UK - James Thomas Engineering has expanded its Pixel range of touring LED fixtures at the show with the launch of what the company calls 'contemporary and chic versions' of classic products.
The new PixelEight is an LED version of the familiar '8-lite blinder', designed for audience illumination other long throw applications. Making the most of generic LED benefits as well as an internal Effects Engine, the PixelEight produces unique colour strobing effects and allows independent pixel mapping, while providing the useful assets of low temperature operation and robust engineering.
The PixelLine 96 Batten is the latest in the company's series of LED battens and contains 96 Luxeon LEDs in two rows to enable the seamless forming of lines with multiple fixtures.The successful PixelBrick fixturehas been updated and the weatherised unit is complemented by a new 2-unit rack-mounted RGBA driver for the PixelBrick series.
Aong other new James Thomas products on show are the latest version of PixelDrive, new hardware solutions for arraying multiple PixelLine 1044 units in JTE's trussing range, and custom-built Pixel product flightcases manufactured by 5 Star Cases.
(Mike Lethby)
UK - Yesterday was a full-on first day at PLASA 2005, with both exhibitors and visitors in agreement that PLASA retains its position as the leading international show within the entertainment, corporate, event, architectural and installation industries.
Visitor numbers bucked industry trends by remaining strong, with professionals from all over the world arriving in London to discover the latest creative and technical innovations from 300+ exhibitors, representing all the leading brands.
As ever, the mood on the show floor was upbeat and positive with the focus very much on making this one of the most dynamic events ever. Feedback from exhibitors and visitors indicated that everyone was making the most of the opportunities for business.
A host of top DJs, including Richie Hawtin, Jonathan Lisle, Chris Liebing and James Zabiela were at PLASA for the launch of 'DJ Sunday'. Not only were the big name DJs making the most of the new kit on offer, but up and coming bedroom DJs also turned out in force to make the Gemini 'Extreme V' DJ Competition one of the most highly contested ever.
The opening day also saw one of the strongest ever PLASA Show Seminar Programmes come to life. The well-received DJ Turntablism session kicked off events attracting over 50 attendees. The session is just the first in a much wider programme of seminars and workshops that covers everything from audio networking to the legislative impact of WEEE. If you haven't pre-registered, it's still possible to book on the day for just £10.00 per session or you can also get a 3-session pass fo
UK - ADB Lighting Technologies at PLASA 2005, on stand K39, has the PLASA Award-nominated WARP/M, a unique, fully automated zoom profile spotlight, derived from the manual WARP profile launched two years ago, making its PLASA début.
WARP/M is specifically designed for venues where light output, silent operation, repositioning accuracy and networking capability are prime considerations.
Several hundred WARP/M units have already been shipped to such venues as the Glyndebourne Opera House in the UK, The Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai and the Staatsoper in Munich.
At Showtech, Berlin, in June, WARP/M won the Product Award 2005 in the Lighting and Projection Technology category.
ADB is also showing a selection of its other luminaires, digital dimmers and control systems, including the MENTOR 4-in-1 console with the latest ISIS® software upgrade, and the new ISIS® Light Tablet, a user configurable, virtual console on a Tablet PC for remotely activating all the functions of any ADB control system running on ISIS® software.
ADB is also demonstrating for the first time a 3 kW sinewave dimmer module designed to fit into the EURODIM 3 dimmer cabinet.
(Mike Lethby)
UK - Following what PRG Europe calls "overwhelming demand for a return of the VL5 wash luminaire", Vari-Lite debuted its new product, the VL500 wash luminaire, yesterday at PLASA.
Based on the 1994 Emmy® Award-winning VL5 Wash luminaire, the VL500 offers users significant performance enhancements over its predecessor. It's available in four base models: VL500, VL500D, VL500 80V, and VL500A.
The VL500 is available with either a 120V/1200W lamp or a 230V/1000W lamp. The most economical and lightest version of the luminaire, the VL500 is designed for those who require the 3200-degree colour temperature along with the most space-efficient unit. No external ballast or dimmer is required.
