Europe - Sennheiser, together with existing investors, is investing 7m euros in the Norwegian scale-up business sensiBel. The company has developed optical MEMS microphones. The miniature microphones ‘enable a completely new and improved experience in application areas such as consumer electronics, automotive, conferencing solutions, and medical devices’.
"We want to grow sustainably as a company. In addition to investments in our existing business, this also includes investments in promising future fields outside of our company, providing these align well to our company and our vision," explains co-CEO Daniel Sennheiser.
Andreas Sennheiser adds: "sensiBel's innovative optical MEMS technology is clearly this type of promising emerging field. As investors, we look forward to actively driving forward this groundbreaking development."
sensiBel has developed a miniature microphone using optical technology that enables a generational shift in MEMS microphone performance, which is now sampling with lead customers. “sensiBel shares the same vision as Sennheiser and we are proud to welcome Sennheiser as investor,” says sensiBel CEO Sverre Dale Moen. He continues: “We believe an investment from such a highly recognised audio company speaks of the merits of the technology and the potential for optical MEMS technology to shape the future of miniature microphones.”
The distinctive feature of sensiBel’s technology is the use of light waves to measure the movement of the diaphragm. By contrast, conventional MEMS microphones measure an electr
USA - Meyer Sound has launched an expanded education programme for 2024, coinciding with the celebration of its 45th anniversary.
“As the pace of audio technology accelerates, Meyer Sound is strengthening its commitment to education programs, which we see as investing in the future of the industry,” says Robyn Bykofsky, Meyer Sound’s training & education manager. “Our training programmes are aimed at all experience levels, with science-backed in-person and virtual course content that fits the way people learn today.”
The 2024 programme builds on the success of the company’s revamped 2023 initiatives, which engaged more than 1,800 students through 50 in-person trainings around the world and through coursework in the new Meyer Sound Learning online platform.
This year, Meyer Sound is extending in-person education across the U.S. and beyond, with trainings in Berkeley, CA; Irvine, CA; Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; and international events in Mexico City; Hamburg, Germany; and Derby, UK. Building on the success of 2023’s pilot programme, the Meyer Sound Learning platform continues to expand its offerings, including supplemental online training materials, on-demand e-learning content, and virtual instructor-led sessions.
Meyer Sound’s collaborations with key industry players showcase the power of industry cooperation in nurturing artistic and technical excellence and advancing innovation.
In January, Meyer Sound held a three-day training at Clair Global for Metallica tour crew members and Clair Global staff, focusing on de
UK - Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray - adapted and directed by multi award-winning Kip Williams, artistic director of the acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company - tells this classic story through an explosive interplay of live performance and video.
It recently opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and stars Sarah Snook, who plays 26 roles. It features a lighting design by Nick Schlieper who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to provide the lighting equipment.
Whilst there have been several stage adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray over the years, it’s the first time that this version, which premiered four years ago at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney, has played overseas. Nick, who also lit the original Australian production, explains: “Although I’ve always been familiar with the novel, I haven’t actually seen another stage adaptation, or even any of the film versions of Dorian Gray, so was able to enter our production with a fresh pair of eyes as it were. What I would say though, is that this production is highly unusual in that it’s a real amalgamation of forms.
“It’s neither a piece of theatre which incorporates some video, nor is it a film where you get to simultaneously see the “making of”. What we set out to do was find a true melding of the two forms, where each one serves to heighten and amplify one’s experience of the other. We shift the focus throughout the evening, but the two always exist in a symbiotic balance. Some have described it as ‘Cine-t
USA - Martin Audio US has set two training days to ensure system users and designers are properly equipped to get the best outcome from their implementations. They will learn how to achieve full optimisation, control and monitoring of performance on a variety of Martin Audio systems.
The two-day programme will take place on 13-14 March at Frost Productions, 6 Empire Blvd, Moonachie, NJ 07074 and the trainer will be product support engineer, Joe Lima.
Day one will examine in depth Martin Audio’s proprietary software platforms, Display 2, Display 3 and Vu-Net. The following day will see attendees explore the MLA Mini, in groundstack and flown configurations, before diving into networking and connectivity, and concluding with an XE system overview.
