South Africa - A three-day Green Hippo Operator Certification course will be held on 14-16 May at DWR Distribution's Johannesburg address, Block C, Unit 1, Kimbult Industrial Park, 9 Zeiss Road, Laserpark, Honeydew.
The course will be presented by Suzy Stenning from Green Hippo and will cover a range of topics, from Hardware Introduction and Configuration, Media Manager, Output Manager & Viewports, Mixes / MixMaster, VideoMapper / Pixel Mapper / ScreenWarp, Timeline / DMX2 / Multicontroller, Visualizer & Custom Layouts, Shape Introduction / Configuaration/ Alignment.
The cost is R2600 and includes lunch and refreshments. Attendees should bring their own Green Hippo Media Server or Laptop with Play Software Installed.
For bookings online please visit http://dwrdistribution.co.za/register/green-hippo-training-may-2018/
(Jim Evans)

Germany - Media solutions and control specialist ArKaos revealed its new An-Ki scheduling system at Prolight+Sound and highlighted MediaMaster 5.2, the newly-launched latest release of its popular real-time video control platform.
Managing director Agnes Wojewoda comments: “We experienced another very busy show this year and saw a good mix of high quality European and international visitors, with people from the US, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa as well as Pan Pacific regions. I am impressed with this international flavour.
“Particularly interesting to us was perceiving an increase in professionals and practitioners working in the architectural and ‘architainment’ sectors which - to us - reinforced the belief that there is a hunger for new technology in these markets.”
This trend tied in with the launch of An-Ki, which addresses the need for flexible, cost-effective and fully mobile control of media interfaces.
An-Ki is an inventive tool for scheduling and monitoring the highly successful ArKaos MediaMaster platform that enables mapped video or LED installations to be maintained from anywhere in the world via the potential of the ArKaos cloud.
An-Ki was launched during a special presentation event in the Manufacturers Forum on the first day of the expo, and the feedback has been very positive, reports Agnes.
Working over the internet, An-Ki enables digital content appearing as projections, or creative media on any LED mappable surfaces or devices to be updated, synched and tweaked in just a couple of cl

USA - Building on the success of the SixBar series of colour-changing LED battens, Elation Professional now offers the Seven Batten, a new line of linear lighting effects using the latest seven-colour multi-chip LED technology for an even more flexible colour wash solution.
The Seven Batten Series house individual 25W 7-IN-1 RGBAW + Lime + UV LEDs and boost an improved optical design for better colour mixing and smoothness of field. The fixtures can also project uniform colour onto any surface, whether lining the downstage edge or flown in a truss.
Available in 1ft (0.3m), 4ft (1.2m) and 6ft (1.8m) lengths, Seven Batten fixtures produce nearly 80% more lumens versus comparably sized SixBar series fixtures. An updated rugged die-cast aluminium case design provides improved thermal control and heat management, ensuring stable, improved performance and extending the fixtures’ lifetime.
Useful for production applications or installations as a wash light, uplight, wall/cyc wash, accent lighting, direct view pixel strip and more, the Seven Batten’s high-power LEDs offer an expanded palette of colours, including stunning ambers, true whites and even an ultraviolet effect. The addition of the Lime LED produces a better white mixed output and improved CRI across all mixed white colour temperatures while the Amber extends the colour range and provides an effective means of colour temperature control and higher colour rendering. LED zone control allows for even further design possibilities and eye candy looks.
All fixtures in the Seven Batten serie