The VL500D is also available with a 120V/1200W lamp or a 230V/1000W lamp, plus an internal yoke-mounted IGBT dimmer. While retaining the 3200-degree colour temperature, with a slight increase in weight, the VL500D offers built-in, onboard dimming without requiring any additional cabling. This luminaire is most advantageous for those whose spaces are short dimmers or dimmer circuits.
Capable of universal operation (90-260V), the VL500 80V utilises an 80V/1200W lamp and an external dimming device. When intensity is the key, and the slight additional space required by the external dimmer is not a factor, this model offers more intensity while retaining the 3200-degree colour temperature tungsten source.
With an optional 575W (6000-degree colour temperature) or 700W (7200-degree colour temperature) arc lamp and external ballast, the VL500A provides blackout panel
UK - "Debuts, demos and sneak previews" is the theme of the High End Systems' stand at the PLASA Show.
Debutees are headed by the Studio Command dichroic colour-mixing automated wash luminaire, which uses a 700 MSR (or alternatively a 700 MSR/2) source, emitting a large diameter beam from a compact head.
Also new is the DL2, the industry's first automated luminaire with an integrated digital media server on-board with preloaded content; and Axon v2, the rack-mount version of the DL2.
Under the "sneak preview' heading is Catalyst 4. This latest version of software now features show control cue lists, pixelMAD functionality and more than 60 new visual and colour effects, with over 3,000 new combinations of effects.
The booth is also displaying the combination of Catalyst with the Main Light SoftLED curtain.
The Flying Pig Systems console section of the stand is also busy with the new Wholehog 3 Expansion Wing prototype, which enhances the console with 40 additional playbacks. New features for the Wholehog 3 console just announced include fixture builder (allowing the use of custom user libraries); new ESP Vision (connecting up to 16 universes); Follow Current (allowing immediate viewing of cue data); Levels View (theatrical style levels view); new user manual with on-line help; and new ESP Vision (connecting up to 16 universes).
(Mike Lethby)
UK - The 2005 PLASA Show opened its doors at 10 o'clock this morning, and the crowds streamed in to the show floor, which looks better and brighter than ever. Sunday at PLASA is DJ day, of course, and the annual Gemini DJ competition will once again prove a big draw for budding mix artists, with the contest taking place in the DJ lounge at the rear of the hall, and the final taking place at 4.30pm. There's plenty more going on as part of DJ Sunday, supported by iDJ magazine, offering all kinds of opportunities to learn about the art and practice of DJing.
Appropriately for DJ Sunday, seminars today include a session on Digital Turntablism and Mixing, chaired by David Eserin, editor of the Technoscan section of DJ Magazine, the session features world-renowned DJs Chris Liebing and Jonathan Lisle, and Eitan Zilkha of Sapphires. Following the session, Jonathan Lisle will be performing on the Denon DJ stand at 2.30pm, where he will be using the latest DN-S5000 table-top CD players. Other high profile DJ appearances today will include sets from James Zabiela, Eddie Halliwell and Addictive TV on the Pioneer stand, while Eclectic Method, Phil K and Dan Tait will also be appearing on the stand during the remainder of the Show.
The session on digital mixing is followed by 'The Future of the DVJ and Vision Mixing' at 2.30, chaired by Alex Eyre, editor of Night Magazine. Also being held today is a discussion session on 'Specifying Image Brightness and Contrast' at 4.00pm, led by AV specialist Scott Wills.
Tickets cost £10 per session, or £20 for a three-sessio
UK - Lightfactor Sales is showing a variety of its core theatre and performance orientated products from Italian manufacturers SGM and LDR; Wireless Solutions from Sweden; Xilver from the Netherlands and LightProcessor from the UK.
New from SGM is the Synthesis, the first of a new generation of moving head fixtures designed and built for top-level applications. Among its 'firsts' are two types of interchangeable 700W lamps, with automatic hot re-strike, colour mixing, a precise linear dimmer, automatic electronic pan/tilt unlocking, silent operation and excellent brightness.
It is also the world's first moving head fixture fitted with wireless DMX as standard, with an operating radius of over 500 metres.
SGM's PALCO LED colour-changer has been selling strongly to leading rental companies including Fineline, Essential Lighting and PRG and have been used on a myriad of applications. The flat faced fixture is for both indoor and outdoor use (IP65 rated) utilising new technology, and featuring stylish design.
