Pro-Systems News March/April 2018 by Sun Circle Publishers

March/ April 2018

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AV System Integration | Installations | LIVE EVENTS | Studio Pro Audio

Cover ULTRA Feature SOUTH AFRICA ISE POST SHOW REVI EW

THE C O LO R P U R P LE I N S A

CRESTRON FOR CI N OS

A F O C U S O N TR A I N I N G

MEDIA PARTNER

I n T his I ssue

E D I TO R Greetings, and welcome to the autumn edition of Pro-Systems Africa News. We have had a very eventful few months, with the editorial team having the pleasure of attending the 15th iteration of Integrated Systems Europe, held in Amsterdam between 6 and 9 February. The show provided us with a wonderful opportunity to experience the latest in AV integration technology from the world’s leading manufacturers. In this issue, we offer readers a snapshot of the events, product launches and awards that featured at the event. We also had the opportunity to catch up with a few of the South African integrators and company representatives that attended ISE and have captured some of their views and impressions of the show. On the entertainment technology side of things, we have attended some amazing South African productions this quarter, including Ultra SA – the largest electric dance music festival hosted on South African soil, and spoke with the team from Gearhouse about their experience of providing full technical for both the Johannesburg and Cape Town events. We also had the pleasure of talking with the technical crew behind the South African version of The Color Purple, scheduled to return to the Johannesburg Theatre in August due to popular demand. Finally, in an effort to highlight the enormous role that the industry has to play in skills development, we have present a feature looking at some of the industry-provided training programmes across South Africa. While it feels as though we have just stepped off the plain and caught our breath, we are already preparing for our next adventure. The Pro-Systems editorial team will be setting off once again, this time attending Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, followed by a guided factory tour of the Robe facilities in Prague. In closing, I would like to invite you all to visit our newly launched website, at http://www. pro-systems.co.za/. We are enormously proud of the team who made this launch possible and hope that you all enjoy a smoother and more enriching online presence from Pro-Systems Africa News moving forward. Enjoy the read – Nicole Barnes

CONT E NT S BUSINESS NEWS Bosch Security Systems to become Bosch Building Technologies ..............................3 Omega Digital recognised at Crestron EMEA Integration Awards.....................4 There’s a Bright Bunch at Gearhouse................6 Crestron Expands Support of Microsoft Teams................................................7 DWR support the launch of The Install Crew.................................................8 Local Integrator deploys first Barco Unisee Wall in Africa...........................9 ETC led fixture warranties extended.................10

PRODUCT NEWS Claypaky’s K-EYE HCR marks a new era for LED stage lighting.......................11 SkyGroup Communications announces local availability of ClearOne Ceiling Microphones...........................................12 L-Acoustics shaping the future of the audio industry..........................................12 New Pro SoundBar by JBL Professional by HARMAN improves guest room sound.............13 Panasonic unveils beyond 4K 21 000 lumens laser projector.......................13

ISE 2018 SHOW REPORT Integrated Systems Europe 2018 raises the bar for the pro-AV industry..........................14 AJA Unveils New 2TB Pak 2000 SSD Recording Media................................................17 Barco showcases the revolutionary UniSee Video Wall at ISE....................................17 Bosch brings innovation to conferencing and public address systems at ISE....................18 Christie opens Pandora’s Box at ISE Education Zone........................................18 ClearOne introduces its Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X at ISE...................19 Crestron takes collaboration to a new level at ISE................................................20 Epson launches installation laser projector offering 4K resolution at ISE...............21 Digital Projection showcases 8K projection at ISE.............................................21 HARMAN at ISE....................................................22

Exterity showcases the future of visual communication at ISE..............................23 Kramer launches new family of integrated AV presentation systems at ISE..........................23 Powersoft shares skills with visitors at ISE...........24 Panasonic bolsters 4K AV line-up at ISE 2018.........................................24 Samsung introduces The Wall Professional at ISE................................25 InAVation Awards 2018 winners announced............................................26 Local integrators’ views on ISE 2018.................28

ADVERTORIAL ProSpectre Advanced Display Technologies – South African backed and supported product for the Southern African market........32 Cinos enlists Crestron Mercury for future-proof collaboration...........................34

Prolight + SOund 2018 SHOW PREVIEW Prolight + Sound 2018 with Immersive Technology Forum and special areas focusing on immersive sound ................38

ENTERTAINMENT TECH Rigging and such: What about Wind?............40 Guangzhou Entertainment Technology Show (GET Show) to open in May....................41 Ultra South Africa celebrates its fifth anniversary with a record-breaking production..............................43 Bernard Jay colours the Joburg Theatre purple ................................48 Rocking old-school with Collective Soul..........52

TRAINING Passing On The Baton – The importance of teaching and learning in the Pro AV industry.54 Collective Works shines their light on the next generation of designers......................56 ApexPro explores the possibilities with ETC Colour Source training........................60 Five years of M-Series Training...........................64

SOCIAL ISE 2018 – RAI, Amsterdam ................................68

C ontri b u tors Abrie du Plooy | Abrie is a professional AV consultant for Electrosonic SA, and has worked in the professional AV industry for more than 11 years. Abrie’s field of expertise stretches across both the corporate and residential AV markets and includes video conferencing, auditoriums, outdoor display, digital signage, large format display, and large venue projection, among others. In addition to his extensive hands-on experience, Abrie is one of the few professionals to hold an Avixa CTS qualification in South Africa, and he serves as a director on the SACIA board. Abrie is a skilled and avid writer and industry commentator, kindly visit: www.abrieduplooy.blogspot.co.za to see more of his work. Editorial Disclaimer The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Pro-Systems Africa News or any employee thereof. Sun Circle Publishers makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Sun Circle Publishers reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, or is otherwise unacceptable. All contents of this publication are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, in any form whatsoever, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publisher.

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B U S I N E S S news

Bosch Security Systems to become Bosch Building Technologies

Effective from 1 March, the Bosch Security Systems division will be known as Bosch Building Technologies. In the system integration business, Bosch Security Systems already offers its customers more than security, safety, and communication technology solutions. “We want the scope of our portfolio to be reflected better in our name as well,” says Gert van Iperen, president of the Bosch Security Systems division. The division comprises two organizationally discrete units, the global product business and the regional system integration services business, which operates in eight countries. In these eight countries, the system integration unit provides integrated solutions for commercial buildings. Depending on the region, the portfolio includes building security, energy services, and building automation. For customers, this means planning, installation, and operation of these solutions, as well as additional services, from a single source. The product business – to be known in the future as Bosch Security and Safety Systems – will continue to operate as a global supplier

of video, intrusion, fire-alarm, and voicealarm systems, as well as of access control systems and management software, all under the Bosch brand. Its portfolio is rounded off with professional audio and conference systems for the transmission of voice, sound, and music. The products are distributed exclusively to system integrators or through wholesale dealers. This step will not affect the names of the division’s legal entities.

In its product business, Bosch Security Systems will merge its video systems, intrusion detection, as well as its access control and management software business units to form a single business unit, known as Security. In making this move, Bosch is responding to the growing demand for sector-specific, integrated security solutions. “In combining these three business units, our aim is to ensure we can meet our customers’ needs even better in the future. In the years ahead, we want to actively shape the process of transformation brought about by the internet of things, as well as to focus more on connectivity, integrated solutions, and services. At the same time, this move will strengthen our competitiveness,” van Iperen says.

B U S I N E S S news

Omega Digital recognised at Crestron EMEA Integration Awards

Omega Digital took home the coveted prize for Best Corporate Application during the Crestron Integration Awards for the EMEA region, which returned to ISE for its 11th consecutive year. The awards celebrate the technology, engineering skills and excellence of Crestron integrators, consultants and programmers in projects featuring Crestron solutions throughout the EMEA region. “This type of overseas participation and training helps to keep our employees educated about cutting-edge international solutions and services that can in turn be offered to our clients across Africa. It also means that our four main offices in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-

Natal are well equipped to provide clients with the very best and most up-to-date fit for thier specific collaboration requirements,” Omega said in a press statement following the award ceremony. With an impressive 128 entries from 21 countries and a total of 57 integrators who entered, the quality and innovation continue to impress the judges. Robin van Meeuwen, chief executive officer and president of Crestron EMEA comments, “Each year we are astounded by the level of entries and their inspiring projects showcasing the versatility of Crestron solutions. These awards celebrate the achievements of our partners as they embody Crestron’s goal to simplify and enhance the lives of millions of people around the world with intuitive technology. This year’s judging panel had a very hard task to choose just one winner from the vast range of entries.” Joining van Meeuwen on the judging panel this year was technology and interiors freelance journalist Emily Peck, online editor of luxury lifestyle magazine Oracle Time, Sam Kessler, editor of AV Technology Europe,

Michael Garwood, ISE managing director Mike Blackman and Petra van Meeuwen, media relations director at Crestron. Omega Digital was recognised with an award for Best Corporate Application for their work on the Price Water House (PwC) headquarters, situated in the heart of Midrand’s state-of-the-art lifestyle development, Waterfall Estate. The PwC tower, set to become the South African headquarters for the auditing firm later this year, features some of the most cuttingedge collaboration technology in the region. The judges unanimously praised this project for delivering an innovative productivity boost at the new headquarters. Omega Digital was tasked with creating a smart workplace to drive business and increase efficiency, connecting PwC employees and customers via a network of Crestron collaboration technologies. The winners of the Crestron Integration Awards 2018 were presented with their trophies during a special ceremony at the Crestron stand at ISE on Wednesday 7 February.

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B U S I N E S S news

Photo by Duncan Riley

There’s a Bright Bunch at Gearhouse

Delivery of MA and Spiider

The Gearhouse Group of Companies has made significant investments in the latest lighting technology over the start of 2018. “It’s crucial for us as the largest technical supplier in South Africa to make this sort of regular CAPEX outlay. It keeps our capabilities ahead of the pack” says Peter Abrahamse, lighting workshop manager in the Johannesburg Branch. “So far, we have taken delivery of 460 brand-new lighting fixtures and seven new desks, which have immediately been deployed around the country. We split the purchase between the Gearhouse South Africa and INHOUSE Venue Technical Management branches according to their specific requirements.”

“The fixture purchases for this year were mostly rider-driven” adds JHB Lighting Operations Manager, Adrian Skinner. “We had to consider the individual needs of a very diverse spread of client and event types as well as the particular characteristics of our regional lighting needs. The Western Cape region, for example, tends to prefer a more compact product suited to venues with less headroom whilst the Johannesburg region prefers the shutter functionality and brightness output of a larger unit like the BMFLs. The Kwa-Zulu Natal market is primarily looking for ease of use and reliability.” The team cherry-picked items across the Robe, Phillips, MA Lighting and Martin stables; buying 48 Robe BMFL Blades, 48 Robe LEDBeam 150’s, 48 Robe Spiiders, 48 Phillips Varilite VLZs and 7 MA Dot 2 Consoles through local distributor DWR Distribution. A further 192 Martin Rush Pars, 48 Quantum Washes and 28 Quantum Profiles were purchased through Electrosonic, which holds the Martin Professional agency in South Africa Each fixture has attributes that make it the “favourite” for a specific application or market sector. “The BMFLs are currently highest discharge light output in the JHB lighting arsenal, coupled with the fastest shutters in the game and high-speed precision movement while the VLZs offer unparalleled brightness for an LED profile and both have phenomenal shutter

versatility, which makes them ideal for Corporates, Theatre use and Concerts” says Branch Operations Manager, Stuart Andrews. The compact size and intensity of the Quantum Profiles and Robe Spiiders have made them a winner in the Cape Town Market for quite some time already, and the new units are supplementary to the Cape Town branch’s existing Quantum and Robe 600 stockholding. “This high-output LED fixture has great onboard effects for everything from the rock and roll stages to high-profile corporates but also lends itself to TV work due to its colour mixing and even field of light and low power consumption,” says CTN lighting operations manager, Andrew Gleave. “The multi-functional, diminutive Spiiders are a notch brighter than the Robe 600 which they will replace in the Durban branch and offer superior control on channel programming” adds Goodman Nyoka, who heads up the Lighting division in the Durban branch. “The Rush Pars have a fantastic zoom function and extraordinary reliability which make them solid workhorses, and they are really valued for that” continues Adrian. “The LEDBeam 150’s also provides great eyecandy in a compact housing and designers cannot ever have enough quality beam light, so they are also always in demand.”

B U S I N E S S news

Crestron Expands Support of Microsoft Teams Crestron has expanded its solution portfolio with Microsoft to include Microsoft Teams integration to equip meeting spaces of every size with innovative Intelligent Communications technology. This announcement builds off over a decade of working together to improve the experience of work and collaboration.

“Crestron provides customers with a broad selection of solutions for any room type, while also providing customers with the ability to migrate to Teams over time without costly changes to hardware,” said Ted Colton, vice president of UC Strategies at Crestron. “Together, we offer a broad portfolio of solutions that meet the most stringent security requirements, while natively supporting Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams”.

With the newly announced capabilities, Crestron SR and the Crestron Mercury conference system will not only be able to run Microsoft Teams in spaces of all sizes: from huddle rooms and multi-purpose rooms to executive meeting rooms and large auditoriums. Organizations can repurpose Skype® for Business hardware and receive recently announced Teams enhancements – such as Cortana® voice integration and background blurring – as they are rolled out. The expanded support of Teams showcases

Crestron’s commitment to giving its users complete control and automation of modern workplaces. “In just its first year, Teams has become the ultimate hub for teamwork,” said Bob Davis, corporate vice president of Office 365 Engineering at Microsoft. “By working with Crestron to make Teams available to meetings of all sizes, we are furthering our mission of delivering Intelligent Communications to our customers around the world.” “Intelligent Communications is a natural extension of the more than a decade-long commitment between Microsoft and Crestron to improve the effectiveness and productivity of meeting spaces,” Colton said. “Organizations across the globe who use Crestron and Microsoft will now benefit from the expanded set of capabilities with IC.”

B U S I N E S S news

Robert Izzett and Jacob Mogale from The Install Crew 2018

DWR support the launch of The Install Crew DWR Distribution recently announced thier a partnership with Jacob Mogale, a respected technician in the South African entertainment industry, with the establishment of The Install Crew, a brand-new and independent installation company. It is hoped that the stregic partnership will allow the The Install Crew will grow into a viable entity, able to assist the industry with sound, lighting and AV installations, any electrical installation, and the issuing of electrical COCs.

Jacob Mogale, better known as Jakes, formerly owned DimBright and is known for his excellent service. “For me, this is the ultimate partnership,” said Jakes. “We share the same values, we care about quality workmanship, and we have also worked on projects together for the past ten years which means we have built a relationship. This is an exciting venture for both my team and me.” While The Install Crew will run as a separate company, they will operate from the DWR offices. “We are assisting Jakes to reach the next level,” said Robert Izzett of DWR. “In the past, we helped DimBright with branding, their accounts and their website. The partnership will see us join hands with Jakes to create a strong infrastructure where DWR is fully invested.”

The Install Crew will have their own vehicles, tools, scaffolding and everything required to work. “We hope to grow,” said Jakes. “The aim is to be of service to any theatre or company in the country who needs help with installations. For more complicated systems, we will be able to tap into the knowledge and skill of the DWR team.” It’s an exciting venture. “There is a big need for this,” said Robert. “This will be an installation company with no products involved. It means that The Install Crew will offer skilled labour and good artistry, backed-up with outstanding service.”

B U S I N E S S news

Local Integrator deploys first Barco Unisee Wall in Africa

Local communication systems and technology company, Prosirius recently deployed the first Barco Unisee Video Wall in Africa for a major JSE listed telecommunications company in Johannesburg. The Barco UniSee platform redesigns and optimises every component of the LCD video wall, resulting in a new way to look at large screen visualisation. With the assistance of Barco representatives from Belgium, Prosirius is the first local integrator to deploy the complete Barco UniSee platform, including the UniSee View, UniSee Mount and UniSee Connect. Prosirius worked closely with local Barco distributor Peripheral Vision to bring the Unisee Video Wall to the continent for the first time.

