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UAE’s 45th National Day Celebration Stages Massive Video Projection PROJECTS: Esplanade Upgrades To Shure Axient Wireless Management Network NEWS: UnUsUaL Productions Upgrades Inventory With L-Acoustics K2 EXHIBITION REVIEW: PLS Guangzhou
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04 FIRST WORDS 06 NEWS 37 VIDEO FILES 38 ENNOVATIONS EXHIBITION PREVIEW 48 BroadcastAsia 2017 EXHIBITION REVIEW 52 Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2017 PROJECTS 56 CHINA: NEXO STM Debuts At New Chinese Mega Club 58 DUBAI: Laservision Attraction, IMAGINE, Recognised As A World Record!
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LIVE 67 CHINA: D.A.S. Sound Systems Create The Perfect Storm At The Budweiser STORM Festival 68 DUBAI: Maestra Grooves On The Grass 70 CHINA: Immersive Staging Of China’s “Xi’an Incident” 72 SAUDI ARABIA: Protec’s Rapid Reaction To Inauguration In Jubail 75 UAE: UAE’s 45th National Day Celebration Stages Massive Video Projection 79 EVENTS LISTING
60 SINGAPORE: Esplanade Upgrades To Shure Axient Wireless Management Network 62 INDIA: Shizusan Shophouse & Bar Concedes The Perfect Chill-Out Vibe With Wharfedale 64 DUBAI: Digital Projection Fires Up Dubai’s City Walk 66 CHINA: Nanjing Hotspot OLA Live House Features D.A.S. Sound System
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The battle of trade exhibitions in China seem to be coming into a clearer perspective. There is no doubt that Prolight + Sound Guangzhou has started to create a big impact. The 15th edition featured its largest show floor space thus far, with an increase of 8.1% surge in visitors compared to last year, with many international visitors attending the exhibition. If there is one negative comment that I heard about PL+S Guangzhou is that this year there was lax control in audio being blasted within the halls that made it difficult for people to have a conversation. I hope the organisers will put in extra effort to control this.
Ram Bhavanashi Editor, India And Middle East ram@spinworkz.com
Julie Tan Admin & Circulation admin@spinworkz.com
The GET Show organised by the local Association has also made an impact and also sees international visitors. The difference between the two shows, seems to indicate that PL+S Guangzhou has more of an audio focus with GET’s focus more on lighting. For many visitors it has been great that the show dates are close to each other because well “you can kill two birds with one stone”. However, next year will throw a curve ball to exhibitors and visitors. Due to Chinese New Year being celebrated closer to the end of February, both shows will have to move their show dates. Though I have not been officially informed, there are suggestions that PL+S Guangzhou will be moved to May. GET organisers from what I understand are waiting to see when PL+S Frankfurt will be held before they make their decision. PL+S Frankfurt may move as well due to Good Friday.
Jimmy Chin Design And Production jimmy@spinworkz.com
Natalie Chew Writer natalie@spinworkz.com
Our wish is that PL+S Guangzhou and GET are still held close to each others dates as it really helps the visitors. So, this brings us to the PALM Beijing Exhibition. A few years back, it was the MUST Show to attend but a number of unfortunate situations, such as the different venue, has made it difficult for the exhibition to become a recognised force again. To be fair, we will need to wait to see the outcome of this year’s edition. As for PL+S Shanghai, I will reserve my comment as I have not been to the show personally, but my feel is that it attracts the local crowd more.
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Disclaimer Entertainment Technology Asia is published 12 times a year. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine is to be reproduced, whether mechanical or electronic without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the publisher. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but the editor reserves the discretion to use them. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies. Please be informed that products and company names mentioned in this publication may be protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Our non inclusion of such symbols is not an indication of us not recognising the copyright but rather to have a common look across our articles. Misuse of tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks is strictly prohibited. It is the obligation of our readers to check if company names and products are protected with tradenames, trademarks or registered trademarks.
35 Years xy
d&b is 35. Kay is d&b.
Kay Lange is Chief Finance Officer at d&b. He’s been on board since 1986. “d&b is like my baby – which has grown up while I wasn’t looking. It’s a huge part of my life. And now… I feel a particular kind of pride that the company is able to feed four hundred families.” In 35 years d&b has evolved from a small garage venture to a worldwide standard in professional sound systems. It’s people like Kay who make this story possible, and just that bit different from the rest.
Welcome to System reality.
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UnUsUaL Productions Upgrades Speaker Inventory With L-Acoustics K2 line Source Array System
The L-Acoustics systems put to work at the recent Jacky Cheung concert in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Sennheiser Electronic Asia recently closed its latest L-Acoustics K2 line array system deal in Singapore to UnUsUaL Productions (“UnUsUaL”), member of UnUsUaL Limited. UnUsUaL is a leading equipment provider for large-scale local and international events in the region and maintains one of the largest technical inventories in Singapore. The first batch of the new speaker system was delivered and employed for use in a series of concerts spearheaded by UnUsUaL in February, including the recent live performance of Jacky Cheung, Hong Kong music superstar and long-time user of Sennheiser microphones, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The new sale features a system consisting of a full L-Acoustics line array, with a total of 84 K2 large-format WST line source speakers, 24 cabinets KS28 subwoofers with the option to increase another 12 K2, 24 KS28, 24 K1-SB flyable high power subwoofers, as well as 24 X15 HiQ reference stage monitors. UnUsUaL is the first rental
Vince Tan of Sennheiser Electronic Asia with Johnny One of UnUsUaL Productions
company in Southeast Asia to own the newly launched L-Acoustics KS28 reference subwoofers. UnUsUaL provides audio, staging, lighting, video design and technical solutions for a diverse range of small to large scale events including music festivals and the Singapore Grand Prix. Johnny Ong, Executive Director of UnUsUaL Productions, commented on the system purchase, “Considering our working relationship that has lasted over 20 years, as well as the continued support from Sennheiser Asia and L-Acoustics, it was an easy decision for us to make this purchase.” www.sennheiser.com www.unusual.com.sg
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Shure Expands Wireless System Integration With Yamaha Consoles INTERNATIONAL: Shure has announced expanded integration between its Axient, ULX-D, and QLX-D wireless microphone systems and Yamaha CL and QL series mixing consoles. With Yamaha’s firmware version 4.1, sound engineers can monitor and control key features of these premium wireless systems from the mix position during a show. This delivers a significantly-enhanced working environment and an impressive degree of system integration between the components that audio professionals use for the most challenging live events. Sound engineers can discover connected wireless systems; identify and map each system to the desired input channel; monitor transmitter battery status, RF, and audio signal level; and adjust receiver audio output level when Shure AXT400, QLXD4, or ULXD4 digital receivers are connected to the same network as a Yamaha CL or QL series console. With Axient wireless systems, transmitter input gain can even be controlled remotely from the mixing console through the ShowLink Access Point. “Wireless microphones increasingly form the foundation of live shows, but they add critical operating parameters
that wired microphones don’t have,” said Rob Fuhlbrugge, Senior Director of Engineering and Product Development at Shure. “This new level of integration between Shure wireless systems and Yamaha mixing consoles puts wired and wireless sources into the same context. By enabling sound engineers to monitor and control a wireless channel as part of the same workflow as wired microphones, the technical differences between them become virtually transparent.” The enhanced capabilities are the result of collaboration between engineering teams at Shure and Yamaha that has been ongoing for several years. Previous firmware releases enabled CL series consoles to control discovery and patching for Shure ULXD4D and ULXD4Q receivers from the CL console touch panel displays, without the need for Dante Controller PC software. Today’s announcement signals a dramatic expansion of these capabilities and their extension to non-Dante equipped Shure wireless systems. www.shure.com www.yamahaproaudio.com
Allen & Heath Strengthens APAC Team APAC: Allen & Heath has strengthened its team in the Asia Pacific region with the appointment of technical marketing director, Chris Pyne. Born in Australia, Pyne has three decades of experience in the pro touring and event industry as sound engineer for artists including Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Lopez, Il Divo, Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Westlife, and the Asian artists Jacky Chueng and Chueng Hui-Mei. Pyne also has extensive live and studio recording experience. Most recently, Pyne has worked in a technical training and support role at Martin Audio.
Pyne will be providing technical expertise and training via Allen & Heath’s partner network, as well as supporting the growing community of touring engineers and rental companies in the region who have adopted Allen & Heath digital systems. “With our digital mixing systems gaining great momentum in Asia and the Pacific region, this is the perfect time to strengthen our presence in this key market,” explains Allen & Heath’s sales & marketing director, Christian Luecke. “With his experience and knowledge, Chris will make a dynamic contribution and deliver world class support to our customers and partners.” www.allen-heath.com www.chrislivesound.com
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Large Robe Investment In Qatar
L-R: Lighting operator Joselito Del R Tablanza, Dion Da Costa - Head of Lighting at IAC-Qatar, Steve Eastham - International Customer Support from Robe lighting, and Angelito Miguel (lighting operator)
QATAR: AL ISTEKLAL IAC-QATAR is a busy rental and technical production company based in the vibrant Middle East cultural hub of Qatar … that has just taken delivery of 148 x Robe moving lights to boost their current rental stock.
He also explains that they continued to choose Robe for several reasons, a major one being because the brand is now stipulated on most of the important technical specifications and riders coming their way. “It’s definitely the best and most popular moving light brand right now”.
AL ISTEKLAL was founded in 2004 by Akram Hamada to supply premium lighting, sound and AV packages – together with staging, rigging, trussing and all associated infrastructure - to a wide range of clients in the Qatari market The scope of their work encompasses concerts, festivals, live events and spectaculars, television and theatre productions, corporate events and product launches as well as multi-sector fixed installations.
Additionally, they think Robe products are well thought-out and engineered with excellent features as well as being suitably priced.
They now service over 100 diverse and varied shows and events annually, and have built a reputation for great standards of excellence, experience and being able to offer a proper “full production” solution that is delivered with imagination, flair and efficiency to all clients. The first investment in Robe started in 2012 with the purchase of 24 x LEDWash 600s and this was followed by another 24 x LED Wash 600s, 24 x Pointes & 24 x LEDBeam 100s. The newest fixtures - 48 x Pointes, 36 x LEDWash 600s and 64 x LEDBeam100s - were supplied by Robe Middle East. “These three models of luminaire all complement each other very well on one hand … and are also all extremely good in their own right for specific tasks,” commented AL ISTEKLAL Project & Sales Manager, Elie Salameh.
On top of that, there is the excellent support from Elie Battah and his team at Robe Middle East, which is headquartered in Dubai. “The service is amazing, very fast, totally professional and very knowledgeable – from the sales through to the technical and everyone you encounter in the company,” underlines Elie. The Qatari market is currently buoyant for AL ISTEKLAL who undertake a lot of high profile government projects and have built up a good base of regular and loyal clients as well as fixed installations in a selection of hotels, clubs and theatres. Recent projects include the Chi Al Shaqab Equestrian Championship which they have serviced with technical production since 2013, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Qatar Summer Festival which they have delivered for the past three years as well as Qatar National Day in 2015 and 2016 and the Qatar Exxon Mobile Tennis Championship last year. www.robe.cz
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Gateway Entertainment Chooses Clear-Com Intercom For Its New Theatre
communications between stage managers and their crews during live productions and services,” said Mik N. Su, Technical Director, Gateway Entertainment. “The company selected Clear-Com products due to positive experiences with Clear-Com intercoms, which had shown themselves to be reliable and rugged.”
SINGAPORE: Gateway Entertainment has installed ClearCom’s FreeSpeak II wireless intercom system at its new venue – Gateway Theatre (GT). Gateway Theatre is a new multi-theatre venue located in the heart of Bukit Merah Central. It aims to be a creative arts space that promotes Made-In-Singapore works and talents of all cultures, while developing an appreciation of the arts within the heartlands of Bukit Merah and in Singapore. Its two main venues are the 930-seat Main Theatre and the 160-seat modular Black Box theatre. Within the building are two studio spaces for multi-purpose use, an outdoor roof garden and small balcony gardens for open-air performances. Gateway Theatre aims to fill this building with performances big and small, of various genres and styles. Gateway Entertainment chose to implement the FreeSpeak II base station with a total of 10 FreeSpeak II transceiver antennas placed in strategic positions in its theatre’s production area to create a large wireless coverage zone in the 1.9GHz frequency band. An additional 10 1.9GHz wireless beltpacks, two CC-300 single-ear headsets with rotatable boom microphone, and 15 CC-220 double-ear headsets with rotatable boom microphone were also purchased for the production team. The entire FreeSpeak II wireless system is seamlessly connected to a Clear-Com Encore analog partyline intercom, enabling all users on the Clear-Com to communicate. “Gateway Entertainment’s goal in choosing FreeSpeak II wireless intercom system was to ensure reliable
FreeSpeak II’s wireless beltpacks are feature-rich with up to five user-configured, full-duplex channels per unit. Each beltpack has a wireless range of more than 450 feet/150 metres in good radio conditions. Ergonomic form factor, intuitive operation and a rugged housing make the beltpack ideal for extended use. The beltpack offers up to 18 hours of continuous talk time on a full battery charge. Each beltpack can be easily registered with the base station over the air, saving time for setup. Moreover, each unit comes with the “Listen Again” audio memory to replay the last 15 seconds of audio, for use when a user missed an instruction. “For over 16 years, Gateway Entertainment has contributed and served Singapore’s Arts & Entertainment landscape with its portfolio of world-class productions,” said Hans Chia, Regional Sales Manager, South Asia Pacific at ClearCom. “To support their needs and future growth, they turned to Clear-Com for expanding their intercom system into the wireless domain. Easy operation, excellent audio quality and coverage, and extended use during productions were the essential requirements, and Clear-Com delivered with ease.” www.clearcom.com
NEWS
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DiGiCo SD10 For Mega Sound INDIA: Mega Sound is one of India’s most cutting edge AV rental companies, with an impressive inventory of world class, top of the line professional equipment. The latest addition to its audio arsenal is a DiGiCo SD10 digital mixing console and two D2 Racks, purchased through DiGiCo’s India distributor, Hi-Tech Audio Systems Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi. Currently operational in Ahmedabad and Udaipur, Mega Sound provide a range of services from live sound, DJ systems, stage lighting and conference setups. The company proudly associates itself with performances from high profile Indian artists such as Kailash Kher, Arijit Singh, Shankar Mahadevan, Vishal & Shekhar, Salim Suileman, Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan, amongst others. “We work across a variety of applications, which makes the SD10 the right addition to our existing stock,” explains Siddharth Chauhan, Managing Director of Mega Sound. “This medium frame console benefits from the power and purity of Stealth Digital Processing. Utilizing a single chip Super FPGA design, it gives unparalleled sonic performance and, in conjunction with the new D2 Rack, can run at 96kHz sample rate. “With the addition of the Stealth Core2 upgrade, the SD10 boasts 132 processing channels at 48kHz/96kHz, standard channel processing, whether inputs or outputs, includes Channel Delay, Single and Multi Channel presets, dual insert points, hi- and lo-pass filters at 24dB/octave, four-band Parametric EQ with band curve selection, 218 Dynamic EQ processors, 218 Multiband Compressors and 218 DiGiTubes. At the rear of the SD10, there is an abundance of local I/O: eight mic inputs, eight line inputs, eight mono AES I/O, two MADI connections with redundant cabling connections; and 16 GPI and GPO connections. All of this means that we know the SD10 can handle anything we need it to. The D2 Rack we have has 48 mic/line inputs and 32 outputs, all working at 24bit/96kHz. Connection to the D2 Rack is via BNC MADI. This means more flexibility and expansion.”