Also on show from SGM are Regia lighting desks, which combine a clear user-friendly control panel and a constantly updated operating system with sturdy hardware. The consoles are designed to take the complexity out of lighting control, allowing lighting designers to concentrate all energies on their creativity.
New Desk Pilot 3000 offers 1024 DMX channels, 2 DMX out lines and one independent DMX line in, as well as a colour TFT touch screen graphic display for direct access to the fixture functions shown on the display. It has capacity for up to 200 cues a
UK - XL Video is exhibiting at PLASA for the first time, aiming to introduce the company to the business and live event communications sector of the AV industry, as well as demonstrating the potential for crossover of equipment from concert touring with which XL is most commonly associated.
The UK and Europe's largest touring video rental company, XL Video works across all sectors of the business, leisure and entertainment industry and has bases in England, Belgium, Germany and America.
XL PLASA the company is showcasing a selection of key products - including the latest exotic LED screen technology from Barco and Lighthouse Technologies, and Soft-LED drapery from Mainlight Industries.
XL will illustrate how video equipment and techniques from the world of rock 'n' roll and concert touring are crossing over into theatre, conferences and other live events.
New products include the Lighthouse R16i/o indoor/outdoor 16mm pixel pitch LED screen. XL says that, besides the usual attributes expected from a modular LED screen - good resolution, excellent colour uniformity, reproduction and contrast, and easy rigging - the R16i/o weight less than any comparable LED at less than 65kg per sq metre.
Also on show is the Barco MiPIX modular intelligent 4-LED pixel block; MiPix are plugged into a bespoke frame at your chosen resolution or pattern while its small size and shape allow it to be moulded into just about any shape, making it ideal as a building block to create intelligent lighting effects on large-scale backdrops and stage sets of any shape, or size.
(Mike Let
UK - There's just two days now before one of the most energetic and creative PLASA Shows opens its doors in London. The show, which begins on Sunday at Earls Court 1, will feature over 300 companies, 1,000 new products, 30 seminars, workshops and presentations, and hundreds of events, parties and launches.
But the key thing about an exhibition is always the people and PLASA is known for being one of the best events for networking - everyone comes together at PLASA. And PLASA 2005 is taking that networking opportunity a stage further with the introduction of 'speed networking'. This will be a chance to increase your business contacts with people specifically involved in your sector of the industry. The PLASA Show organizers will be looking to recruit willing participants on the show floor, and the whole session will only take up 30 minutes of your time! And, who knows, you might just meet someone you didn't know, and end up doing business with them.
The Speed Networking sessions will take place on Sunday 11 September and Monday 12 September in the business seating area opposite the PLASA Seminar Theatre on the Top Deck. Each session will focus on a particular sector of the market, and each pair will have a chance to talk for a few minutes before moving on to meet the next person.
All you need to bring to the session is yourself and a handful of business cards! And as an added incentive to take part, each person will be offered a pair of tickets to a Clarion Events consumer exhibition of their choice (including Fly! The London Air Show, Destinations, Spirit of Ch
UK - Star Events Group Ltd was approached to offer a staging solution for three regional football stadiums - Hull, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest - for the UK leg of the REM World Tour, and, made innovative use of Orbit Flexidome technology. The brief from promoters CCE was to maximize audience capacities whilst maintaining the large, festival appearance of a traditional Vertech stage and, of course, accommodate REM's exciting and creative lighting and video set. After the first round of site surveys it became obvious that the way to maximize the capacities would be to construct as much of the stage as possible in the terraces of the stadiums. Once the limited height to the underside of the stadium roofs was taken into consideration, it became apparent that a new approach would be required.
With the experience gained from involvement with the Wembley Pavilion project, where a large backstage area was required, the Star Events Group design team began looking at the possibilities of utilizing similar technology for the REM shows. After several drawing revisions and some number crunching, the VerBit (VerTech/Orbit Hybrid) stage was developed. REM's production requirements were plotted on the new stage format and group development director Roger Barrett and Vertech divisional director Peter Holdich met with Dick Adams and the REM team during rehearsals in Grenada to confirm suitability of the new design, before pressing the 'GO' button on the fabrication of the new components.
