Entertainment Technology Asia March-April 2013

March - April 2013

MICA [P] 008/09/2012 KDN: PPS 1663/08/2013 [022991]

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Nexo STM coming out party @ Malaysia’s Anugerah Juara Lagu 27

The Last Page: Steve Nield

Q&A with Blake Augsburger of Harman International

Powering up your stage HDX series Barco’s HDX series has been awarded as ‘Most InAVative Commercial Projector’.

Barco’s high performance HDX projectors are ready to bring supreme image quality to any screen and stage. Thanks to their Xenon illumination and their high contrast optical engine these three-chip DLP projectors reproduce superior colors. In this way your audiences experience crisp and vivid images on every occasion. What’s more, with their sturdy and compact design, the HDX are ready for the road in no time.

And during performances you can also efficiently control the projector via your smart phone or tablet computer.

With Barco’s compact and powerful HDX projectors, the future is here today.

Find out more about the HDX series on www.barco.com/media_entertainment

Barco Pte Ltd No 10 Changi South Lane #04-01, OSSIA Building Singapore 486162 Tel: +65 6243 7610

www.barco.com

When we say red WE

MEAN RED!

PL+S: STAND A93 H9

MAC Viper Family - in your blood!

TM

AirFX Wash Performance and ProďŹ le www.martin.com.sg TM

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CONTENT VOL 14 ISSUE 2

March - April 2013

90

74

FIRST WORDS 06 The Publisher’s ramblings NEWS 08 Essential news from the industry ENNOVATIONS 32 A round-up of new products in the market

58

EXHIBITION PREVIEW 50 PALM EXPO China SNAPSHOT 52 The Rental & Staging industry in Singapore 56 Multimedia for live events 58 Round up on Media Servers LIVE 64 ACME lights up Han Geng’s concert 65 DTS Lighting on stage with Big Bang 66 J Davis gears up Swedish House Mafia 68 MILOS at A R Rahman’s openair concert 70 Robe loves Momoiro Clover Z 71 Shure Axient Wireless at The Century Theatre

72 The Show Company at Myanmar’s first international concert 74 NEXO STM at Anugerah Juara Lagu 27 78 St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 80 D.A.S. Audio at the Sunburn Goa Festival INSTALL 81 SKYE’s the limit for Martin Audio 82 KV2s at Wala Wala 84 EAW drives the beat for Chopsuey Cafe 85 Mackie sets the mood at Tiong Bahru Bar 86 Adamson at Club Enzo 88 Meyer Sound anchors Melbourne’s Hamer Hall 90 The Velvet Bali at Kuta Beach 92 d&b dreams of whale song in Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE 94 Q&A with Blake Augsburger of Harman International THE LAST PAGE 96 Lighting Designer Steve Nield

scan for

06

FIRST WORDS March - April 2013

INDIA AND MIDDLE EAST EDITOR Ram Bhavanashi ram@spinworkz.com

February has been a really short month especially with the long Chinese New Year Holidays, in this part of the world. Hopefully some of you had the time to dis-engage with the industry and engage with your soul and spirit in a refreshing way:) This year NAMM and ISE were pretty close to each other but despite that, it was nice to see a big presence of audio manufacturers at ISE. This year the show attracted just above 44,000 visitors and it is becoming a key event in the industry calendar. I have also noticed an increase in audio manufacturers participating in ISE compared to its earlier years. I believe many participants have realised that ISE tends to attract a different type of crowd which help bring sales opportunities to a different segment of the industry. In the same breadth I must say that Prolight & Sound Frankfurt still continues to play an important role catering to many of the rental & staging companies as well as other segments of the industry. Don’t forget that Prolight & Sound Frankfurt takes place from 10th to 13th April.

Rosalind, Elissa and myself will be there to cover the exhibition and we hope to bump into you along the way.

In this issue we take a look at the state of the rental & staging industry in Singapore. The key challenge for the industry still remains as the lack of skilled personnel. However this aspect is now being addressed through specific industry courses at the Polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education. This will surely auger well in the coming years for the rental & staging industry. In order to reap the benefits, the momentum has to continue and the industry needs to continue to provide feedback and support to the institutions. Critically, the industry needs to provide spaces for intern-ship and put in the effort to truly guide the interns to spark their interest to work within the industry. As we all know the rental & staging industry is not your typical 9-5 job and it requires a lot of blood, sweat and tears but it can be rewarding in so many ways.

Enjoy the read.

Thomas Richard Prakasam Publisher / Editorial Director thomas@spinworkz.com

WRITER Rosalind Tan rosalind@spinworkz.com

WRITER Elissa Nadine elissa@spinworkz.com

ADMIN & CIRCULATION Julie Tan admin@spinworkz.com

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Jimmy Chin jimmy@spinworkz.com MEDIA REP IN NORTH AMERICA Broadcast Media International Michael Mitchell Tel: +1 631 673 0072 mjmitchell@broadcastmedia.tv

PRINTED BY Stamford Press Pte Ltd PUBLISHED BY Spinworkz Pte Ltd 51 Bukit Batok Crescent #06-10 Unity Centre Singapore 658077 Tel: (65) 6316 2716 Fax: (65) 63162715 www.spinworkz.com

Disclaimer Entertainment Technology Asia is published 6 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.

08

NEWS March - April 2013

MUSIC Group names Nigel Beaumont as Head of Professional Division International: The MUSIC Group has announced the appointment of Nigel Beaumont as Head of its new Professional Division, overseeing all aspects of the company’s MIDAS, KLARK TEKNIK and TURBOSOUND brands worldwide.

Beaumont will retaining his role as Senior Vice President for Operations that he has held since joining the MUSIC Group in 2011.

The appointment is effective March 1, 2013.

“Over the past two years, Nigel has added tremendous value to the MUSIC Group and I am very proud of his achievements.

With Nigel’s profound PRO experience at Harman, I am convinced he will continue, and accelerate the growth of the Division,” commented CEO Uli Behringer.

Before joining the MUSIC Group, Beaumont was with the Harman Pro Division, being most recently responsible for the management of the European Operations of the Division, encompassing Soundcraft, Studer and AKG. Beaumont adds, “I am very excited and honoured to assume this new role. The last two years have seen a complete rejuvenation of the MIDAS and KLARK TEKNIK brands and exponential growth. With the US$20 million investment in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, the recent US$4 million investment in a 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art R&D facility in Manchester, and the massive expansion of the team worldwide to complement the existing exceptional talent, the PRO Division is geared toward cutting edge technology and products.” www.music-group.com

TYAA gears up with JBL VTX series amplifiers and 33 units of Crown VRacks.

“Unquestionably, it is a great honour for us to have this opportunity to employ World Class Audio Systems for the best performance of our customers,” commented Chavalit Mahaviriyakul of Year After Audio.

Thailand: Ten Years After Audio Co. Ltd (TYAA) has purchased a large inventory of JBL VTX line array and Crown I-Tech 12000 HD amplifiers for the year 2013.

The equipment was supplied by HARMAN Professional distributor, Mahajak Development.

The purchase follows TYAA’s long-term adoption of the JBL VERTEC line array series over the past eight years, which were deployed in several well-known artists’ concerts across Thailand and other parts of the world.

The new purchase includes 36 units of JBL VTX V25, 36 units of JBL S28 subwoofers, 100 units of Crown I-Tech 12000 HD

“We have confidence in the product and service of both HARMAN and Mahajak Development. So, we decided to invest in this mega project this year.”

Kasemsin Kanchanachayphoom, Deputy Managing Director of Mahajak Development adds, “We are delighted that TYAA has chosen JBL & Crown once again to upgrade their rental gear for JBL VTX and Crown VRack. TYAA is the most trusted rental company in Thailand. They are one of the few companies that are committed to the top quality of touring industries by offering their technical expertise with world standard equipment.” www.harmanpro.com www.mahajak.com

Riedel expands Australian office Australia: Real-time network provider Riedel Communications has relocated its Australian office, due to the expanding sales and rental markets in Australia.

The new Riedel premises will be located at Unit 2/38, Morley Avenue in Rosebery, NSW. “The markets in Australia are developing extremely well. We saw a great boost in sales and rental. This also means increased personnel and a larger stock of rental equipment. The most logical consequence is to move our operations to a larger office in order to provide all services properly,” commented Peter Cochrane, General Manager of Riedel Australia.

Currently, Riedel Australia has seven employees providing sales, support and rental service for the Australian broadcast, event and installation markets.

Recent Riedel projects in Australia include an Acrobat installation at Channel 9 and the AACTA awards at The Star. www.riedel.net

A NEW WORLD WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 10th

MAX IS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY

DARKNESS IS STRONG – MAX IS STRONGER

ONLY A MIRACLE COULD HAVE IMPROVED THE JACK: NOW I’M A BELIEVER

THE AURORA BOREALIS PALES IN COMPARISON

I HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE

GOODBYE “MOVING HEAD”.

MAX IS COMING. Believe the prophecy this time: A new world really begins on April 10th; at the D.T.S. stand (D79 / 11.0) - Prolight+sound 2013, Frankfurt.

I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH MAX: ITALIANS DO IT BETTER

HOW LONG CAN I GO ON WITHOUT MAX?

SO BRIGHT...

AND IT CONSUMES SO LITTLE!

MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN IT LOOKS (DON’T BE FOOLED BY ITS SIZE)

I KNOW HIS SMALL BROTHER, JACK

I’M SURE I SAW A PIECE OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY

WATCH THE VIDEO I SAW THE LIGHT! www.dts-lighting.com D.T.S. illuminazione s.r.l. - MISANO ADRIATICO (RN) Italy www.dts-lighting.it - info@dts-lighting.it

12 A Tribute bu uttte to Excellence elleen nce n ce

NEWS March - April 2013

Crestron Asia revolutionizes movie experience at Golden Village servers and amplifiers, from anywhere in the cinema, freeing them to carry out other tasks while improving response times.

PR-8150 LED SPOT 400

acoustic & lighting system MALAYSIA Tel. +603 - 8075 8990 Fax. +603 - 8075 8266 Email. acoustic@alhq.com.my SINGAPORE Tel. +65 - 6423 0682 Fax. +65 - 6423 0683 Email. info@acousticnlighting.com THAILAND Tel. +662 - 769 8199 Fax. +662 - 769 8195 Email. veera@alhq.com.my INDONESIA Tel. +62 - 21 29078968 Fax. +62 - 21 29078794 Email. edwin@acousticnlighting.com

www.acousticlighting.com

“Crestron’s control system increases management efficiency and reduces the manpower needed to effectively manage a leadingEdmund Chan at The Hobbit premier edge multiplex, while allowing real-time control from anywhere Singapore: GV City Square, the latest in the cinema. Overall, the state-of-thecinema from Singapore’s leading cinema art equipment allows us to do more with exhibitor Golden Village (GV), has recently a lot less,” Lee Kin Guan, Head for Digital installed Crestron’s control system to Systems & Innovation of Golden Village centrally control and ease management. shared.

GV City Square highlights the success To commemorate the successful launch of GV’s efforts to completely transform of Crestron control system, Crestron Singapore’s cinema experience for the Asia organized a cocktail reception and digital age. Costing an estimated S$6 movie screening at GV City Square on million to design and build, GV’s latest 18th December 2012. Close to 40 people cinema features the very latest in AV and from Crestron’s dealers and partners in theatre technologies.

Singapore, representing the commercial and education sectors, were invited to “This new installation is an ideal example attend. of creative problem-solving in a cinema environment. We are proud to support The cocktail ended with the premier of GV’s breakthrough initiative that the highly-anticipated The Hobbit: An revolutionizes digital cinema in Singapore Unexpected Journey. The screenings and Asia,” said Edmund Chan, Country featured the advanced Theatre Manager of Crestron Asia.

Management System (TMS) in action.

Crestron’s compact control system with www.crestronasia.com Ethernet (CP2E) lies at the heart of GV’s efforts to centrally manage the entire multiplex’s digital equipment, while completely integrating AV and automating its management.

Intuitive wireless tablet interfaces allow GV cinema managers to have a dashboard overview of the real-time status of their digital projectors, while a wireless singlepoint management tablet allows them to control the digital equipment, such as digital projectors, lighting, movie playing

THE SKY IS NO LIMIT

As tall as you wish, as powerful owerful as you wish, as flexible as you wish!

The new VERTUS active line array is a skyscraper er of sounds, ideal for live performances and also fixed installations

studioconti.biz 2012

s True line array modular technology in elegant enclosures with an aluminium extrusion design s An independent Class-D tri-amplification system with DSP and switch mode power supplies allowing great dynamics and power s Long distance sound projection and even SPL distribution towards the audience s A dedicated active subwoofer with a bass-reflex design and birch ply enclosure s Professional Neutrik XLR signal links and POWERCONN sockets s A rapid latching system that doubles or triples the speaker column, allowing an increase of SPL and vertical directivity

Possible configurations CLA 604A (400+100W) Active Line Array Speaker CLA 208SA (600W) Active Subwoofer

INEERED

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14

NEWS March - April 2013

MIPRO welcomes Ang Lee with ACT-7 Series Taiwan: Taiwanese film director, Ang Lee and Surai Sharma, star of his most recent film Life of Pi, put the MIPRO ACT-7 series to work at the film’s recent premiere and press conference event in Taipei.

MIPRO ACT-7 series wireless system was used to serve the premiere of this masterpiece in Taipei, owing to its reliable sound quality and interference-free reception.

RCF D LINE

The ACT-7 series wireless system includes ACT-717/727/747 true diversity receivers, ACT-7H handheld transmitter and ACT-7T bodypack transmitter.

Other features include true diversity receiving, PLL synthesized oscillation and ACT (Automatic Channel Targeting) sync function.

In January 2013, Life of Pi earned 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Visual Effect.

Ang Lee with Surai Sharma

In the film, Lee explored the artistic horizon of applying 3D effects and pushed the boundary of how this technology could serve the movie’s artistic vision.

Through Pi’s fantasy adventure on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, Ang Lee leads the audience to explore issues of spirituality and practicality with Pi. www.mipro.com.tw

Congress Rental Network gathers in Sydney for AGM the years ahead – amongst which congress product manufacturers were invited to share their development plans.

Bosch took the opportunity to showcase some of their latest products to the audience.

acoustic & lighting system MALAYSIA Tel. +603 - 8075 8990 Fax. +603 - 8075 8266 Email. acoustic@alhq.com.my SINGAPORE Tel. +65 - 6423 0682 Fax. +65 - 6423 0683 Email. info@acousticnlighting.com THAILAND Tel. +662 - 769 8199 Fax. +662 - 769 8195 Email. veera@alhq.com.my INDONESIA Tel. +62 - 21 29078968 Fax. +62 - 21 29078794 Email. edwin@acousticnlighting.com

www.acousticlighting.com

Australia: The three-day event attracted 39 members of the Congress Rental Network (CRN) from 37 countries, to the Marriott Sydney Harbour Hotel for a 2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

In this AGM, CEOs and owners of companies which are part of the CRN got to exchange ideas and experiences with each other.

Participants were also encouraged to come together to provide a direction for CRN in

Industrial speakers from institutions such as the European Commission and the ICCA were also invited to speak on the latest trends and developments for the congress. www.boschsecurity.asia www.congressrental.asia

16

NEWS March - April 2013

Monitor City named first Nexo STM partner in Australia

Matt Dufty

Australia: Adding to their already impressive Nexo inventory which includes GeoS12, RS18's and 45N12 Wedges, Melbourne-based Monitor City (MC) is now the first Australian Nexo STM partner – bringing Nexo's flagship scalable modular line array to the Australian touring and live production scenes.

MC was conceived back in 2006 when live sound engineers and production managers Matt Dufty and Ade Barnard met whilst touring together with Australia's Pete Murray.

Ade felt that Australia was severely lacking in terms of high-end wireless in-ear monitoring solutions. Instead of renting less than optimal solutions, they decided to team up and start Monitor City.

Understanding that the international touring circuits often demand a particularly high standard across the board, MC knew exactly what would be required to deliver what leading artists expect from production partners.

With Nexo's approach to STM, anything from a ground stack to a four wide arena hang can be achieved utilizing a combination of three core modules: the M46 main module, the B112 Bass module and the S118 sub module.

There is also a full range STM omni module in the final stages of production testing which will add yet another dimension of versatility as well as a host of new configuration options.

After acquiring an initial 36 box system comprised of 18 x M46 main units, 18 x B112 bass units and 6 x NUAR intelligent amplifier/controllers, MC was quick to take the PA out on tour for Angus Stone.

Ade continues, "Touring with STM is just great. Its fast to rig and flexible to use. It's very high power so headroom is never an issue. We've both found that the NS-1 simulation/prediction software is very accurate and easy to use too. We just love it!"

acoustic & lighting system MALAYSIA Tel. +603 - 8075 8990 Fax. +603 - 8075 8266 Email. acoustic@alhq.com.my SINGAPORE Tel. +65 - 6423 0682 Fax. +65 - 6423 0683 Email. info@acousticnlighting.com THAILAND Tel. +662 - 769 8199 Fax. +662 - 769 8195 Email. veera@alhq.com.my INDONESIA Tel. +62 - 21 29078968 Fax. +62 - 21 29078794 Email. edwin@acousticnlighting.com

www.acousticlighting.com

"I had toured Alpha for many years. I was a big fan and familiar with the Alpha sound.

STM seemed to be a similar PA but would throw a lot further and be very flexible for our purposes. The scale of each gig tends to vary a lot so the modular concept fits really well," Matt enthused.

Ade was also taken by the scalability of the system, adding, “It's all about the modularity. We only wanted to buy one PA so we need it to do everything well and that's exactly what STM is."

www.nexo-sa.com

Matt Dufty and Ade Barnard, with Denis Baudier

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QSC, and the QSC logo are registered trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries.

18

NEWS March - April 2013

Timothy Dorwart appointed Community CEO International: In his new role, Dorwart is tasked with overseeing the company's overall business and sales strategies, as well as leading Community into a new era of exceptional growth.

Dorwart brings over 30 years of sales, manufacturing and management experience in the pro audio and music industries. His previous roles included director and VP positions with Bose Corporation and DMX Music.

Since 2007, Dorwart has led the Stanton Group through a successful turnaround as their CEO. Dorwart joins Community from Gibson Guitar Corporation where he held the position of General Manager, Pro Audio and guided the integration of Stanton Group assets to form Gibson's new Pro Audio Division.

"I am delighted to join Community at a pivotal time in their history," commented Dorwart.

"The company is poised for considerable expansion and I look forward to leading it into the future."

Dorwart joins Community at an important stage of the company's development.

Having started as a loudspeaker component and lighting company 45 years ago when it was founded by current president and chief engineer, Bruce Howze.

"Community has continued to grow throughout the economic recession, with its diverse profile of high value, high performance outdoor and installation products," remarked Howze.

"I'm confident that under Tim's leadership, Community will not only continue its strong performance, but start an upward trajectory of unprecedented growth.

Tim will be the major driving force in the company's future. I'm thrilled to welcome him to Community." www.communitypro.com

Adamson strengthens Asia PaciďŹ c business with key appointment Australia: Adamson has promoted longserving Product Support and Applications Engineer Ewan McDonald to Business Development Manager for the Asia Pacific region.

Based in Australia, the new position will see Ewan organize and setup product demos in addition to supporting existing customers.

2013 marks the anniversary of Adamson celebrating 30 years of building excellence and bringing some of the most sophisticated speaker designs available

for the professional loudspeaker markets.

This anniversary will also coincide with the launch of a wide range of new products into its ground breaking Energia line, as well as introducing a brand new economical small format Installation series, the Point Concentric. www.adamsonsystems.com

NEWS March - April 2013

19

D.T.S. adds 70 metre wonder to Gotenba Kogen dancing fountain 104 HELIOS BRONZE RGB underwater projectors fitted with spot lenses light the fountain and the base of the water jet.

The HELIOS are powered by 13 Z8 power supplies and controllers.

TOUCH THE

FUTURE

A further four DELTA 8 RGB high-power LED projectors fitted with spot lenses light the water jet, up to a height of 70 meters.

Japan: The Gotenba Kogen resort hotel, in Shizuoka, recently added a powerful 70-meter high water jet to its dancing fountain.

Tokio-based Monarque Co. was entrusted with the installation, bringing in an articulated lighting system made up of D.T.S. LED projectors.

