ETC is kicking off a new era in upper stage machinery with the introduction of the P2 hoist. Offering quick installation, easy operation and affordable system expansion, P2 – the newest hoist in ETC’s Prodigy^® family – can go where other rigging systems can’t.
The compact, 130-kilogram* (*Powerhead only) P2 fixed-speed hoist has a 300-kilogram load capacity and can be used as a complete system by itself, or it can be combined with larger hoists in a hybrid system. Using five millimetre lift wire rope, it offers 15 metres of travel with up to eight lift lines. ETC’s QuickTouch^® and Foundation^® families of rigging controllers are feature rich, yet intuitive and uncomplicated, and work seamlessly with P2, and all of the hoist solutions from ETC Rigging.

The revolutionary features and capabilities that set ETC’s rigging products apart from others are at work in P2. The P2 hoist can be installed with or without ETC’s unique compression tube, is engineered to fit into the smallest spaces without adding lateral loads to buildings, so venues that aren’t able to use other larger hoists will finally be able to access automated rigging.
Additionally, loft blocks can be positioned independent of the building’s structural mounting points, and allows users to support the attached load in a manner best fitting the load, instead of the building. Safety is at the heart of P2, which includes load cell, and slack line detection. It also has a self-locking worm-gear system to prevent accidents. P2’s control electronics are built into the hoist, and incorporate hard-wired deadman and E-stop circuits.
Thanks to its advanced features and design, P2 is easier to install and commission than most other hoists on the market. “It takes very little time to get P2 in place,” says ETC Rigging Product Manager Nils Becker. “A pair of technicians could install six fully-commissioned hoists in a single day. That saves venues on installation costs, and results in less disruption to a production or event schedule.”

Adding additional hoists to a P2 system or upgrading existing hoists is also a simple process. “Rigging systems from other manufacturers often require significant control and wiring changes to add hoists, but ETC systems don’t,” explains European Rigging Sales Manager Enrico Nobile. “The faster installation and compatibility of our system components results in cost savings for our customers.”

For more information about P2 and all ETC Rigging systems, visit ETC website

Claypaky Axcor Profile 900

With the Axcor Profile 900, Claypaky has launched a new course in its design research: it is the first Claypaky spotlight to use a LED light source, instead of a traditional discharge lamp.
Claypaky has chosen to use a white LED engine with high luminous efficiency, total power of 900 watts and luminous flux of 24,000 lumen output, and couple it with a system of dichroic filters to create the colors.
Thanks to its considerable light output, the Claypaky Axcor Profile 900 goes straight in at the top of its category and features the best in modern technology in every parameter: the characteristics of the white and colored light it produces, its ability to form perfectly sharp projections, and the precision micro-mechanics of its exclusive beam shaping system.

After the B-EYE, which revolutionized the world of LED wash lights with its extraordinary effects, Claypaky has now launched the K-EYE HCR, a LED wash light which provides total control over the quality of all forms of white or colored light.
The new HCR technology used in the K-EYE is an exclusive electronic platform developed by Claypaky in conjunction with Osram to meet the needs of lighting designers all over the world who were not fully satisfied with the performance of LED devices in comparison with traditional lamps, in particular because of their incomplete color range, poor color rendering index and lack of consistency. All these limitations have been overcome in the K-EYE HCR, and it is finally possible to produce every color, every nuance and every shade with satisfactory quality.

Claypaky K-Eye HCR

The heart of the K-EYE HCR wash light is a LED light source consisting of a module with six chips, each for a different color: besides the three “classic” basic red, green and blue colors, Claypaky has added amber, cyan and lime. This exclusive Claypaky device provides a very wide color range with excellent color spectrum coverage.
Clay Paky : Hall 3.0 – Booth D45 and More informations on the Claypaky web site

Robe has launched the pixelPATT … a brand new LED fixture to extend and complement its popular PATT range of retro styled fixtures … It is composed of 7 x 30W RGBW LED multi-chips – one in the centre surrounded by a ring of six – housed in a super-slim and lightweight brushed metal frame. Aesthetically it keeps the dimensions and attractive curvature of the PATT 2013 and the picklePATT, and this will also make it desirable for its physical appearance as well as for a lightsource.

With individual control of each pixel and therefore full pixel-mapping capabilities it’s seriously versatile and each pixel has a 200mm aluminium parabolic reflector to maintain continuity with the PATT aesthetic.
Strong in output, it can be smoothly dimmed between 0 and 100 per cent via the high resolution electronic dimmer and has an excellent array of CT whites ranging from a glowing 2.700K to a crisp 8.000K, plus a virtual colour wheel pre-set with 66 LEE colours.

