UK - Rental company Adlib has confirmed its investment in a considerate amount of the Vanish V8 LED panel from ROE Visual. Concluding a two-year conversation with the final investment in the ROE Visual products, Adlib and ROE Visual both believe that a steady business relationship, based on supplier support and excellent service, are beneficial to the end-user. “A partnership with the Team at ROE was a no brainer,” comments Rich Rowley GM of lighting and video. “Adlib’s ethos of strong manufacturer relationships ensures we have fast backup and support, which is of paramount importance to us. With ROE Visual their diverse and creative product range sits well with our growth strategy in touring video.” “We have found good resonance in the UK with our products and service-based approach. The UK market has rapidly become an important market for us, and we
UK - Calibre UK has announced its all-in-one FHDQ130 130” AiO LED wall is now shipping. With in-built Calibre’s LEDView series scaler/switcher, which brings Ultra HD capability to LED screens, the FHDQ130 is a 130" FHD LED video wall that is fully CE-, CB- and UL-approved. Weighing 125kg (275.5lb), it can be built ready to run in under an hour by three people, while a single module can be replaced in less than 10 seconds, claims the company. The video wall is controlled via either a remote or an app and consumes less than 0.5W in stand-by mode. “The AiO is the result of feedback from our customers requiring a single solution that minimises set up time, is plug-and-play and ready to go,” comments Willy Tsai, managing director at Calibre UK. “Our solutions are increasingly used in a verity of challenging environments requiring higher brightness levels, c
Singapore - Hexogon Solution has become a disguise rental partners, the AV solutions manufacturer has reported. With offices in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and the Philippines, Hexogon provides lighting, audio and video projection mapping equipment and also offers design and staging services for events and exhibitions. The company was founded in 1997 and has worked on the annual Singapore National Day celebrations, the Singapore Formula 1 City Light Up, and the 28th SEA Games’ opening and closing ceremonies. “As we are rapidly expanding, not only in Asia but in target markets outside of Asia, we need to ensure that we have a strong variety of server brands in our inventory,” says Adrian Goh, group managing director at Hexogon. “disguise is one of the top servers in the market and will help grow our business. Having a large fleet of pr
UK/USA - Green Hippo has appointed Ashley Hazlett as an inside sales representative at Green Hippo US, whilst Warren Keyes has joined as development manager for the UK team. Hazlett, whose career originally started at Green Hippo, is bringing hands-on experience of the company’s solutions, including media server QC responsibilities at VER. “The first media server I ever learned on was a V3 Hippo. After working closely with the Green Hippo team and products over the years, I am thrilled to get the opportunity to represent a company and product I truly enjoy.” Warren Keyes brings 16 years of professional programming experience to his new role at Green Hippo, including most recently, working with Microsoft in Seattle as an engineering manager covering Xbox and AR/VR. Warren has also worked at Skype and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “This role is the ideal op
Italy - Powersoft has released a series of training videos on YouTube for their audio design environment software ArmoníaPlus. The hour-long set of tutorials comprehensively covers the new features that Powersoft introduced with ArmoníaPlus when it was released last October. Aside from educating new users on the software, the goal of these tutorials is also to bring existing users who were familiar with its previous iteration, Armonía, up to speed. ArmoníaPlus’s redesign includes a single window interface with four main views and takes further advantage of intuitive hotkeys and simplistic icons to allow users to move between functions efficiently. Users can move through four main steps: Design, Config, Tune, and Show, each offering a variety of functions and flexibility for different scenarios, as well as allowing users to audition different speaker presets easily. Th
Italy - The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world’s busiest tourist attractions, with over six million visitors per year. Now, under the management of archaeological park director Alfonsina Russo, it has once again become a venue for all kinds of events. Last year, visitors to the Colosseum were treated to a spectacular show, Sangue e Arena, at nightfall. This international collaboration between Canada and Italy offered a totally immersive experience, in English and Italian, with lights and remarkable holographic video effects at the heart of the ancient monument. wysiwyg was at the centre of all the action. The Sangue e Arena project was the result of a close collaboration between Italian company, Electa Editore under the direction of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo. Graphics eMotion and Lumin-ART gave life to the Colosseum, a world heritage site.