Joe Lima comments: “As the demand for Martin Audio products continues to increase in the US market, training on systems like DISPLAY and VU-NET is not just beneficial but vital. With our products gaining significant traction and recognition within the marketplace, ensuring that professionals are well-versed in the intricacies of our software is paramount.”
Registration is at https://martin-audio.com/events/march2024training
UK - Edinburgh's Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve) celebrations always draw big festive crowds with myriad activities and programmes for all ages. For the 2023/24 event, Claypaky Skylos and Xtylos Aqua fixtures played key roles in the midnight moment where all eyes turned to Edinburgh Castle.
Unique Assembly produced Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 for Edinburgh Council and Event Scotland. The four-day programme ushering in the New Year included Björn Again, headlining the Night Afore Disco Party and an all-night cèilidh and live band party. Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens hosted some 50,000 party-goers at the Street Party and Concert in the Gardens, where everyone looked to the hilltop Castle as midnight approached.
Lighting designer Ben Terry was tasked with enhancing the crucial moment and showcasing Edinburgh Castle as the centrepiece of Hogmanay. To achieve this, he aligned 10 Claypaky Skylos laser-source searchlights and 16 Xtylos Aqua IP66-rated laser-source moving heads along the Argyll Battery, the main artillery defence on the north side of the Castle in days gone by.
“I hoped the Skylos would have the punch to fill the sky and be seen through the firework smoke. They definitely delivered and were incredibly eye-catching,” Terry reports. “The Xtylos Aqua were tried and tested from their use in last year’s Hogmanay, and once again, they proved to be bright, colourful, and versatile.”
Terry found that the complement of Skylos and Xtylos Aquas fixtures “were visible from all over the city in both white and col
Belgium - The rides in Circus Bumba never leave the ground, at least not literally. But when seen through the eyes of a child, they soar high, up to the rarified, faraway space where colour meets imagination.
Based on the popular Flemish television show of the same name, the recently opened 3,000m2 themed attraction captivates guests with its bright, cheerful panoramas complete with whimsical characters and fairytale-like scenery.
Enhancing the magical effect of this transformative venue is a collection of over 300 Chauvet Professional fixtures. These units are positioned throughout the main ride, Op Reis met Bumba (Dark Ride), as well as other rides and the park’s theatre.
Drawing on the colour-rendering capabilities of these fixtures, Pieter Dewaegeneere, technical investment manager, and rest of the Circus Bumba team have created a wide array of enchanting looks, from bold primaries and soft pastels to mysterious deeply saturated shadows, throughout the space.
Describing the design process, Dewaegeneere said: “Because of the constant changes in the design phase of the venue, we decided to do the lighting design ourselves. The installation itself and delivery of products was done by Decat. Everything is being controlled via ArtNet, with cables in the roof, but never more than 10 units in a row, so we can easily turn off a group of fixtures.”
Looking to create a dreamy aura throughout Circus Bumba, the design team positioned 43 COLORdash Par H7 IP RGBWA-UV wash lights on the road leading through the venue. Carrying the colour thre
UK - As part of a major £2m refurbishment which has seen a complete renovation of the 200-year-old Grade II-listed former Post Office building, Leeds Bar & Grill has substantially boosted its in-house sound reinforcement.
By augmenting the existing PA with a potent RCF solution, Audio Visual One (AV One) has ensured that the atmosphere is now in keeping with the operation’s new hybrid bar/restaurant trading policy.
AV One was appointed after having previously carried out work for operators, Individual Restaurants, in other units.
Company owner, Stephen Bailey turned to RCF’s Compact M series when supercharging the interior, selecting four white M 12 multipurpose two-way full-range speakers for the newly defined bar area, along with a low-profile S8015LP 15in bandpass subwoofer, designed specifically for discreet under-seat placement. These are powered by a pair of RCF IPS 1.5K (2 x 750W @ 4Ω) power amps.
To augment the existing wall speakers in the restaurant they added a further pair of concealed S8015LP subs, driven by an IPS 2.5K (2 x 1250W @ 4Ω) amplifiers. The RCF inventory was supplied by Leisuretec.
Stephen Bailey himself designed the multi-zone sound system - incorporating bar, restaurant, mezzanine and the outside area. He confirmed that this solution was designed to fit the brief of reproducing a range of inputs, from background music and DJ-sourced content, along with bands and gospel choirs at weekends.
