on the market. This versatile four-channel 'MIDILOG' controller fuses both MIDI and analogue audio control into one sleek unit. Billed as "the ultimate DJ performance tool," the VMS4 can be used with either a PC or MAC. If the computer crashes, it will kick into analogue mode, where CD players or turntables may be used, or a DJ can use an external power supply. The unit can also be personalised with the option of customised skins.

The 2

USA - Providing design engineers of LED light engines with the ability to perform the precision testing required for uniform colour temperature and intensity, TT electronics OPTEK Technology's LED lab offers a comprehensive range of services and customized testing capabilities for the design and development of solid-state lighting applications.

Built specifically for the testing and analysis of LED light engines, OPTEK's lab capabilities include 100% colour temperature and/or intensity screening for the tightest binning specifications (CIE colour coordinate testing with a repeatability of .002 with respect to X and Y; intensity testing with an accuracy of ±2%; and wavelength testing with accuracy of ±0.75 nm).

"Our lab's ability to provide screening for LED binning smaller than ANSI standards enables our customers to deliver uniform colour temperature and consistent col

The Netherlands - - Elation Professional has launched "a major breakthrough in LED colour-mixing" with the introduction of the Color Tone 50. An advanced DMX-controllable LED colour changer for staging, entertainment and architectural applications, the Color Tone 50 utilises the all-new 50-watt Philips Lexel LED module.

Unlike previous RGB LED fixtures that produced colours by combining red, green and blue beams from different LED lamps, all of the Color Tone 50's colour blending is done within its single Philips Lexel module, resulting in superior colours and a whole spectrum of whites that are perfectly even and consistent in tone, says the company. This new technology completely eliminates issues that can sometimes occur with RGB mixing, such as uneven output, discoloration, and "halos" or rings around beam edges.

"This is truly the next big leap fo

Australia - Renkus-Heinz reports that AFMG, developer of electro-acoustics measurement and analysis products EASE, EASERA, SysTune, AUBION and more, will be exhibiting at the 20th International Congress on Acoustics in Sydney, Australia, on 23-27.

AFMG (Ahnert Feistel Media Group) will show its growing range of software and hardware tools for audio and acoustics professionals in the fields of architectural acoustics, installed sound and live sound. Peter Patrick, head of acoustic consultants Scientific Acoustics, will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions.

On show will be the EASE 4.3 AURA module, with a special focus on the new AURA-Remote calculation service, and the EASERA room acoustic measurement software.

Also designed for acousticians and consultants, AFMG Reflex software models the scattering properties of diffusors and other surface structures, while AFMG S

UK - Calrec Audio will introduce a new management system for their Hydra2 network router at the IBC 2010 in Amsterdam next month.

The Hydra2 Organizer, or H2O, allows the user to control a Hydra2 network independently from any console control surface. Users will be able to set up routes and configure access rights to all desks on a given network, as well as label I/O boxes and ports for ease of identification. The application also offers the ability to arrange ports into folders, making them quicker and easier to locate.

The new software is browser-based, allowing network access from a laptop or PC, and is compatible with Windows, Linux or OS X.

Henry Goodman, head of sales and marketing at Calrec Audio, states, "Our new H2O control system further integrates Hydra2 into any multi-console installation. Its user-friendly interface works independently of the console and pe

The Netherlands - Midiator announces that it will release the Vision Pro during the upcoming PLASA Show in London. The Vision Pro is the second product to be released by Midiator, the Netherlands-based company founded two years ago that develops and manufactures advanced control solutions for the entertainment industry. These products integrate with show devices and have various industry standard protocols implemented which are packed in user-friendly contemporary interfaces.

Entirely developed and produced by Midiator, the Vision Pro's main functionality is to control all the visual aspects of a show in a 'live' environment. It acts as a central command station for various industry standard devices like media-servers, video-scalers, light-desks and other equipment. The list of supported devices consists of well-known brands like Green Hippo, Barco, Grass Valley, TV-One, Kiss-Bo

UK - Situated in Hall 1 on stand E33, PRG Distribution will feature new and key products at PLASA 2010, from manufacturing partners including Vari-Lite, Lycian, Seachanger, Pathway, City Theatrical, GDS, Gekko and NILA.