China - One of the Hong Kong Science Museum’s latest exhibitions - a complex projection interpretation of the Landscape Map of the Silk Road - made good use of AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA two media servers to achieve the flexibility and power necessary for such a demanding project. The install was designed, supplied and system integrated by Cosmo Pro AV, and ran from 7 December 2018 and until 20 February 2019. The original map was created as a painting for the Jiajing Emperor in the Ming dynasty. With over 200 cities marked on the map, ranging from the Jiayu Pass in Gansu Province in the east to Mecca in Saudi Arabia in the west, it demonstrated that the Chinese had grasped a very clear geographical understanding of the Silk Road thanks to centuries of trade. For the recent exhibition, the museum oversaw the fabrication and installation of a 32m x 3m edge blending
USA - As the largest AV conference and exhibition in North America prepares to open its doors on 8 June, Nashville-based PixelFLEX is set to debut an innovative LED video showcase at InfoComm. Located on stand 248 at the Orange County Convention Centre, the visual solutions provider will be demonstrating the unlimited potential for creating dynamic and long-lasting LED video designs for virtually any architectural, commercial, educational or entertainment installation. “Over the past several years, LED video has crossed over into a variety of markets and is becoming an ideal solution for any AVL professional looking to create a memorable visual experience,” says David Venus, chief marketing officer, PixelFLEX LED. “No matter if the installation is indoors or outside, we have helped deploy high-resolution and durable LED video designs that accentuate any environm
UK - Creative vision can often be frustrated by the limitations of technology, yet ever so quietly, UB40, with some help from Grant Hickey, Oli Metcalfe, Video Design, and the latest Notch effects software are revealing to their UK audiences that at least one technological barrier has been crossed. “Astro and Ali said to Grant, their production designer, that they wanted to ‘step it up a bit’ as far as this year’s tour was concerned; they wanted something that set it apart from other recent outings.” As Metcalfe comments: “This was a case of right place, right time. It was an opportunity to try out some ideas I’ve been having about generative video and being creative in real-time.” Metcalfe is video director for the tour, called in by Hickey on that ‘step-up’ initiative from Ali and Astro. “Grant and I have worked together many times before; he h
UK & Ireland - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for PureLink's IPAV Pro series of 10Gb AV over IP transmission, switching and signal processing solutions. AC-ET sister company A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ireland will handle distribution in the Republic of Ireland. With the Pro AV industry currently transitioning to AV distribution over IP, to create entirely new user experiences with 4K+ video content, there is a growing demand for technologies which meet tomorrow's as well as today's video performance needs. In addition, companies are seeking products which utilise a widely adopted VOIP protocol, such as SDVoE (Software Defined Video Over Ethernet). The IPAV Pro series combines 10Gb Ethernet over IP switching technology with a toughened chassis custom made for the rigours of rental and staging. Utilisin
EMEA - Production Resource Group (PRG) is integrating its global research and development efforts into a new operating group, PRG Innovation. Joining under PRG Innovation will be PRG Projects, PRG Research and Development, and the VER product development initiatives. The new operating group will encompass operations in Belgium, China and the USA, which include facilities in Dallas, New Windsor, New York and Los Angeles. Jere Harris, chairman and CEO of PRG, comments: “PRG Innovation brings all of our talent focused on product development into a single, global team, allowing us to anticipate market trends, move with agility and align product development with our larger strategic objectives. I believe that our investment and performance in market-driven innovation is one of the most powerful points of difference separating our brands from the competition. Now, that adv
Germany - At Frankfurt, Green Hippo seized the opportunity to team with cast, its German distributor, to showcase the new features of Hippotizer Version 4.5, the latest version of its software. Co-exhibiting with CAST, Green Hippo demonstrated the features of Hippotizer Version 4.5, including BeatBridge and Object to Output – Object to Output maps content to outputs directly inside SHAPE’s 3D workspace, while BeatBridge simplifies programming by allowing Hippotizer parameters to react to audio input. The Green Hippo squad also worked with Absen and Notch, to create stunning visuals on Absen’s stand. Here, the display highlighted the power of combining Hippotizer Montane+ RTX with Notch. Thanks to Notch’s generative content creation system, the show team created visuals, using input from a simple camera feed, which was then shown on an Absen LED wall. Eliminatin