The Star Design team liaised closely with the in house project managers for the tour to ensu
UK - Wigwam has invested in 20 channels of Klark Teknik DN9340 Helix EQ for touring use by art-rockers Franz Ferdinand. The band from Glasgow debuted the new units at selected festival appearances this summer, before heading off to start an autumn tour in the USA.
The KT Helix system, which was specified by FF's monitor engineer Tilda Bruynooghe with full STS (solo tracking system) and wireless tablet control, will be used with a Midas Heritage 3000 console. Wigwam's Chris Hill confirms that the Helix system was chosen primarily because of the wireless control, which allows instant and simultaneous online control of up to 64 channels of EQ from a tablet computer. "This frees the engineer from the traditional side-of-stage monitor world position, and that's especially useful during initial system equalization. Tilda can take her tablet and set up the system from anywhere on stage, and make on-the-fly tweaks either via the master unit in the usual manner, or via the PC."
For Franz Ferdinand, Bruynooghe is using 18 channels of Helix on monitors, a DN9340 master and 4 DN 9344 slave units, which takes up only six units of rack space. Wigwam's other Helix unit is being used as a main EQ at the front-of-house desk. Each unit provides all the commonly-used EQ functions, including dual 31-band multi-mode graphic equalizer, a dual 12-band parametric equalizer, four configurable filters per channel, up to 1s of delay per channel, and two 'T-DEQ' filters, which offer realtime dynamic control. All this EQ power is available simultaneously to the user.
At Wigwam, C
USA - Audio Products International Corp, manufacturer of the world famous Energy, Mirage and Athena Technologies brands, has announced its entry into the professional and commercial sound markets under the brand Energy Pro.
The first products created under the new brand will be launched on booth 636 at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) Show in New York City, 7-10 October 2005. On show at AES will be a comprehensive line of studio monitors, focussed on the recording, post production, project studio and broadcast markets. Stereo, surround, passive, active, analogue and digitally controlled systems are all featured and API has used its considerable R&D resources to design in digital compatibility and upgrade paths for this advanced range.
To manage the business unit, API has employed the services of industry veteran Bill Calma, well known as the man who established Tannoy in North America. With more than 25 years experience in the professional and commercial sound markets, Calma will handle all aspects of launching the brand worldwide. At AES he will be joined by former colleague Derek West,who will be on hand to discuss distribution throughout the EMEA and Asia regions.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - FocusTrack, the new database system for tracking and documenting the use of moving lights for theatrical productions, will be on show on the Strand Lighting stand at the PLASA Show. FocusTrack was designed by lighting programmer Rob Halliday to give those working with moving lights an easy and efficient way of storing and managing the data connected with the use of those lights in shows. This includes the set-up of the moving lights (patching, orientation, which gobos and colours they are loaded with) and then the use of those lights - which preset focus positions they are stored in, where they are focused, and which cues those positions are used in. FocusTrack can store a huge array of information describing how lights are focused, including grid focuses, written descriptions and digital photographs.
This information can be stored in FocusTrack manually by lighting programmers or assistants. Alternatively, for those using Strand Lighting's 300- or 500-series lighting consoles, FocusTrack can process a showfile to figure out which lights are used in which preset focuses, and which focuses are then used in which cue. FocusTrack can also analyze the showfile for moving lights and any other lights with attributes (for example, channels with colour scrollers), making it easy to answer such previously tedious-to-investigate questions as 'which colours do we actually use in the scrollers' and 'which gobos do we actually use in each light'.
FocusTrack makes it easy to maintain the look of a show either over a long run or on a tour. Swapping out channel? List all of
Australia / Hungary - ARX Systems, the Australian manufacturer of professional audio equipment, has announced the appointment of Budapest-based RMS Audio KFT as its new distributor for Hungary. ARX's managing director Colin Park said: "Following discussions with Tibor Kiss from RMS at the Frankfurt Pro Light & Sound exhibition earlier in the year, we feel RMS Audio offers ARX the opportunity to team up with a very professional and driven distribution company to promote and develop ARX's products in the Hungarian market."
Along with ARX, RMS Audio also represent Martin Audio in Hungary.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Specialist Mobile staging company SRC has signed a five-year contract to provide all of the mobile staging to Liverpool Culture Company's events, debuting at the Matthew Street Festival 2005.