The console has already been put to use on the Salim Suleiman Show, which attracted a crowd of around 5,000 people. “The entire system was simple to set up and it all worked perfectly,” says Siddarth. “It’s light to travel with, fits into small venues and is at a great price point!” “The SD10 is an amazing console to work with,” adds Rajan Gupta, Managing Director of Hi-Tech Audio Systems Pvt. Ltd. The combination of the SD10 and D2 Rack provides a very important solution for splitting input channels and it has an independent head amp Gain Control for Front of House and monitor applications without using an analogue split snake system. It’s flexible and clear approach has made it one of the most sought after digital consoles in the market today. “We are pleased to be able to provide Mega Sound with this awesome product and are confident that we will see many more such associations happening in the near future.” With the SD10 now in the company’s inventory, Siddharth is aiming to increase the already impressive number of events that Mega Sound is asked to support. http://megasound.in http://hitechaudiosystems.com
NEWS
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Encore Dunhuang Debuts With grandMA2
CHINA: Immersive Chinese theatre work Encore Dunhuang debuted at the first Silk Road Dunhuang International Cultural Expo and was directed by Wang Chaoge, codirector of the stunning opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the 90-minute performance, audience members can travel through time as they walk through four zones and experience key moments and characters in the 2,000-year history of the city, once an important stop on the Silk Road. For lighting control LD Wang Yugang used 4 x grandMA2 light consoles, 2 x MA onPC command wing, 4 x MA NPU (Network Processing Unit), 2 x MA VPU plus MK2 (Video Processing Unit) and 10 x MA 2Port Nodes. “An Encore theatre is different from the standard theatre. Depending on the needs of the scene, it is built to be a flexible space that meets all the regular theater construction specifications whilst being configurable to realize each individual scene”, explained Wang Yugang. Utilizing original walk-in scene theater technology, the audience is no longer restricted to sitting on seats and watching the play unfold onstage. Instead, they walk into the theatre and move around according to where the action
is taking place becoming immersed in the production. The theater's lighting and effects have been choreographed and designed to optimise this special visitor experience. The construction design company was Beijing North ACE Digital Technology Co., Ltd. ACE – Advanced Communication Equipment Co Ltd. is MA Lighting’s exclusive distributor in China. Fan Anwei was the project manager, Zhao Xiaoming was lighting design construction principal. www.malighting.com
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Acoustic & Lighting Singapore Open Day 2017
SINGAPORE: On 22nd February 2017, Acoustic & Lighting System Singapore (A&L) warmly welcomed its clients and guests at their open day event. A&L Singapore which recently expanded their workplace, invited its clients for a subtle yet refreshing open day event. Securing the shop unit right beside its current workplace allowed A&L Singapore to restructure and expand their working space. The much needed expansion and larger working environment provides the room for growth in terms of workforce and a better conducive working environment. The event started started in the evening with finger food and an abundance of beverages. The expansion was not foreign to the employees and employers of A&L Singapore. It has always been a part of their plan, “This expansion was one of our long term goals since establishing in Singapore,” explained Eugene Yeo, A&L’s General Manager. With the expansion, A&L Singapore service and warehouse will have their very own designated area separated from their showroom. Running in parallel
to A&L Singapore’s working philosophy, the brand new workspace follows the open office concept focusing on a balance work environment. “A&L Singapore embraces the open environment in the office, as we believe it suits best with our employees. Looking forward we are looking for young talents to grow with us in this open environment. We prefer transparency, everyone should know their colleagues roles and be able to communicate with one another comfortably,” mentioned Eugene.
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of B-Eye k20, 3 units of Scenius and 2 units of Mythos were on display along with multiple EK lighting fixtures. During the open day event, A&L Singapore introduced their clients to one of Clay Paky latest product which was the Scenius Unico. The Scenius Unico is a spot lighting fixture capable of projecting various effects, with six rotating gobos, a rotating prism, a beautiful animation wheel, and it is equipped with the most sophisticated and most precise framing system on the market today.
“Besides bringing our clients on a tour of our new office, the open day event was also a way for us to engage with our clients. We wanted a casual yet conducive environment in displaying what we do, what products we have and how we could help them in their business,” continued Eugene. Clients would have definitely noticed the lighting fixtures that were on display outside A&L Singapore office. 4 units
“We are pleased with our partner, Acoustic & Lighting who is expanding its premises in Singapore. Appreciate that they can provide various support for Clay Paky clients in Singapore. We are also very happy and pleased to be able to display the Scenius Unico first time in Singapore,” commented Alfonso Zarate Takano, Clay Paky Asia-Pacific Area Sales Manager. The night ended especially well with everyone gaining some extra knowledge and information regarding A&L’s products. www.acousticlighting.com
NEWS
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Rising Start Esther Eden Gets Her Vocal Edge With Sennheiser Esther Eden using the Sennheiser ew 135 G3 mic at her recent concert (Pic credit: The Fridge)
UAE: Sennheiser recently announced their new young brand ambassador in the region - Esther Eden, singersongwriter signed to Major Label – Universal Music MENA. Esther Eden joins an impressive list of local artists and DJs who have been working with Sennheiser to ensure they get the best support available. Sennheiser is the brand of choice for a long list of global industry megastars, and in recent years, has been committed to increasing its outreach among local artists. Mig Cardamone, Director of Sales and Marketing at Sennheiser Middle East said, “We have been replicating in the region what we do on a global level, with an emphasis on young, emerging talent. We want local artists to know that we’re highly active in the Middle East, that we’re here to listen to and support their requirements, and of course, that we have a host of world-class audio solutions for musicians of all genres, and even budgets.” With Esther Eden, Sennheiser hopes to support her with advice on the right microphone to use to get the best out of her vocal style plus product and technical support at her gigs.
Commenting on her experience with the brand, Esther Eden said, “Sennheiser has always been on top of their game especially where wireless mics are concerned. They have been the choice of many of the top stars in music. But what struck me the most about Sennheiser is that they are willing to support new talent and that to me is important as I want to be connected with brands that are interested in uplifting the community.”
Esther Eden’s pop style is perfectly complimented by Sennheiser equipment such as the ew 135 G3 handheld microphone which has been specifically designed to deliver excellent quality of audio capture, clarity, and vocal or instrumental fidelity. According to the artist, the system offers a ‘crisp’ sound that ‘enhances her voice’. After being discovered by Jessie J who invited her to sing at the RedFest DXB 2014, Esther Eden has enjoyed rapid and ongoing success. In 2015, she was signed on by Universal Music MENA and went on to once again perform at the Red Fest DXB 2016 as an artist in her own right. Shortly after releasing her debut album ‘Solitaire’, she performed at Beats on the Beach in Dubai to an audience of over 50,000. With all the makings of a successful career ahead of her, Esther Eden excitedly commented about the support she has received from her label and from Sennheiser saying, “I am just starting my journey and I have been blessed to have Universal Music MENA at the helm. To now have the support of another leading international brand not only encourages me but endorses my art and my talent.” www.sennheiser.com
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Mark Yulo Audio Solutions Elevates Sound In The UAE
Musician Jared Billinger and Sthe Bar Co. owner, Sean Barcoe perform final checks while other attendees wait for their turn.
Attendees smile for the camera as they hold their certificates of attendance at the Mark Yulo Audio Solutions Hands-On Training Tour on select dates from February to March 2017
UAE: In its 10th year of existence, Mark Yulo Audio Solutions conducted its first Hands-On Training Tour in the United Arab Emirates in 2017; their third visit in two years. Mark Yulo is no stranger to travelling around the world enlightening people of all experience levels on the craft of live sound. Training sessions by Mark Yulo involves both technical and creative direction coming from almost two decades of experience.
Aside from their regularly scheduled training modules in the Philippines, Mark Yulo Audio Solutions will be conducting more Hands-On Audio Training in the UAE, and Qatar on select dates of April and May. For more information or if you want to reserve your slot for the next training dates, head to their website. www.audiosolutionsph.com
ASM Steuerungstechnik Appoints André BragardDe Naeyer As International Sales Director INTERNATIONAL: ASM Steuerungstechnik, an innovative producer of lifting equipment, has announced the appointment of André Bragard-De Naeyer as International Sales Director, a well-known person in the international entertainment industry.
admired their highly engineered selection of steel band and chain driven hoists for some time and it is a pleasure to be their ambassador.”
Maurycy Sowka, CEO of ASM, adds; “I’m very enthusiastic of welcoming André into the ASM family. With his (L-R) Maurycy Sowka and André His primary mission is to develop extensive experience in international Bragard-De Naeyer the international presence of ASM in sales and market development he collaboration with distributors, dealers, will enable ASM to strengthen our integrators and to promote the ASM product range with position in existing markets and with existing customers, consultants. while allowing ASM to expand into new markets and new projects.” “I’m very excited to be joining ASM and this incredibly talented and innovative team” André asserted,” ASM has The ASM range of hoists includes point-hoists, stage and a reputation of being an innovative manufacturer of hoists scenery hoists, chain hoists and control. and controls for use in performance productions. I have www.asm-steuerungstechnik.de
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NEXO Line Array For Outstanding Melbourne Concert Hall
AUSTRALIA: The prestigious Robert Blackwood Hall at Melbourne’s Monash University has been equipped with a versatile inventory of NEXO sound reinforcement technologies, including a new GEO M6 compact line array as main PA. Monash is a public research university based in Melbourne, one of the oldest in Australia. Named after its founding Chancellor, Sir Robert Blackwood, the Robert Blackwood Hall has become Melbourne’s most prestigious venue outside the Central Business District, now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Group Technologies, the Melbourne-based design and installation company, was briefed to specify and supply new audio facilities appropriate for the Hall’s different uses. “Acoustically, it ranks with the best available in Australia,” explains GT Director Mark Ladewig; “it has been the venue for numerous commercial recordings for the ABC, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and various film scores. In addition to hosting local and world-class performers, it provides ceremonial functions; it is used for small gatherings, even just using the balcony by itself for presentations.” Being a concert hall, the RBH has no proscenium, stage curtains or fly tower. Its climate-controlled auditorium has fixed seating for up to 1598. The raked stalls hold up to 1256 seats, with a further 342 seats situated in the balcony.
For the main house PA, GT chose NEXO’s GEO M6 compact line arrays. Left and right clusters used 3x GEO M6B lowmid frequency modules, flown in line above 8x GEO M620 full-range cabinets. In the centre, a cluster of 6x GEO M620s was rigged in front of a column of 4x LS18 subbass cabinets. There are front corner fills of NEXO PS10 full-range loudspeakers to use when there are small gatherings, such as lectures or presentations, taking place in the auditorium. Front fills are 6x GEO M620 cabinets. “We also placed two smaller arrays of 4x GEO M620s flown as delays for the balcony,” explains Ladewig. “These were set further back in the hall as sometimes the balcony is used on its own for presentations.” The entire system in the RBH is powered by NXAMP4X1s and NXAMP4x4s. All room processing is handled by a Xilica A1616 processor, and Hall technicians have touch panel control of whatever ‘mode’ they need to recall. Power distribution is handled a Powerwise PD620M. www.gtaust.com www.nexo.fr
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AAA Productions Takes Delivery Of L-Acoustics K2 system
AUSTRALIA: For over 25 years, Perth-based AAA Productions, has prided itself in providing high-end professional audio services to the Australian market. It has clearly succeeded and its equipment list is as impressive as its expertise, with the company currently being the only certified L-Acoustics product supplier in Western Australia. The most recent addition to its inventory is a substantial L-Acoustics K2 loudspeaker system. Supplied by L-Acoustics distributor and integrated technology solutions company, Hills SVL, the system comprises 40 K2 enclosures, 24 SB28 high powered subwoofers and six LA-RAKs, which is more than sufficient to service its roster of festivals and tours. “We took delivery of our first L-Acoustics Kudo system back in 2005,” says Neil Campbell from AAA. “We’ve been extremely happy with the L-Acoustics product since we first started using it and wanted to continue our association with the manufacturer. We also had an existing V-DOSC system, which had served us well for many years, but we felt that it was important for us to be able to offer the very latest cabinets. When we were ready to look at a new system, K2 was the obvious choice because it’s highly flexible.”
Since AAA took delivery of it in October last year, their K2 has been hard at work on high profile productions including tours and one off gigs by the likes of Michael McIntyre, Ronan Keating, John Butler Trio, Arcadia Spider, Garbage, Ben Harper, Missy Higgins and Rodriguez. Neil is not only pleased with the performance of the K2 system, but also the smooth way in which the purchase went through. “Gerry Gavros at Hills assisted in expediting the sea shipment to meet our deadline for the summer festival season,” says Neil. “In fact, the system arrived a week ahead of schedule, which allowed us more time to get familiar with it before hitting the road. And our audio guys are delighted; they love new toys and these are the best new toys we've had for a long time. Our clients are also impressed by the sonic improvements in the K2, especially in the high end, where it has a marked improvement in clarity and fidelity.” www.l-acoustics.com
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APG Strengthens Presence In Asia At the same time, APG announced its geographic expansion in Korea. Effective immediately, system integrator, Soundplace Inc. will act as APG’s sole distributor in the Korean market. “We have been using APG for three years, and we were always impressed by the sound quality of their speakers.
