19 minute read
REGIONAL ROUND-UP
KLT Managing Director, Stuart Taylor with the KLT team; CT’s Carlos Aguilar and Tom Warneke; Gallowglass Health & Safety Middle East’s Jillian Park, Alicja Bilogan and Rimsha Roberts; Levels Audio Visual’s Daniel Ball and Hassan Alwan.
INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS
THE LATEST MOVERS AND SHAKERS ACROSS THE REGION.
Creative Technology (CT) Middle East has added Carlos Aguilar to its live events video engineering division. With over 11 years working in the live events and broadcast industries, Aguilar brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. “Carlos is a highly qualified professional with a bachelor’s degree in TV and Video Production, a certified Barco switcher operator and a disguise specialist with expert knowledge in projection mapping, creative programming and server workflows,” the company stated.
The company has also appointed Tom Warneke as a Senior Project Manager for its live events division. “I’m really excited to be joining such a world-class team as CT and work on some of the most exciting projects across the region, particularly as we expand into offering that same level of service and quality in a full-service way for not just video but complete technical delivery,” he commented.
Gallowglass Health & Safety Middle East has appointed Alicja Bilogan as Operations Manager, as well as Jillian Park and Rimsha Roberts as Health & Safety Advisors. “Alicja’s vast experience in project and operations management planning expertise meant securing her employment was a nobrainer,” said Gallowglass Branch Manager, Declan Meenan. “With their H&S experience, desire and team-based approach, Jillian and Rimsha will be a perfect fit for Gallowglass moving forward.”
INFiLED has opened a new office and showroom in Dubai. “The office is not only a working space for our fast-growing team but also an opportunity to be closer to the market,” said INFiLED Middle East Business Development Manager, Samer Otaibi. “We are proud and delighted to have a local office to invite customers and show them our latest products for fixed and rental installations.” The new facility is located on Al Bourouj Street in Knowledge Village – Office Park Building, Block C, Office 307.
Kraftwerk Living Technologies (KLT) has opened its first Middle East office, with Stuart Taylor taking on the role of Managing Director for the region. Located in Concord Tower, Dubai Media City, the new premises are the company’s fifth global office worldwide. The company has also opened a warehouse for operations in the Saeed Al Maktoum Complex at the Jebel Ali Industrial Area First.
“We believe in the Middle East’s growing entertainment and culture markets and opening an office in Dubai is an important step to strengthen our operations worldwide,” stated KLT CEO and Founder, Manfred Meier.
Dubai-based Levels Audio Visual has become the latest company to join the L-Acoustics Certified Provider install (CPi) network. “Becoming an L-Acoustics CPi is an acknowledgment of our high standards, putting Levels in a rare group of professional organisations, each at the top of their game,” commented Managing Partner, Hassan Alwan.
“We are very excited to have Levels AV onboard to join the L-Acoustics family as an integration partner in the region,” added Chris Mead, L-Acoustics Sales Manager, Middle East, India, East Africa. “It’s important that these premium systems are supplied to the end users by an integrator like Levels, who hold a similar appetite for perfection as we do.” www.tpmeamagazine.com
SHURE DEBUTS ADX5D IN DUBAI
THE BRAND-NEW PORTABLE RECEIVER DEBUTS AT A PRIVATE EVENT ATTENDED BY VIPS, CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS AT DUBAI’S RENAISSANCE DOWNTOWN HOTEL.
Shure has unveiled its brand-new portable receiver, the Axient Digital ADX5D.
The new technology was showcased to VIPs, customers, and partners at a private event held at Dubai’s Renaissance Downtown Hotel, with international viewers tuning in over Zoom.
“We designed the ADX5D Portable Receiver to incorporate the same innovative wireless technology that Axient Digital is known for, all in a portable form factor for professionals in the field or on-the-go,” said Shure Senior Wireless Category Director, Nick Wood. “This new addition to the Axient Digital family exceeds the rigours of everyday use and lives up to Shure’s reputation for quality that we’ve earned over the past 96 years.” The ADX5D includes Shure’s ShowLink technology, which is unique to Axient Digital and allows real-time control of all transmitter parameters, interference detection, and avoidance. It is also compatible with Wireless Workbench, which supports efficient control and configuration, optimal spectrum management, and frequency coordination.
