UK - PLASA 2016 has been chalked up as a resounding success by Ambersphere Solutions. The combination of the demo areas that showcased new products from Clay Paky and Ayrton Lighting and the enthusiastic hospitality of the whole Ambersphere team proved a real winner, attracting a constant stream of visitors - customers both old and new.

MD Glyn O'Donoghue reflects on the show: "PLASA London was a real success for Ambersphere. We were excited to feature a whole host of new products from our manufacturing partners. From Clay Paky, we highlighted the Scenuis Profile, which won a PLASA Award for Innovation at the show, plus Hepikos the new beam wash partner for Mythos and Sharbar, which is a new 6 beam mirror-based LED batten from Clay Paky. We put together a demo-show which was very well received."

The opposite side of the demo area was dedicated to Ayrton as O'Donoghue expla

UK - For the launch of KIVA II, the new compact line array from L-Acoustics, the SSE Sales team is going on tour. The tour will visit three different venues across the country, giving attendees the opportunity to hear the brand new KIVA II system for the first time. To further increase the appeal of the days SSE has invited AVID along to demonstrate its flagship S6L digital console, whilst L-Acoustics will also demonstrate the X-Series Co-Axial range.

The free-to-attend tour dates include:

Friday 28th October at Fly By Nite Rehearsal Complex Redditch B98 8YP

Monday 31st October: Theatre Royal Wakefield WF1 2TE

Tuesday 8th November: University of Westminster, Harrow Campus HA1 3UW

KIVA II is a new ultra-compact modular line source adding 6dB of max SPL versus its predecessor, maximised amplifier density with 16 ohm impedance and a new rugged enclosure mat

Europe - High End Systems has released its latest OS for Hog 4 lighting consoles. Hog 4 OS 3.5.0 offers numerous new features and enhancements for the platform's wide user base; the company is also touting new features in development for release in the near future.

Hog 4 OS v3.5.0 fully supports Compound Fixtures (single fixtures with multiple parts), providing easy scheduling and patching without the need to manually and, renumber, and patch individual parts.

Hog 4 OS v3.5.0 communicates directly with several video matrix switcher products over Ethernet. This allows smaller productions to control video equipment directly from a lighting console without the need for additional control systems or operators. Hog 4 OS supports the Barco MatrixPro-II SD/HD/3G-SDI series, the Blackmagic Smart VideoHub series, the Lightware MX series, and the AJA KUMO 16x16 series switchers.

UK - GoboPlus.com turned out in force on its fully recyclable cardboard stand at PLASA 2016. The whole stand, with graphics designed by GoboPlus.com's Vicky Fairall, was made entirely of cardboard, including the lectern, seats and tables. It succeeded in drawing large numbers of visitors with its unique and colourful appearance that guided customers through the process of custom gobo production.

GoboPlus.com is a one-stop online shop that specialises in the supply of custom and standard metal gobos, glass gobos and all projection images. Goboplus.com's online shop now features colour filter which is available from stock, by the sheet or roll, for shipping the same day.

Its sister company, CutColourPlus, provides bespoke cutting and complete scroll-making services, and supplies lighting filters in sheets and rolls from leading manufacturers that include Lee, Rosco and GAM.<

UK - Pharos Architectural Controls Ltd, designer and manufacturer of advanced lighting control solutions, has launched a new lighting controller - the Pharos VLC.

The Pharos VLC (Video Lighting Controller) is a simple, cost effective, all-in-one solution for controlling LED lighting fixtures installed as a large array; such as a building fa

USA - At AES in Los Angeles, Apogee Electronics announced a Dante Network option card for its flagship audio interface Symphony I/O Mk II.

The addition of Dante expands Symphony's connectivity options which currently include, Thunderbolt, Pro Tools HD and SoundGrid. The Symphony I/O Mk II Dante option card uses Audinate's Dante Brooklyn II module which features plug and play media networking for up to 64 bidirectional channels at 48kHz.

"Dante's powerful solution allows Symphony I/O MK II customers to network Apogee's legendary sound quality in a wide range of audio workflows including live sound, sound stages and networked recording studios," commented Betty Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO of Apogee. "Dante compatibility is the latest result of our commitment to the growth and evolution of the Symphony I/O Mk II system."