Among the attractions offered to the resort guests, there is the large hi-tech dancing fountain which impresses with the articulation of its jets and variety of the figures obtained. www.dts-lighting.it

Bosch hosts DCN-NG Technical Training

Singapore: Members from the Congress Rental Network (CRN) Asia Pacific – which includes Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, gathered at Robert Bosch (SEA) Singapore office for a fiveday Digital Conference Network Next Generation (DCN-NG) Technical Training workshop.

The DCN-NG Technical Training was held to provide technical information and details for various systems.

TIGER TOUCH

The Gotenba Kogen is a luxury resort hotel with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji, located in the city of Shizuoka.

Topics include DCN-NG System Design & Installation, System Calculation & Limitation, Software Applications, Integrus, Language Distribution System and CCS900 Analog System were covered during the session.

The event concluded with a product demonstration of two of Bosch’s newest products – the DCN-CCU2 and DCN HD Camera Conference System. www.boschsecurity.asia

POWER CUBE

PEARL EXPERT TOUCH Avolites: +44 (0) 2089 658 522 avosales@avolites.com www.avolites.com

Total Solution: (+65) 6287 9878 sales@tsm-int.com www.tsm-int.com

20

NEWS March - April 2013

Photos credit: Jeff Busby

YOU´ VE GOT THE SKILLS. SKILLS WE´ VE GOT THE TOOLS.

Martin MAC Vipers make Australian operatic debut Australia: For the second year running, Victorian Opera staged a pantomime for children at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne.

The 2013 production of Sleeping Beauty saw the return of the creative team behind Victorian Opera’s first pantomime, Cinderella, with a set designed by Julie Nelson and lighting by Richard Vabre.

The lighting was supplied by Resolution X with eight Martin MAC Vipers making their operatic debut in Australia.

"I had been eager to use Martin MAC Vipers for some time and so I pitched the idea to Richard Vabre," said Peter Darby, Technical Coordinator for Victorian Opera.

"He was very keen and used them throughout the show specifically for some fantastic gobo washes across the stage.

The Viper's multiple gobo wheels are great for this. I was very pleased with their performance; they're very punchy, fast and

www.tsm-int.com Phone: +65-62879878 sales@tsm-int.com

www.coolux.com

bright. I also found them to be fairly quiet which is important for operatic use.”

Two JEM Glaciators supplied the low fog effects and looked amazing in combination with the Vipers.

Situated on the front truss, were a couple of Clay Paky 1500 Profiles, which Peter described as a terrific unit. Also in the rig were twenty-six Martin MAC TW1s, one lonely MAC550 Profile, two Atomic strobes, Glasson LEDS Bulbs and many conventionals.

Peter programmed the show on a MA2 console with his MA command wing as a tracking backup run through an MA NPU. Martin, MA Lighting and Clay Paky are distributed in Australia by Show Technology. www.martin.com www.showtech.com.au

NEWS March - April 2013

21

D.T.S. lights up DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival South Korea: The fourth edition of DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival (DMZ DOCS) was held from 22 to 28 September 2012 in Paju, a South Korean City bordering North Korea.

The expo, offering 100 documentary films from 30 countries around the world, was appropriately held in the former military facility of the US Army 'Camp Greaves'.

An exhibition of pictures by renowned South Korean photographer Kim Jung-man was also held to commemorate the 60th Korean War anniversary.

Kim Jung-man photographs showcased the landscapes and people living in the Korean demilitarized zone. The exhibition was set in the most suitable scenario – an abandoned US Army concrete shelter.

The photos on the walls of the shelter are lit by a network of 23 units of FOS 100 full colour LED bars.

Four NICK NRG 1201 LED moving head projectors have also been installed at the four corners of the building.

The D.T.S. fixtures have been supplied by NES Korea Co. Ltd. DMZ DOCS is an annual festival for documentary films organized by the Gyeonggi province. It presents documentaries on the theme of peace, reconciliation and pacific coexistence – promoting internationally, the documentary genre as a powerful means of communication between people. www.dts-lighting.it

22

NEWS March - April 2013

NX Audio excites the crowd in Davanagere series, Z series and RXMK2 series were used to power up the setup.

NX Audio amplifiers had also earned the praise of FOH engineers present at the exhibition. The positive feedback cited better headroom and better performance without peaking and overheating.

India: Narain recently held a roadshow for NX Audio products in the heart of Karnataka, Davanagere. The exhibition attracted close to 900 visitors and was Northern Kannada’s biggest audio exhibition ever.

Visitors were impressed by the clarity of the V212 line array, which were loaded with 2 units of 12” subwoofers and 2 units of 72mm HF drivers, delivering 1200W RMS power.

Other products showcased at the show include the Y25 pro series, Scoop Bin subwoofers, PVD series of wireless microphones, together with the MG32, MG24, and MG14 FX mixing consoles. www.narainindia.com

The center cluster for the showfloor comprised of 4 units of V212 cabinets and 4 HT 28B Horn loaded subs containing 2 numbers of 18” drivers. The MTMK2

Show Technology presents lucky winner with Martin M2GO Australia: Prior to Christmas Show Technology, Australia-based Show Technology ran a promotion whereby you could win a Martin M2GO console if you attended one of their highly popular workshops.

and my students were wondering what on earth was going on! It was like winning the Lotto!"

The lucky winner was Sue Brandstater, an entertainment industry teacher at Picton High School.

Sue will be using her M2GO console to train her students and to operate a variety of school events.

"When I first saw the specifications of the M2GO I thought it looked absolutely fantastic," commented Sue.

"It will be great to introduce student's to a new and emerging technology," she adds.

"I attended the workshop and fell in love with it even though I knew I couldn't afford to buy one. I was in the middle of a school event when I got the phone call from Show Technology to say that I had won an M2GO. I was squealing with excitement

"We're a poor public school where it's hard for us to get equipment so this is a really big thing. It's really going to be fantastic for them.” www.showtech.com.au

NEWS March - April 2013

23

Wireless done right!

Robert Juliat lights up Drama Centre Singapore: Esplanade Theatres on the Bay has added to its stock of lighting fixtures with the recent acquisition of 2 Robert Juliat Aramis Followspot. The latest consignment was supplied to the Drama Centre by Robert Juliat’s distributor, Total Solution Marketing Pte Ltd. Total Solution Managing Director, Glenn Wong was delighted "We are very pleased that Drama Centre has once again chosen Robert Juliat's Followspot. Aramis is well suited to the long throws of the Drama Centre. The option of a “push / pull” or “boomerang” colour changer means it can be tailored to suit the available space in each venue, while its frost filter on flip lever allows fast, simple “focus” changes.”

The Aramis is a 2500W HMI Followspot with manual or DMX dimmer. It has a zoom range of 4.5° to 8° with sharp focus at every beam angle. Furthermore the Aramis smooth dimmer shutter retains flat beam and colour temperature when dimming. It also comes with Individually Removable Colour Frame, 6-way Colour Changer and Fast-locking Focus Handle for quick and easy change of beam size.

(L-R) Glenn Wong, Managing Director of Total Solution Marketing with George Panait, Technical Manager (Lighting) of the Drama Centre and Claus Spreyer, Sales Director of Robert Juliat.

The Drama Centre, owned and managed

by National Arts Council, is a purpose-built performing arts space occupying 3rd to 5th storeys of the National Library Building.

It comprises of a 615-seat proscenium theatre, a black box and three multipurpose function rooms, to meet the demands of the diverse range of today's arts events - from the mid-sized theatrical presentation with stringent technical requirements, to intimate performances, talks and exhibitions. www.robertjuliat.com www.tsm-int.com

VUE Announces Distribution for Asia Pacific Asia Pacific: VUE Audiotechnik announced the completion of three distribution agreements that will extend the company's reach into key territories throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Amber Technology is now VUE's exclusive distribution partner in Australia and New Zealand, Chungbo Sound signs on as VUE's distributor in South Korea, and PT Sarana Generasi Bintang assumes distribution duties in Indonesia.

"Since launching early last year there has been tremendous interest in VUE throughout the Asia-Pacific," explained

• Industrys most reliable wireless DMX/RDM system • Automated Cognitive Coexistence • Is not disturbed by and will not disturb other systems • Lowest latency in the industry at 5 ms • Link range: 500-1000 meters line-of-sight • Advanced 128 bit encryption • One button takes care of all setup

Jim Sides, VUE's executive vice president.

"In fact, VUE products have already been specified into several high-profile installations there. These teams possess the knowledge, resources and enthusiasm to build on this momentum, and I look forward to working with each group to best serve VUE customers in these important countries."

All three distributors assume their responsibilities immediately, and in doing so, join a rapidly expanding sales and support network for VUE Audiotechnik.

For more information about LumenRadio’s wireless control products, please visit www.tsm-int.com

www.vueaudio.com

www.tsm-int.com • Phone: +65-62879878 • sales@tsm-int.com

24

NEWS March - April 2013

Electro-Voice delivers superior sound in Hachinohe Public Hall

Lumen Freaks everywhere rejoice!

Philips Vari-Lite introduces the VL3015, VL3015LT & VL3515 Spot luminaires. All using the double-ended 1500W lamp that has been so effective and reliable in our large format wash luminaires, the VL3015 and VL3515 Spot luminaires feature 6:1 zoom optics and 27,000 lumens of output, while the VL3015LT boasts 10:1 zoom optics and can produce over 41,000 lumens.

All of the ďŹ xtures possess features that are identical to those found in the famous luminaires they are based upon, with the LT model also boasting a second ďŹ xed color wheel, frost, and a prism option.

The best just got brighter.

www.tsm-int.com Phone: +65-62879878 sales@tsm-int.com

Three EVF1152D/94 bi-amp mode ceiling speakers, two EVF1152D/94 bi-amp mode stage side speakers, two EVF1181S stage side speakers, four ZX3-90B portable/ floor monitors, four TX1152FM portable/ floor monitors and one N8000 system management were installed at the Hall Community Center.

Japan: The Hachinohe public hall was renovated with a selection of Electro-Voice sound systems.

Located in Uchimaru, Hachinohe City, the public hall serves the local community by organizing and providing a platform for various activities, classes and local performances.

Hachinohe operates with two main facilities; the Hall Auditorium, with a building area of 4,624 square meters, and the Hall Community Center with a building area of 1,560 square meters. They have a seating capacity of 1,624 seats and 492 seats respectively.

www.electrovoice.asia www.yamahas-ss.co.jp www.hachi-kokaido.com

EV also enhances sound system in Ajinomoto Stadium Japan: Ajinomoto Stadium is a multipurpose stadium located in Tokyo Metropolitan which has a capacity of 49,970 people. Completed in February 2012, Ajinomoto Stadium will be hosting the 68th National Sports Festival in 2013 and a variety of other events and competitions.

A superior, reliable, realistic and acoustic audio system was required to maintain the good reputation of the stadium and Electro-Voice fit their requirements perfectly.

To meet their requirements, 20 XLD281 field coverage speakers, 42 TG-5 power amplifiers, 42 RCM-26 DSP/remote

www.vari-lite.com

For the Hall Auditorium, two EVF1152D/43 bi-amp mode proscenium speakers, two EVF1152D/66 bi-amp mode proscenium speakers, two EVF1152D/96 bi-amp mode proscenium speakers, twelve XLD291 stage side speakers, two XLC215 stage side speakers, two ZX3-90B fixed foldback speakers, four ZX3-90B portable/floor monitors, four TX1152FM portable/ floor monitors and one N8000 system management were installed.

modules and 4 UCC-1 USB-CAN interfaces were installed. For the seating area coverage, 134 XLE 181 distributed speakers were installed at 26 locations.

The systems were installed and integrated

by Kinden Corporation and Japan Radio Co., Ltd. www.electrovoice.asia www.ajinomotostadium.com

THE NEW SEQUENZA 5

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

26

NEWS March - April 2013

Avolites Pearl Expert Titan for FCBC

Singapore: Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) recently strengthened their lighting inventory with the acquisition of Avolites Pearl Expert Titan with Touch Wing for Touch Centre (TC) at 3 Marine Parade Central. The console was supplied by Total Solution Marketing.

Ray Ng, Technical Manager of FCBC was delighted with the purchase of the Pearl Expert Titan. He shared, “We feel very pleased to own the Avolites Pearl Expert Titan Ready with Touch Wing. Powering the Pearl Expert is the Titan OS which is very reliable and gives our lighting operators an added advantage.

We have been looking forward to the Touch Wing as it was built upon the user friendliness of one of the industry’s most popular console.”

The Pearl Expert Titan offers more submasters, more flash buttons and more power to control the larger more challenging shows.

The Pearl Expert, the product of Avolites expertise facilitates spontaneity, putting live control and creativity firmly into the hands of the lighting designer. High speed button response, dual rollers and instant access to the vast array of timed palettes, breathes life into lights.

0 oth F 4 o B , 0 .

Hall 8 SEQUENZA 5 W with 4 x 5“ and 3 x 1“ Waveformer (100° x 15°) generates with only a few elements the required length for the line array function by its enclosure dimensions. Due to the innovative rigging systems 'Snap&Fly+' and 'SafeLock', SEQUENZA 5 W and the ×own bass SEQUENZA 5 B (1 x 12“) are ready for use in a very short time. Top performance and efÖciency in one system: Performance that you can hear!

Kling & Freitag GmbH · Phone + 49 (0)511-96 99 70 info@kling-freitag.de · www.kling-freitag.de

Ray was also extremely satisfied on the excellent after-sales service provided by Total Solution. “TSM has been very supportive to us and we never had any regrets purchasing equipment from them because they have always been reputed for delivering consistent high levels of customer service.”

Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) was founded in 1986 by Senior Pastor Apostle Lawrence Khong. Together with his wife, Senior Pastor Nina, and a dedicated team of pastors, Apostle Lawrence has nurtured FCBC to grow into a 10,000-strong church with a vision to serve the nations by effecting community transformation in Singapore and gateway cities in Asia through cutting-edge ministries. www.avolites.com www.tsm-int.com www.fcbc.org.sg

NEWS March - April 2013

27

Robe for Summafieldayze Gold Coast Australia: Over 150 Robe moving lights were spread around multiple stages on Summafieldayze 2013 - the most popular marathon dance music festival staged at Doug Jennings Park, The Spit on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Offering a seismic opportunity for all the party people to move and groove for 24 hours of the best music and excitement, heading up the action were plenty of electronic legends like The Chemical Brothers, M.I.A, Fedde Le Grand, Mark Ronson, Hot Chip, The Faders, Kimbra and many more.

Lighting equipment, together with lighting production designs for the event’s three main stage areas, was supplied by Clifton Productions, one of Australia’s highest profile rental operations and the one with the largest stock of Robe fixtures! Featuring a unique and dazzling palette of the planet’s most sought after DJs/ acts/artists, and drawing from the magnificent spectrum of its finest sounds, the 8th edition of Summafieldayze was said to be the biggest, brightest and most brilliantly colourful in the brands iconic history.

Stage one was based around M.I.A.’s spec and featured 22 x Robe ColorSpot 2500E Ats which are able to create search-light like effects, 8 x ColorWash 2500E Ats that came complete with CMY colour mixing system, variable CTO, 2 colour wheels and combined dimmer/shutter unit.18 x ROBIN 600 Beams, that have been seen in many live events lately, completed the light rigging.

The set centrepiece was an extensive upstage video wall.

The second stage was custom designed to accommodate the Chemical Brothers’ who are credited as being one of the few truly arena-sized electronic acts. Their live acts comprise usually of large screens displaying psychedelic images, strobe lights, and lasers that project over the crowd. The unique DJ show is always highly visual, so its no surprise that lighting for stage two included 22 x Robe ColorSpot 1200E Ats along with 30 x ROBIN 600 LEDWashes and 8 x Robin 600 Beams.

The “Hot Chip“ concept developed for Stage three featured 12 Robe Robin 600 LEDWashes, 16 x ColorWash 2500E ATs and 13 x ColorSpot 2500E ATs, complete with 30 x 18 mm pitch video panels. All of which were controlled by a ChamSys MQ 100 console + wing, with a Catalyst v4 media server for the video playback.

The Robes stood up very well to the intense heat of the midday sun all the way to the cool night, never once faltering all while withstanding a tough operating environment of being hammered for 24 hours non-stop. www.robe.cz

TG 1000 DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEM –––––– PROFESSIONAL AUDIO PRODUCTS MA MAD MADE IN GERMANY

Safe long-term investment with 319 MHz bandwith, Chameleon Software (webserver based), 24-bit converters, OneButton Navigation, SecurityFirst digital encryption technology, TriplePlayCodec, CristalClearDisplay, FastSync for synchronisation below one second, 24-Channel Cascading without using an external splitter, interchangeable microphone capsules, no sound colouration through GenuineGuitar technology, SmartDesign Transmitters, up to 300 Meters Range, 122 db dynamic range. for more information kinzel@beyerdynamic.de

Innovation & ROI for end-users, advertisers & partners 24 – 25 April 2013, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Digital Signage World Asia is the region’s most dedicated event of its kind. The event provides an unparalleled platform for end-users from sectors such as F&B, Travel and Transportation, Hospitality, Banks, Casinos, Retail and Shopping Centres, Advertising and more to meet world-class digital signage solution providers.

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NEWS March - April 2013

29

St. Bernard's College in Essendon upgrades with Jands "The JBL VRX solution delivered the correct horizontal dispersion for what we were hoping to do," said Adam. "Some of the other companies quoting on the job said they needed to install three PA hangs - left, centre, right - but we said we could do it with two, thanks to the VRX. Once it was installed, the college said 'yes, that's fantastic and covers all the areas'!"

A BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 networked signal processor runs everything being highly flexible and cost-effective.

Four Shure SLX wireless microphone units, a combination of SM58 handhelds and beltpacks, were supplied along with an antenna distribution system.

Australia: When JBN Sound Solutions were required by their client St. Bernard's College in Essendon to supply and install a front of house PA system and additional foldback cabinets for the college's auditorium, they knew that a Jands solution would be ideal.

Hence they tapped into Pulse AV's expertise in installing a winning combination of JBL, Soundcraft, Shure and BSS Audio.

"The wireless kits are up in the bio box and the antennas are nicely installed over the stage," added Adam. "They've been fantastic; easy to use yet can cater for multiple scenarios." www.jands.com.au

"The college needed a solution that was easy to use yet also future proof," commented Adam Dullens of Pulse AV. "For FOH mix, a Soundcraft Si Compact mixer was chosen as it has a similar layout to an analogue mixer. That way the students can get experience of an analogue console yet in a digital world.

It's a small console that is packed with power. The Soundcraft Si Compact offers amazing features for its purchase price plus it sounds great.” A Soundcraft Compact Stage box was also supplied and installed on the stage and connected to the console via a Cat5 cable.

The PA consists of two hangs of JBL VRX with each hang housing a VRX915S subwoofer and four VRX928LA compact line array mid/ high boxes.

The first theatre in Europe with a complete LED rig chose LDR’s ALBA profiles Tartu, Estonia Vanemuine Theatre, The Grand Building '# d]Xcb ^U ;3Aµb 0;10 _a^½[T X]bcP[[TS LUCI DELLA RIBALTA SRL, ITALY WWW.LDR.IT

30

NEWS March - April 2013

Outline appoints White Eagle Entertainment in India portfolio that includes some of the bestknown names in the industry.

(L to R) Michele Noselli, Arun Kalra, Giorgio Biffi

India: Outline s.r.l., as part of its global footprint expansion, has entered the highly-potential Indian market through the appointment of White Eagle Entertainment Ltd as its exclusive distributor for India.

With offices in New Delhi, White Eagle Entertainment (WEE) specialises in the design, sale, installation and maintenance of commercial and professional audio. With 20 years of valuable experience, WEE has a

The company's CEO, Arun Kalra, who has been committed to India's audio market for decades and also holds key sales positions with top international brands, states, “Outline has been on our list of most desired high-end brands for many years.

It's a company that is known for its unique sound and extremely high quality systems.

Our extensive experience working for some of the best-known names in the industry is our best possible publicity. We take pride in providing all our clients with a bespoke service that includes project assessment, solution identification, and high-quality installation, plus a full backup, spares and maintenance service. We enjoy building longterm relationships with our clients to help them stay current with the developments this fast-moving industry has to offer.”