Said to “innovate in a way that would take Axient Digital beyond the stage, stadiums, and studio broadcast environments” the ADX5D is also designed to operate within the sports/ events broadcasting, electronic news gathering, film/episodic television, and electronic field production sectors. Photo: Shure www.shure.com
VITEC TAKES JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA GLOBAL
ZEST TECHNOLOGIES SUPPLIES AN MGW DIAMOND QUAD CHANNEL ENCODER TO MEET THE JOCKEY CLUB’S LIVESTREAM REQUIREMENTS.
A Vitec MGW Diamond quad channel encoder is helping to bring the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia to a worldwide audience. The Riyadh-based club was seeking to expand its weekly horse racing coverage – which take place on Fridays and Saturdays during its season – beyond its domestic reach and into new markets via internet streaming channels. The solution uses the MGW Diamond encoder, sending the stream to NEP Connect and onto Sports Information Services (SIS) via public internet. From SIS, it is distributed to customers and partners worldwide via its retail and online services, including its 24/7 live betting channels.
“Traditionally, we would’ve looked to have put a satellite truck on site for a project like this,” commented Proimage Solutions Limited Broadcast Technical Consultant, James Bonnar. “However, with about 14 hours of total coverage over the two days, and the need for a satellite truck, it would have been cost prohibitive to use this broadcast workflow. Working with the Jockey Club, we looked at what internet speeds we could get and what bandwidth could be dedicated to a possible stream. I ran some successful streaming tests to the UK and spoke to Lorna Garrett, Zest Technologies Managing Director, about purchasing an SRT encoder. I’ve worked with Lorna for a long time, and over the years we have looked at various streaming systems and remote contribution systems using the public internet, now that it is improving.”
MGW Diamond is a small, power-efficient quad-channel HD or single-channel 4K HEVC video encoder designed for field-based applications. It features a powerful encoding engine with the ability to output up to eight streams simultaneously. The system in Saudi Arabia takes the mixed output from a broadcast flypack – also installed by Proimage Solutions Limited – which is then distributed. It makes use of several SRT streams: one going to SIS, and another going to Proimage Solutions Limited for remote monitoring purposes. Whilst the stream is not currently 4K, the MGW Diamond encoder is powerful enough to deliver the resolution, providing future proofing and expansion flexibility without significant additional costs.
“The solution has been very robust, and the support has been fantastic,” added Bonnar. “VITEC was always there to jump in and provide support; they helped ourselves and SIS get the setup working in no time at all. The quality from this encoder has been amazing using SRT. We’re pushing out an eight Mb/s HEVC stream, and it is fantastic. When you look at it on a grade one broadcast monitor it is very impressive. It has also delivered on cost effectiveness over alternatives, which made it a viable project to do – without that, it simply wouldn’t have happened.”
Following a successful season of streaming in Riyadh, the encoder system is being moved to another racetrack in Saudi Arabia, where it will be used to stream action from Ta’if in the southwest of the country for 10 weeks.
The MGW Diamond encoder was supplied by Zest Technologies (originally through Garland). Photo: VITEC www.vitec.com
3DB DELIVERS VOLVO TRUCKS LAUNCH EVENTS
THE COMPANY FACILITATES BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS IN DUBAI’S COCA-COLA ARENA AND ABU DHABI’S ETIHAD ARENA TO LAUNCH VOLVO’S NEW RANGE OF TRUCKS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
The UAE’s leading heavy vehicle and machinery importer, FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company) celebrated the release of its new Volvo Trucks range in the Middle East by hosting two back-to-back launch events in the UAE. Taking place at the Coca-Cola Arena and Etihad Arena, the events saw the newgeneration models revealed to an invited guestlist of key decision makers in the region.
Tasked with creating an innovative concept was Dubai-based event production company, 3DB. “The brief was to come up with a creative concept and delivery plan for the launch events,” began 3DB Director of Marketing and Events, Adam Griffiths. “It had to be something that really made a statement and was memorable for all the invited guests.”
Both events were focused on the big reveal, where guests would be able to set their eyes on the new models for the first time. “The reveal concept was all about celebrating the environments in which the trucks excel in their day-to-day life, whether that is long-haul, construction or mountain terrain,” Griffiths recalled. “We created content to showcase this.”
