Belgium - The open-air concert given by Sugar Daddy, Kana, Starflam and others in Charleroi on the 20th September 2003 was one of the highlights of last year's concert season in Belgium. As well as the superb line-up of artists, the great atmosphere and the audience of 40,000, the show also featured the Dynacord Cobra-4 compact line array system, which was making its first appearance on Belgian soil.
Jan Crutelle, system engineer with EVI Audio's Belgian partners Prevost, was advising the rental company Omega Production at the time and remembers: "Many of the Omega technicians simply refused to believe that so few - and such compact - enclosures really could be capable of covering an area of 100 x 80m. They soon learned differently!"
The technical tandem of Omega Production and Prevost opted to fly an approximately 6m high main system (right and left), consisting of a Cobra-4-Far, two Cobra-4 tops and two Cobra-2 downfills per side. Jan Crutelle said of the result: "The Cobra made quite a few friends that day. Because of its power, obviously, and the quality of its sound - but also among the crew because the setting-up and rigging was a breeze!"
(Lee Baldock)
UK - UK-based sound rental specialist AudioLease, based in East Anglia, has purchased an Adamson Y-Axis Y10 line array system. The system, supplied by Sennheiser UK, is controlled by XTA DP226 and DP224 digital loudspeaker processors and powered by Lab Gruppen 6400 amplification. It made its début on the UK leg of the Air tour.
The Y-10 is a full-range, medium-format, three-way line array featuring a single, patented Adamson mid/high drive module. The Adamson drive module has a co-axial co-entrance and a co-linear exit comprised of a high frequency sound chamber mounted within a mid frequency sound chamber. The drive module is powered by a proprietary 9" Kevlar mid and a JBL 2451 compression driver. Together, the drive module and trapezoidal cabinet design create a smooth, slightly curved, seamless wave front with no gaps between cabinets, say Adamson. Highly regarded in both the USA and Europe, this is one of the first complete Y10 system to be purchased in the UK and makes AudioLease unique among UK rock and roll touring rental companies.
AudioLease owner Steve Sunderland comments: "We had already auditioned a number of competing line array systems and were advised by various engineers to check out the Adamson system. We found the sound to be incredibly clear and well-defined yet with real depth and weight to it; it deals with the most complex mixes effortlessly and with real subtlety.
"Partnering it with the XTA controllers and 2U-high Lab Gruppen amplification means that every other component in the loudspeaker chain is very clean and transp
UK - Steve Howe, legendary guitarist with YES for 30 years and also founder member of Asia with Steve Hackett of Genesis and Carl Palmer of Emerson Lake and Palmer, has chosen Outline's H.A.R.D. 212 low profile stage monitors for his dates in the UK before embarking on his European and USA tours. The monitors were supplied by Entec Sound & Light.
Outline's H.A.R.D. 212 is the lightest 2 x 12" configuration in its class. Weighing only 26kgs and standing at a less than 13" (33cms) high, it also boasts a revolutionary wave guide utilizing absorption, reflection and diffraction. The H.A.R.D. is fast becoming the on-stage sound reinforcement tool for the world's top musicians. Steve Howe joins Eric Clapton in the ever-increasing list of acclaimed performers.
(Lee Baldock)
Australia - Coemar DeSisti Australia Pty has announced the availability of the new FX range of LED fixtures designed exclusively for small clubs and DJs. The units bring all the advantages of LED technology - including low maintenance, low heat and low power consumption - to the club effects marketplace. AquaDot, the first in the range, produces the popular ripple water-type effect. The second fixture, ZagDot, produces a darting beam of light that moves constantly across a pyramid of mirrors, and features a built-in microphone for sound to light operation. Finally, MoonDot creates an RGB effect and features a built-in microphone for sound to light beam and pattern movement.
(Lee Baldock)11 March 2004
UK - KV2 Audio reports the first installation of its ES system for the Edwards chain, courtesy of Orritt Electronics in Liverpool. Trailing a concept dubbed "Club Edwards" the owners wanted to enhance the existing sound system at their Liverpool venue, with something that would still look discreet, but allow them to compete on a more equal footing with some of the legendary clubs in the city.