“The RCF speakers were recommended by us as they delivered the right amount of SPL for the budget, while
USA - Bandit Lites is lighting platinum selling hitmaker Cody Johnson. With his recent sold-out appearance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Cody broke records as the most tickets sold by a male country artist in their Bridgestone debut. Johnson performed a nearly two-hour set before a crowd that never sat. One of the most poignant statements from the superstar during the night: “God put me on this earth to make country music country music again.”
“Richard ‘Wookie’ Whitley designed The Leather Tour floor package and the full 360 rig used in Bridgestone,” said Bandit Lites client representative Allen Deneau. “Both are dynamic in their capabilities, but easy to transport and deploy. Project manager Don Lockridge was extremely instrumental in helping Wookie and Clint shape the rig into what we used for the show. Months of discussions, drawing updates, gear discussions all went into this rig.”
Bandit Lites provided more than 175 fixtures including Ayrton Khamsin S, Chauvet Strike 4 Array Blinders, GLP JDC1 LED Strobes, HES SolaPix 19 and a grandMA3 Full console for control as well as more than 420ft of Tyler truss.
“The washes are my go-to for flooding the stage with colour, but also using for colour effects,” Wookie said. “I have them zoomed in for a few of the upbeat songs for that added punch and tight beam look. Strobes are meant just for that. Those build up moments or those big hits where you need that little extra oomph. Having them for colour effects and bumps helps a lot too. The crowd lights were perfect for the big hi
The Netherlands - Rogier Trok is joining the Avolites international team as sales and technical key account manager for mainland Europe, where he will be based in the Netherlands, and overseeing and co-ordinating with the pan-European distribution network there.
His work will include assisting distributors with sales and demonstrations as well as console and media server training.
Rogier brings onboard 20 years of rental company experience as a lighting technician, lighting designer and project manager. He also worked at Avolites’ Dutch distributor, Fairlight, providing console and media server training, garnering valuable experience related to the needs and demands of a distributor.
Rogier has also taught theatre technicals - programming, focussing, technical drawing, networking, etc - at Deltion College in Zwolle, Netherlands. He has also always been an Avolites user.
Avolites MD Paul Wong stated: “Rogier brings massive industry knowledge and as an experienced Avolites user is a perfect fit to further strengthen our position in Europe. Rogier’s main task will be working closely with and supporting our expanding distribution network in mainland Europe. We’ve known Rogier for many years and are delighted to welcome him to the Avolites team.”
UK - Event production and audio-visual Installation company, Spotlight Sound has announced that Ashton Gold will join the team as account manager.
Ashton comes to Spotlight Sound from The Lion Inn in Boreham where she was the event planner.
“I will be fundamental in liaising between the client and technicians from the planning to execution of their event,” says Ashton. “My role means that the technicians can fully concentrate on the production of the event and I can make sure everything else runs smoothly.”
Sam Dimond, director of Spotlight Sound adds: “We’re really pleased to welcome Ashton onto the team. Her experience in planning and running events will be fundamental to the ongoing success and growth of Spotlight Sound.”
Spotlight Sound produces a spread of events including the Willow Ball and London Football Awards. Last year they provided the technical event production for Olly Murr's wedding to Amelia Tank on Osea Island in Essex.
Canada - Powersoft has announced the appointment of AVL Media Group, a division of Intellimix Corp, as its new distributor and service centre for Canada.
Established more than 25 years ago, AVL Media Group is an award-winning distribution company with a mission of developing long-term, mutually beneficial, business relationships through professional products backed by excellent sales, service and technical support.
“We are excited to be represent Powersoft in Canada and we are looking forward to informing Canadian customers about Powersoft’s offerings with particular emphasis on Mezzo, the new Unica amplifier platform, and the recently announced Verso cloud gateway,” says Andrew Hope, managing director of AVL Media Group.
AVL Media Group will focus on promoting Powersoft’s products and technologies, making its customers and potential partners aware of their unique features and benefits to significantly grow the Italian audio manufacturer’s footprint in Canada.