As well as coming up with the concept, 3DB also supplied the technical equipment, including audio, video, lighting, rigging and staging. While some kit was required for the pre-function and gala dinner elements of the event, the majority of equipment was utilised for the big reveal.
A d&b audiotechnik line array system comprising 14 Q1s, six B2 subs and seven D12 digital amplifiers was hung using a Q Series Flying Frame, while a DiGiCo SD11 was used for control. On-stage presenters used a Sennheiser G3 eightway radio microphone kit.
Video was projected onto a custom-built set comprising two 12.4m by 7m projection surfaces, with a central 5m by 7m moving wall and a 26.85m by 17.5m floor. The projector of choice was Panasonic’s PTRZ-31K, with seven used to display the content, which was distributed through two disguise gx 2 media servers. In lighting world, two MA Lighting grandMA2 consoles were used to control the rig, which included a total of 20 Vari-Lite VL2600 Profiles, 24 Robe BMFLs and 12 Claypaky Mythos. The look was completed with a selection of LED blinders as well as moving heads, washes and beams, with two Le Maitre MVS hazers and two Viper 2.6 foggers adding to the atmosphere.
The first business event to take place inside Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, Griffiths noted that the tighter COVID-19 restrictions in the emirate added an extra layer of complexity. “We had to follow tight guidelines, but with proper planning, this was a pretty seamless project,” he commented.
With both events going off without a hitch, the most important thing for Griffiths was that the client was left happy. “The feedback we were given was really positive,” he shared. “It was nice to be back working in the UAE’s two major arenas. Hopefully there’ll be a lot more to come.” Photo: 3DB www.3db-dxb.com
BYRNE LAUNCHES ON-SITE RENTAL DEPOT
THE COMPANY PARTNERS WITH MEDIAPRO, FRUITION AND SHOWFORCE TO OFFER A TURNKEY EVENTS SOLUTION ON THE SITE OF A MAJOR DUBAI CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
Byrne Equipment is offering a new turnkey events solution on the site of ‘a major construction project’ in Dubai. While Byrne partnered initially with a specialist small tools company to support a constant stream of construction projects on-site, this year the company has teamed up with MediaPro, Fruition and Showforce to cater to the events industry in anticipation of the many events that will take place on the site between October this year and March 2022.
“Initially, we were an integral part of the build-up phase of many of the pavilions that make up this major construction project,” began Byrne Regional General Manager of UAE, Oman & Group Head Specialist Divisions, Steve Caygill. “This year, with our extensive range of equipment as well as partnerships with event suppliers MediaPro, Fruition and Showforce, we are looking forward to expanding our offering to cater to the events sector, with many agreements to do so already in place.”
The on-site rental depot has been built using Byrne’s temporary buildings and aims to “provide all contractors, stakeholders and the wider array of people and organisations working on projects on-site, immediate access to a vast range of equipment and consumables in one convenient location,” Caygill explained. “In doing so, users of this facility can expect equipment ready for hire, fit for purpose and tested in accordance with stringent health and safety regulations.”
According to Caygill, the fact that the facility is situated inside the security parameter of the site brings a range of benefits, including: “reduced traffic to and from the site, resulting in lower CO2 emissions, as well as rapid response to any and all requirements and requests onsite, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The depot includes a large office and meeting space, as well as a large warehouse and yard space. “Our kit is inclusive of temporary buildings/cabins, sanitation facilities, power generation, AC units, powered access, mobile lighting and sound equipment, staging, fencing and manpower,” outlined Caygill.
In addition, MediaPro is providing audio, video, lighting and staging equipment; Fruition is offering overlay products for a broad range of events inclusive of scaffolding towers, archways and walls, platforms and staging, water technology, barriers and fencing; while Showforce brings a vastly experienced professional logistics crew.
While the COVID-19 pandemic had an inevitable effect over the past year, demand for the facility has been increasing steadily this year. “We are always listening to our customers and adapting our product offering to meet their requirements, and this facility has been no different,” concluded Caygill.
“We have diversified our on-site fleet and secured strategic partnerships with Showforce, MediaPro and Fruition to bolster our one-stop shop offering. We expect demand to grow in the post COVID period in the wake of many upcoming events this year and beyond. We are looking forward to a busy year supporting this prestigious construction project, the events and what is to come.” Photo: Byrne Equipment Rental www.byrnerental.com www.mediapro-av.com www.fruitionevents.ae www.showforce.com
HARLEQUIN SETS THE STAGE AT EXPO 2020
THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING A RANGE OF HIGH-END SPRUNG AND VINYL PERFORMANCE SURFACES FOR THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED MEGA-EVENT.
