Entertainment Technology August 2019 by Sun Circle Publishers

www.entertainment-tech.co.za

August/September 2019

IN THIS ISSUE THE BLACK BOX 360 KINKY BOOTS 3D FILMING FOR EVENTS

FEATURE

MEDIATECH AFRICA 2019

BIGGER

BRIGHTER BOLDER

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR SOUTH AFRICA: DWR DISTRIBUTION ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL ABOUT THE people

Block C, Unit 1, Kimbult Industrial Park, 9 Zeiss Road, Laserpark, Honeydew, 2170, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 794 5023 | Fax: + 27 11 794 5702 | sales@dwrdistribution.co.za | www.dwrdistribution.co.za

C ON T E N TS

www.entertainment-tech.co.za

4 KINKY BOOTS IS ALIVE AND KICKING!

MEDIATECH 2019 BREAKS ALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS

MEDIATECH EXHIBITORS

PRODUCT ROUND-UP

THE FUTURE IS IMMERSIVE

22 MEDIATECH BLACK BOX

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EDITOR'S WORD

EDITOR'S COMMENT

MEDIATECH IGNITES THE INDUSTRY

reetings and welcome to the spring edition of ETECH Magazine.

The tenth Mediatech Africa, held between 17 and 19 July at the TicketPro Dome in Johannesburg, once again delivered on its promise to ignite the imagination and celebrate creativity enabled by cutting-edge technology. Most importantly, the show offered stakeholders from across verticals in the professional AV industry the opportunity to gather under one roof for three days of learning, networking and relationship building. While the show offered a varied bouquet of interactive and highly immersive events and experiences, I am sure that I am not alone in identifying the Black Box 360 as a personal favourite. Designed by Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton of Collective Works, and brought to life by the Gearhouse Group, the second iteration of Black Box showcased aweinspiring technology, provided more opportunities to learn from a wider array of professionals and was, without doubt, one of the highlights of the show. The outside sound demo area was another big drawing card, as was the awe-inspiring drone zone, hosted by Timeslice Cinematography. Highlighting the importance of Mediatech as a platform for learning and skills transfer, the event hosted three presentation zones, which offered back-to-back presentations from some of the worlds’ leaders in audio, staging, lighting and broadcast technologies. Finally, exhibitors at Mediatech presented a broad and impressive array of

products, which collectively offered professional eventing solutions for every imaginable discipline, application, scale and budget. @etechza

The ETECH team had a fantastic time on the showroom floor – exploring new technologies, meeting friends and colleagues, and interacting with the more than 7,700 unique visitors that attended the show. It is undeniable that the show was smaller in comparison to previous years, which is an honest reflection of the challenges that we are all trying to overcome in uncertain and retracting market conditions. Despite this, Mediatech Africa 2019 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with exhibitors expressing their pleasure at having participated. The overwhelming response has been that despite cash being tight and work being scarce, hope remains and Mediatech offers the opportunity to let the world know that the eventing industry in South Africa remains open for business. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the exhibitors and visitors who took the time to chat with us at the show. We really appreciate your support and hope that you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. To those who met with the ETECH videography team, please keep an eye on our website and social media pages, as we will be publishing your videos in the weeks to come – and don’t forget to like and share! Enjoy the read

es Nicole Barn

@etechza

@etechzaW

EDITORIAL Nicole Barnes – Editor editor@pro-systems.co.za +27 (0)66 489 3482 David Cornwell – Journalist Cover photo: South African band,

WONDERboom, performing at Mediatech Africa 2019.

Photo courtesy Mediatech Africa

PUBLISHERS PUBLISHER Simon Robinson | simon@suncirclegroup.com

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LIVE EVENTS THEATRE

KINKY BOOTS IS ALIVE AND KICKING! By Stephen Simm

In the foyer of the Fugard Theatre, a cardboard cut-out has been set up so that audience members can take a photo of themselves ‘wearing’ the thigh-high glittery red boots so prominent in the production and its Photo courtesy the Fugard Theatre

marketing materials. The fact that even this small show-related attraction has such a long queue on performance nights says a lot about the production’s runaway success. Since its opening in June of this year, Kinky Boots has been playing to rapturous full houses. Now Kinky Boots will continue sashaying and strutting its stuff across the boards of the Fugard Theatre until 27 October.

LIVE EVENTS THEATRE

“There’s not a show on Broadway that’s not on Eos.” – Mathew Lewis, ETC product manager at ApexPro

“Eos consoles make average programmers look brilliant.” – Tim Mitchell, lighting designer

STRANGE BUT TRUE In 1999, the BBC screened a documentary about a struggling shoe factory in Northamptonshire which had been making traditional men’s shoes for over a century. A young man had taken over the business from his father, and was battling to keep things afloat in a world of changing fashions and increased international competition… until the fateful day it was suggested to him that he consider servicing a niche market: women’s shoes in men’s sizes, or kinky boots… That documentary inspired the 2005 film Kinky Boots, which in turn inspired several theatre producers and creatives to start working on a musical adaptation for the stage. Harvey Fierstein, Tony Awardwinning writer of Torch Song Trilogy and La Cage aux Folles, was hired to write the book and multi-award-winning songwriter and musician Cyndi Lauper was brought on to write the music. The show went on to become a big hit on Broadway and the West End, eventually winning six Tony Awards and three Laurence Olivier Awards and touring the globe. Now Capetonians are relishing the chance to kick up their heels.

THE SHOW Charlie Price is trying to live up to his father’s legacy in a brave new world. In an attempt to rescue the family business, Charlie finds inspiration in ‘Lola’, un trés fabuleux drag entertainer who needs some sturdy stilettos to perform in. The unlikely partners work to turn the factory around by developing a range of high-heeled boots for men. Uptight, traditional Charlie (even down to his several-shades-of-brown wardrobe) could not be more different to his flashy and unconventional new partner, but we soon understand that they have more in common than they realise, and the progression of their partnership, both professional and personal, is the spine of the show. Sometimes it’s tricky terrain, but ultimately it’s what they have in common that binds them, one of the show’s big messages. They discover that "when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world." The two characters also relate on the deeply personal level of having difficult relationships with their fathers, another major theme of the show. Darren Craig delivers the awkward-yet-endearing Charlie well, and shines in his solo numbers. He is also the perfect foil to the larger-than-life Lola, played with gusto by the excellent Earl Gregory. Lola is the kind of character made for musical theatre: bold, brash and funny with a distinctly bawdy edge. Gregory brings her to life in dazzling fashion: from the voice to the moves (and legs!), this Lola knows how to deliver a performance. But laughs and dance steps aside, the leads deftly carry the heart of the show, prompting the requisite lump in the throat despite some of the more mawkish moments in the script.

LIVE EVENTS THEATRE

“Programming for Kinky Boots made me fall in love with the Eos consoles all over again. The lovely thing about Eos is whether you’re using your laptop or you’re using the big flagship console, it’s all the same software. So it’s all compatible and works together. It’s such an easy console because it speaks the same language the designer speaks to a programmer.”

Photos courtesy the Fugard Theatre

– Mathew Lewis, ETC product manager at ApexPro

Backed by an impressive band and tight technical team, the stars shine brightest when they’re kicking up those kinky boots. Namisa Mdlalose must get a shout-out for her scene-stealing and hilarious performance as Lauren. Nathan Ro delivers a humorous but appropriately menacing Don, and Lola’s ‘angels’ – three drag queens with moves and looks aplenty – provide equal measures of comedy and great choreography. All the ensemble players work hard to bring the energy and keep the show feeling much bigger than it is, an admirable achievement. This is also helped by the clever, beautifully rendered sets and gorgeous lighting design.

LIGHTS, BOOTS, ACTION! The lighting for the show was designed by seasoned UK veteran Tim Mitchell and programmed by Mathew Lewis. “Programming for Kinky Boots made me fall in love with the Eos consoles all over again,” said Lewis, who is also the ETC product manager at ApexPro. “The lovely thing about Eos is whether you’re using your laptop or you’re using the big flagship console, it’s all the same software. So it’s all compatible and works together. It’s such an easy console because it speaks the same language the designer speaks to a programmer.” According to Lewis, the lead product developer on Eos, Anne Valentino, actually went and sat in theatres while they were programming and listened to how the designers talked to the programmers. She then developed the syntax from there, so as to keep it simple and comprehensible. The Eos Ti was born from these efforts, and it is the console Lewis worked on for the production. His love for the console is contagious and, according to him, “There’s not a show on Broadway that’s not on Eos.” Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell echoes the sentiment by saying that “Eos consoles make average programmers look brilliant.”

The Eos Titanium (or Eos Ti) is ETC’s flagship lighting control console, with powerful hardware, easy-to-navigate software, and the right tools to realise art within the tight timetable of professional productions. The desk’s common sense syntax is consistent and predictable so anyone – novices and professionals alike – can get down to business. You can work from an abstract concept of a design to a straightforward command sequence, thinking less about the mechanics of the system and more about the look of your show. All of this with an award-winning colour engine. Another ETC flagship is prominent in the lighting rig for the show: the Source Four LED Series 2 Lustr, ETC’s flagship lighting fixture. Leading the pack of LED theatre lighting, the Lustr uses ETC’s x7 Color System with the addition of a lime-green LED emitter and more red, to create a deeper, richer colour spectrum that fills in the gaps that ordinary LEDs leave behind. This cutting-edge technology lends the production a worldclass sheen, as various spaces are created and enhanced by lighting wizardry. The biggest lighting challenge and goal, per Lewis, was contrasting the “boring old world” of the shoe factory with the glitz of Lola’s neon nightclub lifestyle. “The way that LED technology has come along made it much easier to be able to switch between these states. Especially the Lustrs that can render tungsten-like looks all the way through to bold, saturated colour. Couple that with the power of Eos, particularly the colour mixing engine, and the whole process becomes a lot easier.” Kinky Boots is a foot-stomper, and had the audience on its feet by the rousing show-stopping finale. Book now to avoid disappointment – and remember to get your own kinky-booted selfie during interval!

Service, unmasked.

visual environment technologies | etcconnect.com

MEDIATECH ALL ATTENDA

TRADESHOW REVIEW: MEDIATECH AFRICA

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 12 AUDIO

15 LIGHTING CONTROL

The tenth edition of Mediatech Africa delivered on its promise to ignite the

16 LIGHTING

imagination of exhibitors and visitors alike during its three-day run at the

18 DISPLAY

TicketPro Dome in Johannesburg, between 17 and 19 July.

20 STAGING

2019 BREAKS DANCE RECORDS

TRADESHOW REVIEW: MEDIATECH AFRICA

Mediatech Africa 2019 enjoyed strong support from exhibitors and visitors alike, despite trying economic conditions in the region. The show drew record crowds – attracting 7,700 unique visitors from four continents, representing a six percent increase in attendance since the last iteration of the show. The Mediatech showroom floor played host to one hundred exhibitors, representing some of the leading local distributors and an impressive contingent of international equipment manufacturers and suppliers, who showcased an array of cutting– edge technologies and products on their company stands. Commenting on the depth of the exhibitors present, Mediatech show director, Simon Robinson says, “We are proud to confirm that more than 30 international equipment manufacturers had their own brand presence at Mediatech Africa 2019, demonstrating a strong vote of confidence not only in the show but in the African market as a whole.”

A GLOBAL EVENT FOR AFRICA As an expo, Mediatech Africa presents the only opportunity for major players in six niche sectors to view and assess the latest media and entertainment technologies on home ground. The event showcases the same advanced technologies seen at the likes of international events such as Prolight+Sound and ISE, and presents a rare networking opportunity for sector professionals from across the continent. According to Robinson, the exhibitors, many of whom participate in every Mediatech Africa, reported that the 2019 edition was as slick as any comparable event abroad. “Mediatech Africa prides itself in providing a platform for engagement not only for the South African market but for the continent as a whole. We had visitors from all over Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Nigeria and Namibia – many of who came to the show to seek out professional tech solutions to support the continent’s rapidly growing commercial, broadcast and live events markets,” says Robinson.