ROBE pixelPATT preview from ROBE lighting on Vimeo.

pixelPATT also has some pre-programmed pixel effects featuring colour, dimming and strobing chases, waves and pulses with variable speed and direction. More useful features include an electronic shutter and variable-speed strobe with up to 20 flashes per second.
The fixture is controlled via the external PATTDriver which has an easy-to-read high brightness LCD display for fast DMX addressing and fixture set-up. The driver is equipped with an embedded Ethernet switch for the easy daisy-chaining of pixelPATTs by using Kling-Net and ArtNet network protocols allowing video pixel mapping and making it extremely flexible for programing. CRMX from Lumen Radio – is a further option.

20 pixelPATT ont été vus pour la première fois à la cérémonie des TPI Awards. © Louise Stickland

The pixelPATT will bring dynamics and sparkle to any and all lighting applications
It can be ensconced into sets or used as a prop, looking equally good as a heavy metal ‘wall of death’ or as fabulous eye-candy for a band or solo artist. It will be perfect for TV productions, video, film and photo shoots, theatre sets, fashion shows, or any type of event from awards shows to brand activations … it will also look awesome in clubbing and dance scenarios!

More information on the Robe website

The L-Acoustics Prolight + Sound booth C11 in Hall 3.1 will welcome visitors at the Frankfurt Messe from April 4th through 7th. In addition to the traditional PL+S meet and greet, the booth will be the location of a series of daily presentations of the latest L-Acoustics technologies.
L-Acoustics will unveil details of the P1, a networked digital audio processor during twice daily presentations.

The P1. Please, guess thanks to the screens and knobs what this nice tool can do…

In addition, L-Acoustics will hold twice-daily presentations of the new Syva segment source. Syva is an outstanding choice for corporate events, fashion and trade shows, as well as for sound reinforcement in amphitheaters and performing arts centers.

Un ensemble Syva, la tête équipée de 6 transducteurs de 5’’ et de 3 moteurs 1,75’’ posée sur un renfort de grave Syva Low embarquant les deux mêmes 12’’ que K2 ! A droite un Syva Sub, avec un 12’’ tiré du 18’’ équipant KS28.

The modern, sleek design makes it an attractive option for houses of worship as well as intimate settings such as home cinemas or lounge bars. Syva is expected to ship to first clients in June this year.
If you can read French, click here for an in depth presentation of Syva and here for a report on the very first Louis Vuitton fashion show hosted by The Louvre and featuring 22 Syva enclosures.
Visitors will also have the chance to attend one of the daily presentations of the workflow and the control tools for the company’s L-ISA immersive sound solutions. L-ISA solutions offer a full multichannel sound design for live applications as well as for playback in home, marine and public environments. L-ISA’s hyper-realistic localization capabilities ensure that audio channels are aligned with visual cues, thereby delivering compelling and industry-leading natural sound.

The full calendar of presentations on L-Acoustics booth C11, Hall 3.1:

The L-ISA Touring system of the French singer Renaud

More on the L-Acoustics website

It’s been a number of years since Robert Juliat brought the full force of its followspots to a tradeshow, but Prolight + Sound 2017 will see these specialists showcase an army of their followspots, old and new, that have secured its place in the industry for many decades.
Meet Oz and Alice, the newest additions to the RJ followspot family.
This dynamic pair feature a powerful 600W cool white LED source and the same high-quality functions and characteristics offered by the Robert Juliat classic Compact range.

Oz et Alice, les deux puissantes poursuites à led présentées en avant première à Francfort.

Un design différent pour la partie lanterne des nouvelles poursuites à led.

Long-and short-throw models respectively, Oz and Alice are the first LED professional followspots to deliver a high output comparable with that of 1200W discharge followspots. Their compact dimensions and silent operation are coupled with the benefits of no heat, smooth electronic dimming – locally or remotely via DMX – and no lamp-change for less maintenance.
A digital display, RJ45 connector and USB port are just some of the convenient features that come as standard. From small sources comes great power, and Oz and Alice are set to extend Robert Juliat’s LED capabilities into full size theatres and large venues.

Robert Juliat’s ZEP Fresnel 360LF series and ZEP profile 660SX series will also see an extension to its family as a brand new, variable white version will be presented to the public. The new source exhibits the same bright output as its siblings with a perfect evenness of beam and no hotspots. Ready to ship with immediate effect, the variable white models complement the warm white and cool white versions that have had such success since their launch.
The Dalis family will be on display with Dalis 862 Footlight and the award-winning Dalis 860 Cyclorama light presented alongside the newest additions to the family, Dalis 861 Washlight and Dalis 862S mini-Footlight.
Making its official appearance after its preview at Prolight + Sound 2016, Dalis 861 Washlight takes the same technology as the original Dalis Cyclight and reconfigures it into a rectangular format with 24 asymmetrical micro-reflectors and 8 LED emitters (6 colours and a warm and a cool white) arranged in four rows.