The new OHM Light from PRG will also receive its European premiere, demonstrating the powerful capabilities of LED technology as a replacement for space lights in the film and television market. The OHM Light offers 80% power savings, minimal heat output and DMX control over its traditional counterpart.

An interactive new feature to the stand this year will be PRG Distribution's dedicated demonstration. Visitors will be invited to attend a complimentary range of sessions that introduce new and key products alongside application examples and case studies from each of their manufacturing partners.

Full details of the subjects, timings and how to register for a

UK - A new 6mm screen - Pixled F-6, is being launched at PLASA 2010 next month. This mega-bright, lightweight surface is billed as the first 6mm LED display that is curvable in all directions. The convex and concave curvability can be on both horizontal and vertical planes.

Being able to curve a screen vertically as well as horizontally is a completely new concept, and for maximum dynamics and effect, the F-6 can be shaped into a combination of both directions on both planes via the integrated mechanics on each module itself, says the company. This can be achieved quickly and simply with no additional tools or rigging apparatus needed.

The F-6's 4000 NIT brightness has high impact, and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, with an IP65 rating on the front of the module, and IP54 on the rear.

Each F-6 module measures an expedient 50 x 50 cm in size with a thickness of

UK - Blackbox Recorder manufacturer JoeCo has announced the release of a new software update (Version 2.0) that offers front-of-house and broadcast engineers "even greater flexibility and speed" when working with the 24-channel live audio recorder.

The latest update includes several features designed to streamline the efficiency of live performance capture, such as the ability to create a headphone monitor mix with level and pan on every track, and a new Name Manager for easier creation of templates and modification of track and song names. Navigation is also speedier, with additional keyboard shortcuts for transport control and numerous menu options, along with the ability to access certain non-critical menu functions while in record mode.

For film, TV and other broadcast applications, Version 2.0 offers a further range of enhancements, including support for 23.98fp

UK - At the recent ABTT Theatre Show awards, the latest innovation from the Stage Technologies mechanical design team took the prize for Best Engineering Product 2010. The split pulley is a simple mechanism that makes performer flying, specifically at an angle out over the audience easy and neat.

Steel wire rope is fed into the pulley as normal. The pulley's sheave is split in two and an electrical signal causes the two halves to move apart on demand, enabling the rope to drop through.

Ted Moore, director of rental services at Stage Technologiescomments, "For a flight out over the auditorium you need to rig two winches. In the original production of Mary Poppins, when Mary flew out over the audience in the finale, the second rope was static and taped to the side of the proscenium with a bit of gaffa tape.

"Before the flying took place, a stagehand had to cli

Gradav Hire & Sales is the UK's newest stockist of Le Mark's Dirty Rigger Gloves & Accessories range.

Gradav's Graham Threader says "We have been surprised at the genuine interest shown in the new Dirty Rigger gloves & accessories range and are delighted at the level of sales. Feedback has been positive, with all those that we have spoken to very happy to find gloves that looked so well suited to their needs, turned out to so good in practice."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Technology developed by a North East company is set to make life easier for people with hearing difficulties in many different situations - from visiting museums and going to the cinema to schoolrooms and court buildings.

The Infra~Hear system has been developed by Sunderland-based Current Thinking, whose safety and audio products are in use worldwide. Company managing director Anthony Smith believes its ease of use, flexibility and security means that it will be of benefit to many different organisations who need to provide facilities for people with a range of hearing difficulties.

Smith explains, "Because the system converts audio to an infra-red light beam which then can be picked up on dedicated personal receivers, it can be used in situations where conventional induction loop systems are impracticable.

"The Infra~Hear personal receivers we have developed

USA - Community Professional Loudspeakers' WET and R-Series loudspeakers have a long established reputation for weather-resistant durability. Now that reputation has been confirmed by an independent testing laboratory, says the company.