Australia - Hot on the heels of his tenth studio album, Kamikaze, and the extended reissue of The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has broken attendance records around the Southern Hemisphere with his second Rapture tour of Australia and New Zealand. The five Rapture 2019 stadium shows, which featured guest appearances from Hilltop Hoods, Royce da 5'9", Boogie, and more, included an 81,000-strong audience at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 24 February, and were acclaimed “a full-blown spectacle" by the New Zealand Herald. These epic shows were augmented by a total of 1494 LED panels which displayed ‘cinematic’ visuals and scenography and were driven by the powerful Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 4K LED processors and XD 10G Data Distribution Units, all supplied by video equipment and production specialists Big Picture - part of the NEP Worldwide Netwo
UK - AV and technical production company Blitz has announced the promotion of Jason Sorabji to the newly created role of group production director. Jason’s new remit includes directing the company’s overall production and project management strategy, engaging directly with key clients and prospects to drive innovation. The position sees Jason join the Blitz senior management team and report directly into managing director, Mike Phillipson. Jason has been with Blitz for over three years and was previously group account director at ExCeL London, where Blitz is the official in-house supplier delivering AV solutions and production for the venue. New hire Paul Stuart will be joining Blitz to take over Jason’s position at ExCeL London. Paul brings extensive experience in the industry, joining from White Light where he oversaw the AV technical delivery for custom
UK - Production AV has announced two open days on 7-8 May at its new premises in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The AV hire and event company will offer hands-on demonstrations of its latest 6mm, 3.9mm and 2.6mm LED screens, 4K screen management system, media servers and camera solutions. The team will also showcase some recent projects, including large-scale projection mapping of Cheltenham’s Municipal Offices for a WWI Remembrance event and recent work on the Teenage Cancer Trust series of star-studded concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. There will also be an opportunity to meet the team and discover more about the company’s plans for future growth. “We’re thrilled to not only have a new home but also a much larger facility, which will have a direct benefit for our clients,” says Production AV’s managing director, Pete McCrea. “There is a r
UK - The Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust) is producing its spectacular West End Eurovision show next month and AV and event production company Blitz is providing the sound support. Taking place at the Adelphi Theatre on 28 April (Sunday), the interactive event will raise money for MAD Trust, which fundraises for HIV and AIDS projects that build awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. The show will feature eight casts from West End Musicals competing against each other by singing original Eurovision song contest songs to win text votes from the audience and the approval of a panel of judges. Martyn Hunt, theatre & sound project development manager at Blitz, says: “Blitz prides itself on its sound technical support for all of our clients, so we feel honoured to be able to provide equipment for such an impo
Germany - Eight of ArKaos’ new 4K studio servers were providing a 360° video solution for the recent fourth German edition of popular TV franchise Dancing on Ice, which was recorded at the Magic Media Company’s Coloneum venue in Ossendorf, Cologne, in a special set up that was customised for the first series. The show’s lighting designer, Manuel Da Costa, has lit DSDS (Germany Seeks the Superstar) and many other leading German talent and music shows. For Dancing on Ice, Da Costa worked alongside his regular visuals designer Dennis Muhl who wanted to run the video cues via his grandMA3 console. The video and screens supplier was ETC Germany. They approached ArKaos looking for a new server solution that could offer extremely high-quality rendering performance, and that was easy and intuitive to control from a lighting console. They neede
USA - Mean Girls, The Musical has been playing at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre since April 2018. The new production features a dynamic, video-led design that seamlessly changes playing locations. Such scenic agility is facilitated by one of the most ambitious uses of story-enhancing video content on a Broadway show. Responsible for this video content is British video design team Finn Ross and Adam Young of FRAY Studio, who worked closely with the show’s director and choreographer, Casey Nicholaw and set designer, Scott Pask, to create the sophisticated and at times surreal world of North Shore High and its students. The set comprises two stage-wide curved walls with sliding doors and panels. The top screen is set back to create a sense of depth and dimension. In addition, there are six LED screen legs that bleed off into the wings. Images are deliv