Gregory Dapsanse of APG with TR Audio at PL+S Guangzhou
“The audio industry in Korea is actively looking for loudspeakers that are capable of reproducing sound purity, so we are delighted to welcome APG into our product offering” explained Sang Woo Do, president of Soundplace Inc. The company is already working on several projects with APG that are set to be completed in 2017.
ASIA: With an already successful presence in Asia thanks to a joint venture and historic distributors, French loudspeaker manufacturer APG took advantage of the recent Prolight + Sound Guangzhou trade show to announce new partnerships around APG North East Asia, the company’s joint venture in Hong Kong.
Commenting on the Korean appointment, Wong said: “Soundplace delivers exactly what we were looking for in Korea: An established and renowned presence in the theatre and houses of worship verticals. Their expertise in the fixed installation market will greatly contribute to the growth of the APG brand in Asia.”
The first expansion is evidenced in China where APG welcomed TRAudio, who will share responsibilities with APG’s historical Chinese partner BVCam. “This partnership with TRAudio will focus on the entertainment sector, while BVCAM will keep doing the amazing job they have done for years in every other markets” explains Raymond Wong, managing director of APG North East Asia. “Being based in Guangzhou since 2011, TRAudio is ideally positioned to help us grow the brand in the entertainment market and in particular in the club scene, while giving the APG brand a more comprehensive coverage in China.”
www.apg.audio/en/
TR Audio's owner Huang Zhao enthused: “We are very happy to have the opportunity to work with APG, a brand with decades of experience in loudspeaker manufacture. We are looking forward to presenting their products to our network of clients in the entertainment market and creating new opportunities for APG.” BVCam’s director Danny Huen also welcomed the new partnership and is looking forward to seeing the APG brand grow further in China. “We’ve had a wonderful cooperation with APG for many years. We know the growing potential for the brand in China, especially when it comes to theatres and rental.”
Gregory Dapsanse with Soundplace
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ETC Scales New Heights With Introduction Of Prodigy P2 Hoist
ETC P2 Hoist
WORLD: ETC is kicking off a new era in upper stage machinery with the introduction of the P2 hoist. Offering quick installation, easy operation, revolutionary features and affordable system expansion, P2 – the newest hoist in ETC’s Prodigy family – can go where other rigging systems can’t. The compact, 130-kilogram P2 fixed-speed hoist has a 300-kilogram load capacity and can be used as a complete system by itself, or it can be combined with larger hoists in a hybrid system. Using five millimetre lift wire rope, it offers 15 metres of travel with up to eight lift lines. ETC’s QuickTouch and Foundation families of rigging controllers are feature rich, yet intuitive and uncomplicated, and work seamlessly with P2, and all of the hoist solutions from ETC Rigging. The revolutionary features and capabilities that set ETC’s rigging products apart from others are at work in P2. The P2 hoist can be installed with or without ETC’s unique compression tube, is engineered to fit into the smallest spaces without adding lateral loads to buildings, so venues that aren’t able to use other larger hoists will finally be able to access automated rigging. Additionally, loft blocks can be positioned independent of the building’s structural mounting points, and allows users to support the attached
load in a manner best fitting the load, instead of the building. Safety is at the heart of P2, which includes load cell, and slack line detection. It also has a self-locking worm-gear system to prevent accidents. P2’s control electronics are built into the hoist, and incorporate hard-wired deadman and E-stop circuits. Thanks to its advanced features and design, P2 is easier to install and commission than most other hoists on the market. “It takes very little time to get P2 in place,” says ETC Rigging Product Manager Nils Becker. “A pair of technicians could install six fully-commissioned hoists in a single day. That saves venues on installation costs, and results in less disruption to a production or event schedule.” Adding additional hoists to a P2 system or upgrading existing hoists is also a simple process. “Rigging systems from other manufacturers often require significant control and wiring changes to add hoists, but ETC systems don’t,” explains European Rigging Sales Manager Enrico Nobile. “The faster installation and compatibility of our system components results in cost savings for our customers.” www.etcconnect.com
Inquiries :
IAAPA Asia Pacific IAAPA Headquarters
AsiaPacific@IAAPA.org IAAPA@IAAPA.org
+852 2538 8799 +1 703/836-4800
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Adamson Selects Stage Craft As Distribution Partner For Philippines And he and his colleagues can attest to that first-hand. In addition to distributing a carefully curated selection of brands, Stage Craft also handles rentals and production services, systems integration, and after-sales service and support for a myriad of clients. Considering Adamson’s focus on the end-user experience, Stage Craft’s unique perspective makes for a mutually beneficial partnership. “We love the idea of Adamson collaborating closely with its distribution and sales partners and end users in moving the brand and product (L-R) Adamson's James Ritter, Sales Manager for the Asia Pacific region & Stage Craft President Francisco Zabala offerings forward,” Paraiso PHILIPPINES: Stage Craft International has cemented its adds. “We’re definitely proud to be a part of the Adamson status as one of the top production technology distribution Systems Engineering family.” firms in the Philippines with the recent addition of Adamson Systems Engineering to its line card. Adamson’s Sales Manager for the Asia Pacific region, James Ritter, returns the sentiment. “We’ve been seeking the right Based in Mandaluyong City, Stage Craft represents some of partner for what we know is a very promising market for the world’s top audio brands throughout the Philippines and major growth,” he says. “Stage Craft has already exceeded built their reputation on the philosophy of delivering only our expectations and we’re proud to welcome them as the premium, high-performance products for their customers. latest member of the Adamson global network. We’ll be Marc Paraiso, the company’s head of sales and marketing, working closely with them to build up the Adamson brand says that philosophy is what drove the decision to adopt in the Philippines and ensure that all of our users benefit the Adamson brand. from the support that both of our companies are known for.” “While there is a plethora of loudspeaker manufacturers out there, with most of them represented in the Philippines, we www.adamsonsystems.com feel Adamson has a big advantage in terms of technological advancement, making it a cut above the rest,” Paraiso comments.
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MZC Quanjing Cinema Becomes First Christie Vive Audio Cineplex In Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Christie Vive Audio perfectly suits our requirements. I’m pleased to note that we’ve made the right decision as many of our patrons are highly impressed with the sound quality. Even without much advertising and promotional activities, people are still drawn to our cinemas through positive word of mouth. The attendance rate at MZC Quanjing Cinema has absolutely exceeded our expectations.”
CHINA: MZC Quanjing Cinema is the first cinema complex in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to be fully equipped with the innovative Christie Vive Audio, the cinema industry’s only purpose built line array speaker solution. Located at Bojingwan in Baotou City, the cineplex consists of 8 halls, including a Dolby Atmos certified flagship auditorium in Hall 2, as well as specially configured auditoriums for couples and children. Each hall is stylishly furnished with contemporary motifs to suit the taste of customers from diverse age groups. Besides being pampered with supremely comfortable seats similar to those found in premium auditoriums, patrons can also enjoy free WIFI access and are served by a highly efficient online ticketing system. Explaining why the cinema chain has chosen Christie’s cutting-edge audio solution, Guorui Liu, Technical Supervisor, MZC Quanjing Cinema, said, “Christie Vive Audio has impressed us not only with its robust system design, but also its capability to unleash the full potential of digital cinema. In addition, its unique ribbon driver technology is clearly more superior in delivering the best cinema sound experience compared to other cinema audio products.” Junming Kang, General Manager, MZC Quanjing Cinema, commented, “We want our customers to have an exceptional experience when visiting our cinemas and
The Christie Vive Audio components installed in MZC Quanjing Cinema include LA Series line array, surround and ceiling surround loudspeakers for Halls 1 to 5, LS Series screen channel and surround loudspeakers for Halls 6 to 8. In addition, all auditoriums are fitted with S118 and S218 subwoofers for bass management, as well as CDA2 and CDA5 Class D amplifiers. The end result is highly immersive cinema sound known for delivering exceptional power and performance. A number of cinema-goers have applauded MZC Quanjing Cinema for offering a highly immersive movie-listening experience with clear and discrete sounds from various directions. A member of the audience commented, “When watching an action movie like The Great Wall, I feel as if the growling monsters are just crouching next to me… ready to pounce. The acoustics are so realistic!” Besides the Vive Audio systems deployed in all 8 auditoriums, 5 halls in MZC Quanjing Cinema are equipped with Christie Solaria Series digital cinema projectors comprising the CP2208, CP2215 and CP2230 models, all of which provide the best in both conventional and premier movie experiences. “We are thankful to MZC Cinema for placing their trust in our cinema solutions, and we’re also delighted that audiences are impressed with the visuals and audio installed in MZC Quanjing Cinema,” said Jason Pei, Deputy General Manager, Christie China. “Christie Vive Audio is designed to immerse audiences in the full bandwidth of today’s highly-detailed cinema audio formats and bring the ultimate cinema sound experience to all auditoriums.” www.christiedigital.com
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Chauvet Acquires ChamSys INTERNATIONAL: Chauvet & Sons LLC has announced that it completed the acquisition of ChamSys Ltd., the Southampton, UK-based designer and manufacturer of lighting controllers. ChamSys provides Chauvet a strong presence in the controller market that complements its CHAUVET Professional lighting fixtures and LED video panels. “We are very excited about the opportunity to join forces with ChamSys,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet & Sons LLC. “ChamSys has a well-deserved reputation for innovation, quality and value, the same principles that are at the heart of our own Chauvet brands. Together ChamSys and Chauvet are now in a position to better cover and serve worldwide markets.” ChamSys will continue to operate as an independent business unit from its facility in Southampton, UK. ChamSys founders Chris Kennedy and George McDuff will remain as Managing Directors of the company and, together with Sales Director Tony Cameron, will continue to lead its current staff of software and hardware engineers, operations, sales and support teams.
The ChamSys industry standard MagicQ series of lighting control products will continue to be sold by the company’s current network of distributors, except in the USA, where Chauvet will sell and support ChamSys products from its Sunrise, Florida, headquarters. “We’re committed to maintaining the ChamSys brand and its reputation for excellence by supporting the vision and culture of its management team,” added Albert Chauvet. ChamSys Managing Director Chris Kennedy echoed this enthusiasm. "Chauvet and ChamSys share similar cultures, a strong sense of respect for our customers, an appreciation of our staffs and a powerful drive to be the best in our markets,” he said. “This partnership is clearly a logical step for both companies. We deeply appreciate that Chauvet is committed to building on our 14-year heritage so that ChamSys becomes even stronger in the future." www.chauvetlighting.com www.chamsys.co.uk
Le Maitre Celebrates 40 Years Of Manufacturing Pyrotechnics & Special Effects INTERNATIONAL: This year Le Maitre is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since it was established back in 1977 by Rick Wilson and Harold Berlinski, and joined three years later by Karen Cornacchia, the company has gone from strength to strength to become a global leader in its field of pyrotechnics and special effects. Fast forward 40 years and today the product range has grown to include over 1,500 state-of-the-art products. PyroFlash was joined by the ProStage II range, and more recently the Virtually Smokeless products with their extremely intense colours. All products have always been manufactured in the UK, all in full compliance with industry regulations.
As Wilson says, “We’re delighted to be celebrating our 40th year in business and although it’s nice to take stock and look back at what we’ve achieved we’re excited about what’s still to come. We are constantly striving for better, cleaner products that allow spectators and audiences across the world to see our effects at their very best, and we have some exciting developments with large scale pyrotechnics later this year. To simplify things for users we have also added smart controls to our most popular smoke and haze machines, enabling the user to set-up, control and diagnose errors quickly and easily from their mobile phone or tablet.” www.lemaitreltd.com
NEWS ETA April 2017
Bose Launches ShowMatch DeltaQ Array Loudspeakers in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Bose ShowMatch DeltaQ array loudspeakers made their maiden appearance in Singapore on 23 March at The Colisseum @Hard Rock Hotel in Sentosa. The event garnered much interest with an enthusiastic crowd that was comprised not just of Singapore based companies but also guests from around the region. We saw guests from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. What was great about the event? The opportunity to listen to the ShowMatch DeltaQ qualities in a real-scenario environment. An open space, with a live band performance, with the speakers configured as they would be in such an environment. We appreciate Bose Professional making the effort to showcase ShowMatch qualities especially with a live band performance. There are too many product launches that don’t offer that type of experience. Other than being entertained and hearing the sonic and vocal reproduction quality of the speakers, Bose took the opportunity to present what sets the ShowMatch DeltaQ loudspeakers apart from their competitors. (We will leave the tech specs to another issue). The key features that
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make up the speakers are its EMB2S compression drivers, its continuous arc diffraction slot and its field changeable waveguides. (fixed changeable? Will explain it in our next issue). ShowMatch DeltaQ array loudspeakers can be configured as a J-Array or as a constant curvature (for point source like performance) and of course as a DeltaQ array.
In essence, the speakers offer selectable coverage patterns that more precisely direct sound to audience areas for the best possible sound quality and vocal clarity throughout the listening area. To be clear, we understand that this is not digital steering but rather acoustical steering, which is more difficult to achieve but worth the effort as it offers a more natural sound. pro.bose.com
NEWS ETA April 2017
Novastar Launches NovaWorld Global Tour In Malaysia
MALAYSIA: With the theme “Visualize Your Imagination�, Novastar launched its NovaWorld Global tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ,at the Nexus ballroom, on 17 March 2017. This is the first stop for the 2017 tour. More than 120 people attended the event, with the audience mainly made up of dealers from Southeast Asia. The event kicked off with an introduction from Novastar followed by presentations on their fixed installation solutions, rental business solutions, calibration and PHOBOS. The conference ran from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. One of the attendees said, "This is a popular event. Usually you see a lot of empty seats in this sort of event with 70 people maximum." One attendee from Singapore said, "I drove here this morning from Singapore and hope to know more about PHOBOS." www.novastar.tech
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IMAGINE by Laservision
Immersive Staging Of China’s “Xi’an Incident”
IMAGINE is one of Dubai’s most spectacular entertainment attractions. 360-degree fountains, powerful lasers, record breaking water-screen projections, colourful LED lighting, and a towering video mapping projection on the InterContinental Hotel combine to produce one of the most technologically advanced shows in the world earning a Guinness World Record in the process.
The Shaanxi Tourism Group employed a range of modern technology to stage “Xi’an Incident,” marking the 80th anniversary of one of the turning points in the Chinese Civil War. The production used the most advanced lighting, sound, automation and multimedia mapping technologies to create an immersive viewing experience for audiences. Three d3 4x4pro media servers powered an extensive array of laser projectors and LED screens.
