Mexico - Xcaret is one of Mexico’s leading tourist attractions. At the end of 2021, the park’s technical team upgraded a problematic projector-based video system in its main Tlachco Theatre with ADJ LED video panels. The new setup not only improved the clarity of the video content shown as part of the venue’s resident production but has also proven to be far more reliable than the previous system, following over a year of continuous use across daily shows. Opened in 1990, Xcaret is a visitor attraction on the Riviera Maya that celebrates Mexico’s present and rich past. Located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, 5km south of Playa del Carmen and 75km south of Cancún, the park showcases an area of natural beauty. Beneath a jungle canopy are a network of underground rivers and cenotes (flooded sinkholes) as well as ancient Mayan buildings, while on the coast is
USA - Christie MicroTiles LED took the stage with Something Corporate during the band’s headlining reunion show at Las Vegas’ House of Blues on 20 October and their main stage performances at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on 21-22 October as part of the When We Were Young festival. Vocalist and pianist Andrew McMahon performed on a piano fully wrapped in Christie MicroTiles LED, which displayed images and lyrics from the band’s catalogue. Kevin ‘Clutch’ Page, principal, Procraft Media, who is also the bassist in Something Corporate, led the integration of this one-of-a-kind project. Something Corporate returned to the stage after a 13-year hiatus. The performances also marked their first shows in 20 years with the band’s original line-up. Bassist Clutch recalls the history of the band, and how they vinyl-wrapped McMahon’s piano with album artwork
Italy - Vivitek reports that its DU8395Z, DU9800Z and DU9900Z projectors have been chosen for use in immersive projection experiences created by Playartmultimedia. The scenographic project has been enlivening events ranging from private wedding events to public town activities in over 150 venues across Italy. Immersive projection experiences are much in demand, thrilling audiences with their fusion of colour, vivid images and punchy soundtracks. As with many modern artistic endeavours, the immersive rooms – or ‘Sala Immersiva’ - marries a labour of love with the latest in AV and IT technology to bring the visual extravaganza to life. The driving force behind Sala Immersiva is Giuseppe Casciello, art director, Playartmultimedia. Commenting on the concept, he said: “My inspiration is spurred by the necessary and continuous evolution of this wonderful art form. F
Japan - ROE Visual is participating in the Inter BEE exhibition, the annual media event in Japan, which brings together professionals from various disciplines, including video, audio, broadcasting, and communication. ROE Visual will showcase some of its latest LED innovations, such as the Ruby Series and the Carbon CB5MKII RGB-W LED panel. At Inter BEE (15-17 November), ROE Visual will be represented on several stands of its partnering companies: Hibino (booth #3302), Ark Ventures (booth #3111), Ikegami (booth #4208), and Restar (booth #5212). Visitors will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and discover ROE Visual's innovative LED-based solutions. One of the highlighted products will be the Black Pearl BP2V2. This product pioneered virtual production and helped create the world's largest virtual production studio, NantStudios. Further, the Black Mar
Indonesia - Argo Visual, a multimedia equipment rental company based in Jakarta, is a long-time user of Brompton Technology LED processing. Since its inception in 2007, Argo Visual has achieved many milestones, including adding LED screens to its inventory in 2012. A significant breakthrough in 2018 saw it also take on big video mapping projects, including the Asian Para Games opening ceremony and 2022 G20 gala dinner. Argo Visual’s favoured combination is Tessera SX40 4K LED processors powering its AOTO LED video wall. “Many of the projects we work on are seen on the world stage, so it’s absolutely vital that we provide the highest quality equipment,” says Alvin Antono, the company’s owner. As a company, Argo Visual works directly and very close with other leading manufacturers in the industry such as Panasonic, Christie Digital, and disguise. A prime examp
Latin America - tvONE has announced its partnership with Vitech US as a distributor for tvONE brands in Latin America. Vitech US will cover key Latin American countries as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. Vitech US has established a solid reputation for delivering quality products, integrated solutions, distribution, transportation coordination, financing, and outstanding support to its channel partners since its inception in 1997. Green Hippo will now be available to customers in select countries in Latin America, thanks to Vitech US's extensive network and expertise in channel distribution. This move will provide Latin American customers with direct access to Green Hippo’s award-winning Hippotizer media servers, enabling creative media manipulation and 3D mapping solutions for a wide range of applications, from live events to fixed installations. "Vitech U