Liverpool Culture Company's three day Mathew Street Music Festival is Europe's biggest free city centre music festival, annually attracting over 350,000 visitors over the August bank holiday weekend. Visitors watched artists spread over five SRC stages. Still a celebration of where it all began with the music of the Beatles, the festival, now celebrates a myriad of musical tastes from Abba to Tony Christie.
SRC and its fleet of mobile stages enabled the hugely complex logistical requirements of installing performance areas in the City Centre, which were operated and then removed - some within a 24-hour period. The scale of the operation is unparalleled in any city in the UK, with over 100 bands appearing on stages in five locations for eight hours a day.
SRC's Alpha Stage was erected at Pier Head for the duration of the bank holiday weekend festivities. The team hung a PA system from the stage wings, as well as installing the stage scrims, backdrop and a purpose built loading ramp for easy band changeovers.
An SL250 stage was loaded overnight in Derby Square, while other stages were installed on the Strand and into an additional site 'across the Mersey' in the Wirral. Lastly at 6am on Monday morning a SL200 stage was loaded into Water Street, a narrow Liverpool street that leads down to Pier Head.
Managing director of SRC, Jon Slater explained; "We worked thr
Italy - When it comes to Jazz, Italy is a very special country. Gil Evans, elsewhere known only to Jazz aficionados was a superstar here, and Keith Jarrett, the master of almost claustrophobic Chamber Jazz, is filling stadia and other giant open air spaces.
It started ten years ago in the Arena di Verona, the place of monumental opera works like Aida or Nabucco, that Italian rental company BH Audio together with Fichtner Tontechnik from Germany joined forces to provide crew and equipment for a breath-taking concert of Jarrett's trio.
Ever since whenever the American pianist along with Gary Peacock on bass and drummer Jack de Johnette perform in Italy it's the same sound team that are used to reproduce their subtle interpretation of Jazz standards. This year was no exception when in July they took to the stage at the Arena Flegrea in Naples.
A d&b audiotechnik sound system, specified jointly by Massimo Carli of BH Audio and Davide Carlotti of d&b audiotechnik Italia was used in the wider than usual 6,000-seat arena. It was because of the width of the arena that the sound engineers were able to utilize a useful and unique feature of d&b's Q1 line array.
It's common knowledge that line arrays often deliver inconsistent sound quality when two columns are flown side by side due to the interference created in the horizontal plane. Instead, the constant directivity behaviour of the Q1 loudspeaker uses a dipole arrangement of the two 10" drivers to extend the pattern control down to 400 Hz. This makes it possible to hang two arrays side by side with a 50-degree
USA - The Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk is currently undergoing a complete audio system retrofit from Sound Image of Escondido, California. Using the Harman Pro HiQnet System Architect configuration and control software, the 6,000-seat amphitheatre represents the first multi-brand HiQnet installation in North America. Additional Harman HiQnet installations are now operational at the Hong Kong Stadium in Hong Kong and the Stade due Suisse in Berne, Switzerland.
Located in Universal City, California, the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk has been a state-of-the-art indoor venue since 1982. The amphitheatre has long been known for its sightlines and outstanding acoustics, a reputation that has been upheld and enhanced with the recent installation.
To date, Sound Image has installed 42 Crown I-Tech 800 amplifiers outfitted with HiQnet technology, along with 24 JBL Vertec VT4889 line array loudspeakers, eight Vertec VT4888 line array loudspeakers, 24 Vertec VT4880 line array subwoofers, and four Vertec VT4888DP Series loudspeakers with DrivePack technology.
"It is an honor to announce that the prestigious Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk is the first North American HiQnet installation," said Mark Terry, president of the Harman Pro Group. "The versatility of the Harman HiQnet protocol, used in conjunction with Harman Pro brand products, ensures the amphitheatre's reputation for leading-edge sound will continue. We expect the adoption of HiQnet systems to grow dramatically as projects such as this raise the profile of HiQnet
The World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne - the highlight of which was the Pope's visit on the Marienfeld - was an exceptional event, equipped by CT Creative Technology Germany, the international supplier for audio-visual media technology, with a gigantic array of LED screens, LED trucks and the latest production and broadcast technology. CT Germany together with XL Video as supplied more than 1,200sq.m of LED screens and mobile LED trucks, which were used in and around the city.