Prestigious on-going installations powered by Outline include the Mumbai-based Playboy Club. The first in India, the 22,000-squarefoot open-air property on Candolim beach in the tourist hotspot of Goa opened in mid-December 2012. According to the international press, the club is the first of 120 venues, including hotels, fashion cafes and shops, planned over the coming years.

The sound equipment list at Mumbai's PB Club includes eight Outline Doppia II 9075 point-source systems with four DBS 18-2 subwoofers, plus eighteen DVS 8P compact loudspeaker enclosures. All powered by T-Series amps and controlled by the Genius 412 matrix, also by Outline. A 12-element Mantas line-source system has been purchased by A One Global Entertainment rental company, a high-quality firm based in Chandigarh. Outline gear (eight DVS 8P and two Eidos 108 S) has also been specified for the Mumbai-based JW Marriott Hotel.

Giorgio Biffi CEO of Outline, comments, “White Eagle Entertainment has a longstanding reputation in the industry and we are extremely pleased to work with them, as their reputation for providing excellent customer experience perfectly matches our own vision. Kalra and his great team of technical staff are very well respected in India and the afore-mentioned jobs speak for themselves. We are delighted that they want to distribute our products and look forward to a prosperous future in one of the most important growth economies worldwide.” www.outline.it

Titan Projectors provide amazing display UAE: To match the extravaganza of the Dancing Fountains outside the Pavilion at the Armani Hotel in Dubai, award winning lighting and production design company, Lighthouse Productions, turned to Digital Projection.

The objective was to create a unique experience for the guests of a Indian Wedding Ceremony that was held in November 2012 at the hotel. This would be the first time the walls of the pavilion were bit-mapped. Using 3 HD Titan projectors and teaming up with Avolites Immersive (AI) Server, the result was a stunning show projected onto the building’s extensive exterior façade. The range offers factory calibrated colour with enhanced 7 Point (P7)

NEWS March - April 2013

31

colour system and are precision engineered for a strong and durable offering of high brightness.

With the project being outdoors, the projectors needed to have a high-lumen output and be easy to operate and install and also be able to function in the high heat and humidity of Dubai. The Titan projectors fit the bill perfectly, with a 12,000 - 20,000 Lumens and long life, power efficient high intensity discharge(HID)Lamps.

Lighthouse Productions have invested in Digital Projection’s flagship Titan range that have been used on a number of projects and continue to partner Digital Projection who have over 25 years experience of designing and manufacturing world-class DLP projectors.

Pictures courtesy of Steve Miranda – Lighthouse Productions.

www.digitalprojection.co.uk www.lighthousedubai.com

Changbaishan Grand Theatre chooses Apex and DiGiCo China: The first phase of China’s 20 billion yuan (USD$3.16 billion) Changbai Mountain International Tourism Resort, opened in 2012, features five-star hotels and Asia’s largest ski resort. A centrepiece of the development is its performing arts theatre, where Apex audio processors and DiGiCo mixing consoles help to ensure that audiences enjoy the evenings as much as their time on the piste.

Located on the border between China and North Korea, Changbai Mountain on the Chinese side is a 494,000 acre nature reserve that is already a popular international tourist destination. The new resort’s 26 miles of ski runs plans to draw many more visitors and the Changbaishan Grand Theatre has been built as part of the comprehensive accommodation and entertainment facilities.

Built by the Beijing Aotewei Development Company, the theatre features a cutting edge audio specification, supplied and installed by Rightway Audio Consultants, one of China’s leading professional audio distributors. The company specified five Apex Intelli-X² 48 processors and DiGiCo SD8 and SD10 mixing consoles.

The four in, eight out Intelli-X² 48 provides the entire range system management tools necessary for comprehensive system

alignment and EQ, including IIR and FIRbased crossovers. Featuring internal processing up to 192 kHz as standard, highend studio-grade analogue circuit designs and mastering-grade compressors, it sets the benchmark in system management and speaker processing design, but is simple to integrate into any network and also to operate.

“Audiences will be visiting the theatre from across the world and so it is very important that everything is of the highest quality, to ensure that they want to visit again,” says April Fung, Rightway business development coordinator. “We specified Apex and DiGiCo equipment because it delivers optimum audio quality and ensures the system can be used for any kind of production.”

DiGiCo’s SD8 and SD10 deliver all the facilities that FOH and monitor engineers need for every type of live event, combining an exceptional specification with intuitive operation and a compact footprint. The onboard Stealth Digital Processing provides unparalleled sonic quality and processing power, making sure that every show at the Changbaishan Grand Theatre has a great sense of occasion.

“It is very important for the theatre to attract high calibre performers. DiGiCo mixers are

Apex Intelli-X² 48 processors

well-known and used on the highest profile shows, so they were an obvious choice,” adds April. “The system has been working perfectly and the theatre is very happy with the results.” www.apex-audio.eu www.rightwayaudio.com

32

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

Allen & Heath: Gld Remote An iPad app for the GLD digital mixing system controller, GLD Remote, provides a comprehensive suite of mixing controls for remote wireless applications using the iPad or the iPad Mini. Connects to the GLD-80 mixer on a wireless network and gives the user instant access to any of the mixers channel faders and mutes, DCA faders and mutes, image controls, aux sends and assignments as well as channel input and output processing, mic-pre control and full metering. Also gives control of high pass filters, gates, parametric and graphic EQ, compressors and input/ output delays. Includes a real time analyser (RTA) to ring out monitors and EQ the PA; the facility to name and colour channel strips; custom layers with drag ‘n drop strip set-up to suit any application and a mix view where monitor engineers can keep both master levels and contributions under control in a single screen. Additionally, it provides channel PFL control to enable the engineer to remotely listen to feeds using a wireless monitor system.

GLD Remote will be available soon as a free download. www.allen-heath.com

Allen & Heath: Me Personal Mixing System Allen & Heath has launched the new ME Personal Mixing System, a next generation personal monitoring solution, universally compatible with Allen & Heath and other pro digital mixers. Central to the ME system is the compact and fully-customisable ME-1 personal mixer, powered and connected via CAT5(either mono or linked as stereo) and capable of managing up to 42 sources. The mixer combines sources to be mixed from a simple 2 button ‘Me and Everything else’ set up to a full mix of 16 buttons, allowing the user to control the whole mix with just 16 or fewer keys. Layout incorporates backlit keys, soft rotary control, separate mic and mix levels, and an OLED display for custom channel naming. Uses Power Over Ethernet (POE) or can be mains powered using the included power supply. A mounting bracket for easy attachment to mic stands and a convenient headphone holder are also supplied.

For an introductory video on the ME system, scan the QR CODE: www.allen-heath.com

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

Ampeg : Heritage B-15N The Heritage B-15N is all-tube and circuitboard based with a cool new flat black finish, designed and assembled in the USA. Featuring distinct 1964 and 1966 channels, Ampeg’s flexible Baxandall EQ and selectable bias modes for tone control. The high-quality flip-top, doublebae cabinet is covered in black diamond tolex and factors heavily into the tone of the original. Each Heritage B-15N features commemorative badges on both the head and cabinet The Ampeg Heritage B-15N is available in a 2013 limited edition run of 250 units.. www.ampeg.com

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36

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

ARX Systems: New ISO Balancer

ARX Systems has announced the addition of the new ISO Balancer DI passive direct box to their AudiBox range of Precision Tools for Audio Professionals. It is able to convert unbalanced audio signals from sources including computers, tablets and smart phones to balanced, low impedance signals suitable for use with professional equipment and long cable runs. Transformer ground isolation ensures low-noise operation, preventing ground loops and other extraneous noise.

Featuring an industry standard 6.5mm Jack, RCA and 3.5mm Jack inputs to cover all connector types, and transformer balanced Left and Right XLR outputs. The ISO Balancer is also equipped with a Mono'ing switch allowing stereo signals to be easily mono'd. An entirely passive device with no power requirements, making it a truly universal and reliable. www.arx.com.au

Crown Audio: USBX accessory

Expanding the control options available to users of Crown XTi, CDi and DSi amplifiers, the USBX accessory adds iPad/iPhone operation and wireless connectivity by enabling amps with a USB port to be operated via the “Powered

by Crown” App. Also equipped to be controlled via Ethernet, the accessory plugs into an AC outlet and up to eight compatible Crown USB products can be connected. With a built-in Wi-Fi, wireless control is possible without the need for a separate wireless router. 'Powered by Crown' App allows wireless control and monitoring of Crown Ethernet-enabled devices and JBL loudspeakers that are equipped with DrivePack DPDA built-in amplifiers. Using the same protocols as HARMAN HiQnet System Architect, users can import custom control panels from System Architect into the “Powered by Crown” App for added functionality. www.harman.com

BEHRINGER & IMAGE LINE : CMD DJ Controllers with Deckadance Software Full-featured set of MIDI controllers consisting of the CMD MM-1 Mixer Module, CMD DV-1 Digital Vinyl Control Module, LC-1 Live Control Module, CMD PL-1 Platter Control Module and the CMD DC-1 Drum Control, all of which come with IMAGE LINE's Deckadance Software.

Software application provides up to 4 software decks, allowing performers to mix different sources to energizing tracks. Smartknobs link a single knob to any number of FX and Mixer interface parameters, while the GrossBeat function provides 8 user adjustable FX per deck, including programmable and automated glitch, stutter and scratch functions. Hosts VST plugins and can act as a VST plugin in any DAW production environment. Controllers also feature extensive MIDI feedback and rotary encoders with bright LED indicator rings that are organized to ensure ergonomic performance experiences. CMD components work as stand-alone controllers but can connect to perform multiple controller configurations. www.behringer.com

DPA Microphones: d:facto II Vocal Microphone Latest addition to the d:facto line offers high separation and extreme SPL handling, giving users unlimited possibilities for their performances. In addition to use with a new wired DPA handle, d:facto II provides an adapter system that allows users to choose either a wired DPA handle or the professional wireless system with no loss in the sound quality. Plug-and-play features allow it to reproduce natural sound which reaches sound level handling of 160 dB. Mic provides improved audio performance, being linear in frequency and phase, both on- and off-axis, while definition and accuracy reproduces a singer’s voice effortlessly. Exceptional isolation from handling noise as well as able to accommodate extreme sound levels. www.dpamicrophones.com

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

Electro-Voice & DYNACORD: LML-1 module The LML-1(Loudspeaker Measuring Load) allows the real-time monitoring of high-impedance (Hi-Z) loudspeaker lines by multichannel amplifiers. With the LML-1 module, it is possible for smaller 100-volt loudspeakers to be driven by multi-channel amplifiers from Electro-Voice or DYNACORD and supervised using IRIS-Net software. The combination oers basic supervision of loudspeaker lines in 100-volt direct drive operation, within an overall project featuring both pro sound and commercial sound components. Connectable to the end of the loudspeaker line and powered using an inaudible pilot tone to provide a stable load condition, the load can then be measured using the existing load supervision functions of the Electro-Voice CPS and DYNACORD DSA series amplifiers. www.dynacord.com www.electrovoice. com

37

Green Hippo & LedGo: Interactive LED floor

Green Hippo partners with LedGO by applying the visual hardware and software of Hippotizer with the new interactive LED floor by LedGo. With the seamless viewing and versatility, the LED floor uses weight distribution across any created space allowing content to be played back. Easy to build with its unique construction and a resolution of up to 2mm, (multi-touch and build-in), the heavy duty, easily transportable floor has created opportunities to change the way audiences interact with the visual elements of any live event or space. Waterproof for indoor and outdoor use with the ability to hold up to 2000 kilos and create shapes, providing an innovative set up for live events. www.green-hippo.com

Integrating Technologies, Experiencing Content

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

39

Mackie: Master Fader v1.4 An update for the Master Fader control application for the DL1608 and new DL806 digital live sound mixers. Version 1.4 features new selection of vintage processing with a vintage compressor and gate providing lightning-fast attack, non-linear attack/release and program dependent release. Vintage EQ captures the interactions between the shelving bands and the gain and frequency-dependent Q structure of the parametric band delivers clarity and sheen of classic EQ designs.

With DL series mixers, users can snap a photo of bands with their iPad camera and use pictures as channel IDs. Images are synched between all wireless devices connected to the mixer. Shows now load in the background, keeping all wireless devices online when a show is changed and will seamlessly transfer between the DL1608 and new DL806. Also available on iPhone or iPod touch, the My Fader v1.0 control app for DL Series mixers via Wi-Fi. Features touch control over multiple input channels at once and an output selector for quick access to any mix.

Master Fader v1.4 is available for free download from the App Store (Existing users will be able to update directly on their iPad)

My Fader v1.0 is available as a free download directly to iPhone or iPod touch. www.mackie.com

V to the Power of X As the only self-powered loudspeaker system to feature the brand new IDEEA™ power module from Lab.gruppen, VXP Series combines our next-generation Dual Concentric™ and PowerDual™ driver technologies with the latest development in ultra-reliable, energy efficient amplification.

The result is a new benchmark in audible superiority and \UOLYHSKLK ÅL_PIPSP[` PU H ZLSM WV^LYLK SV\KZWLHRLY YHUNL With an L_WHUZP]L VMMLYPUN VM LUJSVZ\YLZ HUK [YHUZK\JLY JVTWSLTLU[Z =?7 :LYPLZ IYPUNZ [OPZ WLYMLJ[ \UPVU VM [LJOUVSVN` [VNL[OLY ^P[O ZTHY[ LYNVUVTPJ WVY[HISL HUK PUZ[HSS MYPLUKS` JHIPUL[ KLZPNUZ YLMPULK I\PSKX\HSP[` HUK JHYLM\SS` [OV\NO[ V\[ M\UJ[PVUHSP[` (SZV H]HPSHISL PU WHZZP]L ]HYPHU[ ¶ =? :LYPLZ

Learn more at tannoy.com/pro

IDEEA

TM

40

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

Mackie : DL806 mixer

Martin Professional : M6 Lighting Console State-of-the-art lighting console that functions as a highly advanced visual control surface. Designed to control everything from conventional and moving lights to the most advanced media server.

Incorporates latest technologies with an industrial multi-core processor, solid-state drives and custom-designed high-brightness touch screens, the M6 is capable of delivering up to 64 DMX universes directly from the consoles network ports without external processors. Key features include LiveBlender split T-Bar with 8 x FastBlend RGB buttons, Paired Playback buttons and positionable BriteTouch widescreens. Offers a total of 44 playbacks, including dual Main Go sections, 10 motorized faders and 12 additional faders, as well as a total of 17 encoders for parameter access.

The 8-channel DL806 is equipped with easy-to-setup wireless control enabling users to use up to ten iPad, iPhone or iPod touch devices simultaneously. Hardware provides eight Onyx mic preamps and 24-bit Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters and a host of powerful plug-ins like 4-band EQ, gate and compression on inputs as well as 31band GEQ and comp/limiter on outputs. With wireless mixing with global reverb and delay, engineers are able to tune the room from anywhere in the vicinity. Compact measurements of 15.5” x 11.5” x 3.9” and a weight of 3.2 kg. PadLock feature locks down iPad for permanent installs while industry standard Kensington lock secures mixer.

www.martin.com

www.mackie.com

PR Lighting : XLED 250 Spot

Robert Juliat : TIBO luminaires

Fully-featured, compact and light weight (4.5kg) LED moving Spot designed for club and bar use. Houses a Luminus PhlatLight CBT-90-W Big Chip white LED source and designed for applications that require maximum lumen density, efficiency and reliability. 6500K colour system, power consumption is 120W at 220V. Colour wheel comprises eight colours (plus white) and gobo wheel (with 11 gobos plus white). Head movement offers adjustable speed 540° (pan) and 190° (tilt), with pan, tilt, swap and invert function, auto position correction and magnetic sensor positioning. 0-100% linearly adjustable dimmer, electronic strobe (with 0.3-20fps) and standard beam angle of 20°. Controlled via DMX512 (11 channels in standard mode, 7 channels in short mode), with Master/Slave, Stand-alone and Built-in mode control alternatives. Housed in hightemperature engineered plastic (with IP20 rating).

TIBO luminaires family is now complete and presents a fully interchangeable range of modular fixtures. Luminaires provide a wide range of component options designers can choose from, to compose the lighting of their choice . Offers a ‘mix and match’ choice of light source (LED, tungsten halogen or discharge), lens type (Fresnel or profile) and body colour along with a new option of variable white LED source.

www.pr-lighting.com

www.robertjuliat.com

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ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

43

Soundcraft : Soundcraft Si Expression Si Expression is available in three frame sizes, Si Expression 1, 2 and 3 offering 16, 24 and 32 fader and mic inputs respectively; all three capable of up to 66 inputs to mix by connecting any Soundcraft stagebox. Mixers equipped with industry standard processing from HARMAN siblings BSS, dbx, Lexicon and Studer and professional features such as iPad ViSi Remote control and Soundcraft FaderGlow, which automatically illuminates specific faders in varying colours according to their assignment enabling artists to focus on the mix. A DSP engine provides 4-band parametric EQ, delays, gates and compressors on every input as well as four Lexicon stereo effects devices, all capable of being utilised at the same time. Consoles packed with a wide range of networking and option cards, including the BSS BLU Link card, enabling simple and automatic connection to the dbx PMC16 Personal Monitoring System. www.soundcraft.com

Robe : Digital Spot 7100 DT

Visit

Webshop

A Digital Moving Light Projector based upon LCD and LED technology. Developed from a combination of a digital projector with two powerful RGBW LED modules resulting in amazing digital gobo effects and the projection of highly saturated colours.

Fixture emits 7.000 ANSI lumens from a single 330W projection lamp with a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. Each of the two LED modules consist of 48 Luxeon Rebel RGBW LEDs and provide an extremely bright light output across the full colour spectrum.

Offering DVI input and SDI input/output, the luminaire is ideal for all professional entertainment and leisure applications. www.robe.cz

Xtra Low Prices Xtra Discount Xtra Fast Delivery Xtra Quality www.doughty-asia.com

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ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

TOA Corporation: M-864D Digital Stereo Mixer

Maintains the basic functionality and operability of its predecessor, the M-633D, but with added features such as analog-feel fader operation, 15 input channels, remote controller operation and fine-tuning of settings with GUI software. Its analogue user-interface enables efficient setup and operation. Solution is equipped with TOA's Automatic Resonance Control (ARC) measurement and processing algorithm that improves speech intelligibility and sound quality in facilities with challenging acoustic environments. Up to 16 preset memories can be stored with different signal routing and parameter configurations. Additional audio processing tools include Feedback Suppressor (FBS), Parametric Equalizer, Tone Control and Automatic Mute.

TURBOSOUND: Milan Series Encompasses a total of five loudspeakers including the brand new 12” two-way M12 and compact 15” bandpass M15B subwoofer.

Full-range models feature 1,000 watts of bi-amplified power while the two subwoofer models are powered by 1,500 watt amplifiers with integral stereo crossovers, allowing left / right stereo systems to be built with only one subwoofer. M10, M12 and M15 two-way full range loudspeakers all sport two fully independent channels with electronically balanced mic and line inputs, two-band EQ and a Mix Out function to extend a Milan system with additional speakers. The switchable 100 Hz low-pass filter ensures seamless integration when teamed with subwoofers, or when used as wedge monitors. Dynamic EQ and intelligent limiting ensure sound quality is optimised while illuminated front logos alert the user of the onset of limiting. www.turbosound. com

www.toa.co.jp

Acme: LED Move MS700PE Energy-efficient 180W LED moving head combines the latest LED technology with excellent optics and great features. Includes: one rotating gobo wheel with seven gobos; one rotating gobo wheel with eight gobos; one fixed gobo wheel with eight gobos; and one colour wheel with seven colours. All options are combined with an additional white colour option. Also features a prism, a rotating prism and an iris.

