USA - At this year’s LDI show, CAST Group (stand 2255) will demo the latest from wysiwyg, BlackTrax and also present a new native software for broadcast. The company will also launch its global training programme. CAST will present release R41 of wysiwyg in the USA for the first time. On stand, the new BlackTrax V2.3.3 will be at the heart of a presentation designed by Dream Laser that will combine tracking with lighting, media interactivity, moving projection mapping, 3D positional audio and camera tracking for broadcast. Lighting for the demonstration - which will include the opportunity to get hands-on and will feature live performances and interactive games - will be powered by Luminex; media support will come from disguise and Notch; L-Acoustic will provide 3D positional audio; and projectors and PTZ cameras will be from Panasonic. Meanwhile CAST’s new broadca
South Africa - Absen users in South Africa were invited to attend a three-day training session with Ricky Qiu from Absen at local distributor DWR Distribution earlier this year. The ACE Training (Absen Accredited Certified Engineering) was attended by 20 delegates from both the rental and install markets, with the aim of imparting practical user knowledge to operate and set up screens as well as fault-finding. “The Absen panels have taken off beyond our wildest imagination,” says Schalk Botha, sales representative at DWR. “The panels are user-friendly, reliable, cost effective and easy to maintain.” Ricky Qiu from Absen adds: “The training went very well and was much better than I had anticipated. The course made sense to the delegates, and I can see a positive future for Absen in South Africa.” Qui will be in the country again in November to
Croatia - AV solutions provider HUST has completed the design and installation of new audio and video systems for the largest conference hall of the Croatian Catholic University (Hrvatsko Katoličko Sveučilište) in Zagreb. HUST was commissioned to provide the main conference hall with a triple projection system and high-quality audio throughout, with a focused sound system for the centre screen. To deliver uniform sound levels and clarity throughout the hall, HUST designed a distributed system using Community D8 two-way high output ceiling loudspeakers, with D10SUB ceiling-mount subwoofers adding extended response and low frequency impact. An additional pair of Community V2-28 dual eight-inch full-range two-way loudspeakers is positioned above the stage to focus sound on the main 5.5m wide screen. Two further 3.6m screens and three high output Epson 3LCD full
UK/USA - They may have their own distinctive flying saucer, but sometimes for Jeff Lynne’s ELO, taking the boat is the smarter option. “The thing was, we were down to the wire,” says production manager Richard ‘Wez’ Wearing. “We simply had no time from the band finishing prior commitments here in the UK to going onto ELO in the States. The only way to get any proper production rehearsals for the US tour was to set up everything in Neg Earth’s LH2 production facility here in the UK, then put it in a sea container and ship it straight to the US.” Not an insignificant call? “There are pros and cons on the financial side - yes, it was a cost, but there was no time to do anything else. When we got there, we had just one set up day then straight into the first show.” Fortunately, since the triumphant return of Jeff Lynne and ELO, which began in the UK
UK - Specialist illumination company LED Creative is working with lighting director Stuart Pring on the latest series of hit comedy show Roast Battle. Filmed before a live audience on a custom installed set at the Electric Brixton Theatre, London, Roast Battle features some of the UK’s finest comic performers pitted against each other in a no holds barred verbal assault. Helping create LD Stuart’s look for the show, LED Creative has supplied a selection of their Alpha Soft Wands, including a consignment of built-to-order 500mm units, all controlled using the company’s in-house designed BIT 8-Way Controllers. Complementing the installation, which incorporates a range of equipment from Version2 Lights, the Soft Wands provide highly controllable, linear LED accents across the semi-industrial, ‘grunge’ set design, a fitting backdrop to the rut
USA - At LDI 2018, ArKaos will preview its powerful and flexible MediaMaster 5.4 and GrandVJ 2.6 video and media control platforms. Both now offer two significant new features: TrackDJ is designed for the seamless synchronization of video clips with a live DJ or to beat-match short video loops; while Full Fixture Control has also now been added to the ArKaos Video Mapper ArKaos has had a busy and productive summer out and about at festivals and shows, talking to numerous lighting and video operators, DJ’s VJ’s, LDs etc., working in many different environments, and several have also visited ArKaos’s base in Brussels. Their comments and feedback have helped shape the latest product developments and ensure that ArKaos keeps in touch and on-trend with what the fast-moving world of show visuals is demanding. TrackDJ is a straightforward solution for better int