Prosirius Johannesburg branch manager, Jesse Bosch spoke with Pro-Systems Africa News in a recent interview to discuss the company’s recent achievements. Founded by Gordon and Rena Bosch in the early 2000s, Prosirius has been providing clients with end-to-end system integration services for the past eighteen years. In 2016, the company moved their head office to Johannesburg and is rapidly gaining a significant foothold in the market. “The company started as a family business in Cape Town, and has been very successful over the past eighteen years,” states Bosch. “We decided to move the company’s headquarters to Johannesburg two years ago, which has resulted in rapid growth in our client base,” he states. Over the past few months, Prosirius has secured contracts for the deployment of AV integration and collaboration systems in a number of JSE listed companies in the insurance, banking, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries, among others. “Prosirius is an end-to-end systems integrator that is able to take care of all of a company’s AV requirements, including video conferencing, digital signage, room booking solutions as well as a full-suite of managed services” Bosch explains. “We have differentiated ourselves in the market by being forward-thinking and developing managed service packages that are specifically tailored to the unique needs of each of our clients.”

One of the major challenges for clients and integrators is the rapid rate at which AV technology is evolving. “When a client makes a significant capital layout for a corporate AV solution, and five years later, they discover that their system is redundant, it can be very frustrating. As a result, we are moving toward a more managed services approach. A client can bring us on board, and we will manage their AV needs without having to commit to the massive capital outlay required to own their equipment.” It is beyond doubt that any business stands to benefit from operating the latest AV technology, which facilitates higher levels of productivity and collaboration in an organisation. “The CAPEX cost associated with owning AV assets versus the OPEX cost of outsourcing AV systems to a third party is a constant point of debate for clients. However, as with printing and copying machines or computer hardware – the move towards renting solutions from a service provider who will ensure that the organisation is freed-up to focus on their core business while a service provider ensures that the technology is in place and functioning optimally, makes a lot of sense,” Bosch points out. As the space between information technology and AV systems closes, it makes sense that a new approach to AV system deployment is adopted – an approach that Prosirius in interested in advancing in the South African market.

B U S I N E S S news

ETC led fixture warranties extended According to ECT management, the company has started sending more of its fixtures to a nationally-recognised, third-party laboratory in the USA for testing to the LM84 standard. According to Jianzhong Jiao, who wrote on the subject for LEDMagazine in 2013, once LED lamps started to dominate the market, the industry needed a way to project the useful lifetime and system-level lumen maintenance of LED solid-state lighting lamps and luminaires. In August 2011, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) published a document to provide the SSL industry with a recommendation for projecting long-term lumen maintenance for LEDs. The resulting document, TM-21-11, though not perfect, provides users with a consistent, reasonable, and reliable approach to make lumen maintenance projections for LEDs used in SSL products. This document has become an extremely useful tool for LED product design, development, and qualification for manufacturers, specifiers, and qualifiers. Since the original publication of the TM-21-11, the IES has developed two standards that are used to rate the lifespan

of LED light sources. LM-80 is a standard for measuring lumen maintenance and depreciation in LEDs. TM-21 takes the LM-80 data of an LED light source thorough specifically formulated algorithms to make reliable predictions regarding the expected lifespan of a fixture. The L70 rating provides an accurate representation of the lifespan of the LEDs in a complete fixture as it’s used in a real-world environment. The L70 rating was established to as a way to measure when the LEDs of a fixture are no longer “useful.” This rating gives a representation of the number of hours it will take for LEDs to depreciate to 70% of their original output. According to the measure, usable light levels are defined as L90, L80 or L70 — the point at which the fixture has dimmed to 90%, 80% or 70% of its original output. “As we continue to get official test results back from our third-party lab for more of our fixtures, we’re proud to say that the numbers continue to exceed even our original

expectations,” ETC management states in a recent statement. “This is proof that our fixtures are, and always have been, manufactured to the highest quality,” they conclude. “ETC has always put product quality first, and the recent L70 ratings reaffirm that commitment. Our fixtures are built to last. To solidify this dedication to quality we’ve decided to pass the peace of mind along to our clients. After 1 January 2018, ETC has extended a five-year full fixture warranty, and a ten-year LED array warranty on selected fixtures. All Source 4WRD products continue to hold a three-year warranty. Additional information on the L70 rating and ETC’s warranty extension, including a video interview with an industry consultant, Mike Wood, will be available at https://www.etcconnect.com/ from the middle of March.

P R O D U C T news

Claypaky’s K-EYE HCR marks a new era for LED stage lighting

Claypaky’s new K-EYE HCR range of lighting fixtures takes LED light quality to higher peak performance, giving lighting designers and directors access to Colour Rendering Index (CRI) values never before achieved by an LED fixture. With Claypaky’s High Colour Rendering (HCR) algorithm, colours and textures of costumes and props retain richness, and scenic finishes show off a depth and lustre never seen before under LED light. Skin tones appear more natural and in a world where entertainment is increasingly seen up-close and personal through the eye of a lens, the K-EYE HCR technology ensures performances are lit with integrity. The HCR algorithm, newly developed by OSRAM and Claypaky, ensures the K-EYE HCR family of wash lights deliver an unprecedented degree of control over the quality of white or coloured light. Some lighting designers have heralded the white light that the fixture produces as the “closest to tungsten outside of the conventional lighting fixtures.” Claypaky CEO Pio Nahum comments, “We know that our most demanding

customers, particularly in the sectors of television, film and theatre, have long felt the need for a lighting tool that differed from others in the marketplace for the ‘quality’ of the light it produced. Achieving this desired ‘quality’ is no simple matter. Light quality is the sum of multiple factors, including diffusion uniformity, colour temperature, colour control features and, most of all, a high colour rendering index. To meet these requirements, Claypaky and Osram have developed HCR technology.” The heart of the K-EYE HCR wash light is its six-colour LED light source. In addition to the basic red, green, and blue colour emitters, Claypaky has added amber, cyan, and lime LEDs to create a source which provides the widest colour range with unrivalled colour spectrum coverage. With HCR technology, this light engine produces typical CRI values greater than 97, up to 99 – values previously only available from conventional light sources. Thanks to this landmark development that guarantees broader coverage of the colour gamut, lighting designers now have access to every nuance and every shade of every colour. Already an award-winning line, the K-EYE HCR range collected the prestigious PLASA Award for Innovation at the PLASA Show in London in September 2017, rewarded for its introduction of innovative new technology and its clear improvement of technical

practice. Speaking of the K-EYE HCR, the PLASA Innovation Awards judges said it was, “An LED wash light that delivers a new approach to accurate colour rendering, starting at chip level, rather than manipulating existing sources.” The K-EYE HCR range includes two moving head models: the K-EYE K20 HCR, with 37 LED emitters, and the K-EYE K10 HCR, with 19 emitters. In addition to the moving head fixtures in the range, Claypaky has recently added static versions: the K-EYE S10 HCR and the K-EYE S20 HCR. To give designers access to highly accurate saturation and hues, the K-EYE HCR range offers four modes of operation. RAW mode offers specific control of each colour, while HSL mode provides complete control of hue saturation luminosity, fully exploiting the potential of the six-colour system. Also, the RGB and CMY modes work in the classic Claypaky style. The K-EYE HCR also boasts silent operation and completely flicker-free output, making it suitable for use in television, concert halls and opera or any professional fields of application where silence, brightness, and exceptional light quality are required. DWR Distribution in the sole distributor of Claypaky lighting fixture in South Africa.

P R O D U C T news

SkyGroup Communications announces local availability of ClearOne Ceiling Microphones Resellers looking to add more options to their audio and conferencing system design can now add the ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X to their arsenal, and benefit from superior audio clarity in any environment.

Available from the second quarter of 2018, the Array Analog X consists of three wide-range microphones that are mounted together into a single unit array to provide the rich sound of three individual unidirectional microphones while maintaining full 360-degree coverage. “The new ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X can be easily installed and is affordably priced, it is also jam-packed with a host of new benefits that significantly add to the microphone’s performance,” states Marius van Wyk, Operations and Technical Director at SkyGroup Communications. “Audio is the most important aspect of any conference, with this new mic from

ClearOne you can be assured of superior sound quality with every meeting.” New features include numbered mic-elements for easy identification, an LED indicator for On/Off/Mute, and the ability to daisy chain up to four ceiling microphone arrays to make twelve microphone systems. The new system is also 100% shielded from interferences and features a higher signal-to-noise-ratio, and the ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X also works with any DSP mixer. For installers, the ability for it to be installed anywhere from 0-feet to up to 7-feet from the

ceiling makes planning an environment so much easier while still ensuring superior speech intelligibility. According to ClearOne, its new Ceiling Microphone Arrays deliver unbeatable sound with the most unobtrusive microphone placement option available in the market today. They are ideal for conferencing and sound reinforcement applications in any size room, including lecture halls, boardrooms, huddle rooms, training rooms, courtrooms, telemedicine facilities and more. They will be available in white and in black, and pre-orders can be placed with SkyGroup Communications.

L-Acoustics shaping the future of the audio industry L-Acoustics continues to build the technology that shapes the future of the audio industry. This year’s ProLight+Sound will see the French manufacturer demonstrate its revolutionary L-ISA Immersive Sound Art technology, which recently embarked on the Lorde Melodrama tour across North America. The company will also present new hardware and software tools – including the P1 networked digital audio processor, which begins shipping in June – that will make it easy for L-Acoustics partners to quickly realise optimised performance for their L-Acoustics systems.

Established in London in 2014 by L-Acoustics founder Dr Christian Heil, L-ISA is L-Acoustics’ immersive sound brand. L-ISA draws on extensive audio and psychoacoustic research to develop sound design and processing tools for live shows, creative events and private residences. L-ISA is the only comprehensive solution that integrates innovative sound design, loudspeaker systems, proprietary processing hardware and software-based audio tools. L-Acoustics will showcase the new L-ISA Island on Stand C11 in Hall 3.1. This complete

integrated personal auditorium plays the high-definition Blu 23.1 format as well as any other media, all housed in a stunning piece of furniture designed to entertain high-level music lovers. Demonstrations and presentations of both L-ISA Immersive Sound Art technology and the P1 networked digital audio processor will be held in the Kontrast Room, Hall 3.

P R O D U C T news

New Pro SoundBar by JBL Professional by HARMAN improves guest room sound Drawing upon a long history of industry-leading soundbars in the consumer space, the JBL Pro SoundBar is an active soundbar designed specifically for commercial applications. It has an optimised feature set to address the unique requirements of hotel guest rooms, cruise ship staterooms and other commercial environments. “Typical consumer-grade soundbars offer features that are great for the home but add unnecessary cost and complexity for commercial applications such as a hotel guest room,” explains Bradley Drummond, director of Hospitality Solutions and Marketing at HARMAN Professional Solutions. “With an optimised feature set designed with these applications in mind, we’re able to provide our customers with the audio clarity and experience they want at a very attractive price point—and with applicationspecific features such as volume limiting, cloth-free materials and a security lockout plate you wouldn’t find on consumer soundbars.” The JBL Pro SoundBar supports both fixed and variable source volume, providing compatibility with both fixed applications (where the volume is controlled at the soundbar) and variable applications (where gain is controlled at the television). In fixed

volume scenarios, the Pro SoundBar offers an IR Learning capability. This allows the Pro SoundBar to “learn” the IR pulse of a TV remote’s volume controls, meaning any remote can be used—programmable or not. To control sound transference into neighbouring rooms, the Pro SoundBar includes a four-position volume limiting switch that allows integrators to control the maximum output of the soundbar. The soundbar also includes a vibration isolation

Panasonic unveils beyond 4K 21 000 lumens laser projector Panasonic Business has announced a beyond 4K laser-phosphor addition to its projector lineup aimed at live event staging, exhibitions, rental, and permanent installations. The PT-RQ22K 3-Chip DLP™ SOLID SHINE laser projector comes in the same compact dimensions and the same 21,000 centre lumens brightness as the PT-RZ21K series, a WUXGA/SXGA+ projector, but is equipped with 4K+ (5120 x 3200) resolution. “The PT-RQ22K completes the Panasonic 4K projection lineup, complementing the PT-RQ32K and PT-RQ13K, and meets the demand for a lightweight, high-brightness 4K+ projector with film-like image quality,

suitable for single or stacked projections,” said Hartmut Kulessa, European marketing manager at Panasonic. Panasonic has developed state-of-the-art imaging engines, including a Quad Pixel Drive and 240 Hz real motion processor. Heat-resistant phosphor wheels and solid-state laser modules serve vivid 4K+ images with industry-leading brightness, contrast, and accuracy. The PT-RQ22K also

wall-mounting kit and uses full-range speakers rather than a separate subwoofer, two features which also limit sound transference that would otherwise bother people in neighbouring rooms. “The Pro SoundBar is the perfect soundbar for commercial applications such as hotel rooms,” says Drummond. “With commercialgrade features and excellent clarity even at low levels, the JBL Pro SoundBar pairs perfectly with Samsung 690 Series hospitality TVs to create a holistic, cost-effective guest room entertainment solution. The addition of the JBL Pro SoundBar to HARMAN’s already extensive range of hospitality solutions further demonstrates our capability to offer targeted audio, video, lighting and control solutions for the entire facility.”

offers BT.2020 emulation and supports premium HDR video content playback. “We have combined class-leading picture quality and a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by shielding the optical engine with heat-pipe based cooling, eliminating the need for an air filter. The whole projector can operate with no maintenance for very long periods of time, even in dusty environments,” adds Hartmut Kulessa. Designed for roles where absolute reliability is critical, the PT-RQ22K has a dual light engine and can switch to a backup video signal instantaneously if a primary source goes down. 2 PRESS RELEASE VISUAL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS The PT-RQ22K has a single-cable 4K DIGITAL LINK connection and is compatible with the newly launched Panasonic 12G-SDI interface board (ET-MDN12G10), as well as the full range of 3-Chip DLP™ Panasonic lenses.

SHOW REPORT ISE

Integrated Systems Europe

The Pro-Systems Africa News editorial team had the pleasure of attending the 15th edition of Integrated Systems Europe from 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 February at the RAI in Amsterdam. Integrated Systems Events managing director, Michael Blackman spoke with us about the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past and current achievements and hopes for the future.

ISE SHOW REPORT

2018 raises the bar for the Pro-AV industry The Pro-Systems Africa News team joined thousands of exhibitors, industry professionals, buyers and members of the media at the RAI in Amsterdam in a freezingcold Amsterdam between 6 and 9 February, for the world’s largest AV systems integration tradeshow, Integrated Systems Europe. It was immediately apparent that Integrated Systems Events had, once again, succeeded in delivering a record-breaking show, with 1,296 exhibitors housed across 15 halls, and two temporary structures added onto the already expansive RIA facilities needed to house the event. According to Integrated Systems Europe’s post-show analysis, the number of registered attendees for ISE 2018 increased by 10.2 % to 80,923, up from 73,413 in 2017. New attendees accounted for 38% of the total – excluding exhibitor personnel, and there were 294 first-time exhibitors. Since the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, our ever digitising world has created the capacity for the rapid expansion of the professional AV industry across applications that were not even conceived of a mere 20 years ago. Professor Carlo Ratti, the leading architect, engineer, inventor, educator and director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, presented the opening address for ISE on the evening of 5 February. Prof Ratti points out that: “The future is not written in stone. It is up to us to make the decisions about how we want to live in the future. We have it in our power to invent the way things will be.” It is a theme that permeated the event, highlighting the way in which collaborative technologies, system integration and digital content are changing how we interact with each other and our world – in every aspect of our lives. Michael Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, spoke with Pro-Systems News about his past 15 years’ experience at the helm of the ISE show.

A Story of Growth In the early years of AV integration technology, the audiovisual market and the revolution in information technology that erupted following the emergence of the internet seemed to be unrelated. As the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT) started to take hold in our homes, offices and the entertainment world, the links between AV and IT escalated – and a whole new set of possibilities for AV integrators opened up in a relatively short space of time.