Dubai Expo 2020 has engaged performance floor design, manufacture and installation specialist, Harlequin Floors to provide a range of sprung and vinyl performance surfaces for the main entertainment stages at the event.
The supply comprises key areas of the Expo 2020 site, including: Jubilee Park, a covered stage with casual outdoor seating for up to 7,500 people with a performance area of 280 sq m; Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, an intimate outdoor venue located at Al Forsan Park with capacity for up to 1,937 seats (mainly along wooden benches) and the total performance area of 144 sq m; as well as Al Wasl Plaza and several rehearsal areas.
Over 300 sq m of Harlequin Liberty HD sprung floor panels will be used across the two main stages. This world-renowned sprung floor panel system is made from FSC-certified premium birch plywood, coated with a textured polymer resin for extra grip, durability and weather resistance. The panels feature dualdensity elastomer pads giving consistent shock dampening. They lock together using Harlequin’s proprietary ‘latch and lock’ system.
The company is also supplying 1,200 sq m of its flagship performance vinyl floor, Harlequin Cascade, with BioCote antimicrobial protection. Described as “the ultimate heavy-duty vinyl dance floor with mineral fibre reinforcement for stability and durability”, the product has a smooth embossed surface with high levels of grip. It also comes with BioCote antimicrobial protection, helping to keep the surface of the floor hygienically clean by reducing the presence of microbes on the surface and therefore reducing the risk of cross contamination.
Harlequin is also providing ramps and trims for the stages, eight Liberty panel carts and four vinyl roll carts. Photo: Harlequin Floors www.harlequinfloors.com
A ROBUST AND EASY LED DISPLAY SOLUTION FOR OUTDOOR RENTAL APPLICATION
QVISION SELECTS CLAYPAKY FOR FIFA ARAB CUP QATAR 2021 DRAW
CLAYPAKY SCENIUS UNICO, SHARPY PLUS, HEPIKOS AND A.LEDA B-EYE K20 CC MOVING HEADS ARE AMONG THE FIXTURES ON THE FIFA ARAB CUP QATAR 2021 DRAW LIGHTING RIG.
Tasked with staging the live broadcast of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 Draw at Katara Opera House in Doha, Qatar Vision Company (Qvision) deployed a large complement of Claypaky lighting fixtures to illuminate the venue.
Claypaky Scenius Unico, Sharpy Plus, Hepikos and A.leda B-EYE K20 CC moving heads were used for the draw, which determined the matches for the 2021 Arab Cup to be held in December. Seen as an important opportunity to test operations and facilities prior to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the event was held under strict COVID-19 protocols, including a completely closed production bubble.
Qvision was responsible for the stage set, rigging, lighting, audio, video, and visual and motion graphics content at the opera house. The company also supplied the complete technical, operations and logistics manpower required to deliver the event. The draw concept and creative design were by Qvision Managing Director, Sharif Hashisho and his team, who devised an impressive show for both the attending guests and delegates at the Katara Opera House as well as the worldwide broadcast TV audience.
The proscenium stage was outfitted with a 117 sq m, 2.9mm high-resolution LED video wall backdrop, with an additional 70 sq m of 2.9mm LEDs left and right to display animated motion graphics and broadcast the live feed.
An array of Claypaky fixtures lit the set. Lighting Designers, Mohammad Assaf and Mark Anton chose 20 Scenius Unicos to illuminate the draw pots as well as the conductor and speech lecterns, citing the need for the fixtures’ precise framing system. Meanwhile, a total of 40 A.leda B-EYE K20 CC moving heads washed the entire stage to meet the show’s broadcast requirements. In addition, 40 Sharpy Plus and 20 Hepikos moving heads created dramatic beams and patterns throughout the show.