EK Lights Celebrates
DPA Microphones Celebrates
10th Anniversary
25th Anniversary
The GET Show provided EK the perfect opportunity to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The company threw a party for visitors, clients, staff, family and friends. With international DJs on deck, Indian sensation Sandeep on flute, and special live musical performances by local guitar hero Rock, EK wowed the nightly crowds and dazzled attendees during four days of light shows featuring over 600 moving fixtures on EK’s show-dominating booth.
This year, DPA celebrates 25 years as a manufacturer of high quality microphones for live sound, pro audio, installation and broadcast. Innovation is the key to the company’s success. So in honour of that ETA decided to feature a video of Ron Cook, who is a freelance Audio Engineer for Enrique Iglesias and a proud DPA user. Hear him talk about how DPA products allow him to focus his time on mixing not fixing audio.
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Amata Audio's Digital Loudspeaker Management System Now Speaks Dante
A new variant of Amate Audio's high-performance DSP608 digital loudspeaker management system now features onboard support for Dante AoIP (audio over IP) multi-channel streaming signals. Deploying the lastest DSP technologies, the DSP608D provides comprehensive, high-specification signal processing and controll for all types of installed and touring sound reinforcement systems. The 6-in / 8-out, 1U 19� rackmount unit now also features a two-channel Dante input via its RJ45 Ethernet port. These input channels enable integration of the DSP608D within sound installations using the industry standard AoIP streaming protocol. Dante dispenses of analogue or multicore cabling by enabling multiple-channel streaming of high-resolution digital audio (up to 32 bit / 192 kHz) with near-zero latency and synchronisation, with a single low-cost commodity CAT5e, CAT6 or fibre optic cable. Dante systems integrate digital audio transport and control data transmission for an entire sound installation system over a standard Ethernet based IP network, and can scale anything from a simple console-to-computer pairing to large-capacity networks running thousands of audio channels. Networks can also be expanded and reconfigured at any time due to Dante's usage of logical routes instead of physical point-to-point connections.
The DSP608D is ideal for upgrading and protecting sound reinforcement systems, with a 64-bit DSP architecture, 24-bit AD/DA convertors and 118dB input range. With four balanced XLR analogue inputs, two AES/EBU channels and dual Dante input channels. Four inputs (two fixed analogue, two selectable between analogue, AES/EBU or Dante) can also be routed to the unit’s eight balanced XLR outputs. Features include 1 Hz frequency resolution, 10 parametric EQs for each I/O, two crossovers (multiple types) per output, an independent limiter for each output and delay line up to 2 seconds (680 m) per I/O. Four LED per I/O provide for signal monitoring (level, clip and limiter), while a 2 x 16 EBTN black backlit LCD and keypad enable comprehensive operation of the unit. Additionally, the unit can be connected via USB (front panel input) or Ethernet to a PC (Windows and Mac OS) for remote operation via the DSPLink control software, which provides a logical Graphical User Interface and the ability to simultaneously control multiple units. There is on-board Memory storage for 80 pre-sets and password protected security lock, and the universal switch mode power supply enables operation with any mains condition between 90 and 264 V AC. www.amateaudio.com
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Lightware Rolls Out New 8x8 Full 4K Matrix Switcher Lightware is introducing the MX2-8x8-HDMI20-Audio, the first of its new Lightware MX2 standalone matrix switcher series with HDMI 2.0 and 18 Gbit/sec bandwidth which supports uncompromised Full 4K UHD resolution at 60Hz 4:4:4. Its compact size and silent design make it suitable for offices and meeting rooms, 4K live events and future-proof operation centres, as well as home theatre enthusiasts. As a standalone product, it has eight HDMI 2.0 inputs and eight HDMI 2.0 outputs, transmitting up to 4K at 60Hz in 4:4:4 format while supporting HDR, 3D, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The device supports vertical splitting of an HDMI2.0 4k@60Hz 4:4:4 input signal to left and right halves allowing for the transmission of a 18Gbps HDMI2.0 signal over
two HDMI1.4 compliant links, the two halves can then be recombined at a compatible signal destination. The device is also capable of chroma subsampling transforming 4k UHD at 60Hz 4:4:4 signals to 4k UHD at 60 Hz YCbCr 4:2:0. Proprietary Lightware technologies of Advanced EDID Management and Pixel Accurate Reclocking are included. Audio embedding and de-embedding features are available via balanced Phoenix audio connectors, one at each HDMI I/O ports. Control options include a built-in website, RS232, Ethernet and USB. With a high-efficiency front-to-back cooling system, the device is capable of silent operation. It can also be powered directly from mains via standard c14 type inlets. www.lightware.eu
m a e r D ig b We don’t like to limit the creative minds of our industry. We believe in solutions. So if you like to dream big, you’re at the right place. We can handle big, we can handle heavy, we can handle zero deflection. Curious? Come and experience our new solution to help you dream big. Prolight + Sound Hall 3.0 E14 | www.prolyte.com
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Elation Offers New Artiste DaVinci For Creative Designers Elation Professional is offering the new Artiste DaVinci, a full-featured yet compact “theatrical grade” LED moving head spot luminaire and the first fixture in the company's new Artiste series. Delivering a combination of power, colour and projection possibilities, the Artiste DaVinci is set to impress the same way its namesake did. “We put all the design features that creative LDs ask for in a small package,” states Eric Loader, Sales Director at Elation Professional. “It’s fullfeatured yet LED-based so it offers a complete palette for the creative designer in an energyefficient design. This is really the ultimate performance fixture designed for the most demanding theatrical and stage applications and is an excellent example of our commitment to offer best-in-class price/performance ratio fixtures.” With an output of over 13,000 lumens (comparable to 700W discharge lamp fixtures), the Artiste DaVinci is powerful enough to light a stage or set from the highest trim height with its 300W LED engine (>7,500K) and advanced optics. The Artiste DaVinci was built to allow for more creative freedom while making the design task easier – full CMY colour mixing gives a broad palette of colour choices and is supplemented by seven dichroic colours (including CTB) from a colour wheel as well as CTO colour mixing for greater colour temperature control. While the fixture is a highly capable spot luminaire, a frost filter is included when the moment calls for a softer wash effect. The luminaire incorporates a zoom system with auto-focus for more precise coverage – this zoom can expand the beam from a tight 7º to a wide 48º if needed. A range of graphical effects via two gobo wheels and an animation system allow for greater design freedom with the Artiste DaVinci. One gobo wheel houses six rotating gobos
while the other houses nine static replaceable gobos for customized looks. A full 360° bi-directional animation effect wheel brings graphics to life, allowing for the creation of dramatic animated effects such as undulating waves, rising flames, driving rain, drifting clouds, foliage, and more. A host of other effects can be achieved via the fixture’s two rotating prisms, including both a six-way linear and threefacet prism. Color, CMY and prism macros are also included for quick programming of effects and a motorized iris is included for further beam manipulation. The DaVinci also houses a high-speed electronic shutter and strobe as well as variable dimming curve effects and 16-bit multi-phase motors mean that pan and tilt rotation is both fast and smooth. Energy efficient compared to discharge lamp fixtures, the Artiste DaVinci includes a Hibernation Mode, which saves power when the fixture is not in use. LED refresh rate frequency and Gamma brightness are also adjustable. The Artiste DaVinci can be controlled via DMX, RDM (Remote Device Management), sACN or Art-NET protocols and Elation's internal E-FLY wireless DMX transceiver makes for easier setup with less cable mess. The fixture comes with a host of other standard features like 5-pin DMX In/Out connections, RJ45 etherCON, as well as powerCON TRUE1 In/Out connections. It includes a six-button touch control panel with a full-colour 180° reversible LCD menu display that makes for easy navigation through DMX and manual settings. It is also possible to power link multiple fixtures meaning that customizable setups are quick. The Artiste DaVinci operates flicker-free for use in TV and other broadcast applications and an auto-sensing power supply covers worldwide voltages and frequencies. www.elationlighting.com
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Barco Expands F-Series With Laser Phosphor Projector
Barco has expanded its F-Series projection portfolio for the ProAV market with a new rugged laser phosphor model – the F70 projector delivers long lifetime and reliability for fixed installations, ensuring reduced downtime and maintenance, and provides constant brightness and colour over a longer period of time. “Professionals in the theme park, venue, and visitor attractions industry are continuously looking for ways to wow their audiences and, at the same time, reduce setup time, downtime, and cost,” comments Peter Pauwels, Director of Strategic Marketing at Barco.
The projector delivers sharp detailed images at 4K UHD resolution with its advanced optical design, and its Constant Light Output (CLOTM) functionality ensures constant brightness and colour. It also boasts DLP technology, advanced cooling, and rugged design. Similar to Barco's F90 projectors, the F70 uses Barco Pulse processing – in addition to an intuitive user interface, Barco Pulse’s unique Single Step Processing (SSPTM) technology enables the F70 projector to achieve 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution.
“The versatile F70 projector meets these demands through its 4K performance, long lifetime, reliable performance in terms of brightness and color, installation freedom, and low total cost of ownership.”
The laser phosphor light source used by the F70 provides up to 60,000 hours, enables the projector to run in any orientation, and shares its user interface and FLD and FLD+ lens portfolio with the other Barco F-series projectors, which makes it easier to navigate for users who are already familiar with using the F Series.
The F70 projector is suited for fixed installations in a wide variety of venues and visitor attractions such as museums, theme parks, auditoriums and science centres. Its motion platform compatibility makes it suited for theme park rides in the dark.
Two models were launched at ISE 2017, with 4K UHD and WUXGA native resolution, as well as up to 8000 lumens light output. The F70 will be shipping from Q2 2017. www.barco.com
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PR Lighting Goes Waterproof At GET Show 2017 PR Lighting launched the AQUA 440 Beam, its first waterproof moving head, at this year's GET Show in Guangzhou – the IP44-rated version of the XR 440 Beam is equipped with the Osram 440W lamp to create a punchy parallel beam with 3.1º beam spread. International Sales Director, Ernie Armas stated, “There is a huge interest being shown in waterproof moving heads, and we have high hopes both for the IP44 AQUA 440 Beam and another new outdoor product, the IP65-rated AQUA LED 600 Spot.” Other products introduced at the GET Show were the XLED 4007 Beam and Xpar 150 Zoom. The engine of the XLED 4007 Beam is provided by the 7 x 40W RGBW 4-in-1 LEDs, which produce a full range of vivid colours that can be independently controlled. The Xpar 150 Zoom is a compact and lightweight fixture, and with its IP67 rating is designed for extreme outdoor conditions such as building façades and landscaping.
Deaturing multi-chip (4-in-1) 150W COB (chips-on-board) LED and linear zoom, it is ideal for applications requiring RGBW colour mixing or high quality white light. PR Lighting also gave a preview of a new fixture that will be launched at the Prolight + Sound trade show in Frankfurt. The light source of this fixture, designated Effect 4006, consists of 6 x 40W RGBW 4-in-1 LEDs to produce a stunning effect as five small heads rotate independently between 0°-180°. www.pr-lighting.com
Studiomaster Professional Expands Wireless Range With XR 20 Series Studiomaster Professional has added the XR 20 to its ever-expanding range of wireless solutions – the highperformance Professional UHF Wireless Conference Microphone System is heavily inspired by the XR series, with a heavy focus on rugged usage environs.
The product comprises of a high quality 21” wireless gooseneck microphone transmitter & a receiver. Both the transmitter and receiver have LEDs to display the operating frequency for easy identification. The gooseneck microphone also sports a LED indicator to indicate the ‘Mic Active’ status. The XR 20 series transmitter is powered by 2 x 1.5V AA pencil cells, and the Studiomaster Professional XR 20 receiver sports both a Balanced XLR & an unbalanced ¼” jack output connector. With a plug-n-play approach and a stable performance, the XR 20 is suitable for conference rooms, boardrooms, educational institutions and houses of worship. www.studiomasterprofessional.com
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LPS Laser Array Beam Bar
Available from 3k RGB (3W white light), the LPS Laser Array Beam Bar can convince equally as an eyecatching standalone or combined with other professional entertainment elements. The laser beam bar is equipped with 10 RGB pure diodes, offering countless colour variations. Laser power can be adjusted for each beam, and colour can be individually chosen for each laser beam, allowing users to fade each beam as they choose to.
The LPS Laser Array Beam Bar is lightweight, and can quickly be horizontally or vertically mounted on trussing. This laser beam bar is specifically designed for professional lighting designers and supports unique events, festivals, theme parks and different stage-set-ups. www.lps-laser.com
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RTS ROAMEO Combines User-Friendly Operation With Seamless Communication
ROAMEO from RTS is a professional, easy-to-use and future-proof wireless intercom solution based on the license-free DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) standard with a protected frequency band. It provides high-quality audio over a seamlessly integrated digital wireless beltpack and associated access points. Featuring a modern, rugged design, ROAMEO is suitable for a wide range of professional intercom applications where wireless communication is critical, including broadcast production studios, theater and sport event productions, houses of worship, commercial buildings and outside broadcast (OB) trucks. Operating like a wireless keypanel, ROAMEO can be fully integrated into all existing wired digital RTS matrices and allows users to address either individuals or specified groups. The system consists of the TR-1800 beltpack, the AP-1800 access point and accessories including charger, holster and pole-mount kit. Connection to a digital matrix is easily established via a single Ethernet cable. In addition, the system can use standard IT infrastructure, which ensures easy installation and low maintenance costs; the access points can be daisychained.
ROAMEO’s cellular structure can cover a wide area with high-quality audio and seamless roaming between the individual cells. Users can easily expand the coverage area by adding further access points, while additional wireless beltpacks can be directly addressed as part of a wired RTS matrix intercom system. Depending on the audio codec used, users can select between a higher emphasis on voice quality (G.722 full bandwidth) or a more efficient use of the radio spectrum with a higher number of beltpacks (G.726 narrow-band). ROAMEO uses a system that can be easily configured in a multi-language set-up via scroll lists on the beltpacks or using the control software, which allows users to configure the complete intercom system on one screen. With a large colour LED-display and intuitive icon-based menu structure, the beltpack is very easy to set up and operate. The four talk/listen buttons are shaped differently and provide users with a tactile feedback; the operation of the device is thus possible also in low light conditions and without the need to look at it. With its lightweight, durable housing, the beltpack features the smallest enclosure in its class and is protected against dust and light rain. ROAMEO will be available worldwide in spring 2017. www.rtsintercoms.com
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NEXO Releases NeMo 2.0 System Management Software For macOS NEXO is releasing a new version of its NeMo system management software and making it available for the first on the macOS platform, with premium features and functionality. Mac laptops can now be plugged into the NXAMP, and users can monitor the electronic parameters of amplifiers over a wireless network in real time or past-time and store the data as a log. It also makes it easier to exploit advanced sensing functions in the NXAMP which help protect loudspeaker cabinets. An offline mode is now available in the macOS version – users can create offline devices, edit their settings and later match them to online devices by using a device identification feature. Using custom control panels, users can create interfaces which offer an extraordinary level of control, described by NEXO Sales Manager Gareth Collyer as “a complete game-changer for the use of NXAMPs.”