Robert Juliat Dalis 862

Dalis 861 Washlight shares the same qualities of control, colour mixing, coverage and silent operation as both Dalis Cyclight and Footlight. Its extremely wide beam and perfectly even coverage makes it an ideal solution for side lighting and the perfect wash complement to the Dalis range. Also new for Prolight + Sound, Robert Juliat will introduce Dalis 862S, a new variant of its award-winning Dalis 862 Footlight.

At 50cm in length, Dalis 862S is a shortened version of the original 1m model with all the qualities and functionality of the full size version. Dalis 862S has been created at the request of lighting designers who need precise footlight coverage on curved and non-standard shaped stages where its smaller form factor can be a big advantage in delineating stage edges to perfection.

Pour découvrir SpotMe, rendez-vous sur le stand Robert Juliat dès l’ouverture du salon.

Last but not least, in one of the most exciting revelations on the stand, Robert Juliat will unveil SpotMe, an advanced solution for their Compact and Grand ranges of followspots, which is designed to shine the light on performers in a smart, progressive way.
To discover more, rendez-vous on the Robert Juliat stand in the Lightpower area in Hall 3.0 Stand C42.

For more information on Robert Juliat’s full range of followspots and other lighting fixtures, visit Robert Juliat Website

Clair Brothers is about to rock your world with several unique design innovations at Prolight + Sound 2017 Booth 3.1, E37. Following the evolution and success Clair Brothers started with the C15 large format line array cabinet, the company is excited to officially announce the launch of the C12 and C8 line array products; products featuring the next evolutionary step in new mid/high technology. If you’re an installation consultant, this is a dream coming true: The C12 and C8 are available with Clair True Fit Technology horizontal waveguides custom tailored for any specific venue!

How is this done? Clair Brothers works with architects and consultants to define speaker positions and coverage requirements within a facility, taking into account all spatial characteristics and any acoustical challenges. Clair engineers then employ proprietary 3D design methods and use progressive azimuth technology to geometrically optimize a waveguide designed exactly to that room’s requirements.
The custom waveguide is precision-machined using Baltic birch plywood – a key ingredient in all Clair Brothers products; the result is a totally unique C12 or C8 loudspeaker array that naturally provides smooth, even coverage. True Fit Technology achieves maximum coverage for audience areas and minimizes architectural reflection and anomalies in both, modern or classic buildings.

The C15, C12 and C8 big brother. No images are available of the new models.

The C12 and C8 also feature a new transducer technology that offers two solid benefits. One is significant weight reduction, the other a reduction in amplifier channel requirements. Good news: These new features come with zero technical trade-offs. In fact, these features enhance the ability for the line array to be digitally beam-steered in the vertical plane with F.I.R. processing.
The C12, a double 12-inch format line array, and the C8, a double 8-inch line array, share the benefit that both can be ordered with a variety of horizontal waveguide patterns. Standard factory waveguides will be 90º and 120º, but a range of waveguides between 60º and 140º are also available. “We’re continuing the trend of a growing portfolio loaded with strong high-performance products following last year’s debut of so many others,” confirms Josh Sadd, vice president and chief engineer for Clair Brothers.

One more for the Clair Brothers One Series

Le 1.5AM+, 15’’ coaxial wedge, sporting a 1600 + 1600 Watt Powersoft amplifier and DSP

The highly successful line of One Series 12-and 15-inch coaxial stage monitors raised the bar with the introduction of the powered monitor with the 1AM+, the amplified sister of the 1AM monitor.
At PL+S this year, Clair Brothers is at it again. Witness the launch of the newest addition to the One Series line – The 1.5AM+ – the active (self-powered) version of the 1.5AM monitor.

Says Sadd, “It features a similar amplifier module to the 1AM+ made for Clair by Powersoft. And like the 1AM+, the 1.5AM+ allows the user to power a passive 1.5AM with a slave output. Just connect it by cable to a non-powered 1.5AM and power the pair. Very unique!”

The P.A. that’s stacked in your favour
If you’ve ever fantasized about a stackable point source PA that is equally at home in portable and installed applications, Clair Brothers has you covered. Offering its advanced coaxial technology, similar to that found in the One Series stage monitors, Clair Brothers is proud to introduce a point source package called the S2-System. The S2-CX is a 15-inch coax containing a 15-inch speaker and 1.5AM horn. The S2-Sub is a 21-inch format available powered or non-powered with a high power Powersoft amp module.