“Claypaky has a wealth of products that are suitable for any kind of lighting show, whether it’s a large-scale stadium show or ceremony, corporate event or launch, small event or wedding,” Hashisho concluded. “Claypaky fixtures are very reliable. Working with products that will not fail during a show was an important factor in our selection.” Photo: Claypaky www.claypaky.it
CT INSTALLS L-ACOUSTICS SYSTEM AT ETIHAD ARENA
THE TOURING SYSTEM BOASTS MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS TO SUIT EVERYTHING FROM INDOOR CONCERTS TO SPORTING EVENTS.
Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) has recently delivered a complete L-Acoustics touring system at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
An Approved Calibration Centre (ACC) and Certified Partner Integrations (CPI) for L-Acoustics, CTME worked closely with L-Acoustics during the modelling of the system based on CAD drawings supplied by the Etihad Arena. As the venue will be hosting a wide range of events, the design had to consider multiple configurations to suit various productions from indoor concerts to sporting events and more.
“CT delivered the L-Acoustics system on behalf of the arena, and verified, tested, installed and calibrated the equipment, making sure the system was responding as per the design,” explained CT Systems Integration Project Manager, Craig Harvey.
As part of the L-Acoustics system, CT also installed a delay system comprising five hangs of six KARAs, which was designed to work alongside any configuration. The complete system consisted of 36 K2s and 30 KARA loudspeakers, 12 K1-SBs and 16 KS28 subs, 11 LA-RAK IIs complete with 43 LA12X amplified controllers.
The signal transportation was handled over an Optocore system, and all networking was taken care of with Luminex switches. “The networking gave us the capability of being able to transport analogue, AES or ABV signals to all the amplifiers,” Harvey added.
“CT offers a complete service, from design and equipment procurement to installing and configuring, providing our clients with highquality equipment accompanied by professional engineers who understand how to use it and maximise the system potential,” he concluded. “Our ability to simulate these system designs before installation allows our clients to visualise the final result before making a purchase.” Photo: CT Middle East www.ctme.co
PIXEL ARTWORKS CHOOSES TIMAX FOR DUBAI AIRPORT
Pixel Artworks recently specified a TiMax SoundHub spatial audio server for a new highprofile audiovisual experience greeting visitors arriving into Dubai International airport. The immersive installation captures the spirit and ethos of the rescheduled Expo 2020 event, now running from autumn 2021 to spring 2022.
Raven AV’s Dan Roncoroni handled the sophisticated audio aspects of the installation, following an earlier preparatory site visit by Out Board’s Robin Whittaker. Due to its late addition to the project, TiMax had to be retrofitted into an existing system design within tight timescales.
Aside from the airport’s highly reflective environment and characteristically high level of background noise, the requirement for loudspeakers to be neither surface mounted nor visible added to these challenges. Additionally, significant negotiation with the airport had been necessary to ease some restrictive decibel limits, and because intended electrical cabling ran contrary to the airport’s infrastructure schedule, only data cables could be run across the airport. “The project called for a spatial audio setup outside the envelope of most spatial audio processors,” recalled Roncoroni.
The solution hinged around a 32-channel TiMax SoundHub delivering a nuanced, multilinear soundscape via Dante to 16 EM Acoustics EMS-51s, which were secured to haloes of flexible LED display panels fixed around four marble pillars. The loudspeaker spec, Roncoroni explained, was based on the EMS51 being “…the best loudspeaker to fit the audio requirements, the size requirements and the budget.”
Four loudspeakers per pillar were positioned to give coverage across a 120-degree angle per pillar. The set up is testament to the superior audio control TiMax bestows because as Roncoroni said, “I don’t know another processor that could so easily have dealt with groups of four loudspeakers pointing at each other from 20m apart at the widest gap.” Exploiting the bandwidth and full breadth of the groups of ultra-compact EMS51s, driven by Powersoft’s new Mezzo half-rack power amplifiers, produced enough low end to compensate for the subwoofers that could not be accommodated. Roncoroni confidently asserted, “I couldn’t have done that with larger loudspeakers running stereo content and the only way that worked really was with a TiMax.”
Audio playback from TiMax was triggered by the Seventh Sense Media server. TiMax also handled all the audio mixing and equalisation.
Roncoroni concluded: “TiMax allowed us to create an incredible and cohesive soundscape that is impressive to all who pass through the installation. With the excellent localisation achieved by TiMax, the airport’s reflective environment stopped being a worry, the loudspeakers effectively became acoustically invisible and there was just a soundfield of incredible quality.” Photo: Out Board www.outboard.co.uk