LED Move MS-700PE can be used as a passively controlled background lighting in bars/pubs as well as an active factor creating and reacting to events in concerts or theatre performances. With dimensions of 435 x 344 x 568mm, the light fits most locations without creating a distraction. www.acme.com.cn

Meyer Sound : Galileo Callisto The delivery of the Galileo Callisto has begun with its new signal processing and loudspeaker management system designed for the precision calibration of Meyer Sound arrays. Building on the company’s original Galileo loudspeaker management system, Galileo Callisto features Scan for more information. a set of new, specialized tools that streamline the deployment of the LEO large-scale line array loudspeaker system and M Series line array products. System shares the core I/O, performance and control features of the original Galileo, but with new tools that include the new U-Shaping filter which provides a sculpting tool for users to efficiently adjust the gain, width and slope. Delay integration in the Compass control software offers a quick alignment tool to ensure a coherent summation when combining different loudspeaker elements. System allows simultaneous application of high- and lowpass filters in the output processing; giving users greater flexibility for artistic sound design. www.meyersound.com

Held concurrently with

South East Asia’s Most Established International Professional Audio, Lighting, AV, Systems Integration, Music Software and Entertainment Technology Exhibition

17 – 19 July 2013 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Book Your Booth Space NOW to Secure a Prime Location!

Please contact Ms. Anna Cheong at +65 6411 7702 or email at anna.cheong@informa.com

www.palmeseries.com/asia (Formerly IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd)

Tel: +65 6411 7777 | Fax: +65 6411 7778 www.informa.com | www.informaexhibitions.com/sg

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

47

Martin Professional: MAC III Wash

SAFETY

Full-feature, full-range wash luminaire that excels at projecting an intense yet even field of light and has the added ability of shaping the beam through an internal barndoor system (shutters), enabling designers to shape projections. 1:4 fully linear zoom that requires no lens changes and maintains near full efficiency throughout the entire zoom range with no visible beam jump when zooming from tight to wide and no drop in lumens output. Over 50,000 lumens of power, output from luminaire matches that of conventional 2.5 kW daylight Fresnel fixtures. Equipped with a fixed colour wheel houses 7 interchangeable slots for an even broader colour range. The colour gamut is complemented with a variable CTO. Uses a large 9” Fresnel lens for a distinctive fat beam look. An optional clear PC lens is also available. MAC III Wash is the final luminaire in the 1500watt MAC III family of moving heads. www.martin.com

QSC: AcousticPerformance loudspeaker line

Line of professional, two-way, fullrange loudspeakers, ideal for a variety of installed sound reinforcement applications which require higher SPL and a stylish enclosure. All models feature a 3-inch voice coil, high power-capacity compression driver combined with highoutput woofers to deliver exceptional full bandwidth reproduction. All loudspeakers feature Directivity Matched Transition (DMT) which matches the compression driver to the natural coverage angle of the woofer in the cross-over region.

When combined with their axisymmetric waveguides, AcousticPerformance loudspeakers deliver a flat power response with accurate sonic reproduction and consistent coverage both on and off-

axis. May be used in passive (full-range) mode to minimize amplifier channel count or bi-amp mode for greater control and performance. All models feature M10 mounting points for deployment via eye-bolts as well as mount points for an optional yoke bracket. The AP5122m multi-purpose enclosure features a 40-degree angle, making it ideal for floor monitor use, and a pole cup for deployment on a loudspeaker stand. The enclosure and terminal input cup on the AP-5122m have been designed to facilitate the cable runs for a clean appearance on stage. www.qsc.com

Scan for more information.

DESIGNING STRUCTURES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN IT MATTERS, LIKE ROOF SYSTEMS WWW.PROLYTE.COM

ENNOVATIONS March - April 2013

Analog Way: NeXtage 16 Powerful high-end AV processor and seamless switcher based on Analog Way’s LiveCore platform. Offers state-of-the-art live processing and Soft Edge Blend capabilities, the NeXtage 16 (Ref. NXT1604) is equipped with 16 Scalers, 8 seamless inputs and 2 main outputs. Hardware offers 28 input plugs: 4 x HDMI, 6 x DVI-D, 2 x DisplayPort, 8 x 3G-SDI and 8 x Universal Analog. Comes with 4 independent true seamless layers per output, as well as an independent Native Background layer included for Soft Edge Blending or individual screen modes. Unique connectivity through a SFP Cage to receive a large choice of Optical SFP modules per output. The device can handle any source from composite video, up to 2560x1600 (DVI Dual-Link available). It also outputs a variety of formats, including HD-TV and Computer format up to 2560x1600. Features a Full Preview with all PIPs available, as well as a customizable Live Source Mosaic Monitoring on an independent output. Analog Way designed a new optimized webbased Remote Control Software (Web RCS) that offers a graphic interface that can be run virtually anywhere on any computing device. An intuitive dashboard allows operators to fully prepare any show with the support of a Wizard mode indicating all steps to follow. Through the Web RCS, the NeXtage 16 supports Remote Services and quick set-up cloning via a USB plug. www.analogway.com

RED Lighting : B700 and W700 Two moving heads of Beam and Wash type respectively which are entirely designed, engineered and tested in Italy. Both projectors use colour wheels with 8 interchangeable dichroic filters plus white whereas the CMY mix of colours allows endless chromatic combinations. GOBO wheels employ the “Slot In & Out” system to personalize luminous effects, passing from one solution to another in a quick and easy way. Equipped with a precise automatic repositioning system in case of accidental movements, as well as with a high-fidelity wireless DMX receiver. www.red-lighting.com

B700 Beam

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EXHIBITION PREVIEW March - April 2013

PALM EXPO 2013 back in full force PALM EXPO returns into its 22nd edition this year, reconfirming its presence as China’s largest and most established international exhibition on pro audio, light, music and technology Key players have once again confirmed their participation in the not-to-be-missed show.

Set to make an appearance include BMB, Clay Paky, ClairBrothers, D&B Audiotechnik, Harman Group, JBL, KME, Martin Audio, Nexo, Osram, Peavey, Pioneer, Sennheiser, Shure, TOA, Yamaha, W-DMX, and many more. www.palmexpo.net

Getting There: This year, organisers have initiated a series of measures to ensure that exhibitor and visitor journeys to the exhibition halls are a hassle free experience.

When: 7 – 10 June 2013 ( Fri - Mon) Where: The new China International Exhibition Centre in Bejing, China Time: 7 June 2013 : 1030hrs to 1700hrs 8 & 9 June 2013 : 0900hrs to 1700hrs 10 June 2013 : 0900hrs to 1400hrs What to expect:

A view of the latest solutions from more than 1700 exhibiting companies and brands in 10 halls. Speakers, amplifiers, mixers, DJ equipment, professional lighting consoles, LED, trussing, display technologies and projectors and many many more will be spread over a massive 110,000sqm exhibit space.

Something for everyone: - The 11th edition of the China International Entertainment Technology Summit which gathers local and international industry players together in a relaxed and easy space to share expertise on the latest industry trends.

- Buyer and seller meetings provide opportunities to come face-to-face with decision makers and purchasers who visit the show to view the latest offerings and make purchases - Hosted Buyers’ Program allow visitors to engage with Hosted Buyers on-site with a key objective in making purchases

- Through online business matching, industry kin get to view confirmed exhibitors' profiles and their products online, and book an appointment to meet exhibitors during show days - Line array demonstrations, expect to be thrilled when you experience major brands demonstrating their line array systems speakers during the show!

- Always well received, the series of technical seminars and workshops on professional audio, lighting, staging and visual technologies offer the latest insight and sharing opportunity on the latest concepts, technologies and applications.

Free shuttle bus services between the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 along with 11 paid bus routes leading to the various part of the Beijing District with a fixed ticket price of RMB16. Free shuttle buses have also been arranged to pick up visitors at regular intervals from the Tian Tong Yuan (line 5) and San Yuan Qiao (line 10) subway stations as well as from official hotels with visitors able to enjoy free transfers in the mornings to the exhibition halls during show days. Assembly will be at the stipulated pick up points of the show venue for the transfer back to the hotels after the show ends daily. Since the exhibition hall is so vast, organisers have made it easier with another set of free shuttle buses running meant to ferry visitors from one end of the hall to the other.

Electric buggies will also be stationed along the corridors of the exhibition halls.

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SNAPSHOT March - April 2013

Rental and Staging in Singapore

by Elissa Nadine

In our R&S section this month, we take a look at the Rental and Staging industry in Singapore – the challenges and future prospects A small nation state located off the coast of the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore gained independence from the Malaysian Federation in 1965. Now, nearly reaching its 48th year, Singapore (which is barely three times the size of Washington D.C.) enjoys one of the most highly developed and successful free-market economies in Asia.

Another alias commonly associated with the country is travel destination and with that comes the barrage of acts from all over the world performing on Singaporean shores. In 2012, Singapore welcomed more than 1000 musical international acts and catered to an insurmountable number of local events. To say that the rental and staging(R&S) industry in Singapore is doing well, is to put it mildly.

We approached the top R&S companies in Singapore for their view of how - behind the glitz and glamour of the country's bright lights – has the industry progressed/ digressed, and what does the future hold for them.

Revenues and Investments

In 2012, the average R&S company reined in an estimated revenue of anywhere between SIN$1.5 – 15 million, depending on the size of the company. And while Singapore has been said to be a hub of the arts, it was a growth in corporate events that dominated the industry clientèle, with only 40% devoted and divided between local concerts and events that require specialised expertise.

This has also led companies to continuously invest in upgrading their equipment which allows them to stay current and provide the best service. Our discussions suggest that companies invest an average of between SIN$1 – 3 million a year.

Hurdles to cross

Such a large industry is bound to have challenges, unfortunately, these challenges lie in a very tangled web, with each living off and affecting the other.

We found that a whooping 70% say the main problem within the industry comes with finding skilled manpower. However, its not that there are no people, as Singapore currently has a population of 5.2 million but

rather there are no people SKILLED in the workings of this industry. The industry is falling in on itself as there are less and less new bloods joining the pack.

This however may hopefully change in the future as many companies have taken up partnerships with local polytechnics and universities to poach students right after graduation. Many have even taken up joint ventures to inject industry-based courses into schools such as Yamaha and ITE College West.

An agreement was signed last year between the two, to develop a curriculum and training facility to encourage knowledge transfer and technical competency among ITE students and industrial participants in the field of Live Sound Reinforcement. The aim was to ensure that the potential of engaging the youth and paving a way for them to join the industry is as seamless as solutions strive to be. This will not only promote an awareness that there are other things to be when you grow up besides a doctor or lawyer, but also wet their appetites with the possibilities of experiencing the wonders that the industry witnesses everyday. The endgame, of course, being an increase in manpower, slowly but surely.

In 2012, the average R&S company reined in an estimated revenue of anywhere between SIN$1.5 – 15 million, depending on the size of the company.

While the lesser majority say that price competition is a major problem, we must consider the ramifications. Yes, some may say, everywhere you go there will always be someone who offers a lower cost and competition is healthy but what happens when this competition affects your staff?

Low rental costs, in an industry where the margin is razor thin, leads to bad competition for resources and if a company is unable to maintain its competitive edge, it will not profit. This has led to a stagnant pay grade for staff and caused more and more skilled people to leave not only the company but the industry entirely which in turn leads to hiring those with less than desirable skills, hence coming back to the same issue of skilled manpower.

To stop this merry-go-round, we recommend treatment as the cure. Treatment of staff, matters anywhere in the world. Money will only take you so far but if companies were to ensure conducive working environments along with the proper training, this has been said to foster more loyalty and commitment

from workers. Solving one problem which in turn will affect and benefit a company on a larger scale.

Business in 2013

A question of whether businesses were expected to grow, shrink or remain the same for the year 2013, the responses we had were split down the middle. Most predicted their business to remain the same while others predicted a shrink. The reason given for remaining the same was to explore

already purchased equipment to its full potential, a smart way to make lemons out of lemonade. Pushing the boundaries and fully exploring a solution will ensure that even with competition, you may know find a new way to strobe or fly an array that has previously never been done.

IRs - Boon OR Bane?

An integrated resort (IR) is the term coined for a casino-based resort. There are currently two IRs in Singapore; Marina

54

SNAPSHOT March - April 2013

We found that a whooping 70% say the main problem within the industry comes with finding skilled manpower.

Bay Sands (MBS) located along the Marina Bay waterfront, and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) located within the island of Sentosa.

They were built due to two main reasons – decreasing competitiveness in the tourism sector and Singapore’s constant need to reinvent herself.

With both IRs fully operational since 2010, it has brought about the government’s predicted economic benefits. However, its not blue skies for everyone. An interesting perspective was that a few felt that the IRs cause more trouble than relief. They say the resorts claim so many jobs that the actual R&S companies are left vying for scraps. This comes about mainly due to the fact that the IRs have invested heavily in equipment and manpower to ensure self-sufficiency when it comes to in-house events.

Another argument is not that the IRs need to back down, its that R&S companies have to step up. Some say that the IRs are good for business as they bring in more clients and with so many conventions and concerts and other events, everyone has their own piece of pie. One IR can only handle so many acts at once, and many times they are said to reach out to companies for help with equipment and manpower. It has also been said that they push the industry to be better and it leads to healthy competition.

The debate on IRs may never end, the same way competition will never go away. Optimism and the way one handles competition may be the key that unlocks an industry which is willing to accept their loss along with their wins.

Creative in efficiency

One thing you can expect from Singapore is innovation. The small country built itself

Interesting nuggets: • The Singapore icon is called the Merlion - a mythical creature with the head of a lion and body of a mermaid.

• Its $49,800 (U.S.) per capita GDP is the 7th largest in the world and 9 percent higher than that of the United States.

• There are four official languages recognised: English, Tamil, Malay and Standard Mandarin

up to what it is today due to the attitudes of residents, in always finding a way to do something easier, better or faster. With a country that is still young and plump, more companies are realising the secret to being different is finding a niche, specialising in something that will put you ahead of the pack. Technology is ever evolving and with that so should we all.

Studies have shown that environment does matter, loyalty and commitment is increased/ decreased depending on the respect someone feels they are given. A tip that would do all of us some good to remember.

• Country as the highest trade-toGDP ratio in the world at 407.9%, signifying the importance of trade to its economy.

What do you think can be done to improve the R&S industry overall?

Scan QR code and leave your comment on our Facebook page.

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SNAPSHOT March - April 2013

Seeing things loud and clear Multimedia for live events the next frontier for the rental & staging industry

By Rosalind Tan “A pure white wall, on our hands, turns into a canvas. Under an events, exhibition or conference environment, together with the convergence of lighting and visual technologies, we can easily paint whatever we want on the canvas.”

Edwin Tan (right), Business Development for AIMS Productions LLP

We all know that technology has been evolving since the dawn of time. Thanks to greater bandwidth, more reliable networks and wider accessibility, our society has moved into an image-rich world of visual interaction and entertainment.

With every new generation of technology, the visual aspect becomes more powerful and true to reality. Words, while still a mainstay, are being expressed in fewer characters and supplanted by an increasingly widespread use of visual language, in high-definition no less.

We, the new generation of the unimpressed, demand imaginative and richer experiences.

We have brought along video mapping technique from buildings, to conference to exhibition – where we incorporate dynamic backdrops; gesture engineering into presentation. People of today, don’t just want it large, they want interactivity.

Such versatility, with one’s imagination being the only limitation, has allowed rental & staging companies in the Asia Pacific region to explore visual as a key component in a show.

“Up to three to four years ago, there wasn’t place for large format video presentations.

The market has yet to mature and due to cost, it is out of reach for most rental companies. It is hard to convert enough people to adopt such technologies, for instance holographic projection and augmented reality. This is especially so for Singapore, where there is a comparably small marketing budget.

In today’s context, a performance will only hold the ‘wow’ factor if it delivers what’s been deemed as the ultimate communication and collaboration experience – one that encompasses moving visuals and interactivity.

“The breakthrough came in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics, which started the trend of large format projectors, creative lighting and video walls actively used in large scale events.

The E-Tech Asia team spoke with Edwin Tan, Business Development for AIMS Productions LLP, in regards to this apparent shift and emphasis on visual aspects in the rental & staging industry.

In the year 2012 alone, AIMS Productions, which specializes in experiential multimedia, recognized up to 300% in business. Some of AIMS major projects include the Merlion 40th anniversary event, BMW 7 Series launch, Spike Asia 2012 and the Asia Rise Conference.

“For the longest time, we have been exposed to visual elements but it is not exciting. We have moved on from the days of the filmbased, black and white creativity to what it is today – digital presentations on high resolution video wall to large venue large format video projections,” he shared.

As their name suggests, AIMS (Art of Integrating Media Systems) transforms this form of visual creativity through multimedia projection for live events.

Even so, the journey towards embracing large format projections is a noticeably long road.

“Asia while aggressive, we’re not adventurous enough. For example, in Youtube, when you google, you’ll find that in U.S.A., mapping has started like way back in 1984; it’s nothing new. We are very reluctant to venture into things we don’t know.”

Edwin asserted that in the APAC region, the rental & staging industry is limited by its people. It poses a challenge for

production companies to embrace emerging technologies, as they cannot recruit enough talent into the industry.

“The issue with our industry is that we have not enough skilled people, both in terms of handling the technical aspects and content creation. We don’t have people whom we can readily employ to work the equipment; they are not ready-made for video mapping and it’s associated technologies. Yes, the trend is maturing, but it is a very difficult road. We have the state of the art products, but there is not enough professionals trained to manage multimedia for live events.

Only when people accept the need to recruit people beyond the industry –involving professionals from different training background, we will always be trapped in the vicious cycle of using the same people for a technology that is way beyond our expertise.

For rental & staging companies to stand the test of time, it’s imperative to pay attention to this emerging trend. For now, three technical companies in Singapore, have adopted this approach namely, Expo AV InSync, Hexagon Solutions and the latest kid on the block, AIMS Productions. There is definitely growth potential.

“Visual technologies is the way to go, it is here to stay. As media and visual servers get more powerful and complex, the market share for this aspect will only keep growing and if companies don’t embrace it today, we will lag behind the rest of the world and be out of the game in the future,” Edwin concludes. www.aimsproductions.com

Vietnam’s International Showcase for Professional Audio, Lighting, AV, Broadcast, Systems Integration, Music Software and Entertainment Technology Exhibition

6 – 8 November 2013

Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Book Your Booth Space NOW to enjoy Early Bird Rates!

Please contact Mr. Christopher Lim at +65 6411 7709 or email at christopher.lim@informa.com

www.palmeseries.com/vietnam (Formerly IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd)

Tel: +65 6411 7777 | Fax: +65 6411 7778 www.informa.com | www.informaexhibitions.com/sg

58 >>>

SNAPSHOT March - April 2013

Media Servers In this issue of E-Tech Asia we garnered feedback from Avolites Media, Coolux and Green Hippo about Media Servers. We would like to thank them for their contribution.

coming out to shows. Total visual integration helps us create that. Media servers help us to seamlessly integrate all of these visual elements allowing designers total artistic freedom without technical restraints, thereby allowing for exciting and compelling visuals.”

On the varied applications where Media Servers can be used, Hans Stucken, Marketing and Communications Director of Coolux comments, “As the versatility of different media servers expands, so does the number of markets where it makes sense to use them. They are commonly used in stage, touring and Broadcast studio design settings, but are also very popular when it comes to realising architectural projections and brand presentations that feature 3D mapping.

Museum installations, digital signage applications and cruise ships are additional growth markets for media servers, with interactive large scale digital signage projects being one of the latest trends.”

The Max Steel event featured Coolux Pandoras Box servers used by LOOP LIGHT.

Media Servers have begun to play an integral role within the industry and there seems to be a phenomenal growth on how and where Media Servers are being used. James Ross Heron, Director of Green Hippo comments, “Scenic Video is still a growing industry, whereas 10 years ago, only the highest profile events incorporated media into a stage, these days the quantum leaps in display technology and computer processing power means most shows have some element of display technology designed into them. Even though there has been massive increases in use for Rock n Roll and theatre, by far the biggest increase has been in television. The advent of TV talent contests have driven demand for eye catching and dynamic sets using large quantities of display equipment over the last decade. Saturday night television worldwide will see at least one video-heavy family entertainment show in almost every country that has television broadcasting. Designers want to be able to change moods and stage elements instantly and be able to create moods and looks quickly and in high quality.

The constant desire to be the creator of the next ground-breaking show will ensure video will remain and evolve as expectations and creativity reach new highs year after year.”

Steve Warren, Managing Director of Avolites Media concurs,“Media servers have allowed the industry to move forward in leaps and bounds and has been able to amaze audiences time and time again. To keep our industry healthy and growing we need to blow the minds of audiences so they love

Hippotizers used by Hexagon Solutions at Singapore's Night Festival.