After an extensive look at the marketplace Dave Orritt, of Orritt Electronics, realized KV2's ES system would be the perfect product for this application, and immediately arranged a demo. The clients didn't take much convincing, and within a few weeks their concept turned to reality. From a practical point of view, the amplifier room was a long way from the speakers and since the initial first fix, many walls had been plastered and cable routes blocked off. The flexibility of the system's Epak amplification proved ideal for this scenario, as all the amplifiers and processing could be sited very neatly 18ft above the ground in a stair well, local to the speaker positions.
Orritt commented: "There would have been nowhere to site a 19" rack without having to pull the building apart and run long lengths of cable. The Epak's design solution saved the day and I really began to appreciate the philosophy and sheer flexibility of this product."
The system installed comprised two ES 1.0 mid/high speakers, two ES 2.5 double 15" subwoofers and two ES 1.8 single 18" subwoofers, with power and processing from three EPAK 2500 modules.
(Lee Baldock)
Greece - Audio-Technica microphones will be used by Athens Olympic Broadcasting S.A. (AOB) in the broadcast of the 28th Olympic Games, from August 13-29, in Athens, Greece. Media representatives will cover the 16-day event for a worldwide audience of billions. AOB is the host broadcaster for the Games, responsible for producing and distributing audio and video coverage.
The use of Audio-Technica microphones for the broadcast of the 2004 Olympics marks the continuation of A-T's Olympic involvement, which began with the Atlanta Games in 1996 and has included Sydney in 2000 and Salt Lake City in 2002. "All eyes and ears will be on Athens in 2004 when the Olympic Games begin, and the demands of the multitude of settings in this event call for Audio-Technica mics," says Michael Edwards, Audio-Technica product manager in the US. "The durability and dependability of A-T is well known in the industry, and our mics are recognized for being able to reproduce sound faithfully, with the highest consistency of reproduction from mic to mic."
A large number of the company's shotgun microphones were selected for their clear audio reproduction and critical long-distance pickup. Models chosen for the Olympic venues include the AT4071 and AT4073, as well as the AT815ST and AT835ST stereo shotguns, both of which were designed specifically for the Olympics in 2000.
Other microphones supporting the audio setup include the highly directional AT895 adaptive-array mic, AT841 omni condenser boundary microphone, MT830 miniature omni condenser lavalier, AT831 miniatur
UK -Theatre sound specialist Orbital was appointed by The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) to design and supply a sophisticated system for the 28th Laurence Olivier Awards. Under the stewardship of producer Adam Spiegel, the event was staged in London's Park Lane Hilton.
Since its inception in 1978, The Olivier Awards have recognized distinguished artistic achievement in London theatre. Spiegel said: "This year's event was a resounding success and the live music and sound was particularly enjoyed by all those attending. We were very grateful to the Orbital team for doing such an excellent job."
For the first time, a new awards category for Best Sound Design was introduced and awarded to Mike Walker for his work on Jerry Springer - The Opera - finally recognizing sound design as an artistic discipline in its own right, alongside others such as lighting design and set design.
Orbital's Chris Headlam commented: "We put our reputation on the line knowing that seated in the 900 strong audience was a considerable proportion of our client base! Awards ceremonies are traditionally very challenging for sound, but as it transpired our team headed by Sebastian Frost, Giles Rowland and freelancer Keith Barnes," - mixing the awards and the Rat Pack band on a Midas Heritage 3000, through a d&b Q7 loudspeaker system - "excelled themselves." He added: "Mike is a great talent and we've had a fantastic time working with him on the current UK tour of The Full Monty - he richly deserves the Best Sound Designer award."
(Lee Ba
USA - 12 High End Systems ColorCommands are enhancing the weekly worship message at the Fellowship of the Woodlands in Woodlands, Texas. ColorCommand is a dichroic colour-mixing Par/washlight fixture that offers complete freedom from gels and colour scrollers.
Dave Marks, the media minister, LD, technical director and set designer, says the ColorCommands are a big asset to the 4,400 capacity venue. "We have 300 dimmers, but mostly I use the 12 ColorCommands. They are awesome. I absolutely can't imagine doing what we do without them," Marks says.
It's "divine intervention," Marks claims, that plays a role in their successfully executed set designs, which vary each week to enforce the message from the minister. The four-person production team making it happen includes Marks and a carpenter, audio director and video director. "The ColorCommands save a huge amount of time on our set designs," Marks says.
The stage is 100ft wide by 40ft deep with a trim height of 30ft. "It's a big stage and pretty high up there, so when I need to focus in a general area, I have beam control with ColorCommand, so I can focus."