Spain - Valencia-based audio-visual equipment manufacturer WORK Pro Audio is today has announced two product additions to its innovative LightShark range of lighting consoles: the LS-Wing console expander unit, which is designed to complement and extend the original LS-1 console, and the four-strong range of LS-Nodes, affordable hardware expanders for the LightShark system that add extra DMX and Ethernet connectivity without the user interface and physical controls of the LS-1 and LS-Wing units.
Launched in 2017, LightShark was the first DMX-based hardware lighting console range to offer wireless, browser-based control from a multi-touch smartphone or tablet, whilst also providing a rugged and intuitive hardware user interface in the form of the LS-1 unit. The new LS-Wing, which is slightly narrower than the original LS-1 but still comfortably holds a 12.9-inch iPad Pro on its top surface mounting area, connects to the LS-1 via Ethernet and allows users to expand the physical controls available in their LightShark systems.
Each LS-Wing adds 20 backlit buttons and 10 Playbacks, plus two further universes of DMX control (that is, a further 2 x 512 channels of lighting control) and an extra three Ethernet ports, while a pair of USB connectors allow users to charge the associated tablets or mobile devices being used to control their LightShark system.
Four different models of LS-Node are available: the LS-Node1, LS-Node2, LS-Node 4 and LS-Node8, each of which adds its respective number of freely configurable DMX Universes to the connected DMX-capable li

Germany - Claypaky presented a new concept in theme booths as it introduced its stage lighting products at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt.
The Claypaky booth concept was based on three theme showrooms. Demos were performed in each one by alternating lighting techniques with evocative visual effects, creating an absorbing multimedia mix enjoyed by the almost 3,000 visitors who came to the showrooms over the four days.
"We saw enormous interest," comments CEO Pio Nahum and marketing manager Davide Barbetta. "The theme itinerary through the three showrooms worked in a continuous cycle, yet there were visitors waiting to enter at every time of day, and their numbers even increased on the last days. We think word got round of a highly detailed demo, put together by our technical team consisting of Claypaky's lighting designers, Marco Zucchinali and Giulia Sabeva, and visual design experts."
Making its international debut at the show was the Zac-Eye, a stand-alone followspot that uses artificial intelligence: the movements of Claypaky lights are controlled automatically by a device that connects to them via Ethernet. Its 3D optical sensor detects all the objects on stage, and a sophisticated algorithm distinguishes human shapes from the rest of the surroundings. In this way, it is possible to follow up to 4 actors on stage independently and automatically with any Claypaky light.
The Axcor 300 family of ultra-compact LED moving heads was presented for the first time at PL+S.
There was also great interest in the début of the HEPIKOS, an innovative

Poland - The Leonardo da Vinci Energy of the Mind exhibition, which recently opened in EC1 Łódź City of Culture in Poland, is being lit with 120 x Robe ParFect 100 LED luminaires.
Taking centre stage in the EC1 building, an impressive fusion of industrial art, heritage and modern design that sees the original power station of Poland’s third city reimagined as a vibrant science and technology centre.
The acclaimed exhibition - which has previously appeared in Paris, Munich, Brasilia and London - is a collaboration between EC1 Łódź, the Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie in Paris and producers, the Muzei Nazionale della Scienza et della Tecnologica Leonardo da Vinci.
Installed in the majestic former turbine hall of EC1, over 70 exhibits include historical models, interactive installations, films and contemporary examples of bio-inspired robotics, aviation and material technology, all focused on the activity of Leonardo da Vinci as a scientist, engineer and inventor.
There are seven sections to the expo, six presented by the da Vinci Institute and the seventh by the National Festival for Film and Culture in Poland.
Scheduled to run for six months, EC1 has purchased the ParFect 100s, and the fixtures will then be used for other expositions and events taking place in the complex.
ParFects were chosen for their tuneable whites and smooth refined colour mixing by the exhibition’s lighting designer Sebastian Binder, in consultation with Robe’s Warsaw based Polish distributor Prolight, where the supply was co-ordinat