All products are available for purchase. More informations on the website Clair Brothers

Adamson IS7

Building on the international success of its heralded S-SERIES, Adamson Systems Engineering will add the S10n line array cabinet to its offerings and introduce the integration-focused IS-SERIES family of loudspeakers at Prolight + Sound 2017, Hall 3.1 Booth B60.

The S10n is a narrow-dispersion version of the widely adopted S10 two-way, full-range line array cabinet. Boasting otherwise identical specs to the S10, the S10n delivers an 80° x 10° (H x V) dispersion pattern for applications with tighter horizontal coverage requirements.

The S10n, Exactly the same as the S10 but the dispersion pattern 30° tighter without any SPL gain but a better throw.

“S10n emphasizes Adamson’s commitment to the touring market,” comments Marc Weber, Director of Product and Brand Management, Adamson Systems Engineering.
“Based on requests from our strong clientele of touring users, this narrow version of the S10 was developed to increase the long-throw capability of S-SERIES loudspeaker packages and further expand their usability and performance in reflective spaces.”

The IS-SERIES will make its debut with the IS7 and complementing IS118 subwoofer. The IS-SERIES packs Adamson’s sophisticated tour-level technology into sleek, architecturally-friendly boxes with rugged but unobtrusive rigging solutions. As founder and namesake Brock Adamson explains, the IS-SERIES is a natural progression for the rapidly growing company.

The new IS7, an installation line array made on purpose for the installation market. Check the lateral vents of the Controlled Summation Technology

“Adamson has a clear vision for the touring and installation markets,” he says. “Through three years of continuous rapid growth, we have not wavered from our commitment to vertical integration.
By placing our product engineering team in a common environment with industrial machinery and processes, we discover ways to engineer more hard value into product. Our newest segment-focused products are a demonstration of that philosophy, revealing the performance standard that people expect of the brand.”

The IS7 is a two-way, full-range line array cabinet containing two ND7-X5, 7” Neodymium drivers and an NH3, 1.4” exit compression driver. The critically optimized waveguide produces a slightly curved wavefront with a nominal dispersion pattern of 100° x 12.5° (H x V).

Four IS7 showing the unobstrusive rigging solution

The waveguide’s efficiency allows for increased vertical dispersion without sacrificing high frequency presence in the far field while the patent-pending Controlled Summation Technology further eliminates the low-mid lobing normally associated with two-way line source systems.

The IS118, a new sub extremely close to the touring products. 137 db SPL Max versus 138 for the E119.

The companion IS118 subwoofer is loaded with a lightweight, long excursion 18” ND18-S Kevlar Neodymium driver utilizing Adamson’s Advanced Cone Architecture and a 4” voice coil for exceptional power handling. It is mounted in an ultra-efficient, front-loaded enclosure, designed to reproduce clean, musical low-frequency information.
The IS-SERIES cabinet construction uses marine-grade birch plywood and aircraft-grade steel. The IS7 is equipped with NL4 Connectors and screw terminals while the IS118 has screw terminals available on demand. A plate-and-screw rigging solution is recessed in the interior of the rear rigging fins for easy installation.
The series is available in a standard black and white, with RAL colours available on demand. The IS-SERIES is perfectly suited for a wide range of applications, including performing arts centers, live performance venues, sports venues, conference centers, and houses of worship.
The IS7 and IS118 will begin shipping in late May 2017. The S10n will begin shipping in the summer of 2017.

Visit Adamson at Prolight + Sound 2017, Hall 3.1 Booth B60 from April 4-7, 2017.

More than 100 Claypaky Scenius Profile luminaires accompanied German hard-rock legends Bad Uncles on a winter tour of their homeland in support of their first new album in ten years ‘Memento’, with longstanding production designer Jerry Appelt selecting the innovative fixtures to create spectacular, multi-layered lighting looks.

Appelt has worked with Bad Uncles since 2002. As a result, he is accustomed to creating the high production values the band desires. “They’re a fantastic band with very powerful music which is a great base on which to create stunning looks,” he explains. “They want to give their fans the best possible experience so their standard for visuals is very high.” For the Memento tour, the band’s brief dictated a classic, high-impact rock show that incorporated a diverse range of powerful stylistic elements and reflected the identity and artwork of the album, which reached number one in the German charts.

Appelt worked alongside video director Roland Greil to craft the resulting design, which was based around five automated triangular shaped monoliths. Each provided three distinctly different looks by rotating to display a different visual element; one side featured high resolution LED screens which displayed dynamic video content by Berlin-based Blitzen, and other moving lights including the Scenius Profiles and the third conventional tungsten fixtures. Providing the entire lighting package for the Bad Uncles’ show was PRG Germany.