For their Christmas show (pictured), they drew in 30,000 attendees during eight special services. A snow-covered stage, Christmas trees, video of winter landscapes and, of course, ColorCommands set the scene. This particular week, "integrity" is the message. "This set is a bit more artsy," Marks says. Included in the design are 4 x 6ft canvases and 25ft curtains made of screen door material, with Co
USA - Event production company massAV has appointed Stephen Santomenna as director of production. In his new position he will lead massAV's growth in large event staging, live events and production. Santomenna has over 20 years' experience in the industry, having worked on Broadway and staged events on five continents. Prior to massAV, Santomenna served as an executive producer and director of technical services for Preston Productions, facilitating the management of events for EMC, API, IBM and PTC-User. His background also includes various positions with Image Engineering, Trinity Repertory Company and as a contract designer, technician and project manager.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Having enjoyed the company's busiest ever February in the corporate events sector, Shaun Pearce, managing director of Pearce Hire, has heralded the return of economic growth as corporate events re-establish their importance in the marketing and communications strategies of businesses. He commented: "Just as events seemed to have gained their place within the corporate world three years ago the worldwide economy pushed them off the agenda. Fierce competition over recent years has focused suppliers to deliver higher standards; we have been continually monitoring the market and our forward planning has enabled us to keep pace with the upturn and service event requirements at short notice this Spring."
At the start of the year, says Pearce, the company's order book gave no indication that during one week this February the Pearce Hire team would have been working on events as diverse as The Body Shop Foundation Gala Dinner at Billingsgate, The New College Nottingham Student Showcase and a two-day product launch for Coloplast at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham.
These three events highlighted the company's involvement in the specialized areas of lighting, sound and power provision, on which Pearce Hire is continuing to build a reputation for attention to detail and high quality. The events utilized various elements of the company's new inventory. One such investment was incorporated at an event at The Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. To ensure complete and even audio coverage of the live music and awards presentations, Pearce Hire made full use of the
UK - With a reputation for good sound, comfortable surroundings and a bar stretching along the side of the venue, Club West OneFour at The Fox, West Kensington, achieved status as an international venue for hosting launches of new groups and artists some years ago. The venue can cater for 300 guests, has a well-equipped large stage and hosts every type of music from rock bands to jazz bands, classical to country, from the well-known to the up and coming new bands.
The venue was redeveloped in October to improve the club's amenities and this has now been followed with the installation of a full new FOH system, supplied and installed by Opus Audio. The new system comprises an Opus XS234 loudspeaker management system and three Opus HD Series high definition power amplifiers driving four Opus SB218 sub-bass and two Opus CS1000 active mid/high loudspeaker systems.
Commenting on the system and refit, Derren Miller-Price, general manager of West OneFour said: "In the past I'd never truly felt that our sound systems were up to the standard the venue could achieve or warranted. When Andy Fox of Opus bought his system in to demonstrate I could instantly hear it was superior to any other I had used or heard - this was what we needed. It handles the wide variety of music types we host here with superb fidelity, tremendous power when needed and absolute reliability."
In addition to their own extensive schedules, which includes DJ nights and all-day events, West OneFour is often booked out for private hires and corporate functions, as well as hosting larger live ba
South Korea - MA Lighting has announced the sale of the 500th full-sized grandMA console. The desk, serial number 500, was purchased by Seoul-based Hansam System Co Ltd, MA Lighting's distributor in Korea. Introduced to the market in 1999, the grandMA enables the precise and powerful control of extensive light shows, including LEDs and video sequences.
In recent years, MA Lighting has developed a complete grandMA product family, with more than 1,200 of these lighting systems currently in use worldwide. The product range also includes the grandMA light, the grandMA ultra-light and the grandMA replay unit, as well as the additional software tools grandMA offline, grandMA remote control and grandMA 3D. The grandMA family is a flexible, open system that offers a new control philosophy for lighting designers and operators, say MA Lighting.
Using Ethernet networking technology, the grandMA system enables the control up to 16,384 channels, in single or multi-user-environments: up to eight control desks can be networked together, allowing each user to generate his display and give his own commands independent of other users. The grandMA is successfully used in concert halls, theatres, city halls and TV studios, as well as in discotheques and clubs, and has toured with top bands including Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem and Avril Lavigne.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Adlib Audio has won a competitive tender to design and install an audio system for the main venue in the new £13 million refurbishment project at the Villa Marina leisure complex in Douglas, Isle of Man. The Liverpool-based company will be supplying a JBL VerTec 4888 line array system and dbx drive rack system control to the 'new' 1,500 capacity Royal Hall. The JBL and dbx elements will be supplied to Adlib by Harman Pro UK. Adlib is also supplying Crown amplification and Soundcraft consoles, and will be building a customised JBL-loaded sub bass system to fit under the stage.
