On display from Italian manufacturer Coemar was the company's new iSpot 1200W moving head fixture with electronic ballast as well as its new iWash Halo, a halogen version of its popular wash light. Adding to the LED frenzy, Coemar also showed the Panorama LED RGB architectural fixture.

Mojo Barriers launched its Barrier Load Monitoring System (BLMS), which provides realtime readings of crowd pressure on barriers. Driven by an uninterruptible power supply, the system records the results and produces graphs which show a time line, along which is plotted the pressure measurement and where it occurs - a real boost to crowd safety. Managing director Patrick Jordan confirmed that initial tests in 2004 at one high profile UK outdoor event saw amendments to the site for 2005, because the BLMS readings revealed significantly uneven pressure on the barriers. Read more in this issue's news, pages 26-27.

Sennheiser UK launched several new products, the first of which is the SKM 5200 handheld wireless transmitter. The transmitter can be fitted with a choice of six Sennheiser and two Neumann interchangeable heads, depending on requirements. The Sennheiser heads include five condensers and one dynamic with a wide variety of polar patterns, while the Neumann heads are super-cardioid and cardioid. The 5200 offers two channel banks, one fixed and one variable. The fixed bank can be ordered with 20 pre-sets while the variable can be selected in 5kHz steps. The transmitter is also available in black, nickel and steel blue finishes.

Sticking with wireless systems, Sennheiser has attempted to lower the cost of high quality products with the introduction of the new freePORT range. The systems are integrated solutions coming in three varieties - Vocal, Instrument and Presentation - all of which al

Sharing a stand with E:Cue Lighting Control, Schnick Schnack Systems added to the vast ranks of LED lighting products with its LED-Paneel and LED-Kachel. LED-Paneel is a road-tested plug-and-play square panel with 400 individually controllable LEDs and a number of diffusion options. LED-Kachel is a circuit board of 16 LEDs capable of illuminating an area of 200mm x 200mm.

Sweden - Long-time DPA user the GöteborgsOperan (Gothenburg Opera House) in Sweden, has purchased a further eight DPA 4011 cardioid microphones, taking their inventory of this product to a total of thirty. All have been supplied through DPA's Swedish distributor Arva. The 4011s are mainly being used for orchestras, and according to the venue's technical supervisor Lars Olsen, are proving to be equally suitable for woodwind, brass and even timpani.

"We are somewhat different to most traditional opera houses as we produce not only operas but also ballets, operettas and full-scale musicals," says Olsen. "We have found all DPA mics to be of outstanding quality as well as being flexible enough meet our different needs. The versatility of the mics means that our technicians can work with one kind of equipment regardless of the type of music, and this makes their job ea

PLASA 2005 marks the 50th anniversary for the CM Lodestar and was therefore the cause of much celebration on the CM Entertainment stand. This was the final PLASA for CM's Wally Blount who will have retired by this time next year. Asked if he was looking forward to it, he replied: "You bet. Wouldn't you?"

From Clay Paky, visitors to PLASA could see four new moving head fixtures. The Alpha Wash TH is a version of its 575W Alpha Wash fixture with a 'top hat' to control stray light and an indexable 'ovalizer'. The Alpha Wash Halo is a 1000W halogen version of the standard Alpha Wash fixture. The unusual-looking Alpha Spot 700 effects projector features a 15-40° zoom, CMY colour mixing and 14 gobos, along with an animation disc. Finally from Clay Paky was the new Alpha Spot HPE 1200, which is similar in appearance to the new 700 and tops off what has become a significant range of fixtures.

Judging by the way they were flying off the stand, this year's best small-but-groundbreaking product was the range of wrenches by New Zealand company Whotz Hot, claimed to be the first one-handed adjustable tool. Available in 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, 250mm and 400mm sizes, they come with a lifetime guarantee. The upfront Steve Dudson was doing a great sales job with his demonstrations. He admitted he'd expectinga quiet time, but the stand was busy throughout the entire show.
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. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

The ACT-51 from Mipro is the first wireless diversity UHF receiver to feature a colour VFD front panel providing a wide viewing angle. The receiver also boasts full UHF frequency agility, PC controllable functionality and 10 preset groups with eight preset non-interference frequencies. The ACT-51 is expected to be available through the UK's exclusive distributor, Tannoy, before the end of the fourth quarter.

Germany - Robbie Williams prepared for the launch of his latest album, Intensive Care with a special one-off gig at Berlin's 8,000 capacity Velodrome, complete with production rigging by Summit Steel. The live show was beamed to over 20,000 fans across Europe via high definition cinecast to selected cinemas. The show was also recorded for a TV show to be screened the night preceding the album launch.

Summit serviced the last Robbie Williams tour in 2003 with rigging and automation, and has also worked with the artist before then. The Summit team in Berlin was led by Jon Bray and five riggers from the UK plus nine local riggers.

The show involved a 50 tonne total load - the maximum allowed in the venue - comprising various elements of production lighting, sound and set. The hoist count was 180, and three trucks were needed just to transport the rigging to site.