NEXO NeMo version 2.0 now also embraces NEXO’s new DTD Controller, allowing the remote control of one or several DTDs simultaneously, including preset, patch, EQ, compressor, gain and delay editing, as well as level monitoring. First launched on the IOS platform in 2013, this new version of NeMo has every feature replicated for macOS systems so users can choose between going wired or wireless. NEXO NeMo also boasts zones, alert emailing, automatic preset library updating, EQ library and improved performance and stability. NEXO NeMo version 2.0 is now available on the Mac App Store. nexo-sa.com
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Yamaha CL/QL Version 4.1 Now Supports AES67!
Yamaha's CL and QL series digital mixing consoles have gained more connectivity, expandability and usability with the release of Version 4.1. Version 4.1 features new Dante functionality, including support for the AES67 interoperability standard. AES67 allows communication with Ravenna, Q-LAN, Livewire, and other audio networks for improved system expandability. The Dante Device Lock feature that prevents unwanted changes to Dante settings is also supported, enhancing system security in halls and installations that are routinely used by outside operators or operators who bring their own equipment. The number of supported Shure wireless receivers has also increased, with Version 4.1 supporting non-Dante devices including the AXT400, QLXD4 and ULXD4. Control and monitoring are supported for all devices, plus transmitter gain control for the AXT400.
Other new features that boost operability and convenience include one-operation EQ type selection, improved RTA visibility, and patch window effect type and channel name displays. Mounting and patching of the Audinate DanteMY16-AUD2 Mini-YGDAI card and d&b audiotechnik DS10 Audio Network Bridge are also supported. Yamaha pro audio business unit director Yoshi Tsugawa notes that: “In the audio networking age, connectivity with third-party products is just as important as the reliability and performance of the products themselves. The Version 4.1 update focuses primarily on AES67 support and interoperability with other devices, further expanding the usability of the CL and QL series digital consoles in a field where they have already become standards. We sincerely hope that the improved functionality provided will be a valuable creative asset for our customers.� www.yamahaproaudio.com
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LD Systems Introduces New STINGER G3 Series The Adam Hall Group has introduced its new STINGER G3 Series from LD Systems – available in active and passive versions, the third-generation speakers and subwoofers provide both high-quality sound and practical detail solutions. The STINGER G3 Series comprises active and passive speaker cabinets in 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch and 15-inch formats, as well as two 15-inch and 18-inch subwoofers available in active or passive versions. All cabinets are made from 15 or 18mm birch ply, which ensures accurate bass response in conjunction with the tuned bass reflex enclosures. All active speakers are equipped with powerful class D amplifiers. The dispersion characteristic of the full range speakers has been further optimised in the high frequency range. The Boundary Element Method (BEM) was used during the development and optimisation of the horns, and the distance between the tweeter drivers and woofers has
been minimised to avoid partial dropouts caused by comb filter effects. In addition to three different highcut filters, the active STINGER G3 subwoofer’s DSP presets also feature a cardioid preset. By combining three STINGER G3 subwoofers of the same design, a cardioid dispersion characteristic is achieved with this circuitry, which offers a number of qualitative advantages over conventional subwoofer setups. Dual-Tilt stand attachments, flight points, stack moulds and ergonomic handles make the STINGER G3 Series suited for professional artists, distributors and fixed installations. The accessory range includes mounting hardware, padded protective covers and a stackable roll board for easy transport. www.ld-systems.com
Yamaha Offers AES67 Support For TF Series With NY64-D Dante Card Updates have already been rolled out for the CL/QL series digital mixing consoles and R series I/O racks. The new firmware also supports Dante Device Lock, allowing PIN based locking and unlocking of devices on a Dante network.
Yamaha's TF series with intuitive TouchFlow Operation has expanded its audio networking capability with its firmware update – version 3.1 now allows the TF series equipped with an NY64-D Dante interface card to connect to audio networks such as Ravenna that support the AES67 audioover-IP interoperability standard. This AES67 compatibility will allow Dante to communicate with a variety of other audio networks for greater system flexibility.
Yamaha pro audio business unit director Yoshi Tsugawa comments: “Continuing the process that began with updates for the CL/QL series mixers and R series I/O units last year, the new V3.1 update adds AES67 support to our TF series mixers. This will allow TF mixers to connect to Ravenna networks in live sound and other applications where they are already popular, further enhancing their versatility and value to our customers.” yamahaproaudio.com
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BroadcastAsia2017 To Feature Virtual Reality Cluster And Bigger TV Everywhere! Zone
Drones were a big draw at BroadcastAsia2016
B
roadcastAsia’s relocation to Suntec Singapore will see the event housed on expanded purpose-built exhibition grounds spanning 20,000 square metres across three levels from 23 – 25 May 2017. The extremely popular TV Everywhere! Zone, back for its third showing, is expected to grow by 50 per cent and act as a major focal point of BroadcastAsia2017. A brand new cluster for virtual reality will also make its debut, rounding up the event’s immersive showcase of game-changing products for nextgeneration broadcasting and the latest end-to-end solutions needed to stay ahead of the curve. “New technologies are expanding the broadcasting ecosystem and bringing forth exciting new possibilities to create and consume content, especially within Asia. We are therefore thrilled to be launching the new virtual reality cluster to allow attendees to get first-hand experience using this technology,” said Calvin Koh, Assistant Project Director
of BroadcastAsia2017 from organiser Singapore Exhibition Services. “Last year’s BroadcastAsia saw more than 17,000 international trade attendees, so the relocation has come as a delight to many exhibitors and visitors as it will allow BroadcastAsia more space to grow and to accommodate more exhibitors and new technologies.” BroadcastAsia stalwarts – the Cinematography/ Film/Production Technology Zone and ProfessionalAudioTechnology – will also be back to showcase technologies for the audio ecosystem and a comprehensive range of production/post-production equipment and services. Industry names who have already confirmed participation at next year’s show include Accedo, Avid, Broadpeak, Harmonic, Hisilicon, IBM Cloud, Mirada, Mstar, Nice People At Work, SAM, Skyline, Skyworth and Wyplay, among others.
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Crowds eager to enter BroadcastAsia2016
Crowds at the GoPro booth at BroadcastAsia2016
Exhibitors at BroadcastAsia2017
Returning to the show, Hitachi Kokusai Electric will feature their innovative Outside Broadcasting (OB)-Box, a fully featured modular OB facility that can be mounted onto a vehicle’s chassis using a proprietary fixing kit. This approach significantly reduces the manufacturing and delivery time as it removes the need to source and ship an appropriate vehicle for each customer. Hitachi will also showcase its popular Mobile Communications Vehicle that integrates a number of advanced communications systems including satellite communication antenna, professional mobile radio and cellular communication networks for uplinking streaming video, among other uses.
To help video providers address transformative change that is sweeping the media and entertainment industry, Elemental Technologies – an Amazon Web Services company and leader in software-defined video solutions – will highlight video production, distribution and monetisation advancements, both on-premises and in the cloud. “Only flexible software-defined video solutions and scalable cloud solutions can assure content availability everywhere, leverage new formats like UHD and virtual reality, and allow media leaders to embark on new monetisation approaches,” said Dan Marshall, Senior Vice President Worldwide Field Operations at Elemental Technologies. “At BroadcastAsia2017, a premier industry event in Asia Pacific, we look forward to helping media companies see how they can employ these solutions to deliver value and drive momentum.”
Everybody eager to check out the latest production equipment at BroadcastAsia2016
‘’We had a very successful showing last year,’’ commented Koji Yuzawa, General Manager at Hitachi Kokusai Turkey. ‘’Being able to showcase our OB-Box and allowing attendees to experience its high quality build first-hand definitely influenced many purchasing decisions. We’re looking forward to having this opportunity again at BroadcastAsia2017.”
Dave Whitehead, Sound Designer for movies such as The Hobbit and Chappie sharing his expereinces with audiences at the Post Production Hub at BroadcastAsia2016
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BroadcastAsia2017 International Conference Beyond the exhibition, the BroadcastAsia2017 International Conference will bring together an unprecedented portfolio of top broadcast experts and industry influencers to discuss evolving industry trends, debate the best business and commercial strategies, and showcase breakthrough technologies. Key trending themes will include OTT 2.0 and monetisation, optimising content and branding strategies, maximising experience on all screens, IP in broadcasting, UHD vs 1080p, HDR delivery for the future, broadcast standards, HBBTV 2.0.1 and hybrid delivery, workflow and automation, subtitling and captioning technology, and sportscasting and newscasting. The CommunicAsia2017 and EnterpriseIT2017 exhibition and summit will be held at the same time as BroadcastAsia2017 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
A full house at the BroadcastAsia2016 International Conference Opening Keynote
Shuttle buses will take visitors between the Marina Bay Sands and Suntec so they can easily visit both shows. www.Broadcast-Asia.com
BroadcastAsia2017 Exhibition Incorporating:
ProfessionalAudioTechnology2017
Date:
23 – 25 May, Tuesday – Thursday
Venue:
Level 4 & 6, Suntec Singapore
Opening Hours:
10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Admission:
Business and trade professionals only
CommunicAsia2017 / EnterpriseIT2017 Exhibition Incorporating:
SatComm2017
Date:
23 – 25 May, Tuesday – Thursday
Venue:
Basement 2, Level 1, 4 & 5 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Opening Hours:
10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Admission:
Business and trade professionals only
BroadcastAsia2017 International Conference Date:
23 – 25 May, Tuesday – Thursday
Venue:
Level 3, Suntec Singapore
Admission:
Registered delegates only
CommunicAsia2017 Summit Date:
23 – 25 May, Tuesday – Thursday
Venue:
Level 4 & Level 5 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Admission:
Registered delegates only
T U E S D AY - T H U R S D AY
NEW VENUE
LEVEL 3 – 6, SUNTEC SINGAPORE
www.Broadcast-Asia.com
Bigger and Better! Network with over 600 international brand owners and solutions provider
Pre-register your visit online before
Discover over 200 product launches
15 May 2017!
Source efficiently from key thematic zones Gain insights from 80+ renowned speakers at the Conference Participate in free fringe activities PR
DUCER CO NNE CT
Check out the website for the full information. www.Broadcast-Asia.com
Hop onto the free shuttle service to also visit CommunicAsia at Marina Bay Sands. Organised by:
Held concurrently with:
www.CommunicAsia.com @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
SES A part of:
#BroadcastAsia2017
Hosted by:
CommunicAsia & EnterpriseIT incorporate:
www.EnterpriseIT-Asia.com @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Endorsed:
www.Satcomm-Asia.com
Supported by:
Held in:
EXHIBITION REVIEW
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Prolight + Sound Guangzhou: Biggest Edition To Date, Past Records Shattered With 8.1% Surge In Visitor Attendance
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eld from 22 – 25 February 2017 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, the 15th anniversary of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou surpassed industry expectations with a shattering attendance of 73,986 visitors, marking an 8.1% increase from 2016. A total of 1,250 exhibitors also staged a full spectrum of pro audio and lighting advancements across 130,000 sqm of exhibition space in 13 thematic halls and the extended area of Y Channel. Commenting on the success of this year, Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd shared, “Since the formation of the strategic partnership between Messe Frankfurt and the Guangdong International Science and Technology Exhibition Company (STE) in 2013, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou has envisioned bridging the
local and international markets by introducing conceptual and structural changes. As we celebrate the fair’s 15th year, we are humbled by the strong industry support and positive feedback to our show changes.” Ms Cheung added, “The show’s success underlines the effective partnership that we’ve been committed to building, as well as the pioneering position of the show in the industry. In the future, we will continue to act in the interests of the pro audio and lighting community to deliver a more international business platform for our exhibitors and visitors.”
Exhibitors Elated By The Enhanced Numbers, Quality And Internationality Of Attendees This edition was supported by a strong line-up of key
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CL series digital mixing consoles and TF-Rack digital mixers at this year’s show. The event is getting more influential in the industry, which attracts more professional buyers and distributors from China. We are pleased with the visitor flow and have successfully connected with our target customers, including distributors from the live performance, installation and entertainment sectors.” Bose Professional Systems is also seeking to expand sales in China for its home and professional speakers and has returned for the second year to showcase its latest ShowMatch™ DeltaQ™ array loudspeakers. Equally pleased with the strong visitor turnout, Joyce Tang, Marketing Manager of the company remarked, “We regard this show as one of our key marketing channels to meet with quality distributors and partners from the upper and lower supply chains. One of the biggest benefits of joining this fair is the high amount of professional visitors we can reach.” Relacart Electronics Co Ltd was also overwhelmed by the influx of quality agents, distributors and engineers from all over the world who enquired about their newest TDN1 Microphone Desk Stand with Dante Network Output and WMS1 Wireless Frequency Control System. A representative of the company Tingfei Wu remarked, “As this show boasts an esteemed position in the industry, especially in the pro audio sector, we rely on a professional, authoritative and market-oriented platform like Prolight + Sound Guangzhou to highlight our strengths and connect with our global buyers. The show is undoubtedly getting bigger and better, and we are surprised by the remarkable increase in quality buyers this year.”
players representing 26 countries and regions, many of whom had positive comments about the vibrant atmosphere in the exhibition halls and the high-calibre visitors they met during the four-day event. Yamaha Music & Electronics (China) Co Ltd is one of the many companies that benefited from the huge visitor flow. Lijun Yao, Manager of the company’s PA Marketing Department explained, “To further expand our business for professional speakers in China, we are launching our new
Sharing the same sentiment regarding the visitor professionalism was Alice Lee, Export Manager at Nightsun Pro Lighting Equipment Co Ltd. She commented, “Through the fair, we hope to meet existing and new distributors and agents from all over the world. Apart from attracting a large pool of audience, the show also gathers a fair mix of domestic and foreign visitors who are professional and target-oriented. Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is a fair we can’t miss.”