“Powersoft’s reputation worldwide is built on quality and reliability. It is, without question, the amplifier brand that is leading the market with advanced technology and innovation for installed sound,” says Hope. “Powersoft’s amplifiers, in combination with the other brands we represent such as Tannoy and Symetrix, enhance our ability to offer complete integrated solutions to our customers.”
AVL Media Group will continue to build Powersoft’s established brand recognition by actively engaging in the market with multi-faceted awareness campaigns, webina
Italy - With his glowing bow that evokes a Jedi lightsabre, electric violinist Andrea Casta is known as the ‘Jedi Violinist’. Casta performs over 200 concerts a year that reach more than 2m live spectators. The artist has taken his music to over 30 countries and boasts a social fanbase of nearly half a million followers.
His recent tour, The Space Violin - Visual Concert, sold out in major Italian cities. He was awarded Best Performer at the Dance Music Awards in 2018 and 2022. Many of Casta’s performances are smaller, boutique events. For those, the artist has chosen a TT+ Audio System that satisfies his desire to bring the highest possible sound quality and musical clarity to his audiences while being highly versatile, portable and aesthetically discreet.
“My smaller performances were a real challenge,” said Casta. "I needed a compact and easily transportable system, capable of taking my music to my audiences with the same quality found on big live stages. And I wanted it to integrate well with the architecture of both modern and classic venues.”
He continued: "As a long-time RCF customer, I chose their new brand, TT+ Audio, and created a system with TT 515-A full-range loudspeakers and the TT 808-AS subwoofer. I’ve been using this system for several months now, and it has proven perfect for my needs, offering a timbral clarity I’ve never experienced before with a compact system."
The TT 515-A is a compact, versatile two-way loudspeaker with two 5” neodymium woofers, a 1.75” titanium compression driver and a 100° x 7
USA - Visual design group Lightswitch has overseen lighting design and creative direction for Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens in Southern California since 2016. This year, the popular one-mile nighttime walk through colourful and dazzling lighting displays shined brighter than ever with an expanded IP-rated lighting package from Elation that included the company’s new Proteus Hybrid MAX.
Enchanted is an immersive visual experience tailor-made to highlight the historic botanical garden’s beauty and flora. Each year, Lightswitch reimagines portions of the experience, enhancing areas and repositioning luminaires. This season’s show ran from 19 November through 7 January and included a new area as a result of refurbishment elsewhere in the gardens.
Lightswitch creates and produces the entire “Enchanted Forest of Light” experience, designing lighting, media, and interactives, as well as overseeing music selection, sound design, and technical and logistical production. Under the leadership of Lightswitch principal Chris Medvitz, the visual design has consistently relied on Elation lighting for the past seven years. This year, Elation IP65 lighting was expanded to all areas of the display, further enhancing the enchanting atmosphere.
Collaboration with outside artists is an integral part of the Enchanted experience. On the main lawn, a series of magical stained-glass-inspired houses by sculptor Tom Fruin are internally lit with SixBar 1000 IP LED battens while in the rose garden geometric sculptures by artists Hybycozo glow from w
Denmark - Aarhus Musikhuset has recently invested in Robe Painte moving lights and TX1 PosiProfiles for three of its halls. The Rhythmic Hall (Rytmisk Sal) also known as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall has eight Paintes, the Small Hall (Lille Sal) has seven TX1, with another eight TX1s - four with gobos - for the 1,172-capacity Symphonic Hall (Symfonisk Sal).
The lights were specified by the Musikhuset’s head of lighting Henrik Hambro and his crew, and delivered by Robe’s Danish distributor, Light Partner.
The venue is a cultural and entertainment beacon at the heart of Denmark’s lively second city and stages over 1400 shows and productions annually. Originally opened in 1982, it was substantially expanded in 2007 to over 40,000sq.m of facilities offering seven differently sized and styled performance spaces including the three mentioned above.
A diverse and action-packed programme embraces music, dance, comedy, and all forms of live performance from the experimental to the classical and areas of the Musikhuset are also hired for business and private events.
Henrik has been working there for the last 15 years and runs the lighting department comprising six full time staff, who were all involved in the final decision about which lights to purchase.