UK - ROE Visual and Backstage Academy have kicked of their partnership with the delivery of a batch of LED panels from the LED solutions manufacturer and two days of intensive training. ROE Visual will sponsor Backstage Academy with several types of its LED panels, thereby providing these industry-renowned products for training purposes. “ROE Visual has always been keen to support the industry with in-depth knowledge on LED technology in general and the use of its LED panels,” states Marina Prak, marketing manager for ROE Visual. “That’s why we offer the ROE Academy on several locations or as in-house training. The importance of knowledge transfer can’t be over-estimated. Knowing Miles for quite some years it was not difficult to start a partnership when Backstage Academy contacted us with a request for sponsoring.” “We are pleased to be supporting
USA - Immersive, a production company, achieved a dazzling projection mapping for the 86th San Francisco Ballet Opening Night Gala. Hosted underneath the dome at San Francisco City Hall, the projection mapping relied upon Modulo Kinetic, a fully-integrated media server solution designed by Modulo Pi. For the gala, the lavish Rotunda of the San Francisco City Hall was flooded with hundreds of patrons and donors gathering together for a memorable evening. Production company Immersive was in charge of creating a neat projection mapping and lighting install for the event called This is Passion. Sean Mason, founder & CEO of Immersive, explains: “The projection was built to inspire while incorporating elements of the San Francisco ballet, such as silhouettes of dancers, and slow-motion footage from the performances.” To project on the 50’x70’ arch o
UK - Hawthorn has announced the appointment of Alex Bingham who has joined the business as technical production director. Before joining Hawthorn, Bingham held the position of production director at Vibration Group where he was most recently responsible for assisting with the growth and delivery of production at Printworks London. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, this isn’t the first time that Bingham has been a member of the Hawthorn team, having been employed as their head of London projects from 2005 to 2011. Simon Wood, group director of projects at Hawthorn, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Alex back to the team. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the new position and I believe that he will be a great asset to Hawthorn. With his in-depth experience of the industry, Alex knows how to create truly memorable experiences for his clients a
Norway - Docked in Oslo’s Frammuseet museum, the Fram is a ship steeped in rich history. Having voyaged to the Arctic and Antarctic between 1893 and 1912 with its Norwegian crew at the helm, and carried the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911, it came to rest in 1936 - and has since evolved into a much-lauded tourist attraction in the city, with an annual footfall of over 200,000 every year. Drawing visitors from all over the globe, the museum sought to upgrade its offering in 2018 to provide a world-class, immersive experience – turning to UK-based specialist visitor attraction AV integrator Sarner International to lead the ambitious and complex installation project. With the objective of making visitors feel a part of an arctic adventure, immersive audio and projection were to take centre stage in the renovation. However, the challenge was how to go abou
UAE - The 2019 Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival staged at Dubai’s Media City Amphitheatre and presented by Mastercard included a star-studded line up, including Snow Patrol, Alicia Keys and Jamiroquai, which were lit with 72 x Robe MegaPointes and 48 x Spiiders - among other lights - supplied by lighting rental company MediaPro. Produced by Done Events, this was the first time MediaPro has been a technical supplier (lighting and video) for the festival. The event’s production design, incorporating both these disciplines plus set and scenics, was a vibrant collaboration between production designer Miguel Galvao and his assistant Andreas Malan from RAW Concepts working with MediaPro’s Harold Fernandes who was senior LD and set designer. The goal was to create the best possible audience experience by ensuring that the rig looked larger and more impressive than
Chile - The 60th edition of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival was staged from 25 February to 1 March in the open-air Quinta Vergara Amphitheatre, with 500sq.m of Absen LED on stage to ensure the best possible fan experience. Considered ‘the largest Latin event in the world’, the festival has been held annually during the third week of February in Viña del Mar and is the oldest and largest music festival in Latin America. This year, the five-day musical event featured both local and international artists including Felipe Abello, Wisin & Yandel, Becky G, Marc Anthony and Backstreet Boys. With more than 15,000 local spectators, the event has been broadcast live internationally on radio over the years, as well as on Chilean television. A total of six semi-circular LED screens, made up of Absen Polaris 3.9 and Absen D4V Outdoor, were assembled u