(Jim Evans)

USA - With an output greater than that of a 750-watt HPL ellipsoidal, the Ovation E-260WW IP is bright enough to work effectively at outdoor events, theatrical performances and concerts. The new LED fixture from Chauvet Professional will also keep working without issue if the weather at those outdoor projects turns bad, because it is fully IP65 rated, says the company.

In addition to its IP65 rating, the new indoor/outdoor fixture, which will be showcased at the Ovation LDI booth (1515), is endowed with all of the performance features of the popular Ovation E-260WW. This includes a 50,000-hour LED source life as well as an intense output (6,910 lux at 5m with a 26? lens). The latter feature makes it, along with its sister fixture, the brightest LED ellipsoidal on the market.

"The response to the Ovation E-260WW has been overwhelming since we introduced it earlier this year

UK - Allen & Heath has announced the availability of further ProFactory Mic presets for Audio-Technica Microphones, following the successful collaboration with microphone manufacturers, Shure and Sennheiser, to provide channel library presets on its leading Qu Series compact digital mixers.

ProFactory Mic presets offer engineers of all abilities the ideal starting point to get the best possible sound out of their instrument, microphone and mixer combination, in record time and across a large range of popular and industry standard mics.

New presets for Audio-Technica include MB, ATM and Pro series microphones, to add to the evolution e600, e800 and e900 series from Sennheiser, and PGA, SM and Beta series from Shure.

The team at Allen & Heath worked closely with the engineers at each manufacturer to ensure that the optimal settings were applied for each mic paired with Q

UK - Doughty Engineering has added a new item to its Studio Rail 60 range in the form of an Articulated Carriage that will allow for curved Studio Rail to be used for applications other than, but not excluding, curtain tracks. The new piece of kit which is unique to Doughty was given a surprise debut on the company's stand at this year's PLASA show.

Dan Phillips, project sales co-ordinator at Doughty explained, "The Articulated Carriage is a piece I'd been working on for a little while and thought it would be worth taking along to PLASA to try it out and see just how well it would work. If it didn't perform as expected, I was ready to go back to the drawing board to fine tune the design. But we built the stand and it worked perfectly - and went on to become the talking point of our stand at this year's show."

The new Articulated Carriages allow the Studio Rail perimeter tr

Germany - GLP has announced the release of the upgraded 30 Watt version of their popular X4 atom fixture. Adding a new high power light source into the unit has doubled its brightness, and introduced greater optical efficiencies within the unit. At the same time, an additional 6-way PSU has been added to the product line up.

Concurrently, and supporting GLP's philosophy of promoting longer product life cycles, the company has undergone a complete market swap-out of current units, allowing all existing owners and users to benefit from this technology upgrade immediately, and without cost.

The brighter 30 Watt RGBW LED source is from the same family used across all GLP's X4 range. This ensures full colour matching across fixtures and enables the X4 atom to really cut through, despite its compact size.

However, the X4 atom houses a lot more besides a bright source, starti

USA - For designers that have zero patience with dim, bulky and muddy linear LED units, the ENTTEC Phero 33 RGB Pixel Bar may be the answer.

"I'm convinced this new Phero model, with its technical features and sleek form factor is going to make a big dent in the small to medium size touring market," says ENTTEC Americas general manager, Jeremy Kumin. "We're focusing our energy on telling designers who are hip, rising stars about this light because it just feels like a must-have for the indie bands that are starting to break into big festivals or are headlining in small to medium sized clubs,"

At a mere 18 watts, the Phero 33 is an energy efficient unit designed for direct lighting applications. Comprised of 33 independent RGB pixels, the Phero 33 features extended color blending and uniform color. While some LED units struggle with the warm colour palette, the Phero 33 giv

Germany - The PLUSlite 1000-4 fulfils the wish of many users for a handy, single chain-fall D8 Plus chain hoist with a safe working load of 1,000 kg at 4 m/min.

The Movecat PLUSlite 1000-4 is based on the current DIN 56950-1:2012-5 standard and satisfies in full the BG requirements. The mechanism is designed for twice the nominal load and the chain exhibits dynamic and static safety factors of 8:1 and 10:1 respectively.

With its compact aluminium housing, a 9x27 load chain, two robust handles and a total weight of only 115 kg, it is suitable for day-to-day touring and rental applications.

Above all, when used as a climbing hoist in combination with the Movecat Case, which was developed in close cooperation with users, ideal operation is guaranteed, as the chain-hoist can climb and retract independently drawing its power from the case.