The eight Paintes in Rhythmic Hall are providing front light, so high CRI was top of the features wish-list for this, and this space is frequently used for chamber music concerts, so low noise was also important. Henrik likes the punch of the Paintes, the size fits with the lower trim heigh
UK - Founded in 1943, the Cathedral Church of All Saints - better known as Derby Cathedral - is one of Derby’s most beautiful and historic sites and holds many monuments of Derby’s and Derbyshire’s past. An important spiritual and cultural hub for the city and surrounding areas, the cathedral hosts no fewer than 18 services per week plus special and seasonal services to celebrate important events in the religious calendar.
The cathedral recently turned to specialist consultant and integrator, Charles Brown of Acoustic Solutions to upgrade their audio solution to bring it into line with modern requirements. Brown specified and delivered a comprehensive point source system from KV2 Audio.
Brown is something of a reference when it comes to installing audio solutions in churches and cathedrals throughout the UK and is often the first port of call for houses of worship looking to upgrade or renew their systems. Derby Cathedral was no exception.
“The pandemic was a catalyst for change for many churches as they were forced into live streaming in order to continue to connect with their congregations,” explains Brown. “I’ve installed over 40 live streaming systems in churches across the UK as a result, and it was whilst advising Derby Cathedral on this topic that it became apparent that their current loudspeaker system was less than adequate for the job.”
The cathedral needed clarity of the spoken word and detailed, low-level playback that could be perfectly heard without over-exciting the acoustic of the building. Brown demonstrate
Algeria - The desire to improve the quality and efficiency of the technologies for post-match press conferences has seen an increasing number of sporting arenas investing in their press facilities. The recently completed new stadium in the city of Tizi Ouzou is a venue that has made this a priority right from the start, with the installation of a CCS 1000 D Digital Discussion System and an Integrus Wireless Language Distribution System from Bosch Building Technologies.
The 50,000-seat stadium is the new home of Algeria’s most successful football club, JS Kabylie, and has been built to exacting UEFA standards. This includes all the press and broadcast infrastructure and meant that a high-quality press conference solution was demanded from the outset.
The stadium called on Turkish Bosch partner Atempo to design the solution for the press conference room, along with the rest of the audio systems for the venue. The company has worked on a variety of stadium projects and understands exactly what is required to meet the intricacies of UEFA standards, while also allowing a venue the flexibility to host non-sporting events.
The stadium required a press conference solution that would offer high-quality sound and the flexibility to meet changing needs - all with a modern and stylish design. The CCS 1000 D Digital Discussion System met these needs thanks to its compact size, easy set-up and user-friendly operation, together with advanced features and versatility. Designed especially for quick, plug-and-play installation, it is a dedicated solution for sma
Finland - Located in Espoo, Bodom Bar and Sauna is the headquarters of melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. Complete with poster strewn walls, red leather couches and band memorabilia, the venue recently collaborated with Genelec to create a sound system capable of handling the band’s back catalogue.
Espoo is the hometown of the pioneering five-piece who rose to fame in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Taking their name from one of the most intriguing cases in Finnish criminal history - the Lake Bodom murders - Children of Bodom released 10 studio albums across their career, gaining them a loyal long-haired following who travelled globally to see the band perform.
They continued to tour up until their split in 2019, which was shortly followed by the passing of lead guitarist Alexi Laiho in 2020. Bodom Bar and Sauna was opened to celebrate the legacy of the band and, in true Finnish fashion, houses three on-site saunas alongside the standard bar offering, much band memorabilia.
Sound was a big consideration for the project, given that it was to pay homage to one of Finland’s most influential death metal bands, and Children of Bodom already had an extensive history with Genelec - which made them the obvious loudspeaker choice. “Eight of our studio albums were recorded in Finland and fully mixed and mastered on Genelec loudspeakers,” begins Janne Wirman, owner of Bodom Bar and Sauna and former keyboardist in the band. “It’s safe to say that about 90% of all the music we ever recorded was monitored on Genelec loudspeakers.
Germany - A 4K CarbonLight VX LED screen from Leyard Europe forms the heart of a new inspirational and educational exhibition at the headquarters of the European Molecular Biology Lab (EMBL), a laboratory for research into life sciences, which explains and celebrates its work to better understand the building blocks of all life on Earth.