The Netherlands - ROE Visual has teamed up with the Netherlands Film Academy to support students in pioneering a ground-breaking approach to film production. By providing an advanced LED screen solution, ROE Visual has enabled the creation of The x-project, an ultra-short graduation film that marks a significant leap in how films are produced and takes the film academy's curriculum to new heights. The x-project, a creation of the Netherlands Film Academy graduating students, stands out for its focus on production design and visual effects. It offers a remarkable opportunity to explore animation, world-building in virtual reality, and other innovative narrative forms and technologies. This ambitious project is the first for the film academy, introducing students to cutting-edge techniques increasingly prevalent in the industry. In a departure from traditio
South Africa - Endeavour Audio Visual Solutions is celebrating a busy year, expanding its inventory with additional Absen NT2.9 panels. Kelvin Tilley and Richard Horwell, founders behind the technical supply company that recently relocated to larger premises in Randburg, are feeling a blend of excitement and gratitude. In August of this year, in response to the bustling entertainment industry, they initially purchased Absen NT2.9 panels from DWR Distribution. With demand on the rise, they're now on their second batch of these panels and eagerly looking forward to another shipment scheduled for February next year. Kelvin and Richard, filled with optimism at the beginning of their Endeavour AV journey in 2021, were taken aback by how swiftly things unfolded. "I knew we'd take off, but not like this, not this quick," confesses Kelvin. “The journey has been nothing short
UK - ROE Visual has announced the appointment of Jonathan Sheard as managing director of their UK team. Sheard’s three-decade-long journey in the live event business has endowed him with a deep understanding of our industry's cultural, technical, and commercial aspects. His background working within the diverse CT group positions him to comprehend and serve ROE Visual's client base. "I am thrilled to be joining such a respected and forward-thinking company as ROE Visual. I'm excited to bring my knowledge and experience to the team and work towards delivering exceptional LED-based solutions to our clients," says Sheard. Grace Guo, sales director of ROE Visual, comments, "We are incredibly excited to have Jonathan Sheard join our UK team! Our partnership with Jonathan spans over a decade, and his impact on the industry has been nothing short of impressive. His u
UK - Digital Projection has released a new and improved Projection Simulator, which is a free web-based application which helps users choose a suitable projector for their particular install needs. Projection Simulator offers a comprehensive suite of features, including calculating throw distances between screens and projectors, as well as determining the relationships between the size and distance of the projected image. The tool also provides recommendations for optimal projector placement. With the user’s convenience in mind, the software offers two modes: Single Projection and Multi Projection. In Single Projection mode, one projector is available, in Multi Projection mode, users can import, select and arrange 3D objects, such as domes and curved screens, and map onto them, helping users to pre-install projectors simulated in an install scenario. The appli
USA - Pavion, an integrator of fire, security, critical communications, and audio-visual technology solutions, recently opened its new regional office in Raleigh, North Carolina. The goal was to establish a space for Pavion to showcase its technology solutions whilst providing an updated working environment for its employees. The project was undertaken in a collaboration between Pavion and IA Architects, who worked together to design and execute a solution including KSCAPE’s innovative RAIL technology. “When designing and developing the Pavion Raleigh office, we had three critical focuses: Our People, Our Customers and Innovation,” explains Kristina VanderBrink, southeast regional sales director at Pavion. “We believe everything starts with our people - they are at the centre of our solutions. The goal was to create a workplace that promotes our team members to
USA - Right from the start, Papa Roach fans at Newark’s Prudential Centre knew that the trailblazing metal masters were going to be coming at them in full force. Walking onto a dark stage, the band started to play Between Angels and Insects as the background behind them suddenly erupted with strobing images from a massive video wall that ran almost the entire width of the stage. The menacingly raw and powerful images on the wall were repeated on the extended riser, making the band members on it look as if they were being absorbed into the foreboding video. It was exactly the kind of evocative narrative that German lighting designer Mathias Kuhn and the band from northern California envisioned when they sat down to plan the production for the Revolution Live tour in support of Shinedown. “Video is by far the biggest part of the show,” said Kuhn. “The band
