For The Technical And Production Professionals in Asia
JUNE 2019
EX
CL U
SI
VE
AGB Events Concludes Successful Involvement in Parrtjima INTERVIEW: Lucy Keeler, New Vivid Light Curator SPOTLIGHT: Celebrating 40 Years of NEXO OPINION The Technologies That are Changing Entertainment... and Us www.e-techasia.com
ONE BEAM. 7SEGMENTS. LIMITLESS COLORS. THE MARTIN MAC ALLURE PROFILE. NOTHING LIKE IT. REALLY.
TM
THE MARTIN MAC ALLURE TM PROFILE
Mar tin MAC Allure Prof ile, an all new creative tool enabling lighting designers to create dynamic and impactful projection and mid-air effects, making the impossible now possible. This industr y-f irst concept features a novel RGBW light engine with unique 7-segmented beam control allowing for instant color control and pixelated beams. The proprietar y light engine sets new standards in compact design and eff iciency making the MAC Allure a power ful, vibrant and affordable solution. As the f irst f ix ture to incorporate Mar tin’s P3 control, pixel mapping and pixelated beams can be controlled via standard protocol or switching to P3 at any moment during the show. There is nothing like it. Really. Learn more at www.martin.com/mac-allure
For Product demos, details and enquiries write to us at HPro.APAC@harman.com or contact your authorized country partner
CONTENTS
3 JUNE 2019
42
59 IN THIS ISSUE
VOL 20 ISSUE 06 JUNE 2019
04 FIRST WORDS
INTERVIEW 40 Lucy Keeler, New Vivid Light Curator 42 Thomas Giegerich - Creating an Experience at the EK Lights Booth
LIVE 48 AUSTRALIA: AGB Events Concludes Successful Involvement in Parrtjima 50 CHINA: Alcons LR28 is the Right Philosophy for China Media Group Festival 52 HONG KONG: HK Science Museum Chooses AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA for Exhibition 54 NEW ZEALAND: NZ Sound Reinforcement Turns Up The Beats At Bay Dreams Music Festival 56 THAILAND: Quality Interpretation Systems at the ASEAN Defence Senior Official’s Meeting 58 CHINA: Buddhist Singing Bowls Sound Clear and Detailed With DPA Microphones 59 INDIA: Claypaky Fixtures Illuminate AR Rahman’s Flowers TV Show
SPOTLIGHT 44 Celebrating 40 Years of NEXO
ALEX COLUMN 60 The Right Tool
OPINION 46 The Technologies That are Changing Entertainment... and Us
61 EVENTS CALENDAR
06 NEWS 34 VIDEO FILES 35 ENNOVATIONS
62 MARKET PLACE
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
FIRST WORDS
Ram Bhavanashi
JUNE 2019
Editor, India And Middle East ram@spinworkz.com
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou and the GET Show for the first time did not overlap this year. PL+S Guangzhou went back to its original show month of February whereas GET held its event in May. Both shows survived and continued to see the interest. Though both shows have audio and lighting solutions, it is clear from talking to exhibitors and visitors that PL+S Guangzhou is the preferred exhibition for the international audio brands and GET the favourite show for international lighting brands. I am sure many visitors wish for the shows to overlap again but this is not to be as next year’s schedule indicates that they will stay put in the months that they have chosen. We were at the InfoComm SEA show that was held in Bangkok from 15th to 17 May. The show had positive reviews from visitors, exhibitors and the media including us. The floor plan for next year indicates that the organisers have set aside a large area for the Rental & Staging segment. The idea of an all-encompassing show for the Southeast Asia region might just be the thing we need in a region that has countries developing at a different pace. In this issue, we are also pleased to share with you our Exclusive interview with Vivid’s new light curator, Lucy Keeler. ETA also got the opportunity to interview Thomas Giegerich from bold DESIGN who took responsibility to create an experience for visitors to the massive EK Lights booth at GET SHOW 2019. Do also have a read of an Opinion piece on the technologies that are changing entertainment. Written by Anna Robb of TheatreArtLife, the article gives an excellent perspective of the influence of technologies in entertainment spaces and how we are interacting with them. Enjoy the read.
4
Ram Julie Bhavanashi Tan
Editor, And Middle East Admin India & Circulation admin@spinworkz.com ram@spinworkz.com
Julie TanChew Natalie
Admin Writer & Admin & Circulation Circulation natalie@spinworkz.com admin@spinworkz.com
Daniel Daniel Ngiam Ngiam
MEDIA Rep for Natalie Chew MEDIA Rep for Spinworkz SpinworkzPte Pte Ltd. Ltd Tel: +65 84410258 Tel: +65 84410258 Writer first_dm@hotmail.com first_dm@hotmail.com natalie@spinworkz.com
OUR COLLABORATORS Atmaram Rawool Shankar Venugopal Daniel Ngiam ART / LAYOUT ETA
ART / LAYOUT MEDIA Rep for Spinworkz Pte Ltd shankar@creativecult.in Elissa Nadine Tel: +65 84410258 Web Content and Social Media Specialist first_dm@hotmail.com CREATIVE CULT
Rosalind Tan
Website Management Wizard
PV Anthony
Shankar Venugopal
Server and IT SecurityART Guru/ LAYOUT
shankar@creativecult.in
Halim, TrueDesignLab.com
HTML Design and Coding Maestro CREATIVE
CULT
Thomas Richard Prakasam Publisher / Editorial Director
thomas@spinworkz.com
To subscribe to Entertainment Technology Asia click here: https://www.e-techasia.com/subscribe/ PUBLISHED BY
71, Bukit Batok Crescent, #06-13 Prestige Centre, Singapore 658077. Tel: (65) 6316 2716 Fax: (65) 63162715, www.spinworkz.com ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Disclaimer : Entertainment Technology Asia is published 12 times a year. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine is to be reproduced, whether mechanical or electronic without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the publisher. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but the editor reserves the discretion to use them. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies. Please be informed that products and company names mentioned in this publication may be protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Our non inclusion of such symbols is not an indication of us not recognising the copyright but rather to have a common look across our articles. Misuse of tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks is strictly prohibited. It is the obligation of our readers to check if company names and products are protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks.
NEWS
6 JUNE 2019
ABU DHABI
Riedel Deploys and Manages Massive Comms Infrastructure for Special Olympics World Games 2019
Riedel Communications supplied a comprehensive, integrated communications infrastructure for the Special Olympics World Games 2019 (SOWG) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Riedel’s Artist digital matrix intercom system and Bolero wireless intercom were at the core of a massive comms deployment that spanned more than 30 venues and locations and included managed IT network services. “It was an honour to be such a key player in this year’s Special Olympics World Games, which included more than 7,000 athletes from over 195 nations,” said Marc Schneider, Director Global Events, Riedel Communications. “This was the largest, most inclusive, and most unified World Games in the history of the organization, with activities held at nine competition venues and over 20 other locations for
initiatives and programs across all seven Emirates. Our numbers speak to the sheer size and scale of this event: we deployed more than 30 Artist-64 nodes, which supported over 180 Bolero beltpacks on 56 Bolero antennas, plus another 170 C3 Digital Performer beltpacks, and 1,500 Tetra radios.” At the SOWG opening and closing ceremonies in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium, Riedel provided seamless crew and announcer communications through 65 1000-Series control panels, 60 Bolero wireless beltpacks, and more than 250 Tetra radios. A preexisting MediorNet infrastructure greatly simplified the integration of the communications system in the largest stadium in the United Arab Emirates. At all of the venues and locations, Riedel provided comms for all sports and medal ceremonies with an Artist mainframe and six Artist panels. The venue deployments marked the first time that the SOWG has achieved seamless communications without radios, with event crews relying solely on Bolero. In addition, Riedel provided an IT infrastructure to support managed network services at seven SOWG venues. This included firewall management, broadband internet, more than 165 access points, and more than 80 switches. www.riedel.net
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
SolaFrame
1000
The new kid on the plot FULL FRAMING SHUTTERS.
SE THE GO-TO WORKHOR FRAMING FIXTURE.
12°- 40° ZOOM.
20,000 FIELD LUMEN OUTPUT.
VARIABLE ANIMATION EFFECTS.
SOLAFRAME 3000
ROTATING AND FIXED GOBOS.
NEW CMY AND CTO COLOR MIXING SYSTEM.
SOLAFRAME 750
To learn more about the new SolaFrame 1000, visit highend.com
SOLAFRAME 1000
VISIT US AT THE BROADCAST ASIA 2019 BOOTH NO: 6Q3-01 & 04, LEVEL 6 18-20 JUNE 2019 SUNTEC, SINGAPORE
NEWS
8 JUNE 2019
AUSTRALIA
Green-GO Appoints New Distribution Partner in Australia The Green-GO system is easy to grasp, yet offers powerful control and the ability to interface with existing Party-line systems, 2-way radio, 4-wire devices, remote bridging - and all completely scalable. This is the winning solution behind the Green-GO product range. It’s the only IPbased event communications system on the market, it’s well priced and offers a simple solution for basic to complex communication.
ELC Lighting, manufacturer of the innovative, multi-award winning Green-GO digital intercom system for event production and broadcast applications, has appointed Event Communications Australia for the Australian market. Sydney-based Event Communications Australia, founded by Peter Cochrane and Frank Madzin, is a respected, specialist provider of professional comms systems for the event production market. To meet the demand for Green-GO across Australia’s vast geographical area, the company has formed close working relationships with partners around the country.
Green-GO’s Silvio Cibien says, “We welcome Event Communications Australia to our growing family. They are experts in their market, have a passion for production and put their customers first, all of which makes them ideal partners for Green-GO. We are excited to hear more about the possibilities for customers in these territory.” With these latest appointments, Green-GO’s global sales network now extends to 42 countries worldwide, with further appointments expected soon. www.greengodigital.com
SINGAPORE
Showtec Singapore Add More ARX MSX-48 Mic/line splitters to Their Inventory looped Main/FOH feed allowing phantom powering. A transformer isolated Monitor split on the front panel and a transformer isolated Auxiliary split on the rear panel for use with a remote recording truck or TV feed makes the MSX-48 ideal as a versatile mic/line splitter for live audio production and broadcast. The MSX-48 is a totally passive device requiring no power. The Singapore branch of event production specialists Showtec Group have recently expanded their already sizeable rental inventory of the ARX MSX-48 Microphone/Line Splitter. Finding the MSX-48 a straightforward solution for multi-channel signal splitting, Showtec have previously chosen the product for a number of prestigious live productions including the South Asia Games. The MSX-48 consists of sixteen channels of transformer isolated ultralow noise Microphone/Line Splitter, each of these channels has a direct ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
As a total solutions provider for events, the business activities of Showtec encompass professional audio, lighting, lasers, rigging, staging and special effects, across its branches in Singapore, China, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. www.arx.com.au www.showtecsingapore.com
TEAMWORK
GREAT FEATURE SET – PERFECT WHITE
350 W LED – 6,000 K – FRAMING
NEW:
/GLP.German.Light.Products /GermanLightProducts www.glp.de
NEWS
10 JUNE 2019
DUBAI
SoundKraft Strenghtens Audio Portfolio with Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Having added Sennheiser’s latest generation EW IEM G4 wireless inear monitoring system to its portfolio, SoundKraft LLC has seen overwhelmingly positive feedback and growing interest for the solution in the Middle East. The AV rental company which offers a complete turnkey equipment supply and technical services for all events in the UAE, attributes this to the system’s exceptional audio quality, easy and flexible wireless sync, impressive transmission range and compatibility with Sennheiser’s Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) software.
inherent simplicity - the team was quick to familiarize themselves with the new wireless monitoring system. “Compared to other systems, the wireless sync is very simple and straightforward. The EW G4 is compatible with every system in our portfolio and we have regularly received feedback from customers about its excellent audio quality and transmission range,” said Bhatia. The EW IEM G4 Wireless Monitor System from Sennheiser is part of the evolution family of wireless monitoring systems. It can be used as a rugged, all-inone wireless in-ear monitoring system for live stage, theatre, and house of worship applications.
The SoundKraft team
“We work closely with a number of international bands and artists. It was the high demand from these customers that prompted our decision to enhance our rental offerings with Sennheiser’s latest IEM system,” explained Mithesh Bhatia, Owner of SoundKraft LLC. “While seldom apparent to audiences, IEMs are absolutely critical to live performers who have loved the unmatched quality that’s a hallmark of the Sennheiser brand. Because the system is so easy to set up and manage, it is extremely reliable, allowing artists to focus on their performance.” SoundKraft has been utilizing Sennheiser equipment for over five years and works closely with Venuetech, the audio manufacturer’s longstanding distributor for the UAE. As a result, of this - and the system’s
Since adding the system to its rental offering, SoundKraft LLC has successfully used the Sennheiser ew IEM G4 for a number of live concerts, award shows and also a number of large-scale weddings. The company is confident that it will continue to see growing demand and is positioning it as a must have audio solution for stage shows and live concerts, corporate events, TV productions and gala functions across the Emirates. www.sennheiser.com
SCHOEPS
First SCHOEPS Workshops in Singapore saw a general introduction into SCHOEPS’s microphone technology and their specialty feature set and an introduction into the 3D Audio and its applications and solutions with SCHOEPS ORTF 3D microphone arrays. Addressed to sound engineers, sound designers and students, both days were very well received.