The World of Molecular Biology exhibition occupies 800 sqm of the double-height atrium of the EMBL headquarters in Heidelberg and tells the story of life through 45 AV exhibits comprising a mix of audiovisual, virtual reality, interactive and tactile elements, grouped into three zones, themed The Spirit of EMBL, Life is Amazing and Seeing is Understanding.
The star of the exhibition, called the Wall of Wonder, is the 1.9 mm pixel pitch, 8m by 4m Leyard CarbonLight VX 1.9mm 4K LED screen, with content via a 7thSense media server and PIXIELAB Blocks for show control. The display was designed and installed by DJ Willrich (DJW), the AV systems integrator responsible for AV technology within the exhibition, which was designed by Haley Sharpe Design.
The screen displays images captured by electron microscopes housed in an adjacent room, scaling up micro-organisms far too tiny to be seen with the human eye into stunning, detailed images.
The exhibition’s aim is to provide education into EMBL’s research at a level that can be readily interpreted, without needing explanation from biologists and physicists. It is designed as an entry level facility for schools, providing a bridge into what EMBL is about and what it
Australia - Creative Technology Australia and New Zealand opted for Data Strategy’s QC-Check to address three main needs in terms of product inspection: socapex cable testing, the safe inspection of twin-frame distribution boards, and the ability to set up the specific testing processes needed to be carried out by anyone in the warehouse.
Maintenance manager, Myles Barlow, explained that the company’s highest priority was to be able to test multipin connectors such as Socapex three-phase cables, as “there’s just no safe way to test them”.
In addition, he found that “standard PAT testers fail products that have lots of internal relay, control voltages and several limit points. They see it as a dead short when there’s actually not a problem”. So without, QC-Check there was no effective way of PAT testing products like twin-frame distribution boards or other items with ‘smarts’ in them.
Custom engineered by SES Entertainment services in the UK, Creative Technology’s QC-Check workstation was custom designed to test the various types of connectors used by the Australian production house on a day-to-day basis. The main body of QC-Check housed the larger connectors, whilst the smaller and more regularly tested connectors were situated on the workstation bridge.
Alongside industry standard connectors like tru-con, neutrik and powercon connections, Creative Technology’s two-bay QC-Check featured standard Australian 240volt sockets, and 32 amp three-phase test connections specific to Australia, known as ‘Wilco’s’.
QC-
Spain - Media group Mediaset España has revamped the news studios of its free-to-air TV channels Telecinco and Cuatro with Alfalite’s LED screens. Integrator Datos Media has been in charge of the sale and commissioning of the 844 LED panels supplied with Alfalite’s ORIM technology.
“We are very proud to have participated in this huge project,” says Luis Garrido, executive director of Alfalite. “We would like to express our gratitude to Mediaset España's engineering team and Datos Media for trusting us. We deeply appreciate the collaboration and the opportunity to contribute to the joint success of this project.”
In the case of Telecinco (the most watched free-to-air TV channel in Spain), the channel has completely transformed its news set with 210sq.m of Alfalite LED screens, artificial intelligence and mobile camera solutions, making it one of the most advanced studios in Spain.
The centrepiece of the Telecinco News set is a huge 31 x 2.5m Alfalite Modularpix Pro 1.9 ORIM curved U-shaped wrap-around screen. This display has the capacity to process up to three 8K video signals or 12 4K video signals of up to 12 bits and more than 50 million pixels, compatible with the recreation of augmented reality environments, extended reality and virtual reality, and allows the projection in high definition of both images and graphics and infographics. A 32 x 1 metre Alfalite Modularpix Pro P3 U-shaped lintel has been integrated above this screen.
In addition, Datos Media has installed three 1.5 x 2.5m Alfalite Modularpix Pro 1.5 ORIM mechani
Europe - FLEXibility takes centre stage with the new Showtec Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze. With its original design and versatile features, this lighting fixture promises to bring innovative possibilities to lighting professionals and enthusiasts.
The Showtec Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze features a design comprising eight pods, each equipped with 100-watt, 3000 K COB LEDs. But that’s not all; these pods are also enriched with amber and RGB LEDs, enabling a wide range of creative lighting applications. Unlike many LEDs that often fall short in replicating this effect, the Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze’s amber LEDs are specifically designed to perfectly mimic the dimming of traditional tungsten blinders, providing a nostalgic and warm ambiance.