TRADESHOW REVIEW: MEDIATECH AFRICA

He goes on to state that most of the exhibitors at Mediatech understand the needs of the African market, and showcase products and solutions that are designed to meet the market conditions. “There are several large-scale tradeshows on the international circuit which serve as a platform for the world’s leading product manufacturers to launch new products and solutions. What differentiates Mediatech Africa is that most of the exhibitors at the large international tradeshows showcase technologies that have been developed with Western markets in mind. At Mediatech Africa, exhibitors take into account the market that they are addressing and showcase solutions that are designed to meet our unique performance demands and cost requirements.”

PRESENTING THE LATEST TRENDS Mediatech Africa is held every two years, making the 2019 edition of the show the tenth iteration in 18 years. Robinson points out that this allows for technology to mature significantly between editions. “Holding the show on a 24-month cycle ensures that visitors are guaranteed to see something new,” Robinson points out. True to form, the show did not disappoint on the technology front, with many exhibitors presenting new products and solutions for the first time in Africa. “The rate at which technology is developing across verticals is phenomenal, particularly if one considers the rapid evolution of IPbased technologies, which continue to dominate across verticals,” states Robinson. Among the vast array of new technologies on display was an outstanding demonstration of the progress that has been made in cinematography using drone technology. Timeslice Cinematography held demonstrations of how they are producing world-class footage for international film productions using their high-powered state-ofthe-art drones at the outdoor Drone Zone. Graham Terrell, of Johannesburg-based rigging company Film Riggers, impressed with a demonstration of their unique computer-controlled cable-suspended camera system, called TopShot, that allows for the world-class filming of sports events, using affordable and locally developed technology. Ruan Joubert, product manager at Surgesound, states that the company sees Mediatech as an ideal platform to present new products to the market. “We are very excited about the range of new products that we exhibited at Mediatech Africa. This is the first time that we represented the internationally renowned manufacturer, Solid State Logic at the show, and we are excited to see how the market responds.”

IGNITING THE INDUSTRY Robinson’s astute insight into the professional tech market has been honed over the almost two decades that he has served as Mediatech Africa show director. “It would be remiss not to acknowledge that South Africans are struggling to overcome mounting economic pressures and there are few, if any, in the country who have not been directly affected by the current economic downturn,” he reflects. Robinson, however, points out that Mediatech Africa 2019 provided a critical platform for professionals to interact with international representatives and showcase the strength of the local industry.

““Mediatech provides an opportunity to demonstrate the high levels of professionalism, skill and dedication so entrenched in the South African market. Despite the trying times, the expo provides an opportunity to ignite confidence in the market and our industry.” – Simon Robinson, Mediatech Show Director

TRADESHOW REVIEW: MEDIATECH AFRICA

“Mediatech provides an opportunity to demonstrate the high levels of professionalism, skill and dedication so entrenched in the South African market. Despite the trying times, the expo provides an opportunity to ignite confidence in the market and our industry,” Robinson states. While there were fewer exhibitors in comparison to years past, the show still managed to exceed expectations on all fronts. “The feedback that we have received from exhibitors and visitors alike has been unprecedented,” says Robinson. Managing director of TV Audio, Peter Berry, told ETECH that Mediatech provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to showcase what the proAV industry is capable of in South Africa. “We have been exhibiting at Mediatech Africa for many years, and the quality of the show only seems to improve year-onyear. In my opinion, the show is critical to the success of the industry in the region, as it provides an opportunity for the local industry to foster confidence from international suppliers and manufacturers, while stimulating business among local buyers.” Gearhouse Group of Companies operations manager, Stuart Andrews, concurs. “It is very easy to be negative in the South African industry as a whole at present, as one cannot

ignore the fact that the economy is subdued, and we are all struggling for work. Is a positive sign that people are still willing to meet with their clients, suppliers and manufacturers at their Mediatech stands, because it indicates that, despite uncertain times, we are still open for business. By supporting the show, we all demonstrate a commitment to the South African industry and the continent as a whole.” Robinson concludes that the level of excitement on the showroom floor was evident from the moment he and his team opened the doors, to the point at which they had to ask all visitors to leave the floor on Friday evening. “When the market is under pressure, and we’re all feeling the pinch, it’s easy to become despondent. However, when one sees the enthusiasm, optimism and drive expressed by our industry partners and visitors to the show, one’s faith in the promise of a strong and thriving industry in Africa is easily restored. This show laid the foundations for an incredible exhibition in 2021, where we will continue to build on the formulae for success that we have built over the last ten shows. We look forward to seeing what the next iteration of Mediatech Africa will bring.”

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

BEYERDYNAMIC FOX USB CONDENSER MICROPHONE The FOX microphone from beyerdynamic is a large-diaphragm, pressure gradient condenser mic which makes use of a USB-C connection and records at 24 bit, 96 kHz studio-grade quality.

AUDIO

• • •

•

FOX connects directly to your recording device digitally with plug-and-play convenience Features a headphone output with Zero Latency Monitoring A large-diaphragm capacitor capsule with cardioid characteristic enables accurate sound conversion and low inherent noise Keep disturbing sounds away during recording by muting the microphone with the mute button. In addition, loud instruments can also be perfectly recorded using the gain switch With a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, the FOX USB condenser microphone is perfectly suited for podcasting, studio recording, live radio and ADR/dubbing applications

Alpha Technologies

FBT SUBLINE SERIES OF SUBWOOFERS FBT’s SUBline series has been completely redesigned and now consists of the 112SA, 115SA, 118SA, 218SA active and 118S and 218S passive subwoofer models. All offer bass-reflex, are constructed from birch plywood and are aimed at extending the low-frequency response of FBT speaker systems. •

• •

Created with the aim to maximise SPL/size ratio, they have Class D amplifiers, switch mode power supply and DSP capability to match any other FBT speaker Frequency response from 33Hz to 100Hz Digital Signal Processor (DSP) capability with six presets, four equalisation settings (two LPF crossover settings) and with a six-step digital delay line up to 3.5m Integrated control panel with stereo XLR in/outs, volume, EQ presets, delay, phase reversal switch (0° to 180°) and three status LED indicators Optional wheels, ergonomic integrated carrying handles and tour-grade plywood cabinets allow for easy transport

TV Audio

NEXO ID24 SPEAKER SERIES Designed to meet the requirements of the widest range of sound applications, ID24 is ideal as part of a full-range system, or as a dedicated ‘sound beaming’ unit in difficult spaces. Mounted horizontally or vertically, ID24 delivers superior performance in all scenarios. • •

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Compact, high-powered sound reinforcement speakers Three distinct ID24 specifications are available – ID24i for installation, ID24t for touring and ID24c (carte), which allows the perfect speaker to be configured from an extensive list of options Designing and configuring the perfect ID Series system is easy using free NS-1 software – a powerful and intuitive system configuration and simulation tool with an intuitive drag and drop interface, ensuring uniform SPL coverage of any NEXO system in any venue With a unique user-rotatable horn that lets users quickly select between 60° x 60°, 90° x 40°, 120° x 40° or 120° x 60° HF coverage, ID24 brings unparalleled flexibility to the world of compact speakers with a cabinet that delivers trademark NEXO sound and performance Measures just 309mm wide, 132mm high and 233mm front to back

Sound Stylists

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

NEXT PRO AUDIO LA212X LINE ARRAY The LA212X from Next Pro Audio is a 3-way, horn-loaded, axially symmetric line array element providing 90-degree horizontal constant dispersion control. The symmetric design results in virtually identical acoustic sound patterns on the right and left, affording easy, accurate alignment. •

•

The bass section makes use of two 12-inch neodymium woofers with 3-inch voice coils that are strategically placed on either side of the speaker in a dipolar horn arrangement The horn mouths are horizontally separated by a “tuned” distance that uses the Tuned Dipolar Array effect to achieve exceptional low-frequency horizontal dispersion control with the nominal angle being maintained down to 280 Hz The mid- and high-frequency sections, also horn-loaded, are coaxially mounted in the centre of the cabinet, extending lower vocal directivity control and providing smooth mid/high transition

Sound Harmonics

PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE 32SC DIGITAL MIXER The StudioLive 32SC from PreSonus is a compact, rack-mountable 32-channel digital mixer that can be quickly and easily scaled for 16-, 24-, and 32-channel applications. •

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Despite its small size, the StudioLive 32SC sports a dual-core PreSonus FLEX DSP Engine powering 40 mixing channels, 26 mix busses, and 286 simultaneous processors Includes four stereo reverberation systems and Fat Channel plug-in models on every input channel and mix bus With 128 (64x64) channels of USB recording and AVB network audio I/O, flexible routing options, and studio-grade audio quality, the StudioLive 32SC provides all the mixing tools you need for live or studio applications The StudioLive 32SC mic preamps can be remote-controlled with UC Surface software or Studio One StudioLive Series III networked products form an ecosystem that is easily expanded and quickly configured

Tuerk Music

MONKEY BANANA TURBO SERIES OF ACTIVE STUDIO MONITORS With their distinctive hexagonal styling, the Turbo series from Monkey Banana are digital bi-amp driven active studio monitors for near field monitoring. • •

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•

Developed in Germany by experienced audio engineers, the monitors of the Turbo series are specially made to fulfil the demands of recording studios They combine a woofer with a magnetically shielded polypropylene/ceramic membrane with a 1” silk tweeter. Specially developed ferrite drivers are used for the woofers, while drivers with NDFeB-neodymium magnets are used for the tweeters For accurate monitoring, the loudspeakers of the Turbo series handle digital and analogue sound material with a superior resolution of 24 bits at 192 kHz The outstanding quality of the tweeter and woofer, together with unique crossover technology, deliver a broad and even frequency response in the deep midrange and generous transparency in the mid- and high-end frequency range Furthermore, the magnetic shielding of the loudspeakers allows interference-free operation near desktops and thanks to their compact build, the monitors are ideal for near field monitoring applications

Viva Afrika

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

QUEST MX SERIES OF WEATHERPROOF MONITORS Not just another new speaker range, the Quest MX Series is a system of audio building blocks that allows architects and venue designers to create a seamless full range audio presence, without compromising on aesthetics.