Adlib's Andy Dockerty has designed and specified the system. He is working to the brief to provide top quality live production facilities for to all types of performance - music of all genres from rock to cabaret to comedy. With his vast experience in the live concert touring industry, Dockerty and his team have come up with many lateral and practical solutions to ensure the Royal Hall will become a regular venue on the UK touring circuit. "We're putting plenty of thought into this," comments Dockerty, "And we're looking forward to develop a long-term relationship with the venue."
Adlib has also had the advantage of being a manufacturer itself, and therefore able to accommodate specialist technical requirements such as the bespoke sub-bass system. Harman Pro UK's Max Lindsay-Johnson says: "Having worked with Adlib as touring partners, it's great to be teaming up with them again in an installation context. The venue is aiming to attract top-level touring bands,
UK - Fostex has announced the launch of the cost-effective FR-2 field memory recorder. Although specifically designed for high quality location recording, the FR-2 is equally at home in TV and radio documentary applications, broadcast and sound effect acquisition, say Fostex.
The FR-2 has been designed for flexibility and records industry-standard Broadcast Wav Files (BWF) to either PCMCIA 1.8" hard drives or Type II Compact Flash cards. The FR-2 incorporates many features that have resulted from Fostex's wide experience in digital location recording - such as a 10 second pre-record buffer, battery power, on-board limiter and phantom-powered, balanced mic inputs.
The file-per-take system developed on the industry acclaimed PD-6 and DV40 machines, is a welcome feature to a recorder within this price range. The FR-2 also features scene and auto take naming, which makes keeping track of multiple takes a breeze.
Specific 'firsts' on the FR-2 include the ability to record up to 24-bit 192KHz, making it ideal for high quality sound effects recording; and the optional timecode card, which has a fully-featured reader/generator, including 23.976, and external word/video references.
Fostex products are available in the UK from SCV London.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - Industry veterans Gary Mass and Nick Freed have teamed up with Gear-Source president Marcel Fairbairn to form a new venture - Rental-Source - modeled in part after Fairbairn's successful web-based business, Gear Source. Rental-Source will serve today's production needs with a 'single source' method of locating production equipment of all types.
With backgrounds in manufacturing and production, managing partners Gary Mass and Nick Freed will head efforts to solve the many man-hours spent sourcing equipment for production purposes. Working in tune with an extensive worldwide vendor base and an easy-to-use web design for locating the most cost-effective, and logistically suitable rental equipment, Rental-Source promises to ease the ever-growing process of completing a production.
"Over the past 10 years or so, we've noticed an incredible incline in the need for production companies to draw from each other. We are using our many years of experience in the industry to create a shuttle instead of a bridge in pressing situations," claims Freed. Gary Mass states, "this was a natural progression in our careers. From working on productions, to selling equipment to production companies, and finally, recently partnering in a production company, we really feel as if we've got a lot to offer in today's market. Our efforts to add a 'hassle-free' step in the preparation of a show should prove to be very useful to companies at all levels."
Fairbairn adds: "With a proven solution in Gear Source, we really feel like this will fulfil another segment
UK - The SM500 Ultima is the first mixer in the new Ultima range from Citronic. The design is based on the popular SM450 and comes with a host of enhanced features designed to meet the needs of medium-sized installations. The dual microphone facility features a comprehensive Mic override system ideal for radio microphones, 3-band equalization, balanced and unbalanced inputs and individual on-air buttons.
There are 4 CD, 3 Line and 3 Phono inputs routed to the four heavy duty music input faders via input gain, and shared EQ controls for level matching. Channels 1 and 2 share a 3-band equalizer, as do channels 3 and 4, which is then routed to their respective ends of the on-board VCA crossfader.
The music channel 3-band EQ can be internally installer defeated to prevent any additional EQ being added by the DJ once the sound system has been set. The SM500 Ultima also offers the main mixer output in either balanced XLR or unbalanced phono connectors, as well as providing program mono and sub-bass outputs. In addition, a booth output is provided, which can be either full program or music only. This is selected by an internal movable link and will prevent Mic feedback.