James of Green Hippo puts it best, “Media servers have brought video from behind the scenes to Front of House and the video operators now react to the unique scene playing out before them, just as Lighting and Sound have since their inception many decades ago. Media servers have allowed video to be spontaneous, played like an instrument rather than traditional video playback devices that can only provide media of a finite length. The artist should never be a slave to video. Realtime media servers make video a slave to the artist, which is as it should be for any live performance.”

The Sub Focus event featured Avolites AiS T Servers used by Immersive Ltd.

>>>

Avolites Media: Sapphire Media console and the Ai Infinity Media Server

complex and highly accurate control. You can also create and export your own 3D models and render content templates based on your unique mapping.

4K resolution, 3D content and HD multi-channel media synchonization.

Eric Prydz event production by Immersive Ltd, showcasing AiS T servers. Photo credit: Antonio Pagano.

Avolites' Plasa award winning video control system which comprises of the Sapphire Media console and the Ai Infinity Media Server is taking the industry by storm. This powerful combination controlled the 70,500 pixel tablets which make up the world’s largest ever video screen that amazed the world during the London 2012 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.

The Sapphire Media console is a unique, industry first, brought to you by Avolites Media. Designed and manufactured in the UK the Sapphire Media offers video operators an intuitive live, hands on, show control surface enabling seamless integration of all visual elements. The Sapphire Media control surface connects to and allows control of multiple Ai Media servers. 2 generous, wide screen, touch surfaces are provided for easy access to the User Interface and Salvation Engine control. Additionally, 4 switchable and assignable, touch preview monitors are available to the system operator. These preview monitors may be mapped to any inputs, outputs or video layers. The Ai infinity is the industry’s record breaking, ultra high specification Media Server, available with 8 or 4 Full HD, 1920 x 1080 outputs. Every output is presented on 2 x DVI connections enabling monitor and output signal directly from the server.

Every Ai infinity also provides internal EDID management, Genloc camera sync, LTC Timecode input, 4 x DMX outputs, Artnet and CK output protocols. Optionally, Ai infinity servers may be supplied with Dual HD/SDI, DVI-VGA and HDMI capture inputs. All Ai infinity servers are supplied pre-installed with an extensive stock content library of 320 HD AiM clips

The powerful Ai server handles not only 4K but also 8K media with ease. Today’s top level productions demand the highest custom resolutions and the Ai server has been designed with this in mind. Unlike the vast majority of servers available, Ai works in a true 3D environment.

This 3D functionality offers a Project Visualiser that allows users to show the complete project to clients before it has been built and allows content creators to see how their work will be applied to the video installation. Also of interest when looking at 3D are 3D volumetric displays.

Sapphire Media console

Key Features

The headline feature is the incredible 8 Full HD outputs. Conveniently, each DVI output has an accompanying preview output.

It’s important because each production gets larger and more complex therefore requiring a greater number of outputs. The most important software feature is without question, being able to work in a true 3D environment.

Operators of other servers are pleasantly amazed with the capabilities and increased efficiency when they experience Ai’s true 3D environment. We strongly feel that the Ai servers are, without question, the most powerful available in the industry. They have many valuable features but we would like to highlight what we feel to be the most important 2.

The AiM codec is totally unique and we believe to be the industry’s most efficient, high resolution compression codec. This gives the best colour rendering and colour depth results available. Unique to Ai is a new tool called the Canvas Editor, which allows editing of the UV coordinates of a 3D model. You can sample different regions of an image and apply them to the screen model, enabling

All of the Ai servers 8 HD outputs run at full resolution of 1920 x 1080 progressive and maintain frame rates of up to 60 FPS to give the smoothest video playout.

Are there any other features that you feel will be required by users that are currently not available in any Media Server?

With the flexibility the Ai node based engine it is difficult to imagine any technical restraints. It is worth focusing on what is at the very leading edge of what is possible in the industry, and this is fully solid 3 Dimensional volumetric displays.

With a volumetric display you literally build a 3 Dimensional cube of LED’s using very high numbers of LED strips where true 3D objects and shapes can be represented and operated in real time, again the Ai server handles these installations with ease and we see this as the future of visual art. www.avolitesmedia.com

Ai Infinity Media Server

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SNAPSHOT March - April 2013

Coolux: Latest release of Pandoras Box

Coolux server Projection mapping in Vienna by LOOP LIGHT using Coolux Pandoras Box.

The Pandoras Box Version 5.5, which will be presented at the prolight+sound exhibition in Frankfurt this year, includes a new and ingenious auto calibration mapping feature that makes mapping three dimensional files onto real objects a whole lot easier. In addition to this, video playlists can now be created that can be easily managed without having to use timeline programming.

A number of small yet critical changes will also be introduced to enhance the ease of use of our compositing interface. Of course, realtime rendering is the backbone of our Pandoras Box product family. Being able to fully synchronise, distribute and manage content up to 4K across an unlimited number of displays or projectors makes Pandoras Box an indispensable tool for creating advanced installation setups. A newly integrated web browser makes it also possible to use HTML5 based pages as part of the Pandoras Box realtime compositing space.

Key Features:

One of the most important features is without a doubt the ability to play out and manipulate 4K content in realtime. With the importance of 4K based technology growing fast across multiple sections of the wider AV market, display and projector manufacturers have to be able to provide their customers with reliable playout solutions. This development is further helped by the release of more cost effective 4K cameras, which means that it has never been easier to actually produce 4K content.

The simple fact that the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) recently created a new 3840 x 2160 pixel standard called Ultra HD is yet another sign of the increasing

popularity of pixel formats beyond the current Full HD standard.

Although a variety of major technology brands are already delivering professional display and projector solutions, most 4K formats have not been truly standardised as of yet.

All of the projectors and displays currently available require dedicated timings and display modes in addition to true frame sync in order to work effectively. coolux GmbH is working closely with a number of leading manufacturers in order to support their displays' native resolutions and special formats such as: - Quad HD / Ultra HD 3840x2160 & 4K 4096x2160 - 4x broadcast 4:2:2 10bit SDI - 4x Single Link DVI One possible playout solution for a diverse variety of 4K applications is the award winning coolux Pandoras Box QUAD Server with Framelock option, which can be used to realise frame accurate 4K playout scenarios.

Uncompressed playback is also made possible with the optional SSD edition.

4K resolution, 3D content and HD multi-channel media synchonization.

Indeed, our solutions do handle 4K resolution, 3D content and multiple channels/streams of HD. In fact, even our smallest software only-playout solutions handle Full HD. When talking about 3D content it is important to identify what one is talking

about in a slightly more detailed way. For example, is one referring to files that exist within a three dimensional geometry, or is one referring to content that is meant to be used as part of Stereoscopic 3D projections.

Pandoras Box servers can play out all common kinds of 3D technology, meaning active shutter glass that have to be synched to a projector, or passive side by side 3D etc.

Once again it is important to note that the 3D files can be synchronised over multiple projectors.

The number of Full HD streams that our Pandoras Box system can handle depends on the type of Pandoras Box Player software or server one is using.

Are there any other features that you feel will be required by users that are currently not available in any Media Server?

As more and more people learn how to use media servers in ever more creative ways, users from different backgrounds are naturally becoming increasingly creative themselves, which in turn triggers a growing demand for more tools and features, which all serve one purpose: To be able to realise the creative impulse one has in the most free, reliable and easy way. Our Widget Designer PRO and ULT software packages make it possible to use their newly integrated web server for remote controlling the Widget Designer using HTML based devices that feature a web browser. This means any kind of modern smartphone, tablet or notebook can be used to as an interactive control solution. The creative possibilities in relation to our media servers are truly groundbreaking. www.coolux.de

YOU‘ VE GOT THE SKILLS. WE‘ VE GOT THE TOOLS.

Discover coolux Pandoras Box hard- and software, the perfect tools for creative media control. www.coolux.com

62 SNAPSHOT >>> March - April 2013

Green Hippo: Hippotizer version 3.2

Hippotizers used in a prestigious corporate event in Hong Kong by Avollusion.

Green Hippo’s new Hippotizer version 3.2 software include a new Inter-layer CrossFade engine allowing timed or automated Crossfading between media parameters on any layer, preview of the next media clip and simplified cueing. Grand MA’s MA-net2 implementation is now present. Genlock capabilities are also included (subject to Graphics Card option/upgrade). TimeCode control of media layers can now be achieved without TimeLines, WatchFolders for media are now present and direct peer to peer media uploading across multiple servers along with simultaneous syntax creation and media labelling now make an appearance.

Key Features

Arguably the most important new feature of Hippotizer v3.2 is RegionMapper, a component for mapping media onto geometric shapes and non-linear objects without the need for a 3D model or custom content. RegionMapper enables users to correct the source media as well as the destination geometry meaning even the

Hippotizer

most challenging surfaces can be brought to life with video or stills using projection or LED fixtures. Most competitive servers use a variety of techniques based around a 3rd party 3D model. Green Hippo’s approach to overcoming the challenges of projection mapping differs somewhat to other servers and software. The majority of mapping projects require projection onto shapes quickly and in a real world environment; projects that might not have or need long preproduction times or access to 3D models.

Currently, mapping video is the reserve of high budget projects. RegionMapper brings amazing mapping capabilities to all Hippotizer users straight out of the box.

RegionMapper is a fresh way of achieving stunning results swiftly and accurately using a range of tools and masking techniques unique to Green Hippo.

4K resolution, 3D content and HD multi-channel media synchonization We are currently finalizing our own proprietary codec which allows full 4K

playback but also includes some features which we believe make it the most suitable 4K codec for scenic video use. We haven’t prioritized 4K as much as some competitors because we also believe that in the world of live event staging, it is very rare to see a single display which comprises a single output of 4K media. It is much more common to encounter a series of display devices making up a 4K canvas. Which is why we have focused on further developing our award winning UberPan component that can use multiple Hippotizer outputs from multiple machines with frame accurate synchronization to build a canvas way beyond 4K resolution with frame accurate synchronization. With automatic media splitting built into the software, UberPan has been used on the Academy Awards, and SuperBowl half times shows with great success and is heralded as a powerful and flexible alternative to single output 4K sources in many areas of the events industry.

Are there any other features that you feel will be required by users that are currently not available in any Media Server?

Whilst we believe that Green Hippo and other manufacturers have certainly had an influence on how the real time video is incorporated into live events, the reality is that advances are often driven by the advances and innovations in the display technologies our servers feed. However, the rising demand for interactivity has Hippotizer poised to capitalise because of its ability to receive a host of industry protocols and manipulate video in realtime. www.green-hippo.com

Easy just got easier with the latest Hippotizer software release v3.2

Easy to Video Map: RegionMapper brings powerful projection mapping without the need for 3D models.

Easy to Program: New Mackie integration brings even more control surface options.

Easy to Busk: Revised presets allow precise ‘on the fly’ operation; VJ-influenced functionality that made the original Hippotizer the first choice for free-style video.

Easy to Control: Improved timecode functionality at layer level and throughout.

Easy to Manage Media: ‘Watch Folders’ improve the already acclaimed Hippotizer media management system especially during pre-production periods.

Easy to Playback: Transitions and CrossFade now within any layer.

7 brand new features with 100+ feature enhancements in the Hippotizer software

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China

ACME lights up Han Geng's 2012 concert

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wo years after his best-selling solo debut, Korean superstar, Han Geng made a strong return with his second album 'Hope in the Darkness'.

perimeter. The fixtures provided the power and dynamic punch while their intensity coupled with speed gave the ability to create a variety of looks.

The album’s songs, like the explosive “Wild Cursive” and the electro number “Clown Mask”, express Han Geng’s views towards the world, and the hope of using music and uncompromising spirit to break through the darkness. On the road to promote the album, his 2012 World Tour wrapped up in the gymnasium of Shenzhen Bay's Sports Center after playing to more than a million fans with ACME's LED-MTX25 LED stage panel lights supporting the entire tour.

The main function of the panels were to highlight the musical cues and dynamics.

Featuring a high uniformity display and low power consumption, the PIXEL CONTROL interface of the panels also provided vivid graphics and effects that befit a Han Geng concert.

174 sets of the LED-MTX25 stage panels illuminated the stage, allowing the fans a clear view and full experience of the former captain of the famous music group “Super Junior”. The stage was designed with LED screens upstage and vertical hard ladders, with the MTX25's surrounding the stage

For the tour, creative directors and designers from ACME’s group delivered the album’s concept of “Hope in Darkness” by keeping the light shining or turning dark, depending on the mood of the show. Designers reported that the LED-MTX25 performed “stable and reliably” while on tour and with the MTX25's consistency and tolerance to experimentation, it is a versatile fixture for almost any environment. www.acme.com.cn

LIVE

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Indonesia

March - April 2013

DTS Lighting on stage with Big Bang system, which allows limitless pan rotation, in either direction, never having to reverse motion with a pan of 540° and tilt of 270°.

The light rig for the concert included 52 x JACK and 48 x XR3000 SPOT CMY moving heads, another high-output moving head projector fitted with a 1200W discharge lamp, delivering a massive 85.000 Lux / 5 m, which are controlled via a DMX 512 standard digital communication protocol and comes Wireless and Ethernet ready. Capable of a multitude of dynamic effects, the luminaire boasts a 3-facet rotating prism along with a frost filter.

Big Bang’s lighting crew featured: Shock (Lighting Designer), Bernard Chew (lighting advisor), Jordan (lighting chief – from Showtec), Deddy (Mata Elang lighting chief), and Hassan (Mata Elang lighting engineer). www.dts-lighting.com

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ig Bang, is one of the main icons of the K-pop (Korean Pop) movement which has taken the world by storm over the past few years. With their signature urban-oriented music and their fashion style, the boy band has earned a reputation of professionalism due to their involvement in composing and producing their own music.

powered, compact and lightweight moving head weighing in at only 11.9 kg. Featuring a wide excursion motorized zoom allowing any application from long-throw projections to large wall washing. JACK generates a huge luminosity and extremely uniform projection using only a 189 W lamp; power consumption at just 230 W, and a 7,950 lumens.

With a teen pop cult following, it was no surprise when thousands of enthusiastic fans were in attendance at the ‘Big Bang Alive Galaxy Tour 2012’ held at the Mata Elang International Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The concert featured the band's major hits such as ‘Last Farewell’, ‘Tonight’ and ‘Lies’.

The band brought their songs to life with the help of rental lighting giant Mata Elang Productions of Indonesia who was the technical partner for the concerts in Jakarta.

With a huge and complex set design - typical of a K-pop concert - the visual elements of the show involved a great number of video and lighting effects.

The fixture also comes equipped with the ‘FPR’ ('Free Pan Rotation' - patent pending)

The concerts saw the collaboration between Mata Elang Productions and Showtec Communications of Singapore – which brought about the début of the new D.T.S. JACK moving heads performing in a major live event in Indonesia. The D.T.S JACK is a high-

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LIVE March - April 2013

For just over two hours, the trio – all prolific DJs and producers in their own right – provided an unmatched audio-visual spectacle.

India

J Davis Prosound & Lighting with Swedish House Mafia for One Last Tour

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wedish electronic dance music trio, Swedish House Mafia (SHM) banded together in 2008 and were ranked number 10 on the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ Poll in 2011, a span of merely 3 years. The dynamic mix of members – Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso– along with their collective history is considered the key to the Mafia's continued success over the years.

There was a heady, fortuitous air when Bangalore snagged a spot in the India leg of the SHM tour, after being overlooked when the band visited the country in November 2012. However, when SHM arrived in Bangalore for the concert at the Sunburn Arena in Bharatiya City as part of their farewell tour, a definite sense of relief was felt, despite the delay, the trio were finally in the city. Their long-overdue concert was initially put off for a day due to the plane carrying the group to India being damaged following a storm and floods in Jakarta.

"We almost didn't make it. Thank god we did!" they said to the around 20,000-strong, mostly youngsters, crowd. The group took the stage after the crowd was warmed up by opening acts, Turin Mehta, Shaan and Rohit Barker. And for just over two hours, the trio – all prolific DJs and producers in their own right – provided an unmatched audio-visual spectacle.

J Davis Prosound & Lighting, after their recent successful shows with Slayer and Carlos Santana were all geared up for yet another epic concert tantalisingly titled, One Last Tour, as this was said to be the last tour that the band would ever hold together

Trippy lasers, fireworks on stage, confetti colouring the night sky, stage lighting and graphics that had a better sense of music timing than what most people can boast of. as SHM. Using a full fledged L-Acoustics System – a total of 24 x L-Acoustics V-DOSC along with 16 x L-Acoustics SB 28 subs and 14 x SB 218 subs for the centre, LL and RR area complimented by 2 per side L-Acoustics Kudos – the hits came loud and fast.

Cranking up the tempo early enough with the crowd-pleaser Greyhound, SHM made sure the energy levels didn't drop. The set list transitions were smooth and fluid with included mixes of Kanye West, Coldplay and Florence+the Machine.

8 x L-Acoustics Arcs were used as infills with the delays consisting of 12 L-Acoustics Kudos. The system was powered using a combination of L-Acoustics LA 48a and LA 8 Amplifiers with complete processing through Dolby Lake & system tuning using Smart Live.

There were trippy lasers, fireworks on stage, confetti colouring the night sky, stage lighting and graphics that had a better sense of music timing than what most people can boast of.

Lighting comprised of 24 x Silver Star Cyan 8000 XE Washes, 14 x Elation Platinum Beam 5 R, 20 x Acme Strobes 16 x 4 Lite Molefays, 4 x Claypaky Alpha Spot HPE, 4 x ETC Profiles controlled by GrandMA 2 Console.

SHM house songs might be radio regulars, sneaking into pop music charts, but it takes a field full of people, moving, jumping, dancing

furiously, to prove that their brand of music is best enjoyed in mad, enthusiastic groups that aren't afraid to look silly while dancing.

Monday blues, bad traffic jams around the venue that caused hour-long delays, and in one fan's case a slip disk , were forgotten as they sang along to One, Miami to Ibiza and of course, the 2012 monster-hit Don't you worry child.

In fact, the last was played thrice over the course of the evening, the final time as a wistful, slowed down version that accompanied the credits, as the group proclaimed: “We came, we raved, we loved.”

The four-year-old group, which announced its split in June 2012 so the members could pursue their individual careers, has not ruled out a reunion. “Thanks for giving us this gift of today, Bangalore. Maybe we'll see you in the future,” they told the cheering crowds.

But if this was indeed the last time Bangalore heard Swedish House Mafia, it was a good last memory to have. www.jdavisprosound.com

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India

Specifically MILOS for Indian megastar

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scar-winning Indian megastar A R Rahman's open-air concert staged at the YMCA Grounds in Chennai, India was enhanced by the MILOS MR5 roof system. Organised by popular Tamil broadcaster Jaya TV, the event was attended by 30,000 enthusiastic fans.

Integrating a large lighting rig, designed by LD Becket Tundatil, along with seven tonnes of equipment which had to be flown in, the setup measured 24 metres wide by 18 metres deep with 13 metres of headroom with various trusses sub-hung from its mothergrid. With a colossal stage complemented by a rig which featured nearly 200 moving lights, strobes, LED battens, over 300 PAR cans and two Barco high powered projectors, the concert was an affair fit for a celebrity of Rahman's status.

When they were touring in the US, the ground support system they were using collapsed!

The site was completed with multi-deck layered stage accessed via a series of scissor and mechanical stage lifts and designed by leading Bollywood set designer, Varsha Jain.

Chennai based, Men At Work Stagecraft

Management Pvt Ltd supplied the MILOS system, trussing, rigging, assorted scaffolding and structures for the entire event.

Both the event and artist's production companies insisted on having a MILOS roof system for the show as they wanted a named brand recognised for its strength and reliability. This followed an incident a couple of years back when they were touring in the US, the ground support system they were using collapsed! It was because of that incident that a safe, fully certified, stateof-the-art outdoor roof system with good load-bearing capacities which conformed to European standards, was explicitly specified.

Men At Work invested in its MILOS roof in 2012, following extensive talks with MILOS and a long period of researching the globally available options. “We chose MILOS because no other manufacturer could match their pricing, quality and after-sales support,” states project manager, Mankaran Singh.