For the Pope's visit on 20-21 August, 20 modular LED large screens and 12 mobile LED trucks were set up and technically supported by CT and XL. Each modular LED screen measured more than 40sq.m and the mobile trucks were equipped with LED screens which with a size between 25 and 40sq.m. About one million of pilgrims met on the former open-cast mining area of more than 2.5sq.km. They were able to experience live the ceremony with the Pope from everywhere on the 32 LED screens. The two Barco OLite 510 LED screens were most impressive and could be seen again and again on TV. Each one of them had a size of more than 40sq.m surface and were hung up on frames on the right and left side of the papal hill.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - S-Cluster has recently been successful in securing a series of major orders. The systems are to be installed throughout the German Railway network after a pilot project was conducted by Tramway Operator SSB in Stuttgart earlier this year. SSB were so impressed that it is due to update its complete audio communication system to S-Cluster technology in 2006.
One of the very first S-Cluster installations was the Metro system in Athens, which was completed just in time for the Olympic Games. S-Cluster encoders and output boxes are now in action, streaming train times, background music and security alerts to stations via a fibre optic network. S-Cluster system can also stream audio using Mpeg 4s and aptX over a standard IP Network (TCP-IP).
"This is great news," commented John Midgley, managing director of beyerdynamic. "The system has already proven itself to be an industry leader and now the price reduction makes it extremely competitive. We will see the market really open up for S-Cluster."
The S-Cluster system can be seen at PLASA 2005, Earls court, 11 -14 September - stand H34.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Perth Concert Hall is to be host to a Gala Concert, given by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, on 16 September 2005.
The event marks the public opening of the first full-scale purpose-built concert hall in Scotland since 1990. The £17M building is the result of an international architectural competition, chaired by Eva Jiricna, and won by BDP's Glasgow office in 1998.
Located in Perth's historic Horsecross, once a thriving market area but more recently marginalized, Perth Concert Hall is viewed in the round and BDP's free form plan is a unifying response to the irregular edges of the urban fabric bounding the site. The Horsecross area has already witnessed significant urban regeneration, as a result of the impending opening of this new facility, which includes a streetscaping project by the local authority following completion of the Concert Hall.
Bruce Kennedy, BDP project architect for the Concert Hall said: "The distinctive form of the main auditorium is strongly expressed, both externally and within the foyer, to celebrate the building's function and create a contemporary architectural icon for Perth. The curved plan form minimizes the scale of what is a large civic building, allowing it to integrate successfully into the sensitive historic townscape."At the heart of the building BDP has designed a fully flexible 1,200 seat concert hall, the Gannochy Auditorium, which features uniquely configured floor lifts and movable seating wagons to provide both raked seating and a large-scale flat floor. The flexible format of the hall can also ac
UK/Israel - Compulite Systems, manufacturer of the Vector line of lighting control consoles, will present Vector Orange and its new Vector Playback Wing at PLASA 2005 (booth E30).Vector Orange is the most compact member of the Vector line, which already includes the Red, Blue and Green. With the addition of the 'Orange', the Vector line now offers the most comprehensive and effective solution for any venue type and size" Says Ohad Ashery, Compulite's VP. "The Vector Orange, as a stand-alone console or as a backup unit, brings the most advanced control technology in the market to limited-budget venues."
The Orange offers four DMX512 universes (broadcasted also over Ethernet), one integrated 12.1" TFT touch screen, one external monitor, 100 playbacks, and the entire feature set of the Vector line. Compulite expects to begin production of the Orange by the end November 2005.
The new Playback Wing connects to any Vector console or Offline Editor (Vector PC Version) via Ethernet, and is equipped with LCD's showing playback assignments and an LED strip for lighting.
The Wing is designed to serve either as an extension to the Vector panel, or as a remote playback control unit, offering direct access to 20 playbacks (10 with faders and 10 'Q-keys'). The Independent paging mechanism allows access to any of Vector's 200 virtual playbacks. Faders may be motorized, according to customer preference, and can be used as sub-masters, rate masters or for manually setting channel intensity.