SCHOEPS ORTF 3D microphone arrays German high-end microphone manufacturer SCHOEPS held its first ever Workshop sessions in Singapore during a two day period on May 2nd and 3rd. The two days were filled with full day workshops at both LaSalle College of the Arts and YONG SIEW TOH Conservatory of Music. Conducted in cooperation between SCHOEPS Germany and its Asia Pacific Rep Alex Schloesser and SSL-ASIA Pte. Ltd., the two day event ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Asked to comment on the event, Alex had to offer the following:” SCHOEPS microphones are well known and respected around the globe and these workshops are an introduction into the technology behind the products which is long overdue for Asia and I will be doing much more of this in the future around South East Asia and Asia Pacific.” As a result of the two days, it was decided to offer more workshops in the future. If you are interested in this, check out www.schoeps.de or www. ssl-sg.com or get in touch with Alex at schloesser@schoeps.de www.schoeps.de
NEW
TAKING LINE ARRAY
PERFORMANCE
TO A WHOLE
NEW LEVEL Sharing the same aesthetic and sonic signatures as the acclaimed GEO M10 and compact M6 line arrays, the new GEO M12 takes its place as the flagship of the range, achieving a peak SPL of 140dB. And with great power comes great versatility, with integral rigging, a dedicated sub, plug & play power options and touring / installation versions making GEO M12 a system that performs at a whole new level in a wide variety of applications.
Thinking. Inside the box.
NEWS
12 JUNE 2019
AUSTRALIA
Robe Ups the MPH in Australia Leading Melbourne, Australia based lighting rental and production company MPH Australia - headed by Matt Hansen continues to invest in Robe products, with the latest additions being over 80 x MegaPointes, 50 x Spiiders and 50 x BMFLs. These join a constantly growing inventory of Robe moving lights currently in the region of 700 plus, including BMFL Spots and Blades, Pointes, LEDWash 600s and LEDBeam 100s. Matt made the commitment to Robe’s newest tech after having utilized the products on shows - including his own (he still designs and operates on the road) - for several years. He founded MPH (Matt’s Party Hire) in 2006 initially to stock some more esoteric LED products like SoftLED cloth … and it grew from there into what is now an exceptionally large party! MPH soon started incorporating lighting and rigging, with the first Robe investments being around nine years ago, a trend that continued rapidly resulting in a large inventory of Robe products that helped establish MPH as a serious force on the Australian lighting rental scene. Knowing Robe’s reliability, Matt continued his commitment to the brand as a core moving light product to service his fast-expanding horizon of concerts, touring and festival projects, the sector in which he specialises. It was shortly after this that Robe really started appearing frequently on touring rider specs, a trend partly driven by designs emanating from the US and Europe. “There was definitely a point at which Robe started firstly being requested a lot, and secondly, it became readily accepted as a substitute for other fixtures on original specs. This really underlined our decision” he explained. All these factors fuelled the decision to expand the inventory again last year with the 82 x MegaPointes, 50 x Spiiders and 50 x BMFLs – a decisive move that made a definite statement. The reaction to having all the newest tech onboard has been “incredible” commented Matt. “They have been out constantly, and that’s set to continue; MegaPointes and Spiiders are both products ‘of the moment’.”
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
The Australian festival scene is notoriously environmentally tough, in terms of the weather and the location, another aspect where Matt thinks Robe has always done exceptionally well. The very first gig for his newly delivered MegaPointes was the 2018 Parrtjima Festival of Light in Alice Springs where LD Richard Neville of Mandy Lights used 80 fixtures to illuminate the West MacDonnell Mountain Range - for a whole month - with custom gobos and spectacular effects! The fixtures were spread out over 1.5 km and run via wireless Ethernet for control, where their incredible brightness and excellent build quality ensured a great installation. They returned briefly to the warehouse afterwards, had a quick check and dust off, and have been out on projects ever since. Recent events for the Spiiders and MegaPointes have included Czechoriginated dance event Transmission, staged for the first time at the Sydney Showground (LD Bas Kemper) and the Download rock festival in Sydney and Melbourne, where MPH supplied lighting for the Avalanche and Dogstooth stages at both sites - production designed by Jeff Pavey and working for main lighting Contact’s Creative Productions. Recent tours have included Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby – which has been designed by Matt who was also out with the tour, and electronic music duo The Presets. While MPH definitely got the ball rolling with MegaPointes in Australia, others have also invested in these and Spiiders, and the already substantial availability of BMFLs in the country has been increased in the last two years. Matt remarks that with this, the cross-rental potential has also risen. Now when a major tour or event comes through with lots on the spec, there is the capacity between a few major companies to meet their requirements. Matt’s charm, personality and pragmatic approach to commerce see him enjoy good collaborative relationships with many other Australian rental and production companies including those who are also his potential rivals! www.robe.cz
NEWS
14 JUNE 2019
GLOBAL
Trust The Original – Neutrik Initiative Against Product Piracy and trademarks, which, while very costly, form an important part of our innovation culture. If our competitors now ruthlessly flout these intellectual property rights, we shall consistently take all the legal measures at our disposal to stop this,” said René Kleiner, CTO of the Neutrik Group. Among the most frequently imitated or copied products are the XLR plugs of the XX series (e.g. the compression ring patent) as well as the speakON, powerCON and etherCON cable connectors. In addition to patent infringements, Neutrik must also respond to imitations of protected design elements (sinus wave) or the misuse of registered brand names.
At this year’s prolight + sound in Frankfurt, Neutrik went on a determined offensive against product piracy. Following Neutrik’s request, police seized numerous products that clearly violate intellectual property rights. Moreover, extensive warnings to cease and desist have also been sent to the companies concerned. Further legal action has already been launched. Countless NEUTRIK products are based on technical inventions that have set new standards and are protected by patents. In addition, design features and brand names have been registered to ensure that original NEUTRIK products are easily and clearly recognizable.
Customers and users must be able to identify original NEUTRIK products in a simple and straightforward way – and must be able to rely on functionality and product quality. Consistent action against product piracy and copiers is essential and forms part of Neutrik’s corporate strategy in order to secure and justify investments in research and development. In order to protect Neutrik’s existing patent and trademark rights, further action is already planned for trade fairs in addition to the instigation of legal proceedings in China. www.neutrik.com
“We want to generate real customer added value with our products and to protect that value. That requires maintaining global patents
APAC
Powersoft Strengthens APAC Team Powersoft has hired Raymond Tee as application engineer for the APAC region, effective 1 April 2019. He brings a wide range of experience in live sound and fixed install application to the role and will report to Powersoft’s global business development manager for fixed install and application engineering manager, rack amplifiers, Marc Kocks.
Kocks commented: “Raymond has proven to be a perfect fit thanks to his work as application engineer for other manufacturers, as well as his experience with local Malaysian companies. The APAC region is a very important one for Powersoft, with many established and emerging markets, and this appointment strengthens the team even further.” After being chosen for the role, Tee undertook an intensive training period at the Powersoft headquarters in Scandicci, Italy and he has been conducting training sessions with end users and distributors in the APAC region since then. www.powersoft.com
Tee’s primary duties will be to support Powersoft’s distribution networks and end users in the region, enabling them to get the most out of the company’s products, as well as providing training and support for control software platform, ArmoníaPlus. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
NEWS
16 JUNE 2019
AUSTRALIA
AGB Events Plans International Expansion AGB Events was instrumental in devising Parrtjima: A Festival in Light, a celebration of Australia’s First Nations, now in its 4th year. The company continues to play a key role as creators and producers of the event, bringing the unique Indigenous art festival to life. The company were also producers and creative consultants for the 2018 and 2019 Australian Prime Minister’s Veterans Employment Awards, creating a memorable awards ceremony which paid tribute to the servicemen and women who have served Australia.
The Beauty Rich and Rare Exhibition With numerous very successful, high profile shows and events in Australia to its name, AGB Events is to expand, bringing its unique vision and talents to festivals, museums, cultural/heritage celebrations and other iconic events and locations around the world. AGB Events was founded in 2006 by Anthony Bastic, who has spent decades in the entertainment and events industry, including as creative director for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games Live Sites and the recent Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Bastic is best known as curator of Destination NSW’s annual Vivid Light Sydney. “We specialise in imagining, producing and delivering cutting edge creative and cultural event concepts. AGB Events has a long track record of developing unique content that engages audiences in superb spectacles,” said Bastic, “and we plan to bring our extensive expertise and skills to organisations worldwide.” “Our strength is in storytelling in a way that resonates, excites and deepens understanding,” he continued, “whether that’s for governments, arts festivals, heritage sites and events or corporations – capturing imaginations in innovative ways with light and sound, creating digital stories for content from the present day to content that may be centuries old. We can do that on the largest scale imaginable – as we did recently for Parrtjima – or for the most intimate of gatherings.” “For us,” he added, “technology is an extremely powerful enabler of beautiful and immersive experiences – but it’s the experience, not the technology, that is always centre stage. Our overriding objective is always that everyone who sees what we create remembers it forever. We love what we do, and we think it shows.” Working, as always, in partnership with its network of trusted audiovisual suppliers, AGB Events has created and produced the Vivid Sydney Lightwalk for the past 10 years, helping to grow it into the world’s largest light festival. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
AGB Events creates concepts that contain a strong narrative and use the latest advancements in technology to tell these stories. By bringing projection technologies to interiors AGB Events has begun building a new repertoire of story-telling projects for major cultural institutions. ‘Treasures Illuminated’, at the Australian Museum in Sydney, saw AGB Events take the museum’s 200 treasures out of their glass cabinets and bring their stories to life in a dynamic and animated digital show. Another example of this discipline area began in the National Library of Australia. AGB is preparing for an international tour of their digital sound and light show entitled Beauty Rich and Rare. This innovative exhibition illuminates Australia’s unique flora and fauna collected by Sir Joseph Banks and the scientists and illustrators who travelled on the HMB Endeavour 250 years ago. Beauty Rich and Rare was commissioned by the National Library of Australia, granting the team of animators at AGB Events full access to the Library’s collection to reimagine the artefacts, creating this engaging show. AGB’s numerous credits also include The Lights of Boston, the Lights of Christmas in Sydney and Brisbane, Oz Fest in Delhi and Canberra’s centenary celebrations. The AGB Events management team now includes international event logistics professional Todd Severson, who is the company’s chief operating officer. He has an outstanding track record of 10 Olympic Games, G8 and G20 meetings, the Commonwealth Games and even an edition of the Sundance Film Festival. Severson also served for a fouryear period as Director of Games Services with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. AGB Events is also expanding their creative consultancy discipline. “We are working with a series of international clients to help them embed unique creative solutions in their cultural placemaking plans. Spanning major international events, cultural institutions, and urban precincts, this discipline area of AGB is fast becoming a major expansion area of our creative agency.” www.agb.events
small. light. fast. Introducing the solo, designed for the next generation of content creation
disguise.one/solo
NEWS
18 JUNE 2019
SINGAPORE
Epson’s Rental & Staging Summit 2019
Epson Showcases Innovative Projection Technologies to Address Rental & Staging Industry Challenges.
Epson Singapore is changing the game in the rental and staging industries. In increasingly saturated and competitive industries such as House of Worships, hotels and retails, convention centers and public spaces, projectors play a pivotal role in getting messages across with maximum impact that stir emotions and inspire collaboration. Despite increasingly unconventional projection spaces that previously challenged traditional projection, projection technology has evolved to be able to address confined, or even curved spaces with edge-blending and ultra-short-throw capabilities. Epson understands this better than most, and they brought their Rental & Staging partners from around the region together for a solutions showcase highlighting the capabilities of the Epson 3LCD High Brightness Laser Projector line-up. The summit featured a range of solutions and capabilities involving the 3LCD High Brightness Laser Projectors on how projection technology today is capable of handling the challenges that they might face in creating an immersive environment. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Tan May Lin, Director – Sales, Marketing and Customer Service of Epson Sales division, Epson Singapore said, “At the core of Epson’s vision is the pursuit of technical innovation, with the goal to alleviate the challenges that our customers face. Epson being the World’s No. 1 Projector Brand
NEW!! RVON ACTIVATED
Next-generation intercom matrix provides an unprecedented combination of flexibility, scalability and full-IP performance – all in a compact single rack unit package
REVO LU T IONIZE YOUR IN T ERCO M ... I N O N E R ACK U N I T
Easy system expansion as your business needs require – up to eight units can be interconnected for a total of 1024 ports
VISIT US!