“The Scenius Profile has an incredible light output which both allowed it to break through the video-heavy parts of the show and also to create awe-inspiring stand-alone looks when the screens were off,” says Appelt. “It’s an extremely powerful, versatile fixture which complemented the rest of the rig beautifully.”
The Scenius Profile features a Lok-it! HTI 1400/PS Osram lamp, an extremely high CRI and a zoom that ranges from eight to fifty degrees (1:6 ratio). The optical reflector has been designed specifically for the product, in order to make the projection perfectly uniform across the whole beam opening. If used in conjunction with the newly developed frost filter, the fixture can also be applied as a highly effective wash light.

As well as rigged on the monoliths, the design featured Scenius Profile fixtures in the overhead truss, as side lighting and on the floor. From these positions they provided visual accents in a range of colours.
“The Scenius Profile has a fantastic colour mixing system; combined with their flat field they integrated perfectly with the high resolution LED walls to create a cohesive visual picture,” continues Appelt.

The Scenius Profile’s CMY colour mixing system works alongside a CTO device, offering a four colour mixing system each of which can be adjusted gradually with 16-bit high precision. The system provides an infinite range of colours, from bright, vibrant hues to softer pastels and warm shades of amber.
Bad Uncles (Böhse Onkelz in their native German) reunited in 2014, putting an end to an eleven-year hiatus. The band released ‘Memento’ in August 2016 and in November began their tour of Germany, with additional dates in Austria and Switzerland.

More informations on the Claypaky website

One of the STM clusters reinforced in the low end by S118 and LS18 subs

With the opening of the Yu Bar in Shunde, near Guangzhou, the entertainment scene in China sees a return of the mega club after many years.  It features the debut installation in China of a NEXO STM Series modular line array system, chosen to position the Yu Bar at the top of the market.
The sheer size of the new venue is breathtaking, with a 15 metre ceiling height that allows its technical specifications to be fully achieved. “Too often in China, sound proofing is overlooked but not here,” says Michael Chow, marketing manager for Top Plot Int’l Ltd, NEXO’s distributor for China.  “At Yu Bar, the ample height of the structure means that the PA system can be installed at the optimal height and position, without the usual compromises.”
In an installation designed and contracted by NEXO’s Guangzhou dealer Hertz Audio with Hong Zing Audio Equipment, aided by Top Plot International, an STM Series line array system featuring M28 main cabinets has been specified for the house PA, teamed with STM B112 bass modules and STM S118 subs.

A large view of the venue with the DJ booth at the centre of it.

This high-output sound reinforcement system is matched by huge top-end LED screens, high-powered lasers and a top-spec lighting rig to attract the best local and international DJs and support the specially-invited guest performers who will push the Yu Bar to the forefront of the entertainment scene in China.

The LS18, a cheaper way to deliver 137 dBSPL of pure low end with a single ferrite 18’’ driver. The know what sensitivity means at Nexo.

The DJ booth is at the centre of the rectangular venue, with clusters of STM M28 – each cluster using 2x M28 with 90° dispersion, plus 1x M28 with 120° dispersion for wider horizontal coverage.  Below the M28s is a single STM B112 bass module to provide the vital punch around 80-120Hz.
The two wings of the DJ booth each have a big LED screen, the outside edges of which each have another cluster of STM M28+B112.  In addition to STM S118 subs, more than 20 additional NEXO LS18e subs reinforce the low frequencies all over the venue.

Years passing by, but the PS15. Oups, she’s nos PS15-R2 !

The Yu Bar is packed full of other NEXO cabinets – 28x PS15-R2, 8x PS10-R2 and even 2x ID24s used as satellite fills to cover all corners and corridors of the club.  The whole system is driver by NEXO NXAMP4x4 and NXAMP4x1 powered TDcontrollers.
Yu Bar opened its doors for business in time for the lunar new year. The Guangzhou Prolight+Sound exhibition provided a perfect opportunity for a party for all the entertainment technology contractors and suppliers, including NEXO’s International Sales Director Denis Baudier and East Asia Business Development Manager Michel Brouard, accompanied by Top Plot Int’l. Ltd. Director Forky Tsui, and NEXO’s Guangzhou dealer Hertz Audio (GuangZhou) Co.,Ltd. and its local contractors.

A shot showing the DJ booth from the bar where the mood is kept alive thanks to the PS family, hanged and visible on top of the image.