In response to the rapid evolution of the AV systems integration market, a number of professional AV associations came together and headhunted Michael Blackman to take the lead in developing a trade show for stakeholders in the AV integration markets in 2002. The result of his efforts was the launch of the first edition of ISE in 2004, which was hosted in Geneva. “Geneva is a lovely, central location. However it soon became apparent that it was not a good fit for our industry and we started looking for new home for ISE the very next year,” Blackman explains. “In 2005, we hosted the event in Amsterdam for the first time, and it was immediately apparent that the RAI served as a very attractive location for the event. We were, however, unable to reserve a booking for the 2006 edition of the show, which was subsequently held in Brussels. The third edition in 2007 came home to the RAI in Amsterdam, and ISE has been held here ever since,” Blackman explains. The RAI, which hosts a number of high-profile events throughout the year, has noted that ISE has made a significant contribution to the local economy in recent years, creating opportunities for the hospitality and transport sector during a period that was relatively quiet for small business owners in the past. The RAI management team shared with Blackman the fact that for every US dollar spent at the conference and exhibition venue, visitors spend an average $12 in the city. This has transferred significant benefit onto local businesses, particularly hotels, bed-and-breakfast facilities, restaurants, retailers and – most notably – for the taxi industry. “According to city officials, there was one evening last year where 3,500 taxi pick-ups were recorded in a single evening during the show. This is a record for the city,” Blackman points out.

Bringing the AV industry together ISE boasts the title of being the largest event of its kind to be hosted in Holland and brings a record number of people through the RAI every year. According to Blackman, the show started with hundred-odd exhibitors but has continued to grow by an average of 8% – 10%, year-on-year. “I remember a time when I could list the names of every single exhibitor on the floor. Over the past few years, this list has become so extensive that I need an entire team to keep up with the ever-expanding list of participants,” Blackman muses.

SHOW REPORT ISE

The growth in exhibitor and visitor numbers is not only reflective of more people coming through the door but also reflects a broadening of reach across markets and continents. Blackman states that for the first few editions of the show, attendees were primarily from European countries – accounting for up to 95% of registrations. This demographic has started to shift, with at least 20% of attendees coming from outside of the EU in 2018, including from North America, China, the Middle East, and Africa. “It is very encouraging to see the level of international engagement that is taking place on the floor and in the training sessions,” Blackman points out – a fact that is particularly relevant for an industry that performs such a vital role in bringing people closer together through technology.

EYE Filmmuseum, Amserdam

Growth in influence and learning There have been a lot of notable developments in professional AV since the 2017 edition of ISE, particularly within the organising structures behind ISE as well as in the professional AV industry as a whole. InfoComm International has rebranded to AVIXA as a part of the association’s drive to widen its influence beyond its traditional membership. The TIDE Conference, which addresses the AV user experience and more creative side of AV, held its first edition in Orlando, USA in 2017 and came to Amsterdam ahead of the opening of ISE. There have been some revolutionary changes in CEDIA, the other part-owner of the ISE show, which opened its new global headquarters, including a world-class training facility and experience centre in November last year. Both CEDIA and AVIXA offered a wide range of professional development sessions during this years’ show, which were attended by a record number of AV professionals from across the world. In addition to the formal sessions that continued over the four-day event, ISE provided visitors with the opportunity to visit smaller venues, called Show Floor Theatres, in presentations about key industry topics were open to visitors during the event. These included the AVIXA Commercial Solutions Theatre and the AVIXA Unified Communications Theatre, both sponsored by Crestron; and the CEDIA Smart Buildings Solutions Theatre, sponsored by KNX.

Blackman’s show highlights When asked about his 2018 show highlight, Blackman pointed to a number of aspects of this edition that have set the event apart from its predecessors. First, Blackman points out the sheer growth in the event as a show highlight for organisers. “We don’t really need to focus on the number of exhibitors at the show anymore, which provides the opportunity to seek out quality over quantity moving forward,” he states. Blackman adds that he and his team have actively sought-out high-level buyer groups from a diversity of markets to ensure quality leads for exhibitors. “We have approximately 400 hosted buyers at the event – all key decision makers in their respective fields – which ensure that our exhibitors are provided with great opportunities to do business at the show.” His second show highlight focuses on the event’s expansion into the city, with the World Masters of Projection Mapping being chief among these. “The World Masters of Projection Mapping brought AV technology to the heart of the city, and we have received a lot of attention in the media and from the general public as a result,” Blackman points out.

From 14 January to 9 February 2018, five projection mapping artists demonstrated their response to the theme, using two 40x15 metre water screens as well as the imposing façade of the EYE Filmmuseum, together with Panasonic PT-RZ21K laser projectors. “The World Masters of Projection was something new for the show,” Blackman points out. “The event presented some very useful learning curves, and we already have some ideas about how to do things differently moving forward. It was, however, an interesting addition to the show and something that we will look at developing in the future.” Finally, Blackman points out the outstanding quality and exceptional range of technology that was featured at the event. “I have seen a lot of 4K screens on the floor – which represents cutting-edge technology that opens up a wide range of possibilities for users of these products in the market,” Blackman states. He also highlights the inclusion of virtual reality technology for the second time this year at the XR Technology Zone. Working together with XR industry leader, Holovis, to create a range of fully immersive experiences, using the company’s patented InMo software suite to enable the creation of collaborative virtual environments from multiple real locations and devices. “Holovis developed an XR simulation that allowed visitors to experience what happens if you fall asleep while driving a car. In Blackman’s opinion, the VR experiences presented at the XR Tech Zone highlight the many potential commercial applications of this type of technology in a very clear and accessible way.

Projecting the future of ISE If the growth of both the scope and attendance numbers of ISE 2018 is anything to go by, there is little doubt that ISE 2019 will continue to offer both exhibitors and attendees new experiences, broader reach and more varied learning opportunities. The AV industry is, by its very nature, focused on sensory input and it is difficult to imagine future editions of the show offering more than what is already a glut for the senses. Blackman, however, seems sensitive to the balance that one needs to maintain to ensure that the show continues to grow in relevance, quality and authority moving forward. Reflecting on some of his current challenges, Blackman points out that the show is currently running at capacity, despite the two additional temporary structures that have been erected at the venue to accommodate overflow. “One of our greatest challenges is that while the RAI is an excellent venue for the show, our capacity to grow in numbers and scope is limited. Future infrastructure development at the RAI will determine further growth in exhibitor numbers, rather than the demand from the market,” Blackman states, adding that talks are underway about the possible expansion of the venue, but that nothing has been confirmed at this time.

ISE SHOW REPORT

AJA Unveils New 2TB Pak 2000 SSD Recording Media AJA Video Systems expanded its line of Pak SSD media with the introduction of the 2TB Pak 2000 for Ki Pro Ultra and Ki Pro Ultra Plus recording and playback devices. The company also revealed new ordering options for the entire Pak drive family, including HFS+ formatting for macOS® users and exFAT for PC and universal use. “With productions rapidly embracing high resolution, high frame rate and multi-cam workflows, media storage is a key concern. Pak 2000 introduces a high capacity recording option at a lower cost per GB than before, and with the performance and reliability our products are known for,” shared AJA president Nick Rashby. “Our new HFS+ and exFAT options give customers greater flexibility with formatting upon ordering that fits their workflow demands.” Pak 2000 delivers the longer recording capacity required for live event productions, documentaries, news and sports

Eric Norrell

programming, making it ideal for multicamera HD workflows with the Ki Pro Ultra Plus’s multi-channel HD recording capabilities. The high capacity drive can hold more than four hours of 4K/UltraHD ProRes (HQ), three hours of ProRes 4444 at 30p, and up to two hours ProRes (HQ) or 90 minutes of ProRes 4444 at 60p. Double the

length can be achieved with two Pak drives and rollover support in Ki Pro Ultra and Ki Pro Ultra Plus. Like all AJA recording media, Pak 2000 is tested for optimal performance and reliability, and backed by an international warranty. Distributed by: www.touchvision.co.za

Barco showcases the revolutionary UniSee Video Wall at ISE Barco showed their dominance as a world-leading provider of visualisation and collaboration solutions at an impression 250m2 stand at ISE, showcasing an array of products and solutions for the education, meeting, control room and entertainment environments. One of the undisputed highlights of the stand and the recipient of a “Best of Show 2018 Award” by NewBay Media’s AV Technology Europe was the Barco UniSee Video Wall. Barco UniSee takes a new approach to seamless LCD video walls, redesigning and optimising every component of a multi-tile video wall. The company states that the Barco UniSee Video wall is not only a step forward regarding image quality, but also in installation time, ease-of-servicing, and reliability. The inclusion of state-of-the-art NoGap technology makes the inter-tile gap barely noticeable,

making it possible to spread content over multiple tiles without the interruption of a bezel. Included in the UniSee solution is the custom designed UniSee Mount, which uses gravity to perfectly and automatically align panels – and keep them in place over time. The UniSee Mount also eases setup and maintenance efforts, allowing swift undocking of separate panels – a feature that was demonstrated to the Pro-Systems team at the Barco stand by Pietro Capretta. In addition to the UniSee wall, Barco presented its weConnect collaborative learning platform, and AV control solution Overture. Visitors to the stand also got a sneak peek of the company’s upcoming 4K laser projector in a dome setup, which will be showcased at Prolight + Sound in Frankfort in April. Distributed by: www.peripheralvision.co.za www.skygroupcom.co.za

SHOW REPORT ISE

Bosch brings innovation to conferencing and public address systems at ISE Bosch Security Systems launched two innovative products at ISE, the DICENTIS Interpreter desk and the PRAESENSA Public Address and Voice Alarm System. Working with UX partner, Van Berlo – the largest product development and brand innovation agency in the Netherlands, Bosch has developed both systems to respond to very specific and complex professional user groups. The inclusion of the interpreter desk in the company’s IP-based DICENTIS Conference System has resulted in a conferencing solution that is custom designed to meet the real-life needs of interpreters on the large-scale international conferencing circuit. The unique design of the DICENTIS Interpreter desk separates the incoming and outgoing languages into two vertically aligned columns, supported by a high-contrast screen for quick comprehension and intuitive operation. Three assignable buttons provide the interpreter with short-key functions for quick access to supporting functions such as “video select”. The HDMI output enables an external video screen to be added so that the interpreter can see the participant speaking or the participant’s presentation.

Christie opens Pandora’s Box at ISE Education Zone

Cementing their place as a leading innovator in the projection and visual displays market, Christie Digital showcased its range of investments and breakthroughs in high brightness displays, laser phosphor, LED, and flat panels at this years’ show. Among the products on display at Christie’s ISE booth was the Crimson 3DLP laser phosphor projector, which delivers up to 25,000 ISO lumens, with 60Hz processing and Christie BoldColor Technology. According to Christie’s director of marketing for the EMEA region Brant Eckett, who spoke with the Pro-Systems team at the show, the Crimson series prides itself on the low cost of ownership for rental, staging and fixed installation customers achieved in this product range. Also on show was the latest addition to the Christie GS Series of bright, high-value laser phosphor projectors. On the display side, Christie presented its Christie Velvet Apex 0.9mm LED video wall, which delivers high quality colours in an

The PRAESENSA is the latest Public Address and Voice Alarm System from Bosch. Bosch boasts more than 90 years of experience in Public Address Systems, as is responsible for introducing the first networked digital Public Address and Voice Alarm System 15 years ago. The newly launched system is fully IP-connected, and all components of the system are networked, thereby ensuring the highest flexibility and scalability from small centralised to large decentralised systems. The Bosch OMNEO* IP architecture supports DanteTM audio networking, AES67 and AES70 protocol. With the introduction of the fully IP-based PRAESENSA solution, the company has cemented their commitment setting new industry standards in this field. Distributed by: www.peripheralvision.co.za

ultra-fine pixel pitch and the Christie Velvet CorePlus range, which is designed with a focus on affordability and flexibility while delivering a host of features normally found in more expensive LEDs. All of the company’s impressive offerings were showcased using the Pandora’s box toolkit – from real-time media control, 3D projection mapping to native 4:4:4 4K playback. In addition to the products being showcased at the company’s impressive stand, Christie invited ISE attendees to learn more about the latest developments in its AV solutions at the Education Zone during the event. A host of speakers presented during daily sessions on the most recent content management and processing technologies featured at the show – including Pandoras Box, Widget Designer, Terra, Spyder X80 and Mystique. “The Education Zone is a fantastic way for interested parties to get a better understanding of what Christie has to offer,” says Simon Smith, vice president of Christie EMEA. “ISE is a fantastic event, but with so much on show, it can be difficult to find an opportunity to look at solutions in real depth. At the Education Zone, attendees had the opportunity to hear about what can be achieved with Christie technologies,” he concludes. Christie’s Education Zone Presentations are available for online viewing at: https://www.christiedigital.com/Documents/ Landing-pages/ISE/EN Distributed by: www.christiedigital.com www.stageaudioworks.com

ISE SHOW REPORT

ClearOne introduces its Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X at ISE

Demonstrating its ability to provide high quality audio for any conferencing application, ClearOne introduced a new addition to its ceiling microphone array line up — the ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X at ISE. The new model joins the original ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array and offers systems integrators more options in their system design. All ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Arrays feature three wide-range

microphones that are mounted together into a single unit array to provide the rich sound of three individual unidirectional microphones while maintaining full 360-degree coverage. Easily installed and affordably priced, the new ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X features numbered mic-elements for easy identification, an LED indicator for On/Off/ Mute, and the ability to daisy chain up to four ceiling microphone arrays to make twelve microphone systems. What’s more, it is 100% shielded from any interferences, features a higher signal-to-noise-ratio, the ability to be installed anywhere from 0-feet to up to 7-feet from the ceiling, and optimised for speech intelligibility. The ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Analog X also works with any DSP mixer.

“There is no question that audio is the single most important factor to effectively conference, communicate, and collaborate in any group meeting environment,” said Durai Ramachandiran, ClearOne senior director of product line management, pro voice and AV distribution. “Customers who know the benefits of the original ClearOne Microphone Array will immediately appreciate the added performance and ease of installation of our newest line addition for applications or environments where a more demanding ceiling mic performance is needed.” ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Arrays deliver unbeatable sound with the most unobtrusive microphone placement option. They are ideal for conferencing and sound reinforcement applications in any size room, including lecture halls, boardrooms, huddle rooms, training rooms, courtrooms, telemedicine facilities and more. Distributed by: www.skygroupcom.co.za

MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. EVEN THIS GUY.

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Crestron takes collaboration to a new level at ISE

Rupert Denoon of Crestron South Africa met with the Pro-Systems team at ISE 2018 to take us through the myriad of Crestron solutions and products that were on show at this years’ ISE. Crestron made their presence felt at ISE, bringing multiple new technologies to the floor and taking an active part in the conference and learning spaces at the show. According to Denoon, one of the more exciting solutions that Crestron presented at their expansive booth, was the company’s ground-breaking Free Form solutions. Purpose designed to transform any space into a fully equipped meeting environment. The AM-300 AirMedia® Presentation System Enables secure wired and wireless presentation in lounges, lobbies, and open spaces, and integrates with popular calendaring platforms. Easy to deploy and manage, increases workflow, and facilitates collaboration by turning underutilised spaces into productive meeting spaces. When no presentation source is connected, the AM-300 displays a customizable welcome screen on the room display with simple instructions for connecting and presenting. Integration with Microsoft® Exchange, Office 365®, G Suite™, or Crestron Fusion® calendaring allows the space’s availability and details about the current scheduled meeting to appear on screen. As the meeting progresses, gentle notifications appear periodically to indicate how much time is left in the meeting and what’s scheduled next for the space. Pop-up messages, sent from Crestron Fusion, may also appear prominently on screen in the event of an emergency or other important announcement. “Over the past year or two, we have seen a shift towards smarter offices in South Africa, with huddle spaces being chosen over formal boardrooms, and informal zones doubling as meeting spaces in many of the newer offices developments in the country,” Denoon explains. Also on display at the Crestron stand was the company’s groundbreaking DM XiO Director, billed as the new AV matrix for the IT age. An enterprise-grade network appliance, with natively running simple yet powerful software, the DM XiO Director centrally configures, manages, and controls DM® NVX network AV systems. The DM XiO Director is available in three models, depending on the number of DM NVX endpoints. The software tool enables device discovery, domain configuration, endpoint mapping, multicasting management, and status monitoring. DM NVX Series is the industry’s only secure solution that delivers 4K60, 4:4:4, and HDR video over standard 1Gb Ethernet. “Once your DM NVX network is installed, you need to route the video and manage the system. The DM XiO Director makes it easy to set up large networks of endpoints, name rooms, monitor signal paths, and manage video data over a standard IP network,” said Rob Carter, technology manager, DigitalMedia.

