USA - Christie has announced the launch of the Christie FHD554-X 55-inch LCD display. Part of the Ultra Series, a line of performance-driven LCD displays for tiled video walls, it is designed for a range of spaces including military and government control rooms, security and surveillance centres, briefing centres and critical viewing environments such as oil and gas exploration. With a combined 3.5mm bezel width for near-seamless viewing, and an ultra-thin profile, the FHD554-X keeps the focus on the content. A high-performance electronic features set that includes high-bandwidth, HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI 2.0 and Display Port 1.2 inputs supports streaming of 4K content and 4K UHD signals at 60Hz to deliver content to video walls with less flicker, and subsequently reduced eyestrain in critical viewing environments, says Christie. “For users looking for a commercial-gr
USA - Xite Labs utilised the disguise Extended Reality (xR) workflow, powered by a gx 2c media server and rx real-time rendering platform, to bring to life a myriad of virtual worlds in Unreal Engine for rapper Bryson Tiller’s Trapsoul World Series live streamed concert. Shot at Xite Labs’ xR stage in LA, the concert accentuated the artist’s musical vibe for fans around the world watching at home. The immersive livestream presented Tiller in a series of six different worlds linked by a narrative flowing through the songs. Xite Labs was responsible for the stunning xR content for 14 different songs performed in four virtual ‘worlds’ with distinct appearances and themes. For this immersive experience, Xite turned to its in-house workflow, featuring a disguise gx 2c media server as the primary controller of the xR environment, while a dedicated disguise
Japan - NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, has selected Xytech’s ScheduALL to provide its enterprise resource and transmission optimisation solution for its production of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, which take place in Tokyo, Japan, from 23 July. The announcement was made by Dan Robertson, VP NBC Olympics IT, and Greg Dolan, Xytech CCO. NBC Olympics has turned to Xytech’s ScheduALL for a ninth consecutive Olympic Games to deliver advanced enterprise resource and transmission optimisation solutions in order to coordinate the highly dynamic environment of the Games. NBC Olympics will be able to leverage the expertise of Xytech’s software and services to orchestrate the logistics of people, equipment, locations and transmission feeds. “For the ninth consecutive Olympic Games, Xytech has the privilege of contributing to the success of NBC Olympi
Spain - With the introduction of new projectors and displays at ISE 2021, Panasonic offers ‘the most complete line-up of 4K visual solutions to meet growing demand for highly detailed and richly immersive viewing experiences’. With the additions of new 4K 1-Chip DLP projectors and interactive displays, Panasonic can offer 4K solutions for ‘any environment, across all industry sectors’, with projectors from 5,000-50,000 lumens and 43-98 inch displays. The technologies are all complemented by Panasonic’s 4K collaboration solutions, including video conferencing and wireless presentation systems. “The time is now for 4K and we are seeing increased demand across all industry sectors,” explained said Hartmut Kulessa, European marketing manager at Panasonic Business. “The entertainment world is using 4K to draw back audiences with immersive attractions, educat
South Africa - Technological Innovations Group (TIG) has appointed Dewald Adendorff as technical support engineer for Crestron in South Africa. Dewald will be responsible for providing technical advice to Crestron customers, ensuring their exact needs are firmly met, as well as assisting the regional sales team. Rupert Denoon, TIG's regional sales director for Crestron in Southern Africa, comments: "Congratulations and welcome to the team, Dewald! We're excited to benefit from Dewald's experience, technical mindset and results-driven approach, and to pass this on to our valued customers here in South Africa." Dewald adds: "I am extremely excited to join such a world-class brand. No matter where I've been, Crestron has always been part of conversations, and now I am ready to start the journey here and contribute to the success story in South Africa."