Offers the broadest interoperability with future, current and legacy RTS products – supports Dante-compatible OMNEO IP technology; allows seamless connectivity between analog two-wire, four wire and digital devices
For more information, contact us at +65 6571 2808, apr.buildingtechnologies@bosch.com Learn more at rtsintercoms.com/odin
Booth 6H3-04
June 18th-20th, 2019 Hall 603, Suntec Singapore, Level 6
NEWS
for 18 years running is a continued testament to the success of this innovation.” Epson Projectors were also put in a head-to-head comparison against other projectors on the market to showcase their colour and white brightness with the 3LCD 25,000 lumens EB-L25000UNL, as well as Edge Blending with an Ultra Short Throw lens with the EB-L1755UNL and ELPLX02 UST Lens. The recently launched EB-L12000Q – Epson’s 1st 4K Native Laser Projector with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 was also showcased, as well as the newly launched Epson Professional Tool for tiling assist with Edge Blending. The Epson Professional Tool allows for the reduction of time taken for manual adjustments by almost 80 per cent, with the built- in cameras automatically detecting and making corrections to the projected image. The Rental & Staging Summit was held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 27 February 2019, and was supported by Epson’s Rental & Staging Master Dealer – Prism Dynamics Pte Ltd.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
20 JUNE 2019
“Prism Dynamics is honoured to be part of Epson’s road map to take Epson High Brightness Projectors to greater heights. Lets’ look forward to put Epson Projectors on every event stage.” commented Terrence Ning, Sales Director of Prism Dynamics Pte Ltd. www.epson.com.sg www.prismdynamics.sg
NEWS
22 JUNE 2019
CHINA
PK Sound Appoints Polar Audio as Exclusive Distributor in China
The Polar Audio Team PK Sound has appointed Polar Audio Guangzhou as its distributor in China, effective immediately. The deal marks PK Sound’s first commitment to growing into the APAC region.
solutions for customers, full service, stock, repair, technical staff and audio consulting. The company also has a demonstration facility in Guangzhou built specifically to showcase PK Sound products.
On the appointment, CEO and chief engineer at PK Sound, Jeremy Bridge, commented: “The deal came about as Polar Audio was searching for a high-quality audio brand to complement their high-end video and laser offerings. As a renowned audio designer, Polar Audio’s CTO became aware of the technology and made multiple visits to the factory, and attended live events where our loudspeakers were being used as well. Polar Audio was looking for a world class company that they believed could overtake established top level brands. PK Sound has just the right technology to do so.”
“The global marketplace for professional speaker technology is crowded at present, with dozens of manufacturers offering essentially the same products. PK Sound takes a different approach and provides unique solutions and technology not offered by other manufacturers,” commented Chen Hongquan, CEO at Polar Audio Guangzhou.
According to Bridge, Polar Audio combines the experience of longserving industry professionals with a large network and market reach in the region, eventually being selected after patient and reserved deliberation. “It’s extremely important to grow the global network in the correct manner and choose the right partners from the beginning,” he added. “Growing this global network will be a primary focus for PK Sound in 2019.” Polar Audio will become a full-service distributor for PK Sound technology, supported closely by PK headquarters to provide ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
“The deeper you delve into the subject of sound reinforcement technology, the more motivated you become in terms of satisfying clients’ requirements. It is Polar Audio’s mission to provide customers with omni-functional acoustic tools that enable them to achieve their most ambitious goals.” “In PK Sound we have a powerful partner that has recognised the market’s needs with its revolutionary Trinity robotic line array and subwoofer solutions. Their meticulous development work and stateof-the-art materials have paved the way for a new generation of PA systems. The proprietary control software serves as added value for our customers and allows us to provide the full package; a perfect combination of sound quality, precise control and intuitive rigging solutions. We are very proud to introduce PK Sound’s products to the Chinese market.” >>>> Page 24
SHARING THE ART OF SOUND
Yamaha staff love to share their knowledge, experience and passion for sound and for professional audio systems. That’s why we have been proactive in developing and maintaining education and training programs for our customers since the early 1990s. Originating in Japan, Yamaha has now established training facilities around the world, reaching over 100,000 people in more than 50 countries. If you work with sound and have a particular technical demand, Yamaha is likely to have a course tailored for you, whether you are a volunteer or a seasoned professional. Feel free to share a little of your time with us: search for available Audioversity seminars at http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/
NEWS Following the deal, Polar Audio now has a complete stock of all Trinity 10, Gravity, Klarity, CX and VX products, as well as a Trinity demonstration system. ETA caught up with Jeremy Bridge of PK Sound at the GET Show where Polar Audio was participating. ETA: Jeremy can you let us know more about what PK Sound brings to the Jeremy Bridge of PK Sound market? Jeremy: Well first I would like to highlight that everything is manufactured in Canada. We also used the trusted Powersoft modules in all our speakers. Almost everyone has the same speakers and competition in this space is tough. Our real advantage is when we designed our speakers we used robotic technology instead of digital technology. There is a negative aspect to digital technology where the phase is controlled. Our Trinity Robotic Line Array is the first threedimensionally controlled sound system that is configured remotely, capable of focusing sound exactly where it is intended. The robotic line array provides unparalleled control over the vertical and horizontal polar directivity of the entire array. Using PK’s Kontrol loudspeaker management software coupled with electronic actuators housed in each module, engineers are equipped to make adjustments to the line array remotely and instantly with the touch of a button.
24 JUNE 2019
ETA: Tell us a little more about your new Chinese distributor Polar Audio. Jeremy: The company is actually well known for LED in China. They have been involved in a number of prestigious projects. They had set up Polar Audio specifically to distribute PK Sound solutions. Our decision to go with a non audio player was based on their exceptional business sense, strong network, passion and knowledge. They have just completed a dedicated demo centre for PK Sound in Guangzhou. ETA: What do you hope will be achieved in China for PK Sound? Jeremy: First I hope together with Polar Audio we are able to educate the market about the significant difference between digital steering and robotic steering. We of course hope to penetrate the Chinese market effectively. In North America, our systems have been used resoundingly at EDM and Country festivals as well as other types of live concerts. We hope for that to trickle down to China. Ed Remarks: Not only is this appointment the first commitment to grow in the APAC region, but it also is the first move from PK Sound outside of the Americas, so the fact that they have appointed a Chinese distributor as their first overseas distributor is a big deal and says a lot about the potential of this region. www.pksound.ca https://www.facebook.com/PolarAudioGuangdong/
INDIA
PROTOS and ProLyft Service Now Available in India PROTOS started it’s life as a solution to a problem that was recognised by it’s founders Jasper, Cor and Menze van der Sluis. The market showed a clear demand for a competitively priced Force Monitoring System. Deciding to take matters into their own hands, a family business was born to supply this demand. Prolyte Asia and Natura have started working together by supplying PROTOS and providing ProLyft servicing for customers in India. It’s been 11 years since Natura became India’s first and only professional aerial riggers. In this time Natura developed a culture of following protocol and, some would say, an obsession with safety. This so called obsession makes sense when you take founder Avishkar Tendle’s past as an adventuring professional into consideration. By 2015, Natura started getting asked simply to check, audit and advise on other stage rigging or temporary set-ups. This gave birth to Natura Safety Consultants, a small team whose sole task was to create protocols and checklists for safety audits for various industries. All this made working with the PROTOS Force Monitoring System an obvious choice. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Being able to measure the load you’re lifting is essential to be able to provide safe working conditions, a philosophy that PROTOS and Natura have in common. Natura’s expertise in rigging also made them a natural choice for becoming a ProLyft service point. Their passion for safe rigging supplemented by extensive service point training provided by Prolyte Asia Pacific ensures the hoists Natura is servicing is in the best possible hands. www.prolyte.com
NEWS
26 JUNE 2019
GLOBAL
AO Technology Launches AO Drones ‘Light Experiences’
AO Drones’ mission is to enhance events with spectacularly choreographed, volumetric images in the sky. Kevin Niedermeier (left), Drone Pilot + Marco Niedermeier (right), Producer Architectural and entertainment lighting visionary AO Technology has launched AO Drones, a brand-new division in its portfolio of innovative visual design services, heralding ‘a new dimension in creative visual design’. AO Drones’ mission – to enhance all types and sizes of events and performances with spectacularly choreographed, volumetric images in the sky. Utilising advanced technology, developed specifically for entertainment applications, AO Drones’ software facilitates flexible, fast show creation for both indoor and outdoor environments. “We’re thrilled to bring AO Drones to the market,” says AO producer, Marco Niedermeier. “Over the last couple of years we’ve merged 25 years of experience in visual design and entertainment technology development with this innovative new drone technology, to enable live visual design to achieve a whole new level of spectacular.” Of course, it’s not just about the kit for the business, as Niedermeier explains. “AO Drones offers our clients full-service 3D pre-visualisation using 3D design software and 3D video rendering, plus we have a global network of trained pilots, creatives and technicians who can work with our clients to deliver mind-blowing visual designs in the sky.”
Drones, when used imaginatively, can bring a rich, dynamic layer of content to any show designer’s palette. “The fact that drones can move freely in three-dimensional space can add another layer of value and meaning to a show – the artistic possibilities are endless,” adds Niedermeier. “In addition, a drone’s ability to carry payloads including video tiles, lighting and mirrors can bestow a rich storytelling layer to both artistic and corporate endeavours. It’s a very exciting time for show design.” Drones can be deployed individually or in small or large groups. Indeed, large numbers of drones can create stunning swarming effects and deliver vibrant volumetric patterns, which in turn can interact and respond to other elements of a production such as audio, lighting and video. Each drone unit features high-brightness LED surfaces, offering stunning visual impact and a plethora of colours, resulting in visually captivating shows that can now be enjoyed by audiences over much longer distances. AO Drones currently serves the Middle East region from its UAE hub and Europe from its German HQ. However, with partnerships >>>> Page 28
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
RoboSHOT 40 UHD Broadcast-Quality PTZ Camera
d:vote 4099 The True Voice of Your Instrument
Parallax New Ambient Light Rejecting Projector Screen
MALAYSIA SINGAPORE THAILAND INDONESIA
+603 8075 8990 +65 642 30682 +662 769 8199 +62 21 8082 1480
NEWS
in America, Asia and Africa, the business is able to deliver shows worldwide. “Our mission is to craft the very best drone entertainment experiences in the world. Harnessing ever evolving technology, AO Drones can offer flight times of up to 20 minutes, considerably more than other models in the marketplace. Our system can also achieve pinpoint accuracy of formations with up to 1cm tolerance at high speeds. AO Drones is also continuing to work with developers to ensure that the system is robust in wet weather,” states Niedermeier. The company says the relatively low weight of each unit makes it possible to transport multiple drones in cargo easily and affordably. In light of recent issues of drones near airports, AO Drones feature real-time monitoring during operation as standard. Its mission control software allows for the creation of geo-fenced boundaries ensuring drones remain in pre-determined operating territories throughout their flight. The company also offers comprehensive training for drone ‘pilots’.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
28 JUNE 2019
“We believe AO Drones’ new technology heralds the start of an event design revolution,” concludes Niedermeier. “This shift will be similar to how moving lights transformed the show design industry three decades ago. Today we can go higher, faster and brighter than ever before and we can do it so much more efficiently. This is a brand new dimension in creative visual design.” www.ao-technology.com
2 - 4 July 2019 10am-7pm Level 5 & 6 Quill Convention Centre Quill City Mall, KL Malaysia
Exhibit with Us
SLV Symposium aims to bring together the sound, lighting and visual industry in South-East Asia to share, learn and become well equipped to handle the challenges that the industry faces.
Register as Visitor
Focus Free admission for registered visitors New product features Showcasing the world’s well known brands World-wide exhibitors from Malaysia, China, Thailand & Singapore
Exhibit Range Projectors, Effect & Stage Lighting, Conference System, LED Display, Full Audio Chain Solutions from Speakers, Amplifiers, Mixers, Consoles to Microphones, Lighting Control System, Truss System & Kinesys System
SLV Symposium
info@slvsymposium.com
slvsymposium.com
+603 6178 0999
NEWS
30 JUNE 2019
MACAU
Robert Juliat Still Shines in The House of Dancing Water sustainable shows and LED technology across the board, the RJ Oz is the best fixture on the market by far for our needs and, with its release aligning precisely with a major upgrade of the show, it was a perfect candidate for the replacement.” Retaining the initial design intention of the show was important to the lighting team when considering the replacement, so a demo unit was provided by Pacific Lighting (HK) Ltd to allow them to make an accurate assessment: “The performance of the Oz when seen side by side the Victor exceeded our expectations and the light output was more than suitable for our needs,” confirmed Jenkins.