The DM XiO Director automatically discovers each DM NVX endpoint on the network and allows each one to be assigned to a “domain” using a simple UI. A domain is simply a logical grouping of endpoints that operate together as a single switching entity, allowing individual rooms and other subsystems to be arranged and controlled independently. The DM XiO Director effectively eliminates the need for physical switchers in every room, replacing them with the virtual equivalent running on the AV network. The latest generation of DigitalMedia, DM NVX Series delivers secure 4K60, 4:4:4, and HDR over standard 1Gb Ethernet with no latency. It leverages industry standard 802.1x authentication, Active Directory credential management, and the SSH network protocol to ensure network security at the product level. DM NVX Series provides an infinitely scalable software-defined matrix, from a simple point-to-point setup to thousands of endpoints. Finally, Denoon showed us the company’s innovative new whiteboard solution, the Crestron AirBoard. The AirBoard is essentially a camera on an arm that attaches to any electronic whiteboard via the included mounting kit. With PoE, only a single Ethernet cable to the LAN is required for video, communication, and power. Annotations can be saved and then posted, emailed, or texted to either a central web page (education applications) or to invited participants (corporate applications). Meeting participants simply choose “whiteboard” as a source on the in-room Crestron TSW or Crestron Mercury™ touch screen to start the session. When “end meeting” is selected, the user is prompted to save and send the file. “I see the AirBoard finding its way into our classrooms in South Africa, particularly in schools that embrace technology and in the private higher education sector,” Denoon remarks. Crestron scooped a number of awards at this year’s show, including Installation Magazine’s award for Best of Show in the installation category, AV Technology Europe Best of Show for Crestron Mercury and DM XiO Director, and was awarded the winning title at the InAVation Awards in the Technology for Collaboration and Conferencing category. Distributed by: www.crestron.com

ISE SHOW REPORT

Digital Projection showcases 8K projection at ISE Building on its reputation as a world-class innovator in the projection space, Digital Projection previewed the world’s first 8K laser projector: the INSIGHT Dual Laser 8K at this years’ ISE. The INSIGHT Laser 8K Projector is the world’s first commercially available DLP® laser 8K projector. Providing an ultra-high 8K resolution (7680 X 4320) of 33-million pixels through 25,000 ANSI lumens of solid-state laser-phosphor illumination, the new flagship projector is the ultimate solution for the most elaborate medical, scientific and immersive visualisation and large-venue applications. In addition to the resolution and lumen performance, it uses proven DLP technology – incorporating 3x 1.38” DarkChip™ DMD™ chips and Digital Projection’s ColorMax™ technology to ensure superb colour accuracy and black levels. These are especially vital imaging characteristics when matching projectors in tiled or blended applications.

EAW debuts new amplification and processing solution Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) launched the UX Series, a complete amplification and processing solution for install and production applications utilising EAW loudspeakers at ISE. The UX series ensures the best possible performance of an EAW sound reinforcement system in a fraction of the time required with other amplifiers through seamless integration of EAW’s Greybox technology and Resolution software. “We are excited to provide our customers with an amplifier solution that offers pristine audio quality in an incredibly durable and reliable package,” explains TJ Smith, general manager EAW. “Setup through Resolution software simplifies loading the appropriate Greybox settings and leverages the power of EAW core technologies such as DynO and Focusing while minimising time spent tuning the system.” The amplifier series consists of two 4-channel amplifiers – the UXA4406 and UXA4410 – as well as the eight-channel UXA4810. These Class D amplifiers offer a unique combination of power and audio performance integrated with precise 48kHz digital signal processing. The four channel models deliver up to 2,500 watts (5,000 watts bridged), while the UXA4810 delivers 1,250 watts per channel (2,500 watts bridged). Incredibly versatile, each amplifier channel can be configured to deliver its maximum power into two, four or eight ohms, nominal loads as well as 25V, 70V & 100V constant Voltage (CV) lines. This offers designers and integrators unparalleled flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

From simulation and visualisation projects requiring unmatched details to elite entertainment venues that demand the most immersive experience through large-scale imagery, the INSIGHT Dual Laser 8K provides a new performance benchmark in the industry. Lamp replacements are never required due to the solid-state laser illumination system. By eliminating regular lamp replacement cycles, system operation is never interrupted, making long-term maintenance costs virtually non-existent, resulting in dramatically lower cost of ownership over the lifespan of the projector. Speaking to Pro-Systems at the Digital Projection booth at ISE, Digital Projection’s marketing manager Mark Wadsworth confirmed that the INSIGHT projector received a lot of positive attention at the show. “Many of the visitors to the stand mistake the image achieved with the INSIGHT projector for 3D technology.” When asked about the company’s hopes for their 8K projector, Wadsworth states: “While there may not be a lot of 8K content available on the market at the moment, we believe that more content will become available in the near future. We are proud to be among the first manufacturers to bring 8K projection to the commercial market.” Distributed by: www.avitel.co.za

The final component of the UX Series is the UX48 processor, a high performance and easy-to-use signal processor that offers processing for four inputs and eight outputs. It takes advantage of the latest analogue to digital conversion and DSP technologies to deliver impeccable audio. The full front panel user interface offers simple and intuitive operation. Distributed by: www.surgesound.co.za

SHOW REPORT ISE

JBL Professional by HARMAN HARMAN Professional Solutions introduced the JBL Professional VLA Compact Series line array solution at ISE 2018. Built upon the capabilities of the JBL Variable Line Array (VLA) Series of long-throw line arrays, the new VLA Compact Series offers the same performance quality in a more compact, outdoor-ready solution. The VLA Compact is designed specifically for permanent installation applications requiring even coverage, high intelligibility and audio levels capable of overcoming crowd noise. As a fundamental design element, VLA Compact Series offers large format horn-loaded modules to provide broad bandwidth horizontal directivity and an increase in sensitivity. “The JBL VLA Series is the industry’s best combination of performance and cost, and now it is available in a small package that is perfect for a number of new applications,” says Iain Gregory, director, large venue customer solutions at HARMAN Professional Solutions. “This is yet another example where HARMAN is not only a leading innovation but is also taking that innovation and bringing it to the widest range of solutions possible, providing solutions that are flexible yet purpose-built to the unique challenges our customers face.”

AMX by HARMAN HARMAN Professional Solutions announced that the AMX by HARMAN Acendo Vibe Conferencing Soundbar with Camera is now available for shipping. The AMX Acendo Vibe is a premium conferencing soundbar with a powerful feature set that includes JBL speakers, far-field microphones, a wide-angle 110° field of view camera and a modern office design aesthetic. “With the rapid growth of huddle spaces and the use of web conferencing in today’s modern workplace, the market demand for AMX Acendo Vibe has been incredible and we are very excited to begin shipping,” says Shaun Robinson, vice president of corporate, education and government customer solutions for HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The Acendo Vibe is an excellent example of what HARMAN Professional can now deliver, bringing best-of-breed audio and video technologies inside of HARMAN

BSS by HARMAN Professional Solutions

HARMAN Professional Solutions introduced the BSS DCP-555 Digital Conferencing Processor, an intelligent audio solution designed specifically for web and audio conferencing in meeting spaces at ISE. Leveraging BSS’s nearly 40 years of innovation in intelligent audio technology, the DCP-555 provides superior sound processing quality in a templatebased solution designed for conference rooms, boardrooms and classrooms. The BSS DCP-555 Digital Conferencing Processor is the ultimate solution for audio or web conferencing in medium or large meeting spaces, providing industry-leading sound processing and automated mixing of microphones, PC audio, and other audio sources, with acoustic echo cancellation ensuring the meeting is clear and effective. Audio from multiple microphones can be output as a single, optimised signal over USB, making it perfect for web conferencing using the AMX Acendo Core or BYOD applications. With the inclusion of onboard VoIP connectivity, rooms can be equipped with audio conferencing without the need for a separate IP phone in the room. “BSS intelligent audio processing solutions are renowned for their superior sound quality and advanced capabilities,” says Paul Krizan, Corporate Solutions Manager for HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The BSS DCP-555 brings that same quality in a template-based solution that IT managers and integrators can easily configure, making it possible to scale to hundreds or thousands of rooms across the enterprise. Because configuration is performed using a web interface with no additional software required, the setup can be done easily from any device connected to the same network.”

together into simple-to-install appliances that deliver great user experiences. I’m extremely proud of our talented JBL and AMX development teams that have put their passion and effort into this exciting new product category for HARMAN.” The AMX Acendo Vibe has already earned a number of industry awards, including AV Technology “InfoComm 2017 Best of Show” and System Contractor News “2017 Product of the Year.” “We’re excited to showcase this powerful solution to our customers at ISE 2018,” says Robinson. “With the pristine web conferencing available with the AMX Acendo Vibe, teams in enterprise office environments can make optimal use of huddle spaces and smaller meeting rooms without the unnecessary delays and frustration of outdated conference room equipment.” Distributed by: www.peripheralvision.co.za

ISE SHOW REPORT

Exterity showcases the future of visual communication at ISE Exterity solutions are used globally by Gary Davies, Exterity sub-Sahara organisations in multiple markets and are pushing Africa sales manager, spoke with the envelope for more tightly integrated unified Pro-Systems News at the company’s communications services. Exterity showcased a stand during ISE. He explained that number of innovative solutions at ISE including its Exterity is gaining an increasing new 4K media player, which integrates 4K video foothold in the South African market, into digital signage, offering a complete particularly among banking, end-to-end 4K Exterity IP video solution auditing and insurance providers – The company also demonstrated its many of whom are in the process of middleware portal ArtioGuest. Built from the upgrading their office facilities in ground up, the new portal will focus initially on Johannesburg. “Exterity provides the hospitality market and provide an enhanced solutions that are well suited to the and intuitive in-room guest experience. Exterity needs of clients in the developing Gary Davies, Exterity sub-Sahara Africa sales manager used the opportunity to showcase markets as our digital signage enhancements and new features for its intuitive options are scalable and affordable and user-friendly integrated digital signage and IP video while providing a wide range of options for clients,” he states. solution, ArtioSign. Visitors to the Exterity stand were given the opportunity to learn CEO at Exterity, Colin Farquhar stated: “For the AV/IT/IP how they can use Exterity solutions for any deployment – from convergence to truly happen, solutions need to be user-friendly, large-scale banks to fragmented university campuses, boutique end-to-end and agile, but also robust and secure, and this is what we hotels and venues hosting a wide range of events. demonstrated at ISE.”

Kramer launches new family of integrated AV presentation systems at ISE Kramer Electronics launched a new addition to its extensive and innovative portfolio at ISE. Billed as a true AV powerhouse, Kramer’s VS-88UT and VS-622DT consolidate multiple AV functionalities into a single presentation system. Both systems feature matrix switching, HDBaseT 2.0 range extension, room control, and outstanding audio capabilities all in a compact form factor that unclutters the rack. Installation and maintenance are simplified, as both solutions eliminate the need to attach additional extenders. Support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) offers added flexibility. The Kramer Maestro room automation software further enhances the VS-622DT for a customised user experience which requires minimal end-user intervention. “These products represent a whole new level in Kramer’s line of presentation systems, which is all about cost effectiveness for both system integrators and end users”, said Aviv Ron, vice president of Business Development and Strategy for Kramer. “These innovative, all-in-one, complete solutions for routing audio, 4K video, control and data deliver excellent user experience at extremely attractive price points,” added Ron. Kramer also announced the release of Kramer Maestro V1.5 at the show. The Maestro room automation software offers a customised, easy-to-configure, fully-automated meeting room environment, without requiring any programming. Maestro transforms regular meeting spaces into intelligent and productive work environments that require minimal end-user intervention to get meetings up and running.Also featured was Kramer Network 2.0, an enterprise management platform enabling IT/AV professionals to easily

configure and manage their entire Kramer product range, Dante™ devices and 3rd party devices from anywhere in the world. The fourth UC Panel session, hosted and organised by Kramer, has become a firm favourite among ISE visitors. The discussion, chaired by Tim Albright, focused on software-driven Pro AV installations with minimal-to-zero physical infrastructure; security implications; whether the reliability of technology is a real adoption barrier or just a misconception; effects on user experience; and how providers can work with companies to prepare for this not-so-distant future. “IoT will unquestionably shape the new world of Pro AV for home automation manufacturers and custom installers, it’s already an everyday reality – and soon, that reality will make itself felt among those manufacturers and integrators addressing the commercial market,” states Albright. Distributed by: www.electrosonic.co.za

SHOW REPORT ISE

Panasonic bolsters 4K AV line-up at ISE 2018 Panasonic announced a “beyond 4K laser-phosphor” addition to its projector line-up at ISE, aimed at live event staging, exhibitions, rental and permanent installations. The launch of the PT-RQ22K 3-Chip DLPTM SOLID SHINE laser projector, which meets the demands for a lightweight, high-brightness 4K+ projector, is just one of the many announcements made by the Japanese manufacturer at the show. In addition, Panasonic has unveiled a six model series of 4K professional displays ideal for shopping centres, showrooms, meeting rooms and classrooms, ranging from 43 inches to 86 inches. Designed to simplify the installation, setup and control of network displays, the EQ1 series is equipped with a USB media player that displays 4K and Full HD content without the need for external cables or a set-top box. Panasonic’s new 12,000 lumens laser projector, which shares the same compact dimensions and light weight as its existing 10,000 lumens class projectors, joins the company’s lineup of filterless 1-Chip DLPTM dual-drive laser phosphor models. For digital signage, Panasonic brings its interactive ShadowSenseTM display range, designed for high-end digital signage applications, to ISE 2018. Providing the freedom to engage, the multi-touch versions of

Powersoft shares skills with visitors at ISE

Powersoft launched the new Duecanali 804 and Duecanali 4804 at this years’ ISE, a two-channel amplifier platform with optional DSP and Dante dedicated to the fixed install market. The systems are billed to be the perfect answer to system integrators’ needs for a high-performance amplifier solution in leisure and retail spaces.

the AF1 and LF80 displays in 42, 49 and 55-inch sizes, have been integrated across Panasonic’s booth. Additionally, Panasonic announced its new series of high brightness, lightweight, portable projectors. The PT-VW360 series is the lightest and brightest projector in its class, offering high-contrast imaging on screens up to 300 inches. For the education and corporate markets, Panasonic has announced the high-brightness PT-MZ770 projector series. The two models combine the portability and picture quality of LCD imaging, with the low operating cost and high reliability of SOLID SHINE Laser, providing outstanding reliability in dusty conditions. The Panasonic presence at ISE was presented as providing the freedom to create. “We believe that businesses will succeed if they can simply focus on their customers, in the knowledge that the technology solution, delivering their capabilities just works,” added Jan Markus Jahn.