Czechia - Christie RGB pure laser and 1DLP laser projectors lit up a host of spectacular projection mapping exhibits at Signal Festival in Prague. Christie technology - including Griffyn 4K50-RGB, M 4K25 RGB, and 4K10-HS projectors - featured in four exhibits at the festival of digital and creative culture, where international artists created a unique collection of rich and colourful experiences for attendees to enjoy. “We were thrilled to collaborate with Christie, a brand synonymous with high-end projectors and visual innovation,” says Martin Posta, founder and CEO of Signal Festival. “This partnership is more than a meeting of minds; it’s a fusion of visionaries committed to pushing the boundaries of digital and immersive arts. With Christie’s cutting-edge technology, the Signal Festival delivered unparalleled experiences that captivated and inspired, solidifyin
Japan - A significant highlight at this year’s Inter BEE will be the presence of Brompton Technology, featured on the stands of partners including Ark Ventures Inc., AOTO Electronics, Sony Marketing Inc., Ikegami, d&b audiotechnik, and Restar Communications Corporation. Notably, the team from Ark Ventures will introduce Brompton’s TrueLight technology for the first time in Asia. As well as TrueLight, which enables full per-pixel calibration and control of the light spectrum emitted by an LED panel with a broader spectral output by utilising extra emitters in addition to the standard RGB format, Brompton’s partners will also present other leading Tessera features, such as Frame Remapping, that are utilised by some of the world’s most renowned broadcast studios. "At Inter BEE, Ark Ventures will showcase state-of-the-art technologies from Brompton and other ma
UK - An Audient ASP8024-HE has been installed in The Live Room, a community support project in Birkenhead, northwest England, providing a venue for musicians wanting to reconnect with their passion. The arrival of the console followed a recommendation - and generous donation - from Pete Townshend. The brainchild of public-spirited Iain Ogilvie, The Live Room offers a lifeline for musicians who are dealing with issues of addiction, isolation and poverty. “Our goal is to support the mental health of participants through team involvement, and signposting to professional agencies where necessary. In doing so, we help them overcome challenges through the creative process.” The concept of The Live Room came to Iain whilst he was working at the Keyboard Repair Centre in The Wirral. “I noticed an increasing number of older, retired musicians asking for repairs to their o
USA - Floridian rockers Tedeschi Trucks’ summer 2023 tour staging was dominated by soaring horizontal LED battens which displayed pixels of video content, driven by Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 media servers. The battens were interspersed with LED fixtures to create a dazzling series of audience blinders, colour and sweeping effects to set the scene for the band’s brand of American blues rock. The lighting design and programming was delivered to the tour by Infinitus Vox, headed by Tony Caporale, who used a Hippotizer Karst+ MK2’s NDI feed to his Depence R3 pre-viz software. This meant that during pre-production, he could view all of the lighting and video design together, before controlling the Media Server via a grandMA3 console. “Since pixel mapping was the main focus here, the Karst+ MK2 was the right Hippotizer for the job,” says Caporale. “It offers flexibi
Germany - LD Systems has launched a new product range specifically for the installation market. The TICA series offers compact solutions for any size project that are flexible, easy to install and packed with features that deliver better sound and control, says the company. The series includes everything from media streaming and mixing preamplifiers to a range of amps with different channel and power outputs. There are also Dante networked audio interfaces, transformers, headphone amplifiers and control interfaces. Installers can build entire systems using workhorse products from the series, or alternatively, the TICA series can be integrated into an existing installation providing additional connections or zones. They’re small, functional, single purpose products that are accessible and extremely easy to install. “Our DIO Dante interfaces have expanded our
USA - The Kalahari Resort in the Pocono mountains bills itself as “220,000sq.ft filled with wet, wild, fun”. The massive complex does indeed offer some distinctive amenities, such as the world’s first virtual reality water slide. On the weekend of 23-24 September, it was also the site of The Way, a Salvation Army young adult retreat. In addition to enjoying the usual attractions at the resort during their recreation periods, the retreat attendees, who hailed from every East Coast state, as well as Puerto Rico, enjoyed high-energy performances by Unbound, a contemporary worship band. Reflecting the ebullient personality and sound of the band was an eight-universe lighting and video show designed and created by Eagle Production Co. that Moshe Baskin ran on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium console. Baskin busked his show, which he designed in Vectorworks and