Europe - Attracting a high number of attendees in April, Yamaha’s online New Technology Showcase revealed the company’s latest professional audio technologies. A key announcement was the launch of AFC Enhance and AFC Image, immersive audio technologies which ‘radically enhance live performances, interactive installations, projection mapping and other experiential events’. The launch event is now available to view on YouTube, where the details of these developments are showcased. Hosted on Facebook Live, the New Technology Showcase was presented by a global team of Yamaha’s professional audio specialists, including key members from the company’s Japan headquarters, US and EU research and development teams, immersive audio specialists and loudspeaker manufacturer Nex
USA - Leading AV signal distribution developer tvONE has announced a new partnership with global technology manufacturer Bosch. The collaboration focuses on the combination of the tvONE CORIOmatrix modular video switching router and Bosch’s range of state-of-the-art conferencing systems. tvONE says using its 4K CORIOmatrix router - which enables the mixing of AV, broadcast, IP and legacy sources seamlessly and at very low latency - with Bosch’s conference solutions facilitates streaming of the active speaker video to a hall display or system that records or webcasts the HD-SDI feed. The Bosch Conference systems connect to the tvONE video switcher via TCP/IP and controls the switcher by using the protocol of tvONE to switch the video stream of the person speaking automatically to displays or video walls. tvONE foresees a host of conference applications that w
UK - Panasonic has announced its new series of 1-Chip DLP laser projectors delivering 4K display resolution. The Panasonic PT-RDQ10 Series is designed for entertainment, rental and corporate organisations that want to ‘captivate viewers with detailed 4K images and vibrant yet natural colour reproduction’. It comes in three different models, ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 lumens. The optional ET-DLE020 Ultra-Short-Throw Zoom Lens with zero offset adds versatility by enabling large-scale images to be projected, free from shadows, even in the tightest spaces. The Series achieves 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution using Smooth Pixel Drive, a one-axis pixel-shifting technology to produce crisp, smooth, and richly detailed images. The updated Rich Colour Enhancer boosts colour reproduction for more vibrant colours, faithfully recreating even the most detailed visuals, such as art
USA - Christie has announced the launch of the Christie Inspire Series, a family of fixed zoom lens 1DLP laser projectors in three brightness options designed for small to mid-sized environments, including classrooms, boardrooms, museums, houses of worship and more. The Inspire Series offers professional-grade features in a budget-friendly package. A range of brightness options, starting at 6000 lumens, as well as 7,200 lumens and 8,100 ANSI lumen options (7,150, 8,500, and 9,600 ISO lumens respectively), brings bold images in WUXGA resolution to any application. And with laser illumination, the Inspire Series offers up to 20,000 hours of low-maintenance operation to 50% brightness. “The Inspire Series offers a winning combination of low-maintenance performance and value, without sacrificing advanced capabilities,” says Chris Kee, executive director, Enterprise pro
Spain - Integrated Systems Events managing director Mike Blackman marked the opening of ISE Live & Online yesterday with a presentation at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via in front of a gathering of representatives from government, local executive boards and agencies, ISE’s owners and the media. ISE Live & Online is a hybrid event, livestreaming from the Fira and broadcasting to a global audience via the ISE Digital platform. The opening of ISE’s first show in Barcelona represents a significant milestone in the development of Integrated Systems Europe, and a personal and professional triumph for Blackman, who launched the event 17 years ago with a staff of three. Along with representatives of the Fira, ISE co-owner AVIXA and ISE exhibitors, Blackman made a symbolic trip by motorbike from ISE’s office in Munich to Barcelona, stopping en route in Geneva
UK - Technical solutions distributor Visualization will distribute the VUE2 product line in the UK. VUE2 offers a range of 3LCD laser-based projectors across a range of brightness and resolutions. With a complement of 21 products that cover installation, portable, and Ultra Short Throw (UST) series, the VUE2 range addresses the corporate, education, house of worship, and rental staging markets. Visualization managing director, Nick Pidgeon, comments: “The VUE2 product line fills a gap vacated by a number of manufacturers. With a range of resolution and brightness at extremely competitive price points - and backed up with a reassuring seven-year warranty - we believe the VUE2 product range will be very well received in the UK.” Mohammed Sajjad, product manager at VUE2, adds: “The UK market - via Visualization - offers us a tremendous opportunity to g