Before making the purchase, Singh and his team were invited to the MILOS Guangzhou manufacturing facility in China to evaluate

the products and the company’s production capabilities. According to him, some of the best features of the MR5 roofing system are the quality of the trussing together with the modular design of the roof and the speed at which it can be erected by a skilled crew. “We have owned other trussing in the past so we can easily tell the difference.” The structure’s ability to withstand reasonable wind speeds (up to 90 kph in this case) is another “massive advantage,” he says.

Established in 1994, manufacturers of the MILOS system, Milos Structural Systems are dedicated to new product development and are categorised as one of Europe's largest trussing manufacturers. Specializing in modular display systems, their products range from small truss display booths suitable for trade shows and conventions to giant outdoor stages involving lighting truss setups for large events. www.milosgroup.com

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LIVE March - April 2013

Japan

Robe loves Momoiro Clover Z!

fast LEDBeam 100s with highly optimized motorized control that produce speedy pan and tilt movement, along with 48 x ColorSpot 700E Ats that feature the MSR GOLD 700 FastFit lamp as well as 22 x ColorWash 700E Ats offering a full CMY + CTO colour mixing system.

“I was very impressed with the energy efficiency of the Robe LED fixtures together with their small size and powerful outputs. Very nicely done!”

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ne of Japan’s most popular girl-groups, Momoiro Clover Z, performed their largest concert to date at the Saitama Seibu Dome in Japan.

In front of 37,000 robust fans, and lit with nearly 400 Robe moving lights in a design by Hirotaka Kojima from lighting company JSS, which matched the intensity and fervour of the performers The show – also broadcast in several movie theatres around Hong Kong and Taiwan – was the final date on their 2012 Summer Dive tour and was performed in-the-round.

The girl’s lively set featured numerous costume changes and some properly crazy behaviour. On this tour, the main effect was a massive rain curtain which ensured they received a good soaking every show - to the delight of their enthusiastic audiences! The epic set lasted four hours and contained 26 pumped-up numbers.

Naturally, the lighting design had to keep pace with all the action on-stage and so Hirotaka Kojima needed plenty of flexibility and multiple options in his lighting rig, which was supplied by Tokyo based rental company, M-Tech Style.

M-Tech Style’s Yo-Ichi Ashikawa recommended the Robe fixtures to him as

- Hirotaka Kojima, Lighting Designer

the best choice to promote the cheerful, up-beat summer party vibes embraced by Momoiro Clover Z for the tour.

The impressive fixture count included 120 x super-slim ROBIN 600 LEDWash which feature 37 x 10 Watt RGBW multichip LEDs, 18 x ROBIN 300 LEDWashes with motorized linear zoom of 15o – 60o and 24 x ROBIN 1200 LEDWashes with virtual colour wheels that have 237 pre-programmed colours including whites (2700 K, 3200 K, 4200 K, 5600 K and 8000 K).

Rounding up overhead and around stage rigging with the ROBINs were 40 super

A further 110 x LEDForce 18s with an extremely bright beam of 25°beam angle, with superior colour mixing without multicolour shadows, were placed on the stage and five runways which came off and reached right out into the audience. The runways - which allowed the Girls to get right out amongst their fans – were five different colours to match up with the individual personality colour for each member of the group.

The vibrant, hi-energy show was matched by a light show equally dazzling and effervescent - a sea of movement, colours and effects.

Hirotaka was very satisfied with the end result. He says, “I was very impressed with the energy efficiency of the Robe LED fixtures together with their small size and powerful outputs. Very nicely done!” www.robe.cz

LIVE March - April 2013

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India

A perfect complement to “The End of Love Generation” “During a play the audience does not want to miss even one word...

We had to ensure that sound transmission was uninterrupted, without any unwanted interference.”

- Technical Director, Born Yuen on the Axient Receiver

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he performance of the newmedia stage play “The End of Love Generation", a melodramatic play inspired by reknowned author Qiong Yao’s romantic novels, portrays the complexities of relationships between two generations of individuals. Directed by Joe Lau, the play has already won great acclaim in Beijing and stars well-known actress Cecilia Yip, being supported by a stellar cast including actors Tan Kai and Angel Tong as well as singer Li Xiaoyun at Beijing’s Century Theatre.

Featuring a combination of multimedia elements and traditional theatrical methods, the production allowed the audience to become a part of the performance cast, thus enjoying the new audio-visual experience at close quarters. Shure Axient Wireless Management Network made its theatrical début in Asia on the China stage, giving an extraordinary performance with its consistent sound quality perfectly complementing the play.

"The actors were required every now and then to raise their voices during conversation, or speak in whispering tones – as it would be between two people deeply in love – or even speak out their inner struggles through soliloquies," said director Lau. "We hoped that the actors’ emotions would be clearly and accurately transmitted through the microphones, so the audience could feel as if they were intimately involved.” Based on the director's request as well as past experience in using Shure products, technical director Born Yuen opted to use Shure’s latest Axient wireless system.

The Century Theatre, which housed the play, incorporates the aesthetic views of both Chinese and Japanese architects. It has a seating capacity of 1,713 and is ideal for high-end stage performances such as ballets and entertainment shows. For the success of “The End of Love Generation", Shure deployed a 13-channel Axient wireless system featuring an AXT400 dual-channel receiver with 228 MHz of wideband tuning and the AXT600 Axient Spectrum Manager which delivers wide-band UHF spectrum scanning, spectrum analysis and compatible frequency coordination in a single rack unit. Additionally, the AXT200 handheld frequency diversity transmitter for seamless dual-frequency switching was added along with two channels of UHF-R Wireless that incorporates automatic frequency selection.

All systems were monitored by Shure’s Wireless Workbench 6 software.

“During a play the audience does not want to miss even one word of the dialogue between the actors. We had to ensure that sound transmission was uninterrupted, without any unwanted interference. To this end the Axient receiver was equipped with highly

sensitive interference detection circuits so that it would sound an alarm whenever its signal was being interfered with. The sound engineer would be able to choose to manually or automatically switch to a clear and interference-free compatible frequency,” says Yuen.

ShowLink Remote Control enabled realtime remote adjustments of all transmitter parameters by using a wireless network connection between linked Axient transmitters and receivers. The sound engineers could make crucial changes to their transmitter settings even at their control booth when several performers were on stage.

Having been used in Chicago’s ABC broadcast network, the Opening Ceremony of the Super Bowl and American country star Kenny Chesney’s tour, the success of “The End of Love Generation" is no doubt yet another testament to Axient’s incredible performance. www.shure.com

LIVE March - April 2013

Myanmar

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Ground-breaking concert for a good cause

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hen Myanmar held its first international concert at the Yangon People’s Square, it was American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz who graced center stage to perform for 70,000 fervent fans. He, along with many other celebrities, complemented the MTV EXIT Live in Myanmar concert with the magnificent 2600 year-old, golden Shwedagon Pagoda shining brilliantly in the background.

The MTV EXIT concert aims to raise awareness on the exploitation and human trafficking scene, and to educate locals on how they could act towards this cause in order to prevent themselves and their loved ones from being exploited. At the concert, the crowd squeezed shoulder to shoulder, chest to back with the heat rising along with the energy. It was a first come first serve, free ticketed concert with many of the local Myanmar people, Chinese and Indians along with a minority of Westerners making up the large assembly.

In addition to Asia’s top artists, distinguished speakers also took to the stage to encourage people in Myanmar and throughout the world to join the movement against

trafficking. Senior representatives from the Myanmar Central Body for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Home Affairs encouraged the young audience to prevent trafficking in their home community.

The dynamic event was made possible by the on-going support of MTV EXIT from the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Walk Free, a

The Show Company from Singapore was tasked to create a set that complemented and enhanced the beauty of the Shwedagon pagoda.

global movement to end modern-day slavery; and produced in partnership with the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the United Nations Inter-Agency Project Against Human Trafficking (UNIAP) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Show Company from Singapore was tasked to create a set that complemented and enhanced the beauty of the Shwedagon pagoda, a respected national treasure.

Careful not to overshadow the beauty of the golden pagoda, the lighting rig consisting of 2-lite molefays, VL Spots and VL Washes, was designed to create an identity for MTV EXIT, with the letter ‘M’ lit up by spots. The set was created largely for the benefit of a television broadcast, and to meet the expectation of a live and large crowd. A row of moving LEDs were also placed at the front of stage for extra televised effects.

Facing logistic constraints, the audio system consisted of only 40 cabinets of Coda Audio Airline LA12, and 20 cabinets of SC8 subwoofers which were shipped in for the main PA. These speakers were flown in for LR hungs of 16 x LA12 and 10 x SC8 per side.

An additional mono delay cluster of 8 x LA12 at the 50m mark behind the FOH control was set-up. 12 units of Coda Audio G715 served as front fills, and 16 units of Coda Audio G715 were used for monitors. The FOH control utilised a Yamaha PM5D cascaded with 2 units of DSP5D. The monitor console was made up of a Yamaha PM5DRH for Jason Mraz, and a separate Yamaha M7CL was used for the remaining acts.

Recording and live mix was done with a Yamaha CL5 and 2 Mac computers running Nuendo5 via Dante Network. Despite initial

worries that this set-up was inadequate for the huge audience, the Coda Audio speakers performed well above expectations to deliver quality sound for the crowd.

Human trafficking is a tragic crime that enslaves and exploits its victims, the majority of which are women and children. There are more than 20 million people living in slavery around the world with Myanmar and Southeast Asia particularly affected. The concert formed part of a wider initiative that seeks to educate and train youth through innovative television programming, digital content, capacity building workshops and community-based events. www.mtvexit.org www.show-company.com

LIVE March - April 2013

Malaysia

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Nexo STM coming out party @ Malaysia’s Anugerah Juara Lagu 27

Debuting to an audience of over 15,000 for one of Malaysia's most prestigious events, the Nexo STM system made quite an impression indeed...

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t was a defining moment at the Bukit Jalil Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, when the lights went down and the first performance began to kick off the Anugerah Juara Lagu 27 (AJL 27). The show, considered by some to be the Malaysian equivalent to the Grammys in America, was broadcast by the most watched Malaysian TV station, TV3.

It was also on the hot, humid evening that the Nexo STM would make its grand entrance into the entertainment industry of Asia.

The Anugerah Juara Lagu Ke 27 brought together fans from all over the country to enjoy an evening filled with some of the biggest acts in the Malaysian music industry.

With such a big following, the show expects nothing less than perfection and it has been Mubari Group of Companies, who have been delivering just that, year after year for nearly 10 years.

On the actual day of debut, amidst the cheer and roar of the audience, you would expect to see nail-biting and fidgeting from all those involved but instead, it was a sea of calm. According to Mubari's Director, Siswa Azmi Mohd Mubari (aka Ajun Mubari), who recently expanded their Nexo inventory to include the STM, says, “For all the years we have been working together, Nexo has been a very good supporter to us. In fact, we signed the purchasing order for the STM's before we even heard the sound because we knew they wouldn't try to sell us what we didn't need.

And we believe that any new product from the Nexo R&D team will be better than their previous model in terms of sound quality and handling.”

concept of Scale Through Modularity(STM) which is based on the Nexo Alpha and Geo T series design. However, the idea behind the revolutionary system was explained best

by Ginny Goudy, International Marketing Director of Nexo. “We needed to find a replacement for Geo T, our famous silverbox,

With a tagline of 'Finally, a system that works the way you work', the Nexo STM entails a

Marketing Director at Concept Associates, Andrew Lee (center) with Val Gilbert and Nicolas Kirsch of Nexo.

which was reaching the end of its life cycle.

We planned a new flagship system and we wanted a new idea. There was no point in doing just another line array with just minor refinements or improvements, we wanted to make a significant leap forward in our thinking. We accomplished this by creating a relationship with 3 well-known international sound rental companies. Since they have travelled with world tours, we asked them to work with us becoming our 'Development Team Members'(DTM).�

With the norm being a simple purchase of systems and using them for specific events, Nexo has paved a way for new ideas and begun the modular approach. With the help of the DTM, Nexo was given an awareness on the way a rental company

FOH engineer, Peter Chong

could use equipment. The boxes enable rental businesses to take an arena or theatre system using the same solutions with the only dierence being in the amount of boxes you would need. Flexibility is a word that resonates with the STM and there is simply no reason for the systems to sit in a warehouse as they can be used for almost any event.

For the AJL 27 event, master dealer of Nexo in Malaysia, Concept Associates (KL) Sdn Bhd partnered up with sister company and main distributor, Audio Solutions who assisted the collaboration by supplying Mubari with the STM. The team was also on-site during the show to provide overall technical support led by system engineer, Rico Yong.

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LIVE March - April 2013

And for the rigging? “We had one day planned for rigging but the rigging crew got the point straight away and completed it in less than a day. Obviously, its different between manufacturers but with the STMs the crew managed the task quickly and without fuss.”

(L-R)Rico Yong of Audio Solutions with STM technical support specialist, Val Gilbert

With 15 main and 15 bass side by side for L-R audio and 15 subs below on each side, STM technical support specialist, Val Gilbert, who designed and configured the STM system for the show, tells us the concept he wanted to achieve. “We wanted a P.A. system that would give a full concert sound, pressure levels, tone balance, venue coverage, everything. At the same time with a reduced visibility that comes with any TV show requirement.”

Where the main problem would lie with any new system, the STM seemed to have hit its stride once it flew. Val says, “It's very straightforward , we did the simulation, we flew it and it worked. It was that simple. We didn't have to adjust any angles, no severe EQ'ing of the system. That was why we had 2 full days to ensure the PA was ready so that the engineer could work up a mix.”

Backed by Digico SD7's as well as Clay Paky's 700 Beam, 1500 Wash & Beam and 60 units of Sharpy, the Anugerah Lagu Juara Ke 27, was a sight to behold. The clarity of the music and stunning display of visuals left all in the stadium, and at home, upbeat and wanting more. FOH engineer, Peter Chong says, “I found the coverage to be very crisp and the sound very natural, particularly the vocals. I would definitely ask for this system again.”

The all-NEXO rider was completed by the 45 N-12 line monitors built discreetly into the stage to supplement the six channels of

STM Line Array (Main + Bass)

Sennheiser evolution wireless G3 and Shure PSM900 in ear monitors used by the main vocalists”. Monitor engineer Simon Khoo comments on the NEXO stage monitors: “The sound cut through perfectly even though they were installed below stage!”

With his DiGiCo-based monitor console positioned just 2 metres behind 15x STM S118 subbass bins, Simon sums it up with the best compliment of the night. “For the first time, I can clearly hear the house mix, even from behind the PA and behind the subs, we can converse at 'normal' conversational levels. It’s impressive.”

STM Subwoofers

www.nexo-sa.com www.conceptaudio.com.my

Sennheiser’s new Digital 9000 series makes it debut.....

Supporting the awards together with local distributor, Tegas Broadcast & Multimedia Sdn Bhd, Sennheiser took the opportunity to debut its new flagship Digital 9000 series in Southeast Asia. Sennheiser supplied nine channels of the wireless microphone system which uses extremely steep filters allowing for a narrow set-up of radio frequencies within the available frequency range without risking

intermodulation. Additionally the two event emcees, numerous renowned local musicians such as Shila Amzah, Black & RJ, Ramli Sarip, and Hafiz, were equipped with the latest SKM handheld microphones. The SKM 9000 is compatible with the evolution wireless / 2000 series microphone heads while the SKM 5200-II provides a switching bandwidth of up to 184 MHz. www.sennheiserasia.com

One system.

No limits.

In today’s tough business climate, versatility is the key to success.

NEXO STM makes it quick and easy to configure the right system for any job, with streamlined logistics, scalable power solutions and innovative one man rigging all boosting return on investment. It adds up to a sound system that spends more time earning money, and less time in the warehouse.

Find out more at www.nexo.fr

LIVE March - April 2013

Singapore

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St Jerome’s Laneway Festival

S

tarting as a modest affair in Melbourne 2004, the St Jerome's Laneway Festival is one of Australia's most noted indie music festival. Laneway made its mark in Singapore in 2011 and has since become firmly entrenched as the biggest indie music event on the local music calendar.

Organised by Chugg Entertainment (Asia) and Lunatic Entertainment, the 12-hour event comprised of genre bending and diverse acts such as Gotye and Kimbra- the duo behind viral and commercial hit Somebody That I Used To Know. This year featured first-time Singapore sets by recent Mercury Prize winners Alt-J and Bat For Lashes from Britain, as well as acts making a return here including folk stalwarts Kings of Convenience and American experimental outfit Yeasayer.

Housing the festival for the first time was Singapore's largest outdoor garden, The Meadow at Gardens By The Bay to accommodate the growing number of attendees, which surpassed 10,000 this year.

A 112 ft by 60ft stage was built and split into 2 for faster turnover between bands, with CSP Productions providing stage, audio and lighting along with Showtec Communications Pte Ltd who supplied the 2 Lighthouse R7ER LED screens, ETG Pte Ltd who provided cameras and video mixing for the screens and BMC Music Centre who supplied the band equipment under the direction of Production Manager, Craig Burridge of Chugg Entertainment.

Photo credit: Aloysius Lim

Photo credit: Aloysius Lim

With the entire set-up taking 3 months to finalise the design, sound coverage was obviously one of the main concerns. This would be the first time the festival was being held in an arena considerably larger than Fort Canning Park, its predecessor. The decision was made to depend on L'Acoustics which came in the form of 36 V-DOSC line array loudspeakers which are designed essentially as a stand-alone FOH arena and stadium speaker system and are compatible with dV-DOSC which were used as front fill complements. Both were used to fulfill the needs of a throw for the 200ft garden and

also making an appearance were 24 of the SB18 subwoofers . According to Freelance, FOH engineer, Zoul Mohamed, the reason why the full audio system was chosen was, “to cover a full house, and to do that, you need to be able to fully utilise all parts of the speaker system”. FOH sound consoles were 2 DigiDesign Venue consoles feeding into a Midas H3000-56 as the master console.

The monitors were controlled by 2 Yamaha PM5D-RH which, since it's release in 2004, has become a standard for digital live mixing.

On stage the 115XT HiQ active stage monitors

The entertaining performances and a crowd bursting with energy throughout the day despite the scorching heat made the show even more spectacular. And with such an amazing show in 2013, organizers may have a tough time trying to top themselves next year. www.lanewayfestival.com.au which have a dual wedge shape for short/ long throw floor monitoring, and SB28 and ARC 2 were used for Sidefill and Drumfill.

One of the main highlights of the light show was usage of 24 x Robe Robin 600 LED Wash clusters. The clusters were arranged as 4 stands with 3 Robin 600 LED Wash and 3 ClayPaky Sharpy per stand and 2 clusters of 5 x Robin 600 LED Wash flown on the truss.

The result was impressive with the lights following the beat of the eccentric music and creating an all the more hypnotic effect.

The luminaire is truly a‚ "multi-purpose" unit, equipped with an extremely versatile 15 – 60 motorised zoom and arranged in 3 concentric rings to offer unique possibilities for creating stunning colour and pattern audience blinding effects.

Completing the lighting line-up were 20 x Clay Paky Sharpy's equipped with 189W Platinum 5R discharge lamps and a beam that is sharply defined and free of any halo or discoloration around the edges. For that extra dramatic effect, 20 x Martin MAC 700 Profiles and 12 x MAC 700 Wash were put to good use with a full CMY colour mixing system, 12 x Atomic3000 strobes, 12 x COB RGB Arrays.

When asked what was the design behind the lights, Craig quips, “I wanted as many lights as I was allowed within the budget, you can never have too many effects for an event of this scale!!”

Photo credit: Aloysius Lim

LIVE March - April 2013

Singapore

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D.A.S. Audio at the Sunburn Festival Goa 2012 24 Aero 218 subwoofers. The SNL Pro team rolled out four D.A.S. Aero 28A line arrays for front fill, while on-stage monitoring was handled by four Aero 215 and six Aero 28 monitors. This system was also powered by Lab.gruppen PLM amps.

The sound system at the smaller Caterpillar stage was no less impressive; the SNL Pro crew rolled out twelve D.A.S. Audio 38A large format powered line array systems along with eight LX-218 subwoofers to bring clear sound to the listening area. Front fill was handled by four Aero 28 systems and two D.A.S. Audio Aero 218 combined with eight SML 15A were set up for the DJ monitors. As at the other two stages, Lab.gruppen PLM amps drove the entire system at the Caterpillar stage.