Six Robert Juliat 600W LED Oz followspots have been installed as part of the recent upgrade of the spectacular Franco Dragone show, The House of Dancing Water in Macau’s City of Dreams. The powerful, long-throw LED models were supplied with push-pull, 6-way colour changers and heavy-duty adjustable yokes in anticipation of the show’s extremely busy schedule. The House of Dancing Water is a USD250m, enthralling visual feast which has been seen by over 5 million people since its premiere in 2010. It is the largest and most spectacular water-based show in the world and, after more than 3000 performances, the longest running show on the Cotai Strip. The show takes place in the purpose-built, 2000-seat, 270° in-the-round, House of Dancing Water Theatre and is directed by the world-renowned and highly creative Franco Dragone. The story is focused around a huge 50m x 7m deep pool containing 3.7million gallons of water and involves 90 performers and over 200 international technicians who work their magic to create a scintillating show that dances with colour and light. The House of Dancing Water show’s lighting designer, award-winning Luc Lafortune, originally specified Robert Juliat Victor followspots and 14 RJ D’Artagnan profiles, all of which have worked hard for 8 years, playing ten shows a week in a highly unusual, moisture-filled environment, and been maintained by the lighting team led by Head of Lighting, Projections and Special Effects, Karl Jenkins. For the show’s upgrade, Jenkins had no doubt that the replacement followspots should also be from Robert Juliat. “Robert Juliat provides some of the most optically accurate luminaires in the world, and for this reason and their amazing longevity, they were chosen for the original build,” he explains. “There was no question that the replacement for the Victor followspots, after 8 years of excellent service, would be anything other than another RJ fixture. With the large push towards
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Jenkins has extensive experience with Robert Juliat lanterns and followspots, having worked as Head of Lighting on many productions for Cirque du Soleil – where RJ equipment has played an enormous role - before heading up The House of Dancing Water. “Brightness, beam quality, robust engineering, reliability, ergonomics, power consumption…all of these were considerations that we took into account when making the decision,” he says, “but, for me, it was the power from the LED that ultimately won me over. After 10 years of experience with RJ products, the other features are a ‘given’!” Like their predecessors, the six RJ 600W LED Oz followspots are rigged evenly around 270° of the circular grid above the audience, and used to highlight the show’s main protagonists. “The production has an incredibly heavy and meticulous followspot design as is the case with many of Luc‘s designs,” states Jenkins. “For this reason, an elegant yet powerful LED fixture was required to achieve everything from the beautiful low-light character highlights to high-energy powerful punches of light. “In addition to this, from the operators’ point of view, Oz’s lack of ballast and the general heat reduction is also a great asset, and the electronic dimming in the LED fixtures is based on the same physicality of the existing dimming system, so makes for an incredibly simple transition for operators. “We are extremely happy with the new LED replacements and I would specify Robert Juliat again, especially the new LED range, without a doubt.” The RJ Oz 600W LED followspots – and all the show’s RJ equipment were supplied by White Light Ltd via Robert Juliat’s local distributor, Pacific Lighting (HK) Ltd, which has sold over 160 Robert Juliat followspots to the region since becoming part of the RJ family. Photo credit: Chris Luk @ Chris Luk Photography Limited www.robertjuliat.com
In conjunction with :
The Focused Platform for Music & Entertainment in Indonesia and Beyond
Join Organizers
Pre-Register for free entry now at : https://avl-indonesia.com Contact : info@kristamedia.com Phone : +6221 634 5861 / +65 6214 1748
NEWS
32 JUNE 2019
INDONESIA
NEXO GEO M12 Line Array Launches in Indonesia
An exclusive audience of sound engineers and audio rental providers in Indonesia gathered in Jakarta for the launch of NEXO’s latest line array system, the GEO M12, the first event to be organised by PT Yamaha Musik Indonesia, newly appointed as the NEXO distributor in the country. Attended by more than 100 people, the launch attracted sound engineers, consultants, audio production rental companies, and proprietors of houses of worship and other venues, all interested to see the new mid-sized line array solution from the European manufacturer. The event was kicked off by Chihaya Hirai, the Senior General Manager of the Audio Product Group PT. YMID. His presentation began with the fascinating story of how Yamaha and NEXO came together in 2005, when the Yamaha Corporation first bought shares in the French company, leading to a distribution agreement in North America, and subsequently in Japan and Singapore. In 2008, NEXO became a full subsidiary of the Yamaha Group, and embarked on a full programme of collaboration on joint projects, product development and shared expertise. Highlights of that programme are familiar to most Yamaha and NEXO customers, including the NEXO NXAMP amplifier range, Yamaha DXR and DXS loudspeakers. Over the last decade, the Yamaha and NEXO teamwork has created an entertainment technology powerhouse that is positioned at the very top of the global sound reinforcement market. Joe White, NEXO’s new Business Development Manager for SouthEast Asia, shared a detailed insight into NEXO the company, and the passion it invests in each and every product. His profile of NEXO’s manufacturing operation ranged from its heavy investment in machinery and robots on the production line, to its commitment to international certification, such as the TUV marque, which provides a guarantee to users, provided the loudspeakers and accessories are installed in accordance with safety instructions. Coming to the highlight of the presentation, the Technical Marketing team from PT Yamaha Musik Indonesia introduced the NEXO ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
loudspeaker portfolio, and then moved in to focus on the latest member of the GEO Series, the GEO M12 mid-size line array system. The special listening session gave the audience a chance to audition a wide range of NEXO products from the GEO family, in combinations of GEO M6 compact line array with LS18 subs, GEO M10 mid-size line array and MSUB15, and ID24 super-compact cabinets with ID S110 subs, as well as the star of the show, configured with 6x GEO M12 per side and 8x MSUB 18s arranged in cardioid mode. The Geo M12 series is a mid-size loudspeaker line array that offers outstanding performance, namely the ability to achieve a maximum SPL of up to 140 dB, a significant advance of the output of its predecessor, the GEO S12. GEO M12 can reproduce sound at low frequencies up to 50 Hz, giving it the advantage over competitive products in its class. The presentation session took a close look at the patented technology embedded in the M12, including a Profiling Tube Port that enables the GEO M12 to produce sound at very clean low frequencies without distortion and air turbulence, the phase directive devices (PDD ) ™ which provide woofer capabilities to produce a point of intersection between LF Driver and HF Driver at a higher frequency point, the Hyperbolic Reflective Wave Source ™ that ensures the sound produced by HF Driver exits the cover so that it can be compared with conventional horn designs, and Auto Rig™, which makes it easy for users to install this loudspeaker. Before closing the event with a short concert by The Pusakata & The Panganans, PT Yamaha Musik Indonesia (Distributor) took the opportunity to introduce five official dealers for NEXO products in Indonesia, namely Sirius Audio Tech (Jakarta), PT Electro Audio Engineering (Jakarta), IM Solution (Surabaya), Dempo Musik (Surabaya) and CV Indotekhnik (Bali). https://nexo-sa.com/ https://id.yamaha.com/
VIDEO FILES
34 JUNE 2019
A4i.tv Video Release on Spigot Connectors
Introduction to BlacklineX Powered Speakers
A4i.tv has just released the first video of a four part series on truss connection systems. In this first video, Area Four Industries Technical Director Norbert Tripp addresses the conventional spigot connection system. He provides the main points on how it works, its advantages and the stresses involved.
BlacklineX Powered integrates all Martin Audio engineering expertise in acoustic, DSP and amplifier technologies to maximise performance and into an easy-to-use, quick to-deploy, high-powered loudspeakers that bring professional quality sound, top-flight performance and road-worthy durability into the hands of hard-working industry professionals.
EK @ GET Show 2019: The Mix
PK Sound’s Trinity Advanced Robotic Line Array System
The EK Lights booth was rocking at the GET Show. The 576sqm booth had a runway, a lounge area, entertainment and of course the company’s latest lighting fixtures in full glory. This video is a compilation of scenes from the booth. EK would like to give a big shout out to Bold Design, Hamster, X.Ari, Jesaiah, Manolo, Candy Bomb, Zsound and everyone on crew who made it happen.
The video boldly asks the viewer – Can your Line Array Do This? See how the Trinity Advanced Robotic line array system can improve your show experience. The Trinity Advanced Robotic Line Array is the first three-dimensionally controlled sound system that is configured remotely, capable of focusing sound exactly where it is intended. The robotic line array provides unparalleled control over the vertical and horizontal polar directivity of the entire array.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
ENNOVATION
35 JUNE 2019
Alcons Introduces CRS8/9090 Immersive Monitor Driven by the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller, the Signal Integrity Sensing™ pre-wiring ensures dynamic cable/connector compensation between the CRS8 and ALC; This offers a 1:1, undistorted natural sound reproduction, regardless of cable length and amplifier impedance load.
The CRS8 is a 2-way passive-filtered full range loudspeaker, designed to meet all requirements of current and future immersive surround sound formats. Featuring the patented Alcons proribbon driver technology, the CRS8 combines an exceptional clarity and intelligibility with an unusually high dynamic range, offering the most realistic sound reproduction possible.
Typical applications include (height layer) immersive surround sound systems for performing arts theaters, screening rooms, post-production facilities and dubbing stages, premium Home Cinemas and qualityconscious PLF cinemas. The RBN401 is Alcons Audio’s most-applied pro-ribbon driver, with thousands in use daily, as critical part of the line-array systems in particular. Now with the integration in the CRS8 reference surround, the wide 90° x 90° dispersion becomes available for larger point-source applications, where extended full-bandwidth coverage is required.
The CRS8/9090 system consists of the RBN401 pro-ribbon driver for HF and a vented 8” mid-bass for LF reproduction. The CRS8 HF section has an 800W peak power input, enabling a unique 1:16 dynamic range with up to 90% less distortion from 1kHz. to beyond 20.000 Hz. Due to the “compression-less” principle of the pro-ribbon transducer technology, the system has a fully linear response, with the same tonal balance at all SPL’s for an intuitive 1:1 performance. The patented (90-degrees) horizontal and patent-pending (90-degrees) vertical dispersion of the waveguide, offers a very wide and consistent coverage up to the highest frequencies (20kHz -3dB); Very important for the imaging in height channels of immersive systems.
The CRS8/9090 is available in two impedance choices: 8 ohms for efficient parallel connection in 5.1/7.1 configurations, and 4 ohms, for maximum amplifier efficiency in individually-amplified immersive surround systems. It comes with a 6 year warranty. www.alconsaudio.com
Versatile Transport and Storage of Light Fixtures The new Meat Rack from MILOS gives you a convenient transport and storage solution for your light fixtures through the use of adjustable light bars or a hanging adapter for oversize lights. Height adjustable shelves can also be installed for storage and transport of a range of other items needed for your show. The high quality 6082 aluminium frame features all welded construction for high strength and long-term durability. Built-in fork-lift pick-up points allow for convenient stacking, and its castor wheels and height adjustable handles on each rack end ensure easy handling. Its dimensions of 2.3m x 0.8m x 1.6m (L x W x H) optimize transport space to and from your events. www.milossystems.com
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
ENNOVATION
ENNOVATION
36
JUNE 2019
PR Lighting Releases New XR 580 Fixtures The optical path also contains a fixed gobo wheel with 18 gobos plus open, bi-directionally rotatable and shakeable at variable speeds, as well as a rotating gobo wheel with seven gobos plus open, which are replaceable. The fixture provides three prisms: 8-facet, 9-facet and 4-facet, with optional 3-facet and 16-facet prisms and Frost filter, while the Effect wheel can overlap with the gobos. Other features include motorised linear Focus and Zoom, Strobe (0.3-25 fps) and head movement of 540° (pan) and 270° (tilt) with auto position correction and adjustable speed.
XR 580 Beam
XR 580 BWS
PR Lighting’s new XR 580 BWS (PR-2552) and XR 580 Beam (PR-2554) take the power rating of the popular XR series to new heights thanks to the presence of the Philips MSD Platinum 25R (550W) lamp (with the Osram Sirius HRI 550W XR as an option). Features include: colour wheel with 11 colour filters (and CTO plus open), with bi-directional rainbow effect at variable speeds and stepping/linear colour changing. Also included are a CMY colour mixing system with macro and individual CTO colour temperature adjustment (0-100%).
Light angles are 0-15° (Beam), 1.5°-41° (Spot) and 2.6°-45° (Wash), and DMX512 control provides 23 channels in short mode, 31 channels (standard mode) and 35 channels (extended mode). The XR 580 Beam offers a similar spec and feature-set but with a 2° light angle. Control is via DMX512 with 22 channels in short mode, 26 channels (standard mode) and 30 channels (extended mode). www.pr-lighting.com
High End Systems Releases Hog 4 OS v3.12 Hog 4 OS v3.12 brings support for ETCnomad Dongle/Gadget II, as well as minor improvements including XML Import/Export of custom fixtures, Carallon-sourced fixtures, Custom Lock Screen Image & hiding of PIN dialog and Capture Presentation CITP connectivity (requires Capture 2019). Console Product Manager Sarah Clausen commented, “We’re very excited to bring Hog 4 PC to the ETCnomad family! Users of our Educational package will now have yet another control system option to expand their horizons. Professional users will enjoy the new options for data distribution using Hog 4 PC and the ETCnomad USB key.” www.highend.com In the continuing effort to release quarterly software updates to the Hog 4 operating system, High End Systems has released Hog 4 OS v3.12 software.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
ENNOVATION
37 JUNE 2019
Martin Audio Adds Power To BlacklineX Designed to set a new benchmark for full-bandwidth, high definition portable audio at a user-friendly price point, Martin Audio has announced BlacklineX Powered, bringing new active options to the award-winning BlacklineX family. Comprising the 12-inch XP12 and 15-inch XP15 full range enclosures plus the compact but powerful 18inch XP118 subwoofer, BlacklineX Powered integrates acoustic, DSP and amplifier technologies to achieve the clarity, precision and richness of tone that audio professionals will recognise as uniquely Martin Audio. The range’s debut – spurred by customer demand – follows the international success of the passive BlacklineX Series of portable enclosures – now officially the fastest-selling portable series in Martin Audio’s 48-year history.