UK - Pro audio solutions provider Audiologic is working alongside Probrand to deliver a remote learning solution for Arden University. Arden University is a higher education institution with approximately 10,000 students. It focuses on providing access to flexible learning for ambitious students of all ages around the world and provides a mixture of distance (online) and on-campus teaching services at five UK sites and one in Berlin. Arden has expanded its learning opportunities from an exclusively distance-learning model to a blended online and on-site model in 2017, but shortly after the pandemic struck in March, the team realised that it would require a different technical solution. The University wanted to continue its on-campus learning service when classes restarted in September 2020. Rob Palfreman, IT director at Arden, explains: "We were committed to pro
UK - Backstage Academy has collaborated with Brompton Technology in delivery of an online masterclass to over 50 students to help them understand the importance of LED processing for video walls within live events and virtual production. “Brompton LED processing solutions have been making regular appearances at Backstage Academy and Production Park for some time now,” says Miles Marsden, industry partnerships director at Backstage Academy. “For a company to remain at the cutting edge of such a fast-moving sector is super impressive, so to give our students the opportunity to be included on that journey was a no brainer.” The training consisted of a short company overview delivered by Brompton director of business development, Rob Fowler, followed by a sampler from the company’s full one-day training course on the Tessera system using the streaming rack delive
UK - Christie has been chosen by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) as a technology partner for its redeveloped headquarters at 195 Piccadilly in London. The partnership will see a host of Christie integrated technology installed throughout the building, including flagship Christie MicroTiles LED tiles, as well as 3DLP RGB pure laser, 1DLP laser projectors, media servers and software. The redeveloped space, with state-of-the-art technology, will enable BAFTA to dramatically expand its learning and talent support programme through broadcast events and screenings, supporting talent across film, games and television in the UK and across the world. Louise Robertson, executive director of partnerships and fundraising, says: “We are so excited to be working with Christie to help bring our redeveloped space at 195 Piccadilly to life. The technology Chri
UK - Video technology company, 80six, recently opened the doors to its virtual production studios in Slough. The VP facility boasts a pre-configured curved LED stage, suitable for shooting in-camera VFX. Brompton Technology products are part of the studio's high-end technical backbone. 80six has been at the leading edge of building and implementing xR stages and has now directed its attention to live LED in-camera virtual production, which uses similar technologies. The company has spent the last 20 months carrying out extensive R&D with LED and cameras for film and TV productions with partners such as Epic Games, Dimension Studio, DNEG & OSF. “Throughout the last couple of years, we have carried out various tests that have given us a solid understanding of the principles of VP. We can now confidently advise our clients as to the benefits and limitations th
South Africa - Event and entertainment technology solutions supplier Stage Audio Works has relocated to new premises in Kyalami Park, Midrand, Johannesburg. The move follows a change in strategic direction of the company’s Mitech Direct division (MI retail sales) to a stronger presence online. The new business model has enabled SAW to reorganise operations in a way that reduces the requirement for physical space overall whilst deploying more resources in key areas for increased profitability. “We are fortunate in that our business has remained strong throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” states SAW group CEO, Will Deysel. “However, to ensure that, we’ve had to remain agile and react quickly; one of our early decisions was to move Mitech Direct to a predominantly online sales model, which has prompted our relocation to new, appropriately sized premises in Kyalami
USA - Pixotope has announced three senior additions to its global staff. Juan Rubio, is joining the team as a new product specialist and evangelist. Based in the US, Juan's career has spanned across feature film VFX, AAA Games, and enterprise, having worked on movies like the Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions, The Day After Tomorrow and The Watchmen. Rubio said, “Having first-hand experience of being the customer, and being in the driving seat of a number of productions, it’s promising to see mixed reality’s popularity and offering growing in abundance. I’m joining the Pixotope team with a vision of delivering what our customers really need when it comes to virtual productions.” LA-based Brad Rochon is Pixotope’s new vice president of sales and marketing. His move follows a 23-year stint at Ross Video, where he held various positions i
The Netherlands - “Using Capture 2021 is almost like seeing the visuals in real life,” is Eurovision LD Henk Jan van Beek’s assessment of the Swedish manufacturer’s pre-visualisation software system. No stranger to the Eurovision event, having been part of the 2005 programming, Capture Visualisation was proud to be part of this year’s show at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena. Always an extravagant feast of lights, video and FX, Eurovision 2021 was chosen as one of Europe’s pilot events for COVID safe live events, making for one of the most eagerly anticipated Eurovision shows of all time. Since 1994, Capture Visualisation has been developing and evolving the software in the pre-programming sector and is now seen as one of the leading brands in this increasingly busy sector of the entertainment market. "It is an honour to be the preferred solution for this premier