AUDIO

•

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•

The range is based around a 6” or 8”, two-way, full-range, wall or ceiling-mountable loudspeaker and can be augmented with a very compact subwoofer system The Ultra-compact MX601 and MX801 loudspeakers are very low profile and feature Hi-Fi quality audio reproduction, withstand direct all-weather environments, and include an installation-friendly mounting system that is both elegant and practical The housings are shaped and finished to reflect light in a way that helps them blend in visually with modern architectural styles Quest has designed a new type of driver and also incorporated a passive resonance circuit that simulates the action of a reflex port, meaning that an 8” driver can function at full capacity within a cabinet space that would normally be suited for a 6” driver Environmentally rated up to IP67; recipient of a Good Design Award

DWR Distribution

SOLID STATE LOGIC SSL LIVE L350 CONSOLE Since their introduction in 2013, SSL Live consoles have met widespread praise from many of the world’s leading live engineers. •

•

SSL Live consoles are designed to help highly skilled operators deliver outstanding performances in the most demanding applications in touring, installation, houses of worship and theatre The L350 features exemplary hardware performance throughout the signal chain: bringing SSL studio-grade mic pre’s to the stage, outstanding audio conversion, 96kHz operation and magnificent summing The L350 control surface delivers a genuinely intuitive combination of gestural touch screen and hardware control and a whole collection of innovative features designed to streamline workflow When you compare the numbers, the Live L350 gives you more inputs and outputs, more channels, stem groups, auxes, VCAs and masters, more processing tools and more signal processing power than other consoles with much bigger price-tags

Surgesound

AUDIOCENTRE K-LA210-DSP LINE ARRAY SPEAKER K-LA210-DSP is an active DSP-controlled line array speaker that is specifically designed for the touring performance, rental and fixed installation markets. • •

• • •

The system can be used as a main PA system, with three between three and 16 cabinets per array The HF driver of K-LA210-DSP includes a customised Beyma driver with a composite membrane (2.84” voice coil) and the LF driver comprises two customised Beyma 10” drivers (2.5”voice coil) Suitable for flown or ground-stacked configuration The system can be combined in modularisation according to the coverage angle of venue Easy and convenient installation made possible with built-in fast-lock mechanism and high-intensity 9.5mm pins

Viva Afrika

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

Avolites Titan Mobile binds the awesome power of Titan software with a compact and lightweight unit that connects to your laptop to produce a fully featured moving light control system. Small enough to carry hand luggage on flights large enough for complex shows, transferable shows to and from any other Titan based console. • •

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Expandable control surface for Avolites Titan software — license include Seamless hands-on integration, with ten smooth playbacks with three luxurious metal encoder wheels and MIDI Notes/Timecode support Assignable buttons for custom control functions Four 5-pin DMX outputs (expandable to 16 with ArtNet) Powered from your laptop’s USB port

Backstage Distribution

ZERO88 FLX LIGHTING CONSOLE Designed to save you time and maximise your creativity, the FLX lighting console is fully featured, portable and easy to use. •

•

LIGHTING CONTROL

AVOLIGHTS TITAN MOBILE CONSOLE

From design to manufacture, FLX has been developed to work in a wide range of demanding situations, with specific considerations for live events and rentals, touring productions, multi-purpose venues, theatres and educational applications Whatever your background, FLX will feel instantly recognisable, due to the industry-standard, familiar syntax and intuitive fader-per-channel intensity control FLX gives you unlimited access to 2048 channels (upgradable up to 4096), with no fixture patch limitations and no expensive upgrades ever needed Tools such as Patch Wizard and Auto Palettes do all the prep work, getting you ready to operate quicker than ever before

Movievision

ROBE ROBOSPOT FOLLOW SPOT SYSTEM The RoboSpot follow spot system is a device that allows follow spot operators to remotely control up to 12 fixtures simultaneously without the safety concerns and impracticality of placing personnel at the top venues such as stadiums, indoor arenas, concert halls, theatres, TV and film sets. • • •

•

Visual displays are possible with up to 12 synchronised fixtures following a performer across the stage Operators can safely control multiple fixtures from any location within the venue Features a BaseStation with a large 15.6-inch HD touch screen for the operator to observe the performance from a “first-person” viewpoint and a full range of hand controls for operating the fixtures The screen receives the live video feed from the RoboSpot MotionCamera or from the fixture-mounted RoboSpot camera, and the operator’s commands are instantly transferred to the luminaires via DMX control

DWR Distribution

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

HYBRID HMH GOBO II COMPACT MOVING HEAD

LIGHTING

Viva Afrika’s best-selling range of Hybrid Lights has been a massive hit since its introduction as it combines good quality with highly competitive prices. • • • •

LED Source -1 x 60 Watt White LED Colour wheel with 13 colours, including white, with colour-mix effect Gobo wheel with 7 gobos and open and gobo shake effects Control features include DMX, master and slave, sound activated and auto-run

Viva Afrika

ROBE T1 SERIES The new T1 series from Robe have been specifically designed for theatre, television and touring applications. The series includes the T1 Profile and Profile FS; the T1 Fresnel and the T1 PC. • • •

•

Specifically designed to fulfil the challenging requirements of diverse applications with one comprehensive fixture The new revolutionary MSL™ (Multi-Spectral Light) LED engine’s output reaches 10.075 lumens Up to 10.075 lm, CRI 90+, + – Green Correction Function, Cpulse™ special flicker free management for HD and UHD cameras Zoom range of between 7 and 49/50 degrees

DWR Distribution

CLAY PAKY XTYLOS MOVING SOURCE FIXTURE The Xtylos is a compact beam-moving light with unique optical and chromatic characteristics, making use of a tailor-made laser source technology. This laser source, lasting for 10,000 hours, is enclosed in a reliable, safe and fully sealed module and it is the powerful engine of an incredible array of colours. •

• •

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The Xtylos uses laser technology with RGB additive colour mixing. In contrast to the subtractive mixing used with discharge lamps, coloured light beams are as bright as a white light beam The beam aperture is 1°, and it can be decreased further to 0.5° The range of effects features two gobo wheels – with seven rotating gobos and 12 fixed gobos (including seven beam diameter reducers); a wheel with three prisms; and a 16-facet prism on a dedicated channel which can be overlapped with the prism wheel Solid, flat-field, saturated, ultra-concentrated light beam without any visible hotspots

DWR Distribution

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

CLAYPAKY HY B-EYE Claypaky’s B-EYE range has revolutionised the way that LED-washed wash fixtures are used in show lighting. The B-EYE range features rotating front lenses and individual control over each LED, making for outstanding kaleidoscopic and eye-candy effects. Earlier this year, Claypaky released the HY B-EYE, which has optimised the already revolutionary B-EYE range. • • • • •

Highly versatile with three operating modes: wash, beam, FX effect Enhanced electronic engine for dynamic beam pattern design, with digital accuracy and repeatability Rotating front lens for countless vortex effects, for aerial or “kaleidoscopic” projection use Individual LED control for each parameter Source Type: 37 x RGBW LED Osram OSTAR – Stage II LE RTDUW S2WN (6000 K); LED nominal wattage: 40W

DWR Distribution

AYRTON DIABLO PROFILE FIXTURE Ayrton’s latest innovation, Diablo, is a versatile, feature-rich 300W profile luminaire based on the ultra-compact Mistral format. •

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The company has taken on the ambitious challenge of making Diablo the smallest, lightest and most efficient luminaire of its category With a record output of 19,000 lumens and a total weight of 21.8 kg, Diablo is a powerhouse of technology that will tempt the most demanding lighting designers To achieve its objective, Ayrton has miniaturised the framing system while maximising the performance level. As in other profile luminaires of the product line, the framing section allows accurate positioning of its four shutter blades on a 100% surface area in all positions, so that the user can frame any object regardless of the luminaire’s position

Ayrton

BEAMZ ANANKE 3D LASER PROJECTOR The Beamz Ananke is a compact laser projector with a total combined output of 600mW – comprised of Red (300mW), Green (75mW) and Blue (225mW). • • • • •

The laser produces an engaging 3D effect with pre-programmed shows and patterns to entertain everyone at your next gig or live event Includes a wireless IR remote allowing you to control the laser from a distance. Can also be sound activated with adjustable sensitivity Connecting the laser to your DMX controller gives you full control in all three dimensions (X, Y and Z) and an added zoom effect The laser also supports DMX in/out connection via three-pin XLR and control panel with LED display for creating your very own shows Easy to set-up and operate and fitted with a safety key to prevent unauthorised operation, this is the perfect laser effect for DJs, bands, venues and house parties

TV Audio

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

ABSEN ARIES SERIES FINE PIXEL DISPLAYS Absen’s new Aries Series is the company’s first NPP range that has been specially designed to meet the growing demand for sub-2mm fine-pitch LED in rental staging applications such as auto shows, high-end conferences and live broadcasts.

DISPLAY

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Supporting HDR10 (high-dynamic-range) standard, the new AX1.5 model allows for a much broader range of colours, while being road-rugged thanks to its corner edge protection Featuring the latest in Integrated Matrix Device (IMD) and Common Cathode (CC) technologies, the new Aries Series (featuring the 1.5mm pixel pitch AX1.5) provides over three times the strength as traditional LED screens while consuming 20% less power The Aries Series’ IMD technology can provide greater lamp protection than the traditional SMD technology while making maintenance as simple and convenient for engineers as possible

DWR Distribution

AIRSCREEN NANO INFLATABLE SCREEN AIRSCREEN inflatable movie screens – entirely manufactured in Germany – have revolutionised the outdoor movie market and can be a cost-effective alternative to LED walls for live events. • • • • •

The projection surface is 3 metres wide and 1.7 metres wide, while the Nano weighs only 20 kilograms Taking just 60 seconds to inflate the frame, the Nano can easily be set up by one person Featuring a unique sealed design, the Nano does not require any blower running during operation Cinema-grade, professional .96 gain seamless front screen surface Includes theatrical screen ties to attach and stretch screen surface, as well as eight ratched straps and two take-down tethers

Sound Harmonics

PIXEL PLUS XCEED Pixel Plus manufactures turnkey LED display solutions for houses of worship, advertising, retail and rental and staging companies. •

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The Xceed series from Pexel Plus is tailor-made for indoor and outdoor rental applications and is geared for high performance, fast installation and down-the-road flexibility Indoor series available in pitch length from 1.5mm to 3.9mm; with a high refresh rate of greater than 1920-3840 Hz, making them suitable for broadcast applications Outdoor series available in pitch length from 2.5mm to 6.25mm; with a viewing angle of 140 degrees and a high refresh rate of greater than 1920-3840 Hz Both versions feature True Black SMD High Contrast; calibration memory in module; and optimised thermal design HDR-ready and featuring magnetic installation for increased ease and flexibility

Stage Audio Works

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

GLOSHINE Gloshine is a manufacturer of high-quality LED displays for indoor and outdoor applications. Gloshine displays have been successfully deployed by international rental companies for corporate events, arena concerts and outdoor festivals as well as for out of home advertising. •

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W series is designed to be a cost-effective indoor display with ultra-wide, ultra-high viewing angles and solid and reliable performance AM Series is designed for large-scale outdoor applications, such as concerts and festivals, making it ideal for the rental industry. The AM series supports approx. 7.5o internal and external arc stitching and can be used on local brick screens LM series is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and supports hoisting, seat mounting, curved splicing, and floor tile screens

Skyco Media Technologies

LIGHTLINK HDS II SERIES OF LED DISPLAYS The HDS II series from Lightlink are small-pitch LED displays customised for large engineering professionals with high performance and quality. • • • • •

Available in three pixel pitch lengths: 1.579mm, 1.875mm and 2.5mm Dual signal ports and backup power features, designed to avoid black screen and signal failure Front maintenance design without rear access to cabinet: all parts (including receiving card) can be completely replaced from the front The die-cast aluminium shell module makes the cabinet thinner and lighter, and faster for installation Higher contrast with 3-in-1 Black LED; lifespan is at least 50,000 hours for all models

Lightlink

YAHAM X2S SERIES OF LED DISPLAYS The X2s series from Yaham is a range of outdoor small pixel pitch LED displays that have been designed with both high performance and ease-of-use in mind. •

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Small pitch LED developed to accommodate closer viewing considerations for outdoor installations and more detailed content broadcasting Enhanced Ingress Protection and industry-leading technology ensure stability of performance and picture-perfect image quality Cabinet assembly benefits from pneumatic air-actuated clamping tools and full CNC processing, achieving accuracy levels up to +/-0.05mm Cabinets are designed with four-sided rabbet joints to assist LED display assembly, leading to faster installation and final screen perfection Dual-voltage input and common cathode technology achieves 15-20% lower power consumption than regular LED displays. Advanced thermal management qualities prolongs longevity of LED life and performance

Yaham

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

PROLYTE VERTO TRUSS The Verto truss from Prolyte is a new revolutionary system, making truss connection fast, silent and safe. The Verto truss brings a new perspective on truss assembly and has been described as a game-changer in the staging industry.