In addition, BlacklineX Powered offers optional Bluetooth control, streaming and a built-in three channel mixer, placing increased flexibility and features within easy reach of every user – from live venues, DJs and corporate events to permanent installs, particularly houses of worship. Users will also recognise the road-ready construction, quick set-up and adaptability of this range developed by one of pro audio’s founding brands. BlacklineX Powered will begin shipping worldwide in July 2019 https://martin-audio.com/products/series/ blacklinexp
HDL 28-A Active Two Way Line Array Module
MALAYSIA SINGAPORE THAILAND INDONESIA ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
+603 8075 8990 +65 642 30682 +662 769 8199 +62 21 8082 1480
38
ENNOVATION
JUNE 2019
Penn Elcomm Launches New Vulcan Shockmount Chassis
Penn Elcom Vulcan Chassis Double mounts Penn Elcom Vulcan Chassis Cutaway-square The Vulcan Shockmount Chassis is another ingenious new technically enhanced 19-inch rack mount product launched by global flightcase hardware specialists Penn Elcom … that gives affordable military grade (ANSI accredited to MIL STD 810G) protection against impact, shock and vibration. This is ideal for the secure housing and transportation of a diversity of sound, lighting, AV and IT equipment. A basic Vulcan rack can be assembled in just 6 minutes … and due to the incredibly pragmatic design, the units are available in a super easy-to-assemble flat-pack format! This saves vital storage space for customers and re-sellers wanting to keep stock, who no longer need to purchase bulky preassembled frames! The unique patented Vulcan design utilises hollow triangular sections of high tensile tempered aluminium alloy, bringing an amazing strengthto-weight ratio to any size of chassis. A 6U rack, for example, weighs just 3kg, and 2U to 18U kit sizes are available with no loss of strength. Tested to Penn Elcom’s truly industrial parameters, and engineered to the brand’s robust and exacting standards, the Vulcan chassis will keep its contents safe from drops, shaking and impact during transportation or storage. Delicate and sensitive devices including servers, processors and other networking elements can be added with confidence to Vulcan rack
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
enclosures without having to upgrade to heavier and more expensive steel chassis. Touring with Vulcan is a highly practical option – e.g. when amp racks or power distribution kit must be flown to save space, and other portable scenarios. Overall freighting costs can be reduced by utilising Vulcan racks in system designs or custom projects, and there is also an ecological consideration … in the fact that every little bit of weight saved makes a difference. This innovative product can potentially benefit any areas of the entertainment and professional AV industry that involve touring equipment, and all events where there is constant and growing pressure to increase the overall carbon-consciousness. Building a Vulcan rack is quick and easy using Penn’s logical and straightforward slide-and-lock technique. The rack components are precisely machined to slide and lock into place perfectly each time with no forcing, banging, swearing or frustration necessary. Strategically located cage nuts enable the swift line-up of fixing screws, and the rails are accurately machined to effortlessly clamp the 19-inch panels safely in place. www.pennelcomonline.com
ENNOVATION
39 JUNE 2019
EK Lights Launches the K2 HR/HP and Epar Infinit VW
The K2 in action The EK Lights K2 HR/HP are the new touring workhorses from the company. The lights have the same feature set as the K1 but in a roadready form factor. The fixtures offer Linear CMY colour mixing + colour wheel/split colours and an extremely even spot with flawless field consistency. The proprietary innovative 4x independent framing shutter system gives designers a flexible framing system. Offering creativity are the Motorized focus with autofocus presets, iris and linear 8x (6°-48°) zoom as well as light and heavy variable frost, prism and an independent bi-directional rotation animation wheel. More options are offered through the crisp bi-directional indexable rotating gobos. The Linear CTO correction for the HP is 2900K ~ 6500K (HP) and 2500K ~ 6000K for the HR. The fixtures can be controlled via DMX modes (33/34 channels) and are RDM as well as W-DMX protocol compatible. The K2 HR offers High CRI for critical key lighting applications whereas the K2 HP offers High output for large impact applications
The K2 HR/HP
The Epar Infiniti VW is a RGBW fixture that offers variable White COB LED PAR with multiple lens
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
options and accessories. The fixture features an RGBW Chip on Board LED that produces high CRI whites at colour temperatures ranging from 2800K ~ 6500K. The detachable lenses offers users the choice of narrow, medium or wide beam angles. The Flicker-free output with selectable PWM frequencies ensures worry-free video recording. The fixtures quiet operation is also suitable for TV studio The Epar Infiniti VW use. The Ultra-linear dimming technology offers 4 selectable dimming curves. Double mounting bracket allows fixture to be flown or floor-mounted Optional accessories include barndoors, egg crates and media holders. Control is possible with DMX and RDM control with optional W-DMX www.eklights.com
INTERVIEW
40 JUNE 2019
Lucy Keeler, New Vivid Light Curator by Katinka Allendar
What are the fresh new ideas behind Vivid Sydney 2019? This year’s collection represents a wide selection of works from Australia and overseas. Emerging and established artists in Australia make up half of the light walk.
Lucky Keeler Entertainment Technology Asia magazine speaks exclusively with Lucy Keeler who for the first time takes the reins as light curator of Vivid Sydney 2019, the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the southern hemisphere. The Festival features city-wide public art displayed every night from May 24 to June 15, 2019. Ms Keeler curates and produces the Vivid Light Walk, which stretches along the Sydney Harbour foreshore, bringing renowned and emerging light artists from around the world to Sydney, transforming the most spectacular stretch of harbour-front into an urban wonderland. The art practice spans experiential and virtual art, projection mapping, painting and light-based sculpture. A lover of traditional practice, Lucy’s paintings have been exhibited in Italy, Australia and the Czech Republic and her projection mapped works have been displayed across Europe, South East Asia, USA and Australia. Lucy Keeler is currently curating all light-based art for Vivid Sydney, as well as Espèces en voie d’illumination Festival in Paris. In the past 12 months she has delivered direction and design consultancy for independent art festivals in France, Belgium, China and the USA. She is also the managing director of Public Art Australia, Lucy previously co-developed a collaborative art practice called Ample Projects to create large-scale public art projects including; video and installation art, sculptural works, projection mapping and animatronic sculpture, within Australia and overseas. Ample Projects worked on some of Vivid Sydney’s largest light installations over the years, including the animal sculptures at Taronga Zoo, Urban Tree Project in Martin Place and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at Customs House. So you are a media designer, artist, curator - how do you fit all those things together? I am passionate about light-based technology art and find making my own work and supporting the development of other artists work, equally satisfying so I find time for everything! ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
We are thrilled to be exhibiting works by international artists Angelo Bonello (Italy), Toer (Netherlands), Shrinking Space (UK) and TMWA (South Korea). Personally, I’m excited to be featuring a custom work by Pixar Animation Studios (USA), as Pixar invented the 3D animation methodology which underpins 3D architectural projection mapping worldwide. We are very lucky to be able to display behind-thescenes sketch storyboards and concept art from the world most influential animation studio, on one of Sydney’s most beloved heritage sites (The Argyle Cut). Now you are entrenched in your new role as Vivid Light Curator, what is your philosophy, creative approach and impetus for selecting the projects involved in Vivid Sydney? Light affects all human beings on a fundamental level, and we all sense it equally, regardless of age, race or gender. Light-based art is the most technologically complex form of art to make, and also the most basic to experience. Outdoor light art festivals are rapidly spreading across the globe, and it’s no surprise when the great success of this form of art is an ability to reach beyond socio economics. Light art is breaking down the white cube, by taking the art off the wall, out the door (into the rain...) and giving art back to the wider population How do you create a programme that appeals to a broad audience as well addressing fun, play or even serious, challenging or intellectual questions? Any information on the volume of artists considered or selected would be helpful. Vivid Sydney finds extraordinary artists in extraordinary places. This year’s festival will include mechatronics specialists, architects, electronic engineers, animators, academics, lighting designers, musicians and scientists. I am proud to be shifting perception of who and what an artist is.
INTERVIEW What has your journey been like? What has surprised or challenged you so far? The lights turn on for Vivid Sydney after many months of careful preparation. In addition to delicate handcrafting of custom electronics in art studios around the world, there are also the things that people won’t see.
As an artist and curator, do you have any advice for students and emerging artists? Also, what can the rest of the world learn from an event like Vivid Sydney? See the following works for your learning and growth as an artist: Pixar: 30 Years of Art & Animation (The Argyle Cut) Astral Flora Ballet (Sydney Opera House) Let Me Down (Claudia Nicholson’s work on the Museum of Contemporary Art) Firefly Field (Royal Botanic Gardens) EcoBot (Darling Harbour) Ocean Sentinels (Circular Quay)
What do you see as the main trends in lighting and visual media at the moment and how is Vivid Sydney applying these?
Do you have a favourite part of Vivid Sydney 2019? This year’s collection represents a wide selection of works from Australia and overseas. Emerging and established artists in Australia make up half of the light walk. We are thrilled to be exhibiting works by international artists Angelo Bonello (Italy), Toer (Netherlands), Shrinking Space (UK) and TMWA (South Korea). Personally, I’m excited ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
JUNE 2019
to be featuring a custom work by Pixar Animation Studios (USA), as Pixar invented the 3D animation methodology which underpins 3D architectural projection mapping world-wide. We are very lucky to be able to display behind-the-scenes sketch storyboards and concept art from the world most influential animation studio, on one of Sydney’s most beloved heritage sites (The Argyle Cut).
If everything runs smoothly no one will have any knowledge of the crowd-flow algorithms, the complex traffic management planning, city-wide power distribution, structure and wind engineering, the coordination of shipping schedules and over 100 truck movements. All before the artworks get to site. Then there is a painstaking installation process involving overnight multi-projector ‘line ups’ on Sydney’s architectural icons, cable distribution timed to the May king tide in the Royal Botanic Gardens and the inevitable last-minute additional waterproofing!
We do not stipulate a theme, but have found that many artists this year are exploring the concept of nature and natural weather phenomenon through creative uses of technology
41
All photos copyright of Destination NSW www.greengravel.com.au www.vividsydney.com www.destinationnsw.com Video: https://vimeo.com/329022489
INTERVIEW
42 JUNE 2019
Creating an Experience at the EK Lights Booth Thomas Giegerich from bold DESIGN took responsibility to create an experience for visitors to the massive EK Lights booth at GET SHOW 2019. Thomas was also responsible for the light and architectural design for the booth in the previous edition.
We were precise as to what we wanted to achieve, and so some lights are not switched on always as it will not add any value. We used the different fixtures according to the ambience we wanted to create at a particular time.
Thomas and his brother are stalwarts in the industry. They started their company bright! in 2004 as an owner operated business. Five years ago, the bright! team added to their portfolio by teaming up with Jerry Appelt Lichtdesign to create bold DESIGN; a Germany based, interdisciplinary design studio for live events, television and concerts.
As mentioned there is a little bit of nightclub inspiration, and at the same time, there is the back lounge for talking. As you can see, we have a DJ Booth, and everything we did is symmetrical to the DJ Booth. By placing the DJ Booth at the end of the front corner and the Runway in an L-shape, we created a depth to the booth. A sort of anticipation for the visitors as to who is coming down the Runway next.
The four founding members have been working on shows like Eurovision Song Contest, Saudi Arabia National Day, Rock in Rio, the Dubai New Years Event celebration on the Burj Khalifa, the inauguration ceremony of the new Hamburg concert house ”Elbphilharmonie” and the Memory of Yan’an and have now joined forces in bold DESIGN.
There are layers of design within the space. It is not just the visual design but how all the elements come together and create a seamless experience for the visitors. For the lounge area, we created the wall element by placing different shapes on the wall. Specific lighting fixtures project on the shapes whereby it is like a picture but a moving picture.” The EK booth had scheduled shows throughout the exhibition hours. Singers, as well as models, used the Runway. During the shows, the different EK Light fixtures came to life to create a visual sensation. “Every part of the show we focused on the different light aspects. We had fast hard movements for an energetic feel, gobos for soothing movements, as well as strobes, wash and sharp lights to create a different expression.”