“Everybody was impressed by the geat interior settings of the Yu Bar,” reports Michael Chow of Top Plot Int’l.  The décor and the AV systems, and the catering, are second to none.  It’s a truly sensational place for parties and events, which is why it has already become the centre of attraction in this region, even though Shunde district is an hour’s drive from the centre of Guangzhou city.”

In image, from left to right: Mr.Marco Lee, Executive Director, HongXing Audio Eqt.Co.,Ltd., Ms. Liang Fei, CEO. Bloom Power Cultural Co.,Ltd., Mr. Wu YiQiang, Executive Director, Shun De Yu Bar Entertainment Service Co., Ltd., Mr. Huang JianHua (Venture Partner), Shun De Yu Bar Entertainment Service Co., Ltd., Denis Baudier, Intl. Sales Director, NEXO, Forky Tsui, Director, Top Plot Intl.,Ltd., Michel Brouard, East Asia Business Development Manager, NEXO, Mr. Zhao ZhiHui (Founder & Invester), Shun De Yu Bar Entertainment Service Co., Ltd., Mr. Ye HaiDong, General Manager, Hertz Audio, Mr. Chen Xiand, Executive Director, Nanning Lei Hong Audio Eqt. Co. Ltd.

Further information:

• Le site de Nexo
• Le site Top Plot International
• Le site Hertz Audio

On 5 February Houston, Texas played host to the NFL’s Super Bowl LI, fought out between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Entertaining the crowds in the hotly anticipated Pepsi Zero Sugar Halftime Show was Lady Gaga, whose high-octane performance earned the respect of millions in an intense 13-minute spectacular that was viewed by over 115 million people worldwide.
The show was another world-class collaboration from co-production designers, Bruce Rodgers of Tribe Inc. and LeRoy Bennett of Seven Design Works, and lighting designer, Bob Barnhart of 22 Degrees. Ayrton was, once again, proud to be part of this show with 81 new MagicDot™-XT fixtures, 40 new MagicPanel™-FX fixtures and a solitary CosmoPix™-R chosen to adorn the major scenic elements of Barnhart’s lighting design.

Lady Gaga lors du spectacle de mi-temps du Super Bowl LI, au piano dans son globe couvert de projecteurs Ayrton MagicDot-XT. © Kelly Coffey

Both Bennett and Rodgers had a message to convey through their design and, with the eyes of the world watching, helped Lady Gaga restore a sense of unity and deliver a performance that was both uplifting and determined. Symbolism was abundant amongst the scenic elements, with half-buried – but still shining – stars surrounding the main stage, two tall 34ft-high towers as back drops, and a piano stage shaped like a planet of shining light, with a beating heart at its centre and softly undulating beams of light reaching out to the audience.
With the juxtaposition of Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land and Irving Berlin’s God Bless America at the top of the show, against a backdrop of illuminated drones etching out the star-spangled banner in the sky, the message of humanity was clear to any who wished to see it. “We presented the design to Gaga, who has very strong views of her own, and she embraced it,” says Bennett. “She is one of the few artists who, once you show them an idea, figures it out and then totally owns it.”

Le globe du piano de Lady Gaga en construction chez All Access Staging & Production. © Bruce Rodgers

From this, Gaga decided on her own set list and what to do with each number in different areas of the stage, then worked hard to make sure every aspect of her performance was perfect, from her dive off the roof of the stadium, 90ft up in the air, to the final catch of the ball as she jumped off stage at the end. “She worked so hard and we wanted to ensure our design matched her level of commitment. She’s the real deal as far as talent goes. She is a great entertainer but most of all, an incredible human being – honest, open, warm and sincere, and we wanted to bring that across too.”

Bennett chose not to use video in the show in favour of something different that would focus the attention on Gaga’s performance. “I wanted something more raw, to say something about Gaga. So Bruce and I came up with the same inspirational tear-sheet – a chequerboard stage with its grid work illuminated from beneath and emanating smoke to add another dimension to what would be traditionally a flat surface.” Flanked by the fallen stars, the stage was backed by two tall towers which provided scenic lighting as well as being a statement in themselves appearing, at one point, to be on fire. Each tower was rigged with 20 of Ayrton’s new MagicPanel™-FX, and additional spot fixtures, placed on the façade in a random layout to help with the look of the over all production design. MagicPanel-FX units were also located in the base of the towers and used to up-light the towers themselves.