UK - The growing international popularity of AV Stumpfl’s real-time media server platform, Pixera, has led to the Austrian family business’s opening an additional office in London, which will be exclusively dedicated to Pixera. The vibrant creative scene in London in particular played an important part in the Austrian company’s decision to bolster the Pixera presence in the UK. Pixera executive director Harry Gladow comments on the new development: “Our local roots in Austria are very strong, but we have always had a global mindset with regards to our vision for the worldwide Pixera community. Opening a new office in such a creative entertainment hotspot makes absolute sense now that our user community has grown so much that we need the local presence to support our organic growth strategy in the UK.” The Pixera office in Uxbridge, London, will be run b
Mexico - The recently inaugurated Olmeca Refinery, the largest oil plant in Mexico and one of the three largest in Latin America, has implemented several Christie solutions in its control rooms and offices, including LED and LCD video walls, video wall processors and a 30,000 lumen 3DLP projector. Located in the port of Dos Bocas, Tabasco, the Olmeca Refinery can process 340,000 barrels per day of crude oil. The refinery consists of 17 processing plants, 56 storage tanks, 34 spheres, workshops, administrative and service buildings, and control rooms across the 556-hectare site. The facility required a main control room to supervise and monitor oil production, several control rooms for surveillance throughout the refinery, and boardrooms to increase communication and productivity. Video walls were critical for displaying scalable content from multiple sources simu
USA - Creative Technology has announced two key promotions in its executive management team. Effective immediately, Herb Brandt has been named president of the Creative Technology Group in the US and Stephen Gray will be taking on the newly created role of senior vice president of NEP Live Events. Brandt is a 27-year veteran with extensive experience across all of CT’s business offerings. His most recent role as chief business officer focused on the client-facing side of the business, enhancing CT’s go-to-market strategies while developing new, innovative solutions for customers. Stephen Gray has been a part of the Creative Technology family since 1994 and has built a reputation grounded in customer service and operational excellence. He will continue in his current role as chief operating officer for CT US while he takes on the responsibilities as senior vice-pre
Germany - After last year’s announcement of an exclusive free-TV partnership with the US National Football League (NFL), Cologne-based private broadcaster RTL Deutschland launched the 2023/24 NFL season with a bang. As part of its preseason, the NFL celebrated its premiere on Nitro, a special-interest channel within the RTL Deutschland network, on 12 August. The event took place in RTL’s new live studio, specially designed for NFL coverage and featuring Leyard Europe LED screens. Initial work on the new NFL studio started in early February, with the RTL team employing the expertise of internationally renowned multi-disciplinary design firm, Veech x Veech, whose credits also include studios for media companies such as SKY News (London, UK), Red Bull Media House (Salzburg, Austria), and Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar and London, UK). Laurin Schmid, Leyard's sales manager fo
USA - Grammy winning American rapper LL Cool J has been rocking cities across the US over the summer with a star-studded celebration of hip-hop formed as The F.O.R.C.E Tour - with pre-made and live visuals fired by a team of tvONE's Green Hippo Hippotizers. With a line-up of special guests including DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Roots, and Ice-T, the tour was LL Cool J’s first headliner live shows in three decades and, in the run up said he wanted to ensure “everything is done right”. VUE Show Design Group was brought into the LL Cool J Camp through production designer Gary Westcott, with a brief of programming visuals “from top to bottom”. “We were tasked with re-creating the show visuals to elevate what existed before,” says VUE Show Design Group’s design associate/screens producer, Bransen Black. “This show wasn’t like your typical concert tour - it
UK - Vivitek has announced the DU7000 series of large venue projectors. The series comprises the DU7099Z, DU7199Z and DU7299Z, each offering varying levels of brightness. The DU7000 Series is capable of maintenance-free operation for up to 30,000 hours with stable and constant brightness and has an IP6X sealed engine design. This makes the series suited to large venues - such as auditoriums, lecture halls and sports arenas - as well as the rental and staging markets. Through the deployment of Vivitek’s latest laser technology, the DU7000 Series provides high brightness of up to 9,600lm, high 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio and features great colour uniformity with vivid colour technology. The new projectors also mark a shift away from manual lenses, with support for up to nine motorised lenses, including a new short throw lens 0.47-0.50 up to 5.3-8.20 for tight installation sp