New “Theatre K. Pub” And 13 Thematic Halls Offer Unmatched Range Of Products For Show-Goers This year, the show organisers further broadened the fair’s product profile in response to the burgeoning demands for the karaoke and theatre markets in China. The new
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Malaysian visitor Xinmei Tan, Assistant Manager in Product Management from Acoustic & Lighting System Sdn Bhd said, “I am impressed by the quality of some of the PA systems here. The scale of this show is astonishing and the fact that it houses the most prominent brands reflects its importance to the industry. Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is definitely one of the most professional and influential exhibitions of its kind in China.” Francisco O Pinheiro Jr, Managing Director from TEC PORT, a Brazilian distributor for stage lighting equipment, saw the rising potential in Chinese products. “I am here to seek co-operation with local manufacturers and introduce their products to Brazil. Overall, my trip has been fruitful as I was able to meet Chinese companies providing quality LED display screens at a competitive price range.”
Pro Audio Hall
Comprehensive programme promotes global dialogue and industry development
Lighting Hall
“Theatre K. Pub” at Y Channel bolstered the product lineup, offering buyers the latest advancements in the sectors of mini and home theatres, customised installations, smart digital AV and system integration.
PLSG Annual Training Course
Hu Liao, Sales Manager from Mian Yang SCR Technology Co Ltd who came for this specific zone, was content with the diverse technologies on display. “We are here to acquire the latest market trends in the karaoke sector to apply in our engineering projects for mini theatres, private clubhouses and resorts. This zone is an accurate reflection of the current market and provides more defined product categories that facilitate our sourcing experience.”
With extensive support from industry associations and organisations from Asia, Europe and the US, this year’s programme has gathered an international profile of speakers who imparted knowledge on a broader range of topics related to audio engineering, sound production, KTV, stage design, installation and system integration. Events also placed a stronger focus on market trends, technical knowledge and business strategies to help participants navigate the evolving pro audio and lighting landscape.
Other visitors were also happy with the number of exquisite brands presented in the 13 thematic halls and zones, including the Audio Brand Name Halls, Pro Audio Halls, Lighting Halls, KTV Hall, Enping Microphone Hall, together with the lighting zone at Y Channel and product zones for conference and PA systems, headphones as well as microphones.
The PLSG Annual Training Course, a highlight of this edition, successfully opened up constructive dialogues between international and local specialists. Topics covered in the course include the application of sound systems and acoustic technology, enhancement of event and stage performance, as well as real-time networking and media networking technology.
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The highly-rated Vision X Network continued to offer a business platform that facilitated business and technology exchange in a relaxing setting.
Outdoor Array demo
Bernie Farkus, Senior Technical Sales Engineer of Australian company Audiante, was thrilled to conduct a training course on Dante technology to a full house of attendees. “This was a very successful experience for us as we had so many participants requesting us to do further training in China afterwards. Training courses like these are an indispenable part of the show because people not only want to see the products, but also learn about the technologies invovled. China is full of tremendous opportunities and the fair has presented us a great opportunity to introduce the usage and configuration of Dante technology to the Chinese audience.“ Jaime Welton, Technical Director of Wukesong Arena (Beijing), who shared his insights on the safety of live events, also asserted the importance of the training course. “As China is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, this show presents a perfect platform for us to initiate safety awareness and preach safety practices among manufacturers and professionals. We are very glad to be here.” Hongbing Hua, General Manager of Guangzhou Shituo Liheng Audio Technology who attended the Guangzhou Recording and Multimedia Technology Forum 2017, praised the effectiveness and relevance of the content. “As a company working for cinema engineering and stage sound reinforcement, we are often faced with challenges in presenting the best sounds at live events. I’ve benefited greatly from the forum through understanding how the location of microphones can affect the optimal sound output. The quality of the programme is improving, and it’s good to hear relevant and practical tips from professional speakers.”
Ziqian Chen, Technical Manager from Sennheiser Electronic (Beijing) Co Ltd who spoke at the event for the first time, was delighted by the opportunity to directly engage with the company’s clients. “This is an excellent platform for us to give an in-depth introduction of our latest XSW1 and XSW2 series. This event is more than a product presentation as we can also interact and share technical knowledge with participants. I am happy to see that many attendees expressed genuine interest and stayed to enquire about the recording solutions of our products.” Participants who visited the Outdoor Line Array, which featured 30 local and international brands across three demonstration areas, also applauded the high quality of speakers. One of the attendees Xiaoyu Guan, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Goharston Technology Co Ltd exclaimed, “I really enjoyed listening and comparing the sound quality of speakers here. The overall quality is very high this year, and I can visit the desired booths directly after the demonstration to learn more about their technologies, which saves a lot of my time and effort.” A number of technology-oriented forums and seminars were also well-attended by expert speakers and attendees representing various facets of the pro audio and lighting world. These events include the Audio Engineering Design and New Acoustic Technology, Audio Technology Forum 2017, Audio Technology in Digital Age – Development and Opportunities, China Mini Theatre and KTV Industry Forum 2017 (Guangzhou Section) & Outstanding Mini Theatre and KTV Brand Award Presentation Ceremony, Guangdong Association of Performing Arts Meeting (Performance Venues), as well as Practical Measurement for Pro Audio Equipment. Together, they provided industry peers with business ideas, networking opportunities and market insights. Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is organised by Messe Frankfurt and the Guangdong International Science and Technology Exhibition Company (STE). www.prolightsound-guangzhou.com
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CHINA
STM Debuts At New Chinese Mega Club
Yu Bar’s ample height of the structure means that the PA system can be installed at the optimal height and position, without the usual compromises
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ith the opening of the Yu Bar in Shunde, near Guangzhou, the entertainment scene in China sees a return of the mega club after many years. It features the debut installation in China of a NEXO STM Series modular line array system, chosen to position the Yu Bar at the top of the market. The sheer size of the new venue is breathtaking, with a 15 metre ceiling height that allows its technical specifications to be fully achieved. “Too often in China, sound proofing is overlooked but not here,” says Michael Chow, marketing manager for Top Plot Int’l Ltd, NEXO’s distributor for China. “At Yu Bar, the ample height of the structure means that the PA system can be installed at the optimal height and position, without the usual compromises.”
In an installation designed and contracted by NEXO’s Guangzhou dealer Hertz Audio with Hong Zing Audio Equipment, aided by Top Plot International, an STM Series line array system featuring M28 main cabinets has been specified for the house PA, teamed with STM B112 bass modules and STM S118 subs. This high-output sound reinforcement system is matched by huge top-end LED screens, high-powered lasers and a top-spec lighting rig to attract the best local and international DJs and support the specially-invited guest performers who will push the Yu Bar to the forefront of the entertainment scene in China. The DJ booth is at the centre of the rectangular venue, with clusters of STM M28 – each cluster using 2x M28 with 90° dispersion, plus 1x M28 with 120° dispersion for wider horizontal coverage. Below the M28s is a single STM B112 bass module to provide the vital punch around 80-120Hz.
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The two wings of the DJ booth each have a big LED screen, the outside edges of which each have another cluster of STM M28+B112. In addition to STM S118 subs, more than 20 additional NEXO LS18e subs reinforce the low frequencies all over the venue.
International Sales Director Denis Baudier and East Asia Business Development Manager Michel Brouard, accompanied by Top Plot Int’l. Ltd. Director Forky Tsui, and NEXO’s Guangzhou dealer Hertz Audio (GuangZhou) Co.,Ltd. and its local contractors.
The Yu Bar is packed full of other NEXO cabinets – 28x PS15-R2, 8x PS10-R2 and even 2x ID24s used as satellite fills to cover all corners and corridors of the club. The whole system is driven by NEXO NXAMP4x4 and NXAMP4x1 powered Tdcontrollers.
“Everybody was impressed by the geat interior settings of the Yu Bar,” reports Michael Chow of Top Plot Int’l. The décor and the AV systems, and the catering, are second to none. It’s a truly sensational place for parties and events, which is why it has already become the centre of attraction in this region, even though Shunde district is an hour’s drive from the centre of Guangzhou city.”
Yu Bar opened its doors for business in time for the lunar new year (late January 2017). The Guangzhou Prolight+Sound exhibition provided a perfect opportunity for a party for all the entertainment technology contractors and suppliers, including NEXO’s
www.topplot.com.cn www.hertz-group.com www.nexo.fr
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DUBAI
Laservision Attraction, IMAGINE, Recognised As A World Record!
Stardancer is the first full-scale, Mega Media production to arrive at Dubai Festival City Mall’s newest outdoor attraction, IMAGINE.
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aservision’s premiere spectacular is a beautiful and artistic adventure of gravity personified–the Stardancer - told though a ballet of contemporary dance. As Stardancer dances through the cosmos, she interacts with the planets and stars that surround her and overcomes the powerful forces she encounters along the way. Complemented by an original sound score, Stardancer skilfully combines contemporary and classical dance into a seamless performance showcasing the beauty, struggle, awe and power of the Stardancer.
Laservision’s Creative Team The IMAGINE attraction at Dubai Festival City is the culmination of years of research, design and development
by Laservision who was selected by the Dubaiheadquartered Al-Futtaim Group to deliver a truly unique spectacular which would be a game changer on the global stage. “The production involved over 60 creative specialists spanning 7 countries, an internationally acclaimed choreographer, award winning dancer, and state-of-the-art motion capture studios. Stardancer is the largest and most technical production of its kind,” said Shannon Brooks, Laservision General Manager. He continued, “We are very proud of the team here at Laservision. The sheer size and scale of the venue and assets deliver Stardancer in a way that could not be accomplished on any other stage in the world.”
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The Imagine Attraction IMAGINE is a unique sensory attraction spanning 20 acres over water, land and sky, skilfully combines powerful mediums such as lasers, surround-sound, record setting water-screens, intelligent lighting, intense flame effects, 360-degree fountains and a plethora of special effects to provide a dramatic and unforgettable immersive experience. Record-setting water-screens span nearly 2000 square meters and provide a liquid creative canvas for high-definition projection. The multi-media production features additional high-intensity, high-definition projection which produces a gigantic video-mapped image across 36-stories of the InterContinental Hotel; a projection area that is four-and-a-half times larger than the world’s biggest IMAX screen. Launched by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in front of over 25,000 spectators, dignitaries and the international media, the spectacular has become one of Dubai’s most popular tourist attractions drawing in tens-of-thousands of spectators in just the first few months of opening.
Al-Futtaim Group, a leading Dubai based company reputable for distinctive pioneering project development, sought out the industry’s best when selecting Laservision to create and deliver an innovative and globally renowned attraction for Dubai. “IMAGINE signifies the endless opportunities and possibilities of viewers around the world to be part of the show and connect with something truly unique,” said Steven Cleaver, Director of Shopping Centres, Al-Futtaim Real Estate. The multi-media spectacular has received international accolades in addition to being awarded a Guinness World Record for the “World’s Largest Water Screen Projection.” Stardancer plays multiple times every night at Dubai Festival City Mall to the public and is appropriate for all ages. www.laservision.com.au
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SINGAPORE
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Upgrades To Shure Axient Wireless Management Network
A total of 172 channels of Axient and 32 channels of PSM1000 Personal Stereo Monitors (IEM) have been installed in the renowned theatres
Photo courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
C
onsidered as one of the busiest arts centers in the world, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore is an iconic performance arts center with about 3,000 performances presented each year, ranging from dance, music and other theatre shows. Therefore, it is essential that Esplanade upkeeps their equipment on par with worldwide standards and expectations. In line with its continuous efforts to provide the best technical solutions, the arts center recently overhauled its wireless microphone system to adopt the latest available technological advancements and developments in wireless microphone and IEM systems. Following its various success stories in other similar venues in Singapore, Shure Axient Wireless Management Network, combining the professional support from Shure Authorized distributor – Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd (E&E), has delivered wireless advantages too compelling to ignore. After a strenuous tender, review process and evaluation, the Esplanade team decided that the Shure Axient system best met their needs to ensure the venue is ready for more world-class performances in the future.
“With a history of audio innovation spanning over 90 years, Shure has been committed to providing quality products and excellent services to our customers in Pro Audio Segment,” said Mark Humrichouser, Vice President of Shure Asia/Pacific and Americas Business Units. “We are proud to see that Axient and other Shure products have been trusted by another world-class performing arts center like The Esplanade.” A total of 172 channels of Axient and 32 channels of PSM1000 Personal Stereo Monitors (IEM) have been installed in the renowned theaters, including 16 channels of Axient in the Concert Hall, 32 channels of Axient in the Theatre, 8 channels of Axient in the Recital Studio, Theatre Studio, The Concourse and the Outdoor Theatre respectively. 60 channels of Axient in portable racks and 32 channels of Axient with UR3 plug-on transmitters have been installed across all the spaces within the venue for either an expansion to fixed systems or working independently.
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“The main aim of the overhaul project was to replace our existing wireless microphone systems so that Esplanade complies with Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore’s pending ‘Frequency Allocation and Assignment’ regulations. We required a flexible, deployable system capable of exceptional audio quality and the high demands of our operations, and we found that Shure Axient met these requirements. We feel that Axient has been designed with the end-user in mind and has several useful and ergonomic features that cater to our needs,” commented Ed Ferguson, Technical Manager, Sound, The Esplanade Co Ltd. Gary Goh, Deputy Managing Director of E&E also commented, “Axient has marked significant technological advancement that helped us redefine previous production parameters. Knowing that The Esplanade continuously host a myriad of activities, we put forward a complete solution that offers flexible, user-friendly productions for unprecedented audio in any environment. We accomplished the wireless multi-channel application by combining Shure’s industry-leading technology with proper design to overcome interferences issues traditionally linked to RF-intensive productions.”
