Germany - Astera will present the iOS version of its AsteraApp for remote lighting control and management as the company attends Prolight+Sound 2018 in Frankfurt. The app will become available for iOS for the first time since it was first introduced for Android devices in 2015. It offers professional-level control over Astera-based fixtures by connecting smart devices to the AsteraBox via Bluetooth which then relays the command to the battery-operated fixtures via radio frequency. The app allows simple to complex operations remotely, including firmware updates, grouping, assigning and configuring DMX addresses as well as controlling colours and effects and monitoring the status of the lights during operation. Thomas Repmann, software developer for Astera in Munich, comments: “We have been working hard to provide the smoothest and most intuitive experience for LDs and
Germany - Green Hippo’s scheduled activities for Prolight + Sound 2018 include exclusive presentations, plus demos with its show partner Notch, maker of the real-time visual creation tool. The Green Hippo stand will be fully equipped with the latest Hippotizer+ Media Servers, enabling guests to experience solutions for real-time media playback and 3D mapping. A key feature of the Green Hippo stand is the opportunity for visitors to gain hands-on experience of Hippotizer’s seamless integration with Notch. Designed from the creative process up, and supercharged by powerful real-time rendering and visualisation, Notch helps creators rediscover the joy of problem solving, experimenting and improvising on the fly. Further demonstrating Hippotizer’s ways with Notch, Green Hippo has commissioned a short dance piece with the London based Tavaziva dance company sh
Germany - ETC is set to present picks from its extensive collection of lighting and rigging products across three stands in Hall 3.0 - E51, F51 and E47. The event will mark the European debut of a number of products from the company’s portfolio of lighting control consoles, LED luminaires and architectural control solutions. Trainers and product experts will be on hand to offer demos and advice on all the products on display. Visitors can get a first look at the soon-to-be-launched Element 2 console – a revamp of the original Element desk – which offers the award-winning Eos software with an interface and price point that is accessible to a broad range of users and venues. Also making its regional premiere will be the ETCpad, a tablet accessory providing dedicated, touchscreen-based wireless or wired remote control for all Eos family consoles and controllers. Se
Germany - The new grandMA3 lighting console series will be shown to the public for the first time at Prolight + Sound 2018. Founded on the legacy of the previous grandMA consoles, the grandMA3 represents a radical re-think of what’s possible from a lighting control platform, says the company. The elegant new system-architecture incorporates new fixture, feature and effects-handling at its very heart. The system features “ground-breaking concepts from top industry visionaries, presented within a refined user interface, and is designed to make practical tasks more intuitive”. Interest is expected to be high, therefore in addition to 13 fully staffed grandMA3 demo stations, MA’s booth, C61 in hall 3.0, will feature a dedicated grandMA3 demonstration auditorium. Up to 70 seated visitors can enjoy a live presentation of the new grandMA3 console series from MA
Europe - ArKaos has released MediaMaster 5.2, the latest software version for its powerful and flexible real-time video control software platform. The key new features that 5.2 brings to MediaMaster users are: DMX Merge: To combine parameters like Pan and Tilt from a lighting console and video sources from MediaMaster; Pixel Blending: Utilising the Blend function, the colour output of a lighting console can be blended - via DMX from the lighting console with the video output of MediaMaster; Kling-Net Draft Devices: Allow a show to be prepared remotely – disconnected from the physical devices; Extended Fixture Creation: Supports complete DMX Devices like moving heads with Pan / Tilt; 64 Bit Support: for all applications – enabling quicker and more responsive operation. The Art-Net DMX merge facility implemented in MediaMaster 5.2 unlocks the system’s true potentia
UK - Martin Audio has further boosted its impressive subwoofer line-up with the introduction of SXF115 – a passive subwoofer featuring a powerful, long-excursion 15” (380mm)/4” (100mm) voice coil driver in an ultra-compact bass reflex enclosure, capable of 136dB at 1 metre. Billed as “the ideal companion” for Martin Audio’s new Wavefront Precision Mini (WPM) optimised line array, it can extend the performance down to 42Hz and can be flown as part of an array, or ground-stacked separately. Cardioid operation can be achieved by arranging the SXF115 in forward and rear-facing pairs. The design of the 15” driver maximises output while minimising power compression and distortion, and four reflex ports reduce air noise at very high output levels. The SXF115 enclosure is constructed from multi-laminate birch ply, finished with a durable polyurethane coating an