Canada - Lighting designer Robert Sondergaard of Electric Aura Projects and Solotech recently deployed Martin by Harman VDO Sceptron10 LED lighting fixtures to create a dynamic and innovative stage design for Toronto’s Veld Music Festival. Now in its seventh year, the annual EDM and hip-hop music festival was held in Toronto’s Downsview Park. The line-up featured Marshmello, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Benny Benassi, Lil Yachty and more. Each year the festival strives to create an ambitious and eye-catching stage design, and this year they wanted to incorporate the VELD logo as a dynamic centrepiece. Festival organisers hired production and lighting designer Robert Sondergaard, who collaborated with video and sound provider Solotech to create an ambitious design using Martin VDO Sceptron10 LED Fixtures and custom-fabricated set pieces. “The big thing they wa
UK - Green Hippo, in partnership with Kinesys, is running a two-day Automation Masterclass. Held in Kinesys’s London demo room – just 20 minutes’ drive from Heathrow airport and fully-equipped with chain motors, rotators, trolleys and truss – the course is designed for anyone looking to explore integrating moving elements with Hippotizer. No prior knowledge of Kinesys automation systems is required, though a good understanding of Hippotizer and basic SHAPE functions will help attendees get the most out of the sessions. Course content includes: Classroom component to comprehensively cover all aspects of automation, including connecting to an automation system, to visualising and pre-programming your show; Hands-on sessions in Kinesys demo room where students will work with hardware, practicing object alignment, parenting and automation scripting; Use of Kinesys Vector
USA - With the opening of the 2018 LDI Conference and Exhibition approaching, PixelFLEX will be partnering with four industry leaders exhibiting at the show. As entertainment professionals from around the world gather to celebrate the organization’s 30th Anniversary, the tradeshow experiences for Avolites, Kinesys, and Vectorworks will all feature a FLEXTour LED video system, while the FLEXCurtain HD will be on display with Froggys Fog. “LDI draws an elite audience of live design professionals that demand top-of-the-line products,” said Dan Monaghan, vice president of marketing at Vectorworks. “With this need in mind, we’ve partnered with PixelFLEX to use their state-of-the-art LED screens to showcase our award-winning entertainment design software.” Located in Booth 3139, Vectorworks is a global design and BIM software solutions provider serving professio
Europe - Entertainment engineering specialist WIcreations was asked to work on two specialist elements – a moving / tracking video wall and a ‘star lift’ – for Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s On The Run II (OTR II) stadium tour, part of an epic and spectacular set design concept designed by Stufish. In addition to all the hardware, software and bespoke engineering elements, on the administrative front, WIcreations delivered a full scenic motion risk assessment to the tour’s management, together with machinery technical files and full user manuals covering the entire system. “As automation gets increasingly important in entertainment applications, so safety is The most important aspect to watch,” underlines WI’s owner and founder Hans Willems, who also project managed all the automation requirements. WIcreations provided this documentation in accor
Slovenia - Slovenian media server specialist Lightact has launched three new software licenses and a new version of its flagship software, Lightact 3. Lightact 3 features an upgraded 2D projection mapping workflow and a deeper integration with Unreal Engine. The software licenses are One, Easy and Start with the pricing and features further strengthening Lightact's mission of supporting creative multi-media installations and events of all sizes. Mitja Prelovšek, CEO of Lightact, comments: "We feel elated that after more than two years in development Lightact 3 enters maturity. It's got tons of features and some unique capabilities that we believe our users will love. We are also excited about One, Easy and Start software licenses which bring Lightact closer to an even wider range of users." Lightact is an integrated suite combining standard media server function
USA - Media solutions and control specialist ArKaos will be at the LDI expo in Las Vegas next week on the stand of US distributor Elation Professional (# 931) showing their latest range of products, including MediaMaster, ArKaos video servers, GrandVJ and LEDMaster. In a dedicated demonstration room at the Las Vegas convention Centre, the ArKaos team will be presenting two free training workshops on Friday, 19 October, and Saturday, 20 October. The Friday session is taking place from 1pm-4pm local time. Topics covered will include ArKaos’s flexible range of media servers; an overview of the MediaMaster software; the highlights and uses of the KlingNet protocol and Kling-force interface and an overview of the new ArKaos An-Ki remote control and digital content management solution. On Saturday, the workshop are running 9am-1pm and will focus on the MediaMaster wo