Jason Echols and Thomas Giegerich Thomas’ interaction with EK Lights happened a couple of years back at the PL+S Shanghai exhibition. His conversations with Jason Echols of EK Lights built a bond between them, where then Jason invited Thomas to design the booth for EK Lights last year. This year saw the extension of that relationship. The EK Lights booth at this year’s GET Show was an impressive 576sqm featuring a runway, a bar and lounge area for discussions. ETA asked Thomas about the entire booth concept and this is what he had to say. “The entire concept is based on the philosophy of Form Follows Function. The initial architectural inspiration for the booth is a fashion show combined with a high class night club feeling. So we started to design with the runway being our center line. Not only visually, but also technically. All the visible lighting fixtures are symmetrical, and others that are hidden are meant to be as such but still, get the job done.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
The show featured 14 different EK lighting fixture models from Spots, Effects, Wash, Blinders, Beams, Fresnels and Profiles. “There were many considerations for the design. Other than what I have mentioned, we also had to ensure that there was contrast. For example, we had to ensure piano finish materials in some spaces for reflection and matt in other spaces. We also ensured that the lounge chairs were in white so that they too can play a part in the overall light effects. We also had to ensure the branding of the whole booth and not just the logo.” At the end, our job is to make the EK products look perfect in their special use case, and all the entertainment elements are meant to enhance the different features of the lighting fixtures. When the show is not on, we used more subtle colours and effects that still attracted the attention of delegates passing by.” A total of nearly 550 fixtures were used throughout the booth. Taking prime spots at the Runway and the flanks were 16 units of K1 1kW LED Profile, 55 units of 500W LED Profile with the K2 HR put to work to light the runway models, 72 units of R2 RGBW LED Bean/Wash/FX, 185 units
INTERVIEW of R3 RGBW LED Beam/Wash, 57 units of the Collider FC pixel-mappable RGBW strobe and 44 units of ePar Infiniti RGBW tunable white COB PAR. The Collider performed double-duty, providing deep colour washes above the Runway and pixel-mapped effects on the lighting matrix walls that framed the massive booth. The lounge area featured 29 units of ePar Ultra UV COB PAR, six units of Color Ranger Q48 RGBW wash and three units of Color Ranger Q27 RGBW wash. The bar featured five units of Houselight FC RGBAL LED house light. All in all the booth exuded style and class. It was not the usual light show but a light show with a specific objective in mind – to feature the quality and strengths of the fixtures through entertainment. www.eklights.com
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
43 JUNE 2019
SPOTLIGHT
44 JUNE 2019
Celebrating 40 Years Of Nexo
The Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, which has more than 500 cabinets of GEO S12 line array and ID Series compact under-balcony fills This year, NEXO is marking its 40th anniversary. For the last 10 years, a strategic business unit of the globally dominant Yamaha Corporation of Japan, NEXO has consolidated its place as one of the world’s leading elite manufacturers of sound reinforcement equipment of the highest specification. The company’s pioneering technology, innovative designs and sonic excellence have enhanced live events across the globe for decades, gaining the respect and trust of sound professionals everywhere. Founded in 1979 by Frenchman Eric Vincenot and Englishman Michael Johnson, NEXO designs all its ground-breaking sound reinforcement solutions in Paris, from which headquarters it has built an international network of more than 80 distributors as well as working with Yamaha sales subsidiaries and maintaining its own national sales operations in four countries. Always taking a distinctively independent approach to audio technology design, NEXO’s engineering achievements can be recognised in a portfolio of patents. One of the first companies to promote line and tangent array designs, its compact GEO S8 Series became the world’s best-selling line array system upon its launch in 2001, building on the market success of the classic point-source Alpha Series (launched in 1996) which, 23 years later, remains a much loved front-of-house choice. But perhaps the most instantly recognisable NEXO product remains the PS Series, now 25 years old, and used by virtually every sound engineer in the world. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
The application of convergence-inspired design has resulted in such innovations as the NXAMP Series and 4×4 Powered TDControllers which provide full integration of speaker and amplifier control, and console management of PA systems over the latest and most popular digital networking protocols. Commercial achievements, such as an unprecedented 5-year run for the GEO T Series line array on Glastonbury’s famous Pyramid Stage, installations of GEO Series loudspeakers in the Stade de France, Stade Roland Garros, Wimbledon and many other international sports venues, and the record-breaking sales of the PS Series over two decades, have ensured that the NEXO badge identifies some of the most consistent loudspeaker products on the market. NEXO seeks not only to enhance the audience experience through the development of increasingly more transparent and consistently controllable sound systems, but also to serve the wider public through the improved directivity of its systems. The company is wholly focussed on serving the environment, through the adoption of more sustainable and less polluting manufacturing processes, and through the development of systems that are ever more compact, easier to transport and less demanding to set up. ETA gets additional sound bytes (pun intended) from the higher echelons of NEXO in relation to their 40th Anniversary.
SPOTLIGHT ETA: Which NEXO product has performed the best in terms of sales so far? What is the reason? Denis Baudier, NEXO Sales Director: The NEXO PS Series is by far our best-selling product, by virtue of its longevity. The first cabinet in the Series (PS10) was launched in 1992, and is still in the catalogue and selling in big numbers. Denis Baudier ETA: What is the biggest installation in Asia for NEXO? Denis Baudier: NEXO has enjoyed more than 35 years of successful distribution in Asia, and we could fill many pages of ETA with descriptions of our reference installations. Unfortunately, Thomas, we can’t tell you about our biggest installations for reasons of confidentiality! We have two highly significant customers which have become NEXO partners, and still order on a regular basis. One is in China, and has ordered more than 3000 units of our GEO S8 compact line array. The other is in Southeast Asia and has inventory of more than 2000 pieces of just about every NEXO loudspeaker in our catalogue! Both are in the entertainment business. Projects in Asia that we can and do talk about are the fantastic Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, which has more than 500 cabinets of GEO S12 line array and ID Series compact under-balcony fills. And of course, there is Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) which has a 200-GEO cabinet line-source system in its newest MFC terminal. ETA: How does NEXO plan to continue to be ahead of the competition in the coming years? Jean Mullor, CEO of NEXO: Let’s tell it like it is, we are not always ahead of the competition! Sometimes, NEXO’s unique approach, our own way of doing things, puts us ahead: certainly it always keeps us interesting because we are not a Me-Too company. As CEO, Jean Mullor I am interested in maintaining yearly growth and operating profit, achieved with and within the Yamaha Group. We are increasing our staff in R&D and Engineering Support, and putting more boots on the ground out in the market. We want to help our customer base increase their knowledge, so we are working hard on education and after-sales service. And we are committed to improvement of our own business foundations, our factories in France as well as our services all over the world. ETA: What is the wish for the future of the company? Jean Mullor: My job is to create long-term value for NEXO and our customers. We can do this through innovation in our products and cooperation with Yamaha to provide genuine advantages of connectivity and compatibility. One of our favourite yardsticks is the ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
45 JUNE 2019
resale value of NEXO products, which remains high, because it shows that we have built resilient utility into our brand. Above all that though, I am motivated by developing brilliant human connections with our customers and employees, and to contributing to society through our business.” https://nexo-sa.com/
HISTORY NEXO’s history is punctuated by many landmark moments and breakthroughs in sound reinforcement technology, which have earned the respect of its competitors and sound engineers all over the world.
The NEXO PS Series is by far NEXO’s best-selling product
1979 the company is founded in the north of Paris 1983-86 Delivery of the first IS and PC Series to the French market, and for export 1988 Acquisition of its primary supplier, CAB Industries 1991 Launch of the TS system 1993 Launch of the PS10 1994 Launch of the PS15 1996 Launch of the Alpha Series 1998 Launch of the Alpha E Series 1999 Launch of NEXO’s first digital processor 2000 Launch of the PS8 2001 Launch of the GEO S8 2002 Launch of the GEO T Series 2005 Enters strategic technological alliance with Yamaha Corporation 2006 Launch of the GEO D Series 2007 Launch of the GEO S12, NXAMP amplifier and RAY Sub Series of subwoofers 2008 Yamaha Corporation completes its acquisition of NEXO 2009 Launch of enhanced R-2 versions of PS10 and PS15 2010 Launch of NS-1 prediction and simulation software 2011 Launch of 45°N-12 line monitor 2012 Launch of STM Series, and NEXO Universal Amp Rack (NUAR) 2014 Launch of GEO M6, the first of the GEO M Series 2015 Launch of the ID Series, and the DTD amplifier and controller 2017 Launch of GEO M10 2018 Launch of the NXAMP Mk2 Series 2019 Launch of GEO M12
OPINION
46 JUNE 2019
The Technologies That are Changing Entertainment‌ and Us
Entertainment is evolving as fast as technology and we in the business should be on our toes. The way that people communicate, tell stories, share information, seek and find entertainment is evolving. Anna Robb at TheatreArtLife looks at how technology is changing entertainment and what we perceive entertainment to be.
attending were actually irrelevant. Background decoration. All the video shot for the event was done with the knowledge that the majority of China were going to watch this on their cell phone. Hence all the focus was on the portrait camera shot to play to the smartphone audience. At one point there were 4 million people watching this live.
* Smartphones * Artificial Intelligence * Gaming * Realities: Augmented, Virtual and Mixed * LED Technology * Laser Projection * Interactivity * ‌ Embrace and Evolve
Arena entertainment with the physical audience not the target. The content was generated for the smartphone audience, swaying away from the traditional cinema landscape ratio. These kind of events are changing how we present and view entertainment.
Smartphones I recently was involved in a TMall event in Beijing. TMall is like the Amazon of China. They produced an entire live event and entertainment spectacular promoting a collection of clothing and makeup brands. They had Jaden Smith performing for G-Star, a famous Chinese singer/dancer named Zhang Lay performing for Mac Cosmetics among other well known celebrities and influencers representing global brands. There was a live audience there but they were not the focus. The target audience was those watching the event via live stream. The people
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Artificial Intelligence Companies are using machine learning to design and show advertisements based on what it learns people like online. We know that personalized content is given to you based on the data of your activity and behaviour. This is very obvious on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Now the entertainment industry is embracing AI. In 2016, IBM trained an AI system on 100 horror movies. They taught it to analyze scenes based on visual, audio and scene composition elements. Once the machine understood the process, it was given a new horror film Morgan, to review and recommend 10 moments for the trailer. It pulled 6 minutes of footage from the movie based on what it learned was appropriate for a trailer. This process was done in 24 hours. A normal movie trailer takes weeks to complete.
OPINION AI is evolving entertainment by understanding what you want to see and generating content accordingly. Gaming For those who didn’t grow up gaming, this can be a hard concept to wrap your head around but many people flock to theatres and arenas now to watch people play video games. Correct that. Watch expert gamers play video games. You can find on YouTube recorded games of people navigating their way through a variety of Esports or even more traditional adventure games. This is considered entertainment. Don’t think so? Put a kid under 10 in front of that for 5 minutes and watch them be entranced. What the younger generation consider entertainment is changing the landscape of what is produced. Realities: Augmented, Virtual and Mixed The different realities that have emerged over the past years have not secured their long term presence but it is a space to watch. We all watched people go crazy over Pokemon Go as people went out on the streets to catch the little characters on their phone. But this craze sizzled out fairly quickly. Coachella tried some augmented reality at their 2018 concert by creating a virtual Easter egg hunt but not many other concert producers have picked up the trend yet. Virtual reality. People can now go on virtual reality experiences in theme parks but many participants still get a little nauseous from the immersiveness of it. There is also much debate in the industry about people putting VR goggles on for an experience. Enjoyment is most prevalent when shared as a family or with a group. Once you place a VR headset on, you are cut off from the world and the experience is a solo one. Mixed realities are physical and digital objects existing in the same space. This seems to be the current way forward in generating popular well-visited experiences (as the industry works furiously in the background to perfect VR). The theme park, museum and event industries are working their way through identifying successful executions of utilizing technology in this manner. LED Technology So LED technology has already swept through the lighting industry and that’s no big surprise. But now large scale arenas across the globe are upgrading their arena from old school metal halide or sodium floodlights to LED lighting. What does this mean? It means that instead of a 20 minute stadium lighting warm up, light control in massive spaces is instant. This opens up a myriad of possibilities to make a sporting event more of an entertainment spectacle.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
47 JUNE 2019
(Or should I say Esports?) This already has been well executed in ice hockey stadiums where the ice provides a wonderful projection mapping surface to get the crowd pumped before the event and provides all kinds of landscapes for advertising, entertainment and branding to occur. It is only a matter of time before projection mapping on football fields is not just an Olympic Opening Ceremony event. Laser Projection While we are on football fields and LED technology, we must acknowledge the transition from lamp-based projection to laser phosphor and RGB laser. These long lasting, low maintenance new technologies paired with auto-alignment software and flexible playback systems allow a full projection system (with the right set up) to be in the hands of general technicians instead of specialists. Projectionmapping is something that is going to become easier to install and run. A more common and accessible entertainment solution. Interactivity There are so many layers of interactivity it’s hard to summarize in a paragraph. Again, stemming from the gaming industry in which, in a single game you can lead yourself down a number of different paths; this kind of interaction and participation by the user is something that is becoming expected in the live entertainment arena too. Download this App! Participate in creating art on an installation through your smartphone! Vote for your favourite Britain’s Got Talent contestant! More and more audiences want to be involved in the entertainment, not just viewing it as a spectator. Entertainment companies are musing over how to engage audiences in an interactive manner as part of their budgets and business plans. ...embrace and evolve Overall, it is an exciting time to be in entertainment. We are all working to embrace the new technologies emerging and developing daily. As technology is evolving, so are we as humans. Faster than ever. Our habits, our demand for instant entertainment satisfaction, what we want to watch, what we expect from a live performance and how we want to participate. The formula for a successful show has been thrown out the window. Winning in entertainment is now anybody’s game. The tools are in everyone’s hands and success is not dependent on the technology you use or the money you have. It comes down to the one thing that entertainment has always been based on: How well do you tell your story and who do you want to listen? This contribution was previously published on TheatreArtLife, a platform for live entertainment industry professionals to connect and network with each other. Find out more at www.theatreartlife.com!