USA - Systems integrator OSA International recently deployed a complete Harman Professional Solutions audio system at Navy Pier in downtown Chicago.
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is one of the city's biggest tourist attractions, both in popularity and size. As part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the entire Pier, management decided to install a permanent audio system for the newly-created Polk Bros Performance Lawns, a free outdoor concert space designed to host artists from Chicago's vibrant local music scene, as well as occasional touring acts.
Navy Pier has relied on Harman audio solutions for more than a decade, so when it came time to design the new system for the Lake Stage and City Stage, the Pier hired audio consulting firm Threshold Acoustics to design an all-Harman audio solution based around JBL Professional VTX V20 line-array loudspeakers.
“We needed a line-array system that was highly controllable so that we could manage its impact on the surrounding area,” comments Jason Kartak, senior consultant at Threshold Acoustics. “There's a housing development nearby, and they wanted to make sure that the noise from the shows did not disturb its residents. There had been noise complaints in the past, so that was something we had to look at very carefully with the design.”
The system is comprised of two main hangs of 12 V20 loudspeakers, six JBL VT4886 line-array loudspeakers as front-fills, two delay towers equipped with JBL PD6212/95-WRX loudspeakers, and six JBL VTX G28 subwoofers deployed on the ground

UK - Lighting and visuals rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting and video for the recent UK tour by Welsh rockers Feeder, who are back on the road with their Arrow album tour.
Bryan Leitch is the band’s LD and visual designer and the person who took the tour to Colour Sound after previous excellent experiences with the west London based company. “It was a video-based tour so ideal for Colour Sound,” he comments. Colour Sound also invested in some new lighting fixtures to ensure that Bryan had exactly the rig he wanted.
Bryan has worked for Feeder since 2004. On this tour he was joined on the road by technician / crew chief - and Colour Sound regular - James Hind.
His creative inspiration for the design started with three festival shows last summer where they used an upstage screen split into three sections, a format that lead singer / guitarist Grant Nicholas really liked.
Another consideration for the overall design was that it had to be scalable to deal the wide range of venue sizes.
This touring version utilised 60 panels of Colour Sound’s proprietary BT-6 LED screen, configured as four tiles wide and five high (20 panels per screen) which was upped to six-high for the London show at Brixton Academy.
Video content was a mix of existing material and new footage which was created by Bryan - much of the new clips were shot on an iPhone 8 - then edited and complied to fit exactly to the screen specifications. This was replayed via a pair of Green Hippo v4 media servers.
New kit bought for

USA - Stars from all musical genres came to headline shows and after parties during the Masters Golf Tournament this month. Among this stellar group is rapper and film star Nelly. The double Grammy winner, who has sold 21m records in his career, got a jump on the festivities this year, when he came to Augusta in early March to perform a Masters warmup concert of sorts at the city’s popular Country Club live music venue.
With an artist of Nelly’s stature visiting his mid-sized venue, house LD John Berret wanted to go all out to create some special looks on stage. He did just that, with help from a collection of ground stacked Chauvet Professional Rogue fixtures, supplied by Quest Sound & Productions LLC.
“Normally, we keep a lot of intense lighting on the dance floor, but with Nelly we wanted to pull everyone’s attention to the centre of the stage,” says Berret. “The best way to do this, given the space and budget we had to work with, was to surround him with bright and colourful deck mounted lights. The Rogues fit this bill perfectly.”
Berret positioned two Rogue R1 Beam fixtures and one Rogue R1 FX-B on either side of the DJ booth. Drawing on the independently controlled prisms of the Rogue R1 units, he split their beams. Coupling this effect with the five independently controlled heads on his Rogue R1 FX-B fixtures, he was able to create a lattice work of beams over the stage, creating a compelling light field around the mega-star rapper as he performed.
“It looked like we had a lot more beams out there, given the number

USA - Known colloquially as RodeoHouston, The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) is the world’s largest livestock show and richest regular season rodeo, dedicated to benefiting youth, supporting education, and facilitating better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. It draws more than 1.4m people each year to the 72,000-capacity NRG Stadium and over 2.5m people to NRG Park to enjoy the entire festivities.
Running for 20 days in February-March, it attracts the very top names in country music, from Garth Brooks through to Brad Paisley, who perform after the main rodeo event each day.
Such high calibre artists demand top concert production values and this year the Rodeo boosted its technological infrastructure by purchasing a new stage - built by TAIT in Lititz, PA. Working closely with TAIT, and leaning heavily towards GLP fixtures, were Houston based LD Systems. The company has been servicing the rodeo since 1985, and provided all technical design, live sound, concert lighting, HD video screens, custom truss structures, rigging equipment, production crew and logistics throughout the season.
LD Systems is headed by Rob McKinley, who has specified over 300 GLP fixtures, comprising 140 x impression X4; 70 x JDC1; 108 x X4 Bar 20 and 16 x X4 Bar 10.
The process of designing and building the new stage started after the 2015 event, which is when LD made the recommendation to HLSR to engage TAIT to provide a vibrant structure for the 72,000 capacity stadium. In deference to the Lone Star state, this was conceived as a