“I like the MagicPanel-FX because of their brightness and zoom capabilities,” says Barnhart. “I also wanted a contrast to the spot fixture that would share the same real estate. The contrast in the appearance of the MagicPanel-FX, as well as what it can do, gave me a nice tool box of options.”
Aside from the beam capabilities and movement, Barnhart made use of the MagicPanel-FX’s internal macros to create graphics that played across the face of the fixture, offering great timesaving during programming in the short production time available.
Barnhart chose another new Ayrton product, MagicDot™-XT, to create a second scenic piece, an outlandish piano feature – one of Lady Gaga’s signatures – which in this case took the shape of a globe. “The idea came from Gaga herself who wanted a sphere that represented the planet, with a multitude of light beams emitting outward from it,” explains Rodgers. “We designed the shape as a series of custom-bent latitudinal and longitudinal pipes clustered with an array of MagicDot-XT fixtures specified by Bob. This shape melds into a grand staircase and the entire combination was mounted on a wheeled cart frame to roll it onto the field.” The globe, like the towers, was fabricated by All Access Staging & Production.

Lady Gaga au Super Bowl avec la tour festonnée de MagicPanel-FX © Lindsey Breslauer

With Gaga’s keyboard connected to the globe, Barnhart programmed a series of gentle fades and ripples of light through the MagicDot-XT fixtures, combined with slow sweeping movements to create a whole emotive environment during the song A Million Reasons. A single, spherical, Ayrton CosmoPix-R was placed in the centre of the piano globe as the warm beating heart within it, giving another dimension and depth to the structure and meaning.
“Instead of the piano just being an inanimate object, it took on a personality of its own with some emotion attached to it that emanated out into the audience,” says Bennett, who also praised the field cast of choreographed Gaga fans that carried Glow Motion torches across the field to connect with the crowd. “It was the closest you can get to video, but without the coldness that can come with LED as a medium. The whole idea was about bringing in a more humanistic, organic side and bringing it down to earth.”

Ayrton’s new fixtures were brought to Bennett’s attention by Morpheus Lights, the exclusive US distributor for Ayrton, which brought a private demo of the MagicDot-XT and MagicPanel-FX to Bennett in early November. He immediately earmarked them for Lady Gaga’s Halftime Show, and demo units were delivered to Barnhart and the scenic team some weeks later. After seeing their capabilities, Barnhart chose MagicPanel-FX and the MagicDot-XT specifically for the scenic pieces of the towers and piano globe. They were supplied by PRG, the long-term lighting contractor for the event.
“I love Ayrton products: they are extremely innovative, super-reliable, and always at the top of the list of things I put into my designs,” says Bennett. “Bob did an amazing job of putting it all together, and I’m happy to say they all behaved themselves on the night!” The whole production was as deft and beautifully executed as Gaga’s now-legendary final catch of the ball. This team nailed it.

More information on the extensive portfolio of Ayrton LED fixtures can be found at www.ayrton.eu

Samsung Electronics today announced it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Harman stockholders will receive $112.00 per share in cash.
The completion follows the satisfaction of all conditions to the closing of the transaction, including approval of the transaction by Harman stockholders and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions.

Young Sohn

“Today is a historic moment for us. The close of this transaction opens the door to create substantial growth opportunities and deliver greater benefits for customers worldwide,” said Young Sohn, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronics, and Chairman of the Board, Harman.
“We see transformative opportunities in the car – and a future which seamlessly connects lifestyle across automotive, home, mobile and work. Samsung’s and Harman’s leadership in these spaces perfectly positions Samsung to be the preferred partner to our OEM customers.
In addition, bringing together Harman’s iconic audio brands and capabilities paired with Samsung’s leading display technologies will deliver enhanced audio and video experiences to consumers and professional end markets. And most importantly, we are enthusiastic about our common vision, the similarities in our culture of innovation, and the added value we can create for customers. We look forward to working with all of Harman’s employees to execute on our vision.”

Dinesh Paliwal, Président et CEO de HARMAN

“We are excited to have completed the transaction, which provides compelling cash value to our stockholders, benefits our customers and provides new opportunities for our employees,” said Dinesh Paliwal, Harman President and CEO.
“Samsung shares our commitment to our customers and our culture of speed, innovation and execution. Samsung provides Harman with the scale, platform and complementary technologies to accelerate growth and extend our global market leadership in automotive, smart audio and connected technologies.
Recognizing the importance of partnerships in an increasingly connected world, particularly in automotive, we are poised to leverage our combined teams and resources to produce even greater value for our customers. Working closely with automakers and other technology companies, Samsung and Harman will define – and drive – the future of automotive.”

In connection with the completion of the transaction, Harman’s common stock ceased trading prior to market open on March 13, 2017 and are delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Harman will operate as a standalone Samsung subsidiary, overseen by a Board of Directors led by Mr. Sohn.
Mr. Paliwal will remain CEO of Harman, leading the Company with his management team, and will continue to serve as a member of its Board. Samsung is retaining Harman’s work force, headquarters and facilities, as well as all of its consumer and professional audio brands.