The RGB LEDs in each pod can be mixed to create a blaze effect with a captivating array of colours. With each pod working independently, the Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze enables you to craft one-of-a-kind light shows that are vibrant, dynamic, and visually stunning.
To provide optimal performance, the Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze boasts RDM (Remote Device Management) capability. This means that the temperature and humidity sensors that are integrated into both the controller and each pod can be monitored, allowing you to adjust settings remotely for precise control and peace of mind.
Built to brave the elements, one of the standout features of the Stage Blinder FLEX Blaze is its IP65-rated aluminium housing. This makes it not only suitable for indoor use, but also for outdoor events. To mount the pods, each pod features
UK - PLASA is running an industry-wide survey on sustainability. The association aims to understand how and if companies across the entertainment technology sector are tackling the important issue of sustainability and carbon reduction.
The survey was launched during the Member Business Forum on Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, which took place in London on 18 January 2024. However, the survey is now open to the wider industry until 29 March, in partnership with #WeMakeEvents, LSi, LIVE and PEARLE.
Even though there are no current legal requirements in the UK to implement such plans, PLASA recognises the importance of sustainability across the industry and the need for support. Therefore, the association is now conducting research to understand the current position of the industry. The data will help to inform the activities of the association, as well as future industry collaborative initiatives and membership support.
Bryan Raven, director of strategic projects for d&b Solutions and joint vice-chair for the PLASA Carbon Reduction to Net Zero steering group, says: “Sustainability is not something any company can deal with alone – suppliers, customers, freelancers and audiences need to work together. It’s not about competitive advantages; it’s about doing what is right. As an industry we need to lead the way and work together to minimise the carbon impact of ‘making events’.”
Nicky Greet, director of membership, skills and technical for PLASA, adds: “The drive for carbon reduction will impact everyone in our industry. W
Qatar - On 12 January 2024, Qatar hosted the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium in the Middle East. The ceremony comprised a full-size stage in midfield with a set featuring sand dunes, colourful costumes, and visuals around a central motif of giant mirrored petals.
Simultaneously broadcast internationally across the Middle East, Asia and Australasia, the 21-minute visual extravaganza, Mirrors, The Lost Chapter from the Book of Kelileh Wa Demneh, was ‘a triumph of theatrical story-telling’. It was struck in just 27 minutes by 700 stage hands, in choreography as coordinated as the performers who preceded them, before the first match of the tournament kicked off.
“It was like Superbowl on steroids,” says lighting designer, Roland Greil who, brought in by design and production agency, Sila Sveta, used over 450 Ayrton fixtures as the majority - and main key lighting workhorses - of his design.
“Our aim from the beginning was to create a very theatrical theme and lighting design in keeping with the cinematic approach taken by producers, Katara Studios,” explains Greil. “The show was a hugely complex, spectacular, yet very theatrical piece with a detailed story line and glorious costumes. We needed a rig that could support the beautiful story on stage and create magical looks for 80% of the time, but also to have additional fire power to create some big looks for the remaining 20% for the live broadcast, and to reflect the joy and enthusiasm for the game of football within
USA - The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved a change in its regulation that now permits operation of Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems (WMAS) in the United States.
WMAS is an advanced wireless microphone technology designed to meet the challenges of highly demanding live performance and studio applications. Compared to conventional wireless microphone systems, WMAS offers higher spectral efficiency – the ability to transmit more audio channels within a limited block of radio frequency (RF) spectrum – as well as greater interference protection to other wireless services that share the same spectrum.
In her statement during the Open Commission Meeting, chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel pointed out, “Unless you’re in video and audio production, the odds are you haven’t thought much about wireless microphones. But they’re everywhere. […] So when a new technology comes along with the potential to improve the efficiency of wireless microphone operations, we’re going to take a second look. That’s why a few years ago we issued a rulemaking to explore this new type of technology known as Multichannel Wireless Audio Systems or WMAS. […] they can significantly improve the efficiency of wireless microphone operations […] that’s a spectrum win-win.”
Sennheiser started development of its WMAS over 10 years ago. In August 2018, Sennheiser filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC requesting a modification in the bandwidth limit specified for wireless microphones by the Commission. At that time, Sennheiser demonstrated a pr