UK - Details for the funeral of late sound engineer Barry Bartlett have been released.
The funeral service for Bartlett, who died peacefully on 30 March, will be held at 11.20am on Monday, 23 April at Mortlake Crematorium, Kew Meadow Path, Richmond TW9 4EN. The family also invites Bartlett’s friends, colleagues and associates to join them for a reception after the service at 12:00pm at Putney Town Rowing Club.
Parking will be available at either location while nearest stations are Mortlake and Underground or Overground Kew Gardens (both a 15-minute walk). The family has asked for family flowers only while donations can be made to Woking & Sam Beare Hospice - www.wsbhospices.co.uk/support-us/remembrance/in-memory-donations/
Those wishing to attend the service are asked to RSVP to jackier@training.britanniarow.com. To celebrate Barry’s life, the family encourages people to send their pictures of him to jackier@training.britanniarow.com or bring them along on the day.
(Jim Evans)

UK - To strengthen its marketing and distribution efforts across the UK, Atlona has appointed Sahara AV as its manufacturer’s representative for the territory. Headquartered in London, Sahara AV will work closely with systems integrators, consultants and end users to demonstrate, deliver and support Atlona’s complete line of signal management and control systems, with a goal of moving more commercial facilities to AV over IP solutions.
To achieve its goal of accelerating transitions to the network, Sahara AV will leverage Atlona’s strengths in AV over IP and networked control, including its Atlona’s OmniStream AV over IP distribution platform, second-generation Atlona Management Systems (AMS), and Velocity IP-based AV control solution.
Shaun Marklew, Sahara AV sales and marketing director, comments: “By working with Atlona, we are now in a stronger position to extend our reach into the many vertical markets we serve and move our customers to networked systems and workflows that will bring new opportunities and efficiencies to their operations.”
This spring, Sahara AV representatives will offer frequent training courses on the end-to-end Atlona product line at its Edinburgh, Leeds and London Innovation Centres, and present Atlona solutions at road shows along complementary gear.
Sahara AV is part of the Sahara Presentations System Group, which for more than 40 years, has been distributing cutting-edge AV solutions and software through Sahara AV, primarily to the corporate, healthcare, retail, compulsory education and higher/further

South Africa - DiGiCo Training will be presented by DWR Distribution’s Kyle Robson in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg in May.
The two-day training session will cover everything from racks and solutions, the SD Series overview, connections and networking, recording and waves, both basic and advanced operation and then a Q&A Session.
The dates are Durban on 10 and 11 May, Cape Town on 17 and 18 May and in Johannesburg on 24 and 25 May. The training will be hosted at the DWR offices. The cost is R1700 and includes lunch and refreshments.
(Jim Evans)

USA - Orlando-based Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) has announced seven new products designed to simplify the deployment of wireless systems.
The new PWS 4X4 provides quad antenna distribution for the Shure Axient Digital Quadversity wireless microphone system. The unit can handle up to four receivers and features 470-616 MHz filtering, bias power control/status LEDs for each input, rotary attenuators, and dual power inputs that allow for redundant power.
The company has also debuted the V-IC, four-zone intercom multicoupler for the VHF range – designed for use with Radio Active Designs UV-1G wireless intercom systems. The unit is optimised for use in the VHF frequency range, filtered for 179-216 MHz. Four antenna inputs are combined, filtered and amplified to unity gain. Eight outputs supply signal for up to eight UV-1G base stations.
The P-812S houses eight independent passive two-way RF splitters, capable of handling high-power transmit signals. The P-812S enables 2-zone transmission for up to four UV-1G base stations. The 1RU unit is far more convenient and more rugged than traditional methods.
The UX-8 is an updated version of the popular GX-8 transmit combiner. The refreshed unit removes the old frequency screen and replaces it with input status LEDs. The rear power connector is now an XLR5, which offers a more secure, locking connection. Same great performance at a lower price.
The DC-4R is a power supply solution that powers up to four Radio Active Design bases or chargers in an easy-to-use 1RU package. Features include s