Another feature of the SM500 is its re-positional connector panel, this allows the installer to easily rack the mixer into a console or 19" rack. The connector panel can be moved to be on the rear of the unit or on the underside of the mixer, making the SM500 Ultima one of the most versatile mixers in its range.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - At the 13th Ibero-American Summit in November last year, Shure ConferenceONE discussion systems were chosen to facilitate the historic meeting of heads of Spain, Portugal, and all Latin American countries. Among the dignitaries at the summit, which took place in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, were the King and Queen of Spain and the vice-president of Cuba. This meeting represented the first installation of Shure's new conference system in Latin America.
All leaders participated in-group discussions utilizing a 25-channel standard ConferenceONE discussion system. Combining a mixer, amp and high-quality loudspeaker with an innovative, fold-out telescoping microphone arm, ConferenceONE makes setup and use exceptionally easy and delivers superior audio quality. According to Raul G. Alcocer Montero of Alcocer Servicios in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, both organizers and sound engineers were extremely positive about the system's performance.
Shure's involvement in the summit did not stop there. At the conference meetings that involved the ministries and secretaries of state for the attending nations, Shure MX418D/C gooseneck microphones were used on the conference tables, mixed through SCM810 automatic mixers and distributed via FP16A audio distribution amplifiers.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - Electrosonic was responsible for the audio-visual systems integration design and installation at the new Ford Rouge Factory Tour. For the first time in over 20 years, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour is re-opening in 2004 with an all-new state-of-the-art presentation venue offering two multi-screen theatres, numerous touch-screen interpretive displays, and an 80ft high observation deck overlooking the world's largest "living roof" (made out of a carpet of plants that are used to collect water and help insulate the building) on the Dearborn Truck Plant. Ford Motor Company is partnering with 'America's greatest history attraction', The Henry Ford museum, which will operate the new visitor centre and plant tour. The experience is being created and produced for Ford by BRC Imagination Arts under the creative and content direction of The Henry Ford.
Although the opening of the new facility is not until the Spring of this year, the opening of its Visitor Center was accelerated so that it could be used during the five days of the 100th Anniversary of the Ford Motor Company in 2003. The new visitor experience at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour will begin and end at The Henry Ford. And along the way the experience will include a tour of the historic Rouge site, detailing its rich history and the vehicles created there; and the Visitor Center, with two state-of-the-art, multi-sensory theatres, plus numerous touch-screen interpretive and hands-on displays.
The centrepiece of the visitor experience is a seven-screen circular theatre combining video, lighting, heat, f
UK - Entec Lighting supplied The Australian Pink Floyd Show with the lighting rig for their sold-out performance at Cardiff Arena last weekend - a precursor to their first four-week US arena tour, to be followed by another two months in the UK and Europe.
The Australian Pink Floyd Show is among the best known and most successful tribute bands in the world. David Gilmour, Pink Floyd's guitarist, is a fan of the band and has seen the show three times. In November, he joined thousands of Pink Floyd fans at the Royal Albert Hall for a show described as "Truly embracing the Floyd legacy".
This year the band step up their live performance schedule and stature with new lighting and sound production. Lighting designer Dave Hill was brought in to work with long-standing LD Steve Ellerington, and to come up with a new visual picture for the bigger venues. The new lighting rig resembles the classic Pink Floyd shows, complete with circular projection screen. Entec supplied visual specialist Richard Hutton to co-ordinate the show's video and image projection elements which features artwork, graphics and video footage produced and collected by the band themselves. Entec's WYSIWYG suite played a major role in getting the show conceptualized, designed, visualized and programmed.
Dave Hill spent seven days in there, and then had one over-night 'real-time' programming session in Cardiff arena, the night before the show. After the load-out, it was straight to the US to start the tour there with exactly the same rig. "I Could not have done it without Entec's WYSIWYG
Germany - The latest addition to Electro-Voice's range of powered speakers is the SbA760 subwoofer, which is rated at 760W, and provides an ideal complement to the new SxA360. This new and extraordinarily powerful specialist in the bottom end of the sound spectrum is equipped with a stereo crossover, a 760W power amplifier and the EVS15FR long-excursion low frequency driver. The SbA760 extends the acoustic output all the way down to 40Hz.