The Duecanali 4804 provides 2 x 2400W @ 4 Ω, a power output suitable to a wide range of projects, making it an attractive and cost-effective solution for small to medium size installations seeking both pristine and reliable sound. The Duecanali 804 offers 2 x 400W and represents a lower total power solution for installations in retail, as well as bars and restaurants where a single two-channel amplifier is the requirement, without the need for additional channels or power. The range is completed by the existing Duecanali 1602, which was launched at ISE in 2017 and now sits between the two new products in the Duecanali range. In addition, Powersoft provided a series of Armonía Pro Audio Suite™ daily sessions at their booth, coaching attendees in the setup and design of a fully-specified audio system in the context of its environment and infrastructure. The demonstrations included IT network specification, as well as the electrical and cooling requirements of a system design. The training sessions were capped with insights and explorations into system monitoring and advanced remote-control functions as well as system optimisation and tuning. Distributed by: www.surgesound.co.za

Samsung introduces The Wall Professional at ISE

Samsung Electronics delivered on their promise to take LED engagement to new heights at ISE with the introduction of “The Wall Professional’ – a modular, large-format indoor MicroLED display that can extend to hundreds of inches in size while delivering outstanding brightness, contrast and viewing angles. The Wall Professional served as the centrepiece Samsung’s booth experience. Speaking ahead of the show, Seog-gi Kim, executive vice president of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics stated: “By upgrading to powerful LED displays that blend into all professional environments without space or size restrictions, businesses can deliver a next-level content experience that captivates audiences and ultimately translates to significant growth.’ Samsung’s fine pixel-pitch IF-D Series LED Signage provided visitors with the opportunity to explore new opportunities to deliver content within customisable, easy-to-manage formats. The IF-D Series displays align Samsung’s market-best video processing tools with HDR picture refinement to produce visuals that shine even against white or dark backgrounds. This combination elevates peak brightness levels (2,400nit) and initiates scene-by-scene gradation and optimisation through Scene Adaptive HDR technology.

SHOW REPORT ISE

InAVation Awards 2018 winners announced The 12th iteration of the InAVation Awards, held at the Gashouder in Amsterdam during Integrated Systems Europe, once again succeeded in highlighting the very best that the professional AV industry has to offer. This year was an exceptional event, with 800 guests attending the InAVation Awards evening, which celebrated the achievements of manufacturers, distributors and installers of the world’s best AV technology and projects, globally.

Mirroring the increasing global appeal of the ISE tradeshow, the InAVation Project Awards were opened to installations carried out across the world, which saw projects delivered in Egypt and Ethiopia being listed among the finalists. The awards represent the culmination of months of adjudication which sees manufacturers, integrators, distributors and consultants compete for the prestigious winning title in their respective categories.

The awards evening was a lavish and enjoyable affair by all accounts, with an informal drinks reception followed by a sumptuous four-course meal. The event proved to be a seminal networking opportunity for multiple stakeholders in the AV industry, and a great celebration of the industry’s achievements over the past year.

Winners of the InAVation Technology Awards:

Winners of the InAVation Project Awards:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AV Accessory: Peerless-AV – SmartMount Universal LED Mounting System Display Technology for Digital Signage: LG Business Solutions – 55-in OLED Display 55EF5C Technology for Control Rooms: Extron – Quantum Ultra Technology for Control and Management: Kramer Electronics – Kramer Control Display Technology for Collaboration and Conferencing: Pro Series from Clevertouch Technology for Collaboration and Conferencing: Crestron Mercury Technology for Digital Signage: Datapath Fx4 Technology for Entertainment/Live Events: Panasonic Visual System Solutions – PT-RZ31K Technology for Large Group Presentation: Epson – EB-L1300U Technology for Leisure Venues: Powersoft – Quattrocanali Technology for Safety and Security: Extron Electronics – IPCP Pro Series Technology for Signal Distribution: Biamp Systems – TesiraLUX Technology for Small Group Presentation: Arthur Holm – DynamicX2BC Technology for Video Capture and Broadcast: Vaddio – OneLINK Bridge AV

• • • • • • • • • • •

Visitor Attraction: Lanit Integration with DIGIS for Zaryadye Park, Russia Education Facility: Vanti for BCU Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK Healthcare: Jones AV for Vinzenz Gruppe Private Hospital Vienna, Austria Transport: Electronics & Engineering for Changi Airport Terminal 4, Singapore Government Facility: ASTAD with Brandfirst and TechnoQ for Qatar National Library, Qatar Leisure & Entertainment Facility: ASC & Graner+Partner for kING in Ingelheim, Germany Live Event: Tribar Imagineering for Turkmenistan to Afghanistan Rail Link Inauguration Retail – Advanced: Air Jordan Toronto Store, Canada House of Worship: Venuetech for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, UAE Corporate Facility – proAV for UBS 5 Broadgate, UK Control Room – AV Media for EPS Dispatcher Training Facility, Czech Republic

Distributed by Questek. Tel: 011 7060405 sales@questek.co.za

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SHOW REPORT ISE

Local integrator's views on ISE

A record number of visitors and exhibitor personnel attended ISE in Amsterdam this year, with 80 923 registered attendees entering the RAI in Amsterdam during the course of the show. Integrated Systems Events managing director, Mike Blackman pointed out in an interview with Pro-Systems News that one of the major achievements of this years’ iteration was the increasing number of attendees from outside the EU that are attending the event. South Africa is no exception, with the editorial team running into an impressive number of familiar faces from the South African professional AV market on the floor. Following the show, the editorial team chatted with a number of AV integrators and distributors about their experiences at ISE 2018. Here follows a small sample of the feedback that we received.

Stefan Mayer Corporate AV Integration (PTY) Ltd Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? LG’s Oled dual side displays and Crestron’s NVX range of video over IP products. These are technologies that are still new, but are establishing themselves for the near future.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? I think displays of any kind are suited for our market. The two sided screen is certainly something new for SA. Crestron’s NVX product has proven itself to offer superior quality over existing 1GB networks. The biggest challenge is convincing IT managers of the benefits of this technology.

What was your overall impression of ISE? Much of the technology was on display, but possibly better versions of existing products. Epson’s Laser technology is taking off in a big way. First day seemed quieter than previous years, but day two and three were extremely busy – nearly too busy.

Rupert Denoon Crestron Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? Crestron NVX AV over IP solution. Completely blown away by the quality of video and the flexibility this product allows, not to mention the security that’s what all IT people look at.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? In South Africa, we tend to be extremely forward thinking when it comes to technology and always love using the latest trending technology available.

What was your overall impression of ISE? ISE is always an amazing event for us, and all dealers are attending. We are very proud of our NVX solution and dealers were amazed by the quality and stability. Cresfest was amazing this year.

ISE SHOW REPORT

Duncan Riley DWR Distribution (Pty) Ltd Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? DiGiCoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Launch of Area 4, a new audio installation platform designed to deliver the highest quality performance across multi-space venues and stages. AREA4 has been designed to meet the expanding performance requirements of large entertainment venues, houses of worship, theatres and shared stages at festivals and music venues.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? I think it will take a bit longer before we see the deployment of DiGiCo Area4 in South Africa. Once we see some international installations completed, I think we will see it being used in theatres, houses of worship and clubs and pub venues.

What was your overall impression of ISE? It was amazing to see that ISE as a tradeshow is appealing to a larger market by dedicating certain halls to the entertainment technology industry. In my view, the show is growing from strength to strength. The social aspect of the show was wonderful. It was a great opportunity to meet new people and also an opportunity to see people I have not seen in a while â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cementing relationships.

Viljoen Lambrecht Electrosonic Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? This year KRAMER started with a huge drive in Kramer Education in multiple languages, hard rocking VPs of audio, and the latest in their distributed control platform. Visitors to the Kramer Booth at ISE 2018 experienced the new age of Pro AV designed for IT. Showcasing their latest 4K HDR HDCP 2.2 AV signal management innovations, code-free cloud-based control platform, software only management solutions, and proprietary, ground-breaking extension technologies. Kramer is very proud of revolutionary meeting space automation technology.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? Local markets that benefit from KRAMER technology include education, healthcare, enterprise, entertainment, hospitality, retail, houses of worship, government, military, industrial and security

What was your overall impression of ISE? Kramer had full AV over IP Solutions on the stand, including a variety of encoders and decoders; virtual matrix; IT admin management tools, end-user control tools and installer deployment tools. Once again, Kramer won an award for its control system going head-tohead with the likes of Adder, Barco, Extron, Gefen, and Neets. Our arranged booth tours with our dealers were well received, with a motivated drive for new business in the coming year.

SHOW REPORT ISE

Gary Davies Exterity Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? Rather than product Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say technology. The 4K (Ultra High Definition) products, which create incredible imagery and video.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? Probably not for another 12 months due to market acceptance and cost.

What was your overall impression of ISE? ISE is a very good a one-stop-shop for all associated with the AV industry. However, for me, a major highlight was the number of visitors from South Africa at the show.

Thys Venter Orion Audio Visual Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? The Taiden HCS-5335 Compact Digital Infrared Wireless Conference System. The table-top conference unit is smaller than your average smartphone but features crystal clear audio quality, great security and easy setup. The product is ideal for smaller conferences and allows for quick deployment.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? Many small meetings and hearings are done around South Africa all the time. We will now have a product that is RF free and extremely small which will help with transportation.

What was your overall impression of ISE? ISE offers the opportunity to meet up with our suppliers and see some old friends. The has grown dramatically and may be too large now. Visiting these shows means that one needs to be focused on your goals at the show. There is not enough time to see everything.

ISE SHOW REPORT

Nathan Ihlenfeldt Stage Audio Works Which products caught your eye at ISE 2018? There are a lot of AV-over-IP products emerging now, like Displaynet from DVIGear, Terra from Christie and Omnistream from Atlona. The fact that networking equipment manufacturers like Netgear are producing switches especially targeted at the AV integration market shows that this is the way of the future. Also, interesting was the Soundscape spatial audio system from d&b audiotechnik. QSC launched Q-sys Designer 7.0 which includes a block scripting component, a first for the industry.

Do you feel that these products are well suited to the local market? A challenge in our market is providing cost-effective solutions. Some products, such as SDVoE and spatial audio are still quite new in the market and therefore costly to implement. It will take some time before we see mainstream adoption of these in the local market. Another barrier is the knowledge about networking and TCP/IP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there is a skills shortage in this regard. AV engineers need to transform into network engineers.

What was your overall impression of ISE? ISE has become the de-facto show for the professional AV industry. It has become very big, almost too big for the RAI. It reflects the current state of the AV industry that it is vibrant and expanding rapidly.

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Video screens are utilised more often in commercial applications than ever before. Not too long ago it would have been frowned upon to use LCD screens as menu boards in fast food outlets and recently it has become the trend. Versatile digital signage screens are popping up everywhere as consumers become more aware of the benefits of flexible advertising solutions.

The vast majority of these applications make use of professional LCD panels. These screens are not just televisions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are business tools that deliver a high quality product and perform as an asset in an institution. These resources deliver a return on investment. This value-add is exactly what Electrosonic SA had in mind when a decision was made to source a display product for the Southern African market. As we all know, the price gap between professional screens and consumer televisions looms large. In

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addition, our location at the southern tip of Africa adds a further logistical expense to the mix, and the difference in quantities of professional display versus residential televisions widens the gap even more. The resulting necessity is offering a professional display product that is competitive and still offers all the professional qualities that sets commercial displays apart from consumer televisions. ProSpectre does exactly that. Manufactured in Europe, exclusively for Electrosonic SA, the middleman is eliminated from the cost chain to reduce expenditure. As a professional product, ProSpectre ticks all the technical boxes that professional displays should. It offers 24/7 and 16/7 options across the range of products, various narrow bezel designs,

By Abrie du Plooy

on behalf of Electrosonic SA

extensive menu options with integrated video wall software and top quality components, which is also used for other leading professional brands. ProSpectre screens are ideal for the South African market as it offers value for money packages. The video wall panels offer options ranging from display size, bezel thickness and brightness levels. In Southern Africa, most wall surfaces are concrete, and drywall construction is not as common as in other parts of the world. Each ProSpectre video wall screen includes an adjustable, front serviceable video wall bracket that can be installed on almost any hard surface, even if the surface is not completely smooth. To accommodate uneven surfaces, the ProSpectre bracket offers large tolerance adjustments and still delivers a perfectly symmetric video wall. The standard panels have a slightly larger bezel which makes the product more competitive while remaining aesthetically pleasing. All ProSpectre LSPC panels come with integrated OPS processor options to cater for a range of specific needs, as well as system-on-chip for digital signage applications. Even the standard screens offer video wall functionality and can be used adjacent to another for creative signage images across multiple screens. The Southern African market has always had economic challenges that affect consumer spending patterns. Value for money and cost of ownership over the life of the product play a big role in the decisionmaking process. ProSpectre displays are ideal as they offer custom solutions such as PC options or a 10-point touch feature by simply adding a ProSpectre touch overlay at any time post installation. Negating the need to purchase a new touchscreen. The touch overlay is specifically designed and manufactured for each ProSpectre LCD model and can be fitted on site in a few minutes. The touch component fits each model like a glove and will look as professional as if it was there from the first day. Each Touch overlay comes with a protective glass surface as the original screen surfaces were not manufactured with touch-use in mind. Another very important factor regarding ProSpectre displays is the extended warranty options. ProSpectre displays offer a standard 24 month collect and return warranty. Electrosonic will collect and return a screen under warranty from and to the site of installation. This 24-month warranty can be extended up to 60 months (5 years) with annual tiers for 36 and 48 month periods making ProSpectre’s custom offering perfect for the South African market. The most significant quality to take into account when considering why ProSpectre Advanced Display Technology is ideal for the Southern African market is the backing it receives from Electrosonic SA. The company has been servicing our clients for just shy of 27 years, and we are proud to add another quality product to our arsenal, one that matches our reputation. We proudly support ProSpectre with our full strength. It’s the ideal scenario for the Southern African integrator as the warranties are honoured locally. Warranty based decisions are made locally, and our workshop and engineering recourses are local. Loan or replacement stock is available immediately as ProSpectre Advanced Display products are manufactured exclusively for Electrosonic SA. As a result, large quantities of stock are held. Electrosonic SA is offering a completely South African backed and supported product for the Southern African market.

AV ADVERTORIAL

Cinos enlists Crestron Mercury The flexibility and adaptability of Crestron Mercury was essential to ensure that the new office spaces work as designed for architectural design, project management and quantity surveying practice rg+p.

ADVERTORIAL AV

for future-proof collaboration System integration specialists Cinos were tasked with creating a digital workspace for architectural design, project management and quantity surveying practice rg+p, at its new Leicestershire offices in the UK. Having moved to new premises, rg+p wanted to work more effectively as a team and adopt technology to facilitate easy connection with clients, partners and remote colleagues. To ensure a seamless transition from a paper-based workplace to a digital one, the solution needed to be easy to use, even to those unfamiliar with technology. Cinos turned to Crestron for a system that could provide the simplicity and intuitive functionalities required for this project, specifying Crestron Mercuryâ&#x201E;˘ to deliver the complete

package of conferencing and collaboration tools in one device that the client required. The new office space features a 20-seat auditorium style workspace which is used for team briefings and group collaborations on architectural designs and schematics. There are also a further five meeting spaces; a boardroom; a main meeting room and three smaller breakout areas designed for less formal, one-to-one meetings. Crestron Mercury was specifically chosen due to its flexibility to connect employees across these workspaces or remotely with colleagues and clients in other locations, as well as providing a secure network connection. Mercury also has

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“The Crestron Mercury conferencing solution has provided a state-of-the-art system, which is easy to use and allows the company to work together efficiently and effortlessly.” – Rob Woolston, Architectural Director at rg+p built-in AirMedia® which allows for wireless presentations, files and videos to be shared from a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, without the need for endless cables and wires. “When we moved to our new office, we wanted a core conferencing solution that worked with the environment and could grow with the company for years to come”, explains Rob Woolston, Architectural Director at rg+p. “The Crestron Mercury conferencing solution has provided a state-of-the-art system, which is easy to use and allows the company to work together efficiently and effortlessly. Not only have we reduced our carbon footprint by moving away from paper-based conferencing, but our teams can also work together more freely with smarter and faster collaboration tools.” Like many companies, rg+p uses Skype for Business as their preferred conferencing and communication platform. Although Mercury has been configured for Skype for Business, it’s also the only solution to support any video conferencing service. If a client or partner is using a different system, such as WebEx or GoToMeeting, employees can still connect their device to Mercury, which will allow for a seamless video conference. The

flexibility and adaptability of Crestron Mercury were essential to ensure the new office spaces work as designed. The video version of Mercury, along with a 55inch LG display for presentations, designs and schematics were installed in the main meeting room. However, as the three smaller breakout areas were restricted on space, audio conferences only take place, so the audio version of Crestron Mercury was installed together with a 32inch LG display for local desktop sharing and collaboration. Due to the exceptional microphone and speaker quality, employees can rest assured that they’ll now experience extraordinary audio in any meeting space. Onscreen room availability and meeting details can also be viewed on Mercury’s 7” HD colour touchscreen, as well as the ability to book and alter the status of meeting rooms. “The introduction of Mercury gives us a great option for projects such as this – it is easy to use and simple to deploy, making it a versatile solution for evolving workspaces”, concludes Adam Lillystone, technical pre-sales consultant at Cinos. “We’ve been very pleased with the feedback from rg+p, with Mercury having a positive impact on client and team collaboration.” To learn more about Crestron’s market-leading conference technology and how it can be employed within working environments visit www.crestron.com.