Europe - Green Hippo has announced the appointment of Juha Kiuru as international sales manager. Kiuru, who has been working in the lighting and video sector since 2000, will represent Green Hippo throughout northern European territories, including his native Finland. As well as extensive industry experience, Kiuru also brings proficiency with various languages, including fluent written and spoken English. On his appointment, he comments: “I am really pleased to join Green Hippo. I have always been thoroughly impressed with its range of award-winning media servers, and I look forward to helping the company continue its success all over northern Europe.” James Roth, head of sales and marketing at Green Hippo, adds: “It is a pleasure to welcome Juha to the team. This is an exciting time to join Green Hippo and we fully expect Juha’s experience and skills to
UK - European stage automation specialist VisionLite invested in a new Kinesys Apex hoist system - comprising 21 x Apex motors - plus Kinesys K2 control to help facilitate its busy summer work schedule. The new Apex products went straight out on the Resistance summer season in Ibiza where they helped create a spectacular production design for the popular club experience. Resistance embraced its underground roots in curating a serious line-up of superlative techno, led by artists like Carl Cox and Sasha & John Digweed in the 10,000 capacity Privilege venue, running for nine incendiary events over the summer. The Resistance creative team has developed a distinctive dynamic industrial aesthetic for their live shows which is often based on moving video and lighting pods transforming the architecture and shape of the space as the night unfolds. Thirteen mo
Indonesia - Held concurrently in Jakarta and Palembang for the first time in their history, the 18th Asian Games ended in September with a closing ceremony in the Indonesia state capital of Jakarta where their opening ceremony had been staged 15 days earlier. The 18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018 - widely called the "Olympic Games of Asia" - includes disciplines practiced only in Asia. In addition to the well-known Olympic sports, dragon boating and the Chinese martial art of Wushu were among those contested. The tournament was broadcast throughout Asia and beyond, watched by 112m spectators, with the Indonesia Asian Games Organising Committee (INASGOC) appointed International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS) as host broadcaster. A joint-venture between IMG (London) and HBS (Switzerland), IGBS was responsible for the Games’ live broadcast production and d
UK - The Inception Group has opened two new venues in London recently, providing an eye-catching showcase for Nexo’s super-compact ID Series loudspeakers. The Inception Group has set a high audio standard for its Mr Foggs bars, of which there are now five in the collection. The AV design company Diamond AV has been entrusted with creating signature sound systems, configuring Nexo sound reinforcement elements to achieve different characteristics for the venues. The two newest venues are Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals, and Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration, both located in central London, radically different to each other in terms of interior design and target usage. The House of Botanicals is filled entirely with tropical plants, reflecting Mr Fogg’s collection of flora and fauna from around the world. A discreet, barely-seen audio system was required, so Di
USA - Spitfire Creative Technologies has completed the acquisition of Green Hippo. Spitfire also owns tvONE and Magenta Research, manufacturers of premium video processing and signal distribution products. Green Hippo will continue to go to market with sales, branding, and distribution independently as further growth synergies materialize over the next few quarters, says a statement. Emma Marlow, CEO of Green Hippo, comments: “For 18 years Green Hippo and Hippotizer have been part of live events around the world. We have grown well and want to continue growing. Becoming a member of the Spitfire family allows Green Hippo to focus on growing further and faster. We look forward to their strong organisational support so we can do more to help our customers and users around the world deliver the best live video experiences.” Denise Nemchev, president and C
Germany - Late last year, with the announcement of the Route66 Redundancy Manager, German network fibre giant BroaMan introduced the capability of full automatic redundancy switchover between devices, by harnessing the power of Optocore. This would enable switching between Route66 Video Router and Mux22 nodes - using smart mechanism to detect when one of the fiber links between the nodes is broken. Now the same technology has been enabled in a very popular point-to-point system - between a pair of Mux22 devices. Mux22, which combines 3G SDI I/O and video sync, with Optocore and SANE digital audio networks, now also features full automatic redundancy. Thus, should one of the links fail, the system would automatically switch to the redundant path, enabling all video, audio and data channels to remain working. The switchover time is near instantaneous - implemented in just one