Germany - High End Systems is gearing up to exhibit its latest products on a dedicated stand at the upcoming Prolight + Sound trade show in Frankfurt. From 10-13 April, visitors can discover and explore a selection of products from the console and automated lighting manufacturer, in Hall 4.0 - D59. The show will offer an opportunity for hands-on demos of a selection of High End’s Hog 4 family of lighting control consoles, designed for markets of all shapes and sizes - including Hog 4, Full Boar 4 and Road Hog 4. Visitors can also expect a surprise or two, and there will be a chance to see the new Hog 4 v.3.8.0 software, featuring a new desktop colour scheme called 'stealth,' and added external monitor/touchscreen capability for HedgeHog 4 console models. A recent introduction to the Sola Series family of automated luminaires, SolaFrame 750 boasts a compac
Finland - Media server specialist Picturall has released version 2.4.0 of the software that runs their range of media servers. The new software improves and enhances performance with several fixes for minor issues, the addition of some new features and, most importantly, the addition of support for new hardware including dual DisplayPort 1.2 and uncompressed 8k playback options. “The input cards were first unveiled last year, but the software was still in beta format,” explained CEO Samuli Valo. “The new release provides full support for the latest input cards, making Picturall one of the first media server manufacturers in the world to offer full end-to-end 4k compatibility as well as uncompressed 8k playback.” V2.4.0 also provides support for the upcoming Analog Way server models. There have also been a number of improvements in display configuration and cus
Germany - The Infinity Signature Series uses the latest LED technology with European software and have a variety of control options and lenses that are familiar to every entertainment technician. “We have found an excellent partner in the world-famous manufacturer Robert Juliat, with almost 100 years of experience, to develop our new series of theatre luminaires,” says the company. Only Lumiled LEDs are used throughout the entire range. This ensures consistent binning and colour consistency. The warm white LEDs were selected to maintain a constant temperature of 3000K with a CRI of +95. The selection of coloured LEDs enables the best possible colour mixing with the highest CRI. The software offers flicker-free dimming and a flash function without time delay. With the coloured units there is also a virtual colour wheel with 64 of the most popular gel colours for the
Germany - At Prolight+Sound 2018, Alcons Audio will have its highest profile presence yet. With major demonstrations, new products, commitment to immersive sound and a significant anniversary, Alcons aims to be the word on every sound professional’s lips, says the company. A major highlight of Prolight+Sound is the Production Resource Group’s (PRG) demonstrations in the Festhalle. This year, an Alcons LR28 large format line array will deliver the soundtrack to the hourly presentations. Complemented by further Alcons products, including the BC543 high-output cardioid subwoofer, the system will show that “great sound can be every bit as impressive as great visuals”. The system will also be an important part of Prolight+Sound’s annual opening event, the PRG Live Entertainment Awards, on 9 April. An Alcons RR12 point-source array system, with BQ211 21" subs, will
Germany - Following the successful launch of Yamaha’s Rivage PM7 digital mixing system and other new products in February, there is much for visitors to look forward to on the company’s stand at ProLight+Sound 2018. Exhibiting on Stand E50, Hall 3.1, Yamaha is again exhibiting alongside touring loudspeaker manufacturer Nexo. The launch of Rivage PM7 was one of the audio highlights of the ISE show in Amsterdam and the new system will again be the focus of a lot of interest at ProLight+Sound. Yamaha’s entire range of digital mixing consoles will also be on display, alongside other new products, including the updated R series Dante I/O racks, Version 2 firmware for Rivage PM10 and the updated DXSmkII subwoofers. “ISE was an extremely successful show for us, with Rivage PM7 and our other new products generating a lot of interest,” says Nils-Peter Keller, se
UK - Broadcast and event lighting rental specialist Version 2 has introduced the Litepanels Gemini LED 2 x 1 softlight fixture to its range of low-energy lighting products. Created specifically for use in the film, television and media industries, the Gemini’s intuitive onboard control system features three fully-featured lighting modes capable of delivering virtually any colour; CCT Mode for true daylight and tungsten with +/- green fine tuning, HSI Mode for total control over hue, saturation and intensity to create any colour in the 360° colour wheel at any intensity from 0-100% and Gel Mode to easily replicate the industry’s most popular gel sets with a daylight or tungsten source. Version 2 managing director Nick Edwards comments: “We’ve been looking into purchasing a perfect soft light solution for some time. I believe we now have the workhorse our indust
USA - City Theatrical (booth 231) will take part in this year's USITT Conference & Stage expo to be held at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 15-17 March. The company will demonstrate its latest wireless DMX technology and software solutions and also present its range of LED products. City Theatrical president and founder Gary Fails will demonstrate the Multiverse wireless DMX technology at the Innovation Stage on Friday, 16 March at 12pm EST. The demo will highlight City Theatrical’s vision of a lighting setup in which every DMX device contains a Multiverse Module (and where legacy lighting products have a Multiverse Node near them), allowing entire productions containing hundreds of fixtures and dozens of universes to be operated wirelessly. John McKernon will showcase his multi award-winning Lightwr