The foundation of the Axient system is a suite of interrelated spectrum management tools that integrate spectrum analysis, channel allocation and device management on a seamless, network-based platform. It automatically detects interferences and changes to clear and compatible frequencies to avoid interference, without a need for user involvement. Furthermore, the Shure Wireless Workbench (WWB) software was also chosen by the world-class Theatres for full monitoring of the frequency network. Sound engineers can utilize the saved scan files in the RF History during rehearsals to provide details about the RF environment. The WWB software also provides real-time monitoring of the network with live remote adjustments during each performance, making it easy for the sound engineers to monitor the frequency, audio gain, RF output power, battery life and other information for each channel of all the wireless systems installed, from microphones to in-ear monitoring systems. www.shure.com
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INDIA
Shizusan Shophouse & Bar Concedes The Perfect Chill-Out Vibe With Wharfedale
Dev Electronics Integrates Wharfedale loudspeakers to complement the venue and its vibe
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he new fine dine destination in Mumbai for authentic Asian food, Japanese in particular, Shizusan Shophouse & Bar scores high on multi-cuisine F&B, aesthetically appealing interiors & décor, energetic and youthful ambiance. The venue impresses with their authentic range of food encompassing house favourites like the 17 ingredient salad, the Asparagus tempura sushi, the Maki, and more, along with cocktail favourites like the Saigon lemonade, Hattori Hanzo and more. That apart, the interiors of the place are really great and soothing too. The ground floor is designed as a sushi and cocktail bar with a few tables around and an interesting bar table. The ceiling too is hand painted and shows the changing of the seasons. The main dining level is located on the first floor which has high ceilings, large windows and lets enough light into the room to make it look lively. The bar area has been designed to exude a colonial style bar house feeling, while the light fittings depict lotus stems which are complemented with a similar design in the flooring scheme too. They have quite a few paintings all around the
restaurant that instantly catches the eye, and all of these aspects show that a lot of thought and effort has been put into the aesthetic appeal of the place. Then of course, there’s the music that instantly uplifts the mood. The music is undoubtedly one of the stellar features at Shizusan, as the place treats its patrons to a spectrum ranging from old school classic rock & retro to new age melodic rhythms, with the beat and tempo rising gradually as the night progresses into some groovy electronic music. In addition to the wide range in music, the fine dine resto also features a dedicated space to host live performances, with the most popular ones being unplugged nights and of course, the happy spirited party vibes that usually fills the place during special performance nights and weekends. With the music playing such a crucial role in the envisioned success of the place, it’s no surprise that the management of Shizusan chose to equip their establishment with a world class quality professional audio set-up. And they entrusted the honours of doing so to one of the industry’s most reputed one-stop-shop pro audio solutions provider – Dev Electronics.
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The Dev Electronics team, represented by Ketan Shetty at the fore, took to the project instantly, and devised a minimalistic yet efficient and impactful pro audio system architecture for Shizusan which involved deployment of products from Wharfedale. Shares Ketan “Looking at the dimensions of the space at Shizusan and following the brief given to us by the management, we knew instantly that using loudspeakers from Wharfedale Programme series, namely the 108T and the 105T would be perfect for the place. Not only are they compact and discrete which makes it extremely aesthetically pleasing, but they also pack a powerful punch and are absolutely spot on when it comes to performance. And when combined with the Delta15 subs, the Delta18 subs and the Titan12 sub, all of which have been evenly distributed across the venue floor for added powerful low frequency reinforcement, the restaurant becomes superlatively equipped to host even the most energetic parties in town! The management has also ensured that the venue is firmly equipped with world-class quality DJ gear, as the console area sports the industry standard Pioneer CDJ900NXS player/controller in addition to a Pioneer DJM900NX2 DJ mixer. We’re extremely pleased to
know the management’s feedback about the kind of sound quality that Shizusan experiences every time – efficient, superlative audio delivery, and we’re happy to have played our part well in helping the management with the perfect system for the place. It’s an amazing feeling to hear from the management how they and their patrons absolutely love the sound and music at Shizusan.” The management at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar are quick to add in their words of praise as a representative commented “Our patrons love spending time at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar not just because of the impressive food, beverage and service, but also being in the place is an instant mood pleaser thanks to the wonderful music we play here. And the music sounds so pleasing and appealing thanks to the great system that we’ve got in place. Though minimalistic, the set-up sounds fantastic and is more than able to support any kind of music and any kind of live performance with supreme ease. The guys at Dev Electronics have done a great job, and we’re happy that even our regulars and walk-ins praise us for the difference in the quality of music played at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar compared to most of the other venues around the area.” www.develectronics.com
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DUBAI
Digital Projection Fires Up Dubai’s City Walk
Technology and content come together for an impressive showcase
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aking its mark as Dubai’s latest shopping destination, City Walk presents an impressive visual feast in multimedia for its visitors. Amongst a dizzying range of digital media elements combined to deliver more than 100 million pixels, a total of 30 Digital Projection projectors form the backbone of the destination’s jaw-dropping connected displays.
“We came in at a point where a lot of decisions had been made with regards to each individual feature,” explains Alexandre Simionescu, co-founder of Float4. “Our role in these projects is really as an executive producer. We make sure the technology and content works together and is properly designed. We understand the creative as well as the implications of the technical.”
The scope of the project grew rapidly in ambition. The Digital Projection projectors – all from the Titan range – were initially specified by Dubai integrator RDK International following ‘proof of concept’ demonstrations by Digital Projection’s Middle East team. However, to ensure a holistic integration of all the individual features planned for the destination, Float4, a Montreal studio specialising in digital experiences was brought in to oversee the project. In turn, Float4 employed a fellow Montreal company XYZ Cultural Technology, which handled much of the system design and integration required.
Owned by Dubai-based holding company Meraas, City Walk is comprised of a network of streets in Dubai containing cafes, restaurants, shops, entertainment areas and even a gaming park – surrounding a central plaza complete with water feature. The vast digital canvas that unites the area is divided into three sections: An entrance hosts a vast LED screen feature named ‘The Gateway’; which leads into ‘Show Street’, a walkway flanked by retail and restaurant spaces; which in turn opens out on to the central area and entertainment hub: Place de Lumière.
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On Show Street, 12 Digital Projection TITAN 930, 15,000 lumen, WUXGA projectors, housed in Tempest enclosures, beam down onto the floor. The projection combines with LED elements running along the street and LED strips, about 50 pixels high, which are large enough to show moving images. Digital Projection was involved from the start of the project creating the design for the projector components. The company’s regional manager for the Middle East and Turkey, Tim Wood, proposed the units based on their bright light output and small, lightweight chassis, essential when considering the positioning of the units on the ‘rooftops’ The projectors were able to be mounted in an unobtrusive way with minimal effort and the built in ColorMax technology ensured that they could all be easily calibrated to ensure a perfect, seamless blend across multiple channels,” he notes. “Additionally, the dual lamp system allows for redundancy ensuring the show can run uninterrupted should there be the need to change a lamp.” Shows at City Walk take place at regular intervals every evening: A punchy sound system fires up and one of the
three shows created by Float4 plays across the facades of buildings and LED displays. Digital Projection Titan units were again selected for the façade projections with a total of 18 TITAN 930 projectors mounted around the plaza. These combine with LED screens and about 120 lighting features to create one digital canvas. At this point the area’s water feature also comes to life and ‘Show Street’ and ‘The Gateway’ play content based on the aesthetic of the show. “All those elements give us a lot of depth to create these shows,” says Simionescu. www.digitalprojection.com
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CHINA
Nanjing Hotspot OLA Live House Features D.A.S. Sound System Designed By Chao GanGuan
This high-end venue is a destination for local and international independent musicians
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hinese folk rocker Li Zhi is the driving force behind OLA Live House, one of the biggest hotspots on the Nanjing music scene. Located at the Sun Palace, a brand-new entertainment complex in the heart of the city, OLA Live House is a destination for independent musicians, a high-end venue where local and international bands can ply their trade to a packed house. With a focus on elevating music to the highest level, Li Zhi contracted Chao GanGuan, D.A.S. Audio’s exclusive distributor in China, to supply and design a sound system that could provide exceptional sound and steadfast reliability for his newest venture. The project was spearheaded by German Rodriguez, Technical Director at Chao GanGuan, who called in Shanghai-based Shanghai Yuanxing to help with system construction and installation. Rodriguez worked closely with the CEO of Shanghai Yuanxing as well as Li Zhi’s sound technician to tailor the perfect system for the venue, running through a number of simulations with D.A.S. Audio’s EASE Focus 3 software before making a final decision. “OLA Live House has an irregular layout with practically no right angles. The stage is off center with respect to the volume of the room and there is a small stand in a mezzanine at the back of the room that is not centered on the stage”, reports Rodriguez. “There is a large LED screen down stage, which makes it difficult to choose the place to hang the sound system, because we can’t block audience visibility”. Working with EASE Focus 3 paid off, and Rodriguez
managed to design an end-to-end sound system that offers homogeneous coverage and frequency response for the entire audience area. With Chao GanGuan supplying the system and Shanghai Yuanxing handling installation, the team decided to draw from D.A.S. Audio’s Event Series of line arrays to guarantee flawless sound at OLA Live House. The setup specified by Rodriguez rigged six Event 210A three-way active line array systems on either side of the stage as the house mains. A total of four Event 218A powered high-performance subwoofers were installed in a line in front of the stage, interspersed with four Artec 508 loudspeakers for front fill. Eight Action M12 dedicated stage monitors ensure consistent sound for performers, and a DSP 4080 was installed to handle system control and processing. Feedback has only been positive thus far, with Li Zhi’s technician responding with enthusiasm when asked about the experience of working so closely with Chao GanGuan and D.A.S. Audio professional sound systems. “More than excellent. The “Laowai” was incredibly professional and rigorous, system tuning was super-efficient, very reasonable frequency division, and [Rodriguez] was with us all day for our first concert. Very dedicated service”. www.dasaudio.com
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CHINA
Chao GanGuan And D.A.S. Audio Create The Perfect Storm At The Budweiser STORM Festival
Over 75,000 party-goers packed into Shanghai’s Disneyland Resort for this two-day blowout event.
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hao GanGuan, D.A.S. Audio’s exclusive distributor in China, recently took the Chinese electronic music world as the official sound sponsor for two of the stages at the Budweiser STORM Festival in Shanghai. STORM’s international lineup of some of the world’s top DJs and world-class production drew in over 75,000 party-goers to Shanghai’s Disneyland Resort. Chao GanGuan supplied a complete PA system for both stages in collaboration with rental services from Beijing-based companies SSTAGE and SAG, deploying a combination of high-performance D.A.S. Audio Aero 2 line arrays and high-caliber D.A.S. Sound Force systems to ensure superb sound over this massive two-day event. German Rodriguez, Technical Director at Chao GanGuan designed the PA system for both the Makarian and M31 stages based on A2LiVE’s technical rider. He was joined by Fernando Nanao, Systems Engineer at D.A.S. Audio do Brasil with extensive experience in Aero systems at live applications in South America. Following the success at other internationally renowned EDM festivals like EDC Orlando, Electric Love, and Barbarella, Rodriguez decided to take advantage of the STORM Festival to give D.A.S. Audio’s new UX-221A subwoofer its Asian festival debut, further amping up the power with the premiere of the D.A.S. Sound Force monitor (SF-M) for the first time in China.
The system designed for the Makarian stage deployed a total of 24 large-format D.A.S. Aero 50 line arrays in a classic left-right configuration. These powerhouse systems were paired with four Aero 12A compact line arrays per side, suspended in the same array as the Aero 50s for down fill. “I’ve never tried to hang Aero 12As under Aero 50s before”, reports Rodriguez. “It’s an excellent combination that I fully recommend to Aero 50 users”. An impressive battery of D.A.S. Audio’s new UX-221A subwoofers, ultra-low-frequency 21” systems were distributed in front of the stage in nine stacks of two cabinets each. A total of ten Aero 12A were brought in as front fill, while a combination of two SF-20A and one SF1521A made their Chinese debut as DJ monitors. The system was rounded out with four D.A.S. Audio DSP 4080 and two DSP 2060A processors that managed the entire system. The M31 stage, while smaller, required a no-less-impressive set of gear designed by the Chao GanGuan and D.A.S. sound team. Eight Aero 50A line arrays, hung in a left-right configuration for the main PA, were matched with 12 LX218C subwoofers for a robust low-end punch. Five stacks of two Aero 12A enclosures handled front fill, with two stacks of two SF-20A and one SF-1521A serving as DJ monitors and two DSP 4080 processors providing ultimate audio control. www.dasaudio.com
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Maestra Grooves On The Grass
DUBAI
Maestra Dubai supplies full technical production to the 2016-17 series of ‘Groove on The Grass’ dance events.
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ow in its fifth edition, the five events for this season are produced by the Artists Network and being staged at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, each enjoyed by around 5000 dance music fans. A sizzling line-up for the last Groove a couple of weeks ago included a host of leading international music makers like Rӧyksopp, Agents of Time, Dewalta, Marc Houle and Steve Bug …among many more who played on two stages, and kept going despite heavy rain at some points! “We’re excited to be part of the energy and success of this great phenomenon which is known for putting production values high on the agenda,” says Maestra Dubai’s Managing Partner Tom Clements, adding, “It’s always good to be
asked to supply a full technical design and equipment package and efficient to provide just one point-of-contact for the client”. Maestra’s crew have to be super-quick on both the in and the out for the Groove events … a process that starts a day in advance of the show with the erection of a 20 metre wide ground supported stage and decking system to which lighting, video, PA towers and a complete sound system are added. This is set up below a saddlespan tent structure from Wicked. This is completed in 24 hours and lighting and video is programmed and ready to go for sound-checks the next day and then kick-off at sundown.
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The lighting design is based on an overall generic event production design which can then be modified and adapted to suit any specials and specifics as required by headlining artists. The standard design incorporates 40 moving lights – currently a mix of Claypaky and Martin – plus 20 x Showtec Sunstrips, 24 x Atomic strobes and 12 x 4 and 8-lite blinders. All of these are run through a ChamSys MQ100 lighting console … operated for events two and three by Geno Welburn. The idea is to make the lighting environment as dynamic as possible, with plenty of headroom to look different as the evening progresses. For the third event, seven separate LED screen surfaces – all made up from Maestra’s 10mm outdoor LED - were arranged in a semi-circle of columns upstage which was a break from the ‘traditional’ slab of LED at the back and a lot more interesting visually. The curvature also added an architectural aspect to the performance space. The visual content was supplied by the artists and DJs and their VJs who hooked into the Maestra system via their own playback control or media servers, a method that works well and enables everyone to run their own bespoke content. When it came to specifying audio, a big, bold system with plenty of power and clarity and a bit bass-tastic was needed, so working closely with Dubai sound guru Andy Jackson and his crew from Delta Sound, an L-Acoustics KARA, complete with SB28 subs was installed which produced the rich, warm and textured sound demanded by Groove in the Grass organisers.