STAGING

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The Verto truss is based on a new principle of truss connection, where the sections are joined by a rotating coupler system The new system’s tool-less connection is almost completely silent, thereby greatly adding to safety on the work floor Tested general sound levels are around 55dB, where a conical truss system generates a sound level of 80dB during assembly Furthermore, it reduces the assembly and disassembly time: tested general assembly times are up to five times faster than those for truss with conical coupling systems, and ten times faster than any bolted truss

DWR Distribution

IN2STRUCTURES 28M MAXI DOME The Maxi Dome was designed to create a unique venue that was both portable and practical for events. The Maxi Dome is the second generation of Dome Venues and is the temporary venue of choice in South Africa for The Joy of Jazz concerts, Metro FM Awards and SABC Vuka Sizwe awards. • • •

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Easy to install and user friendly in terms of rigging, lighting, sound and audio visual equipment The steel structure of the Maxi Dome has been designed to carry a load of 2500Kgs UDL per arch The skins have been offset from the main structure so that ample climbing space is available for rigging, and skins are black on the inside, enabling the structure to host day events with complete black-out Glass doors have been designed with emergency push bars. These doors open up to 2.4m width and give the venue a unique open look and feel

In2Structures (Gearhouse Group)

EVENT POWER SOLUTIONS 32 AMP BREAKOUT The new 32 Amp Breakout device from Event Power Solutions sets a new standard for compact distribution devices. •

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Available in two options: fitted with 12 X 15A plug devices, or else 6 X 15A plugs and 6 X 16A C-form plugs Features 1 X 32A 3-phase out Built-in amp metre for instant current monitoring Built-in voltmeter for instant voltage monitoring Features three integrated earth leakage units

Event Power Solutions

TRADESHOW REVIEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

STAGE PLUS STAGE DECK The Stage Plus Stage Deck is a modular stage platform with support system options. •

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Its design makes it able to form the foundation for everything from simple stage platforms to complex stage and ramp designs which can be used in temporary, fixed or movable applications Constructed from 21mm specially-sourced European Birch plywood Option of a phenolic or painted topping Assembled with a lightweight structural grade (6082-T6) aluminium extrusion TUV NORD Type tested and approved for a maximum load of 750kg load per square metre – Uniformly Distributed Load

Stage Audio Works

ALUSTAGE AL3 SYSTEM 290 TRUSS The 290 trio truss system from Alustage features an attractive, durable design and is easily assembled for a variety of applications. • • •

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System 290’s main tube measures 50mm x 2mm and its braces 20mm x 2mm Features SZ02.10 connections Due to their unique design, the trusses can be arranged in different ways and are ideal elements of stage roofs, trade fair structures, exposition structures, big screen structures, LED display screen and projection screen support frames, lighting and sound ‘gates’, as well as frameworks for advertising banners or stage decorations Each truss is of the highest quality which is confirmed by its ISO DIN 4113 specification All Alustage products are backed by TÜV certification

TV Audio

GEAR SHACK MARK-AIDE MARKING PAINT Mark-Aide is a new product from Gear Shack that allows event organisers a quick and efficient way to demarcate spaces and areas for event and exhibition purposes. • • •

•

Water-based paint greatly reduces clogging Can be used on grass without any burning With the highest possible pigment percentage, you’ll get the most vibrant marking paint available The Hand Applicator is essential for deliberate spot marking, while the Long Handle Applicator is appropriate for longer, even, more continuous marking Easy to clean and will not leave behind any residue

Gear Shack

MEDIATECH BLACK BOX ELEVATES THE TRADESHOW REVIEW BLACK BOX 360

One of the undisputed highlights of Mediatech 2019 was the second iteration of the Black Box 360, an

EVENTING INDUSTRY

innovative, self-contained demonstration space designed by Christopher Bolton and Joshua Cutts of Collective Works and brought to life by the Gearhouse Group. The Black Box provided visitors to Mediatech Africa with a spellbinding first-hand experience of what the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading professionals can do with cutting-edge technology.

TRADESHOW REVIEW BLACK BOX 360

WHAT’S IN THE BOX Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton of Collective Works once again served as the masterminds behind the Mediatech Black Box, working in collaboration with Mediatech Africa show director Simon Robinson and the Gearhouse Group. The dedicated presentation space offered visitors to Mediatech an entertainment spectacle designed by the most creative minds in the industry – showcasing the most groundbreaking technology available – in the most inspired and inventive way. The technology used on the show represented some of the most cutting-edge available on the market, including Green Hippotizer media servers; MA lighting consoles; L-Acoustics Kara / KS28; as well as VPUs for pixel mapping. This year, the core team behind the Black Box 360 was expanded to include more industry professionals; a decision taken by Creative Works to ensure that Black Box is a tradition that lives on at Mediatech. “While just as awe-inspiring – it was radically different to Black Box 2017 and we were pleased to see everyone who came to experience it, and took up the opportunity to

“While just as aweinspiring – it was engage with the presenters and the technology,” says Bolton. radically different A PLACE OF LEARNING to Black Speaking to ETECH in a recent interview, operations Box 2017 manager at Gearhouse Group, Stuart Andrews, stated: “When we decided to get involved in Mediatech’s Black and we Box, we wanted to take full advantage of the training opportunity that it presents. We wanted to use the were platform to foster an imparting of knowledge from skilled and experienced people to those that are starting their pleased to professional journeys in the industry– and it developed see everyone organically from this initial concept.” Bolton says that the best way to describe Mediatech’s who came to Black Box 360 is as a fully immersive, experience-based, interactive AV education centre. “We managed to experience it, design something distinctive, which was captivating and entertaining while being highly informative. Black Box 360 and took up the gave visitors a taste of what it’s like to be immersed in an opportunity to enthralling performance – put on by leading professionals in our industry, especially for people who don’t get to engage with the experience the ‘wow factor’ of big shows.” Bolton goes on to explain that Black Box 360 serves as presenters and the more than a demonstration space, but aims to inform, enrich and inspire both professionals and trainees in the technology.”

professional AV industry in Africa. “The Black Box is more than just a spectacular show, it’s a learning environment that details what went into creating the seamless synchronicity and pinpoint accuracy of the show, including the technology and design elements, and details how to create decent workflows in design.” The structure of each hour-long experience was broken into two performances – each followed by a presentation by some of the most qualified and experienced professionals in the industry.

– Christopher Bolton

TRADESHOW REVIEW BLACK BOX 360

Presentations at the Black Box included an insightful exploration, led by Bolton and Cutts, detailing their recent working experience as lighting programmers on the internationally-renowned Eurovision Song Contest. Leading sound engineers Adriaan van der Walt and Christo Hattingh presented an astute exploration of communication protocols and cross-system integration in the modern production environment. Andrew Bosman and Jonathan Bandil from the Cape Town-based creative technical production company, Bad Weather, expanded on how to develop creative workflows for real-time and interactive experiences. Bolton took to the podium to work through the fundamentals of production design. Finally, Gearhouse Johannesburg operations manager, Stuart Andrews, Nickolas Chapman of Showcom, rigging operations manager Johann Moolman, and senior lighting designer and programmer Robert Grobler from the Gearhouse Group expanded upon the importance of unified work processes and interdepartmental collaboration in the events industry. The informative and interactive presentations were interspersed with performances by the up-and-coming alternative-pop duo, Emerger. Since the release of their debut mini-album Bloom in May 2018, Emerger has been making waves both nationally and overseas. Cutts and Bolton developed a stunning light show to accompany the band’s performances, with dynamic, custom-designed content on multiple displays adding to the show. “With a mix of backtracks and performances by Emerger – who play all original South African songs – when it comes to the music, there was something for everyone,” Bolton reflects.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Bolton

and Cu

tts of C

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s at th

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iatech

Black B

In preparation for Black Box 360, well over 2,000 man-hours went into controlling more than 8,900 different parameters and 16 odd universes. As the technical sponsor, Gearhouse spent four full days managing the complexities of the Black Box build and supplied 3kms of tech cabling, a huge amount of LED video panels, around 150 static LED lights and 200 moving lights. Over a ton of rigging was used, with a total of 34 motorised rigging points necessary to get the trussing design up and within spec. Multiple rigging bridles had to be used to ensure a safe weight distribution throughout the roofing system of the venue. Gearhouse experts Reinier Robertson, Johann Moolman and Tanya Brown worked closely with Robert Grobler to ensure all weight and design parameters were taken into account when working out bridle lengths, positioning on the stand and point custom-designed to ensure a safe methodology to the installation. “We worked closely with Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton from Collective works and senior lighting designer and programmer at Gearhouse, Robert Grobler, to ensure that we presented something unique and awe-inspiring for the Black Box,” says Johann Moolman, rigging operations manager at Gearhouse. He goes on to explain that: “The roof of the Black Box was built in increments from the top down, with part of the structure landed to distribute the weight. We decided to leave

the roof open and drape the sides in black to increase ventilation in the space. This approach highlighted the roof of the structure, which was the focal point of the design, while the draping around the sides ensured the closed environment that enables maximum effect for the lighting and LED panels.” Reflecting on the challenges that the Gearhouse team overcame in delivering the Black Box, Grobler points out: “One of the only challenges that we had to overcome was the fact that we were solely responsible for building the Black Box, which was a technically demanding job, as well as providing rigging and services for the tradeshow as a whole. As a result, we needed to employ our considerable project management skills to make sure that we spread enough manpower around to aim to deliver on time. Generally, however, the Black Box went up quite smoothly.”

A WINNING FORMULA According to Andrews, Mediatech’s Black Box provides the industry with a great platform for knowledge sharing and skills transfer – especially as the space can be used to physically demonstrate some of the concepts that are unpacked in the presentations. “A lot of the attendees at the tradeshow are students who are just starting their careers in the industry, and it is great for them to see something that is put up properly, and which is big and spectacular. We are, therefore, interested in continuing our involvement with the Black Box at future iterations of the show,” he concludes. Mediatech show director, Simon Robinson, concurs: “It’s hard to improve on perfection,” he states, “but Creative Works and the team who laboured on the project have exceeded all expectations, adding new elements and twists to the vibrant automated light and audiovisual experience – which broke the constraints of the box. Black Box 360 is more than just education and entertainment. It’s an experience that leaves you invigorated and inspired by the possibility of opportunity and a fast forward glimpse into the arrival of the future. The show demonstrated, yet again, the magnitude of South Africa’s talent in this industry. Some of the country’s best lighting and show designers have contributed to the show’s development, and we are incredibly proud be able to showcase this event.”

TECHNOLOGY 3D FILMING

THE FUTURE IS IMMERSIVE This year’s Black Box presentation zone at Mediatech Africa included a brand-new element, allowing those who couldn’t attend the show a remote – yet immersive – experience of the hugely popular exhibition space through 360-degree video content published across social media platforms. ETECH caught up with Telmo Dos Reis, managing director of VR Capture, to learn more about the evolution of the technology and its current applications.

TECHNOLOGY 3D FILMING

Telmo Dos Reis

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT TRAINING?

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A CONTENT PRODUCER I’ve been doing VR for about four-and-a-half years – and now that’s all I do. I had a music studio and did radio ads and music production for about 12 years, and I had a video production company that has now morphed into VR capture, specialising in 360 video. We can come in at any point – for the video capture, or for the spatial audio recordings, the post-production – but what we really like to do is take the client through from the beginning, from scripting to storyboarding, then film it, edit it – because we know how the final product is going to look and feel, so it’s helpful to be involved at every step along the way.