LIVE
48 JUNE 2019
AUSTRALIA
AGB Events Concludes Successful Involvement in Parrtjima Company created and produced unique celebration of indigenous culture
AGB Events successfully concluded its involvement in Parrtjima: A Festival in Light which the company curates and produces on behalf of the Northern Territory Major Events Company - playing a key role in bringing the unique Indigenous art festival to life. Parrtjima (pronounced par-chee-ma, and translated as “lighting up”) is the only authentic First Nations festival of its kind, showcasing the oldest continuous cultures on earth through the newest technology. It is also the fastest growing event in Australia. In Australia, ‘First Nations’ describes the aboriginal people – the first inhabitants of Australia - which includes over 500 different clan groups or ‘nations’ around the continent, many with distinctive cultures, beliefs and languages. The United Nations declared 2019 to be the International Year of Indigenous Languages and AGB Events highlighted an element of this theme in each of the installations they brought to life. Parrtjima is set against the backdrop of the 300 million year old MacDonnell Ranges in Australia’s Northern Territory. AGB Events engaged the regular First Nations consultant, Rhoda Roberts AO (who holds the Medal of the Order of Australia), to curate the festival ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
for a third year. Parrtjima celebrates new ways artists can push the boundaries of how indigenous art is presented, while staying true to the ancient philosophy of connection and country. The results are visually mesmerising, thought-provoking, and create a cultural experience unique in the world. The Northern Territory Government reported that this year’s Parrtjima was a huge success, attracting 25,623 attendees over 10 nights – an amazing 25 per cent increase on last year’s event, reinforcing the uniqueness of the event, and its ability to capture the imagination and interest of a national and international audience. “We specialise in creating and producing events that cross cultures and that celebrate creativity and technology,” said Anthony Bastic, CEO and Founder of AGB Events. “As such, it was wonderful to work with Rhoda Roberts, who is full of hugely imaginative ideas – and to turn her vision into a reality. “AGB’s experience in curating and producing Vivid Light Sydney, now the world’s largest light festival, allowed us to design the world’s first
LIVE
Indigenous light festival. Having concluded our fourth year, AGB is proud that Parrtjima is now the fastest growing event in Australia,” added Bastic. Among the numerous individual showcases AGB Events helped devise and deliver were ‘The Language of Country’, a theatrical experience unlike any other as two kilometres of the MacDonnell Ranges acted as a canvas for a series of stunning lighting effects, celebrating the beauty, uniqueness and survival of the ancient landscape. “Crowds were mesmerised by the local stories played out on the 300-million-year-old natural canvas and the voice of the land speaking through an image of a face appearing in a desert gum tree,” enthused Bastic. ‘The Language of Colour’ saw AGB Events activated a large interactive industrial container where visitors could control the lighting on the landscape in front of them. By selecting colours from a virtual palette, and using their fingers to colour in the scenery, visitors witnessed the landscape being illuminated in real-time through the magic of projection and their imaginations. Another installation conceived by AGB Events called ‘The Language of Kin’ saw visitors welcomed by an illuminated tunnel that honoured local
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
49 JUNE 2019
Arrernte people by celebrating their kinship system. The immersive light installation featured an accompanying soundscape, creating a surreal and educational experience that allowed visitors to explore and experience the complex and meaningful system of kinship. “Of course, there were huge challenges involved – but that’s what made the project so exciting and so rewarding,” continued Bastic. “We have to temper our imaginations with what we know technology can deliver – like illuminating two kilometres of mountain range, which involved creating a light show of enormous scale. But: we’ve become well known for pushing the boundaries, and we did that again: our network of trusted audiovisual partners is an enormous asset for us. Once more, Parrtjima was a huge success – and it was a privilege to be able to contribute to that success.” Held across two event precincts over 10 nights, the free event included a public program of interactive workshops, music, films and talks. www.agb.events
LIVE
50 JUNE 2019
CHINA
Alcons LR28 is the Right Philosophy for China Media Group Festival Large-format pro-ribbon line-arrays prove their strength in outdoor performance
With a spectacular outdoor live production and 6000m2 audience arena, the Mid-Autumn Festival Party of China Media Group is a difficult challenge for any sound reinforcement system. However, thanks to an Alcons Audio pro-ribbon LR28 larger-format line array system, the audience at the latest event in Qufu enjoyed high quality sound throughout.
and the Nishan Reservoir, meaning strong breezes and changing humidity could cause problems with the sound.
Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, China’s most famous teacher, philosopher and political theorist. Located in Nishan Holy Land - a 35km2 area around Qufu developed as a Confucius commemoration site and cultural heritage destination - the festival featured a huge, 60m wide stage and large set, with an audience of 5000 seated in an arena 80m wide by 100m deep.
The main system comprised flown L-R clusters, each of 14 LR28/80 and two LR28/110 wide dispersion modules, plus three LR18 compact midsize line array modules for downfill per side. Six ground-stacked groups of three LR18 were used across the front of the stage for fills, with 14 BC543 very high-output cardioid subwoofers arranged in L-R stacks of seven each. Due to the width of the stage, two more BC543 were used to enhance the bass in the central stage area. The system was powered and controlled by 28 Alcons Sentinel10 amplified loudspeaker controllers.
Several audio challenges had to be overcome by the event’s audio director Liu Yibin - lead sound engineer for China Central Television (CCTV) - and chief sound engineer Mr Xu. Because of the arena’s size, the Front of House system had to be positioned and aligned very accurately. The festival site was also very close to Mount Ni mountain ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
To deliver great quality sound and overcome the potential issues, an Alcons Audio LR28 larger-format line array system was chosen, supplied by Alcons Chinese distributor and Pro-Ribbon partner EAD.
The HF section, the critical element of any line-array, in the LR28 comprises the multiple-patented, purpose-designed RBN1402rs 14”
LIVE
pro-ribbon transducer with 3.000 peak power handling and a 1:15 dynamic RMS-to-peak power ratio. Below 1 kHz, 4 high-output 6.5’ midranges and 2 14” woofers complete the spectrum. The site was modelled in EASE Focus software, which showed that the system would provide the required sound pressure level and even coverage. The CCTV audio team then used Alcons’ ALControl software to quickly and easily build the network system control for the arrays. “Thanks to the directivity, all-natural cylindrical wavefront and exceptional throw of Alcons Audio’s pro-ribbon technology, a strong breeze and high humidity did not affect the transmission of sound at all. The pro-ribbon drivers of the LR28 system really pushed the high frequencies, ensuring very low distortion and maintaining a very clear sound for the whole audience,” says Mr Xu. Liu Yibin agrees, adding “The Alcons Audio system ensured that the sound was very clear and accurate for all of the 5000 people in the arena. The sound pressure level was maintained perfectly to the far back and sides of the audience, keeping a very even sound field throughout.” www.ead.cn www.alconsaudio.com
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
51 JUNE 2019
LIVE
52 JUNE 2019
HONG KONG
HK Science Museum Chooses AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA for Exhibition An eight-projector edge blend was used to present a digital version of the 32m-long Landscape Map of the Silk Road
One of the Hong Kong Science Museum’s latest exhibitions - a complex projection interpretation of the Landscape Map of the Silk Road - made good use of AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA two media servers to achieve the flexibility and power necessary for such a demanding project. The install was designed, supplied and system integrated by Cosmo Pro AV, and ran from 7 December 2018 and until 20 February 2019. The original map was created as a painting for the Jiajing Emperor in the Ming dynasty. With over 200 cities marked on the map, ranging from the Jiayu Pass in Gansu Province in the east to Mecca in Saudi Arabia in the west, it demonstrated that the Chinese had grasped a very clear geographical understanding of the Silk Road thanks to centuries of trade. For the recent exhibition, the museum oversaw the fabrication and installation of a 32m x 3m edge blending projection that would allow ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
visitors to experience the Landscape Map of the Silk Road as an animated, digital exhibit. Cosmo Pro AV’s Jason Yeung commented: “The Hong Kong Science Museum approached us to provide a comprehensive solution for the edge blending projection. The system needed to be flexible above all else, as the museum planned to experiment with multi-layered playback, bringing the traditional art pieces to life with animations.” Cosmo Pro AV specified a pair of AV Stumpfl’s new PIXERA two Quad media servers, complete with AV Stumpfl media server software for edge blending and show control. This system was set up to remotely control 8 Vivitek DU7090Z Laser illuminated Projectors. Yeung continued: “The visual part of the system was not overly complex, but the museum required show control to be implemented without any external devices or hardware. This played to AV Stumpfl’s
LIVE
53 JUNE 2019
strengths with the full integration of AV Stumpfl’s Touch and AVIO. The PIXERA two servers themselves provided a very price-competitive solution, and the compact chassis enabled minimum rack and storage space.
“The lighting conditions varied constantly during the setup process,” Yeung added. “We were lucky to have the flexibility of the Vioso calibrator to adjust individual output colour adjustments and edge blending curves for a smooth and seamless picture.”
“AV Stumpfl media server software was chosen for this project because of its flexibility to integrate with Touch and AVIO, which controlled the audio level adjustments, scheduled on/off and projector on/off and status reports.”
Due to the temporary nature of the exhibit, the team experienced times where the projection image would shift over a period of time and have to be maintained. “By setting up a wireless network across the PIXERA servers, we enabled our programmers to wirelessly access and adjust the edge blends,” Yeung said.
The 8 laser projectors were placed opposite the 32m canvas, though the team from Cosmo Pro AV had limited access to them once they were installed. As a result, the projectors had to be 100% remotely controlled and triggered over network via AV Stumpfl’s AVIO, due to the fact that no remote IR signal could reach the placement area.
“The client was happy with the overall performance of the servers, as they were very stable and only required one preventive restart during the entire exhibition period. This is to be expected when servers are required to run 24/7. “Thanks to the success of the Landscape Map of the Silk Road exhibition, other government museums managed by the HK Leisure and Cultural Department have already expressed their interest in deploying these servers for both temporary and fixed installations.” www.avstumpfl.com
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
LIVE
54 JUNE 2019
NEW ZEALAND
NZ Sound Reinforcement Turns Up The Beats At Bay Dreams Music Festival NZ Sound Reinforcement and JPRO deploy JBL VTX A12 and A8 line array systems to deliver world-class sound
NZ Sound Reinforcement recently deployed a JBL by HARMAN audio system at Bay Dreams music festival for performances by Cardi B, Tash Sultana, Rich the Kid and more. Bay Dreams is an annual music festival that takes place every January 2nd at Mount Maunganui. Established in 2016, Bay Dreams has quickly become one of New Zealand’s biggest summer music festivals. In 2019, the festival expanded to Nelson City with a second day of performances taking place on January 4. In order to deliver industry-leading sound for some of the biggest artists in the world, Bay Dreams recruited the help of NZ Sound Reinforcement, a full-service production company in New Zealand. NZ Sound partnered with JPRO, one of New Zealand’s premier pro audio distribution companies, to deploy a state-of-the-art JBL Professional audio system. “The new JBL VTX A-Series systems have provided an amazing experience for all involved, from the artists to the spectators,” said Ray Ward, Owner, NZ Sound Reinforcement. “The systems have shown impressive coverage outdoors, providing a very smooth and natural top-end. We look forward to providing incredible sound for upcoming summer festivals and international artists making their way to New ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Zealand in the coming months. We thank organizers Pato Alvarez and Mitch Lowe for putting on another sold-out masterpiece.” “We are blown away, Bay Dreams was pretty epic,” said Brenda Ward, Owner, NZ Sound Reinforcement. “The JBL VTX A12 and A8 systems have performed even beyond our expectations—they sound amazing. JBL certainly helped the artists to put on some of their best performances and the crowd loved it.” NZ Sound deployed a complete JBL Professional audio system for the second stage featuring 24 VTX A12 line array loudspeakers as mains, selected for their unmatched performance and sensitivity. A total of 18 compact VTX A8 line array loudspeakers provided wide, even coverage as side-fills for the crowd. NZ Sound selected eight VTX F12 12-inch bi-amplified loudspeakers as in-fills for their unparalleled clarity. And in order to provide tight, powerful bass coverage, NZ Sound utilized 24 ground-shaking VTX G28 subwoofers. On stage, NZ Sound deployed 16 JBL VTX M20 and four VTX M22 professional stage monitors to deliver award-winning sound for performers. Two VT4883 subwoofers provided an extended bass
LIVE
response as drum subs. NZ Sound deployed VTX F35 3-way enclosures and G28 subwoofers as side-fill monitors, providing even, balanced coverage onstage. The system was powered by Crown V-Rack amplifier racks, equipped with four Crown iTech 3500 amplifiers for optimum performance and setup simplicity. JBL’s Line Array Calculator allowed NZ Sound quickly and easily configure the system, while JBL’s HiQnet Performance Manager software offered simple system management and control.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
JUNE 2019
“We are extremely pleased with our association with NZ Sound Reinforcement, which has helped A12 loudspeakers become one of the most requested systems on tour riders worldwide,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “The new JBL VTX A12 is a complete tour sound solution that offered the perfect combination of sound quality and power for Bay Dreams. Thanks to JPRO for their confidence in HARMAN solutions, and for their relationship-driven approach.” www.harman.com
“Performance Manager and Line Array Calculator helped save time and energy as we were able to pre-configure settings and system alignment before the event,” says Tim Robertson, Tour Sound Manager, JPRO, who provided technical support and system design for the event. “System predictions have been very accurate and only minor tweaks were needed once the system was loaded in and set up.”