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Network AV systems must have it all. Only DM NVX checks all the boxes. Visit crestron.com/NVX All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. ©2018 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

S how P R E V I E W P R O L I G H T + S O U N D

Prolight + Sound 2018 with Immersive Technology Forum and special areas focusing on immersive sound

Immersive Technology Forum The lecture programme at Prolight + Sound gives visitors the opportunity to discover how to upgrade events through the inclusion of immersive experiences, how to monetise virtual-reality content and, where appropriate when solutions can be used in productions. The programme of the Immersive Technology Forum has been compiled in cooperation with hands-on experts and is oriented towards content producers, specialists from the technical and broadcasting segments, as well as at event managers and organisers. The programme begins with a 3D audio workshop by Lasse Nipkow, founder of Silent Work GmbH. Jörn Nettingsmeier of the Association of German Sound Engineers (VDT) will look at potential applications for 3D audio in theatres. Michael Ochs, PRG Lab, will offer insights into the creative use of virtual and augmented reality and other technologies trending in the event sector – from interactive exhibits to immersive spatial experiences. Andreas Gause, Gerriets GmbH, will present areas of application for special tulle for 3D and hologram projection. Additionally, there will be two lectures by Mattias Hundt of Hessian Broadcasting (HR) on the business side of VR content production and the overall workflow of a 360° music-video production.

Prolight + Sound 2018 presents new technologies that blur the boundaries between reality and virtual perception. The Immersive Technology Forum will be held for the first time during Prolight + Sound on 12 April. The forum is made up of lectures revolving around subjects such as 3D audio, virtual reality, 360° film and holography. Additionally, there will be several special areas at Prolight + Sound where exhibitors demonstrate immersive hearing experiences.

Special areas revolving around 3D and immersive sound In addition to the lecture programme, several Prolight + Sound exhibitors will be represented with their own presentation areas for immersive sound. For example, d&b audiotechnik GmbH will demonstrate the innovative development of d&b Soundscape, a toolbox for the production of incomparable hearing experiences. With the combination of d&b loudspeaker systems, highly developed processing, object-based mixers and sophisticated room emulation, the professional audio-technology supplier offers a completely new world of sound creativity. There will be presentations on the development, concept and areas of application for d&b Soundscape, as well as practical workshops, on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the fair. In Hall 3.1, Alcons Audio and Astro Spatial Audio will have a joint demonstration area for showing immersive sound systems in operation. The products to be seen include the first Alcons Pro-Audio loudspeaker with patent-applied-for waveguide technology and the Astro SARA II Premium Rendering Engine for object-based audio processing. Visitors to Prosound + Light 2018 can experience a unique sound installation in the Klangdome (sound dome) at the outdoor exhibition area. Equipped with a DIY 3D sound system with 31 loudspeakers and a vibrating floor, this geodetic dome is a soundintensive event location. 6 x 6-channel, 100 Watt class D amplifiers are used in the dome’s Ambisonics 3D sound system to power the water-proof 8 Ohm loudspeakers. In line with the overall ambience, the speakers are installed in ‘home-made’ cabinets.

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Rigging and such: What about Wind?

A series of blogs by Rinus “Rhino” Bakker

What about it? What makes some outdoor structures, like a ground support system or LED-screen collapse? Most of the time it is wind, or better, a too high wind force, that causes an accident. Where gravity is a constant factor, acting only in a vertical direction, wind is a less constant one, but predominantly acting in a horizontal direction. A helpful reference are the rules for cranes and cherry pickers in outside use. As a rule of thumb in most countries they are expected to go “out of function” at a wind speed of 41-50 km/h. The definition is: “Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty”. It also is a wind speed known to have brought down some outdoor structures. Obviously, wind speed results in a force when it hits a surface.

What are the questions we should ask ourselves when going outdoors with a production? What types of surfaces do we recognise in our industry? • LED-screens (open and closed versions) • PA systems (like Line Arrays) • Banners and scrims (open and closed versions) • Stage walls, in the back and/or in the side walls • Trusses and towers (including top sections, sleeve blocks and chain motors) • Lighting fixtures (and all kinds of rain covers) • Set pieces an decoration, banners

What shapes do these surfaces have? A sphere or an egg shape has very different ‘drag’ properties than a flat surface, or a wedge or a cylinder shape. In the ‘drag’ factor wind pressure at the front is combined with wind suction behind the object. This can result in

higher drag numbers, sometime with a factor of 1,2, than the initially calculated surface area. Most of us will understand that even a flag facing away from the wind, behind a flag pole, still can result in a drag force pulling on that pole.

What is the direction of the wind speed expected? Hitting an LED screen from the front (or the rear) has a much higher effect than hitting it from the side, as the surface area has reduced considerably. Wind that gets ‘scooped’ under a stage roof might have an uplifting effect, requiring more ballast for just that reason.

What about wind? An initial wind speed of 41-50 km/h can easily result in wind forces of about 0,2 to 0,5 kN/m². For a LED wall of 8 x 4 metre that can result in an added force of 1600kg. the structure needs to be able to absorb. At a higher wind speed of 62-75 km/h these numbers can get twice as high, more so when the structure has an elevation of over 10m. above ground level. So, whatever you take outside, make sure you have taken proper measurements, taking against forces resulting from wind speed into account and assuring your structures are stable and safe. As we all know, nothing changes as fast and as unpredictable as the weather, so you better be prepared. Read more on wind speeds and Beaufort scale at: https://www.rmets.org/weather-and-climate/observing/beaufort-scale

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ADVERTORIAL ENTERTAINMENT TECH

Guangzhou Entertainment Technology Show (GET Show) to open in May The 2018 GET Show will take place from 8 to 11 May at the Poly World Trade Centre, in Guangzhou, China. GETShow is a comprehensive professional lighting and sound exhibition, hosted by the Industry Association Of South China Entertainment Equipment (SCEE) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangdong Sub-Council. The sponsors include China Association of Stage Art, China Association of Recording engineers, China Audio Industry Association, Professional Committee of Audio & Video Projects of China Audio â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Video Association, Institute of Audio Video and Lighting Technology of Guangzhou University and Maga Stage International DJ World. GETShow aims to promote networking between manufactures and promote development across the industry while protecting the interests of its members and exhibitors. The total exhibition area will cover more than 80,000m2 that will be filled by more than 700 exhibitors and an anticipated 100,000 visitors. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the GET Show and to celebrate, the Industry Association of South China Entertainment Equipment will

host a special event at the Chime Long Hotel in Guangzhou on 7 May, the night before the trade show begins. More than 2,000 guests will be invited to the celebration, including government officials and entertainment technology industry representatives, including dealers and distributors, manufacturers and members of the media. For more information, visit http://www.getshow.com.cn/en/.

ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

Ultra South Africa fifth anniversary record-breaking Record numbers of electronic music fans flocked to the Expo Centre at Nasrec and the Cape Town Stadium on 9 and 10 February to enjoy the annual electronic music extravaganza, Ultra South Africa, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this year.

REPORT ENTERTAINMENT TECH

celebrates its with a production By Nicole Barnes

ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

The Ultra brand of live electric dance music festivals was founded in 1997 in Miami by executive producer and CEO, Russell Faibisch, with the inaugural Ultra Music Festival held in 1999 on the sands of Miami Beach. Focused on a love for music, artists and fans alike, Ultra and Ultra Worldwide represent one of the largest and most successful independent electronic music festival brands in the world. Event organisers continue to transport the unrivalled experience from the Miami flagship festival to an ever-growing number of destinations and ‘Ultranauts’ all over the globe. Ultra SA was the fourth country to represent the Ultra Worldwide brand, which is now in 26 countries across six continents. Since its inaugural festival, Ultra SA has continued to grow both in popularity and scope to become the largest electric dance music festival of its kind in the country and an undisputed annual highlight for those in the live entertainment industry.

The Ultra experience in SA Electronic dance music (EDM) festivals have evolved considerably since those first underground rave parties of the early 1990s. Over the past two decades, the international EDM festival circuit has developed into a multi-billion dollar industry that delivers fully immersive experiences to millions of festival-goers the world over. Festivals such as Ultra Worldwide, Belgium’s Tomorrowland, and US-based TomorrowWorld, among others, are characterised by large-scale events that feature multiple music genres spread across various stages, with elaborate stage design and thematic schemes delivered through meticulously engineered lighting shows, visual displays, laser shows, and pyrotechnics. Ultra SA is no exception, and delivers on all of the iconic aspects of an EDM festival, with worldclass rigging, lighting, audio and LED displays for both the Johannesburg and Cape Town renditions of the show. On 9 February, the Cape Town Stadium saw 15 000 fans stream through the gates to enjoy the sounds of Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, Axwell & Ingrosso, Carnage, Hardwell and Malaa. Black Coffee, Dubfire and Eats Everything commandeered the RESISTANCE stage in the stadium basement, which heaved with house and techno fans throughout the 12 hours of uninterrupted music at the event. The Johannesburg show at the Expo Centre at Nasrec welcomed a record-breaking 32 000 festival-goers on 10 February, for what was the largest and most successful Ultra SA in Johannesburg to date.

Gearing up for success Speaking to Pro-Systems Africa News in a recent interview, Showtime Management co-owner, Tony Feldman, states that the event would not be possible without the support of leading technical supplier to the live event industry in South Africa, Gearhouse Group. “We work closely with Ultra Miami in the design of the stage,” explains Feldman.”Ultra Worldwide employs the world’s best stage designers to design a stage based on the host country’s technical inventory. They try to keep a similar look and feel across all the countries that host Ultra festivals throughout the year. Once the stage design comes through, Gearhouse works closely with Ultra Worldwide’s international stage designers, utilising the local inventory available to bring the stage design to life.” Senior project manager for Ultra SA, Gearhouse’s Eyal Yehezkely, points out that scale is one of the defining aspects of Ultra SA, and indeed of Ultra Worldwide festivals across the globe. “Ultra festival is intentionally done on a phenomenally large scale. It is the defining characteristic of Ultra Worldwide events, and identifies Ultra SA as an urban-based EDM festival to rival any in the world.” Gearhouse is uniquely equipped to deliver on projects of this scale, as Gearhouse branch operations manager for Johannesburg, Stuart Andrews explains. “While the sheer magnitude of the rig for Ultra SA may seem intimidating for some, Gearhouse is, in fact, more comfortable working on projects of this scale. As a company, we have extensive experience in delivering project planning, management, and implementation on a grand scale for live events across the country for local and international clients. As such, we enjoy playing on the bigger stages, although it is only about 20% of what we do.” While this may sound somewhat self-assured, it is beyond dispute that Gearhouse delivered a truly awe-inspiring rig for Ultra SA 2018 – a fact that has been lauded by fans across social media in the days and weeks following the festival. Feldman concurs, commenting on Gearhouse’s involvement: “I don’t believe there is another technical services company that can deliver the Ultra SA main stage production in South Africa.”

ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

Delivering the magic Gearhouse Group were responsible for delivering full technical for the main stage, RESISTANCE stage, and VIP area around the main stage in Johannesburg and main stage and VIP area in Cape Town. According to Yehezkely, planning for the deployment of the rig for Ultra SA started in November last year. The Ultra Worldwide stage design team briefed both Showtime Management and Gearhouse on the design for the 2018 stage, which included a record number of LED screens that would be used to present custom-designed content produced by some of the world’s leading video jockeys. “The stage design and thematics, which is developed for Ultra Miami and then replicated for global Ultra events, is engineered to work with the capacity of the host venue,” Andrews explains. “As a result, the main stage for Nasrec took advantage of the Expo Ground’s width, while we had to work on a slightly smaller scale to fit into the Cape Town Stadium.” As a result, Johannesburg festival goers were treated to a gargantuan 72-metre wide main stage that positively sizzled with lights, hypnotic designs and a breathtaking pyrotechnics display. For Cape Town, a slightly smaller 54-meter wide main stage was no less visually spectacular. Despite the variance in size, both Johannesburg and Cape Town shows made use of a staggering inventory of gear, which included a record number of LED screens, supplied by Gearhouse subsidiary LED Vision. “Unlike a conventional music concert featuring a band with multiple artists on stage, an EDM festival relies on the staging to bridge the gap between the action in the DJ box and the crowd,” Andrews points out. “As a result of this unique feature of DJ-driven performances, Ultra Worldwide employs the world’s best video jockeys to develop content that works in perfect unison with the lighting design and pyrotechnics to punctuate the music and involve the audience,” he concludes. Graeme Baker of LED Vision was instrumental in deploying the approximately 1,200m2~ of LED panels that were incorporated into the stage design for this years’ production. “We made use of a range of LED products on both shows, with 7mm and 18mm LED screens used on the Johannesburg stage and 8mm and 16mm for Cape Town,” Baker explains. “However, due to the high-quality of control used to manage the lighting and LED displays, the brightness and colour balance were perfectly matched so that it was impossible to tell which screen was which,” he states. The lighting design for the show, specified by Ultra Worldwide’s top-notch team of designers, included a spectacular display made possible with more than 400 lighting fixtures, controlled using GrandMA lighting consoles. In addition, pyrotechnics specialist company Fireworks for Africa (FFA) designed, supplied and executed a pyrotechnics and Special FX display for Ultra SA, which punctuated the main stage performances to create truly unforgettable moments throughout the event.

Defeating the elements Every major event has its own unique set of challenges, some within the control of event planners and some that are best described as acts of God. Based on the events of the past five years, Joburg’s Ultranauts concur that Ultra is, traditionally, a rainy affair. Reflecting on last years’ event, Andrews explains that on

the afternoon prior to the opening of Ultra SA 2017, a storm blew up over the Nasrec grounds that could best be described as a “mini tornado”. While the internationally certified rigging used by Gearhouse withstood the harsh conditions, many of the lighting fixtures, as well as some of the cabling and audio equipment sustained water damage – despite being designed for outdoor use. “Gearhouse prides itself on ensuring that we are prepared for any eventuality, and with workshops established onsite, our technicians were able to affect the necessary repairs in time. Despite the trying conditions, the show opened on schedule, and there was little or no impact on the production,” Andrews explains. Unfortunately, a large number of moving-head LED fixtures developed electrical faults following the heavy downpours at Ultra SA 2017. In response, the Gearhouse management team decided to investigate waterproofing solutions for their lighting fixtures ahead of the 2018 production of Ultra SA. “We worked closely with our distributors to source the best possible solution for weatherproofing lighting fixtures for outdoor events,” explains Andrews. “Following extensive consultation, we made a significant investment in a product from the Netherlands, called SelbyGuard, which is the international standard used by some of the best in the business – including the Rolling Stones – for all outdoor events.” SelbyGuard manufactures highly specialised bases with removable rainproof covers that are designed to fit between the rig and a light fixture. Gearhouse used 128 SelbyGuard rainproof covers and bases, along with 12 SelbyGuard Air Domes on the lighting rig for Ultra Johannesburg. “The covers proved to be extremely efficient,” states Andrews, “they are very easy to mount and do not compromise the quality of the light show at all.” Yehezkely concurs, stating that: “under cover of night, the rain covers disappear completely. It was fantastic to watch the light show continue unabated through the rain that poured down over Johannesburg.” The use of SelbyGuard proved highly successful, with Andrews and his team confirming that they did not have a single lighting fixture fail during the show, despite incessant rain. The main stage production and performances delivered at Nasrec and Cape Town stunned crowds with a phenomenal 48 hours of Ultra SA. “Ultra SA brings new surprises each year and this year was no exception. It also brings new magic each time we produce the show, and 2018 was the most magical yet. Speaking on behalf of the full ULTRA SA team and sponsors, we are blown away by the support of the fans and industry and cannot wait to see what 2019 brings,” concludes Shaun Duvet, a partner in ULTRA South Africa.