Up to eight Wings can be connected to a single console through a st
UK - Sunbaba will score a hat-trick of prestigious events this weekend, with its plain and full colour digitally printed banners and PA scrims featuring at the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval, the BBC Proms in the Park and at Artsfest, a huge free festival-taking place in Birmingham City Centre.
Events branding specialists Sunbaba was brought in by Surrey Cricket to provide over 600sqm of its Austronet and DigiMesh branding for use at The Oval during the fifth Ashes Test. Sunbaba's specialist work in the events industry makes them a key choice when venues and sponsors want printed branding that fits perfectly and matches their corproate image.
For the BBC's Last Night of Proms in the Park events, Sunbaba was chosen to provide its specialist "DigiSound" PA scrims for the events in Manchester, Glasgow and Swansea, in addition the company supplied BBC Scotland with heras fencing branding for use at this and future events in Scotland.
Sunbaba has produced the full colour digitally printed stage header branding and PA scrims for the two large orbit stages which are the centre piece of the ArtsFest free festival, which takes place in Birmingham city centre this weekend. The company has also supplied six of its new 6m feather flags, a recent addition to the Sunbaba product range.
Jan Booth, director of Sunbaba explains: "This week has been tremendously exciting for us, working with both new and exisitng customers, especially having the opportunity to provide branding for the final Ashes Test Match at the Oval"
Sunbaba will be exhibiting at PLASA 2
UK - An Avolites Diamond 4 Elite console was chosen by lighting designer Alan King to control the newly upgraded and boosted lighting rig for Manumission at Privilege - one of Ibiza's hottest superclubs and also used for its new 2005 Ibiza Rocks Friday night event.
The D4 was also utilized for Manumission's famous, highly theatrical Monday night club night, also staged at Privilege, the largest club in the world with a capacity of 10,000 and including a huge swimming pool in its midst.
The additional lighting for Privilege's 2005 summer season, which also includes several other high profile club nights, was supplied by Oxfordshire-based Production Hire Ltd (PHL). Alan King designed the new rig and ran it for the season. It was this first time he'd used an Avolites Diamond 4 console, selected because he needed a powerful, versatile and easy to use control platform for the large rig in the main room. Functions he specifically likes include setting the times, chase unfold, setting the fixture order, easy cue stacking of chases and shared paletting.
Design wise, the new and additional stage lighting rig had to be as versatile as possible to cater for Manumission's Monday megamix, the other Privilege club nights, Ibiza Rocks and any other requirement that might pop up.
Manumission itself features a giant white set with a large flashing 'M' centrepiece, made up from over 600 bulbs on 24 dimmer channels. It's constructed from 'blown' white foam and fills the entire stage, highlighted with 24 short nosed floor-based PARs and scrollers. The rest of the lighting is all
UK - ADB Lighting - exhibiting at both IBC and PLASA 2005 - will place the accent this year on the Warp/M, a fully automated zoom profile spotlight, derived from the manual Warp profile launched two years ago.
Warp/M is specifically designed for venues where light output, silent operation, repositioning accuracy and networking capability are prime considerations. In June this year at Showtech, Berlin, Warp/M won the Product Award 2005 in the Lighting and Projection Technology category.
So far, several hundred Warp/M units have already been shipped to prestigious venues such as the Glyndebourne Opera House in the UK, The Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai, the Staatsoper in Munich... and more. This will be its first appearance at the PLASA Show, where it has been nominated for a PLASA Innovation Award.
At PLASA 2005, ADB will also show a selection of its other luminaires, digital dimmers and control systems, in particular the successful Mentor 4-in-1 console with the latest ISIS software upgrade, and the new ISIS Light Tablet, a user configurable, virtual console on a Tablet PC for remotely activating all the functions of any ADB control system running on ISIS software.
ADB will also unveil and demonstrate for the first time a 3 kW sinewave dimmer module designed to fit into its Eurodim 3 dimmer cabinet.
ADB Lighting Technologies can be found on stand K39 at PLASA 2005. ADB will also exhibit at IBC, Amsterdam, stand no: 11351 in Hall 11, 9-13 September.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)