Germany - Green Hippo has named technology supplier Cast as its distribution partner in Germany. Effective 1 October, Hagen-based Cast will manage the exclusive distribution of the Green Hippo’s product line throughout the country. Heinz Siller, CEO of Cast, comments: “Green Hippo is going to be a perfect round up to our mission to offer professional products to the creative cloud in our markets.” James Roth, head of sales and marketing at Green Hippo, adds: "The rate of growth that the company is experiencing as a whole, but particularly in Germany, necessitates our appointing the very best commercial partner in the territory, Cast. Hippotizer is being specified on so many new shows and events and we look forward to working with Cast to maximise the opportunities that are being placed before us." (Jim Evans)
UK - DJ Eric Prydz’s HOLO show returned from the future this summer, wowing EDM disciples with holographic technology and magical 3D FX. It was the latest development in a long line of Prydz performances which take media server processing and power to the limits of possibility - and seemingly, beyond. Avolites’ Ai servers were at the core of the video system. “We’ve been using Ai for 10 years for Eric Prydz’s shows - it’s the only system which combines unparalleled throughput and quality with live triggering capabilities,” says Dave Green, Ai programmer and technical director for RES. “There are other systems out there which are great at one or the other of these capabilities, but not all three. “The Eric Prydz show is live, every time. There are never any pre-sequenced elements, so live control is critical. Also, the super high resolutions and frame
Australia - Staged annually for the last 14 years, Queensland’s Creative Generation (CGEN) event was the biggest yet, with almost 2,000 schoolchildren being given the opportunity to perform in a professional environment on an enormous arena stage measuring 20mx 18m, with a 38m x 6m rear projection screen behind it. Content delivery and projection mapping specialists IKONIX - who are based on Australia’s Gold Coast - were asked to help deliver the desired wow factor for the fifth successive year. At the heart of the solution they created were two Avolites RX8 Ai media servers to deliver images to the rear screen, and two additional units controlling projection onto the stage. Equally central to their vision of the production were Notch real time content generation and BlackTrax real time tracking system, the latter provided by Atlanta-based Visional Productions, an
UK - Equipment hire software companies Current RMS and InspHire have been acquired by integrated ERP solutions provider Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). The deals will allow KCS to strengthen its presence within the rental industry. InspHire and Current RMS will operate as independent business units within KCS, under their existing management teams. Current RMS will remain tailored to the needs of the AV, production and events industries. InspHire, which supplies software to companies that rent heavy plant and construction vehicles, will be backed to expand into the US market. Chris Branson, managing director of Current RMS, comments: “I’m delighted that a company as prestigious and well regarded as KCS Group has chosen to invest in Current RMS. We’ve achieved so much in the four years since we launched and through this acquisition we’ve now got th
UK - Working alongside Paul Evans and the team at technical production company 808 Create, LED Creative assisted in upgrading the scenic installation at The Jonathan Ross Show. Having relocated to the recently revamped Television Centre in London’s White City, scenic designer Rudi Thackray’s vibrant ‘London city scape’ design has been faithfully recreated for this 13th season of the ITV series. To assist with the refresh, the LED Creative crew installed the company’s Sigma 60 across the stage ‘header’, whilst also adding subtle accents and detailed highlights to the scenic elements. Behind the scenes, precise, intelligent control over the installation is provided using LC Byte Controllers. These newly upgraded, in-house designed units easily handle up to 300 pixels per output or up to 2400 pixels across an eight-output unit, making them ideal
France - Paris-based AV supplier MATCHevent has extended its stock of ROE Visual LED panels by adding over 400 Black Pearl BP2 LED panels. The new panels will be used fir a number of events this autumn, says the French company. Jean-François Lienard, founding partner of MATCHevent, comments: “The Black Pearl LED panels have a great track record in the rental market and are regarded as the best product in the market. That alone would be a reason to select ROE Visual as LED supplier. On top of that, the quality and unmatched service we get from ROE Visual makes the investment worth it. “ROE Visual serves us both with technical support when needed and swift delivery. [The company] stocks its products in vast quantities in Europe, so we can always trust we’re served for last-minute projects.” MATCHevent offers AV technical services for various events