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ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

Bernard Jay colours the Joburg Theatre

purple

By Gill Midgley and Deidre Bartlett

REPORT ENTERTAINMENT TECH

After approximately four years of negotiations and planning, executive producer, Bernard Jay, together with the Joburg Theatre succeeded in bringing the musical The Color Purple to the Nelson Mandela Theatre, making South Africa the first country outside the UK and the USA to stage the show.

The authors, composers and owners of the musical, including Oprah Winfrey, lent their enthusiasm and support to those who laboured to have the production performed in South Africa by South Africans. This achievement culminated in Jay assembling a top-notch creative team headed by internationally acclaimed and award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Focussing on the exploitation and abuse of African-American women around the 1920s to ‘40s in the south of the United States, The Color Purple traces a journey from wretched subjection and total absence of self-worth to an identity of self-belief, value and power through the main character Celie, played by Didintle Khunou. In the original book by Alice Walker, the unedited thoughts of Celie pour out in her letters to God and her sister, Nettie, giving a raw and honest account of her hardship, embarrassment and shame. No hope of change seems to be the plight to which she surrenders until belief in herself is teased out of her through the love she shares with Shug. Set in the context of the musical production, this message of resilience and empowerment, infused with the mood-enhancing power of music, swells the audience’s emotional reservoir in successive waves.

Setting a truly South African stage The success of the South African production depended on a strongly collaborative team effort, as Honeyman wanted a non-replica of the London and Broadway shows. This originality is primarily apparent in the design, especially that of the costumes designed by the production designer, Sarah Roberts, who opted for muted colours, remaining true to the period and, as Honeyman requested, resembling clothes not costumes. The central to Sarah Roberts’ outstanding work as production designer for The Color Purple, is her constant self-examination of whether she has, “done the right work for the story – the interpretation, the style, the tone, and the feel,” she explains. Jacobs elaborates, “I aimed towards a low-tech, hand-crafted and raw edge to the production.” She states that this approach is intentionally contrary to the current trends that she perceives in major musicals and operas being staged nationally and internationally, which increasingly incorporate high-tech staging techniques. “I chose this approach to stress the human element in the work, and in the world that the characters and performers inhabit”. As such, the set appears elegantly simple, yet it cleverly achieves swift and frequent location shifts. “Essentially, there is a constant flow between three primary locations throughout the play. The action needs to be able to move seamlessly between Juke Joint, Mister’ house and the City to drive the narrative forward. Therefore, I have included subtle, minimalistic suggestions of place and specificity to ensure that that the location of the action is communicated effectively in each scene,” Roberts explains. Her idea was to create a set design that she describes as “a kind of ‘tic-tac-toe’- except with a fourth bar.” This novel approach allowed Roberts to anchor the action of the play left, right, centre, up and down-stage. Roberts’ involvement in the show began 14 months before its opening night with the conceptualisation and design of the set. A cleverly understated design offsets the impact of this very actor-centric adaptation. “I’ve brought the action forward” explains Roberts, which she does by allowing a raised central path to jut out over the band, thereby creating a thrust section to the stage. “Mostly it’s a big empty space with the actors moving on the thrust area, the apron and lift 1. They barely go onto lift 2.” A big empty space, however, creates the challenge of ensuring consistent and even lighting coverage over the entire stage.

ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

Making the right sounds The Color Purple is, first and foremost, an outstanding piece of musical theatre, and therefore achieving exceptional sound quality is of utmost importance in delivering the high-level production demanded by the producers of this award-winning theatrical experience. Sound designer, Richard Smith had to ensure that feedback did not occur. “A lot of staging happened to the front of the stage, and my positioning of the speakers was fixed. So there were many occasions where sensitive moments played out very close to the speakers, where I had to fight particularly hard to resist feedback.” Retaining clarity of diction in addition to maintaining the correct balance between volume of music and that of voices presented further important technical considerations. The eight-piece band, playing music from diverse genres, including Blues, Rock and traditional Musical Theatre, included a drum kit and brass in an open situation in the orchestra pit. Within his strategies to contain the band, Smith enclosed the drummer in Perspex, draping and foam, and positioned him under the thrust projection of the stage. Above him, Smith placed five mics to cope with all the different instruments played through the diverse musical score. A point of interest worth mentioning is that brass or reed player, Brian Smith, chose to play on period instruments – his flute and clarinet date from the 1920s; his sax from 1945 for the Juke Joint; and a wooden flute to represent the African section. “I used a very subtle combination of three condensing microphones that would pick up a very ambient true sound. So again, I based a technical choice on artistry,” says Smith. “A good sound designer,” Smith elucidates, “should, to a large degree, allow artistry to motivate technical choices.” He expresses this, for example, through his use of reverb to portray memory recall and intuitively plays with volume to underline the emotional graph of the story. Smith – very slightly and subtly – bleeds reverbs and delays to the back speakers to create an ambience and fill any dead theatre space. Despite budget restraints, he made a strategic choice to double-mic Celie due to the intensity of her performance and her near-constant presence on stage.

Colouring it Purple Highly decorated and celebrated theatre stalwart, Mannie Manim serves as lighting designer for the South African rendition of The Color Purple. Central to Roberts’ design for the show, is the use of a wide back projection screen or cyclorama. “We had to find something that could light the whole surface, that the audience could see in colour,” Manim explains. Innovatively, he hired CityScape Xtremes from Gearhouse Splitbeam, which use 188 High power RGBW LED’s and are normally used to light outdoor structures. These fixtures enabled him to light the cyclorama in every conceivable colour. Each light is just short of two metres long, with a top and bottom fitting, which swivel and can be focussed higher and lower. For the rest of the stage, Manim used all the fittings at his disposal – a combination of generic and intelligent lights which included Robe MMX, 700w, LED washers, placed on different lighting bars, booms and ladders, LED strips on the floor, and of course, the follow spots. Remaining true to the narrative of this seminal work was clearly one of the most important factors influencing all of the choices made by

the production design team. “The way I approach lighting is, first and foremost, to understand what the play is about,” says Manim, whose design uses a wide range of colours throughout the show. “The most difficult aspect was making sure that I could create the mood that Janice wanted, and construct the look and feel that both Janice and Sarah envisioned across every corner of the stage,” adds Manim. The cyclorama becomes the background for each scene, showing the time of day and creating the necessary atmosphere to carry the story forward. For some scenes, such as Mister’s nightmare, Manim created a moving, murky effect around the actor by using profile moving lights, specifically Robe MMX Spots with gobos which can spin in a predetermined speed and direction. From a canvas of muted colours, the lighting transitions from moments of touching intimacy to the vast expanses of amber coloured Africa, to the warm, rallying finale song, “The Color Purple”.

Johannesburg celebrates The Color Purple The Color Purple is glorious amongst musicals in that it entertains and ultimately uplifts audiences to a state of sheer joy while taking them on a passionate journey of an inspiring family saga. Honeyman, together with her exemplary cast of local actors, and stellar production team, tells the unforgettable story of a woman who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. The South African production of The Colour Purple delivers a heart-wrenching performance, carrying a poignant message which – unfortunately – remains timeless, resonating in the current international gender activism. “This all-South African production of The Color Purple has been a huge career highlight for me,” says executive producer Bernard Jay. “I have been overwhelmed by the love and acclaim that Janice Honeyman’s brilliant staging has received.” The show has received positive reviews from all quarters, and following the initial run, Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay announced additional performances of the production on The Mandela stage to celebrate Women’s Month in August. The additional performances will be staged at Joburg Theatre from 7 to 26 August. These performances will include seven special students-only daytime shows for youngsters aged 13 and over. In recognition of Women’s Month, evening performances on August 8, 16 and 23 will be sold at special prices to ensure that people who are on a tight budget in these tough economic times are afforded the opportunity to experience the show.

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ENTERTAINMENT TECH REPORT

Rocking old-school with

Collective Soul By Nicole Barnes

On the evening of 2 February, Johannesburg audiences where taken on a high-energy journey back to the Good’Ol Days of grunge and alternative rock, with USA-based rock band Collective Soul. The 1990s band performed, together with supporting act Lifehouse, to an appreciative – if somewhat underwhelming – crowd of band t-shirt donning generation X’s at the TicketPro Dome in Northgate.

REPORT ENTERTAINMENT TECH

Collective Soul comprises of principal songwriter and frontman Ed Roland, backed by his brother, Dean Roland on rhythm guitar, together with Will Turpin on bass, Johnny Rabb on drums and Jesse Triplett on lead guitar. Collective Soul’s debut album Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid was originally released in 1993, on Atlanta indie label Rising Storm. The album was a collection of Ed Roland’s demos that spread like wildfire through the college circuit in the USA and the popularity of the album motivated Atlantic to pick it up for a major-label release. “Shine” quickly became the rock anthem on radio and TV, and set the band up for an arena tour with Aerosmith. In 1997, the band went back into the studio to produce their third album Disciplined Breakdown, which earned Collective Soul a spot on the charts and produced hit singles Precious Declaration and Listen. The band’s music has often been covered by well-known artists, including Dolly Parton, who won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance with her cover version of Shine. In further recognition of their artistic achievement, Collective Soul was inducted into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and Roland was inducted as a songwriter in 2014. Following the release of their ninth full-length album in 2015, Collective Soul undertook an extensive world tour, performing more than 160 shows over a space of two years. Returning from the road in 2017, they put together a montage from their favourite performances from their world tour, to comprise their latest offering, Collective Soul – Live. Big Concerts secured the South African dates on the tour late in 2017, with single-performance shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg held in February.

The Sound of Good Ol’ Rock ’n Roll Speaking about the tour, Roland told journalists “We’re an honest rock ‘n’ roll band. We’re not going to pretend like we’re something else. We’re not chasing anything. We are proud of our accomplishments and what we do. We pride ourselves on playing rock ‘n’ roll.” In this day and age of digital mixing and high-tech staging, it is – in my opinion – refreshing to hear nothing but solid vocals with some guitar, bass and drums under simple, grungy lighting. Speaking to Pro-Systems Africa News after the Johannesburg show, Fernando “Fern” Alvarez, the band’s new FOH Mixer and production manager, explains that this is what the band aims to achieve. “This is a straight-forward rock ‘n roll show,” states Alvarez. “What you see and hear up there is what you get – and the guys need very little assistance from FOH.” Alvarez has been working as FOH Mixer for Collective Soul since October 2017 and has had a very positive experience. “Working with Ed and the guys has been refreshing,” he says. “Unlike a lot of modern acts, the show does not rely on pre-sets and is not tightly structured. Ed is very attuned to the vibe at his gigs and gives the audience what they want. At FOH, we simply go along with it – busking like we did in the old days.” Alvarez used an Avid Venue S6L sound desk for the show, provided by Gearhouse, together with Shure mics and sound monitoring. In keeping with the spirit of rock ‘n roll, the stage was dominated by Marshal gear – which Roland uses for its legendary capacity for loud to get the audience on its feet. The lighting rig was –admittedly – nothing special, with a few Parcans and not much else. The effect, however, was in perfect keeping with an authentic rock act and, in this case, less was defiantly more. Reflecting on his experience working with the crew in Johannesburg, Alvarez has only positive feedback. “There was quite a short lead time for this tour, and with the time difference between the States and South Africa – I was expecting it to be far harder than it turned out to be. Graham Cunningham from Mushroom Productions, who produced the show, was all over it. After swapping a few emails, the team from Gearhouse had everything we needed lined up for us. We only travelled with our guitars, hiring all of our rig locally, and we could not have been happier,” he concludes.

TRAINING

Passing On The Baton – The importance of teaching and learning in the Pro AV industry There are few professional designations left in South Africa that are not dependant on a person’s ability to attend a university and complete a tertiary degree – hence the on-going social activism in our higher education sector for greater access for disadvantaged students.

“Education training and innovation are central to South Africa’s long-term development. Education empowers people to define their identity, and take control of their lives,” ~ South Africa’s National Development Plan – Vision for 2030; Chapter 9

TRAINING

One of the many factors that set professionals in the AV industry apart is that it is often less important what qualifications an individual holds in comparison to the passion, talent and willingness to learn that they bring to work. As a highly technical profession, many who work within the industry have risen to the height of their fields through on-the-job training, mentorship and participation in industry recognised training programmes. Kevin Jones, the executive director of the Southern African Communications Industries Association (SACIA), a not for profit organisation that promotes the adoption of professional standards and ethical business practice in the communications industry, shared his thoughts on skills development and training with Pro-Systems Africa News in a recent interview.

What is the history and role of SACIA in the AV industry? SACIA is a SAQA recognised professional body, active in the broad communications industry across Southern Africa. We currently award several professional designations covering the broadcast, audiovisual and live events sector. All these designations are listed on the National Qualifications Framework and can be awarded to individuals able to prove their knowledge, experience and competence within each industry sector. We operate under regulations defined within the National Qualifications Framework Act, and are specifically tasked with promoting understanding of, and trust in industry professionals working in our various market segments. In addition, we promote the adoption of professional standards and ethical business practices within the communications industry.

Kindly expand on SACIA’s role in providing training for the AV industry It is important to understand that, while SACIA delivers professional development courses to our members, we are not a training body. Rather we award professional designations to industry professionals who can demonstrate their knowledge, competence and expertise in one of the market segments in which we are active. In order to maintain a professional designation, individuals are required to participate in a programme of continuing professional development that keeps them up to date on the trends and technologies shaping the future of the industry. While SACIA run a number of professional development courses, we are working to encourage independent training providers to develop and deliver training programmes that are specifically

geared to building competence in the market. In the last year, we’ve delivered a number of “Train the Trainer” programmes and we’ve now validated around 70 third-party training courses that provide CPD credits that can be used to maintain a professional designation. Vendors such as DRW, Electrosonic and Prosound have been at the forefront of these initiatives, and have all submitted their training material to be validated by SACIA.

How does SACIA contribute towards skills development in the AV industry? SACIA has developed a number of training programmes that are aimed at industry professionals working in the broadcast and AV sectors. All these programmes are aligned with international standards, and our curriculum and teaching materials are primarily based on the AVIXA curriculum. We’ve also added additional content to our training programmes so that they are specifically focussed on the requirements of our local industry. Despite our active training activities, our greatest contribution to the development of skills in the AV industry comes from our focus on lifelong learning. The AV industry is developing at a rapid pace and in order to keep themselves up to date, practitioners need to participate in regular training initiatives. In order to promote this commitment to continuing professional development, we are working closely with third-party training providers, as well as several Universities, to ensure that ever more training opportunities become available.

How does one go about applying for training through SACIA? SACIA training programmes are available to members and individuals can book through the SACIA office.

Please share some of the SACIA training opportunities that will be available in the upcoming months SACIA working is on its schedule at the moment – for now am happy to say that we’re planning a broad range of training programmes over the coming months. We will be launching a range of half-day “fundamentals” courses that will focus on bringing training to the market at a significantly lower cost than has applied in the past.