55
LIVE
56 JUNE 2019
THAILAND
Quality Interpretation Systems at the ASEAN Defence Senior Official’s Meeting
Shure’s new MXCIC interpreter console handles Multi-language needs at senior ASEAN defence summit
Quality interpretation was top priority when leaders of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) assembled at Thailand’s Hua Hin in April to discuss co-operation throughout Southeast Asia. Mighty MICE, Thailand-based conference equipment rental service provider and member of the Shure Conferencing Network (SCN) facilitated simultaneous interpretation with the first-ever Asia deployment of the latest, state-of-the-art interpretation solution from Shure – the Microflex Complete Interpreter Console (MXCIC). Under the theme of “Sustainable Security,” senior officials from 18 countries attended ADSOM from April 3-5 to exchange on their continuous efforts in addressing security challenges and promoting regional stability. Professional event production and a flawless conference experience were paramount in this high-level meeting, which is why highly experienced rental provider Mighty MICE was selected to supply conferencing equipment. The SCN Member provided 10 units of the recently launched Shure MXCICs to provide simultaneous interpretation of Khmer, Lao, Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese languages. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
The fully ISO 20109-compliant interpreter console provides comprehensive interpretation facilities, with three outgoing language channels and eight relay languages on a large color screen. Controls come complete with Braille labels and audible cues to support visuallyimpaired users.
LIVE
Interpreted language was distributed to delegates via 200 Shure Digital Infrared Wireless Receivers. Mighty MICE also deployed 45 conference units of the Shure DCS6000 and DDS5900 Digital Conference Systems to enable smooth dialogue between the senior officials. The systems were controlled and monitored wirelessly via a tablet, enabling Mighty MICE’s conference support team to manage and configure the system in real time. As sponsor of the SCN, Shure supports the network by sharing best practices and providing operational assistance from a team of dedicated conferencing experts. The global alliance of independent conference equipment rental providers also facilitates intra-network dry hire of equipment to enable execution of the largest conferences and meetings. www.shure.com
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
57 JUNE 2019
LIVE
58 JUNE 2019
CHINA
Buddhist Singing Bowls Sound Clear and Detailed With DPA Microphones Recording these unusual instruments required a microphone that was capable of capturing the entire frequency range
The clarity, detail and natural sound delivered by DPA’s d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphone has enabled producer and engineer Chan Pui Ching to record 30 Singing Bowls being played by Chinese artist and wellness guru Tsang Man Tung. Singing Bowls are ancient instruments that have long been used in Buddhist religious ceremonies to accompany periods of meditation and chanting. They have become popular with music therapists, sound healers and yoga practitioners who use their steady and harmonious sound to create a sense of calm and relaxation. “To capture the sound and full frequency range of the bowls, it was crucial to choose the right microphone early on in the process, at concept stage,” Mr. Chan says. “We decided to go with d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones because they could deliver the results we wanted. We mounted them in the correct location and they perfectly captured a balanced mix of the high and low frequencies.” Tsang Man Tung’s new album, The Seed of Sound, draws on his years of experience with Singing Bowls, which he plays and also teaches others to play. For this project, Mr. Chan was given an additional test because Mr Tsang wanted the album recorded live.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
“This is not the first time I have recorded with Singing Bowls, but it is the most challenging one because, unlike other albums, almost all of the music on it was recorded live and without adding any effects at the post production stage,” he explains. “More than 30 bowls were used, each of which sounds very different to our ears. Each bowl has a complicated radiating pattern because the radiation comes from the different sizes of the bowls and the material it is made of.” With the help of d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones, the live performances given by Mr. Tsang were captured and 39 tracks were recorded over a period of three days. The album has now been released and is relieving stress and assisting personal meditation among Mr. Tsang’s followers. www.dpamircrophones.com
LIVE
59 JUNE 2019
INDIA
Claypaky Fixtures Illuminate AR Rahman’s Flowers TV Show
When legendary Indian musician AR Rahman performed his two-day Flowers TV show at the ADLUX International Convention Centre in Kochi, Kerala, India, a large complement of Claypaky lighting fixtures helped illuminate the dynamic staging that his fans have come to expect. The Grammy and Academy Award-winning Rahman is known for integrating Indian classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements. One of the world’s best-selling recording artists, he has sold an estimated 200 million units. His crowdpleasing appearances in Kochi featured a musical crew of 100 and the show-stopping staging his fans adore. Lighting Designer Atul Sonpal, who is also the owner of Jagmag Electric Co. in India, utilized a large number of Claypaky fixtures to enhance the show’s high-energy performances. “We used 72 Sharpys on finger trusses above the stage and 18 more Sharpys on the upstage deck,” says Sonpal. “In addition, we mounted 48 Mythos2 fixtures on vertical trusses. ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
“I chose the Claypaky fixtures for their reliability,” he explains. “They have a reputation for never giving designers any problems, and that proved true for our two shows.” BTOS was the production company for AR Rahman’s Flower TV shows; Media Pro in Kochi was the lighting vendor. www.claypaky.it
ALEX COLUMN
60 JUNE 2019
The Right Tool A line array is not the solution for all rooms and locations and challenges and a SM-58 is not the best microphone for all types of audio pickup. Just because you have done something for 10 years in a certain way, does not mean that this is the best and smartest way of going about it. Education is a very important part of our day to day business, since we are all forced to learn new stuff all the time. You know my positive attitude towards learning and I will not get tired of encouraging people to learn. However, I understand that for many this is a challenge and ideally, they want a few tools and recipes, which allow them to approach all of their work challenges and in some aspects and some positions this also works. If you are interested in a career in this industry, there is no path outside learning all the tools and technology and there is also no real shortcut for this. The beauty is that we are all fighting with the same physics problems and the magic acoustic spray has still not been invented. What I see and recognize is that in many instances a computer screen with a colorful picture is supposed to make you look competent and makes your work sound scientific, but if you cannot read and understand what you are showing and if you blindly (or better deafly) trust your tools without questioning and without listening, then this is nothing but smokescreen. I would rather not be associated with this. Your ears should ultimately be the judge of the quality of a system and the available tools should help you to get there. Recognizing this need, some institutions have made a business out of this teaching and as a student you cannot know what is important to learn and what not and any chance to get a foot in the door in the industry is a good one. What I see and recognize though is that we cannot forget that the core idea about a teaching school for payment is for them to make money and while doing so passing on some reasonably valuable amount of knowledge. And then there is the problem of the teachers and you might have heard the internationally translatable statement: those who can, do and those who can’t, teach. This is a bit unfair and not accurate in all cases, but there is also no smoke without fire and I have seen enough myself to at least partially agree with this. This creates a dilemma for all of us students. Who do you trust and who do you not trust and how do you find out and how do you judge what to pick up.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
What I see and recognize though is that we cannot forget that the core idea about a teaching school for payment is for them to make money and while doing so passing on some reasonably valuable amount of knowledge. I think this is both a challenge and a chance and the one thing that is required is for all of us to stay vigilant and awake and to not be clouded by marketing and sales messages, but to learn and then to judge for ourselves. Considering this, learning as much as possible makes sense, because the more you know, the more you can understand and to judge and to qualify information coming your way. You will learn the compromises that you can manage and the ones that you cannot allow and where to speak up and where to go along with the flow. I think that my own toolbox is quite full already and I still find the occasional extra tool that I can pick up and I enjoy finding those and as some of you might also know that I enjoy to pass on some of my tools back to the industry and I will be doing a lot more of this in the future. If you are willing to learn and you need some input, you will always find an open ear on my side and satisfying the hunger for knowledge is a very gratifying task. In this regard: Mahlzeit! Join the conversation and share your thoughts with Alex. Alex can be reached at alex@asaudio.de
61
EVENTS CALENDAR
JUNE 2019
EVENTS CALENDAR 2019 Jun 09 – 12 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Jun 12 – 14 Conference Programme starts on Jun 08 InfoComm International 2019 Venue: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, USA Jun 12 – 14 Conference Programme starts on Jun 11 IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo 2019 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Shanghai, China
Jul 17 - 19 InfoComm China Beijing 2019 Venue: China National Convention Center (CNCC)
Jul 18 – 20 Pro AVL Indonesia in conjunction with Toursim Technology Asia and Broadcast & Media Technology
Sep 18 – 20 LED China 2019 - Shanghai Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center
Oct 10 - 13 Prolight + Sound Shanghai 2019 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center, Shanghai, China
Venue: Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia
Oct 15 – 17 Prolight + Sound Middle East 2019 Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre
June 18 - 20 ConnectechAsia (BroadcastAsia 2019) Venue: Suntec, Singapore
Jul 18 - 20 Summer NAMM 2019 Venue: Music City Centre, Nashville, TN
Oct 17 – 19 Broadcast India Show Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre
Jun 09 – 12 ConnectechAsia (CommunicAsia and NXTAsia 2019) Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Aug 27 – 29 Integrate Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Oct 24 – 26 Broadcast Indonesia Venue: Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia
Jun 27 - 29 LED Expo Thailand Venue: IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand
Sep 04 - 06 InfoComm China Chengdu Venue: Chengdu Century City-New International Exhibition & Convention Center, China
Nov 18 - 24 Exhibition starts on Nov 22 Live Design International (LDI) Venue: Las Vegas Convention Centre, USA
July 2 - 4 SLV Symposium Venue: Quill Convention Centre, Quill Mall, Kuala Lumpur
Sep 18 – 20 InfoComm India 2019 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre, India
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
Please Click on Event Name to View Site
62
MARKET PLACE
JUNE 2019
Enquire
FOR ENQUIRIES OR TO LIST YOUR USED EQUIPMENT CONTACT 10K USED GEAR ASIA CONTACT BASED IN SINGAPORE:
MANOJ CHAMANLAL
manoj.chamanlal@10kused.com
Midas PRO2c
Clay paky Mythos 2
€ 8,685.00.00
€1,975.00
For sale a used MIDAS PRO2C Mixing Console that is in excellent condition and the price shown is for 1 x Mixer and includes accessories.
Enquire
For sale used Clay Paky Mythos 2 Lighting Fixtures in good condition and price shown is per piece. Sold in pairs with dual flightcase.
Enquire
ElectroVoice TG7, TG5 and DSP RDM 26 PackageETC EOS 12000
Meyer Sound 650-P
€11,765.00
For sale used Meyer Sound 650-P Subwoofers that are in good condition, working perfectly and the price shown is per piece.
For sale a used ElectroVoice TG7, TG5 and DSP RDM 26 Amplifier Package that is in perfect condition and price shown is for package.
Enquire
XTA SiDD DP324 Dynamics Processors
€1,140.00
Enquire
Enquire
€455.00
For sale Used XTA SiDD DP324 Dynamics Processors that are in good, fully working condition and the price shown is per piece.
Enquire
Enquire
Electrovoice XLD System
Yamaha PM1D w/Flighcase
JBL VTX G28
€21,175.00
€3,585.00
€2,000.00
For sale an Electrovoice XLD System that is in good condition and the price shown is for the complete package.
For sale used Yamaha PM1D Digital Mixing Consoles, these are in good condition and the price shown is per piece.
Enquire
Enquire
Martin Viper Profile
L-Acoustics SB28
€2,700.00
€1,885.00
Martin Viper Profiles - great condition, flightcased, omega brackets included
We have for sale used JBL VTX G28 available in good condition. Price above is per unit.
We have for sale used L-Acoustics SB28 in good condition. Price above is per unit, dolly’s available when purchased in multiples of 3.
ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ASIA | www.e-techasia.com
PRICE MIGHT DIFFER AT WEBSITE DUE TO DYNAMIC PRICING MECHANISM