When Jazz legend Al Di Meola played a sell-out gig at Darmstadt’s 1000-capacity Straatstheatre, Tonwerk’s Jan Weimann deployed a Uniline FOH system from APG, to meet the grade. For Weimann, using the Uniline with this artist was the only possible choice, “Al Di Meola is quite specific about loud stage environments.
The Uniline system has such a great directivity that there’s so little sound spill to the stage from the PA system. We also shielded the drums with acrylic glass at his request!”

Photo : ©Paul Sebald

The system was configured to provide high-clarity coverage for every seat with minimal backward spill. Comprised of left and right hangs of eight UL210 three-way line array modules per side, with bass support from three stacked UL115B subs, the system was driven by APG controllers. For Weimann, APG’s Uniline is his preferred system because, he says, it implements a “large stereo image, compared to other systems where you have a small stereo spot just in the middle of the room with “switching” either to one or the other side.”

Photo : ©Paul Sebald

Weimann has reinforced many artists playing the Straatstheatre with the versatile and modular Uniline system, and he pointed out, “it performs extraordinarily well with artists like Al Di Meola.”
He states the reason behind this as, “the isotop driver doesn’t colour the sound but replicates it honestly – and there’s no sharpness or any kind of “masking” as the music rises in intensity and volume.
“APG has quite a unique tonality. Compared with other systems, the APG sound reproduces a much larger spectrum of sound, which allows you to listen through the whole mix without losing any details.

“I often use the word “Durchhörbarkeit” to describe the APG sound, which could translate as being able to actually listen to the music, instead of just hearing it. To give you an example, I did a shootout last year with a number of speaker brands, and the Uniline system was the only one capable of identifying all five instruments of a horn section in an arrangement.”
Confident of his trust in APG and the Uniline system, Weimann takes the pressure of working with high calibre artists in his stride. “Al Di Meola is known for being a perfectionist when it comes to sound, so if you can rely on the material you are using, like the Uniline Series from APG, there is not much to go wrong.
“Al Di Meola uses his own FOH technician, Csaba Toth Bagi, who is also a very talented guitar player. For this show, I was responsible for the monitors and I used a TC M3000 dual engine reverb, because I particularly like the clarity and unobtrusive sound it provides”.

The launch of NEXO’s new GEO M10 sound reinforcement package has been enthusiastically received by audio rental companies in Europe, with Satis & Fy narrowly winning a good-natured race to become the first rental house customer in Germany to stock the new mid-size line array.
Global Director of Audio Services Martin Ramrath attended the ISE in Amsterdam to put in Satis & Fy’s order for a GEO M10 system, complete with MSub15 subbass cabinets and a comprehensive inventory of rigging accessories. This was a ‘satisfying’ moment for Ramrath, who has been involved with the M10 project since conception.

On the left, Reinhard Steger, Nexo’s Germany Sales Manager and on the right the Global Director of Audio Services Martin Ramrath.

“This is a true utility product,” says Ramrath, “the M10 can service so many different events and productions, this will be the workhorse system in any rental inventory. We are particularly pleased by the practical rigging features, such as the fact that there are no loose parts. And the flange fixing system, which makes it so easy to change the horizontal dispersion from 80°to 120°, is very practical design engineering.” Ramrath anticipates that the high-output system, featuring a 10” driver and an unprecedented ratio of LF response to cabinet size, will “mainly be used for our corporate events, especially suitable where there are after-show parties with a band.
With its ability to groundstack, it is great for shows where we are under time pressure on the load-in and load-out, for example, when we work at the airport; the M10 allows us to get a lot of PA into a venue at high speed.” The M10 takes its name from the single 10” neodymium LF driver, paired with a 1.4” HF titanium diaphragm HF driver. With a footprint of 531(W) x 288(H) x 355(D) mm, this 2-way passive module will deliver a frequency response of 59Hz-20kHz with nominal peak SPL of 131dB.

Satis & Fy’s initial order includes the two versions of the M10 cabinet, offering 12.5° and 25° of vertical dispersion. Both have 80°/120° horizontal dispersion which can be configured manually, without tools, by removing the magnetic grille and adjusting NEXO’s innovative flange fixing system.
The GEO M10 is partnered by a dedicated subbass cabinet, the MSub15. Weighing 36kg, the new sub is presented in a robust touring package with steel grille, or in an elegant installation version with cloth grille. It has large composite bumpers on each corner, and side handles. It flies with the M10 in an aesthetically pleasing and low profile array, operable in omni or cardioid mode, thanks to front and back connection plates.

More informations on :

• Satis & Fy Website
• Nexo Website