TRAINING

Collective Works shines their light on the next generation of designers

By Nicole Barnes

Chris Bolton delivers lighting design training

TRAINING

Prominent South African lighting design duo, Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton of Collective Works, delivered their first ever three-day training workshop titled: Designing with Light: A Way of Thinking in February. Pro-Systems Africa News caught up with Cutts and Bolton at the DWR Distribution offices in Johannesburg during the course to discuss the project.

There is a lot of discussion about the importance of skills development and knowledge transfer as an intervention to deal with the skills shortages and soaring rate of unemployment that continue to plague South Africa. In my experience, discussions that open with statements such as these often result in a whole lot of talk and not very much action. It was, therefore, extremely inspiring to see Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton of Creative Works standing before an enraptured class of young lighting designers, all relishing the opportunity to learn about professional lighting design from those who are currently at the very top of their game.

From the box to the classroom According to Cutts, the Designing with Light: A Way of Thinking workshop in its current form has its roots in ‘The Black Box’ which featured at Mediatech Africa 2017. The demo space, which proved to be one of the highlights of the 2017 edition of the show, served as an experimental show and visual design space conceived by Christopher Bolton, Joshua Cutts and Bradley Hilton of Collective Works in conjunction with Mediatech show director, Simon Robinson. The concept for the Black Box emanated from a conversation between the Collective Works team and Robinson at the Prolight+Sound trade show in Frankfurt earlier in the year. “While in Frankfurt, we saw a collaborative demonstration and decided to try to do something similar for the South African market,” Robinson states. Cutts and Bolton put together three interactive presentations for Media Tech, which focused on how to manage the logistical and business side of a lighting design agency, how to manage console workflows and how to programme a Cue-Stack using a lighting control desk. “It was during Media Tech that I realised how hungry young talent in the industry is for knowledge,” explains Bolton. “Having identified the need, Joshua and I set about expanding the content of the initial three sessions into a comprehensive three-day training programme.” Reflecting on the development the course content, both Cutts and Bolton state that they have learned a great deal as a result of the process. “When delivering on project after project, one gains an enormous amount of knowledge through experience,” states Bolton. “While developing the more than 450 slides that make up the course content, I spent a lot of time taking some very technical and complicated processes and breaking them down into simple, easy to teach concepts. As a result, I have refined a lot of my own thinking about how we achieve what we do,” reveals Bolton. Joshua concurs, stating that: “I have never been in an environment where I received formal training, having learned most of what I know on the job. I have, therefore, grown enormously from taking all of the knowledge that is in my head, gained through years of experience, and formalising it so that we are able to share these insights with the next generation of lighting designers.”

Photos by Duncan Riley

TRAINING

When asked about their vision for the Designing with Light: A Way of Thinking course, Cutts and Bolton are very clear in what want to achieve. “We wanted to create a platform to impart our knowledge to the next generation of lighting designers,” states Cutts. “When my time is over, I want to leave behind a legacy, knowing that there is ample talent to drive the industry forward.” Outside of The Black Box sessions that the pair delivered in July last year, this is the first time that either of them has stepped into the shoes of the trainer. However, if a passion to share knowledge is the defining characteristic of a good teacher – both Cutts and Bolton receive full marks.

A New Way of Thinking Arguably, one of the many things that set both Cutts and Bolton apart in the lighting design industry is their understanding of the processes that need to be followed to pull off a world-class production in an emerging market economy. “We have to be realistic about the fact that we live in Africa,” Bolton declares. “We have amazing talent in this country, but like it or not, you will never get to work with the same size production budget that you see in more developed economies. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that lighting designers in South Africa know how to sweat their resources.” Cutts agrees, explaining that one of the most important elements in delivering shows for his clients is getting the most out of what is available through meticulous planning and innovative design. These are some of the fundamental principles upon which Cutts and Bolton have built the content of their course. Both appreciate that lighting design is a technical craft and, therefore, understand that experiential learning is the primary vehicle to ensure effective skills transfer.

“We have included a lot of theoretical information on console workflows, colour theory, music appreciation and production design to name a few. However, the most important element of our interaction with the trainees is providing them with the opportunity to learn and then do,” states Bolton. Cutts uses a selection of high profile shows that he has worked on as case studies, such as the most recent SA Idols final among others, and breaks them down, from the initial drawings to the video content of the final production. “I gave the group the measurements of the venue for The Voice SA and asked them to draw their own trussing designs, based on the principals that we had discussed. It was amazing to see how many of the trainees came up with drawings that were very similar to the design that was implemented,” Cutts points out. “For me, this is the best way to assess the efficacy of the training. After the students have listened to what we have to say, they are able to implement that knowledge in a practical and tangible way,” concludes Cutts.

From the classroom to the world stage Both Joshua Cutts and Christopher Bolton are recognised as exemplary lighting designers, not only locally but on the international stage. It is a rare occurrence to find a talent that is both at the top of their industry as a practitioner and, at the same time, is a skilled teacher. Somehow, both Cutts and Bolton have developed this unique set of skills. As a result of the success of the inaugural edition of the Designing with Light: A Way of Thinking workshop, the team have attracted international attention – which may develop into the opportunity to take the course to Singapore, among other locations in the years to come. “There are very few in the industry, except perhaps legends such as Patrick Woodroffe and Roland Greil, who have the maturity to share their knowledge at the risk developing a junior that could potentially become a competitor in the future,” states Duncan Riley, managing director of DWR Distribution. However, Joshua simply laughs this statement off, declaring that: “I’ll keep my job by constantly working to be better at what I do, not by stunting the growth of others.” It is not surprising that Cutts and Bolton have both attracted an entourage of mentors over the years, resulting in the emergence of some of South Africa’s greatest rising stars in the lighting design industry. The 22 students who encountered this remarkable team will, without doubt, take a lot away from the interaction. I would argue that the learning is not confined to the technicalities of outstanding lighting design, but also to integrity, humility and generosity – values that are in higher demand than ever in our country at this time.

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TRAINING

ApexPro explores the possibilities with ETC Colour Source training

ApexPro has opened its doors to a new generation of lighting designers, and technicians, providing them with the opportunity to learn about ETCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Colour Source professional LED lighting range. ETC product specialist for ApexPro, Mathew Lewis spoke with Pro-Systems Africa News about the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious training offerings.

Situated on the Westrand of Johannesburg, Prosound’s head office is home to an impressive demonstration room, featuring a complete ETC lighting rig. The main purpose of the space is to provide lighting technicians with the opportunity to explore the ETC product range so that they can make educated decisions about lighting products. “Over the past few years, we have encountered clients who are somewhat ambivalent about adopting LED lighting in their venues because of past experiences with less than optimal LED products,” Lewis explains. In Lewis’ opinion, a lot of manufacturers took to the market with LED fixtures very quickly after the technology was first developed. These products were snapped up by clients in the early days of LED technology with varying degrees of success. “The result is that a number of people associate LED fixtures with frequent product failures, poor colour rendering and an overall disappointing quality of light.” Lewis points out that ETC was slower to the market with their LED fixtures and associated control, but spent the necessary time on research and development to ensure a product that is both extremely high quality and affordable. “ApexPro has worked with our distributors to deploy ETC lighting in a wide range of venues – from the most advanced theatres in South Africa to small-scale houses of worship and school halls,” Lewis explains. “We are very committed to making sure that clients are able to make educated decisions about professional lighting options and encourage end-users to experience the product before deciding to purchase,” he concludes As an extension of this experience-based approach, ApexPro has dedicated considerable resources to building their training portfolio to ensure that those who are responsible for operating ETC Colour Source lighting rigs can do so effectively.

TRAINING

Filling the skills gap According to Lee Brune, who recently joined the ApexPro team as training and development manager, many of the clients who install ETC Colour Source products rely on technicians and volunteers who do not always have the skills needed to make the most of the equipment – particularly in the houses of worship market. As a result, there is a dire need for product training which ApexPro is well positioned to fill. Brune is well positioned to lead the company’s training and development portfolio, having worked in the live entertainment industry for more than 15 years. Brune started his journey with professional level sound and lighting from humble roots, and developed his skills over the years by learning on the job. He soon established himself as a respected sound engineer, working for Goldreef City’s Lyric Theatre and the Globe Theatre, before joining Prosound as HOD of the company’s then sound rental division. Brune has extensive experience in the training field, having played a leading role in Prosound’s renowned Sound School over the years. “If one looks at the houses of worship market, the environment has become such that the level of the gear installed is often beyond the ability of the volunteers who operate it. As such, clients feel dissatisfied with the return that they are getting from their considerable investment in equipment,” states Brune. In response to this challenge, ApexPro together with sister company Prosound, have decided to make the training available that will enable clients to get the best out of their equipment, while empowering technicians with the skills and knowledge needed to establish themselves in the technical lighting and sound industry, Brune explains.

“The change in our approach over the past few years is to shift from selling a product to selling a solution,” Brune explains. “As head of training and development, I will go onsite once in the installation is complete and spend a week with the client, providing a comprehensive handover with the required training to ensure that the client is equipped to operate the rig that they have installed,” he explains. By way of analogy, Brune points out that one can hand over the keys for a Ferrari to an inexperienced driver – and despite the fact that they are behind the wheel of some of the most advanced technology in the motoring industry, they will not be able to handle the car around a racetrack. Only once an operator has had the benefit of training are you able to fully realise the potential of the equipment at your disposal, which is what ApexPro is determined to achieve for their clients.

TRAINING

Opening Doors The training courses offered on-site at the Prosound offices combine the necessary theoretical knowledge with the hands-on experience needed to affect skills transfer. The course is designed to address the needs of the most entry-level operators, and is, therefore, open to novice users at a school level, first-year technicians who are taking their first steps in the industry and lay people who are operating high-end rigs in a voluntary capacity to name a few. Lewis draws on his extensive experience as a professional lighting designer and programmer for both the local and international stage in delivering the course. “In my experience, the most important element in learning about lighting is the ability to explore and play with light,” Lewis states. “The demo room is set up in such a way that I can share the theory with participants and allow them the platform to turn that knowledge into practical skills.” Professional lighting is a fundamentally technical skill. However, exceptional lighting design is an art, and Lewis knows how to blend the two components to achieve some very remarkable results, both in his capacity as a programmer and as a trainer. “The beauty of ETC lighting solutions is that one can achieve very high-end results from a relatively affordable rig. It is amazing to see the participants developing their understanding of the technology while playing with the rig.” Building on the theme of playfulness, Lewis uses a handspring puppet, made for the purpose by a close friend, to demonstrate the effects of lighting on stage. “I place the puppet on stage and show participants the different effects that you can achieve using different techniques and fixtures. It takes what can sometimes feel

like very technical and overwhelming new information and makes it feel more approachable and fun.” While the company currently has training programmes on a quarterly base, Lewis emphasises that he and his colleagues are prepared and willing to scale this up as demand increases. “If there is a small group from a church or school that needs training on their ETC rig, we are very happy to accommodate these requests,” Lewis confirms.

Taking it to the next level While the need for ETC training is currently focused on the entry-level technician, Lewis foresees the need for more advanced ETC training growing in the near future. One of the company’s main distributors, Electrosonic, is currently working on upgrading a number of high-profile theatres in the Cape Province. All of these projects involve ETC lighting fixtures and control. “If you are a lighting designer working in theatre in Cape Town and you are familiar with ETC technology, you will not battle to find work,” Lewis laughs. Building on his passion for the theatre and training, Lewis foresees a future where Prosound will offer professional level lighting designers and operators ETC training, which will have a direct effect on developing the level of technical staging on some of the country’s best-loved stages. Pro-Systems Africa News will keep readers informed of developments.

TRAINING

Five years of M-Series Training Electrosonic SA has recently completed the fifth edition of their M-Series training course, providing more than 60 participants with basic and intermediate user training on Martin by HARMAN’s M-Series lighting control software. Jesse Dullabh, Electrosonic’s Controller and AV networking specialist, spoke with Pro-Systems News in a recent interview about the success of the programme.

Creating a user community Martin by HARMAN’s professional lighting solutions are used by a wide range of lighting professionals across a myriad of applications. From permanent installations in entertainment venues to small-to-medium sized touring rigs – Martin provides an affordable and scalable solution that is highly adaptable across markets. As such, it is little wonder that the number of Martin professional lighting solution users has continued to grow in South Africa and across the African continent over the past 20 years. Central to the success of the brand is the relationship that local distributor, Electrosonic SA has developed with the Martin by HARMAN team and the end users of the technology across the region. “What sets Martin apart from many of their competitors is the company’s commitment to providing the market with solutions rather than products,” states Dullabh. “While Martin remains a major contributor to the global professional lighting industry – the company has remained true to their founding values. Martin has always been about providing the best possible lighting solutions to enable their clients to do great things,” Dullabh goes on to state. According to Dullabh, Electrosonic SA has contributed enormously to the development of the community of Martin professional lighting solutions users in the region by ensuring efficient product support and by offering the training needed to empower users of the technology to get the most out of their assets. “There is little point selling a client a lighting control console without empowering them with the skills and knowledge needed to get the technology to deliver effectively,” Dullabh points out. “This is why Electrosonic continues to invest in educating our clients about the products that we distribute.” To this end, Dullabh has been providing M-Series training to users in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban since 2013 – with Port Elisabeth added to the training tour for the first time this year. “The demand for places in the training programme exceeds what we can currently provide,” Dullabh points out, explaining that all of the available slots across the four cities were sold out by December 2017.

Passion as the driver Jesse Dullabh is uniquely qualified to deliver the M-Series training course for Electrosonic – a skill set that the company has put to very good use over the past five years. Having graduated from WITS University with a post-graduate degree in Dramatic Art in 2012, Jesse is no stranger to the learning environment. During his student career, Dullabh developed a deep passion for the theatre – and particularly the technical aspects of staging, which lead him to a position as a technical assistant to Electrosonic’s live events manager, Robbi Nassi.

TRAINING

Electrosonic soon recognised Dullabh’s passion and drive, and he was given the opportunity to attend M-Series training in Brussels soon after joining the company. “I was given the opportunity to travel to Brussels to participate in training specifically designed to assist distributors to tailor Martin’s software solutions to the needs of their respective markets,” Dullabh explains, adding that he immediately started training local users on the M-Series controller on his return. “My background in academia has equipped me with the skills needed to put together a tightly structured course, with clear objectives and learning outcomes,” Dullabh points out. “However,

working actively in the field with the M-Series has enabled me to share a hands-on and troubleshooting approach with the trainees. I make sure that it is a conversation rather than a lecture,” Dullabh concludes. Mancane Dlamini, who took part in the M-Series training in Durban this year states: “Mr Dullabh really knew what he was talking about. What I liked most was that he let us ask questions and wouldn’t move onto the next subject until everybody understood the concepts completely. The learning while doing worked for me – I would say it was perfectly planned.”

TRAINING

Empowering lighting designers The main objective the of two-day M-Series training programme is to familiarise users of Martin by HARMAN lighting control with the skills needed to get the most out of the console and associated software. The course is spread over two days and covers entry-level user information and then scales up throughout the course to more advanced operations and programming. “All of the trainees have some level of experience with Martin’s M-Series. However, the level of training, skill and experience vary widely between candidates. We, therefore, go to great lengths to ensure that the training caters for a wide variety of users, including those that return for refresher courses,” Dullabh explains. The M-Series training has been very well received in all of the cities on the M-Series training tour, particularly in Port Elisabeth, which was

included for this first time this year. Niel Mouton from Magnetic Storm, states: “Thanks for adding Port Elizabeth to the M-series training tour. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot of new tips and tricks – making my life a breeze to programme.” While the majority of trainees came from across South Africa to attend the course, there were a few who came from much further afield including Uganda and Kenya, among other African states. Cliff Lule of Strategy One in Uganda declares: “I am very proud that I now earn a living as a lighting designer, and that I can brighten the action on stage for audiences.” In response to the increasing requests that Electrosonic is receiving from lighting designers across the continent for training, Dullabh confirms that the company envisions a future where their M-Series training tour will travel across the continent – empowering Africa’s lighting designers to take their skills to the next level.

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