USA - OSA International has purchased 248 Wavefront Precision Compact and Mini line array cabinets, making it the world’s largest rental company of Martin Audio.
The purchase was complemented by iKON amplifiers, iK42 and iK81, as well as the new SXH218 high performance double 18” subwoofers, the first purchase by a rental house globally.
Mario Educate, OSA president, comments, “We’ve used these speaker cabinets on several shows already this quarter, and the sound quality out of the Wavefront Precision arrays is unbelievable. They bring out the subtleties of the score better than any other line array we’ve used, so the audience can really immerse themselves in the meeting experience through the audio.”
Dom Harter, managing director of Martin Audio, adds: “The trust and investment made by Mario with the support from Jim Risgin and the entire OSA team means a lot to Martin Audio. Our team is focused on using the Wavefront Precision systems to bring true, patented optimisation technology to the wider market. To hear these systems are immediately delivering jaw dropping shows is all the ratification we need.”
Chicago, Nashville and Las Vegas-based OSA already has a significant inventory of Martin Audio’s MLA Series. Educate adds: “Our engineers are already proud of the work they’ve done with Martin Audio’s MLA series - the multi-cellular array technology has been a game changer in our industry and allowed us to deliver the most precise sound coverage time and time again. The Wavefront Precision series will allow our engineer

USA - Charity Behind the Scenes reports that TMB recently reached a significant milestone as one of its Pledge-a-Product Partners. TMB has now donated over $100,000 to the charity from sales of its ProXS professional lighting fixture accessories. The ProXS line includes pattern holders, donuts, top hats, half hats, irises, barndoors, colour extenders, beam benders, spill rings, colour frames, and more. For more information visit http://tmb.com/proxs/.
Colin Waters, CEO of TMB, explains why his company supports the charity, “Behind the Scenes is such a great programme. We are glad to do our part, helping this valuable work.”
Rick Rudolph, the chair of Behind the Scenes, acknowledged the moment saying, “When Colin proposed becoming a Pledge-a-Product Partner we never dreamt that a line of fixture accessories could do so much to help industry professionals in need. TMB’s generosity has gone a long way in enabling us to assist those who are seriously ill or injured. TMB, its employees and its customers should all be proud of their role in caring for their colleagues. They have made an invaluable contribution.”
The Behind the Scenes charity provides entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured with grants that may be used for basic living and medical expenses. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.behindthescenescharity.org. For more information about our Pledge-a-Product

USA - The stage was set up to resemble a wrestling ring, but the 1000 or so students from four states who gathered at suburban Naperville North High School recently didn’t “duke it out”, they belted it out, in the form of beautifully sung and choreographed musical arrangements. Their spirited performances were part of the third annual Clash of the Sequins, a competition involving 22 show choirs from across the Midwest that raises funds for performing arts programs.
Providing a sparkling and rocking high-energy visual backdrop for the day of non-stop singing and dancing was a Garrett Vander Veen-designed lightshow, anchored by 48 Rogue R2 Wash fixtures from Chauvet Professional. Vander Veen, owner of V2 Productions, covered the entire 48’ wide by 32’ deep stage with his Rogue fixtures, flying eight of them on upstage truss, 24 on the mid-stage ‘claw’ and 16 on a downstage truss.
“In the three years since it started, Clash of the Sequins has developed a large following for being very production-heavy,” says Vander Veen. “We decided to embrace this look more than ever in 2018 - and nothing says big production like a 1980s rock show rig, which is exactly what sparked the concept for this design.
“It’s not all rock and roll though, and that’s where having R2 Washes was really nice,” continues Vander Veen. “We could do anything with the Rogues, from creating wide wash looks all the way down to tight ACL looks, and anything in between. The Rogues in the claw also gave us some nice movement on stage without the r