USA - ETC has released Unison Paradigm 4.0, the latest version of its lighting control system. Paradigm 4.0 incorporates energy monitoring options, including Demand Response integration, improved support for tunable white and colour-changing fixtures, extended support for Paradigm Inspire stations, including faders, and many software optimisations to simplify the system’s programming and customisation. Individual channels, groups of channels or whole spaces can be set to shed load when the system receives a demand response command from the utility company. Standard actions are defined in Paradigm and can be executed from contact closures, UDP, RS232, or BACnet. Paradigm 4.0 also features reporting options to help keep track of energy usage. Load Schedule import and export functions make it easy to enter load information, and Paradigm’s software automaticall
Italy - At Prolight+Sound next month, Outline will introduce Newton, the company’s new FPGA-based processing platform. Designed to be “the management and control core” for audio networks in touring, broadcast and fixed installation applications and provides management of sophisticated audio systems by combining multi-format channel routing with simultaneous standards conversion and digital signal synchronisation. Newton additionally incorporates powerful new filter technology along with clock and powering redundancy in a 1U networkable chassis. A system topology is provided by very high-quality FPGA-based SSRC (synchronous sample rate conversion) and ASRC (asynchronous sample rate conversion) with outstanding dynamic range and ultra-low distortion. The unit supports up to 15 clock source options and a virtually unlimited number of filters using Outline’s
Germany - L-Acoustics will demonstrate its L‑ISA Immersive Sound Art technology at this year’s Prolight+Sound. The technology recently embarked on Lorde’s Melodrama tour across North America, as well as present new hardware and software tools – including the P1 networked digital audio processor, which begins shipping in June – that will make it easy for L‑Acoustics partners to realize optimised performance for their L‑Acoustics systems. Established in London in 2014 by L-Acoustics founder Dr. Christian Heil, L-ISA is L‑Acoustics’ immersive sound brand. L-ISA draws on extensive audio and psycho-acoustic research to develop sound design and processing tools for live shows, creative events and private residences. L-Acoustics will showcase the new L-ISA Island on stand C11 in hall 3.1. This complete integrated personal auditorium plays the hi
USA - Danley Sound Labs has introduced the Danley OS-12CX, building on the success of the weatherised Danley OS-80 and OS-90 loudspeakers and the OS-115 subwoofer. Like its siblings, the OS-12CX is built “to withstand punishing rain, heat, and freeze/thaw cycles season after season after unrelenting season, while delivering a sonic performance that is closer to the sound in an audiophile’s listening room than to the egregiously band-passed outdoor PAs of the past”. The Danley OS-12CX uses Danley’s patented Synergy crossover design, Sentinel limiter protection circuitry and stainless steel mounting hardware that is prepared to brace the OS-12CX against mother nature’s worst. Mike Hedden, president and founder of Danley Sound Labs, comments: “The Danley OS-12CX is a compact yet powerful box for smaller outdoor installations like small- to mid-sized spo
USA - Chauvet DJ has released BTAir, a free iOS and Android app that allows smart devices to control lights wirelessly via Bluetooth. Users can create, store and recall scenes, control colour fades, chases and more. SlimPAR T12 BT makes remote light control easy with its on-board Bluetooth wireless technology. SlimPAR T12 BT has 12 tri-color (RGB) LEDs, and its compact design easily fits inside sticks of truss. An optional IRC-6 remote can also be used for control, as well as DMX, automated and sound-activated programmes. In addition to Bluetooth wireless technology compatibility, SlimPAR Q12 BT features 12 quad-colour (RGBA) LEDs that generate a broad spectrum of colors and achieve natural-looking colour temperatures. Easily set static colours or automated programmes with the optional IRC-6 remote, or create eye-catching effects with sound-activated and automate
UK - Allen & Heath has introduced new expansion and advanced automatic mic mixing (AMM) capabilities for its SQ digital mixer series as part of a major firmware update. SQ V1.2 firmware supports the DX Hub, a hardware expansion hub which allows multiple DX168 stage box expanders to be connected to an SQ mixer. DX Hub enables SQ users to source the full 48 channels from the stage, all at 96kHz, or to deploy up to eight portable expanders wherever required. V1.2 adds two independent AMMs, based on the proven D-Classic algorithm. The AMMs are part of Allen & Heath’s DEEP processing system, providing a zero-latency solution for mixing speech applications such as conferences, meetings, broadcast and panel discussions. SQ can handle two simultaneous meetings with up to 24 mics each, or the AMMs can combine to manage a single conference with up to 48 channels.