The sho

For Cirrus Logic, it was one of its third party developers that gave the company something to present this year. Attero Tech provide a new Cobranet interface, using RS232 for control, with RCA and Mini Jack in/outs powered by a low voltage 'wall-wart' PSU. Cirrus did show a prototype the CS4961xx with on board 32-bit DSP for use in digital audio networking applications; production is expected to begin in October with the software tools to follow shortly thereafter.

Audace managing director Bryan Waters was discussing his satisfaction at how the company's Intelliplate programmable AV control system is finding a home in the residential market as well as in retail and entertainment environments. The company has also recently done a major cruise liner installation. "Business is currently very good," says Waters.

The Tube - one of the most eye-catching displays at the show - is an extension of the G-Lec LED video screen concept. Essentially, these are free-hanging tubes of RGB LEDs, double sided, with a maximum length of 6m, which users can cut to any desired length to create, for example, a forest of hanging tubes through which you can stream video. The tubes are also relatively flexible and can be bowed by approximately 30°. A tool for set designers and probably also destined for the windows of elegant department stores.

After an absence of four years, UK-based Ohm returned to PLASA with a remodelled product range including an active subwoofer, a new amplifier range and digital loudspeaker controllers. The new AS-B Active Sub is loaded with two 10" drivers and an additional two amps available to drive satellite cabinets such as Ohm's BR-8s. The AS-B can work as the heart of a small system, or can be integrated into a larger system by daisy chaining. The control section of the AS-B includes variable input sensitivity, phase reverse, bass gain, crossover frequency, mid/high gain, auto power off and earth lift.

Directly integrating with the company's Planet Suite, BR and TRS loudspeaker enclosures is the new CRED Mk2 loudspeaker management system. The 96kHz 1U controller is available in two models, the CRED 2-4 with two inputs and four outs and the 2-6 with six outs. Access and setup is via the Dynam

Europoint (Elcom srl) from Italy, was showing the electric telescopic elevator which it manufactures. This is simple to rig and operate and is extremely lightweight at 65kg. It's capable of lifting up to 200kg to a maximum height of 5m, and the elevator can be rigged to extend from a truss downwards as well as being a floor-standing lift.

The Camco UCA Network module from UK distributor Fuzion gives full DSP function to any speaker system you wish to input. Only German specification sheets were available on stand, but we can confirm this is a two-channel unit - visit www.camcoaudio.com for more.

From Australian Monitor, the new QF5A ceiling speaker, a quality 5" unit with multi-tap transformer is an upgrade of the QF5 which it replaces, and is designed for fast-fit installation.

A full-range system for bars and theme venues, the FG Series from T&M comprises five models with a choice of three subs. The new RMW-1152 MicroWedge from Radian is a line of ultra-compact stage monitors for live sound applications. Finally, from Work comes the Studio Series install speaker for bars and clubs using a small horn tweeter. With a 100V/70V line option - the Studio series is designed for hi-fi background music.

Seltron Components was proudly exhibiting its new collaboration with Eclectic Breaks - the Pro X Fade retro-fit crossfader. Unhappy with the quality of faders in many desks the company decided to make its own and the Pro X Fade was the result. Get your screwdrivers out!

Medialon's Multimedia Interactive Player, or MIP for short, is an intriguing new product. Able to play any type of media, Jpeg, Mpeg, video HD, Flash, PPT, Html pages or URL links, MIP is designed as a stand alone mode unit with automatic playback and display screen remote. What is most intriguing about this product is how close it gets to being the kind of media server that home automation companies are currently installing in the houses of the rich and shameless.

As ever, a host of new products was on show from the members of Harman Pro Group. JBL showed a new range of studio monitors; the LSR4300 is self-powered speaker to use for a computer-based project studio, and comes with software, mic clip and calibration microphone. Designed to run on Harman HiQnet, the software allows volume control over multiple speakers (e.g. 5:1) and includes a hand-held remote control giving control of all LSR features. Place mic at the mix position, engage room analyser, and the LSR gives automatic room mode correction. Aggressively priced.

Control 322C and 328C are ceiling speakers from JBL, 12" and 8" respectively and with 90° and 100° conical dispersion, high end coming from a compression driver mounted behind and on-axis of the cone speaker. Also on show were new Drive Packs for the Vertech 88 and 82 cabinets. All take three different inputs; one

The Universal Effects stand featured the company's huge range of special effects devices. International sales manager Eric Metreaud was keen to show off the latest fan and CO2-powered confetti blowers, which will fire up to 30kg of confetti up to 30m. The company's giant 5m silk flame was a real eye-catcher, as was the range of inflatable cones, tubes and figures lit from inside with LED colour changers. Snow, bubble, foam and smoke machines are also UE specialities.

Duran Audio recently released an update to its Axys Intellivox digitally steerable arrays. Now, with six channels of DSP, the arrays are even more steerable with more definition and throw. Also on the stand was an unusual-looking item, the Axys Intellidisk - a 90cm diameter disk with a total of 41 4" drivers in a grid giving exceptional steerability and directivity in both planes.

Latest Issue. . .