I learned on the job. We had a big client approach us and ask if this was something we could do. I researched different ways of stitching video together and I decided that I understood the process enough to go forward with the project. When the day of shooting came, we didn’t have a specialised camera yet – but we made a plan by taping a bunch of Go Pros together in correct alignment and we made sure we set up our spatial audio recorders properly. Luckily, I had two months to complete the video in post and by the time we finished, we actually managed to produce South Africa’s first 3D 360-degree video. So we went right into the deep end at the beginning, and we’ve been refining our operations ever since.

DO YOU USE A STANDARD EDITING SUITE? Yes, I’m back using Final Cut Pro. It now has 360 support, which it didn’t when we started stitching videos together. Adobe Premiere has support, too – there’s been a lot of development in a very short space of time. And the price-points have fallen dramatically, too: you’re looking at the difference between R3,000 for a VR headset now, compared to R15,000 just a few years ago.

TECHNOLOGY 3D FILMING

Telmo Dos Reis with the Insta 360 Pro camera

HOW DID YOU RIG FOR THE BLACK BOX SHOOT? The camera rig we had for the Black Box wasn’t actually the most ideal. We had an Insta 360 Pro – a really good 360 camera, it has six lenses and it shoots in 8K and monoscopic, which is what I filmed in – but it’s not perfect for indoor scenarios. So I had to work on the footage in postproduction to get it looking like it does now. I think it came out pretty good in the end, but normally you might want to shoot on something like custom-built DSLR rig or something like that. Most virtual reality cameras aren’t built for low-light conditions.

WHAT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE LED TO THE USE OF 360 VIDEO ACROSS SMART DEVICES? For smart devices, the technology has been available for about four years now – ever since the invention of gyros, basically – the ability for the gyro to determine which part of the video should be playing on the display at any time. 360 video is also so easy to embed online these days – anyone doing website design can go online and find codes and plugins; and anywhere you can embed a YouTube video, you can now host 360. You can see that the major tech players know that this is the direction that content is travelling in: Google drove a lot of investment through YouTube 360 support, while Facebook bought Oculus.

ARE YOU SURPRISED TO NOT SEE MORE PENETRATION OF VR PRODUCTS AT MEDIATECH? It’s still up-and-coming in the rest of the world – South Africa, or the African market, is certainly not behind in any way. Across the world we get the same reaction – whether it’s in the United States or here, people are still amazed when they encounter this technology for the first time, and there are still a lot of people for whom this technology is still new and unfamiliar.

IN YOUR OPINION, IS THIS TECHNOLOGY STILL UNDEREXPLOITED IN SOME ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES? Gaming has definitely been a big part of the developments in the technology – it’s pushed the whole industry forward. But 360 video is finding areas all over where it’s really useful, it’s finding its niche in different industry sectors. It’s really good for online content and online marketing – it’s interactive, because the audience is actually interacting with the content, they’re not passively consuming it, they’re moving their phones around, or – if they’re wearing a headset – they’re physically

looking around the space. Some live concerts have been filmed in 360 video – and I think, going forward, you’ll start to see people selling virtual tickets. This will allow anyone to ‘attend’ a live concert, in virtual reality, from anywhere in the world. Plus they are guaranteed a fully immersive experience of the concert, they can choose their seats and the audio will be placed in a ‘realistic’ spatial domain. It opens up some completely different models and new opportunities. The TV isn’t going anywhere – your major streaming services aren’t going anywhere, either – but 360 video is slowly finding its little home in a variety of industries.

WHAT IS THE NEXT WAVE OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU ANTICIPATE? In the case of sports, for example, there have already been numerous VR applications – but at the moment, this just allows you watch the game from a unique point of view, you miss all the reverse angles and sowmotion replays and things like that. But, soon in the future, I think we’re going to see the development of volumetric video capture – which will allow you to ‘fly around’ the video content in real-time – when that happens, and we’re really not far from this point, then I think that side of the industry will start to take off.

WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE CURRENTLY THE MOST ACTIVE EXPONENTS OF VR AND 360-DEGREE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY? Safety has been a big industry, with simulations being used for places like mines and gas refineries – places where it’s helpful to demonstrate safety concerns in a realistic setting. Tourism is another one – giving people experiences of what their proposed holiday is going to be like, you can basically teleport them to the different places and help them decide where they want to go on holiday. Nature conservation is another exciting field, because people can have ‘up-close’ experiences of wild animals without disturbing the environment at all. But there are so many unrealised opportunities at the moment: even if you looks at something like real estate, I get frustrated because the technology is here; at a very low cost, I can scan those house photos and on my computer I have a 3D model which would allow someone to manoeuvre through the different rooms and see how they all link together. With location stuff – everyone wants to experience the space.

IS THAT THE KEY ADVANTAGE OF 360-DEGREE VIDEO CONTENT? All content is about storytelling. And what we do brings an immersive quality to the experience – actually being able to put people in a location, it’s a tremendously powerful tool for the storyteller.

EXHIBITING GREATNESS AT MEDIATECH AFRICA

The tenth edition of Mediatech Africa presented a strong exhibitor profile, with more than a hundred companies representing more than 500 brands, despite the challenging economic climate. Commenting on the depth of the exhibitors present, Mediatech show director, Simon Robinson, says, “We are proud to confirm that more than 30 international equipment manufacturers had their own brand presence at Mediatech Africa 2019, demonstrating a strong vote of confidence not only in the show but in the African market as a whole.” Operations manager at the Gearhouse Group, Stuart Andrews, adds: “Mediatech Africa offers all of the stakeholders in the industry a great opportunity to share knowledge and develop collaborative relationships that serve to strengthen the industry as a whole.” Managing director of TV Audio, Peter Berry, concurs, stating that “Mediatech serves as a fantastic networking space, where all stakeholders in the industry can get together under one roof to demonstrate what we are capable of as a collective.” Andrew Rowan, managing director of Surgesound, concludes by stating: “Mediatech is a great opportunity to show the market our new product offerings and get a sense for where the industry is headed.”

EXHIBITORS

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

SURGESOUND Surgesound showcased an impressive range of new products and solutions from the worldrenowned audio brands that it represents in South Africa at Mediatech Africa this year. “We represented all of the world-class brands that we distribute, including products from Solid State Logic, our latest partnership,” says technical director at Surgesound Ruan Joubert. Company director, Andrew Rowan concurs, stating that he is very pleased with the positive response they received from visitors to their stand, particularly the interest shown in the SSL Live 350, a mid-to-high version of SSL’s latest console offering. Speaking to ETECH at the Surgesound stand, Jonathan Attard, the SSL international sales VP who travelled from France to attend the show, states: “I feel that Surgesound is the right partner for SSL’s live entertainment product range in the region, because SSL’s range fits perfectly with the other brands managed by Surgesound, which enables them to offer a complete audio package to their clients.” Surgesound also hosted Leonardo Weber, an application engineer from Italian audio specialist Powersoft. “This is my first visit to Mediatech Africa, and I am very impressed with the show,” he says adding that “Traditionally, Powersoft has developed products for the live entertainment market, but increasingly, we are seeing demand for products designed for fixed installation and have, therefore, designed and manufactured a brand new range of products for this market, called the Mezzo.” said Weber. He goes on to explain that many of the visitors to Mediatech have shown a keen interest in Powersoft’s installation range, making the show a good platform to increase brand awareness in the African market.

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

AYRTON

EXHIBITORS

This year’s Mediatech saw Aytron exhibit for the first time, as the company presented a range of eye-catching lighting fixtures. Ayrton is a Paris-based lighting manufacturer that specialises in LED fixtures. “Ayrton has been able to stay ahead of the LED technology curve because it’s been our only focus,” said Zane Cretten, international sales consultant at Ayrton. Reflecting on his experience at Mediatech Africa, Cretten stated: “We’ve had a lot of interest in our lights, especially the Diablo – which is a 300W LED profile. Currently there’s nothing else like it on the market in terms of size, weight and output, and people have been blown away by the optical efficiency. Despite its small footprint, we get 20,000 lumens out the front, while our competitors tend to get in the region of around 12,000 to 14,000 lumens from similar wattage fixtures.” Ayrton provides lighting solutions for a wide range of industry verticals, ranging from live entertainment to television studios, houses of worship and theatres. “Currently we don’t have a distributor in South Africa,” Cretten told us. “We’re selling direct, which is not the usual business model for the company, but we’re getting a good response. We have an office in Johannesburg and we have on-site technicians, as well as spares and spare units available. As a result, clients that invest in our fixtures receive full South African-based back-up and support.”

DWR DISTRIBUTION DWR Distribution created a stir at Mediatech Africa, where they offered visitors the opportunity to gather and network in comfort at their stand. “The idea behind our Mediatech Africa stand for 2019 was to create a space that our customers could come and ‘just enjoy’. The stand is about creating a space where we can socialise with our customers and share a little of who we are as people, and get to know them a little better in return” says Robert Izzett of DWR. The DWR stand served as a central hub, surrounded by many of their distribution partners, including Robe, Claypaky, Absen, Visual Productions and Quest. “We were very privileged to have the support of some of our partners at Mediatech Africa and were pleased to host our clients while they discover some of the new and exciting products being demonstrated by our partners,” Izzett points out. Managing director of DWR Distribution, Duncan Riley expressed his gratitude to the event organisers for producing another fantastic edition of the show. “Mediatech Africa serves as a great opportunity for stakeholders in the industry to gather, network and show our international and local partners the strength and professionalism that defines the South African market.”

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

ROBE Robe Lighting has been a loyal supporter of Mediatech Africa for many years and once again brought its iconic and dynamic approach to professional lighting to the showroom floor this year. Speaking to ETECH at the Robe stand, Robe’s international sales director Harry von den Stemmen confirmed the company’s commitment to the South African market. “Mediatech always provides Robe with the opportunity to engage with our loyal customers in South Africa, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to visit again this year.” Robe demonstrated a range of products on its stand this year, including some firm favourites as well some show-stopping innovations, recently launched at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. “We have a dynamic range of products on our stand that have already been enthusiastically embraced by customers in South Africa, such as the MegaPointe and the BMFL. We are also showcasing some of our newer products, such as the revolutionary T1 series, which is particularly well-suited to the television and theatre markets.” Visitors to the Robe stand at Mediatech Africa had the opportunity to interact directly with product specialists and enjoy first-hand demonstrations of the breath-taking capabilities of some of the company’s most successful products. “It is always a pleasure to visit our customers in South Africa – and while times may be tough in the country at the moment – we remain committed to nurturing the relationships that we have developed over the years,” von den Stemmen concluded.

AYRTON

CLAYPAKY Leading Italian lighting manufacturer Claypaky, an Osram business, once again exhibited a range of cutting-edge lighting fixtures at Mediatech Africa, demonstrating the company’s future-focused approach to product development. Claypaky international sales manager, Massimo Bolandrina, spoke to ETECH about the Xtylos at the company’s award-winning stand, which proved a highlight at this years’ show. The Xtylos was launched at Prolight+Sound earlier this year and continues to garnish positive reviews from rental companies and lighting designers globally. Clay Paky’s Mediatech Africa stand featured a demonstration area, where visitors were treated to a time-coded lightshow featuring four Xtylos units. “The Xtylos is the first moving-head light with a laser light source for beam effects, making it one of the most dynamic lights currently on the market,” explains Bolandrina. “The Xtylos enables lighting designers to achieve incredible colour saturation and midair effects, and promises to revolutionise the way that shows are lit in the future,” he goes on to state. In addition to the Xtylos, Clay Paky also featured the company’s new range of LED moving fixtures, the HY B-EYE family, which offers double the output, while retaining the silent operation and versatility for which the company’s original B-EYE range is renowned. Also on the company’s stand was the lowpower high-output Sharpy Plus, Claypaky’s upgraded version of the much-loved Sharpy. “The Sharpy Plus is the first true HYBRID unit on the market, able perform as a perfect beam light or spotlight,” Bolandrina points out. “We are very excited to be bringing our latest products to the African market and have been pleased with the response that we received from visitors at Mediatech,” he said.