Germany - Astro Spatial Audio (ASA) will highlight its “brand agnostic approach to true object-based immersive audio” when it returns to Prolight + Sound at the Frankfurt Messe, from 10-13 April. Appearing on booth A33/39 in Hall 3.1, the independent solution in object-based 3D sound will offer special presentations throughout the show, highlighting the deep integration between ASA's SARA II Premium Rendering Engine and third-party systems including TTA's Stagetracker II next-generation performer tracking, Alcons Audio loudspeakers and QLab playback automation software. In addition, ASA will debut new v4.0 software, incorporating substantial improvements in loudspeaker management, matrixing and show control. An enhanced production module is also included within the update, offering advanced timeline editing in the shape of an automation editor, and a new event manager fu
World - The 2018 version of Lightconverse Tools offers new features to the software, which is a specialised 3D design programme focused on stage design of all types and sizes. LC Tools 2018 is compatible with Lightconverse 3D Show Platform as projects built in LC Tools can be directly imported. From theatre spaces, corporate events and TV studios, to rock tours and awards shows, the software offers design, documentation and inventory options to quickly and effectively build shows from the ground up while decreasing the time and material expenses of implementation. It also can be thought of as an advanced paperwork platform which compliments Lightconverse 3D Show Platform. The new functionalities for LC Tools 2018 include: Imported images duplications (supported formats: JPG, PNG); Import AutoCAD files, in addition to other types; Flip command (Fixture arrangement
UK - Martin Audio has introduced a new subwoofer to its line up. SXH218 is a hybrid passive subwoofer with two high-powered 4.5” coil, 18” drivers. It is billed as a companion for the company's new WPC optimised line array in low end heavy applications or high performance permanent installations such as nightclubs. Managing director Dom Harter comments: “It looks destined to be the fastest selling subwoofer we’ve introduced in some time. We’ve received significant pre-orders from a key rental partner in the US; it’s already been installed into a new nightclub in Miami, and we’re pretty confident that when we showcase the subwoofer at our UK Open Days in March to our European partners that we will sell out of our initial production runs.” The subwoofer can achieve a max SPL of 148dB and is powered by either one channel of an iK42 - from the comp
China - PR Lighting has launched Omega, a new moving zoom bar. With six RGBW 4-in-1 60W LEDs, Omega is “a versatile moving bar effect fixture, producing a powerful, zoomable blade of light,” says the company. Each pixel can be controlled individually and the light output can easily be converted into dynamic rays of mid-air micro beams. The fixture contains mechanical dimming (linearly adjustable); electronic strobe (0-25 fps); 540° pan and endless 270° tilt; individually controllable colours; colour touchscreen; over-temperature protection; wireless DMX control. Housed in IP20 high temperature plastic housing, the net weight of the Omega is just 14.1kg. Shipping in late April, and the product can be seen for the first time at Frankfurt Prolight+Sound. (Jim Evans)
Germany - After the official launch at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, the Adam Hall Group has announced the immediate availability of the new Zenit W600 LED washlight from Cameo Light and the Curv 500TS touring array from LD Systems. The Zenit W600 adds a flexible LED washlight to the Cameo Zenit range with the same professional features as Cameo’s flagship series. The high-power IP65-rated washlight for outdoor use features high-resolution 16-bit technology and delivers an impressive brightness of 21,000 lumens for consistent and powerful colour blends. The Zenit W600 D is a pure white light variant with a colour temperature of 5,600 K and a significantly increased light output of 41,000 lumens. The Zenit W600 D will be launched at Prolight+Sound 2018 and will be available in summer, 2018. The innovative SnapMag technology from Cameo Light enables rapid chang