Community's WET and R-Series loudspeaker lines have passed the military spec MIL-STD-810G test standards for resistance to salt fog (test method 509.5), humidity (test method 507.5 (B3)), solar radiation (method 505.5, Procedure II, Steady State), extreme high temperatures (method 501.5, Procedure II, Operation 'Hot') and extreme low temperatures (method 502.5, Procedure II, Operation 'Cold'). These are the same stringent tests administered by the United States Military.

"With last year's introduction of custom-colour matched grilles and yokes using our proprietary two-layer powder coating process, demand for WET and R-Series loudspeakers

UK - Following the launch earlier this year of its radio controlled LED lights, R.A.T. (Music Stands) is extending its suite of radio controlled accessories. Responding to customer demand, and after identifying further unmet needs in the market, the company has developed two new components to add to its RAT Radio System portfolio. These will debut at PLASA 2010.

The Radio Controlled Power Pack consists of a radio controlled socket and a rechargeable battery, enabling completely wireless control over any 24V appliance plugged into the socket. Other voltage outputs are available to order.

The Radio DMX Bridge Receiver eliminates the need for DMX cables when controlling any DMX enabled device. The transmitter and receiver form a wireless bridge between any wired DMX outlet and the DMX input to the device. The only requirement at the device is a mains socket or a battery to power

UK - Multiform will be displaying their latest products on the stand of Apollo Design Technology their US distributor at stand 2-R24 at PLASA 2010. They will be represented by Markus Grimm from Adelto Europe who handles their European distributor sales. Products include the following:

The MultiSpot HP uses an array of 9 pcs. of the new 3W MulTriCell LED devices, it delivers 27W of solid state lighting power, while "perfecting Multiform's UCO (uniform colour output) approach, leaving the days of visible red, green and blue LEDs behind". The lens panel with 36 mm Clear Pass lenses has a beam angle of 30 degrees, to suit most applications. The MultiSpot HP uses temperature controlled fan cooling and a silent switch-mode power supply meeting all regulatory approvals as well as the four-channel DMX control.

The MultiBeam HP marks Multiform's top-of the-line model for indo

Italy - Link has announced the first multi-protocol digital snake system to implement Dante into their DGlink Stage Box system. Audinate's Dante solution provides a self-configuring, plug-and-play digital audio network that uses standard Internet protocols. Dante is a scalable solution that works on both 100Mbits and 1Gigabit Ethernet and coupled with Link's unique hybrid approach, "offers the end user a distribution system that will improve audio quality and simplify setup," says the company.

"The addition of Dante significantly enhances the audio transport capabilities of our system while making it more flexible," stated Marco Piromalli, president of Link. "And we've come to recognize the many benefits Dante has to offer the marketplace".

The DGlink digital audio distribution system leverages a long lineage of eurocable analogue/digital cables,

Australia - Wireless Solution Sweden will be showing the newest revolution of Wireless DMX control, W-DMX Generation 4 to Australia during Integrate 2010 in Sydney. The product will be demonstrated with the ULA Group, W-DMX exclusive distributor in Australia, 24-26 August at the Hordern Pavilion and Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park.

Training courses for W-DMX will be available three times daily during Integrate 2010.

Visitors to the ULA booth will learn about how the new G4 product line brings new features to the award-winning W-DMX line of products.

ULA operates not only as the exclusive distributor and importer of W-DMX (along with some of the world's leading entertainment and architectural lighting brands) but in fact as a working partner. Niclas Arvidsson, CEO of Wireless Solution says, "ULA has been an extremely strong partner to W-DMX for a long time, and our

UK - After a year of substantial growth across European markets, TOA Europe has a host of innovative products to demonstrate at PLASA 2010, all of which are being seen at the show for the first time.

Sure to attract attention is the Type H line array loudspeaker, the most compact, aesthetically pleasing and affordable line array TOA has ever built, which barely a year after its release is already finding favour in large, reflective public spaces where intelligibility is difficult to achieve and hanging space is at a premium.

Also on display is TOA's modular audio-mixing system, the D-2000, which can be expanded up to a massive 128 input/output configuration. This makes it suitable for venues such as hotel conference suites, convention centres, sports halls and places of worship, where future expansion in the form of new rooms or extensions need not be at the expense of adding

UK - At PLASA 2010, Harting is featuring its range of connectivity solutions specially tailored to communication and control applications in lighting, sound and automation systems for the theatre, concert and indoor/outdoor event sectors. In addition to new additions to its industrial connector family, Harting is also featuring a new Ethernet-based switching technology known as Fast Track Switching.