USA - Multinational retail corporation Walmart relied on the disguise extended reality (xR) workflow to host two of its most important corporate meetings virtually for the first time earlier this year. Walmart needed to address a global audience of investors in its annual Investor Community Meeting (ICM), as well as key management personnel in its Year Beginning Meeting (YBM), remotely. Partnering with experiential event company LEO Events, Walmart invited Xite Labs, a long-time disguise creative and workflow partner, to deliver a custom-built stage powered by disguise xR at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, to host the two virtual events. Using the extended reality set-up, speakers could present information, showcase statistics and accent the meetings with augmented reality elements to add layers of visual interest and engage viewers in a compelling
France - Modulo Pi has announced the immediate availability of Modulo Kinetic version 4. With this release, the fully integrated media server solution offers a revamped user interface, improved 3D engine, and new extensive capabilities dedicated to virtual productions. Introduced in 2016, Modulo Kinetic makes a major step forward in its development with a variety of new features and improvements. The Modulo Kinetic Designer offers a revamped user interface with new icons, optimised views, toolbars, timelines, nodal programming editor, and more. Special attention was paid to the 3D scene viewer to offer users a smooth navigation and polished experience with the software. Version 4 includes the support of Notch Block, 10-bit Apple ProRes, and 10-bit GoPro Cineform. Modulo Kinetic also supports LUT format, allowing creative filters and real-time colour grading.
UK - Brompton Technology has collaborated with White Light (WL) to showcase the new functionality of its latest Tessera V3.1 software release. The software’s new features, such as Frame Remapping and High Frame Rate+, have unlocked a number of virtual production opportunities. Frame Remapping within White Light’s SmartStage LED studio enables multiple cameras and shooting modes to each see their own render perspective. It also means that a live feed can be captured, fully utilising the benefits of XR technology, including reflections and bespoke lighting, while adding the capability to simultaneously shoot against a green screen to give options in post-production. Dynamic chroma key adjustments can be made, allowing any 24-bit RGB colour to be specified. For events with remote participants in different countries, the technology allows outputs to be tailored and reg
USA - For the past year, the world has been preoccupied with Zoom meetings. Disguise has been looking at a very different type of zoom. Instead of video meetings, disguise allows its users to zoom in and out of a virtual world on camera. disguise’s extended reality (xR) workflow, released to the general public in April 2021 through its new r18 software, includes this new feature which extends the virtual scene to allow cameras to zoom in and out of each scene. With these capabilities, the community of disguise users can now build even more exciting and elaborate scenes than ever before. xR pioneers and disguise partners, XR Studios, were among the first to incorporate the new feature into their current workflow and explore its full potential. Their first project using virtual zoom was with singer Katy Perry. For what is now the third collaboration with Perry, XR St
France - PRG and MADO XR has launched Virtual Production Studio-xR, a 360-° LED facility powered by Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 4K LED processing. The space “brings the power of virtual production to any type of pre-recorded or live production” and features ROE Visual LED panels, with multiple Tessera LED processors running the entire set-up. “Situated on the outskirts of Paris at the historic TSF Studios, we designed a modular studio of approximately 800m2 to provide full control over both the lighting and the filmed scenes in a realtime recording environment. We have put a team together that is fully dedicated to the studio and is composed of PRG and MADO XR staff who will be able to advise and guide you in the realisation of your projects,” comments Thierry Kra, managing director of PRG France. Louis De Castro, CEO and co-founder of MADO XR, utilised o
UK - Preevue and Race Furniture have announced a strategic partnership, bringing together Race’s decades of experience in theatre seating design and Preevue’s venue scanning and sightline analysis technologies. While the two companies will remain separate, they will collaborate closely on future projects where skills and resources can be shared, with Preevue services being integrated into Race’s offering to new and existing clients. Lucy Stokes, managing director of Race Furniture comments: “I am thrilled to announce this key partnership between Race and Preevue. Race has over 75 years heritage within theatre and venue seating and continues to grow. We view this partnership with Preevue as a major step forward not only in Race’s evolution but the evolution of the entire industry - for the first time ever seating design, layout and manufacturing expertise wil