Despite its immense power, the SbA760 is notable for its compactness as well as its simple and intuitive handling. The enclosure, which is robust and designed to withstand rough use on the road, is kitted out with four rollers and a scratch-proof Futura coating.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - Super Vision International Inc, a leading manufacturer of fibre optic and LED lighting, has announced that is has filed a law suit in the Federal District Court in Orlando, Florida, seeking past due royalties and damages in excess of $10.5 million against Color Kinetics Inc of Boston, Massachusetts, for past and current infringement violations of U.S. Patent #4,963,687 on 'Variable Color Lighting System'.
The patent, developed by inventor Richard Belliveau, provides for broad coverage in its claims for patent in the use of networked, centrally-controlled, addressable colour changing lighting systems incorporating pulse width modulation and variable digital control circuitry which can vary the intensity of individual lamp elements to generate unlimited colours.
Color Kinetics was notified by the patent owner on several occasions in the past that the owner believed that Color Kinetics was infringing on its intellectual property rights. Upon examination of High End System's patent, Super Vision believed utilization of this patent would be required in order to continue their development of colour-changing LED systems. Super Vision is now the owner of the 'Variable Colour Lighting System', having purchased the patent from High End Systems (see lsionline news, Friday 5 March), including future licensing rights, rights to enforce against infringement, and entitlement to both past due and future royalties on the patent.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - On Saturday 28 February, the entrance of LAMDA in West London was festooned with balloons to welcome guests to a joint celebration of Triple E's 20th anniversary and managing director David Edelstein's birthday. As a past student of the Academy, Edelstein's connections continue to this day, with Triple E last year providing curtain and tracking for five of the rehearsal studios at LAMDA. The black box studio was transformed for the evening with the addition of a stage, complete with trussing, tracking and lighting, and colleagues from all areas of the entertainment industry - technicians, theatre consultants and acousticians, and colleagues from the ABTT - joined with family and friends for an evening of conversation and good wine. While the food was definitely 21st century, the entertainment was designed to take people back to their youth - The Upbeat Beatles made the evening a night to remember.
(Lee Baldock)
USA / Switzerland - Shure Inc and the Montreux Jazz Festival have agreed to extend their long-running relationship by signing a three-year partnership agreement carrying through the Festival's 40th anniversary in 2006. Entering its tenth year of cooperation, Shure will continue as official supplier of microphones and wireless systems and remain as principal sponsor of the annual Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition.
As official supplier, Shure will provide a wide range of microphones and wireless, personal monitoring, and conferencing systems to support both artists and press events during the festival. In addition to equipment, Shure will provide 24-hour, behind-the-scenes technical support for the duration of the festival. "Shure's dedication to the festival is outstanding," noted Christoph Stahel, executive production manager of the festival's main venue, Stravinsky Hall. "You know you can rely on their support one hundred percent, no matter the time or circumstances."
Shure will also continue its support of young jazz artists by sponsoring the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. Entering its second year at this year's 38th Annual Festival, the competition will take place at the Petit Palais and feature performances by the best unsigned jazz singers selected from around the world. A panel of international educators and entertainers will judge the event. The competition is open to vocalists of all nationalities, born after 1 January 1974. Entrants must submit a demo CD by 16 April, 2004 to qualify. Semi-finalists selected from among the
UK - Blitz Communications, one of the UK's leading providers of AV equipment, has introduced a unique product-independent, 590 cubic metre widescreen demonstration environment at its Elstree headquarters in London.
Paul Hutton, managing director of Blitz Communications, said that the widescreen environment, complete with three Barco RLM G5 DLP projectors and a seamless 10m screen, has been designed and fitted in response to client demand over the last few years. "Blitz has recognized that event organizers and production companies have seen a decrease in the production value of events over the last few years, and we see widescreen seamless vistas as a way of bringing back creative production standards and as a USP in providing presentations."
"Blitz is not aligning itself to one particular widescreen product and as a result the facility has been designed to display a full range of widescreen systems, including Dataton Watchout, Barco Viewscape, and Vista Montage. This is to provide customers with the opportunity to understand the various technologies available and the differences between them in terms of cost and functionality. We will also advise on which product is best for the particular presentation that they are designing."
The launch of the new facility enables Blitz Communications to provide its customers with a complete turnkey widescreen solution for their clients' events, incorporating the support of its graphics department, which can design and create widescreen images for the customer, as well as the vision and sound departments.