Features include: overhead or

Europe - The new 24S and 24S-D point source loudspeakers from d&b audiotechnik are set to conquer permanent applications including night clubs, live performance venues, houses of worship, multipurpose centres and sports venues, says the company.

These latest additions to the established xS-Series all feature redesigned front grills making them more unobtrusive than ever before. "The 24S, 24S-D and 21S-SUB are designed to set and forget. They meet the exact day to day demands of permanent installation with minimum fuss and maximum reliability," explains Wolfgang Schulz, product manager of installation products at d&b.

Differing only in horizontal dispersion, with 75° x 45° and 110° x 45° (h x v) respectively, the 24S and 24S-D house two 12" LF drivers in a dipolar arrangement and a single hornloaded 1.4" exit compression driver. This HF horn is rotatable, me

India - Cloud Electronics exhibited at InfoComm India 2016 in Bombay for the first time with recently appointed distributor for the India region, Acoustic Arts.

Simon Curtis, managing director for Cloud Electronics reports, "Cloud is one of the industry's oldest and most respected brands in commercial contracting and distributed audio. Until Acoustic Arts were appointed, Cloud had limited into the regions of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We're very excited about this partnership and the particular benefits it will bring to dealers in these regions.

"Exciting times lie ahead for the Indian market as AV tech, digital signage and High-Speed Internet are finding relevant solutions and applications, although more traditional solutions are still very much in demand in this, the most diverse marketplace of all.

"It was very reassuring how clearly relevant and app

Europe - Yamaha has launched its latest MT Series headphones, the HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5*, developed to provide engineers with the high levels of precision and fidelity required for professional monitoring.

MT Series headphones are designed to deliver flat, high-resolution sound with precise stereo imaging and faithful source signal reproduction, while providing a high level of isolation and comfort to ward off fatigue during extended monitoring sessions.

The new models are equipped with custom drivers and powerful neodymium magnets for precise definition, even at the highest output levels. The lightweight-yet-powerful drivers deliver a frequency response of 15Hz-28kHz in the MT8 and 20Hz-20kHz in the MT5.

Both feature a comfortable closed-back, circumaural configuration with solid ABS housing and sweat-resistant headband. Large ear pads and low-resistance cushions absorb

UK - There was great interest in D.A.D (Dynamic Audio Device) Touring Series speakers on the A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd. stand at PLASA 2016.

"We were delighted by the feedback we received from professional users seeing the product for the first time" said Robert Kendall, specialist business development at AC-ET who represented the range at the show. "Visitors to the stand were really impressed by the combination of build quality, sound quality and exceptional price point - we received several serious enquiries from the show.

"Of particular interest was the Touring Power series; very versatile, it's great for rental, events and installations - people enquired about it for several applications. Consisting of a range of products from 8" to 15" full range loudspeakers with complementary bass enclosures, and suitable for use singularly or as multiple units, th

UK - It was all about sound at the 2016 PLASA show, held at London's Olympia. There was a distinct air of enthusiasm among the audio community as they were presented with an increased choice of manufacturers, distributors, and seminar sessions, including the newly appointed d&b sales partner SFL, and long-term partner SSE/Wigwam. At their respective stands, the d&b dealers were joined by members of the d&b GB team, putting some friendly faces to the UK and Ireland supplier network.

While the d&b DS10 Audio network bridge and new QSC Q-SYS plug-in attracted plenty of attention, it was the far field noise immission modelling software, NoizCalc, that ultimately stole the show with a PLASA Award for Innovation.

Hans Metger presented the game changing technology to the judges: "With NoizCalc d&b hopes to raise awareness of how important the subject of offsite noise 'immisions'

USA - Audinate has announced that Level 1 of the popular Dante Certification programme is now available online. This online course allows customers the opportunity to become certified any time, any place, without the need to attend in-person events.

Audinate created the certification programme as a response to requests for information about best practices for installing Dante audio networking. The Dante Certification programme provides an easy way for system designers, engineers and others in the industry to learn about Dante with in-depth training. The programme also allows them to demonstrate Dante expertise to potential employers and clients. There are currently two levels: Level 1 is available both in person and online, and Level 2 is currently only offered in person.