A key product is the Harting Han(R) family of heavy-duty connectors, which are increasingly being used on concert stages and in theatres. At PLASA, two new products within the Han(R) family are being introduced: the Han-Yellock(R) industrial connector series and the Han-Eco(R) range of high-quality plastic connector housings.

The new Han-Yellock(R) connector series incorporates a number of features that make it suited to use in stage automation, concert lighting and power distribut

UK- Flare Audio and Lab.gruppen have agreed to be strategic partners ahead of Flare Audio's launch at PLASA 2010 on stand 1-G21. Davies Roberts MD of Flare Audio comments, "We are thrilled to have struck such a wonderful relationship with Lab.gruppen even before we officially launch, their range of class leading amps coupled with our new Stealth Array speaker enclosures will really shake the Pro Audio market up and improve audio at all types of events. We have been amazed at the commitment we received from Lab.gruppen and their understanding of where we are going and what our needs are from their amps."

"We provided a PLM10000Q for test and Davies was extremely pleased with the results. We look forward to our Speaker Programme Partnership with Flare Audio," comments Simeon Ludwell, UK sales manager. "The PLM series offers exceptional flexibility and cont

UK - On display for the first time in the UK at PLASA 2010 will be the Mini Fan Fogger and Fog Haze Case following their launch at Prolight + Sound Frankfurt earlier this year. Alongside will be the Tourhazer 2.

Smoke Factory UK celebrates its first birthday at PLASA this year as they launched at PLASA 2009 as an exclusive distributor in the UK for the German made Smoke Factory range of Fog and Haze machines.

Smoke Factory UK hold stocks of spares and fluids and spare parts in its London warehouse for immediate despatch to any UK address.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Void Acoustics, designer and manufacturer of advanced professional audio systems for the installed and live sound markets, has launched a new range of four-channel amplifiers - the Infinite QX - in response to the market demand for greater power in smaller, lighter weight equipment. The new range, comprising three models, is manufactured at Void's new facility at its headquarters in Poole, UK.

Based on the Infinite X architecture, the Infinite QX amplifiers are designed to provide significantly enhanced performance, deploying a newly developed advanced MOSFET output stage for the highest fidelity and maximum reliability. Each channel also features a fully adjustable crossover filter, enhancing the QX series' flexibility. Each 24dB/oct L-R crossover can be configured as either Hi-Pass or Lo-Pass at any frequency between 70Hz to 5kHz, providing exceptional control. The three-

UK - At stand 2-R32 at the PLASA 2010, J. R. Clancy and theatrical technology dealer Hoist UK will exhibit together in a partnership that offers the 'Best of All Worlds'.

This distribution and partnership agreement offers customers a complete project solution. Hoist UK can integrate products from each partner's expertise and equipment through a single dealer source. The result is a complete project solution, minimizing customers' need to select and manage many different suppliers.

"The Best of All Worlds partnership offered by Hoist UK gives customers the opportunity to find products from industry brand leaders that are seamlessly designed, conceived, manufactured and delivered with one call," said Tony Dickson at Hoist UK.

J. R. Clancy designs and manufactures off-the-shelf and custom automated and manual rigging systems, heat resistant borders, fire curtains and

UK - ETC's range of lighting, dimming and control products continues to expand and evolve with an impressive number of software and product updates on display at this year's PLASA show. The company's complete range of control desks will be available for demonstration, along with the PLASA Award winning Selador LED fixture line, Unison Paradigm building control system and SmartSolutions portable dimming.

Featuring the patented x7 Color System, the six different Selador LED models produce a light and colour quality that conventional LED systems cannot duplicate, says the company. The latest addition to the Selador range, which will be on show at PLASA, is Vivid Pearl, producing high output true whites from 3200oK and up and specifically suited for TV, alongside a new and improved Vivid-R, which now produces 50% more light than previous models - while consuming 10% less power.

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