USA - The Cincinnati Zoo features a world-class menagerie of animals from far and wide, including lions, monkeys, manatees, and a baby hippo named Fiona that has recently stolen the hearts of its 1.8m annual visitors.
Emphasising an innovative approach, the Cincinnati Zoo emphasises education, outreach, conservation, and giving every visitor a unique experience with wildlife that they would not have anywhere else. What the zoo lacked until recently was a reliable audio system for delivering messages throughout its sprawling campus.
“Innovation is one of our core values and something that we take very seriously,” says Chad Yelton, vice president marketing & communications, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. “It informs everything we do, from our sustainability program and our green initiative to how we build habitats, to the people that we hire and every event that we put on here at the zoo. The desire to innovate drove our search for a better audio and security solution, and that search led us to DEVA.”
In addition to providing pristine sounding music throughout the zoo campus, the new multi-point DEVA system also helps with communication and messaging challenges: “With as many guests as the zoo attracts, we recognised the need for the paging system that could clearly and effectively deliver messages throughout our space,” says Dutch Mulholland, IT / AV director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. In his hunt for a practical solution, Mulholland discovered power of the DEVA wireless multimedia device.
Mulholland

UK - Lighting designer Michael Straun recently deployed a full array of Martin by Harman fixtures to create a dynamic lighting design to support James Arthur’s UK headlining Back From the Edge arena tour.
James Arthur has scored numerous chart-toppers and awards since winning the ninth season of The X Factor in 2012. In support of his new album Back From The Edge, Arthur recently embarked on his first ever UK arena tour. Tour manager JP Firmin and creative director Meggan McKenzie from UK creative production company The Live Dept. hired Straun to join their team, and together created a fresh and exciting lighting design for the tour. Straun partnered with McKenzie, tour lighting director Dan Williams and lighting supplier Christie Lites to create a dynamic visual experience for the tour, powered by a robust selection of Martin fixtures.
“Meggan and I worked on one of James Arthur’s earlier tours, but we really had to scale up the visual production for his first arena tour,” said Straun. “James’s new direction is less pop-oriented - he wants his concerts to feel like a classic rock and roll show. The goal was designing a dynamic show that takes the audience on a ride from beginning to end. The Martin-based rig definitely helped us match his high-energy performances with immersive visuals.”
McKenzie’s set design eschews traditional video walls, instead featuring vintage television sets and arcade cabinets that are integrated with the band’s backline. The back wall of the set features an arched soft ladder wall o

UK - Stage Electrics has announced the addition of the complete range of MagicFX special effects to complement its existing stock of pyrotechnics effects, smoke and haze effects machines.
“We already have a range of effects and effect machines in our product range and we wanted to expand on these with effects such as confetti streamers, bubble blasters and stage flames, which are so popular at events and festivals,” says James Cookson, product sales account manager at Stage Electrics. “Our policy is to only stock equipment from leading manufacturers such as Le Maitre, whose quality and safety standards we have absolute confidence in. MagicFX fits those criteria perfectly.”
Stage Electrics recently made a very large sale of MagicFX product to laser show and laser system design specialist ER Productions, who purchased a range of Magic FX Confetti systems and stage CO2 effects.
“We decided to invest in an SFX range after growing demand from our clients in the USA, where SFX and lasers are often supplied by the same company. Build quality and safety are central to our ethos and naturally, we require the same attention to detail from our suppliers,” says Ryan Hagan, co-founder of ER Productions. “James Cookson and the team at Stage Electrics understand this and have helped us to grow our SFX offering and deliver the highest quality solutions to our international clients.”
Having débuted on OneRepublic’s Honda Civic Tour of North America in 2017, the new kit brought some festive drama to Its Christmas with Sky Arts at Th