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

EXHIBITORS

QUEST ENGINEERING Australian audio experts, Quest Engineering, brought a range of highly specialised audio solutions for the production and installation markets, to their Mediatech Africa stand. Export manager at Quest Engineering, Frank Andrewartha, explained that the company has enjoyed a market presence in South Africa for more than 15 years, and continues to build its reputation for delivering unique, solution-focused audio systems for the niche markets that its serves. “Quest does not have a product range, per se, but rather develops audio solutions to solve problems that sound engineers, audiophiles and installation specialists from around the world bring to our attention.” Andrewartha goes on to state that Quest differentiates itself in the highly competitive audio market by producing custom designed, user-friendly audio solutions for environmentally and acoustically challenging conditions, at an affordable price. “We make a range of audio systems that are specifically designed for challenging environments, such as completely water-proof systems and physically small, discrete systems that offer very highoutput for the architectural market.” As an Australian manufacturer, Quest understands that an audio system which operates very reliably in a moderate climate may not do so well in extremely hot, dry or humid conditions. Andrewartha points out that “we are very well equipped and uniquely qualified to provide solutions for the hospitality and leisure, houses of worship, and architectural markets in Africa – where, like in Australia, extreme conditions are a norm.” He concludes by acknowledging the role that DWR Distribution has played in supporting Quest Engineering in the African market in recent years, as the local distributor has introduced Quest’s audio systems to clients in new verticals, and has backed these new relationships up with excellent local service and support. “We are very pleased to be able to bring our audio solutions to Mediatech Africa again this year, and look forward to growing the relationships that we have established in the region.”

TV AUDIO The TV Audio stand at this year’s Mediatech Africa offered a comprehensive range of high-end audio and lighting products, allowing visitors to see for themselves how the company can meet the most exacting staging requirements. As the company’s owner Peter Berry explains, “At the last Mediatech, we didn’t have a big speaker brand – which we now do, in the form of FBT. So our main focus at this year’s event is to showcase FBT, as well as to demonstrate how our lighting brand has grown tremendously.” With the stand gorgeously lit by a variety of Beamz fixtures, Berry told us that the goal was to “highlight both the quality and the range of the fixtures we have available. For this show, we’ve aimed more towards the professional market than the DJ market so that you can see the latest in effect lighting and other pro fixtures.” Talking about the company’s decision to go with FBT, Berry said: “We were looking around for a long time for a quality speaker brand – we didn’t want to go with ‘just anything’. And it turned out there were some changes happening in their company, and we there at the right time, and we managed to secure the brand – which we are very happy about.” Reflecting more broadly on TV Audio’s growth since the last edition of Mediatech, Berry said: “We pride our business on service. We understand our customers’ needs, and we’ve been going for a long time – and it’s all been built on service.”

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

EXHIBITORS

PROLYTE Prolyte is the ultimate name in international staging products, and their booth at Mediatech 2019 consisted of an impressive structure, showcasing some of the company’s latest products. Paul Hadfield, distribution manager at Prolyte, told us: “We’re here this year to support DWR Distribution, our partner for the region. They’ve been doing a great job in expanding our range across the whole of the region – creating awareness on safety and making our products more accessible for people.” Hadfield went on to state that the company had several newly launched and highly innovative products on display, which have been well received by both new and existing clients. Hadfield introduced us to the new Verto Truss, which he described as a “real game-changer in how people build and break down truss. It’s incredibly fast and silent on build-up and break-down. Also, there are no tools involved, and therefore less wear and tear on the truss over repeated uses, making it ideal for the rental market.” Hadfield also showed us an extensive range of electric chain-hoists, control systems, the Prolyte LSU universal stacking system for LED screens. “We have great coverage and brand presence in the region, thanks to the work of our local distribution partner, DWR Distribution, over the years. Mediatech Africa offers a great opportunity to meet up with familiar faces and build new relationships. Mediatech is just a great place to be!” he concluded.

GEARHOUSE SYSTEM SOLUTIONS Gearhouse System Solutions took advantage of the opportunity presented at Mediatech Africa to entertain both existing and prospective clients by putting together a hospitality suite that invited active engagement and fostered networking opportunities. System Solutions business development manager, Melita Adams says: “At System Solutions, our primary objective is to provide end-users with turnkey solutions that answer all of their AV needs over the long term, without them needing to become AV experts themselves. From Stadiums to boardrooms, System Solutions specialise in taking the AV concept from design to install and providing full after-sales service and maintenance support. As a result, we decided to focus our energy on creating a space where clients could come and engage with our team in comfort, rather than on demonstrating the gear or products that make up the solutions that we deliver.” While the heart of the stand was, without doubt, the guests, the booth was not without its technical highlights. System Solutions used the opportunity presented to demonstrate the company’s newly arrived Christie Crimson Series high-performance 25,000 lumen 3DLP laser projector, which is specifically designed for large venues and live events. “Our brand-new Christie Crimson laser projector recently arrived in the country, and we were very excited to demonstrate its capabilities to the South African market for the first time,” Adams said. “We have exhibited at Mediatech Africa for several editions of the show, and while we have always had a very positive experience, this year was particularly productive for our company. We had a lot more people coming to the stand and engaging with us, which has resulted in several new sales leads, which is always exciting.”

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

MOVIEVISION The Movievision stand at this year’s Mediatech thronged with visitors throughout the threeday event, largely thanks to its hand-built, steampunk-inspired stall – which included a bar serving craft beer and vodka coolers on tap, and a café-style seating arrangement attractively lit by premium studio fixtures. As technical consultant to Movievision, Sean Boyce, explained to us: “This year, we decided to bring a smaller selection of premium lighting fixtures – and instead focus our attention on getting feet in the stall, and providing a social atmosphere so that people could socialise and network in comfort.” Boyce explained that the company is very excited to have had the opportunity to showcase some unique products this year. “We have a couple of six-colour panel lights – red, green, blue, white, lime and amber – and both are really bright, with 400W of output. The RGB Panel 400 Pro is manufactured by Film Gear – and it will be released later this year. The other is the Rosco DMG MaxiMIX, a brand-new product in South Africa, though it has already done extremely well in Europe.” Other highlights on the booth included the all-new six colour 200w Hyperion Fresnel from Spotlight, the portable RGBW Pavolite tubes and an array of grips and accessories from the company. Movievision has also recently become the official distributors for Zero88 in South Africa – an exciting partnership between the company and the console manufacturer. As Boyce says: “Zero88 manufactures dimmers, desks, and DMX control and we are very excited about the agency because they cater for every level of the market, from solid entrylevel solutions to the really complex FLX S consoles.”

AYRTON

VENUE TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT

TAKING YOUR EVENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL A TOTAL TECHNICAL EVENT SOLUTION

Tel: +27 (0) 31 792 6200 - Durban Tel: +27 (0) 21 929 7200 - Cape Town Tel: +27 (0) 11 216 3000 - Johannesburg

www.gearhouse.co.za

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

EXHIBITORS

STAGE AUDIO WORKS Stage Audio Works made a statement on the show floor at Mediatech Africa 2019 with an eye-catching two-storey booth design ensuring that visitors flocked to the stand to find out more about its latest audio, visual and staging solutions. As a result, the company succeeded in winning several deals over the three-day event. “Mediatech only takes place once every two years, so we have spent a lot of time and energy ensuring that we can maximise our presence at the show,” reflected Shaun Xavier, marketing manager at Stage Audio Works. “The response that we had over the three days has more than justified this effort. We have been able to spend time with old friends and make some strong new contacts, as well as writing a significant amount of new business.” This success has been boosted by the support that the company has received from the various brands it represents. Staff from Christie, dB Technologies, Sennheiser and Yamaha were all present on the booth, taking numerous customers through their respective technologies and adding to the expert advice that the Stage Audio Works team was able to provide for other brands, including in-house ranges Stage Plus and Pixel Plus, and international manufacturers such as Analog Way, d&b audiotechnik, Living As One and NovaStar. While the floor plan may have been smaller than in previous years, Xavier is certain that Stage Audio Works has benefitted from taking part in Mediatech 2019. “We came to highlight the solutions that we can offer to a dedicated crowd of AV professionals. I can safely say that we achieved that.”

SOUND HARMONICS At this year’s edition of Mediatech, Sound Harmonics introduced two new products to the South African market: a range of speaker solutions from Next Pro Audio and a range of inflatable screens from AIRSCREEN. “Next Pro Audio is a major Portuguese brand that has been around for more than 30 years and has a massive footprint in European and Asian markets. When we saw the calibre of shows that they were powering, we had to introduce them to the South African market as well. This is a product that punches well above its price point, and this brings a little more of what’s needed to our industry, especially in our current economic conditions.” explained Joseph Mandy, co-director at Sound Harmonics. At the outdoor demonstration area, Sound Harmonics demonstrated a shortthrow system (HFA115 & LAs418A), medium-throw ‘plug & play’ system (PX system) and a compact line array (LA122A & LAs118A). “All the above can be used separately, or in conjunction for larger applications and is a broad-spectrum showcase of NEXT’s offerings using very few products. We are also pleased to report that this method led to excellent feedback from the visitors.” Mandy points out. At the Sound Harmonics stand, the company displayed additional products from NEXT’s range such as the PFA18.12 system, HFA108 and the brand new HFA115sHP, 137dB, High-Power, single-15” subwoofer, to name a few. AIRSCREEN is an innovative display solution, fully manufactured in Germany, that is well suited for a variety of markets and applications. “AIRSCREEN is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and has been used for everything from film festivals, to promotions, fundraisers and presentations,” says Travis Vermeulen, sales director at Sound Harmonics. He goes on to explain that AIRSCREEN structures have high tolerance in the wind, partly because they are produced using a special high-frequency welding method on the special PVC fabric. As a result, the frame does not leak or tear and provides a rock-solid structure ensuring the projection surface is always wrinkle-free.

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

VIVA AFRIKA The Viva Afrika stand at Mediatech Africa 2019 proved to be one of the most popular on the floor, with visitors able to sample yet-to-be-released DJ equipment and the latest in Hybrid and Audiocenter speaker technology. According to brand ambassador Larin Bates, the size of the Viva Afrika stand reflects the company’s healthy state of business. “The market is very tough at the moment, and a couple of big guys aren’t here – but we make it our mission to come to Mediatech every two years.” Of the products on display at the Viva Afrika stand, undoubtedly the latest range of Hybrid MIDI controllers caused the biggest buzz. Functioning as an intuitive and easy-to-use piece of DJ equipment – where you use the controller’s decks to interface with the music on your computer via unique software – scores of visitors to Mediatech have grabbed the opportunity to deliver their own mini-set on the Viva Afrika stage. “These controllers actually haven’t arrived yet – they should be here in the next month,” Bates says. “But we managed to bring in these samples and we’re getting really good feedback on them so far.” Looking forward, Bates says Viva Afrika understands its model and its customer base and looks forward to continuing to serve them. He is particularly excited about the company’s upcoming move to a new premises in Midrand in the next couple of months. “We’ve been moving around a bit over the last few years and now we’re looking forward to settling down. We’ll run sales from the new warehouse, and our repairs department is getting its own section of the property. This will cut down on waiting time in the event of a problem and provide added peace-of-mind – because we know that after-sales is an absolutely key component of the business.”