K

nown as Asia’s biggest music festival, for six years running, the Sunburn Festival Goa—a 3-day electronic music blowout held at Condolim Beach, Goa, India, brought together world-class DJs and thousands of fans for a mix of music and entertainment. Held in late December 2012, the sixth edition saw a massive amount of D.A.S. professional sound systems on hand to bring the sound to India’s most anticipated party of 2012 as over 65,000 festival-goers packed into Sunburn’s two festival grounds that saw a combination of seven stages showcasing world-class electronic music over the 3-days.

Ranked one of CNN’s Best Festivals of 2009, the Sunburn draws both fans and performers from across the globe; this year’s international line-up included headliners Sander van Doorn, Fedde le Grande and Paul van Dyk, European and American DJs as well as top Indian DJs like DJ Nawed, Ma Faiza and Reggae Rajahs. Divided into two areas— Ground A with three stages and Ground B with four—the Sunburn Festival requires powerful and versatile sound systems to meet the needs of a stream of different artists. Event organizers called in Sound & Light Professionals (SNL Pro) of Mumbai, a major provider of sound reinforcement systems, to design the sound solution for Ground A’s three main stages.

The SNL Pro sound team decided to deploy an army of D.A.S. Audio products at the massive Arro’s Cupcake Castle stage. A total of 24 D.A.S. Aero 50 systems were flown in two linear formations of 12 systems each on either side of the stage and paired with 24 Aero 218A powered subwoofers for superb bass. For full coverage four Aero 12A systems were set up to boost the sound for the front rows of the huge audience area. A combination of two Aero 218 and six Aero 12A systems were used as DJ monitors, augmented by eight Avant 12A loudspeakers.

The entire system was driven by Lab.gruppen PLM amps.

The set up at the Immersed stage was similar to that at Arro’s Cupcake: 24 Aero 50 large format line array systems were brought in for the main FOH hangs, complimented by

SNL Pro’s massive deployment of D.A.S. Audio systems performed flawlessly over the course of the 3-day Sunburn Festival, providing clear, consistent sound at the three Ground A main stages. Coming off the success of the event and with more fans and performers wanting to participate each year, plans are already under way for the event’s 7th edition in December this year. www.dasaudio.com www.snlpro.com

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INDONESIA

SKYE’s the limit for Martin Audio

T

he spectacular SKYE Bar & Restaurant in Jakarta is the latest venue to be opened by the Ismaya Group.

Located on the 56th floor of the 230m-high Menara BCA building, SKYE's main attraction is the stupendous view over the city's skyline.

The owners required high end professional audio products to service its fashionable clientele, and turned to the pro division of P.T. Citra Intirama, Martin Audio’s distributors.

P.T. Citra Intirama already had a pre-existing relationship with the club’s owners, who have been using Martin Audio systems for many of their group restaurants and clubs over the years.

P.T. had no hesitation in recommending a similar solution to equip the brand new rooftop bar, restaurant and lounge, as well as the outdoor chill out open air area within the exclusive operation.

The 800-capacity venue combines a mixture of Martin Audio’s small architectural AQ5s and EM150 for the lounge area; C10.1R twoway high performance ceiling speakers for the restaurant area; stylish, surface-mount C115s for the VIP area and C4.8T and C6.8T ceiling speakers for restrooms and corridors linking the indoor and outdoor area.

As a result, this carefully-considered solution ensures well-balanced background music coverage throughout, which is augmented via the additional power of two Martin Audio Blackline F15+ and S18+ specially installed for weekend DJ events.

The result is another successful venture for the Ismaya Group — and a significant landmark on the Indonesian club scene. www.martin-audio.com

WHAT’S INSTALLED?

• Martin Audio AQ5 loudspeakers • Martin Audio EM150 loudspeakers • Martin Audio C115 surfacemounted loudspeakers • C4.8T ceiling speakers • C6.8T ceiling speakers • C10.1R two-way high performance ceiling speakers

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SINGAPORE

KV2s bolster up the acoustic sound at Wala Wala

you can start to appreciate the power and the warmth that the ES1.0 speakers possess.”

Supplied by Sindo Exports, two ceiling suspended ES1.0 speakers and two floor mounted ES2.5 subwoofers supplement the stage, driven by two EPAK 2500R amplifiers.

As part of the revamp, Wala Wala also applied acoustic foams on the ceiling and behind the bar sector to significantly dampen reverberation and slapback.

“The regulars, who have been coming in since the bar opened 20 years ago, acknowledge the change. It’s a vast improvement in terms of vocals, especially so during weekends where the crowd is.

Whether we’re hosting a solo acoustic act or a five-piece rock band, the clarity and richness is there. The audience love it!”

A further four KV2 Audio ESM26 dual six-inch monitors allow for easy and clear sound monitoring.

S

indo Exports Pte Ltd recently outfitted Wala Wala Café Bar with a brand new KV2 Audio sound system and an Allen & Heath GLD80 digital console.

Located down a side street in Holland Village, Wala Wala is an ideal restaurant and bar for the laidback crowd. In this competitive environment it is interesting that Wala Wala has been established for 20 years and still has a strong following. The twostorey bar features an alfresco dining space at its bottom floor, serving an assortment of good beer, wine and Singapore Slings while its second floor houses a mini stage that host live music acts, including acoustic and contemporary rock bands, all through midnight.

The bar gets pretty lively as the night progresses, with the crowd buzzing towards the second floor for an intimate pocket-sized concert during and past Happy Hour. The space is decidedly compact but atmospheric with its dusky green walls and dark wooden furniture. A huge Carlsberg sign, bright with neon, adds to the chic lounge bar atmosphere.

While the stage stretches across a wide audience area, it is shallow in depth.

Prior to the revamp, Wala Wala’s sound

reinforcement system proved wanting as it suffered from heavy reverberation due to the cramped conditions set by the bar.

“Adding to that, the bands previously handled the mixes themselves, which usually came up inconsistent as the music would be too loud and ear-splitting,” shared operations manager Maniam Krishnan.

To rectify this, audio engineer Mark Jason was brought in to manage the 11 weekly acts.

“When I have the acts up here, I tend to add live effects on the fly such as adding chorus to acoustic guitar or delays for vocals. It helps enhance the performance because every song turns out different. The sound we want to achieve is that of holding a mini concert in a bar,” shared Mark.

After a speaker shootout from several distributors, Wala Wala opted for a KV2 Audio solution.

Mark enthused, “The KV2s are incredibly powerful, and what set them apart from the rest is its three-way speaker module. A lot of the other speakers are just split two, which did not give us the kind of vocal clarity we wanted. On weekends when it really packs up, that’s when I push them a little more and

“The monitors are pretty clear and loud, without sounding too sharp. The bands are a lot more controlled now that they can hear what they’re playing and the audience sitting right at the front, don’t suffer as much anymore,” he notes.

Sindo Exports also supplied an Allen & Heath GLD80 digital console to compliment the stage setup.

“Wala Wala previously had a small analogue console, but switching to digital made a lot of sense owing to the many varied genres and performers playing here. It took some getting used to, but the user interface is pretty comprehensive and intuitive. Finding stuff on the go is especially convenient now that I can create presets for each act,” adds Mark.

In fact, the bar also does live recording on the GLD80 by keeping the recordings for all the acts in their archives for further references. www.sindoexport.com www.imaginings.com.sg

Allen & Heath GLD80 digital console

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SINGAPORE

EAW drives the beat for Chopsuey Cafe Ashly KLR2000 amplifier, have been installed throughout the outdoor area to provide multi-zone fills.

“It helped to add that extra dimension to the ambience. We wanted the sound to provide a good backdrop in not only welcoming our guests but also to help with the escapism of the venue.”

– Edward Lee, PS Group Business Manager.

“We had Lubelle Rose here for the first two weeks and the sound system held up well to the live performances,” shared Edward.

“Working within a tight deadline is always a challenge that we face. However with a good team of contractors who collaborated well together and were understanding of our time constraints, that challenge was mitigated.”

L

ocated in a simplistic colonial house in Dempsey, the brand new cafe, by the PS.Cafe Group, has recently been fitted with a selection of EAW loudspeakers.

Spurred by fond memories of westernized Chinese food through time spent abroad in Chinese restaurants and hole-in-the-wall takeaways to satisfy their food cravings as hungry travelers or homesick students, partners Peter Teo and Philip Chin decided to set up Chopsuey Cafe, their first foray into Asian cuisine.

In what may be defined in a category of its own – Anglo Chinese Cuisine, Chopsuey brings together bold flavors, inspired tasty combinations, and an enthused cocktail selection.

The design of Chopsuey Cafe was inspired by the traditional black and white houses of colonial Singapore. The adaptation of the British Tudor houses to Singapore’s tropical South East Asian climate is a subtle symbolic representation of Chopsuey Cafe’s westernized treatment to traditional Chinese flavours.

For its indoor seating, local distributor Electronics and Engineering Pte Ltd (E&E) supplied the venue with EAW SMS1990 surface-mount loudspeakers and EAW CIS300 compact 2-way flush-mount ceiling speaker. A 12-inch EAW SB120ZP subwoofer catered for the low end. All speakers are driven by Ashly KLR2000 350W/CH @ 8-ohm amplifiers.

Completing the speaker line up, EAW SMS5 2-way compact loudspeakers, driven by a

Additional equipment installed at the venue includes a Symetrix Jupiter 8 digital signal processor/routing system, controlled via a Symetrix ARC-2E adaptive remote control. www.loudtechinc.com www.enepl.com.sg

WHAT’S INSTALLED? •EAW SMS1990 loudspeakers •EAW CIS300 ceiling speaker •EAW SB120ZP subwoofer •Ashly KLR2000 amplifiers •EAW SMS5 loudspeakers •Ashly KLR2000 amplifier

INSTALL March - April 2013

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SINGAPORE

MACKIE sets the mood at Tiong Bahru Bar tailored for the kind of environment that attracts TBB’s patrons, in day and night.

“TBB is a good place to chill out, an ideal after-work and night bar. A crucial part of the bar’s design is secured on the ambience of the environment and the quality of the sound is a huge part of creating that. We are very happy with the clarity and quality of sound from the system,” remarked Kaz, co-founder of TBB. www.loudtechinc.com www.enepl.com.sg

E

lectronics and Engineering Pte Ltd has recently outfitted MACKIE loudspeakers for the Tiong Bahru Bar (TBB).

Located along a stretch of vintage-evoking, old-style bakeries and industrial buildings in Seng Poh Road, the bar is a mishmash of old and new Singapore with its quaint exterior and modernized furniture.

Spanning over a size of two shophouses, TBB utilized its spacious layout to their advantage by keeping its furnishings simple.

Complementary lighting and background music were important design factors when envisioning the creation of TBB, which is essentially a restaurant during the day, and a bar by night.

TBB features a system of MACKIE C200 10inch 2-way passive loudspeakers, as well as a MACKIE SRM1801 1000W 18-inch subwoofer in the bar lounge. The systems are driven by two MACKIE FRS2800 pro-lightweight amplifiers and controlled by a MACKIE SP260 speaker processor in addition to EAW SMS5 2-way compact monitor speakers. A further MACKIE SRM350V2 10-inch 2-way powered loudspeaker provides foldback monitoring for the musicians when there are live performances.

The sleek design and professional audio quality of the MACKIE loudspeakers are a perfect match for the changing atmosphere of the bar, providing a flexible sound system

WHAT’S INSTALLED? • MACKIE C200 loudspeakers • MACKIE SRM1801 subwoofer • MACKIE FRS2800 amplifiers • MACKIE SP260 speaker processor • EAW SMS5 monitor speakers • MACKIE SRM350V2 loudspeaker

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CHINA

Club ENZO adds dynamic edge to Nanjing District The club also received a new mixing console, digital DJ mixers and brand new microphones.

This is Real Music’s second permanent installation of Adamson products in a nightclub after the recent transformation of the popular TNT Club in Xi'an, China.

Nanjing Trendsetter Entertainment Management chose to adopt the Adamson system in TNT Club as well as the Enzo Club after a shootout with the leading French and British brands. The owner of the chain of Chinese clubs has been so happy with the work done by Real Music, that they plan be outfitting their remaining six clubs with similar installations in the near future. www.adamsonsystems.com

Y

ear 1912 is known as one of the most bustling and prosperous periods in the history of Nanjing and the district carries over this historical and nostalgic background in its architecture and layout.

Built around the Presidential Palace, the commercial buildings still carry characteristics of the Republic of China over a century later.

Nanjing’s popularity is rooted in its vibrant nightlife, trendy shops and restaurants – wtih Club Enzo being its latest addition.

Club Enzo was designed and architecturally constructed with high caliber dance music in mind. Adamson products were chosen due to their effectiveness and performance, and installed as a distributed system.

The large installation features Adamson products exclusively; namely 16 units of M212 and 42 units of passive Point 15-P hanging above the dance floors and lounge area, with at least two direct sound points on every seat in the building.

The low end extension is covered by 32 flown Point 215 subs, with six extremely powerful Adamson T21 subs placed strategically, blasting out 6000 watts of bass. The goal was to ensure that they could push the limits, with a max SPL level at a whopping 130dB, all while maintaining a ±3dB uniformity throughout the venue.

“Now Club Enzo has the most dynamic sound in the Nanjing District,” Performance director Wu proudly acclaimed.

The design and installation was independently designed by Real Music Acoustic & Lighting Technology Co. Ltd, who is the exclusive distributor for Adamson Products in China, Hong Kong and Macao.

Real Music chose to pair the Adamson speakers with the CAMCO Vortex series of amplifiers and the APEX Intelli-X248 audio processor.

“There are 24 DSP channels in three APEX Intelli-X248, with M212’s divided into two groups which take four channels; the 42 Point 15-P’s take 12 channels, Point 215 Sub take the remaining 8 channels,” shared Real Music’s Wang Zhen.

No details were left unaddressed as Real Music ensured that the M212 and Point 15-P speakers RAL colour matched the aesthetics of the venue.

The upgrade also included large LED Video screens, in the form of pillars around the dance floor, which can project both video and patterns, dazzling LED wash lights, moving lights and a telescopic dance stage.

AT A GLANCE Design and installation: Real Music Acoustic & Lighting Technology Co. Ltd • Adamson M212 stage monitors • Adamson Point 15-P two-way enclosure loudspeakers • CAMCO Vortex amplifiers • Adamson Point 215 subwoofers • Adamson T21 subwoofers • APEX Intelli-X248 audio processor

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AUSTRALIA

Meyer Sound anchors Melbourne’s Hamer Hall

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ollowing a two-year, $136-million inside-out redevelopment, Australia’s Arts Centre Melbourne reopened its Hamer Hall with one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most sophisticated Meyer Sound systems.

According to Nick Carroll, operations manager for sound at Arts Centre Melbourne, the combination of CAL and other Meyer Sound loudspeakers neatly fulfills both the hall’s sound system design and acoustical requirements.

Featuring the advanced precision beam steering technology in the CAL column array loudspeaker, Hamer Hall is now outfitted with 147 self-powered Meyer Sound loudspeakers operating in three modes tailored to different acoustic and amplified events.

“We have small Meyer Sound MINA arrays tucked away behind grilles for use with some amplified events,” he says.

Inside the 2,464-seater Hamer Hall, two CAL 64 column array loudspeakers provide exceptional intelligibility without exciting reflective surfaces. These slender columns handle both emergency voice alerts and any speech applications with orchestral concerts, such as narration or comments from the conductor.

“For orchestral concerts, the MINAs are not used and a solid wooden door slides in front of them. The adjoining CALs then cover the stalls and many of the upper seats without hitting the balcony front.”

In Hamer Hall, the CAL systems are utilized in two modes. For limited voice announcement and voice alert, the CAL beams have a 30-degree spread and are

aimed 12 degrees up. When used with the drop-down center cluster for conductor comments or narration, the CAL loudspeakers have a 15-degree spread aimed one degree down.

These modes are activated through presets in the hall’s extensive control and distribution system based on the D-Mitri digital audio platform.

“The frequency and phase response are extremely flat, and the level difference between the front and the rear of the stalls is minimal to the point of amazement,” shared Carroll.

While the CAL loudspeakers are always available, the setup for amplified pop and rock events remains stowed above the louvered stage ceiling and drops down only when needed.

The main system comprises left and right flown arrays of nine MILO line array loudspeakers and one 700-HP subwoofer; a center cluster of eight MINA line array loudspeakers; and four balcony delays each with six M’elodie line array loudspeakers and a single 500-HP subwoofer.

Five M’elodie loudspeakers and two 700-HP subwoofers supply wide-stall coverage for each side.

For modest music amplification with the main arrays stowed, the six MINA loudspeakers and one 700-HP hidden in each lower niche are augmented by four MINA loudspeakers in the upper niches on each side.

Rounding out the system are 20 UPM-1P and two UPM-2P loudspeakers under the balcony and circle; and three front-fill systems to accommodate stage extension and event modes: 15 MM-4 loudspeakers in “pit down” mode, eight UP-4XP 48 V loudspeakers in acoustic mode, and eight M1D line array loudspeakers in full concert mode.

The entire system is driven using the D-Mitri digital audio platform with 12 processing and I/O units, offering a total of 102 outputs. FOH and monitor consoles are DiGiCo SD7 with dual engines to run in mirror mode.

Lead sound system consultant for the Hamer Hall project was John Alekna of Marshall Day Acoustics. www.meyersound.com

AT A GLANCE Consultant: Marshall Day Acoustics • CAL 64 column array loudspeakers • MILO line array loudspeakers • Meyer Sound 700-HP subwoofer • MINA line array loudspeakers • M’elodie line array loudspeakers • Meyer Sound 500-HP subwoofer • Meyer Sound D-Mitri digital audio platform • DiGiCo SD7 digital console

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INSTALL March - April 2013

INDONESIA

The VELVET Bali at Kuta Beach

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ELVET Bali, a thriving restaurant and entertainment lounge located on the third floor terrace of the beachwalk, is a welcoming stopover for offshore breezes, a breathtaking view and good music to relax the soul.

A part of Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort, beachwalk is a retail and lifestyle-centered complex that embraces the Balinese art and culture through its sunny open-air environment. It is located along Jalan Pantai Kuta, overlooking the Indian Ocean in front of Bali’s famous Kuta Beach.

Architecturally inspired by the gentle contours of the rice terraces, it features an eco-friendly, low-rise design that is characterized by a traditional alang-alang thatched roof, recycled hardwoods, and an open-air walkway.

At VELVET, the outdoor dining deck offers a coastal dining feel with its integration of

open spaces filled with tropical plants and spacious, modernistic furniture. Splashes of colours are also accented through the creative use of LED lights strategically placed on the pillars, which help deflect the lights towards the white sheltered roof and the indoor glass windows.

Adding to the dining experience is chef, Peter Jozef. Specially flown in from London, Jozef is a veteran with a list of accolades attached to his name. His menu boasts some of the finest tastes of the world.

As the sky darkens, VELVET's front slowly morphs into an exotic entertainment lounge, sporting vibrant hues of purple and blue attuning to the lively beats of Singapore disc jockey, OURKID. Contracted to provide the lighting design, Singaporean Jakarta-based concert specialist, Bernard Chew deployed a huge number of outdoor LED Lighting fixtures. Bernard

worked closely together with the LED Specialists from GLP German Light Products in Hong Kong to find the best suitable solution for the venue. This resulted in a stunning set-up of about 70 LED Fixtures. All of them designed for permanent Outdoor use. Including 52 units Underwater Power Spots for the water area.

The LED fixtures are all controlled individually over DMX by KAPEGO LED Dimmer 3 & 4 and powered by high Quality IP65 PSUs - all supplied by GLP German Light Products Asia Ltd. “Changing the face of Kuta Beach is no easy task. It takes fortitude and understanding of the current market, so targeting an affluent audience can be a challenge,” shared Bernard.

This reinforces the crucial role that lighting plays at VELVET – to set the mood from the moment people enter the venue. The lights help add complexity and excitement through its delicate colour changes and intrinsic colour bumps, thus creating a pleasant and warm atmosphere that is true to Bali’s nature.

He asserts, “VELVET plans to fly in different forms of entertainment ranging from live acts to top DJs. People want to escape from reality when they go out and this new concept will be the reality within an unreal venue.”