"The in-person Dante Certification programme was very well received when it was launched at InfoComm i

UK - AC-ET's latest brand, Tourflex Cabling, launched at the recent PLASA Show at London Olympia with a dedicated area, display stands and literature. Tourflex Cabling builds on the estab-lished success of Tourmate connectors and Tourflex Datasafe.

"Some of our customers don't even know about the service we offer; but last year we made over 100,000 bespoke assemblies, using half a million metres of cable, for the professional entertainment industry," said Jonathan Walters, UK sales and purchasing director for distributor A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd (AC-ET). "This included power, signal and multicore for lighting, video and audio. If we get an emergency call we often turn orders around in 24 hours, so the show can go on."

"We've got a great manufacturing facility in High Wycombe, skilled technicians, and we are keen to promote and grow this part of our business - we

USA - DTS will showcase its latest products at LDI 2016, booth 2359. The focus of the display will be on three innovative fixtures - Core, the true hybrid moving head; Katana, an advanced LED bar for the entertainment market, and NRG 1401, the LED beam / wash projector designed for the most creative applications.

George Tellos, the lighting director who lit the last Winter Olympics in Sochi, designed the DTS booth and the light show of the fixtures on display.

(Jim Evans)

USA - With an impressive variety of new products on hand to satisfy even the most discerning lighting professional, and with the added impression that an LDI Show and LDI Live Outside sponsorship makes, Elation is gearing up for an unprecedented LDI.

Join Elation 20-22 October at Booth 2515 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre for a look at a broad line-up of new cutting-edge lighting innovations then head out to the Silver Parking Lot and the LDI Live Outside stages where visitors will get a first look at an all-new product series that is set to be the talk of the show.

Designed to showcase the latest technology available as more and more events make their way outdoors, LDI Live Outside will feature demos, educational sessions and live entertainment in a festival-like set-up that will feature with some of Elation's latest lighting solutions.

Inside, Elation will debut t

USA - What happens in Vegas will not be staying in Vegas, at least not as far as the Chauvet Professional and Ovation LDI booths (1315 and 1515 respectively) are concerned. The company is introducing an impressive collection of new fixtures.

In the Ovation line, there is the new Ovation E-260WW IP, the first IP65 rated LED ellipsoidal. The new indoor/ outdoor fixture, which has the same familiar form factor as standard ERS style fixtures, joins the Ovation E-260WW, which was introduced earlier this year. The two Ovation LED ellipsoidals have an output that surpasses that of a 750-watt HPL ellipsoidal (6,910 lux at 5M with a 26° lens).

Chauvet Professional is also showcasing the first batten fixtures ever in the company's Ovation line. The new Ovation B-565FC and B-2805FC are the first batten style fixtures anywhere to utilize the extended colour rendering capacity of t

USA - Elation Professional has announced launch of a new beam/wash moving head in its Rayzor Series of compact and high-speed LED luminaires, the Rayzor 360Z.

The Rayzor 360Z houses three 60W RGBW LEDs for a powerful thrust of light and includes a 5° to 50° motorized zoom for the versatility of narrow to wide beam angle spreads. Lighting professionals will be able to get an up-close look at the speedy Rayzor 360Z at Elation Booth 2515 at the upcoming LDI show in Las Vegas.

The Rayzor 360Z offers surprising brightness for its size (20,550 Lux @ 3m with 5° zoom) and with fast and precise 16-bit continuous 360° pan and tilt rotation it can add an energizing look to any show.

Also useful as an effective wash light, colour temperature is variable from 2,700K - 8,000K and colours mix uniform from vibrant saturates across pastels to authentic warm and cool sha

USA - The LDI tradeshow has played a major part in ETC's history, being the site of countless product launches that have propelled the company forward.

In a nod to that tradition, the company will mark its 40th anniversary at this year's LDI show by introducing a host of new products and giving attendees sneak peeks at upcoming gear. With so much to celebrate, ETC will have three stands - 2773, 2872 and 2972 - and a demo room - N115 - at the show, 21-23 October, in Las Vegas.

ETC will show the full ColorSource family, including the ColorSource and ColorSource AV lighting control desks and the brand new ColorSource Linear batten-style fixture. LDI show attendees can also get demos of the Irideon FPZ architectural luminaire and Prodigy hoists.

And ETC's stands will feature never-before-seen fixture, control, rigging and networking products, along with a big surprise that

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