GEARSHACK At this years’ edition of Mediatech, the Gearshack stall took the form of an impressive ‘climbing wall’ that allowed the company to showcase their range of trussing and rigging products and engage with to visitors about the range of rigging, trussing, power distribution and storage services that they offer. As Gearshack sales manager Henk Jansen told us: “Gearshack company director Pedro Savic has more than 30 years’ experience in the events industry and has hand-picked manufacturers and products that are well suited to the demands of the local events industry. We are showing our full range of solutions, as well as one or two new products and are very pleased with the response that we have received during the show.” Reflecting on the industry in broader terms, Henk says that he notices a “big need and interest for enhanced training and safety initiatives for rigging in the events industry. The problem stems from the lack of formalised laws and legislation specifically for the live events rigging in the events industry – and we are looking at ways to help fill that niche over the coming months.” Henk explains that an event like Mediatech is perfect for Gearshack, as they often find themselves taking on an organic advisory role with customers at their stand. “People come to the stand and engage in conversation about projects and events that they are working on, and before you know it, you start consulting on an informal basis. We find that it is an essential part of our business offering to listen to project requirements and make recommendations based on our level of specialisation in the field. Mediatech offers a perfect platform to engage with both new and existing clients in this way,” Henk concluded.

TRADESHOW REVIEW EXHIBITORS

EXHIBITORS

EVENT POWER SOLUTIONS At Mediatech 2019, Event Power Solutions provided a practical demonstration of their product offering with a unique stall design featuring a 360-degree arrangement of power supply solutions. Event Power was founded by Eventech company owner Henry Jenkins in 2008 and has gone on to establish itself as one of the leading power solutions providers for the events and broadcast industry in South Africa. Based in Centurion, the company started with generator rentals for the live events industry in 2008 and a few years later, branched out into manufacturing distribution products specifically suited to its clients' needs. Event Power Solutions’ Redge Grobler spoke with us at the company’s Mediatech stand, and explained that the strength of the business lies in its ability to “handle jobs of all sizes with extremely high-reliability rates.” He goes on to add, “We pride ourselves on exceptional service levels, which means being on-time for set-up and staying until the very end of every event that we service. We have a hundred percent show success rate still, and that’s after 12 years in the business.” In addition to the full-service power solutions offered by Event Power Solutions, the company has branched into custom manufacturing to produce a range of power accessories. “Over the years, we have needed to custom design some of our own equipment to solve challenges that are unique to the local events industry, and we have started manufacturing and distributing these products for our clients,” Grobler explains. Able both to provide power solutions to entertainment events, as well as to supply component parts for existing supply systems, Event Power Solutions continues to grow both its customer base and its reputation for outstanding service, reliability and responsiveness to the power needs of the local industry.

SHENZHEN ABSEN OPTOELECTRONIC Absen made its presence felt with an exceptional stand featuring an array of eyecatching LED displays at Mediatech Africa this year. Speaking to ETECH at the show, Absen regional sales manager, Ricky Qiu states that since entering the market, Absen has established a strong foothold in Africa. “We have several partners in the African market, and our products have been very favourably received by end-users in the corporate, education, installations, digital signage and rental industries.” Absen was last present at Mediatech in 2015 and has returned to the show with a number of innovative new solutions that are ideal for Africa from functionality, quality and affordability perspective. Absen’s manager for the African market, Jessica Xiao points out that Absen is a future-focused manufacturer of world-class display solutions for multiple verticals within the professional AV industry. “We are very focused on producing turnkey solutions for both the rental and installation markets in Africa and have seen our customer base grow exponentially in the four years since we last exhibited at Mediatech Africa. We are very proud to have established very good partnerships with distributors and endusers across the continent in recent years, many of which visited our Mediatech Africa stand to find out more about our new products on offer,” Xiao said.

YOUR ONLY PROBLEM COULD BE KEEPING IT IN THE WAREHOUSE.

PROFESSIONAL

AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTOR

Bose Professional ShowMatch System Solutions. A sound investment for your rental business. If you don’t know Bose ShowMatch, allow us to introduce you. This new compact line array is designed with selectable coverage patterns to more improved vocal clarity. Backed by Bose Professional technical support and service, ShowMatch DeltaQ line arrays, with a suite of supporting system solutions, could soon be your customer’s #1 choice for concerts, special events and A/V applications. Let’s talk about how to keep your rental inventory well stocked with Bose Professional.

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precisely match every listening area with maximum audio quality and

COMPANY PROFILE GEARHOUSE

GEARED UP FOR SUCCESS

INHOUSE VENUE TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT (IVTM) INHOUSE Venue Technical Management (IVTM) provides technical assistance for corporate events of all sizes, delivering an unmatched, detail-driven, rental service to venue owners and event planners in the fields of lighting, audio, audiovisual, power supply and rigging. IVTM’s emphasis is on finding the right solution for events of all sizes and will partner with you and your team to achieve outstanding results.

Gearhouse South Africa (Pty) Ltd is South Africa’s premier equipment rental company, specialising in lighting, audio, staging, power, rigging, audio visual and structures. As the technical sponsor of Mediatech Africa, the group played a critical role in making the biennial event one of the most well-attended and successful to date. www.gearhouse.co.za

HAVASEAT Havaseat’s temporary grandstand seating systems are engineered for simple and quick assembly, optimal viewing and space utilisation. An attractive seating alternative, Havaseat’s system is constructed from top quality light-weight materials and offers the perfect finish for your event setting. Audiences enjoy a comfortable seat while the non-slip, soundabsorbent wooden floorboards ensure quiet and safe movement.

“The different companies within the Gearhouse Group each have an area of specialisation – but the secret to our success is the close collaboration between the different teams within those companies to come up with solutions that deliver on all aspects of a project.” – Stuart Andrews, Gearhouse Group Operations Manager

SETS DRAPES SCREENS (SDS) Sets Drapes Screens provide a cost-effective solution for all your set requirements. Working from manufacturing facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, they manufacture and install standard and custom-made sets, along with a wide variety of screens and imported drapes. SDS’s expert finishes come in a variety of colours and materials providing the perfect solution for events of any size from exhibitions, brand activations, gala dinners to television studios.

MORE THAN 4,000 EVENTS SERVICED ANNUALLY

RENTAL INVENTORY OF MORE THAN 6,000 LIGHTING FIXTURES LEDVISION LEDVision provides an affordable daylight screen rental service. Offering the largest product stockholding of modular and mobile LED Video technology in Southern Africa. Producing unsurpassed picture brightness and clarity across a variety of weather and light level conditions. Low power consumption, high intensity and exceptional image clarity make LED screens the ideal choice for a variety of indoor and outdoor events.

MORE THAN 4,500M2 OF TRUSSING AVAILABLE FOR EVENTS

SYSTEM SOLUTIONS System Solutions is a professional audiovisual systems integrator with services including consultation from planning, through to design, supply, installation and project management. System Solutions aims to provide you with the best possible combination of aesthetics and technology for your application. From stadiums to shopping centres, theme parks to places of worship, fitness centres, hotels, lecture halls, museums and boardrooms, they provide a topnotch installation with after-sales support and maintenance.

COMPANY PROFILE GEARHOUSE

SHOWCOM Showcom offers high-quality communication solutions to optimise workflow in situations that demand precise, dependable collaboration without interruption or interference. Their state-of-the-art communication systems are tailor-made to suit your requirements. Whether it is a small film shoot or a world-class musical broadcast, the success of your event is reliant on your team’s ability to communicate. Showcom’s secure communications systems are user-friendly offering effortless connection, anywhere at any time.

“As a lighting designer at Gearhouse, I don’t only look after my own discipline. I am one part of a collective – made up of the sales and administration teams, project managers, and all of the different technical departments – that collaborate to deliver a complete package for our clients.” – Robert Grobler, Gearhouse Group Senior Lighting Designer

IN2STRUCTURES

SPLITBEAM

in2structures is a specialist design and manufacturing company, producing customdesigned, portable venues in South Africa, for hire or sale. The in2structures domes differ greatly from conventional aluminium framed structures such as marquees, due to their ability to withstand large imposed loads such as suspended equipment and high wind pressures. Combining mobility with great aesthetics and flexibility, these versatile spaces can be configured in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit all of your eventing needs.

Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd is a professional longterm rental provider, focused on the niche theatre market. Splitbeam is committed to making sure that the latest theatre technology is as easily available to the local school play as it is to the latest international touring production. The company also offers a dry-hire service to cater for situations when rental companies require specialised equipment for unique events.

ADVERTORIAL

MIDDLE EAST’S GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT STANDING ON THE RISE The Middle East’s standing as a global destination for mega entertainment events is on the rise, fuelled by Dubai’s ongoing

commitment

venue

investment and Saudi Arabia’s entry into the market.

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the staging of live events has given the Middle East market a significant boost with suppliers of professional lighting, audio and AV technology increasing their focus on the region. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which is responsible for the development and regulation of the Kingdom’s entertainment sector, is loosening the reins on live events as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 commitment to creating a more vibrant society. “The commitment includes significant entertainment investments, including themed attractions, shows, culture, nature, digital, sports and sightseeing,” explained Dishan Isaac, senior show manager of the Prolight + Sound Middle East exhibition, which will run at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 15 to 17 October. “The GEA has a stated ambition to become one of the top-ten global entertainment destinations and win back a share of the US$20 billion that Saudi nationals spend on the overseas sector each year. The result is that demand for AV technology in Saudi Arabia is rising with the Kingdom planning to invest US$64 billion in its entertainment industry.” The signs of what is to come in Saudi Arabia began with Cirque du Soleil, the live entertainment brand, presenting its first performance, in the Kingdom and the forging of an agreement between Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences with the GEA. The Authority has also struck up partnerships with other major event producers including National Geographic Encounter, IMG Artists and LuxuryKSA.

“These agreements will require new venues to be built for these entertainment programmes, fuelling increased supply opportunities in the country,” added Isaac. The Saudi expansion comes as Dubai continues to invest in retaining its mantle as the region’s entertainment hub with the latest showpiece being the multi-purpose indoor Coca-Cola Arena. “Dubai has set a new benchmark with this arena which can comfortably host 17,000 people in the region’s largest indoor climate-controlled venue. The bar has been lifted, and the stakes are getting ever higher,” added Isaac. The buoyant landscape will be reflected at Prolight + Sound Middle East, the region’s dedicated trade show for Professional Lighting, Audio & AV Technology. The fourth edition of the event this year will feature over 50 exhibitors from 10 countries and is expected to attract over 2,700 trade visitors and professionals. “The show is increasingly attracting some of the biggest names in the business who are looking to bring the very latest technological advancements into the region,” said Isaac. French events technology provider Roevisual says its presence at the show is partly aimed at playing into demand for AV technology in Saudi Arabia. “We hope to find a Saudi-based partner,” said Marketing Manager Marina Prak. “The region is witnessing more demand for immersive environments and experiential branding, which calls for fine pitch LED solutions and 4K platforms.” Italy’s FBT Elettronica plans to roll out a wide selection of pro-audio solutions at the show and contractor products for low voltage installations. Its spokesman Roberto Mataloni says technologically induced product innovation is now a market essential.