All lighting is contolled via a MA Lighting PC command wing and fader wing, together with a MA Lighting 2Port node Pro. Having worked with celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, David Foster and many others, Bernard specializes in lighting entertainment and is a lighting consultant and designer at BLD Lighting Production.

Prior to that, he was a bartender working at Thanks God It’s Friday in Singapore.

AT A GLANCE

www.vhbali.com

VELVET owner Pak LIM WS, with Bernard Chew

Owners: Pak LIM WS and Pak Ardhy Aldimoro Lighting consultant and design: BLD Lighting Production

VELVET owner Pak Ardhy Aldimoro, with Bernard Chew

• GLP / KAPEGO IP65 RGBW Outdoor Scenic Lighting Fixtures • GLP / KAPEGO LED Dimmer 4 • GLP / KAPEGO IP68 RGB Underwater Power Spots • GLP / KAPEGO LED Dimmer 3 • MA Lighting PC command wing and fader wing • MA Lighting 2Port node Pro

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INSTALL March - April 2013

SOUTH KOREA

d&b dreams of whale song in Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea

ambisonics principle, the source was placed inside the virtual sound system emulation.

The controller system knows the location and orientation of every loudspeaker within the installed system so creates and routes the calculated signal via multiple channels to the respective loudspeakers. This allows the individual visitor in the listening area to localise the generated sound source independently of his or her actual position.

This achieves an accurate imaging of both the visible and audible content independent of the listener's position, which meets exactly the requirements for this project."

T

he International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012 opened for visitors on May 12th, which ran for 93 days and attracted between one to two hundred thousand visitors a day. The Dreaming Whale sequence at the Expo Digital Gallery (EDG) invited visitors to participate in an interactive program and upload their own images onto the screen. The result was over one million pictures were sent in by over three million visitors to the EDG.

The Digital Gallery, all two hundred and eighteen by thirty metres of it, houses one of the biggest video screens in the world to present virtual and digital arts in large format. Running along the entire arched ceiling, the images present visitors with panoramic experiences from world famous beaches and other oceanic delights: floating icebergs; sea birds flying over and through the hallway; waves and whales moving rhythmically across the vista.

A critical element involved for the experience was the sound, the echoing, womb like sound of whale song envelopes the visitor, while drawing their eyes up to absorb the vision high above them, completes the experience at the interactive gallery. However,not just any sound would do, sound designers Charles de Meaux, and Thierry Coduys, wanted to create a seamless 3D sonic feeling throughout the Expo Digital Gallery Pavilion at the 2012 World Expo located at Yeosu, South Korea.

Rather than simply aim for a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound solution, de Meaux and Coduys wanted to create a 3D spherical sound field in the centre of the pavilion so Cousyn's design objective was centred on achieving a holophonic PA system using an ambisonics algorithm.

Its theme of 'The Living Ocean and Coast' was reflected both in its natural setting and its technically ambitious pavilions spread over a vast two hundred and fifty square metre site. Any audio installation would have to be ambitious, creative and innovative to successfully compete with the dexterous technology on display and with this in mind, they turned to Xavier Cousyn at d&b audiotechnik in France.

Tim Frühwirth, from Education and Application Support at the d&b audiotechnik headquarters in Backnang, Germany, elaborates: "The big difference between a holophonic PA system when compared to a normal 5.1 surround system, where you have to place both the loudspeakers and the listeners in a given predefined setup, is the general 'independent factor' of sources and loudspeakers; the accurate imaging for the listener would only be experienced at the central position or sweet-spot. Using standard technology in a pavilion like the EDG where listeners are frequently passing by, the artists' expectations and the d&b philosophy of 'democracy for all listeners' wouldn't be achieved at all. Following the

Back at d&b audiotechnik in Backnang, a system of E12-D loudspeakers, picked for their wide horizontal dispersion of 110 degrees, were the most appropriate for an ambisonic or holophonic audio solution alongside supporting Qi-SUBS which were painted up in the Special Colour (SC) option of light grey to blend into the background.

Together with the relevant D12 amplifiers, the loudspeakers were shipped to d&b South Korea in Seoul.

Although the system was designed in France and shipped from Germany, it was SeongJong Choi and Sun-Jung Kim from d&b in South Korea who installed and tuned the system with support from Frühwirth, to say the least, this was a truly international effort.

The loudspeaker system was hung using eight pillars distributed in an elliptical shape around the area of the EDG Pavilion with a diagonal diameter of nearly sixty metres from the first to last pillar. Each pillar was rigged with E12-D loudspeakers mounted on three different vertical levels between four and fifteen metres in height and with one Qi-SUB which was mounted between the first and the second level. Each cabinet was driven by an individual D12 amplifier channel so that the positioning tool chosen by the original designers Coduys and de Meaux, the 'IANNIX' Software, could create a spatial sound field.

Frühwirth concludes, “With this d&b audiotechnik installation, every listener gets to hear the whole picture; that sweet-spot is expanded to include any number of visitors." www.dbaudio.com

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94

Management Perspective March - April 2013

Q&A with Blake Augsburger, Executive Vice President of Harman International ETA: Harman offers the full audio chain solution. In your opinion is there any aspect that you feel is missing and that needs to be included? If so, what would that be?

Blake: We truly feel that we have worldclass components for each step in the signal chain, for every application, including live sound, installed sound, broadcast, recording or portable PA. When it comes to providing complete audio solutions, HARMAN’s priority is to continue building on the innovations found in each of its brands’ products, in order to keep our customers on the bleeding edge of technology, so that they can best serve the needs of their customers.

That said, we just acquired Martin Lighting and are exploring ways to integrate aspects of that business into the HARMAN Professional audio business and vice-versa.

If we can cross-pollinate some ideas, best practices and business relationships, it could be very powerful to our offerings for the customer.

Also, getting back to your original question, I spend a considerable amount of my time on examining acquisition opportunities. We do have a clear strategy in mind and I have made no secret of HARMAN’s intent to bring more video technologies to our ecosystem. When the right opportunity presents itself, we’ll be prepared to act decisively because we are well-prepared and know the landscape in deep detail.

Harman caught many off guard with their recent acquisition of Martin Professional Lighting. It will be interesting to see how this relationship is developed. Regardless of this acquisition Harman has taken a progressive approach in all aspects of its business, over the last few years. There has also been significant developments in the Asian region for Harman. ETA talks to Blake Augsburger, Executive Vice President of Harman International who also holds the appointment of President, Harman Professional on where the company is heading and about its plans in Asia.

ETA: Out of curiosity, did the release of the Soundcraft SI (with integrated lighting control) prior to the purchase announcement have anything to do with the purchase business?

Blake: While the DMX capability in Soundcraft ’s Si Performer line does make it the first series of consoles to incorporate lighting control, this was a product developed to address the needs in the market, particularly in applications such as small clubs and houses of worship, where a single engineer is often tasked with handling the sound and lighting systems. This was a trend that we identified in the marketplace and as such, we would have developed the Si Performer line regardless of our acquisition plans but it dovetails nicely with the acquisition of Martin Professional.

“On a product level, I expect powered loudspeakers to gain market share, mixing consoles to become more affordable and easier to use, amplifiers become more compact but more powerful—not to mention the growing importance of software in all product categories...”

I would say that both developments stem from our strategy to address the market shift towards confluence of lighting, audio and video in a unified approach to systems integration.

ETA: Starting from the financial crisis of 2008, how has Harman fared over the last few years? Our understanding is that it has fared better than expected.

Blake: I’d like to think that HARMAN Professional’s growth has exceeded everyone’s expectations but our own!

HARMAN Professional is now a global organization deploying a Best Cost Country approach to R&D and manufacturing; we have a strong global sales organization; an excellent approach to emerging markets, especially in the BRIC countries; we have deployed a new IT/ERP system for better efficiencies and a new product development platform to speed our time to market and accelerate the rate of new product introductions but we’ll continue to look at all aspects of our business — and who we do business with — to make this a better business and serve our customers more effectively.

ETA: In which of its business entities has Harman seen the most growth?

Blake: We have seen tremendous growth in all of our core markets, from tour sound to installed sound to recording and broadcast, and are now broadening our scope to develop application-specific solutions that address a variety of “non-traditional” vertical markets. These markets include, but are not limited to, theme parks, hospitality, transportation, healthcare and education.

ETA: Being an Asia based magazine we are curious as to how Asia has performed for Harman in terms of business?

Blake: The Asia market has been incredibly successful for us and I credit HARMAN’s Best Cost Country approach, which allows us to quickly and comprehensively address the opportunities in each region and to serve the customers in the region with the attention to detail of a local vendor. A perfect example of this approach is our line of KTV products, which we have developed exclusively for Asia.

The Asia market continues to hold tremendous opportunity for us and even within Asia, HARMAN is paying strong attention to the differences in demand and opportunity between individual countries in Asia, which explains our deployment of localized offices in several different countries throughout the region.

ETA: The setting up of Harman Asia in Malaysia, the offices in China and of course the setting up of Harman India and direct distribution in India seems to indicate a heavy emphasis on Asia. Your comments on this. Also are there further expansion plans in Asia?

Blake: Asia is a massive region that poses a unique and diverse combination of opportunities for us and it’s our responsibility to provide the resources, facilities and personnel that the region demands. The immediate of a direct distribution model in India follows an extensive investment by HARMAN Professional in India-based R&D, operations sales and support and reflects our determination to serve customers with the best products, the best programs and the most appropriate channel strategy for each region. Having invested so much time and resources into developing a strong product offering for the India market, we are determined that as many potential customers as possible get access to this winning lineup.

Our distribution strategy is to act as the market dictates and, in doing so, to provide a broad array of professional customers with the best possible systems and support. As for further expansion, we are prepared and willing to evolve our strategy in Asia as the demands of the region dictate. Ensuring that we are appropriately addressing the needs of all regions is the foundation of HARMAN’s global approach.

ETA: Are there any value adds Harman has brought or intends to bring to the industry in terms of training, certifications, etc?

Blake: Training and education are cornerstones of HARMAN’s business and we are investing more resources than ever to providing valuable, onsite training to our customers and channel partners.

Anyone interested in attending HARMAN’s educational/training programs should contact their local distributor to find out what we have scheduled for their region in the near future.

ETA: Finally are there any exciting tie-ups or further possible purchases that you can reveal to us?

Blake: In the audio space, rather than just acquiring new technologies, you can expect to see HARMAN continue to evolve technologies of its own. We have invested heavily in R&D centers across the globe — but especially so in Asia — and also invested in a new product development platform that will allow us to push new products out at a faster rate but to maintain the quality and innovation levels at the same high standards.

On a product level, I expect powered loudspeakers to gain market share, mixing consoles to become more affordable and easier to use (as evidenced by the stunning new Soundcraft Expression), amplifiers become more compact but more powerful— not to mention the growing importance of software in all product categories—HARMAN is at the forefront of these component-level technology shifts and system-level advances for configuration and control. We will also continue to develop localized solutions to address the specific applications and needs of specific geographic regions and systems integration in Asia is at the forefront of our to-do list! www.harman.com

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THE LAST PAGE March - April 2013

Steve Nield Lighting Designer For our March-April issue, we asked some of you in the rental and staging industry to let us know the most memorable aspect of your work so far. While we received some very good (and funny?) responses, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to share lighting designer, Steve Nields' experience in Cambodia. Read on, we're sure you'll understand why. Also you will notice that we have taken up more than the Last Page for this contribution, so we know it is a misnomer to call it The Last Page...it should be The Last Pages. Enjoy!

When asked this question I had to think long and hard to find an answer that would be applicable, appropriate and acceptable for publication. After nearly three decades in this industry, I have been fortunate enough to have worked on some truly amazing projects with equally amazing people all over the world. Trying to single out just one as the most memorable proved to be a bit difficult, so I decided to raid my photo albums both digital and analogue. I had set aside a couple of hours to sift through the thousands of photographs but instead, ended up spending the better part of the day lost in memories, finally I managed to get down to a few of what I would call the most unforgettable projects of my career so far. I set out determined not to get carried away and start writing paragraph after paragraph commencing with “and then there was the time when…..”, when I remembered that I

was in fact only supposed to be writing about one memorable moment. Which one was it going to be? The highly confidential and private lighting and projection project that I couldn't talk about? The outrageous lingerie show where five days were spent locked in a film studio being made to watch models wearing things that are too inappropriate for publication walk up and down a catwalk? I did consider writing about my time working for the Royal Opera house in London but soon realized that would run in to pages and pages of text and decided to save it for a book.

All the time I was looking through images, I knew that at the back of my mind there really was only one project to talk about and that was a performance by Jose Carreras in 2002 at the Angkor Watt temple in Cambodia.

I was commissioned by the Raffles Hotel group to provide lighting & production design for a concert with world renowned tenor Mr. Jose Carreras, who was to perform at the temple of Angkor Watt to a select audience of one thousand people, many of which would be arriving by their own private jets.

Upon seeing the Angkor temple for the very first time, I was left speechless, seriously my jaw dropped and kept on dropping! I was previously aware of Angkor and had done a little research in preparation for my trip but no amount of photos and text can truly express its grandeur and impressiveness. You can apply pretty much any word you like and it will not do Angkor Watt justice, you just have to go there and see for yourself.

I had been truly bitten by the Angkor Watt Bug during my time in Cambodia. My fascination with the history of Angkor grew

From the first moment we had lighting powered up, I knew that we would have a insect problem, then as the nights went by I realized that it was not so much of a problem but more of a nightmare. There was lighting equipment all over the place, on just about every level of the temple, with some 842 lights requiring some 7.2 kilometres of cable.

The problem here was that all of a sudden, for the first time probably ever, the temple was throwing beams of light out in to the night sky of the jungle, to focus the light the guys were having to hold their breath and run up to the light focusing it as rapidly as they could then making a hasty retreat while trying to get the stray bugs out of their shorts!! I really am not joking, after our first nights of lighting focus, upon my return to the hotel I undressed for a shower only to have a swarm of dead insects fall out of my underpants!!! Trust me its not nice.

and so did my passion for the impending concert, this was no ordinary show. The Legacy of the Khmer people and Mr. Carerras deserved something very special and I was determined to deliver it. On my initial visit I had taken some rough measurements but during my research I had come across the construction technique used by the Khmer builders that also explained the units they used for distance. I made some estimations based upon the old units of measurement from books and when I returned for my second site visit, I was pleasantly surprised to find that that dimensions devised from these books were not just accurate, they were very, very accurate. How is it that King Suryavaraman II and his team of builders managed to build something so accurate in the early 12th century and here in 2013 some people find it hard to hang a truss in the right place?!

Of the many complications that were soon to follow, one was that the local stage builder in Cambodia. He did not use 8’x4’ ply but instead, used and re-used teak planks similar to those found in solid wood floors but thicker. It turned out that his preference for the planks was because, at that time, plywood was only available through import making it heavily taxed and therefore cheaper to have a huge audience platform and stage finished in teak!

I can without a doubt say it was the hardest project I have ever worked on but what would you expect trying to put on a show for a world class tenor in the jungle of Cambodia.

So we started work on-site and from the

word “GO” we were up against everything, if it was not one thing it was another, suppliers, power, weather, transport, freight, you name it. Every time we managed to open a door another one slammed shut in our faces, to say that the initial days in Angkor were somewhat challenging would be an understatement.

Generators, as usual, were needed to supply electricity to just about everything for the show. Be that as it may, when the Khmer people constructed the temple some 900 years ago, they neglected to put in vast amounts of power points that this project needed. We were never clear on exactly what make of generators we were going to get as everything was being supplied locally.

We did, however, know what we would have liked, bared no resemblance to what we got.

For starters what we were supplied with was put in the wrong place. They should have been positioned around the south side of the temple complex, the reality was that they were both in sight and creating a deep rumble that could be heard way above the noise of the crickets. After a couple of days of pretending that the problem might go away or that the crickets may sing loud enough to obscure the noise of the generators, the decision was finally made to move them to the position that we had originally specified.

During the first orchestra rehearsal, the conductor got the Singapore symphony orchestra going in full swing when a cicada in a near by tree decided to join in with the tunes. The conductor stopped the rehearsal and over the mic rather firmly demanded silence from what he thought were disrespectful workmen drilling, unaware that the disturbance was in fact caused by nature.

The guys with the unluckiest jobs had to be follow spot operators who, during rehearsals, were hanging on to 3Kw Gladiator atop of 30 meter towers powerless to run away from the swarms of bugs that flew all around them. All they could do was to hang on tight and apply lashings of repellant and wear goggles and towels around their heads. Their show call was four hours and although I cannot remember their names, I will always remember the great job they did under what have to be the most insane conditions for a spot operator.

It had always been part of the plot to have elephants in the show to add to the grandeur and magnificence of the event. Originally they were supposed to number in the 20's then it was determined that many of them were slightly epileptic and were not suited to large crowds, bright lights and orchestras.

This being the case we dropped down to only two which was not really as grand but would still add some exotic flavour to the evening.

“How is it that King Suryavaraman II and his team of builders managed to build something so accurate in the early 12th century and here in 2013 some people find it hard to hang a truss in the right place?!”

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THE LAST PAGE March - April 2013

“After a couple of days of pretending that the problem might go away or that the crickets may sing loud enough to obscure the noise of the generators, the decision was finally made to move them to the position that we had originally specified.”

Getting ready for the setup

Crickets and bugs were all part of the show issues.

Finally, It was show day and there was a complete buzz in the air, security had gone from tight to so tight that the insects could not get in. The sun was setting and the first few guests were seated at their tables, not being someone who normally gets overly nervous before a show I was starting to feel a little uneasy about the growing thunder clouds in the distance which appeared to be moving in our direction. We were at about eighty percent capacity for the audience when a very light rain was felt, prompting the guests to put on raincoats provided by the organizer. It was a moment that I will not forget, it looked as if we were about to lose the show that so many of us had worked so hard on.

thunderclouds remained spitting out bolts of lightning around the venue creating a surreal moment and some pretty awesome photographs. It really did look like a scene from Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom. The clouds left and what can only be described as a beautiful evening followed.

gratitude to me for what I had done for Angkor Watt. Through the translator, they spoke telling me that my work had made the temple shine in the night sky like never before and how they would like to thank me on behalf of the people of Cambodia and their ancestors.

The show kicked off with the Royal Cambodian Ballet who performed a truly spectacular cultural performance, Mr. Carreras delivered, as always, an amazing performance worthy of his backdrop accompanied by the Singapore Symphony orchestra. The audience were in awe and showed their appreciation generously through applause and calls for more.

I look back upon this project with great fondness, as the experience was truly an awesome one. I have had other moments in my career that stick out but nothing will ever come close to my experience at Angkor Watt.

I had invested so much time and passion in this project I was overwhelmed by a sense of imminent catastrophe and to some extent failure. Thankfully the rain, if you can call it that, stopped almost immediately but the

Then a strange thing happened. One of the translators for the dance company walked over talk to me accompanied by two of the saffron robe-wearing monks who lived in the temple. Initially I just thought they were part of the crowd but it turned out that the two monks were senior guardians of the temple and wanted to convey their personal

Steve Nield has been associated with the professional lighting & production design field for the past twenty five years. His philosophy and extensive technical knowledge, brings Lighting, Laser, Video production and Stage Design together into a closely-related 'family' of production. Steve’s great skill and creativity then comes into play as he choreographs his 'family' into a coherently integrated whole, producing events of world class quality. He is regarded by many as the most "in demand" Lighting Designer in the Asia Pacific region today. www.stevenield.com

“Upon seeing the Angkor temple for the very first time, I was left speechless, seriously my jaw dropped and kept on dropping!”

www.dasaudio.com

D.A.S. Audio, S.A. C/ Islas Baleares, 24 46988 Fuente del Jarro Valencia - Spain Tel. +34 961 340 860 sales@dasaudio.com

D.A.S. Audio of America, Inc. Sunset Palmetto Park 6816 NW 77TH Court Miami, FL. 3166 - U.S.A. Toll Free - 1-888-DAS 4 USA jvillegas@dasaudio.com

D.A.S. Audio Asia PTE. LTD. 25 Kaki Bukit Crescent #01-00/02-00 Kaki Bukit Techpark, 1 Singapore 416256 Tel. +65 6742 0151 jlgarcia@dasaudio.com