This was supplied together with a Yamaha LS9 console, plus all the various DJ kit specified on the individual artist riders. Being in a highly residential area, they also needed to control, direct and focus the sound to minimise unwanted pollution, all of which was catered for in the audio set up and design. For the second stage, which is a tented arena, lighting comprised 12 moving heads and a collection of DMXcontrollable mock-neon LED tubes, which were installed as a highly effective kinetic light backdrop, along with a smaller KARA sound system. Challenges for this latest event were mainly related to the irascible weather and the short timeframe, although being the third of five shows, it is already a streamlined and efficient operation. The aesthetic challenges are in catering for the music which is not just the average banging EDM extravaganza! The sounds are more refined and eclectic with a truly international genre-crossing DJ line up, each with their very unique sounds adding a vibey underground and less commercial feel. Maestra had about 30 crew on site including Delta engineers and locals, and the results were another amazing looking and sounding Groove on the Grass event.
Photos courtesy of Maestra Dubai www.maestra-group.com
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CHINA
Immersive Staging Of China’s “Xi’an Incident”
Three units of d3 4x4 pros feed 36 projectors and 16 LEDs
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he Shaanxi Tourism Group employed a range of modern technology to stage “Xi’an Incident,” marking the 80th anniversary of one of the turning points in the Chinese Civil War. The production used the most advanced lighting, sound, automation and multimedia mapping technologies to create an immersive viewing experience for audiences. Three d3 4x4pro media servers powered an extensive array of laser projectors and LED screens. The 60-minute performance was held at Yaoguang Pavilion Theatre, in Xi’an Huaqing Palace, the location of the historical incident, which led the opposing parties in the Chinese Civil War to form a united front against invading Japanese forces. “Xi’an Incident” reunited the Shaanxi Tourism Group and renowned director Li Hanzhong, who previously collaborated on the successful production, “Everlasting Regret.”
Redline, a d3 reseller in China, provided three d3 4x4pros, with 48 DVI outputs, to feed 36 projectors and 16 LEDs. “d3 provided access to control multiple show devices simultaneously; since it supports open interface and protocol it is compatible with many third-party systems,” explains Hu Jingfeng from Redline’s d3 support team. Hu notes that, “d3 is more than just a visualiser – it’s a realtime stage simulator. d3 Designer software provides the stage designer with a real 3D stage environment simulating the lighting, video and space along with timeline editing. With the freedom to move around within the virtual space, it gives the designer a real sense of the space and how different elements interact with each other.” Specifically, to accommodate high-quality visual effects during the performance, the d3 support team “created 100% of the set design inside the d3 software in the preproduction process, including the stage, projection surfaces, projectors, and lighting,” says Hu. “During the
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Ma cites “d3’s well-rounded features, especially the ability to connect with many different types of control panels. There are still many d3 features that we need to discover and study, so that we can better equip ourselves for future projects. We definitely will recommend it to other users!” Hank Liu, Redline’s technical manager, says that d3’s QuickCal feature “helped calibrate the projectors in a very short amount of time and the surface mapping was very accurate. The production used an audio console, which sent out LTC. With timecode sync within d3, the director had full confidence that the audio and video would be synchronized every time.”
implementation period, there was constant communication between stage design, lighting, automation, projection and the video content creation departments to ensure a smooth integration of the various aspects of the production.” Ma Gong, a technician at the Yaoguang Pavilion Theatre and the show’s d3 operator, reports that, “the director’s team was impressed by d3’s previs feature. All the design was simulated in a 3D realtime stage, truly achieving ‘what you see is what you get!’’ In addition, Ma says, “d3’s content mapping was very flexible, allowing for easy realtime modification to the content. The adjustments on the feed output, such as cropping, moving, scaling, rotating and flipping, saved us a huge amount of time.”
“From hardware to software, high level to detailed operation, Redline provided us with very clear, thoughtful and comprehensive d3 technical support,” says Ma Gong. “We learned the basic operation and application, but if there were any problems we couldn’t solve Redline engineers helped us communicate with d3’s technical support team. We felt very well supported.” Stage design for “Xi’an Incident” was by Feng Lei of Beijing Fire Salamander Culture Development Co., Ltd. Content was produced by Beijing Blackbow Creative Design Institution Co., Ltd. At Redline, the d3 support team included Steve Liu, Wang Tianxin and Hu Jinfeng. www.d3technologies.com
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SAUDI ARABIA
Protec’s Rapid Reaction To Inauguration In Jubail
With only twelve days to set up there were times that Protec wasn’t sure if it would all come together.
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s part of the inauguration ceremony of SADARA and SATORP, Protec provided audio, video and lighting at the King Abdullah Cultural Centre, Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia. Attended by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and a number of government dignitaries, these celebrated new infrastructure projects by the Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara) and the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Co (Satorp). SADARA and SATORP are among the largest facilities in the refining and petrochemicals industries that support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Fabio Umilta was the project manager for Moment International, the creative agency for the event. “The project was challenging from the start as we only had 3 weeks’ notice to plan and deliver an event of this size. Shipping and programming time were only two of the challenges faced. Delivering a project of this size in such a short time would scare anyone.”
Robert Handley was Protec’s project manager. “Time was one of our biggest challenges on this job. We had a very small window between confirmation and the event itself. Part of our full production service was to put together and manage all the necessary visa and logistical arrangements and what usually takes a matter of weeks we managed to achieve in days.” “We took five 40ft trucks of equipment that included an L-Acoustics Kara system for audio; KUKA LED panels for video which was located left, right and centre and run with D3 server technology. It also included a comprehensive lighting rig of Clay Paky and ETC fixtures along with more than 400 Schnick Schnack units, rigging for over 100m of truss, 6km of cabling and a Robotics system of 6 x KUKA Kr 240-2 and 2 x KUKA Linear Track.” “Upon arrival it was clear that the pre-rigged hanging points were unsuitable,” continues Handley, “This was a
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venue that had a very restricted height clearance of just 10m and was a cluttered environment so we knew we had our work cut out to deliver.” “We brought in our own truss hung from the main beams of the building,” opens Ed Ross, head of audio at Protec. “This allowed us to locate the PA positions accurately. These still ended up being very wide for the room so it was crucial to have some powerful 115xtHIQ speakers to cover the VIP section at the front. The King was seated very far forward at the front so we positioned a 5XT speaker on the ground a few meters in front of him to make sure he had decent high frequency coverage and speech intelligibility. We then positioned 4 x 115xtHIQ speakers towards the back of the room on a truss to make sure there was ample high frequencies at the back of the auditorium and smooth out the overall frequency response front to back. The desk was a Digico SD9 with SD-mini and D-rack for distribution of signal, and we used Figure 53 Qlab for playback and Shure UR series radio microphones.” On the stage itself, a significant amount of collaboration was required to fit the video, lighting and crucially, the
Schnick Schnack installation between the Protec crew and the scenic and set designers. Hanley explains, “The Schnick Schnack was placed downstage centre, in front of the King, travelling up to centre stage in the shape of a tree. The King activated it by holding a small acrylic tree prop, which he gave to two children who placed it on the round trigger, which activated the Schnick Schnack. The tree was the symbol of the two companies merging.” Time proved to be the primary challenge for KUKA robot programmer, Amir Haghshenas. “Under normal circumstances we would have time for a full setup of the robots in our warehouse which wasn’t possible here. Each robot needs between 3-4 hours to programme one sequence and we had six different sequences. At the same time, we needed an empty stage to move the robots and obviously, there were always people working around the robots. To achieve what we had to in the time available, we simplified some of the moves. On the night, the show was all there and looked great.” “We had twelve days to set up and, to be perfectly honest, there were times when I wasn’t sure it would all come
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together,” concludes Handley. “From power issues – we had to acquire more cable locally which proved problematic – to the size, shape and height of the venue and the restricted timeframe, it seemed like everything was against us. However, I can honestly say that it proved to be the best ever production I’ve been involved in my fifteen years of experience in the business. Our client Moment International was super-happy and the end-client was thankful and really appreciated our work and professionalism. I would also like to thank Moment International for trusting in our ability to create a large scale event like this in such a short time. It was a pleasure to work alongside them as their AV partner.” Zaki Saeed Moments CEO adds, “Moment International, together with the team selected for the event managed to keep focused and in high spirits throughout the project despite the issues or time constraints that we faced. From the start of the project until the end we stayed as one unified team and I am extremely happy with the end result.” www.productiontec.com
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UAE
UAE’s 45th National Day Celebration In Abu Dhabi Stages Massive Video Projection Mammoth video mapping production fed by d3 4x4 media servers
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he United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated 45 years of unification with a National Day that featured a huge multi-surface video projection in Abu Dhabi. The event, staged at the request of the Crown Prince's court, was held for an invited crowd of dignitaries. Balich Worldwide Shows contacted Tom van Hemelryk, VP Global Sports and Special Events at PRG, to provide both the technical expertise and technology for this mammoth video mapping production, which was fed by eight d3 4x4pro media servers. Tom brought together, Yves Winand, PRG Belgium and Bill Ainley from the company's UAE operation to work with the design specification from Balich Worldwide Shows. The complex show included hundreds of performers and musicians, set against a sweeping backdrop, created by Charles Darby and the team at Clonwerk, with vessels sailing on the sea in the foreground and the desert stretching into the distance.
The production's floor projection surface, measured 189 x 35 meters, and was covered by 80 Panasonic 21K Series projectors, plus four 35-meter scenic sand dunes, which were tracked across the stage and covered by 16 Barco projectors. Two 40-meter side projection screens were covered by 28 Panasonic 21K Series projectors, whilst a 16-meter, semi-circular, rising sun surface was covered by two Barco projectors. One d3 4x4pro mixed master and five output machines, drove 71 double-stacked projectors; two understudies provided redundancy. The show had 76 individual d3 outputs to calibrate and blend. In addition, the 16 projectors dedicated to the moving sand dunes had to be 3D grid calibrated for set automation tracking. "d3 was chosen on the first approach of the project to design, previsualize, line up and play out the show," says Yves Winand, Senior Video Project Manager
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and Technical Advisor at PRG Belgium. "A strong partner was needed for this challenging project, and we worked closely with d3 to improve some tools onsite to save time for the lineup, where we had to share nights with lighting programming, rehearsals and the late arrival of the big moving elements." Chris Simcock, d3 Server Technician from Sensel Studio, notes that, "d3 offered a range of features that integrated well together: Stage enabled the technical team to simulate
projector positions, rotations and lenses; Footprints highlighted projection zones; and DynamicBlend automated projection balancing. But the key advantage was d3's unique ability to simulate and drive a show in real-time." "The workflow was designed with d3 in mind" says Nils Porrmann from dandelion + burdock, Event Screens Production Manager, responsible for managing the creative and media server workflow. "The content team was briefed about delivery specs and all the projector coverage analysis was done in d3. Its flexibility with large output numbers, dynamic edge blending and projector calibration features was essential to the production." "d3 was very proactive in the lead up and during the r14 [software] updating process with ongoing remote involvement throughout," says Bill Ainley, Head of Video and Project Manager at PRG Gearhouse Dubai.
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"The system proved solid and reliable throughout the three weeks of commissioning, rehearsals and show," Ainley reports. "We were able to redesign and reconfigure with minimal lead time, enabling us to quickly respond to creative and logistical updates." Other primary players in the production were Nicholas Di Fonzo, System Engineer from PRG Belgium; Thomas Kother, d3 Server Technician from flow7k; and Miguel Ribeiro, d3 Modeler.
Photo Credits: Luca Parisse for Balich Worldwide Shows. Show Credits: Creative & Executive Production Balich WorldWide Shows. www.balichws.com www.prg.com/uk/en dandelion-burdock.com www.senselstudio.com www.clonwerk.com
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EVENTS LISTING 2017
Apr 04 – 07
Jun 9 – 12
Prolight + Sound Frankfurt 2017 Venue: Frankfurt am Main Site: pls.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/aussteller/ willkommen.html?nc
Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition 2017 Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Site: guangzhou-international-lighting-exhibition. hk.messefrankfurt.com/guangzhou/en/for-visitors/welcome. html
Apr 12 – 14 InfoComm China (IFC) 2017 Venue: China National Convention Center (CNCC) Site: www.infocomm-china.com/en/
Jun 13 – 16
Apr 22 – 27
Site: www.iaapa.org/expos/asian-attractions-expo/home
NAB Show 2017 Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, NV, USA Site: www.nabshow.com
Jun 14 – 16
May 11 – 13
InfoComm International 2017 Venue: Orlando, Florida, USA Site: www.infocommshow.org
LED Expo Thailand Venue: Hall 5-8, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand Site: www.ledexpothailand.com
May 23 – 25 BroadcastAsia 2017 Venue: Suntec, Singapore Site: www.broadcast-asia.com
May 23 – 25 CommunicAsia 2017 Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Site: www.communicasia.com
Jun 01 – 03 PALM Expo India 2017 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon East, Mumbai, India Site: www.palmexpo.in
IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo 2017 Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Conference Programme starts on Jun 10
Jul 13 – 15 Summer NAMM 2017 Venue: Nashville, TN Site: www.namm.org/summer
Jul 26 – 28 ProAVL Asia 2017 / Toursim Technology Asia 2017 Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Site: www.proavlasia.com
Aug 17 – 19 PALMM Philippines Venue: World Trade Centre, Metro Manila Site: https://www.facebook.com/PALMMPH/
Aug 29 – 31 Integrate Venue: Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia Site: integrate-expo.com
EVENTS LISTING
80
ETA April 2017
Sep 5 – 7
Oct 17 - 19
Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China Site: www.building.messefrankfurt.com.cn
Prolight + Sound Middle East 2017 Venue: DWTC, Dubai Site: www.prolightsoundme.com
Sep 26 – 28 InfoComm India 2017 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre, India Site: www.infocomm-india.com
Oct 11 - 14 Prolight + Sound Shanghai 2017 Venue: SNIEC, Shanghai Site: www.prolight-sound-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com
Oct 12 – 14 Broadcast India Show Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre Site: www.broadcastindiashow.com
Oct25 - 27 Broadcast Indonesia Venue: Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia Site: www.broadcast-indonesia.com
Oct 25 – 27 Vietnam Pro-AV & Lighting Fair 2017 Venue: ICE, Cultural Palace, Hanoi, Vietnam Site: www.proavlight.com
Nov 17 – 19 Conference programme starts on November 13 LDI Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, USA Site: www.ldishow.com