“The new product generations will include ultrafast data transfer networks as well as high-quality streaming audio facilities. Probably the future will still have traditional transducers speakers to run professional audio applications, but these will be increasingly integrated with other systems in projects and live shows.” FBT Elettronica is among the international experts preparing to share knowledge in the free-to-attend Events Technology and Entertainment Development Forum, which will run alongside Prolight + Sound Middle East. “This will feature some of the brightest minds from around the globe sharing their insights and expertise through several tech talks, panel discussions and case study presentations,” explained Isaac. This year’s show will also feature the free-to-attend Sample Music Festival – a dedicated event with showcase and experience zone sessions for DJing, turntable expertise, control magic and live sampling for DJs, music producers and audio gurus. Well-known electronic music artists from Berlin, Paris and London will demonstrate novel sound tools and visual technology. “The festival’s primary aim is to present equipment and encourage active visitor participation,” explained Isaac. “Show visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of workshops, showcases and competitions from the festival crew. Top brands will give visitors the chance to get their hands on the latest technology while product specialists, such as Ableton and Native Instruments, will host workshops and product demos.” Prolight + Sound Middle East is the fifth instalment of the international network of Prolight + Sound events worldwide. The annual three-day event is also co-located with Light Middle East, the region’s dedicated exhibition, conference, and awards for lighting design and technology.

More information is available at: www.prolightsoundme.com

MEDIATECH AFRICA EVENTS

A FRESHLYGROUND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG AUDIO ENGINEERS To celebrate the tenth iteration of the entertainment and media trade show, Mediatech Africa and the Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE) collaborated with Freshlyground, one of the most acclaimed and successful bands to emerge from South Africa, to launch the new MasterMix competition for emerging sound engineers. MasterMix competition winner Gavin Eckhart

MasterMix offered applicants the opportunity to mix the separates for Refuge, an as-yet-unreleased Freshlyground track, which will feature on the band’s upcoming album. More than a hundred aspiring sound engineers entered the competition, and a panel of judges from ASE narrowed it down to just eight finalists ahead of Mediatech Africa. The ultimate winner was announced at the ASE stand with Gavan Eckhart walking away with top honours. Eckhart received an ASE bursary valued at R100,000 and a selection of gear sponsored by Wild and Marr, valued at R30 000. A studio owner, sound engineer and producer, Eckhart has worked with the cream of the South African music industry –

recording and mixing for industry giants like Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Freshlyground. He also tours with top South African and international bands providing great live mixes for a diverse listenership. He has been nominated for a SAMA for Miriam Makeba’s Reflections, as well as a Golden Reel Award for the soundtrack to Book of Negroes. With an already well-established and illustrious career on track, Eckhart generously donated the bursary back to the ASE so that a deserving up and coming student can benefit from his prize.

EXPERT OPINION

EXPERT

OPINION

with Rinus "Rhino" Bakker

The word ‘Bridle’ is used in entertainment rigging, but it sounds like a fusion between topics about ‘horses’ and ‘relationships’. As mentioned in the previous blog, it is all about “getting the knot tied right.” But let’s not be tied down for now, and have a closer look at the actual equestrian reins that get together – taking one more step in leaving the soft equestrian world and step into the ‘hard steel’ environment.

PROLYTE CAMPUS BLOG: BRIDLE – GETTING IT RIGHT

If we are talking about bridles, we are actually talking about rated components, sling angles, forces and capacity limits – and safety factors. If we want – or are required – to avoid bridles, we must use lifting beams.

COMPONENTS Ninety-nine per cent of our bridles are made up of:

Steel Wire Rope slings: The bulk of which are generally called ‘1 tonne’, however, the true WLL will often be 10-15% higher. They mostly are found in a diameter range of 9,5 – 10mm and standard lengths range from 0,5m (‘dog bone’) to 10m (or more). Such wire rope slings can be terminated in a thimble or a soft eye, but when it has a thimble, make sure it is an oversized one, where the ears of 3,25 t shackle will fit through. There are also wire ropes that are equipped with a hook on one side. These are often referred to as ‘Basket Steels’ or ‘Quick / Click Baskets’ and are used where they need to go around a steel beam. This is quicker and safer than using a basket with an additional shackle.

After the successful introduction in 2016, the Verto truss is a hit. It is a revolutionary system, making truss connection fast, silent and safe. This year Prolyte introduces two new series: Verto H40V and Verto H40R. www.prolyte.com/verto40series

Anchor Shackles: Forget about D-shackles! The vast majority used in our business will be 3,25 tonne in WLL. They can take quite some abuse when used in combination with 1-tonne hoists and 1-tonne wire ropes. I am not going to refer to the American way of naming shackles by size, rather than capacity. The continuous increase of steel alloy qualities will make that reference type obsolete within a decade or two. Clutch Chain slings as STAC or ‘Deck’: The Clutch chains are generally smaller in size, more accurate and more versatile, but more expensive. They are usually in WLL 1 tonne, 1,5 tonne or 2 tonnes. The Deck & Stac long link chains are around 4,5 to 5 tonne WLL but are not officially allowed in the EU for lifting purposes in the way defined by the Machinery Directive. Using long link chain in the entertainment industry is accepted as a structural element loaded only in straight pull. For special applications, e.g. bridles, long-link chains may be used, in conjunction with shackles, to adjust the length of a leg, provided the load-bearing capacity of the chains is known.

Building your LED screen from ground level is now easy, with Prolyte’s Universal LED Stack system (LSU), a very stable system to support you LED screens in various configurations and offers flexibility in height as well as width. www.prolyte.com/LSU

4 5

Master-Link or Pear Links: Depending on their purpose in ranges from 1,5 up to 5 tonnes WLL, using 3-way bridles are a master-link job. Just as doing dead-hangs, or secondaries is becoming much more manageable with significant links. Soft Steels (or Steel Flex or GAC slings): These have been available for about two decades. In a historical context, we might still think in round slings (‘spansets’) and K-links, but the general rule is avoiding the use of high-temperature sensitive textile lifting components. The high-temperature hazards come from various sources that we provide ourselves in this business: pyro, lasers, hothouses of general lighting fixtures, high energy beams of the newest range of movers.

What about carabiners and quick links in bridles? Only in your back yard and not on a professional rigging job.

The dimensions of LED systems often cause either unbalanced loading or unstable LED walls. The Prolyte Middle Beam truss series keep the total load in the middle of the truss and guarantee safe and easy suspension of LED walls. www.prolyte.com/MBtrusses

Photos by Trevor Ou Tim

MEDIATECH AFRICA EVENTS

Lucky du Plessis calls the SOS Charity Auction

THE INDUSTRY JOINS FORCES TO SAVE SOME SOULS On 18 July, an impressive contingent of industry leaders gathered at The Venue in Melrose Arch to participate in the second SOS Dinner, a fundraising event hosted by DWR Distribution to assist people and families in the theatre and live events industries during times of need. 46

Jeremy Loops performing with his band

MEDIATECH AFRICA EVENTS In its second iteration, the SOS Fundraising Dinner is an biennial event that aims to raise funds for the SOS Charity Fund – a philanthropic project launched by DWR Distribution in 2016 to assist professionals working in the live events and theatre industries during times of personal crisis. “When visiting South Africa back in 2016, Ian Staddon of DiGiCo made our team aware of a charity that operates in England, which was established to assist individuals working in the entertainment industry during difficult times,” explains Duncan Riley, managing director of DWR Distribution. “According to Ian, the UK-based charity was not designed to pay out massive amounts or play the role of insurer, but rather to enable humble gestures that provide immediate relief for industry people in their hour of need,” Riley goes on to explain. It immediately became clear to Riley and his team that an organisation of this nature was desperately needed in South Africa, and the SOS Charity was born. Since its launch in December 2016, the SOS has supported several individuals and families during times of crisis. One such beneficiary is Kendall Dixon, a father of five who was diagnosed with cancer while working abroad in 2018. Kendall has been fighting for his life for the past two years, and personally thanked the SOS Charity for its generous donation towards his treatment. “You never expect something like this to happen to you – and you can never really be prepared if it does. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, I am still fighting, despite being given only weeks to live back in 2018,” Kendall told attendees at the SOS Dinner. The SOS has been able to make similar contributions to help support Landy Yeatman, who is also bravely fighting cancer. The organisation was

also able to, literally, lend a hand when rental company owner and technician Vincent Joubert discovered that he had developed septic arthritis. The SOS was able to assist in paying for specialised medical treatment that prevented doctors from amputating his finger, which would have permanently impeded his ability to work. While the SOS has tried to answer the call for help when people are facing illness and grief, they have also played an instrumental role in lighting the flame of hope when opportunity knocks and financial barriers threaten to keep the door latched. Daniel Meledimo, a student from TUT, showed all the right stuff when he approached Joshua Cutts as a volunteer on the set of Idols South Africa in 2017. “It was evident that [Daniel] was an extremely hardworking and dedicated student, with the right temperate and someone who would do well in the industry. After chatting to him, I realised that he might have to drop out university, as he could not afford to pay his outstanding account,” explains Cutts. He approached the SOS, and together, they raised the funds needed to allow Daniel to graduate and pursue his dream of working in the industry. None of these works of kindness, which are simply too many to mention individually, would have been possible without the support that the charity has received from the industry over the past three years. “The SOS Charity Dinner provides a platform for people to give back to the industry that we all are so passionate about. Many of the attendees at this years’ SOS Dinner are tough competitors in the market. However, the rivalry between rental companies, manufacturers and suppliers is put aside for a night as we all get together to share a meal, laugh, banter and support a good cause,” says Riley. In closing, Duncan and Sherryn Riley extend their heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to the SOS Dinner, which has helped to raise muchneeded funds to ensure that the SOS can continue the great work it has achieved thus far. “We would like to thank Tony Raciti and the team at The Venue in Melrose Arch for hosting us. Also a huge thanks to the Gearhouse Group of companies for sponsoring the registration stand. We really appreciate the talent who offered their time at no cost to entertain us during the event, including our MC for the night, Lucky du Plessis, and Jeremy Loops and Sutherland for their fantastic performances. Finally, a huge thank you to all of the people who donated items for auction and to those who bid so enthusiastically during the event. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity.” Should you wish to get involved in assisting the SOS Charity in future initiatives, kindly contact Duncan Riley at duncan@dwrdistribution.co.za.

“You never expect something like this to happen to you – and you can never really be prepared if it does. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, I am still fighting, despite being given only weeks to live back in 2018.” – Kendall Dixon, SOS beneficiary

Lucky du Plessis and Duncan Riley

SOCIALS

MEDIATECH AFRICA 2019 TicketPro Dome, Jhb

David Whitehouse (Robe) and Marlene Riley (DWR Distribution)

Benjy Mudie and Mark Pilgrim at HOT 91.9 live broadcast from Mediatech

George Hattingh (Academy of Sound Engineering)

Shaun Xavier with Willie Kok (Stage Audio Works)

Ockert Marais (Eventech), Schalk Botha (DWR) and Gunther Muller (MGG)

Christopher Bolton and Joshua Cutts at the Black Box

Louise Stickland (Robe) and Sherryn Riley (DWR)

Mabel Legodi, Deborah Ngobeni and Portia Khumalo from Gearhouse

Jade Manicom (Keystone Productions) with Robert Grobler (Gearhouse)

Mathew Lewis (ApexPro)

Harry von den Stemmen (Robe), Josef Valchar (CEO Robe), Mark Gaylard (MD MGG) and Duncan Riley (MD DWR Distribution)

Jonathan Attard (Solid State Logic) introduces visitors to the new SSL console range

Justin Le Roux and Christopher Bolton (Keystone Productions)

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Name of of company OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR SOUTH AFRICA: Name company

Your logo Your logo DWR DISTRIBUTION Block C, Unit 1, Kimbult Industrial Park, 9 Zeiss Road, Laserpark, Honeydew, 2170, Johannesburg NO. Street/P.O. box - City Website NO. Street/P.O. box - Cityand andzip zipcode codeand andCountry Country -- Telephone/E-mail Telephone/E-mail -- Website IT’S ALL ABOUT THE people Tel: +27 11 794 5023 | Fax: + 27 11 794 5702 | sales@dwrdistribution.co.za | www.dwrdistribution.co.za